The Faerie Slayer
Chapter 33

Abby’s Pov

When Kade departed, I felt as if my soul had been emptied. For the little while that he was near, I felt like the restoration of a dying plant who’s faced a week of desert finally in the midst of sweet wet rain. He felt warm, and comfortable and safe. Kade felt like home, even more so then my life before. I longed for his kiss, his touch. Over and over I asked myself, how could I have been so selfish, in the motel room in Vermont to have been granted one kiss and to have hardly cherished it. I was amongst my thoughts in the moment, how could I have known that I may never kiss him again?

In my heart, I knew this journey was suicide and I wasn’t even sure of how much I trusted Ellie. I had no choice, if there was an inch of hope then this was it. I prayed and prayed that everything would work out and if it didn’t, then at the very least, Kade would make it out of here alive.

I debated jumping off of this bed, running downstairs and out into the forest. Chasing after them both and forcing Elie to take us to a body of water where we can escape by portal. I knew better however, I knew that as soon as I stepped foot outside of this room, that there would be about a dozen ogres ready to strike me down.

This cannot be my life.

As Kade had been stumbling down the tree, I had pulled Elie aside whispered in her ears.

‘If there’s any trouble, open a portal for him. Trick him into going back to earth, do whatever it takes, but save him first.’

She peered at me with big sad eyes but nodded.

I heard a knock on my door downstairs and then someone approaching briskly up the steps. I had already made sure that the window was closed. There was no evidence of my rebellion, still I was uneasy. I sat up on the bed and watched Edmund appear out from the bottom of the stairs.

“Hi there,” his voice was calm and pleasant. He wore his white hair up today, alongside a green suit that matched with his eyes.

“Hello,” I did not mean to sound so sad. The last time I had seen him was at the garden when I had made a scene. Since then, I received his note on my bedside with the date of the wedding. It almost felt like the most passive aggressive form of revenge.

An invite to my own doom, I thought.

“I came to see if you were up to going somewhere with me tomorrow morning,” he sat himself at the edge of my bed. I could smell bitter wine on his lips combined with the scent of something coppery like blood,” I will be going to the village. I’d love to introduce you to the locals. I’m sure they’d also like to meet their new princess.”

I slightly pondered. I toyed with the idea of simply saying no. Would his green eyes suddenly shine black like his mothers when he’s angry?

I have to act like everything is normal, this is what’s best to keep them from suspecting anything.

“I’d love to,” I replied,” should I wear anything special?”

“Fay will know exactly how to dress you,” he seemed pleased with my choice of words,” I assume you received my invite to the ball?”

I smiled a sly grin and nodded once,” it will be my pleasure to be your wife, although I never thought that I would be receiving an invite to my own wedding.”

“So you’re not angry with me anymore then?” He stood up and approached me without indication that he was going to do so. I felt his cold palm on my cheek and it took me off guard. I suddenly felt as if my head were to start spinning. I wanted to flinch away but resisted. Instead, I placed my palms atop his fingers on my face and said,” I can’t be mad at you.”

His face remained expressionless, but something knowing crossed his eyes. He was beyond me in the game on manipulation, he knew that something was up.

He suddenly smiled and stepped back,” I’ll come retrieve you in the morning then.”

I nodded, hesitant to reply with anything that might add to his suspicions.

As soon as he left, I darted out of my bed and back towards the window. I knew that Kade was long gone alongside Ellie, but still I hoped that I would catch the slightest glimpse of him within the far down trees. Part of me was content with finding no trace of him, I guess that meant that Edmund won’t either.

Tonight, I slept better then I had all the other nights. Seeing Kade had bestowed my soul solace and reassurance. A niche calmness that stopped my thinking immediately. I think I might have even drifted to slumber with a slight smile on my face. I was worried, but I was hopeful.

I dreamt that we were together and blissful for eternity over and over again.

The sun bid me good morning, at the same time, Fay was creeping up the stairs as quietly as he could. I sat up and caught sight of the tray of food in his hands that made my stomach grumble.

At the look of me he frowned,” you slept in your gown,” he halted in front of the bed. I peered down at myself for confirmation

“I’m sorry,” was the only thing I could reply with. I suddenly wondered how much it cost to buy one of these gowns.

