THEO
"If we are to leave, we have to leave this night. You're apparently getting worse. You can't fight it for so long" Luke said to me as I wiped off the blood from my nose. "I'm fine. I can handle it-"
"No, you can't. Even the crown prince of the four lands needs to cut himself some slack. Clearly, all this is too much for you" Luke said and I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
"Luke's right, Theo. You're actually worsening and it's causing you pain. I'm not okay with the fact that you're in pain. I just have to get my mum to agree to let me come with you guys" Devon sighed and I gasped, raising my head from her laps. "No, Devon. You can't come with us. It's risky" I said. "I don't care. What if there's something I can do? What if you'll need my help?" She asked, running a hand through my hair.
"She has to come with us, Theo" Luke said and I groaned.
"Fine"
"Can you stand?" Devon asked. "Yeah" I said, heaving myself to a sitting position with much difficulty. It was embarrassing.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. You're weak and that's okay, considering the circumstances" Devon said, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I gave her a weak smile. "I'll open a portal that'll take us inside your bedroom" Luke said and Devon nodded.
She helped me to my feet as he opened the portal. We both walked into the portal, followed by Luke right before the portal disappeared.
My knees buckled and Devon made me lie on her bed. "At least, let me take off my boots... I don't want to stain your sheets" I said and she shrugged.
"You don't get it, do you? You're more important to me than my bedsheets" she said to me. "Your dad's home... so what's the plan?" Luke asked.
"I guess I'll have to sneak into my mom's room and bring her here to talk" Devon said, stroking my hair. "Sounds easy" Luke shrugged, his hands deep in the pockets of his pants.
"Let's hope my brothers don't notice and find their way here-"
The door opened and Melvin stood there, arms folded across his chest as he gave us a pointed look.
"Going on an adventure to wonderland? Who among you is Alice?" He asked, raising a brow.
Devon's lips parted.
"Wait, don't say it. You actually think this is a great idea? Risking your life to go to the fae kingdom?" Melvin said. "I need to do this, Theo needs me" She said.
Melvin clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth before moving towards me.
"You don't look too good, your majesty" he said and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Besides, I didn't have the strength to.
"Gee, thanks" I said.
"You're welcome"
"Melvin, you don't understand-"
He interrupted his sister.
"Risking your life to go to the fae kingdom is a brave decision. But you'll have to be very careful"
He walked towards the door and was going to leave. He halted just outside Devon's room and stepped back in.
"He's feverish" he said, pointing at me before leaving quietly.
Luke placed his hand on my forehead.
"You're burning up" he said to me, worry in his eyes.
Devon placed a damp towel on my forehead.
" Now, I'm really worried" she said as my breathing started to come out in short strained gasps.
"I'll be fine... Luke's right here. You should go and get your mum" I rasped.
"Theo-"
"Please, Dev"
"Okay" she said and handed the damp towel over to Luke right before she left.
"Your left eye is turning red" Luke said, worry evident on his face.
I turned away from him, my heart beating faster.
How long would I be able to hold on? The truth was that, the darkness inside of me was growing stronger. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to hold on, much longer. I stared at Devon's drawing of me, awed. She was really a magnificent artist. My heart warmed when I saw what she'd written under it.
'My love, my beautiful soulmate- the centre of my world'.
"Oh well, I'll definitely ask Devon to draw a photo of me shirtless" Luke said and I glared at him.
"Don't you dare" I said and he chuckled, his hand resting on my forehead.
"What the fuck? Your fever is gone" he said and I rolled my eyes.
"I guess your hands are so magical, they sent the fever packing" I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"Devon's sarcasm is definitely rubbing off on you, smartass"
The door opened.
Devon walked in with her mum."Theo, honey. I heard about what happened" Brielle said, embracing me when I sat up.
"You don't look well. What's wrong with your eye?" She said, gazing into my eyes.
"Mum, we don't have much time to explain all of it. So, we're going to be brief" Devon said to her mum.
...
"Grymlok? Sweetheart, are you sure about this?"
"Mum, Theo is worsening. This is the only way we can help him"
"Okay....but please be safe" Brielle said, embracing her daughter.
"Luke, please be careful" She said, embracing him.
I stood up slowly and she walked up to me. She held my hand and slipped in some sort of blue crystals. I gasped when I realized that the weakness I was feeling had reduced immensely. She gazed into my eyes with a smile on her face. It was then I realized what she was.
"I know you recognize what I am at this point. Those are fyrgs. My people use them to strengthen themselves. These would help buy you some time. I do hope these will sustain you" she said.
"Thank you" I rasped.
"You don't have to thank me. Oh, one more thing..... please don't tell my daughter what I am....yet. She needs to hear it from me"
I nodded and she placed her hand on the side of my face.
"Be strong, Theo" she said and turned to face her daughter.
