Grant squinted trying to make out the approaching figure. “Patrick?”
“Oh good, it is you.” A kid that looked about fifteen with red hair and a pale complexion, came out from the dense overgrowth.
Grant clearly recognized him but didn’t let down his guard. He subtly pulled my hand so I was more behind him, than next to him. “What are you doing here, Patrick?”
Patrick looked around, his eyes wide. “We need to get out of here. We should get to the portal. There is something out there. Did you see what they did to Conor?” He wore such an innocent expression, I felt sorry for the kid.
“I saw Conor. He’s hurt. Do you know who might have done it?” Grant’s tone was stiff. I could tell he was still unsure if there was danger.
“I had just crossed over. I met a human girl,” he flashed a smile. “She has a thing for redheads.” His smile broadened. “Anyway, I was going to meet this girl. Shortly after I crossed over, I saw Conor standing over there.” He pointed to where Conor lay.
“I was about to say hi, when there was a thunk and Conor fell over. Someone knocked him out cold. I immediately ran to him and saw someone fleeing. I tried to chase them but I lost them. I don’t have those cool extra senses like you and Conor. I’m just Fae.” Patrick shrugged. “Sorry, man, but let me help you carry him to the portal. We can cross him over and take him to a healer.”
Grant seemed to think this over for a second before relaxing a tiny bit. “Okay, let’s get him over.”
We walked to Conor and Grant flipped him onto his back. I knelt beside him and brushed some grass and sticks off Conor’s face. Poor guy. I hoped he’d be okay. Patrick crouched across from me.
“Well, I guess we should get him up.” He met my eyes. “I’m Patrick.” He stuck out his hand for me to shake.
“Hi, I’m K–”
“Kirsten. This is Kirsten.” I had no idea why Grant felt the need to hide my real identity but fully trusting him, I went with it.
“Kirsten.” I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I then stood up and out of the way for Patrick and Grant. Each boy gripped an arm and carefully lifted Conor until they could drape his arms around their shoulders. The movement seemed to rouse him, and he mumbled something in a drowsy tone. His eyelids fluttered, then closed again.
“It’s okay, Conor. We have you. Just relax and we’ll get you to a healer.”
“What do you think they hit him with?” I asked shocked at how a big guy could be knocked out so easily. “I don’t see any scrapes or blood.”
“Magic.” Grant glanced at me and focused his eyes back on the path. I looked at him for an explanation. “It had to have been someone who could wield it. Possibly Fae, someone who can manipulate the elements or maybe even another púka. They could shape-shift into something large enough to take him down.”
I considered that for a minute. Conor had said some púkas were mean. Maybe one was after him, one that didn’t appreciate him helping Grant. My thoughts were cut off when a powerful surge of electricity coursed through me. The feelings Grant gave me were strong, but they couldn’t even compare to this sensation. It was like the hum from my dream multiplied by a thousand. My eyes widened, and I looked at Grant.
“It’s the portal.” He nodded his head in the direction in front of us.
“You feel that?” Patrick asked. “I didn’t think humans could sense it. Well at least, not until they actually crossed through it.”
I didn’t know how to respond. He clearly believed I was human, but I wasn’t sure if Grant wanted him to know I was part Fae.
Grant changed the subject. “How do you think we should go about this?” He looked at Patrick. “Do you want to just walk him through together?”
“What if there is someone on the other side waiting to harm him? The person who ran off could be waiting on him.”
Grant chewed that over. “Okay, I will go over first and make sure it’s clear.”
“No way, it should be me. I can’t let you do that. Everyone knows you and Conor are working together–they may be setting a trap to get you, too.” Patrick’s eyes were wide as he continued, “I will cross over. If it’s safe, I will return and help you with Conor.”
I could tell Grant liked this idea, although he probably didn’t want to put the kid in danger, it was clear he didn’t want to leave me alone either. “Okay. Let’s rest Conor up against this tree.” He pointed to a nearby oak.
