My sixteenth birthday neared and each day I tucked away a little more cash for my escape plan. It felt good to be taking steps forward.
The evening before, my phone buzzed with a call from Rhydian. He’d been steering clear of the house at my request but made a point to see me whenever I was down in town. I’d told him what had happened, the only person I’d shared it with. I answered, sprawling on my bed.
“Hey Rhydian. What’s up?”
“Hi Gorgeous. I know it’s your birthday tomorrow… I figured you may not be in the mood for celebrating all things considered but I wanted to ask…”
“Who told you it was my birthday?”
“Your brother may have mentioned it. I saw him at the pub and he was concerned about you.”
“Which one?”
“The nice one. Anyway, some people I know are having a party tonight. Do you want to go with me?”
“Are you sure I wouldn’t cramp your style?”
“Not at all. In fact I can almost guarantee they’d be very excited to meet you. So? How about it? I promise you’ll have a good time.”
I considered for a moment. Some fun would probably do me good. At the very least it would take my mind off things for a little while.
“Alright then. Where can I meet you?”
“Go up past the boundary to your farm and I’ll meet you there. I shouldn’t be too long.”
He hung up. I bit my lip, feeling a spark of excitement, and got out of bed. I looked through my wardrobe, eventually settling on a dress I rarely wore – a short and floaty deep green garment. I slipped it on and headed out of my bedroom. Mum and her husband were in the living room watching TV. I tiptoed passed them and let myself out of the house.
The air was cold and the chill only served to heighten my exhilaration. I hurried up the hill, eyes darting around. There had been no animal attacks recently but I still felt a little on edge, particularly near the farm. I wasn’t sure where Uncle Michael had relocated too and after our last encounter, I wasn’t eager for a reunion.
Rhydian was sitting on a rock a little way from the farm boundary, humming to himself. He got up as I approached and smiled brightly.
“Wow you look beautiful. That colour really suits you.”
“Thank you,” I said blushing.
He grinned and took my hand, kissing the back of it softly.
“I’m glad you agreed to come.”
“Where is this party then? At someone’s house?”
“No, it’s more like a… camp out style party. You’ll see when we get there.”
We set off across the valley, Rhydian leading me by the hand. I was curious about where we could be going. There was nowhere in the valley that I could really think of as being a convenient location for a camp out. Maybe the forest?
To my surprise, Rhydian took me up to the lake. I frowned, looking around for any sign of life.
“Pretty… low key party?”
“This isn’t it. It’s over there.”
Rhydian gestured to the island in the middle of the water. I couldn’t see any indication of a party going on, maybe a slight flicker of light but that was about it.
“Are we swimming there?”
“You know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit right?” he teased. “Swimming would probably ruin your dress. Let’s take the boat.”
He gestured to a small row boat that had been moored nearby. I frowned. That was definitely not usually there.
Rhydian helped me into the boat, holding my hand for balance as it rocked gently. I settled down at one end of the boat while he seated himself opposite me.
“Pretty decent date, huh?” he said with a grin as he rowed forwards. I looked around the serene lake and had to admit that as dates went, this was fairly romantic.
“It’s still early. Were you by any chance watching Disney films for inspiration?” I asked, raising an eyebrow playfully. He gave me a joking scowl and swatted at my arm.
“If I was, and this is not in any way an admission, it just shows my dedication to showing you a good time.”
I giggled and settled back in the boat, letting my fingers skim the surface of the water. Rhydian was largely silent as he rowed, concentrating on the task at hand, but his eyes never left me. In the dark they seemed to glow even more than normal, the gold catlike irises catching and reflecting every tiny scrap of light.
He steered us to the mooring that protruded from the island and hopped out to secure the boat. Now I was closer to the island I could see that the trees had been strung with tiny lights, but only on the sides that faced away from the shore.
I clambered out of the tiny boat, looking around curiously. I never thought I’d get a chance to investigate the island, especially not at night.
We followed the strings of lights towards the centre of the island where there was more light, lanterns hanging from a few of the branches to form a glowing circle. There were people everywhere. I wasn’t sure what it was about them but there was an oddness to the scene that I couldn’t place. The air was filled with a smokiness, the scent of spices that made my head spin. I located a small bonfire where herbs were being burned, providing an intoxicating incense.
A small group was sat on a log, playing music. Others were dotted around, dancing to the slow, hypnotic rhythm. All of the partiers were dressed in strange clothes, the kind of thing that wouldn’t have looked out of place at a renaissance fayre. Their hair was long and flowing, in an array of unique colours, and their eyes glowed brightly, much like Rhydian’s.
“Wow… I feel a bit under dressed… should I have worn coloured contacts?”
“What? Oh… no, trust me you’ll do great as you are. Just have fun. Do you want a drink?”
“Umm sure.”
He nodded and headed across the clearing to where a makeshift table had been set up with refreshments. I looked around, feeling a little nervous surrounded by these unfamiliar people. A slender woman with green tinged hair, perched in the lower branches of a tree, smirked at me. A man with lilac eyes and skin so pale it was almost albino eyed me with curiosity. I shifted awkwardly and hoped Rhydian would come back.
