Shade Academy

Chapter 34

I asked the guys to meet me in the dining hall to tell them what happened in Charlotte's office and so I could eat, I was famished. Come to think of it, I have been hungry a lot lately. I assume it must be the stress of what's been going on. I never did deal with stress well, it has always found a way to get the best of me no matter how small. 

"Anna, what's going on?" Samuel asked as he took a seat beside me. Ashe, Axel and Alex followed suit and took their seats around me. They always surrounded me everywhere we went, I knew they did it to put a boundary of sorts around me in case any danger came, but they just didn't realize how powerful I am or how powerful I was still to become. 

"Charlotte has given me permission to take some time away. She has also given all of you permission to come with me. I was thinking we could go back to my families manor." I suggested. Ashe's eyes glistened with an idea. "Or we could go back to my home." He said hopefully. "My family has been asking to meet you. They are excited to meet the fae witch royal. They are also very eager to meet my mate whom I have formed a bond of the royals with." The hopeful look in his eyes made my decision for me. I smiled and nodded as I stood. "I guess this means we need to go pack huh?" 

"No actually." Ashe informed us eagerly. "Clothes and all other needs will be supplied by the royal family. Especially for you Anna. Since you are royalty you will be expected to wear royal robes as a show of your status. You three will be expected to wear them as well since you are all mates of a princess of the realm." 

Well that's just great, another thing to add to the growing list of things that make me stand out. I couldn't disappoint Ashe though, he was so excited and eager to introduce me to his family, I couldn't deny him that. "Well that's convenient." Samuel said with a smile. I nodded in agreement. "Should I just open a portal then?" I asked. Ashe chuckled "Have you been to the fae realm before?" He asked. "Well no." I told him honestly. "Then no. You can't open a portal to a place you've never been to. If you tired you would get us caught in the empty." 

"Wait, the what?" I asked. "The empty is a dimension in between all other dimensions. It has no beginning and no end, it is an endless world of darkness." My eyes widened. That did not sound pleasant at all. Why has no one told me about this? Why was that important detail left out of all the information I have been given about portaling? It honestly pissed me off. This was not something you could just leave out, it was important and potentially life altering. 

"Why has this never been told to me in any of my classes?" I demanded. Mainly focusing on Samuel. He was a professor, he should have known. "Hey. don't look at me." He said holding his hands up. "I'm not a witch, I don't know about how their magic works, I just teach mental magic." He defended. "No one has told you before now?" Ashe asked in astonishment. I shook my head as I tired to control my anger. "I'll have to have a talk with the head mistress, that should have been taught to you in your very first portaling class." 

We all agreed it would be something we would handle when we got back and Ashe opened the portal to his realm. The first thing I saw was a castle that towered above the clouds. The ancient looking structure was build with what looked to be stones that were now covered in moss and vines crawled up the walls. The towers stood tall and proud above the rest of the castle and looked weather worn but still stable and strong. 

But as I looked around the surroundings area something felt different. A strong sense of deja vu overwhelmed me. I knew this place, I have been here before, but when? I was taken to the human world and abandon as a baby, at least as far as I knew. Could I have been brought here? Could someone have stolen me from this realm and placed me in the human world? No, it couldn't be. I was raised human not fae. 

"Anna what is it?" Ashe asked taking my hand in his. "I don't know. Something about this place seems familiar, like I've been here before." I told him as I continued scanning my surroundings. The place was beautiful. Large trees encompassed the castle, small balls of colorful light danced in the trees and hovered above the lush grass. Flowers I have never seen before flourished in plenty across the grounds and bloomed in a multitude of bright colors in the trees. 

"It's beautiful." I whispered as I watched the balls of light dance around. And as if somehow they had heard me, the lights stopped then rushed to me. I tensed as they surrounded me in an aura of colors. As they all came closer I realized they were not balls of light at all, but tiny creatures. I watched them in total amazement as soft whispers were swept to me on the breeze. "What's happening?" I asked Ashe. "I don't know. The fairies have never reacted like this to anyone before." 

I was surprised at that information. What made me so special that they were drawn to me? "Queen." a soft whisper said in my ear. "Queen? Who is your queen? Is she here?" I asked the small creatures I now knew were fairies. "Queen." They repeated again. "Ashe, can you hear them?" I asked. When I didn't get an answer I turned to see him staring at me as if I had gone crazy. "What?" I asked confused as to why he was watching me the way he was. "Anna, the fairies don't speak. At least not that anyone has heard or been able to understand before." He informed me. 

"Wait, then why can I understand them?" I asked. "I don't know. What are they saying?" I looked back to the tiny creatures that were fluttering around me and back to Ashe with a concerned expression. "Queen. All they said was queen." I whispered. "Ashe, what does that mean?" Anxiety course through me as I watched Ashe's expression change. So many emotions swept across his face I couldn't place them all. 

