God, there was no hope at all, now.
Merrick would strangle and stretch each and every rule until he could shape them into his own set.
"Well, Fade still lives. You will no longer live under house arrest, but you will not travel out of this castle without the full attendance of the council. You will still remain as acting leader, but all decisions will be made and enforced by the council. What say you, Calder?"
There was another smug smile on the head councilor’s face. Calder would have loved to cast a spell on the bastard. Chop his ear points down into stubs, have black and blue spots dot all about his face. . . . but if he were to do that, then it would be quite evidently a shaman's work and one with a grudge against Merrick. Only one shaman would be under suspicion. Calder.
Mearth be damned.
"I have little choice but to agree to your terms, Merrick. But be aware of this, you will wait a long time for your friend to return. It is unheard of for travelers to other dimensions to return to their homes.”
Merrick nodded slowly, his eyes narrowed in a study of Calder and his words. "I would imagine that to be the case. We shall review the situation in a year's time. Until then, council is convened until the next session.”
Calder stood, the remaining five men also took to their feet and the councilors bowed as he walked from the head of the table and towards a door which magically opened.
Their supplication thrilled him and he could only hope that next year, the situation would remain the same. That way, no one would have to die and Calder would be King.
It wasn't that he minded having blood on his hands. It was the consequences he feared. And not those of the human variety. He did not even think of the dungeons. He dreaded the consequences Mother Mearth would lay at his door.
She did not take kindly to one of her own being taken and by a shaman- an Elven who was in direct contact with her.
Any more deaths and it would be Calder who suffered.
And Calder never intended to suffer the horrible death Mother Mearth would plan for him.
He would bide his time, knowing that Fade could not and would not return to Mearth and eventually, would take his rightful place on the Dark Throne.
Calder would not make a move of dissension or disobedience over the next year, he would behave, be the puppet the council obviously wanted him to be and then, when his time came, that was it.
The council would certainly convene. Forever.
***
"Why won't the doorknob work now?"
Heather knew she was whining. She could hear the annoying squeak in her voice and grimaced over it, but dammit, they'd been unscrewing and reattaching the doorknob to different doors all day. All in the vain hope that it would take them back to this Mearth place.
With every subsequent attempt, the belief in Mearth and a mother and father who were waiting for her, seemed to falter.
Was she dreaming?
Was this real?
She kept pinching herself and would subsequently pinch Fade to see if this was truly happening. The first time she'd done it, he'd nearly jumped out of his skin and had been on the brink of brandishing a dagger at her. Only when she'd started to laugh, had he realized it wasn't a direct attack. He'd demanded an explanation and his scowl hadn't softened at her reasoning: he'd simply nodded and carried on with his work.
Up until today, Heather hadn't realized how many doors she actually had. Doors to the kitchen, as well as the cupboards lining the walls, doors to the utility room and the bathroom. Then there were the bedrooms and the closets. . . . Each door had to be checked, on either side.
And Heather's newly found enjoyment in DIY was rapidly disappearing.
"I don't know,” Fade gritted out as he fiddled with the tiny screws.
He wasn't the most talkative of men. Hell, he was the least talkative man Heather had ever known and she usually had a knack of drawing people out of themselves. She would speak and more often than not, he'd ignore her. It was rather annoying, but she'd continued to talk throughout the day, because she'd realized that he would answer, if he had something to say.
That he'd chosen to reply to that particular question did not bode well for her return to a mother who was awaiting her with open arms.
"Mearth be damned.” The words were growled out and Heather watched, as almost in slow motion, Fade hefted the doorknob and threw it against the opposite wall. The doorknob smashed. Into a million, trillion pieces. It shattered in midair and like a light fall of rain sprinkled over the hall carpet.
For a moment, Heather sat stunned and then she slowly turned her head. "Why. Did. You. Do. That?"
Fade's head shot towards her and his glare almost quelled her slowly rising fury. "I did it, because the damned piece of shite is just that. Shite. It obviously doesn't work.”
"How do you know that? You haven't tried all of the doors.”
"It was a small hope. I know little of parallel universes. What I do know, is that the traveler hardly ever returns. I'm stuck here. On this godforsaken plane.”
"Don't be stupid, Fade. My mother obviously knew all of this was going to happen. The doorknobs must mean something and you've just broken the only key we had.”
"We have been wasting time working on this doorknob. They rarely work twice.”
Noticing a slight movement on his upper lip, one which told her was biting it, she had to contain her anger, because he obviously did not believe his words. "Do not lie to me. That box was obviously ancient. There were fitted out spaces for each knob. Why keep them if they don't work again?"
"Sentimentality?"
On the brink of picking up the screwdriver Fade had been using and drilling it into his head, Heather took the calmer route. She stepped backwards and away from him. "I can't look at you right now. I'll be in the kitchen, making us something to eat.”
As she stepped away, he called out, "I'm not hungry.”
"Tough.”
When he didn't reply, she merely huffed to herself and walked down the hallway and headed to the kitchen. On the table, there was the box containing the doorknobs and on top of that, the sheet of parchment upon which her mother's note had been written.
