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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Chapter Sixteen

I’m back bitches. I hit the point if no return and came back from it. Which technically I’m not sure how much I can post going into the start of college, but......hey, I’m trying.

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen

Summary: Myriad was Amarantha’s spy, lover and tool. After nearly fifty years of being used by the self made queen, Myriad breaks free only to fall into the clutches of Hybern and used to spy once more, this time on Night Court’s inner circle. Myriad discovers a tie between her and the tightly knit family and struggles to find her place, and earn the trust she craves.

“Why don’t you look at me when we make love?” I shivered as I felt Amarantha’s cool hand run caresses down my spine. Her hair brushed against my shoulder as she leaned over and kissed my ear.

“I don’t know. I don’t really think about it.”

I rolled over and looked up at Amarantha, scanning her cruelly attractive face. We used to be friends - at least I thought we were. That was before I realized the female wanted more than a friendship. She was infatuated.

I don’t know what she saw in me.

I wasn’t beautiful, I wasn’t charming. I was cruel, selfish and distant.

Still, Amarantha wanted me.

It wasn’t bad, warming her bed. Amarantha found pleasure in my company and I could live with the superficial pleasure she gave me as it was a distraction from the going ons of her court.

“You’re such a complex creature, Myriad,” Amarantha said as she rested her chin on her hand. Her black eyes scanned my face.The way she watched me reminded me of a crow.

“I’m no different from you. I just have secrets.”

Amarantha laughed and sat up, her graceful, pale body now uncovered from the sheets.

“I like you better than Rhysand. You talk to me. I have so few people to talk to.” I raised my brows and pointed to the eyeball ring that was now sitting on Amarantha’s nightstand.

“You have Jurian. He won’t talk back to you. Though I think you’d look odd talking to an eyeball on your finger.”

Amarantha laughed again and I felt a sliver of a smile pull at my lips.

She was different around me.

It didn't mean I loved her.

She was still the female that made me do things, things that even centuries later I knew that I would wake up vomiting over.

If I survived that long.

“Jurian’s a bore.”

“Mm. You don’t say that about me.” Amarantha looked over at me, her deep red hair falling like water over her breasts.

“Because unlike all the others, you’ve been the only one to stay. When I wake up and see you’re still sleeping next to me, I feel like I belong, like I could…” She stilled herself and looked away from me.

I sat up, my brows drawing together. This was new.

“What? What were you going to say?”

Amarantha held up a hand and the wall was built back up.

“It’s nothing.”

She rolled over and pushed me back down on my back, a wicked smile on her lips.

“Lets not waste tonight.”

*** *** ***

Azriel was sleeping soundly beside me. I knew because I had been listening to him breathe for the past hour.

We had a moment of passion.

It started on the edge of the river and finished in his bed. It was nearing dawn when we fell asleep in each other’s arms. It was an hour later that I woke up, rolled away from my mate.

In the hour I had laid there, listening to Azriel breathe, I had to convince myself that I was in Velaris, that I could smell the river and feel the breeze tickle my face.

And that it wasn’t Amarantha laying beside me, but my mate.

In, out.

Deep and slow.

It was Azriel, I could feel his wings next to me.

In, out.

I listened him breathe until I forgot to breathe myself. I gasped when a hand touched my arm.

I jerked at the touch and slid from the bed.

Azriel. It was Azriel.

I looked at the bed to remind myself, but all I saw was the smooth ivory skin and blood red hair of the Queen.

I forgot how to breathe and my world spun around me.

“Are you alright?”

I jerked my head back to the bed where Azriel was now sitting up in. His shadows curled around his body, his tattoos barely visible in the growing dawn.

“I was going to leave before...before you woke up. I didn't mean to wake you, go back to sleep.”

Azriel’s face pulled forward in a frown and he swung from the bed. He was still unclothed, but that barely seemed to bother him as he strode over to me.

I grabbed by tunic and held up to my chest.

“You can tell me,” Azriel said. “You can tell me if something is wrong.”

His cool hands touched my face and I breathed in deeply and shut my eyes.

It was Azriel.

I had been spooked, that was all. Azriel would never hurt me. Not like Amarantha had.

I set my clothes down and reached up to take Azriel’s hands and I put them on my waist. “I had a dream,” I replied quietly. “It was of my time with Amarantha.”

Azriel’s hands stiffened at my waist and I reddened with shame.

I hadn’t asked Amarantha to take me to her bed, but it was no use to argue with her. I had been there when she’d taken out Tamlin’s emissary, Lucien’s eye. That was for talking about her dead sister. Who knows what she would have done to me if I had disobeyed her wish to warm her bed?

“I’m sorry, I...I should go.”

Azriel shook his head and pulled me back to bed, making me sit back down. He sat beside me and pulled the blankets around my shoulders before he set his hands in his lap and waited.

I watched my bare feet for what seemed like forever before I spoke.

“She gave me no choice. I don’t know what she saw in me or why she found me attractive, but she did,” I said quietly. “The nights when Rhysand wasn’t there, she’d take me in, make me stay with her till morning. I never slept those nights. I’d lay awake and listen to her breath. Sometimes I’d look at her and think maybe she wasn’t so bad after all, maybe she was just a little misunderstood. Other nights I’d lay there and contemplate killing her. It would have been easy. She slept so heavily when she was with me. I would move her hand off me and she’d do nothing.”

I laughed hoarsely.

“I could have killed her and ended a lot of pain, broke the curse even. You would have been able to see Rhysand...but I didn't.”

I blinked and raised my brows, surprised I was even talking about this.

“She scared me Azriel, more than anyone I’ve ever known, I don’t know how she found me but...I was living alone and she sought me out. I was angry and hurt and she offered me something I thought I wanted. At first, I loved her back until I realized she only wanted me for my magic and...and for her own pleasure. She tried to get me to love her, that’s why she gave me free reign, to make me soft for her. It was only after the first fifteen years after her curse that I realized her for what she was and...and every night I felt like I was sleeping next to a snake.”

I finally looked over at Azriel and tried to read his emotionless face.

“That’s why I don’t understand why you want me. Mor and Cassian both have every right to hate me. I even hate myself sometimes. But...ever since Hybern, you’ve been my friend. I want to know why you’ve forgiven me, why you’ve taken me to your bed, because if it’s because you wanted a female to play with and be there when you needed some sort of release, you have to tell me. I can’t be that again, I can’t love you thinking that you only see me that way and--”

“Myriad, stop.”

At last, Azriel spoke.

He folded his hands and unfolded them again.

“I can’t stay away from you,” he said slowly. “I tried to find you after you winnowed away from Torin’s camp that morning. I looked all over for you, I never forgot you. When Rhysand told me about you when he returned, I knew I had to find you. I couldn’t get the thought of Amarantha touching you and using you out of my head. So when I found you in Hybern, I felt like some piece had clicked in place but the puzzle only grew bigger.”

He looked across at me and his eyes searched my face while his shadows curled around my skin, caressing me.

“After that...you grew on me, I guess. I like you and...maybe I’m falling in love with you or maybe you’re right and this is a distraction but, all I know is that I’m responsible for you.” So he felt it too.

I felt my stomach roll and I opened my mouth to speak but no sound came out. I was going to tell him.

“Azriel…” Azriel cut me off however when he turned and captured my lips in a soft kiss. “You’re stuck with me,” he whispered, guiding me back to bed. “I’ll catch you every time, remember?”

I smiled and laid down and curled against Azriel when he put his arm around me. I’d tell him in the morning. “Go to sleep now,” Azriel said softly.

*** *** ***

Spring was never my favorite season.I remembered when I was a child, how the snow would melt and the first smell of the grounds thaw would hit the air with a moist pungency. Spring in the mountains was, full of the hope that the gloom of winter would be pushed away at the sign of the first green bud that pushed it’s tiny head from the ground. It was also full of muddy rains, and then hen the clawing moist heat that followed was enough to drive a person mad.

The Spring court was its own sort of overgrown hell.

The overwhelming scent of roses and flowers in the air made my nose block and my eyes run. The heat stuck to my skin, making sweat roll down my back and under my leathers. It was miserable. To think one could spend an eternity here was beyond me.

I had cloaked myself and stayed near the Wall. One of the only fractured holes I knew of was in Tamlin’s territory.

I had already checked on the Highlord and his territory that morning in the guise of a raven. I found the lands in disarray, as if since Feyre’s absence had driven the Highlord mad with rage. Well, the overgrown former room of his lover was enough to tell me of the state of Tamlin’s mind. Unfortunately, the Highlord was nowhere to be seen. His sentries had paid little heed to me, but I could tell they were tense.

“You’re back.” I cawed in replied and shifted mid air and landed on my feet beside Azriel.The Shadowsinger pushed off the tree he had been leaning on and he pulled a black feather from my hair.

“Did I ever tell you how unnerving that is?” he asked as he twirled the feather between his fingers. “No, you didn't, but it hurts like a bitch,” I replied and rolled my neck, feeling my bones adjust back into place. “The sentries are occupied, the manor house is quiet.”

Azriel nodded and flicked my feather away.

“Spring is up to something. Tamlin is gone,” my mate shook his head and brushed his hair back. “I don’t like it.” “We’ll worry about that later. Right now, we need the book and we need to leave now,” I replied. I caught Azriel’s arm and looked up at him. “But you’re right. I don’t like it either.”

I looked over to where I could sense the Wall humming with magic. “Now or never, right.”

Azriel snorted softly and walked to the Wall and passed through the hole. I followed close behind him.

The moment we passed through, I could feel my magic burn out, held back within the confines of the Wall. It had always been like that, my magic had no place in the mortal lands.

A small gasp of pain that I was unable to suppress escaped me when my feet touched the ground and I cracked my jaw, my ears popping in pressure.

Azriel turned around and his eyes narrowed as he stepped forward.

“You’re bleeding.”

I put my hand to my nose and wiped my face, my fingers coming away bloody.

“I’m fine.”

Azriel shook his head and took me by the shoulders.

“No, you’re not. What’s wrong?”

I stopped my nose on my sleeve and pulled out of Azriel’s grip.

“I said it’s nothing,” I replied, trying to keep my voice light. “Just started. We should go now.”

Azriel still wore his frown, yet he remained silent. I knew the look on his face meant he was full of questions, but I was glad he didn't pester me with any.

He took my hand and winnowed us away in cold shadow.

*** *** ***

Azriel and I said nothing to each other as we winnowed to the Queens’ palace. I could tell Azriel was cross with me, but I knew the moment I told him that I had no magic, he’d turn me around and put me back behind the wall.

More than no magic, I’d lost my fae immortality. I was human as far as anything went. I wasn’t sure why I lost my magic across the wall, my only thought was, perhaps it was a failsafe. I was a witch, witches, at least as far as my mother had told me, were human. At least, her mother, my grandmother was.

I had witchcraft in the mortal world, but I was limited by what I could draw from. Talismans, full moons were about as far as I could go, unless I drew power from another source, by stealing magic.

That was how I was able to get into the Queens’ court.

They guarded against fae and fae magic, but with neither my fae abilities or magic, I could pass as human and get through their wards in a sort of loophole.

We touched the ground outside of the castle, on a cliff looking over the sea. The castle was on an island on the coast, drawbridges connecting it to the mainland where the rest of the coastal capital city laid. It was an amazing defense, if not a cowardly one. Raise the drawbridges while leaving the city to fend for itself against its enemies. Though the castle itself was open to siege from the outside, but I knew better. The Queens had stores of supplies in catacombs under the castle

“You’ve been here before,” Azriel murmured. “ How? I’ve tried to penetrate the castle so many times and I can’t find a way in.”

I pulled some of my hair from my mouth and held it down, the wind blowing hard enough to make me adjust my stance. I took a deep breath. Now that we were here, I knew I had to explain.

“In the mortal lands, I’m mortal.”

Azriel looked sharply at me, his dark eyes narrowing. His nostrils flared as if suddenly he could smell the change in me.

I looked back out at the castle and let out a breath that was lost in the wind.

“That’s how I was able to get past their words. I’m little more than a human now, the wards don’t sense me as fae now,” I said. “But I can get you in if I mask you. I haven’t tried it before, but I’m sure it’ll work. From there, I think you’ll know where to look for the rest of the book.”

Azriel scowled at me and took a step forward. He laid his hand on my arm and his had turned my chin to him so I would look up at him.

“Why didn't you tell me about this?”

I smiled slightly and leaned my hand against Azriel’s hand.

“Azriel, look at me and honestly tell me that you would have let me go if you had known?”

Azriel’s scowl softened and he rubbed his thumb against my cheek. At last he smiled. As small as it was, it gave me comfort.

“No, I wouldn’t have.”

I smiled and pulled Azriel’s hand from my face, knowing it was time we left. My mate let me pull away and I could feel his eyes watching me. I pointed out to the castle, where the water lapped at the high cliffs.

“Down there, two fingers from the left parapet and down two more fingers is a guard door that isn’t used anymore. You’ll see a small boat tied there, the waves have all but destroyed it, but the tunnel leads inside the castle. There are wards, but I can get you past them,” I said. Azriel followed my directions and I watched his eyes as he easily found the boat that I could barely see.

“Can I winnow down?”

“You’ll be able to, just not inside the castle walls. There’s a ward against that too.”

Azriel nodded and picked me up. We winnowed in half a second down to the small alcove where the guard door was. I latched onto the rough side of the cliff, very much aware of the fall below me.

I held out my hand and pressed it against the wooden door, feeling the magic humming there.

“Open,” I whispered, my magic sliding past the lock, convincing the door to open. It unlocked with a click and I pushed the door the rest of the way in. I nodded my head to Azriel and slipped inside.

Azriel followed, only to smack against an unseen barrier where the door had been. He swore and stepped back, blinking.

“I don’t think it worked.”

I scowled and looked at the door frame, running my hands over the words that had been carved into the wood. They were ancient wards, some I recognized and some I didn't. The only curious thing about them, was that they appeared to have been carved recently.

“No, someone carved new wards,” I replied. I touched my finger to the runes and jerked my fingers back like I had been burned.

Azriel started forward and hit the barrier again.

“What happened?”

I shook my head.

“It knows I have magic, I think. I’m not sure I can tamper with it.”

“Then we go back,” Azriel said firmly. “I’m not letting you in there alone.”

I gave Azriel a look and cocked my brows at my mate.

“I’m the one who’s been in here before, I’m not going to waste this trip now. Don’t worry about me, just stay here and don’t get in trouble.”

“Myriad.” Azriel’s voice was a growl low enough to make me shudder. If it hadn’t been for the barrier between us, then I almost would have heeded the Shadowsinger’s growl of warning.

I gave Azriel my motst confident smile and touched my knuckles to my forehead.

“I made a bargain with Rhysand. I’ll be back.”

I left before Azriel could try and stop me, feeling a twinge of guilt. But, I had a job to do, and if I could before Rhysand had to share Velaris with those queens, then it was all worthwhile.

*** *** ***

The castle was as I remembered it. Cold, well built, every brick in designed for a specific function. Unlike those above the wall, this castle was not marked by the decorative finery and craft of fae structures. The human castle was built with a clear purpose- defense. Built by specifically by human hands to keep out fae invaders.

If I had still possessed my magic, I would have felt the pressure of those heavy magical defenses. Instead, the wards in and out of the castle made me feel only partially restricted, like I was walking with weights around my ankles.

I was making my way up, keeping away from the more populated areas of the castle, though there were very few people to be seen, servant and guard alike. I had masked myself from sight, the best I could manage, relying on the siphons I still wore on my hands, using them as a source of magic for my witchcraft.

The queens kept a room in the east wing that contained their library of precious ancient texts and irreplaceable jewels,. If the queens were to keep their half of the book, they would keep it there,in the most secure place in the castle.

The room with the most wards.

I had enough strength built up to try and spell through the wards and then haul ass back down to Azriel or risk being caught by the castle guards.

I found the chamber without much difficulty and I felt a gentle resistance as I neared the wards around the simple wooden door. There were no new carvings on the door and I allowed myself a sigh of relief.

I ran my hands down the doorframe and worked at the wards, unspelling them with quiet whispers. The door unlocked and the wards fell away with more ease than I’d have liked. Some part of my stomach rolled, telling me that this was all too easy.

The door swung open and I entered the room.

Standing by a window, his hands folded behind his back was a tall man, his brown hair fell in soft, messy waves to his collar. I blinked and reached back for the door that had closed behind me.

“Don’t bother, Love.”

I could feel my masking spell drop and the breath leave my body when the man turned around.

And Jurian was gazing back at me.

“I remember you now,” he said softly. His eyes glinted as he walked forward to a small crystal table and poured himself a glass of wine from the bottle that rested there. He offered me a glass.

“You were Under the Mountain, with Amarantha. It took me a while, but the memories resurfaced eventually. You were her Meirleach. We humans call your kind ‘Siphons’.”

I licked my lips and placed my hand on the knife at my side.

“What are you doing here?”

“You don’t remember what Hybern said? I’m his emissary,” Jurian replied. He took a sip of wine and sighed, sniffing the red liquid. “And before you go looking, don’t bother. I gave the other half to the little queen. The golden haired one, Hela. She’s going to take it to your friends.”

I pressed my lips together and narrowed my eyes at Jurian. I began to walk further into the room, testing the air between us. Something stirred inside me, a memory, then another.

Hybern.

I remembered the Cauldron, I remembered the king throwing in Jurian’s eye and bone. I remembered...everything.

“He said you might remember,” Jurian said, his eyes on me. “You did well bringing the Shadowsinger here. At first I was impressed by how you managed to wrap him around your finger. Then all of the sudden it dawned on me. See, Hybern has his ways of seeing, part of the spell he put you under.”

Jurian set his wine glass down and smiled coldly.

“Does the Shadowsinger know that you’re mates? Or have you been lying to him?”

“You’re quick,” I replied hoarsely. My blood was running cold, but I replied trying to sound brave. “My relationship with Azriel has nothing to do with Hybern.”

I slid my knife out of its sheath and held it against my leg.

“I’m sure Hybern won't miss you if I just gut you here.”

Jurian shrugged and walked over to me till our noses almost touched. I was surprised to find we stood eye to eye.

“Mmm, you could gut me,” he said casually. “But then I’d miss working with you too much.” “I would never work for you.” “Hybern said you’d say something like that. He also told me to tell you that you belong to him as long as his spell is on you. No one but the King can undo it so I wouldn’t waste time trying to break out of it yourself,” Jurian purred. “You must do anything he says, and you fight it there will be consequences.”

I snorted and pushed close to Jurian, making him give up his ground.

“Like what?”

“Like that little shopkeeper’s boy Brannagh sees when you’re sleeping.” I felt my face drain of color and I stared at Jurian.

“When the queens are shown the Veritas, they’ll come to me with Rhysand’s precious secret. The best part is that you won’t be able to say a word about it.”

I snarled and raised knife to put it in Jurian’s neck. Jurian was too quick however and he grasped my wrist and twisted my hand back. The knife clattered to the ground and I hissed in pain.

“I wonder if your mate knows about this. It’d be grand to see the expression on his face when he realizes everything you’ve been hiding. That you’ve been the King’s spy all along. I wonder what he will say.” “Let go,” I hissed, twisting my hand back. I kicked my boot into Jurian’s shin and slammed my fist down against his ear. I flew to the door and wrenched it open, taking off down the hallway before Jurian could catch up with me.

My search was over. The book wasn’t here, the human queen Hela already had it.

I had to get to Azriel before the curse clouded my mind and the memories of this conversation were lost in the black fog.

“The young Queen has the book, they’re planning an attack on Velaris,” I muttered to myself. I felt my breath hitch in my throat when I hit the first stair flight to the lower levels.

My headache became worse.

“Queen has the book,” I rasped, my breathing growing ragged as I struggled to keep the information alive. “Velaris is in trouble.”

My breath began to feel like fire in my lungs, each breath like a knife slicing through me.

“Velaris isn’t….isn’t…”

I growled, running back down the hallway to where I could see the light from the sky.

“Velaris,” I gasped, trying to find the memory of the last few minutes, but that image of Jurian was fading.

It was all fading.

“No….no Myriad, fight it,” I gasped. I pulled the memories back up, fighting to keep them free.

I was only met with pain and I screamed as I dropped down, falling just outside the door, free of the castle’s spells.

I slammed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the high pitched ringing. I could taste blood against my lips.

“I can’t remember!” I snarled against the pain, feeling Azriel’s hands around me. He shouted something but I didn't hear it.

“Myriad! What happened?! Look at me!” Azriel pulled my hands away from my face, his eyes frantically searching me.

I took a gulp of air and shuddered, letting go of the hope that I’d be able to gather the memory again.

They were already lost. All that was left was black fog.

“I can’t remember,” I gasped. I stared at Azriel, forgetting to hide my feelings as they careened down the mating bond between us.

Frustration, fear, desolation.

Azriel blinked and watched me, his hands still on either side of my face.

“You remembered them? The spell from Hybern?” I nodded, reaching up to place my hands on either side of Azriel’s scarred ones.

“Yes.”

Azriel looked up and let out a breath through his nose. I looked where he was looking and realized we were in the townhouse.

“When Rhysand gets back, we’re going to try and break through,” he said.

“No,” I croaked. I shook my head. “I don’t want him in my head.”

“Myriad, you have to try.” “I said no.”

Azriel’s look was searing. I could clearly taste his anger and frustration with me. I stayed firm. I’d have to find some other way to break the spell. I didn't want the Highlord in my head.

“Fine.” Azriel helped me to my feet and ran his thumb over my lips, wiping away the blood that had stopped flowing from my nose.

“I’m sorry Azriel,” I said after a minute. “I just don’t want Rhysand in my head.” “I get it,” Azriel murmured. He led me to the kitchen where he soaked a towel under water and handed it to me. I frowned at him as I wiped my face.

“The rest of the book wasn’t there.” Azriel shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll find a way around it. Rhysand will find a way around it,” he replied. “He always does.”

I sat down and sighed, folding the towel.

“I still failed. I told him I’d find it. Now he’s going to have to show them Velaris.”

Azriel closed the distance between us and he very gently pulled me into a hug.

“We’ll protect this city. We still have time to win the queens over.” “We both know they’re liars.”

Azriel nodded and kissed my head. “I know.”

I buried my face into Azriel’s neck and breathed in the scent of my mate, hugging him tightly.

“Whatever this brings Myriad,” Azriel whispered. “Don’t blame yourself.”

Tagging: @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading @mikaylamee

#sjmaas #fanfiction #acotar #acowar #acormaf

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Hiatus

So there’s a reason to my absence with the story and just my absence on tumblr in general. I kind of took a hiatus. I’m just very tired and stressed with life and work right now. College is looming ahead of me and right now my priorities lay with my academic life right now.

I am by no means abandoning The Vixen!!! Absolutely not! I’m finishing this bad boy! I have so much already planned but I just needed a breather. The flow and voice of the story are greatly holding me back. So with the next couple chapter instalments, there will be some huge changes. Not massive, just....much needed ones.

As for posting times, I may move it down to a chapter every two weeks? I’m not sure at this point.

#updates #personal

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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There wont be a chapter posted today due to me having to actually finish said chapter! I’ll be back to regularly posting hopefully next week when I stockpile some chapters for y’all to read!

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Chapter Fifteen

Ha! I lied....it’s the 18th! I broke through some miserable writers block after juggling eight million things at once. College prep, work, personal things bugging me to the brink of insanity. Now I’m back however, having binge read @rhysand-vs-rowan‘s fanfictions on Archive of our Own. Yeah, I was in withdrawal. I need ACOFAS to come out like now. Anyway, the mood is back, the writing is back. I feel also like...I’ve made an improvement in story flow? Like, it just writes better now. I don’t know. It happens when I take breaks.

So The Vixen returns! The plot thickens and I...keep on writing. Also tagging my amazing beta, @court-0f-dreamers who I have sorely neglected these past weeks. I’m sorry babe!

Summary: Myriad was Amarantha's spy, lover and tool. After nearly fifty years of being used by the self made queen, Myriad breaks free only to fall into the clutches of Hybern and used to spy once more, this time on Night Court's inner circle. Myriad discovers a tie between her and the tightly knit family and struggles to find her place, and earn the trust she craves.

“You’re very distracted today, Myriad.

I looked over my shoulder from the rich purple banner I was hanging inside Claudius’s shop window. The old fae smiled at me and handed me a tack to fasten the banner.

“I’m not distracted just…” I sighed and pressed the tack into the plaster above the window. “Alright, maybe I am a little distracted. There’s...someone.”

Claudius smiled and raised an eyebrow and offered me a hand as I came down the ladder.

“That sounds intriguing,” he chuckled. He pushed some of my hair back behind my ear and fixed the collar of my shirt. “And who’s eye have you caught?”

I gave Claudius a look and shook my head.

“You’d laugh at me.”

Claudius did laugh and he handed me a string with little stars attached to it to hang outside.

I took the decoration and sighed, picking at a knot on the string. I wondered if I should tell my friend about Azriel. I hadn’t quite caught Azriel’s eye, not in the way Claudius thought. No that’s not true. I had caught his eye, only I was too much of a coward to admit it.

“One of Rhysand’s Inner Circle,” I said carefully.

I went outside to hang the decoration and Claudius followed to help me. Theo was outside drawing on the shop wall with colored chalk I had gotten him from the rainbow’s many artist shops. The female I had purchased them from asked me if they were for a child of mine. I had replied no, but the thought lingered with me. I almost wished Theo was my child, I loved him as dearly as if he might’ve been my own.

“Which one would that be?” Claudius asked.

I snapped out of my reverie and helped the old male climb the ladder in front of the window.

“Uh.” I cleared my throat, feeling that if I spoke his name out loud, Azriel would come out of nowhere.

“Is it the Shadowsinger who’d come calling a few times?” Claudius asked.

I gaped at him. Azriel had come here?!

“Yes,” I finally stuttered out. I handed Claudius the string and he fastened it around the window corner. “Why was Azriel here?”

“He knew you liked this place and he was also looking for you when you disappeared those few days.”

