by Ivy Clyde
I had powers of both the solar and lunar fae. My parents had to be related to both the fae clans. The curiosity behind my real parents was starting to grow every day. I wanted to know who they were and most importantly, whether they were still alive. The only clue to those questions could come from my human mom.
Isla was training to be one of those people who worked with the Order to keep the human population ignorant and safe from the paranormal. She could look into people’s memories and fiddle with them. If she could take a look inside my mom’s memories, she might be able to get a clue to who my parents were.
A loud groan from my stomach reminded me of my body’s demands. Walking over to the table, I stuffed my mouth with fruit and slabs of freshly baked bread that had been slathered thickly with butter. Once my stomach felt full, I headed into the bathroom.
Kneeling down by the vast marble bath that took up the center space of the luxurious room, I located the taps lining its side. I tested some of them. There was both cold and hot, steaming water available. Choosing to go for a hot bath, I turned on the water.
I hadn’t checked out the bathroom before but now I explored it. There were cabinets containing fresh towels as well as a variety of soaps, shampoo, oils, perfumes, and ointments. For a while, I tested them all.
When the water filled up close to the brim, I stepped into the steaming surface. A sigh of absolute relief escaped me as I submerged my body under the depths. My arms and legs stretched out completely. I was close to dozing off from the luxurious heat when a knock on the door snapped me back to reality.
“Who is it?” I asked, wondering if some strange maid had walked in for something.
“It’s me, My Lady,” came Gilly’s familiar voice.
“Come in here,” I said, making sure my breasts were completely submerged in the water.
Gilly walked inside.
“Did you already go see her?” I asked.
“Yes, My Lady. Miss Isla agreed to meet you in the village tavern.”
I smiled, remembering what Lady Chantal and Demitria told me about Gilly before sending me off to the palace. Brownies had the incredible power to teleport, which meant she could cover a large distance in a matter of seconds.
Gilly moved forward and started massaging my head with shampoo. The tips of her soft, warm fingers felt incredibly good against my scalp. My body relaxed. Gilly’s touch didn’t bother me and the magic pulsing in my veins stayed calm.
“Gilly?”
“Yes, My Lady?”
“Can you find me another outfit like yesterday?”
“Of course. Is there anything else you’d like?”
I smiled, wondering if I could get used to someone being there to grant all my wishes. Gilly was quickly becoming my personal genie!
“No, that’s all,” I said, suppressing the urge to make her get me a cold drink. “Thank you.”
I sent Gilly to arrange the clothes and climbed out of the marble bath. After donning a bathrobe, I wrapped the long length of blond hair in a towel.
I stepped out of the steamy and heavily scented air of the bathroom. The rush of cool breeze coming in through the windows instantly refreshed me. Gilly was nowhere to be seen, so I picked up a fresh cotton dress and wore it. The long skirt skimmed over my legs as I walked toward the window.
It was still early in the day. Despite the weather being cold, the trees outside my window blossomed. Breathing in the fresh air, I settled down on the sill. There was nothing to do but pass the hours until it was time to meet Isla.
Gilly returned after a while with a stack of clothes and a pair of tall leather boots. I watched her arrange everything on a clothes hanger. She was slow but extremely meticulous. With a moment to spare, I called her over to me. There were still so many things about the world around me I didn’t understand.
“Gilly?”
“Yes, My Lady?”
“Why do the trees still blossom when it’s so close to winter?”
Gilly stared at me for a moment, like she didn’t know the answer to the question either. “You haven’t lived in Aelia for a long time,” she guessed after a pause.
“No. It’s only been a few weeks.”
She walked over to me and stared out of the window. “The solar fae capture the pure energy of the sun to power their magic. One of the incredible things they can do is to transfer that energy to a plant or a tree. Even in the dead of winter, they can make trees blossom and fruit. There is never any lack of food in Aelia.”
“Is that the reason people eat very little meat here?”
“Yes, My Lady. There are plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains for us here.”
“Can you teach me how to make a plant grow? I would love to grow a garden of my own someday.”
Gilly hung her head. “Forgive me, My Lady,” she said in a small voice. “I don’t have the same powers as a solar elf. I won’t be able to teach you.”
She looked so sad and disappointed in herself, I suppressed the urge to chuckle. Instead, I made a grim face. “It’s okay, Gilly. You’re really great at other things. I am happy and grateful for all that you do.”
“My Lady!” she gasped, staring at me with wide eyes.
“Don’t worry. Go ahead and do whatever you do around this time. Come back at lunchtime and we’ll go over our plans for the evening tonight.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Gilly left the room, leaving me to think about my upcoming plan that evening.
30
Moira
I walked through the corridors, steadily making my way out of the immense plaza that made up the royal harem. The seal made of polished jade was gripped in my hand. My heart beat hard in my chest. Passing maids and brownie valets bowed and greeted me on the way but no one stopped me.
Gilly had given me the directions to reach the closest exit gates. She would be waiting for me there and then follow me from a distance while I went to the village square.
