by S L Mason
“I’m a candidate for a competition. I don’t know what the prize is, and you’re supposed to prepare me for it without giving me an objective?”
“An objective, the prize at the end of the competition?” He lowered his hands to grip the armrest.
“Yes, what is it? What do I get out of this competition that I’ve been forced to join? What’s in it for me?”
“You do realize how incredibly selfish you sound.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. Are you fucking kidding me? “I sound incredibly selfish? You abduct me, and now you’re going to force me to compete in something where I very likely will die, and you’re going to accuse me of being selfish.” I was leaning forward fingers digging into the chair. “All because I want to know what my motivation other than survival is? What is it I’m actually going to get if I do survive? What is it, a life of the internal indentured servitude to the hollowed-out, selfish Fae, who are so shallow they can’t even grasp the concept that abduction is wrong? Perhaps you shouldn’t murder other races just because you think you’re superior.”
“That’s an interesting concept coming from a human. Don’t you slaughter animals and eat them? I don’t know if you were paying attention to your food at dinner tonight, but we don’t eat flesh; we’re vegetarians.”
Now I was really angry. “So that’s your motive for moral superiority? We only eat plants, therefore we are better than you? We have the right to go and murder as many of you as we see fit. You use us for your own entertainment, and it ends in conflict? Bullshit! I call bullshit! I don’t give a crap who you are, or what your position is in this world, you have no right to treat any sentient life form the way you’re treating me.” There, I’d said it.
He leaned forward in his chair, and I saw both of his hands gripping the armrests. “And how would humanity treat one of the Fae if they got a hold of us? Would they give us a nice bed to sleep in? Plenty of good vegetables to eat, nice clothes, and treat you to polite society?” I shrunk back into my chair.
He was right. If humanity had gotten a hold of a fairy, he would’ve disappeared into some Blackbag where scientists would run a bazillion cruel and unusual tests on it. Then they’d accidentally kill it and dissected it.
“I see your point. Yes, humanity wouldn’t be cool, especially if the governments got involved. If it was just one human who met the Fae, just one, you would be fine. They might even help you keep your secret. They wouldn’t force you to perform for their joy, or for their entertainment.” I flicked an imaginary piece of dust from my dress.
His green eyes turned to black. “What you’re about to participate in has nothing to do with entertainment and everything to do with the fate of every life on this planet. You need to understand what’s at stake. It’s not just Fae, it’s not just human, it’s life itself on planet Earth; that’s what is at stake. That’s the prize, that’s what you get. Is that not a big enough prize for you?”
I slumped down. “Yeah, it’s a big enough prize.” Even for me, the world. It sounded silly and overinflated.
“I want you to think about my words. What is it that you need to do to win? Mentally, you need to prepare yourself. If you survive tomorrow, you will come here to my study every day. I will teach you Fae history. We remember history in song. I will tell you whatever it is that you need to know for the next day’s competition.”
My interest was peaked. I was allowed to train, and all I had to do was listen to Deston sing.
“What challenges do I face tomorrow?”
He looked away into the fire, putting his fingers up to his mouth. “I do not know. All challenges have been sealed until the morning of the challenge. I know what weapons you’re allowed to bring with you into the arena. In the case of tomorrow, you’re not allowed to bring anything—no one is. You go there with your wits and your wits alone. Are you ready for your first lesson?”
I get to face death with nothing, no weapons. Just myself and my brain. Great.
My brain ran a thousand miles an hour, and I stared off into the green inferno. How was singing the ancient history of Fae going to help me not die? At least it’d be a fairytale. I suppose it could be diverting.
The deep tenor of his voice reminded me of Enrique Caruso. My mother loved opera. She played it constantly in the house as she hummed and cleaned. She said the sadness always made her want to clean.
I didn’t understand what he was singing about. Some woman who was beautiful and wonderful, the first Fae Queen. His voice soared with magical Acappella. The queen brought peace to her people and ended the wild abandon of war. She was the first to discover the rhythm of music. The songs were created by her, singing the world into existence. She created everything to be beautiful, from flowers to fawns. She grew her garden, and as the days went on, more flowers were created.
The only problem was when you created one thing of beauty, something ugly was also created, for all magic must have balance. In creating the Fae, she created the Fomorians as well. Ugly, mean, and strong. Where the Fae were weak, the Fomorians were strong. The Fae were cruel. But the Fomorians were kind. The Fae were intelligent, and the Fomorians were simple-minded.
This queen had a wild Fae she loved. She chose him from amongst her people to balance her power and made him king.
She was meant to live for all time, until she started to fade and disappeared from this world. The magic was being drawn away from her, but no one knew why. She said a new queen would arise and that all must follow the new queen. A new queen did arrive. One of the princesses, she rose up. Her name was Jillian. She learned the magic music from the Queen and how to create life. In doing so, she took over all the Fae.
The old queen faded into the magical rhythm of life, leaving her wild king behind.
The new queen was not like her predecessor, and many wars ensued.
“That is enough for tonight, I will continue tomorrow,” Deston concluded.
For a moment, I felt like I was seeing it with my own eyes, but I refocused on the green flames. I caught a flash of Deston’s face out of the corner of my eye.
