by Valia Lind
"Rest, Avery. You're safe."
There's nothing else that I can say to that, and a moment later, I'm no longer awake.
The forest is dark around me when I open my eyes. My back is leaning against the tree, and I'm using my arm as a pillow. Sitting up slowly, I look for Derek and Julian, but they're nowhere in sight. Something stops me from calling out to them, and I'm not sure what exactly it is that I'm feeling. There's a heaviness around me that has nothing to do with the forest itself.
"You are here and so are we," the voice is sudden and I jump, as it sounds like it come from all around me. I get to my feet, spinning in circle as I try to find the source of it, but I don't see anything.
"You are here and so are we and you will not escape."
The words get louder and louder as they are spoken and then,
"You will not escape. You will not escape. You will not escape."
I jerk into wakefulness and it's only Derek's arms that keep me from falling. He's still holding me, as close as he can, and he's visibly concerned when I look up into his handsome face.
"Bad dream," I mumble, unable to look away from him. He's been letting me in to see these glimpses of vulnerability and I'd be lying to myself if I said I don't find myself wanting to know more. No matter how much my brain tells me to keep him at arms length, I can't seem to want to do anything but pull him closer.
"Can I get down?" I ask, even though it's the last thing I want to do. But I seem to have regained my strength, and I don't want to be a burden.
"Are you sure?"
No.
"Yes."
He stops walking, setting me down carefully, keeping his arm around my waist in case I need it. But I seem to be steady on my feet, so I wonder how long I've been asleep. So I ask.
"About half a day," Julian replies coming up to stand beside me.
"What?" I glance between the two fae, completely confused. "It couldn't have been that long."
"It was."
Derek carried me for half a day? In a forest that makes everything so much heavier and darkener? I study his face, but he's back to wearing his princely mask. The frustration at seeing it makes me forget my impulse to thank him. So instead I only nod.
"We're heading north, I assume?"
"We are," Derek replies, turning on his heels and taking the lead. It's like nothing has even happened between us. He's back to his cold fae self. He's more moody than I can deal with right now, so I ignore the snide remark I want to deliver.
"I'm glad you're better," Julian says, falling into a step beside me, as we follow Derek. I smile at him, bumping his shoulder with mine. After a few moments, he falls back to bring up the rear, and I veer off to the right a little. I've been with these two for days now, I think maybe my mind is just confused. We've been in life and death situations, it's only natural I feel connected to them.
Nothing else.
"Avery, watch out," Julian doesn't shout, but there's enough alarm in his voice to stop me in my tracks.
"What?" I look around but see nothing out of the ordinary. The forest is just as heavy around us as it was, the eerie silence a bit more pronounced.
"We're almost there, so we have to tread carefully. There's an illusion magic in place."
His explanation does nothing to clarify the confusion. But my magic has other ideas. The moment Julian say illusion, it's like the faery magic inside of me decides to wake up. Immediately I start to feel things. The ground beneath my feet, the moisture clinging to the leaves, the sturdiness of the trunks. And then, a dozen yards to the left, something else.
"This way," I announce and shift to the left. The boys exchange a confused look, but I push past them and toward whatever it is in front of me.
"Maybe we should—“ but I'm not listening. Now that I've found the anomaly, my magic is pulling me towards it. When I stop, there's nothing but trees in front of me, but I can feel it. A disturbance in the air.
Tentatively, I reach out with my hand, placing my palm against nothing. For a moment, nothing happens, and then the air ripples and it's like a curtain is opened. I blink, pulling my back quickly, before I focus on what lies beyond. It's a large house, more like a mansion, with a tree growing out of the south end of it.
The front door is adorned by large columns, and in the next moment, it swings open. My jaw drops as I watch the person step out into the light.
"Well, it's about time," Hannah says, her signature smirk on her lips.
"Hannah?"
The guys move toward the mansion, but I stay frozen, completely confused. Derek realizes this right away and drops back.
"Avery?"
"I don't understand. This was your big secret? Your way to teach me about my magic? By sending me to the person who could've helped me in the beginning and didn't."
"I understand you're angry—“
"I'm furious. I thought I'd finally have some answers, but no. You fae just have to play with me."
Derek's face completely drops at my accusation, before he catches himself. But that momentary lapse pauses my rant. I hurt him. Somehow, with something that I said, I actually hurt him.
And then it hits me. I called him fae. I threw him in the same category as his mother, and everyone else who would like to manipulate me. Which, let's be honest, is a huge list at this point.
“Derek—"
"Hannah will help. She will. We wouldn't be here otherwise."
His voice is sure, and when he meets my eye, there's determination there. If nothing else, I can trust that he believes this. So I will give it a shot.
"You shouldn't be mad at the poor boy, Avery. I wasn't going to help you until I was ready," Hannah says, as we reach the front doors. She's wearing another one of her maxi dresses, this one a different shade of red. It covers about as much as a bathing suit, her back, shoulders, and most of her legs bare as she motions us in.
Once inside, I see Julian hugging another guy, about a few years older than me. When they pull back, I notice that he looks like the blonder version of Julian.
