Speaking of Nautilus, she hoped he had finessed his way out of trouble out there and wasn’t floating belly up.
She coughed. “So… who’s in charge here, anyway?”
Chapter Four
Kilara
“THE SUMMER QUEEN calls you.” One of the merfolk women stood only two feet from where Shade sat, her prickly stare making her shift in her spot. Shade’s clothes were soaked through, but at least the surrounding air was warmer than the lake water had been. Still, she rung out her long ponytail and stood up to face the leader of the merfolk.
“That’s because I’m her descendant. She asked me to come here. Where’s Nautilus?” The entire room felt stiff, as if she moved too quickly, the entire place would cave in.
The woman tilted her head, and a spill of shimmering blonde waves trickled over her shoulder. She was also naked but for the scales littering her body. Shade could now see that her eyes weren’t just solid black, as they’d appeared to be in the depths of the lake, but were an oily, dark rainbow of color. Her face was smooth and hairless, making her eyebrows stand out in an odd way. Her mouth was very human-like though, pink and supple. The mermaid extended her scale-lined hand out toward Shade and waited patiently for Shade to ponder whether or not she should take it.
“If you mean our half-brother, who has accompanied you, he’s just arrived.”
Shade turned just in time to see Nautilus shoved unceremoniously onto the stone steps by two guards before they dipped below the water once more and swam off. Shade scrambled down the algae-covered steps, nearly slipping down them to reach Nautilus. He was unconscious, but was stirring. Angry red welts littered one side of his head, and his soft groans made Shade’s anger surge. She glared at the merfolk standing around them, watching her every move.
“What did you do to him?” She cradled his head with the mesh of his dreadlocks draped over her thigh, both their bodies remaining half submerged in the cold water.
“He will awaken any moment now. He didn’t cooperate,” the woman sneered as she lowered her hand and waited, watching them with hard eyes. “I am Lark, leader of the lake dwellers of Lake Elidar.”
Shade huffed. Doesn’t anyone smile and greet people with open arms in Faerie anymore? She thought. Shade was afraid the answer to that was a definite “no.”
“Lake Elidar? Okay, so… not Lake Tahoe?” She didn’t respond, so Shade continued. “Look, Kilara wants us here. I need to wake her up immediately. The Land of Faerie is falling into the hands of the Unseelie, and you think we’re not cooperating? I can’t believe this crap.” Shade waved her arm, and the water bubbled into a mad, churning mess. A wave rose up, pushing them onto the flattened cavern floor. It retreated some but then stopped, hovering in a roaring stance, waiting on command to pummel the merfolk. Shade’s anger was making her water magic flare up, which could be bad. She hadn’t used it much since getting her powers back from Corb.
Behind her, the wall of water froze to a solid surface, cracking and groaning loudly with its massive weight. That would keep out those pesky guards behind them for a while so she could think. She squeezed the water from her hair before setting Nautilus’s head softly on the cavern floor.
The leader didn’t look impressed, but the other merfolk backed away in fear. Their hushed and worried voices echoed against the curved stone above their heads, and the scurry of feet reverberated as they scrambled away, clinging to each other. Fearful, they gave her a wide berth and waited impatiently, whispering amongst themselves. Lark blinked her eyes at the frozen ice wall and then stepped forward, offering her hand once more.
“I’ll show you to her chambers, but at the entrance, he cannot follow. None of us can. Only blood of her blood may enter. All others will be burned to ashes if they even set a foot past the threshold.”
“Okay, but he comes with me to the entrance, and no one comes near us again, got it?” Shade lowered her head and glared at the mermaid with searing eyes. Nautilus, now awake, moved quickly to his feet, holding out a hand for her to stand up too.
If these people only knew what she could do with her magic now, they wouldn’t move so painfully slow. They literally lived in a cave, and she guessed they would be useless as allies in an all-out battle against the Unseelie. It would be nice to be as oblivious as these people were.
