Fae (36 page)

“Mom, what's wrong?”

She looked away from me and shook her head. “You've just seemed so off lately, and I didn't know what to—” she began.

I knew what she was thinking. I didn't want her to torture herself any longer.

“I was just emotional and confused. You know how teenage love is,” I told her as she looked back at me with relief.

“I know, darling. I was once a teenager too.” She smiled. “What do you have planned for the day? Maybe we can go shopping. I have to go to the restaurant for a couple of hours, but then I'll be back in the afternoon. I'd love to spend some time with you. I hardly see you anymore.”

“I'd like that.”

“Are you going for a run? In this weather? It's so cold, dear. It snowed last night.”

I put on my earmuffs. “I'm warm enough now, and you know how much I love running when it's cold out.”

“Be careful.”

“I always am.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Call me when you're heading back home from the diner.”

I ran out the door, and the cool air was welcoming to my senses. I shook my hands, did a few stretches, turned my iPod on, and was off. I loved to listen to David Gray. I quickly forgot about everything as I pushed myself and turned to run on my regular path.

My thoughts quickly turned to Devilyn. My focus purely on Devilyn. It was strange to think that only six months ago, I was thinking that I'd never meet anyone worthwhile, anyone who would actually know me. And now, I'd met my soul mate.

And he was in my life.

I finally found someone to snuggle with. Go to the movies with. Share dinners with. The thought of spending time with him, getting to really know him, was my undoing. I continued running with a stupid smile on my face and not paying attention the trail ahead.

I had run this trail so many times that its twists and turns were imbedded in my head. Which was why I never saw the small log laying across my jogging path. And it happened instantly. I tripped over it and fell hard on the ground. I put my hands out in front of my face to break my fall, and felt them cut on impact.

I slowly sat back and stared at the gash in my palm. And the blood that was on the pearl white snow. In an instant everything was like a black and white dream around me. I looked up at the sky and watched as the clouds moved in thunderously above my head. A wind came out of nowhere and moved around my body, whipping my ponytail all over.

And then I knew I wasn't alone.

I couldn't stop the goosebumps that moved all over my body. Or the feeling of complete and utter fear that seemed to paralyze me. I heard a step in the snow, and I braced myself. I turned slowly, and it took all my power not to start screaming.

A thing.

A monster.

A creature. Stood before me.

He was tall, over seven feet. He was wearing a long, black, hooded cape. I could barely make out his face until he came closer and his face slowly emerged from the darkness. And all I saw was red and large, ominous, black eyes. Suddenly he smiled and revealed large fanged teeth.

I couldn't move. What would I do even if I did? Surely he could outrun me. So I tried very hard to stay calm. And still.

He moved closer to me and closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. He reached out with his hand, and I watched as a black light emerged from his palm and touched the droplets of blood lying on the white snow. My blood. I stopped breathing as I watched the blood and dark light merge into one.

He smiled slowly and then began to laugh. Then he moved his hood back and revealed his face in its entirety, and when I saw the deviled horns, I couldn't stop myself. I stood up like lightning and began to run, even though I knew it was useless.

And I screamed.

And screamed.

The only name I knew would probably hear me.

Devilyn.

Fear.

In all my years I had never felt such a deep and overwhelming sense of terror. I could feel the fear in her.

The anguish.

Pain.

It moved over my body in waves. And she was helpless against it. I closed my eyes and tried to see what it was that was causing her such torment. I saw her running down a small wooded path.

Running.

Smiling.

Enchanting.

And then, moments later, she slammed to the ground and before her stood the devil.

The frightening face of Herne, the devil Fae.

I ran out of my room.

“Odin!” I screamed out. My voice seemed to echo through the giant corridors of the home. I quickly moved down the stairs wondering where Odin could be.

“Odin!” I roared again.

Nothing.

The house was strangely silent.

Empty.

I was instantly alert. I knew my eyes began to glow as I felt the darkness.

