Fairly Tainted

Chapter 6

-Duncan-

 “Warriors!” Called a massive elf named Byron. He was the head trainer for Holy Light. “You have done well! You’re dismissed. I’ll see you back here at 6:30 am!” 

 I turned and headed back to the queens house where I’ve taken up residence. Cleo insisted I take the spare bedroom now that she’s sleeping in her room again. I had offered to move in with the other survivors, but Cleo seemed sad when I brought it up. So I agreed to be her in home protector as well. 

 As I approached the house, I felt more than Cleo’s presence inside. I cautiously approached the door and listened. I could hear Cleo talking to someone and then a loud booming laugh. I opened the door to see Cleo sitting in the kitchen with Pluto and the tall nymph warrior named Anthony. I couldn’t control the pang of jealousy roll through me when I saw them sitting closely. 

 “Duncan!” Cleo cried out with a smile. “Is training over?” 

 “We were dismissed til the morning,” I returned her smile. “I’m going to go get cleaned up. Hello Anthony.”

 “Duncan,” Anthony nodded at me and while he tapped on a laptop. He stopped and looked up at me with a smile. “I didn’t realize you lived here?”

 “Well Duncan’s been by my side since the attack,” Cleo replied. “He’s been protecting me.” 

 “As I will til my dying breath,” I vowed and bowed my head to my Queen. I couldn’t help but see a little jealousy in Anthony’s eyes but it was gone in a flash. “I’ll be in my room if you need me. Do you want to make dinner here or shall we join the colonies?” 

 “We should join the colonies,” she said. 

 “I think I have everything ready to bring this over to the main hall,” Anthony said closing the laptop. “I’ll need to transfer all the files over. I should have it ready tomorrow afternoon.” 

 “Thank you,” Cleo said with a smile. 

I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her blue eyes and soft pink lips. I closed my eyes and shook my head when I realized I was staring. I bowed again to my Queen and rushed up the stairs to my room. I was grateful the room had its own bathroom. The room was quite comfortable; at least twice the size of my room at the council. I had left with the clothes on my back the day of the attack so I had to conjure a whole new wardrobe for myself. Unfortunately you can’t replace sentimental items but I had a limited amount of those and none worth ever stepping foot upon the council grounds again. The death and destruction had destroyed the light there. The blood seeped deep into the earth by now and the dark fae will find it and claim it for themselves at some point I’m sure.

 I showered quickly and dressed in a light comfortable long sleeved shirt and jeans. When I arrived downstairs, I found Cleo alone in the kitchen as she cleaned up her dishes from her visit with Anthony. 

 “Hello Duncan,” Cleo greeted with a warm smile that I returned. 

 “Did you have a good afternoon?” I asked as I took a wet dish from her hand and began to dry it with a towel. 

 “Yes,” she said after she thought about it. “I suppose. Anthony is helping me update father’s computer system and moving all his files onto my laptop. We also have a few theories about Victor.” 

 “Like what?” I asked intrigued. “Did you find out how they can walk in sunlight?”

 “No,” she replied. “But I do feel a light fae is involved.”

 “What?” I gasped. 

 “Anthony said that the only way Victor was able to repel Pluto’s energy orb and fathers light blasts was because he was protected by fairy magic. A light fairy blessed him. With love.”

 “A light fairy would never love a vampire!” I said. “He must have controlled them some how!”

 “Pluto says they can hypnotize you by looking into their eyes,” she added. “I think Victor got a light fairy to fall in love with him, share blood to form a blood tie, and then gave him a protective spell.”

 “I wonder if they had anything to do with the vampires coming out during the day,” I said.

 “I suppose that’s possible,” she said. “I didn’t even think about that. I was just so caught up in wondering how a fae could blood bond with a vampire.”

 “It’s a very disturbing thought,” I agreed. “Shall we head to dinner?”

 “Yes,” she said as she wiped her hands on the towel. “Let me check on Pluto. He’s spending time in fathers study with his books.” 

