Chapter Twenty-Three
W e came to a stop in front of a pair of double doors. Henry pushed them open, revealing a large dining area. This room sported the same red and black of the rest of the home, with a long, glossy, black table and chairs. The walls were decorated with Bellamy’s paintings, still a hectic grouping of different styles and colors strewn about in a way that made the room feel cozy. Sat in the chairs were Lian, Pino, Ranbir, and two others.
Henry was the picture of comfort as he strolled down the table and claimed the seat next to Ranbir, who quietly listened to the others talk, still sporting his all-white clothing and looking noticeably more relaxed than he did when he healed me earlier.
Lian sat on the other side, chatting with a female who had golden brown hair that seemed to reach her midthigh, though it was hard to be sure as she sat. I was unable to see much of her at all from the back, but her sensual voice rang throughout the room, drawing in everyone at the table.
The last female had hair the color of moss, which was wrapped in intricate coils along her head. She sat on the other side of Ranbir, and I saw her irises matched her vibrant locks. She had generous curves and an overall roundness to her. A small black cloth covered only her breasts, held up by a delicate chain that wrapped behind her neck. She was beautiful in a way that I had never seen before.
Everyone at this table, apart from Pino, seemed to be young—perhaps even near my own age. Their lively and casual conversations signaled they were also quite close, as if mornings like this were a regular occurrence.
Pino turned to face me, his gray hair and wrinkled skin giving him a warmth that I did not see within the others. He stood from his seat beside Lian, drawing my eyes to his tunic. The chest was a deep violet, but the stitching and the wrist-length sleeves were a beautiful gold shade that shone in the demon light. Though I loathed how little color was in the fae palace, Pino’s top reminded me of where I was, of my plans. I ached to go back, to find comfort within my home that I was now fairly convinced lay an entire sea away.
The Tomorrow walked towards me, his bright smile soothing my unease and anxiety. “I hope you find the clothing suitable,” he said. I returned the smile, though it did not meet my cheeks, and nodded. Beaming, Pino took the silent compliment and bowed low.
“I love them, I do not believe I have ever had clothes that suited me as well as these. You are truly a born talent,” I gushed, wanting him to understand just how much having clothing that both fit and flattered me meant, despite my morose look. At that his smile turned even brighter, lighting up the dark room.
“You, Asher, are a delight to have among us.”
With the word “us,” I suddenly felt five pairs of eyes land on me. I looked to the right of Pino, and sure enough, all of the table’s occupants were staring our way. I felt uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gaze, though I knew Henry, Ranbir, and Lian were likely just tuning in rather than making a judgement. Theirs had already been formed.
Henry flashed me a distinctly feline smile, clearly aware of my unease and enjoying it. With the other female fully facing me, her hazel eyes alight with curiosity and perhaps a bit of mischief, I could sense the thrum of her power. It called to me, nipping at my own, as if it were begging to be not only deciphered, but understood.
“Hello, I am Noe Tristana.” Instead of reaching her hand out, the female pulled me into her chest and squeezed me tightly. When she released me from her grip, I felt darkness lick up my spine.
“Stop taunting her, Noe, or she’ll make you stab yourself in the eye,” Lian said offhandedly, as if it was not a threat and an accusation in one. I raised my eyebrows, feigning shock.
“I think I recall telling you that I had no interest in harming you, Lian. If I wanted you dead you would be,” I spoke with equal ease and comfort, adding in a swift shrug. Creeping towards the small, blue-haired Air, I flashed a ruthless smile. “Plus, it is not nearly as exciting to play with the dead as it is the living.”
Lian shivered, but beside me I felt Noe’s excitement peak.
“Henry is right, you are quite riveting. Perhaps we can all see you in action sometime,” Noe spoke. Moving my eyes back to the brunette, I tilted my head, sizing her up.
The female with green hair cleared her throat, smiling at me warmly as she summoned a ray of light in her hand. She blasted it towards Noe, who in turn shot shadows at her, the two convulsing together like they were both at war and in love. I had never seen anything like it in my lifetime.
“It is so wonderful to finally meet you, Asher. I am Winona Nayab,” the female with the green hair said right as the pair let their power go, the light and dark sucking back into their palms. “Ignore these animals, they rarely have company beyond those in this room.”
I chuckled softly at that, shoulders loosening as the fear and discomfort left me. Distinguishing between fae and demon would be easier than looking at their ears it seemed, because Henry, Noe, and Winona all spoke in that same accent as Bellamy now did.
