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Sidelle
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Sidelle stood at the far end of the grand room, watching her king. Her nerves played at her confidence. She was excited to be here, to speak with him about Zoe, but her gut told her she had an uphill battle. He wasn’t going to be easy to convince.
King Oberon stood inside the private entrance of the room, his arms outstretched. On his head he wore the magnificent woven crown. “Ah, Sidelle,” he boomed. “Welcome back to Court! I hope you haven’t been waiting long. No? Good, good. Now come and tell me all that is happening on Earth.”
Sidelle bowed deeply. “Your Highness. I’m sorry to report that Earth has been on a downward slide for a long time now. People are still hurting each other, and wars are forever raging. The good news is I have reached a definitive conclusion: Zoe Jabril is the Redeemer foretold by the prophecy. She has displayed remarkable endurance, tolerance, and courage.”
She stepped closer to the elevated throne, in awe—as she always was—of the beautiful stone arches spanning the width of the room. Oberon moved so he could stand on the bottom marble step. His noble expression was drawn tight into a frown of concern.
“Tell me more.”
“Sammael is on the move. Two Knights followed Zoe into the Void last week, but Kieran was with her, as well as the Nephilim.”
“Nephilim?” He turned and climbed the four steps to sit on his throne.
“Yes. Shay came to her rescue. Both he and Kieran have been guarding her since birth. Two more Knights and four Marquises attacked her shortly after the first incident, and they would have killed her if I hadn’t intervened.”
Oberon nodded and folded his hands in his lap.
Sidelle continued. “There is more. Alpha Keegan of the Spiritus Pack has sent his Beta, Vash, to protect Zoe as well. It was good that the pack lives so close. Now they can help kill the Marquises.” Here came the difficult part: asking for help. “I am wondering, your highness, if there are other ways to protect Zoe. Do you think we should send more fairies?”
He motioned her to step closer. “Oh, my faithful daughter, you tell me much. And yet ask more from me.” He stood and embraced her.
She shook her head. “We’ll need to help to stop the Marqs, and Zoe needs round the clock protection.”
He held up one hand then swept his emerald green robes to the side with his other as he resumed his seat on the opulent wooden throne. “Let me think on all you have said.” He pursed his lips, considering. “I sent you to observe, which you have done. Now I must ask myself the question: Should I help the angels? Possibly. But what have they done for the fairies? Must our blood be shed in order for them to win the war?”
“But the Redeemer will unite the fairies and wolves with the angels. Only together will they be able to stop the disasters and save—”
He shook his head. “I need time to think on these questions. In the end, I will do what is needed and what is best for my fairies.” He smiled and clapped his hands once. “In the meantime, let’s celebrate your return. We’ll have a ball tonight in your honor!” The servants raced about the throne room, suddenly making preparations.
The Summer king shooed her away with his hands. “You are dismissed, Sidelle,” he said fondly.
A party was the last thing Sidelle wanted. She had no time or need for something so trivial. Sidelle longed to return to Zoe, to make sure she was protected and ready for battle. There was so much to do. She couldn’t imagine enjoying herself tonight. But she was in no position to argue with the king.
After the festivities concluded, Sidelle was summoned back to the throne room. King Oberon, now dressed more casually in tan breeches and a dark green tunic, motioned for her to step forward. She bowed and waited impatiently for his reply.
“Sidelle, I have thought on all you’ve told me, and the news is troubling to say the least. It has become apparent that Sammael plans to fight our world as well. His goal will be to create havoc among our fairies and those on Earth. If he prevails, what will become of Fairyland?” He cocked his head. “Will my fairies fade, or will they become servants to him? I would like to think I could be a servant, but alas, I don’t believe I am cut out for that role. I have been king far too long to bow to anyone. I would choose to fade along with the rest of my brethren.”
He regarded Sidelle through narrowed eyes. “I understand what’s at risk if Zoe does not live. You must bring her to me. I need to meet her before I can send fairies to aid her.” He paused. “Yes, bring her to me.” He tossed a golden sphere the size of a baseball to Sidelle, who caught it deftly in one hand. “Use this token so she may enter Fairyland unharmed. She will be my personal guest.”
Somehow Sidelle avoided rolling her eyes. Like Zoe’s gonna carry this around for however many days she’s in Fairyland.
