"I was only looking for the shortcut home.
But it's complicated, so complicated.
Somewhere in this city is a road I know.
Where we could make it but maybe there's no making it now."
It Is What It Is - Lifehouse
Unknown Location
It was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Golden rays of light were streaming through trees blazing with autumn; red, yellow, and amber leaves littered the ground as she slowly rotated in a circle, completely awestruck. A thick carpet of leaves covered the soggy forest floor and the overhanging branches, desperately holding onto the lush foliage it once had, reached towards the sky as though to welcome the rising sun. The musty scent of decomposing leaves and damp earth assaulted her senses and the rustling of wildlife on the hunt for food echoed in the distance. The forest went on as far as the eye could see with colors so vivid, that her senses couldn't drink in the surroundings fast enough, let alone fully comprehend it.
"Where in the hell am I?" Sam asked out loud, breathless at how vibrant the colors around her were. "There is no way I am in Savannah."
Sam's feet started to move as she continued to turn in a circle, looking up, around, down, everywhere she could. She yelped as her boot caught the hump of a jutting root, sending her crashing down into a mud puddle ass first.
'God damn it, these were new jeans.'
She tucked her pride in the back pocket of her mind and stood, stomping on the ground to get what mud she could off her. She looked around again, listening for anything indicating running water, a house, civilization, anything that would help her. She was completely thrown off and off-kilter. It was just nighttime five minutes ago in the city and now the sun was coming in the middle of a dense, ancient forest.
She pulled her phone out of her back pocket, wiping the mud off it. The screen turned on, but the 'No Service' displayed in the top right corner next to the 72% battery caused a sinking feeling in her gut.
'Can't call for help.'
On a whim, she tried to find a WiFi signal to latch on to. That, too, proved useless.
She sighed heavily, "And no way to pull up a map. Does the compass work without WiFi?" She asked to the air, tapping on her phone and trying to pull up the compass but the app kept crashing. She rolled her eyes, "Well, thank god for all the music I downloaded, at least there's that."
With nothing left to lose, she began to walk through the forest. She only hoped that she was heading in the direction of help.
She walked for hours. Her legs cramped from not taking many rest stops, her calves were sore and tight from the uneven terrain of the woods, and scrapes and cuts littered her hands and face from being smacked by branches and thorny bushes. She could feel the blisters starting to form on her heels from wearing her boots for so long and she was physically exhausted. She needed a break, she was tired, thirsty, hungry, and scared.
She hadn't come across anything that could pass as a shelter, the ground and debris were wet, and wasting energy on trying to start a fire wouldn't be beneficial. She had nothing to make a trap for small wildlife nor did she have a knife to help prep the animal in the event she caught one. She also didn't know if she had the stomach for it, used to getting her prepackaged meat from the Food Lion down the road. She could shoot the animal, but the not having a knife issue came back up, and she hadn't seen an animal yet- only heard them way off in the distance.
As the night started to settle in and her journey led her deeper and deeper into the ever-darkening forest, Sam's anxiety continued to spike bordering on paranoia. Every rustle of the leaves, every snap of a twig, every soft howl of the wind caused her to jump in fright. She would whirl around in the direction of each sound, breathing heavily and eyes blown wide, only to be met with increasing shadows at her back. The death grip she had on her weapon did nothing to ease her fear; the weight of it was more than just its heaviness.
She was always taught that in the event that a weapon needed to be discharged, the situation must be so dire that you fear for your life. The decision to pull the trigger should never be taken lightly and it should be regarded as a last resort in a worst-case scenario.
This was a worst-case scenario.
Sam was lost in a strange forest at night time with no supplies or gear to survive, armed with only a handgun with a full clip, a cellphone with no service, the clothes on her back, and her limited knowledge of outdoor survival. The odds of her surviving or finding help decreased with every passing minute. She knew the basics of hunting and making a camp, but not enough to increase her odds of walking out of the woods alive.
She considered herself a brave woman, having faced considerable terrifying instances in her 30 years of life but there was nothing in her past that could have prepared her for this. At what point does anyone think the impossible would happen to them? Savannah didn't have a forest like this, they had a National Wildlife preserve on the opposite side of town, and trees scattered along city park squares did not count as a 'forest'. It also didn't get this chilly in October in Savannah, waiting until February or even March for these cold temperatures. The likelihood of her still being near the city was slim to none.
