Read the adventures of Sylvie and Rayna in a modern fantasy story where fey and magic are very real! Also cute artwork of said characters and probably other random stuff. We'll see. About the author: queer disaster, part-time writer, full-time dingbat, statistically likely to be older than you. pronouns: she/her.
I have a third book in the series in the works, but due to IRL stuff I probably won't be able to start posting it until the new year. But I will be back!
Side stories are scenes that I wanted to write, but they don’t fit into the narrative of the main stories. They don’t advance any particular plot, but provide some more depth to the world and characters.
A series of vignettes occurring over a typical day for Sylvie.
Morning light filtered in through the gauze-like curtains, their gentle fluttering in the breeze from outside causing the shadows to dance and flicker across our tiny loft apartment. I rolled to one side so I could see Rayna’s sleeping face, dappled in beautiful golds and ambers from the early sun. I could think of no other place that felt more safe, more like home. She rested peacefully, and gently I pushed some of her chocolate-brown locks to one side with my fingers, just admiring her in that calm moment.
But, there was work to do!
She would wake soon, so I had to have everything ready to start the day. I slipped past her, careful not to disturb as I crawled over and off the bed. Frequently I wondered if I should sleep on the outside since I almost always woke up first, but we’d settled into our routine with me closest to the window.
No need to change out of my pyjamas for now, I just quickly moved over to the kitchenette. One large scoop of grounds into the coffeemaker, and I set it to bubbling. While that cheerful noise started, I moved on to cooking breakfast. We only had a simple plug-in hotplate, but it was enough for one pan to make an egg and a bit of bacon.
The sizzling meat immediately filled my nostril with a sweet-savoury smell, and while I wasn’t partial to it, bacon was one of Rayna’s favourites. The cooking would make a bit of noise and a strong aroma, but that was fine. Awaking to my culinary toils put a smile on her face.
Indeed, I heard her stir behind me just as everything got going. Firmly, I kept my attention on her breakfast, playing out our little morning dance. A moment later, her arms wrapped around me just under my chest, and she kissed the nape of my neck.
“Good morning, love!” she said.
A smile came to my lips. She never described herself as a morning person, but she seemed happier for it these days. “Good morning,” I replied as I cracked an egg into the pan.
“One of these days, you should wake me up and make me cook for you instead.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. I enjoy doing this for you.”
She released me and grabbed a mug from the cabinet so she could take advantage of the fresh coffee.
“What crises are on the docket today?” she joked while pouring it into her cup.
Her attempt at humour was expected, but I still frowned just a little. I knew she was wary after everything that happened, but I tried my best to reassure her.
“Hopefully, nothing more serious than chasing the raccoons out of the dumpster,” I replied.
Today turned out to be a busy day. Sometimes it felt like no one wanted to buy antique books, but then, out of nowhere, a crowd could turn that around fast. I took a good look around at the scene on the shop floor: eight people in the store at one time, all scattered in different sections. I don’t know how Rayna managed on her own, but she currently talked to one woman about a specific cookbook she was trying to track down while also ringing up a purchase for someone else.
Despite my attempts to help, I always felt useless. I had deep knowledge of the occult, of the fey, and alchemy and sorcery, but that was only one small section in her store. Most people weren’t interested in those things, instead asking about books on human religions or military history or classic cars. The best I could do was smile and show them where they were, but I didn’t have Rayna’s breadth of knowledge to help them find a book that would interest them.
Currently, I nodded and smiled at an old man who asked me to show him the books on Norse mythology. It was a subject in which I at least had some understanding, but I still didn’t know the specific books on the shelf very well. That didn’t seem to bother him, though, and he switched to telling me his life story and how much he wished he could’ve become an author in his youth instead of an insurance adjuster. I did my best to keep my smile the whole time, just as Rayna taught me, but secretly I wanted to do anything else but listen to him.
I glanced over to where Rayna worked behind the cash register, and I silently admired her poise and how she always kept up a cheerful appearance when helping every customer. Briefly, our eyes met, and she flashed me a more genuine, toothy grin that she didn’t give to the patrons. My heart melted a little.
I could think of worse ways to spend my time on this planet.
Later in the afternoon, after most of the customers dispersed, an opportunity presented itself to take care of a backlog of laundry. I gathered up two large baskets full and headed out. On my way there, Lacuna sent me a text message asking if they could “hang out” with me at the launderette. I had a suspicion Rayna told them where I went.
I sighed and sent a reply that they were welcome.
The laundromat was mostly empty, just myself and a couple others. Most people probably had more interesting things to do on a Friday afternoon. That was fine with me.
Just as I finished sprinkling detergent into the first load, Lacuna strode in. Ever since they’d discovered the diversity of human clothing, they had a habit of trying out anything and everything. Today, they appeared to be in a feminine mood, wearing a long black skirt and a cropped tee shirt that bared their pale midriff. Their lips were the colour of a summer violet. The fluidity of Lacuna’s gender expression intrigued me.
The dark elf also carried two plastic cups filled with frozen yogurt. As they approached, they gave me a cheery smile and offered one that was mostly plain, with nuts on top.
“Evening, love!” they beamed.
I took the offered yogurt cautiously. “Thank you, Lacuna. That was thoughtful of you.”
“Oh, don’t mind me, I was just in the neighbourhood.”
They hoisted themself on top of a nearby washing machine so they could sit and dig into their more elaborate confection: chocolate frozen yogurt topped with chocolate sauce, chocolate sprinkles, and marshmallows. I wondered if fey royals were worried about diabetes.
I pawed at the yogurt with the little plastic spoon. Perhaps this was their attempt to ingratiate themself with me. From what I understood, Lacuna was of great help to Rayna during her ordeal in Wintervale, but I still didn’t trust that the heir of the Winter Court casually walked among us. They would often stop by the store to chat with my girlfriend, but I usually stayed out of sight.
“You know,” they continued between bites. “You should come out to Mal’s tonight.”
“I don’t know, Lacuna. It’s kind of a noisy place. I also don’t like staying up late.”
“Well, Rayna’s coming. I’m sure she’d love it if you came along, darling.”
I pushed a spoonful of yogurt into my mouth and regarded them with narrowed eyes. Lacuna mirrored my expression, openly mocking me. It was a trap, then.
Before we could continue the verbal joust, another person walked up with their laundry and placed it on the machine right next to mine. I always hated when people did that when there were so many other open washers. He was tall and tan, tight shirt and tight pants showing off a gym-crafted physique.
“’Sup, babes,” he quipped as he sorted his clothes.
My hackles raised, and I moved away as best I could without the motion being obvious. The last thing I wanted was a conversation with someone who referred to me as “babe.” Lacuna just kept their grey eyes fixed on him while nonchalantly licking the length of their spoon. I suspected they’d made the same motion with a dagger once.
Completely unable to read the room, the newcomer continued as he dropped clothes into the washing machine. “Going to Mal’s? That’s that weird place on Fifteenth Street, right? I heard about ‘em. Sounds wicked. Either of you need a date?”
“No,” I replied quietly and ducked my head to avoid the leer that followed his question.
Lacuna set down their yogurt, dropped to the floor, and sashayed over to him. My heart caught in my throat; hopefully they wouldn’t harm a human in the middle of the launderette?
The man smiled as the dark elf approached. Lacuna exaggerated the swing of their hips and the bat of their eyelashes. They reached up and touched a long fingernail to his face, grinning wickedly.
“What delicate skin you have,” they cooed.
“Uh, thanks? Is that a yes?”
Lacuna chuckled and flicked their finger, leaving a tiny cut. “Oh no, I was just thinking how nice it would be to flay it from your body and hang it on my wall.”
He slapped a hand to his chin. “Ow!”
Luckily, he took the hint, if one could call it anything subtle. He looked at the elf with shock and confusion for a moment, then grabbed his clothes back from the washer and hurried to the very back of the room.
“Thanks,” I muttered to Lacuna.
They made a show of putting their hand to their ear. “Hmm?”
“Thank you,” I repeated, louder and more annoyed. “You weren’t…?”
Lacuna grinned. “Oh heavens! No, darling. What kind of fool do you take me for?”
I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe they weren’t all bad.
Despite my earlier protests, I found myself in a crowded bar after dark. Most of the times I’d visited Malcolm’s Place, it was in the middle of the day and completely bereft of patrons. At night, however, the din of conversation and music made it impossible to hear myself think. I sat at one end of the long oak bar, watching the cacophony of barflies around me over the rim of a glass of plain water.
Lacuna assisted Mal behind the bar, slinging various bottles of liquor with dexterous precision under the spriggan’s guidance. Frustration crinkled Mal’s brow as he no doubt wanted the dark elf to focus on the recipes rather than looking flashy, spinning the bottles around. So far, Lacuna hadn’t dropped anything, though, so he kept mum.
Not far from me, Rayna held a pint glass half-full with beer that sloshed back and forth as she gesticulated with her arms. Her cheeks glowed red from the drink, and a smile dimpled them from ear to ear. She was engrossed in a conversation with another human and his elf boyfriend.
I sighed… but then a soft chuckle rose from my chest, unbidden.
How dense I was… I used to lament how rare it was to find other fey in this city. Maybe it’s easier to find friends if you don’t spend all your time with your nose stuck in a book. Mal had built a little place where fey could be themselves and have a good time over a stiff drink and stale peanuts. It was noisy and hectic, a stark contrast to Rayna’s bookstore and not my preferred venue at all. But I couldn’t deny that it felt nice to be in the company of others like myself. The human world felt just a little less lonely here.
Lacuna slid their arms across the bar like a plane coming in for a crash landing, interrupting my thoughts. A small glass of liquid balanced precariously in their fingertips.
“Here, try this!” they said excitedly. A wide grin split their face, genuine and warm, not their usual cat-like smile. “I concocted it myself!”
I glanced over their shoulder at Mal. He held his hands up, absolving himself of any responsibility, before quickly turning to serve another patron. I sighed.
“What is it?” I asked. “You’re not trying to get me drunk, are you?”
They shook their head vigorously. “No, no, love—tiny amount of alcohol in it. But I think you’ll like it!”
Despite my misgivings, the earnestness in Lacuna’s voice disarmed me. I didn’t enjoy hanging around the child of a hated enemy, but I swallowed that feeling down. I should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Slowly, I reached out for the glass. A slightly pink but otherwise clear liquid filled it. I raised the drink to my lips, but the aroma belied little of what I was going to experience. Lacuna followed my motions with their intense grey eyes, eager to see my reaction. I took a sip.
It was… pleasant?
There was a distinct taste of rose water on my tongue, followed by tart and sweet raspberry. Underlying it all was the sharp edge of an alcohol tinged with the spicy flavour of juniper berries, but not so much that it ruined the drink for me. My eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise.
“It’s good,” I said. It was an honest opinion.
Lacuna made a high-pitched squeal of delight, startling Rayna and her conversation companions next to me. “Thank you! I think I’ll name it after you… how about the Surly Sylvie Sunrise?”
I raised one finger and formed a protest in my mouth, but before it came out, Rayna put her arm around my shoulders and squeezed me close to her.
“Oh, look at you two!” she exclaimed. “It’s so nice to see you getting along.”
I put my hand down and bit my lip. “Yes… Lacuna was being sweet and made a cocktail for me.”
The dark elf’s eyes brightened. “See, Rayna? We’re besties now! Enjoy the drink, my treat!”
Rayna giggled as Lacuna slid back down the bar to help someone else before I could object to being referred to as a “bestie.” My girlfriend leaned over and pressed her lips against my cheek, providing a suitable distraction from the dark elf’s antics.
“I’m glad you came out, dolcezza,” she whispered. “I know you don’t like the noise, but isn’t it great to hang out with our friends?”
A smile crossed my lips, and I bumped my forehead into hers. “It’s growing on me.”
Side stories are scenes that I wanted to write, but they don’t fit into the narrative of the main stories. They don’t advance any particular plot, but provide some more depth to the world and characters.
“Ma che bell’!”
Rayna stepped into the living room of our suite, awestruck by everything around her. The room was decked in wood and brass, with warm lighting and cozy linens. Hand-painted scenes of nature and wildlife hung on the walls, clad in over-ornate frames. It was more like a small apartment than a hotel room, complete with couches and a kitchenette.
I closed the door quietly behind us and watched as she ran straight for the giant bed and flopped down on it. The whole thing bounced, and she giggled. I smiled to myself. The room had the effect I desired.
“I can’t believe it, Sylvie!” she said excitedly. “This place is huge. I can’t wait to actually sleep without elbowing each other.”
I dropped our overnight bag on the nearby dresser and sat down beside her. “I thought it would be nice to have an actual rest after all we’ve been through. A little irresponsible splurging now and then doesn’t hurt.”
Her eyes formed into joyful crescents. “Yeah, I guess spending your money isn’t so bad after all. I don’t want to make a habit of it, though.”
I smiled and ran my fingers through her hair. I still didn’t understand why she was so hesitant to let me pay for things. Pride, maybe? Humans could be just as bad as elves in that regard. I made sure not to say anything this time. I didn’t want another bracelet incident.
Her expression darkened a bit. “I don’t understand. If you could live like this, why would you stay in my cramped little loft?”
I laughed. “Well, I can’t live like this. Not if I want my savings to last, anyway.”
She sat up so she could untie her boots and kick them off. “You know what I mean. You used to live in a pretty nice place with real rooms and a fireplace. A frickin’ fireplace! I’d love one of those.”
“Are you saying you want me to move out?”
