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Everetta

Hood up and head tucked. That's how you survive, that's how you live, at least for now. It's been some time since I quote-unquote awoke. Well to be honest it was more like an awakening. Imagine waking up in a small cot, thinking I was but a simple peasant, only to realize that, oh no you're not, and you're actually some sort of reincarnated queen. A mother fucking queen! With some long ass name, Everetta Scarlett Everden Gillian Avalar Viana Seraph Phoenix Siren Lion Wolf Griffin Chimera. Which I guess sounds pretty cool for a name.

I mean just damn.

Anyways I learned that despite being this all-powerful queen I got my powers sucked away and for some reason, I need to get it back now. How do I know all this well let me tell you. Boy, it's a long story or maybe a short story. Well, it depends on how you look at it I guess. So here's the thing, I was asleep, and then bang! I woke up, and man did I have a dream, I mean wow! There was this boy and then me, obviously.

I mean how can I not be in my own dream? That's not the point though. What is the point I think was that I was dying. I mean flat-out shuttering gasps and clinging on to life, kind of death. At least, I think the person dying was me. Cause, who wouldn't dream about themselves?

Wait, do people not dream about themselves?

Hold up getting sidetracked again. Where was I? Right, right, sorry.

And then, just as I was about to take my last breath I woke up, and then kaboom! The door to my room just flew off its hinges and low and behold there was a mother fucking stranger by the door.

I mean hello? Ever heard of privacy?

Well, this stranger turned out to be the boy from my dreams?

Holy shit, I mean holy shit! This is some mother fucking book shit right here.

I mean I almost thought I was still dreaming, when he told me about all this messed up shit.

Come on, even I would be skeptical of all the stuff he told me, and I've got a pretty imaginative imagination. But he was most definitely in my dreams, and I for one think dreams are very important in relaying messages. I mean just look at what flung my door open, a boy straight out of my dreams, and I don't mean the oh-so-dreamy kind of guy. Well, he was hot, with his blond hair and blue eyes, but the dude's got some big ass stick up his butt hole. His build seemed nice though, still slim but a nice figure. Unfortunately, the guy's still not my type. I mean a good body and perfect features might do some in but for me, the personalities got to match too and his personality sure does need some work. I mean the guy was just way too uptight.

He's always ordering me around and shit.

Like hello, I can do my own shit.

Anyways, boy proceeds to tell me all this shit, yaddie, yaddie, ya. I don't believe him. For one he proceeds to inform me I have magic, and a queen as well. Color me surprised when little ol’ commoner me found out I might be some big shot.

Of course, when he told me I still didn't believe him. It was only logical but then well, I was always very curious so, I performed his "suggested" spell and kabooie!

And when I say suggested it was more like the damn guy ordered me to. Like flat-out commanded me to. He held a knife to my throat and all. Ok so maybe he didn't, but he might as well have. Again guys got some stick wedge far up his damn asshole. So I did the spell and lo and behold I have magic. Wow, who would have thought? Certainly not me.

Damn, I have magic now, wonder what I could do?

Unfortunately, I didn't know a spell that could help me incinerate the bastard and go on my merry way without him. It was very unfortunate. Believe me, I’ve tried many, many times to trick him into teaching me said spell. He said no, multiple times.

Something bout' each fae having an affinity and gift. And how he doesn’t really know how mine works.

So here's the dealio, an affinity is what your gift would lean more towards like a verb to your noun. I think, does that make a good analogy? I don't know but anyway, a gift is what your magic stems from. For example, my gift is light, so I can't essentially cast a fire spell, cause fire and light are different. For one you can start a fire with light magic but can't conjure fire. Like you can beam a light on a magnifying glass and start a fire on a piece of paper but the light itself is not fire.

Whereas if your gift is fire then you can just light the damn thing on fire without the help of a magnifying glass.

If you're still confused one burns things the other doesn't. Also light is sort of like the opposite of dark magic. So you could think of it in that sense too. Huh, maybe I should have started explaining it that way instead.

Moving on!

My affinity however is creation, so technically I can create a spell using my light magic to start a fire in a way that would make it seem like I have a gift for fire. In essence, it allows me to use my light magic to make new spells from old spells. I could even use my affinity to use my light magic to make it seem like I could use other elemental magic or dark magic.

