Generosity & Cruelty
Shun's POV
As I continued to fight Fang's men off me, I noticed now Fang carrying Alice in his arms. I watched as he started to walk out the door, but I screamed at him.
"HEY!" I shouted as I dashed toward his direction, but was stopped when two of his men grabbed me by the arms and held me back as Fang grinned.
"You're making this a lot harder than it needs to be Shun, she's just going to meet the High Queen." Fang spoke, but I glared at him.
"If anything happens to Alice Fang, I swear to god I will kill you for this!" I shouted as he laughed.
"I didn't want to do this to you Shun, but you leave me no choice. Bring him with us and watch the others." Fang ordered.
Suddenly I felt his men lead me out of the house with them. I turned back to see my friends in what looked like under house arrest as Fang's men close the door behind me as we exited the house. Suddenly I turned back to Fang who blew something into my face making me cough and begin to feel light-headed and sleepy. He grinned to me and leaned over to me and say something before I pasted out.
"Sweet dreams Shun," Fang spoke as I fell unconscious.
Alice's POV
I felt my head spinning a lot as I began to awaken. I slowly opened to my eyes and my vision was blurred. I felt myself on something soft and soon my vision became clear. Everything around me was just pure white, even the bed I was laying in. I slowly sat up, but I felt my muscles ache a little. Soon I pushed myself to get out of bed. When I got out of the bed, I noticed a mirror next to my bed and as I stared at my reflection, I blinked a few times. I was wearing a white elegant strapless dress that came above my ankles. I was also wearing pure white flats as well. I wasn't wearing this before . . . Suddenly realization hit me and I quickly remembered that Fang had sort of kidnapped me. As I ran to the door out of the room, I noticed as soon as I opened it someone was waiting in front of it. I jumped back a little startled by the sudden appearance as the man in front of me bowed, but showed no emotion.
"I am here to escort you to the High Queen as soon as you awoke." He replied.
"Where am I? Where is Fang!?" I exclaimed.
"You are currently in the High Court which is located in Faery." He answered as I looked at him curiously.
"Faery? You mean the people right?" I questioned, but he shook his head.
"No not Fay, but Faery. Faery is not part of the mortal world where you come from. There is a barrier that prevents you from seeing our world when in the mortal world. Only Fay can pass through the barrier and into Faery which is where the High Court is located." He explained to me, but I was still confused and lost as ever.
"Ok then where is Fang and my friends!?" I questioned.
"The Dark King has already returned to his court and as for your friends, I cannot say I know where they are." He answered once again.
I looked to him and I felt myself becoming panicked and confused on what I should do. I was in a world; I was unfamiliar with and had no idea how to leave this place. I didn't really have much of a choice on what I should do. Without any choice, I let this guy escort me to the High Queen. I noticed as we walked the place was very elegant and beautiful. The floors were polish marble as the walls were pure white with some many art work displayed. It felt like I was in museum. Soon huge doors began to open in front of us and then my eyes suddenly went wide as fear was beginning to overtake me. There in front of me as I slowly walked through the doors was none other than the High Queen herself.
She glowed so brightly compared to everyone else in the room. Her hair was long and a little wavy and dark as night with her deep blue eyes staring down at me and observing me. I noticed a crown on her head and how young she looked to be High Queen. Although she looked beautiful, she was a force to be reckoned with. As I got closer to her, I watch as the guy raised a hand for me to stop as he walked the rest of the way and stood beside the Queen. She stared at me intensely making me feel nervous and afraid. I knew about her killing Sighted Ones, but I prayed she'd make an exception and let me live! Soon she stood up from her throne and spoke with a powerful and yet calm voice.
"You must be the mortal they call Alice." She spoke and I nodded to her.
I watched as she descended from her thrown and walked toward me. She looked older than me, but yet she looked so young. I watched as she started to walk around me and observe me from all corners.
"Strange," She spoke as she now stopped walking and was in front of me staring at me.
"I'm-." I spoke, but she cut me off.
"I don't see it . . . You look like an ordinary mortal to me and yet I sense something off about you." She spoke.
I watched as she slowly walked toward me. I wanted to run for some reason. She was intimidating for sure, but just something about her seemed off. There we stood face to face now as she stared at me intensely making me nervous and my palms sweaty. Suddenly she reached for my hand and I flinched into surprise as she gasped. She took a few steps back from me staring at me quiet shocked. Soon though she slowly started to grin to me and spoke.
"I guess the rumors are true after all. You really are a Sighted One after all. Here I thought I had gotten rid of all the Sighted Ones." She grinned as I shook in fear now as she continued to grin to me.
"I should just kill you and get this over with, but I seek entertainment that you may be able to provide me." She smiled as I looked to her confused as I finally spoke up nervously.
