Kasian Publishing
PO Box 211205
Eagan, MN 55121
www.KristinVanRisseghem.com
Copyright © 2015 Kristin D. Van Risseghem
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover design by Marya Heiman
Strong Image Editing
www.StrongImageEditing.com
Author photograph by Jessica Krueger
www.JessicaKruegerPhotograhy.com
Graphics Contributors, Theresa Knight
www.BigStockPhoto.com
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-943207-20-6
ISBN: 978-1-943207-06-0 (Kindle)
This book is dedicated to all those
who have found love, are waiting for love and are in love.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A massive green dragon emerged from the southernmost turret of Aesculus Castle, the center of Winter, a magnificent golden carriage cradled between its iridescent wings. Before it waited a procession of Summer fairies, and their double rows moved forward at a snail’s pace as the iced gate swung open. The beast carried the season’s offerings from Summer: an array of wild flowers, baskets of dried fruits, and a pale yellow, glowing scepter. The dragon tossed its head, snorting its frustration, but pomp and circumstance couldn’t be rushed. The longer Summer held the scepter, the longer the warm weather and sunny days lasted.
In turn, when Winter fairies traveled to Summer, we took our time. Neither group used Glamour—Fairy magic—to travel through the lands for the exchange.
Aesculus Castle, my home, was nestled between a snow-covered mountain and a bottomless cliff. The only road was a narrow pathway suspended high above the canyon, separating the frozen tundra from the city limits. The castle walls were made of solid, glistening ice, and its enormous gate was carved from a three-foot thick block of ice. A frosty mist blanketed the entire land, making it impossible for the members of the procession to see more than a few feet past their own hands, but I could see them just fine. A few Summer fairies slipped on the ice, but the dragon’s large claws gripped the road, protecting all who rode inside the carriage.
The parade left a trail of steam in their wake. Personally, I could never understand how Fairies could live in a warm place like Summer. The few times I’d been there, my body hadn’t been able to adjust to the smoldering temperature. I’d had to return to the Winter’s borders every thirty sundowns or so, where I recharged for at least four or five sundowns. My last trip there had taken a heavy toll on me. To be honest, it knocked me right on my ass.
I was not my mother’s favorite Fairy at the moment. Tired of my regimented life within the castle walls, I—the Prince of the Winter Court—had run from home, leaving my court responsibilities behind. It was somewhat of an understatement to say Queen Mab was not happy. Not at all. But I had succeeded, and eventually I had found my way into the Summer lands. That’s where I’d met Sidelle, the daughter of King Oberon. She’d handed me over to her father—which I had to admit was the responsible thing to do—and he’d kept me captive in Aestas’ dungeons. In the end, I had been moved to the ‘guest’ wing of the Summer castle, but I remained their prisoner until one of the Winter knights came to collect me and bring me back to Mab.
Summer fairies and Winter fairies were not friends. In fact, we only met twice a year, at the change of seasons. It was a brief but elaborate ceremony, and every detail must be followed or else things could go very wrong. The rules for the scepter exchange were few but rigid, and when the lines were recited incorrectly by the Winter representative one year, and the scepter did not turn the appropriate color of green, Queen Mab and the Winter fairy knights had gone on a hunt for the culprit. That’s when I’d made my escape.
While I was being held as a prisoner in Summer, I learned about unfrozen water and picnics, and I even took an actual boat ride. Back in Winter, we had other experiences, like riding snow off cliffs or playing intense games of snowball fights and having icicle sword duals that often turned into blood baths. In Summer, I experienced warm sunlight on my face and a hot breeze caressing my body. Everything about it made my skin crawl. The heat turned my body ashen, it stole my breath, and when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I landed on a smoldering island that drained me of so much Glamour that death called to me. Delle—that’s the nickname I’d given the beautiful Sidelle—had saved me by infusing some of her Summer essence into me.
After that, we proclaimed our love to each other.
Then I bailed.
Actually, I didn’t really bail, but I couldn’t return to her as I’d promised. Which was why I was now living back in Winter full time.
An ice shattering shriek from the dragon jerked my thoughts back to the trees lining the corridor inside the gates. Their branches were so thickly draped by icicles they looked like shiny weeping willows. A hint of rain lingered in the air, but I couldn’t figure out if it came from the Summer fairies or from us. After all, ice was only frozen water. Loud, harsh music floated around the castle, the notes banged on iced drums, indicating Winter’s festivities had started. Curious Winter fairies began to appear in the halls. Some courageous members of my world tossed ice shards or dared trip a convoy member, but for the most part they left Summer alone.
The curtain on the carriage swept open, and a slender hand reached out. A beautiful face peered out, framed by long, ebony black hair which had been swept into an up-do, and lit by brilliant green eyes.
I stared, dumbstruck. Sidelle was here as the Summer representative. Was this some kind of sick joke? Why would Oberon send her, of all fairies?
