The Faerie Slayer
Chapter 28

"Mother," he greeted but was staring at me," is this the wolf?"

I suddenly realized him as the man that was fated to marry Aubrette. I felt the sudden urge to strike him.

"This is Kade Odin, he was just leaving," the queen concluded. The boy marched to my side where he finally halted.

"Do not make haste on my account," his eyes studied me entirely," I'd like to thank the man who's brought my wife home."

I wished that I was unable to speak again. I knew that speaking my thoughts would get me killed.

The queen called out for the guards who grasped hold of my chains.

"Take him back to his cell," she instructed.

"What are you intentions with me," I intervened.

"As soon as the girl is crowned and married, you will be escorted back to your world."

"You cannot do this-" the queen was quick to snap her fingers and at her will, I was silent once again. Helplessly, I let the ogres take me back to my prison.

When I opened my eyes, I thought that I must still be dreaming. Clothed with a sheer piece of silk tied around her waist posing as a skirt and the same material wrapped to cup her breasts was Aubrette. Her flaxen hair was set loose in a dance with the air, altered by wind that did not seem to exist nor have effect to anything else. Big blue eyes and red lips smiled at me. My thoughts felt as a body without gravity would feel. I was captivated by her grace. She planted herself on my lap and laid a cool palm on my bare arm.

"You look sad all by yourself," Her voice reeked with lure that enchanted me further. I felt as if there was a great cliff at the edge of my desires, and briskly, she was pushing me frontward,"Did you miss me?"

I could hardly nod. Are you real or am I dreaming?

"How did you get in here?" At the realization that I now have my voice back came momentarily; relief.

"I stole a key," Aubrette raised her other hand to demonstrate her findings," from the ogre."

"Are you hurt?" My hands raced to trace her velvet face," did they hurt you?"

Soft fingers capped over mines," I'm fine, are you?"

"I'm alright now."

"We are running out of time. We have to leave," she suddenly stood up and yielded me her hand,"do you want to come with me?"

I did not hesitate to grasp them and mirrored her actions,"Of course. Do you know the way out?"

"I do," her gaze bore into mine and for that second, all was right in the world," follow me."

Aubrette did not unlock the gate, it was already open. In the echoey halls, we fled together. Something suddenly glinted within the metal bars of the cell side of me. I slowed down my pace and observed curiously. A man whom, had it not been for his spiked ears and greenish skin tone, I would have guessed to be human, gazed at me with knowing eyes. His hands and feet were chained together and into the wall. The man bore me a wink as if to say he knew me. I could not gather in my brain where I recognized him from. Aubrette tugged and with my hand in hers, she led me through the narrow tunnel and out of the cave using a concealed door that bore entrance to the garden. Outside, the air was fresh and light. Nighttime stars acted as our lanterns and guided us with light through the forest in between the trees. I could not question where Aubrette was taking me, I could only follow.

In the forest of the faerie world, all was alive. Even the soil beneath me moved upwards and back down to clone the actions of a breathing chest. I was caught in a daze of both the enchantments of the fleeting girl, and the magical woods. Strange birds the colours of the rainbow emerged from giant trees, racing down as if to target my face. They deceived me so, soaring inches past and up towards the curious sky. I peered to follow, my gaze stumbling upon something odd but familiar. The half owl, half women creature that had payed visit to my fathers study, perched atop a blossom tree. I recognized it's jaundiced eyes that followed my every movement. The sirin did not spare me a moment to speculate nor question, it ascended with the breeze and out of my sight.

My steps came to a halt," did you see that?"

Aubrette turned to face me," see what?"

I searched the empty welkin but found no proof.

"We're here," she continued and I steered my focus back to her. Here was at the edge of a crag and way below thundered waves from the dark blue sea. I stood at the edge and peered down, whilst catching my breath. The cliff was high enough that I could hardly make sight of the boulders that sheltered themselves alongside shore. I suddenly wondered why she had brought me here.

"What's this?" I turned back to face her but she was already staring at me with eyes that bore intent.

She did not answer. Instead, she unveiled her her hand behind her back. In her delicate grasp was an apple of the deepest burgundy shade.

"You must be starving," her arm extended to offer me the snack," and the fruits here, they are the sweetest."

I took the apple, almost as if against my true will and bit into it. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I was savouring every bit of the sugary fruit.

"What about you?"

"I already had one."

I wondered when but did not ask.

