Tainted (16 page)

Maybe that explains how he is always in my head.

“You are drawn to all of us,” he continued as we are all one in the same.

I failed to see his point.  He got frustrated that I was misreading his underlying message.  “Just spell it out for me Ian.”

“You are drawn to three in particular because of our status somehow.  Seelie or Unseelie.  There is a link between you and all three.”

“And you know this how?”

“I can feel it too.”

WHAT?  Ew! 

“I can feel what you feel through both of them.”

“Do you mean Pike
and
Kin?”

He nodded.

“Through their thoughts?”

“Not their feelings, yours.  Somehow, we all three feel your thoughts and feelings in very vivid detail.”

“At the same freaking time?  Ian, I can’t do this!  You kept this from me.”  I rolled backwards onto my stomach, hiding my face through my fingers so I could just see his outline. His dark hair fell into his eyes as he leaned toward me more.

“Which only means you know how repulsed I am by him, right?  I’m freaking scared of him Ian.  I don’t know what or where this little mind hold he has over me comes from, but it’s very disturbing and heads up, the very reason I don’t like the mind reading.”

He gave an annoyed smile.

“Let me think out loud a second.  It’s like I’m this human girl magnet who showed up in this prophecy only to be pulled towards three Seelie and Unseelie court guys in charge or not in charge anymore.  I was guarded by all three for my entire life, though one tried hard to kidnap me on a daily basis,” I spoke as though I was telling a story about someone else and it would make it work out if I told it right.  “I am to choose one according to the three of you even though you clearly won out on the guardian thing.”   I was slightly on the angry side of realizing I had no control once again over my own life.  “All three of you can feel my
FEELINGS
, I have been claimed by all of you, yet all three are still so easy to smell when near me.  And when all three of you are close, god help me.” 

His head twitched back.  “All of us.  You can smell
all
of us?”

Uh, oh. 
I’d preserved that secret so well until now though I thought he’d figured it out already.  I’m so dead.  It was yet another conflict. No, more like a blinking beacon light of hell.  Still, he just revealed that all three of them can feel what I feel about them and worse, through each other.  It’s both sided somehow. 

“Grace, what do you mean?” he scooted back looking terror-stricken.  Not a norm for him.

I didn’t want to tell, but what choice did I have?  I was the one who buzzed it in his ear.  “I have been able to see…smell you coming near me for years like I told you before.  You knew this.”

His face wasn’t what I’d call readable.  It was a mixture of fear, loathing, jealousy, and curiosity all in one.  “And what do I smell like?” his voice said unbelieving.  Standoffish even!

I blushed in the darkness flaring my nostrils a little to bring in the feel of it.  “Like the woods.  And mint.”

He didn’t move or respond. “And Pike?”

I REALLY didn’t want to tell him this.  And of course, he misread my hesitation.

“I won’t be mad.”

Yeah, uh huh!
I didn’t mean for him to misread into my thoughts.  “Like smoke, a burning fire that won’t go out.”

He took that in.  He recognized that, as oddly as it was, it was a good match.  “Doesn’t go out.  Fitting.  He won’t go away anytime in this lifetime, of that I promise.”

The new information processed fast.  He knew my abilities and strange way of affecting the Fey courts was as complicated as rat’s maze with no end prize.  When will we find all the pieces of the puzzled maze within this prophecy?  

“And Kinsler?” he asked.
              “Like burnt rubber.”  I smacked my tongue against the top of my mouth like the words were a bad taste.

He laughed, his melancholy mood seemingly depleted, but it was false.  “Also fitting!”  He didn’t mind that so much.  It was the other that bothered him.

“And you think this is all what?”  I wanted answers.

“A very interesting detail I overlooked.  The question is, did Pike and Kinsler?”

“I don’t think they know.  At least Kin doesn’t.”  I wasn’t sure now that today took place with Pike, but the thought entered my mind suddenly.  I was suddenly feeling protective—of them.  Why?

“I caught him rubbing jasmine on himself once to hide it.”  He rubbed his fingers over his chin stubble making the scratch noise that made my heart pound just a little louder than it should.  He caught my raspy gasp and returned his hand. 

“Pike knew exactly what he was doing today, Grace.  The question is…what do you want to happen the next time he does it?  I don’t like it, but reality insists that I can’t be there for you all the time.”

This is what he wanted to know.  Would I respond the same way the next time or go even farther? “Stop, Ian.  You said yourself that I’m drawn under some stupid spell.  I don’t want anything to do with him.”  I said this aloud and remembered the plant in his pocket at the same time.  Pike did know.  I don’t want to lose this alarm system, but it seemed my secret was out.  My stupid mouth
.

