Fire and Ice (19 page)

Adrius kept glancing at the door, like he was searching for something or someone. He'd been at my side most of the evening, but that didn't mean he couldn't be searching for someone else. This whole world of theirs was crawling with pretty faces. Then his expression hardened. He clamped onto my hand and led me through the crowd toward the railing while my heart raced to the staccato beat of the music. I pushed back my hair, damp from the melted snow, as he flagged a nearby server. The servant disappeared and then returned with a garment in his arms, which he handed to Adrius.

"Here. Put this on." Adrius held up a crimson, hooded, velvety robe encrusted with glittering diamonds. “I'll be right back.”

“What is it?” I asked, holding it like it was a ticking bomb.

“Just… stay here.” Then he pushed his way through the masses without a backward glance, disappearing in the swarm.

Taryn looked at me with both brows raised, but I could only shrug. She fingered the robe inquisitively. “…The Cloak of Ana.”

“Who?” I frowned.

“The Faerie queen who lived in an enchanted mountain castle, until fortunes changed and she one day met with the king of the demons, and from then on, her body and soul belonged to him.” She blinked at me. “Surely you've heard of it?”

I shook my head and handed her the cape. “Keep it for me, will you? Thanks. I need to find Adrius.”

The throng around me grew denser. Apparently everyone was more interested in how I survived the storm than anything else. More and more curious beings fired questions in rapid succession, to which I repeated the same feeble explanation I gave Taryn.

“But how could you withstand it, being of the bloodline of the summer faeries?” A crumpled woman persisted. It was the kind of question to which there was no answer. I still hadn't come to terms with any of that. Shifting uncomfortably, I craned my neck to search for Adrius. But he had disappeared among the mob of leaping and gyrating bodies. Apparently nothing smacks a party into high gear in Mythlandria like the cold hand of danger. The music pulsed with a frenetic beat, and despite the lateness of the evening, there was no sign of the festivities winding down.

I excused myself, dodging further questions with one lame excuse after another. Winding my way down the staircase, I wandered into the garden. It was calmer there, only a few couples littered among the trees — lovers enjoying the moonlight once more, now that the threat was over.As I walked along the manicured path, I deeply inhaled the warm fragrant air. I tried not to make my search obvious, but I wanted to find Adrius. I had to know what happened to the Ice Witch. Eventually I came to a round stone patio, from which branched four different paths. Perched on the edge of the surrounding stone wall, I took a moment to soak up the night air and the warmth that was only now returning to my toes. I kicked off my spike-heeled strappy sandals and bent down to massage life back into one partially defrosted foot.

It was the sudden cold gust of wind that stopped me. I slipped my shoes back on and stood motionless. The Ice Witch… She was back, and this time I was alone. Unprotected against whatever she might attempt. Panic rose in the pit of my stomach, and I scanned for a safe place to hide. Not that that would do any good. She was a witch. Any shelter I came up with would be transparent to her.

But what came next I was completely unprepared for. Had I not already been so freaked out I might have lost it completely. A being, terrifying and beautiful descended in front of me, a black feathered wingspan blocking all light from the moon and stars. There was nothing but his presence as he walked toward me in a blinding white glow that outlined his blackened frame. I sucked in a breath of cool thyme-scented air as his porcelain-like face came into focus.

It was Zanthiel, the Shadow Faerie of Darkness. The Faerie I'd been seeking against all warnings, had found me. I stared at him as his silver eyes swept over me. In an instant his wings disappeared, and he stood in his black-green, floor-length duster that appeared to be made from leaves, with the largest sword I'd ever laid eyes on slung across his back. He grinned, and I swear I felt physical pain.

“Ilyandra… we meet again. As I once said we would.”

With a jump, I spun around toward the voice which was now coming from behind.

The ethereal being strode toward me, the width of him blocking out the moon.

“It's
Lorelei
,” I corrected, slipping into a trance-like stare when I gazed into his mercury eyes.

“I am Zanthiel.” He gave a thin smirk. “Carry my name well. It is a heavy burden to hold the name of a fey. And you will call it… Often. Though three times will suffice.”

He spoke, circling me slowly. I turned my head to keep him in view, wondering how I could be ready to run and yet unable to move all at once. For a moment I couldn't remember anything — where I was, who he was, why I was here.

“Why do I know you?” I asked, as the fog suffocating my memories lifted.

“This is not our first meeting… nor our last.” The moonlight reflecting in his silvery eyes cast an unnatural inner glow, eerie, and hypnotic.

“You do not remember me?”

I knew him. I'd recognize him anywhere. He had haunted my dreams at night for most of my life. He was the one who had visited me as a child to give me the gift of song. I nodded my head, sweeping the hair from my face.

“I know who you are.” How could I possibly forget? Aside from my mother and Gran, this dark Faerie was my longest relationship. He was young when he came into my room that night. I was young too, but his visit had haunted me my entire life. I'd only seen him twice since then, but in my dreams he was always there. And now the being they'd all tried to convince me was a vivid nightmare, was here — as real and alive as I was.

