Their first child was a girl. Her name was Jessie Day Archeron. They came up with the name before they learned the truth of Luciens heritage. Elain had to wonder because when she and Lucien announced the name to everyone, she noticed a peculiar knowing smirk on Feyre and Rhysands faces. Elain chose to ignore the looks before smoothing the whisps of red hair from her daughters face.
Elain was the one to come up with the name Jessie, Lucien decided Day. Both names were heartfelt, more so for Lucien. Elain decided on Jessie, to pay respect, and honour the memory of Luciens first love who he could not save. When Elain told Lucien, she thought she saw his russet eye shine, and she knew she had done well. Lucien decided on Day, as he knew Elain preferred the day time, and sunlight. They settled on Archeron, because Lucien didn't like the name Vanserra, and the family it associated with.
Elain ended up not having to wait long before she found out why Rhysand and Feyre had the knowing smirks on their faces upon hearing the new baby's name.
It was a week after the birth, when Rhysand and Feyre announced it. Elain guessed Luciens mother knew, because she didn't look surprised at all. Elain was glad Lucien wasn't the one holding their daughter because the drink he was holding fell to the floor. Glass went everywhere, liquid as well.
Helion, the High Lord of the Day Court, who had looked pleased, but confused to be here, given as far as he knew that morning, he had no connection to Lucien, Elain or the new baby, took the news only a margin better than Lucien had.
Elain thought she caught Helion giving Luciens mother a look that begged to talk later. She understood why. She also knew she was glad to not be around for that conversation.
It was at that moment that Elain realized something. With the High Lord of the Day Court as her grandfather, the High Lord and Lady of the Night Court as her aunt and uncle, as well as the new High Lord of the Autumn Court as her other uncle, Elain realized that her daughter was going to be an extremely important female, and a quick look to Lucien told her he was coming to the same realization.
Elain passed her daughter to her younger sister, before she gave Lucien a look, that asked if he was doing okay. While conversation in the room shifted to how Helion was now very interested in accepting the offer to hold the new baby, Lucien had looked back to Elain with a look of wonder and hope on his face. A new chance for a family and home. Elain offered a small smile to her mate.
*
Three years had passed since young Jessie Day's birth and she had learned very quickly how much she was adored, especially in the Day Court.
This was because Helion had wasted no time, upon returning to his home, before expressing how happy he was, because he had learned that he was not only a father, but also a grandfather all within the span of thirty seconds.
One of the reasons Jessie was so adored by the Day Court, was because there hadn't been a female born in the High Lords family for centuries. Young Jessie was the first one anyone could remember. She was never made to feel anything but a true princess of the Day Court whenever they were there.
Lucien, Elain and Jessie decided on splitting their time between the Night Court and Day Court, though they were slowly spending more and more time in the Day Court as time went by, as being heir, Lucien needed to be around for certain things that went on.
Lucien being the sole heir to the Day Court meant there was a larger target in his back from the other courts, than there was when he was one of seven sons of the Autumn Court. It was safer to stay in the Day Court, but Elain wasn't ready to fully leave her sisters in the Night Court either, and they were still safe there.
Jessie loved playing with her older cousin Nyx, even though he was ten years older than her, she loved playing with him.
As much as Jessie loved playing with her cousin, he wasn't her favourite person. Jessie's favourite person in all of Prythian, it seemed, was her Uncle Cassian. No one was surprised when she answered their questions of why, with "He's just the silliest."
With Cassian being the one person Jessie adored more than anyone else, it meant that any time Elain or Lucien even mentioned having work elsewhere to do, Jessie was on their heels all day begging to go to her "Auntie Nes and Uncle Cass' house." She would not let up until her parents double pinky promised.
Lucien was hesitant at first, letting Nesta watch Jessie, because he knew, while Nesta loved her niece, he was still far from her favourite person. There interactions the first year were enough for his hesitance. His hesitation had actually caused an argument with Elain the first time it was brought up.
While Elain understood Luciens hesitation, Nesta was her sister, and would never allow anything to hurt Jessie, so Elain won that argument.
He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but since the first time, there were actually very few people Lucien would trust more than Nesta when it came to watching Jessie. This was because, while Nesta adored Jessie, she also would not give in to every outlandish request the girl made. Nesta was one of the few people his daughter would actually listen to, without putting up a fight.
Jessie always had a smug smile on her face when arriving at the House of Wind, as if she had accomplished the greatest task in convincing her parents to let Nesta and Cassian watch her.
*
When Jessie was seven years old, she declared she loved the Autumn Court. They didn't visit often, just for holidays, and her grandmothers birthday. The Autumn Court held sad and scary memories for her dad, so they never stayed longer than a few days.
Jessie declared she loved the Autumn Court because it was pretty, and the colours matched her hair. The fact that her uncle Eris let her get up to mischief as well added to her love of the Autumn Court. She wasn't supposed to tell her parents that part, but they knew.
Once, before going to the Autumn Court, she over heard her dad talking to her mum. She knew she wasn't allowed to listen to their grownup talks, but sometimes she just wanted to, so she would hide and listen. She got in trouble a lot because of it, but she kept doing it.
That night, she heard her dad tell her mum that if the male who was High Lord there before her uncle Eris was still alive, they would not go there, nor would they be welcome. That male died before she was born. Jessie decided she did not like the male who was High Lord before her uncle Eris. She loved the Autumn Court, she couldn't imagine not being allowed to visit.
No one was more surprised than Lucien upon learning how much Eris adored Jessie, even though he was the only one of Luciens brothers that he was on speaking terms with. It made sense though, because Jessie left a mark on everyone she met. Like leaving little footprints on their hearts. Everyone loved Jessie.
