A Dark Faerie Tale Series Omnibus Edition (51 page)

“Possibly.”

This jerked her out of the fog that was threatening to overtake her senses. Shade sat back up and waited for Ilarial to continue. “How?”

“You have to seek out the Ice King and make him return your powers. Possibly, with your magical healing powers, you can heal yourself. If not, you’ll need the help of the Ancient. I’ve exhausted every other option. If you don’t, you will succumb to the poison.”

Shade nodded, sniffing back the frustration which bubbled up inside. She felt so tired, so exhausted and all used up. She’d had it with everything and everyone. This wasn’t supposed to be the way things should’ve gone. Everything felt so wrong, so misaligned, and she didn’t have any idea how to fix it. She didn’t know how to make things right. Now she’d run out of time without any progress whatsoever.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly mustered the strength to stand up and paused momentarily to make sure her legs would hold. After an eternal moment where both Dylan and Ilarial watched her apprehensively, she took a few small steps forward, until the fluidity of movement returned to her legs. Soap now stood wild-eyed and shocked as he stared at her as he entered the room. Reaching the door as everyone stood silently, she slipped out the door and turned down the hall toward her room, moving faster and faster, more in control now since the poison’s effects had worn off a bit. Almost running, she crashed through the door to the room she occupied while she stayed at the Glass Castle and locked it swiftly behind her.

She pressed her back against the wood and let out a breath she hadn’t even known she’d been holding. The infirmary had become suffocating, and she’d thought of nothing but getting out of it. Now in solace, she made her way to the bed where she pulled the blankets down, slipped off her shoes and crawled in between the comforter and the soft linen. Dropping her head on the luxurious fluff of pillows, she pulled the blankets to her chin and let her eyelids drop closed. Sleep beckoned her with a promise of anything but pain and everlasting broken hearts.

Chapter Nine

A LOUD KNOCK
sounded and echoed in the room, waking Shade from her slumber. Her body ached in every joint and hair follicle, like she had rolled down a cliff. Pushing up off the bed, she realized the sun was long gone and the darkness surrounded her, signifying early morning. The soft glow of the impending sunrise was still overwhelmed by the black nothingness outside the window. It made the room feel as if it was part of the forest but for the silence surrounding her as the breeze pushed at the foliage and branches.

The thud against the door came louder and more urgent this time. It made her groan as she kicked off the covers, annoyed as she pushed back her wild, dark hair.

What now? No rest for the weary!

“Who is it?” she partly yelled at the silent door.

“Shade, it’s Soap.” His gentle voice sounded muffled behind the massive wooden door. Scooting to sit at the edge of the bed, Shade sighed and rubbed her face. Her body and mind told her it was around five in the morning, an absurd hour to come calling on anyone, even in Faerie. Especially for a non-morning person like her.

“One sec.” Her clothes from the previous day were still on, though wrinkled and disheveled. She smoothed the creases down as best she could and walked over, unlocking the door. “What is it, Soap? It’s way early.” She glanced down both sides of the hall but Soap was her only visitor.

“I know. I couldn’t sleep. Had to see if you were doing okay.” His shy smile made her defenses crumble. “Can I come in? You can lie back down; I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk about anything.”

Seeing that he was not intent on leaving any time soon, she opened the door wider, letting him slip by before she locked it behind him. No need for anyone traipsing in who shouldn’t be. She was pretty paranoid now. The Land of Faerie had done that to her. Now she always locked doors, avoided mirrors and carried a really nice, sharp dagger with her everywhere she went.

Slumping back onto the bed, she pulled the blankets back over her and let the heat warm away the morning chill. She watched as Soap maneuvered easily in the dark to the other side of the bed to lie down next to her, still fully dressed, on top of the sheets. His long hair was loose and fanned out on the pillow. They had lain many nights next to each other this way, whether in silence or talking about things like the past and Soap’s magical adventures. She always coaxed him to chat more about himself, relishing the moments she could just listen to his stories and his soft voice well into the long, insomnia-filled nights. As Shade preferred not to talk about herself, Soap was a reliable companion for her. He never ran out of things to say or talk about.

She wondered if he knew how comforting his presence had been for her during the long evenings at the beach soon after she had been rescued from the Unseelie palace. Even now, it was a soothing balm to her weary soul. She inched closer to him, laying her head in the crook of his shoulder as he lifted his arm to let her in. Laying her cheek against his chest, the beating of his heart was a soft rhythm in the silence of night.

