“Do you take cream or sugar with your coffee?” the man asked me.
My jaw fell open as I beheld my birth father. “What are you doing here, Dad?”
Ellyllon turned to smile at me with a cup of coffee in his hand. “I thought it was time I paid a visit. Now, about your coffee?”
My eyes narrowed as I glanced back into the hall to make sure the coast was clear. “Uh, well both… It just depends on my mood, I guess. Does Queen Fleur know you’re here?”
He arched a brow at my audacity. “My wife has little knowledge of my comings and goings in this world. I don’t have to explain myself to her.”
Ellyllon waved his elegant hand over the cup, and it bubbled into a caramel-colored drink that smelled heavenly. My father offered it to me, then took a seat at the table in the middle of the room. He looked ridiculous. The Lord of Night did not belong on a plastic chair with children’s drawings stapled to the wall behind him. He was completely out of place in a room full of light and cheer.
Now that I could see him properly, I noticed his skin was completely black—unnaturally so. He seemed to suck the light from around him, an anathema of light, the complete and utter darkness of night. It was difficult to even make out his features at first because they seemed carved from midnight, but, after a moment of adjustment to his alarming darkness, I realized he was unearthly handsome. In the depths of the inky, inhuman face, he appeared kind, his deep, gray eyes filled with wisdom. In truth, he hadn’t changed a bit in all the years I’d known him. He was timeless.
“It’s been a long time,” Ellyllon said in a conversational tone. “How is your sister?”
“Halle lives in Boston, but you already know that,” I responded bitterly.
He raised an eyebrow, lifted his mug to his lips and drank deeply. “Ah, there are some aspects of the mortal world I miss dearly, and coffee is one of them. The nectar of the gods pales in comparison. Now, as far as your sister is concerned, I know her location, but that doesn’t tell me anything about her wellbeing.”
I nodded stiffly, supposing that was true, and my remark came out crueler than intended. “Halle is doing well. I talk to her a few times a week, and she seems to love it on the East Coast. Halle always wanted to work in music.”
Ellyllon smiled slightly. “I’m glad. Your mother is still married to that man—what’s his name? Fred?”
I nodded.
“And she has another child, a babe,” he commented awkwardly. “Has Fred been kind to you?”
“He’s the best father I could have asked for. Halle and I are lucky to have him.”
He didn’t move, but I felt him flinch at the comment. “Being separated from your sister must be hard.”
“Yes.”
“But you have this great work that you’re doing here, and I understand you’ve embraced your gift. I’m very proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“You are quite special, you know. Dream Weavers are not as common as you think, and they’re dying out. The illusionary wall used to shield our world from mortal eyes is put at risk by the lack of dream essence they once collected.”
“Dying out?” I asked curiously. “What could be causing that?”
Ellyllon frowned into his mug. “I believe something is hunting them in the Realm of Dreams. That’s one of the reasons I am here. Have you sensed anything different lately?”
Sighing heavily, I crossed my arms over my chest. “What if I have?”
My father set down his mug. “Then you are in a great deal of danger.” His eyes drifted pointedly to my arm, and he said, “Show me.”
I pursed my lips before removing the cardigan. As the fabric slid down my shoulder, Ellyllon leaned forward to take a better look. The original red fingerprints of the Shadow Demon were almost gone, but new ones had emerged from our latest battle.
Ellyllon looked up with alarm in his deep-set, steel eyes. “How long has this been happening?”
I shrugged. “About a month.”
“You’re taking too long to resolve the dreamer’s struggle,” he snarled. “It’s a race against time; if you don’t get out before the Shadow Demon gets there, you’ll become his prey.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tell me something I didn’t know. What am I supposed to do?”
“Figure out a way to speed things up.”
His response was so curt and to the point that it caught me off guard. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stared at the mug in front of me.
“What if I didn’t do this anymore? What if I’m not cut out to be a Dream Weaver?”
“It’s not up to me or you,” Ellyllon responded. “The Realm of Dreams chooses its guardians, and that is the way it should be. We are all gifted with our talents by the darkness, and you have been called for this crucial task. The Dust of Dreams is used to create an illusionary wall between our realms. It requires a great deal of magic to maintain, and its power fades over time. By supplying the night’s sorcerers with the components they require to maintain the wall, you’ve helped keep our world a secret.”
I scoffed. “You said that Dream Weavers are dying out and that I’m in danger, but there’s nothing you can do to help me? Am I just supposed to accept the risk and continue supplying the realm with Dust? Thanks, Dad, that’s really supportive.”
“I didn’t say that, my brazen daughter,” he responded with a smile. “I brought you a charm that will protect you.”
I exhaled a sigh of relief as he held out a delicate silver ring with an amethyst gem set into the band. “Oh…thank you.”
When I reached out to take it, Ellyllon drew back and tucked the ring into his cloak. “Ah, not so fast, my sweet. There is something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. “Okay...”
He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “It has come to my attention that you’ve been spending time with a certain child of the satyrs, the young Michael Godwin. Is that true?”