Theo looked up from his chalk drawing, stars that ranged from greens to pinks and purples. He grinned at me and scrambled over, wiping his dusty, colored hands all over my trousers.

“He was nice. I liked him. Does he like you?”

I picked Theo up and rubbed a smear of purple off his nose.

“You eavesdrop too much,” I replied, kissing his curly head.

Theo laughed and squirmed out of my arms, back on the ground to go chasing after a cat that had pawed at his chalk. I smiled after the child and shook my head, handing Claudius the other half of the star string.

“Yes, It’s Azriel. And it’s nothing like that so stop your grinning.”

Claudius was grinning as he hung the last of the string and descended the ladder.

“I’m just thinking it’s nice that you have him looking after you like that.”

I pushed my hair back and held my hand against my neck. Claudius was right about that. I was lucky to have Azriel watching my back.

I thought of our kiss back in the Winter court and how I had overreacted towards him. I remembered the shame in his face and wished I could take back the slap I had given him.

I was a coward for that and I would be a coward again tonight by avoiding him.

“I’ve decided I’ll be staying with you tonight,” I said quietly. Claudius gave me a disappointed look over his shoulder but I raised a hand.

“I’m not interested in starting anything with him, really.”

“Or you’re simply avoiding a good male,” Claudius replied.

I sighed and shrugged, calling Theo back from the alleyway.

“I have two perfectly good males to keep company here.”

The rest of the day passed uneventfully until the evening when the sun began to go down. Claudius had brought me a dress he had meant for me to wear on Starfall and no matter how many times I tried to politely refuse it, I had found myself in it by sundown.

The dress was nothing extraordinary, though when Claudius gave it to me, he told me it was Theo’s mother’s dress.

“She wore it before Theo was born,” Claudius said as he smoothed the dress down on the guestroom bed. “Nadia was so much like little Theo. She’d be happy to know you were around, looking out for her son. He loves you.”

And so here I was, dressed to join in festivities, with Claudius’s words echoing in my head.

It was soft, worn at least a few times. It was of a silky fabric that appeared to be dark blue, though, when the light hit it, the blue was revealed as iridescent. Greens, purples and red were hidden in the fabric that had very little adornment except for silver embroidery at the sleeves.

The sleeves hit just above my wrists as I was a little taller than Nadia. The neckline is modest and I was thankful for that as it scooped just barely an inch below my collar bone, enough that my scars were invisible.

I chose soft slippers for my shoes, silver that matched the dress and the hem that brushed the tops of my feet.

I studied myself in the mirror for a very long time to take in my appearance. My hair I had washed and combed with my fingers now hung over my shoulders, longer than I remembered seeing it the last time. I drew in a breath and pinned my hair back at the sides, leaving the rest of my wild curls to fall down my back

I felt pretty. I couldn’t contend with the beauty of the Morrigan or Feyre, but I at least felt somewhat pretty. For the first time in a long time. I was beautiful once. But that was a long, long time ago.

I stayed by the music shop, my fiddle against my knee. Passersby nodded to me and some even smiled and asked me to play for them. I shook my head and kept busy by tuning the instrument, waiting to watch the star spirits whisk by.

When I was a little girl, I used to watch the stars fall from outside my cave home until mother called me in. Mother hated Starfall, something about it made her frightened. I was never frightened by it, I thought it was beautiful.

Then the starfall came and the people stopped and stared, as if the city had taken a breath and held it. The spirits passed by, some raining down to hit the building with their glittering bright colors, leaving stains of the evidence behind. After the start, the music and laughter began and I found myself smiling, listening to the sounds of people making merry.

“Will you sing now?”

I looked down when Theo walked out of the shop and plopped himself by my knee. I raised my brows at him and lifted my fiddle.

“I can’t sing and play at the same time,” I replied. Theo pouted and looked up when Claudius came out and handed me a lyre. I set my fiddle beside me and ran my hands over the pale colored Lyre. I squinted at the lettering on the back of the lyre and my eyes widened.

“Casta Bevera,” I exclaimed. Claudius nodded and he sat in his wooden rocking chair on the porch of his shop.

“It’s of her handiwork. I know she taught you a long time ago,” he said. I nodded and set the lyre on my knee, stroking the cords. I sighed at the low, melodic sound the omitted.

Theo spread his legs out in front of him and looked up at me in expectation. I laughed and shook my head, sitting up straighter as I dug up the dusty ballads and dancing songs I had locked away in my brain.

I decided on a basic tune, the first Casta had taught me. I cleared my throat a few times and tried the cords before I started on the words.

I was a little off tune at first before I got into the melody of the song.

It was a simple song, one of the first that Casta had taught me when she’d taken me on as her apprentice. It was about a maiden who came to work for a lord and it went on to tell about her falling in love and the two marrying in the end. A fairytale of sorts, the kind people liked to listen to.

When the song finished, I set my open hand on the cords of the lyre and stilled the thrum that resonated from it. Theo was looking at me in awe and Claudius gave me a warm smile, nodding to me to sing again.

I felt my heart stir when I realized a few passersby had stopped as well and seemed to be waiting for me to continue. I smiled and set the lyre down to pick up my fiddle. I tucked the instrument under my chin and waved my bow at Theo. “Up on your feet Theo and lets see if you can keep up,” I challenged the giggling child.

I set my bow on my fiddle andrew out a few notes before I launched into a fast paced reel. Theo laughed and began hopping from one foot to the other, making the bystanders laugh and clap their hands in time with his dancing.

I grinned, my fingers flying wildly over the strings like they were dancing in time as well. My foot kept time on the pavement and I shut my eyes, listening as a few more feet joined Theo’s.

Claudius was laughing and clapping in time with the music, getting a laugh from me as I sped my pace to an almost devilish speed. I opened my eyes again, grinning at the sight of more fae joining our little circle, dancing with each other. I had almost forgotten what it was like to bring this kind of joy and fun to an audience.

I once told Casta that it was my greatest pleasure to bring people to laughter or tears and lead them in dancing or singing with my music, and here I was, bringing a street full of people to dance. No one cared who it was who played, and I was happy I could provide.

Beside me, Claudius had brought out a small pipe and took a minute to find an accompaniment to my reel before he began with me, adding to the pace of the song.

There were a few whoops from the crowd that had gathered and more fae linked arms and danced or cheered the two of us from the street.

I laughed, my fingers warming on the strings as they flew over them, my fiddle screeching out even louder than before. I looked over at Claudius and winked, standing up to play.

“Dance with me, Myriad!” Theo cried, running over to me.

I winked at the child and kept on playing, whirling around him. He shrieked with laughter and hopped beside me, the two of us spinning around each other.

Claudius put his pipe down and raised his hand to get my attention.

“Myriad!”

I looked over at my old friend and moved over to him.

He held his hands out for my fiddle and I handed it to him. His eyes twinkled and he took my instrument.

“Go dance, girl,” he whispered. “Have fun.”

“I am having fun, Claudius,” I replied. I kissed the older fae on his head and ran back over to Theo, taking his hands and whirling him as Claudius started another reel.

I spun Theo around and around, the two of us dancing together. I felt like a child again.

As the music progressed and more fae joined the dance, I found myself switching partners. I danced with a small female and the two of us spun together till we broke off and I was with a male.

It kept going like this till I broke off with another younger male and my hands folded into familiar cool hands and the smell of pine and woodsmoke enveloped me. I felt my breath woosh out of my body and I looked up at Azriel.

He was grinning at me.

I think that was the first time I had seen him ever grin.

“You look like you’re having fun,” he said lowly as he spun me around, one hand dropping to the small of my back. “Whoever got you in a dress is a miracle worker.”

I only gaped at Azriel.

�� He looked...happy. Handsome. Not that he wasn’t already. His hair was tousled, though it looked like it had been combed back at one point. He was out of his armor, and in a clean tunic and trousers that I tried not to stare too hard at.

“Y-you look nice,” I stammered, catching my breath after Azriel spun the both of us. He flung me out and pulled me back in against his chest.

I felt a small, nervous laugh escape me. Azriel grinned down at me and his eyes sparkled like fallen starlight.

I scrunched my brows together. “Hold on...you’re drunk.”

Azriel laughed, a deep rumbling sound that I could feel resonate into my body.

“I’ve had a few glasses to drink but I’m nowhere near drunk, Myriad.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“I thought you’d be the morose drunk.”

Azriel grinned and spun me around again, making my feet leave the ground. He set me back down quite gently and I found myself gaping at him again. Azriel’s smile turned a bit soft when he tucked my unbound hair back behind my ear. “Rhys is the morose drunk. Cassian gets loose with the opposite gender,” Azriel explain as we both swung around each other with the music.

I grinned at my mate and squeezed his hand before we both linked arms.

“And you just fall asleep like an overworked baby?” Azriel laughed again--Cauldron it was glorious!

“No, I tend to say a lot of things that I really don’t want to say. What about you?”

I glanced over at Claudius who, over his fiddle, winked at me.

“I like to be alone when I drink.”

Azriel tilted his head and was silent, waiting for me to keep talking. I stalled, letting Azriel move me with the music--which had gotten a little slower, thanks to Claudius’s meddling.

“Would you like to have a drink with me?” Azriel asked abruptly.

I cast my eyes away from Azriel’s and down to where he was holding me hand. I stared at his siphon and bit my lip.

Azriel sighed and he let go of my waist and tilted my chin back up.

“It won’t hurt you to have a little fun, Myriad.”

“I don’t want to end up doing something that I’ll regret,” I replied.

Azriel raised both his eyebrows and twirled me around, making my dress flare around both our legs. He pulled my tightly against his chest and I felt my breath whoosh out.

“I’ll make sure you don’t pick a fight.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Azriel was most certainly not sober and in a way, I thought him almost boyish. Perhaps this was his hidden behavior under his usual somber mask of the Shadowsinger.

“Alright then,” I said. I pulled away from Azriel, though kept my hand in his. “Lead the way.”

I let Azriel me pull him away from the crowd and down the street, passing several fae who were talking in groups, enjoying the night.

I took a moment to look up at the sky, still filled with the shooting stars, spirits or whatever they were. It was like someone had swiped a glittering paint brush across the sky for our delight.

I felt Azriel stop beside me and he squeezed my hand, reminding me that I was still holding his.

“This is the first Starfall we’ve celebrated since Rhys came back. Before, it was a reminder of who we didn't have and what we had lost.”

I looked up at Azriel and watched his face, free of shadows and now lit with the glow of falling starlight. He was serious, yet at the same time, he had a look of profound relief on his face.

“Rhysand put a protection on Velaris,” he said quietly. “Before his power faded from Amarantha’s curse, he sealed us in Velaris and sealed the city from the rest of the world. We were safe but...we hated him for it. For forty nine years we waited for him because we had nothing better to do.”

I shivered at the thought of being trapped in a city for that long.

“At least Velaris was safe and all ended well, after all.”

Azriel looked back down at me and he nodded. He held my gaze for a long time and we didn't say anything to each other.

I finally looked away, feeling my cheeks heat. Azriel was almost a different person tonight.

“I want to see how talkative you are, let’s go get something to drink and celebrate a very happy Starfall,” I said. I raised my hand in the air in a theatrical manner. “The highlord gets the girl and his minions drink themselves to dawn. A night of wonders indeed.”

Azriel began to laugh again and he nudged me, making me stumble a bit to the side. I grinned back at the laughing Illyrian and shoved him back. Azriel’s great wings flared and kept him steady.

“You’re in a fine mood tonight,” he exclaimed. I smiled and tucked my hair back behind my ear, feeling my ears heat.

“So are you.”

Azriel snorted softly and nodded. He opened his mouth, but paused before he said anything. I tilted my head curiously, waiting to see if he’d speak before I had to beg the answer from him.

After a minute, Azriel looked down at me and smiled. If I didn't know better, I would have said his look was almost shy.

“Fly with me, Myriad.”

“Why?”

Azriel merely smiled and I saw a flicker of shadow near his ear that he brushed away. “You’ll see.”

The Shadowsinger launched himself into the sky, leaving me behind as the wind from his wings blew my dress around my legs.

Azriel was a mystery indeed. One moment he wanted a drink with me and the next...

I unfurled my wings and launched myself into the air behind Azriel, catching up to him. The two of us flew in silence over Velaris and I took the moment to look out of the twinkling city, the lights reflecting back on the Sidras river.

I was hesitant to think about where Azriel was taking me and why he was taking me. I recalled the feeling of our very brief kiss a few days before. I felt my stomach tighten in a knot. Perhaps Azriel would kiss me again, or maybe he had realized how bad of a decision I was and he’d leave it at just that.

I sighed into the wind and pulled myself from my thoughts to follow Azriel.

Azriel banked left and I wheeled after him till we were flying side by side. He looked over at me and pointed to a grove in what appeared to be a grotto of sorts. He descended down to the grotto and I followed, the two of us landing in the soft grass. The Grotto overlooked the Sidras and gave us a clear view of the sky, not inhibited by any buildings.

“I used to come here when we were trapped in the city,” Azriel said, sitting down on the grass. I sat next to him and slipped my shoes off, curling my toes in the cool grass.

“You wouldn’t think you could get claustrophobic in a city this big, but I did. Coming here,” Azriel sighed and laid back, his wings making a soft slither against the grass as he laid comfortably on his back. “Coming here helped. It reminded me that there was an open sky and air that I could breath.”

I laid back next to Azriel and propped myself up on one elbow.

“Did you believe Rhysand would come back or…?” Azriel shrugged and tucked his arms behind his head. “Eventually. We were trying to find a way to break his seal, so even if we had to stay here another fifty years, we would have kept trying to go after him. Then he just winnowed in and the spell fell.”

“He has good friends,” I said softly. I plucked some grass up and twisted it between my finger before I let it fall back down.

“Why did you bring me here?”

Azriel sat up and set his hands in his lap, his dark eyes watching me. I plucked another few blades of grass and ran them between my fingers again. “Myriad, we didn't get the chance to talk after what happened on the ice,” he said. I felt my stomach roll and guilt washed over me. I said nothing, so Azriel continued.

“But...I wanted to thank you and...apologize.” I looked at Azriel and touched his hand.

“Azriel...you don’t have to apologize.”

Azriel sat up straight and stared at me.

I wouldn’t lie. I had spent a long while rehearsing what I might say to Azriel should he bring up the subject of the Winter Court. Truth be told, I had liked the kiss. I wanted it too. Perhaps not in the moment, but afterwards.

When Azriel had fallen below the ice, I had panicked. The mating bond had gone tight and though Azriel hadn’t yet realized we were mated, I knew he was drawn to me for a reason. However, he had Mor and I felt guilty for getting between whatever it was they might have. Or may not have.

It almost felt like I was leading a child astray.

I had considered telling him.

I reached up and pushed Azriel’s dark hair back, clearing it from his forehead. He looked young, too young.

He froze like an animal trying to remain unseen by a predator. His shadows curled around his ear and I dropped my hand to reach out for the shadows but they danced out of my way. I wondered if they knew my secret.

“What do they say?”

Azriel blinked and he pulled my hand down, holding it.

“They say that you’re strange and wild, but that I’m safe with you. That I can trust you.”

I looked at our hands and I threaded my fingers with Azriel’s.

I would make another bad decision tonight.

“And do you?”

Azriel’s voice was hoarse when he answered.

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes and moved forward, my lips just barely brushing against Azriel’s cheek.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you, even though I know I probably shouldn’t,” I whispered. “Because I think of everything I am and why I shouldn’t even begin to think of you in any other way but as a friend...but I don’t.”

Azriel drew in a uneven breath, matching my own and he threaded his hand into my hair, by my cheek. “Then why don’t you?” he asked, his voice lower than mine.

“Because I think if I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop and I’d lose myself in you,” I replied hoarsely.

I met Azriel’s eyes and I tried to read the emotions swirling in my mate’s eyes.

“I...have feelings for you,” I continued. “I don’t know if they’re right, but…”

Azriel put his finger up to my lips and silenced me. Before I could speak any further, he pulled his finger away and replaced it with his lips.

He was just as soft and gentle as before, his lips warm against mine. I felt my breath hitch in my throat and I held quite still until Azriel pulled back.

We watched each other for a minute. Thoughts were racing through my brain, clouding my judgement. I wanted this, I knew I wanted this and I wanted what it might lead too. I had wanted this since Azriel had taken me in, since he had kissed me. I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

My instincts screamed for my mate, yet my conscience held me back, telling me this was wrong. I couldn’t lead Azriel on without telling him. If I told him, where would that lead? Who would come after him? Would he be safe?

I could tell Azriel he was my mate, but where would that get me? I think it would drive a spike between him and his friends, a place I knew I didn't belong. “Azriel…” Azriel dropped his gaze and pulled away from me, shadows wreathing his form again. “I’m sorry.” He began to get up but I grabbed his arm, my grip hard and desperate. Azriel sat back down, his mouth open to speak. I kissed him before he could say anything further. Everything happened so fast.

I moved against Azriel and pushed him onto the grass, my hand on his broad chest. The two of us both went down and I rolled on top of Azriel, straddling his hips.

My heart hammered in my chest, loud enough that I thought Azriel would hear.

I felt a gasp escape my lips when Azriel’s cool hands slipped up my thighs, pulling the fabric of my dress up. There his hands stayed and he broke our kiss.

We stared at each other again and Azriel searched my eyes. I didn't look away. I couldn’t.

“Myriad, what do you want?”

He gave me a choice.

Azriel would always give me a choice.

Though my mind screamed no, my heart said yes.

I wanted this. “Everything, Azriel.

Tagging: @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading @mikaylamee

#sarah j maas #fanfiction #acotar #acowar #acomaf

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Easter Break!

I will be going on a two week break from posting! I've been rather swamped with stuff so I need to step back, readjust my chi and get back into the step of writing. I feel so bad leaving you guys hanging!! But I'll be back to posting on the 11th of April.

#personal

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Chapter Fourteen

I almost forgot to post again!! Lord, I’m bad at this....and running out of chapters! Tagging my epic beta, @court-0f-dreamers

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen

Summary: This story follows the path of someone who turns pity into malice and revenge into a lifestyle. Someone who doesn’t believe in love’s power and strays from what little good she has in her heart. Myriad is a fae with the rare ability to leech magic from other face, leaving them husks of their former selves. Myriad worked for and was Amarantha’s secret pet, spy and lover. After the Queen’s death, Myriad leaves to live in solace. On her journey, she’s captured by Hybern and set with a task to complete. Penetrate the workings of the Nightcourt and report to the King. During this time she falls in with the Inner Circle by a chance meeting with a male from her past. She must then gain their trust, in turn, discovering things about herself in the process, fighting the unbreakable command the King of Hybern gave her. (This follows the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses thru to the end of the series. Slow burn Azriel/Myriad) (Roughly inspired by Disney’s Maleficent.)

Rhysand and Feyre were enough to make me want to vomit.

Sure, of course they were perfect for each other; a blind fae could see that.

Still, I was glad of the wind in my ears so that I didn't have to listen to Rhysand’s perverted flirting. He had the gift of making any female--or male--aroused just from the sensual presence of him.

“Glaring at them isn’t going to make it go away you know.” I rolled my eyes when Cassian stuck his unwanted company in my flying space.

“There is the entire sky for you to fly in and you choose to fly next to me.”

Cassian grinned lazily and raised his brows. The dark hair that wasn’t back in his topknot was whipped around his face like little black whips.

“Because I don’t trust you flying behind Rhys.”

I gasped mockingly.

“Oh yes, that’s right! Because I have some diabolical plan to stab Rhysand in the back with his two Illyrian puppy dogs watching me. Not to mention we have Rhysand’s ticking time bomb of a girlfriend that I want to whisk away to Hybern,” I said with mock seriousness.

I looked at Cassian blandly, but the look washalf ruined as I spat out a stray curl that flew into my mouth.

Cassian snorted and flew beneath me to come up on my other side.

“Maybe I got sick of staring at your ass in those leathers. Although it is a pretty nice look.”

I snarled and banked away from Cassian before I did something stupid, like break my hand trying to punch him again. “You’re disgusting. I don’t see why you people didn't let me go with Mor.”

“Mor currently despises your existence for putting Azriel’s life in danger,” Cassian replied evenly. “I think you’d rather fly with us.”

“That wasn’t my fault! And you should know,” I shot back with venom in my voice . “You pulled us out of the ice.”

Cassian raised his eyebrows again and I took a quick glance at Azriel who was a mere blur in the sky. We had hardly had the chance to talk after what happened on the ice. It seemed like Rhysand was keeping him busy but I was afraid Azriel was keeping his distance. Perhaps it was for the best.

I looked away from Azriel and down to the pine covered land below us. It was very dismal, just the sea of green. Everything was the same, monotone desaturated color of green, brown and gray speckled with a few bits of black or blue areas of water.

I turned my eyes away for a hair's breadth of a second only to be drawn back by a very unnatural flash, like sunlight glinting off a mirror...or armor.

I heard something whiz passed me. I tucked my wings in close to my body and rammed full speed into Cassian pushing him to the left as an arrow again flew passed us both, right through the spot where Cassian had been a second ago.

Cassian reacted faster than I had seen a male move and he pulled his wings in, grabbed me around my waist and had a shield around us as more arrows were shot up from the woods.

“Ash,” Cassian said into my ear above the wind as we banked away from another arrow and more.

I watched as Rhysand plummeted from the sky and winnowed down to the ground. Azriel wasn’t far behind and I felt Cassian tuck his wings in to follow. I pulled out of his grip so I wouldn’t be taken down with them.

I knew where I had seen the flash and I didn't want to waste time explaining where I had seen the flash. Whoever was there could have already been gone or was wiping away their traces.

I pulled back, spreading my wings out to slow myself for the turn and caught Azriel’s eyes before he was covered by the trees.

The moment Cassian was gone, I shifted into my raven form so I wouldn’t attract attention in case our attackers were still around.

I flew swiftly to the spot where I had seen the flash and I soared down, even my enhanced eyes could see very little through the pine. I landed on a branch and cawed involuntarily. There was a small clearing and I could see tracks in the stirred up pine needles. I flew down and shifted, my fae feet landed softly in the pine needles.

Whoever had shot at us was long gone by now. Most likely they had winnowed.

I bent down and touched the needles, moving them around a little, looking for any bit of presence the intruders might have left behind. Their auras were gone and I felt nothing but the ground.

“Well shit.”

I sighed and stood up, dusting my hands off.

Then my knife was out of its sheath in a second and I whirled around, the knife a hair away from Cassian’s neck. He pushed my blade away and I sheathed it again.

“Don’t sneak up on me.”

Cassian stepped away from me and looked around the clearing, ignoring me. I scowled at being ignored by the larger Illyrian, so I filled the silence with talk.

“I saw a flash from here right before the arrow was fired at us,” I explained. “They left nothing. They must have winnowed out.”

“Obviously,” Cassian replied. “Rhys gave us an hour to search.” The Illyrian crouched by a track in the needles and set his fingertips in it, his siphons flaring a bright scarlet.

“You pushed me out of the way,” he said lowly, not looking up at me. “Why?” I shrugged and walked to the trees at the edge of the clearing, looking at the bark to see if I had missed anything.

“I was moving away from the arrow and you just happened to be in the way.”

Cassian grunted and stood up, walking over to look at the trees as well. “Liar.” I rolled my eyes and scowled at Cassian’s profile. “Okay, so maybe I didn't want you to get gutted unawares. Maybe I have a tiny conscience. Surprise.”

Cassian looked down at me and smirked.

“I’m not surprised. Just interested.”

I growled lowly and scuffed my feet in the pine needles, destroying the tracks there. Cassian drove me mad the way he just hovered and picked me apart.

“There’s nothing here,” I said. “Let’s go.”

Cassian nodded and looked up at the sky.

“Alright. Rhys is up there looking, you keep around here, comb every inch,” he said. I nodded my acknowledgement as Cassian took off into the sky.

*** *** ***

An hour later and we found nothing. Rhys had yet to return from the search and I arrived to the gates just as Mor walked into the mountain with a scandalously clad Feyre at her arm. Cassian and Azriel wore grim faces that told me all I needed to know of how well the search had gone.

We waited a while and Azriel looked to me, his face impassive and aloof.

“Rhys wants you to remain unseen. You’re to wait for me, I’ll get you when we’re ready to find the Veritas.”

I inwardly cringed at the cold tone of Azriel’s voice, but nodded all the same.

“Fine.”

I glammored myself, changing my leathers to a dress in the Night Court fashion, my hair I changed to a silky black and my wings disappeared into my back. I smirked at the two and walked past the gate.

The Court of Nightmares was just that.

Under the Mountain was a badly built replica compared to the oppressive beauty that was the Court of Nightmares.

I bit back a rush of bitter memories and casually walked into the crowds, blending in easily with the fae. Mor and Feyre were by Rhysand’s dais already, both looking severe, regal, yet fearsome at the same time.

I hated this Court. The whole place was disgusting.

Cassian and Azriel arrived next and stood with them on the dais. Loyal guards, warriors. I sneered into my glass of wine that I had taken from a table. It was an act. Necessary, but the waste of food and drink reminded me of everything I hated about Amarantha.

Then came Rhysand’s entrance.

He had loosened a damper on his power and I felt the ancient magic in my bones. My siphons, under my glamour, glowed brightly as my magic sang for Rhysand’s power, begging to drink from that dark well. As one, the crowd bent on one knee in a bow and I reluctantly followed in suit.

It seemed an eternity before Rhysand let the crowd up and as one, the crowd rose. There was a dull smirk on Rhysand’s face as he now had Feyre in his lap, stroking his hand up her pale thigh.

“Go play.”

The crowd dispersed and resumed its ramblings, music striking up from a corner. I swallowed and turned away, feeling edgy to get the Veritas and go.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I whirled, caught unawares. Azriel held his finger up to his mouth and he pulled me close, wreathing the both of us in shadow as he winnowed us from the throne room.

We winnowed outside a large door, in an abandoned hallway hewn of stone and lit with faelights. Azriel was barely visible as he let go of me and moved to the door. He looked at me, his eyes glowing slightly in the shadows that shrouded his features.

