"Take over," the Leprechaun ordered and led Klara to the back. "What's your name?" Klara asked quickly, and he shook his head. The sweet smell from distilling fungus was enough to turn her stomach, and yet her guide didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"You don't need to know..." he said, taking his gold pocket-watch in hand. The gold shone over the door's lock before the door swung slowly open.
"That cloaking spell is strong, and my eyes have never deceived me until now. You'll need that protection since your face is on every paper in the Forest."
"Noted," she smiled faintly. Thankfully not many in the Forest bothered reading, and a good percentage were illiterate.
The Leprechaun lit a candle and sat at his desk. "I was afraid this day would come," he sighed leaning deeper into his chair. Klara took a seat across from him.
"Lilith warned me she might send you, but I didn't think the tensions would rise this high."
"Well the Queens want my head, so whatever Lilith arranged I need to call in the favour."
"The journey won't be easy," he said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Remember whom you are talking to." Klara could sense him wavering. He was a businessman first and foremost. She flashed her black eyes and fear brought out his most elegant posture. Sometimes it's better to be feared than loved.
"When did you last speak to her?" Klara asked as the awkward tension grew, and he shrugged.
"I'll have to consult my records." He went to the small safe in the corner of his office. Twisting the rusted dial, he pulled out a thick ledger. Its brown leather cover was aged and cracked from centuries of use. It opened with a dust disturbing thud, and he ran his fingers down the list.
"Twelve years ago," he said, and Klara didn't recognize the significance she was only five at the time, she didn't even live with the Queens at that stage.
"Did Lilith tell you why she needed your assistance?" It was a long shot, but she had to ask.
"Yes, the greatest General ever to serve the King decided to share her deepest and darkest betrayal with the owner of a humble den."
"Careful," Klara warned, and he put on his thin-rimmed glasses. She glanced over the endless names, some with lines drawn through them. He pulled the ledger away from her prying eyes. "Why the lines?"
He moved his glasses to the top of his head. "Those who were killed or captured."
"How do you know which?"
"Doesn't matter, both lead to the same fate. My spies let me know who makes it and who doesn't." That was all she was going to get from him.
It hit her like a lightning bolt. Klara had been five when Lucifer brought Frendall into her company. Lilith had been tasked with training them together. She saw the threat before anyone else.
In the years Lilith had tortured Klara to breaking point and froze her in the ice ponds, she hadn't thought to mention why. Klara had believed that it was Abadan pulling Lilith's strings, but maybe she was training her to see the real enemy all along, her best friend and ally.
"What did she want from you?" Klara asked as the Leprechaun tapped his yellow nails against the page with her name. Klara Lucifer was written in gold ink while the others remained in black. That was all she could make out before he slammed the ledger shut.
"Passage to Kalos, but as you can see there is no up to date payment for such a trip," He said, and she couldn't believe that after all that training, in the end, Lilith wanted her to bolt like a coward. The venture would both secure her safety and confirm her death sentence.
"Although we could come to some arrangement," He hesitated, and Klara knew it was too good to be true.
"The cost has gone up significantly since Lilith placed her order. The Fae are heavily armed, and the Ferrier doesn't exactly owe the King a debt. To ferry you across the River to the Neutral Lands would be a great burden."
"Who are you?" She didn't have time to haggle. "You do know I have the power to reveal your true nature," Klara threatened, and she saw a flash of yellow. "You make idle threats for someone seeking a smuggler."
Klara reached into the bag and pulled out a small bag of jewels that she guessed Lilith had stolen from Abadan's vault.
The Leprechaun took the small bag, and Klara made sure her fingers grazed his, "this is sufficient."
In a quick flash, she saw the purple top hat upon his head and his raised thick white brows.
"One question, why was my name in gold? Lokey," Klara spoke his name, making the Demon Warlock shift in his seat. "I didn't think we would meet again so soon."
"Who am I to hide from the Heiress of Hell?” Lokey cleared his throat dropping his glamour and exposing the Hounds at his side.
