10
“It is for their protection,” the fae calmly explained.
“Yeah, sure,” Suri snarled. “The whole city wants us dead.”
Anger and sadness flickered across his face. He shook his head. “No. Not all of us.”
He took a roll of linen from the right pocket of his leather pants. Approached Suri as if she hadn’t just spewed death magic all over the place. Lifted the bottom of her bloodied shirt—
“Woah!” Suri pushed his hand away. “What do you think you’re doing?” Her skin tingled where his fingers had briefly touched.
The fae looked confused. “You’re hurt.” He said it slowly, as if she was slow in the head.
Everything was so fucked. Suri couldn’t make heads or tails of what was going on anymore. She squinted her eyes, boggled by how this was all playing out. “What’s your name?” she asked.
The fae’s eyes went wide. Then even wider. He looked aghast. “My name is Raja.” He dipped his head in the Faerie way of greeting. “I forgot. Humans have strange customs. Should we shake hands?” He held his arm out stiffly, fingers straight. As if he had read about handshakes in a textbook, but never seen one.
It was comical. Charming, almost.
Deceptive. Trying to make me lower my guard.
All the same, Suri shook his hand.
The moment they touched, lightning coursed through Suri’s body. Her heart pounded a thousand beats a minute. Hormones flooded her bloodstream. It was a drug. A natural drug. Designed to make you mate. But it was absurdly strong, unlike anything Suri had read or heard about.
Suri could tell from his face that Raja experienced the same chemical reaction. Sparks flying. Their eyes locked on each other. Suri’s hand was so numb and tingly she couldn’t tell where hers ended and his began.
It was pure, primitive lust. An electric charge, pulling them together. Not a spell. There wasn’t whiff of magic to it. Not any kind of magic Suri knew, anyways. This was all natural.
Breath came hot and heavy. It was so strange. After everything that had happened, that Suri would suddenly feel this way. She was tired, hungry and dirty. Probably smelled terrible, too. She was wonked out, ready to crash. In that sleepy dream state. Lowered inhibitions. Receptive to new connections. If it had been a normal day, the shock from their touch might have brushed off her jaded, old self. Sometimes you need to let go and let things happen.
The fae was getting hard. An erection pressed against the inside of his leather pants. Suri gulped. Now was really not the time for this.
Raja leaned in for a kiss. Suri put a hand on his perfect lips. “It’s too soon,” she said, half-heartedly. She was torn. This was what every gifted girl dreamed about. It was forbidden, a death sentence if anyone in Faerie found out. And so, so hot.
A human girl from San Francisco. A fae stud from Lodum. One chance meeting…
Suri wanted to tear Raja’s pants off and mount him. Instead, she spun around. She couldn’t control herself if she kept staring into his eyes.
If only half of Lodum wasn’t after my head. The things I would do…
Still looking away, Suri took Raja by the hand. Led it to the gash in her side.
Raja got the message. He summoned a bucket of warm water, washed the cut, wrapped it. It had been too long since a man had touched Suri. It’s kind of crazy how many people we pass every day, and how few connections we make. Lonely in a city of millions.
Maybe Raja had been the same.
His hands came into contact with Suri’s ass far more than necessary. And he took his time with the bandaging. Making sure he ran his fingers across her muscled back and stomach. Suri smiled, liking that he couldn’t resist.
She didn’t know who the heck Raja was. She only knew that he wasn’t trying to kill her, had powerful magic, and was a fighter. That didn’t mean he didn’t have a hidden agenda. There was certainly something important that he wasn’t telling her. Like who his friends were, and the reason he had been sent to rescue the human refugees.
“How did you know?” Suri asked, when Raja finished with the bandage.
“I don’t understand.”
“My spell. You just stood there. It could have killed you.”
“You wouldn’t kill an unarmed person.”
That made Suri a touch angry. She didn’t like it when people assumed things about her, even if they were good things. “How do you know?” she said, giving him a teasing glare. “You don’t know who I am.”
“You saved these people. You ran into the flames.”
