by Alex Temples
I’d never forget the day I met Sam. I could picture it in my mind, as if it were yesterday.
It was the first day of middle school. I’d just moved to New York. It was lunchtime and I didn’t know anyone. After getting my tray of food, I wandered into the lunch room in search of a place to sit. Seeing a table half-full of girls, I walked over and asked if I could sit with them.
A blonde girl wearing an Abercrombie top stood up and gave me a once over, taking in my frizzy red hair and braces. She smirked. My stomach sank with dread.
“Move along, Fiona. This table isn’t for people like you.”
Snickers arose from the crowd of pre-teens around the table and I backed away, realizing she had likening me to the green skinned, red-haired monster in the movie Shrek.
I was stunned by their cruelty. I hadn’t been popular back home either, but no one had called me names.
“Shut your face, Kelsey. No one wants to sit with you anyway. The only reason you aren’t eating alone is because they’re all afraid of you.” A girl’s voice called from behind me.
I spun around to face my rescuer, a freckled girl with a long braid. She wore overalls with a red-striped shirt, and had a copy of Jane Eyre tucked under one arm.
Kelsey’s eyes shot to my defender, flickering with uncertainty as she glanced between the girl with the braid and the silent group of girls sitting around her. Apparently at a loss for words, she rolled her eyes and sunk back into her seat.
“Whatever, Samantha. I’m not even going to waste my time on you.”
Forgotten by the mean girls, I turned to the girl called Samantha and smiled shyly.
“Do you want to sit with me and Tomas?” The girl asked, gesturing to a skinny boy with dark hair and skin the color of coffee with a splash of cream. The boy looked up at me and smiled.
“Sure.” I agreed, gratefully.
The three of us had been inseparable ever since, taking vacations together, sharing our deepest secrets, and in the case of me and Sam, going into similar professions.
Tomas had followed his father into the military and had spent the last decade traveling the world. When the three of us always got together for the holidays it was as if we were never apart.
I gazed fondly at my friend and we toasted with glasses of icy pineapple juice, vodka and something else Sam had found in the limo’s mini bar.
“I love you, Sam.” I smiled at my friend earnestly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I don’t either.” She said, chuckling as she sipped her drink. “You would be completely lost without me and Tomas. Just imagine what he’d say if he knew what we were up to.”
I smiled and cocked an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure he’d think this is a great idea, but he’ll be pissed when he finds out we went and didn’t invite him.”
She studied me for a moment, her lips twitching with amusement. “You know, you’re probably right. We’d better come up with a good excuse for leaving him out of this adventure.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think our need for sudden departure is an adequate excuse.”
My thoughts drifted to Oren, and I struggled to focus my attention on something else, knowing the difficulty of the task ahead left no room for distraction. The limo glided to a stop and I straightened in my seat.
The driver came around and opened the door, stepping back to let us out.
Sam whistled appreciatively, admiring the sleek jet sitting on the tarmac. “Wow, a G650 ER. This guy is well-funded.” Among her many hobbies, Sam had a passion for aviation.
I eyed the Gulfstream, shaking my head. “You, and your lust for flying things.”
We followed the driver to a set of stairs that had been rolled up to the plane, relinquishing our bags to be stowed elsewhere.
Clamoring up the steep stairs, I silently praised my decision to wear comfortable sandals. Upon entering the cabin, my eyes widened with surprise. I’d never been on a corporate jet before. The interior was stunning, Large plush recliners, upholstered in white leather replaced the narrow, uncomfortable seats of a commercial airliner.
There were eight seats, arranged behind what looked like a miniature living room. White sofas, covered in the same high-quality leather as the recliners, faced each other along what would have been the aisles of a standard commercial aircraft.
A bowl of orchids and succulents sat on a glass coffee table. Beyond the seating area, a sideboard with marble countertops ran along the cabin. It was stocked with bowls of fresh fruit and pastries arranged on elegant white platters.
