by K. G. Wilkie
CHAPTER TWELVE
Orange Blossoms
Alyss wandered the back garden. She had had another dream.
Two small children. They were running and laughing, the girl teasing the boy lagging far behind her. “I could beat you if we were flying,” he growled at her continuous barbed words. She smiled, and jumped into the air, gauzy grey wings breaking through the slits in the back of her dress. “Not fair,” he shouted, scrambling to shift. “You didn`t warn me!”He jumped into the air as well, his body morphed into a shining red dragon. He pumped his wings desperately, but she was moving so much more quickly.
They raced, on and on. They both finally tumbled out of the air and onto the ground in their human guises, panting in exhaustion. “You see, I`m the fastest!” the girl cheered, laughing. He ribbed her. “Go on with you! That was me, practically yards in front of you!” she stuck her tongue out at him.
The two children leaned on each other. Just sitting, happy in each other`s company. “Aery,” she asked hesitantly.
“Yeah?”
“Will we be like this forever and ever,” she asked. He smiled, hugging her back.
“Sure we will!” he exclaimed. “But we`d have to get married first,” he added.
She tilted her head. “Married?”
He thought hard about it. “It`s a promise,” he explained. “Two people promise each other that they`ll stay together, forever and ever, because they like each other an awful lot.”
She laughed. “Just like us! We like each other more than anyone, and we’ll always be friends.” She turned to him. “Isn’t that right?”
He thought some more, the wheels churning in his head. “I don’t know,” he said doubtfully. “I think only adults can get married. We don’t actually know right now if we’ll like each other for ever and ever, because that’s an awful long time.”
She poked him in the side. “So you’re saying you won’t like me forever?”
He shook his head, hard. “No! I’m just saying we aren’t allowed to get married officially.” He leaned in close to whisper to her. “But we can still get married in secret, right now.” He smiled. “But only if you are sure about it.”
She smiled, leaning against him. “I`d like that,” she said, hugging him hard.
He smiled, digging around in his pocket. He brought out a stone. It was grubby, and a little sticky from some ancient snack, but it still shone with a faint light. “I found a wedding stone,” he crowed in triumph. “You have to have a ring or a stone to get married, and then you just have to say the spell.”
She leaned in to look at it, picking it up and cradling it in her palm. He put his hand on top of hers. There was a moment of silence. Then a small whirlwind built up around them. There were flashes of lightning, and one hit the stone and held hands with a flash. Then the winds and storm were gone as if they had never happened.
The two children looked around the clearing, clearly unconcerned by the strange events. “Did it work,” he asked curiously.
“Ah hah!” the girl called out. “Look at our hands.” There was a twisting black spiral on their hands, clearly visible. “Now we can stay together for ever,” she giggled.
Alyss woke up, groaning from some pain in her side. “What was I dreaming about,” she asked out loud. “Maybe kids, and a lot of green. Why does it feel important to remember a silly little dream?” A sharp pain seared through her. She doubled over to clutch her wrist. She stared at it, but it was free of any mark. She stopped, quivering. Then she pursed her lips. “It was really a wonderful little dream,” shemused. “So why on Earth does the thought of it make me feel as if something went dreadfully wrong? Why do I feel trapped in a nightmare?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Black Fire
Priscilla started in surprise. She felt a connection, some far off movement, disturb her beloved sister. “What do you think, Dürin?” she asked her contractor. They were the ones usually connected by their special relationship, they were the ones who could always sense each other`s movements. To sense some of Jackie`s was unusual, and weird even.
“It`s just a twinge,” he said. “You are imagining things because you feel guilty.” He seemed to be reproving her.
“Well, I may feel a little bad about it,” she admitted. “But I couldn`t stay there any longer! Even with my sister around to protect me, they always attack in the village. Those warriors are useless, they`ll only help me if I pay them in blood or body or blunt,” she sniffed disapprovingly. “And my own kind, my peers, will attack me and strike me down if they see me. And the elders are useless. They allow my existence, but they ignore me. They won`t even serve me in the village shop!” she growled.