Suri didn’t have a comeback for that one. She lowered herself gently into a silver chair. Her thoughts turned once again to the fire. The cheering the fae. “Why did they turn on us?”
“Lord Korka,” Raja said, without hesitation. His knuckles went white as he clenched a fist.
The name meant nothing to Suri. She knew so little about Lodum. The politics, the big players. Underlords and mafia bosses. All under the radar. Not only for Suri, but for 99% of humans. They had no sense of Lodum’s society. The fae never gave them a chance. They didn’t see the point in telling humans about their affairs. It only complicated things.
Part of Suri wanted to blame the magi council. It was their job to protect the humans in fae. What did they do to mess things up?
As if reading her thoughts, “there was nothing you could have done. Lord Korka is unknown to your kind. He hates humans. Wishes them driven from Lodum. People used to ignore him, but recently he has been gaining many followers. Traditionalists. Fae who want to return to the old days.”
“The Faerie’s KKK,” Suri muttered.
Raja quirked his head. “What’s that?”
“Nothing. We have some people on Earth who sound a lot like Lord Korka, that’s all.”
Raja’s expression was grave. “These people are dangerous. All they want is power.”
“He started the fire?”
“Not directly. He would not risk facing the wrath of our king. Not yet. He waits in the shadows, while his followers draw blood.”
“I need to tell the magi council.” Suri rose to her feet. Stumbled sideways.
Raja was by her side. Warm body right next to hers. Their hips touched. He took her hand. She didn’t need his help. All the same, she intertwined her fingers with his. They stood chest to chest. Closer, until they brushed heads.
“Don’t you want to know my name?” Suri asked.
Raja kissed her. A thunderbolt. Shocking, paralyzing, blasting all other thoughts from her mind. His large hands roughly grabbed her by the waist. Held her tight, fingers sinking into flesh, lifting her up.
Suri wrapped her legs around his body. They made out, sometimes pausing because Suri couldn’t stop smiling. Raja was voracious. He grinded into her body. Kissed with fiery passion. Held Suri up, walked to the oak table and sat her down on it. She was so ready for this. Her body screamed to have him inside.
The thinking part of her brain was not convinced. Not the right time, it said. Plus, it was kind of weird that all around them were dozens of people trapped in enchanted slumber.
“I need to go.” A breath. Not even a whisper.
Raja lips right next to her ear. Under her ear. Down the side of her neck. The spots that make Suri weak in the knees. One hand cupped her breast, squeezed. Suri pulled his head up and playfully bit his lower lip. Kissed him, as he spread her legs with both hands.
“I need to go.” Seriously, this time. Loud enough to hear. A big, stupid smile still on Suri’s face.
“Then go,” Raja murmured. But he didn’t stop. He wasn’t going to make it easy for me.
Suri sighed and summoned all of her willpower. Told herself, five more minutes. Just five more minutes, and let Raja lay her on the table. Get on top of her, hard pecs touching against her chest.
The metal door leading to the labyrinth burst open. Shrieked on its hinges. The goblin leader jumped into the room. Beady, red eyes locking on Suri and Raja’s tangled bodies. A snarl ca
me from his fat, ugly lips. He charged forward.
A spear of yellow light flashed across the room, impaled the goblin leader straight through his armor. He collapsed, clutching the spear at his chest. The light burned his hands. He cried out, took his last breath and perished.
Suri turned over on the table to see where the hell the spear had come from.
A figure in a dark blue robe stood on the balcony. Large, black feathers covered the opening in the hood, like a curtain over their face. Raja’s erection pressed against Suri’s upturned ass. His muscled arms propped him up on the table. Two pillars on either side of her head.
It didn’t look good.
Raja muttered something in a Faerie language. It sounded like he was swearing. Slowly, reluctantly, he moved off the table. Laced up his leather pants as he walked to the balcony. Suri straightened her clothes and joined him.
“Fools.” The woman's voice came scornful from behind the feathers.
“Lady Vestrix,” said Raja, with a slight bow.
