Innocent Darkness

by Suzanne Lazear

  Maybe he’d been huntsman too long. He liked to think all his experience made him immune. Perhaps the opposite held true.

  He stood at the edge of the Lake of Sorrows. Despite its name, it was a pretty place with its expansive depths, weeping trees, and the many creatures that called it home. More than one woman—mortal and otherwise—had been wooed by him on its shores, or in its depths in a rowboat. Another one of his nicknames was Kevighn Woman-Maker. He’d lost count of how many virgins he’d deflowered.

  Where had he gone wrong with Annabelle? She hadn’t been the first to discover where her fate truly lay. But no one had done anything of that sort before.

  He picked up a rock and skipped it, watching it jump eleven times across the water before it sank below the silvery surface.

  What would he do about Noli—tell her the truth and reason with her? The very thought made him laugh. Some thought he should actually tell the girls.

  As if any mortal would give their lives to save his people.

  Shoving his hands in his pockets of his trousers, he walked towards the palace. He’d start with an apology; maybe bring her flowers. The palace greenhouse probably held some rare bloom he hadn’t shown her yet.

  As he emerged from the trees he spied someone crossing the bridge. The man wore mortal clothing and had a shock of blond hair that would make Creideamh itch for a hairbrush. Intently marching ahead, he held something in his outstretched palm. Interesting.

  Stealthily, he trailed the intruder. It quickly became clear to the interloper was no mortal—or man. Not quite. What was this boy doing?

  Wait. Perhaps this was Noli’s V.

  Rubbing his hands together in glee, Kevighn continued to follow the boy. The whelp was too immersed in his task to notice he was being followed.

  “Oh, my.” Noli stood in the center of the garden. No words could describe its beauty. Hedges made of unfamiliar plants formed elaborate shapes. Blooms she’d never be able to describe in mere words filled the air with intoxicating perfume. For some reason it made her miss Creideamh’s simple garden—and her own little plot in her backyard in Los Angeles. Hopefully V had remembered to water it.

  “They are lovely, aren’t they?” The queen clasped her hands under her chin in posed delight, LuLu tucked under her arm as she rode on some sort of golden jewel-encrusted horseless chariot that floated above the ground but didn’t have wings like the pixy or solar panels like a hoverboard. “You are free to use the gardens during your stay here. I’ve even arranged for you to have a room with a private garden.”

  A room? She didn’t want to be here that long. “What exactly do you need me to do, your majesty?” Every time she’d asked, the queen sidestepped the question, employing distraction much like Kevighn. Perhaps it was an Otherworld technique. Being mortal didn’t make her stupid—or lesser.

  “For the moment, I simply want you to enjoy yourself and be happy.” She stretched out her hand as she floated along the path. “Some of my courtiers are playing a game in the center garden, why don’t we join them. We have many, many gardens here, including ones representing each of the other courts.”

  Without waiting for Noli, the queen glided away on her chariot. Two guards trailed them.

  “What do the five circles mean, your majesty? I keep seeing them everywhere,” she asked as she tried to keep pace.

  “Oh, those represent the five courts. The outer circles represent fire, water, air, and earth, with the high court uniting them in the center. But that’s so boring.” She waved Noli off with one ungloved hand. “Let’s go see what the ladies are playing today. I want you to meet them.”

  “Splendid,” Noli lied. Courtiers? Would she ever escape mindless ladies? “Could we see the different gardens first?”

  “We’ll pass fire and water on the way.”

  The water garden was just as she imagined—a series of streams and ponds filled with water lilies and other aquatic flowers. A few children played a game with a ball under the watchful eye of what looked like a governess with a sword. “There are children at court?” Realizing how idiotic she sounded, she fidgeted. Of course there’d be children. She could hardly expect them to emerge fully-grown from flowers.

  Queen Tiana waved at the children, who waved back. “We adore children.”

  “Do you have any, your majesty?” Her mouth clamped shut as the queen’s expression tightened. Her mother would be ashamed of her uncouth manners. “I … I beg your pardon, that was a very personal question.”

