Mina was cautious, very cautious. Her days here were stained with too much fear, too much blood and darkness.
But Dal’coler was beautiful.
It didn’t remind her anymore of nightmares she witnessed during her first days here. The mirrors, the flesh, the faces… it all disappeared and she partially was aware that it’s thanks to her bending to Lorian’s will. Eating the apple and allowing him to bind her with this place.
She hoped Tiyan would know how to break this spell. Usually, she would trust him in everything… but some time ago it dawned on her that her brother won’t have any power here. She still trusted him, though. She still wanted to trust his strength and determination. He will. He will take her from here, no matter how many dangers and horrors will stand on his path.
Tiyan.
She wanted to embrace him and tell him she is safe. Return to parents and live again – a hard life, but almost normal. Mundane. Their house, not a palace by any means. But it was safer, warmer and better than the huge castle she lived now in.
Your house will never be the same and you know it. It stopped being safe.
Dal’coler was enormous. And dark, with darkness that whispered to her old tales and showed her more and more with every gaze. Each painting on the wall, each arche, was hiding secrets, and her young soul started slowly to be curious. Walking by Lorian’s side, she sometimes stopped, seeing something that she didn’t expect, only to realize that it wasn’t there… When her eyes were drifting in different directions, the miracle was back, even more tempting and secretive.
This was infuriating, and intriguing. So much, that Mina almost forgot how afraid she was a few weeks ago.
Magic.
From her mother, she knew that it’s a vile thing. That it promises pleasures, joy and beauty, but hides teeth and thorns. She knew as well, that it was magic that wounded Alina in the past. The same fairies who now hosted her, captured Alina and tormented her for long days. She didn’t want to trust anyone here. But even she couldn’t be aware that the enchantment which held Dal’coler in its claws, already worked on her.
Filling her with trust, even if developed slowly, even if only rubbing her slightly with its soft paws, like a cat, encouraging its owner to allow him to jump on his lap.
Mina didn’t understand magic. It was an alien thing, possessed by enemies of humankind. But all things she was seeing through the last days, was showing it in resplendent light and soothing darkness, which were breaking her tightly woven cocoon she had woven around herself.
She stopped by the window, deep in the niche. Stained glass figures forming a scene, which she had to see closer.
It showed a bright star, with its rays touching the people standing under it, some of them on their knees, some; in a fetal position, naked, holding their legs with their arms. Behind them, a crimson sunset, so red, that it looked like it was painted with fresh blood.
Mina had to touch it somehow. The star. The glass was cold under her fingers. Smooth like a raven feather.
“Creation” she heard the voice next to her and she withdrew her hand, fast. Lorian was standing by her side, his black eyes seemed to reflect the red light the setting sun was offering to the gathering on the art. “For some, the moment of life. For some, the hour of death.”
“How so?” Mina again looked at the window. She focused closer, to suddenly see the roots coming from the ground, with black flowers blooming from them. Some of them dragged the people underground, some were just trapping them halfway.
She could swear the glass art looked differently when she was looking at it for the first time.
“Creation… a painful process” Lorian still looked at the artful depiction of suffering. “Dangerous, cruel. Delightful and vile. Beautiful and splendid. Most of your kind don’t even know how you came to be. Most of you believe in an honored mother, who guards you, even if invisible and distant.”
“No” Mina shook her head. ” It’s all true. The goddess created us. That’s how Alina told us.”
Lorian laughed. It was a light, amused laugh.
“If anyone could not believe in the goddess, it would be Alina Sacrana. She, above all humans, knew what kind of gods animated life. But she would never admit it before her children. It would be way too cruel of her.”
Minas’ scrutinizing gaze landed on Lorian. Alina. Sacrana. He knew her family name. How so? Was he really knowing everything?
If so, what Tiyan was still not here, if he wanted him so much?
“You knew my mother” her eyes looked at him from half-closed eyelids.
Fae tortured her mother. They made her bald and scarred up.
“We could of course say that I knew her. But better admit that we talked a lot during… quite an intense moment in her life. She shared a lot of her past with me… and quite eagerly offered the blood of her blood.”
His black eyes are like the night sky, his face alit with inner darkness.
“You say…”
“Of course not,” chuckled Lorian. “Your mother was the most fine example of a human species I had pleasure to meet. She would never betray anyone, if she had other options. But… Some things are inevitable. From some things… you can’t escape even after death.”
Mina tried to understand his words, even if she had to dig deeper. But something told her, some inner voice, that she won’t get any more answers.
Lorian resumed the walk. Mina went after him. No matter what her mother had to suffer, she would never betray anyone. Just like he said. She would never.