“My wife is right. Please, sit and suffer through breakfast with us,” Ranbir spoke, gesturing to the seat beside the head of the table, which remained noticeably vacant. Almost painfully so.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Not only had a Healer married outside of his faction, but he wed a demon. The two of them smiled at one another, and I thought, not for the first time, that perhaps we were wrong to enforce that restriction on our kind.
With a gentle hand on my upper back, Pino encouraged me forward. I plopped down in the seat across from Henry, holding in my need to enter the minds of those around me—fighting off my curiosity. When I felt them all stare at me once more, I decided to speak.
“Is there something you all would like to ask, or am I simply so good looking you cannot divert your gaze?”
A snort sounded from Henry, and beside him Ranbir blushed faintly. Noe and Lian on the other hand, looked amused in a way that made me wonder if in another life I would fit in well with this group.
“Well, yes you are, but I am actually quite curious. The rumors of your power are so very exciting. Can you show us?” Noe asked, her tone not mocking, but inquisitive. Genuine.
I reached out, just to douse her curiosity. I knew when I had her, because the darkness enveloped my senses. Every ray of sunshine, every flame of fire, every bit of light was sucked out of the world. I saw nothing for what felt like a lifetime, but eventually came back up for air. Her intrigue was at the forefront of her mind, and when I attempted to creep further back it was as if there were no other thoughts, emotions, or memories. Just distinct interest.
I opened my eyes, which I had not realized I closed until then. Noe was staring, waiting.
Stand.
Noe stood.
Jump.
Noe jumped once.
“Tell me a secret, Noe,” I said, dropping my voice to the commanding tenor of my mental one. A couple of the others gasped, each of their faces full of concern. I rolled my eyes. “Fine, a secret of little consequence.”
Noe looked like she was intoxicated on my power, as if this experience was a rich wine she could not get enough of.
“When Bell and I were young, I sent a pyrien after him because he would not kiss me, but I never told him it was me.”
My eyebrows furrowed. What was a pyrien ? Before I could ask, the smell of cinnamon and smoke wafted in the air like a warm breeze. I turned to find Bellamy in the seat beside me, claiming his head spot.
“I always knew that you did that, you little heathen,” Bellamy said.
He was still wearing the red tunic, though it was now hiding his chest. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he, or someone else, had been running a hand through it extensively. I also noted the bit of kohl under his eye, causing the blue to look terrifyingly—enchantingly—bright.
“Hello, Princess,” he rasped, our eyes locking. Butterflies erupted low in my stomach, but I ignored them.
“Do not call me that, demon.” I scoffed. Noe’s lush laugh sounded behind me, followed by Henry’s deeper, more earthy chuckle. Bellamy seemed unfazed by my tone. If anything, he smiled wider.
“I love it when you play hard to get,” he purred. I rolled my eyes and did my best to act as though I was not fighting the urge to kiss him. He was the enemy, and I was not staying.
“On a more important note, has anyone ever told you that you sit funny?” Henry asked me, his green eyes alight with an emotion I could not place. My brows creased in confusion as I assessed my posture. I was sitting as any royal would. “Like you have a stick up your ass.”
Noe giggled, Lian coughing to hide her own laughter. Winona and Ranbir looked as if they were trying very hard not to react at all. I merely glared at the demon, not wanting him to know just how badly that wounded me. With all the grace I could muster, I sat straighter.
Bellamy leaned over and smacked the back of Henry’s head, causing it to fling forward and nearly land in his food. Then it was my turn to laugh.
“Anyways, Winona what was it you so desperately needed to make me aware of?” the prince said, looking my way with a dazzling smile on his face, as if he enjoyed the sound of my laughter.
The Sun opened her mouth to speak, but when her eyes quickly darted to me, she shut it once more.
“It might be a matter best discussed in private,” she said. Everyone else at the table seemed to zero in on me as well, though I was unsure if they had ever stopped gawking. My own eyes narrowed, my fists scrunching in my lap in anger.
“Yes, you would not want to divulge too much to your captive, Prince,” I added, eyeing her. Winona winced, as if prepared for me to harm her for what she said. I was both offended and thrilled by her fear, which was a new trait of mine that I was growing rather comfortable with.
“I do not mean to offend you,” Winona responded, her voice soft and soothing.
