Victoria ran her fingers through her hair wanting to pull out the strands in frustration. “I wasn’t hitting her, I was trying to protect her and get them off of her!”
“The butterflies?” asked her mother
Without thinking, Victoria blurted out the words “No, the fairies.” And that’s the one thing Victoria knew she never should have said. One look from her mother only proved that assumption right. She knew she had said the wrong thing; there was no taking back the words.
Her mother looked at her with a horrid expression. “I don’t know what has gotten into you Victoria. You’re too old to believe in fairy tales. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Her mother paced the floor a few more times before speaking. “An offer to have you work for a family was presented to me last week, I was not comfortable of the fact it was so far away. But now, I’m thinking it may be the best thing. These people are relatives from your father’s side, you will be paid and the extra money would certainly help around here.”
Victoria could not believe what she was hearing; would her mother really send her away? No, she didn’t want to leave her small seaside home. She loved the small fishing village and most of all, she loved her family. Victoria shook her head; she could not even fathom what her mother was suggesting. “But Mama!”
Her mother held up her hand and turned away. “No Victoria, just go to bed. I will contact them tomorrow to make the arrangements. My mind is made up, there is nothing more to discuss.”
With hurt, Victoria turned on heel and headed for the stairs leading up to her room. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. She knew her mother was furious, but how could she actually believe that she would harm her little sister? As obnoxious as Madeline could be at times, she still loved her.
Throwing herself down on the bed and burying her face in the pillow, Victoria cried herself to sleep in the room alone. Her mother had taken Madeline to sleep with her tonight. It was apparent that Mama’s trust in her was gone. And tomorrow, arrangements would be made for her to leave the only home and family she ever knew.
***
Her mother had indeed made the arrangements the following day. With bags packed, Victoria was placed on a train for her arranged destination to an aunt and uncle she had never met.
The train ride was a long one that took her away from all that she knew. Victoria watched from the window seat as the train pulled away from the depot and her mother and Madeline became smaller until she could no longer see them.
Soon the ocean had disappeared and was replaced by overgrown forests and larger cities and towns. Everything was new to Victoria in a frightening way. She had never been out of the village she grew up in, she felt like an alien on another world, lost to everything she had grown to know and love. Victoria laid her head back in the seat and cried for what she had lost. Night finally came, and later sleep as Victoria fell into a restless dream state, numb and with a broken heart.
***
The train reached its destination in three days’ time. Upon departing the train and entering the depot, Victoria’s life had changed. Standing on the platform waiting for her were an aunt and uncle she met for the first time. She could tell just from looking at them that they were not very nice people. In fact, they had made it very clear to her that if they were disobeyed, the punishment would be very severe. For some reason, Victoria believed what they had told her. She knew abuse at her aunt and uncle’s hands would not be very kind or something she wanted to find out.
Although they were kin to her father, they were the complete opposites. There was no love in these two beings, not even the show of kindness. Victoria could barely bring herself to look into their eyes, two black spots with no soul.
***
As time went on, Victoria was treated very unkindly; she both feared and despised her aunt and uncle. They would taunt her, call her rude and obscene names showing her nothing but evil. She had been given a room to sleep in with no more than a bed and a dresser. Since she was placed upstairs in a third story room, it was almost a guarantee there would be no sneaking out of the window at night in this place. She had lost her family and her freedom, a prisoner in an unloving home.
Victoria had been charged with doing all household chores. She was only allowed to eat after her aunt and uncle had consumed theirs first. The worst came when she was not allowed to attend school or socialize with anyone outside of the home, not like her aunt and uncle had been very good company. If she had enjoyed her quiet and solitude before, now she had an overabundance of it, and it roared like a lion in her head.
***
One day when Victoria was charged with cleaning, her aunt had caught her day dreaming. Her aunt had walked in to the room and had become very upset with her. “Well you no good for nothing ungrateful little heathen. So you feel you have too much time on your hands? We will have to see what can be done about that!”
Victoria shuddered at the sheer anger in her aunt’s voice. “I’m sorry; I will not do it again. It’s just that I have not been outside in so long, I find myself thinking about the sun and it’s warmth on my skin.” Victoria did miss the sun and the entire outdoors that went with it. She had not been allowed to step outside once since being sent here almost a year ago.
“Oh, so you miss the warmth on your skin do you? Well how’s this for warmth?” In a fast strike like that of a snake, the woman backhanded her with such force, Victoria lost her balance and flew into the wall behind her.
Her jaw hurt, her face stung, and her head ached from the extreme blunt force of the impact. Tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. Wiping her face with the back of her hand, Victoria straitened her posture. If she cried out loud and made any protest, it would only get her more of the same punishment.
Her aunt looked like she wanted to strike her again, as if she had not taken enough pleasure in striking her the first time. “If you ever disobey me again, I will make sure it will be the last time!”
As Victoria stood watching her aunt depart, she grabbed the amulet hanging around her neck. Close to her skin, hidden under her blouse, she clutched it to her closing her eyes. “My life is truly over.”
“It may be that you have just saved your life my dear.”
