by L. P. Dover
We have heard of the prophecy and our people are trying to translate its meaning. Our advisor, Heylfred, believes that it will begin with me and the Princess Calista. Being that we are the eldest and of the next generation, he believes that our hearts are destined to be together. Heylfred is a smart man, but sometimes I wonder about his sanity, however, he is usually right. I have never met Princess Calista. I wonder what she’s like. Queen Tatiana gives an air of being better than everyone and King Oberon can be a stubborn mule. I can only imagine what the princess will be like.
The time has come for me to leave so I lean over to kiss my mother’s hand and bid her farewell.
“I thought I would at least try to get you to come with me.” I give her a wolfish grin and say, “We wouldn’t want you killing the Summer Queen, now would we? I’ll take my leave now to prepare my things for travel. Warren and Kalen will be accompanying me along with several of the warriors.”
My mother laughs at me and smacks my arm. “You are too much, my son. Be safe and make sure to tell the Queen I said hello.” I shake my head at her and turn to leave the throne room. I hear her cackles all the way outside the house.
I head to my own house on my parent’s property. My mother and father refuse to let my brothers and my sister live outside of their own grounds. I have two younger brothers, Kalen and Brayden, and a younger sister named Sorcha. My brothers have their own houses on the property as well, but my sister stays in the main palace.
As I reach my house, I see that my travelling companions are already dressed and ready to leave. I chose to have my house built to look like a log cabin. Yes, I like the finer things that I am offered, but nothing compares to the rustic feel of my house. The Winter Court has such a magical appearance with the dusting of snow everywhere and the icicles hanging from every surface. The whole land shines and glimmers like diamonds.
“Ryder, you need to hurry up, jackass, or we’ll be late,” Warren yells.
Warren is my best friend and a strong fighter. He’s a little shorter than me reaching six feet, with black hair and eyes so dark they appear black. We are built the same way with moderate sized muscles and toned bodies. We have to be that way in order to be strong warriors. He persisted for days on going with me to this ceremony, and I don’t know why. I found it kind of odd how adamant he was on being able to go. For the past couple of weeks, he’s been moody and very apprehensive. Also, he’s been very aggressive during warrior training. His viciousness had almost cost us the life of a young warrior so I banned him from training for a while. The fae do not die easily, but a beheading will do the trick and of course iron weakens us. One fatal gash from an iron blade will spread poison through our bodies and we will die in minutes.
I yell back humorously, “What’s the matter, Warren, Cinderella afraid of not being able to meet the prince before midnight?”
Warren grits his teeth and scowls.
“Shut the hell up and let’s get on the road.”
I don’t know where his attitude has come from, but I’m just about sick of it. He’s been like this for weeks and I’ve put up with it because he’s my friend, but I’m not going to put up with it anymore. I step into his space to where we’re almost nose to nose and demand to know what’s wrong with him.
“Look Warren, I don’t know what your problem is, but if you don’t stop this attitude, I’m going to kick your fucking ass all the way to the Summer Court and back. You’ve been like this for weeks now and if you’re not going to tell me what’s wrong, I suggest you suck it up and move on. This cry baby bullshit is going to stop now!” I yell.
At this time, my brother Kalen makes his appearance and gives me a fist bump.
“What did I miss? Are you two ladies having a lover’s quarrel or something?” He looks over at Warren and says, “Man, Warren, you look like you need to get laid or something. Maybe you’ll get lucky with a summer chick.” No matter what kind of situation I’m in, I can always count on my brother to lighten the mood.
Laughing, I say “Kalen, you never cease to amaze me. If anyone’s getting lucky, we know it’ll be you, but I think Warren is over his tantrum now, right?” Looking over at him he nods and leaves the house.
Kalen likes to joke a lot and doesn’t take anything seriously. He looks like our mother with his raven black hair as well as her ice blue eyes. He keeps his hair shoulder length while I keep mine short. Even though our hair is different colors and lengths, we have the same shape face and eyes. Anyone could tell that we are brothers. He likes to flirt with any female that walks, and he’s a total jokester. He’s played many pranks with his affinity to water.
I walk inside my house and pack a few items to take on the trip to the Summer Court. It’s time to head down the road so I load up the carriage. Warren rides up beside me on his horse and apologizes.
“Look Ryder, I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. I don’t know what’s come over me these days.”
I wish I knew, too. I waved him off and said, “Just figure it out is all I can say.” I watch him ride sullenly to the gate. A feeling of unease sweeps throughout my body and I don’t know if it’s from my encounter with Warren or from that unsettling feeling in my stomach that I’ve been getting for no reason lately. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I wish I could figure it out.
To my brother I say, “Well how about we get going then? Kalen, round up the warriors and meet me at the front gate.”
My brother leaves to assemble the men, and I climb up onto my sleek, midnight colored mare. My parents had given her to me when I turned sixteen and I named her after the Greek goddess, Artemis. I’ve always been fascinated with Greek mythology. I had been training as a warrior for years by then and I knew my horse would be just as strong of a warrior as me. She has definitely lived up to her name as Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt.
