The skin on the Red Cap’s neck changed from brown to bright red where Helios touched. With a piercing wail, the small Fae burst into flames and dissolved into ashes.
Shrieking angrily, the two downed Fae jumped to their feet from the bottom of the tree. They ran at Helios, climbing on him like rats and clawing him with their tiny hands. He was too preoccupied with them to notice the Red Cap with the teeth necklace stalking up behind him with a long-pointed knife.
“Helios!” I yelled in alarm and reached for anything. My fingers found a rock, and I threw it as hard as I could at the stealthy Red Cap.
The rock hit it in the stomach. It bent over with a grunt and turned its devilish yellow eyes to me. With a screech, it charged at me.
I screamed and tried to climb out of my niche in the tree, but my knees gave out and I collapsed on the ground next to it.
Just as the Red Cap reached me, it skidded to a stop. The little Fae took in a long drag of air, nostrils on its sharp nose flaring. “Ah!” Its eyes widened freakishly huge and its black pupils shrank to a speck. “That magic! It’s that magic!” It squealed in delight and raked its spindly fingers over my leggings.
Suddenly I was a ten-year-old girl all over again. Terror froze me in place, as binding as the cords the Red Caps had used seven years ago. I could still feel the long talons digging through my flesh and severing veins.
“No!” I kicked at the creature but it nimbly jumped out of the way.
At the first sight of my scar covered skin, it gave a shriek of delight and tore faster. In seconds, my leggings were nothing but shreds from the knees down, leaving tiny bloody lines on my already marred skin.
A large, flaming hand palmed the Red Cap’s head. The evil creature howled in terror and pain as Helios lifted it into the air away from me. A second later, it flashed into a ball of fire and dissolved.
Breathing hard, Helios looked around for more danger. His gray shirt and pants sported several gashes but there was no blood. Finally, he looked at me, his fire disappearing. Blank faced and eyes still blazing from the fight, he reached out his hand.
All I could see were the Red Caps’ evil little hands, grabbing at me. “No!” I gasped and curled into a ball, sobbing.
The last time I was attacked by Red Caps, Papa’s strong arms had held me and Mama had soothed my hair for hours as I cried. Neither of them were here to protect me now.
Slowly my tears lessened, and the pain in my legs went away. I peeked up and flinched.
Helios knelt on one knee in front of me, waiting me out. His eyes narrowed at my reaction and he frowned. “How long are you going to keep flinching like that?”
An embarrassed blush scorched my cheeks. I wiped at the wet streaks on them. “I can’t help it. Why do you keep staring at me? Just don’t look at me.” Was that part of the slave contract, staring at the owner? I must look awful right now, a crying mess laying in tree roots.
Immediately his chin tipped up and he glared at the tree tops. He gave an exasperated sigh. “Then where can I look?”
I swallowed, feeling guilty. A restriction like that was too mean. “I-I’m sorry. You can look wherever you want.”
Immediately, his head tipped down and he gave me a baffled look. “That’s the first time a human has apologized to me.” He paused. “Why do you keep trying to save me?”
Lightning zipped down my spine. “What do you mean?”
“First at the market, then in your house, and now with the Red Caps. Why do you keep trying to save me? What is your reasoning? I’m part of the species that you are so scared of.”
I bit my lips. It was a question I’d asked myself, but still didn’t have an answer. “Do I need a reason? It doesn’t matter what race you are, if it hurts, it hurts.”
His head cocked to the side, baffled. Like the idea had never occurred to him.
I frowned and looked to the side. Even though I was wearing a full skirt, with my leggings in tatters like this and the new tiny cuts all over my legs, I felt so bare. And Helios was kneeling so close to my legs. I shifted and tugged at my skirt.
He glanced down and froze, apparently catching sight of my legs for the first time.
With a familiar sinking feeling, I waited for him to recoil in disgust like everyone else.
His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist, preventing me from covering my legs.
I yelped. “What are you doing?”
