The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

18

Liv took me to the mall first. After having me  sized and only in one store, Liv dropped me off at the hair salon to be pampered while Declan and Krysta went shopping. I wasn't left alone though. Liv promised she and Declan would be only a heartbeat away if I needed anything.
As I settled into my chair I thought about Erik. I missed him dearly, even though it had only been a few hours since he left. I looked around the salon. There was a woman beside me, getting her hair done. She glanced at me, offering me a vague and uncomfortable smile. I smiled back politely and pulled out my phone.
I sighed and scrolled through my emails. The stylist was back now, a cover in her hand. "Ok, hon, I can get you started!"
I smiled and walked over to the chair. "I don't want anything done really," I admitted. "Just a trim.
The stylist nodded and got to work on washing my hair. As I relaxed, my bones and muscles seemed to melt, making me feel more jello like then I ever have.
Lexi?
I opened my eyes. What's up Dec?
My eyes scanned the people passing the Solon window. Declan stood by a fake palm tree, his arms crossed over his chest. He stood there looking around, glancing back at me every once in a while.
Why did you change your mind?
I raised an eyebrow at him. What do you mean? I had changed my mind a lot lately so I needed him to be more specific.
About what, exactly?
Declan sighed. Everything. He admitted. I was happy when you thought of going back home. I haven't seen it since... and Aros should pay for what he has done!
I frowned. I didn't realize you hated him so much.
I watched Declan's face shadow over with anger. The bastard killed my mother!
I looked down at my folded hands as the stylist started brushing out my long hair.
Aros has killed a lot of people, Dec, I reminded him and sighed. I didn't want to talk about this. I still couldn't see my father as someone who was manipulative and condescending. It still blew my mind that Aros was said to be this evil person.
What do you think Aros wants with me?
I looked back up to see Declan looking to the left, his face curious. I wish I knew. Erik tried finding him and Liv tried finding you for almost two years, Lex. It won't be easy getting to Aros.
I sighed. Tell me about Jesper.
Declan's laughter filled my head and a small smile creased my lips. Ah, Jesper, he mused, thoughtfully. He is Erik's little brother. Half Drex, like you.
I nodded. I already know all of this! Tell me something I don't!
Dec nodded as the stylist started chipping away at my hair. I know Erik doesn't like him because he almost got Liv killed about a year and a half ago. She was in the library when he set fire to it.
I shook my head, not really understanding. Accidents happen! I reminded him.
True.
The stylist ran her fingers through my hair and she sighed. "I am gonna send you home with some extra oil for your hair. Make sure you use it every night. It will bring life and shine back to it!"
I smiled at her and followed her to the counter. When I reached into my purse, the woman waved at me.
"No need, Min Dronning," she insisted. "Mistress Modori has already paid for the appointment today!"
I sighed and nodded. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice!" I told her.
The stylist gave me the hair oil and I then went to meet Dec who was still standing outside. He frowned.
"You didn't do much," he noted.
I shrugged. "I like my long hair," I reminded him. "Where is Liv?"
Declan shrugged. "Last time I saw her she was headed to Victoria's Secret!"
I nodded to say store up on the second level. Declan followed me upstairs, but before I could reach the store, a cold gusty wind blew through the mall. I turned to look at Declan but he  seemed unfazed. I frowned. There was an odd smell in the air.
"Do you smell that?" I asked Declan as I stopped before the store. I watched him raid his head and sniff the air.
"I smell it," he said and sniffed again.
I frowned. "It smells-"
"Dead," Declan agreed.
I looked around, wondering if this was a trap from a Hunter. They were getting crafty with traps that would expose the Dark Fey. When Liv joined us, she caught onto the feeling. "Wow," she said and looked around. "What is that?"
Declan shook his head. "I don't think we should stick around and find out!" said and nodded toward me. I frowned.
"I'm not scared," I insisted even though the thought of coming face to face with a Hunter filled me with dread. Liv nodded in agreement. I watched as she strung the bags over her arms as well three sent off down the crowded hallway.
"I have yet to pick up on a single Hunter," Liv said as we made our way to the exit.
