Chapter 8 - "A Sick Day"


So here I am at 9:15 AM… Waiting, waiting, and watching the kitchen clock tick the minutes away. …Did I fail to mention how much I hate waiting? …Well, I do…and with a passion. Every damn minute that ticks by is a minute closer I am to abandoning myself, and my humanity. …Though after last night, I'm more afraid than excited.

Kabren and his minions have me fearing for my very life. What if I'd been discovered spying on them last night? What would they have done to me? Somehow I doubted that they'd have sent me back to sleep with a smile and a sprinkle of fairy dust.

These were not those kind of fairies. These were the kind that delighted in torment sprinkled with the blood of humans and their respective familiars. These were the kind of devils that I'd thrown my lot in with.

How had my life unraveled so completely in the span of a mere day? …I was now the unwitting target of some power hungry psycho, I'd aligned myself with a questionable magical associate and his homicidal posse, and did I fail to mention that I was now an accessory to the murder of my neighbor's beloved pet? …In short, I had never been more screwed.

I looked back up at the clock once more, …9:17 AM. Fabulous. Here I was, some lowly girl waiting for some older, good-looking guy to come a' callin.' How friggin' cliché. I wished that Kabren would just get here and get this all over and done with. …My fingers began absentmindedly picking at the frayed wicker of the worn-out chair I was occupying.

*OUCH*

Great, a splinter underneath my thumbnail. Serves me right, for wishing, I suppose. Still, the timing couldn't be worse. …Nothing like strolling through the woods, thick with blood-thirsty monsters, while sporting a pool of dried blood caked beneath my fingernails. Why don't I just go swim with some sharks while I'm at it? And then I jumped as-

"-Well now Sorrow, by the expression on your face, one would think I'd left you at the alter?" Kabren said, startling me once again by seemingly appearing from out of no where.

"…Yeah right," I said, recovering quickly, "…like I'd marry a fairy." (I made sure to poignantly emphasize the double entendre.)

"Well, maybe you'll fail the trials and save your would-be suitor the effort, hmm?" Kabren said in the same tone I'd used on him…leaving me to wonder whether he'd gotten my jibe or had simply chosen to fore-go deciphering my human euphemisms altogether.

"…Whatever. Anyway, I packed a bag and left it under my bed, so Mom wouldn't find it. I only packed the basics, a little survival junk food and $22.00 of babysitting money. Um, do you think I should pack a change of clothes or a dress for when I meet the King?"

"Trust me, Sorrow," Kabren snorted, "one could dress in the finery of the Unseelie Queen herself, and still fail to impress that which is your Sovereign. …Regardless, the journey is lengthy and we've already a late start to the day. Come," he stated with a sense of finality, exiting through the screen door leading off our back porch.

I dashed upstairs and grabbed my bag, along with an inordinate amount of dust bunnies, and ran out of the door…pausing just long enough to lock up. Kabren was already far ahead of me as he made his way across the cornfield behind our house.

"Geez, will you wait up? I told you I had to grab the stupid bag!," I yelled out breathlessly, trying my best to catch up…damn it, he was fast.

"And I told you, we are running late as it is! The nearest portal is several miles from here."

"And what, we're walking the whole way there?"

"You see that heavily wooded area off in the distance?," he asked as he looked off toward the horizon.

"Yes, but those woods are closer to 'Beacon' than to here… You're old enough to drive, right? Tell me again why we couldn't take a car?"

"There are several reasons why. The most important of which is that I don't own one. I, along with the rest of my kind, cannot tolerate most man-made materials for very long, especially those predominantly made of metal and iron."

"And this is my problem because…?"

"Oh, do take note, Sorrow. Soon, the elemental rules of survival that apply to the Fae, will soon apply to you as well. Also, the area we are headed towards has no roads. There are wards protecting it against humans and their insidious need for over-development."

"And just what are 'wards?'"

"Compulsions, spells, charms…whichever word you deign to use. In any case, a human on the receiving end of such an aura would be disinclined to remain in the area protected by the ward. …Oh stop looking at me like that, it's nothing permanent or damaging. The said person would simply feel a strong need to suddenly be elsewhere."

