Lost Lighte

Chapter 7 (part 1)

Tilya wasn’t sure how to react. She sat there staring at Lukas's ears, trying to absorb the fact that a real fae was sitting in front of her. Lukas didn’t say anything. He sat frozen in his seat like prey trying not to be seen.

Tilya was the first one to break the silence. She sighed, resting her elbows on the dining table and rubbing her eyes with her palms. “Is this real life?” she mumbled to herself. Lukas frowned.

“I’m sorry for lying to you, Tilly.” he did his best to stress his sincerity in his voice. “I hope you understand that I had my reasons for doing so.”

Tilya peeked at him through her fingers, and her gut twisted at the expression his face held; it was evocative of a heartbroken puppy. “I’m not upset that you hid what you are. It’s not like people come across fae every day, I’m sure you were scared.” Her mind raced with questions. “So I guess that’s why you always wore the hat, then?”

Lukas nodded. “Yes. I stole it from a street merchant when I ran away.” His eyes turned somber as he recollected the memory of his escape. Tilya could only imagine how scary it must’ve been.

“So, were you a part of the fae auctions? Were you set to become a slave? How did you escape?” She shot the questions off with impatient curiosity, but Lukas just chuckled hoarsely. “One question at a time, Tilya.”

Leaning back in his chair, he raked a hand through his hair, which overlapped in loose waves atop his head. The sides of his head looked to be once shaven, but had grown out over however long it had been since it was last cut.

“Yes, I was to be taken as a slave in the auction. It was an experience so harrowing that I’m not sure if I would wish it on my worst enemy.” Lukas began. Tilya leaned in further to listen to his story, frowning slightly.

“Back home in Lenira, I never knew these abhorrent auctions existed, just that our people were mysteriously vanishing at an alarming rate. There was no pattern to the abductions; they were of no favored gender or age, no particular societal rank. Even the timing of the abductions was random. Some would be taken during the dead of night, when it is so late that the deneta roam. Some would vanish when the sun hung highest in the sky.

My family was working to figure out a way to stop these abductions. They consulted our seers in the hopes that they could foretell the next one, and plan to ambush the criminals.

I’m not sure how all of that worked out because, well, I was the was who was targeted next.”

Tilya’s dismay worsened the longer Lukas spoke. She didn’t know if she was more angry or more sorrowful for the innocent victims that were taken away from their homes and families. She stood up and began to busy herself with heating a kettle of water for tea. “What are denata?” she asked, taking down two small tea cups from the cupboard, trying not to think about the despair of the fae.

“Denata are… Well, beings that come out during the nighttime, when even the wind and trees are asleep. That’s all I’ll say about that.” Lukas responded. He stood, walking to stand beside Tilya as she readied the tea. He leaned against the counter.

Tilya looked up at him through strands of black hair. “Do you remember how you were abducted?” she asked gently. She didn’t want to remind him of any trauma he may have gone through, but her curiosity was a painful itch she desperately needed to scratch.

Lukas shook his head. “I don’t. One minute I was having drinks with Lady Elina, and the next minute I was waking up in a bumpy wagon covered by a cloth, being touted over the border of the realms. I do remember it was nighttime, and my hands and feet were bound with serpentine rope.” He rubbed his wrists subconsciously, as if the rope were still there.

Tilya furrowed her brows, mindlessly running a finger along the rim of her empty teacup. “What is serpentine rope?” She tilted her head sideways to look at him, studying him now that he was closer. She hadn’t noted his height before, and was surprised by it.

Tilya was taller than the average woman, standing at around five feet and eight inches, and Lukas had a whole head’s length on her. Even Hadley, who was one of the tallest men she’d ever met, was only a mere four or five inches taller than her.

And then there was Lukas's ears. They were so similar to those of a human’s, it was no wonder she couldn’t tell a difference when he had the hat on. She wanted to feel the strange cartilage that angled itself into those points at the top.