I felt like I’d stepped into an issue of Town and Country. The space was perfectly composed, right down to the beautifully embroidered throw pillows.
“Wow, this is amazing.” Sam said from behind me, edging past to lay claim to one of the sofas.
She kicked off her sandals and threw her oversized purse into a corner, sinking back into the throw pillows.
I looked around the room. Deciding I needed a good work surface, I finally settled into a seat at the small booth near the bar.
As I was arranged my things on the table, my neck began to tingle. I spun around just as Aiden walked into the cabin, looking gorgeous in a white linen shirt and flowing pants.
“Make yourself at home ladies. I’m so happy you’ve decided to join us."
Sam’s eyes lit up as she took in Aiden’s lithe form. Amused, I watched her eyes slide shamelessly over his body. I thought I saw a flicker of amusement in Aiden’s eyes as well.
“You must be the mysterious Aiden. I’m Samantha Whitfield.” Sam smiled like the devil herself, standing to face him.
Aiden chuckled and looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her long, bare legs. She wore a flowery white dress I wouldn’t have been caught dead in.
Seeing the two of them side by side, I was struck by how good they looked together. Sam with her blonde, willowy grace and Aiden tall, dark and dangerous. They were a page out of a magazine. Neither of them had a filter between their brains and their mouths. This should make for an interesting trip. I mused, waiting to see how Aiden would respond.
Aiden chose to ignore the challenge in Sam’s voice, instead taking her hand and shaking it warmly.
“Hello Samantha, I’m Aiden MacKay. It’s a pleasure to meet a friend of Brin’s. We’ re happy to have you with us on this journey.” His voice was smooth as silk.
Sam smiled back, nodding agreeably. “I’m looking forward to it. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, I’ve always wanted to visit Colombia.”
Aiden smiled. “It’s a beautiful country, wild and untamed. So unlike the states.” His eyes glittered. “Do I detect a bit of an accent, Miss Whitfield?
Sam nodded, replying in Spanish.
I watched the exchange between them, irritated I couldn’t understand what they were saying. They bantered back and forth in Spanish for a few minutes before I interrupted.
“You know, the two of you are being very rude.” I said.
Aiden turned his attention towards me and smiled. “Brin, it’s good to see you again.”
I nodded in acknowledgement. “I appreciate you being able to leave so soon. How long is our flight?”
Aiden accepted the change in topic with grace, flowing over to the bar to fix a drink.
I bit my lip, amused as he pulled out three glasses and begin pouring.
“Flight time from here to Bogota is about 6 hours. I took the liberty of gathering some reading material for you.” He pulled a stack of papers and maps from a leather bag sitting on the nearby recliner and dropped them on the coffee table.
“You will find maps and information on Santa Marta and the surrounding highlands, as well as the most recent reports and disease maps. I trust this will keep you busy for several hours. I’ll be sitting up front with the pilot. Any questions before we take off?”
I glanced at Sam, who shook her head.
“You’re riding with the pilot?”
“Yes, I’ll be your co-pilot
today.”
“You?” I glanced from his beach attire to his drink, a skeptical expression on my face.
“You offend me, Miss Yates.”
“I meant no offense. I just didn’t realize your talents extended beyond replying to email and catering to the whims of your shareholders.”
“I spend much more time working with my hands than you could imagine. Besides, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.” He looked me up and down, the message clear.
I flushed with embarrassment. I was doing the very thing I resented in others, making assumptions about who he was without giving him a chance.
Chagrined, I dipped my head in apology. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I find I’m not in the best mood today.” Sam snorted, and I shot her a look of warning before changing the subject. “What’s in that drink?”
Aiden raised an eyebrow and glanced between me and the drink. “It’s a secret recipe. The same one you drank at my apartment this morning.” He winked and extended the sparkling blue beverages towards us, before turning on a heel and disappearing into the cockpit.
