Army Of The Winter Court (Skeleton Key)

by Ali Winters

  “Who’s there?”

  Only silence answered.

  “Look, I know you’re there. Come out and show yourself!” She turned in a slow circle. “Answer me!”

  Still, nothing but an unnatural emptiness was the only reply.

  “This is just a dream. This is just a dream,” she chanted over and over, wanting to believe the words, but the rapid racing of her heart told her it was the last thing her mind was willing to do.

  The open vastness of this frightening world left her exposed, and helpless, like a haunted house gone wrong. All the fears normally trapped in the winding dark halls and rooms were now in the wide open—something Evvie would have thought would lessen the fear, in fact only increased the terror she felt by adding the vast open space making her feel even more vulnerable.

  Logic here, in this place, didn’t stand a chance against her imagination.

  Shelter, I need to find shelter. I need to stop and think. Find a way out. I can do this. I can do this.

  Her thoughts rushed through her mind in a jumbled to do list.

  Safety—I have to find a safe place to think. I need to think.

  “Why are you out here alone?”

  Evvie turned, facing the way too familiar voice. Her mother, dressed in all black—a far cry from her usual colorful wardrobe—stood yards away, her hand resting casually against a dark, twisted trunk.

  “Mom?” Evvie reached her hand out and stepped forward. The second she’d moved, her mother turned and walked behind a tree.

  “Mom!” she cried and ran in the direction that she’d disappeared in. Evvie followed her away from the path. The trees grew thicker as she chased on. “Mom, where are you going? Wait for me!”

  “Hurry,” her mom’s voice called to her, laughing as if this were nothing more than a fun game.

  She broke through the thick copse of trees, her feet splashing into the edges of a vast bog. Reeds sprouted through tall withered grass, reaching toward the black sky.

  Branches scratched, clawing at her arms like talons.

  Why isn’t she waiting for me?

  Tears burned her eyes as grimy water splashed up over her ankles, but she couldn’t catch up. She moved deeper into the slimy marsh, the water moving up to her mid-thigh and darkening the edge of her towel with its slime.

  No…

  This was a dream. Her mother wasn’t here—no one was.

  It’s not real. She reminded herself.

  This was all in her head. In her heart, she wished her mom was there to stand next to her and she regretted ever giving Silvia a hard time for having called her.

  Evvie backed up, the need to get to get out and away from the situation was overwhelming. The mud suctioned her feet to the earth, urging her to stay, not willing to surrender its hold. Tugging on her legs in an attempt to escape from the mire, she panicked. It refused to let go.

  A bright light flashed nearly blinding her.

  Lightning?

  Slowly, she was able to move one foot, then the other, making progress one inch at a time. Her blood coursed violently through her veins as she fought to be free, its thrumming, a never ceasing beat, pounded in time with each step. It was much harder going back than coming in as she fought against the pull of the sinister force.

  Running as fast as her feet would carry her, Evvie darted around the twisted trees, jumping over the gnarled roots that threatened to reach up and grab her. Breathless, she burst through and stopped on the sharp glassy trail before bending over and resting her hands on her knees, panting. Thin cuts stung her arms.

  Straightening up, she opened her arms wide and turned slowly in a circle facing every direction.

  “I’d like to wake up now!” she yelled into the empty wasteland.

  As she expected, the only thing that greeted her was a deafening silence. This was her nightmare. A pleasant dream would have given her comfort, a friend, the sun… and clothes. The towel should have tipped her off.

  “I need to wake up… but how? Bringing one hand up to the other arm, she pinched hard. “Ouch!” She cried out, massaging the pain from her arm. “Well, that didn’t work.”

  Time to find my bathroom door and get the heck out of this creepy place.

  “Where is the door?”

  Evvie scanned the area. She couldn’t remember if there had even been a door once she’d stepped through.

  Everything looked the same, how would she figure out where she started? Turning to the right, she took a few steps and stopped to look behind her. The bathroom door she’d walked through was nowhere in sight, vanished as if she’d materialized in this place from thin air. Hopelessness embedded itself in her heart.

  Moving off the path to the nearest knotted tree, Evvie fisted her hands in her hair and pulled, letting out a frustrated growl.

  “Arrug! What is this place?” she demanded from the emptiness.

  The realization of how she got here hit her—she’d used the key, but it was gone now and even if she did have it, where would she use it.

  Did this dream have rules it expected her to follow? Why couldn’t there just be a door on the path and the key in her hand?

  “It doesn’t make sense!” she whimpered, dropping to her knees.

  Scooting backward, she pressed her spine against the trunk of a charred tree and pulled her legs up in front of her wrapping her arms around them. Tears burned the back of her eyes as she squeezed them shut, letting the salty liquid slide down her cheek.

  Evvie let herself cry until there was nothing left.

  How had a dream that had been interesting, unique, fascinating even, turned into a nightmare so quickly? She wanted to go home, to wake up and to be wearing something other than her blue towel with yellow ducks. It left her feeling exposed and more vulnerable than she was okay with.

  This is exactly like one of those nightmares about showing up to school naked.

  The only thing she had to be thankful for was the absence of dozens of people, pointing and laughing at her.

