Previously on "A Court of Fear and Ice"

Abandoned by the two fairies who brought her to the Summer Court, Lexi tries to blend in at Marella's party. Soon, it turns out that the guests are far from talking to her and avoid her throughout the evening. She becomes upset and considers leaving the ballroom, but she's suddenly approached by Marella. The High Lady introduces Lexi to Taranis, a winged fairy from the Dawn Court and Cerys's love interest; however, their conversation is interrupted by Rian's arrival. Having found out that Lexi is hungry, the heir to the Night Court invites her for dinner and asks to wait for him outside.

Chapter 27

Leaning against the terrace railing, I was observing the impenetrable darkness in front of me. I was sure as hell that the fifteen minutes Rian requested before going with me to dinner had long passed, yet that handsome muppet was nowhere to be found. The only thing I could do now was wait. Wait, wait and wait, until I would be so hungry, I wouldn't be able to eat anything in that damn restaurant. Propping me head on my fist, I inhaled deeply and immediately regretted doing it.

Hot and suffocating, the night air didn't change a bit after the sun went down. It was as unpleasant for me as it had been before the party, and the only relief was the rare breeze coming from the sea. The sound of the waves in the distance told me that there was another way to cool myself down, but I didn't know where the water was exactly and how to get to it safely. Besides, I was absolutely and positively sure that Rian would be 'thrilled' if he found me floating in the sea with no life signals, but with a huge puddle of blood around me after having accidently hit my head on the way. That would be the worst date ever.

Wincing, I reminded myself to stop calling tonight's dinner a date. It wasn't the first time I had to do this and, knowing me, surely not the last. I knew it was wrong to even assume Rian had some hidden teeny-weeny motives concerning our dinner. He could have done it out of the kindness of his heart as he once told me, and there was nothing romantic about his invitation. But what if…

It's not a date, I thought, straightening up and raising my eyes to look at the night sky. It's never going to be a date. Don't you fall for the same thing again, Lexi. Please, remember this. No dates.

Slightly upset, I sighed and began watching the stars.

During my four weeks in the mountain residence, I liked sitting in the hall and observing Prythian's night sky. At first, I didn't notice any changes in position of the constellations, assuming stars were stars and it didn't matter whether I were in the Night Court or at home. (And, well, I was too unhappy to give a shit about that.) But the more I looked, the more I searched the sky for familiar twinkling dots like the Great Bear or Orion, the more dissimilarities I noticed.

Curious enough, I wanted to ask someone from the Night Court about their stars. But as time passed, I had forgotten about the whole thing, occupying myself with wandering around the mountain residence and making friends with sweet Nachton.

Maybe tonight, I thought, still gazing at the black sky, I would have the chance to ask Rian about the stories concerning the creation of their constellations. Maybe during our date, I would…

Simmering with anger at myself, I drew away from the railing and took a step back. "That fucking word," I said quietly and crossed my arms. Deep down, I just knew I would do something really stupid and embarrassing in the restaurant, thus making Rian regret inviting me for dinner. I knew it.

When I was just about to lean against the railing with my back to the darkness, I heard a sudden splash below the terrace. I froze, too afraid to even breathe.

With my heart racing, I looked carefully over my shoulder but it was bloody difficult to see anything in the dead of the night. Foolishly, I assumed I was alone on the terrace and no one would ever notice me here. But I was wrong.

The splash repeated itself, yet this time it was accompanied by a series of giggles.

Alerted and a bit curious, I frowned and turned around, taking a step towards the railing. At first, I didn't notice anything or anyone near me, just the ever-present darkness, but after squinting my eyes I thought I saw something in the distance. It was like a faint light and some silhouettes that were creeping around the other side of the huge swimming pool.

Before I had time to think it over, I moved away from the railing and took my brown sandals off. As quietly as I could, I started walking towards the stairs leading to the pool, holding my shoes in one hand. Subconsciously, I knew I needed to be careful. In any case, I was in Prythian where almost everyone had magic and there weren't many fairies as friendly as those who had been giving me shelter for the last four weeks. I was a human, defenceless and lacking in magic, and the last thing I needed tonight was an unpleasant meeting with some meanies. Yet, too curious to give a damn about the potential danger, I continued my way to the swimming pool anyway.

Creeping in the darkness, it took me several seconds to reach the first row of wooden deckchairs which surrounded my destination. Hidden behind one of the chairs, I sneaked a peak at the pool and immediately gasped, having expected something entirely different.

