Elixir of Eve: The Keepers, Book One - A Fae Series

by Alex Temples

  The old me was incredibly independent and stubborn. I’d always fought to be in control. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than for someone to swoop in and save me. The problems loomed large, taunting me like giants, towering larger and scarier than anything I’d ever faced before.

  Siddarth pulled me in, rubbing my back and whispering soothing words in my ear. He held me close and I cried until there were no tears left, until I lay across his lap, energy spent. That was when Aiden walked in.

  “Brin?” He saw me sprawled across Siddarth’s lap and his eyes lit on fire.

  Before I could say anything, Aiden had crossed the room. His hands went around Siddarth’ s throat.

  I rolled out of the chair and leapt to my feet, grabbing his arm.

  “Aiden, no!”

  Siddarth threw Aiden across the room with a sweep of his hand.

  I gaped in astonishment.

  Aiden picked himself. He too gaped at Siddarth, unsure of what had just happened.

  “Aiden. I am not your enemy.” Siddarth said, standing strong, staring across the room at Aiden.

  I stood between them, torn.

  Aiden tilted his head. “Who are you?” He asked, his blue eyes blazing.

  “Your mother sent me. I’m a member of her council, but my job is here on earth. I’ve watched over Brin since her mother left her.” He said slowly, glancing at me as he did.

  Aiden’s eyes found mine and he searched them, seeing my acceptance of this truth and relaxing perceptibly.

  Aiden inclined his head at Siddarth then, stepping forward with his hand extended.

  “You have my gratitude for keeping her safe.” The two men shook hands and then stepped back, still eyeing each other warily.

  Tristan chose that moment to enter the room, holding up a vial. “I hate to interrupt, but I’ve prepared several samples of the mistletoe and I believe we need to begin testing the incantation with each.”

  At this, I snapped back to attention, pulling myself together and standing. “Tristan is right; we need to begin. Oren is running out of time, along with the rest of the world.”

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Twelve hours later, the four of us sat in a room staring at the samples before us with disdain. None of the mistletoe samples were reactive and we were running out of options.

  I swirled a vial of Mistletoe extract, adding a drop of the enzyme to it and watching eagerly for a reaction. The door swung open and Sam burst in, finding me immediately and running toward me.

  “Oh, Brin. You’re back. I’m so happy to see you. Are you okay?”

  Sam pulled me into a tight hug.

  I laughed, relieved to see my friend was back to normal, with no lasting damage from the snake bite.

  “Yes, I’m fine for now, all things considered.”

  Sam's eyes were filled with the same grief I knew filled my own. We stared quietly at each other for a moment. John Yates had been a second father to Sam. I knew she felt his loss as acutely as I did. The two of us exchanged a look that said there would be time for tears later. Now was the time to fight.

  “Siddarth, what are you doing here so late?” Sam asked, as she noticed him standing in the corner, lining up vial in a rack.

  I hesitated, realizing Sam knew nothing of magic, of fae, or the true origin of the sickness plaguing the world. Should I tell her? Would she believe me?

  Sam saw my hesitation and frowned. “What’s going on, Brin?”

  I glanced towards Aiden and Tristan, who both shrugged.

  Very helpful. I looked to Siddarth and he nodded to me.

  Looks like I’m on my own here.

  Sam was a very open-minded person. She’d never judged me for anything I’d done before, no matter how crazy or reckless or stupid. It would be fine.

  I took Sam’s elbow and led her to the sofa. The three men stood in the corner of the room watching us with interest, but making no move to join us.

  I rolled my eyes and sat across from Sam. Never count on men to handle a serious conversation.

  “Sam, you’ve been the closest friend, the best friend I could ever ask for. I know I’m not an easy person to be friends with. I love you very much and there is something I have to tell you, but I need you to keep an open mind.” I pleaded with my friend.

  Sam smiled. “I love you too. There’s nothing you could tell me that could make me hate you. Now, what’s going on?”

  I paused. “I’m not sure how to say it.”

