The Changeling Soldier (8 page)

“Yet never wrong. Nostradamus had the same gift, but it was stronger. It drove him crazy, thus the riddles. I didn’t know him personally, but I heard. Not all changelings deal with their gift so well. So tell me, do I live or die?”

“Live…I think.”

“Well, you’re not much of a psychic, are you?” And she was kind of disappointed. She’d hoped his power would be stronger and he could see a way out of this mess. A way out where Melody got a taste of her own medicine.

“No, I’m not. It’s more like an early warning for something I can’t change.”

That had to be hard. Some saw an ever changing future that they could manipulate, others so far that they couldn’t comprehend what they were seeing. But to see what couldn’t be changed? That was cruel. That made her feel sorry for him, too often a changeling’s fairy magic was more of a burden than a gift.

He closed his eyes. “Do changelings have a soul?”

That was an odd question. “Of course you do. You’re mortal. I don’t though. No one born in Annwyn does.”

“And if I had no soul?” He lifted his gaze and looked at her. His eyes were beautiful, a pale ice blue that let her glimpse his pain and concern. A fairy would never let anyone see so much.

In that moment he was quite possibly the most beautiful man she’d ever met. He wasn’t running and hiding from what he was learning, he was hungry for more. Curiosity was in his blood the same as any fairy. He might not have known what he was but he’d been searching for answers long before she’d walked into his life.

She put her guard up and refused to be dazzled by the changeling who was becoming more interesting by the moment. Perhaps the iron was dulling her mind.

“You’d be dead, the same as any other mortal.” Unless he gave up his soul in Annwyn, but she held back, not wanting to reveal too much fairy lore to him so soon. Just because she needed his help to get out of here didn’t mean she trusted him completely.

He nodded but didn’t look convinced.

A shiver scraped down her spine like a lover’s fingernails. He’d seen something and it involved her. “Why do you ask?”

“Curious. Can I get you anything?”

“The key.”

“I’m working on it. You do get out of here. We both do.”

He’d definitely seen something. And since he’d said that he couldn’t change the future she had to assume that whatever he did would get her out of here. “Is your sister always this crazy?”

He sighed. “No. This is her first kidnapping. Why didn’t you give her the wish?”

She’d promised herself no more deals with mortals a long time ago. Melody didn’t realize what she was asking, yet in hindsight it would’ve been the easy way out and she wouldn’t be lying here surrounded by iron.

“Because there’s a price, Isaac.” She liked the way his name formed on her lips. “What would she give up to have what she wants? Fairy deals never end well for humans. It’s been nearly two centuries since I’ve made a deal with a human. I’ve tried to blend in.”

“You sew magic into your dresses.”

She smiled. “Yes, because I enjoy making them, and I want the wearer to enjoy them too. That’s my gift to your world. It can’t be forced from me, the same way your gift can’t be forced. Warn your sister not to proceed.”

After Isaac left her, Ella spent some time trying to change her size a little, just enough that she could slip her foot free, but she had nothing. She was completely without magic and she was cold. She needed sunlight and warmth. She needed to return to Annwyn. In her heart she knew she might not get home in time. Her long and colorful life was going to come to a silent and dark end in a basement with no one to note her passing.

Isaac would notice. He’d probably even mourn. But that wasn’t what she wanted, she wasn’t ready to die and find out what kind of afterlife fairies went to. There were things she still wanted to do. She wanted to spend time at Court again. She’d like to find love—not that she’d ever say that aloud, as the Court fairies would laugh. Perhaps the two things she wanted couldn’t be had at the same time. She’d like to have a child. A fairy child. Someone to carry on her name.

She wasn’t going to be bested by a slip of a human.

Melody would regret that she’d ever hear the name Ella Aaron.

The door creaked open and a light flicked on. Ella blinked a few times and lifted her head, but it wasn’t Isaac coming down the stairs. It was Melody. Her stomach flopped over and then curled up. It took a moment for Ella to recognize the feeling as absolute terror. Fear was something she didn’t feel very often. Terror was new and much colder and sharper than fear. It locked her muscles and caught in her throat.

