by Tara Maya, Elle Casey, J L Bryan, Anthea Sharp, Jenna Elizabeth Johnson, Alexia Purdy (epub)
Shade was betting they were related. She had barely noticed they were both looking at back at her now. The other guard’s dark stare was just that much colder than Dylan’s. She probably had stared too long and felt her cheeks flush, turning quickly away to hide behind her goblet of sweet punch. She pushed away her plate and glimpsed at her friends, praying they’d be heading to their rooms soon to sleep.
“Shade, are you done? We’re headed to our chambers soon. Ready to go?” Braelynn asked as she gave her a flashing smile. Relieved, Shade nodded and stood, following them as they began to file out.
A dark-haired and pale-skinned Teleen woman stood in front of them and waited for them to gather around. She smiled broadly at someone and held her arms out. Shade craned her neck to see whom she was grinning at. Jack melted into the embrace, hugging the woman tightly. As he began pulling back, the woman hung on a little longer. It was just long enough to whisper something into Jack’s ear. He then pulled back abruptly, frowned at her, shook his head, and answered her sternly but softly enough that no one else was privy to the conversation. Shade wondered who the woman was and how she knew Jack.
Jack turned back to the group, now composed, with a face of serenity. He cleared his throat and spoke loudly for all of them to hear. “Okay guys, Sylphi here is going to join us and show us to our rooms. We’ll be spread out some, for these are natural caves and are quite large. Don’t go wandering either. These tunnels travel far and it’s easy to get lost. If you absolutely must, please only leave your room accompanied by someone else.” He waved to them to come forward, and they all filed in by twos behind him and Sylphi. Sylphi kept trying to inch up near him, but he avoided her advances by stepping back and cramming in beside Shade and Braelynn.
“Shade, how are you finding the trek? Getting too tired?” He smiled down at her and completely ignored Sylphi’s raging glare. The woman turned back toward a large tunnel that they all entered. Joining her were Captain Dylan and his near-relative looking guard from the table.
“Um, it’s ok. My muscles are killing me. I‘ve never felt so sore in my life. I think I might have some blisters on my feet that are hurting something awful. I’m really not an outdoors type; this is really a big push for me.”
“Ah, you will need Sari’s famous foot soak. That’ll take care of anything on your feet for sure. I am sure she will have something for your muscle aches; this journey will take a toll on us all. I’ll have her stop by your room after she gets settled,” Jack said.
Sylphi was giggling and turned back toward them. “Shade, you might like Darren’s famous massage. He’ll definitely make you forget any pain you ever have felt. And more….” Her voice had a singsong way, but with a definite malicious tone to it. She playfully patted Darren’s back.
“Thank you, Sylphi. I’ll try to make myself useful for anyone who wishes.” Darren, Captain Dylan’s sidekick, snickered. Shade swallowed, as she thought the massage somehow did not sound like something she’d need at all.
“That’s enough from both of you. I’m sure they’re much too tired from the long journey and just want to get some shuteye. Just show them their rooms already,” Captain Dylan snapped. He grumbled under his breath and gave Shade a dark look. She wondered why he didn’t like her. He doesn’t even know me. Why would he be so mean?
It’s because the unknown is a thing to fear, Shade. Never forget that, the voices chimed in.
Shade sighed. She had to agree with them. She just wasn’t so sure about the company here tonight. It was Darren in particular, who gave her the heebie-jeebies. He just seemed to radiate some kind of evil. She wasn’t sure why he was chosen to be one of their escorts; it didn’t seem very appropriate somehow. Shade glanced at Sylphi. She’s no better.
The dark-haired Sylphi was hanging off of Jack’s arm now, whispering something into his ear. Shade wondered if those two had a thing for each other or if it was one-sided. From the look on Jack’s face, he did not seem to mind her hanging on him, but frowned every now and then at some of her comments and giggling.
She reminded Shade of the mean girls back at school, always finding a victim to torture amongst the high school kids. Sylphi was the kind of girl who would make snide comments to a good girl and send her the bathroom with tears of humiliation streaming down her face. Shade narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Those kinds of girls thrive on others’ suffering. It’d probably be best to straight out avoid her, Shade thought. At least they were only here for a night and would not have to endure the Teleen’s “hospitality” too much longer.
