Ascension

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  “What had just happened? Allie’s butterfly swords dropped to her sides.

  “I don’t know.” Ryn kept his sword in front of him. “I don’t like this.”

  The shadow from before materialized from behind a tree and blue eyes glowed from the mass. The phouka slid forward and Ryn raised his sword.

  “Don’t!” I grabbed his wrist as I stepped around him and faced the creature. “It saved us from them.”

  “Yeah, to devour us.” Ryn’s sword stayed at the ready and Caden moved to his other side.

  “If it wanted to hurt us, it would have already. I’ve seen this shadow since I first stepped into Faerie.” I took another small step, my heart almost pounded out of my chest and I swallowed. I hoped I was right. “Hello?”

  Hello, Princess. A gruff voice filled my head. I won’t hurt any of you.

  “Can you hear him?” I spun to the others and they shook their heads. Each still had their weapons pointed at the phouka. “Put your weapons down. He won’t hurt us.” I walked closer, ignoring the shouts of the others. “Why did you save us?”

  Will another form make them more comfortable? I can become the black stallion again.

  I knew that was you. I looked at the others. Each were still waiting for an attack to come. I’m not sure being larger than them will garner their trust.

  Those blue eyes were glued to my movements. Think of something and I will transform into that. A gray and white husky came to mind and the phouka dropped as Caden and Ryn rushed forward. The dog I’d pictured in my mind stood before me and the boys paused. I feel drawn towards you, I feel your power and light Princess. That’s why I came to your aid.

  “Why can’t the others hear you?” The others watched my interaction and I knew getting half of the conversation was driving them crazy.

  Because I choose to only speak to you. My finger reached forward to rub through the phouka’s fur and a purple line of electricity passed between us. I yelped and shook out my hand as the phouka howled. I hissed when my wrist burned like I’d spilled boiling water on it. Caden grabbed my wrist as a purple crescent moon formed on the soft skin.

  “Look at that.” Ryn’s sword dropped and Caden and I glanced at what he was pointing at. An identical crescent moon formed in the middle of the phouka’s canine forehead. Conversation erupted as everyone tried to figure out why I was now bonded with this Faerie creature.

  “How is this possible?” My mouth flapped open more than once. I’d only bonded with the others when I came into my fairy powers. I turned my search inward hoping to find my other bonds, but my magic and wolf were still dormant.

  The Creator wants us bonded, Princess. The phouka dropped to its belly. I will protect you until my death.

  “What’s your name?” I rubbed a finger over my new mark.

  Phobos. The phouka crawled to me and lifted its head under my palm. I absently rubbed my fingertips through the soft fur. It means fear. Its tongue fell from between its jaws and it closed it eyes as I scratched behind its ears. Its demeanor didn’t invoke the feeling it was named after, but I’d witnessed what it did to the nymphs. We should leave the forest now before more creatures find you. The deaths of the nymphs will draw multitudes.

  None of them knew why I was bonded to the phouka, and Ryn kept running a hand through his hair, mumbling about how much this situation wasn’t possible. He stated several times that our bond was the first of its kind. Only the phouka and I knew the truth and I told the others Phobos suggested we leave tonight instead of waiting for dawn. I packed up my things, and my new friend and I waited for the others. Soon we were back on the path, following a creature whose legend spoke of nothing but death.

  The night was quiet and Phobos stepped off the trail into the trees. He waited until I stood by his side and continued. The rest of my group didn’t keep their complaints quiet. Many revolved around my acceptance and willingness to follow Phobos without hesitation. I blocked out their disapproval and kept pace with the phouka. My instincts said to trust the creature because the Creator brought us together, and maybe Phobos knew more about the Creator’s plan than I did.

  After a few hours, the sky lightened and I stumbled, my eyes stood at half-mast and the sandman crept closer. Everyone else slept after being bitten by gnomes, but I wasn’t so lucky and had been awake for most almost twenty-four hours. Instead of stopping to rest, Caden passed his pack to Linc and mine to Ryn. Then, he bent down and allowed me to climb on his back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head against his muscular shoulder, locking my legs in place at his narrow hips. Phobos stayed next to Caden, glancing up at me until my eyelids shut.

