Chapter Thirty-Two
T he group gathered once more outside of the wooden stables, eight of us atop horses. It did not escape me that Bellamy and I were the only two who rode steeds that were not brown. A message given and heard without having to be spoken aloud.
The demon prince circled our party, doing a final assessment before we departed.
I caught sight of swords securely strapped to each of them, everyone prepared for the worst. As Lian and her horse trotted towards me, I noted that she seemed to have more weapons than the others. I raised my brows, eyeing her stock. Lian laughed at my assessment.
“I am Bell’s swordmaster. I maintain all weapons and I train every new recruit in his army with weapon work. You will rarely catch me unarmed,” she said with a wicked smile.
Surprise left me without words. I had always seen her with some sort of weapon since meeting her, but she now was armed to the teeth with two swords, multiple daggers, a bow, and a quiver of arrows strapped to her horse.
“Here,” she said, grabbing one of the daggers. Lian urged her horse up to Frost, and quickly grabbed onto my leg. I startled, trying to tug out of her hold, but she simply gripped me harder. I stilled when the realization of what she was doing hit.
Lian had strapped the dagger onto my thigh. The sheath was black with three red circles and a star in the center of the middle ring—the demon sigil. When she finished securing the straps, I removed the weapon, assessing it.
It was a gorgeous blade, the hilt the same silver as my mare. Red and black writing, jagged and sharp, covered it. Some sort of language that I had only ever seen once, older than even the demons perhaps. The same runes that graced the walls of my low level room, of my blocker. The sight of it sent chills up my spine.
“I cannot possibly take this, it is yours. Plus, your prince would not appreciate you arming me,” I said, trying to offer the hilt of the blade to her.
The clothes were a necessity, but the dagger, though I wanted desperately to have one for my own safety, was not. No, this was something else. An unsettling coincidence that made my stomach turn.
Lian shook her head, directing her horse away from me. “It was made for you, Bell just had me hold onto it.”
Made for me? That was enough to silence me. I held it in my hand, gripping so hard my fingers ached, and called onto my powers. No change.
So it was not the same magic.
As if the sound of his name was a pull, Bellamy appeared at my side, Lucifer nudging Frost’s head in hello. I did not bother to ask about the blade when I knew he would not answer. If it did not stifle my powers, then I would take it, though I would not let my guard down while wielding it.
Calista and Pino approached Bellamy and I, the former holding my gaze. Neither of them were on a horse, neither held a satchel as the others did. They would not be joining us, I concluded. Behind them, Luca winked at me before disappearing into thin air. Clearly the wraith was not coming either.
Right on cue Bellamy spoke, confirming my suspicions.
“Be on guard and expect them to come. Your duty is to Haven, to keeping those who reside here safe. Do not fail,” he ordered, his voice bleak and demanding. The Tomorrow and the siren nodded, faces unreadable. With Calista staying behind, I lost my chance at an ally among the group. What had she called them?
His Trusted.
Pino walked up to me, reaching a hand up to grip my own, giving a tight squeeze.
“When we meet again, I have quite a bit to tell you of your future,” he whispered. To my left Bellamy let out a low growl—a warning. Pino merely tsked, waving a hand of dismissal at his prince. “You will return, Princess.”
I raised my eyebrows, suspicion and curiosity battling inside of me. Calista nodded at Pino’s side, the two of them offering no real help other than vague promises.
Bellamy huffed, muttering a quick encouragement to be safe, and then clicked his tongue. The eight horses all quickly obeyed, Lucifer and Frost vying for the lead. Henry must have been an excellent trainer, judging by the way that each of them followed commands.
We rode slowly, despite Bellamy’s previous eagerness. For my own benefit, more than likely. Would that annoy the others? Make them resent me for the longer travels? None of them seemed to be uncomfortable with the pace, or in any sort of hurry, but I did not want to risk upsetting them. I would prefer sleeping peacefully rather than with one eye open.
“Have you ever heard the story of how the Fae Realm was split?” Bellamy asked, Lucifer and Frost nearly touching as we rode side by side. I did not bother to hide my confusion at his question, which had made no sense whatsoever. As per usual.
“It has always been that way,” I responded, wondering where he might be going with this. Should he not be answering my question rather than speaking in riddles? I asked him as much mentally, letting my distaste sprinkle into my tone.
“I am answering your question,” he countered aloud. I did not, for a moment, believe this odd line of questioning would tell me anything about why he chose to bring fae here. Why they willingly stayed.
Or were they somehow prisoners too? Abducted and brought across the sea, left on a coastal village that was utterly inescapable. It would not be the first time he had done it. Yet…I looked back at Lian and Ranbir, the two of them so comfortable in their places here. In Haven. With Bellamy.
“You did not think it strange that there were five islands, perfect for splitting factions and celebrating royals? Did you think gods did it?” Bellamy continued, inquiring as if he knew the correct answer. I hesitated then, trying to understand what he was insinuating.
“Of course not. The fae do not fall to their knees for gods or worship at the altar of an all seeing one. We follow the universe from which our powers came. We acknowledge the gods, respect them even, but Eternity, that is what we pray, swear, and submit to,” I answered, ignoring the first half of his question.
