The Autumn Fairy (The Autumn Fairy Trilogy Book 1)

by Brittany Fichter

“I was just too afraid to admit it,” he whispered, “even to myself, because I knew it would change things, and I didn’t want things to change. But I’ve loved you since the day you stumbled into our lives. And I will love you until the day I die.”

  “Clarisant?” Tearlach’s voice echoed down the hall again. This time, she turned and left. And she didn’t look back.

  51

  That’s Why

  It took all of Katy’s self-control to keep her face blank as she left Peter’s chamber. The errand had been a test. She was sure of it. For though Tearlach claimed that he could use the sun to wipe her memories, she had seen him sending her measured glances ever since, particularly while he’d first taken and questioned Peter.

  And if it was a test, she had nearly failed. Watching Peter through the crack in the door as he took blow after blow from that hateful iron poker had nearly been more than she could stand. Her hands had screamed in pain from holding her power at bay, and she had very nearly lost control several times. Only because of her practice and recent lessons had she been able to hold it in.

  Attacking Tearlach himself had crossed her mind. Katy had spent the entire morning trying to come up with a way to overpower him. But even in the hours since she’d spoken with the waterfall, her power had become more destructive and unruly. In the time it had taken her to walk the halls to the room Peter was in, she’d broken two windows and even put a six-foot crack in a wall, all without meaning to. The amount of power it would take to subdue Tearlach would pose a threat to Peter. She still shuddered every time she remembered the fire she’d set in her room.

  Of course, seeing her best friend in his battered and broken state had only made her self-control more difficult.

  His shirt had been shredded by the lightning Tearlach had used to incapacitate him, and his left arm was now covered in branched scars that resembled the lightning itself. To see him hanging from the shackles, his clothes barely clinging to his body and his skin sickly pale and covered in sweat from the hot fireplace beside him, had filled Katy with a rage that was hard to contain.

  And Tearlach had known very well that she would watch. She was sure of it. After attempting to take her memories, telling her afterward that the humans had drugged her with a root that stole memories, he’d had the audacity to tell her that he’d found the prince snooping around the fortress, trying to kidnap her. But he would take care of the prince, Tearlach had assured her. And to prove his determination, he had even invited her down with him to the little room where he had strung the prince up like a butchered animal hanging out to dry.

  And when he’d sent her back by herself to clean off the blood, she had known he was testing her. So she had painted a blank, stupid look upon her face and forced herself to sound eager to do his bidding. That way, she at least had the freedom to wander the fortress again, as he believed her still blissfully unaware.

  But it hadn’t been easy. Somehow, she had cleaned the blood without weeping. She had listened to his pleas without crumbling. She had touched his wounds without so much as a frown.

  But inside, she was a maelstrom of chaos. Emotions flashed through her like Tearlach’s lightning, there one moment and gone the next, only to return again. For surely she was hallucinating. Or perhaps Tearlach had dropped an herb in her drink at breakfast. For she was sure Peter had just said he loved her.

  He loved her.

  She had to work to slow her steps as she rounded another corner, and it was a good thing, as she nearly slammed into Tearlach.

  “So how is our guest?”

  Katy focused on keeping her eyes wide and her voice innocent. “I have cleaned the blood from his hands and face as you asked.”

  “He spoke to you, I assume.” Tearlach’s face was a mixture of polite interest and wariness.

  Katy wanted to slap him, but instead, she merely nodded and looked at the ground. “He spoke of his childhood. He’s sure I remember.” She fixed her eyes back on Tearlach’s green ones. Make the confusion believable, she chanted silently to herself. “Why does he speak of such things? Should I remember?”

  Tearlach hesitated. “He…he believes it because he wants it to be true.”

  “He just seemed so sure.” The words were sour as Katy spoke them, but she could see the skepticism in his eyes. She would need to work hard to keep him convinced of her loyalty. “Might he have confused me with another girl?”