Jessie knew she had other uncles, but she also knew not to ask about them. Her mum told her one night that they were really mean to her dad, and did something that made him very sad, and that's why they didn't visit the Autumn Court very much.
"What about uncle Eris? Was he really mean to Daddy?" She had asked her mum. Her mum then told her that her uncle Eris wasn't always nice to her dad, but was the only one of his brothers that helped him.
Jessie wanted to ask her dad about it, because her uncle Eris was always really nice to her. But she knew she shouldn't ask her dad, a part of her was scared that if she asked, she wouldn't be allowed to go to the Autumn Court anymore. She didn't want that, because she loved the Autumn Court.
*
By the time she was ten years old, Jessie was living in the Day Court with her parents full time. She knew it was because her dad and her were family to the High Lord of the Day Court, her grandpa.
They went to her Auntie Feyre and Uncle Rhys' house one day, so the grownups could talk. Jessie went looking for her cousin. Nyx was twenty now, but he still made time to play with her when she visited.
She couldn't get in trouble, because she was looking for Nyx, and the grownups were talking really loud. But she stopped outside the door they were in, and heard that Azriels spy's were starting to hear her name, and it was worrisome enough to tell her parents.
They were scared for her. It was her they were talking about. She would have kept walking, looking for her cousin, if she hadn't heard that whoever these spies heard, could use her and hurt her to scare her dad, or her grandpa. Now she knew why she wasn't allowed around for 'grownup talk.' It was scaring her.
Jessie nearly jumped out of her skin, when the door opened and her uncle Rhys was looking down at her. He told her to come into the office, and with a quick look at her parents, Jessie knew she very much did not want to go into that office. She'd been listening to their conversation, and she had been caught.
Her dad looked angry, while her mum looked upset. Her auntie Feyre looked serious. She was just about to ask her uncle Rhys if she had to go in there, when he dad interrupted her.
"Jessie Day Archeron, you get in her now."
Jessie was a mischievous kid, and got into her fair share of trouble. More than she would admit to. But she almost never heard her dad get that angry, but when he did, she knew she had to do as she was told, or she would be in big trouble.
So she took a deep breath, and went to step into the room. But realized quickly after hearing the door behind her close, that she had no idea where to stand. All the adults looked angry on some level, and she did not know who was safest to stand close to.
She decided her mum was the safest choice, and went to stand beside her.
Her uncle Rhys was just sitting back down in his chair behind his desk when she asked "Am I in trouble?"
Her uncle had gestured to her parents, so Jessie chose to look at her mum, waiting for an answer.
"Well, Jessie, that depends. What have your father and I told you about eavesdropping?" Her mum asked, taking her hand.
Jessie looked down, not wanting to look at anyone now. "Not to do it."
"And what were you just caught doing?" She heard behind her. Jessie turned her head, to look at her dad, and saw the anger in his normal eye.
"Eavesdropping." She answered, not wanting to look at her dad either, but she kept going. "But I promise I didn't mean to! I was just looking for Nyx, and I heard my name and got curious so—"
"Jessie." She knew she was in trouble then, and had started to get nervous, so her dad stopped her, in the middle of her explanation.
Jessie ended up looking down. "Sorry."
Her uncle then said that they should save this conversation for when they got home, then asking Jessie how much she heard, and remembering what had her stop and listen in the first place, what she heard.
Jessie then looked to her mum, scared for a different reason, and not able to stop the tears filling her eyes as she said "I don't want to be taken. I don't want to be hurt." She was shaking her head franticly, as she felt her dad take her hand. She turned to look at her dad, and saw that the anger in his normal eye had gone away. Now he looked sad and scared. "Why do people want to take me?"
That was the day, that Jessie learned just how important her role in the Day Court was. That was also the day she learned that she, along with her parents, would be moving fully to the Day Court the following week.
Looking back, Jessie knew her dads scary anger wasn't because she was eavesdropping, but because of the fact that people would be willing to use her.
That didn't stop her from getting in trouble though. Jessie wasn't allowed to leave the house for the rest of the weekend, and instead of playing, she had to help clean.
*
One month before her sixteenth birthday, her mother gave birth to her baby brother. And while Jessie did love her brother, she wasn't overly thrilled at the fact that she wasn't an only child anymore. For the past three years, every time they visited the night court, she would tease Nyx, because his parents had had another son.
Since her mother got pregnant, her cousin had been teasing her twice as hard as she ever teased him. At least she was still the only girl.
One good thing the baby brought, was that she could get away with a little more. The past few years, Jessie had almost made a game of it, to see just how far she could push her luck.
Two days before her birthday, she decided she would not show up for her lessons that day, instead she would visit with her grandfathers favourite Pegasus. She loved visiting the Pegasi, and had to admit, her grandfathers favourite was certainly one of her favourites as well.
When her parents found out she didn't show up for her lessons, she knew she was in trouble. She found her favourite hiding space, a very dusty secret hallway, and listened in on her parents discussion that night. Her father was angry, but her mother was trying to calm him down. He wanted to cancel the birthday celebrations, but her mother was very set on not canceling, because family members were already showing up.
Jessie had almost gotten away with no punishments for skipping her lessons, until the a dust cloud ended up causing her to sneeze, letting her parents know she had been eavesdropping.
Jessie wasn't allowed to leave her rooms the whole day before her birthday, and she had to help clean up after the celebrations.
Her grandfather though stepped in just before she had to help clean up, and told her she didn't have to. Much to her parents dismay.
