by Meg Bonney
What did this? An animal? Or was it the goblins Ren had mentioned earlier? I slowed my pace so that I was a little closer to Ren’s torch. Jason and Ren talked behind me about random topics, but I ignored them. Jason had a knack for conversation—something I envied.
I broke my silence with a cough, cleared my throat, and stopped walking abruptly.
Jason laid his hand on my back. “Madison, are you all right?”
“She was involved. She was a part of this whole thing,” I said. “She was so calm and almost cold. And then that fairy. She did this. But why?” I asked, staring at the ground.
“That is the question,” Ren said quietly. “I am sorry, Madison. I did not wish this.”
“It’s not your fault,” I replied without looking at him. He didn’t respond, and I started walking again.
“Um, hey, guys…” Jason said. “Do you see that?”
I lifted my head and squinted to focus ahead of us. Just yards in front of us, the cavern pathway was lit in a glowing bluish green.
“Is that the Jade Village?” I asked hopefully.
“Sort of. It is the grotto,” Ren said. “There is fresh water within. Follow me.”
I scrunched my nose. “The grotto?”
“It is a sight to be seen. Come on.” Ren waved us along as he took the lead, torch in hand.
“Hey, Ren?” I hurried to his side, Jason following right behind me.
“Yes, Madison?”
“Is there anything else?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is there anything else you need to tell me?” I clarified.
Ren shook his head.
“If you are lying to me, I will break your nose,” I said with a withering stare.
Ren looked at me and then back at Jason.
“She will,” Jason confirmed.
Ren smiled and shook his head again. “There is nothing else.”
We kept walking as the bluish green glow grew brighter and the sound of flowing water grew louder. Just as we reached the opening, the cavern narrowed, forcing us to walk single file. Ren ducked into the opening first, and I followed. The cavern opened into a fairly large circular area. There was a small waterfall on the far side of the grotto, a steady stream pouring down from a crevice in the cave wall into a swirling pool below. Off to the right, there was another opening a bit larger than the one we had just passed through.
Ren walked around to four torches that hung on the wall, lit three that had burned out, and replaced the fourth with his own. He tossed the unlit torch on the ground.
“Wow…” Jason’s voice bounced off the walls of the cavern over the soft sound of rushing water. He stepped out from behind me and stared at the ceiling, the source of the green glow.
My mouth fell open as I lifted my own eyes to the ceiling of the cave. Above us, the cavern was dotted with thousands of tiny bluish green specks glowing like stars in the night sky. They pulsated with light, growing brighter and dimmer in no particular pattern. It was without a doubt the most beautiful place I had ever been.
“Whoa.”
So many little lights, some brighter than others, beamed above us. They were the source of the glow that we had seen in the cavern tunnel.
“Can I drink this?” Jason asked Ren, who had pulled the canteens out of his satchel. Ren nodded.
Jason slid his hands into the water of the pool at the center of the grotto, and started drinking.
“This is amazing!” Jason exclaimed. “Maddy, come over here!”
I stood hesitantly, looking at the water glowing beneath the gorgeous twinkling turquoise lights and at the slick, rocky path that I would have to walk to get to the pool. Jason had made his way over there with ease, but then again, he wouldn’t have any trouble if he fell into the swirling pool of water—not like me. I could feel the anxiety bubbling within me as I cracked each knuckle on each hand in quick succession.
“I’m good,” I replied, playing it cool.
Ren stood next to me as I returned to gazing at the walls and ceiling of the grotto. Reflections from the water danced on the walls in glowing ripples of light.
“I like your lightning bolts,” he remarked quietly.
“Oh, um, thanks,” I replied, and touched one small silver earring. “They were a gift…from Lacy.”
Lacy. She must have had good intentions. She must have, or she wouldn’t have sent that Cypher Fairy. I knew her. But my optimistic attitude didn’t stop my stomach from hurting when I thought about her possible betrayal. It felt like I had been punched in the gut.
“What is that up there?” I pointed to the ceiling of the cave.
“Those are infant fae. They stay within the caves until they mature, and then they join their clan in the forests. They are in just about every cave near the Jade Village,” Ren answered.
“Baby fairies?” I smiled widely and looked up. “That is the cutest thing I have ever heard.”
“Are you going in?” Ren motioned to the water. He looked very Rebel Without a Cause, minus the red jacket and cancer stick.
“No, I’m good. You go ahead.” I shook my head and folded my arms over my abdomen, trying to gauge Ren’s intentions.
Why is he being so nice all of a sudden?
Ren smirked. “Are you sure? I do not mind saving you again.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” I replied sarcastically.
Ren stepped closer to me and chuckled. “I liked that you punched that boy. That was amusing.”
“You liked that, huh?” I smirked, thinking of how good it felt to punch Shawn Milton.
“He deserved it. He was a pig.”
“Oh, I remember.” I rocked back on my heels. “Kicked off my birthday with a splash, that’s for sure!”
“It is your birthday?” Ren asked curiously.