"What kind of entertainment?" I questioned as she grinned even wider.
"Devlin!" She called out.
I watched the Fay named Devlin that escorted me to the Queen move away from her thrown and went into a different room to get something. I watched as he left and then turned my attention back to the Queen who stared at me.
"You're quite different from the Sighted Ones I've met. You're quiet and you don't seem as scared as they were when brought here. Some cried and begged for mercy as you stand there like a statue." She spoke to me.
"Well truth be told I'm terrified. You did threaten to kill me and I'd rather not offend you. I believe I'm not in a place where I can speak so freely." I replied as she laughed and smiled to me.
"You are quiet amusing. I don't think any of the Sighted Ones responded to me like that before. I have to say though, I'm still curious about you. You are a threat to my court and the other courts because of your gift, yet I find myself in an unfamiliar situation." She said to me as I looked to her confused.
Suddenly Devlin exited the room and came back with a rolling cart with something covered. He rolled it over to the Queen who removed the covers and grinned and then looked to me. I felt myself shaking again, but I knew she could taste my emotions so I had to stay calm. I can't show her I'm weak. Suddenly though she picked up a dagger from the tray and my heart nearly stopped as she laughed and saw my expression.
"How about we play a little game?" She suggested as I stared at her in fear and in that moment, I wished Shun was here with me.
Shun's POV
My head was spinning by the time I woke up. I felt horrible and kind of sorer. I looked around and noticed I had been lying in a metal cage. I grabbed the bars and the felt sturdy and unbreakable. I noticed I was in some sort of dark room, but I could hear other Fay groaning and moaning near me. It seemed I was in a different room from them. I looked around and suddenly I heard a door open and I turned to see Fang there with some of his men as I glared at him.
"Now I know you're upset." Fang spoke and I gave a hollow laugh.
"Upset!? I'M BEYOND PISSED!" I shouted in anger.
"I know, but please let me explain as I'm sure it will put your mind in ease."
"Ease? Are you freaking kidding me!? You just basically killed my girlfriend Fang! You know what the High Queen does to people like her! Alice is good as dead!" I cried as I slumped back to the floor and placed my hands over my eyes as I felt frustrated, angry, helpless, and depressed.
"She's not dead yet Shun, have faith in her." Fang spoke, but I just gave a hollow laugh and ignored him.
I watched as he moved closer to the cage I was in and knelt beside me to speak closer to me. I tried to ignore him as I wanted to kill him at this very moment, but then he spoke.
"I'm doing you a favor Shun, even if it doesn't seem like it . . . The High Queen doesn't know your relationship with her, or at least not yet. If she had found out that you were protecting a Sighted One, she would have killed you and Alice as she would have thought it was treason. However, instead a rumor went out and the High Queen heard it and summoned me to find Alice and bring her to her. My intension was just to grab Alice and go, but you resisted and so I took action and had to keep you here. I can't allow you to see Alice, at least not yet until Alice settles things with the High Queen." Fang explained as I looked to him confused.
"Settle what?" I questioned.
"If Alice plays her cards right, she'll live. The High Queen is going to ask an important question to Alice and it's up to Alice to choose her destiny."
"What is she going to ask?"
"To ask for Alice's help in destroying her. The High Queen believes with Alice's gift, we might actually have a chance of surviving and I think that too."
I couldn't believe what he was telling me right now. They wanted Alice to use her gifts to defeat her. This had to be a joke, there was no way I was accepting this! I shook my head to him and spoke.
"I won't let her risk her life for our affairs! Alice isn't Fay and I won't let her die for us by going up against her!" I exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter what you want Shun, because whether you like it or not Alice is a part of this world now. She's a Sighted One and if the High Queen wants her then she will want her too. Alice's only option here is to live and follow through the Queen's request, or die for nothing. You won't see her again unless she agrees." Fang spoke.
I felt even more depressed as I realized there was really no way I could protect Alice from any of this. I thought I could keep my friends safe from this world, but now the one person I truly care about has discovered my secret and knows everything about this world. I thought I could keep her hidden away from our affairs with this upcoming war, but now I saw that she plays a big part in all this. As frustration and anger rose in me, I watched as Fang stood up and spoke to me.
"I'm afraid I can't let you out just quiet yet Shun. You'll have to stay here, until I know for sure Alice is either dead or alive. I can't risk anything that might get my court in trouble along with you and your solitary friends as well. Plus my court needs your emotions right now as they are becoming weak lately. You're emotions might do good for us." Fang spoke as he started to leave as I panicked a little.
"You're not seriously leaving me in here are you!?" I questioned and I actually saw him give a sadden facial expression to me.
"I'm sorry, but it's for you and Alice's own good. I can't have you seeing each other, at least not yet. You'll be taken care of I promise, but until then I'm sorry." Fang spoke as he started to walk away and out the door as his men closed the door, leaving me in shear darkness.