The following morning though, she decided with being sixteen now, she wanted a change. So looking in a mirror, wondering what to do, she decided on cutting her hair.
What once was her waist length hair, she decided to cut it to where it sat just above her shoulders. Jessie loved it, and she was sure her parents would as well. As soon as they got over the shock.
Everyone was shocked when she showed up for breakfast, and she knew the only thing that saved her from an immediate interrogation over her rash and impulsive decision, was the fact that her baby brother was still sleeping.
*
At Twenty, Jessie had to start attending events at the Day Court as an official member of the court. Not a child anymore, she had to accept duties and responsibilities, not only as part of the court, but part of Helions family.
There wasn't much work for her to do, as she was the first female in the High Lords family in centuries, but it had allowed her the freedom at least to go to and from the Night Court as she wanted alone.
She could go to any other court with a guard as well. So she could visit her grandmother more if she wished.
Jessie loved the fact that she had more freedom. She wasn't a little kid anymore, she could visit her family. She had to be careful, as there was a target on her back. Even if no one would act against her, she did still have a target.
The only Court that Jessie was forbidden from going to unless absolutely necessary, and even then, she had to go with her father, was the Spring Court.
Jessie didn't know why, and no matter how many times she tried to ask her father, he refused to answer her. Her mother wasn't any help either. She had given up trying to get her answers from her parents through eavesdropping, as they never spoke about it.
The one thing Jessie hated, she truly loathed, about being an official member of the Court now, was attending balls. She absolutely hated balls. Tight, uncomfortable gowns, with shoes that pinched her toes all night. Her hair full of pins and clips, since she insisted on keeping it no longer than her shoulders now. Proper way to stand, and the proper way to greet people. She had to learn the dances, and when it was appropriate to have a drink.
But the worst part about balls, the part she hated the most, was that she was expected to stay with her parents through each one, so she could learn the Proper Ball Etiquette.
There was a Ball that night, celebrating the 32nd anniversary of winning the war against Hybern. This Ball was held annually, in the neutral territory carved out of the Human Lands. As far as Jessie understood, they held this Ball in the human lands because everyone was still wary of going to the neutral space in the mountain in The Middle. This was the first year Jessie was to attend this Ball, as part of the Day Court.
That night would be the first ball Jessie would be allowed to leave her parents side and socialize. That night would change her life forever.
Jessie had stood off to the side, as she watched her parents dance, it was one of those moments, that she was taken aback at the amount of love they had for each other. If she looked close enough, she would be able to see them glowing. She could only hope to have the kind of love her parents had one day.
A quick look around the room had told her where the rest of her family was. Her uncle Eris was also dancing, he was dancing with his wife. The pair had been married for six months. She noticed her grandfather speaking with her grandmother, and decided she very much did not want to know what they were speaking about, judging by the surprise on her grandmothers reddening face.
Her aunt Nesta was on the sidelines, looking as if she desperately wished to join the dancing, but she couldn't, as she was in the late stages of pregnancy. She seemed to keep a tight grip on her uncle Cassian, almost looking like, if she couldn't enjoy herself and dance, than he wouldn't be enjoying himself either.
Her aunt Feyre and uncle Rhys looked to be laughing with the High Lord of the Summer Court, Tarquin. And with a little more searching Jessie was able to find her cousin. Nyx looked as if he was trying to convince a female to dance with him, and appears to be struggling at it.
This left Jessie, standing alone, at a Ball she very much did not want to be at, with no one to speak with. Normally she was stuck with her parents, and while they wouldn't be her first choice, she'd rather be able to speak with them, rather than be alone.
"You look about as lost as I feel."
Jessie whirled around, to look at the male who spoke to her, silently cursing herself as she swears she may have torn one of the inner layers of her gown. Her mother was not going to be pleased.
The male had short brown hair, stunning green eyes, and stood at least a foot taller than her. He was dressed in fine blue clothes, and looking at her with a soft smile.
"I'm not lost. I just, don't want to be here." Jessie had answered back.
"Perhaps that would be because you've stood here all evening, and have yet to dance. Please, would you allow me a dance?" The male looked at her, holding out his hand.
Jessie had glanced towards her parents, knowing what her mother would say. It is impolite for a lady to refuse a dance. Just one dance, and then a lady may offer a thankful goodbye.
After a few seconds, Jessie accepted the hand, and thus the dance, stating that she would only dance one dance, and that was it. The green eyed stranger had smiled and nodded his understanding, before they started dancing.
During the dance though, Jessie had started to feel eyes watching them. Others had started to quiet, and she knew her parents were watching her, along with possibly other members of her family.
The dance lasted a long time, and with each passing second Jessie could feel tensions rising in the room, and she didn't know why. She wanted this song, and thus this dance to be done.
By the time the dance was done, Jessie could have sworn every eye in the room was on the two of them. Under normal circumstances, Jessie may have enjoyed the attention, but right now, she wished she were invisible.
With the song, and dance done, Jessie offered a polite smile, and took a step back. "Thank you for the dance." Jessie had said, offering a polite curtsey. Before Jessie could turn around to leave, she heard another voice.
"If the pair of you are finished dancing, would you allow me to cut in and ask for a dance myself?"
Jessie had truly not wanted to dance anymore, and was about to say as much, despite upsetting her mother, until she saw who had asked.
The male was strikingly beautiful. Long ash coloured hair, tied back. Piercing blue eyes, wearing the finest red ensemble she had seen.
"I believe she said she was only interested in one dance." The green eyed stranger answered the question before Jessie had the chance.
"One more dance couldn't hurt." Jessie quickly announced, before the beautiful blue eyed stranger could walk away.