“Yeah, or it was. I don’t even know what day it is now. But yes, a very eventful day, to say the least.”
“Why were you even near the water? It is a known fact that Witches do not float.”
“She’s a Witch!” Jason yelled in his best Monty Python villager voice, and splashed some water at me. By now, he was sitting on the edge of the pool with his feet dangling in the water.
“Knock it off!” I shot back.
My smile fell as I watched Jason splash his legs around. My whole life was explainable. All of it. The thing I was great at and the thing that scared me to death—there were legit reasons for both. Valid reasons that would have made them easier to accept. I was fast because I was a Strongblood, and I couldn’t swim because I was a Witch.
Everything I had always wondered about myself now had a simple answer, but it came at a cost greater than I could have fathomed. And I could never go back.
“Are you okay?” Ren asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yeah. It’s just―I don’t understand. Why would she tell the king that we’re going there?” I rubbed my temples, then quickly pulled my hands back and huffed loudly.
“What is it?” Ren uncrossed his arms, looking alert.
“Nothing, I just―my Aunt Ruth does that all the time.” I smiled. “Whenever she gets stressed, she rubs her temples like that.”
“Um…I will be right back, guys. I have to use the little boys’ room.” Jason climbed out of the pool.
“Take a torch,” Ren said, hurrying over to Jason and pulling a torch from a slanted holder on the wall. “And don’t go too far.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” I asked Jason. He promptly wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
“Well, be careful.”
“You will miss me, but know that I shall return.” Jason bowed like he was closing out a show or something.
I laughed as he trotted out of the grotto the way we came in, leaving just Ren and me in the magical little cove. I looked up at the fae.
“Can they hear us?” I asked.
“I am not sure. Legend says that the fae can hear for miles
and that they can speak to each other without words, just in the way they fly.” Ren followed my gaze up to the curves of the rock, which was covered with little lights. The cluster of fae right above us seemed to glow a little brighter as he looked up.
“Looks like they like you.”
“I keep the torches lit to keep the goblins out. The fae have always been good to me, and I offer my protection,” Ren replied.
“Ah, the Cypher Fairy from before. That’s why it gave you the message. They all love you.”
Ren nodded.
“Will Jason be okay out there?” I looked toward the passage out of the grotto.
“I did not see any threat on our way here, so he should be fine,” Ren said, then paused. “You really care for him. Are the two of you…” Ren waved his hand in a circle as if waiting for me to finish his thought.
“Are we together?” I raised my eyebrows and said carefully, “Jason and I have a love that no other could match.”
“I see.” Ren looked to the ground quickly and ran his hand through his hair.
“Why do you care, Ren?” I shot back, looking at him as he fidgeted.
“I do not. I do not care. I was merely making conversation,” Ren replied quickly, still looking down.
“Really?” I snorted.
“There is nothing that I could possibly consider a more irrelevant subject, honestly,” Ren continued. “I just want to make sure that when it comes time to engage in battle, you have your mind in the right place and y—”
“Ren. Chill.”
Ren stopped picking at the corner of his thumbnail and looked at me from the side of his eye before reluctantly turning back to me.
“Jason and I are not together. And I can assure you that we never will be. He is like my brother. He is the most important person in the universe to me,” I explained.
Ren clarified. “He is your family.”
“Well, no. He is like my brother, but I don’t have any real blood relatives other than Lacy and Ruth—or at least, that’s how it used to be.” I stared at my feet.
We were silent for a moment. It felt like I was suddenly trapped on the world’s longest elevator ride. I sucked at small talk, and Ren seemed to be no better. I looked at the cavern opening, willing Jason to return and save me from this awkward silence.
I can’t stand here in silence anymore.
Staring at the slick walk around the edge of the water, I decided to brave it. Taking the tiniest steps possible, I walked over to the pooling water in the center of the grotto and sat on one of the flatter rock forms that lined the twinkling water. I pulled my shoes and socks off before sliding my feet in.
“Careful!” Ren said, and walked over to join me by the water. “It can b—ahh!” he bellowed as he slipped. He fell on his back and landed with a clunk as his dagger fell out of his boot and hit the ground. I reached for him, but it was too late. I pressed my lips together and slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.
Ren sat up and put his arms on his knees, but his tense face suddenly gave way to a slow smile as he shook his head. “So it goes, right?”
I smiled back at him.
“So it goes,” I replied softly.
I let my eyes linger on him after he looked away. He fixed the sheath that held his dagger on his calf, then stood. Ever so cautiously, he walked over to where I was sitting and held out a canteen. I accepted it and took a quick drink.
“Why are you only nice when we are alone?” I prodded.
“Oh, I―I did not mean to be.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“I meant that I do not mean to be harsh with you.” Ren sat on the rock next to mine, almost as if he were intentionally distancing himself from me. “I am out of practice when it comes to real people, I suppose. I prefer to read about people, not to actually interact with them.”
“I’m with you there,” I laughed. “I tend to get lost in my shows.”
