by E. A. Weston
“What do you mean bond?” I question through her hand.
“Did you complete the bonding ceremony?”
“No, I don’t think so why?”
With a sigh she falls back against the wall, “Thank the Goddess,” she smiles.
“What if we did?” I ask.
“Fairies are forbidden to bond with humans, he is a lucky fairy. I am still the princess of Avalon and I will not allow any such tragedy to take place.”
“Tragedy, really?” I am now glad I didn’t mention her brother at all.
“Yes because if a fairy and human mate, it will be doomed. What if one day the fairy’s true mate comes along? He has no choice but to be with her then his human mate will be left broken hearted and sent back to the human realm alone. It is forbidden Reagan, please don’t seek him out again it will not end well.”
“Yeah,” I agree absentmindedly. My chest feels hollow and now that she mentioned the bond I can’t feel anything related to Killian. I don’t even feel pain when I think of him. Has our bond broken? Was it real in the first place? Tears prick my eyes at the thought of losing him, I haven’t felt this bad since my parents went missing.
“Would you like to bathe?” Aurelia asks.
I nod my head in response following her to the room. She shows me all the products and the scented oils I can use. She smiles while pointing to the fire bush oil but my chest constricts when I take it, knowing that Killian said it was his favorite scent. Once she leaves I cry quietly, having many years of practice after my parents. I can’t feel him at all now and that hurts more than anything before.
After my bath I dress in the clothes Aurelia left for me, they are better than the rough gray clothes the servants wear but still I can’t seem to care. Leaving the room, I follow her down to the dining hall, which is now empty. We sit together eating and drinking but I feel nothing, it’s awful. It’s worse than if he died, at least, that way I’d know he would be gone but this, this emptiness and knowing that he is somewhere in this world is just too much.
“Reagan, are you well?” Aurelia asks.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I lie before drinking down some water.
Not long after we have finished Brokk walks into the room looking a little annoyed. Aurelia speaks to him in fairy language but I don’t care at the moment. My eyes drift around the ornately decorated room. I wonder if this is from when Killian was young or if it’s from Connor’s evil taste. The walls are made of white marble with a red vein running through it and the tall windows look out over a vast meadow. Leaving the table, I walk to the windows to look out. The grass is beautifully vibrant with small flowers dotted here and there.
The sun shines on it bringing to life all that lives in the growth and the forest surrounding it. I notice that no fairies are out in the meadow none of them are taking the time to enjoy this day. The beautiful land is lifeless, barren, without a soul to enjoy it. The noise of Brokk and Aurelia’s voices brings my attention back to them. They seem to be arguing with each other, who knows what it’s about now.
I wonder why Brokk’s coloring is blue and not black. Most of the male fairies I’ve seen have black coloring. He stops talking when he notices me staring at him.
“Yes?” he asks.
“Oh, nothing,” I wave him off turning back to the window. My eyes are drawn upward toward the horizon, out there somewhere my boyfriend, the prince of this fairyland is hiding. Hopefully, he is working out a plan to come save us.
“Reagan,” Brokk smiles when he stops beside me.
“Brokk, how are you?”
“I am well and you,” he tilts his head a little, searching my eyes.
“Fine, good.” I nod.
He gives me a small smile and turns to the window with me. “It’s empty,” I sigh.
“Yes, it is forbidden to go to the meadow,” he tells me.
“Why?” I scoff knowing that Connor probably has a bullshit excuse.
“It was the meadow of the King and Queen, where they celebrated the summer solstice,” he answers, placing his hand on the glass.
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“Yes, it is,” he looks at me. “Come we have much to do,” he takes my hand leading me out of the room. I notice that Aurelia has already left without saying goodbye.
“What were you arguing about?” I ask Brokk.
“Nothing,” he sighs tightening his lips.
“Why do you have blue hair?”
He laughs at me “I was born this way,” he winks at me.
“I only ask because all the guys I’ve seen have black hair and wings,” my eyes travel over his young looking face, although, I can see the age in his eyes, and the curiosity behind the blue.
“Just exactly how many have you seen?” he asks leading me into a room.
“Not many but you’re the first blue one,” I smile.
When I turn around I spot about twenty other fairies standing around, it is a mixture of men and women, and they are all staring at me. I step back to keep myself safe just out of their reach.
“It is fine Reagan, these are fairies who wish to get away from Connor and we have been working together in secret,” Brokk says in my ear.
“Oh okay,” my eyes travel around the room, taking note of all the faces. Some I have seen before while working in the kitchen and some I don’t know. There is one. However, that catches my attention and my blood freezes. My hands grip Brokk’s clothes pulling him back out of the door.
“That guy,” I snap, pointing to the room. “He was one of the fairies that dragged me here,” I hiss.
“Yes, I know but he had no choice Reagan, please believe me. He is good and kind but because he is strong, Connor uses him for bad.”
“I’m not sure what we are doing here,” I hiss at him again.
“We have to train these fairies for when we need to escape,” he sighs.
“Train how?” I ask folding my arms.
“To fight, we need to know so that we can defend ourselves against Connor’s men.”
