Wings of Shadow (The Underground Trilogy) (16 page)

She listened to the harmonies of the harp and violins. After several minutes of focusing on the music, she responded, “I’ve wondered the same thing. I should be panicking right now, but I have this curious feeling everything will be all right. I guess I’m starting to trust you.”

He looked troubled at her words. “I only hope I can prove that your trust is well-given.” With that, he spun Meghan again.

“So, what kind of dance are we doing?” Meghan asked.

“A waltz! I thought it only appropriate.”

She thought back to his earlier comments about their waltzing consciences. Sometimes, Kiernan could be far too charming. And despite the impending danger, she was inexplicably charmed.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the music was ending, and the dance was slowing. The anxiety she had tried to keep contained began to bubble up inside of her.

She squeezed his hand. “I’m scared.”

He paused to place a gentle kiss upon her forehead, and replied, “So am I… so am I.”

He took her by the hand and faced the crowded ballroom. The faeries jostled each other in their eagerness to see the unique couple. Kiernan took one step forward, raised his arm, and bowed to the masses. As he stepped back, he whispered, “They are waiting for you to curtsy.”

Meghan stared at him in disbelief. She could not believe that the Underground Fae, with their piercings, dyed hair, and tattoos, actually expected her to curtsy.
Play along
, her intuition guided her. She slowly stepped forward. She raised her chin at the Fae, and with her hands on her skirt, lowered her left knee. Improvising, she raised her right hand into a wave before blowing a kiss. The crowd responded enthusiastically, as the playful faeries jumped about attempting to “catch” her kiss.

Kiernan led her to the tables filled with food, where he proclaimed, “Let the Feast begin! Partake of the jewels of our orchards, the flowers of our gardens, and the magic of our fare.”

Despite his words, the Fae stood and looked at them expectantly. Kiernan filled a plate with delicacies. He led her into a small, but elaborate, tent located in one corner of the ballroom. Yards of silken fabric, in various hues of green, hung from the ceiling. More fabric gathered in the front, forming a doorway. Several guards stood watch outside, surrounding the tent.

“This part of the ceremony is known as the Feast.” Kiernan parted the fabric and guided her into the tent.

“Oh?” She settled herself onto a cushion. “I thought I was the Feast!” She didn’t know why she was joking. Her sudden burst of humor must have been due to the anxiety.

Kiernan eyes smoldered at her bold words. “Be careful what you say. We should use this privacy to come up with a plan.”

“Oops. I’m sorry. Do you have any ideas?”

“I’ve been trying to think of something, anything, but Father has guards everywhere.”

She realized he had no better idea than she did. She needed to distract herself from the dangers they faced. “Tell me what this last supper is supposed to be about, then.”

“Well, it serves two purposes. Traditionally, I’m supposed to nurture your body with food and drink before you nurture my body, um… with your blood. In more modern times, it has also been used as a time for the couple to be alone with each other—a time for intimacy.”

She blushed at his words.

Kiernan leaned closer, balancing his plate on his lap. “I picked out some of my favorites. These are foods which are only prepared during ceremonial times. Would you like to try them?”

While she felt a little nauseous, she was also weak and light-headed. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and she suspected the sun had set already. With all the preparations, she hadn’t realized she was ravenous, so fueling her body before their escape made sense. She had to believe that they would escape. The alternative was too awful to imagine.

He picked up a juicy pink berry and placed it gently in her mouth. It exploded with a delicious, but unusual, flavor. She was reminded of Selena’s flower patch. He chose a second berry and dipped his finger into a tangerine-colored cream. He again fed her the berry, but then offered her his cream-coated finger. Meghan hesitantly licked his finger clean, making a happy sound at the pleasing taste of the fruit-flavored cream.

The meal proceeded in silence. Meghan felt far too shy to talk. She couldn’t decide which she enjoyed more: her delicious meal, or the unusual way in which she was being fed. Soon, the plate was empty, and silence filled the air.

