By the end of my rant, I’m screaming at the top of my lungs. Octavius takes a step back and holds up his hands in front of him. We stand there for several minutes, staring at one another while I breathe heavily with clenched fists. I’m tired of everyone trying to tell me what to do. If I’m the chosen one from the prophecy, then shouldn’t I be the one to make the decisions?
Instead of saying something else to make me even more upset, Octavius steps up to the nearest door and pops it open. Greenery, chirping birds, and brilliant sunlight greets me as I step in after him. The portal on the opposite wall is a swirling mass of green sparks and what looks like grass. He steps up to it and turns back to me with an expectant look on his face. I look between him and the portal, raising my eyebrows high.
“What do you expect me to do? I’ve never traveled by portal before, and even if I had, I wouldn’t just jump through with no explanation.”
He shrugs. “If you’re on the side of ending the war and nothing else, prove it. Take the first step by commanding the king of Earth to allow life-sustaining measures to flood all lands, not just light.” The vampire boy’s words come back to haunt me.
My parents can’t even find enough animals for blood, it’s like the king of Earth has denied us the courtesy of life. The trees are dying, and no one is doing anything about it.
“How am I supposed to command the king of Earth? I’m not a queen yet, Octavius.”
He steps past me to grasp the iron sword leaning against the wall. I watch as he pulls the strap across his chest, securing it in place. Jittery, nervous energy courses through me as I wait for him to respond. The nonchalant nature of his movements makes me see red. He’s acting like going into the earth kingdom, and demanding peace will be an easy feat. Even the chosen one must earn the respect of the people around them. Surely he knows that.
He turns, smiling. “You still don’t get it, do you, Tiana? As a fae with the power of all five elements, you outrank everyone. That’s why the masters want you and why Rowan chose you. He is the only other person in history to hold such power, and as I’m sure he’s told you, it comes with great responsibility. So, you need to get over your human emotions and whatever else is holding you back. It’s time for you to learn about the fae world that you’re now a part of, whether you like it or not.” He pauses to hold out an iron dagger toward me. “Are you ready to honestly and truly accept who you’re meant to be?”
Not certain at all, I reply while taking the dagger. “Yes.”
Chapter Nine
Stepping through the portal felt like falling down the rabbit hole or getting sucked up into a dizzying tornado. I half expected Octavius to tell me that we’re not in Kansas anymore. The land around me is nothing like the neutral academy grounds. It’s lush with trees and foliage that I’ve never seen before in a range of colors I didn’t know existed. The amount of growth of life here is astounding.
I step up to the nearest tree and run my fingers along the deep yellow branches sprouting indigo leaves. Octavius is watching me marvel at everything around me with a small smile on his face. With a laugh, I fall to my knees and press my hands into the dense silky moss covering the ground. Earth magic pulses there, as alive and beautiful as it’s always been, yet fuller. As if portraying that this is its true home where all earth magic belongs.
“Come on, Tiana, we have to get moving. The portal drops us at the edge of the Earth territory, and it’s a day’s walk to court. We have to get there before nightfall.”
I stand and brush off my jeans. “Why?”
He moves in front of me, leading the way as we set off. “Because dangerous things lurk in the darkness of the fae kingdoms.”
His words sent a chill through me that’s quickly dismissed by the wonders around me. We walk in silence for several minutes as I touch and greet every new and interesting plant that we pass. Blue sunflowers, purple roses, yellowed ferns, and each and every tree is made of a different bark ranging in color from brown to red to yellow. Each one I touch sends a burst of energy and magic back into my veins. Very few resemble trees from the human world. It’s strange that so many near the academy did. Perhaps it was to keep up the premise that all things are equal there.
Eventually, my awe wears off, and I look at Octavius. His back is to me, and he’s striding forward with purpose, shoving plants out of the way roughly. They recoil from him, appearing wounded, and I hear them as I pass. It makes me wonder if he has death magic, and if so, has he used it on another person? Are his hands covered in the blood of his enemies as his fathers must be? I catch up to him, so we’re walking side by side. He gives me a sidelong glance but doesn’t say anything.
“Can I ask you some questions about the dark fae?” He shrugs, so I go on. “I was told that the dark fae are exact copies of the light fae, but that doesn’t seem to be true. You don’t have courts for the elemental powers, and your primary power is death magic.”
He flinches at the mention of his magic. “Dark fae are not copies, per se. We are made through expended magic. Light Lucian is older than dark Lucian by over three hundred years, as are the other masters. Dark fae are spawned from mass amounts of magic being used to kill our brethren. We are not born as humans are. We come out of the earth of the battlefield, yowling and crying newborns bathed in blood and sorrow. Our magic is a result of that.”
I whisper, “That’s horrible.”
“Yes, it is. We are an entire race spawned from death. A constant reminder of mother earth's sorrow.”
Something dawns on me. “Wait. If you spawn from death and bloodshed, how did the first of the dark fae spawn? The great war has always been between light and dark fae.”
He gives me a withering look while holding a branch back for me to pass. “Don’t be naive, Tiana. War is a part of the fae culture. How do you think the first kings came to pass? How Rowan came to be the high king of the fae? Power comes at a cost.”