I hurried toward the tall gates rising up in the distance. There were several armed men in armor standing there. They glanced at me severely when they noticed my approach.
“Do you have permission to leave the premises?” asked one of the guards in a tight tone.
I held up my hand and showed him the jade pendant. The guard glanced at it and at once, his features relaxed. “Have a safe trip, My Lady,” he said, inclining his head. Turning around, he gestured for the gate to be opened.
A pent-up breath whooshed out of me as I hurried through the gate and stepped outside. A clean pathway stretched out before me with fields of goldflowers growing on both sides. The blossoms gleamed under the waning sunlight. Far ahead, I caught sight of a familiar figure in purple robes. She gave a low bow and disappeared into the goldflower field.
A grin came on my lips as I strode down the road. Knowing Gilly was close by, gave me the courage to keep going. A dark purple cloak flapped behind me in the breeze.
I’d walked for about fifteen minutes when the sound of horse hooves came from behind me. Turning around, I spotted one of those long public transport carriages coming my way. I held up my arms and waved wildly, hoping the gesture was universally meant to stop a vehicle.
The carriage stopped beside me. Both Gilly and I climbed in. She kept her distance from me, acting like she didn’t know me at all. Her face also stayed covered with a veil, so anyone following me wouldn’t know I had my personal maid with me. If I ever got into trouble, she could be spared for not being in league with me.
I lowered the hood of the cloak over my face as well and took an empty seat. A few people glanced at me but no one stared a second time. It had been a good idea to dress in leather pants and boots, something that was commonly worn by the villagers.
I felt much calmer as the distance between me and the palace increased. There were no horses or carriages coming behind me.
About an hour later, the carriage stopped in the main village square. The crowd had thinned out this late in the afternoon. Witho
ut glancing at the short figure in purple robes, I made my way to the Centaur’s Hoof Tavern.
The sun was dipping below the horizon now. Reaching the tavern, I pushed the door open. It was much louder and crowded here than the street outside. I spotted Poppy delivering drinks to a table of sturdy dwarves and headed for her.
“Hey,” I said, moving away my hood. Surprise flitted through her eyes at once. Concealing my face again, I added, “Could I have a private booth, please?”
“Who are you meeting?” she asked, moving close to me.
“A girl about my age,” I whispered. “She will be wearing the uniform of Belenus Court. Please bring her to me when she arrives.”
Poppy gave a nod. “Please follow me.”
She led me to the far side of the crowded room and went up a staircase. Reaching the upper floor, she took me to the same private booth as the one where I’d sat with Cade.
“Do you want me to get you anything?” she asked.
“Hot chocolate, please,” I said.
She gave a polite nod and went out of the booth, closing the door behind her. I let out a long breath, hoping Isla would come soon.
Poppy came back after a while with my hot chocolate and left again. I drank the delicious hot beverage, enjoying the way it warmed me from the inside. Even though I was anxious, the drink helped me relax.
The sound of footsteps approaching the booth alerted me. I sat up straighter. The door slid open and Isla and Poppy came in my view.
“You’re here!” I jumped to my feet.
“Yeah.”
Poppy left us. Isla closed the door and took a seat at the table. “A private booth at the tavern,” she mused, looking around the small closeted room. “You’re really climbing up the ranks.”
“It’s been horrible,” I said.
Isla chuckled. “I can imagine. People have been gossiping about the inspection ritual where you chose to keep some ugly scars on your face while Prince Rowan rejected you in front of a full court again. They don’t know whether to laugh at you or be impressed by your stupidity.”
“It’s none of their business!” I said through clenched teeth. “Also, don’t they already know? I have no scars on my face.”
“It’s more exciting to imagine you having a gross, scarred face and still be fated to mate with the princes,” said Isla, cracking another grin.
It felt good to be back with her again. Her savage humor could make me laugh at my insane situation with all the harem rituals and etiquettes.
“So, why did you want to meet me?” she asked. Her hand reached out and took the cup of my half-drunk hot chocolate. She sniffed the contents and took a sip of it.
“I want you to come with me to meet my mom,” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“My human mom,” I said. “Look inside her mind and search for the memories some eighteen to nineteen years ago. I want to know if she saw my real parents. We would have a clue to who I really am.”
Isla’s expression turned grim. “We are not really allowed to mess with humans without the Order’s permission.”
“Please, Isla. I have to know who my parents are or…were.”
“Why? They were probably a couple who didn’t want you. Maybe your mom had an affair and couldn’t keep you, so she abandoned you. Some of the high fae can be quite fickle.”
“Did you hear what happened to Desiree and the other two girls?”
A frown creased her eyebrows. “Yeah. Their magical cores were ripped out of their bodies. What’s that got to do with anything?”
“I did that.”
Isla blinked. “Say that again.”
“I did that to Desiree and her friends. They came to attack me and something was triggered inside me. I don’t know how I did it but my magic made it happen. So, please…”
“So, it’s no coincidence you’re so good with picking up things without trying too hard,” she said in a slow, thoughtful voice. “Lady Chantal and Demitria treat you like you’re something special.” She drained the cup of hot chocolate and slammed the mug on the table. “You really are special.”
