The Unveiling

Chapter Seven

Miss Winters had a strained smile on her face as she greeted President Gaol on the large flatscreen that slid out from the ceiling. 

“Miss Winters,” the President spoke, his voice gravelly.

 I shuffled back and forth, as if I were a naughty child dragged into the principal's office. 

“Now that we’re all here,” he continued, “we can address the matter at hand.” 

President Gaol’s hair was black. Not the kind of black that shone a different color in the light, but the kind of black that absorbed the light. His face sagged in a way that left large jowls hanging from his face. His thin lips were pressed together in displeasure on his face. From Goblin descent, many felt that he was the right candidate for our realm, being able to strategically accumulate wealth, and examine all options and their outcomes when it came to allegiances. Sitting opposite to flatscreen I wasn’t sold on the idea of him. I got the distinct impression that should he be pressed on a battlefield, he would turn tail and run, leaving countless good men and women to die. 

“There is nothing to address,” Chase spoke clearly, and with authority, not the least bit intimidated that he was addressing the Global President.

“I am Reya’s trainer, and will continue to be until she is in a position where she no longer requires me.” 

“That’s all fine and well, Prince Chase, but I have assigned Oswald to train Reya. We wouldn’t want to impose, nor inconvenience you with our problems, and as such, I’m sure you must be relieved that you can return and attend to your Royal duties.” 

Chase inclined his head in understanding and responded politely, “Whilst your opinion is indeed noted, I would be breaching our agreement should I leave Reya in the hands of another, and thus I must fulfill my duty to my realm and honour our peace treaty, in remaining on board as her trainer and mentor.” 

The President grimaced, “We will be only too happy to release you from these duties and have Oswald resume them in your place, freeing you up for much more important matters. Miss Winters went ahead and signed the agreement prematurely with your realm, and I would ask that this also be taken into consideration.” 

“Prematurely or not, the treaty was signed, and as you must be fully aware, Fae do not rescind our agreements. It is simply not in our nature.” 

Miss Winters sat silent and stone faced throughout the entire affair. 

“And what do you propose Prince Chase? You visit occasionally for training purposes? Reya needs a mentor. Someone who is there to support her and assist her in navigating this process - which is a full time position, not a ‘sunrise’ or ‘sunset’ task.” 

“And there, you are indeed correct Mister President,” Chase spoke firmly. 

President Gaol’s eyes widened in surprise, as Chase continued, “Which is why my Realm has decided and ordered that I reside here, with Reya for the duration of the training.” 

Silence permeated the room, and suddenly Oswald exploded, “What? You can’t simply move in with her!” he fumed. 

“What if he takes advantage of her?” Oswald demanded, addressing his question to the President and Miss Winters.

“I can assure you,” Chase spoke softly, the threat eminent in his voice, “that I in no way will ‘take advantage’ of Reya. I have never and will never force myself onto someone that is unwilling, additionally I have an array of willing partners. Perhaps shifter you may not be able to control your base instincts, but the Fae are masters of control.” 

Oswald stood on the emerald carpet clenching and unclenching his fists, waiting for someone - anyone - to say something. The truth though, was that nothing could be said, Chase was a Prince in the Fae realm, and any further pushing would not only offend, but quite possibly anger. 

“Right then,” Miss Winters spoke, hands clasped together, “it seems we have our solution. Reya,” she looked at me as she spoke, “Chase will be moving in with you and your training will continue as is.” 

“Wait,” President Gaol spoke, “You will give weekly updates of her training and level to Oswald, in fact he may even attend some of your training sessions.” 

Chase smiled cordially and said, “I see no problem with that, perhaps even Oswald may learn something.” 

The President blinked out as the screen was turned off with Oswald excusing himself from the awkwardness that sang through the air.

“What about the roster?” I asked Miss Winters. With Chase staying with me I wasn’t sure where community chores fell on the scale of importance. I couldn’t imagine him shovelling leaves with me. 

“I’ll do them with you,” he spoke towards Miss Winters, but looked at me. 

Even though it had two bedrooms, the house somehow seemed too small for the both of us. Chase was a big, well built, ever-bearing guy. 

I sat on the couch watching some cooking show while I ate ramen noodles (the irony wasn't lost on me), waiting for Chase to arrive. After our meeting with Miss Winters and the President, Chase went back to his realm - presumably to pack his things and get the clearance to move here for the duration of my training. 

He left with a vague "see you at the house," and I had since been waiting up for him to show him around and to be somewhat accommodating, but the later he was, the more annoyed I became. And, I was annoyed that I was annoyed. 

At some point I drifted off to sleep on the couch. 

“Free me,” the voice whispered. 

In my mind's eye, I searched for where it was coming from.

I found him, once more behind bars, wearing the face of a horse. 

