Shadow of the Fae (The Fae Chronicles Book 1)

by Valia Lind

  "I'll be back!" she announces and then she and her sister leave. I'm still speechless, confused at what is happening, when the woman tugs a little on my hand to grab my attention.

  "I think we should have a talk, don't you?"

  I nod and allow the woman to guide me away from the crowd and toward a bench on the other side of the park. When we take a seat, she still hasn't let go of my wrist.

  "Can you speak?" she asks, completely baffling me. Of course I can speak. I just haven't yet. I go to open my mouth, but no words come out. Panic slams into me as I try again. I don’t understand what's wrong with me.

  "Shh, it's okay. May I?"

  She places her free hand palm out, and I place my own in it almost without hesitation. I don't understand why I trust this woman, but I do. She reminds me of my own mother, for there is a kindness about her that's ever present.

  "Close your eyes, child. And concentrate."

  I do without hesitation.

  "Now, breathe in and breathe out. Focus on the feel of my hand around yours, on the sensation of the breeze in your hair, the sun on your skin. Feel those things."

  Up until this moment, I didn't. But then, as she talks, those things come into focus. Suddenly, the breeze is ruffling my hair.

  "That's better," she comments with a small smile as I open my eyes. "Now tell me, what brought you here?"

  At first, I think I won't be able to speak, but then I do.

  "I have no idea."

  The woman studies me quietly for a few tense seconds, and I can't tell if my answer surprised her or not. She has one of those expressions that doesn't change. Yet, she looks approachable. She would be amazing in the Council.

  "I take it you've never dream traveled before."

  "I'm sorry, what?"

  She smiles then, patting my hand a little before finally releasing me. I'm not sure what I'm expecting to happen but nothing does. I'm confused to say the least. This is unlike any dream I've ever had before.

  "Dream traveling is very rare, and it’s a skill that is learned. However, there are times when dream traveling happens to a witch on a quest without her knowing."

  "Well, I definitely don't know what you're talking about. Except for the quest part. I do kind of feel like I'm in in a middle of... something."

  She mentions me being a witch, but if I'm honest, that makes me feel slightly uncomfortable. No one can tell I'm a witch just by looking at me, but this woman can. I'm not getting any evil vibes off her, but it's not like I can really sense those things. I have so many questions.

  "How can you tell who I am?" I start with the one that's bugging me the most. She smiles at that. Once again, I think of how much she reminds me of my mom. I miss her.

  "You aren't exactly dressed as someone from around here. Plus, I know the witches in this town personally. You, my dear, are not one of them."

  "Makes sense," I say, glancing around at the people enjoying their time in the park. So carefree. I don't remember if I've ever been that carefree.

  "Can you tell me what dream traveling is? I don't think I've ever come across that before. I'm Avery, by the way." I feel extremely rude for not introducing myself right away. Those are my parents’ instructions coming out in me.

  "I am Meredith." The woman rearranges her skirt around her, making the bracelets jingle. "I am the coven leader in Hawthorne. You met my two little ones."

  "Are there many witches are here?"

  "More than you can probably imagine. This town is one of the strongest magical hubs in this realm. Many flock here for asylum and knowledge."

  "Asylum? I didn't know witches needed that."

  "Maybe in your time they don't. But right now, there are those who would hunt us down and have us destroyed. "

  "Right now?"

  "It is the early 90s, Avery. I assume you are from a later time."

  For a moment, I don't think I hear her right. The 90s? Witches can't time travel. Not to my knowledge at least. And if that's what I'm doing, how is that possible? I didn't set out for this.

  "Don't fret yourself, Avery. Like I said, dream traveling is a quest manifestation. You needed to come here, so your magic did the work for you."

  I nod slowly, giving my mind time to process. There are so many questions twirling in my mind, I have no idea where to start.

  "I'm sure you have many questions, Avery. I will do what I can to answer them. But we might not have a lot of time."

  "Why is that?"

  "Dream traveling is a very powerful magic, and it will cost your body. What is it that you are searching for?"

  I go to reply, but then I stop. Can I trust her? Talking about the book and my magic, it's not something that I would do with a stranger. True, she doesn't feel like one. She feels like someone I know and respect already, and we've just met. And if I'm being honest, the whole aspect of the book isn't as much of a secret as I thought it would be. Everyone in Faery seems to know. And so do the Ancients. I just won't tell her anything that's not public knowledge. That would be the smartest thing to do.

  She gives me the time I need to process all of my thoughts, sitting beside me patiently. It's something my parents would do, but they understand how my mind works. Maybe Meredith does too, somehow.

  "I'm not sure how to answer that, honestly," I finally reply, looking up into her face. "I discovered an ancient book, one that can't be read by anyone in my time. Except for me."

  "One of the fae manuscripts."

  "You know of them?" I perk up immediately. I haven't had a chance to speak to anyone who was willing to talk about them. And I have so many questions.

  "I have seen one myself when I first took the post of the coven leader. We had a little trouble in town that was resolved with some powerful magic. But these books the Ancients left are dangerous to anyone in proximity to them. The fae carefully guard those which have been found. But there are many which have not been discovered."

