“So, where are they? I’m starving,” Beth asks.
I raise my eyebrows, “Can you even eat regular food?”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Yes, contrary to the belief of humans, vampires can eat food.”
“Gods, you're bitter.”
She barks out a laugh as the sound of footsteps grows nearer. The masters come around the corner, talking amongst themselves in low tones. I wonder whether or not they’re talking about me. Damon glances up and spots us awkwardly waiting at the entrance to the main quad. He nudges Rai next to him, and they all cease talking. Yeah, they were definitely talking about me or about the war, or the strange dungeon portals that they may or may not know I saw. My skin crawls at the thought. Octavius promised that he wouldn’t rat me out, but the fickle nature of the fae makes me wary of believing him.
Rai smiles. “Hey, guys, what’s up? Sorry to keep you waiting if you were looking to eat with us, Tiana. We’re headed up now.”
“It’s fine! We just got here as well and figured that it would be best to wait.”
My words come out sounding flustered and awkward. Rai gives me a strange look before holding the door open for everyone. As Beth passes by in front of me to go in, she mouths, worst spy ever. My cheeks flame as I follow behind the others toward the elevator. It’s becoming harder and harder to act normally around these imposters. Especially after learning that this Lucian has the son mine never had the chance to conceive. Would he have wanted that with her? Does it matter? For some reason, it feels like it does. A son would be a constant reminder of what he lost while also filling the void.
Someone taps my shoulder. “Hey, did you hear me?”
I look up to see Adrian looking down at me. “Ah, no, sorry. I’m spacing out a lot lately. What did you say?”
“I asked you whether or not Lucian told you about the winter solstice ball coming up in a few weeks.”
I nod. “Yes, he did. I’m going with him.”
Adrian’s eyes widen, and I look over to see a slight smirk on Lucian’s face. “Ah, I see.”
Lucian and I locked eyes across the dinner table, and his smoldering eyes cause a flush to break out across my face. That look is so similar to his double that I inhale sharply. I force myself to remember that this isn’t the man I’ve come to admire and even love. The thought makes my heart beat painfully in my chest. This situation is nothing but confusing and filling me with guilt. How can I have the same feelings of lust toward these men? Is there no distinct line?
Beth has been unusually quiet in her chair farther down the table. She’s looking out the plate-glass windows along the far wall while swirling her glass of red liquid absentmindedly in her left hand. Even knowing that she needs it to live, I still feel a shudder down my spine when I see the blood. To me, being a vampire seems awful. She glances my way as if she can hear my thoughts, but her face is void of emotion.
Rai leans forward, drawing my attention to him. “How are you feeling? Better since last week?”
“Yeah, I am, but I’m still tired and weak.”
“Well, I’ll check you out after dinner just to be sure nothing else is wrong. Sound good?”
I nod but say nothing else in response. He turns back toward Lucian, who seems to be telling a story about the contest today. I don’t need a recount of events, so I tune him out in favor of listening in on Orin and Beth’s conversation. They’re chatting about what classes she’s in during regular semester hours, and what she plans to do upon graduation next year. In the meantime, I shovel beans and rice down my throat even though I’m not hungry. Perhaps carb-loading will give me the strength I need to continue my quest tonight. I’ve only explored three floors of this twelve-floor building, and I’ve found virtually nothing useful. Well, learning about the Chimera in the basement might turn out to be useful in my escape plan if I need something to create a distraction.
The rest of dinner is uneventful, and the men scatter, muttering various excuses. Rai gestures for me to follow him into the hall, and Beth stays at the table with Orin, making eye contact with me, letting me know she won’t be going anywhere. Orin sips wine while Beth begins her second glass of blood as Rai and I disappear through the doorway. I’ve never seen more of this floor than the dining room and Fiora’s office. Rai leads me into another door down the hall that looks to be another apartment-style set of rooms. However, this suite looks to be fit for a king. Red and gold tapestries drape the walls depicting fae history. The furniture looks ancient and expensive, yet rarely used. It must be the accommodations they have set up for the shadow king. I wonder if he visits often, and again, what he looks like.