“Keir’s collection room.” “I assume it’s locked,” I replied, dropping my glamour. Azriel held out a small dark key and cast me a look as he unlocked the door. “I came prepared.”

I snorted. Of course he was prepared. “Right.”

Azriel swung the door open and waved me inside before him. I stepped into the large room and looked around. The room was well lit, shelves lining the walls and set up in rows like a library. There were alcoves where items of finery, vases, helmets, a few diadems on the pedestals, lit by green faelight. It was a hoard, but an organized hoard.

“So what does this Veritas look like?”

I walked further into the room, shivering as I felt a pull from some of the items in the room. Not just items of wealth, or battle trophies but items of power too - and I could feel them calling to me.

“It’s almost a crystal ball,” Azriel replied. “Small. Though it’s in a box.” He looked over his shoulder at me and nodded to the door.

“I’ll get it, you watch the door.”

I gave the Shadowsinger a dry look at my mediocre duty but let him disappear into the room, his shadows fanning out across the shelfs.

I turned my hands over and looked at my siphons for a moment, glowing a dull blue. I wasn’t very fond of Keir’s hoard room. I hated the feeling of whispers around the place. Like something there wanted me to know it was there.

Witchling.

I jerked my head back up and shoved off the door. I checked the door and found it was still locked. There was no one in the room but Azriel and I.

Follow.

I jerked around when I heard the voice in my ear again. It was like a finger sliding down my spine. The voice was neither young or old, male or female, but I knew in my bones that it was ancient.

Myriad, follow.

I felt a cool breath of air on my cheek, like someone had whispered against my face. How did it know my name?

I moved my feet like I was walking in mud, my steps slow, almost as if I didn't want to move them on my own accord.

The call from the voice was unsettling, but it burned in me with a need to follow. My power pulled me in the direction I heard the voice sigh, like it knew just what to find.

I finally stopped in front of a small pedestal in one of the tucked away alcoves, only this one was not lit by faelight, it was dark. Resting on the cushion was an amulet. It wasn’t very large at all. Made of a silver metal, the amulet was a disc, a white stone set in the middle of it. On either side of the disc were two crescent moons with runes written across them.

This was not Keir’s to take. Take it witchling. It belongs to you, for a witch has never set foot in this place in a thousand years. Take it and return it to your people.

I blinked sluggishly and reached out and took the amulet off the cushion. The white stone seemed to glow as it touched my skin and the crescent moons clicked, sliding into place to frame the disc along their inner curves. The amulet stone dulled back to its pale color and I felt the presence around me gone, only to be replaced by the heavy weight in my hand.

I rubbed my thumb over the amulet and frowned, squinting at the runes. They were familiar. I felt my heart skip a beat when I realized that they were a more distorted version of the runic symbols my mother had taught me. More ancient, graceful...deadly. It could be a spell on the amulet, or worse: something I didn't want to fool with.

I made to put the amulet back and felt a chill run up my arm like someone had touched it.

I tried again and it was the same feeling.

Fine, I thought. I’ll keep the damn thing.

I wandered back to the door and in good time. I slipped the amulet over my head and under my leathers just as Azriel reappeared with a box in his hands. He looked at me for a minute and I raised both my brows. “That’s what all the fuss is about?” I asked, trying to mask how unnerved I was. Azriel watched me for a moment longer than I thought necessary, his shadows curling around his ears. He opened his mouth then closed it, though his eyes had a warning in them that told me he knew I had stolen something.

“We got what we came here for. Let’s go.”

Tagging: @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading @mikaylamee

#acotar #acowar #acomaf #sarah j maas #fanfiction

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter Thirteen

I’m getting closer to part two...and the part where I run out of chapters because I’m a lazy writer. And a shoutout to @court-0f-dreamers for reading my hideous unfinished chapter before it was ready to be seen!! LOL Slinking in a hole, friend....

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve

For a moment I thought I was dead.

Then came the cold.

Every inch of my body was so cold. I was shaking with it.

That was when I realized I wasn’t dead. After all, was death really that cold? I would have rather taken death then to stand another minute of the burning cold.

I woke up. I was covered in blankets and beside one of the largest fires I had ever seen in a fireplace. Every nerve in my body burned with cold as another warm blanket was placed over me, adding to the heat that just wasn’t able to seep into my bones.

“Good, you’re awake. Stupid girl.”

I groaned in reply.

A face came into view and I recognized Madja, the healer who had saved my life before.

“What possessed you to jump after Azriel? You could have both been killed. In fact, you almost were if Cassian hadn’t gotten to you in time. Stupid girl.”

“Cassian...how?”

I tried to sit up but Madja shoved my back down by my shoulder. I let her.

“Azriel sent him a message, which he got, barely in time to pull you from the water. You both were half drowned and frozen.”

“Azriel,” I asked. “Is Azriel alright? He was stabbed. He’s alright isn’t he?” Madja’s face softened and she reached out to push my curls from my face and feel my forehead.

“Whatever you did for him saved him. Those witch spells you wrote over him almost repelled my magic,” she said lowly. “But you kept him alive.” “I hadn’t meant to.” Madja nodded and smiled kindly. “I know. He’s alive, and dont worry he has suffered much worse in the past, believe me, child.”

I closed my eyes and pulled the blankets under my chin. At least Azriel was alright. I touched the bond, nestled in my chest, and it felt quiet. Not as if Azriel wasn’t there, but rather that he was safe and wasn’t in any pain.

Madja brushed my hair back again and I heard her sigh.

“Go back to sleep, Rhysand will want to talk to you when you’re rested,” she said gently. I snorted in answer. “Who’s idea was that? Yours?” Majda tucked my blankets up and stood. “Yes. Now go to sleep.”

*** *** ***

I woke to the distinct feeling that I was being watched.

My blankets fell off me as I sat up and looked around. The only sound I heard was the soft crackle as the fire died in the fireplace and the creaks and groans of Madja’s house.

I saw nothing and I smelled nothing, but the sense of being watched was still there.

“Who’s there? Rhysand?” I pushed my blankets off and stood, turning around fully.

I started when Rhysand materialized from the shadows and stepped forward.

“The sleeping beauty wakes at last. Three days is a little dramatic for an ice bath,” Rhys said as he lazily waved his hand and the fire came back to life.

“Get comfortable. I want to chat.”

The highlord’s voice boded no argument so I sat down on the couch and watched as the Rhysand took a seat closest to the fire in a plush armchair.

“What do you want to talk about so badly that you have to wake me in the middle of the night?”

Rhysand settled his chin on two fingers and watched me, his violet eyes holding mine for what seemed like ages.

“You’re a more accomplished witch than you let on,” he said quietly. “Azriel told me everything. About Asta and about what happened in the Winter court. Don’t worry, I’m not angry with him for taking you. I am curious however. You have an aunt, who has been living under Kallias’s nose for Cauldron knows how long and we’ve only just found out. This could be trouble.”

“Already is,” I replied. I pulled my knees up under my chin and watched Rhysand. He had stopped looking at me and he seemed enraptured by the fire. The yellow light made his whole face gleam wickedly, reminding me of the monster I had come to know Under the Mountain.

“If you’re thinking she might side with Hybern,” I said, quietly. “I don’t think she will. She didn't...I think she has only her own interests in mind. Taking a side with Hybern, or anyone, isn’t on her agenda.” Rhysand looked back at me and this time I met his stare, once again wondering if he was looking through my head.

He was silent for a long while and I almost thought our conversation was over when the Highlord spoke again.

“Amren tells me you have been to the Human Queens’ court.”

I nodded, warily. This was the second time the human Queens were brought up.

“Yes. Why?” Rhysand ran a hand through his dark hair and sat back in his chair. His face looked lined, like he had a weight on his body that he’d been holding up for long time.

“I need your help. You know what we retrieved from the Summer Court,” he asked. I nodded and Rhysand continued. “The Queens have the other half of the Book of Breathings, as part of the peace treaty between our people. We need to get that other half and in order to do that, we need to gain their trust.” I snorted and raised my eyebrows.

“Kind of hard to do when our entire race enslaved the humans hundreds of years ago. That, and you’re the Highlord of the Court of Nightmares, which makes you nearly impossible to trust.”

Rhysand’s lips turned up in one of his smirks.

“I know. That’s why I’m going to show them Velaris.”

I sat up straight and stared at Rhysand, thinking he had to have gone mad.

“What?!”

“You heard me,” Rhysand replied, crossing his leg over his knee. I let my feet slip off the couch and I stood up.

“Have you gone mad, Rhysand?! You have no idea who they could sell Velaris out to! They are selfish, greedy humans. You are better off just killing them outright and stealing this book.” Rhysand nodded and waved a hand lazily.

“Cassian already brought that up. It would take too much time; time we don’t have,” he said quietly. “Besides, electing a better monarch in such a short amount of time is nearly impossible.” I narrowed my eyes and began to pace. “You don’t have to set up the damn humans’ kingdom for them. Let them figure it out. They are not our problem. We’d all be better off with those vipers dead anyway.” “Feyre doesn’t think so. If you remember, Myriad,” Rhysand drawled. “She was once human. Her sisters are human. The destruction of the human realm is not what she wants, nor what I want either. It’s not beneficial to our cause.”

I turned around and looked Rhysand in the eyes.

“Then let me steal it. I’ve been there before,” I said. “I can find it.”

Rhysand raised his eyebrows and looked at me differently now. He still wore his infernal smirk, but his eyes seemed to be reading me in a way he’d never looked at me before.

“Why don’t you want me to show Velaris to the Queens?” he asked. His voice was barely above a whisper.

I pressed my lips together and fell silent. It was only after a few minutes of silence that I gathered my thoughts to speak the truth.

“Because Velaris...Velaris is good. It’s the only place on this damned earth that Hybern and Amarantha couldn’t touch. The people here are good, genuinely good. They don’t need to be dragged into this so some self righteous humans can be satisfied that you’re not the monsters you claim to be.”

My voice got thick and I swallowed a few times past the knot in my throat.

“Let the world keep seeing you as Amarantha’s whore. If that is what the price is to keep these people, your city safe, then you bloody well should do it. This place is their home.”

I thought of little Theo and Claudius with their music shop. I thought of the Rainbow, full of laughter, color, life and art. These people didn't need the war that Rhysand said was coming. Maybe it was selfish, but Velaris didn't need to be stained. Not by the likes of Hybern or the Human Queens.

“Velaris is home to so many good people,” I finally whispered. “My home.”

I heard Rhysand get up and he leaned against the fireplace.

“Because it’s what you would do?”

I looked up at Rhysand and scowled, drawing my eyebrows together.

“That’s exactly what I would do,” I replied coldly. “Because when you show an ounce of compassion, you show weakness. All those you love are hurt because you care about them. And maybe that makes me the greater monster, but I’d rather die a thousand deaths, or serve a thousand times for a thousand Amaranthas than have those I love hurt. Either that, or you don’t love at all.”

Rhysand watched me with his old eyes, his mouth no longer smirking. If I didn't know better, I would have thought I’d seen pity.

“And who are you protecting behind your mask?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Rhysand shifted and he stuck his hands in his pockets.

“I have a few good guesses, but I’ll save them for later.”

He sighed and rolled his well muscled shoulders, looking me over from head to toe.

“We leave for the Court of Nightmares to get the Veritas from Keir, Mor’s father.”

I rolled my eyes and rested my elbow on the mantle.

“I know who Keir is,” I snorted. Rhysand gave me a smooth smile.

“Good. Then I want you to come with us, you can go with Azriel to find the Veritas. Azriel tells me you have some witch tricks up your sleeves. Use them, you’ll need them.”

“And why should I go with you?” Rhysand simply shrugged.

“Because if you can pass this little test, than I will let you go to the human realm and see if you can find the Book.”

I tilted my head to the side and frowned.

“But you said--”

“I know. Let’s just say I always have a backup plan and you happen to be my backup plan.”

I knew why Rhysand had said the things he said. I fell victim to his manipulation again. Only this time, he knew why I’d go to find the book. I cursed myself for being so open.

“Fine. I’ll go,” I spat. “But don’t think for one second that it’s because of you and your damn war.”

Rhysand gave me a feline smile and he pointed to the couch where a folded pile of Illyrian fighting leathers laid. Next to it, was a bandolier of throwing knives and two good sized fighting knives.

“Compliments of Azriel,” Rhysand said innocently. “How he even knew your size is a marvel to me.”

“Fuck off.”

Rhysand’s laugh rang in my now red ears and I turned where he couldn’t see me. Still though, the thought of Azriel finding me the leathers made me uneasy. I hoped after what happened in the Winter court, he’d have gone back to pining after Mor and leave me alone.

“We leave tomorrow. You’ll fly in with Cassian and Az.”

Rhysand gave me one more look over before he mockingly nodded his head to me.

“See you there.”

Tagging: @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading @mikaylamee

#acotar #acowar #acomaf #sarah j maas #fanfiction

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Chapter Twelve

So I might have forgotten/gotten to busy to post yesterday. I got roped into helping my dad out with stuff and before I knew it, the day had slipped away.

Anyway, thanks again to my epic, awesome beta @court-0f-dreamers who had told me that chapters 13 and 14 weren’t the most boring chapters in the world...even though I still think they are... XD

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven

Azriel and I said nothing to each other the whole trip up to the mountain pass. We didn't even look at each other.

We were still in our Winter court fae guises until the mill was out of sight, then we let our glammors fade.

Once, just once, I chanced a look at Azriel.

His lips were tight, his entire face pinched in a stony expressionless look that instantly deterred me from speaking to him.

Some part of me wanted to talk to him, to apologize for what I may have encouraged last night. But I didn't say anything, knowing the apologies would be false ones.

I pulled my coat closer to my skin, the bow on my back slid down my shoulder a little so I pulled that up too. I had took the bow from Nikolas after he’d grudgingly offered it to me.

“Swords will be no use to you, for if the wolves have gotten that close, then you’re already dead.”

I didn't argue when he handed me the weapon.

I paused at the foot of a great pine tree, looking up at the darkened mountain pass, carved into the rock long ago. Whether by fae hands, nature or something else.

“It feels guarded.”

I looked up at Azriel when he at last said something. His voice was muffled by the falling snow as it seemed to suck all other sound from around us. I nodded, I too, felt the static of some unknown magic in the air. It tasted us, seeming to weigh the threat we posed.

A howl interrupted my thoughts and my boots crunched in the snow as I walked to Azriel’s side.

“The wolves...on queue.” Azriel snorted and looked down at me, his dark eyes burning with an emotion I had no desire to decipher.

I looked away from my mate and squinted at the pass as another howl sounded in reply to the first.

“Ice wolves...I hope it’s just a metaphor.”

“Simile,” Azriel replied. I turned my head to him and narrowed my eyes in annoyance.

“Does it matter?”

Before Azriel could answer, a snarl sounded from the pass and a wolf, white as snow stepped forward. It was only until it’s hide was touched by sunlight that I realized the wolf...the wolf was made of ice.

“Metaphor then,” I said tightly. Azriel made a sound that could have been a laugh as he unsheathed his sword, siphons flashing with power, a shield around us.

The wolf stepped closer to us, followed by several more of its pack. Like the leader, they too were made of ice, crystals of flawless ice that flowed over the enchanted wolves like real fur. Their blue eyes stared us down, blue as Azriel’s siphons. I felt a shiver go down my spine at the intelligence I saw there.

The leader opened its jaws and let loose an ear shattering howl that shook snow off the trees above us. I stepped closer to Azriel and blasted out a wave of flames towards the wolves. It hit them and passed through them, not a single hair on their hide melting. I felt my face drain of color and I unslung my bow.

“Old fashioned way it is.”

The wolves began to circle us and Azriel and I moved back to back, circling with the wolves. They would occasionally snap their translucent fangs at us, snarling, testing us out to see how much of a threat we posed. I wondered if they killed because they were protecting the area, or because they were hungry. Did they even eat fae?

The wolf leader stopped, as did its entire pack. It stared at me and sniffed the air between us. My hair stood up on end when that wolf laughed.

It was a blur, so fast, like the wind had kicked up the snow and the wolf blew apart. the flakes of ice swirled and reassembled into a female shape, piecing together until before me stood a woman with hair as black as ink and eyes…

My bow dropped from my hands and my knees buckled. I felt Azriel grab my coat belt to keep me from falling on my face.

My mother’s eyes were staring back at me.

“Lydia’s daughter come at last…” Asta said. I knew without a doubt that this witch in front of us was Asta. She waved a hand and the wolves vanished into puffs of snow.

Azriel hauled me back, kept me against his chest as he leveled his sword at the witch fae in from of him.

Asta looked at Azriel with amusement on her wickedly beautiful face.

“An Illyrian shadowsinger,” Asta purred. “I must be important if Rhysand has sent his personal shadow with my niece to find me. How lucky she is.”

Her eyes lingered on Azriel’s wings and I could see a glint when she saw my ink wards on my mate’s wings.

Those eyes turned on me and I threatened to fall, piss myself or vomit. The last time I’d seen those eyes, the light had faded from them and my mother was dead. This wasn’t my mother in front of me. There were similarities, yes, but there were differences as well.

“Lydia never told you about me,” Asta asked. She looked surprised when I shook my head.

“My mother told me very little about anything,” I managed to say. To my credit, I didn't sound as weak as I felt.

Asta folded her white hands behind her back and smiled. Her mouth was the same as my mothers, the same as mine.

“You must be so full of questions to come this far to find me,” she said lightly. I pushed away from Azriel and nodded.

“I am.”

Asta nodded her head and gave me another smile, more wicked than the one before. She glanced at Azriel again, her eyes once again flicking to his wings. I wondered distantly where Asta’s wings were. If she truly was Illyrian that was.

I looked up at Azriel and he just gave me a dip of his chin, enough to tell me I was in charge of this one.

I looked back at Asta, at my aunt, and motioned a hand.

“Let’s go then.”

*** *** ***

I didn't like it.

Every instinct screamed for me to run away, leave the witch, grab Azriel and go. But, I was stupid enough not to. When Asta led us to her humble cabin, it was at the edge of a lake that appeared to be frozen for a century and had the ruins of a long-destroyed establishment around it.

I had questions burning on my lips.

Azriel was silent, his shadows wreathed around him, forever reporting. I wonder if he was still communicating with Rhysand or the wraith twins, even out here.

We were sat in the house, not a fire burned anywhere. That was interesting.

Asta sat with us at her kitchen table and smiled at me. I forced a smile on my face. Let her believe I was open, let her believe I was a fool who would fall into whatever trap she had set.

“How are you related to my mother?” I said the moment Asta looked comfortable. “My mother was Illyrian, where are your wings?”

Asta’s smile turned to ice and her eyes once again went to Azriel’s wings. Azriel calmly folded his wings behind him and stared the witch down.

“I wasn’t as lucky as Lydia was. See, your mother and I were half Illyrian. Our father, your grandfather, was an Illyrian,” Asta said, tearing her eyes from Azriel.

“She inherited his wings, I did not. Though I inherited our mother’s magic, more so than your mother though…” Asta cocked her head at me, at the siphons on my hands. “You smell like us. You’re powerful too. There’s a darkness inside you that I’ve smelled before.”

I nodded and folded my hands together, my eyes like flames.

“Your son. He had the same power. We call them Meirleach, we have the ability to drain another fae’s magic to use as our own.”

Asta’s eyes lit up and I pressed my lips together.

“Are there more?”

“No.” I leaned forward, letting Asta see the flames in my eyes, let her see the burn marks I put on the table. She didn't have a candle in her house, the fireplace hadn’t even see use. I wondered if she was frightened by flame.

“There’s only me,” I replied coolly. “Why did you never come find my mother?”

Asta stared at my fingers and he lips curled up.

“The flame of Autumn,” she whispered. “The Highlord’s heir sired you. Oh sister, you always wanted a seat in power…”

My eyes narrowed. Eris had several brothers, the seat of the Highlord, should Beron be killed, wasn’t promised to any of the sons yet, that was why they kept trying to kill each other off.

“How do you know that?” Azriel said smoothly. Asta looked back at him, brightness in her eyes as she looked at my mate with...lust. I snarled. Asta ignored me.

“So the shadowsinger does speak.”

Azriel’s eyes were cold and hard as flint when he looked at the witch.

“Answer the question, or I’ll make sure you do. We came here for answers, not riddles. We’ve been given too many riddles lately,” Azriel drawled. He sounded bored. I knew he was feeling Asta out.

“Ah, with Hybern. Yes, that problem.”

Asta looked back at me and took my hand before I could snatch it away. Her hands felt like ice.

She smiled at me and I felt my stomach sour.

“Lydia taught you well, little niece, but how much did she teach you? Did she tell you of us? Of the coven, of the separation? Did she tell you why you’re able to possess the power that rolls in your blood and begs to be released? Of why you’re the only one?”

Asta gripped my hand tight and I felt my breathing slow. There was a roaring in my ears as I narrowed my gaze on my aunt.

“Clever,” she whispered, turning my hand over. She pushed up my sleeve and hissed at the marks I’d written there. I clamped my hand around Asta’s wrist and smiled enough to bare my teeth.

“I want to know why I am what I am,” I said lowly. “I want to know why you abandoned your son if you could have used him. What was to gain?”

Asta hissed again and I realized I was burning her. I didn't let go.

“The males can’t contain it as well as the females, for there are no male witches among us,” Asta said. I released her hand and she rubbed her wrist, looking over at Azriel who had taken up a post by the door. She smiled and I snarled again.

“Why do you keep looking at him?” I hissed. Asta smirked and rolled her shoulders.

“You’re a shifter, we all can shift,” she said and twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “You can possess another’s strengths if you wear their skin...and he has a lovely skin, don’t you think?”

I felt my blood boil and I stood.

“This was a waste of time,” I snapped. Asta watched my and stood as well.

“Was it? Did you get all the answers you wanted?”

No.

I looked at the witch as she stood above me. She was taunting me.

“You need a teacher, I could teach you many things,” Asta purred. I didn't want to know.

“We’re done here, witch.” “Don’t you want to know why Amarantha lusted after you. Why she kept you on such a tight leash? Why she had you in that dungeon those nights ago...why she…”

I snarled and was over the table in an instant. I had my knife to Asta’s throat in half a second.

“Breath another word, bitch and I will slit your gods damned throat,” I sad lowly. Asta smiled and he eyes slid to Azriel again.

“Oh...does he not know? Is that why Rhysand has never spoken about what he saw in your mind. He unlocked that box and saw what I saw, little fox...let’s say, he’s kinder than I am,” Asta purred.

My blade dug into the witch’s throat, drawing blood, bright red against her skin.

“Breeding,” Asta whispered, her voice so low I hardly caught the word. “She needed a bitch to breed her master’s army.”

My breath was suddenly sucked from my lungs and I stared at the witch, my breathing the only sound in my ears.

Daemati.

I blasted Asta back with a wall of flames and leapt off the table, already running for the door that Azriel had flung open.

“She’s a Daemati,” I gasped as I ran past Azriel and flung myself into the snow.

“What?!”

Azriel was behind me in an instant, his sword out once again.

“We need to leave,” I said.

Leaving was on the top of my list.

“Winnow,” I gasped, my breath short. Azriel grabbed my hand and..and nothing happened. Our eyes met and I saw actually concern in Azriel’s eyes.

“She’s blocking us,” I whispered. I skid to a stop, sliding on the ice of the lake. I swiftly looked around the lake and counted the rocks I had thought at first to be ruins of an old fortress. No, they weren’t. There were five of them, all across from each other around the rough circle of the lake. Stones...stones with runes on them.

“Fuck,” I breathed. “She’s built us an arena.”

I watched as Asta walked out onto the ice, her wolves with her again, circling us. She held out her hands and the wind picked up, throwing the snow around us in a blinding whiteout. I instantly reached out for Azriel and touched his cold hand. He was wreathed in shadows, his dark power seeming to shield him, become him.

I didn't even think to be afraid of him.

“She’s playing a game,” I said lowly. “Please...please don’t do anything reckless.”

Azriel smiled, gods he smiled. He looked terrifying, like he was going to enjoy the fight before us.

“I was going to say that to you, Myriad,” he said softly, his voice like a whetstone on a blade. “You were holding back on Cassian, weren’t you?” I couldn’t help a smirk.

“I don’t like to reveal my hand all at once.”

“You may have to,” Azriel said, close to my ear. I nodded and my siphons flared as bright as Azriel’s. Time to shut up.

We pressed our backs together and Azriel’s shadows spanned out, darting into the snow like arrows. The shadows came back and curled around Azriel’s ear, whispering their news to him.

I didn't have time to think about what news Azriel had gained when a wolf leapt through the snow at the both of us. Azriel was on top of it before I had the chance to move.

I stared as he sliced his sword through the wolf’s neck, shattering the ice it was made of across the lake. He was up on his feet when another wolf jumped and it jarred me into action, not to watch my mate fight, but to actually help him fight.

My knives were in my hands and just in time as a wolf slammed into my back. I cursed as fangs snapped where my head had been before I moved it. I rolled, tucked my feet under me and kicked the thing off. My knife left my hand and buried in the wolf’s blue eye. It went down with a bark and I launched myself to my feet, running for my weapon.

It was in my hand in time for me to dodge another one of the enchanted beasts. It jumped far, landing a few feet away from me, rebounded and ran back at me, it’s teeth aimed for my throat. I didn't let it get that far as I met it mid leap and slammed my fist into its crystalline neck. It shattered beneath my fist.

Pain shot up my arm s my fist was sliced by the ice, but I kept moving.

A snarl worked its way onto my face.

I smelled blood.

My mate’s blood.

Azriel was bleeding, the same as I. Asta did this. She made my mate bleed and I wouldn’t stand for it.

I loosed a scream and my siphons glowed bright as a wave of flame spread out from me, my wings unfurling in the mighty flame of Autumn. Not a hair on Azriel’s head was scorched, nor mine. The wind cleared, the wolves were melted and there was Asta, looking like the cat that caught the canary.

I leashed in my power and stared down the witch.

“Fight!”

