by E. A. Weston
The kitchen is already buzzing by the time I arrive, with fairies shouting and barking at each other. Moving around the room, I stick to the walls and slide up beside the kid.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I whisper.
His eyes dart around before he answers in his own whisper, “the princess is coming.”
Well isn’t that just great, grabbing my knife, I get to peeling the purple skins but ignore the commotion in the room. I don’t care who is coming here as long as it’s nothing to do with me then I'm all right. I’ll find my own way out of this place and when I do, I plan to leave this world and go back to where I belong. The room goes silent all of a sudden but I keep working even when the kid growls at me.
“Reagan?” her voice floats over to me.
Without turning around, I answer, “what?”
“Please Reagan,” she says standing beside me.
“Don’t please me,” I snap and stand to face her, the knife still in my hand. Out of nowhere two guards have my arms in theirs and one of them twists my wrist until the knife drops.
“Stop,” she says to them.
“Oh don’t worry about it, I’ve already been drugged and beaten, remember?” I ask.
“Reagan please listen, I need you to come with me.”
“No,” I reply.
The guards just drag me out of the kitchen after she commands them in fairy and I curse her all the way to the room I am flung into. Brokk is standing by the window and I flip him off just for fun.
“What is this?” I ask climbing to my feet.
“Oh thank the Goddess, I feared he had killed you,” Aurelia cries as she flings her arms around me.
“Get off me,” I push her. “You left me to be a servant, I thought you wanted to be my friend but no you just wanted a pet,” I shout at her.
“A pet? What are you saying, I thought you were gone, I swear it.”
“I don’t care, if you want to be my friend then let me go, just let me go home,” I beg.
“Oh Reagan,” Aurelia breathes as tears fall from her eyes. “I’m sorry, I swear it I am your friend.”
“I don’t have friends here,” I whisper as my own tears blur my vision.
Brokk leads us to the table and we sit down he watches me for a few minutes before talking.
“I’m truly sorry Reagan, I knew Connor would be talking to you again so I made you eat the Aguaje. I know he has given you some magical potions to get you to tell him the truth of how you got here but I have tried to lessen the dose by adding some juice of the Aguje,” he says.
“What the hell is an Aguje?” I ask.
“It is the fruit you ate at breakfast, it helps with keeping secrets. Well, when you add a little magic of course,” he smiles at me.
Aurelia is staring at me while Brokk talks but I can see her face sadden as he speaks. I’m not sure what is going on with these two but I need to know.
“What are you doing? I saw Connor leave this morning and now you have me here, I want to know what you are going to do to me?”
“We are not going to do anything,” Aurelia gasps. “I swear it, Reagan, I am your friend.” Reaching over she grasps my hand in hers and pulls it to her cheek. I can see it in her eyes, the waiting for me to approve of her friendship.
“Okay, friends, but I want to go home, can you help me?” I beg.
Both Brokk and Aurelia look at me for a few minutes before speaking to each other in fairy. It seems as if they are arguing but finally they both stop and turn back to me.
“We don’t know how to send you back Reagan but I will help you get back to your friends,” Aurelia says.
“I don’t have friends here, I told you,” I reply a little sadder this time. My heart hurts at the lie but I don’t think I can really trust these two.
“Then who was that fairy at the beach?” Brokk asks.
“No one, I just met him and we had fun,” I shrug.
“Okay, maybe I can get you to the fire isles. I have distant family there and they may be able to take you in but you would have to work,” He says.
“No, I’m not slaving in this world. We can find a way to get me back to Faircrest.”
Making up my mind I finally decide to let go of Killian. I have to even if it hurts like hell, this is not my world I’m no good to anyone.
Aurelia grips my hand harder as she tears up again and begs me to stay with her. She can hardly speak for the tears and I feel sorry for her.
“Please stop crying Ari,” I whisper.
“Stay Reagan I beg of you, please stay,” she cries.
Brokk looks torn, for all the teasing and joking he seems a little upset watching Aurelia break down.
“You need to tell me what is going on here,” I point between them.
“Oh, Brokk is my friend. He helped me, when…when I felt like giving up.” Aurelia gives him a small smile and he squeezes her shoulder.
“Then why do you want to help me so bad?” I ask.
“We do not agree with Connor,” Brokk whispers harshly. “He stole Aurelia and killed her family, my family.”
“I don’t understand,” shaking my head.
With a sigh Aurelia wipes her face “when the castle was attacked, Connor was my guard. My father trusted him with my life but Killian and I never liked him to be around us. We often tried to sneak away to be together, to just be brother and sister without him watching our every move and telling our father. On the summer solstice, we had the revelry and my father announced my brothel to Avery.”
Her voice falters as fresh tears begin, “Avery is my true mate but once I returned home after the celebration, we were attacked and Connor had me hide in the dungeon. I was there for many moons and no one came to get me. Then Brokk appeared one day, letting me out of the hiding cell. When he brought me into the castle, I found Connor on my fathers throne, claiming to be the new Prince of Avalon.”
