Austin

"Not now!"

Jacob puts his arm out, stopping me in my tracks.

"This isn't optional, Austin. I need your help. It's Rosa."

The dark fae? I pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers, praying to the gods for patients and follow Jacob to the first floor where he's placed Rosa. She's sitting on the bed cross-legged with her palms and head tipped up to the ceiling. Dark threads of black inky mist stem from her fingers and eyes as her body seems to fade in and out. She's mumbling in the old language. Shit! This is not good!

"Can you shed any light on this situation?" jacob asks, My mouth forms in a grim line. I have a pretty good idea of what's happening, but the only way I could know for sure or even do anything about it would more than likely kill me.

"The dark fae are drawing her in. They sense her."

Jacob looks skeptical

"How sure are you?"

I shrug my shoulders and focus on Rosa

"About ninety-eight percent."

Jacob sighs, shaking his head next to me.

"She's been like this for hours I've tried to get her to stop every way I could think of, but nothing worked."

"Tul-back na nin Rosa!"

My skin prickles, I don't have to look down to know I'm full on shimmering, and my eyes are burning silver. I haven't used the old language in decades. It's taste on my tongue is bitter sweet. Rosa pulls from the connection, and her breath comes in shallow gasps.

"How did you do that?"

Jacobs perplexed expression stays firmly etched in his features.

"I told her to come back to me in the old language. You others call it Elvish. By using her name along with my native tongue, I've tied her to me."

And it's the stupidest move I've ever made

"So that's it? Problem solved?"

I shake my head with a sharp laugh,

"Not by a long shot, she's a dark fae, and I'm light. I just broke a very strict and ancient rule. She's not mine to link. They'll be angry, but if I didn't... she'd be lost in a cruel world completely alone. They'd destroy her. I have to go and she needs to come with me."

Jacob swallows, his expression is dire as he follows me to my room,

"Where are you going?"

I scoff, like he doesn't know

"I'm going to break another forbidden law, the oldest rule I know of... I'm going into dark fae territory."

I suit up with a few weapons, a fae dagger at my back is made with iron and centuries older than me, then a few ash wood stakes tucking them in my boot. I take the two duffles under my bed and make my way back to Rosa, tossing a bag on the floor. Rosa's skin returns to normal, her color coming back as the last of the black veins scatter. I look to Jacob,

"If I'm not back in a week... promise me you will keep Amanda safe at all costs."

Jacob grabs my shoulder, pinning me in place,

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I shrug him off, I'm angry. Not at him, but at the situation. It makes no difference. I need assurance.

"I may not come back from this. They have every right to kill me the moment I cross that border, no questions asked."

Jacob pulls at me again, and I whip around. Some of my anger eases when I see how worried he is.

"Look, if I don't go, they're just going to keep doing this to her until her body gives out, and her mind crumbles. My link isn't going to last long. Like I said, I have no claim. She's not my people."

Jacob steps back, and I calm slightly at his reluctant acceptance, I'm really not good with the mushy stuff.

"I'm going with you." He adds

Oh, enough with this shit.

"If you do, you're guaranteeing my death. It's bad enough I'm crossing over if I go with- what are you?"

Jacob gives me that familiar look,

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Leave it for another day. You're going to have to get a new line soon. That one's getting old."

I nod his way. It's as close to a goodbye as he'll get from me.

"Rosa?"

She turns slowly, still spacey from the episode.

"We are going to have to move and fast before you take another trip into dark fae la la land because Rosa, I'm not going to carry you, physically or metaphorically. Got it?"

She nods, and I throw a duffle on the bed next to her.

"Listen closely, I'm only going to tell you once. Pack enough for a week, I don't know how long we'll be gone, but think of it as camping without a tent. Gather supplies! I'll take care of the food. You've got ten minutes."

I take the remaining duffle and fill it with anything non-perishable and a case of water preparing for the worst. If rumors are true, water is scarce, and you eat what you hunt. Nothing grows in a wasteland. I try to stay on task and not think about Amanda and how close I was to taking my first kiss. I can't afford distractions. Dark fae are tricksters by nature. Evil intent is a birthright. Jacob enters the kitchen with Rosa in tow. I look at her handing over the bag.

"If they kill me, take these supplies and run toward the suns."

Her eyes widen, and she looks confused.

"Like plural" she asks,

"Yes, plural! aren't you listening?"

My anger spurs hers, good it's better than nothing

"Of course I am! Sorry."

"Good, don't be sorry, be prepared. When you get to the other side, say Rusalka sent you and ask for Elida. Got it? Say it back to me."

"Rusalka sent me. I need to speak to Elida."

"Good, let's go."