  “I don’t think you’re aware of the precise draw you have on men!” This time, Tearlach’s laugh was genuine as he pulled her into his arms and placed a kiss on her head. Katy resisted the impulse to wipe it off. Instead, she gave him a smile that was sickly sweet. “What are you going to do with him?”

  His smile faltered. “I’m afraid I need to go in and talk with him again.”

  Talk was an interesting way of putting it. “Why?”

  “I need to make sure he’s not hiding anything.” He paused. “Care to join me?”

  Katy shook her head. “I want to practice outside. It’s getting harder to control.” She flexed her hands. That much was true.

  “That sounds like a good idea. Just remember, stay within the property walls. I don’t know if he has any friends nearby. And don’t push yourself too hard. You’re getting close.”

  Katy smiled and nodded as she turned to go. If he had known what she was up to, he would have added a number of stops to the list of places she was not allowed to go.

  As soon as she was sure she wasn’t being followed, she darted out to the lean-to where she’d discovered the waterfall. Unlike last time, however, she wasn’t browsing. She knew exactly what she was looking for. She just hoped Tearlach had stocked the lean-to with more than illegal magic and kidnapped magical creatures. The search took longer than she would have liked, but after twenty minutes of frantically searching the hundreds of bottles, she found one labeled Blachn Root. She snatched it up and hid it inside her dress as she moved toward the stables.

  Tearlach’s attempt at stealing her memories with sunlight had not been successful, but it had put her to sleep so deeply that he had been forced to wake her up. She’d seen the panic in his eyes after he’d blown the smelling salts in her direction and the relief when she had awakened. Well, if he had been worried, it served him right.

  After waking up, however, once he was gone, she’d been able to drag herself out of her chamber and over to a window in the upper hall. Then she’d pulled herself up high enough to see him hauling a familiar figure over to the stables. A moment of panic had consumed her until she realized that Antony was unconscious, not dead. Unfortunately, Katy had been unable to see around the corner to know exactly where Tearlach took him, so now she had to guess.

  As she crept around the corner of the main stable, Katy had to swallow hard in an attempt to slow her racing heart. The sounds the creatures inside the stables were making were no less horrific than the animals themselves looked. Chirps, barks, chitters, and howls were punctuated with snarls and all sorts of other unearthly tones. Before she opened the door, Katy prayed that Tearlach hadn’t decided to make Antony into a midday meal for his pets. Her plans to free Peter were already difficult enough.

  When Katy rounded the corner of the stable, relief filled her belly, only to be replaced by another wave of apprehension as she spotted Antony slumped against a pile of hay. Tearlach had thrown him in a pen of his own right in the center of the room. At first it struck her that such separation seemed lax, as the knight had no fetters or bars to keep him in his pen. Then, with a growing dread, she realized that the animals themselves were his bars and fetters. There was no way in and no way out except through the pens of the other beasts.

  And Antony had no sword.

  Katy counted the animals directly surrounding him. There were nine, and all creatures of large proportions. Two wolves, three angry bucks, a wolverine, two bears, and a particularly large snake. Katy moved herself just inside the door but took care not to touch any of the pen gates. While she was rather certain she cou
ld destroy both the animals and their cages, she wasn’t necessarily confident that she could do it before being bitten, scratched, or run-through by teeth, horns, or claws.

  Of course, there was also the problem of Antony himself.

  Katy eased herself closer to the center of the room. The last time she’d attempted to speak with Antony, he’d been trying to kill her. Perhaps the animals could be used to her advantage, if for nothing else than to prevent the knight from attacking her before she had a chance to speak her piece.

  “Antony,” she hissed. The knight didn’t look up, so she tried again. “Antony!”

  Antony slowly stirred, then looked around. His eyes were droopy, and his face placid until he saw her.

  “You!” He scrambled to his feet.

  Katy took a deep breath. If she was honest, Antony still filled her with anxiety. But neither of them had time for that now. So she squared her shoulders and did her best to look like she knew what she was doing. “Antony, I need you to listen to me.”

