by Anthea Sharp
“What else?” She peered closely at the sprite.
“Imbued you both with the magic to leave the Realm. In order to trigger the spell, I need a lock of hair from each of you, a bit of mortal food, and something you wear about your person.”
“Sounds creepy,” Nyx said.
Puck simply shrugged.
“All magic is creepy,” Marny said. “But what else can we do?”
She dug through her sack and pulled out a protein bar. For a second, the image of Korrigan flashed before her eyes—the hideous changeling creature she had volunteered to babysit, and ended up strangely fond of.
“You are not without allies in the Realm,” Puck said, again seeming to read her mind.
“I thought Korr was a creature of the Dark Court,” she said. “Aren’t we headed into the Bright?”
The sprite gave her a conspiratorial wink as he took the protein bar. “Who knows?”
She rolled her eyes. There was no getting straight intel from Puck.
Nyx fiddled with something at his neck, then offered Puck a cord with a Chinese character hanging from it.
“Here,” he said. “I basically never take this off. Will it do?”
“Indeed.” Puck grabbed the cord and held it up, studying the symbol.
“What’s the character mean?” Marny asked.
“Luck.” Nyx gave her a sideways smile. “Appropriate enough, given the circumstances.”
They’d need more than just luck, of course. Magic, and smarts, and certainly his fighting skills into the bargain. She was not looking forward to whatever came next.
Marny pulled off her sling, glad to find the movement didn’t hurt. She stretched her arm back and forth a few times, but Puck had spoken the truth.
“I don’t suppose you’d take this?” She indicated the useless sling.
Puck’s response was a sniff of disdain.
“Okay then.” She held her now-healed arm out to Nyx. “Could you untie my bracelet?”
It had been a gift from Grandma Harmony, the last time she’d gone to Samoa. Marny suspected the woven band decorated with seashells had been a cheap tourist souvenir, but she’d still loved it.
Nyx’s nimble fingers made short work of the knot, and Marny slipped the bracelet off and handed it to Puck.
Another sacrifice. Another tiny scar.
“Now, your hair,” the sprite said.
“You might want to shield yourself,” she told Puck. “Cold iron, coming right up.”
“Your warning is timely.” He tucked their jewelry away, then flicked his fingers.
A crystalline cocoon folded about him, and he nodded to Marny. She pulled the knife from her calf sheath and the sprite flinched a bit, but other than that seemed fine.
“So,” Nyx said. “I notice you’ve got a knife. Know how to use it?”
“Yes, my uncle insisted on it. Here, bend your head and I’ll get some of your hair.”
He didn’t seem at all nervous about letting her wield a blade right by his neck. Still, she was extra careful as she lifted a strand from the back of his head and neatly sheared it off.
“I think it won’t be too noticeable,” she said, handing him the lock.
“No worries. It’ll grow back, and I’m not one of those super-vain guys.”
“Only medium-vain?” She sent him a wry smile to take the sting out of her words.
He merely raised an eyebrow, which, dammit, made him even cuter. Trying to ignore the pull in her stomach when she looked at him, she grabbed a piece of her own hair from behind her ear and sliced it off. Compared to his smooth strand, her hair seemed wild and frizzy.
As soon as she slipped her knife back into its sheath, Puck dissolved the crystal shield around him. Nyx handed his hair to the sprite, but Marny hesitated.
“Are you sure you need it?” she asked. “And it’s not going to be used to harm us in any way?”
There had been some issue with Jennet having to give the Bright King a lock of her golden hair, which later he’d used to summon her to the Realm. Marny wanted no part of that.
Puck gave her a serious look, his face suddenly wizened and old. “On the moon and stars, the sun and rain, I swear that the trinkets I am about to craft cannot be twisted to do harm to either yourself or Master Nyx.”
That was reassuring, as far as fey promises went.
