by JD MITCHELL
“Sorry, I needed a moment,” Ali said glancing around.
The nearby flower pedals were closed, but the brilliant night sky shone through the glass panes. Ali wondered if the sky was real or a projection. It was difficult to tell in Aengus’s home.
“So, this is the Solarium?”
Nash nodded, his gaze on the dance floor. “One of the Fae showed me earlier.”
She felt a vibration in the cushion and looked around. A blue light glowed from Nash’s pocket.
“Someone is calling you.” Ali pointed to his pocket.
Nash ignored his phone, shrugging. “I’ll get back to them.”
His smiled faded as eyes found hers. Ali’s heart fluttered as she looked at his lips. Was this the moment? Her first real kiss was at a Fae party? Nash leaned into her, his breath hot on her mouth as he closed on her lips. The kiss tasted sweet, like he’d eaten apples. He smelled of citrus and spice. Nash pulled away with a grin. She figured that was it, but he came back for more, placing his arm around her waist. He leaned into her, his other hand lingering just below her chest.
Alarm bells sounded in her head. Tonight took a turn down a path she wasn’t ready for. She pushed his hand away.
He backed away from her, brows furrowed. “What?”
“Nothing,” Ali said panicking.
Nash pressed against her again, kissing her neck.
“Wait,” Ali scooted back. “I’m sorry, this is too fast.”
Nash’s face was red and splotchy. “Right.”
Heat crept up her neck as they sat in silence, before his phone buzzed again. He looked annoyed as he pulled it out, read a few lines of texted then punched a short reply.
She didn’t know what to do. Nash leaned against the bench and stared at his phone. A moment later it buzzed again.
“I should get back,” Ali said standing.
Nash nodded, his eyes never leaving the screen. “I’m staying.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow,” Ali said as she took a few awkward steps toward the dance floor. Part of her expected that he’d walk her back to the dining room, but he didn’t know she was directionally challenged.
She skirted her way around the dance floor. Someone almost stepped on her foot and she remembered her high heels were under the bench. It was too late to go back now. This night was a disaster. Her new goal was to get out of here fast.
A few women moved out of her path as she jogged away from the dance floor toward the hallway. As soon as the door shut, she took a deep breath. The music reduced to a thumping bass, and the hall lights made it easier to see. Neither direction looked familiar to her. She thought they came from the right, so she headed that way.
Hot tears formed behind her eyes as she replayed the situation in her mind. This was her first kiss, and she blew it. Nash must think she is a total loser. But she needed to face it, that situation was too much for her. When her tears finally overwhelmed her, she cowered in an alcove and cried.
Ali wasn’t sure how long she stayed there feeling sorry for herself, but at some point, she realized she was lost. She dried her eyes and began aimlessly choosing hallways. Eventually she grew worried she’d be lost all night. She thought she’d find a recognizable landmark, but the palace seemed to go on indefinitely. After a quarter of an hour she found the main library. Upon entering, she expected to bump into Jessica, but it was empty.
The library was massive at three stories with more books than Ali could read in a lifetime. Dim lights flooded the first floor, but their function appeared to be akin to a night light and nothing further. The long shadows, which cast up toward the dome ceiling, looked ominous as they shrouded the bookshelves. Disliking the darkness, she doubled back into the hallway. At least her room was around here somewhere. Jessica had mentioned the walk to the library wasn’t far.
Thud.
The sound came from her left. She followed a dark and narrow hallway. Whoever was down there could tell her where to go. The hallway grew darker, but Ali saw a dim light toward the end.
Thud.
It occurred to her the sound was clay men exploding. The light grew brighter, and she exited into the training grounds. Leigh was in the heart of the facility, training alone. He conjured small clay piles, then thrust solas toward them. Sweat covered the back of his blue dress shirt. He hadn’t changed after dinner.
She hesitated on the threshold, watching as Leigh hurled another solas into a clay pile.
Thud.
It burst.
His progress was clear. The solas were larger than a week ago.