Her stomach was starting to protest in hunger and her mouth was as dry as a desert. She hadn't come across any bodies of water or a flowing river to help relieve her thirst. The forest was damp so it must have rained recently, perhaps that there was a small puddle of water gathered on some of the larger leaves that would pass as a sip for her. Unfortunately, it was not proving to be fruitful for her either.
Yes, the odds were stacked higher against her.
She sighed heavily and continued to walk through the woods, her steps crunching the undergrowth beneath her feet. Sam could only catch a glimpse of the moon piercing through the overhanging limbs of the trees every so often, the shadows dancing along the path and illuminating animal trails that disappeared into clusters of bushes.
Every sound was intensified at night, the forest being no different. Sam was not normally afraid of the dark, preferring to be left alone in it, but this was a different kind of dark, one she was not used to. She was breathing too loud and too hard, the sound of her blood rushing in her ears was thunderous, and her footsteps were completely out of place in the thick, misty atmosphere. She could hear the trunks of the trees creaking, the yips of foxes, the wind caressing the leaves with every light gust, and howls of wolves from miles away.
She needed to sleep. She was of no use if she didn't get some rest. She knew that sleeping on the cold, wet ground was not ideal and that she would need to be elevated from the forest floor. Not only to save her from the possibility of getting hypothermia but also from curious animals in search of an easy meal. She had no desire to be served up on a silver platter to one of the apex predators in these woods.
Sam stopped once she came across a tall, solid tree with thick, long limbs spreading away from its trunk. This would have to do for a few hours, at least until sunrise. Clicking on the safety and holstering her gun, she searched the bushes for a long piece of thick vine that was malleable enough to be bent and tied around her and the branch she claimed as her bed for the night. Scurrying up the trunk to the highest branch she felt comfortable at, she wrapped the vine around her thighs and the branch, tying it as tight as she could without snapping it in half.
The rough bark of the tree trunk scratched against her scalp and she did her best to ignore it as she stared at the moon through a small opening in the tree's canopy. Getting lost in her thoughts, her loneliness and anxiety reaching a peak, she let her thoughts pass unfiltered and unrestrained.
'Did I do something to deserve this? I don't want to die here.'
Her eyes filled with tears as a tightening in her chest began to squeeze the air from her lungs.
'What does Melissa and Josh think happened to me? Are they looking for me? Would they look for me? Do they think I'm dead?'
She drew in a shuddering breath and closed her eyes, tears falling onto her shirt. She wanted to be found, to have someone help her, be here with her. She was so damned scared that she would die and never experience the rest of what life had to offer her. Maybe she wasn't a good person and this was purgatory. She believed she was a good person, despite the fights and altercations she'd gotten into over the years, but she fought for the right reasons. Her friends. Love. Protection. Life.
Maybe this was the end of all that.
'Please. Please. Somebody.'
'Please. Don't let me die. Not here. Not yet.'
Breathe in. Breathe out.
'…..stop, Sam, now is not the time to break. You can't break now.'
She took another steadying breath, pressing her back further into the tree and tugging on the vine securing her to the branch. She would make it; she would get through this. She had to-there was no other choice. If it was her time, she would go down fighting, trying, and she would give it her last best effort. Her eyes closed again and as she pleaded to whatever god was listening to help her, she fell into a fitful sleep.
It was only a few hours later, the sky only just beginning to change colors when a heavier rustling in the leaves startled her out of her sleep. She scrambled out of the vines, not wanting to be at a disadvantage, her heart beating wildly in her chest, as she climbed out of her tree bed as quickly and silently as she could. She dashed across the roots in the earth, stumbling and making more noise than she intended in the leaves, and towards a cluster of trees a few yards away. She slammed her back into it, the rough bark biting through the worn leather of her jacket and into her skin. She tilted her head to the side, trying to listen through her raging heartbeat. The leaves kept rustling as if someone was walking through them towards her.
Click.
The safety of the gun clicked off and she inhaled the rich scent of the forest deeply into her lungs to steady herself. She needed to be calm and collected, ready to defend herself within a moment's notice. She could not hesitate if the situation called for it. The possibility of pulling the trigger to end a life left a cold feeling in her gut and she had to take another deep breath to chase it away.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
About 30 feet away from her position behind the tree, the rustling came to a stop. She kept as still as she could, holding her breath and forcing her eyes to stare straight ahead into the labyrinth of writhing shadows ahead of her, her ears straining to hear past the sudden silence that encased her. The air itself shuddered, vibrating her surroundings, as she held her breath. Flickers of fracturing light appearing and disappearing from somewhere in the forest momentarily caught her attention.