The blue eyed stranger had given a smile that sent butterflies through her stomach and held out his hand. Jessie took his hand, and before they went on their own dance, she made sure to thank the green eyed stranger for his dance once more.
"I'm Darnall." The beautiful male introduced himself, causing Jessie to smile herself.
"Jessie."
So Darnall and Jessie started dancing.
Darnall and Jessie had danced together through a total of three songs, before Jessie declared she had to stop dancing. Not ready to part with Darnall yet, she asked if he knew where she could find something to drink, and he offered to take her.
"I want to thank you. For saving me from the awkwardness back there. It started to feel like everyone was staring at me." Jessie told Darnall a few minutes later.
"Well that would be, because everyone was staring at you." Darnall answered her.
Jessie had looked at him, growing confused. "What do you mean?"
Darnall looked down at her, his piercing blue eyes gazing into her own brown ones. "Do you not who you were dancing with?" Upon shaking her head, Darnall let out a soft chuckle and nodded himself. "That would make sense then. The male you were dancing with before me, his name is Priam. He is the heir to the Spring Court."
Jessie lifted her eyebrows in shock. "I'm sorry, who?"
Darnall nodded again before explaining further. "Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court is Priams father. While he may have— reformed himself, his relationships with your father, as well as your aunt and uncle, are still extremely weak. Priam had been staring at you all night, and when he asked you to dance? Everyone was hyper aware of the two of you dancing. Your father even looked like he was about to stop it. Were it not for your mother, I believe he would have. It's a very understandable reaction, given the history Tamlin has with your family."
The shock didn't last long until she realized she did know the name Tamlin. A part of her had remembered overhearing pieces of conversation her parents had.
Whenever her father would visit the Spring Court, Jessie had remembered he would come back upset. She was young at the time, as he hadn't visited much recently, she did remember conversations he had with her mother after each visit.
Her mother would often sit, and listen, and offer advice or soothing words where she could, though Jessie never understood why. It wasn't until more recent years that she had started hearing her name, which was when she started listening more eagerly. Her mother was trying to tell her father that Jessie should know, she was old enough, and that she had a right to know. Jessie was asking questions, and it would be easier to answer them.
It was difficult, as the older she got, and the more she was caught, her parents tried to ward off Jessie's known hiding places when it came to eavesdropping, so Jessie was always left having to find a new spot.
"I'm so stupid." Jessie had found herself muttering. "How did I not put the pieces together? It makes sense now. I'd hear them talking about him, why did I not put those pieces together?"
"Make it a habit to eavesdrop on your parents do you?" Darnall had asked, a playful smirk playing at his lips, while he had genuine curiosity in his eyes.
As shocked as she was from her revelations, Jessie was unable to keep a mischievous smile from forming on her own face. "I do. Much to everyone's dismay, since I don't limit it, only to my parents. Apparently, it's the only way I can get any information." Jessie answered smugly.
Her smile fell then as another realization hit. "You said that Priam had been watching me all evening before asking me to dance?" Jessie asked him as she looked back out to the dance floor.
"I did." Darnall answered with a nod that Jessie did not see. "Though, the term leering would be more fitting."
Jessie didn't know about leering. But Darnall hadn't given her a reason not to believe him. She also knew how uncomfortable she was dancing with Priam, and how quickly tensions all around the room had risen. Everyone had noticed, everyone was staring, including her family. Her parents had been watching.
Her parents. They would have questions. She knew she had her own questions for them. She intended to get the full story. She wasn't a kid anymore, she was twenty.
"It's getting late, I should go find my parents." Jessie mentioned before looking back up to Darnall, a genuine smile on her face. "Thank you for the dances, and a pleasant time."
Darnall offered his own smile that sent butterflies in her stomach again, before responding. "The pleasure was all mine. I do hope we will meet again."
Jessie offered one more smile, before turning and looking for her parents.
*
Five years to the day later at the age of twenty-five, Jessie was to get ready for the same Ball, celebrating Hyberns defeat. This was to be the fifth time Jessie attended this Ball.
After the first one, her parents did indeed have questions for her, which Jessie answered to the best of her ability, which wasn't much, given she didn't know a lot of what they were asking her. That was when she asked her own questions, refusing to drop the subject until she got answers herself.
Jessie had received all the information about the Spring Court, and Tamlin, and what had happened. Nothing was left out, which was only confirmed when she decided on a late night drink of water, always her excuse these past few years, upon hearing her parents talking about it.
This was the only ball she looked forward to each year. Each year they would arrive, keep together until it was time to socialize. Her family would then mingle, her parents going to dance, which left her alone.
Jessie was surprised at first, but Darnall had always found her, each year, upon being left alone. He always came and asked to be her dancing partner, before Priam ever got the chance. She was always grateful for it.
Currently she was looking at what her mother intended her to wear that night, deciding she did not want to wear it.
"What's wrong with it? I think it looks nice." Her mother said looking at the pink gown in-front of them. Jessie looked at her, ready to answer before she heard her brother interrupt.
"Jessie wants to wear something that will make Darnall want to kiss her." Her brother said in a teasing voice.
Jessie turned to him, looking at him, annoyance rising. She looked in his eyes, the exact same russet colour as their fathers, though he hadn't managed to have the look in them that made her stop talking like her father did.
"Aidan, get out! You don't know anything." Jessie said to him, trying to keep calm.
Aidan looked up at her, his golden brown hair unusually messy. For being nine years old, Jessie's brother was the exact opposite of her, especially when she was nine as well. While he still played and had fun like the child he was, he took to his role a lot easier than she ever did. He had to. He was the one in the line of succession, she wasn't. He was growing up with many more responsibilities than she had.