Klara dropped her own glamour, knowing that with one word from his thin lips, the Demons hunting her would appear. "In gold? Hmm, could be many reasons? Lilith wasn't very vocal about her deals."
"I feel we are at a crossroads," Lokey said, petting his mangy Creatures.
"Was Lilith involved in your smuggling operation?" She asked, and a hearty laugh bounced around the shelves of brightly coloured potions and fungus.
"My darling, Lilith was the operation. The sweet thing needed something to do after her wife was caught smuggling."
Klara stared at the thick ledger, Lilith, the Queen of discipline, was a traitor all along. Klara grit her teeth, wondering how many other secrets had been kept from her.
"Then let's make a new deal. Continue to smuggle whomever you please, and I leave. No harm, no foul. If I stay, I only harm business. Lilith is dead. I see no reason why your business should not continue."
Lokey tipped his hat, thinking it over. "Abadan would have offered such a sweet reward, but I owe Lilith a debt. The business just won't be as fun without her."
Klara tried to hide her relief. The Hounds disappeared from his side, and a slick smile revealed his snake-like tongue. "Where were we?"
"Passage."
"Kharon should arrive in three days close to the Ogres' swamplands where the checkpoints widen to take you across the River, once you reach the Neutral Lands you are on your own."
The River Styx ran for miles but the closer it got to the Queens Mountain, the more border points there were. To cross the River that split Kalos and Malum above the Southern Swamps would be suicide.
"Transport?" Klara asked. "The last transport already left," Lokey shrugged with a smile, "you will have to run." Klara could do it, but with her new heart, it would weaken her.
"I'll introduce you to the others." Lokey's words shook her. "The young beasts were smoked out last night," Lokey said with feigned indifference. Others? Klara thought “Abadan must be delighted to know that the Lycaon caves were destroyed, no more alphas to rile her.” Klara offered no reply as Lokey stared at her.
"Shame there was no one to protect them from the High Queen's wrath."
"I don't need to know the details or a group slowing me down," Klara said, and Lokey sniggered, "what cruelty, you may make a royal yet."
Klara didn't want to travel in a pack. Least the fire would bring growth, Klara tried to find a silver lining to soothe her pestering guilt.
"No one, not even the Heir of Hell passes through alone. The Fae can track one person too easily, but a few Creatures will make it harder for the Fae to track you," he paused watching his words, "different abilities and smells will throw off their radar. It's the safest and only way to get through."
Klara hadn't considered the Fae Guard that would be waiting after the Neutral Lands. She was too worried about her enemies on this side of the River.
"How many are seeking passage?" Klara asked. Lokey slipped back into his Leprechaun glamour as he removed keys from his pocket. "Three."
Klara winced, three to feed and they will want rest. It’s one Hell of a risk. If they are caught in my presence, Klara shuddered at the thought of what the Queens would do to them.
"A Doomed, and two Lycaons," Lokey continued as a rap on the door interrupted them.
"Glaudine?" Lokey call
ed to the door, and it opened a slight crack. While Lokey used a glamour, the woman was an actual Leprechaun. There was no aura of magic surrounding her curves, only a shimmer concealing a top hat tattoo on her exposed cleavage telling Klara that she was under his protection.
"We have a problem."
Klara stared in confusion as the Leprechaun kissed Lokey's cheek. No servant would dare get so close to a Higher Demon.
"My wife," Lokey beamed, and Klara closed her gaping mouth.
"Nice to meet you," Klara said, and the Leprechaun placed a hand on her swollen belly. Lokey followed Klara’s gaze and his brow creased with concern. Glaudine was pregnant.
"I take it the King is unaware of your marital status."
"There are some things that are best left unsaid, and if you want to keep our bargain, it will remain that way."
"Don't threaten the poor girl. There's a Ghoul outside causing trouble, brought in some Guards looking for this young one," Glaudine said, and Klara felt her stomach reach her toes.
“Silvia must have been watching through the window when I dropped the glamour.”
Lokey ran his hand over the desk, and suddenly the carved wood disappeared, and the front of the den came into view.
"Silvia," Klara said as she watched the distraught woman howling at the patrol to "FIND HER."
