I smiled at that one and she gasped, “Oh my Maker God, you found one you liked? Green girl stab stab.” She cocked her head to the side as she rose up and thought about the nickname. “Yes.” she jabbed her finger at me, “I think it's a perfect name for you.” She started to dance in a circle and this time I gave her a rare genuine smile.
“We will see each other again. It has been written.” Since I think the prophecy was about us and some other stranger, I was confident that we would see each other sooner than later.
“Fuck that.” Hemlock circled her arms around me as she whispered, “You need to promise me that we will see each other before the year is out. I will give you only a month, two tops, before I go over that stupid mountain and search for you.”
Talicon finally got his arms around her and yanked her back as I nodded to that promise. She waved a tiny wave as she looked down at the ground in sadness. Talicon had opened the force field and Hemlock was just dragging out the goodbye.
The guys all shook hands with Hemlock’s crew and said thank you, ready apparently to leave. I looked back at Hemlock as we went through the doorway, “Stay safe, silly girl.”
She smiled as she yelled, “Now we are for sure besties since you gave me a nickname. No take backs, no exchanges, I will forever now be your silly girl.” I smiled and nodded, turning to make sure I kept a good pace up to get over the mountains that surround Invitis.
My resolve to tell them was waning. At first, I wanted to tell them when it was just us and no one else could hear our conversation. Then it turned into we didn't have time for that now as we were going down the shrieking mountains.
What if they hated me? What if they took it out on Vance? What if they chose not to help?
I tried to shut those excuses down as that was what they were, excuses. I don't actually think that they would do those things, I hope they wouldn't do them, but at the same time the unknown is killing me.
I kept thinking about it as I helped lower each guy down. They all smiled at me, giving me naughty or loving looks as they went down with me being the last one. Since it was just scaling down the mountain it was going much faster than the climbing we did before. Soon, we were all at the bottom of the mountain as a rush of feeling took over me. The soft grass beneath my boots, the moisture in the air, it brought me a small sense of peace as I felt like I was home.
I knew this was the moment that I needed to tell them. I needed to blurt it out so they had time to process it all before we got back to the city. Before the reality and all its obstacles and pressures started to build on us. I needed to be brave, not just with my body, but my heart.
As they were adjusting the straps on their bags from the climb, I closed my eyes as I called out, “Guys, I have something-”
Before I could finish that sentence, I felt a presence and the air swirled around us, it felt magical and familiar, I was immediately on guard. The current of the magic seemed to call me to the forest line, telling me to come closer and I immediately knew something was off.
I heard a brutish chuckle as I got into a fighting stance and fifteen shadow fae came out of the forest line at once. “Oh, shit.” Zayden said as he squared his shoulders, Ajax was glaring at them all and Rykon instantly got to the balls of his feet. Oh, shit was right.
The fae from before with the orange streaked hair came out from behind and looked at me like he was already a victor as he was peeling an apple in his hand. That was not a good start. Before anything happened, I took out the communication parchment and stuck it into Zayden’s pants while Ajax distracted them with a growl at the leader.
“Hey, what the. What are you-”
I cut him off quickly as I whispered, “If something happens to me, I want you guys to be able to tell Vance and maybe he could send backup.”
Before he could respond back to me, I turned back to the orange haired fae man who was licking his lips as he eyed me up and down, like he was savoring the moment. “Monith nakaaa.”Here we are again. “Theka ta la makish whaba.”This time it will be different.
I looked at the fae he brought with him this time and I knew that he had planned for the worst. They all looked hardened and ready for battle, while also having unknown magic. I looked back at the guys and they all wore faces that said they were ready to jump into battle at a moment's notice, but I couldn't let them. These were the elite shadow fae. They have barely started to learn how to use their magic and I don't know how Rykon’s or Zayden’s could help yet. We were at an extreme disadvantage and I knew it.
My father’s voice came snaking out the back of my mind.Don’t be afraid to be captured or tortured. I will train you to survive that. Most people think this is the worst outcome, but it isn't because you are still alive. Able to fight another day, another moment, when you are ready. Death is the only finality in life so don't be afraid of it but also don't walk into it unnecessarily.
I had made my choice in the matter but I didn't want this fae to think I was giving up so easily, and I still needed to protect the guys. I replied to him, “Nsthe Makana bethune ermoth.”I wouldn't do that if I were you. I tried to make sure I sounded badass, like I thought I would still win if I wanted to.
The shadow fae switched over to our human tongue as he cooed, “Let's make a deal, my twin. You come with me and I will make sure not to kill these idiots.” He waved his knife at the guys and they all took a step forward. The other fae around him started to close in a circle around us. Idiot boys! They have rushed my plans.
I nodded as I stood straighter and called out, “Let the guys go and you have yourself a deal.”
“Fuck that.”
“No, Emerald!”
“Please don’t leave.”
The guys turned to me and started to yell at me. I felt their fingers gripping my clothes and shoulders, desperately trying to pull me back but I yanked myself forward as I kept my face blank. My eyes stayed on the orange haired one and he started to prowl forward and yanked my arms together as he pulled out a magical rope and gave it a command. “Terish.”Bind.
The guys ran forward, trying to get me again when the fae man sneered and nodded to the others who captured the guys quickly with their wind and earth magic. One of the earth magic fae opened his arms and quickly made a pit that they threw the guys into.
While the leader was distracted with what his men were doing, I lunged towards the pit, scrambling to peek over the edge and make sure they weren't hurt. If they were, then I could call the deal a fraud and slice his throat open with no repercussions from the others. Fae deals were a sacred agreement and not to be messed around with.
I could see all of them on the floor, wiping the dust and particles off but they looked like they were okay. I yelled out to check, “Are yo-” before a body crashed into my back and a hand wrapped around my mouth. I was starting to thrash around to find space to kick whoever it was when I started to hear humming in my ear.
