by Bailey Dark
I remember when I first became this beast. I felt like an infant learning to walk and speak all over again. It took years to master flying. But I’ve grown to enjoy it, even if it means I appear like a gruesome cat-bird creature.
A foul wind blows from the west. I glance towards the mountain range. Deep within it, Maaz and her covens camp, living off of the wild beasts the goods they raid from the Fae. I narrow my eyes and fly towards the high peaks. A wind like that is often an omen, an accompanying sign to the approach of the witches.
I have my men patrolling our border with the Bloodbane witches constantly, they report to Navi daily. But with the end of the thousand years approaching, I suspect Maaz and her cohorts will grow more brazen. Sometimes I join my soldiers in their patrol. I’m useless during the day otherwise. Stuck in this beastly form, I can’t attend to matters of state. And the knowledge of my curse has only made neighboring kingdoms distance themselves from me. I sneer. No one wants to associate with an enemy of Maaz. Cowards.
Finally, once I’ve flown past the last of the villages, I spy smoke from a firepit curling into the sky. I circle, peering down through the sparse trees to the rocky ground below. Suddenly, an arrow streaks past me, nearly impaling one of my wings.
I snarl and dive to the ground. Bloodbane witches coat the tips of their red-fletched arrows in poison. I land heavily, my claws scraping against the stony ground. Three Bloodbane witches stand before me, bows drawn back. They release their arrows in unison, I dodge to the left, using my tail to move more nimbly.
Eyes bright and deadly, I lunge for them. My paw slams into one of the witches, sending her flying into a nearby tree. She crumples at the base of the trunk, whimpering. I turn my attention to the other two, snarling with delight.
Fighting was always one of my greatest strengths. But there’s really nothing that can compare to slicing an enemy open with your bare hands. Something so raw and primal, I wonder if Maaz merely drew this beast out of me as if it were always there. Blood coats my claws as I drag them through one of the witch’s chest. Her body spasms and she pales with fear. Or perhaps that’s the blood loss. When the last of my claws slips from her torso, she keels over and lands with a hollow thud. The witch I tossed against the tree is waking, groaning softly. I circle the third witch, my eyes on the blade in her hand.
I’m surprised none of them have used any spells against me yet. Perhaps they’re young and inexperienced. Weak. I snap my teeth at her, enjoying the way she flinches back. But her lips are set into a furious grimace.
“What are you doing so far into my lands?” I hiss.
She grips the blade tighter. “Soon to be ours,” she retorts. Her voice is husky and rough, like gravel. It’s at odds with her youthful face. Perhaps she isn’t as young as I thought.
“You Bloodbane witches are getting ahead of yourselves.” Rage coils in my chest. “These lands are mine until the curse claims me.”
She laughs mirthlessly. “You’re weak, King. You’ll never break Maaz’s curse, even with that pretty little mortal holed up in your castle.”
My blood runs cold at her words. Navi and I have instructed the servants and soldiers at the palace to keep Verity’s existence a secret. If Maaz were to know how close we are to breaking the curse, I have no doubt she would kill Verity.
“I suppose your people aren’t as loyal as you thought,” the witch cackles.
I narrow my eyes at her. So, one of my own is a spy for the Bloodbane witches. Navi and I will find them quickly, and I’ll kill them myself. Before the witch can speak another word, I pounce on her and close my jaws over her throat. Her bones snap easily, like a dry branch. I drop her limp body unceremoniously and pad towards the remaining witch.
She struggles to her feet, a dark bruise forming on her temple. “You,” I purr. “I have a job for you.”
“Go to Hell,” she spits.
I chuckle. “With the rest of your kind?” With a flick of my tail, I drive the witch to the ground. Before she can scramble away, I pin her down with a paw. “You’ll take a message to Maaz for me,” I hiss.
She pales as I lengthen my claws, letting them prick her chest. Blood wells and she winces. “What is it?”
“Very good, I knew you were smarter than you look,” I quip. “Tell Maaz to stay the fuck out of my lands. Tell her I won’t tolerate any more incursions like this one. Tell her that I tire of her impatience.”