"I do too know stuff! I'm not like you where I have to eavesdrop. Beacause you talk to mum about stuff when I'm in the room. You act like I'm not there, but I'm still there. I hear stuff. I do too know stuff." Aidan looked as if he were incredibly pleased with himself.
Jessie turned to her mother, wondering if her mother would have anything to say about it, but all her mother did was give her a look that said her brother had a point. "Get ready Jessie. I'm putting your brother to bed, and then we're leaving."
Before long, Jessie was standing in the same place she was five years ago, standing alone. She hadn't seen Darnall yet, but it was still early. She had only been alone about thirty minutes, which wasn't long at all.
Jessie used the time to think of the past few years. Each year Darnall had found her. They eventually ended up telling each other more about themselves. Jessie mentioned how, while she was living in the Day Court, with her grandfather being the High Lord there, two of her uncles were also High Lords and even her aunt was a High Lady. Everyone knew this, so Jessie wasn't surprised that Darnall knew as well. But he at least appeared interested to hear information he already knew.
In turn, Darnall mentioned that he wasn't from Prythian at all. In fact he was from the continent, and how his father was one of the few Fae who came back to the war with her human grandfather, that was when Jessie learned that Darnall was thirty-two years old.
The pair had learned more about each other the past few years, trying to learn as much about the other as they could, given they only met during this Ball each year.
She looked around the room once more finding each family member. They were all talking with someone Jessie didn't know, nor did she recognize them. She was glad she wasn't with her family members then. The only one who was not present, for reasons she did not know, was her cousin Nyx.
"Again, you look as lost as I feel."
Jessie turned around to see, getting a sense of déjà-vu, as she saw that Priam stood behind her.
"Don't worry, I won't ask you to dance again. A few years ago, I didn't realize the uncomfortable position it might have put you in." Priam said, looking down at her.
Jessie didn't know what to say, so she chose not to say anything wondering if he would keep speaking. It took a few moments, but offered her one of the drinks he held. She took it with a small smile, sipping from the drink slowly.
"That night, was the first time I had ever attended this Ball. I was told—"
"Jessie! There you are!"
Jessie turned around, after finishing her drink, to see Darnall on his way over to her, his blue eyes observing, yet a warm smile on his face. He was wearing a deep red suit, which really made his eyes appear darker.
"I have been wondering where you were. Oh, hello Priam. Thank you for keeping Jessie company." Jessie smiled a little bit, before looking up to Priam to see his eyes had narrowed slightly, before a glance at Jessie, he nodded and wished the two of them a good evening.
Jessie turned back to look at Darnall, who was now smiling down at her. "I'm sorry for my tardiness. Allow me to make it up to you with a dance." Jessie smiled herself before taking Darnalls hand, as they made their way to the dance floor.
The rest of the night passed by in a blur.
Her first thought upon waking up the following morning was about how she was freezing, and how absolutely uncomfortable she was.
It wasn't until she started blindly reaching for her blanket when she realized something that sent fear throughout her. There was no blanket, because she wasn't sleeping in her bed. She wasn't even on any bed, that was stone beneath her face.
Very slowly, Jessie opened her eyes, to see that she was on the cold hard ground of a slightly damp, very dark, stone cell. And she wasn't alone.
Jessie pushed herself up into a kneeling position and noticed how Darnall was sitting against the cell wall, scratches on his face tears in his clothing as if he put up a fight. "Darnall? What happened? Where are we, how did we get here?" Jessie pushed herself up on her feet making her way to the cell door trying to open it.
"It's not going to work. The door locks from the outside." Darnall managed to say, sounding as if he were in pain.
Jessie turned to look at him then, eyes growing wide. "Are you okay?" She had asked him starting to walk towards him, to see how he was doing.
Suddenly the cell door opened, and guards threw an unconscious male in. He had landed on the ground right in front of Jessie, causing her to lose balance. By the time she had caught herself and turned around, Darnall was standing at the cell door.
"Right, your questions." Darnall mentioned with a smile. "What happened is simple. You were drugged last night. Someone, managed to sneak into the kitchens as the servants were getting the drinks ready to bring out to the main room of the Ball, and slipped something in the drinks. Unfortunately no one will remember much of anything last night. Where are we? We are at my estate, whereas the two of you," Darnall gestured to Jessie and the unconscious male on the floor. "Are locked up in the cells in my basement. And as for how we got here? Simple, I brought you guys here. Who better to take, than the son of the High Lord of the Spring Court, as well as the granddaughter of the Day Courts High Lord, who also is the niece of Autumns High Lord, and the Night Courts High Lord and Lady. The two of you will provide all the information I want."
Darnall smiled once more, and turned to a guard. "Bring our guests some breakfast, as well as a change of clothes. They're going to need it."
Darnall gave Jessie one last look. "As for your final question, I am doing okay. Better than okay! Thank you so much for asking." With that, Darnall turned and left the cell completely as the door slammed shut.
It wasn't long before the guard had brought back clothes and food. The clothes was just a white shirt and brown pants for Priam and Jessie each. Breakfast consisted of two slices of bread and a small glass of water each.
Priam hadn't woken up yet, and Jessie was going to see if he was okay, just as the door opened again, and a guard stepped in. She felt his hand close around her arm hauling her to her feet leading her out of the cell. The next thing Jessie knew she was in another cell, only this one had two chairs in it. Darnall was sitting in one, cleaned up, and in a fresh set of clothes himself.
