by Maria Lima
"I did not lure him.” The Sidhe approached me, hands out to his side. “I wished for a companion and I asked his father for him. He was not of age."
"You what?"
"I didn't ask for it,” Greg answered. “Dad never told me about it until it was too late. One night, when Taffy here and I were talking, Dad came outside. I didn't know he'd heard us. I'd wanted to keep this a secret."
"Taffy?"
The Sidhe gave me an amused smile. “Daffyd,” he said. “Greg had a problem with the Welsh pronunciation."
Greg continued as if we hadn't interrupted him. “What I didn't know, is that after I went into the hospital for the last treatment, Dad came back out to the ranch and talked to Daffyd.” Greg emphasized the name, pronouncing it correctly.
"When I came home from the hospital, feeling way better than I had before, Dad told me that he'd arranged a fun visit. Pete, the foreman at the ranch and one of the other hands, a nice guy named Worry, were going to take me. I was excited, because I hadn't been anywhere in so long. Honestly, I don't remember much of the trip. I rode in the car with them, passed out and woke up here."
"Passed out—meaning drugged, I take it?"
Greg nodded. “Yeah, Pete had a couple of to-go mugs of Coke, gave me one."
"When did you figure out this was a one-way trip?"
"About ten minutes after I got here,” Greg said. “Daffyd was waiting for me and explained what happened. I wanted to go back, but I realized going back meant dying. Staying here meant I could live."
"You say Worry Saunders was one of the guys? I remember him,” I said. “He took off on his wife and kids a long time ago. When was that exactly?” I tried to think. I'd met him once or twice at Bea's café, then run by Bea's parents.
"I bet he disappeared about ten years ago,” said Greg. “After Daffyd told me what was going on, I kind of got the picture. I'm guessing that Pete didn't want any witnesses."
I turned to address the Sidhe, who'd stood silent throughout this exchange. “And you, you did this out of the goodness of your heart?"
He looked at me, silvery-grey eyes glinting. “I am Daffyd ap Geraint. I came here for you. I stayed for you. I saved him because he was lonely, as was I. The rest of my people who made the journey with me faded quickly. There were four of us at first. I was the last, the youngest; I suppose the strongest. When the rock broke, I managed to find a way out, counter the wards and place my own. I found Greg."
"What do you mean, you came for me?” I was beginning to get a very bad feeling about this. Okay, so Greg Pursell didn't actually die, but came to live here. I suppose that it was a good tradeoff for dying of leukemia. Not exactly his choice, but he seemed okay with it.
"I am your cousin,” Daffyd said. “My sire is Geraint ap Pwyll and your mother's kin. We came to watch over you. We found this place and came to live here. We have been trapped below for decades of your time."
I tried to wrap my head around all of this. “So you say you came to watch me. Why?"
"At the behest of your mother. It was not a simple thing to ask of us. The people here do not know us and do not leave offerings of food."
My mother. Wonderful, just bloody wonderful.
"Dad set it up,” Greg said. “He made a bargain. Daffyd needed energy, Dad wanted me to live.” Greg walked over to a rounded boulder that had been carved into the shape of a chair. There was another one next to it. “Come, sit."
I looked at Daffyd ap Geraint, who stood silent. Something in his expression made me think I really wasn't going to like this.
"Dad worked it out. Pete would have some waitress up at the Diamondback seduce one of the workers, usually someone who didn't have any family here, someone no one would miss. She'd party with him, pass out the drugs and when he was good and wasted, bring him over to the crossroads. Pete would make sure the guy got to the cave entrance safely, without falling down the overhang."
Daffyd spoke. “He is correct. The Judge, his father agreed to bring me one man every year. Sometimes, if they are young enough, I can survive with one every two years."
I shot up out of the rock chair and strode to Daffyd, confronting him. “You mean to tell me you, Judge Pursell and the others had a bargain so you could kill humans?"
The Sidhe's eyes grew colder and his brow lowered. “What are they to me? I am not human. You live with the drinkers of blood, yet you do not seem concerned with their way. You and I were never human. The vampires were once of the same species they now prey upon."
