The Sidekick Chronicles: Sixx and the Fae Page 6

  I lost my footing and stumbled, leaping back to my feet and continuing to run even though I didn’t hear my pursuer behind me any longer. I found a dense thicket and hid behind a tree to catch my breath.

  “The King said he received a tip,” a gravelly voice to my right said.

  My brows pinched in confusion. King? Werewolves used terms like Alpha or Beta for their higher-ups. I clutched the tree trunk and used it to support my weight because, at this point, I didn’t think my legs could do the job.

  “She should be around here somewhere.”

  The voices were getting closer, and my heart skipped a beat with the realization they would find me soon. They were far too close, but if I moved now, they would certainly find me. I hoped the tree trunk I hid behind would be big enough to hide me just until they got out of range.

  I stood there for what felt like hours. My hands started to cramp, and the stitch in my side started to wane a bit, but my legs remained sore. I had a feeling they wouldn’t start feeling better anytime soon. Unlatching my hands from their death grip on the rough tree bark, I breathed a little easier.

  “Well, what do we have here?” a voice said right next to me. I jerked my head, but before I could catch a glimpse, the world went dark.

  ****

  Unfortunately, I could recall several times where I’d been knocked out and came to in unpleasant surroundings. Before tonight, I would have to say the worst way I regained consciousness was when I was in the caves during my first encounter with werewolves. The local werewolf pack had kidnapped me and Ana after a rogue wolf almost mauled me to death. We later learned that the neighboring pack did not like that I’d survived.

  Now, the new first place winner to weirdest, most uncomfortable places to regain consciousness went to this time. My body swayed side to side, and my stomach felt as if it was compressed against my spine, encouraging the little bit of food I had left inside to come back up. My eyes watered as I tried to lift my hand to cover my mouth, but I quickly realized they were bound tightly together, the nerve endings numb. I opened my eyes wider and surveyed my surroundings.

  I was flipped over someone or something’s shoulders, yet my glasses remarkably remained on my face. I blinked a few more times and tried to formulate exactly where we were. Since my vantage point was the ground, I peered down and realized the path was not made of concrete or even the dirt of the forest; rather, it was a pristine stone that glittered, looking foreign and alien to my addled mind.

  Other than the soft footfalls of the one who carried me slung over his bony shoulder, the world was silent. I wanted to lift my body and survey the area around me, but I was so weak it took all of my strength to keep my eyes open.

  The throbbing in the back of my head and the ringing in my ears explained how I lost time. Apparently, this beast knocked me over the head. The quiet footfalls that accompanied the subtle sway of my body were the only indication that another person was with me. No one spoke, but the person holding me paused, and a door creaked open. The stone path underfoot gradually shifted to an even more beautiful stone than the last, or maybe it was just a bit cleaner. My abductor continued forward, still silent as ever. My fear continued to grow.

  The best I could tell, I still wore the comfy clothes I had on when I was in my parents’ house. No one had touched those. They were probably worse for wear after my run through the forest, but at least, they were still intact. It struck me as odd how my feet weren’t cut to ribbons after my mad dash through the dense woods, but nothing about this place made sense. One phrase stuck with me as my abductor carried me further into the dense vegetation.

  Sixx, we’re not in Kansas anymore.

  Not that we lived in Kansas anyway.

  Without warning, I was flipped off the bony shoulder that had been stabbing me in my midsection and dropped to the ground. I managed to take a full breath before it was knocked out of me upon impact. That tingly, painful sensation that came when you hit your funny bone swept through me. I coughed and gasped at the same time my tail bone hit the solid stone painfully. My vision blanked, and I was too focused on the pain to realize the change in scenery.

  “Hello, Sixx.”

  Oh, fudgers.

  “I did warn you,” Erebus chastised.

  My vision cleared, and I managed to take in the… well, palace around me. I was currently sprawled in a large, elegant throne room with a dark, gothic throne dominating the space at the end of the room. The most startling part was that it sat by itself on a raised dais, the wooden frame free of any embellishments.

