The Prince, a Betrayal, & a Kiss: An Enlighten Short Story (Enlighten Series)

by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

  I called the bear Polus. He carried me to his den and shared his food with me, though I couldn’t eat any of it since I didn’t know if I could digest anything here in the human world without getting sick—or worse. I recalled my brief time spent on the island with Sidelle, when she’d brought me a fibrous brown ball then sliced it open. A white, milky substance had flowed out of its center and emitted the most putrid stink. It was enough to make my stomach churn even after all this time.

  As time passed in this strange new world, I realized that here the moon rose and fell in equal amounts of daylight and night time. In Fairyland, the sun and moon rose whenever they wanted, forcing Fairies to count the sundowns, though I supposed we could have counted the sun ups just the same. I still had no clue where I was, or when, and Polus didn’t have those answers. Since I hadn’t seen an Ordinary, I decided to try using all the Glamour tricks, and I was pleased to see everything seemed to work as it should. My magic swirled around my body as I shot blue Fairy Light, created snowstorms, and grew ice daggers. I couldn’t test out some things but suspected they would work, too.

  I wondered briefly how I’d get back into Fairyland and home.

  Enough was enough. I was getting nothing done by being here. I needed to get off this barren white land. After telling Polus not to follow, I picked a direction and walked for many days. Nothing about the landscape changed. All I could see was white surrounding the blue rivers and lakes. Technically, I could have used Glamour to transport myself to another location, but I didn’t know anything about where I wanted to go. My body could end up in the middle of a desert, under a vast ocean, or even floating in the night sky. And that, well, that would be awkward to explain to anyone I might meet.

  Eventually the sound of water lapping gently against the shore reached me. The white terrain gave way to dirty brown grass, and the land became dotted with tiny flowers. Thunder rumbled as shelves of ice broke apart, and water splashed, creating waves. Mounds of packed snow fell into the icy liquid and were never seen again.

  Spotting one slab of snow that was making its way out toward the sea, I jumped aboard and looked around me. The sun shone on the horizon, filling the land with golden light. When I felt my chest rumble and a tingling start up in my fingers, I understood the scepter had been exchanged in Fairyland and the seasons had changed. But the ocean was still cold. It was a good thing my body was made from Winter, as I would not otherwise have survived the brutal cold and icy winds. For twelve days I dozed on and off, thinking about my Sidelle, wondering how I was going to find her and win her trust back.

  When my transport finally thumped to a stop, my head bobbed, and I jerked forward. I had landed on a sandy beach, with docked ships and people milling about. Land. I had made it! Now to figure out where and when.

  No one paid attention to me. I scanned their clothing and mirrored their simple attire—tan breeches and a dark blue tunic similar to what I’d worn in Fairyland—and they appeared to take me as another trader or merchant. The land was very busy. Wooden carts filled with fruits, tools, and furs crowded the paths. On my way away from the shore, I snatched a cluster of grapes. I knew I could eat grapes, since Summer had them. Plus, grapes make wine, and I certainly knew wines. My hand brushed against the side of the crate, and before I knew what was happening, information had flown into my mind, telling me about where the human was from: Tarifa, a small city on the southern coast of Spain.

  I pulled my hand back, startled and confused. Where had that information come from? What else could I find out about this place? Curious, I glanced around then set my hand on a different merchant’s fares. More knowledge soared into my head: Located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, Spain came under Roman rule, after which the region was named Hispania. The area was later conquered by Germanic tribes and eventually by the Moors.

  The pathway became busier the closer I came to the city. Once I got the lay of the land, I could transport myself to different areas and search for Sidelle. I knew I’d be able to find her, because ever since she had infused some of her essence into me, we were connected. No matter where she was in this world, I’d find her.

  “You there!” Startled, I turned toward a young man who stood in the crook of a tree, then I pointed at myself, questioning. He nodded. “Yes, you,” he said. “Are you lost?”

  “No,” I replied.

  “Where are you headed?”

  I shrugged. These Ordinaries are a friendly bunch.