Puck waved his hand and two wooden bowls appeared, so finely crafted they almost seemed made of porcelain. One was paler than the other, with a wavy grain. Puck held this bowl out to Marny, and she dropped her hair in.
Her bracelet joined it, and then he crumbled a bit of the protein bar into the mix. When he was done he set the bowl to one side, where it hung motionless in the air, then used the second bowl for Nyx’s items.
“Now I create the spell.” Puck handed her back the unused portion of the bar. “Speak not while I perform this magic.”
“Got it,” Nyx said, and Marny nodded her agreement.
The sprite placed Nyx’s bowl in the air beside hers. From somewhere he produced a thin, thorny stick that looked like a rose stem without the flower. He snapped it in half and added it to the bowls, then with a touch of his fingers sent them spinning.
“Widdershins turn, a lock and a key,” he chanted. “These mortals return to their world in safety. Ash and oak, sup and briar, the portal opens into fire.”
Bright golden-green light flared up from the bowls. The light flickered in the cave, and for a second Marny saw an arched doorway outlined against the back wall.
As quickly as it had appeared, the brilliance faded. She blinked, spots of fire imprinted on her retinas.
“Did it work?” Nyx leaned forward to peer into his bowl.
“Indeed.” Puck lifted the cord. “Your talisman is complete.”
The Chinese character for luck had been replaced by a twining Celtic symbol fashioned of wood and metal. It gleamed softly, flickering green and gold around the edges.
“Wear these until the proper time.” Puck handed the necklace to Nyx, then plucked up Marny’s bracelet and gave it to her.
The seashells had been turned to the same twisty Celtic talisman as Nyx’s charm. Despite a lingering glow, the bracelet was cool in her hands.
“What is the proper time?” Nyx asked, slipping the cord over his head.
“And are these things safe to wear?” she added, though mostly just to annoy Puck.
At Nyx’s gesture, she held out her wrist and he fastened her bracelet back on. It struck her how in accord they were, both of them understanding what needed to be done without having to talk about it. It was comfortable and a little scary all at once.
She wasn’t sure if their connection—and there was one, she couldn’t deny it any longer—was a threat to her self-sufficiency. While they were in the Realm of Faerie, though, it was definitely a good thing that they were on the same screen.
“Best if you tuck the trinkets out of sight,” Puck said. “They will remain quiescent until you need to return to the mortal world. Then throw them into the fire, and you will be transported home.”
Marny shot the sprite a look. “One problem. What fire?”
“Another problem,” Nyx said. “What about my sister?”
Puck let out an exasperated sigh. “You mortals are so prosaic. There is always a fire at court—Bright or Dark, regardless. Anything you are holding fast to will be taken with you when you cross between the worlds.”
“So, find my sister, grab her, throw the trinkets in the fire,” Nyx said.
“It sounds simple,” Marny said. “But it won’t be that easy. These things never are.”
“Hey, I’m a gamer. I know my boss fights. There’ll be adds and unexpected twists.”
“The Realm of Faerie is no game,” Puck reminded him. “But the metaphor is apt enough.”
The faint sound of silver bells drifted on the wind, and the sprite glanced up at the stone-enclosed opening of their hideaway.
“I must depart,”
he said. “Fare well, adventurers. I wish you luck upon your quest.”
He sprang into a handstand, then tumbled into a flip and was gone.
“Wait—” Nyx said, but it was too late. He turned to Marny, frustration clear in his gray eyes.
“That is so like Puck,” Marny said. “Abandoning us to our own devices.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Nyx said. “Now what?”
The thud of fast-approaching hoofbeats vibrated though the little cave, and Marny felt her pulse accelerate in response. The faerie guard had found them again.
“Now,” she said, “we’ve got trouble.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The sound of silver bells drifted into their small shelter. Marny glanced at the light filtering through the stone-capped opening—their only escape route. Too late now. They were trapped.
“Ah, crap.” Nyx flexed his fingers and rose into a fighting stance. “Get your knife out.”
