Beyond The Veil

Chapter 4

An unnatural clicking sound came from the Demon as it crawled towards me. My heart pounded fast. 

"This isn't happening..." I uttered under my breath as I backed away slowly. I had to get help; Odessa might still be in there. I turned on my heels a bolted for the village.  

"Help!" I screamed out as loud as I could, I could hear footsteps behind me. Then a hard thud and a screeching sound. I glanced back over my shoulder and saw that the Demon had been struck in the head with a Dagger. The shine of Silver and the Black skull handle made my eyes widen. I cautiously walked up to the Demon and as I suspected it was the same Dagger. The guy beyond the Veil had struck the Demon down. My eyes widened...he had killed his own? 

A stampede of hooves made the ground shake. I looked up and could see faint silhouettes of horses on the horizon. Before I knew I was surrounded by a hoard of guards. I froze as they shouted at me in my native tongue. The Commander of the guards came up to me then looked at the Demon that laid on the ground with the Dagger in its head. 

"The Veil opened. Where is Odessa?" 

"I-I don't know...I swear." I admitted as my hands started to shake. The guard looked at me for a moment then grabbed my wrist pulling me with him. "You will stand before the King and tell that lie." 

"What? No! She told me to guard her. That is what I did! Please I didn't do anything wrong!" I yelled but I was heard upon deaf ears. He put me on top of his horse and tied my hands up. The Commander got up on the horse and sat behind me. "Please, you have to believe me I didn't-" But before I could say anything more, the horse jolted forward towards the castle. I would have to explain myself in front of the King...but who would believe me? No one was there to see what happened; expect for the guy beyond veil, but I would crazily be asking him to vouch for me. My heart pounded in my chest as we drew closer to the Castle. It beamed in the sunlight like the inside of a shell. The gates were golden and elegantly made. This was the first time I had ever been this close to the castle before, it was breathtaking. I lived in a big Oak tree, but it was nothing like living in a Castle. My head started to spin with ideas of how someone in the Castle dressed and lived. My thoughts turned to Airell. He was always dressed so elegantly, and his clothes were never wrinkled or stained with dirt like mine, but it came with being a Water Fae. Water followed dirt and mud.  

The gates opened smoothly and quietly. I had never seen the courtyard of the Castle and it was breath taking. Fae's with earth bound magic zipped back and forth with their hummingbird like wings, like mine, but water Fae's wings were blue. They were dressed in beautiful flowing pink dresses, the flowing fabric reminded me of petals being blown away in the wind. Green plants and grass surrounded me; everything was so...perfect. Bushes were clipped so not one branch was out of place. Grass was trimmed so it looked like a welcome home mat. As the Commander slide me off the horse my feet touched the soft primed grass. I curled my toes in it before I was yanked forward. The beauty of the Castle almost made me forget the trouble I was in... almost. 

 What would my parents think of me, knowing I had been that close the Veil? They would lower their heads in shame of their defiant daughter. My heart ached; my intention was never to hurt anyone. Curiosity got the best of me, like it always had. The Commander took me to the front entrance of the Castle door. A Man, who I assumed was a part of the king's royal guard was dressed in golden and emerald green armor. His cold stare gave me shivers down my spine.  

"Soren." The Commanders voice was stern with his greeting to his fellow guard. Soren lowered his head showing respect to his Commander and moved to the side. The door opened, a burst of rose scented air filled my lungs as I was pushed in. It was so quiet and oddly peaceful inside the Castle. I could hear the soft playing of a harp echoing off the walls as we walked down the exceptionally long hall to the huge golden door at the end. Once we got to the door the Commander gave three hard knocks. A second later the door opened, I was blinded by the unexpected light. Once my vision was clear I was ever more surprised to see what was in front of me. The room was not really a room but more of a garden. I could hear the trickling of creek water that was rushing before the Kings Throne. His chair was golden and laced with dark Ivy vines. There were so many flowers and plants growing everywhere but meticulously kept and trimmed. The Pink Faes were in here as well, one buzzed by me and twirled around in front of me and a bunch of dust flew up into the air, which I now realized was the dust on my dress. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she buzzed away. This day could not get any worse... 

All the Fae suddenly flew towards the Kings chair and landed softly on their feet and dusted themselves off. In the corner of my eye I saw the tip of antlers. As I turned my head, my gut clenched. The man that entered the room had the palest skin I had ever seen and the longest white hair as well. I at once lowered my head but peaked up at him through lowered lashes. He wore a white silk robe, his chest was bare, and he wore silky flowing pants. I felt my jaw drop... 

My cheeks flushed. There was no doubt in my mind...this was our king. He exuded perfection to its core. The way he walked as if he were walking on air, his feet were bare but clean and no spot of dirt could be found on him. He sat in the throne, when I looked at the antlers, I realized they were not a crown. They protruded out of his on head... 

The Commander got down on one knee and put a fist over his heart as he bowed his head. 

"You may rise Yulton." The sound of the King's voice was smooth and melodic. As Yulton rose he brought me forward. "And what is this?" The king asked. 

"The Veil opened and this one was with Odessa when it happened. We still haven't found a trance of Odessa yet my lord." Yulton said, I looked up at the King who now had his eyes on me, his piercing soft brown eyes. My chest tightened as I looked back at him. 

"Is this true girl?" He asked. I swallowed hard before answering. 

"Y-yes I was but she told me to guard her...she never came back out-well I thought she did, but it wasn't her. It was a D-demon." I stammered. As I stared back at the king, I could see a slight twitch under his eye. That made me tilt my head a bit out of curiousness. 'What was he thinking?' I thought to myself. His facial expressions were hard to read because there really was none. 

"Did anyone else see this?" The King asked. 

I at once looked down thinking of the Demon guy I had met beyond the Veil. Something told me I should not mention him to the King. "No." I said.  

"We found this embedded in the head of the Demon that came out of the Veil." Yulton said as he gave the blade I had once held to the King. The King gently grabbed the dagger from Yulton. He felt the blade in between his two fingers then he looked up at me. "This blade is from the Demon world girl, where did you get it?" I felt a lump in my throat as the king questioned me. I would not get in that much trouble if I told him how it came into my possession... but part of me wanted to keep the Demon I had meant a secret. 

"I-" 

"Father." 

I turned around to find Airell who swooped in like a knight in shining armor. He stood by my side with a warm smile. I could not help the fluttering that rose in my chest from the way he smiled at me.  

"Airell, this is none of your concern Son." 

"Excuse my rudeness father, but it is, you see I gave Emery the blade to hold onto." Airell lied. I stared at his father who stared at Airell for a hint a tell that he was lying but Airell stood calm and confident. "It was a stupid thing to do, I understand that now. I was just trying to impress her..." He said with a boyish smile as he looked over at me. My heart started to pound...he was lying to get me out of trouble? 

I looked to king again and a slight smile crossed his lips. "Your stupidity almost costed this girl her wings Airell. Next time you want to impress a girl, show her your horns." He chuckled lightly as he stood up from the chair. He gave the dagger to a Fae then walked up to me.  

"You walk on thin ice Emery but lucky for you my son has taken an interest." He said then turned around. "Come, I have something I want to discuss with you Emery." 

My eyes widened as the King walked forward, I quickly followed and turned slightly back to Airell and mouthed 'thank you.' He smiled and bowed slightly. I could not help the flush on my cheeks...was this what a crush felt like?