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AURELIA
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I CLOSED MY EYES TIGHT and focused. “We need to get out of here.”
Freya scoffed. “The door is locked and sealed with magic.”
“You were able to get out the window. Did you see anything familiar?” I asked then blew out a breath.
I needed to center myself. If I let my magic get out of control I was afraid of what Malcolm would do to me.
“No, nothing was familiar. I couldn’t go far either,” she said with a sigh.
“Is there a ward keeping us in?” I cracked an eye open. “Is that really a thing?”
“Yes,” Freya said. “I can probably get through it now that I know it’s there, but it will take time.”
“Time isn’t something we have, Freya.” I flopped to my back. “He’s going to start getting impatient. It’s already been two days.”
Fiona tapped her foot on my knee. “What if we all go out the front door?”
“That’s not possible,” I said.
“Hear me out,” Fiona said. “Pretend you are ready to train and he will open the door and we can attack him.”
“You want to attack a pureblood fae that is much older and more experienced with magic than me?” I sat forward.
This was a seriously bad idea, but I didn’t have a better plan then that.
Freya chewed her lip. “If we catch him by surprise, it might work.”
“You are both insane.” I threw my hands up.
“What do we have to lose? He won’t kill you and even if you can’t get out maybe one or both of us can fly back to Master Grey.” Fiona argued.
“I can’t believe that I am actually going to agree with this,” I huffed.
Am I completely out of my head? Can I just sit here and not do whatever I can to get back to Grey?
Fiona clapped her tiny hands together and flew up to my shoulder. Freya did the same with my other shoulder.
“So, you get his attention and then when he opens the door we will fly in his face and distract him. Then, you hit him with a blast of magic that will knock him out and we run for it.” Fiona said with a malicious grin.
“Actually, that just might work.” I nodded. “When are we doing this?”
“There’s no time like the present.” Fiona flew up next to my face.
I stood from the bed and stretched my back. I’d been in this room going crazy for two days. The only time the door opened was when a servant had come to feed me.
Even then the magic held firm like it was made specifically to keep me in.
“Wait for my signal. Hide until he opens the door.” I whispered.
I moved to the door and pulled in a deep breath before banging on the door loudly.
“Malcolm. I’m ready to start training. Let me out,” I screamed.
There was silence on the other side of the door, so I screamed again. “Malcolm. Let me fucking out.”
Stomping feet sounded on the other side of the door. “Aurelia, what are you screaming about?”
Malcolm stopped on the other side of the door but didn’t move to open it.
I glanced at the sprites out of the corner of my eye. They were hiding behind where the door would open.
“I am ready to train. Let me out.” I yelled again.
“Are you really? You are willing to come home with me?” he asked almost hopeful.
Crap. Can I lie about that when he has that hopeful note in his voice? I don’t want to go anywhere near Faery.
“Yes, I will go back to Faery with you,” I said with a grimace and glanced at the sprites.
They both gave me encouraging nods even though the lie made me feel every inch the wicked fae that Malcolm was.
A buzzing magic sounded on the other side of the door, and I breathed deeply as I took a step back. I put my hands behind my back and let the magic pool in them.
I nodded at the sprites. The doorknob rattled before clicking open and the smile on Malcolm’s face was brilliant until he was dive bombed by sprites.
“What is this?” He shouted and covered his head with his hands.
I pulled my hands out from behind me and hurled the magic at him with the intent of knocking him out.
It hit Malcolm in the chest and blew him back until he crashed into the wall at the other end of the hall.
All the breath left him in a whoosh just before his eyes rolled back in his head.
“Go, go, go.” I yelled and took off down the hallway.
I had no idea where I was going but from the look of the window, we were on the second floor at least so looking for stairs would be my best bet.
“This way, Miss Aurelia.” Fiona tugged at my hair.
I changed direction on a dime and followed the sprite to a long stairway. I sprinted down the stairs as a roar filled the air.
“Shit. We need to find a way out of here.” I pushed myself faster down the stairs glancing over my shoulder at Freya who was watching my back.
“I don’t think he is up yet, Miss.” Freya glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll hold him off.”
“Oh no, you won’t Freya.” I snatched her out of the air much to her protest.
“Miss, I need to protect you. The master is probably out of control.” Freya’s tiny fist beat against my hand, but I ignored her as the front entry way came into view.