“Don’t look so worried, no one bites,” a smooth and melodic voice greeted me.
I turned to see that an older gentleman had approached. He seemed a little out of place compared to some of the revellers, dressed in casual attire. His hair was dark but shot through with grey and cut shorter than the others. The only thing he had in common with the rest of the group were his eyes, which were a brilliant silver.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Your nerves? Unfortunately so. I appreciate it does take some getting used to. But everyone here is friendly… especially after a few drinks.” He smiled kindly and stepped closer, extending his hand. “I’m Lyr.”
“Blair. I came here with Rhydian?”
“Ahh yes. I know him well. Although I thought he had better manners than to leave a young lady by herself.”
“Oh he just went to get me a drink,” I said, looking around for him. “But he seems to have disappeared now.”
“He probably just got caught up talking to someone. Most of us haven’t seen him in years.”
“Are you all… friends? Family?”
“A mixture of both. We’re a fairly close knit group. Do you want me to help you find him?”
“I would appreciate it.”
He smiled and nodded, placing a hand lightly on my back to guide me forward. Lyr escorted me to the refreshment table. Rhydian was nearby holding two glasses, talking with a young woman whose hair resembled spun gold and was braided with feathers.
“Blair! Oh god, I’m sorry, I got distracted. This is Aoife.” He nodded at the girl as he handed me a glass. I gave her a friendly smile. Rhydian’s eyes widened slightly as he registered Lyr standing close to me. “Uh…oh… hey Lyr… I see you’ve met my girlfriend, Blair.”
“Yes, yes I have. It’s been a long time Rhydian. I’m glad the two of you could make
it tonight. If you have five minutes, I’d love to catch up with you later.”
“Of course… Blair do you want to dance?” Rhydian asked hurriedly. He seemed on edge around the older man and I wondered just what their relationship was.
“Sure…” I took a deep gulp of my drink, which was some kind of fruity punch with a strong kick to it. I blinked, momentarily unbalanced. “Wow that stuff is…”
“Yeah, maybe don’t drink too much at once. We don’t want you to lose your head,” Rhydian chided me. I set down my glass and let him lead me to a clear spot where we could dance.
I wasn’t sure if it was the drink, the incense, the music or something else entirely but I felt my body loosening up. A pleasant numbness settled on my brain and a warmth invaded my limbs. I swayed happily to the tune, Rhydian’s arms wrapped around my waist. We dance together, lost in our own little world where nothing else seemed to exist. He spun me around, the motion dizzying my mind and throwing my coordination to the wind.
Laughing, I almost collapsed against him. Rhydian held me up, laughing with me. We returned to simple swaying, moving in time to the beat.
“You were right,” I told him. “This was a good idea. I’m glad I came.”
“I’m glad you did too.”
The lights sparkled, setting my skin alight. I rested my head against his chest. High above, the stars pulsed, the wind and the music entwined with one another forming a haunting melody. The world around me appeared to vibrate, the other partiers blurring and distorting. They fluttered back and forth, the air around them turned into a haze of shivering lacy wings. Their faces seemed to transform into strange animalistic parodies of their former selves. Some appeared reptilian, others looked like they had been carved from the trees. I saw curled horns, clawed hands, feathers like that of a peacock, butterfly wings and spiralling antlers.
Blearily I pulled away, squinting at my surroundings. The images flickered back and forth in front of me.
“Wha…? What’s going on…?” I mumbled. My tongue felt oddly heavy and my words seemed slurred.
“Maybe you should sit down?” Rhydian suggested, guiding me to a space beneath a tree where I could sit. I relaxed against the trunk, blinking in confusion.
“Everything looks strange…”
The tattoos on Rhydian’s arms looked like actual creepers wrapping around the limbs and his eyes seemed more feline than ever. He smiled, his teeth sharp and brilliantly white.
“Wait here, I’ll be back shortly.”
He disappeared from view, leaving me staring into space, absorbing the kaleidoscope of swirling colours and images around me. Every movement sent dazzling sparks of light racing over my skin and I relished in it.
Across the clearing I saw Lyr emerge from the shadows. In the peculiar fantasy world my mind had conjured up, he looked much the same but on his head was a crown fashioned from feathers, twigs and flowers, topped off with a set of magnificent antlers.
Rhydian joined him and the pair stood close together, talking softly. I tried to read their lips, trying to work out what they were saying without success.
I closed my eyes, relaxing. I felt like I was sinking into the tree itself.
Come away… come away…
When I opened them again, Lyr and Rhydian were closer. Rhydian’s expression was cold and distant, refusing to look directly at me. Lyr knelt in front of me.
“Welcome home little one. When you are ready, we will be waiting.”
Come away… come away…
Come away…
And all around me, the strange creatures danced on.
FAOLAN
It was a night of magic. I could feel it in the air, an electricity that set me on edge and made my fur stand on end. I paced beneath the trees. The ground felt alive under my paws, humming. The wind whispered to me.
