“What brought you back?”
“A very long bus ride.”
“Ha.”
“My mum started going on trips again…she’d take us with her, pulling us out of school for them. And then she started leaving us at home. I was eight the first time. My brothers were eleven. And it kept going… not often but enough. One time, when I was ten, there was a… accident. My mum decided the best option was to send us to boarding school. It happened to be closer to here. So we kind of moved back then, but only at the weekends.”
“But I’m guessing something changed?”
“Yeah…” I rubbed my neck. “I got kicked out… It was stupid and not my fault but… it was my word against a group so… I lost. But my brothers had graduated and they were living here full time so my mum had me move in with them.”
“What a bitch.” He was so deadpan the way he said it that I couldn’t help letting out a startled laugh. He grinned. “You have a nice laugh, you know that?” My blush deepened at his words.
“Thanks, I guess?” I said, giggling slightly. I wasn’t used to compliments and I didn’t really know how to respond to them. He smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to dump all of that on you.”
“It’s fine. I asked after all. Those boys last night were from your school?”
“Yeah. They don’t like me. Or… one of them really doesn’t like me and the others just went with it.”
“Bullying has certainly changed… when I was younger they just pushed you over, not try to drown you. Did you… report that to anyone?”
“No… no one ever listens to me… except my brothers and if I tell them, they’ll just get themselves into trouble trying to protect me.” I drummed my fingers lightly on the table. “Umm… you saw what happened last night…”
“I did… but I assume you’re specifically referring to the-”
“Spontaneous water eruption, yes.”
“I did see that.”
“He got third degree burns…”
“Wow. I can’t say that he doesn’t deserve it…” He looked over at me, his expression slightly concerned. “Are you worried?”
“Kind of. I mean, it was pretty weird. And I don’t like him but I didn’t really want him to get hurt that badly.”
“You won’t get into trouble if you’re concerned about that. A cold lake suddenly boiling and scalding a person… I don’t think anyone would assign blame to you.”
“That’s… comforting, I guess. I just need to worry about potentially being a freak.”
“You’re not a freak.” Rhydian’s voice was tender and I wondered if he understood how I felt. It was like he knew me in a way I didn’t understand. Something flickered behind his eyes as he looked at me and I chewed my lip, resisting the urge to duck my head. He turned away first. “Would you like another drink?”
“Yes please.”
He headed over to the bar. I sat in the booth, unsure of whether to follow him or stay where I was. Instead I curled my legs up around me and rested my head against the back of the booth. I hadn’t expected things to end up like this. A part of my mind was screaming at me to leave, go home and lock the door before I ended up letting myself get hurt. But why should I? He was right, there was no harm in giving him a chance. He was strange, I couldn’t deny that but he seemed genuinely friendly in a way that most people around here weren’t… at least to me. I was tired of being an outsider and a troublemaker in everyone’s eyes. When my mum had left us the very first time, it had become clear even to me as a child that the only people I could rely on were my brothers. I’d been building up my walls ever since, doing what I needed to stop people getting too close. I wouldn’t pretend all my difficulties were the result of other people, although they certainly didn’t make things easy.
He came back in from the bar with two glasses and handed one over to me. I flashed him a grateful smile as I took it. He sat down beside me, a little closer this time, and took a long sip of his drink, watching me over the top of the glass
“You’re staring at me again.” I noted.
“I’m still trying to figure you out,” he admitted.
“What’s to figure out?” I didn’t think I was that complicated, yet he was looking at me like I was some deeply difficult riddle he was determined to crack.
“You’re something different Blair… I’m confident about that.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He gave me a distant smile and changed the subject. We chatted happily in our booth, oblivious to everything else around us. He told me about places he’d visited, we compared interest and favourites. Rhydian had a way of making me feel more comfortable than I was used to, even amongst my own family.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” he asked after a while.
“Well nothing’s stopped you so far, you may as well continue.” He laughed softly.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I won’t be offended.” I shrugged.
“I’m okay. I’m not sure why I’m answering your questions but I don’t mind doing it. I guess you’re just lucky that I’ve been starved for company.”
“You’re not usually this social I take it?”
“I have my moments but I prefer my own company most of the time. I don’t like being around large groups of people.”
“I know exactly how you feel. I mean, I don’t get uncomfortable around large groups but I have a large family and it’s just so exhausting being around people all the time.”
“Well I probably don’t like them because I’m not used to them. I don’t get invited to parties or things like that very often.”
“I can’t imagine why.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Is that sarcasm?”
“No I’m serious. You’re pretty, you’re friendly. You don’t give off a weird vibe or anything. I can’t see why people wouldn’t want to spend time with you.” I flushed, slightly pleased. He noticed and grinned, visibly smug.
“We got distracted,” I pointed out. “You had a question didn’t you?”
“Yes. If you’re so miserable here… why do you stay? What’s keeping you here?”
