The Iron Princess

Human

"Why do you think Jaede needs this human?" I ask, ducking under a branch and swiping at a fairy bug. "I mean it couldn't be for a good reason. Feys and humans don't mix very well."

"I don't know, maybe she needs a pet... or maybe for a spell," The Prince replied, stepping over thorn bushes.

"My mom's brother was taken when he was little by a fey. He was human. He was used as a bargain chip for my mom. That's how my mom came to Nevernever, with the help of Uncle Puck----" I said.

"Yeah, I know," He replied.

I looked at him.

"Everyone knows the legend of the Iron Queen, how she risked her life to save her human brother and defeated the Iron King and the Prince of Consort going to the ends of the world to be with her again. The prophecy of your brother and the birth of the beautiful Iron Princess," He said smiling small.

I looked away as my cheeks flush.

I feel him smile next to me.

We travel through a different route to Winter.

Not the road everyone travels to the Unseelie Court but a more secluded way me and my brothers found a long time ago.

We had to walk through an abandoned trod tunnel.

Thats one of the things I love about our world, theres so much to be left discovered.

The abandoned trod's tracks were covered with grass and along the walls of the tunnels were covered too.

Leaving us only to see the green moss, like we're entering a whole new world.

We travel for a couple more hours til sunset and decided to make a camp near a river.

"It's getting colder," The prince said putting on his cloak as I took out my jacket to place against the sand for a pillow.

"That's a good sign," I said nodding. "We're getting closer to the Winter Realm, we aren't far."

"I'll be right back, I'm going to get some wood for the fire," He said, standing up and heading towards the woods.

I nod and found a couple of branches to get the fire going.

As I did so, I started to feel a whoosh of cold air.

I looked over my right shoulder.

The lake stretched out peacefully and quiet.

The full moon reflected over the dark water.

Continuing on what I was doing and getting the dried food out, I placed them on the log near the fire for us.

I hear a crack of wood, then and I stopped what I was doing.

Another crack, branch breaking.

Another crunch, a branch breaking.

It could be Prince Dominick coming back, but I was still paraniod.

Slowly, I eyed my bow and arrow on the sand a couple yards from me.

Its too far.

Then I felt something behind me and I got the blade from my boot and charged.

A demonode was embedded in the blade I drew.

It hissed it's teeth at me and it's long tongue slithered out of it's mouth and wrapped around my wrist.

Suddenly spikes formed from the tongue and sliced through my wrist.

I yelled out in pain and then pulled out the dagger I embedded in it's stomach and cut the tongue.

I could hear other demonodes behind me hissing and throwing darts at me.