Here's chapter 5!
Chapter 5:
I woke up at 6:30 P.M. I got to sleep last night- actually it was really this morning...- at around 8:00 A.M. And I was still exhausted. I went downstairs, and searched for the kitchen.
When I finally found it, my stomach was grumbling, and I felt weak; I needed energy. I shoved three energy bars into my mouth, and started heating some water for Ramen instant noodles.
"Gotta love instant noodles..." I mumbled between chuncks of bar. I was gaining back the weight that I'd lost, but my stomach was flat now, just recovering from it's concave state. I was almost at one hundred pounds now.
I grabbed the box of energy bars, and carted them off to a nook in the corner of the bookstore, and grabbed a book about the Fae off the shelf. I slurped up my noodles while reading about them. I stopped at a chapter titled 'Solus'. That's the name Barrons used at Alana's house isn't it?
I read on, and was disapointed to find that it talked mostly of how this Fae was old, and tricky, liking to play with young women, and then drop them whenever it suited him.
"Yer no' gonna find much stuff in there lass." Brody said from behind me. I jumped, glad that there was no more soup left in the bowl, just noodles.
"Oh my dear." I exclaimed.
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh yer dear?"
"Yes." I answered. A nagging thought came to the front of my mind again. "What does Barrons have on you guys?"
"What dae ye mean?"
"Well from what I know about the Keltar, they didn't really like Barrons at all, and now you guys seems almost, well, buddy-buddy."
"How dae ye know all about us?"
"I don't really know all that much.. and don't evade the question!"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, looking almost... happy compared to how broody and aggravated he normally looked. "The Fae that assaulted Mac, Solus, took my sister, Harmony. Harmony was tryin' tae protect Mac, they're friends, and Mac was a mentor tae her. And when she was taken, instead of Mac, we dinna even know if she was alive. We just have tae hope." Okay so maybe I was off. Not happy, maybe.. upset?
"I'm sorry. This is why you're helping him any way you can, so you can get her back." I reached out and squeezed his hand, feeling slightly awkward.
He looked down at my hand, and then back up at me, and then at my tee-shirt. It said 'Kiss me, I'm Canadian.' He laughed and shook his head. "Ye sure are." he leaned in and our lips met, and fireworks sprang up around us.
And then the world slammed back into motion. What in the hell are you doing Dru? This guy is like seven years older than you, and he's one of the ones who kidnapped you, by association. I pulled back and he tried pulling me forwards.
"No. No Brody. I can't do this. No way. Not here. Not now. Not after everything that's happened." I pushed him off me, realizing that he had gotten almost on top of me on the couch. I got up and he grabbed my arm.
"Och lass dinna be angry. I'm sorry. I dinna mean tae push ye." I could hear the apology in his voice.
I closed my eyes. "I can't deal with this right now. I can't. Just, leave me alone."
His arm dropped from mine, and I amped up my speed, appearing in my room within seconds, with my noodles, and my protein bars. I dropped my things on my bed, and smacked the wall, denting it. I flopped down on my bed, wondering what I'd done wrong to deserve this.
"Ah!" I kicked my bed frame. Then I had an idea. I grabbed my bag, and poured the entire contents of the protein bar box into the bag. I packed it full with all the iron I'd brought, and shoved my journal in. I ran into the bathroom and changed into a tight black skirt, and some black heels that had thin black straps around my ankles, and a black cardigan, with a violet V-neck tank top. I looked in the mirror, and realized something. I didn't look at all like me. I'd never wear anything like this. But I had to, to go undercover on a reconnaissance mission.
I was going to see what Fae I had on my hands.
.
So maybe my reconnaissance mission didn't go as well as I thought it would. I didn't find one Fae. All I found was a gang of jerks who tried to get into my pants.
Maybe my outfit had been a little provocative. And stupid. But, you can't live in the past.
I looked out from the corner of the park that the jerks had approached me at, and started hitting on me. And then they'd grabbed me. I was trying so hard not to hurt them, but my resolve was cracking.
"C'mon beaudiful. Come wit us." he winked, stroking my arm.