Asta looked between me and Azriel, at the glance Azriel gave me. I ignored him, ignored the ice that had cracked beneath my display of flames. I knew in my bones I couldn’t ignore that Asta had drawn my mate’s blood. It was personal.

The witch seemed to scent it too and she gave me a half smile and raised a sword of ice to her hand and disappeared.

Four of her reappeared and I stepped back in shock.

Projections. But each as solid as Asta herself.

“Find me, Little Fox,” they said in unison. I stepped back, my back once again going against Azriel’s. “That temper is going to get you in trouble,” Azriel growled.

“It already has.”

I held up my blades as the projections struck as one. The circled us like crows, the ice swords flicking out only to be blocked and parried by Azriel and my blades.

Steel and ice rang out in the silent winter landscape. The only sound to cut through the silence.

The projections were closing in and Azriel and I had to keep stepping out to block each blow. The witches didn't move like one unit, they moved like they each had their own thought, own intuition to hit us where it hurt.

Move. Lunge. Block. Thrust. Step back, turn. Block high. Block low. There were blades everywhere, all around me and suddenly Azriel was not at my back.

We had been drawn apart.

I snarled in rage. Rage fueled my fight and I began to bite back.

The projection I was squared off against gave me ground and I stepped in. It swung it’s sword high, aiming for my neck. I ducked under the blade and brought my knifes up. One in its spine and the other in the back of its head. The projection vanished in a whirl of snow.

A flash of pain alerted me of the presence behind me and I whirled, my hand going to my shoulder. There was now a long cut over my shoulder.

“You think you can win where others have failed before?’

I raised my knives against Asta. So she’d revealed herself.

“You started this, Asta,” I hissed. I cast a glance at Azriel. He was more than holding his own against the two projections. He was toying with them, keeping them busy.

I walked backwards and grinned at Asta.

“You gonna just sit there and chat? We had plenty of time to do that in your kitchen.” I sent flames down my blades and danced towards Asta. She danced with me.

We swirled around each other, our blades connecting high and low. Each move was calculated and anticipated. I saw in Asta’s eyes that she thought we were matched.

We weren’t.

Her ice blade collided with my flaming daggers. Our faces were mere inches from each other when I let a little tendril of my power slip free from my siphons. I let a little bit of my monster free.

My victory was short lived when I found there was no power in Asta.

For it wasn’t Asta.

The projection smiled back at me and shoved me back so hard I landed on my ass in the snow.

“Surprise, niece,” it said and vanished.

I stared at where the projection had been.

I realized I was off the ice. Out of that gods damned arena and Azriel--

Fuck.

I looked back at where the shadowsing was now fighting four of Asta’s projections and didn't see Asta who seemed to step out of nowhere behind him.

She had been distracting me from what she was really after.

Azriel.

I was screaming.

It was my fault Azriel faltered and looked over at me. It was just what Asta needed to strike.

She had the audacity to smile at me before she drove her ice blade between Azriel’s shoulder blades.

There was a roaring in my ears and a pain in my chest.

Then shadow.

I materialized in front of Asta, my movements trailed by shadows and threads as my powers surged forward for the witch.

She raised a shield and grinned at me.

I heard the ice split and I looked under my feet to see water clogging my boots. The ice was breaking and Azriel slumped on the lake’s frozen surface…

Asta laughed when Azriel’s body cracked through the ice into the black water beneath us.

“Your mate or me, Myriad,” Asta said, beginning to back away.

I chose my mate.

The water sucked any breath I had gathered in my lungs out. I hadn’t expected the cold to be as powerful as it was when I dove into the black water.

I couldn’t see.

I felt a panic bubble in my chest, and in my throat, as I swam down, down.

I couldn’t see.

I had to be right behind Azriel. His wings would drag him down.

Don’t lose him.

With a surge of magic, the only I could muster under the water, I lit up my hands with a short lived flame.

It was enough to see Azriel’s body being dragged down with the current.

I swam after him, my legs burning with the effort of moving against the lake’s current, against the cold already threatening to take over my mind.

My hand hit leather, then hair and I found the back of Azriel’s leathers.

A powerful kick had me surging for the surface, already my lungs burned for air and I distantly wondered how much water Azriel had consumed.

Bubbles flew from my mouth and water was dragged in. My throat burned, my lungs burned.

I raised my hand, seeing the light of the surface.

Almost there.

My hand outstretched, fingers ready to break the surface.

I hit solid ice.

What little air I had left flew from my mouth and bubbled around my head. I slammed my hand against the ice, screaming under the water. I couldn’t die this way! I couldn’t let Azriel die with me.

My hand thumped against the ice.

Over and over.

I slammed my fist again, weaker.

Cold settled over me as my body loosened and relaxed.

Perhaps this wasn't so bad after all.

And as I lost consciousness, I thought I saw a flash of red and feel someone grabbing my hand.

Tags @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading @mikaylamee

#acotar #acowar #acomaf #sarah j maas #fanfiction

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Chapter Eleven

Taps fingers awkwardly So...the GIF hunt was awkward.

Tagging my epic Beta, @court-0f-dreamers for helping me out! Unfortunately she’s having some writing troubles with her fic. Go give her love and support!! Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten

We glammored ourselves as Winter court fae the moment we crossed the court’s borders. I had to say I was amused to see Azriel without his wings, his dark hair a snow white color. I could tell Azriel was equally amused by my appearance as well.

“What?” I snapped for what seemed like the hundredth time as I caught Azriel sneaking a glance at me. He shrugged and I swear I saw a smile on his lips before he turned his face from me.

“Your freckles stand out more now.” I blinked and felt my face heat up.

“And that’s funny how?” Azriel shrugged his shoulders. “It reminds me that you’re much younger than you act. Sometimes you seem so old Myriad.”

“Maybe I prefer it that way,” I said quietly. Azriel turned back to me and his eyes narrowed. He stopped walking and put his hand out in front of my chest, keeping me from passing him.

I looked up at him and held my breath for a lecture. Azriel stood in front of me and put both his hands on my shoulders.

“I’ve looked out for you Myriad, I see myself as your friend and you hide so much from me. Everyone has a right to keep secrets but yours are taking their toll on you. You have so much inside of you and I want to help you...but only if you’ll open up to me.”

I stared at Azriel, meeting his eyes. I knew he wanted to help me but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him anything. As much as I liked him, as much as the mating bond pulled me to him, I could never open up to him.

“Why do you care so much?” I asked as I brushed Azriel’s hands from my shoulders. “You have plenty of friends and I prefer not to have any.”

I looked over my shoulder and narrowed my eyes.

“I like you Azriel, as a friend. The first friend I’ve had in a long time but it’s better this way. Trust me.”

Azriel’s face got his usual unreadable expression and he shouldered his pack again.

“I trust you.”

*** *** ***

Word had been sent by Azriel’s contact that the deceased meirleach’s uncle was willing to room us and give us both the information we needed. We’d remain in our aliases to him, so our presence in the winter court would remain, hopefully, unnoticed.

The male lived on the border of a small mountain town, in an old lumber mill. It was dusk when we reached the mill and the male was out chopping wood when we arrived. He seemed older, tall, well built. Azriel was the first to approach him and he hiked his pack up as the male set down his axe to look at the shadowsinger.

“You must be Aaron,” he said, eyeing Azriel with his pale blue eyes. “Darick said you’d arrive soon.”

He looked at me and I held his eyes till he looked away. “Who’s this?”

I walked forward and stuck out my hand, smiling timidly.

“Eowan sir.”

The fae took my hand and his grip was more gentle than I anticipated. The fae cast a look over me again, his nostrils flaring at my scent that I had tried to hide. He looked at Azriel and let go of my hand.

“Darick didn't say you’d bring a witch.”

Azriel shrugged and eyed the axe that the fae still held. “He told you what you needed to know, Nikolas,” he said in a low voice. “We should talk inside. The less know about our visit, the better.”

Nikolas scowled and gave me one last look before he kicked his axe up to let it rest on his shoulder. “Come inside, I’ve got dinner prepared.”

We were led inside the house and were instantly met by the smell of a woodfire and freshly baked bread. My stomach growled.

Nikolas set his axe by the door and motioned for us to put up our coats. Azriel and I hung our coats up and I made the extra effort to remove my boots as well. Azriel gave me a raised eyebrow and I shrugged.

“He seems friendly,” I whispered.

Azriel looked over his shoulder and bent down to remove his boots as well, though he leaned close to me.

“He smells you. You may not know it, but you do have an underlying scent that is not of ordinary fae. I don’t think he likes or trusts witches very much.”

“That’s obvious.” I shot back. “I want to know why.”

Azriel met my eyes and lightly bumped my shoulder with his.

“Be patient.”

I nodded and stood up, careful not to step in the fallen snow. I waited for Azriel and we both walked through the humble house to the kitchen where Nikolas already had three bowls prepared for us. He brought a stew and some bread to the table and began to serve us.

“Darick said you wanted to know about my brother’s wife?” he asked. Azriel pulled out my seat and I sat down, watching as the shadowsinger did the same.

“That’s why we’re here.”

Nikolas sat and pulled his bowl to him.

“Her name was Asta. She came to this village fifty years ago and seduced my brother into a marriage bed. He was blind to her ways, so smitten by her beauty and charm that he didn't see through the rest. Once she was with child, Brettor mysteriously died in a logging accident. Got caught in the mill they said.”

Nikolas snorted and dipped a hunk of bread into is soup.

“The fool was raised in this mill, it wasn’t no accident. One doesn’t just get caught in the mill when they were raised to work it. She bewitched him. I know she did. After she had the child, she left. Left the boy for me to raise and went into the mountains. No one went after her, no one dared after Brettor died.”

I pushed my soup around and dared a look at Nikolas.

“The boy...he...he was a meirleach?”

Nikolas gave me a burning look and he pointed a spoon at me.

“If that’s a name for the monster she left with me, then yes. The boy killed two children in the school yard when he was eleven. I locked him up after that.”

I felt my stomach churn and my face paled. Locked him up...no wonder the boy’s power consumed him.

“We heard rumor,” Azriel said. He leaned back in his seat and nodded his head to me.

“Erowan is the same as your nephew. Has the same power. Her mother was a witch as well.”

Nikolas glared at me and I jutted my chin up. He snorted and looked back at Azriel and tilted his head.

“Why do you want Asta?”

“I need to ask her questions,” I said smoothly. “Just tell us how to find her.”

Nikolas looked at Azriel and ignored me completely.

“You’re joking. Going into the mountains is suicide. They say she’s holed herself up in the pass. Wolves of ice guard it and yield to her will,” he said softly, as if speaking about the witch would bring her upon him.

“If she’s such a source of power, then why has the highlord not done anything about it?” Azriel asked between a bite of his soup. Nikolas snorted.

“Kallias has other things too important to worry about,” he said. “After everything with...well you know.”

“Amarantha,” I said flatly, my eyes threatening to return to their usual russet color. Nikolas looked at me and I could see the fear in his eyes when I said the name. I pushed my soup aside and sat back.

“We’re going to the pass tomorrow. We can handle ourselves.”

Nikolas snorted and looked back to his bowl.

“Then you’d better eat. It’s a three hour hike up the mountain.”

I brought my bowl back to me and sourly began to eat. Nikolas was right. I needed to keep my strength up.

�� *** *** ***

Later that night, Nikolas showed us to our room, the only one he had. Azriel and I were to do rotations every four hours to keep watch, sharing the bed between us. We both had a silent agreement that none of us trusted Nikolas to keep us a secret. We had our ways of keeping him silent if he should make any sort of alert.

The door was locked and Azriel and I both dropped our glamours. The shadowsinger was sitting on the bed sharpening his obsidian blade and I busied myself with mixing an ink I had taken from my pack. The ink started in a powder that I mixed with water from my flask. I slipped my knife from my boot and poked my thumb, letting a few drops of blood fall into the ink before my skin healed. I picked up my spoon again and began to whisk the mixture together.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up at Azriel and realized that the sound of him sharpening his blade had stopped. I held up the bowl.

“Ink, I’m mixing ink.”

Azriel tilted his head and slid his knife back in its sheath.

“What’s it for?”

I set the bowl down and fished out a fine brush from my pack.

“Lettering. A defense against Asta’s magic, should she use it,” I explained. “Witchcraft is different from our magic because they use different methods to conjure the magic. It’s not a natural magic like yours or mine. So our shields may be useless against it. My mother taught me the basics of defending myself against it.”

I sighed and pulled my hair up, twisting it into a knot on my head so it wouldn’t get in the way. I unbuttoned my tunic and pulled it off, my skin exposed to the warm air of the room.

I dipped my brush in the ink and began to write over my arms, small runes in columns up to my elbows. The ink set into my skin immediately and remained there in a semi permanent stain until I will it to wash away. I could feel Azriel looking at me and I had a flash of embarrassment, very glad I was still roughly covered by the darkness and the band around my breasts.

“Rhys is so elaborate with his tattoos,” Azriel said lowly. I looked over my shoulder, my brush hovering over my upper arm.

“Oh. The wings. Yes…”

I set the bush back on my skin, ignoring the sound of Azriel getting up from the bed.

“What does the writing say?”

Azriel sat across from me and I refused to look at him.

“Just spells. It’s too complicated to explain now. Basically I’m writing a shield against witchcraft on my skin. You know, shields from anything she may throw at us.”

I dipped my brush again and quickly wrote up my other arm and continued across my breast bone, over the scars that rested there.

“Who did that to you? Amarantha?”

I closed my eyes and the brush stopped in my hand. I knew what Azriel was reading. The scarred words carved across my chest and stomach.

“Someone I managed to piss off,” I said and opened my eyes again. Azriel’s face was dark and his shadows almost completely wreathed his features. His eyes though...Cauldron, his eyes were lit with a fury I never wanted to see on his face again.

I pressed my lips together and began to write again.

“His name was Tomas,” I said after a moment of silence. “We...we were in love, a long time ago.”

I licked my lips and dipped my brush, my runes that I painted over my skin coming out shaky. I set the brush down and put my hands on my knees.

“Right after I winnowed from the camp, where I first saw you, I ended up on the border of the Dawn court. I don’t know how I did but...I wandered about for a time till I reached the capital city. I lived on the streets for three years. I ended up stealing from the wrong female, Casta…”

I smiled slightly at the memory of my teacher and friend.

“She was a musician, she owned a school and she picked and chose her pupils critically. I don’t know what she saw in me but she ended up taking me in. That’s how I met Tomas. He was one of her apprentices.

“We...I...we were going to run away together and get married. I was only twenty five then, so young. Well…I’m sure you can guess what happened, young couples and everything.”

I ran my hand along the back of my neck and shook my head.

“We..the first time we were together...properly...I told him everything about who I was and what had happened to me in the illyrian camps and...and he just changed. He said I’d tricked him so he’d be sullied by a half-breed lesser fae bitch.”

I scowled and shook my head.

“I left him after that, right then and there. I’d never felt more used. I lost my temper and...I found him again and threatened to kill him. Almost did too, that’s when I realized what I could do. The meirleach in me woke up and I drained him a little. I don’t remember much after that except when he sent some of his father’s men after me. He was there too...the night they did this,” I waved a hand over my scars. “He said he’d make sure no male would ever want me again. They dumped me in the Middle afterwards, hoping I’d get eaten, I think .”

I looked up at Azriel and searched his face. He was stony. It looked like he hadn’t moved an inch, but I could see a muscle jump in his jaw and he unclenched his fists.

“What happened to them?”

I picked up my brush and finished painting my shields.

“It was a few years before I tracked them down again...but I killed them. Took my time. Dumped their bodies in the Middle.”

Azriel let out a pent up breath and he looked away from me.

“I would have tracked them down if they still breathed.”

I smiled a little and finished the last rune.

I motioned to the shadowsinger, ready to move on from the painful story.

“You’re turn, Azriel.”

Azriel nodded and pulled his shirt off, folding his wings neatly behind him. I tried not to stare at him too hard. His body was fit, chiseled and covered with beautiful, elaborate tattoos that swirled around his chest and down to his elbows. He was deadly in his beauty. His muscles were a weapon, a glorious weapon honed from years on the training fields, battlefields. Every breath he took was calculated. He was shadow and death, but I thought he was the most beautiful male I had seen.

I swallowed and dipped my brush again, writing as quickly as I could on Azriel’s arm, over his tattoos. I wanted to get this done as fast as I could and not linger on his hot skin beneath my brush.

Azriel held his breath and none of us spoke as I worked. I think he was as uncomfortable as I was with how close we were. I moved my brush across his shoulders to his chest, over and around his heart. I wrote a few extra lines, protecting his heart...my mate’s heart.

I finished in a few minutes and sat back. I could feel my face heat as I dipped my brush again.

“She’ll go for your wings,” I said curtly. “I can keep mine hidden but yours are vulnerable. May I…”

Azriel nodded and turned around, unfolding his wings for me. My brush quivered in my hand and I stared at those great wings, my heart pounding in my chest.

“This may...be sensitive.”

“It’s alright.”

I lowered my brush down and slowly began to write the protection spells across Azriel’s wings, being careful not to mess up a word. I could feel Azriel tense and he sat up straighter and sucked in a breath.

“I’m sorry,” I said hurriedly. I almost dropped the brush. “Just hold still.”

I swallowed again and continued to run the brush over Azriel’s wings, sealing in the ink as I worked. My brush strokes became soft as my hand grew confidence and I ignored Azriel completely, absorbed in my work.

The flow of my ink was smooth, almost sensuous. The ink moved across Azriel’s wings like the finest of paper, setting in solid lines till I dragged the brush to the tip of his wings, to where the bones met in an arch above his head and I was finished.

I moved my brush back and sat back, releasing a shaky breath. I reached out a finger and slowly ran it down the center of Azriel’s right wing, feeling the velvet soft skin under my hand. I marveled at my handiwork, the spells I’d written were perfect on his wings. For a moment I forgot what I was touching and how it affected an Illyrian Male.

Azriel groaned quietly and I moved my hand back, suddenly appalled at what I had done. It was stupid of me to touch his wing any more than I had to and I had the apologies on my lips in an instant.

Azriel turned his entire body in one fluid motion and he met my eyes. I didn't look away, for the first time I didn't drop my gaze from his. Some part of me wanted to touch him again, and hear the groan he’d let slip free again.

“Myriad…”

He stopped himself and I felt his hand go to my face. I was very still, yet I didn't--couldn’t tear my gaze from his. I didn't want him to look at me like that. Please no. It was hard enough...

Azriel’s fingers brushed my ear, becoming tangled in whatever curls had escaped my bun. His hand felt like a fire on my cheek and I finally lowered my gaze, willing my heart to remain in my chest instead of threatening to beat out of me.

“Myriad,” Azriel’s voice was a whisper and I parted my lips to answer...only to feel the shadowsinger’s lips suddenly on mine.

Everything stopped. Every sound, every denial, every wall I had built to keep something like this from happening came crashing down. My body sang for more, I almost responded to the kiss, almost put my entire body to Azriel’s. The mating bond that I only felt, that I kept hidden, sang for Azriel.

Azriel was gentle, the kiss barely a brush against my lips before he began to pull away again. I gasped in air and blinked, able to breath again, and with that breath, my senses came rushing back in a flood of anger. Stupid!

I scrambled to my feet in an instant, reaching for my tunic. Where had that come from?!

I felt a hand on my arm and without thinking, I grabbed Azriel’s wrist and elbow and twisted his arm off of me, doing exactly what Cassian had been trying to get me to do for days. I stared up into Azriel’s face, my breath coming in short gasps. I hadn’t realized he stood, was standing behind me, his own breath as ragged as mine.

“How dare you?!” I hissed in his face. “I told you I was your friend, and you...you take advantage of...of that?”

I saw shame in Azriel’s eyes and he lowered his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he began before I cut him off with a slap to his face. I think if he wanted, he could have blocked my blow. I wouldn’t let him speak. I couldn’t let him speak because I didn't know what I’d say.

I bundled my tunic to my chest and willed myself not to lose my temper any more than I already had. I didn't let Azriel finish before I swung my pack on my back and left the room, slamming the door behind me.

I put my shirt back on as I went down the stairs and I grabbed my coat and boots, stopping only to slide my boots on before I headed out to the mill. I’d sleep there that night.

The mill was warm, thanks to the mule that lived in the stall next to the empty one I threw myself in. The hay was fresh and soft, enough of a bed.

I should have seen it coming. I should have stopped it, nipped it in the bud but...I wanted it. Azriel’s shame had been enough to break my heart and I knew he truly was sorry for what he’d done. I didn't have enough sense to stop him either. When he kissed me...all I felt was the bond, connecting me to him. For a moment it felt like our heartbeats were one.

He was gentle.

He wanted nothing more from the kiss.

That’s why I began to cry. I realized, as I burrowed into the hay, that Azriel had been so gentle with that kiss. He hadn’t pushed his body against mine, hadn’t moved his hand to places on my body.

I’d never been kissed that way before. Not even by Tomas. Azriel’s kiss was as cool as his shadows. His kiss was a comfort.

And I didn't deserve that.

I didn't deserve Azriel in any way.

I rolled over and pulled my coat hood over my head, rubbing at the tears that ran down my nose.

I wanted to love Azriel, every fiber of my body screamed to love him. He was that missing piece of my soul...but I knew it could never be. Distancing myself was the only thing I could do to keep myself safe. To keep my gods-damned self safe from anything else being taken from me. If Hybern…

I shut the thought from my mind. No.

Azriel was better off without me anyway. I had nothing to offer him. Not like Mor, who dazzled in front of him. I bared my teeth in a snarl and pulled my coat close. I wiped my eyes again and rolled over in the hay.

In the morning. I’d deal with it in the morning.

Tagging: @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading

#acota #acomaf #acowar #fanfiction #sarah j maas

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Art Blog

Hey guys! So this one is out of context, chapter...thing...whatever. Ahem. I bring to you a special announcement of my art blog! It’s been around for a few months now and yes, trust me, I have been drawing for years and years and so I have now dedicated a lot of my art to Sarah J. Maas’s worlds.

So if you guys want to see art, concepts and other things along with my fanfiction...hit the link!!

https://magicspiceman.tumblr.com/

Check it out.

Cause if you want some impressive wingspans y’all might wanna check it out.

#my art. art blog

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

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Chapter Ten

I have made a breakthrough! My writer’s block is over and I’m officially back on track with my fanfiction. More to come in the next few weeks.

Thank you to my beta @court-0f-dreamers for helping me through it and listening to my pathetic rants and whining about how I can’t write. You’re a dream!!

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine

Summary: This story follows the path of someone who turns pity into malice and revenge into a lifestyle. Someone who doesn't believe in love's power and strays from what little good she has in her heart. Myriad is a fae with the rare ability to leech magic from other face, leaving them husks of their former selves. Myriad worked for and was Amarantha's secret pet, spy and lover. After the Queen's death, Myriad leaves to live in solace. On her journey, she's captured by Hybern and set with a task to complete. Penetrate the workings of the Nightcourt and report to the King. During this time she falls in with the Inner Circle by a chance meeting with a male from her past. She must then gain their trust, in turn, discovering things about herself in the process, fighting the unbreakable command the King of Hybern gave her. (This follows the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses thru to the end of the series. Slow burn Azriel/Myriad) (Roughly inspired by Disney's Maleficent.)

It was afternoon when Azriel landed with me outside Velaris. He flew us an hour outside the city into the wilderness where he explained to me that it would be safe enough should I have any outbursts again. He also said another outburst was unlikely.

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked around the wooded area. Azriel picked it well. We were secluded and only the keenest of eyes would be able to spot us from above.

I turned when I felt Azriel tap me on the shoulder. He was holding out two leather vambraces, Illyrian leather by the looks of it too. I looked up at him and hesitantly took the vambraces. My breath caught when I saw the blue siphons set in the leather.

“The siphons you’re going to have to wear while we train, everyday if you like,” Azriel said, holding out a hand for my arm. I gave him my arm and let him lace the vambrace over my forearm. It covered my hand and was held in place by a leather loop around my second finger. The siphon instantly flared once it was on my hand.

“The siphons act like a…” Azriel frowned and looked down at my siphons. “Like a precision device. Imagine that your magic is a thread that needs to go through the eye of a needle. The siphon holds all that magic and actually cuts it down from its raw form into something that you can use with more accuracy. The more powerful you are, the more siphons you need. At least for us Illyrians.”

I turned my hands over and stared at the blue siphons.

“Thread and needle,” I repeated. Azriel nodded and clapped me on the back. “Your magic has a life of its own, but it’s still yours and it has to answer to you. You need to always remember that you control it, not the other way around.”

Azriel opened the satchel he wore at his side and pulled out an apple. He set it on the ground not far away.

“Practice letting out a bit of your magic so you can hit that apple, drain it. It’s okay if you don't get it on the first go. It takes practice.”

“How do you know all this?” I asked, still staring at the siphons Azriel had given me. Azriel went to sit down on a fallen log.

“I was at this stage once. I know what it’s like to feel out of control.”

I looked over my shoulder at the shadowsinger.

“Who taught you?” Azriel’s face was a little grave.

“I taught myself.”

I didn't say anything after that. I turned my attention to the back to the apple and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and reached inside myself, touching the rolling blackness. Hello little Fox. Bring me out to play. There’s so much to play with. Do you feel it? The birds, the trees. The little deer over there. Let me out to feast. I’m hungry.

I began to tremble as that power rolled out of me and ran down my fingers, eagerly testing the air, looking for a magic. It curled back up my arms, around my fingers and it stopped when it felt Azriel’s magic. I whimpered. Oh that looks fine. A shadowsinger, how delicious. We could have fun with him Little Fox.

I whimpered again, my whole body trembling until large hands were placed over my hands.

“What does it want?”

“You. It wants your magic.”

“You’re in control. Keep it at bay, contain it to the siphon.”

I took a breath, my eyes squeezing tightly shut. I could feel Azriel like a wall behind me, still holding my hands. His breath ruffled my hair lightly.

Little Fox...let me play. Let me feast.

“No. No you listen to me.” I took a deep breath, my nose filled with the scent of pine and citrus and...and smoke. Wood smoke. Azriel’s scent. My mate’s scent.