"Finally. I was wondering what was taking so long. I take it breakfast was, edible?" Darnall had asked her, with a very pleased smile as Jessie was shoved down in the chair opposite him. "Aren't you going to answer? While I admit, your silence will make this more fun for me, you should really consider answering my questions."
Jessie took a deep breath before speaking. "You left him in there, unconscious."
"Who? Oh, Priam. Don't worry, he'll wake up soon. He just passed out from pain is all." Darnall informed her, though he made it sound as if it was no different than Priam getting tired and deciding to go to bed for the night. Like something normal.
He must have seen her confusion, because Darnall smiled then. The kind of smile that sent chills down Jessie's spine. "Right. Well, our friend Priam woke up first, so I took the opportunity to bring him in here to start questioning him, procedures and security in the Spring Court and all that. But Priam refused to answer. I knew he wouldn't, that's why I brought him in here, so he wouldn't wake you up— you're welcome for that by the way. But Priam refused to answer my questions, so for motivation to answer my questions in the future, I had my guards here cut off a toe. Priam passed out from the pain, which actually gave me enough time to get changed and meet you in the cell, and wait for you to wake up."
Jessie truly had no words. This male who sat in front of her, who Jessie had started to truly like, had decided, that just because Priam hadn't offered up information about his court to him, that it meant he could cut off one of Priams toes.
"I think I put on a perfect performance in the cell when you woke up. I ruined my clothes, got myself dirty, and sat on that floor. I even scratched my own face. All to make you believe I was captured with you, so I could see the horror set in your face as you realized that I was the one who took you. That you had started to trust me, to actually like me, when I was only waiting for this exact moment. I was only trying to gain your trust, for this exact moment." Darnall looked to be truly enjoying himself, as Jessie sat there in horror.
Jessie, fortunately, didn't have to come up with a response as one of Darnalls guards came and whispered in his ear. Jessie heard the guard mention that there were moves from four Courts in Prythian. Whispers that two important members of these courts had gone missing, and searches for them were starting.
Darnall had nodded to his guard and dismissed him before looking back at Jessie. Little did Jessie know though, was that her next words would be one of the biggest mistakes she's made in her life.
"You just learned that taking two important members of a high lords family, means that searches start, and High Lords get angry. It won't be long before one of them finds us." Jessie was brave, yes. But she was never as bold with her tendencies to eavesdrop, as she just was. She immediately regretted saying anything, especially as Darnall had started laughing out loud.
"That's right. You like to eavesdrop. You even take pride in doing so. You mentioned this to me the first night we met." Darnall truly looked like he was having an immense amount of fun. "What I find astounding though, is that I just told you about how I had one of Priams toes cut off, because he wouldn't answer a question. But you still take the first opportunity you get to listen in on private information? This is wonderful!"
Darnall ended up leaning forward in his chair, and started to talk to her a little quieter. "I will have no tolerance for eavesdropping, Jessie. I'd let you off with a warning this time, except you've gotten warnings about it your whole life from your parents. If you haven't listened to their warnings your whole life, then I just need to one up them. So let's cut to the chase shall we?" Darnall looked over Jessie, with a calculation in his eyes, before smirking and standing up.
Suddenly, Jessie was grabbed from behind, restrained to keep her from moving, as another guard took a step forward. The next words Darnall spoke, all tones of pleasantries had left his voice, though the gleam of fun remained in his eye.
"I want the ring finger from her left hand. Maybe then, every time she looks down, she will see the emptiness where that finger was, and remember that eavesdropping comes with heavy consequences. Go slow."
In the end, it was Jessie's screams of pain, that had woken Priam up down the hall in their cell.
*
They were still trapped over her 26th birthday. They had been here for four months now. An unexpected friendship had formed between Jessie and Priam. Neither had spoken a word in about two months, out of fear of Darnall. The only sounds that Jessie or Priam made now were when they couldn't hold back their cries from pain any longer. Darnall enjoyed himself too much in ordering his guards to— they were being tortured for information.
If neither Jessie or Priam had offered up information when speaking with Darnall, he would order his guards to give them a new cut, deep enough to scar, shallow enough to heal quickly. There were marks on their arms, their legs, backs and stomachs. The only place Darnall refused to touch were their faces. When cutting them wasn't enough, he would order his guards to start breaking bones.
Darnall had chosen to alternate days between Priam and Jessie. They each would be brought to his torture room—Jessie couldn't call it an interrogation room, given no one ever answered any questions in there— and the way they knew the passage of time in weeks was that Darnall and his guards did not come to their cell on each seventh day. This was why they woke in surprise and fear when, on this seventh day their cell door opened loudly.
Both Jessie and Priam had jumped awake, looking up in fear at their captor, who was just looking down at them humour filling his surprised face. "Well when did this start happening?" He had asked, referring to Jessie and Priam sleeping together. They had started sleeping in physical contact early in their stay here. The close physical contact, and the body heat it created, being their only sense of warmth in the long uncomfortable, freezing nights.
Jessie and Priam, having pushed apart were now pushing themselves into sitting positions, still looking up at Darnall, who was also looking at the two of them, nodding to himself.
"Right, you guys won't talk. You will though." And then one of the guards behind him placed a chair down, and Darnall sat down. "I figured I should let you both know, why I'm doing this. My motives. So I'm going to do something, the two of you, so rudely, will not. I will speak."
Darnall then lost all humour on his face, and it looked as though he were remembering something that happened years ago.
"I was being honest, when I told you young Jessie, that my father fought in the war against Hybern. Was one of the few Fae soldiers that came with your human grandfather, and fought on your families side. But what I didn't tell you was that my mother and I fought alongside him. All three of us had come to help fight against Hyberns armies." Darnall mentioned, looking down to Jessie. "Yes, I lied about my age. I'm no where near as young as my thirties. I'm actually 253. I know, shocker."
