by E Hall
“Classic unseelie.” Amelia lifts and lowers a shoulder like it’s no big deal. She holds up a can of Irn-Bru. “What you do is what matters not necessarily what you think or feel because although they’re real inside of you, they’re not to the rest of the world.” She opens the soda and bends the tab back and forth. “I got Q. Is there anyone here whose name starts with Q?”
I do the same and my tab breaks off on the letter T again.
“So not E for Emeric. T for Tyrren. Interesting.” Amelia waggles her eyebrows.
“For someone who can do magic, you put a lot of stock in soda top tabs.”
She laughs. “I’ve never been in a love triangle before. Lea, caught between Emeric, the guy who’s going to lead us to rebellion and save us all, and Tyrren, the resident vampire bad boy who defaces school property and hates all fae except one.”
It’s definitely not a love triangle. I practically snarl at that last part about Tyrren. “That is not true.”
“Everyone knows Tyrren did the graffiti. He can’t help that he didn’t know you were fae. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”
I swallow back what she said and focus on the edges of everything else.
Amelia inclines her head as if to explain something to a toddler. “Have you ever heard of the X-Crew? They’re a bunch of vampires out to cause trouble. Chaos. Anarchy. Disorder. They love playing with fire. They put unseelie fae to shame with their naughtiness. Tyrren is probably in it.” She purses her lips. “He didn’t know about your true identity and you didn’t know about his. Star-crossed lovers. A tale as old as time. But if you’re smart, you’ll align with Emeric because he’s about to bring the vampires down.”
Amelia has a point but not about the love-anything. I hid my true identity from Tyrren.
I want to trust Amelia and tell her the story about my uncle and how Tyrren is here on wrongful charges. But she’s also unseelie fae and I hardly trust myself. Can I trust her? “Something isn’t right,” I mutter.
“Exactly. Fae are locked up. Vampires and demons roam the streets. There’s a conspiracy against us. Something definitely isn’t right.”
“Nothing’s ever right.” But like she said before, it doesn’t matter what I think or feel. It matters what I do.
I pull on my boots and hurry from the room. Amelia follows, her gown swishing. “Where are you going?”
“To find Tyrren.”
“Wait for me, I’ll go with you.”
But I don’t.
Because it’s the night of the masquerade dance, the usual lockdown is lifted. Music still filters from the common quad. Otherwise, the campus is quiet. Fog has crept in from the water, bringing with it a dank, sulfuric odor much like the subway.
Movement comes from an alcove of one of the buildings. Cole and Felix emerge. I’m not surprised they weren’t at the dance. I wonder if there’s a special vampire event. Ivan has regaled me with stories of the palace where he used to live—though he never specified where it was. It was probably the Nefral Palace that Amelia mentioned. I always assumed it was in Transylvania or elsewhere in Eastern Europe and not another realm.
“Hey, Lea,” Cole says.
I keep walking until they step in front of me.
Felix tries to grip my arm, but I wrest it away.
“There’s so much you could give us.” Cole’s voice bites.
“Like a kick in the—?” Memories of a similarly foggy night flood back, threatening to paralyze me.
The two of them chuckle.
“You’re so tough. We like it. Why don’t you join us? We’ll show you what you’re missing out on.” Felix’s lips brush my ear.
“I thought we were on opposite teams.” I stand my ground.
He smirks.
The roar inside grows. My circuitry switches to impulse. Magic wells, but the playing field isn’t even. My power is suppressed.
Felix grabs hold of me. The others pin my arms. “Come on. It won’t hurt.” His lips brush my neck.
Although the vampires at RIP Jr despise fae, they don’t typically feed on us. I know that much. My magic is static but begging for release. I jerk my head and bite down hard on his ear.
He grips it, struggling against the pain.
“Make me your target and I will make you mine,” I shout savagely. A fire stokes inside of me.
Cole laughs. “He told you she was going to be trouble. Anyway, she’s meant to be his. No biting.”