Leigh stopped when he saw her. He seemed shocked, then schooled his features and conjured another pile of dirt. “I thought you were hanging with Nash.”
He was in a foul mood. No point in trying to talk with him tonight. Clearly, he didn’t approve of Nash, and she didn’t want to be scolded. Leaving the comfort of the doorway, she walked through the training ground toward the opposite exit.
“Nope, just cutting through.”
The dirt was soft below her toes and a relief from the stone floors of the palace. If Leigh wasn’t practicing, Ali might’ve stayed for a moment to give her feet a rest.
“What happened to your shoes?” Leigh asked.
Ali scratched her arm. “I took them off.”
Leigh scrutinized her and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Tears threatened to come, but she wouldn’t cry in front of him. She averted her gaze, keeping him from seeing her expression. “Nothing.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Leigh said sounding harsh. “But your makeup is smeared around your eyes.”
She wiped under her eyelid and looked at her fingertips. Black smudges covered her fingers. This was just great. She needed to find a mirror before Jessica noticed.
Leigh cast solas toward a dirt pile, but only hit half. He groaned, then demolished it with a few electric bolts.
She left him, finding the hallway that would take her back to her room. Now that she was confident in where to go, she dreaded seeing Jessica. Her sister would question her to no end, she’d wind up crying, and tomorrow would be more of a mess than today. Her problems were piling up. Jessica would be mad, Nash thought she was lame, and Leigh was being a dick.
She should have ignored Nash and hung out with Sawyer, at least he wasn’t hormonal. Ugh, she sucked at this teenager gig. A tear slid down her cheek.
“Wait,” Leigh called from behind her. “I’ll walk you back.”
Ali didn’t turn around, instead she rubbed at her cheeks. She did her best attempt at a normal voice, but her words still came out shaky. “I know the way.”
Leigh jogged next to her. “You probably get lost in your own house.”
She let out a tiny laugh as another tear slipped out.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m being a jerk.”
“It’s not your fault,” Ali lied. It partly was, but she wasn’t opening that door right now.
A decorative mirror hung on a nearby wall and she ran to it. Her mascara and eyeliner blurred onto her lower lids making her look like a 90s Goth girl. She wiped at her eyelids until the make-up was back in the areas it belonged. She spun to face Leigh. “Better?”
Leigh grimaced. She could tell he wanted to say yes.
“Your eyes are still red. Give yourself a few minutes?”
She wanted to go to bed. Her eyelids were heavy, but she couldn’t face Jessica’s twenty questions either.
Below the mirror was a table with two large armchairs flanking either side. She fell into one and pulled her legs up onto the cushion; careful to tuck the hem of her dress under her.
Leigh sat on the other chair, wiping sweat off his head with his hand. He fanned his shirt to cool off.
“You’re sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Leigh asked after a moment of silence. “No judging, I swear.”
Ali’s head slumped back onto the chair as she gazed at the ceiling. It might be better to talk to Leigh rather than Jessica. S
he needed someone’s advice.
“I made an ass out of myself,” Ali sighed.
“What’d you do?” Leigh asked.
Tears welled, and she struggled keep the waterworks at bay.
“Nash took me to one of those Fae parties…” Ali started, but Leigh cut her off sounding angry.
“He took you to one of Aengus’s orgies?” His features constricted.
“No judgement remember?” she reminded him.
Leigh’s chest raised, he exhaled, then nodded. “Okay, right… you went to a party with that arrogant asshole.”
She frowned but ignored the comment.
“Anyway, I didn’t want to dance, so we found a bench.” Ali felt the heat behind her eyes and willed herself to keep it together. “He kissed me, and I freaked out.”
Leigh scooted forward on his chair. A tiny smile played at his lips which he quickly disguised as a frown. “You’re not into him?”
Her cheeks flushed. She didn’t know. Mortification was her prevailing emotion, but she hadn’t worked the rest out. “That’s not the problem. Um… this is so embarrassing.”
Leigh waited on the edge of his seat.
She put her humiliation out there, this situation couldn’t get worse. “It’s just… that was my first kiss, and I panicked.”
