Mad Magic

by Nicole Conway

  This time, I wanted to be prepared.

  Eldrick sat forward in his chair, folding his arms and resting his elbows on the tabletop. His eerie, platinum-colored eyes stared into mine. “Zeph is a great deal younger than I am. He wasn’t born in our world; he was born in yours—the human world—so his perspective is not something I can claim to comprehend. But I do know that he spent a large part of his life alone. Apart from a now estranged younger brother who has apparently sided with the Seelie Court, Zeph has no other family that will claim him. I can only assume that meeting your parents and becoming involved with them made him believe he had found a place where he was wanted.”

  I sank back in my seat, taking it all in. “You mean, he doesn’t have anyone else? What about his parents?”

  “His father is a notorious troublemaker, a shapeshifter known as Hedley Kow. His mother … to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure he knows who she is.” Eldrick’s jaw tensed and his brow creased as he stared down at his coffee mug. “My understanding is that his brother has nowhere near the ability that Zeph has when it comes to wielding magic. No doubt, this is by design. The Seelie Court likes to keep its prodigies under the tightest control. I assume this is because their initial complacency is what caused them to lose Zeph in the first place.”

  “You mean … Zeph was a Seelie?” Under the table, I kept wringing my hands until my fingers were slimy and sweaty.

  “It came as a surprise to us all. He doesn’t seem the type to enjoy submitting to anyone’s authority. Perhaps he recognized the need for some accountability when it came to using magic. He’s witnessed the very worst of what can happen without some semblance of control over it.” He shrugged and took another sip of coffee. “Whatever the reason, he tried to persuade the Seelie Court into taking action against Fir Darrig, who had only recently begun causing more serious trouble than usual. The Seelie Court didn’t agree. Many of them have close ties to Fir Darrig and are willing to overlook his behavior. This must have incited some rage in Zeph, because he attempted to apprehend Fir Darrig himself.”

  I swallowed. “All alone?”

  Eldrick nodded. “A brave gesture. Perhaps even a noble one. But stupid, nonetheless. In the process of his pursuit, he turned his back on the Seelie Court and became a vigilante, acting on his own accord. It caused quite an upset. Until that moment, Zeph had been something of an authority figure and there were many who admired his skill. When it comes to changeling magic, Zeph’s talent is indisputable.”

  That wasn’t hard to believe. Zeph’s temper was almost as bad as mine—almost. I could imagine him trying something like that, but hearing that he had been respected, admired even, was a shock. It was a cold reminder of how little I actually knew about him.

  “Fir Darrig is not to be trifled with. He’s become so notorious his name is all but synonymous as a term for those who like to play gruesome pranks—which has always been one

  of his favorite pastimes. His many years of life have made him quite powerful.” Eldrick shifted uncomfortably. “He was, after all, one of the original pilgrims who came here to sing the first songs. Add to that his uncanny ability to rally weaker minds to his cause and his intricate knowledge of the complexities of spellwork, he becomes quite the monster. The horrible grudge he bears against humankind makes him all the more dangerous.”

  I wondered if that was something he and Fir Darrig had in common. After all, when we first met, Eldrick wouldn’t even come near me. It had taken weeks to earn his trust. Even now, I wasn’t sure if he liked me or just tolerated my existence. He still preached about the evils of humankind with every other breath, but it was difficult to tell if it was just the voice of some past pain or how he truly felt.

  Across the table, Eldrick had almost emptied his first cup of coffee. He was casually swirling a carrot around in the hummus, the dim light of the café catching in his glossy black hair. I couldn’t help it. Deep down, it hurt to think that he might still resent me as much as he did the rest of humanity.

  “Fir Darrig has no love left in his heart, not even for his own kind, and Zeph was ill prepared to challenge him alone. Many who stood a far greater chance than Zeph have already tried and failed. It’s as though Fir Darrig has found some way to make himself immortal.” His voice carried a chilling sense of finality.

