Innocent Darkness

by Suzanne Lazear

  She allowed him to help her up. “Yes. I’m hungry.”

  “Come sit with us.” Putting an arm around her waist he ushered her into the library. “We’re going to do all we can. I’m not sure how much of a help we can be other than keeping her free of pain.”

  “For her that’s important.”

  “I know.” James looked up from his perch in one of the big, comfortable library chairs. “When I found her she was in so much pain she could barely talk. She was dirty, starved, other people had hurt her.”

  She could only imagine what life on the street held for a defenseless young woman. Her hands fisted in anger. “How could her uncle do such things?”

  James shook his head. “There are terrible people in all worlds, Noli.”

  “Charlotte’s a good person.” Her face contorted as she took a place on the settee. “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

  “And that is a question the great thinkers have been pondering for eons.” V sat down next to her on the settee. “Here.” He handed her a piece of fruit from a bowl on the table.

  “I wish we could do something.” James put his head in his hands. “How will I tell her?”

  “You are doing something.” Noli remembered what Charlotte said about happiness. “I don’t think she’ll take it nearly as hard as you think. She has a different outlook.” “She’s very upbeat, all things considered,” James replied.

  “This is someone who chose to not play the game at Findlay House because she didn’t want them to win, because she didn’t want to be the soulless drone they wanted us to be.” Look where it got her.

  “She told me stories.” James shuddered. “Sounds dreadful.”

  Just the thought of that place made her shiver. “Terrible.”

  “What of you?” V’s look turned pensive. “Did you play their games?”

  “I wanted to go home, but I didn’t want to be like those girls, those vapid, pretty dolls. That’s why we were going to run away. If only we’d worked faster, run away before her uncle came. This all would have been avoided.” Her hands twisted in guilt. If she could do it over …

  “It’s not your fault,” V soothed, putting a hand on hers. “The two of you on your own would have been a target for all sorts of scoundrels.”

  She made a face. “Because of how Sparky we both are?”

  “Who told you that?” V’s forehead wrinkled in concern.

  “Kevighn,” she shrugged. “He spoke to us once, back at the school, through the fence. Did you know there’s a bawdy house on the other side?”

  V’s look shifted from concern to horror. “Kevighn knows about Charlotte?”

  James’s expression turned solemn. “No one can know she’s here, then.”

  “Oh. She’s a target, too?” Her blood ran cold. Unlike her, Charlotte couldn’t fight back.

  “That she is.” V’s voice went grave.

  “How much trouble are you two going to be in for all of this?” She gestured to the two of them. “I know how strict your father is, and this is a lot worse than hoverboarding in the hills without a license.”

  V made a face at the thought. “I don’t relish facing him, but we will eventually, and we’ll take whatever punishment he doles out as befitting our station.”

  James rolled his eyes. “I’m so glad I’m the younger son.”

  “You’re not going to escape—especially since you plan on staying here with Charlotte,” V warned, though kindly.

  “You won’t see me being all stiff backed, taking it like a man without a word of dispute.” James leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.

  “Oh, I think you will.” V’s voice lowered.

  Eventually, James left, leaving them alone in the library, talking softly.

  “I’m sorry for causing you stress.” She leaned her head on his shoulder, wishing they sat in her tree house looking at the stars.

  “What?” V yawned as he paged through another big, old book.

  “You’ve been in an odd mood. Charlotte says you’re stressed. I’m sorry I caused this.”

  His lips brushed the top of her head. “It’s not your fault, Noli.”

  Sleep pressed down on her. “I don’t want Kevighn.” “What?”

  “I don’t want Kevighn—even if he weren’t a roguish liar who wants to kill me.”

  Chuckles brushed her ears. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

  “Do you know who I want, V?” Even though she didn’t want them to, her eyes closed as she leaned against him.

  “Who?” His voice took on a ragged quality.

  “I want you.” She sounded like a strumpet, but was too sleepy to care.

  “You don’t mean that, do you?” Fright colored his voice.

