“Are we done for the day?” I called and he gave me a single nod.
I jumped from the ledge watching his irritated glance as I free fell to his side. “Gale,” he warned when I touched down.
“Come on Hunter we’ve been training for so long. You never let me have any fun.” I pouted and he laughed softly.
“You are powerful kid, with great power . . .” he began and I groaned elbowing him hard in the gut.
“No ‘Spiderman’ quotes Hunter, really,” I said rolling my eyes. “Will you tell me about my folks again?” I asked flopping to the grass and he sat slowly beside me. His emerald eyes moved over the Irish landscape lovingly while his sable hair got caught in a gentle breeze.
“Your mother was a beautiful queen who held the soul of her people and your father held their heart and together they made you my little whirlwind,” he said softly.
“But queen and king crap died out centuries ago. Tell me where I came from. I don’t want to hear fairy tales,” I insisted.
“Fairy tales are all I know,” he replied and went silent as he always did.
I stared out over the setting sun pondering for the umpteenth time in my life why Hunter always got such a sad lost look when I asked him about my parents. He never made it a big secret that we weren’t related. Even though a lot of people thought we were. We had the same emerald eyes. “So what other fairy tales do you know Hunter?” I asked softly and felt the wind kick up around us.
I soothed it down watching the waves hit on the large rocky steps of the cliff side.
“Ireland is famous for fae legends Gale. Under every rock, every tree, every inch of this Emerald Isle is blessed with great magic and wonder. There are those who say that Ireland herself is the cradle of all magic.” Hunter began softly and I closed my eyes feeling the hum of power through my hands.
“Is that why we moved here?” I asked hesitantly.
“A little,” he murmured and I gave him a sideways glance. The sorrow clenched his face again and I sighed.
“Am I a result of that magic Hunter?” I questioned and his emerald eyes turned studying me softly.
“You are the result of great magic little one,” he promised. “Let me tell you a new story huh?”
“Yeah,” I grinned excitedly.
“All right,” he smirked. “You’ve heard of the Goblin King no doubt.”
“Like David Bowie, Labyrinth stuff?” I queried and he chuckled.
“Something like that,” he nodded staring out at the setting sun. “A long time ago in an era when the fae walked the earth openly there was a boy born with great and terrible power,” he began and I settled back on the grass letting his deep voice sooth over me.
“The fae were frightened of this boy and called up the Bryn yr Ellyllon or the Hill of the Goblins and demanded that they take the boy away. The thing that the fae didn’t expect was that the boy was so very powerful that the goblins named him king and the king was determined to set a war against the fae for their betrayal of him,” Hunter explained.
“The fairy wars,” I asked softly seeing the images flutter over my mind as they always had.
“That’s right whirlwind,” he soothed. “This version of the fairy wars spilled out onto human land and nearly ended the human race.”
“The plagues right,” I murmured.
“Exactly right,” he agreed. “Seeing the damage being done the fae king and queen of both courts demanded a truce with the Goblin King. He agreed to the truce that the war would end if the fae sealed them selves away as he had been.”
“And they fae sealed themselves away in fae mounds,” I breathed feeling the aching sadness twinge my heart.
“They were hesitant about the sealing but agreed it would be for the best,” Hunter stated. “The only issue was the Goblin King had other stipulations to his treaty.”
“What?” I asked blinking my eyes at him.
“Well that’s where the movie comes pretty close,” he admitted. “He needed a way to keep his goblins a lively race so he wanted the fae to agree that he could take a human child to replace any goblin that died. The fae agreed but only if the child asked to be taken, for example, if it said that it hated its parents and never wanted to see them again. At night the goblins would come and make that happen.”
“That’s awful,” I muttered. “The kid was probably just pissed.”
“It doesn’t always happen but when a goblin dies a black crow appears on a church cross. If you see one on that night do not ask to be gone or you just might.” Hunter stated darkly.
“Oh Hunter you are so full of it,” I groaned. “That’s like something you’d tell a six year old to keep them behaved.”