Marny reached for her blade, but hesitated. Could the two of them really defeat the Bright Lance and his companion?
She glanced around the shallow cave. They could stand and fight—which, considering they were mere humans against armored magical faeries, could go badly—or they could get the hell out. Hadn’t Puck said this was the beginning of a passageway? She’d even seen the outline of a door…
“One sec.” She scooped up her sack and went to the back wall.
Moving on instinct, she lifted her wrist and touched her enchanted bracelet to the granite. A green-gold light flickered over the surface of the stone, illuminating the edges of the arched doorway she had glimpsed earlier.
Quickly, Nyx joined her and pressed his talisman against the rock. The light from the entrance to their cave dimmed as a body blocked it. Come on, open.
With a single, clear chime, the door swung wide. Marny ducked through, Nyx right behind her.
The second they were over the threshold, the passageway thudded shut, cutting off the Bright Lance’s shout of rage. That had been close.
The passage was dark and cool. She strained her eyes, searching for any glimmer of light, but saw nothing. The sound of her breathing grew loud, louder. She tried to quiet it, but claustrophobia pressed in from all sides. She could feel the first turn of panic screwing into her chest.
“Hey.” Nyx found her hand unerringly in the darkness, and squeezed. “It’s okay.”
“Dammit.” Her voice was tight.
“One sec. I need both my hands.”
He guided her fingers up to his shoulder, and she tried not to clutch at him, grateful beyond words that he hadn’t just let go and left her alone in the dark. She heard him rummaging through his sack, the clink of plasmetal. A moment later he clicked on a flashlight, and her knees went soft with relief.
The small white light showed they were standing at one end of a passage hewn from the rock. Bits of mica glittered in the stone, and the air smelled of dampness and roots.
Thankfully the tunnel was big enough for them to stand in. She didn’t know if she’d be able to hold it together if they had to crawl through the earth, tons of soil and rock overhead, waiting to collapse and smother the life from them…
Stop it. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, forcing back the urge to vomit. Nyx took her hand again, and that helped. Though she hated him seeing her weakness.
“I’ll lead,” he said.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. As he stepped forward, she concentrated on the warmth of his hand in hers, the way his amber hair curled under at the back of his neck. When the panic threatened again, she began counting their steps. She was concentrating so hard on not freaking out, she didn’t notice that Nyx had stopped until she ran into him.
“Sorry,” she said, glancing up. “Whoa.”
The tunnel opened into a misty hallway full of arched openings running along one side. Ornate lamps hung suspended on golden chains, shedding a soft radiance that made Nyx’s flashlight look harsh in comparison. Even as she noted the contrast, he shut his light off.
“This is interesting,” he said.
Marny took a deep breath, steadier now that there was light and space ahead.
Behind them, from the darkness of the stone tunnel, came a thud. How long would it be before the Bright Lance got the door open?
She traded a glance with Nyx, and they hurried forward.
The first archway they passed showed a manicured lawn stretching to the edge of a lake. A stone castle rose above the water, blue pennants flying in the breeze.
The next doorway opened onto a garish scene where a multi-armed blue deity threw marigolds at a horde of screaming demons. Marny shuddered and picked up her pace.
At the third arch, she paused.
“What?” A sense of incredulity washed over her.
Mr. von Coburg stood at the head of a meeting table where the Social Interfaces Design team sat, looking unhappy.
“It’s unfortunate your intern chose not to come to work today,” the CEO said. “Especially as this progress meeting is mandatory.”
“I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding,” Angie said, and Ser Jellicoe nodded his agreement. “Maybe she’s sick, or had an accident.”
“I shall investigate,” Madame Fontaine said, her voice cold. “Now, about the newest research…”
“Hey, we have to go.” Nyx tugged at Marny’s arm.
“But I’m missing a crucial meeting.” Damn. Was she going to lose her internship over this? Dismay pressed like a fist into her stomach. “It’s Monday morning already in the real world.”
