A Dark Eternity

by Leder, Nissa

  Scarlett had always hated when other people protected her. If she figured out a way to the Darkland, she might have gone alone to save the day herself. Kaelem should have seen such an action coming.

  “What if Scarlett went through them?”

  “That’s Vida’s best guess,” Rowen said. “We don’t know how, but if she created a portal there, the wards wouldn’t have prevented her from going out.”

  “How do we find her?”

  “Vida’s scouts know where the entrance is, but it’s heavily guarded.”

  The Fates wanted Scarlett for a reason. Perhaps they wanted to kill her for the hell of it, but Kaelem guessed there was a bigger purpose. It was logical to find her and save her, he convinced himself. The best decision for his court—simple as that.

  “I’ll visit the Seelie Court and talk to the advisor. If they can provide some guards, Seelie and Unseelie magic combined might be strong enough to get us inside.”

  And Kaelem knew Laik was hiding something. Whatever it was might be enough for Laik himself to join him in Scarlett’s rescue.

  The Fates had said Scarlett was the key to the upcoming war. Had they meant she was the key to unlock the power and that was the end? Or had they meant she was involved after the tree’s power had been unleashed?

  Regardless, Kaelem had to save her. “Return to the Otherworld and tell Vida we’re coming and will need a guide to the Darkland entrance.”

  Rowen nodded. “Of course. I’ll go with you and fight to save her and to save my son.”

  Kaelem had wanted more time to plan before an attack. To gain more allies, learn more about the Fates, and prepare as much as possible.

  So much for that.

  With or without Seelie help, he would go to the Otherworld tonight.

  Chapter Twenty

  Scarlett leaned against the cage, her legs pulled into her chest. A tingle spread through her veins. When she opened her hand, a flicker of light appeared.

  Her magic. How was that possible?

  As a red creature walked by, Scarlett closed her hand. A few minutes later, she tried again. This time a ball grew inside of her palm.

  The effects of their bites were fading, and her magic was building. It hadn’t been long since she’d last been bitten. Her body must have somehow been fighting the venom faster.

  Scarlett kept her head hanging and her body held tight, hoping to look as defeated as possible. Her magic had returned, but she didn’t have much. She needed to use it wisely.

  A few minutes later, a red creature entered the cage with a stick in its hand. It left the door cracked open. Perfect.

  It poked her stomach. She ignored it. Next, it pushed the stick hard into her shoulder. She resisted using her magic and, instead, squirmed. Then it swung the stick like a baseball bat at her face. Its jagged end sliced her cheek.

  The creature laughed.

  Bastard.

  When it bent down to grab her arm, Scarlett struck. She sent a ball of light directly into its face, causing it to drop the stick. The creature screeched. As it grabbed at its eyes, Scarlett picked up the stick. She could leave the thing behind and lock it in the cage, but something inside her had another idea.

  She swung the stick as hard as she could into its face, as it had done to her. It dropped to the ground. She approached it. With hands raised in defeat, it spoke to her. She couldn’t understand its words, but the pleading tone was obvious.

  Scarlett raised the stick high and plunged it into its chest.

  She watched it pathetically slump to the ground then she ran outside from the cage, locking the door behind her even though there was no need. The thing was dead.

  Her magic waned. She wouldn’t be able to use much without more time to replenish. She grabbed her staff leaning against the wall. The orb in its center swirled.

  Scarlett wanted to run toward the castle. She could take Ankou off guard. But without enough magic, she stood no chance. She needed to be smarter than she’d been before. As she turned toward the tunnel that led back the way she came in, red creatures ran from the direction of the castle.

  She ran toward the tunnel entrance. When she was nearly there, red creatures sprinted from the tunnel. Scarlett was trapped on both sides.

  She gripped the staff in front of her and slowly spun. Eight. There were eight creatures and one of her and this time she was prepared. If she had her full magic, the odds against her wouldn’t have been so intimidating. But she didn’t. It would have to be plan B: fight them with her staff.

  Jaser’s voice played in her memory. He had taught her how to turn from defense to offense with a staff. How to choose the right moment to make a move. How to read the body signals of her opponent.

  His biggest advice was when at all possible, avoid a fight altogether. Since both ways out of the room were blocked, that wasn’t an option.

  One of the creatures hissed when it glanced inside of the cage and saw its friend on the ground. The rest mimicked the sound, which echoed off of the walls.

  She’d pissed them off. Good.

  A creature from each side attacked. She spun her staff above her head and dipped low, hitting one in the stomach first then the other at the ankles. Both fell to the ground. She hadn’t hit them hard, but her magic gave the staff extra power.

  Two more tried next. Ready for her attack, they approached her more slowly than the first two had. She held up her hand and light shot from her palm, blasting into one. The other growled and jumped at Scarlett. Its nails dug into her arm. She winced through the pain and stuck her staff in between its legs.

  Quickly, she jerked the staff up into the creature’s most private spot. It fell to the ground. Apparently, that was a universally sensitive spot.

  Four down, four to go.

  She needed to keep them from biting her again. It was her only chance.

  Just when Scarlett’s hopes rose, a familiar voice crushed them.

