by VS Winters
Trying to remember how to get back to my room, I started walking as fast as I could. My heart raced at the sound of the feet behind me. He knew something was wrong, though I wasn't sure why he cared. Rowan didn't seem to care about much of anything when it came to my life. To him, I was just a 'filthy Witch.' I turned down a hall that I wasn't entirely sure I should have and picked up the pace of my feet. The footsteps grew louder behind me, and I started to turn, to tell him to fuck off…
"I told you I'm fine, you don't need to--Scott?"
"Hey there. Wow...you look lovely tonight, Eden." Scott said with a smile. "Now, what's going on? I saw you leave the prince on the dancefloor and thought you might be troubled about something, judging by the way you practically ran from the room."
I took a moment to look at Scott, in his formal attire that matched his gleaming black ponytail. He looked handsome, with his piercing blue eyes, and a touch of stubble growing along his chin.
"Thanks, Scott, you look good as well." I turned and started to make my way back to my room again. Scott followed at my side, his ears wide open for me. "I'm fine, really, I was just thinking of how much I miss Ava and dad, that's all."
"The look on your face says that isn't the only thing on your mind." I glanced at the hard line forming between his brows. "Is it Rowan again? Did he hurt you?"
"No!" I said with a laugh that came off sounding like something that would come out of a donkey. Jesus. Now he was for sure going to know that something was up. The truth was, I was also thinking about my encounter with Rowan. How much I had wanted him, how intoxicated I felt when he kissed my neck…
"Eden, you need to tell me if something is going on," Scott grabbed my shoulder and whipped me around to face him. I rolled my eyes when he held my hands softly between his and looked at me with those intense eyes. "I can protect you."
"What are you gonna do if I say yes, storm the castle with me? Start a very short battle to our deaths?" I snorted and spun around.
"I would never allow something like that to happen to you, Eden. But the Coven has its ways of protecting our own. We could remove you from this place, hide you, and place you under the protection of our strongest spellcasters. Say the word, and I can make that happen for you."
"And then they would find my sister and my father. They would kill them, Scott."
He rubbed the stubble on his chin and sighed, keeping his eyes on me the entire time. I started to walk and immediately remembered that I had no clue where the hell I was going. Grinding my teeth, I looked at him again.
"Look, I'm sorry. I know that you are just trying to help. I can handle myself when it comes to Rowan," I placed a hand on his shoulder. "What I do need help with is finding my way back to the room, please."
Scott chuckled and nodded in resignation as he pointed to the left.
"This way, princess," he said softly, taking my arm in his, just like he had the first day we met. It seemed like so long ago, despite being only a few days. Harper had told me that time moves differently here, and I thought that I was beginning to understand what he meant by that. Walking with Scott was like a breath of fresh air. He was handsome, but not like Rowan. No, Rowan was all man from his beautiful dark locks down to his hunting boots.
Scott was more of a pretty boy who had big puppy dog eyes and a love for the color black. I couldn't explain why, but I cared for him like he was an old friend.
"Hey, Scott, can I ask you something?"
"Of course!" He flashed me a smile.
"You said that I've been here before. Do we," I wagged a finger between the two of us. "Know each other, I mean, from back then?"
"Yes," He said slowly. "I met you when you were just a little one. Being five years older than you, I wasn't very interested in making friends with a baby. But Tamora was close with my mother, so we spent a few years together."
"A few years? How do I not remember any of that?"
"It could be a spell that was placed on you, or it could just be that you were too young to hold any memories from that time."
"Who is he?"
Scott stopped us in front of my bedroom door. I beckoned him to come in, preparing myself for the answers to the questions I was asking. I wasn't even sure if I wanted them. Dropping onto my bed sideways, due to the skirt being too large for me to sit normally, I slapped the area beside me. He closed the door quietly and made his way over to the bed, sitting down beside me.
"Who are we talking about, exactly?" he asked, searching my eyes.
