A Dark Faerie Tale Series Omnibus Edition (44 page)

When she didn’t move closer, Corb stepped back a bit and extended his hand to her, almost caressing the barrier. “A trade. That is what I propose. Give me your hand. Come with me, and I let your beautiful human friend live. I will lead her into your sanctuary as you leave it.”

Corb paused again. His blank face and quick movements made her want to slap some personality into him. Shade stopped biting her bottom lip which was now sore and reddened from her nervous chewing. She let her shoulders drop, feeling defeated. This wasn’t a good deal either way it went, and she knew it wouldn’t go her way.

“What if you don’t let her go? What guarantee do you give me, Corb?” She narrowed her gaze back into his still eyes. She swore she saw the corners of his lips turn up ever so slightly.

“You are quite clever, young one. So wise beyond your few years. Many forget so soon how to bind fey to their word but you… you are not so careless.” He snickered, showing just a little sliver of emotion in his hardened exterior shell. “Very well, Shade. I swear to you as you cross over the shield to me, I will let your friend return to your home unharmed. I bind myself to this oath, as Faerie itself binds me. Now, if you please.” He nodded and re-extended his arm toward her, beckoning for her to cross.

Their eyes never left each other’s. He seemed patient, or maybe centuries of living made him that way. She wondered why he hadn’t withered yet. Was there a strong mind under there? Was it insane? She hoped it was the not the latter. He was the oldest faery she’d ever laid eyes on. Her curiosity was only bypassed by her fear as she took another deep breath, closing the gap between them. Her hand reached out across the tingle of energy which separated them, finally letting his hand clasp over hers as he pulled her out and simultaneously pushed Brisa back into the dome.

On the other side, Shade felt the cold autumn breeze roll around her, sending shivers up her arms and down her spine. She hugged herself, realizing she didn’t have her travel pack, coat or anything.  She glanced back at her family and Soap. All were still frozen where they stood. Even Brisa, who was just inside the shield, was unmoving.

“Wait, I’m cold. I don’t have anything to cover myself. It’s getting really cold. I….” Corb stopped and placed a finger to her lips, shushing her. Shade froze, feeling suddenly even colder, if that was possible.

“Enough. I almost forgot about your human taint. Can’t you warm yourself, Fire Witch?” Corb snickered at her.

“Yes, but I’ve never done it for extended periods of time. I….”

“Here, take this and be quiet.” Corb pulled a fur cloak out of a pack on the back of his dark, demon-like horse and shoved it into her arms. “Put it on now, we’re leaving.” He waited as she unraveled it and swung it over her shoulders, tying it at the neck. She was instantly warmer, but her fear made her entire body continue to shake. She glanced back to her family again and stopped.

“Wait! Aren’t you going to unfreeze them? Release them. Please, you can’t just leave them like that!”  Shade stepped toward the dome but Corb grabbed her in a blur of speed.

“Stop right there. You will not be returning. They will resume their lives as soon as we leave. We are not risking them using their magic on us before then. Now get up on the horse. My patience is wearing thin.” Corb’s voice slid out in a deeper tone, almost growling at her. She turned and looked at him, but his blank face betrayed nothing. She wondered if he really had any patience to wear thin, but she didn’t want to find out.

Shade gave him a nod and reluctantly followed him back to his horse. Cringing as her hands touched the coarse black hair of the demon steed, she pulled herself up onto the saddle. The beast was unearthly, probably from a place so dark, it sucked the light and soul out of everything. Corb pulled himself up and sat behind her, bringing one arm snug around her waist and the other to the reins. His hands were encased in dark leather gloves as he pulled the reins and turned the demon steed around. The dark horse’s breath steamed in the cold night and seemed to not appreciate having her along for the ride at all.

The feeling’s mutual
, thought Shade.

She felt Corb’s arm tighten more around her as they trotted into a gallop through the ranks of nightmarish soldiers, all sneering and growling at her. Shade wondered what they thought of being led by a Sidhe Faery like Corb.

