Page 5

Flynn

Life was boring. The constant twirls of gates opening and closing. The nonsensical chatter of so-called guests with their lines of pearl necklaces and diamond rings. The unchanging shine of glass and sapphires under the chandelier as they danced.

At least that was what it seemed at first. Until I discovered the hidden meaning behind each smile and gleaming compliment.

Everyone was just a hound, ready for their next fix of gossip. They were dogs, always vying for attention whether it be for my father or me. Seeing how cold my father seemed to be in both business and women, they all clung to me instead. Hoping to charm me into their snares. To pull me under the sheets and ensnare me in their beds.

At first, I found it a nuisance. A disgraceful display for nobility but then I learned that these leeches, these hyenas, these non-stop chatter bugs were useful. I suppose we all have our parts to play in life.

Wine tends to loosen the tongue when their heads are filled with greed and envy. Whether it be from alcohol or lust, the truth starts to spill out. Take last night for example. The dear wife of an aristocrat just accidentally spilled the little detail that the Marquis of the House of Dyrian was now filing for bankruptcy due to one of his many illegal actions. For one the man was caught in a slave trading ring. He had to have known he could only go so long hiding under the radar before we caught up to his little acts, right? Though, what use would I have for that specific information? I'm not quite sure yet but I'm sure I can find use for it later.

Gossips tend to be half-truths filled with more fantasies than actual secrets. They aren't very useful, not unless you're the one spreading them. Take Viscount Gilmore of the Kiln House, sentenced to execution for a crime he didn't remember. The man forgot his place, and I simply had to remind him of it. The man should think twice before threatening a princess of the Winter Court.

"Flynn." A voice as cold as a winter's blizzard commanded.

Turning my head from the dazzling displays of flowing skirts I looked up towards the scowling king. As always his white-blue hair was neatly styled back as he narrowed his chilly iceberg irises against mine. Never once has this man shown any emotions besides a scowl and grunt not even towards his children.

"Flynn, I need you to go visit your mother. I hear she took in a new prisoner."

Did he always have to shout the way he did? It was like he needed everyone to know what he was saying at all times. How annoying.

Yet, despite his steely attitude and raucous voice he never really elaborated much in front of others. Then again it wasn't as if he would call me in later to discuss finer details either. He never did. Perhaps he didn't trust his children as well. You can never be too careful, especially around others. Not even the servants. They tend to spread the most gossip, whether it be imaginative or outright lies. But I already knew what he wanted.

If my mother, the Summer Queen, took any prisoners it wouldn't have normally been any of our concerns. Except this time I heard the prisoner was special in some way. It's said she could commune with the stars. An oracle, or so the rumor mill gossiped. As I said, these jubilees do have their purpose. Most of the gossip I heard comes from these so-called dances after all. It seems my father has heard the news too. I nodded looking up at my Father's ice-cold blue eyes and unwavering bulky rigid stance just like his heart.

I could practically read the disappointment oozing from his pores. He's already mentioned it a couple of hundred times. Why I, the heir to the Winter Court, could never fight like a true man. How I was so limp that I could barely lift a sword. He's made it abundantly clear how he's always wanted a stronger, more powerful son than the scrawny stick of a boy I was. Compared to the wall that was my father, anyone would look like a stick. But I suppose with my lack of skills I was even more of a fragile twig than anyone else. If it wasn't for my physical appearance of pale blue hair and cobalt eyes, I was sure people would have questioned my birth, what with my lack of physique.

My body just wasn't made for combat. I've tried. I just couldn't hold a sword no matter how many cuts and bruises I endured. The hours of training seemed like nothing when you look upon how weak I appear.

Placing a hand to my right chest I bowed respectfully, after all, he was still the king, "Of course Father,” I bowed my head in a sign of compliance, barely holding back the bite from my tone.

Just because I was weak didn't mean I couldn't fight using other means. I nearly wanted to shout back at my so-called Father. I had tried to prove to him that strength might lie in other tasks. But as always he wouldn't hear of it. Even if he was king, he was still trash to me. He's never shown the least bit of interest in anything me or my sister had done. Sometimes I wish he would just show us some form of love. Even just one acknowledgment of an achievement we completed would have been enough. Give us some sign he cares for us. Why else would he keep us around? Why would he keep me around?

I used to wonder how I could even be remotely related to this beast of a man. Then again it wasn't as if I was as innocent as everyone believed me to be. Like I said I can fight just with other means than brute strength. Only the king and my sister knew of my true intentions behind every smile and act of kindness. The sneaky tricks pulled in the shadows were never really my father's style but it was mine. Unfortunately, this too was a disappointing behavior for my so-called father. If it wasn't a show of physical power, it was nothing. Even if it did keep him from getting his head chopped off.

