Possession of Monsters (The Wyern Clan Series Book 2) Page 2
I focus on the guards once more, needing a distraction. Needing anything to calm my nerves and to hide the fact my legs are so shaky, my footsteps so loud, and this body of mine so out of my control. I hate it. The guard to my left clears his throat, and I jump from the noise, catching his attention as he slightly turns to me. Air. That’s his element, while the other two here are earth. I can scent it on them, tightly wrapped around them. It makes me wonder what they can do with those powers of theirs and what I will be able to do with mine, with this life that I wish I had a choice in and I already feel so trapped within.
Trapped.
Trapped.
Trapped.
My mortal life is gone, and this is all that is left… but I don’t know how to keep on fighting for a life I was forced into. The sweeping corridors and the vast beautiful archways we pass under are empty of any other souls, but I can hear the movement of others nearby. Hidden in their rooms. Watching somehow, I bet. Or listening.
My bare feet sink into the lush red carpet under me, and I cringe inside. To me, the riches are such a contrast to the life I was brought up in, to the life that I’ve seen over and over again, just outside the gates of this rich fae district. I’ve seen people suffering and starving, while all this time they have so much wealth that they could save them all with a click of their fingers. One of the exquisite gold frames of the painting I pass could pay for twenty families down in the slums to live out lovely, peaceful lives, out of the poverty they suffer in.
Riches like this could have paid for me to go away from this place with Louie and his mom… if it was ever a choice of mine to get away. I was born again. Every foster family I had was a lie. They must have known who I was and why I was born, and yet no one told me. The prince killed most before they could, I guess. Emerson… he didn’t know who I was. He didn’t recognize me until it was too late. At least I hope he didn’t. I can’t bear the thought he knew and made me have feelings for him only to save his race from being monsters.
I’m not even sure I can trust anyone that’s in my life now or then. What if it was all for this… what if they all knew and they expect me to be this person? This female he fell in love with. I’m not her. This female, who is apparently my soul, who the queen hated so much she cursed, killed and demanded to be reborn so many times in punishment for Emerson. All because he loved her. It would be romantic if it weren’t so tragic and pointless in the end. Emerson gave up his birthright. He gave up on the fae in the end… for his sister and for me.
I push him out of my mind with pure force, knowing I need to focus on what is ahead. I must play this game just for now, for Louie’s sake, if not for my own. I keep walking, focusing on the pittering of rain on the windows outside, the sound calm and relaxing because it’s as normal as it’s going to get. The gown is too tight, suffocating me, pushing up my chest, and my hair has a ridiculous amount of pins holding it in place above my head, and I can’t wait to pull them all out. I only managed to stop the fae sisters when they offered me expensive jewelry to wear, a present from the prince, with all the stones in the color of the royal fae: purple. I will never wear any of it, but I am going to keep it for my escape. The jewelry will be easy to sell for gold, after all.
I might be delusional thinking that I can even escape with Louie and his mom. I won’t just fit in on the streets like any mortal anymore, but if I can get far enough away, no one will ask questions. I hope. The pain in my chest that I felt the first time I thought of escaping is not as strong now, and I wonder what other changes are happening to me.
We come to a stop right outside a set of doors, and the guard in front opens it before stepping in, while I stay frozen, looking at the staircase that spirals down and the small circular windows showing the storm building outside and flickering rain inside.
The guard with the air element looks at me, his accent as thick as his brown eyes are dark. “This way, Lady Calliophe.”
I nod, knowing I don’t have a choice, but something about walking down the dimly lit steps makes me want to turn back and run. The staircase is long, and I’m sure I’ve gone down well over a hundred steps when we come to the place of worship for the fae. The very air is still and peaceful as I breathe in. Twin goddess statues tower above the door on either side, holding down their mighty sword between them, like they are twins sharing the sword itself, but in fact they must be mirrored images of the same female goddess. The goddess who poured life into our world, who I’ve prayed to a million times. I want to find strength from her, but lately, I don’t know how to do that. How can this be her plan for me? All this death, all this pain, all of it. I’ve been left with nothing and trapped in a cage I’m not sure I will ever be able to escape. What goddess would want that for me?