 She went to the closed door on the other side of the living room and knocked gently. She opened the door a bit and peeked her head in. 

 “Pluto,” she called. “Duncan and I are heading over to the hall for dinner. Would like to join us? Or shall I bring something back for you?”

 "Aren’t you the sweetest Queen?” Pluto chuckled as he stepped out of the study. “I will join you. Hello Duncan.” 

 “Good evening,” I replied. “How are you feeling?”

 “I’m feeling better,” he replied with a smile. “Being surrounded by so many light fae has done wonders for my healing.”

 “Are you afraid that you’ll become light?” I asked. 

 “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been very dark since I moved to the council,” he replied. “Dark fae need to be around their kind. There weren’t many dark fae on the council and I’ve felt my darkness subside.”

 “What does it feel like to go from dark to light?” Cleo asked as we headed out the door to the main hall. 

 “I feel lighter,” he chuckled. “Like happiness and warm. My thoughts are geared towards helping others and finding a way to get Princess Cleo back. When I was all dark I was always moody and I never wanted to be up during the day. But since the council was all light fae I had to have meetings and such during the day. So eventually I just got used to it.”

 “But you’re the dark ambassador,” Cleo said with surprise. “How can you be light?” 

 “I still practiced dark magic while I was at the council,” he replied. “But I will admit it’s not as enjoyable as it once was.”

 “Where will you go when this all over?” She asked softly. “You are the only remaining councilman left.”

 “I may rebuild the council,” he replied. “But I think we’d need to reconfigure some things that weren’t working for the council before. I could return to my homeland and return to the dark. But I kind of enjoy being light as well. I still have my dark moments. But there’s something about working towards the greater good instead of just for your own gain.”

 “You’ve seen the light,” Cleo smiled up at him. “You are welcome here Pluto. You’re wisdom has been a blessing.”

 “I’m honored to stay,” he chuckled. “At least for now until we have figured out this Victor problem and returned Princess Chloe to her rightful home.”

 We entered the main hall to see it filled with blonde headed fae of every height and weight. They were all sitting at the tables eating and joyously chatting amongst themselves. As soon as Queen Cleo appeared they fell silent and bowed their heads.

 “Well that’s going to take some getting used too,” Cleo whispered to me as a blush painted her beautiful cheeks. 

 “All hail Queen Cleovanna!” The fae chorused out. 

 “Thank you,” she said loudly for them to hear. “You may continue on with your meals and conversations. I’m happy to see everyone getting along.” 

 The noise picked up immediately and we headed to the main dining table reserved for the royal family. I think Cleo was afraid to come to the hall alone and feel she’d have to sit by herself. Pluto sat beside the head of the table and I sat on the other side. Cleo came to my left to sit but stopped when she saw Pluto and I giving her quizzical looks. 

 “What?” She asked. 

 “Queen Cleo,” I said. “You’re place is at the head of the table.” 

 “Oh!” She gasped and looked at the chair. Her brows furrowed and her lips dropped in a slight frown. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel real.”

 She walked around the table to her seat and stood behind the chair. She smiled sadly at it before pulling it out then stared at it again as if afraid to sit down. She flashed us a nervous smiled before sitting and scooting into the table. She let out a huff. 

 “Sorry,” she whispered so only we could here. “I’m really not this dramatic but I’ve never sat here before. This was always father’s chair.” 

 “The head of the table is reserved for the ruling fae,” Pluto replied softly. “You’re our Queen.” 

 “It’s going to take some getting used too,” she sighed. 

 Three young servers came into the dining room and placed our plates in front of us. They poured our drinks and set them down then laid utensils wrapped in a cloth napkin beside the plates. They took their leave as quietly as their entrance. It was silent as we ate. The food was delicious and I couldn’t believe how much better things were here as compared to the council or even life from before the council. I had been orphaned around the age of twelve. My parents were attacked by dark fae looking for blood for their ritual. They wanted me because I was the combination of sun and moon but my parents hid me. The dark fae gave up on finding me and settled for draining my parents. I fled to the council when they were gone. The council took me in and gave me purpose and a life. Now I lost my place in the world through blood and death again. 