Hunter blinked his emerald eyes at me slowly. “All tales come from a truth Gale, please try and remember that.”
“I think you spend too much time studying fairytales Hunter, it’s making your brain idle. I don’t care if you are the Professor of Mythology at the Academy.” I retorted glancing back up at the blood red sky.
“Red sky at night sailor’s delight,” he murmured softly.
“It will be a good day tomorrow,” I smiled. “So does that goblin story scare those young college girls that are fawning over you?”
“Only when I tell them the last part,” he admitted heavily.
“Last part,” I asked turning to study him. “Are you holding out on me?”
“Well it is a story to scare six-year olds after all,” he teased and I grinned at him.
“Tell me,” I begged.
“The Goblin King’s last request was that when he required it he could take a girl of his choosing to be queen,” Hunter said and his eyes darkened.
I felt the wind kick up as the earth rumbled its ancient power into my body. “Hunter?” I gasped floating to my feet swiftly. He stood up and peered around searchingly. My eyes moved over the cliffs, down the sea, and finally to the blackened woods behind us. My heart jumped painfully when I saw a white snow owl sitting on a high perch staring at us. “Oh jeez Hunter, now you’ve gotten me afraid of owls, damn it,” I hissed punching him in the arm.
Hunter’s eyes followed mine and the owl took flight. He let out a rumbled laughter as I breathed out slowly. “Pretty sure that was Hollywood whirlwind. I don’t recall the white owl being a form he could take.”
“Whatever,” I groaned. “Can we head back now? I’m seriously tweaked.”
“Afraid the goblins are coming for you?” he teased wrapping an arm around my shoulders grounding me to the earth beside him.
I didn’t want to admit it but yeah. Something just happened on this cliff side and I felt those damn eyes linger on me long after they were gone. “Such a jerk Hunter man, seriously.”
“Seriously?” he grinned mockingly and I elbowed him as he led us back through the village.
We walked silently down the cobble path toward the little home we stayed in on the campuses land. He moved here for the job but it always felt like there was an underline cause. Two years ago I turned eighteen and there was this major earthquake that damn near ripped our little town of Tanks in two. Totally sank this bar called Unseelie and a lot of people got hurt. A day later he took up this sudden job offer and we settled on to a plane to Ireland. Not that I complained but it was weird. I was twenty now and Hunter still looked barely thirty more like my boyfriend less like my dad every day I aged and he didn’t. We passed by a group of the aforementioned schoolgirls and they glared at me noticeably.
“Professor Black?” one called in an Irish lit that made me smile although I hated most of them.
“Yes Kassidy?” he queried letting go of me and walking toward them.
“Just had a question on the assignment,” she admitted keeping her tone soft and bashful.
“All right,” he smiled. “Head on home Gale I’ll be along shortly.”
“Sure teach,” I muttered giving the girls a bright smile and a friendly wave before setting off to the house.
Darkness blanketed the world slowly as I walked down the cobble stone road. Overhead lamps turned on illuminating the world in an eerie red-gold flickering light. My body shivered beneath a phantom chill and I glanced around curiously. On top of one of the lights the white owl sat perched watching me with those damn round eyes.
“Shoo,” I called and it blinked at me slowly. “Oh whatever,” I growled walking past it giving a wide birth. I felt those eyes follow me as I rounded the corner that led to the small driveway. In the distance I heard the loud flapping of the bird taking flight and I went still watching it as it flew overhead studying me. I sent a quick burst of wind up catching its wings and it hooted loudly.
I smirked up at it as it flew away irritably. “Face it goblin boy I’m happy as a lark with Hunter and nothing is going to change that.” I murmured to the night and suppressed another chill as I moved faster toward the house.
Chapter 1:
I moved around the house checking the locks and turning on lights. “Powerful and a scaredy cat,” I groaned to myself. I walked into the small kitchen and began making dinner while I waited for Hunter to peel himself away from the curvaceous coed and her ‘questions’.
