Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  By the early 1800s, he and his followers left Á lfheimr to form their own kingdom, SvartÁ lfaheimr, where they not only kidnapped innocent humans and forced them into slavery, but also made a sport out of tormenting them with various forms of elfish magic. They became known as DÖkkÁ lfar, or Dark Elves. King Eurico formed an opposition against Dugan and fought to keep the humans safe.

  The Light Elves and the Dark Elves were at war. Eurico’s army was struggling. Dugan always seemed one step ahead of them and they were tiring of only acting defensively. Prince Alberico suggested they take the battle to Dugan, so for the first time since the beginning of the war, the Light Elves planned an offensive attack.

  But it soon became clear that Dugan’s spies had infiltrated Á lfheimr. He learned of Alberico’s plan and acted quickly. The DÖkkÁ lfar attempted an attack on Á lfheimr in the middle of the night while the kingdom was sleeping.

  Such a heinous and cowardly act brought the wrath of SÓ l upon the Dark Elves. She placed a curse upon them, forcing them to forever walk in the darkness, never again to see the light of day.

  Before I can read any further, I hear a knock at my door. Using the note as a bookmark, I jump out of bed and rush to answer the door, assuming it will be Grey. So I am surprised, and slightly disappointed, to find Isobel, looking quite lovely in a gorgeous, ice blue dress, waiting patiently outside my door.

  “Hi, I wasn’t expecting you,” I say as I gesture her inside.

  “Good evening, Mia. I hope I’m finding you well?” She truly is stunning with her waist length, wavy chocolate brown hair and large green eyes. She exudes such a warm, yet care-free vibe and it reminds me of my own mom. I was really starting to miss my mom. I haven’t talked to her since I arrived here. She sent me a text letting me know she got my note and that she hoped I had a great time, but that was it.

  “Yes, thank you. How are you?” I ask cordially. “Is the Duke with the King?”

  “I believe they are, once again, going over the security measures to keep you safe while you are away from Á lfheimr.” She gives me a warm smile, much like a mother would indulge upon a child.

  “He is really that worried, huh?”

  “Yes, he cares very deeply for you. Dugan’s spies can be just as cruel as he is,” she says and I am startled to see tears in her eyes.

  “Isobel? Why are you crying?”

  “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t be acting like such a fool. It happened years ago, but it still breaks my heart whenever I think about it.” She wanders over to the balcony window overlooking the gardens.

  “Think about what?” I don’t mean to be nosy; I just want to be able to comfort her.

  Okay, I am a little nosy.

  “Years ago, my sister, Cordelia, was murdered by the Dark ones. She was a powerful elf, even more powerful than me. She left the kingdom to be with a human man. We hadn’t spoken in years. Something I regret to this day.” She continues to stare blankly out onto the grounds almost as if she is mesmerized by their beauty, but I know she is actually absorbed in her mourning.

  “I’m sorry Isobel.” I don’t know what else to say, so I put my arm around her shoulders and give her a small squeeze.

  “They murdered her husband, too. Their bodies were found in the middle of a dark forest. We aren’t certain what brought them to such a place. Surely Cordelia would have known better than to go traipsing through a forest at night. We suspect some of Dugan’s humans attacked them and brought them to the forest so the Dark Ones could...” She can’t go on, but I don’t have to hear the rest to know that a truly horrific thing happened to Isobel’s sister and husband. I am more afraid now than I have been since first learning of the Dark Elves.

  I keep my arm wrapped around her until she calms down.

  “Thank you for being so kind to me. The attack on my sister and her husband had been the first in many years, so it was a little shocking. I am truly sorry for getting so emotional. It’s been almost fifteen years now, but feels like it happened just yesterday.” She clears her throat and wipes her tears abruptly before continuing, “But that is neither here nor there. I actually came to see if you needed any help getting ready for the ball tonight?” she says as she wipes away her tears.

  Ah. Yes. The ball.