He held my gaze.  “But aren’t you under the same
spell
for me?”

I was.  He’s right.  “But it’s not the same.  I can resist you completely.” 

His face showed I’d said exactly the wrong thing.  “No, Ian.  That’s not what I meant.” I growled at him.

“But it is.  He has some kind of pull over you I can’t shake out of you.  But it’s different.  I need to think this through.”  His fingers ticked against his cheek in nervous thought.

“No you don’t.  He has no
pull
over me.  Maybe it’s some kind of magic.  I won’t deny that.  But it’s just that. I can’t say why I hesitated today, but it wasn’t because I have any.…”  I couldn’t say it. I didn’t feel like I did have the feelings Pike wants me too.

“Are you going in now?” he asked me.  We’d spent so many nights lying there together I couldn’t fathom him not staying with me.   But my recent transgression left him in a turmoil I couldn’t fix tonight.  My inner angel was crying.  My inner devil was cursing me.  My inner Grace was giving up for now.  They will just have to excuse me while I wallowed in self-pity.

I nodded in the darkness and watched him leave.  Something pricked my hand and I looked down to see my rose.  I felt, nor smelled anyone.  No Ian.  No Pike.  And of course not Kin.

I laid there for hours taking turns crying and dry sobbing when my tears were dried up.  My stomach fluttered.   My nose twitched uneasy and unable to separate the odors of the woods from anything else from all the crying. The trees quieted a little too quickly at the very second a lone figure stood with his face in the shadows leaning against a tree in the complete darkness.  I could only see a man’s shadow but his arrogant stance left me bewildered with the reasons for his behavior towards me.  I didn’t want to think about Pike.  I rubbed my eyes and sighed, “Just come out and face me.”

His arms unfolded but he didn’t move forward.  I refocused trying to force my eyes to see him.  I was totally engrossed in willing him forward to have it out with him, wanting to end this confusion once and for all, that I didn’t take notice of what my nose now failed to sense.  I was halfway off the trampoline when strong arms grabbed me from behind and pulled me down below the netting.  My mouth was muffled and my arms were behind me now as I panicked in my struggle.  My necklace I put on for sentiment only was falling forward.  I had one small ounce of sense within me. 
Pike, help me.  Pike!  Pike!

I heard his quick footsteps searching for me.  He swooped past me and stood in front of the fire pit from our campfires. 
Pike, under here
.  So my mind wasn’t thinking completely straight with directional skills.  I couldn’t seem to form the words
trampoline
. 

Before Pike could double back to hear my pleas, I was whisked upwards and dragged by my feet into the woods.  I hadn’t seen my assailant yet, but the scent of burnt tires was unmistakable now. 
Kin!
  And he was moving fast enough through the darkness, I didn’t know what direction I was going.

I felt strong arms scoop me up and carry me through the first shades of night getting lighter the further out we went.  Wanting to scream at him, he was moving so fast through the trees I couldn’t get a scream to rise up.  It didn’t go unnoticed that he was blocking the limbs and thorns from scratching m though he dragged me two feet by the arms, scooped me up like a baby to carry me, and starting running, desperate to kidnap me. 

“Where are you taking me?” My hands didn’t burn.  Instead, the temperature dropped twenty degrees. 

He didn’t answer when he sat me down to listen to our followers and I was allowed to walk again.  He tore off a piece of the bottom hem of my shirt and handed it to a Nym guard.  After a while, he slowed, stopped, listened, and continued on not quite as fast pulling my legs up in one swoop and carrying me as I asked again and tried to free myself.  He was hard as a rock and inescapably strong.  He stopped twice more and finally set me down for the last time.  I recoiled on instinct when his body came close though I’d just been against him in flight pattern. The prey always goes into self-preservation mode when predators come close.

“That twenty-four hours you owe me is here.  I will return you tomorrow to where I left you,” his voice was gruff, determined, and not sweet in the least.  After taking my hand without my permission and proceeding to pull me through the woods, I gave up on the being dragged and stayed with his pace the best I could.  He moved not little branches, but huge tree limbs out of my way as we moved through the thicker part of the trees.  Talk about the Hulk!

He didn’t seem to be in a state to hurt me but rubbed my charm knowing Kin was full of crap that I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear.  This was a nightmare playing out with the hint of danger and laced with potential unanswered questions. I considered just walking, no running away from him, but I couldn’t physically retreat and yet I wondered if knowing the outcome would open doors that both courts needed desperately.  His eyes strayed down to my neck and traveled to my wrist, his gentleness surprising as he undid the clasp.  I didn’t fight what I couldn’t win.  Somehow, I didn’t think I could overpower him with my brute strength or convincing nature just yet.