I watched as he set the food down,” how was your sleep?”

“It was alright, how was yours?”

He turned to look at me with a sceptical look on his face,” not as good as yours.”

I forged a confused look on my face.

He couldn’t possibly know, I thought.

“If you are wondering if I know about your little wolf friends visit last night, the answer is yes.”

Crap.

“How did you know?”

“It’s my job to look after you, Princess,” he begin to peer closer to me and just as Edmund had, he took his seat at the edge of my bed,” the journey to Kelpie River is dangerous for your wolf friend. It’s littered with the worst creatures of the folk, rootmen, trolls, nixies, wild ogres and trows, not to mention, kelpies, lots of them.”

“What’s a kelpie?” I sat up, intrigued but intimidated.

“A kelpie is a water demon, similar to a nixie but on land, they shape shift to look like a majestic mane. They are known for their trickery and their resistance to the poison of dapperling mushrooms. It is why Kelpie River is the only place that the queen could rid of the dapperling mushrooms that grow here, it does not harm them.”

“But what would a Kelpie want with Kade?”

“Let’s hope nothing at all, for your sake. Me on the other hand, I hope they drown the dirty wolf and prison his body in the deepest part of the river.”

My eyes widened. I stared at the hob with terror in my eyes.

“Please don’t say that,” I whispered,” he has to come back alive, please.”

His eyes had sorrow in them, as if my own pain caused his. His small hands cupped my face and I felt like melting into his grip.

“You are too beautiful to not be so foolish darling,” he began,” don’t you know that to be this intelligent will only cause you pain? You should be beautiful and dumb and naive, it is the only way to survive having been through what you have.”

Tears rolled down my face, my lips and onto his own skin. I shook my head,” if anything were to happen to him because of me, I don’t think I could let myself live.”

“To love like this, it’s to fall apart. Your thoughts will forever belong to him if you let yourself fall as you have. Your mind will never be free to roam again. You do not belong to the wolf, faerie princess. Your fate lies here.”

“I don’t believe that,” I pressed,” my home is on earth.”

“Your blood interjects.”

He stood up and retrieved an outfit from the closet. He set it down on the bed.

“Do not eat too much. The queen awaits you for breakfast. Slip into this after your shower. Prince Edmund would very much enjoy the colour turquoise on your fair skin.”

“Fay-” I began when he turned around,” wait.”

As if reading my thoughts, the small fob turned and let out a comforting sigh,” worry not, darling. I will not let the queen know of the wolves visit.”

I breathed out in relief,” thank you.”

He eventually disappeared back downstairs and out of my room.

I could not let myself nibble on the tray of breads and jams, even when my stomach argued that I was hungry. I had lost my appetite. Although I learned to trust Fay, it was still unsettling that he knew of Kade’s visit. It only meant that we were not as discreet as I had thought, a mistake that I will not be making again.

After my shower, I did just as Fay had instructed and put on the silk light blue gown that rested just above my ankles. It was a pleasant length, elegant yet luring. The dress itself cinched at my waist and boosted just the slightest the further down it went. I wore white flats that I found at the back of the closet and made my way downstairs. I jumped up when the ogre parked right side my door greeted me.

“Good morning,” he seemed to snarl,” breakfast?”

I nodded and he led the way.

By the time we had made it to the room where breakfast was served, I had regained my appetite. We must have walked for over a dozen minutes through corridors that widened and slimmed, moving pictures with figures that seemed to have winked at me. I could have even sworn that the plant back there was reaching out to feel my dress.

The guard led me to my seat of a grand six person table. At the head chair sat her majesty herself. I paused, suddenly wondering if I should bow to her. I did anyway, and then took my seat.

She seemed amused rather then impressed as she bit into a croissant that was a darker shake of berry then her skin.

“That shade of blue is very flattering on you,” she began,” did you know that it’s Edmunds favourite colour?”

I let my eyes graze the table that homed a hundred plates. I did not know where to start. It was overwhelming, to choose between the cheeses, the jams, the assortments of different coloured breads, fruits that I had never seen before made my mouth water at the thought of what might they taste like.

“I did not know,” I responded to the queen,” although I’m glad I chose correct.”

