Poppy (The Deadly Flowers Series)

by Riana Lucas

  “I am certain as well. However, I felt the need to inform you so you would be aware of the threat and know how to plan accordingly.”

  “I see.” I start to look at the information I have been given again, but Damien stops me once more.

  “Poppy,” his voice is just a bit softer than usual which alarms me because I have never heard this tone from Damien.

  I look up to see him not looking at me but out into the garden. “You must know that if the Seelie Queen is able to somehow override our powers, and you are not back in Faery Land…You will be trapped in the human world until we are able to gain control over the portals once again.” He looks back to me and I notice along with the seriousness of his face, there is also another look I do not recognize.

  Maybe it is concern, but then it is gone before I can register the look, and he continues, “You must work quickly and return with the Halfling as soon as possible. That is an order.”

  He rises from the bench, summons his spell back, and strides quickly back into the Castle. I am a bit unsettled by the encounter that I have just had with Damien. That quick look of concern that seemed to have passed across his face confuses me. I shake my head as if to clear the thoughts and look back down to the paper in my hand.

  There is a picture of a boy looking back at me. For some reason, looking at his picture causes a feeling I have never felt before to course through me.

  It is one of fear.

  Chapter 2

  I make my way to my quarters to pack a small bag and gather the things I will need for the mission. Being that the mission will be swift, I should not need much and should be able to leave within the hour.

  I am so lost in thought, making a mental list, that I do not notice the problem before me until it is almost too late. I am reaching for the door knob when I finally take notice. I quickly jerk my hand back. The door to my room is slightly ajar. I always secure my door when I leave. Being in the Unseelie Court, you can never be too careful. If there is someone in there, I do not wish for them to hear me. I want to catch them by surprise.

  I lay my hand gently on the door knob and begin to push it open slowly. That is when I hear a rustling noise from within. My hand automatically goes to my thigh where one of my daggers is sheathed in its holster. I slowly pull the dagger out and brace myself for whatever is beyond the door.

  I slam the door open with enough force to put a hole in the wall where the door knob connected with it. I do not take the time to assess the damage. I quickly roll to the right where I know my back will be up against the wall when I come up into a crouch. This will ensure my enemy cannot get behind me and that I will be able to see everything and everyone that is in my room.

  Just as I am coming up into my crouch with my dagger ready, I hear a screech followed by glass breaking on the floor. I look up to see my tutor and only friend Rhododendron.

  “Poppy! What are you doing, scaring the faery dust out of me like that?” She shouts angrily at me.

  “Me?!” I ask incredulously. “Rho, what are you doing in my room? I almost killed you.” I shout back halfheartedly, because she never takes me seriously enough to be scared.

  “Please, like you would be fast enough to kill me.” She waves me off like it is the most ridiculous thought as she bends to start cleaning up the broken vase and poppy flowers that are now all over the marble floor.

  Rho and I were first introduced to each other when it was time for my education to begin. Fae do not attend school and are not educated like those in the human world. Our main priority is to be trained in the skill that will follow us through our lives. Some Fae are trained for battle like me, some Fae are taught to serve the Royal Family directly, and other Fae are trained in various skills like kitchen duty or gardening or raising Fae children.

  Rho was brought in to teach me the history of the Fae, the monarchy of the Unseelie and Seelie Courts, proper etiquette, and basic information about the human world so I would be able to function amongst humans without being completely out of place. Rho also taught me basic magic. Once she showed me how to hone in on my inner power and the basic use of Faery magic, I was able to use it for whatever I needed without thinking about it. Magic is second nature to the Fae, but we have to be taught how to recognize it within ourselves. Spells and glamour are learned by trial and error. I choose not to use magic often. I do not trust it as much as I trust my own fighting skills.

  Initially, Rho and I did not get along at all. I do not like others around me unless it is for training. Damien and I have always kept a respectable distance between each other and allowed for each other’s privacy. I report to training when told, I report to the King when summoned, but otherwise I keep my own company and am quite fond of the arrangement.

  Rho is only a few years older than I am and is still considered quite young, considering most Fae are hundreds of years old. She was excited to be interacting with someone her own age and was extremely annoying and overwhelming. She would try to play games with me or gossip about different Fae among the court. She would question me about my opinion on the Seelie Queen and other things that I felt were a complete waste of my time.

  I demanded that we only focus on the items she was to teach me and after a time, she did as I asked. Only, after a few months of her remaining serious and focused, I realized that I actually preferred her the way she was before. Sure it was really annoying, but it proved to be a nice change from the rest of my serious and secluded life.

  Knowing that it was absolutely impossible for me to apologize or ask her to be herself again, I slowly started doing small things to make her relax again. Sometimes I would casually ask her about some story that was circulating around the court about the King, or I would tell her I liked a dress she was wearing. The comments and compliments were few and far between and it was very difficult for me to actually do it, but she eventually caught on and started being herself again. As much as I hated to admit it, it was rather refreshing to be around some one that was not like me.

