Enough time for Danika to make it to her meeting.
Fireflies came in droves then, doing their nightly dance ritual; zipping and spinning through the mushroom homes of the fae. It was precisely eight thirty. Time to go.
Rubbing her arms, Danika eyed the motley assortment of snoring fae one last time, just to ensure they were all well and truly out. Satisfied, she sailed into the air. Wings buzzing like a hummingbird’s as she flew to the edge of the woods. She zipped and sailed, dodging tree limbs, heart speeding with the aftereffects of her fear, but also joy.
She smiled when she finally sailed clear of the woods. Peering through the darkness, she looked for her marker: a series of boulders in a helix formation. Finally spying it, she dove. It took only a moment before landing on gray rock. Glancing both ways, she tapped out a quick sequence of sounds on the stone face.
Tap. Taptaptaptap. Taptap.
Danika nibbled her lip. She was much too exposed. What if the keeper had left? What if he’d been discovered? What if… Squeezing her eyes shut, she blocked out the incessant questions and tapped her foot.
He’d come.
A groove in the rock, little more than a jagged edge, shifted. A narrow pinprick of an opening soon grew into a hole large enough for her to pass through. Cool air emanated deep from within the earth, brushing past her face and making her break out in goose pimples.
“Who goes there?” A voice, hollow and deep, boomed from the cavernous depths.
“Goblin, it is I, Danika of the fae,” she said, proud that her voice did not quiver. Though the same could not be said for her knees.
“Danika,” the goblin growled, “tribute first.”
She clenched her teeth. Of course he wouldn’t care that she was exposed. That any moment Malvena might discover Mir’s whereabouts; which every moment she stood outside, threatened not only herself, but the whole of Kingdom.
None of that mattered though, because the stupid goblin must have tribute.
“Fine,” she muttered, yanking her wand from her sleeve and with a swish and flick produced a mound of rotten, stinking silver streaked fish. “There, you putrid, slimy toad. Now let me pass!”
“Proceed,” the disembodied voice poured through the hole, blasting her face with the fetid stench of decay.
Wrinkling her nose, she covered her mouth, and flitted inside, following a winding staircase down deep into the heart of the rock. There was no light. But there didn’t need to be. Danika knew the path well; she’d met Miriam here many times.
Her pulse rate decreased the deeper she went into the shelter of the earth. Quickly, she ran down the steps, smile growing wider with each step, until finally she spied the mirror.
Well, mirror wasn’t the right word. It was a looking glass of sorts, though in no way resembled a mirror. Long ago she’d learned to hide the amulet by altering its true form. If anyone, let alone the Ten, knew she still communicated with a shunned fairy, Danika’s life as she knew it would be over. She’d be thrown into the fiery dungeon and stripped of her wings.
She shuddered. She was rather partial to her wings. Thank you very much.
Still, the fear of reprisal didn’t stop her from her monthly check-ins with Mir. Glancing both ways--habits died hard--Danika rubbed her hand across the golden genie lamp.
Immediately an image flickered, and then a grim face stared back at her. “Oh, Mir,” Danika gasped, “what has happened to you?”
In the span of a month, Miriam had gone from looking fleshed out and rosy of cheek, to gaunt and withered. Her eyes were sunken in and rimmed in purple. Her hair was lackluster in color, differing shades of gray and brown. And though every fairy could change their true form, all fairies could see through the magic. This was Miriam, as she really looked.
“My friend. My friend,” Danika patted the cold metal screen. “Och…”
Miriam gave her a weak smile. “I’m tired, Dani. Aye, verra tired. No more, no less.”
“What has happened, my dear?”
Mir closed her eyes for a brief moment and rubbed her nose. “Times have gotten worse. Malvena,” she shook her head, “I donna ken how, but she’s found us. I’ve killed three wolves now already, not a fortnight ago.”
Danika tsked. “Does Violet know?”
“Nay,” Miriam shook her head, “I’ve been careful. I don’t think she’s seen one yet. But it’s only a matter of time. Her memories return clearer every day.”
Danika sighed. “Was that wise, Mir? Allowing her memories to return? What if you just kept her hidden longer?”
