Behind the Veil

by Thawer, Tish

  The first rune represented East, the direction of the element of air, and inspiration. The second rune represented royalty, which was another sign Shay was destined to become the next Queen. The silver strands in her hair tingled at the thought, making her even more giddy. The third rune represented love, and the fourth represented things lost. She quickly puzzled out what it meant, knowing that she was being guided by the spirits themselves.

  Excited to finish her trial and start the new life that was being laid out before her, Shay gathered her things and started running back towards the portal. She knew it'd be close to 11 p.m. when she reached her final destination and hoped that an hour was enough time to get to the Queen's castle.

  After racing through the portal, Shay was filled with such satisfaction that her vision had been right, that she spun around and shouted, "Yes! Thank you, fairy spirits."

  Sitting tall on the cliffs of Inlavey, the Queen's castle loomed in the East. She took off at a dead run and never let up until she was stood on the edge of a large chasm. It was as if the earth had split open just to stop her from finishing her trial.

  Shay cursed her earlier enthusiasm as she tried to remain calm and figure out what to do. She looked left then right and noticed that the chasm narrowed in the far distance. She could barely see it and knew the time it would take to reach the end meant that she would not make it to the castle before midnight.

  Refusing to acknowledge the feelings of defeat, Shay ran towards the narrow end of the gap as fast as she could. But just like in a dream, it kept moving further and further away, as if permanently out of reach. After running for a solid half hour, she stopped as tears began fall. There was no way she'd finish her trial in time. She was never going to get her wings or become a full-fledge fairy, and never was she going to be Queen, as her vision had implied.

  Shay sank to her knees and wept into her hands, but suddenly lifted her head when she heard a strange sound. It was the same sound that had woken her from her slumber on the banks of the Lake of Sorrow. A high whistle that she didn't recognize belonging to any animal she could think of. But as she opened her eyes she saw the silver strands of her hair glowing brightly, she was grateful for whatever or whoever it was that had gained her attention. She had already received so much help from the fairy spirits, and it seemed as if they were preparing to help her once more. Smiling, Shay closed her eyes and opened her mind to let the words of the divine spirits flow into her again.

  Shay quickly searched her travel bag and retrieved the spell bottle. Uncorking it, she quickly drank the potion then chanted, "Lord of the sun, Queen of the moon, hear me know as I ask for a boon. Lengthen my day, only when needed. Focus my will when patience's depleted. Magick forged by moon and sun, as I say it, so will it be done."

  Shay opened her eyes to find the moon repositioned by almost two hours. By magick, it was again 10 p.m. She jumped to her feet and thanked the spirits as she started on her journey once more.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Shay walked patiently this time, constantly keeping her eye on the exactly place where she wanted to cross. Within twenty minutes she stood at the edge of the gap where it was thin enough to jump across.

  Easily making it to the other side, she looked back only to see the entire chasm completely disappear. Smiling and shaking her head at the same time, she began her trek to the castle again.

  Reaching it within ten minutes, Shay gathered her thoughts, smoothed her hair, and straightened her clothes before knocking on the massive wood door. She stared at the intricate carved detail as she waited for a response. There were fairies and their treetop homes carved with such amazing precision they could've easily been copied from a live example. The Rune Tree was featured as well, and the final detail Shay noticed before the door swung open was a small box, with ribbons cascading down its sides in the center of the door. The Box of Nye.

  Taking in the massive entrance, Shay slowly entered the Queen's castle. There was no one there to greet her, as the door had apparently opened on its own. Noting the time before entering, Shay had an hour and a half to find the box and complete her trial. And according to the runes, the next thing she needed to find was the love that had been lost.

  Walking down the corridor that veered to the right, Shay quickly found the chambers of the fey council. She knew that Joseph was the person she needed to find. She wondered if he knew his part in all of this when he'd come to her house this morning, or if he was just as clueless about their intertwined future as she had been.

  Entering the chamber she found Joe sitting alone at the long wooden table.

  "You made it," he said.

  Apparently he did have a clue. Shay giggled and remembered his wink as he left her house just this morning.

  "Yes. I made it. Question is...why exactly am I here? What do you have to do with my trial and the box?"

  "Shay, I'm sure you've noticed that your hair has not only started to develop it's magickal colors, but that you've already been able to use your magick even though you aren't a full-fledge fairy yet."

  "Yes. The fairy spirits have been very kind in aiding me," Shay replied.

  "They aid you like they've never aided anyone before...anyone except the Queen." Joe stood and walked towards Shay. Kneeling in front of her, he took her hand in his as he continued, "Shay, you are destined to become our next Queen, and I am to be your Hand."

  The Queen's Hand was someone who not only guided and aided her in all things related to fairy business, but was also the love of her life. The Hand was chosen by the fairy spirits, just as the Queen was, and also carried silver magick. Shay looked down at Joe and noticed the silver strands that had added themselves to his red ones.

  "This morning, after seeing you again after all these years, I felt the love I had for you back then reignite in my chest. In was in that instant that silver streaks began to weave their way through my hair. The other council members were surprised but happy and explained the new destiny that was in store for us both. Shay, I'm not sure how you feel, but I want you to know that I'm so proud and happy to be your Hand. I've missed you."