"Ashe!" I exclaimed. "Anna I don't know for sure. We will have to go speak to my father." I grew angry "No Ashe. I know you know something, so you better tell me and tell me now." I commanded him. I hated having to talk to any of them the way I am talking to Ashe, but sometimes the situation demands it. 

Ashe looked forlorn. "The fairies have been without a queen for over a thousand years. She was kidnapped by people who were looking to replace her and take over the fairy kingdom. The fairies although small are very powerful fae. They quickly over took the intruders but their queen was killed. One of our legends say that when the fairy people choose their new queen war with the Doxiens will follow. After the war it is told all the people will unite and we will enter an era of peace and prosperity of which the realm has never known. It is a prophecy that is both tragic and endearing. The war is said to be brutal and deadly, sparing no one should they stand in the way. The fairy and their queen is the only way to stop the Doxiens." 

"What are doxiens?" I questioned turning back to the fairies that have yet to stop fluttering around me. How am I supposed to go into the castle with them surrounding me? "The doxiens are wild and feral creatures that reside in the territory of the dark fae. They are evil fae who want nothing more than to take over the entire realm. If the dark fae were to align with the doxiens then the fae realm will fall into darkness. The war would be so wide spread that no one would be safe." 

I didn't know what to think. Did these fairies really just choose me as their queen? If so then why? Why must I bring such a devastating war upon the fae people? Why must danger follow me and impact the people around me? It's me, it's always me that causes trouble and death. 

An all consuming and unshakable depression befell me. The change within me impacted the fairies. They all now swarmed me, blocking the world and my mates out as their light completely encased me. The swirling of colors swelled and feelings of joy and completeness blanketed me. 

Then images began to take form in the swirls of light. War, bloody, dark, destruction. My breath caught in my throat as I watched fire spread across the realm. Screams of terror and pain surrounded me as I watched people attempt to flee the flames. Others battled along the boundaries of the flames. Fae against fae in a brutal battle for control and power. Sword met sword swing for swing, archers perched in trees killed each other one after another. 

"That's enough, please stop." I pleaded with the fairies as I cried for all that will be lost. All the lives taken in peoples thirst for power. The images then shifted. The once scorched and blackened earth was now covered in new growth. Saplings of trees sprout from the ground among the newly grown grass. Flowers were now blooming and life was returning to what use to be barren. Among them people were cheering, smiling and laughing among each other. Dark and light fae alike mingled among each other without argument or complaints. Looking around the now united and happy people a small group of people stood out. I couldn't tell who they were but I could tell they were important to the people. 

"This has to happen don't it?" I asked the fairies. The images disappeared and one fairy stood before me. "Yes, queen." She said. "And there is no way to prevent it? To save all those lives that will be lost?" The fairy shook her head, sadness shone in her eyes. "You don't want this to come to pass either do you?" She shook her head again. "But it must." She replied. "Devastation must come to pass so the people can untie as one and heal the realm. Be calm queen, all things will be as they were foretold." 

As they were foretold she says. Such a loss of life to gain unity. Unfortunately there was nothing I could do, the prophecy was already set into motion, all we could do now is wait. The fairies slowed their fluttering until everything was back to normal. I was rushed my my frantic mates who were trying to swat the fairies away, but they were having none of it. The fairies got angry and pulses of power radiated off of them. "Stop" I yelled at all of them. "These are my mates." I told the fairies. "They mean non of you any harm, they were just worried about me when you swarmed me. And guys these are the fairies and apparently I am their chosen queen. There will be no fighting among you, there is enough of that to come." 

Everyone stopped at my words. "They showed you didn't they?" Ashe asked in a whisper. "Yes, and it was awful. But what comes after is beautiful." I said. "Is there anyway to stop it?" Ashe asked. I sighed sadly "No. They said devastation must come before peace and unity can. I'm sorry Ashe, I never should have come here." He wrapped his arms around me "What do you mean?" He asked. "If I hadn't of come the fairies never would have met me and chose me, which means war would not be coming to the realm." I explained. 

"It would have happened eventually my queen." He said soothingly. "Now come, lets go inside. My family is waiting for us." As I began to follow Ashe the fairies stopped us by blocking our path. "What? What is it?" I asked. "Traitors." they said angrily. "Traitors?" Ashe asked. "Wait you can understand them now?" Ashe nodded, as did the others. "I guess since we are your mates, they think of us as their kings and have deemed us worthy." Ashe said never looking away from the fairies. "Traitors reside within the castle, be careful queen and kings." They warned before dispersing and clearing our path. 

Traitors? In the fae royalty? "Ashe? Who do you think it could be?" I asked him. Ashe was pensive as he thought. "I don't know, but we need to keep this to ourselves until we find out. No one can know, not even my parents." We all agreed as we made our way into the castle. I couldn't help but think by traitor they mean the rebellion. If that was true then there would be blood shed during my stay here. I vowed to destroy all rebellion, and that included the fae, royalty or not.