Meghan broke the quiet. “Kiernan, what are you thinking right now?”

“I wish…,” he faltered. “I wish I had never been brought here. Most Fae choose this lifestyle. They arrive in their Between Years and are given enough information to decide if this is right for them. This was thrust upon me when I was only a faeling, and I never had a choice.”

She stroked his fingers. “Your father said you would be the future leader of the Underground Fae. He has been preparing you since you were a small boy, hasn’t he?”

Kiernan nodded. “But I don’t want to be the leader. I don’t even believe this is the right path for the Fae.” A single tear slid down his cheek.

Kiernan had been more open in the last hour than he had in all of their time together. She realized he was trying to manage the same whirlwind of feelings she was, and her heart ached for him. Acting purely on instinct, she leaned over and kissed the tear before it finished its path down his cheek. He stared at her, his vulnerability clear. Her lips hovered in front of his, watching his reaction.

She startled as the tent door opened, and quickly moved away from Kiernan.

“It is time,” the guard announced.

Without speaking, Kiernan led her out the doorway of the tent and escorted her to the throne platform.

Lord Killian rose, and the faerie masses quieted. “It is time for the coming-of-age ceremony to come to its end. Blood brings nourishment! Blood brings pleasure! Blood brings immunity! Blood will save us all!”

The Fae cheered, and the band played a few strands of music before falling silent once again.

As Lord Killian sat back on his throne, he summoned another Fae with a subtle finger movement. The Fae stepped upon the platform, holding a small purple velvet pillow in his hands. He balanced the fancy square carefully as he moved closer to Kiernan. A silver knife, with an ornate jeweled handle, lay upon the small pillow. Meghan’s heart seized, and she began to tremble, slowly at first, and then more and more, until her legs could barely hold her up. A sob escaped her.

Kiernan clasped her hand. Standing before the crowds, he placed Meghan is front of him. As he leaned over to pick up the knife, he whispered, “I’m still thinking—play along.” Holding the knife high for all to see, he lowered it to her neckline. She gasped as the cold metal touched her skin. Before Kiernan could make the cut, he was interrupted by a shout from the back of the chamber.

“Stop!” Avery shouted as he pushed his way toward the thrones faster than seemed possible, given the large crowd in the ballroom. Kiernan, with a sigh of relief so small it only could be heard by Meghan, lowered the knife back onto the pillow.

Sweaty and out of breath, Avery arrived at the platform. His brown curls sprang in every direction, and his clothing was soiled and ripped. He looked like a street faerie in comparison to the richly dressed and coifed Fae in the room, but Meghan had never been so happy to see him.

“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Killian bellowed.

“My apologies, Father,” Avery began. “I come to offer myself in exchange for Meghan. Release her, and I will be yours to command as you desire.”

Meghan gasped at his offering. He was prepared to give up his home and his people to serve the father he detested, to protect her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She had been so focused on herself and Kiernan tonight, but Avery was the one willing to surrender everything for her.

“Oh, Avery, you can’t do this,” Meghan cried out. “Your throne, your life...”

Lord Killian’s cold, heartless laugh echoed through the ballroom. “It is not up to any of you! The coming-of-age is about acquiring immunity, and your blood is worthless for that… Son. Someday I will accept your offer to join us, but for tonight, the ceremony continues. Guards!”

With a snap of Lord Killian’s fingers, Avery was led away by two henchmen in silken black, hooded robes that flowed to the floor. Only the familiar leather and metal wings revealed their identities.

Once again, Kiernan took the knife from the pillow. Meghan cringed before it even touched her. She had hoped that a plan would present itself. But time had just run out.

~ 14 ~

Meghan shuddered at the feel of the biting metal pressing against the delicate skin of her neck.

A sudden commotion erupted at the back of the ballroom. Shade and Chaos pushed through the dense crowd, in the direction of the thrones. As Chaos urgently approached, Fae ducked out of the way of his lethally sharp metal wings, but he was still unable to make his way to the front of the crowded room. Chaos scribbled a message and indicated the Fae should send it to the throne.