"My real father."
"Eden," Scott sighed and rubbed his forehead like a strong headache was coming on. "That is something I cannot answer for you. Even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn't. Your mother went to great lengths to protect you, even from me."
"So, you don't know?" I asked with a frown.
"No. I was never told. What I can tell you is that your biological father was not of the Human Realm. Your mother took you there to escape from something or someone. And when she did, my mother and many others who cared for Tamora protected her place on the throne. We knew, when the time came, she would be ready to return and aid the Coven."
The memory of my mother walking through the living room door passed through my mind.
"Aid the Coven in what, exactly?"
"It's really not my place to say, Eden."
"Whose place is it to say then? What was she running from? Is there anything that you can tell me?" I could feel heat filtering through my veins. Scott took notice and scooted away to the foot of the bed. His eyes were wide with the knowledge that I had powers that I couldn't yet control. It didn't help that every time I grew angry, my powers swelled inside of me.
"Please calm yourself. I'm here to help you. Not to piss you off. The Coven's council controls the information of its members. A good place to start would be there. Or…"
"Or what?" I practically shouted, feeling the burn itching under my skin, begging to be released.
"Lord Blaive. His kingdom is the highest on the food chain, meaning any information that happens in the smaller kingdom goes through here as well."
Pondering this, I wasn't sure if I wanted to discuss something so intimate with the prince. It was one thing to want to bed someone, and a whole other thing to want to discuss all of the details of your troubled past. Yet, if I decided not to, I might never learn anything about my mother or myself. It was a need that had burned inside of me since I watched her walk through that door, figuring she was just running off into the sunset to forget about us. The boiling in my veins calmed to a simmer and then stopped completely.
"I'll talk to him."
"I'll come with you."
"No," I shook my head and began picking at my nails. "I think it's something that I should do on my own. No offense to you, of course."
"I understand." He nodded.
"Another question?"
"Go ahead."
"Was my mother a good person? I mean, the beings around here talk about Witches like we are horrible, evil even. My mother was the queen of our Coven. Did she do something bad? Did she hurt people?"
Scott's eyes filled with sadness, and he moved closer, taking my hand in his. This time it didn't feel as awkward. It felt like someone who truly loved me, and had loved my mother, seeking to comfort me. I gazed into those deep, azure eyes and waited for him to respond.
"Your mother was the best there has ever been, Eden. She was kind, loving, and compassionate. When she--" His frown was deep, making him look on the verge of tears as he choked out the rest. "When she died, it wasn't because of anything that she had done wrong. Evil didn't turn your mother's heart black. She was a healer, a pure soul. I can assure you of that."
The tears in my eyes spilled over at his words. Maybe it was the emotions of knowing my mother wasn't the monster I had made her out to be, or maybe it was that Scott had been the one to deliver the enlightening information. Whatever it was, I had no reason to do what I did next, which was to sit up, cup Scott's face in my hands a
nd press my lips against his.
I closed my eyes as I felt the bed shake as he leaned into the kiss, the smell of fire and ash filled my nose. His hand made its way up my back and entangled in my mass of curls. Green, glowing eyes flashed behind my eyelids. The feeling of Rowan's body pressed against mine, the spicy smell on his skin, his touch that was firm and demanding. My eyes popped open, and I jerked away from Scott, pressing my fingers to my lips, regretting what I had done in an instant.
"Eden…"
"I'm so sorry," I said and scrambled away from the bed, my fingers still firmly against my mouth. "You should go."
"Can we talk about what just happened?"
"No," I said with wide eyes as I looked at him and swung open the door. "I'm sorry. Please, go."
Scott looked hurt and I didn't blame him. How could I have done something so stupid? With slumped shoulders, Scott rose from the bed and left through the door. When he passed by me, I could see that he wanted to speak, to say anything that could save this moment for him. I didn't give him the chance and hurried in, slamming the door on his dumbfounded face.