I didn’t like the way my father said his name, like it was something ugly or beneath him, so I bristled.
“Yes, he’s an old friend,” I confirmed. “We even dated back in high school.”
Ellyllon nodded, but his eyes narrowed so they were thin as pinpricks. “Your association with that lesser fae needs to stop immediately. I’m sure he’s a nice fellow, but I won’t have my daughter lowering her standards to a common satyr. More importantly, I will not extend my protection if you continue to see him.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re ordering me to cut ties with the one person who’s supported me through all of this?”
“That isn’t true. What about your mother? What about Halle?” he argued.
“You know what I mean! This isn’t fair!”
Ellyllon waved his hand dismissively. “Trust your father, dearest. It’s for the best.”
I stared at him for a moment in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable, do you know that? You have no right to tell me who I can and cannot see. Michael is a good man, and I’m not going to let you bully me around.”
A faint smile spread across his face when he responded. “I think you’re underestimating me, child of mine. I am King of the Fae, don’t think for one second that your little boyfriend is immune to my power—he is under my domain as well.”
I laughed at his veiled threat. “You won’t touch him.”
“That’s awfully confident of you to say,” he growled. “How can you be so sure?”
My teeth gritted together. “Because I assume you care about me, and you know that if you touch a single hair on Michael’s head, I will never forgive you. I will never bring you Dreamer’s Dust again. You already said how desperate the Fae Realm is for it. You need me, and I do not need you. Don’t ever threaten him, or anyone I love again.”
Ellyllon was quiet for a long time as we glared at one another. My heart pounded with fear, hoping he wouldn’t call my bluff.
Eventually, he cleared his throat and said, “Y
ou really are my daughter, aren’t you? Sometimes I forget how much of my temper and steel you inherited.”
“Does that mean you’ll leave Michael alone?”
The King of Fae dipped his head in a mocking bow. “I concede your point—the boy is safe. However, you still must cease association with him. I will not actively seek to harm him, but the ring is mine unless you agree to my terms. You’ll no longer be under my protection. Are you willing to risk it?”
My jaw fell open in shock, and I spluttered, “Oh, my God. You’re just…I can’t believe…How could you? This is spiteful!”
“I never said I wasn’t. Just ask your sister, Nadia. She went against my wishes, and her price was steep.”
I stood up, trembling with anger. “I have done everything you ever asked of me! I supplied your kingdom with the magic it requires—a kingdom I’m not even allowed to visit! I loved you as a daughter even though you ignore me for years on end. I accepted the task you put on me, even though you tricked me into accepting the flute. I have done my part, and you still deny me the only thing I ever wanted for myself?”
“This isn’t about fairness, child. Nothing in this realm or any other cares about your feelings. It’s time you understand this is about power. You are royal by birth, and he’s not fit to sit beside you at my table.”
“I’ve never even been to your rutting table!” I shrieked furiously. “Fleur banished us from the fairy court because we shame her with our very existence.”
“I understand your frustration, but you must do your job. Things are changing rapidly, and you need to be ready.”
I stalked around the table and jabbed his chest with my finger, sneering, “Keep your stupid ring. I’ll figure out the Shadow Demon on my own.”
I turned on my heel to leave and Ellyllon rose from his seat to reach for me. “Cassandra! The boy isn’t worth your life! You’re making a terrible mistake.”
“I don’t think so,” I shot back bitterly. “You’re the mistake. This is the second time I’ve seen you, and you give me orders to stop seeing the man I love. You don’t get to command me anymore.”
“Do you know what will happen if the Shadow Demon catches you?” the king demanded.
“I don’t care.”
Ellyllon grabbed my arm, and his touch was cold as night. His hand held me in place firmly. “You must care. This is your life at risk!”
“Nothing you can say will change my mind,” I said, trying to pull away futilely. “Get off me!”
“You must listen! You know how to enter the Realm of Dreams, but still don't know anything about its inhabitants. Some creatures dwell in the shadows, and they feed on psychic energy. When you enter their world, your consciousness disconnects from your body, all that’s left is your intelligence. It’s a state of vulnerability that mortals could not begin to comprehend. Your job collecting the Dust of Dreamers robs the demon of his food–without which he will wither and die.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but he silenced me with a slice of his hand.
“If the demon gets to the dreamer first and severs the mental connection to their body, they can never return—their body becomes a shell. The demon will continue eating them from the inside out, like a parasite. That’s what you risk if you don’t accept my help.” His eyes were pleading as he stared at me with an outstretched hand, offering me the ring. “Let me give you this protection. All I ask is that you obey my rules.”
I shook my head. “I’ve been following your ‘rules’ all my life, and now your price is too high. Thanks for the warning, but I’ll deal with the Shadow Demon myself.”
Ellyllon let go of me and stepped back. “Keep as far away from the Shadow Demon as
possible. Work harder, faster. Collect the Dust of Dreamers and run. Don’t look for the demon, and don’t try to fight it. You will lose in the end.”
“If you loved me, you would give me the damn ring without your ultimatums,” I spat bitterly. “If something happens to me, it will be your fault. I’ll die and your precious veil will fall.”
