by C. J. Abedi
Her feet lifted off the ground as Alderon let go of her hand and watched as the dark light circled around her body and finally moved into her soul. Tatiana threw her head back and lifted her palms up to the sky, allowing the black light to enter her very core.
Alderon stood back and watched the entire transformation with a happy smile. When it was complete, he stepped forward and bowed.
“My daughter.”
Tatiana had a new energy that seemed to surround her. A new glow that wasn’t there before.
“How do you feel?”
The smile was instant. “Like myself.”
Alderon reached out and brushed her cheek.
“I wish your brother would embrace his truth.” Tatiana lost her smile.
“He fights himself every day. And now that he’s found her, he’s even more determined to stay in the light.”
“He cannot hide from himself forever. And he can’t protect Caroline much longer.” Tatiana couldn’t hide her surprise.
“You have seen her?”
“Yes. We found her,” Alderon told his daughter. “But the laws delay our plans.”
“I wanted to hurt her, father. I wanted to take the one thing she truly loved away, deny her that. Just as Devilyn and Odin denied me. But he stopped the pain and gave her the animal back,” her voice trailed off, and Alderon pulled her into his arms.
“There, child. We will reach her and bring her much pain. It is inevitable. Please don’t fret. It upsets me to see you look so defeated. Remember, victory will be ours. It is written by the Fates.”
Tatiana pulled away and looked up at her father. Her face more determined than ever.
“I will not fail you.”
C
When Devilyn finally dropped me off at home I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. We had gone through so much in such little time. I knew that he was still conflicted. And I knew that he was scared.
But so was I.
All I knew is that I wanted to be with him.
Forever.
Regardless of how long that forever would be.
He pulled me close and just held me for a long time in the car. I realized how badly I needed him. How I could not get enough of him. Being close to him, being embraced by him. It felt so right to be near his energy. When he finally pulled away, he walked me to my door and stared down at me for a long while.
His hands cupped my face, and he let me look inside his soul. I decided that if this was the way that I would die, I would do so happily. As if he had read my thoughts or if some fear overcame him, he suddenly pulled me back into his arms and kissed me again.
A kiss that left me breathless and longing for more.
My arms wrapped around his neck as he lifted me off the ground, pulling me deeper into his embrace. He pulled away from me quickly—almost panting for air.
His eyes were suddenly bright, and he looked like he wanted to pull me back toward him. I took a step, but he put his hand up.
“Go inside,” Devilyn told me, his voice husky. “Go, before I forget myself.”
I smiled at the thought. The trouble was, I wanted him to forget himself.
“You shouldn’t think such things.”
He could read my thoughts.
“Not all of them,” he told me.
For some reason I wasn’t embarrassed at all.
“I can hear your deepest emotions. And I believe that you can hear mine.”
I nodded. I could hear him. We were connected.
“I’m sorry, Devilyn. But I can’t help what I feel,” I said, admitting what he undoubtedly already knew.
He closed his eyes and looked almost pained by what I said. “Caroline. Walking away from you, in any way, is harder for me than you can ever imagine,” he said softly. “Please don’t make it even worse for me.”
I nodded, understanding what he meant. What longing felt like. I had wanted him close to me for so long. It had been so unbearable so many times to be so close and yet not be able to touch him. I couldn’t stop myself from walking back up to him and pressing a quick kiss on his lips.
“Good night, my king.”
I turned to walk away, but he pulled me back in his arms, one hand wrapped around my waist, the other tangled up in my hair. The look in his eyes was intense, more then I’d ever seen.
“Don’t ever call me that.”
“Why not?” I said to him. He had shown me everything. I had seen the past. The present. The future. What was to be between us. There was a beautiful feeling of complete satisfaction in knowing that I had found true love.
I didn’t want to face death or the end. I just wanted to relish in the moment, these moments. Knowing that we had at least spent some time loving each other was enough for now.
“That’s what you are.”
“It may be what I am, but right now it’s far from who I am. Right now, the only thing that matters to me is you. Your life. That means more to me than anything. You living. Breathing. Being. Your existence, Caroline. That is what I live for.”
My heart did somersaults. I could feel them in my very core. He leaned in closer and whispered, “You take my breath away.”
And then he kissed me again. Slowly, seductively. As if he was trying to make me lose all feeling of where and who I was. And it was easy for him to succeed in that. Easy for me to forget everything but the moment.
After a minute he pulled away but still held on to me, leaning his forehead against mine.
“Now go inside.”
“I will.”
“Your parents will be home in five minutes, and I’ll wait down the street until they arrive.”
“My parents?” I said anxiously, concerned about their well-being.
“You don’t need to worry. You and your family are protected,” Devilyn said in a soothing tone. “Odin will watch over the house tonight, so you have nothing to be concerned about. I also know who came after you today, and I will deal with it on my own.”