“You ok?” Hunter asked from the doorway and I yipped dropping the chicken into the frying pan. “Tweaked you bad huh?”
“Not funny Hunter, that damn owl was following me home I swear,” I groaned turning and looking at him.
“Really?” he queried growing suddenly serious. The one thing I loved about Hunter was the fact that anything I said at any age he took with a hundred percent sincerity. “Did you provoke it?”
I blinked at him and he sighed. “I just tried to make him go away,” I murmured. “A little burst of wind to ruffle his feathers you know.”
“You must be careful Gale,” he muttered moving closer and handing me a spatula knowingly. “There are creatures you don’t want to stir around here.”
“Hunter it’s just an owl but that story of yours. I’m just jittery.” I admitted turning my attention to the chicken.
“You need to trust your instincts girl,” he stated moving to chop up the lettuce I washed.
“My instincts told me to blast that little peeper out of the sky,” I insisted throwing him a sideways glance and he chuckled.
“Very well,” he agreed.
“So what did little miss sunshine not understand about her assignment Professor Studwell?” I queried and he chuckled warmly.
“Jealous whirlwind?” he teased.
“Jesh Hunter you’re like my dad,” I groaned. “I just don’t want your rep ruined by a girl who won’t take your kindness as just kindness and says you touched her naughty place when you reject her flat out.”
“I’ll keep that in mind Gale,” he sighed and I looked over at him taking the chicken off the stove.
“I’m serious Hunter, she’s madly in lust for you,” I stated and his emerald eyes studied mine.
“I will speak to the dean Gale to ensure it is properly documented,” he promised and I breathed out nodding happily. “Tell me something,” he murmured taking the chicken to the cutting board and making swift work of it.
“Yeah?”
“How did the owl make you feel?” he questioned and I leaned against the counter thinking about it.
“Creepy, gave me the chills,” I recalled. “It was like being watched by a pervy man.”
“Anything else?” he asked and I closed my eyes visualizing the owl with its predatory gaze.
“It’s like he was looking just for me, following me, studying me. Almost like it had a consciousness, you know,” I blinked slowly shaking a coldness that moved down my spine. “It felt like I was being hunted Hunter and running would have meant I’d die.”
“Come sit down Gale, let’s eat,” he soothed and I followed him to the dining room sitting across from him at our little dinette.
“So what’s the mission for tomorrow sensei?” I asked looking up at him.
“Tomorrow I want you to study those ancient texts I gave you,” he said firmly and I groaned loudly.
“Those are so boring,” I pouted.
“They are essential,” he stated firmly.
“Why is important to know some kind of ancient Latin crap?” I demanded. “It’s a dead language for a reason.”
“It isn’t Latin Gale,” he said studying me with that lost dark look that made me feel like I was missing something huge from him.
“All right, all right, jesh,” I sighed. “Got a hot date or something?”
“Or something,” he nodded and this time it was he who flinched under my gaze. He held up two hands and the gaze turned to a glare. “She’s a colleague Gale.”
“A colleague,” I repeated slowly feeling the sickly sink of my stomach.
“Yes she teaches Irish Literature and History,” he stated and I blinked at him.
“How long will you be gone?” I asked.
“My guess is all day,” he admitted ducking his head. “Meredith wants to take me to Derry to see some museum.”
“Ok,” I said eating the salad slowly.
“Ok?” he queried studying me.
“Yeah ok,” I repeated looking up at him. “You deserve to go out Hunter. You’ve been shackled to me for twenty odd years, training and teaching me but we both know that I am in control of my skills now. I can do the reading tomorrow. You have fun.”
“You’re certain Gale?” he asked hesitantly.
“Yeah,” I nodded firmly. “Otherwise the girls will think you’ve gone gay.” I teased blinking at him, “or we’ve got some weird Flower in the Attic thing going on.” I groaned picking up the bowl and tossing the remains into the garbage disposal. I felt the eyes on me from the kitchen window and looked up to see the snow owl sitting perched across from me. “I’m going to hit the hay, night Hunter,” I muttered turning back to his dark eyes.
