I was fuming now, and my chair scraped back loudly as I stood. "I'm not
damaged
, if that's what you think" I snapped. "I'm not making this up because I want someone to blame."
"Marcus … " my father began, but I was already stalking off, afraid of what I might do if I stayed there any longer with their piteous looks and meek, tentative reprimands. I stalked up to my room and threw myself upon the bed, ashamed of the hot tears that were trickling down the sides of my face.
Was I being immature? I didn't think so; after all, someone's life was at stake. I wondered if I should tell my parents everything—about my powers and what Draeden had told me about Dante—but some instinct warned me not to. If anyone was fragile, it was them—although I didn't feel very strong at the moment, either. I didn't know what to do or what I wanted, and I was surprised to find that I wished Draeden was there to talk to, but I hadn't seen him since that night at the Parlour. That night that Hale …
Ashamed, I covered my face with my arm and rolled over, staying that way until I finally cried myself to sleep.
I tried to talk to my parents again
over the next few days, to prove to them that I wasn't insane or traumatized by my experience, but they avoided the topic like a hot poker, doing everything they could to skirt around my questions or change the subject. Eventually, I gave up on trying to convince them. In fact, I soon gave up on everything except living. My parents weren't to know the true reason for my melancholy; they thought that I was traumatized, I supposed, and they were waiting and hoping for me to go back to the person I had been before I had left.
But it wasn't going to happen. I spent most of my time locked in my room, just staring at the ceiling or the fire, or sleeping. Eventually, I began to haunt the library, immersing myself in the old, boring books. Anything to keep me from thinking too much.
One night a few weeks later, I was lying on my bed when I heard a knock on my door. A few moments later, the door opened and my mother came in. I didn't look at her, but I felt the mattress shift when she sat down on the bed.
"I know you're upset," she began, and when I didn't reply or look at her, she continued, "And I know you think we don't understand or care. But I do care." She reached out and took my hand. "Marcus, I don't like to see my son sad."
I looked at her finally, and she must have seen something frightening in my eyes, because she only held my gaze for a few moments before looking away.
"The fairy … He didn't … give you any powers, did he?"
I sighed and looked away. Maybe it was for the best that she thought that, after all.
"It's alright, you know, Marcus," she said, "I know we always talked about how proud we would be when you got your powers. But we still love you." She was clutching my hand tightly, her voice soft and emotional. "We love you no matter what. Sometimes … " She sighed. "Sometimes, people aren't meant to do anything great or make any big difference in the world. Sometimes, it's alright … to be normal."
I didn't respond or look at her, so after a moment, she got up and left, shutting the door softly behind her. I lay on the bed, thinking about what she had said, until finally, the response that had been brewing in the back of my mind burst forward, and I blurted out, "But I'm not normal!"
Suddenly, Draeden was there, perched on the edge of my bed and smiling quietly at me. "You're not, you know," he said. "You never were. I gave you the power of seduction, but your levitation powers, your ability to control people's bodies and minds—those are yours."
I sat up and stared at him. "That's not possible."
"No?" he replied, and then his expression became serious. "Dante is on his way to pick up his next victim. He will be there in about two days."
"I … " I dropped my head into my hands, trying to push back my sudden desire, furiously battling back my elation, but I couldn't do it—I couldn't resist it. "I have to help him." I said, looking up at Draeden. "I have to go."
He nodded. "I thought you'd say that. Now that you've decided to do something, I can help you. Your family has decided to retire early. Go down to the kitchen and you will find what you need there." He disappeared.
Moving with determination now, I quickly dressed and went downstairs. It did indeed seem that everyone had decided to go to bed early, for I didn't meet anyone on my way down. The kitchen was deserted but for a lone figure working by the fire. I recognised that broad back and messy blond hair immediately.
"Adam?"
The moment he heard my voice, Adam started and turned, dropping the logs he had been holding in shock. "Marcus?" His voice sounded frightened. "What are you doing here?"
"Adam," I said, slowly walking toward him. He tried to leave, but I stopped him with my mind. "I'm sorry for what I did to you. I won't do it again."
