by Abra Ebner
Jane coughed. “Whoa, Navia. That stuff really gets up your nose, doesn’t it?” She choked.
I gave her a little pat. “Try not to breathe too deep, darling.” Try not to breathe at all, I thought. If only she were frozen in time like a real doll, then I could keep her always like a trophy.
I ran my hand down the length of her dark hair. She was so soft and delicate, and I could almost see what Max saw in her. It was like having a little bird, so diminutive, with her life in your hands. If I wanted to, I could crush her with one finger, but that would defeat my goals of making Max suffer.
I’d decided that she needed to be caged in a place Max could see her but could never touch. To do that, all I needed to do was make the temptation of eternal life and limitless love too tempting for her to pass up—so tempting that she stupidly attempts to become an angel. Already I could tell she was leaning toward my idea, but what I hadn’t told her was the practical certainty that it would result in her death. She’d end up trapped on the other side, away from Max, tragically just out of reach. What they face now in their intimate life is nothing compared to the torture they will face when I’m done.
“There. You’re beautiful.” I set the silver compact back on the vanity. I had to admit, she was gorgeous once you put a little makeup on her. If I hadn’t known her, I’d venture to believe she was an Element Pixie in her the fall season, even. At least until she opened her mouth to speak.
Jane twisted her neck and faced the mirror. “Wow. I love it.”
I ran my hand down the back of her head one more time, obsessed with petting her hair. “Lovely, my pet. The boys will fall all over you today. Just you wait.”
Jane giggled. “I’m excited to see the look on my friend Liz’s face. She’ll be red with jealousy!”
I sighed, taking it as a compliment. “As all women should be, my pet.” And I meant that in so many ways, even for me.
Max:
The ceiling was fifty feet overhead, making me appear as small as I felt in this room. My hands were clasped before me, waiting. Jane’s scent still lingered within the fibers of my jacket, my throat tight because of it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking dangerous thoughts about the other night: The way her skin felt so close to mine, the feeling of her life as it made my heart beat in a way it hadn’t in too long. I wanted to taste her, the pain of being away from her dehydrating my very spirit.
I drew in a deep, shaky breath, hearing the distant sound of footsteps approach. I shut my eyes one last time, hoping to hold myself together long enough to ask for forgiveness. I assured myself that this was the right thing to do, saying it over and over in my head, beating with each step that echoed. The sound was sure and strong, just as it had been years and years ago.
“Maximus!”
My eyes sprang open, seeing the Crown just a few feet before me. He was smiling, and as he drew close, his arms welcomed me in. I was surprised by the action, but stepped into his embrace, giving him one pat on the back before stepping away. My eyes became fixed on his.
“Maximus, I am not ashamed to say I’m relieved to see you. I’ve worried about you immensely over the years.”
I nodded politely. “I find myself surprised to hear it, Srixon.” I wanted to feel nervous, but forced myself not to.
He laughed. “Please. What happened I could never blame you for. I fear you feel that way, but I realize that what happened was my fault. I should have never put you to the task of caring for Avery, let alone expect you to love her when I knew you didn’t. I regret to admit that I was desperate, and felt it would fix what was destined for her. I am not shocked to find that it has only fueled the fire.”
Guilt overcame me, despite his kind words. “She’s turned, hasn’t she?”
The Crown nodded gravely. “I have received word that Avery has been spotted in many of the Black Cities, though I do not believe she has yet committed to their side through any of their members.”
“I took her light,” I admitted with shame. “That’s why she turned.”
Srixon placed one hand on my shoulder. “Believe it or not, dear son, but her light was taken long before it disappeared under her love for you. Avery was claimed, years before you came into our life. Her light had a destiny, and it was to fade.”
“She had already been claimed by the Shadow Pixies? Why didn’t you tell me?” I felt further betrayed by Winter Wood. Anger flashed in my eyes, replacing my remorse.
