Revealed

by Riana Lucas

  Holly stays me quickly with a hand on my shoulder, having read my concern immediately. “He’s fine. He went to get Willow. We knew she would be worried for all of us, and we thought she might be able to start healing the injured.” A shadow crosses her face, and I know that look. We have not only suffered injuries. Some Fae have lost their lives today as well.

  I plop back down onto the floor and lean against the wall next to Reed. “How many?” I really do not wish to know the answer to my question, but it is a harsh reality of war, and I cannot hide from the unpleasantness of it.

  “So far the count is only three, but we are unsure of what lies outside of the Court’s walls. Some of the Fae that live where the Seelie territory was breached may be injured or worse. There is a search party headed out now to check on them. We should know something soon.”

  I nod my acceptance of the information and then ask, “How many were severely injured?”

  Holly takes a deep breath before answering, “About thirty.”

  I suck in a sharp breath and lower my head. I know they will heal quickly, and once a healer is helping it will be even quicker, but that knowledge does not soothe the pain they are feeling now. It does not take away the responsibility that I am feeling now either. Damien came here for me, and the deaths and injuries are my fault. I cannot help feeling that I should have done more to protect them.

  The others begin to talk about healers and cleanup and other post-battle plans, but I tune them out. I sense Reed watching me, but he is too hurt to really see what is going on with me right now. For one guilty second, I am thankful for that. Dealing with my feelings is not something I wish to do right now.

  After a few moments of being left to my own thoughts, my mother takes a seat beside me, which would be comical in any other situation. The Queen reducing herself to sit on the floor? Not something one witnesses every day. Her regal dress lays in heaps around her on the dirty, bloody floor. The bright blue, silky fabric is a direct contrast to the worn battle clothes the rest of us are wearing. She is so out of place in this mess, but she is also like a rainbow after a thunderstorm. Placing her hand on the back of my head, she begins to stroke my hair. My head still throbs from Damien’s harsh treatment, but her strokes are soothing and comforting. She does not try to speak to me, but lends her silent support and love, allowing me the time I need to think. Closing my eyes, I let myself enjoy her and allow myself to be thankful for the fact that I am not dead and that all of my friends have made it through another battle. I do not know what I would have done if I had lost one of them like I did Rho. It would have been too much.

  I am distracted, thankfully, from my morbid thoughts when I hear Willow’s voice. The sound of her feet hitting the ground as she runs toward us, paired with Gideon yelling from behind her to wait for him is music to my ears. When she reaches our group, she throws herself down on the ground in front of me and wraps her arms tightly around my waist. I can feel the hot tears fall from her face as they soak into the fabric of my clothing and reach my cool skin. A smile spreads across my face. She is okay. We all are okay.

  This time.

  Chapter Four

  Willow pulls back and begins making a fuss, much like I did with Reed. “Are you okay? Do you have any other injuries?” She does not give me time to answer before she pushes herself away and pulls out her ever-present satchel, then she speaks again. “Tell me what to do first, and I will begin. How many are hurt? What —” She stops talking when I quickly grasp her wrist, halting her rapid movements to gain her attention. Her face is paler than usual, and her eyes are wide and owl-like. She blinks several times before she collects herself.

  “I am fine, Willow. I was not hurt, with the exception of my pride. Reed has been harmed, though.” Her eyes jerk in his direction, but she is calmed once again when he offers a finger wave and a sparkling smile. Reed is charming even when he is hurt.

  “Yes, fine. You are all fine,” she says this to herself with a jerky nod as her eyes scan everyone to make sure her statement is fact. When everyone smiles reassuringly back at her, she finally relaxes and sets to work on Reed. He remains still while she mixes her powders and whispers her spells. We all remain quiet, watching her work. She is so sure and confident when she does. Her normal hesitation and shyness have no place here. I know that in time, with the right encouragement, she could carry this same confidence into her everyday life. Making a mental note, I promise myself to work on this with her. Willow needs to be strong and sure in case she finds herself without protection. The last thing I want is for her to end up like Rho. A shiver goes through me at the thought.

