A Dark Faerie Tale Series Omnibus Edition (2 page)

Chapter Three

THE SHIFT OF
damp moss and dead mulch made the trek into the forest slightly unpleasant. It had sprinkled the night before, leaving a layer of moisture clinging to everything and the air hanging thick. The soil was almost muddy. The damp and sticky clumps gripped onto their shoes and shifted with their weight. Once their house had faded into the thick rows of trees behind them, they were alone, with only the calls of birds and small animals to accompany them.

Jade peered around, sniffing the air. The scent of pine and rotting foliage filled her nostrils. Not necessarily unpleasant, just stronger than it would’ve been without the rain.

Evie was delighted. The place reeked of magic. Life vibrated from the limbs of trees and the small saplings swayed in the slight breezes that caressed their leaves. The earth and sky harmonized, sending waves of intense calm through her. She was in her element again. The only place she didn’t feel sickly or different. She let the tendrils of power seduce her, enjoying every second.

Jade could f
eel it too, prickling along her skin like static electricity. It wasn’t as potent as Evie’s senses, but she could feel it nonetheless. Her elemental magic was by no means weak−she could match Evie easily with her own spells and fire wielding. Faery magic was more amplified than hers, though. It reeked from everything in Faerie. The land was enchanted, alive and breathing just as she was. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

“Where do you want me to wait?” Her voice sounded quiet in the density of nature. She didn’t quite feel at ease yet, though her magic was also earthly bound. Hers was human-born. Evie’s were supernatural.

“Here is fine,” her sister’s voice was smooth and filled with excitement. Evie’s eyes were wide, her vision filled with the extraordinary things around her. Small demi-fey flew past, and paused slightly in their flights to observe her momentarily before zipping away, finding nothing special. Just another fey girl wandering the forest. They lingered on the human a bit more though, their eyes stared hungrily for seconds longer. But Jade knew better. She gave then no attention and sent them off in their unacknowledged spite.

“Okay, remember; scream loudly. I’ll be right there in a flash.” Jade placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder, ensuring she was heard. “Don’t go too far, and don’t
talk
to anyone.” Her eyes gleamed her warning as Evie turned toward her.

“I
know
, I promise. Not too far.”

Jade nodded as her hand slipped off her sister. Evie made her way deeper into the foliage and shrubs, letting the forest swallow her up in no time. The woods claimed her, happy to take one of their own. Jade felt alone in the desolation of Faerie. It was no different than a regular forest. Except for that tingle of magic that crawled across her like ants swarming. She found a fallen log with moss growing to one side of its bark situated in a small incline on the forest floor. Sitting down, she sighed.

Patience. She needs to do this. I must be patient and just sit and wait.  I can sit still for a bit. One hour, that’s all. What could go wrong?

