Page 5 of Outcast Fae
Meadow Song twiddled her fingers and the magic that held me let go. I flexed my muscles, reveling in my ability to move once more. My wings stirred a little at my back, longing for flight. The thought of escape flitted momentarily in my mind, but there were four Supernatural adults surrounding us. I wouldn’t get three feet without being frozen again, just like arguing with them wasn’t getting me anywhere either.
“This way,” Silver Bear said, gesturing toward the door in the back of the room. A warm smile peeked out behind his bristly gray beard, but I didn’t trust it. Something hid behind that smile and welcoming energy.
None of what they said added up. I hadn’t committed any crime. I’d spent the last several months on the Supernatural Academy grounds, tending to the needs of a dozen orphaned children. I’d made meals, broken up disputes, and patched wounds that wouldn’t seem to heal. I hadn’t had a moment to rest, much less commit a crime. So why was I here?
Knowing there was no other alternative but to obey, we stood and walked toward the door they magicked open for us.
We stepped out of the office into a larger room. My heart leaped as I spotted someone running at us with a large object raised over their head as a weapon.
Instincts kicking in, I ducked. A chair sailed over my head and struck Silver Bear in the chest. Silver Bearoomphed, doubling over.
A teenage male with a fin of red hair that stood as high as my hand howled and kept running after his unexpected attack. He was trying to make a break for it. Maybe in the chaos, I could do the same.
A flicker of hope flared in my heart, but it was quickly extinguished when, beside me, Silver Bear began to change.
The old man rose up. At first, I thought he was just standing upright, but he continued past his full height, going two, three, four feet above his original height. His body filled out and his arms extended. Sharp claws grew from his fingertips as his clothes tore into strips and fell to the ground. White fur sprouted from his skin until he was completely covered with it. Finally, his face morphed from man to bear, sharp yellow canines and all.
He opened his maw and gave a terrible roar that shook the room.
The teenager who had been trying to rush past him froze, his eyes as wide as saucers. All the fight drained out of him as did all the color in his face. He turned tail and ran, skidding to the back of the room and hiding behind another boy who’d lurched up from a folding chair. This blond boy seemed more clean-cut and was dressed in nicer clothes. His eyes darted around, while a third person, a girl with dark hair and glasses cried into her hands. She shook uncontrollably as the bear gave another roar.
“I suggest you all sit your asses down,” Karen said dryly. “Unless you want to be Silver Bear’s breakfast.” She glanced over her shoulder at the massive bear before smirking. “I hear he likes the taste of human flesh, but, then again, that might just be a rumor.” She winked, then flicked her spent cigarette towards a dusty corner.
We all rushed to the remaining folding chairs in the middle of the room while the bear growled and looked on.
“Good,” Karen said after we’d all been seated. “Now, let's go over the goddamned rules.”
Chapter Three
“Now that we’re all here,”Meadow Song said pleasantly. “We’ll go over the rules.”
The young male who had slammed the chair against Silver Bear’s chest grumbled and made a disgruntled noise. He was named Wallace. He sat across from me, one of the fourcampmateswho occupied folding chairs arranged in a circle inside a room of bare walls, unnaturally bright floors, and little else.
Silver Bear and Meadow Song were part of the circle while Karen and Alonzo stood flanking the door through which we had entered—the only exit since the space had no windows. It was agòrakbox in here, and I was starting to feel very claustrophobic.
Moments ago—with Silver Bear still in his animal shape standing behind her— Karen had instructed us to sit so we could go over the rules of the camp. We’d done as she instructed, eyeing the huge bear warily, however, instead of telling us the rules or why we were here, Meadow Song had taken over, indicating that introductions were in order.
What was this? Some kind of campground party for young Supernaturals? Would there be other fae here?
A pang of nostalgia assaulted me, remembering the nights I’d spent in Alanthyl, laughing over a fire with my friends.
Gods, I missed home.
I hated the pain of those memories, the anger it made me feel toward humankind—every single one of them, even if only one of their ilk was responsible for the destruction of my realm.
“First,” Meadow Song began, “we want to make sure you are very clear on what you can and cannot do here since there are penalties for disobeying.”
Eyes darted around the circle. I’m sure everyone was wondering what the penalties for breaking the rules were, but Meadow Song did not elaborate.
“Rule number one: the group should stay together unless given permission by New Starts staff.”
Stuck with these people? That already felt like a problem.
“Rule number two,” she said, “you should respect all members of the New Starts staff and follow their direction.” She looked directly at Wallace. He rolled his eyes but remained silent.
“Rule number three: you are not,under any circumstances, allowed to go toward the north end of the facility.”
Vaughn’s eyes narrowed at this. It made me wonder, too, what was on the north end of the facility?