Ren looked confused for a moment.
“TV shows. Television and movies.” I raised my eyebrows waiting for him to catch on, which he didn’t. “Oh my god. When this is all over, we are watching like thirty straight hours of television!” I exclaimed as all the titles of my favorites scrolled in my head. “But what to start with? Hmm. I am going to need to really ponder on that.” I tapped my chin.
“When this is over, you would still want to be around me?” Ren asked innocently.
“I guess.” I gave him a quick glance. “It might not be terrible. Would you want to be around me? Me and Jason?”
“Sure,” Ren replied
“Cool.” I moved my legs back and forth in the water and watched the changing reflections on the walls of the grotto.
“Madison, I am truly sorry for the way I told you about your father and about all of this with Lacy.” Ren’s voice was lower now as he turned the conversation to a more serious place. “I know how vital she is to you. I could see it the moment I found you. I do not have anyone who I can depend on, but if I did, I would be upset, too.”
“It’s okay.” I screwed the cap back on the canteen. “I, um…I thought something was wrong back at my house with Lacy. I guess I just didn’t really want to think about it. But I know her. This is just a misunderstanding. She would never do anything like that on purpose.”
Ren looked at me sympathetically. He ran his hand through his hair and then rubbed his jaw with his palm. “Yes, you are right; it may just be a misunderstanding. Maybe she is ju—”
“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to defend her actions.” I forced a smile back at him. “I just don’t really want to think about that right now. But thanks for trying.”
Ren shot me a quick half smile.
I let my gaze go back to the ceiling, to the tiny little lights. “I can’t believe this is real. It’s extraordinary in here.”
“I come here to relax often. It is said that the fae can have a calming effect on a person.” Ren sighed.
“Now that you mention it, I do feel really calm. If you knew me a little better, that would surprise you. I am not generally very patient.” I closed my eyes for a moment.
“Here.” Ren stood and held his hand out to me. “Give me your hand.”
“I can’t say that I want to rely on you for balance,” I replied, only half joking.
“Just come here.” Ren laughed quietly. I put my hand in his. His palms were rougher than I thought they would be. I stood and followed him away from the water.
“Okay, stand here,” he said as he stopped me and moved to stand behind me. He put his hand on my shoulder and lifted my arm with his other hand.
“What are y—”
“Shh, be still,” he whispered.
Ren’s hand cradled my wrist so that my arm was out to the side and above my head.
“Do not move.”
Without moving my head, I looked up as the fae began to stir. Little lights slowly started to flutter and dance away from the ceiling down toward Ren and me. The tiny little lights spun and swayed back and forth above me. I angled my face up to watch.
A few lights dashed in a loop around us as we stood still. I let out a small laugh, in awe of what I was seeing.
“This is amazing,” I whispered.
“Shh,” Ren insisted. I could hear the delight in his voice.
Then two of the fae descended a little farther. I made my palm flat and they landed on my open hand. They felt warm, and I could only feel the slightest tickle as the fae moved around on my skin.
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Ren said softly in my ear.
“Huh?”
“You asked me what my favorite book was,” he replied. “Huckleberry Finn.”
I smiled. “That’s a good book.”
“Happy birthday, Madison.”
I smiled but did not respond. We were quiet again as we watched the fairies.
“Ren?”
“Hmm?”
&nbs
p; Two more lights floated down and landed on my hand.
“Before, you said you didn’t have anyone to depend on.”
“I did.”
“You can depend on me…if you want to,” I whispered, to avoid disrupting the fae.
For that moment in the cave, I didn’t think about Lacy, Ruth, or my father and his decree. We didn’t speak. In that moment, it was just Ren and me in the most beautiful place in the world.
And I didn’t want it to end.
CHAPTER 16
The fae fluttered back up to the ceiling one by one, as if done with their visit. I slowly turned to face Ren. He half smiled at me
I grinned back at him. “Th—”
“Run!” A voice boomed into the grotto. “Run!”
I jumped, startled. Ren pushed me behind him and grabbed his dagger. I echoed his defensive reaction, pulling out my sword.
“Jason!” I screamed when I saw him. He stumbled in from the grotto’s entrance, breathlessly pointing behind him as he sank to the ground near the pile of our belongings. His torch was gone.
“What happened?” I yelled, running to him. “Are you okay?”
“What happened, Jason?” Ren asked.
Jason lifted a shaky hand, pointing to the cave opening through which we had entered the grotto. “Two of them…I kicked the crap out of the one, but there are more and they’re coming.”
“Who is? Who is coming?” I pressed as I held Jason’s arm.
“Goblins. They call them Soul Suckers,” Ren said with a half smile.
“Huh? That sounds like a not-good thing, like a not-smiling thing. Why are you smiling? Why is he smiling?” I asked, looking from Ren to Jason.
As I did, three pairs of glowing red eyes appeared in the cave entrance.
“Glowing red eyes never mean anything good. Like, ever,” I said flatly.
