ok, finally the next chapter
, oh and HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
Chapter 3:
Fae put her hand over the knife at her belt and kept walking. She was close enough to make out their features, one was wearing a black cloak with the hood pulled up; he was very tall and broad. Fae was immediately wary of him. The other one was younger, no older then Fae. He had messy red hair that fell into his eyes, and was actually rather handsome. It was his eyes that caught her attention though; they were blue, cold emotionless eyes. Fae shivered when she met his gaze. The tall, cloaked man pulled back the hood of his cloak and Fae was surprised. He had black eyes that were surprisingly warm and kind, his hair was also black and came down to his jaw line, and he had a black beard.
"Are you Fae Valen?" The tall man asked in a gentle voice.
Fae stared at the two men; she knew she couldn't fight them, even with her magic. For some reason she felt that her magic wouldn't work on that cloaked man. He gave her a small smile.
"There isn't need for a confrontation, we didn't come here to fight." He said.
Fae stared at him in surprise. Had he read her mind? Then she realized that her knife was out. She didn't even know that she had pulled it out.
Fae quickly put it away before asking, "Who are you?"
The tall man smiled. "My name is Alladron, and this is Reo." He gestured to the young man next to him.
Reo stared at her as if he was trying to decide if she was a threat or not, Fae shivered under his scrutiny. "Your blind?" Reo asked.
Fae was caught off guard. His voice was just like his eyes, cold and emotionless. Her face turned red. "No!" She snapped at him.
It was a mistake people always made when they saw her pure white eyes. Reo's expression didn't change as he offered an apology.
Alladron stepped forward, causing Fae to take an involuntary step back. "Fae, it is important that I talk to you. May we come inside?"
Fae thought for a minuet, if they meant her harm they would've done so already. "Alright." She walked between them towards the door of her house. As she did she noticed for the first time a sword strapped to Reo's back. It was a broad sword. Fae was even more wary of the two men now.
When they entered the house Fae put some of the fruit, cheese, and bread she bought on a dish and set it on the table. She sat down and offered seats to Alladron and Reo; the former sat down, but the latter just leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest.
Alladron took some bread and started to eat it slowly while taking the time to take in the small house. It was only one room, with a fireplace with a pot in it for cooking, two small beds against the wall across from the small wooden table were they were sitting, and one window with a beautiful view of the ocean. The window was opened and let in a breeze filled with the salty scent of the ocean.
Fae watched Alladron as his eyes roamed around her and her father's small house. She knew that he was taking his time before talking to her, but she didn't feel like waiting. "Why are you here?"
Alladron continued to chew slowly then finally swallowed and looked her in the eyes. " Fae, I'm here because-"
He was cut off as a massive black form burst through the door and lunged at Reo. The both of them went down in a heap. Reo had his knife out in seconds; there was a yelp as he stabbed the creature in its leg. Fae rushed over and pulled the black mass of fangs and claws off Reo before he was able to stab it in the chest. When she did Reo was finally able to get a good look at it, and realized that it was a massive black wolf.
"Are you alright?!" Fae asked in a worried voice.
"I'm fine." Reo mumbled as he got up.
"I wasn't asking you!" Fae snapped at him. "Twilight has a nasty wound now because of you!" Fae and Reo glared at each other until a loud cough caused them to look over at Alladron.
"So, Fae, you have a…umm…wolf?" He asked.
Fae turned around and started to tend to Twilight's wound. "Well, I found him when he was a pup", the girl smiled at the memory, "he was wounded and alone. So I nursed him back to health then let him go, but he would keep coming around. So now I just give him food and play with him whenever I see him."
"You shouldn't let a beast like that in your house." Reo said, his glare now fixed on the wolf, who growled back.
"Beast?!" Fae shouted. "He's not a beast, you're the one who hurt him! He probably was just playing around!"
Reo raised and eyebrow. "So when he lunged at me and went for my throat he probably just wanted to play fetch, right?" He asked in a sarcastic voice. Fae was about to make a retort when Alladron stood up.
"Reo. Fae. Please! We have more pressing matters then discussing your house-hold pet!" Alladron said, sounding slightly exasperated.
Reo snorted. "House-hold pet my a-"
"Reo, enough!" Alladron shouted, cutting him off. Reo just grunted and leaned back against the wall. "Now, Fae, please sit down so we can talk."
The girl sat back down at the table and the wolf, Twilight, laid down on the floor by her feet. She looked over at Alladron and asked, "So what exactly are these 'pressing matters'?"
Alladron sat back down too and let out a sigh. "Fae, have you ever heard of the…Dark Angel?"
Fae raised an eyebrow. "You mean the mythical being that has the power of Yin and Yang? My mother used to tell me that legend, about how the Dark Angel guards over the two lands of Yukai and Zarneth, and keeps the balance between the humans and elves in Zarneth and the demons in Yukai. Of course, she told me that story when I was a child, and actually believed in things like that. I mean, there's no such things as demons, or a Dark Angel, or…"
"Elves." Alladron finished for her, also raising an eyebrow. Fae looked at him with wide eyes. "Fae, you know as well as I do that elves do exist."