The witch glowers but nods stiffly. I pull away, letting her rise to her feet. The witch’s greasy hair hangs in matted locks over her face, almost hiding the bruise. She tugs her dress tighter over her blood-stained chest.
“Think you can remember all that?” I ask.
She nods.
“Then go,” I hiss, swatting at her.
She turns and disappears into thin air. Probably magicking herself to Maaz, or as close as she can get. Teleportation magic isn’t easy, and it takes a lot of energy. Maybe that’s why none of the witches used any spells during our short skirmish—they were conserving energy for their retreat.
I stare emotionless down at the bodies. The witches won’t return for them, they never do. So, the animals will eat them. I take off, my wings spraying dust and leaves over the witch’s corpses. I head directly back to the castle, the witch’s words about the spy echoing through my mind.
I can’t let anything or anyone risk exposing Verity and destroying my one chance at breaking free from Maaz. I find Navi in the practice yard beside the soldier’s barracks, training. I drop to the ground in a clear space free of Fae and equipment and wait for her to approach. I learned a long time ago not to disturb Navi during her training.
I wait, basking in the sunshine. With a final blow to her opponent, she drives him to the ground, her glaive poised over him. Breathing heavily, she pulls back and swings the glaive in an arc overhead before bringing to rest at her side. Her auburn hair shimmers in the sunlight as she bows sharply to her opponent. He slinks away, defeated.
“What is it, Your Majesty?” Navi asks, striding towards me.
“In private,” I say.
She nods, leaving the barracks as I propel myself into the sky. I skim over the roofs of the stables towards a clearing where Navi and I won’t be overheard. She arrives a moment later, glaive gone. I pace, tail swishing agitatedly.
“There is a spy in the palace,” I say, keeping my voice low.
Her brows raise in surprise. “A spy?”
“I was patrolling the borders when I found a small group of Bloodbane witches. One of them knew about Verity,” I explain.
“Are you sure it wasn’t simply to goad information from you?” Navi asks.
“She said ‘mortal’.” I shake my head. “They know.”
“I’ll have my best men on this, Altair,” Navi says, reaching a hand out to comfort me. I let her rest her palm on my neck for a moment before pulling away. “We’ll find the spy.”
“Bring them to me once you’ve found them.” I turn my glittering eyes to her. “So, they know what they’ve done.”
Navi dips her head in a bow before marching out of the clearing. I trust her to find the betrayer. Navi has been a loyal companion to me for many years, and her skills are unparalleled. I watch as her figure recedes and then sigh heavily.
“What’s this about spies?” I hear a melodic voice behind me.
I pivot, eyes narrowed at Verity. She leans casually against the stone wall surrounding the palace, eyeing me. Dressed in trousers and a loose-fitting shirt, she looks more at ease than she did in her wedding gown. If I find where she keeps it, I may tear it to shreds so I never have to look at it again. She tosses her light brown hair behind her shoulder and glares.
“What did you hear?” I ask, suspicion lacing my voice. I pace towards her and she tries to take a step back but stumbles.
She catches herself before she falls. “Don’t come at me looking like you’re going to eat me,” she snaps, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Don’t eavesdr
op on my conversations,” I retort, stopping a few feet away from her.
“It wasn’t intentional.” Verity rolls her eyes. “So, why are there spies in the palace?”
“It’s none of your concern,” I say.
Verity shrugs. “Well, as far as I know, I am the only ‘mortal’ here.” She gestures with four of her fingers when she says the word ‘mortal’. “So, it’s about me, isn’t it?”
I yawn, my jaw stretching widely. “What are you doing out of your room?”
“What, are you going to drag me back there so I can wait for Altair to harass me again?” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Navi said I could get some fresh air.”
“Harass?” I plop down on the grass to rest.
Fatigue settles into my bones as I relax. These past few days I haven’t managed to find much time to sleep. And when I have, I never seem to get any rest. My thoughts are always on the curse, and more recently, on Verity. But the sun is warm on my back and the grass is soft. It’s comfortable here. Even with Verity glowering at me.