  My right hand makes circles on top of my left as I digest the information. I knew there were other books only because I was told after I found one. Before then, I didn't know they existed. Which is what I ask now.

  "We're not taught about these books. We're not taught about the Ancients. But now—"

  "Please." Meredith raises her hand, stopping me from continuing. "You have to be careful with what you tell me about your future. Specifics are dangerous information to me."

  Of course. That's one rule of time travel I do know. I learned it from movies, since I didn't actually know it was possible.

  "Why are such things kept a secret?" I try again, and Meredith smiles with pride at the attempt.

  "The Council has rules. They have them because they believe they are protecting the rest of us."

  "But you don't agree?"

  "Not always. Knowledge is power, and being ignorant of the dangers out there can be our very downfall."

  I understand that, of course. It's why being a Watcher and working for the Council was my life's goal. I knew I couldn't change everything about the way they did things, but I knew I could try. It would've been easier from the inside. That's no longer an option.

  "If you can read the books, Avery," Meredith continues, placing a hand over my fidgeting fingers. "It means you hold great power within you. The Ancients will want to harness it. The fae will want to use it. But you must be careful. The extent of such magic will take its toll on you. There are many names for such an occurrence, and each witch is affected differently. But, Avery, when you use your magic, the magic of the book, it takes a little of your soul. You must not give that up for power."

  "My soul?" My heart drops, fear rushing through me.

  "There is always a cost to magic. Sometimes, it does not manifest until later. Sometimes, it is instantaneous. Be smart about who you give your magic to. If you are to use the book, then be sure you are using it for the right reasons."

  I nod as I process everything she's telling me. Queen Svetlana didn't bother to tell me this. Neither did
Derek. Or my own parents. Maybe they don't know. Maybe the queen just didn’t care.

  Of course she doesn't care. She's ready to use me for her own benefit and nothing else.

  "Is this why the magic brought me here? To warn me."

  "It might be. Only you can figure that part out. Maybe you just needed a safe space for a while. Don't forget that no matter what your magic may be, it is always there to take care of you."

  "You truly believe that?"

  Meredith doesn't reply right away, glancing over to where her girls are playing. There's a faraway look in her eyes for a moment, as if she's thinking about some other time and place. Then, she turns back to me with a smile.

  "I do, Avery. Don't be afraid of your powers. Don't think you're not strong enough to carry them. We are here for a purpose, and each of us has a different path. Whatever yours may be, you are capable of handling it or you wouldn't have been given this quest."

  I let that sink in, and a tear escapes, traveling down my cheek. Meredith wipes it away, much like my mom and dad would've done if they were here. I miss them so terribly it almost hurts. It should be them telling me all of this, not a stranger. But then, Meredith doesn't feel like a stranger anymore. We sit like that for a few minutes as I experience whatever emotions I need to experience and then I put them away.

  "It's time for you to go, Avery," she says, standing and pulling me to my feet. "I do have one last piece of information for you."

  I nod, listening intently.

  "When you return to your time, you will not remember any of this."

  "What?" I ask in alarm. That makes no sense. How am I supposed to use this information if I don't remember it?

  "Dream traveling has its own rules and protection wards. The information will be stored for further use later. It will come to you when you need it most. Until then, it will be a silent reminder in the back of your mind."

  "I don't understand."

  "Magic does its own thing sometimes, sweet child. But I have full faith in you and what you will do with it."

  She reaches over then, taking me by the shoulders and bringing me in for an embrace. She feels solid and comforting, and I give myself a moment to cling to her like a child would. Then, she steps back. In the same moment, everything starts to fade.

  "No, Meredith!" I call out, but she's already barely visible.

  I blink and then I open my eyes to stare at the ceiling. Glancing around, I forget where I am for a moment. Then the fae palace room comes into focus. My body feels exhausted, as if I haven't been sleeping this whole time. The room is still dark, so I turn over, trying to remember the dream that's at the edges of my mind. But no, I close my eyes again, forcing myself to relax. I have no idea what tomorrow holds, and I'll need to be rested for it. That much I do know.

  But before I fall completely asleep, one phrase comes into my mind.

  Thank you.

  Chapter 20

  The next morning, Derek is waiting in the hallway when I step out.

  "No," I say, raising my hand to prevent him from speaking as I stop and wait to be led wherever they're taking me today. To say I didn't have a restful night would be an understatement. I'm still angry at him, and that won't go away.

  He betrayed me.

  He lied to me.

  He used me.

  Apparently, I'm a pawn in everyone's game at this point. Lucky me.

  Nora asked me what happened, but I didn't want to talk to her either. I can't trust her, being who she is, but I didn't want to burn all of my bridges at once. I asked her, politely, to let me be and come back in the morning to help me dress. I almost opt out for my jeans and a t-shirt, but I decide it might be better to play the queen's game for now.

  Instead, I'm wearing a floor-length burgundy maxi dress. The spaghetti straps leave my shoulders and part of my back bare, reminding me of the dresses my fae instructor wore at Thunderbird Academy. I told her once I could never pull something like that off, and she told me all I had to do was believe. Well, here I am, believing.