I moved to his side and kissed his cheek softly. “You’ll be fine,” I promised.
“And you?” he asked heavily.
“Will be hiding out from creepy owls by reading dusty old ancient text books,” I muttered thumbing to the bird out the window.
“Don’t say the words,” he warned.
“I’m not a kid Hunter,” I murmured moving away then paused. “Hunter?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you need to say words if he choose you to be a bride?” I asked nervously.
“I don’t know,” he admitted looking out at the white owl sharply. The bird took flight taking the creepy vibe with him. “Stay indoors,” he stated firmly and I nodded.
“Think they can’t enter without an invitation? Their goblins not vampires,” I muttered hating the truth of my own argument.
“I can call it off,” he said standing up from the table swiftly.
“No,” I breathed. “I’ll be safe Hunter, just go and have a good time ok?”
“I don’t like this owl thing,” he admitted darkly. “The fae can’t enter the mortal realm . . .” he began but broke off blinking back at me. “Hit the hay whirlwind. It will be all right.”
“Fairy’s don’t exist Hunter, please tell me you know that,” I begged hesitantly feeling that familiar thrum of power tingle from the ground up through my feet.
“Truth is a mirror that is hard to see in unless it’s shined,” he stated vaguely giving me a wave off with his hand and I headed upstairs to bed.
I flipped the light on to the room and glanced around hating the eerie feeling that settled deep in my gut. “Damn it,” I hissed. “There aren’t any goblins hiding in here. Get yourself together.” I stated firmly. “You’ve been listening to his stories too long if your starting to buy them too.”
I picked up one of the books and dusted off the cover studying the sparkling title. Tuatha Dé Danann, the children of the goddess. I flipped open the pages and began reading the pages about the creation of the fae folk. The mythology followed similarly to Christianity as far as I was concerned. A god or goddess had children or angels endowed with some of the all mighty power that made them a step up from the human race.
My eyes moved over the words as they moved deeper into that strange mix of Gaelic, Latin, and French that made up the language Hunter called the ancient fae. I engrossed myself into a story when I realized it was the same one Hunter told me earlier but it was darker than his version.
The boy was the bastard son of one of the Four Ancient wizards Kauko and his concubine Calypso. Kauko was married to the witch Ilya but she couldn’t produce any heirs so Kauko strayed in attempts to have his heir. When Calypso gave birth to their son Ilya struck her dead and cursed the boy.
He was powerful even as a baby but the curse was an ancient blood magick that disfigured him in an awful way. To hide his disfigurement the child learned to steal the shapes of fauna around him. As he grew into boyhood he sought out the fairy folk pleading their mercy, that his magicks were too unstable in the human world.
The fairies captured him and tortured his deformity forcing him to heal himself and shift for their amusements never letting him rest. When he rose up against them he was banished to the Bryn yr Ellyllon. The fairies taunted that he belonged with the hideous and damaged. That way no fae eye which saw only beauty would have to look upon him.
I closed the book breathing out slowly. “Poor boy,” I murmured softly and a loud rap hit the window. I glanced out and heard a piercing scream. I yipped jumping out of bed and dropping the book loudly.
“Gale?” Hunter demanded opening the door swiftly. He paused beside me jerking me into his arms as we stared out the window at the large black crow that sat perched on the steeple across from our home.
“I’m ok Hunter,” I promised watching the bird take flight.
“Lock your window,” he ordered and I went to it ensuring the lock was secure. He moved into the room and picked up the book looking at the section it fell on. He paled slightly and I blinked at him.
“Hunter?”
“You have to find your own path into the world Gale,” he said holding out the book to me.
“What does that mean?” I asked nervously clutching the book to my chest.
“It means what it means,” he stated distantly. His emerald eyes studied me darkly before turning and leaving the room closing the door. “Goodnight Gale.”
“Night Hunter,” I called listening to him return to his own room.
