by Elena Gray
When I felt his teeth graze my neck, I only had one thought.
I was going to die.
Chapter 8
A bright light flashed around me. Dear god, I really had died and the angels had come for me. At least I’d been good enough to make it to heaven. For a moment I was blinded, then the air around me crackled, causing the hair on my arms to stand on end. When my sight cleared, the pressure from the teeth pressing against my neck faded, and the vamp’s head jerked back.
I sighed when arms wrapped around me from behind. This was it. I was on my way to the pearly gates. I wondered if I would see my body lying on the floor when the angels lifted me up. Hopefully, my skirt was down. It would be embarrassing if I was found with my panties on display.
Wait. I was dead and the one thing I worried about was how my corpse looked? There was something seriously wrong with me.
Another light flashed and the room vanished.
I looked around. Now I was outside surrounded by trees. Cool air cut through my clothes, chilling me to the bone.
How had I gotten out here? More importantly, where was here? If this was heaven, then all of the stories about clouds and stairways were wrong.
Before I could dissect the situation anymore, someone giggled behind me. I spun toward the sound and found the girl from the party who was dressed as a fairy. She smiled and waved her hand in a forward motion. In a burst of light, the rest of her fairy friends stood beside her.
“Whoa,” I said. “What in the…”
These weren’t angels. Heaven was completely messed up if fairies were actually angels. And why had they been hanging out at the party? Had they known I was going to kick the bucket tonight and they’d been waiting for me?
I looked to the first one. “What just happened? Am I dead?”
The fairy giggled again. “I’m Talia, and these are my sisters.”
Okay, she was awfully chipper and she’d completely avoided my question. Was she worried that I would freak out if I found out I was dead? Was there some sort of protocol that she had to follow before she could tell me?
“I don’t understand. I was inside one second and outside the next.” My gaze darted to each girl around me. “How did I get here, Talia?”
“We brought you,” she answered, her face a mask of confusion.
Yep. I had to be dead. It was the only explanation for how I’d teleported out here. It made perfect sense, considering how my night had been going. That’s what I got for going to a party alone. I’d broken my own damn rule. Never go out without backup.
“What’s wrong?” Talia touched my shoulder until I looked at her. “We thought you would be happy. Declan is not a nice man. If he had bitten you, you could have become one of them.”
I wasn’t sure why that even mattered, since I was dead. Unless turning into a vampire meant I wouldn’t get into heaven.
“He kinda did.” I flexed my index finger to show her where he’d poked me with his fang.
She narrowed her eyes, then shook her head. “That’s not a bite, it’s a nick. Bites are worse. Be glad I showed up when I did.”
“I mean, yeah. I’m thankful, but this shit is fucked up.” Yes. I dropped the F-bomb, but I was already on my way to heaven, so who really cared?
“Claire, that isn’t a very nice word,” one of the other girls scolded.
“Some weirdo with fangs almost bit me on the neck, and then I magically appear in a forest…or maybe this is heaven. I don’t know, but after the night I had, it won’t be the last curse word you’ll hear.”
One of the girls pouted, crossing her arms. She blew a wisp of platinum blond hair from her eyes and looked at me. “You said you wanted to see where we lived.”
“Lydia, be nice.” Talia scolded her.
“Yes. It’s easy to see Claire’s confused. Give her a minute.” Another girl with bright blue hair added as she waved at me. “Hi, Claire. I’m Nadia.”
I shook my head. “I have no idea what’s happening right now.”
“Delia, can you help her see clearly?” Nadia asked.
One of the other girls, with teal-blue hair, approached me. She reached into a tiny pouch at her waist, raised her hand to her mouth, and blew.
Swirls of multi colored lights filled my vision before finally clearing.
“How do you feel?” Delia asked. Her brows rose in anticipation of my answer, just like the other girls around her.
I gave her a lazy smile and replied, “I feel great.”
