To Kill a Fae

by Jamie A. Waters

She squeezed her eyes shut, ignoring the tears that escaped as the welcome scent of the forest and home surrounded her. It had been so long since anyone other than Balkin called her by her true name. His chest rumbled in a purr, and she smiled against his neck. She hadn’t seen him for more than a year, and she’d missed him dearly.

  She sniffed and wiped her eyes. Balkin leaned back, his golden catlike eyes scanning over her with no small amount of affection. Sabine’s mother had trusted him above all others, and he’d been a near-constant fixture and protector while she was growing up. She gave him a small smile. Taking his furred hands in hers, she sent a gentle wave of her power over him. His purr grew louder, and he returned her smile.

  “My kitten has become a fierce warrior, much like her mother,” Balkin said with pride. His voice was raspy as though unaccustomed to speech, which was likely if he’d been spending most of his time in his village. His people relied more heavily on thought-based communication rather than typical speech patterns. They could also speak to the Fae through mind contact, but demons didn’t share in that ability.

  Dax approached them and motioned for Javyn to withdraw. As soon as the door closed, Dax said, “We were expecting you much sooner, Balkin. Was there trouble on the road?”

  Balkin’s golden eyes began to glow as they focused on the demon. “There is always trouble when dealing with the treachery of the Fae. You have been negligent in caring for my charge, Dax’than Versed. The Wild Hunt will fly again soon.”

  “What’s happened, Balkin?” Sabine asked, trying to bury the fear his words evoked.

  The Wild Hunt was a Fae creation. Once, it had been used as the army of the Unseelie Fae to seek out those who were oath-breakers or to battle against their enemies. After the portal closed and their original purpose was no longer necessary, the magic changed. It was wild magic, neither Seelie nor Unseelie, but something in between and outside of anyone’s control.

  Balkin turned back to her, blinking away the golden light. “Whispers have reached Faerie concerning a Fae who possesses dual facets of power, both light and dark, Seelie and Unseelie. Your father has heard these whispers and knows you still live. He will come for you soon.”

  Sabine’s mouth went dry. “And my brother?”

  “Rhys’ellesar has agreed to rouse the Wild Hunt, in accordance with his father’s wishes. It is no longer safe for you in Akros, my darling kitten.”

  Sabine blanched, and the entire world started to tilt. Faster than any normal mortal, Balkin wrapped his arm around her before she collapsed. She gripped his cloak and whispered, “Why would Rhys do this? He has to know I had nothing to do with the death of our mother.”

  “Your father has been whispering in his ear for more than a decade, Sabine,” Bane said, taking a step toward her. “We all expected it would come to this. Your brother and father must die to ensure your survival. With your leave, I will head to Faerie and take their heads.”

  Dax gave Bane a nod of approval. “I will accompany you. With Sabine’s marks upon us, we can move safely through the Silver Forest.”

  Sabine’s eyes widened, and she darted a glance between all three of them. Their expressions were grim, but she couldn’t allow them to do this. Pulling away from Balkin, she took a step backward and shook her head. “No. You will not kill my brother, and you won’t be able to get close to my father. I will not agree to this.”

  “Your brother is planning to summon the Wild Hunt. He doesn’t deserve your loyalty,” Bane said, his eyes flashing to silver.

  Her hands curled into fists. “Rhys doesn’t know the truth! If I speak to him or get a message to him about what happened that night, maybe—”

  Balkin shook his head, his gaze filled with sorrow. “Rhys’ellesar will ascend to the Council of Eight in less than six moon cycles.”

  Sabine’s heart fell into her stomach. She turned away to stare at the crumbled wall where she’d thrown Dax, a fitting representation of her chaotic emotions.

  After the portal had been sealed with magic provided by a renegade goddess, widespread war had occurred between the races as territories were divided and reorganized. When the Fae began to face certain annihilation, they’d banded together, both Seelie and Unseelie, and formed the Council of Eight as the ruling body of the Fae.

