by Alexia Purdy
Chapter Eighteen
There was nothing but the dark and silence around her. She was face down in the fine, sandy dirt floor. Sparks twinkled in her vision as she moved, causing her to slow down and breath through the wave of nausea. She must have hit her head when she landed. Moving her arms under her, she pushed herself into a sitting position, or what felt like it because the darkness seemed to cancel out her sense of direction, and this did not help her stomach. She lurched the last bits of her afternoon snack into the black dirt around her.
Yuck, Shade spit onto the ground, trying to expel the remnants of the nasty taste in her mouth. She breathed in deeply and sat up again, balancing herself with her hands in the dirt. She bent over, letting some more blood rush into her throbbing head. Now I need a doctor or something…As the moments passed, the pounding lessened and her stomach settled. She was able to sit straight then and fished through all her pockets for the light stone. She found it in her back pocket of her jeans. She wrapped her hand around it, willing it to life. The soft glow grew with every breath she took. She felt her fear subside just a bit when the light brightened and showed more strength. She held it in the center of her palm and stretched her fingers straight. Like a lantern she held in her hand and carried it with her about the room. The light was dim; but she could see that the room was rounded and made out of stone. Dirt, rocks, and debris littered the floor of the underground cave. She studied the smooth walls all around her. She could not see any exits or cracks in the stone. She looked up at the ceiling where she was sure she had come from. It was sealed and just as smooth as the walls.
What the? How the hell do I get out of here? How the hell did I get in?
Shade once again scanned the room. It was like being inside a very hard bubble. She sighed and placed the stone in front of her in the dirt. Please, just keep glowing. She prayed as she watched the warm yellow light. She smiled, proud that she managed to do some magic, she attempted to stand up and take a better look around. The floating stars in her vision caused her kneel back down and she had to wait until the dizziness and woozy feeling subsided.
After a few moments, Shade felt well enough to stand and was glad she didn’t hit her head on the ceiling. Walking along side of the walls, she felt along the stones that were rougher and grainier than the stones on the ground. The bumps scraped against her already, wounded, and sore hands. After inspecting every inch of the surface that appeared to be no way out. Spinning around with her heart pounding in her chest, she felt claustrophobic and very frustrated. All kicking the stone wall and punching it with her hands gained her was more pain. Her hands were burning as her closed fists irritated her excoriated palms. Shade slumped to the floor, leaning against the cold rock. She hugged her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth until sobs shook her body and her tears soaked her cheeks. Her cries echoed in the cool air. She felt no wind or air but could smell the dampness and mold intermingled within it.
The time ticked by and she didn’t know how long she had rocked herself but it was long enough for her tears to dry up that stained her dirty cheeks, and for her hands to stop throbbing. She pulled off her pack and dug through it for some water, hoping that after that she might be able to think more clearly. Her ravenous chewing on a small snack filled the emptiness for a moment or two. She wished her spirit guides were still with her and giving her advice. She wondered why the attack had caused her to expel them along with Darren. She hugged her arms and felt a chill run down her entire body. She pulled out Dylan’s warm blanket and wrapped it around her until just her eyes were visible from its folds. The warmth provided by the blanket was instant and now her eyes were drooping with drowsiness, and heavy with sleep.
Feeling a little lonely, Shade breathed in the faint scent of Dylan’s skin. She sighed and watched her light stone glow softly in the dark. What now? She pulled out her sleeping bag from her tent set up and laid it on the soft dirt. Laying her pillow down, she felt the exhaustion overwhelm her body and her bones ached from the events of the day. She hadn’t realized how tired she had become after being chased through the forest. She pulled the blanket around herself and drifted away, hoping to find someone, even in her dreams.
*****
“Shade?”
Her eyelids fluttered open as her eyes adjusted to the blue flickering light in the room as it intermittently broke up the darkness. The rock seemed to bounce the light around and had took on the blue color. She blinked again and sat up, confirming that she was still in her stone dungeon. Realizing her light stone wouldn’t be as bright as the light that shone in the cave, she rubbed away the sleep from her eyes and looked around. Who called my name?