“How long?!” Miriam sneered, thin nose curling up. “We run, always the same thing. I’m tired, worn down. So is she. We cannot keep this up. But she is strong; I see the magic building in her. Soon she’ll be strong enough to hunt Malvena herself.”
Lips thinning, Danika rocked on her heels. “You know the Ten will not like this. Galeta said you were never to return. It--”
“Galeta knows nothing of the truth. Esmeralda saw it, years ago, she knows. It is time, Dani.” Miriam’s brows drew together sharply.
“Yes, but is this wise, dear one? Did we go about this the wrong way? Should we have told Violet everything? Maybe if we had…”
“Nay, my friend. She must discover the truths on her own, only then will she make the right choice. In the end, the choice is hers. The safety of Kingdom rests in the palms of her wee hands.”
A chill breeze caressed Danika’s cheek. She glanced up at the wet black rock, remembering that awful night of long ago. So many choices they’d made since then; keeping Ewan from her, never letting Violet know the truth, allowing her to believe a lie. Had they made the right choices?
“Aye,” Miriam whispered, “we did.”
Danika smiled, her friend knew her so well. “Are you sure, Mir? Ewan grows madder each day for want of her. I’ve sent him on wild goose chases all over Kingdom, letting him think his Red’s been spotted, when the truth of it is, he’s never even been close. He grows weary himself. And yet if I tell him, I know he’ll force me to take him to her, exposing her location again. Galeta would surely discover his visit, she’d kill him… maybe even me. Not that I care about myself, but I still have my other boys to consider.” She shook her head, curls bobbing forcefully around her face with her frustration.
A faint smile feathered across Miriam’s thin lips. “In order for Violet to challenge Malvena, she must learn the truth, and there’s only one to tell it to her.”
“Ewan will be so angry at me for keeping the truth all these years,” Danika’s words were soft, echoing with the faint trace of bitter laughter.
Mir cocked her head. “Aye, he will. But in the end, he’ll know the truth, why it had to happen that way.”
Danika snorted. “Such trouble we find ourselves in all the time.”
Laughing, the sound almost like what Danika remembered, Miriam nodded. “Aye, and that is the truth of it, my friend.” She glanced over her shoulder quickly. “Violet will return soon, I must go, but first… how fare your boys?”
Smiling, Danika sighed happily. “Hatter is mated. Alice is wonderful, crazy herself, in fact, I visit them often. Quite fond of Alice’s cupcakes.” She patted her stomach. “Gerard and Betty are doing well, vacationing in the Bahamas I believe. Wedding present, you know how it is.”
Miriam nodded. “Good. Good. And Jinni?”
“Worse.” Danika frowned. “He’s fading quickly. There are days when he’s little more than a bodiless voice. I can barely see him.”
“His mate is coming; she’s not quite ready yet, Dani, cheer up. He too shall have his happily ever after.”
A rustle sounded, like a door knob turning, Mir’s eyes widened and she squeaked. “I must go now, I’ll contact you again. Love you, sister dear.”
And then she was gone.
Danika swallowed when the lamp went black. Her friend was gone. Again. And though they talked once a month, it was still hard; and getting harder. Miriam was a sister to Danika, her
only true friend, and she was desperate to get her back from mortal land. No matter what it would take.
Even if it took angering the Big Bad Wolf to do it.
“I do what I must,” she whispered, and nodding decisively, went in search of her moody prince.
Chapter 33
Ewan howled, stamping his foot like a bull’s against the very edge of no man’s bluff. He hated visiting Jinni. Why the bloody fool insisted on living here baffled him. Jinni’s home, (and even calling it that was a stretch) was little more than a cave at the rock’s edge.
The exiled genie was more ghost than man now. The curse had long since stripped him of his body; he was now nothing more than an insubstantial mirage.
The Seren Seas whipped forcefully into the cliff, gale winds clawed through his fur pushing him back and threatening to rip the skin off the pads of his feet.
He howled again, long and low, knowing the bloody bastard could hear him. It was time to hunt. Ewan would not leave until Jinni had joined him.
Period.
After the fourth howl, a vaporous shape manifested before him.
Pulsed as a dim blue, before coalescing into a tight shape of arms and legs, torso, and head.
“What?” The Persian lifted a fine dark brow, his nostrils flaring as he glared at Ewan.