“Others would be surprised to hear you like this,” he chuckled. “They think you are so calm, so passive.”
“Just because I don`t say a lot to them doesn`t mean I don`t think a lot,” she retorted. “Why, I`d reckon I think twice as much as people who talk all the time. You know they say that your brain goes faster than your mouth,” she continued. She had a pack on her back, and was traveling along the Great Road North. She was miles, even countries, away from her home and people. Running away from her past in fear of her future. She had snuck out like a thief in the night, leaving a small note on her father`s bedside table. She had taken the opportunity when Jackie was gone, and wouldn’t be able to scold her for her faint-heartedness.
“I`d hope yours does, because you speak pretty slowly,” he said dryly.
“How is this slow,” she asked. “This is practically like lightning,” she added emphatically.
“Yes, but mental discourse can not really be measured by audible standards,” he returned. She pouted at him. “Regardless, do you think they shun you for your appearance,” he changed the topic. She grumbled again, but it was a likely scenario. She shared her golden skin and almond eyes with her sister, and most of their nymph community. But the starkly white hair that fell in curling sheets to her knees was unique to her, and her mother`s people. Though in her childhood she had worn it knotted and twisted as her father`s people did, she had long since given up on the style in disgust. He hair was coarse and thick, and was far too rebellious to hold the intricate shapes that her father`s people bore. Even when she gained a contractor and new magic had run through her veins, her hair had acquired some pale violet sections, where the other dryads and nyads gained green or blue power streaks through their thinner brown locks. She also could not simply veil her hair, as her eyes themselves revealed her as a stranger, a strong brown shade that was so different from the blue and green eyes that had surrounded her all of her life.
“I don`t think it`s the hair,” she whispered back. “I think it`s just a reminder to everyone how different, how wrong I am.” She twined her shaking hands through those hairs, locking her body against the tremors that threatened to shake her apart. “My mother`s people break things. They burn trees, they pollute waters. They kill animals, and feast on the remains. I`m simply a reminder of everything evil in this world,” she whispered in despair.
“I doubt that the daemons all think of themselves as the evil creatures as those silly creatures paint them. Anyways, at least you don`t have the horns or the fire,” he joked, trying to cheer her up. “Besides, your sister understands you, so unlike many people of the world you are not fully alone,” he added bracingly.
“She doesn’t,” the girl responded dejectedly. “She`s strong. When people push her, she pushes back- harder. And all I can do is hide behind her,” she sighed. “If it hadn`t been for me, she would never have had to work with either prince, would never have even seen them. It is a painful thing to feel like the tool of ruin for the only person who cares about you.”
Dürin couldn’t reject that. “Well, think of it this way,” he said. “Now that you have run away, your sister will no longer be threatened with your well being to work for either prince. Your escape will probably free her too.”
The black fire was fading as Jackie s
hook out her sleeves. “Using an actual portal, or my Ruby- my car you know- would be a million times smoother,” she complained. “Cooler, too, for that matter.” She was smoothing her shirt, but the collar kept flipping up. “This took a whole minute and wrinkled my shirt!” she complained.
“I hope you recover,” Aeron returned dryly. “As for now, though, I believe your main goal was to recover your currently missing sister, a person whose condition, whereabouts, and availability of food are completely unknown,” he prompted, “And you are worrying about wrinkly shirts,” he ended disapprovingly. She gulped, caught anew by the severity of the situation. Then she eyed him closely, examining him for some sinister plot or ulterior motive.
“I believe Richard has oh so kindly,” he sneered, “arranged for supplies and an alternative search party for the quest to retrieve your dearest ‘Cilly’,” he continued.
“No one,” she cut in coldly, “Can call her that but me,” she growled, teeth bared.