I stood there, feeling like an idiot until a knock on the door made me jump. Staring at it, I knew that I should open it and apologize again, tell him that I hadn't meant it. That it had been a mistake. Making up my mind that it would be the right thing to do, I flung the door open. My mouth closed as I realized that the face on the other side, was not the one I had been expecting.
"Hello, mistress, I heard that you had left the event. I've come to get you out of that dress. Unless you'd like to sleep in it?" She snorted, amused at her joke. I noticed a wheelbarrow beside her and figured she had brought it to help her in transporting the gown.
"No, no. Please," I motioned her in and stood in silence as she undid the beautiful dress. As soon as it hit the floor, I felt like I had just lost fifty pounds. She proceeded to leave after she removed my corset, and I had helped her in loading the massive dress into her little wheelbarrow. Pulling a sleep gown over my head, I shoved my arms into it and crawled into bed to reflect on the events of that evening.
Well, all of them except what I had done with Scott. I shoved the thought of that as far from my mind as I possibly could. Instead, I focused on Rowan. There was something about that sexy smile, the way he took control…
I had grown wet for him, desiring to see what lay beneath his clothes. I ached to feel his erection thrust up against me, required it inside of me. My stomach exploded with butterflies, as though I could feel him watching with me as the images ran through my mind. I forced the smutty thoughts aside with a dissatisfied grunt. Slumber embraced me immediately that evening. I dreamt of Rowan and all the things I could do to serve him... if only he were mine.
Chapter Thirteen
I awoke the next morning to the sensation coming from Ellie's small hands as they shook me. With stinging eyes, I sat up to the robust fragrance of coffee floating around the room. That made me smile at Ellie like she had been an angel, appearing to let me through the pearly gates. She seemed pleased with herself, which was nice to see. Particularly because I wasn't the one who paid her.
"Pleasant morning, miss. Your teacher, mister Ommin, is here to collect you for training. Oh, why am I standing around chatting your head off? You must be so nervous for tonight! Forgive me, mistress."
"Nervous?" I repeated in my sleepy haze.
"For the first of the Devotion Trials?" She said it like a question, unsure if I knew what she was talking about. I didn't. Nobody had thought to mention it to me. Swinging the blanket off of my legs, I slid from the bed and was immediately offered a cup of steaming coffee. I accepted it from her, sipping it carefully while Ellie laid out an outfit for me and bowed, allowing Scott to enter as she left.
I watched him approach, my mind nowhere near what had happened between us the night before. He appeared taken aback when his eyes landed on my face, which I'm sure was red with anger, as it scrunched into a scowl.
"Wake up on the wrong side of the bed, did we?"
"Why didn't you inform me that the first Trial was going to be tonight?" I hissed through my teeth. Scott launched his hands up, and his mouth gaped like a fish out of water.
"I was going to tell you, it's just--"
"Just what, Scott? It wasn't important enough to mention to the person who will be going through with it?"
"You keep running away from me. I'm beginning to think that is all you can do." His voice was raised an octave as he squeaked the words.
It was my turn to let my mouth droop open. Moving off of the bed, I was fully prepared square up to him, despite his size. My body had other plans and by the first step I tripped over my own feet, sending scalding coffee onto my nightdress. Cursing, I slammed the cup onto the table and looked for anything I could use to get the liquid off of me. Scott came to my rescue with the bowl and cloth from the vanity, it was fresh, as it was every morning and evening when Ellie slipped in to change it out.
"What can I say? I must get it from my mother." The muttered words slipped out before I could stop them. Scott kept still in place and stared down at me as I violently rubbed myself with the rag. Breathing a heavy puff of air, I straightened, tossing the cloth back into the bowl.
"I'll wait outside while you get dressed. Keep in mind to be cautious with these garments, the Fae Royals like for their victims to look their best for the Trials."