Dressed in gauzy dresses, four mini-fairies were playing by the water and having the time of their lives. Illuminated by magical lights that were floating in the air around them, the girls were dark-skinned and fair-haired. Each mini-fairy had a long plait that was swaying from side to side at her back, and jingling bracelets on both wrists. From what I noticed, they didn't pay attention to anything near them, including me, too busy with giggling and monkeying around.

Smiling, I laid my sandals on the ground and started putting them on. I knew that I satisfied my curiosity, though I was expecting to see someone else by the swimming pool, like some hot half naked guys from the Summer Court. Slightly disappointed, I knew it was time to go back to the terrace, in case Rian was looking for me.

Halfway done with my sandals, I overheard the mini-fairies.

"Nerida. What are you doing?" a hushed girly voice asked.

"Stop it. You can't do this." There was another one that was very worried. "What if Father will notice us?"

The third voice sounded a bit raspy as it said, "So what? Nerida, show them that you can do this."

"Nerida, no," the first girl whispered and there was fear in her voice.

Suddenly concerned about the direction this conversation was going to, I straightened up and sneaked a peak at the mini-fairies. They were still standing by the swimming pool, but one of them got closer to the diving board as if she wanted to jump off. Luckily, the board wasn't high, though it didn't change the fact the little one was going to hurt herself. Right in front of my eyes.

Feeling a rapid surge of adrenaline, I took a step forward, not bothering myself with revealing my presence to the mini-fairies. I had to stop this childish nonsense before there would be casualties.

"Oh, please. I am strong enough to do that, you'll see." The last girl, who had to be Nerida, climbed the diving board so quickly that I wasn't even able to shout 'no.' Then, she jumped into the water, disappearing under its surface.

I lunged at the pool with a scream.

"Are you crazy? What were you thinking?" I asked angrily, catching their attention. Scared of my sudden appearance, the remaining girls shrieked. "It's too dangerous for kids to be alone in the middle of the night," I went on, getting closer to them. "Get the fuck out of here!"

The mini-fairies didn't need any more encouragement as they all fled in terror.

With my heart racing, I turned around and looked at the swimming pool, but I didn't see the fourth mini-fairy anywhere in sight. "Shit," I murmured and approached the water. When I squatted and leant across the edge of the pool, I noticed a small dark shape that was floating on the surface. And it wasn't moving.

"Fuck," I said loudly and perched on the edge, ready to jump in and help that girl. Hesitating, I looked at the darkish water with fear. "Fuck," I repeated as I knew there was one small problem.

I couldn't swim.

Swallowing hard and staring at the unconscious mini-fairy, I knew there was no time to waste. If she was really out and immersed in the water, then every minute without oxygen was bloody dangerous to her brain. I realised also that if I didn't do anything really fast, she would be dead in a matter of time, and it would be all my fucking fault. So, without further ado, I slid into the swimming pool, hoping I wouldn't drown too.

Warm and salty, the water was up to my shoulders. Moving like an astronaut on the surface of the Moon, I was slowly approaching the unconscious mini-fairy and keeping my head up. My inability to swim was still creeping at the back of my mind but I tried not to think about it. Instead, I kept reminding myself that I had one thing to do and had to do it fast – I needed to save that girl from drowning at all cost.

Fighting my panic back, I realised that I was getting closer to her. All I needed was a couple of feet and I would be finally able to grasp her hand and drag her unconscious body to the edge of the swimming pool.

I knew I could do it.

Just a little bit, I thought. I knew the mini-fairy was depending on me. That her pointy-eared family was depending on me. Just a little tiny bit.

Gasping, I finally grabbed her hand and pulled her body towards me, turning that small head of hers to the sky. Now, all I had to do was haul the girl out of the water, though that was the most difficult part. But I had to do this.

Heavy as hell, the unconscious mini-fairy wasn't easy to manoeuvre. I tried my best to keep our heads up and avoid gulping the water, but I was weakening with every passing second. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to reach the edge of the swimming pool and eventually would drown with her. I desperately needed help.

So there was one name that came to my mind.

"RIAN!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, still hauling that little unconscious body. "RIAN!"

But he didn't show up.

Suppressing a hopeless cry, I pulled myself together and drew the girl towards the distant edge of the swimming pool. He didn't show up, I thought, closing my eyes for a moment. He didn't show up.

"What's going on?" I heard Rian's voice and immediately opened my eyes. There he was – coming closer to the pool with a worried look on his face. "Lexi?"

"Help me," I whimpered.

At first, Rian frowned, probably unsure of what was happening in front of him, but the moment he realised why I called his name he immediately waved his hand and the mini-fairy disappeared from the water. In the same time, he jumped into the pool in his clothes on and, having grabbed my hand, winnowed us outside.