"That's enough."
When he didn't stop, and his friends kept coming closer I snapped.
"Let go." They didn't. "Fine. This is your fault." I struck out, putting on my super speed, and they all flew backwards, onto their butts on the road. I brushed myself off. "I told you not to push me." I turned and stalked away, with my bag over my shoulder and my heels clicking on the sidewalk. It was almost dark, and I probably should've gone back to the bookstore, but I wanted to see a Fae. I wanted to know what I was dealing with.
I turned into one of the bars, and hoped that I looked old enough to be in one of them, because legally, I wasn't. I stopped short when i saw a man with golden skin, and angelic hair. He was gorgeous, but his eyes.. they weren't right. They sparkled, irridescant and alien. He had a golden tatoo snaking up the side of his neck as well. A Fae. I turned away immediately- if the Fever books taught me anything, it was to never look right at the Fae. You never know if they're actually visible or not.
"Solus!" A human girl called to him. I turned, and saw him kiss her deeply, and she went limp in his arms. I widened my eyes when he pulled up, and she was just hanging there. He looked right at me, and somehow, I knew that he was no longer visible to anyone- except sidhe-seers. Maybe he never was. He disappeared, and I turned, and freeze-framed – I got that term from Dani- out. I got to the bookstore within seconds, and ran inside, slamming the door behind me, and locking it.
"What happened lass?" Brody asked, getting up quickly from where he was sitting in the back of the store. Right where I left him...
"I saw a Fae."
"Well that's what happens when yer a sidhe-seer." His voice was dripping sarcasm.
"Wow I don't know what I'd do without you." I glared. "I mean, I saw it, and it saw me. And it carted off a human girl when it sifted off."
"What did it look like lass?" He was super alert.
"Uhm, super sexy, avenging angel. Golden hair, golden skin, toned-"
"I get the picture lass. But did he have anythin' that made him look different than other Fae?" He was getting frustrated with me, and seemed a little annoyed a my description of this Fae.
"He had this golden tatoo on his neck." I answered, thinking back. "Oh! And his name was Solus."
"Wait! Solus?" He grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "Yer sure lass?"
"Yes. Isn't that the name you mentioned before too?"
"Yes. Ye need tae lure him over here."
"I what!"
"I'll get Barrons tae-"
"You'll get me to what?" Jeremy stepped into the room.
"He wants me to lure Solus over here. No chance in hell Brody." I said vehemently.
Barrons paused, to think, and I took in his outfit. Him and Brody were basically opposites. Brody was in jeans, and a tight white tee-shirt, and Barrons was in a tight black tee-shirt, and darkwash jeans.
"Not a bad idea Brody." He finally agreed.
I gaped at him. He couldn't be serious. No. I was not bait. I was Dru. My job is finding tabh'rs, and being difficult. "No. This is where I draw the line."
Barrons raised an eyebrow at me, and was exuding violence, and tightly leashed anger. He challenged me with that look, seeing how far I was willing to push him.
I sighed. Of course. Only he would be able to scare me into doing something. Only him.
He nodded, knowing he'd won, and sat down, and told us what we were going to do.
.
I shivered. Barrons had made me sleep right after formulating the plan, telling me that I'd be doing it the next night- tonight. I looked around, not liking this at all. I was standing out on the curb, right beside the bookstore, looking like a street walker. I was in the thigh-high boots and fishnets, and the short, black dress. I had the leather jacket on, but it was wide open, not protecting me from the wind at all. My hair was down, in waves, and I was wearing red lipstick. My thigh, and forearm each had a dirk strapped to them, and there was iron shoved in every possible place I could fit them. I had a belt that, if I needed, had a buckle that would detach itself, and at the press of a button in the center, sharpen at its edges. It was made of iron. I had my bag on as well.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped, whipping around. When I saw it was Solus, my heart started racing, with slight anticipation, and alot of fear.
"Hello sidhe-seer." his lips curled upwards, and I tried not to scream. It looked alien, and terrifying.