"Avery, this is Jerome. My brother."
"Nice to meet you," I say, looking from Julian to Jerome. He never mentioned he had a brother. I wonder if that's what drove him to find a better life, or not. Sometimes family is the best motivator.
"You must be tired. And you all could use a shower, that's for sure. You boys know where to go. I'll take Avery with me."
When Derek doesn't move, Hannah levels him with a look.
"I'll take good care of her. Now go."
He gives me a fiery look and then turns, and follows Julian and Jerome out of the main hall.
"He's protective of you."
"He knows he's in trouble," I throw back, turning to face the woman in front of me. She's wearing her signature smirk as she looks at me, and I try not to squirm under her gaze.
"You really did it, Avery. You made it all that time away from this place, and now here you are."
"Didn't have much of a choice. It's not like I had anyone to help me."
Hannah's laugh rings out as she pivots and heads in the opposite direction of the boys.
"I've forgotten how clever you can be."
"Wasn't trying to be. Just stating the truth."
"Ah, yes. The truth. Curious that someone with fae blood in her has the ability to...bend it." She stop in front of double doors, giving me another once over, before pushing them open.
"I don't know what you want me to say—“ I begin, before I fully see the room we walked into. It's gorgeous. Sure, the room at the palace is too, but this one feels more--personable somehow.
The walls are pearl white, with a gold trim at the top and the bottom. The bed is on my right, in the middle of the wall, with space on each side. A tulle white canopy hangs over it, and when I look closely, it's full of tiny sparkling stars. There's a dresser, a table, a door to what I assume is the bathroom. But what I love most about the room are all the plants.
There are geometrical shelves c
overing the wall opposite the bed that are filled with various plants. Vining and flowering, they spread out like a work of art. There are vases on every surface, and more shelves on the various walls. The room is full of light and oxygen and it makes me smile.
"I knew you'd like it."
"It's very—modern.” Because I think that's why I love it on sight. True, the room at the palace is straight out of every royalty movie or period drama. But this? It has a different type of a beauty. It reminds me of home.
Hannah doesn't comment on that, but it seems like she's pleased. She motions toward the open door, before turning back to me.
"Get cleaned up. There's clothes in the closet or the dresser. Whichever one strikes a fancy," I glance up at that and she smiles. "We'll have dinner in a few, shall we?"
She moves towards the door with that, leaving me still gaping at my surroundings.
"Hannah?" I call out, as she pulls the door open. The thank you is on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it. Instead I focus on more precedent issues. "Do you have it?"
"Of course I do."
Chapter 10
Once we've all cleaned up, we end up in a large library. Being surrounded by all the books makes me feel better instantly. I took a shower, and my hair is wet and falling down my back. I brushed it out few times, taking my time with it. I didn't think such a small thing can make me feel so much better. The golden veins are still wrapped around my ear, but nothing feels different. The green streaks in my hair haven't gotten more pronounced. I think this is just part of my look now.
Derek is standing at the opposite wall, while Julian and Jerome are seated in two of the chairs. I walk over to the love seat, as Hannah gives me a quick once over.
"I knew the clothes would fit."
I glance down at the leggings and oversized sweatshirt I found in the dresser, so completely opposite of the gorgeous dress she's wearing. But I needed a sense of normalcy in my life right now, and this feels cozy enough to let me pretend.
"Let's do this then."
Hannah walks over to the bookshelf, pulling out one of the leather-bound books. I know what she's about to show me, even thought the guys don't. She opens the book and pulls out two unattached pieces of paper.
"Is that?" Julian asks, glancing from Hannah to me and back at Hannah.
"It is."
The woman walks over to where I'm sitting, and takes the other side of the love seat as she settles beside me. She hands me the two pieces of paper, and the moment my hands touch the parchment a rush of magic goes through me.
Derek, Julian, and Jerome all move forward, fascinated by the paper I'm now holding in my hands. They stare at them like they've never seen anything like it and I smile as I thrust the papers towards them with a little "Boo". The guys jump and I don't bother to suppress my chuckle.
"It doesn't bite, you know," I say, presenting them with the papers to take them. At first, I don't think they will, but then both Julian and Derek reach for a page. They hold it reverently, and that's expected. This is older than they are and the biggest part of their heritage.
"You can really read it?" Julian asks, staring at the page. The writing is there, but from what I understand, the fae just see gibberish. I'm the only person in generations who looks at the pages and sees actual words. Sometimes there are also drawings and graphs of sorts.
Before I hid the book, I looked through as much of it as I could. It was difficult to study it, since I couldn't actually read it. Physically, I could. But I didn't want to accidentally start a World War or something, if I mumbled a word out loud.
"It looks just like any book to me." I reply honestly. It seems to completely boggle their minds, and it's not like I can explain it any better.
"Boys, could you give me a moment alone with Avery?" Hannah asks, but we all know it's not a request. The guys don't hesitate to obey. Derek stops at the doorway, giving me a long look, before glancing over at Hannah. Something seems to pass between them, and then he's gone.