"I don't know where you get your information, buddy, but these vampires do not prey on humans. Nor are they killers."
"It is nothing to me.” Daffyd motioned with a hand. “The matters of Above are not my matters. They are not my blood. If this practice displeases you, my apologies. You are kin and of my liege's blood. This bargain is no longer."
"You're stopping because I said so?"
"I would have reconsidered my bargain on your word, however, I no longer need tribute."
"Because...?"
"Some two years or so ago, I began to feel a new energy Above. It appeared on occasion, would spike, then vanish for some time. It would then spike again for a short period. To my joy, I found I could tap this source and achieve nourishment—more nourishment than I could receive from the humans. This led me to believe the source was not human. Some months ago, the source reappeared and remained. I cannot identify, but it is not a Kelly. I cannot feed from Kelly. It is forbidden.” Daffyd smiled and said, “It is glorious, this source.” The smile transformed his face into something unearthly, nearly divine in its beauty. It's no wonder the Sidhe were called the “fair folk."
Two years, spikes of time, then steady. Not human. Well, other than two Kellys who, evidently, weren't kosher fare, the only other non-humans around Rio Seco County were...
By all the powers that may or may not be—this damnable cousin of mine was feeding on Adam Walker.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
"Give it back,” I said through clenched teeth, ignoring the beauty shining from Daffyd's face. “Now."
"I do not understand.” The shine faded and his beauty lessened for it. Good.
"The energy, the anima, whatever the hell you call it. You had absolutely no right to take it. Adam Walker, the one you're stealing it from, is in a coma because of you and may die. I thought it was something else, something I—No, never mind. That's irrelevant. Now give it the fuck back and I might not hurt you.” My threat was very probably empty. I had no idea whether or not I could harm one of the fey. Did he know that?
"I cannot,” Daffyd pronounced solemnly. “It is not reversible. Like food you eat, it cannot be restored. Can you make a dead cow alive after you have consumed it as steak? Can you put the lettuce back into the ground?"
"Way to be facetious,” I growled at him. “Then what do you propose I do? How do I heal Adam after you've taken all his energy?"
"That I do not know,” Daffyd answered. “I regret any sorrow this causes you."
"Regret? That's it? What good are you and why are you here?” I exploded, letting all my rage pour forth. “Meddling from my mother's family—the ones who wanted me around as much as a case of the plague. The ones who never thought I was good enough. I have news for you, buster. I could give a flying fig about being heir to my mother's whatever. I don't particularly care about the family who made me feel lower than dirt. My mother all but ignored me and then kicked me out. Good riddance. Why don't you go back to Wales and leave me and mine the fuck alone?"
Daffyd's words were ice. “Perhaps your Kelly connections may think this, but your mother Branwen did not ignore you. She wanted you. But she had no choice but to return you to your other family, since our court did not wish to raise a halfbreed to the throne. Had you stayed, you would not now live."
"Throne? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your mother is heir to the lesser court. Her cousin is the queen."
"Well, lah-dee-bloody-dah. Bully for all of them. I'm fine b
eing Keira Kelly, thank you very much. Now I want to get the hell out of Dodge so I can figure out how to save Adam, since you damn well can't, even though you caused it. I want you to stop."
"You do not realize."
"What?"
"Your place."
"My what?"
"Have you any idea why you were made?"
"Excuse me?"
Daffyd studied me. “My apologies. I must be clearer. Have you knowledge of why you were conceived?"
"Because my father and mother kissed each other and nine months later a baby came out?” I didn't feel like holding back the sarcasm. If this Sidhe, this so-called cousin, thought he could out-haughty me, intimidate me, he was sadly mistaken. My first lessons regarding my “place” in life scarred me, taught me to survive. Gigi, despite her (quite valid) velvet-encased iron fist helped mold the adult me: someone who took no guff from others. Daffyd ap Geraint, meet Keira Kelly.
"You jest with me, Keira. You must know this."
"Then stop beating around the bush and tell me straight.” Not that any of it mattered.
