Striding over, he gathered them in his arms and squeezed tightly. Just as Autumn was beginning to lose air supply he let go and held them at arm’s length. “Let me look at you,” he said. His hazel eyes were wet. “It’s been years. Luke, you look so much like your father. I assume Mrs. King is not with you? We will send her a message, telling her you are safe.”
Autumn felt a surge of guilt. She had completely forgotten about Mrs. King.
“You know her?” Luke asked.
“Indeed. She used to care for your father. She’s an elf as well, but she chose to live above the Underground. Don’t ask me why. I have never understood elves who would do such a thing, your father included.”
“Our father never told us about any of this,” Luke said, sounding slightly bitter.
Olympus nodded. “He thought he was protecting you.”
“From what?” Autumn asked.
Olympus frowned. Autumn noticed a shift in the air. All of the elves seemed uncomfortable. Crystal wrapped her arms around herself and Avery tensed up.
“Perhaps we should sit…” Olympus said. “There are some things you need to know.”
Vyra Vaun
CHAPTER SIX
Olympus, Autumn, and Luke sat in a corner of the throne room in a series of armchairs situated around a table set with tea and cakes. No one touched them.
“So this Vyra person—elf, I mean,” Luke said, looking stonily at his full teacup. “She killed our parents?”
Olympus nodded solemnly.
“Why them?” Autumn asked, her voice shaking. “Why our parents?”
“Vyra is the leader of the Atrums—”
“What are Atrums?” Luke asked.
“Evil elves. Wickedness runs through their veins. It is in their blood.”
“Okay, so they’re evil,” Luke said. “But that still doesn’t explain why this evil elf woman would choose to kill our parents.”
“Vyra desires power. Complete power. Her father was the leader of the Atrums before her, before she killed him to gain control. She killed her mother and her younger brother as well and created an army of creatures called Shadows. The only thing standing in the way of her ruling the entire elf population now…is our bloodline.”
“But that means—” Luke began.
“She wants to kill us too,” Autumn finished, a hollow feeling appearing in her chest.
Olympus didn’t answer, which was essentially a confirmation.
“Well, we will just have to get rid of her before she tries to get rid of us,” Luke said, a dark shadow passing across his face.
Autumn shot Luke a surprised look. “I thought you didn’t believe any of this.”
“I don’t know what I believe. I just know I want to kill this Vyra person.”
“I’m afraid it is not that simple. But, I would be happy if you stayed here. This is where you will be safest.”
“We’ll stay,” Autumn said.
Olympus smiled warmly. “Magnificent. Well, enough of this morbid chatter. You’re home now.”
“Should we, like, sign up for elf school or something?” Luke said uncertainly.
“I’ve already spoken to the head of Aspen Academy, and she has set up your class schedules.”
“How did you know we were coming?” Autumn asked.
“Well, I wasn’t positive how long it would take, but I assume you’ve been receiving my dream messages?” A knowing smile spread across Olympus’s aged face.
Autumn shot a quick glance towards the gray-eyed boy—Avery—who stood beside her grandfather’s throne. He looked away when their eyes met and Autumn turned back to Olympus. “That was you?”
“Well not me, directly. I enlisted the help of a castle worker whose Power is Dream Communication. She was unable to give you a clearer message since you were in the Outside, but was nonetheless effective.”
“I’ll say,” Autumn said.
Olympus laughed, reaching for a pastry. Autumn glanced down at her grandfather’s right wrist. The very same outline of a rose.
“What is the significance of the rose?” Autumn asked Olympus, who glanced down at his own wrist and smiled.
“Roses symbolize many things for elves. We have one for nearly every occasion. This rose,” he held up his wrist, “represents the royal elves. The white petals and black edges signify loyalty wrapped in strength. Two qualities we elves regard quite highly. Every Oaken before you has had the same mark. It is how we are recognized by others who may not know our faces.”
“Couldn’t it have been, like, a tumbleweed or something more manly than a rose,” Luke grumbled.
