“In the interest of time,” Nyquist said, “we’ll get started. I have called upon you, Ms. Rivera, to help in a delicate situation. I’ve told you in the past that I could use a talented witch like you to help in important matters and just the right opportunity has presented itself.”
He pushed away from the desk, stood, and began pacing behind the tall, executive chair.
“I will be honest with you,” he continued. “In the past few years, our fine Supernatural Academy—once of the best magical institutions in the world—has seen a very worrisome decline in the number and quality of its graduates. It’s gotten so bad that many influential warlocks have started enrolling their children elsewhere. As you can imagine, to the Board of Regents and myself, as new dean, this is unacceptable.”
I nodded in agreement when he glanced in my direction for a reaction.
“Many changes will be necessary to correct this problem,” he continued. “As you can see,” he spread his arms open, gesturing toward the other regents, “we’re already hard at work devising a plan to correct this issue.”
“That’s really good to hear,” I said, the words ashy in my mouth.
Nyquist huffed as if to indicate no one had asked me anything. I clenched my teeth. Good, it would be easier for me if I just sat here swallowing curse words.
“One of the problems that plague us is the fae,” he said.
My back stiffened at the mention of the fae. Why were the fae a problem? After the battle during which Sinasre’s father fought to free his son and daughter, Lynssa had told me that they had been able to escape. In my mind, I’d assumed they’d gone far away. Or was Nyquist talking about other fae?
“There is a fae warrior by the name of Taurion,” he said.
I tried to keep my face from giving away the fact that I recognized the name. Taurion was Sinasre’s father. He had fought Nyquist and won, and it seemed the old man was holding a grudge against that.
“This Taurion,” Nyquist continued, “is one of the fae stuck in our world and has recently made a public vow to destroy the Academy.”
“What?!” I exclaimed.
Was this true?
“It’s appalling, I know,” Nyquist said. “As if we didn’t have enough challenges already. Anyway, the reason you are here is because we need to do something to keep this fae savage from attacking our school. If we don’t, we would be unable to open our doors this upcoming fall semester. Unlike previous administrations, I will not put our students in harm’s way.”
“I see,” I said. “But… uh… how do I fit in this scenario? I mean, I’d like to help, but I don’t see how I can.”
Nyquist smiled condescendingly. “I’m glad to hear you are willing to help, Ms. Rivera because the regents and I have talked about this extensively, and we believe you are the perfect person for this mission.”
“Mission?” I echoed.
“Yes.” Nyquist sat back down and placed his interlaced hands in front of him. “We know you are amazingly adept at portal travel, and we also know you were friends with Sinasre and Anama, Taurion’s son and daughter.”
I raised my eyebrows, trying to look surprised at this bit of news.
“That’s correct, Charlie,” Nyquist said, “the fae warrior who is threatening our school is your friends’ father. He is a very dangerous individual who has committed many crimes against our people already, and we think the only way to stop him is to… hold some leverage against him.”
Leverage, leverage, leverage.
The word echoed in my mind like a bad omen. I didn’t want to know exactly what he meant by that. It couldn’t be good.
“What do you mean?” I asked, only because I could tell it was expected of me.
“Charlie, we would like you to go into the fae realm and convince Taurion’s wife to come with you,” he answered.
“Why do you need his wife?” I asked. Sinasre and Anama would be able to see their mother again, and Taurion, his wife, if she came over to our realm, but not like this. I would I be putting her in danger, delivering her into Nyquist’s hands.
He cleared his throat. “We hear she is the sensible one of the two. Maybe she can convince her husband to cease fire and allow both sides to learn to get along. Just think, if you do this, you’ll be saving so many from injury. Maybe even death.”
I did want that, for both sides to get along, but I couldn’t trust Nyquist.
“And if she doesn’t convince Taurion to stand down?” I asked.
Nyquist simply shrugged, avoiding my question.
