Tainted (17 page)

“Why did you ask me out all those times only to make me hate you?”  I pulled my legs back and inched away so to not look like I did it on purpose. 

He watched my face I guessed discerning what to say.  “I didn’t aim to anger you.  It’s just Ian and Pike were always there to make me look like the outlaw.  I was never aiming to intentionally harm you, but the two of them always stepped in to hide you.”

“But you grabbed my arm.  You did hurt me.  You tried time and time again to hurt me.  They stepped in to stop you.”

“Yet here you sit.”

He is clever.  Not the dumb jock figure he set for himself.  I guess size matters.

“My queen, my size fit that human stereotype.  I just played the part, Grace.  Like the other part I had to play to get close to you. If my shoe size matters that much, just ask.”  his voice lowered.

I frowned with his ability to still be the spinner of words.  It never worked though.   And this is the Kin I know, defiling everything I say.  So I hastily threw in a laugh to deter him.

“No, it didn’t work on you." He looked all kinds of lost.   Like a lost little puppy dog using his best charms to get what he wants. 

“Well, where do we go from here?  I obviously have evolved quite well without you and have a future in place already with the Seelie Court.  You’ve made it clear you will send me back in the morning.  So what do you hope to gain by having me here?”  There, I said it.

“To the point, my queen.”

I shrugged.

“Do you wonder why your hands lost their burn for me?”  The boyish smile returning.

“Not how I would have put it, but yes?” 
He knew!

“Simple.  I will win you, not take you. The prophecy predicted that one wrong.” He said deadpan, relishing in the frightened look I returned to him.  He grinned in spite of himself proud of his opinionated distorted view of give and take.  I don't believe him.  It’s not part of the prophecy. “At one time, I truly despised you.”

“And you’re not going to elaborate.”

“No need to.  It is done now.  No more burn.  You’ll have to track me a different way.  Well, I do hope to show you some truth behind some of the lies.  To see me for what I am and not the image you have had created in your mind.” 

“But you really did those things Kin.” Altheon popped into my mind, but I hid him quickly for fear of my mind wandering.

“Some of them, yes.  Some things a prince of the court has to do, regardless of the outcome if it is for the good of his people.  I have only the same intentions that your two Seelie court princes do.  And they have their own secrets.”

My eyes rose from sitting my empty orange juice down.  I opened my mouth to ask, closed it, popped it open, shut it tight, and licked my lips.  Oh, what the heck.  But before he could let me ask, he spoke.

“Oh yes, they have the same nasty past I have with ghosts that haunt them as well.  I just refuse to hide them from you or let them hide them from you.  I have nothing to lose at this point.”

“And what of the fact that you are of the Unseelie court. You sometimes act as if the world has gone all Dystopian and you’re in charge of getting it back to the way you want it by destructive means.  I’ve heard very little good comes of you.” And what of his possible prince-like perks like Ian.  What does he have?

“Some truth to that, I will not deny.  But I protect what is mine. Tell me of anyone who is not searching for their own utopia?  And are you sure you want to discuss my perks right now?”  He gave that look of his.

Ruthless, cunning, and evil minded. 

“That’s truly what you think of me?” he waited with no expression in his chiseled chin and mouth. I once saw him as rough and sketchy even in appearance, but I see now he could pull off even a tailored suit and be considered overwhelmingly dazzling. Still, he was hard to read. His eyes on the other hand, gave a little away.  They drew up and opened wide at all the right moments.  Precisely at the moment I thought it, I recalled the lack of privacy giving myself an inner forehead slap.

“No, I think you are capable of all that, but I am still in the decision making stage of whether you will take those paths or not.”

“The road less traveled by is not easily taken sometimes, Grace.  Sometimes the road is less desirable than we would choose, but nevertheless, the right road to partake and follow its lead.”

“Are you talking of yourself still?”

“Mostly.  But the greater good is sometimes hidden beneath large amounts of hard choices.”

