“Courage is knowing what not to fear.”
—Plato
~
Great responsibility comes with being a king. It’s why the privilege (or the sentence, depending on how you look at it) is ordained to few. To be fair, I had never really cared about this honor. To me, the crown represented nothing more than a burden. A heavy weight. I guessed it was my lack of appreciation that brought me to this point.
Had I ever shown my worth? Or my gratitude?
I knew the answer to that question. An answer that would forever haunt me.
“You need to focus on the task at hand,” Odin said, interrupting my dark thoughts, clearly aware of the insecurity and panic that was rising within my soul. “You are going up against a great force, a force that is prepared to fight until the end. And yet, despite the many obstacles you are about to face, I believe you are strong and cunning enough to prevail. But there is no place for self-doubt. If you allow that emotion in, for even the briefest of moments, all will be lost.”
He watched as I rummaged through my room, searching for weapons I needed to bring Caroline home.
“I understand you always have a need to lecture me, but I have every right to question my actions when I allowed them to take her so easily, not more than a few hours ago.”
“Perhaps I should make this journey with you.”
I stopped and faced him. “That’s not going to happen. This is my fight.”
“You’re expressing a death wish if you don’t regain control over your volatile emotions.”
“Death isn’t such a bad choice. I will not have a life if anything happens to her.”
“And the rest of the Fae will not have a life if anything happens to you,” Odin said softly. “How can you presume to judge which life means more?”
“Caroline’s is the only one that matters.”
Odin watched me with shrewd eyes.
“He’s my father. Perhaps somewhere in his cold, dark heart he might acquiesce,” I told him.
“Acquiesce?” Odin actually laughed. “He has an agenda, Devilyn. He battles to protect the laws of the Fae. And the pure bloodline that he believes has been polluted by Caroline’s ancestors.”
“How can he claim to be enforcing laws that he has broken time and time again?”
“Not in this form, Devilyn. He is not the same man.”
“He will never change. His thoughts are and have always been singular.”
Odin rose from the chair and closed his eyes. It hurt me to recognize that I was the cause of his sadness. This man, who had always been a father to me, was concerned for nothing beyond my well-being. I regretted having been so harsh, but it was the only way.
He took a deep breath, and I sensed that he was finally backing down. He walked over and rested his hands on my shoulder. Odin knew me well and understood that this was a battle he would not win. With the clock against us, we had no choice but to press forward.
“If anything happens to you, we need to be prepared to send in an army. You cannot withhold information from me.”
“I won’t,” I promised him. “But that’s the beauty of my plan, Father. They’re expecting an army, not a lone warrior.
“Regardless,” I said firmly. “I know I must go alone.”
I looked away from him and walked over to the windows to stare out on his great land.
“Have you been able to hear them?” Odin asked me.
He was referring to my ability to hear the Dark Fae when they plotted and planned. It was a gift that no one save a king possessed.
“There must be a powerful barrier where she is being held.”
“They are sadistic, Devilyn. You are well aware of that. If they wanted her immediate demise, they would have simply given her something at the party.” Odin stepped out onto the balcony. “They want you to witness every bit of it. Your pain brings your father joy.”
My hands clenched at my side in fury as I tried to gain control over my volatile emotions.
“He is not my father,” I said to Odin. “You are. The only one I’ve ever known.”
Odin smiled at me with love. I knew my words pleased him. But then, they were the truth.
“Come, let’s clear your mind before you leave.” Odin motioned for me to approach.
I gently placed my hands over the rough calloused ones of the All Father and closed my eyes. A huge force worked to compose me, sending a strong energy through my body.
In a second, I was transported in my mind to the Dark Fae forest. It was like a dream, yet it felt so real. I observed myself walking through the dense land. Perceived the rustling of the trees, the sound of birds chirping from above. I noticed the sun piercing through the tall branches. The trees moved and took shape into the ancient ones, watching me carefully as I walked into their dark lair. Beams of magik directed at me from all areas in the forest.
And then I spied it: what would undoubtedly be our single source of salvation. Odin’s vision showed me a yew tree. The one place a Fae, Dark or Light, would fear and never think to search.
I knew I was ready.
I knew I would bring her home.
And more importantly, I now knew where they were keeping her.
A calmness overcame me as I realized where she was.
The Black Waters.
I opened my eyes and met Odin’s piercing gaze.
He had seen the same vision as I had.
“That would explain why you don’t feel her,” Odin agreed. “The minerals surrounding the area and those found in the stream are reflective.”
“I can’t believe it took me so long to figure this out. The Black Waters is the only place that make sense.”