But time was running out, and this stalling was grating on her nerves. The woman turned and headed out of the cavern, down into a narrowing hall and into a larger chamber. This was the heart of their city, and small as it may be, it was fascinating. The streets were all made of stone, glittering with tiny crystals embedded in them. Some volcanic rock was carved into steps, tables and other furniture. Everyone was walking on two legs, but there were large ponds inside the city where some were swimming, laughing and splashing each other playfully.
Shade took it all in, excitement at seeing something new again rushing through her. The merfolk would stop and stare at them curiously as they passed, following Lark. Trudging through the exquisitely carved city, Shade realized how much in awe the Land of Faerie still left her. The flurry of excitement rustling through the people made her feel somewhat important. It wasn’t unlike the way the Fey viewed her back at the Scren Palace. Nothing would make it any easier to be held in such prestige. Even though she looked like a drowned rat, they all held a look of fear and respect in their eyes.
They entered a large archway, and the group escorting them had to go no more than two abreast to fit through. They funneled into a slightly wider entryway, but the room was smaller and not everyone could fit. The majority of the group lingered outside, peeking over heads and shoulders, curious about what the strangers were up to.
Lark turned to look at Shade. “I cannot follow where you must now go. Neither can your friend. No one but the Ancient’s descendant can enter. If you are not what you say you are, you will be incinerated the moment you enter. I suggest you turn back now, before you forfeit your life.” Lark’s eyes sparked a flicker of emotion, letting Shade know that under her hardened exterior, Lark was as serious as anyone could get. Shade nodded but faced the elaborate door again.
“I am her descendant; it won’t be an issue.”
“Very well.” Lark reached out, offering a small twisted metal key lying across her fingers. The key shined under the torchlights hanging along the walls of the room. It looked old yet sturdy, with its twisted and snarled design. Shade slipped the key off of Lark’s fingers, and as her fingertips touched the metal, it hummed under her skin and sent a shock of power through her. She fit it into the lock, hesitant to turn the key. This was it, now or never. Shade glanced at Nautilus, who threw her a reassuring nod before she held her breath and turned the ancient key.
She paused but realized she had to finish turning the key; it wouldn’t let her go as she tried to softly pull away. Instead of struggling, she took a deep breath and twisted it until she heard a click. The sound echoed through the chamber, and the door suddenly swung open before her, ripping the key from her grasp.
A waft of dust and musty air enveloped her body, forcing her to close her eyes as the cloud swept past. As the particles settled, she peeked through her lids and saw only the blackness of the unknown before her. Hoping the long-extinguished torches inside would light up once she entered, she swallowed the hard knot in her throat and took one tentative step forward.
Gravel crunched under her feet. Stepping across the threshold had her heart fluttering like a mad, caged bird. If she was wrong, this was the end. If she was definitely a descendant of Kilara, this should go smoothly. She hoped it was the latter.
Once inside the darkened chamber, the door behind her slammed with a horrendous, thundering clap. She jumped and stared at the silent entrance behind her, cutting off the outside world. Her heart raced, making her sure another surprise like that would be the death of her.
Well, I’m still alive, she thought. Turning back to the empty darkness before her, she was relieved to see the rush of torchlight begin its s
low crawl around the chamber. It was a large oval, lacking any furniture or decoration besides a sarcophagus sitting silently in the center of the room. It was plain, a smooth and lightly veined marble, but pulsating magic leaked from it like a heartbeat drumming under the surface of the stone. It snaked about the room after lighting the torches, whispering unintelligible things into her ears, haunting her with their ardent demands.
The voices reminded her of her spirit guides, and it sent a low hum of longing through her chest. Duende, Elaby and Astrid had all but disappeared from her dreams. Now that her magic was in full force, nothing penetrated the protective shields encasing her mind and body. Even this fluttering, mad whispering in the chamber couldn’t harm her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she spoke to them in her mind, hoping one would form into a more defined voice and speak to her, let her know what she needed to do to awaken the Ancient Kilara.