“Making friends everywhere you go, just like your Father in the old days,” Lokey said, nudging Klara.
"Should have taken her head when I had the chance," Klara said, and Lokey winked.
“Spoken like a true Lucifer, offer the Guards a cup or two of our finest. That should keep them busy," Lokey gripped Glaudine's hand, and Klara grew nervous. If Father discovers them, he will have their heads for aiding me. Klara couldn’t help but stare at the protective hand over Glaudine’s stomach.
"And the Ghoul?" Glaudine asked Lokey.
Klara spoke up, "let the Ghoul cause a scene, judging from the navy uniforms they are Port patrol on leave. They would much rather get their fix, than hunt for me."
"Lilith trained you well," Lokey said, and Klara saw sadness fall over Glaudine’s striking features.
Lokey pushed on the wall of his office, revealing a hidden passage that led them to the edge of the toadstools. "Will she be okay, in her condition?" Klara asked as she had never seen a pregnant woman before.
Lokey laughed, "I worry more about what she will do to the Port patrol or the deranged Ghoul if they make a mess. Tapped has been in her family for centuries."
The toadstool stalks grew thicker until they had to squeeze through.
"Careful," Lokey warned, and Klara walked straight into a glamour shield. The zap pulsed through her and a run-down cabin with smoke billowing from a small chimney took the toadstools place.
"I warned you," he shrugged, opening the creaky wooden door. Moss grew from the rusted hinges and kept the door from closing behind them.
Klara lingered in the low doorway as she looked into the tiny living quarters with bunk beds and a small kitchenette.
The room was empty, not a soul within. Klara thought that if she raised her arms, she would be able to touch the thatched roof.
"Cheap trick." Klara placed her hand on the logged walls and the glamour began to lift from the door to the end of the cabin. A little girl slept on the lower bunk of a makeshift bunkbed. Judging from the black soot on her clothes, she had escaped the flames. Spurs of mushrooms filled every corner of the cabin. The one arched window would have brought in more light if it wasn't caked with mud and dust.
The girl shifted in her sleep when the clink of glass brought Klara's attention to the lean man standing at the sink. "Play nice," Lokey said, and the man turned around.
"Arthur?" Klara said, moving through the cabin in haste and threw her arms around her friend. "I'm so glad you're alive."
Klara thought he would have been the first off Abadan's list. Considering Arthur was her only ally in the Castle. "Glad you're alive," he said as she loosened her grip.
"I'll leave you all to get acquainted but one last piece of advice. The Ferrier isn't known to be patient."
"We'll leave as soon as possible," Klara thanked Lokey, as he let himself out.
"How did you get out?" Before Arthur could respond, swift movement from the top bunk distracted Klara. Heavy feet hitting the rotting floorboards shook the small cabin, and Klara pulled her axe.
"Don't," Arthur protested as Klara's axe landed at the stranger's throat. She reached her arm up, to compensate for the height difference. He remained still, his chest rising and falling. Klara noticed the small girl clutching his leg and his stiff shoulders relaxed as his hand went to the small child's shoulder.
"Klara it's okay," Arthur said, placing a hand on her wrist, and she trusted him enough to lower her blade. The stranger’s amber eyes assessed hers before drifting to the girl at his leg. Klara sensed he wasn't about to harm her in front of the child.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare her," Klara said, putting away her axe, and the little girl peered out from behind his legs.
"You didn't tell us we were waiting for the Heir to Hell," the Lycaon said. There was a roughness to his voice she guessed was from inhaling too much smoke.
"You brought them here?" Klara asked Arthur who scratched his grey stubble. "I found them wandering the Forest trying to escape. I couldn't leave them," Arthur frowned, and Klara rolled her eyes. "Your heart is going to be the death of you," Klara said, and Arthur shrugged, "Too late."
"Can we trust her?" the Lycaon asked, and Klara glared at him. He couldn’t have been much older than her and yet he spoke as if he were her superior.
"Her has a name," Klara said, extending her hand. Knowing that if he took it, she would be able to see within his mind. He looked at her extended hand and instead placed his hands on the little girl's shoulders.
