Page 15 of White Little Lies (Four Ways to Fate #3)

15

Sebastian and Crispin both held on to me as I lurched forward onto a smooth dirt path. Lush grass edged the dirt, swaying with an unfelt breeze. It was night here too, at least I was pretty sure it was night. High overhead, an archway of interlocking trees and vines completely sealed us in. Like Seraphina had predicted, there were no guards to greet us. Strangers never came through their portal.

Finally regaining my equilibrium, I put my hands on my hips, glaring at Crispin with Ringo still on his shoulder. “You weren’t supposed to come!”

He crossed his arms and lowered his chin. “I’m not the one who made the portal explode outward to swallow us.” He smiled then, looking around. “Although I do appreciate you grabbing on so I didn’t get tossed somewhere else. I don’t think any of us would have made it here if we weren’t touching you. ”

Ringo scurried down from his shoulder then hopped over to me, climbing up my clothing before I could kneel to accommodate him. “We will help Aaliyah.”

Dammit, he was right. Aaliyah’s safety was what was important now. We needed to find her and get her out of here, or find her parents and convince them the threat of the poisoner was real. They had only seen their daughter after she was recovered. I had seen her unconscious and near death.

I looked both ways down the path. Behind us was a solid wall of wood in the area the portal should be, and in front of us was the gloomy walkway, shrouded by leaves and branches. “I guess we start walking.”

“You could attempt jumping again now that we are in the realm,” Sebastian suggested.

“Yeah no way. I’m not trying to travel with all four of us.” I peered dubiously down the path. “Let’s get moving.”

Crispin made a dramatic gesture, like a fancy butler holding a door open.

I narrowed my eyes at him as I walked past. “You’re not mad at all that you got pulled through, are you?”

“It’s been many years since I was able to travel to another realm.” He walked at my side, glancing around at the impressive archway. There were enough breaks in the upper branches to let little slivers of moonlight through, just enough to barely light our way.

Sebastian caught up to walk at my other side. “ According to Seraphina’s map, the first dwellings should not be far. It will be simple to avoid the well, for now.”

“Yes,” Crispin agreed. “We are fortunate it is a small realm.”

I wove closer to him to avoid a divot in the path. “You didn’t even see the map.”

“I did so. Sebastian has it folded up in his pocket.”

“Shh,” Sebastian hissed.

I stopped walking. “You stole it when we weren’t looking!”

Dancing embers in his eyes were the only hint of light in the shadows where he stood. “Are you not glad to have it to guide our way?”

“Yeah, but you hid that you took it. That can only mean you want it for something nefarious.“

“Or perhaps I simply knew you would accuse me of something nefarious, and did not want to deal with the inevitable argument when your little nymph may be running out of time. Like she still is now.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “But you better not have any ulterior motives. No harming the nymphs or tricking them into contracts.”

I started walking again, anxious to find Aaliyah, and they both fell into step on either side of me.

“So what is our plan once we reach the dwellings?” Crispin strolled along, paying no mind to mine and Sebastian’s argument. Of course, he was used to the arguments by now .

“According to Seraphina, Aaliyah should be in her chambers. We just have to avoid any nymphs on our way there.” My eyes darted up, catching another flash of moonlight through one of the cracks. “Hopefully everyone will already be in bed. They mostly just guard their well, and we don’t need to go anywhere near it.”

“And if someone spots us before we can reach Aaliyah?” Crispin pressed.

I shrugged, slowing as the end of the path came into view. Soft light, maybe from candles or lanterns, cast a dull yellow glow across the ground ahead. I could hear running water and a few night insects, but no voices.

“I could create a distraction, if necessary,” he whispered.

I finally really looked at him, not just with my eyes, but with my senses. He was absolutely abuzz with energy. “There’s more magic in this realm for you to use, isn’t there?”

He had confided in me before that coming to our realm was like a slap in the face. In his homeland, magic was plentiful, and he was extremely powerful. Here, he was diminished, and could no longer forge complete paths to the other realms.

His blue eyes danced with mischief. “Not as much as in Elvalanor, but far more than I’ve been accustomed to as of late.”

I narrowed my eyes. Elvalanor was not the true name of the elven home realm, but it was one us mere humans could actually pronounce. “No magic unless absolutely necessary.” I turned around, my finger already lifted to point at Sebastian, but his attention was on the tunnel opening.

