| |
“OH, MUST I WEAR THIS ridiculous thing?” I stared at myself in the mirror. I wore a dark red, backless dress, the halter top pulling my cleavage up into my chin as it cradled the girls in an overly obvious way. Unable to wear a bra with it, my embarrassment was secured in a permanent nipple stand. I tried to slouch and hide in the miniscule folds made by the action, only to be smacked on my ass by my mother for it.
“You and your sister Marigold are being presented to the Leanan Sidhe and their accompanying troop tonight. They have come to assess Marigold’s prowess in earth magics. If she is deemed capable they will accept her into the Unseelie Court as a maiden of the hills. This is important, you know we, your father and I, have no union with the courts, so for you, our blessed and beautiful ones, it is fortunate to be chosen.”
“But must I show so much of me to them? This dress barely has a hemline to speak of, and look at how I am presented. I look slutty.”
“You look like the Fey you were raised as, but it’s time you begin to embrace your Dragon self as well.”
“What if I’m afraid?” I barely spoke the question, but it had to be asked.
“Fear will get you nowhere fast, child. You will be brilliant as a shining star and all will look upon you in fascination and awe. You are one of two Dragonborn within the realm of the Fey. That is reason enough to be celebrated.”
“I love you Mother.” I bent down and she put her forehead against mine with a short smile.
“Now, you will be presented tonight and you will stand proud. Understood?”
“Yes, Mother.”
A knock came to the door and Enrich slipped his auburn head inside. Looking over us with a sweep of his baby blue eyes, he smiled shortly. “Well, you look pretty good.”
“Thanks... I think,” I mumbled.
“Enrich, what have you come to your sister’s room for?” Mother asked, walking toward him.
“We have a visitor who’d like to address you and Father.”
“Really? Who would come so close to the feast?” She had a curious tone in her voice. “Come child.” She waved me on and I followed obediently.
We arrived in the receiving room to see Father serving a cup of tea to a very tall platinum blonde man. My hackles went up and the scales on my arm began to tingle to the surface as soon as I set eyes on him. I stopped, feeling as though he may be dangerous to us. I grabbed Mother by the arm, gently pulling her back.
“Stop child,” she insisted, pulling away. “Your Majesty.” She curtsied.
His attention was pulled to us, and he set violet eyes upon my lowered mother. “You needn’t bow; I am not your King after all.”
“It is customary to bow to any King, especially if he has designs to arrange a match within the family.”
My heart tightened. This was the Vampire King, Lord Teague. Father to the one they intended to marry my sister off to, no wonder I thought him a threat.
“Yes, it is about that for which I am here.” He sighed, looking me up and down. “You have a second Dragonborn in the house?”
“Yes, Aella is our eldest adoptive daughter. You have come to see Marigold, however.” Kiva, our father added as King Teague approached me.
“You are not branded yet?” He walked around me, inspecting me with his intense eyes. I wanted to fold into myself, and I could feel the itch in my back. I closed my eyes, remembering the damage I had done on the plane, and took several deep breaths before I answered.
“No, Sire. I have not chosen a master or mistress, yet.”
He came around to my face again and stared into me. “And why not? You are young and strong, now would be ideal.”
“I-” I felt as though I had to tell him the truth, my throat burned with the lie I’d been keeping. “I do not want a master.” It was barely audible, but there it was, my truth. I was a Dragon who wanted nothing of her magics.
“You’d deny yourself to keep yourself?” He smiled, gently touching my back. “Your secrets are safe by me, child,” he whispered, and the sensation that he had grasped my lance ran down my spine.
I gasped, arching toward him, but he steadied me with a hand to my abdomen. “There are always ways to have both.” He kissed my cheek tenderly, releasing me.
I leaned back on my heels to regain my focus, as he turned back to my parents. “There will be no marriage,” he announced solemnly. “I had hoped to arrange it better, but I understand that the girl is to be given to the Unseelie tonight.”
“That had always been the plan for her, your Majesty. We never denied it.” Father retorted, a fist clenching in anger, which King Teague easily saw, but seemed to ignore.
“Fetch me the girl,” he demanded, looking to my brothers. They nodded, bowing out of the room, as Mother stood by and watched at a distance.
“What? Stop pushing!” I could hear Mary as she was being dragged down the hallway. “I’ll come, just tell me what-” She shut up, seeing the King. “Wh-Who are you?”
“This is Lord Teague, High King to the Vampire clans.” Our father pulled her to them. “My Lord, this is our daughter Marigold, Slighfodt.