Ewan shook his head, pointing his nose in the direction of the Mad Hatter’s woods-where the Jabberwocky roamed. Few were brave enough to enter, but Ewan was close and Jabberwocky or no, he’d not be detained again.
Last night he’d heard an echoing cry, haunting and so achingly familiar his body had broken out in a sweat. For the first time in years, he’d heard her. Jinni he brought along not for the help, the miserable man was terrible company anymore, but rather out of a sense of loyalty.
He was fading fast. Never had Ewan seen one so determined to release his spirit to the Great Wolf in the sky.
“Not today, Wolf,” Jinni said, turning to go back.
Rain fell like shards of ice; pricking the sensitive tip of Ewan’s nose and making him sneeze. Already Jinni was dematerializing. With a huff, Ewan called the change to him. Unbecoming, as easy to him now as breathing. In moments his bones had shifted, his muscle lengthened, and he stood on two legs, attempting not to flinch as the rain pelted his sensitive flesh.
“Jinni, ye damn fool. Ye’re coming with me. I’ve need of yer assistance,” he growled, the weather making his words sharp and raspy.
Jinni had never been a gregarious sort, but it wasn’t hard to see the twinkle in his once vibrant brown eyes turning a dull shade of gray. He was disappearing, becoming nothing more than a pale imitation of his former self.
“For what?” Jinni asked. “I’m no use to anyone anymore.”
Ewan had to strain to hear over the wail of the winds. Black sky ripped open with a jagged streak of yellow light, thunder exploded in their ears.
“To scare away the Jabberwocky should he come.” Ewan cupped his mouth to be heard.
He rolled his eyes, crossed his arms over his chest, and said, “And how am I to do that? Cry boo?”
When Ewan had first come to Danika, he’d hated her. Hated his life. To have found his mate and have her stripped away on that very same night; it’d driven him to madness. Hatter had been useless, his lunacy more than Ewan could bear. Gerard and Hook, neither one could be counted as friend. But it’d been Jinni, who’d brought him back from the brink. He still wasn’t sure why the genie had done it for him, but he was grateful. Those had been dark days, dark times. He trembled remembering.
“Have ye seen your face lately, ghost? ‘Tis a frightful sight. Ye’d scare anyone with a glance.”
Jinni snorted, but something of the old twinkle came back to his face. “I’m not good company today, Wolf. Leave me be.” He turned, clearly intending to disappear once more into the goddess forsaken excuse he called a home.
Ewan snarled. “I’ll howl the entire bloody night, be a constant source of irritation in yer miserable existence. Ye will come. Now, or later, but ye will come. Decide, Jinni.” He narrowed his eyes at the still visage of his floating friend.
Seconds ticked past, then a minute, two. Jinni didn’t turn, didn’t move or even flinch, for a moment Ewan considered he might have to put his search on hold just to make good on his threat when the specter finally heaved a loud sigh of disapproval.
“Lead the way, filthy mongrel,” Jinni said, but there was no heat behind the words, more a detached acceptance.
It wasn’t in his nature to be particularly thoughtful of the feelings of others, especially another male, but Ewan worried at this rate the genie may not be around another year.
A particularly strong gust barreled into Ewan just then, nearly knocking him flat and forcing him to shove thoughts of genie aside. He needed to become the wolf again; next gale might drive him below sea. Gods forbid that should happen, t’was nigh impossible to extricate oneself from within a sea maiden’s clutches for at least a fortnight should she catch you. Lustful wenches they were.
Calling his power, he shifted, content to be back in wolf form. Sounds were sharper, smells richer, and his senses more keen.
He shot like a bolt away from the cliff’s, not worried about going slower. Jinni could follow with a thought.
The moment Ewan entered Hatter’s woods the landscape shifted. Trees, once tall with trunks thick and brown, were now contorted monstrosities painted in rainbow hues. Some were speckled, others striped. Leaves the color of rust reached out on twisted limbs, attempting to wrap their snake like ends around his tail.
The magic in these woods distorted and twisted everything. Anywhere else in Kingdom a tree was just a tree, but not here. These trees did not bear fruit for others, nor were they attractive to gaze upon. They were carnivores, seeking easy prey to devour.
But that was only the beginning of the surprises to be had within the mad realm.