  “I do have children, but they’re not here at court.”

  “Oh, do you miss them? I miss my mother ever so much.” Perhaps Noli could use this as a bargaining tool. Surely, as a mother, she could understand.

  “I do.” For a moment the queen looked far away, then her expression hardened, eyes flashing. The look disappeared as quickly as it appeared and she stroked LuLu’s furless head. “Let’s think of more pleasant things. Come along, the fire garden is quite the sight.”

  A sea of red, orange, and yellow flowers looking like a cross between orchids and roses but smelling of lilies greeted them in the fire garden, evoking the sensation of the garden being on fire. A river of molten sand cut through it, heat searing her as they walked past.

  The center garden burst with purple and gold blossoms, clearly the queen’s colors. A group of giggling women dressed strangely—and a little scandalously— played a game with what looked like umbrellas and translucent golden globes that seemed to have a life of their own.

  It reminded her of croquet, both as they played it in Boston and as described in the book Alice in Wonderland. The point of the game seemed to be to hit the ball with the curved part of the umbrella-looking mallet through one of the many hoops decorating the lawn. Only the hoops weren’t made of metal or sentient playing cards. Looking like a cross between a wood faery and a walking stick insect, they stood about two feet high when not hunched over in an arch, and moved when the women hit the balls, causing fits of giggling. The ball seemed to move this way or that with no correlation as to where it had been hit, as if driven by a tiny, demented creature.

  “Doesn’t that look like such fun, Magnolia?” the queen cooed from her perch.

  Not really. They didn’t hit many through the arches and giggled a lot. It made her want to retch. Hadn’t she left all this twittering nonsense behind? For the first time since arriving in the Otherworld she felt as if she’d fallen through the looking glass.

  And their clothes! One woman wore skintight black trousers. Trousers on a woman was even more outrageous than wearing a corset on the outside of one’s clothing.

  Another courtier wore an asymmetrical dress festooned with large buckles. It seemed to be missing large chunks of fabric, revealing vast portions of skin. A third wore a bustled skirt made of completely sheer fabric, a bodice with nothing underneath, and long, fingerless gloves. The two in skirts both possessed straight brown hair worn loose and strewn with flowers, big blue eyes, and heart-shaped faces. Their large breasts were disproportionate to their slender frames. The one in trousers had amber eyes and wore her black hair worn in a pompadour covered by a tiny hat.

  “Hello, ladies,” the queen greeted, floating across the immaculate lawn to them. “How’s the game?”

  “Splendid, your majesty,” the one in the sheer skirt commented as she hit the ball towards one of the arches, which promptly moved so the ball missed and she erupted into giggles.

  “Ladies, I’d like you to meet Magnolia. Magnolia, please meet Breena,” the one in the bustle-skirt waved, “Nissa,” the one in the dress bobbed, “and Donella.” The one in the trousers looked down her nose.

  “Would you like to join us?” Breena asked, offering Noli her umbrella-stick.

  “Oh yes.” Nissa clapped her hands under her chin in delight. “You simply must try.”

  “Perhaps I could see the rest of the gardens?” Noli wanted to get away from these women and their inane game. She could feel herself getting stupider by the mo
ment just by being around them.

  “Oh, no, I must insist.” Taking the mallet from Breena, the queen floated over and handed it to her. “You hit the ball with it,” Nissa mimed.

  “Do you ever actually get the ball through the hoop?” Noli hefted the umbrella-stick in her hand.

  Donella scoffed. “You lose points if you get it through the hoop.”

  “Well, that’s one way to play,” Noli muttered.

  Nissa placed the ball on the ground. Taking the stick, Noli hit the ball, which headed straight for one of the hoops—which promptly moved.

  “Yay, you did it,” Breena clapped.

  Nissa hopped up and down. “I knew you could.”

  “It’s not that difficult of a game,” Donella sneered. “My turn.”

  She, too, missed the hoop. But it wasn’t hard to miss the hoops when they could walk and the ball had a life of its own. Noli still wasn’t sure how they kept score, if they did. Could Nissa and Breena even count, or would their heads explode?

