Page 15

Chapter Fifteen

T here is a click above our cells that echoes in a rhythmic pattern down the hall before the doors simultaneously slide open. The slotted doors disappear into the stone walls.

“Stay close to us,” Garrett says to me. He holds out his cloak to me.

I glance at Kai, who hasn’t moved, and accept the cloak. “Are you coming with us?”

Garrett steps out first, surveying left and right, and then steps further to the left, blocking the hall, and motions for me to exit.

Kai steps out of the cell without looking at either one of us, and he lingers long enough for me to slip into the hall behind him. I hold Garrett’s cloak around my body for warmth and some degree of modesty. Not knowing what else to do, I reach my hand out and brush it against Kai’s, which hangs at his hip.

He doesn’t reciprocate and my heart breaks a little more.

A blue man with a single eye on his head pushes past us, shoving Kai into the wall as he does so. He grumbles, “Watch it.”

“Cyclops,” Garrett whispers behind me. “They’re a barbaric race known for eating humans.”

“You’ve seen them before?” I ask.

“Yes. When I worked border control. They live in the Volcano Ring. More than once they’ve entered our borders and destroyed villages.”

Other beings fill the hall—beings with hunched backs and creatures no taller than my knee who must have been goblins, but a majority of them are fairies. Their wings are wrinkled and limp, and their faces are nothing short of nightmares. Their eyes are narrow and black, their noses long and pointed like their chins.

The entire space is filled with the noise of shuffling feet, grumbling voices, and somewhere far behind us, someone screams. I bite my lip and step closer to Kai.

Kai turns his head to speak over his shoulder. “I’ve heard of fairies losing their purity, but I didn’t know what happened to them.”

“What do you mean, losing purity?” Garret asks.

“Committing enough evil acts that eventually their soul withers away, as does the essence of who they once were.” He nudges his head toward a fairy tapping his nails together as he studies us.

“And apparently they end up here,” Garrett replies. He presses up against my back right as a figure with flowing robes and blue manacles floats by. “This must be a prison for the very dangerous.”

“Then why would they put us here?” I mutter.

Garrett shrugs. “Maybe they’re hoping we can die here and they can blame it on a monster instead of taking responsibility?”

I look at Garrett.

He shrugs.

“That’s an awful thing to say.”

“He’s right,” Kai replies shortly. “Stay close.”

The hall turns here and there until it ends at a tall doorway with a pointed portcullis hanging overhead, threatening to drop any moment. We step out into the blinding sunlight, and I place my hand on Kai’s back to follow him. The sunlight sends a wave of ache through my head. It’s late in the day, but the sun shines right down on us.

When my eyes have adjusted, I see hundreds of monsters and beings in the heavily guarded space. The walls tower above us and are made of black stone I know must be incredibly thick. But at the very top of the hole we are in, there are trees. This prison is very much underground. If I had a prison, it would probably be in a hole. If anyone riots, all they have to do is break one of the walls and the earth will bury everyone.

I shudder at the thought.

A creature with a man’s torso and the tail of a snake instead of legs approaches us. “New meat.” He flicks a forked tongue.

“Back off, naga,” Kai says firmly. “We don’t want any trouble.”

It laughs. “You’ve sseen my kind, have you?”

“I’m really not in the mood. And I don’t need a sword to protect myself.”

The naga raises his hands in the air innocently. “Relax. I only wanted to ssay hello. But you may wish to keep both eyess open. You musst tasste deliciouss.” He smirks and turns to slither back into the crowd.

“Think we’re going to survive until your wife comes back?” Garrett mutters under his breath.

Kai snaps a glare at him. “Of course we will.”

I swallow hard, which is difficult considering how dry my throat is. “I think I would rather stay in the cell.”

If I were an elf or bogart, I might not draw any attention at all, but being newcomers, human, and having Kai with us makes me feel like we are standing naked in the center of a city. Everyone is watching us with calculated glances.

Others walk by, staring us down, getting our scent, and eventually backing us against the wall. Garrett and Kai remain forward, both looking intimidating in my eyes. Luckily, their stances seem enough to keep most back.

A buzz reverberates through the prison, a low tone I don’t know if Kai or Garrett can hear, because I recognize the feeling of magic. Dark magic. It tastes like lightning threatening to strike at any moment.

Until a fairy approaches us. He wears a black pair of trousers, shirt, and vest. He is the first fairy I have seen in the prison who actually still looks like a fairy. His wings are orange that fades to a beautiful red, and the design is outlined with black. His hair is also a bright orange. It must have some sort of significance, because the fallen fairies all have black hair and colorless wings. Most importantly, a piece of leather covers his left eye.