I can only look at them in disbelief, “but why? How did he do it?” I ask.
“I do not know,” she whispers. “He told me that I would be his princess and that my family were dead, murdered by him.”
“And her mate,” Brokk growls.
“Do you know him?” I ask watching Brokk.
With a nod, he says yes, “he is my uncle but we have never met. My mother is his sister but they were separated at a young age and she never knew of his life but she told me of her memories before she died and when Princess Aurelia and I became close that is when I found out she should be my aunt.”
“This is all crazy, so Connor was your guard but wanted power? I don’t understand it,” shaking my head.
“Yes, he wants power and he wants to become king of Avalon,” Aurelia whispers.
“How’s that possible?” I ask but one look from them both has my eyes bulging. “Oh, oh that’s not good. We have to get out of here.”
“I cannot leave, he will find me,” Ari says.
“Then we have to fight him or do something, don’t you all have magic?”
“Yes but he took mine away,” she says. Lifting her arm she shows me a green bracelet that looks like its cutting off her blood supply. “This is Seer’s stone used to stop magic.”
“Cut it off,” I say grabbing her hand towards me. After inspecting the bracelet I give up it doesn’t look like there is any way to cut it. It sits too close to the skin and her bones stick out too much not to get caught with any type of saw. “How can you stand it?” I sigh, letting go of her arm.
“It is difficult,” she answers. “To sit beside the fairy that killed our whole family and my true mate.”
My thoughts drift back to my birthday and how Avery looked pained when we spoke about true mates. Aurelia is his and both believe the other dead, and Killian, god what will happen if they are ever reunited.
“Reagan,” Brokk says softly.
“Yes?”
“I am truly sorry we cannot send you back to the human realm,” his blue eyes dim a little when he speaks.
&nbs
p; “It’s okay, we will figure something out but first, what was Connor doing with those fairies this morning?” I ask.
“Scouting,” Brokk answers. His wings flutter with his agitation.
“Scouting for what?” I dare ask.
“Fairies, those that hide from him and those he can turn into warriors,” he says.
“Why? Doesn’t he have enough warriors, why won’t he allow those fairies to live in peace?”
“Connor likes control,” Ari says. “It is something he needs, something he uses against us,” her voice trails off.
“I’m sorry,” I can’t help but look at her dull, sad eyes. I bet she is out of this world beautiful when she is happy.
“No, do not be sorry Reagan, it was not your doing,” she smiles.
“Okay, so what are we supposed to do now, why am I here?” I ask them.
Brokk and Aurelia share another glance, both seem a little nervous before Brokk begins to speak.
“We would like to know if you have met any other fairies?” he asks.
“Why?” I ask my suspicion raising.
“Well, we want to try to get away. To leave the castle and live in peace away from the bonds Connor places on us,” Brokk continues.
“Oh so what, you want me to take you to the beach?”
“If that is where other free fairies are, then yes.” He nods.
“But why? Would you want to live away from your home and castle knowing you could never return,” I ask both of them.
“I fear we have no choice, I do not want to leave my home but if I must then that is what I shall do. We are not strong enough to rid the castle of Connor, there are but a few of us who still want my father’s rule but many have conformed to Connor. Perhaps out of fear or perhaps because they truly believe that his rule is better than my father’s.”
“Well, those fairies must be mental because no one wants to live with that much control over their heads,” I snort. My hand rubs at my chest trying to ease the ache building there again.
“Are you unwell?” Brokk questions.
“No, I’m fine,” I nod smiling at him. “Tell me, what does that Seer’s stone do?” I point to her wrist.
“It blocks my use of magic, I fear that I have had it on so long that I may never be able to use magic again,” she whispers.
“How does it come off?” I wonder.
“By the Seer that put it on,” she looks me in the eye with sadness. “He died,” she says.
“Oh, can another Seer do it?” I ask.
“There is no other, Connor killed the ones he knew of and anyone that was related to them,” Brokk answers clenching his fists.
This is bad, so bad that I have no idea how to even help these fairies. If we leave then what, how will get to Tenebrosi without being caught or worse, killed? Brokk leaves the room, returning with some food. It’s hard for me to eat normally but with all these feelings of disgust towards Connor and the pain of not having Killian near me is making my stomach clench.
“Will you eat?” Aurelia offers me some food. I don’t know what it is but I take some. It’s meat of some kind and I can nibble on it. My head pounds causing spots before my eyes.
“Reagan, are you unwell?” Brokk asks alarmed.
“No, I’m good,” I respond although I can feel myself sway on the stool. Lifting my hand, I rub my chest again the pain is getting worse. “Maybe I’ll lie down,” I point to the sofa across the room. The minute I stand I sway a little and the food I just ate comes up, falling to my knees I wretch. The pain in my chest feels like a fire burning in my heart, my whole body is shaking and sweating.
I think I’m having a heart attack, how can I, though. My brain tries to remember all those articles I used to see online about ‘what to do if’ but nothing about heart attacks comes to mind. This is just my luck, having a heart attack in a place with no hospitals or 911 services.
