Chapter 47

After dressing and making myself presentable, I walk into the dining room. All eyes turn to me. I look down to avoid their gaze, feeling self-conscious as I take a seat next to Misty.
“Hello, Kayla, I am Michael. It is nice to finally meet you,” he says in a deep, gravelly voice. “I understand you have been through a rather rough ordeal lately. However, despite this, I expect that while you are a guest in this world, and in my house, you are prompt for mealtimes. Breakfast is served at eight am, and so forth.” I look up into familiar baby blue eyes. His deep brown hair, which is almost black, hangs over his forehead. He’s in need of a haircut. He wears a long white cloak with a gold braid down the seams. He looks at me as if I am a nuisance taking up his time.
A bowl of vegetable soup and a piece of bread is placed before me. Taking the lead from Misty, I take small sips of soup.
"Now, Kayla, please tell us what you learned while you were in my brother’s company?" My spoon slips from my hand, clattering to the floor as the king’s inhuman fiery eyes flash in my vision.
"Michael, please, let the girl eat first," says Amelia. She gives me a small smile.
"I apologize. It is just that I am rather interested in what my brother had planned for her?" Michael looks at me with distant eyes. "You see, you have already served your purpose by opening the gate which allows him to roam Earth and the other realms freely."
I look up at his stony expression, and a new wave of confidence washes over me. “I don’t know why he wants me to marry his son. I was a prisoner, nothing more. “My brain screams at me to keep quiet, but my emotions override it.
"Were you kept in a dungeon or a prison cell?"
"No, nothing like that. I was kept in a room with a hellhound that watched my every move and followed my every step. My door was locked and only opened when I was to join the king." Michael does not seem convinced by my explanation.
"You ate with the king?" he asks in a bored tone, his voice implying that I am lying or keeping things from him.
"Yes."
"Then you were not a prisoner, merely a guest," he states, looking at me accusingly.
I shake my head and try to calm the storm raging inside. “If your idea of being a guest is being beaten and locked in a room for hours at a time and having no freedom or say in what happens with your life, then yes, I suppose you could say I was a guest." I stand up and look at him with hatred. The uncanny resemblance to the king is too much to ignore. Repulsion and disgust replace anger. His body language and demeanor remind me of the king. The thought of being trapped with another clouds my mind. “Thank you for having me, but I will no longer intrude on you and your family.” I storm out of the room. So many things I want to say to him are left unsaid. However, I let them slide as I return to my room.
As I look around, I realize, perhaps for the first time, that I don’t have any of my personal belongings here. So, I march back down the stairs, my heart pounding and my ears ringing.
My hand touches the door handle when a bolt of electricity runs through my shoulder, and the familiar scent of cinnamon and outdoors invades my senses.
"What do you want?" I ask, angrily spinning around to face Chris.
"Well, I can’t let you leave on your own," he replies with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
The feeling of insects crawling all over my body envelopes me. The tingling sensation still makes me feel sick. On opening my eyes, we are standing at the edge of the floating island.
Chris whistles and Shadow swoops down and hovers a few feet in the air. The creepy crawly feeling attacks me once more. I then find myself sitting in front of Chris on Shadow’s back.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"To find some answers. My father is right. Lucifer wanted you to marry his son for a reason. We need to find out what that reason is."
I grin and turn my head slightly.
"See wasn't that easy!" I say, as my mood instantly lifts. I give him one last grin as the wind rushes past me taking my breath away. I am still angry with him. However, I need answers.
We land at another waterfall. I give Chris a weary look as he drags me through it. The dreadful feeling of been pulled apart takes over again. I hate those portals with a passion.
This time we land in a beautiful maze of flowers. A variety of colors dance and sway in the light breeze. They’re the brightest flowers I have ever seen.
"Where are we?" I ask, looking around in amazement at the glorious site.
"The Land of the Fae."
I smile and bump my shoulder with his, happy that he is at least answering the simplest of questions.
We walk through the maze of tropical flowers and eventually come to a narrow path of bright green grass bordered on either side by thousands of daffodils. We continue along the path for some time, up hills, and down dales.
After a while, all the walking starts to take its toll on me. "Why don't you do that vanishing thing to get us to where we’re going?" My feet and legs ache. I’m sure my muscles will be sore in the morning. Being cooped up in the castle has done me no favors.
"It is called orbing and to orb in the Fae Realm is disrespectful to the Fae.”
I sigh and push my legs forward. What would be disrespectful about it?
Half an hour later we come upon a small village. I stand on the hilltop looking down on it. I have seen some magnificent sites over the last few months, and also things I never dreamed of being possible. Yet still I find it hard to get used to everything, and still it surprises me.
Large wooden houses sit in giant trees. The houses are connected by what looks like glass walkways. It is a strange and beautiful sight.
"They live in the trees. Do they have wings? Can they fly?" I ask excitedly. I always imagined Fairies to be little creatures like Tinkerbelle.
Chris takes my hand. "Woah, slow down, and no they do not have wings." The familiar electric currents run through my veins, I let out a slight gasp.
We walk on until we are under the treetop village. I spin around looking up. Fae the size of full-size humans walks up and down the walkways doing various activities. Their faces have a green tint, and their ears turn up into a sharp point. Their hair color ranges from pink, blue and purple. I stifle a giggle.
"They look like elves." I laugh.
Chris covers my mouth with his hand. "Ssshh, don’t insult them."
We weave in and out of large tree trunks until we come to a set of wooden steps. We walk up at least fifty steps that leave me panting by the time we reach the top.
After catching my breath, we walk along one of the glass walkways. The view is spectacular. The scenery is like an alien world. The countryside stretches before me like a quilt of golden, brown, and green squares, held together like the thick green stitching of hedgerows. It rises and falls like the ocean waves, dotted with clusters of small woods. Chris knocks on a door at the end of the walkway. A shiny glass plaque reads, "Daisy's Inn. “A small, plump woman with faded long pink hair opens the door. She reminds me of a little toy troll I had as a kid or a Cabbage Patch Doll I also owned. Her green skin is smooth, with a hint of glitter like sparkle. Her bright green cat-like eyes light up, and a grin spreads across her face when she sees Chris.
"Chris, what a wonderful surprise, come in."
She ushers us into a large hallway and through to a large open space living room. Chris sits down on a large corner suite; I follow his lead.
"Would you like a drink or something to eat?" she asks in a hurried high-pitched tone. A small, rounded man with faded blue hair enters and places two tall glasses containing a pink liquid along with a small tray of sandwiches in front of us. He then takes a seat next to the plump woman whom I presume is the Daisy of Daisy’s Inn.
"Chris, long time no see, what has brought you here?" The rounded man asks in an unusually high pitch for a man. He sounds like he’s breathed in a lot of helium.
"We need a room for the night."
I glare at Chris. He gives me a look to say just go with it. Why would the Fae realm have answers to our questions? At this point, the feeling of betrayal simmers under the surface.
“That can easily be arranged. Now, the meaning of your visit?”
I take a sip of the pink liquid which surprisingly tastes very fruity.
"We are newlywed, and I thought this would be the ideal place to stay for our honeymoon." I almost choke on the liquid, coughing and spluttering. Chris pats my back and continues. “Kayla loves nature and wildlife, and the Fae realm is the perfect place for that."
Daisy's face lights up in a big grin. She dashes forward and pulls us both into a big bear hug. “Congratulations, and what a wonderful choice indeed. Come, I will show you to our best room," she gushes and skips out of the room. I stand and as I do, poke Chris discreetly in the side. He turns and gives me a small smile.