Page 38 of Faerie Hunted

Three days of constant vigilance and hustling as fast as Onyx’s ruined body could travel until the trees began to thin. My panic had subsided long enough in the forest for me to recognize when it returned full blast.

Weary, filthy, and ready to drop, I held out a hand to stop Noren and Onyx when the watery outlines of buildings swam into view. I blinked to make sure it wasn’t an illusion but the vision held.

Shit, we made it.

“Finally,” Onyx muttered under his breath. “Civilization.”

“It doesn’t mean the inhabitants are friendly.” My voice came out as a croak.

“I think it’s safe to assume they’re not.” Onyx flashed his teeth at me. “We stay on our guard, get in, get what we need, and then right the fuck back out again.”

I seconded the motion and my stomach gave a pitiful yelp for food.

The road in front of us cut through the town but it was empty.

The transportation system in Faerie had always struck me as wonky. A train had taken us from the portal into the inner city when I first arrived. There were cars, yes, but they didn’t run on gasoline or anything like in the modern world. I’d never seen an airplane in the sky.

Most fae biked in the city or took the train when they needed to go a longer distance. If we could somehow find a car, if Onyx managed to operate it, we’d cover more ground.

My exhausted brain latched onto the idea and sank its teeth in. “Do you know how to work a car?” I asked.

We crouched low and watched people on the street making their way through the drizzle. At least the weather wasn’t as bad today.

“I can manage,” Onyx replied. “I’m used to biking everywhere, but right now it might be nice to rest the legs a little bit.” He shifted his stance and winced.

If he looked like the living dead, how terrible didIlook?

Yeah, we needed something to fit all three of us. Noren was fast but I didn’t like the idea of him running behind us if we were to steal a horse or something.

The thought sounded so ridiculous, even inside my head, that I swallowed over a giggle. I imagined myself trying to ride the thing with Noren perched on its backside like some kind of familiar, straight out of a cowboy flick.

Absolutely not.

“This might not be a big town but surely it’s so far outside of the city that they have cars. Do you know what it’s called?” I didn’t remember any of the names of the smaller villages outside of Eahsea, and without a map, I was guessing.

“At this point, I don’t even know what I’m called. Let’s hurry up and find something, okay? Can you use that thing?”

I lifted theTotalisinto the light. “Of course. I’m not running at full capacity but this will help amplify my magic.”

As long as we made it a fast trip, I reasoned, gesturing for Noren to stay hidden in the bushes until we gave the signal.

I smoothed my hair down and behind my ears but my clothes were trashed. Nothing I could do about it now.

Onyx was half dead as we traversed through the underbrush and out the other side of the thicket. The pavement beneath my feet felt foreign after so many days in the forest. We moved into step beside each other, both of us keeping a watchful eye out for any kind of suspicious behavior.

We were the crazy ones here. Several fae took one look and discretely crossed to the other side of the road.

Someone had to have a car. The statement repeated like a mantra in my head.

No matter where we looked, the houses neat yet a few of them in need of repairs, we saw no sign of transportation. How would I be able to steal something if there was nothing available?

Panic lifted in my blood and my awareness rose like hackles. Even the fine hairs on the back of my arms stood to attention.

There weren’t many people out in the rain. Which worked in our favor.

A fae couple passed with umbrellas lifted high. Another couple bore magical shields of hardened air above their heads to keep the water from touching them. I only saw a handful of others walking open and unbothered in the weather.

This little town had small elements of what made Eahsea charming. There were no flowers in bloom outside of several boxwood shrubs in planters. The houses were uniform, more modern than others I’d seen, and the road boasted several potholes.

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