She swallowed down the parched knot forming in her throat. So
much
could go wrong. This was the Land of Faerie after all, where nothing is what is seems, and nothing is impossible.

~~~~~

NOTHING COULD COMPARE
to it. Nothing would ever be enough to replace the feeling this place gave her. Evie
had already decided this. Only a few minutes in and she just knew. No other strip of earth would ever make her feel this way. No human city, no land anywhere but here. This was home. She could feel it to her inner core. Smiling, she let it flow over her as she watched the creatures of Faerie slowly creep out of their places and curiously watch her. They would acknowledge her with a narrowing of eyes or a curious glance, and then be on their way. The trees would sway in her direction, almost wanting to envelope her in a welcoming hug.

Welcome home
, they whispered.
Welcome home.

A crack echoed nearby, breaking her solace with a jerk. Evie turned to study her surroundings, waiting for whomever or whatever disturbed the land to show themselves. Even the birds had quieted their songs, silenced with caution, awaiting the intrusion on their solace.

Evie wondered if she should scream. No, she would wait, she could handle it. She just knew she could, no matter what or who it could be. Listening, she attempted to narrow in further onto the noise. None came, but she felt eyes on her, studying her with an intensity so strong, she could actually feel their eyes almost burning into her.

“I know you’re there,” she called out. The forest didn’t answer. Even the sway of branches had stilled as she waited. Slowly sucking in some air, she glanced around again and caught sight of him. A man. Dark hair and blue eyes watched her with a curious interest and a slight smile hovered on his lips.

“Who’re you?”

He tilted his head, amused by her words. His smile grew, curled up and flashed the ivory white teeth underneath. His magic called to her, like fire for fire. It made her breath catch as she felt it across the air. He was a faery, but his power matched hers somehow, leaving her completely enthralled.

“I’m Jack. Who’re you?”

Chapter Four

JADE FELT A
presence. It was unworldly and felt like a rush of earth and water tumbling around her. She stiffened. The hairs rose on her neck as she turned around, flicking her eyes about the forest but finding nothing.

“Evie?” she whispered.  The trees didn’t reply. They danced in a sway, rippling like a tide as the wind rode the branches. Jade couldn’t help but feel that someone was watching her. Shivering, she ran her hands over her arms and backed into a tree, hoping it was all in her head.

“Evie? If that’s you, it’s not funny!” Nothing but space and a haunting whoosh of breezes greeted her. She sighed. It was probably just her imagination. Feeling paranoid was not uncommon for her. When you’re different from your peers to the point you can manipulate others and the elements, she could trust no one. No one but her own flesh and blood.

Jade settled against the tree and scolded herself for being so jumpy. The feeling ceased and the calming sounds of the woods resumed their songs.  She didn’t blame Evie one bit for loving it out here. Nature was an entity unto itself and its power was intoxicating. Jade was sure that whatever pleasure she derived from the earth itself was amplified a thousand fold for those bound to Faerie. It reeked of magic and power. It was like a surge tingling across her skin, vibrating and teasing.

She could never use it like her sister could. It was bound to faery blood only. But, that was okay with Jade. She had her own elemental magic to consume. And it was just as good.

A twig snapped, sending her jetting to her feet. Her breath huffed and burned in her chest as she spun around once more to find the perpetrator. This time he walked slowly into her vision. This time he wanted her to see him.

“What do you want?” her voice cracked, suddenly dry with the tingle of fear that slowly embraced her. She licked her lips, wanting the desert in her mouth to go away, but it didn’t comply. Not with an ethereal looking man standing before her.

The faery stood just a bit taller than her. His waist-length deep brown hair and skin the color of pale cream shined in the sunlight. Almond eyes blinked back toward her, amused with her widening eyes and opened mouth. They twinkled and were the same color brown as his hair. Jade found it interesting that he looked very near human. She’d expected wings, translucent skin and bug-like eyes. Maybe more like the demi-fey who fluttered on their tiny, fragile wings with their sharp cornered eyes without whites. No, he was the size of an ordinary man, only more mesmerizing than any one she’d ever met.

He was dressed head to toe in dark rich leather, soft and worn with use. It enveloped his body, fitting snuggly against his muscles and giving him a warrior’s look. She gasped as he stepped closer, an amused smile played at the corners of his lips.

“Stop!” She pressed her back against the tree, feeling trapped yet amazingly curious about the faery man. “Don’t come closer, or I’ll…I–”

“Or you’ll do what?” he snickered. His eyes twinkled playfully, making her seethe as its effect made her fear chip away.