He chuckled. “Careful,” he cautioned. “Your mother`s unfortunate daemon heritage is starting to show through you right now. Wouldn`t want to make it so clear I was a halfie if I were you, myself, considering all your dear sister has already gone through because she has the appearance of the wrong set of genes” he said.
She stared at him, a flicker of her own flames running through her eyes. “That is confidentially information reserved for my father`s knowledge,” she yelled, “Not some bastard like you!”
“Touché,” he smiled. “I am the son of one of the king`s concubines, not his married wife. However, I am the eldest, born before he even married the queen. And I am half royal, whereas you are half of your race`s greatest enemy,” he continued. “For that matter, I suppose that half of you is one of my allies, as all the daemons are,” he added thoughtfully. “I suppose my superiority also lies in the half of me that is oldest, and the half that comes from the obviously superior clan of dragons, my little brother,” he projected his voice to reach the man partially hidden behind some small slipper chairs.
“Ah, so I`ve been seen,” Richard said, walking out into the open. “I thought I heard your dulcet tones. Glad to see that my dear brother holds no grudges against me nor my clan,” he drawled, “or even my superior knowledge of just about everything you would know if you had any skills in your studies,” he added contemptuously.
“Nice to see you`ve branched out some,” Aeron returned. “This is the first time you`ve shown your true obnoxious self in front of others.” Richard looked around the room, clearly taken aback when he noticed Jackie quietly standing only a few feet away.
“I`ll leave you to the effects of your well timed words while I take care of some business of mine,” Aeron said. And on that note, a black fire conspicuous in the lack of the usual white streaks of light came into life. It instantly consumed him and he was gone.
He materialized in his study, surrounded by stacks of books on agriculture and finances. He slammed his fist, books jumping on the table. He sighed then, sitting down on the chair. He closed his eyes lightly, only for a second.
“Why must she go to live among them, father!,” the boy exploded in anger. “They are so, well, stupid! And ignorant, and weak. I hate those little mortals.” His dad only shook his head slowly.
“You know the responsibilities leaders have,” he chastised. “They must what is best for the people, and not merely themselves. As it is,” he added sternly, “You are not to mention your displeasure to the Queen. It would upset her unnecessarily.”
The boy ranted on, ignoring his father`s chastising. “Don`t they only grow to, like, 6 feet or something? I`d have to get on my stomach to talk face to face to her friends there. Those Mundanes are even smaller than baby griffins. I bet I could fit them all in my hand!” “And the boys are so much weaker. How is she going to be protected without any warriors? And how am I supposed to visit her when I can`t pass through the barrier yet?” he protested.
“Son, if you had applied yourself more in your studies you would be able to move through the barrier as easily and often as your little brother.” The boy blushed at this admonishment.
“Besides, you know that we only choose faeries for our consorts to balance out the powers in our world. It would cause a war to choose a Seelie court member, worse would be one of those devilish nymphs or an irresponsible vampire bride.” He paused. “Or even one of our own clan for that matter,” he added. “But that does not mean that we should allow our feelings and expectations to get in the way of the needs of our people. Your friend has an important job, and she must take care of it.”
“But we`re married,” the boy cut in desperately.
His father only shook his head in denial. “The joining of children can not be a permanent union,” he said. “We`ll remove that pesky mark off your hand someday. In the meantime, you must be patient. You`ll be allowed to pick her up in ten years or so. She`ll be perfectly happy without you until then,” he added. The boy stomped out of the room. It was clear that no changes were going to be made to the order of things at this point. But he had other plans.
He heard the ticking of the clock in his office, drawn back to the present by that small noise.
The memory came to him, swirling and haunting. With a scowl he stood up once more. The black fire consumed him, and he was gone back through the veil to Earth. A clock in the corner ticked on to its beat, steadily awaiting its master`s return.
Jackie sighed, long abandoned by Aeron to the room and still trapped there without the ability to leave herself. “It`s such a pity the transportation spell can only work so smoothly on the castor himself.” She looked askance at the man beside her. “You, however, have a lot more important things to explain right now,” she said, poking him in the chest. “Like what you really have up your sleeves. And none of this innocent victim nonsense, either,” she chastised.
