“NO!” I screamed, but he didn’t hear me.
Mellie’s face was beat red.
“Daylan, stop! Right now!” I yelled loud enough for him to hear me.
I pulled on his arm, and his eyes twitched, acknowledging me.
“You will never bother Swayzi again!” His voice was deep with rage.
Mellie blinked in a desperate agreement.
He let go, and she dropped to the ground, heaving and coughing.
“What is wrong with you?!” I yelled at Daylan, my eyes burning as I slammed my hands into his chest. To all our surprise, Daylan shuffled back several steps from the force, and I looked down at my hands, shocked by my sudden burst of strength.
He looked at me, confused at my reaction.
“Here, take my jacket,” Tyler said, pulling me away from Daylan.
Tyler wrapped his jacket around my sopping dress. With his arm around me, we walked away from Daylan, and Penelope followed slowly behind.
Mellie’s gasps echoed down the empty hallway.
I watched the red water swirl down the drain as I rinsed the red punch from my hair. I thought of Linda’s beautiful handmade dress in a stained heap on our bathroom floor—a painful reminder that I would never see her again. My tears merged with the warm water falling down my face.
I toweled myself off and grabbed the first pair of sweats I could find in a heap on my bedroom floor. I thought of how merciless Daylan had been—I knew this dark side existed, but I didn’t want to believe he would use it against a human being.
Mellie was a terrible person, and what she did at the dance was wrong, but she did not deserve to die. The incident made me see past my connection with Daylan, see past his perfect face. I needed to remember—he wasn’t human.
Tyler was glaringly so. He would hold my hand during the scary parts of a horror movie, not for me, but for him. He felt pain; I could see it written all over his face when I was sick. He was constantly digging himself a hole, never saying the right thing at the right time. He was simply imperfect, flawed even, but that’s what made him—him.
Tyler was strong, but not strong enough. He was fast, but the faeries we would be fighting moved at supernatural speed. I thought of how lithe Daylan was, how sometimes his movements would make me think it was a trick of my eye. Daylan could have ended Mellie’s life in a second, with just a quick squeeze of his hand. I refused see Tyler in such danger.
Tyler could not be there when Medallion came for me.
My bare feet tapped against the hardwood floors on the stairs. Daylan was sitting upright at the kitchen table talking in low whispers to Ezra. He still wore his tuxedo, and his jacket was thrown over the back of his chair. His black sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his tie was loose at his neck. Fay paced by the window, nervous that the docks had been left unwatched and vulnerable.
Tyler and Penelope were missing. I heard mumbles coming from the porch, and I listened momentarily at the door while peeking through the window.
“A little reassurance,” Penelope said vaguely.
“Reassurance?” Tyler questioned.
“Don’t look at me like that—after everything, you doubt I’m looking out for your best interests?” She was frustrated.
“No, that’s not it. It’s just—I can’t believe any of this. You’re a witch, Swayzi a faerie, and now this?”
“I know it’s a lot to take in.” Her voice was muffled, and I strained to hear more.
“You’d think I would be used to it by now.” He huffed.
They grew quiet for a minute. I thought maybe their conversation had ended.
“You have to let her go to Empress. It’s the only way she’ll survive.”
“I know.” His voice wavered.
I couldn’t listen any longer. I slipped on my slippers and opened the door.
“Hey, I was looking for you two,” I said.
I saw Tyler stuff something in his suit pocket, but I couldn’t make out what it was. His white collared shirt was splattered with red liquid with a clean white stripe where his tie once sat.
“Can I talk to Tyler for a minute?”
“Of course.” Penelope jumped up. She still wore her beautiful silk red gown. The tight dress hugged her curves exquisitely. She looked like Jessica Rabbit.
“Are you doing okay?” she asked, squeezing my shoulder as she passed me.
“Yes, thank you.” I nodded. My hair was still wet, and the cold air was already freezing the ends, forming small crystals.
When I heard the door close behind me, I sat down next to Tyler on the swing, curling my legs up beside me. He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close, his chin resting on top of my head.
“It’s odd.” I paused, shaking my head. “The whole world is coming to an end and no one has any idea.” The cold air frosted my breath as I spoke.
“You think this is what it’s like to be in the CIA?” he asked, half-joking.
“Maybe.” I shrugged with a halfhearted laugh. “What were you and Penelope talking about?”
“Nothing, really. Just how weird it is that she’s a witch.” I could feel his chest muscles tense under my cheek. He was hiding something.
I knew I was only a broken heart away from being a completely different person—that my life after this moment would never be complete—that my heart would be forever fractured. I hated myself for what I was about to do. I knew it would break me as it would break him, but it was the only way to keep him safe.
It was the only way to keep him alive.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.” I lingered against his shoulder for a few seconds, breathing him in before sitting up.
“What’s up?” he asked narrowing his eyes at me.
“Both you and Daylan have been very patient with me during this very confusing time in my life,” I started, “but I can’t keep doing this back and forth thing.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, no longer slouching.