I wondered if the Hunters would be looking for Dark Fey at a shopping mall in broad daylight. Dark Fey usefully came out at night, using the cover of darkness as a shield. Hunters knew better than to Hunt is in daylight. It would cause too much attention. I frowned as the Nell got stronger.
We are being followed!
Liv and Declan didn't answer. We made our way swiftly and calmly through the door. I sighed, glancing over my shoulder as I pushed through the rotator door to make sure no one was coming. We were alone and no one was following us. A sudden falling sensation came over me and my stomach heaved into my chest.
When I turned back to tell Liv and Declan about the feeling but they were no longer there. In fact, nothing was. The outside parking lot, the Mall, the doors, everything. It was just gone. There was nothing but darkness. I didn't understand where I was or how I had ended up here. All I knew was that one second I was with Dec and Liv and the next I was here, surrounded by darkness and water. Water washed around my now suddenly bare feet, my clothes having been traded for a long off white wedding dress that was stained with black and gray soot and drops of blood. My breath coming out in a wild gasp now, I turned again, but Declan and Liv had vanished. "Dec!" I called out into the darkness, hoping they could still hear me. "Liv!"
My voice echoed across the blackness but no answer reached my ears. The silence was deafening. A sob hitched in my chest as I waded through the ankle deep water.
It was dark and my breath came out in a bright, white puff. I shuddered in my leather jacket. "Dec!"
Something splashed down into the water beside me and I turned, the blood leaving my face. I watched as Aros straightened, his black eyes fixed on my face and his long, braided, bleach blond hair almost glowing in the darkness. He was dressed in a waist length dress coat, embroidered with winding vines and rose petals, a pair black slacks and some sharp dress shoes to top it off.
"Welcome, Daughter," he said.
Confusion ran through me. I missed my dad. I did. But this man before me, he looked like my father, but this man was a complete stranger. "It's been too long," he mused. He stopped a few feet away from me. I resisted the urge to run, screaming. Q
I shuddered down my spine. My mind was telling me that what I was seeing was wrong. I knew Aros couldn't be here and I knew this dark, wet place was not real.
"So easy to get inside your mind," Aros mused as he paced slowly forward. His voice had taken on a deep and menacing tone. "You are weak-"
I scowled. "Who's fault is that?" I snapped.
Aros laughed at me. "You have always been weak! That is no fault of my own! You whore mother-"
I scowled at him, my anger bubbled in my chest. Anger and fear. Anger that Aros, the man that was my own blood, had thrown me into a Pound, knowing what would happen. He had known. And fear because I was terrified that he would have me thrown back into one.
No. I didn't want to be here! My heart pounded in my chest, as I squeezed my eyes shut wishing I could just get away from whatever this was! My stomach heaved and I felt like I may be sick.
I gasped and the world around me flickered and suddenly I was staring at Declan and Liv, who were both half turned, looking at me standing in the doorway. The world around me appeared again, as if it had never left. My mind, not wanting to accept or understand what just happened.
"Lex?"
I blinked trying to understand. "You look like you saw a ghost!" Liv told me.
I shook my head, looking back over my shoulder once more. "I'm fine!"
Liv and Declan looked at each other. "You sure?" he asked me.
I nodded. "We should go," I said and pulled out my phone. I text Erik, wanting to know where he was. I knew he was busy and didn't expect him to answer.
"Lexi, are you sure you are OK?" Declan asked me. "You look like you saw a ghost!"
I shook my head. "I thought I saw something..." I turned and looked back at the rotating doors, still trying to understand. "Can we just go?" I said. "Please?"
I frowned and ducked my head out into the lightly falling rain. I knew what I had seen. I was having a hard time understanding it. Everything around me had just vanished. The one thing I was sure of was that what felt like minutes to me had only been a split second for everyone else. Almost like my body had frozen in time but my Conscience had remained unfazed. I looked down at my phone. Erik was calling me.
"Erik!" His name left my lips in a worried whisper. "Are you OK?"
I heard him chuckle. "I'm fine, love," he assured me. "We just crossed back over onto Canadian soil-"
I felt a smile light my face. "You are on your way home already?" I asked him.
Erik sighed. "No, Lexi, we had to double back because there was a military checkpoint of Hunters about twenty miles after crossing the border."
