Page 15 of Shadows of Air and Earth
Rising in front of me, a single dark cloud morphed to hover at eye level—waiting. Wide eyed, I watched Riley's hand reach out to them. "Hey ummm, shadows," he stammered, eyeing the way they glittered…happily?
Inhaling deeply I followed, knowing that we were stuck with them for the task ahead and I would be better off if I just accepted their terrifying nature in a cordial way. "Hi," I said simply, letting my fingers gently touch their inky tendrils, shuddering at the coolness but in awe of the soothing quiet of their presence. Just like their master.
They swirled and I gasped, snapping my hand back, except they did not stop. Swarming, they flitted around me almost playfully, rustling my hair, and caressing my body with their dark soft touch.
"They said hi already, my loves, and you know you are scaring the elementals more. Enough playing, we still have places to be," Remnant cooed out to them, already halfway down the street from us.
The shadows disappeared and reappeared at her side in an instant, drawing a small laugh from their owner. Carefree and light, this was a version of the general of Faerie I would have never expected to ever see. Granted, her eyes did shine with love for instruments of death, but we were fae, who were we to judge, death was the end result of most of our power.
Bemused, I stared after them. "Goddess, is it too early to say that I kind of like those little shadow fiends?" I whispered.
Riley snorted, tilting his chin for us to walk and I followed him. "If only they swallowed up my uncle and your parents instead." His dark green brows drew in thoughtfully.
Watching the sauntering shadow fae with dreaded suspicion, I whispered from the corner of my mouth, "I have a feeling she planned it that way. She wants them alive for some reason."
From my periphery, Riley nodded, "Yes…except that shifter fae will suffer for it."
I glanced at him sharply. "What was that about Ri? How could he control her that way and why did we not stop it? Why did he say you both have the same power?"
The muscles of his face clenched, his jaw grinding hard. "Because it can't be stopped, if their control is broken then the poor girl will die. The general knew this." He paused, struggling to find words before blowing out a long sigh, "Xi…what you saw, it is a secondary power that everyone wields in my family line, including me."
Grabbing onto his shoulder, I spun him to face me, halting us in the middle of the street with the mocking sun highlighting the absolute horror on my face. "What? I thought he was just taunting you. What do you mean you wield the same power Ri? Please tell me you have never bound someone like that?"
He grimaced and I pushed him away from me in disgust, his large lithe body stumbling backwards, eyes flashing me a look of hurt. Heknewwhat this would do to me. I had lived too long under the cruel servitude of my own family. I shook my head vehemently. "No. Not you. You're not like them…tell me you’re not like them!" I shrieked.
Chapter 9
Flinching, the shrill pitchof her tone was worse than being pierced by an arrow. I had hoped, prayed even, that if I buried my terrible secret long enough it wouldn't be real and Xi would never have to know what I had done.
I stumbled on my words like a fool, watching a kaleidoscope of pain, shock, and rage morph across half of her revealed face. How could I possibly make her see…it was never a choice to have this terrible power. For the fae, the most powerful of them evolved, their traits transcending into something uniquely their own. It did not belong to a faction or a court or a people or even a goddess who created us. It was just ours. Unfortunately, mine was naught but a fucking curse, one I had to use to save her and damn us.
"Of course he isn't like them, Xi Chin." Remnant Dark interjected, mystically between us with raised brows, her hand set firmly on her hips, and the shadows swirling around her agitatedly, "Don't let your own fear tarnish what you two have.” Sighing she shook her head, “I am sure Riley has an explanation," she gave me a pointed look, "but it is one we must save for now, wereallyneed to go." Her eyes falling off us towards the river with lips pressed in a thin line.
Following her sight, I narrowed my eyes on the whirlpool churning in the river nearby, “Is that—?”
“The water fae are coming,” Remnant nodded, grabbing our arms and hurrying us along swiftly, away from the riverbend.
Xi scowled, snapping at the shadow fae, "Andwhatexactly are we walking into with such haste and since when is any fae fearful of the water fae?"
Unfazed, Remnant pursed her lips while a subtle breeze swirled her hair, pausing its cooling current to honor her—something I had never seen air do before unless manipulated by an elemental. Sweet goddess, Faerie gravitated towards this fae like she was its very heartbeat. "I believe the next beast of origin will be unleashed, that is what we are walking into—and only a fool would not be wary of the water fae, Xi Chin. Do I look like a fool to you?" she snapped.
"It’s still to be determined,” Xi snarled back and a smile twitched at the shadow fae’s lips from her sharp quip.
Seeing the truth shifting in the general’s emerald eyes, my brows raised, “You believe the twin seal has weakened already?"
“Yes, I do,” she muttered, head tilting towards a soft chirp on a low rooftop where a lone chickadee hopped along the edge, agitated and restless.
Xi refused to meet my wayward glance but I knew what she was thinking, that this shadow fae was crazy. Normally, I would have agreed but there was just something aboutthat bird…something that felt like we should listen.
Shaking my head to release the strange feeling, I sighed, "Lacail it is."
"I'll gather my things," Xi barked, stomping towards the direction of the tavern, and I knew it wasn’t just Remnant she wanted to escape from. Her fury towards me was palpable on the fucking air.
"No need and no time," Remnant said cheerily, but I did not miss the way she glanced at the water one more time. "I took the liberty of having the shadows gather your things."
My arms crossed in front of my chest and I smirked at the innocent expression on her face. "When exactly did you have time for that?"
The General shrugged. "This morning when you joined me for breakfast."