He nodded slightly and licked his lips, still seeming a bit frightened. I laughed at how unrefined he seemed to me now, compared to the gentlemen in the Capital, never mind Hale …
I shook my head. "I need your help. I need to leave here tonight."
"Leave?" he repeated. "Where are you going?"
"It's not important. Listen, you have a key to the stables, right?"
"Yes."
"I need you to get me a horse and saddle it. The fastest one."
Adam nodded and escaped out the side door. I hoped he would come back. For some reason, I was fairly certain that he would. Was what Draeden had said true? Could I really control people that way on my own? Well, there was no time to think about that then. I busied myself with packing food for my upcoming trip—breads and cheeses, and some skins that I found and filled with the leftover water from dinner. It would have to be good enough.
Adam returned with a large black stallion that I recognised as my father's.
"He will be mad at me for stealing him," I mused, as I packed my things into the saddlebags.
"He is the fastest, though," Adam replied, checking the stallion's hooves. Then he turned and, brushing off his hands, looked me in the eye. "I am certain there is a good reason for what you are doing. Your father will understand."
"Hm, yes," I said doubtfully, and Adam helped me into the saddle. "He does not understand much."
"I think maybe that's what makes him a good lord," said Adam with a smile, and then he wished me luck before I spurred the stallion out of the courtyard to the castle gates.
Suddenly, I was aware of a presence next to me. I looked over to see a dark-winged figure keeping pace next to me as I rode.
"Head west," said Draeden. "It is about a two-day' ride. If you hurry, you can get there before Dante."
I nodded, determined to do so. "Why are you helping me all of a sudden?" I called to him. "I thought it was forbidden."
"It is not forbidden to aid someone in their task if they have chosen to pursue it," he replied. "I had to wait until you decided to do it yourself."
"Brilliant," I said, and Draeden laughed and rose up into the air, leaving me to ride through the night.
Two hard days of riding later,
I arrived at another small village, much like the one in Rell, with an old, crumbling castle at the head of it. Dismounting from my horse at the gates, I attempted to make myself as presentable as possible after riding for two days, and then requested an audience with the lord and lady of the castle. The doorman seemed startled, but led me inside, where I was introduced to an aging couple, the Lord and Lady of Gian.
"My name is Marcus," I said. "I come from the neighbouring serfdom of Rell."
"Ah, yes." Lord Gian's dark eyes crinkled as he smiled. "I have met your father."
"What brings you to Gian?" asked Lady Gian, looking at me a little suspiciously.
I took a deep breath. Now I would find out if Draeden had been telling the truth, or if I really was crazy. "Your son."
Lord Gian blinked. "Samuel? Yes, what about him?"
"Ah … " I wondered exactly how to proceed. "Have you by any chance been contacted by a wizard named Dante?"
"Why, yes!" exclaimed Lord Gian. "Yes, we have indeed! It turns out Samuel has quite the latent magical ability. Dante's taking him to the palace to train him."
"Dear, please show some restraint." Lady Gian was holding on to Lord Gian's arm and still looking at me very suspiciously.
"That's what I've come to talk to you about," I said. "I must urge you not to let your son go to the capital with Dante."
"What?" Lord Gian sputtered. "And why not? This is an excellent opportunity for him."
"Yes, and what do you know about it, anyway?" accused Lady Gian.
"A lot," I promised her. "Look, I know it might seem like a good opportunity, but it's actually a trap—"
"A trap?" cried Lord Gian. "Preposterous!"
"Yes, Lord Dante is a good wizard with an excellent reputation!" continued Lady Gian. "Are you accusing us of not taking care to ensure that our boy is safe?"
"No!" I said, raising my voice a little. I could feel the conversation slipping away from me. "If you'd just listen—"
"I don't like your tone," Lord Gian said. "In fact, I think you're up to no good. You say you are from Rell, yet you dress like a rich socialite from the capital. Why should I trust you with my son?"