“So talk.”

“Are you okay?”

“If you call surviving a darkling mark with only three days to live and no magical powers in sight okay, then yeah, sure,” she huffed. After letting out a deep breath, she closed her eyes again. Fatigue was a constant companion. It made her wonder if she would’ve felt so tired if she was merely a human with ordinary cares in the world and homework up the wazoo to do. Something told her it would’ve been a different kind of fatigue, not quite like this. It wasn’t that she thought so much would be better if she wasn’t part faerie, it’s that she was afraid to think that she was right in thinking it.

“Yeah, that can put damper on the party, right?” He squeezed her and kissed the top of her head. He smelled similar to Dylan, and it had her wondering if all the Teleen had this specific scent. It was a pine-filled, smoky aroma which reminded Shade of camping in the forest as a kid. Mulch and falling leaves everywhere, like rain from the sky, littered her memory.

“Look, it’s going to be freezing cold in the Ice Kingdom. I brought you a nice coat to wear while you’re out there. When we get up, I’ll show you.” His statement jolted her out of her sleepiness.

“Wait, what do you mean when I go there? Aren’t you coming?” She cranked her head to stare at the Teleen changeling. His brilliant, green gem eyes glowed in the soft light of early dawn. He smiled slightly as he shook his head. Disappointment filled his eyes.

“No, I’m not going this time, Shade.”

“But why?” No amount of glaring made him budge. He just reached up and stroked her messy brown hair as he studied every line of her face.

“Because I think it’s time for you to evaluate what you really want. I know it isn’t me. I’ve known for a long time, Shade.” His fingers tickled the skin of her face as they made their way to her neck and twirled a thin strand of hair around his fingers.

“What? How can you say that?” Shade gulped, knowing how right he was. She didn’t want to let go, she wasn’t ready yet. “I want you to come with me.”

Soap’s features faded to sadness, still intent on staring into her brown eyes. “I can’t. I can’t watch you love him more. Not this time around. When he was gone, it was tolerable—it was easier to imagine that you loved me.” His hand moved to stroke her arm, sending exploding sparks shooting up it and into her heart. “Now, I’m a shadow in his midst.”

“No, wait….”

“It’s okay.” He pulled her closer, lifting her chin up to look deeper into her eyes. “I accept it. I know I’ll never live up to him, never be what you want me to be. I’m okay with it. I still love you, but you need time to figure it out. You only have days left, if that. I know you will get what you need from that wretched Corb. So I’ll let Dylan spend some time with you. I’m holding out for you, in the end. If you decide, eventually, that he’s not the one for you, I’ll be here. Whatever you decide. Don’t forget.” He touched her nose, letting his fingertip trace along it and down to her lips.

Shade’s heart was breaking, even though everything that he’d said was correct. How he could send her feelings into a tangled mess was disarming. He pulled her closer then, letting his searing lips find hers. She let his mouth explore hers, desperately as though to find some treasure hidden deep inside. It wasn’t the same as before, but he knew her better than she gave him credit for. He’d known the truth for so long, and yet here he was, still pressing her against him and kissing her with a fury that was all-consuming. It made her barriers fall with an incredible crash, this acceptance of her, no matter what.

Coming up for air, she touched her fingertips to her mouth. Surely they were now cherry-kissed and vibrated from his lips. He rang his fingers through her hair once more, admiring every detail he could see clearly in the growing light.

“Goodbye, Shade.” A smile formed on his face, making his eyes shine and his face light up even more than the sun peaking over the horizon. Shade was speechless, unable to form anything coherent as he slipped away, his eyes never leaving hers. As he got past the bed and walked toward the door, he never let go of her gaze. They were locked still, connected in some way which still remained a mystery to Shade.

“No—wait!” She felt off-center and frantic as she watched him leave.

“No, I’m sorry, Shade. If I could change how you felt, I would. I hope this journey, however it ends, helps.” He turned, snapping the lock open and slipped out so quickly she couldn’t register what had just happened.

Alone on her bed, the emptiness of the spot Soap had just left beside her made her gut twist. He was right in what he’d said, but how could he leave so easily? Like a bullet, he had ripped open and exposed her thoughts, leaving her to pick up the million tiny pieces which had dropped and all over the place. She could do nothing but slip back onto her pillow and let the tears flow from her eyes.

