Page 27 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“His majesty King Onyx, who brought you here. This is his home, and I serve him.” He must notice the concerned look on my face, because he continues, “Have I done something to upset you, miss?”

“Lyra, please, and, no, you haven’t. It’s just that I was brought here by a man I thought was named Nyx. I never realized he was Fae, let alone a king. I feel a bit silly.”

How did I not realize? Of course Nyx is short for Onyx? It suddenly all makes sense. This is why Mr. Drogo forced me to spend hours learning about the Faery Realm and the ways of the Fae before dinner the first night I met Nyx. How could I be so dense? But why did Samael not want me at that dinner? What happened after I left? I always thought the Fae were evil, malicious beings, but I’m slowly learning I know nothing about anything that goes on in the real world.

Twig reaches out and touches my hand with his pudgy purple fingers. He has black pointed nails, but he only brushes against the back of my hand for a second. “Don’t worry Lyra, his majesty is a good man. I’m sure he’d have corrected the error when you spoke with him.”

I suddenly feel a sense of calm again, and that hollow ache in my chest is less pronounced. I pick up another muffin and cut it in half, spreading some creamy butter across it.

“You’re right, Twig. I’m sure I’ll feel better after we speak today.” I bite into the muffin, and it’s a burst of flavor in my mouth—soft, creamy, sweet from the sugar, and tart from the berries. “The food here is delectable. I don’t know why I’m so famished this morning.”

I clear more than my fair share of food.

“Eh hem.” Twig clears his throat looking a little guilty. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to mislead you. I may be the cause of your appetite.”

“What do you mean?” I'm curious. I’ve always had a good appetite, just not so much lately. Until this morning that is.

“It's the magic that I’ve been weaving since I arrived here. By letting out a trickle of my essence, I can manipulate emotions to some extent. I simply wanted to ease your burden. I sensed the anguish that weighed heavy in your chest, so I used my abilities to ease it a little. Perhaps the hunger you feel is a result of that emotional release. I only wished to bring you a measure of comfort, and I hope that you won’t fault me for it,” Twig explains, his words stumbling out in a near-stammer.

I don’t feel upset he used his magic on me. I feel good. “I’m not upset. It's okay, really.” I give him a soft smile before asking, “What else can you do?”

Twig’s voice brims with excitement as he tells me about his abilities. “I can soar through the skies with ease and possess incredible strength, despite my petite stature. And while I may appear diminutive compared to you, I can lift you with no trouble at all,” he says, grinning mischievously. “But that's not all. As a descendant of the Tree Wisps, I can also influence plant growth and promote healing in the natural world. Though my abilities may not be as potent as my ancestors’, I take pride in carrying on their legacy. My ancestors helped form all the forests we see today.”

I wish I knew what sort of magic I’ll inherit. So much has happened lately that I’ve lost my sense of time. I can’t believe it’s already almost January. Ten more months until my birthday. Ten more months until I come into my magic. For so long I buried the thoughts of my powers because it always seemed so far off, but now as the date approaches I can’t help but wonder how my powers will manifest when I turn nineteen. My father was the most powerful king in the history of Cloudrum. I can only hope my magic lives up to his. When it does, when I learn to wield my magic, I’ll kill Samael and put an end to his tyranny once and for all. Twig must’ve noticed my mind went somewhere else for a moment. He reaches over and touches my hand again.

“Twig, you’re amazing,” I reply honestly and smile at him.

His purple cheeks darken a bit, and he gives me a shy smile back. “I must be going now. Please explore the castle. Chepi knows his way around already. Have him show you. I will see you again, Lyra.” Twig flies over to the door. “Just don’t go outside alone.” With that, he disappears out the door.

Chapter Fifteen

I spend the next couple hours chasing after Chepi through the castle; he runs down hall after hall like he already has this place memorized. I can barely keep up with him.

This castle is possibly the most magnificent place I’ve ever seen. I may not have been to very many places in my life, but I’ve read lots of books and seen many paintings, and nothing compares to the grandeur of this place. As I descend the grand spiral staircase, the gleaming cherrywood floors stretch out before me, aglow in the warm candlelight. Each step reveals new, intricate details of the golden wall sconces that illuminate the castle. Chepi, effortlessly darting across the grand foyer, comes to a sudden halt on one of the ornate black and gold rugs. I pause, taking in the breathtaking sight of the sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows draped in delicate black curtains. Overhead, grand chandeliers sway, their shimmering light reflecting off the crystals and casting a mesmerizing dance across the walls.