He held both my hands up with his one hand while digging with the other hand in his pocket pulling out the previous bracelet he’d taken at the entrance to the Seelie court.  Now grouped with the other two, he said with no feeling, “I will return these to you when you leave me.”

I have to admit, he gets what he wants.  Mostly.  He’ll not have me!
I held my wrist, the one he’d damaged.

I’m working on that.

And you will listen to everything I’m guessing?

Yes, I need you safe.

I snorted, cowing away from him
.  From you, right?

He glared and closed the little distance we had between us causing my body to go on high alert.

“Maybe!  But I don’t trust the Nyms.”  Well, that was news to me.
1
   “A lot of things will be eye opening to you, my sweet.  You need only ask.”

Will do!
  Mentally, I had to force myself not to jerk away from his closeness.  I wasn’t sure how well he would handle that and angering him wasn’t at the top of my list as his abducted prisoner.  I remember that old version of Kin all too well regardless of attempted diplomacy I was told I need not worry over.  The courts were a mess and I was much of the blame for it. 

I regarded the small camp he’d brought me to thinking it wasn’t too creepy for what I associated with the ideal Kin setting in my mind.  Tents were set up, fires going, breakfast cooking.  I didn’t even realize I’d spent the whole night outside. Nym guards were moving around, stretching and yawning.  When the first one saw me, I went frigidly still and felt Kin move just in front of me with his huge arms spread across shielding me from their stares. 

“You’ll not harm her.  She is with me.  I will keep charge of her and she will not leave my side.”  A sour expression curled his lips.

Oh fabulous, I thought, now he’s picky about who touches me also.  A piece of meat.

He flinched, no doubt listening to the commentary in my head.

To them, you are still the enemy.  Let’s not give them any reason to come find you. 

I took this as a do not try to escape clause.  Well taken too!

He took me through the tents keeping me really close.  I tried to control my thinking not wanting to entertain thoughts of Ian or Pike in front of an uncensored Kin.  The need to worry was suppressed by the idea of escape as well as venturing to listen or at least block. Perhaps catch a clue before being rescued.

“They will not find you.  Your trail is being led another direction.  If you’re worried I won’t take you back, you’re wrong.  I don’t intend to hold you prisoner, my sweet.  I only aim to win you.”

Best of luck
, Sherlock!

The tents ended in a line to an elevated, squatty building.  He walked me up the wooden steps of this not so huge rather bland Area 51 with plain rectangular wooden columns all the way around it.  In the middle of a forest.

I felt him lift my hand and gently pull me up the steps before yanking it back, but he didn’t give me the evil Kin look like before.   The doors magically opened and we entered…the most beautifully decorated room I have ever seen in my entire life.

He let go of the door and reached out determined to have my hand in his.  Once again, angering him wasn’t going to get me what I wanted which was out of here!

The walls were a deep royal blue with windows all around the front and left side decorated with silver swords at the corners.  Underneath the windows and bordering the circumference of the room there were even darker hues mixed and blended all into one perfectly balanced awe-inspiring room.  Velvet navy chairs encased the room with a leather sofa centered between them.  A flat screen wall-to-wall television/computer screen adorned the opposite wall currently displaying a split screen of Something science fiction in pause mode and me standing in this room staring at myself.

A peek towards Kin whose face was a mix of curiosity and fear  made me wonder what the famous Unseelie prince could possibly be afraid of. 

I continued around the room feeling as if he was letting me assess the boundaries of my captured state.  I ran my hand across the soft velvet back of the chair and stopping on a rich cherry wood, all matching.  Everything was immaculate.  I took in the richly dark setting in hopes of deterring his watchful awareness to following my hips as I walked.  His eyes stayed south.  Like I said before, it’s simply predator and prey.  Pissing him off would set me back.

He pressed something on a remote he retrieved that forced numbers on the screen but nothing changed.  My eyes traveled around the perimeter of the room seeking all the entrances and exits.  There were two open doorways that led to somewhere and the door we entered.  No guards, only Kin.  Of all expectations, it wasn't art.  The giant painting above the fireplace was the very opposite of the Seelie Court.  It was split with a small frozen pond in the middle with two paths on either side of it mimicking something I’d read in school. .  Like Robert Frost, “Road Not Taken”
.

I’m Unseelie, my sweet.  Winter is my pleasure. 
I wanted to roll my eyes, but I did not.

“Would you like to see where the other rooms lead?”  His smile eased my immediate fears and settled more on mistrust.  I would always fear him for who he was and the agenda he held, but not for my safety. 