“He’s infuriating. He won’t even tell me why I’m here,” she complains.
Her blue eyes turn on me, sparkling. I can see the cogs turning in her head as her brows furrow. My little mortal thinks she can pull the wool over my eyes. I grin under her gaze. This is going to be fun.
Chapter 6
Verity
I throw open the doors of the wardrobe in my room in search of something to wear. Inside, I find a myriad of simple dresses and intricate gowns, but no pants. I wrinkle my nose at the selection. Long skirts don’t seem like the best choice for a woman who’s been kidnapped by strangers. Even if those strangers might just be elves.
I turn away, closing the doors softly. The cool air tickles my bare legs and I curl my toes into the soft rug. Anything will do. That is, anything that won’t slow me down if I need to run. Sighing, I open the dresser I found this shirt in and rummage through it. In the bottom drawer, I find several pairs of carefully folded linen trousers. I unfold a pair and hold it up, studying it.
With no zipper, the pants are laced with a string. Shrugging, I tug them on and bunch the waist band in my fist, so the pants don’t fall to the ground. The lacing is tricky, but I manage to tie it tight enough to keep them at my hips at least. With a little more digging I find a belt to cinch around my waist.
I study myself in the mirror. Dark brown trousers that bunch around my feet with the extra length. A thin white shirt that’s three sizes too big. And I think I can see the faint blush coloring of my nipples. Frowning, I grab a gray shirt from the dresser and tug it on over my head. Without a bra, I’ll feel more comfortable in dark colors.
Satisfied, I roll up the hem of my pants a few times so I can walk without tripping. There’s a sharp rap at my door and then it shakes the chair stops it from opening. I smirk, glad my little trick worked.
“Verity,” I hear a woman say through the door. “Move the barricade. I don’t want to break the door down.”
I roll my eyes but do as she says. It would be worse to be without a door. I set the heavy chair aside with a huff and then cross my arms over my chest. The woman, Fae, enters, turning her green eyes to me. I count the knives she has strapped to her body, including her sword. Eight. I eye her suspiciously, it seems excessive. She watches me like a cat stalking a mouse. She’s tall and willowy, with auburn hair and almond-shaped eyes. Dressed in form-fitting trousers and a leather cuirass over a linen tunic, she’s clearly a warrior.
“Who are you?” I ask, taking a hesitant step backwards.
“Navi, Captain of the Guard.” She dips her chin, though her eyes never leave me. She certainly looks it. “How did you sleep?”
I shrug. “Fine.” In truth, I slept like a baby, despite my fear that Altair would break down the door in the middle of the night and ravish me.
She nods, satisfied. “If you’re hungry, I can take you to the dining hall.”
“I’m not hungry,” I say quickly. I don’t think I would be able to eat anyway, not with the stress of the kidnapping and Altair’s strange claims about dimensions and realms.
“How would you like to see more of the castle? Or perhaps the grounds?” Navi’s hand drifts to the hilt of her blade.
I have no doubt she and the other elves would be watching me closely. I don’t relish the thought of putting myself out in the open, surrounded by dangerous strangers. But if I stay any longer in the room, I might go mad. I might be able to search for a way out.
“I would love to see the grounds.” I smile as sincerely as I can.
Navi cocks a brow. “Humans are so amusing,” she murmurs, eyeing me.
“What do you mean?” I follow her out of the room and down the hall.
My eyes widen as I take in the architecture of the palace. Even the halls are designed and built beautifully. With arched ceilings and thin engaged columns sculpted with flowering vines. Gold frames house elegant oil paintings displayed along the hall, and a soft, green carpet runs the length of it. Navi doesn’t notice my admiration of the building. I can only imagine what the rest of the palace might look like.
“You think you’re clever,” Navi says in response to my question. “You’re hoping to find the route to exit the palace and then explore the grounds for another way out. You suspect I’m merely being hospitable, but in reality, I was simply curious.”
It doesn’t faze me that Navi has guessed my intentions, so I don’t try to deny it. “Curious about what?”
