Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)
Nissa Leder
Chapter One
Scarlett twirled her finger around the rim of the glass in front of her while Ashleigh talked about some guy she’d been dating off and on. He had brown hair. Or maybe it was blonde. Scarlett couldn’t remember for sure, and she didn’t much care.
The smell of baked dough and cheese filled the pizza place where they were having lunch. Pop music played throughout the restaurant, low enough where guests could still talk and hear one another. But Scarlett heard every word of the songs and each instrument of the background track clear as day: drums, guitar, and piano all twined as one melody.
Guitars and other music memorabilia hung on the walls, one of which may or may not have belonged to Elvis. Scarlett guessed not. Thick checkered linens covered tables that were surrounded by red plastic booths or chairs. Not the fanciest of places, but it had always been the go-to restaurant for Ashleigh, Scarlett, and their mom when they had a family meal out. This was their first time coming since losing their mom. Scarlett ignored the sorrow of her empty spot, and instead focused on the chance to be with her sister.
Since Scarlett returned from Faerie, her relationship with Ashleigh had been great, so different from when she left the mortal world for the world of the fae. Even though only a few days had passed in the human world, Scarlett had been gone for weeks.
Scarlett and Ashleigh were now the sisters she’d always wanted them to be. But Scarlett was different.
And she hid her new self from her sister.
How close could she ever truly feel to Ashleigh if she never revealed her secrets?
Scarlett pried her attention back to the conversation.
“But I mean, it’s crazy, right? To feel this much so fast?” Ashleigh perched her chin on her palm, elbow resting on the table. She wore her blonde curls natural today, tamed with some mousse and hairspray.
“Not necessarily,” Scarlett said, hoping she sounded like she’d been listening the whole time. “Maybe you’re soul mates.”
She didn’t really believe soul mates existed. Then again, at the beginning of the summer she hadn’t believed in the fae either.
As Scarlett inhaled, she felt the pull of the bond inside her that connected her to Raith. The bond was faint, likely due to the distance between them, but it still tugged at Scarlett whenever she thought of him. She hadn’t seen him since he’d left her two weeks ago.
Scarlett scooted out of the booth, its plastic sticking to her skin as she stood. “I’m going to the ladies’ room before they bring us our pizza.”
“Okay.” Ashleigh picked up her cell phone and typed, probably a message to her new crush.
Scarlett felt the giddiness inside her older sister as she walked away. She sensed the frustration of a nearby waitress as a group of teen boys tried to flirt with her. The cook, far out of Scarlett’s view, was filled with sorrow. Scarlett heard him humming a country song, slow and haunting, as he prepared the food.
In the bathroom, Scarlett hovered in front of a mirror. Her rosy cheeks and flawless skin still looked foreign to her—not that she was complaining—but she knew she’d get used to them eventually. But her ears, pointed on top—they’d always feel unnatural. Scarlett couldn’t hide from the changes, but she could hide them from everyone else, the humans at least. To them, she looked like she always did. At first, she made sure to keep her ears covered. But with practice, Scarlett had learned how to glamour herself. By absorbing the emotion around her, she stored power inside. Then, she’d close her eyes and picture her ears how they used to look, rounded and mortal. A tingle would spread through them. In the mirror, they still looked pointed to Scarlett, but when she tucked her hair behind her ear in front of Ashleigh, she didn’t say anything.
It took a lot of energy, but now Scarlett could glamour her ears with confidence. So much so, her hair was now pulled up into a bun on top of her head. If only the other changes were as easy to hide.
Everything in Scarlett was heightened now, from the sights and sounds and smells around her to the emotion inside her. Sad movies made her bawl. A bad driver made her boil. Once, when someone cut her off before an intersection, she cursed and wished his car would run into the fire hydrant he was passing. And that’s exactly what happened.
She knew she’d been the cause.
And it hadn’t bothered her. Not one bit.
Scarlett washed her hands, avoiding another look in the mirror, and returned to the table. As she sat down again, the waitress brought them their pizza: half pepperoni and half Hawaiian, like always. At least some parts of Scarlett’s life seemed normal.
“Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked.
“I think we’re good,” Ashleigh said as she grabbed herself a piece of pepperoni. “Looks delicious!”
As the waitress walked away, Scarlett asked, “Did you text him?”
She wanted to care about Ashleigh’s crush. After all, before she’d gone to Faerie all she thought she needed was a strong friendship with her sister. But that was before everything got so horribly complicated.
Before Scarlett turned fae. Or, more accurately, before she learned she’d always been part fae.
She didn’t think she was just part fae anymore.
“Yes,” Ashleigh said, happiness bursting from her. Even if Scarlett couldn’t feel it like she did, her sister’s face said enough.