by Sophie Stern
The king?
Why?
Suspicion must shine in my eyes because hers suddenly narrow.
“It’s important,” she says. “I don’t think he knows it, but he’s in danger.”
“Oh really?” I ask dryly. “What kind of danger?”
“The kind you don’t come back from. I’ve got to find him, oh, and I’m also looking for a wizard. Have you seen a wizard down here?”
“Do I look like the directory for magical creatures locked in jail cells?” I ask.
“Well, technically, they’re dungeon dwellings, but I won’t hold that against you.”
“The wizard’s on the other side of me!” The person next to me says.
“Nice going,” I say. “Don’t try keeping secrets in case she’s a criminal.”
“We’re already locked up,” he says. “What’s she going to do?”
“I need to speak to the wizard,” she calls through the little hole. “Wizard, can you hear me?”
A muffled sound.
The girl looks at me with questions dancing in her eyes.
“He can hear you,” I say, interpreting.
“I got your book!” She calls out.
Another mumble.
“He says that he thanks you.”
“Is there a way to pass it to him?” She asks. “Do you and the man beside you have a hole between your cells?”
“I’m not sure,” I tell her honestly. “I suppose I never checked.”
“Well, go check,” she says. “Because the wizard needs his book. Then I have to find the king and then I need to get out of here. For real.” She shivers. “This place sucks. It’s creepy and it’s cold. And why is everything so damn wet?”
Rolling my eyes, but unwilling to admit that I’m the king just yet, I move to the opposite side of my cell. How interesting that this woman arrived and instead of moping, instantly started looking for ways to escape. It takes some touching and prodding, but after a few minutes, I find a stone that seems to be a little loose than its counterparts. I tug on it and then it slides out. Two little eyeballs peer back at me.
“Hello!” My cell neighbor says to me.
“Did you do it?” The woman from the opposite cell asks.
“He did it!” The little man says.
“Hey, calm down,” I tell him. “Look, go to the other side of your cell. See if you can slide a stone out. We need to get something to the wizard.”
“I’ve got it,” the wizard calls, and a stone falls out. Now I can see him from my spot even though he’s on the other side of my neighbor. “Hello, Edward,” the wizard says.
“Hello, Wizard.”
“Well, now that the introductions are over,” the dark fae says. “Can someone please pass this book to the wizard?”
“My book!” The wizard says. She pushes the tiny leather book through the hole in the wall. It’s very trusting that she thinks we’ll pass it all along to him, but then, that makes me happy. It’s nice to know there are still good people in the world who believe the best in one another. I push the book to my cell neighbor who gives it to the wizard.
He cheers happily and sits down, dropping out of sight. The person next to me, a wrinkled old man, walks over to the wall and peers into the wizard’s cell.
“What’s he doing?” I ask the man.
The man wrinkles his nose and looks over his shoulder at me.
“He’s...reading.”
“Reading?”
“Of course, he’s reading!” The fae says. “Not like there’s anything else to do in here. Hey, you,” she says to me. “What was your name? Edward?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how I can get out of here?” She asks.
“Do you think I’d still be here if I knew a way out?”
She narrows her eyes and moves away from the cell wall.
“No, I suppose not,” she grumbles, and I peek into her cell. This is the most excitement I’ve felt in hours, ever since Wyatt locked me away. Well, I suppose that’s not true. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when they didn’t bring dinner and the man next to me informed me that we’re only fed once a day and that it’s usually some sort of mush.
The fae is still pacing. She’s touching the walls, pushing things, and trying to find a way out. She seems to be in quite a hurry.
“Where are you trying to go?” I ask her.
“I already told you.”
“You didn’t tell me why.”
“It doesn’t really concern you, now does it?” She asks. She glances over her shoulder at me and smirks. “Unless you’re the king, in which case, I suppose it’s too late, huh?”
She turns back and keeps pushing and pulling on the stones. She’s trying her best to find a way to escape and I have to admit that her persistence is admirable. She’s quirky and interesting. She’s brave. She’s clever, too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone like her before.
“Are you looking for a secret passageway?”
“Yes.”
“There aren’t any.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Look, no offense, but I’m guessing you’re down here for a really stupid reason that has nothing to do with me. Wizard Boy got captured through no fault of his own. I certainly didn’t do anything to get thrown down here. Chances are you got on Wyatt’s bad side, too, and that’s why you’re here. You’re talking in code and I don’t really like it. You act like you know everything about these dungeons, but you probably haven’t even been here that long, so what is it? Who are you?”
She asks me directly, and I try to make it a point not to lie, but I’m not ready to tell her. I don’t want to tell her yet. I don’t want her to know that I’m the king because she’s being so fucking brave. Once she knows that it’s me, that the kingdom has been overthrown, then she’s going to lose her hope.
This little fairy is a light in the darkness and I’m not about to let the spark go out of her. She’s fierce and brave and she’s energetic and excited. I want that to continue. I want to see that spark just shine even more.
“I’m nobody,” I tell her. It’s not even a lie. Wyatt is obviously king now, or at least pretending to be. Who I am no longer matters.
