Amelia sighed. This conversation had been long overdue, and Vikarion deserved an explanation, but she still couldn’t tell him the whole truth. He already knew more about her than nearly any other living person as it was, and as for the rest … Sharing it would simply be too dangerous for both of them. Anyway, she wasn’t so sure that she actually had complete control of her abilities. She wasn’t even aware of the full extent of them.
Since Vik sensed Lia wasn’t about to cut in this time, he went on.
“Well, even though I didn’t get your decision, I knew I had to accept it. After all, you hadn’t tried to change my mind about the path I’d chosen, either. I still couldn’t let you go completely, though, so I kept an eye on you from afar.”
Although his gaze turned wary, showing her Vik wasn’t sure how she’d react to this revelation, Vik didn’t try to hide from her. His bright eyes collided with hers, unblinking, and he reached out to clasp her hands.
“I’ve always been around, Lia,” he went on. “Then one day, when I came to check on you, you simply weren’t there. You’d disappeared, and I couldn’t find you. We soon heard rumors about a girl getting captured in the capital, but no one could give us a description or tell us exactly what had happened. We found out that girl who could be you had ended up in Inherell, but it took some time. Then an acquaintance learned that a new batch of beautiful women had been sold to a Fae Lord, and since I couldn’t unearth any other leads and there weren’t other recent captures in the vicinity, I just knew you had to be among those women.”
Drawing her close, Vik took Amelia’s face into his hands, then leaned in until their foreheads touched.
“I had to come, Leelee,” he whispered, using his silly old pet name for her – the one only he was allowed to call her. The one he’d given her when she couldn’t bear to be Lia anymore, because it’d hurt too much. “I had to find you.”
Shuddering, Lia gulped, but she didn’t pull back. She didn’t want to break up their closeness, even though emotions clogged her throat.
She got it, really. If their positions had been reversed, she would’ve done everything in her power to find and free Vik, too. Still, it was very dangerous for a human to traipse around the Upper Kingdom by his lonesome these days, and she half-wished her friend had stayed away. But since Vikarion was already there, she could at least warn him about those kids. Maybe then, in spite of the delay, they’d still have a chance.
“Vik, the Fae aren’t only taking women,” Lia said, looking at Vik to convey the graveness of the situation. “They’re taking the young ones now. Human children.”
He saw Vik’s face harden.
“We’ll find a way to help them,” he promised earnestly. “But for now, we have to go.”
He stood with surprising fluidity, getting up from where they’d sank down to the ground, with Lia half sitting in Vik’s lap, then reached for her hand. Amelia didn’t think it was merely to help her up, though.
Her eyes widened.
Vik wanted her to go with him, and she wanted to, really, but …
“No, Vik. I can’t,” she said softly, but in a firm voice. “Not yet. But you have to go. For your safety, and so you can save those children.”
"What – You want to stay here? You want to be a slave?" Running both hands through his wildly curling locks and fisting his own hair, Vikarion let out a dry laugh. Then he took a deep breath, visibly trying to collect himself. "Why, Lia?” Vik demanded to know, staring at Amelia with great intensity. In that instant, he must’ve realized something, though, because he changed tack next, posing a different question. “Can’t or won’t, Leelee?
Amelia couldn’t tear her eyes away from his as she answered, “Both, actually.”
Lowering his hands, Vik asked, “What, Lia? What do you mean by that? What is so damn important that you’re willing to risk your life for it? Willing to serve our enemy. To be their slave.” He inhaled sharply. “Does it have anything to do with that male?”
So, he’d seen Roan.
Amelia didn’t say a word, though. She didn’t need to.
The answer was written on her face.
“What did he do to you?” Vik hissed, looking her over again, but since he was human and didn’t have any magic, he couldn’t detect a thing.
“I’m bound to him,” Amelia explained, raising her hand to the invisible collar and running it along its edge.
Vik’s mouth became a firm line, while his body stilled in a way that caused chills to run down Amelia’s spine.
“That bastard leashed you like an animal,” he spat, all but growling, voice deepened by fury.
And as much as she wanted to object to that assumption, Amelia couldn’t deny it.
That was the truth, wasn’t it.
“I have things to take care of,” she said instead, deciding to address Vik’s other questions so she could get around talking about this.
Then for the first time since realizing it, she voiced another hard truth – the one thing she’d never be able to forgive or forget.
“That Fae … He is the one who murdered my sister.”
Understanding lit Vik’s eyes along with compassion, and he nodded sharply.
He comprehended perfectly well – and unfortunately, he could also relate to her pain. After all, she wasn’t the only one who’d lost loved ones along the way.
As far as blood family was concerned, Vik was all alone, too.
“We’ll avenge her,” he said matter-of-factly, his words a solemn promise.
And although her throat tightened, Lia repeated the words, reinforcing the same vow she’d made every single day since her sibling had been ripped away from her forever.
As much as circumstances had changed, the path ahead remained the same.
Nothing could alter it.
Aroan had killed an innocent girl, and he had to pay.
Chapter Eighteen
To ease the heavy feeling in heart and escape the inevitable future for now, Amelia looked around and realized with a start that night was already descending.