“It’s also the most enchanted spot in the forest,” Odin said with concern. “There is a lot of unearthly activity there, Devilyn. You need to be extra cautious.”
“I know it well.”
That was true. I had studied the place at great length, always aware of the many benefits the area’s magik would have in a time of need. Perhaps I had more in common with Alderon than I ever imagined.
It was now or never.
And God help me, I wouldn’t be coming home empty-handed.
I balled up the fingers of my left hand; this was my chance. I wasn’t raised to be weak, and I wouldn’t stand here and let them continue to assault me. Lowering my head, I silently prayed for strength. They would never expect me to fight back. I took in a slow shallow breath.
They continued to mock me.
Pressing on.
Laughing.
So, I did the one thing that would at the very least give me the satisfaction I was craving.
I slapped Puck.
Hard.
Right across his smug little face.
He raised his hand against me in fury. I braced myself, aware that pain would soon follow. Except it didn’t come. A powerful force stopped him before he made contact, practically lifting him up in the air with the strength of the impact.
I watched in horror as a dark, smoky form began to take shape. I recognized his face. Or the face that would form every few seconds within the smoke. It was Alderon, though a mere shell of the man he had once been. I fell back in fear, onto my knees as he blocked Puck’s fist with magik.
“Stop,” he commanded.
“The Halfling abomination struck me,” Puck replied with resentment. His face was still red with the mark I had left. It would heal within seconds, but it didn’t matter to him. The slight was one he would not soon forget.
“She will suffer for it,” Puck screeched.
I had no doubt he wanted me to suffer. For whatever reason this sadistic creature got off on torture. And I was his next victim.
“Our guest has only just arrived. There will be plenty of time for retribution,” Alderon replied as if he was talking to a child.
“How long are we to wait? I want to kill her! I want to watch her bleed,” Puck said as he stared over at me and gave me a chilling smile, “to death.”
There were a few gasps from the Dark Fae that surrounded him.
“The laws—” one said.
Puck glanced at the female Fae with disdain.
“What’s more, my beautiful dark family,” Puck went on. “Here I stand. Unharmed. Powerful. As wicked as before. So, these rules we’ve followed for centuries, this fear that was engrained in us like an eternal nightmare, is nothing more than a deception from the Fates, only meant to control us all.”
An unstoppable feeling of alarm came over me. If the Fae grew to fear nothing, not even the consequence of their laws, then there would be no way to stop them from doing anything. The ancient rules were the only thing that had ever kept them in line. They would be free to wreak havoc, and they certainly had the means to do it.
“You are hasty, my dear Puck,” Alderon said as he watched him. “We still must proceed with caution.”
“We have proceeded with caution for over five hundred years since the whore Eleanor Dare seduced a Fae.”
“They loved each other!” I cried out in anger. “How dare you call her that!”
Puck looked at me and laughed, clapping his hands together in delight.
In a second, he was in front of me, on his knees, close to my face, whispering against my lips so that only I could hear.
“I am the product of legends.” His voice was low, almost feverish. “Can you hear them chanting my name? Puck! Puck! I am an idol, one that is and shall be worshipped throughout time.”
“Your arrogance and conceit are astounding,” I told him.
Puck cocked his head to the side and smiled. I tried to jerk away as he ran the back of his hand down my cheek. It was evident by his slow perusal that he was clearly intrigued and repulsed by me at the same time.
“I can’t wait to play with you,” he told me. “Oh, what fun it will be. To watch the pain etched across your face. The inevitable tears.”
“I will never show you the satisfaction,” I replied fiercely.
“You won’t be able to help yourself,” he whispered. “I am what you humans call an expert in my field.”
He rubbed his cheek against mine.
“Come to think of it, I might even bathe in your blood.”
My heart hammered so loudly, I was sure he heard it.
“You get ahead of yourself, my friend. Your objective will be reached in due time,” Alderon said as Puck got up and moved away from me.
Before I knew it, Alderon’s smoky essence encircled me, and I spun around to meet his gaze. I raised my eyes to his, never wavering.
“I do quite enjoy your feisty nature. Quite unexpected for a human. It intrigues me.”
My stomach sank in dread as Puck began to laugh.
In a too-smooth voice, Alderon mused aloud. “Perhaps it’s time for her to visit our forest and meet some of its many unique inhabitants. It will do her good. Prepare her for what is to come. The Dark Forest always teaches you how to run.”
“It will be a delight to watch,” Puck agreed.