She flopped back down beside me, jostling the bed. “No, you dolt. You can stay with me as long as you want. I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
I grinned and caressed her face lightly with my fingertips. She playfully chomped her teeth at the air when they got close, bringing a goofy smile to my lips.
“To be honest, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing,” I replied. “I really wanted to move out of my apartment after… you know. It was just easy to throw things in storage and come live with you. I thought it would be temporary, but now I can’t really imagine being anywhere but with you and the shop. I love you, I love books. It all works out.”
“Aha! You just want me for my old, dusty tomes.”
I gave her a wry smirk. “Why can’t you just accept that I love you? No strings attached. I don’t care about where we live or who pays for it.”
She sat up and frowned, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Sorry if I keep making a big deal about it… it’s complicated.”
“Tell me about it, then?”
“Nah, let’s not ruin the mood.”
She dodged me again, both physically and metaphorically, as she jumped up from the bed to inspect the adjacent room. I folded my hands on my lap and waited patiently.
Rayna suddenly turned back to face me and made an overly dramatic enunciation of each word while she pointed into the other room. “The. Bathtub. Is. Ginormous.”
I grinned back at her. “Then go take a bath!”
“Oh, I will,” she confirmed and disappeared into the bathroom. “Hold my calls!”
Well, at least she was happier than I’d seen her in a while. I busied myself by unpacking our clothes while flowing water echoed off the walls in the adjacent room. After a few minutes, I heard Rayna slip into the bath with a few brief complaints about it being a little too hot. She let out an audible sigh that reverberated off the tiles, and I imagined she finally relaxed. It warmed my heart to know such a simple thing could bring her joy.
I kicked off my shoes and settled on the bed with one of my books. I tried my best to focus on a technical treatise on crystal refraction, but my mind was still mushy from the ordeal in the Wintervale. It made it difficult to focus for more than a few sentences. No, I couldn’t blame the adventure in the fey realms this time. Something nagged at the back of my brain and wouldn’t let me think about anything else.
I sighed and threw the book down on the bed.
Sneaking quietly into the bathroom, I tiptoed over Rayna’s discarded clothing. She laid back in the tub with water up to her shoulders, eyes closed, and a smile on her lips. Giant poofs of soapy bubbles obscured everything but her face. True to her word, the bathtub was in fact quite large and made of red and white marble with brass fittings, truly a tub fit for royalty.
My eyes fell upon the spider red scars that cross her neck and chest, and through the bubbles I could just barely see the jagged scar that cut across her right bicep. Both were my fault. No matter what, though, she refused to let me accept the blame for them. I sighed.
The shroud of foam covering her skin ignited my imagination, but I forced myself to focus. I needed to talk to her before I let my feelings run rampant again. I took a seat on the edge of the tub but didn’t say anything. Not because I was trying to be creepy, but I just couldn’t figure out how to open the conversation.
She must’ve heard my defeated exhalation. She opened her eyes and smiled. “What’s on your mind, Shaela-Shaela?”
“I… I wanted to talk about something. It’s, uh… difficult for me, though.”
“Take your time. As you can see, I’m a captive audience at the moment.”
Her attempt at humour was cute, but unfortunately, it did little to calm my nerves. I took a breath and opened my mouth, and then did so three or four more times. Rayna, bless her heart, just waited patiently for me to fumble through it.
I finally squeezed out one word. “Sunday.”
Rayna narrowed her eyes, trying to puzzle out what I meant. Then realization raised her eyebrows, and she pursed her lips. “Right, Sunday… you mean what happened that night?”
I nodded mutely.
Now it was her turn to figure out how to start, and her brow furrowed with deep thought. “You left me a note. That was sweet of you, but you shouldn’t have apologized. It was my fault.”
My shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to argue about whose fault it was. Maybe I don’t owe you an apology, but I do feel I owe you an explanation.”
“Okay,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt. “I’ll just be honest: I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never felt about anyone like I do about you, and I still don’t understand what that means for me… ah, physically, if you understand me.”
She leaned forward and placed her hand on my arm, scattering bubbles all over my sleeve. “I know. You don’t have the words, maybe, but you’ve tried your best to explain it before. I love you, but I don’t want to love you in a way that hurts you or that you’re not ready for.”
I uttered a shaking laugh, so nervous that I couldn’t even look at her. I wasn’t used to talking about these things. At least Rayna had somehow understood at least a small part of what I had trouble describing. I don’t think I could ever boil it down to words. Sometimes, I really wanted to express myself physically, give her everything. Other times, the very thought of it repulsed me.
She leaned back against the tub again. “And, again, I’m really sorry for hurting you. You’re not like anyone I’ve been with before, and I don’t understand the boundaries yet. I just hope I didn’t screw things up too bad.”
I smiled to myself and met her eyes with mine for the first time since I sat down. That was one of the things I appreciated about her. When things got a little messed up, she was great at keeping things grounded. When I lost myself in my emotions, she was my guiding light.
“No… you didn’t,” I replied quietly. “I want to share myself with you. I really do. All I can say is I’m going to mess things up, too. We’re both kind of lost, aren’t we?”
She gave me one of her wide, gorgeous smiles. “Well, at least we found each other.”
I nodded and ran my hand through the bubbles and the water. It felt pleasantly warm. “I’m a little jealous of your bath.”
“Yeah, it’s doing wonders for my sore muscles,” she said and stretched her arms over her head for emphasis. “You’re welcome to join me.”
She waggled her eyebrows at me, a goofy expression that let me know she was just joking.
Another nervous giggle escaped my mouth, and I turned away so she couldn’t see me blush. And yet, I wasn’t really all that nervous. At least not the afraid kind of nervous… more like excitement? Anticipation? It was hard to describe. We wouldn’t get another chance to enjoy a bath like this anytime soon, though, so it’d be a shame to waste the opportunity.
I stood up and pulled my blouse over my head, which took some effort with limited mobility in one arm. I probably looked silly, tugging at it one-handed. Then I slipped my skirt off. Rayna watched and shifted uneasily, completely uncertain of my intention. Then the undergarments came off, and she covered her face. I caught a glimpse of her beet-red cheeks, though. Despite us living in a small space together for a short while, we’d never seen each other fully naked. I grinned. I loved turning the tables on her every once in a while. Pulling my long hair up into a bun, I dipped one foot into the warm water.
Rayna steadied herself with the sides of the tub as the water sloshed back and forth. “Wait, Sylvie! I don’t think there’s actually enough room—!”
I dropped into the bath with her, and water spilled over the sides of the tub, spreading bubbles all over the floor and our clothes. In the same motion, I fell into her arms, and Rayna giggled. I slid into place so that my back was up against her chest, and she placed a few small kisses on the side of my neck.
“There’s enough room,” I stated proudly.
“You little imp,” she whispered and nuzzled me behind the ear.
I turned my head and leaned back so our eyes could meet. I loved looking into her gorgeous brown eyes. After a few breaths, I pressed my lips to hers and closed my eyes. It felt good just to focus on the soft touch of her mouth and on the little movements of our lips. The heat of the water and our bodies relaxed me in a way that washed away my fears from earlier.
She kept her hands on my waist, making sure not to wander. I wanted her to, though. It was an odd and sudden feeling as lascivious thoughts went through my mind. Even a fey Queen couldn’t evoke the way Rayna brought love into my heart. I touched my fingers lightly to her arm under the water while our kiss deepened, and I followed her forearm down to her wrist and then to her hand, placing my own over hers. I urged her hand lower with a slight nudge.
Rayna pulled away from our kiss, and I opened my eyes to see hers filled with concern.
“Sylvie, what’re you doing?” she asked.
My mouth turned upward into a little smile. “Trusting you to be gentle. Go slow.”
he swallowed, and her eyes darted around like she was trying to process what I said. “Okay, okay… but if you want me to stop, just say so. No shoving this time, capeesh?”
I nodded. “I promise I’ll say something.”
Rayna’s smile returned even wider, and she closed her eyes so she could kiss me again. I returned the gesture eagerly, mimicking the hungry motions of her mouth from a few nights ago. It felt weird and exhilarating.
I turned my body towards her and let her fingers wander…
We lay together in the darkness, snuggled under the covers of the massive bed. The feeling of being clean and dressed in fresh pyjamas was one of those minor pleasures in life that I cherished. I laid my head on Rayna’s chest and just listened to her heartbeat. My skin still felt warm, partly from the bath, partly from my girlfriend’s body, and partly from the afterglow of an exquisite orgasm. I don’t know how, but it felt entirely different from when I did it on my own. Unfortunately, it also made me profoundly sleepy, and I felt a little bad about not reciprocating. Rayna reassured me she was fine with our first time just being a little treat for me.
She hummed a lulling tune, and it reverberated through her chest and into my ear. I smiled as a bit of her magic washed over me and soothed me. I don’t think she even knew she was casting a spell, it was just something that came naturally to her. A stray thought entered my brain: she would be an amazing mother.
I shifted a little and kissed the underside of her chin. “Not sleepy?”
She brushed her hand against my cheek. “Mmm… just thinking.”
“About?”
“The future, I suppose. Have you ever wondered what it would be like… you know… years from now?”—she chuckled—“God, I’m sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself.”
“It’s okay. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think there was a future for us. As I’m sure you’ve realized by now, flings aren’t really my thing.”
“Yeah, it just… scares me a little. You’re the first person who’s made me think about it seriously. Maybe because…”
I was fairly certain of what worried her. “Because I’ll outlive you? Is that what you’re worried about?”
She squirmed. I could tell she was uncomfortable with the conversation, but she answered anyway. “Yeah.”
“It’s okay. I think about that too sometimes. But also I remember James.”
“Pardon?”
I laughed. “Sorry. James’ wife Dael—she was an elf, remember? I told you about it.”
“Oh, oh… right.”
“They must’ve seen some way to make it work. And then… despite whatever plans they made, Dael passed away first. I think what I’m trying to say is, maybe try not to worry about what might be, because it’ll probably be different than what you imagine. Just enjoy today and take it one step at a time.”
She didn’t respond right away. What I said was probably not as comforting as I thought it was.
“Sorry, was that too morbid?” I asked.
She kissed my forehead. “Maybe you’ve thought about this even more than I have.”
“Overthinking is a speciality of mine.”
Rayna let out a more relaxed laugh that reassured me. She hugged me tight, but at that point we were both done with heavy conversations for the night. Slowly, quietly, sleep crept into the room and overtook us both, and I slipped away into the most peaceful rest of the last few weeks.
Bright fluorescent lighting cascaded over the plain and sterile room as I leaned against the bedside, holding Rayna’s hand in my good one. My other arm rested in a sling. She was still unconscious, but mercifully stable, and in the care of human medical professionals.
That’s all that matters, I reassured myself. It didn’t work.
She reposed peacefully against a stack of pillows, chest rising and falling with each breath. She looked so vulnerable laying there in a hospital gown, wires and tubes stuck into various parts of her body. Branching red scars crossed her chest and neck like a spider’s web where the Queen’s spell struck her. It was a miracle she survived.
Well, maybe more fortuitous intervention than a miracle. I placed her hand down gently on the bed and fiddled with the pendant I still held in my palm. Dael’s pendant. It was scorched black, the jewel shattered, but it had served its purpose. I don’t know what possessed Rayna to take it with her, but I would be forever grateful to James for giving it to me.
Despite our luck, though… I knew everything was my fault. She wouldn’t have been in harm’s way at all if it weren’t for me.
Another thing still nagged at the back of my mind. I reached over and pushed her chocolatey locks out of the way to see her forehead clearly. The cursemark shone faintly in my second sight. Oberon had not returned, and though we escaped with our lives, we clearly did not carry out the mission as intended. Probably we made things worse, actually. Likely the King would come for my head as well before long.
The door to the room flew open and rattled against the jamb, and I recoiled in surprise. A short, dark-haired woman in a blue dress rushed in shortly afterwards. Immediately, my heart sank: it was Rayna’s mother. I only met her once before. She came to the bedside opposite me and leaned down to put her hand lightly atop Rayna’s head.
Her voice shook. “What happened to my baby?”
A second later, a man who was the spitting image of Rayna entered the room. He was familiar to me as well, and I was glad for her brother’s presence. I didn’t want to face her mother alone. Robbie nodded a short greeting to me, but his face was stone.
The older woman turned her dark eyes on me. “What happened?” she repeated.
“I… I’m sorry. She… she followed me to the Wylde. I promise I told her not to go! But she didn’t listen.” Words just spilled out of my mouth, completely unhinged, and I had difficulty choking back my tears. “Th-there were all these dark elves… and a… a mountain… Queen Morrigan’s magic was strong, she attacked—”
Her mother’s face turned a shade of purple that I didn’t think possible. “You…! You took my baby girl to the God-forsaken fey world?”
I nodded dumbly. Robbie put a hand over his mouth.
“Get out!” she screamed at me and pointed at the door.
Rayna stirred at the disturbance, but didn’t quite wake. Her mother didn’t need to tell me twice, though. I jumped up from my chair and ran for the door, chased by an onslaught of Italian swearing that stung my ears. I pulled the door closed behind me just so I wouldn’t hear her anymore.
A soft, male voice asked me, “Everything alright?”
I whirled around to see a familiar bespectacled doctor standing nearby. His balding head was salted with a bit of grey at his temples, and his almond-shaped eyes regarded me with curiosity and kindness.
“Dr. Xie! Yes, yes, it’s fine… just… Rayna’s mother didn’t take it well. Not that I can blame her.”
He folded his arms across his white coat. “Well, this is twice the two of you have come to me with some rather mysterious injuries in the past month. Normally, these are the types of things the hospital requires me to file a police report about, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t do any good.”