Srixon’s expression was dark. “I’m sorry, Maximus. Of all the lies, I did not want Avery’s fate to be another one.” His head bowed. “When she was small, an elder Shadow Pixie visited me in my chamber one night. She warned me of the Shade’s intent to destroy me, and placed a curse on my head. She said great despair would fall upon me, and my bloodlines would end. At the time, I did not know what she meant, thinking I would be stripped of the ability to produce an heir. Clearly, when Avery came along, I saw that those notions were untrue. For many years, I forgot about the Shadow Pixie’s warning, until Avery came of age. She began turning toward dark magick, taking an unhealthy interest in such things as torture, fire, shadow dust, and other heathen things. I soon realized what the warning meant, that the Shade was to claim my children and leave me void of an heir that way. At first I denied it and did everything I could to force Avery away from the darkness, but clearly, that did not work. She’s their queen now.”
“Avery will inherit the Shadow throne?”
Srixon nodded slowly. “My own daughter will become my greatest enemy.” His face became deeply grim and pale. One day he would have to face her, and I could see that already he knew he’d lose. “The Shade was smart this time. I fear we’re facing some dark days.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say, too blown away by the whole thing. Could I have stopped her by staying here, or would it still not have made a difference? Worse yet, would the Shade have come after me if I stood in his way?
Srixon drew in a deep breath and re-gathered his composure. He changed the subject. “I learned of your father, Maximus. I’m sorry,” he admitted. “I assure you that if I had known Patrick was your father before his death, I wouldn’t have allowed the lie to continue.”
“How did you learn of it?” I demanded.
Srixon took a moment before speaking. “I received a letter from Patrick that arrived just after his passing. He told me about his regrets by way of you, and wanted me to be the one to tell you who he really was when he was gone. By then, I had no idea where you were. I’m sorry that you never knew. I know he’d tried many times to tell you, but I’m afraid he just couldn’t.”
Hearing Srixon inform me that Patrick was too much of a coward to tell me he was my real father hurt. “How did you know I knew about Patrick being my father in the first place?”
Srixon lifted one brow. “I’m not a fool. I knew you had come back. Someone from the faerie community, a waitress at the café, said they’d seen you. Aside from her claim, I also had people watching over the apothecary, hoping you’d show up one day. I knew that you’d eventually figure out who Patrick was when given access to Patrick’s things. It was only a matter of time.” He paused. “We’ve been waiting for you to return for a long time. I’m not ashamed to admit that we need you.”
I felt my muscles relax with mutual understanding. “I need the Priory as well.”
Srixon nodded with a noticeable relief. “If we could have brought you back sooner, we would have, but you didn’t make it easy to be found. I knew you had taken a human to guard, and I figured that had become your sole priority…” his voice trailed.
I felt Jane as he mentioned it—I felt her laughing. “I did. She did.”
Srixon pressed his lips together, a look I knew all too well.
“You disapprove?” I asked.
Srixon’s eyes met mine. “It’s not that, Maximus. It’s who.”
“Who?”
Srixon leaned close. “I suppose in retrospect you couldn’t have chosen a be
tter muse, but it still concerns me. The faerie I mentioned before recognized her right away, given that the faerie is a Light Seer.” He lifted one brow. “She’s John’s child, isn’t she?”
I nodded. “I did not know he had a daughter, let alone two, not until...”
Srixon sighed. “I don’t blame him for hiding it. He was a Priory member with a particularly dangerous marriage to a human. He was trying to protect them.”
“What about Jane is any different than any other guarded?” I ventured. Why had Srixon made such a point?
Srixon rubbed his chin. “She’s yours, at least. That alone gives me hope.”
He hadn’t answered my question. “But why Jane? Why the emphasis, and why did the seer recognize her?”
Srixon bit his lip. “There’s a Truth about her.”
Just the mention of the term angered me. My Truth had caused me nothing but pain, false hope and confusion for Jane, and now another Truth?
“She’s been seen in it, but not as you’d think.”