“Make sure she keeps it on her at all times. Do not carry it for her.” The king nodded. “Lastly, I wish to inform you there is another way to kill most demons. I say this because I fear that if Zoe and her friends are triumphant in defeating the Marquises, Sammael will send the Prince. You’ll need all the help you can get while I gather forces and persuade Queen Mab to do the same.” He rose from his throne and approached Sidelle. “The Seraph Angels hold the Swords of Heaven. These swords are dipped in Glory. Any evil killed by it will die an unholy death. Demons are already living in Hell, so you might wonder what more they could endure, but trust me. There are far worse events than being dead.”
Oberon grabbed her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Sidelle, my daughter, you must find one of these swords if you hope to defeat the Prince.” He nodded, and thoughts drifted behind his eyes. “Go now, protect our future. I go to play politics in Court and prepare us for battle. I must journey to Winter to discuss these matters with Mab.”
Dismissed, Sidelle left in a daze. She walked to the outer edge of Summer Fairyland, lost in thought. A Sword of Heaven. We need to get one of those.
The sound of someone clearing their throat came from behind Sidelle. “I beg your pardon, Miss, but are you lost?”
She didn’t bother to turn around. “Nope, but you obviously are,” she snapped.
“You can’t still be mad at me. Come on, Sidelle. It’s been, what? A couple of centuries?”
“We’re fairies,” she said flatly, remembering the Changing of the Seasons Masked Ball three centuries before. It felt as if it had been just yesterday. “Time doesn’t mean anything. A few centuries or a thousand, what does it matter how long it’s been?”
“So you are still mad at me.”
She spun to face him. “What do you want, Finn?”
But seeing him took her back to the Exchange of the Septum. She’d been so eager to hand the Septum to Finn just so she could see him again. Now that he stood before her, her heart ached. He hadn’t changed at all.
“To apologize.”
“A little late for that, don’t you think?” She had waited for him at the Altar of Exchange for so long. For years, despite it being forbidden, they had been secretly seeing each other, and Queen Mab had chosen him to be the Winter Representative for that exchange. Sidelle turned and stalked away from him. “You think an apology is going to make it all right?”
“Probably not, but it would be a start if you were to take me back.”
Sidelle froze mid-step, then she whipped around to face him. “Why would I?” she hissed. “You used me, then you broke my heart!” She advanced, moving like a panther stalking her prey, forcing him to take a step back. “I found out later why you were late, you know. Oh yes, I know you were fraternizing with another fairy when you should have been at the Altar. You made a fool of me!” She jabbed her finger into his chest. “You two-timing jerk!”
His eyes dropped. “I was a fool.”
“No argument here. You still are!” She inhaled deeply then let out a slow breath. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
“Waiting for you. I heard you were back in Fairyland, and I wanted to see you.” He glanced to the side. “Also, Mab sent me.”
“What does she want?” She cocked her hip. “You out of the ice house with her then?”
“I guess so since she wants to know your report, hear how matters are going on Earth. And she wants to know what’s going on with the Ordinary you are watching.”
“Is that all? She sent you because she assumes you can get all the information then go running back to her, right? Like I’d do whatever you wanted.” She waved him away. “Well, that’s not going to happen, Finn. Why doesn’t she wait for Oberon? He’s on his way to see her anyway.”
“Sidelle, it’s not like that. She’s my Queen. I have to do her bidding just like you do Oberon’s. And with you and me? Come on. We both knew the risks. You’re a Summer Fairy and I’m from Winter. When Mab found out about us she went ballistic. I’m grateful I’m still in existence, to be honest. She kept threatening to freeze me.”
Sidelle crossed her arms. “At least Oberon doesn’t manipulate, like Mab does.”
“You should think twice on that, Delle.”
She caught her breath, furious. How dare he use that name. “Don’t—”
“I know. Don’t call you that.”
“Whatever. Just go. Leave me alone.” She attempted to walk away. “I need to get back to Zoe.”
“Then lead the way.”
She froze, suspicious. “What? You’re so not going with me!”
“Oh, yes. I am. Mab wants a full report, and I plan to give her thorough, firsthand knowledge. So lead on. I’m going whether you like it or not.”