The wind shook the world outside. Trees whipped their branches in a rippling dance as they shifted from the force. The sun had lit up the land and greeted the new day with brilliance and might. No comfort from the world came to her; there was nothing but emptiness where a black hole already resided within her. Soap had been her best friend, a loyal companion, a reciprocating love who had been nothing but patient with her. How had she gotten it so wrong? He was right, wasn’t he? She wasn’t in love with him, not like that. Not like he wanted from her: a complete and all-consuming love.

Her love for him was something more than friendship, yet it wasn’t enough for either of them in the end. Closing her eyes, she saw Dylan in her mind’s eyes, his black hair, his steely eyes gleaming at her as he beamed after having found her again. His was the love that felt like it fit. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it would all come and bite her right back after all was said and done. Who knew? For now, it was as it was, and she didn’t blame Soap one bit for walking away. How right he was to leave her. Yet how wrong it felt to watch him go.

Part II

The Great Divide

Chapter Ten

NOTHING EVER CHANGES
. Even on the brink of the end of her world, Shade felt as if no one around her realized how destroyed she really felt. Glancing around the triangle of three, a ripple of fear weaved its way through her thoughts, and she felt more alone than ever. Brisa had to remain at the Glass Castle, but she’d given Shade a tight hug before the journey, knowing Shade might not return. Only Dylan, Camulus and Shade were making this trip into the desolate wilderness of the frozen wastelands of the Arctic, deep into the Ice Kingdom, to a place Shade had never wanted to visit, let alone know about: The Great Divide.

“Ready?” Dylan clutched at her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. His eyes shined to see her looking almost normal and not deathly sick like she’d been in the infirmary. The magic Ilarial and the healer had done on the darkling’s mark had done wonders for Shade. It’d made it impossible to believe she would die in three days if the dark magic was left unchecked. Shade ran her fingers over the spot on her arm, through her coat, where the mark lingered under the fur. The coat was from Soap, and it was the softest leather, with layers of insulation to keep out the freezing temperatures. It had her sweating at the moment.

“Yes.” She blew out a breath, hoping to calm her agitated nerves as she reached out to clasp Camulus by the hand. He was dressed with a coat, too, but not as thick as hers. It made her pause for a moment and want to ask him why he wasn’t so concerned about the cold when Dylan leaned in to whisper to her once more.

“It will be over soon; your magic will be yours once more. It’s cause to smile, not grimace.” He winked and straightened. The sweet smile he threw her gave her a flutter inside her belly. A hesitant look passed over his face, and he hadn’t moved from his spot quite yet. “Shade?”

“Yes?”

“I have something for you.” He reached into the pocket of his jacket, built for freezing temperatures even though the cold rarely bothers the Teleen. It was going to be colder than any place he’d ever been. Better safe than sorry. Pulling out a small charm, he held it out in the middle of his palm. It shined like gun metal and looked tiny and fragile on his skin. It was a small metallic acorn-looking seed, complete with a fused-on loop to hang on a necklace or bracelet. He grasped her wrist and dropped it into her hand.

“What is it?” She studied the tiny charm, liking the light, cool metal feel of it as she rolled it around in her palm. It vibrated with a familiar, earthly kind of magic.

“It’s an Ancient Oak seed. I placed it on a loop so you can wear on your necklace. It’s kind of like a memory charm in that no faery or magical being can make you remove it.”

Turning it around in her fingertips, she let its power infuse into her. It was good magic, fresh yet ancient. The only being she’d ever met that felt like old magic was Corb himself. But his was not so simple, not so innocent. “What do I do with it?”

“I wanted you to have it, for whenever you’re in trouble or in need of sanctuary. You can plant it anywhere, and in an instant, it will grow into a gigantic oak tree. Once it’s grown, you can touch it and it will take you somewhere safe. There are hundreds of these trees throughout Faerie, so it can take you to one of many different places, anywhere one of these trees has grown.”

“How do I know where it will take me?”

“Easy, just imagine the Teleen Caverns. It’ll take you there immediately, faster than teleporting with Camulus.”

“There’s one at Teleen? But won’t it take forever for it to grow?”

Dylan shook his head, amused at her questions. “Yep, one Ancient Oak tree sits in the middle of one of the tallest, open caverns in the center of Teleen. You never got to see it when we were there. And don’t worry, it will grow within a minute. “

“If I’m trying to get away from someone, won’t they be able to use it, too?”