  “Of course I … ” Before she could finish, his hand pressed over her mouth. Her eyes flew open as memories of suffocation back at the school crashed down on her.

  “You don’t know what you’re speaking of. You’re tired,” he snapped

  “What?” She sat up, ramrod straight, shocked, hurt, ripping his hand away from her.

  He didn’t look angry. No. V looked utterly terrified. “Please, Noli, just go to bed.”

  “Fine. I thought you felt something for me as well.” Without looking at him she stomped out of the library. What a stupid girl she was. She was mortal, he a prince of the Otherworld. She’d read enough stories to know how that usually turned out.

  Shoving his hands into his pockets, Kevighn Silver once again walked the dark, foggy streets of San Francisco, his soul weighed down with defeat. Another girl lost. Again. Desperation rode him. Again. As usual, he simply wished to drown his sorrows in opium and soft women. Again.

  This time there was no way around it. They were all going to die. If he was going to die, he wanted to die happy—oblivious and in the arms of a willing, beautiful woman.

  If that woman were Noli …

  Even though princes were bad for girls such as her, such as Creideamh, the princes always won. It just wasn’t fair.

  As he strolled past Findlay House, he gazed into the soulless eyes that passed for windows, barred, lifeless, nary a light on. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind and tried to sense how much Spark lurked within. He’d never thought of doing it before—or had been too oblivious to care.

  The result made him stagger backwards as if drunk. A lot of Spark dwelled within that place. Whether from one girl, or the collective Spark of them all, he didn’t know. It wasn’t as if he could simply burst in and look. Excuse me, ma’am. Might I please see how many of your students have the Spark? They’re actually not willful, rebellious hoydens; rather, they’re special. By the way, I’d like to take a few back to the Otherworld with me.

  Yes, that would go over about as well as a lead zeppelin. Perhaps tomorrow he could spy a few hanging wash, gardening, or playing a game. Tonight …

  He walked through the gates of the Red Pearl and knocked on the door. Who knew, maybe one of the girls here had the Spark. He’d never thought to look there, either.

  “Ah, Mr. Silver, welcome.” Mr. Chun opened the door, welcoming him in. Entering, Kevighn gave him his coat. “What do you wish for this evening? Pricilla is free.”

  Which one was Pricilla? It didn’t actually matter. Taking a wad of bills from his billfold, he handed them to him. “I’d like the works.”

  Thirty One

  Charlotte’s Solution

  “Here you go.” V poured Noli a cup of tea and handed it to her. Silently, she took it. She hadn’t spoken much all morning—especially to him. Charlotte hadn’t said much to him either and he had a feeling he’d become the victim of female solidarity.

  He deserved it. Once again, he’d been tender with Noli only to push her away. Why didn’t he tell her?

  It would be easy. You see, Noli, I can’t only see the Spark, but I can feel shifts in the magic. It wants you, and every time I kiss you, every time I touch you, I feel it swirl around you, building, trying to use our feelings
for each other to seal your fate as the sacrifice. I’m not pushing you away because I hate you. I’m pushing you away because my love for you runs so deep that if the magic bound you, I’d never forgive myself.

  But at the same time, he didn’t want her to bear that burden. He just got her back and wanted to protect her with all his might.

  Noli never did like to be protected.

  Yes, he should tell her as soon as they had a moment alone.

  He poured a cup of tea for Charlotte, who, as usual, sat wrapped in a blanket, bundled on the settee. At least right now she leaned on Noli and not James.

  James intercepted the cup, then handed it to Charlotte. “Here you go, Lottie, love.”

  Steven shook his head. His brother possessed all sorts of obnoxious nicknames for Charlotte. He had none for Noli. The only one he could think of was little blossom, since a magnolia was a flowering tree. But that was quite stupid.

  Girls did often like stupid things.

  He took a piece of fruit out of the bowl. Simple fare got old, but there was no kitchen staff to make and serve meals and it wasn’t as if he could go and get things for them to eat.

