by Brenda Trim
Unearthing the Fae King
Bramble’s Edge Academy Year One
Brenda Trim
Contents
Unearthing the Fae King
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thriteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Authors’ Note
Other Works By Brenda Trim
Unearthing the Fae King
Brenda Trim
Copyright © January 2020 by Brenda Trim
Editor: Chris Cain
Cover Art by Fiona Jayde
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction of this work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.
Created with Vellum
And suddenly you know…it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings. This is for all of my fans. Thank you for continuing this journey with me and delving into this new world I have created.
Chapter One
“You have to leave, Ryk. You can’t stay here. If you don’t, they will catch you,” his mother, Galina demanded as she stuffed clothing into a canvas bag from the bottom of his closet.
“What are you talking about, mom? I can’t leave you. I won’t be like dad and abandon you to the humans,” Ryker objected.
His mom stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. He hated seeing tears brimming in her lavender eyes. She worked hard to provide for him and protect him from the corruption in Bramble’s Edge.
Life for most of his friends was a game of dodge ball as they traversed the streets of the Edge trying to find work, food or fun. It wasn’t easy being Fae in the Mag Mell realm. Sure, it used to belong to the Fae, but that was before humans invaded.
After the invasion, Fae his mother’s age were forced to move into the small area of Bramble’s Edge. In the Edge all Fae were controlled and used for human betterment. Ryker had no knowledge what life was like before all Fae kind were relocated to the Edge and he didn’t care. All that mattered now was surviving and taking care of his mom.
“It’s not safe for you here anymore. I promised I would keep you safe.”
Ryker crossed the room and gathered his mother in his arms. His height put her head at his chest level. Her small stature solidified his desire to be the one protecting her now. She’d done enough for him. He was finally able to give back.
He wanted to wrap his newly blue and black wings around her and shield her from further abuse. Over the top of her head he had a perfect view of her orange and yellow wings. Part of him was relieved to finally have the transition upon him.
For years he’d been on edge wondering when he would come into his powers. At twenty-four years old he was on the average side of development. Most Fae reached this point sometime between twenty-one and thirty with most transitioning in their late twenties.
His mother wasn’t old for a Fae. They didn’t age like humans which he thought made them mad. For instance, his mom’s dirty blonde hair didn’t reflect her age like it would a human her age. She had more life in her than any human at sixty-three years old.
As a race his kind lived for hundreds if not thousands of years and had abilities far above those of ordinary humans. Sure, there were some with precognition, telepathy and similar abilities centered around the mind, but it was nowhere near as powerful as a Fae’s.
Ryker believed that Fae wouldn’t be subjugated forever. He had to believe his kind would eventually reclaim their power. His wings fluttered at his back reminding him why they were having this conversation.
“You must escape and find the underground,” Galina instructed. “Your powers are manifesting.” Her words made Ryker look over his shoulder at the bright blue in his wings. Part of him was excited to discover where his powers would lie and what his abilities would be, but the rest of him was terrified. This changed everything, and he wasn’t ready for that change.
When they reached their strongest point, a Fae developed their powers. Fae had the ability to control the elements. Some were able to manifest and use fire while for others it was water, or earth or air. And there were the rare ones that controlled all four plus the spirit.
“Yes, but I can hide it. I will not leave you. Once I learn control, I plan to work so you don’t have to clean houses in the middle ground anymore.”
Pounding on the front door echoed through the small apartment before his mom responded. Her hand went to her mouth and she looked to the window. “Go out the window while I send them away.”
“How did they know to come here today?” Ryker wondered. He’d only known for a few hours that his powers were developing. The sudden influx of power made his limbs feel as if they’d become live wires right before color flooded his pale wings. Every Fae was born with light peach colored wings with slightly darker designs and as they transitioned, they changed color and most of the time the design turned black or a similar dark color.
The lights in the bathroom burst when he tried to take a shower and the water went from hot to cold and back again in a dizzying rush. His mom explained what was happening and that she thought he’d be proficient in more than one element then started packing his bags.
“Nothing gets past them. You know that, Ryk. Now go,” she shooed him to the window. “Find the Peridun beyond the brothel. She will guide you to the underground. I love you.”
Ryker slung his bag over his shoulder and headed for the window before he second guessed his will to leave. He had no desire to go to Bramble’s Edge Academy. Everyone that went through the program came out a slave.
“I’ll be back,” he promised.
His mother’s voice was loud in their humble home as he lifted the windowpane. Pounding feet echoed the second the panel squeaked in protest. Ryker jumped out the window without pausing. The next building was less than four feet away and he almost slipped on the grimy ledge he landed on.