  As if sensing my emotions, Reed reaches for my hand and holds on to it tightly while Willow finishes healing him. I glance down at his warm hand wrapped around mine and wonder how it is that he seems to always know when I need him. We have not had much time since our return from the Unseelie Court to discuss what happened when he was there and what has happened since. I have been so upset over the loss of Rho and then rushed into my duties as princess that I had almost forgotten about the dream I had before Reed was taken away from me and the ones I had that alerted me to his and Rho’s capture.

  Once again, I am forced to push the thoughts away. My people were just attacked, some injured or killed. Now I must put my personal thoughts and feelings aside and do what I must as the Princess of the Seelie Court. I squeeze Reed’s hand once before pulling away. As I do, I also pull away from my mother’s soothing touch and use the wall behind me to help me to my feet. Willow and my mother both hover, but no one tries to stop me or offer support.

  I take a step away from the group and scan the throne room. Thorne and Holly took immediate control of the situation once Damien fled. They set up guards at all of the doors leading in and out of the castle, along with some stationed at the main doorway to the throne room. The doors to the throne room are in shambles, spread across the marble floor, but with a bit a magic they will be like new. The civilian Fae that were pushed to the back of the room for protection now mill around, helping to clean up or lending support to the injured. Sadly, the three deceased Fae were removed immediately. They will be returned to their families to be prepared for a sacred burial, much like Rho’s. Their loved ones will do this immediately so the Fae can rest peacefully with nature as soon as possible.

  Holly and Thorne also sent out search parties to the outer boundaries of the Seelie Court to make sure all of the Fae who live there are safe and uninjured. Hopefully there will be no other dead Fae found. They will also assist in any cleanup or aid needed by those Fae. We should receive a report back from those search parties any time now, and my stomach pitches in fear of what they might find.

  I take another look around me. Although everything seems to be such a mess, everyone is already helping to pick up the pieces. The Court is coming back together and will be like new in only a small amount of time. It is unbelievable how quickly death and destruction can be wiped away as if it never happened. But it did happen, and if the look on all of the faces of the Fae around me is any indication, no one will forget what happened here today.

  Anger and sadness cloud their faces, and guilt hits me once again. My feelings must be clear on my face, because Reed comes to stand beside me and whispers softly, “This wasn’t your fault, Poppy.”

  I shake my head and try to deflect his words. “When did I get so bad at masking my feelings? Everyone seems to know what I am thinking lately. I think I may need to practice in front of a mirror or something.” I offer a weak smile, and Reed returns it, but he knows what I am up to.

  “Damien did this, and he’ll pay. He will pay for what he did here today and for what he did to Rho.” By the tone in Reed’s voice, I can tell this is a promise, not a threat. I intend to help him keep that promise.

  My mother, who has been hovering nearby with Willow — trying to act as if she is not dying to order me to remain in my room for the rest of my life — finally comes to stand beside me once again. She grasps m
y hand in hers and holds it tightly. I look over to see that Willow is right on my mother’s heels. I know they are both aware of what happened between Damien and me and how close I came to losing my life. I am just thankful they are not making a bigger fuss.

  I smile at my mother, trying to reassure her. “I am fine, and I am sorry that you had to go through that.”

  She waves her hand dismissively, but I can see a slight tremor as it passes through the air. Instead of pointing this out, I just squeeze her other hand as tightly and turn my attention to Willow.

  “I’m afraid that I am not as brave as my queen. You guys scared me to death! I was so worried that I would lose one of you. Then when I heard that Damien almost killed you…” She lets out a small sob and places her hand over her mouth as if to hold the rest in. Tears form in her eyes once again, but before I can move to comfort her, Gideon is at her side. He places his arm around her shoulders, awkwardly at first, but then Willow turns into his chest, and he holds her tight. As he glances up, he stiffens a bit when he notices I am watching, but I give an approving nod that is followed by one from the queen. Gideon relaxes and begins to murmur softly into Willow’s ear, calming her quickly.

  Willow soon collects herself once again, and I cannot help but smile at the emotional side of her and how it only surfaces after the disaster is over. Once upon a time, this behavior would have annoyed me or made me furious, but now it makes me proud. Willow is strong and brave when the situation demands it, but she is also caring and compassionate when needed.