  The ball I have been trying to avoid thinking about all day. So much for getting lost in my book. I’m not really a fan of getting dressed up anyway but throw in the fact that I’ll be meeting hundreds of elves and, well, I’m more than a little nervous.

  My silence brings a small smile to Isobel’s face as she reaches for my hand and leads me to the cavernous closet. She heads straight for the rack in the very back that has at least a dozen ball gowns of all different colors and styles hanging in translucent bags. She paws through them all until finally deciding on a strapless green one that she insists will bring out the green in my hazel eyes. The floor-length satin gown is simple and elegant, but I’m almost certain I’ll trip over the train at some point tonight.

  Isobel even styles my hair for me. She somehow manages to curl my stick straight hair into tight ringlets, pulling the sides up with loose tendrils framing my face. For the first time since arriving in Á lfheimr, I actually feel like a princess, even if I’m just the illegitimate daughter of a King.

  After she touches up my make-up, she leaves to meet up with Finnegan. Even though they aren’t guests of honor like me, their entrance still has to be announced since they are such important figures in the kingdom. I’m feeling a lot of pressure as the evening approaches because I know that Alberico is hoping that after tonight I’ll win the favor of the elves with my charm. Grey confided in me about Alberico’s hope to persuade the people to accept me as a possible heir. Not that I ever have any intention of ruling over the kingdom;. I mostly just feel obligated to try to please Alberico.

  Though I was angry with him at first for abandoning not only me, but especially my mother, I realize now just how hard it was for him to do so. And that he really did believe he was acting in the best interest for all. He sacrificed his own happiness for the good of humanity for goodness sake. In the last week, I have really come to admire him. He is truly an honorable and selfless King.

  I’m only alone with my thoughts for a moment before the familiar light tapping on my door causes my heart to flutter, but then immediately knots up my stomach as I remember how he rejected me. I open my bedroom door this time to find Grey waiting for me in an elegant black tux. I don’t think I will ever get used to the way his indigo eyes sparkle.

  “Shall we?” he says, offering me his arm. “You look breathtaking.”

  The blush that colors my cheeks is my only response to his compliment. As always, he leaves me momentarily speechless. I’m relieved that he is acting like nothing happened, that nothing has changed. I link my arm with his and allow him to escort me to the ball. After all, I’m definitely in need of a friend tonight.

  “Are you nervous?” he asks me after a few moments of silence, but I know that he already knows the answer.

  “No, not at all. Of course not,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “I only have to try to charm hundreds of elves I’ve never met into thinking that their king isn’t totally crazy for wanting me to inherit the throne even though I have absolutely zero desire to actually do so, and even if I did, the next in line for it is a million times more powerful than me anyway. What is there to be nervous about?”

  He smiles understandingly at my little rant as he escorts me down to the ballroom where I will be officially presented to the people of Á lfheimr for the very first time. Despite the fact that I really do not have any desire to rule, I do actually want them to approve of me. My knees are shaking as we make our way down the grand staircase. I’m immensely thankful to have Grey to hold on to.

  I have to keep myself from gasping out loud when I see the elaborate transformation the castle has undergone in preparation for the ball. Definitely no crepe paper or balloons in sight. Instead it looks as though the
breathtaking castle gardens have been moved inside. Delicate ropes of white flowers cascade from the high ceiling, giving the illusion that it is raining freesias and gardenias. The sweet scent of the flowers reminds me of the freshness of springtime. I feel as though I have just walked into A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

  A deep and booming voice announces my arrival as I enter the ballroom. My face reddens and my heart pounds in my chest as I realize that everyone in the room has abruptly stopped what they were doing and all eyes are on me. Alberico clears his throat warningly and suddenly all of the elves bow low to the ground. I am frozen in place by my anxiety. Grey must have sensed as much because he squeezes my hand reassuringly and my feet finally remember how to move. The room is silent except for the sound of our footsteps as Grey escorts me across the room to where the King of the Light Elves, my father, is waiting for me. I take my place next to Alberico, whose face is beaming with pride as I am officially presented to his kingdom. As I take my seat, the rest of the elves go back to mingling with each other, and the music starts again.