Leigh didn’t make fun of her, he seemed to have the opposite reaction. His hands formed a steeple in front of his mouth, and he stared at her.
Excuses tumbled from her mouth. “It’s not Nash’s fault. I’m inexperienced, and we started making out…”
Leigh cut her off. “Wait, you think you did something wrong?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped at her eyes again, knowing it’d be longer before she could return to her room. “I’m not like the other girls at school.” Ali took a deep breath. “I’m sure Melissa isn’t awkward.”
He shook his head. “First off, we were both awkward the first time. Second, Melissa and I didn’t fool around within hours of meeting each other.” He scratched the back of his neck. “That prick shouldn’t have tried.” Leigh paused, then ramped up again. “I can’t believe Nash took you to Aengus’s… party.”
She sunk lower in the chair. Leigh made her feel worse, not better. “Listen, please don’t tell Jessica. I don’t want another interrogation.”
“Sure,” Leigh said irritably, then his features softened. “Sorry if it seems like I’m scolding you.”
Ali picked at her nails. A layer of dirt had accumulated under them. “How should I fix this?”
Leigh’s eyes widened. “Don’t. You don’t want to be with a guy like Nash. Trust me.”
His words gave her pause. Did she want to date Nash? The situation progressed much faster than she expected. In addition, she wasn’t cut out for this ‘alter ego’ she tried to create. Nash seemed to be into the type of girl who was beyond her pathetic attempts.
She unclasped her earrings and stared at them. They were burgundy studs, circled by tiny pearls. This wasn’t her. Ratty tee-shirts and jeans for life.
Leigh cut into her thoughts. “Never be like Melissa either.”
“It’s better than being me.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Leigh countered.
She thrust the earrings into her lap. “People don’t like me Leigh. I have two friends on this planet, and even they prefer to spend most of their time together sans the third wheel.”
Leigh settled into his chair. “I like you.”
Ali wanted to believe him but knew better. “If we ever get back to school, this will end.” She gestured between them. “You’ll be homing coming king, and I’ll be weird poetry girl.”
He smirked. “Weird poetry girl? I didn’t know you’re into poetry.”
She groaned. “You know so little about me. Even my identifying characteristics evade you.”
Leigh’s smile widened showing all of his teeth. Ali was confused, then realized he was being sarcastic.
“Oh, real funny.” She tossed a decorative pillow at his head.
He caught the pillow and placed it on his lap. “Please. Your face is usually covered by a book. In fact, more people would recognize the book cover before…” Leigh ducked as she chucked another pillow at him. He laughed. “All I’m saying is, your yearbook photo was confusing.”
Ali shook her head but laughed as she wiped another tear away. “Jerk.”
She wanted to ask if they’d stay friends when this ended. The thought of not talking to him every day made her feel empty. Ali was convinced theirs was a short-lived friendship, but maybe not? Somehow, she couldn’t see Leigh hanging out at her house watching bad sci-fi movies with Cheryl and Tommy.
“If we don’t die, I promise to acknowledge you in the halls at school,” Ali said.
Leigh opened his mouth to speak, but a piercing scream resonated through the hallways.
Eighteen
Leigh was out of his chair in seconds. Ali cowered behind him, the hairs on her arm raising as she scanned the darkness.
Another scream, this one closer, reverberated down the hall.
“Come on,” Leigh grabbed her hand and opened the first door he found. They quickly entered, shutting the door behind them.
Ali fumbled for a light switch on the wall but came up empty. Anything might be in the blackness behind them. Her muscles tightened as she spun to face the darkness, but her eyes didn’t adjust. A musty scent hung in the air. There was a flash of light, followed by a flame. Leigh held the small ball of fire over his head like a candle. Rows of books came into view, giving way to a large room with multiple entrances.
Shit muffin.
“Another library?” Ali squeaked.
Leigh shook his head. “I think this is a back entrance to the main one.”
