by Julia Crane
I sucked in a breath. An unguarded queen was unheard of. What in the world had my mother been thinking?
She gave me a look. “I wasn’t stupid and we both know I’m more powerful than our guards. But they caught me unexpectedly while working on the garden. I had a false sense of security. I know. I know. But the garden was one of the only places I felt at peace.”
That much I could understand. “What happened? How could they possibly have overpowered you?”
She waved a hand like it wasn’t important. “They captured me. It was quite pathetic really. Somehow they knew to keep my hands bound inwardly facing each other so I couldn’t access my power. One of them shot me with a tranquilizer and the other grabbed me before I could react, binding my hands. They covered my head and brought me to the cave they’re living in. Everyday Michael would bring me food— he had to hand feed me. Even though it was humiliating, Michael never treated me with disrespect. We began talking to pass the time. I found myself liking the boy. One night he came in and cut the ties without saying a word. Not wasting an opportunity I cloaked myself and walked out.”
“He just let you go?” I wonder what his tribe did to him when they found out. I had to admit he took a huge risk and for that I would remain open-minded while meeting him.
“Yes, I was just as surprised as you are. He gave me no reason and I didn’t wait around to find out.”
I rose from the bed and paced the small room. “How did you come to pick him as my mate? Obviously you saw him again.”
She nodded. “Yes, it took me a long time to be able to talk to him alone. When I’d finally cornered him, I asked him why he let me go, and he said because he didn’t believe in genocide no matter who or what the race was. We started meeting occasionally and talking. It took several months before I told him of my idea. At first he was very against the idea. Even though he didn’t believe in killing off a race, he was raised in such a way that blending of the two … well, it was looked down upon.”
The same could be said with faeries. Everyone thought it was ludicrous, the idea of fae joining with a human. So this boy was able to see past his upbringing. This only made me more curious about him.
I had to admit the tale was a fascinating one. Leaning against the wall, I asked, “How did you convince him to go along with your idea?”
My mother sighed. “I’m not sure I did. When I first told him about it he stalked away. It was weeks before I saw him again. He came to the conclusion himself. I think he realized it was the only hope for the planet. If his parents ever learned he was helping us—I’m not sure what would happen, but I know it wouldn’t be pretty. They are very cruel people. It’s a wonder Michael turned out to be so clear-headed.”
“Don’t you worry about those genetics being passed on? The negative ones”
She laughed. “No, my dear. Henrek informed me we can pick individual characteristics from each side. So only what is positive and beneficial will be joined in the making of the halflings.”
Really? How unusual. The idea of picking character traits was nothing I’d ever heard of before. It would seem as if this science really was a sort of magick on its own. Although like magick it probably came with a cost.
If Earth was so far advanced, how did they end up where they are now? Maybe because magical creatures stuck their nose into something that didn’t concern them. I didn’t voice my opinion to the queen. She would have given me a lecture, I was sure. At the end of the day what was done was done.
Now more than ever I wanted to meet this unusual human. Using my magick I conjured a mirror and smoothed down the front of my dress, before stealing a glance at myself in the small mirror. I used a quick glamour to apply make-up and brighten my skin. The air here made my skin dry. I would have to make sure to make a lotion out of lavender. If I could find any.
“Mother, do I have to take guards with me?”
She shot me a scolding look. “Yes, you cannot go anywhere on your own. This is a very dangerous world. I assure you they will not be a bother. You literally won’t even know they are there. They will only show themselves if you are in grave danger.”
I let out a breath. It was not like I expected her to allow me to leave on my own, but it was worth a try. I was grateful that she didn’t insist on joining me in our meeting. It was bad enough to have guards let alone your mother as a chaperone.
“Well then I guess it’s time.”
My mom reached for my hands. “Even if he is not what you’d dreamed of, please give him a chance. I hope you two will become friends. He really is a nice young man.”
I nodded. “I’m open to the idea. I could use a friend in this strange land.”
“I’ve asked Michael to only take you to the safe zones. There shouldn’t be any interference from the rebellion. They usually only come out after dusk. However, if you find yourself in trouble, contact me telepathically.”
There was a soft rap on my door. I looked up and no one was there. It startled me when a deep voice announced the arrival of our guest. Invisible guards were going to take some getting used to.
My mother led the way out of the bedroom toward the front of the building. I was surprised to find myself a little nervous. What if the human didn’t like me and decided to change his mind again?
When we reached the entryway a young man stood there looking awkward. He shifted back and forth on his feet at the doorway. My lips threatened to form into a full-blown smile.
His eyes were blue and weary as he crossed the room to meet us. His body was long and lithe. When he moved it was with the grace of an animal. High cheek bones and straight nose. By all accounts quite good looking. His hair was dark and hung low in his eyes. When our eyes met he gave me a faint smile. Overall he didn’t appear overly thrilled to meet me, but I could tell he was also curious. Much like myself.
I inclined my head. “You must be Michael.”