The giant front doors of the house flew open. And it was the last person I expected to see enter through them. Never imagining that she would return.

When I came home the night before, I had searched for her. Cringing in disgust at her actions. Asking myself how I could ever trust her, after the pain she had caused. How could I allow her into the inner sanctum of my life when her primary goal was to tear it to shreds. When I didn't find her, I expected that she had cowered in fear after the pain and suffering she had caused only hours before.

But now she stood before me so brazenly.

Tatiana. My sister. My blood.

But now no longer light.

“What have you done?” I could barely get the words out, my fury was so great.

She smiled.

“What did you do?!”

I could not stop myself from moving toward her with a vengeance. She lifted her palm and used her
magik
on me, throwing me back against the staircase banister.

I was up in an instant, using my own light against her. She was helpless against me. She knew that she wasn't strong enough. That I could beat her. But still, her anger pushed her on.

I held her in the air with my light, trying with all my might not to strangle the life out of her. She could see the battle in me, and she couldn't stop herself from laughing in delight.

“Yes, brother. Embrace what you are. Let the hatred overcome you,” she laughed in a menacing manner. “It feels so good, doesn't it? So right.”

I didn't answer her. I knew what she was trying to do. So I let her fall to the ground as I looked at her in disgust. Her weakness toward my father was appalling. How could she do this?

“Tell me, Tatiana!”

She stood up and threw her hair over her shoulder defiantly.

“I helped our father get rid of her. She is your weakness. Your Achilles' heel. She must die, and I helped him get her.”

Why after all these years, would she betray me so?

Betray Odin?

He had been her guardian. Her protector.

Perhaps the darkness was too powerful. Perhaps I would ultimately suffer the same fate? I shook away the thought and reminded myself that Tatiana had always been weak. She had always succumbed to the needs and wants of my father and his clan. This wasn't the first time she had betrayed me. And if I allowed her to live, to breathe, it wouldn't be the last.

I threw myself at her, all my anger and hatred made me even stronger. I watched as she became paralyzed. And then I saw the transformation. There was fear in her eyes.

I could see it.

The first time I had ever seen her look scared. And then I knew, within an instant, that I had the ability to end her life. As soon as the thought entered my mind, I let go instantly and looked down at my hands. It wasn't possible. A Fae could not destroy another of our kind.

No one was that strong.

And then I remembered Arthur's words and Odin's fear,
“Come back to me, and I will tell you how to kill your father.”
I watched as Tatiana gasped for air, as confused as I was over what had just happened.

“How did you make her bleed?” My voice was devoid of emotion.

“I placed a log on her jogging path, or Mother Nature did. She tripped and fell. Her blood spilled. And it is confirmed. She is the heir of Royce and Virginia.”

And so the die was cast.

War was now upon us.

“You are dead to me,” I told Tatiana as I looked down at her; all the love I ever had disappeared in an instant. “You are no longer my sister. My blood. You are my enemy.”

She seemed surprised by the words, like she had been slapped in the face. And in that instant, I saw her vulnerability and her naïveté. But it was only there for a second, and then it was gone.

“I'm glad Caroline's dead.”

Before I could react she was gone.

I looked around the home that I had grown to love and wondered if I would see it again. I wondered if I would see the man who had become my father again. I could hear the fireplace in the study.

His study. And I made my way to the room.

Odin sat before the giant flames and watched them in silence.

“Father.”

He reached out his hand, and I took it. Felt the strength in him, the unwavering light, and I prayed for the first time, for my own soul.

“You know I cannot come with you.” He sounded sad.

“Yes.”

“It is the destiny that you must face,” Odin told me. “And you must do so alone.”

I was quiet. I knew this truth.

“Thank you for everything that you've ever done for me,” I said to him. “For believing in me. Giving me a home. A life. Being a father to me. A true father in every sense of the word.”

Odin closed his eyes. I knew that he too was overcome with emotion. This was a path I had to face alone.

“You are my son,” he told me. “Always. And I am so proud of the man you are today.”

