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“Our courts were elemental, fire, earth, water, and air,” his finger lingered on the last court, and the smoke spiraled until the images no longer resembled smoke, but felt as real as a memory.
The sky was full of fae with feathered wings with varying patterns diving and dipping around islands suspended in midair. It zoomed in on one fae male, his black feathered wings vanishing just in time for him to grab a vine hanging in the narrow gap between two islands. He let out a whoop of pure joy as he swung through the gap, too narrow for his wings, letting go at the peak of his swing. Rather than letting his wings free he put his arms out to enjoy the free fall, it went on for what might have been minutes. The islands disappeared from view but still he fell. His friends were diving toward him with cries of concern when his wings opened wide, a geyser down below erupting with just enough steam to fill his wings, which launched him away from any danger. The smoke zoomed in on the face to show a much younger Ravensford, who winked at me. The current version reached over to close my jaw before bursting out laughing. I shoved him with my shoulder, embarrassed it had dropped open while still wildly impressed by the physical and mental feat of the drop. The scene continued, showing the tips of finned tails disappearing beneath waves.
“Do you still have wings like the Mistress then?” I asked, marveling at all the smoke had shown me. His laughter faded, and he fiddled with a trinket in his hair. “Ravensford?” I ask, confused by the abrupt change.
“I don’t.” He said solemnly.
“Oh. But you can still fly right? As a bat?” I ask softly, knowing most had the full shift if they weren’t a demi-shifter like Mara.
“No, only turned humans, or lesser fae become bats when turned. Mara and I were high fae, the curse affects us differently.” He said gruffly, dismissing the scene that showed what looked to be a marble skinned fae redirecting lava to build an island, only to show the map again. When he paused as if unsure, I kept all pity from my voice as it was my turn to prompt him.
“What happened?” I asked.
“The human king changed all that crossed his path, forgetting perhaps the competitive nature of the fae. He was soon overpowered by a changed fire fae, Drago. Drago changed tactics in favor of killing almost all the remaining fae, to steal their lands and titles, perhaps hoping to inherit the other courts powers. When it didn’t work, he struck a deal with the remaining human kingdoms. He swore he would not take his undead army, which now included his undead Dragon form to their doorsteps so long as they left him the wood. They agreed on the condition if he would tame the wood and prevent it from encroaching on their boundaries.”
He removed his hand from mine to wipe it nervously on the bed. Not looking at me he skipped to another chapter before continuing.
The book showed the forest twisting in ghostly green flame, darkening into the Dreadwood forest I recognized, though their trunks were pooled with shadows. “He set the entire thing aflame, murdering every remaining druid, sprite, or fae that may have lingered. I was not so closely tied to the trees as Mara, she swears she can still hear their screams.” He gulped, his hands now visibly shaking.
“Our forest was alive once, now it is cursed like us, their spirits turned to shadows and the beings we call dreadlings. Most of them still bound to Drago, the way he bound the rest of the High Fae and his army to him, with his blood.”
“I do not know how long the humans lived in peace, training vampire slayers as a precaution against the king and his undead. I was not allowed out of my cell except to fight or pillage, that is until he sent me to track down and kill Mara. That’s when he took my wings, saying I would not taste flight until I brought her wings to rest in my stead.” He took my hand back in his but did not meet my eye.
“I was just like you when you showed up, Nettle. Determined, furious, and confident of the victory that would return what was most precious to me. She saved me, knew my pain firsthand, promised me vengeance and gave me a purpose that did not require the further sacrifice of my conscience. Then, by the grace of the stars she also became my mate. That was just over 50 years ago.” He smiled then, a bit of light entering his face. I went to speak, and he shook his head. Still not done, he tapped the book once more.
Visions of a Dragon the size of two galley ships began burning entire villages to the ground in the dead of night.
“He was not pleased when he discovered we’d found a way to escape his compulsion, or that we’d begun to free those he sent to pillage the kingdoms no longer protected by the Slayers. He began to rely on his Dragon form, fortunately it weakens quickly away from the wood, and cannot abide the sunlight. We’ve been slowly whittling away his army, while also becoming a haven for survivors. They’ve joined us in trying to protect the remaining kingdoms and find a way to reverse the curse on us and our woods. To say we’re spread thin is a generous understatement.” He shut the book with a loud clap, and I jumped, thoroughly startled.
“So the Slayer’s really did vanish… 100 years ago?” I ask, my throat dry. He poured wine into my goblet and passed it to me, waiting until I’d taken a sip before taking his own. It looked to be full of blood that had no doubt gone cold by the look of distaste on his face.
“They did. No one seems to know how or why, only that they have not answered any call and any sent after them do not return. At least until we saw your memories.” He said after finishing the goblet with a wince.
“Do you know the cure?” I ask, jumping from the bed.
“No, but Mara is there now to see if she can make anything of it. Their numbers would be a welcome relief.”
“She already left?” I shouted, forgetting the sorry state of my throat.
“Yes, she left as soon as she knew you were stable. She was hoping to return before you woke with more news.”
“So she wasn’t the one to curse us?” I asked, needing to hear it confirmed once and for all.
“No, she was of the fifth court, but the courts power is held in the Wood. The best she can do is wield the spirits of her court that were strong enough to evade Drago, and see her as their rightful queen.”
“And Mara agreed to you telling me this?” I ask confused.
“Yes. We were both under Drago’s spell too. We saw the signs in you, how it made you distrust your own instincts. The only way to see truly, is with the truth. That’s why Mara bound you to the star. She did the same for me.” He held up his wrist to show a similar puncture wound. “Whoever you were led to believe Mara is, it’s a lie. However it was told to you, by however many people. It’s a lie, and perhaps the cruelest he’s ever told.”
“Why’s that? Why would I be the cruelest? I didn’t even get close to killing her.”
“No, but you’re her fated mate, same as me.” He said it slowly, like I was a slow child rather than an adult.
“I can’t be her mate, I’m human,” I say automatically.
“A human with fae blood, as proven by your ability to wake the book with Roya. Quite a bit of it as well from how you smell, and how you train.” He said, "not to mention the hair. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that particular shade.”
“But how could she know? I don’t know. I should know.” I say, stammering now.
