Shadow Play_A Dark Fantasy Novel

by Jill Ramsower

  “Why doesn't Guin rule the Unseelie?"

  “Guin doesn’t have sufficient power to rule over the Unseelie. Several millennia ago they were ruled by Queen Mab, who was a malevolent and vindictive queen. She was one of the few Fae powerful enough to bend the Unseelie to her will. Now that Mab is gone, Guin has the Seelie realm warded to keep the Unseelie out and contained to the Wild areas of Faery. Since they are by nature solitary creatures not found in groups, nor apt to unite in any great numbers, they haven't been a threat in Faery. They don't have access to the human world, but should they ever have the opportunity to make their way onto Earth in any great numbers, the havoc and destruction they would wreak would be unending.” He paused, eyes distant.

  “What happened to Queen Mab?” I was fascinated with everything he told me, like learning that Beauty and the Beast was a true story and they were now married and living in the Carolinas with their grandchildren.

  “She had a fatal weakness that ended in her downfall. Her love for her twin brother was her Achilles heel and it was that love that got her killed. You will likely be familiar with her brother, his name was Merlin Ambrosius.”

  “Merlin, as in the legendary sorcerer in King Arthur’s Court? Of course! He was rumored to be half Fae—the son of a Faery woman.” I gasped, eyes wide in total astonishment.

  “I'm not sure where the half came from, he is full-blooded Fae. As far as I know, conception between the races is not possible.”

  My hand slammed down on the table as my mind nearly exploded. “Are you going to tell me Arthur and Guinevere were real as well? Wait, you said the Seelie Queen's name is Guin—is that Guinevere?”

  His lips quirked in amusement. “Sometimes, there is a seed of truth in Faery tales. Yes, your fabled Guinevere is the Seelie queen. The Fae have a long and complicated history. Although there are many Arthurian legends that are fictional, Arthur himself was very much real. The telling of those stories though would take us all night and they aren't immediately relevant, so unless you'd like to come back to my place and get more comfortable, I suggest we keep to more current events.” His eyes gleamed and his eyebrow arched in question.

  I shook my head at him. “Nice try.”

  As I laughed off his teasing, I realized how comfortable I had become talking with Ronan. I greatly appreciated how openly he was sharing information and I made the decision to give him a second chance and wipe his slate clean. Not to say I was jumping into bed with him, he was Fae after all, but I would keep an open mind and see if a friendship was possible.

  Continuing with my interrogation, I decided to ask some generalized questions about Fae objects in the hopes that I could learn more about my necklace. “In books that I’ve read, the Fae often have objects of power, like a cauldron, or a spear, or an amulet. Does that kind of stuff exist?”

  “Yes, there are any number of Fae objects imbued with power.”

  “Could you sense if one was near you?”

  His head tilted just a fraction and I was hoping he was contemplating his answer, rather than suspicious of my question. “It would depend on whether magic had been used to mask the presence of the object.”

  As he spoke, my eyes were drawn out the window over Ronan's shoulder to where I could feel eyes on me. Enveloped in shadow, Lochlan stood across the street watching us. My heart started to race with anger as I rose to confront him about spying on us.

  “Actually, I just remembered that I never told Ashley that I'd be coming here after work. Let me give her a quick call before she thinks I've been kidnapped.”

  I gave him what I hoped was a convincing smile before hurrying outside. I stepped out into the cold, realizing too late that I had left my coat inside, and went around to the side of the building where I couldn’t be seen through the window.

  I called over to Lochlan in a whisper-yell. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  His body slowly unfolded from his position against the wall and he made his way over to where I was standing.

  God he was built, and I hated how much my body responded to his. Instead of his usual suit, he wore a leather jacket and his powerful legs were wrapped in faded jeans that sculpted to his body like they were made for him. If I hadn't been shivering from cold, I would have been shivering for an entirely different reason, and that just pissed me off more.

