Kaye was not alone. The breeze that stirred the darkly looming trees around her seemed to warn her, whisper to her to leave, right away. She shivered, pulling her coat tight about her shoulders and resolutely continued on her way. The ground was damp; she could feel it seeping through her shoes but she ignored it and leant back against a broad tree trunk waiting. Idiot, she thought furiously to herself, he won't come. To think that she could command the King of the Fay Court, that he should even want to see her was a laughable concept. She tipped her head back, staring at the wistful moon that drifted beyond the tall treetops, trying to ignore the prickling sensation that told her she was being watched. She shifted uncomfortably, still not used to the sensation of her filmy wings lying on her back under her thin glamour.
Closing her eyes, she tried not to think about the first time she had been here with Roiben, the night he had been shot, but still, her mind kept wandering backwards. Back when Janet was alive and the fay as she knew them were as good and sweet as Lutie and poor Spike. Back when she had still seemed semi normal, or at any rate, she was not aware of her real self, her pixie self. Absentmindedly, she rubbed her hand over her eyes, forgetting about her eyeliner and smearing it all over her face. "Shit!" She muttered, searching her pockets for a tissue. Suddenly, her head came up as she heard a movement in the gloomy forest ahead of her.
She shrank back against the tree, trying to merge herself with the shadows, all the time berating herself for straying into what could prove to be a trap, out late and alone. The rustling was becoming louder and louder, and she half shut her eyes, not wanting to see but not wanting to be blind. In the moment it took her to realise that the sound had stopped and open her eyes fully, a hand had clamped over her mouth and she was drawn back against someone, or something.
"Greetings fair maiden," Whispered a silky voice in her ear, and the hand dropped and gently propelled her round till she was face to face with Roiben. He stood there smiling, his eyes alight and his silver hair pouring over his shoulders. The momentary anger and fear she felt, melted away without warning as she gazed up at him. They stood simply staring at each other before he pulled her forward and placed his lips on hers. His breath was warm and his tongue traced her teeth lightly, as she yielded against him, opening her mouth further. His hand stroked her hair tenderly as his arm encircled her waist, pulling her towards him. Finally, they broke apart, full of love for each other. He smiled, bringing his hand up to follow her cheekbone. "I missed you." He said simply, his eyes bright and deep.
She put her arms round his waist, laying her head on his shoulder. "And I you," She replied, feeling the sharp plate of his armour dig into her, but too happy to care. He laughed, and stepped backwards, examining her. He laughed again at the smudges under her eyes, and producing a handkerchief proceeded to wipe away the stains. "Thanks," She looked up at him. "How are you?" She noted the tired marks beneath his eyes, and the taunt strain upon his face. "Is the court not playing nicely?" She did not realise the impact her words would have on him.
"Since when did they ever?" His voice was full of bitterness as he glanced away from her and pushed his gleaming hair back. "It's not just the court, the remaining solitary Fay are creating havoc once more, though on a more serious note." The worry in his voice was hard to ignore, and Kaye stepped backwards, aware that something was seriously wrong.
"What?" She asked, shuddering at the images the words solitary fay conjured, Roiben shot, the humans strapped to stretchers and Janet walking off the pier after the smiling, taunting Kelpie boy.
He bit his lip, seemingly biting back words before saying vaguely, "After the death of the Seelie Queen they've become more... daring." A guarded look passed over his perfect features, that Kaye had come to associate with a holding back of details. Details she would not like. Shaking her head, and trying to pretend that she hadn't seen, she took his hand and began to lead the way back to her Grandma's house, unaware that two malignant burning eyes were peering after her, from within the shadows.
Typical, she thought two hours later as she sat perched on the kitchen countertop. Roiben had been an instant hit with her "family" when they had first been introduced with his formal manners and a courtier's tongue for flattery, making her Gran, Mum and changeling sister Kate giggle and blush. She scowled in the direction of the living room when another peal of laughter, doubtless from her mum, emerged. Sighing, disregarding the iron that burned her nose and lungs, she slipped off the worktop and grabbed the phone, dialling as she gazed out of the window into the black garden. She toyed idly with a strand of hair, glamoured shocking pink, waiting for her call to be answered. "Hello?"
"Hey Corny,"
"Oh, hi Kaye, alright?"