A second later, I was kneeling on the warm tiles surrounding that fucking swimming pool, with Rian by my side, and slightly coughing. I knew I was soaked to the bone and lost somewhere one of my sandals. But I was alive. Thank God.

"What has happened?" Rian asked, putting his hand on my back. "Are you all right?"

I was just about to answer when my eyes found the girl, still unconscious and lying next to us.

With a loud f-word, I lunged towards the mini-fairy and checked if she was breathing. When it turned out that she didn't, I started resuscitating her. Firstly, I tilted her head back and pinched her nostrils with my fingers. Then I pressed my mouth against hers and blew air into her small lungs. A second later, I did it again.

"What are you doing?" Rian asked with surprise as I straightened up and looked at her chest. No movement.

"Shit," I said with exasperation, still kneeling next to the mini-fairy and breathing heavily. "What now? Fuck, what now?"

Frowning, I tried to remind myself the next step, but I couldn't remember what I was supposed to do now. More blowing air? No, it was something else. I glanced at her motionless chest and felt another surge of panic.

What now?, I thought. What were they doing next? Think, Lexi. Think!

My eyes darted to my shaking fingers and then back to the girl's chest. I knew it was somehow connected with using hands, but staring now at them wouldn't help me. I needed to do something with them. Ah, yes! Press them to her body!

Quickly, I placed my both hands in the middle of the mini-fairy's chest and interlocked them, readying myself for pressing down.

"What are you doing?" Rian repeated his question.

I snapped, "Saving her."

"By putting your hands on her?"

"Yes!" And I started pressing straight down on the girl's chest, murmuring to myself, "One, two, three, four, five…"

With my head down, I was so focused on counting that time stopped for me. I didn't hear the sea. I didn't feel the heat. I didn't notice the roar of blood pumping in my ears. There were just my hands and that unconscious mini-fairy whom I had to save from death.

Push by push, I was feeling more and more tired, but I needed to go on. I needed to be strong. I couldn't let that girl die, not here and not now. Gritting my teeth, I realised I was nearing the end of counting. "Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty."

Bending to the mini-fairy, I did the two mouth-to-mouths and started the second round of thirty presses. Only then did I realise we were accompanied by a lot of fairies.

Still pressing, I looked up and saw Cerys who was kneeling in front of me and Rian, and staring at my hands with a frown on her face. Her own hands were raised as if in prayer and there were whitish flames around them. "Lexi, what are you doing?" she asked.

But it was Rian who answered, "She's saving her."

"Move away. At once." There was a male voice coming from the back and soon I saw a dark-skinned man who got down on his knees and touched the girl's arm. It was Tarquin, the High Lord of the Summer Court. "Nerida!" he shouted. "Sweetheart, what happened? Nerida, answer me." When our eyes met, he said, "Stop it at once."

"I can't," I whispered.

Tarquin furrowed bis eyebrows. "Nonsense. Cerys will heal her. Please, move away."

Shaking my head, I kept pressing my hands on the mini-fairy's chest. I couldn't stop now. I didn't want to stop now. I was sure like hell that the minute I stop, the girl – Nerida – would die, and I couldn't let that happen. I didn't want that to happen. I had to save her.

Exhausted from all the pressing, I was about to do another mouth-to-mouth when Nerida coughed. Immediately, I rolled her onto her side and did it almost in time as she threw up on my already soaked dress. I vaguely remembered that people sometimes could choke on their own vomit, so the last thing I needed after saving her was another incident. "It's alright, sunshine," I whispered and stroked her head. "It's alright. You're safe now."

Having got rid of the contents of her stomach, Nerida laid down on the tiles and drew a couple of deep breaths. "Daddy?" she asked quietly and I observed Tarquin lunging towards his daughter.

I drew back, breathing heavily. Oh, fuck, I thought and stared into space. Oh, fuck.

"You did it," Rian said softly, touching my hand. When I looked at him, he added, "You saved her. It was rather foolish, but you did it." He flashed me a smile and squeezed my hand.

Staring at him blankly, I didn't know what to reply. It was true that I saved Tarquin's daughter, but what if something went wrong? What if I didn't succeed and she really drowned? Honestly, I hadn't thought about that when I insisted on continuing the resuscitation. When I didn't want to move away and let Cerys heal her. I was so confident about my skills that I could have accidently hurt Nerida. Or kill her. I got goosebumps at the mere thought.

"Can I heal her now?" Cerys asked angrily, giving me a dismissive look. Her burning hands were still raised. "Or is someone else waiting in line to do that? I can wait."

