by C. J. Abedi
“It is.”
“Can I find this on iTunes? What’s the song called?” I asked him.
He laughed softly. “No, you can’t. It’s called Candle.” I didn’t understand what was so funny. “I’ll just burn you a copy and give it to you tomorrow.”
“That sounds great.”
He looked out on the Gardens and sighed. “Shall we?”
I nodded and jumped out of the car. Devilyn carried everything. I hugged my jacket closer around my body and wished I had worn something thicker.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“A little,” I admitted shyly. “But I’ll be fine once we’re inside.”
“Wait here.” He rushed back to the car and grabbed his jacket out of the back seat. He came back quickly and put it over my shoulders. I was immediately enveloped in the smell of his cologne. I thought I might faint.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
We hurried over to the entrance. Devilyn opened the door for me, and I stepped inside, immediately welcoming the warmth. I knew the manager of the Gardens because I frequented them often. Her name was Violet, and according to everyone in town, she had been around forever.
She greeted me with a hug. “How are you, my dear?” She asked as I hugged her in return. “I haven’t seen you here for a while.”
“I’ve been busy with school,” I turned to Devilyn and smiled. “This is, um, this is my friend, Devilyn Reilly.” I hesitated, not knowing if he really was my friend.
“Nice to meet you Devilyn; my name is Violet.” Devilyn nodded curtly. He seemed stone cold, and I couldn’t understand why. Violet was one of the nicest ladies in town.
Perhaps he didn’t like being referred to as my friend. I should have said that we were working on a project together.
“Nice to meet you too.”
Devilyn and Violet stared each other down for a moment, then Violet turned a smile on me.
“I see you brought food with you. Why don’t you two go out to the indoor veranda? You won’t be bothered there. And please, feel free to walk the gardens. If this is Devilyn’s first time here, I’m sure he’d love to see how beautiful they are.”
“Thanks, Violet. You’re the best.” She stepped away as we walked toward the veranda. Devilyn followed quietly.
“How long has Violet worked here?”
“It seems like forever. Honestly, as long as I can remember,” I explained to him. “She’s really wonderful and so accommodating to me. She always lets me stay past hours and have free run over the entire grounds.”
“You come here often?” He seemed surprised by this.
“I love it here. If I could come here every day, I would.” We moved into the indoor veranda that overlooked the beautiful gardens. We sat down at a table closest to the window. “There’s something about this place that just draws me in. I don’t know how to explain it.”
He watched me curiously, probably thinking I was some type of freak. Immediately my face flushed with embarrassment.
“I must sound ridiculous to you.”
“Not at all.” He urged, “Go on.”
I shrugged my shoulders and stared outside. Though it was dark out, the garden seemed to be illuminated with something special. Something mystical.
“I feel like there’s something out there that speaks to me, you know?” I realized I must sound like a complete idiot to him, so I tried to create a distraction by opening the pizza box and pulling out a slice. I then removed the salad container from the brown paper bag, along with our drinks and the utensils. I continued fiddling with the utensils and handed him a Coke and a plate. I couldn’t even look at him. “I know that sounds strange.” I hesitated.
Way to go, he’s going to think you’re a complete loser now, Caroline.
“I think I understand what you mean,” he said after a while. I looked up, expecting to find him mocking me. But there was no humor in his voice or in his eyes. However strange, it seemed that Devilyn actually got it.
“It seems like a special place, ” he admitted.
I took a small bite of pizza.
“Do you know the story of the Lost Colony?” I asked him.
“Yes.”
“It’s sad, isn’t it? What happened to those people.”
“It is.”
“Eleanor Dare’s story is the one that strikes a chord in me. Her story is so tragic.” I took a sip of my Coke and watched as he flicked his eyes over me and nodded.
“Very tragic.”
“You know, they say she was pregnant when she came here.”
He nodded again. I knew he probably didn’t care about the story of the Lost Colony or what happened to Eleanor Dare. He didn’t seem the least bit interested in it. So I stopped talking.
“Since you seem to like the history of Roanoke so much, is colonial history a particular passion of yours?” He asked after a minute, grabbing another slice of pizza.
I laughed. “I’m not really interested in colonial history at all. Just the story of The Lost Colony. I think it’s fascinating. But other than that, no. Like this assignment we have has me spinning.”
I couldn’t believe I just said that out loud to him. In fact, I seemed to suddenly feel way too comfortable with this guy. I couldn’t understand why. He was the most unattainable crush I’d ever had in my life, and here I was practically telling him my life story. In another five minutes he’d know everything.
“Why are you spinning?”
“I—” I looked away from him, out on the view, then back. ”Because I really don’t know much about my family. Or at least my ancestors. And that’s weird, you know? And it doesn’t help that I’m an only child. So it’s just up to me to carry on their legacy and to make sure that everything that means something to them lives on in some way. And I just want to make sure that I honor their name, their heritage, and I do them justice, even if I didn’t know them.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation some people have a legacy that they’d prefer to forget.”