  “Then you might as well hang with me.” He jumped down to the ground and swung an arm around my shoulders. “Name’s Aiden.”

  I frowned, feeling uneasy, and had to stifle my wings when they threatened to appear. “Finn,” I said.

  There was more to it than just his forward manner, I knew. Something about this Aiden character wasn’t right. Maybe I’d heard something in his tone, or maybe it was his intentions. Either way, I’d have to be on my guard around him.

  “Well, Finn,” he said, grinning. “I can see you’re a man of few words. You’re new, and I’m an old soul. Why don’t we find some excitement?” He steered my body away, and we walked toward an old building that practically vibrated with music, hoots, and hollering. “I think we can cause some mischief in here, can’t we?”

  My new friend led me inside the shoddy shack, and all heads turned our way as we entered. There was something strange about the establishment, and once again my wings threatened to spring out. I drew in a deep breath to calm myself, but over the centuries I had learned to trust my instincts. They had never failed me.

  Aiden chose to perch by the bar and make small talk with the server. The golden liquid he ordered was poured and delivered almost immediately, then he turned to me, smiled, and ordered another. I noticed no money was exchanged between the two men. Maybe they used some sort of barter system.

  “What is this?” Not wanting to offend my new friend, I lifted it and sniffed. Barley, hops, and something sweet filled my nose.

  “Beer,” Aiden said, looking amused. “You haven’t had beer before? Try it. It’s like wine. It’ll do wonders for you. Help you relax, take the edge off.” He scanned the room. “You’re too tense.”

  Could he feel that? I’d have to do better at masking my feelings.

  I slowly took a sip. The warm liquid slid down my throat and burned in the pit of my stomach. I hope it doesn’t make me sick. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, either. Wine had no effect on me—it has no effect on any Fairy—so I didn’t think beer would either.

  “Have another!” Aiden turned toward the server and nodded.

  Before I could object, another cup sat before me. Seeing everyone else in the place was drinking the same stuff, I tilted my head back and drank the beer in a few gulps.

  “There! That’s the spirit, my boy!” Aiden shouted, surprising me yet again. “Here’s to our new friendship. May we always be there for each other.”

  The whole room broke into cheers and shouts of celebration at his toast, then small groups of men approached Aiden and shook his hand. Eventually every man had come up to acknowledge him. Maybe this guy was someone important. I didn’t doubt that, actually. Power radiated off him, and everyone seemed to respect him.

  “You ready to see the town?” Aiden asked.

  “Sure. Lead the way.” I leaned away from the counter, and my step faltered. I grabbed Aiden’s shoulder for balance. “What’s wrong with my legs?”

  He shrugged. “Nothing. That’s what too much beer does. Don’t worry. It’ll wear off in a few hours.” He continued to walk away. “Worth it, though. You look better, more relaxed. Now let’s go find a party!”

  Whatever had been in that beer made my sight blurry and my body tingle. I considered the new feeling and discovered I liked it. In fact, I could get used to it. It numbed the pain in my chest. Thoughts of Sidelle flew from my mind with every step I took behind Aiden.

  A couple of glasses of beer turned into a week-long binge of drinking, partying, and consorti
ng, and it probably would have kept on going if Aiden and I hadn’t stumbled all the way to the outskirts of the city and met up with a carriage, which came to a stop alongside us.

  “Sir,” the driver said. “Your ride.”

  I stared at the driver then back at Aiden. When had he found time to call for a ride? Not that Aiden had been attached to my hip all the time, but still. Maybe it had happened during one of his many meetings with people, since random folks announced their presence to him everywhere we’d gone. When he stepped off a curb, crowds in the street divided to let him and me through. It reminded me of the royal court in Winter, but here Aiden was the prince.

  The carriage was made of a dark walnut wood and was stained black. One of the tallest, most magnificent black horses I’d ever seen was tethered to it. The beast’s coat looked like silk, and the shiny black mane flowed like wheat on a prairie. Reaching out, I brushed his long forelock out of his odd-colored golden eyes.