Rai gestures to the plush red sofa, “Lie down there, and I’ll assess the state of your body.”
I do as I’m told and close my eyes when he holds his hands above me. I’ve never been conscious during a healing, and I’m not sure what to expect. A tingling heat goes through my body as he lets his hands travel up and down my chest. After the sensation becomes more bearable, I open my eyes and watch his face. He reveals nothing and doesn’t look shocked at what he finds. Can he only see tissue damage, or can he detect how weak and ill my elements are? If so, he’ll tell the others, and then I’m not sure what will happen. Hell, even if he doesn’t know, I’m still not sure what will happen.
There’s no guarantee that finding Rowan’s soul is even possible, let alone how I’m supposed to get him back into my body. It’s nothing but a gut feeling that I’m following, and I know how those things can go. That’s probably why my Lucian wants to get me out of here as soon as possible. He might know the reality of my situation, or at the very least, suspect it. The possibility of not finding or speaking to Rowan ever again sends a sense of panic through me so strong that I clench my fists.
Rai smiles at me and pulls his hands away. “It looks like you’re okay physically. . .” He trails off.
I sit up. “But? I can hear a but at the end of that sentence.”
He sits down next to me and leans his forearms against his knees. “Your spirit is weak, as are your other elements. What makes you fae seems to be fading. I’m not sure why.”
Bullshit! He knows exactly what’s causing it. They stole what belongs to me, and I’m going to get it back no matter the cost. Anger stirs in my chest, and I refuse to look in his direction. Is he trying to say that I’ll become human if I don’t find Rowan in time? A mix of feelings storms my chest, and I bite my lip in worry. Rai rubs my back, sensing my distress.
I’m ashamed to admit that a small part of me rejoices in the idea. If I’m human, none of this would matter anymore, and I wouldn’t be eligible to mate with the fae males. I could go back to my father’s bar with Annie and resume our quaint little life as if I had never left. And while my heart would break if I never saw the masters again, I know that I would mend. A woman is nothing if she is only something with a man at her side. Yet, something Rowan once said echoes through my mind, making me dismiss the idea of going back to my old life.
You're forgetting that there are thousands of both light and dark fae losing their lives for a war that should have ended centuries ago. Or maybe should never have been started at all. You're the only living fae with enough power and influence to change that. I don't think I could respect you if you walked away.
“We’ll figure this out, Tiana.”
I say nothing as I stand and make my way out of the room. These men can’t help me if they’re the cause of my pain. If I’m going to get out of this situation, I’ll have to be my own savior; I have to become the woman I was prophesied to be. There’s no one here that I can trust, not even Beth. Trusting myself will have to be enough.
***
That night, long after dark, Beth and I are on the third floor of the main quad building. The stairwell had opened to reveal one long hallway leading down to double doors at the other end. We’re standing in front of them now, trying to decide whether or not we should open them.
“We have no idea what’
s behind there. This is crazy.” Beth says as I watch her pace back and forth.
“Why would they have anything forbidden behind these doors? It’s not like anything we’ve explored so far has been locked or glamoured.” I say, knowing full well that there’s a glamoured Chimera sleeping in the basement beneath our feet.
“It’s not locked for you. You do realize that no matter which realm you’re in, light or dark, you’re practically royalty. They think they can trust your ignorance to their real identities. You’re genetically coded to this campus. Everything from the classrooms to the highest security vaults, you’ll be able to enter.”
I step back in surprise. “How do you know that?”
She rolls her eyes. “Gods, you really know nothing about fae customs. It’s a sign of trust and respect. Something they're obligated to give to their future queen no matter their intentions. It’s a magical compulsion. Something you apparently don’t understand.”
