Marny (27 page)

“Sorry,” she said, glancing up. “Whoa.”

The tunnel opened into a misty hallway full
of arched openings running along one side. Ornate lamps hung
suspended on golden chains, shedding a soft radiance that made
Nyx’s flashlight look harsh in comparison. Even as she noted the
contrast, he shut his light off.

“This is interesting,” he said.

Marny took a deep breath, steadier now that
there was light and space ahead.

Behind them, from the darkness of the stone
tunnel, came a thud. How long would it be before the Bright Lance
got the door open?

She traded a glance with Nyx, and they
hurried forward.

The first archway they passed showed a
manicured lawn stretching to the edge of a lake. A stone castle
rose above the water, blue pennants flying in the breeze.

The next doorway opened onto a garish scene
where a multi-armed blue deity threw marigolds at a horde of
screaming demons. Marny shuddered and picked up her pace.

At the third arch, she paused.

“What
?” A sense of incredulity washed over her.

Mr. von Coburg stood at the head of a meeting
table where the Social Interfaces Design team sat, looking
unhappy.

“It’s unfortunate your intern chose not to
come to work today,” the CEO said. “Especially as this progress
meeting is mandatory.”

“I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding,” Angie
said, and Ser Jellicoe nodded his agreement. “Maybe she’s sick, or
had an accident.”

“I shall investigate,” Madame Fontaine said,
her voice cold. “Now, about the newest research…”

“Hey, we have to go.” Nyx tugged at Marny’s
arm.

“But I’m missing a crucial meeting.” Damn.
Was she going to lose her internship over this? Dismay pressed like
a fist into her stomach. “It’s Monday morning already in the real
world.”

“How can that happen?” There was an edge of
panic in Nyx’s voice.

“Time moves differently in the Realm. At
least, according to my friends, and Jennet’s book of lore.”

If she stepped through that archway, would
she magically arrive at Intertech in time to salvage her job?

She glanced at Nyx and immediately ditched
the idea. They were in this together, and she’d promised she’d
help. Whatever the consequences, she wasn’t the kind of person who
broke her word. Especially since she had the feeling Nyx wouldn’t
be able to rescue his sister without her.

Two mortal souls trapped in the Realm of
Faerie, versus her future.

It was a crappy choice, but easy enough to
make.

“Come on.” Marny shot one last glance at the
meeting room, then made herself walk past.

There was no way she could explain why she
hadn’t shown up at work. She could feel her internship, and
everything that it represented, slipping away.

Living at home for years and working a
minimum-wage job, coming right up. She swallowed the salty taste of
failure.

“Are you sure?” Nyx asked. Clearly he could
tell it was important.

“I’m not abandoning you. And I’m not arguing
about it. Your sister is here somewhere, so let’s go find her.”

That shut him up. Looking grim, he strode
down the hall beside her.

As they passed the next opening, Marny
glimpsed a shining expanse of lake with mountains rising at the far
horizon. A graceful boat lay upon the waters, manned by a hooded
figure who began to turn as if sensing their presence.

A chill running down her spine, Marny
quickened her pace. She held her breath until they were safely past
that archway.

The one beyond opened onto a midnight forest,
the light of a purple bonfire glimmering between the trees. As they
drew even with the door, a long, eerie howl sounded, and she
shivered. Their choices seemed to be getting worse.

“Let’s not go in there,” Nyx said.

She nodded. By then they were practically
running. She had the cold suspicion they’d just passed the Dark
Court.

But if that had been the Dark Court, could
the light spilling from the opening ahead be the Bright one?

“There they are!” a voice called.

Marny looked over her shoulder to see the
Bright Lance appear out of the mist at the end of the corridor. He
drew his sword and charged toward them.

“I think this next doorway is the last one,”
Nyx said.

“Then wherever it leads, we’re going in.”

No way did she want to go back to any of the
other portals, except maybe the very first one—but that would take
them right into the arms of the faerie guard.

They sprinted for the opening. The air was
filled with radiance, and she glimpsed trees of gold and silver
with shining leaves. Music lilted through the grove and glowing
pixies darted among the trees, their light glinting off flowers
made of garnets and sapphires, topaz and amethyst.

This was it. It perfectly matched the
description in Jennet’s book.

“Ready?” Nyx asked, grabbing her hand.

She squeezed in answer, and together they
dashed over the threshold into the heart of the Bright Court.

A
lthough Nyx had explored his own enchanted woods plenty of
times, the forest of the Bright Court held so much magic he
felt
it, like a current
running over his skin.

He pressed Marny’s hand, then let go so he’d
be ready to act at a moment’s notice. Herb-scented air wafted
around them, and before his eyes the metallic trees shifted,
creating a wide pathway leading toward a clearing.

He glanced at Marny. She seemed nervous, but
strong. There wasn’t anyone else he’d rather have at his side.

Together, they strode forward. His heartbeat
thumped in his chest, but he stayed light on his feet, primed to
attack or defend as necessary.

As they approached the clearing, Nyx blinked
at the sight of the creatures gathered there: ethereal maidens with
gossamer wings and scary-looking eyes, stubby gnomes wearing
pointed hats, fur-covered things with human faces and hands, tall
twiggy creatures armed with pointy spears—including the spriggan
called Pinebough.

Some of them were dancing, some feasted at
long tables filled with food and drink, some reclined on couches of
velvet moss.

In the very center rose a dais covered in
glimmering grasses. Upon the dais stood a throne made of gold, and
upon that throne sat the Bright King. His armor shone like the sun,
and a circlet of dazzling light sat upon his head. Pointed ears
emerged from his long, pale hair, and his face was full of sharp
angles.