Yes, it was strange that the islands were so perfectly made for us, but was that not divine creation? It was not so hard to believe that the ethers that were responsible for the existence of gods, fae, and the world were also capable of making our land suitable for our future needs. Perhaps it would seem irrational if not for the power that coursed through my veins, through Bellamy’s.
“It was none of those things that made the Fae Realm as it is. Your queen did it,” Bellamy said, disdain and sarcasm heavy on his tongue.
I stilled, my eyes narrowing at the allegation. Here it was, the motivation behind his story. Turn me against Mia and he would have me, ripe for the taking. He knew that my family, the royals, were the thing that tugged me home the strongest. I wanted to protect my subjects and to make it back in time to watch Nicola be wed, but Mia and Xavier were the true reason I desired to go back. I owed them at least that much.
“And why, demon, would she want to do that?” I hissed, an accusation more than a question.
I wanted to scream, to tell him that he would never convince me that they were the evil he deemed them as. Poisoning me, lying to me, hurting me for their own sick pleasure. What would he say next? I sat up straighter as Frost moved at an unhurried pace, prepared to argue with him. But Bellamy, for all his faults, was not quick to anger. With me, at least.
“Long ago, the greatest Earth to ever be born was named heir to the lands of the fae, Betovere. A beautiful place, with an even more beautiful soon-to-be queen. She was magnificent, with hair the color of a flame and eyes like ice,” Bellamy began.
A quick look behind us told me I was the only one skeptical of this tale. Lian and Ranbir were engrossed, eyes trained on Bellamy as he spoke. Noe, Winona, Henry, and Cyprus all listened casually, as if they had heard the story a hundred times.
“Her parents had found her a betrothed that was most likely to produce younglings that would far surpass even her power. The Fire, wild and untamed, was eager to prove himself worthy of being king when the princess’s parents passed on unexpectedly. The queen knew this, so she used his desire for acceptance against him. She convinced him that splitting Betovere would strengthen the fae. If they could ensure that factions did not mix, then they could maintain the power within each.” Without realizing, I had leaned towards Bellamy. His voice had lost its raspy tone, taking on a captivating timbre. I was unable to look away.
“After extensive planning, the two rose before the sun on one fateful day. The queen channeled all of her power, which was said to have sent waves of energy across the world. When she slammed her fist into the ground, Betovere split. Death wreaked havoc on the fae as giant cracks and flooding water awoke them. And when the ground stopped shaking, fae found themselves separated from their loved ones, ripped from their homes and the lives they had built.”
Lian let out a soft sob, tears streaming down her face. Henry looked furious, as did the rest of the demons in the group. But it was Ranbir, his previously stoic face contorted in sorrow and pain, that caught my attention.
“Slowly, the newly crowned royals implemented designated areas, Isles as they would be called, for each faction. If fae had found love outside of their faction, then they would be outlawed from being together. Families were torn apart, never to be whole again. Fae without power disappeared throughout the years, and soon everyone seemed to forget the past, to settle into their new normal,” Bellamy whispered, his eyes glassy as the story came to a close.
My mind was begging me to ignore him, to see the story for what it was, a lie. A fabrication meant to sway me. But as their emotions and thoughts crept up on me, seeping through the holes in that golden gate that held my power in check, I found a tear sliding down my own cheek. Mia and Xavier were kind. They ruled with love for the Fae Realm and its inhabitants. How much had they asked me to give up just to ensure the safety of the fae? Why would they do so much harm to those very same beings?
“You asked me why I bring the fae here, and I assume you also are curious to know why they desire to live in Haven. The answer is simple, laid out for you quite plainly in that piece of your history that is hidden from you all. The fae here seek joy and love,” Bellamy said, his words laced with both anger and despair. “They wish to live.”
I shook my head, trying to unhear the words, the story. I could not allow myself to believe the lies, to fall for the tricks. Because if I did, then I would understand his cause, I would agree with him. I would be a traitor.
But, had I not once wondered how it would be possible for me to find love with the way we were restricted? Did I not once think it ridiculous that they would limit us that way, all for the desire to have more power?
More than that, had I not always been aware of the hard choices that I would have to make as Queen one day because of watching Mia and Xavier do that very thing? A part of me knew that there had to be some truth to the story, because the fae in this realm and the perfect split of isles made no sense otherwise.
I felt seven sets of eyes on me and shuddered at the intensity thickening the air. I wanted nothing more than to forget this, to have asked a different question earlier. It seemed that I might be relieved of the expectation of responding as the vibrant green grass below our feet turned a darker shade, nearly black. The Forest of Tragedies sat in front of our group now, an ominous presence that requested our full attention.
Just when I thought myself free of the conversation, Bellamy added, “Remember when I told you that we often speak of the dark-haired beauty that will save our realm? I was not lying, Asher. I do believe you will save us all.”
My head snapped towards him, taken aback by his proclamation. I wanted to ask him what he meant. To inquire about his intentions for me. I could not though, because we were now at the edge of the forest, and danger awaited.
“Remind me, Ash, what is it that the fae say when they stare death in the face?” Noe asked, a hint of trepidation in her voice.
“May I return to Eternity,” I answered.