Betrayed (7 page)

T
urning
, I glanced at Demitrious. He stood rooted in his place, staring at the young man; his face gave nothing away. I wondered if he realized he was the boy from downstairs. How had he grown into a man so quickly? Was he glamoured or had he truly skipped all of his childhood for this moment? I had so many questions I wasn’t even sure where to start or even how to address what just happened.

Calamus turned as if to walk away, but I reached out and grabbed him by the arm. “Not so fast.”

“I would like to introduce to you all, Calamus, the lost Prince of Seelie Court.”

His head tilted slightly at my words, as if soaking them in. He knew, of course, I spoke a lie but it was what popped in my head. I couldn’t very well tell them who he truly was. And he could pass for full fae.

He gave a slight bow to me, and I had to hide my smile. “Your majesty. I’ve been awaiting this day for longer than you can imagine.”

Turning toward the creatures, I let the words flow—they were not my own, but I didn’t try to stop them. “Cale’s birth was kept hidden from the realms. Because of his power, he was taken from his family at a very young age, entrapped for years. He just now has found us, here on Earth. It was believed that he was taken by the Unseelie court, but this is not true. He was taken by the dark wizards. But his light was too bright, they could no longer contain him. As you just witnessed, his strength is unmatched. Please, treat him as an honored guest. His goal is to bridge the dark and the light, not destroy the dark. So do not fear him.”

The creatures were confused, no one spoke. Their eyes drifted around the room, taking in the carnage that’d just taken place. The dead bodies that were strewn around the room.

With a flick of my wrist, they evaporated into thin air.

“Cale has been sent to Earth as a warrior to protect the Great Mother Earth. Treat him respectfully and there will be no trouble.” I left the veiled threat hang in the air.

Thankfully there were no other fae present because they would have known I did not speak the truth. But with the halflings powers it might have been possible to implant this elaborate story into the waves of time where it would be true.

“Excuse us, I would like to speak to the prince in private. Demitrious, please join us.”

The others were still staring at Calamus with disbelief. They all feared him … and with good reason.

A
s soon as
we closed the door, I threw up a shield and turned toward Calamus, who was once again a little boy.
Great
. I rubbed my temples, instantly soothing the stress away.

Demitrious was staring at the little boy with a smile on his face. “That, my boy, was very impressive. How did you know what to say?”

The little boy shrugged. “It just came to me. I channeled it just like she did with her speech.” He pointed up at me.

Demitrious glanced over at me and I nodded in agreement. How the little boy knew this I had no idea. But I was starting to think there wasn’t much he didn’t know or have access to.

“How’d you break through the barrier?” I asked, folding my hands over my chest.

He gave me a look as if to say ‘you have to be kidding me’.

I couldn’t help but crack a smile. My mother thought she had her hands full with me, I can’t even imagine what kind of mischief this one could get into.

“Why did you change your size?” I asked curiously.

“They wouldn’t have trusted a child. They would have tried to destroy me and then I would have had to kill them. I don’t want to kill anyone.”

“Do you know what will happen to that dark man you sent away?” Demitrious wondered aloud.

With a nod, Calamus explained, “He’ll be sent to the light and tried to be healed. If they can’t heal the darkness inside of him they will lock him away. For good.”

“Can you make that story I wove out there true? If you were to stand with our kind, it would bridge years of discourse.”

The little boy closed his eyes. “Yes, but I don’t think that is the answer. I’m being told that I should erase the whole memory from everyone’s minds, excluding yours and his.” He pointed at the demon.

My shoulders sagged. Who was I to argue with higher beings? “Okay. Well, do they have any ideas on how we can help my mother?”

“They said everything is taking place with divine timing and will happen as it was meant to happen.”

Not much help
, I thought, trying to contain my frustration.

“Can you do that? Erase their memory of the darkness and you?”

He twirled his hand in the air, chanted, and smiled. “Done.”