Being so close to him made her stomach churn and her skin tingle. He radiated cold. He was the very essence of winter that made her soul feel lost. She swallowed down the sickness she felt from the evil emanating from the dark troops and wondered how any Queen of Faerie could condone such vile things as she tried to breathe through her mouth. The wretched smell of the army hit her like a freight train as the ranks split open to allow a path for them to gallop through. She hoped they would get through the horde soon, but she wasn’t too sure she would like what was on the other side.

As long as her family was still safe, Shade momentarily felt okay. She silently spoke to Dylan in her head, hoping somehow he would know how much trouble she was in. If anyone could help her, it was him. She prayed that somewhere out there, he would hear her plea and save her from the clutches of Aveta.

The terrain flew past them as they entered the forest. The rhythmic trotting of the steed’s hooves mimicked the racing of her heart as the night grew colder and more ominous.

Chapter Twenty-F
our

DARREN’S ICY-COLD
stare stabbed into her like ice picks. Narrowing his eyes, he watched her wiggle in the chains and panic at the sight of him. He was the last person she ever expected to run into again. His eyes seemed to dance in amusement as he watched the panic and fear rip through her. He seemed to enjoy it. The sadist in him relished her pain like a rare treat. He hadn’t spoken a word to her yet, but as Shade’s terror filled the room, he breathed it in and let it fill him with the purest of pleasures.

Her wrists ached and burned as the skin rubbed away with every movement she made in the shackles. Blood oozed from her wounds and dried along her arms and hands in streams. It was sticky and itched along her skin, making her feel even more agitated than Darren’s presence alone would have. She couldn’t get away. She was completely trapped and powerless. The chains bound her by some sort of curse. Something else had binded all her magic, leaving her utterly human. She wondered if he was here to torture her and desperately hoped not. His idea of torture would probably be very close to death or humiliation. She closed her eyes, wishing for his image to fade away, knowing it wouldn’t.

“Open your eyes, Shade, and look at me. You remember me, don’t you?” Darren’s breath felt hot against her cold cheeks as his hand lifted her chin roughly, bringing her face even with his. She blinked at him, her eyes revealing nothing. She wanted to hit him, kick him and damage him in some permanent way. Her hate throbbed through her body like a venomous poison which filled her up and made her vision blur with spiteful tears. She tried not to show it to him, though. He would enjoy it way too much and stand there, bask in it, and laugh at her helplessness. No, she wouldn’t let him take her firm resolve from her.

“You do remember me!” His haughty laugh made her wince. “I’ve often wondered what became of you since you left me to rot in the mirror shards at Teleen. I’ve fantasized about asking you how exactly you were able to do that. You aren’t as helpless as you look,
half-breed
. I would very much love to know what else you can do. Would you like to show me?” His fingers traced her cheekbone gently, but the feel of his touch made her sick and her stomach sour. She bit her lip to keep from spitting in his face.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun, Shade, I promise you that. I’m not allowed to kill, irrevocably hurt or maim you. Queen Aveta has forbidden it. She’s no fun. She needs you for whatever it is she needs you for. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t really care. There are other ways to enjoy our time together.
So many ways.”
Darren’s voice was but a whisper in her ear as his lips slightly touched her neck and face. Shade cringed, pulling aside and prayed he would go away. His touch was like the heat of a hot poker jammed into her side. He breathed her in deeply, hovering so close, she felt his long black hair, so much like his brother Dylan’s, brush against her face.

“You’re still pathetic, Darren. You’ll never live up to your brother’s shadow, will you? You should’ve stayed home in Teleen, where you belong. Buried in rock.” Shade’s own voice scared her. It bled of icy narcissism and sounded empty. It was almost as cold as his voice.

Darren jerked back to stare her in the eyes once again. His blue-grey eyes burned at her in the dim light of the cell. They were also the same color as Dylan’s, but the soul behind them couldn’t be more different. His mouth pressed down into a thin line, full of contempt at the mention of his brother.

“Dylan is nothing to me. We are no longer brothers, remember? He left me to rot in Teleen.” Darren turned to pace the stone floor, deep in thought and agitated.

Ah, a sore spot
.

“How dare you speak of him, anyway?” Darren inquired, glaring at her. “He has abandoned you. You know what that entails, don’t you? He’s probably dead for betraying his bond to you. Where is he, Shade? Where is my brother, the hero, who should’ve saved his little maiden in distress?” His cackle echoed across the damp stone walls and filled her soul with dread as he lifted her hanging head back up to his face.