She had to, once again, acknowledge his good looks. How he could look so innately masculine, but have soft features that didn’t make him too angular. Though his jaw was wide, it wasn’t sharp, curving masterfully down into a rounded chin. His lips were full and plump, and slightly cracked from the unforgiving cold of winter. His top lip was only slightly smaller than its lower counterpart, sweeping up in a strong, bowlike shape.

But nothing could compare to his eyes. Those piercing, grey eyes, made more striking by the dark lashes that lined them, and even more so by the contrast with his golden skin. Now that Tilya was much closer, she noticed subtle flecks of gold near his pupils. She wondered if all the fae had such magnificent eyes.

“Serpentine rope,” Lukas began, snapping her attention away from her thoughts. “is a rope imbued with serpentine essence. It’s a substance that stifles our powers.”

Tilya’s eyes widened at her sudden realization. “So you can do magic? Like… Real magic?” she asked, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. Lukas smiled, a deep chuckle rumbling in his throat. “Yes, I can do ‘real magic.’ Though, I have noticed my powers have grown weaker since leaving Lenira.” He studied his hands as if he would find the reason for the strange phenomenon within his palms.

“Does it hurt…? Performing magic, that is.”

Lukas shook his head. “Not from what I’ve experienced. It feels like a buzzing in your palms, like a painless electric current is flowing through them.”

He pondered for a moment.

“I have read tales of warriors who, after over-exerting themselves in battle, had some rather undesirable side effects from using too much of their power, though.” He loosed a sigh. “But those times are over, and no fae has had to expend themselves like that since.”

The kettle began to sing and Tilya took it off of its flame, pouring the boiling liquid into each tea cup and letting the beverage steep. She hummed.

“Are there any more questions for me, Inquisitor?” Lukas teased, nudging her arm gently.

One of Tilya’s brows arched and she fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Can you blame me for asking so many questions? I have a fae man inside my house.” A peek at him from the corner of her eye revealed he was smirking.

“No, I don’t suppose I can.”

Tilya readied the stash of sugar cubes they kept on one of the few shelves in their kitchen. “Who is Lady Elina?”

Lukas's brows rose at the question. “Lady Elina is the daughter of an archduke in our court.”

The words hit her like a brick and she gasped “An… Archduke?” she stammered, gripping the wooden countertop. “I’ve only ever met a baron, once, and it was when my father lost his job some years ago. It must be very intimidating to be in the presence of an archduke.”

At this Lukas laughed heartily, scratching at the back of his neck. “Absolutely not. Why would it be?” he questioned. He placed a sugar cube in his tea and stirred it with a metal spoon Tilya had laid out for them.

“What do you mean by that? Why wouldn’t it be?" she replied. "If I was in a room with one of the most esteemed people on the planet, I would surely be uneasy.” Tilya stated, a bit tense.

At this, Lukas peered down at her, and his direct gaze mixed with his closeness made Tilya shift anxiously on her feet. “What…?" she breathed.

“Are you uneasy around me?” Lukas asked, tilting his head down towards her. Pieces of his dark hair down in front of his lashes.

Tilya’s brows crinkled in confusion and she fought the urge to recoil from him-- to broaden the gap between them. He was so close that she could smell the scent of salt and ash wood on him.

“Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?” Tearing her eyes from his, she concentrated on stirring her sugar cube into her tea.

A moment of silence followed, but she didn't dare look back up at him for fear his face might be even closer.

“I am the prince of Lenira, Tilya.”

She blanched, and the world silenced as she felt her skin growing cold despite the raging fire in the cabin. The hand that was stirring the tea froze, and the only noise was Lukas's even breathing. Tilya’s own breath had hitched in her throat.

Seconds passed but it felt like minutes, and suddenly Tilya was on one knee in front of Lukas, her head angled toward the ground, her hair splaying out on the surrounding floor. She did not dare to speak. Couldn’t, anyway. Couldn’t find the words to say to him to express her apologies for not giving him the respect he deserved.

