Enchanted Revenge (24 page)

The next morning, we stayed curled up in each other’s arms. My face rested on his chest, his muscles hard beneath me. I had one arm draped across him, and a leg between his legs. My cheeks warmed just thinking about him.

“Good morning,” he whispered right before he kissed my cheek.

Warm tingles traveled through my body where his lips touched me. I couldn’t help but love it. Love the way he felt. Love everything about it. I wanted this feeling to last forever. I wanted to wake up next to him every morning of the rest of my life.

“Good morning, yourself.”

I looked up at him, his green eyes smiled down at me.

“That was the best night of my life. I know it’s messed up to say, after everything that’s happened, and everything you’ve been through. But it was. And I want to hold you every night. I want to sleep with you breathing next to me forever.”

The smile that lit up my face could never have been hidden, even if I’d wanted it to. I was giddy all the way to the tips of my curling toes. And then, because I was dying to see if it worked, I touched his cheek, and deliberately thought to him.

It was perfect!

His smile was beyond glorious. His dimples were deep, his eyes shone bright. It was the happiest I’d ever seen him.

He kissed me. It was a soft kiss, his lips just barely brushing mine. It deepened. It was more, so much more. He drank me in, just as I did with him.

We didn’t leave that bed for a few more hours, savoring the feel and taste of each other. I think he didn’t want to push anything more on me yet, afraid I was too vulnerable or something. And for now, I was okay with that.

For now…

“So, what happens to me now?” I asked him, finally voicing the concerns I had been feeling for a while now. “I mean, my mom was a Pixie. And my dad was a Sylph.”

I couldn’t help but think about all those passages in the ephemeris where she wished she would never have a baby, because of how hard it would be. What it would mean.

“Well, you have wings.” As he said it, he ran his fingers along the edge of my outstretched wings, sending tingles through my entire body. It felt better than when he ran his fingers through my hair. Better even than when he caressed my arm, causing goosebumps to pop up all over me. It felt amazing.

“Yeah. I know. Does that mean I don’t have any Pixie in me?” I tried to ignore the tantalizing sensations that were still flooding my system.

“Of course you have Pixie in you. It just depends on how much, and how it manifests. We’ll work on it and see. You have magic now, so we have much to work on with you anyway. And we can explore the possibilities of the flame.”

He made it sound so easy. But I trusted him. I trusted him with more than just my life. I trusted him with my safety. With my sanity. With my heart!

“Do you remember when I said that I wanted a tattoo?” I asked him as I curled my body closer to his.

“Yes.”

“Well, I want it now. Will you help me?”

His body shook as he laughed. “Right now, right now?”

“Yes. I already know what I want,
and where I want it. I’ve known for a while now. But it just…” I tried to figure out what I wanted to say and how I really felt. “It just feels right now. Now is the time.”

He bent and kissed my nose, before gifting me with kisses along my jawline. “We can go right now if you want,” he breathed against the sensitive part of my neck.

Within an hour I had met a crazy old sprite that both Lynn and Alec vouched for, who swore up and down he wouldn’t “blemish my porcelain skin,” who tattooed on my skin just what I wanted. On my left wrist I would forever have a broken tear, something that would both remind me of who I came from, and the day that changed my life forever.

When we finally made it to the cafeteria, we searched for Lynn. There were things we had to do. During the chaos, before I knocked everyone out with my crazy awakening and sylph air, we had lost two Sprites.

“Lynn, I wanted to offer my condolences,” Alec told her, after we joined her at the table.

“I honestly didn’t know them very well.” She looked over at me for a minute, before looking back at him. “I know it sounds bad, but I can’t afford to care about someone. I don’t allow anyone to get close these days.”

It sounded sad more than anything, but I remembered when I first met her, and she told me about how the Mortem had taken loved ones from everyone. I had no doubt she had lost too many people to be willing to risk caring for more, just to lose them too.

Then I looked to Alec, because I couldn’t think of losing him now. I still mourned my parents. I knew I would forever mourn them, miss them and love them. At least with Alec, I now had someone in my life. Someone to count on. Someone to love.

I didn’t even want to think about losing him.