“Are the others as powerful as you?” Demitrious asked.

“We all have our strengths.”

Not quite the answer we were looking for but it was something.

“I need you to shift forms into one of the other creatures so we can get you back downstairs.”

Before our eyes, he grew into a stunning Pegasus.

“I was very proud of you in there.” I ran my hand over the Pegasus’ head.

A crooked grin crossed his face. “I couldn’t have you losing face in front of the others.”

Putting my hand on my hip, I narrowed my eyes. “I would have thought of something.”

“Perhaps,” he said, and I popped him on the head.

Demitrious gave me a sideways glance. “We could have forced the being out of the house but not sent him back to creation. That is not a power either of us holds.”

As much as I hated to admit it, he spoke the truth. The halfling had a power we did not possess. A very useful power, with all the darkness that was trying to harm the Earth. When we fought the dark we had to access the dark. The halfling fought the dark with light. It had to be the human part inside of him.

Quite interesting. Perhaps humans were stronger than we thought.

O
nce Calamus was safely
back downstairs, I pulled Demitrious aside. “I’m really worried about my mother. I want to go to the realm and check on her.”

“I don’t think that is a wise idea. She asked you to stay here.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I spoke in a hushed tone, “I know, but I hate not knowing and there isn’t much I can do from here with the storms still raging.”

“You can’t even get to the portal in this weather,” he reminded me.

“My mother brought the portal to her, I’m sure I could do the same.”

“What if you were entrapped? Your mother would never forgive me.”

I gave him a strange look. Why would he care so much what my mother thought? Their friendship was very baffling to me.

He appeared frustrated but didn’t know what to say to prevent me from going.

“I’m going to tell Michael and go. I won’t be gone long. No matter what is going on there I could never leave the halflings. You should know that as truth. I’ll be quick, I promise.”

“I don’t like this.”

“Too bad.” I turned and hurried back downstairs. Michael and Blake were sitting down playing with the little ones. Henrek and Lila were still talking. Wait ’til I told my mother about that strangeness.

I figured there was no sense in trying to keep it a secret from the little ones, they probably knew before I did. “I’m going to go to the realm and check on my mother. I’ll return within hours. I just need to see for myself that she is okay. I don’t like that we’re not in contact.”

Michael rose to his feet and crossed the room, a look of concern on his handsome face. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? She asked you to stay here.” He glanced back over at the halflings. “What if you can’t return?”

Smiling, I shook my head. “I’ll return. You know the pull those little ones have on us, there is no way I could leave them for an extended period of time.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Just be careful. You have no idea what you’re about to walk into. I wish I could go with you.”

I smiled sadly. “Me too. Maybe someday.”

Bending down, I held out my arms, and the five beautiful beings ran into them. “Any words of advice, wise ones?” I asked, only half joking.

None of them spoke.

“Okay then, you be careful. Don’t be seen, and if anything goes wrong make sure to tell Demitrious.”

They nodded.

“When I get back we’ll figure out what we’re going to do about you guys. We can’t keep you hidden down here forever.”

An image of a village surrounding the castle flashed in my mind. I let out a startled laugh.

“Yes, that is certainly one way. We can build the others homes so we have our own space. We’ll work on that once the storms have passed.”

I gave them a squeeze and stood up.

“I could go with you,” Blake offered.

Dragons could enter our realm without issue, but I wanted to see my mother on my own. And also I didn’t know if drawing a portal to myself was different than the portals that were natural, not a risk I wanted to take with Michael’s friend. I shook my head. “Thank you for the offer but I think it’s best if I went alone.”

He lifted one of his broad shoulders.

I was most comfortable in my bedroom, so I left them and went back into my room. Closing my eyes I called on my power, pulling from both the dark and the light side. I called forth a portal to my home dimension. I was surprised how easy it was, the air wavered before me and I stepped in. Instantly I felt the rush of motion, causing my stomach to drop. Next thing I knew I was dropping to the ground, near the castle where the normal portal entrance was.