“Not here, is he? Dylan has failed you like he failed me. Did you think after what happened between us, I could ever again live in peace in my home at Teleen?” Darren’s head shook violently back and forth as he let her head drop once more. “No, I could not. Who wants a ‘murderer’ in their presence? No, I had to leave before they killed me themselves.” He sighed, staring off toward the walls as if watching a distant memory play out just for him.

“All because of you, Shade. It’s all your fault. You took all I had and stole it away from me with a tap of your hand.” His empty eyes hovered back to her, making her withdraw from him a bit. His eyes were much more frightening than before, when they had danced with just a bit of mischief. Now the emptiness inside him screamed of a terrible psychosis which was capable of anything. He was as unstable as a person—or a faery—could get. Shade didn’t want to find out exactly what he was capable of.

“Now, Shade, I get to pay back some of the pain you caused me,” Darren sneered as he pulled out a dagger. It was very sharp, thin and shined as he held it out for her to see. Its gold and jeweled hilt glinted in the dim torchlight, which lined the stone walls. He brought it up to her face, pressing its point into the middle of her cheek. Shade pulled away as far as the wall allow. She felt the sting of the sharpened edge pierce her skin as he dragged it down her cheek. She screamed as the cut burned.

“
Shhh, shhh
, Shade. We don’t want to wake the dead, do we? Just a cut here, a cut there. Nothing you will miss.” His evil laugh shook her as his closeness let her feel it vibrate through their bodies. She prayed he really didn’t take anything she would miss and squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to block him and the pain out.

“Look at me when I talk to you! You think you’re better than me, don’t you?” Darren slashed at her ribs, making her gasp and sputter as he held her face with his other hand, stifling her scream. “Well, you’re quite wrong there. I’m not a half-breed piss-on like you!” His cackle rang through her ears as her head began to swim from the pain.

Warm fluid dripped down her sides as the wound bled and poured down her leg. Her shirt was soaked in no time, making her wonder how deeply he’d cut her. She bit down on her tongue and waited for his next move. The blood loss and pain threatened to send her into unconsciousness as the room swam in her vision. She breathed in slowly and blinked hard to keep her eyes open.

Dylan, where are you? I need you, help me!

“That is enough, Darren. Queen Aveta needs you topside. I wouldn’t keep her waiting.” Corb’s deep, velvety voice rang through the doorway as he ducked in. He stood with his hands on his hips, staring Darren down as he spoke.

“What? I just got started! Is it urgent?” Darren’s whiny voice jolted her back to the room. Her eyes strained to focus on the two men.

“Everything is urgent with Queen Aveta. I suggest you do not keep her waiting.” Corb stepped forward as he came to stand in front of her. Darren huffed as he cleaned his blade with a dirty rag he’d grabbed from the cell floor and tossed it back. He bolted out of the room, muttering curses under his breath.

Corb examined Shade up and down, assessing her injuries with a glance. He grasped her chin and lifted her head to stare into her eyes. Remembering that he was telepathic, she mustered all her strength as she sent words to him with her weakening mind.

Help me, Corb, please….

“I am truly sorry, little one, but I can’t. It does seem Darren gets a little too excited with his toys. I do apologize. I do not condone torture.” Corb ran his hand over her cheek as he held steadfastly onto her chin and held her head up. His icy fingers left a freezing trail over her cheek which turned into a fiery hot burn where he had touched her wound. Shade gasped as she pulled away, the chains clanking and rattling with her movements.

“No, please don’t hurt me!” Shade’s voice sounded small, and it cracked as she spoke.

“Hush, I’m not going to. This might burn a little, but if you are not healed, I’m afraid you will be of no use to anyone anymore.” He moved his hand to her side, reaching through the shredded fabric to run his cold hand over the warm, seeping wound on her ribs. The same ice-fire feeling flared up as she clenched her teeth together. She felt the burn knit the wound together until the pain subsided into a dull throb.

Shade looked up at Corb’s expressionless face, so full of nothing, but she knew better. His eyes gleamed like moonlight from the flickering torches.