I don’t know who he is or what they’re talking about, but my anger burns dangerously like a flame in the wind. The wild, untrained parts of me want to destroy them.
Then I hear someone say my name and it’s like a whisper, a soft caress, a fulfillment of desire. “Leajka.”
Chapter 14
Tyrren
The lamp in my dorm room crashes to the floor as the attacker slams me into the night table. The file scatters. I shove the attacker off me and they slam into the bookshelf. It teeters and smashes to the floor.
“You’ve already ransacked my room,” I grind out.
It’s dark in here now except for the slim shaft of light from outside. They lunge at me and I dodge, throwing them face-first into Aaron’s dresser.
“You’ve already turned me into a vampire,” I add.
The attacker sweeps my legs, but I’m fast and land a solid knee to the gut. There’s a familiar give as though the person is made of gelatin.
They get up slowly.
I hold the lamp aloft like a sword. “What. Do. You. Want.”
They hiss in response.
Oh, I’m dealing with a demon.
Where’s a sword when you need one?
I think fast and open the window, letting in the crisp night air. “It’s a little stinky in here, buddy.”
The demon makes another lunge, gripping my shoulders.
As we grapple, I align with the window and in one swift motion throw the demon through the window. I don’t wait to hear a splat. It won’t die but buys me time to get out of here.
There are only a few people in the dorm. Most are still probably at the Fae Court dance but I have to report this.
A CA is by the entrance and as I begin to explain, I realize he won’t buy it.
“There’s no way anyone got on this campus. Same way as no one gets off,” the CA says, indifferent to my raving.
I have a mind to go find Lea. She’ll know what to do, but she probably won’t believe me either.
I slump back to my room, gather the papers that came loose from the files, and tidy up. For better or worse, vampires don’t really sleep so I spend the night going over everything. Trying to find a clue, an answer.
I’m still without one when I’m dragged to the administration office the next morning. I stand accused of being involved in the demon attacks on campus.
“But I was attacked,” I say.
“A demon attacking a vampire?” Jurik asks. “You may be new to the blood-drinking life, but it’s vampires who order around demons. Everyone knows that.” She smirks.
“But I didn’t do it. I was at the dance. There are witnesses.”
“Do you mean Lea? Unfortunately, she’s not the most reliable.” Jurik doesn’t waver.
“But we danced together and—”
“She was with Emeric if I remember correctly.”
“Not the entire time.” Arguing is futile. I’m at the headmistress’s mercy.
“Two strikes, Tyrren.” She eyes the RIP grounds out the window. “I’m considering banning you from the Rjoklund Games endurance challenge, but I believe in offering second chances. But not third so unless you want to experience a real-life test of endurance over at RIP, I suggest you follow the rules.”
But I have been. I’m starting to think someone has it in for me. Why else was I the only vampire in Jurik’s file? Is there something she’s monitoring? A conspiracy going on in the background? Instead, I say, “Yes, of course, Headmistress.”
During my workout, breakfast, and mornin
g classes, whispers about the demon attacks on several fae get louder. By lunch, it’s all been pinned on me. I’m the pariah. Well, at least among the fae. I don’t see Lea and I’m not entirely surprised. Not after our conversation and not after me supposedly ordering the attack on fae—if she believes the hype.
I spend entirely too much time in the blood dispensary in the coming days. Vandalism on campus increases and everywhere I go I feel eyes on me. I hardly see Lea except in passing. When I do, she hardly looks at me and won’t speak to me.
I’ve never felt so alone.
In the gray dawn, I pull on my sneakers for the Rjoklund Games. The scent of damp earth kicks up from my footfalls. Leaves and the faintest sounds of birds and squirrels rustle from nearby. We all gather around a podium.
No one holds signs for the event or shakes pom-poms to cheer us on like at my old high school. It’s kind of solemn. The clouds overhead tell me to go back inside.