I knew I had to leave before I could no longer think clearly.

“Goodbye, father.”

I turned and began to walk away.

“Devilyn?”

I stopped but did not turn around.

“Light or dark. You will
always
be my son.”

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again I was in the kingdom of the Dark Fae.

“Now, God be praised, that to believing soulsgives light in darkness, comfort in despair.”
—William Shakespeare

I had stopped crying hours ago. Not a single tear was left. I looked at my surroundings and immediately recognized where I was. The picture had been so clear when I had placed my hand over Devilyn's heart. I remember that as soon as I saw it; I cringed internally. One of my captors had referred to it as the realm of the Dark Fae.

They told me that I would be held up against the trunk of the yew tree. Held by
magik
. My arms hung loose, but my legs were close together. They had changed my clothes, and I was now wearing a long, white, shimmery muslin gown. My hair was in a thousand curls, left long and unbound, and I had a crown made of lilies on top of my head.

I did not understand why they'd bothered, but I guessed I would know soon enough.

I was so high up the tree that it felt like I could touch stars. It was beautiful actually.

Heartbreakingly so.

I looked down and could see that they were all gathering. They had been for hours. Unlike the hideous demon that had taken me from my home, these creatures were beautiful.

And human.

At least they looked it. They wore long, dark capes, but all their heads were exposed. It was a sea of the most beautiful men and women I had ever seen. They had Devilyn's coloring, but where Devilyn glowed with an inner light, these beings were consumed by something else.

Every so often fear would paralyze me, and I knew that I couldn't stop it. Because I knew what was about to come. This was my end. It seemed unfair that I had only been allowed to spend a day basking in the love that Devilyn had for me and I for him. I wondered when my parents would notice that I was missing, or if they would somehow brainwash them to believe that I had never even existed. The thought frightened me because I knew they could.

Erase me forever.

Who would Teddy's new best friend be? Would my parents have adopted another child? Who would take care of Famous? Was it even possible for such a thing to happen?

“You must calm yourself, child.”

I looked around in shock, searching for the person the voice belonged to, but could not see anyone. All I could see were the miles and miles of trees surrounding me. And then I wondered if I was hallucinating. If my mind was beginning to play tricks on me now.

“I am in front of you,” the voice said again.

I closed my eyes and opened them hoping and praying that the maker of this soft, serene sound would show its face. But there was nothing in front of me, nothing but another tree. I shook my head in frustration; now I knew something was going on inside my mind.

“Close your eyes, child. Forget what you believe is reality. What you've been conditioned to believe for all these mortal years. And when you do, you will see me.” The voice was soothing, washing over me like a warm bath. And so I did what he asked.

I let my mind go. I cleared everything in my head, and I took a deep breath, allowing myself to be free. When I closed my eyes I saw him. The tree in front of me was no longer bark but glass, and an older man stood inside staring at me from within.

He had a look of despair written across his face, and a look that was so familiar.

“Who are you?”

“I'm your grandfather, Caroline. My name is Arthur.”

I immediately opened my eyes. Could it be true? I closed my eyes again and hoped that he would come back. Hoped that I would see his face before me. And then I did.

And I could see him so clearly. I desperately searched his face, and as I did the frantic beating of my heart slowed, when I realized that I was faced with the truth. I could see myself in him.

It was a wonder to finally feel a connection.

“How are you here right now? Are you a ghost?” I asked desperately.

Arthur put his hand up on the glass, his palm facing me.

“No, my dear child. This is my prison: my punishment for loving your grandmother.” His voice was so sad. “But a life without her is nothing. Meaningless.”

“I'm so sorry.”

“Don't be sorry, my angel. I do not mind this cage. They have taken everything from me. But they haven't taken my mind. When I close my eyes I can relive all the moments we shared together. Over and over again.”

His words saddened me.

“My only despair comes from my inability to keep you safe. Away from them. Away from
him
.”

I tried to move, but I couldn't break the magical force that held me.