Biting her lip, she picked up the parchment and knew that she held it tenderly in her hands. This was the sole point of contact she'd ever had with her mother and she refused to believe it would be the last. Hope had not been lost when Fade had destroyed that doorknob, she hadn't felt distraught, merely pissed off. That had to mean something, didn't it?
Instincts were usually correct, weren't they?
She could only hope so, because while her belief wavered every now and then, she intrinsically knew that she would eventually meet her mother. How or when, Heather didn't know and she fully admitted that. But the longer Fade remained here, the longer she had to believe that something freaky was going on in the world, something that the majority of people were unaware of. She also felt certain that if her mother had known Fade would arrive on that particular day, then she could hazard a guess that her mother had also known he would break the doorknob as well as commit countless other irritating acts.
At least, Heather prayed that were so.
She'd only come to the kitchen to cool down. It was strange how annoying a mostly silent man could be, but she'd needed a moment to herself and the kitchen had always been a pleasant haven. Her aunt May had always been cooking or baking something and the kitchen had been the first room to visit if she was in need of comfort.
Another reason for her impromptu visit to the kitchen was an idea that had popped into her head as the glass knob had shattered into hundreds of millions of tiny pieces.
If her mother could write on the parchment and she could see the note, then why couldn't it work the other way around?
It would be like a magical instant messenger. . . . or so Heather hoped.
Sucking in a breath, one that was filled with a desperate hope for her attempt to work, she picked up a pen and pressed the nib to t
he sheet.
She jolted when the ink immediately disappeared and then returned and blossomed into flowing, flowery letters.
Daughter?
Heather dropped the pen and almost jerked away from the table. When the ink didn't disappear, when her mother added another question mark as though repeating her question, she settled down in her seat and sucked in a breath.
Mother? Setta? Is that you? Heather quickly wrote. Her hand actually trembled as she formed the words and watched them disappear.
Yes. It is I. Is something wrong?
Heather couldn't help but laugh. "This is actually working. Oh, my God.”
I can't believe this is working. I'm actually talking, well, writing with my mother. How long can we do this for?
As long as you need, Heather. Dearling, it is wonderful to hear from you. But I think you are having problems with Fade, am I correct?
Yes, you're right, mother. He just broke the doorknob he used to enter my world. Does it matter?
Well, it is a slight setback. It means that he will not return to his realm in the exact point of entry. From the recent gossip, I believe he disappeared after entering a hoonan stronghold.. so the fact he will not be returning there is not too horrific. However, you must tell him to be careful with the remaining keys. They are irreplaceable and I can't get anymore to you. The other knobs will take you to different parts of Mearth. Some are safe and others dangerous, if he destroys anymore it reduces, drastically, your chance of returning home and I do so want to see you again. The prospect of once again being with you has kept your father and I strong during these horrid times.
I want to know you too, mother. And father. Will there be a time difference?
I. . . . I cannot say, daughter. Had he used the same knob, then no. He would have returned at the same moment. Only you would have been with him. Now that he has destroyed that particular key, there very likely could be a time delay. Inform him of this and also tell him that Calder has been placed on the throne- he is only acting in Fade's stead. There are rumors of the council gifting Fade with a year to return. . . . if he does not, then Calder will take the throne. Permanently. Again, this would not have been an issue had he not broken the doorknob, but there is no point in weeping over this. He will have your kingdom once you are bonded together.
How do we bond together, mother?
Through a union of the body, of course, dearling.
I was hoping that you'd say it was easier. I've only known the man a day. When am I expected to have sex with him? Can it wait until I reach home?
Unfortunately not, dearling. You must bond before you return, as if you don't, you might not be allowed to enter Mearth. Only Elven can enter Mearth and the suppressants you've been fed over your lifetime have taken your Elven nature away. Bonding with Fade will return it.
Okay. I'll think about it. It seems I have some time, because we just tried the doorknob Fade broke on every door in the house. None of them worked. I realized I possess a ton of junk, but there was little other success.
I can't think why that would be- unless May did something to the knobs.
This might not matter, but I've lived my whole life in New York. . . . a few months ago, however, I moved away. Does that matter?
Ah. Yes. That does matter and it makes more sense why the doorknob didn't function correctly. Now, the fact that Fade broke the doorknob, matters not either way. The magic used to bring him over to your world will have burnt out the doorknob, so it won't work. You should find that you will have more luck with another of the set. However, it will only work on one door. It won't be the one through which he originally entered.
Right. Okay, thanks, mother. I'll tell Fade. That should cheer him up.
Yes, dearling, but don't forget you will have to bind yourself to one another before you can enter Mearth. I'm sorry. I know it's fast- too fast for you to be comfortable. After all he is but a stranger to you, but I promise to you that he is made for you. He is blood of your blood, that is how the bind works.
He is very uncommunicative.
Give him a chance, daughter. He is in another world. Most Elven, even the royals, are unaware that other dimensions exist. He is in another world, he is bound to a woman not of his ken and his fate is no longer his own. Just as you are, he is under pressure.