A shudder rippled through me as I imagined what hideous monsters awaited me. But facing the unknown was a much better option than staying here to be continuously tormented by them. Puck was becoming more and more volatile by the moment. He itched to reach out and hurt me. Craved it. I could feel it on him.
“Do you think I’m scared?” I challenged.
“No, my dear,” Alderon replied. “I don’t think you are at all. But then again, you don’t know what’s out there. Those monsters that you humans write about in your bedtime fairytales, the ones that hide under beds or go bump in the night? They are very real. And we happen to have a forest full of them.”
Alderon moved before me again, hovering inches away. I watched as the smoke undulated around his body, revealing a glimpse of the beautiful Fae that he once was before he’d reverted to nothing.
“Did it hurt when you were robbed of your beauty?” I taunted Alderon.
His eyes narrowed in fury.
“Weren’t you the most handsome Fae in all the land?” I went on.
Alderon began to shake with rage. The iridescent smoke that made up his form surrounded my body, blocking my vision, engulfing me in the vapors as I choked on my own breath.
His grisly vaporized face came before me in less than a second.
“You think I do not know your game?” he said viciously. “I will not kill you fast, if that is what you crave. Oh no, my dear. It will be painstakingly slow and arduous, and my dear son will have the front row seat.”
Devilyn.
“How touching,” Alderon purred.
I stared up at him in surprise.
“Oh yes, I can hear you, sweet one. There are no secrets between us, for I can sense every single one of your deepest, darkest thoughts,” he said with a smile. “‘Devilyn,’ your heart cries out. ‘Devilyn.’ Such desperate and pathetic cries. This so-called love for him. You stink of it.”
“You loved once,” I returned bravely.
Alderon’s eyes turned to ice.
“Watch yourself, little girl,” he seethed. “I have half a mind to let Puck do with you as he wills after all.”
My skin crawled.
“Even your kind has rules. Despite what Puck says, these rules can’t be broken,” I finally said.
“I am a child of love,” I said. “I have morals, a deep respect for life, a code of conduct that you obviously know nothing about.”
“No,” I said. “It is my greatest strength.”
Alderon moved away from me like a serpent retreating in the night. “I’ve had enough fun for now,” he said. “Tomorrow you will face a very challenging obstacle. You may claim to be a Fae, but I’ll wager that you don’t know the first thing about surviving the depths of this forest. We’ll see how much respect for life you will have when confronted with your own death. Whose life will be worth more?”
I tried one more time. “Please. Just send me home. I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
“You will go home, dear girl. Perhaps not in the same manner in which you arrived, but you will go home.” Alderon smiled at me. “Now stop worrying—you need your rest. I have it on good authority that tomorrow will turn out to be quite a vigorous day.”
“What tremendous joy it will bring,” Puck said, rubbing his hands together in delight.
A sensation of great hopelessness came over me. In a few hours my fate, my future, would be decided, and something told me that I might end up on the losing side. I tried to shake off my fears. Now was not the time to cower; my survival was dependent upon maintaining a clear head.
I realized the only way I would escape my prison, surrounded by these bloodthirsty Fae, was to take my chances out in the forest regardless of the so-called monsters that awaited me. The forest was my one chance to escape.
I kept reminding myself that I was Queen of the Light. I was also a descendent of this great race. Surely, I had some powers as well.
Alderon stared back at me in disgust, and I had my answer.
“You won’t find what you’re seeking, my dear.” He finally said. “That moment in time was but an illusion, just as I am now.”
He disappeared.
And within seconds I was back in the hellish dungeon I had left just hours before. I stretched out on the ground. The same voices continued to taunt me, growing louder with every minute.
My eyes burned. I was so desperate for sleep; I needed rest in order to be as prepared as possible for the unknown. But they had clearly other plans. I closed my eyes and used every skill I had to drown out the sounds and voices as I tried to devise a plan.
Within moments, my mind was there mapping out the area. I wasn’t sure what part of the forest they were going to take me to, but there were so many trails that led in and out. I would simply need to find one and do my best to hide from any evil being that came across my path.
I knew how to climb trees, years on the track team had helped me become a decent runner, and I was smart. No matter what tomorrow brought, I would never give up and I wouldn’t show any weakness. Whether Fae or human, frailty wasn’t in my nature. I began to gain some confidence, a semblance of hope, but I promised myself that if I died I would do so with dignity and honor.
I reminded myself of all the conversations I’d had with Dana. She had once told me that as a member of the Fae I was born with many magikal powers, but as a Queen of the Fae my powers were boundless. They were within me, and I needed to draw them out. By staying focused I could tap into the gifts of the Light Fae.
It was my lone chance.
