by Hunter Blain
“Neat. Glad I came to this court and not that other one. What was it again?”
“Unseelie, made up of the Winter and Autumn Courts.”
We started walking to the castle as we chitchatted.
“What about the Shadow Court?”
Taylor stopped walking and looked at me with a stony face. “What about them?”
“That’s kinda why I’m here, man. I was attacked by this huge shadow monster tonight.”
“On the mortal plane?” Taylor clarified.
“Yeah.”
“And you survived?” His eyes searched my body, looking for evidence of our battle.
“It nicked my ear, but I removed it before the darkness spread.”
“Darkness? Who helped you? How do you know these things?” he probed.
“A friend. They told me I needed to come here and explain things to, I assume, your queen.”
“Rightfully so,” Taylor said while deep in thought, eyes drifting to the ground. After a moment, his head snapped back up and he said, “Right, let’s carry on. She awaits.” Taylor increased his stride, forcing me to increase my walk to a canter.
We walked through impressive wooden double doors that swung open from the middle. An ornate green rug spanned the width of the hallway we stepped into and ran the entire length. As I looked down, I noticed that it wasn’t a rug but rather thick moss that had vines growing along the edges in a geometric pattern.
“Whoa,” I said in awe.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Taylor responded, pleased. “Just wait, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
“I don’t know,” I started, thinking about the castle that grew into a magnificent tree the closer you got to it, “I’ve seen some shit.”
Taylor answered with a simple smile. We continued down the hall, which smelled pleasantly of flowers, and entered a large throne room. It was impressive to say the least; wooden pillars made of thick vines that twisted around one another held up a dome-shaped ceiling. Stars lit up the dome and seemed to move. Actually, they did move. The scene shifted from a pristine night sky with stars that shone like dense clouds to a roaring ocean with huge waves crashing on a rocky shoreline.
“So, you are John. She was right after all,” said a confident, sultry voice that instantly seduced me.
“Who? Lily?” I asked, having heard this introduction before from Ulric. “Wait, let me guess; it’s not for me to know.”
“Mmm, I like this one,” the Seelie queen said as she leaned forward in the impressive throne that grew in the middle of the circular room. My eyes started at the open ceiling, where the living throne began at one point, and followed its length downward, where it expanded in girth. The seat of the throne sat halfway between ceiling and floor. Precisely carved wooden stairs lead to the throne where she sat. The queen was wearing a formfitting moss dress the same color as the hallway floor. An ornate crown made of twisting vines perched atop her beautiful brown hair. Flowers grew sporadically around her crown and even in her hair. Amethyst eyes glinted in the light, reminiscent of my own—only hers seemed alive compared to my own undead ones.
“Play nice. She could be your greatest ally or your most fearsome enemy,” Taylor whispered as he leaned close to my ear.
I looked at him in challenge and said, “You do know the Devil himself is after me, right?”
“The Devil,” the queen barked, “is not of this plane, and thus, has no power in Faerie. I am the Alpha here.”
Deciding it was best to make friends rather than new enemies, which I was so good at, I said, “Queen Tatiana, please forgive my tongue. It is a great honor to be in your presence.” From my peripheral vision, I saw Taylor nod slightly in approval.
“Oh, John, I would do more than forgive your…tongue,” Queen Tatiana said with a seductive smile that turned my knees to jelly. My mind shot to Lily, and my stability returned. I was accustomed to the effects Fae women had on me and was used to fighting for my senses.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” Tatiana purred as she crossed her legs, placing an elbow on a knee and stroking her chin. Without preamble, she uncrossed her legs, stood up swiftly, and began descending the stairs. She flowed gracefully, as if floating on a breeze, a warm smile cresting her face. She stopped right in front of me, the top of her head coming to my nose. Standing within my bubble of personal space, she began squealing like a schoolgirl while jogging in place. Then she threw her arms around me and squeezed, tight.
“Ow,” was all I could manage. My body was a mess from my legendary fight with the troll. Maybe next time I wouldn’t use the his-fist-to-my-face style of martial arts to make it a fair fight.
