5: Darken Star

16: one more day

i sat in the cage, thinking. what had he planned to do now? was he going to sacrifice a member of my family? 

i spotted Lunar walking by.

"Lunar!" i walked to the bars. he turned to look at me. "what the hell is going on?"

"we are preparing to leave," he answered me. "however without a sacrifice, this is all for nothing. i do not want to see my king die."

"i dont want him to either," i told him. "why has he not chosen a sacrifice?" 

"because he does not wish to harm you, even by killing your family," he answered me.

"take me with you." i said. "bring me as the sacrifice regardless, dont let him see me until it is time."

"you believe that would work?" he raised an eyebrow.

"i was already ready to die." i told him. "i will do what i have to."

he looked around the hall to make sure no one was around, then unlocked the cage. "he is already on the surface with most of the dark fey. he should not notice if you slipped into the crowd, stay close to me.

i nodded. "thank you."

"i am not doing this for you." he glared at me. "i am doing this because of my love for my king."

"so am i." i said as we made our way down the hall to the main corridor. 

he reached out to a pile of cloth along the way, pulling a piece and throwing it at me. "wrap this around your head. you may not have rare hair among us, but he will still see it."

i did as he said. we headed up to the surface. i hid among the rest of the fairies, spotting Robin at the front of the group. 

"he looks down." Lunar whispered to me.

"he does." i nodded, seeing the pained look on Robins face.

"today we will make our way to the fairy realm once more." Robin spoke loud and clear. "feasting and celebrating until tomorrows first light when it is time for me to make my sacrifice." 

cheers sounded around us. 

Robin raised his hands to the air and ring of green power surrounded the group. 

"what is happening?" i asked Lunar.

"he is teleporting us to just outside the fairy realm." he answered as we could not longer see anything outside the ring. 

after a few moments our surroundings started to become clear. we were in the forest, just outside the fairy realm. 

"that was amazing." i said in awe of that Robin had done. 

"come with me." he led me by the hand to a far corner were a tent had already been set up. we went into it. "stay here until it is time."

i nodded. "i will."

"that wont work." Robin stood at the entrance to the tent. "why did you bring her Lunar?"

"because you know what you must to with her." Lunar stood between myself and Robin. "King Oberon, you need to sacrifice her, and if not her then one of her siblings."

"it has to be me." i cut in. "Rob.... Oberon, you need to do it, it is the only way."

Robin pushed Lunar aside. "Leave us." he glared at the moth fairy.

Lunar left the tent. 

Robin walked over to me, cupping my face with his hand. "why?"

"because i dont want you to die." i answered. "how did you know i was here?"

"because seeing Lunar going alone with a woman into a tent was suspicious." he answered. "he prefers the company of men."

"i have an uncle who is the same way." i chuckled at that. "hes the human you saw me with the day we met, he normally dresses in pretty gowns."

"he sounds like an interesting man." he laughed with me. "you know that by coming here, you condemned your father to death right?"

"i know." i nodded. "can i go see him? you promised i could, ill be back in time for the harvest."

"only because i know that you cannot lie to me." he nodded. "go, spend this last day with your father."

i pulled him into a kiss. "thank you." 

"go." he said. "before i want to keep you here for myself this night."

i ran from the tent, going around fairies of all shapes and sizes. some with butterfly wings, and some with wings like a dragons. they were dancing and singing happily. 

i got to the mushroom circle, looking back at the celebrations. they were not much different then the light fairies.

i stepped into the circle. the ground shook around me but this time i stayed on my feet.

"Astraea." my fathers voice spoke.

"father." i jumped into his arms. 

"it is not safe to be here right now." he had panic on his face. "tonight is the harvest, that means...."

"i know what is means father." i interrupted him, pulling away from his arms. "why did you never tell me that your people were being needlessly killed?" 

"how did you know that?" he looked surprised. 

"because father, i am this years sacrifice." i stood strong when i said that, i would not let myself break down in front of my father.

he fell to his knees. "why the hell would you.... how did this...." he looked up at me. "Why Astraea?"

"because," i took a breath. "it is the only way to make sure the dark fairies will not attack the kingdoms. he needs to kill you to please them."

"and you are okay with this?" he looked hurt, almost betrayed. 

"how could i ever be okay killing my father?" i sat on the ground in front of him. "but i wont be there to see it happen."

"Astraea." father looked me in the eyes. "what did they do to you? why are you not fighting this?"

"i tired father." i looked away. "but no matter what i tired, even falling in love with him did not work."

"what did you say?" he sounded mad. "you fell in love with my sworn enemy?" 

"he is not what he seems father." i grabbed my fathers hand. "he is warm, and kind, and sweet. he is only doing this to protect our lands father, and even then he was ready to throw it all away, just so he would not hurt me. he locked me in a cage to keep me away, but i chose to come, because i know there is a better way."

"what other way could there possibly be?" he asked me, tears filling his eyes.

"my chosen power," i answered. "i can break fairy law, but i think it goes deeper then that. i think i can block fairy magic. if i can get him to free you from here before killing me, if i can get you to stand by his side and save him.... father, i think if the two of you worked on peace then the two of you would be unstoppable. you could keep the dark fairies at bay."

"he is a dark fairy, he might be tricking you." father looked worried. 

"hes not." i said. "i know hes not. hes not even a dark fairy, the sword you gave me did not glow with him around."

"that goes against everything i was told." fathers eyes went wind. "okay daughter, i will do as you say. i trust you."

"thank you father." i hugged him tight, then looked around us. "where are the other fairies and Carlisle?"

"i keep them as far away from the ring as possible to keep them safe." he answered. "i normally fight off the dark fairies myself."

i looked to the sky, how was it already almost morning? "i have to go father." 

"take care my child." he smiled at me as i stood, walking back into the mushroom circle.