  The room was cold, not only in temperature but theme, the room outfitted in deep grays, stark black, and striations of light gray or silver to add occasional contrast. It seemed like it was straight out of a fantasy novel with impossibly high ceilings that boasted one giant chandelier comprised of spikes and sharp lines, further cementing the unwelcome vibe. White flames perched in pillars mounted to the wall, but no warmth radiated from the flickers. I was unable to shake the chill that took hold of my bones as I shifted my attention to the occupants who stood in the room motionlessly, watching as I gazed around the room with wide eyes.

  I was surprised to see such a large assembly of fae standing around the edges of the room, watching. I could tell they were fae by their ethereal looks, lithe frames, and exotic clothing. One male stood apart from the rest, his inner glow seeming to pulse in a manner very unlike the others. He boasted a curtain of lustrous white hair framing a youthful face, his black eyes contrasting starkly against his otherwise pale features.

  I shifted my attention back to the fae I knew – Erebus – who sat on the throne. He seemed to be part of the room; the same monochromatic colors highlighted his clothing. It suited him well, especially with his glamour down. I could see why Ana was infatuated with him. He was breathtaking but in the same way that the most poisonous snakes drew the eye before striking a deadly blow. Something about him made my mouth go dry and my mind screamed for me to be on high alert.

  “Leave us,” Erebus commanded with a quiet strength that even made me want to listen and obey. But I had a feeling that, by the way he glared at me, I was part of the “us.”

  I swallowed hard as the others filed out with barely a rustle, all but the white-haired one with the black eyes. Something about him was so off-putting that I preferred Erebus’s icy, pitiless gaze.

  Do I know him? Why does it feel like I do?

  “What do you want with a human?” the white-haired one sneered.

  “That is not your business.”

  “I believe that it is,” the other snarled.

  “Leave,” Erebus snapped.

  I flinched at the dangerous tone of his voice. With one final glare at Erebus, the fae left. Never once did the stranger give me his full attention, but I didn’t like the idea of garnering his attention. And so, I was left with the fae who ordered others around.

  I screwed up my courage and asked, “Why am I here?”

  Erebus stepped down from the throne and approached me. Upon closer inspection, I noted that his clothing was sleek and hugged his robust stature, emphasizing the taut lines of corded muscle throughout his body. His clothes were made of the finest materials and impeccably tailored, the sharp black defining his features. Their defined simplicity had the same effect as the unadorned throne. Simple with an undercurrent of elegance and power. His prominence here was such that he obviously didn’t need to show off; his authority spoke for itself. An undercurrent of energy thrummed through him, practically vibrating against my skin the closer he got. Like he wasn’t holding back.

  “I guess the better question is, ‘Where is here,’ first?”

  Erebus circled me with his hands clasped behind his back. My eyes were drawn to the intricate designs stitched in gossamer silver threads that stood out starkly against his black tunic. He had apparently purchased his clothes at Fae Fashions. I could play dumb, bury my head in the sand, and pretend I’d been whisked to a bizarre cult hidden in the mountains
, but I knew better. My mind had been piecing it together from the moment I regained consciousness in the forest.

  “You are smart for a mortal, Sixx. I believe you know where you are.”

  Yeah, but I want to be wrong.

  “Why bring me into the Veil? Is this just to get Ana to come to you?”

  “Hmm, perhaps. Tell me, what do you remember?”

  “Why should I tell you anything?” I snapped, annoyed that he wasn’t answering me. He acted like a cat toying with a mouse before he killed it. Or, in this case, me. The thought was not a reassuring one. I sucked in a sharp breath as Erebus moved lightning fast, striking before I could blink. A wickedly sharp blade pressed against my throat, and I felt the warm trickle of blood.

  “You would do best to remember, little mortal, that you are in my world, my Kingdom,” Erebus remarked as casually as if he were saying hello.

