Queens of the Fae: Books 1-3

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

It was the fruit.

It had to be. That was the only thing that made sense. Over the last several days since her escape attempt, the only thing Brea looked forward to were the Gelsi berries Leith brought her at every meal. The tart fruit was good, but it wasn't that good. She shouldn't crave it like she did. She was never particularly hungry after those first few days, but Brea needed those berries. Her body trembled whenever Leith was late.

Brea had grown to like the numb feeling she'd experienced since her latest incarceration. The distant, detached feeling that made her so sleepy she didn't have the energy to contemplate her situation. Crazy. Not crazy. It didn't matter.

Brea rolled onto her side, thinking about getting up. Leith would be here soon with her breakfast. It was the highlight of her morning. After, she'd go back to sleep until lunch. Unless she didn't eat the Gelsi berries today. She'd told herself yesterday she wouldn't eat them. Or was that the day before?

"That's different." She sat up, blinking to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Not like that would be unusual for Brea Robinson, but the door appeared to be open. "Leith?" she whispered, stumbling across the room to the doorway and peeking into the hall. No one was in the hall outside her door.

Still wearing her soiled sleeping gown, Brea crept into the front room and bolted for the door when she found no one waiting to haul her back to her cell. She didn't waste a moment this time. Brea ran across the yard, not even bothering with the horse. She wasn't going to screw this up again.

The too-green grass was like a plush carpet beneath her feet. Brea, weak from her days of sleeping too much, stumbled into the cover of the forest, gasping for breath. Casting a look back at the cottage, she saw that still no one followed her. It was odd, but she wasn't sticking around long enough to find out why.

Brea’s feet skimmed over moss-covered stones and massive tree roots along the pathway through the woods. She'd never seen such a forest, bursting with energy like a living, breathing thing, watching over her.

"Now, you're really losing it, Brea."

Sunlight dappled the ground through the tall, sweeping branches above. Species of trees she couldn't remember ever seeing before flourished in this fairytale forest. Exotic blooms in a riot of colors sprouted from every available surface. There was so much to see, Brea didn’t know where to look first. It was breathtaking. Still, she watched over her shoulder. As beautiful as it was, the forest gave her a creepy vibe. Like if she looked under the surface, she’d find something dark and twisted waiting to strike. It was eerily quiet. It took her a while to figure it out. There were no birds singing in the trees. The only sound in the forest was the wind whistling through the branches.

After all she’d experienced in the last few days, Brea no longer trusted anything she saw. She no longer trusted anyone, least of all herself. She had no idea where she was going. She only knew she needed to get away from her jailor and his freaky fruit long enough to clear her head and make a plan.

With that thought in mind, she kept going, following the pathway through the forest. She had no doubt Leith and Griff could track her and drag her back, but she had to try.

Finally stumbling from the forest, Brea found herself in a clearing beside a beautiful lake. Beautiful was such an arbitrary word to describe what she saw. If the forest was breathtaking, then the lake was out of this world. A laugh bubbled up inside her at that thought. She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep her laughter in check. Clearly, she wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

Azure water rippled in the cool breeze. As Brea peered into the lake, she realized it was deceptively deep. She could see the rocky bottom like it was only a few feet away, but her eyes played tricks on her. Brea wondered how strong the current was as she watched leaves drift and swirl a little too fast on the calm surface.

Impossibly high mountains bordered the lake on the far side, with a cascading waterfall crashing down from the snow-capped peaks. Behind her lay the forest and the prison-cottage she’d left behind, but to the south lay rolling green hills dotted with trees and Gelsi berry bushes as far as she could see. She could walk for days in either direction and not meet another living soul.

Brea walked along the edge of the lake, hopping from one moss covered boulder to the next, contemplating her next moves. Catching a whiff of herself in the breeze, she almost choked. She couldn’t remember the last time she showered, and the lake called to her. The water was so clear under the sparkling sunshine, she wanted nothing more than to dive right in and not come up for air until she was clean. Edging closer to the water, Brea caught her reflection in the surface.

Gasping, she knelt, staring at herself. “I’m seeing things again,” she whispered, reaching to touch the tips of her ears. Her pointed ears. Tucking her hair behind one of them, she leaned in closer.

All her life she’d caught glimpses of the people with pointed ears. They always had fathomless eyes too. And she’d convinced herself they weren’t real. But now she was seeing those same features in her own reflection. She knew she should be freaking out right about now, but the only thing Brea felt was a weird sort of… relief. Finally, here was physical proof she wasn’t seeing things that weren’t there. If she could see it and feel it for herself, it had to be real, right?

Feeling suddenly giddy, Brea stood and lifted her foot. She wanted to see how cold the water was before she waded in.