"You're angry with me," Hannah begins, not beating around the bush. I turn to face her, now seated just a foot away from me on the couch.
"Yes, I am," I don't hesitate to reply. "You left me floundering in the big bad world and for what? Clearly you could've helped me from the beginning."
"Clearly, I could not."
"I don't believe that. Nothing has changed since I found that book. Well, maybe I have. But you? You're helping now, why?"
She stands, as if she needs the distance to orient her thoughts. I don't push, waiting for her to speak up. She rearranges the hair over her shoulder, before she finally does.
"This place is a sanctuary for me. Here in Faery, we do not have much of say when it comes to what master we serve. If Queen Svetlana found out I was helping you...let's just say it wouldn't end well for me."
"Then why do it?"
"I was honest with you at Thunderbird Academy, Avery. I wanted you to have a choice. Faery is important to me and I want to see it not only survive, but to thrive. There are those in power who wouldn't care about the last one. It should not be so."
The words come out a little more intense than I think she intends for them to, and that's how I know she means it. There's real passion in her, not the nonchalant fae tutor that I met at the school. She believe in her homeland and that I can understand. Which is why I decide to tell her.
"I connected with...her," I say, glancing down at the pages on my lap.
"Faery?"
"Yes. When we were in the other time," I look up to see her nod at me to continue. The guys must've filled her in. "I felt her sadness, her brokenness. I never thought a land could be so alive."
"But she is and she must be protected." Hannah replies, walking back over to the seat. "Avery, I know you have no reason to trust any of us. Every single person, besides Jerome, has failed or lied to you. But you have to understand that our intentions were true."
"That doesn't make them right."
"No, it doesn't. But I hope you will give us the benefit of the doubt. We're fae...we're trying."
I stay silent for a full minute, letting that sink in. It's the close to an apology that I will ever get. I suppose I can continue being angry at her for leaving me alone when I needed someone the most. But that won't do me any good. I need her help. At the least.
"Okay, then keep trying," I say, and she flashes a brilliant smile my way.
"Let's go to dinner and see if we can come up with a plan," she says, and we both stand to leave. I place the papers on the table, but then I pick them back up again. I don't think I want them out of my sight. Hannah watches me, but doesn't say anything, and then she leads the way out of the room.
The next few days go by in a blur. I learned that this house was setup as a sanctuary, many centuries ago, before the forbidden forest was what it is now. Every realm has a version of one of these, something I didn't think about. Hannah was entrusted with the keep of it, but she wouldn't say by whom. Not that it matters anyway.
What matters is that we are safe here from Queen Svetlana. Even Derek's magic can't be tracked when we're inside of the illusion bubble. That's what I've been calling it. They're not big fans of the name, but oh well. I kind of like it.
I'm not here to please anyone.
I'm here to learn.
Which is why Jerome is here apparently. He's older than Julian, probably around the same age as Nora, and he has a water affinity with magic. Hannah has created a training schedule for me. Apparently, they're making a soldier out of me, and not that I'm protesting, but no one consulted me first. I won't say thank you, even though I'm pretty sure I have to be just that to survive whatever is coming.
I still haven't told anyone about the dream I had. Maybe keeping all these things to myself isn't the best, but it's what I feel is best. At least, I keep reminding myself of that daily. I'm trying to learn how to trust the fae, but I cannot give it over completely. No matter what. I'm not sure if it's just my self preserving instincts, or wha
t. But it is what it is right now.
This morning, I'm with Jerome at the back of the house. There's a fountain here, an angel with wings holding out his hands, as water pours out of them. Fae are as close to nature as one can get, even more connected than witches. But most don't have active powers like elemental witches anymore. From everything I've heard, it's a power play from the royals. Fae can affect nature, but don't use the elements in the same way.
Except Derek, of course. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
And Jerome, who is half witch, so it helps him understand the dynamics.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" I begin, when it's just the two of us. Hannah came out to give him some instructions, and Derek glared from the doorway. He hasn't been alone with me since we arrived, and I'm not sure what caused the change in his behavior. But he does have a tendency to be hot and cold so maybe I should just get used to it by now.
"Ask away," Jerome doesn't hesitate.
"Do many fae have mixed culture parents?" I tried to make it sound as politically correct as possible, and that doesn't escape Jerome. He laughs, a full hearty laugh, before he replies.
"Yes, fae really can't keep it in their pants. And everyone has multiple children."
"Everyone?" I can't help my mind flying to Derek. And even Julian.
"Okay, not everyone," he laughs again, clearly catching my train of thought. "But in my case, my mother is a witch. But Julian's is fae."
"So he doesn't have the elemental powers you do."
"I'm sure he would if he was taught to use them. Fae are more powerful than they let on. It's a special kind of a tactic."
"Don't I know it." I mumble, and Jerome chuckles. Everything is so calculated here. Not that I don't appreciate precision, but this is definitely another level. I do like Julian's brother. He's very nonchalant about everything. He reminds me of the fae I met at Thunderbird Academy. I think having a human mother really makes a difference for these boys.