"Anyway, the three of us fought together on your side, against Hyberns armies. We didn't know though just how large those armies were. We became overwhelmed, and I watched, as both my parents were killed, within minutes of each other. But had they stayed alive for just ten more minutes, they would have left the war with their lives. Because it was ten minutes later, that fire thing, came down from the top of Hyberns hill, and killed every single one of Hyberns soldiers. If my parents had fought for just ten more minutes, they would be alive right now." Darnall answered, and if Jessie didn't know any better, she would have thought the cruel male looked sad.
"Finally free from having to fight, the war done, and with no where to go, I started going around to the different courts. Looking for somewhere to go, a new home. But I was turned around in every court. Not welcome to find a new home in any of the courts. I couldn't even get an audience with any of the High Lords, let alone so much as a thank you for fighting for them.
"So, finding myself not welcome anywhere in Prythian, I had to figure out a way back to the continent, and figure out what to do with my life. I lost my parents, I even lost friends in that war. I had lost everything, yet was left to figure out how to go on, on my own."
Jessie dared a glance over to Priam to see he was looking at her as well, a question in his green eyes, and Jessie knew it was the same question she was thinking of. Neither of them had even been born until years after the war, so what did they have to do with any of this.
"I see the confusion in your faces." Darnall mentioned, causing both Jessie and Priam to look back at him. "When I got back to the continent, I knew one day, I would make those high lords feel the same fear and loss I felt when seeing my parents killed. I knew it was a matter of time before they started having children young enough to be fooled easily. It's just a shame that the winged one wasn't there that night as well. But, I'm not too heartbroken at that loss, given our dear Jessie here has deep familial ties with the Night Courts High Lord and Lady as well." Darnall had finished standing up.
"Which brings me to why I actually came here today." Darnall mentioned, walking the incredibly short distance to Jessie, before grabbing her by the roots of her hair, pulling her into a standing position, his guards already doing the same with Priam. Jessie fought to not show the pain it caused, biting her lips to keep them closed.
Darnall never touched either of them, left all the physical stuff to his guards. So the fact that he was the one who had pulled Jessie to her feet, something was going on. The anger filled humour coming back to his face.
"Someone, forgot, or just chose, not to mention, that their dear uncle Rhysie-poo had a Shadowsinger in his court, and that that same Shadowsinger is his Master of Spies. Pretty vital information if you ask me, considering if I knew that, I would have made sure there was bright light in every single corner and crevice down here, so much so, that there would not be room for even a single shadow to worm its way in." Darnall had a cruel humour that was practically glowing in his blue eyes. "How will I punish you for this one?"
Jessie heard something that caused her to look over at Priam, only to see him fighting against the guards. Trying to get free, but failing. He was too weak now. They both were. They had gone four months, where they were only given no more than four slices of bread a day, and three cups of water each. Neither of them were in any shape to put up a fight against any of the guards.
Darnall then turned to see Priams weak attempt at fighting free. Before amusement brought a smile to his face. "The two of you sure have grown close haven't you? Best of friends now are you? I shouldn't be surprised, especially considering the fact that I lied to you the night we met. Priam hadn't been watching you that night, let alone leering at you. In fact, I'd guess that he had just so happen to have seen a young female, watching the dance floor, a hint of sadness in the air around her, and like the proper young male he was, son of a High Lord, he would offer the young female a dance, in hopes it would cheer her up."
Suddenly, as if he had been gifted his favourite toy, Jessie saw as joy had lit every feature in her captors face, as he looked back at her. "I know how to punish you for withholding information about the Shadowsinger." Humour started filling his eyes as well. "Sit the little lord in the chair. I want his ear. And our dear sweet young Jessie here is going to be the one to give it to me."
Jessie looked at Darnall in horror. How could he expect her to be the one to take Priams ear. She couldn't do that, she couldn't. She looked towards Priam, as tears were filling her eyes, and saw as he was looking straight at her. Slowly, so slowly, as if accepting his fate, he nodded his head, without taking his eyes off her face.
Jessie shook her head as more tears made their way out, looking at the male, who had become her friend in these horrifying circumstances. She couldn't cut his ear off.
Suddenly she felt a hand grip her shoulder, squeezing to the point of pain, as there was a whisper in her own ear. "If I don't have an ear given to me within two minutes, my guards will cut one off. They will go slow, drawing out the agonizing pain out for as long as they can." And with that, there was a blade placed in her hand. Incapable of producing true damage, only sharp enough for her task of cutting an ear off of a head.
Jessie only closed her eyes, forcing more tears to fall, shaking her head, as she slowly made her way across the tiny cell, before finally looking at Priam.
She wished he could see how sorry she was, wished he could read it on her face, because she couldn't speak the words. She couldn't speak, as she finally reached him. With a final nod from Priam, she took his left ear in her hand, not wanting to continue.
That was the moment the cell door was thrown open, and the guards around turned into black mist. Confused, Jessie turned around, the blade dropping to the ground, as she wiped the tears from her eyes to see what had happened.
There were three males standing there. One with long blonde hair, and angry eyes, as green as Priams. The next male stood tall, and dark, quickly moving his violet eyes through the small cell figuring out what had happened. The third male, with hair as red as her own, looking angrier than she had ever seen him in her life.
Her father and who she assumed was Tamlin looked towards them, as Priam quickly moved to cover, or block Jessie. Priam had then extended a single finger, pointing to Darnall. Both their fathers then, in unison, turned to look at their captor with twin looks of murderous rage.