“You must be the cause of all of the commotion in the land.” He extends his hand. “I am Temarilian, but you may call me Tem. It’s easier.”

Kai doesn’t move. “What do you want?”

“To be frank? I’m the only way you’re going to get out.” He tilts his chin up confidently.

Kai folds his arms across his chest. “Forgive me for not trusting you immediately. It’s been a bad day.”

The fairy finally drops his hand. “Ah. Forgive me. I noticed your friend is terribly underdressed.” His gaze darts to me. “I am only offering clothing she can have.”

It sounds wonderful to me, but neither of my protectors moves.

“Why help us?” Kai asks.

“Because, believe it or not, I’ve been waiting for you for years,” the fairy replies. His voice remains cautious and low. “Genoa is a brilliant sorceress, but she has allowed jealousy and hatred to blind her. She let her hatred grow and consume her. I know you want to get out of here, and so do I. I need to help her and therefore escape is mutually beneficial.”

“You know her?” Garrett asks.

He nods.

“And why would you think you can help her?” Kai counters.

“I want to reach her before it’s too late. You see, fairies are creatures of light.” He gestures to his wings. “Color. Joy. Curiosity. When hatred seizes our hearts, that purity and light disappears.”

Realization dawns on me. “Her colors are dull.”

His eyes dart to me. “You’ve seen her?”

All three of us nod.

“How was she?” His brows soften into concern.

“Her wings are orange,” I say. “But they’ve faded. I didn’t realize it until seeing you.”

His shoulders drop.

“But she’s still blonde and beautiful.” I don’t know how that can help, but at least she doesn’t look like the monsters looming behind Tem. I clear my throat. “How do fairies become evil enough to turn into that?”

He glances over his shoulder and then faces us again. “ That is what happens when fairies accept their darkness.”

“And will she fall that far?” Garrett asks, referring back to Genoa.

Tem draws in a slow breath. “I would like to prevent that from happening. Based on what you’re describing, she doesn’t have too much longer. We should go to my cell. Your friend can change, and we can get away from eavesdroppers.”

Kai shakes his head stubbornly. “I’m sorry, but I have no reason to trust you just because you say we should.”

I can’t blame him for not trusting anything at this moment. I can’t help but reach up and rub the side of my head as my temple pulses against the bright sun.

“Are you all right?” Garrett asks, placing his hand on my back.

I nod. “Just a little headache.”

He exhales. “Other than falling into the river, you haven’t had a proper drink of water in a while. Is there somewhere to get water?” he asks Tem.

The fairy nods and moves through the crowd.

“Did you notice how everyone moves for him?” Kai murmurs.

“I did,” Garrett replies. “And notice how the soldier straightened and bowed when he approached?”

“Are you implying he’s important?” I ask.

Kai sighs, his shoulders finally loosening. “I don’t know.” He reaches his hand up and runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m probably reading into it. This place...” He finally turns his back to the creatures in the large space to look at me properly. His gaze flickers over me. He then turns to Garrett. “Promise me something.”

“Yes sir?”

Kai grabs the front of Garrett’s shirt and leans so he’s inches from Garrett’s face. “If you get the chance to escape, you take Elowyn with you. Understand? Take her and keep her safe.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “What makes you think we’re leaving you behind?”

“It’s an order,” Kai says firmly, eyes still locked with Garrett’s.

“I understand.” He nods once. “I’ll do as you say.”

Kai releases him.

“Excuse me?” I scowl up at them. “We aren’t leaving you behind. If we even get a chance to do any of that.”

Kai turns away from me.

“What, now you’re going to ignore me? You give him an order and pretend I’m no longer here?”

“He’s trying to keep you safe,” Garrett tries. He reaches for me, but I slap his hand away.

“See, that’s what he does best. He turns his back on me and then says it’s to keep me safe.” I shove Garrett’s cloak against his chest, giving it back, and grab Kai’s arm and turn him. “You and I have been avoiding one another for long enough. If you have something to say, say it.”

Kai surveys the area. “You want to do this right here? Right now?”

“When else are we going to? When you get back to your wife? After Garrett is sold? When I’m given to that fairy for who knows what?” I tighten my hands into fists.

Kai drops his arms to his sides, and Garrett steps away but remains close in case something should happen.

