Chapter 5
“I still don’t understand why she jumped in front of the gun.” Allwyn sounded desperate and his words rushed in exasperation.
“I told you, that’s how Bella is. She cares, that’s just who she is. Which is why I told her to stay the fuck home!” He yelled through his sobs. I tried to open my eyes so I could comfort him, but they were still so heavy.
“She even has a pet mouse because she couldn’t stand for her neighbors snake to eat it.” River’s voice sounded just as sad as the others. I was fine, why are they so sad.
I tried to fight my way through the darkness threatening to pull me back under. I managed to shift my body, but the move caused the pain in my side to flare back to life. I groaned out loud and managed to barely open my eyes.
“Bella!” Jacob gasped in relief. “I’m going to kill you myself for almost leaving me.” He sobbed as he squeezed my hand. I tried to look at him, but couldn’t focus as my eyes slipped closed again.
“She needs more rest. We aren’t out of the danger just yet.” An unfamiliar voice announced.
“Jacob, let’s give her some rest while you and I go get her some fresh clothes and anything else she may need. I heard him start to protest, but eventually allowed himself to be dragged away.
I tried again to open my eyes. I wanted to know if everyone was alright and getting the help they needed as well.
“Rest, my queen.” Allwyn’s voice startled me. I forgot that he was still inside the room with me. I felt pressure on my hand as he squeezed it. I tried to open my eyes and look at him. I wasn’t sure if I was more shocked by the endearing term or the fact he was being kind to me. Maybe saving him from pain made him realize I wasn’t so bad. I knew I would get there eventually, I just didn’t think it would hurt quite so much. I couldn’t fight the darkness anymore and I welcomed it, if only to escape the pain.
Allwyn
As I watched her sleep I couldn’t help but think back to the previous hours of chaos. I was trying to process how this crazy girl before me could bring so many to their knees with one word. Either way, I know now she was no normal human, hell she wasn’t even normal for Fae.
I was helpless to respond as I heard the gunshot and felt the impact of being knocked to the ground. I twisted around, expecting to find a Fae had knocked me out of the way. Instead I was shocked to see Arabella’s face twisted in shock and the color draining from her already pale face. I could feel the blood before I saw it, realizing she had taken the bullet.
The stupid human who shot her was trying to mumble something I didn’t care to listen too. I yelled and blocked him from coming closer. My heart clenched at the sound of her whimpering in pain. I ripped off my jacket and tried to keep pressure on it, she had lost to much blood for a human already. Stupid girl.
I helped her get to her feet, hoping to at least get her inside somewhere she would be safe so I could see how bad it was. Her gasp of shock as she looked at the fighting still raging strong around us.
“Enough!” She bellowed out as I felt and saw the wave of power burst from her body, in a spiral of light. What the hell just happened? She was a human, and they don’t possess such powers. Even if she was a Fae, We didn’t have this sort of power on Earth.
Much to my surprise she was no longer human at all. Her skin now had the beautiful otherworldly glow of the winter Fae. Her eyes were no longer a common blue, but a sparkling turquoise with specks of violet. Her features were now more defined and regal. The biggest shock was her previously round ears now came to a point, the telltale sign of a Fae.
Another grunt of pain from Arabella had me snapping my mind back to the present. I squeezed her hand. “Rest, my queen.” I whispered and I started to hum a soothing tune to her. Eventually her breathing evened out as she was pulled into sleep.
I knew who she was as soon as she transformed. I was one of the few who knew of the Princess of the Spring Court’s pregnancy. It was hidden because the baby’s father was the Prince of the Winter Court. Once the Dark War broke out, it wasn’t safe to tell anyone. They hoped to bring change to Faerie, but the war altered their plan. The Winter and Autumn Court’s aligned. The King of Winter wasn’t evil, he was arrogant though.
What started as a challenge to the oppression of what was eventually coined as the dark Fae, turned into wanting to take over all of Faerie. A united court under an unhappy and arrogant ruler would have been our downfall. The Spring and Summer Court aligned together and tried to reason with the Winter king, but he was past reason. His son tried to pressure him to give up the war, but the devastation spread quickly. Magic made war much more devastating.
Word came that agents of the Dark Fae decided to ignore their orders and kidnap the Summer and Spring princesses to tip the war in their favor. Fearing for their child, the Winter Prince and Spring princess went into hiding. They both disappeared and were presumed dead, another casualty of war. The final battle was pure devastation, losing all royalty on both sides.
When I saw Arabella’s features, her mix of pale skin and bright spring eyes, I knew she was their hidden daughter. She was too unique of a Fae to be anyone else. They must have found a way to bind her magic and appearance, so she could survive on Earth. If she was merely an average Fae, she would have been killed by one of her own before she was able to grow into the woman she is now.
Though having a Queen of the Fae hardly mattered anymore. We were driven from Faerie by the hostile lands. We were arrogant and thought our only duty was to our people. The land was as much alive as we were, and altered itself in self-defense of all the magical destruction and spilled blood. It might be a good thing, even if she was Fae now, she was raised by humans. She knew nothing of our world.
I only knew of the pregnancy because I was close to someone in the castle. My friend was an advisor to the crown as commander of the guard. I was supposed to help protect her, but I failed when I went to battle. I was the last one alive on the battlefield in the end. I took the life of the Winter King. He had caused chaos through the lands and I couldn’t watch my people suffer any longer. This was the only way I knew how to protect my court. Unfortunately he had wounded the Summer King with his final blow.
When I returned to the court, the princess was missing and those left behind were slaughtered. It was pure devastation. The survivors were drawn to the portal to Earth when Faerie turned hostile. We fled and our shame was thrown into our faces every day on this awful realm. The humans hated us and were afraid we would use magic against them. We hated them just as vehemently because of the way they reacted to us.
Now, as I watched Arabella rest, I knew she was the reason for the magical pull. Her powers must have been breaking through the shield before this last outburst.
The main question was who bound her magic and genetics? They had to have been powerful. What happened to her parents was second on my list. Though I doubt I would get my answers anytime soon.
“You holding up ok, Allwyn?” Gwen’s soft voice interrupted my thoughts. I gave her a small smile. We were close now that we journeyed here together. I was glad our groups met up during our travels.
“Just thinking over what happened in Faerie and hating how it feels like it’s repeating itself on Earth now.” I replied, solemnly. I could understand Arabella’s horror at seeing the aftermath of the battle today.
“We won’t let it get this bad. I don’t think they will try again. Though I’m unsure what to do about Bella. She has classes still, but she isn’t the same person she was this morning. She doesn’t know yet, does she?” Instead of answering I stared at Arabella. If I woke up and found out I wasn’t a Fae anymore, I would be devastated. But she didn’t hate the humans as I do.
“No, but I think she will adapt better then we think. She has too much acceptance in her heart to struggle with it for long. She also has Jacob and the rest of us to help her along.” I tried to put in some positivity for Gwen’s sake. She noticeably perked up at the last part. I gave her a small smile before turning my attention back to Arabella. I watched her breathe, making sure it was keeping a steady pace. She seemed stronger now then before the bullet was pulled from her side and the healer stitched her wound. She would have a decent scar from this one. The amount of blood she lost was astounding, we are lucky she survived at all.
I needed to keep my heart separate from this. She drew me in, even as a human, though I fought it. Now if she was to be our queen I couldn’t let any feelings or attraction get in my way.