“What is this?” I ask, throwing myself into a low bow to match theirs. “Why are we bowing?”
“Because you and Alexander are the successors to the Fae throne, Sophe,” Colin says, laughing. “Or should I call you Your Majesty?”
What?
I jerk myself upright again, sending the blood rushing from my head.
“What do you mean…Your Majesty?” I grab Colin’s collar, teetering off balance a little as I lift him to his feet. “Get up, get up,” I say to Atticus. I’m not quite brave enough to pull him to his feet.. “You are both so, so mistaken. There’s no way—“
The King and Queen are dead," Atticus says again, like I didn’t hear him the first time. He rises from his bowed position, his eyes raising to meet mine.
“They’re immortal,” I growl. “No one can assassinate them. That’s human stuff. This is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.” I eye Colin, waiting for his reassurance. “Can someone assassinate them?” I bite my lower lip.
“Well, it’s true that Fae Kings and Queens can live for centuries,” Colin answers. “But, despite what you may think, they are not immune to death. With enough dark magic, anything is possible.”
“But wouldn’t Summer and Alexander succeed the Fae throne?” I ask, my voice shrill and nervous. “After all, they’re both Fae, and…and…well, I’m sure as hell not.” I pause, waiting for someone to say something, but they only stare at me. Even Margaret gapes at me from her position in the corner.
I hate these people right now.
“Every Fae King and Queen must name successors to the throne. It’s their protocol in case something happens to them,” Atticus says as if he’s talking to a petulant five-year-old. “They named Alexander years ago, but they never named a Queen. My assumption is that Summer thought that they would name her Queen.” He grins at me. “But what she doesn’t realize is that Auberon also has a say in who rules beside him…”
“What…and you think he picked me? Me?” I burst into high-pitched, awkward laughter. “That’s ridiculous.” Atticus and Colin don’t see the humor in this situation and do not seem to want to share in my forced laughter. “Is this some island inside joke? Some sort of weird hazing ritual you all do to welcome the newbies?” I back down at their silence and lack of response. “Hey, I haven’t even gotten used to the fact that I was almost a Fae princess. Which brings me to my next point.” I put my hands on my hips. “Did you know that I’m not even bound to the Fae Prince?” I glance between Atticus and Colin. “Thanks to Horace, we were never properly lightbound. And, well, I never made it to our second lightbinding ceremony.”
I hate that I’m the only one talking here. “Alexander may have had a say at one point,” I continue, as beads of sweat trickle down the back of my neck. “But…considering I never made it to the second lightbinding…he’s probably changed his mind and named someone else.” I let out a defeated sigh as my mood sours. Why isn’t anyone saying anything? “There's no way this has fallen on me.” I fidget from foot to foot. “There are a million other Fae princesses out there who are more qualified. There's no way…the entire Fae Realm…last I heard… hated me. Remember?” I glance at Colin “Remember? They thought I bewitched Alexander by making him believe I was part of the prophecy?” I stomp my foot. This whole thing is ridiculous. “No. You've all got it wrong," I shake my head. “I am no queen. I'm not even a princess. I am a Changeling…Half-human, half-Fae. That's it. Changelings like me don't just…become Fae Queens. I haven't even finished my training and wouldn’t know the first thing to do as a Fae Queen. I wouldn’t even—“
I cut off, as an odd, tingling sensation floods through my body, halting my failed arguments before they can leave my throat. Something is happening to me. Perhaps I’m the one who has it all wrong. I almost trip over myself as I race to the mirror and gasp as I watch my reflection as it starts to morph. Lean muscle sprouts up on my arms and shoulders. The muscles in my legs become more shapely and defined. I am growing stronger. And to my amazement, all the annoying spots, freckles, and veins marring my fair skin smooth over right before my eyes, leaving me with an ethereal, porcelain complexion that makes it seem as if I’ve spent hours applying makeup. I am too perfect, too radiant, it’s almost inhuman. I look like Alexander. I look…Fae.
My eye color changes from its normal blue shade to a pale copper. My hair, which was already a luxurious silvery-blonde shade, has gone almost silver. It’s not the type of silver that might suggest old age, but the kind that screams royalty…Fae royalty.