The voice came from behind her. Whirling around with the amulet still held firmly in her grasp, she saw her uncle stood just a few feet from her with another man she had never seen before, a man as big as a house, and an evil that poured off of him like nothing she had ever felt.
The man never took his eyes off of Victoria as he ran his tongue across his lips that were formed into a sinister grin.
Victoria could not understand the sense she was getting, and the change that had come over her uncle. There was something different, as if the evil presence in him had doubled twice fold.
Victoria turned away from her uncle and the man, feeling only repulsion and disgust for them both.
Chapter Two
Five Years Later
Percy sat at the restaurant booth talking with his friends from the University. Although he attended school one town over, Percy enjoyed the occasional escape from campus life, today just happened to be one of those times. He never could stand being cooped up for long periods. He loved the fresh air, the wide open; nature at its most natural. He craved it, lived it and breathed it; anything else just didn’t seem or feel natural.
Percy was always one with an easy air about him. He was a very easy person to get along with, always had been. But unlike his friends, Percy had a secret; he was not a mere mortal. Percy’s parents had always lived on the other side of the veil, the land of the Fay. From the time of his youth, Percy had been fascinated by the mortal world. It was not until he had grown into a man that his parents allowed him to attend a University in the mortal realm. As tough as the decision was for his family to give their permission, it was even harder to let their only heir to the throne leave and venture beyond the mists, yes, Percy was a prince. There was only one stipulation to
this agreement, that his Fay heritage be kept a secret.
If someone were to see Percy sitting with his friends in the diner that day, no one would have ever of guessed that he did not fit in to the mortal ways. He had no issues with blending in or just being one of the guys. So, seeing Percy sitting there, no one, not even Percy would have ever expected that he was about to face the biggest threat and challenge of his life.
“So what do you have planned for spring break Percy?” This came from his friend Paul, the ever inquisitive one. Paul was always intrigued with what was going on in the world, even to the point he could be a little nosey at times.
Percy smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing really, probably just go home and visit with the family.” That was the truth, even if visiting with his family meant leaving the mortal world to do it.
Another friend turned to Percy and became excited. “You should come with us, were heading up to the shore in Jersey.” said Cliff. He was the enthusiast of the bunch.
“Maybe,” said Percy.
Cliff gave Paul a slight friendly jab in the ribs. “Oh, he won’t be coming with us; he always says maybe when what he really means is he won’t be.
“What is it you do when you go home anyways? It can’t be much fun.”
Smiling at his friend Paul, Percy couldn’t understand his friend’s obsession with going to Jersey every spring break to chase the girls around like a dog panting after a bone. “Some hunting, hiking, fishing, sometimes even boating.”
“You always have been the nature type Percy, and the hunting, yup it shows.” said Cliff nodding his head.
“I have never seen anyone who could handle a bow like you.” said Paul looking at Percy with a sense of awe.
It was true that Percy could handle a bow and arrow like it was a second skin. He could probably outshoot anyone, and his aim was impeccable. He had always been one of the best marksmen back home. “Aye, I have a lot of practice.”
“Well one thing is for sure, I would never bet against you when it came to hitting the target.” said Cliff, Paul nodded his head in agreement. Then all three just laughed.
Paul stopped laughing and had that look on his face, the one that said he was trying to play matchmaker again. Percy knew it only too well. “You know, there are quite a few girls on campus that would love to snag you up Percy.”
Percy rolled his eyes with a grin.
“I don’t know how you do it man, you have all those girls always swooning over you. You have the unnerving looks of a God.” Cliff laughed, “Maybe that’s why your parents named you Percy.”
Percy shook his head, “Just trying to focus my attention on my studies is all. I will have plenty of time for a relationship when the times right.” Truth was, Fay legend was known for only taking one mate, and Percy had just not found his true mate yet.
“But dude, that’s the best part of college! You’re surrounded by hot babes all over school. Besides, you only live once.” said Paul
Percy laughed; he couldn’t help thinking about how long life for a Fay was. It was nothing for a Fay to live thousands of years, even if he did fit in at about early twenties in the mortal world. Percy indeed had a very long life ahead of him. Yes, Paul was right on one thing. How many times had young woman gone out of their way almost tripping over their own feet to get Percy’s attention?
Percy was beautiful, not that he was conceited, and beauty was just something that came along with being Fay. Lustrous snow white hair, with eyes so blue it was like looking at the sky. His skin was pale with a light luminescence. He was tall, slender and walked with the grace of his nobility and heritage. Percy was a handsome man.
***
On the way back to campus, Cliff and Paul talked about going to a club. Drinking ale Percy may have enjoyed as much as the next Fay, but here in the mortal world, Percy did not particularly care for the party scene. Besides, consuming human made ale made his skin glow bright, to the point of a very notability. Talking about trying to fit in and not stick out in a crowed! Give him mortal made ale and you could use him for your very own night light! Nay, he would pass, and his friends would press but give up on it like they always did.