My magic hushed then and it slipped into the siphons and went to the apple. I opened my eyes and watched the black tendrils swirl around the apple, sucking the freshness from it. My magic slipped back to me, leaving the apple a brown husk. I smelled the crispness of the apple once my power retreated back to me, obviously sulking that it didn't get to feed off Azriel.

And...oh gods. Azriel was holding me, his hands still over mine. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, so loud that I was afraid Azriel might hear it and suspect.

Azriel lowered my hands and stepped away from me to go over to the apple. He poked it with his finger and it fell apart into a mushy pile. He looked up at me and nodded.

“Better. The siphons helped.”

He stood up and dusted off his hands.

“You’re afraid of hurting other people aren’t you, that’s why you caged it.”

I nodded and folded my hands under my arms.

“Yes. I...It wanted you.”

Azriel walked over to me and pulled a piece of bread from his satchel. He handed it to me along with a skein of water.

“I know. I felt it. You controlled it enough to keep it away from me, so that’s good.” I ate the bread in silence, filling the now present hole in my stomach. The shadowsinger didn't eat, instead he walked around the small clearing and set his hands on his hips. “How did you get into Autumn court so easily?”

I almost choked on my bread. I had to take a pull from the waterskin before I was able to speak.

“The Autumn court is one of the most heavily guarded courts,” Azriel muttered, almost to himself.

“I know.”

I finished my bread and dusted my hands off, tossing the waterskin by the fallen log. I stayed by the log, knowing Azriel was watching as I shifted. The shift brought a flash of pain and I was sitting on my haunches, looking up at Azriel through the eyes of my fox form. My tail flicked quietly in the leaves and I tilted my head, ears flicking back.

Azriel stared at me, his eyes showing surprise. I yawned and got up to walk over to him and rub his legs.

Another flash of pain and I was flapping up to sit on Azriel’s shoulder, pecking at his hair. A raven was an easy shift, one that most folk ignored more than the fox.

Azriel reached up and touched my feathered wing. I made a pleased noise and flapped my wings, soaring off Azriel’s back and onto the ground. I shifted again and tumbled a little less than gracefully onto the ground.

“That’s how I got in. I can do a hedgehog and a mouse but those aren’t as useful,” I explained as I sat up. Azriel sat himself down next to me and pulled a feather from my hair. “Are you a witch then?”

I shrugged and ran my hands over my hair, watching Azriel twirl the feather in his fingers. “I’m not sure. My mother showed me how to shift. She always took the raven form because it allowed her to fly. She taught me to do the little animals, said they’d be useful one day.”

I hugged my hair against my neck and closed my eyes, recalling the first day my mother had shown me how to shift. It was horrible. She had me kill a rabbit and with its blood, write ancient marks all over my skin. She said that I would wear the rabbit’s skin now.

I was ten at the time. Since then, I never shifted into a rabbit. I never killed an animal to take it’s skin. The fox I found with an arrow in its side already dead and the raven had been stoned by some farmer in the human realm.

“My mother would kill animals and take their skins,” I said. I traced some words in the dirt at my feet, the words she’d use to steal the skin. “I asked her about it once. She said that you could steal a fae’s skin as well. Killing them and using their blood to steal the skin.” I crossed out the words and looked sidelong at Azriel.

“My mother scared me sometimes. She...was protective but I think she tried to erase her mistakes with me. She disciplined me hard, made me learn to fly and perform her witchcraft. I never liked to. It was too…dark. It didn't feel right, not when I had magic of my own. Mama didn't know I had the magic. I kept that from her.”

“Did you love your mother?” Azriel asked quietly.

I frowned and stared at my boots. “I don’t know.”

I dropped my hands onto my knees and squeezed them. Azriel had posed a serious question. I hadn’t thought about it before. Did I love my mother?

“Torin wanted to dump the body but I burned her. I figured she deserved the decency,” Azriel said lowly. I nodded and stood up, ready to begin practicing again. That was until…

“Torin is alive still.”

I froze, every inch of me going still. Fear rolled through me, then anger. I turned around on my heels, fixing Azriel with a piercing gaze.

“Why?”

Azriel stood as well.

“Rhys felt that if we killed him, it wouldn’t sit well with the other camp lords and we could have a bit of a loyalty problem on our hands.”

I clenched my hands and unclenched them. I grit my teeth so hard that I thought I’d chip them.

“I swore I’d kill him if someone else hadn’t. I meant that too,” I said lowly. Azriel nodded and I saw a quiet anger in his eyes. “I know. I saw what he did to you.”

I felt my magic bubble up but I pushed it down. I would get my revenge, not now though. So I took a deep breath and loosened my fists.

“I’m tired,” I said at last. Azriel nodded and held out his hand for me. I took it and he pulled me against him, winnowing us back to his home.

*** *** ***

I knew Amarantha had found out the moment she called me to her quarters that night. I had nowhere to go where she wouldn’t find me so I went to her.

She was in a state when I arrived in her room, hands behind my back and chin up. In the past few years, Amarantha had grown unbalanced, paranoid even. Since the human girl’s arrival, that paranoia had escalated.

The moment the door shut, Amarantha was in my face, her hand on my throat. Her black eyes stared wildly at me as I choked.

“You little bitch,” she spat, her voice was a low hiss. “You tried to get her out. You disobeyed me. No, no you betrayed me!”

I choked, my hands scraping at Amarantha’s steel grip. I couldn’t breath. The Queen dug her nails further into my neck and threw me with an unearthly strength against the door. I hit the door and crashed onto the floor, coughing, in my fight to return air to my lungs.

“I heard from a...reliable source that you went down to that putrid little girl and offered to help her escape. Why?” The Queen looked back at me from where she had gone to stand by her bed. I rubbed my neck where her fingernails had cut me, my fingers dipped in the stickiness of my blood.

“Amarantha, please, listen,” I rasped. “This is useless. You’re going to kill her either way and you’ll still have Tamlin. It’s a waste. The curse is met and sealed, can’t you let her go? Please?”

Amarantha sneered and walked over to me, landing a heavy kick into my ribs.

“Pathetic. You of all people should know why I’m doing this. Tamlin needs to learn what happens when you insult me, what happens when he insults…”

I knew Amarantha was going to say her sister’s name. Her dead sister, long since dead, betrayed by love. Tamlin had insulted the memory of Clythia and Amarantha wanted him to pay for it. That and she lusted after the Highlord of Spring.

“What else have you kept a secret from me little fledgling?”

I paled, feeling my bladder loosen.

Amarantha knew.

I looked up at the Queen and shook my head, backing away, not caring that I was scraping along the floor like a worm.

Amarantha smiled, her blood red lips parting to show her teeth. She hooked a finger and I felt a pain in my back, forcing my well hidden wings to burst free. I screamed as I tried to free myself from Amarantha’s grip, even lashing out with my powers. The Queen simply laughed and smacked me down so hard that when my face hit the floor, I felt my nose shatter. “You’d dare try and use your power against me?” I looked up, blood pouring out of my nose and onto the floor. I felt hands seize my arms and another pair of hands grabbed my wings. I screamed again as my wings were brutally bent back. “Amarantha! Please!!” I looked up at the Queen as she slid a dagger from her sleeve and pricked her finger with it, licking the blood that welled. I struggled, trying to break my wings free. She knew, someone had told her about my heritage, about my wings. “I was told that Illyrian wings are very sensitive. They clip the females so they can’t fly, is that right?” she said as she walked over. My eyes took in the knife and I couldn’t tear my gaze away as I let out a desperate sob. Not my wings. “Were yours clipped? Or do you still fly? If I had known, I would have let you out to spread your lovely wings.”

Amarantha reversed the knife in her grip and her face got cold and mocking. “Hold her down,” she ordered her men. I struggled but was too weak to shake the hold.

Amarantha walked over and ran an alabaster hand down my right wing, the knife poised so close to the delicate membrane by my bone. I was panting, ready to vomit as my whole body convulsed at the touch. Amarantha smiled and drove the knife through one of the joints in my wing, closest to my shoulder.

The scream that came out of me was nothing I had heard before. I was disconnected from my body for a second before I was pulled back, my entire body alight with pain. I vomited on the floor.

Amarantha twisted the knife in my joint and I saw black spots in my vision. She ripped the knife out of my wing joint and I screamed again, sagging in the guards’ grips.

Amarantha brought her face to mine and grabbed my chin, making me look at her.

“You belong to me, remember that, girl. There is no bargaining with me, only my law down here. You obey or die. I will let you live this once, but don’t ever betray me again.” I nodded. Amarantha let me go and wiped the knife on my shirt, slicing through the fabric. She looked at the guards and jerked her head to the door. “Indulge yourselves then take her to a healer.”

I didn't have the strength to care or fight as I was dragged away and…

My eyes flew open and I stared at the ceiling above my bed and tried to get my breathing under control. I could feel sweat in my hair and under my clothes. I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed and took more steady breaths.

It had been a while since I had last had a nightmare that severe. It was a memory, but no less nightmarish.

I ran my hands through my hair and pulled at the tangled curls. I needed to get out of the room.

I stood up and didn't bother to slip anything on my feet as I silently padded down the stairs to the small sitting room. Once there, I poked the dying embers in the fireplace that Azriel had burning earlier that evening. I used some of my magic to light the fire and I fed it some kindling to get it warm.

I tucked my hands in my armpits and stared at the flames, staying in my crouch. I knew I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep after my nightmare. I was never able to. My usual tonic for the nightmares, to at least send me into an undisturbed sleep was alcohol, but I doubted Azriel would be very pleased if I raided his cabinets in search of a drink.

“I was going to start that back up.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised when I heard the Shadowsinger’s voice behind me, but I was. My heart jumped into my throat and I stood up swiftly to turn around.

Azriel sat in an couch behind me, tucked away from the light of the fireplace. No wonder I hadn’t seen him. He was wreathed in his shadows and he blended in perfectly with the darkness of the sitting room.

“Oh. Well,” I crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly so very aware of how thin my nightclothes were. “I got cold.”

Azriel uncrossed his legs and dismissed his shadows to let me see him fully. His eyes searched my face and I knew he wasn’t blind to my sweat soaked clothes and hair. He moved aside on the couch and motioned a hand to the seat beside his.

My feet moved before I made up my mind as to whether or not I wanted to sit next to Azriel. I took the corner farthest from the male and pulled my feet up under me and I pulled my knees up under my chin.

Azriel didn't say anything, he just watched the flames I had made in the fireplace burn up the log I’d set in.

“I had a nightmare,” I said abruptly. It sounded childish to say, but it was the truth.

I rubbed my hands into my hair and pulled more tangles out, wincing as my hair pulled terribly.

“I can’t sleep afterwards. I’ve tried before.” Azriel sighed and I felt his wings curl in towards his body.

“I understand.” I looked over at Azriel and pursed my lips. I wondered if he ever slept. “What about you? Why are you up?”

Azriel’s eyes squinted and I regretted asking him. Though I had been staying in Azriel’s house for a week, I hadn’t quite built up the courage to call him a friend. I wondered if he saw me as a friend at all, or just simply a child he had decided to tolerate enough to teach a few things to.

“I lost track of time. I was reading reports and fell asleep here until you came down.”

I looked at him and flushed.

“I didn't mean to wake you up.”

Azriel shrugged and looked across at me.

“I have some information you may be interested in,” he said lowly. “I had my sources in the Winter court find out about that meirleach there. He died, but his mother is still alive. No one has seen her, but I have made contact with his uncle, his father’s brother, and he believes she is alive and still living in the mountains.”

I rubbed my lip and nodded slowly.

“What do you propose?” I knew what I wanted to do. I had to find out more about these females. I needed to find out if they were all witches or something else. In my stomach, I knew that we were all connected somehow and I knew that I had to go find her.

“What are you thinking?” Azriel answered me back. A question in the answer of a question.

I looked at him.

“I have to know Azriel. I have to find her.”

Azriel nodded and looked back at the fireplace, putting his chin in his hand.

“You and I will leave in the morning to go to the Winter court. Nuala and Cerriweden can handle business here.”

My eyebrows shot up and I looked at Azriel in surprise. That was unexpected.

“Really?”

“It may help us uncover some things about your power and I want to know more about these witches. Are they on their own or part of a coven? We need to know if they pose a threat. ” Azriel said. He sighed and spread it legs out in front of him.

“I want to know too.” I loosened my own legs and curled against the couch corner.

tagging @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading

#fanfiction #acotar #acowar #acomaf #sarah j maas

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter Nine

So I’ve decided that Wednesdays are my posting days. I never work on them so hey, why not? We are back on track and posting every week on Wednesdays. Anyone who would like to be tagged can message me at my main blog @nieliadamteragram

Also tagging @court-0f-dreamers, my beta! Check out her fic ACOTAR Restrung as well!

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight

I was exhausted. Every muscle in my body felt as if they had been used and abused to the point of near destruction. My mind too was a mess of muddled thoughts, unable to articulate and process any intelligent words. That was when I had glanced at myself in the mirror for the first time in months.

I didn't know what I expected. I know I didn't expect to see the unrecognizable person staring back at me with hollow sunken eyes.

Gods I looked horrible.

My skin was pale, my face was thin, sunken, my hair hung in dull curls around my face. I looked more like a madwoman than I did anything else. My usually full lips seemed thin, making the frown I wore seem deeper.

I sighed and dipped my face into a sink full of water, , letting the cool liquid wake me up fully. I hadn’t slept that night. I had dreams, terrible dreams plagued by a cold darkness and piercing brown eyes.

I pulled my hair back away from my face and walked back to my bed to pull my boots on. It was after dawn and Amren was specific about getting to her damned practice sessions. I don’t think the female ever slept.

The cold mountain air hit me hard, the icy blast waking me up fully. I grumbled, hunger gnawing the insides of my belly. I had skipped breakfast again, because breakfast meant people and I had no interest to see anyone. I spotted Amren setting up Cassian’s damn siphon on the ground in the far training ring. Cassian was lounging not far away, munching on some sort of scone. I cursed him under my breath as he gave me a smirk and continued to eat. I figured out why Amren had allowed him to stay. She knew he pissed me off. Maybe she thought anger would be a motivation. So far her plan hadn’t worked and I still couldn’t draw up my magic. Even my flames seemed to wither away these days.

Amren walked back to the edge of the circle and looked up at me, her eyes narrowing. I snarled at her and took off my jacket, flinging it to the ground.

“Go take a seat and get ready for another non-eventful morning,” I drawled, cracking my fingers. Amren said nothing as she looked me over, her nostrils flaring. Even Cassian seemed to look guarded, curious, but guarded.

It was an act, I told myself as I walked to the center of the ring, staring at the siphon no more than five feet from me.

“Remember to breath and be patient,” I heard Amren say. I snorted and blocked her out of my head and stared at the red siphon, softly glowing against the sand. Again, just like countless other times, I reached out, digging deep inside me for the power I knew I had, to strip the siphon bare.

I met nothing. There was nothing there.

I dug deeper, sweat beading on my upper lips, rolling down my temples.

The siphon glowed in answer, taunting me. I snarled and walked forward and gave it a kick, sending it flying to the edge of the circle.

“This is a waste of my time.”

I wiped my face on my sleeve and turned back to Amren. She was looking at me through narrow eyes and I thought I saw a flicker in her jaw.

“You’re not trying.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“Believe me, I am.”

Amren shook her head, her dark hair brushed her chin as she moved.

“No, you’re not. You’re holding yourself back. Why?”

I grit my teeth and said nothing. Amren walked over and retrieved the siphon from where I had kicked it and she set it back in the sand where she had it before. I looked at the siphon, then at Amren.

Amren leveled her gaze at me, making me feel tiny and insignificant. “Do it.”

I felt my stomach roil as I walked to stand in front of the siphon, my feet feeling as though they were made of lead. I looked down at the siphon, seeing my pale face reflected back up at me.

“Do it.”

I stared at my reflection, not seeing it in the siphon but in the blue eyes of that Summer court Fae almost twenty years ago.

“Do it.”

I was staring at the trembling female, her wide blue eyes looking at me with unfiltered terror. She was bound, her hands bound behind her back with rough rope, digging into her chesnut skin, drawing blood.

Amarantha was behind me, on hand tracing along my neck. She brought her lips to my ear, her breath tickled me.

“Do it Myriad.”

The Fae kneeling before me trembled and let out a hiccuping sob as I raised my hand towards her. My hand was shaking as much as the young Fae was. I was as scared as she was. Frightened of the monster that lurked beneath my skin, that whispered in my ear to drink from the Fae’s soul. It was greedy, but I was scared and I didn’t want to let it out.

Amarantha’s hand tightened on my neck, her dark nails digging in so hard that they drew blood.

I began to sob and the Fae beneath me wailed.

The monster leapt from me, dark threads that spun towards the female, diving into her eyes, nose, mouth….oh gods it was everywhere. it explored the female’s insides, her powers. She was so young, so innocent and the monster hungrily devoured her water, her beautiful water that she had used to heal the people in her village with. People who were now dead, who I had helped slaughter.

I cried, telling her to be quiet, that if she would just shut up then she wouldn’t feel it. Her screams turned unearthly, they were screams that no fae should ever make. My blackness drank it all, her terror, her magic. It feasted on it.

I was on the floor with the female, my hands on her shoulders, looking into her glazed, dead eyes as the last of her magic was leached out, leached into a ring, an amethyst colored siphon that Amarantha had given me. My shackle.

“Shh….shh….”

I was crying, shaking the girl, trying to make her shut the hell up. The last of her went with a dry gasp and she fell against me, her heart giving out.

I sobbed into the dead female’s hair as my monster retreated inside me and shut its cage door. I rocked the young female who I had so cruelly snuffed out.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at Amarantha. She had her arms outstretched, like a mother to comfort her child. I let the female drop and I flung myself into Amarantha’s arms, letting that wicked fae hug me, kiss me and rock me like an inconsolable child. It wasn’t real. She didn't care.

I was on my hands and knees, looking down at the sand beneath me. My face was wet and I realized it was wet with tears. My tears.

I was crying. The siphon lay shattered in a circle around me and the sand nearest the siphon was turned to glass from my fire that no doubt had raged.

I vomited there, whatever was left in my stomach was hurled up. I vomited again and again till my whole body threatened to fall to pieces. Gods, I was cold. Shaking.

There was silence. I didn't even hear the birds singing. I had done that. My monster had scared even the birds into silence because I had given in.

See? See how good it feels to let me out? I want to play. You never let me out.

“Shut up.”

I struggled not to vomit again as I slammed my hands over my ears so I wouldn’t heard that voice.

Let me out Myriad! Let me out to feed. I’m hungry. So hungry. You’ve starved me. How could you be so cruel to me?

“Cruel?”

I looked inside myself, seeing that mass of swirling black, like a fire of darkness, ready to consume. Where I had kept it in its cage...its cage was in pieces. It was free.

I had no ring, no siphon to keep it contained, keep the power contained so I didn't feed the magic.

“Myriad!”

I felt a sharp slap across my face and I focused on Amren’s face, bent down in front of me.

That was when the anger simply exploded from me. My magic, my power just exploded. Amren raised a shield against me, one old and powerful from her bottomless pit of magic, one that matched my own.

I screamed, the sound long and hideous, as tortured as my soul.

“You used me!! You used me!!”

I didn't care when I let my wings fly out behind me, my golden wings now burning with Autumn’s flames. My father’s flames. Everything was burning and the monster inside me was laughing at my destruction. It leapt from me, tendrils of choking black power racing for Amren. They were deflected off Amren’s shields but I didn't even have the sense to be afraid. She was death and I was a monster that fed off death.

I screamed again and my monster came back for me, spinning itself like a blanket around me. I hunched down and fell to my knees in a cocoon of fire and darkness.

I wanted to die.

Amren had used me in my weakness to unleash hell upon the world. A hell that had taken me one hundred and fifty years of practice to contain. Something my mother feared and others lusted for. Amarantha, though she had loosed me on the world, she had also contained me.

Amren had released me.

Then, in the darkness, there were hands on my face, cupping my cheeks. The hands were cold, rough.

“Myriad, open your eyes.”

I opened my eyes and I saw brown eyes locked onto mine.

Azriel was before me on his knees, his black hair was whipping around his face. His shadows were around him, frantically surrounding the both of us. He looked so pale, I thought.

Azriel shook me a little.

“Myriad! Breath!”

He was shouting.

“If you don’t stop, you’ll kill yourself!” he shouted again, over the deafening darkness. I looked at my mate, my lips parted.

“You are in control. It listens to you! Breath Myriad! Breath!”

I took a gasping breath, as if I had been holding my it under water. Azriel’s shadows sung down his arms and brushed my face, touching me with blessed coolness.

The flames and darkness sputtered out and the monster retreated inside me, leaving just the two of us on our knees in the sand. Azriel brushed my hair from my face and looked to into my eyes with a steady gaze. I saw something in his eyes, pride perhaps? Maybe pity.

“You’re in control. Not the cage, not it, not Amarantha. You are in control and no one can make you use it but you.”

I let out a sob and covered my mouth, realizing what I had just done. Each one of Azriel’s siphons were shattered, his shadows surrounding him like a blanket. I looked behind him, at Cassian who was lowering his own shield all seven of his siphons were shattered off of him as well. Rhysand was there beside the warrior, he must have winnowed in when he felt the outburst. Amren was behind Rhysand, her eyes wide for once.

Where their shields had been, on the edge, the sand was turned to glass. All around Azriel and I, the sand was burnt glass.

I looked back to Azriel and caught his wrists.

“Are you hurt?”

I could have killed him. I could have killed my mate but he walked into my maelstrom to bring me out anyway.

Azriel shook his head, his windswept hair flicked back over his forehead.

“No.”

I sagged then and Azriel caught me, lifting me up and against his chest with ease. He looked at Rhysand and Amren, his face a deadly calm.

“No more of this. Amren,” he said coldly. “You were wrong. I’ll be teaching her. She stays with me.”

I didn't know what the two had to say about it as I faded into unconsciousness.

*** *** ***

I woke to a knock on a door and I cracked my eyes open, finding myself in a small bed, in an equally small, yet cozy room. There was a fire crackling in a corner, keeping the room very warm. I sat up, pushing a blanket off myself. I was in my clothes, though my boots had been taken off and laid somewhere.

The knock sounded again and I cleared my throat.

“Come in.”

The door opened and a female walked in. She was dark haired, dark eyed and her skin was also of a dark shade...almost black. I blinked and swung my feet over the side of the bed. She looked so familiar. One of Rhysand’s wraith twins.

“Where am I?” I asked. The fae tilted her head and set a bundle of clothes she was carrying down on the bed.

“Azriel took you to his home,” she said. “My name is Nuala, by the way.”

Her voice was quiet, wispy almost...no, wispy wasn’t the word. Light. Her voice was light and I knew her…

“You were Under the Mountain,” I said. Nuala nodded and lit a few candles. I reached for an unlit candle and handed it to Nuala, silently offering my help.

“A bath has been drawn for you. Bathe, get dressed. Azriel wishes to see you.” I caught the female’s arm, my fingers just barely brushing her. She looked at the hand and I removed it, trying to show I meant no harm.

“What time of day is it?”

Nuala brushed a loose strand of hair behind her pointed ear. “It’s been a day and a half since Azriel brought you here. He was strict on having no one disturb you till now. He wanted you to rest.” I rubbed my chest through my shirt. Gods...that long? I probably smelled horrible.

I stood up, towering over Nuala. I made an effort to smile at her.

“Thank you, Nuala.”

Nuala simply dipped her head and walked from the room, pointing me to the bathroom.

I bathed for what seemed like hours, scrubbing my skin down, trying to get rid of the oily feeling from my skin. I sat in that water till it had grown cold and my teeth chattered, threatening to break my jaw. At last I got out of the tub, smelling as well as feeling fresh.

The clothes Nuala had left for me were still warm, all of them clean and well made. I dressed hurriedly, finding my boots under the bed.

When I had finished, I went to the door and crossed a small landing, taking a flight of steps downstairs where I could smell food. My belly growled loudly and I knew I had to eat.

I found the kitchen and Azriel was there, stirring a pot of stew. He looked over his shoulder when I came in and cast his dark eyes over me. I couldn’t help but feel my face heat up.

Azriel was not in his leathers for once. He was simply dressed in a dark tunic, wearing equally dark pants. He had his siphons back, though he only wore two on his wrists.

He nodded to the table, still looking me over. I pushed my mop of hair back and took a seat, concentrating on the bowls Azriel had set there.

“How are you feeling?”

I shrugged.

“Hungry. Tired. Ashamed.”

I folded my hands in my lap and bit my lip. I had worked out apologies and explanations in my head while I had bathed. None of them seemed right.

“I didn't mean to react that way. It snapped before I could control it. I’m sorry for...for…” I faltered, my throat closing up.

The silence was interrupted when Azriel brought the pot to the table and set it down, filling both the bowls with the thick stew.

“It was a defense mechanism. Your power was protecting you from the threats around it.”

I shook my head, my appetite gone.

“No. It wanted to consume.”

Azriel picked up a spoon and stirred it in his stew.

“That may be so,” he said quietly. “But your fire, it contained the magic. It kept it from reaching out. I think if you truly wanted, you could have sucked us all dry. You didn't, thank the Cauldron for that. If you had, we would have been dead and so would you. Your power was eating you up.”

I fingered my spoon and felt ready to vomit again.

“I...I saw something, Azriel,” I said. I looked up at his, suddenly angry with him. No, not angry at him. Just...angry. I knew Azriel wasn’t stupid. He was a spymaster, a shadowsinger and he knew things that others didn't. I knew he knew about me, about what I did. What I was capable of. Yet he was still kind. Why?

“When Amren told me to do it...to drain the siphon, I didn't see the siphon. I saw a female, a girl. Amarantha had me drain her. I was a coward and so I did it. I followed her orders and I murdered and drained fae after fae for her. Why do you want me in your house? Why do you reach out to someone like me? I’m a murderer.”