I nodded. “I know. Sorry to put you in this position. Rayna will be okay, though?”
The doctor chuckled. “Yes! I’ve told you that twice already. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll convince Mrs. Ravenna as well.”
He left me with one of his good-natured smiles and slid into the room. I followed him with my eyes, but I stayed out of view of the doorway in case Rayna’s mother saw me again. She would not let me back in there anytime soon, I was certain of it.
It was just a matter of waiting.
Sound echoed off the shelves in the bookstore, emphasizing how lonely and empty it felt. While Rayna recovered, I didn’t have the heart to open it. The lights remained off and the sign in the window firmly said “closed.” Morning sunlight streamed through the glass storefront and highlighted the little particles of dust drifting through the air. It felt abandoned, just like me.
Mal walked up and muttered. “Uh… where do you want these?”
He tore me away from rumination on my failure, if only briefly. He held a sizeable chunk of amethyst in one hand and of citrine in the other.
I pointed to a box by the front desk. “In that one is fine.”
The red-haired man bobbed his head and set them gently into the box. “It’s not really my place to say, you know… but I can’t help thinkin’ you’re makin’ a mistake.”
My hand dropped to the hem of my skirt and fidgeted. “I’m a danger to Rayna. I want to be gone before she’s back. And tonight… I’m going to Rosehold.”
His voice was halting. “To do what, exactly?”
My head shook back and forth, and I turned my back on him. “Anything! Everything! I’ll demand an audience, take full responsibility. Ask King Oberon to release the curse on her. I have to try!” Tears budded in the corners of my eyes.
He folded his arms across his chest momentarily, then reached up to stroke his autumnal beard. “Well, with that, I suppose you’ve got no choice. Just wish you’d give more thought to abandoning your girl.”
I fired an angry glance over my shoulder and changed the subject. “How’s Lacuna doing?”
“They’re settling in,” he replied with a resigned sigh. “Fascinated with human clothes at the moment, so I gave them a few hundred bucks and let ‘em loose in the mall yesterday. Managed not to get in trouble, somehow.”
I nodded. “That’s good,” I said, then turned to face him again. Guilt overcame me. “I’m sorry… you’ve been nothing but kind and helpful so many times. I should be more grateful.”
He shrugged. “Well, I think we’re more than even now. And if you ever ask me to go to the Wylde again, I’m gonna tell you to piss off.”
A small laugh broke through my melancholy. “Fair, fair.”
A moment of silence opened up between us, allowing my feelings to bubble over. I rushed forward and threw my arm around him, hugging him tightly to me. I pained my wounded shoulder doing so, but I didn’t care.
“Thank you, Mal,” I wept. “For everything. I’m sorry I put you in danger, too.”
Reluctantly, he put his arms around me and patted my back. “Ah, don’t start the emotional stuff. I’m not good at that. I’m just glad you girls got home safe.”
I released him and regarded him with a warm smile. “You’re a better friend than I am. I can’t even pack up all this stuff with my shoulder like this, and you didn’t hesitate to help.”
“Yeah, well, the price for that is I’m still gonna remind you you’re an idiot for doing this the whole time.”
My mouth began to form a retort, but then the electronic ding-dong echoed through the room. I whirled to face the front door, fully prepared to remind some eager customer that we were closed, but instead I locked eyes with my love.
My voice failed me. “Rayna…”
She stood in the doorway, meek and silhouetted in sunlight. She wore the dishevelled clothes she’d worn to the fey realm, jeans and jacket torn and covered in dirt in spots. Her brown hair was unbrushed, and a plastic hospital bracelet encircled her left wrist.
“Hey, Sylvie,” she said. The response lacked any energy as her eyes scanned the room. “What’s going on?”
“I think this is where I step outside for a bit,” Mal interjected.
I waited for him to brush past the both of us and push his way out the front door with another synthesized chime. It took a few seconds after he left before I could find my voice.
“I… I’m moving out,” I explained. “Leaving. You’re not safe with me.”
She frowned and gazed down at the floor, kicking the carpet a couple times with the toe of her boot. “Is that so?”
My feet shuffled forward, and I reached out, briefly reconsidering, before gently tracing my fingers along the spidery scars on her neck. I quickly retracted my hand again.
“This… this is my fault,” I said.
Her head raised again, and a slight smile brought some warmth back to her face. “Yeah, probably. But, they’re kinda cool. Chicks dig scars, right?
Her attempt at humour didn’t reassure me. “Is your… is your mother still mad… at me?”
“Yeah,” she replied with a slight nod. “She told me she threw you out. So I lost my temper and told her to go home too. Robbie ended up looking after me and helped me get back here.” She glanced behind herself and out the windows. “Ah, yeah,” she laughed. “Looks like Robbie and Mal are smoking and hitting it off.”
I hadn’t noticed that her brother waited outside. I focused my attention on her, though. “Are you… mad at me?”
That question did not surprise her, and she just shook her head.
“Well, I’ll be out of here by evening, anyway,” I continued. “I’m going to Rosehold to petition the King. I didn’t exactly do what he wanted, but hopefully if I turn myself in, he’ll go easy on you and remove that cursemark.”
“Maybe.”
Rayna was right. It was a big “maybe.” I couldn’t assure her any more than that. For a breath’s span, I looked into her large, brown eyes and saw my own pain reflected back at me. Whatever happened, I wasn’t coming back, and she might die. The entire ordeal in Wintervale was for nought. My heart shrivelled in my chest.
“Perhaps I should just go ahead and leave now,” I said. “If… if I don’t make it back, see that my things make it back to my mother, please?”
I didn’t wait for an answer. I ducked my head and walked past her. As I passed, however, her fingers lightly caught hold of mine, and our two right hands interlocked with only the slightest of strength. It was enough to stop me in my tracks.
“Sylvie,” she whispered.
I turned my head slightly toward her. “Yeah?”
“Don’t go.”
“Are you mad? I have to go. Oberon’s not going to stop by and fix this of his own accord!”
She turned on her heel to face me and creased her brow. “No, not that, you dolt! I mean, stay. Stay here with me. Please. Come back to me when you’re done at Rosehold. And if you don’t, I’ll come for you! Again and again if I have to!”
My eyes searched hers, stung by tears and disbelief. “What…? What’re you saying?”
“I know this is your fault, in a way, but I chose it. I chose it because I love your dumb ass. This whole thing happened because I chose to follow you. We get in all sorts of trouble, but honestly, this is the adventure I read about in books and dreamed about as a kid. I wouldn’t change a damn thing.”
“You can’t possibly mean that. You choose this? You nearly died! Twice!”
Her head nodded up and down with determination. “Yes… all of it. All of you. Even the fucked up fey politics part.”
I had no idea how to respond to that, so I just went with my heart. I lunged forward, wrapping my one good arm around her shoulders, and I pressed my mouth to hers. My eyes closed, and I just lost myself in her embrace. My aggression didn’t even surprise Rayna this time. She welcomed me into her embrace. The time was immeasurable; together we kissed in the sunlight, each drinking deeply of the other’s passion, not wanting to separate ever again. It was sloppy, desperate, and earnest as we hungrily wrestled for each other’s affection, and we forgot about the world around us. Spontaneity took me, and I gripped her lower lip between my own lips, suckling gently. She pulled away and laughed merrily, then wrapped her mouth around mine in return.
Of course, there are always those willing to bring you back down to earth. From behind me, Robbie and Mal both hollered and clapped from the opposite side of the glass, breaking the spell between Rayna and me. We looked over at them with big, dumb smiles on our faces. Rayna giggled and flipped the bird their way.
My eyes drifted back to rest on Rayna’s face, and I cradled her chin in my hand. “I promise you I will do everything I can to fix this. I’m not going to let you die.”
Her usual toothy grin returned, a wide smile that melted me inside. “I know, dolcezza.”
Something wasn’t quite right, though. I peered at the mark on her forehead again, studying the magical lines. The mark’s design bothered me, but I couldn’t say why. I dragged my thumb across the soft skin of her face, pondering the magic.
Rayna’s eyes traced the motion of my own. “What is it?”
I didn’t respond at first, but once again I dragged my thumb across the mark, this time imbuing it with a sliver of my own magical power. The sorcery smeared like an eraser across pencil scratches. It was no proper cursemark, just an ordinary arcane sigil masquerading as one.
I couldn’t believe it. Oberon had tricked me effortlessly with a child’s toy of a spell. I never even questioned it. Rage bubbled up in my throat.
[cw] physical violence, blood, death
[reading time] 5½ mins.
Queen Morrigan towered above me, barely concealed disdain dripping down her nose. I needed a plan, but the pain in my shoulder wouldn’t let me focus. My fingers slipped into my pocket, remembering one thing: and there they found the black flower retrieved from the mountain. That gave me a few ideas, and I prayed at least one of them would work.
I held the blossom aloft for Morrigan to see. Beside me, Rayna gasped, “What’re you doing with that? I thought you dropped it!”
“Just trust me,” I whispered in her ear. “I’ll need your help, though. Can you do that?”
Her eyes darted to mine, alarm evident, but she responded with a hesitant nod. I smiled back at her and pushed myself up to my feet as best I could, though the Queen still towered over my head.
“Your Majesty,” I addressed her. “With all due respect, I ask you to uphold our contract. I went to the mountain and fetched a black crocus, as requested.”
Surprising me, Rayna matched my stride. “Right! And now she’s leaving the Wintervale with me, which fulfills our contract.”
Nepenthe scowled from behind his Queen. “Is this true, Your Majesty? They accuse you of taking an oath in vain.”
Morrigan’s nostrils flared. “Silence! Our contracts were void the moment you violated the sanctity of Our court!” She took a breath and composed herself, conjuring one of her cat-like grins. “Were you to return without further outbursts, We might forgive your transgressions.”
She extended her hand, palm toward the sky. I watched the motion cautiously.
“Come,” she purred. “You are wounded. Let Us tend to you.”
My eyes fell to the crossbow bolt lodged in my shoulder. The wound wept blood down my arm, but honestly, it didn’t pain me that much anymore. I twirled the black crocus between my fingers, admiring it.
“These little flowers hold immense power,” I mused.
The Queen narrowed her eyes. “You crave power, do you? We offer it freely.”
My ice-green eyes fixed on the midnight hues of hers. “It’s not the power itself, Your Majesty. It’s where it comes from that fascinates me.”
She flipped her outstretched hand around, bringing her thumb and forefinger close together. The gesture was not lost on me, nor was the warning tone in her voice. “Speak carefully, alchemist…”
No more words. With a flick of my wrist, I conjured a bright blue barrier with the crocus at its centre, drawing power from the bloom itself. Despite my preparation, the strength contained within it still shocked me. A long bolt of lightning erupted from the Queen’s fingers and struck the shield, but my gambit worked—the spell held.
“Rayna!” I shouted. “I need your help now!”
My girlfriend stepped forward and made a sigil in the air, layering a second barrier with my own to help deflect the attack. A second later, a barrage of crossbow bolts plinked off the shimmering surface of our combined defence.
“This is intense!” gasped Rayna. “She’s still going to win…”
“Just hold on,” I assured her. “You’ve got the strength, I know it! Hold on while I get things ready.”
She nodded back at me, her face scrunched more with focus than strain. “I feel it. This land… it does something to my magic.”
“That’s the spirit!”
I released the crocus, and it remained suspended in the radiant disc of light, small sparkles of magic drifting through the surrounding air. The channel of pure power intensified the shield and blinded my eyes. It would help, but the flower was finite. Frantically, I rummaged through my belt pouch, grabbing several vials of alchemical reagents.
The Queen’s soldiers drew swords and approached. To my relief, Mal leapt forward, swinging his enormous fists like hammers at the closest dark elves. The Queen concentrated on Rayna and me, and she released Lacuna from her grasp to bring more power to bear upon us. This only secured the spriggan’s position as our dark elf companion came to his aid, using sheets of ice to block sword and bolt. All the while, Nepenthe was like a statue upon his horse, unmoving, unreadable. I wondered momentarily what thoughts entered his mind, but I couldn’t let that distract me.
My face burned with the intense heat of Morrigan’s spell. No time for measurements, I just cycled through the necessary vials: a pinch of silver powder for strength, pure quicksilver to bond the connections, and a draught of aqua regia as a catalyst. I tossed them wildly toward the crocus, and it sparkled with even more intensity than before. The lines I suspected all along revealed themselves, finely woven like a spider’s web. The thread-thin lines criss-crossed the ground, draped across the Queen like a silk cloak, and led all the way back toward the mountain where the other flowers bloomed.
Rayna dropped to one knee, struggling to hold back the fey royal’s onslaught of crackling electricity, and I kneeled beside her.
“I don’t think I can hold this much longer,” she said through gritted teeth. “What’re you doing?”
“You see them?” I asked. “The things that look like ley lines?”
She clenched her jaw and nodded.
“Okay, then get ready,” I instructed. “You’ll need to move fast, but I want you to follow those lines and do just what you did on top of the mountain yesterday.”
The Queen’s voice bellowed over the cacophony of wild magic, her power intensifying with her anger. “Insolent children! We will reduce you to ash!”
In that instant, Nepenthe moved.
His hand was as lightning, drawing the whip from his hip and swinging it behind himself in one fluid motion. The column of flexible vertebrae sliced through the air toward the Queen, and the tailbone tip snapped against her wrist.
Her hand fell, severed. She screamed, more out of rage than pain.