  Sabine’s mother had been one of the Unseelie representatives and her father one of the Seelie. Upon her mother’s death, Sabine had been expected to take her place. But that was before her father had tried to have her killed.

  “This decision has been approved by the rest of the Council?” she asked quietly, already knowing the answer.

  “The seat has been empty since you left,” Balkin said gently and rested his clawed hand on her shoulder, the gesture a comfort and painful reminder of everything she’d lost. “Your father still retains his place. Your brother will now join him.”

  “Rhys is Seelie,” she whispered, turning back to look into Balkin’s eyes. “That seat has always been held by an Unseelie. Why would they allow this?”

  “The Seelie do not wish more of the old magic returning. They will do anything, including trickery and deceit, to accomplish their goals.”

  Sabine frowned, suspecting Balkin was right. The Seelie had always been threatened by the darker magic the Unseelie embraced. It had been centuries since the Unseelie left Underhill to rejoin the rest of Faerie, but the division between the two groups still remained.

  Bane took a step toward her. “He has a point, Sabine. From what you’ve told me, your parents’ union made your brand of magic possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if they started killing off the rest of the Unseelie to prevent it from happening again.”

  Dax crossed his arms over his chest. “Sabine, you need to be practical about this. Your father knows your continued existence is now a threat to your brother, which is why he’s probably pushing for your brother’s ascension so quickly. He’s trying to force a confrontation and lure you out of hiding.”

  Balkin glanced over at him and nodded. “Your protector speaks the truth. Rhys’ellesar needs your death confirmed before the ascension, or he risks jeopardizing his standing among the Fae. Your father has declared him your mother’s legal heir.”

  Sabine laughed—a harsh, bitter sound. “My mother never would have allowed a Seelie to take her place and allow them ruling control over the council. Rhys knows that.”

  “That’s probably why he hasn’t called for your death until now,” Bane said with a shrug. “But it sounds like your father has forced him into this path. His efforts at killing you failed years ago, and he’s now assigned your brother to the task. Do not sacrifice yourself to protect someone who doesn’t deserve it. If you aren’t willing to strike, my brother and I will act as your weapons.”

  “No,” she snapped, curling her hands into fists again and infusing her voice with power. “I will not allow you to kill my brother. You would do well not to ask me such a thing again.”

  Without waiting for a response, she stormed out of the room. The hallway was clear, most likely on Dax’s orders. With Balkin’s arrival, he would have made sure to keep everyone away. Balkin was too recognizable as being connected to the Fae, and he didn’t possess the ability to glamour himself. The lack of curious onlookers was for the best. In her current mood, she didn’t want to see or talk to anyone.

  Pushing open the back door of the tavern, Sabine stumbled out into the sunlight and bent over, resting her hands on her thighs as she tried to breathe through her tumultuous emotions. The smell of stone, dead wood, refuse, and human frailty and sickness filled her nose. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find a calm oasis in her mind. It was always so difficult here, without the forest and nature surrounding her. She stared up at the sky, thinking of Rhys and how things could have come to this.

  He was asleep the night she’d snuck out and followed her mother deep into the forest to find out who she was meeting. It shouldn’t have mattered that Rhys hadn’t accompanied her. He knew her better than anyone. Or
rather, he had. Sabine shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself, not wanting to believe her brother thought she was capable of killing their mother.

  The evidence against her was fairly damning. Her father had made sure of that. Her escape from Faerie had been used against her too, but she wouldn’t have survived if she’d remained. She’d been too young and inexperienced to fight against opponents who’d had centuries to hone their skills. Even now, she still couldn’t match their magic. She might have raw power, but she lacked finesse. Her years of living surrounded by humans and suppressing her magic had made sure of that.

  Part of her had held out hope that once she returned, her brother would have joined her side to help clear her name. She’d thought, perhaps foolishly, her brother wouldn’t have believed she’d been responsible for their mother’s death. Twins were supposed to have a mystical connection to each other. Sadly, she’d never shared anything like that with Rhys.

