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“Morgan?” Áine’s voice came from the front door after hearing it open. Oona didn’t even flick an ear, knowing full well when we were in danger. She remained in her den, shaped by her circling, not far from where I was at the kitchen table. Though I’d decided to stay and had seen them every day since, the group weren’t staying at the house and usually left by the evening. When I was exploring the town, I often saw at least one of them around too.
They seemed particularly interested in the door I had assumed led to the garage, the same one the light had come from the day the shadow attacked. I hadn’t tried to open it yet but none of them had stopped me examining my father’s books in the meanwhile either. He hadn’t lacked possessions, and I found that the homely features in each room were far more than a lifetime’s collection of antique furniture. The furniture had been handcrafted and carefully looked after, delicately created porcelain hidden away behind glass, looking down upon me, faded photo frames on the sides and forgotten letters in piles on tables. Though the more frequented rooms had been reasonably well kept, the other spaces around the bedroom, kitchen, and office held boxes of even older clothes, books, and even weapons. Eoghan said that they’d been my grandfather’s— what else used to belong to other members of my family here?
“In the kitchen,” I said louder than usual. I made no attempt to move the photo albums and letters I had been studying on the table. Urien may have eyed them before, implying the importance of reporting whatever was found, but Áine had been quick to shush him. When she spoke about their way of governing and running their little group, I wondered if our systems seemed as fragmentary. Although everyone who associated with the court reported to the Seelie Council, smaller communities ran themselves where only the basics like food, shelter, defence, and Pacts were managed in the city, Falias. By the sounds of it, the council members who oversaw these main areas directed their recent evacuation. There was a noble family, who always had a member in the council, though Drust said they acted more like a figurehead now.
It was the council we had been waiting to hear from.
“They’ve arrived.” Before she noticed what was laid out in front of me, Áine appeared in the hallway. She walked over and stood at my shoulder to have a look.
“All of them?” I asked.
“Oh... no, my darling, most of them stay at camp for their own safety, but Belenus, Master of Accords, and Agrona, Master of Alliance, would like to meet you before settling their decision.” She tilted one of the letters her way, one of the ones I couldn’t read, written in that curving, embellished language. I recognised the letters now but still had no point of reference. In whispered tones, Áine had given me the essence of some of the records one afternoon; descriptions of places travelled and who had gone with him. Only Drust had walked in, looked at us with equal scrutiny, before striding right back out the way he’d come.
“Can Eoghan be there?” From what I’d gathered, he’d been outside the Seelie circle for some time, and I hoped he would tell me if they were hiding anything. I felt like he might act in my father’s best interests, but I didn’t know if my father’s interests lined up with my own.
Áine continued reading for a moment longer before looking back to me, a tilt in her expression, “We can ask... but when Mr Wilkins left, there was some controversy. Honestly, I was surprised he’d been living so close to the gate, but unfortunately that might work against him too.”
“Wouldn’t it only be fair to at least let him know what’s going on?”
She nodded. “He knows. Agrona said he’d contacted them as well. From what I heard, it was more out of concern for you. Urien said he wanted to know what they were going to do to protect you.” Then, tapping the letter still laid next to her outreached hand, she lowered her tone into mischief. “This is cute. Your father was writing love notes to your mother, this must be one of his drafts.”
She didn’t realise the impact her last comment had on me as she curiously lifted one bit of paper and then another. In a small gesture of friendly sharing, I suddenly knew my father was on my side, and his concern came through Eoghan, just like his love was recorded in his handwriting here. My father still cared for my mother, and he’d wanted to keep us safe. All at once, I felt his personality in the house around me and in his words before me. His presence echoed through his relationship with Eoghan.
“I might ask him anyway”—I swallowed and shrugged in an exaggerated gesture—“How am I supposed to know what your customs are?”
