Cordelia woke up with a start. She thought she heard talking in the room next over. She sat up, listening. When she heard nothing, she pulled back her covers with a yawn and combed her long dark hair.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" she hollered.

Lorcan was shirtless. She blushed and smiled a little seeing his wings weren't glowing now that his mate wasn't glued to his side. She sauntered up to him wondering what he was doing walking around half-dressed when morning had come and gone. The sun was high up in the sky. She had slept in. It was unusual that she had, and even more unusual, that Lorcan appeared to have, too.

"She's gone!" Lorcan breathed out in panic.

Cordelia rolled her eyes and followed him into the guest room. The room was empty. The bed sheets were ruffled up and crumpled messily. A pillow was on the floor near the doorway. Lorcan was tossing the bed blankets to the ground in panic. When the bed was completely ruined, he grabbed his head and made a frustrated sound while plopping down on the bed.

 "She's not here," Cordelia chimed. "I told you this would happen. It was only a matter of time."

"No, she wouldn't leave me."

"She did, Lorcan. We need to check the house and make sure she didn't steal anything. Is Colt still gone? I bet they planned this together."

Lorcan stiffened as rage threatened to control his actions. He marched passed Cordelia and punched the door open wider at the mention of the demon. The door slammed back against the wall. Cordelia smiled following him with silent glee. She was finally alone with him and it took barely any effort on her part.

"Colt!" Lorcan screamed from the top of the stairs.

The house was silent and he flew down the steps with Cordelia following closely behind. It didn't take them long to discover the house was empty.

"Do you think she took Mason?" Lorcan mumbled while slouching down in a chair at the kitchen table. "How could she not say anything? Did you notice anything last night or this morning?"

"No."

Cordelia's heart felt for him, but she knew Elaine wasn't destined to be his. She was right about the girl all along and Lorcan was still being stubborn to accept it. 

Still, it pained her to see the boy she grew up with being reduced to a whimpering cry baby as he rocked back and forth on the chair as his heart tore in two. Cordelia knew he was in a vulnerable place, but she would be there to make sure he remembered she would lend him an ear.

"You deserve someone who understands you. She never will. Her parents pretty much neglected her and then didn't even pay you for your efforts," she scoffed. "She is totally childish and naive. You really can't blame her reckless decision, though. She was delivered way too late to her parents. That's common among the poor, Lorcan."

Lorcan nodded his head weakly as Elaine's smiling face passed his vision. It was just one of the many effects having a mate would cause him. He was already feeling haunted by her and swore she was still in the house. It didn't feel like she was gone.

"We can't keep watching her parents forever," Cordelia said. "Besides, we need to find that kid's parents and tell them about what happened. He's going to be marked missing now. We have to meet up with the villagers. We can't do this alone anymore, Lorcan."

"We are staying here. I just have to be certain Colt is with her. He may just be taking a longer trip in hell. Maybe, he got held up."

"Oh, give me a break. Stop making excuses! She left you!" Cordelia hollered back, turning away from him in frustration.

***

Unknown to Elaine, the season was changing as the end of summer drew near. Leaves fell, falling to the ground in piles of chipping golds and auburns. A small mouse scurried out from underneath a briar bush in front of Elaine as she sat up with Mason huddled by her side. A gust of wind rushed through the naked tree branches around them. Viktor knelt in front of the young woman and child looking into the foliage with a scowl as a fog condensed surrounding the troubled group as they came to not in hell, but, somewhere else, in the faery realm.

Elaine clutched Mason to her side. 

She hardened her tone at being forced away from the others, "Where have you brought us?" she asked sharply.

"Frankly, I'm not sure," Viktor muttered while looking down at her with an aloof smile. His oice was mocking, "Sister dear."

She thought he might have transported them there by mistake. It scared her knowing he was capable of the same power as Colt. Elaine stood up and Mason hid behind her. Viktor walked ahead and turned off into a narrow dirt ridden path.

It reminded Elaine of a bike trail.

"I know we aren't in the faery realm, or, at least, Hunrel. Your birth home as you called it," she heard Viktor say. She was surprised Viktor remembered the name of the town. He continued, "It seems my powers have been somewhat altered after getting my wings."

Elaine encouraged Mason to walk with her. What else could she do? He would just try twisting her mind again.

"What is it?" Elaine asked Mason gently while taking his small hand and following after Viktor. He was hugging her leg and refusing to move. "He could hurt us. We have to stay near him for now."

"That's not why his powers have changed," Mason whispered while looking up at her. He spoke in a subtle adult-like tone startling Elaine. Suddenly, his face appeared older to her, but only for a fraction of a second. "He has done no good deed to be rewarded for the amount of power he has now. You can be sure of that. We must run away!"

That was kind of weird, Elaine thought. She was still ill-informed about the faery realm, but at the most random times, Mason seemed to be a well full of knowledge. Elaine crouched down facing him eye-level. 

"What kind of power does Viktor have?" Elaine asked. 

"Viktor made me promise not to tell."

The child glared at the tall man's back and began walking with Elaine.

"What is taking you two so long? I'm sure there are worse things out here than pixies," Viktor hollered for all the animals in the woods to hear. "Don't make me come back there."

With a huff, Elaine sped up in his direction with Mason holding her hand. The dead leaves and branches crunched beneath their feet as they continued trudging their way into who knows what direction.

"I don't think we're going the right way!" Mason whined with frustration. "I'm scared! Something feels wrong!"

"Have a little faith, brat," Viktor provoked.

"Why can't we all just fly out of here?" Mason asked. "Then, we could see what's ahead."

"Because he doesn't want us to, Mason," Elaine explained. Elaine pushed a tree branch out of her way. Add to the matter, she was fairly certain she had lost her wings, but Viktor needn't know that. Ever since waking up in the woods, she couldn't will her wings to appear. "We don't want to make him angry. He could become violent."

"You only say that because...because you like him!" Mason shouted with sudden fury.

Elaine saw Mason pivot on his feet and run off in the opposite direction.

"Mason!"

"Don't follow him," Viktor warned. Elaine jumped hearing Viktor's voice come from right behind her. 

Elaine elbowed Viktor in the ribcage hard when she felt him tug her back.

"He's just a kid!" she retorted. She was surprised when Viktor stepped back and she used the moment to run after Mason. "He can't survive out here alone! He'll get lost." 

Viktor flew after her. He frowned remembering he could simply transport himself now. So, why did he instinctively use his wings instead? The thought irked him, but he was already at Elaine's side again and landed. He ran up to her matching her pace. 

"He's no normal faery."

"What reason do I have to believe anything you say? You're a practiced liar!"

"What have I lied about?" Viktor laughed. He was genuinely amused by her outburst. "I don't remember promising anything."

Elaine ignored him. "Mason stop!" she yelled.

At last, Mason did finally stop. He turned around. Elaine was not expecting to see a creepy grin on his chubby round face. His eyes changed into a darker brown, maybe, black.

"Mason!" Elaine called. "Are you okay?"

🦋