Laylen eyes me intently, his expression filled with concern. “Are you sure you want to do it this way…” He eyes the pendant on my neck. “Maybe we should try to find another way… a less power-driven way.”
I shake my head, straightening my shoulders. “It’ll take too long. It’s time to get this done.” Before anyone can say anything else, I march out the front door, leaving it open as I step outside and hike across the grass.
“Gemma, wait!” Laylen calls out as he hurries after me, but I only speed up.
Once I reach the edge of the lake, I don’t waste any time. I shut my eyes and picture the Kingdom of Fey; the vibrant blooming flowers, the flourishing leaves and trees that encase the land, the grassy forts that are on the ground as well as in the tree branches.
My body starts to shift forward and then I feel a ripping tug, but I relax and let it happen. When I open my eyes, my feet are planted firmly on the grass and trees tower to the side of me. The sky is clear, the sun beaming down across the flowers dotting the shallow hills and paths. I’m about to do a celebratory dance because, honestly, I thought it’d be harder to get inside, when a voice rises over my shoulder.
“Well, Gemma, thank you for making my job easier.” I spin around and come face-to-face with Luna. She’s in normal form, average height, and she looks almost human except for the purplish tint of her skin and the wings sprouting from her back.
Towering figures with wings and spears in their hands emerge from behind the trees and bushes. I turn in a circle as they close in on me and reach for my knife that’s in my pocket.
“Don’t even try it,” Luna warns as her guards aim the tips of their spears at me. She stands just outside them, smiling at me, and then she squeezes through them, snapping her fingers at me. “Come with me.”
I glance around, wondering if I should shut my eyes and Foresee back, but that wouldn’t solve the problem. Making sure the pendant is tucked safely into the collar of my shirt, I walk with her, hoping she’ll lead me to Aislin and Aleesa, that the pendant works the way Nalina told me; hoping I’ll make it out of here, hoping Luna won’t do anything to me.
Suddenly, I realize just how much faith I’m putting in hope.
Chapter 24
Alex
The wall has a tiny crack in it. I can’t stop staring at it, like if I stare at it long enough, it’ll suck me in it and I’ll disappear from this shit hole. The room pretty much looks like a jail cell; four walls, a bed and dresser. The mattress is ratty and smells pretty much as bad as the dumpsters outside, but I better get used to it since this is where I’m living for the next year because of my own dumb choices.
There’s a knock on my door and I rip my gaze from the wall just in time to see it open. The blond Banshee from earlier struts inside and glances around the room with a smug smile on her face.
“Why the hell did you knock if you were going to just walk in?” I ask in a harsh tone.
Her smug smile expands. “Now, Alex, we’re trying to make you feel like you have some freedom here.” She winks and then laughs, throwing her head back.
I cross my arms over my chest to resist the urge to punch her. “Well, aren’t you hilarious?”
She waves her finger back and forth at me as if she can read my thoughts. “Now, now, I’m just having a little fun. There’s no use getting mad about it”
I lean back against the wall “What do you want?”
“Draven asked me to come get you. He wants you to come and dine with him tonight.” Her heels click as she browses around my room, running her finger along the wall.
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” I say. “So tell him thanks, but no thanks.”
“Declining isn’t an option.” There’s a threat in her tone. She traces the crack in the wall with her fingernail, biting at her lip. Banshees are very misleading creatures because—deep underneath her blond hair, long legs, and pretty appearance—resides a hag. What she looks like now is a disguise.
“Why do you even bother looking like that?” I ask, looking to pick a fight. It’ll be a good distraction, something I need right now. “I mean, it’s not what you look like.” I scoot to the edge of the bed and put my feet on the floor. “It’s not real… We both know you’re a hag underneath the nails and makeup.”
She turns around and snarls at me and I smile, hoping she’ll get irritated enough to bring out her true form. But then she smiles and saunters towards me, swinging her hips. “Well, aren’t you just a tricky thing… trying to bring out my real character. You know it won’t do anything.” She stops in front of me.
I tip my head up with a condescending expression. “Yeah, but it’ll show how truly ugly you are,” I say, trying to get a rise out of her.
She places her fingernail under my chin and drags it forward, cutting my skin. “You’re coming to dinner with Draven. Now get up.”
I reach up and wrap my fingers around her wrist, gripping tightly. “If you ever touch me again, you’ll regret it.” With that, I shove her back and she falls onto the floor.
I walk out of the room and head down the tunnel until I reach the room at the end where Draven’s seated at the table, puffing on a cigar with his sleeves rolled up. On the table is an assortment of meat, bowls of fruit, and plates of vegetables along with desserts. There are plates, cups, and shining silverware; the whole display is fancy, which seems stupid considering the building is tucked in an alleyway beside a bunch of smelly dumpsters and rats are running around on the floor.
“So nice of you to join me.” Draven signals for me to take the seat next to him.
“Like I had a choice.” I pull out the chair and sit down, resting my elbows on the table.