“What are you thinking about, dear Shade? Have we offended you in some way? You’re shaking your head with such disdain. Has your stay been so unpleasant so far?” Sylphi asked, suddenly at Shade’s side. She slipped her hand around Shade’s arms and bent closer to her. Her pale skin shone like moonlight, only with a slightly bluer tinge to the glamour she wore. The smell of roses and another fragrant scent surrounded her as she invaded Shade’s personal space.
“Jack’s mine, you know; I do hope you understand, That’s if, of course, you were getting any ideas about him.” Syphi whispered to her. “We’re to be married soon. I know that, being a woman, you’d understand how rare it is to find such a wonderful strong and handsome man like Jack. Just letting you know how very much he has missed me. I feel so overjoyed to have him back; he stays away far too long. Oh, here we are now!”
She paused, smiling deeply for Shade. It was a smile that seemed to cut into Shade like a knife, full of things wickedly unsaid. “Your room, my dear. Do have a good rest. You’ll need it!”
Shade scurried into the room and turned to see Darren leaning by the open door with arms crossed, smiling at her.
“Do let me know if you change your mind about the massage. I find you most fascinating, Shade. I’ve never met a human before. It’s been quite a delight.” He snickered, bowing as he left. Darren had shut the door for her and when it clicked, Shade ran to it and turned the lock as quickly as she could.
Leaning against the smooth wood, she finally let her breath out. Somehow, she did not feel right. Something about this place was setting alarms off in her head like crazy. She pulled her pack off and rubbed her shoulders, looking around the room for the first time.
The room was gorgeous. It was a cave, and it didn’t have any windows. The air was cool with an undertone of dampness that left a bit of a chill. There was a nice large bed at the far wall, just opposite the door. It was piled with fluffy pillows and soft blankets and was neatly arranged to not seem messy, but comfy. There was a wooden table to one side of the room that she placed her pack on; it was long and polished smooth from use. Above it was a silver mirror with a vine design frame; it had crystals embedded all around the edges. It was breathtaking but seemed out of place in that room.
Shade stood there, staring at her reflection. She looked tired; a thin layer of dust seemed to stick to her skin and hair. That wasn’t what stopped her though. The mirror looked like it had a tiny ripple in it. It was as though she was gazing at her reflection in a still pool of water. It looked smooth and almost see-through. She reached out her hand, letting her fingers almost caress the surface.
Suddenly, almost as if something had turned it off, the mirror was once again solid. Shade’s fingers clinked against the hard glassy surface. It was nothing more than a plain mirror. Shade stared at it for a moment longer, shaking her head again. Nothing is as it seems here. She felt like Alice, deep down in the rabbit hole.
She let out a breath and turned toward a door in the wall of the cave that was next to the table. She turned the crystal and wood knob slowly, praying that nothing awful would jump out at her. It turned easily and opened into a well-lit bathroom. She laughed, relieved by the normalcy of it. A bathroom…. It was both modern and well-equipped with a massive claw-foot tub on one side and a large shower. The shower itself had several showerheads installed, but no door and a drain on the floor. She reached in, turned the curved silver knob on the wall and
watched with amazement as water fell like rain pouring out of the spouts. She beamed; the water was the perfect temperature. Soaps and a sponge were on a ledge near the end of the shower, wrapped in twine and topped with a bow. Shrugging off her clothes, she stepped under the pouring water. It felt amazing. The hot water ran down her skin and rinsed the day’s soil away, swirling dirt down the drain.
Shade hadn’t checked for towels before entering the shower, but a glance around the room revealed a neat stack of them set out on the counter. Turning the shower off, she stepped out and pulled one out of the stack, wrapping it snugly around her body. She didn’t feel any cold since the steam and warmth of the water seemed to remain with her. She pulled another towel out to rub her hair, twisting it around her head to absorb the water. She’d left her bag with her clothes in the bedroom. Groaning, she hoped it wasn’t too cold when she exited the warm cocoon of the misty bathroom.