Instead of deciding where to begin for food, I reached for a carafe that held a lavender liquid. The intense smell of something floral subjugated my senses but I poured it anyway and sipped.

It was foul, I resisted the urge to spit the contents out but I could not hide my discontent.

From the corner of my eye, I could see that the ogre found my reaction disgusting but the queen was in a fit of giggles. I wiped my mouth with the table cloth and watched as she attempted to recollect herself.

“I suppose,” she managed in between her fits of laugher,” that I should have warned you!”

“Warned me?” I wondered,” what was that?”

“That’s posionberry wine. Usually it’s poisonous and quite deathly but when you boil it and then freeze it, it is usually safe to drink, although horrendous.”

Usually, I wanted to blurt.

“Why is it here then?” I prayed that they had boiled and froze it correctly but half expected to pass out unconscious within the next few seconds.

The queen shrugged her shoulders and reached for what looked like a white and red polka dotted grape,” Edmund likes it. He should be joining us soon.”

With hesitation, I reached for what resembled a slice of cheddar cheese and placed it on my plate. I did the same with a moss coloured peice of toast and some honey.

“I think that Edmund mentioned that he would be taking me down to the village today, to meet some of the other faeries.”

She used long black talons to poke at the decorations atop her silver bun,” yes he might have mentioned this to me. By the way, did you receive the invite?”

“To my own wedding?” I replied with a hint of undeniable sarcasm,” I did, thank you.”

“I think that there might be some change of plans,” the tone of her voice speculated something that was not going to be pleasant to hear. I did not respond, instead, I waited for her to get her point across.

“I am starting to think that six days is too far out for the wedding to take place. We waited your return for far too long already. I think three is more suitable.”

I could not help my reaction, I slammed a palm on the table and blurted,” no-”

The queen turned her head to the side just the slightest,” no? Why not?”

I struggled to recompose myself,” what’s the rush? Besides, haven’t the invites already been sent out? Everyone already thinks it’s in six days.”

“Well, if we kept it at six days, then that might give your wolf friend just the time he needs to return from Kelpie River with his precious dapperling mushrooms.”

I suddenly froze. The air around me had gone still, I felt the knife on my slide gliding down the table and grazing my ankle before it hit the carpeted ground.

“How did you find out?” there was clearly no point in denying anything. The queen knows of everything that went on in her castle, Kade and I were no exemption.

“The real question is, how you turned my pixie into a traitor,” she hissed,” I will have to swat that creature to death as soon as she’s found.”

“Found? Have you sent people to look for them?” you could slice the depth of my panic with a knife.

“Not yet, there’s no need to rush. There is no way out of the faerie world for your friend, unless he wishes to leave without you, which he would never do.”

“What will you do to him, once you find him?”

“I have yet to decide, but for now, I’m tired of the interferences and so your crowning date has been set to three days from today.”

I could not help the tears that began to stroll down my face. I had sent Kade off to his death, all because I had to see him. Had I never sent Elie to retrieve him for me, he would still be safe and hidden from the queens wicked agenda. I must have let out a small sob because the queens sharp tone silenced me.

“Pull yourself together, it’s pathetic. You are worth so much more then to be mated to a wolf, how can you be so blind?”

I shook my head,” I love him.”

“You don’t know love, you’re a child.”

“And you do?”

She smiled, it was not genuine but rather sadistic,” I’ve killed for love.”

“You killed your husband.”

“I can be quite unreasonable, and a war with the mutts is just what I might feel like entertaining at the moment.”

“Please don’t,” I was all out of words. The only thing I could think off was to beg on my knees.

“I can’t make you promises, you betrayed me already and you have been here just days. You were going to stroll in and play me like a fool.”

“It was not my intention.”

“Actions speak more then intentions. Do not harbour any hope, princess Aubrette Evergreen. The display of betrayal by the oak tree last night was the last you’ll ever see and hear of him.”

I nodded, although I could hardly breath. I had to find a way to get a message to Kade. If only Elie was still here, I could send her after him. The irony of the matter was; my spirit was with him. I could only reply with,“I understand.”

“Good. Now cheer up, Edmund should be arriving soon and I don’t want to spoil his mood with any of this.”