Eli's gift from what I gathered is ice or freezing anything. But his affinity is, hmm I don't even know yet. Maybe creation like mine? He does make a lot of things from ice, like chairs, so he could plomp his stupid ass on. He thinks it makes him look all high and mighty but honestly, if you ask me I think it just makes him look like a pompous asshole.

So here's the thing, in the Fae Realm commoners like me don't have magic, like we can't perform any spells and stuff, so I never really tried in the past. Cause you know I thought I was a simple, innocent little commoner. Plus, the one time I did try I couldn't.

At least I can't remember if I succeeded in completing a spell.

Ok, so maybe not just once. I tried multiple times, which led me to the conclusion that he was helping me cast the magic. But that couldn't be as it came out of my hands, I mean his hands weren't glowing gold. So it had to be the other conclusion, I did have magic, it was just locked until he showed up. I guess, but why?

You know I did try asking him about this but the boy literally turned and looked at me and just said something about this stupid link shit. Whatever that meant.

Something about him and me being bound together and him meeting me unlocking something chaining my magic. But if you ask me that shit is sketchy as fuck.

So this link, he's apparently like my other half or something like that, gross. Ugh, I'm shivering all over at the thought of being tied to this stuck-up prince and I don't mean the romantic kind. The goosebumps pricking every inch of my skin is what I feel at the thought of even kissing the prude. Just look at me, I'm nothing like him, like the complete opposite.

Anywho, he did explain how we are definitely not destined to get married or something like that, thank the magics. I can't even imagine getting married to a guy like that.

Now where was I?

Right. He said we had this destiny that we needed to fulfill, which was to get back to our thrones. But if you ask me he just wants to be king again. Oh, did I mention he was also a royal in the past? But that's not important what's important is why I agreed.

I'm a fae and a commoner. But after hearing about me being a past queen, and my right to the throne, who wouldn't want that power? I mean the money, just think of it, you could buy anything you want, command anyone you want, kill whoever you want. Mwah ha ha. That and anything beats living this mundane life.

After that, we traveled to fulfill our destinies!

So why the hell are we at this shabby run-down fucking bar in the middle of the woods after hiking with no carriage or escorts to carry us?

I have no clue.

I sighed looking up at the old rotten planks that were this bar. I think the ceiling was coming off.

The decently sized cabin was lit up with orange lamps spread out on the porch and from light through the windows. Which I would have to say were really just two large holes carved into the wood. The only beacon of light in this dimly lit wooded area. The veins and trees hugged the building as if to embrace the structure to become one with nature. No wonder the planks of the building were growing mushrooms on the sides, it was so damp.

"Everetta!" Mr.Prim and Proper barked against my ear, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. Man, I could’ve landed on my ass if I hadn’t been careful. Turning around to face my attacker I spotted the bright blond, blue-eyed boy glaring daggers down at me. Ugh, what now? I stood on my tiptoes because hell to the no was he going to look down on me. I mean who wants to be looked down on? Not me, it makes me feel so insecure, wouldn't you?

"Eli!" I screamed back just as his slightly dirty, manicured, and yes I did just say manicured, hands clamped down against my smiling lips, which were no longer smiling.

How dare he cover my mouth! No one stops me from speaking!

I licked his damn hands. I'll have to make sure to rinse my mouth afterward just in case. His hands were dirty after all. I mean traveling and sleeping on dirt tends to do that to both guys' and girls' hands. Let's not discriminate now.

Why did I lick his hands?

Well, no one fucking clamps my mouth.

Curling back his hands from me, with a glare still ever permanent on his face he scowled down at me. Man, how the hell does he do that, we were practically the same height. By that I mean we were both like around five feet, sad but true. We're shorties.

*Sigh *

It's not fair that he’s the only one who looks superior. I frowned. Crossing my arms over my own chest. Fine, I'll let him win this round. Rolling his bright blue eyes on me he sighed, exhausted at my antics. To be honest, I'm surprised he lasted this long.

I just love messing with him. It's so fun!

"How many times must I tell you to keep your voice down," Eli glowered even more at me as he slammed a finger against his lips. Turning back toward the room he scanned the rowdy room from the corner of his eyes. The bar was filled tonight with all sorts of fae and species. From trolls to whatever that two-head thingy is sitting in the back corner by the bar.