"Father's sending you away again?" Snow questioned, her lips curling down at the sight of the servants preparing my luggage.

Normally servants would have also done the packing but honestly, I couldn't trust any of these ants. After all, who knows what poisons they could have doused on my clothes? I should know, I've killed a man with that very technique. Multiple times in fact. So instead I packed them myself. Only allowing the servants to place my luggage into the carriage.

"It shouldn't be a surprise by now. You know father doesn't think much of me."

Now would be a great time to pat her head, to give her some form of comfort from my departure. The issue was if I did I would only cause that wrinkle in her brows to crunch closer together.

Against the beams of the suns, her hair looked white but when you peered closer at it for long enough it had a slight turquoise tint. As it should, all Winter Court citizens had the same features. And her eyes, it was just like our father's, cold and calculating. But, whereas our father's eyes held nothing but a void of emotionless steel, Snow's held a small sliver of warmth.

"Why do you let him do this to you?" She scowled up at me looking for the world like she could change this somehow. But, we both knew Father's word was law and that was that.

I shrugged, sighing a little. With her flawlessly manicured nails and perfectly poised posture, she reminded me of something else.

I'll never be, regal. I've never had that formidable presence, and no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't. No room silenced their chatter when I stepped foot in, not like they did for my father and sister.

"Snow, you know I have to," I lifted one of my luggage into the waiting carriage, resigned to my fate as always. What else could I do, he was the king.

My father had always preferred my sister over me. Perhaps it was because she was willing to use that so-called strength I lacked. Despite her slim figure, she could pack quite a punch with both her magic and physical strength. I can't say I'm not a little jealous. I am, but I'm glad he at least can feel some kind of compassion for Snow. She was my precious little sister after all. It would shatter me to see our father treat her just as poorly as he treated me

"He's the king.” Really if I had any choice I would stay. If my father was bad my mother was a whole different mess to handle.

Snow just rolled her eyes. Looking back at the carriage she sighed.

"He's still our Father , shouldn't he at least have some leniency." She bit out with the word ' Father' like it was poison on her tongue. It was hilarious really. How despite our father's affection for Snow, she loathed the man.

Giving me a small hug and her wishes for my safe travel was the only thing she could do. Because no matter how much favor my Father granted her she too was never able to convince my father to do anything he didn't want to do. I felt the sliver of cold lick at the nape of my neck as I placed one foot atop the small snow-covered step of the carriage. With a slight bow, the coachman sealed my fate behind blue cushions and shiny sapphires.

I watched from my seat in the carriage as we pulled away. My dear little sister waved back her emotionless mask plastered back on her face.

I sighed as I watched my little sister go back through the giant iced double gates because they were gates, not doors. I don't see how anyone can think that the big chunks of carved ice were doors. The intricately carved swirls and curves display two wolves on their hinds, pawing at one another.

I tried casting away the anger, annoyance, and disappointment I felt towards my father. So focusing on something else I cataloged my plan for the journey in my mind. I'll have a week's travel to the Summer Court. That should be enough time to read through the following books I've brought along. Plus, I'll be able to purchase new Summer Court novels when I arrive.

"My dearest child." My mother exclaimed her bright golden hair shining in the Summer Court's beaming sun. It was always hot in the Summer Court, it was the Summer Court after all.

Her bright blue eyes filled with the warmth my fathers lacked. Sometimes I wondered how in the world they got together. But then I remembered just how many people she'd killed with that smile. For all her warmth and kindness, there was just as much dark ill intent behind every smile she beamed. Perhaps that was where I had learned my sneaky ways from. I wrapped my arms around her, wary of her true motives. Because as welcoming and openly affectionate as she was, she must have known what I was here for. It's not that she didn't always greet me when I visited. But, with my mother, you never knew what you could expect. Most people believe she was an angel, but that was all just a facade.

"How are you? Oh dear, I wish you'd visit me more often and not just because of your Father's dumb ' requests '. Honestly, what did he send you here for now?" To anyone watching, this might have seemed like an innocent question. Simply a mother mourning over not being able to see her son as much. All the while she was painting my Father in a bad light. Of course, I didn't mind that last part.