  Derek decides to follow my one wish and doesn't speak. He pivots silently before leading me down the hallway. They delivered breakfast to my room, so I'm assuming we're going straight to the queen. Or whoever else would like to threaten me into submission.

  When the guards open the huge double doors, I see that we have come to see the queen but also some of her advisers. They are all clustered around the table in the middle of the room. They look up when we come in.

  "Ah, there you are." The queen greets us, and there is no warmth in her words or her eyes. She eyes me up and down. I can't tell if she approves of my dress or not. Derek leads me farther into the room, stopping near the table.

  On it is a map of the Summer and Winter kingdoms. For some reason, the two are right next to each other. I can't see the scale for the map, but even I can see that it's huge. Faery is a large realm, bigger than any other, if I remember my studies correctly. But most of it is uncharted territory. I've heard some very feral creatures live in those parts.

  "As you can see, the border has been blocked off at the east end. There seems to be a wall of ice that has grown over the course of the night."

  Everyone takes a pause, sneaking glances at me. The queen just watches me expectantly. I nod once before speaking.

  "That is unfortunate," I say, receiving a few gasps. But I'm not backing down. "Where are my parents?"

  "I gave you my word, Avery Kincade. And I do not break my word."

  "Sure. But you also don't keep it in a nice and tight timetable. Just the one that's the most convenient to you."

  Her eyes flash at that because of course I'm right. She'd sacrifice my parents in a blink if it means it'll serve her purposes. And if looking for them takes away from this war, she won't do it.

  "I have sent out guards and scouts. You will be the first to know when they return with more information." She gives one of the guards a nod. He turns and half runs out of the room. So, I guess she's sending them right this minute. Got it.

  "When I have word that they are safe, I'll tell you where I've hidden the pages."

  There are more gasps around the room, because of course, they want the book. And they definitely want it intact.

  "What did you do, silly girl?" the queen snaps, her voice barely louder than before, but somehow, it echoes all around us.

  "Don't worry. The pages heal themselves when placed inside the book. It'll be as good as new."

  I found that out the hard way, when one of the people on the street decided to steal it from me because it looked old and valuable. Instead, he ripped two of the pages out. After I kicked him in his nether parts, I sat with the pages in my hands like some failure. When I stuck them inside the book to at least keep them there, they connected back right where they belonged. When it came time to hide the book, I used that to my advantage.

  "Foolish girl—”

  "Who can read the book while you can't? I'd be careful what you say to me."

  "I can always glamour you to obey." There is so much threat in that one statement. If I was smarter, I'd probably keep my mouth shut. But what I am is emotional and angry. The one fae I thought was on my side played me from the very beginning. And I thought we were—no. It doesn't matter.

  At this point, I don't feel like I have anything to lose.

  So, I lean over the table, keeping my eyes directly on the queen.

  "I would like to see you try."

  Just like that, I've given her a challenge she can't back down from. But she doesn't know the one secret I've kept for most of my life. I can't be glamoured. I really would like her to try. A part of me wants to know if someone as powerful as her can break through the no glamour rule.

  She watches me steadily. To anyone else, it wouldn't look like much. Fae are crafty in their glamour and most can't tell it's happening to them. Last time someone tried, I thought he was flirting poorly. But with her, I can see the power around her, like an aura. She pushes it out toward me, as
if looking to envelope me in its influence. But my own magic is there, battling it away without a second thought.

  After another few moments, I lean back, crossing my arms in front of me. There's a silence in the room, and maybe in all of Faery. I have challenged their queen, and I have won.

  This will cost me greatly.

  After the failed glamour trick, I've been banished to my room. Nora comes to see me. I'm given food but no lessons and no word about my parents. I have two days of this before I'm allowed to leave.

  Nora accompanies me everywhere. Then, a week goes by, and I'm still doing nothing. Even the lessons the queen supposedly promised me don’t happen. She’s trying to make a point, and I get it. But it leaves me restless.

  "Can we talk?" Julian asks, coming into the courtyard. I've been avoiding him for days, not ready to face whatever lies he's prepared for me. Or I guess, not lies since apparently, he's fae. But now he's invading the one time I have to myself outside my room, and that makes me even more unhappy.

  "We have nothing to say to each other."

  "That's not true."

  "Do you even know the meaning of that word?"

  I can't get over his betrayal. Maybe it's not fair. I barely know him. It's Derek I'm mostly angry at. But it really doesn't change the fact that neither one of them should be allowed in my life.

  "I know what I did wasn't fair to you, but I had a good reason."

  Fine then. I'll hear him out. Only because I'm curious.

  "What could the reason possibly be?"

  "The fae, they're not kind to those who have wronged them. My siblings and I have been living in the human world for most of our lives because of what our mother did. We actually don't even know what that is, just that we were not allowed to set foot in this realm. Working for Derek—it gave me a chance to earn that right back."

  I can feel his eyes on me, and it's like he's pleading for me to look at him. When I finally do, I find no tricks in his gaze. He's asking me to trust his explanation. While I'm still mad at him, I can't fault him.

  "We're not friends, Julian," I finally say, sighing. I could use a friend, but I'm not about to accept him back into my circle just like that.