Elixir of Eve: The Keepers, Book One - A Fae Series

by Alex Temples

  Before we could do anything else, Gethin burst into the room, taking in the sight of us with his hawkish, haunting eyes.

  I groaned.

  “Go, Brinmar. Get the tablets. I’ll hold him off.” With that, my mother spun on a heel and sent a burst of energy in the dark man’s direction, narrowly missing being struck with a sword.

  I didn’t need to be told twice. I darted down the hall into the alcove, scooped up the tablets and slipped them into the leather shoulder bag Aiden had given me.

  I turned around to see Gethin throw a ball of white energy at my mother. It slammed into her, and she sucked in a breath, falling back on the cold, stone floor.

  She recovered quickly, rocking to her feet and throwing a ball of white energy at Gethin simultaneously.

  Gethin caught in one hand and threw it back.

  I shifted the tablets to my right shoulder and took a deep breath. I had to help. The only problem was; I didn’t have any idea what I was doing. Well, conceptually I grasped the idea. It was the execution that eluded me.

  I focused my energy as Tristan had taught me, making a ball and then willing it to fall into my hand. I flicked my wrist and flung it with all my might. It sailed past Rosaina and slammed into Gethin’s shoulder, throwing him back against the wall.

  “Bravo, Brinmar.” ‘A deep, rumbling voice, smooth as a fine single malt came from directly behind me.

  I spun around. A tall, handsome gray-haired man stood behind me. He had a neatly trimmed goatee, sparkling green eyes, and dimples. I could have sworn I‘d seen him before.

  “Who the hell are you?” I asked, backing away.

  Behind me the sound of Gethin and my mother fighting began again. I didn’t dare turn around, sensing the greater threat lay in front of me.

  “I am Evrei Bane of Cibola.” He answered calmly, smiling as if I were a small child.

  Anger surged through me at the sight of his mocking gaze.

  “Well, Evrei you’d better get the hell out of here, before I end you.” I spewed with a bravado I did not feel.

  The sound of his laughter echoed off the walls. He moved towards me. “Oh, I don’t think so. You have something that belongs to me.”

  I shifted my weight, ready for anything.

  “The tablets aren’t yours and you aren’t getting them. I need them to save my brother.”

  I was shouting now. It wasn’t necessary, but it imparted in me a feeling of strength I badly needed.

  “Oh, how noble of you, saving your brother.”

  Evrei’s sharp eyes ran over me, as if assessing my strengths and weaknesses.

  I backed towards the door, hearing the fight in the next room dying down. I hoped it was because Aiden and Tristan had triumphed. If not, all was lost.

  “You are the one who’s caused all of this.” I accused. “You’re responsible for the sickness.”

  Evrei shook his head. “Well, I really can’t take credit for that. It was Gethin’s idea, but you’re right, I did help set the wheels in motion. It was time to take back what the mortals no longer appreciate. We’ll no longer allow them to rape the land, to destroy what the goddess has made, to take things that aren’t theirs for the taking.”

  His eyes burned with green fire as he inched closer to me. “They don’t deserve to live on the earth they slash and burn. They never did. All they know is destruction, the pursuit of luxury. Mortals are greedy and destructive, and they must be stopped.”

  His voice was deathly silent and charged with a power I sensed, but failed to fully comprehend. His energy felt different than the other dark fae, similar, but not quite as opaque. I didn’t have time to muse at that any longer, as I saw my mother fall behind him.

  Gethin scooped Rosaina up, twisting her arms behind her back. She was captured once again.

  “Go, Brin!” Rosaina shouted, struggling as her hands were bound behind her back once more.

  The door was directly behind me. I felt the urge to flee, but was rooted to the spot by the sudden sense of confusion that washed over me. On one hand, my mother was here. I’d just found her again after decades apart. On the other hand, I had the tablets. Tablets I needed to cure Oren. I hesitated.

  Evrei saw the thoughts running through my head and raised his eyes to mine. “You would abandon your own mother after being reunited for the first time in so long?” His voice was low, coaxing.