Without warning, he grabbed me, pressing us back into the shadows. Ringo clung to the hair at the nape of my neck, shivering against my skin. Reacting more quickly than I ever could, Crispin pressed himself against the opposite side of the tunnel.

Whispering voices came near, and we all fell silent to listen.

“We are running out of time.”

“No one suspects a thing. We can still make this work.”

“Not with so many drawing from the well.”

The voices faded as they walked past.

I turned toward Sebastian. “Can you follow them?“

“Why?”

I rolled my eyes. “Because they sound super suspicious. They might be the ones who poisoned Aaliyah.“

“Fine.” He gave me a quick irritated look, then disappeared in a cloud of darkness. I wasn’t sure if his magic was increased here too, but as long as he was as good as he was on earth, he would be fine.

The rest of us, however—I looked at Crispin. “Let’s go. We still need to find Aaliyah.”

We crept toward the edge of the tunnel, but it was too narrow for us to see much of the surroundings beyond. “Can you scout ahead a little bit?” I asked Ringo. He was the size of a small animal, and there were probably plenty of those scurrying about in a realm of nymphs. In the darkness, he should be fine.

I knelt as he scurried down my arm, lowering him to the ground to scamper out of sight.

“Wow,” Crispin said softly. “And here I had assumed the little guy was completely useless.”

I glared at him. “That little guy has saved my life. Or at least saved me from being kidnapped.”

“How?”

I smirked. “Sharp teeth. He is also extremely handy for eavesdropping. And all he wants in return are various forms of potatoes.”

Ringo scampered back into sight and we both crouched in front of him for his report. He looked beyond excited to be helping out. “Lanterns in the direction of the dwellings. A few nymphs milling about the walkways, but if we stay in darkness, we can probably avoid them.”

“Perfect.“ I held my hand out for him, lifting him back to my shoulder.

“Turn right out of the entrance and walk close to the trees,” Ringo’s little voice chittered in my ear.

I led the way, peeking my head out before following with my body. I did as Ringo instructed, keeping my back pressed against the trees forming the tunnel. I could see what he was talking about now, and where the light was coming from. The residences were small and dome shaped, placed in large circles around walkways lit by torches. I could see a much larger dome beyond, and knew that’s where the well resided, according to Seraphina. There were some woods and rivers beyond that, but that was the extent of it. Nymphs usually resided in our own realm, but created pocket realms for safe dwellings. The realms always centered around the well, the source of their power and clan connection.

We crept along, keeping to the tree line. I knew Aaliyah’s room wasn’t in the first set of residences, but the one beyond, closer to the well.

I froze at the sound of a door opening, and a tall male nymph emerged from the nearest dwelling. He was close enough for me to watch his profile as his brow furrowed, then his head started to turn our way.

Crispin yanked me to the ground. I felt a flutter of his magic as the grass grew a little taller around us, completely concealing our hunched forms.

My heart thundered in my throat as we waited, then I heard the soft sound of footsteps walking away from us. I waited another minute before I let my breath whoosh out of me. “Nice going,” I whispered.

Crispin parted the grass enough to peer outward, then stood and offered me his hand.

I took it, even though he would know how much I was shaking. I really didn’t want to do battle with nymphs just to get Aaliyah to safety.

Crispin stepped close, his eyes watching our surroundings. “Are you alright? You can go back to the tunnel if you need to. I can try finding her on my own.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. “No. She doesn’t know who you are.”

“Fair point.” With the coast entirely clear, he looked at me. “I just don’t like seeing you afraid. You weren’t so fearful when we faced the fae.”

I managed a small smile. “I was working on pure adrenaline then. Somehow sneaking around is far more terrifying.”

He squeezed my hand. “Just follow my lead. The magic here flows through me easily. I can conceal us again if needed.”

He kept hold of my hand as he started leading us further along. Eventually we had to leave the tree line of the tunnel, veering around the back of several domes toward the cluster where Aaliyah would be located.

It occurred to me that had I just allowed myself to trust Sebastian, I could have sent him straight to Aaliyah to convince her to come with us. It would have been easy enough for him to find her with the map, and he could just poof right back to the start of the tunnel if anything happened.

But I hadn’t trusted him. If it was more convenient to sacrifice someone, I didn’t trust him not to do just that. I just didn’t know enough about his motives to think otherwise.