Alec only nodded at her, showing he understood where she was coming from, and then added, “We have some things we should discuss.”

She nodded, before leading us out of the dining area.

In the room we normally held our rebel meetings in, she sat at the table and waited for him to speak. I just beat him to the punch.

“Do you remember the ephemeris you helped me open?”

“Yes.”

“Well, first off, I think you will be able to read it now. Now that I know you better and trust you and stuff.”

“Really?” Excitement shone through her eyes.

“Yeah. And…” I cleared my throat, not sure how to say it without sounding weird. “Well, it was my mother’s.”

“Right, you told me that already,” she said.

“Yeah, but it’s the ephemeris of Norleen Volante, Queen of the Empyrean.”

Her reaction didn’t disappoint. At first she looked skeptical, thinking it was some kind of joke. Then her eyes grew and her mouth dropped as she put two and two together.

She looked at Alec, “Honestly?” He nodded confirming my statements. “This is amazing. This means so much!”

“Yeah. I guess I’m a princess.” A nervous chuckle escaped me. It sounded way weirder to say out loud than it did in my head, and it already sounded crazy in my head.

“This means we have someone to rally behind. We have to call a meeting right away. We need to tell everyone about you. We can finally get rid of that evil bastard. With you, the heir, we can do it, we can dethrone him! Especially now, that with your help the Mortem is destroyed.”

I didn’t bother to correct her. The Mortem was
mostly
destroyed. I still had one more to find. And I didn’t point out that just because the past queen and king had a kid, that didn’t mean the kid was somehow good enough to take down an evil monarchy. I’d let her have her moment of excitement and hope. We all needed a moment like that every now and then or we would go crazy.

She ran out of the room, readying to call the meeting of all meetings.

Alec looked at me and kissed me, just briefly on the lips. I still felt all kinds of giddy when he did that. My knees went weak, and my stomach clenched in anticipation of what could follow.

“Are you ready?” His breath caressed my neck as he whispered those words. When he pulled back, releasing me from his embrace, he looked down at me. He searched my face, looking for any signs of discomfort or unease.

“Yeah. I am. I feel like this is where I belong. This is what I am supposed to do.”

“Good,” he told me. “Because, even though we won this battle, the war has just begun.”

Glossary of Terms

Abada
: A creature similar to a horse, but with two horns. One at the top of its head and another, smaller horn on its nose. Abadas are very picky creatures, and rarely interact with another species. They have magical properties and are very powerful animals.
Their female counterparts are unicorns, with only one horn instead of two.

Abscondita
: A small bag capable of holding weights up to 3 tons and over 5000 items without growing in size or weight.

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder):
a psychiatric disorder of the neurodevelopmental type in which there are significant problems of attention and/or hyperactivity and acting impulsively that are not appropriate for a person's age. Symptoms include but aren’t limited to: difficulty maintaining focus, being easily distracted, missing details, being forgetful, talking nonstop, and being constantly in motion.

Amicus
: A close confidant. A person who you feel will keep you secrets safe. An ally. 

Ardennes
- The life of the Empyrean. Wooded area, with few rivers and lakes. This province is the largest of the four, and nearly circles Vesuvius and Muircadia, as well as divides them. Where the Nymph reside.

Awakening:
An influx of magics, that occurs at the exact time of a Fae’s birth, on his seventeenth birthday. It can take anywhere from one minute to over an hour. Usually happens in the comfort of one’s own home, with the Fae surrounded only by those closest to him (i.e. Parents or immediate family) as the sensations are overwhelming and too many people can cause issues. During the next 24 hours, the newly mature Fae will be overly sensitive to all six senses: touch, sight, sound, smell, taste and magic.

Battle
: A battle is a combat between two or more armed forces, usually a physical altercation between two or more armies. Battles are between soldiers, while war is between countries or nations. Battles can be won and lost, but it may not determine the end of the War. Battles are usually short term, while wars are lengthy. It takes a war to overthrow a Monarch.

Bonum
: True goodness. It is a quality that a Fae can earn, or can be born with. A virtue. Like being honest, or compassionate. It is a trait of all things good.

