Lina: Twisted Fairy Tales Book Two

27: Trouble Within

I.. had no idea where to start.

“I think the Erl King should go back to his Realm. As soon as he’s able, I mean.” I said instead. I let my eyes rove the pattern of stone on the ceiling, tracing the bonding material and the speckles of different ores and such contained within each stone.

“Oh?” Papa carefully replied. “And will you be going with him?” The question was asked casually, but I didn’t miss the abrupt tension in his muscles.

“He released me, Papa. Sent me home. I’m not sure he wants me back. Especially with all the fighting going on because I was there in the first place.” I answered blankly. Why did my heart give a little squeeze at the thought that he might not want me? I tore my eyes from the ceiling and glanced at my father, who had visibly relaxed. Silently, I went back to examining the ceiling.

“I see.. Well I do believe it is the right choice, in the end.” Papa’s mood seemed brighter. “After all, you didn’t make the Deal that led to your imprisonment, so you shouldn’t have to suffer for it. Reginald’s lucky I didn’t remove his limbs for that, but your mother was right, it was a trick by the Erl King, and not entirely Reginald’s fault. Even so.. He owes this family a debt that will not readily be forgotten.” The growl in Papa’s voice was soft, but hard to miss. I sighed.

“Leave Uncle Reggie alone, Papa. That debt is mine to collect, if I should choose to do so. And he was just as much a victim of the Erl King as I was. The Erl King can be.. Tricky.” I stated, muttering the last word unhappily as it also applied to my own dealings with the Fae. Papa shook his head.

“Sound like your mother.” He mumbled, and I rolled my eyes.

“Well your two favorite women can’t be wrong then.” I teased, poking him in the side. He jerked and grabbed my hand with a soft, playful growl before pulling me up into his arms for a hug.

“You have sisters, you know.” He muttered, kissing my hair.

“Yeah, but I’m still your favorite!” I sing-songed to the sound of his laughter booming around the room. I smiled to myself as I hugged him back. I was spoiled, and I knew it.

Once my father had left my room, I was faced with a long night and an inability to sleep. I wandered the castle halls for a while, stopping by the library to search for the animal called an ‘elephant’. First I had a time figuring out the spelling, but when I found it, I was horrified at the description of such a huge creature having somehow trampled the Fae King. I also found the cat I was obsessed with and learned it was called a ‘lion’. Also discovered it was a good possibility both animals came from the same land. I wondered if my grandfather had seen any of either in his lifetime, with his history of conquest.

I got lost in the books for quite some time, finally nodding off in a chair, squirreled away in the back of the room. With a book limply held in my lap, I dreamed of strange creatures and wide open lands where I ran as a lion, limbs stretching out and heavy paws thudding while the ground disappeared beneath my feet. When I jerked awake, the book falling to the floor with a heavy thump, I couldn’t tell which event had happened first, the waking or the book falling. My heart was thumping heavily in my chest, and I was breathing hard, but the library was quiet, except for some soft, muted conversation from somewhere out in the hall. I probably wouldn’t have heard it at all if it wasn’t for my Shifter heritage. Unsure what had woken me, I sat frozen for several long seconds until my heart calmed, and I was certain nothing lurked in the shadows.

With my rest and sense of peace disturbed, I finally rose, picking up the fallen book and moving back to the shelf that housed it to replace it. I was tempted to stretch my kinked  muscles, but my nerves were still jangling, so I gave up the thought, preferring instead to follow my instincts and leave the room quickly. I still felt pursued for some strange reason, even without any sign of anyone watching me. I practically bolted through the library doors, startling a pair of gossiping women, and almost running into my father who was having a hushed conversation with Uncle Reggie.

Papa had my infant sister in his arms, and that was probably the only thing holding him back in whatever argument they were in the midst of. It struck me how tiny she was in his big hands, and then I noticed his scowl. It probably could have melted wax, and Uncle Reggie, the subject of that gaze, looked just as stubborn as he glared back. Papa bounced the babe in his arms gently, but whatever Reggie was saying had Papa’s frown deepening.

“..need him gone. You’re lucky I don’t blame you for this mess. I don’t know what he wants, but it’s never a good thing.” Papa was growling under his breath as I approached. My sister fussed slightly, distracting Papa, and drawing Reggie’s attention away from the conversation to settle on me.

“Princess.” Uncle Reggie greeted me, bowing his head slightly. His grip on his cane tightened and I began to wonder what disagreement I had stumbled across. Papa’s shoulders stiffened minutely.

“Malina, pup. What has you up so early?” Papa asked gently, turning slightly while rocking my youngest sister. I shrugged.

“Couldn't sleep. Have you and Mama named her yet?” I jerked my chin at the babe and he offered me a feral grin.

“No. Despite the fact that history has shown all of our children do survive, she refuses to bring the ‘curse of the Gods’ on our heads by naming a child before she is sure it will live.” He rolled his eyes slightly with a grin, then lifted the babe next to his face to rub a cheek along hers and coo “Too much Shifter blood in you to succumb that easily, isn’t there, little doll?” I shook my head with a grin of my own, though I’m not sure whose behavior was more ridiculous.

“Pretty much figures with her.” I mumbled, but couldn’t stop watching my father act so foolishly with the babe. It was, frankly, adorable. My mother, on the other hand, was a conundrum. She was so fierce, in so many ways, but somehow these strange superstitions had crept in and taken hold. I didn’t really understand it, but then again, look at our strange family. “So..” I rocked on my feet for a moment or two. “What’re you talkin’ about?” I asked with all the innocence I could muster, playing to my father’s weakness for his children. He laughed a full laugh that I was afraid for a second might wake my new sister, but she must already be getting used to the constant noise around her.

“Oh no, pup. You’re not fooling me with that look. I believe you have other duties that need your attention. You’ve been gone too long, and some have been neglected. Let Reggie and I handle the Kingdom’s security issues while you handle your own duties.” The sparkle in his eyes let me know his teasing words were meant to be gentle, but I stiffened all the same.

“As Queen, won’t the security of this Kingdom one day be one of my duties?” I tried to temper my voice, but the question still came out through gritted teeth. “And as such, wouldn’t it make sense for me to learn about such duties as you are in the process of training me to take over and run this Kingdom in the event of your untimely death.” I lost my hold on my temper and ended up snarling the last of it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Uncle Reggie blanch and take a step back, his face going carefully blank. My father, however, immediately succumbed to a look of rage, his eyes bleeding yellow as a growl emanated from his throat. I was certain my own eyes changed to the amber of the fox in answer. Animal instinct demanded I challenge or submit, the pressure shoving at me as I closed my hands into fists, but suddenly Papa blinked, and the color of his eyes began to trickle back to brown. He reached out a hand and gently cupped my face.

“Yes, Malina. One day. But not today. Let me protect you from some of the hardships, while I still can. There will always be one of us here to guide you. Tyrus, Reggie, your mother or me. We are not that close to death yet. So let me save you from it, for just a little while longer, hmm?” His thumb brushed away a tear that had somehow escaped me. Papa was like this. He somehow knew how to calm me whenever my ire rose, and I begrudgingly nodded my head.

“Alright Papa. But don’t leave it too long. You may wish to protect me, but you can’t do that with everything.” I told him. He smiled sadly, his hand dropping from my cheek.

“I’m beginning to see that.” He murmured softly. For some reason, the words stung and disturbed. I turned to leave.