A dozen quarrels pierced Nepenthe’s armour, his own soldiers’ response to his treason. There was no time to worry about him, though. It was the opening we needed. I opened my mouth to give Rayna the word, but then a thunderclap broke through the air. Morrigan raised her other hand and shot another bolt of lightning in our direction, pinning us down.
“I have an idea,” Rayna yelled.
Before I could object, she swung the barrier upward and over her head. She deflected the angle of the Queen’s attack, scattering sparks of magic in every direction. Then, to my utter surprise, she sent it flying towards the fey royal like a discus. I’d never seen such a novel use of the spell! Morrigan had no choice but to redirect her attack at the spell itself before it severed her head from her neck.
The minor victory was short-lived, however. The Queen’s electrical onslaught not only shattered the flying barrier, but continued through it to strike both of us. We were so close… was this the end? It was painless, thankfully, though I couldn’t say why. As we fell backwards to the ground, I prayed for Rayna’s forgiveness for getting us both killed.
Rayna jerked her hand one last time, grasping the crocus out of the air. Another crack broke through the din of battle, but it was not a physical whip this time. Lines of light extended from the flower, tightened, and closed around Queen Morrigan, constricting her both physically and magically. Her scream echoed like the howl of a wolf, anger and frustration bathing every surface of the landscape around us.
And yet she stood. It was not enough. The movement of the sorcery connecting her to the flowers and the mountain itself drew her backwards centimetre by centimetre, but she struggled against it. Sweat beaded on her brow as every fibre of her being strove to remain in place.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “How dare you? How dare you? We are the Queen of the Winter Court! We will not be bested by some human!”
Lacuna suddenly appeared from behind her, inspecting her situation with mock curiosity. “Oh my. Looks like Rayna did best you. Well then, toodeloo, Mother!”
A blade of ice formed around their right hand, and they plunged it into their own mother’s flesh. A final shriek of anguish shook the very land around us, but her form dissipated and flew toward the mountain at unimaginable speed, fading from sight.
With the Queen gone, her soldiers’ morale broke like common reeds. They all dropped their weapons and fled back into the forest, never looking back. All… save for Nepenthe. Despite the bolts piercing his armour, he held fast to his steed and breathed heavily, sweat dripping down his porcelain face.
His grey eyes met mine, their expression softer than I’d ever seen. “Thou art both wise and cunning, m’lady. I will no longer be party to these… depravations.”
Before I could thank him, he gathered shadow around himself and disappeared. I hoped he might be okay, but part of me worried he merely wanted to die somewhere out of sight.
Rayna still laid on top of me where we fell, and I wrapped my arms around her. “Rayna! We did it! Can you believe it? That actually worked!”
There was no response. Lacuna and Mal both closed the distance to us.
“Is she okay?” asked the spriggan.
She was heavy upon me, but I pushed up to a sitting position, still cradling her in my arms. Her head lolled to one side, and I gripped her even tighter when I felt she wasn’t breathing.
[cw] physical violence, blood, gore, death
[reading time] 9 mins.
Birdsong landed upon my ears, distant but clear. I opened my eyes but immediately slammed them shut again, assaulted by the bright sunlight. Somewhere deep inside me, it evoked a joyful memory of a time I woke up safe and sound in Rayna’s bed, cradled in her arms. Sorrow overtook me, though—she was dead. I’d known it for hours, maybe days, but why was I just now feeling it? I rolled away from the sunlight so my eyes could open safely. But they just filled with tears.
What had I done? Sobs racked my body. Nothing made sense. Where was I? Another cave?
Someone’s hand touched my shoulder. “Sylvie? Are you awake?”
My sobs immediately caught in my throat as shock replaced all other feelings. I flipped over to face her, looking deep into those brilliant brown eyes. I couldn’t believe what I saw. How? How was she here with me?
“Rayna! Rayna, by the gods… you’re alive!”
I grabbed her and crushed her with all the love in my body, held on so tight that it hurt my arms. She laughed at first, but then my embrace choked her.
“Sylvie, augh! Okay, I love you, but let go!”
My arms slacked. “Sorry.”
Another voice hissed from across the room. “Quiet, you two!”
I raised my head up so I could see. Mal! Mal was here. He leaned against the entrance of the cave, scowling at us. Was something wrong? I let my head fall back down to the earth. It pounded and throbbed. What happened to me?
Rayna leaned over me and kissed my forehead, lowering her voice to a whisper. “How do you feel?”
“Terrible. Absolutely terrible. And my mouth tastes like… what is that, mugwort and silver?”
“Well, you sound like yourself, at least.”
My eyes skipped across her face, just taking in the scenery I missed so much. Three ragged gashes cut across her cheek, and I reached up to touch the fresh scabs. She winced a little, but didn’t flinch.
Memory flittered just beyond my grasp. “I… did that, didn’t I?”
Rayna wrapped her hand around mine and pulled it away from her face. “Don’t think about that right now. We need to focus on getting out of here.”
Someone else sat down next to me. Their thick leather clothing creaked and squeaked, distracting me from Rayna.
“A marvellous idea!” they whispered excitedly. “Nepenthe’s soldiers seem to have moved on, so now is a good time.”
I rolled my head to the side and focused my eyes on the dark elf—the same one I saw before at Queen Morrigan’s court, just hanging around us like they belonged.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
They put a finger to their chin, feigning pensiveness. “People ask me that a lot.”
“Oh, sorry,” Rayna interjected. “This is Lacuna. They helped us escape.”
My spriggan friend walked over to us, keeping his voice low. “Lacuna’s right. I haven’t seen another dark elf in almost an hour. Now’s our chance to get moving.” He looked down at me with some pity in his hazel eyes. “Can you walk?”
Rayna supported me while I struggled to a sitting position and tested my arms and legs. “I think so.” Then I saw another person curled up in one of the cave's corners. “Did you pick someone else up as well?”
Mal scratched the back of his head and looked around. “Er, no… best not pay any mind to that one.”
I focused my eyes for a moment and realized they weren’t breathing. “Oh… I see.”
Rayna gripped my arm and coaxed me upward. “C’mon, let’s get moving.”
In another time, Wintervale’s forests could be a peaceful place to while away the afternoon. Birds sang, creeks babbled, and pine needles rustled in the breeze. The sun shone bright and friendly, warming my skin. The cold wasn’t so bad, especially with the sunlight, but I wasn’t certain if that was real or if the Queen’s influence made me less sensitive to it.
I frowned. She evoked some sort of change in me, and I hoped it wasn’t permanent. My eyes flitted over toward Rayna. She hopped across the stones dotting a brook, making her way to the other side like a child at play. I remembered attacking her, hitting her, but it was fuzzy and distant. Did that really happen? Was it a dream?
Mal nudged me from behind. “Quit screwin’ around. We got no idea where the Hunt’s at.”
I nodded silently and followed in Rayna’s footsteps. Prancing across the rocks reminded me of simpler times when I could waste my afternoons at the park. First one foot, then the other, then another step, and then…
Splash! I slipped and fell gracelessly into the icy water.
Rayna turned back from the far bank. “Sylvie! Are you okay?”
Water lapped around my waist and soaked my trousers and boots. “I’m fine,” I sighed. “Just wet.”
A pale, slender hand crossed in front of my face, and I looked up at its owner. Lacuna stood upon the rock that had just thrown me into the stream, bowing with their arm outstretched as if they offered me a dance. I hesitated.
“I won’t bite,” they promised with a charming smile.
I frowned. “I’m not so certain about that.”
A member of the Winter Court slithering in our midst sat poorly with me. Briefly, I glanced at Rayna. She trusted this one for whatever reason. A heavy sigh escaped my lips; if Lacuna was okay by her, then I should trust them as well. I swung my water-logged sleeve around and slapped my hand into their palm.
I expected them to pull me up, but instead, my body simply floated out of the water and into an upright position. My arms flailed at my sides, trying to steady against an unseen force.
My voice rose up and down with my body. “Whoa… whoa… what’s going on?”
“Just walk normally,” Rayna called out.
My legs straightened, and I felt something soft under my feet, though nothing was there. I’d never experienced such magic. “Well… That’s a neat trick.”
The dark elf smirked, self-satisfied. “I’m glad you approve, princess.”
A protest about being referred to as “princess” nearly left my mouth, but they jumped from rock to rock, pulling me with them. Walking on an unseen cloud, the water still felt one misstep away.
Once we reached the solid ground next to Rayna, relief washed over me. She held out her arms in an invitation—her way of asking if it was okay to hug me. Despite being near-lost out in the wilderness, it was a welcome return to familiar routines. I stepped into her waiting embrace.
Mal looked up at the hill in front of us. The terrain slowly trended towards flat, but we weren’t out of the mountain’s shadow yet. “Are we going the right way?” he asked.
Lacuna nodded. “We’re close to the marches now. If we can cross back to the Summervale, we’ll be safe. Well, you’ll be safe. Who knows what’ll happen to me?”
I released Rayna and rooted around in my satchel. The oiled leather had kept everything dry, to my relief. “You could always turn back,” I suggested.
My girlfriend narrowed her eyes at me. “Sylvie! Don’t be rude.”
The dark elf shrugged. “Her Highness does not approve of me. Ho-hum.”
My eyes focused on them, watching the odd swirl of black and silver magic that flickered and fought around their silhouette. I ignored the taunt, however, and focused on mixing a few powders together in my palm. With a flick of my wrist, the dust scattered across my clothes, and the water evaporated into small clouds of vapour with a satisfying hiss.
“Let’s just focus on moving forward,” I muttered.
Before Rayna could protest more, I planted my feet on the slope and began the laborious climb uphill. The grade wasn’t steep, but weariness slowed me. After a moment, the crunch of shoes on rocky soil let me know the others followed me. Well, except Lacuna, who floated and quickly outpaced me. Cheater.
A high-pitched whistle pierced the air. “Get down!” Mal shouted.
I didn’t get the chance to react. A black shaft of wood capped with white feathers embedded itself in the hill next to me. I shrieked and fell to my knees involuntarily. Rayna followed me down and threw herself on top of me. Three or four more bolts speared the hillside and peppered us with a shower of dirt and rocks.
I couldn’t see Rayna, but her breath touched the back of my neck. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“What’re you doing? You’re going to get shot!”
She tightened her grip on me. “Sorry, it was reflex.”
Lacuna still “stood” nearby, looking down into the valley with an imperious scowl. “Those imbeciles! Don’t they know who they’re shooting at?”
As if in answer to their defiance, another bolt sailed forth and clipped the dark elf in the ankle, knocking them out of the air. They hit the ground hard and tumbled back down the hill.
Rayna jumped up and slid down the slope after them. “Lacuna!”
I sat up and threw my gaze across the forest we’d just left behind. Several of the Queen’s soldiers approached from the tree line, and Nepenthe was at their head, sitting upon his black stallion. He held his wicked whip of vertebrae beside him, dragging it through the dirt next to his horse.
“Rayna!” I shouted. “Rayna, come back! There’s too many of them!”
Mal grabbed my arm. “Come on! We gotta get outta here!”
I looked into his eyes and saw the same fear I felt in my heart. Despite that, leaving Rayna behind was not an option. I couldn’t even think of a retort. I broke free of his grasp and charged down the slope after my insane lover, leaving a wake of curses in Elvish, English, Italian, and French.
The footing was treacherous and threatened to send me tumbling like Lacuna. The dark elf laid at the bottom, dazed but recovering. Rayna was nearly upon him, conjuring magical shields of light to deflect the arrows that continued to fly in her direction. Momentarily, I marvelled at how much she’d grown—she batted away the soldiers’ attacks effortlessly as she moved. Unfortunately, the Queen’s Hunt was at the bank of the creek already and drawing closer to her and Lacuna faster than I could run down the hill safely. I needed an edge.
My bag held my father’s rings, and I groped wildly for the one I needed. The hoofbeats of Nepenthe’s steed synchronized with my heartbeat, and my motions grew frantic. Aha! There it was. I slipped on a ring and struck it with a piece of flint in one desperate motion.
Before me, the earth erupted and formed a bridge that anticipated my footsteps. Once the flow of dirt and rocks established itself, I angled my feet and slid across it like one might ride a wave on the ocean. It was many years since I last practiced this trick, but it returned to me like riding a bicycle. At my command, the soil cupped my feet and guided me swiftly to the brook, overshooting my companions. As Nepenthe’s steed splashed across the stream, I instead dropped myself directly in front of him. A scattershot of rocks sprayed the Queen’s hound.
He shielded himself with his gauntleted hand, no doubt expecting an attack. When none came, he lowered it again and fixed his steely gaze on me. “Thou art wanted by this court, Sylvie Shaestari.”
“I’m well aware,” I replied, my voice shaking but full of defiance.
A host of dark elves in bleak armour followed their master across the creek, splashing and sloshing through the shallow water. They formed a half-circle around me, Lacuna, and Rayna, levelling their crossbows. They wouldn’t harm me, but my heart still raced—they had no reason to spare anyone else.
Nepenthe’s brow creased. “Dost thou yield?”
I didn’t answer him. Calmly, I approached his horse and looked up into his stony face. Behind me, Rayna appealed for me not to give myself up, but her words were unnecessary—I had no intention of doing so.
“What was her name?” I asked him.
Nepenthe arched an eyebrow. “To whom dost thou refer?
When I reached into my satchel earlier, I’d found something else—a small locket that I recognized. I opened my fist and showed the golden trinket to him. Anxiety clutched my throat. It was time for a guess that would be a gamble.
“Your daughter.”