In a few hours, fate would decide what would become of me, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
I stood along the outer edges of the Dark Forest. Although the moon was lighting up the night’s sky, an ominous shadow had fallen across the landscape. Entering in the evening, shrouded by darkness, played in my favor. They would not be able to detect me. I waited a moment before I moved forward into the night.
Within minutes I found myself praying.
I prayed for Caroline’s life. I prayed that she would be able to live a normal human existence, away from all the ugliness that the Fae had brought her kin. I would do anything for it. I would sell my soul to the darkness for eternity if I were be promised her safety. If only the Fates heard me.
And if they did hear, I prayed that they would listen.
I was reentering my playground, my home, an arena that had always calmed me, soothed my soul. But not this evening. This evening it was clearly on guard, beckoning war, angry and ready for battle. Today, every sound, whether it was the crackling of branches under my feet or the whistling of leaves as they blew before me, had me on high alert.
All of my senses were hyper-aware. I wasn’t reentering my former approving home; there wasn’t a welcoming party to greet me. I was now an uninvited stranger, here to regain control of my birthright and bring home the only person I would ever love.
I scanned the many entrances, taking a moment to clear my thoughts before I entered the Devil’s playground.
“Devilyn, where are you going?” a familiar voice called out to me.
I whipped around to face it. “You need to leave.”
“Leave? I’m coming with you,” Rowan replied.
Rowan was a powerful warrior. At any other time, I would have been grateful to have him by my side, but not today. This was my fight. And mine alone.
“This isn’t up for discussion. You don’t belong here,” I told him harshly. “I know the terrain of this land. I understand its secrets. I don’t want to worry—”
Rowan immediately grabbed me by my shirt. “Worry?” he asked harshly, “Think before you speak, Devilyn.”
I could have easily pushed him off, but I acknowledged the fact that I had insulted him. He too had pride.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I told him.
“Don’t you push me, Rowan—” I warned.
“Or what?” he sneered. “You’re not a martyr. You’re foolish. And your arrogance and conceit will result in your downfall.”
Rowan leaned forward, getting in my face, inches away. “She is a beautiful woman, and she deserves more than you can ever offer her. She deserves a massive army, united for the sole purpose of saving her. Your foolish ideas will do no more than get you both killed.”
“I know what she deserves,” I replied. “You despise me, I get that. You don’t find me worthy of her, and I’m probably not. But she is my destiny, as I am hers. Set aside your hatred for just one moment and remember that I am familiar with every square inch of this forest. I know the way my people operate, how they think and scheme, and more importantly I am aware of each of their skills. I won’t allow myself to be distracted by anyone, even if your intentions are pure. I’m not wasting another second discussing this.” I tried to soften my tone, but it was difficult because every decision I made would mean life or death. “If I need help, I’ll reach out to Odin and he will find you.”
Rowan stared at me for a long moment. And then took a step back.
“I hope you know what you’re doing. Her life is in your hands now.”
Rowan continued to back away and watched me walk into the darkness.
“I will wait here until you return, Devilyn,” he called after me. “And just so we’re clear, if you’re not back in twenty-four hours I’m coming in. And I won’t be alone.”
I knew that my decisions didn’t make sense to anyone, but they did to me. My actions had placed everyone I cared about at risk, and I would no longer do that. If I wasn’t capable of bringing Caroline to safety, then I wasn’t worthy of her. I wasn’t worthy of being a king. Even though his words taunted me, I understood he was just doing what he believed to be right.
I turned away from him and slipped into the forest.
The silvery moon hovered above the tall trees, lighting my entrance and guiding me to the Black Water River. There were many trails that led there, some more dangerous than others. The great poet, Robert Frost, had spoken of taking the road less traveled, and I was certain they would be waiting for me on that very path.
So, I took another way right through the center of the forest. It was the most frightening area of the entire Dark Kingdom. There were trees that could consume you whole if you got too close. They went from harmless lush beacons to terrifying in a blink of an eye, with giant razor teeth meant to devour you in your entirety. There were black birds that would watch and call out to you, attempting to trick you into following a path that would lead nowhere. One simple turn and you would be lost for centuries. In some areas, ghosts from the past would try to lure you into spending some time with them. Time that would end up turning into an eternity. Beautiful sirens would call out to you in temptation, waiting for the moment when they could devour your soul. And these were just a few of the dark surprises that awaited whoever was brave enough to enter.
I instantly felt their eyes on me. These creatures observed from a distance, waiting patiently for their victims to make a wrong move. An eerie sense of foreboding coursed through my veins, but I continued forward.
