by Sumida, Amy
“Lady Dubheasa, Queen of the House of Water,” Danal nodded to her and then gestured to me. “This is Lady Vervain, Goddess of Love, Lust, Victory, War, and Lions.”
“Well met,” she nodded regally to me.
“A pleasure,” I smiled and nodded back.
“If you stay in Faerie for awhile,” she smiled and revealed the tips of tiny, sharp teeth, “You should come and visit the Kingdom of Water. We'd be happy to host you.”
“That's very generous,” I smiled back, hoping my smile wasn't too shaky. Have I mentioned how afraid I am of the water? “I'll keep that in mind.”
“Lovely,” she waved her hand fluidly and I noticed a slight webbing connecting her fingers.
“My lady,” Danal bowed again and steered me away.
“Was she some kind of fish?” I whispered to Danal.
“A fish...” he looked horrified. “That was the Water Queen, not a fish. She is a type of water-sidhe, a mermaid.”
“Ah,” I nodded sagely. “Does she happen to have a pet crab named Sebastian?”
“No,” he growled, “she doesn't have crabs.”
“Well I'd hope not,” I choked out a laugh.
“I don't even want to know,” he shook his head at my shenanigans.
“Where's her tail?”
“She doesn't have it on land,” he sighed. “Aren't you going to eat the rest of that?” He pointed to the rest of my pastie and I made a face at him before taking another bite.
I munched on the pastry as we sauntered ever closer to the center of the spiral. I could see the High King and Queen, seated at the thrones at the very center, talking to a crowd of faeries. While my attention was on them, something caught at my boot and I fell forward, stumbling a bit.
A scrunched up, wrinkled face peered at me around the legs of taller fey. Black eyes were too large, completely lacking any whites, and bulged slightly out beneath bushy brown brows. The creature was bent over, twisted limbs pulled close to its body as it stared up at me with malice. Veins pulsed dark blue against his pallid skin, and his nostrils flared as he sniffed in my direction.
“Human,” it hissed. “Human witch! Taint of fey in human bones. Sour the soup but I know. I know how to soak it out. Soak it! Soak the meat in malted wheat and give us all a tasty treat!” He started laughing gleefully, jumping up and down. “Soak the meat! Soak the meat! Soak the meat!”
The other fey backed away, narrowed looks shooting between me and the creature. I looked toward Danal but even he just stared hard at me, willing me to do something less idiotic this time. I had no idea what I was even facing, much less how to deal with it, so I decided to just be myself. I flung my arms down, releasing my claw-like blades from my leather gloves and eliciting a startled gasp from the assemblage.
“I'll give you a tasty treat,” I growled and lowered myself into a fighting stance.
“Tasty treat!” The thing laughed wilder and jumped toward me.
He was a nightmare come to life but I'd been facing my nightmares for years and this guy barely managed a bleep on my fear radar. I punched him in his chortling mouth, catching him up into his soft palate and penetrating his brain in one go. The thing went limp as I continued through with the swing, lifting him up on my blades like a trophy for the entire court to see.
I was shaking with anger. I knew this world was different from mine but I'd been offered a certain amount of hospitality and I knew that meant something to the fey. The little monster had just violated that and no one had lifted a fey finger to stop him. Nope, they wanted to know what I was capable of, dressed up in silk and velvet like they were. They wanted to know if the savage lioness could fight without her beast form. So I took great pleasure in holding that thing aloft and looking slowly around the room, staring all those shocked faeries right in the eye, before I flung the body away from me like garbage.
A huge arm reached out and caught the corpse, pulling it in to a massive chest before lifting a hideous face to mine. He pushed his way through the crowd, climbing over the curve of table in front of him to get to me. Easily eight feet tall, my new adversary reeked of rotten things and dark places. His skin was a putrid green, his eyes pus yellow, and his features seemed too small for his huge head. Upon that head was a knitted cap, dark red and clotted black in places. It was dripping blood over his right eye.
