Awake

by Riana Lucas

  We are all ready, but I cannot hold back one last comment. “Holly. You might want to bind your hair back or put it on top of your head. If you will recall, all the loose hair can prove to be quite a disadvantage when in a fight.” I give her a sly look knowing she will remember our fight and how I was able to slam her head so forcefully into the ground by using her hair. She growls low in her throat, narrowing her eyes at me, but she quickly pulls her hair back into a high ponytail at the crown of her head. Her hair is so long the ends still reach to the middle of her back. Without her hair around her face now, she looks much fiercer, but still very pretty.

  I shake my head at the idea of giving her a compliment before turning my attention back to the entire group. “We must travel quickly in order to get through the forest by the first signs of nightfall. This will provide the cover we need to enter the unseelie court with as little risk as possible of being seen. Then we can get my friends and come home, all before dinner.” Everyone nods their agreement, and so I continue, “I will shimmer just outside of the unseelie court, close enough to get there quickly but far enough away to keep from being detected. Each of you should track my movements and follow directly behind. From that point, we will have to make the rest of our journey on foot. Be careful, and stay close. Once we reach the forest, it is imperative we stay together and vigilant.” I await a final agreement from each of them before I turn back to the openness in front of me. Then I shimmer into the forest.

  Chapter Twelve

  Pulling the magic from the world around me and combining it with my own, I open a portal that will allow me to shimmer into the forest. Using my fae senses, I find the best spot to do this from, guaranteeing I end up in the faery forest. When my feet touch the forest floor, I unsheathe my daggers before crouching low. I listen to everything around me as I slowly pivot, looking for any possible threats that may be nearby. The others begin to shimmer in near me, but I do not lower my guard as I sense them enter the forest one by one. They all land within a few feet of me, all doing as I did upon entering the forest. Willow is the last one to shimmer in and, by the angry look she shoots Thorne, she’s not happy about this arrangement.

  Willow needs to be protected, so I cannot blame Thorne for his decision. She will be the first to shimmer back to the seelie court when we complete our mission. I give him a quick look of approval as I straighten. Only now do I let my guard down enough to sheath one of my daggers (the other is still gripped firmly in my right hand and will remain there for the rest of the mission) as I face the rest of the group.

  They all stand in a circle, having somehow managed to maneuver Willow and I into the middle of it. I want to growl and smile at the same time over their show of protectiveness. Each one has his or her body half-turned into the circle. This way they are able to keep an eye on us and our surroundings at the same time, each pair of eyes roaming the forest around us, searching for any possible threat. They naturally work so well together that not one of them is peering in the same direction at any given time.

  Willow pulls out the small satchel tied to her waist. I watch curiously as she tugs it open and pours a small amount of powder into the palm of her hand. Just as I’m about to ask what she is doing, I remember she is like Rho in this way—both very advanced in their magical skills, relying much more heavily on them than I do. I would much rather use my hands for punching than casting spells, but I also recognize magic works very well when the fae casting it is as knowledgeable as someone like Willow.

  As if sensing my gaze upon her, she glances over at me with a shy smile before placing the satchel in my hand and turning her attention back to her task. She covers the hand containing the powder with her other hand before raising both below her chin. Closing her eyes in concentration, she begins to do her spells. Instantly, I begin to sense her pulling the magic from the forest around us. A light breeze begins to blow, causing the few tendrils of hair, which have slipped free of her braid, to brush against the side of her face. Her skin begins to glow with an inner light that could only come from fae magic, making her even more beautiful than she already is. I am not the only one who notices. Gideon is staring at her in absolute wonder.

  Willow catches my attention once again when she moves her hands closer to her lips, whispering a soft spell I cannot hear. She blows on her closed hands before opening her eyes. “I need to walk around our group to spread the rose petal and ginger. It will make the spell stronger.”

  I hesitate for a moment, but I can tell she is surrounding us with a protection spell, and it would be wise to make it as strong as possible. I nod before adding, “Hurry. I want you surrounded by us at all times, and we need to get moving. I do not like staying in one place for too long. It makes it much easier for others to sense us.”

