Fay Tale - Chapter Fourteen

Maidd watched as the vampire’s eyes turned to dangerous slits. Without taking his eyes off the ogre, Angelis carefully shut the door and walked back toward him. Maidd shifted slightly in preparation.

“I have no reason to attack you, Maidd,” the prince assured.

“That rarely stops anyone, but it’s good to know you think that,” the ogre replied, glancing warily at the claws.

They danced slowly across the room, the prince taking a step forward, the ogre one back. Finally Angelis stopped.

“I can assure you Liliana is fully human,” he said.

“Uh-huh. That’d be so much more convincing if your fangs weren’t poking out.”

“But while I can and will assure you of this fact,” Angelis continued, ignoring the comment, “I wish to know why such an idea came to you to begin with.”

“Because she disappeared.”

“Where?”

“In the garden maze.”

“She is very good at hiding,” Angelis reasoned.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. I can track. I can smell. I can also hear very well. But I could’ve stepped on her and not known it.”

“She is quite adept at hiding when she wishes. I truly do not think-”

“She has magic.”

Angelis lunged for him, but Maidd jerked to the side, out of reach of the sharp claws.

“You misunderstand,” the vampire said impatiently. “I must speak to you!”

“I’m listening,” Maidd said as he backed up again, “from a safe distance.”

“Mind-to-mind. Where no spirit or magic may hear us.”

“I don’t see why we need to do any mind-to-mind talking when I can just ask you what sort of magic sh-”

“Hold your tongue!” the prince hissed. “Liliana’s safety is at stake!”

This time when Angelis stepped forward, Maidd didn’t move back. Instead he snagged both of the prince’s wrists, twisting them so the claws were pointing up towards the ceiling, before lifting him into the air. When Angelis hissed and tried to kick him, Maidd simply transferred the wrists to one hand then wrapped the other hand around the vampire’s slender waist. He tightened his grip to bone-bruising when the vampire continued to struggle furiously.

“You wanted us to touch. So we’re touching,” Maidd said, ignoring the pained gasp. “Use your mind-to-mind all you want.”

“How trusting of you,” Angelis snapped.

“You haven’t given me much reason to trust you, your highness.”

Angelis fought the instinct to pull away again, knowing it would only bring more pain. He took a deep breath then closed his eyes. Maidd felt the vampire’s magic tug at him and reluctantly allowed access to the part of his own magic that would allow them to speak mind-to-mind.

Maidd rode the emotional waves of fear and pain from Angelis before the words came.

Maidd?

I can hear you.

He felt Angelis shrink back from the anger behind his answer. Maidd took a few steadying breaths then tried again.

She has magic, Angel. I get that’s a big embarrassment for humans since it proves there was an indiscretion somewhere along the line with a Folk or two. But I’m hardly in the position to go shouting it from the rooftops that she’s two-natured. Who would believe an ogre over a prince?

He very carefully kept his own familial indiscretions to himself.

While your open-mindedness is appreciated, Angelis replied slowly, it is much worse than you think. Now that you are aware of her abilities…I believe I must tell you all. For her sake as well as that of mine and my bonded.

Maidd felt a sense of unease rise, which reflected in the bond between them. What could be worse than being two-natured?

She is Fay-touched, Angelis said heavily.

The ogre’s face lightened a few shades of green in horror.

Meziroth’s Bullocks, Angelis!

She is an innocent! She was taken by them. Changed into something more fitting to be a plaything for their twisted games, Angelis snarled, protective emotions and fear battering against Madd’s own horror. She is able to hide herself from nearly every gaze both magical and physical that searches for her. But in their hubris, they did not realize that included their own magic.

Maidd drew in a sharp breath.

Fay were the most feared of the Folk as they came and for good reason. They were smart. Powerful. Most importantly they thought they were better than any other living creature on the earth and therefore master of all.

While some Fay could be kind masters, generous with their gifts and protection, few creatures enjoyed a life as a slave. Even a pampered one. And those were ‘good’ Fay. The larger group by far enjoyed playing with their slaves like cheap toys. Easily broken. And just as easily replaced.

But a Fay-touched that could hide from the Fay themselves…is a toy that could turn on its masters.

Maidd sighed again.

Who else knows about this? he asked.

My brother and I. And now you, Angelis said softly.

Not even the king?

If he considered disposing of Liliana when she was simply a distraction to Seris, how would our benevolent monarch react when he found a Fay magnet sleeping under his roof? the vampire growled.

Fay-touched don’t tend to last long, Maidd said slowly. Most of them are hunted down by humans. Even some Folk.

Or they attempt to profit off the Fay-touched’s misfortune, Angelis said with quiet sorrow.

Which usually doesn’t end well, Maidd pointed out. There’s a reason why they’re considered charms for destruction.

Fay return to what they have touched! Angelis said sharply. That is no fault of those whom they torment.

Easy prince or you’ll sprain something. I’ve already done enough damage for you to be adding to it.

The prince glared down at him but kept silent. The glare turned into confusion at the ogre’s next words.

I vow not to tell no other of her infirmity, Maidd swore. Not Folk, not human. Not even Fay. If I break this solemn vow may my sword be lost in battle, my bones cracked and leeched of marrow, my heart turned to stone by sorrows too great to bear.

Angelis stared at him. He couldn’t know the seriousness of the ogre vow. But here, in this place of mind-to-mind, he could feel it. Maidd would truly die first before breaking that vow.

…I’d add a little blood to that vow if my hands weren’t tied up at the moment, Maidd added.

Angelis huffed with reluctant amusement before saying, I, Angelis Fairfang, prince of Eirendyr, bonded to Seris Wildeye, hold you to your oath. May all you say and more burden you if you break it.

Wildeye?

May you never witness the reason for it, Angelis said solemnly.

Speaking of I’d be happy to let you down now if you break our mind-to-mind.

Maidd winced at the mental snap as Angelis released them from the temporary bonding. With a sigh he started to lower the vampire to the floor, but Angelis’s eyes widened in sudden alarm as he stared past the ogre’s shoulder. Moving on instinct, Maidd began to turn.

A blade plunged between his ribs.

Cold steel slid through his body up to the sword’s hilt. For a long moment nothing happened. There was no pain. No one moved. Then Angelis shouted his name and the spell broke.

Bad-luck Maidd, his own thoughts taunted. You’re bad luck, Maidd.