“Well, Edward,” she whispers. She reaches her hand through the little hole and I take it. She shakes my hand and a spark shoots through me. I grip her hand, holding onto it like it’s my last chance to survive because right not, it kind of feels like it is. Why do I feel this connection, this spark?
She feels it too. I can tell because she quivers and pulls her hand back.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she whispers. “I’m Rose.”
“Rose.”
The name sounds sweet on my lips and I wonder what it might feel like to kiss the fairy. What would it feel like to press my lips against hers? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a thought like that. It’s been years. I should feel upset that the thought invades my head now, but I’m not because it’s her and Rose seems so...innocent. It’s strange, for a dark fae. Usually, dark fairies are known for being sultry and seductive, but not her. She’s got an air of determination about her.
In fact, she’s already moved back to the wall, and she’s touching it, trying to find a way out. She runs her fingers over every inch of the stone. I try not to stare, try not to let my eyes wander over her gentle curves, but it’s impossible not to. She’s lovely: a light in the darkness. I want to enjoy her while she’s here. It’s a pity that we met here and not somewhere else. It’s a pity I can’t grab her and bring her to my chambers. There I could really savor her. I could take my time devouring every inch of the little fairy. I could make her mine. I could fucking mark her. I could delight in her.
I could enjoy her.
The man from behind me clears his throat.
“Hey,” he says. “The wizard wants you.”
Torn from my fantasy, I swallow hard and try to get myself under cont
rol. I don’t know what kind of creature the man in the next cell is, but if he’s a shifter or anything other than human, he’s definitely going to scent my arousal, and that’s not only ridiculous, but also embarrassing.
Moving back over to that side of the cell, I lean through the little hole and peer at the man. The cells are so small that it’s easy to see the wizard’s space even though there’s a man between us.
“What’s your name?” I ask the man beside me. It seems silly to keep thinking of him as my cell neighbor. He has a name and there’s a reason he’s here. I might not know it, but I’m guessing it has something to do with pissing off Wyatt.
“Peter.”
“Edward.”
“So I heard.” He raises an eyebrow, but says nothing else, which pleases me. Peter obviously knows exactly who I am, but luckily for me, he’s not about to rat me out to Rose. I’m not ready to tell the little fairy who I am. Perhaps it’s wrong, but I kind of like knowing she just views me as any other man. I don’t want her thinking of me as a means to an end. I don’t want her thinking of me as the overlord of the city. That hasn’t done me any good, in any case.
“What can I do for you, Wizard?” I ask. I try to keep my voice down. We’re talking a lot, but the guards seem to be gone. From what I can tell, they don’t spend any time down here at all unless it’s to drop off meals. During those times, they expect absolute silence. The rest of the time, the dungeon inhabitants can go crazy for all anyone cares. After all, we’re tucked far below the castle. No one can hear us down here. No one can miss us.
“I can get us out of here,” he says with a grin.
“Really? How?”
“Thanks to the book!” He says. “I’ve got the spell to break the lock. It won’t be pretty, but once I’m free, I can get the rest of you lot out, as well.”
“How many of us are there?”
“Just us four now,” Peter says. “Well, and Billy.”
I had almost forgotten about Billy. I open my mouth to call out and check on him, but Peter stops me.
“Don’t worry about him,” he says. “Billy sleeps a lot.”
“Uh, okay. Well, Wizard? What are you waiting for?”
“I can do the spell,” he says. “But I need a button, a knife, and an amulet.”
“Um.”
Where the hell am I supposed to get those things? We’re locked in a dungeon. Not only are we locked in a dungeon, but we’re locked in cells that aren’t even supposed to exist anymore. I thought that these holes were destroyed long ago. I hate that I never followed up to check on their destruction. I hate that I simply trusted Wyatt. That was by far, the worst decision of my life. I hate that I let him have his way.
I hate that it’s my fault we’re here.
All of us.
Especially Rose.
Fairy girl doesn’t deserve to suffer.
None of us do.
“I have a button,” Peter says. He rips one off his shirt and hands it to the wizard through the little hole. They both turn, looking at me expectantly. They know I’m the king and they know I’m supposed to have all of the answers. Great.
The problem isn’t that I’m the king. The problem is that right now, I’m apparently a very shitty king. Not only did I not know about the dungeons, but I have absolutely no idea where I can get a knife or an amulet. Not down here. Not unless...
I sigh and move once more to the opposite side of my cell. If I keep this up, I’m going to lose those five pounds that have been giving me grief. Even a king wants to look attractive. I look through the hole that leads to Rose’s cell.
“Yes?” She says without looking up. She’s still doing something to the walls. Picking at it, maybe? I can’t really tell.
“Do you have a knife and an amulet?” I ask with a sigh. I realize how stupid it sounds. In fact, it’s so stupid that I hate myself for even bothering her. She stands and turns around. Her skin glimmers despite the darkness. The afternoon light is still streaming in the tiny windows that line the tops of the cells and for the first time, I can see her face quite clearly.