“How can that happen?” There was an edge of panic in Nyx’s voice.
“Time moves differently in the Realm. At least, according to my friends, and Jennet’s book of lore.”
If she stepped through that archway, would she magically arrive at Intertech in time to salvage her job?
She glanced at Nyx and immediately ditched the idea. They were in this together, and she’d promised she’d help. Whatever the consequences, she wasn’t the kind of person who broke her word. Especially since she had the feeling Nyx wouldn’t be able to rescue his sister without her.
Two mortal souls trapped in the Realm of Faerie, versus her future.
It was a crappy choice, but easy enough to make.
“Come on.” Marny shot one last glance at the meeting room, then made herself walk past.
There was no way she could explain why she hadn’t shown up at work. She could feel her internship, and everything that it represented, slipping away.
Living at home for years and working a minimum-wage job, coming right up. She swallowed the salty taste of failure.
“Are you sure?” Nyx asked. Clearly he could tell it was important.
“I’m not abandoning you. And I’m not arguing about it. Your sister is here somewhere, so let’s go find her.”
That shut him up. Looking grim, he strode down the hall beside her.
As they passed the next opening, Marny glimpsed a shining expanse of lake with mountains rising at the far horizon. A graceful boat lay upon the waters, manned by a hooded figure who began to turn as if sensing their presence.
A chill running down her spine, Marny quickened her pace. She held her breath until they were safely past that archway.
The one beyond opened onto a midnight forest, the light of a purple bonfire glimmering between the trees. As they drew even with the door, a long, eerie howl sounded, and she shivered. Their choices seemed to be getting worse.
“Let’s not go in there,” Nyx said.
She nodded. By then they were practically running. She had the cold suspicion they’d just passed the Dark Court.
But if that had been the Dark Court, could the light spilling from the opening ahead be the Bright one?
“There they are!” a voice called.
Marny looked over her shoulder to see the Bright Lance appear out of the mist at the end of the corridor. He drew his sword and charged toward them.
“
I think this next doorway is the last one,” Nyx said.
“Then wherever it leads, we’re going in.”
No way did she want to go back to any of the other portals, except maybe the very first one—but that would take them right into the arms of the faerie guard.
They sprinted for the opening. The air was filled with radiance, and she glimpsed trees of gold and silver with shining leaves. Music lilted through the grove and glowing pixies darted among the trees, their light glinting off flowers made of garnets and sapphires, topaz and amethyst.
This was it. It perfectly matched the description in Jennet’s book.
“Ready?” Nyx asked, grabbing her hand.
She squeezed in answer, and together they dashed over the threshold into the heart of the Bright Court.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Although Nyx had explored his own enchanted woods plenty of times, the forest of the Bright Court held so much magic he felt it, like a current running over his skin.
He pressed Marny’s hand, then let go so he’d be ready to act at a moment’s notice. Herb-scented air wafted around them, and before his eyes the metallic trees shifted, creating a wide pathway leading toward a clearing.
He glanced at Marny. She seemed nervous, but strong. There wasn’t anyone else he’d rather have at his side.
Together, they strode forward. His heartbeat thumped in his chest, but he stayed light on his feet, primed to attack or defend as necessary.
As they approached the clearing, Nyx blinked at the sight of the creatures gathered there: ethereal maidens with gossamer wings and scary-looking eyes, stubby gnomes wearing pointed hats, fur-covered things with human faces and hands, tall twiggy creatures armed with pointy spears—including the spriggan called Pinebough.
Some of them were dancing, some feasted at long tables filled with food and drink, some reclined on couches of velvet moss.
In the very center rose a dais covered in glimmering grasses. Upon the dais stood a throne made of gold, and upon that throne sat the Bright King. His armor shone like the sun, and a circlet of dazzling light sat upon his head. Pointed ears emerged from his long, pale hair, and his face was full of sharp angles.