Shade….
She whipped her eyes around. The sudden quiet surrounding her was even more unsettling than the rush of voices had been.
“Who’s there?” she whispered, hoping the echo of her voice would alleviate the loneliness creeping in upon her.
Shade, it’s Verenis.
A fuzzy form materialized before her, standing next to the sarcophagus. He was tall and nothing like she could have imagined. His features sharpened, and his gleaming eyes glistened in the illuminated chamber. Long dark hair hung down his back, partially pulled back from a strong, chiseled face. She was in awe, her eyes wide at his presence. She didn’t look much like him. In fact, now she was sure that she had stolen most of her features from her mother, Jade. Her only inheritance from him seemed to be the sharp nose and Cupid’s bow-formed lips. That, in addition to her faery magic, of course.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, unsure if she should call him Father or Verenis. Her human father had been the one with the privilege of the title of Dad. But what would she call her actual faery father?
“My daughter, I am also a direct descendant of Kilara. We all are here, her descendants. I’ve wanted to meet you for so very long, and I have to say, I’m very much in awe of the queen you have become. I’m so proud of you.”
Shade’s silence made him shift, even in his spiritual form. She didn’t know what to say to him. Never having met him, he was like a stranger, just another faery spirit speaking to her. It felt odd and made her uncomfortable. He seemed to notice this, prompting him to continue his speech.
“I won’t stay long. I just wanted to talk to you. You know who you are. You’re powerful and unusual in every way, for a human and faery alike. I always knew you would be great. Jade was the best woman to raise you, and I was blessed to have known her. I’m sorry I never got to meet you sooner, before everything fell apart. But you’re destined to pull it back together and lead all of Faerie to the peace it seeks. I love you. Don’t ever forget it.”
Shade licked her lips and nodded, letting him know that she’d taken his words to heart, even though he was one of the biggest mysteries of her life. “Can you help me?”
He seemed puzzled at first, but a knowing look soon passed over his features. “To wake the Ancient?”
It irritated her how everyone referred to Kilara as The Ancient and not by her name, like she was a fable, a myth. “Yes. To wake Kilara.”
His transparent body floated closer to her, and he nodded. “Of course. You only have to touch her. Open the sarcophagus, and touch your hands to hers. That will awaken her. Your blood will call her back from the slumber she has bespelled herself with. But I warn you… do not awaken her. There will be nothing good to come of this.”
Shade studied him curiously, pondering the meaning of his words. Well, nothing good comes from anything in Faerie lately, she thought. What difference would it make now?
“I understand. But there is no other choice. I can’t save Faerie without her.” She stepped closer to the lone sarcophagus, feeling her father’s worried eyes on her. He said nothing further but remained suspended, watching her proceed.
She gave him a weak smile, thanking him for his help. It was good to know where she came from, even if he still felt otherworldly to her.
Reaching the smooth surface of the sarcophagus, she pushed at it with all her strength. It slid easily to one side, dropping onto the stone floor and smashing into a thousand pieces. It was startling as the noise echoed in the small chamber. As it faded, Shade fixed her gaze upon the ethereal beauty of the Summer Ancient—her ancestor, and one of the oldest beings on earth.
“Kilara?” Shade whispered, reaching over Kilara’s still figure. She was a vision of sleeping beauty. Her long golden brown locks snaked around her like a soft halo that spilled over her voluptuous chest. She was dressed in a long, yellow dress made of lace and silk. Shade fought the urge to touch the material, which looked frail and delicate, like it could crumble at the slightest disturbance. Kilara’s face was porcelain white, still and unmoving. She looked dead, like a large ceramic doll. Her lips were the only shade of dusty pink on her face. Her body was so still, Shade was sure she wasn’t even breathing.
The magic was the only assurance she was alive under her frozen exterior. It had amplified with the removal of the top of the sarcophagus and was now swirling around Shade like a suffocating bubble.