  *************************

  When I awoke, I smelled sandalwood and felt an arm under my knees and another cradled behind my shoulders. Full sunlight warmed my face and my eyes flew open. We were in an open field and there wasn’t a tree in sight. I never knew how glad I’d be to be away from trees and a big smile pulled my lips to my ears. I almost broke into song like some princess from a cartoon. Caden walked on one side of Phobos and Ryn carried me while the others trailed behind us.

  “Where are we?” I stretched in Ryn’s arms and he chuckled as he sat me on my own two feet. “How long was I out? Why were you holding me? When I fell asleep, Caden was giving me a piggyback ride.”

  “One question at a time, Sparkles.” I felt the probing of Phobos’s question over the nickname and quickly explained why Ryn called me that. I didn’t expect to hear a rumbling laugh in my head and tripped over air. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” I righted my myself while more laughter filled my head from Austin’s direction. That’s right. Laugh over my love hate relationship with gravity. “Answers, please.”

  “We’re near the palace.” Lucian pulled at the straps of his pack, scanning our surroundings. “Your new buddy took a shortcut through the forest.”

  “To answer the other two questions.” Ryn swept a strand of loose hair behind my ear. “You’ve slept for several hours and during that time, I begged Caden for a turn to carry you.” My eyes rolled until I saw the backs of my sockets. “It was only fair.” Caden mumbled under his breath and coughed when Linc’s laugh echoed over the hill.

  “It was more like a whiny kid, begging their parents for five more minutes of sleep.” Linc elbowed Zander. “I thought Lucian was going to suffocate him.”

  “Funny.” Ryn rolled his eyes with more flair than I could ever possess.

  “There it is.” Uncle Kalen wedged his way between Ryn and me.

  The castle stood in the distance with the white stone wall circling its perimeter. The ocean waves resounded in the distance and we hurried towards the gate. When we approached, a guard called for the violet crystal doors to be opened. We continued on the road through the town, passing Zappers on the way. As I was telling Allie and Austin about Moonbeam and her delicious food, the rest of our group halted. A familiar voluptuous figure with forest green hair and eyes stood in the middle of the road, wearing the same bark-like dress from the first time I’d seen her.

  Morgana.

  Was she going to throw herself at Ryn again?

  “Hello, Princess.” Gone was the honeyed voice she used with Ryn. It had been replaced with a rasping hiss. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

  “What are you talking about Morgana?” Ryn, Caden, and Phobos moved in front of me, but I pushed through them. I didn’t need them to protect me from her.

  “I don’t think what I do is any of your business?” Both of my hands went to my hips. A male dressed in a white tunic with brown pants and a matching belt stepped out from the shadows followed by several more fairies and soon a large group filled the streets.

  “It is our business.” Morgana sauntered forward, stopping when Phobos growled and showed a set of sharp canines. “You would start a war if you took what’s hidden in Oberon’s Forest.” How did they know what I was after? “And we know the Council wants their prisoner returned.” She pursed her rosy l
ips, wagging her pointer finger back and forth.

  “Morgana, stop this before blood is spilled.” Ryn’s symmetrical features hardened into a steely mask.

  “Do we want a war?” Morgana’s arms raised to the negative chants of the fairies. “Do we want to go against the Council?” The chants were drowned out by thundering gallops in the distance.

  “The Council doesn’t own this realm.” Multiple hands held me back when I fought to get to Morgana.

  “Then why has the Queen submitted to their rules all these years?” Morgana curled her upper lip and turned her nose up. “You cannot take what is mine, little girl.” Her face dipped as a sinister grin graced her lips. “The Queen is harboring a traitor of the Council! Seize her!”

  Stallions galloped through the throng of Seelie citizens as screams filled the air, sending the mob in different directions.

