Lina: Twisted Fairy Tales Book Two

13: Fly Free

Set far away from the castle was a small hut. I couldn’t call it anything more. It was covered in flowers, vines and other plants and made entirely of natural materials, reeds, rush, clay, a straw roof, wooden framed out windows and doors, and moss.

Unfortunately, Ives sat out front of it on a bench. He possibly looked more haggard and care-worn than when I’d seen him before. I couldn’t smell a recent trace of Thema, though I could tell she lived here by the lingering scent of another person in and around the home. Or at least I had to hope it was her scent. It didn’t have that ‘too good to be true’ Fae overtone to it. Ah the smell of good old fashioned human sweat. Never thought I’d see the day I’d miss it.

It seemed Thema and Ives coexisted, but that she was not currently here. I was going to have to change forms to talk to him, and I was suddenly very aware he hated our family, and also very aware I would be nude. And had no weapons should he decide to be an ass about it.

With a soft yipping bark, I shook out my form, the fox fur falling from me as my body ripped apart, the pieces of me stretching out and reassembling into my human form. For a moment I wasn’t anymore, it was always the most terrifying part of the process. That little tiny second or two that I’d come to think of as a preview of death. And then I was slowly standing, several meters from Ives, waiting to see how I’d be received.

“You’re one of those are ya?” Ives’ eyes never left mine, but there was a simmering hatred brewing within. “I shoulda seen the resemblance straight away. Knew you were a Fae Changeling because I could smell the magic on ya. Didn’t realize the magic was in ya.” He forced himself to his feet, using a can to help aid him. “There’s only one you could be related to. It’s your family’s fault I’m here.” The look on his face was nearly enough to melt flesh.

“Please. I need to speak to Thema.” I stepped towards Ives swiftly, afraid he was going to try to go into the hut to escape me. However, his cane surprised me in the next second by passing within millimeters of my head.

“What you need is to keep your distance. I don’t have use for you or your kind, and neither does Thema. You leave her alone. Your family already destroyed her life.” All traces of whatever accent or physical or mental limitations Ives had previously displayed were gone as he snarled at me. He stood straight, breathing hard, glaring daggers, and I had the uncanny feeling that his cane had only missed because he willed it to. Ives suddenly slumped, grabbing the door frame as he hunched over. I would have been tempted to help, but he was a bit of an ass. And there was a bit of me that was afraid he might try to ferally bite my hand off if I tried.

“Then tell me: how can I leave this place? You’ll never see me again if you just let me talk to Thema about the way out-” I was cut off by Ives as he moved faster than I expected. Again all signs that he may be infirm were gone in a blink, and he had a hand to my throat as he snarled in my face.

“You leave her be, you hear? If you’re here, it’s because he wants you here, and ain’t no way I’m letting her cross him for you. She’s off even now, risking her life for the likes a’ him, and you want to make things even worse? No I say, no!” His grip was anything less than the feeble grasp I had expected, and he shoved me backwards so hard we both stumbled. I rubbed at my sore throat, thankful I healed quickly, but still hatefully eyeing Ives.

“What do you mean she’s risking her life for him now? Do you mean the King? He just came back!” I snapped and Ives hissed, taking a stumbling step towards me even as I backed out of his reach swiftly. There was no way I was allowing myself within arm’s length of his grasping claw again.

“Exactly! He comes home to hide! The Coward! And sends his assassin in to deal with those who are rising up! Protesting the appointment of the new Queen.” Ives sneered. I suddenly realized two things. First, Ives didn’t realize I was supposed to be that ‘new Queen’, and second, the Fae King had come back to send me home to protect me. Again.

Why did that make me feel guilty? It wasn’t my fault he was in this situation! He was the one who brought me here in the first place!Why should I care if he lost his throne or.. His life.. Because he abducted me?

I glanced over my shoulder in the direction of the castle.

Why was my conscience eating away at me?

With a snarl, I turned and let my form explode, fur bristling along my body even before I leapt forward to land on four paws, already racing along the ground towards the castle. Why was I getting myself involved in this? I kept telling myself I didn’t care, but.. Some part of me kept running through the same thoughts over and over.

Spice’s baby, the way the King acted during the Harvest, the honor he’d shown in not taking advantage of me during the Renewal when I acted so poorly, how he tried to send me away to protect me.

I could be angry all I wanted, but there were things I couldn’t ignore. Things I wanted to protect. I snarled at myself and ran faster. Why did Shifters have to be so gods-damned loyal?

The ‘Human’ Realm

Ward

Something strange. A scent, familiar, yet tainted by another I didn’t recognize. And then one I did. I snarled, heaving to my feet. I had been in this form for so long, I had nearly lost myself in the animal. I shook, the wolves around me jumping to their feet as the leaves and forest detritus fell from my fur. I hadn’t moved in so long, I had been in mourning, and they had been bringing me food, trying to get me to eat, sleeping next to me to try to keep me warm, finally using their noses to push leaves and such over me to help with that since I refused to react. They knew I had given up. But now I was on the move, and they were on my heels.

Howls rang out around me, there were more coming through the trees to meet up with us as I followed that hateful smell. That smell I would never forget. His smell. The one who stole our life from us, my will to live. Our daughter.

Mist began to creep in around us and I knew I was on the right track. I hoped my Heart would forgive me for leaving without telling her. But if I came back with our little one, I knew that eventually, she would.