by Kristie Cook
I didn’t like his attitude, and being referred to as “human taint” was a sure way to get on my bad side. I made sure to give him a drilling stare as we stepped past him and into Ferdinand’s home.
This area wasn’t neglected. Nor did it smell at all bad. In fact, it was darn well pristine. Large reams of multicolored, expensive fabric draped over the furniture and hung in lush curtains from the ceiling. Incense burned in carved-out ivory planks, sending wisps of scented smoke into the air. Warm colors of red, gold, pink as well as some purples and blues peppered the room from tiny lampshades and glowing sconces while an array of plush pillows of all shapes and sizes filled up the floor where the couches ended. Everywhere I looked, the floor was covered with something.
“Nice digs. I feel the Egyptian getaway theme going on here.” No one answered me. I was starting to feel ignored, but it wasn’t bothering me. I exhaled a long breath as Spidery led us into the room with the sofas and motioned for us to sit.
“I’ll get Ferdinand. Whatever you do, don’t touch him, or you’ll regret it.”
I nodded, and we muttered our understandings as Spidery left the room. The silence was unbearable to me, and the longer we waited, the more my stomach clenched. I didn’t like it there. It felt all wrong, and the air held a trace of desolation. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint out why, yet. Maybe I’d find out soon. Maybe not. Either way, whatever Ferdinand had to say was going to be either really bad or extremely useful. How did I know that? Well, let’s just say a tendency toward precognition is another side effect of being a warlock. Darn intuition messed with my head a lot, but it had also saved me on more than one occasion.
It also made me a darn good tracker. I could find Unseelie escapees like they were going out of style. No one could hide from my extrasensory perception. It was that same perception which was sending me an array of signals in Ferdinand’s room. Ferdinand’s powers were lethal. He could kill with a touch if he decided to suck every drop of magic out of someone. I’d heard that most of the time, he’d just siphon a magical being’s power until that person, or faery, was left but a shell of their former glory. I wasn’t going to end up that way and no way in hell would I let Ferdinand do that to Sary or Braelynn.
I just hoped my feelings would be wrong this time.
Chapter Seven The Monster
The Monster
June 18th, 1702
I fell ill and cold when I let one particular faery touch me. He wanted to demonstrate his power. In his limited communication, he told of a way to steal power from others. I feared what he told me and asked if he could do it without killing the other. He nodded but did let me know that sometimes, things go wrong. He held but a finger to my hand, and I felt the world darken as my life force left. He let go and apologized, but I was already quite weakened. I had just enough strength to make it home and slept through to the next day. I wonder how a creature of his power could exist. The ramifications of abusing such a power are too great to consider.
~Brendan
His hardened almond eyes scanned over each one of us, as though he were dissecting us. It was chilling, like having tiny spiders crawling over every inch of exposed skin. I found it quite unnerving to be under such harsh scrutiny from Ferdinand, but I shook it off and kept my face straight, not wanting to give this creep any ammunition for use against me later.
When Ferdinand’s gaze landed on Sary, it stayed there, filled with intensity, but also with a touch of sadness. Whatever was fleeting through this guy’s head, it was probably something between him and Sary, a private thing belonging only to siblings. It reminded me of Shade for a slight second, and I missed seeing my sister. Still, I couldn’t say I didn’t want to know, but I wanted out of this siphoning guru’s place ASAP. The man reeked of dark magic, and it made me want to get up from the mushy couch, jet right out the front door and never look back. If that was any indication on how dangerous he was to other magicals, I still didn’t want to find out if he lived up to such foreboding.
“Ferdinand.” Sary’s mouth hung open slightly, like she wanted to say more but wasn’t sure if she should. Maybe she had too many questions vying for first place, locking her in a silent battle. Maybe she was just as shocked from the swirls of invading magic probing at her like tiny spikes and snakes nipping at her shields, testing them out to find any vulnerabilities. I felt it doing the same to me and fought against swiping at the air to shoo it off. I doubted it would help at all. If Ferdinand truly wanted to break down our guards, he most definitely could.