"How are we going to get out of here? We need a faerie to form the portal."

"Did you forget? I am a faerie."

Aubrette took a seat on the rock nearest to the edge of the cliff. With admiration, I watched the flawless girl gaze out into the murky heavens. My feet took me closer and closer until I was seated across. She was smiling when she looked at me.

"Do you love me, Kade Odin?"

I was shocked that she was able to shatter through the thick glass of insecurity. My words deceived me. They answered quicker then I could have formed a thought. There was never a doubt.

"Yes."

"And would you do anything for me?"

"Yes." Again.

She gazed down below, her front bending forward so much that I jumped out of my seat and went to grab her.

We were now close enough that I could feel the breath escape from between her lips and nostrils. Flitting hair strands from her head teased my naked skin.

"Do you love me enough to kill yourself for me?"

Taken back and although I knew the answer, I questioned,"Why would you ask me that?"

"You're doing all of this to protect me, it is because you love me, right?"

I nodded and she continued. Her thumb began to trace the outline of my lips and it sent my head into a drunken frenzy.

"I want you to jump," she whispered.

My emotions were all over the place. The rational side of me battled the other that yearned to get up and obey.

The words of my grandmother began to echo in my head and I suddenly realized what she had meant.

'Every faerie is wicked. Whether full or half, to bear the blood of the folk is to be evil. A Moiety Child has the capabilities to flourish into the darkest creature if given the chance.'

Could Aubrette be inheriting the wickedness that came with bearing the blood of the folk? Was I merely under her enchanting trance the entire time? Were these always her intentions or did they only deepen whilst being here? Could the queen have taken her in just to teach her horrid ways?

"Did they do something to you?"

"What could you mean?" She arched her puzzled face to the side.

"You seem different."

"I assure you, I'm still me."

I could only answer with silence.

"You will not be alone for long if you jump, my love," soft as rose petals, her lips pecked mines," For I will soon follow."

I recalled the story of The Rogue Wolf. Had I the same destiny, cursed to love the wicked for eternity? I was already on my feet, a battle against ration that I had lost and bore no will to appeal. At the edge of the cliff, I did not stare down at destiny, instead, I looked into the eyes of the faerie whom I'd do anything for. Noises in the background, the sound of hurried feet thudded against the grass and towards us. A look of panic replaced Aubrette's expression.

"They're coming, they found us."

"Who's coming?"

"You mustn't believe a word they tell you," her soft voice was pleading and it made my chest ache. Her teary eyes resembled rainy sky's.

Palms at my chest, she cried out," they're coming to tell you I'm evil."

"That's not true" I argued," there is no one as good as you."

"Will you protect me?"

"I will always protect you. They will not touch you," I wrapped my arms around her and dug her face into my chest. Fuelled by agony and love, I was prepared to slay anyone that would dare lay a finger on her.

Out of the trees appeared two figures, a women with long maroon hair that stopped just past her knees and a trow, resembling the one that I had caught with Aubrette the night by Deadwook Creek and Caleb.

"Stop!" The women screamed out and raised her hand to air," let him go!"

She began to chant something unfamiliar, whilst growing closer and closer. The wind surrounding began to hurry in pace forming miniature tornado with us inside.

"Get back!" I roared in defence," stay away from us!"

"You have to do it now, you have to jump," Aubrette whispered but I could hardly hear.

"I can't leave you here."

While the women continued her chant, the winds continued to strengthen, acting as our enemy. I gazed down to look at Aubrette but it was as if she was disintegrating from my grip. Behind me, the only way out was through soaring waves.

I struggled to catch on to her dropping corpse. She grew smaller and smaller with every passing second.

I screamed out loud at the witch that cast a spell on her," let her go or I will kill you both!"

She paid my threat no mind. My attempts were fruitless and Aubrette was gone. I fell to my knees, screaming out and thrusting my fists against the earth. A snake replaced the place of the women I loved. It hissed and growled at me revealing its forked tongue. The creature slithered beyond the twirling wind and off the edge of the crag onto the water. The winds began to slow down. The figures approached me hurriedly but I was geared with fury. I leaped up into the air and landed, paws first onto the chest of the trow. I felt delicate skin slice underneath my fingertips and heard more chanting in the background. The women casted a glamour, and I knew I had mere seconds before I was a puppet of her intent. B

I still have time to kill you, I thought as I lifted my paw to strike it back down into the head of the rotten brute.

***

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