She might have everyone else fooled but I knew what she meant. She wanted to find out why I was here, to prevent me from completing my task . The only thing I don't understand is why she was asking me this so publicly in the eyes of the servants at that. Or maybe that was why. To make her look like the caring kind-hearted mother she tries to persuade everyone that she is. She wanted to control the situation. So, if I had told her I wanted to see the prisoner she would try and prevent me from seeing said prisoner for my ' own good' . My mother knew how to twist things in her favor. She would make up some excuse to make it seem like she was protecting me from the prisoner. Who despite being behind bars would still be able to hurt me in some way. Or so she would claim. It's happened before, back when I was too naive to fend off her “ good intentions” .

The look in her eyes already told me the rumors of said prisoner were true. Perhaps she already suspected my visit and had stashed said prisoner somewhere I wouldn't know. So, just why is this prisoner so important? All the more reason to be careful. I smiled softly towards my mother. In her high heels, I was an inch or two under her. So, it was a bit hard to not feel like I was looking up at her. She was already tall enough without the heels. Normally in her bare feet, I would be just slightly taller with my five feet and seven inches.

"Well, I'm actually here to just see you. Father's not feeling well as of late, so he sent me." I plastered my best fake smile on my face. Not a lie he wasn't feeling well, he never feels " well " in the sense that he's happy. And he did send me here. This excuse should be fine seeing as how many of my real visits were like this. I either was visiting because of my father's wishes or to escape my father. Sometimes my father's expectations were just too high for me to carry out and I sometimes sought the rescue of my mother's sly embraces. At least the latter was what I wanted her to think.

I had wondered whether I should make up some lie about being here on a different task or not. I decided not to. Instead, I'll just tell her half of the truth. It would be more believable. Then at night, I'll fake out another task I was “ sent here to do ” while I went to see the prisoner. To do that I'll need to gather more information. I sighed inwardly at the pawing hands I'll have to endure, because we fae, especially the nobles, weren't so selective about our sexual desires.

Same sex or not we didn't care so long as we got what we wanted. I was a guy with needs so I've had my fill of both types. Despite my lack of muscles I was still appealing to both women and men alike. I was the Prince of the Winter Court after all. And nothing was more open to sexual exploits than the Summer Court, second only to the Fall Court.

"Well, your room is already prepared as always. I'll wish to have dinner with you in a few hours." My mother as always already picked up on my habits. She wanted to keep more tabs on me and what better way than to dine with me?

I nodded noting how the sun had yet to set. So after setting my things down, I headed out to the Summer Courts' capital city. I was looking for new books to read when a hair as bright as summer itself caught my gaze. It was covered in masking magic but let's just say my magic or affinity helped me distinguish between lies and truths. Even if the lie was a glamour. I turned to catch the small figure but she was gone a moment later.

Her eyes, the small glimpse I was able to see was enough to lure me in like a fish on a hook. I blinked, and for a moment I thought of pushing past the wall of guards around me. But, that would be illogical, not for someone I barely knew. Yet still there was something about her. I shook the thought away.

I... probably won't see her again, right?

Yet, I couldn't help but wish that wasn't true. I looked back again frowning as if I'd missed something very important. The whole day I'd just been going through the motions never truly getting that ray of sunshine out of my eyes.

Suddenly, I felt as if an invisible force was dragging me towards her.

I was coming out of one of the five bookstores I'd already visited that day. None of which contained any books I didn't already have. There amidst the blood apples and tangerines a small petite girl, merely five foot tall, was buying something from a nearby white marbled stand. What it sold I couldn't tell with all those people blocking me. But I think I knew that the person beneath that brown tattered peasant hood was her. As if in a trance, I headed towards the booth hoping to catch the beauty, only to find her missing from the stand. I frowned. Where could she have gone?

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

I blinked, turning towards the familiar yet foreign voice. And there she was. The bright glow of her burning golden hair and eyes like that of the sun. Nothing like I'd ever seen before was staring right back at me.

"I- I beg your pardon?" I blinked rapidly, not sure if I heard her correctly.

Had she truly just addressed me?

Her soft small hands planted on her narrow waist as she looked up at me. Her lightly golden brown brows drew together as if they were confused, trying to figure me out. She was staring at me. Lords, she was so pretty. Couldn't make out much with how the sack she wore obscured her body and face. But I didn't need to see it with my eyes. It was as if I already knew how she should look. A petite button nose, lush kissable lips, vibrant golden eyes that churned like the tides of the sea. I blushed looking down at my shoes, the image was so vide it was like the hood atop the girl's head wasn't even there.

"I-I umm. I-I- I wasn't."

Lords, why was I so flustered? I didn't even know the girl.