Olympus clicked his tongue. “On the contrary, a rose is a clever little flower. Beautiful and delicate, yes, but with a strong stem and thorns for protection. Roses have a true complexity that few other magical creatures appreciate.”
Just then another man dressed in the green rushed in the room. “Pardon, Your Majesty, but you are needed in Rose Valley.”
“Can it wait?” Olympus said.
“A dragon was accidentally set loose by one of the Tamers. He’s destroying their town…”
Olympus heaved a great sigh and turned to face Autumn and Luke again. “Got to go put out that fire, I’m afraid. We will become better acquainted later in the week. Until then, Mr. Burke will show you to your rooms, and I’m sure Miss Everly will give you a quick tour of town if you’re up to it.”
They stood and Olympus wrapped Autumn and Luke in another tight hug, held them at arm’s length once again, and smiled before sweeping from the room.
Once the king was gone Avery approached them, accompanied by Crystal, and said, “I’m Avery Burke. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your rooms.”
He led them through yet another door into the next room. The only thing occupying this space was the enormous base of a staircase that wrapped around the perimeter of the room and meandered up past the ceiling.
“That’s a lot of stairs,” Luke said, tilting his head back.
Avery simply chuckled and began to climb the vast staircase. They traveled all the way up past the ceiling where the stairs continued to wrap around the next room. Autumn gazed over the railing as they continued to climb. The room below was filled with round, wooden tables, and was dimly lit by a magnificent glass chandelier, which held the same pulsating light that appeared in sconces all around the castle.
“Is this where we eat?” Luke asked.
“Er… no. This is where we eat,” Crystal said indicating Avery and herself. “Castle workers. I expect you two will have a private dining room somewhere.”
“Why?” Autumn asked.
“You’re royals,” Avery said, looking at Autumn as if this should be an obvious explanation.
“So?” Luke said.
“So, that’s just how things are,” Crystal said. “Royals don’t eat with the rest of the castle workers.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Autumn said. “We don’t need any sort of special treatment. We can eat with everyone else.” Luke nodded in agreement.
Avery raised an eyebrow at her. Autumn could tell that she was not what he’d expected, which seemed to be a good thing.
They climbed past the dining room ceiling into the next room—a sea of books. Autumn knew at once that this was the castle library. Her face broke out into a wide smile. She felt like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Shelves full of books covered the walls with rolling ladders placed every so often along bookcases. Groups of heavy wooden tables congregated in the middle of the room, and oversized armchairs sat near what looked like a stone fireplace.
“Look, Autumn,” Luke said. “Your dream room.”
“Yeah. I’ll just sleep here. No need to show me to my room anymore.”
“As much fun as I think sleeping in a room full of brilliant literature sounds,” Avery said, “I’d say you’ll want to see your rooms before making that decision.”
He likes books, Autumn thought, smiling to herself.
They co
ntinued to walk up past the library ceiling. Luke was now wheezing and Autumn’s legs were beginning to feel like jelly.
“Um—how many stories up are our rooms?” Luke asked, panting.
“Your branch is just up here,” Avery said, indicating one of the entryways that branched—literally—off of the staircase ahead of them. He stopped at a landing in front of a large oak door. “Luke, you’ll be staying in Branch 307. Autumn yours is 308.” He pointed a little ways up the stairs to another landing and oak door. “If either of you ever need anything, I live in Branch 309. Just up there.” He pointed to a door a little ways up the spiral staircase and Autumn had to repress the excitement that bubbled up when she realized they were neighbors.
“Thanks, Avery,” Crystal said. “I’ll take it from here.”
Avery nodded and started back down the staircase as Crystal pulled Autumn up the stairs to Branch 308. A shout of surprise came from Luke’s branch, and Autumn turned to see that Luke had already disappeared from the landing to explore, and was apparently impressed by what it held.