“I don’t want you to put yourself in danger, Devilyn.”
Devilyn smiled at me. “I will be fine.”
I nodded my head trying desperately to believe him and still reluctant to let go, until he ran his fingers against the side of my face.
“I’ll see you soon.”
I smiled back and began making my way up to my house.
I was at peace.
When I came to the door and opened it, it took all my strength and willpower to not run back into his arms and ask that he take me away somewhere that we could just live happily ever after together.
But I knew that wasn’t reality. Or at least, it wasn’t our reality. I walked inside, and after my heart calmed down and I could breathe again, I stood inside for a long time just staring around at everything like I was seeing it for the very first time.
This was my home. The place I had grown up in. Everything was so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. I suddenly felt like it didn’t belong to me anymore.
I waited for Famous to come running into my arms and then remembered that he would be spending the evening at Devilyn’s. Safe and secure, just as he made me feel. Thinking of Famous reminded me again of how lucky I was to have him in my life. I had Devilyn to thank for that, I thought as I walked up the stairs.
When I got to my room, I changed quickly, sat on the bed and took in a deep breath. I wanted so badly to talk to someone, tell them of the events that had transpired during my day. But no one would believe any of it. Teddy would surely have me institutionalized if I even told him half of what had happened.
I rubbed the tip of my fingers together, feeling a new sensation. Tingly. Alive. Like nothing I had ever felt before.
Devilyn had said that all people were made up of light energy, I thought as I stared at my palm. That everyone had this gift, but only some would awaken it from within their soul. I moved my other palm over my hand, and instantly the energy coursed through
my body. I moved my hand in circles and played with the light; I moved it in a circle at the center of my palm. Moved it up my arm. Down again.
Amazing. I couldn’t deny what I felt.
Here it was.
My energy.
Or as Devilyn had called it: my inner light. And it was beautiful.
I leaned back in my bed and closed my eyes.
I just had to think.
To try and make sense of it all.
Even though I knew that to make sense of it would be to deny everything that I had ever known.
I slowly closed my eyes, and when I opened them hours and hours later, I had realized that I had slept through the night. I must have been so exhausted. But I wasn’t now. I was well-rested and awake with a renewed sense of self, life, and my future.
I knew that I was in danger. I knew that I had a very uncertain path that lay ahead, but none of it mattered because now I had Devilyn to stand and fight beside me. I decided that I would go for a quick run and release some of this newfound energy. I quickly changed into my running clothes, put my hair in a high ponytail, and hurried downstairs.
The aroma of coffee filled the air. When I turned the corner, I saw my mom standing at the sink washing the dishes.
“Good morning honey,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you last night, dear.” She smiled and pulled me in for a quick kiss and hug.
“It’s okay, mom. I had a long day, and I fell asleep pretty quickly.”
“I noticed. When I came to check in on you, you were sleeping on top of your covers, but I didn’t want to wake you,” she smiled.
“I was pretty exhausted.”
I pulled away from her and picked up a banana. My mom watched me curiously.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“There’s something different about you.”
”There is? How so?” I could sense an awkward and uncomfortable conversation looming ahead.
My mom shrugged as she looked me over. “You’re glowing. Like a girl in love.”
I couldn’t stop the blush. I had to look away from my mom before I began to implode.
“Mom. You’re relentless.”
“It can’t be anyone from school? Can it?”
“No,” I barely made out. “I mean not really, you’re reading too much into this.”
“I know!” she replied as she snapped her fingers. “It’s that young boy you’ve been studying with, isn’t it? What was his name?”
“Devilyn. His name is Devilyn,” I replied, angry with myself for being so obvious. I couldn’t believe I had been so transparent. Was I that easy to read that my mom had guessed who it was in less than five seconds?
“And?”
“Yes,” I told her with a sigh. “It’s Devilyn.”
“Oh honey!” my mother said, practically squealing in excitement as she ran over to me and gave me another hug. She was beyond thrilled. Here I was, her geeky daughter, the hermit, in love and dating the captain of the football team. Who would have thought?
“How did this happen?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know. I guess we spent a lot of time together during these past few months. I guess it just kind of went from studying for History into something else.”
I studied my mom’s elated expression. She had wanted to see this day for such a long time. But little did she know that there were many other layers, and my dating life wouldn’t be as high school as she was hoping.
I wanted so desperately to tell her everything. To tell her that he was a Prince.
A Fae Prince and future King.
And even more, to tell her that the little infant who had been left on her doorstep all those years ago was a queen. Just thinking those words made me shake my head in disbelief. I was so far away from being anything close to regal.
“Well, he’s a very lucky guy,” my mom said as she took my hand. I could see tears welling up in her eyes.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
She looked away from me and shook her head. “You’ve just seemed so off lately, and I didn’t know what to—” she began.