Travelling through to the different courts has always been an interesting thing. Our kingdom is nothing but snow and ice. The Mystical Forest lies between our court and the Summer Court, and I’ve always loved to see all the different fae creatures. There are several villages we pass through and most of the creatures in them just wave and smile as we pass by. The Mystical Forest is filled with an abundance of trees that block out the sun, making it a nice, cool journey. The smell of the forest is always welcoming. It smells of pine and earth. In the Winter Court, our air is crisp and pure smelling, and it’s always cold, too. The Summer Court, however, is a different matter. We are used to the colder temperatures and our bodies keep a cooler temperature as well, but the Summer fae are used to the hotter temperatures and also have hotter skin. The heat can be a nuisance for us Winter fae so, hopefully, this ceremony won’t last too long and then we can head back home.
Chapter 3
Alasdair- Dark Sorcerer (Black Forest)
“The plan has been set in motion, Master.”
The hideous troll kneeling in front of me said the words I wanted to hear. His name is Gothin; he was cast out of his tribe and came straight to the Black Forest where I found him. I look down upon him and congratulate him on the good news.
“Good, good. My time for revenge is well under way, so…what news do you have of the ceremony tonight?” I ask.
Gothin lifts his head and shows his rotten, pointed teeth when he grins.
“Our people are in place. No one suspects what we have planned.”
This is great. Once I have the princess in my grasp, I’ll be able to keep the prophecy from coming true. I wish I could just walk right into the Summer Court and take her, but I can’t. I have to be patient, and then when the time is right she will be mine.
I am Alasdair, the last dark sorcerer of my time. I escaped as a young boy, but only in spirit form, while my family and friends were slaughtered by the courts. Our goal was to take over the courts and claim all of the Land of the Fae. Unfortunately, the sorcerers in my clan became careless and greedy. They let their own greed lead to their destruction, but not this time though. I have been b
uilding my army for over a hundred years now. It’s taken a lot of time, but I am very close to my goal.
My dwelling in the Black Forest is actually luxurious. I conjured up many different homes in the trees and on the grounds. My home is set in the middle of the hugest tree of the forest. The prisons are well secured and I have my army patrolling the grounds in shifts. We are safe for the time being because no one dares to enter the forest. Many have tried but they were either killed or are now part of my army. Inheriting my family’s power has come with many advantages. My army and minions listen to everything I say and they follow my orders. I’ve lured numerous creatures here with thoughts of wealth and prosperity. In return, I have their full loyalty. Most of my army are traitors to their own kind or thieves that have been cast out. They are greedy, murderous fiends that will help me take over this land.
My family came to the Land of the Fae from the mortal realm. When my people used their magic to find other realms, they stumbled upon the Land of the Fae. Once they crossed over, their magic intensified. The natural magic of the land fueled theirs and with their arrival the courts were alerted to the change. When my people were told to leave war broke out because my people didn’t comply with the demands. We were told the black magic of our people would corrupt the land. Both courts came at us full force and they almost didn’t win. Our power didn’t have enough time to strengthen before they devastated our numbers and I have been planning my revenge ever since.
The courts don’t know that there is a dark sorcerer out here in the Black Forest. They may be close to figuring it out, but hopefully my plan for vengeance will be well under way before they have a chance to stop me. My power has slowly gained over time, and the power I absorb is giving me a body. I can obtain my solid body for a small amount of time if I use the talisman I’m wearing for energy. When I take my true solid form, it’s the body I was born with. I have long, brown hair to my shoulders and gray eyes. However, I can change my true form to make me look like anyone a person desires. This will come in handy when I have the princess here. When I am in my spirit form, I take my true form’s shape, but I’m not solid. I appear as a ghost, but more corporeal than a ghost. Over time I will be solid, and will be able to enjoy the temptations of life on my own. I can take over a fae’s body and enjoy things through them, which I have done occasionally, but it takes a lot of power to do it, so I don’t do it that often. I have done it several times with my minions to get the inside information myself. As long as they wear the necklaces I give them, I have the power to transfer into them. They don’t really like it when I have control of their bodies, but it’s not like they have a choice. They signed over their lives when they decided to join me.
I absorb my power through the forest and by a secret way that nobody other than my army knows about. Around my neck I wear a talisman. The gem is a bloodstone that naturally helps to strengthen and lengthen lifespan and it also helps to steal traces of power from the people in my army as well so I consider it payment to be able to be a part of my army. The power I steal then gets absorbed into me, making me stronger.
If I were to put the talisman around someone’s neck it would absorb their power more quickly and kill them in mere seconds. I do this as punishment to those I capture who won’t pay fealty to me. Once I capture the almighty princess, I plan to steal most of her power. The more power I take, the easier it will be to persuade her. I don’t want to completely drain her because I want to keep her to be my queen. There are no lovely women here in the forest, but I’ve actually been around the princess and have seen her exquisite beauty. No one even suspected that something was amiss during that time when I inhabited my minion. I have spied on her numerous times since then to witness her power. I could see the light inside of her that only one of The Four possesses. It will soon become mine and I will be one step closer to gaining the power I need and the body I desire.