The headmistress stands in front of a microphone. “Students, welcome to the annual Rjoklund Games named after the famed endurance challenges in the Southlands of Borea.”
The surrounding crowd cheers in a subdued vampire-y kind of way.
“We honor the vampire traditions of old with these tests of endurance but with one difference. You will do it with a partner. Someone unlike you. Vampires will be paired with fae. You will learn to work cooperatively.”
By the grumbles, I’m assuming that’s going to be the real challenge.
No one claps. Thunder sounds in the distance.
“We’ll all return here at nightfall to celebrate.”
Jurik goes on to read the names of the pairs. I pity the fae who has to go with Rizon. I hear my name and then Lea Vladikoff.
I blink, certain I misheard. No way would Jurik pair us up.
Lea appears in front of me. Dark circles ring her eyes. She looks tired, thin.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” she repeats, glancing over her shoulder at Emeric.
When everyone is matched up, Jurik explains the three games. There is a footrace, a hammer throw, which if it’s anything like throwing axes, shouldn’t be too bad, and a golden disk hidden somewhere on the grounds. The team to find it wins the overall championship.
A bell chimes. Everyone is off on fleet feet.
Lea and I look at each other awkwardly. No words are spoken. Then we take off. We cruise along the trail, avoiding roots, rocks, and the uneven terrain. We’re in the middle of the pack. Not the fastest and not the slowest but definitely the quietest. Whether it’s because Lea is concentrating or because she hates me, I’m not sure. The tension is like a thick slab of iron between us.
We arrive at a fork in the trail. It’s an even split between both directions as the people ahead of us keep running.
We go left. The pack of runners thins out and Lea remains focused on the terrain. I’m not sure what to say to break the ice. I clear my throat but words don’t come.
All at once, she hits the ground hard and is dragged into the underbrush.
I find my voice and shout.
A demon grips her ankle. I kick it hard, sending it creeping back into the bush. She wiggles loose and gets to her feet.
“Are you okay?”
She nods and brushes off leaves.
“For the record, that had nothing to do with me.” My muscles are coiled and I remain in a fighting stance, eyeing the brush.
“Probably part of the race. An obstacle.” Her voice is flat. “We should keep going.”
It isn’t. “What if it attacks the next person?”
She shrugs and starts running again. Lea, my warrior princess, didn’t walk away when the demons attacked the girl in Brooklyn before we were locked up. I don’t want her alone on the trail in case there are more. I’m torn between warning the next runners or decimating the thing but hurry to catch up with her.
Ahead, there’s a checkpoint for water and fuel. For me, that means blood. I hate it every time but my body doesn’t. While I feel refreshed, Lea still looks worn out, exhausted after getting water and a snack.
“There was a demon on the trail,” I tell the CA.
He doesn’t reply but holds me steadily in his gaze like I’m the one who needs watching.
“Right. So. I warned you?” I’m frustrated but and take off to keep up with Lea.
We reach the end of the trail without another incident, except for regular obstacles, including a huge mud puddle, a wooden fence to climb, a rope swing, a narrow plank to walk over a pit, and without another word spoken between us.
We have a few minutes to rest while the rest of the runners come in and before the hammer throw.
“I wonder if anyone found the golden disk.”
Lea shrugs.
I sit next to her on the ground. Before we could coexist in comfortable silence. Now I feel like she despises me.
Jurik announces the hammer toss. Instead of an actual hammer or axe, we have to throw a big metal ball. The running event reminded me of a Tough Mudder. This reminds me of something from the Highland games in Scotland.
We take our turns and again, land in the middle. Not the winners but not the worst either. Even though the Rjoklund Games are foreign to fae, there are vampires here who’ve done this many times—some even going as far back as the actual games in the Borea realm. I can hardly wrap my head around it.
“Are some of the vampires here who look like they’re in their teens actually hundreds of years old?” I ask Lea, forgetting she’s not talking to me.
She rubs her face. “I feel a hundred years old.”