“Fuck,” I breathed. This guy, I recognized. The red cap. A type of goblin if I remembered right, and so that would make the little monster a goblin too. Well, in for a pound. “He started it,” I pointed at the dead goblin and the red cap roared, spittle flying in all directions. “Okay fine, it's your funeral.”
I rushed him mid-roar, a trick I don't think he was expecting. In fact, from the look in his eyes, he wasn't expecting me to fight back at all. Those eyes widened even further when I drug my claws up from his gut, after stabbing in both sets of blades. They caught on his ribcage and as I tried to yank them out, his hands went around my upper arms and pulled me up to the level of his face, effectively dislodging them for me.
“Oh, hey,” I grinned at him. “Thanks for that. I was having the hardest time getting these loose.” I head butted him and he staggered back, both hands to his face as he roared again, this time in pain.
As I hit the ground, I pushed myself forward, going right between his legs and coming out behind him. I flung the skirts out of my way, along with my hair, before leaning forward and slicing into the back of both of his knees. The red cap fell forward, into a kneeling position, and I came up behind him to do what I do best. I used both hands, eight blades total, because I just wasn't sure I had the strength to behead him, even with the god-spelled steel.
I shouldn't have worried. The enchantment was hella powerful and I sliced through both tendon and bone in one shot, pulling the head back with me in my momentum. I ended up kind of cradling it, blood running from the open neck and the still dripping cap. It soaked the front of my dress, ruining the beautiful fabric and thoroughly pissing me off.
I don't know what possessed me to do what I did next. Maybe it was the staring crowd, faces rapt with admiration and blood lust. Maybe it was simple exhaustion or fright but something told me it was the right thing to do. I dropped the head and pulled the cap off it. Then to the amazement of all, including myself, I put it on my head.
The fey burst into delighted cheering, voices shouting in approval and echoing around me with the force of a tornado. I grinned at them as I felt blood drip down the side of my cheek and they roared louder. One face suddenly separated itself from the crowd, dragon eyes filled with desire. Arach grinned at me and raised his hands slowly. He began to applaud in an even tempo before giving me a nod of approval.
Danal looked nervous as he came forward and offered me his arm. I tried to smile at him reassuringly but I think it might have come out more like a grimace. I did manage to pull up my claws before I placed my hand on his arm though. His brows furrowed low and he looked away as he led me further into the spiral.
My dress was sticky with blood and clung to me uncomfortably but I held my head high and smiled as I passed the congratulating crowd. Inside me, my beasts rumbled their approval. They knew I'd done what was necessary. Just as Fallon had done with the Froekn, I'd shown the fey that I was worthy. Not a simpering human after all. Come at me and I'll drench myself in your blood and then wear it proudly. It was a message they seemed to not only understand but heartily approve of. Too bad my stomach was gurgling from the scent of the bleeding cap on my head. I just hoped I could get through dinner without throwing up all over the High King.
“So,” the High King stood as I approached and waved to a chair on his right. “You may have more faerie blood in you than I first suspected.”
“Because I'm fine wearing blood as an accessory?” I nodded at Danal before taking the seat.
“Precisely,” the King gave me a secret smile, one echoed by his lovely, blood-sucking wife, as he resumed his seat. “The first thing you must understand about the
fey is that even the most beautiful of us, the most sweet looking and fragile of our women, are still capable of great ferocity when needs be.”
“I don't take joy in it,” I frowned, wondering for a second if I had.
“No and that's not what I meant,” King Cian said. “Danal please sit beside your charge,” he waved to a seat beside me.
“Thank you, High King,” Danal sat quickly and reached for a glass in front of him.
“We are not all blood thirsty,” the King continued, “but we will defend ourselves with relish and it's often the smaller fey who prove to be the most deadly.”
“Don't be fooled by the size of the package, eh?” I smiled even though blood was dripping down my nose. “Yeah, I get underestimated a lot.”
“Ah yes,” he winked and then leaned close to whisper, “it's acceptable to remove the cap now. You've made your point.”