I wet my lips, smiling and flirting. "Please.. take me to Faery."
He shook his head, and started circling me. "What reason would you have for going, sidhe-seer?" He looked almost.. bemused.
"To be forever with you of course." I tried not to regurgitate what little food I'd been able to stomach while I said that.
He seemed to like that comment alot. "And what would you do to make that a reality?"
"Anything." Lie. Lies about lies about lies...
"Anything?" He curled the sides of his lips again.
"Of course." I purred.
"On your knees."
No. Freaking. Way. I gritted my teeth and did as he bid me, and I could just imagine both Brody and Barrons laughing their butts off on the roof of the store, as they looked down at me. All I needed to do was get his attention fully on me.
"Look at me, sidhe-seer."
I looked up and he looked down at me, his attention fully focused. I saw the two men on the roof preparing to come down. Suddenly, they were each holding one of Solus's arms. I grabbed Barrons, and we were sifted away.
We were on a tropical isle in what I supposed what Faery, with deep, blue seas, and colours that we don't even have. I looked around, awed, not letting go of Barrons. If Solus sifted out and I wasn't holding on I'd be stranded here for who knows how long, and I really would rather not be stranded.
"Let go of me!" Solus shouted, and a tropical storm started. I squeezed my eyes shut, so no sand would get in them. The winds whipped my hair around, and I could feel the tug increasing, and then we lifted off the ground. I opened my eyes, and saw that we were being thrown around in a hurricane. I screamed, and grabbed harder onto Barrons.
He looked down at me, with a look of disdain on his face, and shook his head. He was holding on to Solus with one hand, and with the other, he was holding onto me. I was wrapped around on of his legs, holding on with all that I had. I scowled at him and sent him a look with my eyes that I hopped said screw-you-this-is-your-fault-I'm-in-this-mess.
When the storm dissipated, I sighed and my anxiety eased slightly. Maybe he'd let up with is anger, and just sit and tell us everything he knew. I snorted. As if.
We landed on the ground again, and I decided to try something to see if maybe, it would stop Solus from sifting anywhere. I took one hand off of Barron's leg, and reached down my boot, pulling out my iron dirk, and some iron cylinders. I took a quick stab at Solus with the dirk, and he hissed in pain, glaring down at me. I shoved some iron into the stab wound, and he cried out, trying to hit me with his other leg. I stabbed it, and put some iron in that wound as well. He ended up looking pained, and pale, and seriously aggravated at me.
"You can let go Dru." Barrons said impatiently.
"Not a chance."
He chuckled slightly, and then stopped laughing. "He can't sift anymore Dru. Let go."
"You don't know that! I am not getting stranded here because you chose to believe something that was untrue!" I yelled.
"Idiot human, Barrons isn't lying!" Solus yelled at me. I glared.
"How do I know you're not just saying that?"
"Ye know what? I'll let go, and then if ye get stranded then we'll both be stranded taegether." Brody said. I nodded, but motioned for him to wait for a second.
"Grab my hand." he started to protest, and I glared, and he sighed, complying.
I let go, and then he did, and then I hurriedly, let go of his hand. Barrons kept a hand on Solus, almost as a warning. He had gold coloured blood dripping down his legs where the iron was shoved in. He was getting very pale, and was concentrating very hard. He's trying to sift- and can't!
"Where's Harmony?" Brody demanded, stepping close to Solus. Solus turned his head, giving us a perfect view of his golden tatoo.
"What did you want when you attacked Mac?" Barrons growled low in his chest.
"Where did ye put the spear and the amulet?" Brody asked.
When he didn't answer, Jeremy picked Solus up, and threw him against a tree. I saw something sparkle, and then it hit the sand. Solus looked really angry. "How dare you, a mere mortal, throw me!"
"If you truly knew about me, you'd know that I'm not a mere mortal, foolish Fae."
"I'm not the foolish one, Jeremy Barrons. Goodbye."
"Wait-" Solus sifted away, and left the three of us standing there alone, and left Barrons sputtering, and fuming.