“Where we go?”
“Somewhere where the winter chill melts by the sun” was an amused, enigmatic answer.
They slowly passed the corridors, filled with stained glass scenes, which Mina learned not to look at, but now, when Lorian was by her side – as dubious protection as it was – she observed the scenes, which were changing the focus, whenever she stopped looking even for a moment. Not moving, but gaining new details.
They entered one of the few lighter chambers, which beamed with wintery sun rays. Almost the whole wall was made of…nothingness. No windows, nothing that could stop the winter cold from entering the room and freeze her to the bone. But of course fae were using magical barriers. This room was a wonder, opened in the wild forest, which grew bitten in the walls, making the chamber look bathed in white. She could almost hear the whisper of the trees and cracking of the frosted branches.
And there… in this room… was sitting the most beautiful woman Mina has ever seen.
Clad in black gown, with golden collar and ringlets, she was sprouting black, raven wings from her back. She was looking through the non existent window, her eyes set in the distance. Mina could feel something in her. She was always very observant. From Lorian, she could feel dark. Real dark, which she couldn’t decipher. But at the same time… a night that blinds the light, but also, offers night creatures a place and means to live.
Feed them and give them a place where they can survive.
From the winged woman…
She was feeling anger, mixed with desperation and affection. She never knew why she could feel all of it. In this place… Dal’coler, it intensified. Like the magic that resided her, gave her wings as well.
When they entered, the woman turned back, her wings cut the air, spreading behind her like a veil made of feathers.
Beautiful, Mina though. She is beautiful.
“Lorian” she was visibly relieved, her lips curling up in a stunning smile.
“I brought the gift, small, young… but very curious” Lorian grinned, a perfect contradiction for her smile. Her smile was like a clouded sun, heavy with promise of fresh spring rain. His… like the beautiful colors of a deadly predator, warning all that it has a poison.
The woman came closer, allowing Lorian to place a kiss on her cheek. Mina could feel how strongly they pulled each other. Something she never saw between anyone she knew. Tiyan loved Noyd, she cheered for them, always. Her father, Gravir, loved Alina. But these two…
How do you know that?
How have you learnt that?
You never had such a strong feel…
But here she was, feeling them, they were dawning on her like their elements, fire, water and cruel stars.
“Have you shown our guests the most breathtaking parts of the palace?” the woman looked just at her. Her eyes were pale, very big, almost transparent. Blue like a drop of rain water.
Mina knew now that light warmth radiating from the woman was her aura. Again, opposed to the shadows that Lorian was bathed in.
“Not even in the slightest part. Now, when the apple was consumed” – the woman scoffed. Lorian laughed, lightheartedly. “When it was consumed, Dal’coler lays before her like a ripe fruit, ready to be picked. And I would detest myself, if I had to deprive her of that.”
“I hope you don’t plan any more depravations” joked the winged woman and leaned towards Lorian. He didn’t seem to care that Mina stood between them, and dragged her closer.
“How clever of you to mention it…”
Fire.
Love.
Mina knew, somehow, that they do feel it. The fae were able to feel it. How was it possible? They were dark holes in the soul of the world.
But at the same time… they could be so normal.
Where was the deception and where were their real faces? When they kidnapped her and forced the apple in? When they were sending horrors at her?
Or when they laughed, teasing each other? Feeling love?
Mina didn’t know, and that was the scariest thing of all.
The woman placed a hungry kiss on Lorian’s lips and parted with him, to return attention to her. Her thick, whitish hair gleamed in the faint morning light. Her face was like a newborn star. All fae had this unearthly shine to them, but this winged woman…
“I know that you don’t have any reasons to trust Lorian… but we really don’t mean to harm you.”
Lorian chuckled again, this time real amusement ringing in his voice, Nymre offered him a deadly expression.
“This is not how you talk to a captive child, Nymre. She is not blind on her situation. She knows we would harm her, if she was not useful. But she is – so we are in an impass.”
Nymre’s bitter air was almost palpable.
“I am not a child” Mina decided to speak. “You sent me into awful places with mirrors and dripping meat. You killed many people. And put a spell on Avras. We couldn’t eat fresh food for years.”
Lorian’s black eyes sparkled.
“Well said, little one. You are far more conscious than my lover thinks. Sometimes we are underestimating humans. But as we came to the conclusion, you are safe, so why not enjoy it? I open before you all the gates in Dal’coler.”
Mina’s hands suddenly became strangely cold. Slight fear creeping into her, something she knew all too well. She will be allowed everywhere, spend time in company of those fey and later…? What later? When Tiyan is already here and she will be used to bend him to their will?