“There has to be something!” I pleaded. “Something we can do.”

“No. This is my sentence. It was given by the Dark King. Only to be broken by the Dark King,” he said solemnly. My grandfather looked down at the gathering, and I could see that he was nervous by what he saw.

“I guess I'm quite popular,” I replied as I too looked down.

“You must remain strong. Do not let them see your fear. You are the rightful heir to the throne of the Light. They must not know that they have frightened you in anyway.”

“I promise I won't disappoint you,” I vowed quietly. It was all so new, so much to take in, but if he was right, I had to keep my dignity.

My strength.

My honor. That was all that I had left to fight with.

“Devilyn will come for me,” I told my grandfather. “I know he will.”

I could tell he did not like what I said to him.

“He is the reason you are here!” he roared in anger. He seemed to grow as his fury overcame him.

“Don't say that,” I whispered.

“I speak only the truth, lass. If I had been free, I never would have let him find you. Be close to you. I would have kept him away,” he said vehemently.

“Then you would be the cause of my sadness,” my voice was soft. “I love him.”

Arthur deflated like a balloon. He put his head against the glass in great sadness.

“Love is dangerous. It causes great sorrow.” I could barely hear him as he whispered the words. “Look what my love has done to you.”

Before I could answer him there was a swirl of wind that moved over my body.

“Be strong, lass!” were the last words I heard from my grandfather before I was pulled off the tree.

I felt as though I was in a wind tunnel as a thousand butterfly kisses moved over my body. I knew I was being lowered toward the crowd. Once my feet finally touched the surface, I looked down to see that I stood on a small black marble circle lifted about ten feet off the ground.

I closed my eyes for a moment then opened them fearlessly to face my accusers. I stared down at them all and held my head high as they watched me in silence. Many of them were curious, I'm sure, to see me for the first time.

I heard him clap before I saw him. And then I turned and saw a flash of the raven, except that he wasn't a raven, he was a man.

Alderon.

Devilyn's father.

The man responsible for killing my entire family. The one that had caused all of this needless anger. He came right up to my face and stared deep into my eyes.

I hated him.

I decided I wouldn't be afraid. If I was to die, I wouldn't go down without a fight, and I wouldn't let him see my fear.

And that is when he began laughing. At me.

As if he sensed my thoughts.

“You are so brave to laugh at a helpless human.” Once the words came out, I heard the collective gasp through the crowd.

Alderon immediately lost his grin. I guess I wasn't as meek and timid as he had no doubt assumed.

“Silence! I did not give you leave to speak!” he roared at me, as a strong gust of wind moved in and around the crowd, emanating from the fury of his anger.

“I will speak when I want. As a human, I have that right,” I shouted out. There were more whispers in the crowd. I guessed that no one ever spoke back to Alderon.

In an instant he was upon me. Angrier, if at all possible. “Dear child, I will take great satisfaction in destroying you.”

“You are an evil man, responsible for destruction and hate, and one day you will be punished for all the years of misery you've brought upon everyone,” I said loudly. “One day everyone gathered here will have had enough of you, and they will want to see you fall.”

“You do not know our laws.” His voice boomed with pure rage.

“Perhaps not. But I do know that all leaders come and go. And the ones that are malicious and cruel fall harder than the others.”

The Fae were now talking to one another in whispers.

“SILENCE!”
Alderon screamed, and the heavens above seemed to crackle from his thunderous demand. A deafening silence fell over the crowd.

“You see before you the Queen of the Light. Conceived in defiance of our laws. Human blood flows through her veins. She knows nothing of our world, and now she is the one who covets our fall. Wanting nothing more than to destroy us and follow through with the written prophecy. She is responsible for all of these crimes—”

“How dare you? How can you accuse me of committing crimes that I have not committed? How can I be responsible for what I don't know?” I yelled, consumed by anger.

Alderon smiled at me.

“You are responsible for what is to be. What is to come.”

