Archon's Hope: Book III of 'The Magician's Brother' Series

by HDA Roberts

  I vanished again and Belle broke out laughing.

  "How are you this afraid of her?" Belle asked as Hopkins approached and swatted at the space I was occupying, breaking my Illusion when her palm smacked into my head.

  "Ow!" I complained, rubbing the offending spot, "Can't you just be nice for once?"

  "Do you have any idea the kind of stress your very existence is putting me through? It seems I can't even sleep without you ripping a dozen holes into the Shadow Realm!"

  "I didn't do that, the dragon did, and it was all in a good cause, I swear."

  "Alright everyone back to bed," Kenilworth said at the word 'dragon', shooing everyone away. Belle stayed next to me until Hopkins glared her away, too. I patted her shoulder and gave her a wink as she sidled off.

  "What happened this time?" Hopkins asked, sounding very tired.

  I told her, and she rubbed her head more and more as time went on.

  "A Shadow Elemental..." Hopkins said, "And it obeyed you without a fight?"

  I nodded, she looked impressed.

  "So where's Cathy now?"

  "The Grotto," I said, "It's the safest place I know; the Elemental would have taken her there."

  "How do you know that?" she asked, the tone of her voice making the question more profound than it should be.

  "I'm not sure, I just know that the shadows are... I don't know how to put it... in my corner? Does that make sense?"

  She nodded, smiling a little smile, "And what does that tell you?"

  "That they're a poor judge of character?" I offered.

  She sighed, rubbing her head again, "Do you need a portal?" she finally asked.

  "Yes please, I could rather do without two hours of flying in the dark," I said gratefully.

  "This is going to be a big mess you know. The Hellstroms are going to have a fit."

  "They went after my Cathy," I said coldly, "The Hellstroms are lucky they even have children after that."

  "Yes, they are," Hopkins agreed, "I'd have killed them both if they'd gone after one of mine, made it hurt, too."

  "Well, feel free, they're in that ambulance over there," I said, joking (mostly).

  "Shut up," she said, pulling me into a hug.

  "You're getting very affectionate lately, are you ill or something?" I asked with a grin.

  She pulled back and smacked my shoulder, smiling before opening a portal.

  "Be back before first period, I don't want to come looking for you," she said with a faux-glare.

  "Yes Miss Hopkins," I said with a smile, walking through the portal, which closed behind me.

  Chapter 20

  I stepped out into my front drive. The house was silent, the night was still. I thought briefly of waking my parents, but that was hardly sporting, and Father got crotchety without his ten hours. So I called my shadows and flew towards the Grotto, naked but for my charred and bloody pyjamas.

  I couldn't believe that I'd had to fight in my underwear again. If someone was going to try and kill me, the least they could do is give me notice so that I could die wearing trousers.

  The Grotto was dimly lit by a kind of gentle luminescence coming from the waters of the lake. I set myself down beyond the outer boundary, not wanting to disturb any Fae with my human Magic. The place was quiet, utterly peaceful.

  I knew where Cathy would be, but how do I get there without making a fuss?

  I could either float over using Magic (probably waking everyone), or swim and risk irritating the Nymphs.

  I put my hand in the water, it was warm, pleasantly so. Perfect for a swim, in fact. One of the girls coalesced from the deeper parts of the lake, smiling at me.

  "Hi," I whispered, determined not to wake anyone, "you mind if I swim over to the island? I know you prefer it if people don't put their feet in there."

  She beckoned me, smiling broadly. Not big on words, Nymphs, but they communicate just fine anyway. I stepped into the lake, moving in until I was floating. The water was wonderful, like a warm bath, just the right temperature. I felt Nymphs swimming around me, a fleeting touch here, an inappropriate grope there...

  I heard them giggle as the water solidified around me from time to time. It wasn't a long swim, and I found myself wishing it was longer. I loved to swim, it was one of the few physical activities at which I was competent. One of them appeared in front of me and swam backwards, grinning all the while before planting a very moist kiss on my lips and darting back into the water.

