Page 34 of Beyond the Veil (Endangered Fae #4)

Chapter Thirteen

Slattenpatte – Classification: Elemental fae

Shy and generally solitary, these Nordic water fae receive their social scale rating largely due to one exception: their insatiable hunger for the company of young human males.

D iego stood in the center of the feeding area a few minutes before the normal food drop time.

Most of the prisoners, the ones he already knew, stood along the perimeter of the sunlit area singly or in small groups.

The women stood to his right, together, but not in the tightly packed defensive group they had used previously.

The few outliers, those who had not joined in communal meals, were most likely nearby. He was counting on it.

“Ready?” Tarek murmured nearby, prepared to translate.

“Yes. Thank you, for all your help.”

Tarek laughed softly. “You’re the closest thing to hope I’ve seen in this forsaken place. I’d be a fool not to help.”

Diego spread his hands and took a deep breath. Public speaking was familiar territory, but it had been a few years.

“Magic is no more an abomination than water is. It can be used for evil or good, but then water can also be used to cleanse or to drown. Magic simply is and because you, all of you, are able to feel it, each in your own way, you have been condemned without process or trial. We have no sentences, no contact with the outside world. As far as we know, we have been left in this terrible place to die.”

He waited for the murmurs of anger and assent to die down after Tarek translated, the young doctor’s voice breaking on the last words.

“Perhaps some of you committed actual crimes, rather than simply being condemned for who you are. If that’s true, you should have been prosecuted for those crimes, not sentenced to life in this giant sarcophagus, denied the opportunity to defend yourselves.

What was done to us was done out of fear.

The government of Shera’alej fears you and so you suffer. ”

Again, he paused, waiting for his audience to catch up. There was anger on many faces, resentment and sorrow, but every person he could see still leaned toward him, attentive and curious.

“Their intent is that we should also fear each other, pitting us against each other, taking steps to ensure that we live in enough darkness and uncertainty to breed that fear. Separate and alone, each of us is doomed. Separated into small, warring groups, we have no hope and violence is inevitable. As a community, we may have a way out.”

Now there were gasps and questions shouted. Diego waited, turning to Tarek, who explained, “They want to know if you mean a way to escape. Some are saying you are mad, since once out, we would be in the desert without water, so what good is escaping the prison?”

Diego nodded, keeping his expression and his voice calm.

“You’re right. To leave these walls without a plan would be madness.

But we each have abilities beyond normal human skills.

Vadim can find lost objects. Saeed can help someone heal.

I can make doorways between places. Because of the lead in these walls”—he waved a hand at the stones around them—“I’m unable to do this here.

Once outside, with everyone’s help, I believe I could, or call to someone who can. ”

The tall woman spoke up, her voice clear and sharp. Tarek winced before he translated. “She says you are still a great fool because there is no way out and if there was, we would still be shot when we emerge.”

Diego turned to her and nodded, acknowledging her comment. “I thought both of these things true, as well. If you will all stay with me, share this next meal with me, I’ll explain how we may be able to overcome both obstacles and arrive somewhere safe for us.”

Four more figures had edged out of the shadows as he spoke.

Diego thought this might be all the prisoners except for the big man with the antisocial tendencies.

That one, he would have to deal with separately.

The tall woman still regarded him with skepticism, but she inclined her head at his response. He took it as a good sign.

The communal meal, somewhat expanded, was a more boisterous affair than before. The big man had snatched up his multiple packets, his eyes wild in alarm at the gathering watching him, but Diego got his first good look at him and thought he might understand.

When everyone had settled, Diego explained and outlined the plans already in place.

Questions and objections flew from all sides, poor Tarek hard-pressed to keep up.

The Canadian students helped with translation as well as they could to the people on either side when it became clear that one person couldn’t manage.

Finally, all the issues had been resolved except a last, glaring one. “Why should we free monsters?”

Diego took the time for a few bites of lunch before answering. He had to since the query sent shivers of rage through him and if he reacted with anger, he would undo everything. “Why wouldn’t we?” he asked the man who had spoken.

Through his translators, Diego understood the man had sputtered, “Because they’re monsters! They’re dangerous!”

