DARKER ( Supernatural Beginnings) Book Two

Birthright

Vincent

I was so close yet so far away. After drinking the special fairy drink, my mind became clearer than it ever had been. This garden wasn’t just any garden, it was the entrance to the Fairy Kingdom. The kingdom I was to inherit, but now as I stood there staring across the pond at Tonya, my conflict about the matter grew.

Like minds often thought alike, she was sitting on the stone bench under the weeping willow tree. My favorite place to think had instinctively become hers as well. As much as I craved her touch overall to be near her voice, time would not allow it as we existed in two separate realms at the moment. It didn’t stop me from thinking of Drake as my second mate, he was always someone I could confide in regarding the deeper things when I became conflicted about sorting things out well. He had an insight into understanding the visions that were oblique and cryptic when there were just snips and pieces to go on.

My vision had split us up and now I knew why. I didn’t know if this was something I wanted to take on, let alone do. My agreement with the elder fairy was to work with her to heal the enchanted garden. I discovered it was a sickness that caused the dark change and it was not dying as everyone originally thought.

The cabin sitting on the hill not far behind the pond was an unexpected surprise. The universe was connected in so many ways, showing how we were in the same exact place but at different times. It was lush, bright, and healthy in the world she was in compared to where I am now. I had to keep my guard up constantly when venturing out in the garden. Parisa was still alive and well and currently ran the kingdom as she saw fit. If she caught hold of my signature, let alone that I was alive, the threat I presented was immense, considering she was only an acting Queen and not the real deal itself.

I stood there watching Tonya, who looked to be lost in her thoughts too. She had the essence of the soul healer within her and I wondered if those powers had come to fruition yet. Projecting all my emotions toward her, I felt her stiffen for a second and then look up. Her eyes bored into mine, a smile spread across her face and I swore her longing for me rivaled that of my own. She was worried and it was evident in her expression.

“Vincent?” she whispered as she kept her gaze on me. I nodded and placed a hand over my heart, with a smile I was letting her know that I was fine and that everything would be alright. A single heartwarming tear slid down her face and she nodded back to me in understanding. She hastily wiped the tear away and turned toward the cabin at the same time that I looked over in time to see Drake, Bane, and Harper exit the back door and walk toward Tonya.

A sigh of relief left my lips. Seeing the twins with them gave me reassurance that they would handle their mission well. As a seer, I got a read about what they would be facing in my absence. My mission is currently here and it was because it was my duty that I had a blind spot when it came to trying to see further.

The only thing I could do was finish up what I had to do here, but as Ava the elder fairy said, things were a lot more complicated than they looked. It wasn’t just the sick enchanted garden that needed my help, so later tonight we would be meeting some old friends of hers who had done all they could over the years to keep Parisa from destroying my father’s kingdom.

Tonya looked over at where I was standing in the distance again, but I knew this time she could no longer see me. I was only able to tap into her soul healer ability for a limited moment. Our souls were already connected with our bond, which made it easy for her to feel and see me slightly. Once she awakened she would be a force to reckon with. The three of us will definitely celebrate in due time. I felt Ava’s presence before she arrived.

“It’s time to go child,” she said from behind me. She never said too much to get her point across and I turned in her direction and we headed out. There were only four other fairies traveling with us, all with specific magical skills that would help us make it through the kingdom's forest unscathed. My abilities were not something to leave out either moving forward. I was a half fairy and a royal one at that, but I had never used that side of me before and this was the best time to get some practice.

The landscape itself seems to defy the rules of nature. The grass beneath our feet felt surprisingly soft and springy as if it’s made of plush velvet. Trees, branches that twist and twirl like contorted dancers, are adorned with glowing orbs that light up the night, casting a warm and comforting glow. Time moved quicker here, so the approach of the night came suddenly the further we moved toward the kingdom.

Ava consistently drilled me to watch out for the forest surrounding the kingdom’s deception. Things here were not as they appeared compared to the dark enchanted garden she lived in. Creatures of all sizes and shapes call this kingdom home. The air filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers carried in the gentle breezes that whisper secrets to those who listen.

“Watch out!” one of the knight fairies whispered, yelling up ahead. The kingdom garden suddenly quieted, bringing forth an aura of foreboding and peril. The trees surrounding turned gnarled and twisted and in an instant, the blackened branches shot out at us in a menacing attack.

