Death And Darkness

by E. A. Copen

  That was it then. I’d made it inside, but I was on my own. “Can you at least tell me when Titania is planning to present her to the rest of the fae? That’s just a scheduling thing. You can answer that, right?”

  “At ten,” William said after careful consideration. “And I suppose I might also let slip that the princess is accepting audiences with potential suitors prior to that hour. Each court can present one eligible suitor. If you wanted to see her prior to the presentation, that might be the only way. However, you’d be under guard, and only someone belonging to a court would be permitted. Unless you wanted to swear fealty to one of the fae courts—which would undoubtedly upset the balance—it’s not going to happen.”

  Guards I could deal with. Maybe if I could get in the room with Remy, I could take out the guards and get her out of there. Without my staff, it wouldn’t be easy, but it was a better option than waiting to make my move in front of everyone.

  “Lazarus, please just leave. This isn’t something you can win.”

  I stood and patted William on the shoulder. “Thanks for the tip. Say, have you seen Sir Foxglove around anywhere?”

  “No, absolutely not.” Foxglove refused to meet my eyes.

  I’d found him in the courtyard shortly after leaving William’s side. The party out there was way less contained than the one going on in the front room. Speakers pumped out loud music from a live rock band while people danced, laughed, and chatted. In one area all the way to the right in the courtyard, a group of people spun in a continuous circle, their dance never-ending, not even when the music stopped. There was something mesmerizing about their dance that made it hard to look away.

  I shifted so my back was to them. “Come on, Foxglove. It’s my only shot.”

  He scowled. “If I go in there with you, you’ll blow my cover. I’ll have to declare for everyone that I’ve abandoned Summer to join your silly court of morons.”

  “Court of Miracles,” I corrected.

  “Whatever!” He threw up his arms. “It could get me killed!”

  “You saying my little girl’s not good enough to risk your life over? Then maybe you aren’t good enough.”

  “I told you it’s not like that!” He ground his teeth.

  “You did say you’d do anything to protect her.” I poked him in the chest. He wasn’t the least bit spongy. “This is your chance to prove it. I’m asking you. Don’t make me tell you.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said, turning away. “I don’t rank high enough. They’d never let me through. I’m nobody. They’ll only be letting princes and royalty in to see her.”

  “How about I make you somebody? How’d you like to be a courtly knight?”

  He rubbed his temples. “I’ve brought this on myself, haven’t I? This is what happens when you give morons power. They turn it into a joke.”

  “I’m not joking.” I crossed my arms and shifted closer. The music had suddenly gotten louder. “I’m taking this very seriously. My daughter’s life is on the line, and so is mine. I wouldn’t risk yours if I wasn’t sure we could win this. But I need you in this. You can’t defy your queen and then hide. That’s cowardice. I don’t have room for cowards at my side, and neither will Remy.”

  He lifted his face from his hand and gave me an icy glare. “Are you certain?”

  I put my arm around his shoulders and led him through the crowded courtyard toward the gate that led out back. “You’re a certified badass. I’m the Pale Horseman, and we’re going to rescue a princess from an evil queen. This is the kind of shit legends are made of, Foxglove. They’ll write songs about you.”

  We reached the gate, which was locked. I looked around for security. There were a few guards, but they were busy dealing with someone who’d gotten too close to the circle of dancers, hauling him back toward the exit from the courtyard. They were too distracted to notice as I lifted the latch and pulled Foxglove through.

  Dumpsters lined the alley. Street lights danced in puddles of rancid water around them. Every step sent plastic beads crunching underfoot. Trash blew around in the light wind.

  Foxglove frowned at the filthy alley. “Not exactly how I imagined this would be.”

  “Open your mind a little. Magic has all kinds of possibilities, not all of them clean and pretty.” I kicked away a wad of fast-food wrappers. “Um, so how exactly do I do this?”

  “Well, usually, the queen has a sword and dubs the knight in a traditional ceremony.”