  “Okay.” She makes her way around us. When she walks closer to me, I am able to hear the spell she is casting.

  As we move through the night, Guided by the moon above, Keep us safe and hidden, protecting those I love.

  Holly jerks back, but quickly rights herself; I suspect she is surprised by Willow’s words and the fact she is included in the spell. All fae magic is strong. The stronger and older the fae, the stronger the magic, but the strongest magic of all is done out of love. There is truly something supernatural about the power of love. When combined with magic to protect someone, it is almost unbreakable. Willow’s spell will prove to be very helpful in protecting us as we make our way through the dark and dangerous forest.

  Willow finishes her spell before coming to stand beside me once again. I hand the satchel back to her so she can tie it once again to the waist of her pants. She removes her knife from the sheath and gives me a quick nod to indicate she’s ready. The others, weapons still in hand, follow suit.

  “All right,” I say. “Stay together, stay quiet, and move as fast as possible. It should not take long to arrive at the edge of the unseelie court, but I would like to do so unnoticed. There are a lot of unclaimed fae around the forest. We are all aware of how dangerous they can be. Try to avoid them at all costs.” I give Willow a hard look as I continue, “You are to stay with Gideon and Thorne at all times. Do not move away from them. They are here to protect you. I will lead, followed by Gideon. You will follow him, and Thorne will stay behind you. I want you surrounded at all times. Do you understand?”

  She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms while she glares back at me. I am surprised by her display of defiance, because she has always been so eager to please me in the past. “Yes, Princess,” she says, “I understand. I’m not to do anything but follow along and stay alive. You’ve told me enough times. I don’t think you need to tell me again,” she huffs, jutting her chin out. Holly snickers, but when I glance her way, she hides it by turning to gaze out into the forest. Gideon has a small smirk on his face, and Thorne is smiling at her display.

  I cannot help but to smile back. “Well, as long as we are all on the same page, we can go.”

  “Huh-hmm,” Holly clear’s her throat as I turn away from the group. I roll my eyes and let out an audible sigh before turning back around with obvious and exaggerated reluctance.

  “Yes, Holly?” I say too sweetly.

  “And what would you like me to do?”

  “Is it not obvious?” I ask with wide, innocent eyes.

  “Ummm, no.” She waves her arms out to encompass everyone. “You gave them all specific instructions but nothing for me.”

  “You follow at the back, of course.” I cannot help myself but to add, “You remember how to do that, right? Or do I need to put another spell on you?”

  She narrows her eyes while making a low, threatening noise in her throat. I immediately regret antagonizing her. We are supposed to be on the same side, and I am making things harder.

  Before I can say anything, Gideon steps between us, speaking my thoughts aloud. “Forgive me, Poppy, but I don’t think this is the time.” He glances at Holly. “Fighting amongst ourselves is going to make us vulnerable to the enemy.
We can’t afford that right now.”

  “You are right. I apologize.” I look at Holly when I speak the words so she knows the apology is directed at her.

  She gives Gideon a genuine smile. “Yes, you're right, but I don't apologize.”

  “That’s fine, but can you vow to control your anger and hostility toward each other until this mission is complete and we are safe at home once again?”

  “Yes,” we both say at the same time.

  “I, Poppy, princess of the seelie court, vow to maintain peace with Holly and work together to save Reed and Rho until we return safely back home.”

  Holly follows my lead and makes a similar vow. Immediately, all of the tension leaves me. The atmosphere around us loosens up as everyone else becomes less anxious as well. Everyone else was likewise stressed, worried over what might happen between Holly and me on this mission, and I regret that I am somewhat to blame for the tension in my friends. Making the fae vow has ensured we cannot break our word; now we all can focus on what is important. Holly and I will deal with our problems later.

  And I am sure there will be a later…I have the feeling she hates me too much to ever let it go. Although my hatred once matched hers, I am now a little more familiar with her relationship with the queen and why she is jealous. I cannot blame her for it.