After Conor was settled, the three of us walked back to the portal. It was strange being near it. Nothing looked different. In fact, all I could see in front of me were more trees. A person could walk right past it and never even know it existed.
“I will be right back,” Patrick said with a smile, crossed through some invisible barrier, then completely disappeared. I turned to Grant, my brows lifted in question.
“Shh,” he motioned for me to not talk. “Don’t say too much. I’m not sure what is going on but I don’t like it. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“How does this work?” I asked, staring in the direction of the pull I felt.
“No regular human could ever walk through it alone. In fact, if one was to walk past us right now, they would just end up over there.” He pointed to the trees in front of us. “You have to either be otherworldly, or have someone who is escorting you over.”
“That’s amazing,” I said with awe staring at, well, nothing. There was nothing to see, but the electricity vibrating through me was bewildering. I wanted to step through the portal more than I had ever wanted to do anything before. Grant was right about it calling me home. Every inch of my body longed to be on the other side.
“Do you think–” My question was cut short as a hand latched onto me and jerked me through the portal.
I would never forget passing through the portal for the first time. It was magnificent, although that word didn’t seem adequate. There was a sudden gust of cool air reminding me of entering automatic doors at a store and then every particle of my being came to life. As if I could sense billions of molecules bouncing against one another, creating energy. It was surreal. But the moment was difficult to enjoy due to the violence with which my arm had been yanked. It throbbed where the fingers clawed into me. Not to mention, my terror. One minute I stood next to Grant and the next I was wrenched into another dimension. My senses were on overload, pain and pleasure intermingling, but were abruptly put to a halt as I slammed into a tree.
My hand flew to my head, rubbing the back where a knot was sure to form. I slowly slid down the trunk, disoriented. My shirt caught on the tree and the rough bark scraped the sensitive skin of my back. It burned, but the pain was tolerable compared to the pounding in my head. My eyebrows met in confusion. As I tried to focus, I found Patrick standing in front of me. I turned just in time to see Grant attempt to follow me and slam up against an invisible force, then disappear from sight. Words flew from Patrick’s lips. They sounded foreign but that could have been due to my head injury. His chant was directed at the portal and seemingly kept Grant out or maybe me in.
“What’s going on?” I asked bewildered.
I desperately wanted Grant with me. I was frightened, but my thoughts were muddled. How did that kid grab me and throw me so hard? Why did he snatch me?
“Is it sealed?” said a female voice. I turned my head as I attempted to focus on the small, barely five feet, figure. Her perfect features were doll-like, from her almond-shaped eyes to her bowed pink lips. She had short, platinum blonde hair cut at varying lengths with a few random chunks dyed cotton-candy. Her black dress, though seemingly out of place, was beautiful. It had a ribbon belt tied into a perfect bow and a full, pink, tea-length skirt visible through a sheer black overlay.
Normally, I’d say she was adorable, being so tiny and cute, and having hair the color of bubble gum, but right now she looked far from it. Her eyes were narrowed and her mouth set in a rigid line. Her petite body turned to face me. She brushed her long side-swept bang
s out of her face exposing her pale blue eyes. Her stance was clearly threatening–a hand on each hip, and though I would normally tower over her, she looked very intimidating from my current vantage point.
“This is what all the fuss is about?” She wore an irritated look.
I looked around trying to find my bearings. This moment would have been one of awe if it hadn’t been for my current situation. It looked like I was still in the forest, the exact one I had just come from but this one was much more beautiful. The colors were richer, the leaves were more defined, it smelled earthy and sweet at the same time. It was glorious, like taking an old analog television and switching it over to digital high definition.
“Yeah, that’s her. Grant lied about her name but when I realized she could sense the portal, I knew she was the right girl. You probably should find out what you need quickly. I don’t know how long I can hold this.”
The girl turned her cold eyes onto Patrick. “You better hold it. If I don’t have time to ask questions, I will just have to cut to the chase and kill her.”
