Page 18

G old.

The word itself repeated over and over in my head. It had sent me retreating into the water fae realm and still followed me into the deep.

Gold…Emon’s eyes were gold. The sudden memory of his eyes opened up other haunted areas of my soul–ones I could no longer ignore, like the sound of distant roaring, someone in pain, unable to be saved, just like me. A sound I had never forgotten, from a time I wished I could forget.

Screaming, I punched the fluorescent coral wall in front of me.

My outburst caused the coral to disintegrate into dust that floated openly out the window of the spiral tower I was kept in.

Breathing heavily, I paused to watch the debris descend, my eyes falling on the busy city below, catching on a peculiar sight.

A small water fae pod moved cautiously through the bustling city. Despite their arrogant air, they seemed distraught. Their gills fluttered, their eyes darted erratically, and the black shine to their scales seemed extremely dull...muted even.

They weren’t the only ones.

A growing sense of foreboding pitted in my stomach and I closed my eyes, letting go of my senses to open up my aura sight.

When they opened, I gasped. A burgundy haze surrounded the water fae populace, muting their aura, and draining the life from their scales.

Instinctively, I reached for my shadows but halted, snapping my hand back with a scowl.

It was important that they remained hidden, something I had purposefully done.

I knew Kira had been watching me closely, looking for the power that once instilled fear in all fae alike.

If she thought I had lost them during Morta then she was more likely to become emboldened…

more likely to let her guard down because the shifter was right, Kira could not be trusted.

I glanced back to the pod with realization and frowned. “The darker the haze, the more muted the scales.” I whispered and then inhaled sharply . “It’s parasitic. Feeding off them.”

Slowly, I raised my hands up and exhaled, bubbles following its wake. All that glowed around me was my normal deep purple aura and black shining scales beneath.

Whatever this burgundy power was, it hadn’t affected me…yet.

The water shimmered and drew my attention to the entryway where a water fae cautiously peeked her head in. Her electric blue hair waved gently around her narrow face, matching her vibrant blue eyes, and the same burgundy film saturated her aura.

“Apologies for the interruption my Lady Solaire but I have come to prepare you for the Three Moon Solstice. May I come in?”

“Yes, of course.” I waved her in and attempted an inviting smile. “What kind of preparations are needed from me?”

She approached timidly, her slender frame, holding up a tray full of shells that I had failed to see her carrying.

“Do you not remember? The queen said you had attended before. It is tradition for us females to paint our scales to shine in the light of the three moons.” She opened one shell to show me an array of neon colored…

paints. If you could call it that, it was the same consistency as the nasty sludge that transformed me to a water fae.

My emerald green eyes narrowed and I studied the burgundy haze around her. It seemed complacent enough with its host. “Queen?”

There was only ever one queen amongst the fae and she was dead. There was nothing but an empty throne, in a crumbled ghost city, to rule over a species that was on the verge of extinction.

The water fae’s eyes widened and seemed to take up her entire face. Her gills gulped frantically. “Yes my lady. Queen Kira of the water fae.”

I withheld a snort. If Kira was vying for the throne of Faerie by claiming herself queen here then she was a fool, but it would be like her to attempt such a thing.

“Of course. Apologies, not sure what I was thinking.” Satisfied the burgundy haze around her aura was not contagious, I dropped my sight. “What do we need to do next?”

The water fae’s fear dissolved within the fluid waters we floated on and she smiled widely back. Her needled teeth not at all frightening on her petite frame. “To allow me to paint your scales.”

“How long will this take?” I eyed the paint like it would cause my certain death.

She regarded me with something akin to mirth. “About two hours my lady. I will also be tending to your hair.” She waved towards the black and blue strands that floated around me.

I glanced up at the tangled mess. “Looks like this will take some time. What is your name?”

“Bay.” She responded and then looked up after finally sorting her paints with a gentle smile. “Shall we get started, Lady Solaire?”

I smiled back through gritted teeth. How hard could a little bit of primping be?