“Still need proof that you’re not next in line for the Fae throne?” Colin asks, snickering as he joins me in the mirror.
Next to me, Colin looks old and feeble. I am strong. Radiant. Full of life. Magic hums in perfect harmony throughout my entire body. I think I could take on the world and maybe even win.
"So, I’m coming into some magic. I don't know. It doesn’t mean…” With a frustrated sigh, I throw my hands in the air. "And what's with these damned bells?" I grumble.
“Ah, yes, the tolling of the bells,” Atticus muses, tapping his chin with his finger. “Announcing the death of the King and Queen in Faerie.” He grins. “That is how the Fae pay tribute to their departed—“
“Yes, and I’m pretty sure that’s done here, too,” I point out.
“You are connected to Faerie,” Atticus continues. “Colin and I do not hear these bells like you do. But the changes taking place inside of you are quite telling of what is happening. What you…what we are all witnessing here today is your transformation. You are becoming Fae, Sophia.”
He bows again, and I roll my eyes, stiffening as I fold my arms over my chest. I can’t help but admire my newly formed biceps.
Atticus Drake. Thinks he’s so damned smart.
I don't want to admit it, not even to myself. I’m not quite ready to admit it. But they’re right. I know they are. It’s a realization deep inside of me. A connection, not just to Faerie as Atticus suggests, but to everything. I am bonded to the world around me. I am connected to Alexander, the witches, and to my elemental magic, which always seemed as if it was just beyond my reach before. But now, it permeates deep within my bones like it belongs there. Like it’s always belonged there.
I fall back into silence and stare at myself in the mirror. Atticus and Colin whisper something between themselves before leaving me alone with my reflection, giving me the time and the space I need to process all of this.
Me? A Fae Queen? Has that truly been my destiny all along?
Unable to help myself, I turn to admire my muscular backside in the mirror for a few moments when Colin steps back into the room, clutching what looks like a shiny, black stone. I had been so busy ogling myself, I didn’t even notice that he’d left the room. Whatever he’s brought back with him has caught my attention, though. Mesmerized by the stone, I walk toward Colin, not taking my eyes off of it.
“What is that?” I breathe.
“This is the Black Obsidian stone,” Colin explains, flashing a proud smile. "It's what I went looking for in Berlin. It is the one thing that can remove the darkness curse from my father and me and destroy Summer’s hold on us.” He looks down, following my awestruck gaze. “I know it’s just a lump of black stone. It doesn't seem like much, but—“
“Doesn't seem like much? Are you kidding?” I ask, bending so I can examine it further. “Do you not see that red cloudy stuff moving around inside of it? It's breathtaking!”
“Nope,” Colin says. “All I see is a lump of black stone that doesn’t look like much.”
So I’m hearing bells and seeing vaporous substances now. Great.
“So, this Black Obsidian…what is it?” I ask. “How does it work?”
“Well, I’m not sure,” Colin says with a frown. “But as I understand it, every Fae Queen since the dawn of time has wielded its magic, if that helps.”
“And how did you come upon it?” I ask and then gasp, feigning shock. “Hey! Perhaps you’re the next
Fae Queen, Colin.”
He gives me a weak, lopsided grin and shakes his head. “The stone was stolen after my father’s imprisonment.”
“Ah, yes, the Great Black Obsidian Heist of…1500,” I say. “I think I read something about that in one of my history books.”
“After receiving a lead on its whereabouts, I had to follow it,” Colin says with a shrug. "I had to find it. It became a sort of obsession. Especially once you started throwing around all that Summoner stuff that day.” He grins. “I guess you could say I had a sort of hunch that it might one day belong to you.”
My hand reaches out, almost involuntarily, to touch the stone. “Can I?”
He shrugs. “It’s yours now, isn’t it?”
“That’s still up for debate.” I hesitate for a moment. “What if I touch it and then explode? What if it invokes some kind of Armageddon…or…or…turns me into a hideous creature with…eyes and…tentacles? What if—“
“Sophe…it belongs to you now. It will not hurt you.”
