Demonspawn Academy: Trial One

by Annabel Chase

  “I can see I’m outnumbered here,” Rafe said, though he didn’t seem truly bothered. “I suppose we’ll need appropriate weapons.”

  “What’s wrong with swords?” I asked.

  “Nothing, except that regular swords won’t do them any damage,” Liesel said.

  I snapped my fingers, remembering. “Iron.”

  Liesel headed to a panel on the wall and opened it, revealing a secret door. She turned to look at me through hooded eyes. “What are you waiting for? Come and choose your weapons. It’s time to pay a visit to the Fair Folk.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  We arrived at Wissahickon State Park, which apparently housed the closest natural portal to Faerie. The Watchers kept it under surveillance in case any faeries decided to steal humans away to their realm. It didn’t happen as often as it used to, mainly because of the nephilim.

  We stood in an oak grove and prepared to enter the glowing portal.

  “You must be careful, Cassia,” Rafe said. “Under no circumstances can you trust them.”

  I looked at him askance. “How can we expect to learn anything helpful about the portal if we can’t trust anything they say?”

  “We can’t. We just have to decide which tidbits of information to give attention to and which to ignore. It won’t be easy.”

  I heaved a sigh. “Nothing ever is.”

  “Make sure not to accept any gifts either, no matter how small they seem. They delight in tricking unsuspecting guests.”

  “Tricking them how?” Somehow, I got the impression that these tricks were more than amusing jokes.

  “Take your pick,” Rafe said. “They’ll offer you certain food or drink that binds you to Faerie for the next cycle of the moon. If you’re really unlucky, they’ll trick you into agreeing to be part of their hunt.”

  “So what? You end up riding horses with them for a couple of days?” I’d always wanted to ride a horse ever since I read about them.

  “It wouldn’t be as pleasant as that,” Rafe said. “They are as beautiful as they are vicious and cruel. I know seraphim get a bad rap for their treatment of demons, but fae are just as bad in my opinion.”

  “It doesn’t need to be a contest,” I said. “They can both be terrible.”

  “Enough chatter. Let’s go, team,” Liesel said. The portal swallowed her whole.

  Rafe grinned at me. “You’re up.”

  I took a step forward and felt the familiar sensation of falling. It only lasted for a moment before I stepped into another forest. I knew it wasn’t the same one—the colors here were more vivid. The leaves were greener and the sky was bluer. I surveyed the bucolic forest and tried to imagine running for my life here. The revulsion in my stomach seemed in sharp contrast to the beauty of the forest.

  “What’s the plan then?” I asked, once Rafe appeared beside us. “How do we propose to keep from being fodder for their fun and games?”

  Rafe squared his shoulders. “That’s where being a nephilim will come in handy. They view seraphim as their equals. They would never willingly harm one of their offspring. There are rules.”

  “Yes, but do the rules extend to your companion?” I asked.

  “I’ll make sure that they do.” His tone left no room for doubt. I knew that Rafe would do everything in his power to protect me.

  “Our best bet seems to be traveling east,” Liesel said. “I sense water in that direction, always a good sign.”

  I peered at her. “How do you detect water? What power is that?”

  “Seraphim are connected to the elements and some of their offspring inherit traces of that ability,” Rafe said. “Liesel’s connection to water is strong.”

  She gave her shoulders a subtle lift. “Strong is probably an overstatement. I can’t control water. I can’t control any elements. I just have an acute sense of when it’s nearby. Not the most exciting power, but it has its uses.”

  “And it seems that you have plenty of others to compensate,” I said.

  Liesel offered a flirtatious smile. “One of these days, maybe I’ll get to show you.”

  “Give it a rest, will you?” Rafe asked.

  Liesel’s eyes danced with amusement. “I know you’re not jealous when it comes to me, so it can only be bianco diablo here. I can’t blame you. You know I’m smitten myself.”

  Rafe groaned. “Nobody’s smitten. Nobody even uses the word smitten.”

  Liesel smiled and patted his cheek. “You’re so easy to torture.”

