by R L Medina
A loud roaring filled the room. I kept my eyes shut and my hand around the stone, the other one holding tight to Grandmere’s hand. The floor shifted beneath us and the air thinned.
Silence filled the space. I felt weightless as if I was floating in air. I didn’t dare open my eyes. My muscles relaxed and turned to jelly. I didn’t know how long we were suspended, but it felt like an eternity. An eternity of nothingness. Just wholeness. Serenity. A sensation that couldn’t be described with words. Then a tear. Coldness. I was ripped from the peaceful cocoon. Alarm shot through me. Another roaring filled my ears. Solid ground beneath my feet. I gasped, sucking in air and opened my eyes. We’d made it.
7
I expected something magical or enchanted. Not something so… ordinary. Where were all the fairy tale creatures? Trees, giant trees, stood all around us with leafy canopies that stretched, blotting out the blue sky, and a strange fog covered the ground and underbrush. A lot of underbrush. Ferns and plants tangled together in large clumps.
Grandmere knelt to the ground and wept. Even Des paused to take it in, a half smile
on his face. I watched them wistfully, wondering what it would be like to be connected to a place. Silly, but I thought once I got there, it would feel like home. I didn’t fit in the Outer World, but I didn’t belong there either. I had no home.
I glanced down at my hand. The pendant was gone. My heart skipped.
“The portal. It’s gone!”
Grandmere nodded. “It dissolved when we went through.”
Panic swirled inside me. “But how do we get back?”
Des scoffed. Grandmere patted my arm. “There are other ways.”
Relief flooded me. The thought of being trapped here made my stomach churn. Taking a deep breath, I scanned the area.
I kept waiting to hear the animals, but only silence greeted me. Then I felt the eyes. Dozens and dozens of eyes. My breath hitched. All at once, their thoughts and emotions ripped through me. Surprise, fear, curiosity.
Why is the dryad glamoured? Who is this strange girl in our court? Did she come to stay? She doesn’t look fae. Human. Human. Human.
Gripping my charm bracelet, I pushed their voices out of my head. The emotions were harder to shut out. My own fear echoed above theirs, my heart pounding loud in my ears. Leaves began rustling, branches moved in an erratic rhythm. Like a curtain being drawn, the veil lifted.
The forest came alive.
Trees and flowers stretched toward me for a closer look. Creatures, large and small crept and flew out of their hiding places. Uneasiness rolled in my gut and I took a deep breath, forcing away the panic. I cowered behind Des and Grandmere, preparing myself as the fae moved in.
The fairies and pixies reached us first. My eyes widened, taking in their vivid colors. Some had short, light hair and some long, dark curls. Brown skinned, white skinned, orange, green, blue, or purple. Each one unique, but equally vibrant. Their large, luminescent eyes stared back at me. The larger ones, fairies, were not much smaller than me and had wings like giant butterflies and the pixie’s wings reminded me of dragonflies.
They were all beautiful. Beautiful and terrifying. Wild and strange, there was a morbid curiosity and hunger behind their gaze. It chilled me. Had they been in the human world, they would have been dissected and studied, but this was their world. I was the strange one. I was the prey.
They flitted above me, reaching out their long, sharp nails towards me. I moved closer to Des, out of their reach. They gave him a wide berth. Their laughter filled the air, sharp and jarring. I trembled as the rest of the forest creatures surrounded us.
My head spun as I took them all in. It was no wonder the GRIMM kept them hidden in the Outer World. I took deep breaths, fighting off the waves of panic. They won’t hurt me. They won’t hurt me. I didn’t know if that was true, but it was the only thought that kept me tethered.
There were short, lumpy creatures that looked like they were made of mud and moss. Trolls, maybe? Some had furry little ears and four fingered hands while others had huge sharp claws and long, bat-like ears. What they were, I had no idea. The ogres, dwarves, and fauns I could pick out. They didn’t look much different from what I’d seen in the stories or movies.