  The queen might tolerate him being here for now. If his uncle found out …

  He wasn’t ready to face his uncle, yet. For the time being they’d have to make due with the garden’s bounty. James had offered to cook—a frightening prospect.

  “What happens when a sacrifice is found?” Charlotte’s earnest question startled him from his thoughts.

  “The magic will stabilize,” he replied. “Which means no more creatures die, and the sick should get better.” Looking at Noli, he recalled her tears for the little wood faery. “Those who’ve already been lost won’t come back to life, however. Our magic will cease being erratic and those who’ve lost it completely should get it back. The areas of the Otherworld that have faded should return.” But he wasn’t certain. “Things won’t completely return to normal until the sacrifice is complete.”

  “Oh.” Charlotte put a hand to her chin, expression pensive.

  This morning James had told Charlotte they didn’t think they could fix her, but he’d take care of her, keep her free of pain, and extend her life as long as they could— perhaps a mortal year if they were lucky. She took it well, stating she’d rather have a few months free of pain with someone who cared for her as much as James than a lifetime alone and hurting.

  Sage words for someone so young.

  “Noli’s not the sacrifice, yet, right?” Charlotte’s eyes widened a little as she said that.

  “Not yet.” But not for the want of the magic. He kept feeling it poking and prodding around her, trying to find some way in.

  “All the magic needs is someone with the Spark, right? Not Noli in particular?”

  Where was she going with this? He searched his mind for everything he knew about the matter at hand. “Due to circumstances, which I won’t go into, she needs to be strong in the Spark. But that’s all, just a Sparky girl who the magic accepts.”

  He had found it poking around Charlotte as she and James played what Noli termed kissy-face.

  “I see. In return the girl gets whatever she wants, right?”

  Nodding, he tried to recall exactly what happened. “Usually she lives in the high palace with the queen. They throw her parties. Everyone lavishes attention on her. She’s pampered and revered.”

  “Then no one will die—not you, not James, not Noli?” Charlotte asked.

  A sinking sensation consumed him. “No. None of us will die. Where are you—”

  “I’ll do it.” She took a sip of tea as if she’d just said nothing of consequence.

  “What?” Three voices said this simultaneously.

  “You have no idea what you’re saying, Lottie.” James stood, eyes flashing with anger. “Steven, you promised not to say anything to her. I know you don’t want Noli to die but—”

  “Stop.” Charlotte raised a hand. “I made this decision by myself. I don’t want an entire people to die—nor do I want Noli to. She has her whole life ahead of her and people who love her. My life is at its end. I wouldn’t mind spending my final days being the center of attention, living without pain, living with James.” She looked up and made doe eyes at him.

  Steven could feel the magic whirl like a dervish around Charlotte, seeking her, testing her, building quicker than he ever thought possible, as she made her decision.

  “Lottie, stop, please.” James face contorted in pain, his voice a near wail.

  She squeezed his hand. “I know I’m crippled, I know I’m dying. But I want my life to mean something. If the magic wants me, I’ll take the job.”

  The magic exploded like a million fireworks going off at once—both deafening and staggering. If Steven hadn’t been sitting he would have stumbled.

  “Charlotte, no.” Noli shot up off the settee, as if her actions, her protests, could do something to stop it.

  Too late.

  “Flying figs.” James’ eyes widened.

  Steven felt the magic continued to shift and swirl in a kaleidoscope of magic and upheaval, expanding, contracting, and finally, relaxing into a pleased state. An odd feeling settled down on him like a wet wool blanket.

  “It’s done.” Steven’s voice hushed. Charlotte was the sacrifice.

  Noli’s steel eyes flashed with fear, anger, and sadness. “Lottie, what have you done?”

  Tugging on Noli’s hand, she pulled her down onto the settee with her. “I’m choosing to be happy. James, you’ll stay with me, right? Could we stay here instead of the palace?”