  “Are you all right?”

  Sabine brushed away her tears and turned at the sound of Malek’s voice. She managed a weak smile and then shook her head. Lies came so easily for humans, but the Fae couldn’t lie. Sometimes she thought it might be easier if she could.

  “I don’t think I’ve been all right for a long time.”

  Malek frowned and moved closer to her. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  She swallowed and glanced at the closed tavern door. Bane or Dax would probably come looking for her any minute, and she didn’t want to talk to them right now. Their solution was simple; once Rhys and her father were dead, she’d be safe. That was the way of demons and one of the sources of contention between the two brothers. Find a problem and kill it.

  But she wasn’t a demon. It would destroy something inside her to allow them to harm her brother. The only reason she’d left him behind years ago was because Balkin had assured her he would remain safe. After all, Rhys was her father’s chosen heir.

  Balkin had made it clear he would support Rhys’s execution. The thought was enough to twist her stomach into knots. She looked up into Malek’s concerned eyes. “I don’t think…”

  Her voice trailed off, and she glanced at the closed door again. Her emotions were too volatile when it came to her past. Some space might help provide a bit of clarity.

  She straightened her shoulders. “I need to get out of here for a bit. Will you take me on a tour of your ship?”

  Malek paused, his eyes widening in surprise. “My ship? Ah, of course. I’d be happy to show you.”

  “Perfect,” Sabine said and fell into step beside him.

  Malek was quiet as they headed for the docks, both of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. His silent presence was more comforting than she expected. His hand brushed against hers, and that slight touch made her heart flutter in appreciation at the reminder she wasn’t alone.

  Perhaps Bane was right and she was starting to fall for Malek. It was more than the power she sensed within him. She’d started to care about him. It had been a long time since she’d thought someone might feel the same way about her, and not just because her magic allowed them to walk under the sun.

  She’d been lonely for a long time. It might be smarter to push Malek away, but the constant secrets and subterfuge were beginning to wear upon her. She darted a quick glance at Malek, wondering how much more she could trust him.

  Wanting to distract herself, she asked, “Will you tell me about your ship?”

  Malek gave her a smile, his eyes twinkling in amusement. “Ah, well, the ship is your typical smuggler’s vessel. It’s designed to look like a merchant ship, and more or less functions as one. We have a crew of about fifty but with the capacity for many more.”

  Her eyes widened. For all the time she’d spent living close to the sea, she hadn’t spent any of it on board a ship. “I didn’t realize so many people lived there.”

  “It takes more people than you might expect to keep things running smoothly. The crew works in shifts around the clock, but on occasion, they need to pull double duty. Any fewer than that number and you begin to run into problems.”

  They approached the docks, and the wind brought the strong scent of salt and fish along with it. Akros was a port city, but it wasn’t wealthy like some others. Many merchants elected to take their wares someplace else where their merchandise could fetch higher prices. They had some quality artisans, but many of them paled in comparison to cities which specialized in exotic textiles, wines, weapons, and other items.

  Malek’s ship was larger than she’d expected, with the center mast reaching higher than the tallest warehouse. She stared in surprise, feeling a bit out of her element. Although most Fae didn’t have a problem with water, very few of them ever elected to spend time on a ship made from dead wood. Some creatures who claimed the sea as their dominion wouldn’t take too kindly to any other magical race trespassing. Sabine had enough problems with the ones on land. She didn’t need to add more enemies to the mix.

  A wooden plank bridged the gap between the dock and ship. Malek took a step onto it and held out his hand toward her. She hesitated only for a moment before allowing him to help her on board the ship. Despite its large size, the ship swayed lightly under her feet, and each of her footsteps sounded hollow as she stepped onto the dead wood.

  Some of Malek’s crew were on the deck and called out greetings to their captain while also giving her curious looks.

  Malek put his hand against her back and leaned in closer. “I can give you the grand tour, if you’d like. Or if you’d prefer some privacy, we can go to my cabin and talk.”