  “Don’t touch him, he bi—”

  I jerked my hand back and looked at the driver, but of course the horse hadn’t taken a chomp of my hand. He just didn’t like the man who whipped his rump. Any biting was done in a constant lesson for the driver.

  “Huh. I guess he likes you,” the driver said, looking shocked. Aiden’s head was tilted to one side, curious. “And he don’t like no one except his master.”

  “I have a . . . way with animals,” I said with a shrug. “Always have.”

  The driver opened the carriage door and motioned for Aiden to step into the coach. “Where to, sir?”

  “Let’s go to Italy,” Aiden said. “I haven’t been there in a while.”

  “Should take a few days to travel. The usual road?”

  “Yes, that’ll be fine.” Aiden leaned out the door, waved me into the carriage, and I didn’t argue.

  Inside, the seats were cushions of soft black velvet, but when I touched the carriage itself, I could glean no information. That was very different from when I’d accidentally touched the food carts back at the docks.

  Aiden drew the curtains closed, closed his eyes, and relaxed. We jerked forward and bounced our way to Italy.

  “Why does everyone seem to know you?” I asked eventually.

  His eyes remained closed. “Ah, well. I’m a successful business man. Everyone wants to be associated with success.”

  “What is it that you do?”

  A casual shrug of one shoulder. “A little of this, a little of that. Nothing important. It’s a long ride, so you might as well relax.”

  I shut my eyes and let myself doze. When I opened them again, light peeked through the curtain. The carriage wasn’t moving, and Aiden was nowhere to be found. Concerned, I flung open the door, then gasped, shocked by the beauty of the landscape before me. Rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see, and the blue sky was so clear it reminded me of the lakes in Winter. The sun hung low on the horizon, and soft yellows and oranges reflected off the water. I thought of Sidelle. She’d love it here.

  “Ah. Sleeping beauty is awake,” Aiden said. He stood on a dock a few feet away, smiling over at me.

  “Are we in Italy already?” I asked.

  “We are.”

  “Really?”

  Hadn’t the driver said it would take a couple days to get to Italy? I was sure I had closed my eyes for what felt like a few hours, definitely not days. As far as I knew, the carriage had never stopped. We hadn’t taken any breaks, found lodging, or even eaten. Or had we? I rubbed my temples, feeling a dull ache there. I must have been more tired than I thought.

  I stretched my legs and breathed in the fragrant air, scanning the land before me: an endless sandy beach, massive ships lining the piers, and the hustle and bustle of a very busy merchant area. Much larger than Tarifa. The high concentration of salt in the air caught me off guard. Again, Sidelle’s warm smile flooded into my mind.

  “You told me some interesting facts about yourself on our way here,” Aiden said, as we walked along the docks.

  I had? What had I said? Had I shared impossible truths?

  “I see from your face you don’t remember any of that.”

  I shook my head, slightly panicked at the thought.

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. We all have them.” He smiled at me. “So. Your knack for animals. You treat them for a living, or what?”

  I vaguely remembered having a conversation about that when the carriage had first arrived. Something about a horse. “No. We just have an understanding.”

  Should I tell him what I meant? I could show him. I’d had fun with Aiden, come to respect him even. And since that first day in the bar, my wings had never once threatened to appear. We had both done a lot of drinking together, and the alcohol never seemed to affect him as much as it did me, but I knew he’d been doing it a long time. That probably explained it.

  “Watch,” I said, making a decision. I knelt and spread my hands. As my Glamour swirled invisibly around me, I called a small land animal to me, one that wouldn’t pose a threat. Invisible blue light scurried through the wood, finding its mark, and a dozen or so rats appeared. The creatures ran along the boards and stopped in front of us, looking curious. I picked one up and held it out to Aiden.

  “Is it safe to touch it?” he asked, unsure.

  “Sure. He won’t bite you.”

  Aiden shook his hands, then rubbed them together, but he looked nervous. The rat sat quietly on the palm of my hand, and I nodded to Aiden, encouraging him. He reached out and very slowly poked the skinny little belly with his finger. In that instant, an unfamiliar heat coursed through my fingers and up my arms, causing me to drop the creature. The rat skittered away, joined up with his pack, and they all scampered away.