  Sometimes the smartest move was to go with plan Play. Plan Play was based on the same premise of playing dead if you encountered a bear. In this instance, I’d play the complacent little prisoner because I was dangerously out of my league.

  A loud knock came from the other end of the throne room. Erebus moved past me, and I suddenly felt like I could breathe. I focused on the newcomer, a warrior woman who had the power to summon Erebus’s attention. Thick braids wrapped in tight coils around her head, similar to the ones that seemed to be common on the rash of Viking shows I’d scrolled through on Netflix. An impressive array of weapons were strapped to her back, hips, and thighs with several knives even strapped to her boots.

  I certainly wouldn’t want to get caught in an alley with her at night, that was for sure. I also didn’t want her attention, so I remained as silent and motionless as I could.

  Her voice was low and husky. “Erebus, you are needed.”

  He was silent for a beat longer. “I will be there momentarily.” Erebus turned his attention back to me.

  “You clearly have pressing business. If you want to go ahead and open a portal, I can head back to the human world and give your message to Ana,” I offered helpfully.

  “Isa,” Erebus called. “Please escort my guest to her quarters. She will be staying with us.”

  “Just send me home, Erebus. You know he’ll come for me. And An-”

  “Do not speak anymore, human. You will remain here until I decide what to do with you,” Erebus snapped, his eyes flashing with power as he stepped closer to me.

  Plan Play! I reminded myself. I needed to play this right and be compliant until Olezka and Ana came. Because they would. They absolutely would.

  Chapter 9

  A gilded cage was still a cage, but if I knew I was going to be a prisoner anyway, I’d pick this room. It was bigger than Ana’s and my whole apartment. French doors led to a small balcony, which I explored the moment the warrior woman deposited me and locked me inside this room. I grasped the railing and leaned over to see how far I was from the ground but quickly ducked back when I realized the dizzying height. The biting chill and angry gusts of wind made me retreat to the relative safety of the room. It was almost summer back home, so the temperature change was another reminder of how far we’d departed from the human realm.

  The walls were painted a soft dove gray with crisp white trim, and each piece of furniture was massive and hand-carved from different types of wood, the decorative swirls and markings compelling me to trace the shapes with my fingers. A large, stone fireplace took up one entire wall; two wide chairs upholstered in heather gray were settled in front of it, beckoning me to have a seat and forget all about being abducted and locked in a room on the other side of the Veil. An elegant bed sat against the wall closest to the balcony, large enough to hold an entire football team. Jeez, who even needed a bed that big?

  There were two doors in the room other than the door through which I’d been hastily crammed inside. I hesitantly poked my head into each door, hoping for an escape route, and was only mildly disappointed to see a bathroom and a closet lurking behind them instead, especially when my eyes feasted on their contents.

  The bathroom looked like something out of a magazine. The bathtub was large enough to be considered a pool. The sleek vanity was carved from ebony wood that glimmered under the light, and I was relieved to see a modern toilet. Stumbling out of the bathroom in mild shock at my lavish surroundings, I poked my head into the closet to see what sort of mysteries awaited me there. It was filled with a seemingly unending line of dresses in different shades of gray that rippled at my touch. The material was similar to silk but unlike anything I had come across in my life. Then again, I didn’t usually stray far from my usual attire of cotton t-shirts and jeans.

  Out of pure boredom, I found myself wandering inside the closet, running my fingers over the supple fabric. This room was obviously set up for someone… My cheeks flushed, and I immediately pulled my hand away from the dresses as if I’d been burned. There was only one reason I could think of why Erebus would keep a closet full of dresses.

  “Blech.” I scurried out of the closet, pushing those thoughts aside. “Gross, gross, gross.”

  From the loathsome glances he’d slid my way, I was pretty sure Erebus didn’t whisk me to the Veil to indulge in a little human-on-fae lovin’. Even so, I was still a little freaked out. It seemed like I’d been locked in this room for hours, and I was unable to mark the passing of time by the unusual sun that hung in the sky outside my balcony, emitting no heat and only weak shards of light. No one brought me food, but being the classy broad I was, I drank straight from the bath faucet when I couldn’t ignore the need to have something in my stomach.

