by Kim Faulks
I moved fast, slipping out into the hallway once more and then past the darkened bathrooms. Movement cut through the gloom deeper in the hallway—a flash of silver in the dark, and the sound of thunderous boots rang out and then quieted.
The place was silent…eerily fucking silent. There was a flare of white…soft at first, like light had crept in from somewhere, until the darkness was pushed backwards and the outline of a massive silver stag grew.
The beast filled the hallway, standing strong and proud. The glowing antlers smacked into each of the walls, but the beast never seemed to notice. It just stood there, watching me.
“Easy now,” I murmured and lifted a hand. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
The stag dropped his head, sniffed the floor at its hooves. The sudden snort of a breath filled the air. I flinched at the sound, and then, in a heartbeat…the beast faded in front of my eyes.
He was gone…the light of his body dulled to gray, and then was swallowed by the night as though the apparition hadn’t been there at all. “No fucking stags, my ass. I did not just imagine that.”
I moved fast, following the thud of boots that rang out before toward an opening at the end of the hall, and then slowed. Two massive hearths were ablaze in the room, on each side, filling the air with an orange glow.
And in the middle was a towering obsidian throne. Chiseled edges caught the flickering glow, and for a second it reminded me of Hell.
Beautiful…terrifying Hell.
The Queen looked cold, and regal, like she’d been carved from the rock as well as the seat she sat on. Dark eyes watched me like a hawk as I entered the room. Guards stood sentry against the walls. I glanced at them, and then turned back to her once more. “What’s going on out there?”
There was a flicker of something in her eyes, and then a slight curl of blood-red lips as she snarled. “You think you can fool me? You think you’re here as a guest?”
My heart pounded as she snarled a command. “Seize her.”
What the fuck? I whipped my head around as four Unseelie guards lunged forward, two with daggers drawn.
“What a minute!” I lifted my hands into the air. But it was her I glared at… “What the fuck did I do?”
“Make this bitch kneel,” the Queen murmured.
Hands gripped me, driving down on my shoulders until my knees buckled.
Hate and rage and injustice were a deadly cocktail. I opened myself up to the power of Hell and felt that lick of fire inside me. I thrashed under their grip, shoving forward. “I didn’t do anything fucking wrong!”
“You killed Mòr!” she screamed, and the sound of her fury bounced off the walls in the throne room.
Something had changed here in the minutes since I left and sat at that dining room table with a bowl of Unseelie heart in front of me. Or maybe…nothing had changed at all.
I sucked in a breath and stared at the frigid fucking bitch. Maybe this had been the game play all along. Unseelie liked to torture. Unseelie liked to hunt. Unseelie liked to play with their fucking food.
Sweat ran down my brow to fall into my eyes. Fire crackled from the fireplace. I stared at the flames...if I died, I’d be free…free to walk the hallways of Hell and never return.
No longer part mortal.
No longer alive.
I met her gaze. Of all the fucking places to kick it…I never imagined it’d be somewhere so goddamn cold.
Chapter Eleven
Titus
“No…no fucking way,” Rival glanced from Gabriel to me. A harsh bark of laughter followed, like someone unhinged. “I won’t let the sonovabitch kill himself when we have a chance to save her. We have to do something.”
“I agree,” Gabriel took a step. Ivory feathers caught the glow of the floor lights until the Archangel shone with Heavenly purpose. “We need to go now.”
“No,” the word slipped from my lips. “We stay the course.”
Anger flared in the Hellhound’s gaze, burning with blood-red flames. “Bullfucking- shit,” Rival lifted his hand to stab the air with a finger. “He’d come for you…you can bet your fucking ass!”
There was no fear when I saw Rival’s anger now. No longer that sense of panic that raced through my veins. I was used to his temper, all their tempers.
And my own power surged from somewhere down in the pit of my stomach. I lifted my head and met their gazes. “If he’s going to do it, then there’s not a goddamn thing we can do to stop him. You leave now, and we risk Lorn. You want that? ’Cause I sure as hell don’t. So, we figure out another way to stop him.”