  I felt a stab of pain as I stared between him and my mother.

  “Don’t listen to him, Brin. Take the tablets and run. Save Oren. You’re his only hope. They cannot kill me. They need…” Her words were cut off as Gethin shoved a wad of dirty cloth in her mouth.

  How did she know about Oren? I looked frantically from my mother to Evrei, wondering which way to move. How could I leave her after we’d had just been reunited?

  “The tablets, in exchange for your mother, Brin.” Evrei took another step forward, gesturing reassuringly in my direction. “I’ll let you both go free. You aren’t mortal. I have no score to settle with you.”

  His eyes held mine with a burning intensity I could scarcely stand to look at.

  I glanced once more at my mother, seeing the look in her eyes and knowing exactly what I had to do. A searing pain flooded through me. I hated what I had to do next.

  I tilted my head, looking down at the leather bag and up at Evrei. I saw the confidence in his eyes, the certainty with which he knew I would hand over that bag.

  I sighed, my head downcast in a gesture of defeat.

  “I’m sorry, mother.”

  Evrei began to move towards me to collect his prize. I waited until he was an arm’s length away hitting him with white energy, pouring every bit of strength and fire I had into him.

  He staggered back, but I knew it would not be for long. I ducked through the stone door, pulling Aiden and Tristan after me as I passed them.

  We bounded down the stone steps and out the front doors with hellfire on our heels. I ducked to pick up discarded sword and then we all held hands as Aiden shifted us.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  NYU Pharmacology Lab

  “Siddarth?” I called softly, seeing him sitting at a lab bench as I rounded the corner and stepped into the room.

  “Brin, you’re back.” Siddarth said, looking up from the microscope he’d been peering through.

  Aiden had shifted us from the castle to a portal in a park near the university. The three of us had half run, half-stumbled the quarter mile from the portal to the lab. I knew we must look a sight, but I’d needed to get the tablets back here as quickly as possible.

  “Oh my god. What happened? Are you okay?” Siddarth asked as he took in my disheveled state, eyeing the blood smeared across my arm and dripping down my shoulder.

  Aiden and Tristan were a few steps behind me. I hadn’t yet figured out how I was going to explain who they were.

  Siddarth dropped the sample he’d been studying and hurried to me, his handsome face full of alarm and concern.

  “Siddarth, it’s so good to see you.” I said, gritting my teeth at the searing pain that shot through my shoulder as I moved across the room. It really was good to see a familiar face. I moved eagerly towards him, grateful to accept his arm as he helped me to one of the sofas in the small seating area near the coffee maker.

  “You’re bleeding, Brin. My god, we need to get you to the hospital.”

  “No, there’s no time.” I argued. “You’re a doctor. Can’t you patch me up? I can’t explain everything now, but I know Sam told you a little bit about my trip to Colombia, about the medicine for Oren. I need to get started on the antiviral as soon as possible.”

  Siddarth looked me up and down with a worried expression, but he nodded. “Let me get the first aid kit.”

  He hurried to the corner, unsnapping the yellow first aid kit from the wall and coming back to sit next to me.

  Aiden and Tristan chose that moment to step into the room.

  “Who the hell are you?” Siddarth asked, s
tanding and stepping in front of me with a defensive posture.

  “It’s okay, Sid. They’re with me.” I said, leaping up and putting a hand on his arm. A wave of naseau washed over me at the sudden movement and I sucked in a breath, groaning as I sunk back into the sofa.

  Siddarth glanced between me and the doorway, his concern over my injuries apparently outweighing his concern over the strangers accompanying me. He settled onto the sofa next to me.

  “Aiden, Tristan, come sit.” I said, gesturing to the sofa across from us.

  Aiden eyed Siddarth with suspicion, before moving slowly across the room to take a seat. Tristan trailed after him, scanning the lab as he went. We sat in silence for a moment as Siddarth began pulling bandages and bottles out of the first aid kit.

  I guess I’m going to have to take the lead on introductions.