She thought back to all the moments of casual conversation; all the times he had helped her on her farm; when she had cooked him that awful pottage and Reese had blatantly disrespected him; when he had cooked them the most amazing meal she’d ever eaten; and worst of all, when she had run away from him that day at the market when Eleanore and Katherine were snidely insulting her and her father. That had been the last day she’d ever allowed Lukas to accompany her there.

What was she to say now? Lukas, a man of fae nobility, the highest rank of which you could be before the King, was standing here in her hovel of a cabin, wearing her father’s old tunics and trousers, and had been for weeks. She didn’t even want to look at him.

Lukas frowned deeply and took a step back. “Tilya, please get up.” His voice was laced with sadness, and it nearly broke her heart to hear, but she shook her head. “I cannot.” she stated.

Lukas sighed.

“Tilya. Get up.” he aid again, a bit more sternly.

“I will not.” Tilya repeated, licking her dry lips. “I must express my apologies and gratitude for all that has happened and all that will happen. I must give you the respect you deserve, as a prince.”

Lukas rubbed his eyes and sighed once more, resting a hand on his hip. A moment later, he was kneeling in front of her and placing two fingers under her chin, lifting her eyes to meet his. Tenderly, he spoke. “I don’t want you to see me as a prince… I want you to see me as a man. As you already have been for these past weeks.” Something like pleading could be heard in his voice.

This had been the first time he’d ever boldly touched her without her express permission, and it shocked her. She stared up at him, unblinking, unfeeling. Her whole body had gone numb, and her blood rushed in her ears. She swallowed, nodding once. “I’m sorry.” she whispered.

Lukas shook his head and released her chin. “No need. I understand this was quite a shock to you…” He stood and held a hand out to help her on her feet. Tilya obliged, dusting lingering dirt off of her dress.

“Remember when I said not many humans come into contact with fae very often?” she asked him, grabbing her warm cup of tea.

Lukas nodded.

After a small sip, she finished. “I guess we can check ‘prince’ off of that list as well.” Her lips curled as Lukas laughed. “Got any more secrets to tell me, your Highness?”

Lukas scoffed at that last word. “I’m regretting my decision to tell you anything, I feel.”

Tilya giggled, and at that moment the cabin door opened as Reese stepped inside. “What are you two laughing about?” the little boy inquired.

Tilya and Lukas glanced at each other, and she could see in his eyes that he wanted her to keep everything she had just learned a secret. She didn’t have to nod for him to understand she would.

Then, she realized Lukas hadn’t put his hat back on, his pointed ears were completely unshielded. Her eyes widened, and she slammed the cup down onto the counter. Lukas’s face twisted into a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked hastily.

Tilya started for Reese, turning the boy around and making for the door with him. “I forgot that I needed to cover up the crops for the snow storm! Reese, come along and help me, why don’t you?” Reese tried to resist her pushing, and stared up at his sister with a puzzled expression. “I didn’t hear anything about a snow storm.” He protested.

Tilya patted his back too aggressively to be casual. “Oh, did Hadley’s brother not tell you?” A laugh. “How silly of him! He must have forgotten.” She turned her head to look back at Lukas, pointing to her ears and mouthing to him something about the hat. It took only a moment for him to realize what she was trying to say.

He flung himself towards the dining table where the hat lay, nearly knocking over the chair Tilya had been sitting in. The commotion caused Reese to look back at Lukas. “What’re you doing over there?” He asked annoyedly.

Lukas, who was now sitting at his chair with his legs crossed and an elbow on the table, rested his chin in his palm as his other hand toyed with the woolen hat now on his head. “Oh… Um, nothing.” He smiled.

Reese’s eyes narrowed, and he turned to look up at his sister. “We should keep a close eye on him.” he whispered to her with certainty.

Tilya just laughed and headed out the door with Reese, taking one last look over her shoulder to Lukas, who held his thumb up in thanks.