“Special, strange, weird. Use whatever adjective you like but please help me. You’re the only one I trust.”
She scoffed. “More like I’m the only one you know.”
I smiled. “That too.”
“Fine,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “But if we get caught, you’re taking all the blame. I’ll say Prince Rowan’s fated mate asked me to do this and I obeyed out of fear for my life.”
I chuckled. “Fine. You can throw me under the bus. The only thing I want in return is that you’ll keep things to yourself. No matter what you find, don’t tell Lady Chantal or Lady Demitria.”
Isla pushed against the table and stood up. “Trust me. I don’t want to get in the middle of whatever is happening. Let’s just get this over with,” she said.
I lowered my hood and placed a single gold coin on the table.
“You’re paying that much for a single mug of hot chocolate,” said Isla, raising her brows at me. “If you’ve got money to throw away, why not toss them at me?”
I chuckled. “Sorry, but I am paying Poppy to make her think I am someone with power. I want her on my side.”
Isla frowned. “Why don’t I get something too?”
Chuckling, I wound my arm around hers. “You’re getting my company.”
She scoffed and walked out of the booth. Even though I was heading back to the city where I spent the worst years of my life, I felt comforted to have Isla at my side. Warmth spread through me when I realized I had a friend in her.
Life had certainly changed for me. Even with all the conspiracies churning around me, I had people who cared for me and were determined to keep me safe. Cade, Leon, and Rowan’s faces flashed in my mind’s eye, making me feel even more courageous about facing the dirty, polluted streets of Lost Sanctum.
Isla walked out of the tavern and followed a different path, leading us away from the main village square. The sky was already a dark indigo.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“There is a Veiled Gate further down the road,” she said. “We can use it to take us to Lost Sanctum.”
I remembered the ancient archway at the Troll Bazaar back in Lost Sanctum. A Mauryan elf lady had read out enchantments that had teleported me and Artemis to Aelia. It wasn’t a long time ago but felt like months had passed since that incident.
The road wound up toward a hill. With no one hanging around the path, I let the passing breeze toss my hood away from my face.
A lone hut stood on the top. Beside it, stood the Veiled Gate, appearing exactly like the crumbling archway of the Troll Bazaar.
“Wait here,” said Isla. “I will go call Violet.” She walked away to knock on the cottage’s door.
While she went, I called out to Gilly. The brownie stepped out from behind a bush. Kneeling down in front of her, I said, “Did anyone follow us here?”
“No, My Lady.”
“Good.” Placing my hands on her small, petite shoulders, I looked deep into her large brown eyes. “Go back to the palace now. If anyone asks you about me, just say I went out for a walk and you know nothing else. Do you understand?”
She gave a nod. “I understand.”
“Good. Go along, then.”
Gilly bowed low and disappeared before me in the blink of an eye.
Just then, a woman opened the door of the cottage in the distance and stepped out. Long, flowing silver hair gleamed in the dim moonlight as she walked toward me. A look into her twinkling eyes reminded me of the stars overhead. Even though she barely looked past forty, I could tell she was as ageless as the stars overhead.
“Where do you wish to go?” she asked.
“The Troll Bazaar of Lost Sanctum,” said Isla.
The woman gave a nod and gestured for us to step forward.
Isla and I walked under the archway and waited. Out of instinct, I grabbed Isla’s hand wh
ile the lady read out the enchantment that made the ancient runes carved on the stone arch glow red. The familiar feeling of being sucked into a vacuum went through me. Next moment, I felt my feet slam onto hard ground. Isla stayed on her feet while I swayed dangerously.
“We’re here,” said Isla, looking toward the familiar scene of the underground fae city of Lost Sanctum.
I took several lungfuls of air before stumbling after her. My gaze roved around the busy street, staring at the myriad of fae creatures that flocked the street before me. Unlike Aelia, this place had gigantic trolls walking around. Even though they appeared intimidating, they gave me and Isla a wide berth as they went about their business.
“Stick close to me,” said Isla as we walked down the street. “I won’t be responsible if you get lost.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, squeezing her hand in my grip. I’d learned my lesson the last time. There was no way I was going to get distracted a second time and end up in the clutches of a vampire or something worse.
Isla took me inside a small shop.
“Why are we here?” I asked, trying not to stare at a troll with thick white tusks protruding out of its mouth. The creature wore a strange kind of colorful pinafore outfit, making me wonder if it was a female troll.
“We need to take a cab to your old home,” said Isla. “What if we need other stuff too? You can’t pay with all those gold coins. We need American currency.”
“Oh.”
“Hand over a coin and she’ll convert them into dollars.”
I did as Isla said and slid a coin toward the troll lady. She took it up in her clawed hands and looked closely at it. After a satisfied nod, she placed it in a box and opened another one. She took a thick stack of ten-dollar bills and handed them to me.
“Wow, this is a lot of money,” I said, staring at the thick bundle of bills.
“You exchanged it for gold. What do you think?” Isla raised her eyebrows like I was a complete idiot. I guess I really was one.