She stood stiffly, her eyes lowered as he tilted down toward her. His height making him easily the largest in the room, next to me. Even my brothers weren’t quite six feet. This man, this beast was well over that. He lifted her face by the chin, looking deeply into her eyes with a nod.
“She is lovely, to be sure, but my son has gone and blooded his soul mate. They are to be joined in marriage and immortal life.”
“I- I’m not to marry your son?” A smile teased at her lips even as she tried to hide it.
“Something tells me you don’t rightly care child. Tell me true, were you looking forward to marrying at such a tender age?”
“No Sir!” She almost shouted, then covered her mouth, she couldn’t help her enthusiasm, making our parents frown.
“Then I have not slighted you, in coming here to tell you this?”
“No, Sire.” She smiled. “You have saved me today!” She hugged him and he laughed, letting her have the embrace. “I- Oh, I’m sorry. I hope I do not offend you in not wanting your son either.”
“It is no offense, you are young, you are spirited, you are beautiful. The Leanan Sidhe will be most fortunate to have you. Your sister, on the other hand, I think she may have another path to follow.” He looked to me and I could feel his hands on me again, making me shudder as he nodded.
“I will be at the festivities; I do hope you lovely ladies will indulge me in a dance. That includes you Jessamine.”
My mother wrapped her arm around Father. “I don’t see why not. You’ve made a happy girl of our daughter after all.”
“I’ve a car full of savory butters and heavy cream outside for you and your family. I do hope it will help to ease your burdens.” With a bow to us, the King made his leave, so that we could finish preparing for the Great Feast.
***
I WAS ESCORTED BY ADRIAN into the Great Hall of Festivities, and Mary was escorted by Enrich as was the custom of the Fey. Like always attracted like and if it had not been for the fortune that we had been raised as siblings, they would have paired Adrian and I off long ago, but with my status as a Half-blood still being whispered, they had stayed with caution and kept us in our places. I was glad for it. I loved Adrian as a brother, I could never imagine taking him to my bed, although I often wonder if he feels the same.
The High Court rarely attended these things, but tonight was different. The Leanan Sidhe were High Officials of the Unseelie Court. They were the Faery Mistresses, to men. Giving them inspiration even as they absorbed the very life of them. Those chosen to their beds became great men, but lived only a handful of years within their passionate possession. It was this darker side to these women that made them members of the Unseelie. The malevolence of the feeding ritual, and the presence of death around them, called them to the Winter Court.
She was here to see Mary, as she had been exhibiting the behavior of her kind. Mary’s song and spirit called to men and held sway over them.
Mary held my hand as we looked around. “Where are Mother and Father?” she questioned, alarm filling her voice.
“I don’t know, but we must keep our heads up and act accordingly.”
She squeezed my hand as Enrich pulled her toward a group of people dressed in deep rich red. Very similar in color to my dress, I noted. They looked past her, to me. The tallest of them leaned into one of the surrounding members to whisper. A nod came in response and the group parted themselves before the pair.
“Adrian? Who is that?” I nodded toward them as they approached. The smaller one dropping her hood to reveal long blonde hair and pale blue green eyes.
“That is Collette Wourdwize Athame, daughter to the Muses. They say she is here with the Leanan Sidhe as a favor. She actually lives just outside Boston.”
“Really? She’s so pretty.” I suddenly felt insecure in my nothing of a gown as she smiled up at me. Her companion lowered his hood and pushed back his dirty blonde hair, a smirk now on his face as well.
“You are the Dragonborn’s, yes?” Collette asked, staring up at me.
Adrian bowed, pulling me down with him. “We are, my Lady Athame.”
“Your Lady? Did you hear that Greisen? He called me his Lady.” She smirked as I looked up at her and at the man with her. I righted myself. They couldn’t be much older than I was. At least not from the looks of them.
“I did hear it, my pet.” The one called Greisen wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into him. “A little birdie also told me that this one is headed for Grigori soon.”
I shifted in my space, they knew far too much about me already. I didn’t like it. I wanted to get as far from them as possible.
“Now, now.” Collette slipped her arm through mine. “You can’t just run off! I’m in charge of the freshman Deviant Class, if you are going to join us, you’ll need a friend like me... Like us.”
Greisen had sidled up to my other side, effectively separating me from my brother. I looked at him desperately, but he shrugged, waving me off and heading for the stage where I finally spied not only my parents but also King Teague. I could hear my sister as she was made to sing.
“I must go and pay my respects to the Lord and Lady.” I tried to pull from them, but Collette squeezed my hand and I suddenly felt more at ease. What was she doing to me? I wondered and where were they leading me?