“How?” I demanded, feeling my protective nature begin to surface. Jane was supposed to be mine and mine alone. She was my Truth, so having her in the Truth of Winter Wood brewed jealousy.
“I honestly can’t say because telling you would put the outcome at risk. Already we’ve removed the faerie from the streets of Winter Wood for her own safety. This future has to remain a secret.”
“Please, tell me something,” I pleaded.
Srixon closed his eyes. “All I can tell you is that Avery is involved.” His eyes opened. “Saying that is mistake enough. There are so many things that will have to happen for the Truth to come to pass, and right now, it leans in our favor, but barely. If anyone affects the outcome at this point, it could be catastrophic. It was always about fate, all this time, and now it’s all finally coming to pass.”
I clenched my fists. I wanted nothing more than to be able to read his expression, but it was too vague to offer further answers. My personal problems with Jane were now shadowed by the gloominess of this new development. “So Avery will return.”
Srixon drew very close. “Maximus, you need to watch that girl of yours. I cannot press the point enough. Avery is my daughter, but I will be the first to tell you that she is not who she once was, and never will be again.”
I swallowed, knowing Jane didn’t even want me around. Because of my stupidity, I now had to suffer in the shade, watching her the way I always had, without her.
“Find your guarded, Maximus, and do as you’ve sworn. That is our best hope for keeping this Truth in our favor.”
Wes:
At lunch I found Emily outside. I sat beside her. “Have you seen Jane yet?”
She frowned. “No, not at all. I don’t know what’s going on, but she almost never misses class.”
“You said she stayed with a friend all weekend? Who?”
Emily shrugged. “The only person I know of that even remotely resembles a friend to Jane is Liz.” Emily rolled her eyes until they were glaring right at the culprit in question. “And see, given it’s a miracle, she’s here.”
I looked across the yard as Liz walked briskly through it, her coat wrapped tight around her and her minions acting as the second layer between her and the cold. I nodded and laughed. “I can see that.”
Emily sighed long and hard, leaning her head against her arm as it rest on the table.
“What’s up with you?” I wrestled my sandwich out of its small plastic bag. It was the third peanut butter and jelly sandwich I’d had today.
“I’m just tired, is all. I haven’t been sleeping very well.”
I chewed through the soft bread, the jelly leaking through the air holes and onto my hand. “You should stay with me tonight.”
Emily smiled slightly. “I’d love to.” She blushed. “But you have your sister there now. Not to mention the fact that my mother would never allow it.”
I shrugged. “You’ve done it before. Your mother didn’t seem to mind it then.”
Emily began to look frustrated. “Yeah, but she will eventually. That’s the way she is. She gives you a little room and then she…” Emily’s voice trailed, her eyes fixed over my shoulder.
“What?” I turned as I said it, no longer needing an answer.
“Jane?” Emily whispered. “Is that really her?”
I was thinking the same thing. Jane, or rather this being that held Jane somewhere deep under a layer of makeup and preppy clothes, walked across the lawn toward us. There was a blonde you’d think came right out of a Victoria’s Secret catalogue linking arms with Jane, who was smiling widely. I found myself at a loss for words. I may not love Jane the way I used to, yet I couldn’t help but notice how good she looked, even if all that makeup wasn’t really my thing.
“Who the Hell is that with her?” Emily snorted.
I glanced back at Emily in shock. “I don’t know. Doesn’t look like anyone from around here, though, if you know what I mean.” I nearly choked on a hunk of gooey white bread.
Emily gave me a reproachful glare. “Do you really think she could be from Winter Wood?”
I nodded slowly, mouth agape. “Either that or she’s from some model cult in California.”
I could practically feel Emily’s glare burning holes into the back of my head. “Real nice, Wes.”
I shook my head. “I’m serious. It’s unnatural to be that…” I tried to choose my words carefully. “Well formed.”
The tart smell of jealousy seeped from Emily’s pores and wafted across the table.
