Page 16 of Shadows of Air and Earth (Remnant Archives)

I stood awkwardly on the lapping shores of Lac Asrai staring at tussling trolls encased in a bubble of air floating along the soft waves.

Their roars had been drowned out by the tightly sealed air of Riley's impressive power, but even so, a herd of camphor nearby danced away from the water's edge, enraptured by the comical scene but wary of what it may mean.

I shared their wariness having never seen a creature repel shadow like the trolls did in that cave.

The fact that the air elemental power worked on them and still held them prisoner was quite admirable, but confused me even more.

When moans and gasps were heard behind me, I grinned, giving the elemental twins space and walking away closer to the waters edge.

I was fairly certain I wouldn't be invited to this particular party and there were no hard feelings there. If I was blessed to love someone the way those two loved one another, there would be no goddess damn way I’d share them with someone else.

Pacing the lac's shores, I focused back on the strange red light in the troll's eyes. Pondering again on what kind of power could repel mine.

Seemingly unperturbed by this, the shadows themselves floated lazily beside me, their cloud of darkness shimmering from the reflected light on the tranquil surface of the lac.

I bit my lip as I stared up into the sun, somehow always finding its brightness both calling and mocking.

As if I was born to bask in some sort of light even if all of me was darkness and shadows.

These past hundred years had been full of trials.

First, I was abandoned by my family following the vows I made to serve the throne.

Then, Deirdre's cold withdrawal from what was once an intimate love was enough to throw me off balance.

I had foolishly thought I could rebuild Faerie and still fall in love with her dangerous silver beauty, but it was becoming more and more apparent that there was very little love left in her heart…

even if I did think at one time, mine would have been enough to see us through.

But I was never enough, not enough for her, and not even enough for my own family.

The sting from their abandonment even sharper the further Deirdre drew away.

When the soft chirp of a chickadee fluttered nearby and my shadows blocked my penetrating stare at the lac, I looked between them both with raised brows.

"I know what you both are trying to tell me," I said wistfully.

The shadows gently brushed against my face while the bird above chirped again.

"We haven't spoken for so long. I don’t know if she would even respond. "

Time was funny for immortals. Decades felt like only months, centuries like years but even with that said, the last time I had spoken to my mother, Lady Eve Dark, leader of the shadow fae court, felt like a distant memory. A painfully distant one.

When a song broke out, I looked up to glare at the warbling bird. "For goddess sake, you're going to alert every living thing that I am here! Yes, yes, I get it already but there is no guarantee that she will even know what the goddess this shit is—"

"So we are talking to birds now are we?" Xi called, her voice tense and sharp.

The shadows shimmered around me, swirling over my head as my gaze snapped back down to the approaching fae.

Xi's face was flushed but it was not the complexion of a fae who was in love.

No—it was one of continued hurt and anger and beside her, Riley followed in his own defeat.

His shoulders slumped, fists clenched at his sides, the air stirring his hair agitatedly.

Inwardly I groaned. Goddess help me, they still had not worked their shit out and it took just one look at the crossed arms of the stubborn earth elemental in front of me to understand why. Damn elementals.

"Birds, shadows," I jerked my chin up to the chickadee that chirped one more time before retreating to the skies. "It doesn't matter, I listen to all of Faerie."

Xi tilted her head, her white hair falling back over her stunning grey eyes and flawless olive skin. Her fitted green shirt and brown leathers were all back in order as well, minus her gauntlets she must have discarded. "But that is a bird, not the goddess, am I missing something?"

Twirling my hands within the smokey tendrils of the shadows, they followed the ink of my tattoos, reminding me of my vows to the darkness that were etched into my skin.

Biting at my lip with indecision before I answered.

"Faerie is within all…even just a bird. A wise fae will heed her voice no matter how small or distant they may be. "

Xi snorted, "And what is this voice telling you then?"

I sniffed, turning back towards the thick tropical trees bordering the lac. "I need to contact my mother…and there is something not right about this jungle. A chickadee hardly ever chooses open skies rather than the cover of the woods."

