A Sacrifice of Names

Chapter 11

Earie's fingers nervously caressed the tips of her ears, their shape having turned back into delicate points once more. Although the amount of magic used in such a short timespan physically drained Keely, and under loud protest from Innogen, she had managed to put the glamour back in place. Now she laid on one of the lounge chairs in her living room with a blanket pulled over her and a resentful Innogen refusing to leave her side.

Earie hated the guilt gnawing on the edge of her stomach. Keely had merely shrugged her shoulders and claimed it was good practise when Innogen had been on the verge of scolding her, but her ochre eyes told something different. Something Earie could only be grateful for, deep down.

Without the glamour she would be a direct target. With she would have a chance.

Part of her had wanted to ask Keely why she didn't immediately hand her over to the regent like Innogen had suggested. Good riddance, probably. Instead she had asked in an almost inaudible stammer what she wanted in return for this. Keely legs had been close to giving out underneath her as she shook her head and gasped it wasn't the right time for her to name her price, yet. Innogen had just been in time to catch her before she collapsed, escorting her to the lounge chair.

Earie hadn't dared to utter a word after that. Even sitting back on her chair felt as if she had long since overstayed her welcome. And perhaps she had, but Keely, and even Innogen, were her only chances of getting home.

Home.

"Careful," Innogen whispered as she lifted the cup up to Keely's lips. She drank greedily, a quivering hand reaching up to wipe away a trickle of water that had dared to escape.

Earie knew she didn't deserve any compassion, Innogen's spiteful glare when she shifted in her seat told her that much. Keely was truly too kind for her own good. She reminded Earie of Yosefine, a reminder of home that made her stomach turn. Two weeks had already passed, if not more. In truth she had stopped counting the days in an attempt to stop reminding herself that life back home continued. What would Yosefine be doing at the moment, or the others? Her parents, where would they be now? Her room, Earie almost let out a hollow chuckle. Her books would be gathering dust by now. Had anyone dared touching them, despite her warning not to, in hope they could find a clue of where she had gone?

She owned no books about faeries. Her grandmother on the other hand had owned at least a dozen of them, but those books had been donated to charity after her passing. Nevertheless, who in their right mind would even entertain the thought that she might have been taken by creatures who, according to modern media, lived underneath toadstools?

"Two more days." Keely's composed voice broke the silence, Innogen's fists slowly clenching. Earie wanted to open her mouth, but her eyes followed how Keely's hand covered Innogen's, offering her a weak, but reassuring grin.

"The ball will be the least of our worries," she continued. "I have heard stories, but Inno is the only one of us who has ever been invited to them before." Despite the silent plea for her to elaborate on the subject Innogen kept her lips pursed disapprovingly. Keely sighed.

"We will join you. Most candidates will have brought their families, as is custom. However, we need to make sure we arrive after the first dance has been danced." Earie would have no light to showcase. The first dance was merely intended as a display of power of those who were chosen to go to the Court of Shadows. "The regent might scold us for it, but we have to hope he can be swayed with a heartfelt apology."

"What if I am still asked to..." Earie's voice sounded hoarse.

"Dance?" Innogen spat. "Don't. It is as simple as that. Once the regent sees you for what you truly are he will rip you apart with his bare hands." Not an answer that came as much of a surprise, but Earie could still feel some of her newfound hope sink right to her stomach.