Shimmering gold outlines of what looked like women glided closer. Their ethereal forms were hard to keep track of as they dissipated and reformed in different places. Dryads, I realized as I caught Grandmere’s wistful smile. A shiver ran down my spine. Is that what she looked like beneath the glamour?
All the creatures edged closer, their thoughts and emotions hitting me again and again. I shut my eyes and tried to protect myself from the onslaught.
“We’re drawing too much attention,” Des’s voice filled me with relief.
I wanted nothing more than to escape the fae’s hungry eyes.
He turned to the crowd. “Keep your mouths shut. This is a guest of her Highness, Princess Cindra. I trust you’ll keep the news of her arrival to yourselves.” A threat lurked in his eyes.
Murmurs echoed. Concentrating on keeping their thoughts out of my mind, I couldn’t make out their words. Grandmere led the way down a path and I followed close behind her, Des bringing up the rear.
I stared straight ahead, avoiding the stares that followed us. Were these the kind of creatures that had stalked me back home? Now I knew their faces. I shuddered. I wished they had stayed invisible.
“This is your mother’s court. The Gray Court or more rightfully known as the Court of Fur.” Grandmere’s voice broke the silence.
My eyes snapped to her and I looked around with renewed interest. This was where Mom had lived and ruled? My chest tightened. Mom. I’d given anything to have her back with me.
Des grunted. “It was her court. It belongs to the Court of Flame now.”
Grandmere’s face hardened. He shrugged.
“Can we see where she lived?”
“Waste of time.”
Her eyes narrowed on him “We can spare a few moments.”
He sighed. “We were summoned by the Princess of the Red Court. We do not have time.”
I turned to him. “Just a few minutes. Please?”
Please say yes.
He frowned and shook his head. “Yes. Fine, but don’t linger.”
I smiled, but a thought struck me. Was it my power that had changed his mind? A cold chill went through me. Des’s eyes pierced mine. My heart pounded. Did he know? Did he know what I’d done?
“What part of don’t linger did you not understand?” His voice startled me out of my thoughts.
Grandmere glanced back at us. I gasped. The skin on her face was faded, the golden shimmer of her true image peeking through.
She walked over to me in concern. “What is it?”
Des grumbled something under his breath and kept walking. He waved for us to follow.
I took a few steps and turned to her. “Your glamour… it’s fading.”
She touched her face and smiled. Her joy and excitement filled me with warmth. Soon, she would shed her human skin and once more feel the air run through her and be united with the trees and plants.
“Do you want to see it, or not?” Des hissed from ahead.
I quickened my steps, not wanting him to change his mind. You could always make him say yes again. I dismissed that thought with a shudder. No. Even if I knew how to force him again, I didn’t want to. No one should have that kind of power.
My feet grew heavy as we stopped in a small clearing. Finally. Before us stood a large, golden leafy tree. Its gnarled roots spread across the ground and a gaping hole had formed under the knobby trunk.
“Well, there it is. Satisfied?”
I ignored Des and moved closer to inspect the tree. This? It wasn’t the kind of place I expected for a Princess of Feylin. Though it did remind me of Mom. My chest ached at the thought of her. What was happening to her? Did she know I was here?
Grandmere stepped forward, moving her hands over the bark in re
verence. Her lips moved in a chant, but I couldn’t make out the words. The roots retracted, making me jump back in surprise. The hole was growing, wide enough now to enter.
Des curled his lip and turned his back to us, scanning the woods. I followed Grandmere into the burrow, lowering myself feet first. The sunlight disappeared as I stumbled down. I blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness. The last of Grandmere’s glamour dissolved, making me gasp. Her golden form lit the room in a soft glow. She had a human like shape, but instead of flesh she was made of sparkling, gold dust? Specks? I didn’t know the right term. Her face turned to me and I cringed. The face of a phantom. This was not my Grandmere.
“Look.” Her voice startled me. It still sounded like her, but how was she talking through that lipless face?
