Solitary Fae (Humans vs Fae Book 2)

by Charlotte Royalin

  The golden fae moved to my side, untying the magical rope. Once I was released, I rubbed each arm rapidly in succession. "Oh, thank Awul!" I groaned. I felt pins and needles as circulation began to rush through my hands.

  I didn't sit on the forest floor for long as Vethari grabbed both of my wrists in a single hand and lifted me to my feet, ushering me in front of him. Him being rather larger than I, it wasn't hard. He reached over my shoulder with his other hand, pointing forward at the ground. I looked again. Once more, I didn't see anything distinctive.

  My eyes adjusted to the green, and that's when I noticed what he was gesturing at.

  What I saw was something I've read about many times, though I've only seen them before in books my mother read to me as a child. It's what I was told was called a pixie ring. Also known as a faerie circle. This one was rather large, approximately twenty feet wide. The little mushrooms that formed the pixie ring were white at the stem, with a thick bright red cap covered in cream spots.

  Before I could ask any questions he might deem meaningless, my lovely guard gave me a sudden and forceful push, sending me sprawling into the middle of the circle of mushrooms. My free arms now flopped out in front of me to keep my head from hitting the ground. I grunted at the sudden impact, getting up quickly onto my knees as I glanced around, expecting something magical to happen to me.

  Nothing had happened as Vethari stepped into the circle with me. I was agitated enough that I risked sending a glare up at my captor, though he gave me no heed.

  With a wave of his arm, each of the mushrooms suddenly began to emit a glow. The mushrooms began to glow, one by one, in a clockwise motion. I watched each light up in mere seconds until the circle was complete. The glow seemed to move down from the caps, through the stems, and into the ground itself. From the light that was emitted, a solid ring of clovers began to sprout, forming a perfectly symmetrical ring around us both.

  I didn't think, only instinctually attempting to claw my way out of the ring. It was legend that once a human entered these circles, they would never return to the human world. To be trapped forever in the world of the vicious fae, whatever that entailed.

  I gasped as I felt a vicelike grip in my hair. Vethari was stopping me from getting away and forcing me to stay at his side on my knees.

  "No, no, let me go!" I shouted, trying to thrash against him as I reached up to try to undo his fingers from my matted hair.

  The clovers then began to glow a bright blue, fading into white as the light shot upward, encasing us, moving inward and covering every inch of our bodies.

  My vision turned white, and I felt that familiar feeling of being transported from one space to another, just like with the glass bracelet Vethari had given to me when we first met.

  3

  I rubbed my eyes as my vision began to reappear, the searing white burning my pupils as if I had just stared straight into the sunlight. I could feel the tension from the back of my head release as my hair was freed. My scalp was even sorer than earlier, and I took the opportunity of temporary freedom to rub my head in a feeble attempt at removing the pain. I looked around to work where we had been transported to, which, surprisingly, looked the same.

  We were in the same location, in the same forest, surrounded by the same mushrooms. The clovers seemed to have retracted into the earth. One peculiar difference, however, is that everything seemed just ever so slightly warped. A tiny bit different.

  The colors of the plants surrounding us were vastly more vibrant. I could feel each individual blade of grass on my exposed skin, and they didn't feel prickly. Rather, they had the softest texture of grass I'd felt throughout my entire lifetime.

  Vethari began to step out of the circle, and I rose to stand. The pain that once burned through the soles of my feet was reduced, as the grass seemed to drain any uncomfortable feelings out of them. Instead, it felt almost pleasurable to walk barefoot. The trees that surrounded it were different from wherever we originally were. Each leaf had a sky-blue tinge on the outside, making them beautifully exotic in appearance. Everything, absolutely everything, was the same, but more spectacular. My heart began to sink at the creeping knowledge that I'd never seen or experienced such beauty before.

  "Welcome to our realm." Vethari spoke, for the first time might I add, without vexation in his voice during this entire lengthy journey.