  We headed east until we encountered a river. The air was refreshing along the riverbank so we moved closer to take advantage of it.

  “Look how clear the water is,” I said. I could see shiny pebbles nestled at the bottom. I’d never been anywhere like this. Outside of the spires, the city was the only place I’d visited. The landscape of Faerie seemed vast and empty in comparison.

  “Why don’t we fly?” I asked. “Wouldn’t that give us a better vantage point?”

  “It would also risk an arrow piercing your heart if the three of us took to the skies here,” Liesel said. “They would take it as a threat.”

  “Personally, I think they’re still bitter that they didn’t get wings,” Rafe said. “It’s one of the main advantages that other creatures have over them. Even one that they deem beneath them.” He gave me a pointed look.

  The more I learned about the fae, the less I wanted to meet one. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to follow up on the one good lead we had.

  A rustling sound in the trees drew my attention to the top branches. A flash of gold nearly blinded me.

  “Someone’s watching us,” I said quietly.

  More rustling indicated that our follower was not alone.

  Someone jumped down from a tree branch. Rafe’s hand moved instinctively to the hilt of his sword. My fingers itched, but I kept them still. If I needed a dagger, I was confident I could reach it quickly enough.

  The fae strode toward us. His golden hair hung past his shoulders. His features were angular with a narrow nose and high cheekbones. More faeries dropped down from the hulking oak trees. I watched each one with a stunned expression. I had no inkling that they’d been lurking so close to us. At least the Watchers were as clueless as I was. If the faeries’ presence escaped their notice, then I could hardly berate myself for missing the clues.

  He observed us coolly. “Welcome to Faerie, son and daughters of our celestial neighbors. May I offer you any assistance?”

  No one was foolish enough to correct him about my heritage.

  “I am Nim, the protector of this river,” he continued. “I know this area as though it were part of my own body. Any guidance you require, I can surely be of service.”

  “My name is Rafe and I’m a Watcher in the mortal realm. These are my companions, Liesel and Cassia. We’ve come in search of information about an artificial portal.”

  “Someone created a portal to commit crimes in the city we protect,” Liesel added. “The energy associated with the portal was green, which leads us here for obvious reasons.”

  Nim frowned, appearing troubled. “Creating a portal for the purpose of harming those in the mortal realm is not our way. You will want to speak with Neil. He is an advisor to the queen of the Seelie Court. He will be in a better position to answer your questions.”

  “How do we find the court?” Rafe asked.

  Nim glanced over his shoulder. “I can send two of my subordinates with you.”

  “We don’t want any favors,” Liesel said carefully.

  Nim’s lips curled into a smile. “Consider it a mere gesture of hospitality.”

  Liesel nodded, satisfied. “We appreciate your kindness.”

  Nim jerked his head and two of his subordinates stepped forward—one male and one female. “Take them safely to Neil,” he said.

  The subordinates bowed before joining us. “This way,” the female said. She continued along the river in the direction we’d already been headed.

&n
bsp; “Is it far?” I asked.

  “Not the way we go,” the female fae said. We reached a footbridge that spanned the river and our escorts urged us to cross it. Instead of continuing alongside the river, we headed straight into the woods where a giant hawthorn tree towered over the other trees. The male faerie blew colorful dust from his hand and a doorway appeared.

  “A portal?” I asked.

  The female faerie smiled. “No, merely a cloaked entrance. You’ll see.” She entered behind her companion and the three of us followed. The base of the tree was so enormous that Liesel and I were able to pass through the entrance side-by-side without our shoulders touching. Steps spiraled downward, but those we had to take one at a time. The earthy scents of the forest permeated the passageway.

  “We’re lucky we’re on the side of Faerie that belongs to the Seelie Court,” Liesel said. “I’d much rather take my chances with them than the Unseelie.”

  The female escort craned her neck to look at us. “Don’t be so quick to dismiss the strength of our Seelie queen,” she said. “She is not as soft as her appearance suggests.”