His other hand flipped my skirt up, revealing my skin from the knees down. And all the archaic scars—some sort of Red Cap language made out of squiggled lines and dashes—that were etched in, raised red welts against my natural pale flesh. He stared with wide eyes.
Slowly his hand lowered and brushed at the red scars.
I stilled. It was the first time a man had ever touched my legs. Not even Papa dared to touch them. Helios was just a Fae, but for some reason, I was blushing worse than ever.
“How did you get these, Maira?” he breathed softly.
My mouth twisted in bitterness, and I looked away. I just got out of that memory—I didn’t want to relive it again. But there was such a note of alarm in his voice, I couldn’t help myself. “On my tenth birthday, I was out playing on some rocks at edge of my family’s farm while I waited for my parents to finish up their chores. Even though it was broad daylight, I was attacked by a mob of Red Caps. They dragged me into the forest and tied me up. Then they started to do that.” I motioned to my legs. “My family heard my screaming and came. They saved me, but the damage was done.” I should consider myself lucky I got away from a Red Cap alive. Not many did. Maybe not even my uncle. I took a deep breath, still thinking of that day.
He stiffened and leveled me with a look. “What day were you born? What time?”
I frowned as my mind cleared, wondering what he was getting at. “The first day of the seventh month. At dawn. Why would that matter?”
His hands fisted at his sides. “The dawn of the Fool’s Day. It’s a holy day to Red Caps.” He lowered my skirt and tucked it around my legs, just like I do. “It hurts often, doesn’t it? That’s why you limp.”
I nodded.
He sat back on his haunches. “It’s not the scars that hurt. It’s the magic they laced into your skin. And I’m sure it hurts more when you’re emotional.”
“What?” I gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. I never noticed, but it was true.
Helios was lost in thought already. His fingers tapped on his chin and a worried frown wrinkled his brows. “What happened to the Red Caps that attacked you?”
“My family killed them,” I said slowly, wondering what he’d do. He just killed four of them, but that was Fae to Fae. What would he think about a human killing a Fae?
“Good.” Helios gave a sharp nod.
“I thought you’d be mad.” Did he hate Red Caps that much?
He stood, frowning. “In this case, it’s for the best. There’s no love lost for me over some Red Caps dying. They are trying to take over my forest.” He paused, then held out his hand.
I blinked in surprise. He was offering to help me stand up? Hesitantly, I put my hand in his. It wasn’t on fire, but I’d seen how easy it was for his hands to explode into flames. His large, warm fingers closed over mine.
He pulled me carefully to my feet and let go.
I stepped around him slowly. Suddenly bothered, I bit my lips and turned back. “I never wanted a slave, you know,” I said quickly.
He looked to me in surprise.
“The only reason why I was in the market yesterday was for the Fae nectar. That was it.” Which in a Fae’s eyes isn’t that much better. I swallowed. “I need it. The only thing that can cure Red Cap poison is Fae nectar. My Uncle Albus, he’s like a second father to me. And if Uncle Albus dies, we’ll lose all the connections he has and the farm could fold. Now the only way to get it is you. So, I’m sorry.” My hands clenched, and I took a breath to control my pounding heart. “But after I get the Fae nectar, if you promise not to hurt my f
amily or my farm, I will give you back your Pearl.”
His eyes widened, then narrowed in suspicion. “Why would I hurt your family?”
“Well, Fae are known for being vindictive. And Papa did hit you.”
Suddenly Helios smiled like I made a joke. “Yes, I suppose we are vindictive. But I can understand a father trying to protect his daughter.” He placed his hand on his heart. “I promise not to hurt you or your family.” He said the words so freely and honestly, it was a little surprising.
I found myself smiling softly back. “Okay. It’s a promise then.”
How odd. Yesterday I never would have thought I could smile at a Fae and enjoy one smiling back. But this moment right here, it really was ... nice.