”I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The voice caught her by surprise, and she almost fell in right there. But Griff reached out and pulled her away from the water. “Loch Villandi is beautiful but dangerous.”

”Dangerous?” Brea couldn’t seem to break her gaze away from the water.

“Beautiful things often have a sharp bite.” He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “The Villandi waters have claimed many lives. On the surface, she looks harmless and inviting, but underneath lies a heartless current that will sweep you into the bottomless depths never to be seen again. It is best to leave her be.”

”I wish you’d leave me be.” Shrugging out of his grip, she ran back to the relative safety of the forest. But she wondered how dangerous it was. If Loch Villandi was treacherous, then the forest surrounding it must be too.

”And where would you go if I left you to your own devices?”

”Home.” Brea lifted her chin.

“And how would you get back to the human world?”

“I… I will find someone to help me do that portal thing you did.”

”You’ll be looking from now until forever if that’s your plan. Only those of my clan can open a portal between realms to bring fae or humans through, and most of them are long dead.”

“What do you want from me?” Brea stomped her foot in the grass. “I’m nobody.”

“You have never been nobody, Brea Robinson. I thought I told you that already.”

“Then tell me what’s so special about me that you stole me away from my home at the worst possible moment?”

“I thought it was rather good timing seeing as how you were recently arrested and in the company of a dangerous man.” Griff scratched the stubble on his chin. She’d thought elves were supposed to be all smooth-skinned and hairless, but he had a handsome ruggedness about him.

“I’m tired of your games, Elf. Either take me home or leave me be.”

“I told you, I am fae. I am not an elf, a fairy, or a nymph, or any other such creature the humans dreamed up.”

“Fine, Fae-man-person. Whatever you are. Take me home.”

“I can’t do that. But I can take you back to the cottage, offer you a hot meal and a warm bath. Fresh clothes and answers to your questions. And you may call me Griff.”

“What about your cage? There is no way I’m going back in there, and you can keep your freaky tranquilizer fruit for yourself. I’m done with that stuff.”

”I am sorry about that, Brea, truly. I did not mean to treat you like a prisoner. My queen summoned me, and I must go to her when she has need of me. There was no time to explain everything you need to know. I only wanted to make you comfortable and safe while I was gone.”

”Here’s a little note for the comment card. The next time you have a guest at your little fairytale B&B, don’t lock them up.”

“I don’t know what most of that means, but if you will remember, I told you I will never lie to you. Come with me, and I will explain everything.”

”Fine.” Brea crossed her arms over her chest. “You can start by explaining how I suddenly have pointy ears.”

“You’ve always had them.” He set off for the forest path, gesturing for her to follow. “You were glamoured so neither you nor anyone else could see them.”

“Glamoured?” Brea walked beside him.

“It’s a Fae thing. Someone didn’t want you or anyone in your life to know what you are.”

“Which is what? You’re saying I’m Fae?”

“You are a human-Fae hybrid. That, among many other things, is what makes you special.” He paused. “Yet you don’t seem at all upset by this revelation.”

“It explains a lot.” Brea couldn’t seem to stop touching her new ears. “So you’re saying my mother had an affair with a Fae person? That makes zero sense. If you knew my mother, you’d agree. She’s not the adventurous sort.”

“I don’t know how it happened, but your birth father was Fae.”

“Was? So he’s dead?”

“Unfortunately.”

“That still doesn’t explain why your queen seems to have an interest in me.” Brea’s stomach growled. She hadn’t had anything to eat all day.

“Here, have a silver fig, I picked them fresh this morning.” He pulled a handful of figs from his bag.

Brea’s eyes widened in alarm when he tossed her the fruit.

“No strange side effects, I promise. I’ll have one myself.” He proceeded to peel back the silvery skin of the fig and made a show of eating it to prove it wasn’t freaky like the berries.

“Fine.” Brea was too hungry to argue with him. “But you still haven’t answered my question.” She peeled the shimmery skin from the fruit and tried not to moan at the taste of the fig. She swore she could taste the sun in that first bite.

“That’s a complicated question with a long answer.” Griff scratched his head.

“I’ve got nothing but time it seems. Start talking.”

Griffin walked ahead of her, staring up into the clear blue sky for a moment before turning back to her. “The Fae realm is ancient. Ages older than the human world. Within it, there are three distinct realms. We are in Fargelsi now. Gelsi is an exotic realm of lush forests and wild lands. It’s warm and sunny almost all year here. To the north lies the Iskalt kingdom. It is very cold there with massive mountain ranges and frozen lakes. It’s a rather bleak and cruel land, but beautiful in its own way.

“The third realm to the east is Eldur, by far the largest. It’s the fire realm. Desert wastelands in the north and hot springs and marshes to the south. Between each of these realms are the Vatlands. Neutral territories you never want to visit.