  "This is the world of your people?" I whispered as I stepped closer toward him. It was then I noticed the ibisa had disappeared. "Where has the creature gone?" I asked as I followed after Vethari once he began to saunter forward. "He will return to us with the other two, but for now we shall walk. My village is only a few hours ahead."

  He looked over at me, and must have noticed how tired I was, "Then you may rest."

  I returned his look, staring blatantly at the golden fae. Something was different about him in this faerie world too. Before, his glowing skin, gleaming hair, and the hardened lines of his figure stood out exceptionally in what I realized now was the plain world of mine. In this realm, nothing was bland, and so beautiful that he didn't stand out so much.

  We continued deeper into the forest, the grass once more becoming tall enough that I could brush each blade with my fingertips. It felt so lovely to touch, just like the patch of grass we had transported through. I must have looked a fool as I smiled, curling my fingers through the grass that I noticed had a bit of a purple glow to it.

  In the back of my mind, I knew this was weird. Everything was so alien and foreign. I knew that I should be afraid or worried, but I couldn't brush off the feeling of unwavering pleasure that bled into every vein of my body, every one of my senses. The scent no longer muddy, but like sweet grass and fresh dew. As strange as it sounded, it felt as though the nature was attempting to commune with me.

  Whether Vethari felt the same I don’t know, but he trekked on, not noticing of the bliss I felt. "Look." He signaled ahead, making me snap out of my admiration of the nature around me. Instead I saw what I presumed was a plume of smoke billowing forth above the sea of tree canopies. It was difficult to see unless you were paying close attention. "Is that where you live?"

  Vethari nodded, lengthening his steps even further until we were both walking hastily ahead toward the smoke. The closer we got, the more my sense of pleasure from this mystical world turned into a raging headache. Sweat began to form on my brow and I found myself panting for breath. The beauty of the world diminishing greatly as the pain increased.

  The pain forced me to come to a complete stop, raising my hands to massage my temples as I grimaced. It was so uncomfortable.

  "What is wrong with me?" I moaned. I was becoming nauseated.

  Vethari came to a halt next to me, watching me move in pain. "It's only magic. If anyone lacking fae blood gets too close to the village, they'll get sick. It's the basest form of protection magic, a precaution to make them think twice and hopefully turn tail and leave."

  "Then how do I get rid of it." Bile began to creep up in my throat, threatening to spill out. "Just remember, it's only magic. This isn't real. If you can remember that, the ill feeling should go away." Vethari tapped his forehead gently, "It's only mental."

  It was much further away than I was led to believe. It took us near half an hour until I could start to see faint outlines of what looked to be abnormally large trees that jutted out from the regular tree line. An indication, Vethari said, that we were fast approaching the village.

  Vethari stopped, grabbing me by my arm, and giving it a yank.

  "Hey!" I yelled, trying to pull myself away from his rough handling of a lady.

  "Don't talk to anyone once we get inside. Not just yet." That was all the warning he gave me before we began to move. His tone was casual which surprised me.

  Once we reached those once only barely visible outskirts of the trees, the fae at my side paused. He raised a hand above us, as if waving to something that was hiding in the branches of the humongous trees.

  In unison with his
motion, the largest of all the trees that was now in front of us, bent forward. The actual tree itself, bowing low.

  My body tensed, and I could tell he felt me do so as his grip on my bicep slackened. It didn't make me feel any more comfortable, as the tree continued to bend forward and down slightly toward us, a loud groan emitting as it pressed down, closer and closer to the ground.

  "It's not going to fall on us, is it?" I looked toward my captor, though his gaze was focused solely on the tree. The muscles of his sharp jawline flexing slightly as he waited.

  "Look." He looked up. For the first time on our journey, the way he spoke was just like when he was in his prison cells. It soothed me, and I looked up, putting a little trust in him again.