I could very well imagine what he planned to do to Sinasre’s mother if she didn’t convince her husband to desist.
The old man clasped his ancient hands together. “Ms. Rivera, we want you to travel to the fae realm and convince Taurion’s wife, by any means necessary, to travel back with you. She will be our leverage. If you fail in this task, I’m afraid your time at the Academy is through.”
Chapter Seven
SUMMER BREAK
APRIL
I stood inside the Knightleys’ outdoor fountain, thigh-deep in water, shivering my ass off.
It turned out the house had a minor portal, which helped to explain a lot, such as why Nyquist was here, why the Khatri’s had bought a house nearby, and why there seemed to be so many magic families in the area.
A dozen stuffy, old douche nozzles circled around the fountain, watching me closely, and the worst part was that I had to act as if I liked being in their presence.
What in the hell was my life coming to?
“Do you know what to do?” Nyquist asked, his rheumy eyes piercing me like blades.
I nodded as confidently as I could though my stomach was in knots. I had been tasked with traveling to the fae realm to offer Sinasre’s mother a way to see her family again in exchange for talks between her people and the Academy to broker peace.
That was what Nyquist had mainly said, but it had been easily contradicted by his use of the word leverage and by his sly shrug. He didn’t intend to treat the fae with anything but disdain and brutality. I was perfectly able to read between the lines. I wasn’t stupid. Nyquist wanted to make Sinasre’s mother his prisoner, his guarantee against an attack from Taurion.
I wanted to refuse and spit in their smug, rich faces, but I couldn’t do that. Lynssa had explained everything that was at stake. They needed someone on the inside, someone who Nyquist could trust without feeling threatened. She had assured me I was just the person. She’d said Nyquist saw potential in me and liked me for that promise of talent. He wanted young people to join his ranks, fresh blood. I ticked all the boxes, especially after saving his life. That had gone a long way to gaining his trust.
No, I couldn’t refuse, not when it could mean losing the Academy or my own life. Nyquist would not be merciful if he found out I was spying for his enemies. So I smiled and nodded, a good little lackey. I would go to the fae realm. I would lie my face off.
The decision made my heart ache.
There was also the little issue that I’d never been to the fae realm. I didn’t even know what it looked like. Did it operate like our world? Or were things completely different? How would I know who Kiana, wife to Taurion, was?
Nyquist said I just would. Helpful.
Sure. What could go wrong?
“I got this,” I said, more to myself than to the stuffy, old dudes. Still, they nodded. Either they were confident in my abilities or they didn’t care if I succeeded or failed. At least they could go back to their coffee and crumpets once I’d disintegrated into the fountain.
Bastards.
Before I thought better of it and started casting nose hair growing spells, I dipped my cuffs into the freezing water. They tingled, then pulsed, warming up to the idea of opening the portal and inviting it to suck me through. It always took a moment, and as it did, my eyes trailed past the men to a figure standing back by the garage.
Cruise was watching it all go down. What did he think as he spied me hip-deep in his fountain? Was
he jealous they weren’t trusting him with the task? From the way he was staring at his father, it appeared to me as if he was, as if he resented Regent Knightley for not taking him into account. Did Cruise truly want to be liked by these assholes? Was he as racist and hateful as they were? Or just trying to get their acceptance? I shook my head, realizing I didn’t care. I had more pressing problems. Big, big problems.
Could I do this? I didn’t know. Lying was one thing. Tricking someone to follow me into a different realm was another. In the end, if we won, all fae would be better off. Lives would be saved. Peace truly would be restored. That’s what mattered, didn’t it? I had to focus on the greater good and not the horrible roil of self-loathing in my gut. Kiana was just one person. I had to think of the greater good.
As the water began to bubble, I tensed my body, waiting for that disintegration feeling, the atoms of my body swirling away and reforming somewhere new. But this time, it felt different. There was a numbness, starting with my toes. Soon, I couldn’t feel my feet, then my legs. The deadened feeling extended up my body, paralyzing my arms.
