Page 127 of Quiet Burn

“Delamar the Deceiver.” The crusty Fae grunts as I write my name and the small truth required, waving his long fingers over it like he’s checking the veracity. “You pass, Xerxes of Lust. Stand to the side while I work my way through your companions.”

I’m not fond of anything I can’t identify, and even less excited about a creature whose name is followed by ‘the deceiver’, but we don’t have a choice. If we want to get info from the chattiest supes in town, we need to get through this stupid test. “Go on, Annie.”

Anton moves up to write his information, getting waved aside quickly for Kat to approach. I hold my breath as the bloody headed gatekeeper eyes her, but he doesn’t say anything other than ‘pass’ before he points her towards us. After a few minutes, all of our group have been waved over except Jasper, who is very slowly filling in his name. I think he’s doing it slowly to piss the thing off, and I’d like to kick him in the shin.

Fucking with the persoon who can kick you out on your ass isn’t a good plan, if you really want to get inside.

“Prince Jasper of Hell… your boon has been accepted, even if you were not entirely truthful.” The creature gives us a gap-toothed grin as he points at the Prince. “Delamar believes you are lying to yourself as well, so he will allow this one exception. Go forth into Faerie and do no harm, demons.”

Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I lead the group to the wooden door Delamar had disguised until we all passed his test. Opening it, I walk inside to a lush, beautiful Fae meadow filled with floral scents, the sound of rushing water, and soft grass under our shoes. The sky inside this realm is light purple and there’s a pink moon high in the starry sky as we clamber inside. Squinting, I look around until I see an ornate tent city in the middle of the meadow. It has four large corners, and I assume those are probably the reps from each court. All the other installations are smaller and more likely their vendors, food and drink purveyors, and other places where we can find what we want.

That is, if we can get to them without being paged to the royal tents.

“This is gorgeous,” Kat says, the awe in her voice apparent. “Is this what their realm looks like? Cuz you guys got screwed, man.”

Jasper snorts, shaking his head as he looks around. “This is being controlled by the Daybreak Court at the moment. Each court has their own look and feel based on their affinities, and the spring-like evening is probably the work of their aestheticians.”

“At least they’re Seelie,” Oriel mutters. “I’m sure the feel of this place would bemuchless welcoming if Midnight or Reaping was in charge right now.”

Kat slaps her hand on her face, scraping it down her features as she groans. “Fuck, there’s so damn much to learn. Salem, promise me you guys aren’t going to let me hang out in the dark with all this shit. I really wanted to see this, but I… um, I haven’t really studied them yet.”

“We will not let you look silly, little demon. Fear not.”

I smile when Slash’s words get a nod of appreciation. “Okay. With that out of the way, are we ready to face the pointy-eared fruitcakes?”

The two assigned to keep Kat safe flank her again, giving me a look that says they’re ready. I wait for Jasper to nod as well, then Annie and I trudge across the colorful meadow filled with weird plants and flowers towards the tents. Odd little creatures zip through the air and across the blue-ish grass making KK gasp softly here and there. By the time we get to the populated zone,the sound of lively music, cooked food, and other delights wafts through the air temptingly.

“Remember, you can’t eat things we haven’t checked,” Anton says to the group. “And definitely do not drink things, or inhale?—”

“Just be fucking careful, right?” Zavida says as his tails pop out and flick behind him. “Let you and Anton check everything, even things we want to touch.”

“Exactly,” I reply as I let the carefully curated human visage drop amongst our fellow supernaturals in this weird traveling village. “We don’t want anyone sick or dead or… chained to something they don’t want to be.”

“Chained to— Mother, fucker, X,” Kat mutters as she grabs onto Slash’s big arm. “Keep an eye on my hands, both of you. Curiosity is not going to killthisKit Kat.”

I grin, winking at her. I’d love to know what the secret she wrote in the book was, but it seems like a ‘later’ question. “Probably for the best, KK. Now, let’s roam this place and see if we can find some gossip.”

And hopefully, not any trouble before we get to our own territory at this damn event.

The Moon Will Sing

Kit/Kat

It’s damn near impossible not to gape at everything going on in the Fae encampment. I know I’ve been in Hell for a couple months now, but outside of battles and a few weird things, it’s been pretty… normal looking most of the time. This is definitely notat alllike that because the beings here are all noticeably supernatural from head to toe. Tall, elegant looking Fae mingle with tiny pixies, grumpy goblins, dwarves, elves, and a veritable bestiary of shit in semi or non-humanoid forms as we wander through the bazaar-like area.

No one would ever believe me if I told them back home; in fact, they’d probably lock me in a padded room.

Jasper and Slash stop at a booth full of gleaming weaponry, and Salem leans in to whisper about the legendary Fae steel they’re inspecting. It’s deadly and gorgeous, but I follow X as they navigate to another stall with bottles full of fragrant liquids that I assume are potions. They aren’t bottled like liquor or drinks, so it’s an uneducated guess on my part as to their contents. Anton pauses there with Zavida, leaving me with the others as we continue moving. The next shop is full to the brim withwild fabrics and clothing, drawing a soft squeal of excitement from Xerxes. I grin a bit at their enthusiasm despite my lack of knowledge about what is and isn’t in style.

“These arestunning,” they say as they hold up two bolts of gauzy fabric that seem to float of their own accord. “Can youimaginewhat I can do with this material? I’m thinking… formal dinners and cameras, KK.”

They’re pretty and the colors seem to coordinate with both their complexion and mine, so I get the gist of what X is hinting at. “Um, for what? It’s, uh, very…”

“Elegant?” Xerxes hums as they tuck them under their arm. “Exactly. Now I’m going to find some more things to experiment with for when we’renotfighting to the death. Since I’m dressing the both of us, I must have the best materials possible.”

Save me from the black hole that is their version of clothes shopping, please, Universe.

Oriel grabs my elbow, leaning in to murmur, “How about we leave Salem with Xerxes while they shop and we’ll head for something a bit less… girly?”

---