  “What do you think?” he asks me as he gestures grandly.

  “It’s amazing,” I answer honestly, because it is. It’s the most amazing scene I’ve ever laid eyes on. Complete and total fairy tale.

  “Greyson tells me your training is coming along quite nicely.”

  The skeptical look on my face must be quite comical because he laughs before continuing, “I am sure you are a little disappointed but rest assured, Grey is a great teacher. If you possess any power over the elements, he’ll help you tap into it.”

  “I don’t know. I can’t seem to do anything but heal.” So far, I think to myself. More and more lately, I feel like I have only touched the tip of the iceberg. It’s like I can feel the power bubbling inside of me just waiting to explode, but I haven’t figured out how to access it yet. It’s there though. I can tell. It’s the same tingly feeling I get in my fingertips.

  “You have only been here for a week. Just imagine what you will accomplish after spending some more time here? I have a good feeling about you Mia. A very good feeling indeed.”

  We are interrupted by a commotion as people bustle to form a line before us. Everyone is anxious to meet Alberico’s illegitimate daughter. Quite the scandal! By the time I meet every single elf in the kingdom, my face hurts from smiling so much. Everyone is very kind though, so that is something.

  During dinner, I help myself to a little wine. It actually tastes better than I thought it would so I drink a little more in hopes that it will numb the ache in my face. The food in Á lfheimr is out of this world. Well, I guess that is to be expected since it actually is out of this world. Out of my normal world anyway. I have never tasted such culinary masterpieces before. I can’t help but stuff my face, as much as I can while maintaining my proper manners. If I would have remembered what people are supposed to do at a ball, I probably would have restrained myself a bit. I’m too stuffed to move, let alone dance. So imagine my dismay when the tables magically disappear, the orchestra increases from background noise to full-blown dancing volume, and Grey offers me his hand.

  “May I have the first dance?”

  I feel a blush rising to my cheeks and at the same time my heart drops into my stomach. The memories from our last dance together come crashing back and I think I might get sick. I immediately look to Alberico to see if by any chance there was some sort of ballroom dancing protocol that would rescue me from this disaster waiting to happen. He just smiles his approval and nods us away before turning his attention to Duke Finnegan who is eyeing me warily. He just doesn’t seem to like me much.

  I look back to Grey. His indigo eyes are warm and he gives me a small smile as he leads me onto the middle of the floor where several other couples are already dancing away. He takes one of my hands in his and places his other hand around my waist. Definitely not the normal way high-schoolers dance. But Grey is not exactly a normal high-schooler, and here in Á lfheimr he doesn’t have to pretend to be. He pauses for moment, and then we begin to dance. It isn’t a dance that I have ever done before, but I have watched enough Dancing with the Stars to know it’s a waltz. I stumble through the first few steps but Grey is an excellent lead and I quickly catch on.

  “I haven’t had a chance to ask you, how are you holding up?”

  “A little overwhelmed, and my mouth hurts from smiling so much.” You know it’s bad when a cheerleader’s mouth hurts from smiling. I’m supposed to be an expert smiler.

  “Well, next time don’t smile with your teeth,” he smirks.

  “I’ll keep that in mind next time I am at a fancy ball. Which will be never,” I add.

  That actually got a full-blown, hearty laugh from him. I can’t help but giggle a little in return.

  This dance is way better than Homecoming.

  It isn’t long before someone asks to interrupt our dance. Once the dancing begins, it shows no sign of ending, or even giving me a break, any time soon. There is always someone else waiting for the next song. I’m certain my feet will be covered in blisters, but I have to admit, it is a rather fun evening. Elves are naturally beautiful, so imagine dancing with a hundred supermodels all in one evening. You would think that would make me feel self-conscious, but it doesn’t because they all act like it is a huge honor to dance with me. Tonight is so different from what I was expecting.