“Were you there? I mean, how old are you?”
“No, I am not one of the first. I was not there. I am old, but most of us are children amongst the first.” He ran a finger across his lower lip, toying with it. He narrowed his eyes to stare at me.
“Are there any firsts left?” I shifted in my chair, my eyes darting back to the emerald flames.
“Yes, one of the other Princes is a first. You must watch out for him, he’s dangerous. We are allies and must work together.” His fingers trailed down his neck to wrap around a tendril of white hair.
“Don’t give me the lecture on going to war and that I need allies or about how I can trust you. I got that lecture. Janice gave it to me. Just so you know, I don’t trust any Fae. Not even one. There’s only one person I trust, and you don’t know who that is.” I pressed my lips together, holding my secret close.
“You cannot trust Lavender.”
I didn’t move, only slowly taking a breath. “You really think I’m that stupid? Your Grace, I don’t trust Lavender either”
He leaned forward with his finger steepled in front of him. “Are you referring to that boy you were captured with?”
I didn’t say anything. Obviously, he already knew. I was captured with someone.
“Is that boy your, how do you humans call it, your boyfriend? Your beau? Your lover?”
My face stained with color. “No, no. Not at all.”
He sat back in his chair with a half smile. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to be distracted. Entanglements like that are bad. They can be used against him and you.” Was there anything they wouldn’t use against me?
“Am I free to go?”
“I want to sing one more song before you go. It’s short.”
I sat back in the chair, slouching down. I didn’t care. I was ready to go. I wanted to go to my room and be left alone. I was tired of being surrounded by weird, cree
py Fae.
I listened to the soaring words in his song. For a moment, I felt lost. I had to claw my way back to the surface. The music was entrancing and so was his voice. I swayed with it until I shook it off. He was trying to compel me with the music, to control me, but I didn’t want him to think I knew so I sat there. Finally, the song ended. It was short, like one of those Irish ditties you always hear at pubs on St. Patty’s Day. I didn’t say anything. I waited for him to prompt me.
“You may go.” He waved me away, dismissing me. Arrogant.
I really can’t stand guys like that.
I got up meekly and walked down the corridor. Everything felt different. Janice was sitting in the room across the foyer from me. He stood and came to my side.
CHAPTER 18
“Did you enjoy your lesson?” Janice inquired.
I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Really? Was it supposed to be fun?”
His eyebrows wrinkled in the center as his purple eyes darted from the left to the right. “I thought you might enjoy the song of queens.”
I shrugged. I had enjoyed it, but I didn’t want him to know that.
Janice did not bother putting his hand out again; there was no one here. It was pretty telling of him, how he would treat me as long as people were watching. What did I expect? He killed indiscriminately.
I didn’t want my parents’ killer touching me. They could be alive. I’d only heard the sound of an AR shooting. If I’d stayed in the house, I’d be dead too or captured, and Arty would definitely be dead. I guess I should be thankful. At least this way, I had a chance and so did Arty.
They didn’t want me to be a mindless slave. No, I was supposed to dance at the end of a string so they could watch me twist.
It was ridiculous, having sat at the dinner table, watching all of them stare at me while they talked about their superfluous bullshit. Humans are petty, malicious, and brutal, and yeah, we were barbaric; it was true. People still raped children, men still abused women, and women abused men; we weren’t perfect. We had no moral superiority, and there was no moral upper hand. We’d invaded other countries, killing off the population. The only difference, we didn’t know there was another race. Had we known it could have been a rallying point for humanity, something to bind us together into a single cause. I didn’t care what Deston said. I didn’t believe the governments knew about Fae. If we’d known of the Fae, we most assuredly would invade.
Great!
Now, I was rhyming as they did. Mostly Janice since I hadn’t heard any of the other Fae’s making their magic rhyme. I wondered if a rhyme would work for me? “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after.” The hair on my arms stood as a chill ran down my back, stabbing my spine with pain. I covered my mouth with my hand, pressing in and wishing I could take it back.
He turned to me in the elevator. “You know what that rhyme is really about?” His arms were crossed.
“Yeah, it’s about two kids who went to get water out of the well, and one fell down and hit his head because the hill was too steep. The two of them couldn’t carry the pail of water together. The other one fell down too, but it doesn’t say she hit her head though.”
I mean it was pretty obvious it was just a nursery rhyme, a fairytale.
“That’s not at all what it’s about; it’s a rhyme. It is a Fae tale, about two Fae who reached for more than they deserved. The bucket is the weight of their desire, and they desired power. Both climbed the hill to reach the stone throne the ‘well’ of knowledge. Only toward the top, Jack fell, and he hit his crown. He was knocked back down to his place. Jill, the girl, he attempted to put on the throne, she fell after. It’s a failed attempt at a coup. That’s what Jack and Jill were all about.” Janice finished and turned away.
Well, that was something I didn’t see coming. I had no idea that a fairytale or a Fae rhyme could possibly be the screen for a failed coup. That turned every fairytale on its head. Were all Fae tales a dark commentary on politics and societal nonsense? Humans turned it into a cute children’s story about making kids work too hard, or at least that was what most people thought.