But the two of them just stood there, staring at each other.
“Sary. It’s been too long, Sister.”
I saw Sary swallow, her thin throat undulating under duress as she choked back the arid desert definitely forming in her throat. I noticed they didn’t hug. They didn’t touch whatsoever. What kind of life had Ferdinand lived, to never be able to embrace another without draining them? I bet it was a lonely and bitter one. Maybe it was the worst power to have after all. I was grateful my own powers didn’t limit me so.
“I didn’t know where you went. You just left us. Why?”
“Could be because you weren’t supposed to know why. Why are you really here?”
Sary’s eyes narrowed, her lips tightened, and I could almost feel the steam coming out of her ears. I waited for her to spontaneously combust as the air in the room began to thicken. Whatever happened to banish Ferdinand to this realm, there seemed to be something else going on as well.
His long red hair was the same color, if not a slight shade darker than Sary’s. The family resemblance was obvious; they could be twins. I wondered if they were, but his stature appeared to be more of a firstborn’s arrogance than one of equal standing to the sibling before him. It reminded me of Shade and her bossy manners at home. Still, I didn’t think Shade would ever act the way Ferdinand did as he puffed himself out at Sary. I hoped she had enough of a hold over him to keep his emotions in check, keep us safe. It was akin to lingering in a cage with a hungry lion and bloody steaks hanging from our necks.
“I didn’t come here to fight,” Sary said, sounding defeated.
“Then why did you come here?” Ferdinand leaned forward, his hands laced together as he sat down on a chair across from the sofa. His evaluation of us continued, but his focus was Sary. They were more like strangers now. Still, I felt I was missing a huge chunk of the story. What had transpired between these two pairs of green eyes?
“Why are you living in this trash bin? The mortals have no need for a faery prince. What did you do to get banished?”
Ferdinand’s face was still for a tiny moment before he burst out laughing. His face looked friendly as he chuckled. His eyes twinkled, and his overly white teeth flashed as if his sister had just cracked a joke.
“Oh, dear, dear, little Sister. You don’t recall, but I was banished here for practicing a banned type of magic. You know what I can do, yet you have no idea what I’ve done.” Right then, the laugh halted, and his features turned cold once more. “You don’t know that because you were deadened by grief of losing Stephen. You were withering from your loss. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Sary’s eyes widened, and her mouth gaped open. Thoroughly confused, she tried to form words with her pretty little mouth, but nothing would come out. Moments later, grasping to control herself, she cleared her throat and let out an agonizingly slow breath. “What do you mean?”
Ferdinand leaned back into his chair, completely relaxed. His intense study of us eased, and the obvious release of tension receded like a wave in the ocean. It felt easier to breath. He’d stopped probing our shields, glamours and wards. The release made me realize just how much he’d been pushing at my power, leaving me drained.
“I never meant for you to come here and seek me out, but I knew I’d never get my wish, knowing you’d be stubborn and follow me out here anyway.” He paused, rubbing his chin and looking gloomier. “When I saved your life, I used my magic. You know it’s forbidden, but regardless
, you were dying when you lost Stephen. You didn’t want to go on.” He paused, his face straining with the difficulty of explaining the story.
“To save your life, I drained several faeries. Not to the last drop, but to a point where they were weakened for days. I did nothing treacherous or malicious. All the faeries who gave me their power volunteered to help you. I siphoned it off them and transferred their life forces to bring you back from the depths of a dark, deep depression. That darkness, the lack of love of life, grasped onto you when Stephen died and never let you go. You were dying, and you didn’t fight it off. I couldn’t just let you die. You’re a princess of the Vyn, who have no heir for their throne if you die. And … you’re my sister.”
Sary’s eyes filled with tears as her lips quivered. Her normally fair complexion turned a deep violent red, which I feared would turn purple if she didn’t take a breath soon. Her memories of Stephen and hearing her brother say his name had hit her hard. She obviously hadn’t prepared to hear such things from her sibling.