His head tipped to the side. “Has anyone ever told you that you have Fae eyes, Maira? The color is like leaves dancing in the sunlight. They keep taking me by surprise”
I blinked at him, shocked. I admit they were an unusual shade of green and tilt up in the corners more than most humans, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call them Fae eyes.
He stilled and dropped his hand. “We should go.” He stepped around me and walked to the edge of the clearing.
I looked after him. Had I done something wrong?
* * * * *
I thought we’d gotten through some communication barriers this morning. Apparently, Helios didn’t feel the same way. He kept a lighter pace than last night and the path we took was smoother, but he didn’t speak a single word.
Even with the less-punishing pace, I was huffing with exhaustion by late morning and aching all over, not just in my legs. The forest was getting thicker, making it hard to see things far away. I should have been more on guard, but there was a calming feeling about this place. The trees swayed in a gentle breeze, causing sunbeams to dance across the ferns and bushes that scattered the ground below. With every breath, I could taste the rich soil and the honeysuckle in the air. Gradually, the flat forest rose into a grass-covered hill.
Helios walked up the hill and stopped next to some tall, slender trees. He rested a hand on the white bark and gazed down below, his back to me.
I limped up behind and stopped next to him.
He pointed. “We’re here, Maira.”
I thought Fae nectar was in a pool somewhere, hidden in the forest at the base of several trees with pretty flowers growing alongside. I was wrong.
At the bottom of the hill was a Fae city. The pale brown buildings formed around tall trees, as if an extension of the trees themselves. They all had high, pointed archways and mostly open roofs with trees jutting out of the middle of the buildings. In the middle of the city, the largest building gleamed like white birch in the sun, its high arches breaching the canopy.
I gasped, feeling sick despite the beautiful scene. I never knew such a large Fae city lay so close to my home. It dwarfed the largest human city I’d ever visited. I had to go in there to get the nectar? There was no way I would be able to sneak through the whole city undetected to get the Fae nectar. I could only imagine the horrible things the Sun Fae would do if they found me.
“It’s called Lasair,” Helios said with affection. “My home.”
What? I looked up at him in shock. I’d assumed he was from around here, since he knew where to find Fae nectar, but I didn’t think he lived this close to me.
Three flashes of fire fell from the sky.
Chapter Four
Three Sun Fae landed on the ground, surrounding us, thin swords pointed at us. They were dressed in gleaming bronze armor, their wings like bonfires on their backs.
I yelped. There were guards? Of course, I should have thought of that. Now I was caught like the thief I was. I hugged myself and stepped closer to Helios, but he was completely relaxed. I glanced at him, confused.
As a single entity, the Fae gasped and their fires went out. “King Helios!” They all fell to one knee.
I gasped. King? He didn’t look much older than me.
Helios smiled wide, eyes warm with affection for his people.
The Fae closest to Helios looked up, beaming. Long reddish blonde hair fell from out of his helmet. Unlike the other Fae with plain armor, a design of leaves and fire was etched into his armor. He stood up and clapped Helios around the shoulders like a friend. “My king, we’ve been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?” His glowing eyes flicked to me. “What is this human doing here?”
I flinched back.
Hot, rough hands grabbed me from behind and dragged me away from Helios. My legs buckled, and they had to pull me back to standing position. Struggling was useless against their burning touch.
“A slaver!” the Fae on the right snarled.
Before I could react, the Fae with long red-blonde hair grabbed the leather cord with Helios’s Pearl hanging around my throat and pulled it tight. With rough yank, he cut it off.
I couldn’t stop the tremors that shook my bones.
Helios betrayed me. All along, he was leading me to a Fae city. Then again, why was I so hurt and surprised? It’s not like anything he’d done so far was because he chose to.
Helios raised hand. “Don’t hurt her,” he ordered.
The Fae holding me grunted in surprise. Their hands loosened slightly and the heat disappeared.
“She was holding you prisoner.” Helios’s friend’s voice wavered with uncertainty as he knelt and held out Helios’s Pearl.