With that, he fled the room. As soon as he had gone, my shoulders sank with a pang of guilt that twisted in my belly. I managed to finish off what was left of my coffee before dressing. Upon examination, I realized that the outfit looked almost the same as the one I had worn for my previous lessons with Scott. Running my fingers down it, I noted that the materials were thicker, sturdier as if the garb had been built for traveling. The golden-thread embellishments were still present but shaped into tiny Celtic knots along the deep neckline. I smoothed a thumb across them, observing the cool, thick metal thread. It was lovely.
Eliminating my sleepwear, I tugged on the emerald-colored tunic along with the pants that resembled seaweed, and a new pair of boots that shone like they had been polished but never worn. I left my hair as it was for no reason other than the fact that, somehow, it had managed to stay looking the way Ellie had done it the night before. The whole look made me feel much more badass than I believed.
On the other side of the door, Scott was waiting, just like he had said he would be. We walked to the training room without a sound. I wanted to apologize but couldn't form the words on my tongue to force them out. He walked in strides, not minding that I had to jog to keep up. Anger was thick in his blood, I could feel it seeping from him and into me.
Merely in identifying his anger, heat began to saturate my insides as well. What right did he have to be mad at me? Tamora was my mother, and I had every right to be angry with her, despite him stating she'd done it all to protect me. What right did he have to love my mother more than I? To protect her against her own daughter?
A crackle of electricity shot through me, immersing the room with a tint of sapphire. Well, that one is new, I thought. Before I knew what I was doing, I lunged to yank back on Scott's shoulder. He stumbled mid-step and gawked at me in confusion. With one glimpse, he had dropped into a fighting stance. His fists became parallel to the floor as he held them out toward me in a way that screamed power. I observed the frost forming in his palms.
"Enough, Eden, you must try to relax. We don't have a protection spell in place, and I don't want to hurt you." His voice was solid, firm in a way I had never heard him speak before. He was afraid of me. A stab of panic shot through my stomach. Gazing down at my colored hands I regarded the energy-burning around them, snapping and crackling like it had the night Harper had collected me. It reminded me of why I was here, who I had left behind. It enraged me.
Fixing my hands in the air to imitate his, I drew one back. His azure eyes grew even wider as they followed me in bringing it forth, slamming my fist onto the floor. I wat
ched in slow motion as his body lifted from the ground due to the impact of my spell. His body tumbled through the air while instant regret chilled my bones. I wrung my hands, trying to make the bolts of electricity disappear back into my fingers while Scott slammed into a bookshelf. Books tumbled down around him as well as pages that had been ripped from them by force.
"Scott, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over--" I paused as I watched him rise from the smoking heap of books. His eyes were blazing cyan, gleaming like Rowan's had the night before. Taking a step back, I held up my hands in submission as I saw his fists, clenched into tight fists, while he strode to me.
"Get your fucking hands up." He bellowed in a furious tone. Shaking my head, I disobeyed my mind and did as he had ordered. With a look on his face that said he was ready to kill, I knew that I should do anything he asked at that moment. "You want to fight? I'm going to show you how."
"No, Scott, I didn't mean it-"
I dodged to the left as he hurled a shard of spiked ice directly at my head. Great, I had forced him to go bonkers. And now he wanted to kill me. Good job, Eden. My thoughts were interrupted as he pulled his hand through the air, bringing it eye level with me. I only just had time to drop to the floor on my stomach, avoiding the next shard as it whizzed toward me. I looked back to watch as it smashed into pieces against the stone wall.
"Get up and fight back." He shouted.
My knees wobbled as I forced myself to my feet and brought my hands into fists between us, trying to summon the anger inside. I envisioned myself at eleven, and the image of my mother stepping away and coming to this place. She left us, her family, to maintain her stupid Coven. My insides began to twist as I watched Scott prepare another attack. A single lock of hair began to swirl against my cheek, whipping against my fair skin as I felt the dam breaking in me, freeing my powers.