Through the windows I can see lush green vegetation everywhere. We are not in a forest but a jungle, and it’s not winter here like back in Cloudrum. It appears to be summer. Dense undergrowth surrounds tall trees in a tangled mess of vines that crawl up the sides of the castle. Faint buzzing and pleasant chirping rings out in the distance. It is utterly beguiling. I’ve never seen anything like it. It's nothing like the barren pine forests of Tempest Moon. I wish to go outside and explore, but I remember Twig warning me not to go outside alone. I’m not sure if the warning was for my safety or because I’m a prisoner here.

The castle is eerily quiet. Only the faint sounds of the jungle fill the halls. I haven’t run into a single person or creature while exploring. Seems a bit odd for such a grand castle to be so empty. At home I’d find servants, guards, and sometimes even visitors all over the castle grounds.

I don’t know much about the jungle, only what Mr. Drogo taught me in our lessons. He always says the jungle was full of more venomous and poisonous creatures than I could count. That’s why it was rarely mentioned in textbooks because it was rarely explored by anyone except the Fae who live here. I can’t feel like I’m being held captive all over again. I can’t bear to get away from Aidan and Samael just to have another man try to control me. I want fresh air. If it was really that dangerous outside, I’d think someone would be around to stop me from going out there. Since there are no guards, it can’t hurt to explore the castle grounds a little.

“I’m just going to get some fresh air and take a look at the castle from outside. Come on. Let’s go,” I say to Chepi while heading over to the large double doors in the foyer. I don’t know why I’m tiptoeing. I shouldn’t have to be sneaking about, and Nyx never told me to stay in my room. I pull one of the doors open, and it makes a long loud screeching sound that echoes through the foyer. I close my eyes and cringe for a second, expecting someone to come running, but no one comes. I go outside and give Chepi a reassuring look before I close the door behind us.

I’m immediately hit by the stuffy, warm air. It smells sweet and damp like fruit and wet vegetation after fresh rain. It feels thick in my lungs. Nothing like the inside of the castle, which is surprisingly cool and drafty compared to this. The large stones making up the courtyard and path around the perimeter of the castle are all overgrown and covered with ivy. It doesn’t look old and unkempt though. It looks beautiful and dreamy. The sky here is different. It’s not the normal blue hue I’m used to. It looks angry and enchanted with dark swirls of purple and gray cutting through large cottony white clouds. The sounds are almost deafening. The buzzing, chirping, and humming coming from all directions remind me I’m not alone out here.

I follow the stone path around the castle then down a set of stone steps where the path begins to lead away from the castle and into the jungle terrain beyond.

“Stay close, boy,” I whisper to Chepi as he silently walks beside me, his fluffy ears perked up and his tail wagging. We follow the path as it transitions from a smooth stone pavement to a rugged dirt trail. The pathway is still visible, but it's almost entirely overgrown with greenery, making each step a cautious one. My eyes have to remain fixed on the ground to avoid tripping over any protruding roots or vines. Suddenly, the sound of water catches my attention, and I glance up. Despite the thick vegetation that blankets the surroundings, there is a massive river that snakes through the terrain, cutting the earth in half. It appears to be as vast as a lake, and the current seems tranquil. I take off my shoes and tiptoe toward the water’s edge to test the temperature with my toes.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Nyx says.

I jump, almost falling into the river, then he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me back against him in an instant. Once on steady feet, he releases me immediately, and I step back.

“You scared me. Why shouldn’t I dip my feet in?”

“This is Guri river. It’s not safe to swim in. There are all sorts of creatures in here that would love to take a bite out of you. Didn’t I tell you not to go outside?” Nyx raises an eyebrow, and I look away.

“This place is beautiful. I’ve never visited a place like this before. I only wanted to look around.” I pause to take in the beauty of the river and jungle surrounding us. “I’m sorry I just couldn’t stay inside,” I say finally, and the pause between us stretches on so long that I don’t think he’s going to speak.