  I tipped my head to the side slightly. “You mean, faeries aren’t already immortal?”

  A bewitching smirk curled up his lips. “Hardly. Our lifespan simply exceeds that of humans. I assumed you knew this.”

  My cheeks grew hot and I dipped my head slightly. I briefly debated asking how old he was. But then Eldrick began to continue his story.

  “Fir Darrig could have destroyed Zeph easily. Perhaps he found it amusing that Zeph was so juvenile in his hope that he could actually overpower him in a duel of magic. Fir Darrig placed a curse on Zeph to publicly humiliate him: another example of his morbid sense of humor.” He curled his lip at the thought. “It was a disgusting, shameful thing to do. The most sacred of our old laws stated that no fae should ever use that sort of magic against another. By doing that, Fir Darrig was essentially mocking all our sacred traditions.”

  My body tensed as a sudden coldness sent shivers over my skin. This was it—the curse—the one everyone kept mentioning!

  “It was an appalling event, and times have grown darker, even since then.” Eldrick’s scowl softened as he studied me. “Now, Unseelie faeries use that sort of binding magic against one another practically every day. It’s become commonplace, thanks to Fir Darrig. Now, I see that even Zeph is guilty of that crime when he goes on these so-called cases. I suppose he is more or less justified in those instances, however. If the Seelie Court is not going to appropriately police this kind of activity, someone else should.”

  Under the table, I squeezed my sweaty hands into fists. I couldn’t lose my nerve. Not now—even if the answer terrified me.

  “What was the curse?”

  Eldrick hesitated. He shifted in his seat again, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “I wasn’t there in person. I’ve only ever heard rumors about it.”

  He was stalling.

  I planted my hands on the table firmly. “Tell me.”

  Eldrick cleared his throat, glancing away before he spoke in a stiff tone, “The curse stipulated that if Zeph did not deliver the vessel to Fir Darrig by the next Singing Moon, then he would perish.”

  Memories pricked at my mind. Zeph had told me about the vessel before. It was supposed to be a human brimming with magical energy, and they were the ones who chose the next faerie king or queen. But … what did this vessel person have to do with Zeph? How much time did we have left to find them before the Singing Moon? Why wasn’t Zeph out there looking for them right now?

  “The Singing Moon only occurs once every five centuries. All full moons are cause for some celebration amongst our kind, but the night of the Singing Moon is a holiday held dear by all faeries,” Eldrick continued. “It used to signal the coronation of a new king or queen. With every passing day, the Singing Moon draws nearer, and more of Zeph’s power diminishes. Soon he will be too weak to defend even himself.”

  My chest began to feel tight. Worry spread through every inch of my body with a cold shudder. “When is the next Singing Moon?”

  Eldrick stared at me so deeply I could see tiny reflections of myself in his eyes. “In approximately three months.”

  “There are some unique aspects of the vessel that are consistent throughout time, making them fairly easy to identify. First, they have an innate ability to sense and see magic that far exceeds a normal human. Second, and much more distinctly, is that their birthdate always coincides with the night of the Singing Moon. So, Josie, you need to ask yourself a very important question.” Eldrick’s voice had become hushed and deep. “Who is the vessel?”

  “Who is the vessel?” I repeated the question in a whisper.

  A strange heat prickled in my chest. It made m
y breathing hitch and my lips part. My heart dropped into the soles of my shoes.

  I knew who the vessel was.

  “It’s not possible.” I squeezed a hand against my chest where that tingling warmth still buzzed. “It can’t be. I-if I were something like that, I would already know!”

  Eldrick frowned. “Don’t be foolish. You do know. I can see it in your eyes.”

  I shrank back into my chair, unable to stop my heart from racing out of control. All this time, Zeph had been my benefactor, but he’d also been keeping me at a distance. Whatever feelings he had for me, he was still refusing to let them show. And this—this was why! Because of his curse, because of what I was, it was dangerous for me to be near him.