I stare at the stone, chewing at my lower lip. It's beckoning me… calling to me. I should at least give it a little pat in response. With a deep breath, I place my fingertips on top of the stone, pressing my lips together and squeezing my eyes shut as I wait for something epic to happen. But nothing happens. I open my eyes and boldly wrap my fingers around its sleek surface. And after waiting a beat, I release the breath I’d been holding, relaxing as I allow the stone to rest in the palm of my hand.
After a few seconds, its warm, energizing power washes over me. It’s like I've reconnected with something I've been searching for my entire life…something that, until now, I never even realized I was searching for. A sense of peace floods through me. Everything is falling into place.
“Woah,” I whisper, not wanting to break the serene calm that surrounds me. “This thing is—“
The intensity of the stone’s magic gives me a jolt, sending me toppling backward. But despite the power that radiates from its core, I remain focused and calm. I’m not afraid or panicked. I am energized. And I am ready.
“Your eyes are… like copper. And they’re glowing,” murmurs Colin.
I respond with a slow, contented smile. “I know,” I whisper. “Pretty cool, huh?”
There is no need for me to rush back to the mirror to find something…anything to prove otherwise. I don’t need to convince myself that this is a fluke. It isn’t a fluke. It’s the most glorious, most powerful thing I've ever experienced.
I turn to face Colin and Atticus, an enormous smile pulling at the edges of my lips. “Okay. So ma-aa-ybe it’s true,” I say with a shy laugh. “As crazy as it seems, I think…no, I know it...I understand it now. I am a Fae Queen, you guys. And we’ve got a world to save. We’ve got an Unseelie Princess to take down.”
“Does this mean you're agreeing to…” Colin asks, trailing off, his eyes brightening.
“Well, yes…I suppose I am…unless you know any other Fae Queens who can remove your cursed darkness and restore balance to the world,” I say. “Besides, you look like shit, Colin.”
17
“So, does anyone understand how this thing works?” In a bold move, I toss the stone a couple of inches in the air, catching it in the palm of my hand. “Do I need to say some magic words? Chant, perhaps?”
With a flick of my wrist, I send it airborne again, catching it with ease. It's a centuries-old magical relic that has belonged to every Queen in recorded Fae history, yet I am quite comfortable with it. There’s something safe about it, like it really belongs to me. And that gives me more hope than I’ve had in months.
“You tell us, Sophe,” Colin says. “It's up to you to figure out how it works.” He shrugs. “From what I understand, its magic is different for every Fae Queen. It works with her strengths, or something like that.”
“Well, it’s got its work cut out with me,” I snort. “I’m only just now a queen and am admittedly inexperienced with the role.”
Atticus takes a step forward, folding his arms over his chest as he studies me. “So, you’re stronger. And you look like a goddess. Other than that, how do you feel? I’ll admit, I’ve been around a long time, but have never witnessed the transfer of power from one Fae Queen to another.”
My opinion of Atticus Drake may be different from what it was a mere few hours ago, but I still don’t wish to spill all of my secrets. There is a powerful connection that pulls me to Alexander. For now, I’d like to keep that to myself. Ever since the “tolling of the bells”, there seems to be some supernatural thread that binds me to him. On the surface, this sounds quite romantic. But I’m not certain where I stand with him right now. There may be a connection between us, but that connection doesn’t feel loving. In fact, it seems downright pissed off.
“Nope,” I say with a smile. “That’s it. Pretty anticlimactic, if you ask me.” Not wanting to continue this conversation, I turn to Colin and hold up the stone. “I’m going to go outside to fire this thing up. See if I can make it work for me. Want to come?” He nods and follows me to the door. “Oh, you might want to have your force field ready.”
We walk down to the beach and stroll along the shore. I have no way of predicting what this ancient relic might do, so all I do at first is clutch it in my palm. I’m afraid to unleash its power since I’m not sure what it will do.
People scowl at us as we pass, which I assume means everyone knows that Atticus chose my company for the evening and sent everyone else away. This makes me hesitate to use the stone even more.