  Stop crying. It’s just a crap dream and your emotions are all over the place. Freaking out won’t help. She admonished herself. It’s a dream. Pick something to do and if it’s interesting, I’ll wake up… that’s how dreams work, the second you want them to continue, they end… I think.

  She was practically having a two-sided conversation with herself at this point. Full-blown insanity was right around the corner.

  Evvie looked toward the only shape that offered her anything resembling a solution; the angular castle. Tightening the towel around her again she moved forward, following the path of the gravel as she walked on the wilted grass. She didn’t expect to make any progress, after all, nightmares were just a series of goals you attempted while getting nowhere. It didn’t matter that this exercise was pointless, it was something for her to do. If she had to play by the rules, she would do her best if it meant the slightest chance at waking.

  The castle grew larger as she walked.

  That isn’t how dreams are supposed to work.

  Was this nightmare just herding her to its destination where it would take over her mind and break her? The thought made her stop in her tracks.

  How messed up is my brain right now? Did I fall and hit my head? Am I lying on the floor of my bathroom bleeding to death? Am I in bed?

  She slowed her pace. Going anywhere in this dark, horrible place had only led to more confusion and wasted effort. If she continued toward the castle, the only thing that waited for her there was more insanity.

  Mind made up again, Evvie nodded at her decision. Turning, she walked with hurried steps back to the beginning of the dream. There had to be a simple answer there. Something she’d missed the first time that would return her to the waking world. If she just stayed in one spot long enough, her dream would have to end.

  Exhaustion settled into her muscles, urging her to rest.

  At the beginning, where I first stepped into this crazy nightmare… I can rest when I get there.


  “Evvie,” a voice whispered with an ethereal quality.

  It's the voice from... I've had this dream before. It’s just in my head.

  “I’ve been waiting for you,” the deep voice said firmly from behind, more real this time… and close.

  Evvie spun. The sharp rocks scraped the bottoms of her feet as her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Evvie

  “Ian?” she asked, as her brow creased in confusion. “What—what are you doing here?”

  He walked up to her, taking both of her hands in his and let out a relieved sigh.

  “I’m glad you finally made it.”

  “Made it? Where am I?”

  “This is where I live,” Ian said patiently, a broad grin still on his face. It was hardly what she would have called a satisfactory answer.

  “Okay, then wherever this place is that you live,” she made a wide sweeping gesture with her hands, indicating the world around them. “I’d like to wake up and go home now. I’ve had enough.”

  Ian frowned. “I’m sorry, you can’t go home.”

  Ice chilled her veins and for the first time in days she felt a shiver. Though, this one was caused by the fear that coursed through her and down her spine, rather than the freezing temperatures.

  “What do you mean, I can’t? You can’t hold me here. This is my dream.”

  “If it’s your dream, then just tell yourself to wake up,” he bit out. The haughty answer caught her off guard, it was far from his usual charming personality. Though, what did she really know about him anyway?

  Ridiculous. He’s not even really here.

  “I’ve tried. I think something is wrong. I can’t wake up. I need help.” Her words came out weaker than she’d meant them to.

  Ian watched her for a moment before speaking.

  “Come with me, and I will do what I can to get you home when I am able.” Each word was spoken carefully, leaving her feeling as if there were a lot more meaning to his intent than what he had said.

  “Okay,” she agreed, not knowing of any other option she could take.

  “Good, now—”

  “What’s wrong with your ears?” she asked staring at the side of his head.

  The tips were pointed, sticking out through his hair that was now slightly longer, like it had been months since he’d had it cut.

  I definitely would have remembered that.

  His mouth pinched tight.

  “There is nothing wrong with my ears,” he said pointedly. “It’s quite normal here.”

  “Yeah? And where is ‘here’?” Evvie asked again.

  “You are in the Winter Court.”

  That explained the weather at least, but other than that it meant nothing. She’d never heard of a Winter Court before. Evvie shook her head.

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “You are in the Winter Court, though most just refer to it as the Unseelie Court. I am an Unseelie Prince.”

  “An Unsee—what?”

  “An Unseelie Prince—Or fae, if you prefer.”

  How could he say something like that with a straight face?

  The corner of her mouth tugged up into a half smile.

  “Fae? You mean,” she said, unable to stop herself from giggling, “You’re a… fairy?”

  His smug expression slipped.

  “Uh, yes, however, we prefer the term fae—”

  “You’re a fairy!” she exclaimed, unable to hold back her laughter any longer. It was insane. It had to be some crazy dream caused by her fever. Her brain was melting, and it had turned Ian into a freaking fairy.

  When she managed to stop laughing and catch her breath, Evvie swiped the back of her hand across her eyes, drying the tears that had escaped. Glancing up at his face, it was obvious to her that he was anything other than amused by her reaction.

  “Ah, I’m sorry, I just wasn’t expecting you to say fairy.”

  “Fae,” he corrected.

  “Right…” Evvie paused and glanced around. “If you’re a fair—fae, why is everything here dying? Shouldn’t there be large trees, toadstools, and flowers everywhere, maybe a couple of woodland creatures bounding around?”