You know the outside looked pretty decent but the inside. It was filled with all sorts of unruly characters. And the bar, just a simple wooden slab for a table, was near the back. Stairs stood beside the bar leading to the rooms upstairs, and I so wanted to sleep in a bed for once. Who cares if their unclean anything would do besides rocks. I mean I love a good adventure but even I need some comfort in life.

Behind the bar stood a bartender, bartendress?

I don't know what do you call a woman bartender?

Behind her was a stack of alcohol. I never really was one to drink but even I could tell their options sucked ass. I mean, not even one drop of fairy wine, what about pixie brew? Such a waste. I think these people are just really here to gather information like me and Eli. Or maybe to finally rest in a bed, or find a safe place from the forest to retire their sorry asses. Maybe get directions, ok never mind there are a lot of reasons.

Rolling my own eyes back right at his stupid face I kept my arms crossed huffing out a little breath, if only to annoy him more.

Hey, got to take my victory any way I can, right?

"I'm sure that being in the middle of nowhere means no one knows us here," I argued back, cocking my dirt-stained brow as he frowned, shaking his head. Ya, he offered to clean me up with his magic but why? I mean the whole point of an adventure is to get dirty, isn't it? Contradictory to how I want to sleep in a bed but don't mind the dirt, I know. But there's a difference between a good night's rest and a soil-covered body.

Eli’s bright blond waves were curling in on themselves after days upon days of nothing but sleeping on cold solid rocks. Ya, that means no showering. Unless of course, you mean bathing in nearby rivers, which quite frankly wasn't much. Or for Eli using his ice magic to make ice and waiting for it to melt before cleaning himself that way. I prefer the river over any ice bath. Thank you very much. Of course, I could just use my magic to heat the melted ice but I didn’t remember that spell yet and Eli won't tell me a thing.

"Honestly, half the time I don't even understand what you're trying to say." Eli held his head in his hands simultaneously shaking it in exasperation. Yet despite his weary state his prim and proper tone still has yet to be lost.

I get why he's so exhausted but, don't you think I am too? I mean for magic's sake. We just walked for two weeks straight, with no breaks either. I mean after the two weeks of course Eli would let us rest but no breaks in between and even then, it wasn't like I got any conformable sleep with the pebbles and stones as my mattress. We've been going on this journey for months on end now, it would be nice to finally rest in some form of an establishment and by some I mean just a nice bed would be great.

I'm not asking for too much, just a nice simple king-sized mattress filled with the softest cushions and stuffed with the finest feathers in this realm. Nothing much. Naw, I'm just joking with you.

I just want a bed.

Any bed.

I watched as Eli wandered off to the bartender. Gripping onto his hood over his head, Eli ducked his way over placing an arm on the wooden slab used as a table. The chipped stools in front withered and molding. It seemed that even the barest touch might send the wood splintering. Then again there was a rather beefy-looking troll sitting on one of them. So maybe the stools were tougher than they seemed.

The bar was too loud for me to make out what they were saying. Given the fact that we were here to gather more information on the girl, we were going to save. I'm assuming that's what they were talking about back there. It must've been a rather brief discussion because a moment later Eli was strolling back before I could even make my way to him. His pace was arrogant as always but brisk. Despite his hood firmly pulled over his head he still managed to give off that air of aristocracy.

"Come on I heard a rumor about a girl with raven violet hair and pitch-black eyes burning down a whole town. She's currently being held in the Summer Court." Eli whispered, his hood still firmly pulled over his head as if acting suspiciously totally wouldn’t draw attention to us. I sighed, shit I hated the court there, it's always so creepy and formal. Everyone's always putting up a front. Hiding their greed behind their smiles and false pleasantries.

Oh ya, I forgot, right now we need to gather all the members of the ROYALS . And I don't mean the royals as in crowns and kingdoms, I mean the ROYALS .

There is this fae group in the realm that has really powerful magic that they use to help and rule over the Fae Realm, or so Eli says, oh ya that's the blondie's name if you haven't figured that out yet. Anyways, that is apparently the only way we could get back our thrones, or so he says. So ya, me and Eli are one of these so-called ROYALS too, pretentious names if you ask me. I wonder who came up with the acronym. Don't know what it stands for. So confusing cause like Eli and I are also the other royals, the ones with crowns. But we are also part of the ' ROYALS ' who were the most powerful beings in the realm.