What then, when she won’t be needed anymore?
“I need to be sure. That you won’t kill me.”
The words left her mouth faster than she thought them. She didn’t want to die. She wanted to see Alina and Gravir – no matter what Lorian said about her mother. He was a liar and cruel.
Lorian suddenly stood way too close to her, the cold spread further, creeping, unpleasant. The scent of violets, tempting, like taken from a dark dream.
“Very good, Mina” he used her name for the first time since she appeared here. “You are precautious. I like that. Beings your age usually are more naive.”
Mina swallowed thick saliva. But she continued.
“I need a promise.. Which you can’t break.”
Lorian’s lips weren’t smiling anymore. His features like cut in marble, his pale skin looked even lighter in the faint winter light.
“Why should I do it? I own your future. Any agreements would be delightfully pointless.”
Mina shook her head.
“I know that you couldn’t force the apple into my mouth. I had to agree.”
“The fragile structure of core spells demands delicate touch and a willing need, they are stronger then… but you have nothing to offer, beautiful child.”
“I have. I will do everything you order me. Tell Tiyan that you are not evil. That you will free us. That he needs only to do the thing you want him for.”
Lorian chuckled. His black eyes gleaming with amused sparks.
“And he will believe, you assume?”
“You said that spells will be stronger if Tiyan is willing.”
Something dark came through Lorian face, dark and cruel. Mina felt exposed, and a sudden wave of wrongness washed through her like a tide.
Nymre leaned over Lorian’s arm and looked at Mina with gaze made of liquid intrigue. Mina didn’t back off, though. She needed herself – and Tiyan – safe. Lorian touched Mina’s chin and pulled her head higher – Mina returned him a bold gaze.
“If you insist so… if you need me to delve into your heart and burn a mark on it… We can make an agreement. Something that will give your soul peace of safety.”
“No.”
“I thought that you wanted a promise. I am willing to give you one.”
Never make a deal with the fairy kind.
Mina knew the first law of winter. Fae were tricking humans, giving false promises, twisting words of agreements. And she knew Lorian would use every means to twist this one too.
“I want you not to be able to kill me. And Tiyan.”
She couldn’t believe she said these words. Lorian’s black eyes drilled her through, like a miner’s pickaxe. She could see – and feel – how his shadows amasse around her, a hot presence. So hot, yet her hands – whole body – were cold.
“I am not in a bloodthirsty mood. I don’t need your death and I don’t need your pain. You, though…”
“I won’t do anything endangering Tiyan.”
Lorian’s smile became predatory. Still stunning like sunrise… but a sunrise, with sun falling on the earth, to burn the land.
“I promise that I won’t end your life. Your brother will live too, as long as he was destined by gods, before he ever met me. Even small hair won’t fall from his head. And you… you will be a grateful human being. Very grateful and very open on my grace.”
The sounded badly.
Like a lie.
But she had no choice…
“Is that good enough, stubborn child?”
“Say that you won’t kill Tiyan too. With these words”
This time it was Nymre who laughed.
She was looking at her with a dubious expression, and suddenly, Mina saw a beak, real beak under her mask. Not a fae face. The face of a bird, beak longer and thicker than in a real raven, and above it… two blue orbs, made of azure fire.
Lorian though didn’t look confunded or displeased. More amused and enjoying it.
“Very well. I won’t kill your brother, no matter what will happen, even if gods planned his death since the very beginning.”
She couldn’t not agree on that, even if she will have to help them achieve whatever he need Tiyan for. The shadows lifted her chin, so she couldn’t not look at Lorian’s face, which suddenly became dark, darker, made of black smoke, his eyes gaining depths of abysmal caves and lakes under the face of the earth.
This was only an illusion…
But why she felt she shouldn’t see this, that even they didn’t want her to see? A creeping feeling of wrongness, of misplaced time.
She nodded, almost invisibly.
She knew from the tales that fae can’t break a willing agreement. And she latched to it, desperately. He possibly hid truths and will try to use them… but she had no other protection. He could kill her – and Tiyan – on a whim.
Something hot touched her and she saw a tendril of a shadow, slowly worming its way on her skin… she backed off, but the misty tentacle followed her quickly and slowly pressed the place where her heart was. It didn’t even hurt. The shadow entered her, through clothes, and placed a kiss on her chest.
It didn’t hurt.
But she knew there would be something new, when she took off the dress.
Lorian was smiling, so beautifully,and her heart jumped at that.
Why didn’t she feel safer?