––––––––
When Eoghan and I joined the group at the kitchen table, Áine broke the silence by introducing me to the council members. Closest to the hall sat a stern-looking woman, unruly wisps of grey escaped the bun her coarse hair was pulled into. The lines around her black eyes revealed the depth of either the anger or laughter she’d felt throughout her life. Further in, a man with tawny skin wrote a few notes whilst they addressed the other man leaning on his stick. Eoghan reclined against the door to the garden, but he looked almost as uneasy as I was.
“Eoghan is a friend, and I’d prefer to have him here to support me.” I leant on the nearby worktop, Áine stood on the other side of the peninsular, Drust and the rest of the group were at the table with our guests. Oona appeared to support my decision and padded from her spot in the hallway to stand in the doorway too. The note-taker smiled gently, his hooded eyes crinkling, whilst the woman raised an eyebrow. I wondered if they would be just as divided on other decisions and if that was why they were here.
The one who’d smiled, nodded, “This is your home. As far as I’m aware, the terms of Mr Wilkins’ Pact prevented his return to Falias only. You look well, Eoghan.”
“Belenus,” Eoghan replied, tilting his head. “I was sorry to hear about the situation T’sol imposed on the good people of Falias.”
The other council member interjected. I assumed she was Agrona. “I’m afraid the council hasn’t even begun to discuss how this affects your Pact, Eoghan, though we cannot yet say for certain who’s involved. Something must have corrupted him.”
“I understand, friends. I’d be quite happy to live the rest of my days here. Regardless, I believe we’re here to discuss the situation the Unseelie have put Miss Woods in.”
“Quite right,” Belenus said as he looked back to me curiously. There was no malice in his tone. “We understand you’ve had experiences with the shadow that’s attacking our gates. Have you always had the sight?”
I wondered suddenly if I would have been more comfortable on my own. Childhood memories crawled down my spine, memories that I wished would stay buried, memories that made me shiver. I looked to Eoghan and Oona, then looked back, attempting to steel my expression.
“No, I haven’t seen other creatures for what they were until recently.”
Áine tilted towards me in an advisory manner and quickly whispered, “The term race is more acceptable.”
“Our people are not animals,” Agrona said, her posture just as tense as mine.
My face felt hot and cold at the same time, caught between regret and shame. I stood a little firmer, willing my nerve not to abandon me. “I meant no offence. I’m sorry— race. I’m still learning, and this is all still new to me.” Then, swallowing, careful with the words I chose next, I said, “But I’ve seen the shadow before, though it never chased me like it did with Áine and Drust and the others.”
The group’s focus went from Belenus to Agrona to me. Drust’s expression walled off again, focusing on me like he had in the cafe, eyebrows furrowed.
Urien quickly said, “Masters, I would have assuredly passed this information along had we been aware.”
I nearly retreated to Áine again, fearing that I’d made another misstep when Drust spoke above Urien’s muttering. “How long ago was that?”
Belenus raised his hand slightly to Urien as their attention turned back to me. It occurred to me that I could try to look as if I was thinking about it, but it was seared into my pathways. “Nearly fifteen years ago.”
They looked to each other again, and something passed around the kitchen.
“What does that mean?” I followed their glances until Áine asked from behind me.
“Decision to let this poor girl in on what we know, please?”
The council members considered each of us. Belenus spoke first. “If she supports us, she’ll learn eventually anyway.”
“And if she supports them, we know she isn’t bringing them any new information.” Agrona nodded. “Continue.”
I turned, resting my arm on the worktop between us. I could feel my blood dance against the chill surface, how could there be more to learn? My neck prickled with everyone’s attention.
“There are other realms, like I mentioned before. The gates, like the one your family keeps, are a means to these places. Due to its position in relation to yours, the time in our world normally appears slower in comparison to this world. From our world, your lives pass very quickly— nearly seven times faster. Does that make sense?”
I tried to connect the fragments I’d collected. “So... what happened just over two years ago in your world?”
Her eyes flicked back to the others behind me briefly, as if checking her permission hadn’t been revoked. “It could all just be a coincidence, remember, but... it’s about the time a member of our prime family was murdered. It was devastating to our whole city. It meant the Unseelie were declaring war. And now maybe that’s a little more proof that there’s a larger plan.”
