by J. L. Myers
But I couldn’t do it.
I knew what my answer was.
“I’m sorry, Adamaris. I can’t lose you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
I walked numbly back into the hospital room after the staff cleared out with hanging heads and words of condolences. I felt broken and weightless and yet trapped in a way I couldn’t escape. They left him just like that, stating I had some time to say my goodbyes before he was taken down to the morgue. There was blood everywhere: on him, the bed, the floor, even a splatter coated the wall from where the doctor had stabbed into his chest. Carts sat shoved to the side, and tubes hung from machines that no longer beeped with signs of thriving or fading life. I sucked in a rattled breath, locking down my tears with faked strength.
His chest didn’t move. No breath. No life.
With the compact in my hand, I stood alongside the bed, staring at what I had to leave behind to bring him back to life. If I’d had the choice with my mother, I would have taken it. She was my world, and Adamaris had filled that deep, hollow void so easily, so quickly. How could I do what he had begged of me? How could I leave him like this, body becoming stiff—I gasped the moment I dared to touch his arm. He was turning stone cold.
The detective’s voice grew louder beyond the doors, and then he eyed me through the window, hand lifting to shove inside until his phone went off again. He cursed and held up a finger while mouthing, “One minute,” as a warning.
One minute before he arrested me and dragged me away.
“Three minutes have passed. Beyond five, I cannot guarantee he won’t be damaged beyond the ability to repair. I need your wish, Calliope, before it is too late. Will you save him, or let him go? The choice is yours alone. I cannot make it for you. I would not want to.”
“Why are you doing this?” I questioned, staring down as I stroked the knotted bloody hair back from Adamaris’s icy face. “Why help me?” I’d never trusted anyone in my life until my drop-dead-sexy stalker came along, and I wasn’t jumping into this without a bucket load of uncertainty and suspicion. I kept glancing at the mirror to make sure the Fae I thought I’d seen wasn’t really the monster from my nightmares, but she didn’t change, her flawless kind features smiling solemnly up at me.
“I know what it feels like to lose the love of your life. Mine was taken from me, murdered the night we had planned to run away together—by my family. I was forced to marry another, to be what they expected me to become and to hide the shame I’d threatened them with by loving someone beneath me,” she said the last words with a snarl, her lush mouth twisting with anger. Then the rage was gone, a sigh blowing it away. “Thirty seconds left and then my offer ends. I know it’s not fair, I know it’s frightening, but I know you will make the right choice…” Her voice lowered. “Like I was never given the chance to.”
Looking away from her as a sheen of tears pooled in her enormous eyes that were a mosaic of ice blue with brown and sapphire flecks, I leaned closer to Adamaris. My lips pressed against his, delivering a chill that rode down my body from the contact. He was cold as ice, his skin feeling strange and thick as it refused to compress beneath my lips. I pulled back, tears spilling down my face. “You made me a promise, and you better keep it. Even when I’m far away, don’t forget about me. Don’t you ever let me go.”
“I don’t have time for this,” the detective’s voice rose, eyes flicking up to me before he turned his back. “I have a suspect I need to detain.”
With a shuddering breath, I stood straighter, preparing myself for the unknown. There was no time. No second-guessing. Soon the choice would be stolen from me.
“Okay, I accept. Keep Adamaris human, bring him back to life so he can heal…”
“You have to say it all, Calliope. Tell me what you will pay to save his life.”
Lifting the compact to eye level, I nodded. “And take your price to save him. Take me to the Shaede.”
A smile stretched the faerie’s plump lips, almost looking mischievous the wider the grin pulled. A spark of anticipation shone from her eyes, the compassionate grief gone in an instant. My heart thundered, fearing I’d made the wrong choice, but the only choice I could make. And then she said it, sealing my vow and her offer in place. “Granted.”
Sudden sensations flooded my body, tearing from my hand holding the compact and up my arm. Like I was suddenly filled with tiny razor-sharp scalpels, I felt my inside slice apart, racing from my shoulder and out in every direction.