I gasped, trying hard to focus.
“You told me you weren’t going to hurt her. You said you just wanted to find out who she was and maybe scare her into never crossing back over. You can’t hurt her, Brighid.”
She made a sound of disgust and turned her gaze on me, then looked back at Patrick. “Why didn’t you take out Grant, too?”
“He saw me coming, and I panicked. I just made up some story about how Conor got hurt, but I still brought her here. That’s all you asked for.”
“Don’t you just hate weak boys?” She still wore the same disgusted look on her face.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Your worst nightmare.” She smiled as if pleased by her own answer. “And you are Kyla, the half-human. What is so great about that anyway? Personally, I find humans revolting, but thought maybe you’d be different.” She turned and paced a few steps then glowered at me. “I expected more, but there is nothing special about you. Why would Liam have any interest in you?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about. I don’t even know a Liam.” I tried to stand. I didn’t like feeling so compromised. I rubbed my head and forced myself up. The dull ache subsided, and the fog cleared from my mind.
“Ha!” Brighid laughed. “Like you aren’t in on this little plan.” I was confused. Her expression darkened “You are starting to make me angry, Kyla, and you do not want to make me angry.”
I glanced over to Patrick who still had his body turned toward the portal. Looking at me he shook his head slightly, as if to say don’t anger her. A thin coat of perspiration had formed on his forehead. Whatever it was he was doing was clearly taking its toll. I knew what I needed to do. If I could drag this conversation on long enough, he wouldn’t be able to hold up and I could get out or Grant could get in.
“Why don’t you just tell me what you think I’ve done, because I am not lying. Up until a few days ago I didn’t even know who or what I was.”
One side of her mouth lifted into a smirk. “I’m supposed to believe Grant and Conor, Liam’s personal guards, have come for you, but told you nothing else?”
“They told me about my faery mother.”
“Oh, come on. You think royal guards are just traipsing about escorting humans around for fun?”
“I knew Grant worked for someone at court and that he was some sort of guard, but he told me most grants were, so I thought nothing of it. I assumed Conor was his friend. I had no idea who they worked for.”
She rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated by my lack of knowledge.
“He doesn’t work for someone at court. He works for the royal court. Does Grant look like some insignificant village guard to you? Hello, look at him.”
“I’ve never seen a guard before.” I matched her annoyed tone, and she gave me a lethal look, clearly warning me to watch myself. I continued in a more controlled voice, “Or a grant.”
She huffed again, studying me carefully. I thought about what she had said, envisioning Grant’s broad shoulders, significant height and general build. He was lean, but after our night in the hotel room, I knew he was also solid muscle. My stomach tightened, and I focused back on my current situation.
Brighid glared at me “You know nothing about the royal court?”
“I know that I can go there for safety and protection.”
“And how, Kyla, do you suppose you are going to get that safety?”
No one ever explained the mechanics behind everything. I honestly had no idea. I shrugged. “Just go to court I guess.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she stared at me with skepticism gleaming in the bright gaze. “You have no plans to marry?”
“Marry! Are you kidding me? Of course not.”
“You really don’t know, do you? Not a clue as to who Liam is and what has been planned for you.” She laughed. “Well then, I’m sorry to have to get rid of you, since you apparently weren’t in on this little plan, but you see, Liam is the prince and I’m next in line to marry him. It’s my rightful place. But then word of you comes along and suddenly he thinks he wants some half-human, non-royal bride. You can thank your mother. So eager to get you home safely, she agreed to this stupid plan.”
“I–what? Prince? Wait. My mother?”
“Yes. Your mother and Grant. Conor. Everyone. Everyone knows about the plan, well, except you.”
“I don’t want the prince. You can have him.”
“Well, that’s nice of you, Kyla, but unfortunately, Liam made that decision, and until you are gone, he won’t change his mind.” Her voice was icy. It was strange seeing this girl, cute enough to sing or dance on Saturday morning cartoons, talk to me the way she did. She had psycho down to a science.