I take off my shirt so my wings don't destroy it and grab rosa around her rib cage, dematerializing.

"Hold on tight!" I yell.

It's almost nightfall. The sky is a muddy maroon. Rosa must have opened her eye's because the moment she stiffens a loud screech pierces my ears, and I wince at the painful vibration.

"Keep quiet! You don't want to draw attention."

I can feel her shake.

"Well, I'm fuking sorry! I didn't realize you had wings, and we were going to take flight... I think I'm going to be sick."

"You puke, I drop you. So you better hold it in."

I probably shouldn't be so short with her. She really is taking it pretty well, but my ears are still ringing, and she's the reason I'm not with Amanda. The reason I may never see her again.

"Has anyone ever told you you're not a people person?" She adds.

Ha, that's putting it mildly. At least she still has a sense of humor. I'm close to dark territory and start to descend. I feel Rosa stiffen further.

"Keep your eyes closed. It helps." I say a bit more gently. When we land, I turn to her. She looks green, her latte skin nearly white.

"What do you do if I'm no longer an option?"

"I run."

"Tell me who you're looking for and who sent you?"

"Elida and Rusalka sent me."

I nod at her, and she smiles, making her appear softer, nothing like a dark fae.

"Good, ready or not, here we go."

Stepping past the barrier is like forcing your way through a sponge. I almost have to tear my way through, and it's hard to breathe in the space between the adjoining worlds. I stumble as the barrier nearly spits me out, like I don't belong in the shallow passage. I tuck Rosa behind me once she rights herself. Looking around, I realize things are worse than I could ever imagine. It's cold here, bone-chilling cold. Everything is colorless, different shades of gray and black. The trees are dead, there's no grass because the ground is covered in soot. I watch flakes float down from the sky to land at my feet.

"What happened here?"

"Shh, this is the way of their world." I whisper back, scanning the area for any life. From our side, this world just looks black, like an obese of darkness. I risk a look behind me, and I'm befuddled, white. Our world looks white. Ha puts a new spin on black and white. I'm surprised the pixies don't talk about the anonymity being the gossip mongers they are. There's a dim blanket of light covering the terrain, but it's not from the sky, and it looks foreign in an unexplainable way. even to my eyes. There's a commotion far-off in the distance. The ruckus gets closer, and I ready for attack. I can feel the cool iron at my back. Horses gallop toward me at break-neck speed, at least a dozen. They're all black with red eyes. I feel Rosa press up against me, and I remember why I'm here.

They're closer now, about forty paces away, their horses slow, then stop completely just over twenty feet from me. The dark fae are visible, their black wings spread in a show of posture. A tall, very broad fae gets off his horse and approaches us. As he gets closer, I can make out his stark features below his soot covered mug. Well, I'll be damned. Who knew dark fae have horns. They're small and black, like miniature bull horns. I have to hold back a chuckle in the dire situation, They're actually cute. He stands in front of me, folding his arms and his nostrils flare.

"Give me one reason why I don't kill you where you stand?"

I eye him up and down, taking his measure. He may win in strength, but I have speed.

"Because I carry one of your own."

He smirks! the prick.

"I said give me a reason not to, not another reason to kill you."

I smile vindictively, I just met this guy, and I already hate him.

"She is part human, I didn't keep her, I'm trying to help her."

This gets his attention his curiosity is palpable. Rosa dares a peek over my shoulder, and the fae stares back at her. His attention is riveted on her, and my hackles raise at his obvious interest. She ducks back down behind me, and he seems to right himself, looking back at me. His expression darkens again.

"You have broken a sacred law, one I may rightfully kill you for."

This guy, he's unbelievable,

"Yeah, no shit! Tell me something I don't know?"

He looks confused at my question

"I can not do as you request. I do not know enough to make those assumptions."

Holy fuck! Yep, he's for real. Born and raised.

"Is she your woman?"

Now I'm confused

"Who? The dark fae?"

I turn toward her, pointing my finger. She's visible for a fraction of a second with the movement and when I turn back he's trying to see around me. He places a hand on his weapon and I reach behind my back, getting ready.

"Answer truthfully or you will meet your death."

"Whoa, slow down there, big guy. No, she's not my woman. I don't have a woman."

My tongue burns and a bite it to not give the wrong impression. I think of Amanda and the burn gets worse. Holy shit, really not a good time for that sorta realization. Fae can't lie without pain, and apparently I think of Amanda as mine. Cause sure as shit that last statement was like chewing a jalapeno pepper on fire.

The fae nods in acceptance, and it brings me back to the present situation.

"You may come with us and break fast. We will discuss the outcome over food."

I follow the giant, keeping Rosa close as his comrades flank us...