Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter 37

Claire tried not to let her nervousness show as she and Antigone crossed the threshold into the throne room. She held her breath, Antigone grabbing tight to her hand in equally scared solidarity. Selenia stayed close to them, possibly to act as a buffer as the fae king stared them down.

Arawn, King of Annwn did not look happy to see them. He was almost as tall as Aarrrgghh, eyes an eerie silver that bore into their souls. His skin was brown, tanned and weathered from his obvious years. Two jagged scars ran across his right cheek, like he'd been clawed once by a large animal. Dark brown markings ran along his arms and neck, twisting around some sort of tattoo that slightly emulated bat wings. He had long, pointed ears, and dark gray-brown horns that curved like a rams. He wore a circlet made from the twisting vines of an alder tree. An emerald was inlaid in the center, edges of the circlet melding seamlessly into long hair that might once have been pure black, but was now peppered with gray and white hairs. The age in his appearance bewildered her. She'd met immortal kings. They didn't normally show their age, but Arawn looked middle-aged. Eternally graying and tired. He was grieving and he showed it well.

Even behind the grief and the rage, in the lines of his face Claire saw something familiar. His brows furrowed as he look at them, nose wrinkling... holy shit. She recognized that irritated nose wrinkle. That was signature Douxie. He looked just like Douxie, but... older. And scarier.

"Kyledyr," Arawn said carefully. "I thought you would know how to recognize shadow magic when you saw it."

Kyledyr glanced at the two wizards nervously. "Sire?"

Arawn's glare fixed on Claire alone. "You claim to have come here with Nimue's king. But I do not see a king. Only two witches come to torment me further."

Claire let go of Antigone's hand, straightening her shoulders. "Your Majesty, we did come with Nimue's king. We got separated right before we made it to the island."

"Thezius," Antigone said, eyes flashing sharply. "Attempted to murder him."

Arawn's head tilted to the side. Claire was off-put by how very Douxie the gesture was. "Then how do you know he isn't already dead?"

"He's not," Claire said, trying to sound confident, but her words came off as desperate. Desperate for this grieving king's help. Desperate to believe her friends were still alive. "He can't be. I would... I would know."

Arawn regarded her words for a moment, before turning to the corner of the room. "Find Pwyll."

A guard—who she hadn't even seen standing in the shadows—turned and left through a door hidden on the wall. Claire looked back up, startled to see Arawn suddenly right in front of her.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

Claire took a deep breath, meeting his unsettling gaze. "We are on a quest to stop the stealing of souls." She glanced at Selenia. "These... dark monsters that have been ravaging the island are being controlled by someone with malevolent intent. We were sent by Oldos to stop it."

His eyes widened slightly. "I see..." he took a step back, considering her words. "Then it is time..."

"Time... for what?" Claire asked.

He glanced at her once, then turned, striding further into the throne room. "Eons ago Nimue gave us a prophecy. Dark times would cloud Annwn... the evil that waited in the shadows could only be defeated by a divine king. She promised that this would begin the mending of borders... of hearts."

"Of... hearts?" Antigone questioned.

The hidden door opened again and another fae stepped through. He was wearing armor, and had a sword strapped to his belt.