Reluctantly, Tarquin pulled away from his daughter and said, "Yes, please. Do it, Cerys."

Fixing my whole attention on her, I observed the Night Court fairy gently touch Nerida's arm and tell her something so softly I didn't hear it. The girl closed her eyes and relaxed, letting Cerys's magic do the healing. To my disappointment, the whole process wasn't spectacular. There were no sparks or flashes of light as I had expected after seeing Cerys's white flames. It was quick and ordinary. Or even boring, as one could call it.

When the healing was completed, Nerida sat up and smiled through exhaustion. "Thank you," she said to Cerys who just nodded. Then, the mini-fairy fixed her eyes on me and repeated, "Thank you."

I shrugged. "Don't mention it. It was my first instinct."

Still wet, I looked around at the fairies. They were all watching me and whispering among themselves, but none of them approached me. Regretfully, I realised it was the same behaviour I witnessed in the ballroom. Saviour or not saviour, I was still a freak whom they had to stay away from.

In one swift move, Rian stood up and reached out his hand towards me. When I grabbed it and got to my feet, he held it longer than it was necessary. "Ready to go home?" he asked after a while.

I nodded.

I was about to embrace Rian and let him winnow us to the mountain residence, when I heard Tarquin's voice, "What do you want in return, Alexandra?"

Caught off guard by his question, I turned around and stared at the High Lord. "What?"

Dressed in a sky-blue tunic, Tarquin was a tall dark-skinned man with crystal-blue eyes and long white hair. I met him in the ballroom where we were introduced by Marella who couldn't praise him enough and kept talking about her handsome High Lord over and over. With amusement, I was watching the two of them exchange loving stares and mysterious smiles until Tarquin was snatched away from us by one of Marella's relatives and disappeared in the crowd.

Now, kneeling next to his daughter and embracing her tightly, the High Lord of the Summer Court set his unusual eyes upon me and repeated louder, "What do you want in return?" When I was silent, still too shocked to answer, he added quickly, "Name your price. Is it gold? Jewellery? Gemstones…?"

"I don't want your gold or gemstones," I interrupted him, drawing away from Rian and taking a step forward. "I didn't save your daughter just because I wanted a fucking reward. I did it because it was the right thing to do. The only thing to do at that time," I added angrily. "I would help anyone, regardless their sex or appearance."

Eyeing him suspiciously, I realised I was offended by his words. I didn't understand why he assumed I wanted something in return for saving his daughter. That was my first instinct and I would really try to rescue anyone, human or fairy, from certain death. Besides, I couldn't leave that little girl in the swimming pool and let her die. I knew it would haunt me for the rest of my days, reminding me of itself every time I might see a fucking pool.

Tarquin regarded me for a while. "In this case," he said, standing up and approaching me, "I owe you a debt." He held his closed hand out and when he opened it, I saw a pretty bracelet made of small brownish shells attached to a silver cord. Even in the faint glow of the magical lights that were still floating around us, the bracelet glittered like tiny dark stars. "If you ever need my help, I will come as quickly as I can," he added, nearing his hand to me. "Just drop it into water and say my name thrice. Use it wisely as there won't be a second time."

Still feeling angry, I replied, "I said I didn't want a reward."

As I was about to turn around and ignore his outstretched hand, I felt that Rian gave me a gentle nudge. "She's still too shocked after saving little Nerida," he said, looking at me knowingly. "But I can assure you, High Lord, that Lexi appreciates your gesture and will accept this beautiful bracelet, won't you, honey?"

Suddenly annoyed with that handsome muppet, I fixed my eyes on him and opened my mouth. At first, I wanted to say no. I really didn't need any rewards for saving Nerida and taking this splendid shell bracelet would mean that I was lying about that. But then I realised that the gift wasn't offered by anyone. No – it was given to me by a powerful High Lord who was serious about the offer and who would never make empty promises. And that was the reason I said loudly, "All right."

Surpassing a sigh, I reached out my hand and added, "Thank you for your gift. I promise I will use it wisely."

Tarquin placed the shell bracelet on the open palm of my hand and then fixed his blue eyes on me. With a small smile, he asked, "Would you do me the honour and stay for the night? I'll have rooms prepared for you and then you can join us in the morning to have some breakfast in the dining room."

I looked at Rian with question in my eyes and his only reply was a quiet, "Thank you. We'd love to."

Willy-nilly, I smiled slightly. Another day in the Summer Court, I thought. Absolutely fantastic.

Pronunciation guide

Nerida = [ne - ri - duh] (meaning: sea nymph)