Pulling away, Tatiana looked at me and said, “You look terrible, John.” She sniffed the air in front of her, crinkling her cute button nose as she did.
“I feel terrible. I-I think I’m human again. And that smell is me, I think. I can’t really smell anything at the moment,” I said with a voice that was still nasal. “I’m just not myself right now.”
She burst out with a throaty laugh, doubling over in mirth. Holding her belly, she looked up at me and said between fits of laughter, “You…you’re still you…sweet John.” Regaining control over herself, she stood straight up and placed a hand on my cheek. “Different universe, different rules. Once we get you back to Midworld, your powers will return. Until then,” she said while closing her eyes. Warmth spread from her hand and over my face, startling me.
“Stay still, please,” Taylor instructed.
The warmth spread over my head and down my torso, expanding to encompass my entire being. It felt wonderful. My nose popped painfully, making me clench my teeth and groan. The pain quickly receded, and I took in a deep breath through my nose. The cool air felt awesome going down my nostrils as it filled my lungs. Breathing through your mouth was one thing, but man, it was infinitely better to inhale through your nose.
The warmth retreated from my fingers and toes, then arms, legs, torso, and finally my head. It left me feeling complete and healed, almost like my old self again.
“Wow,” was all I could manage as my hands explored the injuries I had sustained. Taylor nudged me lightly with his elbow. I turned to look at him, and he nodded toward Tatiana.
“Oh, right. Thank you,” I said to the queen of the Seelie Court.
“You are very welcome, John.”
At that moment, I became aware of the smells in the air. I was mesmerized by the ocean spray that misted in the air above the throne, bringing with it the aroma of salt, wet rock, and sand. It was intoxicating to my human nose. As a vampire, I smelled everything individually, but this, this was one smell blended together that rode in waves—as a wave crashed, salt would dominate the air, then the wet rock and sand as the water receded; but still one smell. The ignorance I experienced at that moment was, indeed, bliss.
I must have closed my eyes and began sniffing the air like some sort of dog because Tatiana began to giggle.
“Huh? Oh, ya, the, ah…” I started tripping over my words as I pointed upward, “smells good…ceiling, I mean.”
Tatiana’s smile turned slightly predatory as a new scent invaded my nostrils.
“Oh,” was all I could moan as my body responded eagerly to the pheromones that excited every nerve in my body. Did anybody else’s pants get tight all of a sudden?
“Are you enjoying your sense of smell?” she asked as her fingertips glided over my chest and down my belly.
I began sweating again as I nodded. Damn, it was a lot harder to fight the urge as a mortal.
“Is there anything I can do to repay the favor?” I choked out before I instantly realized that I should not have asked that of a Fae noble.
Her eyes purposely scanned my body up and down before saying, “Oh yes, there most certainly is.” I gulped audibly, which made her smile deviously. I felt a pang of guilt that what my body was doing was wrong, and I fought harder.
“You are unsure,” she said, scrunching up her brow in playf
ul concentration. “Does your heart belong to another?” My mind shot reflexively to Lily.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered weakly. I didn’t know what Lily and I were, only that I was falling in love with her—if I wasn’t already there.
“Most interesting indeed,” Tatiana exclaimed as her features relaxed into neutrality. Dropping her scent and control over my weak, mortal body, she said, “Now, to business. What is it you came all this way to tell me, oh damned one?”
I shook my head to clear my clouded thoughts. “The Shadow…” I started before being interrupted by the portal above the throne shifting to complete darkness. The light inside the throne room was swallowed by complete blackness. Someone yelped like a little girl. (It was probably Tatiana and definitely not me.) Candlelight erupted around the perimeter of the room where the pillars stood. On the throne appeared a large man dressed all in black. Queen Tatiana gasped in shock as she saw the man.
“Oberon,” escaped her lips just above a whisper.
“Oh no,” Taylor breathed in dismay, taking a step closer to his queen.