“Lorn…” Rival breathed her name.
“Lorn,” I agreed. “We can be there and back before he knows. She’s the only one who can talk reason, and she’s the only one who he’ll listen to.”
“He’s stubborn,” Gabriel muttered.
“All Unseelie are,” Twilforth mumbled and them met my gaze. “Sorry.”
“We need to hurry,” Gabriel glanced at me.
I could sense the unease in the Archangel, death didn’t sit easy with any of us, let alone at your own hand. I glanced at the Seelie. “My blood for safe passage all the way to the Unseelie realm.”
Silver eyes brightened in the darkened hallway. “Yes,” the fae murmured, and licked his lips.
I dug into my pocket and pulled out a pen knife.
“Wait a minute, cop. You sure you want to do this?” Rival lifted his gaze from the knife in my hand to my eyes.
Panic roared through my veins. I didn’t know how my blood would affect someone, let alone a fae.
“You got another plan? ’Cause if you do, then I’m all in.”
There was silence before the Hellhound shook his head. I yanked open the small blade and then lifted my hand and sliced.
The sting carried as blood welled in the cut before it spilled over. I lifted my hand to the fae. “Bite me and I’ll fucking end you.”
Hunger raged in Twilforth’s eyes. There was a nod of acceptance before he lunged forward, mouth open at the ready. Rival winced at the sight and looked away as the fae crouched and pressed his lips to my palm.
I’d seen some fucking disgusting things in my time…but this…this made my gut clench. The Seelie reached for my hand, long, thin fingers pressed my flesh harder against his lips.
“That’s enough,” I snarled.
But there was no stopping him. Twilforth pressed harder, smashing my palm against his mouth as his greedy slurps filled the darkened space.
“Jesus…” Rival muttered.
I yanked my hand from the bastard’s hold. “I said that’s enough!”
He just stared at me, silver eyes pulsing like a damn charge. A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. “Oh my,” he murmured and dabbed a finger to his lips. “You are everything I hoped for and more.”
“The Unseelie realm,” I muttered and swiped my hand on my jeans. “Now.”
His tongue snaked out, skirting the spilled drop as he lowered his gaze. “If I do…If I get you there, I get more?”
“Sure,” I lied. “As soon as we reach the Unseelie gates.”
I had no goddamn intention of letting his lips anywhere near my body again. Rival just glared at me, and then at the Seelie, he seemed to understand my intention. “So, get moving,” he took a step closer.
The fae flinched at the movement, glanced from the Hellhound to me, and then nodded. “Okay, yeah, sure. Just let me…”
He tried to take a step to the side and flank the Hellhound’s side, before Rival took a step and placed his hand against the wall, blocking the way. White fangs shone in the dim glow of the floor lights as he murmured, “Going somewhere?”
“I…ah…” Twilforth muttered.
Gabriel took a step closer, the Archangel’s eyes glinting with cold rage. “You don’t want to piss us off now. Take us to the Unseelie realm.”
“It’s not that easy,” the fae shook his head. “We’ll have to walk.”
“T
hen walk,” Rival growled and motioned toward the end of the hallway. “The rear door is there.”
I moved in closer, pushing past the fae, and headed for the end of the hallway and the door leading out into the alley behind the club.
One twist of the handle and I shoved the stuck door free. Cool night air swept in, carrying with it the stench of the overflowing dumpster from outside. But none of that mattered. We’d wade through the bowels of whatever filthy realm imaginable if it meant we’d get to Lorn.
“The portal?” Rival growled as I stepped out and into the alley. “Where is it?”
“There is no portal to the Seelie realm,” the fae muttered. “We have nothing that archaic; we have The Becoming.”
“What the fuck is a becoming?” The Hellhound muttered.
I turned my head, watching the fae, as they stepped out and shoved the door closed behind them.