  “He knows I’m the vessel.” I gasped. “He’s known it all along.”

  “Based upon what I’ve read of his journals, your father knew it, too.” Eldrick stared down into his coffee mug again. “He was fixated on finding a way to destroy Fir Darrig. Clearly he has designs upon claiming you.”

  “Why? He’s already so powerful, and you said he’s immortal, too. What would he need me for?”

  “With your power as the vessel fused to his own, Fir Darrig would essentially become a god. He would be unstoppable in every sense of the word. Presently, the only hope for thwarting Fir Darrig has rested in the hands of the Seelie Court. Their united front might be enough to undo him if they could ever be convinced to try.” His face twitched, as though he were resisting a snarl. “However, as it stands, there is only person on this planet with enough magical power to rival Fir Darrig. That is you, Josie. If he were to use your power, there would be no contesting him. I shudder to think of what he would do not only to our kind, but to yours as well.”

  Horror strangled all the breath from my lungs. I had stared into the eyes of fae who wanted to hurt me. I knew what they were capable of. But bogles and sylphs—they were nothing compared to Fir Darrig. What could I possibly do? I didn’t know how to cast any spells.

  Yet.

  “You said my dad’s old books have information about fighting Fir Darrig?”

  Eldrick shrugged. “Not exclusively, but your father was experimenting with offensive spellwork, enchanting items for use in battle, and different ways of binding fae.”

  “You mean like the salt circle we used to capture a sylph?” I recalled.

  “Indeed. Your father must have had some excellent tutoring … I suspect from a certain changeling vigilante with a grudge against Fir Darrig.” Eldrick flicked me a suggestive grin.

  That was it—that was why they had been working together! The shattered pieces of my strange life were beginning to finally fall back into place. “So Zeph and my dad were looking for a way to stop Fir Darrig.”

  “That is certainly a plausible deduction,” Eldrick agreed. “Your father had a vested interest in destroying him, since Fir Darrig’s desire for supreme power over the faerie world would inevitably involve acquiring you as his pawn. However, simply destroying Fir Darrig wouldn’t affect Zeph’s curse. Curses are peculiar and difficult devices. Still …” He stopped mid-sentence, tapping a finger on his chin.

  “What?” I pressed.

  Eldrick shrugged again. “I wonder at the amount of trust your father put in Zeph. Allowing him to be your legal guardian seems like a gamble. It’s astounding to think he would be willing to trust a changeling with something so precious to him, especially since Zeph’s species is known to be inherently selfish and deceptive. If Zeph were to simply surrender to the terms of his curse and deliver you to Fir Darrig, he would be a free man.”

  That truth knocked the breath right out of me again. If Zeph wanted out of his curse, then all he had to do was drop me at Fir Darrig’s feet. It was simple, and yet …

  “Perhaps this is the evidence you’ve desired that he does have great affection for you. Apparently, Zeph would rather die the slowest and most agonizing death a faerie can suffer than surrender you over to Fir Darrig.”

  I wanted to believe that. God, I wanted desperately to know Zeph felt that way about me. I loved that idiot and all of his antics. But how could I be sure he felt that way, too? Sure, it sounded good. But this was all speculation. Zeph had never told me that he loved me. I didn’t want my first leap into romance to be a jump to the wrong conclusion.

  “You’re making that face again,” Eldrick grumbled.

  “What face?”

  He went back to sipping his coffee. “You frequently get this strange expression of uneasiness, as though you’re about to become ill. Are you really that concerned that your feelings are unrequited?”

  I swallowed hard. “Sorry. I’m just nervous. I’ve never been in love before, so I don’t really know the rules.”

  He arched a brow curiously. “Rules?”

  “Yeah, you know. Like what I’m allowed to ask, or when I should expect him to give me an answer about how he feels.”

  Eldrick eyes gleamed with a wry grin. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that all is fair in love and war? There are no rules. I think you have vastly underestimated the influence you have over that moron.”