  Shay pulled Joe from his knee and flung herself into his arms. "I've missed you too and I couldn't be happier."

  Their embrace quickly escalated to a kiss and Shay knew they were truly a perfect match for one another. The idea of building a life with Joe excited her beyond words, but there was still the fact that she needed to complete her trial or none of this "new destiny" would even matter.

  "Joe, I have to go and complete my trial. I still haven't found the final item and I'm running out of time. I'll be back as soon as I can."

  Joe's smile lit up his handsome face, and with a wink he said, "Farewell, my lady, I'll be waiting for your return. Oh, and Shay...make sure you shut the door on your way out."

  Shay laughed and gave a little wave as she ran back towards the massive front door of the castle. Just as she grabbed the handle and pulled, the silver strands in her hair started tingling again. Stepping outside she didn't look back as she pushed the door close with a shove from behind. The door however, wouldn't budge. Shay continued to stare out into the night as she pushed behind her again, this time with a little more force. Still, the door didn't move.

  Turning around to actually face the massive door, Shay pushed again. It moved only a fraction which left Shay confused and frustrated. Placing both hands on the door, she dug in her heels and really started to shove. It finally began to close, but the task was not easy. By the time it was back in place, her face was practically plastered into the wood carvings. And just as she started to pull away something caught her eye.

  Just above the iron handle was a carving in the shape of a key. She hadn't noticed it before but now it was all she could see. With her attention fully focused on the door, Shay found multiple key images throughout its intricate design. She smiled as her hair began to tingling wildly, and she knew she was about to find the final item of her trial.

  Cursing herself for not
remembering sooner, Shay now recalled stories her mother had told her when she was a little girl. When the first fairy Queen was chosen by the spirits, they gifted her with a beautiful castle that included an enchanted wooden door made from the Rune Tree itself.

  Shay quickly scanned the entire structure and found all the key images. They were all in the shape of an antique skeleton-type key, with a fairy star that rested on top. Each was a different size and positioned in odd places, but only one stood out to Shay. It was the one carved to look like it was lying in the grass right next to the Rune Tree.

  Shay gently ran her fingertip across the raised relief of the key. Nothing happened. She did it again and again, but always with the same result. The key didn't budge or do anything magickal at all. Panicking she had the wrong image Shay started running her fingers over all the keys as fast as she could. None of them moved. She thought about how hard she'd worked to get to this moment and recapped everything she'd done: fought the animals in the Feygan forest to retrieve the trig owl's feather; shook off the eerie depression from the Lake of Sorrow and embraced her water magic to retrieve the rasper shell; and received a vision at the Rune Tree that led her here and to her lost love.

  Joe! she thought, snapping her head up. She recalled the last words he had just said to her. "...make sure you shut the door on your way out." A door she had to push...hard. Shay immediately raised her fingers back to the first key and this time instead of lightly touching it she gave it a hard push.

  The key immediately released and flew from the carving, landing directly in her hand. "Yes!" she cried. As she turned around, the portal appeared before her and she stepped through, knowing she was only moments away from finding the Box of Nye.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Shay found herself back in the ancient forest of the Rune Tree. It was only fifteen minutes until midnight so she started running, desperate to begin her search. Suddenly, moonlight broke through the tall trees to illuminate a beautiful white box with sparkling silver ribbons tied in a bow, its ends flowing down the sides, resting immediately in her path. It was picture perfect. Snow glistened and the box shimmered in the beam of moonlight that shot straight down from heaven.

  Shay raced to the box then fell on her knees in the snow. Reaching out, she gently untied the bow and lifted the lid. The white light that erupted from the box was warm and encompassing. Though she had to close her eyes against the brightness, Shay could feel herself being lifted into the air as the light wrapped around her like a cocoon. Her back began to tingle as her wings started to emerge, and a colorful glow radiated around her as more blue and silver streaks wound themselves throughout her hair.

  Moments later, Shay drifted gently back to earth, her trial over, and her transformation into a full-fledged fairy complete. She turned to see the boxed had disappeared and the portal was once again shimmering, waiting for her to enter.

  Shay put her new glittering wings to use and flew straight towards the portal. She emerged back at the castle to find Joe, the other two council members, and the Queen, waiting for her outside the front door.

  "Congratulations, Shay. You have not only completed your fairy trial, but have taken the first step in one day becoming my replacement," the Queen said.

  Shay bowed and smiled before speaking. "Thank you, my Queen. Though I doubt I will ever be as great a Queen as you."

  The Queen laughed and it sounded like bells tinkling on the wind. She then walked forward and hugged Shay in a kind embrace. "My dear, Shay. You were born to be my replacement and your love, Joseph, was born to be your Hand. However, it will be many years before you'll be called to duty, so I now send you home to enjoy Christmas with your family and to start building your new life together."

  "Thank you, my Queen," Shay replied. She then held out her hand to Joseph, and was overwhelmed with excitement as they walked through the portal together, emerging back at her family's home.