  I reached the shore of the island and pulled myself out of the water, dripping and soaking.

  "Thanks," I said to the Nymphs, who smiled. The one who'd kissed me reached out and drew the water from my clothes before vanishing back into the lake. I walked into the island. It wasn't particularly big, maybe fifty metres across and covered in trees.

  I found Cathy at the centre, in a small grove, asleep on a pile of leaves, curled up and sucking her thumb. She wore pink Hello Kitty pyjamas and was being watched over by the three Pixies, who immediately buzzed over at the sight of me and grabbed onto my shirt, hugging me tightly. They were wearing more outfits made by my mother; only these appeared to be of the sleeping variety, onesies in various colours with little attached socks.

  "We missed you," Meadow said quietly.

  "Very much," Jewel agreed.

  "I missed you too," I said with a smile, "is she okay?"

  "We gave her warm milk and honey and she conked right out," Melody said, "She was a little excitable when she saw us, took us forever to calm her down. She's very energetic, isn't she?"

  "That she is," I agreed, "How are you three doing? Everything alright here?"

  "Oh fine," Meadow said, "we took over your room."

  I chuckled and walked over to Cathy, the Pixies perched on my shoulders and head like usual. I knelt next to her and put a hand gently on her shoulder. She stirred and woke up slowly, smiling as she saw me.

  "Hi," she said with a yawn and a stretch.

  "Hello," I replied, "Ready to go back to school?"

  "Not really, no," she said, patting the leaves next to her.

  I sighed and laid down beside her, the Pixies darting off to land on my chest. I put my arms around Cathy and let myself drift off to sleep. I was pretty tired, and the prospect of flying back to school without sat-nav filled me with dread, I got lost so easily, it wasn't even funny anymore.

  "So this is the competition," said a voice that should have been nowhere near this place. I was up in an instant, putting myself between it and Cathy, who was also up and moving behind me.

  "I'm not impressed," said Evelina.

  She wore a simple black dress, long sleeved and silky. Her black hair was wrapped in a platinum web and she was smiling in an uncomfortably predatory way.

  "What does she mean by 'competition'?" Cathy asked, now visibly hiding behind me, along with the Pixies.

  "That's never really been made clear," I said.

  "Yes it has, your lover just chooses not to hear what is being told to him," Evelina said, looking at Cathy, "She is pretty enough, Beloved, for a human, but can you really compare her with me?"

  "Real beauty isn't something you can see, Evelina. While I'll admit that you are one of the most attractive women I've ever seen, there's nobody more beautiful to me than her," I said.

  She laughed then, it didn't reassure me.

  "That didn't have the impact I was going for," I said over my shoulder.

  "Sure it did," Cathy replied, squeezing my hand. I smiled.

  "I will attempt to explain this one more time, because for such an intelligent man, you can be horrifically stupid when it comes to what you are and what you're worth."

  "A real charmer, this one," Cathy said.

  "You called me stupid yesterday," I pointed out.

  "Yes, but that was for naughty purposes, you're a bit of a freak," Cathy replied.

  "Anyway," Evelina continued, growing exasperated, no doubt (I have that effect), "you humans are familiar with the idea of
a soul mate? One for whom your soul is destined to bond in this life and the next? For the Sidhe, this is very real, and it is determined before birth. We each have our other half waiting for us somewhere. And unlike you ridiculous Humans, we know who ours is from the instant we lay eyes on them; that perfect complement to ourselves. The only one with whom we can be truly content."

  "Not sure I like where this is going," Cathy whispered.

  "Me either."

  Evelina rolled her eyes, a very human gesture.

  "You're mine. It's that simple. It isn't a matter of choice. We belong to one another, and that's all there is to it," Evelina said.

  "Then I'm sorry, because I can't belong to you. I belong to her," I said, nodding behind me.

  "That's cute," Evelina said, "That's like a dragon belonging to a chicken. It just doesn't end well for the poultry."

  Alright, insulting metaphor aside, it was almost exactly the sort of snarky nonsense I spout out when I was feeling uncomfortable.

