by Mindy Hayes
“He needed to keep our kingdom populated so there was one Nester selected from every family. They were the first to be picked. And then he divided us up from there as he saw fit.”
Divide them, as if they were game pieces to be dispersed among players.
Another thought twisted my stomach as I thought of the possibilities. “How are...seedlings. . .?” I didn’t know how to phrase this. Did faeries procreate the same way we did? And if so, did that mean they were forced to create with one they didn’t love?
“How are seedlings created?” Declan let me off the hook.
I nodded, trying to keep the blush from my cheeks.
“How is anything reproduced?” Did he really want me to answer that question? “The fae are made the same way that a human is,” he simplified.
“So they have to. . .with others that they don’t. . .” I couldn’t bring myself to follow-through with my questions.
Declan merely gave me a look, affirming my now deepest fear. “They do get to choose who they create with, but I suppose that doesn’t really make it any better. There were several couples who were separated, forced to create with another.”
I shook my head. I was specifically stuck on the Nesters now because unless I had a sibling I didn’t know existed, which was highly unlikely, I was the last in my family. The only one who could. . .create.
“Each colony used to bond within their own colony, but since Favner forbids bonding. . .”
“Bonding?” I questioned.
“Marrying,” he clarified. “I believe that’s what humans refer to it as.”
“You have to marry within your own colony? You don’t get to choose from anyone in the kingdom.”
He shook his head. “But there is no bonding anymore. Bonds have been torn apart.”
I didn’t like the sound of any of this. “Do they create seedlings with the same faery every time?”
“Yes.” I sighed, feeling a small weight pulled off my chest.
“But those who created before were separated from their partners and have to create with someone else now.”
He nodded. “Those that were chosen as Nesters, yes.”
My stomach was churning, sick for the people of Faylinn. “And how old do you have to be to begin having seedlings?”
“It depends on the physical maturity of the faery, but sixteen is the average age.” My stomach sank and I felt like I might puke. “Favner wants them creating life as soon as they are capable.”
I swallowed. “And before that age. . .what do the Nesters do?”
“They assist those carrying. They learn how to nurture a new seedling and prepare their bodies to be ready to carry when it is time.”
I shivered. The thought of having to live in Faylinn petrified me. If I had been born in Faylinn I would have had to start reproducing seedlings almost two years ago. It was decided. I was never going to Faylinn. My body belonged to me, not Favner. He wasn’t about to start making those decisions for me.
“I’m sorry, Calliope. I should have been more considerate.” He reached out to me, but his hand never quite touched mine before he pulled it back to himself. “I know you’re the last of your family.”
I could only nod, and then paused. “How did you know that?”
He looked at me for a moment before answering and then said, “Like I told you earlier. I’ve been around. I hear things. I know more than you probably think I do.”
A chill ran through me. His words were not comforting.
He reached out hesitantly. “Oh, I. . .uhh. . .pixies. . .I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. I’m sorry. I’ve never invaded your personal space. I’ve only been here as a protector. A Keeper. My job.”
“You’re a Keeper.”
He nodded and plucked at a piece of bark he picked up from the ground.
It made sense as to why he was able to come so frequently. “So when you’re not here chilling in the trees, you’re protecting Faylinn?”
He nodded again. “I take my shift and then I escape away to make sure you’re still okay.”
I turned my face away to hide my blushing cheeks. When I peered back at him he looked helpless, idly fidgeting with his hands. I gave him a sympathetic look.
“You’ve all become slaves. You’re treated like machines. But everyone has a breaking point. So, what’s being done to stop him? I mean. . .he can’t reign forever.”
Declan gazed at me unblinking. “Unfortunately, he could be king for several hundred more years. We don’t live forever, but we age very slowly. About a day to every month a human lives.”
“So that means I have to live. . .what. . .” I was trying to do the math in my head, but it was hurting my brain to try and calculate it without a calculator.
“A human would have to live for about thirty years before I became a year older. But even then we don’t die at the normal human age. We live to be hundreds of years old. Some of the fae even thousands of years.”
“How old are you?”
“In fae or human years?”
I chuckled. “Both.”
“In fae I’m nineteen. In human years I guess I’m about. . .150 years old.”
My thoughts stopped, trying to grasp the concept. “But I thought that. . .”
“The aging process starts to take effect when our fae features come, as soon as our features are fully matured.”
“So what. . .you aged normally until you hit puberty and then it slowed down?”
“Basically. But time is different in Faylinn. It also doesn’t exist the same way it does here.”
“This is all too complicated to wrap my head around.”
He chuckled and smiled coolly. “The fae aren’t supposed to make sense. There is a reason why humans don’t believe we exist. Nothing about us could scientifically be proven or be logical to the human brain. The makeup of our bodies is completely different. Our blood is different. Our organs are different.” He shrugged. “We don’t have to make sense. We just are.”
“How many of you. . .of us are there?”
“Thousands. But like I said, we are fewer than before. Before it was tens of thousands.”
How could a colony of faeries that large go undetected? How could they live freely in the woods without being disturbed? That had to cover a lot of forest.