  “Get Kitra to the palace!” Ryn lifted me to the outstretched arms of Bretton. I was placed in front of him on the saddle.

  Bretton flicked the reins and his white horse stormed down the road with Phobos keeping pace beside us. I turned as much as I could and saw Dire Wolves carrying Austin and Allie surrounded by the Royal Guard. Ryn was riding upon a black horse behind Dannick and he glanced back at the mayhem when others came to the aid of those trampled by the soldiers. Morgana stepped around the corner of a building and I felt the searing hate she had for me as she dissolved into the shadows again. I didn’t have much time before they came for me and planned to use it to turn the castle upside down looking for any clue my mother might have left about the weapon.

  Chapter 19

  W E BREACHED THE CASTLE gates and Bretton helped me down from the saddle. I ran to the entrance and watched a mob of fairies chase my friends and Uncle Kalen. Sparks of energy arced through the air, exploding against the ground near their paws. Dannick’s horse reared as yellow light scorched the ground near its hooves, but the brute fairy regained control without dropping his passenger and stayed on course. Bretton tried to pull me farther back into the palace grounds, but I broke free from his grasp and screamed for the others to hurry when the guards began to close the gate.

  One by one, the Dire Wolves leapt through the opening, but Dannick still lagged behind. He flicked the reins harder and his black steed released a burst of energy, sliding through a small hole before the gates fully closed. A set of hands grabbed my waist and tossed me over a hard shoulder. I beat on the broad expanse of back of the male who had manhandled me, until I inhaled fresh cotton and mint. I smacked Caden one more time for good measure as he jogged inside the palace doors with me on his back. When he set me on my feet, one side of his lips pulled up and he winked, moving out of striking range before I erupted like a tea kettle. He knew I wanted to take care of myself and I hated to be treated like a damsel in distress.

  Large blasts vibrated the floor and the sounds of explosions ricocheted from outside. Particles of dust fell from the cathedral ceiling as Aunt Mauve, Lilly, Gwen, and King Roland raced down the stairs.

  “What’s going on?” Aunt Mauve’s yell was almost indecipherable past the noise. The next blast had everyone covering their ears with their palms.

  “The villagers are attacking, Your Majesty.” Dannick wedged himself between my aunt and her brother. “We had to rescue the princess and her party from a mob.”

  “Why in the world would they attack Kitra?” Roland elbowed his way to stand next to Aunt Mauve as his guards fanned out around our group and faced the walls with hands on the hilt of their weapons. “Mauve, send out your troops. No one attacks our family.”

  “They knew what we were searching for.” Lucian squeezed in near us, trying to keep his voice down. “And she’s been labeled a traitor of the Council. Your people are rioting because you’re harboring a fugitive.”

  “Fugitive?” Roland’s brows touched his hairline as Uncle Kalen explained about the crack we closed in the Gate of Aramath and how I had been arrested by the Council.

  “Did you find it?” Aunt Mauve took a step back when she noticed Phobos.

  “No, I learned my mother took it.” Her floral perfume tickled my nose when I whispered the words against her ear. “There’s a fake in its place. We need to search for any clues she may have left here as to where it might be hidden.”

  “The villagers will break through our wards on the gate before long.” Aunt Mauve crushed me against her. “You’re staying in your mother’s old room. I’ll buy you as much time as possible.” I nodded and squeezed her lean frame. “Ryn, get the Guards positioned for a breach.” His hand fisted over his chest and he left with Dannick and Bretton. Roland sent his knights to join them. “I’m going to scour the library for any possible way to keep them from breaking in.” Lucian, Uncle Kalen, Lilly, and King Roland offered their assistance and followed in her wake.

  I waited until they rounded the corner and sprinted up the stairs to my room. I waved my friends inside and closed the door. “She’s going to stall as long as she can. This was my mother’s room.” I didn’t have to say anything else as they rummaged through all the drawers and cabinets.