That’s it… she’s encased in a magical shield of some sort. Now to undo it….
Shade rubbed her fingers together, knowing there was a purpose in everything the Ancients did. This bubble was keeping anyone from sensing her presence, even down here in the cavernous depths of Lake Tahoe. Maybe this was how she had evaded Corb for so long. This one spell had remained intact for centuries, keeping her location hidden for all eternity, with only the isolated merfolk of the lake aware of her location. It was genius, really. Corb would be furious when he learned of the wards she’d placed to keep him away.
“Are you going to stand there and stare at her all day?”
Verenis was next to her, peering down at the Ancient with fascination. Shade frowned at him and rolled her eyes. He was feisty for a dead man.
She slipped her fingers over Kilara’s. The icy cold of the Summer Ancient’s skin made her shiver and wonder if this would work. It had to work, it just had to. What other way was there to save Faerie? All four Ancients had to be awake at the same time to bring balance to the land. If there was some other way, wouldn’t someone have found it by now?
Kilara’s eyes flicked open, wide and staring straight ahead for one long moment, then directly at Shade the next. Her hands wrapped around Shade’s, sending her stumbling backward and yanking her arm away from the Ancient.
“What the….” Shade cursed under her breath, cradling her sore wrist against her chest as she backed away from the sarcophagus. “Kilara? It’s Shade.” What if the Ancient didn’t recognize her? What if she’d forgotten who she was?
The woman sat up, her movements blurred and quick. It reminded Shade of Corb in some ways. She wondered briefly how they’d come into being, but the thought vanished from her mind as the Ancient Summer Queen slipped over the side of the coffin and moved inhumanly fast toward her. She was face to face with Shade once more. Shade gasped at the proximity, and her eyes widened as she observed the Ancient’s malicious stare.
“Kilara?” Shade repeated, her voice sounding far away and too soft for comfort.
“Shade?” The answer brought a great sense of relief to her.
“Yes, it’s me. Are you all right? You… you summoned me… remember?”
It was a ridiculous thing to say, but Shade had never been one to lack awkwardness. She only hoped the Ancient would come to her wits before crushing her to smithereens.
Kilara peered around them, eyes narrowing on Verenis briefly before stepping away and taking in the room. As her memories came rushing back, she closed her eyes and watched them like a film under her eyelids. Minutes passed, but Shade didn’t dare disturb her. Verenis stood watchful, too, full of morbid curiosity.
So when a
faery dies, they don’t really die then, but they remain bound to the earth, like ghosts? Her mind was running away from her, a torrent of thoughts raining down on her. Verenis had been here all along, trapped with his ancestor.
“It’s been too long.” Kilara snapped her eyes open and focused on Shade. “Blood of my blood, my last descendant. Shade, I am powerless here, for I created a shield to hide my whereabouts from Corb and the Unseelie King Arthas. Help me find my sister, Rowan. Only then can I shed this enchantment. Only then can I gather my forces and defeat the Unseelie once more.”
Kilara collapsed to the ground, exhausted from the years of hibernation. Shade ran to her side, helping her back up and peering down into a face she’d memorized in her dreams. Here was her oldest ancestor, in her arms, real and very much alive. The things Kilara could show her. The magic she possessed was intoxicating, and sitting so close to her was like being high on some sort of unnatural drug. It seeped into her skin and blood with a desperate urgency, hungry to be wielded after slumbering for far too long.
“We have to leave… now,” Kilara warned, digging her fingers into Shade’s arm as she struggled to get up. Shade helped her and felt the rumble under her feet. Was it an earthquake? It made her hurry to swing Kilara’s arm around her shoulders and pull the weakened ancient toward the door. She prayed it would open for them somehow, for it had been sealed shut since she’d entered.
“Will it open?” Shade asked. Reaching the wall, she studied its tiny designs etched into the stone. The key was still in the lock, on the other side. Shoot!