She brushed past him, right up to Suri. The feathers shifted as she moved. Suri glimpsed a beautiful, pale face. Shrewd, purple eyes. Seconds passed in uncomfortable silence.
“Remarkable,” she murmured.
Suri raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“You remind me of someone I have not thought of in a long time.” Suri stood still, self-conscious as this woman slowly walked a circle around her. “Do you not see it?” She asked Raja, but waved him off before he could answer. “Bah! I forgot. You are too young. No matter.”
Suri let a spark of death magic into her palm, ready, waiting. “Did you send Raja to save us?”
“None of that.” Vestrix said it like a stern school teacher. She slapped Suri’s wrist, so quick Suri hardly saw her move. The magic she was holding dissolved into nothingness.
A shiver ran down Suri’s spine. Somehow, the woman had known she was holding the beginning of a spell. It should have been impossible. And to break it with a touch?
I’m in way over my head.
Despite all her bravado, Suri was a mere human courier. This was Lodum. Capital of Faerie. She was no one. She had nothing.
I want to go home.
Humility brought Suri to her knees. She bowed, head touching the ground at Vestrix’ feet. “Please, help us. I beg you.”
A smooth, pale hand reached out from inside the sleeve of her robe. Took Suri’s and helped her up. Vestrix pulled back her hood. She was solemn, and more beautiful than Suri had imagined.
“You need not beg. I am the Lady of Arrows.” She said it simply. Fae do names differently than humans. There are deeper, hidden meanings. “Trust me,” she said, holding Suri’s gaze.
Suri nodded. Must have had a bad look on her face, because Vestrix hugged Suri to her chest. By her looks, she didn’t seem much older than Suri. But Suri could feel the weight of Vestrix’ years in the way that she hugged her tight. The dark blue robe was silky smooth. Smelled of spices and smokes. “Go back to Earth, sweet child,” she said, gently letting Suri go. “I will protect the others.”
“How? I don’t know where I am.” Suri realized her fingers still clung to Vestrix’ robe. She reluctantly let go.
Vestrix gave a sweet smile. Suri smelt ozone. The freshness that comes after rain. The magical thrum of a rift resounded through the room. She turned, saw the fabric separating Earth and Faerie split open atop the oak table.
Did she just summon a rift?
Suri locked eyes with Raja. Vestrix stepped between them. “He will be waiting when you return.”
“How will I find you?”
Vestrix placed a carved, jade amulet in her palm. It was attached to a leather cord, allowing it to be worn as a necklace. “Where this when you travel to Faerie. Think of this room. It will take you here.”
Suri tentatively put it around her neck. “Why? Why me?”
“You ran into the flames.”
“But—”
“You must go.” The rift wavered, shrank in on itself. It was not as stable as the ones that naturally appeared. “We will work to secure a way gate for your friends. Until then, you must talk to the magi council. Tell them what Lord Korka has done.”
Still feeling uncertain, Suri stepped through the rift.
11
Mona woke to the smell of medicine balm and the sound of angry voices.
“…not after what she’s been through.”
“There’s no time! We need answers, before this gets out of hand.”
“It is well out of hand, my friend. The best we can do is try to direct the chaos away from the Academy, away from the students. We can’t lose a generation of magi. Not again.”
“I can bring her awake for a couple of minutes. She won’t even remember it. No harm will be done.”
“You will not.”
“Now, see here—”
“She is my student. You will not disturb her.”
“She is a student of the Academy. You forget yourself, Master Kelendril.”
“And you forget who I am,” Kelendril softly replied. “Do not test me. Not on this.”
“War is coming. The Fae Lords have their eyes set on the Academy, and you coddle this child, for what?”
Kelendril chuckled. “Begone, before you anger me.”
The sound of retreating footsteps, the click of a closing door. Kelendril rested a hand gently on Mona’s. “He’s gone.”
She hadn’t been sure if the voices were real, or a dream. Her mind was foggy, still battling through the shroud of unconsciousness. Mona opened her eyes to see Kelendril sitting in a high-backed chair next to her bed. A fire crackled in a hearth at the opposite end of the room.