  “Okay. Sorry. I’m fine now. What do you need me to do?” Willow straightens her back and moves to stand on her own once again. Strong and vulnerable. I shake my head at the contradiction she presents some times.

  “Okay. Umm…I do not really know. I am usually the one taking the orders in this sort of situation, not making them. This is all sort of new to me.” I turn to look at my mother. “Maybe you should take over here and show me what should be done?” The statement comes out more as a question, because for the first time in a long time, I find myself out of my element.

  At the Unseelie Court, I got my orders from Damien or the king, then worked alone to complete my missions. When we went to rescue Reed and Rho, I took over more out of instinct and desperation. This is different. The battle is over; my adrenaline has been drained, and now it is time to step up and lead. I have no idea what to do, and I do not wish for my mother to be disappointed in my lack of leadership.

  “Oh, my sweet, sweet child. No one expects you to come in here and run the Court as if you have been doing it your whole life. Of course you will need direction and guidance. That is nothing to be ashamed of.”

  Just like that, my mother turns into the Queen of the Seelie Court. She stands straighter, and her features turn from soft to commanding. She casts out orders to every Fae in sight. They all bow then quickly scramble away to satisfy their queen. She is not harsh or cruel, and her orders are necessary and reasonable. The Fae do not mind doing her bidding when she is caring and fair like this.

  Then she turns to me, and her demeanor shows she is still acting as queen. “Poppy, there is still much to be done here, and there are grieving families that I must tend to. I will need to take care of these things immediately, but I will not require your assistance. It would be best if you went to your chambers to get some rest. I do not wish to see you again until morning, at which time I expect to see you well rested.”

  “Yes, my queen,” I answer, nodding my head in acknowledgement.

  She flashes a quick smile, and then she looks to Reed, Gideon, Thorne, Holly, and Willow. “I would like the rest of you to do the same. As you are all Poppy’s most trusted friends, you are now her official guard as well. You will be with her whenever there is a formal event that the princess must attend and whenever she leaves Seelie territory. Is this understood?” I open my mouth to protest, but one look at the determination in her eyes, and I know that there will be no argument on this subject. There is a chorus of “yes, my queen” from each of them, and then she turns to leave. After taking only a few steps, she stops and spins back around. Her eyes take each one of us in again before they finally rest on me. There is a fury behind the soft green that I have not seen before, and her voice is void of that musical tone I love so much. It is cold and deadly when she speaks.

  “Tomorrow Gideon will take you and our warriors and begin to plan an attack against the Unseelie Court and Damien himself. An attack on our Court must not happen again.”

  Chapter Five

  We all make our way to our rooms, quiet and somber. The weight of all that has just happened — and what is to come — is a heavy burden on each of our shoulders. My guilt is still present, but I know deep down this really is not my fault. It is the king’s and Damien’s. If they hadn’t kidnapped me in the first place, none of this would have happened. I also realize that I would not have met Reed or Rho, and I am torn by this bittersweet thought.

  I hate the feeling that something so horrible has caused me such joy while my mother was suffering the entire time I was gone. But the reality is just that. The truth of the matter is that nothing can be done about it now. What has happened is in the past, and we must move on. Which includes making plans to destroy Damien.

  My mind wanders with strategies and ideas as I maneuver my way through the long quiet halls to my room. Being the princess, my room is set away from the rest of my friends. Reed and Willow both offered to escort me, but they were as tired as I was, so I waved them off. They both protested, but with a firm look, they also gave in quickly. Other than the two guards following at a discreet distance, I make my way alone. The peace and quiet after the storm we just weathered is actually nice. Before I can form a solid plan, I find myself outside of my room. I nod good-night to the guards and slip inside.

  The dressing table in the corner is still covered with the items Willow used to style my hair and apply makeup for my coronation. My clothes are scattered all over the floor in heaps. Usually a servant would have come in to clean, but they were all at the coronation as well. Instead of cleaning up, I move across the room toward my mirror. I stand before the mirror and look at my appearance. Just a short while ago, I stood in here getting ready to officially take my place as Princess of the Seelie Court. My hair and makeup were so beautiful, and my dress was beyond words. It was the first time I really looked at myself and could admit that I was pretty. The way my skin glowed and my eyes lit up highlighted all of my good features, showing my excitement and happiness for the next stage in my life.