  James stood behind the settee, putting his arms around her protectively. “If you want me to be your consort, I’ll gladly accept the honor. And we can stay wherever you want. Personally, I like it here better.”

  “I don’t want you to die.” Spinning on her heels, Noli ran out of the room.

  Steven followed. Now that Charlotte was the chosen girl, he no longer had anything to fear from comforting Noli.

  It seemed to Noli that all she did of late was run away with tears streaming down her face like the heroine in a penny dreadful. She ran outside and scaled the oak tree in the corner of the little garden.

  Pulling her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around her legs and put her head on her knees as she sobbed. Many emotions bombarded her, the two main ones being anger and despair. Despair because Charlotte condemned herself to death—offering herself as the sacrifice. What possessed her to do that? There was still a chance James and V could do something to help, that another healer might have a solution.

  Also, she was angry with herself. She hadn’t been willing to offer herself as a sacrifice to save a people, even though she loved V. Charlotte, who’d only just met James, voluntarily offered herself up, not only to save his people, but to save Noli. Such a beautiful, selfless act. One that made Noli feel like a fiend.

  Someone else entered the garden. V mostly likely. Still hurt from last night, she ignored him. She’d tried to profess her love and he’d shushed her, telling her she didn’t know what she said. Wouldn’t she know her own mind?

  “Come here, Noli.” V scaled the tree. When he hauled her into his lap, she didn’t fight, but she didn’t help either. She did lay her head in that space between his neck and shoulder as sobs wracked her body.

  “Go head and cry.” One of his hands toyed with her loose hair as the other stroked her back. Today’s gown was also green, but it possessed sleeves.

  “Why did she do that? I can’t believe it.” The words came out as little gasps between her sobs. “I don’t want her to die.”

  “I know, I know.” His soft, sweet whispers brushed her ear. “It is a solution to our most pressing problem, though. I already feel the magic stabilizing. Nothing will get worse, and soon all will be well again.”

  “At what cost?”

  “The same cost we pay every seven years and will continue to do so for all eternity or until we finally fade away.” The moti
ons of his hands weren’t soothing, but sensual.

  “I don’t understand. Why does someone have to die anyway?” she cried.

  “That’s the way things are here. Father tells the story best, better even than Quinn; we should get him to tell it to us.” Doubt rang in his voice even though she could tell he tried to hide it.

  “Your father tells good stories?” Her eyebrows rose. She hadn’t known that.

  “Amazing ones.”

  “I don’t want Charlotte to die.” She peered at him through tear-laden eyes.

  “It’s her choice. No one suggested it—not me, not James. That act of giving herself over to the land proved enough to bind her quickly and forcefully.” He rubbed his chest, which meant his hand came between his chest and hers.

  “It’s a beautiful act, actually—one that proves a point,” he added. “I’ve always thought we didn’t need to trick the girls; that even in this day and age there still are mortals willing to give their lives to save others.”

  “So you’re going to be her huntsman now, looking for girls who are in pain and misery, offering them a few pleasant months in exchange for their lives.” Oh, how bitter she sounded.

  “I’ll never hunt for her.” He straightened with resolve. “Even if she orders me to.” He studied Noli for a moment with his big, green unspectacled eyes. “That’s where this lies, isn’t it. You didn’t want to die, and Charlotte offering herself unsettled you.”

  Shame burned her face and she looked down. “I’m a selfish, selfish girl.”

  Taking her face in his hand, he forced her to look at him, albeit gently. “No you’re not. No one thinks less of you because you didn’t willingly—or unwillingly—become the sacrifice. Charlotte isn’t doing this for nothing, either.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I really like how you’ve been wearing it down lately.”

  It felt so nice when he did that. “You don’t think I’m some strumpet, running about with bare arms and unbound hair?”

  He planted a little kiss on her nose, sending shockwaves through her body. “No, I don’t, and I found you a dress with sleeves.”

  She laughed.

  “Things are different here than in the mortal realm, especially our attitudes about propriety and social conventions.” His lips caught hers.