I suppose. I never thought of it that way. After all, I'm the one discovering their entire life is basically a lie. I guess that was rather selfish of me. I'll try to be a little more patent with him.
Good. If you have any further questions, then you know to contact me this way. I have been carrying around this sheet of parchment ever since you were transported to Earth. It is always with me and always will be.
I hope to see you soon, mother.
No more than I you, my dearling. Until then.
"What did she say?"
Chapter Five
The voice jolted Heather from the emotions coursing through her. It seemed incredible to believe that her mother had just been writing to her and from a completely different world to the one Heather had always thought to be the sole universe. On top of that, was the knowledge that she was no longer alone. She had a family. Yes, they were on another realm, but they were waiting for her. And they wanted her.
Couple that with the information that this man was made for her, she need never be alone ever again.
It was more than she'd ever dreamed of. . . . because while Fade was uncommunicative and at times, difficult- case in point, the now shattered doorknob- he was a handsome beast.
She'd never been one for easy fucks. Even though she had plenty of friends in possession of fuck buddies, she'd never been the sort to enjoy that kind of thing. While she'd never allowed any man access to her pussy, that hadn't meant she hadn't been willing to take part in other acts. . . . she was no prude, but she'd been waiting. And now, even that seemed to make sense. She'd unknowingly been waiting for Fade.
The thought seemed unlikely, but then, wasn't every part of this damned situation unlikely?
That this man would be the one to take her virginity. . . . well, the thought was not repulsive.
Hiding a definitely smug smile, she turned to face Fade, who had leant a shoulder against the doorjamb and was watching her with a light of curiosity in those predatory eyes of his. "Basically, you didn't completely fuck up by breaking that doorknob. A few months ago, I moved away from the place my aunt had kept me safe. I came here. The magic it took to transport you here, where I am, rather than the original city, apparently burnt out the doorknob. Mother said another doorknob will take you back to Mearth, but she doesn't know where- it won't be your point of entry. And it won't be through the same door on this end. She also said it will be a different time.”
"Blood's teeth. I thought it would be something like that. Magik is never simple.” He shook his head in disgust. "I take it it could either be in the past or the future?"
"She didn't say, but I suppose so.”
"Did she mention Haden? My realm?"
"She only told me to tell you that Calder had taken the throne and would hold it for a year, at least.”
His expression barely changed, but she could sense that he was furious. His voice held no hint of such a depth of anger, but still, she knew how he felt and while she wished to comfort him, neither of them were ready for such familiarity.
"That would be useful if we could return to Mearth now or return in the past. If we return in the future, then there will be no chance of saving my kingdom, especially from a leech like Calder.”
"He is not a good man?"
Fade's upper lip twitched. "That is an understatement.”
"Oh. Like that, is it?" At his nod, she grimaced. "I'm sorry about this. I guess I'd understand if you hated me.”
"This is not our fault. It is the fault of our meddling parents. Plus those wishing to dominate your father's kingdom. In truth, it is unjust to blame our parents. We cannot blame fate. It simply is how it is and we shall make the best of
it.”
That sounded a little too laissez-faire for her liking, but knowing each other as little as they did, she supposed neither could make an informed decision upon how bright their future together would be.
"Is there anything else I need to know? If there isn't, then I'll try the other doorknobs on some other doors. It will take more time, but I am going to try every doorknob and discern the times and places of each entry point into Mearth. That way, we can make an informed judgment upon where and when we enter,” he told her, lifting his shoulder from the door as though ready to start his task immediately.
"That sounds wise, Fade.” She bit her lip. "There's just the one thing. Mother said that I can't enter Mearth without us having bound ourselves to each other.”
Fade's eyes shuttered. He nodded, but she could see his jaw grinding down again. "I understand. Before we. . . . start anything, I wish to have a more informed opinion of our options on Mearth.”
Heather watched him leave, her eyes pinned to his back. She stood, walked out of the kitchen and into the downstairs bathroom that was no larger than a broom closet. She looked in the mirror and wondered if she was a hag of some sort. If there was some reason for his apparent disinterest in sleeping with her.
Any other guy she knew, not to put too fine a point on it, would have jumped at the chance.
She had blonde hair, silvery-blue eyes, lily-white skin which almost never tanned. She had curves in the right places, a taut ass and stomach. . . . what the hell else did the man want from a woman he was stuck with for the rest of his life?
Before she could get herself too worked up, she recalled his words of yesterday. . . .
"You should not be tied to me. . . . To my people, my wings are repulsive. . . .”
Perhaps the answer lay within those statements?
Heather didn't know, but she determined to find out.
Queen's Salon, Jender, Mearth
"She is struggling with the bond.” Queen Setta's tone was pained and as she stared aimlessly into space, her frustration grew as the seconds passed and a delicately shod hand snapped out of her robes and slammed down against a console table. The tray filled with tea items and cake stands trembled and quivered and crumbles of Mendel tart slithered from its plate and rained down on to the floor.
Dark Throne, The Page 6