"Yeah, are you busy tomorrow?"
"Nah, Luis is somewhere doing whatever. Some healing shit." The hurt was evident in his voice.
"He didn't let you go did he?" She stifled a laugh.
"What the fuck is that all about? I mean come on; we haven't exactly played it safe over the years and it's not like I have never ever been in danger because of the Fay. Huh, he's my fucking boyfriend, and he's playing the protective card on me!"
"It shows he cares,"
"Whatever," She heard him yawn, through the receiver it sounded like a wave breaking, "Why are you asking anyway?"
"It's Roiben,"
"Ah, speaking of protective boyfriends,"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come on Kaye, you did that quest thing, and he still won't let you be a proper consort? How much evil can there really be, because sure as hell we've faced most of it."
"He doesn't want me to lose my life here, that's all,"
"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, back to the point?"
"We just need to have a look around, something big is bothering him but he won't tell me,"
"Ok, cool. See you tomorrow then but you had better come round because I am not trudging round to yours." She smothered another smile.
"Lazy bones. Bye then."
She hung up, and running her fingers through her hair she shuffled into the living room. Roiben was sprawled across the sofa, head pillowed on his arms staring at the TV without seeing it. Her mum had obviously gone to bed. "Hey," she smiled down at him, before shoving his long legs off the edge of the sofa so she could sit down. He returned her smile, the vacant look in his eyes vanishing. They sat in a comfortable silence for a little while, listening to the rain hurling itself against the French windows. She drank in his glamoured form, his shimmering hair, head to toe black ensemble and softened features before deciding she preferred him before. Stretching, she stood again and wandered over to the mirror. She changed her boring t-shirt and jeans outfit for a long, olive dress and an elaborate jet necklace. Smiling, she shifted her hair from pink to blond once more, and then slumped back unto the sofa, a little drained from her efforts and the iron.
Roiben regarded her, bemused. "Is this for my benefit?" She turned and looked at him in mock surprise.
"You? Why on earth would I dress up for you? No this is for my other boyfriend." She winked.
"I must find him and run him through," He remained completely serious. She laughed before crawling on to the sofa and slipping her arms around his waist. She lifted her eyes to his face, the plea unspoken. He smiled, before saying firmly, "No Kaye, I must leave tonight." She grumbled half heartedly into his chest, wishing she could make him stay with her.
"Can I not persuade you in any way?" She grinned wickedly at him. He groaned, his eyes never leaving her.
"Please Kaye, do not make this any harder than it already is," She ignored him and pulled herself up so she could reach his face. She met his steady gaze, her heart thumping before leaning forwards and kissing him. His lips opened immediately and she closed her eyes, melting as he kissed her neck down to her shoulder and back again, hungrily searching for her mouth. She put her arms round his neck, rising up on to her knees to be able to reach him more easily. He moved his lips to her ear, whispering "I'm sorry Kaye, I must go soon, as persuasive as you are." She groaned at his words before slipping off his lap and moving down the sofa. She drew her knees up to her chest and scowled at him sulkily. He shrugged his shoulders helplessly, "I have to run my court, and it is a demanding task." She sighed and rubbed her temples, nodding.
"I know," She mumbled, "I just wish I could see more of you though." At her words, his head jerked.
"They are here, I must go," She wondered if he had even heard her. He rose, and his glamour fell away, revealing his pointed ears, and inhuman perfection. She followed him to the doors, and out to the dew encrusted lawn where two of his knights were waiting, their faces carefully blank. Kaye knew that many if not all of Roiben's subjects disapproved of her, something he refused to deter him. She nodded to the pair, who looked so alien stood on the lawn like bizarre garden gnomes, with their thick armour and deep, all seeing eyes. She turned to Roiben and hugged him, feeling how his body had tensed under the metal plates, as though he could block out the horror and instability of his court. She held on tighter, reluctant to relinquish him. "You'll have to take him by force you bastards," She thought grimly, until he gently disengaged himself and promised he would visit tomorrow. She nodded, watching him turn away and walk into the blackness of the garden, watching until she could see him no more.
She was woken by someone banging on her door. Groaning, she rolled over on to her front, staring blearily at the ceiling, willing the fuzziness in her head to clear. She stumbled up, and over to the door before pulling it open. "It's late, get up," Her mum stood there, Kaye spotted Kate peeping out from behind her legs.