My so-called ,father, in whatever form he embodied, needed to be stopped. His disfigurement had further inflamed his anger and hatred.
Alderon was no longer the dashing Prince; he was no longer able to charm his victims with his appearance or promises of love and passion. He had lost one of his most precious powers, a commodity that had assisted him in reaching every horrific goal he had ever set. Now that he was captured in an abysmal, smoke-like essence, his sadistic proclivities had reached unimaginable heights.
It gave me immense satisfaction to know that I had cut him off at his knees. I’d succeeded where no one else had, and I would succeed again. Despite our destiny, despite the plan that the Fates had in store, I vowed to bring Caroline home. I would destroy all of her enemies if that was what it would take to keep her safe. No longer would I have her living a life where she constantly needed to look over her shoulder. I would make sure that anyone intent on destroying her would be devastated beyond recovery.
My powers allowed me to travel at a rapid pace. I felt that Caroline was being held in the heart of the forest. Even with my strength, and even though the trees recognized their leader and cleared the path for me, getting to her would take time.
As I neared the gnarled black branches, they swept themselves swiftly aside. It was as though I was dancing with nature. I closed my eyes and allowed my senses to lead me. To duck when I needed to, move to the right, or crouch down low to avoid being cut. I merged my energy with the power of the forest and felt my way through the tangled maze.
After several hours, I finally heard them. My people. The blackest souls who epitomized evil. The Dark Fae, the ones who stood for all that was bad with the world. Many loitered around. Some I recognized, and others were not familiar. I wondered out of what hole they had crawled. The energy was buzzing with excitement. All of them humming in anticipation of her death. Their arrogance enraged me, but it also allowed me to take them by surprise. They believed nothing could get to them.
And they were quite wrong.
Their whispers and laughter grew more and more pronounced as I came closer. I ignored the high-pitched shrieks of the forest. As I continued on, the ground changed from dry dirt to mud. I had to be close, which meant that the stronger Fae might feel my presence.
Especially Alderon.
There was no doubt in my mind that he could sense my arrival, but whether he would alert the other Fae remained to be seen.
Within moments I came upon the river. The water swirled mystically, rising and falling, taking different shapes. Right before my eyes, it rose about and shaped into an image of a tree, then crashed, then formed a bird, then rose into the vast sky lit up by so many stars. It was a beautiful sight, but in the depths of those dark waves lay something so dangerous and deadly it could destroy you if you dared to even put a foot in.
I forged ahead and as I reached the mouth of the river, the battle that I had come for finally greeted me.
“Devilyn,” Alderon’s threatening voice echoed through the night and over the water, causing a wave to move in my direction. “I’m so happy to see that you’ve finally joined us.”
I closed my eyes for a brief moment. When I opened them, I knew they were pools of liquid, black fire.
Within seconds I saw the Dark Fae all around me. The elders sat in a circle before a bright white orb that resembled the moon. The other Fae were behind the council, seated on the ground amongst the trees, cloaked by their capes, nothing visible but their wicked smiles.
Alderon stood before me with his back facing them. It was quite a surprise to see my father living with his new form. He tried to appear unaffected, but I knew better.
“My son,” he began.
“I am not your son.”
“You cannot deny your blood.”
Alderon’s face contorted in rage at the mere mention of the man he despised above all others.
“You could have been a great king,” he finally said. “But the Fates had a different plan for you.” Alderon’s threatening voice echoed through the tiny waves of the stream, causing them to roll forward in my direction.
“Where is she?” I demanded, ignoring his comment.
“Patience,” Alderon replied.
“There is a darkness inside my soul unlike anything you’ve ever seen. If you’ve hurt her, I will burn this kingdom and every Fae that exists within it,” I told him, enraged.
“Good things always come to those who wait,” he said. “We have saved a seat for you, and given your rank, you can rest assured that it is front and center.”
“I am a king,” I said to him a dangerous voice. “You forget yourself.”
“Do I? Or do you forget yourself, my son?” He sneered at me. “I have never known a king to abandon his kingdom time and time again. I have never known a king who so outwardly supports his people’s own destruction.”
“You know nothing of what I support,” I said, seething with fury.
I tried to get a hold of my emotions. I didn’t want to argue or lash out at him in front of the rest of the Fae. All that mattered was Caroline’s safety.
“And I promise you this,” Alderon continued as he moved close to me like a deadly mist in the night. “There will be a time of reckoning.”
I met his gaze evenly.
“So be it,” I said to him. “Now, stop playing games. Where is she?”
“You will see her soon. That much I can promise.”