Crispin and I crouched back down in the grass as we studied the next circle of homes. Small, oval panes of glass were the only windows, and most of them radiated with light. It wasn’t late enough for everyone to be asleep.

“It should be that one,” I whispered, pointing to one of the homes. I nudged Ringo with the side of my face. “Do you think you can go peek through that window to see if she’s in there.”

Without answering he hopped down from my shoulder, then scurried through the grass, entirely concealed.

I watched his dark shape as it hopped up onto the small ledge bordering the pane of glass. He peered in for a moment, then dropped back down.

A moment later, he crawled back onto my shoulder. “She’s in there!”

A voice cleared behind us, and my heart fell to my feet.

“And just what do you think you’re doing peering through my daughter’s window?”

Crispin and I stood shoulder to shoulder before a tall male nymph with Seraphina’s strong jaw and sharp eyes. He wore a white robe, almost like a toga, contrasting with his blue tinted skin. Though Seraphina took after his appearance, I would guess his magic was more akin to Aaliyah’s. Water instead of earth.

Behind us were four more nymphs with honest to goodness swords pointed at our backs. One of them held Ringo by the scruff of his neck.

We had been led to one of the larger domes, lit by smooth glass lanterns. I imagined it was usually a meeting hall, or a place to gather for meals, but now it had turned into a courtroom.

I winced as a blade nudged my back. “Speak, human.”

Either they couldn’t sense my celestial blood, or they didn’t care to try. “I already told you.” I aimed my pleading eyes at the male nymph, Fiorus. “Your daughter is in danger. If you just bring her here, she can tell you what happened.”

It felt like his sharp eyes were trying to bore holes through my skull. “My daughter risked the dangers of the city, and she paid the price. She was lucky to make it back to us. You have no business here.” His eyes narrowed. “Though first I must know how you came to be here. Only our people can pass through the portal.”

I wasn’t sure if it would be helpful to point out that his words obviously weren’t true, since we had indeed come through the portal. Probably not. “Her uncle, your brother , was poisoned too. Surely you can entertain the idea that the same happened to Aaliyah.” I actually wasn’t sure if it was his brother or her mother’s brother, but I figured my odds were fifty-fifty, so I took a shot.

Fiorus’ nostrils flared. “He went out into the city and was cursed because of it. Not poisoned.”

My eyebrows shot up at that. I had thought Aaliyah was just being childish when she thought her uncle was cursed. “We gave her a poison antidote and it cured her. It wouldn’t have cured a curse.”

“She was not poisoned,” he snapped.

“If I may—” Crispin started to step forward, but a blade lifted to his throat. He went stiff, then stepped back into line with me. “Perhaps your daughter should be the one to explain what happened.”

“There is no need to explain what we already know.” Those intense eyes turned back to me. “Now tell me how you came into our realm.”

I almost told him, but if that was all he wanted from us, would he kill us once he knew? The blade at my back felt very sharp and very real. If we got out of this alive, I might have a slice in my jacket to show for it.

“Your daughter is in danger,” I said again. “Once I know she’ll be safe, then I’ll tell you how we got here.”

“She is safe within her home.” He strode closer, trailing his white toga around his strong body. He was a good head taller when he came to stand right before me, and he had to lean forward to put us eye to eye. “And I will not be fooled into believing you care for her safety.”

I swallowed audibly. With a sword at my back and an imposing nymph in my face, I was not a happy camper. I didn’t want to give away Seraphina and Aaliyah’s connection, but keeping their secret wouldn’t do much good if we were all dead. Well, everyone but Seraphina. She was relatively safe on the other side of the portal .

Everyone jumped as a cloud of darkness burst into life near me, quickly forming into Sebastian. All the blades instantly pointed his way, but he was looking at Fiorus.

It only took Fiorus a few seconds to recover from his shock, then his eyes went wide with fury. “What is the meaning—”

Sebastian calmly extended a rolled parchment his way, giving no acknowledgment to the swords practically slicing his shirt. “This will explain everything.”

Fiorus hesitated, then took the parchment, his outraged expression melting into confusion as he unrolled it and started reading.

I shifted nervously, my palms sweating as we waited for a reaction. I had no idea what the parchment might say, but at least with Sebastian here I might stand some chance of not getting stabbed. He could at the very least create a distraction for the rest of us to get to the portal. Though I would need to figure out how to snatch Ringo back first.