“I can’t hold it any longer, Brighid. We need to get out of here.”
“Just kill him when he crosses.”
My heart raced. Was Patrick capable of killing Grant? He surely didn’t seem like it, but he did manage to lay out Conor. Fear surged through me.
“You look nervous, Kyla, as you should be. There is no one who will be able to help you. Originally, I thought we could leave Grant unharmed. After all, the only person he could link this to was Patrick, and not to mention he is terribly good-looking. I wouldn’t mind keeping him around the castle, but now since someone is too weak to hold up his end of the bargain, we will have to get rid of him.”
“You set me up,” Patrick yelled “You told me no one would get seriously hurt, but you planned all along to make me your scapegoat.”
“Wow, do I need to draw a picture? Come on, Patrick, even Kyla can keep up, and she’s part human.” Annoyed, Brighid turned to him. “Now if you can’t hold the barrier you’d better kill Grant, or else I will be sure to blame everything on you. I will claim to be your victim as well, and the only witness,” she pointed at me, “will be dead. It will be my word against yours, and after what Grant and Conor witnessed, you know you will be found guilty.”
Patrick’s face blanched as if he would be sick any moment. “Fine.” I could see regret in his eyes, but he didn’t seem to know what else to do.
Panic flooded me, my stomach wrenched. They were going to kill Grant, and they were going to kill me, because of some guy I neither knew, nor planned to marry. My panic and fear metamorphosed into anger. I focused my gaze on Brighid. I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to shove her against a tree like she had done me, I wanted control...and then it happened.
At first, I thought I imagined it. A tree root, sticking up out of the soil, twitched. I stared at it confused. Brighid’s gaze followed my eyes.
“What are you doing,” she said with a hint of nervousness.
“Nothing.” I wasn’t doing that, was I? It twitched again and stretched out of the ground, it snaked its way over to where Brighid stood.
“Stop that,” she screamed as she tried to side step it, but another one had appeared behind her.
“I don’t know how,” I a
ngrily yelled back, not caring what happened to her. My malice mixed with fear for Grant. When that wall came down, he would be hurt.
Patrick watched the snaking roots as they neared Brighid. “Do something–use your magic,” he stuttered.
She shot him a quick glare. “Shut up, you idiot. Do you see water anywhere?”
She lifted her foot, but failed to notice the root coiling its way around her ankle. When it tightened, her eyes grew large and she tried to shake it free, but by that time another root had curled around her other leg. They tugged her feet out from underneath her, and she fell on her back with a loud thud, letting out a stream of profanities in the process. Her full skirt ballooned then settled as another root twisted around her torso, pinning her into place and halting her thrashing. I could see more appearing and wondered if they were going to smother her.
Just then Patrick made a grunting sound and the portal opened. Immediately Grant flew through it, but stopped abruptly when a large gust of wind blew him back. He glanced from Patrick to me and back to Patrick. The wind locking Grant into place was so forceful he couldn’t even take a breath.
I panicked and screamed for Patrick to stop. Now with Brighid restrained, he seemed unsure of what to do. He took an uneasy step back, tripped on a tree root and fell hard onto his back. His head hit a rock. His eyes fluttered, then rolled back.
Grant bent over in a fit of coughing. I rushed over to him. He stood, still gasping for breath and encircled me with his arms, pressing me into his chest.
“I was so worried about you. I’m sorry, I can’t believe I didn’t see that coming.”
“It’s not your fault, Grant. He wasn’t trying to put me in danger. He was just getting me for her.” I pointed to where Brighid laid looking like a crazed ballerina, intertwined with roots and squirming in her poufy dress in a failed attempt to free herself from the tangle nearly throttling her. “He didn’t know she wanted to hurt me.”
“Hurt you? Are you okay?” He stepped back, holding me at arm’s length as he scanned me.
“I’m fine, but she said she was going to kill me and kill you too,” I said, wide-eyed and still dazed over everything that just happened.
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