Percy had some papers due and some studying to get done anyways. That would be the safest route he decided, and one that would attract less attention to himself. Exhausted, Percy head in the direction of his dorm and the quiet it would offer.
Once inside, he decided to lie down and get a couple hours of sleep before starting in on his assignments. Setting the alarm to go off in the two hours he had allotted for sleep, Percy laid back on his pillow letting slumber take over. It was not hard drifting off to sleep, but the sleep itself was fitful, wrought with odd nightmarish dreams. It was odd for Percy because he was not one to have bad dreams.
A woman with the hair of snow and the eyes of soft lavender sat in a room crying. Percy wanted to go to her, even if just to hold her but he couldn’t, he was only a watcher, a spectator. As the woman cried, Percy could see the swollen red cheek upon her face. Had she been struck? Percy did not know why, but he felt very drawn to this lady of his dreams. His urge to protect her was strong. But no matter how hard he tried to go to her, he could not. He could not even move, just watch.
Suddenly, the woman looked up. Could she see him? Did she know he was there? Percy tried to speak but no voice came to him. She looked frightened. He wanted to tell her he meant no harm, but again, no words would come to him. Reaching for something around her neck, she backed away from where Percy stood. Was she frightened of him? Nay, not of him, she had not noticed him after all. Shadows that moved unnaturally closed in slowly around the woman, creeping across the walls, floors, and ceiling.
Closer they moved to her, all warmth drawn from the room replaced by a bone chilling cold. Just before the shadows reached out to touch her, she pulled the item into plain view of what she had been clutching in her hand. Holding the item up, the shadows retreated from her, replacing the cold in the room with warmth of natural heat.
Percy gazed at the item in the woman’s hand. A charm? Nay, it couldn’t be, but it was! The Fae Medallion. As if the woman had heard him, she turned to Percy. Help Me!
Chapter Three
Percy opened his eyes, his alarm buzzing the two hour signal. With his right hand, he reached over and shut it off. The dream was still stuck in his head, so real. The Fae Medallion, he had dreamt of it, if in fact it was really a dream.
The Fae Medallion was a powerful charm of Fay legend. It protected the wearer and warded off evil, but only by the wearer touching the charm itself. The very woman in Percy’s dream had been wearing the charm and asked him to help her. Help her? How was he supposed to help someone from a dream? He did not even know if this woman existed; let alone how to find her.
Percy shook his head from the confusion of his dream, it had seemed so real. He could remember the feel of being drawn to her, and how much he wanted to protect her. He wanted her to be real.
Heat shot through his body like a yearning, so hot was it he thought it would singe his very flesh. The pain he felt was overwhelming to the senses, how could a simple dream have such an effect on him?
His urge for her became stronger. All he knew was that if this woman was real, he would find her. As if his will was no longer his own, he walked towards the door.
Like a beacon calling to him, he left his dorm walking through the halls in a bewitched daze. He had no memory of how he had got to his car, but like an invisible line attached to him; it pulled him like a puppet in a direction leading to her. As if her heart was singing out to him, he obeyed the song.
He was not even aware when he had drove up to the three story house, or how long his journey had taken. All sense of time was lost to him, the blackness of night shown upon him, making his flesh glow brightly in the moonlight. He was unaware of his surroundings, but what he did know was that this is where her soul had brought him, and he had to go to her.
Walking towards the house, h
e walked as if in a dreamlike trance. He did not even notice the two figures lurking in the shadows or the sheer blunt force of the object that hit him from behind. In a single second, everything around him went dark as the world spun out of control. Feeling himself go limp, his legs buckled under him as his body fell to the ground, and the world around him finally dimmed out.
***
For Percy, the world returned in a blur of colors. His head throbbed to a steady ache. As he slowly began to regain full consciousness, Percy looked around at his surroundings in confusion. He could tell that he was in a dimly lit room that held a musty smell. As he tried to rise from the ground, something kept his body in place, chains; he could hear the sound of chains. He could feel a cold pressed to his skin over his wrists and ankles. Adjusting his eyes to the poor lighting of the room, Percy glanced at his restraints. He had been placed in iron, no doubt to keep his strength subdued. Anyone with knowledge of the Fay knew that it would keep him weakened and depleted him of almost all strength. “No use trying to fight it.”
Percy heard a voice that broke the silence of the room. He was not alone; someone was in the room with him. Percy scanned the room focusing his eyes. There, he saw him now. Over in a corner chained to a wall, he could make out the silhouette of a man. The man was thin with shoulder length dark hair. There was an aura about him, a luminescence. Fay, the man was Fay!
The man stared at Percy almost as intently as he stared back at him.
“You are Fay!” Percy said out loud this time.
“So are you.” said the man
“What are we doing here?” Percy asked in hopes the stranger would produce an answer.
“Well since I am shackled the same as you, I would gander as far as saying not a house guest.”
“Nay, a prisoner.” said Percy
“Give the man a prize; we have a smart one here.”
“And you’re a horse’s ass.” said Percy
“I’ve been called that and many other things.”
Hunters Moon, The Fae Medallion (Seer's Of The Moon) Page 2