“Where am I?”
“Don’t sit up.” Kelendril put a hand on Mona’s shoulder, easing her back down. “You’re in the infirmary. It’s been three days.”
Mona groaned. Her head hurt. Everything hurt. As she became fully awake, aches and pains sprang up all over her battered body. What happened? A scene from the hallway flashed through her mind, vivid and sharp.
“Zyzz! Where is he?” She clutched at Kelendril’s sleeve, tried to pull herself upright.
Kelendril opened his mouth to make a quip, but changed his mind. “He’s fine. Certainly in better shape than you are.”
“The demons…”
“Taken care of by you and Zyzz. Quite remarkable what the two of you were able to accomplish. But I have to wonder, what were you doing together while I was away?” A sly smile crept onto his face.
“It was…I was…” Mona couldn’t explain it, and got flustered as she struggled to put the words together.
“Oh, I understand. I was your age, once. Full of lusty—”
Mona swatted at his arm and missed. The effort set her coughing.
Kelendril grinned. “Fiery as ever, I see. I’m glad the demons didn’t knock it out of you. Now that you’re awake…” He rose, grabbed the headboard of her medical bed, unlocked the wheels with a kick of his foot and pushed the bed out the door and into the main hall of the infirmary.
Lily white beds had been set up in three, long rows, all the way down the main hall. At least half of the beds were occupied. Mona recognized most of the patients as fellow students, but there were some who she could not name. The smell of black magic hung heavy in the air.
“What happened?” she asked.
“We’re at war.”
“War?” It was unthinkable. “With who?”
“Let’s see. The Fae Lords, Arch demons.” Kelendril ticked them off one by one with his fingers. “The Black Ocean Society, Saffron Order, Vampire Council…who am I missing…The Shamans of Easterly, and probably a few others.”
The building trembled from an outside blast. Kelendril pushed Mona’s bed into an empty slot in the middle row of the infirmary and locked the wheels. Apparently this was the new normal. “Try to walk. Carefully,” he added, as Mona swung her legs over the side of the bed. “The head physician worked on you all d
ay and night. If you’re not healed enough to fight, I’ll have him sacked.”
Mona’s hand, the one torn by broken glass, was fully healed. She flexed it, wiggled her fingers. Everything seemed to be working properly. She stepped out of bed and found she had been put in one of those nasty medical dresses.
Kelendril watched her for a moment. When she seemed capable of holding herself upright he set off at a quick pace for the exit at the end of the room. Mona hurried after him, bare feet cold against the stone floor.
A squad of senior students and a Master stood guard at the double doors leading outside. In the summer, the doors were normally kept open to let in a warm flow of air. For some reason, it was in seeing their grim faces, lips pulled down in long frowns, that Mona realized her life had reached a turning point. Her old life, as close as two days ago, was never coming back.
Is this the new normal?
Kelendril and Master Ordo exchanged nods and the students pulled open the doors. The smell of oil and brimstone washed inside the infirmary. Kelendril must have seen Mona grimace. “You’ll get used to it,” he said. “Not that you have much of a choice.”
The Academy grounds, stretching out in front of the infirmary and touching the entrance to every building on campus, had turned into a battlefield. Magi dressed in armor slung fireballs at a tide of imps, while a squad of minotaurs wielding two-handed hammers clashed with wart-covered ogres. The Academy’s defensive wards had been activated, as evidenced by the pale purple dome covering the campus grounds. But behind the imps and ogres, at the far end of the battlefield, a group of tentacled humanoids in red robes used magic to hold open a ragged tear in the dome, through which more of the imps poured.
“Looks like it’s the Saffron Order today,” Kelendril mused. “Come, this way.” He ignored the battle and made for the administration building. A shadow passed overhead. Mona flinched and covered her head, but it was a volley of arrows coming from the Academy’s side. They fell on the enemy lines, killing a score of monsters. The archers nocked new arrows from where they were positioned on the surrounding rooftops and prepare to release another volley.
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