Disclaimer:
I, Anit-Aneet.2017, do not own any characters. Queen Mab belongs to Julie Kagawa. Irena and Marsha belong to Cynder2013.
Chapter 2
Irena's POV
I sat in my room dying of boredom (the effect is almost as bad as iron). I was trying to think of the possible places I could go. I, obviously, couldn't go to Mag Tuiredh. I wouldn't survive long enough there. I also couldn't go to Arcadia. I mean, what fool would walk into the territory of their enemy and expect to come out alive? I absolutely do not expect to come back out alive.
The safest choice for me, so far, is to take shelter in Wyldwood. Yes, yes, I know it's dangerous, but I really do not have anywhere else to go. Now I just need to figure out how to escape from here.
I heard footsteps outside in the hallway. It got louder as it came closer and closer to my room. I found this odd. Nobody ever came close to my room. Not even my mother wanted to stop by. The footsteps stopped directly outside my door and I was completely drawn out of my thoughts. My door was opened wide enough for me to see who was standing on the other side.
On the other side of the door was a sidhe who looked like she was around 15 or 16 years old. She had smooth dark skin and shiny brown eyes. Her hair was short, just a little past her chin. The sidhe's hair was a natural color of white, turning blue at the ends. She had beautiful wings that made it look like she was glowing.
"I—I'm so sorry," She stuttered. "I didn't know you were in here."
The sidhe angrily wiped something from her face. I then realized that she was crying. I suddenly wanted to help this young sidhe. I didn't know who she was or why she was crying, but I just knew that I needed to help her.
"Come in," I commanded. She stared at me in shock. Her shock soon turned into suspicion, but she entered my room anyway. She closed the door behind her and kept a distance between us. I handed her a handkerchief, but I didn't close the distance so that she would be comfortable.
"What's your name?" I asked as she wiped her tear-stained face with my handkerchief.
"Marsha," she quietly said. "And you are?"
"Irena," I stated. We stood in the silence, not staring at each other. Marsha was taking quick glances at me, hoping I wouldn't notice.
"If you're going to stare then just stare. Stop taking quick glances. It's distracting," I stated turning my head to look at her. Marsha's face turned red from getting caught.
"I—I have never seen you before," Marsha quietly said.
"That's because I don't go anywhere. I can't go anywhere," I stated. "That's how she wants it."
"Who are you?" Marsha asked hesitantly.
"Irena," I stated.
"I know that!" Marsha said frustrated. She sighed. I stared at her trying to decide if I could trust her and whether I should or should not tell her who I am. Moments later, I made my decision.
"Promise me that you would not tell anyone what I am going to say to you," I commanded. Marsha stared at me as she thought this over.
"I promise," she had finally said.
Marsha's POV
"I," Irena started, "am Queen Mab's daughter." Irena watched me closely, with her bright silver eyes, as she let her words sink into me. I felt my eyes widen in shock as I realized what she had just said.
"B—but. That's impossible! Queen Mab only has three children and they are all―" I stopped in the middle of what I was saying as I realized how foolish it was. Irena looked exactly like Queen Mab. She had long almost-blue black hair. Her pale, white skin made her hair look dark, just like Queen Mab. Like her mother, Irena was not too tall or willowy skinny, but she had a figure that women will die to have. She looked so similar to Queen Mab that it was scary. (One Queen Mab was already enough, she didn't need an identical daughter.) The only visual way to tell that they were two different people was by their eye colors; Queen Mab's eye color was black, stare directly into it and it will seem as though you are falling into endless darkness. Irena's eye color was bright silver with a ring of darkness around the outside. However, I do not think that anyone will notice this visual difference.
The look of amusement on Irena's face drew me out of my shock. She was staring at me as if I was the funniest thing she had seen, and maybe I was the funniest thing she has seen. When she took control of her emotions, she approached me making a tsking sound.
"Now, now, Marsha, you should know that pure blooded fey cannot lie," Irena stated. I was speechless. I didn't know what to think. Queen Mab had a daughter that she kept a secret for…who knows how many years. Irena grinned at me.
"I now have a request," Irena stated. She had paused as if to wait for me to ask what that request was. When I didn't ask, she went on anyway.
"I want you, Marsha, to help me escape from here. I, once again, was shocked. A princess wanted to leave her kingdom, one that she may end up ruling. I couldn't blame her though. Her mother was so cold. I don't see how Irena was able to live with her all these years.
"Okay, I will help," I started and watched Irena's face light up, "Only if you promise me a few things."
"What?" Irena asked, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"You must promise me that you will not force me to do something that I am unwilling to do," I stated, waiting for her to promise me.
"I promise," She had said.
"You also have to promise me that you are not playing a trick on me," I once again waited for her to promise me.
"I promise that this is not a trick that my mother told me to do," Irena stated bitterly.
"And you will have to promise me that you will not harm me," I said.
"I, Irena, promise not to harm you intentionally unless you harm me first," Irena stated scowling. I heard the irritation in her voice, "Anything else to add?"
"No," I said. Irena's scowl suddenly turned into a grin. The tables turned and now I was the one suspecting her of mischief.
"Now, to balance out the promises, you will have to make me a few promises too," Irena stated, "You must promise me that you are not someone my mother sent to figure out my plans."
"I promise you, Irena, that I am not someone Queen Mab sent to irritate you," I stated. She gave me a warm smile.
"You're doing a great job of irritating me even though my mother did not send you," Irena mused. I scowled at her and she laughed.
"I'm kidding, Marsha," Irena said putting her hand on my shoulder, "Next thing you need to promise me is that you will tell nothing I said to you to my mother."
"I promise," I said.
"You will also have to promise me that before you tell anyone of my plans, you will make them promise to keep their mouths shut about it, and if you don't…" Irena said. Her voice turned cold and the room's temperature dropped quickly making me shiver.
"I—I p―promise," I stuttered in fear. Irena had gotten very scary in a short amount of time. Irena blinked once―twice and shook her head as if clearing away the darkness.
"Sorry for that," Irena said, "I get carried away sometimes."
"I―it's okay," I quietly said. We stood there not looking at each other. I don't know how much time passed, but it seemed like a very long time. Finally we heard some footsteps coming our way.
"Marsha! Marsha, where are you?!" My father called. I finally was able to look at Irena.
"I―I have to go," I stated still feeling the fear deep inside of me. Irena nodded, clearly dismissing me. I immediately turned and stepped out into the hallway.
"I'm coming!" I called to my father.
Out in the courtyard, I stared out at the flat land of snow as we rode away from the crystal castle.
I was thinking of Irena, of how desperate she looked when I opened the door to her room. All I could remember was that Irena was nothing like Queen Mab. She took care of me and for that I will help her escape. I knew that no matter what happened, I would fully pay back my debt to her and help her get away from this cold kingdom. And I may know just the right person to help me with this.
A/N: Another chapter! Anit-Aneet.2017 wrote this one and I just want to say she did a phenomenal job! Yay! I don't know who's writing the next chapter so it might be a while until we get it up. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it!
-Cynder2013