His face revealed no emotion. After a brief pause, though, he reached out and took the pendant from my open hand. The light touch of his ironclad fingers burned my palm, and I winced. His eyes moved back and forth over the locket, as if lost in a distant memory.
“Eva,” he replied, almost in a whisper. His eyes met mine, and there was a softness to them I had not seen before. “Why wouldst thou evoke such sorrow?”
“Because I want you to remember. There was a time before you served Queen Morrigan, wasn’t there? A time when you had a home, a family? Would you rob the same from me?”
The emollience disappeared, and his eyes shone like fire. Perhaps my exhausted mind played tricks on me, but I swore flames lapped the edge of his gorget. Had I misjudged? Quickly I tried to calculate a new plan, but I stumbled to form a coherent thought.
The fury passed as quickly as it came, and the flames subsided. Doubt crossed his face and softened his features again, slight but clear. Hope crawled back to me for just the briefest of moments, as maybe Nepenthe might let us go. The briefest of moments, I reiterate.
I took only two steps back.
One of the soldiers in his retinue yelled out in support of the Queen and loosed his quarrel at point blank range, giving me no time to react. The strike of its point against my shoulder didn’t even register as painful initially, but the force of it knocked me to the ground. Somewhere behind me, Rayna shouted my name, her voice cracking.
Whether she meant to defend me or attack the dark elves, I wasn’t certain, but it didn’t matter either. A mere second later, the air froze in my lungs, biting and hard. A whistling sound pierced the sky, a shower of icicle lances cutting a path straight down from the clouds. The soldier who just shot me exploded in a disgusting spray of gore as the deadly projectiles shredded him. Dozens of now-bloody spears stuck in the ground where he once stood.
Rayna grabbed me by the collar and pulled me further away from the circle of crossbows. Sweat beaded on my brow as the pain caught up with me, and my arm seared like fire. I prayed the bolt wasn’t poisoned.
She touched it gingerly with her fingertips. “Stay still. We need to get this out.”
“Yeah… I seem… to be… collecting… puncture wounds,” I panted.
I turned to look behind us, and a delirious grin crossed my face. Mal followed me down the slope after all and supported Lacuna on his shoulder. I knew he wouldn’t abandon us. Before we could deal with our wounds, however, a gust of wind and snow stirred and flung dirt into my eyes. I squeezed them shut and shielded my face with my good arm.
She was here, and not just as a projection this time. The snow coalesced into her familiar midnight-bedecked form, her wicked grin cutting through the storm and straight into my heart. Her magic was brilliant and awful, erupting into a dark bonfire all around her. Yesterday’s wounds had faded, leaving only the faintest of red scars on the Queen’s hand. As she emerged from the storm, Nepenthe and his host bowed their heads and parted for her to pass.
Queen Morrigan swept her dusky eyes across our group. “You ought to know that escape was never a possibility.” Royal formality masked a deep-seated frustration that curled the corner of her lip. “And you…”
The motion was barely perceptible, but her finger twitched, and dozens of black, smoky tendrils erupted from the ground around Lacuna. Our new friend made a muffled cry of dismay as the tentacles wrapped around arms and legs and slammed them to the ground, preventing any further insubordination on their part. Mal dropped to his knees and placed a hand on Lacuna’s shoulder, gauging the dark elf’s injuries.
The Queen’s eyes were as daggers through my very soul. “And now, dear Sylvie Shaestari, We shall have what is Ours.”
[cw] physical violence, blood, death
[reading time] 8 mins.
“The hills crawl with Nepenthe’s soldiers. Look at them go! Like little ants.”
Lacuna stood watch at the mouth of the cave, keeping an eye on the Queen’s search party. They assured us that the glamour cast over the entrance would conceal us, but it still made me nervous for the dark elf to hang out in the line of sight of everyone outside.
Mal, for his part, looked better wearing his human guise again. He crouched down next to our little fire and poked it with a stick to keep it burning. It was a welcome respite from the bitter cold.
“I had no idea you brought a gun with you,” I remarked, now that we had a moment to catch our breaths.
He glanced up at me momentarily. “Iron slugs. Keep it at the bar just in case things ever get rowdy. Never thought I’d be shootin’ at fuckin’ fey royalty.”
I reached down to pet Sylvie’s hair as she slept uneasily next to me. “Well, thank you. It probably bought us enough time to get away.”
“Fat load of good it’ll do us. Those soldiers aren’t gonna give up lookin’ for us anytime soon.”
Lacuna tore their attention away from the commotion outside and beamed at Mal. “Don’t be so glum, darling! This is the most fun I’ve had in years.”
Mal looked at me pointedly. “Speaking of goddamned royals, why are they here?”
I smiled widely, trying my best to reassure him. “Lacuna’s actually been a big help.”
The dark elf dropped down next to Mal and nearly knocked him over, throwing their arms around his shoulders. “Listen to her! We’re buddies now.”
Mal started to argue with Lacuna, so I turned my attention back to the elf sleeping next to me. When I looked down, her eyes were open, and she stared up at me. I nearly jumped out of my skin—the dark, blank stare unsettled me. What might she think in that moment, or could she think at all? What the fuck had the Queen done to her?
My companions must’ve noticed my concern. They stopped fighting for a moment and looked at me.
“How’s she doin’?” asked Mal.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “She’s just staring now.”
Lacuna crawled across the cave on hands and knees and leaned over Sylvie. I did my best to hold my tongue while they looked into her eyes and mouth. Hopefully, they knew some form of medicine and weren’t just screwing around.
“Hmm.”
I couldn’t stand the anticipation. “Hmm what?”
They twirled their hand in the air. “The crocus is a powerful narcotic, and a magical one at that. Still, it seems to have had a more profound effect on her than I’ve ever seen. Did she eat or drink something else out there?”
I racked my brain. “Wait… yeah.”
I dug around in Sylvie’s pack and found the little vial I’d picked up earlier. Since we were the only two on the mountain, I assumed it was hers. Lacuna swiped it from my hand.
They held it up to the fire. Remnants of something in the vial sparkled purple in the dim light.
“She took this?” they asked.
“I think so. Do you know what it might’ve been?”
“Glitterdust! Probably not a good combination with the black crocus. We need to neutralize both.”
Hope filled me for the first time that night. “What do we do?”
Lacuna held up a finger for silence. Before my very eyes, they melted into the shadows until they were nothing but an inky blot, and then they slithered across the ground and out into the night.
Mal harrumphed. “They’re gonna get caught.”
I tried not to think about it. Instead, I ran my fingers through Sylvie’s hair again and wondered if she even knew I was here. “Sylvie… come back to me,” I whispered.
She actually stirred a little. I wasn’t certain, but I think she tried to focus her dilated pupils on me. “Ray… na?”
I grabbed her hand in mine and squeezed. “Yeah, I’m here.”
“Aren’t you… dead?”
What a confusing thing to say. I wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but she drifted off again and closed her eyes. I wanted so badly to tell her how much she meant to me, how sorry I was that I’d hurt her earlier, how I just wanted her to come back and for everything to be normal again. At least she looked peaceful sleeping there. I wanted to sleep too. I was so fucking tired after everything that happened, but the fear of what lurked in the night looking for us kept me up.
“Here.”
Lacuna’s sudden appearance startled me. There were murderous dark elves just outside looking for us, so I shoved my hand in my mouth to stifle a yell. They waited expectantly, their hands full of dirt and uprooted plants.
I didn’t know what they were up to. “What is all this?”
Lacuna wiped some of the dirt away, revealing a bunch of roots and leaves. “Take these and make a paste. You’ll need some colloidal silver as well. There’s some in the alchemist’s kit, yes?”
For the briefest of moments, I looked into their grey eyes and wondered. Could I trust them? Lacuna didn’t flinch, instead locking gazes with me. Maybe they knew what I thought. The feeling of distrust passed, and I snatched the herbs from their hand.
I rummaged through Sylvie’s pack again, but couldn’t find the requested ingredient. Then I remembered she carried her father’s belt pouch. I checked that instead, and thankfully she did indeed a have a little vial of liquid labelled with two Elvish words, one of which meant “silver.” I couldn’t read the other word, so I held it up to Lacuna.
They nodded approvingly. I had everything in hand, then. There was nothing to grind them with, though. No mortar and pestle in Sylvie’s kit. I took a quick glance around the cave, but all the loose rocks were too small. Well, time to do it manually, I guess. I stuffed the weeds into my mouth.
Good God, they were bitter. I almost spit them right back out, but I powered through it. I took a swig from the vial of silver as well and chewed until everything was a soft paste. After a minute, the taste wasn’t so bad. It was a bit like dandelion greens and licorice.
With two fingers, I plucked the moist lump from my mouth. Sylvie suddenly spoke.
“Verbena,” she whispered.
The statement confused me. “What?”
“Verbena… will enhance the effect,” she continued and tapped the leather bag containing her alchemical supplies.
I sighed and laughed. “Even stoned out of your gourd, you’re still an alchemist at heart.”
A quick rummage through the satchel revealed a little packet of dried flowers. The bitter lump went back into my mouth with the blossoms. I coughed and sputtered, but somehow I kept it in my mouth.
“Now,” Lacuna said softly. “Put it under her tongue.”
I spit the wad out into my hand. Then, with my opposite hand, I reached out and held Sylvie’s jaw open. Gently, I poked my fingers in, but I couldn’t quite get under her tongue. She was completely limp, so precisely moving the concoction into place was like trying to force a toddler to put shoes on.
Lacuna smirked. “Having difficulty?”
I shot them an annoyed glance. “It’s not easy trying to do this with a semi-conscious person.”
“Do you need me to show you?”
The smarminess in their voice irked me, and I knew exactly what they meant. I sighed. It didn’t feel right, but I put the bitter lump back in my own mouth. Slowly I lowered my face down to Sylvie’s, a silent apology racing through my brain. Our mouths connected, and my tongue pushed hers out of the way so I could slide the medicine into place. One last motion moved her tongue back into position to hold it down.
I sat up and wiped the spit off my chin with the back of my hand. “How long will it take to work?”
The dark elf looked thoughtful. “Hmm. Hard to say. An hour? Maybe two.”
“Alright, I’m going to lie down then. I’m fucking exhausted. Wake me up if anything happens.”
Mal slid over to the cave entrance and sat down. “Go ahead. I’ll keep watch.”
I curled up on the hard floor of the cave and watched Sylvie’s body rise and fall with each breath. Hopefully, we could get her out of this stupor. Otherwise, we didn’t have a chance in hell of getting out of the Wintervale alive.
My dreams troubled me. What I thought would be restful sleep instead haunted me with apparitions of Queen Morrigan and her host chasing me through the countryside. Nepenthe harried my steps atop his great black stallion, and in my nightmare, flame wreathed his head and burned in his eye sockets. The Queen herself keened and shattered my reality…
I awoke, blurry-eyed and disoriented, to the piercing cry of a woman. Mal, however, reacted swiftly and jumped across the cave, throwing his hand over Sylvie’s mouth to pin her down as she struggled.
What the hell happened?
I pushed myself up and crawled over to them. Mal strained to hold Sylvie down as her whole body convulsed. Muffled wailing reverberated through his hand, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She was a mess, and I was at a complete loss.
Panic racked my voice. “Lacuna! What’s going on?”
The dark elf sat on the opposite side of the fire and opened their eyes for the first time since all this started. “It’s working, that’s what’s going on, love.”
I was frantic. “What do I do? Dammit! She’s in pain!”
“Calm down,” Mal hissed at me. “She’s already settlin’ down a bit.”
Sylvie stopped fighting him, though she still cried ugly, racking sobs. I took her hand in mine for lack of anything better to do. She squeezed my hand a few times, but it was probably more from distress than anything else. I didn’t get the sense that she really knew what was going on around her yet.
A noise from outside caught my attention. Mal was too focused on holding Sylvie, but Lacuna’s eyes darted in that direction as well. My breath caught in my throat.
“Someone’s coming,” I said.
The three of us attempted to remain quiet, but Sylvie wasn’t helping. No doubt if someone got close enough, they’d be able to hear her struggling against Mal.
“This isn’t good,” Mal whispered.
Lacuna got to their feet and approached the mouth of the cave. My eyes followed them, and I realized I could just barely discern the outline of someone dressed in black armour standing in the opening. A mask covered their face, so all that was visible was a pair of blue eyes that cautiously swung back and forth.
I held my breath. The elf at the door reached out and touched what they probably perceived as solid rock outside, but then their hand passed through into the cave. They jumped back a little and turned their head like they might call out to someone.
They never got the chance. Lacuna leapt forward and grabbed them around the throat, dragging the hapless elf into the cave with us and throwing them down to the ground. Their opponent was well-trained, however, and rolled with the throw, flipping back up to a standing position. Losing no momentum, they spun and hit Lacuna full force in the chest with a roundhouse kick.
“Shit!” Mal hissed and let go of Sylvie. He jumped up and lunged at Lacuna’s assailant, knocking them into the nearby cave wall with a shoulder check.
Sylvie, now freed, cried out again. Not knowing what else to do, I flopped down on top of her and smothered her sobs with my body. Her tears soaked my shirt quickly.
When I looked up again, Lacuna slowly got to their feet while Mal pummelled the other dark elf mercilessly with repeated punches to the chest and face. The soldier found an opening and ducked under the spriggan’s fist, whirling like a dancer to stand behind him. Steel flashed in the firelight.
I need to warn him about the knife!
Lacuna was swifter than me, though, and they threw their hand forward. Similar to the scene at the court, jagged ice shot forth from their fingers. Unlike before, however, the ice flew straight and pierced the other dark elf’s back. It exited their chest and flung crimson across the cave wall and Mal.