The more I learned about the abilities of the Fae, the more I realized how completely unprepared I was to venture into their territory. And for the remainder of the brisk walk, I stayed quiet…and allowed my worst fears to consume me. Kabren must have been deep in thought as well, though he seemed to be enjoying the walk…or perhaps just the respite from our conversation.

…It wasn't long before I was all but out of breath. We were now surrounded by gnarly looking trees that cast unfriendly shadows, despite the grey overcast sky above us. I was sweating profusely. The backpack of useless crap I'd packed might have only weighed a mere 3 or 4 pounds, but it currently felt like a dead elephant. …After the fifth time I stumbled over a tree root, I took a brief moment to glance at my beat-up army wrist-watch. It was already 12:35. We'd been walking for almost 3 hours straight. My feet were killing me. My chucks weren't meant for extreme conditions like this. I looked away from my watch just in time to save myself from running head first into Kabren's backside.

"W-Why'd we stop?"

"Shh…," he whispered as he focused on a particularly large maple that seemed to inexplicably appear out of thin air, amongst the otherwise, heavy brush and pines all around us. Everything in the woods was so dark, I was amazed he'd known where to look. The normal looking foliage all but obscured the soft light of day.

Kabren placed his hands on a knot at the center of the maple trunk. He then closed his eyes and breathed out slowly…before turning around and focusing on me, for some odd reason.

"Well, I suppose there's no use putting this off any longer. Sorrow, take off your backpack and come closer to me."

Maybe it was all the things I'd witnessed last night, maybe it was the way he'd just spoken to me like he owned me, but something about the way he was eyeing me right now made me leery of approaching him. I hesitated…and he must have noticed because suddenly, he'd spanned the distance between us and was peeling the bag away from my shoulders.

"What are you do-"

-His fingers were suddenly threading their way through my hair and along my scalp, twisting and turning till he had a firm hold of me. Then, just as suddenly, he extricated his hand away from my head, taking with him about half a dozen strands of my hair…which hurt like hell as he wasn't exactly gentle about it.

"Oww! Get off of me!" I screamed, before falling to the ground, butt-first.

"My apologies, Dear, but some local custom's must be observed, …especially in these lands," he said while scrutinizing my hair strands, still tangled up in his fingers.

To my surprise, he opened up his palm and let all of my split ends fall to the ground. All but one, that is. He took the lone strand and wrapped it around his index finger at least five times. He then made a fist until the strand broke. And from where it snapped, it drew a single drop of Kabren's blood. He then looked down at me and offered me the hand he'd just cut, as if to help me up off the ground.

I looked up at him, my mouth, a thin hard line fixed across my face in protest. When I failed to take his outstretched hand, he made a grab for my wrist and yanked me to my feet. I yelped a bit as I stood on my own, awkwardly, while looking at the smear of blood he'd left behind on my arm.

"Eww, gross!" I said as I tried wiping it off on my jeans, he only shook his head and smirked.

"I'm afraid you'll find that that isn't likely to wash away…"

To disprove his theory, I reached inside my back-pack and grabbed the half-bottle of leftover orange soda. I poured the contents onto my arm, letting the sickly-sweet carbonated liquid wash over the bloodstain. I then rubbed the spot as hard as possible against the abrasive canvas material lining my backpack. I rubbed and rubbed until my skin was red and raw from abuse…

"Why isn't this coming off ?," I demanded.

"It is a sad, but well-known fact, that humans have a mastery of deception. You can lie, where as, we cannot. Therefore, to ensure your unquestionable loyalty, I had to mark you."

"What does this mean?," I said as I held my blood-stained arm up to him with revulsion.

"You are now bound to me and unable to tell the human world anything about me or the existence of the Fae. Any attempt will cause you extreme discomfort until you abandon the idea."

"Y-You put a spell on me?"

"It's a very basic curse, …hardly worth my time to do it, really."

"What the hell, Kabren? You actually cursed me? Why? Because you think I would bother to tell anyone? Who, in their right mind, would even believe me at this point?"