  I didn’t have a sword, and I’d left my staff with the guards. I looked around and spotted a plastic scepter leaning against the dumpster. It was no sword, but it’d do.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Foxglove said as I retrieved it.

  “Hey, I work with what I’ve got. All I can do is play the hand I’m dealt.” I waved the plastic scepter. “We doing this or not?”

  Foxglove sighed and slowly sank to his knees in front of me. “That’s quickly becoming the hallmark of your court, Lazarus.”

  “I don’t call it the Court of Miracles for nothing.” I tapped his shoulder with the scepter. “I dub thee Sir Foxglove!”

  “Not like that, you idiot.” He pushed it away. “You have to take my oath first. I, Sir Ethan Foxglove—”

  “Wait, Foxglove is your last name?”

  “Did you think it was my only name? It’s my family name, yes. Can I continue?”

  I nodded.

  He sighed and started again. “I, Sir Ethan Foxglove, swear fealty to the Court of Miracles and swear to be a good and true knight, to always protect the interests and monarchs of this court, and present myself with nothing but the utmost conduct. I shall be a shield to the weak, foremost in battle, obedient to my court and liege lord, courteous always, a champion for all that is right and good. So swear I, Sir Ethan Foxglove.”

  “I accept your oath,” I said and tapped him on the shoulder with the plastic scepter, “and bid you rise Sir Ethan Foxglove, Knight of Miracles.”

  Magic suddenly snapped between us, sharp and stinging like a rubber band. It rose and exploded in a single moment before settling into a thin thread that left us connected. I staggered and almost fell.

  Foxglove grabbed me by the arm and steadied me. “Knight of Miracles. I almost like the sound of it. Fitting because it’ll be a miracle if we get out of this alive.”

  “Trust me.” I patted him on the shoulder. “This is going to work.”

  I opened the gate, and we went back through it. The band had picked up a more energetic number, prompting people to jump around. One girl bumped into me on my way through. Foxglove grabbed her and pushed her away roughly.

  “Easy man. It was an accident.”

  His sharp eyes squinted at the girl cussing him out. “I don’t believe in accidents.”

  Apparently, he was going to take his new role very seriously. He cleared the path in front of me, holding people back so I could pass. As we cut through the crowd, people gradually stopped hopping around like maniacs to glance at us and whisper. It made me more than a little self-conscious. I tugged my mask down and lowered my head. I hadn’t wanted people to notice us, and now it seemed like everyone was staring.

  We made it through the courtyard without anyone stopping us and to the stairway where William stood guard.

  He put his hand on his sword at the sight of us. “I thought I told you to leave.”

  “You said anyone presenting a viable suitor could see Remy.” I gestured to Foxglove.

  William scrutinized my knight. “You, Ethan?”

  “Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are,” Foxglove grumbled.

  William turned his attention to me without removing his hand from his sword. “Only members of a court may present a suitor.”

  “He is.” Foxglove cleared his throat and gestured to me. “May I present Lazarus Kerrigan, Pale Horseman and…king?” He glanced at me.

  I shrugged. “Sure? Why not?”

  “King of the Court of Miracles.” He rolled his shoulders an
d stood up straighter. “And I am his knight.”

  William’s arm relaxed, but his eyes widened. “You’re serious? How? There hasn’t been a new court formed in… Well, the Uprising was the last attempt. The queens will be enraged!”

  “I’m more than qualified,” I said and started counting on my fingers. “I’ve killed about half a dozen gods, killed Lucifer Morningstar, defended my city and its people against countless monsters, served as the Summer Knight…”

  “Briefly,” William ground out.

  I dropped my hands to my side. “Well, during that brief tenure, I successfully defended Summer from an invasion and reminded Shadow why I was a force to be reckoned with. I also happen to be the Summer Princess’ father. I have over a dozen people in my court, William. We’ve got headquarters, and now I have a knight. Is that legit enough for you?”

  “Well… I don’t know the procedure for the formation of new courts to be honest with you. That’s uncharted territory. Since I can’t deny your claim is legitimate, however, there’s no reason for me to turn you away. Come.” He started up the stairs.