Hesitating deliberately, Diego finally said, “So you fear them. As we are feared by some humans. It was the same fear that locked us all within these same walls.”

“But that’s not the same at all!”

“One of those monsters, as you call them, has lived among you all this time and hasn’t done you any harm. Another is someone I love and won’t abandon. Without them, we don’t stand a chance of getting out safely.”

“We are all from the same creator’s hands,” Saeed admonished softly.

“Everyone will go,” the tall woman called over. “The monsters are probably less dangerous than human males.”

Angry muttering from the circle of women and some shamefaced looks among the men made Diego wonder what had happened before the women had banded together.

It wasn’t a happy thought and he was glad he wouldn’t be trying to keep peace too much longer.

He ended his recital of plans with the instructions to meet back in the feeding area just after dark.

Everyone began to wander away, to find some rest, or to talk in small groups, but Diego stayed until both Finn and Nusair drifted out of the shadows to sit with him.

“I thought that went well,” Finn said, though his fingers twitched in an anxious way.

“Thought I’d piss myself laughing at what that woman said,” Nusair added with an evil grin. “Maybe we should leave the human males behind. Present company excepted, of course.”

“Of course,” Diego said with a dry laugh. “But no one gets left if we can help it. Everyone goes. You made me promise.”

“So I did.” Nusair regarded him with narrowed eyes. “Trust you to remember.”

“Yes. Now stop trying so hard to trip me up and work with me here. I have one more prisoner who hasn’t come to these meetings.”

“That oversized lout with the appetite to match?”

“Yes.” Diego watched Nusair carefully when he went on, “I think there’s something off about him, don’t you?”

Nusair shrugged. “Humans are all odd. Are you asking if I can find him?”

“That would be helpful.”

With the djinn leading, they strode down the corridor, past the first left turning, back toward the intake room.

Finn slipped his hand into Diego’s while they walked and Diego bumped shoulders with him, drawing strength and courage from his presence.

Several yards before the intake room, Nusair stopped at one of the cave-like openings dotting the wall.

The low-level lighting didn’t reach more than a foot or so inside, the black room too much like a monstrous, open mouth for comfort.

Diego was shocked when Nusair shouted into the room in English, “Come out of there, you brute! Someone wants to talk to you!”

There was a snuffle and a rustle of cloth, but no one emerged.

“Maybe yelling at him wasn’t the best way to go about it?” Finn said as he peered into the gloom. “I do see him back there, though.”

“Your eyes are better than mine, mi vida .” Diego squeezed Finn’s hand. “Could you take me in there?”

Finn sighed. “If he hits you, I do not promise to stay polite.”

“Fair enough.”

Nusair stayed, leaning against the wall, while Diego shuffled after Finn into the darkness. A few steps in, he began to speak, “I guess since Nusair was yelling in English that you can understand me. I haven’t come to take anything from you or to hurt you. I just want to talk.”

“Go away.” The voice sounded like gravel in a blender.

“I will if you want me to. But I need to ask you one question. Do you like being trapped in here?”

“No. Stupid little man. Now leave.”

“What if I could get you out?”

There was a long silence and something that sounded like a sob before the big man bellowed, “Go away!”

“How far away is he?” Diego whispered in Finn’s ear.

“About ten feet. Directly in front of you.”

Diego settled to the floor, even though he didn’t like the thought of sitting where he couldn’t see and possibly putting his hand on a large spider or worse. “I’m not going away. Not yet. You see, I think I’ve realized something about you and I think it’s something that’s made you frightened.”

“You don’t know shit. If you don’t leave me the fuck alone, I’ll tear your arms off and feed them to you.”

He patted Finn’s arm to stop his growling and leaned forward into the darkness. “Your long hair hides your ears. Your eyes are a shade no human’s should be. I think, though I can’t be sure, that you’re hiding a tail. You’re afraid the others will see.”

“I’m not afraid of those punks!”

“You’re afraid and that’s why you’re so focused on making them afraid of you. Why you take all the food you can and hide.”

“Go away,” he repeated, though this time it was a hoarse whisper.

“My name is Diego Sandoval and I’m here to help. The Fae Collective sent me.”

“They wouldn’t want me either. Fuck. Leave me alone, please.”