  “No, this is the Winter Court.”

  “Snow pixies, or arctic animals playing in hills covered with snow?”

  He cleared his throat, looking more uncomfortable than she’d seen him in the few hours they’d spent together.

  “We are in the Unseelie realm, not the Seelie realm.”

  “And that means… uh, what exactly?” Evvie prompted.

  Aurelian swore under his breath, “The Unseelie are dark fae. Not the happy, singing, and fluttering about fae you are thinking about.”

  She took a step back.

  “I knew it… this was too good to last,” Tears formed at the corner of her eyes, stinging. Squatting down, she gripped her head in her hands as she felt an anxiety attack coming on.

  “I am not evil,” he said defensively.

  “Excuse me, but announcing that you’re a ‘dark fae’ doesn’t inspire me to have loads of warm fuzzy feelings about you… or any of this!” she snapped, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.

  Kneeling down in front of her, Ian took her face in his hands.

  “I promise that I will not hurt you. I need you safe.”

  “You need me safe?” Evvie knew it wasn’t something she should question, but what could he really do to her in this dream? Everything felt so real. She couldn't control her reactions or feelings and it was getting harder by the second to remember that it was just an insane dream. “Why?”

  “Just trust me, Evvie. I need you safe.”

  Seeing he wasn’t going to answer her question, she nodded. The only thing she could do was accept that for now, but once she was able to dream herself a new outfit she would insist.

  “Good,” he said, lifting her to her feet.

  Evvie studied him, scanning him from head to foot and frowned.

  At her confused expression, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is something wrong?”

  “You mean, besides the obvious?”

  He nodded.

  “Where are your wings?”

  “My… wings?” he asked, taken aback.

  “Yes, you’re a fairy, right? Aren’t fairies supposed to have wings?”

  “Fae—and that is a common misconception. Pixies have wings; I am not a pixie.”

  “Mmmmm, if you say so, Tink,” Evvie said with a smirk. Her emotions were a roller coaster ride, racing between amusement and fear as her mind and imagination warred between what was real and what was surreal. Dark fae, light fae, real, insane dream manifestation of her most recent date—it didn’t matter. If she continued to fight it as she had been, things would just worse and worse. She would trust her questionable instincts for now, and right now they were telling her that Ian would keep her safe.

  “Tink?” he asked.

  “Yeah, you know, Tinker Bell—Tink.”

  He shook his head, uncomprehending.

  “I don’t—”

  Waving her hand dismissively, she laughed, adding, “Never mind.”

  Once again, her dream morphed into something different. Only this time, it was comfortable and not one full of terror.

  “I was worried you wouldn’t make it here in time,” Ian said as he watched her, no doubt seeing the rush of emotion going through her as each one skittered across her face.

  “In time for what? This is just a dream.”

  “Before something bad happened to you.”

  “Ian?”

  He hesitated, “Actually, it’s Aurelian, but you can call me Auri.”

  “You lied to me about your name?”

  “No, I merely used a less common nickname.”

  She crossed her arms, uncharacteristically upset about such a small thing. “It was still deceptive.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way. I will promise you now, that I will never lie
to you.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “But what about the full truth? Or will you ‘conveniently’ leave things out?”

  His sudden laughter startled her.

  “That remains to be seen.”

  “Why?” she demanded.

  “It depends on what you wish to know and what you need to know.”

  She frowned but let it go, something heavier weighed on her for the moment.

  “Auri, I’ve had a high fever for days, I think this is the something bad happening right now. I can’t wake up, what if I’m in a coma or worse…”

  “Then you need to make sure that this becomes something good.”

  Evvie supposed there were worse ways to go and worse dreams to have. She felt the corners of her mouth turn up into a wide grin.

  Something good…

  The broad smile that stretched across her face faded.

  Sorrow seeped into her at that last thought. She would die and then that would be it. No more movie night marathons, no more late nights studying before a final exam, no more girls’ nights in, no more dates… no more first kisses. No more anything.

  Eyeing the man in front of her, she regretted not having kissed him on their date. She’d chickened out. He would have kissed her, but she’d pulled back, offering him nothing more than her hand and had run off, leaving before he had a chance.

  Stupid, stupid, stupid!

  There was nothing left now except this, right here, in her mind. If all she had was this crazy, fever induced dream, then she would take it. She would take everything she that could from it.

  “Shall we go?” He asked, holding his hand out.

  Evvie slid her hand into his and let him pull her closer.

  No more last kisses… tugging on his arm, she pulled him to a stop.

  “What—”

  She gripped the lapels of his suit and lifted herself up against the front of his body. Pushing up on her toes, she wrapped an arm around his neck, pulling his face down to meet hers and pressed her lips to his.

  At first, he didn’t react, but seconds later, his arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her off her feet. She kissed him with all the passion she could pull from her soul, with all the desperation one might expect of having been trapped underwater and suddenly finding air. One of his hands snaked up her back and tangled itself in her hair as he deepened the kiss. Fire coursed through her veins, making the beat of her heart frantic. In the back of her mind, she wondered if he could feel it pounding. Every inch of her that he touched burned with the memory, instantly longing for his hand to return.