Said girl only rolled her eyes, seemingly annoyed with my answer.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to boss me around again another cloaked figure came around dragging the girl by her hood. It was too fast for me to help her. To grab her back. I didn't want her to leave yet. Lords just give me a few more minutes. Reaching a hand out I grasped onto nothing. I was too late the boy had already taken her pulling her behind him. His frame although not so much different from hers was enough to cover her view from my sight.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to intrude." The deep yet aristocratic tone told me he was male. Hopefully not her boyfriend. I couldn't help but scowl at the beautiful bella getting away from me. He was dragging her away his hands firmly gripping the girl's smaller ones as they danced through the wave of fae in white and gold. One would think finding their dirt-colored rags would be easy to spot amongst a sea of fine white silk but they must have used a spell to cloak themselves. How have others not noticed their different clothing choices? Everyone else wore chitons, robes, and peplos. What they wore should have caused a ruckus of horror.

I wanted to chase them down but I couldn't. If I did my mother would find out, and then who knows what she might do if she found out that something had finally caught my eye.

Before I knew it he and the girl were gone. However, I caught the ice-cold blue gaze of the boy for a split second. It was the same shade of ice blue as Snow's but as cold as my Father's. I'd know that chilly glare from anywhere. As I thought about the fact I wondered if perhaps those two had just been my parents in disguise. They could have used some glamour spell. Maybe that was why I was drawn to the girl and why the boy had dragged her away, but, no. That can't be correct, right? My parents have never been that involved in my life before. My abilities would have allowed me to see through their magic.

I mean, what I felt was. Well, what I felt couldn't possibly be aimed at my mother. Plus, the boy's hair was blond, wasn't it? At least the small glimpse I caught from the boy's hair was blond, or perhaps it was the girl's. They looked so familiar to one another. On the other hand, my father was the exact opposite of my mother in the looks department. So I highly doubt they would both cloak themselves so similar to one another like that unless it was to further deceive me. But cloaking magic was hard to cast, let alone masking something so brilliantly bright as that girl's hair. It also didn't look like my mother's hair. My mother's hair never had that same brilliance. Either way, what reason would they even have to stalk me in the city? They both knew I only ever would go to bookstores. That and I could never imagine my parents getting along together in any capacity besides the bed on occasion. One thing was for sure I needed to see that girl again.

That night after dinner, I'd left to find the prisoner. And lord was she hidden deep, my mother definitely knew I was going to search for her. That or she was so special she was placed farther away before I even came. After all these cages were specifically designed to contain dark magic holding fae.

I crept closer to the cage despite the rotting rows of corpses and decay reeking in the air. You heard me right, the lovely sunny Summer Court Queen keeps prisoners, even more so than her sister, the Spring Maiden or Fall Dutchess, ruler of both the Fall and the Spring Courts. After overthrowing the Duke of Fall she took over both courts.

I peered closer beyond the cage, frowning at the stinging rose scent of the steel barred bars. Noting the small charcoal look they have but because of the enchantment, they will never break. No matter the amount of rust they sport it will never crumble. For a moment, I thought I was scenting poison in the air. But, no it was just my mother's lingering scent.

There inside the very last cage sat a girl. Her arms wrapped around her knees curled up near the far right corner of the dingy room. Her clothing was ragged with hay sticking out here and there. The hay had no doubt been from the floor, sprawled here and there. But she wasn't huddled because she was scared, I noted. No, she was simply holding herself to keep warm. How do I know? Because she didn't have the lack of hope or cloudy look in her eyes most prisoners did. I was a bit impressed given the state she was in. Her clothes were tattered around her soaked in blood and mud. Yet there the girl held herself as arrogant as a peacock.

It was as if she was waiting for someone.

I frowned, from the looks of it my mother must have put her through hell but yet there she lay, calm and as sane as ever. I've seen countless men twice her size break down in mere seconds after even just an hour of my mother's torture. So why not her? I was tempted to look back as if the person she was waiting for was right behind me. But I knew the moment I did she could attack. She was a prisoner after all. Despite my mother's spell on the bars hinted by the heavy rose scent. Now that I thought about it, it always came when my mother used her powers. Which answers the first question, my mother hid this person, a girl by the looks of it, away before she even knew I was coming here. There was no way so much magic could have accumulated here in such a short time. Or perhaps she knew I was going to come here for the prisoner and had the spell cast beforehand?

I covered my tracks with a makeshift doll in my supposed bedroom, so no one would think otherwise. The hazy smell and the foggy room would make me look a lot like my pillow self currently tucked under my covers.

"You're finally here." I heard the girl say, her raspy voice almost a whisper. No doubt because she hasn't drank much water. Yet I get the feeling that she wasn't whispering from dehydration but that this was simply how she talked.