I followed her hand to the room. An earthy smell mixed with vanilla filled the hollowed-out space. Cozy was my first thought. Like a… hobbit hole? I snorted and blinked, scanning the layout.
It was simple. A large bed in the corner, next to a wardrobe and a wooden nightstand with a mirror attached. On the ground, a beautifully woven rug made from leaves and flowers was laid out and the other side of the room held a table and stools. A wooden vase of dead flowers sat on the table. I felt a stab of pain at the thought of Mom. Had she been happy here in this little home?
I made my way to the wardrobe and pulled it open. Soft tunic like shirts and simple dresses hung neatly in a row. Abandoned. The smell of warm spices and vanilla hit my nose. Mom. Tears sprang into my eyes. I wiped them away as Grandmere glided closer.
She held up a long-sleeved green tunic to me. “This one will fit you.”
I stared at the shirt, floating on her palm, trying to figure out how she was able to hold it up.
“Renée, here. Put this on.”
Her words pulled me back. I took the soft tunic from her and inspected it. The fabric was a strange cold material. Not quite silk, but not quite cotton. The dark green matched Mom’s eyes.
“Why can’t I wear my own clothes?”
Her face wavered. “They will make you stick out.”
I looked down at my jeans and cable-knit sweater. Wouldn’t my un-pointed ears and awkwardness give me away, anyway?
“It would be better to blend in.”
I gave her an incredulous look. Sighing, I set the tunic on the bed and turned away from her to undress. The cold damp air hit me, making me shiver. Grabbing the shirt, I set my sweater on the bed and pulled on the new one. The material was surprisingly warm as it clung to me and draped down to my knees. I glanced at myself in the mirror and snorted.
“What is it?” Grandmere asked.
“I look like I’m going to a ren fair.”
“What?”
I waved away the comment. “Nothing. Why are all the clothes medieval looking?”
“I don’t know. Only the elves and humans wear these clothes. I suppose it’s what was in fashion when the fae left the Outer World.”
“Doesn’t anyone make clothes here?”
She fluttered in and out. “The pesan elves make the elven clothes and the fairies and pixies make the clothes for the lesser fae.”
“So, what am I then if I’m not fully elf?”
“You are the heir to your mother’s court, and she was the heir to the throne of Feylin.”
Her words sent a shock through me. That didn’t mean… what I thought it did, did it? That I was heir to the whole kingdom. My lungs constricted, making it hard to breathe.
“But… but I’m human. What will the other elves think?”
She glanced away. “They won’t like it. I don’t know if they will accept you, but if your aunt—Princess Cindra—does, they will have to.”
I sat on the bed and hugged myself. “I wish this wasn’t real. And we could go back to our normal lives.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her flinch. I instantly regretted my words. Her pain jolted through me. The halfling she loved and raised couldn’t love her as a dryad. Before I could apologize, she glided up to me and held out her gossamer hand. I placed my hand in hers, surprised at the misty coolness.
“I know this is not what you wanted, Renée. Your mother and I wanted you to have a normal life, but things have changed now. I know it’s hard to be thrown into this so suddenly, but I promise I’ll be right by your side. We will find a way to leave if we must, but Feylin is a beautiful place, and it is a part of you.”
I nodded at her words. She was right. I owed it not only to Mom, but to myself to discover it. Though it filled me with fear. If I couldn’t fit in among humans, could I find a place among the fae?
8
Des’s voice called from above the hole. We walked over to listen. His head popped into view, blocking the sunlight.
“Princess Cindra is on her way.”
My heart sped up. What would my aunt be like? Would she like me? I turned to ask Grandmere but caught Des frowning at my tunic.
I glared at him. “What?”
He shrugged. “You look funny.”
Grandmere placed a hand on her hip, which would have looked familiar in her old form. I followed his gaze to my long tunic, jeans and sneakers. It did look odd. Giggles erupted from the forest. My face flushed.
“She said I should change.”
His brow arched. “Hmm.”