“What’s happening?”
The sensation grew like a sickness, trapping shrieks of pain in my throat as it spread up my neck, down through my chest, and out to my extremities. Looking down at myself, the change was unmissable. I was breaking apart, becoming a human-shaped body of colored specks and particles. And Adamaris remained still as death. The door creaked, the detective about to push in and take me. “You promised. You said he would live!”
“And he will. Don’t fight it, little princess. It will only make it hurt more. Now come…”
The door clapped closed, the detective’s profile angered as his phone went off again and he disappeared from sight.
The Fae breathed in deeply, sucking the particles that had been my body into the mirror.
This time I did scream, the noise barely escaping before those parts of me were too obliterated to make any sound. But I held back, resisting the force that sucked me in like sand through an hourglass—until I saw Adamaris’s back arch up with a sudden gasp. The life in him fled just as fast, his body falling limp on the bloody bed. But he wasn’t dead this time. His chest rose and fell with strong, steady breaths.
“I deliver my promises, and now it’s your turn. Time to come home, little princess.
With another deep breath, the suction through the mirror increased, rushing in like it was an incoming storm racing for the mouth of a cave. The sheets on the bed fluttered. Pages ripped off the clipboard hooked to the end of the bed and got sucked inside, while blood-soaked rags got caught in the assault, spinning around me as I fought to stay behind. But it was no use. I was like the wind, intangible and losing all substance fast. I was losing the battle. The price I’d promised would be paid whether I allowed it or not.
No longer able to fight it, the particles that had been my body rushed like I was a player and this was Jumanji. I flooded into the small mirror, plunging through the tiny circle of glass like I was diving through water, leaving the real world and Adamaris behind. As what had been my hand holding the clamshell slid in, the compact fell to the bed and the lid snapped shut—right as the detective yelled out and rushed in.
Darkness crashed over me, and then everything went quiet.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I came awake slowly, feeling the tickle of soft, thick grass beneath my bare arms and legs. With a deep breath, I drew in the aromatic floral fragrance that surrounded me. A sense of peace filled my lazy body as I slid my smooth legs back and forth over each other. A gentle breeze swirled around, dancing over my skin as if I were being bathed in something even softer than silk. The sound of filtering water calmed my mind, assuring me that I was deep asleep in the most wonderful place my mind could conjure.
Those brushing sensations came again, grazing my arms and legs—as hushed voices chattered on the wind. She’s home. She’s returned.
My eyes flung wide, then slammed back down, head snapping sideways to catch a fleeting glimpse of vines dragging something shiny and something white away. Brightness attacked my retinas through my eyelids, bringing water to my eyes. I blinked rapidly, my calm state suddenly lost to the racing of my heart. The sting began to lessen, and I caught a fluttered sight right above me. A rainbow, thick and so clear it looked almost solid. The cornflower blue sky stretched out overhead, dotted with only a few of the fluffiest white clouds I had ever seen.
I arched up slowly, still hearing that chattering—and then I froze.
There were no vines in sight. But I wasn’t alone. Surrounded. I was completel
y surrounded. Sprawled out on the greenest and softest grass, thick-stemmed flowers towered over me, circling me like floral soldiers ready to attack. They swayed in the breeze, the sound of their touching leaves and petals creating the whispers I could still hear.
Breathing too fast, I rolled slowly onto my knees, crawling forward, reaching with one hand to touch the edge of one petal—
“There you are.”
The whimsical voice sent a bolt of panic through me. The chattering vanished as if I had imagined the sounds all along. And then she appeared. Draped in a pure white flowing silk dress with pale braided hair down to her ankles and dotted with tiny flowers was the most breathtaking woman I had ever seen in my entire life. Her enormous eyes took me in with an expression of relief, and the genuine smile on her lips allowed me to breathe. I suddenly felt a sense of calm wash over me as she held her thin arm out to offer me her hand.