  “Impressive,” Raith said as he entered the room from the castle side. “But I think you’ve had enough fun, don’t you?”

  Scarlett lifted her staff. Fighting the creatures was one thing. She was outnumbered, but they had no magic. Raith did.

  He raised his arms and a flock of ravens flew at her, pecking at her face. She knew they weren’t real. They were simply a magic trick, but a powerful one that distracted her enough for the creatures to knock the staff out of her hand, grab her arms and legs and bring her to Raith.

  She bucked in their grip but couldn’t break free. Light shot from her hand in a desperate attempt to escape, but it uselessly shot into the wall. Her magic was empty again.

  “You are feisty; I’ll give you that,” Raith said as three more creatures entered. “Bite her neck this time.”

  One of the creatures followed his order and sunk its teeth into her neck. Pain shot down her arm, burning the nerves from her collarbone to her fingertips.

  Her neck throbbed as they released her and left again. She tried to produce light again but nothing happened.

  “Make sure she’s bitten once every ten minutes now. To be safe.” Raith dismissed the creatures.

  A wave of dizziness fluttered through Scarlett. She reached out and grabbed the cell bars for balance. Nausea filled her stomach. How long had it been since she’d eaten? The tray of food she’d been given at Ankou’s request sat untouched across the cell. She didn’t want any kindness from a devil like him.

  “You should eat that.” Raith gestured to the plate. “I’m sure it’s cold now, but it might be your last meal, so don’t be too picky.”

  Scarlett glared at him. “Why not just end me now if that’s the plan?”

  She didn’t like feeling so hostile toward Raith. It felt wrong. But the way he treated her made her hate him and she couldn’t hide it.

  “Your time will come at the right moment. Tonight when the full moon comes, Ankou will take your blood and break the curse tethering him to the Darkland.”

  Scarlett hadn’t seen Ankou use an
y spectacular power, but if he was the dark to the light magic she’d absorbed from the tree—and he actually knew how to use his powers—then him roaming freely would be dangerous for everyone.

  “You can’t let him do that, Raith. Please.” Somewhere the old Raith had to still be inside of him. She’d seen enough movies where true love’s kiss broke a curse to believe that somehow the spell they had him under could be broken.

  But that was Hollywood and this wasn’t. Scarlett didn’t think freeing him was as simple as a kiss. If there was a way to loosen their hold on him, she didn’t know it.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sage had taken a door from inside of the Unseelie Palace back to the Autumn Forest then evanesced outside of its castle—a much easier journey than the one she’d taken to speak with Kaelem.

  Now back in the Autumn Court, her first mission was to go speak with her sister and convince her their father needed to know what had happened. If they had any hope of him seeing the depth of the danger they were in, he must know the truth. Fabricating a story about why they were in the Faerie Forest wouldn’t do. If he figured out the lie, he’d be less willing to trust Sage’s advice.

  She’d just started to gain his trust. She didn’t want to lose it already.

  She found her sister in her room, sitting at her desk writing.

  “But he’ll be mad.” Willow rolled up the scroll in front of her and stood. “And he won’t let Declan stay here to heal. I visited him last night. He looks awful.”

  “You don’t know that. Father’s been much more welcoming of my return than I ever could have imagined. We won’t win any prize for being the closest of fathers and daughters, but he’s not the same man he was when I left. He deserves a chance.”

  As Sage said these words, she realized their truth. She should have given him a chance to understand her before she ran away for so many years. If she’d had explained to him how it felt to be a princess in the Autumn Court, maybe he’d have listened.

  She could have at least tried.

  But that decision had led her here. She’d learned to fight—to be a warrior capable of protecting those she cared about. And she’d seen outside of the castle walls and learned about the Autumn people.

  Even if she could take back her decision to leave, she wouldn’t. But she didn’t want to have to choose anymore. She wanted to be strong and be a princess. To love whoever she wanted and not be limited by old traditions. But before she could even approach that subject, they had to survive the coming war. They had to tell the Autumn King about Declan and the Otherworld creatures.

  “I won’t let him banish Declan until he’s fully healed. Father isn’t that heartless. He will sense your affection.”

  “And if you’re wrong?”

  “Then we will take Declan to the Unseelie Court together. The king offered his protection, and I’m friends with his sister.”

  Were they friends? A peck on the lips didn’t make them soul mates, but hopefully it at least put them in the friends category.

  Willow sighed. “I want to be the one to tell him. And if he doesn’t allow Declan to remain here, we’ll take up the Unseelie King’s offer and go there for the time being. I won’t betray Declan. I’m all he has.”

  Sage pulled Willow into a hug. How could her sister be so brave and wise at only fifteen?

  One of the brownies appeared, informing them their brother had called a meeting in the throne room. When they walked in, their mother and father each sat on their respective thrones, and Ajax stood in front of them.

  “Sisters, thank you for coming,” he said.

  Sage stood next to the queen, Willow next to the king, all facing Ajax as he spoke.

  “The future of the Autumn Court is hanging in the balance. Our court has a long history of secluding itself from the other fae courts. We’ve stayed strong by keeping out of other wars. This has worked in the past but will no longer serve us best.”