I frowned peering through the bars at the scrawny girl sitting elegantly by the corner of the floor. Or as elegantly as she can in those rags. She unwrapped herself as if she was tired. She was like a cat who'd just awoke from a long nap extending out her limps the way she did. As she inched forward towards me I noted the long raven violet hair and purple night-colored eyes.

Suddenly she tilted her head as if she sensed something, “I see you've already met. Well, that is inevitable, you will meet again, for now, you must leave. You don't want to be here when they come." Her glance towards the door pulled my attention towards the heavy barrier as well just as an explosion erupted, alarming every guard in the castle.

A voice so familiar, so aristocratic, sounded through it all, "Oh bloody hell! Everetta! I told you to keep it quiet!" I recognized that voice, it was the boy from this morning. Which means, Everetta was the girl from this morning.

She must be.

*Boom!*

Another explosion.

Startled, I blinked confused as to what was happening. Then I recalled the girl's words. Was this her rescue party? Was this prisoner and that girl, Everetta, related in some way? I turned towards the door as if it was about to come unhinged at any moment. Yet, I also hoped she would be behind that door, why ? I was confused for a moment unsure of why I was feeling this way towards a girl I barely knew. Yet, my body seemed to crave her. The girl in front of me sighed, catching my attention once again, “Honestly, must they always be so energetic."

It was as if she already knew this would happen. As if she was bored of this jailbreak attempt.

So they were her rescue party then.

A voice as heavenly and lively as an angel of glee danced past my ears catching my attention as my head whipped back to the door, hungry for another fix. "Damn it now they know my name, Eli. And here I thought I was going to be all like mwahaha, and now remember your killer Everetta Von Gildenstin!" The voice said, the voice of that girl, Everetta.

Everetta that name sounded just as angelic as she was. I wanted to run. To go to her. To see her again. Just as I made a move to do so, the prisoner‘s arm struck out like a cobra hunting its prey. Her slender fingers closed around the pulsing throb of my veins. She shook her head as if reading my thoughts. As if she knew of my intentions, of my unexplained longing.

"You will see her again." She spat as though she hated the fact.

"But first you must remember. Remember who you are. Find a potion, or learn how to make it. Recover your memories, I know you can. Until then don't come back here, and don't go near her, please." Looking into her purple irises was like staring into a whole galaxy. Yet despite their beauty horror still pierced their depths. The girl looked over at the door again as if it was about to explode open any moment from now. The grunts of guards falling and the sounds of metal clashing might as well be the ringing of bells on a wind chime compared to the rushing need overtaking my senses . I can't let her get away this time.

We both stared at the dull dark board of oak because I knew, and I think she did too, that the girl and the boy were going to come through it this time.

"Oh please, that's not even your real name!" The boy's prime and proper tone came through the wood frames once more, closer this time.

A pause, grunts, something heavy dropping, then, "Ya, but my actual name is way too long to say." The girl's voice echoed into the cells again. Everetta, her name was Everetta.

I pouted, longing to go to her. To be with her. No, I needed to be with her and make things right. Fuck, I moved but the girl pulled my hand back her scrawny fingers still gripping my wrist like it was her lifeline. She sure had some strength despite the skeletal figure she sported with her gaunt cheeks.

"You will see her again." The girl repeated this time more determinedly.

"I promise."

Something about her sorrowful pitiful eyes but confident glare told me I should trust her, despite not even having spoken with her for more than a minute.

"But go, return to your Father's castle... We'll come within-" The girl closed her eyes as if to remember or to see something. Though I wouldn't know how she could see with her eyes closed, just as another explosion sounded. Perhaps with her eyes closed I could free myself. Maybe I could finally have what was mine. I tried yanking my arms free but it was like pulling a sword stuck in a stone.

"-Two weeks, give us two weeks, and you'll see her again in two weeks. Now please leave, you must go."

The girl stood closer to the bars now. I hadn’t noticed she’d moved, when did she move?

As if she knew I wouldn't leave until I saw the girl, Everetta, again something purple coasted over my body.

I looked back once more at the wooden steel barred doors, my heart aching for one last glimpse of her golden waves. For beyond that very wooden barrier was her. But, something told me I needed to listen. Like a whisper in the wind telling me to leave, that my wish would come true if I gave it time. So instead of following my body's wishes, I nodded instead. Before I knew it I was in my mother's prepared guest suit for me just as a guard burst into my room.

"Your Highness, there’s been a breach in the castle. Please, follow me to safety." The guard panted out as if he’d been running to get to my room. I agreed, already scrambling to prepare a viable excuse for my mother if the guard noticed my black attire as I stood in front of my bed despite there already being a lump under the covers.