“I have been looking everywhere.”
I furrowed my brow, my head foggy as I took hold and allowed her to pull me up. I almost didn’t let go once I was standing, amazed by how soft and warm her hand was compared to my dry one. “You have?” I glanced from her to the flowers and then back again—and then I did a double take. Now that I was off the ground, I could see way behind the flowers that stood even taller than the both of us. Flowers that continued out behind the beautiful woman and led to…
“Slap me silly and call me crazy.” I rubbed my eyes and caught a hint of the fading confusion on the woman’s face as I grazed over a bump on my forehead. God, if I wouldn’t kill for those cheeks. But I couldn’t keep staring at her, because it was still there. “A freaking castle?”
And it wasn’t merely any old run-down or refurbed castle. It was magical. Spearing towers and pristine white walls dotted with arched windows and a sparkle that made it look like it was covered in diamonds.
“Am I dreaming?”
The woman laughed. The lilt of her amusement was infectious and made me smile too. “You may have been, Tyne. But you are certainly awake now. Why are you behaving so strangely?”
I frowned at her, confused by the familiar way in which she’d responded to me. And Tyne? “Who’s Tyne?” I gasped as something rustled behind the woman’s back. “Shut the front door.” The accessories that fluttered out from her back made me gape. Wings, white as snow and as thin and delicate as gossamer. “You have wings?”
Concern narrowed her larger-than-life eyes, and she took a step forward, her pouty lips twitching. “Of course I have wings. What is wrong with you, Tyne?”
“Who’s Tyne?” I took a step back, my pulse suddenly thumping at my temples as a wicked headache formed. “Why are you talking to me like you know me?”
She struck out like a viper, her grip tight at first and then softening when I froze. “You are Tyne. Don’t you remember? We’re almost family, you and I. And this is your home.”
“Home?” Saying the word felt insanely wrong, and my heart ached as it drummed beneath my ribs. Looking down, I saw that I was dressed in iridescent green, the soft material flowing from a princess neckline down to a form-fitting waistline and billowing skirt. I looked the part, and even as I glanced up and took in the scenery, there was something so very familiar about everything I could see. But the panic that had my blood racing and my pulse thudding in my ears refused to let up. Something wasn’t right.
“Tyne…” The woman smiled and cupped my cheeks, her lineless face creasing between her perfectly sculpted brows. She shifted one hand to brush the red tangled locks back from my face. “Did you hit your head? Can’t you remember who you are?”
My head was aching, more and more now that I tried to make sense out of the fog that refused to lift from my mind. The long grass at my ankles tickled as if trying to garner my attention. The large flower behind me almost seemed to lean into me, stroking the back of my arm as I edged away from the stranger in front of me. “Who are you?”
Hands falling to her sides, the woman’s nostrils flared and her sudden glare behind me fled as she shook her head and took a deep breath. “You poor thing.” She took my hand gently this time, giving it a squeeze. “I am the Seelie Queen. The ruler of The Shaede, and your mentor. But you can call me Persephone.” She gave a little tug on my hand. “Come. We must do something about that bump and your memory. The Masquerade Ball is tomorrow, and we can’t have you presented like this. What would our people think?”
Our people? WTF!
Turning around with my hand still secured in hers, Persephone marched onward, pulling me along with her. The giant flowers seemed to shiver as she neared, leaning outward at the same time to create a clear path when before there hadn’t been one at all. I kept up, gasping every now and then as I got tangled in the large stems and leaves of the shifting flowers and snake-like vines—as if they were trying to latch onto me and pull me back.
Familiarity and confusion danced like a mismatched couple in my mind. Everything here was so familiar, even Persephone. But where had I been before waking in this magical garden? And whom had I been with? Darkness tickled at the edges of my mind, promising I knew the answers, but then that faded too. Wonder replaced my confusion as the soaring walls of the glittering castle rose up right in front of us.