I was clutching the icy blue drink and staring after him as my cheeks darkened with embarrassment.
“You were at his apartment this morning?” Sam grinned at me. “Oh, it’s interesting you left that little detail out, Brin. Do tell.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long flight.
Chapter Eleven
Aiden
Somewhere over the Bermuda Triangle
They were flying over Miami when Aiden felt the first waves of energy hit the plane. It shuddered, dipping to the right. He grabbed the back of the seat to keep from falling, sloshing some of his drink onto his new shoes.
“Dammit” He tossed back the almost empty glass and threw himself into the open seat. His co-pilot, Neil, grunted, taking the plane off autopilot and making corrections to stabilize them.
Neil was Aiden’s distant cousin and one of his mother’s advisors, sent, he imagined, to make sure Aiden stayed out of trouble.
“We should have anticipated this.”
Neil reacted quickly, pushing buttons and adjusting the controls. Aiden watched him, thinking he’d probably had far too much to drink in such a short time. His mind was foggy.
Neil’s eyes fell on him with a look of disgust and he shook his head. “You’ve been drinking that mortal poison.”
“What business is it of yours, uncle?” Aiden spat the word. He’d never been particularly fond of Neil.
Though he was brother to his late father, Neil was only a handful of years older than Aiden and he had not been kind to him growing up.
“Save your spite for someone else, Aiden. Did you think the queen would let you out on your own without supervision?” He wore a smug expression as he looked Aiden over in obvious disgust.
Aiden was steps away from yanking him from the captain’s seat and throwing him out of the cockpit when the plane shuddered again. The shuddering became a violent shaking and the stall alarm began to blare.
“We need to pick up speed and put it into a controlled dive.” Neil said, working furiously at the controls. The nose pitched down and Aiden’s stomach lurched as they fell towards the ocean below.
“That’s enough.” Aiden yelled. “Pick her up.”
Neil fought to bring up the nose. Everything seemed to be stabilizing when the plane lurched as if it had hit a wall, plunging to the right.
“I’m having trouble stabilizing her.” Neil yelled over the noise outside the craft. Large pieces of ice began hitting the windshield.
“That’s because this isn’t a hailstorm.” Aiden said with sudden understanding. “We’re passing over the Bermuda Portal. There’s turbulence because the wall is unstable.”
Neil’s eyes met his and he nodded. “You stabilize the energy, while I try and pull the craft out of this.”
They hit another bump and screams sounded from the back of the aircraft. Aiden sighed. He tried not to use magic on earth. It wasn’t strictly prohibited, but was certainly frowned upon. Today an exception had to be made. Aiden spindled the magic inside, until he could hold no more. A brilliant fire burned in his core, waiting to be directed.
He reached back into the cabin of the airplane and found Brin’s consciousness. Gently, he tugged on it, putting her into a deep sleep. He did the same to Samantha. Then, with a few words, he cast the remaining energy outside the aircraft, throwing it like a net. It wrapped around the plane, creating a protective layer that repelled the negative flow coming from the portal. Like a magnet, the plane soared, the altitude rapidly increasing until they were at 50,000 feet.
Aiden and Neil both sighed with relief as they regained control of the plane. It had been a close call. They’d almost ended up like so many others who’d crossed the Bermuda Triangle during periods of instability - torn out of the sky by the force of the portal, lost to the mortal world as they crossed into Eden and ended up in Kaladiah – the city of wings. It had earned its name for the many planes wrecked in the bowels of its sweltering desert.
For many years, the Bermuda portal had been used by dark fae to yank mortals into the realm of faery, only to take them prisoner and force them into a life of service. It was hard to prove whether the mortals had fallen into Eden by accident, or if they’d been pulled through intentionally.
“You don’t have to say it.” Aiden cut Neil off before he could speak. “We must be on the lookout for other portals that have destabilized since Evrei’s attack.”