  We reached the bottom of the spiraling steps and continued along a tunnel. Thankfully, it smelled far more pleasant than the tunnels beneath the city. Instead of reaching another set of steps, we emerged from another tree and I quickly realized that we were near a cliff overlooking the sea. The ruins of a castle beckoned in the distance.

  “Quite the shortcut,” Liesel said.

  The male faerie offered a smug smile. “It has its uses.”

  The sound of pipes drifted through the air, growing louder as we approached the court. Random fae gave us cursory glances as we entered through a courtyard. Flowers loomed all around us and a gurgling fountain served as the focal point of the courtyard. The pipes continued as we passed through.

  When we reached a stone archway, we were intercepted by another golden-haired faerie with a dagger cinched at the waste. Most of the faeries wore gauzy white dresses or light tunics with golden breaches. The soldier in front of us wore armor that appeared to be made of light blue glass. It was strangely beautiful.

  “Nim has instructed us to deliver these guests to Neil.”

  The guard gave a curt nod and motioned us forward.

  We followed the guard through the archway and along a stone path that was flanked by fragments of walls and no ceiling. Most of the castle seemed to be exposed to the elements. In the distance, I could still hear the faint sound of waves crashing against the cliff. More music greeted my ears as we passed through room after room, each one open to the sky. We passed a pole with colorful ribbons streaming from its middle and each ribbon decorated with flowers. Faeries giggled and whispered as we walked by.

  The guard finally stopped in front of an open doorway. “Guests of the realm here to see you, sir,” he said. The guard moved aside to allow us entry.

  “Welcome friends,” Neil said. The faerie was shorter than the ones we’d already encountered, with fuller lips and golden hair tied at the nape of his neck with a light blue ribbon.

  Rafe entered first and bowed slightly. “I’m Rafe, a Watcher from the mortal realm and these are my companions. We seek your help in obtaining information.”

  “We seek a faerie capable of creating portals,” Liesel interjected. “One that is skilled in such matters and willing to do so for a price or a cause.”

  “And what trouble has this portal caused?” Neil asked.

  “It resulted in a theft of a valuable object, as well as the death of an innocent victim,” Rafe said.

  “Death?” Neil regarded us somberly. “You level a serious accusation against one of our kind.”

  “We haven’t come here to create trouble,” I said. “We wouldn’t have come at all if the matter weren’t serious. Whoever created this portal has no regard for life. We have to find them.”

  “I agree. This is no small matter. As such, I will need to discuss it with the queen.” He adjusted the ribbon at the back of his neck. “I shall return in a moment.”

  We remained rooted in place. “On the upside, no one looks particularly violent,” I said.

  “Looks can be deceiving,” Rafe said.

  “They play pipes,” I said.

  “So do the Scots,” Liesel shot back.

  I thought about our human history lessons. “I take your point.”

  Neil finally returned with an inscrutable expression. “Queen Mae has requested that you feast with us this evening.”

  “We appreciate the offer, sir, but we don’t want to inconvenience your queen,” Rafe said. “We’re happy to discuss the matter now and return to our realm where we belong.”

  I could tell by Neil’s heavy stare that this was the wrong response.

  “Then do not think of it as a request,” Neil said in a low voice. Then he bowed. “When you hear the horn, you will know it is time to dine.” That was clearly our cue to leave.

  We shuffled out of the room, uncertain where to go next. No one seemed bothered that we were freely roaming the court with our iron weapons, which struck me as odd.

  “Why haven’t they stripped us of our weapons?” I whispered. A stone path emptied into another, smaller courtyard with a rose garden and we took refuge there.

  “Because if we so much as lift a dagger in this place, they’ll be well within their rights to kill us where we stand,” Liesel said. “They’ve offered us hospitality. We must be on our best behavior now.”

  “I intend to,” I said. “I want to find the portal maker as quickly as possible and go home.”

  “Mind your manners during the feast,” Liesel said. “The slightest misstep could be perceived as a slight.”