The room was as she had left it. Glancing toward the door, she listened for any movement or voices. The stone walls seemed to insulate the rooms very well, and she didn’t hear anyone. Natural soundproofing, she pondered, rummaging through her pack. She managed to find and pull out a deep blue nightgown with a pair of underwear. After quickly dressing, she noticed that the cold air from the bedroom had started to penetrate her skin.
Shade shivered and rubbed her arms. Her hair was still wet from the shower and felt cool on her shoulders. There was something else though, making her stop what she was doing as she felt goose bumps flare across her skin. She looked around the room and couldn’t figure out why she was suddenly so cold. She heard what sounded like a whisper, but saw nothing. Where had that voice come from? She held her breath, listening hard for anything else.
Her eyes darted around as she waited. None of her spirit guides responded to her inner pleas; it was as if a mute button had been pushed. She didn’t like it one bit. Something was very wrong. Shade grabbed one of her daggers from her pack and listened once more. Nothing jumped out at her, and there were no more whispers. Her heart raced and pounded in her ears. She held her breath, listening and frowning. It was probably nothing. Shaking off the crazy feelings, she tossed the dagger on the vanity table and walked to the bed. She slipped under the soft sheets and pulled one of the thick quilts on top of her. Looking around one more time, she stared at the mirror one more time.
Is it rippling again? She shivered and felt uneasy. I need to rest; I’m just really tired and exhausted. That’s why I’m starting to see things. Tomorrow will be here before I know it. She then decided to reach for her pack and pulled out her cell phone. It still had a charge on it, but she doubted there would be an outlet here to top it off. It read 10:45pm. Ugh, it’s getting super late!
They had planned to regroup for breakfast at six am and after that, continue on their journey. She pulled out her charger and glanced down the wall near the floor. The lamp plugged into the wall so there had to be an open outlet just next to it. She couldn’t believe her luck as she plugged her cell phone in. Faeries with modern technology! She wondered if all the rooms were like this, or was she the only one with modern comforts in her room. For certain, there’d be iron in the conduits running through the stone walls.
Shade shrugged; she’d have to ask Jack about it later. The Teleen wouldn’t be bothered by it, but what about her friends? It was something to ask about. The palace at Guildrin didn’t have such amenities. The light had come from torch and candle, and from some weird magical spell that illuminated the place as brightly as natural sunlight.
Shade lay back, sinking into the bed and sheets. She let the blankets envelope around her, embracing the body heat trapped in the soft sheets, which made the bed feel like heaven. Reaching over, she clicked the lamp back off, trying to avoid looking at the creepy mirror again and instead closed her eyes, letting herself slip away into sleep.
Chapter Seven
“SHADE.”
The blue fire was glowing all around her, crackling and popping on all sides. The walls seemed to be close to her, enveloping her like a cocoon. She stood up from the ground where she’d woken. Is this real? A dream? She didn’t know. Feeling the walls with her hands, they felt hard and rough with cool stones. The sound of her own breath echoed around her, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary besides the fact that she had no idea what was going on. The fire came from the other side of the room. It stood like a pillar the size of a man. In fact, as she stared longer into the flowing flames, the image of a man surfaced in the fire. She gasped. The man’s eyes remained closed and his hands laid crossed over each other on the hilt of a gleaming sword. The blade also glowed with wisps of blue fire. Its hilt was made of dark red rubies; the red flames spread from his hands onto the blade of his sword.
Shade walked toward him, asking him who he was. He didn’t respond to her inquiries no matter how much she pleaded. She kept going and although her feet were bare, she did not feel cold as she thought she would. Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached out to the man.
“Help me,” Shade whispered to him, her voice faint and weak. Her fingers were almost touching the blue flame engulfing his body even though she felt afraid. She didn’t know if the flames would burn or scald her hands. Somehow, she needed to wake him and make him help her out of this place, this tomb. Taking in his face, she realized that he looked a lot like Dylan, the way he would look had he been resting and peaceful.
