At this particular point in time I didn't know how to feel, it was like something had taken control of my heart and mind and told me how to use them. It felt alien to me but I didn't mind. Like darkness had engulfed my former self and replaced me with someone new; someone better. Every negative emotion drained from my body- hate, envy and sorrow- and was replaced with more upbeat, positive feelings- love, selflessness, and joy. To think this started with an arrow.
"What do you mean you love Ash?" Puck had shouted.
"Umm…it means that…I love Ash."
"No way!" This time it was Abbie that shouted. Seriously I'm standing next to them, what's the point in shouting?
"Yes way. I knew as soon as I looked into his eyes, he was the one."
"OK if you gazed so lovingly into his eyes, what colour are they?" Puck crossed his arms over his chest and waited for a reply. Abbie was standing right next to him uncertain where to put herself.
Crap! I thought I didn't get a close enough look on his eyes.
"Err…green?"
"Wrong! Every fey in the Winter Court have blue eyes."
I just stared not knowing what to say. I had such strong emotions for Ash but I can't even remember specific details about his existence. Feeling ashamed, I just stood there in silence not wanting to take part in the interrogation any more. It wasn't awkward at all for me although Abbie probably felt alone without me presence to make this world seem less scary. A couple of times I saw her throw love filled glances at Puck when he wasn't looking and Puck doing the same to Abbie. If only Ash was here I wouldn't feel so alone…
But I couldn't be weak. I had to be strong. I had to be someone new.
Suddenly the doors slammed open and Oberon burst through. He looked like he had something important to say but after being here for a day I learnt he always had something to say. He was the king. His presence drifted through the room and stood before me. Myself, Puck, Abbie and Oberon were still in the bedroom I had woken up in last night, apparently we weren't allowed to roam the castle in case of danger.
"I have made arrangements for Abbie and Amy to stay here." Oberon announced.
"For how long?" Abbie asked a little shyly.
"Forever"
"We can't stay here forever though, we have families and friends who don't even know we're here." I said.
"You should have thought of that before you trespassed here in the Nevernever. Because of your foolish actions you cannot leave!
"But why?"
"Because you may lead our enemies to our kingdom just for that so called 'love' you claim to be easily lead by! Don't you get it you are the Unseelie courts most prized weapon now; you can lead them to our hideouts, you can- in fact you will- almost certainly lead us to our deaths!"
"So why don't you guys lead the way back home for us then- so that the Unseelie place can't take us?" Abbie protested.
"They will still find you. They know where you two came from." And with that he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
When the door slammed behind him Puck relaxed.
"Gotta love our fine king's speeches. Eh?"
No one replied.
"…So we have to stay here…forever…?" I could see Abbie starting to tear up. I walked over to her and tried to comfort her and tell her everything's going to be ok. But it wasn't. No matter how many times I said we'd find a way out of here I knew we were stuck. It was hopeless.
"Cheer up. You have me." Puck said.
"…Really…?" Abbie looked into his eyes and he looked back. They were having a moment together.
Or two.
I felt slightly awkward then. So I turned around and walked to the window to admire the view. It was beautiful. As far as my eyes could see there were mountains and the greenest grass which brought so many colours to my eyesight. There were flowers everywhere of every colour-except the dull ones. Even at night colours seemed to pop in the darkness. At least if we'd have to stay here forever the views would be worth exploring with Abbie. I turned around to tell Abbie that tomorrow we'd have to walk around the castle to take in the new scenery but I realised they were still having their moment. I felt happy for Abbie. She had found love. They could spend the forever here together. They could share so many experiences together feeling wanted and loved whilst I watched in the background crying as I would never experience true happiness without Ash with me.I felt sorry for myself for getting so caught up in someone I didn't even know properly. What was wrong with me? Maybe I'm just lonely…
I felt a chill from the window so I hugged myself to stop me from getting a cold and to comfort myself from the hurt I was already feeling.
"OW"
Both Abbie and Puck snapped out of their daydream.
"What is it Amy?" Abbie asked.
"…I'm not sure…something sharp's sticking out of my shoulder."
"Let's have a look then."
I took my jacket off and held the sleeves of my shirt to my shoulder. And there it was. The cause of the pain. It looked I had been stabbed with a stick and it broke off just two centimetres above my skin. It didn't really hurt, only when I touched it there was be a warm, stinging sensation that engulfed the circumference of the stick. But where did I get this injury?
"OW," I said as I poked it again. "When did this happen?"
"Don't you remember?" Abbie sounded shocked. Her shock deepened when I shook my head and she proceeded by telling me the story. "Ash did it. When we were out in the forest he shot you with the arrow."
"But why did it snap?"