All of the fae stories I’ve read have stated the rules of fae magic to be strict and unforgiving. It’s something I’ve since dismissed after being a part of the supernatural world, but perhaps it wasn’t so farfetched. They are severely susceptible to iron, that much is true. But can they lie? And are they required by some magical law to be formal and respectful to their superiors as Beth is suggesting? It’s something that hasn’t even crossed my mind.
I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, alright. Maybe I am a bit uneducated in the nitty-gritty of fae culture.”
She looks me in the eye with a serious look on her face. “Knowing fae culture can be life or death in this world. You haven’t seen a quarter of the brutality that goes on outside the walls of this academy. This is a safe zone, and any fighting you witness here is a joke compared to the ancient battlefields. There are fae warriors out there that will kill you without a thought. Making that realization and accepting it is incredibly important. Do you understand?”
Her words sent a chill through me. “Yes, I understand.”
With that promise, she flourishes her arms toward the doors, gesturing for me to open them. I push one of them open to reveal a dark ballroom made entirely out of sparkling marble. Moonlight filters into the room through towering stained glass windows, sending colored images to reflect on the floor. We step inside, and the door shuts silently behind us. Not a sound comes from the empty room around us. It’s unforgiving in its silence. The marble floor seems to suck all of the warmth from the air, and goosebumps rise on my arms.
Beth breaths, “This is the winter solstice ballroom. It’s only used once per year. Only fae are allowed in this room. It’s a sacred festival.”
She steps back and tugs at the door, but of course, it won’t open for her. Trying to ease her panic, I pull on the door handle as well. However, it doesn’t budge. We both pull together, and she even lets go to let me pull on my own. Nothing works. Panic rises in my chest now, and I move quickly into the middle of the room. It’s completely empty, and my every footstep echoes abrasively as if the room knows that I’m not supposed to be here. Beth is still by the doors, her face whiter than it usually is, saying nothing. I take a deep breath to calm myself and take a seat in the middle of the room, draped in colored moonlight.
Beth watches me silently, and I close my eyes to her. Even if my powers are weak, I can still use them minimally. My spirit reaches out weakly, feeling the magic of this room, testing it. It’s cold in nature, a feeling I’ve never experienced with magic. It seems to have no ill intent. It’s only here as a result of worship for the winter solstice. A buildup of strong, almost pure, beautiful magic. The magic plays with my own, circling my body while leaving shivering chills in its wake. Awe spreads through me as I marvel at it. When I reopen my eyes, the room is bathed in it, and it’s no longer empty. Drifts of snow line the walls, snowflakes dance in the air, and tables made of ice twinkle prettily.
Beth’s face hasn’t changed, letting me know she can’t see through the glamour as I can. The magic folds around me and is tinted a breathtaking winter blue. It seems to welcome me despite its cold nature. I press my palms to the floor and send my own magic into the room. Earth, fire, air, water, and spirit surge around us. The room concedes to my power and shrinks back.
I portray through my magic, we must leave.
To my surprise, a female voice responds. You may not. All who enter this room outside of the winter solstice are never permitted to leave, that is unless they’re dead.
I whip my head in the direction of the speaker to find a willowy woman made entirely of ice. It seems to be the rooms form of enchantment. Even her hair is made of long ropes of crystalline braids. As she moves toward me, she passes beneath a red mosaic, and her form appears bathed in blood. A quick glance behind me reveals Beth still cowering against the door.
Don’t worry, she cannot see me.
I look back at the woman. What will it take to leave? Fae like riddles, so I know there’s a way.
She smiles, revealing sharp, filed teeth. Ah yes. You are not permitted to leave, but you may try. The only exit is beneath the guardian of this sacred place.
The guardian?
Almost instantly after the thought leaves my mind, an ear-shattering roar shakes the ballroom. The marble pillars shake, and icicles fall around me, shattering across the floor. I cover my ears and drop to one knee, trying to keep my balance, but failing. Something large is coming toward us from the shadows beyond the pillars, and it’s footsteps are deafening. I hear Beth whimper behind me as the beast comes into view. It resembles an ogre or troll but is made entirely of ice and snow. The ice woman smiles one last time before fading back into the shadows. I curse her under my breath as I slip and slide my way toward Beth.