It was then the steps continued to draw closer to her, slower, perhaps cautious. She needed to act, she had the element of surprise and she needed to use it to her advantage, whatever advantage she may have. Her inner turmoil was allowing the threat to get closer to her position and even her instincts were urging her to do it now!
But she stayed frozen. The ungodly terror that wracked through her body was coming to a head and despite how hard she tried to stomp it back down, it wouldn't budge. It just kept overflowing into her bloodstream; her fight-or-flight response fractured and her limbs became heavy and useless. She had mere moments to do something before the threat was on her and she wasn't ready to die, strange land or not.
'If you don't move your fucking legs right now, I swear to God!' Sam screamed internally at herself, as she felt the near uncontrollable urge to cry, the burn incessantly pressing behind her eyes.
15 feet away.
'Sam, come on!'
10 feet away.
'God damn it, Sam, move! Come on!'
5 feet away.
'SAM!'
Sam spun away from the tree, gun aimed at the threat standing four feet in front of her. Her eyes narrowed, her breaths coming out harsh, and her body tense and ready to fight. But her hands were steady even though she could feel the adrenaline pulsing beneath her skin, ready to explode. As her sight zeroed in on the figure, her expression slackened and her eyes went wide for a different reason.
He was beautiful, stunning actually. He was incredibly tall, towering over Sam's 5'10 stature and making her feel far more unprepared than she already was. His red hair cascaded down the nape of his neck and shoulders like liquid fire; his facial features were sharp, elegant despite the brutal scar that ran down the left side of his face. His eyes, god, his eyes. One eye was russet, a gorgeous brown with flecks of orange and red with the other seemingly shining like gold but there was something wrong about it. It looked more mechanical than natural and Sam took an involuntary step back. It wasn't until her eyes caught the tips of his ears peaking out from beneath his hair that she sucked in a breath, her entire body attempting to resist the urge to tremble.
'This is not real. This cannot be real.'
Sam mustered up as much confidence that was left in her, which honestly wasn't much, and narrowed her eyes further at the man standing in front of her. Her right hand held high on the back-strap, her left supporting the other side of the pistol, her left wrist canting forward and locking them in place. Aimed, locked, cocked, and ready.
He held his hands up, taking a step back with his palms out to face her as he took in the weapon aimed directly at his chest and the woman holding it. He spoke in a language that she couldn't understand but sounded familiar. Even his voice sounded beautiful, low, and cautious as his eyes flickered between her and the weapon. Even though she couldn't understand him, she could read his body language.
He stayed completely still, unnaturally still, with his hands still raised in front of him. He was speaking gently, no doubt trying to defuse the situation, but the pure, unadulterated terror continued to seep out of Sam's pores even though she remained steady. While her body was telling her that he was absolutely a threat and she should bolt, her mind was warring with itself, claiming that he hadn't hurt her yet despite the gun trained on him and him obviously able to outmaneuver her quickly if he wanted to.
"I can't understand you," Sam said, lowering her weapon an inch but keeping the death grip on it. "Do you speak English?"
He cocked his head to the side in confusion and his eyes continued to drift between her and the weapon she had. He seemed confused not only with her but with the pistol in her hands.
A language barrier. Great.
He tried speaking again, motioning with his hands slowly to the area around them and then back to her.
She shook her head, aiming the weapon a little lower to the ground. "I don't understand what you're trying to say."
He sighed heavily and slowly lowered his hands. Sam lowered her firearm but did not holster it, her body slowly easing out of its braced stance but the adrenaline continued to flow through her veins, ready to do whatever was necessary. The red-haired stranger motioned to the area around them again and to her, frustration painting his face.
Sam stared at him for a moment, trying to gauge what he was trying to convey. She cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brow, prompting him to repeat the gesture with his hands once more.
"How did I end up here?" She asked, doing the same hand signs he did as she spoke trying to gauge a reaction to see if she was on the right track.
He lit up for a second, motioning again and speaking the strange words along with it in an effort to help her follow along. Sam clicked the safety on and holstered her gun after a beat, putting her blind trust in this stranger standing across from her. He was the first person she had seen and if there was any chance of her getting out of this forest, it would likely be through him. She would need both hands to try and communicate.