"Umm…well as I carried you back to the castle I snapped it cause it was so long and it kept poking me in the face." Puck looked ashamed of himself and his head was low. Abbie looked like she was going to tackle him to the ground. "But I think that might be the cause of your affection to Ash. I've heard of love arrows before. I know because I make them- but I have never come across or even made one this strong."
"…Right… should I just take it out or should I just leave it in my shoulder…or something?"
"Umm…it's best to just to leave it in until it wears off and then take it out otherwise it could lead to the wound never healing up properly because it's charmed to do that. But that could be years."
"Right."
"This is probably how Ash is going to lure you back to the Unseelie court now. Good thing we are here to protect you. Right?"
"…Yeah…"
"This is probably what Oberon meant by you're the Unseelie courts secret weapon."
Puck just kept on talking about how I'm just a weapon in this world. I felt like I was being used by Ash. Tears started stinging my eyes but I kept them in, not wanting to seem weak.
"Well it's getting late," Puck announced. "I'll leave you two to get some sleep anyway."
He gave Abbie one last love filled look. I turned around yet again so I didn't feel like I was intruding on their moment. When I looked back to see if they were done they were kissing. It was cute as it was clearly Puck who planted the kiss on Abbie and she looked completely shocked. I coughed to indicate the moment was way past awkwardness and they pulled apart.
"Well, see you two tomorrow."
He left the room and Abbie was left star struck.
"Well, shall we get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow's going to be a long day…"
"…Ok" Abbie chimed and she drifted to her bed and pulled the covers over her head.
I walked over to my bed on the other side of the room and drifted to sleep.
All of my dreams were hunted by the hunter in the forest. Sometimes he would walk over to me, hold my hands and whisper into my ear that I belong with him in the Unseelie court. He would release my hands and drift away into darkness. It was my choice whether to follow him or not. I wanted to. He was so hypnotising, he was striking not only with his features but his charm. I didn't need to see his presence to know he was there. I needed him. Something inside of me craved for him to be around me. I took a step toward the darkness where his disappeared to and it surrounded me. Holding me tightly suffocating me slowly. Ash then appeared; he seemed to be harnessing the darkness.
"Ash…help…me" I would choke. But all he did was smirk as my life seemed to be slipping away from me.
"You…mean…nothing to me."
I woke up screaming but I wasn't scared. Not anymore. I knew what I had to do. Arrow or not I love Ash and I know how to win his affection.
"Are you ok Amy?" Abbie sounded very concerned. "You sounded like you had a bad dream."
"Yeah I'm fine. It was nothing. I'm gonna find a bathroom. Be back in a bit."
"Ok."
I left the room. God knows where I was going. I just wanted to leave this goddamn place. I headed straight down the corridor I found myself at a spiral staircase that had a flight of stairs going up and going down.
Which way do I go?
"And where do you think you're going?"
I turned round to see who the voice belonged to. No one. It must have been in my head. I stepped on the spiral staircase and was halfway through a step to the upstairs when I heard it again.
"Where are you going?"
I stepped off the staircase and hissed "Who's there?"
"Down here."
I looked down and there it was the source of the voice. A cat?
"What's going on?" I slipped out.
"I keep asking that and you won't answer."
"How do you talk? You're a cat!"
The cat chuckled at me.
"Well I open my mouth and words come out. And yes, I am a cat and you're clearly a human."
"What's all the commotion about…?"
Out came another cat from the corridor. Looking sleepy as she crawled out and met my gaze.
"Umm…"
"Hello Amy," she began. "Shouldn't you be in bed now?"
"How do you know my name?"
"Because I am a cat."
"Ok…well that cleared everything up."
"For the last time, human, where are you going?"
"Out."
"Well you're going the wrong way my dear. You want to go downstairs." The female cat spoke.
"Umm…thanks…Mrs Kitty-Cat"
"That's Mrs Katie-Cat to you. Oh and this is my husband Grimalkin."
"Ok well I'll see you round anyway."
I turned and headed down the stairs, glad to not be talking to cats anymore. Can cats even get married?
The stairs seemed to go on forever twisting ever so ferociously that I became dizzy. But I reached the bottom took a step off them and proceeded with my mission. I came to two massive doors that stood way above tree height and grabbed the handle to open them. The air was cool. It was refreshing to my warm face.
"OW."
The arrow started hurting again so held my sleeves to my shoulder and ripped it from myself. It wasn't damaged from where it was inside me, just bloody. I could feel warm blood oozing from the wound but I continued leaving the castle proximities in my search for Ash.
Even though this world was new to me I could feel Ash's presence, it was like we were connected. Or magnets waiting to be connected in this world. I knew where he would be.