“Shade! It is you! I knew you were close but I never thought that you would be here!” A male voice said with relief and eagerness.
She stared at the figure; electricity crackled and flames radiated from him like a torch. She stood up and wavered a moment, eyes wide in disbelief. Dylan! It was Dylan without glamour and aglow in the most amazing blue fire, that swam along his skin and licked the air around him.
“Dylan? What, but, how did you get here? How did you find me?” Her eyes scanned him, waiting for his still familiar face to change into someone else. Her heart leaped with the utmost happiness at the sight of him. She smiled and tried to stand until a sway of dizziness changed her mind.
“I don’t know. I came along an ancient river bed with enormous boulders throughout it. I was compelled to be there. I’d been tracking you for days. I can feel when you have been in a place, almost like I’m experiencing a feeling of déjà vu. It felt so strong there, but I didn’t even know where to look. Suddenly the land seem to open up and suck me down between the boulders and bam, here I am. That’s never happened to me before, definitely a first.” He paused, smiling at her. “Like, I was meant to find you. I can’t even explain it. It’s the weirdest thing ever to fall and be right here with you. No wait don’t get too close, you might get burned.” Shade retracted her hand, just realizing she had been reaching out to him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
He smiled and nodded. “It’s ok. You know how we look like without the glamour to encase our true bodies. If you were to touch me, I could hurt you…”
Shade pressed her lips together, confusion flashed across her face like a slap. “But Darren touched me when he was unglamoured, like you are now, and I didn’t get burned. I asked Soap and Jack about it and they had no answers for me. It makes me think that I might not be harmed if I touch you.” She looked back up at Dylan.
His face was a mask of shock; and he shook his head. “I don’t know about that Shade. Maybe it was a trick of his. He could do so many things with mirrors that would make you believe things were real, when all they really were bits of illusion. He was a genius at that.” Dylan’s face was grim at the thought of his brother.
“No, I know because he was shocked when I didn’t burn, he said that much. I saw it in his eyes.” Her eyes glazed over with the memory of the malice that stained on Darren’s face. He had filled with so much pleasure when he saw the fear wash over her. She looked at Dylan and almost expected to see Darren standing before her. They were similar in appearance but even as brothers, they didn’t exactly look alike and certainly didn’t behave the same way.
“Well, if you must Shade. I will tone the flames down and then you can touch my skin with just a finger, that way it won’t hurt you that much. Deal?”
She nodded and watched his flames shrink back into just embers glowing across his skin softly. She studied it and watched how his skin looked smooth and untouched under the heat. He watched her as she walked towards him, extending her arm and hand up towards him. They both held their breath as she reached her finger up to his skin and ran it up his arm slow and straight. Dylan was still holding his breath when her soft touch reached him, and in that moment it felt as if time froze.
Nothing… is happening, He felt warm but hot would not be the word she would use. There wa
s no pain, flying ash, or fear. She extended the rest of her fingers out to brush his forearm. His flames extended to full glow and she remained unscathed. She brought her hand back and studied it. Dirt and drying scrapes were smeared across her hand but no burns or soot. She looked at Dylan, who was as stunned as her and watched her with an intensity that suddenly made her aware of his closeness.
“Dylan, why can I touch you? What am I? Why am I protected from the Teleen fires?” She stared at him, awaiting an answer.
Dylan seemed to come back into himself, shaking off whatever was holding him in his thoughts still. Gazing at her, he shook his head. “I-I don’t know, Shade. I wish I knew. There are so few who can do what you just did, so very few. Most are just Teleen, but you…” he kept his head shaking back and forth in disbelief. “Amazing,” he whispered and then looked back at her, a smile now filling up hiding the seriousness of his face.
