“Miss Romar?” she asked when we’d noticed her. “I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions?”
She had an ID badge around her neck with Hello Magazine written on it. I glanced at Blaine, who looked a little confused.
“You have five minutes,” I told her. She beamed and pulled her recording device out of her bag. It was a small black gadget that I’d seen before.
“Are you and Mr Morgan dating?” she dove straight in. “And is it serious?”
“Yes, we’re dating,” I told her simply. “It’s still early days though.”
“How did you two meet?”
I answered her questions. Blaine mostly just stood there, though he did reach for my hand after the first few questions.
“Mr Morgan, do you have anything to say about dating the Princess of Avaria?”
I looked up at Blaine as he contemplated the question.
“I’m a lucky guy,” he said, putting his arm around me. I couldn’t help but crack a smile at his lame answer. Boy, did he need some help with interviews.
“But do you see a future together?” the reporter pushed, clearly disappointed with his answer. “I mean, you could be the King of Avaria one day.”
“Okay,” I said, reaching out to push her recorder away. “I think you’ve got your fill for today.”
She looked pretty annoyed to be cut off but thanked us for our time anyway and sauntered off.
“That was awkward,” Blaine said, rubbing his temple.
“No, you were awkward,” I corrected.
“Was I?”
“Yeah, you lucky guy.”
He shrugged.
“I didn’t know what else to say.”
“We’ll worry about it later,” I rolled my eyes. I looked over my shoulder and saw Terry and Rick sitting on a bench, talking quietly together. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but Rick looked miserable. My sadness must’ve shown on my face because Blaine nudged me.
“Give him time,” he said. “It’ll get easier.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Chapter 9
The next few weeks seemed to fly by. I didn’t invite Rick out with Blaine and I again and we just kind of stopped talking about the whole situation. Things were still strained between us but it was slowly ebbing away. I tried not to worry about it, even though I felt the distance between us deeply. I made more of an effort with Terry but it wasn’t the same as having my best friend by my side. It was a nice change to spend more time with a girl though.
Blaine and I managed to sell our relationship pretty well. Our dates were all over the papers and internet and we did a few interviews together, giving just enough away to make them want more.
The Impius attacks were getting worse though. Glasgow was hit pretty bad and several people died. A few other towns across the country had similar issues. The media still covered it, though our relationship managed to keep some attention away from it all. At least, it did at first.
The Council was pushing for us to announce our engagement. The plan was to do it publicly, to make a spectacle of our romance.
“We’re not doing it tonight, are we?” I asked Blaine as we entered a restaurant one evening. It was a cosy little restaurant with little booths and dimmed lights that gave it a romantic feel. I guessed that was the point. A waiter showed us to our table, pulling the chairs out.
“No,” he reassured me. “Though they don’t want me to tell you when it’s happening.”
“Why not?” I asked as we sat. “So I can act surprised?”
“I guess so.”
Things were easy between us now. He’d loosened up since I’d told him he could walk away when the attacks were over and we could talk normally now. It was only awkward when we had to kiss or answer questions about our relationship. I still thought he was an arrogant prick though.
“Please don’t spring it on me. I’d like some warning.”
“Sorry, Princess. It’s my proposal.”
I wacked his arm with a napkin.
“And it’s my face that’s going to be all over the papers,” I reminded him. “I don’t want to look mortified.”
“Ouch. That’s a bit harsh. I thought I was a catch.”
“Blaine…”
“It’s not tonight,” he reassured me. “Just curious, what’s the right amount to spend on an engagement ring?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. Fae didn’t exchange rings when they married. It was a human thing.
The waiter brought us some drinks and menus. We put our orders in and were quickly left alone.
“This is a nice place,” I said, looking around. It was all warm colours and exposed brick, with an open fireplace to one side.
“I didn’t think you’d like it,” Blaine shrugged.
“Why not?”
“It’s… quiet. Not well known.”
“Just when I think we’re getting to know each other better, you go and prove me wrong.”
“It’s nothing like your usual venue.”
“You mean Crush?” I guessed. “That’s a club. And its loud and dark. I can blend in there. And this is pretty private. I don’t have to worry about people watching me.”
He eyed me for a moment before taking a sip of beer.
“Fine,” he finally said. “Tell me something about yourself I don’t know.”
“Okay,” I said, trying to think. Sadly, I had dozens of stories to tell. “Rick once dared to me eat an entire bag of jelly beans. I did but then I threw up all over my dad’s desk when he was video-chatting the rest of the Council.”
Blaine laughed.
“I mean, that’s not what I meant. But good to know.”
“What did you mean then?”
“Favourite colour, favourite food…”
“Green and strawberries.”
“That’s so basic.”
“I’m easy to please,” I shrugged. “I would’ve ordered a bowl of strawberries if it was on the menu. What about you?”
“I never really thought about it before,” he said absently. “Maybe green. Maybe… pasta.”
“Pasta?”
“You can do anything with it.”