His voice was so cold and detached that I was taken by surprise. I looked at him and watched the shadows in his eyes. He was complicated. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure that out. But I could see it. There were layers to him that were not normal. The boys in our class were easy to figure out. Every emotion was written on their faces.
But not him.
There was a wall there, and I had a feeling that even if you were lucky enough to climb that wall and get to the other side, you’d find another one waiting for you. For a guy who was only seventeen, it was hard to imagine. From the outside, his life seemed so charmed.
“I don’t believe that,” I said softly.
“Then you’re naïve.” He pushed the pizza box away and leaned back in his chair. “There are some skeletons better left in the closet. Have you ever thought about that?”
“No. I still want to know everything there is to know. The good, bad, and ugly,” I said almost half-joking. “I’m kind of tenacious when I want something. I just have to find a way to get it.”
He looked at me intently.
“I’m sure you are.”
We stared at each other for a moment longer before he diverted his gaze.
“Shall we get to work?”
“Sure.” I was almost sad to have to start on the assignment. But I guessed that was his way of saying, Shall we get this over with so I don’t have to endure any more of your company than is necessary?
“You first,” I said as I pulled out a pen and notebook from my bag.
“Ladies—” he began.
“Please. I just told you that I barely know anything about anyone. Don’t make me go first.”
He nodded. I was happy to know that we finally agreed on something.
“You have a sister,” I stated the obvious.
“Yes.”
“Today was her first day?” I asked.
“Yes. She wa
s away visiting a sick aunt in Europe and she’s been feeling under the weather since she’s been back. I think she left early today.” Devilyn explained.
“Are you guys close?” I asked.
Devilyn smiled.
“Sometimes. Depends on her mood.”
I laughed. “You’re still lucky to have a sibling. All I have is my dog, Famous.”
“Famous?” he asked crinkling his nose. “You named your dog Famous?”
“I found him on the side of the street. That was the name someone gave him, and I didn’t want to change it.”
“I would have,” Devilyn said looking disgusted. “Especially if he’s a male. It’s undignified having a name like that.”
“Yes, he is a male dog.” I laughed. “I love it. I love him. He’s very special to me.”
D
I know.
I did know how special Famous was to her, and I understood it in a way that she never could. She didn’t know Famous’s past, and she didn’t know her own. Master and dog were in the same boat in that respect.
“Tell me about your sister. What’s her name?” she asked softly.
“Tatiana.”
“That’s a beautiful name,” she said as she wrote it down. “I bet she’s really pretty.”
“She is,” I responded. But she has the heart of a viper. Doesn’t give a damn about anyone and revels in breaking men’s hearts. But instead I said, “She’s a wonderful girl.”
“And your parents?” she asked. I knew the aloof look came over my face again because she backed away from me. I was acutely aware of how she reacted to all of my moods and tones. She seemed in tune with them in a way I had never known.
“They died in a plane crash,” I told her.
“I’m so sorry.” And I knew she was. I could feel the empathy she had for me. In her mind she was no doubt playing out my lonely childhood. Losing both parents, being forced to move in with my grandfather. If she had any idea just what kind of monster my real father was, she’d be running back home.
I would never forget the day Odin told me who my real father was. Odin had taken me to a beautiful seaside in the Indian Ocean. We sat on the white sand beach before the crystal blue water and ate a spread of the finest foods. I was seven years old.
“I’m going to show you a movie, Devilyn,” he told me as the water rose before us like a smooth, clear wall.
Odin loved the water and the way the waves could be brought together to create the most beautiful painting. Suddenly there were pictures playing within its depths, and I was entranced. I saw a woman. Her face was haunted but beautiful. She had deep green eyes and dark black hair, like mine.
“That’s my mother,” I told Odin.
“Yes. Her name was Tara and for her time, she was the most beautiful of all Fae.”
I watched my mother dance around a garden and pick flowers and put them in a basket.
“Now look closely, Devilyn,” Odin commanded, “and listen carefully.”
I did as I was told, desperately keeping my eyes on the scene before me. Tara seemed so mystical, so angelic, as she moved. I looked behind her and saw a man watching her from a short distance away. He was tall with dark hair and eyes.
An imposing figure, handsome except for the harshness that was etched on his face. I could see he was entranced by my mother.
He took a step and Tara turned quickly and saw him. From the way her eyes rounded, I knew she recognized him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him.
“I was hunting.”
“This is sacred human land.” Tara crossed her arms, unafraid. “You of all know the rules.”
He shrugged his shoulders in indifference as he took a step closer. “Will you tell the council?”
Tara watched him for a moment. “No. Not if you leave right now.”
He stood where he was. “Do you come here often?”
“How is that your concern?”
Again, he shrugged his shoulders. “I want to know.”
Tara turned to leave. “I’m leaving now.”
“Wait!” he shouted after her, but he was too late. I heard the next words. “Don’t go.”