  Interesting. That’d never happened before. Aiden didn’t seem to notice anything, so I just figured I’d imagined it.

  Another week passed, and Aiden and I became friends. That odd feeling I’d felt when we’d met went away altogether. We travelled all over Europe, seeing castles being built and some destroyed. He snuck us into royal parties, whispered untruths to the rulers just to get a rise out of them, stole young ladies’ hearts, and caused fighting of epic proportions. Aiden’s definition of fun might have been different from most others, but he was all about enjoying himself. No night was ever the same, and I became wrapped up in the adventures. We left mayhem in our wake wherever we traveled. The thrill of the games, the ruthless, back stabbing ways reminded me of Winter court. I reminded myself that no one really got hurt by what I did. Sure, some might have died, but it was never done by my hand. It was all Aiden. He seemed to thrive on creating madness.

  And yet, despite his dark nature, I remained by his side. He was my friend, after all.

  Days grew into weeks then into months. Sometimes Aiden disappeared without explanation, but he always returned eventually, filled with stories. That was fine with me. I needed alone time too.

  My search for Sidelle proved to be hopeless.

  I never told Aiden about her.

  One day when Aiden was away, an intense yellow light circled the floor, waking me from my slumber. I blinked up, shocked to see an Angel standing before me, his golden wings wrapped around his body. His silver sword was extended and the tip was deliberately pointed at my head.

  “You caused the Black Plague!” he bellowed.

  “What? No!” For the first time in a long time, my wings sprang from my back, and I scrambled to the far side of the bed, needing to put some distance between the angel’s blade and me. “Did Michael send you?”

  The tip of the sword didn’t waver. “No. I am Kieran, a Guardian angel.” He shook his head. “I have come to tell you Aiden is bad news. Stay away from him.”

  What? “He’s not here. I haven’t seen him in a month.” The angel’s eyes darted in every direction, scanning the small room, and I got defensive. “Who are you to tell me who my friends are?”

  The angel lowered his blade and glared d
irectly at me. “He’s no friend to you. The Black Death caused millions of Ordinaries’ deaths.”

  What was he talking about? “Impossible! I don’t even know what that is.”

  “You know I speak the truth,” he said smugly. “On that last trip to Italy, Aiden asked you about the animals, and you showed him what you could do.” He shook his head, looking incredulous. “I can’t imagine what your queen would do if she found out you told—”

  “I don’t plan to ever tell her,” I said quickly.

  “Whatever. That’s between you and her, but deep down, you know I’m right. And when Sidelle finds out what you’ve—”

  “Don’t you dare speak of Sidelle!” I jumped off the bed and threw a punch, trying to wipe that smile off his angelic face, but he easily sidestepped. “She can’t find out!” I exclaimed, fighting panic. “She’d never forgive me! She’d think I’m exactly as a Winter Fairy should be! But I didn’t cause all that death. It wasn’t my fault!”

  “The Plague originated in the plains of central Asia,” the angel said calmly, ignoring my pleas. “It was carried by fleas living on black rats which were regular passengers of merchant ships sailing to the Mediterranean Sea. When you showed Aiden how the rats responded to your instructions, he infused the infectious bacteria into every single rat on all the docked ships. The rats spread and infiltrated the cities.”

  I suddenly felt very sick. My mouth was dry as dust. How could this be true?

  “I … I didn’t know,” I whispered. “I didn’t know what he did.” I shook my head, trying to clear images of Sidelle, seeing her disappointed expression once again. No. I wasn’t going to let that happen. A heavy weight of guilt and realization lowered onto my shoulders, but the fog cleared from my eyes. I looked up at the angel. “I can’t be here any longer. I need to go home.”

  “Is that really what you want?” the angel asked, eyes narrowed. “To go home?”

  Fleeting memories of Mab and Winter passed through my mind, but I paid little attention to them. I knew what I had to do. “Yes. I’m no use to her here.”