"Idiot." I walked over to where Solus had been standing, and looked in the sand to find two pieces of iron. I picked them up, and saw some dried blood on them. I shook my head, and showed them to Barrons and Brody. "When you threw him, they must've fallen out, and he must've healed. And now we're stuck here. You know, if you were like your father, you would have forseen this."
"Don't. Compare me. To my father." I was hanging in the air, and his hand was around my throat. He looked like he really wanted to kill me right now.
"Chust let her go, and the lass can find us a tabh'r, and we can get out of here." Brody looked at him.
Barrons looked at him, and I could see he knew that Brody was right. He let go and I dropped to the ground, my hands rubbing at my neck. I glared, and had half a mind to make him think I was doing that to him, but I didn't have very many protein bars, and I needed to save those for an emergency.
"Let's go." I snapped, and started walking.
.
Two weeks. Two weeks we've been in Faery and not even the slightest tingle of a tabh'r. I was down to two protein bars- I'd been saving them, and Barrons and Brody had brought some of their own, although, I hadn't yet seen Barrons eating one.
"I hate you so much." I glared at Barrons. Brody hadn't spoken since the second day.
"Every time you say that, it loses more and more meaning." Barrons sighed.
We were now walking through a forest, with trees with leaves greener than any green I'd ever seen. The grass was so soft under my feet, it was like silk. I think it was the fact that we were in Faery. I was holding my boots.
I saw water, and sprinted towards it, dropping my boots, my jacket and my bag on the bank. I dove it, and sighed, surfacing. The water was so cool and clear, it felt great after walking for days on end. I swallowed a few times, and was grabbed by something scaly and pulled under.
I let out a short squeak, and was then cut off by the water. I closed my mouth abruptly, saving all the oxygen I had left. I looked down and saw what looked like a snake had it's tail wrapped around me. I screamed, and air bubbles floated to the surface. I reached down, and removed my iron dirk from it's holster, and stabbed the snake. The iron bounced harmlessly off it's hide. I pressed my lips together, struggling against it, trying to pry it off my leg.
I felt a hand grab my arm, and pull my upwards, and out of the water. I felt the snake get ripped off my leg and thrown into the water. I sucked air into my lungs, and squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to look into the face of Barrons, who'd probably give me a speech on how stupid I was to have jumped into a lake in Faery.
Finally, I opened my eyes, and saw Brody hanging over me, his hair dripping. I was surprised that he'd been the one to take me out. I had automatically assumed that Barrons had saved me.
"Thank you." I gasped out.
"Och lass yer bleeding." He moved down to my leg, and I sat up, to see that my entire right leg, from knee to toes was covered in blood. I tried not to panic. I was used to this stuff. I was first aid certified. I'd dealt with this all the time as a lifeguard. I sucked in a breath through my mouth, through a tiny straw-sized hole, and then blew it out through my nose.
"In my bag, there is a small first aid kit." Thankfully, first aid training had made me put one in. "It has everything you'd need. Just grab it, and I'll do the rest."
"Here lass." He handed it over, and I took it. I got some anticeptic wipes out of it, and cleaned the blood off my leg. I found the wound, and there were some deep gouge marks in my leg, probably from the snake's scales- that or it's teeth. I cleaned out the wound thoroughly, and wrapped the gauze securely around the wounds. I put another layer of gauze around the first, and tied it over the wound. I was shivering, and realized that I needed dry clothes- and so did Brody.
"I need to elevate my leg, so that the bleeding stops. We should also get out of our wet clothes." I reached into my bag and pulled out some tight black pants, and a blue v-neck shirt. I also had some bra, and panties. I came prepared. I turned to see Brody stripping. He ended up in his boxers- he obviously wouldn't have minded taking them off too if it was just the two of us, but Barrons sort of made things akward.
I stipped, looking away from them and trying not to make things more awkward than they already were. When I had everything off, I heard a shark intake of breath, and ignored it, getting everything on in a hurry.
"I really need to elevate this." I motioned to my leg. I put everything back in my bag, except my wet dress, bra, panties, and tights.
"We really need to move on Dru." Barrons said.