“Stop. Do not take flight,” a male ordered from the open window. Ryker stood on a miniscule balcony and extended his wings in response. The Fae cursed and crawled through the window behind him. Ryker hated getting angry or fighting his own kind.
Anytime he saw the police patrolling the Edge he wondered how many wanted to be doing that job. His gut told him not everything was as it seemed in their world now. He discounted rumors about the state of the rest of their realm along with how humans came into power. There had to be more at play.
Ryker snarled and crouched to take off. The sound of metal made Ryker pause before flying away. “Fucking hell,” he cursed as he flapped his wings and tried to fly away. Unfortunately, his movements weren’t fast enough.
His wrists fell to his sides the second the magical cuffs made contact wi
th his body. Falling to a knee, Ryker tried to wiggle free of the restraints. He had to get free of this or he was going to end up at the academy.
From the corner of his eye, Ryker noticed several of his neighbors hovered just inside their homes watching what went down. He wanted to show them Fae could fight back but was powerless to do anything except sweat as the pain increased in his torso.
The magical band wrapped around his chest and locked his hands in place. The more he fought against it the more pain radiated out from the metal. It seared his skin, making him wonder if the steel was fusing to his bone after the electricity ate through his skin.
“It’s no use, Ryker. Give up. It’ll be easier if you come along willingly,” the male said.
Lifting his green eyes, Ryker noticed the male was closer and was shocked to see he knew the Fae. There was no mistaking those blue eyes and auburn hair, or the red and black wings. “Aidan? Is that you?”
“Yes. It’s me. Look, you need to calm down. The magic will dissipate if you stop fighting. The Academy isn’t as bad as we heard when we were kids. You will learn how to control your power. Without instruction you can’t hope to channel and wield your abilities.”
Ryker wanted to scoff at his childhood friend. It sounded as if he was reciting a rehearsed message. It was impossible to forget the stories they’d heard of students being maimed by the teaching practices. And, sometimes worse.
Problem was, without access to technology there was no way to know which was more accurate unless he went to the school. The mischief in Aidan that drew him to the other male was now completely absent. That had to mean something, right?
“Ryker,” his mom sobbed from inside his bedroom. Another male had his hands on her small shoulders, and he towered over her short frame with straight shoulders and a glare. The threat was evident. And, it made nausea churn in his gut.
Ryker’s gaze rapidly traveled over the area as he considered his options. The crumbling stone area where Fae lived was urban and anathema to what powered his kind.
From old stories, the Fae created Bramble’s Edge as a trade center, but the fifteen square block area was surrounded by plants and animals that fed their power. Ryker had never seen what his realm looked like before because Fae weren’t allowed to have communication devices or computers. All he knew was humans lived very differently than they did.
He’d accompanied his mom to the houses she cleaned for the average human. They had massive screens that showed movies and other gadgets he couldn’t imagine a use for. The rich were said to have even more.
He only had one choice if he wanted to escape and find a way to improve his people’s status. Climbing to his feet. Ryker pushed off the balcony and flapped his wings.
Thankfully they were extended when the containment cuffs wrapped around him or he would have no choice but to go with them. In the air, he got a better view of the Edge. The centaur’s section was a block and a half away while the Barghests’ smaller apartment complexes boarded the stables on the other side.
To call where the centaurs lived stables was being nice. It was more of an alley with hay strewn about and a main area for cooking. The only shelter they had to protect them from rain and snow was a roof and two walls. The Barghest building served as the back of their homes with the front of them completely open.
It took great effort for Ryker to soar above the tall buildings, but when he did, he caught a glimpse of the Academy and the ocean beyond that. If he could make it to the water, then he might be able to fly down the coast to an area free of human rule.
‘Are you crazy? There’s nothing there but a waste land. You’re not suicidal, idiot.’ His inner voice scolded as he quickly decided on a plan. No, he wasn’t suicidal, but the other males had taken to the air, so he didn’t have time to rethink things.
When he passed over the Asrai’s section, he thought he might make it to freedom. He tried to listen to his instinct and determine what he might be able to do. It would be great if he could shadow meld. Not that there were many shadows at the moment, he told himself. Invisibility would be perfect to help him get away.
“Ryker you must stop. Authorities have been notified,” Aidan called out behind him. Sure enough, a second later a loud warning siren sounded throughout the Edge sending hobs and brownies scurrying for cover.