“Oh thank all that's holy,” I sighed as I pulled the stinking thing off my head.
The King laughed as the Queen handed me a pristine handkerchief to wipe my face with. I looked down at the immaculate fabric in her hand, decorated with delicate embroidery, and shook my head.
“Thank you,” I said to her, “but I'll use my sleeve. I don't want to ruin any more beautiful things tonight.”
“Oh, sweetling,” she cooed, “I want it to remember this night by. Please,” she waved it toward me again.
“Okay,” I swallowed hard and took the small bit of silk. I wiped my face and handed it back to her.
“Lovely,” she stared at it, then sniffed it like it was a vintage wine, before folding it carefully and tucking it up her sleeve.
I smiled at her, trying to hold back the scream that was threatening to burst forth. Funny that I could kill two living beings, cover myself in blood, and don a bleeding cap with no problems but watching a beautiful vampire sniff a handkerchief, nearly sent me over the edge. I reached for my glass and shot back the amber liquid it contained. It burned a bright path down my throat and then continued through my entire body, awakening and stroking every nerve cell I had.
I sat up straight and gasped.
“Refreshing, isn't it?” The High King laughed.
“Wow,” I looked at my empty glass in wonder. Before I could spend another second contemplating it, a brownie darted forward and refilled it. “Thank you,” I said and the creature froze, staring up at me with large, doe eyes. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing,” she stammered, her eyes darting to the High King, who smiled indulgently at her. She stood a little straighter and bowed then. “You're welcome, my lady.” Then she was gone.
“I did something wrong,” I grimaced.
“Not at all,” the Queen's sultry voice soothed me. “You simply showed kindness after displaying your talent for bloodshed. This is fey behavior, not human. It confused the poor thing. I think most of the fey are a little bewildered by you now. You are not what we've known humans to be. It's a delightful change.”
“Thank you,” I said, because what else do you say to a vampire faerie Queen who liked to sniff bloody bits of cloth? “Now, King Cian, could we discuss how I can go about getting myself home?”
“The Aether is supposed to be sealed,” he sobered. “Your request allowed you through but getting you back again may prove difficult. I have several wayfarers working on the problem as we speak.”
“Wayfarers?” I glanced at Danal but he was staring at the King in shock.
“Fey who specialize in opening closed or hidden paths,” the King cut into a perfect peach, slicing it into exact sections before bringing a piece to his mouth. “If there is a way back for you, they will find it.”
“Oh,” I stared at the food before me, my stomach sinking.
“Be of good cheer,” King Cian lifted his glass to me. “You have won the faeries of my court with your bravery and skill. You are welcome here for as long as you need solace.”
“I appreciate that,” I focused back on his face, “I do, it's just that I have people who depend on me back home. I have a werewolf bonded to me. He'll die if I don't make it home within thirty days. I need to get back as soon as possible.”
“Thirty days?” He frowned thoughtfully. “Time is different here. You may have longer than you think. Don't concern yourself over matters out of your control. Worry later, when it becomes necessary. Right now, celebrate your victory. Live like a faerie and rejoice in the moment.”
“I'll try my best,” I smiled and fought for optimism. The King was right. I shouldn't worry over something that may not even happen. I could wake up in the morning and find that one of his wayfarers had already found the way to open the Aether for me. Or maybe I'd wake up and realize it had all been a dream. I pulled a chunk off a loaf of bread in front of me and started munching on it. It was soft with a crunchy crust and perfectly delicious. The best bread I'd ever had and I knew I wasn't dreaming it. If I was dreaming, it would have been pizza.
“So tell me about the Human Realm,” the King pulled me out of my thoughts. “There has been many changes, I presume.”
“Yes, in the last century alone,” I nodded, thinking of how to describe my world to faeries. “We've made a lot of advancements, things you'd probably view as magical but are really just science.”
“Science?” The Queen's brows rose. “Like machines and such?”