She’d remained out here a lot longer than planned, and time was running away from them. She hadn’t counted on Vik showing up here out of the blue, only miles from the mansion of a Fae Lord, though, so it was understandable she hadn’t noticed how late it’d gotten.
Having the opportunity to reunite with Vik, to really talk with her old friend … She’d longed for this for so long. Right now, she had to get back, though, and Vikarion had to go, too.
Reluctantly, Amelia turned back to Vik. She took a deep breath, firming her resolve, then, straightening her shoulders, she said, “You have to leave.”
Vik looked none too happy about being sent away, naturally.
He’d come so far to help her, done so much to find her and get her away from the Fae …
“Fine,” Vik began. “I’m going for now, but I’ll be back, Lia. I’m not leaving you here alone to …”
Before he got any further, Amelia’s hand cut through the air, hushing Vikarion ere she really knew what she was doing. The sharp motion still worked, though. It’d been so deeply ingrained in them both that they automatically reverted back to old behavior, with Vik freezing on the spot and holding his mouth shut so his friend could ascertain what was wrong, while she scrambled to comprehend what her gut was trying to tell her.
Though she’d been fully focused on Vik as they’d spoken, her subconscious must’ve detected something and sent up an alert in her mind, and now her instincts were screaming at her to move, to run and hide.
Turning her attention outwards, Amelia took in their surroundings deliberately this time, scanning for anything unusual … then she sucked in a breath.
The forest had gone preternaturally quiet around them. All the animals were silent.
Someone or something was out there, searching, stalking his prey, and that prey had to be her.
Amelia was busted.
“Someone is coming,” she whispered urgently, doing
her best to convey how serious the situation was. Taking a second they didn’t have to look into her friend’s solemn, unblinking eyes one last time, Amelia said, “Go!”
Vik heeded her warning, heading for the trees and disappearing back the way he’d come, and an instant later, Amelia was on her own at the clearing, with no detectable sign of her companion’s former presence left. Except for his scent, of course, but there wasn’t anything she could do about that. So, she had to leave the glade, too.
They couldn’t find her there.
Whirling around, Amelia started running.
~ *** ~
She ran and ran, moving on silent feet and hoping she wasn’t heading straight for the Fae who were looking for her instead of leading them on a merry chase.
Amelia didn’t have time to call in her inhuman senses, though. It required concentration she couldn’t muster while also focusing on continuing on undetected, and she couldn’t very well stop to gather her wits at the moment. Nor would she dare use them, or any magic for that matter, not when she knew at least one Fae was nearby, for fear of him or her picking up on the power flare.
That left her with the same ammunition as any human, meaning she was at a clear disadvantage. Amelia couldn’t sneak up on any Fae pursuer, so the best strategy was to do as she’d originally planned and circle back towards the fruit garden at the back of the mansion.
At that, a sudden thought occurred to Amelia, bringing her to a stop.
She’d set down the blueberry basket earlier while meandering through the trees, and lost in thought as she’d been, she had no idea where.
If anyone came upon it, she was done for, but Amelia couldn’t waste time trying to determine its whereabouts while a search party was hot on her trail.
Hoping for the best, Amelia set off again, this time making straight for the mansion. She had to get back and sneak inside, so she could pretend she’d been there all along. She’d come up with an excuse then. For now, she needed to make sure the Fae stopped the search and didn’t find the damn basket or Vik.
Reaching the edge of the forest that bordered the spacious lawn, Amelia found the garden teeming with activity. Though the servants went about their business as usual and, as far as she could tell, only the ordinary number of guards was out and about, they weren’t standing idly around, whiling away the day, nor were they simply patrolling the perimeter of the grounds. No, they were alert and looking, paying attention to anything that moved, so now there was no doubt left that Amelia’s vanishing hadn’t gone undetected.
Well, here was to hoping they couldn’t single out her scent or presence in the variety of fragrances and among so much other beings in the garden.
With that, Amelia shot out, dashing for the closest cover – the shed that housed the gardener’s tools. From there, she crept over to the copse of thorny bushes that was, as she’d determined while still toiling as a scullery maid, exactly seven feet from her next destination, the enormous statue that sat on a heavy marble base. As soon as the coast was clear again, Amelia sped to the stone monstrosity, hiding behind it, then she made a run for the back door, and a moment later, she was safely inside.
She’d made it, Amelia thought, astonished, her chest heaving with exertion.
And yes, she’d indeed made it back unscathed, that much was true, but she wasn’t done yet. The hard part was still ahead of her.
Sneaking down the servants’ hallway, Amelia scurried past the busy kitchen, catching a glimpse of the serving girls readying things for dinner. For a moment, she wondered whether her old room was still unoccupied – she needed to clean up herself before entering the main part of the mansion, and her chamber in Aroan’s suite wasn’t an option, but she didn’t dare to risk going to the wing with the servants’ quarters. If she ran into someone…
And she did. Quite literally. Though luckily, it was Evana she nearly knocked down, the only person in this house she could count on to keep her secret.
Blinking, the elfling looked up at her, still sprawled on the ground, her black-hued eyes becoming big as saucers.