Anyway, when we come together we should all be able to gain back our full strength, or magical power. At least that's what Eli told me. Ok, so he didn't really tell me that, but he hinted at it which might as well be him practically telling me it, right? So I guess theory two was correct, which explains how I was able to use magic now.

But enough of the boring stuff. Did I mention I can sense energy? Something I completely regret as it was this asshole walking away from me, who was the one that taught me about it. Wait, where the hell was he going? The blondie in his raggedy straw hood walked towards the brown rusty moldy door. His shoulders hunched.

Ya, totally not suspicious. I rolled my eyes, hurrying to follow after him.

"Hey, wait, aren't we getting some rest first?" I frowned tugging on his rough, rugged sleeve staring longingly back at the little rustic wooden building.

After days of travel in clothes that weren't even suitable for a pig. Eli only cocked a brow at me. So I cocked one back right at him. Sighing he tugged free from my grasp.

"I thought you have a spell that prevents fatigue," Magics was he annoying and that posh pronunciation of his was so not helping convince me that he wasn't some runaway aristocrat like the ones I saw in those big cities. You know if he wasn't stooping it so low with me in his rags and torn clothes I would have thought he was one. Shit, maybe he was on the run?

He did show up in bruises and tattered clothes when he came to get me though. From what I remember it didn't look anything like the clothes aristocrats wore. You know the silky fabrics that were so soft you could sleep in them. Then again, if what he said is true I suppose we're both aristocrats.

"No, I have a spell that helps us not need sleep, not prevent fatigue. We'll still feel the remnants of not sleeping." I pouted giving him all the works. Dowy eyes and pouty lower lip. But as always this stone-cold heartless monster just rolls it off.

"Asshole." I bit out as I trailed after him. And I swore the man smiled, smiled! I mean how could he, I was really tired. Ok, so being sweet and innocent doesn't work on him but cursing and shouting does?

Seriously? Does he have a screw loose or something?

You would think a man who required so many manners and proper etiquette wouldn't like cursing so much. Yet here he was smiling at my expressive words.

"Traveling at night is better, besides we already rested for an hour before. If we stay any longer we'll be traced more easily." Gripping my hand in his he led us towards and out the cabin door.

Aha! Maybe he is an aristocrat on the run! Eli told me he was a runaway slave or something like that but there was no way a slave would have the manners he did. I've seen them before, their chained necks and haunted empty gazes. It was like they were staring at nothing.

So creepy.

Then again no slave had quite the up-tight attitude he did.

"Mother shitting, friggin, asshole," I couldn't help it I had to find some way to relieve the bubbling cauldron of water in my system. I really need a little break from all this hiking. Kicking a small pebble along the path I glared at the small rock as if it was the bastard walking in front of me.

Eli ignored my bad-mouthing of him.

And to fucks with that too! Why can't he just fight back like a decent person?

This was so not fun.

The wind was at its chilliest tonight and the moon was as full as my stomach will never be again. As if sensing my need for meat, my stomach growled, protesting against my negligence towards it. I know, I know, my poor stomach, we should have never come with this asshole. Now we have to share our portions with him. Wait, what if we eat him instead? I looked around seeing nothing but bright green trees and ivory thorny bushes. I turned back facing the broad slender lines of the man in front of me.

Hmm. He won't be much but he has a decent amount of meat on him. As I started to examine the piece of flesh before me I noted the sudden breeze blowing past us, carrying the tinges of blood and ash. Pulling Eli back I could tell from his scrunched- up face in concentration that he had already sensed the shift in the atmosphere, as well.

I hadn't noticed it before but, the night sky was so cloudy and covered by the foliage of trees I couldn't. Now though when the clouds had parted and we were approaching a clearing I could sense the energy pulsing in the air. I knew what this meant.

"Werehounds," I whispered over to Eli, already gripping my hunting bow. I'd made a makeshift sling to hold my bow and arrows a while back before I left the little village Eli found me in. It was a hassle to just have it hanging against my back but it was necessary for defense. Like now.

One minute the navy blue night sky was quiet. The next sharp snapping sounds crowded the air like moths to a flame. The sky twisted into a black mist of fog, a good warning against their arrival. Goosebumps prickled along my skin as I readied myself for a fight, crouching lower towards the ground. I watched as Eli did the same, widening his feet against the soil.

Like that, the battle commenced, as the hounds charged straight at us, their snarling razor-sharp teeth chomping at the thought of sinking it into our flesh.