We lapse into silence as I attempt to process the information. Made by death and bloodshed, copies but never truly the same. Cursed with magic that leaves them tainted and strange compared to their light fae brethren. But while their story is horribly sad, I also need to remember that they had started the conflict between the courts. They did not want to be ruled over, and while that’s understandable, it was their choice to begin a revolution that hasn’t ended since. Everyone is at fault. There are no sides to take, not with this much death at stake.
“I don’t believe that it has to be a part of your culture. To say things like that is a fool's notion. War is a choice, not a culture. Plus, that almost feels like everyone is refusing to accept responsibility for their actions which, to me, is unacceptable.”
He smirks. “Gods, you’re different from every other woman I’ve met. That being said, I haven’t met very many halflings.”
I shove him, only half playing. “I’m going to choose to take that as a compliment.”
He chuckles before we lapse into silence again. I’m not sure what to talk about with him. I come from such a different world than all of these males, and yet, I think it brings a unique perspective that they hadn’t thought of before. While I don’t approve of war being a culture, I certainly know that violence is in their nature. Whether it’s because they don’t feel emotions in the same way humans do, or because they like it is yet to be seen. I’m hoping it's the former. Just as I’m pondering that my phone buzzes in my back pocket. Beth’s name flashes across the screen.
Where the hell are you? I went by your dorm, but no one’s there.
Octavius leans in and snorts when he sees her message but doesn’t seem alarmed or worried about her knowing. So, I tell the truth.
I’m in the court of earth with Octavius, can’t talk. I will fill you in later.
WTF?!
I shove the phone back into my pocket without responding. Octavius doesn’t look at me again after I put it away. The only sound around us is the happy chirping of birds and the shivering of leaves as they move with life-
like magic. The landscape hasn’t changed much since we began walking, and we’ve been traveling for quite a while now. It’s a constant thick forest, yet I’ve seen no animals since we’ve set out.
I poke his arm. “Where are all the animals?”
He moves away from me with an irritated look on his face. “They’re hiding. This isn’t snow white. A deer isn’t going to come out of the woods to let you ride it.”
I roll my eyes. “You suck. I thought I was supposed to learn about the fae world.”
“And the most relevant question you can think of is ‘where are all the animals?’ You’ve got to be kidding.”
I throw up my hands. “Fine! If there’s so much knowledge for me to learn, give it up.” I pause and look at him expectantly. “Come on, I don’t have all day.”
“You’re young, I get it. But you have to grow up. You’re kind of whiney, and you come off as childish and weak, which will more than likely result in fae kings responding poorly to your pleas for peace. People value strength here, and confidence, so put on your big girl pants and buck up. You know what you’re capable of, so stop acting like you’re the human girl you were a month ago.”
“Buck up? That’s your advice?”
He shrugs. “Yeah. Don’t sound so surprised. Your light fae lovers might beat around the bush about it, but I won’t.”
He moves branches away from my face and allows me to step through first. The way he’s smirking makes my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I want to snap at him again, to tell him that they’re not my lovers, but that would be childish. And if I’m going to convince him that I’m not who he thinks I am, I’ll have to refrain. If only he didn’t make it so hard.
We finally break through the line of trees into a clearing on the edge of a large sparkling lake. Octavius moves further into the open toward it, and I follow, feeling hesitant. He might claim that there aren’t animals out here, but I’m not sure that I believe him. Annie has told me many stories about the fae lands in hopes that I’d decide to visit the academy. Most of them made me even more inclined to stay away. Tales of fearsome dragons, phokas that lure you away into the night, and an evil wraith with midnight claws that can disembowel you within seconds. Nothing about that has made me inclined to venture further into the forest.
Octavius kneels into the dirt along the shore before plunging his hands into the water. His eyes close, and he seems to retreat into himself, or at the very least, be elsewhere. Not wanting to disturb him, I settle down in the shade of a large willow tree with blue leaves. This entire realm is a fairytale with each and every sight taking my breath away. My fingers brush against the vines, and the magic within them sends my heart soaring. While spirit is of the soul, Earth is the very presence of life. It’s beautiful, spectacular, and most likely, something foreign and strange to the male in front of me.
He doesn’t look strange here. He is just as much of a fae as me, and I’m only half of one for god’s sake. To think that the light fae have made outcasts of them, taken away basic rights, sends sympathy swooping through my chest. Do the light fae know that they’re the ones who started the war? Who have created more and more dark fae with bloodshed? I would think not. Once the fighting has ceased, no one lingers on the battlefield. With the exception of the fae tasked with retrieving the bodies of warriors long since passed.
There are so many stories in history about this type of injustice, and this proves that immortals are no better at decency than humans. It’s a learning curve, and I have to force everyone into the upswing. Whether that’s done through discussion or violence is up to the fae kings. I’ve decided that some things are worth fighting for, and whether or not the people around me understand, I’m fighting for both sides. I’m an advocate for equality, for peace. That motive has no side.
I reopen my eyes groggily after almost having drifted off during the wait. Sometime during our stop, Octavius had stood up from the lake. His back is still turned away from me; however, he looks tense through the leather of his gear, and he’s gripping the hilt of a dagger in one hand. Something must be wrong. What did he see within the water? What power does he possess that allows him to do so?