“Amelia,” she exclaimed, though the girl had the prudence to keep her voice lowered. “Everyone is looking for you!”
“I know,” Amelia said in answer, offering her hand and helping her friend to her feet. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Amelia looked the elf carefully over, but she to be unhurt, so she nodded, relieved.
“Where were you?” Evana asked, then continued, “Lord Roan came home and you when he sent for you, you were nowhere to be found. This one woman from the kitchen said you went outside, to pick some berries. But Branley looked in the fruit garden, then around the house, then inside, and still you didn’t resurface.”
As she gazed at Amelia, the question was written on the young elf’s face.
Looking around to make sure they were still alone, Amelia sighed, wary about wasting time, but she began to explain what had occurred, anyway, only leaving out bits and pieces – like the fact that she’d planned to go into the forest all along, or that she’d unexpectedly met an old friend. One might argue that those were the most important parts of the story, but Evana didn’t need to know about Amelia’s rebellious acts. I’d only endanger her.
When she finished recounting the afternoon’s events, Evana bit her lip, seeming to be digesting things. Amelia was about to tell her she had to get going when the girl reached out and grabbed her hand, saying, “Come on!”
Then she started down the hallway, fast as lightning, and Amelia had no choice but to follow her or be dragged along. When they heard steps coming their way, Evana changed directions, thinking fast, and they escaped the passerby’s notice. Then they were back on track, with Evana steering her in same direction as before.
As soon as it became evident to Amelia where they were headed, she wanted to smack herself in the forehead.
Of course, she thought, shaking her head at her own foolishness. The laundry.
There, they were sure to find a bucket of water, and that section of the mansion was secluded enough that Amelia was likely to be undisturbed for the short while she’d need to get her appearance in order.
When they reached their destination, Evana remained outside to guard the door, ready to give Amelia a warning if anyone happened to come by, while Amelia herself went into the room and did her best to hurry and get everything done as quickly as possible. She emerged a short while later, looking far from her best but presentable enough, with her hair now lacking any errant pieces of greenery and at least clean feet. After exchanging a couple of words, Amelia briefly hugged her friend, giving heartfelt thanks for her help, then they hastily parted ways, and Amelia headed for Aroan’s suite of rooms.
She made it halfway there without running into anyone before it occurred to her that the lord might not even be there. Seeing as he’d been away nearly the whole day, there might be some urgent matters he needed to take care of before retiring to his chambers. With that thought in mind, Amelia doubled back, heading down the servants’ narrow staircase, and as she entered the second story hallway where Aroan’s study was situated, she indeed heart faint voices drifting from behind the closed door.
Curious as to whom the Fae was conversing with, Amelia decided to chance it one last time that day. Inwardly berating herself for being a fool for tempting Fate when she hadn’t even escaped the mess she was presently in yet, she tiptoed closer to the room’s entrance and pressed her ear against the thick wooden door.
“… brats along when you come to Cerridwen. The Council wants to see how they’ve fared,” the speaker paused, emitting a mean chuckle. “Or rather, they wish to ascertain that their kind is still well in hand. Oh, and don’t forget your pretty little slave, either.”
Amelia gritted her teeth.
That cold, mocking voice was as unmistakable as the callous way he spoke about other beings. Lord Byron, Earl of Wentbur, had returned. Though if his words were anything to go on, at least it se
emed the Fae wasn’t inclined to stay for very long.
Thank Heaven for small mercies.
“The time has come, Son,” the older Fae went on, seemingly not inclined to wait for a response. “In five days time, you will follow in my footsteps and further the family name. Prove to everyone our greatness.”
Whatever Aroan said in answer to that, Amelia didn’t hear, distracted as she was by the sound of steadily nearing footsteps headed the study’s way.
Well, her time had run out. Amelia guessed she could always make a dash for the stairwell, getting out of sight without anyone suspecting she’d been there in the first place, but she had to face Roan, and it was wiser to do so rather sooner than later. Besides, she needed that darn hunt for her called off and those Fae guards out of the forest.
Making a spur-of-the-moment decision, Amelia took a step back so she wasn’t standing suspiciously close to the door and knocked before she could change her mind, announcing her presence to the room’s occupants. The conversation inside came to a halt. Then after a momentary pause, Aroan spoke up, calling out, “Enter.”
Amelia did as bidden, gently opening the door and stepping inside, and Roan went on, without looking up from his desk to see who had come in.
“Branley, I just wanted to …”
“It’s that girl,” his father broke in with a sneer, and Aroan’s head snapped up.
It was then that it occurred to Amelia that confronting the younger Fae might not have been the best idea while she knew Lord Byron was there. His presence would only make it harder to convince Roan of her story and, since he’d likely want to save face in front of his father, any punishment coming her way all the more worse.
Before any of them could say a word, the steps she’d heard before came to a stop right in front of the open door. Aroan and Byron both looked at the new arrival, so Amelia chanced a glance, too. The Fae behind her wore the guards’ standard uniform and was all geared up, ready for action, and there was no question about what he’d come to make a report on.
Amelia gulped.
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