“Hello, wife,” Oberon said, disdain dripping off his words. His voice was authoritative and suited for the head of the table at a huge corporation. He sat relaxed on the throne, one leg hanging off an armrest. Oberon had a chiseled jaw—that made me jealous for some reason—black hair that was slicked back, and black eyes that matched his outfit. He wore a two-button suit, silk dress shirt topped with an ascot, and slacks, all the color of the void swirling above the throne. The candles slowly died back down, the point having been made.
“Oberon, what have you done?” Queen Tatiana asked with profound concern in her voice.
“What have I done?” Oberon asked accusingly. “What have I done? I’ve done what should have been done eons ago.” As he spoke, he aggressively got to his feet and began stomping down the stairs toward us. Taylor edged closer to Tatiana. Oberon shifted his gaze from her to him, taking notice of his posture, and then flung an arm out to the side. Though Oberon was still several yards away, Taylor yelped and flew into the darkness. It was as if he had been struck by a semitruck that echoed a terrible, bone-shattering crunch as it hit, making the pit of my stomach drop. I couldn’t see where he had landed with my mortal eyes. Unfathomable fear and helplessness blossomed in my chest, creeping up my throat to choke me. My breathing became labored while my ears thudded with each pounding heartbeat. My mouth hung open and eyes grew wide as Oberon approached us. I did my best to fold in on myself in an attempt to be less of a target.
Tatiana stepped forward, putting herself between me and Oberon. Anger exploded from her in a torrent of words, “How dare you show aggression to me and mine. I am the queen of this court and will be treated as such. You are in my domain.”
“Something that I learned in the darkness, dear queen, is if someone has to say what they are, then they are weak,” Oberon said, eyes gleaming. Even the whites of his eyes were black. “Actions demonstrate more than words ever will.”
“Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out, husband,” Tatiana warned, hands opening at her sides. The air shimmered around her, displaying her raw power. “I am all-powerful in my bailiwick.”
“You were…” Oberon said as he pulled a familiar gladius from the sheath at his side. He gripped the white handle with gold trim and held it down at his side, the blade at an angle to the floor.
My eyes nearly popped from their sockets as I recognized the angelic sword from the alley. It had nearly cut me in half the last time I had seen it.
“Oh…shit…” was all I could manage as the blade was ignited with flames the color of the darkest night. They weren’t heavenflame or hellfire, I assumed because he wasn’t angelic in origin. Instead, it was like he had poured his own hatred and malice into the sword, producing the flames in the plane where he was strongest.
Sensing danger, Tatiana threw her hands out, lancing pure energy toward Oberon in a crackle of power. Her husband swiped at the attack, catching it with the blade and burning it to nothing in an instant. As Oberon brought the angel blade back down, white armor lined with gold formed on his body, hidden by an intricate glamour—it was like watching someone film a pile of ashes being blown by a strong wind, and then playing the footage in reverse. The armor appeared from thin air and formed around him; all but the gauntlet I had in my Battlefield Earth collectors cup cabinet at home.
Tatiana cried out in despair as the celestial armor was corrupted before our very eyes. White and gold started bleeding to black and red. Oberon laughed as he stepped forward, the flames from the blade licking the air with black fire.
“John, run!” Tatiana cried out as she lunged for Oberon, grabbing his sword arm with one hand and his throat with the other. She didn’t need to tell me twice. I turned and plunged into the black veil where Taylor had been slung. As I did, I heard Tatiana shriek in pain from behind as I stumbled through the darkness. I dropped to all fours, crawling like an infant, searching for Taylor. My hand found warm liquid on the moss at the entrance to one of the hallways leading to the throne room. Feeling both relief and terror, I crawled forward until my hands found Taylor’s limp legs. I could make out a light at the end of the tunnel that barely illuminated Taylor’s form. I stood, picking him up in a fireman’s carry. He let out a weak moan that made my chest relax in relief. I knew for certain I would not have survived an attack like that in my current predicament.