  “So you are the Half-blood from the prophecy?” my current dance partner asks incredulously.

  To think I was actually excited when this spectacularly good-looking elf interrupted my previous dance with a particularly dull elf.

  “That would be me,” I smile, trying to brush off his rudeness. But I am already looking around the room for an excuse to escape what is sure to be an unpleasant conversation with this ass-hat.

  “Huh. Duke Finnegan isn’t too happy about you being here, but I don’t know why, you don’t look like anything special to me. I’m Blaise. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.” He winks at me like I am supposed to find him charming or something.

  Before I can come up with a retort, Grey swoops in and rescues me.

  “I believe the King would like a word with his daughter before he retires for the evening.” The words alone are perfectly pleasant, but the dark look in Greyson’s eyes is dangerous as he stares down at him. Blaise actually looks shaken for a moment before recovering himself.

  “Sure thing. See you later, Princess.” He spits out ’princess’ like it is a bad word.

  “Thank you for saving me,” I whisper to Grey as soon as Blaise struts off.

  “No problem. Sorry about Blaise. He can be a bit of a nuisance”.

  “That’s an understatement,” I mutter.

  “Alberico really does wish to say good night to you though, and I figured you were probably ready to leave as well.”

  Now that I’m done dancing, I realize exactly how tired I am and how bad my feet hurt. I will definitely be taking full advantage of my personal spa tonight.

  Alberico is perched on his throne watching the festivities rather than participating in any of the dancing. Which I think is kind of odd. I mean, I know this sort of freaked me out a few days ago, but the fact of the matter is, Alberico really is quite good looking. I wonder why he never married. He would have a legitimate heir if he did. I file the thought away for now and smile pleasantly at my father.

  “Did you enjoy yourself this evening, Mia?” he asks me kindly.

  “Yes, thank you very much. Everything was perfect.” Well, everything except that brief dance with Blaise.

  “Good, good. Well, I just wanted to wish you a good night. I will see you in the morning for breakfast as usual?”

  “Of course. See you in the morning.” I curtsy, like a good sorta-princess, as my father rises from his throne. After he leaves I turn to Grey and he offers me his arm. We make our way through the still lively crowd. Apparently it doesn’t matter that the king is no longer present, these balls have been known to continue all night lon
g until everyone is too exhausted to go on.

  “Grey?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Why did Blaise say that Finnegan isn’t happy about me being here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  I look at him skeptically and shake my head from side to side.

  “He is afraid you will stand in his way to the throne,” he says as though it should be quite obvious. I guess that would explain his coldness towards me, but surely he has to realize I would never want this. I never once even imagined sitting on that throne. I’ll leave the ruling of kingdoms to the people far more qualified than myself.

  We walk the rest of the way to my room in silence, though every once in a while I feel certain that Grey is on the verge of saying something. Alas, he remains silent.

  I open the door to my room and before I step in, I turn around to face him. “Good night.”

  He reaches out and brushes his hand along my cheek, down to the bottom of my chin, and ever so gently tilts my face upward so I am looking into the depths of those indigo eyes I love so much. His eyes look pained, then determined like there is some sort of internal war going on in his head. I don’t want to get my hopes up but I am almost certain that I recognize the look in his eyes as resolve.

  “Good night,” he whispers as he leans in closer.

  I feel the air being sucked from my lungs. I close my eyes and then...

  My cell phone rings, successfully ruining the moment.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Um, I guess I better answer that,” I say as I regretfully pull away. I walk over and grab my phone from the end table beside my bed. I answer it on the next ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Oh, Mia! I’ve been trying to reach you for hours!” It’s my mom, and she sounds frantic.

  “Sorry, Mom. We were, uh, hitting the slopes?” I hope she doesn’t hear the question in my response. I never could lie.