"Yeah well as you can see, I can barely walk." I winced as I tried the weight on my right leg. I sat down, and rested my foot on top of my bag, trying to get it as high as possible.
I looked over at Brody, and my eyes weren't able to leave him. His dark blue eyes were looking right at me, and I couldn't take mine away. His body was toned, with amber skin, and I was drawn in. I wanted to run my hands up and down his abdomen, and caress- What in the hell are you thinking! I turned sharply away, looking into the lake, but all I could see was his beautiful deep blue eyes.
I shivered, and tried to take my mind off of it. A b c d e f g... h i j k l m n o p... There's nothing like the alphabet song to take your mind off of things.
"Dru we need to go." Barrons growled.
"Barrons I can't walk." I replied icily.
I saw Brody stand up, and then I was in his arms, in a cradle carry. I squeaked in protest, and he gave me a look that silenced me immediately. Barrons grabbed my wet clothes, and Brody's and shoved them into my bag, and we went on our way again.
.
I slammed my head into Brody's shoulder, and gasped. It was light out again, and I looked around. My arms were twitching, and so were my legs. "W-w-what's h-hap-p-p-penning." I stuttered. Then I realized. "T-t-abh'r."
They both nodded, and Brody started circling. I looked around intently, looking for some shimmering, or distortion of space, to show that there was a tabh'r there.
I saw some shimmering and pointed to a tree. Brody charged towards it, and we found ourselves on a pier. Brody came to a halt an inch from the guard rails. Barrons went slower, and upon seeing us so close, he went beside us.
"We seem to have come out somewhere around Wales." Barrons stated.
"Well we need tae get home and track Solus again. We need tae find Harmony, the amulet, and the spear."
"I'll have a private plane meet us at the airport." Barrons said, and we set out.
.
"Oh Jeremy!" Mac ran over and threw herself into her son's arms. "Where have you been! You've been gone for months!"
He hugged her awkwardly, and let go, dropping his jacket on the couch. "Exactly how long were we gone mother?"
"Four months."
"Four months!" I shrieked and covered my mouth with my hand. I was interrupting a moment.
"Time-" Brody started.
"Travels differently in Faery, I know." I said. "I just wasn't prepared for that much of my life to be wasted."
"We need to find my spear, and the amulet, and Harmony!" Mac exclaimed.
"How dae we dae that though? We haven't go' a plan."
"We do, actually."
.
I heard a knock at my door, and looked up from my journal. I was writing everything down that had happened to me, and that I'd seen in Faery. Mac was standing at the door, with her hands behind her back.
"After Solus assaulted me, Jericho has made me keep this close, but now I think that it should go back to your family." she took a sword out from behind her back, that was almost glowing with light. In the back of my mind I somehow knew that it was the Sword of Light.
"But he has the spear!" I exclaimed. She should keep it to herself.
"No he doesn't. Jericho took it from him before he sifted out of Faery." She was in a housecoat, and slippers. She didn't look her age though. Now that I think about it she still looks like she's twenty-one. And then I remembered- V'lane -or Cruce- had given her a potion that extends your life.
"But I still don't understand- how did Solus take the spear- Seelie can't touch their own hallows can they?"
"No they can't- but Solus had me wrap it in my sweater, and then put it in his bag."
I nodded. That makes sense. "So what's the plan?" I'd left before they could start including me in the making of it- I didn't want any part of it, and I'd only take part in it if it was essential to the plan.
"We need to find out where they're keeping Harmony. We have this feeling that she's being kept in the Seelie court though. What we need you to do, is find the amulet, and find Harmony."
"Oh that's it is it?" I replied dryly.
"We'll give you everything you need, and Jeremy and Brody will accompany you once you know where they are. Here's a list of contacts we have around the city."
I looked and saw that the little contact book was close to full. It was great having so many contacts- but I now needed to figure out where to start. And obviously, I was all alone.
.