Fae shook her head. "No, they all died out. People haven't seen any elves for ages!"
Alladron gave her a small smile. "What about your mother? She was an elf, wasn't she?"
Well, yes but…wait", Fae glared at Alladron, "how did you know my mother was an elf?"
Reo looked at Fae. "Your mother was an elf? So, your half-elf?" Now Reo was also glaring at the older man. " You forgot to mention that, Alladron." He said in a voice colder then ice.
"Did you know my mother?" Fae asked Alladron.
Alladron looked her in the eyes. "No, I didn't know her." Fae could tell he was hiding something, but knew it wouldn't do any good to press the matter.
"Fae, the elves still exist, they live in the Moonlight Forest, where they always have lived. No one has seen them simply because they do not wish to
be seen. They want to live in peace away from humans. They are not the reason I'm here though." Alladron paused for a moment, then continued. "Fae, you said that you knew about the Dark Angel.
That…is why I'm here."
"You're here to talk to me about some myth?" Fae asked him.
"It is no myth Fae. Some people believe that elves don't and never did exist, but you're living proof that they do. So who's to say the Dark Angel doesn't exist?"
Fae threw up her hands in frustration. "So what?! Who cares if demons, and elves, and the Dark Angel do exist? What dose any of this have to do with me?" Then realization hit her and she jumped out of her seat, causing Twilight to also come to his feet and let out a growl. "Oh no! Oh no no no! You're not saying that I'm the Dark Angel, are you?"
Fae looked at Alladron with pleading eyes. He stared back at her with sympathy in his eyes, but didn't say anything. The silence gave Fae her answer She looked at him with shock. "You're crazy." She whispered. "Totally nuts! You're out of your mind!" Fae said, her voice getting louder with each word.
She stormed around the room throwing her hands up. "First, both of you come to my house unannounced. Then, he", she gestured over to where Reo was standing, "nearly kills Twilight; my only friend in this blasted hell-hole of a village, and now you're telling me that I'm a mythical being that was never proven to even exist!" Fae sat back down at the table and put her head in her hands. Twilight nuzzled the girl, sensing her distress.
"The Dark Angel? Yet another thing you forgot to mention Alladron." Reo said through gritted teeth, once again fixing his glare on the man.
Alladron ignored Reo's comment and spoke to Fae. "I know this information has come as a shock to you", the young woman let out a small humorless laugh, "but please just hear me out." Alladron waited, and when Fae said nothing he continued. "Whether you want to believe it our not the land Yukai does exist, and it is inhabited by demons." The black-cloaked man took a deep breath then went on. "For almost as long as Zarneth and Yukai have existed there has been a Dark Angel to keep the balance between the two lands, but there hasn't been a Dark Angel to protect the balance for a millennia. During that time the demons have been growing stronger and have been bidding their time."
Fae finally lifted her head up out of her hands and looked Alladron in the eyes. He took another breath and went on. "The demons are planning to take over Zarneth, Fae. The only way to stop them is if the Dark Angel restores the balance between the two lands."
Reo stepped away from the wall and continued to glare at Alladron as anger flashed in his eyes. "When you asked for my services all you said was that you needed a bodyguard for you and this girl while you were going on a journey! You never said anything about this girl being the mythical Dark Angel, or about stopping demons from taking over the land!" Reo gritted his teeth. He turned around and punched the wall, leaving a dent and causing Fae to flinch and the black wolf to let out another growl.
"Hey! I would gladly switch places with you. Be grateful, at least you aren't some mythical being!" Fae said in an annoyed voice while shooting a glare towards Alladron. Twilight began to lick Fae's hand and she absentmindedly ran her fingers through his coarse fur.
Alladron held up his hands in a pleading gesture. "Fae. Reo. Please! I know this is a lot for both of you to deal with, but please, just bear with me. Now, Reo, you also have an important part in this mission, and in order to save Zarneth I need you as much as Fae. It's imperative that Fae makes it to Yukai safely, and I alone cannot defend her. I heard that you are one of the best fighters. That is why I chose you."
Reo narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Alladron. "There are plenty of other people out there that are just as good as, or better, than me. So, why
me?"
Alladron let out a sigh. "Ok, look. There is another reason why I chose you. You may have another role in all this besides just being a simple bodyguard, but I'm not sure yet what that other role might be. Fae alone may not be enough to save Zarneth, she may need your help."
The older man stood up and looked at Reo, then at Fae. "Reo and I are going to stay at the Seabird inn tonight. I ask that both of you think this over and make your decisions by tomorrow morning. Keep in mind what hangs in the balance and what will happen to Zarneth should either of you decide not to come with me." With that Alladron walked out of Fae's house with Reo following and closing the door behind them.
Fae sat alone at the table, with Twilight's massive head in her lap, staring at the closed door and thinking of the new one that was just opened in her life.