“I had to make a choice.” I looked away from him, not wanting him to see my eyes.
“I never asked you do that.” He sounded defensive.
I stopped short—he was right. Neither of them had. Why? My former insecure self began to creep in, making me think I was delusional. Maybe I cared about these two boys more than they would ever care about me.
When he saw the confusion on my face, he continued, “I never asked you to choose, Sway, because I knew there was no decision to be made.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know you love me. No one can come close to what we have. Not even that tall, dark psycho angel in there.”
“So, what?” I stood up, now I was the defensive one. “You’re saying I don’t have a choice?”
“Of course, you have a choice. I just know you’ll choose me.” He shrugged and moved the hair from face, his eyes confidently staring into mine. He sat back, his arm resting assuredly along the back of the porch swing.
“Well, you’re wrong.”
I had been comparing Daylan and Tyler as if they were equals, but deep down, I knew Tyler was right—he was the one person I could never live without. That’s what Linda had been telling me about.
When Tyler and I kissed the first time, he said we were slaves to circumstance. That statement still rang true. But maybe our love for each other wasn’t enough. Even if I did miraculously survive the battle with Medallion, Tyler would never be allowed in Empress. I knew the only way to keep him safe would be to end this—once and for all.
“If you need time—then I’ll give you time,” he said, leaning forward, reengaging in our conversation.
“I don’t need time,” I said matter-of-factly.
“What do you need then?” He was confused.
“I don’t choose you,” I said louder than I intended.
Tyler bit into his cheek.
“Tyler, I—”
“Don’t do this, don’t push me away.” He got up and wal
ked towards me slowly, a wave of doubt rushing over his face. “I know you’re confused, and I can see you two have a connection. I get this sharp pain in my neck every time I see the two you touch. I can see you grasping onto him, thinking in some weird way, he represents your future. I want to hate him. Trust me, I want to hate him,” he groaned. “But I can’t because he saved your life. But don’t think you owe him something for saving you.”
“I didn’t choose him either,” I barely whispered.
“I don’t understand?”
“I can’t keep stringing either of you along—it’s not fair to any of us. Look how the two of you acted tonight at the dance. It’s not healthy. I can’t be with him either because I don’t know him. He’s lived a very long complicated life that I can’t even begin to understand.”
“What about me? You know everything about me,” he pressed.
“Yeah, but I don’t know myself without you. I can’t be with you when I go to Empress, Tyler. I need to experience life without you holding me back.”
My words hurt him. They were a dagger to his heart.
“You think I’m holding you back?” he whispered.
“You’re all that I’ve ever known. But now that I know I could actually live a full life, I need to see what that can be.” I waited until his eyes met mine. “…without you.”
I didn’t mean any of it. The lies burned as they rolled off my tongue. It felt like hours before he finally spoke.
“Why?”
I couldn’t answer. If I was honest I would have to tell him that I didn’t want him there when Medallion came. That I didn’t want to lose him. But, I knew he would say he would rather die than not be there with me.
He swept the hair from his eyes again and sighed in frustration.
“It’s late,” I said, looking out into the dark night. The poplar trees were heavy with snow. “You should go.” I turned coldly and walked towards my front door.
“No,” he said.
I closed my eyes, pained that I had to continue this conversation.
“I still want to be there when Medallion comes,” he said. “This changes nothing.”
“It changes everything.” I turned. “You don’t understand. I don’t want you there! I don’t love you Tyler!” I purposefully used these words to hurt him. I never imagined saying something so hurtful to him.
“I don’t believe you,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t care what you believe anymore. I want to live—why don’t you get that?”
“You’re lying,” he said, his voice faltering. “I know you’re scared. Let me be scared with you. It’s okay to hurt me—go ahead and break me into a million pieces, but don’t forget, you’re my family, and you always will be. Nothing you say to me will stop me from loving you.”
We stood in the same spot as our first kiss, and just like our first kiss he pulled me to him without permission, his lips pressing against mine. His warm breath made my heart pound, and I wanted to fold myself into him, to allow his hands to consume me. The necklace suddenly grew hot, expelling loud whispering cries. Behind my closed eyelids, I saw a flash of Tyler lying lifeless in the snow.
I immediately pushed him away, holding my lips in contempt. He reached for me again, knowing I didn’t want him to stop.
“No.” I stepped back, holding the necklace that still hummed against my skin. The vision of Tyler’s lifeless body was so vivid, I wanted to panic. But I needed to finish this.
“How many times did I cry on your shoulder hoping for a second chance? This is it. You have to stop being selfish! I can’t stay here with you.” I stepped back again holding my hand over my necklace and over my terrified, beating heart. It felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest.
His lips parted but no words came.
“Goodbye, Tyler,” I said.
His look destroyed me. His shoulders fell forward in defeat, he was biting the inside of his cheek like he wanted to argue more. Just before I closed the door, his hands came up to his face, his fists pushing into his eyes, crushed by the finality of my goodbye. I locked the door behind me, and I immediately sank to the floor. Tears welled in my eyes, but I covered them, knowing Daylan, Penelope, and the twins were watching us.