I walked out into the night, with the address book in one hand, and my bag hanging over my shoulder. I was wearing a knee-length black jacket, and a cute high waisted white skirt, with a thick navy blue line at the bottom. I wore a tight navy blue top. The bottom of the skirt just barely poked out from under the jacket. I had on my black heels. My hair was up, in a pony tail, swaying as I walked.
I looked around Dublin, trying to find Chester's. I turned and was surprised to find it up above the ground again. In the books, I remembered that it went underground after the walls collapsed. So, when I found a huge building with CHESTER'S written in huge, red, neon letters I was surprised that it had been so easy to find.
I walked in, taking off my jacket and proceeding to the first bar I could find. The bartender was a female around my age, and she grinned. "Come over! You're just in time! Now's the time that Seelie will come and take a human to Faery for the night if you're lucky!"
I shook my head. "Where are the stairs? I need to see the owner of this establishment."
"Up that hallway, turn left, and it's on your right." she pointed. "They only do this for twenty minutes, so just keep that in mind, just in case." she grinned and I walked away.
I hopped the stairs two by two and was stopped at the top, by two of Barrons men- or Ryodan's, depending on how you look at things. I pushed one of them, and was pushed back. I raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly last time that this went down you needed three men to tether me. Have fun boys."
One of them reached out and grabbed my elbow, and I scowled. "Yes?"
"Don't try the illusion shit on us, or you'll end up dead." Lor said from the top of the stairs.
"Nice to see you too Lor." I gave him a smile that was all teeth. "I need to talk to Ry-O." I extended the syllables.
"Fine. Let her go." Lor commanded, and they glared, and complied, and I was sure to elbow both of them on my way up.
"You know you'd do well to remember that they are alot more dangerous than you Dru." Lor whispered, alot closer than I'd like him.
"And you'd do well to remember that I'm not as weak as I seem Lor." I murmured.
He looked down at me, and I shivered. I knew he was not all that he seemed. He was old. Old beyond belief. He was also unkillable-at least, as far as I knew. They turned into monsters, or I assumed so, seeing as Barrons and his son- his other son, that wasn't even alive anymore- do. He leaned down and I turned away.
"I wouldn't turn me away so lightly if I were you Dru." he whispered.
"Don't think I don't know about your bone breaking fetish Lor." I whispered back, and continued walking down the hallway.
"What!"
"I said DON'T THINK I DON'T-" his hand slapped over my mouth.
"I heard what you said Dru."
"Then why'd you ask me to repeat it?" I was thoroughly enjoying this.
He growled low in his throat, making a rattling noise. "How do you know about that Dru. Only the nine, and Mac, and maybe a select few others know about that."
"The same way I know about everything else."
"You know you're really getting on my nerves girl."
"Why don't we cut the crap and go see Ryodan?" He pressed his lips into a firm line and didn't reply, leading me once again down a dimly lit hallway. I smiled. One battle won. Now for all seventy-nine of the others. Then, the war will be won. Maybe.
Lor opened a door and pushed me in, and left. I scowled at the closed door and turned to see Ryodan standing, looking down through the glass floors in the glass room. It was at least forty feet above the first floor and I could see everything. It was almost like an.. observatory.
"Hello Dru."
"Ryodan." I nodded. "I need your help."
"Great. Now get out."
I glared. "I need you to give me a list of the Fae that come here."
He snorted. "No chance in hell Drucelia."
"It's Drucy, actually." I made a face. If my mother had had another girl, she'd probably have named her something like 'Petunia' or 'Lyca'.
"Not as bad." he turned around, and looked at me, and i couldn't help but feel like he was trying to see into my mind, and see everything that I knew. "Why don't we make a trade?"
"What kind of a trade?" Not how I wanted this to go. Abort! Abort!
"A trade of information."
No. This is starting to sound very, very bad. Get out of there this instant Dru! This instant! "What kind of information?" Are you deaf girl? Do you not hear the little voice inside your head saying wake up you idiot and run! No? Well then, I'll shut up. I shall waste my time no longer.
"I'll give you the list you want- if you tell me all that you know about the nine and I."