“Reagan,” Aurelia's voice calls out.
My heavy eyes meet hers before I fall face first onto the hard floor, the pain in my chest rips a scream from my throat before I close my eyes begging to die.
Chapter 15
Aurelia
* * *
“Help me Brokk,” I ask, lifting Reagan under her arms. Together we are able to place her onto the settle.
“What is wrong with her?” he asks nervously.
“I do not know, I fear being a human in Avalon may not be agreeable,” I sigh. Brokk returns moments later with a bowl of water and a cloth.
“If she is ill then perhaps she cannot help us,” he looks hopelessly at me.
“I don’t know Brokk, I felt something with her presence that first night. Something drawing me to her.”
I’m not sure why but as soon as Reagan entered the dining room I felt a pull toward her. I just knew I could trust her and that feeling is too deep for me to ignore. I only wish I had my mother here. Squeezing the cloth I wipe across Reagan’s face, trying to calm her hot skin.
“The scouts are returning,” Brokk tells me from the window.
“Is he with them?”
“Of course,” he sighs. “He will be angry with her,” he nods at Reagan, who is still unmoving.
“Yes, I know but I have to keep her with me Brokk,” I tell him.
He gives me a small smile, which I return. My heart aches for Avery every day but Brokk is here and I know he wants more from me. I can’t keep Connor away much longer he is determined to make me his wife and that in turn makes me want to run away. If I can’t have Avery then maybe in time I can love Brokk and we can be happy together. Tears sting my eyes as the face of my mate swims before me his handsome features with beautiful brown eyes and a smile that could warm me from head to toe.
I miss him so.
“Ari,” Brokk rests his hand on my shoulder.
“I am well,” I smile wiping Reagan’s face and blinking away my tears. My heart aches more now than it has in many moons. Reagan is still unmoving when Connor finds us in my rooms. He bellows at me for having her here but I refuse to allow him to take her away.
“She is a human Ari, how can you want to be in the same room?” he spits at me while hatred pours from his eyes to Reagan.
“I want her Connor,” I tell him. I haven’t used his name since he made me a prisoner in my own home. His eyes fall to mine and he nods in agreement, I can see the hope there but I refuse to be his wife or bond with him. The only way I know for sure that it will not happen is if I leave the castle and hide.
“Fine she can stay for now but I will bring her back to the human realm with the rest of the wretched lot that belongs there,” he snaps before leaving the room. Connor has been trying to get to the human realm for as long as I’ve known him. My father never told anyone how to get to the portal it is for royals only because the power is too much to allow every fairy to wield it.
“He is becoming worse Ari,” Brokk whispers.
“I know, I fear we don’t have much time left before…” breaking off I can’t even imagine a bond with him let alone say the words out loud. Why hasn’t the Goddess answered my prayers, why has she allowed this to happen?
Chapter 16
Reagan
* * *
My eyes spring open taking in my surroundings. The pale cream walls and golden accents have me confused. I don’t know where I am only the hollow feeling in my chest reminds me of what I am missing.
Killian.
I’m in Avalon, sighing, I roll onto my side to look around the room. It is a lovely room with plenty of furniture and a definite feminine feeling. On the floor below me, I notice a head with the body wrapped up in blankets. Her face is peaceful now that she is asleep, I want so much to tell her that Avery is alive but I have no idea what she will do. I can’t risk anything crazy happening especially since Killian will eventually try to take back this castle.
“Aurelia,” I whisper.
Turning over she opens her eyes and smiles at me, “Oh thank the Goddess you are awake,” she sa
ys. Pushing off her blankets, she climbs up beside me on the bed.
“Is this your room?” I ask.
“Yes, it is,” she nods giving me a small smile. “How do you feel?” her face scrunches with concern.
“Okay,” I rub my chest. “Empty, I don’t get it,” I sigh.
“I feared you would never wake up again,” she looks at me.
“Why?”
“It has been two days since you fell down,” she frowns at me.
“Two! Holy shit, what about Connor,” I ask, my eyes darting around the room just in case.
“He went to scout again. I fear there are no more fairies left or they are hiding very well.”
“Hopefully, they’re hiding,” I reply, thinking about the farm we stopped at when Killian and I arrived.
“I have been thinking,” she says. “About why you fell down.”
“Oh, what have you come up with?”
“I feel that maybe your human body cannot take the magic in the fairy realm. I think you should try to return to the human realm Reagan, I fear you may die if you do not,” she speaks softly while hanging her head almost as if she is afraid to look me in the eye.
“Aurelia, can I tell you something?” Taking a deep breath, I pray that I am doing the right thing.
“Of course anything Reagan, you are my friend,” she smiles placing her hand on mine.
“I won’t die here so don’t worry about that but the reason I came here was because I am in love with a fairy and he brought me here,” I tell her.
Her eyes grow wide and she gasps searching my face, “but how can that be?” she questions.
“I don’t know he said we were true mates and…”
“No!” her hands clamp my mouth. “That pain you felt…did you bond with this fairy?” her voice has changed from sweet to stern.