  “Sid, I’d like you to meet Aiden and Tristan.” I said, gesturing to each man on the sofa across from me. “They are friends. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to secure the plant we need to create the antiviral for Oren and the others.”

  Siddarth glanced skeptically across the seating area, assessing the two men. Aiden gave him a cool expression, and a curt nod. Tristan’s demeanor was reserved, but he nodded politely.

  I sighed. This should be interesting.

  “Aiden, Tristan, this is Siddarth, he and I have worked together for many years. He’s a good friend and colleague. I trust him implicitly.”

  I emphasized the last part. Aiden raised an eyebrow. Tristan nodded in understanding. He turned back to Siddarth.

  “Any friend to Brin is okay in my book.” Tristan said, rising and extending his hand.

  Siddarth’s expression softened slightly. He set down the pair of surgical scissors he’d been using to cut a length of bandage and rose to grasp Tristan’s hand.

  “Likewise.” He said, giving Tristan’s hand a brief shake before releasing it.

  Aiden eyed the exchange with obvious irritation, but rose and extended his hand as well.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Aiden said, a bit grudgingly.

  “And you.” Siddarth said with equal reserve.

  The two men shook hands briefly before stepping back. They assessed each other carefully before settling back into their seats.

  The four of us sat in uncomfortable silence for the next few minutes as Siddarth began to clean my wounds.

  “Ouch.” I said, wincing as Siddarth probed the slash in my shoulder, gently pulling on the torn edges of my shirt.

  “You’re going to have to take your shirt off.” He said, meeting my gaze apologetically. He turned to where Tristan and Aiden sat and shot them a meaningful look.

  Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “You want her to take her shirt off?” He asked, his tone sharp.

  Siddarth glanced sideways at me, a curious expression on his face. Aiden sounded possessive.

  Great. How was I going to explain Aiden to Siddarth?

  I cleared my throat. “Aiden, Siddarth is a doctor. He’s going to treat my injuries, which he can’t do properly unless he can see them. You and Tristan can go examine the mistletoe samples and make sure everything is in order.”

  Tristan coughed.’

  I glanced over to see he was trying not to laugh, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.

  I pursed my lips. Tristan caught the gesture and nodded. “Alright then. She’s right, Aiden, we should get down to business.”

  Aiden sighed with resignation, standing slowly. “Where are the samples?” He asked, glancing at me.

  I looked to Siddarth in question.

  He nodded toward the hallway. “They’re in Robert’s office. Sam was here early this morning to check on them. She said she’d be back around lunch time. Here’s the key.”

  He dangled a small, red key in front of him.

  Aiden snatched it. Then, he and Tristan headed down the hall.

  As they disappeared around the corner, I lifted the bottom of my shirt and tugged it over my head, groaning as I did.

  I wasn’t sure what to say to Siddarth. What could I say? I just got in a fight with a dark fairy, who slashed me up before kidnapping my long dead mother?

  I laughed aloud at the absurdity of it.

  “What’s so funny?” Siddarth asked, his face softening as he took in my amused expression. He raised a curious eyebrow.

  I chuckled. “I just don’t know where to begin. You’ve always been a good friend to me. I feel like I owe you an explanation.”

  Siddarth’s brown eyes met mine. He nodded silently, placing his hand on mine. “You owe me nothing.” His voice was a soothing balm, offering the comfort of familiarity after my strange journey.

  I sat silently as he began to clean my wounds.

  He’d finished bandaging my shoulder and was starting on my arm when began to sense a sort of tension between us. I glanced up curiously.

  He cleared his throat.

  “Brin, I need to tell you something.” He began, tentatively.

  I swallowed. It sounded like another surprise was coming. I wasn’t sure I could handle another surprise at this point.

  “Please, don’t.” I put my hand on his arm. I wanted to enjoy a moment of normalcy. There’d been too much change lately. I was positively overwhelmed by it.

  Siddarth rubbed iodine over my forearm, picking out bits of debris as he went. After cleaning it, he pulled out a suture kit.

  He sighed.

  “You need at least 8-10 stitches in this, and I don’t have any anesthesia…” He said pointedly, meeting my gaze.