“You don’t want to know,” she gritted her teeth, hoping it was a sufficient enough warning. She readied her magic, letting it tingle on the tips of her fingers.

As if sensing it gathering, he paused, sniffed the air and glanced around. He refocused on Jade and gave her a warm smile, no longer approaching her. “Forgive me, elemental. I can be off putting.” A tilt to his head as he continued to watch her but she held her ground, stilled and readied to slam the magic onto him if necessary.

“What are you doing in Faerie, elemental? Your kind are not native here. You risk much by treading here.” He pressed his lips together, looking slightly concerned but it faded just as quickly. He edged over to the fallen log she’d just been sitting on, sank to sit on it and patted the other side for her to join him. When she didn’t move, he sighed and slid off his sword, propping it next to him and pulled out a sack which had been strapped to his back.

“Forgive me, I’m tired and parched. Been on the move all day and I do regret barging into your solace, but I must have some nourishment.” He pulled out a flask of water, uncorking it to take huge swallows. He then clasped it shut and pulled out a small sack, grabbing some nuts and berries out of it and shoveled it into his mouth.

Yuck, Faeries have no manners apparently.

With a mouthful, he offered her some of his sticky snack but she shook her head and waited. Hoping Evie was not nearby.

“I don’t bite, elemental. I am really quite harmless. You can put that fire away you got there. You might subsequently start a forest fire if you let it flicker a little more.” He nodded towards her hands. Jade pulled them up and stared in horror to see that her hands were afire, dripping slight embers to the forest floor without her realizing it. She quickly extinguished the flames and stomped the smoldering ashes with her shoes.

He gave her a haughty laugh, amused by her loss of control. “You know, if you wanted to burn me, I’ll be pretty vulnerable in a few minutes, being that I’m exhausted. Would you mind if I hung in your woods for a bit? It’s quite quaint actually.” He looked around and pulled a blanket out of the pack, laying it on the soft mulch of the ground and plopping onto it, using the fallen log to shelter one of his sides.

“Wh–what? Y–you’re going to stay here?” Jade stammered. He couldn’t
linger around here−their house was just a few strides away. What if he discovered it?

He placed his head on his pack, one arm easing over his eyes. “No need to stutter. I’ll keep to myself, don’t worry your pretty little head about it, miss.” He nestled i
nto the ground, sounding truly exhausted. After a few minutes of silence, she wondered if he really was just going to rest here for a bit. What did he want?

“Who
are
you?” she asked one more time, her voice sounded suddenly small and squeaky. She cleared her throat as she slid to lean against a tree once more.

“I’m called Verenis. What’s your name, elemental?” he asked without getting up. His face was still hidden under his arm, blocking the light out. His breathing slowed to rhythmic and peaceful. Jade wondered if he’d fallen asleep already.

“Jade.”

“Now, Jade, what are you doing in Faerie?” Verenis rolled to his side, leaning on his arm as his eyes flashed toward her. A sea of earth drifted in them. It made her dizzy and wary of him, though his face was pleasant enough to look at and sent shivers
down her skin.

“What do you care?”

“Heh, touché,” he smirked at her remark with his eyes dancing. She crossed her arms and frowned, feeling somewhat childish.

“What does it matter? What are
you
doing here, if I may ask.”

“Trying to stay alive.” The faery promptly shifted onto his back, covering his eyes again to cover them.

Nothing about him made sense. Jade had lost her patience and muttered her annoyance. He didn’t stir but softly snored as he drifted away into sleep. Jade watched him, unable to tear her eyes from his resting body. She wanted to ask him a thousand questions, but right now was not the time. She wondered if she would ever see him again after today. The thought of where Evangeline had run off to in the desolate woods had temporarily slipped her mind.

Chapter Five

EVANGELINE ENJOYED THE
power that Faerie circled around her as it quenched her thirst. The headache was all but gone as the exhilaration of the land filled her to the brim. It was heaven. Pure and organic. Nothing in her human world compared to it. Now, nothing ever would. That, she knew was for certain.

The invasion of her private moment had jolted her out of the clouds. Jack hadn’t attempted to hide himself from her, and now stood in plain sight, watching her with utmost scrutiny. Evie felt naked under his gaze, not the kind where her clothes were being stripped away, but like she was a student in a class caught daydreaming and failing miserably. She brushed the self-conscious fear away like cobwebs that stuck to her skin and made her feel icky. He was intense and she knew she had to get to know him.