“It’s a call,” the Seelie murmured. “It means we don’t go to the portal, the portal comes to us.”
“Well then,” the Hellhound raised his hand and motioned to the shadows of the alley. “Bring it on.”
“What, you mean here?” Twilforth jerked his gaze to all of us and wrinkled his damn nose.
All three of us glared at the fae until he shifted nervously and glanced around the darkened alley. “This would have to be the most humiliating becoming I’ve ever endured.”
If he wanted solace, then he’d find none here. My thoughts turned to Redemption, and desperation bloomed like a noxious cloud. Hold on, brother. Hold on.
The Seelie took a step into the middle of the alley and lifted his hands. Magic swirled between the brick walls of one building and the other. A breeze picked up, blowing a glass bottle from the overflowing pile of trash next to the dumpster and kicking it clear across the alley.
Power hummed, dancing across my skin, and then sank deep, through flesh and bone to make the blood sing in my veins. A tiny spark hovered six feet in the air in front of us. The Seelie focused on that point and then closed his eyes, and the tiny orb grew brighter.
Not pulsing, just swelling, sending silver tendrils like soft lashings into the air as it grew.
“Jesus,” Rival muttered.
The Hellhound’s face glowed with the soft light. Dark brick walls shone brightly, glossy green with moss. Everything looked clearer in this light, like it’d taken every drab color of this world and turned it up a hundredfold.
“God, that’s beautiful,” Gabriel murmured, staring into the glowing orb.
The Seelie opened his eyes and smiled. “That’s Seelie.”
He took a step forward. “Come, my world awaits.”
I hesitated and then kicked myself, striding forward, meeting both Rival and Gabriel as we followed the Seelie toward that shining orb hovering in the middle of the filthy alley.
The closer we came, the more the light seemed to steal, moving out to swallow the Seelie as he moved into it.
The light was blinding. I lifted my hand, shielding my eyes, and kept on walking, moving into the light, and then stilled. But the piercing glare was all I could see.
Something smacked into my shoulder, and then snarled.
“Watch it,” I answered back and squinted into the light.
“Can’t see a goddamn thing,” the Hellhound growled.
“Oh my,” Gabriel murmured, and pushed between us, stepping out of the alley and into the Seelie world.
“Move,” someone barked at my right.
I was hit from the side and barged out of the way. I stumbled, caught my balance, and turned to face a mountain of a man. The place was packed, creatures of every size and shape jostled for pavement space. A squeal pierced my ear. I winced and ducked as what looked like an overgrown moth flew past.
The Dragon’s Pixie filled my mind. I’d saved her in the fire that destroyed our apartment building, and in turned she saved me, staying by my side even when I lay in that hospital, weak and waiting for death to come.
But the creature that fluttered above my head was nothing like my Pixie. This one was small, and bright, buzzing like a fire bug in the middle of the day.
If the Unseelie world was dark and cold, then this world was the complete opposite. Bright-colored fabrics floated from the bazaar tents that packed the middle of the street. I glanced at the different wares. There was everything, including clay pots that were stacked on top of one another until they almost toppled to the ground.
Magic swirled amongst the flaps of the darker-colored tents. Red and green mists snaked out of the opening on either side of the closest one, until the colored tendrils floated into the air.
Even the air was like nothing I’d ever tasted before…and you could taste it. It was fresh and floral, with a hint of citrus, the zing danced on the tip of my tongue.
“God, this shit is good,” Rival inhaled until his chest expanded and his eyes widened, and then he exhaled long and slow. “Like goddamn cocaine.”
“Keep breathing like that and you’re gonna make yourself lightheaded,” I muttered and lifted my gaze to the towering green mountains and the white stone castle in the distance. “And I sure as hell am not going to catch you when you faint.”
“Asshole,” Rival muttered. “Anyway, where the hell are we?”
“This is what we call the marketplace,” the male answered and took a step forward. “Where we barter and trade our services, for food and other necessities. It’s the hub of our realm, apart from the King’s castle, that is.”