  I didn’t miss that his hand stayed on his sword all the way to the top.

  A heavy velvet curtain had been drawn, blocking the upstairs dining room from view. “Wait here,” William commanded and ducked through.

  I strained my neck to get a look, but he was too fast.

  Foxglove bounced on the balls of his feet once and then shook his head. “This is stupid. I shouldn’t be doing this.”

  “Steady, Foxglove.”

  “Do you know what’s going to happen when I walk in there? She’ll laugh at me. At any attempt, no matter what it’s grounded in. The moment I walk through that door, she’s going to think I… That I have feelings for her.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Come on, man. It’s pretty obvious you do.”

  His pale cheeks colored. “It’s not proper.”

  I swept around in front of him so I could face him. “First of all, fuck proper. Proper is stuffy and boring. Chicks don’t dig proper.”

  He blinked. “She’s not a hen.”

  “No, I mean…” I wanted to strangle the guy. How could I get him to understand the point I was trying to get across? I gripped his shoulder. “It’s okay to feel how you feel about a person, regardless of whatever differences there are between you. This isn’t one of those things you can just wish away. You care about her. I can see it. If she’s half the woman you say she is, she will too. Just be nice. Be who you’ve always been, understand?”

  He nodded.

  I stepped back. “Now that doesn’t mean I approve of this. Just so we’re clear, this is all a ruse so I can get in there to see her. Not me giving my blessing or anything. I’m not cool with anything between you two.”

  “But you just said—”

  “I’m her father,” I said, dusting off my shirt. “It’s my job to object to boys.”

  The curtains parted, and William stepped out. “She’ll see you. Just keep in mind that I’m watching your every move.” He lifted the curtain and announced, “May I present Sir Ethan Foxglove of the Court of Miracles, accompanied by the King of Miracles and Pale Horseman, Lazarus Kerrigan.”

  Foxglove and I stepped through the curtain at the same time.

  The dining room had been cleared of chairs and tables, leaving a huge open space with big windows and heavy drapes pulled back to let in light from the outside. Moonlight pooled in square spaces cast through the windows. Soft lighting from delicate chandeliers illuminated yellow striped walls and a blazing Tiffany fireplace with a large mirror above it.

  I saw her in the mirror first. She had her back to it, standing in one of the windows, one gloved hand pushing aside the curtain. She wore a dress of emerald green with gold trim. The bottom of it brushed the floor in a long, sparkling train. Dark hair curled around her head and spilled down her back in tiered waves.

  She turned away from the window and folded her hands in front of her, her face hard and cold like Titania’s. “Hello, father.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “Remy?” My throat was dry. This couldn’t be her. She’d just been a baby last time I’d seen her. I didn’t care how fast time moved in Faerie. She couldn’t have become a fully-grown woman in a week. I just couldn’t believe it.

  “You’ll address me as Your Highness,” she said, her voice harsh and even. “I should have you thrown out of here.” Her eyes flicked to Foxglove. “Both of you.”

  Foxglove fell to one knee like a puppy. “Highness, allow me to explain.”

  “Explain what?” Remy snapped. “Your shifting loyalty? Your alliance with a man I hate? Or your betrayal when I needed you most? How dare you come here and pretend to care about me!”

  “I do.” He shook his head. “More than anything.”

  “We’re not here to hurt you,” I said, taking a step forward. “We’re here to help you.”

  “Help me?” She tossed her head back and laughed. “Oh, that’s rich. Did you forget so soon what happened the last time we saw each other? You struck me. Threatened to kill me. It took the queen herself and her knight to remove you from my presence.”

  “That wasn’t me. Titania has a fetch, someone who looks exactly like me. He’s impersonating me, hurting the people I care about. He took you from me, Remy.” I took another step but found William’s naked blade in my way, preventing me from getting any closer.

  Remy walked away from the window to look me in the eyes. “If that’s true, why didn’t you come for me?”

  “I…I couldn’t.” I hung my head. “I tried. I tried everything, but it’s taken me this long to get close to you. Remy, look at me. I’m your father.”