She’s cowering against the door as I grab her arm and haul her to her feet. “Move! Do you want to die?”
We’re not two feet past the doors when the beast swings a shining fist down to crash against the marble. Ice shards scatter across the room, narrowly missing our heads. It whips toward us and begins to amble in our direction. I no longer have to force Beth along toward the way the monster came. If it guards the exit, then that’s where it must be. The darkness beyond the windows is absolute, and Beth has to guide me toward the back of the room.
“Follow me! Perks of being a vampire, I can see in the dark.”
“Can you see the door?”
“No, it’s more of a hole.”
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
Suddenly the beast steps in front of us, having come around the side. We stagger back, and I push Beth behind me. When I call up my magic, it flares to life along my arms, if a little dim. It begins to swing one massive arm, but I’m ready for it. I slide beneath it and shoot two firebolts through its upper arm, severing it. The ice ogre roars in a fury, and begins stomping its feet, attempting to squish me. I roll from side to side and eventually scramble onto my hands and knees. The floor vibrates with every footfall, and I lunge just in time to avoid being splattered across the marble floor. Beth yelps, watching me with wide eyes. The beast stops once it realizes that I’m no longer beneath it. It’s massive head moves side to side as it tries to find me, only to spot Beth. It moves awkwardly toward her, obviously off balance with one arm gone.
“Don’t just stand there! Don’t you have any special powers?”
I’m sprawled across the ground behind the ogre, slowly getting to my feet now that its attention has shifted. I move toward the two slowly as not to draw the attention back on me. Fear rushes through my chest for Beth, who is still standing stock still against the nearest pillar. She must not be a fighter. Of course, I’d choose the one friend who doesn’t.
Just as the beast is reaching for her and I raise my arm to strike, she bursts into movement. Beth takes a flying leap up and onto the arm of the ogre before running up the length of his arm with supernatural speed. The thing roars and begins beating at itself, leaving holes wherever it hits as Beth runs from side to side, never losing her balance. I join t
he battle with my fire, melting the beast slowly and targeting the holes it’s making on its own.
It backs up suddenly and kicks it’s dripping legs out awkwardly, catching me in the stomach. The breath flies out of me, and I land hard across the room, cracking my head on the icy floor. Stars flood my vision as I try to rise to my feet. Beth screams my name and jumps off of the creatures back to sprint toward me. It follows, and I thrust out my arm weakly, giving the final push of magic I have left. Flames flare to life and blaze across the room, lighting it up impossibly bright. Snow melts in its wake, leaving cold puddles behind. The flames engulf the beast, instantly melting its legs, and the torso falls to the floor with a deafening crash. Its final roar is silenced by my flames as they fill its mouth and melt it from the inside out.
Beth finally drops to her knees before me, and I notice that she has her own blooming bruises from where the beast must have hit her. I rise to my knees and throw my arms around her. She hugs me back hard, and we clutch each other tightly for several long seconds. We pull away and glance at the ruined room. All of the ice is gone, and massive puddles of cool water litter the floor. We’d have to get out of here before it reforms if it will at all.
Beth climbs to her feet and sticks out her hand to help me up. “You could have done that sooner, you know.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, sure. I’ll make sure to issue a gigantic fireball every time were in danger. I didn’t even know that I could do it. My magic well isn’t exactly top-notch right now.”
She harrumphs at me like I’m lying but doesn’t say anything else as we walk across the room toward whatever hole she referenced earlier. It’s tucked in the far corner, well away from whatever festivities would go on in this hall on the winter solstice. We stop at the edge, and when I look into it, my stomach drops. It’s deep or appears that way. Either way, I’m not sure that I want to jump into without knowing what awaits me. Beth glances at me before sticking her arm out and shoving me in.
High Fae Academy - Year Two: Paranormal Fae Romance Page 6