  "Did she just compare me with a bird?" Cathy asked.

  "Yes, but I'm relatively certain she meant to insult me rather than you."

  "No, I meant to insult the girl," Evelina said, grinning at me.

  "Don't do that, I'm protective," I said dangerously.

  "You're also a horrific caveman. As long as I offer no physical harm to your pretty toy, you are essentially harmless to me, any woman, really."

  "She's got a point," Cathy said.

  "How is that helpful?" I asked.

  "She just said she's not going to hurt me, I'm not really worried anymore," Cathy said with a grin.

  "Actually, she implied that she wouldn't hurt you. That doesn't mean she won't when she thinks I'm not looking," I said.

  Evelina shivered, her eyes closed, "I like that you understand me," she said, her voice low and enticing.

  "I understand sneaky very well, it's rather my wheelhouse," I said with a glare.

  Evelina's eyes snapped back open, staring at me very intensely.

  "Now who's not helping?" Cathy said, nudging me in the ribs.

  "What?"

  "You just exposed a similarity of personality, making her point," Cathy explained as if to an idiot.

  "Look, I'm not expecting you to drop your life and come home with me. Trying to make you was a mistake. You are just like me, and I wouldn't tolerate it either. But I've already bonded with you. I can't tolerate being separated from you for too long, it hurts me," she said this last part in a tiny little voice. Cathy's hand squeezed mine.

  "What do you want?" Cathy asked.

  "To be allowed to come and go as I please without you raising shields and charging attack spells. To talk to you, know you, let you know me," she said.

  "That's not so bad," Cathy said.

  That's what I loved about her, she was a truly decent person. Loving, kind and gentle. She didn't like to think of people in pain.

  "You must understand, I'm not going to leave Cathy. Not for anyone or anything," I said.

  "I do," Evelina said, that confidence back in her voice, "and I wouldn't risk doing anything to change that, because of the rift that doing that would cause between you and I. Besides, that is a problem that will solve itself in time."

  "And what's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

  "I'm not going to tell you that," she said, "you wouldn't believe me, and you'd just think I was being self-serving. So, no."

  "I hate it when people do that," I said.

  "I know," she said with a smile, "But I'm still not telling you."

  "As long as she doesn't try any funny business, it's fine with me. If I can tolerate Tethys groping you from time to time, I can tolerate the overly-attached princess," Cathy said.

  "Who's Tethys?" Evelina said, her eyes narrowing again.

  I swear I could feel Cathy smirking.

  "The other woman who thinks she's going to marry him," Cathy said.

  "Oh, really?" Evelina said, her arms crossing.

  "Thanks, Cath, thanks very much!" I said.

  "What? She ruined my snuggle time, I see no reason why she shouldn't suffer a little," she replied.

  "Snuggle time? How old are you?" Evelina said.

  "Younger than you, I'm guessing," Cathy said cattily. I'd never thought Cathy could be catty (try saying that five times fast). Tonight was providing quite the education.

  "I could turn you into a boy, how would you like that?" Evelina said.

  "Don't you dare!" I said.

  The Sidhe grinned broadly, "You're no fun, Beloved."

  "Very true, entirely boring, of no use to a princess, I swear," I said.

  "Did you forget how we met already?" she asked, "A daring rescue, a Dark Magician pinned to the wall like a butterfly; smashed Golems, going up against my mother? I haven't forgotten. Did he tell you about all that, little Concubine?"

  "Don't call me that, ever. And he tells me everything," Cathy said, "he told me that he found you annoying."

  "And I found him all too human. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to go through your life expecting a Sidhe Prince to come swooping into your life, and what you get instead is a pasty Human with facial scarring and smelly Magic?"

  "And Cathy takes a commanding lead," my girlfriend said smugly, linking her arm with mine.

  I sighed and tried not to bang my head against the nearest tree.

  "I must say, I was rather in denial after I first saw you. But you are quite right when you say that true beauty can't be seen," Evelina continued, "Four hours watching you with those little Seelie creatures, and then with the slime, showed me what kind of man you are. Stupid, overly sentimental, but determined, single minded. Savage when you have to be, and gentle when you don't. I can love that."

