THE STRANGER
15
- ALANIS -
I dismount Zephyr and wait for Kailu to ground-tie him before walking toward the entrance of the cave. I’m entranced by the flickering lights looming above me in the willow trees. The wind blows and the willow branches part, as if inviting me in. It’s a different sensation to the pulls I felt towards this realm. This one is gentle, drawing me in slowly without my control, as if stuck in a magical trance. I go to step through the mouth of the cave when a hand on my shoulder stops me.
“Alanis, you need to be cautious in here.” Kailu’s voice centers me, brings me back to the present.
His next words are directed at the entire group. “Everyone needs to be alert. The magic in this place is powerful. Many have entered and lost themselves along the way.”
Hannah comes to stand next to me, holding tight to my hand. Her poor nerves are probably shot after the week we’ve had. The girl hadn’t ever left the Outskirts, and here I am gallivanting with her all over while a swarm of evil creatures chases after me for some Gods awful reason.
“This cave system can show you your deepest desires,” Kailu says, “but don’t be tricked into thinking it can give them to you. Everything it can give you comes with a price, a steep one. One that almost always is paid in blood.”
Although the group is silent as they absorb Kailu’s words, I turn back to the cave and appreciate its beauty. The rock is a pale white and seems to sparkle when the sun hits it just right. The willow trees on either side softly sway as if dancing, waiting for guests to keep them company. When the twinkling lights drift closer, I gasp when I see the trees littered with Pixies. It’s then I realize that the Pixies are what truly make the trees sway back and forth. They have a constant movement to them, as if they are trapped in a waltz they can’t escape.
“Careful, sunshine,” Kailu says, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Pixies love to play tricks on unassuming travelers.”
I walk through the curtain of the willow trees into the enormous cave, down a gentle downward slope leading us about five feet underground. I’m staring in awe at the crystal-clear blue lake that lays before me. A waterfall flows into it from the ledge above, crashing water echoing all around us. The lake splits off into two separate streams, one leading to the left and one to the right. We are quite literally at a fork in the road—or lake, as it were. Stalagmites sprout from the ground, some reaching toward the ceiling of the cave from which stalactites protrude at dangerous points.
The group steps in, save for Siveral and a few of the humans who will keep watch just outside.
“So now what?” Hendrix asks, sounding completely unimpressed.
I poke him in the ribs. “Hendrix, don’t tell me you’re not enjoying this vacation. It’s been so much fun.”
“Oh yes, I have been enjoying it. No vacation is complete without a little terror and a few near-death experiences.”
I laugh. “That’s the spirit.”
He shivers as he looks around. “I hate this place. It’s like the magic knows when you want something desperately. It surrounds you and whispers in your ear that it can give you everything you seek.”
A trickle of fear seeps into me. “The magic is calling to you?” I whisper, as if it might hear me. “Why don’t I hear it? I desperately want Elion back.”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure, but be thankful you don’t.”
I hug him tight, taking him so off-guard he hesitates for a moment before wrapping me in a bear hug.
“So, seriously. Now what?” His gruff voice breaks our moment. But I smile at the budding friendship I have with him. I’m not used to people enjoying my company.
“I’m not really sure,” I say. My voice echoes throughout the cavern.
“Great, just following a human who has no idea what she’s even looking for,” the Fae named Orion mumbles. “We’re on a wild goose chase.”
Kailu stiffens beside me and I put my hand up to stop him from fighting my battles. I march up to Orion and shove my finger in his chest, refusing to balk at his sheer size and deadly teeth.
“Listen here, you jackass,” I snap, my voice rising several octaves with each sentence. The fact it echoes in the cave just adds to the appeal. “I know you don’t like me, and if I’m being honest, I don’t give a shit. This is bigger than me or you. If you don’t want to be here, then leave! But if you’re going to stay, you’re going to shut the hell up and help us instead of acting like a child and bitching the whole time!”
He stares down at me, his expression shrewd for a moment, but then he schools his expression and merely nods. I nod in return before stalking back towards Kailu.
He smirks at me. “Can I just say how absolutely hot that entire thing was? I am now uncomfortably turned on.”
I attempt to shove him through my fit of giggles, not that I can move the damn brute.