  Sam laughed. “Well, is it something you can show me?” Her blonde curls bounced as she sat back in her chair.

  “Yes, I suppose it is.” Resolved, I stood up, grabbing Sam’s arm. “

  Tristan is that last sample ready?”

  Tristan looked down at the sample, swirling it once more and setting it in the rack. “Yes.”

  I looked to Aiden. “Do you have the tablets?”

  Aiden nodded and brought me the leather bag, handing it across the counter. Sam watched with interest as I slid the tablets out of the bag.

  “Wow, what are those?” Her eyes were as big as saucers.

  I set the shiny gold tablets on the counter.

  “These are ancient, enchanted fae tablets. They contain the incantation that is going to turn this sample into a viable antidote to cure Oren and the others.”

  I said it plainly, not smiling, willing her to believe me.

  Sam was quiet. She ran a hand over the surface of one of the tablets, glancing at the rack of test tubes and then up at my face. “Fae?” She asked.

  I smiled at the fact that she’d pulled that one piece out of what I’d said. “Yes, fae – fairies, like the sort in fairy tales, but in real life they don’t look any different than we do.”

  Sam stared at me as if I’d just sprouted wings, examining me with interest, her eyes running up and down my body. “You are something else.” She said. “I knew there was something special about you, Brin.”

  I gaped at her. “Did you understand what I just said?”

  She smiled and nodded. “You have magic, Brin. I’ve always known that. If you say it is some sort of supernatural magic, I believe you. Though, I would welcome a demonstration.”

  I wasn’t sure what to do next. It shouldn’t have been that easy. I glanced at the men who were watching with rapt attention and turned back to the test tubes.

  “Okay.”

  I smiled at Sam as I waved my hands, building the energy in my fingers and willing the test tubes up and of the rack. They danced, swirling in a circle before coming back down to rest in different slots.

  Sam’s eyes were wider now. She glanced between me and the test tubes, her mouth open. “Woah.” It took her a moment to collect her thoughts, and then the questions began.

  I laughed and gave her a quick summary of everything that had happened since she’d left with the snake bite, ending with the fight at the castle and the fact that I had to use the tablets to perform my first incantation and make the elixir.

  “So, you have never used magic to make something?” Sam asked, staring between me and the tablets.

  I shook my head. “We’ve been practicing for the last several hours. The first thing I must do is synthesize the sample. According to Siddarth, if the incantation works, the liquid will glow.”

  Sam glanced at the three men and then at the rows of samples. “All of them?” She asked.

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  She looked contemplative for a moment. “Didn’t you say each fae has a natural ability? One skill they are particularly gifted with?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  Sam tilted her head in the direction of the men. “Well, who is good with plants?”

  I gasped, realizing instantly what we’d been doing wrong.

  My mind flashed back to how Aiden had been able to make the tree branches grow. I didn’t have to do this alone. We needed a combination of our magic.

  Aiden saw where my thoughts had gone and nodded. “You’re right. I can’t belie
ve I didn’t realize it before.”

  Tristan and Siddarth nodded. We all watched as Aiden approached the samples. He picked up several tubes, before settling on the last one in the rack.

  “This is the best sample.” He said, examining it carefully. He closed his eyes and held the tube tightly in one hand, chanting under in his breath.

  The air hummed with energy.

  Sam looked completely enthralled, but unafraid.

  The air around Aiden became charged, swirling with energy. We all gasped when the tube came to life, glowing a faint green.

  Aiden opened his eyes. “Your sample, Miss Yates.” He handed the tube over to me, a satisfied smile on his face.

  I swallowed, accepting the warm, glowing tube, marveling at the iridescent green liquid inside. Knowing our time grew short, I took the tube and walked to the tablets sitting on the counter. Feeling their pulsating energy, I shivered with excitement. It would work this time. There was a hum in the air that hadn’t been there before.