  Our friendship has grown stronger over the years and we have begun to spend more time with each other than what was required. I started to train with Rho like I did with Damien. She proved to be a fast learner and a fierce warrior as well. We did all of this in secret, of course. If anyone found out, she would be removed from her current duties and asked to focus more of her attention on training.

  As much as I enjoyed what I did, and as good as Rho was; she was not the type of Fae that would enjoy fighting. She only did it with me because she enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed hers. And as much as I did not want to admit it, I did not want to lose the only friend that I had to this war.

  Now I look at her; she completely disregards the fact that I almost just killed her and I cannot help but to smile just a little bit. “I did actually almost kill you. You know that it is not very smart to sneak around in my room when I am not here. What are you doing in here anyway?”

  “Well, I heard that you were summoned by the King and came to get the details,” she answers not looking at me, still picking up glass from the floor. “I also thought it would be nice of me to bring these pretty flowers to you, but you messed that up.”

  I mumble a quick apology in regards to the flowers, which she just waves off. Then I get back to the main topic. “Rho,” I say in a chastising tone “you know I am not permitted to give you any of the details of my mission. It is forbidden by the King to discuss it with anyone other than who He says.” I have to tell her this every time I get a mission, even though she knows the rules.

  “I know, but I just want to know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. You can at least tell me that. Can’t you?” She glances up at me from where she is finishing with the mess on the floor. Her face looks bright and cheery, but I see the concern in her eyes that she is trying to conceal. That is the one thing I cannot fight. I do not like her concern for me. I know that it goes along with being friends, but it is still something that is unfamiliar and uncomfortabl
e.

  I sigh as I sit on the edge of my bed. “I am going to the human world and I will be back by tomorrow night. You know I am not gone for long periods of time on these missions. There is no need for you to worry about me. You know that Rho. I am quite capable of handling all of the missions the King gives me. I have never failed once.”

  “Yes, but this is the first time the Seelie Queen is threatening to overpower us and stop our portals from opening and closing. What if you get trapped over there?” She says with a shudder, feeling the same way I do about the human world.

  My back straightens and I look sharply at here before saying, “How did you know about that?”

  She waves me off again as if I should already know the answer to that, and truthfully I suppose I do. Rho seems to see and hear just about everything that goes on in the Unseelie and Seelie Courts. “I just want to know what you’re going to do if you get stuck over there.” She asks again, her voice betraying the concern I saw in her eyes.

  Now it is my turn to wave her off. “It is not anything to be concerned about. It is only a rumor. Damien says it is extremely difficult for her to gain enough power in order to do that. I will be there and back before she even has time to try. But I am certain the Queen will not be able to achieve her goal. We are too strong for her to overpower us.”

  Rho looks at me doubtfully, but she does not argue further. “Well, I’ll leave you to get ready then. Good luck and I’ll see you tomorrow,” she gives me a pointed look before continuing, “and be careful Poppy.”

  “I will Rho. I will see you tomorrow.” I reassure her as I watch her leave my room.

  I sit on my bed for a few more seconds before getting up and preparing to leave. I grab my satchel from the closet and pack a change of clothes for myself. I do not really intend to need the extra clothing, but years of training have taught me to be prepared for anything. Plus, Damien’s warning is still resonating within me.

  All of my clothes are what I consider to be battle clothes. I wear fitted pants and shirts that are woven by Faery magic and made out of leaves. They fit my body almost like a second skin, allowing me to move fluidly when I am fighting. Being made out of leaves also allows them to change colors and help me to blend into a natural setting better. That, along with my Faery glamour, helps me remain unnoticed by humans.

  After realizing that it was Rho who was in my room, I had replaced my dagger on my right thigh. Now I retrieve the matching dagger and sheath from under my pillow (where it remains when I am home) and strap it to my other thigh. My daggers are always within reach, even when I am asleep.

  Once I have everything I need for my mission, I pull my long hair back into a braid. I stand in front of the mirror to double check my appearance, more out of habit than vanity. All Fae are beautiful, some in an earthy, natural way and others in a cruel, fierce way.

  Rho for example is earthy and natural. She is willowy and tall. When she walks she glides. Her movements flow as if she is being blown by the wind. Her skin has a tint of pink to it and her hair is long and bright pink. Her eyes are even pink. Her features are pointy but not quite as severe as someone like Damien or the King whose are fierce, sharp, and cruel.

  I seem to have a combination of both.

  My hair is silky and jet black with streaks of burgundy throughout. It reaches past my waist, which is why I braid it when I am going on a mission or into battle. It stays out of the way during a fight. My skin is pale like most Fae, but it almost glows in the sunlight. All Fae are tall and thin, but I am taller than most female Fae at 5’-11”. My body is thin, but well defined by sleek muscle. My ears, nose, and chin are sharp and defined but my eyes soften up the cruel look. Usually Fae have eyes that reflect their hair so one would expect my eyes to be black and red. They are not. They are an unnaturally beautiful, soft green.

  I remember asking Damien about it because I had never met another Faery with such different features. He said he did not know why I was different, but what I looked like did not matter. My training would show who I really was. That was the only time I questioned it. But I still wonder sometimes when I look at my reflection, why I look the way I do.