Alice's POV
"Perfect!" The High Queen shouted.
I felt my pulse rising and my heart beating tremendously. I currently stood in front of a target trying so hard not to show how scared I actually was. Apparently her little game insisted of me standing in front of a target as Devlin would throw knives at me. She told me that if I didn't flinch she'd reconsider killing me. I saw her grin widely as I knew she could taste my emotions and she could tell how frightened I was, but I would not show it.
"I'll give you credit for putting on a brave face, but let's see how you do with knives coming at you my dear." She spoke as my heart dropped.
I watched as Devlin lined up in front of me about ten feet away trying to figure out where to throw from. I started to take deep breathes and tried to hold my screams in. I wanted to run away, but I knew if I did I'd be good as dead. Suddenly without even realizing he started he threw the first knife and it plunged right next to me about three inched from my face, but I didn't flinch and I sighed.
"Come on Devlin, you can do better than that." The High Queen spoke.
Suddenly another knife was thrown at me now plunged at the top of my head. It was closer this time and I started to feel more fear inside me. They could actually kill me right now or whenever they wanted. I wondered though why they kept me alive this long. Would I die right here and right now with a knife to my head? So many thoughts crossed my mind, but then suddenly the third and finally knife was thrown at me and it actually cut my ear a little, but it was so fast that I didn't feel the pain at first. I felt the knife against my ear and blood rushing a little on my ear as I moved my hand to feel and see blood on it. It stung a little, but not by much. Suddenly I heard clapping as I looked and turned to the Queen who was clapping.
"I have to say you're probably the bravest mortal I've met in all my life, who just happens to be a Sighted One as well. I think you'll be perfect for what I'm about to ask of you my dear." She smiled as I looked to her confused.
"What is it that you want from me?" I questioned and her expression changed a little.
She motioned me to come closer to her and to which I did, but then stopped at a good distance to listen to her speak in a serious voice as she stared at me seriously.
"The reason I had brought you here to me, was because truthfully I was going to kill you. Sighted Ones are a threat to my court, the other courts, and the world of Fay in general. You shouldn't exist in fact. . . However, I'm feeling generous and decided to make a deal with you in exchange for your life and loyalty to all the courts." She explained as I nodded still a little scared and she continued.
"I know you've heard of our little upcoming war thanks to my no good backstabbing sister haven't you?" She asked me as I shook my head to her and replied.
"Not exactly, I especially didn't know it was your sister that your fighting against." I replied and she nodded to me.
"The corruption of my sister took place many centuries ago. She is my sister, but not blood related. She was once mortal as I was not. When she discovered the world of Fay she wanted to become part of it. She showed tremendous skills and promise to be part of our world. I saw potential in her and made her Fay and she became my sister as such. As High Queen I am ruler of all of Faery and my sister believed she would become the next ruler after I die. Although it would be true, Fay don't die unless they are killed or poisoned. We live forever and with that fact in mind my sister started to turn bitter and cold knowing she would never rule Faery the place she had given her mortal life for. So she rebelled and used her powers against all our courts until we had been able to stop her and banish her. However, we suffered a great loss of Fay and have been trying to rebuild our courts back into harmony." The High Queen explained to me as I actually started to feel a little sorry for her.
"I'm so sorry to hear this all happened, especially since she was your sister." I replied and I heard her give a small laugh and then turned to me with a sad smile.
"A mortal whose life is on the line feels sorry for me, when I threated to kill you? What a laugh! What a joke!" She exclaimed, but I spoke again.
"Is it wrong for a mortal to feel sympathy toward a Fay?" I asked and her expression changed to a more serious one as she replied.
"It is just unlike a mortal to feel such emotions like that, especially a Sighted One. Continuing with my story, basically after I had banished her to be forever a Solitary Fay she has been creating an army to rise against not just me, but all courts so that she can rule all of them. She craves power, hate, vengeance, and blood. I've sworn since then to never trust a mortal like her again. I will not make the same mistake twice."
As she told me all of this, I started to realize now why I'm a part of this upcoming war and why everyone either wants me to defend their court, or kill me because I pose a threat. It all made since to me now. I looked to her as she stared out the window and I spoke.
"She was a Sighted One, wasn't she?" I asked and I saw her flinch a little as I said that and turned toward me as I continued.
"That's why you kill anyone who is a Sighted One. You believe what happened to your sister will happen again. You can't kill your sister because of how powerful she's becoming and the same could happen if more Sighted Ones live am I correct?" I asked and she gave a small grin and suddenly she was in front of me causing me to stumble back in surprise and fall to the ground as she grinned.