Neil was annoyed to be cut off, but he swallowed any objections he may have had to Aiden giving him an order. Instead, he asked. “Are you going to wake them?” Nodding in the direction of the main cabin.
Aiden considered his question. “No, let’s let them sleep until Bogota. Less opportunity for them to ask questions.” He shook his head, slipping the door open and exiting the cockpit. Neil called after him.
“Where are you headed?”
Aiden grinned over one shoulder. “To make a drink of course.”
Neil grunted in disbelief and set his attention back on the horizon. Thank the gods they would soon be in Bogota. He would need a drink himself if he had to spend much more time dealing with Aiden and his careless, indulgent habits.
Aelwen had warned him about Aiden’s drinking and womanizing, but he’d hoped the gravity of the situation would alter his nephew’s behavior, forcing him to act like the fae prince he was. Unfortunately, he’d been wrong. Aiden was as much trouble as he’d ever been.
Chapter Twelve
The Dark Castle
Northern Luxembourg
Evrei paced the length of the room, pausing to peer out the small window to the castle grounds below. He couldn’t remember a time he’d felt more anxious. He knew it was due to the women next door.
Closing his eyes briefly, he struggled to block out their grief. He hadn’t known Gethin would murder one of them. He hadn’t asked. Despite knowing of the atrocities committed by the man he’d allied himself with, he found himself wondering what he’d gotten into. It was one thing knowing, and another experiencing it firsthand. Now, there was blood on his hands.
“You’re sure they understood the message?” He asked, shooting Gethin a harsh look.
Gethin’s ruddy complexion flushed with displeasure, but he replied carefully. “Yes, I’m certain of it. I have a man watching the Crystal Palace. She has just sent her sons out of the kingdom.”
Evrei assessed Gethin carefully, suddenly suspicious. “You say you have a man on the inside?”
Gethin nodded.
“Where has she sent her sons?”
Gethin’s beady eyes flared with anticipation. “The war chief is gathering an army from the kingdoms. Rumor has it the troops will be sent to the Netherealms in search of the Keepers.”
Evrei nodded with satisfaction. Of course the Crystal Court would think they’d take the captives to the Netherealms. It’s what Gethin would have done. The dark fae had always kept cou
rt in the dark corner of Eden known as the Netherelams. What Aelwen hadn’t factored into the equation was the fact that Evrei was now in charge. He’d hidden them away in the last place the light court would think to look.
“Very good, Gethin. What about the other boy?”
Gethin rolled his eyes in contempt. “The other boy is a waste of time. Rumors abound of his reckless behavior. Aelwen has sent him to the mortal realm, New York City to be precise, probably to get him out of the way. He’s no threat to us.”
Evrei considered this carefully before replying. He eyed the older man, deciding he was probably right.
“Okay, let’s just keep an eye on them for now. Go to our hold and make sure our men are ready for the contingent in the Netherealms. Let’s keep them thinking that’s where the Keepers are. By the time they discover their true location, it will be too late.”
Gethin nodded eagerly, rubbing his hands together. He turned to collect his battle gear. Evrei watched him silently, wondering if he should accompany him, but quickly dismissed the thought. He was needed here. He had to guard the Keepers closely. They weren’t to be underestimated.
“Gethin, one more thing.” Evrei called out.
The dark figure froze in the doorway, glancing back over his shoulder. “Yes, my lord?”
Evrei’s deep voice echoed across the chambers as he replied. “The boys, the War Chief and the other boy, they are not to be killed. Am I understood?”
Gethin turned, an eyebrow cocked, considering him carefully, and then nodded. “Yes, my lord. I understand. They will not be killed.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ignacio Hotel
Santa Marta, Columbia
“Wow. Look at that.” Sam said, marveling at the beauty of Santa Marta. She pointed out the window.
Large trellises covered the side of the Ignacio Hotel, small yellow flowers sprouting left and right, winding their way along the bannister to a set of beautiful double doors, inlaid with stained glass.