Cheslin
: A sweet, black, squishy fruit that is highly nutritious. They can be eaten up to a decade after being picked and are plentiful in Ardennes. 

Dansa de la Mort.
Dance of Death. It is a ritual where magic is used to help guide the souls of the fallen Fae to the Outer Realm

Decapitation
: Execution by cutting off the victim's head. The worst form of punishment in the Empyrean. Often reserved only for traitors.

Dux
: The Sherriff of a Village. In any Village other than the Central Village, the Dux is the ruler of the town, acting as both Sherriff and Mayor. In the Central Village in each Province, the Lord and Lady are ruler of the town, only under the King and Queen.

Ephemeris
: A journal or diary. Most Fae don’t keep them as the written word can be damning. Things written become permanent. Usually an Ephemeris is kept by the royals, lords and ladies, and record keepers, though always kept magically secured. It is very difficult for any Fae to lie, especially in the written word.
Due to the magics surrounding the journal, only someone the owner trusts can see the words written.  Though an ephemeris normally looks small in size, it can hold as many pages as the author feels like writing. Any page can be turned to at will by the author, or by someone who has already read that page before.

Fae Blade:
A piece of steel, whether knife, dagger or sword, that is infused with Fae Magic. The most supreme and powerful of the Fae Blades is the Sovereign Blade, which has been infused with all Four Fae Magics. The blade gives the bearer extreme power.

Fae
: A supernatural being. There are four groups of Fae: Sprite, Nymph, Pixie and Sylph. All Fae age slower than a human being, capable of living up to 1000 years of age.

Faint:
Sudden loss of consciousness. To become unconscious, usually for a short time, because of a reduction in the flow of blood to the brain. Often caused by a traumatic event.

Floruin
: A Nymph delicacy. Composed of the edible Sunflower, with a Princess Blue Flower in its center. Normally served with sugared pecans along the edges of the plate. Flourin is a dish served only in the Lords presence. 

Guano
: A discarded muscle from a tipped coral, most often a blue tipped coral. It is often cooked and eaten, as it is very nutritious, filled with protein, and tastes similar to beef steak. Very plentiful in Muircadia.

Humans
 (
Homo sapiens
) are primates of the family Hominidae, and the only extant species of the genus 
Homo
. They reside only in the Mortal Realm.

Intemperance
: (noun) Lack of moderation or restraint and/or excessive indulgence. Gives a Fae the urge to do whatever it is he/she wants to do, without concern for consequences. Often caused by magic, by drinking Perennum, or by being in close proximity to the Bellis Perennis flower, which resembles a pink daisy.

Kamalani
- The Kingdom in the sky, Throne of the Empyrean. The entire province is lifted above land, floating on clouds. The castle in the center is not only where the monarch live, but also considered the Central Village of Kamalani. Where the Sylph reside.

Lemuria
: The Central Village in Muircadia. The entire city is beneath the water. Only a sprite can visit, or one with magics powerful enough to shield himself from the water. Though the city is covered in water, there are some buildings and places that are dry within Lemuria.

Lentinos
: An assortment of seeds from several different plants. It makes for a good snack, filling and nutritious.

Lord
or
Lady Minor
: The Fae next in line for Lordship. Normally the Lord and Lady’s children, unless there are no children, then it would fall to the next closest kin. 

Lord
:  The highest level of authority in a Province. The Lord and Lady answer only to the King and Queen. There is one Lord and Lady in each Province in The Empyrean. The position is not voted upon. You must either be born or pledged into the role.

Magic:
Energy with the power to influence the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces. Often manifests as a dry mist

Morgan Freeman:
Best actor in the world (basically). He has worked for Batman, been the President of the U.S.A., a doctor, a soldier, a judge, a detective and God to name just a few. His voice is recognizable to nearly everyone.

Mortem
: A group of five Fae that are known as being deadly assassins. They are said to be rogue mercenaries, though some believe they work for King Mastikh.

Muircadia
- The waters of the Empyrean. While most of Muircadia is within water, there are villages on land, surrounded by water. Some villages are enveloped and easily accessible to fae other than Sprite’s, while some are not. Where the Sprites live.