Returning to the room, I keep my eyes on Connor’s man at all times. I do not trust him at all but Brokk knows these fairies better than I do. We spar with some staffs and I catch Brokk’s attention.
“How do work so well with a staff?” he asks, taking one up and standing in front of me.
“Never mind,” I reply blocking his blow.
“I am right, you are keeping secrets from us,” he says swiping at me again.
Jumping over his staff, I land and swipe at him, “let’s just say, that my time on the beach was educational.”
He nods with a smile as we battle against each other, my skills have improved since the first time I held a staff and I am thankful for Samiel’s teaching skills. Brokk is okay but not as good as a warrior. I catch his arm sending him to the ground where I press the staff to his neck, just like Samiel showed me.
“Well done,” Brokk says jumping up with a smile. “You can train the females with Ari,” he claps my shoulder grinning.
“Seriously?” I scoff, turning to follow him.
“I do not jest, Reagan,” he smiles at me.
Turning back to the few women in the room they all give me dubious looks. They are about as comfortable with me as I am holding a rattlesnake.
“Okay, I can show you what I know,” I tell them but no one moves.
As soon as the door opens, Aurelia floats into the stuffy room carrying a staff. With a quick nod to me, she begins speaking to the fairies. Of course, they don’t understand me, shaking my head I watch as she begins to move. She is actually pretty good with the staff and helps the other women. None of them come to me so I stand back out of the way.
“You do not wish to learn?” She calls out to me.
“I don’t think they trust me,” I reply nodding to the female fairies.
Aurelia says something to them, and slowly, two approach me. I do my best to show them what to do but with the language barrier it’s difficult. After a while, I be
gin to get tired and the group disperses, I follow Ari and Brokk back to her room. Brokk takes off for his duties leaving us alone. My body is aching like never before, now with the bond leaving a gaping hole in my heart other pains have begun to flair up.
“Do you wish to bathe?” she asks.
“Sure,” I smile leaving the room. When I return, there is food waiting on the table. “What’s this?” I ask.
“Oh, I hope you don’t mind dining with me tonight,” she says over her shoulder before closing the door to the bathing room. Within minutes, she is back wearing a loose green dress. Taking a seat I watch her, noting the heaviness has returned to her shoulders.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she sighs. “Connor has attacked a small group of fairies traveling beyond the meadow.”
“Oh, why?” I ask.
“They were trespassing, according to him,” she answers.
“Why can’t you rule?” I ask.
With a light laugh, she smiles at me, “I cannot rule even though my brother is gone, we have not found his remains. I am supposed to bond and allow my mate to rule alongside me.”
“Wow, more archaic rules.”
“What does this mean?” she asks.
“Oh, just old fashioned rules. Like you can’t live with a fairy until you bond,” I roll my eyes at that damn rule.
“Yes that is true, our laws have been around for many moons but you do not wish to follow them?” her eyes watch me as her tone inquires to what I want.
With a shrug, I sigh, “it's just not how we humans do it. If I am with a guy I can live with him and not be bonded.”
“Oh,” she blinks at me. “You can be intimate without bonding?” her eyes grow larger with each word.
“Yeah, it’s no big deal,” I nod.
“Humans are strange,” she sighs then giggles.
“So are fairies,” I smile lifting my cup to toast her.
Chapter 17
Killian
* * *
My chest feels hollow like my very essence has been sucked out of me.
“Welcome back,” Avery’s voice floats around the room.
Blinking, I try to focus on my surroundings but they are still a little fuzzy.
“What happened?” I question. My throat is bone dry and it hurts to swallow. The last thing I remember is talking strategy with Avery then an awful pain in my chest had me on the floor seeing black spots in my vision.
“Well brother,” he laughs. “You fell to the floor and slept for two moons,” he tells me.
“What, how?” lifting my head, I sit up against the wall. Avery sits in a chair at the table watching me.
“I do not know,” he answers quietly. “We were talking then you were on the ground complaining of pain in your chest,” he shrugs his shoulders.
“Yeah, it hurt,” I mumble, rubbing my chest. “Do you know what caused it?” I ask.
“Perhaps you have pushed your body too hard these last few days,” he replies sternly.
“I doubt it Avery, our time at Tenebrosi was much worse than anything we are doing now,” I reply dryly. Swinging my legs off the bed, I walk to the table taking some fruit. Avery watches my every move with a worried look.
“How do you feel?” he asks.
“Empty,” I sigh. “I feel empty, in here,” I point to my chest.
“Just as I feared,” he mumbles.
Raising an eyebrow I question him, “what did you fear Avery?”
With a sad look he sighs before leaning on the table with his elbows, “Killian,” he begins. “I think what little bond you have with the lady Reagan has been broken.”
“Excuse me?” I scoff, rubbing my chest again.
“Yes Killian, please listen to me. I fear what you have been through was the same as I when…after…” he stumbles over his words.
“Aurelia,” I whisper for him.
Nodding he gives me a pained look, “I’m truly sorry brother,” he says, turning his head slightly so he doesn’t have to see my pain.
“So that is it? What happens now Avery, how do I get it back?”
“I do not know,” he looks as hopeless as I feel.