It wasn’t a lie. I felt better now than I had all night. All the tension in my body faded and curiosity filled me. I had this unexplainable urge to explore my surroundings.
“Are you ready to see our home?” Lydia asked as she uncrossed her arms and reached for my hands.
I glanced up to the stars twinkling in the sky. I guessed it was time to meet the big guy. I wondered if I would finally get fairy wings like theirs.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
Stunning, violet eyes met mine as Talia took my hand in hers. “Let’s go.”
Letting her lead, I followed her to a spot where the air seemed to shimmer. “Hold on tight and don’t let go. You might also want to hold your breath. The first time will feel like the air has been sucked from your lungs.”
I took a deep breath and nodded, ready for her to lead the way. The look of joy on her face had me smiling in return. It made me happy to know that she was so excited.
Her slender fingers tightened on my hand as we took a step forward. My body flashed from cold to hot, especially my face. It felt like I was walking through a wall of fire.
Orbs of light in every imaginable color floated around me. It was like the light I saw right before I disappeared from the room, only not as blinding. It was warm and peaceful, unlike the feeling I had when Declan was about to bite my neck. At least I knew his name now.
I wondered what would happen to him when they found my body. Thoughts of the security guard drifted through my mind. He would probably be thinking “I told you so” while staring down at my corpse. Ugh. I hadn’t even gotten to see if I died gracefully.
Snapping me back to reality, we were sucked into the shimmering spot in the woods. Talia was right. Had I not been holding my breath, the force would have crushed my lungs. Even now that we were inside the strange void, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go without breathing.
Of course, if I was dead, why did I need to breathe? There would be no need, which meant this had to be a dream. It made more sense and explained why I was dreaming about the fairies I’d met at the party.
Right when I thought my lungs would burst from the lack of oxygen, we reappeared in a clearing. The sun was shining and the colors here were bold and bright. Wildflowers swayed in a warm breeze. Birds chirped in the distance as a strawberry scent teased my nose.
The girls giggled, flanking me on all sides. Were they always this happy? I spun in a circle, taking it all in. It was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen.
“What do you think?” Talia placed her hands together and touched them to her lips, as if she were saying a silent prayer. Her home was special to her and her sisters. I could see it in their eyes, and after viewing this place, I understood why.
“It’s stunning.” I inhaled deeply. The air felt so clean. Each breath energized me.
Talia motioned for me to follow her. We walked down a well-worn path toward the sounds of music and laughter. I took in every sight and sound, dazed by the splendor before me.
After passing a large mound of moss-covered dirt, I spotted a giant stone wall standing in the distance. At the top, several men in uniform paced back and forth. They paused every couple of seconds and glanced around the forest, like they were searching for something.
Once we reached the wall, we stopped at an iron gate. Two men in the same uniform bowed and then pushed open the gate, ushering us inside.
Tables with colorful linens piled high with platters of food lined the space in front of us. Fl
owers in a rainbow of colors and sizes filled the garden bordering the party. I inhaled their fragrant scent, unable to hide the smile covering my face. No wonder Talia and her sisters were anxious for me to see their home. It was magnificent.
“Is this heaven?” I asked.
Talia tipped her head at me and pursed her lips. “Why, no. This is Oluria.”
“Am I dreaming?” If I was, then I didn’t want to wake up.
Men and women in identical costumes to the girls’ clothes participated in what appeared to be a choreographed dance. Spinning and flowing, they moved to an upbeat song played by the musicians in the corner. Not one person was out of sync. Maybe it was something native to their culture and they had been taught the steps at a young age. Whatever the case, I wasn’t able to look away.
Talia rested her hand on my arm. “You’re not dead and you’re not dreaming. We needed to get you away from Declan and this was the safest place. Are you hungry?”
All of this was making my head spin. I wasn’t in heaven, I was in some fairy world. Or was this still part of the whole role-playing thing? Wherever I was, I might as well enjoy myself, at least until I woke up from whatever dream I was having. And since I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten, I might as well stuff my face while I was here.