  I’d heard that quote before, although I had never understood what it meant. “So, I should just ask him outright?”

  Eldrick’s smug grin made my stomach squirm. “It isn’t like you to be so timid. Those who are timid in love are the ones who will inevitably end up brokenhearted and alone.”

  Those words were still sinking in long after we had finished dinner and started walking back home. It was so easy to be quiet with Eldrick, though. He didn’t push awkward conversation just to seem sociable. Words weren’t necessary with him. He was strolling calmly at my side like nothing was wrong, seeming perfectly content.

  “Can I ask you something else?” I asked as we stood at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change.

  “Of course.”

  I wasn’t sure if bringing this up would be a good idea. It might upset him, but I was too curious to let it go. “What happened to you? What made you hate humans so much?”

  The light at the crosswalk turned green, and the crowd waiting on the sidewalk with us began to move forward … but Eldrick held still. I looked up at him, slightly afraid of what kind of expression I might find on his sharply-featured face.

  Maybe it had been a bad idea to ask about this.

  His brow was furrowed a little, as though he were searching for the right words. When he began to answer, he avoided my eyes. “I was not born in your world, Josie. My mother and father brought me here when I was a child. We were refugees, desperate for safe harbor and ignorant of human nature. Even then, long before the faerie court was ever split, there were mixed opinions among my kind about whether or not humans could be trusted. Some of us, my parents included, preferred not to mingle with them. But I … chose not to listen to their warnings.”

  The light changed again, and more people gathered around us on the curb. Eldrick was silent, his eyes slowly shifting to stare down at me with an intensity I didn’t understand. When the crowds moved to begin crossing the street again, he still didn’t take a step.

  “There was a small human village near my father’s first estate. He had already made a name for himself as a notorious evil in that part of the world. Most of it was merely a ruse, a reputation he propagated in order to keep humans away.” His head bowed and his eyes fixed upon the pavement with a vacant stare. “But in my childish naivety, I thought that reputation wouldn’t extend to me. I wanted to see humans up close. I wanted to walk among, learn from, and be close to them. I hoped they would be accepting of me. That was not the case, however.”

  I could see his face under the dim glow of the streetlamps. His jaw had gone tense, and I could see his pulse throbbing in the side of his neck. “When they saw me, they initially treated me with kindness. They invited me into their village. They offered me gifts—food, toys, and trinkets—and I trusted them without question. I left that village certain that my parents
were wrong; humans and faeries could be allies. We could be friends. We could love one another.”

  A cold wind blew between us, biting at my nose and making his dark hair blow over his brow. It numbed me to the bone, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off him.

  “The humans in that village laid a trap for me. When I returned, they captured me. I was too young to know better, and too inexperienced with my own magic to fight back. I’d never had to defend myself from that kind of threat before. It went against every ounce of my nature to want to hurt them, and yet they bound me in an iron cage in their village square. They tried for three weeks to burn me alive. Being what I was, I could regenerate quickly enough that I survived. It takes more than mere flame to kill a fae. But that is not to say that we don’t experience pain.”

  “They … they tortured you.” A lump lodged at the back of my throat.

  “I begged for mercy. I pleaded with them. And when that failed, I cried for my parents to come set me free,” he murmured. “They did, at last. My father broke me from that prison and took me home. I never went back into a human city again. That is—until your father captured me.”

  Tears slid down my face, freezing against my cheeks. I wanted to touch him, to comfort him, and at the same time I was terrified. No wonder he hated me. No wonder this contract between us had made him so feral.

  He had been afraid of me.

  “Your father said the terms of our contract would be simple. I am to be your faithful servant, obedient to your every whim, until the day you choose to set me free. You are the only one who can break our contract.”

  With a sigh, Eldrick faced me again. He frowned and brushed a hand over my cheek, wiping some of the tears from my face. Neither of us looked away as we stood at the crosswalk, the light changing over and over.

  “That’s why you scratched his face off all the pictures in my house,” I whispered.