Autumn turned the handle and the door swung open to reveal her new home. She gasped. She had been expecting one room, but this “branch” was more like a house than anything else. The doorway opened into a grand living area decorated in jewel tones, with downy couches and a red brick fireplace. An archway led from the living room into a study with shelves full of books, a heavy wooden desk, and yet another fireplace accompanied by two emerald green armchairs.
“It’s beautiful,” Crystal said from behind Autumn, who was too stunned to speak.
Autumn left the study, moving slowly back through the living room and into what appeared to be her bedroom. Here sat a golden canopy-bed covered with a bright purple comforter made out of a material that felt like flower petals. Her walls were a glimmering turquoise and her armoire was painted gold.
A dark blue curtain decorated the double glass doors leading to a balcony outside. Autumn opened them, letting in the sunlight and fresh air. She moved to the railing, looking out at her new home, breathing it in. Crystal came to stand beside her.
“This can’t be real. I must still be dreaming,” Autumn said.
“You aren’t dreaming,” Crystal said. “Trust me.”
They heard the distant slam of her front door and Luke emerged on Autumn’s balcony a few seconds later. “This is insane! My bathroom is bigger than my old room! No—my bathtub is bigger than my old room! I admit it, Crystal. This place is pretty legit.”
A slow smile spread across Crystal’s face. “Wait until you see the rest of the kingdom.”
The Lion Girl
CHAPTER SEVEN
“The castle will be serving dinner soon so I’ll just take you to Arbor Lake, but we will have all day tomorrow to see everything else,” Crystal said as she escorted Autumn and Luke out of the castle and down a dirt path that wound through more colossal trees and peculiar plants of varying shapes and sizes.
“So you elves just…walk everywhere?” Luke said.
“Uh huh. That is, after all, the purpose of legs and feet, is it not? Do you use them for something else in the Outside?”
“Yeah. Controlling the gas and brakes in our cars,” Luke said.
Crystal made a face. “Well, we use our feet for walking. There are no cars down here.”
“Where did you say we were going?” Autumn asked.
“Arbor Lake,” Crystal said. “It’s where everyone our age goes for fun. And school starts back Monday so I’m sure nearly the whole school will be there.”
Luke’s eyes lit up. “Will, uh, will there be girls there?”
Crystal giggled. “Of course, and I’m sure they’ll all be quite interested to talk to the new prince.”
“Who’s that?” Luke asked.
“Er…you,” Crystal said.
“Oh. Right. Then what are we waiting for?”
Arbor Lake soon appeared through the foliage. Trees and large boulders encircled the water, creating somewhat of a barrier to the forest. And, like the waterfall, the lake was eerily still and shimmered in the light as if someone had spilled glitter all over the surface of the water. Groups of elves were dispersed throughout the area. Some lounged on the grass, others sat atop boulders, or in the shade of the many trees, and a few were even sunbathing on the sandy lake shore. Autumn glanced over to find Luke gawking at all the elf girls in their bathing suits.
“Well, if it isn’t the little dress maker.”
Autumn turned to see a girl approaching them with two others following closely behind. Golden blonde hair spilled past her shoulders and her eyes were a piercing tawny color, reminding Autumn of a lioness on the prowl. The lion girl’s mouth was turned up in a sneer. It would appear she had spotted her prey.
“Don’t you have clothes to be sewing?” she said to Crystal, who shot her a look of pure loathing. The girl glanced over at Autumn and Luke for the first time and her face contorted in disgust. “Outsiders? Did you bring them here, Everly?”
Autumn resisted the urge to smack this girl across her perfect little lion face.
“Kyndel, this is Autumn and Luke Oaken,” Crystal said. “They’re staying in the castle with their grandfather. You know, the king.”
Kyndel narrowed her eyes in suspicion, and Autumn held up her wrist to reveal her Royal Mark. Kyndel’s eyebrows shot up in apparent surprise. She opened her mouth as if she was about to speak, but then quickly shut it. Flipping her hair, she trudged off with her nose in the air, her followers chasing after her.
Crystal broke into hysterical laughter. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Kyndel Butler speechless. You two have no idea how perfect that was.”