I wished I would have let myself linger on his shoulder a few minutes more or let him kiss me a little bit longer. Hearing the retreat of his footsteps made me feel more alone then I had ever felt before. I knew in that moment the only thing that would be harder than grieving the loss of my best friend would be knowing that I would never love anyone else the way I loved him.
Daylan cautiously approached me. “It won’t be long now. You should get some rest. Come.” He reached out his hand waiting patiently for me to take it. I assumed he heard every word of my conversation with Tyler, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
I stood up without taking his hand and walked up the stairs, my feet heavy and my body exhausted.
Daylan’s footsteps were too graceful to make a sound, but I knew he had followed me upstairs. I could feel his presence behind me as I entered by bedroom.
“Why didn’t you ask me to choose?” I asked, my voice sharp with resentment.
“Choose?”
“Between you and Tyler,” I cried.
He sighed with pity. I knew I was taking out all of my frustration and anger on him, but I couldn’t help it.
“You know what, don’t answer that,” I snapped. “Just leave so I can slam the door properly.”
“No, I’m not leaving. You are in obvious need of a companion right now, and it is my obligation to see that you get some rest before Medallion arrives.”
“Don’t tell me what I need right now! What you did tonight…that was wrong. The worst part is, you don’t even seem sorry.”
“I’m not sorry.” He shrugged.
I paced the room, frustrated.
“I was protecting my Queen. The only thing I’m sorry about is that I didn’t kill her.” I knew he meant it. The calming nature of his voice frightened me.
I understood what Penelope meant, how faeries could make you feel like you were the only one in the room and forget how incredibly dangerous they were at the same time.
“Get out of my room, please.”
“No,” he said calmly. His blue eyes burned into mine, waiting for me to surrender.
I began to cry. I didn’t know what else to do. I had just told my best friend I didn’t love him when it was glaringly obvious that I did. I was still coming to terms with possibly never seeing Linda again and it was killing me. I was exhausted and absolutely petrified that in a few short hours I would be face to face with Medallion.
Daylan cautiously walked towards me like I was a skittish animal. “I didn’t ask you to choose because I was afraid of the answer,” he said. “Seeing how heartbroken you are now—I was right not to ask.”
I wanted to tell him he was wrong. He was beautiful, mysterious, and I longed to know him. He was practically perfect—like a fairytale prince. “Fairytale.” I laughed aloud to myself.
“Fairytale?” he asked, confused at my musing.
I sat down on my bed. “When I was little, Linda would read me books. They all seemed to have the same story. Average girl meets tall, dark and handsome stranger. Against all odds she becomes a Princess, and in the end—they live happily ever after. Those are called fairytales.”
“Not so fictional,” Daylan quipped.
I sighed. “Except the happily ever after part. That seems more fictional than ever.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” He sat down next to me.
I grunted a small laugh as I wiped my tears away.
“Empress is your happily ever after, Swayzi. You will live forever in the most beautiful place. Where happiness isn’t just a fleeting feeling.”
“Do you really think we can win?”
“Yes,” he said, sitting up straighter.
“You’re weaker, aren’t you? Tonight, when I pushed you—
you stumbled back.”
I was worried the one person I counted on the most going into battle wasn’t going to be ready.
He shifted next to me on my bed. It was the first time I ever saw him fidget. “Yes,” he said, “I am weaker. I’ve been noticing it lately, but I didn’t want to worry you.”
“What happened to being open and honest, Daylan?”
He dipped his head in disappointment.
“Ezra and Fay?”
“They are fine,” he assured me.
“What about you—why are you not fine?”
Daylan sighed like he didn’t want to continue.
“Daylan,” I said again, waiting for the truth.
He hesitated for a long time. “I’ve been using my magic more than them.”
“What do you mean, how?”
He paused again, this time looking into my eyes. “For you.”
“For me?”
“Just as we thought, when we touch, my magic passes from me to you. It is healing you.”
“Yes, but I didn’t know…that it was also killing you.” A tear fell down the length of my nose. I wiped it and looked away from him. I didn’t want to see his eyes.
“I wouldn’t change anything,” he said, pulling my chin so I would look at him again. “If I had the choice, I would do it all over again if it meant saving you.”
“What if I’m not worth it?” My lip trembled.
“You already are.”
“You called me your Queen.” I huffed.
“You are my Queen.”
I had been contemplating how to get Daylan in the right mindset for battle. I was worried he would be too distracted over protecting me to focus on the task at hand—killing Medallion. We all needed his mind to be in the right place. After seeing his irrational belief that I was his Queen, I knew exactly what to say.
“When Medallion comes, you can’t be bothered with protecting me,” I said, regaining my composure. “All of our focus should be on getting The Aura and killing Medallion. I don’t want you to be worrying about me.”
Empress Unveiled Page 20