  Suddenly Shay turned to Joe. "Wait. I remember everything...how can that be? I thought all memories of my trial were to be wiped from my mind."

  "Yes, that is usually what happens for all fairies...except the Queen. You're special Shay, you always have been." Joseph kissed her lightly and walked towards the house, smiling wide because he knew, on this Christmas morning there was one more surprise Shay would be experiencing.

  Narine tightly hugged both Shay and Joe when they entered the kitchen. "Shay, I'm so proud of you. My daughter...the soon to be Queen."

  "How did you know, Mama?"

  "I didn't. Not until the council members came back after you left and informed me of the situation. They explained that you were meant to be the Queen's replacement one day, and that Joseph here was your chosen Hand. They also left you this." She gestured to a small box under the Christmas tree. It was a tiny replica of the Box of Nye.

  Shay rushed to open it and found a miniature key and a note inside. "Dear Shay and Joseph. Please accept this gift from me. Use this key and begin your journey together with my blessing." It was signed, "Queen Raeanne."

  Suddenly another portal opened up right in the middle of the small kitchen, Joe and Shay stepped through, followed by Narine and the rest of Shay's family. The pure shock and overwhelming joy they were all sharing was the best Christmas present Shay ever had.

  The Queen had gifted Shay and Joseph a new house. It was a smaller version of the Queen's castle and sat atop the hill that overlooked Shay's village. Joe scooped Shay into his arms and flew up into the sky, spinning them both around and around. "Merry Christmas, future Queen. I love you so much. Now let's go home."

  The End

  Look for Shay and her fairies throughout the Ovialell series.

  BONUS MATERIAL

  SAMHAIN IN OVIALELL

  by

  Tish Thawer

  (A behind the scenes look from Aradia Awakens)

  Tonight wasn't a celebration of All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. You wouldn't see any children dressed up in silly costumes, racing from door to door gathering candy from their neighbors. Not here. Not in Ovialell.

  Instead, on this Samhain night, there was going to be a grand ceremony to welcome back the Queen of The Witches.

  The Witches were a coven of powerful witches who run with the Goddess Diana during the wild hunt, and are charged with protecting us citizens of Ovialell with their magick and healing abilities.

  When the Goddess Diana sent out word that the Queen had returned, an elaborate event had been planned to welcome her back. Now, I won't pretend that we aren't all skeptical, I mean, it's common knowledge that the Queen had been killed during the Great Rift. But if the Goddess says she's back––combined with the fact that Queen Shay, the leader of the Seelie Fae, had already arrived; not to mention Kylie, and her Amazon warriors were expected any minute––yeah...this was exciting stuff. Everyone in Ovialell would be attending this ceremony to see exactly who this "Queen" really was.

  My name is Lexxi, and my mom use to be one of The Witches. Her name was Ingrid, but she was killed about six months ago. After that the Goddess allowed me to live and work in her castle on Upper World; that's how I was able to get a sneak peek at the throne room where the ceremony would be held tonight.

  The lavish decorations had my jaw dropping the first time I'd snuck in the side entrance from the kitchen. The velvet curtains surrounding the raised dais where the Goddess would introduce the new Queen from, looked so heavy that it would probably take a spell to actually move them. There was a red carpet runner that flowed down the middle of the room, separating it into two distinct sections. It was so long it looked like a river of blood against the white marble floor.

  There were fairy lights throughout the room, courtesy of the Fae, I'm sure. They floated in the air of their own accord and twinkled with a hue that wasn't found anywhere on Upper World. Since the Fae––Seelie and Unseelie––both resided on the Middle World of Ovialell, the fact that they were here was a pretty big deal.

  I was so ready for this ceremony to get s
tarted. I'd dressed hours ago, then came to help out in any way that I could. My dress wasn't too fancy, but I thought it was pretty. The long navy skirt was velvet and there was fine gold piping that was braided to look like a net which laid atop the whole thing. The bodice was gold and the undershirt the same navy blue as the skirt. My friend had pulled the laces so tight that my cleavage was ridiculously exaggerated. I'd decided to leave my hair down, but wound in some little braids to match my dress. I thought my blonde hair went well with the blue and gold.

  It was almost time for the ceremony to begin and I hoped that I could maintain a good position to see everything. So, as everyone started to enter the throne room, I staked out a place behind one of the stone pillars. I figured I could use it's tiered bottom to stand on in order to get an extra boost to see over the crowd. But just as the door shut, some rude red-haired woman nudged me off of my spot. When I turned to state that I'd been there first, I found myself staring into a pair reddish-brown eyes, which ironically, were the last thing I'd ever see. Because when she opened her mouth to smile, all I saw were a set of fangs.

  Other books by Tish Thawer:

  The Ovialell Series:

  Aradia Awakens - Book 1

  (Available Now)

  The Rose Trilogy:

  Scent of a White Rose - Book 1

  (Available Now)

  Roses & Thorns - Book 1.5

  (Available Now)

  Blood of a Red Rose - Book 2

  (Available Now)

  Death of a Black Rose - Book 3

  (Available 2013)