For the first time in her life, Ella was close to understanding what it meant to be mortal, where life could be snatched away in a heartbeat and there was nothing she could do about it. She didn’t like it at all. Where was Isaac?

“I thought it was time we had a talk.” Melody crossed her arms and stared down at her, as if aware she had all the power.

That alone rankled. She was Eletta merch Arawn, daughter of the old Lord of the Hunt, a Court fairy who was on sabbatical in the mortal world. It was more like hiding until the scandal involving her father blew over, but still, she was here by choice. She was not some weak, banished fairy, or even a Brownie serving mortals in exchange for lodging and food. No, she’d carved out her own life in the mortal world and she would not let Melody take it from her. She forced herself to sit up, ignoring the burning of her skin as the iron connected and the weakness in her body from the prolonged contact. She wouldn’t give Melody the satisfaction.

When Melody stepped back a pace, Ella bit back a smile. Good.
Fear me, mortal. Your day of reckoning will come.

“Yes, we should talk. You do realize that trapping a fairy isn’t a wise thing to do?”

“I don’t see an immortal army beating down my door to save you. In fact, I see no one. No one even cares that you’re missing.” Melody tilted her head a fraction and gave her a saccharine smile. She would fit right in at Court, the games, the deals and quests for power. She’d probably even enjoy it. And it was fun as long as you were winning. “Grant me my wish and I’ll let you go.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why would I harm you when you’ve given me what I want?”

“Because I might seek revenge.” She would. Whatever the terms of the deal, there would be ways around it. She doubted Melody had a clue about making a deal with a fairy. Lawyers had come about to facilitate deals and stop humans making bad ones, but that knowledge had been lost by mortals.

“If you threaten me, I’ll kill you, and I don’t want to do that.” Melody smiled again but it wasn’t reassuring. Melody would quite happily kill her after getting what she wanted. She’d have to do better to lie to a fairy. A fairy would never stoop to outright lies—half-truths were a given.

“You had no problem capturing me.”
Or binding me with iron.

“You weren’t as strong as I thought you’d be.”

“Iron is my kryptonite.” Melody didn’t need to know that the magic of Annwyn was weakening and thus affecting her as well. “I can’t do magic while it’s touching me.”

“I’m not stupid. I’m not freeing you until you grant my wish.”

That made things tricky. “It’s not a wish, Melody, it’s called a deal and you’ll have to pay for what you want.” That made the starlet blink in surprise. “Did your sources not tell you that?”

“You’re lying. Fairies grant wishes.”

She wished she were lying down. The room was staring to spin and she wasn’t feeling so good. “Fairies don’t grant wishes; we never have and never will. We make deals with each other and unsuspecting humans.” Ella allowed herself a grin, the kind a hungry wolf might wear when cornering a succulent rabbit. “Are you willing to make a deal with me?”

Melody swallowed. Her boldness had been swallowed up by uncertainty. “What’s the price?”

“What do you desire?” History was littered with people who made deals and found them not to their liking. For a moment she was tempted to warn Melody, but then changed her mind. This girl deserved what she got.

“I want to be famous. I want people to remember me long after I’m gone.” There was a glint in her eyes that made Ella sad. Here was a woman who’d trade everything for the belief that fame would somehow fill the gap in her soul. It wouldn’t. Until Melody recognized her own worth, no one else would either. This was why deals went wrong. Humans were too flawed.

“Fame, couldn’t you be more creative?” It was always fame or riches. A few asked for love. Even fewer ever asked for something that would help others.

“I want to be the name on everyone’s lips.”

The temptation to make the deal and get free was so close. Melody wasn’t even being specific. It would be too easy. However, Ella hated being forced to break her vow not to harm mortals. Most other fairies wouldn’t blink twice. Her heart had grown too delicate living here. “Think about what you’re asking for, Melody. Will the achievement be as sweet if you don’t do it on your own?”

“I don’t care how I get there. I just want to be known.”

How far would Melody be willing to go to get what she thought she wanted? Ella fixed her with an unblinking stare. “Then I want a soul in exchange.”

Melody jerked as though she’d been slapped. “A soul?”