All I could think of was how they might be attempting to take advantage of me. These were the same beings who were mass-murdering fae, who mercilessly attacked those who had done them no wrong. In fact, their kind had done more than offend me in the past.
“I feel the need to make something clear. I have no desire to harm any of you; I am no monster who finds pleasure in the pain of others. As someone who has been maimed by your kind, I think it more fair I question your intentions with me rather than the other way around.” My accusation was plain as day.
It was them who could not be trusted. As pleasant as they seemed, they were also a viscous species who tortured fae for the fun of it. The very same creatures who cut my ears and murdered my family sat at this table, and it was a struggle to contain my pain in that moment.
“Actually, that is not—” Lian began, but Bellamy quickly silenced her with a raised hand.
I reached out to her mind as quickly as the snap of a whip, but the demon prince was somehow faster. The earth below my chair rumbled, sending me flying backwards, breaking my concentration. Wind, fierce and cool, hit my back, pushing me upright. I gasped at the jerking motions, feeling a tad nauseous.
“Now, Asher, I thought we agreed you would stay out of their minds,” he said, a smirk on his stupid face.
I huffed and started scooping food onto my plate. No part of me believed he would tell me how he sensed my power, which rendered that question unnecessary and pointless. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lian glare down the table at Bellamy, as if she were angry at him for stopping me.
I ignored it, grabbing piles of eggs, pancakes, potatoes, and anything else my hands could reach. The assortment of spices wafted towards me, smelling far more exotic than anything I had ever eaten. From the corner of my eye, I saw Bellamy watching me, the heat of his stare threatening to undo me.
“Am I allowed to pick at your mind, oh glorious prince?” I asked. Without waiting for an answer, I looked away, shoving a few bites of food into my mouth and sending my power creeping towards him.
Whatever he did to block me was not in effect. In fact, his mind was unguarded, as if he was hoping I would invite myself in. The second I did, Bellamy startled me by speaking.
Would it be wrong of me to say I grow hard watching you devour your food like that?
I jumped, having never been spoken to through the mind. My power had only ever seemed to allow me to communicate to another, rather than the other way around.
“You are a pig,” I said, making sure to bite into the greasy bacon as I did. Bellamy licked his lips, watching me finish off the piece.
“Asher, we have no reason to harm you. I think you have misunderstood your reason for being here, though I am sure that was easy with what little information Bell has provided,” Pino said, his palms up, as if offering me invisible honesty.
Everyone at the table was watching me. I wanted to shout at them that I was not for their entertainment, their curiosity. I wanted to kill them all for their complacency in the murdering of my fae. So many horrible, intrusive thoughts beat down on me, and I knew that I had to be alone before I hurt someone.
As I stood to leave, I felt a prickle along my left arm and turned to see darkness creeping up my body. It seemed to be flowing from Noe, who was pouring tea into the cup beside my plate. The way it caressed my skin gave me the impression she was attempting to coax my own power out of me. Our eyes met, and a shadow slid under my chin. The table went silent, but I paid them no attention as I opened my mental gates, my power welcoming Noe’s mind.
“Noe, come here,” Father called. By the sound of his voice, he was angry. I held my breath, contemplating staying hidden. I knew though, that the longer I disobeyed, the worse it would be. So I pulled myself out of the small hole in the wall, crawling through my wardrobe and opening the doors. When I was out, I slid the wooden slab back into place, making the wardrobe appear whole once more, then pushed my clothes in front of it.
As I walked out of my chambers, an eerie darkness had encompassed the hall, devouring every inch of light. Before I could register the wrath that must have brought this on, I felt a fist slam into my back, throwing me to the ground. Searing pain shot through my wrist as I landed on it, my knees hitting with a loud thud. Crying out, I looked behind me to see father standing above, sneering.
“Let this be a valuable lesson, dear daughter,” he snarled, his face scrunched in rage, so much like my own when I am angry. “I will always win.”
This time, when his fist came down on me, my eyes shut and did not open.
When the memory faded into black, the heaviness of Noe’s pain filled me. Then, as clear as Bellamy’s earlier, her voice came echoing into my head.
We do not wish to hurt you, Asher. I do not. I know your pain, as you have seen. I feel it radiating from you as if it were my own. Let me say plainly what the others will not. If you go back to the place you call home, you will break, and no one will be able to put you back together.
Relinquishing my hold on Noe, I fell back into my seat and promptly heaved up the breakfast I had just finished eating.