"You're a clever girl, but to clever my dear. You're absolutely right, my sister was a Sighted One and I have been killing Sighted Ones since my sister betrayed me. So in your case I should kill you right now. You're a threat to me and the Fay kind and shouldn't live." She replied and suddenly I saw Devlin advancing toward me very slowly making my eyes widen and fear rise in me, but I stayed calm and looked at her with a brave face.
"Then why don't you? You've kept alive to entertain you, but I think you're just unsure of killing me." I replied and she laughed.
"Maybe I'm just torturing you with these games to make you more afraid of me." She replied, but I shook my head.
"That wouldn't benefit you . . . Your court doesn't feed off emotion like that, Dark Court does. You're all about loyalty and trust. I have a feeling your debating whether to trust me." I replied as I saw Devlin getting closer now making my heart race.
"Why would I need your trust?" She questioned as she stared down at me.
"You're desperate for help as your court is out of order like the other courts. You need me to help you with this upcoming war right? Well you wouldn't be the first to ask me this type of question." I answered.
"You're not really helping your case my dear." The High Queen replied as she glanced at Devlin who was only about a few feet away now.
"What I'm saying is that you can trust me! You have my loyalty to me and your court!" I exclaimed.
Suddenly she lifted a hand for Devlin to stop walking making me sigh in relief. Soon I stood up to face her as she stared at me with uncertainty, until I spoke.
"I know you can't fully trust me and I understand that, but please believe me when I say I would never hurt you or any of the Fay from any court. I mean they scare me more than they are afraid of me. I have people I'm sort of friends with that are Fay and I could never imagine betraying them after everything they have done for me. Plus my one friend has been recently turned Fay and yet to me he is still the same person I trust and care for despite him being Fay. I believe you and everyone I've met aren't bad people. You're just doing what's best for your court even if it means taking drastic measures to keep them safe." I explained to her.
Her expression changed more as her eyes were a little widen out of surprise. She looked to me as if wondering what I had told her was true. Loyalty and trust is what's important to her court. Although she sort of scares me, I can see she's been hurt in the past and has trust issues. Suddenly she finally spoke.
"You are indeed a strange and interesting mortal like the Dark King pointed out. He came here saying that your life should actually be spared as you'd be useful to me. However, he did say that if I choose to kill you that I should let his court handle that part for me." She replied as I thought of Fang saying that and I shivered as his cruelty even if he was trying to help me sort of.
"However, I also see how sincere you actually are by your words to me . . . Fine, I shall trust your word, but do remember your promise to me. You said you'd help my court along with the many other courts as they are our allies in this upcoming war. For your sake I hope you understand that you are putting your life on the line for us Fay." She spoke as I sighed in relief that I would live and nodded to her.
"I will keep my word, but I refuse to turn Fay or stay here in your court your highness." I replied much to her surprise as I continued.
"You see my friend is a Solitary Fay who I promise you can trust as I trust him and his friends. I may not be able to convince them to help with the war, but I will do what I can to help your court as I promised I would. Although I don't know if I'll be much help with the state I'm in now as I have yet to practice my gifts other than my sight." I replied and she nodded to me and spoke.
"Well for now I'll put you under the High and Dark Courts protection until the time comes when we need you in war. As for your training, that is something you must figure out for yourself. I cannot help you as I have given already my protection to you. Do remember though Alice that I will be watching you and if I even see you trying to betray us, I will order your death." She spoke sternly as I slowly nodded.
"I understand, but either case I'm dead anyways." I replied and she grinned to me.
"I'll have Devlin escort you out of Faery and back to your world. Only a Fay can bring you in and out of this world, but I always know who enters so keep that in mind when you come and see me again." She replied with a smile as she headed back to her throne.
I watched a she climbed the stairs as Devlin now stood beside me ready to escort me out of her court. I started to follow him with a sigh of relief that I was able to live and not die. The High Queen was a force to be reckoned with, but I was glad at least I didn't have to worry too much about her. Suddenly without even thinking, I never got her really name. I stopped suddenly and turned to her and spoke without even thinking.
"I never got your name!" I exclaimed as she turned to look at me and gave a small smile.
"Vanessa," She simply replied as I nodded and turned away, until she spoke.
"Let's play another game sometime Alice! I found you quiet amusing." She replied as I gave a half scared and half nervous smile to her.
I turned around and thought what other games she had in mind. Would it involve knives thrown at my head again? Soon as we exited the court doors, I turned to see how beautiful and big her court looked from outside. It was pure white and it looked son incredible to live in. I'd probably get lost within seconds. Suddenly though I turned around and saw how beautiful and open the area looked around her court. It was truly a sight to see as you could see Fay here and there and their houses they lived in. This place truly was magical, but I couldn't wait to leave. My only concern and top priority now is to find Shun and everyone again and tell them what happened to me!