"You're missing the point, Sorrow. You're human and cannot be allowed into Faery, otherwise. We're an ancient race that have remained hidden from the human world for thousands of years. Our 'spells,' as you call them, have allowed us this anonymity."

"Well, call me crazy, but I seriously thought that you bringing me here meant that you trusted me!"

"Try and wrap your human mind around this: you are about to cross over into a different realm and you have no idea what lies beyond. So, for your own well-being, you need to listen and do exactly as I say. If I ask you to do something, you must do it, no questions asked. …What I did to you was necessary, your life depended upon it. So, just accept what I do or the journey stops here."

"…So, me smeared in blood is non-negotiable?" I asked sarcastically…though I knew Kabren had me over a barrel and he knew it. …Still, I'd already come this far, what was one more indignity?

"Now, you're catching on.," he said with exasperation, "Look, the simple truth is, without that mark they'd kill you on sight."

"So, what, this is like a human leash?," I said, accidentally dropping my backpack on the pine-needled ground.

"I wouldn't have put it like that, but yes."

Kabren picked my pack up and handed it back to me. The act itself seemed more "pick this disgusting Man-made thing up" than say "here you are, milady," but I begrudgingly took it back from him anyway.

As I adjusted the straps and threw it back on, he walked back to the great Maple. He, once more, placed his palm back on the old knot and mumbled something under his breath. It sounded something like,

"Lech-nime, shay woven cove err may. Be-est may Kabren. Be-est may Sorrow."

After he'd taken his hand away, the main trunk of the tree seemed to all but disappear, leaving behind only a small dark entryway leading down to…well, it was too dark to tell. It looked as though it were going straight down into nothingness. I was suddenly reminded of Disney's, 'Alice in Wonderland.' …Only, I somehow had difficulty picturing the white rabbit cursing and threatening Alice into submission.

"Come, Sorrow. The path to Faery is only a few meters down."

"I'm afraid of heights."

"Very well, I'll go first. You follow afterwards. And try not to worry, I assure you, I'll catch you," and having said that, he jumped feet first into the small opening.

"…Yeah, sure…says the guy who just cursed me.," I mumbled.

"What was that?," he called out from the blackness below the ground.

"Nothing. You ready?," I said before he could reply.

And then, I closed my eyes and dove down into the nothingness. I panicked and began flailing my arms, mid-jump, until I felt his strong hands pluck me from the air and hold onto me until he was certain I'd gained my footing.

And then, the next leg of our journey began. The underground path was moist and negotiating the roots below made the ones far above seem like child's play. I stumbled behind Kabren for what seemed like hours. Everything was black as pitch, I had only my glow in the dark wrist-watch to help guide me. It was the equivalent of trying to mountain climb at night with the aid of a neurotic firefly…(which I don't recommend, by the way).

"We have arrived in the lands of Seelie."

Kabren chivalrously waved his hand out in front of himself, presenting me with a huge wall of dirt which blocked off the tunnel. I was utterly baffled…

"But it's a 'dead-end,' Kabren."

"To a human, perhaps. Watch and do as I do," he said as he leaned back against the wall and sunk straight into it. The dirt seemed to engulf his body. And, like quicksand, he was absorbed bit by bit until nothing of him remained. Through several inches of muffled earth, he called out to me,

"Now you, Sorrow!"

I looked closely at the wall and ran my hands along the impacted soil. I could at least lean back against it, it felt solid enough. As I began to pull back my hand, a few slimy grubs came back with me, greedily sticking to the smoothness of my fingernails. I screamed.

"Oh, for cripe's sake!," I heard him mutter, before his pale hand plunged through the infested-dirt wall, grabbed me roughly, and pulled me through it mid-scream.

"…Why does everything have to be an 'ordeal' with you?," he sighed while his eyes narrowed and he ran a clean hand through his hair. I looked like a dirty rat while he remained pristine…which confounded me, after all, he'd gone through the same dirt wall I had, right?