Come away… come away…
A thousand eyes watched me from the trees, the dark and devilish voices calling to me.
I was alone in the forest. Maeve came and went like the moon, fading in and out of reality. Occasionally I would catch snatches of conversation where I thought I heard her voice but I was never sure.
Your beast has failed us. You have failed us.
I did my best.
Your best is not enough. You have a task to do. Get it done.
I want what is mine.
And I want what was promised. If the beast cannot complete the task…
It will be done. I swear.
Your word means nothing. Show me and I will believe you.
An owl swooped overhead, letting out a melancholy hoot. I tracked its path. An omen? Perhaps.
I feared I had made a mistake entering the woods once more. It was not like the shores of the lake, where I knew the fae folk watched my every move. I feared the woods for entirely different reasons. The trees loomed over me and every second I spent there, I lost a part of myself to the dark. I could feel it gnawing at my insides, trying to break free.
Maybe that was why Maeve had brought me back here. She intended to draw it out of me until I was compliant, her loyal soldier. Her beast that she could set upon anyone she saw fit.
Come away… come away…
The voices taunted me worse than any nightmare, any memory. They sang to me, never stopping. The whispers wormed their way into my brain, burrowing deeper and deeper with every passing moment.
Come away… come away…
BLAIR
It was like a beautiful dream. And like all dreams, it came to an end. I woke in my own bed still wearing the green dress, a feather clutched in one hand. I didn’t know how I’d come to be there, I had no memory of leaving the island or returning home.
Rhydian had left me a note, pinned to the back of my bedroom door which I assumed meant he’d carried me to my room. His writing was neat and danced across the page.
Good morning sleeping beauty,
Happy birthday. Have a good day. Things will get better, trust me.
I’ll see you soon
R~
I smiled to myself and tucked the paper into my pocket before leaving the room. I could hear voices from downstairs, multiple female voices. I considered going back to my room. It was a Saturday and I had nowhere to be after all. But no, I refused to cower in my own home.
My mum was sitting on the sofa with Aunt Helen and the two of them looked up at me as I entered the living room.
“Good morning sweetheart,” Mum said cheerily. It seemed she’d moved on from yelling and had settled on pretending everything was okay until everyone else believed it as well.
“Blair,” Helen said stiffly.
“Mum. Helen… why are you here? I thought you’d decided you’d rather be homeless?”
“Your aunt and uncle are moving back in. I sorted out the whole misunderstanding with the gun, just like I said I would. I appreciate that everyone got very hot under the collar and things were said in anger, but of course it was ridiculous that Michael left because of it,” Mum told me airily, with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“It wasn’t a misunderstanding. He pointed a gun at my face. He grabbed my arm and dragged me around, leaving marks on my skin. How is any of that a ‘misunderstanding’?”
“Stop being so dramatic Blair. Whatever happened, it’s all in the past and everyone has moved on.”
“Well thank you for continuing to devalue anything and everything I say. I truly appreciate it.”
I stalked out to the kitchen and began to make myself a drink. I didn’t realise at first that my hands were trembling. Uncle Michael was back? Hell of a birthday present. I took a deep breath, taking my time to steady myself. I gazed out of the window, my eyes resting on the tree in the garden. Something was niggling at the corner of my mind, an idea that I couldn’t get rid of.
Setting down the glass, I left the kitchen and crossed the garden to the tree. I knelt beside it, running my hand over the uneven ground.
“Hi… we never got a chance to meet properly. I do
n’t even know what your name was. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for what happened to you. I think we would have been friends… I like to think I would have been a good sister. We would have looked out for each other…”
I looked back at the house. I could see Mum and Aunt Helen, talking and laughing together through the glass doors.
“We would have made a good team… happy birthday. I’m sorry you didn’t get to see it.”
I smoothed down the grass. Perhaps it was morbid or strange but it felt right to acknowledge the girl. Our lives were interconnected, weaved together like two threads in a tapestry, and yet we had never met, not really.
It wasn’t envy I felt but something akin to it, something dark that I didn’t like.
I left the grave. I couldn’t just call it a tree anymore, it was a grave. Mum had a look in her eyes when I entered the living room once more, one that I recognised and knew to be resentment. Had she been watching me? Did she know what I was doing?
“You don’t have plans tonight, do you Blair?” asked Aunt Helen.
“Of course she doesn’t,” Mum said before I could speak.
“Actually I was going to hang out with Rhydian…”
“Who?”
“Her ‘boyfriend’. But he can see you tomorrow sweetheart. Tonight is an important night and we’re going to have a family dinner together.”
“Oh?” I frowned, on edge. Mum rarely acknowledged my birthday more than just in passing. She usually made sure she was not around when the day came, never sent cards, and if she was present the extent of her well-wishing was a mumbled comment.
“Yes, I want to officially welcome Nick back to the family. We never actually divorced but it’s now six months since we renewed our vows. And since all the family is here, we’re going to have a big dinner.”
“By all the family you mean…”
The Cuckoo's Eye Page 16