“What kind of woman you are,” she says simply as she waves at the guards to open a set of tall, double doors. “I was hoping for something a little more… intricate.”
I purse my lips. “I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“This is where I leave you, I have training to attend to.” Navi turns to me, pausing in the doorway. “I’ll have Fae watching you wherever you go with instructions to stop you, using force if necessary. Please don’t do anything rash.”
“Wait!” I bound down the steps after Navi. “I want to talk to Altair.”
“His Majesty is indisposed,” Navi quips.
I wrap my hand around her elbow, to stop her from walking away from me. “I don’t care, tell me where he is. I need to talk to him.” At the very least, I want to find out what he wants from me. I just want to go home.
Navi’s eyes drop to her elbow, still in my hand. Immediately, I regret latching onto her. Suddenly, she twists away from me in a blur of motion. I stumble backwards but she catches me, an arm wrapped around me to my back. I feel a sharp tinge of pain as she rests a dagger against my throat. Her face is close, only inches from mine as she bends over me.
“Put your hand on me again and I’ll cut it off,” she breathes.
I nod, eyes wide. She tosses me aside, sheathing the blade in a single smooth motion. I watch, my gut as cold as ice, as she stalks away and disappears around another building. It isn’t until I’m sure she’s gone that I realize I’ve been holding my breath.
I pant, bending over and propping my hands on my knees. I’ve never been so afraid before in my life, not even when that bird-creature poked its jaguar head into my room. Perhaps because that was so unbelievable.
I glance over my shoulder, in the direction she disappeared. I have no doubt that Navi wouldn’t hesitate to fulfill her warning. My hands are trembling as the adrenaline abates, I try to recover my breathing. Even in New York, I wouldn’t expect a threat like that. I’ve run into muggers on the street before, but somehow, a switchblade in their hand is less frightening than in Navi’s.
Calm again, I spin in a slow circle and take in my surroundings. The castle is a giant monolith of gray stone, turrets and buttresses and towers skewering the sky. And all around it wraps a tall, stone wall. There are a few side buildings, I can identify one as the stables, but the others I’m not sure of. I wander away from the front entrance, towards a manicured hedge. It leads to a private garden filled with red roses. In the center is a small fountain, with a statue
of a koi fish spurting arcs of water into the air.
I spend the next hours walking along the wall, searching for places I can climb or secret entrances. But the only entrance I find is the main one at the end of the long, treed drive. And that’s protected by a heavy wooden gate and a guardhouse.
I avoid doing anything more than running my hand along the wall, in case the Fae trailing me mistake any of my movements for an escape attempt. I’m not interested in being shot with an arrow. But I avoid heading in the direction Navi went, so I steer clear of the walls nearest the palace.
A shadow streaks overhead, too fast to be a cloud, and too large to be a bird. I look up, blocking the bright rays of the sun with my hand and see the creature flying past. It heads towards the buildings I haven’t explored yet and disappears. I furrow my brows. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but I thought I saw its claws were painted red.
Moments later, it appears again. I shrink back into the trees lining the drive as he descends into a copse of trees on the other side, near the wall. Navi joins him a moment later, her eyes narrowed. So, the beast knows the Captain of the Guard. But, why would the two of them meet in such a strange place? Will Altair join them? I wonder.
Curious, I scurry over the road and onto the lawn on the other side. Running on my tiptoes, I ignore the Fae guards following me. When they see where I’m headed, they fall back. Probably because they know I’m not liable to escape directly where the creature and Navi are. I creep through the trees towards the sounds of their voices.
“We’ll find the spy,” I hear Navi say, her voice short and clipped.
Spy? My brows furrow.
The creature speaks, its deep voice carrying over the breeze. “Bring them to me once you’ve found them. So, they know what they’ve done.”
Silence falls, and I hear Navi moving away. I shrink back against the trunk of a tree, so she doesn’t see me. After a moment, I peek around the tree and into the clearing. The creature is alone now, Navi is gone. Carefully, I approach, one hand on the wall. The beast is sitting in the clearing, staring up at the sky. His feathers ruffle slightly in the summer breeze.
