by J. M. Kearl
Aric folded his arms. “Does it matter? Maybe it was an excuse to start a war. Maybe you were a pawn.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” Although my stomach twisted. Oh my unicorn, what if he were right? What if Helios had used us? What if I wasn’t the girl from the prophecy and I was only a stand-in to start a war? “Then the Winter Prick would have had to have been in on it with him.”
Zyacus gave me a sympathetic look. “He could have been tricked too, Vis,” he kicked hard at a rock, sending it flying. “We can’t wait around here to find out.”
Taz started pacing, panic setting in on his face. His eyes were about to bug out of his head. “Oh, and how do you suppose we get back home?”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. It was my choice to come here and I felt responsible for the boys. My decisions could mean their death or survival. This wasn’t a class, or an exercise at the academy. This was real life. We were in a strange realm with plants that ate birds, Fae that wanted to kill us, and no idea where to go. “Let’s wait a minute.”
“Wait for them to kill us?” Taz nearly squealed.
“Relax,” Zyacus cooed. “I, for one, am not dying in this place. None of us are.”
The four of us sat quietly on the dirt ground for what felt like hours but was probably in reality only one. We didn’t talk much. What was there to say? But my back hurt and my butt had grown numb. The smell was getting to me. What I wouldn’t do for a window to stick my head out of.
How long should we wait? How long would it take Helios to explain to his father I wasn’t working for Winter? The longer it took, the more nervous I grew.
The guards even left us there alone but it felt like we awaited our doom. Right when I was about to call off the waiting game, I heard a meow. I sat up straighter and searched the shadows. I had to be hearing things, right? White fur came into the dim torchlight.
Zyacus nudged my arm and pointed to the left corner bars. I grinned knowing who the white and black striped feline was.
“Fear not. It is I, Sir Gideon.”
Had the grumpy old cat snuck into my trunk? “Sir Gideon, what are you doing here?” I whispered.
“Apparently coming to your rescue.” He slid in between the bars and sat in front of us, swishing his fluffy tail back and forth. He had always been a strange cat. He acted as if he hated everyone and everything except a very select few and yet he’d come to help. He’d been there for my parents at one time too.
Gideon licked his paw. “I thought I might be needed. Turns out I was correct, as per usual.”
Aric rose to his full height. “You realize we can get out of here if we want. We’re not trapped.”
Gideon tilted his head, blinking lazily. “Do you think me a fool, boy?”
Aric’s eyes flicked to me. “Uh, no?”
“You would be correct in that assumption.” Gideon’s big green eyes turned back to me. “Now, whilst I was moseying about, listening to the enemy, I learned a few things. One, the Summer King is paranoid and delusional. Personally, I think the creature has been alive too long. I heard someone say he’s over twelve hundred years old. He looks remarkably well for his age.”
I rolled my eyes. As if we needed that detail.
“What do you mean by paranoid and delusional? Aside from the obvious.” Zyacus held his arms out, gesturing to the cell.
“He wants you all beheaded for being Winter spies.”
“What?” All four of us gasped.
Aric glared at me. “I told you we need to go.”
“Like right now,” Taz whimpered.
Gideon swiped a paw at Taz. “Enough of your sniveling. Let me finish.” He narrowed his eyes at each of us before continuing. “There is one major detail I learned. Prince Helios said you have been marked by the Winter and Night Court Prince as his betrothed. All talk of beheading you, Princess, is off. It is some sort of protocol, but...” His eyes drifted to the boys. “Not you boys. Yet, if Visteal leaves this place, I do not know how we will ever find our way home.”
I turned to the boys. This meant I was safe and they weren’t. I either needed to fulfill the bargain or find out how to open a portal back to our home world. Surely the spell would be in the castle somewhere. I had to stay. If we tried to run, I’d made a magical deal and who knew what sort of consequences there were if I left.
My mistake was letting the boys come with me in the first place. “You must leave. I’ll be fine. I’ll kill the Winter King or find another way home for us.”
Zyacus grabbed my hand. Desperation in his expression, he leaned close. “I’m not leaving you. Come with us.”
“Prince Helios does not even care whether you three live or die.” Gideon swished his tail some more. “He made that clear. As long as Visteal lives.”
A door somewhere opened and my pulse began to race. “Go,” I said, pushing his hand away. “You have to go, please. I’ll be fine.”
“Vis.” Zyacus’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
I didn’t want him to go. I wanted him right here by my side, always. I stood on my toes and smashed my lips into his for one heart pounding, breathtaking moment, then I shoved him away. “Leave now! All of you.”
Taz and Aric exchanged glances. “We promised to be with you. To help you.” Taz looked at me like he couldn’t believe what I said.
Pounding footsteps and voices traveled our way. “We kill the three human boys and leave the girl?” a male questioned.
“That’s what King Venos said,” replied another.
“I will find you. We can send messages,” I rushed the words out so fast I didn’t know if they understood me. “If you stay you’ll die. There are too many to fight. Now go.”