  They continued to play the insipid game, Noli sharing Breena’s mallet, the queen not actually participating, but staying perched on her chariot holding LuLu while a man in purple held a silken canopy over her head and another fanned her with a giant purple feathered fan.

  “I’m sorry, you’re not permitted here,” one of the guards yelled from one of the entrances.

  Noli turned to see what the commotion was.

  “Yes, I am,” a familiar, but out-of-place voice retorted. “Let me pass.”

  Noli watched as someone tried to muscle his way through the guards blocking the entrance to the garden. The queen stopped talking to Nissa and eyed the scene with interest but didn’t say anything.

  Odd. The voice sound familiar. It wasn’t Kevighn and she didn’t know anyone else in the Otherworld.

  Another voice joined the melee. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

  That was Kevighn.

  “Where is she, Kevighn Silver?” The familiar voice held authority, command even.

  “Who?” Kevighn scoffed.

  What was Kevighn doing here? The queen said she’d sent him away. Noli’s hands curled into fists. Yes, she was going to smack him good in front of the queen and her simpering ladies—propriety be hanged.

  Breena and Nissa also strained to see who argued with Kevighn on the other side of the guards. Donella perked at the mention of Kevighn’s name.

  “Noli, where’s Noli?” the other person demanded. She craned her neck to see if she could spy the interloper.

  All she caught was a shock of hair. Wait, could it be? Her heart pounded.

  The guards unsheathed their swords. Taking a pen from his pocket, the man waved it and before her eyes it became a full-sized sword.

  “Oh, what a splendid trick,” Breena clapped.

  “Do it again,” Nissa called as he began to swordfight with the guards.

  The queen simply watched, nonplussed.

  Noli’s heart skipped again as she realized who the swordsman was. How had V gotten here? But he was here.

  As V and the guard fought in the entry of the garden, Kevighn hurried towards them. He didn’t have a sword— or even his bow—he was also dressed in the same gentlemanly gear she’d seen him in back in San Francisco.

  He bowed in front of the queen’s chariot. “Are you all right, your majesty?”

  Swords clanged in the background. V seemed to be winning.

  Queen Tiana brushed Kevighn off with the wave of a fine-boned hand. “You may rise. I’m fine.”

  For some reason the scene before her didn’t seem to bother the queen in the slightest. Perhaps men with swords often burst in and start fighting with her guards.

  “Noli, are you all right?” A concerned expression on his face, Kevighn laid a hand on her shoulder which caused Breena and Nissa to titter in delight and Donella to throw her nose in her air, obviously jealous.

  “Don’t touch me, Kevighn.” Keeping her promise to herself, her fist flew out, striking Kevighn straight in the nose. His hands went to his face. The three courtiers looked on with horror, especially Donella. The queen smirked in amusement as she muttered something to LuLu.

  “What was that for?” Kevighn’s voice dripped with hurt, eyes wide.

  “Your lies,” Noli choked as she took a step backward. “Stay away from me.”

  “Yes, stay away from her, huntsman.” V ran toward them, sword extended.

  “Oooh, he’s cute,” Breena whispered.

  “Who is he? I’ve never seen him before,” Nissa added.

  Donella crossed her arms. “He’s a little young, if you ask me.”

  “Who are you?” Kevighn strode up to him, eyeing the sword in his hands. A grand sword, a big green jewel bedecked the hilt.

  “V!” Noli’s heart burst with excitement. “I didn’t recognize you at first without your glasses.” Throwing herself at him, even though he held a sword, she wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too, Noli. Are you all right? Did they hurt you?” He held her tightly to him, reminding her a bit of her dreams. He and Kevighn contrasted like the sun and moon.

  “What are you doing here? How did you find me? Where are your glasses?” The words tumbled out. If he got here, surely they could get home.

  “We’ll talk in a bit; I wanted to make sure you were safe.” He repositioned her, so her back pressed to his chest, his sword between her and Kevighn.

  “I didn’t know you fenced,” she added. Or owned a sword … but the pen became a sword. That was so very V. Which was mightier? The thought made her chuckle.