I glanced back at her once more. “Trust me. I’m not at all interested. Looks like that come with an inherit bitchiness, not to mention a mess of makeup stains.”
Emily’s jealous scent faded as she laughed and agreed. “That is so true.”
“Hey, guys.” Jane stopped as she reached us, striking a pose.
Emily and I just gaped in return, not willing to encourage this behavior, nor understanding it.
“This is Navia.” Jane’s grin grew. “She’s from Winter Wood,” she added in a sing-song voice.
I gave Emily a told-you-so look. Emily rolled her eyes at my need to flaunt the fact that I was right.
The girl stepped forward, releasing Jane’s arm. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” She reached out for my hand. I gave it to her with a shake as she bowed lightly.
Emily’s heart rate surged in my head. Navia must have noticed as her eyes fluttered to look behind me. She dropped my hand and backed away, tilting her head and giving Emily an innocent smile.
“You must be Emily, Jane’s sister. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She paused, likely waiting to see how Emily would react.
Emily said nothing.
“You’re very brave!” Navia went on. “Being abducted by a Black Angel is an experience many don’t live to talk about.”
Emily:
Navia stepped forward and extended her hand to me over the table. At first I stared at it, my gut wrenching in the worst possible way. I had tried to crack into her thoughts since the moment she’d gotten close enough, but it was like Fort Knox on Independence Day.
Navia held her hand in the air, patiently waiting. “I admire your strength,” she added, layering on the charm.
My stomach settled and I finally took her hand and shook it. “Thanks for the… er… compliment?” It wasn’t exactly a compliment but rather a ‘lucky you’, but still. Being abducted by a Black Angel was an experience I was still dealing with, especially considering what had been coming to my room the last couple of nights.
Navia smiled, a smile that appeared genuine, but there was something more to it. I couldn’t figure out what it was, and my stomach wrenched again. Holding her hand allowed me to dig deep under the walls of her mind, but there was still no way in. Her mind was well trained. She shared nothing.
“Do you guys want to join us?” Wes asked nervously, shell shocked by her beauty. I couldn’t really be mad at him, though. Being around such unnatural splend
or would make any man’s resistance crumble—it even made me nervous.
“Of course!” Jane sang, plopping down beside me as Navia took the bench beside Wes, opposite Jane.
Navia watched Jane closely, in a manner that reminded me of a girl and her pet. I laughed to myself, figuring the only way Jane would ever allow anyone to make her over as Navia had meant she practically had to be their pet. Liz had tried many times, but she had little finesse when it came to convincing Jane of anything. What scared me was how easily it seemed Navia had succeeded at the task.
Navia glanced at me on the diagonal. “What was the Black Angel like?”
I frowned. This was hardly a subject I wanted to discuss with Wes and Jane, let alone her. “A jerk.” I answered simply, hoping she’d take the hint.
Navia jutted out her bottom lip in thought, but didn’t press further. Wes sat up straight, demanding attention as he eyed me. He cleared his throat.
“So, uh… Jane. Where’s Max?”
Jane snorted. “Since when do you care where Max is?”
Jane’s reaction was hard to read. There was bitterness, but also concern in the way she said his name.
Wes shrugged. “Just wondering. He just seems a little here-today-gone-tomorrow.”
Jane’s eyebrows pressed together. “What do you mean by that?” She’d sensed Wes’s sarcasm.
“Nothing.” Wes was torturing her. He was making it obvious he knew something.
Jane sighed dramatically. Navia watched him intently—curious. “Okay, Wes. Spill.”
A smile snaked across Wes’s lips. I was surprised by how much he was enjoying this, and was seeing old emotions flair in him. His eagerness to destroy Jane’s love life because of all she’d put him through would forever, as I’d thought, be a factor. “I heard something interesting about Max when we were in Winter Wood, that’s all. Just makes me a little nervous about his absence, and I wonder how it is you can trust him.”