He looked at her sheepishly. “I, uh, guess I kind of forgot to mention a thing or two to you,” he said.
She humphed. “Now is as good a time as any, so spill the beans.”
An unnoticed attendant walked by in the hall, gossiping with her friend. “He didn`t tell the lady Jaqueline that he hasn`t gone to sleep since her sister has gone missing,” she whispered. “How will he gain any more allies to his side when he is always stays quiet about all his good points?” Her friend saw the two still talking in the parlor, and dragged the other further down the hallway. “Outsiders never really understand anything,” she said. “That`s why there are some fans of that devil Richard,” she hissed. Jackie drifted towards the entrance and kept half her mind on the maids even while she nodded along to the excuses Richard gave her.
“But that`s part of his charm,” her friend sighed. “His always polite and gentlemanly, but you know if you dig a little under that cool veneer he`ll eat you alive.” She smiled dreamily. “I want him to eat me!”
“That`s why I`m team Aeron all the way,” the other returned. “He`s handsome and rugged, but he`ll tell you straight out if he`s annoying you. You’ll never worry he’ll be all smiles one day but kill you in your sleep. Even when he is angered he gives such lenient punishments considering his position.”
“Yes,” her friend hesitated. “But who`s got him so excited lately? He hasn`t been like this for a century or two!”
Jackie shuffled closer into the room again and continued to listen to Richard. He explained that he wanted more power, he wanted more recognition, more more more. She couldn’t help but see him as whining away at her, and her view of his charisma started to dim. Meanwhile she had to think about the glowing review of the servants and consider how much more reliable their support was than all the support of the back stabbing courtesans for the younger prince.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Warnings and Wariness
Jackie shook herself and interrupted his tirade to ask Richard to send her back to her job in Fayetteville. It was clear things were only going to get worse and she needed to get back to work regardless o
f how worried she was over her sister. She materialized in the far side of town and ended up striding over to Alyssa`s home. They ran into each other at the front gate, making a game up pushing through first. They both managed to push each other over and topple onto the ground. Giggling, Jackie extracted herself and stood up. “Want to go grab a cone at Bruster’s,” she asked, though she was obviously barely holding onto a composure that had worn to threads. Alyss took one good look at her, then patted her on the back.
“You seem a little upset about something so I’ll forgive you for abandoning me at the party yesterday,” she gave Jackie a strong look, but soon she was wilting over herself. “I guess I don’t care too much about that though because I left pretty early. I was just so surprised, you know? And a little upset about that guy. I wasn’t serious, not yet, but I feel like I was setting up to be, so it’s a bit of a shame. But you know, we might be heartbroken now,” Alyss confided, “But we`ll feel a lot worse if the scale finds out we`ve been pigging out on icecream!,” she teased. She started towing her friend along the back garden path. “Besides, a nice stroll through the gardens will make you feel good,” she grinned.
They wandered along the flagstones silently for a few moments, admiring the roses and peonies. Slowly, oh so slowly, Jackie`s hunched shoulders relaxed below her ears. She stood a little straighter, and once again there was some color and warmth in her complexion.
“There`s something I have to tell you,” Jackie began. They sat down on a twining cast iron bench, a pair of sparrows chattering and pecking around them curiously. “It`s about Aeron,” she continued.
Alyss laughed and pushed her back, labeling him as someone of no consequence nor influence on her life. She ribbed her friend for her overly cautious nature.
Jackie pouted. “I am serious,” she returned. More laughter. “Super duper serious,” she emphasized. “Look,” she said, “He`s no good.” She cut of the beginnings of a protest with a yelled “No!” Seeing continued signs of mutiny she explained, “I know you already know that. I` mean, you aren`t stupid. This is just worse than all that stuff at school. He`s powerful, in ways you can`t really understand.”