  As he stepped right in front of me, arms crossed, his frigid azure eyes assessed me. “I see you just keep going back for more.”

  “You know what, Lochlan, if I didn't know better, I'd say you sounded jealous.” I wasn’t sure what came over me when I was near him, but my calm, level-headed self closed up shop and left fifteen year-old drama queen Rebecca to run the show.

  His massive body maneuvered me against the frozen brick wall, and he spoke so close to my face that I could feel his warm breath ghost against my skin as he spoke softly. “I don’t do jealous, Rebecca. If I want something, I take it.”

  My words came out in barely a whisper. “Is that why you’re here?”

  His hands slowly came up to rest on either side of my head and his eyes were glued to mine with burning intensity. I couldn't help but arch infinitesimally in his direction and by the way he responded, leaning in farther and sliding his leg between mine, I was pretty sure he had sensed my movement. His hard length pressed against my belly and it made my insides quiver with desire. Ronan was charming and well-mannered, everything I should find appealing, but somehow it was this domineering brute who undid me.

  “You’re not ready for that. There's no halfway with me—once I take you, Rebecca … you’re mine.”

  I had no idea what that meant, and I was shamefully tempted to find out. He had saved Ashley, even been gentle as he helped get her to the hospital—as overbearing as he could be, I couldn’t seem to fear him like I knew I probably should.

  He slowly pulled back and my body shuddered at the loss of his. Once he stood with a foot or so between us, his features were once again schooled in a mask. “I've warned you not to get too close to him, don’t pretend Ronan is something he's not.” He turned to start walking away when I called after him.

  “Funny, he gave me the same warning about you.”

  He stopped and when he looked toward me a wicked smile spread across his face. “That's probably good advice.” As his figure retreated, his booted feet didn't make a single sound on the glistening pavement.

  My shaky legs managed to carry me back inside and my breathing returned to normal as I approached the table. While I hadn’t actually called Ashley, the reality was that she couldn’t cook or do much of anything one-handed, so as hard as it was to end the Q&A session, I needed to get back to her.

  “Ronan, I really appreciate you sharing all of this with me today, but I’ve got to get back to my place and help Ashley.”

  He made no move but watched me closely. “What did Lochlan have to say?” His tone was flat and cold compared to his casual demeanor just minutes before.

  I wasn’t sure how he knew that I had spoken with Lochlan, and at that point, I didn’t want to know. “Nothing, he was mostly just being a bully.”

  He gave a curt nod. “I have my car here, please, let me give you a ride home.”

  “That would be great, thank you.”

  We gathered our things and headed out to where he had parked his candy-apple red Audi.

  “What is it with you Fae men and fancy sports cars?” I asked teasingly.

  He gave me a sly grin. “I’m pretty sure every man, Fae or human, gets a hard-on for a fast car. The difference is we can afford them.”

  “I see. That brings up another question. I heard somewhere that Fae can’t use technology, that obviously isn’t true but is there a reason behind the myth?”

  As I asked my question he glided the car away from the curb and headed in the direction of my apartment.

  “We were slow to adapt to technology. In Faery, the natural energy that resides in the planet causes periodic electromagnetic pulses as magic e
bbs and flows, which makes human technology useless. Plus, there is little justification to use technology—why use a tool when you can use magic? Now that Guin wishes our existence to be a secret, using cars and other technology is imperative to blending with society, although we've found that it has its uses.”

  We finished the short drive in silence. Not until I had walked inside my apartment did I register that I had never given him my address. Damn Fae men needed to learn some boundaries.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Ash shot out as soon as I walked in the door.

  I was massively wiped out from my day, so I dropped my things and plopped on the couch next to her. “I’m sorry, I forgot to text you earlier. Ronan and Lochlan are what happened. Ronan came by earlier today to ask me to join him after work for coffee and he told me all kinds of great stuff. He said I should know about the Fae since I’m in the middle of it all. Then I see Lochlan like a creeper outside watching us through the window.”