I couldn’t help but feel ignorant, unknowing, about how many people were suffering beyond my scope. Was this a cause that I could forgive my father for? “That’s why you had to evacuate.”
She nodded. “Many sought refuge then. The Unseelie seized a lot of towns at the same time but we stood at Falias, the prime daughters have been strong. When T’sol, their brother, claimed an authoritarian position about a month ago, the Unseelie rose up again. The lucky among us were able to seek shelter in some ancient refuge camps, we joined those who fled first.”
Agrona tapped her bony fingers, turning to Drust. “What does this actually mean? How is the death of the prime father implicated?”
His normally stoic composure dropped just a second, uncertain, before Eoghan cleared his throat. “There is wisdom that says a terrible act releases its own darkness, though I’m sure we never recognised it would be so literal.”
“Whatever it is”—Drust picked up, glancing at me—“its interest is in the old power: the gates, the gatekeepers. If T’sol’s actions created this shadow, this may have all been planned. Why is it only attacking now?”
“And what do the Unseelie want with that energy?” Freda said.
“If I have this ancient, mystical gift,” I said, “why wouldn’t they take it from me when I was younger?”
“It’s not that black and white.” Drust shook his head. “I’ll bet you’ve never had the reaction you had when it attacked the house here either? Your connection with the gates goes back through your blood to the very first keepers. Our people were driven out of this world, and the connection your family wields is part of what saved us.” I saw his focus shift inward as his ideas took priority. “What’s strange... is the strength of your connection despite your heritage. There might be a possibility that you have someone quite powerful on your mother’s side too.”
A side of me recognised how little I knew about my lineage, whilst the other turned away. I glanced around the group, but they only waited, half expecting me to know who he meant.
“I think one family mystery at a time is enough,” I mumbled.
Eoghan cleared his throat and, likely aware of how I felt about the secrets that I was only just discovering, turned the focus back to the matter at hand. “The Unseelie can do a lot if they have a supply of old energy. I am aware this could be sensitive too, but are we allowed to know what else happened? Two full council members meeting a dormant gatekeeper... Falias was defensible. Something else happened, didn’t it?”
Agrona and Belenus looked at each other, I wondered if there were certain topics they had discussed before coming. Had the council met before they left to meet me?
Belenus rested back, balancing his gaze between Eoghan and me, “By all accounts of those who managed to cross back over, the time rift closed behind them, travel between realms is no longer possible. Reports say it was approximately one to two weeks ago, which lines up with the attacks.” I watched as Agrona studied Eoghan, it seemed like if she never saw him again, it would have been too soon. His furrowed brow deepened, accompanying the murmur that echoed around the kitchen; I would have been convinced if I had been the one suspicious of him.
“They could be evening the advantages?” Freda interrupted the pause, her body tilted in the direction of the door, like Oona when she didn’t fully settle. “They’d be aware that the Seelie, as a court, would have more time to plan their counter on this world?”
Belenus nodded slowly when Drust added, “But how? We haven’t been able to do something like that for generations.”
In raising his palm a fraction, Eoghan dispersed whatever suspicion Agrona was nursing. “You might have to entertain the possibility that the Unseelie have part of the Stone of Fál.” I watched as tension darted between Freda and Urien, I heard Áine inhale behind me. I felt like the rapt audience, even while the rock in my stomach reminded me that this was happening to people they knew. “When the original gatekeepers split our world off, that was what they used— that stone could change our fate.”
I was only just wading through what I’d understood when Agrona ended the discussion. Leaning forward, she must’ve thought it was important enough to end Eoghan’s idea there as she said, “These ideas would be best discussed with the rest of the council, I think. Whilst I’m sure Miss Woods could benefit from building her knowledge, there is a risk that the shadow’s interest in her could lead it back to our camp.” Drust caught my look with his own, I hoped for any other little comment and more insight. He raised an eyebrow when I didn’t trust myself to say anything as I waited. I could be left to the wolves just as easily as I’d given away my ignorance.