“Good. I'm glad you haven't forgotten.” He reached out with a chilled hand and touched my hair. I stiffened but didn't back away. He brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply and then dropped it. Faeries liked to smell my hair for some reason. Then something caught his eye. My necklace. His lips thinned as he stared, but he didn't comment on it.

It was getting colder. My body felt tingly and numb. My head was fuzzy, like I'd drunk more Faerie wine. Why was it always so hard to focus around these beings, especially the beautiful ones? It was as if they gave off some sort of power that scrambled my brain.

“So you have called to me. Again. Tell me why.”

I was confused, but this
was
what I wanted, wasn't it? To ask for his help?

I inhaled a deep breath. “I need to get home. My mother is sick. I'm the only one who can help her.” My hands were starting to tremble, so I talked faster. “So staying here is not an option, but no one will let me leave.”

He smiled again, and I folded my arms across my chest to keep from falling down.

His silver hair swayed in the cool night air. “I thought you would have something far more imaginative to ask me.” A slight frown creased his brow. “The return of your voice, for example.”

“Wait. How did you…”

“I am aware of many things in the Nevermore. Even here among the forests of the
elfkind
.” It was evident in the way he said it he had issues with this place. But now wasn't the time to get into that.

“Well, if you know so much, then you must know these people…
beings
, mistakenly believe I'm supposed to save them from a war with the Ice Witch. Something I neither
can
, nor
want
to do.”

He exhaled, long and deliberate. “Yes… The Una Electa.”

“Whatever. The point is they're all wrong. And I don't have time to convince them they're wrong. I have to get back to my world… to my mother.”

Zanthiel narrowed his eyes, his brows drawing tightly together.

“I have no interest in your mother, Lorelei.” He shrugged. “The only thing I am interested in is our contract.”

My eyes widened. “Our what?”

“We have an accord… an agreement, shall we say? And I am here to see you fulfill it.”

He stepped toward me and reached out a cold pale hand, wrapping his long fingers around my throat. It struck me as odd I didn't back away from him. His touch was gentle… familiar, not at all threatening. This time I didn't scream. I didn't move. There was nothing. No fear, no terror. None of the hysterical panic I went through every time he did this in my dreams. His hands felt cool, soothing, and I was immediately flooded with the sensation of icy liquid flowing through my veins… as though the temperature of my blood had dropped.

“What are you doing?” I whispered as he pulled his hand away. My throat burned, the way it did when I had laryngitis once.

Stepping back he gave a satisfied smirk. “Now, sing for me,” he said.

I blinked. “You want me to sing. Right here? Now?”

He glanced around and nodded. “I've returned your voice.”

The calm sensation I'd had a moment before evaporated, replaced by blazing outrage.

“Are you out of your mind? I'm not here to perform on command! Sort of have more important things on my mind at the moment.”

He seemed genuinely confused by my reaction. “It is only in repaying your debt to me that I can give you what it is you need.”

“What I
need
is to get out of here… Now.” My head was spinning again, and I could hear music playing that didn't seem to be coming from any direction in particular. The trees distorted and tiny white orbs flew around us, like flittering balls of light. I could no more tell if they were real or a vivid hallucination. “If you can't help me with that then we have nothing left to talk about.”

I had to leave. It was too confusing being around him. From what I had learned about the fey and their favors, I already knew I couldn't meet their prices. They asked for payments no mortal could afford.

When he continued to stare into me with his achingly sharp crystal gaze I decided to try a different approach.

“I hardly consider a voice someone else controls a legitimate gift.” It came out sounding like a petulant little kid, and that just ticked me off more. “And as for the healing, well, you can take that back too. I didn't ask for any of it.” I stuck out my chin, feeling more like sticking out my tongue. “
You
promised to keep my father safe and he's been gone for years. I'd say that's a deal breaker.”

He studied me as though I was a caged wild animal, with mild fascination and wary curiosity. His liquid eyes dropped to the charm hanging at the base of my throat.

“Stop staring at this stupid thing and answer me. Are you worried I'll use it to read your mind? Then here!”

I ripped the charm from my neck and threw it to the ground.

Zanthiel's head darted in a lizard-like motion, following the jewel with his eyes. It lay on the ground pulsing violet rays, and I could feel my body temperature drop. I forgot how much I needed the Inner Eye for more than insight. Hawthrin mentioned it also regulated my body temperature… and in the company of a winter fey, especially one as strong as Zanthiel, it probably kept me alive.

He grabbed my arm.

“You imbecile! Are you that eager to meet death? If so, I can easily arrange an introduction.”

The cold from his touch burned my skin. He was livid, but I didn't care. All I could think about was getting away from him. It didn't matter how. The necklace was the key to something… that much I knew. As I picked it up from the ground, he grabbed my hand, and pried it open.

“Take your hands off of me,” I ground through clenched teeth. The overpowering smell of thyme was suffocating.