Slowly, the king turned his head and looked
at them. Nyx felt that sapphire gaze like a blow. The Bright King’s
eyes were filled with knowledge and raw power—inhuman and
incredibly ancient.

“Don’t look,” Marny whispered.

Hastily, Nyx turned his eyes away.

The music stopped, the dancing stopped, the
creatures at the feasting tables set down their goblets, and the
entirety of the court turned to regard the two mortals who dared to
enter the Bright Court.

Never in a million years had Nyx imagined
something so far outside normal reality. With Marny beside him, he
walked up to the dais in the center of the clearing. Part of his
mind was freaking out, pointing at the faeries and screaming, but
the other part stayed calm, focused.

“Your Majesty,” Marny said, bowing to the
king.

Damn, she was amazingly fearless. Following
her lead, Nyx bent at the waist, pack shifting on his
shoulders.

“Greetings, mortals.” The king sounded
amused. “You arrive in the flesh, instead of wearing the guise of
avatars. How unusual. And foolhardy.”

“Sometimes you have to take risks,” Marny
said. “We’ve come in search of someone.”

“Yeah,” Nyx said, at last finding his voice.
“We’re looking for my sister.”

“I know well enough what you seek,” the king
said. “Did you think you could enter my Realm and take pieces of it
away with impunity, Nyx Spenser?”

He couldn’t answer that. Pleading ignorance
wasn’t going to get him very far, he could tell that much.

“Is she here?” Marny pressed.

“Quiet, Mistress Marny,” the king said. “You
are not the one who owes the debt.”

She scowled at the king, but didn’t say
anything more.

“I’m not letting you keep my sister in
exchange for a few leaves,” Nyx said, anger clearing his head.
“That’s hardly a fair trade.”

“Who said it must be fair?” The king gave him
a sharp smile. “However, your words have merit. You may win your
sister back—but payment is still owed.”

He gestured, and in the depths of the shining
trees something moved. Something white, with tall branching antlers
of pure ivory. As it paced forward, Nyx saw a girl upon its
back.

“Emmie!” he cried.

She swayed slightly as the White Stag entered
the clearing, her gaze unfocused. It was disturbing, the way she
looked right past him.

“What have you done to her?” he demanded,
wanting to dash up and deliver a solid roundhouse to the king’s
jaw.

“She remains woven in dreams,” the Bright
King said. “Would you prefer she wakes and sees that all of this is
real?”

He swept one long-fingered hand over the
court, and the creatures cackled and giggled. A nymph with dripping
hair bared needle-sharp teeth at Nyx, and Pinebough growled
menacingly and shook his spear.

“Maybe not,” Nyx said.

What next? Could he run over and grab Emmie
off the stag? He scanned the court, seeing way too many armed
creatures who wouldn’t hesitate to fight at the king’s command.

Marny caught his gaze and tipped her head to
the bonfire at the edge of the clearing. Its rose-colored flames
reflected warmly off the metal-barked trees. Too far away for them
to reach, especially if he was lugging his sister. Which meant the
king had to let Emmie go.

“Well, mortal, have you anything to propose?”
the king asked.

“I do.” Nyx drew in a breath through his
nose. “Trial by combat. If I win, Marny and I take my sister back
to the mortal world.”

“Safely
back,” Marny added, then turned to look at him. Worry and hope
sparked in her warm brown eyes.

“It’s okay,” he said, though of course it
wasn’t. There were any number of ways this could go severely
wrong.

The king laughed, the sound chiming like a
clear bell over the court. “Do you think to challenge me to
personal combat?”

“No.” Nyx wasn’t that stupid. “I thought I’d
fight a champion of your choosing.”

He glanced over the gathered creatures,
weighing his options.

Pinebough and the other spriggans were
formidable, but breakable if he could get in past their guard. The
sharp-teethed hairy things could be a problem, but Nyx was fast on
his feet, and any living creature had its weak points. He didn’t
see any elfin knights standing around, which was fortunate.

“Ah. Clever enough.” The king nodded. “Very
well. I choose as my champion—”

“Me!” The voice rang through the
clearing.

The Bright Lance strode forward, eyes
narrowed, mouth set in a hard line. When he reached the dais, he
went down on one knee before the king.

“My liege,” he said. “I beg you, allow me to
fight this upstart mortal. He must pay for his many slights to the
Bright Realm.”

“Including the fact that he so ably eluded
you?” The king’s voice held a cutting edge.

“He had aid,” the guard said. “That annoying
sprite—”

“Speak no ill of Puck in my court,” the king
said. “Annoyance or no, he serves his purpose and it is not for you
to judge him.”

“I stand reprimanded.” The Bright Lance bowed
his head. “Still, will you choose me for your champion, my
king?”

A heartbeat of silence fell over the
clearing, and Marny shot Nyx a scared look. Too late to back out
now. He’d said he would fight whomever the Bright King chose.

“I choose you,” the king said, and the
watching fey folk cheered. “Nyx Spenser, I agree to let you battle
my champion, the Bright Lance. Should you win, you may retrieve
your sister and, along with Mistress Marny, safely pass from my
court. Should you lose, I will keep your sister in payment for your
meddling in the Realm of Faerie.”

Oh, crap. There was no way in hell he could
afford to lose. Nyx studied the imposing figure of the Bright
Lance. But how could he win?

Expression taut, Marny took his hand. “You
can do this. I have faith in you.” She lowered her voice. “And I
won’t just be standing there watching, if you know what I
mean.”

He nodded. Marny knew better than to try to
interfere in the fight, but she would be alert for any opportunity.
And trying to reach Emmie while the court was distracted.

“Good luck,” he said, shrugging out of his
pack and handing it to her.