My eyebrow twitched, but I forced myself not to respond. The leshane grew quiet as I took a seat at the back of the classroom, piling my books in front of me as if to form a barrier against the rest of the world.
I felt nauseous. The leshane was pressing on my stomach, trying to make me sick so I’d skip class.
I wouldn’t do it. The demon could make me writhe with pain on the floor. I’d still show up. This was a battle of wills, and I was showing this demon I still had some control.
Professor Victor weaved his arms. As he did so, a beautiful illusion sprang from his fingertips. Images of ancient fae, wings sparkling like diamonds, twirled around the room in a spectacular dance as Victor strolled the area to begin the lecture.
Many people in the class were awed by the spectacle, but not me. Magic had seemed to have gone out of my world.
“Fae trickery is the art of deception,” Victor began. “Contracts between fae and other magical races have been vital for our existence, ever since we left Edinmyre and journeyed here to Earth. When our people arrived from the fae world, we found an abundant land of ours for the taking. We came with nothing. However, it didn’t take us long to accumulate money or resources, as there were more than a few humans or supernaturals willing to make trades with us— a magic spell, a wish granted, in exchange for some monetary goods or pledges of service. This is how the fae have dominated our world; by making deals that were beneficial for us, but typically, harmful to the other party.”
There were a few murmurs throughout the classroom, and I shifted in my seat. That was a bit uncomfortable to admit, but at least Victor was being honest. The fae had gotten much of their prestige, riches and position in the magical world by tricking their way into it. We had the idea we were superior to other races, simply because we were smarter, but perhaps that was just a kind way of saying we were the best manipulators, who were experts at making bad deals.
Victor pointed to the illusions weaving above our heads. “Back in the old days, we fae would leave presents on the doorsteps of humans. They’d usually be mere trinkets— a thimble, an unusual leaf, a key… something that would divert suspicion. If they took the gift into their home, we would consider the gift accepted, and the contract bound through illusion magic up to the seventh generation. That human and their descendants were obligated to serve us, and their home would always be open to us. If they did not oblige to serve, the curses and hexes the Unseelie provided were more than enough to convince them to bring their loyalty back.”
The fae specters began fluttering around the room in a circle. “Tricking supernaturals was more complicated, but it could be done. If we learned of an Elementai’s true spirit name, we could bind their soul to us, so they’d serve us in the afterlife instead of going onward into their Ancestral Lands. If we cursed an astromancer, or a vampire, they’d have bad luck their entire lives. These are just a few examples of the advantages our race had over the others.”
Victor shrugged. “Eventually, the humans, and the other supernaturals of our world, caught on to our games and found ways to suppress our magic with St. John’s Wort, yarrow, and iron. We were forced to begin making peace treaties, and agree to fair deals instead of ones that would only benefit us. In the modern world, humans have much forgotten about us, and regard us the stuff of fairy tales. But the supernatural community is very much aware of us, and we’d all do well to remember our history while dealing with magical races outside of Malovia.”
Professor Victor scowled. “Of course, not all magical races are susceptible to our magic. The Miriamic Coven— don’t boo, please, that is their technical name— is able to ease our curses on them without much effort provided.”
That was putting it lightly. The fae hated the witches in the West because they could break our contracts. Witch magic was the only thing that could overpower faerie magic. It put a bitter taste in our mouth that we couldn’t lord power overeverybody.
Nicoli raised his hand— he was in a lot of my classes. “It works both ways though, doesn’t it?” he asked. “Fae are also susceptible to bad contracts.”
Professor Victor beamed. “You are precisely right. Demon possession is a form of one such contract.”
My insides churned at the mention, and the leshane hissed in pleasure. Victor pointed his finger at the ceiling. The fae illusions morphed into a singular red skull, one that made me think horribly of the leshane nestling inside.
“There is only one way that I know of to break a contract with a demon. It must be done with a pure heart,” Victor continued. “Remember, fae magic is intention. A demon’s magic is full of malice, hatred, and rage. Breaking free of that hold is dependent on the host having pure motivations— a wild heart that clings to self-forgiveness. This is the main reason why it is so hard to break the hold a demon has on an individual. No one who has spent any length of time in this world is truly pure. So the possessed must rely on the intentions of others to break him or her out of the demon’s grasp. A long shot, if there ever was one.”
Victor prattled on for another forty minutes, while I was lost in my thoughts. A pure heart. Hmph. I hadn’t one of those since before my father died, I was sure. At this rate, getting rid of this demon seemed all but hopeless.
I was walking back from class and feeling rather broody, until I turned a corner and my mood sank even lower. Mydearcousin, Elijah Zlodia, was blocking the way to the cafeteria, a smirk on his face that accented the pompous clothes he insisted on wearing.
I hadn’t seen him going on a month, and even then, it was only in passing. What did he want with me now? Come to gloat, I suppose.
“Where are your bodyguards?” I sneered. He never went anywhere without them. In fact, Elijah never went anywhere anymore unless it was accompanied by blaring trumpets, fawning peasants, and a ridiculous amount of fanfare that would’ve made me embarrassed had I been king.
Elijah grinned wider. “Some things are better left between family, don’t you think?”
“You’re no family of mine.”
His smile faltered, but only slightly. “Cousin, I’m here on business. It’ll be easier if you agree to lend a hand, instead of being so horribly unhelpful.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked in distaste. Gabby and Elijah were no longer enrolled at Arcanea University. As the official king and queen, they were finishing up their education with private instructors at the palace, whenever they weren’t giving orders on gods knew what. The one thing I’d been looking forward to this semester was not having to deal with my little cousin, and on my first day, he’d already ruined it.
It was clear I wasn’t in the mood for fucking around, so Elijah’s fake smile slid from his face, turning into a snarl. “I want the Crystals of Harmony.”
Panic welled in my chest. Milonna had warned me about this— that the dark god Droga had sent Elijah and Gabby on a quest to find the stones, too— but I hadn’t imagined it would be so soon.
I forced myself to remain passive. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play coy,” he spat. “We both know we’ve been given missions from the gods. I’m allowing you this one chance to fight for the winning side, before you end up losing your head.”
He was trying to save me. That was cute, after he’d nearly killed me in the King’s Contest. But perhaps his feelings had changed since he’d become king. I was no longer a threat, so now, I’d become useful.
There was no use playing dumb, so I tried logic— not that it ever worked on my cousin before. “Do you understand what will happen if the crystals fall into Droga’s hands?” I hissed. “It’ll be a massacre like you’ve never seen before.”