“I know I should have spoken to you months ago,” I say to Kai, my voice low. “I should have asked you about your intentions and demanded an explanation and given you a chance to talk when you came over and over.” I suck in a breath because the dam holding back my flood of emotions is cracking and I’m not about to let them gush out. I wipe at my face. “I should have stopped you the day of your wedding. I should have forgiven you and told you to leave and come with me.” I turn away because the dam is breaking. I can’t be weak here! Not in this place! “I keep...ruining things. I pushed away the only friend I have, I pushed away Samuel and his family, I haven’t even...”

Kai catches my arm when I go to turn away. “You haven’t ruined anything. Well, except for that one hunting trip where you let the rabbit go.”

I look up at him and recall when I was picking blueberries in the woods and heard an animal crying for help. I ran and found it caught in a snare at the same time Kai reached it with his personal bodyguard. Kai told me that was his catch, and I scolded him for trying to hurt an innocent rabbit. He argued it was for his dinner, which mortified me. Of course I released the rabbit. Then we spent several minutes yelling at one another until he finally agreed to come to the cottage and eat something better than a rabbit.

That was the first time my mother actually met him.

I finally find the ability to swallow. “I don’t like to talk about how I feel because it doesn’t ever help. Who cares that I’ve been terrified all year? That I’m afraid to be alone? I’m afraid of what will happen if the snow gets too high or if the roof breaks, or if there’s a leak in the window I can’t fix. And no one is going to want to be my husband because I’m a freak with a purple eye and magic in a country that hates it. What good does it do me for anyone to know that?” I pull away from him.

“Wait. Please.” His voice is tight, but he lets me step away for space. “I’m more to blame than you.” His tone is full of sadness. “I avoided telling you how I felt all these years. I let my father dictate my life instead of standing up to him. Everything he did in retaliation against you was because of me.”

I face him and rub my arm. “Were you ever happy?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“As a child. Were you happy?”

“Every moment with you, I was.” He smiles his old, familiar smile.

“I should have told you ages ago how I feel,” I mutter.

“Well, you did offer me a chance to escape with you the morning of my wedding. I was the fool who went through with it. Elowyn.” His voice cracks. He lifts my chin to see his eyes brimming with tears. “I am so sorry.”

I wish I could change the past. Maybe there is a rune that can take us back? Time magic is dangerous, though. Even I know that, as illiterate as I am.

A man covered in black fur, just taller than Kai and with much wider shoulders, passes by. But in doing so, he slams his shoulder into Kai’s, shoving him hard into the stone wall. He throws a glare over his shoulder. “Pathetic human. Always in the way.”

My eyes widen.

His face is that of a wolf.

Kai growls in return and steps toward the wolf man. “What do you want? You had to have come over here and deliberately run into me?”

The wolf sizes up Kai. He grins a dangerous smile. “I wondered how long it would take you to want to fight.” He rolls his shoulders forward, making his muscles bulge, and flashes his fangs.

“I’ll defend myself.” Kai’s initial anger calms, but his tone is still dangerous. “And those I care for.”

The wolf’s eyes flash to me. “Ah. They aren’t worth your own life. Trusting women is what got me here. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see what you can do.”

Garrett steps up to Kai’s side. “He isn’t exactly alone.”

“Ooh. Two humans. I’m nervous now.” He tilts his head back and lets out a laugh that ends in a howl. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” He opens his hands by his sides and his claws curl.

“Kai. Garrett. Stop. This is dangerous,” I plead. I grab their arms. “We don’t need a fight right now,” I say, looking at the wolf. “We’re all exhausted and only want a little bit of sunlight.”

“I think your men want to show you who might be the better mate.” His grin widens across his wolf face and he lets out a growl. “When it proves to be me, you will move to my cell.”

Kai’s pent-up anger and frustration boil over. He rushes the wolf and slams his shoulder into the creature’s sternum.

The wolf takes a shocked step back and gasps a breath, but quickly reacts by driving his elbow down on Kai’s back, followed by wrapping an arm around his neck.

“Kai!” I yell.

Garrett dodges the wolf’s clawed hand as it slashes out at him and slips under to wrap his own arm around the wolf’s neck and shoulder, pinning his arm up against the side of his head and forcing the wolf to bend to the side.

The wolf’s growl rumbles deep and he reaches back, grabs Garrett, and throws him over his shoulder and into the crowd.

“Watch it!” someone shouts.

“Mind your business!” another snarls as it kicks Garrett in the head.

The wolf grabs Kai’s arm and throws him over his shoulder, slamming his back against the ground. I hear the air explode from Kai’s lungs.

I am about to reach into my pouch in search of something I can at least throw to aid in the fight when a cold hand clamps over my mouth and another grips my wrist and twists until my arm is up behind my back.

“You’re coming with me, little one,” a voice whispers in my ear as I’m dragged backward.