He leans down. “Want to see something cool?”
I meet his stare and nod, loving the way his eyes dance with joy. He places his palms out and before I can fully grasp what’s happening, small drops of water lift from the lake, creating a wall that stretches from floor to ceiling. He twists his hands and the water twists with him, braiding a line across the cave. When he finally drops his hands, the water cascades back into the lake, splashing up to lap at my toes.
I’m still standing with my jaw on the floor when Hannah speaks.
“You’re a water wielder! I’ve read so much about them.”
I lean up and whisper in his ear. “Now I’m the one uncomfortably turned on.”
He bites his lower lip as I step towards the left hand side of the cave.
“Why don’t we split into two groups? We need to look for any signs that someone has been using this cave for portal creations. Or any type of spells or dark magic, really. Anything that seems out of place.” Kailu orders.
Everyone nods, splitting into two groups. Kailu takes the lead and walks under the waterfall. I brace for the impact of the water, but nothing comes while Kailu holds it still for everyone to pass through. Leaning up, I kiss his cheek in thanks and I swear he blushes.
The further into the cave we get, the colder it becomes, like ice has vaporized but its chill remains.
“Are we going downwards?” Hannah asks.
“I think so,” Sarya answers with a slight tremble in her voice, as if she’s nervous. I grab her hand to offer comfort and she gives me a soft smile.
When we get as far down as we can, we are faced with two archways. I choose to go to the left. Everyone seems to decide sticking together would be best, especially since our group is already small.
This archway leads to a tiny room, no wider than three Fae, but long enough that the back wall is hard to spot. The room is empty save for a pond, the water black, the surface so still that it resembles a mirror. The air is cold and stagnant, every breath clouding in front of my face.
The echo of footsteps makes all of us whip towards the archway, Kailu stepping in front of me, ready to attack at a moment’s notice. I pull the daggers from their sheaths on my thighs and hand one to Hannah. The knives Novus and Sarya withdraw are hooked and frightening.
We all brace, ready for whatever is about to walk through that archway.
What I’m not expecting is a tall, shirtless Fae to waltz through the door. Every stretch of visible skin is covered in tattoos. They rope up his muscular chest to his neck and curl down both arms to his fingers. He towers over all of us, even Kailu. Upon spying all of us his eyebrows lift, his lips pulling up into a smirk.
“Malakai,” Kailu snaps. “What in the hell are you doing here?”
“Just exploring,” Malakai says, tilting his head at me. His scrutinizing gaze makes me fidget. His voice is gravelly and my toes curl. Gods, what is wrong with me? “You know how I like to.” He has yet to move his gaze from me. “What are you doing here? And with such a delectable human?”
Every muscle in my body tenses and Kailu lets out a low growl.
Malakai looks to Kailu and clicks his tongue. “Interesting…Not quite the hello I was expecting from an old friend.”
- KAILU -
Shock is an understatement.
I watch his gaze rake up and down Alanis, his cocky smirk firmly in place. He’s lucky I don’t punch it from his smug face.
We used to be inseparable, always getting into trouble together—and usually that was his fault. I follow a strict regime, but he was always the one to break me out of it. For months, he made sure to take me to his favorite gambling den in all the realm to teach me to play dice, and was then pissed when I was good enough to beat him.
Things change, and people go with them, and no amount of wishing for life to return to how it used to be has ever made a difference.
His gaze flits around the room, always observing and soaking everything in. Alanis’s breathing changes, and anger surges through me. Her attraction to him is palpable in the air around us.
Fuck.
What is he doing here, anyway? He shouldn’t be traveling alone. Rules exist for a reason. Irritation bubbles up inside me. Why can’t he ever follow the damn protocol?
He flashes me his smug smile, and I swear if there weren’t witnesses, I might push him right into the pond.
I force myself to speak. “Saw you took care of a little ghoul problem before I could get to the Lower Shrol.”
He shrugs. “I was already there, figured I might as well help out.”
Gritting my teeth, I hold back the vile words that want to slip out. “I’m assuming you were smart and brought back up?”
His smile is sharp. “You know me better than that, Kailu. I prefer to work alone. But I can be persuaded to keep company at night, if you know what I mean.” He winks at Alanis.
This motherfucker.