  Sabine swallowed, searching the dock for any familiar faces. Dax would have some of his people working in the area. Word she’d boarded Malek’s ship would reach him quickly. “Privacy would probably be better. I can’t stay long.”

  He nodded and led her toward the rear of the ship just as another man ascended the nearby stairs. Levin’s eyes widened at the sight of her, and he grinned.

  “You joining us when we depart, Sabine?”

  Sabine halted in her tracks.

  Before she could say anything, Malek frowned at his first mate. “She’s simply here to see the ship. Can you arrange to have some tea sent to my cabin?” He glanced at her. “Is tea acceptable? Or would you prefer wine?”

  “Tea would be good,” she said, unwilling to get lost in more memories, especially on the heels of Balkin’s news.

  “Of course,” Levin said easily but with a trace of his smile still in place. “I’ll take care of it.”

  He moved aside to allow them to pass, and Malek led her up some stairs to a deck area where the wheel of the ship was located. Behind it were two doors, and Malek opened one of them, gesturing for her to enter. She did, somewhat surprised to see a rather large bedroom with a desk, shelves, and several chests in the corner. It wasn’t as spacious as the attic room in the tavern, but it was bigger than she’d expected.

  “Levin’s cabin is next door. The rest of the crew sleeps below deck. On a nice night, some of them sleep under the stars. I’ve done it myself a time or two.”

  Sabine didn’t answer right away, too busy looking at everything at once. It was a small glimpse into Malek’s life, and she wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting. The room was neat and clean but also more ordinary than the fascinating man who slept here.

  Pausing at the desk, she ran her fingers over the map of the world and wondered what sort of magic Malek possessed. He could be one of the Merfolk or maybe a shapeshifter of some kind, perhaps one with an affinity for the sea. It would explain the power she detected within him and his decision to captain a ship.

  Malek leaned against the wall, seeming content to watch her explore his cabin. She trailed her fingers over the shelves, studying the titles of the books. Many of them appeared to be historical in nature, detailing life at sea or in some other port towns.

  “You enjoy reading? I noticed you looking at the books in the councilman’s library.”

&n
bsp; She nodded. “Yes, but they’re hard to come by here. The councilman has one of the largest collections in the city. I recognize some of these titles from his library.”

  A light tap on the door interrupted them. Malek opened it and accepted a covered tray from whomever stood on the opposite side. He closed the door with his foot and carried the tray over to the table. Sabine rolled up the map to give him some room.

  “You can put that map in the chest over there, if you’d like,” Malek said, uncovering the tray to reveal a small pot of tea, two cups, and a plate of biscuits.

  Curious, Sabine opened the chest to find several other rolled parchments, most likely also maps. She placed it inside and noticed a small painted mask in the corner of the chest.

  “Oh,” she murmured, carefully lifting the mask to examine it. Small shells had been affixed to it, each one giving another splash of color and depth to an already remarkable creation. Tilting it to catch the light, she admired the intricate workmanship of the artist who had crafted and painted it.

  “Ah, I see you found one of the gifts I plan to give to my sister,” Malek said with a chuckle and poured some tea into the cups. “She fancies herself as an artist. Between you and me, she’s probably more likely to collect works of art instead of creating them. She loses interest too quickly, but she’s always had an eye for it.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Sabine admitted, looking for an artist’s mark or signature. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. Where did you get it?”

  “I picked it up in Karga about a month ago. The seller claimed he acquired it from a local tribal shaman. It’s supposed to imbue the wearer with good fortune and luck.”

  She carefully replaced the mask, making sure it wouldn’t get damaged in transit. Standing, she accepted the cup Malek held out to her. She inhaled the familiar aroma of several flowering plants designed to promote relaxation, and her mouth curved into a smile. “This is one of Esme’s special blends, isn’t it?”

  Malek chuckled and took a sip of his tea. “I wondered if you would recognize it. I told Levin about her shop, and he decided to check it out. Your witch friend is very talented and quite charming. I think Levin spent quite a bit of coin there.”