Cursed by the Phantom Prince (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 16

16

RHAN

T he boy died right in front of me. I was in shock. My mind was unable to come to terms with what just happened. It was so fast I was half convinced it was all a dream. I felt tendrils of madness at the edge of my consciousness and I wondered if I’d gotten them confused. Maybe I was already mad and the tendrils were actually my sanity.

I sat on the dirt floor, my back against the hut wall as Fae bustled through the place. The whispered questions and worried glances were ignored. I was a princess and showing any sort of weakness to the Fae wasn’t a good idea, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

Lady was curled up beside me, her head resting in my lap as I absentmindedly ran my fingers through her wiry fur. This simple action used to ground me but I felt like I was floating with no idea where the ground was anymore.

“Rhan?” a male voice asked softly garnering a sliver of my attention.

It was Larek, the Court of Stars prince, he was crouched opposite me, his milky white eyes fixed on the wall behind my left shoulder. I just stared at him blankly, knowing I should answer him or give him some sign that I was there, that I was listening, but what if I wasn’t? What if everything around me was just the madness trying to trick me?

I shook my head, my back curling as panic began to take root once again. My breathing was heavy, my pulse pounding in my ears drowning out any other sound.

“Rhan,” another male voice said, this one was different. It was deep and velvety and full of understanding like it knew exactly what I was feeling in that moment.

I looked up, my eyes meeting his pitch black ones and instead of repulsing me they drew me. There was kindness and strength in those eyes. They held secrets and promises alike. I wanted to explore every single one. Draw them out of the darkness and into the light. I could feel that he wanted that. Wanted to be seen and not feared. I recognized the same darkness as the presence in him but it was different. He was different

“Lir?” I asked, able to put a name with the eyes.

Lir nodded, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he grinned but I couldn’t see it because of the mask he wore that covered the bottom half of his face. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel…out of control.” It was the best way I could describe what I was feeling.

“Like nothing makes sense anymore.”

“Exactly,” I shivered, wondering if I’d ever feel normal again.

“I felt the same touch of madness and I think you saw that when I caught you.” The visions I had drifted to the surface of my mind. I saw the glowing tree and the red eyed raven followed by the evil laugh and the black veins that infected the woman.

“That woman had the same black veins as the boy,” I whispered, grasping at the memory and holding it there in the forefront of my mind. I studied it, turning it so I could view it from every possible angle.

Lir frowned but didn’t say anything as he watched me mull it all over. The timeline didn’t make sense. The woman died of the black rot years ago while the boy was infected recently. And what did the first infected soldier's words mean?

Death to the half human princess.

I’d only made contact with the presence tonight and it seemed like it had no idea who or what I was. Everything was jumbled and it didn’t make sense at least to me. Whoever or whatever that dark presence had been, it was evil and it was mad. Insane. Trying to figure out the crazy things would only push me further into the madness that I could still feel inside of me.

An ache began behind my eyes, making thinking difficult. I needed to rest, to let my mind adjust to what I’d experienced. After that maybe I could make sense of everything.

“I want to go home,” I announced, my lip trembling as I pictured the orphanage back in the human world. That place had been home for far longer than this place. I felt safe there but now everything here felt different. I couldn’t explain it but for the first time in years I started to doubt my place here.

“The burden of saving the Fae lands and the mortal world falls to you, my love.

My mother’s words had always been a comfort over the years even more so when I came to this realm. After what just happened I wasn’t sure if I was the right person. How was I going to save the Fae lands and the mortal world? My powers were unpredictable at best and at worst didn’t react the way I needed them too. I was too chaotic and regardless of what my Fae tutors had said, there would be no order from chaos on destruction and death.

Rea heard me and started barking out orders while Fiskh and his men sorted things out. Larek was sitting beside the little girl and holding her hand. His lips moved but I couldn’t make out what was being said but I prayed she’d find solace and comfort. I knew that Fiskh would see to it that she was taken care of. He’d either find a family to take her in or take her to Selarous and house her until she was old enough to go out on her own.

I’d heard plenty of untrue rumors about the Sun Court, but the reality was that the royal family cared for their people and took pride in ruling them. It was something that they had been ridiculed for over the centuries. The lower classes' loyalty spoke of just how fond they were of the monarchy that there was never unrest or rebellion.

“I’ve got a portal ready just outside. It will take you back to your starting point,” Fiskh said, bustling over to where I sat, his golden eyes looking at me with obvious concern.

“I’ll be alright,” I told him, trying and failing to sound confident. “I just need to rest.”

“I understand,” he replied and I could hear the regret in his voice. He was probably kicking himself for allowing me to come and see this sickness for myself. I doubted he’d be inviting me back, not after what just happened. Fiskh had no siblings so he’d taken my arrival and relation to become like an older brother. If the marriage negotiations went through I wondered what his reaction would be?

“I’ll see you soon,” I promised, gently pushing Lady off of my lap so I could stand.

Lir offered his hand to help me up and I didn’t hesitate for a second before grabbing it and allowing him to pull me to my feet. There were no visions or flashes of feelings, which made me breathe easier.

I took a step forward and my knee buckled, if Lir wasn’t still holding onto me I was certain I’d have fallen flat on my face.

‘You got to stop falling around him,’ Lady whispered gently in my mind. ‘You’re going to give him a complex.’

I couldn’t help but snort as Lir steadied me then decided I was too much of a liability on my own. He bent, putting his arm underneath my knees and swinging me up against his chest. On any other occasion I would have insisted I could walk by myself but the thought made me want to cry. For once I wanted someone else to take charge. I felt fragile, like I would break at any moment.

“You go on ahead,” Rea said, patting Lady on the head before giving me an awkward side hug. “I’m going to stay and help clean up.”

I nodded, expecting nothing less. This was her court and her people. I understood that she wanted to be there to help out whenever she could and I encouraged it. If there was a way for me to travel to Earth and help at the orphanage I would.

Fiskh led the way out back where a small open area was between several huts. On the ground I could see that a mushroom had already sprouted, marking the return point for us. Fiskh handed each of us a piece of mushroom, watching as we swallowed.

“Wait for me,” Larek called from the doorway.

Fiskh just nodded and handed him a mushroom piece before Larek drew closer to where Lir, Lady, and I were.

Fiskh’s yellow-gold eyes met mine and I couldn’t help but notice his frown. I knew he cared for me in his own way but I also knew that the Fae were ambitious. I didn’t know him well enough to know how he would act after witnessing what had just happened.

“Fiskh…” I began, not sure how I was going to tell him what I was feeling. He’d always been honest with me in the past, but trusting a Fae wasn’t easy.

Fiskh smiled before nodding his head like he understood perfectly what I couldn’t seem to say. He gave me a wink just as the pulling sensation behind my navel began. I was pulled backwards into the tunnel of light, forced to close my eyes or I’d be blinded. Seconds later the smell of a damp forest filled my nostrils. It must have rained while we were gone.

“This form of travel is incredible,” Larek exclaimed, seeming to vibrate with excitement. “Your cousin is wonderfully talented.”

I couldn’t agree more but I was exhausted so I managed a semi-animated nod before resting my head on Lir's shoulder. His all black uniform must have been hiding his physique because I didn’t realize just how large he was. He was tall, like all Fae males were, but he was more defined. Every single hard muscle pressed against my softer curves. A thrill ran through me, chasing away the lingering effects I still felt.

Lady barked, drawing all of our attention as she bounded forward then turned back to look at us, her meaning clear. “She wants you to follow her.” I didn’t think they needed my verbal cue but one of us was blind.

Lir’s chest vibrated as he hummed and followed my demanding canine.