“I suppose that’s true,” I grinned.
We talked about our favourite things while we waited for our food. A waiter brought us some complementary appetisers at some point so we picked at them too.
“Favourite place you’ve visited on Earth,” Blaine said.
“Scotland,” I said instantly.
“Just Scotland?”
“The whole place is amazing,” I shrugged. “I went there with mum a few years ago. We walked along the north coast and it was stunning. What about you?”
“I don’t really have a favourite,” he shrugged. “Cornwall’s nice, I guess.”
“How can you not have a favourite place? You asked the question.”
He shrugged and took a gulp of beer. I tapped my fingers on the wooden table, thinking of a question.
“Favourite person?” I asked.
“Person?”
“Yeah. In the world.”
“I have no idea. My mother, maybe.”
“What’s she like?”
“She’s… just like a mother.”
I rolled my eyes.
“What about you?”
“My dad,” I said without a doubt in my mind.
“Of course.”
“What does that mean?”
“I knew you’d pick him.”
“Of course I picked him. He’s the only family I have left.”
“I don’t really know your father that well,” he admitted. “I’ve only met him a few times and it’s always been… meetings. Or some function. What’s he really like?”
“He’s… a good man,” I said honestly. “But he’s a great father.”
“Really?” Blaine sounded doubtful.
“He always puts me first,” I said, running my fingers along the creases of the napkin in front of me. “I’m
not exactly the perfect Princess but he never makes me feel ashamed for messing up sometimes. And he never makes me do anything I’m not comfortable doing.”
“What about this?” he asked, gesturing to the space between us.
“He didn’t force me,” I said. “I chose to go through with it.”
“Why?” Blaine challenged. “What do you gain out of this?”
“I… I don’t want to let him down. He’s worked so hard for this peace. If I can help – even a little – I’ll do it. Even if I’m just a prop for the cameras.”
He considered my answer, his eyes studying my face.
“You’re not what I was expecting,” he stated.
“I know exactly what you were expecting so I’m going to take that as a compliment,” I said with a small smile. He chuckled.
Before either of us could say another word, a sound filled the air around us. The whole restaurant went silent as we all recognised the siren that meant Impius were attacking. My eyes widened and a chill ran down my spine.
Blaine leapt to his feet.
“Everyone needs to get away from the windows,” he said, his voice echoing across the room. “Lock the doors and don’t come out until you hear the all-clear signal.”
Everyone began rushing towards the back of the restaurant. I stood next to Blaine, staring out the window as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and contacted his unit. When he was done, he turned to me, suddenly looking torn.
“You need to go,” I told him, knowing what he was thinking.
“You need to be somewhere safe,” he insisted. “It’s bad out there.”
The siren was still sounding outside, instilling fear into everyone who could hear it.
“I’ll be fine,” I reassured him. “Just go. They need you.”
He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. I gave him a shove towards the door.
“Go,” I ordered. “You’ll never forgive yourself if you’re not there and someone gets hurt.”
That finally convinced him. He grabbed my arm before he left and gave me a hard look.
“Stay safe. Don’t leave until I come back for you.”
I nodded and he ran out the door, leaving me to join everyone else in the back.
I suddenly wished I was wearing more than just a little grey cocktail dress. Despite how hot the kitchens were, I felt chilled. Maybe it was the sirens. They were still going.
Everyone was rushing around, terrified. One of the chefs was trying to finish cooking while another was freaking out by the sinks. Customers were huddled up or panicking. I stared at the madness for a moment before deciding to take charge.
“Hey!” I shouted. The people nearest me stopped and the rest followed shortly. “Turn everything off. Forget the food.”
The chef quickly turned all the hobs off as well as the ovens. The smell of burning oil filled the air.
“Are all the doors locked?” I asked the room. The restaurant manager stepped forward.
“Yes. All the back doors too.”
“Do the windows have shutters?”
“No.”
“Okay, everyone needs to stay back here. Stay quiet, no matter what you hear, okay?”
Everyone settled onto the floor. Someone was crying, a few people were texting. I leaned against the wall nearest the door to the restaurant, listening to the sound of the siren.
The siren stopped after about five minutes. I wasn’t sure if the silence was worse or better. A few people started whispering but I hushed them quickly.
I pulled my phone out of my bag with shaky hands and texted my dad, Rick and Terry. They all responded, saying they were safe and asking about me. I replied the same, though I couldn’t help but worry about Blaine.
There were distant screams and shouts from outside. I couldn’t work out how far away they were but it couldn’t be that far. The minutes seemed to drag on and the people around me started getting restless.
“Is it safe yet?” a woman whispered.
“No,” someone else said. “Shut up.”
“Excuse me?”
“Be quiet!”
Their hushed voices may have seemed quiet to them, but the Impius had strong hearing.
“Enough,” I hissed. “If you want to live, you need to be quiet.”
That shut them up, at least for the moment. More screams from outside. Did they sound closer now?