"Mmm, OK just give me a minute."
"No, now. You said you would meet Corny today, so jump to it. There's some toast and stuff downstairs." Kaye stopped listening and shut the door again, shaking her head. Her mum was going through a weird protective phase; she'd grow out of it. She knelt down, trying to find something clean to wear, and ended up pulling on her jeans and t-shirt from yesterday. Crossing the landing to the bathroom, she splashed some water on her face but avoided looking in the mirror. It was strange seeing her human face, when she knew it was a mask.
She descended the stairs, and went straight to the kitchen. She poured some coffee that seemed fresh and sat at the table, warming her hands with the mug. She glanced up at the clock; she had about an hour before she needed to go see Corny. "Kaye?" A small voice said, from under the table. She bent down.
"Hi Kate,"
"Who was that fay man?"
"Um, a friend,"
"Oh,"
"Did he scare you?"
"I thought he had come to take me away again," Poor kid, thought Kaye, she didn't like the world of the Fay as much as she had originally let on.
"That won't happen again, I promise," The strange little girl crawled out from under the table and gave Kaye a quick smile. It was the most she had ever spoken at one time, and Kaye was quietly astonished.
"Bye then," She said, and scurried off upstairs. Kaye smiled into her mug; maybe her sort of sister wasn't so weird after all.
She banged on the trailer door for the fifth time, before discovering it was unlocked. Wary of the iron, she gingerly pushed it open and called out, "Hello?" An answering groan came from Corny's room, so she started towards it. "Hey," She smiled, as she pushed the door open to see him half in half out of his bed, blinking dazedly.
"Go away," He mumbled into the pillow, "I'm not in the mood for freaks today," She grinned and pulled the duvet off, tossing it away. He huddled up, suddenly cold. "That's torture!"
"You said you would help me,"
"Wasn't me,"
"Was. Where is everyone?"
"Flea market, again." He sat up yawning and scratching his shoulder through his star wars t-shirt. He threw the pillow at her before ambling off to the bathroom. She pulled out his chair and swivelled around in it, noting the phone lying on the bed. She bet he had waited all night for Luis to call. He reappeared, and made a face at her before rescuing the duvet and wrapping it round himself.
"So, what's up?"
"It's something to do with the solitary fay," She watched his reaction, knowing the words brought back memories of Janet. He kept his face blank. "Roiben says their causing trouble, this time more serious trouble."
"More serious? How can any trouble be more serious than killing people and enchanting them to strip and dance around fucking toadstools?" She shrugged.
"That's why it has to be bad, if even Roiben's worried, it's something we are not going to like. At all."
"Plan of action?"
"Haven't got one,"
"Brilliant,"
She nodded towards the phone, "Did he call?" Corny knew exactly who she meant.
"Yeah, he's not coming home for ages, to busy saving all those stupid enough to irritate a big bad faery," He sighed wistfully, "Maybe I should go get myself cursed again, might be the only way I'll get to see him."
"Yeah," She was only half listening, staring through to the living room where someone had left the TV on.
"And we are here live in the graveyard where last night five graves where dug up and the bodies taken. The previous inhabitants of the graves have been identified as Damien Scott, Fiona Brightly, Jeremy King, Jasper Harvey and Janet ****. The police are treating this as an organized body snatch and are urging any witnesses to step forward.
"Corny..." He stopped mid ramble, one look at her face and he knew something was wrong.
"Th-thats Janet's..." His face turned ashen as the camera zoomed in on the ruined grave, the stone leaning drunkenly to the right. Behind them the telephone began to ring. Kaye moved as if in a daze to pick it up, Corny stood still, fixated on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Kaye, you have to listen to me, both of you. I'm coming back but please just promise me you'll stay inside, don't go anywhere."
"Why?"
"Don't ask, I'm coming home, I'm on my way now but please, it's not safe out there. I'm coming just stay inside."
"Why? What's wrong? Luis? Hello?"
Corny turned to her, his eyes blind.
"Janet, that's Janet their talking about. My sister, some bastard son of a bitch has stolen my sister!"
He began to shake with rage, and Kaye, hoping to calm him down put her arms around his shoulders and said quietly, "Luis said he's on his way home."