Previously on "A Court of Fear and Ice"

In the afternoon, Lexi gets finally a chance to sightsee the City of Starlight. Together with the Night Court fairies, she wanders around the shops and venues of Velaris, and tries the best ice cream in the city. However, on the way back, the fairies show her the second library in Velaris where something strange happens with her and Rian's tattoos.

Chapter 18

At first, I didn't know what had happened.

My head was spinning and I couldn't keep my eyes fixed on anything. There was also that annoying buzz in my ears. Only after a while did I realise that I was lying on the street on my back and staring at the night sky. I heard some voices but couldn't focus on them.

Someone approached me and grabbed my arm, lifting me carefully up, so I was now sitting.

It was Meleri.

"Lexi! Are you all right?" she asked, frightened and a bit panicked. I nodded and closed my eyes for no more than five seconds. "Oh, I'm so relieved," she added. "I was worried about you. Rian got up right after he collapsed on the ground, but you were still lying there and not moving so I thought…" She exhaled slowly. "But you're fine. And I'm really glad." She flashed me a sad smile.

Looking ahead, I saw Rian in the distance. He was standing opposite me with a slightly curved blade in his hand and looking around the street. He didn't seem to suffer from the daze I was now in as he was able to spin around quite fast towards his siblings. He was approached by Cerys who had two daggers that were burning, and Ciaran with Eirwen who were both holding bows made of ice. I closed my eyes again. Thankfully, the buzz disappeared but my head was still spinning.

"Lexi, are you ready to stand up?" Meleri asked, holding my arm.

When I opened my eyes, I was finally able to focus on her but I wasn't ready to move. So I shook my head, saying, "Give me some time, Melly. I can't heal that fast."

She frowned. "But Rian wants to fly to the House right now. He said–"

And then, on my left, I saw something which looked like a dark swirling cloud that was rapidly surrounding us and blocking the way to Meleri's siblings. Terrified and taken aback, I was just able to sit there, doing absolutely nothing to stop it from happening. I didn't know what was going on. One look at Meleri told me she was even more shocked and petrified than me.

After several seconds, the dark wall between us and the rest of the Night Court guys was completed and we couldn't see one another. I heard someone cursed and I was pretty sure it was Ciaran.

"Are you two fine?" Cerys shouted from behind the wall.

I wanted to answer her but didn't even have a chance to do that as a dry, rustling voice said, Ah, Meleri.

I heard Eirwen's voice, asking, "What was that?"

My little kidnapper shivered.

The voice seemed to be all around us. It was as if the dark cloud could speak. And if it really did, then it meant that it was… I swallowed loudly and, fixing my eyes on Meleri, asked, "Is that… Is that Bryaxis?"

She nodded, looking frantically around. "Yes."

I came to reclaim my end of the bargain, little princess.

Meleri was still shivering when she responded, "But you said it would be in a few years."

I've changed my mind.

"Melly, stop talking with it!" Rian called out. "We're trying to get you out."

The darkness started narrowing itself around us as if it wanted to swallow us both.

And I'm ready to collect it now.

I turned to my little kidnapper. "What did you offer it for bringing me here?" When Meleri didn't reply, I repeated louder, "Answer me, Melly. What did you offer it?"

"Part of my magic," she whispered. "I've already given it some but–"

"What?" I lifted my brows and slowly stood up, dragging her with me.

You knew I would come for my payment one day. And tonight is that day, little princess.

"You did what?" I asked, staring at her. "You traded your magic for bringing a complete stranger to Prythian to save your brother from marrying without love? What were you thinking, Melly?"

"It was the best idea I had come up with at that time," she murmured, avoiding eye contact.

I took a deep breath. "Sacrificing seems to be your family thing."

I knew we had to escape before that thing was able to get closer to Meleri and steal her magic. Though coming up with an idea to get us both out of here seemed to be a case of high priority, I just couldn't figure out how to achieve it. My mind was simply empty and I just hoped that those who were behind the black wall would be more successful.

You can't run away from me, little princes. No one can help you now.

Yet, there was one thing that came to my mind that could have actually helped us.

"Hey, Bryaxis," I said, scanning the dark wall around us. "Care to talk with me?"

The darkness stopped nearing and we heard the sound of sniffing.

The girl beyond the stars… What's your name, human girl?

"You should know that since you brought me here," I responded.

The only thing that was of interest to me was your pathetic and broken life.

"I beg your pardon?" My cheeks felt warm.

The dark cloud laughed, swirling and moving around us.

You were so desperate that winter night that I immediately picked up your distress call. Oh, you were crying your eyes out and wallowing in your own despair… You were so miserable… So broken and vulnerable…

"Shut up," I said, gritting my teeth.

I felt your sorrow, human girl, when you were constantly reminding yourself of what you saw that night. I felt your shattered heart that was slowly dying in your chest and giving you true agony. I felt–

Through tears, I shouted, "I said shut up!"

I felt your mutilated dreams and hopes of a future with him that dissolved into thin air the moment you heard them and realised what was happening.

I let out a cry full of pain and covered my ears, not wanting to listen to it.

And I developed a taste for them.

"What is it talking about?" Meleri asked but I couldn't give her an answer. I didn't want to give her an answer.

"Meleri, are you both all right?" Cerys asked. "Lexi has just made a strange noise."

Bryaxis got closer to us.

When you travelled here two days ago, I immediately recognised you and started looking for you. I knew the bonding spell I put on you would only work when the stars met. So I waited in the woods, but a bunch of fools shooed me away from my cover and I lost track of you, human girl. But when you activated the spell minutes ago, finding you was a piece of cake. And tonight…

A hand as if made of dark smoke shot my way and closed around my neck.

I couldn't catch my breath.

I was unable to focus and move away from Bryaxis, though I really wanted to.

"Lexi!" Meleri shrieked. "Let her go!"

"What's going on, Meleri?!" Rian demanded from behind the dark wall. "Answer me! Is it strangling Lexi? Meleri!"

Tonight is my victory. I will kill two birds with one stone. First, I will begin with you as you are easier. Mortal… When I will get rid of your filthy carcass, human girl, I will deal with that little princess whose magic made me stronger and hungrier for more. And then I will drain every last drop of her magic.

The hand tightened even more, making me gulp for air that wasn't going to get to my lungs.

I closed my eyes.

I knew I was dying.

I will use her as her parents used me all those years ago. When they promised me freedom and gave me absolutely nothing. And to think I was loyal to them for so long… But enough is enough.

"Please, let her go," Meleri said, sobbing. "Please."

There are still those faithful to the Dark Mother and they know everything that is happening in that Night Court of yours. And they will come.

Opening my eyes, I stared into nothingness.

Well, at least I thought it was nothingness, but the more I looked, the more the dark cloud began resembling a humanoid figure. So with the final remnants of my consciousness, I put my trembling hand on the darkness around my neck. Seconds later, the dark wall around us disappeared and I was now standing opposite a young tall man with white hair and black eyes who was strangling me with his right hand.

And then everything went black.