I turned the book over and glanced at the page he read. When the Goblin King comes for his bride he will send her messengers. The first will be his all-seeing owl, the second will be the harbinger, and the third will be his offer. If she accepts his gift he will come for his bride on the night of Walpurgis.
I closed the book and flipped open my almanac. Today was April 29th. The night of Walpurgis was . . . shit! April 30th? This was ridiculous. I sighed setting the book on the nightstand and sliding out of my room towards Hunters. I stopped when I heard him talking.
“No,” he growled and I stiffened. I never heard him so angry before. “I said no damn it,” he hissed. “I haven’t been able to locate any way for her to enter the mound. All the fairy hills they claim to have are bullshit. I am looking into a historical museum tomorrow that may help . . . listen . . . this isn’t why I’m calling Becca,” he growled. “I think she’s in danger.”
I inched toward the door as his voice drifted in low rushed whispers.
“If he came,” he argued. “I know . . . I know,” he hissed.”Just shut up and listen,” he demanded harshly. “If he even guessed at who she was.” I heard him pace the room irritably. “Yeah,” he muttered defeated. “I said yeah. I got it ok. I got it.” He said slamming down the phone harshly.
I slipped back into the room listening to him move to his door swiftly. He tore down the stairs and I heard his agonizing scream. I moved to the window and watched him prowl away into the night. “Hunter,” I breathed achingly. I stood at the window watching for his return until exhaustion stung my eyes and I went to bed miserably.
Chapter 2:
I woke the next morning and found a note from Hunter.
I went on my date with Meredith. I’ll be home late. Hunter
I set the note back on the table and moved around the house aimlessly. “Why won’t you talk to me Hunter?” I demanded from the empty house and felt that jolting power touch up through the soles of my feet. “It’s just fairytales, it’s not real.”
The arching static tore up my arms leaving my hair on end and I sighed releasing the wind and moving into a sitting position in the air without thought. I closed my eyes and went through my meditations. ” Ni neart go cur le cheile. Is leir don saol e an firinne.”
I felt the sun move over the sky, as my body remained levitated focusing on only my breathing, my chant, and my wind that kept me safe from that seeking power. When dusk settled over the earth I broke the meditation and set my feet down tentatively. The power arched up and I bit my lower lip. “Hunter, come home soon.” I begged moving to the kitchen and assembling a small sandwich.
When night came the power sedated below me and I sat on the couch staring at the book. I flipped open to where I left off. The boy was punished by the fae and sent to the goblin’s hill. When he arrived he had to face a series of challenges to prove his worth as a goblin. He had to be quick and resourceful and careful not to take a goblin’s life.
Goblin time moved fast for the young boy and when he mastered his way through the goblin’s village he was nearly a man. When he entered the forgotten forest he had to face the twisted cast outs of the village. Creatures so cruel and vile but again the boy spared their lives. He was rewarded by the spirit of the woods and granted a safe passage through the trees so that he could face the goblin that called himself Lord of Bryn yr Ellyllon.
He faced off against the Goblin Lord in a challenge and banished the goblin away taking command of the great Goblin army and securing his throne. The throne was his seat of power and from it he called a war down on the fae who punished him.
The war was fought with a sharp cunning and immense show of strength until a spell collided and spilled out over the land of mortals. When that happened the great leaders called for a truce.
The noble king agreed to the truce on a few conditions. I read the last lines slowly. The fae agreed to be sealed away, they agreed to give him a willing human child, and they agreed to his bride.
When he found his bride he would send the three tests. If she passed then he’d come for her. I was so tuned out I didn’t hear the knock on the door until it sounded a second time.
I got up and peered out the peek hole. It was the curvaceous coed. I unlocked and opened the door blinking at her. “Yes?”
“Are you Gale Black?” she asked darkly.
“Yes,” I said looking up into her glazed eyes.
“I have a gift for you,” she stated holding out her hand. I blinked down at the tiny silver heart that lay in her palm.
“I don’t accept,” I said flatly stepping back to close the door.