He walked toward my mother’s forgotten basket and picked it up. It was still filled with beautiful flowers. But that wasn’t what had him entranced; it was the long string of black hair that was stuck on the basket.
He smiled victoriously and then disappeared.
Moments later the scenery changed. My mother was now in the human world. From the looks of things, it appeared that she was in Ireland—the lush green scenery made it one of the most favorite countries of the Fae. She was in a pub dressed like a human, but looked so beautiful and different from them all. She was by herself, sitting at a table in the corner, and reading a book.
The pub was quite crowded, obviously a favorite hangout. The chime on the door rang and someone entered.
The instant I saw him, my heart dropped.
Tara looked over at the door and slowly put her book down. He was also dressed in human clothes, and all the women in the pub inevitably stared at him with longing, but he only had eyes for my mother. He walked over to her.
“How did you find me?” she asked him.
He reached into his shirt and pulled out the long strand of her hair. Tara seemed quite shocked by this gesture. She took the strand from him and their fingers touched. I could see the electricity. It moved over them both.
Instantaneously.
“I knew it was you,” he told her.
Tara stood abruptly. “No.”
“You felt the call,” he whispered passionately.
“No.” Tara tried to move past him. I could see her fear, but he stopped her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
“You will admit it.”
And with that he grabbed Tara and kissed her. My mother didn’t fight it. At first she tried to remain passive, but she gave in to the temptation. Her arms circled him, and she melded into one with him. He finally pulled away.
“How can this be?” Tara asked, confused and clearly shocked.
“I know not. And I care not,” he said as he cupped her face. “All I know is that I will have you as my wife.”
Another scene flashed before my eyes and Tara now stood with another Fae in her room. She was dressed in a traditional wedding gown with real flowers growing from the magical material.
“You cannot do this, Tara,” her friend said to her. “He is wrong for you. Wrong for all of us.”
Tara turned to face her friend. She took her hands in her own and smiled sweetly. My heart stopped at how beautiful she looked.
“Iris, he is my mate. He will change. I will help him change,” she replied with a soft voice. “Please have faith in him. Have faith in me.”
“I trust you with my life, dear friend. I cannot trust him or even have faith that he will change. He is evil—” Iris began.
“Shhhh,” Tara told her. “He is to be my husband. Love him the way you love me.”
Iris looked down sadly as she watched Tara open the door to her room.
I looked over at Odin in growing alarm. Even though I was young I began to understand the ramifications of what I was seeing.
My mother had made the decision of her own free will. She had not been coerced. She was so pure, so good, that she hoped that she would be able to change him. She hoped and prayed that he would see the Light.
But she should have known better.
Instantaneously there was another flash. My mother was now lying in Alderon’s arms. Pregnant. Enchanting.
He held a hand to her stomach.
“My son.”
“Our son,” Tara said with a smile. “I wonder what he will be like.”
“He will look like me,” Alderon said rather arrogantly. “But his soul will be half of you.”
They entwined hands.
“He will be the King of a new kingdom,
” Tara said with a smile. Alderon kissed her forehead, and Tara closed her eyes.
“A new kingdom,” Alderon said to her as he slowly began to rise and leave the room.
Moments later he appeared in another room, and a member of the Light Fae court stood to greet him and then instantaneously kneeled before him.
“Why have you come here?” he asked him.
The messenger handed him a letter.
“What does this say?”
“With the child on its way, the Light court would like to begin solidifying a truce, a union of both kingdoms,” the messenger said as he continued to keep his head bent. “They are proposing an abolishment of all dark, mischievous works and evil.”
Alderon threw his head back and began to laugh.
“Have they?”
The messenger looked up at him as his eyes began to light up.
“Those were the terms of the union. Promised by you—”
“And?” Alderon told him, “I have her now. That’s all that matters.”
My father then lifted his hand and hit the Fae with a wave of his black light, pushing him back toward the door. The messenger stood slowly, shaking off the bolt of light that hit him unexpectedly, and quickly disappeared.
Alderon’s smile suddenly left his face as he turned.
Little did he know that my mother had watched the entire incident.
My heart hurt for her. I could see the devastation on her face as she held a protective hand on her stomach. I couldn’t look anymore.
Odin waved his hand, and the scene disappeared.
“That’s my father.”
“Yes.”
“What happened then?” I asked solemnly.
“Your mother was overcome with grief. Your father tried to win her trust back, but she could not bear his betrayal. Once you were born, she took you and your half-sister and brought you both to me. Since Tatiana’s mother, Sorai, died during childbirth, Tara was the only mother she had ever known. Tara felt responsible for her and loved her greatly. So she asked that I raise you both as my own and protect you from Alderon,” Odin said softly to me. “She asked that I hide her somewhere Alderon could never find her. And I did.”
Odin looked sad.
“Alderon went crazy with rage, demanding I return Tara, you, and Tatiana. But I refused. And your father’s rage could not be abated for centuries, and slowly the love he had for Tara turned into hatred. Fueling his rage and anger and thus the Dark.”