I watched Declan. He spoke with an ease that calmed me. Even though he spoke about something I couldn’t grasp and was still forming its own place in my mind, I felt content being here with him, listening to him explain the fae ways. “Then what about me? Since I’m half, will I age half as slowly?”
“You. . .” He sighed and looked puzzled. “We will only know your aging process with time as your other faery features show themselves and as the years pass us by. As I’m sure your dad mentioned, there aren’t many like you, if any. You’re the first half-fae that I’ve ever known.”
I took a deep breath. “The first?” I asked. “How could I be the first?”
He chuckled, amused by my disbelief. “I didn’t say you were the first. Simply the only one I’ve ever come in contact with. I’m sure you’re not the first in all the centuries of faeries to exist.”
That was only semi-comforting to know I wasn’t just some mutant, but I still wished I had someone else to go off of. To have somewhat of an idea about how I would grow and exist throughout the years. The uncertainty left me unsettled. I would constantly be in search of what I should expect.
A thought formed in my mind. There were only five colonies. “No two family members could be a part of the same colony, could they?”
“No,” he said quietly and shook his head, pressing his lips together in frustration.
“Were there any families with more than five members?”
Declan nodded stiffly and spoke quietly. “Those that were left were not allowed to live.”
I felt sick. I swiped my hand across my ears and through my hair as if I could wipe away his words.
I was afraid to ask. “How many
were in your family?”
He grew solemn and I realized I should have been more sensitive. I shouldn’t have pried.
“Thankfully, only four.” Declan looked to the moss beneath his legs.
I thought about comforting him, but he looked more uncomfortable then I could have imagined him ever being and it made me angry. Angry for him. Angry for Faylinn.
“Why did he separate you? If Faylinn already had a good system, what was the point of reassigning and forcing everyone into a job they weren’t familiar with? And then disposing of extra fae.” Like they were garbage. As if their lives meant nothing.
“He wants our loyalty,” he said without inflexion. “Families create a unity and loyalty to one another. He wanted to destroy that. We are no longer allowed to bond because it creates ties of loyalty to someone else other than him. He wanted to weaken our influences and diminish any possibility of retaliation against him.”
“Did he say that?”
Declan shook his head. “No, he gave some speech about the importance of learning new trades and expanding our knowledge of other colonies which makes sense, but no one believed that was his goal. As soon as he separated us we were no longer allowed to live with our families. He said it was important for us to connect with our new fellow colony members to create stronger colonies.”
“But wouldn’t the division of families cause a rebellion to begin with? Why hasn’t Favner ever been overthrown? Why doesn’t everyone create a rebellion and retaliate?” It made perfect sense to me.
“Ahhh. . .that would be nice,” he agreed. “But unfortunately that’s impossible.”
“Why? Nobody likes him. Everyone obviously agrees on that. Just get together and fight back.”
“No, I literally mean it’s impossible. Royalty have a special ability. Extra special ability.” Declan stopped.
“And what’s that?” I prompted.
“Giving away our faery secrets now are we, Declan?”
My ears perked up. I heard his voice coming from up high. When I gazed above us Kai was perched on a limb several feet up. One leg was pulled to his chest while the other dangled over, bobbing up and down. He was shaving the tip of a twig into a point, making an arrow. How long had he been there?
Declan lifted his head to Kai. “They aren’t secrets to her, Kai. And I’m only answering what she asks. I’m not going to throw out information that doesn’t concern her or worse, frightens her. I’m not you.”
“Can you blame me for wanting to live on the edge?”
After Declan’s explanation of Faylinn’s troubles and our aging process, I didn’t have the energy for their bickering.
“Thanks for telling me about Faylinn, Declan.” I got up from the roots to leave.
“Leaving so soon, princess?” Kai dropped from the branches, agilely landing on his feet in front of me, keeping me in place.
I glared at his attempt to perturb me. “Not everyone can laze around in the trees all day long, Kai. There’s important work to be done in the world.”
“Oh, I think I do very important work,” he contended.
I put one hand on my hip, observing him, hoping to intimidate him at least half as much as he intimidated me. “It’s true, you do keep the peace in Faylinn. Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be doing that now? The precious king couldn’t possibly last another minute without you I’m sure.”
He didn’t answer, but a momentary look of pain flickered in his eyes before his mask was back up. He scoffed and began walking away, disappearing into the trees.
“What’s his problem?” I asked Declan.
Declan shrugged and shook his head as if he never knew what was going on in Kai’s head. When I turned back to Kai, he was gone. “I wouldn’t worry about him. He gets his feelings hurt easily.”
I heard a distant offended noise coming from where Kai had gone.
Declan and I laughed quietly. “Apparently,” I said, but I may have taken it too far considering what I had just learned of Faylinn. Life wasn’t easy for any of them and I practically rubbed it in his face.
I grabbed Declan’s hand resting on his knee and squeezed it. “Thank you for talking with me today. It really means a lot to me that you trust me with all this information.”
“You deserve to know.”