The sword opens up the actual doors, and I sense enchantments in the air, a cold and spicy taste in the air. When I was mortal, I felt the cold of this magic but not the underlying spice to it. When the guard in front of me steps aside, it’s clear that only I am walking in there alone, and I don’t know why I’m nervous about leaving them behind. They aren’t here for me, nor are they my friends. Everyone here is an enemy until proven otherwise—and even then, I should doubt them.
I head inside, taking a deep breath for my nerves, but all I can hear is my heart racing in my chest so hard I’m sure everyone can hear it. All my enforcer training has flown out of the room along with my mortal self. Panic burns in my blood as I take in the room, noticing the pillars around the room. There are dozens of them in rows, evenly spaced out, and there are no windows in this place. It’s a concrete tomb, and every inch of the concrete is carved with symbols in white paint that I don’t recognize and can’t read, but I’m sure a few of them I’ve seen before in the book I had on old fae symbols.
In each of the many, many pillars is a silver dish on top, holding a random element alive on its own. Flames, air tornadoes, water swirls, ice snowflakes with sharp edges, and only one pillar in the entire room of what must be over fifty of them is darkness. A swirling sphere of sparkling darkness, a power I’ve seen before. That’s Emerson’s gift. It must be from his fae side, whereas before, I assumed it was a Wyern gift. It’s not. I’ve seen him use it when I was attacked. He turned those Wyerns into nothing but sparkling black dust with nothing but looking at them. That was the first time I realized how truly powerful he is.
I stop when my feet touch the plain stone steps leading up to a platform, and I look up to see a row of female fae in white gowns. Long, almost see-through veils cover them from head to toe, over their matching dresses, and their hands are cuffed together in the middle, each of their complexions so pale, despite their coloring. I wonder if they ever leave this place and see the sunlight outside. The priestesses of the fae. I never thought I’d meet them. The one in the middle steps forward, and on her hands are glittering rings with gems of every color, the most color to her with the white dress and veil.
I’ve heard of the priestesses of the fae. I’ve heard the haunting nursery rhymes sung to children about them. The priestesses are fae females who heard the call of the goddess and left everything behind to be her voice in this world. They have no names, no possessions or magic of their own. They take no lovers or friends, and they live out their lives as nothing but dancers for the goddess, for the end of a fae’s time. The priestesses are called for when a fae dies, and they help guide the fae’s soul to the next world, so I’ve heard.
The priestess that stepped forward inclines her head to me, and I repeat the action, as do all the others, and when she speaks, it’s not out loud but in my mind, and I resist the urge to jump.
“Lady Calliophe, it is a great pleasure to meet you. Today you’re here to find your elemental gift, given by the goddess and we are here to guide you. This is a sacred elemental ceremony, performed for thousands of years, and there is nothing for you to fear.”
I try to give her a brief smile as she pauses. I have nothing against the fae priestesses. Just their race and their royal
s. “As you can see, around the room are several pillars with every element ever found in our race. My sister will briefly explain what each element is before you walk behind me, down into the pit in the center of the room, and find your element. The element will cover the entire pit as this sacred area expands power. Do not be frightened, as you are safe at all times. Let your magic speak first and foremost.”
She steps back, and another priestess steps forward, this one slightly shorter than the other and her accent unfamiliar to me. “The powers are quite simple. Water, earth and air are the most common elements given by the goddesses. Fire is a rare gift, seen only forty times over the last thousand years. Ice and darkness are extremely rare and seen only once or twice.”
“Thank you for explaining them to me,” I answer out loud, and my voice seems so loud in comparison to the silence.
A warm caress goes down my spine. “Come up, Lady Calliophe.”
