Huntress

Faerie. A strange world where time had no meaning and everything was dangerous. I was nervous but excited, the extra sleep, anti-poison and a healing spell had worked wonders and I felt almost perfect. There was a mild weakness I still sense but I knew it would be gone soon. I stood with Sam and her father in the woods while we waited for the gate to open, our bags in hand.

A tear appeared between two trees, which morph into a big rabbit hole for lack of a better word. A beautiful Winter Fae in silvery armor stepped through. I blinked hard to fight off the lure of the fairy; no way I was getting enthralled.

“Raphael the Queen has sent me to escort you and yours to her, the brownies will take the girls things to their rooms,” the Fairy said as two short brown gremlin looking brownies took our bags and disappeared with them.

“Malikai you’ve met my daughter Samantha, let me introduce the Hunter Pride’s heir, Kitten Rodia.”

I cringed; yes my first name was legally Kitten. Only my aunt and uncle called me Kitten and my cousin because he knew I hated it. My teachers called me Kit, so did most of my human classmates. The paranormal community however called me Ro, which Sam started to call me in 2nd grade when I mentioned how much I hated my first name and that I didn’t like Kit much better.

“Just call me Ro,” I said ensuring I didn’t say please, which could possible be seen as a favor and would put me into a Fae’s debt.

Malikai gave his head a slight bow to indicate he heard me before turning his back on us and entering the hole, we followed him and I turned to see the hold close and turn into a long hallway stretching far behind us. I shivered, creepy. The walls seems to be made of ice and alive, I was tempted to touch it but something told me not to so I followed that instinct.

Sam seemed to glow next to me, obviously happy to be back in Faerie, even greeting some Fae that she knew as we passed them. I tried to ignore the curious stares and whispered gossip by focusing on how cold it was, which was pretty damn cold.

Suddenly we were in front of a huge set of oak doors with the most beautiful and intricate cravings, I knew I could spend all day staring at. I blinked as Sam nudged me bring me back to reality, I noticed that her father was now in similar attire as Malikai and that Sam was in a long blue flowing dress, her long blond hair sewn with flowers.

Sam’s eyes twinkled and when I looked down at myself I was in Hunter battle attire, sleek leather pants that hugged me like a second skin with sturdy combat boots, a black form fitting top with a high neck line, a leather trench coat with silver accents that barely skimmed the floor and a heavy black leather belt with silver studs around my hips which would normally hold weapons but was now empty of such things since outsiders couldn’t bring weapons before the Queen. I however still had magick.

“I figured you should dress the part of a Hunter since that is what you are. It’s a good reminder of the Court of what you signify,” Sam replied to my shocked expression.

I nodded straighten my back, I knew the outfit was glamour over my jeans and sweater but to the Fae it was something more.

The doors opened silently but music flowed out of the large room where the fairy talked, chatted, and danced. When we entered heads turned to watch us as we walked steadily through the crowd towards the raised dais as the end of the room where the Winter Queen sat with her current Consort. I ignored everyone but her, I knew looking around would make me seem weak and easily distracted, I wanted to look strong and confident. Once we were a few feet away did Malikai stop and dropped to one knee.

“My Queen, Commander Raphael has returned with his daughter, Samantha Cole and her best friend and Heir to the Connecticut Hunter Pride, Kitten Rodia.”

I heard a ruffled of laughter behind me. Kitten wasn’t exactly an awe-inspiring name.Malikai took a step to the side and we approach; Raphael kneeling on one knee and Samantha dipped into a curtsy, which I knew they would stay in until the Queen have them permission to rise. I was in Hunter attire and couldn’t very well curtsy and kneeling didn’t feel right either, so instead I gave the Queen a respectful bow but I rose from it, she was not my Queen and I held no allegiance to her.

The Queen gave me a soft seductive smile obviously amused.

She turned to the Winter Fairy, “rise my servants.”

I seethe silently, Sam didn’t belong to her, she had yet to swear her loyalty and I didn’t like the implications the Queen made. I noted her smile widen just a smidgen and wanted to growl, she knew what she did and how I felt about it. She had done it on purpose.

“Kitten Rodia, you are a guest of my Court, under my protection, I hope you will enjoy your time among us and the Winter Festival which begins tonight. I hope that you will be comfortable in the quarters given to you. We shall speak later.”

With that we were dismissed but as we walked away I could feel her eyes on me and many others as well. I noted one particular, a handsome Fae leaning against the wall, half hidden by shadows of the fire torches that lighten the room. I turned to ask Sam who he was but the slightly shake of her head told me to wait until we were in our rooms.

I gasped when I saw our ‘rooms’, it was a large apartment, beautiful rooms filled with lush furniture, beautiful ice figures but no kitchen that I saw just a bar covered with fruits, wines and other goodies.

I heard Raphael chuckle behind me, “enjoy your room girls, Sam make she knows what she can eat and what she can’t.”

“Got it dad,” Sam said turning around to give her father a kiss on the cheek before he left.

I stepped inside and the glamour on our clothes vanished leaving us in our street clothes, I snuggled in my parka.

“Is it always this cold?”

“Ya, I did warn you, we don’t feel it like you do, I feel it more then a full blood but it doesn’t bother me as long as I wear at least a sweater.”

“A sweater?! I need long johns, a parka and ten blankets,” I groan my teeth chattering.

“Don’t you have magick that could keep you warm?”

“Yes but I am under strict orders not to use magick until I am fully healed from the poisoning which wont be for at least another day.”

“You’ll be ok, you won’t freeze,” Sam said laughter in her voice.

I sank onto the white sofa groaning at its softness, I would so be sleeping here tonight.

“So who was that guy?” I asked.

Sam sank next to me with a sigh, “of course you would notice him.”

“Him?”

“Yes, the second youngest son of the Queen, Rhydian.”

“How many sons does she have?”

“Four and two daughters.”

“Forever princes and princess but never kings nor queens,” I muttered since the Winter Queen was basically immortal and had ruled since time began.

Sam nodded, “yup. Here let me show you what you can eat, only look for these things ignore everything else no matter how good or wonderful it smells. Drink nothing but water.”

We went to the bar and Sam started giving me a crash course in fairy food.

Notes