  “If I told you, you’d want me to teach you.” His voice grew fond.

  “Who are you and why are you here?” Kevighn’s eyes narrowed.

  The queen looked like the cat in the cream pitcher. “Yes, Prince Stiofán. What are you doing here?”

  Twenty Four

  Prince Stiofán

  The courtiers perked at the word prince. Noli stiffened. Who was Stiofán?

  Still on her horseless chariot, the queen approached, looking self-satisfied, voice cool enough to freeze a pond. “Not that I mind. But, if I remember accurately, weren’t our parting words something along the lines of I’m not returning until I can reclaim what’s ours?”

  “I believe you are correct, your majesty.” V’s arms tightened around Noli. “But I didn’t expect your huntsman to take what belongs to me.”

  “You are from a house in exile, and still a child. You have no rights. Unless, of course, you’ve tired of playing mortal with your father,” Queen Tiana sneered, clutching LuLu so tight that if she were a real dog she’d yelp.

  “Playing mortal? What is she talking about, V?” Noli’s voice rose in pitch as her mind spun and belly tightened.

  The queen laughed eerily, putting a hand to her lips. “How quaint. You and a mortal. I never should have allowed you to join your father in exile. You probably picked up all sorts of bad habits.”

  A lump formed in her throat as the meaning of situation hit her. Her voice broke, “Is what she says true, V?”

  Was her life nothing but a web of lies?

  “Yes, Noli. She’s right. I’m not a mortal like you. I’ll explain everything in a moment, I promise.” His green eyes shone in the daylight with fondness and perhaps just a hint of regret.

  “What?” Pushing herself out of his arms, she put her hands on her hips. “Steven Darrow what the world is going on here?”

  “Yes,” Kevighn added, yellow eyes narrowing in anger, taking another step towards them. “What is going on here? I still don’t know who this is.”

  “He’s a prince,” Breena told him sagely, still holding the mallet.

  “A young one,” Nissa added.

  “Yes,” the queen confirmed with a regal nod. “Ladies, Kevighn, I’d like you to meet Prince Stiofán. Or perhaps I should say the prince formerly known as Stiofán, since he chose to go into exile with
his father, the former king of the earth court.” Her lips puckered in distaste. “Steven? What a horrible bastardization of your name.”

  V’s face tightened and he sighed, suddenly looking very tired. “Please, your majesty, I’ve come for Noli. I’d like her back.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until someone explains.” A firestorm of anger burned inside Noli. First Kevighn’s lies; now V’s.

  “You’re not taking her anyplace, prince.” Kevighn’s eyes flashed with anger.

  “Yes, I am.” V took Noli’s hand. “This isn’t the place to explain. Come with me?”

  “Why? So you can lie to me too?” She didn’t bother to hide her hurt. But she didn’t pull away from his touch, either.

  “Do you really think I’d let you take her anywhere?” The queen shot him a haughty look, as she resumed petting LuLu.

  “With all due respect, yes, I do.” V’s eyes narrowed at her. It was odd seeing him without glasses.

  “Why do you all do nothing but lie? I don’t want to be part of your games. I only want to go home.” Tired of being here, of being lied to, and just being tired, Noli wrested herself out of V’s grasp and sped past Kevighn, the bewildered Breena and Nissa, and a disgusted Donella. She ignored V, the queen, and the guards, going through one of the exits, disregarding the shouts in the background.

  When she stopped running she found herself in what could only be the air garden, filled with will ‘o wisps and pussy willows. A breeze blew through, soft like whispers— or kisses.

  “Noli, wait.” V ran into the garden, sword still in hand.

  She turned her back to him, a lump forming in her throat. “Stay away from me.”

  “No.” He came up behind her, pressing her back against his chest. “Never.”

  “You lied. Everyone lies here. I want to go home.” Turning around to face him, she leaned her head on his shoulder like she had so many times before.

  “I know you want to go home. If we’re to figure everything out, I need you to come with me.” He stroked her hair with one hand and held her close with the other. “I didn’t lie to you. I never said I was mortal.”