"I. woke up. Here." Sam pointed to herself, mimed waking up, and then gestured to the area.
He seemed to catch on, nodding his head towards her before gesturing again.
Sam watched his hands intently and then moved her gaze to his mouth, trying to piece together a sentence. This was a lot more difficult than she thought. "How...did...you...uh...shit, do that again, how did you...far? How did you...far...what?...trees?" Sam blinked as he patiently repeated the actions. "How did I get so far out in the woods? Fuck, I'm taking a sign language course when I get back home," Sam rubbed her face, no doubt looking far worse for wear than she ever had in her life. "I. Walked." She moved her pointer and middle finger back and forth to imitate a person walking. "After. Waking up." She mimed again, pointing up to the treetops. "I don't know where I am." Sam drew an invisible question mark in the air, changing her expression to confusion, and then motioned to their surroundings.
He pushed his hair up, showing his pointed ears and Sam felt a flash of fear rush through her at the sight of them. He quickly held his hands up to her again, his palms facing her, clearly indicating that he would not harm her. She watched him point to the side of her head and she tucked her hair back behind her rounded ear with shaking hands. He blinked, straightening a little more, and looked at her eyes. She was suddenly being evaluated by this...fae, his eyes running over her face and body, taking stock of what was in front of him. She did her absolute best to hide her nervousness but he had already seen it.
He nodded to her, lowering his hands, his expression changing to one of understanding. He pointed to himself, "Lucien." He then gestured to her and drew a question mark in the air.
Sam tilted her head, "Loosin?"
He chuckled very softly, a melodic sound that sent tingles down her spine, and shook his head, putting a hand against his chest and repeating slower, "Lucien."
"Looscen?"
Slower. "Lucien."
"Lucien." Sam dragged out, allowing her tongue to press against the roof of her mouth, behind her front teeth in a way it wasn't used to. "Lucien." She said more confidently.
He nodded to her, pointing to her with the question mark in the air again.
"Sam." She pointed to herself. "Sam."
It took far less time for him to get the sound of her name right, only having to hear it twice before he spoke it back to her. She nodded, a weight lifting off her shoulders for a moment.
It was a crude variation of sign language that they were trying to communicate with. It was amazing, really, how easily they both seemed to fall into it despite the circumstances. Desperately trying to express themselves with hand signals and words spoken in two different languages; it was almost shocking to them both how they assisted each other in attempting to understand. They were complete strangers, obviously very different from one another but still trying to form a figurative olive branch, a peace offering between them, and taking time to assist each other.
A question mark was drawn in the air. "Can you help me?" Sam pointed to him, clasped her hands together, and then pointed to herself hoping it was enough.
Lucien seemed to grasp what she was trying to ask and was in the middle of making a few more hand motions when suddenly he stopped. Sam saw him tense for a moment before turning his head to the left, looking out towards a patch of dense wood that was beginning to lighten with the rising sun. Sam turned to the direction that he was looking in, reaching for the holster of her gun when she finally heard the noise that caught his attention.
A long, low-pitched howl pierced the night and it made every hair on her body stand up. Her whole body turned ice cold as she became paralyzed with fear, an empty feeling growing in her gut that told her that what she thought that howl was...was far worse than what she expected.
Wisps of smoke formed on a shadow's edge in the trees, slowly taking form. Sam was caught between curiosity and terror, the latter winning out. The gray smoke gathered tightly together, evolving into a shape, an animal shape that grew larger and larger the longer she stared. Smaller clusters of the same smokey vapor started to appear beside the first, now in the shape of a rather large dog, and Sam's bladder felt the urge to release.
Lucien's eyes snapped down to Sam's as she took a step back, getting ready to flee. He shook his head, looking slightly apologetic before grabbing Sam's hand and yanking her along, running deeper into the forest in the opposite direction of the smokey hounds.
It was a mighty effort trying to keep up with his long legs and his speed. She was at a horrible disadvantage in comparison and hard as she might, she could not keep up with him. He seemed to realize that she would only continue to slow him down as her shoulder almost dislocated for the second time in a short span of their frantic running. There was no doubt that they were being pursued by those beasts and the thought of being captured urged her forward, her legs still sore from earlier. Lucien stopped short and Sam tumbled into him, colliding with his back with a harsh OOMPH!Lucien looked down at her as he caught her, giving her an apologetic look again.