I shake my head to clear my thoughts and then I look back to Gothin and say, “Prepare the scrying bowl. I need speak to my informant.” He leaves immediately and comes back just as fast. He sets up the scrying bowl for me to use and bows.
“The bowl is ready, Master,” he informs gruffly.
I dismiss Gothin so I can talk to my spy in secret. The scrying bowl allows me to contact any of my people through a reflective surface. All that is needed is a drop of blood and the true name of the one sought. I pull on the power of the talisman to make myself solid, and I take the knife from my belt and prick my finger. I let the droplet of blood fall into the bowl, and I called forth the person I am seeking. He appears in the bowl, looking a little nervous and apprehensive. I love that they fear me. I take a seat and peer into the bowl.
“Good evening, master. What can I do for you?” My minion asks.
I relax back in my chair and say, “I am just making sure you have all the information I need. I know you have all the inside details of where the princess will be for the next couple of days.”
My informant clears his throat, definitely nervous and replies, “I have the information, but remember she won’t be alone during these trips. She’ll have her guardian with her at all times after the ceremony.”
I roll my eyes in agitation. Why do these people underestimate my power?
“That won’t be a problem. Just make sure her schedule does not change and use the gifts I gave to you. Keep the necklace on you at all times. That way I can take your place when I need to see what’s going on, and make sure you only use the gem when you are ready to take the princess. It will only give you the power of invisibility until the magic runs out, so use it wisely.
The informant bows his head and is clearly ready to end the conversation. “Yes, Master. I will do as you wish and I will not fail.”
I clear the scrying bowl, and decide to revel in my success. My plan is in motion and it’s such a wonderful feeling to know I’m about to have the power I seek and the female I have been waiting to capture. The thought of her sends my blood boiling throughout my body. Having her here with me and in my bed is all going to be worth it once I have her power. My body grows with need thinking about how intense her power is going to make me feel. I wish she was here right now to help me with that, but for now, I think I’ll settle for an energy recharge.
“Gothin, get in here,” I yell.
He comes in and bows his head, “Yes, Master.”
“How many people did our army capture today?” I ask.
Gothin counts them off on his fingers. “Ten, I believe.”
“I need you to bring me one now,” I snap. The rush of draining a poor soul of their magic is intoxicating. If I had a permanent body it would feel like a ten hour orgasm, but I enjoy it much the same when I am in spirit form, only it doesn’t last as long.
Gothin rushes out of the main headquarters, which is the building we are in now. I have established it in the middle of the forest. He fetches me a prisoner and pushes her down to the ground at my feet.
“You are a pretty little thing, aren’t you?” I say to her. She has to be about twenty years old. Her body looks ripe and beautiful and it’s a shame I have to take that away from her. I have noticed that the power I get from females is so much better than the males. The women have purer hearts which makes their power stronger. The woman cries and wails. I roll my eyes and blow out an angry breath. The women I have trapped are all the same and all they do is cry and blubber the whole time. I’ve heard the princess is a stubborn one, so hopefully she’ll be more fun than these pathetic excuses for women.
I take the talisman from around my neck and place it on the woman. She screams the whole time while I sit back and watch. It doesn’t take long for the talisman to take the power of the weak. Once she is sprawled out on the ground, she disintegrates into a pile of ash. My talisman is the only thing on the ground so I pick it up and place it around my neck. I sit back and enjoy the feelings of the power coursing through my body. I will need the power of The Four to complete my transformation and I look forward to
obtaining it.
Chapter 4
Calista
Elvena left a few minutes ago to give me my space before the ceremony. I haven’t talked to Merrick since yesterday, so I have no idea what to expect. Xylia and Meliantha should be here any minute to walk with me to the Great Room where the ceremony and feast will be held. After the festivities, there will be a meeting with the council and the different dignitaries from the other territories to discuss the Black Forest along with the missing fae and our plans on how to keep our people safe.
The leader of the dwarves, Durin, will not be here, as well as King Madoc and Queen Mab from the Winter Court. Durin and King Madoc are having their own meeting to discuss the production of more magical relics. It has been said that the magic in the relics made by the dwarves have certain components that have the capability of destroying different types of evil. Having an affinity for the earth has put me in tune with the way our land feels, and I can feel that the evil is growing stronger.
I walk through my spacious bedroom with its deep purple walls and matching bed set, but the place I’m headed toward has always been my sanctuary. My library is where I like to relax because reading has always been my escape. My library is connected to my room and it’s just mine to use. When I’m not training secretly with Merrick, I’m in my library or out in the gardens. I love to engross myself in a book and imagine I am right there with the characters. I take a seat by the window and pick up my favorite book from the table beside my seat. I got it from the mortal realm, and I’m reading it for the fifth time. The love story between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is simply epic.