I was clenching the spoon so tight that it had bent in my hand. Azriel just watched me.

“You know what I did to the Summer court for her? I killed for her. And those that didn't have the swift mercy of death were brought before me in Amarantha’s fucking experiments! I was her experiment and after everything she made me do, I still fucked her! I still ran to her arms crying because I thought it would erase those screams, the looks of terror I got right before my magic consumed them. I am used, I am nothing but a tool to her, to Hybern, to you damned people!”

I threw the spoon down and put my head in my hands. I could feel tears welling in my eyes and I wiped them away. I didn't want to cry in front of Azriel.

I felt foolish.

“Myriad, we...I don’t want to use you as a tool,” Azriel said quietly. “You’re scared and its okay to be scared. But you’re also holding yourself back in a way that can and will hurt you eventually. Amren wasn’t trying to use you, she was trying to get you to use control, though her methods about it weren’t right. Not what you need.”

I felt Azriel take my hands and pull them down from my face. My lip quivered dangerously and I shrunk slightly from Azriel’s piercing gaze.

He looked so serious and honest that I instantly felt horrible for snapping at him. I blinked, feeling a tear roll down my cheek and plop on the table.

“I’m sorry...I’m not used to...to all this,” I said. I finally met Azriel’s eyes, holding his gaze as long as I could before I dropped my eyes again.

Azriel caught my chin and lifted my face up, he had the barest trace of a smile on his lips.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Not to me. To others, sure, but that’s between you and them. You owe me no apology. I’m going to teach you control, Myriad. We’ll learn this together, okay?”

I nodded and my mouth turned up at the corners. Azriel seemed pleased he let go of my chin.

“Good. Eat, rest. We’ll start later.”

@court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading

#fanfiction #sarah j maas #acotar #acowar #acomaf

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter Eight

First of all, I owe you guys an apology for being late and not posting. I have been on hiatus for a bit and really struggling with chapter thirteen. That is still no excuse for not posting what I have written. I’m sorry y’all. I’ll do better!!

And I forgot to tag my wonderful beta, @court-0f-dreamers!!

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven

I stared up at the clear blue sky, my back against the cold, hard ground of the training circle. My breath was puffing visibly in the cold air above me. “That lasted even less than the last time.” I drew my brows together and put my hand over my face. If I could actually hit Cassian, I would punch his perfect nose into his perfect face. I sat up, my bruised body protesting terribly.

I watched Cassian as he removed his shirt and wiped his face on it then threw the shirt aside and grinned at me, cocking an eyebrow up. I snarled and brushed a stray curl from my eyes, swearing I’d just cut all my hair off next time I got the chance.

“Maybe if you actually taught me, instead of just putting me on my ass in the first few seconds, I’d learn something and be more fun for you to beat up,” I snapped as I lurched to my feet, brushing my hands off on my pants.

Cassian laughed lowly and flexed his arms, stretching his great wings. I rubbed my hand over my nose and watched Cassian move, trying to find any sort of weakness in him. I found none. He was a mass of rippling muscles, developed over the centuries of rigid training that I didn't have.

I had nothing to boast. I was fit, sure, but I was small. Skinny, no weight to use in my favor.

I shook out my hands and tilted my chin up. Cassian still wore his infernal smirk as he turned back to face me.

“Ready to go again, Fox?” he taunted. I scowled at the name and crouched, my feet loosening slightly.

“Shut up, you overgrown bat.”

Cassian laughed and struck at the same time.

He met nothing but air, stumbled, but collected himself quickly. He turned around and I grinned at him as I winnowed fully behind him. I couldn’t beat him by strength alone, so perhaps I could evade him.

“You know that’s cheating,” Cassian drawled, casually walking forward. I backed up, giving him ground. “I’d rather stay alive.” “As much as I enjoy putting you on your ass, I’m not going to kill you. You need to learn how to fight, not just to evade it.”

I shrugged and stood up straight, letting my hands drop to my side.

“Maybe I won’t let myself get close enough for a fight.” Cassian’s eyes dug into me harder than I found comfortable. I pulled up the collar of my shirt and shrugged my shoulders, looking past Cassian’s shoulder.

“Or perhaps you’re scared you’ll keep losing them. Have you ever won a fight, Myriad?”

I rubbed my nose again and met Cassian’s eyes.

“You talk too much.”

“You don’t talk enough. You want to be part of us, but you won’t let yourself become part of us.”

I tossed my head and walked past Cassian.

Cassian sneered. “Always walking away.”

I felt a hand on my upper arm and Cassian stopped me. He pulled me back to him, his face inches from mine.

“You’re not walking off this circle till you fight back,” he said lowly. I pulled my arm back and went to slam my knee into Cassian’s crotch but he caught my knee and crushed it in a tight grip.

“Let go.” Cassian let me wrench my knee back and I stumbled away from him.

“Come back when you’re not holding yourself back,” Cassian said finally. He dusted his hands off and picked up his shirt from where he’d tossed it. “Tell Amren she can have her toy back.”

*** *** ***

“I heard Cassian kicked you off the training grounds.” I ignored the shadows that curled from the corner of the kitchen as I hungrily searched around for something to eat. I’d been skipping meals since the last one I had at the townhouse had me on the floor. I didn't want to repeat that.

“He’s just frustrated that you didn't come out to play with him. Although I don’t see why he should complain, I’m a grand punching bag.”

I heard a quiet snort and Azriel materialized by the table, bits of shadow still clinging to him. I felt my hair stand on end and I looked anywhere but at the shadowsinger, keeping my breathing calm, my body relaxed.

“Don’t let him fool you,” Azriel said and handed me a scone. I looked up at him and took it, sitting down to take a bite of it. I brushed the crumbs off my shirt and onto the floor.

“How’s the work with Amren?”

I rolled my eyes and swallowed.

“You already know the answer.”

“Maybe, but I’d like to hear it from you. You hardly ever join us for dinner, actually you never do. You seem to enjoy cloistering yourself up in your room with that...fiddle. It gets hard to sleep when you’re screeching away in the early hours of the morning.”

I looked up at Azriel and pulled my brows together, setting my scone on the table.

“First of all, I don’t screech,” I said just for clarification. “And maybe I don’t want to keep falling out of my seat every time I’m grilled for information about….about…” I faltered again, my mind running a blank when I tried to speak about Hybern. It was frustrating. I knew something was wrong with me, I knew I had been a prisoner of Hybern for a reason but I could not think of why, or anything beyond escaping from the guardhouse.

Azriel pulled out a chair and sat across from me. I relaxed and stiffened all in the same breath. Azriel smelled like...like pine and some sort of citrus I couldn’t place. His scent wafted over me in a gentle wave and I relished in my mate’s smell, wishing fervently that I could have that smell cling to me as well.

“Hybern,” Azriel finished for me. I nodded.

“Rhys said you had some sort of curse on you, blocking out a part of your mind.”

“I don’t know, I can’t remember anything.”

I looked up at Azriel and rubbed my calloused knuckles and picked at a few scabs that I hadn’t noticed before.

“Azriel...are you and Mor…” I swallowed and looked back down at my knuckles. I don’t know why I was asking. It wasn’t my business if Azriel had a lover. Actually, nothing he did was any of my concern. I was jealous, territorial. I didn't want Mor to be anywhere near my mate. A mate I knew next to nothing about. “A thing? She seems to hate me for some reason. I think it’s because, well I don’t know why really. The other day, when I came back from the Autumn court she threatened me that if I hurt you…”

Azriel was silent and I knew I had made a mistake bringing up the blond fae who held my mate’s attention so well. I had the feeling she strung Azriel along, and I hated her for it. She was always there in front of Azriel, either ignoring his looks or simply leading him on like he was an obedient hound. It made me seeth inside.

“I’m sorry. It’s not my business,” I said and got up from the table. Azriel reached out and grabbed my wrist lightly, keeping me there. I felt my throat close up and I watched him stand up. He was taller by a few inches, yet he made me feel like I was the tiniest speck of dirt beneath him.

Azriel unfurled his wings, his calm face looking down at me with what could have been compassion, I wasn’t sure.

“Mor is...a friend,” he seemed to have to work to get the word out. “A very protective friend. We all are protective of each other. They don’t know you as well as I do, so they’re--Cassian and Mor that is, are having a hard time adjusting to you. You just have to stick with us for a bit, earn their trust.”

I looked down at Azriel’s scarred hand, wanting to stroke the burns there, learn about who had hurt my mate.

“Do you trust me?”

Azriel’s mouth turned up in the barest of smiles and his shadows seemed to poke me and whisper in their master’s ears about what they found.

“Yes, I do.”

I sighed and set my hand over Azriel’s, squeezing it very lightly and I returned his smile with my own.

“I suppose now I’m obligated to humor you and be nice to your beastly friends?” I said, a try at humor. Azriel snorted dryly.

“We’re not so bad, Myriad.”

He let go of my wrist, his hand lingering for a second. I put my hands in my pockets and shuffled my feet. “Thank you Azriel.”

“If you need to talk with someone,” Azriel said coolly, handing me the rest of my scone and another one. “Just look for me. I’ll find you. We can talk.”

I felt my face heat and I took the offered food before I darted from the kitchen.

*** *** ***

I joined the circle for dinner that night and it actually went rather smoothly, aside from the looks I got from Mor and Cassian. Either way, I listened to the conversation more than I was a part of any. Occasionally Feyre or Rhys would ask me questions, which I answered to be polite, but I kept to myself.

Later, when I had retired to my room, I didn't play my fiddle, remembering what Azriel had said about the screeching. It made me laugh a little, come to think of it.

I fell asleep swiftly, the day’s abuse catching up to me and I passed into a rather deep sleep.

*** *** ***

It was a dream, as far as I knew. A bad dream.

I was in Hybern, I knew the walls, the smell, the feel of the place. How could I forget it so soon?

“That will be all.”

I felt my body clench up when I heard that voice. The King of Hybern.

“Myriad, how good of you to join us. You’re awake, open your eyes. I’m so sorry to have summoned you here at so late an hour.”

I gasped and my eyes opened, instantly recoiling from the soft, bright glow of torches. I blinked rapidly, stepping back when I realized how close the King is to me. He smiled coldly and ran his black eyes over me, though there was nothing but bland interest in his gaze. I folded my arms over myself, hiding my body under my thin nightclothes.

“How…?”

“You flew out of the High Lord’s house then the Attor winnowed you once you were out of Night’s borders. Simple really.”

I closed my mouth, my stomach threatening to empty. I busied myself by looking around at my surroundings. We were in a room, it looked to be within the castle. Two guards stood by the door I had just walked through. Their faces were impassive and showed no interest in me.

There wasn’t any furnishing in the room at all except for…

I paled and fought the urge to make a ward against evil on my skin.

The Cauldron sat on a dias in the center of the room, large and looming.

The Cauldron that Prythian was forged from, that the first Fae crawled from and the creatures that filled our world were made in.

“Your new acquaintances are searching for this,” the King said, walking over to Cauldron. He didn't touch it, but looked at it with a hungry gleam in his eyes. “They plan to fix the wall, don’t they?”

I nodded and swallowed a few times. I had heard the talk. Though it wasn’t directly said, I did recognize the Book of Breathings that they were searching for. Half of it anyway.

“Yes. They’re looking for something that...that they need to use to wield the Cauldron,” I said, my mind not fully my own. The King cast me a glance and nodded. “The book of Breathings, yes. I’m aware that they’re looking for it, though one doesn’t need it to use the Cauldron, as you’ll see tonight.”

The King pulled a ring from his tunic and I felt my stomach roll when I realized it was Amarantha’s prize. Jurian’s eye encased in a ring she wore all the time. The brown eye whirled almost wildly inside the ring and it cast it’s gaze to me, then to the Cauldron as if it somehow knew what the King planned.

Next the King pulled out a little finger bone, also one of Amarantha’s prizes and he placed it in his hand with the ring. “Tonight, my dear, I’ve brought you to witness the Cauldron at work,” The King said. He smiled at me and extended a hand towards me, beckoning me to him. I walked over, my feet feeling like lead as I stood by the King.

“How?” I asked, though I already had a good guess as to what the King was planning.

The King looked at me and smiled, his plainly handsome face looking so frightening in that moment. “Just watch.”

So I watched. I watched as the King took the ring and the bone and dropped them in the Cauldron. They plopped quietly in whatever liquid was inside the massive Cauldron. The King walked around the Cauldron, his hand traced the rim of the Cauldron and I saw him whispering too quiet for me to hear. I felt my hair stand on end, like when lightning strikes nearby and there’s static in the air.

The King stopped his circling and backed away from the Cauldron. There was a bubbling sound and I smelled….I smelled death.

I took a step back, gooseflesh running over my arms. The smell was pungent, cold and it filled the room almost choking me. The King still wore his ghostly smile as he walked back to the Cauldron and he turned to me, beckoning me over.

“Myriad, come.” I obediently walked over, despite wanting to run as far away from the humming Cauldron as I possibly could.

The guards by the door moved forward when the King nodded and the seized the Cauldron, pushing it over so that it spilled forth it’s liquid and a body along with it.

The Cauldron rocked back and settled down. I looked down at the male on the floor, stepping away from him. He was naked and still, not a breath came from him. The King walked over to him and bent down in the wet, right next to the male.

“Jurian, wake.” The male took a shuddering breath and looked up, his brown eyes wide, searching in a wild manner. His brown hair clung to his face like a helmet and he raised his hand to his face, staring at it like it was something foreign.

Gods. It was Jurian. The Jurian from the War. He was...alive. Resurrected by the Cauldron and whatever unearthly spell the King had uttered.

He looked at the King, then turned his head to look at me. I stepped back, wishing desperately to disappear. Jurian’s eyes followed and he looked at me, taking in my appearance. He coughed then, violently, his whole body going into the action as he vomited up liquid. The King clicked his tongue and swung a blanket over Jurian’s shoulders. I hadn’t even noticed the King had it.

“Myriad, help him up,” he said to me. I obeyed and put my hands under Jurian’s arms and pulled on him to get him to stand. He was weak though and leaned almost fully on me. I staggered under his weight but stayed upright, looking to the King. “Sir?”

The King nodded to the door.

“Follow me.”

He led me down a hallway until we came to a room already prepared for Jurian it seemed. There was a bed and a male fae standing in the corner by a table with herbs and tools on it. He was a healer. I heaved Jurian onto the bed and stepped back. Jurian stared at me, his brown eyes wide as the took me in. I swallowed nervously and averted my gaze to the floor. I jumped when Jurian grabbed my wrist and I looked back at him, pulling my hand back. Jurian didn't let go, he was strong, strong for a human. Was he even human?

“Who are you?”

Jurian’s voice was a rasp, from years of disuse, I wouldn’t have expected it to be anything else.

“Myriad,” I replied quietly and jerked my hand back. “Let go. You’re hurting me.”

Jurian let go and his hand fell back, though he still watched me intently.

“I don’t remember you,” was all he said before the healer came over and began to examine Jurian.

The King took me by my elbow then and led me from the room.

“So you see Myriad,” he said easily. “You don’t need that book to wield the Cauldron, though it is a good item to possess. If they do manage to find the book, I’d like to have it.”

I nodded and looked up at the King.

“The human queens? What about them?”

The King laughed.

“The Highlord’s shadowsinger has been sniffing around them and their courts but he can’t quite get in. Follow him, work with him and report back to me. Let him know about the Cauldron as well, I want them to know I have it. You’ll know what to do.” I felt that black oil shift in my chest, planted there by the King himself, binding me to his will.

“What about Jurian?”

The King looked back to the door.

“Rhysand has his human emissary, I have mine. Go now, Myriad. You’ll remember none of this but what I’ve told you to do.”

I felt my mind begin to fog as before and my vision faded right as someone took my arms and winnowed me away.

@court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading

#sarah j maas #acomaf #acowar #acotar #fanfiction

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter Seven

So um, long time no post. I got busy with college application things...and work. But here I am back with another chapter!! I ventured off the ACOMF story line a bit, but I hope y’all like it anyway!

Shout out again to my beta @court-0f-dreamers

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Myriad is a fae with the rare ability to leech magic from other face, leaving them husks of their former selves. Myriad worked for and was Amarantha's secret pet, spy and lover. After the Queen's death, Myriad leaves to live in solace. On her journey, she's captured by Hybern and set with a task to complete. Penetrate the workings of the Nightcourt and report to the King. During this time she falls in with the Inner Circle by a chance meeting with a male from her past. She must then gain their trust, in turn, discovering things about herself in the process, fighting the unbreakable command the King of Hybern gave her. (This follows the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses thru to the end of the series. Slow burn Azriel/Myriad) (Roughly inspired by Disney's Maleficent.) (Banner by Charlie Bowater)

The sentries paid no heed to the little red fox that picked its way through the autumn leaves and brush. It flicked it’s tail, giving them a look with it’s yellow eyes before it leapt over a rock and passed into the entrance to the lower levels of the Autumn court, an entrance the guards were guarding.

The fox trotted silently down, towards the glowing, warm light that shone at the end of the long hallway. It was cool and crisp underground, ventilated by a system that allowed the outside air to filter into the underground city.

The animal stopped right outside the entrance, sat down, and began to stretch almost grotesquely. It’s shape twisted and rippled, it’s red fur began to disperse and gather on its head. The limbs lengthened and the body grew until instead of a fox sitting on the ground, it was a female fae. She shook her head, her curls falling about her shoulders before she drew her hair back and pulled it into a tie. She blinked her russet colored eyes, the same color as the fox’s eyes and smiled.

The Autumn court was easy to penetrate if one knew the ways to get in.

*** *** ***

I had been to the Autumn court twice before and knew my way around the winding city, built around the rocks and trees. I rather liked the place, aside from the overbearing feeling of fear and dominance that Beron had on his people. It made for an unhappy sort of city, but beautiful nonetheless.

The city seemed to value preserving nature, yet conquering it at the same time. Almost like flame, the symbol of the Autumn court. I liked the way the sun shone through little caves and canopies in the trees, every corner of the city holding a new tree or tunnel. However, the heart of the city itself, the Highlord’s palace, was a thing to behold on it’s own.

Beron’s house was built above ground, though it’s levels reached far beneath the ground and high up in the trees, gracefully swinging above it. It was made of a pale wood and gold, open archways with gentle sloping roofs artfully made with interlocking redwood panels. Great pillars stood by the entrance, marking the watchtowers of the Highlord’s guard.

It was to the palace that I was headed, dressed as a lower class servant. I had stolen the gold dress and white apron off a clothes line for the duration of my task. I had done my research well and was going to the house of Elrissa, the mother of Narcissa, the since deceased meirleach that Beron had employed. I needed answers from her, about her daughter, about Beron.

Her house wasn’t hard to find. It was on the outermost point of the palace, where the servants were housed. It wasn’t anything luxurious, more of a tenet building than an actual house.

I stopped the first fae I could find, a pretty young girl with light brown hair and big dewy eyes that reminded me of a young deer.

“I’m looking for Elrissa? She’s my aunt,” I said, letting my voice grow shy and timid. The girl looked at me with her large eyes and I saw a frightened flinch in her features.

“She’s on the first story, her room is down the hall there,” the girl replied, giving me a good detailed set of directions. I smiled at her and bobbed my head, heading off in the directions given.

I found the room quickly. I knocked on the battered, old wood door, looking around the hallway as I waited. The servant’s quarters weren’t anything impressive at all. The walls were cracked and old, almost as if they’d been forgotten by the rest of the palace. More than likely they had been.

“Who’s at the door?”

I looked back at the door and tried the knob, it gave in easily and I walked in the dark room. I frowned, squinting to see inside.

“Who’s there?”

I whipped my head to the raspy voice that was followed by a small figure. I lit my hand with a fae light and held it above my head, starting when I saw the female in front of me.

She was small,skinny, frail...everything about this female was undernourished. Her gaunt face was surrounded by a cloud of dark silver laced hair and her eyes...cauldron, her eyes were gone. Where the sockets were was scarred over, what was left of her tattered eyelids had sunken inside the woman’s eye sockets, giving her the look of some kind of undead creature.

“Are you...Elrissa?” I asked lowly, toeing the door shut behind me. The female flinched at the sound and I reached out my hand. “I’m going to touch you, don’t be startled.” She flinched again when I set my hand on her shoulder and led her to a couch I could see in the corner of the barren room. Blankets were strewn over it, suggesting the couch was also her bed.

“Do you have candles?” I asked, seating her.

“I-I don’t know,” she whispered back, she put her arms under her and I froze, letting my fae light go to hover above us.

She had no hands. Only stumps.

“Are you Elrissa?” I asked again. This time the female nodded, so I sat beside her and hesitantly put my hand on her knee.

“My name is Myriad, I...I’m like your daughter was. I need to know...what happened to her.”

Elrissa jumped and she turned her head to me, reaching up with a stump to brush my shoulder, then my chin.

“What are you? What court?”

“I don’t have one. My mother was Illyrian, my father was from here. I don’t know who he is.”

Elrissa touched my lips and nose. I tried not to shudder at the touch.

“Elrissa, I really need--”

“Why are you here?” Elrissa whispered, dropping her stumps.

I worked my jaw slightly before I carefully pieced together my answer.

“I need answers,” I replied slowly. “I read about your daughter, about our kind. I know about Beron being the father but I need to hear everything from your side. I need to know how Narcissa mastered this...ability.”

Elrissa turned her face away from me and shook her head.

“Cissa...poor little Cissa.” I held my breath and Elrissa continued. “I worked as a lady’s maid for our Lady. Beron took a fancy and...I couldn’t refuse him, not my High lord. Well...we were together in secret for almost a year then I became with child. She was born such a little thing.”

Elrissa smiled in a ghostly sort of way and I wondered what she was feeling, remembering her child. I too wondered what that must feel like, holding something so little that you could call yours.

“Narcissa was five when her powers bloomed. She was playing with some of the kitchen girls and I’m not sure what happened, but they fought, so Cissa said. She stripped both girls of their magic. It was horrible.

“Later, Cissa and I were taken to see Beron and he wanted her to train with the other Meirleach he had under his command. So...who was I to disobey. They took my baby and they made her something terrible. She was fifteen when she killed the other Meirleach, drained him and killed him. Beron was so pleased about it, had her official revealed to his court, illegitimacy aside.”

I shuddered to think of someone that powerful. She was so young, only fifteen and she stripped and killed a full grown fae male?

“Beron killed her then, didn’t he?” I whispered, setting my hand on Elrissa’s shoulder. Elrissa’s entire body caved in and she let out a sob.

“She was only nineteen! H-he killed her. She trusted him and I told her not too but she...he killed her…”

Elrissa leaned into my touch, putting her face on my chest. I stiffened, but held the female close, rubbing her back as soothingly as I could.

“What happened to you? How did you…” “Beron took out m-my eyes and took off my hands...t-to keep me from using spells, witchcraft,” Elrissa moaned, falling into sobs again. I felt my blood run cold in my veins. Elrissa was a witch, like my mother. Perhaps then...it wasn’t the Autumn court’s bloodline but something else.

“Elrissa, listen to me,” I pulled the female up, holding her straight. “The other Meirleach, was his mother a witch too?” Elrissa’s face crinkled and she held her breath.

“I don’t know...she isn’t living anymore. She died a long time ago. Killed herself.”

I swore quietly and let go of Elrissa. I stood and began to pace the room, trying to process all this information.

“You don’t know who your father is...do you child?”

I looked down at Elrissa and walked back to her, bending down.

“No...I don’t.” The female pointed her face to me and I fought back a shudder, feeling as if she were staring at me with those empty eye sockets.

“The Autumn court has a curse on it, it’s males bed witches and breed monsters,” she said quietly.

“Who’s my father?”

If it were Beron, I could handle that, it would make sense, yet at the same time part of me wondered why and how a High lord could get in and out of the Night court undetected.

Elrissa touched my chest and smiled, showing off her teeth.

“The Highlord’s eldest leaves his mark on you.”

I felt my face drain of color and I stared at Elrissa. Cauldron...the Highlord’s son…?

“How do you know?” I hissed and gripped Elrissa’s knee.

She merely laughed at me and brushed my hand off, falling into a violent coughing fit.

“You sound like him. You feel like him, your arrogance, fire, the way you demand to know things like everything belongs to you. You’re his daughter, I can smell it. I may be blind, Myriad, but I was gifted with a deeper sight. I can see into your soul.”

I stood up and glared down at the woman, recalling my fae light back into my hand.

“If it’s vengeance you want for what he did to your mother,than you’ll have to get stronger. Eris is as cunning as his father, more so even. He’s the heir to this court after all,” Elrissa said quietly. I backed out of the room, towards the door, not wanting to turn my back on the fae. “I’ll be careful,” I replied. Elrissa simply laughed at me and shook her head.

“Take care little fox,” she whispered. “The hounds are on the hunt.”

*** *** ***

I was back in Velaris in two days time, still reeling from the news I had gathered from Elrissa. I had come to the conclusion that it wasn’t the Autumn court’s line that fathered the Meirleaches, instead it was the result of a fae mixing with a witch. Whether or not a meirleach was always born I didn’t know.

I wandered through the city, back to the town house, figuring it’d be a good idea to check back in.

I folded my wool jacket about me a bit tighter, the air getting colder as we got closer to the start of winter. I , may or may not have stolen myself some clothing when I was in the Autumn court. My clothes were an assortment of golds and browns, looking oddly off set with the rest of Velaris.

I made my way to the town house and knocked on the door. It was opened by a young fae, one of Rhysand’s half wraith twins. I smiled at her and nodded my head.

“Is Rhysand at home?” She let me into the foyer, not giving me an answer. I looked about the room and moved into the house, realizing I was rather hungry. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and snuck further into the house, looking around till I found the kitchen.

I was sure Rhysand wouldn’t mind if I ate. I snuck in the kitchen and found a bowl of apples. I snatched one and almost choked on my first bite when I realized that I wasn’t alone in the room.

My knife I kept on my leather vambrace under my sleeve slipped into my palm and I whipped around only to see Mor. The pretty blond haired fae eyed the knife in my hand and I felt my face heat up as I swallowed my bite of food and slid the knife back up into my sheath. “Sorry...I uh…” I shifted on my feet and pointed to the bowl of apples. “I was hungry.”