Suddenly, his eyes and mouth flew open, and a bright, white light poured out of them in piercing rays. A sound like loud ethereal music filled her ears to the point that it sent her to the floor, covering them. The music seemed to scream into her, filling her with prickling pain.
Then the words came, and they were excruciating:
“WAKE UP AND RUN, SHADE!”
*****
SHADE’S EYES FLEW open as she gasped, thrashing in her bed. It was still very dark, and it took a moment or two for her eyes to focus and readjust.
Am I alive or dead? Where am I? She felt panicked and couldn’t breathe, her chest arrested with a searing pain.
She reached over to the lamp, but without any light, she fumbled and sent the lamp smashing to the floor. The nightmare had left her with a dull, disorientating ache in her head. Just then, the room lit up around her like a blinding floodlight, making her pupils contract painfully.
She stopped fumbling and stared at the changed silver and crystal mirror. It was on fire with blue flames dripping out like liquid molten rock. It crackled with white electricity and poured out of the rippling surface, down the table and into the middle of the room. The pillar it formed shifted and morphed into a man.
Darren.
Run! Run now!
She screamed as the voices returned, panicked and jumbled in her mind. However, she soon realized no one could hear her through the solid rock walls. She pulled the blankets off but never made it out of the bed before he jumped on her. He pushed her down and smacked her face. His cold laugh rang through her ears as he snarled down at her, watching her squirm and kick helplessly.
His eyes were facets of blue white light, blinding her even more as he pinned her under his legs and squeezed her arms so hard she felt them aching and burning in protest. There were surely bruises forming on skin. He smacked her again so hard that stars flared in a sea of darkness. She almost blacked out, fighting to stay awake and tasting the iron flavor of blood in her mouth. The left side of her face felt on fire.
When her vision cleared, she took in the horror of Darren completely engulfed in fire. His blue flames roared around them but nothing burned, as though his fire was cool to the touch. To Shade’s surprise, she wasn’t burning under his grip, giving her a renewed urge to struggle. His grip kept her in place while the room spun. She wondered briefly if he had given her a concussion or something. Her stomach lurched with nausea, threatening to spill her dinner.
Blinking, she tried to focus. “Darren, let me go!” She coughed up a mouthful of blood and spit at the faery.
&nbs
p; He snarled at her. “You pathetic mortal, I forgot how much you bleed and injure so easily. No true fey would be so fragile. My apologies, of course. I do wonder, though, why you aren’t burning up into crumbly ash. I always did like to watch mortals turn into dust while I burnt them. I’m just a little bit sick like that.” He snickered and hopped off the bed, never letting his glare slip from her. “Show me what you’ve got, Shade. I want to know why you’re so special. What’s your secret? What is it that Jack won’t tell me?” His face morphed from mocking to angry as his fire was flickered in and out. The fire flashed rapidly, making the room pulse like a bright strobe, serving to disorientate her even more.
Shade tried to stand by grabbing the nightstand and pulling herself upright. She could barely balance on her shaky legs, which didn’t want to work at the moment. “There’s nothing special about me, Darren. I’m just a halfling. I’d think you’d have heard that by now. Really, there’s nothing else. I don’t really have any magic. I’m still learning. I swear, I don’t know anything else!”
She stood and stepped toward Darren but fumbled, tripping on her sluggish limbs. He caught her as she slipped and spun her around to where they faced the fiery mirror, still aglow. She stared at their reflections as her mind scrambled to find a way out of his embrace.
Darren smiled coldly as he yanked on her hair with one of his hands. His other arm encircled her chest, holding her arms tightly to her sides. Squeezing her even more, he nuzzled her neck and whispered into her ear. “What do you see, Shade? Don’t you like my fire? You see how pathetic you are? No human should be so special. I really don’t get why they chose you. You’re so fragile, weak, and pathetic. Why not choose a great faery warrior, like myself, for instance? You’re a tarnish to our race, and I think I will be doing us a great favor by getting rid of you.” His flames began to burn higher and licked the air around them, making it so his face no longer could be seen in the mirror.