“Yes.” Often the first-born child was the price, but what did she want with a baby right now? Besides, that would have meant finding a fairy man willing to sleep with Melody and also taking Melody across the veil to give birth. No. A soul was much simpler and a test to see how far Melody was willing to go.

She could’ve asked for something as simple as a kiss, but a soul was much more dramatic…fairies liked dramatic. It was why magic had gotten tangled up with death and sacrifices. Demanding a soul was usually enough to put off those who weren’t committed. Taking the soul would give Ella a shadow servant in Annwyn for as long as she chose to keep it before letting it go for judgment.

“You want me to kill?”

Technically no, but since Melody wasn’t asking the smartest of questions, Ella wasn’t going to explain, either. Already she could feel a plan forming. She knew exactly which soul she’d like to take back to Annwyn and she was betting Isaac would be willing to cross the veil. “How else are you going to give me a soul? Think about it. You have one day.”

Melody started walking away, then stopped and turned around. “You’re my prisoner. I’ll take as long as I want.”

“Wait too long, and I’ll die from the iron and then you’ll have to find yourself a new fairy.” Not quite a lie, but not the whole truth. Fairies prided themselves on the ability to split the difference.

Melody spun away and ran up the stairs. The light went out and the door slammed. Ella let herself slump onto the bed. She was going to have to make the deal to get free. Two lives would be forever changed so she could live for a few more centuries. Was the price worth it?

Most fairies would say yes in a heartbeat. Humans were fleeting nothings compared to fairies, but humans were dazzling and radiant while they lived. She liked humanity. Perhaps too much to ever live in Annwyn again. At the moment, she simply wanted the chance to see home one more time.

Chapter Seven

Isaac had reluctantly called in sick. He hated doing it, but he couldn’t leave Ella in the house alone with Mel. However if Mel made good on her threats, it would compound his guilt in the eyes of the law. He needed to shake some sense into his sister.

He dropped three sleeping tablets into the blender with the milk and fruit. He didn’t know how else to get Melody to take them. He’d only taken them a few times before deciding he’d rather suffer through insomnia than feel drugged. Now he was wondering if human medicines worked differently on him. He put the lid on and watched while everything turned to slush.

This didn’t feel right. Yet he didn’t see how else he could get the time he needed to saw through the shackles and get Ella out of here. A day ago he’d have never have thought he’d be drugging his sister.

Ella and Mel were talking now. Maybe this would all be sorted and he could pour the shake down the sink and move on. Move away. Not backpacking around Europe, but in Annwyn. That would certainly be dropping off the grid. It was sounding more and more appealing. Would Ella take him?

He knew she did, even if he didn’t know the details, as she was with him promising to keep his soul safe. When he thought about it, it filled him with excitement and the promise of a new part of his life—he was sure he was still alive in Annwyn.

The door to the basement slammed.

Isaac poured the shake into a glass. He’d wait to hear what she had to say first.

He busied himself making sandwiches that he could take down to Ella. He listened as Mel walked into the kitchen and stopped. He didn’t look up, couldn’t. “Is it time to let Ella go?”

Mel snorted, and he glanced at her. From her expression and crossed arms, he knew Ella hadn’t given her what she wanted. Part of him wished Ella had granted Mel’s wish so this could be over. It took everything he had not to glance at the shake.

He swallowed, his throat dry. The drink was made…but it wasn’t what he wanted to do. Maybe it was what he needed to do though. He didn’t recognize the woman standing in the kitchen. The sister he’d once loved had been consumed. His heart ached for what he’d lost without even realizing, but he doubted Mel had shed a tear over what she was going to do to him.

She wouldn’t let him hold this over her. It was only a matter of time until she rang the cops and let it fall at his feet. “What are you doing?” Mel snapped.

“Making Ella some lunch. Wouldn’t want her to die of starvation.”

She shot him a toxic glare. One she hadn’t had before he’d joined the army, yet obviously one she’d picked up while living in L.A. Of all his siblings, he was closest to her—his brothers were all much younger—or had been. Now he watched her the way one watched a poisonous snake, praying it would go past without striking.

“Come on, Mel. You’ve given it your best shot. Maybe fairies aren’t all the myths made them out to be. It’s not like Ella even has wings.”