Her free hand reached out snaking my wrist painfully. “You saw the seer, you heard the harbinger, and you opened the door to the messenger,” she growled squeezing my hand until it opened. She placed the tiny heart in until the edges drew blood. “You accept the gift.”
“I do not.” I hissed blasting her backwards and throwing the heart out into the night slamming and locking the door fearfully. Pain stung my hand and I looked down at the perfect heart outline that bled out of my palm
I glanced around fearfully as I felt the weight of power press in on me demandingly. I dropped along the door drawing my knees to my chest as I circled the wind around me like a shield.
The lights flickered going dim before blackness filled the house. “It is the night,” the deep voice rumbled and I stiffened slicing the wind out wildly in the direction of his voice. “You bare my mark,” he bellowed sending his voice around me in all directions.
I tightened the bubble of air around me trying to penetrate the nothingness with my eyes. In the distance I saw a shadow move. A tall frame cloaked in god knows what. “Leave me alone,” I begged. “This isn’t real.”
“Really?” he barked reaching into my space easily and grasping my wrist jerking it forward as I watched the blood pool between us. My palm throbbed in pain and I saw a cruel smile tug his lips beneath an eerie Italian style masquerade mask. “Is this not your blood? Not your pain? Is this not real enough for you?”
“It can’t be real,” I repeated fearfully. “You are no David Bowie.”
He hesitated above me and I looked into those cruel sharp blue eyes. “I am not,” he agreed. “No pop musician could encompass the horror of the true Goblin King. Come with me my bride.”
“No,” I bellowed blasting the air at him sending him back from me as I struggled to get the door open. He was there slamming his hands on either side of me. I flinched lowering my head to the cold oak praying I’d fallen asleep waiting for Hunter. That it was just a bad dream from his damn stories and that stupid book.
The man behind me stepped closer forcing me into the door uncomfortably. “I can smell the truth on you. You have to abide by the treaty or it is war for your people.”
“My people,” I asked hesitantly.
“Did your teacher not tell you?” he queried cruelly. He pressed his body into mine tightly and I shook my head. Tears stung my eyes as I blasted out again but this time he didn’t even flinch. “You my fae are the spawn of the Unseelie Queen and her guard. You are a pure fae and you must abide by your laws ancient or not.”
“I’m not fae,” I gasped.
“Oh you most certainly are,” he promised, “and because you are. You are my chosen. Come now.”
“No.” I repeated fearfully.
“It isn’t a request. It is an order,” he barked pooling his long black cloak around us and I shuddered as I felt things brush over my skin crawling and slithering beneath his darkness.
“I don’t accept,” I repeated heavily. “I don’t . . .”
“Have a choice,” he assured as my eyes drifted heavily. “No one would willingly choose me. That is why we agreed to the treaty in the first place.”
†
I woke up slowly fog clung to my mind as I forced my eyes to open. I was lying in a field and the wind was caressing over me lovingly. I smiled softly as I stretched. The sun was dipping low in the sky casting the most beautiful shades of purples as night approached. I’d fallen asleep training I smirked. Hunter would be home soon. I sat up slowly and blinked around at the environment. I was on a large hill that was covered in soft plush emerald green grass.
In the distance of the setting sun was a large and imposing city surrounded by a massive wall. “Where am I?”
“You are at the entrance to Bryn yr Ellyllon,” his deep voice rumbled and I flinched jerking up into the air far away from the dark cloaked man. He was hunched over staring at me through that eerie mask as spiders and insects crawled out from beneath his robe.
“No,” I gasped jerking my feet up into the air afraid of the crawlers that moved eagerly toward me.
“You know I am not lying,” he rumbled stepping closer. “Come down little whirlwind it will not be so bad.”
“Don’t call me that,” I cried feeling a sick sink to my stomach. “Let me go. Let me go back to Hunter. You can’t keep me here.”
“Shall I make this decision easy for you?” he growled holding out a single thin pale hand. In it he held a shinning glass globe. I peered at it as it clouded over and cleared. Hunter was sitting with a lovely brunette at a small bistro somewhere. He tilted the globe slightly and I witnessed the commotion as they grabbed on to the table fearfully.