Her uncle stepped forward then, and suddenly she could hear him speak in her head, which she assumed he was doing with everyone.
"I am going to bring them to my healer in the Night Court. I'll see you both there when you're both done here."
Feeling a gentle hand come to rest on her shoulder, Jessie jumped away out of reflex. her reaction did not go unnoticed by everyone in the room. It took her a moment to remind herself that it was only her uncle, and upon taking a deep breath, she nodded, and instead accepted his offered hand. Jessie saw her uncles eyes narrow as he registered the feeling of her missing finger.
Her uncle then winnowed her and Priam away to safety.
Jessie and Priam had ended up spending the majority of the following week unconscious, as the healer, Madja, worked on healing any of the cuts that hadn't healed yet at the time of their rescue.
After months of sleeping on an uncomfortable freezing stone floor, Jessie found the soft warmth of her bed to be uncomfortable in itself, making it difficult to sleep. She ended up choosing to sleep, not wanting to be awake during any of the time she was healing. She didn't remember much of anything that week.
Jessie hadn't fully woken up out of the daze she had been in until she could hear Priam crying out in pain. Suddenly awake, but not registering her surroundings, Jessie quickly pushed herself into sitting up. She had thought they were saved. She had thought they were finally free. But if Priam was screaming in pain, than—
"Jessie, Jessie. It's okay. You're safe. You're home. You're both safe."
Slowly, Jessie was coming back to herself, becoming aware of her surroundings, she looked to where the voice was coming from and was met with happy, tear filled brown eyes that matched her own.
"He's okay. You don't need to worry. Madja just has to break both of your bones again, so she can set them to heal properly. They hadn't healed properly at all." Her mother explained to her, trying to keep the sadness from her voice.
She then saw her father sitting beside her mother, and both were looking at Jessie like they were both incredibly happy she was sitting in front of them, alive, and safe.
Jessie looked between her parents, before finally speaking the first words she had allowed in months, though she couldn't bring herself to speak louder than a whisper.
"I'm so sorry." As soon as the final word was out of her mouth, it was as if a switch had flipped, and Jessie had broken down crying, unable to stop. She didn't know when, but she had ended up in both her parents laps as she just cried.
One month later, Jessie was standing on the grounds of her aunt and uncle's river house in the Night Court. Everyone had stayed there this past month, she was going to stay just a few days more with her parents and brother.
Right now though, she had to say goodbye to Priam. He and Tamlin couldn't afford any more time away from the Spring Court. Tamlin being the High Lord had to get back, yet he had refused to leave until Madja had given her word that Priam was okay to winnow away.
Jessie wasn't ready to say goodbye to her friend yet. After four months of sharing a cell, and then a month being in rooms right next to each other, she didn't think she was ready to say goodbye. She wasn't used to him being in a separate bedroom yet, let alone having all of Prythian separating them. But she knew he had to go.
She hadn't spoken anymore after her breakdown after apologizing to her parents. She wasn't ready yet. She jumped at every touch, terrified that pain would soon follow. She wasn't doing okay, and she knew that Priam was doing just as well as she was.
Both Priam as well as Jessie had allowed her uncle into their minds to go through their memories of the whole ordeal. With Priam barely talking, and Jessie not having said a word, it was the quickest and easiest way to explain what had happened.
As her uncle was telling everyone else what had happened, Jessie couldn't take her eyes off of her parents. The whole time, her father looked furious, while her mother looked like her heart was breaking. The whole time, Jessie had sat as close to Priam as she could.
But they had lives to get back to. There were people in the Spring Court who would help Priam, just as in a few days, there would be people in the Day Court who would help her.
Jessie stepped forward, and gave Priam a hug, the only one she was comfortable touching. It was the only way she was able to say goodbye. Priam had hugged her back before dipping to whisper in her ear.
"The next time we meet, at that dreadfully stupid Ball, save me a dance?"
Jessie nodded before stepping back, offering a sad smile, as she saw Tamlin rest a hand on his son's shoulder.
Five seconds later, Jessie was staring at empty air, before she turned and walked to meet her parents.
*
At just a week after she was born, after the days celebrations, and revelations about Luciens family, Elain stepped into her daughters room to see her mate standing over their sleeping daughter.
Slowly, Elain took a few steps into the room. She wasn't quiet enough though, as Lucien turned to look at her.
"How is she?" She had asked, taking a few more steps into the room.
"She's asleep. Finally. You'd think that after a day like today, she would be easy to put down, fall asleep quickly." Lucien answered, looking back down at their daughter.
"How are you?" Elain asked him, now standing behind him, looking up at him as he turned to face her.
"I am tired. Though I should be the one asking you."
Elain smiled while looking up at her mate. "There's no need. Especially since my answer would be the exact same as yours." Elain wrapped her arms around her mate in a hug. "Something tells me we are going to live in a constant state of tired, for years to come."
They stood that way for a few seconds, before Lucien turned them so they could both look down on their daughter, sleeping peacefully.
"We're parents now. I wouldn't be surprised if we never stop being tired now. We will always be tired on some level." Lucien responded, sounding attacked, though he had an incredibly soft smile on his face.
"She isn't going to be that bad." Elain replied, looking at her daughters sleeping face.
"Oh but she will. Our daughter is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Make our lives a living hell." Lucien answered with a playful smirk to Elain, before looking back at the sleeping infant, pulling Elain close to his side.
"And would you like to know a secret, my sweet Jessie Day Archeron?" The new father said softly, looking down at his daughter. "I am looking forward to every single second of it. Good, and bad. I can't wait for it all."