I steel my shoulders just a little before I walk up the steps, every part of me wanting to feel safe, but all I can truly feel is fear. I don’t want this. I have never wanted power. I’ve only wanted to be safe and for those I love to be safe. That dream… it’s gone. I have to deal with what I have been thrown into and make the best of it. Story of my damned life.
Something in my blood warns me to look back, and I wish I hadn’t when I find cold purple eyes fixated on me. Above the doors of the entranceway is a platform for watching. It is filled with fae I don’t know, but right in the middle stands the prince, leaning on the banister with a grin. His blond hair glitters in the light, and he is wearing royal clothing in deep purple with a gold crown on his head that I want to knock off. Along with his smug grin. I hate that bastard. I hope he can see that in my eyes as I turn away. I know he’s killed so many innocents, so many mortals, to make his monster army and to get the throne and whatever plans he has after that. I try to pretend that he’s not there and watching me, that a load of fae isn’t staring at my back and no doubt hoping I mess up.
I stare down at the pit when I’m near the edge, and inside are seven clear bowls, each of them holding an element inside them. My eyes flicker to the darkness, and Emerson’s eyes, so purple and vibrant, flash into my mind. The fae lights suddenly go off, and a hand pushes me sharply in the back, into the pit, where I land on my back, looking up into darkness.
“Do not be afraid. In darkness we find our gifts, and in light all shall be revealed.”
The priestess’s voice doesn’t calm me, and I really wish they would get out of my head. I stand up, brushing off the dirt from my dress and hands, before I spin around. I can’t see any of the elements, not even the fire. How am I meant to know?
“Close your eyes and breathe, Calliophe.”
Closing my eyes… when all I see is Emerson’s burning eyes as that needle slid into my neck. All I see is Louie dead at the prince’s feet. All I see is a life of pain and punishment.
No.
I won’t let it happen to me. I just won’t. My eyes close and instead of seeing the terrible things and fearing them, I focus on a different emotion altogether. Anger. A burning, fiery anger of revenge and destruction. The prince will pay for what he did to me. I won’t stop until he does. My anger… it’s mine, and it’s beautiful. I don’t think I realized what I’d done until I open my eyes and vicious fire is swirling around my body, filling the entire pit, and it’s so bright, so warm, that I smile. A real smile. I reach my hand into it, and it doesn’t burn me; it flickers around my hand in a caress, almost like it’s alive.
For a second, I swear the flames are pink where they touch my hand.
Suddenly the flames are washed away with a sharp gust of wind that nearly knocks me over, and the fae lights explode into the room. There is nothing but the sound of clapping, and it smacks me back down into reality, not that place I just was, but I take some of it with me. The anger. The fire. It’s mine.
“Congratulations, your element is fire. This is a rare gift you showed today,” the priestess says into my mind as I walk up the steps carved in the dirt, leading out of the pit. Before I take the last step, I look back with a sharp tug, my eyes slamming down onto the ice in the dish, and I turn my head. Instinctually, I reach out to touch it, and the ice spreads from the dish, down the stand and across the floor. From the flames, I felt anger and warmth. From the ice… I sense something else. I want it to come to me.
One of the priestesses takes my arm and tugs me up the last step, snapping the connection, and I shake my head, feeling dizzy. I hardly notice as the priestess snaps a silver band on my wrist.
“What is this?” I demand, trying to push it off, but it doesn’t move.
The priestess, whose face I can’t see under the veil and whatever is covering her face under it, places her hand on my shoulder. “This is for your safety and others around you while you train and learn to control your connection to fire. You’ll begin your training tomorrow, and it will be taken off in controlled areas.”
She walks me to the doors, and I look up, noticing the prince and his friends are all gone. A guard waits at the door, the one with the air element, and he bows his head. “You are expected at court immediately. The prince has called an emergency court meeting, which will be explained in due time.”