  Fabric was strewn across the room and the vanity chair was on its side before they started on the bathroom. Another boom from outside rocked the room and I grabbed the bedpost covered in a gauzy netting. Hattie materialized near the bed with her hands on her hips as a tsk left her lips. “What is the meaning of this?”

  “Hattie, you and your family have served mine for a while, correct?” I knelt in front of her and grabbed her shoulders as her head bounced up and down. “Did my mother ever hide anything in here? Or have her belongings been moved?”

  “No, Princess.” Hattie’s eyes bulged and I released her arms, as I apologized. “She didn’t keep her things out in the open, but she did go to her secret place, a lot.”

  “Secret place? Like a hidden room?” I should have known she wouldn’t leave clues out in the open for anyone to find.

  “Yes. If you push the stone with her initials carved into it, the one next to the vanity mirror.” Hattie pointed across the room. “The wall opens to a staircase.” She then disappeared as I rose and called for the others.

  I walked to the wall and finally found MS carved into a white stone after I had passed it over multiple times. No wonder no one else had found her hiding spot. It was practically invisible to the naked eye. I took a deep breath as my fingers traced the indentions and applied pressure. The stone sank into the wall and the sound of gears filled the room. The wall slid to the side and revealed a set of stone stairs which rose one story to a wooden door.

  “Well, that’s a first.” Linc peered in and whistled. “It’s like a scene from a movie. I’m kind of terrified of what we’ll find up there.” He poked me in the back. “Or maybe it’s 99% excitement tossing waves in my stomach.”

  I ignored his comments and climbed the stairs. My hand rested on a golden doorknob. I counted to three, twisted it until I heard a click and pushed it forward. Arched windows circled the room twenty feet above our heads and filled the room with light. In the center of the room, a rectangular table was covered in loose parchment. Four bookcases lined the wall directly behind it and over to the side a circular table sat surrounded by eight high backed chairs. Stacks of books sat haphazardly throughout the space and many trinkets spilled from the shelves which hung in any exposed space.

  We stood in the entrance and the sounds of the onslaught outside were muffled inside this room as another tremor shook the palace. I moved to the center table, leafing through the papers. The others searched the walls and bookshelves as Phobos shifted into his shadow form and flipped through the books on the floor. Caden’s arm brushed mine as he moved a paper aside and picked up a photo.

  “I didn’t know your mom returned to Faerie when she was pregnant.” He passed the picture to me.

  “Me either.” My mother stood in the field near the looking glass. Her head was tilted up to the sun with her eyes closed and her left palm rested on a small
bump in her abdomen. Her blonde hair was lifted in the breeze as she smiled. “I didn’t think she visited after she abdicated the throne to Aunt Mauve.”

  “We should find out who took the photo.” Caden watched me tuck it into my boot. “They might know something about the weapon.”

  “Hey, guys.” Gwen held a black leather-bound book in her hands. “I think you should see this.”

  She passed it to me, and I recognized the handwriting. It was the same as the journal my mother left for me with Elder Dylan. The opened book had a date, but no year in the corner of the page. I read the entry aloud for the others.

  December 30

  I can’t get John out of my head. I know our relationship goes against the Order we helped to create, but I can’t stay away from him or imagine my life without him in it. I’d give my last breath to keep him safe. This world would be an ugly place without John.

  When he got down on one knee today, I gave the throne to Mauve. I agreed to marry him tomorrow in front of a human judge with only my sister and Kalen as our witnesses. I never dreamed love was a possibility for the Creator’s Champion. When I agreed to serve him, I thought my only purpose would be to rid the world of darkness. Love was never in the cards, but the Creator said love was the greatest gift he could give and encouraged our union. We will be hunted by the Council and others, and I don’t know what the future holds, but with the Creator and John by my side, anything is possible.

  “Your mom was the Creator’s Champion?” Zander’s fingers latched behind his head as his cheeks puffed. “What does that even mean?” My intestines clenched as they looked to Phobos, but he’d shifted back to his dog form and didn’t utter a word.