The Faerie Slayer

Chapter 39

Kade's Pov

We must have been less then a kilometre away but the festivities have been audible for the past half an hour. Over and over I kept wondering if they had crowned and married Aubrette off yet, and if so, could that compromise our planned exit. On my back was a sack of the dapperling mushrooms and in my left grasp was the dagger that the Kelpie had used to kill the gnome. We were within sight of the castle now. It was dark out but the castle seemed to light the night. Chandeliers and bright luminous decoration brought tonight to life. Amongst the murk it seemingly glowed.

Elie halted and began to pick the mushrooms from the sack.

"I have enough to spike at least a few of the punch bowls and wine bottles. We just need a few faeries to start passing out so that the guards are distracted long enough for you to grab Aubrette and go."

"Where will we meet you?"

"The tip of Kelpie River, where the bridge was. The queen will think that we went to the closer river by the castle so she'll send the guards there once she notices Aubrette is gone. I'll open a portal for you once I get there."

I thought of the faerie that had killed my mother. The plan was to retrieve him first from the prison but we had run out of time and Aubrette was more important.

I nodded," alright, how will I know where she is when I get inside? The place is packed. There must be a thousand faeries."

"After I spike the drinks, it will take a few minutes for them to work. I'll scan the place for Aubrette. Stay here, and wait for my signal."

The little miracle pixie picked out a few more mushrooms before flying away. I waited and observed the dozen eight-foot ogres that guarded the entrance of every door. Minutes suddenly felt like hours. My heart began to beat at a faster rhythm when I finally caught sight of Elie. She flew back and landed on a nearby branch, breathing heavily.

"Did you do it?" I enquired," did you find Aubrette?"

"She's out on the balcony alone, the door closest to the bar. I spiked the drinks but it should be a couple more minutes before-"

She did not get a chance to finish her words because chaos had sprung and the ogres were hurrying inside.

"Let's go!" I called.

"I have to get my brother," she insisted," once they know what I've done, the Seelie Court will punish him as well. I'll meet you both by Kelpie River," she did not spare another moment before blasting off. I didn't either as I made my way towards the abandoned castle entrance, one hand on my sword and another grasping a hand full of faerie poison.

No one seemed to have noticed that I slipped inside. Dozens of unconscious faeries littered the checkered floors. The faeries that were standing were fleeing in a gust of anarchic panic. The ogres seemed to be doing a poor job of calming everybody down. I stepped over the body of a silver haired man and through a mob of bodies and searched for the doors by the bar. I caught sight of them, and Aubrette as she peeked inside to take a look at the chaos. I could have frozen in place or searched for my heart that seemed to fleet l if I did not force myself to move. I stumbled through more and more faeries, careful to remain blended with the crowd. When I reached the doors, Aubrette was standing right behind.

Abby's Pov

"The wine is poisoned!"

It was this sudden screech that brought me back from my reminiscing. Sudden chaos struck and a state of panic fell over everyone inside. I hurried to the entrance and peeked to reveal that some of the faeries had dropped unconscious and were lying still on the floor.