All of a sudden, it was a whirlwind. Everything decided to spin, so fast that she was dizzy and her grip on Lucien tightened to near bone-crushing. Her eyes squeezed shut as she felt like she was being pushed through a tube that was way too small. Her lungs screamed for air even though all she could smell was a bonfire and apples.
As sudden as it happened, the sensation stopped and she was back on solid ground. She ripped away, from Lucien, her boots sinking in sand, to double over and breathe deeply. If she had anything in her stomach it definitely would have made a reappearance.
"What the fuck was that? Did we just apparate? What kind of Harry Potter shit did you just pull?" Sam rushed out, standing up and waving her hands in fast movements, looking up at Lucien who was smiling faintly even though he didn't understand a word she was yelling. This motherfucker had the audacity to find this funny. There was nothing funny about this situation and she felt the urge to vomit.
Lucien, at least, had the decency to try and hide his smile as he moved his hands from one place to another, trying to explain what they just did and Sam straightened her back with hands on her hips. She was about to give him an earful, one that he would no doubt not understand, when their surroundings finally caught her eye.
It was a sea of sand underneath bright sunshine and shimmering heat. Sam wanted to squint her eyes at the sudden brightness but its beauty forced her eyes wide. Sandstone buildings stood tall against the horizon and the sound of a flowing river met her ears. She didn't know where to look, everything was so beautiful and bright, a vibrant energy pulsing through her as she stood under the sun's golden rays. Fluffy, cotton-looking clouds drifted across the blue sky and birds singing their melodies danced on the breeze.
She turned to Lucien, absolute awe overtaking her features. She moved her hands but didn't know what to say or how to say it, so she drew a question mark in the air, blinking in shock.
Lucien pointed to the sun and then tapped his wrist as if he was wearing a watch. Sam, only nodded not quite understanding what he meant but didn't know what else to ask, the landscape around them completely taking her breath away.
Lucien's face softened a little and nodded in return, setting his hand between her shoulder blades to guide her forward towards the brilliant city, the fragrant scent of rose blooms, jasmine, and lavender filling her senses. Her eyes were so wide in wonder, soaking up as much of the visuals as she could that she didn't realize they were walking into the city center. She watched colorful butterflies flutter from flower to flower, the smell of grilled meats and spices filled her nostrils, and laughter and chatter from people, other fae, were meeting her ears.
She subconsciously covered her ears with her hair, not wanting to draw even more attention to herself than she already was. Lucien tapped her on her shoulder and she looked up at him, asking the question silently with her expression. He tapped his nose and then nodded to her and her face drained of color.
She didn't have to cover her ears because they could smell she was human. They could smell the still damp mud caking her clothes and shoes, the scent of the forest clinging to her clothes like a second skin, and the dried blood from the cuts littering the exposed skin from being in the woods. She suddenly wanted to remain ignorant of what else they could possibly sense from her.
Lucien gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he walked confidently through the courtyard, leading up to a sandstone palace. Sam's neck popped as she tilted her head back to look up at the stunning building in its full glory. Large windows, balconies, breezeways, and staircases made up the towering palace, vines of wisteria overflowing from railings and climbing up the walls. Sam had never seen somewhere so beautiful in person before.
What is this place?
She had so many questions but with the language barrier, they stayed unanswered, and the thought of being able to get home returned to her again. Would she be able to get home? How did she get here to begin with? Where would she begin to start finding her way back home? She felt the tears well up and she shoved the thought aside, it still wasn't time for her break down. She would have to wait, store it up, and bury it deep down until she had a moment of privacy to process her journey so far and the repercussions of it.
Lucien was speaking to two fae guards, dressed in striking gold and white armor. Sam couldn't help but shift from foot to foot in nervousness under their gaze as they assessed her and whatever Lucien was saying. She was so out of place that it was painful. She knew some of the whispers coming from around her were about her, judging by other fae pointing or motioning to her. She sighed, and even though they could tell she was nervous and lost, she clenched her teeth and stood up straight, the full weight of her false confidence snapping into place. She would fake it until she made it.