Grandmere dove back into the burrow and reappeared with some tights. They floated against her palm towards me. I glanced around at the crowd of fae that had gathered. Grabbing the tights, I headed back inside to throw them on. As I left, I heard their voices murmuring.
Is this really Aubri’s child? Is she here to stay? What will the White Court do? Kill her. Kill her. The other thoughts terrified me. Their words dripped with hatred for humans, beasts as they called us.
I scurried into the burrow and changed my pants. My heart pounded in my ears. Could I survive this? I clutched my charm bracelet and took a deep breath. Mom. She needed me and I had to save her. If that was still possible. No, I couldn’t walk away from this. She was all I had, and I would do whatever it took to see her again. A part of me was elf. My special abilities, I couldn’t bring myself to call them powers, would help me. I needed to learn how to harness them. They were my only advantage in this strange new world.
After pulling on the soft tights, I left my jeans and sweater folded on the bed. Would I be staying here, or would my aunt bring me to her court? The Court of Flame, they’d called it. I didn’t know what to expect there, but I doubted it was like the burrow. Taking one last look around, I climbed out.
Voices grew louder as I approached the crowd. My presence in the Gray Court was supposed to be secret, but the fae were growing restless. I searched for Grimera. A group of dryads floated together, and realization hit me. I couldn’t tell them apart.
A fairy flew toward me and I fought the urge to cringe. Her large, pupilless eyes unnerved me. It was one thing to see these creatures in movies or in books but having the real thing in front of me—terrifying. They looked more alien than like the cute little fairies in the stories.
She gave me a quick bow mid-air. “Princess, may we throw a party? In your honor.”
Her accent was strange as she spoke, but I could understand her. Did they speak English or was I understanding the thoughts behind the words? I blinked, trying to figure out what to say. A party in my honor was the last thing I wanted, but I didn’t want to offend her. Her mouth spread into a sharp tooth smile.
I nodded dumbly. “Sure. I guess that’s fine. Thank you.”
She let out a high pitch squeal and fluttered back to her friends. Des met my eyes and stormed over. I groaned.
He stood by me and turned to the crowd. “There will be no party. Go back to your homes. Princess Cindra will be coming for her guest shortly.”
Angry murmurs spread. I twirled my charm in my hand, avoiding his cold stare.
The fairy who’d spoken to me huffed. “The Princess has already granted her permission. You do not command us,
vulgaire.”
Everyone grew silent. Even the trees paused to watch. I glanced at Des, flinching as his eyes flashed red. He stalked towards the fairy. She stumbled back, eyes wide.
“Say it again and I’ll cut out your tongue.” Des’s threat echoed through the crowd.
The fairy trembled. Her fear gripped me like an icy hand. I tried to shake off the feeling. Guilt pricked me. It was my fault she’d gotten in trouble. Though I suspected she had taken advantage of my cluelessness. But what harm could a party bring?
I cleared my throat. “Just a little one?”
All eyes turned to me. Des whipped towards me, making me shudder. His jaw clenched.
“Please?” I added softly.
He stooped into a mock bow. “As you wish, Princess.”
I cringed. The fae clapped and jumped excitedly. In a flurry, they raced back into the forest. Des stood, scanning the trees. An ache filled me. Mom’s absence ever real and piercing like a knife. What would she think of this? I clasped my bracelet harder.
I wish you were here, Mom. I need you. How can I do this without you?
Having no clock or phone, I had no idea how much time passed. Outside, music started up and excited voices rose. The party. I sighed and looked around. I was more than happy to hide in the burrow and wait for my aunt, but these were my mom’s people. It felt like an insult to her not to at least introduce myself. She had freed and cared for these creatures. The least I could do was show my face at their little party.
Grimera turned abruptly, startling me. I missed the human glamour. The familiar face that I’d known my whole life. Having her with me made me feel less afraid but seeing her in her true form was just another reminder. I was not one of them.
“I want to go. To the party, I mean.”
Happiness bubbled off her and she clasped her hands. “I’ll find you a dress.”
“Oh no. I’m fine with this… tunic.”