I force myself not to jerk my head in her direction. She speaks. “Something on your mind? We can talk.”
She blinks a few times as though coming out of a fog. “It’s almost like an actual pull. Like I’m addicted to mayhem. Out of control.” She turns to me. “Like I can’t help myself when it comes to Emeric.”
I try to play it cool but at the mention of his name my jaw tightens. I give her space to go on.
“I wouldn’t cause that kind of destruction, would I? It’s getting hard to separate what’s real and what’s not.”
“Lea,” I say softly. “I don’t understand.”
Just then, Jurik announces the winner for the hammer throw as the clouds overhead threaten to split open with rain. “Now, you’ll seek the golden disk. Good luck.”
“Do we just look for it?” I ask.
Everyone else scatters as though they know what to do, leaving Lea and me standing in the middle of the field.
“Lea, you were saying before about Emeric?” I draw her away from the field so at least it’ll look like we’re participating in the games.
“Never mind,” she answers. Her gaze fixes on the middle distance like she, along with her thoughts, are somewhere else.
“If you want to talk, I’m always here. There’s something I want to talk to you about actually.” I tell her about the file, the demon attack, and how I think there’s something sinister going on.
This seems to bring her back to me. “You broke into Jurik’s office? Who’s the rule breaker now?”
We’re in the wooded area, working our backward along the trail, circling the obstacles, crawling over rocks, and scrambling up a hill. I barely look for the disk. My focus is on Lea.
The air is chill and portends rain as the sun sets. We’re behind the administration building. Written across the wall is the word death with a big X underneath. The windows are smashed.
Lea looks down at her hands. “I didn’t mean it.”
“Didn’t mean what?” I ask.
She points.
“You didn’t do that.”
She nods slowly and her dark eyes meet mine. “Last night.”
“We’ll figure out a way to get out of here,” I say. I’m willing to do anything to help her, protect her.
She shakes her head. “There’s no escaping that I’m fae. I’m bad, Tyrren. Even though I didn’t kill those two people, I belong h
ere where my magic is suppressed.”
I take her hand, bringing us away from the building. “Lea, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I do know that expression. Whatever grim thoughts you’re having, no.” I lower my voice. “I’m not going to lose you again.” After the incident sophomore year, I fought to bring her back from the edge.
“But I’m not yours.” Her voice is strained. She tilts her head.
Down the sidewalk, Emeric appears holding a golden disk in his hand. “Look what I found.”
My nostrils flare. Tension grips my entire body. I see red.
Lea runs into Emeric’s arms.
Chapter 15
Leajka
I hear the call of my name as though on the wind. Leajka. The way Emeric says it, I can’t resist. I spare a glance back at Tyrren who stands on the sidewalk, looking crestfallen.
Emeric has told me how historically vampires hurt the fae—during the war, Bortimal created the demons to rend fae shadows. He says that eventually, Tyrren will want to hurt me—it’s in a vamp’s nature. Yet I can’t help but be vaguely aware that Tyrren said he would never turn his back on me...yet that’s what I’ve just done to him.
We return to the clearing where the Rjoklund Games began and Emeric claims his prize—a trophy and declaration that he’s the champion. There is a feast and revels. I imagine this is the first time a fae has won the challenge.
I’m starving and help myself to sweets. But lately, I’ve been thirsty. Not for blood like the vampires, but I have a craving for the drink from the goblet during the court dance. I can’t stop thinking about it.
After I eat, Emeric draws me away from the crowd and we venture toward the woods. He wants to show me where he found the golden disk. We sit side by side, facing each other. The leaves are damp on the ground.
He stares deeply into my eyes. I bask in the soft glow of light radiating from him. He’s rescued me from the lie I’d been living. He shows me the truth of who I am.
Emeric brushes a stray hair from my cheek and I lean into his hand as he whispers my name.
“Want to break some more rules, Leajka?” he asks. His words are euphoric, leaving me feeling blissed out, just as they always do.
