Page 69 of Outcast Fae
It led to a long tunnel also made of metal. There were no windows, just corrugated metal in the shape of a long tube. I had a feeling we were inside some sort of entranceway that led from the outside into the interior of the dome. I was disappointed. It didn’t seem like we were going to be allowed to see much.
Chilly artificial air blew through the passage as we followed Horace while the second guard brought up the rear. When we reached the end of the tunnel, Horace opened another metal door and led us into an identical shed like the one we’d left behind.
“Now, we’re inside the dome,” Horace said with a know-it-all smile. “From here, Emmitt,” he gestured toward the other guard, “will take you to yourreward.”
Though no more words came out of Horace’s mouth, his lips continued moving. I stared at them with a frown, trying to decide if he was saying something or just murmuring nonsense to himself. I had no idea.
Next to me, however, Vaughn lowered his head as if in acknowledgment, then lightly squeezed my hand. His hearing was extremely sensitive from what I had learned by being around him. Something had passed between them. They were communicating just as Vaughn had said, which meant Emmitt must be a Regular.
Horace opened the second metal door in the small compartment and gestured for us to exit. We did while Emmitt made a show of holding his rifle tighter. We exited into a large, open space. The ceiling soared high above our heads and our boots echoed around the vast space as we walked. About ten rugged-looking vehicles were parked in neat rows in what must be their garage. My eyes roved around, taking in every detail and so did Vaughn’s. Maybe we could use one of those massive vehicles for escape, though I was getting ahead of myself.
Emmitt grunted, waved his rifle left and directed us toward an open door. He gestured us through but didn’t enter, locking the door behind us as we examined this new space. A much larger room spread out before my eyes, about the size of one of the Academy’s larger classrooms, though this one seemed to be where we would receive our meal.
What drew my attention the most were the images playing on the ceiling and walls. We were totally surrounded by what must be television screens playing a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of a beautiful fae forest.
Giant trees teeming with bright green leaves. Emerald grass. Flowers of indescribable colors that I hadn’t seen since coming to these human lands. A gurgling brook of turquoise water that foamed as it splashed against moss-covered rocks.
The sound of bird songs issued from unseen speakers and the scent of fresh loam filled my lungs, completing the heartbreaking illusion.
So beautiful, yet so fake.
Tears welled in the back of my eyes as my knees trembled. Homesickness flooded my body, nearly bringing me to my knees. These were cruel images to display in front of any fae. As if sensing my distress, Vaughn stepped closer and squeezed my hand in reassurance once more.
I swallowed thickly, tearing my eyes away from the painful scene. Vaughn leaned closer still, bringing his mouth to my ear. “It’s okay, Tally,” he said, then in a much lower voice, “Don’t drink anything, just follow my lead. Youmustdo as I do.”
My chest tightened at the warning. This must’ve been what Horace told him. Trying to act casually, I allowed myself to take in the rest of the room.
A twenty-foot long table dominated the center of the room. It was topped with as many delicacies as one could find at a fae party. Bread, fruit, vegetables, cheeses, meats—more food than Vaughn and I, and all of our friends on the island could eat in a week.
A pang of guilt assaulted me. This was what we had won while our friends back at the camp ate nasty MREs and Chan got nothing but a silent grave.
Vaughn let go of my hand to walk around the table. He regarded the food distrustfully as he glanced in the direction of a double door at the end of the room.
“We celebrate… alone?” I said doubtfully. For some reason, I had thought that Meadow Song would be here, but I guess that, like Silver Bear, she had other things to do.
Vaughn walked the length of the table, sliding a finger across the surface. “I don’t think so,” he said when he reached the end, where there were three chairs—one at the head of the table and two more to its right and left—each one with a dinner setting.
Who could it be for?
We had waited for about five minutes in silence, without touching any of the food or drink, even as our stomachs rumbled, when the double doors opened and a woman in a sharp black dress walked into the room. She was tall and slender with blond hair and blue eyes. Her lips were bright red and matched her painted fingertips. An air of confidence seemed to engulf her. After all the drab military uniforms, she seemed totally out of place.
Vaughn blinked and did a double-take. I wondered if she was a Super, but something told me she was just a regular human.
“Sorry, I am late,” she said. “My work kept me longer than I intended it to.” She smiled, showing perfectly white teeth, pulled out the chair at the head of the table, and sat. Still flashing her teeth, she gestured toward the other two chairs.
Vaughn and I exchanged wary glances but took our seats without a word.
“Tallyndra, though you go by Tally, and Vaughn, correct?” she asked, glancing from me to Vaughn in turn.
Neither of us responded.
Undeterred by our silence, the woman picked up a white napkin from her plate, shook it open, and laid it on her lap. “My name is Adaline Habermann. I run this high-security prison as well as New Starts. It’s very nice to meet you.”
She picked up a little bell that lay next to her plate and rang it, releasing a gentle tinkling sound into the air. A servant came in with a tray. He ladled out steaming red soup and poured red wine into glasses.
“Magic can be so convenient, but we rarely use it in here. I prefer servants.” She wrinkled her nose slightly as if magicandservants were a necessary evil. It was an odd comment to make at the moment, and it made me think she was still stuck in a previous conversation with someone else. She picked up her spoon. “I hope you enjoy your reward. In the past, few have been able to beat that clever obstacle. My brother designed it,” she added proudly. “He is a veritable genius.”
“And a murderer,” Vaughn added as the woman raised the spoon toward her lips.