The priestess leaves me, and the doors close behind her. I turn back to the guard. I’m done with all this shit already. “Fine.”
He inclines his head, and I swear humor flashes in his eyes before he turns and walks. Time to see how truly fucked up the fae court is—and how I can use them to escape.
Chapter
Three
“This way.”
The guard waves his hand through the large wooden door he holds open, and I step through into a corridor just off the throne room, giving me a clear view of the tiled floors where I lost my mortal self. Where the prince forcibly took my life after hunting me for so many years, killing every foster parent I’ve ever had. Where I learnt what a monster really is. The monsters I’ve hunted over the years don’t compare to him and how a pretty fae face can conceal something truly evil.
Next to the throne room, after I manage to pull my eyes away, I see a line of guards. This must be the courtroom. My guard is already walking towards the room, and I follow behind him. The pressure of my dress seems to tighten further against my ribs, and I swear it helps calm down my beating heart, even as extremely uncomfortable as I am in this dress that I just want to rip off me. We come to the row of towering lightly frosted glass doors. Each one has a cream pillar in between, dark green ivy stems and leaves wrapped around them, spreading up to the top of the ceiling. There is a line of black- and purple-uniformed guards with a royal sigil on their arms, and two of them step to the side, revealing what looks like a door but is instead made of enchantments in between the glass. I can almost see the witch magic in the air, shimmering like it’s alive. It reminds me of the mirrors the Wyerns use to travel around, and the magic almost seems the same.
I look to my guard, who is watching me and answers my unspoken question. “No one but high up fae or royals can enter. Old wards. You will be safe in there, my lady.”
I snort and his eyes flash with amusement once more. Why does he look so familiar to me? I furrow my brow before turning away from him, making a point to watch the magic, well aware of the other guards watching—no, spying—on us. On everything. “I would like to know your name. It’s weird to call you air guard in my head.”
He clears his throat. “My name is Felix.”
My eyes widen as I remember why I’ve seen him before, why he is so familiar. He isn’t just fae, and I wonder how the hell I can’t sense anything Wyern about him. Felix Masterlight. One of the Wyerns I met in Emerson’s court. What in the goddess is he doing here? He doesn’t say a word, stepping back and inclining his head. I’m not sure if I can trust him, but something deep in my bones tells me I can and that it’s a relief to have him.
“Goodbye, Felix. I hope I’m not stuck in there long,”
I reply, fully turning away from him. He chuckles low, and my lips twitch as I walk to the doors and head through the magic. I walk quickly through the enchantment, hating the icy sting of magic that searches my entire body before spitting me angrily away. The courtroom light blasts into my eyes, and when I can finally see, the room itself is magnificent and expensive. By the goddess, the fae are rich bastards. Tall, arched ceilings give way to the beautiful painted walls between the glass windows that line every wall. The entire room is one flat floor, like everyone is meant to be equal, and the thought almost makes me laugh.
Sunlight gently cascades through the windows and open doors to the balcony, flashing on the many shades of purple dresses and suits the fae are wearing. A quick glance around reveals about sixty different people and maybe more on the balconies that I can’t see. Still, sixty fae as enemies is enough to make me almost shake in fear.
Like a gold coin dropping in a fountain, the room goes silent as a ripple of heads turn my way and stare at me. Nearly all of them turn to look at me, making no point to hide their stares, and some of the males leer at me in a way that makes me want to break their arms. I straighten my back, refusing to cower to these immortal fae and be anything less than I am now. I’m fae, not just a mortal with fae blood they used to despise looking at. Maybe I’ll always be that to them, judging from the many cold and downright hostile looks I get. My eyes catch on a familiar pair. The prince’s girlfriend. I remember interviewing her once when I was looking for the prince, and now I wonder if she knew all along or if she is innocent in this. I doubt it, judging by the smile that spreads across her red lips. She was in love with the prince, and I can’t remember exactly what she said.