  Aware of everyone staring at me expectantly, I say, “I would prefer it if you pull up the rear of our group, Holly. With your skills, I know you will not let anyone get past you. I have great faith in everyone here, but I am sure of your abilities myself and trust you at our backs.”

  She crosses her arms. “Fine. Whatever.”

  Without another word, I turn around and begin walking. Holly would never admit it pleased her to hear a compliment from me, and I definitely do not have time to wait for something that will never come. Instead, I start to make my way through the forest in the direction of the unseelie court, knowing the others will follow in line as directed.

  My unseelie instincts take over, guiding me “home.” For a time, all is quiet, and my mind begins to wander once again. It is odd how much my life has changed. My home, my friends, and even my fae status have all changed. It is unheard of for a fae to be unseelie one day and seelie the next. Not just seelie, but the princess of the seelie court. It feels as if so much time has passed, but it has only been days…days since I left Rho and found Reed, days since I was hunted by someone who is now my ally, and days since I belonged to the court I am now trying to sneak into in order to rescue my friends. As images of Reed and Rho once again begin to find their way into the front of my mind, I hear a noise from up head and slightly to the left of where we are headed.

  I immediately stop, causing everyone behind me to do so as well. We all stand so still I cannot hear even a breath from one of them. Turning my head a bit to the right so I can hear with my left ear, I close my eyes knowing the others will keep a lookout. Then, I focus all of my energy on hearing what is in front of us.

  It is utterly silent. I do not hear the birds singing, the insects chirping, or the leaves on the trees rustling, but I know someone or something is there, beyond the reach of my senses. With a subtle hand movement behind my back, I motion for the others to spread out and hide. Then I take two steps to my right, making no noise as I place myself behind a tree. I do not look back to the others, nor do I hear them move, but I am sure they are following.

  Now I stand perfectly still, barely breathing, one dagger already in my right hand, and my left hand poised over the hilt of the other dagger, waiting and ready. We wait for a long time—longer than I want, knowing every minute passing is a minute closer to the unseelie court but aware that if we move again, we will show ourselves, putting us in further danger. Whoever or whatever is out there is waiting, as well. I can sense them. Now it is just a matter of who will show themselves first. It will not be us.

  Eyes closed once again, I listen and wait. Right when I am about to shift positions, I hear a twig snap. My eyes pop open, zeroing in on the spot where I heard the noise. As I watch intently, an unclaimed fae slowly and carefully walks around a tree.

  Unclaimed fae are very easy to identify. They appear wild and uncontrollable, much like feral animals, with tattered, torn, and very dirty clothes as well as being malnourished and emaciated. However, they also have razor-sharp ears, chins, and noses that come to unbelievably fine points and matching fingers and toes that are long with incredibly sharp, talon-like nails, all making up for their debilitated state. With their ability to blend into the wild better than almost all fae, they are able to easily catch an unsuspecting fae off-guard. Most important of all, these blood-thirsty creatures pledge their allegiance to no one but themselves.

  I have been fortunate enough to never encounter one, but the stories I have heard have been vivid and terrifying. They will not reason, bargain, or trade, and they fear nothing and no one. Not only are they strong, fighting with a force hard to match, but they fight until the death. If they survive the fight, which happens often because of their ruthlessness and lack of fear, they will steal everything you own before leaving the body to be found by others. Many fae, seelie and unseelie alike, have been found in the woods, torn to shreds and missing every possession, including their clothing.

  This unclaimed fae appears no different than what I have envisioned from the stories. He walks carefully, eyes darting wildly, head cocked to the side, looking and listening for the threat he has sensed. Willow’s cloaking spell has helped hide our scent and blurred us from the vision of passing fae, but a strong fae can still sense us. It is not a good thing we were sensed from such a far distance. It can only mean this unclaimed fae is very old and strong. Hopefully, he will continue on so we can as well.