A dim light escaped into the room from under the door. She heard shuffling feet as multiple shadows raced across the hallway. Leigh looked around, then grasped the railing of a spiral staircase and swiftly climbed. Ali sprinted behind him. They reached the first landing, but Leigh continued his ascent. He didn’t stop until the stairs ended on the third floor. Holding the light above his head, they followed a long section of books dedicated to maps which led into the middle of the library.
Ali grasped the back of his shirt, her heart racing.
Before them, the aisle ended at a railing overlooking the center of the library which was dimly lit. From this height, Ali could see all three levels. Leigh extinguished the flame in his hand, and they hurried toward the railing.
Ali gripped the wrought iron banister and scrutinized the first floor of the Library.
The room was silent as she searched the shadows.
Daring to breathe Ali asked, “What do you think it was?”
“A Fae screaming,” Leigh whispered.
“How do you know?”
“I’m guessing,” Leigh said.
He pushed her toward the end of a bookshelf, so her back was against it. The entire cavernous room was visible from this vantage point.
“I’m walking to the end of this row, then I’m coming right back,” he whispered. “We need to know if we’re alone. Keep an eye out in case anyone enters.”
Her pulse raced, but she nodded. She wasn’t as worried about someone coming in here, more like something coming in here. Visions of the questing beast came back to her. Could she kill one? Probably not.
Leigh disappeared into the dark shelves.
Alone, she wiped her clammy hands on her dress and crouched to the floor. Below her, the heart of the library was still. Every shadow seemed like it was on the verge of an attack, which was ridiculous. They’d find out the screaming was just someone at Aengus’s party getting out of control.
Three Fae stumbled into the room, slamming a door behind them with a thwack! They pointed toward the door, yelling something frantic in the Fae language as they scurried toward the room’s center. Dressed in light cotton slacks and flowing shirts, she guessed the men came from the party.
; Their entrance must have tripped the light sensors, because the center of the first floor brightened as more bulbs flicked to life. Unfortunately, the surrounding shelves remained in darkness, making it impossible to see beyond the center of the room.
The door crashed open, banging into the wall.
Ali flinched as light poured in from the doorway, silhouetting what resembled the lanky stature of a person wearing a cape.
Someone had followed the Fae, and they weren’t friendly.
A screech, eerily human and yet bird like, wailed from the doorway. Ali slunk lower to the floor as the Fae disappeared into the shelves. To her horror, the figure followed.
She searched the darkness for movement. Suddenly, a lightning bolt thundered toward the open door. The cloaked figure ducked as lightening exited into the exterior halls.
A second cloaked figure entered the room and plunged into the shelves. One Fae chased it, leaving the others to fight the first. Ali’s eyes trained on the doorway expecting more attackers, but nothing entered.
The first figure deliberately strode toward the center of the room, its shape defined by the main library lights. She thought it was person wielding multiple knives and crept closer to the railing for a better look.
It was a cloaked person. No… not a cloak, it had leathery wings. What Ali had taken for knives where large claws on its hands and feet. Strands of dark hair cascaded out of sparse patches from its scalp, framing what would otherwise be a gray human face except for the mangled dark beak where its nose should be. It was a bird-hominoid with black eyes.
What in the Nightmare on Elm Street is that!
It took flight.
The Fae attacked the birdman with vigor. Lightening flew from the Fae’s hands like a Fourth of July firework finale. The birdman darted around the room with an amazing agility, using its wings and claws to change direction. Stray bolts of lightning crashed into the shelves, launching books in various directions. Pages ripped from the binding and floated like snow onto the floor.
In a blur of gray flesh, the birdman dove at the Fae, knocking one to the ground and ripping a gash in the other’s thigh. The birdman flew straight up, then strait down at the injured Fae. The other Fae knocked it from the air with a concentrated ball of flame and it crashed into the floor. Disoriented and flailing on the ground, both Fae men descended upon it. Flames sprung forth from their hands, and the birdman was set ablaze. Eerie screams bounced off the walls then fizzled in a sickening gurgle. The flames grew until a large fireball consumed the center of the library, the heat warming Ali’s face.