Fiorus finally lowered the parchment. “This isn’t possible.”

Sebastian stepped closer to me, and all the swords followed him. “I assure you it is.”

I slid my eyes toward him, hoping for some sort of explanation, but his attention remained on Fiorus.

Fiorus lifted the paper, glancing hesitantly at the guards, then back at Sebastian. He lowered his voice. “Where did you get this? ”

If I had someone looking at me that intensely, I would have flinched, but Sebastian merely smiled. “Perhaps you’d like to speak of this privately.”

“I do not even know who you are. Why would I speak with you about this?” He encompassed me and Crispin in his attention. “ Any of you.”

“If we were not here to help,” Sebastian said, “I could have taken that parchment elsewhere .”

The parchment crinkled in Fiorus’ hand.

I glanced at Crispin, but it was clear he also had absolutely no idea what was going on.

“Fine.” Fiorus’ eyes lifted to the guards. “Leave us.”

The guards hesitated, their swords lowering just a fraction. And I couldn’t blame them, I was entirely baffled too. He was actually going to speak with all of us unguarded? Including a devil who could poof in at will?

But at his glare, the guards obeyed. The one with Ringo dropped him lightly on the ground, then followed the others. As they left the dome and shut the door, I could hear them muttering amongst themselves. They didn’t go any farther than that.

Fiorus looked at each of us. “They are gone. Now speak.”

“Everything Eva has told you is true,” Sebastian said. “She is a bleeding heart and came here with the intention of saving your daughter from the poisoner.”

“Hey—”

Sebastian rolled his eyes to me. “Do you truly wish to argue? ”

I crossed my arms and pouted. “I guess not. But wanting to save a young girl doesn’t make me a bleeding heart. It just means I’m not an asshole .”

Sebastian smirked. “Either way, it has led us to something far more interesting. Fiorus’ brother was not cursed, he was poisoned by a devil.” He turned his smirk toward the nymph. “At the behest of Fiorus himself.”

The room went so silent we could have heard a pin drop. Instead, we just heard Ringo’s claws on the floor as he tiptoed over to me.

I expected some form of denial, but Fiorus simply shook his head, “Who else knows?”

“At least two of your people,” Sebastian replied. “They found that parchment in your chambers.”

Fiorus visibly paled. “Where are they now?”

“I have detained them.”

“Why would you help me?”

That was exactly the question I wanted to know. Sebastian didn’t help anyone for free.

“I want the name of the devil you hired.”

My brows lifted. By the gods, I had so many questions.

“Fine,” Fiorus huffed. “But I want to know how you came to be in my realm.”

Sebastian looked bored. “Eva can explain that if she wishes.”

I stepped forward. “Just wait a minute. We are ignoring one big problem. Your daughter is still in danger. And you knew she was actually poisoned.”

He bared his teeth at me, and I thought he was going to tell me to get the hell out, but at a look from Sebastian, his expression sobered. “The poison would not have killed her. She was safe in that park with the trees.”

I lifted a hand. “Wait a minute. You knew she was in the park. You knew she—” I cut myself off as the rest fell into place.

“He knew she was receiving packages from Seraphina,” Sebastian finished for me. “He had her poisoned, but not enough to kill her. If his own daughter was cursed , he would avoid any suspicion for killing his own brother. Just as he would teach her a lesson for disobeying him, making her too fearful to leave the realm again.”

Crispin’s jaw fell open. “Wow. That’s dark.”

Fiorus completely crumpled the parchment in his clenched fist. “You know nothing of this. I have done what is best for my daughter.”

“By poisoning her?” Crispin reiterated.

Sebastian seemed to be getting a real kick out of everyone’s reactions. His eyes danced with unexpressed laughter.

I shook my head. And here I thought my family dynamic was messed up. “So Aaliyah’s not in danger then. Other than having an asshat for a father. ”

“Correct,” Sebastian said. “We had no real need to come here.”

I wasn’t so sure about that, but I kept my mouth shut. I would open it later to tell Seraphina she should get her sister out of here. She was better off being exiled.

“She is in danger,” Fiorus said abruptly.

We all turned to look at him.

He glared at each of us. “I don’t know who you are or why you would care to protect my daughter, but if that is still your aim, then I need your help.”

I stared at him, hardly believing his words.

This evening had just been full of surprises.