"Very well. About four decades ago, my queen and yours signed an agreement. In the interests of furthering our bonds, and in hopes of producing a much stronger lineage, your father and mother were chosen. After your birth, all was well. You were a healthy child and female, strong and more filled with life than any of our own—and sadly few—young. We are a dying race. Few remain. My queen hoped that with this union, others would soon follow suit and bring new blood to our line.
"In your second year, my queen died and her daughter, your mother's cousin, took the throne. She had opposed the agreement and, once in power, banned all but the most traditional from the court. She couldn't banish your mother, as the lesser court protected her. However, you were shunned. I am sorry that this is so.” He bowed his head, one hand to his chest. “When you neared your seventh birthday, your mother and I agreed you should be taken to your father. I followed and have been here since.
"No one knew we were here. One day, when you were cleaning graves, I ventured out, hid behind the statue in front of the entrance. I wanted to see you. Instead, someone saw me. By nightfall, the cave was blocked. The one other exit had long been blocked as the result of road construction. If I'd had my people, we could have carved new exits, but by myself ... I am not strong enough, even at full power."
I fell back onto the rock chair. “Gigi walled you in?"
"I do not know. I merely know that the cave door was blocked and I could not escape. It wasn't until the rock cracked some years later I was able to slip out. I was weak, faded, but I could walk and did. That night, I wandered all over the countryside, unwilling to return to my underground home. We Sidhe live under the land, but we also love Above. That first night of my freedom, I met Greg."
Now this was beyond craptastic. Sure, this Sidhe had murdered several ranch hands, had drained Adam's energy to the point of coma, but my own family had walled him in? I really didn't get this. First Gigi erects a statue for some reason, then years later blocks in the cave and effectively sentences him to a lifetime ... which for Sidhe, means thousands of years ... underground without companionship, to eventual death by starvation? Who was the worse monster here?
"I ... I don't know what to say,” I began. “I can't—how did you survive all those years?"
"Why do you think I needed a human life every year after being freed? My incarceration drained me to the point of needing to replenish often. Before that, I could last years without taking a life. But there is no need for your guilt, Keira, daughter of Branwen.” Daffyd bowed regally. “This was not of your doing. I must warn you, however."
"Warn?"
"The man, Pete. When I told him I would no longer require an offering, he was not pleased. He killed the man he brought in a short while ago, lured him to the barrier and murdered him. He buried him outside the cave entrance. When I protested, he swore he would get revenge. That he needed the money the Judge paid him to bring me the men.” Daffyd shrugged, the motion liquid and graceful. “There is little he can do to me, nor to Greg."
What he said sunk in. “Wait a minute here. I'm all ‘yay!’ that you're not requiring offerings, but taking from Adam stops now. Immediately. No excuses.” Would this bring Adam back? I couldn't know, but there was no way in all the hells I was going to let Daffyd keep sucking him dry.
Daffyd regarded me with a grave look. “If I do not feed, I will die."
I gave him grave a look. “If you continue to feed, Adam will die. I cannot forgive nor allow that."
"Would you then have me return to the bargain? Return to human offerings?"
"Neither choice, Daffyd,” I said. “This bargain stops now. Your feeding stops now. Go back to Wales. Go back to my mother and tell her I am fine and don't need a babysitter.” Yeah, and while you're at it, stop by British Columbia and tell my great-great-grandmother the same damned thing.
"You are my obligation. I am under geis."
"Not by my doing."
"You would have me fade?” he asked, his silver eyes catching my own grey ones and holding my gaze.
I held silent, eyes staring into his. I would not back down, could not. Adam would not be sacrificed for this creature, this cousin not-of-my-choosing. We held matching stares for a long moment, two interminable beats of our hearts. I could feel the underlying power, both his and mine. He reached for me, mentally, a whisper sliding across the back of my head, then as swiftly lost in the charged air. He could no longer reach me. It was as if, now acknowledged and identified, his siren call, his mental bait-and-hook no longer worked.
"I know your name, Daffyd ap Geraint ap Pwyll."