Mor tilted her head and narrowed her brown eyes at me.

“Where were you? Amren said you disappeared after some sort of training,” she asked, looking over my clothing. I shrugged and took a bite of my apple, watching the much older female.

“I went to um...investigate something. In the Autumn court.”

Mor’s eyes widened then narrowed just as fast. I held up my free hand, stopping her before she said anything.

“Relax, I went to talk to a female named Elrissa. She has something to do with what Amren was making me read, about the meirleach,” I said hurriedly. I set the apple core down on the table and took off my jacket and draped it on a chair.

“Amren said that Beron’s line may hold some sort of skipped gene for my abilities. From what I found though, I think it’s because of the witches.”

Mor was staring at me in a way I wasn’t sure if I should feel threatened or not. I continued though, feeling I had to fill the silence. “Which it makes sense since my mother was a witch, the same as Elrissa. I mean, she was a witch.” I fell into an awkward silence, watching Mor stare at me. Finally, she took a few steps towards me, eyeing my face.

“That’s why you’re so familiar,” she whispered. I struggled not to back up.

Mor swallowed and shook her head.

“Eris is your father?”

I nodded and moved my eyes away from Mor.

“Yes. That’s what Elrissa told me. Her daughter...Narcissa, she was Beron’s daughter...so…” I looked at Mor and rubbed my arm. I could just feel the tension in the air between us. I had the feeling that Mor and Eris weren’t on the best of terms. Then again, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t involve myself much with social gossip, only the information I knew was solid and not the fantastical rambling of house servants.

Mor let out a breath through her nose and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I…” she shook her and finally just stared at me, both her hands on her hips. “How did you get into the Autumn court?!”

“Same way I get into anywhere. I was a spy you know.”

Mor snorted and walked around me, getting an apple for herself. I watched her and I pushed back some of my hair.

“I...I’m sorry for the way I acted before,” I said suddenly. Mor didn’t say anything as she grabbed a knife from a drawer and started to peel the apple. I continued. “I really haven’t...had anyone...to work with before. I’m not used to people really. It’s hard adapting I guess.”

Mor looked over her shoulder at me and nodded once.

“Azriel likes you,” she said abruptly. I felt my whole body tighten and my stomach knot. Why did she have to say that? Mor easily sliced into her apple and gave me a look that I knew was dangerous.

“And just because Azriel likes you, doesn’t mean we all do. I don’t trust you, no one does. Tread carefully Myriad. Azriel is my friend, if you do anything, anything to hurt him, I will end you.”

I swallowed and nodded, picking up my jacket. I gave Mor a look before I walked from the kitchen.

“Warning received..”

Angrily, I walked back into the foyer, ready to go back out onto the streets of Velaris and ignore the circle completely. I figured Rhysand could wait. I needed a drink or something.

*** *** ***

It wasn’t a drink I found as I went out. What I found instead was a shop that I’d never seen before, in a multi-coloured little district that I didn’t think I’d care to go down.

It was a little music shop with instruments hanging in the windows. Violins, fiddles, flutes. Old instruments and new ones. I stared at the shop, looking up at the two other stories above it, living quarters it seemed.

A long time ago, in another life, I used to amuse myself by playing music. I was gifted with it and it always brought me comfort. After a while I fell away from it and hadn’t picked up an instrument in years. What little music remained in my soul was killed Under the Mountain.

“You can come in, you know.”

I looked down at the shop’s entrance, at a little black haired boy about nine or ten. He had his hands on his hips and he looked as if he’d drag me into the shop even if I said I didn’t want to come in.

I couldn’t help but smile at him. He had roused me from my morbid thoughts and I now directed all my attention to him.

“I don’t play music,” I explained. The boy looked astonished. He darted forward and grabbed my hand and pulled me into the shop.

“Grampie! I found a girl who doesn’t play music!”

I let the boy pull me forward and I was careful to watch where I walked. The shop was absolutely cluttered with instruments, instrument repair items and other things I couldn’t begin to figure out what the were.

The boy let go of me and ran behind a counter to fetch his grandfather, at least who I thought was his grandfather. I snorted softly and walked around the shop, trailing my fingers over a shelf, flicking a bit of dust away. I saw a small fiddle on the shelf and I bent down to look at it. I couldn’t help but smile at the little flowers someone had taken the time to paint on it, even though the little indigo bluebells were faded and worn.

“Theo! Lad, slow down...Oh, m’lady.”

I straightened and looked behind me when the boy came back with his grandfather in tow. I smiled slightly at him and nodded my head.

“Hello. You have a very persuasive boy there, sir,” I said as I gestured to the boy. The grandfather, an older fae with silvery hair and a kind face, set his hands on the boy’s shoulders and smiled apologetically.

“Theo likes to bring me customers. He says you don’t play music? Is that right?”

I nodded and looked back at the fiddle. The shopkeeper gasped and walked forward, picking the fiddle up. He ran his hand lovingly over the instrument and plucked a few cords, adjusting the strings.

“Ah...she’s caught your eye then, m’lady?” he asked, giving me a mischievous look. I felt my smile widen and I shrugged.

“I suppose, sir.”

The male chuckled and took the fiddle’s accompanying bow and turned back to me.

“Please, it’s Claudius,” he said. He handed me the fiddle and I took it. My fingers traced over the familiar strings.

“You have fiddler’s fingers, m’lady,” he said. I arched an eyebrow and ran a finger down the fiddle strings.

“Is that a thing?” I asked. “I used to play a long time ago.”

Theo clambered onto a stool behind me, his black curls bouncing adorably around his face.

Claudius handed me the bow and I took it, just to please the old fae and his boy.

“I really don’t play anymore,” I explained. Theo looked at me with his huge eyes and I sighed, drawing the bow over the strings. they let out a clear, mellow note, almost mournful. I frowned and tucked the instrument under my chin, adjusting my fingers to get a more happy tune, just to see the boy smile.

Theo who laughed at me and he put his arms around my neck, standing on his stool. I stiffened at the touch. It was odd, yet...childish and I didn’t quite mind it.

“You’re a natural,” he explained.

Claudius shrugged and nodded.

“Theo sees people as they go by. He drags them all in my shop, saying they’re naturals. More times than not he’s right and we give away an instrument,” he said. I looked at Theo, turning my head just so.

“Is that so?”

The boy simply giggled and hugged my neck tighter. Claudius smiled and shooed the boy off.

“Leave m’lady alone, lad.”

I laughed and stopped, almost choking on my laughter. I hadn’t laughed in...in such a long time. Claudius gazed at me and tilted his head, his dark blue eyes reading into me. I let him, feeling he meant no harm by it.

“Perhaps, m’lady needs a little harmony in her life? A little song can do a great deal of good,” he said quietly. I looked down at the fiddle and smiled, rubbing a bit of polished wood.

“Yes...it sounds rather nice doesn’t it?” I looked at the old fae and smiled, feeling a little weight lift off my chest.

“Call me Myriad, sir.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Claudius said. He gestured to the fiddle. “Please, take it, Myriad. As a gift.” I blanched and shook my head.

“No please! I couldn’t just take this from you!”

Theo clambered up behind me again and pulled on my jacket.

“Take it! Grampie doesn’t give gifts much. Please??”

I sighed and crouched down, looking at the boy. He looked back at me with puppy eyes and bit his lip. I smiled and nodded.

“Fine. I’ll take it for you,” I said. I looked up at Claudius. “But please, let me do something to repay you. I’ll feel guilty otherwise.”

Claudius shook his head. “Nonsense. You can always come back and keep Theo from trouble if you must do anything.” Theo stuck out his tongue and I snorted, letting Claudius pack up my fiddle. I jerked my head to Theo and he trotted over to me. I slipped several gold coins into his little hands and put a finger to my lips.

“Don’t tell your grandfather,” I whispered, not wanting to freely accept a gift. If anything, it would help the two.

Theo nodded and leaned up to give my cheek a kiss. I let him and ruffled his hair, straightening up. Claudius’s eyes twinkled as he turned around and handed me my fiddle.

“Come back and visit.”

*** *** ***

I went back to Amren’s place, waiting for her. I was sitting on my little pile of blankets experimenting with the fiddle. I didn't realize how out of practice I really was. It took me awhile to discover the instrument, but in a few hours time I was able to play a few slow melodies.

“So that’s what the screeching is.” I opened my eyes and gave Amren a look as she came up into the attic, slinging a bag of books down on a low table. I set the fiddle down and set it in my lap.

“I used to play when I was younger. I thought I’d have a hobby. You seem to like to read so I thought I should play music.” Amren looked at me, her eyes narrowing like a cat.

“You’re different. Did your little field trip into the Autumn court relieve some of your pressure?” she asked almost tauntingly.

I stood up and set my hands on my back and shrugged again.

“I...I don’t know yet. I found out who my father is though.” Amren nodded and sighed, removing her chunky necklace and bracelets.

“Mor told me. You know she was betrothed to him?”

I looked at the older female and raised my lip. Mor could’ve been…

“I didn’t know that.”

Amren snorted and sat down.

“You don’t know a lot about us, girl,” she said. She looked at me and her face grew solemn.

“Rhysand and Feyre got back from the human realms this morning when you were gone. They have invited the human queens to a meeting.”

My brows shot into my hairline.

“Why them?!” Amren tilted her head.

“You have a problem?”

I seethed through my teeth at the female, feeling like a child who no one thought was adequate enough to even tie a shoe.

“I’ve met them before, penetrated their courts. They’re surrounded by two faced silver tongued liars. They would sell one of their children if it meant getting what they wanted.”

“Rhys knows what he’s doing. Most of the time,” Amren said off handedly. “We go to the House of Wind in the morning for more of your training. We have to unlock your power this. That and you need to get in shape. You’re so scrawny a child could push you over.”

I growled and flung my hands up.

“Will I ever be good enough for you people? You know you’re all crazy?” I snapped. I pointed a finger at Amren. “You’re the worst.”

Amren smirked and waved a hand.

“Go whine to someone who cares.”

I ground my teeth and turned around to put my fiddle back in its case.

“I’m going out for dinner,” I muttered.

Amren raised her eyebrow and she actually looked curious.

“With who?”

I smiled back at her in a taunting way.

“Myself.”

@court-0f-dreamers @eternallyreading

#sarah j. maas #acotar #acowar #acomaf #fanfiction

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter Six

Guys! Visit my art blog! I’ll be posting art of the characters, concept and anything else related to The Vixen.

Thanks to my wonderful beta @court-0f-dreamers

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Myriad is a fae with the rare ability to leech magic from other face, leaving them husks of their former selves. Myriad worked for and was Amarantha’s secret pet, spy and lover. After the Queen’s death, Myriad leaves to live in solace. On her journey, she’s captured by Hybern and set with a task to complete. Penetrate the workings of the Nightcourt and report to the King. During this time she falls in with the Inner Circle by a chance meeting with a male from her past. She must then gain their trust, in turn, discovering things about herself in the process, fighting the unbreakable command the King of Hybern gave her. (This follows the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses thru to the end of the series. Slow burn Azriel/Myriad) (Roughly inspired by Disney’s Maleficent.)

******

I found Velaris easy to navigate. It was a nice city, much too nice. The fae that dwelled there were just as nice as the city. I didn’t get suspicious or afraid looks, or leering plotting looks from possible criminals. I think that was what had startled me the most. I didn’t see any crime. Perhaps it was because the city had been guarded from the outside world, preserved from all the filth the rest of Prythian suffered from. I had seen what happened to the Summer Court, I’d been there when Amarantha’s forces massacred the only court to rebel against her.

Velaris though, was untouched.

Perhaps it was a stroke of luck that the former High lords had protected the city, but how it remained a secret from Amarantha, I’d never know. It made me almost sour, seeing how these people hadn’t suffered, hadn’t known the pain the rest of Prythian had felt during those forty nine years. However, it wasn’t their fault, and so I had gotten over that.

The city by twilight was beautiful and I took my time wandering down the streets, looking into shops and walking by apartments. I needed to occupy my mind with something else, calm the fire that had been raging since I left the townhouse. My thoughts turned to the shadowsinger; my mate. It was cruel almost, that the bond had happened so soon in my life. Mates didn’t mean we had to love each other or even be together. After all, the bond hadn’t snapped for Azriel, it was obvious that it hadn’t. I just couldn’t be around him, it was still raw, my mind still hazed over with a sudden animal lust for him.

I was afraid of this bond. Afraid of what it’d lead to.

I had a lover once. I was so young and it was fast, sexual. I think I had some delusion about us being something, about me moving on from what had happened early in my life. One night, I told him everything about me, I spilled my guts out to him. And I remembered the disgust clearly. He called me a lying whore. Said he couldn’t wed a sullied female.

The words had been cruel and cutting. My temper, less contained then, had flared and I burned the male. Scarred his pretty face. Weeks after that, he’d sent some men after me. When they had found me, they weren’t gentle with me.

They left me alive, but for dead. I was so beautiful before then, but they had carved my skin with their knives, raped me and dumped me in the Middle for whatever dwelled there to finish me off.

It was the Middle that made me strong.

That was the reason I couldn’t love. The feeling wasn’t in me anymore. I just couldn’t summon it up. Love involved trust and I couldn’t trust. Trust was a weakness I couldn’t give in to.

I never trusted Amarantha, she used me, but she made me strong. I looked up to her for a time. Until the massacre at the Summer court, when she had me to terrible things for her.

I roused myself from my thoughts then, thinking about Amarantha was still too painful. Still brought up memories I had done a good job of locking up. So I wandered into the first bar I found and set myself up in a corner, away from other drinking and dancing fae. I had no money, so I ordered a tab under Rhysand’s name. The barkeeper had protested, but a good snarl had him complying.

I wanted to get drunk, drown every painful feeling in the cozy, euphoric bliss that was intoxication. Alcohol was my favorite blessing. It gave me the ability to cloud my mind and forget. Perhaps I could even forget the mating bond.

*** *** ***

It was after midnight, the music had grown loud and thumping and I was drunk. I had drained two bottles of pungent whisky and was starting on a third when someone sat down at my table. I poured my glass with an unsteady hand and set the bottle down.

“Table’s taken. Go bother someone else.” I snarled, draining the glass in a single gulp. I reached for my bottle and the stranger slid it away from me. I looked up then, feeling my temper begin to rise as the alcohol unraveled my self control.

“I think you’ve had plenty to drink already. You should stop while you can still stand.”

I blinked, focusing on...shit.

“Cassian...my lord...how very noble of you to come after me. Rhysand is spoiling me with so many lovely looking watch dogs.”

The large Illyrian warrior looked at me, his eyes paying too close attention to me. They seemed to take in everything about me. They were clever, quick and I knew he saw more through me than I would’ve liked.

“It was easy finding you,” he said. “You don’t cover your tracks well.”

I shrugged and lifted my leg up and set my heel on my chair base. I threw my arm back, letting it rest on the back of my chair.

“And why should I cover my tracks from you? I’m not hiding.”

Cassian poured himself a drink and sat back, tossing the drink back. I watched him swallow, my eyes trailing over his ruggedly handsome face. My eyes ran down his neck, watching his throat bob, down to his well muscled chest and shoulders. His wings sprawled behind him, dark membranous wings that I’m sure were a glory to behold in full span.

The Illyrian general looked back at me, a smirk gracing his face when he saw how I was staring at him.

“Is the Rhys’s new fox hungry?” he taunted.

I felt my nostrils flare, the name hitting too close.

“Shut up.”

Cassian poured himself another drink, watching me. “Why? That’s what you are isn’t it? You go from being Amarantha’s little fuck buddy to Azriel’s special salvage project and now Rhys wants us to work with you? Your deal with Hybern is much too convenient for my taste. How you just managed to escape? Please.” I was on my feet in an instant, hurtling the table between us aside. Cassian was on his feet as well with a taunting grin on his face. The bar had gone silent and the crowd was watching us. Cassian held up a hand, beckoning me forward. “Outside.”

I didn’t wait for him to get outside before I slammed into the Illyrian with all my strength, meeting a hard resistance. Cassian grabbed my by the back of my neck and threw me out the bar door. I hit the cobbled streets heavily and rolled, every bone in my body groaning in protest. I was too drunk for this fight but he had hit a nerve that ran too deep for me to ignore.

I got up and my hand went to my boot, to the knife I realized I didn’t have. I heard Cassian tsk and I watched him walk out of the bar, rolling his big shoulders.

“Let it out, little fox. You won’t hurt me,” he said, his voice light.

“Your mistake,” I said, loosening. A fight would be welcome. “I use males like you for practice.”

I winnowed then, close to Cassian, my fist flying at his jaw. He blocked it too quickly and was thrown back by a punch to my unprotected stomach. The blow was too hard, too close to my still unhealed wound and I crumpled. My breath made a horrible wet sound as I struggled for air. Cassian crouched down next to me, his face inches from mine.

“See, that’s the problem with you,” he said lowly. “You’re hot, your temper gets in the way. It’s easy to get a rise from you, Myriad. All I wanted to know is why you’re targeting us, what are you doing for Hybern?” I gasped, my breath coming back. I tasted blood on my tongue and I spat it at Cassian, hitting him in the face. He flinched, his eyes closing on instinct and I slammed forward, my hand on his throat.

“I’m not working for Hybern,” I said, though my voice shook dangerously. I felt a hysterical sob claw it’s was out of my throat, threatening to send me into a wrath I knew would be irreversible.

Cassian grabbed my wrist and twisted it, making me cry out in pain. He shoved me back and was on top of me, his knee digging into my stomach, where my scar was. I let out a sob of pain, struggling weakly.

“You’re too close, Fox,” Cassian hissed, his voice a frightening pitch. “You’re too close to us.” I gasped, my breath itching. “Take me to Rhysand.” Cassian let up on his knee and he stared at me. I tried to sit up.

“Take me to Rhysand!”

I knew what I had to do to get them to trust me. Because I wanted to be part of them, I had a reason to be. Perhaps it was because of Amarantha, being her pet. Maybe I wanted to spite her in death the way I couldn’t in life. I wanted to reverse all the ill I’d done because I wasn’t proud of it. I didn’t want to become like the very men who had murdered my mother, who had me defiled. I think Cassian saw all this in my eyes, because I watched his hazel ones cloud and soften for the barest of seconds.

The next second, I blinked and we winnowed, ending up in the townhouse, on the carpet in the fancy foyer. Cassian got off me then and stood, letting me gasp and roll to the side, coughing threateningly.

I felt Rhysand before I heard his smooth footsteps. I felt a pang in my chest that I knew was from Azriel as he followed Rhysand into the foyer.

“Shit Cassian! What did you do?” Azriel exclaimed. I looked up, sneering at them. I could feel blood seeping into my shirt, warm and sticky.

“Found her drunk,” Cassian said offhandedly. “I followed her through Velaris. No real pattern to her movements. She wanted you, Rhys.” I struggled to my feet, looking over as Amren and Feyre came down the stairs, the latter holding a book. I tilted my head up, my hair sliding over my ears.

“Good, now that you’re all here,” I croaked, pressing my hand to my side. Feyre’s brows furrowed in question but I steamed ahead before she could say anything. “My sincerity was doubted, with good reason.” I was about to lay myself naked to them.

I looked up at Rhysand, jerking my chin up.

“I want you to look in my mind. Anything you want, lay it out,” I continued, breathing in wetly. “I want you to know that I wasn’t just Amarantha’s ‘fuck buddy’, as that overgrown bat put it.”

Rhysand had grown still, he watched me, his blue eyes shifting with some emotion I couldn’t place.

Finally Rhysand simply shook his head.

“No. If it’s trust you’re wanting, then you need to earn it,” he said quietly. “That’s up to you to accomplish.” He looked at Cassian and I could tell the Illyrian was going to get an earful later. Not that the male would listen. Cassian merely snorted and looked back at me, his eyes just as bad as a blade being stabbed in my gut.

I averted my gaze to the floor, half relieved that Rhysand hadn’t followed through with what I’d asked him to do. One thing was certain however, I wasn’t going to stay a minute under the Highlord’s roof.

“I’ll take her.” I looked up from the carpet and my face drained when I saw Amren walk forward. She stared at me, so piercingly that I felt like Rhysand’s examination had been only a scrap of what Amren could see with those silver eyes of hers.

“What do you mean take her?” Cassian said lowly. Amren let her eyes slide to Cassian and she snorted.

“She needs a place to stay and someone to teach her control. I’ll let her stay with me till she finds a place of her own.”

She looked at me, her face as unfriendly as they came.

“We start your training in the morning, Cassian can handle the physical side of things with you. If you’re going to be of any use, you need to get into shape because you’re sorely out of it.”

I opened my mouth, protest on my lips but Amren stopped me.

“Your most important talent now is your ability to remove magic from something,” she said rather harshly. I felt my stomach churn uncomfortably. “So we need to work on that before you become dangerous to yourself and those around you.”

She looked up at Rhysand and nodded.

“Take Feyre to the prison tomorrow, I’ll have this one training when you return. Maybe we’ll be able to assess how useful she’ll be.”

Rhysand nodded and looked at me, a smile sliding onto his perfect features.

“Rest well then.”

*** *** ***

Light hit my eyes and my blanket was wrenched off of me. I groaned, hiding my face in the pillow, attempting to block out the light. My head hurt, my mouth felt like I’d been chewing wool.

“I let you sleep long enough, get up.”

I felt a hand touch my shoulder and I lurched up, smacking the hand away.

“Don’t touch me,” I said lowly, my entire vision swimming from the hangover I knew was going to be with me all day. I focused on Amren, bending over me. She raised an eyebrow and shoved a glass of water in my hands.

“Drink that and get bathed. You smell.”

I thirstily drank the water down and set the glass on the floor beside my pile of blankets that Amren had supplied me. She pointed me to a bathroom where there was already a steaming amount of hot water in the tub there. She left me and I quickly got my bath over with, braiding my wet hair back and away from my face.

Amren had laid out some simple clothes for me that consisted of the strange flowy pants of typical Night court fashion and a short, fitted jacket with tight sleeves. I dressed quickly, slipping on a pair of dainty looking shoes that I immediately hated.

I found Amren pouring over a large book with old text. She looked up at me and motioned me to take a seat on a plush cushion.

“You look good in gray,” she said, looking me over. “I don’t blame you for getting in a fight with Cassian. He’s an overgrown pup who says too much.”

I made no comment, settling for leaning forward to look at the book.

“What’s that?”

Amren slid the book to me.

“It’s about Meirleach. How they work. There isn’t much known about them, girl,” she said. I peered at the book, cringing at a few choice words describing who the account was about.

“There were only three known ones. Two of which lived near a thousand years ago, both hailed from the Autumn court and they served Beron. Rumor was that the one, a female by the name of Narcissa was his illegitimate daughter, but that’s never been proven. The other, more recent, was a Winter Court male,” Amren said, as she watched me read. I didn’t know all this. I knew my kind were rare, but I didn’t know all that about the Autumn court.

“Your parentage could have some reason as to why you have this gift.”

“It isn’t a gift,” I said quietly. I looked up from the book and straightened a corner of the page that had been folded back.

Amren leaned forward, too eagerly for my liking.

“What does it feel like?”

I licked my lips, wishing for more water. “It’s...it’s like you’re stripping every essence of someone’s soul from them. Everything that makes them unique in their magic, you take from them. They’re husks afterwards and if they live long enough afterwards, they’re...dull, gray. You can’t smell anything from them, they don’t glow, there’s nothing of their magic left. They’re dead and walking.”

Amren’s eyes softened and she studied my face.

“You didn’t like it then?”

“It’s why I didn’t try to learn how to freely do it,” I snapped. “I have hardly any control over it.”

Call me weak, call me a coward. I didn’t care.

“You still need to master it,” she said. She pointed to the book. “The Winter Court Fae, he died. The power consumed him along with several others when he lost control. It’s quite dangerous. You can strip everyone and everything around you, taking in all that magic would be too much for your body to hold and you can die.”

I blanched and rubbed my knees nervously.

“I won’t lie, I don’t really want to die,” I said slowly. I shut the book and licked my lips. “How do you propose we practice?”

Amren grinned wickedly and stood up. I looked up at her before scrambling to my feet.

“This is when we involve Cassian.”

I felt my stomach knot almost instantly. Cassian was still tender ground with me.

“Why?” I demanded.

Amren didn’t answer me, instead she walked to the door and headed down to the street below. I growled as I followed her down and out onto the street. For someone so little, Amren walked fast.

We headed straight for the big townhouse and Amren walked right in the front door without bothering to knock. I followed behind her like a puppy, shutting the door behind me.

I stiffened when I felt Azriel before I saw him. He entered the foyer and I saw him flinch very slightly when Amren asked him where Cassian was. He pointed her to the commander and Amren marched off the find her quarry.

Azriel and I stood in silence together until he finally spoke.

“What were you and Cassian fighting over?”

I shrugged and picked at my jacket, curling my toes in my shoes.

“I was drunk. I can’t remember now,” I lied easily. Azriel watched me, his gaze cutting deep into me. I swallowed and scuffed my feet.

“Just words. He was picking at me. I shouldn’t have let it get to me.”

Azriel nodded slowly and rubbed the siphon on his hand.

“Cas doesn’t really have a filter. He’ll tell you what he thinks of you to your face and not bat an eyelash. If he respects you, he’ll let you know that too. He’s a good soul really.”

I snorted softly and stared at my fancy shoes, scraping the toe on the carpet.

“He’s had yet to prove it to me.”

I looked back up at Azriel, feeling my breath hitch in my throat. Raw, the bond was still so raw. Every breath Azriel took I could feel like a second pulse in my neck.

“Azriel--”

I was interrupted when I heard footsteps and Amren returned with Cassian in tow, the Illyrian looked just as pleased to see me as I was to see him. He pulled a siphon off his hand and threw it at me. I caught it in one hand and glanced down at it.

“What’s this for?” I asked. Amren snatched the siphon from me and set it on a small table then pulled the table into the middle of the foyer.