That was a question I didn’t know how to answer. Fear maybe? Loyalty to my brothers? They had made lives here for me and if I couldn’t make it I’d feel like I’d failed them.
“I’m not going to answer that,” I said finally.
“Okay.” He smiled kindly and finished his drink. “Would you consider… spending more time with me? In a scenario where we both planned to be there?”
“I would not be opposed to that.” I tore a piece of paper from one of my school books and scribbled my phone number down for him. “Here. Let me know when you’re free.”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the door to the pub open and caught a glimpse of dark night sky outside.
“I should get home.”
“Before you turn into a pumpkin?”
“No… before my brothers show up and start acting alpha male at you… but it’s a bit late now.”
Grayson and Elian had entered the pub. Upon spotting me tucked away in the corner, they made an immediate beeline in my direction.
“Blair, what are you doing down here?” Elian asked. His tone was pleasant enough but I knew him well enough to see signs of stress. His breathing was shallow and his body was tensed, one hand grasping his twin’s wrist to prevent Grayson from acting out.
“I was just having a friendly chat with…”
“Rhydian. I’m a… friend,” Rhydian swiftly cut in, getting up to offer his hand to my brothers.
“Nice to meet you,” Elian said curtly. Grayson stayed silent. “Blair, it’s late and there’s a dangerous animal running around. Grayson will give you a ride home. Now.”
I somewhat reluctantly slid out of the booth, shooting Rhydian an apologetic look. He glanced at the boys to confirm their attention was on me before subtly mouthing ‘I’ll call you’. I smiled to myself and nodded before allowing
Grayson to usher me outside.
FAOLAN
I had spent the day hiding beneath Blair’s bed, trying not to think about what I was going to do. I could not believe my life had turned out this way. I had been happy… I was never rich or overly successful but I had always had enough to live. Liadan and Sarai had been my entire life and I had lost them over a foolish act.
The sound of wheels on gravel alerted me to a car approaching and my ears pricked up. A moment later I heard the front door open followed by raised voices. Blair and one of her brothers, arguing.
“How old is he?”
“Why does it matter? I wasn’t doing anything! We were literally just talking!”
“It matters because you are fifteen!”
“I’m almost sixteen!”
“How old is he? Twenty? Older?”
“No he’s not that old…”
“So how old is he?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t ask. I think he’s like eighteen or something.”
“Eighteen!”
“You’re acting like I was stark naked, screwing him in the middle of the pub. We were just talking! He happens to be one of the nicest people I’ve met since I got here and I fully intend to see him again.”
A door slammed and I heard loud footsteps coming up the attic stairs. The door to Blair’s room opened and she entered, locking it behind her and sinking with a huff to the floor in front of it. I inched out from under the bed, naturally drawn towards her.
My movement drew her attention and she lifted her head. There was something strange about the way she looked at me, without her usual smile. She almost seemed… afraid? Like she knew what I had done and what I was going to do… was she aware of the dark thoughts now populating my brain?
That was impossible…
The part of me I tried my best to keep buried, the part that Maeve had placed in me, growled at me to get it over with. Strike now, slaughter her like the others and be free. If I hesitated I would lose my opportunity, like so many times before. Each time I told myself I would not let their appearance fool me. They looked like women and children, they made themselves look vulnerable but they were far stronger than they appeared.
But Blair… she was not like that.
I approached her slowly, head down. I felt ashamed of myself for even entertaining the possibility. She hesitated before reaching out to me and I saw the fear in her eyes once more. I gently nosed her hand, wagging my tail tentatively. What was wrong with her?
Rhydian’s scent was strong on her and I wrinkled my nose. His smell was distinctive to me. There was the earthy undercurrent to the way most fae smelt, not altogether unpleasant but certainly not one I would seek out. To the undeveloped nose, like that of the humans, they would only be able to detect the surface perfumes that the fae gave off to enchant unsuspecting mortals. Rhydian’s smell was a combination of pine, damp moss and something else, something dark and acrid that I couldn’t place.
“Did you…” Blair began to speak, but stopped as though thinking better of it. What had Rhydian told her? What did she know? “I had a long day. I’m going to bed…
She got up and opened the bedroom door a little to give me an exit if I needed it before beginning her nightly preparations. I padded down the attic stairs and out onto the upper hall. Grayson had already left and the house was silent.
I decided it was better to sleep downstairs. I needed to think things through for a little longer.
Finding a comfortable spot underneath the kitchen table, I rested my head on my paws and closed my eyes. I thought back to that night, when I had hunted Cliona for the last time. I had already claimed the blood of her son, Rohan, when he was only two years.
It was autumn and a storm was raging. My fur was slick to my sides with the rain and a fierce wind fought us both at every step. I had chased Cliona, weary from constant running and heavily pregnant, for miles. I had even managed to bite at her leg, slowing her considerably. I lost track of her for a few days, the furious rain washing away her smell and any traces of her blood. But I was patient. I knew she could not hide forever. I lay in wait and soon I was rewarded.