  Aiden came up behind me. Looking down at the tablet I slowly began to read the Ancient Edenese, the musical words dancing up off the page as I said them. Lightning flashed, lighting up the narrow window near my lab station, the rumble of thunder sounding as it were right on top of us.

  So close.

  “Emez a cacuala dera pazu elem ra…”

  The floor shook and I felt a mysterious power building around me. It flooded into my veins, fortifying me.

  “Badu ra aka sa du emu ezua…” I continued, pushing though the rest of the words, hurrying as the energy crested. The tension in the room was overwhelming. As I finished the last line, I could barely stand the burning power.

  “Kala azuca fe ney badu ra kalaka.”

  A bang sounded and a rush of energy burst from the tablets, throwing everyone except me against the walls. I stood rooted to the ground, clutching the vial tightly in my hand.

  The glowing green liquid turned crimson and I knew I was holding the elixir that would save Oren. I turned around.

  Everyone stared in awe, looking between me and the vial. The phone rang, shattering the silence.

  Samantha answered it, exchanging a few words with the person on the other end before looking up at me, her eyes filled with dread.

  “It’s Oren. They just put him on a ventilator. He’s stopped breathing on his own.”

  Cold fear flushed through my body. I capped the vial and ran to the door, grabbing my purse and jacket as I went. I had to get to that hospital in time.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  I couldn’t wait for the elevator. I took the stairs two at a time. Aiden was close on my heels.

  We had borrowed Siddarth’ s motorcycle, speeding and weaving through traffic, breaking every law imaginable. We’d arrived at the hospital in ten-minutes flat. Sam, Tristan and Siddarth were following in a taxi.

  I burst through the door at the top of the stairs and ran down the hallway, clutching the vial of red liquid close to my chest.

  “Where is he?” I asked.

  Not waiting for an answer, I ran to the room where I’d last seen him, throwing open the doors and freezing when I saw my brother. Oren was pale and thin, a shadow of his former self. Tubes and cords connected him to monitors, IVs and the enormous ventilator in the corner. He looked small surrounded by all the equipment.

  I bit back a sob as I watched his chest rise slowly up and down, in time with the ventilator.

  “Oren.” I pleaded, crossing to his side. I picked up his hand and gently caressed the cool skin on his forehead, willing him to be well.

  Aiden came up behind me and handed me a syringe.

  “We haven’t tested it. We don’t know if it will work, or what the side effects will be.” I argued. But I knew we had no choice. Oren had no time left. The elixir would either work or wouldn’t. It would kill him or it would save him. There was no time to think.

  “Brin. You must have faith in yourself. I have faith in you. I know it will work.” Aiden said, placing a hand over mine.

  I turned and he pulled me to him.

  His hand brushed my cheek. “You have to have faith. You cannot go into this with doubt.”

  His blue eyes blazed fiercely. “Magic is faith. You must believe that what you are doing will work. You must erase all doubt, or you diminish your own power.”

  I stared into his eyes, swallowing back my uncertainty, pushing it out of my mind. I willed myself to be the confident, sure person I’d been three weeks ago. I had known all the answers back then. Now my world was upside down. All my assumptions about life had been quashed. My certainty extinguished. I knew nothing any longer, except that change was inevitable

  Turning to the bed, I stared down at my brother. I knew I couldn’t stand losing him. Oren and I had been through so much together. We drew strength from each other. I wouldn’t want to live without him. Our father had been an empty shell for the past two decades, a mere shadow in the background of our lives. It had been me and Oren against the world for as long as I could remember.

  I won’t lose him.

  I turned to Aiden, accepting the syringe. Without a second thought, I popped the cap off the test tube and drew the red liquid into the syringe, filling it and then pushing the air out. I turned to Oren.

  A nurse burst into the room just as I jabbed the needle into his shoulder.

  “Stop! What are you doing?” She shouted, running towards the bed to stop me.

  I pushed the plunger down, injecting the crimson fluid into Oren’s bicep before collapsing against him.