Helios eagerly took it. As soon as it touched his skin, the Pearl began to shine. It melted into his fingers and disappeared. He closed his eyes and sighed, like he was finally at peace. When he opened them, his amber depths seemed to glow faintly. “She’s my human, Luzzu. Take her to the palace. I’ll deal with her there.”
So, I was going to be his slave in return. How fitting, I thought with bitterness. Fae don’t usually keep slaves—they’d rather kill the humans—but I’d heard of some exceptions. Alive or not, it didn’t matter. There was no way I could save Uncle Albus if I was trapped here. I struggled against their hold again but only managed to make my aching legs collapse. I gasped as I landed on my knees, skirt pooling around me and arms twisting painfully above my head.
At the sight of my legs, Luzzu made a strangled sound. “Vile curse!” He pulled out his sword and lunged at me.
I screamed but couldn’t move.
Helios caught Luzzu’s arm and jerked the Fae away from me, spilling his friend on the ground. “Luzzu, what are you doing?” He reached down and pulled me back up to my feet.
Luzzu jumped up, pointing his sword at me. “Are you blind, King Helios? Look at her legs! That human’s been half prepared as a sacrifice. If the Red Caps finish it, it could put every one of our lives in danger. It would be better off just to kill the human now.”
My eyes widened. A sacrifice? Helios said the pain in my legs was because of Red Cap magic, but he never said what it was for. A whole new type of fear twisted my stomach. The knowledge that I’d already been marked for slaughter on top of everything else I’d been through the last twenty-four hours was almost more than I could bear. My eyes burned with the effort it took to keep the tears in.
Helios pushed the sword away. “I am aware. And I already said that she’s my human. I will do as I please with her.” He glanced back at me for a minute, his face like a stone. He focused on the Fae flanking me. “Take her to the West Wing.”
* * * * *
The West Wing turned out to be a circular room on the side of the Fae’s castle. The high walls were white with occasional trees blended in. I thought the floor would be dirt, but white birch plants stretched underfoot from wall to wall. Several tall, thin chairs sat along the walls next to small tables but for the most part, the room was empty. The windows lacked glass yet had wood crossed over the opening so that it was impossible to fit through them. It was the first thing I’d tried. With the tall narrow door locked, the only way out was the open ceiling, where treetops swayed in the late summer breeze.
They left me in tha
t room the rest of the day. The only time I saw anyone was when the door cracked open just wide enough for a female Fae to slide a tray of fruit and berries onto the table next to the door. I ignored it and nibbled on the food I’d brought from home.
With nothing to do but wait for them to perform whatever slave ritual Fae did to humans—or to finally kill me—I sat in the middle of the room and hugged my aching legs. It was just another testament that I couldn’t do anything right by myself. I hadn’t even told my parents where I was going so they’d know where to look. I’d been so dead set on saving Uncle Albus by myself, I hadn’t even thought I could be walking into a trap. And I’d thought I was so clever.
I should have noticed that Helios agreed to take me to get Fae nectar too easily. Now the tables had turned, and I was left with nothing. No nectar and no way out of here. And no hope of saving my uncle. I didn’t even have a clue of what I should do next.
It was dark by the time the door opened again. Since there were no lamps, the only light I had was the moon above. Until Helios walked in and illuminated the room with his wings. The first time I’d seen him, I was struck by how royal he appeared, even wearing drab slave clothes. Dressed in a cream Fae Silk shirt, brown pants, and shiny black boots, his status was undeniable.
We couldn’t be any more different, could we? He was a Fae king, and I was a gimpy farmgirl. It was difficult just to look at him.
He shut the door and frowned. “There are plenty of chairs, Maira. Why are you on the ground?”
My mouth clamped shut as I glared. Might as well give him the same treatment he gave me when he became my slave.
He smiled, his amber eyes warm.
I blinked, surprised. “Why are you smiling?”
He walked over and reached down to take my arm. “That’s the first time you didn’t flinch when I looked at you or spoke. Granted, the glare is a little off-putting.”
Fae Eyes Page 3