No. I don't want to die yet. I'm not ready for death. I can't tell him anything of that sort. I remeber him threatening Mac for what she knew, and I probably don't know as much as she did- Karen Marie Moning probably only got the bare minimum from Mac. "Fine. But, I need your word. You need to promise me protection. To the utmost extent of your abilities."
"Isn't this like asking for a trade and something more?" He looked bemused.
"That's exactly what it's like."
He pressed his lips in a thin line. I could almost swear that he was battling his curiosity- and losing. Finally, after about five minutes of slight muscle twitching, he looked up at me and sighed. "Fine. Done."
"Perfect." I purred, and we shook hands.
.
"You know all of that!" He growled, looking like he was going to shove me up against a wall and deciding better of it.
"No, I'm saying all of this just to piss you off. And don't you remember our agreement?" I was smiling smugly, knowing that I had him by the balls. I knew a whole lot about them, probably more than most, and he couldn't do a thing about it. And neither could anyone else.
He raked a hand through his longish blonde hair and paced the room. He grabbed a paper and scribbled some words on, and handed it to me. There were about thirty names on the list. All were Fae. "There. Take your bloody fucking list. You better pray that the nine don't find out about this, or they'll kill me, and then you."
I nodded, and left.
.
The wind blew my hair into my face and I shivered. It was somewhere around october or november- I still hadn't seen a calender since I got out of Faery, and really, 'four months' could mean four and a half months, three and a half months, or just generally a really long time. When people are vague like that you never really know.
It had been a week since I'd visited Chester's, and I was in no hurry to return. What Ryodan had said had really hit me hard- and so I made a point to not go within ten blocks of it if I didn't have to, and when I did, I was shivering, and looking into alleyways and shadows, hoping that I wouldn't see one of the nine skulking around in them, just waiting for me to pass. I couldn't get the image of me lying on the sidewalk in one of those alleyways, bleeding out like Mac's sister had.
I shivered and pulled my leather jacket tighter as another gust of chilly wind was sent in my direction. I had on my thigh-high boots, and some jeans under them. I may be from Canada, but I get cold. I had on a black sweater, and a red v-neck fleece on under that. I sort of had a thing for red and black.
I was waiting at a lamppost, at a spot that some Fae fanatic had told me to be, because Viridia- the fifth Fae on my list- wanted to see me. The first Fae hadn't been able to tell me anything useful, and since he seemed like a genuinely nice Fae- if Fae can be nice- I let him go, even though every sidhe-seer instinct inside me had been screaming at the top of its lungs to get me to shove my sword through his- or it's- stomach. I'd skipped the other four when I'd found out that they were only irregular visitors, and only came every few months- I didn't have that kind of time at my disposal.
She appeared in front of me, and looked to either side, as if making sure the coast was clear. "We must talk sidhe-seer, but not here."
I nodded, and followed her down an alley, fully aware that this was probably a very well-schemed trap. She had long white hair, curling to her knees. She was in a very see-through iridescent dress and didn't seem at all concerned with her appearance. She was an inch taller than me and dainty, the kind of girl that all girls wished they could be but never come anywhere close to becoming. I shook my head, trying to clear it of those thoughts. I needed a clear head for this.
"Here. I believe we can converse freely sidhe-seer." she whispered.
"Tahliya said you needed to talk to me."
"Yes. I know where Solus is hiding."
"Where!" I almost yelled and she shushed me.
"Quiet! The wind hears everything. Now, I cannot tell you where, for I have been sworn to secrecy by an oath that can only be broken by death, but I know someone who can." she shoved a piece of paper urgently into my hand and looked panicky.
"But why are you doing this."
"If you need ask, then you will never know. You must figure this out on your own, sidhe-seer."
"How am I supposed to figure this out on my own! I feel like I'm already in over my head and I haven't even truly fought a Fae." I frowned.
She nodded. "There are things going on that you do not yet understand sidhe-seer. Terrible things are waking up- things that were never meant to ever be woken. Take care of yourself sidhe-seer. The world may yet need you." she put a hand on my shoulder, and then sifted away, leaving me in an alley, shivering. It then started to rain.