  “You!” He pointed at her with his bad arm then groaned.

  Katy’s first instinct was to ask what hurt, but she forced her face to stay stern.

  “Yesterday...I saw you with him after he knocked me—”

  “Benjamin knocked you unconscious, not Tearlach.”

  “Tearlach?”

  “The olc. I saw them speaking, then Benjamin traded you to him.”

  Antony stared at her as if she’d spoken another language. “But...how did Benjamin find me? I was looking for you.” His eyes hardened. “And how did he find you, for that matter?”

  So many questions. They didn’t have time for this. She had no idea when Tearlach might tire of tormenting Peter and just kill him then and there. “I don’t know. But I don’t think he was up to any good out by himself.” She looked around, trying to find another way into his pen. “Tearlach thinks he’s stolen my memory. I have to let him continue thinking that it’s true.”

  Antony eyed her warily. “Likely story.”

  Katy huffed. “He tried to steal my memory because I discovered what he plans to do to the entire isle on the day of my manifestation.”

  “Which is?”

  “He wants to be king,” Katy said. “And he plans to use me to become so.” And when she spoke again her voice shook. “If we don’t stop him, he’s going to use me to kill every single human on this isle. Or at least as many as he can. Then he plans to use the dry forest to finish off the rest.”

  The knight paled a bit. “I’ve been exploring the forest for days. It’s grown even closer to the moor since we left.” Then he studied her again, and his frown deepened. “But how do I know you’re telling the truth? You ran to him after all.”

  Katy’s patience was growing thin. She wanted to stamp her foot and yell once and for all that she had been chased, but instead, she aimed for the part of his heart that would hit the hardest. “He’s got Peter.”

  Antony had been exploring his pen, though he’d avoided the wall that was shared with the snake, but as soon as the words had left her mouth, he froze.

  Katy’s took advantage of his shock. “Everything I am...everything I have is because of Peter. Do you think I would have stayed and suffered your pointless torment in the dungeon if it had been any different? I could have broken free anytime I wanted. But doing so would have killed not only you but many of the castle’s other inhabitants as well. And I didn’t do that because I care for Peter, and I wanted to do what was right.” She leaned forward. “Now, I know you don’t trust me.”

  “You’re right on that.”

  “And I couldn’t care less. But if you care for Peter as much as you claim, you will listen to me, and you will do exactly as I say.”

  His brows furrowed. “If that monster has sent you to do this—”

  “I am trying to save the life of the man I love. But I cannot do it alone. Peter is in that fort right now being beaten to death by a creature that knows no mercy for any kind but his own.” She took a step closer. “Now will you help me?”

  “And you are one of his kind. Why should I trust you?”

  She held his gaze. “Because you owe me. And,” she crossed her arms, “because you have no other choice.”

  He glared at her for so long that Katy wasn’t sure he would agree to anything. But just when she was about to give up, he let out a heavy breath. “You really care for him, don’t you?”

  She nodded, her throat tight.

  “Well,” he frowned, “if the olc has him now, we’re going to need a distraction.”

  * * *

  “Are you sure you know how to do this?” Antony gave her a skeptical look.

  Katy flexed her fingers. “Not at all.” She drew in a deep breath. “But it’s too late for that now.” Closing her eyes, she pressed her hands against the nearest animal’s stall. With a whoosh, the wooden pens went up in smoke. Though no actual flames rose from the wood, the stable erupted in a cacophony of howls, growls, and shrieks as the animals began to stampede for the door.

  As she pressed herself against the wall, Katy had the awful thought that Antony might be trampled in the process, so when the animals were gone and he was still breathing, she nearly let out a laugh of relief. “I never imagined a knight could curl up into such a little ball.” She smirked at him as he peeked around warily and slowly uncurled from his fetal position on the ground. “Has Peter ever heard you scream?”

  “I don’t scream. And I certainly didn’t then.”

  Katy shrugged, still smirking. “If you insist.” Her high spirits faded quickly, however, as they crept out of the stables. The strange animals were running in every direction, which meant they didn’t have much time.