I sighed.
He was a lot heavier thinker than the Kin I was ever presented with before.
 

“Shall we retire to the other room?”

I thought of the door I hadn’t entered yet and the plethora of frightening events that could potentially happen.

“My personal room.  I don’t sleep much, but you may sleep safely in there if you like.  I will give you the key to lock it from the inside.”

You are so confusing. And you scare me.

I’m trying to do just the opposite. 

“You have a lot of years to shed light on Kinsler, Prince of the Unseelie court.”

“You said my name!” his smile wider than any evil Kin ever used.

So I did.
Why do the Fey not have last names?
I stood and picked up my plate to take to the sink noticing the piece of rowan bark rolled up like paper at the end of the bar.  I caught the words breakfast and size eight.  He knew my size. Of course, this had to be some kind of list pertaining to me meaning he had others shop for him. For now there were better, bigger worries to confront.

“Leave it.  I pay them well,” he flowed to his feet motioning to the plates.  He was way too graceful for such a large man.

We were seated now in the
great
room
as I decided to call it.  I sat sideways on the sofa leaving my shoes on the floor beside me and curled my feet under my legs.  He sat in the huge velvet chair three feet away allowing me a good distance to somewhat relax the best I could.  I couldn’t say this is what I pictured a kidnapping would look like, but I wasn’t trying to flee either. I wouldn't know which way to go.

“So, the last name thing?”

“No reason, just don’t.”

And you wonder why I dislike you?

“Why is that?” he handed me a drink. 

I looked at the bubbly liquid.  I’d never had champagne. 

Let me know then.  Have only one glass though. 

I could guess why.

“So, your answer?”

Pushy, aren’t we?  “I don’t feel particularly threatened, although I know well Ian and Pike will never believe that.  I am very curious what you have to say and, of course, what your agenda is in full.  I am after all the Seelie court queen and it would do well to know all aspects of this world if I am to rule.  And last, I will have to light the fire at summer’s end and would kind of like to know what “daddy” is like before I meet him.”             

“Well, Ian did say your monologues were intriguing.”

This was a revelation.  I felt the blood leave my face.  “You…talk to Ian?”

He smiled not appearing to read too into it.  “We were once great friends.”

I sat up putting my feet stretched out in length towards his.  “What?”

“Yes, we were friends.  Pike, Ian, and I.  We fought many battles in the trees filling ducks full of arrows.  Until you came.”

ME!  I narrowed my eyes. 
Where are you going with this, Kin?
  Anger rose in my throat.

“I’m not telling you this to displease you.  I’m simply giving you a bigger picture than you’ve been allowed to see.  Your Seelie princes have left many tales untold.”

It seems.  Maybe they had good reasons, but this also means that they talked about me since the prophecy.  I was having a hard time picturing the two, or three of them shooting the breeze or even be relieved by the fact that I have three St. Bernard’s coming to my dang rescue all the time.

“Perhaps!  But I will enlighten you and no doubt you can validate the truth with them.  With your recent advancement in mind control, secrets are less likely to have any merit staying hidden from you.  And I’ll rescue you anytime.  Woof!  Woof!”

I rolled my very-tired-of-being-mind-violated eyes at him.  “And yet your only agenda is to give me information and then leave in hopes that I choose you and come to your side to help you overthrow your court, take down daddy, and rule them all?”

“Elegantly put, but yes.  Did I have a chance otherwise?” he asked knowing his own plausible answer.

He was anything but honest it seemed today.  Hmm!  I wonder.  “Would you let me try something on you?”

His smile was all devil with a little of the old Kin coming through like the one girls who followed him everywhere in high school to capture his attention.

“Except the one girl I wanted.”

“You know, it still seems off for you to come on to me so much when just recently I thought you hated me.”

“Never hated.  Surrounded by Seelie leeches.  Made me crazy wild worried about you.”   His eyes widened for effect waving his hands around in an attempt to mock me with some of my own words.