"You don't have to trust me with your son," I said desperately. "Just, please, let me explain to you what Dante—"
"I think you'd better leave," interrupted Lady Gian, "We are perfectly capable of judging character for ourselves, and we don't appreciate uninvited guests."
I had every intention of not moving until they calmed down and listened to me, but Lady Gian then proceeded to summon the guards, and I had a hunch that seducing the guards to let me go might not endear me to her.
A few minutes later, I found myself forcefully expelled from the castle gates and alone outside. After making my way to the outskirts of the forest, I tied up my horse, perched myself up against a log, and allowed myself to sleep for a few hours. When I awoke, the sky was darkening, and Draeden was tending to a fire that had not been there when I had fallen asleep.
"I'm glad you're doing this." He smiled at me and sat back with crossed legs, folding his wings in such a way that they seemed to disappear. "It's strange. I don't remember ever caring so much about the fate of a few humans."
"Why do you?" I wondered. "I thought that fairies didn't care about humans."
"We don't," agreed Draeden. "We do not consider them to be as important to us … because we do not understand them. But really"—he smiled at me—"we are not that different."
I laughed at him. "Really? I don't understand you at all, Draeden."
"You would if I cared to explain myself to you," he replied. "But I don't." He stood. "I have to go now. I … " He hesitated. "I probably won't return."
"What? Why?"
He shook his head, smiling slightly. "Haven't you read the stories?" he asked. "That is the way of things with fairies. We are only really around as long as you need us."
"I thought … " I began, but Draeden only shook his head again.
"Dante will arrive tomorrow morning," he said, "Please … please do not allow him to take that boy."
"No," I promised. "I won't."
"Ah." Draeden smiled. "I always believed in you." He disappeared into the darkness, as if he had never been there at all, and a few minutes later, I fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
I awoke at dawn
and made my way back down to the castle. My heart sank when I recognised a familiar wooden carriage parked at the gates.
Dante
.
Determined, I made my way up to the guard.
"Ah, you," he said, rather politely. "I am told not to let you past this point."
"Sorry. I don't have time for this.
Let me in
."
Without another word, the guard opened the gate for me and led me to the front doors of the castle.
I found Dante speaking with the Lord and Lady Gian. Standing next to them was a young, nervous-looking boy with a pale face. Dante was speaking to them in a low, liquid voice, and I knew that he was winning them over. I wasn't going to let that happen.
I was quite pleased to see the colour drain from Dante's face when I strode up to him.
"You!" cried Lady Gian. "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"Yes, Marcus," Dante said carefully. He was fighting very hard to maintain his composure, but I could see that he was sweating. "What
are
you doing here?"
"Stopping you," I replied, and turned to the couple. "I apologize for my rudeness, but this man is planning on selling your son to slave traders!"
"That is a lie!" Dante had reached out with a thin, knobbly hand and gripped my arm tightly. I could feel his magic working on me, beginning to spread that horrible, irrational fear throughout my body. But I wouldn't let it.
Ripping my arm from Dante's grasp, I forced all of my power onto him, bending him under my will. "Tell them the truth, Dante. Tell them what you really plan on doing to their son."
"I'm … taking him to the palace … " gasped Dante, his voice ragged with the strain. "To train him … "
I tightened my mental grip on him and slid my next words out as a low, liquid command. "
Tell them the truth
."
"I … " Dante gasped as if in pain. "I-I-I … I'm taking him to the capital … southern traders pay a lot of money for … young boys … "
Lady Gian gasped, and I immediately released my mental grip on Dante, causing him to trip backward and instinctively begin to back away from me.
"Damn you," he panted. "It's a lie … you meddling little country brat!" He spat out the last words, his cool, suave demeanour completely broken down to reveal the slavering, disgusting animal that he was. "I … " He reached out a clawed hand. "I will kill you! I will make you wish you had never been born!"
I slapped his hand aside, and then, for good measure, slapped him across the face. "You bastard," I hissed, surprised by the shaking emotion in my voice. "You lying, soulless scum! Mark my words, you will take responsibility for what you've done!"