  After the initial rush of adrenaline and anxiety died down, I realized how sore my muscles were from my sprint through the woods. The cuts and scrapes on my legs and arms started to sting something fierce. I padded into the bathroom and cleaned them as well as I could then raked my greasy hair away from my face, eyeing the large bathtub through the mirror longingly. The bedroom door was locked, but it only locked from the outside. If I took a bath, I would be unable to stop anyone from barging in on me. Uncertainty and vulnerability swept through me as I weighed my options. I wanted to get clean, but I hated being at the mercy of these fae.

  I sat down on the cold tile and tried to keep my panic at bay. Now that I finally had a moment to evaluate my situation, my fear got the best of me. I was trapped in a world I knew nothing about with rules that were alien—and without a power of my own to protect me. I was being used as bait to lure my best friend here for unknown reasons. I leaned my head against the vanity behind me and closed my eyes.

  If anything, I had to keep playing it smart, not draw attention to myself, and not gain anyone’s ire. A human mixed up in the para world was a perilous thing in my realm. Here, it felt like a death sentence.

  ****

  A loud knock jarred me from sleep. My body ached as I lifted myself off the cold bathroom floor. Oops, didn’t mean to sleep there. The knocking sounded again, and I raised my brows.

  Why bother knocking if I’m a prisoner? Why not just barge right in?

  I stood up and waited near the bathroom door as someone opened the bedroom door and slipped inside.

  A giant figure moved carefully as he swept the room, obviously searching for me. The soft lighting of the weak sun through the French doors brushed against the male’s features. Oh, I knew that face. I stormed out of the bathroom, getting into my intruder’s personal space. Acting before thinking through my actions, I cracked my hand across his cheek and glared up at the person who I thought was a friend.

  Timur had the decency to look shocked as he lifted his hand to his cheek.

  “Kroshka…” Timur started to swear fiercely in Russian and paced away from me.

  I glared at his back as his muscles tightened. His body expanded as if he was about to shift into his hellhound form. When he turned back to me, I realized his features were slightly different than I recalled. Most noticeably, his eyes were more rounded and blazing re
d.

  He opened his mouth, and I was greeted by the sight of oversized canines protruding from his gums.

  “Hey, you better not shift on me,” I warned.

  “I will not, kroshka. I fear you will have to get used to looking at me like this. It is forbidden for lower fae to use glamour while in the Veil. Even one as high ranking as myself.”

  There was a lot to unpack there, but I had more pressing matters to deal with.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Nyet, the question is: What are you doing here?”

  “I’m not sure.” I frowned. My memory was hazy. I recalled being in my parents’ kitchen, but there was a black hole where my memory should be. In the next moment, I was dropped in front of Erebus. Even that felt like a distant memory, more of something that someone told me happened repeatedly until I formed a foggy version of the memory.

  “It does not matter. We need to get you home. Come.”

  Timur grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the door. Elation filled me; going home sounded great. But it didn’t make any sense as to why he was there in the first place, or why he was considered a high-ranking fae but also lower. Those were questions I could think through once we were back on human soil. First things first.

  Timur opened the door and immediately tucked me behind his back with one hand and growled. “Isa.”

  “Timur, what are you doing in the prisoner’s room?” the warrior woman challenged.

  “Came to see the human that our Lord is keeping in his concubine’s room.”

  “Eww, gross. I knew it,” I muttered. I moved a little closer to Timur’s back. He didn’t even flinch at my closeness.

  “You lower fae have always had a sick fascination with the mortals. Well, you need to satisfy your curiosity later. Our Lord wants her presentable.”

  Timur bit off a growl. I gripped his leather vest, another weird clothing choice. I shook my head, refocusing my attention from Veil fashion back on the conversation between my guard and my mate’s brother.