My father’s eyes filled with sadness as he took another step back and faded into the shadows, leaving me alone.
I let out a shriek of frustration in the empty room and stormed back to my classroom. The glittering dust was gone, and, once again, the silence of the school enveloped me. Tears pricked my eyes as I stared at my desk. I let out a growl and swept everything off the surface in a fit of fury. I couldn’t believe my father would put me in this position. I would not give up Michael, not when we were finally together and, more importantly, I was happy for the first time in longer than I could remember. Michael loved me without any conditions or hesitations. To hell with the veil and the Dust of Dreamers.
I took a deep breath and knelt to collect the papers scattered across the floor. It only took a minute to organize and stack on my desk. The rest of my trinkets made their way back to their proper places, and, in moments, it looked like nothing happened.
The lump in my throat wouldn’t go away, and I knew I couldn’t focus on my work any longer. I shoved the reports in my tote and resolved to finish them over the weekend. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding in my ears as I scooped up my purse, shut down my classroom, locked the door, and fled to my car.
As soon as I got behind the wheel, I looked at my phone. An hour had passed while I talked to Ellyllon. Michael sent me a handful of texts wanting to make sure I was okay. I wiped away the tears streaming down my face, then let him know I was on my way and apologized for worrying him. Shuddering, I turned on the engine and rested my head on the steering wheel.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
Things that go Bump in the Night
Chapter Ten
M om and Fred insisted I come over for Sunday dinner again. Since I hadn’t seen them in a few weeks, I agreed and drove to their house that afternoon. Fred was playing with Elsie in her room when I arrived, and Mom was busy preparing food in the kitchen.
“Hey!” I greeted her with a smile as I set my purse down on the counter.
Mom looked over at me and said, “Hey, Sweetie! I didn’t hear you come in.”
“That’s okay. You guys are busy.”
I hugged her tight and took a minute to inhale the lovely perfume she always wore. The floral scent reminded me of safety, something I desperately needed after my meeting with Ellyllon two days ago. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my head and being at home was a relief.
Mom kissed my forehead, then held me by the shoulders to peer into my face. “What’s wrong?”
I tried not to look guilty. “Why would anything be wrong?”
“You didn’t try to get out of dinner this time like you always do, and you look exhausted.”
Mom was vaguely aware of my nighttime activities, my responsibilities in the Fae Realm, but I don’t think she fully grasped what I did. I also never told her about the Shadow Demon. I wasn’t sure she would take it well.
“It's nothing,” I lied with a half-hearted smile, and turned away from her. I sat at the kitchen table and grabbed a piece of fruit from the basket in the center. “I’m just busy with school and not used to grading papers. It’s a lot more work than I expected.”
Mom cast a sly look in my direction. “And Michael? How is he doing?”
“Good,” I responded, a grin breaking out across my face. “Really good. I like spending time with him.”
“Are you and he dating again?”
“Mom!”
“What? I’m not going to pry. I’m just curious,” she responded innocently. “You’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I was curious.”
“Do you bother Halle like this?” I demanded.
Mom laughed, grabbing a hair tie from around her wrist, and pulling her light brown hair into a ponytail. “Yes, and she’s just as bad as you about keeping secrets. So? Tell me about Michael. What’s going on between you two?”
I blushed, casting my eyes down toward the bowl of fruit.
“Um, we’re not exactly dating, but I think he wants to. It’s starting to look like that’s where we’re headed, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Halle keeps telling me that he’ll break my heart again, and I’m worried that might be true.”
Mom stirred the pot of stew on the stovetop, her brows furrowed in concentration. “I think,” she started slowly, “your sister worries too much. She’s had some bad experiences herself, and that might be coloring her opinion. When you and Michael dated the first time, you were still in high school. He faced a tough decision when he graduated and did what he thought was best. Maybe it wasn’t the worst thing, having him go on to college and leaving you behind. You would never have had the chance to spread your wings and have your own experiences if he hadn’t, and you probably wouldn’t have gone to Arizona with your sister. You needed the time apart, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be worth giving it another try.”
I bit the corner of my lip while I considered her advice. “Do you think he’s good for me?”
She smiled. “Only you know that for sure. But I want you to know that Fred and I support you no matter what—we just want you to be happy. All that matters is what you feel now.”
My chest tightened as I thought back to what Ellyllon said. His counsel was the complete opposite of my mother’s. I loved Michael—truly loved him—and Ellyllon, my king and father, wanted me to walk away from him like he meant nothing. Anger flared within me again, and I wanted to yell at someone, anyone, to get it out.
“Dad was at my school on Friday,” I blurted suddenly. “He, um…doesn’t share your opinion. He told me I need to stay away from Michael.”
Mom looked over her shoulder toward Elsie’s room and frowned. “What? He didn’t tell me he saw you.”
I shook my head as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Not Fred, Mom. Ellyllon. He came to my work and spoke with me.”
Chasing Starlight: Cassandra's Story (The Daughters of Night Chronicles) Page 11