“You siphoned magic to save me? You were never supposed to use that magic … ever. Even to save me.”
Ferdinand didn’t move, nor did he answer her. The truth was raw in the air between them, and he apparently had nothing to add to it.
“Why would you do that? Our people can survive without me. You should’ve let me die. I wanted to join my love. Now you’ve left me here in this wretched place without him! I didn’t want to go on. You stole that destiny from me!” Her eyes bulged as the rage poured from her. Streams of tears spilled over her cheeks and dripped down onto her lap, spotting up her pants. A whimper escaped her lips right before she lunged toward Ferdinand, who didn’t so much as flinch.
Luckily, I knew her intentions before she got too far and yanked her back onto the sofa with a good, firm grip around her waist.
“Sit down, Sary,” I said, my voice soft and sad.
I didn’t let go of her even when she struggled and smacked at my arms. She didn’t hurt me, even though she dug her nails into my arm. She probably didn’t know what she was doing except glaring hard at Ferdinand, ignoring me.
“Why did you do it? It got you nothing but banishment. What good was that? You could’ve let me go in peace. I could’ve been with Stephen.” Her voice trembled and I loosened my grip slightly, hoping her hopelessness meant she wasn’t going to jump out and attack Ferdinand again. We weren’t supposed to touch him. She would know that more than any of us.
“I told you. You’re my sister, heir to the Vyn throne. I couldn’t let you die. Don’t you get it?” Ferdinand stood up and paced the room. “I’m worthless to our people. Men do not rule the Vyn people, the women do. I have an unusual and deadly power. I’ve killed others, important people, by accident. I can’t touch anyone. Don’t you think I know they’re all afraid of me? Don’t you think I know my place?” His words were acid on his tongue, and the angry bitterness flashed across his features, turning his skin to match his sister’s.
Sary slumped, and I guided her back to lean on the couch for support. She looked tired, exhausted. Even her perfect skin now appeared sallow and pale, as if her beauty was but a frail illusion, a trick to keep others from seeing the damaged girl beneath. This woman didn’t want to rule any court or want to see anything as wrong with her family. This was the face of someone who’d given up already and lived each day like an empty shell, going through the motions without really living.
“It doesn’t matter either way,” she said. “Our people will never have the ruler they want. We’ll be absorbed by the Scren Realm in the end. It’s better that way. At least their ruler, Shade, cares about her people, and she didn’t even grow up in Faerie.” Sary closed her eyes and sucked in another choked breath. “I don’t care anymore. I wanted to die, but I didn’t. So here I am. What now? Did you figure it all out Ferdinand? How to live again? Are you happy out here?” Her eyes flung open as she tried to turn the tables, dissecting her brother with a hard, fiery glare.
Ferdinand returned to his chair and sat down heavily. “I have nothing figured out. Here, we’re just trying to survive. Here, it’s an eternal war to stay alive. Without our motherland, Faerie, we’re as good as rotted, shriveled fruit. I haven’t withered because I can siphon magic from anywhere, any person, anything. Others are not so fortunate.” He shifted in his seat, reaching for a glass parked on a small square table next to him. He threw back a swallow and slammed it back down.
“I do a service for those banished from Faerie. I get what they need and in return, they serve as my guards, my ears, my eyes and bring me information. Magic is the currency here, and those without it are in no position to tell me what to do. You’d be surprised how easy it is to get what you want when you have what everyone else wants.” His hands spread out across the room, like a king on his throne addressing his subjects. “This is my kingdom, and you no longer have any power over what I do with my life.”
“So you’re the king of this dump. Woo-hoo. Some kingdom,” I replied. “Ruling over withered faeries ruined by the human world. Banished for committing unspeakable crimes. Their own fault.”