When I nodded, Talia led me to one of the tables. Grabbing a plate, she piled it high with fruit, cheese, and a thick slice of bread. It all looked too perfect to be real.
Popping a ripe berry in my mouth, I moaned as the flavor burst over my tongue. It was juicy and sweet. Savoring another one, I turned to study the people dancing around me. They all had the same flawless skin and glittery wings, each one just as stunning as the next.
The music switched from the cheerful, upbeat tempo to a haunting melody. Each note exposed a different emotion. From sadness, to laughter, to joy. It was oddly soothing.
Everything here was just...more.
Talia pushed my plate to the side and replaced it with a silver goblet. I stared at what looked like blood. I really didn’t want to drink anything that reminded me of how I’d ended up here in the first place. Did fairies drink blood, too?
Gross.
“What’s in the cup?” Please don’t let Talia say it’s blood.
Talia winked at me. “This is our wine. We reserve it for our special guests.”
I sniffed the cup and caught a hint of cherries and oak. It smelled like my favorite merlot, so definitely not blood.
“Go ahead and drink it,” Nadia urged, lifting the goblet to my lips.
All the girls closed in on me. Their gazes were so intense, I began to feel uncomfortable. I hoped like hell this wasn’t some weird initiation.
When I backed away, my hip caught the corner of the table, bumping it. Some of the wine sloshed over the rim of the cup, spilling onto the ground. There was a collective gasp as they all stared at the wine now being absorbed by the lush grass beneath my feet.
I drew my hand to my mouth and uttered an apology. For a brief moment, I swore they looked pissed that I’d spilled their sacred wine.
Before I had time to process this, they smiled as if nothing were wrong.
Talia motioned for me to lift the cup. “You need to drink every drop.”
The urge to place my lips on the rim nearly overwhelmed me. Yet a nagging feeling in my gut told me not to. Both actions warred with each other as anxiety churned inside me.
I didn’t understand why I was so indecisive. Talia and her sisters were sweet and gracious. And hadn’t they saved me from Declan?
I’d received nothing but kindness from each of them. This place…it was safe. Magical.
“Don’t you want to stay here with us?” Nadia brushed her hand across my back as she walked around me. “And become one of us?”
One of them? What did that even mean? I couldn’t stay here. Granted, I found the offer tempting, but it wasn’t, reality. I would eventually wake up and return to my somewhat normal life.
“Girls, I’m grateful to be here with each of you, but I can’t stay. I have to go home.”
“This is your home. Drink,” Talia said.
The desire to swallow the ruby liquid consumed me until I had no choice but to drain the cup. The wine had a hint of tartness, twice as much sweetness, and a maraschino cherry flavor. I’d never tasted anything so delicious in my life.
Heat rushed through my body, every inch growing warmer by the second. Any hesitation I felt before disappeared. I couldn’t even remember why I hadn’t wanted to drink it in the first place. I searched the table for the bottle. I needed more.
When I gazed up from the table, four sets of eager eyes stared at me. I held the cup in front of me and showed Talia it was empty. That slight movement caused me to sway.
“Do you have any more?” Oops. Why did my voice sound funny?
All of the girls laughed at me. Except, Talia, who gave them a threatening look. The instant she turned to me, satisfaction beamed on her face. She took the goblet from my hands, setting it on the table. “That’s all for now.”
I shrugged my shoulders, too happy to even care. Not one part of me didn’t feel alive. I laughed, if for no other reason than sheer happiness. My legs began to wobble, like they were made of gelatin. It was miraculous that I was still standing.
“Talia,” I said, “where can I buy wings like yours? They’re gorgeous and so life-like.”
Grabbing her shoulders, I turned her so I could get a better look at her wings. They were so beautiful, the way they shimmered in the light. I ran my fingers over the edge and they fluttered at my touch.