  “Oh my God, I have to hear this! And to think, I’ve been stuck in this apartment like a bump on a log all day.” She grumbled the last part and I giggled.

  I imparted all the new information I’d been given and described the awkward encounter I’d had with Lochlan.

  Ashley recapped. “So, the Fae aren’t supposed to be here but they're getting in and we don’t know how or why. Although we do know they want your necklace but we don’t know where you got it, or why they want it for that matter. Does that just about sum it up?” she asked.

  “Thanks Ash, I was feeling pretty good about learning so much, but when you put it like that, I feel like we’re still at square one.”

  “You know what, I think it sounds like a good night for pizza.”

  “Oh, hell yeah. I’m on it.” I got up from the couch to get my phone and searched for a local pizza delivery place.

  “Good, because I can’t even dial a phone.” She said the last part like a sulking child and we both burst into laughter.

  13

  By the end of the next day, I had survived another close encounter with the vampire-looking Fae, but this time I hadn’t been alone. Earlier in the day, Cat had suggested we have a drink after work at a pub not far from the museum. I felt bad that Ash was stuck at the apartment, so I had explained that I wouldn't be able to stay out long and Cat assured me that her mom would be expecting her home anyway.

  The pub was the epitome of what I would expect an Irish pub to look like. The narrow room was somewhat dark, giving it a cozy feeling, if not cramped considering the large number of people gathered for happy hour. Cat led the way through the packed room to one of two unoccupied wood tables and selected a chair with her back to the wall. I sat opposite her, facing the wall filled to capacity with sports pictures and memorabilia. We both ordered beers and took in the varied crowd that conversed animatedly with each other.

  “This place is great, thanks for the invite!” I was a few years older than Cat and appreciated her extending the offer to hang out.

  “I’m just glad we could make it out, I wasn’t ready to go home,” she said with a noticeable roll of her eyes.

  “You live with your parents?”

  “Yeah, and my mum drives me up a wall. I love her, but there comes a time when a child should leave the nest, and that time has come.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh, recalling the feeling. “I can’t imagine still being with my parents—they’re great, don’t get me wrong, but my mom’s pretty flighty and it can drive me crazy.” I paused as the waitress dropped off our drinks before asking, “Do you have plans to move out?”

  “I’ve got a cousin of sorts that graduates this year. Once she’s out of school, we’re hoping to get a flat together.”

  “That sounds awesome—I’m going to miss living with Ashley.”

  “My family is pretty traditional, and I can’t live with just anyone so Aileen is on the list of approved roommates but she’s not exactly a good friend. But at least I’ll be out from under my mum’s watchful eye.”

  “She a helicopter mom?”

  “What on earth does that mean?”

  I laughed a bit at her confused expression before I explained. “It means she hovers over you, making sure you’re safe and taken care of.”

  “Oh Rebecca, you've no idea. Her hover is more like a crow perched on my back.”

  We both giggled and I started to relax as the beer worked its way into my system. I scanned the wall that was littered with pictures, scarves and flags for a soccer club called Linfield. I could imagine game day here would be a memorable experience and decided that I would have to come back for a game.

  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Cat, who had been relaxed moments ago, suddenly sat up stiffly as her face became pale and her eyes rounded. She murmured something under her breath as her eyes quickly dropped to her hands and I leaned toward her in concern.

  “Cat, what is it? Are you okay?”

  Her eyes darted around and eventually came back to me as she forced a smile on her face. “Oh yes, I’m sorry, just remembered I needed to let the dog out to wee, but it’s no problem.” Her blatant attempt to cover her fear did nothing to shake me and I pulled my chair around to sit next to her.

  “If you think I believe that, you’re absurd. You looked like you saw a ghost, now tell me what happened?”

  Her eyes grew hard and her mouth set in determination. “I’m telling you Rebecca, it’s nothing. Let it go.”