Taz and Aric vanished first. Gideon slipped into the shadows and concealed himself. At least he would stay here with me. Zyacus waited until the guards were in sight. He grabbed my hand, jerked me into him and kissed me. “If I don’t hear from you by sundown, I’ll be back in here to get you.”
I nodded and he disappeared leaving a gaping hole in my heart.
3
Visteal
The guards opened the cell door and looked around. One rushed inside and grabbed me by the front of my shirt. “What happened to the men?”
“They left.” Obviously, and if this fool didn’t get his hands off me, I’d blast him into oblivion.
“Unhand her,” a commanding voice echoed through the dungeon.
The guard released me immediately and stepped away. Prince Helios entered the cage with his arms behind his back and his chin held high. “Apologies for his behavior.”
“His behavior?” I questioned. “You sentenced my friends to die. I came here in good faith that you’d keep us safe.” I should have known his good-natured attitude was all a sham.
His eyes flicked around then he half smiled. “I knew your friends would get out of here before anything happened. My father is… unhinged as of late but he remains king. No matter. Things shall go on as planned. He won’t harm you, or your friends should they stay away.”
“After the way we’ve been treated, why should I help you now?”
Helios lifted a shoulder. “Because you made a magical deal to kill the Winter King. Because you’ll never get home without my help. Because I’ll kill the three boys you brought with you. Leverage is the real reason I allowed them to follow you here. If you think I can’t find them, you’re mistaken.” He took a step closer to me. “You seem rather fond of the black-haired boy. I’d hate to have you watch his head roll.”
Murderous rage ignited. My cheeks burned as anger boiled inside me. If he thought I’d ever let that happen he was the one who was mistaken. “In our deal you promised—”
“To provide a way home, should you kill the Winter King. I could send your friends’ corpses back home and still hold up my end of the deal.” Helios’s gaze grew darker. “If that’s not motivation enough, and you still refuse, I’ll bring my armies to your precious Delhoon and wipe out your entire kingdom.”
Smiling, Helios nodded. “First you meet the seer.”
Sir Gideon and I sat in a small room with a couple soft chairs and a bookshelf. Helios had left us alone, promising he’d be back within a few minutes. I wandered over to a bay window that overlooked what appeared to be a flower garden. I peeked outside to watch the Fae meandering about. One girl in a flowy pink dress picked up a cute fluffy rabbit and snapped its neck. She tossed it aside, leaving its tiny body crumpled on the ground in the path behind her. My chest ached a little. I didn’t understand the action. It wasn’t to eat. Why kill the poor creature? Because it was in her path?
“I hate it here,” I murmured. I hated the Fae.
Sir Gideon laid underneath one of the chairs. “As much as I would like to go home, it sounds like we will not be able to until you kill this king. I will help you.”
“Unfortunately. And make sure you stay hidden no matter what is said when they get here.” I didn’t want him getting his neck snapped. Although Gideon had powers and he wasn’t easy to catch or kill, I still worried.
I turned away from the window and scanned the room. A bottle of ink and a quill waiting on the middle shelf, caught my eye. It killed me not knowing where Zyacus, Aric, and Taz were. Had they gotten away safely? Where would they go if they had? I took the bottle into my hand and tore a blank page from the back of a book. I wrote: I’m fine. The deal is still on. He threatened war. Where are you? Are you safe? I conjured fire and whispered the sending spell before I set it ablaze and it vanished.
Just as the smoke cleared, the door opened. Helios walked in beside a white-haired woman with a young, beautiful face. She wore an airy turquoise dress that flowed around her ankles. Holding onto Helio’s elbow a smile pulled at her lips. Her light blue… clouded eyes found me instantly. Was this woman blind? How was she supposed to know what I looked like?
Stopping before me, the woman’s hand moved toward my face. I almost cringed away from years of fearing anyone’s touch but I held still. When her cold skin pressed against my cheek, I had no visions, and after one beat… two… she started laughing. Her voice was as soft and light as the gown she wore.
“It is her, Helios. I am certain of it.” She pulled her hand away and turned to the Summer Prince. “Finally.”
“Good,” he said. “Then you will start preparing her today.”
She looked me over. “I’ve been informed you’re well trained in combat. So I will teach you to blend in at Winter Court. I will teach you to be a Fae woman.”
I guess my intimation of her blindness was off. Why the clouded eyes? Maybe it was a seer thing. “But I’m not Fae. Am I supposed to be? How can we make that happen?”
“No,” her eyes scrutinized features. “You could never be Fae. Your face is…” she tapped a finger against her lips, “slightly misshapen and you lack the certain beauty and grace of a Fae. But don’t worry, we have glamour that will make you look at least half.”
Misshapen?! Now I’m an ugly deformed cave troll? I narrowed my eyes at her. “My face is not misshapen.”
She gave me a sickly-sweet smile. “And if you are to be Astaroth Nightfrost’s bride you will need to act like it. The Winter King would never allow his son to be betrothed to an ugly barbarian.”
I was already on the verge of smacking her but the barrages continued. Who does this woman think she is? “I’m well versed in refinement, thank you.”
She laughed, putting a hand to her mouth. Her eyes flicked to Helios. He nodded as if he too agreed with her. Then she returned her attention back to me. “Your entire race is barbaric, dear.”