  I had a vague sense of hands pulling me off him. Questions were shouted across the room. I heard Aiden speaking, but didn’t comprehend what he said. Arms were dragging me toward the door when I heard Oren start choking.

  Everyone in the room froze, spinning around. Arms released me.

  We all hurried to the bed.

  Sam, Tristan and Siddarth had just arrived. They joined us as we stared anxiously at the hospital bed.

  I gasped, seeing Oren’s eyes were open.

  He wasn’t choking because he was dying. He was choking because he was conscious and no longer needed the tube down his throat.

  The nurse recognized this at the same time I did moving quickly to the bed. She placed a hand on Oren’s chest, working quickly to remove the tube. When she pulled it out, Oren gagged and choked, continuing to cough even after he was free of it.

  I accepted a cup of water someone thrust into my hands and hurried to Oren’s side, moving to his bedside and helping him sit up.

  “Brin.” He croaked, after gulping a few swallows of water.

  As soon as I heard his voice, I knew he was going to be okay.

  “Oren.” Tears sprung to my eyes and I pulled him into a hug, crying all over his hospital gown. It was the second time today I’d fallen apart and sobbed in someone’s arms, but this time I cried tear of joy.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  I’d broken the news about our father to Oren. We’d spent an hour crying together, too wrapped up in our grief to acknowledge anyone else in the room. Everyone had slowly drifted away, all except Aiden, who’d insisted on waiting for me.

  Oren had fallen asleep, exhausted by all the talking. I carefully closed the door to his room and went out to find Aiden. A nurse told me he was on the balcony at the end of the hall.

  I found him sitting at a small metal table, staring up at the sky.

  “Aiden.”

  At my voice, he stood.

  I went to him. Our lips met and I kissed him hungrily, realizing only now how much I’d longed to feel his arms around me.

  When we finally pulled apart he smiled down at me, running a thumb over my lips and staring deep into my eyes.

  I sighed with pleasure. We still had to finish synthesizing enough vaccine for the thousands of other victims. The day was not yet over, but that didn’t change the fact that I was exhausted. At least we could enjoy this momentary reprieve.

  I thought back over t
he past few weeks and something that had been bugging me fluttered to the surface. I glanced at Aiden, hesitant to break the comfortable silence that had fallen over us, but I needed an explanation.

  “Aiden.”

  “Yes?” He murmured, his head buried in my hair. He inhaled, making a sound of content and began trailing kisses up my neck.

  I pulled back. “Aiden, I have to ask you something.”

  He must have heard the note of concern in my voice, for he pulled back and looked at me.

  “What is it Brin?” He asked, examining me carefully.

  “The tablets, when we were at the lake, trying to raise them from the depths…I couldn’t do it. I’m a descendant of a keeper and I couldn’t raise those tablets, Aiden…but you could. How is that possible?”

  Aiden’s expression sent ripples of worry through me. I straightened, wary of what he was about to say.

  “Brin. Does it really matter now? We have the elixir. Your brother is well. We will cure the rest of the sick and then we will perform the solstice ceremony to make sure the wall holds until the keepers can be recovered.”

  I saw fear in his eyes and as much as I wanted to just do as he said and move forward, I had to know.

  “Tell me why, Aiden.”

  He sighed with resignation, rubbing his forehead.

  “I am also descended from a keeper, Brin.” He said, his eyes issuing a silent plea for understanding. “One of the original keepers…” He trailed off, watching me as I considered what he’d said.

  “Your parents were fae royalty.” I argued.

  Aiden nodded. “Yes, that’s what I thought. I think I realized the truth at the lake when I was able to raise the tablets, but it wasn’t until I spoke to my mother…Aelwen,” he corrected. “That I discovered the full truth.”

  I waited for him to continue, unsure whether I wanted to hear the rest. “Which is?”

  Aiden looked down and then back up, his eyes serious.

  “My father was a royal and my mother was a mortal. She was his lover, the mistress of the keepers at that time. In Eden, any child of a royal is considered an heir, a legitimate child.”