I found her, exhausted, bleeding, clutching an infant in her arms. I had killed them both, allowing the beast to rule my brain. Afterwards, I lay on the ground, fur soaked in their blood, waiting. Maeve had come, as she always did, and collected Cliona’s blood. But the blood of the child… she left. I had often wondered that… had she not realised? Had she left it deliberately to spite me and leave my cure in place? In the end I had decided it must be a trick, a glamour that Cliona had produced in an attempt to appeal to my better nature… she had done it before…
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe the child was already gone. I had to be sure.
BLAIR
The next few days were great, the best since I’d been forced to move. At school, with Connor still absent, I felt like I could finally walk around without having to worry about being tripped or hit. In the evenings, Rhydian would text me. We’d made plans to meet at the weekend and I was looking forward to it.
The only negative was that there had been more animal attacks. I was fairly sure that the dog wasn’t the cause. I checked the doors each night to make sure they were locked, giving him no way to get out. Of course, with the twins coming in and out at odd hours, there was still the chance that they might have provided an opportunity. I had decided the best course of action was to try not to think about it. Elian had quietly asked if I thought the dog might be to blame, but I had assured him it was unlikely. Grayson was too busy being annoyed about my new friendship to pay any attention.
The Saturday morning was bright, a little cool but pleasant. Rhydian met me at the gate shortly after my uncle had left for work. I had the dog with me since I knew that we were going to be outside for most of the day and I felt bad about keeping him cooped up.
“Morning Blair,” he greeted me. “Morning dog.”
“Hey Rhydian,” I said. The dog just huffed.
The three of us headed out onto the lane and up towards the valley.
“What’s the plan?” I asked.
“I thought we could go up to the woods, have a picnic? Or is that too cheesy?”
“Not cheesy. Kind of sweet.”
“Well I didn’t make any of the food. I figured a first date would be better without food poisoning.”
“This is a date?” I asked, biting my lip slightly. The dog growled at the word.
“Well… I would like it to be?”
Rhydian paused mid-step, looking at me almost nervously. It was a little endearing actually.
“I… think I’d be okay with that.”
The dog gave a derisive snort and Rhydian grinned, his cocky self-assurance instantly returned. We walked in companionable silence, making our way across the grass. I glanced in the direction of the lake, the sight reminding me of my last visit. I winced a little at the thought. Rhydian noticed and his hand found mine, squeezing very gently. When I looked up at him, he immediately seemed concerned, worried he’d made the wrong move.
“Is this okay?” he asked softly.
“Yes.”
I looked at our hands. I’d not noticed before but he had intricate tattoos encircling his wrist, a pattern of swirling vines and leaves. The way the lines crossed and crossed again seemed to form symbols and curling letters.
“It’s pretty,” I said, letting one finger trace the path of the ink.
“You think so?”
“You don’t?”
Rhydian gave a nonchalant shrug and didn’t answer. My curiosity was piqued by his reticence. Why would he get a tattoo he didn’t like?
We reached the woods. The dog whined as we neared the edge of the trees and he pawed at the dirt, uneasy. I gave him a gentle pat, trying to encourage him forward. He whimpered and planted himself in the grass, refusing to take another step.
“What’s up boy? You don’t like the woods?” Rhydian asked him. The dog growled back. Rhydian looked
at me and shrugged. “I wonder why…”
“Are you okay to eat here rather than further in?”
“Sure.”
The three of us settled on the grass and Rhydian began to pull small packages from his bag. I stroked the dog’s head, slightly concerned about his reaction to the woodland. Even though we had stopped, he seemed uncomfortable merely being in the shadow of the trees. Rhydian handed me a sandwich and leant back against a tree. The sunlight danced across his features, his dark hair taking on new shades and his golden eyes gleaming. All the tension seemed to disappear from his body and a small relaxed smile played across his lips.
I nibbled on my sandwich, my free hand digging into my bag to find my sketchbook. Rhydian seemed focused on something far away and I decided to take advantage of his absent mindedness. I began to trace the shape of his face, trying to be subtle about it so that he wouldn’t stop me. His eyes flickered over to me and caught my eye. I flushed slightly and put on an innocent face.
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing…”
“Are you drawing me?” He quickly moved to cover his face. I let out a sad cry, reaching out to restrain his wrists. He laughed, pulling me closer and fighting me playfully as I tried to uncover his face.
“Come on!”
“Never!”
We fell to the ground, scrabbling at one another until I finally trapped his hands above his head. I was fairly sure he was letting me win but I didn’t care.
“Give up?”
“Hmmm… what’s in it for me?”
“You get your hands back?” Rhydian raised an eyebrow, clearly not ready to concede. “And a picture of your oh so charming and handsome self?”
“Much better. You may draw me.”
The Cuckoo's Eye Page 10