Normally I would dawdle and arrive late to the Exchange, but this changed everything. Delle was here in my castle. I had to see her, to explain—but I had to be careful with Mab so close. Using Glamour, I quickly dressed in my royal attire—black breeches and a dark blue tunic—and strapped my faithful sword across my back. I rushed through the castle to greet our guests, coming up with an idea as I ran toward the Great Hall. On impulse, I grabbed the first female fairy to cross my path and drew her close.
“Do as you’re instructed,” I whispered to her.
“And what will you give me in return, my Prince?” she asked coyly.
“A favor.”
She smiled. “Ooh. Something must be going on with you to grant me that.” She turned away, letting her navy skirt twirl around her legs. “I wonder what it could be?”
I chuckled. “Nothing.”
I ushered her into a corner where the procession would pass, planning to get a good glimpse of Sidelle. But our two bodies couldn’t quite fit in the small alcove. The fairy I was with peered back at the incoming procession of Summer fairies, and her eyes widened.
“It’s … her, isn’t it? She’s come into Winter.” She beamed at me. “Maybe to see you?”
I hadn’t planned on this kind of complication. “You’re wrong,” I snapped.
“Am I?” She giggled so loud the sound echoed off the walls like bells. “I don’t think so! Why do you suppose Mab has been so … let’s say, ‘festive’ these sundowns?”
“Keep your voice down
!”
She batted my hand away from her face.
“Welcome to Aesculus Castle!” Queen Mab’s shrill voice bounced and echoed off the walls.
I froze, but not before I managed to slap my hand over my companion’s mouth.
“You are late,” my mother continued, “and this will not go unnoticed. When you return to Summer, tell your king that I’ll hold the scepter longer next time. See if that will teach you to waste my night.”
She stepped out from behind an iced wall, her black hair flowing like a cape past her waist. She wore a blue embellished gown the color of a glacier, and her flashing eyes matched it perfectly.“The exchange must happen when the land dictates it,” she said. “And She has spoken. Now you must hurry to the altar.”
Obviously she didn’t know my Delle.
“We will arrive when we are good and ready,” Sidelle informed her. “If your subjects hadn’t badgered us at the gate, we would have been in the courtyard sooner.”
Mab’s dark eyes reflected off the walls like a prism, and I shrank deeper into the corner.
“How dare you speak to me with such disrespect?” The queen’s large, dark blue wings appeared, and she hovered near the howdah. “Who do you think you are, little fairy?” She drew herself up to be as large as she could, trying to intimidate Sidelle and remind her of the dire situation. “I am Queen Mab of the Winter court, and I demand respect! You are just the Summer rep.”
Sidelle lifted her head high and drew in a breath before speaking. “I am not of your court. I do not bow to you or to your demands. As a Lady of Summer, you would be wise to speak to me as my title demands. Now, please lead me to the altar so we may do the exchange.”
“You will speak to me with respect,” Mab hissed, “as my title is higher than yours.” Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned closer to Sidelle. “I will remember this, Lady, and I have a very long memory. It would be wise of you to consider that.” Still looking furious, she turned away and led them toward the altar.
The backdrop was spectacular: snowcapped mountains beneath swirling crystals which seemed to dance on air, and a frozen lake stretching to the horizon. A frozen gazebo stood in the center, surrounded by a slab of solid ice at least ten inches thick. This was the altar for the Exchange.
I crept out from the corner, shooed the unknown female Fairy away, and followed the procession, staying behind it. Radiating disapproval, the Queen led the Summer fairies down a long hallway, then motioned for them to stop at the Grand Ballroom. After that, Mab directed Sidelle through the outer courtyard and toward the back yard of the castle.
“I see my representative is also late,” the Queen said, looking annoyed. “He seems to do that a lot lately.”
That was my cue. I appeared by the altar and nodded to my mother.
“I will go then,” she said, sounding smug. “I think you two may have some catching up to do, yes?”
Sidelle glanced at me and emotion swept over her beautiful face. Then she lowered her eyes and walked reluctantly toward the altar—and me.
I spoke first, since I was the one who had broken my promise. My head remained bowed, but I watched her. “I’m sorry, Delle. I couldn’t meet you after … Well, you know.”
Our eyes locked, and I saw raw emotions tearing through hers. I knew exactly where they came from. I, too, remembered the countless late nights we’d shared. I still felt the tingle on my lips from our first kiss, and I remembered the moment when we’d spoken those three precious words. I’d confessed my love to her, then I’d fled and hurt her further by not returning to Summer.
But I’d had a reason to go home. After being drained of nearly all my essence, I’d needed a massive recharge—even more than I could take from another Winter fairy. That moment had been the closest I’d ever come to death, even though fairies couldn’t die. Still, we could become walking shells of nothing if enough of our Glamour and essence was taken.
“I did try a couple of times,” I said, “but Mab blocked me.”
Her eyes glittered with tears. She took a step away from me then stopped. Green wings sprung out behind her, and tears trickled down her pink cheeks. “I really don’t want to hear it.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “We have a job to do, so let’s just forget about the past and focus.”
“Delle. I owe you—”
She shook her head. “Don’t.” Her voice cracked, and I felt her pain deep in my chest. “Don’t call me that.”