I felt my heart sink. "There's Hunters in the area?" I whispered. "Erik-"
"Don't panic!" Erik instructed me. "If we can't find a way through, I am not going to stick around and get myself caught!"
I shook my head and turned to look at Declan and Liv. "Erik, it's too dangerous!"
Liv shook her head. "What's he doing?"
"He wants to try and sneak past the border. It's being heavily patrolled by Hunters on either side!"
Liv shrugged. "Erik has been through worse," she reminded me. I shook my head and walked away, trying to get out of earshot.
"Erik, please, it sounds risky!" I tried to reason with him. Just wait it out. Stay in your wolf form. Wait until you hear your Uncle and then get out unnoticed!"
Erik sighed. "If I can rally some of the other Shifters we may have the advantage-"
I growled. "Erik, you are not hearing me!" I scolded him and he fell silent. "I don't want you getting hurt! I'm not there to heal you-"
"I'd never ask you-"
I smiled. "I know that!" I assured him. "But it is just as you said to me. You wouldn't be able to think straight in a fight against Hunters if I was on the field with you!"
Erik sighed. "There are no Hunters where you are, Lexi!" He reminded me.
I rolled my eyes. "Easy for you to say!" I scoffed. "You don't have the Elders breathing down your neck!"
Erik laughed. "I forgot about them!"
I smiled and sighed, thankful for his distraction. "When do you think Regor will reach the border?"
Erik sighed. "Pick up is scheduled for noon tomorrow."
I frowned. "And you're going to camp in the woods?" I asked him. "It's going to be cold!"
Erik laughed. "I will stay Shifted until Regor is back on our side and safe."
I sighed and shook my head, wishing I could tell him about what I had just seen, wondering if he could make sense of it. But he didn't need me to add to his list of worries. No need to burden him with such things. Erik had been right. If I was with him now, he would be distracted.
"I will be home in time for dinner tomorrow," Erik promised. I sighed.
"Just make sure you return in one piece!"
Erik laughed. "And you make sure you keep a level head. Don't let the Council play you!" I nodded, knowing I would have my work cut out for me.
"Lexi, I have to go," Erik said after a long pause. "I will be home soon!"
I sighed and nodded, looking around me, waiting for the blackness to burst from the shadows around me and overtake everything in sighed. "Be safe!"
Erik sighed. "I love you."
Erik ended the call before I could respond, leaving me stunned and speechless. A suppressed sigh left my lips as I shoved my phone into my jeans. Knowing Liv and Declan had heard the whole conversation, I turned to face them. Liv was tapping away on her phone, as always and Declan was just pulling up the car. I sighed in relief knowing only Liv had ever heard that so I would be able to break it down with her later. I would have told Declan about it but he didn't seem to like Erik much and I wondered why. So I decided to tell them something else. I was already carrying too much on my plate. I couldn't take much more.
"Guys, we need to talk!"
Declan, Liv and Krysta sat there and stared at me. We were sitting outside in a Wendy's parking lot, eating in the car. Liv sipped her cappuccino, her face thoughtful.
"So you had a vision?" Declan asked me.
I shook my head. "I wouldn't call it that," I said slowly as I thought about it. "It was more like a dream? Like I had walked into another world! Everything had changed. It was dark and cold and I had been at the lake before-"
Liv made a confused face. "So what, you like, jumped into a different time?"
I shook my head. "No, it's more like I .... I found nothing. Just water and darkness. It was more like a dream rather than reality."
Liv frowned. I watched her with her eyes because I was distracted and confused. "What?"
She shook her head. "Nothing, it's just your Drex abilities have been suppressed for the last two year!" she reminded me.
I nodded. "So?"
Declan sighed and crumbled up his wrapper. "So, what she means is that your powers are growing! And you should learn to control them!"
Liv looked back at me and nodded. "Ok, but how am I-"
Liv turned and started the car. "There is a reason why Jesper is here," she reminded us. I frowned.
"Erik ordered him not to use magic inside the Manor!" I reminded her.
Liv shook her head and pulled from the parking lot. "We won't be doing magic on Manor grounds! Jesper is going to meet us at an outpost house where we can train you!"
I looked at Liv and Krysta in the front seat. "It would be safer than anywhere else on Manor grounds," she reasoned. "And Erik would have no reason to get angry with Jesper since he won't be using Magic on Manor grounds!"