The band was now constricting his mid-section, making it difficult to breathe. The agony had spots dancing in his vision. Ryker put on a burst of speed and dodged the next strike Aidan threw his way.
The coil fell uselessly to the ground and set off a shower of sparks when it landed. “We can do better, Aidan. Just let me go.”
“I can’t do that. It’s clear your powers are out of control and controlling your behavior, Ryker. Stop and think about what you are doing.”
The massive stone structure loomed in the distance, distracting Ryker. He was too far away to see details, but it was obvious countless students gathered in the lawn in front of the Academy to watch what was going on.
There was nothing obvious about the institution to tell him he would be in danger if he went there. His mother shared what happened during the war with humans and the subsequent fallout countless times over his life.
The worst was the murder of the Fae King and Queen which left their people vulnerable. Without someone to wield the King’s mantle they were defenseless. Ryker often wondered what life would be like if they had a king. The humans wouldn’t roll over and run away, but he had to believe a King would give them another layer of defense.
His wings were becoming heavy with his continued effort, but he refused to give up now. Noise behind him forced Ryker to dredge up every ounce of energy he had and pour it into his wings.
He jerked forward and flew faster with the effort. He wobbled through the air like a drunk flyer. Knives sliced through his wings suddenly, stealing all of his attention. Twisting his head around he noted he hadn’t actually suffered any visible wounds, even if it felt like it.
Every young Fae is told they shouldn’t fly much because there was a shield around the Edge. Until that moment it existed as a warning only for little ones. As his wings went numb and stopped working, Ryker realized the painful truth of the powers controlling their lives.
Aidan and another Fae hovered in place and watched as Ryker fell to the ground in a tangle of wings. With his arms bound to his sides there was nothing he could do to protect himself from harm.
When his body slammed into the hard ground, Ryker’s vision went black for several seconds. One wing was beneath him as his side impacted with enough force to shatter stone.
A cracking sound was quickly followed by agony. Every inch of his body hurt, and he was fairly certain he would never be able to use his left wing again. Thankfully, darkness encroached and swallowed him.
Right before he lost consciousness, he heard the officers complain about how difficult all of the transitioning Fae were this time around.
‘Because we’re sick and fucking tired of being slaves to the humans.’ he thought.
Chapter Two
Stomach twisted in knots, Maurelle lingered in the bathroom in case the rest of the breakfast she managed to choke down came back up. Shoving the window open, she enjoyed the cool autumn breeze that blew through the small room. It filled her with energy she didn’t fully understand, but loved, nonetheless.
Leaning her hands on the sink, she winced at the dark circles under her grey eyes and the greasy tangled mess of her pink hair. She looked nothing like the vibrant Fae she normally was. Even her pink and turquoise wings were dulled.
Ever since coming into her power a year ago, she’d been relegated to the house because there was no mistaking the bright color of her wings. Not that their dulled illumination at the moment meant she could venture from her family’s small apartment. It was still obvious she was transitioning, and it was her duty to report to Bramble’s Edge Academy.
“Are you almost done in there?” Her sister, Nyx called through the doo
r as she banged on the wood. “I need to do my hair so I can go to lunch with Alek.”
Maurelle rolled her eyes at her sister’s urgency and wished she hadn’t when it sent pain pounding in the back of her head. Everything was urgent for her younger sisters, but especially for Nyx who was four years younger than Maurelle. She recalled what it felt like to go to lunch with a cute male at eighteen years old.
“I’m done,” Maurelle croaked as she opened the door.
“Eeew. Stay back. You look like the Peridun on tenth street cast a spell on you. I don’t want to get whatever has made you so sick,” Nyx informed her as she danced out of her personal space.
“Thanks, Nyx. Love you, too,” Maurelle mumbled as she walked down the short hall. For the hundredth time over the past year, Maurelle was grateful her father had such a good job in the Edge.
Technically he worked in Furness, the human area just outside the slums of the Edge where the middle-class humans lived. Even the poorest in Furness had better lives than every Fae. They went about their lives oblivious to what Fae went through. It helped that the Edge was separated from the humans by brambles so thick most Fae could not sneak through.
It would be nice if his talent afforded them a place in Furness, or even Dornwich. Unfortunately, there was no way her dad could be given a shop in the elite human section of Dornwich, because while the opulent wanted her dad’s clocks and watches there was no way they wanted him that close to them.
Her father’s income allowed them to live close to Furness which gave her a perfect view of the human section beyond the brambles. It broke her heart that the humans lived in well-maintained houses, most of them individual houses while Fae were crammed into crumbling buildings they couldn’t fix or maintain.