“Practice,” she said as she walked back over and stood behind me. I stared at the siphon, realizing it had magic stored in it from Cassian. I jerked my chin back at Cassian.

“What’s he here for?”

Cassian opened his mouth but Amren cut him off.

“Motivation. Now focus and try and drain that siphon, girl.”

I rubbed my hands together, my mouth suddenly dry as I stared at the siphon. It wasn’t a fae I had to drain, how hard could it be?

I burrowed into myself, trying to feel for my elusive well of power. I felt a small pull, my power rousing almost sleepily. It lazily stirred, letting me feel the pull from the siphon.

That was when my power made for the siphon and stopped. I threw my power at the siphon, battering it. My power suddenly sputtered out and I felt nothing then. I tried to gather up my power, beckon the tendrils to the siphon. It was no use, my power had hidden back inside me and ignored my attempts to use it.

Frustrated, I snapped back into the present. I blinked, feeling rather sick. I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder and that’s when I realized I was sitting on the floor, my legs at odd angles beneath me.

“You fell over,” Amren said, her face appearing beside the hand on my shoulder. She shoved a glass of water in my hands and knelt by me.

I sipped on the water and soon gulped it down, draining the glass. I rolled the glass in my hand and looked at the siphon still on the table.

“It wouldn’t go to the siphon. Did you have it guarded?” I asked, my tone accusing. Amren stood up and ignored me. I swung to my feet and whirled on her.

“You did,” I snapped. I pointed the glass to the siphon. “You didn’t tell me you’d have it guarded!”

Amren shrugged and leaned against a chair, watching me with her silver eyes.

“I wanted to see how good you are and you’re not very good at all, so I’ve found out.”

I snarled and stalked over to Amren, ignoring my instincts that screamed at me to hold my temper in. I wanted to smack the half lidded look off Amren’s.

“You little…”

Amren gave me a sudden sharp look, her eyes flashed a warning and I reigned my temper in and ground my teeth, whirling back to the table. I grabbed the siphon and all but threw it at Cassian.

“I’ve had enough practice today..”

*** *** ***

I didn’t stick around Velaris after the ordeal with the siphon. Instead I decided I needed to fly and exercise my wings which hadn’t seen much use since Hybern. It felt good to fly after so long.

I flew out of Velaris, towards the mountains to the east. The landscape began to look familiar, sights I hadn’t seen my younger years. I was born in the Illyrian mountains to the north of the Night Court.

I landed a few miles out of Velaris after flying for a good hour. I was tired when I landed by a mountain stream, eagerly drinking the crystal like water. I folded my wings behind me and straightened, looking up at the few trees rising above me.

Amren had tricked me and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the feeling of being used like that. It brought back memories of Amarantha.

I sighed and reached back, letting my hair down. My shoes I kicked off and threw into the woods at my side. My bare toes wriggled in the grass under my feet and I started to pace. I had to figure out my power though. I didn’t like the idea of dying.

I kicked at a patch of leaves and snarled, lighting some of the leaves on fire. I stared at the embers, taking care that they didn’t set fire to the whole wood. I flopped down and let my shoulders sag forward. I caught one of the embers in my hand, letting it dance over my skin.

“Autumn court,” I whispered, snorting softly. I let the ember die and I laid back on the grass, my wings rustling slightly. Perhaps that was where I needed to go for answers. I was a spy after all. It could be done.

Tagging @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading

#s j maas #acomaf #acotar #acowar #fanfiction

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thevixenfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Chapter Five

Shout out to my new beta @court-0f-dreamers!!! She threw down down for me and agreed to read and help out with my writing!!! I was in sore need of a beta and a second set of eyes to help me on my way.

So thank you @court-0f-dreamers!!! You are the bomb! She also suggested having lovely aesthetic GIFs here so I have an excuse to be on pinterest y’all!

Links to the story:

-Prologue-

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Summary- This story follows the path of someone who turns pity into malice and revenge into a lifestyle. Someone who doesn’t believe in love’s power and strays from what little good she has in her heart. Myriad is a fae with the rare ability to leech magic from other face, leaving them husks of their former selves. Myriad worked for and was Amarantha’s secret pet, spy and lover. After the Queen’s death, Myriad leaves to live in solace. On her journey, she’s captured by Hybern and set with a task to complete. Penetrate the workings of the Nightcourt and report to the King. During this time she falls in with the Inner Circle by a chance meeting with a male from her past. She must then gain their trust, in turn, discovering things about herself in the process, fighting the unbreakable command the King of Hybern gave her. (This follows the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses thru to the end of the series. Slow burn Azriel/Myriad) (Roughly inspired by Disney’s Maleficent.)

I had woken a few hours after my escape attempt, this time to the healer who I learned had been the female whose voice I had heard. She had informed me that I could go downstairs to the sitting room and have something to eat while the males talked to me.

Those males, I learned were Rhysand, Highlord of the Nightcourt and his spymaster, Azriel.

So then I found myself sitting across from them, cradling a mug of broth in my hands, staring at them through the steam that curled up from my cup. So far, none of us had spoken.

Rhysand was lounging in an armchair, watching my every move. He had his perfect chin resting on his fist, a smirk on his face. A shiver ran through me as I recalled he used to look at Amarantha’s subjects the same way. I wondered if now he was probing my mind and I didn’t know it. It was a horrid thought. Azriel on the other hand wasn’t seated. He was lurking by the fireplace, the shadows in that corner writhing around him like loyal dogs. I found myself looking over at him every so often, a nagging part of me believing that I had seen him somewhere before.

“I hope you like cold broth.” I looked over to Rhysand and leveled my gaze with his. He was smirking at me, his eyes roaming over me in a way warriors size up their opponents.

I scowled and took a sip of the broth, finding it quite good. I realized I’d been rather hungry. “When Azriel brought you here, I almost told him to dump you somewhere else,” Rhysand said. “You were half dead anyway.” I raised an eyebrow and set my broth down. “I wouldn’t expect any better,” I rasped, my voice dry and unused. “I wouldn’t have thought Amarantha’s whore could be so generous. What’s your real reason for bringing me here? Am I a prisoner?” Azriel shifted by the fireplace and I saw by the slight shift in Rhysand’s eyes that my words had caused a stir. Rhysand simply smiled wider and shrugged. “No, you’re not a prisoner,” he said coolly. I fidgeted a little and furrowed my brows. Rhysand continued. “Azriel says he knows you.”

“He wasn’t Under the Mountain,” I said dryly. I’d never seen the Illyrian before in my life, so I kept telling myself. Azriel looked over at Rhysand, then at me. He held out a hand, positioning it at waist-level. “You were younger then,” he said, his voice quiet and somewhat grim. I held my mug tighter, my fingernails scraping the porcelain. “You were in an Illyrian war camp. Torin, the lord there, he was going to kill you. He said you were a witch.”

I felt my blood drain from my face and I raised a lip, sneering at the Illyrian. Cauldron...I did know him. The shadows, I recognized them, and the feeling he gave off. Like cold death.

“And you want me to scrape before you, offering you my thanks?” I spat. I sipped from my mug, trying to calm my shaking hands.

“Are you a witch?” Rhysand asked coolly.

I shook my head and took a long while to sip my broth. Let them wait. They deserved it. Finally I looked up, narrowing my eyes. “You tell me. You’re the one who reads minds.”

Rhysand shrugged again looked me over. It was Azriel who spoke first. “What does it matter if you are or aren’t?” he said quietly. He fingered the black blade by his side, his dark eyes boring a hole in my head.

“I know you’re a meirleach,” Rhysand said. “And that was why Amarantha kept a tight leash on you. You must have been awfully valuable to her. Tell me, how did she keep a rein on you?”

I stared past Rhysand’s shoulder and scowled. How Amarantha kept a hold on me wasn’t something I liked to discuss. Nor the fact that I could strip even the most powerful fae of their powers like some overgrown leech. I rubbed my finger, the pale ring of skin there showing signs of the ring Amarantha had given me to hold those powers in.

I knew Rhysand looked, but I was grateful he didn’t say anything about it.

“Hybern was hunting you. It seems the king wanted to know where his little spy had run off to. You conveniently disappeared after everything went to hell Under the Mountain,” Rhysand said.

I glanced over the Highlord’s shoulder, rolling my eyes. “I don’t have an allegiance with them, if that’s what you’re wanting to know.” “I know.” I looked back at the male, starting to wonder what he was getting at. He looked at Azriel who shrugged and looked at me. I frowned, curiosity peaking.

Rhysand looked at me, folding his hands. “Myriad, I know that you offered to help Feyre escape Under the Mountain.” I snapped my head around, looking at Rhysand. How…

“She told me about it. That’s why you’re here. Now I don’t trust you, but I do trust that you’re not working for our enemies. You owe allegiance to yourself, which is fair. I can see why.” I licked my lips and drew my feet inward. My whole body itched to run. I knew I wouldn’t get very far at all.

“I want to know if you’d be willing to help our cause. Amarantha’s death didn’t go unheard by Hybern and my sources say that war is on the horizon,” Rhys said.

I set my mug aside and braced my hands on my knees, my face pulling in a frown. “Why? Why are you asking for my help?,” I asked quietly. “Any other court would sooner throw me in a cell for my part Under the Mountain but you’re offering me a bloody job. Why?”

Rhysand shrugged and smiled. I felt claws rake down the back of my mind and I shivered. “Lets just say that I wasn’t Amarantha’s only whore and you’re so driven by vengeance that it’s remarkable.” I snarled and surged to my feet, my power rising up with my temper. Azriel casually shoved off the mantle and stepped closer. I pointed a finger to Rhysand and snarled. “That...how did you know?” Rhysand rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, she told me everything. It was obvious.” He stood up and I found myself looking up at him just a little. He put his hands in his pockets. “I’ll let you say no. I’ll even grant you sanctuary here in Velaris if you’d like,” he said. “You’re half Illyrian, so technically that makes you a Night Court subject and I can give you protection from other courts. I’d like to help you Myriad.”

I shifted on my feet, feeling that tug in my stomach again, something in the back of my head saying “stay.”

“I want a bargain,” I said finally. I’d never made a bargain before, not ever. So I tried to think of everything I wanted that couldn’t be used against me. “If I help you with Hybern , I want full payment. A place to stay, free reign in and out of this court. And I want to be treated like a citizen, not a soldier, or a prisoner.”

Rhysand smiled and held out a hand. I looked at the hand and scowled, taking it after a moment.

“It’s a bargain.”

Rhysand squeezed my hand and I let it go as quickly as I could, remembering the feeling of Rhysand’s power coming to me years ago.

“Tomorrow Azriel will take you to the townhouse. You can meet my inner circle, seeing as how you’ll be working with them the most,” he said, letting go of my hand. I snorted and walked back to my chair, sitting down.

“Perhaps they’ll be better company than my silent watch dog,” I replied, looking pointedly at Azriel. I smiled at him, showing my teeth. The smiled didn’t reach my eyes though.

“Azriel volunteered,” Rhysand said. “I’d be nicer to your watchdog. He let you hit him several times when Majda was patching you up. It was quite entertaining.”

I looked at the Illyrian and felt heat rise up my neck. Azriel seemed just as uncomfortable because he avoided my eyes and found the mantle piece suddenly interesting. “Well, I must get going. I will see you in the morning,” Rhysand said, stretching slightly. “Get your rest, you’ll need it. Oh, and no more jumping out windows, Azriel will catch you every time.” I scowled and watched Rhysand winnow in a swirl of darkness. Once he was gone, I relaxed against the chair and ran my hand over my face, shutting my eyes tiredly. I heard Azriel walk over and sit down across from me.

I put my hand down and looked at the Illyrian, studying him. “How did you recognize me?”

Azriel folded his hands in his lap and shrugged his broad shoulders.

“Your wings,” he said quietly. “When you were flying out of Hybern, I saw your wings. Though it wasn’t until we stopped outside the wall when I pulled the arrow out that I really made the connection. That and...you said a few words here and there.”

I stared at him, following the line of his jaw, down to his squared shoulders. He looked almost uncomfortable.

“I remember you tackled him,” I said, my voice unusually soft. I wanted to kick myself. “Torin I mean...he killed my mother. He easily could’ve killed me. Why’d you stop him?” Azriel shifted in his seat.

“You were a kid.” I stood up and picked up my mug. As I looked at the contents swish around inside I knew that wasn’t the real reason Azriel had stopped the warlord. I didn’t feel like wanting to know the Illyrian’s motives. Slowly walked to the doorway that lead to the stairs, stopping as my hand hit the railing. “Thank you.”

*** *** ***

The morning brought a bath and fresh clothes all of which I desperately needed. From the events of the night before, I had began to get my strength back rather quickly. The healer had told me that it was because the faebane wearing off and my body doing its own work.

Along with my powers returning and my wound healing, I had discovered my bargain tattoo. It was across my shoulders, in the shape of ravens wings. I didn’t quite mind them really. The black, almost purple ink stood out on my tanned skin in a way I rather liked. For a minute I almost imagined what it would be like to have Illyrian tattoos. The thought was gone just as quickly.

My clothes had been laid out on my bed and I dressed quickly, frowning at the blue tunic that had been neatly folded. It was embroidered with silver thread around the hems, much richer in color and fabric than anything I had ever worn. I almost didn’t want to put it on, feeling like I might marr the borrowed item.

The rest of my clothes consisted of leather leggings and a fitted shirt with long sleeves. I suspected Azriel had something to do with my clothes because of how functional they were. I slipped on my boots that I had been wearing when I was captured. They’d been cleaned, thankfully, at least as cleaned as I one could get them.

As soon as I’d dressed, I headed back downstairs, raiding the kitchen of any food that laid about. My belly had made its hunger known and I wasn’t about to walk around with a growling stomach.

I chewed on the apple I’d found, walking around the house looking for my watchdog. I’d had a feeling that he’d been assigned to me for more than just a guide. Which was fair enough considering my past occupation.

I found Azriel in the foyer, reading what looked to be official reports. I cleared my throat, letting my presence be known before I walked in.

“I already knew you were there. You don’t have to cough up your apple to get my attention.” I scowled at the taller Illyrian and took a loud bite of my apple. Azriel looked at me over his papers, his hair falling in his eyes slightly. He raised an eyebrow and folded his papers away. I waved my apple towards the door.

“I’ve got my introductions in place. Let’s go.” Azriel unfurled his wings a little and my eyes were drawn to the large membranous black wings. Shadow still lurked about them, sliding around Azriels’s ears and face. I frowned and threw my apple in a wastebasket by the door.

“What are you?” Azriel raised his eyebrow again and tilted his head. “And Illyrian.” I scowled at the male and wiped my hands on my thighs.

“Like I can’t see, smart ass,” I snapped. “What I meant was--”

“I know what you meant,” Azriel cut in. “I’m a shadowsinger. That’s why I’m Rhys’ spymaster.” I looked up at Azriel, stiffening when he walked over and held out a hand. I stared at the scarred hand then the blue siphon on top of it. I had heard of shadowsingers, but never seen one before. Tales said they were dangerous and I had no doubt at all that Azriel could kill me in half a second. I looked back up at him, meeting his eyes for a minute before I looked at the buckle on his shoulder plate.

“Oh,” I managed to get out. I looked back at the hand and scuffed my feet.

“We can walk if you don’t want to winnow,” Azriel said, withdrawing his hand. I hurriedly grabbed his hand, gripping it a little too tight.

“Just winnow.”

I could have sworn I saw something like curiosity in Azriel’s eyes before we winnowed away in shadow, the familiar cold rushing about me.

It was a second before we landed in another foyer, this one much richer than the healer’s humble house. There were rugs coating the floor and paintings lining the spacious foyer walls.

I let go of Azriel’s hand and stepped away from him, folding my arms over my chest. “Your highlord has good taste,” I said, looking at the carpet under my feet.

“Even if it’s not good for anything but sitting and collecting dust.” I looked up, catching sight of another Illyrian, this one bigger than Azriel. He had a look on his face that I found distasteful in every way. A womanizer for sure. “Another one of Rhysand’s watch dogs?” I sneered, looking at the male. He simply laughed in return and looked at Azriel. “Fetching little thing, isn’t she? Such nice manners.” “Says the one who has no manners.”

There, coming down the staircase was a female, highfae by the looks of her. She was absolutely breathtaking. Her golden hair was unbound, bouncing around her shoulders as she trotted down the stairs, smirking at the new male. I suddenly felt incredibly grubby compared to the her.

However, she took a look at me and her smile faltered for the barest second, almost so fast I didn’t catch it. I tilted my chin up, clenching my teeth. Whatever she saw in me, it obviously wasn’t something pleasant. Nevertheless, the fae walked right up to me and extended a hand.

“I’m Mor,” she said, fixing her smile. I frowned, but took the hand and lightly shook it.

“Myriad.”

“Fox,” said the larger Illyrian. I looked up at him and scowled. I didn’t like to be called that. “How clever. Do you study names?” I said more hotly than intended. Mor snorted and looked up at the Male.

“Cassian just likes to point out the obvious.” My scowl froze and melted off my face and I took a step back, staring up at the male. Oh Cauldron….

“You’re…” I swallowed and stared at Cassian. He was one of the most powerful Illyrian generals in existence. Even I had heard of him. Usually it wasn’t very nice things, if you weren’t on the right side. He’d fought in the War alongside Rhysand before I was born.

Cassian merely grinned at me and went to slouch in an armchair. Mor rolled her eyes and shook her pretty head.

“Don’t inflate his ego anymore than it already is.”

I held my arms at my side and was silent, feeling rather out of place with the playful banter. I shuffled slightly until Mor offered me a seat on a rather comfortable looking couch. I took it and she perched next to me, giving me side glances every so often.

“So Rhysand says you’re going to be working with us,” Cassian said, slinging his leg over the armrest.

I nodded and rubbed my knees.

“Yes. We...made a bargain.” Mor raised bother her eyebrows and twisted a strand of hair around her finger.

“That’s interesting.”

“What’s even more interesting is that he invited a Meirleach into his circle. I’ve never met one of your kind before.” I stiffened and watched as a short female walked into the room. I stared at her, my breath catching in my throat. I knew she wasn’t fae at all, she felt different, like a monster hiding in a fae’s skin. I could feel my face drain of color, my eyes meeting her silver ones. They seemed to glow as she stared back, a smile coming over her red lips. She tilted a head in my direction, her blunt hair shifting slightly.

My powers uninvitedly poked forward, tasting the air between us, curious to see what the creature was in front of me. I hardly had any control over the power hungry tendrils that stole what wasn’t mine.

The female in front of me leveled a stare so penetrating towards me that I reined in my powers, stuffing them back inside my mind.

“I wouldn’t be so bold little halfbreed. You may not like what you steal,” the female said. I blinked, feeling ill. I realized the room had gone quiet and the fae present were staring at me like I was some sort of exotic exhibition. The distrust I hadn’t seen earlier was clear in their eyes now. Their seemingly welcoming behavior had been a feint, feeling me out.

“I-I’m sorry,” I whispered, shrinking back, feeling quite like a little child in the presence of the old being. I felt like I did have to apologize. “I-I don’t always have control over it. It gets curious.” The female smiled a little coldly and sat down in an armchair, sitting on her crossed legs.

“Forgiven,” she said. She looked around, raising a dark eyebrow. “Cat finally got your tongues?”

Cassian scowled at the female and sat up more.

“Not everyone is as calm as you Amren,” he said. He looked at me and I became very interested in my fingers, picking at a loose thread in my tunic. I could feel the questions that remained unspoken.

“Where’s Rhys?” Amren asked, toying with a heavy gold necklace she was wearing.

“Tsk, so impatient, Amren.”

Rhysand stepped into the foyer, his hands in his pockets. Behind him was another female fae. With a start, I realized she was the girl from Under the Mountain.

Feyre met my eyes and I held the stare, feeling very naked in front of her. She frowned at me, her eyes starting with recognition as well.

“You were Under the Mountain,” she said abruptly. I stood up, wiping my hands down. I nodded and dipped my head slightly.

“Yes. I was.” Feyre looked at Rhysand and frowned, like they were having a silent conversation. Feyre looked back at me and walked forward. She wasn’t any taller than I remembered. She felt so different though, not like any other fae.

I looked down at her, feeling my lips pull up.

“I remember you,” Feyre said flatly. “Rhysand didn’t tell me you’d be here.”

“I suppose he wanted you to make your own opinions of me,” I replied slowly. Feyre pursed her lips and looked me over. I saw something flash in her eyes and I folded my hands behind me.

“You were very brave,” I said lowly. I was indebted to this female on a personal level. She had defeated Amarantha, freeing Prythian,but also...she had freed me. I had been a slave to the self-appointed queen. I realized then that I was indebted. I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of it either.

“You offered me freedom and you meant it,” Feyre said finally. “You would have helped me leave.”

I wasn’t sure what I would have done. Perhaps I would have tried to set her free, just so I didn't have to watch another Clare Beddor get slowly ripped apart and tortured again if Feyre failed. Maybe it was for my own peace of mind and not for Feyre’s well being that I offered to help her get away. My own selfish ambitions? Still, I don’t know why I had offered, what had prompted me to say those things. I felt Feyre staring at me, waiting for me to say anything.

I looked up at her, meeting her hard gray eyes. There was very little kindness there, very little of anything. They were hollow, scarred. They had seen too much and now they were seeing me and I did my best to hide from her piercing gaze.

“I’m sorry you never came with me,” I said lowly after what seemed like hours of silence. “I’m sorry about what happened to you.”

Feyre’s lips pressed together and her brows drew forward in an expression of confusion. “Are you really sorry at all?” I had no answer.

*** *** ***

I kept getting these glances by Rhysand and Amren through the day. I was invited to stay for dinner, afterwards I was told I could roam about the city as I pleased. Azriel wouldn’t be accompanying me, much to my joy as he had gone off to speak with some contacts of his.

“I don’t appreciate being the subject of silent conversation,” I said, swallowing a fork full of greens. From where he sat, I heard Cassian snort into his wine. I shot him a look, feeling like a sulky child.

Rhysand rather delicately sipped his wine and waited a good minute before speaking.

“I was interested in how well you can control your powers. Amren told me you tried to steal hers.” The food in my mouth turned to ash. I looked up and rubbed my right ring finger, deciding to give an honest answer.

“I didn’t try to. It just happened. It...depends on the power. The more powerful the fae, the more interested it becomes and it reaches out towards it,” I explained. “It...feels like another side to my consciousness. I can’t always summon it up and I can’t always restrain it. Amarantha...had me...use it to strip fae of their power.” I shuddered and looked up, holding up my left hand, pointing the the white untanned skin on my ring finger.

“Any power I took went to a ring that she had made for me. It was...like a siphon almost. Once it was filled she took the power as her own.” Amren folded her fingers under her chin and tilted her head, watching me.

“Did you keep any of the power?” I shook my head.

“No. I never could.” “The fae you took from, what happened to them?” Amren asked. I looked at her and then down at my plate. I reached for my glass of wine, taking a healthy sip. I could hear the faint screams in my head. Sounds of torture. I saw clearly the blank looks in their eyes when they’d been sucked dry. Any spark of magic being drained from them left them husks of what they once were. I had stolen more than a life. I had stolen a soul.

“They would have been better off dead.”

I looked up, catching Rhysand’s eyes. “I’m not proud of what I did,” I said. “I would take it all back if I could, but I can’t and nothing I can do can reverse what I did. I suppose that means I have to make up for it by doing something...worth while for a change.” Amren snorted, as if she could care less what I was capable of.

“To think that Hybern had its hands on you,” she said. She tilted her head, her eyes shimmering with suspicion. “Why’d he let you go. No one escapes from there so easily. It’s hard enough to penetrate.” I opened my mouth, to say I almost died getting away. I was going to tell them of what the king had said, what he’d made me do.

“The King…”

Just like that, my mind went blank. Nothing. I could remember nothing of what I was going to say or do. I blinked at Amren, my eyes suddenly unfocusing.

Remember, you can’t say a word. It’ll spoil all the fun.

There was a roaring in my ears and fire in my veins. I doubled over, my hands going to my middle. I felt like my insides were being eaten by fire, my blood replaced by blades.

Myriad. Through my pain, I felt darkness. It was soft and comforting, close too. Like a presence in my mind.

I realized someone was holding my face and I was on the floor. I blinked, staring up at silver eyes belonging to Amren. I was panting, feeling sick. I rolled over, wretching to the side. Thankfully nothing came up.

“Cauldron, what was that?!” I heard Cassian say. Mor said something that I couldn’t catch.

Amren bent down and tilted her head, looking at me.

“I think...it’s a curse.” I couldn’t remember what she was talking about. What I had been about to say that caused so much pain.

“Whatever it is, it’s blocked,” Rhysand said. I looked away from both of them and stifled a sudden sob, the sound being wretched from me. I knew if I started, it would only lead to hysterics.

Breath.

I took a shuddering breath, wishing desperately for space.

“I’m alright,” I finally rasped. I looked at Amren, searching her face. “What happened?” “You fell out of your chair screaming,” she said. “After you mentioned Hybern.” I flinched at the name and ran a hand through my hair. I rested my arms on my knees.

“What kind of curse?”

“An old one it seems,” she replied.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. “I seem to be a popular person,” I said finally.

“We’ll find a way to break it, Myriad,” he said. I nodded gratefully and looked at him.

“Thank you...for dragging me out.” Rhysand tilted his head, an eyebrow raising curiously.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“I heard someone call my name,” I said evenly. I stood up and Rhysand glanced at each me. I flushed and shook my head.

“Never mind,” I said. I felt a prickle on my neck and I looked across the table as Azriel materialized from shadow into the dining room.

“What happened?”

The shadowsinger looked directly at me and I stared at him, my breath stopping in my chest. It snapped into place like a hammer driving a nail through my soul. I stood stock still, staring at the Illyrian I didn’t know, who’d saved me on several occasions in my life.

I stumbled back a step and winnowed despite the wards around the house.

I knew who had called my name and I knew why.

The shadowsinger was my mate.

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #sarah j. maas #fanfiction

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