  For once, Sage agreed with her brother. They desperately needed allies if they didn’t want to be taken over by the Fates in whatever plan they had.

  Ajax continued, “I know the Winter Court has had a reputation for causing trouble in the past, but I believe they are our best hope now. The Fates know things about the future, giving them the advantage. Siding with anyone else is unwise.”

  Sage stepped in front of her father. “Ajax is right. We need allies. But not the Winter Court or the Fates. Both have motives of their own. Nevina wants to steal from the Seelie Queen and the Fates want more power for themselves. They will backstab us.”

  “Us? You return to our court for merely a breath and expect father to listen to your guidance?” Ajax said.

  “The Fates already have unleashed their creatures into our realm.” Sage glanced at Willow.

  In a shaky voice, Willow shared the story of what happened when they rode into the forest. She fought back tears.

  “You have been sneaking out to meet a boy?” the Autumn King asked.

  “None of that matters right now,” Sage said. “How long until the creatures invade the Autumn Wood?”

  “That’s why we must ally with them. They will leave us alone. The others will be too busy fighting the Fates to worry about our court,” Ajax said.

  “Maybe at first, but if they turn on us, then we will have no allies,” Sage pleaded.

  Her father held up a hand. “Willow, I do not approve of your trips outside of the protection of our court. Please, do not leave again. Your solitary friend may remain here to heal. After this mess is over, we’ll discuss it further.

  “Ajax, I know you are loyal to our court, and I understand your concerns, but we are a just court, and I do not trust the intentions of the Fates.

  “Sage, I also do not trust the Unseelie King or the new realm’s queen. We will not provoke either side at this time. For now, I will send out guards to patrol the Autumn Woods.”

  It wasn’t a win for Sage or Ajax, but Sage understood her father’s reluctance. Choosing a side created enemies. But she feared turning down both sides created twice as many. Pushing him about it now wouldn’t end will. She needed to earn his respect first. Then maybe he’d understand her view.

  “You will dig the Autumn Court’s grave, father,” Ajax said.

  Sage had never heard her brother speak so boldly to her father.

  Ajax pulled a dagger from the sheath at his side and flung it at the king. It struck him directly in the heart.

  The Autumn King’s eyes grew wide, and he pulled out the dagger. “How could…” he began before falling over.

  The queen and Willow both screamed. Sage rushed to her father’s side. His skin had already turned gray.

  “Porlette root?” She met her brother’s eyes and saw pain. “How could you?”

  Porlette root was the rarest herb in all of Faerie. And the most lethal. Even picking it was dangerous. A blade coated in it could kill the most powerful fae.

  “The Autumn Court will fall if we don’t join with the Fates.” Ajax’s voice shook as he spoke. “I am joining Nevina and the Fates tonight to attack the Seelie Court and regain our magic.”

  Willow and the queen hovered over the king, weeping.

  As the eldest, Ajax was now King of the Autumn Court. It was too late to challenge him to a battle—which, as a female, couldn’t have happened without her father’s approval anyway. Stupid court law.

  Challenging him now would only get her killed.

  Sage gained her composure. Panicking would not help. She needed to be strong for her sister and her mother. “Very well. We both want what’s best for our court. Will you allow us to bury father while you’re away?”

  “He deserves a true Autumn funeral. You may begin its preparations.”

  “And what will we tell the people of his death?” Sage kept bitterness from her tone the best she could. She needed to remain calm.

  “Assassination from an unknown intruder.”

  “Very well.” Sage resisted the anger filling her a
nd bowed.

  Her brother returned it with a bow.

  Her mother and sister stared wide-eyed at her. She touched them on their shoulders. “Come now, we will start planning the funeral.”

  The queen stared at the dead king before standing.

  “Mother.” Sage’s tone was forceful. She couldn’t have the queen let her emotion get the best of her by retaliating. Sage held her breath, but her mother turned. Willow followed.

  Sage led them to her sister’s room.

  “We leave tonight,” she whispered.

  “But what about father’s funeral?” Willow asked.

  “We can’t risk staying. If Ajax’s plan backfires, the Seelie Court will retaliate. And I don’t trust him. He just killed Father. Any of us could be next.”

  Sage instructed Willow to find a brownie and get Declan. Hopefully, he was well enough to make it to the Unseelie Court with them.

  Her father was dead.

  Her brother was now king.

  The war was beginning tonight.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  After some alone time with Decuma, Raith checked on Scarlett. One of the creatures had just bitten her, sending its venom through her veins to temporarily block her magic.

  The plate of food still sat on the floor inside the cage, most likely cold and hard now. Stupid girl. The king didn’t need to offer her anything. She should have been grateful.

  “You must be starving,” he said from outside her prison.

  “You’re being an ass, you know that?” Scarlett hugged her knees into her chest.

  “You wound me, love.” He unlocked the cage and hovered over her.

  “They’re using you. The real Raith wouldn’t put up with their commands.”

  “I don’t know who you think I am, but I do as I please.”

  Scarlett huffed. “Please. They stole your memories of us and the goodness from your heart. You’re nothing more than a puppet in their show.”

  “Lies. Nice try, but lying to get to me won’t work.”