  Now I look at my reflection in the mirror and see the dried blood that ran down my throat. The cut is healed and completely gone, but the blood remains. My face, once so nicely painted to highlight my eyes and lips, is now covered in bruises. Although they are already fading, they are still clear and have exactly the opposite effect of the make up on my face. My hair is no longer elegant. It is now a mess of stringy curls and clumpy snarls. And my poor dress is completely in tatters. I am a bit sad about this. It was the first dress I had actually liked. I look again at myself and shake my head at what I see. Blowing out a deep breath as I turn from the mirror, I start the water in preparation for a much needed bath. As I turn the water on, I hear a soft knock at the main door to my room. Letting the water run, I move to the door, opening it just a crack to see a young servant Faery standing nervously in the hall.

  “Princess, the queen sent me to assist with your evening duties.”

  “Thank you, but I will not need any assistance. Good night.” I begin to push the door closed, but she hurriedly speaks up again before I can close it completely.

  “But the queen —”

  I cut her off, not having the patience for this now. “I know what the queen said, but like I said, I do not require any assistance. Now I would like to have a nice hot bath, quietly and in private, and then I would like to go to bed. Please tell my mother that I insisted, and I assure you, you will not get into any trouble.”

 
“Umm…well okay. But —”

  “Good night,” I say pointedly and shut the door so she cannot say more.

  I am going to have to talk with my mother about this. Princess or not, having someone watch me as I bathe is just not for me.

  As I turn from the door, I realize belatedly that the Faery was probably going to find out what I wanted for dinner so she could bring it to me. I shrug because I am really not hungry. The evening’s events have spoiled any appetite I may have had.

  When I return to the washroom, I turn the water off, and then strip my poor, destroyed dress from my body. I gingerly step over the rim of the tub and sink blissfully into the warm bath water. Closing my eyes, I blank my mind completely for the first time in days.

  ****

  A deep shiver racks my body, pulling me from sleep. I move my arms to pull my covers up and around me, but instead I splash water all over the place. Freezing water. Letting out a squeal, I jump up to grab a towel. My body trembles, and my teeth chatter. Having not fully recovered from Rho’s death — and then to fight Damien — has wiped me out so much that I actually fell asleep in the bathtub.

  Securing the towel more snuggly around my body, I rub my hands up and down my arms to help push the chills away. Once my body has thawed enough to move, I dress in a night shirt before running to my bed, jumping in, and burrowing under the covers to get warm. As soon as the heat finally starts to seep in, my eyelids get heavy. As I begin to drift off to sleep, the lines between reality and the dream world begin to merge. The room around me fades as new surroundings shimmer to life in front of me.

  I walk through the halls of the castle. They are empty and dark; the only light coming in the windows is from the bright, full moon. I look down at myself and see that I am in my coronation dress and heels. The soft clicking of my heels on the marble floor is the only sound I hear. I stop walking and take a moment to orient myself. I realize that I am in the main hall and headed toward the front entrance of the castle. Something urges me to continue down the hall. I follow my instincts and make my way to the main entrance of the Seelie Court. I push the door open. In reality, I know that this would not have been possible, but in my dream it seems anything is. As the door opens fully, I look around outside at the beautiful scenery. The full moon casts a soft glow on the ground. The trees and flowers look as if they are glowing — they are breathtaking. I gaze around, trying to find the source of my desire to be here. At first all I can see is what the moonlight shows me, but then I see movement in the shadows. I instinctively reach for my daggers, but then stop myself; somehow I know that this is not a threat. I squint my eyes to better see what or who is in the shadows, when suddenly it moves into the full-moon light. I take a deep breath as I watch Reed move out of the shadows and face me. He has a soft smile on his lips and a beautiful poppy flower in his hands. He twirls it between two fingers as he tilts his head to study me.