“Do you know what that means Shade? You could marry a Teleen. You could, without difficulty find a mate within our court. Being a female, you have no idea how rare you are and how well you shall be received…”
“What? I don’t want to get married. Well, at least not yet. Where did that come from? I-I’m just a kid, why would I even think of that yet? Dylan, what do you mean there are a few who can do what I did, like not getting burned? Who else beside the Teleen, Dylan? Who besides Teleen can tolerate your power?” She waited and watched his smile fade just as fast as it had come.
“Our race is dying out, Shade. We can only marry another Teleen and very few of us are able to have children. Only matched pairs with another race that is able to be genetically compatible to us would help strengthen our line. Our power dies otherwise. The only other races of fey that would even be compatible with us and strong enough to withstand our fire are even rarer than the Teleen are.”
“Who are these people? What do you call them? Dylan, please.” She watched him impatiently. The look on his face definitely disapproving that she even asked him.
“Changelings for one thing, elementals of fire, such as fire-witches. Finding someone like that is so rare...I have only known of one changeling and one elemental fire-witch ever, and they were paired already.” He paused and studied her, narrowing his eyes at her. “Do you know if you are either of those, Shade?”
“Me? No, no way. If I am, I wouldn’t know it. I mean, what are a changeling and an elemental witch? How would I know which one I am, if I’m one of those?”
“Well, a changeling is simple; they are capable of changing into anything they want to. Human, bear, squirrel, different types of fey like Teleen, Enlors are sprites or Gidals, which are trolls. Anything, really. It’s a rare ability, like I said. An elemental fire-witch is, well, a human mortal witch–in every meaning of the word, but with an affinity to fire. They can control it, wave it around, and send it roaring across a forest, whatever you can imagine doing with it. They can cast spells, charms, curses and things of that nature. There are many kinds of witches, Shade, but rare is it to find elemental witches, they are special.” He stopped, his face serious and he met her eyes.
“Shade, if my people knew that you could be one of these kind of specials, especially since Darren exposed it with his attack, I have to warn you and let you know that upon returning to Teleen, all unmated, unmarried males in my race will be courting you for your attention. You’ll probably be bombarded by them, pushed to choose one of them for a mate.”
“What? Oh no, no, no. They can’t make me do anything. I won’t choose anybody. I won’t be staying there at all. I wouldn’t return there after what happened, and besides I’m going home.”
Dylan nodded and sighed. “Yes, Shade, of course you will want to go home. But I must warn you. Even at home, you will not be left alone. Teleen men are relentless. Our queen will not stop them either, not until you choose one of them as your mate. Only then will it be ordered by our queen to leave you alone. It is vital for the survival of our people. I’m sorry, Shade. At the very least I had to warn you before that happens.”
Shade let her face screw up in disgust. Marriage was the least of her worries. She wished he hadn’t said a thing about it at all. She turned and slumped down onto her sleeping bag again. She still felt tired and now irritated on top of it all. She stared up at the ceiling, lit up in Dylan’s glow. The whole cave was flickering in the light. There was still no sign of a way out. She pulled the blanket over her head and balled up into a ball.
“Dylan, how are we getting out of this place? I looked everywhere. I don’t even see where I came in! What is this place? I feel claustrophobic and it’s cold down here.” She closed her eyes and waited.
“It’s a place to forget oneself or forget about someone. It’s both a blessing and a curse depending how you look at it. This cave is one of the ancient prisons of Faerie. People were left here for years to forget about themselves, wither away or to emerge fresh, with a clean slate. It’s an immortal’s dungeon or oubliette, Shade. I am surprised you stumbled across one; usually it can trap only immortals.” He paused. She listened to the silence, waiting for him to continue while pondering his words.
“It does make me wonder why you are down here. You must be immortal then, to end up in such a place. Possibly a powerful changeling for all we know.”
“Who gets people out of these things? Who made them? Was it the Lonares?” She muttered. She felt her eyes heavy with sleep; she rubbed them and struggled to stay awake.
“No, as I said this room could be used as a prison but not always. It can be a safe place, you know when you’re being pursued and you need to seek a sanctuary. No one gets people out of these places, except for the faery who put you here. You must will it so yourself–to escape, I mean; you must get us out here Shade”
She thought of his last words as she drifted off to sleep. What a bunch of crock.