Zanthiel laughed, tightening his grip. The cold was unbearable, even through the heat of my fury.

“You are an amazing being. Is it your humanness that makes you naive enough to assume our bargain comes without cost?”

“I owe you nothing,” I spat, trying to wrench my arm free from his icy clamp. It was useless, but suddenly he loosened his grip and set me free. It was a momentary freedom, because faster than I could realize, he had me in a full embrace, locked in his arms. His cold body pressed up against mine. The erratic beating of my heart betraying me in ways I didn't completely understand. He held me like only Adrius had before, only the biting chill of his touch and the agonizing closeness of his lips felt nothing like Adrius's embrace. I was frozen literally in place, unable to pull away… and unsure if I really wanted to.

“I'm warning you,” I said, trying hard to keep my voice from quivering.

He moved in closer, his face nearly in contact with mine. I stayed motionless, certain he was going to kiss me… and I braced myself for the thrill of cold I knew would follow. But instead his nose brushed mine as he refastened the necklace around my neck.

My knees swayed. It was useless to deny what I felt, the way I responded to his touch. But that was crazy. I didn't even know him. And what little I did know held zero interest.

“The Inner Eye is precious to one who can wield it. Never take it off,” he whispered.

I frowned, trying to concentrate.

He inhaled deeply, drinking in my fragrance. “You must know by now, that the fey always come to collect. And since I have news that would change the course of your decisions, your debt to me grows larger by the moment it would seem.”

I was still struggling to focus.

“You say your wish is to return to save your mother, and yet what of your father?”

“My father—” It came out as more of a gasp than in words.

“Your father is very much alive. For now. In Faery.”

With bated breath, I waited for him to finish.

“So, you see, Ilyandra, you must regain your powers and see the prophecy fulfilled. Otherwise it will be more than your mother and your Elven boyfriend whose lives are lost.”

I repositioned myself, putting a little distance between us. His eyes were like bottomless pools of liquid lead, and I was drowning. “What are you talking about? I don't have any powers.”

“Yes. You do. You just do not know that you do. But you will. And traveling to the Faery island of Tir Na Non will be your first step in accessing them.”

I fixed him with a suspicious stare, which seemed abnormally hard to do. “Are you going to take me there?”

“You are going alone.”

“I don't have a clue how to get to the Faery islands. Considering how deadly this place is, I doubt I'd even survive.”

“You will. You will be given all you need to do this. How else could your triumph have been written before your birth? Only then will you be able to fulfill the prophecy and return to your mother.” He paused. “And find your father.”

“You know where my father is?” As I tried to shake the fog from my head, I heard my name.

“Lorelei!” A voice was calling from the distant darkness. The sinuous arms surrounding me slackened. I shifted my head in the direction of the voice. It was Adrius. With the fluttering of charcoal-feathered wings Zanthiel was gone. Dissolving into swirling black smoke that torpedoed like a heat-seeking missile into the night.

I gasped for air, not realizing I was still holding my breath.
Need to stop doing that.
Lack of oxygen to the brain was of no help in thinking rationally around the fey… Zanthiel in particular.

The footsteps trampling through brush grew closer, until the vision of perfection stepped into the cobblestone ring.

“Hey, what are you doing out here?” He looked genuinely surprised to see me, his golden green eyes darkening with concern.

“I just needed some air.” The lie would never fool him. How could it, he had a distinct advantage of having a pipeline to my thoughts…
Sometimes
. And even though he'd promised not to, I still felt better knowing I could keep him out if I really focused. I steeled my mind, placing a wall around the encounter that had just transpired. The one that had left me feeling flushed, breathless, and furious… and, for some reason, a little guilty.

“What happened to the Ice Witch?” I said, suddenly remembering the first threat we'd encountered. “Where is she?”

Adrius shrugged. “Octahvia? We couldn't find her. Appears she's gone for now.” He looked closely at me. “You're shivering.”

“I'm tired. Wanna walk back with me?” I tried to manage a real smile, but not sure I succeeded. “We can talk,” I offered, when he didn't respond.

His gaze held mine for a long moment. He must have seen something in my eyes, because he glanced around warily. Taking a deep breath, he agreed and took my hand. It was my turn to sense something. He was suffering, I could tell. The skies had been grey and bleak for days now, the winds growing bitterly colder every day. My mood matched the weather, as closely as his did. Only, I knew why I was miserable. His torment was still a mystery to me.

“I want to apologize for earlier. I should never have let Julien provoke me like that.”

In all of the strangeness of my encounter with Zanthiel, I'd almost forgotten about the party, the fight.

“Don't worry about it, Adrius, seriously. What is it with the two of you anyway?”

At first it seemed like sibling rivalry, which in an alternative world led to sword fights. That somehow made sense. But as usual, the truth was far more complex.

“You explain the concept of quantum mechanics and I'll explain my relationship with my brother.”

When I didn't return his smile, he stopped walking and stepped in front of me.

“Lorelei, what is it? You look like you'd rather be chased by goblins than return to the Beltane."