Birds and insects flitted by, resembling that which they were named after. Horse flies whinnied at his passing. Wolf could not stop, and would not look back. Only the unschooled did so. Before Alice, the woods still held an element of the arcane, but it’d been tame, innocent, and not nearly so dark.
Since her return, the woods were full to bursting with the Hatter’s mad magic. Trees that’d seemed mundane in years past were once again treacherous and capable of killing an unwary soul.
Pollen dusted his nose when he ran headlong into a thicket of posies and thorns. Ewan sneezed, clawing at his nose, but never stopping. Not when the hooked thorns tore into his side, nor when Jinni laughed.
“Your obsession with finding your mate is not worth this, surely, Wolf?”
Ewan ignored him.
Morpho butterflies erupted from the brush, filling the sky with their electric blue shimmering. Pads of butter squirted from them, coating Ewan’s fur with the sweet hint of clover. He curled his nose, hating when they did that.
A distant howl rang through the woods and the fur around his neck stood up. Lips curled back, teeth gleamed as he growled low and pushed harder, kicking up dirt in his wake. Demonic laughter zigzagged all around him. High, low, in the sky, in the ground. A crescent slice of teeth materialized in his sights.
“Whom, do you seek?” Cheshire asked. “Oh wait…” A tiger striped face manifested within a plume of smoke. “We all know the answer to that riddle, do we not? Big. Bad. Wolf.”
Snarling, Ewan plowed through the image, huffing as he inhaled the brimstone fumes.
Eyes, independent of one another, bounced inside Jinni’s chest. Blinking, opening wide, and then narrowing into slits.
Jinni rolled his own eyes, but apart from that, gave no other indication of annoyance.
“Hmmm…” Cheshire’s ghostly voice returned.
The floating eyes turned its glance on Ewan--who was now coated in sweat, pulse hammering wildly as he tried to reach the edge of the woods with his sanity intact.
A branch rushed out, latching onto Jinni’s ephemeral ankle
. But Jinni phased through it, the tree shuddered and shook a wooden fist at him.
Just a little further.
Ewan sailed clear of a tree root lifting up from the ground.
“I could tell you where she’s at,Wolf.” The cat smiled its ghostly smile up at him with pointed teeth sharper than his own.
Blood rushed through Ewan’s ears, his heart thumped hard against his ribcage. The cat lied. He always lied. He was a trickster, a deceiver, better to tune him out.
But what if he knew?
Blinking furiously, panting even harder, Ewan shook his head. How could the cat know? Not even Danika knew? T’was impossible, the cat toyed with him again.
Pain ripped through his sides as he ran harder, using every ounce of energy left to exit the woods quickly. Ahead he saw the glimmering wave of twilight, the edge of Hatter’s forest. Warmth seeped from his padded feet, he’d cut himself somewhere. Almost as if the thought conjured them, gnats descended in a black haze, attracted to the scent of his sweat and blood, they nipped at him.
“Don’t you want to know?” Cheshire floated fully in front of him, relaxed and licking one paw. “Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious?”
“Go away, cat,” Jinni said sharply, his vaporous hand streaked through the tabby, who only laughed as if he’d been tickled.
Squeezing his eyes shut for a brief moment, Ewan tried to recall where he’d heard her cries. Yesterday hunting along the border of the woods, he’d heard her faint call. She’d whispered ‘wolf’ and his heart had clenched. For the first time ever he felt hope, hope that his ordeal would soon be over.
He looked around him, at the still black night, at the trees that were now returning to normal. Somewhere a raven cawed. He licked his teeth. Malvena had spies everywhere.
Miriam had been right all those years ago. Malvena no longer cared whether Ewan lived or died, but that did not mean she’d left him in peace. It’d been years since he’d worked for her, but Ewan knew her mind, knew the mystery of that night ate her alive. No doubt, Patrick the Red had been killed. He might have felt a flicker of remorse, but Patrick had tried to end his mate’s life, sadness was simply not in him. If Malvena hadn’t done it, caution be damned, Ewan would have. He’d have found a way to slink back to his clan just so that he could rip Patrick’s still beating heart from his chest for daring to lay one claw on her.
[Kingdom 01.0 - 03.0] Kingdom Series Collection Page 30