“On the contrary,” Belenus responded, “if the shadow, and by extension the Unseelie, are interested in her, it would be in our interests to protect her as much as we can.”
“Another point, Masters, if you’ll permit me?” Drust said. “With her, we also might have a chance to learn more about what the Unseelie are planning by how they react.”
“And how would we know what is normal and what is different?” Agrona barked. I was surprised at her venom, but Drust ignored it, even as his jaw tightened.
“The shadow might attack this area less too,” Áine said abruptly, “and it only seems logical that it would be more persistent if it’s after both Morgan and the gate.”
Eyes no longer conversed across the room, and everyone waited for Agrona’s acceptance. “Fine,” she finally muttered. “Urien? Arrange a backup team to secure this site. Áine and Drust can escort Miss Woods if they’re so sure about her. Freda, hold the area with Urien until support arrives.”
The council members didn't stay long after a decision had been made. I watched as Urien and Áine waited to speak to them, heading into different corners of the house. Drust looked at me again from the table, and I suddenly wasn't sure what had been agreed upon. A sour taste crept up the back of my throat as if the shadows had found their way in without me noticing.
"Morgan?" Eoghan said from the doorway. I pushed away from the counter, attempting to remain casual to the raised eyebrow that I knew watched from the table, and followed towards my father's study where Eoghan stood. Oona was already back in front of the door that led to the gate, primly resting her head on her front paws. Her eyes flicked between us and the rest of the group.
"I know it’s probably difficult to know what to do," Eoghan's voice was gravelly with concern, "but there are things to be aware of with the Seelie as well as the Unseelie. They may have lost their records for the time being, but their society still runs on agreements and Pacts. I want you to be aware of the full details if you’re asked to agree to anything." I knew he only meant to prepare me, however the depth of what I didn't know yawned beneath me. Their ways were utterly new. I had hoped the truth that I'd come looking for would prepare me further for a life I wanted, instead, I felt like I had simply jumped from one set of jaws to another.
"Eoghan, how am I supposed to help? What are they going to want me to do? I don't know anything about all this." My throat began to close as he lowered his voice further.
"As far as I'm aware, neither do they. They've been forced into an awful situation. The son of the prime family was corrupted a long time ago, and the Unseelie are obviously manoeuvring. When I left after his turn, they thought I was involved too, but it’s been long enough for me to know they only acted on the information they had at the time. What’s odd is that, historically, there’s normally far longer between wars. The prime son’s turning must have rallied them together much quicker." He looked older than he had when we'd first met, the bags under his eyes darker. "They'll be trying to work out their next steps to take back their city, their heritage, but they can't do that without knowing what the Unseelie are planning."
“And I’m part of what the Unseelie are planning?” I didn’t recognise my voice.
“They have found a way to summon this dark Aspect, so it must be in their interests to do so. The question now is what they want with the type of energy you can harness. You will be looked after with the Seelie, they’ll prepare you, but you are involving yourself. You will have chosen who to follow, as it were.” He waited for my response but all I could think about was how different it was to anything I’d expected. I was reminded of Drust’s question and as I remembered the moment, my heart stuttered. Even if I had waited, if I would have still come seeking, what difference did it make?
“This is what killed him, Morgan. Your father? In amongst all this, your father was helping with the evacuations and one day... just didn’t come back. I often wonder how many lives he was able to save. It was an honour to have known him, really, to be able to call him a friend.” His tone was filled with the same warmth his look had.
I stared at an old photo of Mum and me that was on the desk. “Was all this the real reason Mum left with me?”
He shrugged slowly, “I can’t say for certain, but I suspect so. The Unseelie had a major setback just before all this started, it made sense that they were going to take action again soon, and your father knew that. You learn to keep tabs on things like that, even being courtless.”
I heard him respond but it felt like I wasn’t registering anything he was saying. I had come this far already though.
“I understand,” I said. “I was the one who came looking, I want to know.”