The soldier’s body twitched with a raspy, feminine intake of breath. She then fell silent, unmoving.
All of us froze. Would the noise attract more soldiers? We held our breaths for what felt like minutes, but we heard no commotion from outside the cave. Slowly, gradually, we relaxed when it was clear no one else would come.
I turned my eyes away from the corpse. “Was that really necessary?”
Lacuna scowled. “Need I remind you that if we get caught, you and your friends will die? Sometimes we have to make tough choices, love.”
Mal broke the body free from the icicle and rolled it into a corner of the cave. “Great, now we gotta sleep with a corpse.”
I frowned. That was a person Lacuna killed, and both of them already treated her as a piece of garbage to be disposed. Sylvie made a muffled sound from underneath me, and I suddenly remembered I was on top of her. I rolled off.
Thankfully, she didn’t cry out again. She focused her eyes on me, and they looked far more normal than before. The return of her healthy green irises warmed my heart.
“Rayna? I thought… I killed you,” she said, barely a whisper.
I touched the side of her face, unsure if she had a nightmare or if the Queen gave her such an idea. “No, no… nothing like that happened. I’m right here, safe and sound.”
“Oh… oh…. That’s nice.”
Her eyes closed again. She was still out of it, but I had hope. I smiled and laid down next to her, gently grasping one of her hands in both of mine. Just a little more sleep, maybe.
Something poked me in the face. I swatted it away.
“Come on, get up.”
It poked me again. I opened my eyes… Son of a bitch, my everything hurt. Face-down in the snow, slowly I pushed myself up with my arms so I could see my assailant. My heart leapt when I saw Lacuna crouched next to me.
“You’re back!” I exclaimed, unable to hide my relief.
“Yes, and you’re wasting time, sleepyhead,” they sighed.
I rolled over into a sitting position. The last thing I remembered, Sylvie tried to kill me. Then we… I think I threw us up in the air really high. I must’ve bumped my head when I landed. I placed my hand on my throat. Thankfully, it was still intact despite my girlfriend’s murderous intent.
“What happened? Where’s Sylvie?”
Lacuna leaned their face on one hand, looking bored. “Oh, my mother took her back to the court.”
“Does that mean … I was too late?”
They helped me to my feet, offering me the support of their shoulder. “Well, that depends on your definition of ‘too late.’ Too late to stop Sylvie from joining the court? Yes. Too late to fulfil your contract? That remains to be seen.”
“And where were you? I could’ve used your help sooner,” I said while brushing snow off my jacket.
“What makes you think I’m helping you, love?”
I grinned and patted them on the cheek. “For starters, you keep following me. I assume there’s something in this for you.”
They laughed. “Guilty! My apologies, but I had to go back and check on your spriggan friend to make sure the others hadn’t gutted him yet.”
Mal. I’d totally forgotten. He’d been alone for hours. I hoped he was okay.
After a moment, I steadied myself on my feet without Lacuna’s support. “I have to ask, though… what is in it for you? Why risk pissing off your mom?”
They smirked. “Alright, if you really want to know… let us make a bargain of our own.”
I held my hands forward, palms out. “Oh no, no more pig blood.”
“Not that kind, darling. Just a simple exchange. I’ll help you get out of here alive, but you have to promise to take me with you.”
“Take you with me? Out of the Wylde, you mean?”
“Mmhmm. I’ve so wanted to see your world! It sounds delightfully chaotic. Mother forbids me from leaving the Wintervale, though.”
I grinned. “You must really have faith in my ability to get out of this jam, then.”
“Heavens, no!” they chuckled. “But the worst that happens is you die, and I get scolded. What do I have to lose?”
Well, that certainly put things in perspective. “Thanks for not deluding me, I guess. Either way, you’ve got a deal. Hopefully, I can get back down the mountain without dying.”
“Oh, good! I’ll watch while you try.”
Going down the mountain should have been easier than going up, but I was mistaken. We stopped frequently since I was so tired. My bed time was hours ago, and my body was at its limit. I had a nagging feeling, though, that the longer I waited, the harder it would be to bring Sylvie back from the brink. There was no choice but to catch up to the Queen and try to sway my friend out of her grasp. How exactly I would do that, I hadn’t the slightest idea.
Lacuna and I stood at the top of the cliff again, where I first reclaimed my shape-shifting earlier that evening. Briefly, I thought about gliding down to the bottom as a bird, but even just thinking about it hurt my head. I had no strength left to perform miracles.
I leaned forward and put my hands on my knees, contemplating the drop.
“It’s a long way down,” they observed.
“Alright, Lacuna,” I sighed. “No more crap. I need your help here. I just don’t have it in me to make it down the cliff.”
They flourished their hand in front of them and bowed. “As you wish, m’lady.”
They proffered their open hand and smiled at me expectantly. Reluctantly, I reached out and took it, despite having no idea what they intended.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Dance with me, darling!”
Lacuna walked out on the air and pirouetted, pulling me with them. I was terrified and tried to resist, but they had a firm grasp on my hand and dragged me toward the edge of the cliff. I panicked and flailed. Were they trying to kill me? I couldn’t hold my feet in place any more and stumbled forward.
To my shock, the air beneath me felt like solid ground. We stood a short distance from the cliff, just hovering in the air. It was incredible and an entirely different sensation than flying! My feet bounced a little like we stood on a pillowy cloud.
They smiled. “See? Nothing to it.”
I was still quite nervous and clutched their hand with an iron grip. “H-how do we g-get down, though?”
“Easy! Just think heavy thoughts.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but after they said it, we both slowly descended, so they apparently had control of the situation. Good enough for me. I steadied myself with my arms despite the controlled descent. My brain had a hard time processing that there was nothing visible holding us up. Thankfully, it only took a few seconds for us to reach solid ground again.
My heart raced, and it shook my voice. “You must be related to Peter Pan.”
“Peter what?”
“Uh, never mind. Let’s get going.”
With renewed vigour, I dashed toward the marble colonnade in the distance. Lacuna disappeared without warning, but this time I assumed that was because they didn’t want the Queen to see them in my presence. Smart. Despite my protesting muscles, I leapt from one foot to the other, eager to reach Sylvie.
I stormed into the Winter Court with reckless abandon, approaching from the dais reserved for Queen Morrigan. The crowd was thinner now. Perhaps even dark elves slept at night. The Queen, Sylvie, and Mal were all here, though, in the centre of the marble hall. Sylvie had a strange look in her eyes and a little black flower in her hands.
The Queen of the Winter Court turned slowly at my calamitous entrance. “Ah, Rayna Ravenna. You have returned to Us. We thought you would return with this one?”
I approached carefully. One wrong move here could mean my death. “I was a little slow, Your Majesty. I see she’s here with you now.”
She smiled and reached out one hand to caress Sylvie’s face. It sickened me to see her touching my beloved.
“Indeed, she has become one of us. A true dark elf through and through, free of her shackles.”
I walked past the Queen to stand face-to-face with Sylvie. “Is that true?”
Sylvie didn’t respond. Her eyes were open but devoid of emotion or expression. I stared into two dark orbs, her pupils dilated and sparkling with the night sky. What did the Queen do to her?
The elf royal answered my unspoken question. “Ah, she is in the thrall of the crocus. It will be necessary for a little while until she becomes more… compliant. But you would like that, wouldn’t you?”
I frowned. I wasn’t in the mood for riddles. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The Queen stood behind me and rested her icy hands on my shoulders, sending an involuntary shiver down my back. She leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “Look at her… do you not desire this beautiful creature?”
I couldn’t deny that part of me felt that way. Briefly I looked past Sylvie. Mal stood behind her, and he shook his head in a silent warning. Something felt weird to me, but I couldn’t quite place it.
Her Majesty’s breath kissed my ear, her voice barely a whisper. “What is romance without carnality? We have tasted your lust, Rayna. It is as powerful as your sorcery. Unlike before, she is of no mind to stop you. Simply take what you want. It is our way. Strength begets the right to rule. Take her and become one of us. Imagine it… a human joins the Winter Court. Every fey in the Wylde would know your name and fear your power.”
Was I capable of that? My head swam. Why did I feel this sudden craving for power, for domination? The Wylde already gave me enough.
“Reach out and touch her,” the dark elf murmured, each word sliding into my ear and nudging me to do the unthinkable. Sylvie stood before me, helpless. The Queen was right. I could take her… like I did last night… just take what I want…
Fuck!
I wrenched myself away from the Queen’s grasp and faced her, defiance burning in my eyes. “No! Not like that. I love her! She’s a person. I won’t be tempted into your damned games. I’m not a plaything and neither is Sylvie!”
She straightened to her full, terrifying height and stared down her nose, her expression imperious. “Very well, Rayna Ravenna. You disappoint Us. A pawn that refuses to move must be broken.”
Well, that was it… goodbye, folks. She raised up one hand, and every hair on my body stood on end. An incredible amount of power gathered in the tiny space between her fingertips, more than I had ever felt in one place. I laughed in spite of it all. Once she unleashed her spell, the raw magical energy would no doubt vaporize me. What a way to die. On pure reflex, I raised my own hand to defend myself, for all the good it would do.
Crackling energy arced between her fingertips. That was it, then. It’s over.
But no… a cheshire smile formed in the darkness. From shadow and night, Lacuna took shape behind their mother, and with both hands, they brought their own sorcery to bear. A sheet of ice zigzagged across Queen Morrigan’s body and held her fast. It couldn’t stop her, but it did throw off her aim. I finished my sigil in the air, and a disc of pure ethereal energy formed between us. When the lightning flew forth from her fingertips, it did so at an angle rather than directly at me, skewed by the ice that held her hand fast. It still penetrated my shield and shattered it utterly, but it missed my body by mere centimetres. It was enough!
The court froze in horror, unable to react to this sudden coup save for a few sharp gasps. The ice encased the Queen up to her jawline, and she struggled to speak.
“Insolent child! How dare you!” she grunted.
Bang!
I threw my hands over my ears as a gunshot rang out.
Bang! Bang!
Wait… gunshots? The unexpected percussion felt like it split my head open. The Queen’s hand exploded, followed by her shoulder and abdomen. Crimson blood defaced the pristine marble floor, and the ice around her body shattered from the impact. She shrieked like a banshee and recoiled, clutching her mangled hand to her chest. Were she mortal, no doubt she would’ve fallen, but I was fairly certain it just angered her instead.
I whirled around to see Mal standing with a pistol still in his hands.
“That won’t slow her down for long!” he shouted. “Grab Sylvie and run, dammit!”
There was no time to think; I followed his orders. Wrapping my arm around Sylvie’s waist, I guided her into a jog with me. It was difficult to coax her to move faster, but at least she didn’t fight me. Lacuna let out a whoop and somersaulted through the air to follow us. Together, we ran down the steps outside before anyone could gain their senses. I wasn’t about to look back. I kept my mind on moving forward and getting all of us home.
he Queen’s voice boomed across the valley with all the earth-shattering force of fey magic, authority, and unmasked rage.
My body really didn’t want me to roll over, but I did. Everything ached, and hypothermia would likely settle in soon. How long was I out? I touched my neck gingerly, then sucked in a breath as the wound on my neck stung. The red stains on the snow were much smaller than I imagined. The wolves left me only with surface wounds, but they still hurt like hell.
I couldn’t go on, though. I couldn’t go on… there was no fuel left in the tank.
I feared I might pass out again, never to wake, but then I felt warmth near my breast. Was this the end? Is this what freezing to death felt like? I’d always heard it was a bad sign if you were so cold that you felt warm again. This didn’t feel like a hallucination, though. After a moment, the feeling returned to my arms and legs, and my nose and cheeks stopped stinging.
I sat up, and my muscles didn’t pain me. Weariness still dragged at me, but everything felt better. Even the wound on my neck didn’t bother me anymore. The warmth was still there on my chest, pulsing softly. Out of curiosity, I touched my hand to it, and I felt a small pendant through my gloves. I’d totally forgotten that I was wearing the amulet I found in Sylvie’s workshop. What dumb luck that I’d picked up some sort of protection or healing device. Silently thanking whomever or whatever watched over me, I got to my feet once again.
Now that my mind was clear, I assessed my situation. Not far from where I exited the woods, a little stream flowed through the snow. It looked like it was once covered in ice, but now it was all broken and flowing down the side of the mountain. It wouldn’t be a problem for me, though, as it was maybe two metres across at most.
I strode up to the bank and prepared myself. Once again, I took the form of a raven, and once again my right arm fought me. I powered through the pain, though, and flitted across to the opposite bank. Once there, I reverted to my natural form and stood there for a moment, just trying to catch my breath. I was so exhausted, and the necklace had done nothing to ease that. I likely wouldn’t be able to shape-shift much more on this excursion, not without some sleep at least.
Another clue lay at my feet and caught my attention, a pair of discarded gloves. Once again, I picked them up and placed them in Sylvie’s satchel. Why was she discarding all these things? Had she purposefully left a trail behind for me to follow? Maybe she wanted me to find her, after all? The thought of it brought a little hope to my heart. I tried not to think of an alternative explanation.
Looking toward the slopes ahead of me, immediately my eyes widened. “Sylvie!”
My legs gained a sudden burst of energy, and I bounded through the snow as fast as I could. It was only a brief sprint to my lover’s side, and I fell to my knees and slid next to her in the snow like I was stealing third base.
“Sylvie! Sylvie! Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer. She just knelt there in the freezing cold, looking down at her hands. I followed her gaze. She cradled the blossom of a little black flower in her palms. After a long pause, she finally spoke softly, though her speech slurred and shook.