“You have been gone for far too long.” The Seelie Queen smiled, head twisting back so smoothly it was otherworldly in a way that had a shiver creeping up my spine. Her smile, however, was all warm bunnies and unicorns. “Welcome home, Clementyne. We have missed you. Patentibus…”
The ornately carved doors opened with a wave of her hand as golden glitter lifted from her upturned palm.
I stepped inside, leaving the returning chatter on the breeze behind. But I felt like I was forgetting something…or someone?
Who had I been and who was I going to become?
I had no idea about any of it—who even thought amnesia was a real thing and not just a Hollywood movie twist?—but I was going to find out. The fading smile on the Queen’s face as the doors swung shut and darkness fell all around was like a promise I couldn’t escape. A promise of surprises to come. I was nervous and excited at the same time, not knowing what was about to happen next in this magical place or when I would remember all that seemed to be trapped somewhere deep in my mind.
“Forget me already?”
A million candles blazed to life from surfaces and candelabras, but I didn’t have a moment to take in the sky-high cathedral foyer we stood in. Appearing right in front of me was a guy, a smidge over six foot, with black-as-sin hair and smoldering eyes that drilled right through me and into my soul. Dressed in a sharp suit, his arm slung around my waist. Dipped back without warning, his lips captured mine, hot, roaming, and seeking all at the same time.
And then I was upright, released from his strong captive arm and panting for air. My head spun as he flung the doors open and strode out into the garden, sending me a sultry wink over his shoulder.
“Who…” I struggled to catch my breath. “Who was that?”
The Seelie Queen smiled. “Why, Clementyne, he is the man of your dreams.”
To be continued…
Thank you for reading!
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Shades of Human. If you enjoyed this book please turn to the last page an select a star rating, or if you have a moment to spare, you can leave a review. It doesn’t have to be long—one or two sentences would be amazing. The more reviews a book has the more Amazon is willing to put it in front of potential readers. As an indie author, I don’t have a big publishing company promoting my work, so every little bit helps and I’d love for my audience to be a part of it. I read every one of my reviews and completely appreciate the thoughts and opinions of all my readers.
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Thank you, J.L. Myers
Shades of Fae is coming soon. Keep reading for more info!
NOW ON AMAZON!
Calli is lost without her memories. Her lover is back on Earth and t
rapped in a coma. Light and beauty surround her in the place from her dreams, but danger lurks beneath the surface, secrets whisper on the breeze like little promises waiting to come to life.
Can Calli remember who she is and what she left behind before it’s too late? Find out in Shades of Fae.
Want more hot male leads, kickass heroines, and romantic drama that will keep you flipping the pages? Turn the page for A SNEAK PEEK AT SHADES OF FAE!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081F11ZX4/
SHADES OF FAE
FAERIE-TAIL AWAKENING SERIES, BOOK TWO
Killian’s smile grew and he stepped forward to stand right in front of me. His hand came up, making my heart skip a beat as my chest inflated in confusion and anticipation.
Was he about to kiss me? Did I want him to?
My eyelids slid shut and my hands clenched at my sides—and the lightest touch grazed my ear.
My eyes flung open, sight blurry at the thing that was right in front of them. But it wasn’t Killian’s handsome face. It was the flower he’d plucked from behind my ear. “Autuma veni foras.”
The sound was almost inaudible, but then I saw the proof. The petite flower began to change right before my eyes, drying out from the stem Killian held until it had crawled all the way up to devour the cobalt petals. I reached out, and as my finger touched the tip of the last desiccating petal, it connected with a solitary drop of evaporating dew.
Stay away from him.
I jumped back as the entire flower disintegrated, my heart hammering and my emerald green eyes wide.
“Whoa, hey. Sorry, Tyne.” Killian caught my forearm and pulled me closer, his expression morphing with an apologetic frown. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s just an old trick, a demonstration of my link to Fall.” He pulled a silly smirk. “You don’t actually think I would turn you to dust, do you?”