I call to him. “Hey! Are we going to get moving or what?”
He turns then, whipping around wide-eyed and sprinting toward me at an impossible speed. “Run!”
I scramble to my feet, and he yanks me halfway up and into the forest again, this time on the opposite side of the clearing. The trees are denser here, and their limbs seem to reach out with prickling thorns to caress our skin. My skin is scratched and swollen by the time I’m ready to yell at him to stop. I haven’t heard sounds of pursuit, or anything really. Wait. I don’t hear anything. The forest has gone as silent as death. Our crashing footsteps are all that remain. Fear floods my chest, and I glance at Octavius’ pale face. He looks terrified.
I wheeze. “What’s chasing us? And what were you doing at the lake?”
He doesn’t look at me. “I was communicating with the Earth court. That’s the halfway point, and it’s customary to request an audience there before moving forward.” He pauses, giving me an unconvincing smile. “So, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
“Good news,” I gasp.
“Alright, well, we were granted an audience with the Earth King and are going in the right direction to court.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Yes, but on the other hand, we’re being chased by wendigos.”
“Wen-what?” I shout, just as a body crashes through the trees in front of us.
The sounds around us click on like a light switch, and the creature rushes forward. I scream, and Octavius pulls me to the left, as we begin to sprint again. This time the sound of multiple people pursuing us follows. But their steps feel wrong, off. As if they can barely use their legs and are pushing them to their limit. Octavius pushes my dagger into my hands, still not looking at me.
“These creatures are demons made into flesh. They possess their captives, using their bodies as a way to feast. They crave the flesh of anything large enough to satiate their appetite.”
“What? Are you saying that we’re being chased by zombies?” I squeak.
He has the audacity to chuckle. “No! Zombies don’t exist. These are simply cannibals.”
“I don’t think that there’s anything simple about cannibalism!”
Two more emerge from the trees in front of us as the ones behind close in. I instinctually press my back up against Octavius so that we can be prepared at all angles. Instead of using the measly dagger, I shove that back into my belt and summon the small amount of power in my well. It surges to life and runs down my arms to materialize two long fire swords just as Rowan had taught me. Confidence rushes through me. I can do this without him, albeit for far less time.
Octavius’ eyes widen at the sight, but he says nothing as the wendigos move in, their gait awkward and slumped. If he hadn’t expressly stated that these weren’t zombies, that’s exactly what I would call them. Their skin is dirty with layers of grime and sweat, as if the demons within them have no idea what personal hygiene is. One of them, the only female in the group, smiles ferally at me, revealing yellowed rotting teeth. But they’re not sharpened irregularly, and their ears aren’t pointed. These are human bodies. The realization horrifies me.
We circle as they do so we can both get a sense of the danger. There appears to be seven of them, in bodies of all ages and stages of demise. One man in his late forties has a piece of his scalp hanging off the side of his head. It doesn’t seem to bother him. They appear to be watching me warily now that I have fire. Perhaps it can ward them off just as it does other animals. I swing one out in front of me, and the nearest abomination leaps away, hissing and spitting in a language I can’t comprehend.
Octavius murmurs. “When they attack, they will all lunge together. Do not hesitate to cut them down, as you might have seen these are human bodies that they’ve stolen. It would be a
mercy to end them.”
He’s right. I’m not sure what they feel or know of inside themselves, but if they’re even remotely conscious, I’d want someone to end my life too. Despite my strong aversion to killing and violence, I’m not opposed to this. Demons are a whole other ball game. They deserve a horrible end for taking advantage of helpless humans.
The forest falls silent again as the wendigos crouch in unison. We pause, everyone hanging in a sort of limbo as the silence and stillness creep on. I’m about to ask Octavius what to do when they lunge, spitting and yowling altogether, and the sounds of the forest slam into me, sending my sense of awareness spiraling. I’m able to fight through the assault, and I slash one through the abdomen, cutting it in half. The body drops to the ground silently, the smell of burning flesh hot in the air.
My stomach heaves, but I push the nausea aside as another creature whirls on me. This one parries one sword with a stick, yet my magic sears through it. I bring the other down across its legs, severing them at the knees. Black blood sprays over my clothes, and the smell of it almost sends me over the edge again. Rot and decay, the smell of dying things. Of course, that’s what a demon's blood would smell like. It drops but continues to crawl toward my legs, blood and gore dragging behind it. In a panic, I furiously chop my sword downward, decimating it.
Octavius shouts. “To your left!”
Instead of attempting to move fast enough, I lunge to the right and roll. Sticky wetness coats my body, and I refuse to think about it. The only thing that matters is survival and avenging the humans whose existence is better off ending. I jump to my feet and square to the demons approaching me. These two are holding real weapons, two rusted iron swords. Where did they get those?
“We took these off the cooling bodies of your ancestors. Perhaps I will replace it with your creation.” One hisses, surprising me with its use of English. It sounds much older than the twenty-year-old body it resides in.
High Fae Academy - Year Two: Paranormal Fae Romance Page 8