Together, we all peered into the thick foliage where huge, moss-covered trees with thick vines hanging from their boughs and white butterflies peeking between their dense leaves stretched wide and far.

It called to us in a haunting way, one that should have made us turn back in the other direction…

but that wasn't an option now. We were here and we had to go through this jungle to get to Lacail.

"So what about the trolls?" Riley drawled, tilting his head to the side, the slight strain to his power crinkling at the corner of his eyes. So he did have limits, this was good to know, a fae that did not, was a fae easily corrupted by power. I had about enough of those.

I sighed heavily, turning back towards the bobbing trolls, "I was hoping that whatever was controlling them would have worn off by now but it seems that isn't the case."

"What is it exactly?" Xi demanded from behind me.

Ignoring her crossness, I summoned the shadows, quickly scribbling a hasty note upon parchment, and tossing it back into the void.

The message was simple, straightforward, and lacked any flattery or sincere, heartfelt proclamations to Lady Eve of the Night Court.

"I don’t know and that is what bothers me.

I am hoping my mother will have some answers but we won't have them in time for these poor creatures.

We must get moving, reaching Lacail is of great importance and we must hurry.

I have a feeling the town will not be very safe for much longer. "

Xi sighed, "You think the seal is in Lacail, don't you?"

I watched the trolls with sadness in my eyes for the decision I would have to make here today. Whatever this power was, it was not their fault but they would pay the price. "I do."

A warm hand encased my shoulder and I dragged my eyes from the ridiculous yet sad scene and into sincere hazel ones. "I know you do not want to harm them, General, but whatever this power is, they are already suffering, at this point killing them is a mercy."

Reaching across, I placed my hand on Riley’s, patting it gently. "I know. Please keep the air around them, without it the shadows cannot do their task, and if they cannot then their deaths will not be swift and painless.”

He grunted, dropping his hand. "I can do it if you need me to, General. It can be as if they are falling asleep."

I shook my head. "No my friend, I'd rather not have the bloodshed of the innocent be on your hands." Dropping my voice low, I added, "You've had enough of that already."

He nodded, searching my gaze and seeing in them my understanding and acceptance of his past. Riley Dragoon would never need to convince me why he had done what he had—because I would have done the same.

"Keep the air around them please." I exhaled harshly, waving to the shadows and watching them open wide their monstrous jaws of darkness. The troll’s angry roars and fearful screeches were muffled but I could see the glint of fear of their impending doom in their feral red eyes.

The herd of camphor had since disappeared into the sparkling Lac Asrai, seeking refuge beneath the surface while the shadows snapped shut around Riley's air prison, silencing the trolls forever.

"Goddess," Xi whispered, "that was just as fucking terrifying as the last time and it's just trolls."

"Not helping Xi," Riley hissed over his shoulder.

Biting the inside of my cheek until I felt the sharp pain of the soft flesh breaking and tasted blood seeping into my mouth, I turned away towards the jungle.

"No need to defend me or them, Riley. I know what I am and so do the shadows.

I deal in death and they relish in making a terrifying show of it. "

"You may deal in death, Remnant Dark, but you are not immune to the pain it causes. How many times do you bleed inside when you take a life?"

Startled, I looked up at him in shock. "Enough that the scars are so thick that I barely feel it anymore," I replied honestly, watching as the shadows slimmed, floating up to me gracefully.

"Well done my loves. Now go, send word to my mother, give her the note and await her answer before you return. "

The shadows popped out of existence, and I swallowed hard against the bitter sadness welling inside and the sharp metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

Tilting my head up to the warmth of the sun, I breathed in deep. Its rays most assuredly mocked me this time, for its gentle heat had no effect on the chill that laid a new layer of ice upon my heart.

This was who I was and who I would always be. There were no tears that could thaw this frost and no light that could possibly live within my darkness.

Plastering on a look of indifference, I turned to the weary elementals silently watching me. "Let us hope the rest of our travels are uneventful."

Both of them snorted in unison and I smiled, feeling lighter just in their presence.