“This is it child. Fight with all you got!” Ava said as she began to glow in the brightest light. Shooting streams of striking light from her hands in repeated successions. To me, it looked like fireworks, in simpler terms sparklers. Each of her aims hit the branches hard. As if it could feel pain, the branches reeled back with an eerie scream.

“ Keep moving. We need to make it to the catacombs.” said another knight fairy, his sword looked sharp and deadly. With a swish, a group of branches were cut down. If my eyes weren’t deceiving me, I thought I had seen it bleed, think black blood. The atmosphere had become palpably tense, casting the entire area in an eerie gloom.

The forest floor, overgrown with thorny vines now, moved in the night trying to trip our steps. I felt the heat in my hands and the staff began to grow. I had enough of this bologna and needed the forest to listen. The staff grew to its full height just a foot above my head. The ruby stone in the middle glowed bright, halting, Ava, the four knights' faeries, and even the forest.

Bam! I raised my staff up high then slammed it down hard into the ground, deep in the soil. I didn’t know what my appearance looked like at that moment, but I caught the awe and surprise in their faces.

“Enough! We are not the enemy!” I yelled. As if giving a definite demand. My voice also changed and sounded in a deep melodious tone. My presence now felt formidable, commanding both fear and respect for all who dare to challenge me.

There was a strong vibration coming from the ground and it spread throughout the forest. As if I could see the many trails and directions without pause, I pulled out my staff from the ground and walked forward. The forest begins to change back to obeying my demands and staying in the light. My small team followed behind as I led the way. No one was confused or asked questions.

“You know what this means now. Parisa will soon be after you,” Ava said in concern.

“ Let her come. I am ready, besides it’s been way overdue between us.”

Whispers echoed through the trees, barely audible, but I could still hear a part of me that had finally found itself and was in tune with the kingdom. With each closing step, I contained my anger. Other than Parisa, there was someone else I wanted to see. I had a question to ask him, but would he tell me the truth once he saw me? My father was a monster in my eyes, for abandoning my mother and I when we needed him most, but as my thoughts wandered I thought back on how he seemed different on the day that we were set up to die. Was that man really my father? Or did I miss something, a crucial detail?

We finally reached the catacombs and I gave way to let Ava lead us through. There was a hidden chamber here where we were meeting the two people who had helped protect the kingdom and my father’s legacy until now. Parisa claimed to be pregnant with the king's child, but they had been clever and implemented the inheritance law, making a blood test after seven days needed to be done. A special ritual was done to clarify if he indeed belonged to the king and would become the next in line.

It was a good plan and bought us enough time. The catacombs were like a maze, but with Ava leading it was a breeze to get through. Once we arrived at the hidden chamber, Ava displayed a sequence of knocks for a password in order to gain entrance. The strong delicious scent of gingerbread hit our noses as soon as the door opened. I found myself instantly wrapped in someone’s arms followed by the slight tickle of wings and warm ushered tears.

“Hell bells Orla! Could you let the boy in first, before the theatrics?” said a man from behind her. I was a full head taller than her but she still hugged me tight as best she could. I had only met them once and that was the day before my demise. This woman was my grandmother on my father’s side. The man behind her was my grandfather, the previous fairy king Lorcan. The four fairy knights, Ava, and two other people sat at a table waiting for us nearby. Lorcan closed the chamber door and it reverted to the appearance of a wall hidden inside the catacombs. On the table were lots of treats and steamy mugs of a special fairy drink. I remember Orla had learned to make these gingerbread cookies for me because my mother had told her they were a favorite.

“Look how tall he’s gotten, and he’s even holding the staff,” said Orla. She still cried softly while talking. I wondered why they were here in this place when they were royalty.

“All will be discussed in due time, wife. Right now let’s let the boy eat.” my grandfather stretched out his arm toward the table, motioning for me to take a seat.

I had a feeling that what I was about to find out, were more shocking things that had taken place within the Fairy Kingdom. As Ava said, it was best to hear from the people that experienced it and not from her third-party ears. It was her way of telling me there was more of my birthright that I should know about before I made my final decision. Before we could even begin, the sound of bells began ringing.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It’s Parisa. She has felt your signature and called forth the Kingdoms Goblins.” Ava answered. There wasn't any need to worry. We had already made it to the kingdom and here in the catacombs under its protection.