Nectar
: Tree juice in Ardennes. Similar to water from the Mortal Realm. It is used to hydrate Nymph, and any Fae other than Sprites.

Nemophilist:
A haunter and protector of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude; that doesn’t discriminate in how it protects the land. One is created when a being loses all familiar connections and wants only to live for the forest, usually after a great tragedy has befallen him.
 

Nona
: A term of endearment used within the Nymph vocabulary, normally for a grandmother.

Nymph
: A Land Fairy. They usually reside in Ardennes province of The Empyrean. Characterized by being tall, with tanned or dark skin, and brown or green eyes. They wield magic over all land and plants.

Raid: 
A sudden attack made by soldiers, aircraft, police, bandits, or any other force in an attempt to seize or destroy something; To take something or search for something secretly or stealthily because it is illegal or forbidden.

Rain
: Green liquid that nourishes the land in Ardennes. It falls from the clouds and collects in ponds, lakes, and rivers. While it can be ingested, there are some adverse side-effects when too much is ingested including, but not limited to psychedelic hallucinations, slight dehydration, and feelings of giddiness and irresponsibility, affecting Fae other than Nymph strongest.

Ruptin
: An edible, yellow flower, similar in looks to a Daffodil. It is very nutritious and delicious. Both the flavor and consistency resemble that of a cherry from the Mortal Realm.

Screen
: A magical force field. It can be used to mask someone’s appearance, make something completely hidden, or be used as a sound barrier. Screens can be produced by any Fae with enough Magic.

Self-Defense
: The act of defending yourself.

Spinach
: An edible green leaf. When cooked, it will turn mostly blue and will appear jiggly and shiny. Usually it is frozen after being cooked and served as a breakfast or snack food. It is known for its mixture of spicy and sweet flavors.

Spoiled
: A Fae is considered spoiled if they do not inherit magic on their seventeenth birthday. They are then outcasts and not allowed to pledge with any Fae other than another Spoiled one.

Sylph Air
:  Air created inside of a Sylph Fae. It is more than regular air, that can move an object, it is filled with a toxin that can cause other fae to pass out, or even die if toxic enough. It is not used frequently because it exhausts the Fae using it.

Sylph Wings:
After a sylph Fae becomes Mature, he will earn his magics and wings. A Sylphs wings will change as the Fae grows, his achievements and failures being portrayed in the designs of his wings. The wings are nearly see through, and gossamer thin, but are one of the strongest and most durable objects in the Empyrean.

The Empyrean
: The land of the Fae. There are four provinces: Muircadia, Vesuvius, Ardennes, and Kamalani.

The Tribulation:
A period of 160 years when Queen Norleen was captured by King Mastikh and held prisoner. It was at the end of this time period, almost two decades ago, when the rightful King Coenraad left The Empyrean.

Torture:
To inflict extreme pain on somebody as punishment or to persuade somebody to confess or recant knowledge. Fae often use their given magics, fae blades, and physical and mental harm.
Side note: it sucks so hard and hurts like a mother.

Tripudio
: A small device that can transport a Fae from one area to another within the same Realm. Characterized by a small circle, with four larger circles surrounding it. Each of the four circles contains a sign from the four elements.

Vesuvius
- The fiery heart of the Empyrean. Desert climate, with very little vegetation. The Central Village is built around and within the lone volcano. Where the Pixies reside. 

Village
: A group of residences, smaller than a town, situated in a rural area. There are several villages throughout, with the Central Village in the middle of each province.

Virtus Animae:
Courage of the mind. A title given to a Fae who portrays strength, bravery, valor and boldness of spirit. It is a great honor for an elder to give you this title.
 

War
: War is more of a strategic altercation between two or more entities, such as countries, nations, regimes, etc. Battles are between soldiers, while war is between countries or nations. Battles can be won and lost, but it may not determine the end of the War. Battles are usually short term, while wars are lengthy. It takes a war to overthrow a Monarch.

Water
: A clear liquid that flows within the Muircadia. It is only ingestible by Sprites, and can cause great illness to Sylph and Nymph Fae. It is fatal to Pixies.