“Thank you anyway.”
Chapter Nine
I showered off the day after spending the afternoon in the woods and blew my hair dry, letting it fan down my back in light wavy curls. Brushing a little mascara on my lashes and gloss on my lips, I was set.
It was Saturday night and Cam hadn’t forgotten about our plans as I had hoped he and Isla would. But tonight the heavens opened up and the angels sent me mercy. Isla had gotten sick and couldn’t make it. I almost thought Cam was going to cancel before he said, “So, it’s just you and me. I’m coming to pick you up now.”
“Cam, we can wait for Isla. She was the one who planned this night.” Why I said it, I wasn’t quite sure. I should have taken this night like the gift it was.
“Why? I owe you a date anyway. Besides, Isla insisted we still hang out. She feels bad to be ruining plans.”
I wasn’t sure if I felt more dejected that this wasn’t Cameron’s idea or if I was more frustrated that Isla was still so perfect that she practically pushed him to keep the plans rather than flaking on me.
“Well isn’t she a keeper.”
“I think so.” I could hear the smile in his voice and a little piece of my heart broke off.
Cam drove, which was a nice change. I hadn’t ridden in the front seat of his jeep for quite some time. Now that I thought about it, the last time I had ridden in his car was to the summer party at Jake Winters. After the party, I ended up needing to hitch a ride home with Lia because Cameron left with Isla.
“Do you mind?” he had asked. “I really want to take her home.” I knew that look in his eyes. He wanted to do a lot more than just take her home.
I had tried to keep the hurt out of my voice. “No, it’s fine. Lia will take me home.” I prayed my voice hadn’t failed.
“You’re one in a million, Cal,” he’d said, and kissed my cheek.
Yeah, that’s what they all tell me before leaving with another girl.
“You’re still up for the Green House, right?” he asked, peering at me from the driver’s side of his jeep.
All he needed was one look from me.
“Of course you are. What was I thinking?” He chortled, keeping an eye on the road.
“You weren’t.” I smirked. “That is unless you really need a hardy steak dinner tonight.”
“Nah. We’ll let tonight revolve around you.”
I punched him in the arm as he laughed.
The salad bar greeted us as soon as we walked into The Green House. After piling our plates, we reached the register and Cameron said, “Two.”
“Cam, you don’t have to pay for me.” I reached into my purse and pulled out my wallet.
“Whatever, Cal, this night’s on me. You’re not paying.”
I offered him a smile and thanked him.
The restaurant wasn’t as packed as I assumed it would be on a Saturday night. They seated us in a booth off to the side, in a quiet corner, obviously thinking we were on a romantic date. I wasn’t about to correct them.
“What bug has Isla caught?” I asked, situating myself in the seat across from him.
“A stomach bug. I’m keeping my distance until it passes.” He stuffed in a bite of his Caesar salad.
“What. You don’t want to endure the bug just to be near her?” I smirked.
He gave a look that was not amused and I laughed. “Ha-ha. No. I’ll survive a few days without her just fine.”
I smirked and popped a cherry tomato in my mouth. It felt weird sitting across from him and not having him know everything about my life. We’d never had to have catch-up conversations before. We always knew what was going on in each other’s lives. And here I was with the biggest most outrageou
s news and I had to keep it to myself. He’d never believe me even if I could tell him.
I had spent the afternoon with Declan. A faery guard. How could I ever explain that to Cameron? I learned about a kingdom that apparently I belonged in. No, I didn’t feel like I belonged. I felt left out, but not as if I was missing something. Or maybe that’s what it was. Was it possible to miss something you never knew existed in the first place?
“Callie?” his voice held concern. “Cal, you okay? What’s on your mind?”
“What?” I shook out of my daze.
“You look lost. Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah,” I said as reassuringly as I could. “Yeah, I’m great. I’m at my favorite restaurant. Eating my favorite food, hanging with my favorite person. What could be wrong?”
He tilted his head to the side, scrutinizing me, having forgotten about the plate in front of him. “I don’t know. But it’s something.”
I shrugged.
“Talk to me.” Cameron peered at me over the table, his familiar blue eyes capturing me and I nearly poured out my heart. How did he know how to do that? This part hadn’t occurred to me when I had agreed to a night alone with him. Without the distraction of Isla, Cameron could observe me. What if he could see a difference? What if I was starting to look different?
“It’s just good to be here with you,” I said, munching on another bite of greens to deflect the topic. “I’ve missed this.”
He nodded, hesitantly accepting my answer. It wasn’t as if I was lying. I did miss this. The casual comfort of being near him. He was my other home.
“I’m glad we did this too. I still want for us all to get together, but we have to make our nights too. There’s so much less pressure when I’m with you, you know?” He looked down at his plate as if he finally remembered it was there. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not tired of Isla. I don’t think I’ll ever be, but—”
“I get what you mean, Cam,” I cut him off before he could ramble on and on about how perfect she was. I hoped it wasn’t too obvious. “You don’t have to explain yourself. I know you. You know me. It’s easy.”