“Oh you are going to, but not just yet. We want a chance to get to know you better.”
“Um... Okay.”
“Collette, here, is a daughter to the Muses. She’s quite the fetching prize at Grigori, but she’s all mine.” Greisen purred. “You will be much sought after, I should think.”
The way he looked me over made my skin twitch, as Collette stroked my arm.
“Oh! How pretty!” she chimed, looking at my arm. My scales had begun to rise.
I grabbed my arm, embarrassed, trying to rub them back. “I’m sorry, this happens when I’m nervous.”
“Do we make you nervous?” She smiled, fingering my scales. My eyes rolled up into my head at the light sensation. “We would just like you to play with us a bit.”
I pulled away. “I-”
“Collette?” Her name was called and she darted her head backward. I tried to see who spoke, but they were already steering me toward the stage.
“Apparently it will have to wait, they want you.” Collette sounded disappointed as she stood by me at the foot of the steps to the thrones. The Lord Oberon and Lady Tatiana looked down at me in fascination. Neither said a word to me, but the Lady leaned into her husband and whispered something. I strained to hear, catching the words wings and form.
I stiffened, what were they intending to do to me? I felt Collette’s hand tighten around my arm. “Just be your truest self,” she whispered, leaving me alone once more.
I stood with all of the Court’s eyes on me, and I could feel the sweat as it pooled between my breasts. My truest self. If only I knew who that was. I tried to stand tall and not fidget, but it was becoming increasingly harder the longer I stood there. From the right of them stood a slender waif of a woman. She was gorgeous, with long flowing black and red hair that hung in curls to her waist, her deep tawny complexion highlighted by amethyst eyes that sparkled as she took a step toward me. To those in observance, she seemed not to speak at all. Her lips never moved but I could hear her loud and clear.
“You are Aella Rhonwena, Bearer of the Lance of the Sidhe?”
I stared blankly at her. “How?” I gulped the word down.
She laughed. “I am a Fey of the shadows, my lovely girl. I see that which is in between and that which is hidden. I have known, since you were dropped on that doorstep, you would carry that weapon. Your last name means Holy lance, girl.”
“Why did no one say anything?” Tears started to well in my eyes, as I whispered my plea.
“It was not my secret to tell.” She put out her hand to me, tracing the lines of my shoulder with talon length nails. “I thought you would have made a decision about your place with us by now. Yet it looks as though you have other machinations.” Her nails made my skin itch, as she went behind me, following the shape of my shoulder blades, up into my hairline. She pushed me to the ground.
“This one is riper than many I have seen...” Her voice rose over the clamor of the now whispering crowd. “While her sister is quite the specimen and will do well in our ranks, this one has yet to make her decisions. Perhaps we may press her further?”
Much like King Teague had done, I felt her fingers zing the handle of my lance. Only this time it sent a sharp pain through me. Instinctively, I let out a snarl and she laughed, coming down low to my ear. “If I yank it out it will bleed much more profusely, as it is not mine to wield. Perhaps you should unsheathe yourself?”
“No,” I whimpered as she put her knee into my back. I panicked as I felt the lance begin to slide, I thought of my wings, needing to be protected. The burn in my back returned and I screamed as they unfolded, tearing out my back and destroying my dress. My scales began to cover my aching body and my scream burned in my throat, replaced by a low and guttural hiss. I lifted my head, realizing it was much higher than I had ever stood. Cries filled my ears as I swung to the left of the thrones. Seeing in the mirror the horror that they fled.
I had unfurled my Dragon. I stood as tall as the vaulted ceiling, my body long and lean, the muscles of my legs covered in deep purple and black scales, trimmed in lines of gold. I tried to speak, but when I did, I spit a ball of acid from my throat. It slammed past the now empty thrones, dissolving the heavy curtains and crumbling the stone wall behind them. The woman who had pushed me to this laughed at me as my fear increased.
“Such a beautiful creature you are!” She held out her hands to me and I spun, my wings catching her in the face. She howled in pain as I cut her deeply, a satisfaction filling me as I smelled the Fey blood that began to flow. I turned toward her, a hunger I had never felt filling my belly. She was going down, and I was going to be the one to do it.
“Enough if this!” a booming voice demanded. I craned my long neck, seeing King Oberon as he wielded his willow staff, pointing it at me. “No more child!” he commanded, and I could feel my limbs grow heavy, my body beginning to twist and bend. I fought to keep my senses, but the pain was too much and I passed out.