Dark Promise (22 page)

“No one can,” I finished for him. “Do you think he’s dead?”

“That is definitely a possibility,” Kallan said softly.

I turned to face the fountain, pondering different ideas of what happened to my father. Even though I really didn’t care what happened to the man that traded me for access to dark magick, I had to admit my curiosity was piqued.

I
was lying in bed and counting the stone blocks on the walls when I realized I’d lost track of how long I’d been held there. That was not a good sign. Maybe Lena would get me a notebook so I could start marking off the days. Although, I guess at this point it didn’t matter. Soon, I would be married—or dead—if I couldn’t find a way to use my ability to escape.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a knock on the door. I got up and strolled over to answer. When I swung it open, I was surprised to see Kallan standing there.

“I see you’re wearing black again.”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “Observant.”

“Do you ever wear colors?”

“No.” After a short pause, he casually asked, “Want to eat lunch outside today?”

“Like a picnic?” I couldn’t help but get a little excited. Picnics had always been my favorite, and I was going stir-crazy in the room. The thought of fresh air was like music to my ears.

“Yes.” His eyes sparkled when he smiled. “Like a picnic.”

“Okay,” I said tentatively, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. I didn’t want him to know how badly I wanted to go. Not just with him, I wouldn’t have cared who it was with. I just had to get out of that confined space.

He led me to the kitchen. Opening the door, he stuck his head in. “Is the basket ready?”

“Yes, sir, just like you requested.”

A basket was handed out the door, and Kallan took it. His hand brushed mine as he turned around, sending my heart into overdrive.

I took a deep breath and stepped back, letting him take the lead again. “Obviously, you expected me to say yes.”

“I was being optimistic.” Kallan grinned.

We went out the back door and walked through the woods. The breeze felt wonderful against my skin and hair. Something fluttered by my face. What in the world? Was it a butterfly? Whatever it was landed on my shoulder and caused me to giggle. I looked closer. It was a little tiny faery.

“Follow me!” The piskie laughed and took off.

I started chasing after it, giggling, and before long five or six were flying around me. They were beautiful, shimmering magickal creatures. Their wings looked even more delicate than mine, and their eyes were happy. I would have followed them anywhere.

Suddenly, Kallan grabbed my arm and spun me around. “I told you not to get sucked in by them.”

I watched them fly away and sadness spread through me. Running with the piskies made me upbeat and joyful. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time. “But they’re so cute. I need to follow them. Please, let’s just go with them for a little while,” I begged.

“Not today. Maybe another time.” His tone brokered no argument, but there was a twinkle in his eye. “You need to learn to resist them. They use magick to enchant.”

“They spelled me?” My eyes widened in surprised.

“Pretty much.” Kallan looked around. “I guess this is as good of a place as any.”

He spread out a blue and green plaid blanket. He placed the picnic basket in the middle of the blanket, and we sat on opposite sides.

“I guess we should find out more about each other if we are to be mated.” Kallan laughed.

“I’m not marrying you.” I crossed my arms and stared at him, angry that he’d even brought it up.

“We’ll see. So I know you like to sing, and you’re not very good at sports. What else? Do you like to read?” He began to pull food from the basket.

“Not as much as I should. I just never seem to find the time. What about you?”

“I love reading. It’s always been an escape for me.”

“An escape? From what? Your father?”

“Yeah, I guess,” he said thoughtfully. He laid two identical sandwiches on the blanket. “It’s interesting to learn about the rest of the world. Hope turkey is okay?”

“I pretty much love all food.” I reached over and grabbed a sandwich. “Any chips?”

Kallan laughed. “No chips. Just fresh fruits and a couple of juices.”

“I’ll take a juice.”

He reached in the basket and pulled out a bottle and two cups. He poured the purple liquid into the cups and handed me one of them. I lifted the cup to my nose and sniffed it. A wonderful, sweet aroma filled my nose. I took a sip. “Mmmm.” I wasn’t sure what it was, but it tasted wonderful.

It was getting harder and harder for me to hate him as time went on. “What’s your favorite color?” Kallan asked and took a bite of his sandwich.

I glanced at his wings. “Teal.”

He smirked. “Has it always been teal or is this a new thing?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve always loved teal, so nothing more than a coincidence. Purple is my second favorite. Do you like music?” I asked curiously, since music was such a passion in my life. I’d already polished off half my sandwich and was seriously hoping he had another hidden in his basket.

“Sure.” He took a swig of the drink, the tilt of his head revealing his neck.

I couldn’t help but stare at his perfect features and the strong tendons beneath his skin. I pulled my eyes away. “What kind of music do you have here?”

“Mostly soft music. Handmade instruments.”

“Soft?

“Yeah, harps and violins are big forms of entertainment here.”

“Do you listen to any human music?” Sandwich demolished, I rolled onto my side and propped myself up with an elbow.

He hesitated. “I’ve heard some. A few of the guys like to visit the human realm and bring back music or go to concerts.”

“Really? That’s kinda cool. Do you like our music?”

“Some of it is okay, I guess.”

I could tell he liked it more than he wanted to admit. I didn’t think I’d be able to live without real music. And TV! I missed my shows. “What does your room look like?” I asked curiously.

He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. I guess it was strange for me to ask about his bedroom. “It’s a room.”

Typical man. I rolled my eyes and threw out some adjectives. “Big? Colorful? Small? Plain?”

“It’s got a big bed, bookshelves line one of the walls. I don’t know. It’s hard to describe. My father likes nice things so it’s…nice. Guess you’d have to see it.”

Our eyes met at that last statement. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.

“I…I didn’t mean…” His face was beet red, as well.