He hesitated briefly before extending his hand. When our hands met his grasp was firm and his hand was calloused. The hands of someone who was used to hard work. “Your mother never mentioned your name.” His voice was deep and sent a small thrill through me. What an exotic creature he was.
I smiled. “Tulupea.”
An enigmatic grin spread across his face, making him even more handsome. “Tulupea? Now that’s a new one.”
I shrugged and dropped my hand. There were obviously vast differences between our kinds, and names were just a small part of it.
Our eyes met and I felt the beginning of excitement at the pit of my stomach. Perhaps this Earthling would be an adventure of sorts after all.
Chapter Seven
My mother had to ruin the moment by butting in. “I trust you will keep her safe, Michael?” She stared at him intently.
My body tensed. I hated when my mother treated me like a child. I was almost equal to her in power. And as if this human boy could keep me safe. That was almost laughable. But I refrained from commenting.
He held her gaze for a few beats before speaking. “I’ll do my best.”
“We’ll be fine, Mother.” I tried to keep my tone level but she would know I was annoyed with her. If she wanted me to be a part of repairing Earth, she needed to trust me. True, I didn’t know this planet the way she did, but I also knew I’d be able to handle a threat.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t treat you like a child. It’s just been so long since we’ve been together. I’m your mother and I’ll always worry about you.”
I shifted on my feet uncomfortably. Now I felt bad for my thoughts, but still…
“Run along. Have fun and, Tulupea, if you have time, do some healing work while you’re out. Whatever you’re drawn to. Just make sure you’re back before nightfall.”
A surge of relief coursed through me. I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. I was sick of being confined in the unsightly building and longed for sunlight on my skin. But I also wanted to be alone with Michael to get a better feel for him. So far no warning b
ells had gone off in my head. Maybe my mother had picked a good match after all.
A deep sigh escaped me as soon as we stepped outside. I lifted my head to feel the sunlight on my face and the soft breeze through my hair. I closed my eyes for a couple of minutes just enjoying the sensation. I’d almost forgotten about Michael and was surprised when he cleared his throat.
I spun around and stared up at him. I could see him better outside than in that dreary building. He really was quite good-looking, for a human. I walked forward, my dress blowing in the breeze. The air was thick but it was still wonderful.
“Are you okay with this plan?” he asked, taking me by surprise. “The whole merging thing or whatever they are calling it.”
My mother had never given me a say in the matter. My shoulder lifted absently. “If my mother thinks it will work then it’s probably the best shot we’ve got. I’m willing if you are.”
He nodded his head in agreement. “It’s crazy enough that it just might work. But it won’t be a quick fix will it?”
No. It wouldn’t be a quick fix. After all, the wars had taken decades to ruin Earth; it would probably take just as much time to rebuild. I shook my head. “We’ll be able to accelerate the process if the halflings have our healing abilities, but you’re right, it will take time. We don’t even know how quickly they will grow or if this will even work.”
Crossing my arms over my chest I found myself voicing a concern I hadn’t dared bring up to my mother. “If this does work and there’s a new breed, will your tribe attempt to kill them off?”
He gazed off in the distance as if gathering his thoughts before he spoke. “Yes, they will try to annihilate them. However, Henrek insists the hybrids will be able to regenerate like yourselves. So they won’t be easily killed off.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I hadn’t thought about that. “Do you think they will eventually grow to accept the new breed?”
Michael laughed bitterly. “No, I don’t think that’s possible. The racism is too deeply imbedded in their consciousness. My planet has been at war with magick for over a hundred years. And honestly, it was even long before that, but the battles were kept hidden in the shadows. I don’t foresee a shift in their thinking anytime soon.”
I tilted my head to the side, giving him a long stare. “But you’re not like them. Why is that?”
A faint flush spread from his neck to his face. I wondered if he was embarrassed by his family or his own opinions. “My best friend is a shifter. I didn’t realize it until one day I was at the brink of death. He shifted into a dragon, grabbed me by the scruff of my shirt, and flew me out of the battle. He brought me to a witch’s home, and the woman healed my wounds. After that, my eyes were opened to different possibilities.”
I could see how that would make one think differently. With a smile, I said, “I’d like to meet your dragon.”
“Maybe. I’m sure Blake would like you.”
It would be nice to make friends in this unknown new world I’d be living in for the next foreseeable future. “Does he know that you are helping my mother?”
“No. She asked me not to speak of it to anyone and I have honored her request.”
My shoulders relaxed. “I think my mother made a great choice. To be honest with you, I was very concerned about what you would be like in person. My mother didn’t want us to meet at all.”
He raised a brow. “Really, why is that?”
I sighed. “Where I come from, when a couple mates, it’s for life. I think she was worried that I would become attached to you.”
He ran a hand through his shaggy hair, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. “Well we’re not exactly mating.”
I laughed. “I know, but we are producing life. No matter how scientific my mother and Henrek want to make it appear, that is the reality of the situation. Have you given that any thought? You will essentially be a father.”