Something was wrong.
This was not what traveling through portals had felt like before. Terror flooded my veins as if the ice-cold water had replaced my blood. I tried to free myself, but my body wouldn’t respond to any commands.
“Something’s wro—” I started, but my lips froze.
The men around me exchanged glances and frowned, stroking their chins as if puzzled, but not a single one lifted a finger to help me.
Before everything froze into blackness, my last thought was to invent a castration spell that would leave them all howling for their bits.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then there was… something.
I sensed a hardness underneath me. My body ached as it lay against what felt like metal bars. I’d landed flat on my back somewhere cold and unforgiving. Slowly, I pushed up, hands wrapped around the slatted bars beneath me. When I opened my eyes, I discovered my instincts had been correct.
I had materialized inside a huge birdcage.
Panicked, I grabbed the sidebars and hoisted myself up, eyes scanning the foreign surroundings below me.
My metal cage was suspended about thirty feet in the air and hung from a chain that was secured to a giant tangle of roots. The roots hung downward, extending in every direction as far as I could see and angling down the dirt walls of a fifty-foot diameter underground cavern. An earthy, damp smell clogged my nose.
Where the hell was I?
The sounds of shuffling feet below drew my attention. I peered down, heart pounding.
A handful of fae gazed up at me from the ground.
Most of them held spears and appeared to be fae warriors.
“Oh, hi,” I called, waving. “Um, I’m Charlie. I just transported here from the human realm.” My voice wavered as I tried my best to explain to the very unfriendly fae below what in the hell I was doing here. “I seemed to have landed myself into a cage. My mistake.”
“No mistake,” a voice said.
Weaving through the fae warriors, a statuesque woman stepped into the room. She was taller than the spear-holding guards and far more regal. On her head, she wore a crown of glittering twigs, so simple and yet so very beautiful, it instantly marked her as fae royalty. Fawn horns poked out from behind the crown and long green hair trailed beneath it. Her resemblance to Anama was so clear, I knew right away I was staring at Taurion’s wife, Sinasre and Anama’s mother.
This was Kiana.
“What are you doing here, human?” She angled her long, fawn-like neck to stare up at me. Spots like a baby deer’s trailed from her collarbone and disappeared under her pale yellow shift. Her feet were bare and her eyes were piercing.
What was I doing here? Being held prisoner, apparently. Had Nyquist set me up?
“I was sent by the Supernatural Academy regents. They want to discuss peace with your husband and children.”
Her mouth dropped open and her hands fluttered to her chest. “Taurion.”
The ache on her face was so clear it cut through me high in my cage. She’d suffered such anguish already, and I was bringing her more.
“He’s alive,” I said. “Your children are, too.” I wanted to offer her comfort. As if it would make a difference once I stabbed her in the back.
She nodded, still holding her hands over her heart. “I hadn’t… When they never returned, I assumed…” Her words stopped and her expression hardened. “Why are you here?”
Swallowing hard, I spurred myself on, sticking to the truth so I didn’t choke on my words.
“I swear I mean you and your family no harm. I was friends with Sinasre and Anama. That’s why the regents sent me here. They think I can convince you to come help stop the brewing war that your husband is instigating.”
“What can you possibly say to convince me, human? Why should I trust you?” Her voice had taken on a biting edge.
There was no reason she should trust me. Anything I had to say from here would be a downright lie. My stomach clenched as I forced out my next words. “I care very much about your family. I’d like to try to help. I know what it feels like to lose someone.”
Her eyes narrowed. Even from here I could see they were catlike like Sinasre’s.
“Get her down.” She gestured to her warriors, then strode out of the room.
While the men advanced, I tried my magic in case they came at me with blades. My cuffs did absolutely nothing. They might as well be decorative bangles for all the good they did me. I would have to use my wits. But how in the hell would I get back? I hadn’t thought about that part. Dammit!