  “Do you know where he put my weapons?” Antony asked quietly as they hurried toward the fort. Katy motioned for him to slow down as they neared one of the back entrances.

  “I didn’t see him take them, but I may have an idea.”

  “And remind me again why you haven’t simply killed him yourself?”

  Katy grimaced. “I’m too close to my manifestation. My powers are getting more difficult to control. If I try to kill him I might end up killing you and Peter as well.” She shook her head. “It’s best if you—” She stopped and cocked her head. “Oh no.”

  “What is it?”

  Katy’s pulse quickened. “I can hear him coming up. He’s already finished.”

  “Finished with what?”

  Katy pressed herself against the wall and motioned for Antony to do the same. “So far, he’s always spent an hour with Peter. All three times he’s gone down there. I thought we’d at least have that long before he was through.”

  Antony looked at her as though she were mad. “And his being finished early is a bad thing?”

  “Something has changed, but I don’t know what.” She looked at Antony. “Do you think you can find the horses on your own?”

  He nodded. “Yes, but why?”

  She took a steadying breath. “I’m afraid we have less time than we thought.”

  Antony gave her a long look before wordlessly setting off on his own, keeping close to the edge of the building. Katy struggled for a moment to put the blank expression back on her face. It was difficult, though, for not only her hands prickled and ached this time, but her entire body burned as she struggled to keep her anxiety and power at bay. If she could only hold on a little longer, it would have the release it needed. But she had something she needed to do before then.

  Just as she’d suspected, Tearlach had finished interrogating Peter, and he was already making his way out to the stables. Katy hid behind a door as he passed by her in the kitchen, the animals’ feed bucket in his hand. As soon as he was gone, she darted up the stairs. She didn’t have long.

  Peter and Antony’s weapons were indeed stashed inside Tearlach’s chambers, much to her relief. They were heavier than she’d expected, but bearing their weight down the stairs helped her focus on something else besides the burning powe
r that swirled in her blood as she stumbled down the steps to Peter’s prison.

  Throwing herself inside, she grabbed Tearlach’s favorite fire poker and shoved it up against the door, barring an easy entry for anyone else. Then she turned to Peter.

  All the blood she had cleaned from his face earlier was nothing compared to how he looked now. His body hung limply from the ceiling shackles, and his clothes were no more than tattered rags. Even through the holes in his shirt she could see the shine of sweat against his bare chest, and the dozens of splotches turning purple, blue, and black. His eyes were closed, and for one terrifying moment, Katy wasn’t sure whether she could even see his chest rise or fall. Then he coughed, and Katy sent up a prayer of desperate thanks to Atharo. Peter’s eyes opened a slit when she took hold of his chains.

  “What…what are you doing?” His eyes opened a little wider. “Wait, do you remember me?”

  Katy briefly touched his cheek with her hand. “I never forgot.”

  He flinched from the heat in her fingers, but then leaned forward. “So you heard—”

  “I heard everything.” Katy could feel her face turn red. What if he hadn’t meant for her to hear what he said? “Try to lift your hand so it’s not touching the chains.”

  Peter did as he was told, and Katy braced herself. In her mind, she moved the shadow along the dial, but as slowly as she could manage. She kept her eyes closed, but she could feel the shackles crumble in her hands.

  Peter cried out. Katy’s eyes flew open and to her dismay, where the shackle had been, there was a bright red band of skin.

  “I’m sorry—” Katy scrunched her eyes shut. Would she ever be done hurting him?

  But Peter just closed his eyes and shook his head. “Do it to the other hand.”

  Katy bit back tears and nodded. In another moment, it was done. This time, Peter only let out a groan, but she could see how hard he was trying to contain his pain. As always, he was trying to protect her. Katy blinked away the prickle in the corner of her eyes, and helped him stumble over to the wall so he could lean against it. As he did, she prepared herself for the rest of their plan, the part that not even Antony knew about.