“It’s okay. I know what you meant.” Peeking in the basket, I asked, “What else do you have in there?”

He looked relieved at the change of subject. “Fruit and dessert.” He handed me a bright yellow fruit.

I sunk my teeth into it. An interesting kiwi and apple taste exploded in my mouth. “It’s really good.”

“We have great food.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Despite the fact they’d locked me away and given me little to do, they’d certainly fed me well.

After eating a gooey chocolate brownie, we packed up and headed back to the castle. The sun had already started to set. As much as I hated to admit it, the day had been wonderful. Just as quickly as the sun went down, the darkness set in. It was strange the way the days passed here.

We stood underneath the starry sky. It was quiet except for the chirps of nearby critters and the faraway giggles of piskies. Fireflies flew around us, electric lines in the night.

“It’s so beautiful here,” I whispered. “Peaceful.”

“The human world is bright and noisy,” he replied.

“That’s true, but there is beauty there, too, Kallan.”

He scoffed at my comment, and then said, “As a faery, you should naturally be drawn to nature. I don’t know what you see in the city.”

I laughed softly. “I don’t exactly live in the city. The part of Virginia I live in is more rural, mountains and trees. I think you would like it there.”

Kallan leaned forward and brushed a strand of my hair out of my face with his soft fingers. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the brief moment of closeness we shared. When I opened them, our eyes met, and I felt a sudden urge to grab him and make him mine.

But I couldn’t. I turned away from him and took a few deep breaths. I heard him sigh behind me as I headed back towards the castle.

I didn’t see Kallan at all the next morning, and he wasn’t at breakfast or lunch. I was surprisingly bummed that he wasn’t around. I felt like we’d forged some kind of tentative alliance in the past few days, and his absence—much as I hated to admit it—was really felt.

Later that evening, Lena brought me downstairs for dinner as usual. I’d always noticed the doors on a certain room that we passed. They were the dark maroon of old blood, edged in some kind of black metal that made them seem more dungeon-like than anything else. As we passed this room today, we heard raised voices.

“I won’t marry someone who is in love with another.” Kallan’s voice was strong and harsh. I could picture him, his handsome face set in anger, and his long legs wide as he stared down his opponent.

“Fine. You know what I have to do.” Varwik’s voice was equally as harsh.

My heart skipped a beat in fear. They were talking about me.

There was a moment’s pause, and Kallan snarled, “Then get it over with.”

I gasped, my body going cold. Kallan had just told his father that it was okay to kill me.

Panic set in, and I had no other thoughts than to disappear. I took off running, unsure of where I was going in the mammoth labyrinth of a castle. Somehow I reached the dining room, and from there, I knew the way to the door that led into the gardens.

I heard Lena yelling after me, but I ignored it and ran as fast as I could. I burst into the warm, flowery air and stumbled as I hit the grass. I glanced back over my shoulder once, and Lena was nowhere in sight. My heart still racing like mad, I kept running, through the gardens and into the woods.

Limbs pulled at me as I left the path. Fallen logs hindered my progress, and the forest animals watched blankly as I burst through their domain. Despite the obstacles, I didn’t stop until I felt like my chest was going to burst open.

I was deep in the woods. Nothing looked familiar. The air was stagnant and humid here, and I could hear nothing but the birds. Not even the piskies’ giggles. Leaning up against a tree, I closed my eyes and tried to catch my breath.

Keep going
. I knew it was important to get as far away as I could, but I couldn’t run anymore. My reserves were worn out. I walked another ten minutes, hopelessly lost, until I left the trees for a small clearing. I shielded my eyes from the rays of the early-evening sun and looked around. I had been here before.

With Kallan.

“God, don’t think about him!” I hissed at myself, my voice alien among the daily sounds of the forest. I fought against the sob that welled in my throat.

He’d rather me be dead than with him.

The tall grass swayed in the light wind, almost as if it were telling me which way to go. I walked further, entering the trees on the other side of the clearing, continuing away from the conversation that still echoed in my head.

A few minutes later, I was in front of the cottage. Nothing had changed since the day Kallan brought me—still quaint, with the climbing ivy and the sunshine shutters. I walked up and turned the front doorknob, surprised when it opened. I looked back to make sure I hadn’t been followed, and then stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

The scent of charcoal and paint was overwhelming, but the interior was cool and comfortable after my marathon. I wandered around the tiny living room for a minute, looking at the extraordinary pictures. How could someone who made such beautiful things like this be so cruel?

My eyes rested on the one picture he had kept hidden from me. I was gonna die anyway, so I figured I might as well take a look. I crossed the room and came to a standstill in front of the picture. I knew I shouldn’t invade his privacy, but I was just too curious. I tossed the cover aside and turned the canvas around. A gasp escaped my lips.

Staring back at me was myself. My eyes were haunted, my face sad yet incredibly beautiful. I was wearing the long pink gown I had worn when Kallan and I first met. My aura was bright, and a stark contrast to the dark forest behind me.

“Ohhh…” I whispered, completely in awe. The picture was done with such care and attention. The person who drew it couldn’t have hated the subject—me. Kallan didn’t hate me. He had feelings for me. But then why was he okay with his father killing me?

The door burst open, and I jumped back, my heartbeat leaping from my chest.

Kallan’s face was livid, and his hands were clenched by his sides. He strode into the cottage like a man on a mission.

I swallowed hard. Would he be the one to kill me?

“What are you doing in here?” he seethed.

“How did you know where to find me?” I shot back, easing away from his wrath until my back was to the wall. At least I could see his attack coming, and maybe do some mind control to escape—banking on the fact he wouldn’t control
me
in the meantime.