  “Or?” I prompted, sensing there was something else he wanted to say.

  He coughed and met my gaze again, squaring his shoulders. “Or I can heal it for you. I can heal both gashes.” He said in a soft voice, watching for my reaction.

  My mind reeled. Was he saying what I thought he was saying? Heal me? I pictured the way in which Aelwen had healed Aiden, her hands hovering over his wound as the flesh knit itself back together. If he was saying what I thought he was saying. That would mean Siddarth was fae.

  I narrowed my eyes at him, pulling my arm away and sitting back to examine him. He looked like the same Siddarth I’d always known. He wore a light brown cashmere sweater that complimented his olive skin and black eyes. His square jaw was covered in stubble, his hair a bit messy.

  I stared, waiting for something to happen, for him to grow horns perhaps, but he was the same quiet, handsome man I’d worked with for years.

  I’d always been able to rely on him. That was the only thing that kept me seated, even as the urge to storm out built inside me.

  I cocked an eyebrow in question.

  He nodded.

  “I couldn’t tell you, Brin. And you wouldn’t have believed me if I had. It was something you had to see with your own eyes.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Queen Aelwen sent me to look after you. There’s been hostility building the last ten years. She worried someone would find out about you, someone dangerous.”

  As he explained, I heard the faint accent that reminded me so much of Aiden’s. Now that I really listened I could clearly see he was fae. His eyes glowed with that otherworldliness. I wondered how I hadn’t seen it before.

  “All this time?” I asked.

  He nodded in confirmation.

  I sighed and stuck my arm out.

  “Very well. Let’s not waste any more time with antibiotic cream and bandages then. Show me what you can do.” I said, my eyes sparkling with amusement.

  Seeing my expression, Siddarth relaxed.

  “As you wish.” He said, grinning back at me. He took my arm, laying it across his lap and holding his palms over it. My flesh heated under his hands. A tingling feeling spread throughout my body. It was like being shocked by static electricity.

  “Ouch.” I pulled back at the popping sensation and looked down to see my flesh was whole again, smooth and slightly red where the gash had been. I looked up at him in a
we.

  He smiled back. “Let me do your shoulder.”

  I turned, giving him access to my back. I gasped and bit my lip at the feeling of my shoulder healing. It was a sharp pain, more intense than my forearm and I had to hold my breath until he was done.

  “I’m done, Brin.” Patting me gently on the shoulder.

  I turned around the face him, seeing in him that brotherly affection I so longed to see from the eyes of my own brother. Oh god…Oren. I sucked in a breath at the wave of emotion that suddenly washed over me, fighting back a sob.

  I had intentionally been trying not to think of him as I sat there, knowing I didn’t have time to stop at the hospital if I was going to get the elixir done. I needed the mental fortitude that came with not knowing. That way, I could block out the feelings of fear and uncertainty. I could picture Oren sitting in his hospital bed, happily waiting for me and not imagine him slowly dying as I fought in vain to save him.

  The reality of the situation hit me suddenly and I realized how exhausted I was. My battles were not yet won. I had the tablets, the magic, the plant, but we did not yet have an elixir to cure Oren and the others. That puzzle stood between me and my last remaining family member.

  My father is dead.

  A cold feeling blossomed in my belly, curling around me and threatening to swallow me whole. Then this new thing with Aiden. We had a strange connection I could no longer entertain exploring, because Oren was more important than anything in the world, including my own happiness, my own chance at a love I’d frankly never expected to find. It was that overwhelming pain, that fear and uncertainty, that made me burst into tears and fall into Siddarth’s arms.

  Great sobs wracked my body. Siddarth welcomed me without question, wrapping his long, warm arms around me, pulling me into him. I inhaled the smell of his soothing, clean scent and buried my face in his cashmere sweater.

  My whole body shook as I released all the feelings I’d carefully tucked away behind the invisible dam where I usually placed my vulnerabilities.

  There was too much. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I couldn’t bear the fact that there was still one more task in front of me.