"Come back to me in one piece, got it?" She said, cupping her face.
Devon nodded and embraced her mum one more time.
"Now go" Brielle said and Luke opened a portal.
In a flash, we were standing in Paris. "You good?" Luke asked and I nodded.
"What are we waiting for? Is this Grymlok?" Devon asked, cocking a brow.
"We're supposed to open a portal into the fae kingdom at this point. There's just one problem, only royals can open portal from the human world directly into the fae kingdom and vice versa" Luke said.
"If you're not strong enough-" Devon said, her eyes glowing bright under the moonlight. I gave her a smile, feeling the sparks of energy at my finger tips. A burst of light shot out from my fingers, a golden portal appearing right in front of me. Luke's eyes widened.
"Now, that was quick" he mumbled.
"Are you going in or not?" I said. "Ladies first" Luke said.
I glared at him.
"Fine, fine" he sighed and walked in. Devon went in right before I stepped in. She let out a gasp, her eyes widening.
"Holy Macaroni" she breathed and I chuckled, holding her hand.
"Beautiful right?" I said.
"Breathtaking" she replied, still looking dazed.
"Welcome to the fae kingdom" I said, a smile tugging at my lips.
...
DEVON
The whole place was colorful, it was absolutely breathtaking. Daises, roses, gardenias were blooming so bright amongst the other flowers.
The air smelled so sweet... it's fragrance, relaxing. There was a magical feeling in the air, it sent tingles all over my skin. The lakes were so clear and mountains stretched out on the other side of the lake.
"Here, you'll need a glamour. Mortals are basically like the preys of faeries" Theo said.
"How do I look now?" I asked.
"Like a pretty fae" Luke said, smiling.
"See for yourself" Theo said, gesturing to the clear lake. I moved closer and was stunned to see my very unfamiliar reflection in the lake. My ears were pointed with my eyes, glowing magenta. My hair was a vibrant red color that hung down my back in waves. "Wow" I breathed.
"Come on, let's get going" Luke said and we began to head deeper into the woods. All of a sudden, we stepped into a very busy part of the fae kingdom. There were different kinds of fae here. Men and women with different colors of hair ranging from blonde to magenta. Some of the faeries were so small, they could possibly fit in my hands. I noticed their wings. A few of them had colorful wings, others had transparent wings.
A male fae was sitting by the wayside, playing a flute. It was enchanting to listen to. The boy looked no older than five.
" Di traz si bváe? (Won't you be kind to me?)" He said to Luke who rolled his eyes and tossed a strange looking coin into the basket beside the boy.
"Do you know where Orion lives?" Luke asked in a strange language to the boy who nodded his head and began to reply with the same language.
"What's he saying?" I whispered to Theo.
"He's asking about the man we're going to see. His name is Orion" Theo replied.
I stared at Luke as he spoke to the flutist. It was weird to hear them speak in such a strange language. I wondered how Theo would sound if he used the language.
The flutist looked at me and smiled.
"Cä rä elkamor. Si vër yte?( She's beautiful. Can I have her?)" He said and Theo clenched his jaw.
"Kyn êsi drâ yen. Cä vër mæg ( Take your eyes off her. She's mine)" Theo growled and the flutist chuckled. Damn, Theo's husky voice is gonna make me melt.
"Fine. I'm sorry.... didn't know she's yours" the flutist said and I gasped.
He can actually speak English?! Wtf?!
"Orion, keeper of the red prism, now lives in a cave in Grymlok. Going to Grymlok by this hour is risky.... There has been a major conflict among the Grymloks. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the conflict passes"
"You don't understand, it's very important" Luke said.
The flutist remained silent.
Theo heaved a sigh.
"Name your price" he said.
"I want the girl"
"The girl is not part of this" Luke said, glaring daggers at the flutist.
"Fine, I want the blue flame crystals you're holding" The flutist said, smirking mischievously.
Luke raised a brow at Theo.
"What is he talking about?"
"Do you promise to take us to Orion safely?" Theo said to the boy, ignoring Luke. I was confused at this point.
"I promise"
"Swear by the Yren rivers" Theo said.
"I swear by the Yren rivers that I'll take you and your friends to Orion, safely"
Theo placed the glowing blue crystals in the boy's basket. "Theo? What are you doing?" I whispered.
"He can't change his mind now" Theo said.
"He's just a kid" I hissed.
"He's not" Luke said and right before my eyes, the little boy transformed into a young man.
"You shouldn't be surprised, it's our nature to be mischievous" he said, smirking.
It was then I understood.
He'd used glamour.
"My name is Tyrenn. Come with me" he said.
Theo was starting to look exhausted, so I held his hand.
"Let's do this" I said and he nodded. We all followed Tyrenn further into the village. Our journey to Grymlok had just begun.