“Rayna… why did you come?”
I placed my hand on her shoulder. “For you, Sylvie.”
Sylvie glanced at me and shrugged my touch away roughly, and her voice took on a sudden sharpness and clarity. “Is that so? Come to fetch your exotic elf girlfriend? Just couldn’t stand to be without me, without my body?”
Shock stole my voice. “I… I…”
She pushed her way up, first one knee, and then the other, until she towered over me. “How dare you! I don’t need your attention! I don’t need your help! I don’t want it!”
I never believed in a million years that she would ever strike me, but she did. As such, I was wholly unprepared for her attack and took it full force in the face. She just swatted at me with her hand, but it felt like knives raked across my skin, and I fell over into the snow from the force of the blow.
She circled me like the wolves did earlier. “Get up.”
What was even going on? I pushed myself up on my palms, and crimson droplets slid down my face and dropped into the snow. I turned my head to look up at her, and I could see she had a set of rings on each hand that had wicked-looking spikes on their surfaces. A few drops of my blood stained her fingers.
I righted myself on my knees, and that was apparently “up” enough for Sylvie. She lunged at me again, but this time I was ready. I invoked a sigil with my left hand that she herself had taught me. A bright blue disc of light erupted in mid-air for only the briefest of moments, deflecting her assault. She staggered backwards a couple of steps after bouncing off it, clutching her wrist.
I got all the way to my feet and brought my hands up to guard my face and chest. “Sylvie, please. Don’t do this. I’m not going to hurt you.”
I looked her in the face for the first time. Her eyes were dilated and wild. Was it mind control? Was she on drugs? She certainly wasn’t herself. How could I stop her without seriously injuring her?
She gave me little time to consider my options. Sylvie let out a scream of rage and hurtled toward me, both hands going for my neck. I acted on instinct and shifted forms into that of a fox and tumbled between her legs, landing behind her, only to revert to a human the moment I hit the snow. Even that brief second of shape-shifting winded me, and I dropped to my knees.
Sylvie lost no time and whirled to come after me again, swinging her hands like a cat’s claws. I dodged to one side and rolled through the snow, desperately throwing up a few more magical barriers when she got too close. There was no way I could keep up. She had far more energy than I did at that point, and my arms and legs threatened to give out at any moment.
Once again, she stopped her assault to pace around me like a feral animal. “Admit it. Sex is all you ever think about. You just couldn’t wait to fuck me when you got the chance.”
My heart shattered. So that’s what was on her mind. I couldn’t blame her. “Sylvie, I never got the chance to say I’m sorry before you left. That was a big, dumb, stupid, ugly mistake, and I am truly, deeply sorry. Please believe me.”
She glanced away, thoughts and emotion warring on her face. She clearly hadn’t expected an apology, and it confused her momentarily. I needed to use that precious time to plan. Glancing erratically across the landscape, I searched for anything that might help me. For the first time, the little sparks of light caught my attention. The entire field was criss-crossed with them, tiny little light bulbs connected by ley lines of magic.
Maybe I could keep her off balance while I prepared. “Please believe me, dolcezza. I love you. I know I hurt you, and I never meant to. I risked my life to come here and rescue you. Do you not see that?”
Instead, that enraged her. “I don’t need to be rescued! This is where I belong!” she screamed.
The following few seconds felt like an eternity to me. In my eyes, the snow kicked up around her and danced in the air, suspended in erratic clumps. Her right hand arced forward as she launched herself bodily in my direction, and I stumbled backward, unable to hold my ground. I was ready, though. I reached my hand out to the side and gathered several of the ley lines in my grasp, pulling them into reach through what little force of will remained in me. As her hand connected with my throat, I took hold of them and yanked with all my might.
Oops, maybe that was a bit much, I thought briefly as both of us flew upward into the air, head over heels. Beneath me I saw the ground grow distant, and then rapidly it approached me once more. I slammed into the snow and lost my senses.
I blinked my eyes and instantly regretted it as a bunch of snow stung my sight. I reached up and wiped the ice away from my face. The stars looked back at me from above, twinkling and cold. Was it a dream? I was so angry. Angry at her. Why?
I sat up. Did I imagine it? Was Rayna even here?
Then I saw her, but still I disbelieved it. She laid motionless in the snow on her back. I crawled over to her, felt for a pulse. There was none. Several slashes across her throat oozed with dark blood. Did I do this? I couldn’t remember. Shouldn’t I be upset? Why did I feel nothing?
“And thus, you are finally free.”
I jumped up and turned to face the voice. Queen Morrigan stood among the crocuses, pale and lovely in the moonlight, dark eyes sparkling with admiration.
Disbelief choked me and threatened to collapse my lungs. “What… what do you mean? She’s dead. I killed her.”
“Yet notice you do not grieve, Sylvie Shaestari. This human was an anchor round your neck, like so many others. With her death, now you are at last free. Rayna is dead. Your father is dead. Ixion is dead. Your mother has abandoned you. Oberon cannot reach you.”
I leaned down and took back my satchel of alchemical tools that Rayna stole from me. Briefly I rummaged through it to ensure everything was still there. Some of my father's rings were gone, but I found a little silver bracelet. The bracelet she gave me. She found it? I looked down at Rayna’s body again. The smallest of tears formed at the corners of my eyes. Yes, she was dead, after all. But Morrigan was right—maybe it was for the better.
The Queen took a step toward me. “No more demands. You are free.”
Free. Is that what it was? Why did it feel so empty then? I clutched my head. My thoughts scrambled, and my brains felt like they were sloshing back and forth in my skull. The feeling passed, though, and I took a deep breath to centre my thoughts.
“Perhaps you’re correct, Your Grace. I have nothing left. Except you.”
The Queen smiled, clearly pleased with my answer. She bent over at the waist and plucked the crocus bloom I admired earlier. Gently, she cradled it between two fingers and held it out to me.
“Take it, my esteemed alchemist. Use its power for yourself. Use it how you wish and join Us at Our court.”
Hesitant at first, I approached her, but then I gained confidence with each step. I reached out my hands, and she placed the black blossom in my palms. Once again, the raw magic surged through my body, and my blood pumped faster, bringing warmth to my body. My head lolled to one side, heavy with drowsiness and fog. I tried to focus on the flower, but it danced in my vision despite my best efforts to hold it still.
It didn’t matter. This was where I wanted to be. Free of attachment. Free of obligation. Free to live as I wished. If only I had met the Queen decades ago, maybe all the bloodshed could have been avoided. There was no sense in worrying about the past now, though.
Queen Morrigan placed her arm around my shoulders, and her warmth flowed through me. For the first time, I felt her love and admiration. She wasn’t as cold as I remembered. The elements wrapped us up like a blanket, wind and snow enveloping our bodies completely. Then the very wind itself carried me down the mountainside.
he woman at the stove put her hands on her hips and scowled at me, and I swiftly closed the door behind me without a second thought. My eyes returned to her, verifying her dark hair and olive skin, her big brown eyes, and her dirty apron. It was my mother, alright. Perplexed, I absorbed the scenery around me. It was just as it should be, all the furniture and the cookware and the television in their usual spots. Our family dining table dominated the centre of the room. It was one of the most cherished places of my childhood. Curiously, more chairs flanked the table than I remembered. Beyond it, our old, rickety plastic Christmas tree stood proudly in the window, decked out with glass ornaments and little lights. I couldn't help but giggle at its perpetual lean to the left.
Was it Christmas now? I’d totally forgotten.
Momma went back to her cooking. “Go have a seat, topolina. Supper will be ready soon.”
I did as I was told and took the same chair I sat in for years. Warmth returned to my bones, and relaxation eased my mood. It was so nice to be home.
“Where’s everyone else?” I asked.
“Robbie’s in his room. Your other brother had to work tonight. Oh, and I sent your father for some fresh mozzarella. He should be back soon.”
My head shot in her direction. Father?
Before I could ask, another familiar face strode in from the hallway, muscled, tan, and with close-cropped auburn hair. “Hey, nerd,” he greeted, a wry smirk curling his lips. His brown eyes shone with mirth.
I got up and gave him a big hug, which he returned with as much gusto as ever. His arms had grown so strong lately that I felt like he could crush me, but he was as gentle as ever. My younger brother was a treasure.
“Robbie! Buon Natale!”
He grinned and released me from the embrace. “Take a load off! I’ll get the wine.”
I returned his smile and sat back down while he set about gathering up some clean wine glasses for all of us.
“This is… really nice,” I remarked. “Being here with you all, I mean. But… I feel like I’m forgetting something?”
Robbie tilted a bottle of red wine into the first glass. “Oh yeah, Poppa should be back soon. Don’t worry. We won’t start without him.”
“No, it’s not that…”
The front door opened. When I looked, instead of the cold and snow, the familiar apartment hallway stretched beyond. I gasped; in the doorway stood my old man. He was tall and handsome, with curly, unkempt hair that went everywhere. Engine grease stained his mechanic’s coveralls, and in his right hand, he held a little container of white cheese floating in water.
He dropped it off on the counter for my mother, then turned to me with arms wide. “Angioletta! So good to see you!”
Stupefied, I blurted out, “Poppa… ?”
He grinned. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I leapt from my chair and ran toward him, throwing my arms around his neck. “You came back! You… you came back?”
He returned my embrace with a bear hug of his own, reminding me of Robbie. “What? Of course I came back. It’s only a five-minute walk.”
I released him and shook my head. “That’s not what I mean.”
Robbie handed us both a glass of wine. I sipped it and smiled while the two of them commiserated over the recent losses of their favourite basketball team. Everything felt so good and right and real.
Momma finally declared our dinner ready, so we all gathered at the table as she doled out portions of chicken cacciatore. The aromatic mixture of chicken, peppers, and tomatoes was one of my childhood favourites.
My father sat next to me and tucked a napkin into his collar. It was strange sitting here with him again. Something felt off. I leaned over. “Poppa, have you met Sylvie yet?”
He held out his plate while Momma scooped some of the chicken onto it. “Sylvie? No, can’t say I have. One of your friends from school?”
I didn’t know how to answer him. Who was Sylvie? The name felt familiar but somehow distant. Maybe I just imagined her?
There was a light rap on the door, and Robbie scowled. “Who could that be?”
I tried to do the calculus in my brain while my brother pushed back his chair and headed for the door. Why couldn’t I shake this nagging feeling that none of this was right?
Robbie opened the door, and another woman pushed her way into the room, a bottle of wine in her hands. She was tall, and her blonde hair faded to blue at the ends. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest! I know her!
“Sorry I’m late!” she apologized. “I wanted to pick out a suitable gift to bring with me.”
My father stood up suddenly, his voice stern and cautious. “What are you doing here?”
She ignored him and continued to my side. “Merry Christmas, Rayna! Thanks for inviting me.”
Robbie growled, an uncharacteristic accusation on his lips. “You weren’t invited.”
I got to my feet and hugged her. “Sylvie!”—I turned back to my family—“Why are you all being so rude? This is Sylvie! Robbie, Momma, you met her, remember? We had dinner together a few weeks ago.”
My mother shook her head. “No, no, this is not how it’s supposed to be, topolina. Tell your friend to go.”
I didn’t like that answer. Nothing made sense. Through the incongruities, though, my mind sharpened. It wasn’t Christmas. Sylvie and I should’ve arrived together. Most of all, Poppa wasn’t supposed to be here. I took Sylvie by the hand and headed for the door.
Robbie looked surprised. “Going somewhere?”
I paused and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but this isn’t real.”
My father laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. Sit down and eat! You’re overworked and hungry, that’s all.”
I looked at him. Everything felt so real, and fresh tears choked my voice. “Poppa. You left when I was eight years old. Hell, you pushed me out of the way because I was between you and the door. Don’t think I forgot that. I’ll never forget that.”
He waved it off. “Ah, fuhgeddaboutit. That’s old news.”
“No,” I spat. “It’s not. You never came back.”
I swore under my breath and headed for the door once again, still towing Sylvie behind me.
“Don’t leave,” pleaded my mother. “Everyone’s here now! We should enjoy each other’s company.”
“No, thank you,” I growled. Tears slid down my cheeks, but I wouldn’t give my “family” the satisfaction of seeing them. “I’m not interested in this make-believe. I have a real family.”
I dropped Sylvie’s hand. Was she also an apparition?
“I have a real girlfriend who needs me right now,” I informed her.
Sylvie smiled at me and nodded her approval and encouragement, unlike the others.
I opened the door. Sure enough, outside was a vast field of snow and the endless night, just how it should be. Without looking back, I took the first step, but before I crossed the threshold, someone shoved me hard from behind. I tripped and fell face-first into the icy powder. A strange whooping noise followed me out the door.
“Ungrateful wretch,” someone said from behind me.
I flipped over and looked up. Now I was outside the cabin again, the doorway open to infinite darkness. Even the lights from the windows were gone. Standing over me was an elf, and she seemed impossibly old. Grey, matted hair cascaded over her prune-like face, and her sunken eyes were like the sockets of a fleshless skull. Even her pointed ears were as crinkled paper.
My heart raced. “Who are you?”
She ignored my question. “Twice today, Morrigan hath brought me fresh blood. Twice today was I rebuked. Begone with ye.” Her eyes darted across the landscape, searching for someone else. “And you! Stop interfering, ye brat.”
The elderly woman slammed the door in my face, and she left me alone once more in the cold. What on earth just happened? Was this some sort of test? An illusion? Despite freezing in the deep snow, I let out a sigh of great relief. I had no idea what would happen to me if I’d bought into her fantasy, but I was grateful not to find out.