“Why did you heal me? So I won’t die right away?” Shade let her head hang down, a slow cackle leaving her lips, feeling more alone than ever before. She wanted to cry the tears she’d held back with Darren. Her despair began choking her as she breathed.

“No. Like I said, I don’t condone torture. You are much more useful alive and well than weak or dead. I will have a word with Darren about that. But first….” Corb reached around her neck, unhinging the ampule of Santiran Water. “The Queen wants this Magic. You will wield it for her soon. I would do as she says if I was you, or your family and friends will not be as fortunate next time.” He pocketed the ampule and reached up. He tapped the chains, and they immediately unclasped, sending Shade crumbling to the ground. Corb caught her before she pummeled to the floor, helping her to a cot in the corner of the room. Laying her down, he covered her with a blanket.

“I will have some food brought. Do try to eat something.” With that, he turned, locking the cell door behind him.

Shade lay where he’d left her. The dull burning throb on her side still complained. She wished she had her powers back so she could heal faster. Now left powerless, she felt the sting of tears well up in her eyes. No one was coming. No one even knew where to find her. She let the warm tears spill down and dampen the pillow under her head. Letting the fatigue overtake her, she prayed for no dreams as she fell into a deep, dark sleep.

*****

THE TORTURE DID
not end. Darren was sent again and again to pummel her with his brute force and cut her if she didn’t answer his questions satisfactorily. The days dragged on. Corb continued to visit her, healing her wounds with his icy touch in between Darren’s abuse, and bringing food and water. Corb never left her chained to the wall like Darren did, but always laid her gently in the cot which was now her bed.

Shade wondered what Corb’s motivations were. Maybe he was even crueler than Darren for healing her so that she could take another session of pain and suffering and still survive. After a while, she didn’t really care. She was relieved her virtue remained intact, guessing that even the most evil of the faeries didn’t condone forcing another person in that way. She was sure Darren was not opposed to it but had to abide by the Queen’s rules or risk her anger.

But no one came to rescue her. No one was going to come. Shade had resigned herself to it. The Queen’s dark army surrounded the place, and anyone trying to penetrate it was either suicidal or insane.

Shade had been brought before Aveta several times. Each time, the Queen would ask her sweetly to help her with the Water Magic, to use it to gain ground over the Seelie forces. The Queen’s beauty fascinated Shade, but she continued to refuse to help her each time, and each time always ended with Darren’s wrath and Aveta’s anger growing tenfold. Shade’s fascination was quickly replaced with hate. She found Aveta was nothing but a beautiful shell around a rock-hard, evil soul. There was nothing beautiful inside her at all.

The weeks went by, and Shade lost count of just how many. She hardly ate, even with Corb pestering her. Her continued refusal to help them with the Water Magic made her think she would be discarded soon. Her thinning frame and sickly pallor probably assured them she wouldn’t last much longer. She knew her mother would’ve secured the family better this time. Corb wouldn’t let on if he was going to fulfill the threat of harming them or not. Either way, Shade’s silence was wearing everyone down.

One day, Shade woke to find Corb shaking her. She felt too weak to sit up at his request. He looked into her eyes, feeling her pulse and assessing her weakness. She watched him frown and leave the room for a moment, not bothering to lock the door behind him. She knew she was too weak to escape on her own now. Corb probably knew that, too. She lay there for what felt like an eternity, dozing on and off, before she felt Corb shaking her awake again.

“What is it?” Shade mumbled as his ice-cold fingers jolted her from her sleep.

“Drink this, Shade. You’re getting far too weak.” He helped her sit up, holding her as he shoved a cup of swirling, silver fluid toward her lips.

“What is it, Corb?”

“Just drink it!” She watched his face, expecting his features to match the urgency of his voice. When they didn’t, she did as he said and sipped down the liquid. It felt warm as it ran down her throat and into her belly. She finished it and handed the cup back.

“Can I sleep again now? I’m just really tired.” Shade rubbed her eyes, feeling all of the aches disappear from her thinning body. She looked back at Corb as she gathered her strength to sit up without his assistance.

“No, you have to come with me. Your kind needs sunlight. It will help you heal.” Corb pulled her up, letting her lean against him.