Of course, I'd missed most of his quip, as I was doubled-over spitting out the dirt I'd inhaled while I was being engulfed by the magical wall. …Eventually, I stopped dry-heaving and stood upright. I was in a vast room, made completely of wood. It was like being inside a hollowed-out log. But smoother, it sort of reminded me of the smooth wood rich people sometimes used for banisters which accompanied intricately ornate winding staircases. This wood couldn't be alive, and yet it was so organic looking that, I swear, the walls seemed as though they were breathing. Well, every wall, save the nasty one we came through…that one still remained the same coffee-ground hued dirt that it had always been.

"Are we still-"

"-Underground? Yes. You'll find that most of the Fae choose to live beneath the surface, away from humans. …Come, we've further to go yet. These tunnels may be ancient, but most still lead straight to the Palace Grounds."

I followed closely behind Kabren. The air smelled odd down here. It wasn't musty or moldy smelling, like you'd think it would be. Like the walls, the air smelled organic, and more like an orchard in full bloom. It reminded me of my 5th grade field trip to a Botanical Garden. …How was it possible that all of this was down here and no human on Earth, to date, knew about it? …And before I could digest all of the wonder and profound implications, I heard the sick and all-too-familiar laughter coming from around the wooden bend before us.

"About time, you fools were supposed to meet us at the Great tree," Kabren said with an authoritative tone.

"Your Grace! My Lady! Welcome to the Seelie Lands. Forgive the delay, you know how flippant this one can be!," said the fairy boy with the childlike body and translucent wings folded up along his back, as he pointed defensively at his gnome-like cohort.

"Your Grace! That tisn't true! Everyone knows that Sprites be liars! Please, don't you be listening!," the short fleshy, white-bearded little man said as he nervously toyed with the hair growing from inside his vast inner ear.

The two were dressed like toddlers, wearing brown onesie-like jumpsuits with black tights. Was Osh-kosh having a winter clearance sale that I hadn't heard about?

"Sorrow, this is Eadrek and Hurr. Try not to judge them too harshly, lesser Fae won't bother adapting to try and fit your preconceived human notions. Perhaps you should consider adapting your way of thinking to them. It would serve you far better if you did that from here on out," Kabren said with a sardonic smile, having caught my anxious expression.

…Little did he know the real reason I was fearful. I truly could've cared less about these creatures differences in appearance when compared to Kabren or myself. It was their murderous tendencies and blood-thirsty appetite that had me much more concerned.

"Why are they here?," I asked him, apprehensively.

"For your safety. Despite their miniscule size, they are quite vicious, so don't underestimate them.," he said, as though he thought this information would be a comfort to me.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of it.," I said, a little too quickly.

…Kabren didn't cotton-on to my odd behavior, but Eadrek certainly did. Who knows? Maybe it was the way I'd said it, but it was at that particular moment that I drew Eadrek's intense gaze. He'd eyed me sharply, as if he knew I had known there was something dark and sinister about him. …Well, I did, but him knowing my feelings simply terrified me.

"Now then, it's time for me to go on ahead and explain this, you being here, to your King. In the meantime, these two will escort you the rest of the way," and having said that, Kabren vanished before my eyes, leaving with a nod and a crisp smile.

"Kabren, wait! DON'T GO-," I begged…and, just like that, he was gone and I was now all alone with them.

The two creatures walked around me, eyeing me up and down…like I was dinner.

"She don't look much like a Queen, do she, Eadrek?," the fat bearded one asked.

"No."

"Uh, shouldn't we get moving or something?," I croaked out nervously.

"I don't know how, but I sense it. You know me, don't you, human child?," Eadrek said as he took a menacing step closer to me.

At that point, I quickly weighed my options. From what I'd witnessed last night, I knew these two were predators at heart. If I showed them any sign of fear, they would attack me. I had to bluff my way through this…and that meant playing the only card I had. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that part of me truly hated myself for having to do it.

"Kabren won't be happy if we just stand around here dawdling and trading insults!," I said with false-bravado and much more force than I'd intended. (Anyone who knew me personally, would've seen right through my performance. Then again, I wasn't exactly dealing with rocket scientists here, was I?)