“You need to pull more of the earth’s energy rather than from the air. It’s sturdier, less volatile.” His voice sounded out across the tiny clearing they stood in. The sun streamed down the canopy in spikes, warming her face and throwing shadows across his chiseled one. Black, wispy hair fell across the cusp of his eyebrows, partially hiding his features. Stark, blue eyes stared back at her but a hint of a smile was nowhere to be found.

“What?” She was stunned. Not knowing what to do. The stranger approached her and held out his hand, showing how it burst into a wave of flames and cracked with electricity. It made her gasp and back away, unsure what to do. His eyes watched her calmly as his intrigue danced across his face.

“It won’t hurt you, I wouldn’t let that happen.”

“What
are
you?” Evie’s fear receded with his words, and traded places with curiosity. The flames danced along his skin in a vibrant blue-white. It was entrancing, called her like a moth to a light. She’d never met another faery, ever, and this man was one. A true and real faery. She unwittingly reached out to touch him, surprised when he pulled away, extinguishing the flame.

“I’m a Teleen. A fire and lightning faery−it’s what I’m made of.” He smiled, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. “Well, I told you my name. So…what, can I ask, is yours?” His eyebrow lifted in questioning.

“I’m Evangeline, but my sister calls me…”

“Evie
?”

She furrowed her brow at him, wondering how it was that he knew that. “Yes, have we met?”

Jack shook his head as he gave a short laugh, clearing his throat and pulling of his pack strapped diagonally across his chest. “No, but I’ve seen you and that fire elemental witch at the edge of the woods over there. Didn’t mean to pry, just happened upon you two practicing one day, not too long ago.” He winked, sending a thrill through her. She felt her heart hammering away in her chest. “Evie is nice, I like it better than Vange or Angela.”

“Oh, thanks,” she stammered. Her focus was off completely, this strange being had tilted her world the moment he had walked into the clearing. She felt an odd attraction toward him, feeling her cheeks flush as she watched him pull out a flask of water and gulp down some mouthfuls. His movements were fluid and his physique was of someone who had spent many a day outside hunting or running. Not an ounce of fat on this one. A perfect man, in every way.

Evie pulled her eyes away. Held out her hands and called her flames into being, letting the fire flicker on her fingers. Hers was not blue, like his, but the orange/yellow of a normal fire. The colors danced across her skin, feeling warm and comforting as she maneuvered it.

She glanced toward Jack, bringing her brown eyes to meet his deep, blue sea ones.  The moment felt suspended, even the air seemed to calm into an odd stillness that embraced them. The overwhelming scent of pine and mulch circled around, fueling the magic of the moment. They continued to stare, lost in each other’s eyes.

The feeling suspended time. Evie felt lightheaded and snuffed the flames out, breaking their connection. What was that? No man had ever held her in such a frozen shock. But, this was no regular man after all. The boys at school paled in comparison to him. The confusion he caused her made her want to run, but her feet were cemented to the ground and wouldn’t budge. Jack’s staring didn’t help either. It was like he could see all of her soul, every last bit of it.

“Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, Evie.” He smiled, picked up his pack and headed toward the edge of the clearing.

“Wait!”

Jack came to a stop, turned his head slightly and brought her into his periphery. The sides of his mouth twitched up and his eyes betrayed his eagerness to do just what she had asked.

“What is it?”

“Will I see you again?” Evie bit her lip, praying that the request didn’t make her look desperate or needy. She didn’t really expect anything, but the chance to speak with the Faery was just too good to let it fleet by without a word. To never see him again already made her insides ache. No, she had to see Jack again, even just to speak and ask him about Faerie. Just for a little while.

“Most likely, I’m usually out here everyday hunting around morning and late afternoon. It’s nice out here. It’s purely exhilarating in Faerie, you’ll see.” Jack closed the distance between her and held out a small blue orb, it shined in the late morning sun, swirling inside like smoke and lightning flashing within it. “Take this and just call my name into it, I’ll hear you.”

Evie held out her hand and he placed it gently into her palm, his other hand cupped hers underneath sending a jolt of pleasure up her arm and into her chest. Letting go, he turned and disappeared, running so fast that his body became a blurred streak as he vanished into the forest.

Evie was left breathless. Jack was fascinating in every way. She smiled to herself, knowing that his coming back was
like hitting the jackpot. ‘Jack’ was just who she’d hoped to find, a faery with an affinity to fire, like her. A kindred spirit in a sense. How lucky could she have been? Breathing in deeply she turned her face up towards the warmth of the last rays of sun, peeking over the canopy of rustling leaves before the forest blocked it out. This was paradise at last. And it was finally hers.