  "Well, I got here first," Cathy said.

  "If she's going to ruin all our tender moments, I'm having her fixed," Evelina said.

  I sighed, feeling the start of a headache.

  "How did you get in here, again?" I asked, "I was told this place was like a fortress."

  "I'll tell you, but you don't want to know," she said.

  I thought about it for a moment.

  "Alright," I said.

  "Well, I want to know!" Cathy said.

  "No you don't," Evelina said mischievously.

  I agreed with her, Cathy squeezed my hand a little too hard before resuming her glaring at the Unseelie.

  "Just tell me," Cathy said, crossing her arms.

  "This is his place of power," Evelina said, "On some level, he must want me here."

  "Told you it wouldn't be a good answer," I said, "But it's also not a complete one."

  The Princess grinned, "I may also enter if I mean no harm to the occupants or denizens. If I enter that way, then I must remain harmless, or I'll suffer considerably."

  "That sounds more like it," Cathy said, glaring, "I think I'm ready to go back to school now, Matty."

  I nodded.

  "I'll see you soon, Beloved," Evelina said, moving over and placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.

  Letting her do that may have been a mistake. At that instant of contact, I felt a certain... awareness of her, her body and her mind. I felt her heart beating, and mine skipped a beat before resuming in time with hers. The kiss spread warmth from where her lips touched me, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

  She stepped back, and the awareness faded. She smiled a knowing smile. She'd known exactly what would happen, the crafty girl.

  "And he's Mathew, not... that," Cathy said.

  "She's very bossy," Evelina said, "it's good you like that in a woman."

  She vanished before I could retort.

  "I really hate it when people do that. Having the last word and buggering off is my thing, damn it!" I complained.

  Cathy smiled and wrapped her arms around me, dislodging Pixies, who buzzed around waiting for their usual spots to become free.

  "You convinced me, Matty," she whispered, hugging me tightly, "not that I needed muc
h convincing."

  "Love you, Cath," I said, wrapping my arms around her.

  "You are so whipped," she said, which made me laugh.

  "Is that an offer?" I replied.

  She squeaked and pinched my bottom, going bright red, "You are evil," she said, grinning, "But I will graciously allow you to carry me back to my room."

  "I think we'll have to wait until morning. You just know I'll get us lost; we don't even have a compass. And even if I did have a compass, I'd still probably get us lost."

  Cathy laughed, the Pixies laughed, nobody took me seriously. Not that I could blame them.

  "Alright then," Cathy said, "You may carry me to your room."

  Her eyes danced with something not quite wholesome, which was just terrific. I called my shadows and the Pixies recoiled.

  "Sorry," I said.

  "That's okay, we know you can't help it," Meadow said, theatrically holding her nose. I chuckled and used my shadows to help me lift Cathy into my arms.

  "Oh my," she said, going bright red again.

  "You like the Pride and Prejudice treatment, eh?"

  "They don't do what we do in Pride and Prejudice," she said, biting my chin a little.

  "And we're off," I said, "see you later, girls."

  "Oh, we're coming!" Jewel said, but I was already away. Cathy squealed happily as the shadows carried us over the trees... and swiftly in the wrong direction before I turned us around and got us flying the right way.

  "Not a word," I warned as she sniggered.

  We landed at my back door, and I used a lock-pick spell to open it. We walked through silently, and I locked it behind us. We stepped along the short corridor and I called a tiny light, guiding her up the back stairs by the hand.

  I heard a small whine before we were more than half a dozen steps up.

  "Uh oh," I said, and that was all it took for Burglar to start barking the house down in his excitement at my sudden appearance.

  He found us and started jumping up and down, barking all the while, snuffling and sniffing at Cathy and I. Cathy 'squeed' happily, dropping to make a fuss of my mood-killing dog.

  Naturally the din woke the warp-cat, who popped out of nowhere, gave me and Burglar a very acidic look before vanishing back into what I assume was bed.