"Shh, Eadrek, don't be back-talking! His Grace'll kill the both of us! Tisn't my wish to die in Seelie lands!," Hurr said nervously, as he grabbed the right wing of his cohort with excessive force.

"Be silent, fool!," Eadrek shot back at Hurr, though his eyes full of mistrust, remained fixed upon me, "My gut tells me you know things. You could do us harm. I taint never been wrong before. But, I don't know what you do or daint know… Time's a wastin.' An since killing you ain't an option, how's about I trade you for your silence?"

"…Trade? What kind of a trade?," I asked, though inside I was happily sighing with relief that I'd made the right call, acting…instead of running away screaming.

"Well, Eadrek and I, often trade in trinkets, lies, secrets, and what-not. …What'll it be, Miss?," Hurr blurted out.

"Well… I'm a human in Faeryland. Tell me how to protect myself here. You know, just in case Kabren accidentally forgets about me and leaves me stranded with a couple of psychos or something."

"Protection, hmm?," Eadrek said as he rubbed his pale chin, clearly my attempts at humor to lighten the mood, were wasted on him.

"We could tell er' about the 'pull'!'" Hurr eagerly chimed in, wanting desperately to participate in what he'd thought was a pretty entertaining game.

"Twasn't my first thought, but seeing as how you've already gone and opened the flood portal, why not?" Eadrek said with frustration, and then he resumed watching me, "Do not eat or drink anything in Faery, human, for if you do…it'll be the end of you. The pull to stay among us in thrall is great, no human can withstand it."

"Why is that?"

"Consider our bargain sealed. Now, you know of me, not."

"But, you didn't answer me-"

"-Because you've nothing more to trade!," Eadrek fiercely spat at me.

I blinked my eyes a few times in shock and felt my cheeks burn hot with embarrassment. I gave myself a mental shake and took a deep breath. I then took off my pack and began rummaging around inside of it. If only I'd have known I'd be needing knick-knacks to trade with…*sigh.*

Eventually, I settled on a half-squished pre-packaged dual-Twinkie snack-pack. The overly-sweet cream filling had poured out and was currently congealing against the inside bottom corner of the clear wrapper. The yellow cakes looked disgusting…hell, I wouldn't even eat them at this point. But, they were the only snacks that remained intact and weren't already partially opened, they were all I had… I held up the spongy vanilla packaging and pasted on my best (though thoroughly unconvincing) smile of triumph.

"Well, you're in luck! Here you are, the best human snack, me and our local '7-11' have to offer!"

Hurr made an immediate grab for the package, just as Eadrek snatched it away from his fingertips. The winged boy placed the crumpled clear plastic up against his nose, and then eyed its' contents with a sneer.

"No deal, it stinks of 'Man' and the poisons your kind create." he said as he threw it back to me, roughly.

"Fine, don't trade! That just means more for me!" I snapped back at Eadrek, though Hurr wore a wounded expression as I returned the moist package to the inside of my pack from whence it came.

"Come along, Hurr, we've no more time for tom-foolery. It'll be getting dark here soon. Seelie patrols won't be taking kindly to the likes of us."

"Dark? But, My Mother! Kabren lied to me! He promised me I'd be back before she got out of work today!"

"Don't worry, Miss, the human world moves-"

"-THAT MEANS NOW, HURR! YOU ALREADY SAID MORE'N YA SHOULD-A!," and with that, Eadrek flew on ahead a bit, leading the way down the lengthy wooden tunnel.

Hurr hesitated as he made to take a step to follow Eadrek...and then turned back to look at me…

"…Shh. Our Lord does not lie, the human world moves faster than Faery. Time be runnin' different here. Now please, Miss.," he whispered to me while gesturing wildly for me to quickly follow Eadrek.

I held my backpack in one arm as I briskly followed Eadrek, Hurr was close behind me. I plunged my free hand into my pack and quickly withdrew the mangled Twinkies. I opened the top portion so the little cakes could breathe, and then carelessly tossed the snack over my shoulder.

…Seconds later, I could hear the distinct sounds of lip-smacking, as Hurr greedily ingested the treat, the cardboard, plastic wrap and all…


To be cont...


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