“Across Loch Villandi and beyond the deserts of Eldur, lie the Eastern Vatlands, also called the fire plains. The Northern Vatlands separate Iskalt and Fargelsi. Vast rocky mountain ranges where you could get lost for the rest of your life. The Southern Vatlands are the marshlands and putrid swamps filled with frightening creatures.”

“Great geography lesson, but that still doesn’t answer my question. Why does a Fae queen have any interest in me?”

“As you can probably imagine, the three realms have not always gotten along.” Griff kept walking and talking, seemingly bent on not answering her question. But at least she was learning something. The most important being that she had never been crazy at all.

“The Eldur queens have always believed they should rule over all the realms and that Gelsi and Iskalt should serve them. Naturally, the Gelsi queen and the Iskalt king don’t feel the same.”

“So you’re at war or something?”

“Not at the moment. But there have been wars over this issue throughout the ages. The Eldur queen wants all the power for herself, but we are determined to maintain our independence.”

“What does any of this have to do with me?”

“I’m getting there.” Griff shot her an impatient look. “We are a people steeped in ancient magic. Here in Gelsi, its people draw their power from the forests and nature. In Eldur, the sun fuels their power, but only during the day. Iskalt is a dark and icy realm, and it’s people draw their power from the moon, but only at night.”

“What does—?”

“Patience, Brea. I’m trying to explain magic to someone who just learned magic exists.”

She inclined her head. “Fair enough. Go on.”

“Each realm has their own strengths and weaknesses. But one thing we all have in common is the gift of prophecy. Our histories are littered with prophecies.”

“So all Fae can see the future?”

“No, not all. Only a select few true seers are born into each realm every generation, and they are greatly revered.”

Brea didn’t like where this was going at all. If Griff was about to tell her there was some kind of prophecy about her, she was getting the hell out of this place.

“All of the seers of the last three generations have spoken about a young girl, born of a human mother and a Fae father. Left to live in the human world, never knowing what she was until she came of age and was unable to control her power any longer. This Fae-human hybrid has the power to save Fargelsi from the encroaching fires of Eldur. She has the power to thwart the Eldur queens and bring peace to our world forever.”

“And you think that’s me?” Brea wanted to laugh but she also felt the hot burn of tears in her eyes and her throat constricted in panic. This was insane, and she had a lot of experience with insanity.

“You fit every single criteria of the prophecy, Brea. That the Queen of Eldur sent Lochlan after you only proves it. She will stop at nothing to get her hands on you. I almost missed it, Brea.” He stopped walking at the edge of the forest. The cottage was in view now, but Brea just shook her head in disbelief. “I almost let him take you, and I will never forgive myself for it. You are far too important to fall into the hands of Eldur.”

“I’m nobody, Griff.” Her voice came out small and shaky. “I’m not important.”

“You belong to Fargelsi. This is your home, Brea. Your father was our queen’s oldest brother. She is your aunt, and she’s gone to great lengths to find you and bring you home safely.”

“My aunt is a queen? A magical fae queen?” Brea couldn’t wrap her head around such madness. “But I don’t have powers.” She couldn’t be this prophecy girl who was supposed to be some kind of savior.

“I beg to differ. You aren’t of age yet, so your true power has not fully manifested, but it’s strong already. Have you ever felt like your emotions spiral out of control without warning? Like you feel things so much stronger than others? Like if you make one wrong move, you might drown in a sea of those emotions?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s like that all the time. Like if I let myself really feel things, there’s this energy brewing just under the surface. It scares me.”

“That’s what happened with your friend, Myles. Unfortunately, he got in the way at a pivotal moment when you weren’t in control. That is why you have to come with me, Brea. We have to teach you how to master your emotions so you never lose control like that again. And we have to do it before you come of age on your next birthday. If we wait any longer, it will be too late.”

“Myles died because I lost control of something I didn’t even know I had? How could she do this to me?” Brea wanted to rage at her mother. “She knew I wasn’t fully human but she just let me think I was crazy!”

“Take a deep breath, Brea. You can’t get upset now. It’s likely your mother never knew the man that fathered her child was Fae.”

“I’m so mad I could just…” She wanted to tear the world apart with her bare hands. Even now she could feel the energy buzzing just below her skin. She couldn’t let her emotions get the better of her.

“We can talk more later. Right now, let’s get you inside and comfortable. You can have a hot bath, and Leith will have a big meal waiting for you when you’re done. And if you want, you can have some more Gelsi berries. I really wasn’t trying to d**g you. The berries will help keep your power dormant so you don’t hurt anyone.”

Brea nodded. “Perhaps that is best.” The last thing she wanted was to hurt anyone like she had Myles. She was beginning to realize how lucky she was that Griff had found her when he had. She shuddered to think what might have happened if Lochlan had taken her to the Eldur Queen.