Chapter 35
Daisy
They walked down the corridor hand in hand. A Celestial and a human. A joke in the making.
A Celestial and a human walk into a bar…
He wore princely attire, clothes he’d had made years ago, using them as a carrot to keep him motivated. His hair was straight and flat as befitted a Celestial, the effect applied with magic and saving so much time.
She wore something he’d recently had made for her, taking his favorite designs from the human world and having the fae tailors bring his vision to life. He couldn’t have known at the time how perfect the result would be.
The straps at the shoulders looped down to the bodice, mostly open at the chest, revealing the gorgeous diamond-dust tattoo, sparkling and shimmering in the hall lighting.
A wide belt of fabric circled her waist before the silk cascaded down her legs and flowed around her feet.
A cape-like addition was attached at her shoulder straps and trailed out behind her, giving her presence a majestic feel. A queenly feel.
It was a real pity he hadn’t had a tiara handy.
Nobles pushed back against the wall, hands often at their chests, looks of reverence or fright covering their faces. Those with tainted magic often tried to slip away, and Tarian let them. He would not play judge and jury. He’d let the cleansed Faerie magic do that. He’d let Daisy initiate that.
Servants didn’t run like their noteworthy counterparts. Instead, they faced the pair and bowed, their hands not on their chests in fear, but on their hearts in respect. Help had come. The fear of turning twisted like their employers was at an end.
They continued on, his measured pace befitting someone of his rank. She couldn’t help thinking of it as a death march, though. Butterflies filled her stomach, but she did not balk. She did not allow the tension to stiffen her shoulders.
Instead, she thought about her family. She thought about their good times, recalling a memory with each one.
Play them for me, Tarian said, and he slowed a little more. Play each memory for me so that I can bear witness.
She walked closer to him, their arms touching. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked over at him, then nodded in thanks. He’d carry their memories on for however long he remained here.
Even though Lexi had saved her, she played memories of Mordecai first. Of that morning in the hospital when he’d been cured. Of the hope in his eyes. The subsequent spring in his step. His miracle.
Lexi was, of course, next, Daisy thinking of all the times Lexi had worried about her “kids’” wellbeing.
All the stress she’d endured on their behalf.
Then of the day she’d realized her kids were taken care of and their money troubles were over.
Daisy would never forget the look of supreme relief on her face and the love in her eyes.
She thought of the rest, of their banter and laughter, their fierce expressions when telling Daisy to stay out of trouble. She had so many uncles and aunts now. So many people who cared about her.
She wondered what they’d think of her, with this crazy though exhilarating magic.
With the ability to shrivel a person’s magic or take it away entirely.
The latter likely wouldn’t kill a human, since the magic worked differently there, but it would certainly surprise the hell out of them.
And in that time…she’d dance a little closer and slit their throats. Easy-peasy.
Tarian huffed a laugh. “What a joy that would be to see. Despite my level of discomfort, it was a damn good time seeing you fight in the court games. Your ability to manipulate your opponent was exceptional.”
“Not as good as that other small-statured female. Who the hell was that? She could’ve killed me. Instead, she helped me—helped you—and killed herself.”
He shook his head as they reached a wing of the castle she’d never been to.
His grip on her hand tightened. They must be close.
“I don’t know. She was listed as Xanon’s champion.
But, of course, Xanon was dead. It was assumed another noble did it, but no one knows who.
His champion should’ve been forfeited but…
she went ahead. The guards put her into the rotation. ”
“Unless she wasn’t Xanon’s champion.”
“Or maybe she was the one to kill him. Another thing—her body has vanished.”
Daisy looked over at him. “What? Are you sure?”
“Yes. She was dragged into the room with the other dead, but there is no record of her body being buried or incinerated. After the games, there is no record of her at all.”
“She did seem to die too quickly from that wound.”
“I confess…I hadn’t been paying attention to her.
” He stopped in front of a nondescript door, but instead of opening it, he yanked her to him.
His eyes were urgent. “We don’t have to do this, Daisy.
We can find another way. I’m free now. The king is dead.
We can appeal to the Celestials for help.