“Oh good,” I gave a relieved laugh. “It's a lot easier to explain if you know what machines are.”
“Of course,” the King waved his hand airily. “The Atlanteans had some amazing machines but we have no need for such things.”
“Well, King Tinkerbell, humans do,” I shrugged. “Most of us don't have magic to make things easier.”
“And those of you who do,” the Queen looked pointedly at me, “have it only because of your ties to Faerie.”
“Who is this Tinkling Bell person?” King Cian whispered to his wife, who shrugged gracefully.
“Wait,” I frowned. “You implied before that I may have faerie blood back in my bloodline but what are you saying now? That all witches are part fey?”
“Yes,” she smiled, “that's exactly what I'm saying. It's our blood that allows you to tap into the elements. Faeries are shaped of nature, of the five elements, which is why our Houses are split into them. Only fey can work with those powers and it was only when faeries started breeding with humans that your kind developed the skill as well.”
“So it's definite then,” my mind was whirling. Someone in my family tree had bred with a fey. “I'm part faerie.”
“Well,” the King shrugged, “most likely a very small part. We haven't interbred in years, it hasn't been possible since the closing of the path, so your blood would be very diluted.”
“Is it just the blood or is it spirit as well?” A stranger thought was occurring to me. What if it wasn't just my blood from this body but the blood of Sabine as well? I'd been a witch in both lives.
“What do you mean by this?” The Queens gaze was sharp.
“Uh,” I looked around at the suddenly silent gathering. “I'm kind of a special case. It's a long story really but basically, this is my second life.”
“Ridiculous,” the King scoffed. “The human idea of reincarnation is false.”
“As much as that's good to know,” I still wasn't sure about the reincarnation thing, despite the word of a faerie King. “It's not exactly reincarnation.”
“Explain,” the King narrowed his eyes on me.
“Okay, how about this,” I smirked. “Once upon a time,” the entire room quieted and I sobered up, a chill going down my spine. It was like I'd said the magic words. “There was a human witch named Sabine. She fell in love with the Viking God, Odin and they were married. They were very happy together but Sabine grew older and Odin did not. On her deathbed, he begged her to eat the apple of immortality and become a goddess but she refused and succumbed to death.”
“But Odin wouldn't let her die, would he?” Danal prompted and was shushed by
the Queen.
“Sabine's family were Catholics,” I continued. “They prayed for her soul to be allowed into Heaven, despite her unholy ways, and their prayers were answered. Azrael, Angel of Death, came to take Sabine's soul to Heaven.” My heart started thumping in my chest as I remembered the events I was describing. The light behind Azrael's kind face, the angelic script glowing on his cheek, his eyes sparkling like diamonds, and the way he touched my cheek before touching my soul. “But Odin saw Azrael and asked for a boon, from one god to another. He asked the angel to take Sabine to Hvergelmir, the Viking well of souls, where she might be reborn into another body.”
“But that's not what the well is for,” the King protested and no one shushed him. “Hvergelmir is where the souls are created. Souls do not return there to be born anew.”
“No they don't,” I agreed with him. “What Odin asked for broke several laws but he couldn't claim Sabine's soul himself because she wasn't a warrior and he'd have no access to her if he allowed her to go to Niflheim. Putting her in the well was the only way he'd have any hope of being with Sabine again. Seeing his great love for Sabine, Azrael took mercy on Odin and agreed to do the deed. He carried her soul to Hvergelmir but in the process, something unforeseen happened.”
“It always will when you tangle with Nature's web,” the Queen said sagely.
“Exactly, Queen Meara,” I nodded. “There's always a price. Azrael disturbed the natural order of things and he paid for it by falling in love with his charge. The Angel of Death takes souls with his scythe and then he deposits them in either Heaven or Hell, but the scythe wouldn't release Sabine into the Viking well. Azrael had to take her from the scythe, physically touch her soul and place her into the well. When he did, it formed a bond with Sabine that carried through into her next life.”