  As I looked up, my jaw fell slack. I raised my free hand to my mouth. I widened my eyes. Two large sections of bark, high above us on the trunk, began to crack and separate. What seemed to be eyes, with dark, yellowish-green moss where the iris would be appeared on the trunk.

  My lips were trembling, and I could feel the urge to scream and flee rise in my throat. Vethari must have noticed this as he placed his hand over my mouth to keep me quiet. All it did was muffle me as I shouted into his palm in surprise.

  The eyes of the tree moved from him, to me, and back to him. If a tree could express emotion properly, I would say it was a display of confusion on its part.

  The movement of the tree was extremely slow, even for something so massive and powerful in appearance. Another crack opened, and a large, fearsome hole on the tree extended. I could only assume it would be its mouth. It blew out air over us but seemed to be talking in whispers. I ceased my shrieking at this point.

  The smell was horrendous, unlike the other pleasant breezes that passed over us of honeysuckle and lilies. Instead, the breath of this tree creature smelled of rotting wood and foliage. Mildew and rancid meats.

  I couldn't help but gag, wishing I had a handkerchief to dry heave into.

  Then, Vethari did something that surprised me. He began to respond to this tree. Speaking in a language I'd never heard before.

  "Bak lith Faariin'katah sooth pana."

  The tree before us did not take move or talk back to him for a while, and I was almost surprised at how worried I was that something was going to happen to Vethari as it stood still, eyeing the golden fae up and down cautiously.

  Then, a similar groaning noise emerged as it started to rise, taking the better part of a full minute before reaching full height.

  Then it raised its roots from the ground where it stood and pulled them out of the way, just enough for us to get past it. The sight was fearsome, and it wouldn't take more than one wrong move for it to crush either of us. Though with how slowly it moved, I doubt we'd have much trouble getting out of the way.

  I looked over to Vethari who seemed completely unfazed, merely focused. The grip he still held on me tightened as he pulled me through as soon as there was enough passage space. Once we passed through, I looked over my shoulder to see the tree had sunk, with a resounding thud, right back into the place it stood when we first saw it. Now, it no longer looked menacing. Instead, it appeared as just a tree with no semblance of it ever being alive or having even the smallest capability to move on its own.

  If I hadn't just seen what I witnessed with my own two eyes, I wouldn't believe it. I still wasn't sure if I could trust myself that I truly saw what I did just now.

  Before I could register any more thoughts on the tree-being, I was given a tug to stop us from walking further. My eyes, and thoughts, turned solely to Vethari, who nodded forward once more. Signaling me to look ahead.

  The expanse of trees had vanished now that we had made our way deeper into the woods. Instead, I was standing in front of what looked to be a town.

  Nay, not a township, it wasn't large enough to call it so. But it was a village, for certain. A village with many a creature and faerie going about their daily lives. My heart was racing in my chest at the sight of it all. Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought that such beings cohabitated like humankind as they did.

  We trekked forward once again. This time I didn't need a tug to move as I gaped at everything and everyone in awe. Some of the homes were tall; thatched huts made of what seemed to be petrified wood. Some were made from branches that grew and stretched deep enough to reach the ground. There were creatures sitting inside the forest homes, talking and laughing over a small table while eating fruits. Another beautiful faerie woman walked up the branches to where they met the tree trunk. She looked like the fae that had been executed, with pale translucent skin. Though it had a greenish hue rather than blue. Once her hand met the tree it began to glow. Then so did her whole body. Then she melded instantly into the tree, vanishing from physical sight altogether.

  I blinked, rubbing my eyes with my free hand.

  Vines hung beautifully around the small village as decoration, with large lilac flowers, the centers of them a bright red that glittered as if covered with small shards of glass. As we continued through the little village, I noticed that I was getting many a stare in return as well.

  A short, sprightly fae that had cloven hooves instead of feet stared over at me. He—at least I think it was male—prodded the small pixie that fluttered at his side and both of them pointed.

  I could see the tiny butterfly-like faerie open its mouth to speak, but only the sound of small bells escaped their curious smiling lips.