I’m a prince again. I have status and clout.
I have a way to help these people—help Faerie—without sacrificing you. ”
“Your brother nearly killed you, Tarian. Everyone who matters in the court distrusted you. You were a threat, and surviving an assassination attempt makes you more of one. Then you walk into that same court, a court in distress, with all your magic and the crystal chalice on your arm? Are you kidding?”
“They don’t have to know what you are. We could resume calling you a toy. I know it’s not ideal, but—”
“I have a diamond-dust tattoo and rings around my pupils, Tarian. I’m not a complete fucking idiot.
I know that has to do with the crystal chalice in some way.
With the magic. I don’t know why you have it, but whatever the reason, you’ll stand out more than you did in the past. You’ll be a bigger target than ever.
It’ll require alliances and political maneuvering to get help.
I know how these things work, as do you.
The Guardians are split, and the royalty is at each other’s throats for the throne.
You could try to get your dad on track, but recovering from a death that he helped cause would take a second.
All of that—all of it—would take time. Time Faerie doesn’t have.
And sure, why would I care? Except the Diamond Throne is directly responsible for the protection of the fringe, and that puts my family on the line.
No matter how you look at this, there is no other way.
We don’t have the resources to hunt down the twisted magic without the Diamond Court, and they’ve got problems. Problems you’ve indirectly created.
Those are facts. This is the solution. You know that. ”
She laid her palm on his cheek. His eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“So hard, so ruthless…and he comes apart so easily,” she whispered.
“What can I say, you’ve broken me.” He hugged her tightly. “I can’t do this. I won’t.”
“You will,” she said. She backed off enough to kiss him.
“You’re going to have to kill me, babe. Sorry, I don’t have a cute term of endearment like ‘dewdrop.’ You’ll have to take what you get until I get more creative.
” He smiled sadly. “You need to go through with this. I need you to. Okay? I need you to give it all you have. My family needs you. I need to play hero and you need to help with that.”
His sigh spoke of a breaking heart. “Okay.”
“Okay. Let’s get this done.”
The room beyond was empty in that all the furniture and wall decorations had been removed.
There was just a large, rectangular area with a dull wooden floor.
Upon that floor, though, was an elaborate setup of objects, each working with the others to create a twisting, circular design around the center.
Within that center, which had enough space for two large people, waited one object. The diamond chalice.
It wouldn’t be the diamond chalice alone that created the godly power and killed her. Nor just it and Tarian. They’d need all these chalices working together to create the heights Tarian needed. Pretty hardcore.
Upon her entering the room, the items lit up, one by one at first and then all together, like a greeting. The diamond chalice sent out a peal of thunder. It rolled across the floor and soaked into the walls.
Eldric, at the far side with a pile of scrolls, startled and looked around. He saw Daisy and Tarian before turning and walking their way.
“Please, Daisy,” Tarian whispered, not allowing her to step any farther into the room. “Give me a day to think this through. With Eldric’s help—”
She let go of his hand and stepped without him.
She didn’t fault him for his waffling decision-making.
It was easy to have courage when she was the one calling the shots.
When she was the one playing hero and wouldn’t have to suffer the agony of losing the one she loved.
Of being responsible for the death of her beloved.
“You are, you know,” he said, hearing her.
She wasn’t hiding anything from him. “You are my beloved.” He turned to her again.
Eldric paused near the edge of the configuration.
“You won’t be long ahead of me, okay? It’ll seem like no time at all.
Wait for me. I will find you in the afterlife. Wait for me and we can be together.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll be just beyond the veil, okay?
I’m not waiting around in real life because the veil might close or something, and then I’d just be hanging around, seeing people who can’t see me back.
Apparently, it’s a real shit existence. My uncle knows from experience. ”
“I don’t know…what the veil is, but I’ll find you.”
“Okay, well…just go toward the death beacon—you’ll know what it is, apparently—and I’ll find you, okay? I know way more about all this stuff than I ever wanted to, but it’ll help. Hopefully.”
He kissed her fiercely and faced Eldric. “Let’s go,” he said in a rough voice.