Hunter’s eyes hit mine from the other side of the glass. “Hunter,” I screamed and his eyes went dark with sorrow before he dropped them turning back to Meredith. “No.”
“He knows the day, he knows the law, he has given you to me,” the Goblin King stated darkly and tears stung my eyes. “You cannot fight it and if you think to try I can shake his world until it crumbles away like your city of Tanks.”
My eyes went sharp with anger and fear. “Please don’t.” I begged.
“Then agree,” he said smiling with an arrogant knowing. His hand twisted and the globe disappeared. “Agree to be with me and his world and the world of your parents will be saved from my wraith.”
My mind flashed to the story, the poor disfigured tortured boy but what did I know of his bride? Was there anyway out of this damnable arrangement? “Why do you need me to agree?” I asked hesitantly.
“It is law,” he said firmly.
“Does the law allow me to challenge this?” I questioned.
His lip twitched slightly just in the corner of his mouth and I saw a flash of marred skin from beneath the mask. “Why would I tell you that?”
“Because you don’t believe I could last through a challenge anyway,” I offered and his flawless lips curled higher.
“No I don’t believe you could,” he rumbled. “I believe that you are too very sweet and naïve to last in my dark world.”
“I’m not that sweet,” I retorted.
“Aren’t you?” he mocked. “You’ve never even kissed a man.”
I blushed darkly and he groaned stepping closer. “I could change that my sweet. I could show you a kiss of such pleasure,” he promised and I glanced at him looking at the ridges of damaged skin hidden beneath the edge of his mask.
“Your eyes are trying to see beyond my mask,” he observed and I stiffened slightly. “Ground yourself and I will show you the face of the man you will be wed to.”
I glanced down at the ground and saw the insects depart from beneath me. I floated down touching my feet to the earth lightly. He stepped closer so that he towered above me. He shook his head dropping the hood from his head allowing his long silver hair to flow free over the black cloak. His hand reached up and jerked the mask up savagely and I stared into the scarred and mangled face that the mask hid.
His sharp blue eyes studied mine with pure rage waiting for my disgust, my repulsion but it didn’t come. I reached up slowly and he slapped my hand away. “Do not touch me,” he hissed.
I stepped back dropping my gaze and my hand from him. Conflict stirred in my stomach. “I’m sorry,” I breathed and he lunged forward grabbing my arms and lifting me to his face.
“Sorry,” he growled. “Sorry that you are imprisoned with such a beast?”
“No,” I whispered breathing hard. “I’m sorry they hurt you.”
He threw me to the ground sharply and I fought to hold his gaze beneath his rage. “The creatures here will hurt you worse,” he promised darkly.
“Tell me then.”
“A chosen can be released if she can face all the challenges I endured during my expulsion here. You will need to kill them,” he stated darkly. “Shall we give you thirteen hours?” he teased and I glanced up seeing his restored mask and a clock way to similar to the Labyrinth. “Make your way through the goblin’s metropolis, past the primordial forest, and into my palace in thirteen hours and I will release you.”
“And if I fail?” I murmured.
“When you fail a challenge I will come for you and you will agree aloud to be my wife,” he said flatly. “Then you will be queen to the goblins.”
“Would you tell me the truth of my parents?” I asked softly.
“I already have,” he assured stepping toward me slightly before hesitating. “Do you truly want to run this gauntlet little girl? This is no movie. The horrors here will stain your mind for all your days.”
“Through the city, past the forest, and to you,” I repeated heavily. “Face and kill the challenges you faced as a boy.” My eyes went to his hesitantly and his blue eyes flared with a dark energy. “I will.”
“You are a fool,” he growled wrapping his large cloak around his body and launching him self high into the air. I watched as the giant eagle moved toward the fortress beyond the city.
“I have made my way beyond the goblin city, you have no power over me,” I smirked recalling the movie before I set off down the hill on light steps.
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