It was a few more moments before the guards stepped aside and allowed Lucien and Sam to pass through. Even though Lucien seemed to stick out like a sore thumb with his red hair among the dark and blonde-haired fae, he seemed to glide through the gates to the palace like he owned the place. Sam followed behind him, looking at the beautiful lush gardens spilling out from the walkway as they ascended the steps to the doors.
If Sam thought Lucien was beautiful before, she had no words to describe the fae male standing just beyond the doors of the palace. Striking? Handsome? Nothing came close to describing the power vibrating around him. If she had to get close, he was the sun personified. His dark hair fell in onyx waves, his dark sun-kissed skin gleamed in the light, and his smile was welcoming but deadly. He was wearing what Sam could only describe as a toga, something you read about Greek gods wearing, and an intricate golden crown sat upon his head. For a moment, a sudden sadness struck her and she missed Melissa. She would love this place and its people.
The Greek god-looking fae smiled warmly at Lucien as he came to a stop, speaking in their native tongue and no doubt explaining what little information he had acquired about the situation to him. His eyebrows raised and he kept glancing Sam's way, curiosity shining in those golden orbs. Sam could tell he was a wealth of knowledge, his eyes were older than his physical body and for the countless times since she had been in this strange land, she felt horribly inadequate.
He turned to her, taking her hand gently in his. Warmth poured out of him and into her body, chasing the cold that seemed to linger in her bones. "Helion."
Sam, who lost her breath at those amber eyes turning to her, replied softly, "Sam." His name was normal enough for her to latch onto it.
A messenger boy ran up, holding a black envelope with a silver wax seal out for Helion. Lucien tensed at the sight of it and Sam knew he recognized the writing. Helion nodded to the boy, handing a sliver of gold over, and opened the envelope. Whatever was written on it seemed to pique Helion's curiosity even more because he stared at Sam while handing the letter to Lucien, who in turn took it and read it. Sam felt like she was under a microscope when Lucien looked up at her next.
She shuffled from foot to foot, feeling a nervous energy fall into her. Helion turned to Lucien, speaking again and motioning around the palace. Lucien bowed his head and put his hand between her shoulders again, guiding her forward.
Sam drew a question mark in the air and Lucien was quick to respond, moving his hands slowly, motioning to her dirty clothes, and tapping his stomach.
"Clothes and food?" Sam asked out loud, mimicking eating with a fork.
Lucien nodded and helped her up the stairs, following behind two gorgeous female faes who appeared from nowhere.
As she followed beside Lucien, a deep feeling of gratitude settled in her chest and she looked up at him. This stranger, this male fae, who didn't speak the same language as her had helped her, immediately and brought her to what she hoped was a safe place. He did all of that for a human he didn't know. Her heart hurt at the sheer magnitude of her emotions and she tried to regain her composure as they stopped in front of a door.
Lucien nodded to what Sam assumed were the equivalent of the palace maids and opened the door for Sam to peer inside the room. Sam almost cried at the beauty of it; the golden detailing so elegantly complimenting the white linens and lush carpet. The massive bed was filled with fluffy pillows and cozy blankets, the floor-to-ceiling windows draped in soft golden fabrics and leading out onto a huge balcony overlooking the gardens they walked by earlier. A golden chandelier cascading with diamonds hung from the ceiling as the main centerpiece. Wing-backed chairs gathered around a glass table, separating the sleeping area from the sitting area, with golden trays of grapes, soft cheeses, cured meats, and what looked like red wine.
Sam looked down at her boots, frowning. She would track mud everywhere and ruin the crisp, clean carpet. Lucien tapped her shoulder and shook his head, waving his hand, which Sam took as 'you don't have to worry'. She nodded and slowly stepped into the room, taking it all in and opening the door to a closet filled with light dresses and skirts in a variety of colors. She turned and opened another door, leading into a sandstone bathroom, soft white towels hung from golden rods, and luscious soaps and oils sat on the ledge of what could only be described as a small pool.
Sam turned to Lucien who was waiting patiently by the bedroom door. Sam drew a question mark in the air, again. "Are you going to wait for me?" She pointed to him and her wrist.
Lucien motioned to where he was standing and then pointed away down the hall, indicating he would leave, but he hurriedly pointed back to where he was and knocked on the door, letting her know he would come back by and collect her.
Sam walked towards him, taking his hands in his and looking into his eyes. She pushed all her gratitude into the way she held his hands, "Thank you, Lucien, thank you." She hoped it was enough. She hoped he could understand her without their signals.