Silently, the written message passed from the rear of the ballroom toward the front. Most of the Fae scrambled to move it forward, not wanting to catch Lord Killian’s attention. A young Fae, wings constructed from bicycle tires, stopped to read the message.

“What is the meaning of this disruption?” Killian yelled, directing his anger toward the tire-winged Fae.

When the Fae did not respond, Lord Killian bellowed. “Ryder, read the message!”

“L… Lord Killian, sir. The Underground boundaries have been breached. You must call for a lockdown immediately!” His body trembled, with the vibrations spinning the tires on his back.

Lord Killian rose. “A breach? If the village Fae have come for their prince, we shall fight them.”

“No, sir. It is h-humans.”

“Humans?” Lord Killian roared.

“Yes, sir. The armed division of humans. We have tw-twenty minutes until they reach us.” The whirling tires were building speed with the intensity of the Fae’s trembles.

Lord Killian sank into his throne and lowered his head. He was silent for a full minute. The murmurs of the Fae grew louder as they waited for him to speak.

Finally, Lord Killian stood. “My wonderful Fae. With much sorrow, I must pause our ceremony. There seems to be an infiltration. Humans will search our tunnels, but they will only find signs of old gatherings. You all have important roles to play in protecting the Underground. Do your assigned tasks well, and then proceed immediately to the lockdown chamber. I hope this infiltration will be short-lived, and we will soon be able to regroup to complete the ceremony.”

Kiernan had lowered the knife upon hearing the disturbance. Meghan watched the Fae scurry to complete their duties, gathering the remnants of food and drink, dismantling the tent, and carrying away the instruments. Everyone worked together, and the chamber began to empty within minutes.

“Shade, Chaos,” Lord Killian ordered. “Please take my son and his lovely guest to my personal lockdown chamber. Do not leave their sides.”

The metal-winged Fae grabbed Meghan by her arm, while Shade seized Kiernan. Without further words, they were marched out of the chamber. The hallways bustled with activity as the Fae dismantled all signs of life within the Underground.

Chaos dragged her through the hallways. As Meghan was pulled along, her body slammed into furniture, the wings of Fae scratched her face, and her elbow scraped against the rough stone of the wall. She heard Kiernan struggling, and spotted him behind her.

They soon outdistanced the other Fae. As Chaos paused before a metal vent, Meghan took a moment to look around. She couldn’t see Shade’s face due to his hooded robe, but she would never forget his leather wings—black as midnight, with silver rivets and fine leather ties to attach them. She wished she had never set eyes on those inky wings.

Chaos shoved her through the gaping hole of the open vent. Kiernan fell next to her, onto the hard concrete of another passageway. The two Dark Fae climbed through the illuminated rectangle before replacing the vent.

Their furious pace continued down the unlit tunnel. After five minutes, the guards paused. Meghan couldn’t see in the darkness, but she heard a chafing sound, followed by a small hiss. The scent of sulfur filled the air, as the narrow passage glowed with the flicker of candlelight.

Silently, the guards shed their leather and metal wings, then pulled off their black robes and hoods. Wish’s beaming face looked down at her. Raine stood by his side, looking different without her delicate plum wings.

Meghan’s heart leaped in her chest. She embraced Wish, thanking him without words. If only Avery had been able to escape, this moment would have been perfect. As if he had read her mind, Avery appeared from further down the tunnel.

Meghan ran over and threw her arms around him. “We all escaped!” She had barely allowed herself to hope that all three of them would escape.

“Thanks for the adventure, but I need to get back before they notice I am missing,” Raine said.

Kiernan and Meghan thanked her with enormous hugs.

Wish pointed to an imaginary wristwatch. “I never thought I would be the party-pooper, but I must point out Lord Killian will soon realize there is no real infiltration. Let’s make some distance before that happens.”