  "This is your home?" I asked softly, taking in the magnificence of this fae village's splendors and beauty.

  "Indeed, it is." Vethari led us deeper into the village.

  This was the place I'd always wanted to see as a child. And to bear witness to this type or level of cohabitation was mind-blowing when comparing it to the way that humans lived.

  Nothing here seemed evil, nor malicious, nor monstrous. Nothing like the church had always portrayed and wanted us to believe. How could they instil fear into my people? This was the most beautiful place I'd seen in my lifetime.

  I attempted to take in everything we passed by. The faeries also took in my human form.

  It wasn't long before we stopped in front of another large tree trunk.

  There was no door to it, only a tarp of sorts that moved with the slightest breeze, signifying an opening behind it.

  "Go on, I must speak with our leader. You'll have the opportunity to rest, now."

  He released his grip on my arm and gave me a gentle push toward the tree, only repeating the pressure once he noticed that I was hesitating.

  Just go inside? Inside the tree to Awul knows where? It sounded like it was some type of trap.

  I pursed my lips as I stared at the entrance.

  "Tell me nothing bad will happen to me if I go inside."

  "Of course not, silly girl." Another push. This time I allowed myself to be moved until I garnered the strength to step inside myself. I turned to say something once I had entered the dark room, or whatever it was, but the door had disappeared as soon as I crossed over the threshold.

  "Hey!" I yelled, running my hands over the hard bark and wood as I tried to find the entrance, but I found nothing.

  I gulped, turning around once more. There was nowhere to go but further inside, down the slight slope that seemed to drop off into a room. It was more like a cellar by the look of it. I just kept reminding myself that fae couldn't lie.

  With a deep breath, I gathered myself and whatever bit of spare courage I had left, and I started to walk downward.

  As I approached the bottom floor, I could see a single light. Just a simple candle it seemed. Nothing magical or spectacular other than the fact that no wax was melting from it. It seemed to just stay perpetually lit but without heat.

  I scanned around the darkened interior, seeing nothing more than a chest and what seemed to be a chimney. In front of it and to the left was a pallet of furs and blankets. I sighed thankfully. I decided to take no more precautions as I stepped forward toward the small pallet.
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br />   Vethari said this is where I could rest, so I'd take the opportunity to do so. I tapped the furs and cloths with my foot, making sure it was what it appeared to be. Amazingly, the furs were even softer and more luxurious than I had thought they would be.

  I flung my body onto the makeshift bed. The soreness I had been suffering from all the constant traveling rushing over me as every part of me began to ache. The bed was now a godsend as I could finally relax.

  Maybe I could just take a nice, quick nap. Just a chance to rest like he told me I could.

  I closed my eyes to force myself to sleep. Though I found it easily on my own. The overwhelming sense of comfort overcoming me even in this strange environment.

  4

  "Ahhh, my head," I sat up, pressing my palm to my forehead. The room was spinning ever so slightly as my stomach growled loudly. I felt dizzy, and even when sitting down it felt as though I had to fight to remain balanced.

  I had barely had anything to drink and absolutely nothing to eat since I'd been taken away.

  "Hungry? Hungry? It's hungry!" a shrill voice giggled from behind me. I looked around but couldn't see anything until I spied the small glow of a pale-green light fluttering toward me.

  As my vision focused, I could see what looked to be a tiny humanoid female no bigger than my little finger. Long pointed ears, smooth bald head, and with absolutely no shame whatsoever as it hovered in the air completely nude.

  She continued to flit around me in an annoying way.

  "I'm not an it," I grumbled, wondering how the little creature had gotten inside when there was no longer a front door.

  The room, I now noticed as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, was made of smoothed and dried clay, and it was circular rather than square. Bits of roots were sticking out from the sides of the walls and ceilings with many trinkets hung upon them. Some necklaces, and a small handbasket containing something. What I would deem normal were it not that I was in the realm of fae.