  At her reproach, I sat back in my chair in surprise and wondered what had gotten into her. It was entirely possible, being at a bar, that she had seen a boyfriend or an ex out with someone else and I realized that I had never asked about a significant other.

  My eyes subtly scanned the animated crowd for any young men around Cat's age, but instead my eyes landed on a shapely blond woman that I knew all too well. As I watched her, just like the last time I had seen her, my vision blurred and her image morphed into that of the vampire woman.

  I released an audible gasp as the woman openly flirted with an attractive man at the bar. Her clawed hand seductively caressed his upper arm and she leaned her chest into him as she laughed. Before I could see more, Cat’s hand grabbed my arm and wrenched me around.

  “Don’t look at it! Never let them know that you can see them. We will sit here with smiles on our faces, drinking our pints like everyone else in the pub.” All shock had gone from her face and she now wore a fierce expression.

  “You see them too! How—are you Fae?” In my surprise, I spoke a bit louder than I had intended.

  “Quiet, you ejiot! Of course I’m not one of them.”

  “How can you see them?”

  “I’ve got the same question for you.” Her brow raised expectantly.

  “I don’t really know. I just started seeing them when I got to Belfast and I’m not sure if I couldn’t see them before or if there weren’t any for me to see where I lived.” I wasn’t ready to tell her about my necklace, not that I'd been able to confirm that it was the source of my new abilities.

  After considering my answer, she lowered her chin in acceptance. “This is not the first time you’ve seen them here?”

  I shook my head solemnly.

  “And you didn’t seem overly surprised to see this one—have you seen her before?”

  “I’ve seen her once before. What did you say when you saw her? Something about LeAnn?”

  She leaned in so that her lips were almost touching my ear. “Leannan sidhe.” The words sounded like lee-anan shee and were completely foreign to me. She sat back but still spoke softly. “I’ve never seen one before, but I’m pretty sure that’s what she is. They appear as a gorgeous woman who lures men with their beauty and then feed from the men. It's probably where the idea of a vampire comes from, and while she has fangs and will drink blood, that is just the means by which she takes the man's energy. Drains him until he's either dead, or wishes he were.” She paused, almost lost in her own words. “I know she should not b
e here but I've no idea what is happening that so many have been here lately.”

  “How is it you know about them?” I asked softly.

  “My people have known about them for centuries, but I can't tell you any more than that. I’ll have to tell the elders about you and they can decide what you can be told. It would help if you'd tell me more about yourself and how you can see the Fae.”

  Of course, yet another person who knew what was going on but couldn’t give me any information. My frustration showed as I sat back in my chair with my arms crossed and mouth set firm. I debated leaving the pub but before I could make a move, Cat spoke again.

  “Is that what happened to you the night you went out to the Huntsman? Was it Fae that attacked you?”

  My eyes met hers and I almost didn’t answer, but I figured I needed to be more mature than that in the hope that she would share with me in the future. “Yes, it was a draug and I’m pretty sure it would have killed us if Lochlan hadn’t shown up. I guess that's why you're familiar with him and his friends at the Huntsman. You knew they were Fae.”

  Her brows came together in confusion and she leaned back in her chair. “Did he tell you about the Fae then or did you know already?”

  “Not that he gave up the information easily, but yes, he told me.”

  “He knows that you are aware of the Fae and he didn't have a problem with that?”

  “Yes, but he doesn't seem thrilled that I showed up here.”

  She paused, eyes tight as if trying hard to put together the pieces of a puzzle. “It's my understanding they keep to themselves and are not usually open to humans knowing about them. But for some reason they have accepted you—I'm not sure if I'm more intrigued or terrified by you.”

  “Please don't be scared of me. Everything about this move so far has been upsetting, you and the museum are the only normal, comforting parts of my life here. Although I suppose you aren't entirely normal since you see the Fae too. I could really use your friendship, I swear there's nothing scary about me.”