I sighed. "What are you two talking about?"
Liv sighed. "There was a reason why Erik wanted a Drex Warlock here! He wanted you trained-"
Declan sighed. "He wants you trained so you can defend yourself!" he said and we all looked up at him. "That is why he has you training with Krysta and Caro. That is why he brought Jesper in!"
Liv nodded. "Makes sense," she admitted. "But why would he forbid Jesper from using magic if he is supposed to help you?" Krysta asked. I shrugged.
"Is there something else?" I asked them as we pulled into the highway. It was nearly four already. Where has the time gone? I looked around at all of the name brand shopping bags. There were too many, stacked on top of each other. "Liv?"
She smiled. "Yes?"
"Are all of these bags mine?" I asked herZ
Declan scoffed at me. "Don't be silly, cousin!" he chided me. "One of them is mine!"
I laughed and leaned back. I had told Erik I would never be the same girl I had been before going to the Pound. She was gone and she wasn't coming back. However, bits and pieces of her life, whoever she had been, were still clinging to me. I hope for some normalcy.
"Is burning down the library Erik's only reason for being upset with Jesper?" I asked. Declan and Liv glanced at each other.
"Erik blames Jesper for our fathers death," Liv said in a low voice. "Jesper is the one who convinced my father to go to the meeting... there were rumors that Aros had already sided with the Hunters at this point!"
I frowned. I knew now Aros had always been a bad person. But to think that my father killed Erik's father... it tore at me and made me doubt my right to even be Marked to Erik.
"Aros..." I grumbled, balling my fist on my thigh. "As happy as I am that you came for me when you did, Liv, I sometimes wish I would have been able to face him!"
"Lexi, no one blames you for that!" she reminded me. "And besides, had you faced him a month ago, would you be sitting here right now?"
I sighed and shook my head, knowing she had a point. "I just wish I could ask him-"
Liv nodded. "He is your father," she reasoned with me. "It's understandable that would would feel compassion for him-"
I rolled my eyes. "The man left me to rot and he raped in a Pound, Liv!" I reminded her. "I have no compassion! He didn't have compassion for my mother, brother or aunt!"
Declan sighed and lowered his head. "Stop it!" he hissed at us. "Can we please not talk about this?"
No one said anything for the rest of the ride. I sighed and stared out the window. I had to make up my own mind. Did I want to have a meeting with Jesper to see if he could help me? And did I even want to pursue my magical talents? Or did I just want them to wither away, never to be thought of again?
Erik?
I wanted to but there was no answer. I looked down at my phone. It had only been an hour since Inhad last heard his voice.
"Liv, what does Katja like?" I asked her. "Like, what does she like to do?"
Liv shrugged. "Mom does all of the party planning. She is the one who plans everything, down to the last detail. My father always called her the Lys. The light."
She sighed and I found myself wishing I had had the opportunity to meet her father.
"Erik will make a fine King!" Insaid, trying to lighten the mood.
Liv nodded. "It will be easier once he takes you as his Queen!" she reminded me.
I frowned. "I'm not ready to be married!"
Liv and Declan glanced at each other. "Lexi-..."
She stopped , her head cocking to the side, as if she were listening to something else. "Give it time," she said and looked back at me. "Erik is in no rush. He will give you the time you need!"
I sighed and shook my head. "What if I am never ready?" I asked her. "What happened then?"
Liv lowered her gaze and looked at Declan. "The Council will request that my brother reject you if you can not provide him with a child-"
Declan scoffed. "What age is this?" he demanded and Liv shook her head. "One where we Dark Fey, especially ones that have been forced into Lexi's position, don't have much of a choice!" she snapped at him. I sighed. The Elders would become crafty. They knew Erik would do anything for me. I knew that. The Elders knew that. And they would be sorely mistaken if they thought I wouldn't do the same for him.
"The Elders are power hungry," Declan added and rolled his eyes. "Remember I sat with them before you arrived here, Lexi-"
I raised an eyebrow. "I just had a crazy idea..."
Liv gripped the steering wheel, a gasp leaving her lips as she stared straight ahead on the road, her eyes wide and not blinking. "Liv?"
She didn't answer. "It will work," she said after a moment and I shook my head, confused. "I don't understand!"