Sylvie had refused her as well, a minor victory, but it returned hope to me.
An old wood barred my path, dark and impenetrable. For the first time, I noted that there was little sign of life on my way up the mountain. Very few plants, no animals. Even now, the forest itself seemed like a tomb to me. The trees stood like withered sentinels, cold and silent. I expected to hear owls hooting, or crickets chirping, but only the biting wind made a sound.
I looked around at the bleak landscape I’d left behind and tried to warm myself by rubbing my arms. Part of me wished Lacuna would return. I didn’t much care for them, but I also didn’t enjoy being out here all alone, in the cold and the dark. I had no choice, though. Through the woods was the only way forward.
One of the first trees had several broken branches, and there was an array of erratic prints in the snow. Someone had scrambled around on their hands and knees in the snow recently. A little sparkle in the moonlight caught my eye, and I knelt down to inspect it.
I picked up the little glass vial and turned it over and over in my gloved hands. It was empty, but I could still see specks in it reflecting the dim light. It was one of Sylvie’s alchemical vials, or at least one that looked very similar, though I didn’t know what it once contained. I slipped it into the bag along with the other things I’d found. Unsure of what to make of this scene, I pressed onward.
My eyes darted left and right as I reluctantly took my first steps into the oppressive darkness. The branches overhead knitted together and blotted out the moon and stars, closing in on me on all sides. A clear trail cut through the forest and marked the way forward, but on either side of me, the closely packed trees and scrub forbade passage. I was fine with that. I kept my eyes on the trail, determined not to lose sight of it.
Less than a hundred paces in, I stopped. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I tried to take a breath, but only managed a few abrupt gasps for air. They were all around me, staring at me, stalking me.
Slowly, I turned my head to the left. Their eyes shone with an unnatural glow, pairs of golden orbs in the darkness. Three of them. I looked to the right. Two more. I took a step back, and after a tense few seconds, they emerged. Wolves. Unnaturally large wolves with enormous, slabbering jowls. They growled and bared their fangs, saliva dripping down to the snow in long rivulets.
This was not how wolves behave. Was it another illusion? Should I risk disbelief and keep going? But it also felt very real. Maybe fey wolves were different. Maybe Queen Morrigan trained them. I didn’t know, and I had precious little time to decide what to do. Perhaps I could shapeshift again and fly away. I remembered what happened at the cliff, though. If my flight faltered for even a second, they’d snap me up in their jaws for certain. Game over.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to steel my nerves. This was risky, but I had little choice. I stood up straight and tall, holding my arms out. Remembering Lacuna’s counsel, I conjured the image of clay in my mind again. I moulded it into the shape of a great grizzly bear and reared up in one swift motion. The magic covered my skin with thick fur, and my jaws extended into a muzzle full of sharp teeth.
I roared, shaking the forest around me.
The wolves hesitated and backed away, but only briefly. That was all the opening I needed, though. Falling forward and slamming my paws on the ground, I charged down the trail. I slammed one wolf with my shoulder as I passed, tossing it to the side.
I barrelled through the forest as fast as I could, and a series of howls chased me through the darkness. The pack hesitated only a few seconds, and they were close on my heels. My enormous frame could keep ahead of them, but it tired me quickly. I wasn’t sure how long I could hold this shape.
One of the wolves darted up beside me, and with a snarl, it sank its teeth into my side. I roared and veered to the right, smashing it into the trees, and my assailant yelped and tumbled away into the darkness. Unfortunately, that slowed me down just enough that the rest could catch up as well, and I could feel their breaths on my hindquarters. Ahead of me, the snow reflected the pale moonlight, brightly showing an end to the woods. Could I make it? Would they pursue me beyond the forest?
I wasn’t sure, so I suddenly spun on my pursuers. A swipe of my paw caught the first one by surprise, and it went flying into the darkness noiselessly. The remaining three leapt upon me, tearing with their teeth and claws, but I wouldn’t go down. Not here, not now.
My jaws closed around another wolf’s neck, and coppery blood flowed over my tongue. I shook him side to side a few times before tossing him off into the tree line like the others. Only two left; hopefully, the others weren’t coming back. They backed away from me and paced in a circle, seeking an opening to strike. I hoped they might give up after witnessing the fate of their comrades, but they were unnaturally persistent.
I dove for the one on my left and slammed down both my paws, pinning it to the ground. The other took that opportunity to leap at me again and sunk his teeth into my flesh. Not good. Luckily, my neck was too large for it to get a good grip, and I shook it off while I kept the first wolf pinned. Panic overtook me, and I slammed my paws down again and again, beating the creature to a bloody pulp.
I wouldn’t wait for the other wolf to recover. Spinning around again, I charged for the edge of the forest. With one last triumphant roar, I dove headfirst into the snow beyond and released myself from the bear shape. My remaining energy left my body, no way to continue.
I laid there in the snow, drenched in sweat and blood, waiting for the wolves to continue their pursuit. To my surprise and relief, they never came. I was free of them. I’d turned into a bear only once before, and holding an unpracticed shape taxed my body to the extreme.
As my blood stained the snow red, I wondered if it was all for nothing. A delirious laugh escaped my body. What a way to die.
Beyond the cliff, the land was mercifully much easier to cross. The slopes still rose ever higher, though, and my thighs grew sore. Perhaps in a show of solidarity, Lacuna walked beside me instead of floating the whole way. They seemed to have no trouble keeping pace, though. They were likely far more accustomed to this terrain.
The starry sky enveloped us. Despite my attempts to hurry, my body just wasn’t up to it, and my destination grew more distant with each step, or so it felt. Not that I knew where I was going, I just knew it was forward. I stumbled a lot in the soft snow. It was like walking in quicksand, like the mountain itself wanted to slow me. I thought for sure Lacuna would have something snarky to say, but they remained silent and waited patiently for me to continue each time I stopped.
They reached out and touched my shoulder briefly. “Your mind wanders. What is it, love?”
I jumped a little at the gesture, my train of thought rudely interrupted. “Oh! Uh… nothing important. Why, though?”
“Why what?”
The corners of my lips dipped. “Why are you following me? I thought maybe you just wanted to taunt me the whole time, but you’re just… here.”
They turned their eyes to the horizon, but not before I caught the look of pure mirth and mischief in them. They stroked their chin for emphasis, mocking deep thought.
“That’s the question, isn’t it? I suppose the answer is twofold: one, you fascinate me; and two, you’ve chosen to challenge my mother. I hate that she always gets to have all the fun around here.”
I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face the elf. “Wait what? So… you’re a prince—er, princess?”
Lacuna let out a laugh that shook their entire frame from deep within. Despite the heartiness of it, it floated on the air like birdsong. Most annoying of all, though, was that they dodged the real question.
“I suppose, but when your mother is immortal, what use is there in inheriting the throne?”
“So you’re not concerned she’ll be upset that you're helping me?”
They tilted their head curiously. “When did I help you?”
I chuckled. “Fair enough. I suppose you didn’t. Not directly, anyway.”
“Also, she’s preoccupied at the moment, so I doubt she even knows I’m here.”
Their eyes turned up the slopes when they said that. Did they mean to imply that the Queen was ahead of us? That didn’t bode well for Sylvie.
The wind whipped up around us and blew my hair into my face, and the little frozen strands stung my cheeks. I shivered and pulled my jacket tight around me. It was a decent winter coat for the city, but this mountain was something else entirely.
I noticed Lacuna didn’t even flinch. “Doesn’t this cold bother you?” I asked.
They placed a hand on their breast with a dramatic flourish. “It’s nothing compared to my icy heart, darling.”
Must be a dark elf thing, I guessed. I sighed and forced my feet to walk again. The wind was cold and harsh, and it bore little snowflakes that scraped across my skin like sharp rocks. I hadn’t felt a winter so biting in years.
My eyes focused on the path in the distance. The weather forced me to narrow my eyes, but I could still see the path as it cut its way through the rocky slope. Up ahead, it split in two, and I just barely made out the outline of a cave opening. Maybe I could take shelter there?
“There’s shelter up ahead, I think,” I called out to Lacuna and picked up my pace. My legs ached as I nearly had to raise my knees to my waist to get through the snow quickly. The thought of getting out of this horrid wind encouraged me.
Within minutes, I arrived at the cave entrance. The size was disappointing, but it looked like it might be large enough for both of us to enter, if we didn’t mind huddling a bit close. I wasn’t eager to cuddle with Lacuna, but it was better than freezing to death out in the open. I turned back to say something to them, but they were gone.
“So now you choose to abandon me, you little jerk?”
I made a disgusted grunt and ducked into the cave. A little fire pit that someone else had left behind occupied most of the dirt floor. I dropped down next to it and stretched out my legs as best I could in the small space. The tired muscles burned, and I tried with some futility to assuage them with a gentle massage.
After that proved fruitless, I slipped my gloves off and blew warm air into my hands to get the blood flowing again. My breath wasn’t nearly hot enough to do much for them, though. While I cupped my hands over my mouth, though, I noticed a little ember glowing back at me from the circle of coals.
I reached down with one hand. Sure enough, there was just a little warmth. Not enough to fend off the cold, but it told me someone was here recently. Was it Sylvie?
Then my eyes fell upon something that made my heart sink straight through the floor. Close to the dying coals lay a strand of silver. Reluctantly, I plucked it from the dirt and draped it over my hand. Yes, I recognized this. I gave it to Sylvie just last week. I remember we had a stupid argument about it. It was supposed to be a nice gift for her, but instead she was upset that I’d spent money on her. Sometimes she could be so insensitive and treat me like I couldn’t manage my own life.
Why did she drop it here? Was it intentional?
It wasn’t alone, however. I reached down again and scooped up a little locket on a decaying strand of leather. Inside it held a painting of a beautiful elf girl. She wasn’t Sylvie, but seeing her long, blond locks made my heart ache. I hoped my dolcezza was okay.
I thought about it for a long while before I put both of them in the bag. Maybe she just dropped it by accident and would be grateful for its return.
The wind howled outside, playing an angry tune as it blew across the entrance of the cave. I retreated as far back into the space as I could. Maybe if I stayed for just a moment, the weather might calm down.
“Aw, shit!”
How long was I asleep? I had no idea. Hopefully, it was just a quick catnap. I reached into my coat pocket to pull out my mobile and check the time, but I quickly realized that I hadn’t thought to check the time before I left the Queen’s presence. All I knew now was that it was late.
Lacuna was still gone, too. I wondered briefly what they were up to, but I had no time to be distracted by their nonsense. What an odd person. I just assumed all dark elves would be like Ixion, full of hatred and violence. Lacuna seemed different. Unpredictable, but not villainous. I didn’t get the sense that any of them were safe, though. God, I hoped Sylvie was safe. What was she doing right then? I remembered Lacuna’s earlier mention of the Queen that implied she waited further up the mountain. Could she fly up there like her child?
My eyes shut tightly, and I chastised myself. I was stalling, and I really needed to move forward again. I couldn’t bring Sylvie back by sitting on my ass. Bracing myself against the chilly wall of the cave, I slowly got to my feet. Despite the rest, every muscle in my body still hated me.
Outside, the wind blew with ferocity. So much for waiting it out. I sighed and stepped once more into the unforgiving chill, looking further up the slope. I sighed. More climbing to do.
My body and mind weren’t accustomed to this kind of stress. Part of me just wanted to go home, snuggle in my bed again with the warm blankets. How did my life get so difficult? It was all because I couldn’t resist getting mixed up in all this fey business and magic. I had my own insatiable curiosity to blame.
No, that was a terrible way to think. If I didn’t get involved, Sylvie would be in the clutches of her biological father, possibly even dead. I did it for her. We’d been friends for years, but every time she stopped by my shop just to check on me, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The excitement of constantly diving into danger with her just brought those feelings to the surface. Her situation forced me to admit that I wanted to be around her, no matter what. My chest twinged with the fright of her coming to harm. I had to do this. There was no other choice but to reach the top and wrest her from whatever fate the Queen planned.
The wind swelled again and nearly blew me over, reminding me to focus on the here and now. The cold pierced right through me, and I prayed I wouldn’t freeze to death before I ever reached Sylvie. Cursing the snow with every step, I tromped onward and crested a small hill. Beneath me lay a rolling valley covered in endless white. My eyes narrowed. Was that a light up ahead? Maybe there was a proper fire nearby.
I pushed myself harder to reach the beacon before my face froze completely. Tucking my hands into my armpits, I ducked my head so the wind wouldn’t hurt my eyes, and I plowed my way through the knee-high snow, one agonizing step after another.
It wasn’t my imagination. There, in the middle of nowhere, was a small cabin, plain as day. Welcoming light streamed forth from the windows and reflected off the piles of snow. I laughed and ran toward it, hopeful for a respite from the cold.
My fist slammed on the door a few times, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. I didn’t care, though. All I could think about was the possibility of getting out of the damned frosty night and giving my chapped face a rest.
No one answered me, though. Was the place empty? The lights were on. I took a chance and tried the handle. Easily, the door gave way and let me inside.
My heart and my breath caught in my chest.
The inside was impossible, in many ways. First, the interior was larger than the exterior, of that I was certain. Second, I stood in the common area of my childhood apartment. Third, what the actual fuck?
A short woman with dark hair and olive skin stood at the stove and stirred at some simmering food. My mother appeared just as I’d last seen her, wearing a plain dress of brown and an apron.
She chided me warmly. “Close the door, Rayna! You’re letting the cold in.”
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