Luke watched Kyndel walk away with a mixture of dislike and lust on his face.
“What was her problem?” Autumn asked.
“She thinks that she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Arbor Falls, and anyone who doesn’t agree is automatically her enemy. So, as you just witnessed, that includes me.”
Luke raised his eyebrows as another girl sauntered by in a tight-fitting dress. “Is there something in the water here that makes elf girls so freaking hot?”
Just then, the boy who could talk to animals jogged up to them. He bowed dramatically and said, “Your Highnesses.”
“Please don’t do that, Forrest,” Autumn said. “We won’t have you beheaded, I promise.”
“I know. I was just giving you a hard time. Are you going to school on Monday?”
“I guess so,” Autumn said, her stomach dropping at the idea of going to a new school full of elves.
Her last “new kid at school” situation hadn’t exactly been the most pleasant. What with her parents’ deaths and the resulting survivor’s guilt, added to the culture shock of moving to Ireland, Autumn hadn’t made all that many friends. She had undergone several phases during that school year. For a month, she only wore black clothes, along with black eyeliner and eye shadow. Then she moved on to wearing revealing clothing to prove that she just didn’t care what anyone thought. But then winter came and she had to wear a jacket all of the time, so she just didn’t try at all. Didn’t fix her hair, or put on makeup, or attempt to coordinate her clothing in any way. That’s when Luke finally confronted her about falling apart. After that she slowly started to care again.
Autumn was pulled from her reverie when a large group of elves approached them. Kyndel, of course, was in the front, like a lioness leading her pride.
“There they are,” Kyndel said, pointing towards Autumn and Luke. “The prince and princess. Told you they were here.”
Rather than flash her Royal Mark, she kept her wrist pressed against her body. She didn’t really want that kind of attention right now. Nor did she want to please Kyndel in any way. Luke, on the other hand, quickly obliged, raising his wrist for all of the elf girls to see. The elves let out a chorus of squeals and whoops, and a satisfied look appeared on Kyndel’s face. Luke grinned from ear to ear at the sight of all the elf
girls eyeing him. He waved and they giggled with delight, shooting him sultry looks. It seemed Luke was going to have an easier time fitting in here than he ever had in the “Outside.” Then Autumn noticed a handful of boys staring at her and felt her cheeks flush with warmth.
“Am I missing out on the fun?” a familiar voice said.
Autumn’s stomach did a small flip when she saw Avery approaching.
“Kyndel here was just being a sweetheart and introducing the entirety of the Underground to our new prince and princess,” Crystal said.
“They didn’t believe me,” Kyndel said, gesturing to the gathering crowd. “I had to prove them wrong.”
“Ah,” Avery said, flashing Autumn an amused glance. “Well, unfortunately I was sent to fetch the new prince and princess, so I suppose everyone will just have to get their autographs some other time.”
The crowd let out cries of disappointment as Avery led Autumn, Luke, and Crystal away. Kyndel was the only one who didn’t seem at all upset by their departure. While Autumn was relieved to escape the staring eyes, Luke didn’t seem as eager to go. He lagged behind, waving enthusiastically. This was, after all, the most attention he had ever received from females in his entire life.
“Come on, Luke,” Autumn called over her shoulder. “You’ll see them tomorrow.”
Luke gave one last wave, evoking another round of squeals, and jogged to catch up to the others.
“Ugh,” Luke groaned when he caught up to the others. “How many roads and paths and stairs and alleys and parks and forests are we going to have to walk through today? I’ve walked more today than I have in my whole life. Like, add up all the time I’ve ever walked and it will not equal the amount of walking I have done today.”
Avery chuckled and approached one of the many oak trees lining the road. There was a knot on the bark, which he pushed in like a button.
Autumn tilted her head to the side. “What did that do?”
“It called a carriage,” Avery said.
“You have carriages here?” Luke exclaimed. “Why haven’t we been using those the whole time?”
Oaken (The Underground Series Book 1) Page 4