“Their names were Jack and Jill?” Those didn’t sound Fae to me.
He turned his purple eyes on me. “Their names were Jacques and Jillian, and a long time ago, they did attempt to wrestle the crown away from Danu, but that is the history of wild. I’m sure Deston will be more than happy to sing it to you. What are your plans for tomorrow? You cannot take any weapons in the competition with you. You’re only allowed the clothing you wear.”
“I was really hoping I could wear a breastplate. Perhaps some kind of armor? Lavender said you had armor.” My voice quivered, and the butterflies in my belly went wild. This was real. They were going to make me fight for my life with nothing but the clothes on my back.
Who does that? Gladiators?
Janice chanced a glance at me, “she did? Fae, do have armor. I will talk to her tonight to discuss what you should wear. I will not allow you to compete without a way to defend yourself.” He continued.
“I realize whatever I wear, it’s not a fashion show. However, I want to wear jeans and a T-shirt, along with whatever armor you give me.” I asked.
“You’ll wear whatever I advise. It will keep you alive, and human clothing won’t protect you.” Janice replied.
I didn’t appreciate the way that he mentally manhandled me, as if he knew better no matter what. He had the last word, and down here Fae were in charge. I was a nobody, a human for their public entertainment.
“Also, you will need to bind your breasts.” He turned his head away from me.
I threw my head back and laughed. “Fae arrogance knows no bounds. You’re telling me what to do with my boobs? I already know what to do with my boobs, thanks.” I smirked.
In a flash, his lips breathed onto my face. His nose practically touched mine as his liquid purple eyes penetrated into mine. “I may not have a breast on my body, but I’ve fought more battles than any human alive. I can tell you how to stay alive, and you should listen. Male and female Fae fight and I know how to dress a female and her breasts.” He retorted.
I knew my face must’ve been three shades of red. I felt the heat as blood coursed through my body.
He’d probably touched somebody’s breasts. I was getting exactly what I deserved. Assuming he wouldn’t know what to do with boobs simply because he didn’t actually have them on his anatomy, I was stupid to think that.
He kept his face a breadth away from mine. His perfect skin turned pink, but he didn’t blink. He was waiting for some kind of retort, but I couldn’t muster one. My mouth was open and drying out. I ran my tongue along my lips. His eyes changed color, and they went from the light purple to deep, smoky amethyst as they followed my tongue. For a moment, I had the feeling that he might kiss me, and I wasn’t completely repelled. How was I not repelled?
I stepped back and felt the wall behind me. “Bring me whatever you like. If I find it acceptable, I’ll wear it.”
He stepped forward. I was trapped between him and the wall. “You will wear what I bring you, because whatever I bring may keep you alive. Binding your breasts isn’t just about keeping them under control. It’s about providing yourself with a piece of fabric you can unwind from your body and use as a weapon or a rope or a sling. The fabric isn’t just for clothing—anything can be a weapon.” He stated.
I tried to laugh it off. I didn’t like him getting up in my grill.
The elevator door opened. Janice stepped back, extending his hand in front of me. He expected me to somehow suddenly want to touch him right after he practically threatened me. I put my hand over his, but I didn’t let our skin touch.
A strange perfume floated around in the elevator as he led me out. Fae always were intoxicating. I heard him sing the notes for the door before they closed. I rolled the tune over in my head several times to reproduce it later.
He didn’t need to whistle my door open since it was already unlocked with Lavender inside. He waved her out the door with him for a few words.
I sat on the bed as my keepers discussed my care as if I was some kind of animal. Lavender returned and stripped off my finery. She put me in the bath and then to bed.
I couldn’t decide which was more important: to think about Deston trying to sing me into some kind of stupor, or Janice constantly telling me how I needed to protect myself and defend myself. As if he gave a shit.
Both were overridden by a niggling in the back of my mind. Jack and Jill were Jacques and Jillian. They tried to lead a coup for the crown. Why would you put a well at the top of a hill and have it represent a crown? That didn’t make sense to me. There had to be some deeper meaning to the Fae tale. They were trying to get to the well, but that wasn’t what he called it. He said stone throne, and the bucket of water was the weight of their desire for power. They failed and were knocked back down into their rightful place but by whom?
Lavender twittered on about things at dinner, mostly about clothing and hair. It really was her thing. I tuned it out. When she left, I jumped up and hurried to the door. I was desperate to hear the notes again. There was one low note, a B-flat in the treble cleft. I waited a couple of minutes, singing the tune to myself, but I couldn’t reach that deep of a B-flat.
Tomorrow was another day. My finger reached my teeth unbidden and I bit down on the nail, no, tomorrow isn’t another day. I whistled for the mirror and looked at myself. I didn’t look any different other than my hair color. I felt different. Before dinner to now, something was different. I couldn’t put my finger on it. My eyes did look less brown, and my eyelashes were the blackest they’d ever been. Lavender had dyed all my hair. The black was so dark it carried a purple hue to it and shone like obsidian.
But there was something different, something intangible. I couldn’t put my finger on what, but it was there.
I whistled the mirror away and climbed into bed. Whatever happened tomorrow, I definitely wanted to be awake for it.