 “Pluto,” Cleo spoke up and we both turned our attention to her. “How will you rebuild the council?” 

 “I will select a few fae I feel will have the knowledge and ability to make good choices,” he replied. “As the only survivor I feel it’s my responsibility to rebuild the council. We need laws and consequences or we could revert to darker times.”

 “Who will you have on the council?” She asked. I could tell she was trying hard to keep conversation moving.

 “I think I may incorporate a few more dark fae this time but those who aren’t geared toward selfish gains,” he said as he thought. “A lot of the elder dark fae like myself are more complacent with the light. But also we could use some fresh eyes of a younger generation so I may ask some of the younger light fae.” 

 “How old are you?” She asked softly and peeked up at him to gauge his reaction. She relaxed when he smiled at her. 

 “I’m three hundred and six,” he answered and chuckled at the look on her face. “I don’t look it though do I?” 

 She shook her head; her mouth slightly open still from her surprise. I couldn’t help but laugh at the adorable expression. I fought the urge to run a finger down her cheek and thought about the feel of her soft lips on mine. 

 “What about you Duncan?” She turned her attention to me and I felt a guilty grin and blush cross my face.

 “Th-thirty,” I stuttered as I looked into her blue eyes. Never in my life have I been effected by another fairy like this before.

 “And you?”

 “Twenty two,” she replied. “We just turned twenty two last week.” 

 “Happy belated birthday,” Pluto said. She smiled at him but it seemed a bit sad. 

 “Queen Cleo!” Yelled a voice as we heard them rushing through the hall. “Queen Cleo come quickly! Your sister! Please!” 

 Cleo immediately jumped out of her seat and rushed to the voice. I hurried behind her and followed as she joined a small fae outside of the hall. A hooded figure stood leaning against Anthony. He had a hand wrapped around her and helping her walk. The figure brushed the hood back from their head and I saw Cleo’s face beneath a mass of brown hair. 

 “Chloe!” Cleo shrieked and rushed to her twin. She crashed into her and if it hadn’t been for Anthony I’m sure they would have fallen to the ground. “Chloe are you okay? Are you hurt? Where’s Victor?” 

 “Cleo,” Chloe whispered and hugged her tightly. They sobbed in each other’s arms.

 “Warriors!” Byron called. “Check the perimeters and be on the look out for an attack.”

 “Byron,” I called as warriors began to rush off in every direction. “Permission to stay with the Queen and Princess.”

 “Granted,” he said and turned to join the others; shouting orders to those closest to him. 

 “Chloe,” Cleo whispered while hugging and kissing her sisters hair and cheeks. 

“I’ve been so worried about you! Are you okay? Please talk to me! Tell me where Victor is!” 

 “I don’t know,” she whimpered. “I can’t remember anything before walking up the path to the house.” 

 “We need to bring her to Lane,” Xavier said as he walked over to them. He bent low to look at Chloe and smiled. “I’m so happy to see you Chloevanna.” 

He touched his forehead to hers and they smiled. The spot where their foreheads touched began to glow softly and Chloes face relaxed. Her eyes opened and she smiled kindly at Xavier.

 “Thank you,” she whispered and smiled at him. “Cleo, I’m so sorry! I was so scared and I didn’t know where you were or if you were alive. And then they killed Darren….I just didn’t know what to do.”

 Chloe broke into wailing sob that took her to her knees. She clung to Cleos legs and sobbed onto her feet. Cleo rubbed her back and shushed her softly while trying to gently to pull her to her feet. Anthony bent down and helped to guide Chloe up from the ground. 

 “Let’s get you inside,” Cleo said and held onto her sister’s waist. She and Anthony helped Chloe over to the house and I followed behind them.