“Understood.  But you tried to force a binding also.”
There were many fouls to tick off here!  And he’s starting to talk like me too.  I’m rubbing off on him.  Maybe these guys stayed too close all these years.  What kind of life is that?

“That I know now didn’t work.” 
Rub away! 

He knew the binding was obsolete.  So much for hiding it.

“You should have had a connection with me inside that is not there.”

Hmm! 
Noted.  Didn’t reciprocate that binding I recall and probably not before that.

You think a lot more than any woman I know.

“Is that a compliment?”

“Yes, most women are preoccupied with insignificant things.”

“And you listen regularly I see.”

“No, but I often had to listen to find you when you were not close.  Your friends’ heads were very narrow-minded.”

Agreed.  So it was best not to argue.  “Again, can I try something?”

“Will it be dangerous?” he actually looked afraid.  Of me!  Ha!

“No, I don’t think so.  No more dangerous than this little interlude of yours.”

He hesitated but interest won out.  “Yes.”  He was hoping to build my trust.  I could see that.

“Close your eyes.”  I saw him swallow and toss his hair out of his eyes.  With the dark walls, his hair seemed lighter and made his eyes stand out. 

I stood and walked to the window to help me focus.  Staring out at the trees I began picturing my mother baking in her kitchen and started to detail it to myself.  “Think about your happiest memory as a child in my world.  Will you do that?”

“For you.”

This man was beguiling.  Doesn’t that just make it all better?  I chose not to roll my eyes but the grin on Kin’s face said he knew I was attempting to be on best behavior for him. 

I began my detailing.  I had no distraction to ask me questions like Altheon presented me with so I focused heavily on controlling my mind to detail the kitchen back home an easy picture to see my mom cooking.  My head buzzed feeling his thought patterns interlace as I focused almost giving myself a headache.

In fourth grade I sat in a line to try out for football.  I had brute strength and knew it would land me in it.  I waited all day for my turn to skirt the ball across the field.  When it came my turn…

…the long countertops were clean and mom’s blender sat at the end…

…I walked onto the field knowing I could pull this off.  As soon as I had the ball in my hands and all eyes on me, I saw you in the stands watching.  I ran the wrong way and fell twice trying to get a look at you.

I let go.  “
That
is your happy memory?”  It was about me.  And not attempted murder or anything nasty.

“You heard me?”  He touched his head.

I smiled.  No tingles for him, Eh!
He can’t hear me getting in. I was getting stronger.  “Football, fourth grade, wrong way, fell twice.”  I made my point.

He looked pale.  “And you in the stands.  I knew you could do this, but to me too.”

“Yes.  To everyone I’ve tried it on so far.  And I’m correct in that you heard nothing of my mom’s kitchen in my head.”
Only then did I worry I should’ve kept it to myself.  “Well, what do you think?” I beamed.

“Impressive.  A true queen.”  He was telling the honest to goodness truth.  Wow!

“Can I share something with you now?” he asked.

The turn of events made my defenses lower.  “Fine!”  He’d already given me too many surprises, but I decided I was un-emotional enough to block.  So here goes.  Concentrating, I tried calling him to say my name. 
NADA!

“I was disappointed that the binding didn’t work only because I wanted you to give me a chance.  I thought if I forced you to come with me, I’d be able to convince you to stay.  But I’m glad it didn’t work.”

“What?  Why?” 
Surprised,
I let out a breath of urgency.

“Because you are much more than I ever thought you were. So much more. Nothing like Lazyra.”

“What does that mean?”

“That I could never go through with what I originally planned.”  His hands went up cradling his head.

Eye opening. 
And?

“I’ve changed my mind.  I want you to want me for me.  Not forced.  And I might have held you back just to have you.  I can admit that.”

This is the same Kin, Kinsler, guy who tortured me.  Maybe there is some good in him yet.  Freaking peachy!