"Freely given, Keira daughter of Branwen."
"Daughter of Huw Kelly,” I corrected. “You are kin, but I am Kelly. If I'm your queen's cousin and my mother is heir to the lesser court, then you are subject to me, correct?"
"Perhaps."
"Either I am or I'm not,” I said. “No two ways about it."
"You are—or will be. I cannot say more."
"Will be?"
Daffyd fell silent.
"Fine then, be that way. All I ask is that you stop feeding on Adam, any of the other vampires, or any human or non-human sentient being. I don't particularly care if you stay here or go back to Wales or decide to take in Antarctica, as long as you stop. Oh, and that you let me go back.” There, was that enough? I'd heard so many stories about being trapped in Faery—whether it was eating, drinking or not phrasing your request properly—that I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. Of course, this could all totally be off base. My blood might be half theirs, but I had fewer clues on how real Faery worked than I did about vampires.
A slow blink, then a deep bow, one hand to his heart. “I hear and obey."
"So, it's a deal I can go, then?"
"Yes. I will no longer feed from the Walker, nor any of his kin, nor any human or non-human person. You may return to the surface,” Daffyd said. “I am not now, nor ever will be, your captor. In calling you, I merely wished to speak with you. You heard me. This means you were ready to hear me."
"Ready how?"
"Your Change. A part of your other clan heritage. Your mother said that once this began, you would be able to hear us."
"Is that so?” I pondered this for a moment. I guess dear Mama knew more about the clan abilities than I did. Either that or Gigi and she had been in cahoots all along, though that didn't explain Gigi walling in Daffyd. My granny was going to have some serious ‘splaining to do once I got in touch with her. “How did you know to call now?"
"Come, Keira. I will show you the way to the surface.” Daffyd ignored my question entirely.
"Keira,” Greg broke in. “Tell my dad ... Tell him I love him and I forgive him."
"I will, Greg.” I turned to Daffyd. “Will Greg...?"
He seemed to know what I was asking. “Greg will continue, as I do and until I fade. Do not grieve for us, Keira Kelly. Perhaps I will
no longer feed, but the energy I do have is strong and may last for many years."
"Okay, then. Greg, yes, I'll tell your dad.” At least about the love part. I was not so sure Judge Pursell deserved the forgiveness. I could sort of see Daffyd's side in that he was absolutely right about one thing. He wasn't ever human, nor would be. Nor was I. Difference was that me and mine chose to live among the humans, be like them insofar as we could. They were not our prey. The Judge and Pete: murderers. No excuses. No denials. I wasn't sure what to do about them, but I had every intention of telling the entire story to my brother and to Niko when I got out of here. I was sure we could come up with some sort of justice.
I followed Daffyd out of the main chamber and down a long narrow tunnel. It, too, was lit with faery light, allowing me to avoid feeling claustrophobic, despite the closeness of the walls. We walked for a few minutes, then turned down a passageway with a ramp leading upward. At the top, I saw a shimmery light blocking the end. At first glance it looked like cling film, translucent, letting light in. At second, it was pure light itself, moving in waves, rolling white with flashes of color.
"There is your exit,” Daffyd said. “On the other side is the cave mouth, where your brother is."
"Directly on the other side?” I asked, wondering why we hadn't seen it.
Daffyd answered the unspoken part of my question. “It is visible solely to those of the blood, and only if you are looking for it. Humans and others see a short tunnel that goes nowhere."
I started up the ramp, then thought of something.
"Daffyd, before I go. A couple of nights ago, there were some teenagers out by the Angel. Did you see them?"
He nodded. “Yes, they were outside, chanting. They came here, lit candles and incense. Then they screamed."
Like my vision. At least I knew I was batting a thousand. “Do you know what made them scream?"
"I do not. I feared approaching them. I did not wish to be seen. I can no longer cast an invisibility glamour."
"Why?"
Daffyd's mouth curled in a sad smile. This one didn't transform his features. “Despite the energy I took from the Walker, I am fading, Keira. It will soon be my time, and when I go, Greg will go with me."