“Do I seem likely to harm you right now?” 
Right
now
.  He held his rather large hand out for me to lead making me notice he was wearing a white linen button down shirt untucked and jeans.  He’d removed his socks and shoes at some point without me noticing.  His top two buttons were left open and I noticed then the white shirt set off his tanned skin well. He has
blue
eyes, a trait I’d forgotten.  I’d never noticed him in his finery before.  He’d always been so cruel.

He gave me a knowing laugh under his breath at knowing my thoughts.
  Great!

We walked into the first door we came to that led down a hallway into a kitchen. It was a super clean magazine kind of kitchen with everything stainless steel. 

“Are you hungry?” he asked huskily like he was smug about showing off his place.

I nodded a yes a little leery of what he could do to my food.

“I’ll not poison you.  I’m in the process of courting you, Grace.  One does not harm the one he wants to impress the most.”  He tugged on my arm to lead.

He smiled with the sound of my name.  It was a killer smile.  “What is being served?” I walked myself with elegance as a queen should.  I didn’t want to give him any sign of weakness and wasn’t really in the mood to take a tour of his Hell, but wanted to be able to go back home to Ian so I let him lead me on.  I took a look back in the direction of the front door wondering where Pike and Ian were being wild goose chased too.

He snapped forward and in front of me making me jump.  Two Nyms appeared and scooted to the refrigerator.  “Is an omelet okay?”  His bright blue eyes were crinkling at the corners in amusement. Probably at my thoughts.

“Yes.”  I haven’t had one since my mother made them.

He sat at a tall bar stool and motioned for me to follow.  I climbed up, unlike him and his long legs.  We sat silent watching the two cooks for a minute or two before Kin spoke.   He softly said, “I have some things I want to tell you, but otherwise please feel free to roam the house.  You are safe in here.”

Not out of your sight though. 

Only just.  You have needs, this I know.

“Would you join me tonight for dinner?”

“Do I have a choice?” 
Incredulous. 
I was numbed by the shock of where I was and what I was about to do.

“To owe me twenty-four hours no, to feel obligated to join me yes.  I want to share some things with you, but the rest will be your choice.”

No harm so far.  “Are you saying you’ll return me now if I want?”

He twisted his neck, “Yes.”  That was hard for him to say, but I think he was being truthful.

“I’ll listen.”

“And dinner?”

Why not? I’m stuck here, right?
 
“Yes!”  I didn’t feel like fighting him would be the better choice.  And I was extremely curious about what was so important to tell me under kidnapped conditions with certain freedoms and comforts as designated by him.

The omelets were finishing and the aroma filled the room with a delicious anticipation.  After they were served to the two of us, we were left alone in the humongous kitchen with the echo of our forks making the only sound.  I believe the ceiling was so high that my voice would ring out if I talked too loudly, so I refrained from it. 

Okay Kin.  Tell me something truthful about yourself.  I know you are reading everything so give me something to think about.

“I am the Unseelie court prince.” No hesitation.  He’d prepared a small speech it seemed.

Exiled?

“Yes.”

Why?
  I liked this eating and thinking type of conversation at the same time.  I could stuff my face and not have to wait till I chewed my food.

“Because my father thinks very differently than I do.”

Okay, not what I expected. 
Explain.

“He wants a new queen.  At three hundred years old he needs to go and I should have the right to the throne.  A queen that will stand beside me when he steps down that was of his choosing and holds the power he equates as sufficient, prophecies aside. But I should be able to choose who and when I marry.” 

He was not happy with daddy but he was leaving something out
. 
  “And what of the Nyms?  Where do they play in this?”

“Dear Grace, I fear all my secrets cannot be revealed just yet.  But know this, they have served their purpose.”

You are controlling. 

“No denial there.  I would like to return to my court.  I have been away for too long.  But I return only, with a queen of my choosing, as my father finds that the only worthy way for me to return is to have her.  He doesn’t look at a female as equal, but a tool to meet an end.”

And you think I am this queen you seek.   

Yes!
  His eyes penetrated deep into mine.  Those secrets have a way of weighing one down and eventually any dam will burst if pushed far enough to the brim.

And oh, ah, the weedy wish comes out.
I changed my course to change the mood?  Turning sideways to face him on the stool having lost my appetite, he followed after careful inspection of my torn knee jeans hitting against his very untarnished ones with absolutely no wrinkles.  When our knees knocked his eyes lit up like I’d done it on purpose.  Men!  I’m learning fast the control a woman has over them, though never tell them the.  All will be lost in one’s arsenal of womanly ways.