“Mab found out where I had spent all my time and prevented me from returning to Summer,” I pleaded. I needed her to understand, to forgive me. “When she figured out I was sneaking out to be with you, she blew her crown right off her head.” I reached for her, but she stepped away. Until that moment, I had no idea anything could be so painful. “Please believe me, Delle. I really wanted to see you again, but she threatened to freeze me solid. I couldn’t—”
“What do you want me to say?” She shrugged. “I don’t care.”
But she did care. The reality of that was plain on her beautiful face, on the tension around her sparkling eyes, on the tight, restrained line of her mouth, on the way she kept swallowing with effort. All I wanted was to comfort her, to assure her I hadn’t meant to hurt her, that I still meant those three words.
Above us the sun glistened then pulsed, telling us we didn’t have long before the ceremony at the altar must be completed. “Finn, just say your part so I can go home.”
I blinked and cleared my throat. “This isn’t over, Delle.”
Sidelle said nothing as she presented me with the silver scepter. Together we placed it on the ice altar and waited. The center orb glowed white, pulsing occasionally with a soft yellow.
“Each snowflake is like the heart of Earth’s memories,” I recited, watching her all the time. “They fall to cover her body in a white blanket. Quietness fills the frosty air. The stillness of Winter’s shadow makes way for a new season. Change brought to bring new life.”
Sidelle stared at the scepter, unwilling to look at me, then took a deep breath. “Snow and ice will coat the pine tree’s bough,” she said in her turn, removing her hand from the scepter. “The birds won’t sing their melodic song. Summer remains but must leave. Summer must resign. Winter, I ask you wake from under your wintry cover. You have waited long enough.”
When the scepter pulsed to a radiant blue, we both knew the script had been said correctly, unlike at the exchange when I’d met her so long before. She didn’t look at me before she turned away. I watched her retreating back and vowed never to hurt her again. And I would never allow her to walk away from me again, either. Not like that.
The beginning of Winter festivities lasted long into the next sundown and the sundown after that, but I couldn’t celebrate properly. It was in my blood to wish it could always be cold and snowing, and for me this was no joyous occasion.
For me, there was only her. I couldn’t get her out of my head. I saw her eyes, her shock of black hair, those beautiful green wings … and the look she gave me when she walked away and didn’t turn back.
Sidelle.
She was all that mattered. Somehow I had to win her back.
Sure, I’d messed up royally, but I couldn’t believe it would ruin my chances forever. Fairies are Eternals, so I couldn’t hope to believe I’d been the love of her existence, but it had been the start of something great. I had felt it. So why hadn’t I tried harder to get back to her? Well, Mab had threatened me. She hadn’t come out and forbidden me to see her again, but she had definitely said I couldn’t go back to Aestas.
Sidelle and I still had to overcome the fact that Summer and Winter didn’t mix. That didn’t truly matter—at least, that was what I told myself. In reality, it did. I didn’t know of any Winter Fairy who had ever fallen in love with our sworn enemy. But … was I still entirely Winter? When Delle had forced her essence into me on that island, something had happened. I was different now. A part of me had changed. Maybe it was all in my mind, but I didn�
��t think so. Not even now. When I had returned to Winter and stepped across the imaginary line into Aeculus’ boarders, my body hummed with what I’d thought was excitement. But things changed for me. The longer I remained in Winter, the more I felt … off. A small part of me yearned to inhale the smell of a rainy day, feel the sun’s rays on my face.
I refused to give in to Summer’s temptations, however. I buried myself deeper inside the Castle, hoping to hang onto the old me.
Had I really blown it? At the Exchange, Delle had still called me by my nickname. Didn’t that mean she still had feelings?
“Finn—e—gan!” The shrewd voice echoed through the castle’s walls.
I cringed and blew out a sigh. “Yes, my Queen?”
“Where are you?” she boomed.
“Where do you think I am?”
And why was I having a conversation through the ice? Why couldn’t she just appear and speak to me in person? Inwardly, I shook my head with disgust, though I’d never do it to her face. Fairies. I hated communicating with her this way. She probably only did it to get under my wings. Well, congratulations, Mom.
“Not by my side where you should be,” she snapped. Her face materialized at the end of the hall, like a mirror. “Nor are you outside celebrating Winter. In fact, I haven’t seen much of you at all these past few sundowns. Are you still sulking?” Most of her head disappeared, leaving behind only the narrowed slits of her eyes. “Forget about her and Summer. You are a Prince of Winter. Act like it!”
Her blue eyes blinked out, and I turned away, proceeding to the Great Hall. Now I’d have to show my face in court. How I hated this formal crap. No one cared about me, least of all the rest of her Winter subjects. They were too engrossed in the sword fights, the brawling, and the massive drinking to notice their Prince had arrived to grace them with his presence.
“Ah, there you are my sweet boy.” Mab smiled when I walked into the Great Hall. “You have finally come to your senses.” Before I could respond, she waved her hand, telling me she wasn’t finished. “I thought I raised you better than that. Maybe you still need to be taught a lesson not to defy me.”
The Prince, a Betrayal, & a Kiss: An Enlighten Short Story (Enlighten Series) Page 1