The bowl of fruit crashes against the far wall before I realized I threw it. Fruit smashes on the wall and on the floor. With clenched fists, I pace the room mumbling about bullshit bonds.
“She’s not dead Avery, I refuse to believe it.”
“I hope you are right. Do you think maybe she has returned to the human realm?” he asks.
“I don’t know, maybe. I hope. I would prefer her to return to her home than be captured by the traitor who lives in the castle.”
“Yes I too would prefer this but Samiel,” he says.
“I know Avery. I know what he said. I need to train,” grabbing my sword I leave the house. Marching onto the training grounds, I get a few curious looks but no one says anything. Drawing my sword with deadly scratching sound, I turn to find an opponent.
Chapter 18
Reagan
* * *
Staring out of the window I watch the moon glow brightly in the sky. I don’t understand how it’s a full moon every night but I suppose that’s how it is in the place. The land is beautiful and the moon hangs like a beacon in the sky bathing it all in silvery light. The wind is light, just enough to cool my face and shoulders as I lean out of the window. This room is so high up that it almost makes me dizzy; I bet Killian had lots of fun flying from here.
I wonder what he was like as a child, was he a rule follower or a rule breaker. I miss him but it doesn’t hurt anymore, physically anyway. Although, my body feels like it’s been hit by a train again, probably from all the training I’ve been doing these last few days in the stuffy attic style room. Nothing can make you ache like physically fighting for hours but at least, I have good biceps now.
There is movement over the meadow that catches my eye. I watch as a group dressed in all black march out of the woods. They are silent and deadly looking but it’s the leader that has me gritting my teeth. How can someone like him think they should rule this place and not someone who is kind, and caring, like Killian? I watch Connor and his band of evil fairies march through the meadow, tromping on everything as they pass. I can almost smell the evil flowing from him, they are dragging something behind the last row of guards, but I can’t make it out.
I watch as they continue through the gates and disappear out my view. The castle will be horrible with him back here but if I stay out of his way, maybe I can survive until Killian comes. Maybe. Crawling into bed, I close my eyes.
After my morning bath, I look at myself in the mirror. My bones are sticking out making me look skeletal. I would love to eat a burger, fries, and Pepsi right now. In fact, I would gorge on fast food and candy until I puked but I’d love it anyway. Turning I notice my shoulder blades are really disgusting looking, jutting out of my skin like two sharp knives, ready to slice my body open.
“Good morning,” Brokk’s voice calls out.
Slipping on the dress Aurelia gave to me, I walk out into the room. “Hi, Brokk.”
“Hello Reagan, breakfast is being served in the main dining hall, everyone is required to attend,” he frowns.
“Oh why, is his douchebag-ness waiting?” I mock.
“Yes,” Brokk nods.
Together we walk to the main dining room, where many fairies watch as I sit beside Brokk at the table. Aurelia is beside Connor at the top of the room and he is looking smug today. His greedy eyes take me in but turn deadly when he notices me, watching him check me out. I manage to eat some bread and some fruit, Brokk helps me with what I can eat and not be sick. Once breakfast is finished, Connor stands, banging a fork against his glass.
“Attention fairies,” he calls out. I can’t help the shiver that runs up my back. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that the princess and I will be bonded in seven moons,” he says, his voice dripping with honey. Aurelia’s eyes widen in horror before she quickly r
ecovers and forces a smile on her face. Connor bows to her in a mocking manner before ordering a feast to be prepared for their bonding day. He calls out to seamstresses and other fairies with jobs they have to complete. His hard eyes pass over me a few times as he gazes around the room.
I notice Aurelia’s shaking hands as she squeezes them on her lap. Brokk clears his throat alerting me that I have his hand in a death grip. Aurelia stands giving Connor a nod of her head, with the excuse of having to prepare a bonding she sweeps out of the room, followed by the dressmaker. Releasing Brokk’s hand, I let out a deep sigh.
“What is he doing?” I whisper.
“I do not know,” Brokk mumbles back.
I watch Connor talk with some of his guards before they all leave the room. Brokk takes my hand pulling me out another entrance and up the stairs. We barge into Aurelia’s room finding her on the bed crying. Rushing over I grab her into a hug.
“I can’t,” she whispers. “I can’t…Avery.” She sobs.
“It’s okay we’ll think of something,” I assure her but in reality, I have no damn clue what to do.
“I can’t defile his memory, I won’t,” she cries, punching me in the chest.
“Ouch,” I flinch as she does it again. Brokk quickly takes over as punching bag allowing me to step back.
“I do not understand,” Brokk says.
Aurelia is crying softly, clutching to his shoulders. “Neither do I,” I sigh. We watch each other for a few minutes with an understanding that this can’t happen. Not only because it’s wrong but because I know Avery is alive and well. I’m sure Aurelia would hate me if I told her now. Pacing the room I bite down on my nails, thinking. What can we do, how can we do it?
“I must leave,” Aurelia says.
“What?” Brokk pulls her back from him.
“Yes, I must leave this place Brokk. I will not bond with him. I am Aurelia, princess of Avalon, daughter of the realms greatest warrior and heir to the throne of the summer fairies and I will not be forced into bonding. I will leave.” She states.