“Aurelia, where are you?” Malcolm roared from the top of the stairs.
“Miss, let me go hold him off,” Freya pleaded.
Fiona glanced between us before she zipped passed me so fast I didn’t have time to catch her.
“Go, miss. Get out of here. Hurry.” Fiona cried as she flew up the stairs.
“No, Fiona. Come back here,” I said as I lobbed another purple ball of magic at Malcolm as he stood at the top of the stairs.
He dodged out of the way and landed on the ground with an oomph. I spun on my heel.
“C’mon, Fiona,” I screamed.
Malcolm shot up and a wicked smile crossed his face as he disappeared. A second later, he appeared right next to Fiona and snatched her roughly from the air.
“No,” Freya screamed with a yelp.
She flew back to her sister buzzing angrily at Malcolm but he just snatched her from the air too.
“Let them go.” I held up my hands and pushed magic into them.
Purple swirls filled the air and my wings fluttered at my back. He would not take my friends from me. I refused to let the asshole hurt them.
“I’ll let them leave but you have to come home with me. You have to train to use your magic and then close the portal.” Malcolm said.
“No, Miss Aurelia,” Fiona cried out and Malcolm shook her roughly.
“Don’t do it. You are not allowed to sacrifice everything for us.” Freya shook her head.
Malcolm’s fist tightened around her making her choke.
“What is your answer, Aurelia?” Malcolm said and cocked his arm back and threw Freya against the front door.
I cried out in agony as I tracked Freya’s body as she slid down the door into a heap on the ground.
Her glow dimmed and a tear trailed down my cheek.
She’s not dead. She can’t be dead.
I turned back to Malcolm with a scowl. Fiona was thrashing in his hand. She bent down and bit into his finger.
“Fucking vermin,” Malcolm shouted. “How about I pluck your wings to show you your place around purebloods.”
“No, you said you would let them go,” I screamed.
I couldn’t bare it if he took her wings. What kind of monster is he? How can he think that I would have ever helped him?
“That was before they showed what pests they truly are. Being here so long I almost forgot what vermin sub-fae are.” Malcolm sneered.
“You said you would let them go. Just let them go and I will do whatever you want.” I held my hands up and took a deep breath willing the magic to disappear.
To my utter shock the magic dissolved, and I breathed a sigh.
Finally, my magic has learned to listen to me even when I’m panicking.
“No, Aurelia. Don’t do it. I’ll be okay,” Fiona shouted but the terror in her eyes mirrored my own.
Malcolm shook her and pinched her wing. He raised an eyebrow at me.
“Maybe I should keep them, so I know how to keep you in line.” He grinned.
“If you don’t let them go, I’ll never help you,” I growled.
Fiona yelped and I glared at Malcolm letting magic fill my palms again. He tugged on her wing and I threw a ball of magic at his head.
He moved but not fast enough, the magic singed his ear.
“Fuck,” Malcolm yelled and cupped his ear. “Fine, I’ll let them go.”
Malcolm stomped down the stairs and grabbed my arm in a bruising grip and dragged me across the entry where Freya was lying in a heap by the front of the door.
I cried out at the sight of Freya’s broken body praying to whatever gods were listening that Fiona would be able to get Freya to Grey before it was too late.
“I’m not leaving you, Miss Aurelia.” Fiona shook her head vehemently.
“You have to get Freya to Grey,” I said through my tears. “She needs you.”
Fiona glanced at her sister with sadness and back to me, obviously torn on what to do.
“Make up your mind, quickly vermin. I don’t have all day.” Malcolm shook her again and I gritted my teeth.
This mother fucker was going to pay. I didn’t know how but I was going to destroy him for what he did.
“Go, Fiona. Get her out of here,” I begged.
“Fine,” Fiona sighed.
Malcolm opened his hand and Fiona flew to her sister, picking her up gently. He squeezed my arm even harder as he opened the front door.
I lunged forward in an attempt to run but at the last second he wrapped his hand around my throat and pulled my back to his chest.
“No,” Fiona shouted just as Malcolm slammed the door closed.
“Can’t breathe,” I gasped. I clawed at his hand trying to loosen his grip and get air into my lungs, but it was no use.
Malcolm laughed. “You shouldn’t have tried to run from me. This is only the beginning, my love.”
What had I gotten myself into? I hoped the sprites could get to Grey before this psycho choked me to death, but I wasn’t counting on it.