When a particularly loud shout sounded right out the front of the restaurant, I winced and chanced a peek through the doorway. I couldn’t see much in the darkness, though I saw a shadow disappear under the light of a streetlamp. I swallowed hard, my heart thumping loudly in my chest.
A loud bang on the back door made everyone jump.
Chapter 10
A few people cried out and sobs followed but everyone fell silent quickly. Whoever had banged on the door ran off again and we heard the sound of another door slamming shut nearby. I let out a breath.
Someone else came running up to the front door of the restaurant. It was a man, banging on the door, crying out for help. I looked over to the restaurant manager and gestured for the keys, knowing I couldn’t leave him out there. She handed them to me, her hands shaking like crazy.
I crept out into the restaurant and waved at the man to get his attention. He stopped shouting when he saw me but tapped on the glass desperately.
That’s when I saw it.
I let out a gasp as a huge figure leapt from the shadows, ripping the man from the doorway. His screams made my ears ring and my stomach churn. The Impius tore the man apart in seconds. I stared at the beast, the keys falling from my fingertips in shock.
I’d seen videos but they didn’t do this monster justice. Though it had a humanoid shape, it was huge and twisted with grey, patchy skin and sharp claws in place of fingers. Its head was less human, more like a wild animal, with a long snout and huge, black eyes. I shifted backwards, my heart racing in horror.
I felt around behind me for things blocking my path, too scared to take my eyes off the creature. It was tearing at the man’s corpse, tossing bits aside and swallowing parts. I was nearly at the door when someone let out a scream behind me.
A woman had peeked round the door to see what was going on. My heart stuttered as the creature lifted its head and stared at the window. I froze, unsure if it could see us. The others had silenced the woman though I could hear crying.
There was a long pause. It took everything I had in me not to turn and run. The creature moved away from the man it had killed and approached the window, its beady eyes scanning the room.
I heard whispers behind me. Someone being told to put their phone away. The creature’s eyes snapped to me suddenly.
Without warning, it leapt at the glass. A huge crack sounded but the glass didn’t shatter. The Impius shook its head from the impact, but quickly prepared to leap at it again.
I spun around, fear coursing through my body. I had to get somewhere safe. I ran to the doorway only to face the room of people, many who were crying, some who were praying. A young girl was rocking back and forth. A lump rose in my throat. They were all in danger.
As much as I wanted to just climb into a cupboard and hide from the monster, I knew none of these people could defend themselves. I had magic and a better chance at holding this monster off.
Just as I thought that, the glass shattered behind me. I turned and saw the Impius stagger over the broken glass then rush towards me on all fours with huge bounds.
I threw my hands out and summoned fire. My hands burst into flames, stunning the Impius enough to stop it a few metres from me. I remained in the doorway so it couldn’t get past me. It moved its head around, trying to look for a way around the flames.
My hands shook as the flames illuminated its face. Its teeth were huge and blood covered the lower half of its face. For a moment, I wondered what kind of realm these beasts came from. It must be hell, to have these running around.
The Impius suddenly lunged forwards. I
thrust my hand out and sent some flames towards it. It let out a screech of pain and backed off again, growling at me.
I couldn’t hold these flames forever. Fire was the hardest element to harness. It required a lot of energy. As soon as I realised that, panic began to set in. What if I lost my strength before someone arrived to help?
The more I panicked, the weaker my flames got. I had to focus on keeping the fire going. The Impius paced in front of me and I moved the flames with its movements, determined not to give it the chance to get around me.
I looked at a chair beside me. I could light it on fire, but then I might burn the whole building down…
The creature lunged forwards again. I thrust my hands out to block it but it swiped out at my leg, catching my thigh with a few of those huge claws. I let out a gasp as my skin tore.
This wasn’t working.
I looked around desperately. I needed a weapon. I thought of the videos I’d seen. The Fae carried swords. I didn’t have a sword.
But I did have a knife. I spotted it out the corner of my eye, lying on the nearest table next to a half-eaten steak. It wasn’t exactly a sword but my options were pretty limited.
The Impius leapt forwards again. I managed to dodge its claws this time, but I knew it wasn’t going to stop trying.
Without warning, I flung a big ball of fire at it. It screamed in pain and rubbed at its face, giving me the chance to run to the knife. I grabbed it off the table, keeping one hand burning with fire and spun around.
The Impius was already coming for me.
I held the fire out, willing the Impius to just give up and decide it would find an easier kill somewhere else, but its eyes remained glued to me. It paced irately, making strange clicking noises as it tried to get past my flames.
I could hear whispers coming from the other room and someone sobbed. The Impius turned its head towards the sound and my heart raced. Nope.
I leapt forwards and thrust the knife into its shoulder. It screamed in pain but I yanked the knife out and stumbled away, my leg searing with pain. The Impius clawed at its shoulder but it was far from dead. If anything, I’d just pissed it off.
The Avarian Chronicles: A Tear In The Veil Page 6