  I swallowed hard. Manners weren’t exactly my strong suit. When I was younger, I’d climb onto the kitchen counter and take whatever food Aldo was making. No one chastised me for it except Elder Alastor and only because he chastised me for everything, even breathing when the mood struck him.

  If our visit had been under different circumstances, it would have been a pleasant way to pass the day. The fae seemed to enjoy dancing and music and lively conversation. There didn’t seem to be a grumpy Elder Alastor among them. Lucky fae.

  When the horn sounded, we followed the trail of fae to the dining area—an open-air section of the castle with a breathtaking view of the sea.

  “The fae know how to eat a meal,” Liesel said.

  As we approached the table, a young faerie intercepted us. She was pretty and petite with a faded blue ribbon woven through a braid. “Queen Mae insists that you sit beside her.” She directed us to two chairs to the queen’s left and one to the queen’s right. “I’d remain standing until she’s seated if I were you.” She winked and skipped down to the opposite end of the table.

  The table sat twenty guests and we all stood behind our chairs until the queen arrived. Pipes changed abruptly to a flute to announce her entrance. She was resplendent in a pale green dress and a crown of oak leaves on her golden hair. She gave us a benevolent smile.

  “Welcome to the Seelie Court, honored guests,” she said.

  “Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty,” Liesel said.

  The queen inclined her head. “My friends look hungry tonight. Let us eat so that they may be sated.” She sat and everyone quickly followed suit.

  The feast was impressive. Servants brought dishes filled with exotic fruits and vegetables in deep, rich colors. A large platter in the middle of the table boasted a few different types of meat. There was also a fish stew and several offerings of cheese.

  A servant filled my empty goblet with a pale pink liquid and I tasted it.

  “It’s sweet,” I said.

  “Not too sweet, I hope,” the queen said. She took a sip from her own goblet. “Ah, yes. Satisfyingly sweet. Like a first kiss.”

  “Now you’re speaking my language,” Liesel said.

  “Neil has explained your situation,” Queen Mae said. “Where was this portal created?”

>   “In the mortal realm, Your Majesty,” Rafe said. “A city called Philadelphia.”

  “I see. In America.” She sipped demurely from her goblet. “And you saw evidence of fae handiwork?”

  “The residual energy was green, Your Majesty,” I said.

  Queen Mae nibbled on a bright yellow piece of fruit. “The creation of portals is a rare gift, even among my kind. Power like that tends to flow through royal blood.”

  “Can you create portals, Your Majesty?” I asked.

  The queen straightened her shoulders. “Naturally, not that I claim any responsibility for yours. My place is here in Faerie.”

  My cheeks colored. “I didn’t mean to insinuate…”

  The queen waved me off. “Not to worry, halfling. I did not take it as an insult.” She leaned forward. “There is, in fact, a faerie here that fits the criteria. As she was in the City of Brotherly Love recently, I suspect she must answer to you.”

  My grip tightened on the stem of the goblet. “She’s here?”

  “Yes. My niece, Aislinn.” Her gaze swept down the long table in search of her. “It seems she’s opted not to join us this evening. Pity.”

  “When do you think we’d be able to speak to her, Your Majesty?” Rafe asked. “After the feast?”

  The queen’s eyes glittered with mischief. “No, I think not.”

  Liesel chewed her healthy portion of roast pheasant. “You want something from us first.” It was more of a statement than a question.

  “My, aren’t you the clever one?” Queen Mae said in a condescending tone. “I suppose it’s only fair. If I do this courtesy for you, then is it too much to expect a favor in return?”

  Rafe offered her an easy smile. “Not at all, Your Majesty. We’d be happy to oblige.”

  She leaned back against her chair, satisfied. “I thought as much.”

  “What is it you’d like us to do?” Liesel asked. There was an edge to her voice and I got the distinct impression that the Watcher wasn’t a fan of the faerie queen.

  “Tomorrow morning, you will hunt,” Queen Mae said.

  My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “The Wild Hunt?” I’d read about the Wild Hunt with its unstoppable horde of faeries. I’d had nightmares about it as a child.