*****
Shade woke up in darkness yet again. She heard a soft breathing across the room. Was she still in the oubliette? The cool, damp air reassured her disappointment as she sat up, pulling the blanket down from her head. She felt around for her light stone, which sat cold and dormant in the center of the room where she had left it. She grasped it and watched it reignite. Her eyes focused in the dim light as it grew. She watched the bundle that was Dylan softly sleeping. He wasn’t aglow anymore. He must have slipped his glamour back on like a robe before bed. She sighed and set the light stone down again. She wondered if she should wake him and also about how long she had slept. She didn’t know what day or time it was anymore. It could have been hours or minutes and she wouldn’t even know it down here in the dark, dank bowels of the earth. Her cell phone was long dead, since she hadn’t charged it lately. She leaned against the smooth stone and thought about everything they had spoken about before she had let sleep win her over…was it the night or day before?
She felt bad for doubting Dylan, but he didn’t make much sense to her half of the time. She smiled, glad that she wasn’t alone down here anymore but pondered again on the subject of escape. Just will it so? What the heck was that about? Like, tell the stone to open up and let me out kind of thing? Shade thought with frustration. She was pretty sure she hadn’t asked to be placed here, at least not on purpose.
She stood up again and shook her head. Oh whatever, this entire place doesn’t make any sense. Changelings, witches, faeries and whatever the hell else pops up. She wondered how much of the world she had grown up in was real at all. It seemed like none of it was real, it was just a lie, just a façade that the fey had played on all of human kind. They probably got a good laugh out of it all the time. Oh, what dumb humans they are, can’t figure out that more than half their land isn’t even on their maps because it’s ours. We can do whatever the heck we want and they don’t know any better. Idiots!
She kicked the wall again, but not hard enough to hurt her foot but enough to make her grunt. She thumped her back against the wall and sighed in.
“You alright there? The wall isn’t goi
ng to kick you back you know, it didn’t really do anything to you.” Dylan had his hands behind his head while he remained lying, head up and staring at her, sneering.
“Oh shut up. How do we get out? We need to get out like yesterday, Dylan! How do we do it?” She stared at him, huffing out her anger as she marched back to her sleeping bag. She shook it out violently and stuffed it into her bag. She pulled out her canteen and drank the cool drops of water. She tossed it back in and then tossed her bag to the side as she sank down to the ground, feeling the tears sting her eyes. Darn if she was going to give Dylan any more signs of her current breakdown, she just couldn’t take the mortification.
Dylan sighed and stretched out. He stood up and held his hand out to her. “Come on, we gotta go.”
He waited as she stared back up at him, tears still pooling in her eyes. She took his hand and stood up, swinging her pack onto her back and followed him over to the smooth walls of stone. “Now, to leave these prisons, one must believe in impossibility. Lay your hands on the stone and think, think about the mountains you saw before you got here, the fountains. Make a road in your head that will lead you to the place you want to go, and it will happen, make a way for yourself, for us.”
Shade studied his face, feeling a prick of hope mixed with disbelief as he spoke. She nodded and did what he told her to. She closed her eyes and wished the stone would open and let her out into the sunlight, into the wilderness she so longed to see again. She prayed and wished as hard as she could, caressing the cool rock and waiting for the stone to do something under her dirty fingers.
Nothing.
Shade opened her eyes and stared at the rock. She looked over at Dylan and shook her head. “Nothing’s happening Dylan. What if we’re stuck here?” She stared at the curved wall, wanting a way out where there was none. She sucked her breath in. “Wait!” She grabbed her pack and opened the zipper, rummaging through it frantically. She pulled out the runes Ilarial had given her. She held them in her gritty hand and stared at the symbols. She shook her head; she didn’t know what she had to do with them. Ilarial said they would help me find my way when there is none, but how? She stared at them and closed her eyes, silently praying for a way out of the oubliette.