He shook his head, brushing away a wisp of hair which had fallen into her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. This little gesture made her insides turn into a fluttery mess and her face flush scarlet. “Nope, it offers sanctuary only. It will not work for another Ancient being, like Corb, or someone with dangerous intentions. It will never show anyone where it took you. Teleen will be safe for you. Just imagine you’re there, and there you’ll be.”

Shade huffed, looking off into the distance. “Why would I ever want to go back there?” The place was hardly sanctuary for her.

Dylan’s eyes darkened, knowing what she meant. “It will be safe. I swear it. Darren is banished from there. I made sure you will always have a place amongst my people. They’ll keep you safe and fight for you. Teleen will always be sanctuary for you
and
me.” He turned away, letting his memories run unchecked behind his eyes. She grasped the tiny seed in her palm, amazed at the amount of power that could be contained in something so miniscule.

“Thank you,” Shade whispered, hoping she hadn’t insulted Dylan. She pulled the silver chain from her neck and looped it on. It fell alongside the two memory vials she had dangling on it. Fastening the clasp back on, she peered up to find Dylan watching her. “I love it. Thank you for giving it to me.”

He smiled. The light had already returned to his features, making him even more handsome. “You ready to go The Great Divide?”

She nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

*****

AS SHE TOOK
Camulus’s hand to teleporting far away from the Northern Realm, Shade already began to miss the Glass Castle and her friends. Why no one else was going was a mystery to her. What if they met extreme resistance? Only Dylan and Camulus accompanied her, and she found it highly unusual. It was starting to rub her the wrong way and made her wonder, as they spun to their destination, why it all felt so off. And why no one else had noticed it.

A vision of white spread before them as it appeared suddenly in the whirl of the jaunt. She let go of her escorts’ hands and took in the vast landscape of pure, crystalline, white snow. There was nothing but an endless abyss of white. Her breath came out in puffs of vapor, and the subzero temperature was already permeating her clothes. She turned to see if Camulus was feeling it and was surprised to see him stepping away from them.

“Camulus? Where are you going? It’s this way, right?”

The elven-pixie nodded, but a look of distress filled his features. “I’m so sorry, Shade, Dylan.” He stepped back once more and stopped. Watching them with his fiery yellow-orange eyes as he bit his lip apprehensively, he looked destroyed somehow. “I never meant it to get this far. I must leave you now. Corb is waiting for you. Keep walking straight ahead, and you won’t miss the palace.”

“Wait, what’s going on?” Shade stepped forward and smacked right into an invisible barrier. She placed her palms on it and watched as Camulus brought his own hands up to hers on the other side. It was like a thick plate glass window but completely unseen, and the snow and wind did not seem affected by it. She shivered and an understanding surfaced in her head.

They’d been betrayed. Betrayed by Camulus and, possibly, Ursad. Shade nodded toward him as he whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be coming back for Brisa,” was all she managed to say as she turned away and headed toward the palace without looking back.

Dylan was glaring at their former friend with murder in his eyes. She tugged at his coat and beckoned for him to follow. Knowing there was no other option, she treaded through the thick drifts of snow and ice, her gut twisted in fury. Dylan followed behind, saying nothing. The silence was welcomed, though; her head was full of anger. She feared the words she would say if she let Dylan know exactly how she felt about everything right now.

The crunch of snow filled the air instead. They wore thick, fur-lined boots, but she could already feel her toes numbing up. She pulled her thick scarf around her mouth and nose, the frigid sting from the air already working its death magic on her skin. It was so cold, it hurt. The pricks of frostbite were already tingling along her fingertips as she hugged her arms against herself. She took a peek at Dylan, but he seemed unaffected by the freezing temperatures, though he still had on a thick coat. It was probably his Teleen powers that kept him so toasty warm. She would have snuggled up to him for warmth, but it was easier to walk single file through the snow.

When she thought they’d never get to the palace, it sprung out in front of them as if it had been there the entire time. Shade guessed it must’ve been hidden my magic to not appear until one got close enough. It wasn’t a palace per se, but more of a large mountain with sharp peaks and glittering ice clinging to the sides. Black rock could be seen beneath the snowy, packed drifts, chunks of ice and frozen spikes of icicles, but the entrance was nowhere in sight.