Towering white stone walls jutted from the deep rich green of its surroundings. It was impressive even from here, but I wasn’t here to sightsee. “Which way?”
“Follow me, and stick close,” the male fae murmured. “My kind don’t like invaders.”
He stepped around an old woman carrying a small wooden tray as she chanted her wares of necklaces and beads and headed for the other side of the market-place. Rival glanced at me, and then took a step, following the silver-haired Seelie, and the rest of us followed.
It was nice here, soft in a way, like all the bright colors enhanced rather than glared, and if I was here for any other reason, I might’ve stayed a while—I lifted my head to the white stone castle peeking out of the green—I might’ve taken a closer look at that castle, and the King behind its walls.
I lengthened my stride as that urgency bloomed. What the fuck did I do? Lorn’s panicked words slipped into my mind. I flinched at the sound, catching Rival stiffen and then slowly glance over his shoulder at me, and then at Gabriel.
He heard her, too…
We’d all heard her.
The Hellhound closed the gap and the rest of us surged ahead, cutting through the marketplace to slip between two clay bricked buildings. The alley was tight, too goddamn tight. I turned sideways, shuffling more than stepping as I followed the others.
The Seelie seemed to move without hindrance, gliding more like it, until we were through the other side of the market-place to where the streets were quieter.
“How long?” Rival growled.
Terror worked its way through my bones, until it turned the sweet, perfect air rancid in my lungs.
“Not far, but we have to move quietly,” the fae turned his head and answered, crossing the street toward another gap between buildings.
Sunlight glinted off steel in the distance. I turned my head, catching the massive Seelie as he strode toward us.
But this was no fae. This was a soldier of some kind. Sunlight glinted from steel armor, and blazed from the sword in his hand. He walked with purpose, striding down the street toward us. “Halt!” the guard roared. “In the name of the King, I command you to halt!”
“Shit,” Twilforth muttered in front of us. He turned his head, took one look at my wounded hand and licked his lips and muttered, “Remember how I said my kind don’t like invaders? Yeah, we need to run.”
The bastard took off, slipping between the two other buildings and tearing through the alley.
“Shit!” R
ival snarled and followed, scraping his shoulders along the clay bricks in an attempt to keep up.
Gabriel was next, tucking his wings in tight. Feathers came loose, floating to the ground as he scurried. Heavy boots echoed behind me. But the massive guard wasn’t following…he was too big to slip between the houses.
I’m guessing this was the plan all along.
I drove my boots into the ground, smashing perfect white angelic feathers into the Seelie mud and kept pushing until we were out the other side.
The forest tree line surrounded the bank of houses on this side and seemed to run the entire length of the town. Twilforth headed left, spearing his way toward a mass of thin trees that looked eerily similar to ash trees, but the leaves on these glistened with silver.
I focused on the others in front. Pulling up hard when they did…far from the safety of the forest. I sucked in a breath and gasped, “What’s wrong?”
Twilforth was slowing…a lot.
He stumbled and then righted himself. Rival grabbed the guy’s arm and kept on charging toward the trees.
I glanced over my shoulder to the empty street behind me. But that didn’t mean it’d be empty forever. These people didn’t want invaders in their lands, so they’d be coming…with backup.
Gabriel grabbed Twilforth’s other arm, matching the Hellhound’s stride as we raced for the trees, and slipped between the first two thin trees and into the Seelie forest.
“What the fuck, dude?” Rival muttered.
Twilforth just shook his head. “I…I don’t know what’s come over me.”
The Hellhound sucked in a hard breath and kept on moving, slower this time. But even from here I could see there was something wrong with the Seelie.
Strands of long silver hair stuck against his sweat-soaked brow. Gabriel dropped his hand to let the three of them slip between the tightly packed trees, until the trunks around us thickened and the bright sun above us dulled. Rival dropped his hold, slowing as he glanced behind me.