Next thing I knew, I was bent over on my knees and kneeling on the floor. My arm felt like it was tearing away from my body, and I gripped onto it as I groaned in pain. Ferdinand was on his feet and pointing a finger at me with a wicked smirk rising on his lips. It felt like spear stuck my side while my arm was twisted, or maybe a thousand tiny icepicks being inserted into my skin, making their way to my organs.
“Ferdinand!” Sary crouched beside me looking shocked and helpless. “Ferdinand, stop it!”
I could see the room sway as I struggled to stay awake and bear the excruciating pain, but the room grew darker. My vision narrowed, and the sweet call of unconsciousness begged me to follow, swiftly and deeply until there would be no more pain, no more suffering … only nothingness. This was more than just a blackout. If I gave in to it, I knew it would be the end of me.
Chapter Eight Approaching Darkness
Approaching Darkness
“Let him go!” Sary was now standing and confronting her brother. He was a good foot taller than her, but she was almost pressed against him, narrowing her eyes. As soon as he realized she was too close and would certainly be touching him, Ferdinand stepped back and released me from whatever magical hold he had on me. It had felt like the magical version of a Taser but much, much worse. It left me huffing to catch my breath. The torturous ache slowly dissolved away, but I was sweating like a horse, barely conscious and feeling almost completely spent.
Did that son of bitch drain me? What the …
I tried to get to my feet, but the sluggishness I was feeling hummed down my body, making it harder to move, and I barely managed to crawl back onto the couch.
“What did you do to me?” I muttered, slumping back and feeling like utter crap. A groan slipped past my lips, and I closed my eyes. Sary was already checking me for damage and sharing her healing magic to help me out. If it weren’t for the fact that everything hurt in every tiny cell of my body, even from her delicate touch, I would’ve found her concern flattering. But since I wasn’t quite myself, I couldn’t take any pleasure in it as I struggled to breathe through the pain.
“That’s just a sample of what I can do. I’ll siphon your energy, weakening you in a millisecond. It’s my power … my curse … my way to survive in this wretched human wasteland.”
“It’s not a wasteland to the humans,” I muttered, fighting to keep my eyes open and drill an unsavory glare into him.
“You’ve no idea what paradise really is.” Ferdinand returned to his chair, an unhappy look gracing his features. As soon as Sary was satisfied that I was still a whole man, she whirled back around to face her brother.
“What happened to you? You’re nothing like the brother I once knew. You steal power that isn’t yours and hurt those weaker than you. How dare a royal son of the Vyn court act in such a manner? How could you?”
“The darkness isn
’t that far away, just like it wasn’t for you, dear sister.”
Ferdinand looked away, staring for a moment out a small window, which was mostly draped with more eloquent fabric to block the remains of the day shining into the room. His jaw tensed as he leaned on his hand, avoiding Sary’s acid glare. Somehow, I don’t think he was as unaffected by her disappointment in him as he made it seem. He’d saved her life and received the reward of banishment for it. If it weren’t for the fact that I wanted to kill him myself for that magical ambush, I might’ve felt a tad bit sorry for him. But I didn’t.
“You disgust me.” Sary shot daggers at him and stood up, looking at Braelynn and back down to me. “Braelynn, have you any healing draught?”
Braelynn fished through the tiny bag strapped to her waist and finally dragged out a small bottle of the sweet concoction that tasted delicious and healed me ever so nicely. I drooled at the sight of it.
“He’s had a lot of the draught lately. He mustn’t have too much more,” Braelynn cautioned. This warning made me perk my ears up, and I stared at her questioningly.
“Why not?” I wanted that bottle more than anything in the world. I craved to pluck the cork out of the container and drain it to the last drop.
“Because …” Braelynn handed the bottle to me after pulling the stopper from it. “You’re already showing signs of addiction. It can have that effect on humans. You’re human after all. Not a lick of faery in you, which is unfortunate. Your sister wouldn’t have such an issue.”
I snatched the bottle from her, but before I put the bottle to my lips, I paused, flicking my eyes up to Braelynn and then to Sary. “Is she right? I can get addicted to this stuff?”