Liv laughed. "Declan, you are going to have Erik put you back in the Council-"
"What?" he demanded. "Are you insane?"
"We need you there!" I insisted. "You are our man on the inside!"
Declan and Liv glanced at each other. "I don't think it will work," Declan insisted.
I rolled my eyes. "Why not?"
"Because Erik doesn't like me!" he reminded me. I frowned at him. I knew Erik wasn't found by Declan so perhaps Dec had a point. "You don't think it will work? Have you spied on us?"
Liv looked at him and nodded. "It will work!"
Krysta frowned. "What exactly is the plan here?" she asked.
I sighed. "Declan is going to spy on the Council for us. I already told Erik but I think someone is in with the Hunters."
Krysta gasped and looked around at everyone. "Lexi, you are going to be my Queen someday soon... why would you say such a thing?" she asked me.
I felt my heart drop. "It's not that I-..." I stopped. What? What could I say to fix this? If she didn't understand...
"Krysta, someone tried to have me killed yesterday," I reminded her. "Erik, your King, suffered an injury because he was trying to protect me. I have to do something about it now, while I still can-"
Krysta crossed her arms at me. "It's not right!" she insisted.
I pressed my lips together and leaned away. I couldn't trust her. I should have known better. Stupid. Stupid girl! I should have kept my big mouth shut. I glanced up to see Declan and Liv glaring at her and I knew they were thinking the same thing.
"Dammit," Declan cursed. "What do we do?" Liv sighed and pulled out her phone.
"I will call Jax," she said.
Krysta frowned. "You don't have to do that, you know?" She asked us. "I can keep my mouth shut. I won't say anything-"
Declan growled. "Why would you do that?" he asked. I looked back at Krysta. That was a good question. She had all she needed to discredit me and put me on trial for fraud. What argument could Erik give them then if they demanded he reject me?
My heart broke and I caved in a little on myself. The pain was crushing, almost robbing me of breath, twisting my insides into knots.
"Because, I don't want any trouble! You think I want to get mixed up in politics?" she demanded. "I can keep my mouth shut! I do about most shit I see around here"
A sudden mixed wave of fear and concerns and furry washed through me. A stiff shudder washed through me and I gasped when his voice caressed my ears as if he were standing right beside me.
Lexi.
A shudder ran through me once more as the feeling fell away. "Why should we trust you?" I demanded. Krysta scowled at me.
"The first mistake you made was thinking a Valkyrie cares about politics! When we are bound by an oath of protection, we are legally bound to that contract and their families until said person passes or we die."
I raised an eyebrow. "Your contracts are for life?" I demanded.
Krysta nodded. "Yes,"she admitted. "Why?"
I felt my heart drop. "No!" Insisted. "No one says anything else!"
Liv raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
I kept my face as impassive as I could. Because Erik already thinks there is a mole here. A traitor.
Liv frowned at me, looking away, out the window, as if to hide her face from Krysta. You think it's her?
I sighed. "Let's just go home-"
Krysta frowned. "What's going on?" she demanded. "You think I did something? You think I would betray you?" she demanded and looked at the three of us. "Seriously?" No one spoke. Krysta scoffed and nodded, leaning back in her seat. I could only hope I had not just made a huge mistake. Perhaps I was looking for something that just simply wasn't there. Perhaps Krysta was innocent. Perhaps I should be looking at the people closer to me.
Liv would never betray her brother. She loved and respected Erik way too much for that.
Declan was sworn to protect Erik if his life ever depended on it- not that Erik couldn't fend for himself-  and I was positive that he would never betray Erik or me for that matter.
"Liv has given me reason to trust her," I said. "She saved me from an impossible situation and brought me here, to a life full of second chances and dangerous strangers. "Declan is my cousin and has been at my side since we were five! They both have my trust and respect-"
Krysta scoffed at me, tears brimming her eyes. "Oh go fuck yourself, Lexi!" she spit at me. I sighed, not really surprised. I hadn't given her much to respect or like me for.
I hoped Erik would be back soon so I could ask his advice. It had only been a day and I was ready for him to return home. If I was making a mess of the people that had been kind to me and that I was supposed to be able to trust, how was I ever expected to rule?