  Of course, my hope of going unnoticed fades fast when the unclaimed fae suddenly freezes. His nostrils flare as his head snaps up in my direction, his eyes darting madly for a brief moment before connecting with mine. I suck in a sharp breath at the true wildness in his eyes. The pupils are deep blue, almost black and surrounded by a screaming, unnatural bright red. He narrows his eyes, clenches his fists, and crouches down. Mouth wide open, he bares sharply pointed teeth at me before hissing. There is no other warning before he springs three feet into the air, lunging at me.

  I hurl myself at him as well. My right hand, already armed with my dagger, lashes out to strike him before my feet touch the ground. The blow connects, cutting him across his chest and traveling deep from one side of his torso to the other. Blood begins to swell then run down his abdomen, but he does not slow.

  I kick with my left foot, connecting to the center of his chest. He reaches up, grabbing my ankle with both hands, and gives a hard twist. I hear a loud crunch and pop as the bone breaks, but before I can register the pain, my entire body flips with my leg, causing me to land hard on my stomach. The wind is knocked out of me. I struggle to breathe, gasping for breath as I drag myself up on my hands and knees as fast as I can to avoid being caught completely off-guard. My ankle screams in protest. Sharp pain shoots up my entire leg, causing me to inhale deeply and my vision to dim for a second before everything comes back into focus. My ankle is broken. Now I should be easy prey, but the fact he has not attacked me again tells me he is enjoying the fight too much to allow it to end yet.

  Fine by me. I may have a broken ankle, but I have been trained to fight with more serious injuries than this.

  Lifting my head, I stare defiantly into his eyes. He smirks at me as he begins to circle. His chest is covered in an impossible amount of blood. The cut I gave him is grave, but he does not seem to notice. Instead of pain, his eyes are alight with the bloodlust he is thriving on now. Before I can blink, he once again lunges at me, the fingers on his right hand bending to form a claw, ready to swipe at me, to cut me with those talon-like nails. I deflect his blow this time only to be caught behind the left leg by his sweeping leg and slammed to the ground once again, on my butt this time. When I glance up at his mocking face, I realize he is playing
with me. My anger rises, and I narrow my eyes at him as I slowly get myself off the ground again. Taking a few hops back, I try to give him the impression I am retreating. He laughs out loud, the sound sending a shiver down my spine and making me cringe.

  A movement to my left catches my eye, but I know better than to take my eyes off my enemy. Aware it is one of my friends, I growl a low no at them but do not take my eyes off the unclaimed. He tilts his head to the side, still studying me with a mocking smirk on his face. My friends are here to help me and protect me, but I want this fae dead like I have never wanted another. His mocking smiles and glowing eyes are causing the bloodlust in me to grow. He has toyed with me long enough; it is time to end things.

  As I slowly reach my left hand to the dagger still sheathed on my thigh, I remember the sword strapped to my back. If I can get the upper hand for a moment, I can use the sword, and the fight will be over. He notices the movement and comes at me with such force and violence I am unable to match him. I lash out with my right hand but he deflects it, swiping at my left hand at the same time. His nails are so sharp they slice through my hand as if it were butter, causing me to drop my dagger. I glance up just in time. His other hand extends toward my face. Reaching up with my right hand to block him, I brace myself at the pain those nails will cause to my face and neck. Although I heal fast, it will not be fast enough to keep him from killing me.

  The blow does not come.

  From my position on the ground, I peer around the unclaimed and watch as Holly comes out from behind the trees, shooting an arrow right through his heart. An expression of shock registers on his face before the light leaves his eyes, and he slumps to the ground in death. I let out a shaky breath of relief before returning my gaze to Holly. She has another arrow notched, aimed my way. I know she did this right after she released the first, just in case she missed, but it unnerves me to see the arrow pointed at me. It takes her a moment, but she finally registers the threat has been extinguished and is able to relax. There is a slight change in her eyes, almost as if a shadow dissipates and they brighten a bit. She lowers the bow before placing the arrow back into the quiver.