I keep my gaze forward and try to ignore everything and everyone around me. Instead, I focus on the horizon and watch as heavy clouds roll in over the water. They soon black out the sun, covering the island in total darkness, and with it comes a strangely familiar chill in the air.
“Are you affecting the weather?” Colin asks, shivering as he wraps his bony arms around himself. “Ruby said you could do that now.”
“No…at least, I don’t think I am,” I murmur, squinting as I stare out over the water. I can’t make sense out of the strange clouds rolling in, but they don’t appear to be normal storm clouds.
Distracted by the clouds, we continue to walk along the shore, when I feel the stone heat up in my palm. My bare foot brushes against something squishy in the sand. With a squeal of disgust, I redirect my foot so that I step just beside the squishy mass and then peer down, cringing at what I may find.
“It’s only a starfish,” I announce, letting out a relieved sigh.
Colin frowns and kneels to examine it closer. “Now, I’m not Jacques Cousteau, but I would swear that starfish should have five legs and not three." He glowers up at me. “You and your giant squatch feet. Did you step on it, sever its legs?”
“No, I did not step on it.” I say, glaring at him as I kneel beside the injured creature. “And I do not have squatch feet.” He laughs. “It’s not funny, Colin. What if it dies?”
My voice breaks, and an unexplained wave of sadness crashes inside of me. I can’t bear to think that this poor, helpless creature might die. With my newfound connection to the earth and all its beings, I must be extra-sensitive to the needs of marine life. All I can think about right now is saving that silly starfish.
“I have to save it,” I say. “I have no idea what I will do to save it, mind you, but I need to try.”
As if in response to my adamant determination, the Black Obsidian Stone vibrates in my fist. Shockwaves of magic pulse through me, and I am struck with an idea. It’s a long shot, but I’ve got to try.
“Use your magic, Sophe,” Colin urges.
“Yes, yes, I know…” I say, waving him away so I can focus. “Now, again, I have no clue what I’m doing…” I chew my bottom lip. “I hope that I don't end up doing more harm than good for this little guy, but I want to try something.”
I hold the stone out in front of me and focus my energy on the red vaporous cloud in its center. At first, nothing happens, but as my concentration deepens, the f
aint strains of a very simple, almost childlike melody float toward me. It starts out at the outer edges of my subconscious, but soon comes barreling toward me like a musical freight train.
“What's happening?” asks Colin. “Why is your face all scrunched up and weird? Are you possessed?”
"Shush," I hiss. "I'm on the verge of a breakthrough here. A musical one. You understand how that goes, Colin. I have to think.”
I close my eyes as the melody crashes into my brain, throwing me off balance so that I topple backward into the sand. Colin says something, but I shush him once again, humming the melody as it comes to me. And as if it’s playing the accompanying part in the music, the stone grows from warm to hot in my hand. It hears me. I scramble to my knees, still humming as I grasp the stone with both hands. I lower it down so that it just barely touches the starfish’s body. Warm, healing energy radiates through me, starting at the tips of my toes and exiting out through my fingers as it enters the stone.
Then it’s done. The melody vanishes, leaving my ears ringing and my heart jubilant. If you ask me, the starfish looks quite relieved.
“You did it,” breathes Colin, gazing up at me through wide reverent eyes.
“I did it,” I repeat, leaping to my feet. I give myself a moment to jump up and down like an idiot, when I am struck with another brilliant idea. My jaw drops, and I turn to Colin, waving the stone in front of his face. He takes a cautious step backward, as if he already knows what I’m thinking. “Ready for me to tackle that darkness curse?” I say, only half-teasing.
Colin puts his hands out. “As much as I’d love that, and as much as I admire your enthusiasm, it won’t be quite that simple.” He sighs as his face falls with disappointment. “As my father and I understand it, in order to break a curse such as this one, you must attack it at the source which means…”
“Which means…I have to take Summer down if I want to remove the curse,” My confidence fizzles as I stare back out over the water. That sounds like a big job for such a new queen. “She wasn’t able to get to me that day at the Academy…magically, I mean. But I had the witches there with me. Backing me up. And, if I go against Summer mano y mano…”
Faebound Rhapsody Page 21