“You mean he doesn’t know?”

“Of course not, and I do not plan of telling him. Works for us both, you see. Edmund is much more savage then I am, he would have beheaded your friend and used his remains as sculptures for your room. A reminder of whynot to cross him.”

And how exactly are you any different, I urged to ask but bit my lip.

The image she’d painted drew a look of horror on my face, so much so that when Edmund did arrive, the first thing he’d said to me was,” Aubrette, are you alright?”

He leaned down to place a gentle peck on my cheeks and I pulled myself together.

For the first time since I had gotten here, I had managed to do so gracefully. Perhaps I was becoming quite good at it.

“Hi prince,” I offered a pleasant smile,” how did you sleep.”

He leaned further down and picked up the butter knife that had dropped a while back. He returned it back in place took his seat across from me.

“Call me Edmund. It was peaceful, although once we share a bed, I might enjoy sleep a lot more.”

My face was now scarlet, displaying my every emotion for the predators to enjoy and mock.

“Aren’t Moiety Children extraordinary? Look at her all flushed, just like a mortal.”

Edmund seemed to enjoy this. They mistook it for shy flutters when in reality it was terror and the feeling of betrayal creeping up my spine. I was not sure how much more of this I could handle. The uncertainty of Kade’s safety had me at the edge of my seat. I homed a sob at the edge of my chest. I wanted to run to my bed and cry like a little girl.

Any second now, Kade could be captured and killed by one of her ogres. Any second now, my life could be destroyed.

I prayed mentally that Elie could keep him safe. I prayed and prayed that if she were to open a portal for him, that he would value his life enough to take it to the other side.

“Ready?”

I flinched and caught sight of Edmund. He was now standing above me, palms extended as if for me to grab. I nodded and grabbed them. I proffered him a slight smile. I was nervous but not for the reasons he assumed. When I stood up, his eyes seemed to swallow me.

“You look divine,” he said,” that is your colour. I shall have a dozen more gowns made in that same shade.”

I peered at the queen who had rolled her eyes.

“Thank you.”

Outside now, the main entrance was fenced by caving twenty foot trees and a brick road that led to some sort of futuristic looking vehicle. It was floating in the air, shaped like a giant fang with two shiny black tires at the very back.

The exterior was made of dark and rough snake skin that seemed to glisten just a tad bit purple when the sun hit right. The closer we walked, the more visibility I had. Under the vehicle was hollow. White smoked emerged in bits. I could not find a way to get in.

I looked at Edmund who seemed to be studying me.

“What?” I mumbled

“This is a Sidewinder.”

“Like the snake?”

He nodded,” like the snake but much faster. It’s fuelled by the ashes of our dead.”

At the look on my face, he revealed an amused grin,“unlike the wolves who use our dust as trophies, we put our dead to use.”

He approached the vehicle and the sides began to become undone. Hidden doors panelled out and ended with a step ladder each for the both of us. He stood by the passenger door and offered to take my hand. I let him, and marched the three white steps. Inside, there were only two seats made of white leather. There were no steering wheels, no buttons to push nor navigate, there wasn’t even a gas or a brake handle.

I jumped a littlewhen I had realized thatEdmund had made his way to sit beside me. The movement of the closing doors was swift and almost silent. Within a matter of five seconds, we were seated inside of what felt like a beautifully designed floating cave.

“Are you ready?” He asked and I couldn’t help the nerves that began to bubble.

“Yes.”

He lifted his hands into the air and suddenly, a virtual steering wheel was afloat. At his feet were two pedals, and then we were off.

When my eyes landed on the side of the Sidewinder is when it began to pixelate and proffer a window. I could now see out into the forest as we whooshed past thousands of trees. We were definitely going fast, but I could hardly feel it. Had the window still been hidden, I would have sworn that we were still.

I turned to look at the prince and again, found him staring at me.

“Where are we going exactly?”

“We’ll, I thought you should get to see the downtown village, have a look at some I of the shops and pick out a few dresses.”

I couldn’t think of anything I desired less. I wanted nothing more but to ball into my covers and sob. I have given up without a fight. Helpless and fragile, those were never words that I’d ever thought I’d use to describe myself.

***

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