Page 41 of The Fae Girl 1

“Sure.” Nela said with a smile. “But only round the Upper Castle. Prince Fain hasn’t permitted anywhere further for the moment.

“That’s perfect. We can get to the Royal Gardens at least and have some fresh air.” Mira said happily as we walked out.

The way she was so happy all the time, made me wonder if she’d ever spent a day of her life less than fully cheerful.

* * *

The castle,even the tiny bit I was allowed to explore was like nothing I’d ever seen before. The very walls were carved out of the same white stone that I’d seen back when we arrived.

The windows looked like they were made of actual crystal and not glass itself. It sparkled in the sunlight, casting rainbows all across the walls and floors. Making it feel more magical. More fantastical.

A great gold geometric pattern was painted along the top of every wall and around every door, every arch, it swirled in a delicate frame.

My feet didn’t seem to mind as I walked further along, in fact though they felt stiff, it was as though they hadn’t been cut at all. As though I hadn’t run through brambles and god knows what else.

As I turned a corner I paused staring out an open window. Around me were the twists, and turrets of the castle, and below, below looked like another castle, as though the one we were in was stacked above it.

I guess that’s why they called this the ‘Upper Castle.’

But further below, just within eyesight was what must be the city. Where the average citizens lived.

Nela looked down to where my eyes were drawn.

“The citadel has over a million occupants.” She stated.

“All living down there?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. Not all. Many live in the Lower Castle. They’re more protected there.”

“Protected against what?” I asked.

She met my eyes but didn’t answer.

Spectrals.I don’t know why but I knew that’s what she was thinking. What was on the tip of her tongue. Though I couldn’t comprehend what the things actually were, something inside me, something instinctive reacted.

“Do you think I can help you?” I said.

Her lip curled just a little. “Is that what’s going on in that head of yours? Is that what you’re mulling over?”

I scowled. Like she even knew me. Hell we’d only just met.

She let out a low laugh. “You’re easy enough to read. You let your emotions show too readily. Perhaps that is something you should work on because this place, these people, they’ll eat you alive if you don’t learn to hide it.”

“That’s your advice?”

She shrugged. “That’s just a bonus tip.”

“A bonus tip?” I repeated. “You haven’t even given me the main point then.”

The amusement left her face as she turned to look at me fully. “My advice is this; don’t fight Prince Fain. You won’t win.”

I narrowed my eyes.Seriously? Did he tell her to say that?

She walked away before I could reply, joining Indi who stood just beyond the other guards. They murmured between themselves as though spilling secrets no one else was allowed to hear.

I turned my back on them. On the pair of them. Staring back out at the view. If I was going to escape from here, I’d have to get to the Lower Castle. I’d have to disguise myself too.

Because every person we passed, every single one stared at me without shame, without even trying to hide it. It was obvious that I was different. Obvious that I stood out.

---