I snapped my gaze to Helios. “This is who you’ve chosen as my instructor? She’s already insulted me several times. Find someone else.”
The seer held up a long skinny finger. “A human should never speak to your Fae Lords, let alone a Fae Prince in such a manner. You must learn to bite your tongue, girl.”
So this was how it was going to go? Make me into some docile, silent doll to hang on Astaroth’s arm as well as a killer of kings. “I am a princess. Not some peasant. Maybe you should learn to bite yours.”
The seer pursed her lips, giving Helios a quick, annoyed glance. “Your status in your home realm means nothing here. Your kingdom means nothing. You are nothing.”
Whoa, whoa, she took it too far. My magic flared, sizzling beneath my skin ready to attack. Insult me. I could handle it. Insulting my people and kingdom? This woman was in for a reckoning she wanted no part of. I clenched my hands, trying to calm my magic. I had it mostly under control but sometimes it had a mind of its own. “Nothing? I am the only girl who can save you from the Winter King’s reign. I am due some respect.”
Helios patted my arm. “Certainly you are. But you must learn the correct mannerisms or the Winter King will kill you before you get a chance to kill him.”
“The funny thing about prophecies, Visteal,” the woman said, “is they aren’t ironclad. I know that you are the one to save us but there is a chance you could mess this up. Therefore, we must prepare. Understood?”
So like Madison said, predictions and prophecies could change. I guess I knew that now from my own curse. I’d always thought my visions meant nothing I did would change fate, but I’d seen the Fae come during the blood moon. I’d seen them kill Taron… yet when I made the deal, none of that came to pass.
“There are a few things I need clarification on.” I tried to keep my voice calm but this woman’s very presence pissed me off. I knew the Fae used human women for children and power but, “Why would the Winter King allow any human woman near his court if one is predicted to kill him? How am I supposed to get close enough to do this?”
“He doesn’t allow human women inside his palace anymore,” Helios said as if this was common knowledge. “He hasn’t taken a human bride since he learned of the prophecy. But you won’t be going as a full human. If this is to work you’ll need to appear as half Fae, born of our realm and loyal to a fault. Like Gwindola said, you’ll look the part. We need to teach you to act the part.”
“My vision was a completely human princess. You will not be that in appearance,” the seer, Gwindola said. “One detail that might be the key to all of this is his trust in Astaroth. If he is indeed on our side, that is your way in.”
“Why would you trust Astaroth?” I asked. “Why should I? How do I know he won’t kill me once I get there?”
Gwindola laughed again and that sound was very quickly grating on my nerves. “Precious, naive, girl.” Her big doe eyes twitched. “We do not trust him.” She giggled again.
I wanted to punch her.
“Oh, no, no, no. But...” she pulled back my other sleeve revealing the Night tattoo. One of Astaroth’s marks on each arm. “He has marked you and if he suspects who you are and didn’t kill you already, he’s on our side, at least when it comes to killing his father. What happens after is unpredictable but we do know from my prophecy that the Winter King’s death would bring balance back to Faerie.”
I inspected the marks again. I’d wished them away so many times over the last day, but they might be the only things keeping me alive. “Does Astaroth mark all of his human slaves?”
“No,” Helios said. “Those marks are not for slaves.”
“Then what are they? He said everyone would know I was his.”
“Yes
,” Helios answered slowly. His eyes briefly flicked to Gwindola. “You’re a chosen bride.”
“Oh, right, and he has many I assume. So that’s why everyone recognizes the marks right away?” I hoped that as just another would-be bride of Astaroth, he’d help me kill his father and I’d be out of here before any marriage was performed. I wouldn’t marry the creep. No way, no how.
Helios rested a hand at his hip. “The Prince has not chosen a bride prior. Unlike his father, he’s not a whore. But only one Fae would mark a woman with both the Winter and Night tattoos. Astaroth is the only Fae born of two courts. No other inter-court Fae child has ever been born.”
I was his only chosen bride? Oh my unicorn, this was a much bigger problem than I anticipated. “You mean you only have children with Fae in your own court or humans?”
“Not by choice. Many Fae Lords have married and bedded Fae women of other courts but no child has ever come of the union.”
“Until Astaroth,” Gwindola finished. “Four hundred years ago. He is the only one before or since.”
Four hundred years… when the prophecy about me was predicted. I wondered if there was a connection in the timing. “Why?” It seemed odd. It also explained why they were so afraid of him. It wasn’t simply fear of his father or the courts he was born of. He wasn’t like them. He was an anomaly. And perhaps much more powerful.
“It is simply the way things are.” Helios looked to Gwindola. “Take her from here. I have things to attend to.”
She bowed her head. “Certainly, your highness.”
Once the door closed behind Helios, Gwindola’s charming face turned serpentine. “There will be no whining, complaining, or back talk. You will learn your place.”
My eyebrows shot up. “I guess we’ll see how that goes for you. Back talk is my specialty.” Why did she remind me of Professor Deg so much? I mean, not physically, obviously, but they both hated me for no apparent reason.