  I double check my braid in the mirror to make sure it is secure. The feeling of fear starts to bubble up again but I tamp it down and ignore it. Fear is not something I tolerate and definitely would not give in to. I grab my satchel from my bed and walk out of the door without a backwards glance.

  Faery portals are an odd thing. They are a convenient way of transporting, but they work in a specific manner. A Faery can shimmer anywhere they desire with only a thought, but it must be within the same territory. For example, I can shimmer anywhere I want to within Unseelie territory. But I cannot shimmer directly to the human world. In order to do this, I must find a portal within Faery Land that will allow me to travel there. The trick is finding the one that will transport you somewhere close to your desired destination.

  I retrieve the documents Damien provided me for the mission. The papers include the Halfling’s home address, school address, a copy of his school schedule, work location and schedule, parental information, and his picture. I look at the photo and memorize the boy smiling back at me. He has eyes that are a deep blue. His hair is light brown, shaggy and falls below his ears. I wonder if he has gotten it cut since this photo was taken. His skin is golden, like he spends a lot of time outdoors. Because he is half Fae, I am sure he loves to spend time with nature. I also spend a lot of time outdoors but my skin remains ethereal and untouched by sun damage. This is just one of the many differences between a Halfling and a true Fae.

  The information provided along with the photo will help me track the Halfling down quicker. Some Fae use this information to play games with the Halflings, sometimes drawing out the retrieval process. Fae by nature are mischievous creatures, but Unseelie Faerys tend to also be cruel. I have seen Fae enroll in the Halfling’s school and pretend to be a student or make friends so they can play with the humans. I have also seen Fae use the Halfling’s human parents to make them cooperate. All of that is nonsense to me. I do not like to be in the human world and I detest interacting with humans. I choose to use the information strictly for completing my task as quickly as possible.

  This is also why the King uses me more often that other Fae for these missions. I do not let my hatred for the humans override my sense of duty. Every mission is serious and is treated as such. I do not play games. I do my job and I do it right.

  I quickly locate the destination in the human world that I want to go to and coordinate that with the portal in Faery Land that will get me there the quickest. I shimmer to that portal all while thoughts of Damien and Rho’s warning and concern flutter through my head. I realize that as much as I have reassured them that this will not be a problem; I am a little concerned. The fact that this has never been a problem before… makes me uneasy. The idea that the Queen could override our powers and have that much control over the Unseelie Court is unthinkable.

  I let the idea of having to stay in the human world longer than necessary creep in and shudder at the thought. I do not know if I would be able to survive. The idea of interacting with the humans is disgusting. The Halflings are bad enough, but humans… I shake my head and turn my attention back to the plan that I am formulating.

  As I make my way to the portal that I will use, my plan clicks into place and I push all other stray thoughts to the back of my head. I have a task to complete and there is no room for any distractions now.

  The only thing I let myself feel now is the adrenaline that begins to course through me in anticipation of the mission.

  Chapter 3

  When I step through to the other side of the portal I am immediately assaulted with the horrible smells and sounds of the human world. The air is hot and sticky. The clothes that I chose for comfort and flexibility begin to feel tight and stuffy. I can smell the salt in the air and feel it begin to stick to my skin and hair. The wind whips around me and I am thankful for th
e braid in my hair.

  I begin to walk down the street and I feel the resistance on the bottom of my soles, my feet sticking to the concrete. The sound of honking horns and the feel of all the metal around me is extremely uncomfortable. Humans would not notice these things but Faery Land is so beautiful, clean and technology free, that I notice every piece of litter and every distraction. I hate it here.

  Apparently my Halfling resides in sunny Miami, Florida. On top of that, according to my notes, he also works as a surf instructor on the beach. I double check the newspaper displayed in a dispenser as I continue down the sidewalk to confirm my suspicion and groan. It is Saturday, which means if I want to get this mission over with quickly, I am going to have to approach the Halfling on the beach. I hate the beach even more than the city.

  The intense heat of the sun is so draining and the sand is itchy. Not to mention the fact that as good as I am at concealing myself from humans, there is no way to become completely inconspicuous when walking on the beach in pants and a long sleeve shirt that are the colors of the forest.

  I begin to use my glamour in full force. Although the humans will still see me, once I am gone from their sight, I am also gone from their memory.

  As I walk toward the surf shop, I cannot help but notice the trash in the sand. Empty bottles, plastic food containers, and other random pieces of trash are just tossed around. This, more than anything, is why humans disgust me so much. They take for granted the beauty of nature and completely destroy it. I shake my head in disgust and continue to my destination.

  As I approach the surf shop, I notice a small group of teenage girls standing around a teenage boy who looks a lot like the photograph in my pocket. The girls are all wearing tiny bathing suits that show as much of their skin as possible. The exposed skin is shiny with tanning oil and the smell of coconut and sweat is overwhelming. I do not understand how they enjoy being so exposed to the sun. The way their skin burns and loses all of its moisture; it makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it.