I knew what she was thinking. I didn’t want her to torture herself any longer.
“I was just emotional and confused. You know how teenage love is,” I told her as she looked back at me with relief.
“I know, darling. I was once a teenager too.” She smiled. “What do you have planned for the day? Maybe we can go shopping. I have to go to the restaurant for a couple of hours, but then I’ll be back in the afternoon. I’d love to spend some time with you. I hardly see you anymore.”
“I’d like that.”
“Are you going for a run? In this weather? It’s so cold, dear. It snowed last night.”
I put on my earmuffs. “I’m warm enough now, and you know how much I love running when it’s cold out.”
“Be careful.”
“I always am.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Call me when you’re heading back home from the diner.”
I ran out the door, and the cool air was welcoming to my senses. I shook my hands, did a few stretches, turned my iPod on, and was off. I loved to listen to David Gray. I quickly forgot about everything as I pushed myself and turned to run on my regular path.
My thoughts quickly turned to Devilyn. My focus purely on Devilyn. It was strange to think that only six months ago, I was thinking that I’d never meet anyone worthwhile, anyone who would actually know me. And now, I’d met my soul mate.
And he was in my life.
I finally found someone to snuggle with. Go to the movies with. Share dinners with. The thought of spending time with him, getting to really know him, was my undoing. I continued running with a stupid smile on my face and not paying attention the trail ahead.
I had run this trail so many times that its twists and turns were imbedded in my head. Which was why I never saw the small log laying across my jogging path. And it happened instantly. I tripped over it and fell hard on the ground. I put my hands out in front of my face to break my fall, and felt them cut on impact.
I slowly sat back and stared at the gash in my palm. And the blood that was on the pearl white snow. In an instant everything was like a black and white dream around me. I looked up at the sky and watched as the clouds moved in thunderously above my head. A wind came out of nowhere and moved around my body, whipping my ponytail all over.
And then I knew I wasn’t alone.
I couldn’t stop the goosebumps that moved all over my body. Or the feeling of complete and utter fear that seemed to paralyze me. I heard a step in the snow, and I braced myself. I turned slowly, and it took all my power not to start screaming.
A thing.
A monster.
A creature. Stood before me.
He was tall, over seven feet. He was wearing a long, black, hooded cape. I could barely make out his face until he came closer and his face slowly emerged from the darkness. And all I saw was red and large, ominous, black eyes. Suddenly he smiled and revealed large fanged teeth.
I couldn’t move. What would I do even if I did? Surely he could outrun me. So I tried very hard to stay calm. And still.
He moved closer to me and closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. He reached out with his hand, and I watched as a black light emerged from his palm and touched the droplets of blood lying on the white snow. My blood. I stopped breathing as I watched the blood and dark light merge into one.
He smiled slowly and then began to laugh. Then he moved his hood back and revealed his face in its entirety, and when I saw the deviled horns, I couldn’t stop myself. I stood up like lightning and began to run, even though I knew it was useless.
And I screamed.
And screamed.
The only name I knew would probably hear me.
Devilyn.
D
Fear.
In all my years I had never felt such a de
ep and overwhelming sense of terror. I could feel the fear in her.
The anguish.
Pain.
It moved over my body in waves. And she was helpless against it. I closed my eyes and tried to see what it was that was causing her such torment. I saw her running down a small wooded path.
Running.
Smiling.
Enchanting.
And then, moments later, she slammed to the ground and before her stood the devil.
The frightening face of Herne, the devil Fae.
I ran out of my room.
“Odin!” I screamed out. My voice seemed to echo through the giant corridors of the home. I quickly moved down the stairs wondering where Odin could be.
“Odin!” I roared again.
Nothing.
The house was strangely silent.
Empty.
I was instantly alert. I knew my eyes began to glow as I felt the darkness.
The giant front doors of the house flew open. And it was the last person I expected to see enter through them. Never imagining that she would return.
When I came home the night before, I had searched for her. Cringing in disgust at her actions. Asking myself how I could ever trust her, after the pain she had caused. How could I allow her into the inner sanctum of my life when her primary goal was to tear it to shreds. When I didn’t find her, I expected that she had cowered in fear after the pain and suffering she had caused only hours before.
But now she stood before me so brazenly.
Tatiana. My sister. My blood.
But now no longer light.
“What have you done?” I could barely get the words out, my fury was so great.
She smiled.
“What did you do?!”
I could not stop myself from moving toward her with a vengeance. She lifted her palm and used her magik on me, throwing me back against the staircase banister.
I was up in an instant, using my own light against her. She was helpless against me. She knew that she wasn’t strong enough. That I could beat her. But still, her anger pushed her on.
I held her in the air with my light, trying with all my might not to strangle the life out of her. She could see the battle in me, and she couldn’t stop herself from laughing in delight.