Shade knew better. She could feel an overwhelming compulsion to walk up to the ice mountain and right into it. Turning toward Dylan, she hoped he’d had the same irresistible feeling.

“This is it.” Dylan ran his eyes over the frozen palace. They studied the vast sculpture of ice with its multiple ringed formations, which hung over ledges and threatened to fall. Icicles held them up where they dripped off and froze into clear, hardened pillars. It was enchanting how water could freeze in such intricate ways. But its beauty held an evil that made her shiver from the inside out even more. “Do you feel that?” Dylan asked.

Shade nodded and pointed toward the wall to their right. Making their way to it, they found it to be a sheet of perfectly flat ice, much like a mirror, for she could see a frosted reflection of herself staring back. It was framed with patches of snow, and no other part of the mountain’s base looked or felt the way it did there.

Magic vibrated across its surface like an electrical fence.

Shade wondered what would happen if they touched it. Would they be allowed to enter? She stepped forward, hoping the proximity of the wall would tell her what to do.

“Wait, it could be a trap!” Dylan tugged at her hand and shook his head. The more he studied the massive mountain, the more his gut wrenched from the bad feeling of impending doom he was receiving. This wasn’t good at all. He knew that no matter what they did, they had already gotten themselves into a very bad place.

Shade watched his emotions run all over his face. Doubt had filled him already, and she tried to calm his fears, along with her own. “It’s okay, Dylan. I know.” She turned back to the sheet of ice and touched its smooth surface. “I know it’s a trap. It always was meant to be.” The moment her fingertips grazed it, the sheet of ice cracked, and a soft rumble behind it made her gasp. Her confidence waned as the noise faded, and nothing further happened.

“I really don’t like the sound of that.” Dylan pulled out his sword and waited for whatever it was which would surely be coming to greet them now. The soft flurries of snow began to fall harder until it was so thick, the mountain disappeared into it. The sky and land were all cloaked in a brilliant white. There was nothing to do now but wait.

The crack separated with a loud pop, and the door slowly pulled apart. It rained down the fresh layer of snow that had sat upon it, and the vibration sent thousands of icicles falling like daggers all around them. If they had been under an overhang, they would have been hit many times over. But the area around the door was spared the sharpened daggers. Instead, where the door once stood, there was now was an elongated hall that stretched into the mountain so deep, the end couldn’t be seen. Only darkness greeted them from the inside. But Corb would be there, so Shade had no option but to continue on.

“Come on.” She waved toward Dylan to follow her, and they made their way into the maze of ice. The walls were smooth inside, but they were deformed by slight waves which rippled them like blown glass. They appeared almost wet from the shine that glinted back to them. Shades of blue ran along the walls in so many hues, Shade was left in awe by the icy wonderland of the palace.

Behind them, the door slid shut with a loud resonating crack, leaving them in the hall, alone, without the company of the howling wind outside. Without the breeze and torrent of flurries, Shade didn’t feel so cold anymore. She sighed as they continued on, hoping whatever lay before them would not be the end of the road. The hall was lit by the filtered rays of daylight that made it all the way through the thick ice framing the walkway. She’d never seen anything like this place, and she hoped she would be able to regain her powers soon so she could leave it forever.

“Trespass, trespassers… oh dear, no, no, no. Won’t do.” A small, crackling voice echoed in the passage ahead. They froze in their steps and held their weapons at the ready. It would have been too easy to just walk right in, right? Shade strained to hear the owner of the voice scurrying ahead in the dark with small, flighty steps that barely sounded on the hardened snow under their feet.

“Show yourself.” Dylan stepped forward, narrowing his eyes to see into the black tunnel ahead. A gasp then a thud answered back. If Shade hadn’t know any better, she would have said that whoever it was waiting for them had jumped and run right into a wall of ice. “I won’t ask again.” Dylan called.

“Ask, he says. No one does asking here.” The squeaky accent enveloping his words made it sound like he’d said “knowin’ duh askin’ har.”

“And who says that?” Dylan continued to step forward, and Shade crept slowly behind him. Her sword was smaller than his, but it felt good gripped in her hands, even with gloves on. It’d been a long time since she’d gotten to use it in battle, but she had kept up the rigorous training with Soap to help heal her body and to keep flexible after her stint with the Unseelie. Now she’d give anything to slice at the little man or thing or whatever it was down the hall. The snow cracked and crunched under their boots, making it a little harder to hear the panicky steps of the creature.