As I was worrying about my escape, one of the warriors touched his hand to a wide root and my cage began to lower. The roots elongated and extended to bring me down. Fae magic still baffled me, but I had to admit it was amazing to see a tree respond to touch.
Once my cage had landed on the ground, they opened the metal door, and, keeping their spears pointed at me, gestured toward the cut in the wall where Kiana had exited.
“Okay, fellas, okay. I’ll go,” I said, holding up my hands in placation. “Just don’t use those sticks on me, huh?”
None of the warriors responded. I tried not to stare at their interesting features but caught glimpses of a goat-like beard and leaf-like hair. One was only four-foot tall and completely black with cloven hooves. Another was nearly as treelike as an Ent.
The hallway was an earth-smelling, dirt tunnel with little light that led into a forked pathway with six more tunnels. The goat-like guard gestured toward one on the right and I took it, trying desperately to remember my path back as if that would save me. A few more forked tunnels and we wound up in a dining hall.
Here the walls rose up toward a stained-glass-window ceiling that cast rainbow light around the room. The lounge chairs and the huge oak table running the center of the space were dappled in every imaginable color. The technicolor swirl made my head spin and reminded me of Nyquist’s dreamscape. Had Anama projected that vision into the ethereal landscape of her prison? Was this the room she had been picturing in her sleep? How lovely and how sad. How long since she’d shared a meal with her family at this table?
Kiana sat at the end of the table in a chair made of antlers. Her long neck swiveled to peer at me, her face once again conveying no emotion. One arm swung out, gesturing to a chair beside her.
I walked, trying to take everything in as I went. I counted at least twenty chairs at the table, all made from different materials—silver, dirt, branches, seaweed. The one she offered was made of bark. I scraped out the chair and sat, trying to seem as emotionless as my host.
“May I offer you something?” Kiana gestured to the table which was spread with more food than I’d ever seen in my life. There were plates, bowls, and platters stacked precariously high. They overflowed with ruby-red grapes, fragrant biscuits, pies with steam rolling from their golden-crusted tops. There was a succulent pig, ph
easant, and spit-roasted rabbit beside giant cheese wheels and fragrant decanters of what appeared to be wine.
It all looked so delicious. My stomach rumbled, but I knew better. If I ate any of their food, I could become enchanted or worse.
“No, thank you,” I said, clasping my hands at my lap to keep them from reaching for the tea cakes between us.
She took some grapes. Sharp teeth split the skin before she sucked the gored fruit into her mouth.
“Tell me of this offer from your regents,” she said.
I swallowed, quickly running through exactly what to say. Fae couldn’t lie, but they knew humans could. She would be on high alert. I used as much of the truth as I could.
“I’m not going to lie and say the regents are good people. The men I represent are greedy. They want power and lots of it. But the thing is, a war with your husband would be too costly, and they’d rather use their resources elsewhere. They want Taurion to stand down so they can focus on other avenues.”
Kiana pounded the table with a clenched fist. “If my husband wants war, it is because humans have provoked him! You have done this. You have cut us off from each other!” Her finger jabbed in my face and I worried she might strike me.
Maybe, I would let her. I deserved her ire.
But I had a job to do, others to think about.
“What you say is true. Humans caused the fight,” I conceded. “But now the regents say they want to end it. They’re afraid. Your husband is a formidable opponent.”
At this, she smiled, showing off her hooked teeth. “That he is, my Taurion. Has he made you suffer?”
“Me, personally? No. But he fought bravely to save your son and daughter. The regents had no choice but to comply with his wishes.”
She nodded again. “Then why should I convince him of peace when he sees it right to make war? When he desires to kill all of you?” Her eyes focused in on me, watching me very carefully, like a cat with a mouse.
Taking a deep breath, I thought of Sinasre, of Anama. I thought of their pain at being so far from home and their mother. Even if Kiana was captured, they’d see each other again, right?
Senior Witch, Fall Semester Page 5