“How did you do that?” I squinted and studied where her wings met her back. “These are so strange. How do you get them to fit through your clothes?”
Once Talia turned to face me, she grabbed my hands and held them. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you everything. Right now, let’s have fun.”
I released Talia’s hands and bounced past her. The music spoke to my soul as I spun in a circle, tipping my head back to view the sky. Clouds spiraled above me. I did my best to mimic them and twirled my body until I collapsed on the ground. At least I had enough of my wits to brace myself before I landed on my back. The moment I did, I laughed so hard I clutched my stomach.
The fairies stood over me, some covering their mouths as they laughed with me. I tried to push myself up, but my head swam, forcing me to fall back on the ground. No wonder Talia wouldn’t give me anymore wine. It was potent.
Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. The grass pressed against my face when I turned my head to the side and tried to focus. There was a bright yellow flower growing a few inches away.
I plucked the flower from the ground It took me three tries before I was finally able to tuck it behind my ear.
Folding my hands behind my head, I glanced at Talia. “Now that I’m going to live here forever, where will I be staying? Will it be with you, or will I have my own place?”
Talia swung her arm in a circle. “You will live with all of us. We are sisters now.”
“Sisters? I’ve always wanted sisters,” I drawled. My time with these girls got better with every passing second. From this moment forward, I would live in paradise with fairies, who were now my sisters. Talia promised to teach me what I needed to know, and even though she didn’t say it, I had a feeling I would get my own wings. Maybe I would even learn to fly.
I crawled to my knees and waited for everything to stop spinning. My hand clutched at my stomach when I felt like I was going to be sick. One of the other fairies and Talia gripped my elbows and helped me to my feet.
“I’m not feeling so well,” I said. “I think I had too much wine.”
Another wave of nausea hit me and I slammed my hand over my mouth.
Talia smiled. “You just need to eat more. Your body isn’t used to our world yet. You will adjust in time.”
A piece of bread was thrust into my hand. I forced myself to take a bite, hoping it would absorb
some of the alcohol.
“Uh oh,” Lydia said, pointing toward the main gate. “Zarina is back.”
The girl flying through the gate was the same one who’d checked my coat at the party. As soon as she spotted us, she flew our way.
“I knew you must have had her! Are you crazy bringing her here?” Zarina’s shrill voice caused everyone around us to stare. “The prince is tearing the house apart looking for her. He knows that she didn’t leave on her own. If you don’t get her back, you will all have to face the consequences on your own. Our queen will not protect you this time.”
“We don’t need the queen’s protection against the prince,” Talia shot back. “What can he do against us? Besides, there isn’t any proof that we took her. If she stays, he will never know.”
“You are fools if you think you can challenge the prince,” Zarina snapped. “He is not as weak as you think.”
Talia fisted her hands on her hips. “One human missing will not matter.”
Why were they talking about me like I wasn’t here, and who was the prince?
“You know he will not allow any harm to come to even one human.” Zarina narrowed her gaze at Talia. “Do not argue with me about this. Take her back.”
“You’re no fun, Zarina. I think you have spent too much time living with the humans.”
The fluttering of Zarina’s wings slowed and her feet settled on the ground. “You have spent too much time breaking the laws.”
Any other time, I’d do my best to keep the peace and break up their argument. Not this time, though; I was too mesmerized by Zarina’s features.
“Talia,” I said in a drowsy voice, “I think I want her wings instead. No offense, but they shimmer more than yours.”
Zarina pressed her hands against my cheeks and scanned every inch of my face to the point it grew awkward. “What is wrong with her?”
“She drank the wine.” It sounded like Lydia who answered. I didn’t know for sure. With the way Zarina studied me, I couldn’t look away.
“What?” Zarina roared. “Tell me you did not give her the ceremonial wine.” She let me go and began to pace—more like float—back and forth. “This is bad. Really bad. You have all fucked up royally. And I mean royally. How did you even get access to it? It has to be approved by the queen.”