I stood up, with a thought changed my dress, placed the crown on my head, and hurried toward the castle.

My steps faltered as I grew near.

T
he castle was surrounded
, and not by my mother’s guards. The guards wore orange and blue shields, my mothers were purple and red. I covered my mouth. What was going on?

Mother, I am here.
I sent out mentally to her. I was met with silence, but it was a heavy silence so I knew she was there, just not speaking.
What’s going on? Where are your guards?

A sigh entered my mind.
Daughter, I asked you to stay on Earth. Please return. There are delicate matters at hand. I cannot focus if you are here, and it’s not safe for you right now as the sole heir to the throne.

A chill settled over me. I did not like the sounds of this at all.
Have you been overthrown?

It’s complicated. They wish me to step aside. I refuse. They do not agree with how I have handled things on Earth, they claim that by offering to open our realms to the demons I have willingly brought war to our lands. They wish me eradicated. I am in talks with the parliament members now. Please, Tulupea, return to Earth. I cannot risk this all being for nothing. I will come to you soon. Either in person or mind-speak, I promise.

Confusion wrapped itself around me. A large part of me wanted to storm into the castle and demand they leave my mother alone. She had reigned over the realm for so very long, like her mother before her. They could not take that from her, from us. They were being small minded and not looking at the bigger picture.

Whatever you are thinking, do not act on it. I beg of you. I need you safe. Go back to the offspring.

Turning, I ran back to the portal. Angry voices yelled after me, but before they could get close enough I was already moving through time and space. I did not land back in my room; instead, I was outside in a howling storm. I struggled to my feet, and wiped my eyes as the rain pelted down.
Great
.

As tempted as I was to cast a spell to counteract the weather, I knew this storm was needed for Mother Earth.
I could handle a little rain
, I thought as I trudged forward. It seemed as if I was walking in deep, thick mud—every step I took pushed me back a little from the wind.

The walk was not a long one but it felt like forever, in the darkness, and sheer power of the storm. I might not be able to counteract the storm but I could have some light.

I imagined a torch in my hand that could not be affected by the weather.

As soon as it lit up in my hand, I saw a branch headed straight for my head. I ducked, but not quickly enough. With a thud I hit the ground.

The torch rolled out of my hand, my head swam with dizziness. I watched in shock and horror as the torch rolled and caught the greenery we’d added on fire, quickly the fire spread even with the rain pouring down. Using all my willpower I pushed myself up to sitting and held my hand out, calling the torch back to me as the fire spread. With unsteady hands I held onto the firelight.

My mind was hazy and what was going on made no sense until I realized, when I called forth the flame I commanded that it was not affected by the storms. It was so hard to focus.

The flames continued to spread farther and farther. I realized they were going to go back to the garden we made for the halflings that passed to the otherside, that gave me the strength I needed. On wobbly feet, I threw my hands out, called on my magick, commanded the fire be released from the spell and watched with relief as the rain quickly dispersed the flames.

I dropped the torch to the ground.
No more magick
, I thought grimly as I trudged forward in the direction of the castle. I could see lights flickering in the distance. Not much farther. I just had to make it to the front door.

If only my stomach wasn’t so queasy, and my head didn’t feel like it was about to explode it would be easier. I attempted to reach my fingers up and touch the area where I’d been struck, but each time my fingers missed the mark and slid back down, never touching the skin.

Traveling through the dimensions twice in short order, on top of the power it took to calm the flames, had drained me. Add on top the effects of the blow to the head.

With the next step the ground shook under my feet, causing me to kilter off balance. I attempted to stay up straight, but it was in vain. I found myself on my hands and knees, covered in mud, crawling toward the castle.

Calamus
, was the last thing I remembered thinking.

When I came to I was back in the castle, laying in my bed; there was no pain. Had I dreamt leaving the castle and going to the realm?

“Oh thank God,” Michael said, his voice thick with emotion.