I struggled carrying the tall man down the hallway and away from danger. Daring a glance, I turned slightly as I ran to try and look into the throne room. The abyss stared back at me. Silence screamed through sheer walls, deafening me. My heart thundered in my chest, threatening to rip out of my rib cage. I tasted blood as I heaved lungfuls of air. I was out of breath from both panic and being a not-so-fit mortal again.
I tripped on my own feet, my thick steel-toed boots weighing me down. From the angle I was running, I fell on top of Taylor, who didn’t groan this time.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,” I cried out as I struggled to get to my feet again.
A whooshing sound followed by that of a thunderous impact resonated behind me. Frozen, I turned to stare at the throne room, which was only visible through a shrinking hallway. Flashes of light streaked from the ceiling to the floor of the throne room, growing in numbers until a continuous wave poured down. Purple eyes fiercely glowed where the flashes landed in the darkness. First a few, then hundreds opened all at once, illuminating the throne room in a purple haze.
“Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit,” I exclaimed calmly and not at all in the most mind-shattering terror of my entire existence. With a surge of adrenaline, I grabbed Taylor, put him over my shoulder, and sprinted for the exit. Sweat stung my eyes as I ran. Blackness started to swallow the edges of my vision. I didn’t know if this was from the fucking invasion of the shadow creatures doing some evil Fae magic behind me, or I was just out of shape. Probably a little from column A and a little from column B.
As we cleared the threshold of the hallway and ran toward the gate out of the castle, I screamed at the top of my lungs, “OPEN THE GATE!”
An explosion tore through the castle behind me, sending a shock wave out that nearly made me kiss the ground with my face. I dared not turn around this time, having learned my fat-guy-running-with-a-very-tall-man-on-his-shoulders lesson about balance and inertia. From the corners of my vision, I saw blackness spilling like a rushing tidal wave over the organic wooden walkway of the castle’s exterior.
At that point, I was breathing so hard that my dry throat was making wheezing noises. The muscles in my legs and shoulder ached from where I bore Taylor’s weight, but I kept running for dear life. I couldn’t feel my legs anymore, but they kept pumping one after the other, so I was thankful.
The door grew closer as I ran, but it did not open. I took in a breath that was so deep it teased breaking my ribs apart, and shrieked in sheer adrenaline-laced panic, “OPEN THE FUCKING GATE! I HAVE TAYLOR!”
Gears rumbled as the door began to lift skyward. I dared a look to the side and saw the castle walls were being painted in hungry blackness. It grew and ate the life of the wooden structure as if the darkness were alive and had an appetite that was insatiable. Obsidian stone grew like a dry sponge being submerged in water, replacing the living wood of the castle with lifeless, smooth rock. I briefly wondered how Oberon could get obsidian before I remembered it was just volcanic rock. Obsidian didn’t expressly mean it was from Hell, though the black stone forged in the fires of Hell was something to be feared.
A leaf brushed my face as I ran, causing me to look up. As I did, green leaves shriveled and dried, turning brown before leaping to their deaths in a mass suicide. Paper-thin corpses blanketed the sky, blotting out the light with their impossible numbers.
Cries of confusion and dismay echoed throughout the city streets as the citizens of the Seelie Court spilled onto the streets and into the darkness. It reminded me of the night of September 11th when I awoke and watched humans on TV screaming as planes crashed into the World Trade Centers. The hollow expressions that crossed the faces of the Fae as the impossible happened before their eyes was relatable and universal across all planes. Their entire existences had revolved around this tree they called home, and now it was being deformed, destroyed, and violated before their unbelieving eyes.
Taylor stirred and I stopped running to set him down on the sidewalk.
“Tay-Taylor, snap out of it,” I wheezed between gasping breaths as I doubled over and grabbed my knees. I thought my sides were going to split open. Taylor’s head rolled on his shoulders before he locked his gaze on me. I watched as his eyes went from glazed to focused with preternatural speed, which sent a pang of jealousy and longing for my abilities. Being mortal sucked.
Taylor sat up straight and started looking around, the events unfolding before his eyes keeping him on the precipice of his stupor. One of his hands snaked up to his head where I noticed a massive purple-and-green bruise that bloomed under his alabaster skin.