"Lottie, grab your things we are leaving," He said, and Klara dropped her hand.
"You want to risk your chances out there? Feel free but give the girl a chance," Klara said and looked at the child in her ash coated clothes. Klara put her hand on his arm, and she saw a blinding flash.
The Lycaon jumped back as if burnt from her touch. His eyes flashed a deeper amber, glowing like caramel as her strength pulled out his inner wolf. He shook her from his head as the effect wore off. "Stay out of my head, Witch," he spat. Klara almost smiled; he could have called me a lot worse.
"We should leave together," Klara said.
"No, they're after you. The High Queen burnt our reserve in the hunt," the Lycaon's words cut her, and she tried not to show it. "I'm not risking Lottie's life for a Demon half-breed." The Lycaon had a talent for harsh words.
Klara preferred Witch to half-breed. He had insulted her twice, but she needed them to get to Kalos.
"How dare you speak to her this way?" Arthur said, and Klara smiled at Arthur, reassuring him it was all right. She didn't need to defend herself to an ignorant Lycaon.
"Did the Leprechaun not fill you in? We either pass through together or not at all. If you want to protect your sister, then you'd best listen to the smuggler's advice."
Since he was adamant about not trusting a Demon, she figured it was best not to tell him about Lokey's true nature.
"Klara," she said, extending her hand once again, but this time she suppressed her magic in order to gain his trust. The Lycaon examined it before taking it. The Lycaon pulled her forward, sniffing the air around her head before dropping her hand.
"Why can I smell…" His eyes went wide as Klara staggered back, not liking to be sniffed. His large frame hit the side of the bunkbed, and Lottie covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"An Angel," Arthur said.
"Not quite," the Lycaon’s amber eyes narrowed, and Klara backed away not wanting to be sniffed again. She didn't know whether she preferred being referred to as a Demon or Angel, but both felt weird.
"It doesn't matter what I am, I can help you get through undetected, but we need to move."
"How can you be an Angel?" He sounded disgusted, and she snapped, “who stood on your tail?”
"What do you think Lucifer was? I'm no more Demon than you are, Lycaon." Klara grew impatient as Arthur got between them.
"Can we go to the nice place now?" Lottie asked, taking Klara's hand without hesitation.
"She's always been a terrible judge of character." The Lycaon folded his arms exposing the scars on his forearms. Lottie you can't just hold anyone's hand." He lifted Lottie's small frame onto his hip.
Living on the reserve was hard work. The High Queen imposed massive labour quotas on logging to keep the packs from gaining too much strength. Klara had seen their struggle during one of her visits. If the children didn't work hard enough, they were lashed across the forearms.
"We can go to the good place," Klara said and the little blonde girl beamed.
"Does he have a name?" Klara asked Lottie.
"Woofgang," Lottie said through a missing front tooth.
"Wolfgang," He repeated, and Klara resisted the urge to laugh.
"My pack had a weird sense of humour," Wolfgang said, putting down his sister. "That was before your mother slaughtered them," Wolfgang whispered out of earshot of his sister, and she felt an overwhelming urge to apologize. “I have no control over the Queens’ actions. Should they wish to burn down the entire forest, then I’m not exactly in a position to stop them,” Klara said. She regretted raising her voice as Lottie snuggled a unicorn-shaped bag to her chest. Klara knew the Human object would have been smuggled in through the port. It was a risk to let the girl keep it, but Klara couldn’t take another thing from the child.
"The High Queen is not my mother," Klara whispered to Wolfgang as Lottie chatted away to Arthur about the good place.
"Maybe not but did you do anything to stop her?" Before Klara had a chance to respond, Lottie rushed past Klara and took Wolfgang’s hand, pulling him towards the door.
"Ready?" Klara asked Arthur. “As I’ll ever be.”
The cabin disappeared behind them into a collection of toadstools. Lottie tugged at Wolfgang’s trousers and crawled up his back. "Little legs," Wolfgang half-smiled before catching himself.
Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale Page 14