She’s lovely, albeit a little dirty. Her face is smudged. Her hair is a mess. Her dark cloak is bound at her neck and it’s covered in mud and a few tiny tears.
“Yes, of course,” she says. She unhooks her cloak, letting it fall, and I hold in a breath when I see her ample cleavage. Beneath the cloak she has a thin sleeveless shirt on. Obviously, it’s so she can easily unleash her wings if she wants to, but I don’t see those. I just see her lovely, creamy breasts.
The amulet is tucked safely in her cleavage and she reaches for it, pulling it out. Then she catches my gaze.
“Edward,” she whispers, and she takes a step forward. Is she feeling this connection that I’m feeling? Does she know just how terribly attractive I find her to be? Does she realize that right now, it’s taking everything I have not to tear down this wall and just kiss her over and over again?
“Rose,” I whisper back.
“Here you go.”
She hands me the amulet through the tiny hole. I accept her offering and as I do, our fingers brush against each other once more. I accept it and look at it. She seems a little surprised that I’m taking the time to examine the necklace she handed over, but of course I am: it’s rare that an amulet makes it to Dark Falls. It’s even rarer that a king has a chance to touch one.
I’ve only touched an amulet once before and that was as a small boy. My mother used to wear one. That was a long time ago: before the vampires and the monsters. That was before the trolls and the demons and the dragons. That was a lifetime ago.
“Where did you get this?”
“Is that important?”
“I’m just curious.”
“It was my mother’s.”
“It’s pretty,” I tell her.
“Thank you.”
“Where is your mother now?” I shouldn’t ask, but I suddenly can’t help myself. I want to know everything there is to know about this girl. What makes her tick? Why is she here? Why is she so desperate to find the king?
“She’s dead.”
“Mine too.”
Her hand reaches through the hole again and this time, she touches me for a long time.
“It’s not easy,” she says.
“No, it’s not.”
“It doesn’t get easier.”
“People say it does,” I tell her.
“But it doesn’t.”
“If you’re done,” Peter says, interrupting us. “The amulet, please?”
Reluctantly, I let go of her fingers and move across my cell. I reach into the opposite hole, hand the amulet to Peter, and then peer through until he gives it to the wizard.
“Now, a knife!” The wizard calls out.
“Rose, do you have a knife?”
“Uh, yes, actually.”
“Really?”
“The guards didn’t search me very well,” she says with a sly shrug. I have a feeling there’s more to the story than that, but I think I’ve done enough prying for one day.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“You can thank me when we’re free and I save the king.”
“Why are you so intent on saving him, anyway?”
“Give the wizard the knife, Edward.”
She’s a cocky little thing. I’ll give her that. Most girls wouldn’t dare to talk to anyone that way, let alone a king. She’s not most girls, though. Is she?
I pass the knife along and then the wizard gets to work. Pacing my cell, I try to keep my mind from wandering too much as he’s working. Occasionally, a poof of smoke will shoot out of the cell opening and fill Peter’s cell with smoke. The poor man coughs and sputters, but doesn’t complain because we all know that if we can hold on just a little bit longer that the wizard will free us.
Just a little bit longer.
“I’ve got it,” he says suddenly, and I hear the lock on the wizard’s cell door fall to the ground.
Chapter 10
Rose
It might be too late to warn the king about his friend. Perhaps I should have done a better job of not getting caught, but how could I have predicted that Wyatt’s room would be the one I’d dart into? I was beginning to think that the idea of fairy luck was a lie. We were supposed to have these easy, magical lives, and I suppose that we had, once upon a time.
The reality is that our magic has faded and with it, our hope. Our luck has all but withered away and right now, I’m just lucky to still be alive.
The lock on Peter’s cell clicks open, followed by Edward’s, and finally, mine. I’m more than a little anxious as I step out of my cell and see the men face-to-face for the first time. They all look worn and tired.
“What about Billy?” Peter asks.
“Ah, I forgot,” the wizard says. He moves over to the first cell in the row, whispers some magic words, and stabs the lock with my knife. It falls open and a very sleepy Billy comes out. He’s rubbing his eyes.
“What’s going on?” He says.
“We’re free,” Peter tells him. “Let’s go.”
Together, the two of them dart up the steps that lead out of the dungeon. Simple enough. I assume they’ll go on to lead happy, wonderful lives that are free from drama and danger. I hope they go home to their lovers or their spouses or whoever it is that makes them happy, and I hope they find contentment.
As for me, I have an obligation.
“You found my book,” the wizard says.
I’m trying to focus on him and not on the very tall, very masculine fae standing next to me. He’s very handsome, this Edward. He’s very brave and he’s a good listener and every part of me wants to climb him like a tree and just devour him.
Where the hell are these feelings coming from?
These emotions?
I’ve never felt anything like this before.
I’ve never known anyone like him before who could make me feel the way that I do. I don’t believe in fairy mates the way that my sisters do. Daisy especially believes that each dark fae has someone special just waiting for them. I don’t really buy into that, though. Who could? The reality is that we have who we have. We are who we are. There’s only so much we can do when it comes to finding true love, and it’s not something that happens by chance.