“You’re a shifter,” I said. 

“I am many things,” he replied, “but, I am mostly grateful.” 

“Why are you grateful?” I asked. 

“Because you are going to free me,” he stated. 

“Why are you in a cage? Did you do something wrong? Renege on a deal?” 

I was met with silence. 

“When you free me I will ensure that you will never be powerless again,” he whispered seductively. 

“Who put you there?” I asked. 

Once more, only silence answered. 

“Well if you can’t even answer me, I’m not going to even entertain this conversation about freeing you. GO AWAY,” I shouted into my mind, attempting to cut communication with him. 

“Free me.” He spoke again. 

“Go away.” 

“Free me,” he whispered gutterally. 

“Leave me alone,” I said firmly. 

“Free me. Free me. Free me,” it spoke in a sing-song voice. 

“You are not welcome here,” I tried again. 

“Free me. Free me. Free me. FREE ME. FREE ME.” The rattling of the bars creating a jarring sound that caused the hairs on my body to stand on end. 

“I will not free you,” I hissed, “I have no idea who you are and why you’re caged so GO AWAY,” I yelled into the crevices of my mind. 

An image appeared of him throttling me. My head thrown back, as my face turned bright red, my eyes bulging. 

“There will be consequences if you don’t free me,” he whispered. 

“So be it. Leave me alone,” I said. 

Finally, he vanished. I woke, sitting bolt upright, sweating and shaking. 

A sound reverberated through the room, and I turned my head to fine Chase sitting in a chair in the corner, overlooking the window. 

“You were thrashing,” he said, as if in answer to my unspoken question of why the hell he was there watching me. 

I brushed strands of sweat slicked hair out of my face. 

“You want to talk about the dreams?” he asked, extending the olive branch. 

I sighed deeply. Did I? 

“It wasn’t the usual ones,” I said, my voice sounding raspy to my ears, as if I had been screaming. 

“A new one?” he asked. 

I found myself explaining all about the man with the ever-changing face, and how he sought his freedom. 

“Someone has put him there for a reason Reya,” he spoke seriously. 

“I know,” I answered, biting my lip. "Is he a demon?" I asked.  

"A demon?" He answered, "what are demons except entities which we fear? No, fear is the demon." 

I found myself relaxing the more I spoke to him. 

“I don’t know who he is, but I promise you we’ll find out. There’s bound to be something on him in one of the libraries back home.” 

For the first time since I woke up I looked at him, actually looked at him. He looked dishevelled, his hair was messier than usual, and he was sporting a split lip. 

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked, fighting the urge to touch his bleeding lip. 

He smiled, “I got into a minor disagreement about staying here,” he confessed. 

“Your dad?”  

“No,” he shook his head, “my best friend.” 

I laughed outright. 

“A Prince has friends?” 

“Don’t be an asshole Reya, it doesn’t suit you,” he teased, with a grin plastered on his face. 

In that moment he seemed young and care-free, and I found my hand moving of its own accord to his face. My fingertips hovered over his lips, before finally pressing them against his mouth. 

A warm electric current ran through me, tingling down my arm, and out my finger tips. 

He gasped in response, his eyes widening with heat. 

I wondered if I had overstepped an unspoken boundary. I didn’t know the traditions in the Fae realm, perhaps he was spoken for and my fingers on his lips were some sort of transgression. I fought the pleasure rolling through my veins, and pulled my fingertips away, and when I looked at him his lip was whole and healed. 

His eyes flared up in awe as he ran his hands over the piece that had been split on moments before. 

“How many times have you done that?” he asked. 

“You’re my first,” I answered, and upon hearing that absurdity, I blushed and looked down. 

He laughed, grabbing my chin and tilting my face up towards his. An emotion flitted across his face - too briefly for me to accurately identify it. 

“Healing abilities are usually only associated with the higher ranking angels,” he whispered, “which means Reya, you are more powerful than perhaps even you realise.” 

I blinked in response. 

“I don’t know what to think at this stage,” I answered quietly. 

You should have told me that you’re a Prince,” I said quietly, pulling my chin from his grasp, the moment lost. 

“Would it have made a difference?” he asked. 

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. 

After my encounter with the caged shifter, I didn’t want to go back to sleep. Chase dutifully made popcorn and we sat on the couch until dawn exchanging stories and commenting on various cooking channels. His knowledge on cooking actually surprised me, and I had to admit that when he was relaxed like this, he didn’t seem so bad. He mostly told me about his realm. About how the elemental court wasn’t a seasonal court that leant itself to the changing seasons and weather that was tied to each, rather his court worked with base natural elements. His descriptions spoke of beauty and invention. One day, he would make a great King - his love for his land and people evident. 

I knew that he stayed up for me, to help keep the darkness at bay, and for that I was grateful.