Midnight Cove

Chapter Seventeen: The Underworld

His kingdom. Phoenix's words held me in complete awe of the moment, and as he spoke them with reverent sincerity I looked over at him in blatant astonishment. He had told me in the cave that he was the Prince of Darkness, but seeing it was somehow much more impressive. This place was his to rule and these beautiful faces surrounding us were his subjects. I suddenly had a deep admiration for Phoenix I had not felt before. His self absorbed narcissism now seemed a little more well founded.

"Walk with me, Coral," and he offered me his arm. I hesitated, unsure if I really wanted to explore the Underground Realm of the Dark Faeries. "Please?" he tacked on and I timidly wrapped my fingers around his strong bicep ballooning against the cloth of his black robe. I was shaking inside, but I refused to shy away from this adventure. Pushing back my fears, I swallowed hard and with my chin raised I followed the Dark Prince as he began to lead me down his path.

Slowly, we strolled up and down the wooden planks that made up the series of docks bordering the canal. Phoenix explained the history of the marketplace and he knew each and every shop. The numerous tailors, a few repair shops, there were bakers, and music shops, bookstores, and smiths of every kind. Each one looked quintessential to this enchanting Faerie Realm.

Everywhere we went others bowed in acknowledgement and respect of his high stature, to both him and then to me. At first, I only smiled at them a little, uncomfortable with this unusual homage, but after about a dozen times I started to mimic Phoenix and slightly nod in their direction. Admittedly, it was fun and I began to feel elated by the way people were showering me with such unnecessary attention. Practically every little girl fantasized about being treated like a princess. Walking with a handsome prince in this busy haven was a fantasy actualized.

Phoenix told me all about his people, elaborating on subjects Cove had only glazed the surface of. How the Fae had ruled in ancient times bringing peace, technology and freedom to the mortal realm. How there were stories of the faeries being aliens come from spaceships and theories about them originally being angels fallen from heaven, which was one of the explanations as to why they couldn't pass on like humans. But no one knew the truth, it was "shrouded in the mists of time" is what he had said. They knew no more as to why they existed the way they did, than we humans understand about our own existence.

It was all so fascinating. I was relishing every minute spent there. As we walked away from the Portical, the water became more and more shallow and the people became sparse. The trees too were becoming fewer and farther between. We followed the walkway until it ended on a moonlit sandy bank.

"Where are we going now?" I asked as Phoenix lead me along. He showed no sign of stopping or slowing. He merely continued to stroll into the vast, dark forest that laid just beyond us.

"Come on, Coral," he said his mischievous eyes twinkling in the night. "I'm not going to bite."

"Yes, but you have before," I chided him. The very first time we met he had bit me. But not hard... My thoughts softly reminded me.

Phoenix stopped walking then, pulling me from my inner debate, and taking my hands in his as he turned to face me, he confessed.

"I am sorry for that," he cocked his head to the side and said, "Well, sort of. I wanted to taste your blood, and as a prince, I always get what I want. I didn't hurt you, did I?" His body language said he was apologetic but his words said the opposite. When he asked me if I had been hurt though his concern was sincere.

"No, you didn't hurt me," I decided I wasn't mad. I was curious though. "Why did you want to taste my blood? Are Dark Faeries like vampires or something? Do you need human blood to survive?" I didn't really have any expectations, more than anything I was just intrigued by it all.