Michael’s steps faltered. “Not really. I mean, I guess I just thought of it as a human and fae sharing their DNA. Seems so abstract, I never gave it much thought beyond that.”
Okay, maybe I was the odd ball. To me this was a huge personal undertaking. I didn’t think I would be able to separate myself from the beings like my mother suggested. Maybe it was the fact that I was an only child and always dreamt of having lots of brothers and sisters to play with. I really hoped my mother wasn’t asking me to take on more than I could handle.
“We’ll be building a superior race.” Michael’s words brought me out of my thoughts.
I nodded in agreement. “It should be wonderful to see. Do you think they will have wings?”
He shrugged. “From what I understand from Henrek, they can have whatever they want them to. However, I think the easier they blend in with our world, the better off they will be.”
“Meaning?” I gave him a pointed look.
A sheepish grin spread across his face. “You’re …” He paused, as if struggling to find the right words. “Your beauty outshines any human I’ve run across.”
He was smooth, I had to give him that. I was surprised to feel a flush creep up my face. Being a princess, I was no stranger to compliments, but coming from Michael—somehow, it just felt more real. Which made no sense at all.
“I don’t think my mother’s going to allow us to have much say in what happens with the pairing.”
He moved closer and bent his head slightly. “Does that bother you? Because if it does, we can insist on being a part of the decision making. After all, it is our bodies they are manipulating.”
I stopped in my tracks and shook my head. “I’m not sure. I definitely want to talk to Henrek some more. He seems like the type of guy that’s into details and outcomes. I’m sure he’d make a chart for us or something.”
“All right. But, Tulupea, you need to be sure about this. I get a feeling you’re being pushed into something you’d rather not do.”
“I’m a princess, Michael. I often have to do things I don’t want to do. It comes with the territory.”
His eyes widened slightly. Crap. I’d completely forgotten that our station was not announced in this realm.
“A princess? Does that mean if the experiment is a success they’ll be royalty?” A slow grin spread across his face as if he were about to break into a laugh. He must have thought I was joking.
To me this was not something to be taken lightly. “No. They will not be royalty, at least not recognizable to the faery court.”
He blinked. “You have a faery court?”
I looked at him blankly. Of course we had a court. “Yes, we do.”
“Does that mean that your mother?” He let the question hang in the air.
“Yes, she’s the queen. However, you must promise not to tell anyone. If your family finds out, they will try to destroy us.”
He laughed bitterly. “They’ve been trying to destroy your kind for years. I have no intention of putting your mother in harm’s way. Or you either, for that matter.”
The tension left my body. I knew he was telling the truth. A faery could spot a lie before it even came out of a person’s mouth, which was one of our secondary gifts. “Thank you. I think we should get back to the laboratory and talk to Henrek.”
“There’s plenty of time for that. You haven’t even seen the area, have you?”
Nope. I hadn’t seen anything other than the building we were living in. On the way to the building it’d been dark. I could tell that the place was in ruins, but not much beyond that.
“And your mother said something about healing?”
How could I have gotten sidetracked so easily? Of course I had to work on the planet. “You’re right. I was getting ahead of myself. I want to see everything.”
He held out his hand and I grasped it with my own. His hand was warm, and the touch sent a shiver through me.
I grinned. My wings flapped in excitement. If there was one thing I loved, it was an adventure.
Chapter Eight
The
farther we walked, the sadder I got. I’d never seen a planet in such ruins. The last time I’d been on Earth it had been so vibrant and alive but now it was desolate. So dusty and dreary. It didn’t take us long on our walk to come across destroyed neighborhoods and buildings. My heart literally hurt looking at them. How could this have happened? Tearing my eyes away, I asked, “Has it been this way since you were born?”
Michael nodded his head. “I’ve seen photographs of the way it used to be, but the war had been raging for a very long time before I was born. This is all I’ve known.”
How sad.
“How old are you, anyway?” I asked. I’d never been good at guessing human ages.
“Almost nineteen.”
I did the conversion in my head: so his life was about a quarter over if he were lucky enough to make it to eighty. With the condition of the Earth right now, that was not very likely.
“What about you?” He turned and walked backwards, watching my face.
“Our time is vastly different than yours. In your time, I’m over two-hundred years old.”
His mouth dropped open in surprise. “Did you just say two-hundred?”
Smiling, I nodded. “But as far as time frame, emotional and physical development I’m close to your age. A teenager as your kind likes to call it. A blink of an eye, really.”
He shook his head and got back in stride beside me. “It’s hard to wrap my head around.”
“I know. Just like for me it’s hard to believe your lifetime’s so short. I couldn’t even imagine.”
His shoulder lifted. “You got me there.”
I felt his eyes on me and flicked my own toward him. “Why are you watching me?”
His face reddened. “I’ve just never seen anyone like you. Well, other than your mother of course.”
“Surely you’ve seen stranger creatures than me?” I asked with a laugh.
“You have no idea,” he mumbled. “But none as unique as you. I’ve never seen anyone with eyes like yours.”