  “Maybe you did father me, but I don’t know you. You didn’t raise me. What I do know is what you’re capable of. You’re a killer. You murdered my mother.”

  My head shot up. “What? No! Odette died in childbirth.”

  “Titania told me you were responsible.”

  I snapped my jaw shut. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. Odette wouldn’t be dead if I hadn’t had a child with her or if I had apprehended Kellas sooner. It was my fault she was gone, even if I hadn’t meant for her to die.

  Remy wasn’t wrong about me being a murderer either. I had killed plenty, including a friend, just to get this far. I’d do it again too. She was right. About everything.

  “Please, Remy,” Foxglove whispered, still on his knees. “I know you don’t want to be paraded around by her, traded for an alliance and power. She’s using you.”

  Remy’s head snapped to the side. “And what makes you any different? I thought you were. I thought you cared about me. Instead, you disappeared and pledged your loyalty to a man who not only abandoned me for years but hurt me. Why? What did he promise you?” She balled her fists and stomped over to stand in front of him. “Did he promise you a place in my bed? That’s what you really want, isn’t it? I am not some prize to be won!”

  “Remy, please!” Foxglove insisted, but it was no use.

  I backed away. We had to get out of there before this went south and Titania showed up. If I hurried, I might be able to make it across town to get to Emma. Not that I wanted to give up on Remy, but I couldn’t help her, not without proof that I was who I said I was. Better to retreat and regroup.

  I took another step back and bumped into a solid wall of muscle. The guards from the courtyard.

  “Take them away!” Remy demanded. “Lock them in the tower where I spent my childhood and let them rot there.”

  “No, wait,” I started, but one of the guards grabbed my shoulder.

  I turned and punched him in the jaw. It was like punching a bull. His head barely moved, and all I did was piss him off. He flashed his teeth and hit me with a brick of a fist, laying me out flat. I must’ve blacked out for a second because when I came to, they were dragging me down the stairs. My vision was blurry, and I couldn’t hold a thought in my head longer than a fraction of a sec
ond. Thinking was too hard. Great, a concussion. I couldn’t afford that. I needed to be somewhere, to do something. If only I could remember what.

  Maybe a nap would help.

  I opened my eyes to darkness. The air was cold and musty, smelling of moss and mold. Somewhere distant, water dripped at an uneven rate that’d slowly drive me insane. I sat up with a groan, and chains rattled. My shoulder brushed against something solid and slimy that, on further examination, turned out to be a stone wall.

  The throbbing in my head suddenly increased to a deafening thump. My stomach rebelled, and I doubled over to throw up. Oddly enough, it made me feel better, though I’d have killed for a glass of water.

  “I see you’re not dead.” Foxglove’s voice echoed through the darkened chamber. “Pity. That would’ve been better than what we’re facing. I almost hoped you were.”

  I slid my hand up the wall and used it to steady myself as I stood. Resistance tugged at my leg when I tried to move it. Bastards had chained me up. “Where are we?”

  “Summer, or the edge of it. Trapped in the bowels of a prison tower. I believe we’re against the moat, which would explain the dampness.” He didn’t sound the least bit upset. In fact, Foxglove sounded as if he could burst into laughter at any moment. Maybe he’d lost his mind.

  I searched the wall with my hands, looking for weak bricks or anything useful. When that proved pointless, I searched myself. I was still in my suit from the party. Maybe I’d gotten lucky, and they hadn’t taken the vial of stuff Josiah had given me. I might be able to open a portal from here. Dammit, I thought, coming up empty, no such luck. “How long have we been here?”

  “Does it matter?” Chains rattled somewhere off to my left, though I couldn’t see where he was. “We’re here. We lost. We played our hand and lost. What are you doing?”

  “Trying to find a way out.”

  “Don’t you think I’ve tried that already?” Water splashed and Foxglove staggered into the edge of my vision, a dirty, haggard version of himself. “Our only chance is to wait for rescue, and no one is coming.”