He understood.
"How is it, that every time something is amiss, the Night Court is somehow involved?"
Lucien looked up from his seat in front of Helion's desk. Helion's study was a room of comfort and knowledge. Books, papers, and little objects holding down piles of notes littered almost every surface in the room but he knew it was all organized. For all his charisma and charm, Helion was an adamant scholar, busying himself with reading, writing, and capturing as much knowledge as he could about as many topics as possible.
Lucien scoffed, "I've been asking myself that same question for centuries and have yet to come up with an answer."
Helion smiled, settling back into his chair. "So, you came across her in the Autumn Court's forest and you took pity on her?"
"I did. I'm sure you felt the tremors a few days ago. Clearly, it was felt in the Night Court as well if Rhysand is sending his warriors to your borders." Lucien replied, leaning back in his chair and sipping on the small glass of whiskey Helion had offered him. "I thought it wise to bring her here, where she would be safe, rather than subjecting her to Beron and my brothers."
Helion suppressed a snarl at the mention of the Autumn High Lord. "And you believe this human, Sam, has something to do with what's going on?"
Lucien gave a halfhearted shrug, fingering the edge of the glass. "I'm not sure but it is not simply a coincidence that Prythian felt its wards shudder and then suddenly a human female turns up so far inland, speaking a different language, looking completely different than the humans we know, and has items on her that we have never seen. She was terrified of me when she saw what I was. If she doesn't have something to do with it, then that's one hell of a coincidence."
Helion made a noise of agreement, "I will say that I agree with you but can we trust her? You've only known her for a few hours and now she is a guest in my home."
"I believe we can. She's scared and she can't communicate with us; she needs our help."
"I'm pleased to see that you still have a soft spot for others after all these years."
Lucien sighed, his thoughts turning to his upbringing in Autumn and the Hybern wars. "There is no victor in hatred nor is there peace." He looked out the window overlooking the city center. "We fought for them, the humans. We endured insurmountable pain because of Hybern's prejudice against them and their need for control; we didn't send our armies to war for us to turn our backs on them now. We didn't fight so the world could go back to the way it was. We didn't sacrifice our people for nothing." He paused as the weight of his words filled the air, the ghosts of his pain flashed in his mind. "So I didn't leave her. I offered my hand because it meant something. It means something."
Helion nodded slowly, his eyes assessing his son, "I'm sure it means everything to that human female. To Sam." He turned his gaze to the black envelope sitting in front of him. "I'm sure Rhysand will want to take the lead in this situation."
"I think you should let him," Lucien said causing Helion's eyebrows to rise. "Feyre, Nesta, and….Elain...they were human once. I'm sure they have better insight than we do."
"Oh, I'm sure they do," Helion agreed. "Rhysand is also daemati, as is Feyre, they will be able to assess if she is a threat or not."
Lucien's brows furrowed, "You're going to allow them to access her mind?"
"Rhysand doesn't use his gift without express permission from the individual."
"But she can't give it. She doesn't speak our language, there's no way I would be able to explain what it is he does with simple hand motions and facial expressions." Lucien insisted hurriedly. While he trusted Rhys and the members of the Night Courts Inner Circle, the thought of a helpless human being taken advantage of like that caused his fists to clench.
"Rhysand has many objects in the Court of Nightmares, one of which is a silver bean that Sam can ingest that will allow her to speak and understand our language. She will have the knowledge for the rest of her life." Helion supplied easily, leaning forward on his desk. "I know many things about my fellow High Lord; Rhys is a good male, he will take the lead in this situation and I have no doubt that he will find an answer to help her, do not worry."
Lucien's shoulders seemed to loosen some tension and he nodded his head to show his agreement. "Is it safe to assume that they are on their way here?"
Helion hummed, "Yes, it would be safe to assume that. I sent a messenger out about an hour ago."
Lucien rolled his eyes but cracked a small smile at what he knew now was his blood father. "Never mind that you have the Emissary of the Night Court in your study who could have done that for you."
"Yes, never mind that," Helion grinned as he stood up and straightened his clothes. "If I had to guess, they would likely arrive after dinner, so let's collect our little human and give her some food. The poor child could use some nourishment," He paused and tilted his head. "and possibly some strong liquor."
Lucien snorted, rising as well. "Just set a pitcher of faerie wine in front of her, she'll likely need it."