I blinked, sitting up.

He sat watching me, leaning forward in a chair beside the bed. “How are you feeling? You’ve been out for a long time.”

“How long?”

“Nearly two days.”

“What?” I sat up straighter. “How’d I get inside?”

“Calamus heard your call. We didn’t even know he’d left until he came storming through the front doors with you in his arms.”

“He carried me?” I asked, surprised.

Michael ran his hand through his hair. “He made himself full-grown again. He was spotted.”

Lovely
, I thought. But that was the least of our worries. “Has anyone heard anything from the queen?”

“Not that I know of, but I’ll get Demitrious.”

I nodded and kicked the entangled blankets off my legs, before swinging them over to the side of the bed.

“You shouldn’t get up,” Michael said, turning.

“I’m fine. Actually, I feel amazing.” I realized I was telling the truth. My powers were back to full strength. “Have the storms stopped?”

“Yes, they ended last night. There is a lot of destruction, and weirdly a lot of the grounds have been seared as if they caught on fire. Must have been from the lightning.”

I didn’t say anything as he exited the room.
No, more like my stupidity
, I thought grimly. I’d have to repair the grounds and get to work on the village.

Before I even made it to the window to look out at the destruction Demitrious entered the room. “You look well, Princess.”

“I can’t believe I’ve been out for nearly two days. Have you heard anything from my mother?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. What did you find out when you were gone?”

I rubbed my temples, remembering the sight of the guards around the castle. “They are trying to make her withdraw from the kingdom to hand it over to another. I’m not even sure who. But there were guards that were around the castle wearing orange and blue shields.”

The demon’s body tensed. “The elves? Why would they be there? What did your mother ask of you?”

“She wanted me to return to take care of the offspring and Earth. She told me she would reach out to me soon. Of course, she believes she can talk some sense into them. But I’m not so sure.”

“Perhaps she can,” he said absently.

“I’m worried. I felt like she was being held there. Like she couldn’t have left if she wanted.”

He laughed bitterly. “Oh, if she wanted to she would leave. Do not underestimate your mother.”

I sucked in a breath. “I would never. I have complete faith in her, I was just telling you how it felt to me.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. This is very serious. If the elves are involved that means they plan to overthrow her by force. I just can’t believe they would go along with it. Your mother has always had close ties with the elves.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know so much about my mother?”

He shrugged. “I can read people. I know their hearts and their minds.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I suddenly felt uneasy. What had he read in my heart and mind?
Whatever
. I didn’t have time to worry about that right now. “What do you think we should do?”

“We wait. She will contact you.”

“What if she tried when I was unconscious?”

“You would have remembered. It would have been like a dream.”

Hmm, I guess that made sense. Waiting was frustrating. But there was a lot to be done around here. The sooner we got Earth back into balance the sooner I could return to help my mother, whether she wanted my help or not.

“How are the little ones? Have they grown more?” I knew it was a ridiculous question, but I wanted to hear him say it.

“Yes, they appear to be about ten in human ages. I worry about their growth.”

“What are we going to do about the others seeing Calamus, do we go back to the original story?”

“I don’t think so. You cannot keep weaving thoughts, memories into so many peoples Akashic records, there will be consequences. I believe we’re overthinking it. There doesn’t need to be an explanation. He is a faery that has shown up to help. Period. Nothing more and nothing less. They don’t remember the darkness, so there really is no issue.”

I took a deep breath. He was right, we were overanalyzing. I’d become paranoid with everything that was going on. I still couldn’t believe the faeries had betrayed my mother. Just the thought hurt my soul.

“You cannot blame them for their actions. In their minds your mother is unstable. Never before has a queen even uttered a thought of opening the realm, let alone to demons. You yourself thought she was insane when she spoke those words.”

Yes, I did. “It still sucks.”

“Be that as it might, we have to work with how things are now.”

I really hated it when he made sense. It made me feel like a child.