“How can anyone know what tomorrow may bring?” I called out almost desperately.

“Fate knows more than us all,” Alderon replied in a maniacal tone.

“And tell me, what of my dear son? Have you grown a certain fondness for him?” he continued, goading me on.

“Your son is more of a man than you'll ever be.”

“Your fondness for him is quite endearing. We are all so happy to know that he's found love. Aren't we?” he laughed, calling out to the crowd.

Alderon smiled victoriously at me as the crowd hissed in displeasure. He had won. My unrequited love for Devilyn condemned me to uncertain death.

“Do what you must. I am not afraid of you, and I'm not afraid of what is in my heart,” I told him. “Be done with it.”

I meant it. I wanted it over with. I just prayed that they would not torture me.

“As you wish.” I watched Alderon lift his hands toward the dark sky and suddenly everyone's eyes seemed to glow.

A sudden surge of electricity and light was flowing through his hands, a power that I would not survive. A ferocious wind circled my body as he slowly lowered his hands in my direction. I knew that within a second I would vanish. And all that I would leave behind was a few particles of dust. I closed my eyes in fear and in anticipation, and when I opened them I heard his voice.

And I knew that I was saved.

“
YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HER!”

Devilyn suddenly stood in front of my body blocking me from whatever was about to come. He quickly moved his hands out. One toward the crowd, blocking them from us, shielding us from their power, and directed the other toward Alderon. Alderon's black light hit Devilyn's at the same time.

I could see that Alderon was shocked by the power that came from Devilyn. Almost frightened.

Devilyn's power was something else, fused with white and dark energy. I watched as he effortlessly moved toward Alderon, closer. Closer. Unaffected by his energy, almost enjoying the lack of effort it took from him. Alderon fell to the floor, his energy gone, as Devilyn continued forging forward.

He moved his other hand, and with a flick of his wrist all of the spectators were gone. He kept a hold on his father then turned to look at me. I couldn't stop the chill that came over me when I saw the look in his eyes.

“Devilyn?” I whispered.

“To Odin,” he said, and then I was gone.

When I reappeared, I was sitting in Odin's study on the floor next to him in front of the giant fireplace. Odin placed his hands around my shoulders, clenching me tightly, and I could sense that he was worried.

“You are okay, child?”

I shook my head up and down. I was physically okay but still worried about Devilyn. I looked around the room, hoping that he would appear as quickly as I had.

“He will come,” Odin replied, but his eyes were deeply saddened.

“Is he still there? With Alderon?”

“Yes, child,” Odin said. “But you needn't worry. You need to rest. You must be exhausted.”

“We can't stay here. We must go to Devilyn! He needs our help!” I practically shouted at him as I rose in panic.

“Caroline. He will come—” Odin began.

“I am here.”

I turned around and saw him. Relief poured over me in waves. I immediately stood up and faced him, praying he was unharmed.

“I'm okay.”

And then he looked okay. Nothing seemed to be wrong with him. He was now wearing black jeans and a black sweater, and his eyes were brighter than I had ever seen them. But other than that, he was the Devilyn I knew.

I couldn't stop myself from running into his arms, so relieved when he held me tightly, tighter than I had ever been held before.

“You should take her upstairs,” Odin said quietly. “She needs to lie down. She's been through a lot.”

Devilyn nodded in agreement, took my hand, and led me up the stairs to his room. My heart slammed in my chest, knowing that we would lie in his bed together. When we got inside his room I walked to his bed and sat down on the edge. He came to sit beside me.

I didn't know where to begin or what to say. I just wanted to know that it would be okay.

“You should lie down,” he finally said in a low whisper.

“I will,” I assured him quickly. “But Alderon, what happened to—”

“We will not discuss it.” His voice left no room for an argument. I hoped that he was gone. Forever. I know Devilyn didn't want to talk about it, but I needed so badly to know what had happened. I looked over at him and knew that now was not that time. He didn't look like he wanted to discuss any of it. I decided to give him this moment.