He smiled at my change of heart.  His charms were working overtime even in his extraverted openness.  His eyes twinkled a little with a boyish shine.  He was quite breathtaking.  Always has been, I admitted to myself.  Until he opens his mouth.

“You’re having a hard time blocking all of the time I see.”

Oh!  Thanks.  Keep on me about that.  I seem to lose the edge
.  My stinking emotions won’t stop riding my butt.

“No way, my queen. I’ll only help you lose that edge. I want to know your every thought.”

I see
.  I frowned.

“No frowns.”  He stood and walked to the remote.  The movie playing disappeared and in a fast few seconds he had the remote back to the table and the same cook from earlier was bringing two glasses of something out to us.  “Water.” He answered my thoughts.  “Because more champagne might put you out cold or convince you way more easily to join my wicked ways.”

Water it is.

He frowned a second and turned it into a smile.  He raised his own water glass and handed me mine.  He clanked them together, “To the future.  May it be what we both want.”

Fat chance, mister. Hell will have to freeze over and CNN will have to announce that pigs were sighted in the air
.

He didn’t frown again though but said, “I will send you on your own for a short while.” He reached in his jeans pocket and retrieved a key hanging on a long blue ribbon.  He tied it around my neck and I watched it fall across my front and land on my stomach
. 
A bit long.

Wouldn’t want it found, my queen.

Hmm!

Hmm!
He did back in his mind.  I giggled.  Oops!  I didn’t want to seem like I was enjoying myself.

He smiled, “I have some business to take care of.  I have arranged for your attire and have it waiting in my private chambers.  Please…use the key.  You will feel safer.” 

Oh, I will. 

He took my hand and pulled it up to his chin and kissed the back with his mouth. 
The
Kin, kissed my hand.  What would Caylie and Pam have to say about this?  A loaded mouthful!

He walked me to the door of his room, unlocked it and watched me enter.  He kissed my hand again, no doubt, able to read my unmasked thoughts. 

I locked the door and fell against it with tons of thoughts swirling inside my head now knowing without a doubt I was in over my head with the enemy. Or was he playing a game.  I have to play it out if I am to know my enemy better.  Right now I have to believe that he will return me in the morning.  Right now I have to hurry and get out of this room because I have no intentions of sleeping at all tonight and definitely not in here.

I looked around at my surroundings. More deep blues.  Sapphires even.  The larger than a king size bed was custom made for this man alone.  It was the same dark rich cherry wood with every linen made of silk.  There was a waterfall picture above the bed, the very same waterfall at Pike’s domain.  Kin’s confession that they were once all friends made me curious as to whether they were talking more now than I know about.  Didn’t that count for an important factor into this whole equation?  Secret enemy friends who join up in broad daylight every day for years and then along comes a prophecy girl, and suddenly boom, all out enemies again.

I walked to the mirror in the bath area that resembled home more than the Seelie court making me wonder if the Unseelie court might be more like a civilized people.

A glance at myself in the mirror horrified that I looked completely like I just woke up, as was the truth.  In the refection I saw a note lying on the bed. This was just like a reality TV show without the cameras and other people around where you just didn’t know what would happen next.  The headline would say, “Watch Prophecy Girl Meet Doom!”

Beside the note lay a box. 

I opened the note first.

Dear Grace,

I am enamored by your every detail that makes you YOU!  I hope to show you more of the real me tonight and will fulfill all the promises I have and will make to you.  I want your undivided attention and will have it for my full twenty-four hours and then I leave it to you. 

Please take this as a token of my admiration for you.  Please know that I would have sent attendants to see to you, but you seem weary of the Nyms, as do I, and will not cause you any undue stress while you are in my care. 

With great affection,

                                                        Kinsler

P.S. Please see to the box found inside the larger one.

I loved gifts and did acknowledge my eagerness to open another even if it was from the enemy.  I knew in the back of my mind I should be protesting every bit of this, but I was going to see it through.  Besides, I halfway held suspicion if I didn’t he might turn on me and decide not to let me go in the morning.