The Court of Outcasts Read online

  Kelty’s eyes narrowed. “Have you found what he placed in your mind?”

  “Yes.” Nola took a deep breath. “That isn’t even the most disturbing part.”

  Kelty waited.

  “Fable wants me to become faerie.”

  “This is my fault.” Kelty turned to pace where she could in the small space, which was only a few steps. Her hands hovered out in front of her as if she could get a hold of Fable and shake him until he quit messing with them all.

  Seeing her look so helpless and out of options should’ve rattled Nola, but she felt a sort of clarity then.

  “Maybe it’s the answer,” Nola said softly. When Kelty gave her an astonished look, she explained. “You’ve noticed the dizziness. Maybe it is the way to cure it. And to give Fable what he wants. So he will leave us alone.”

  “You would be an entirely different species,” Kelty warned. “You would never see your parents again. And you would live half a life as the faeries here do.”

  “But if you can take Fable down, shouldn’t we take the chance?”

  Kelty winced and then leaned down to be eye level with her. “Forget Fable. What is it you want?”

  I don’t know what I want. “I don’t think it is that simple.”

  “Yes, it is. It is your life to do with as you please.”

  You’re the only one who seems to think so.

  “What has happened here?” Nola hastily changed the subject.

  Kelty didn’t look ready to drop their conversation, but she reluctantly explained how Fable created a dark magic that caused the Court of Outcasts to lose the connection to the ara of the land, thus endangering their lives.

  “Do your spirit magic on me. Look into my mind for what Fable put there.” Nola sat up with her legs crossed and hands on her knees, excitement in her voice. “I think I know your answer.”

  Kelty kneeled in front of her, and Nola felt a rush of energy in her mind, nothing like the smooth sneakiness of Fable’s. She struggled to remain still as she thought of the vision Fable planted there and willed Kelty to see it.

  After a few long minutes, Kelty leaned back on her heels, eyes wide.

  “Did you see?” Nola asked.

  Kelty nodded, still looking lost in her shock.

  Nola continued on, “This faerie, the one from the vision, she can help, right? She can cure this magic problem?”

  Kelty nodded slowly.

  Nola sat up a little straighter, hopeful for the first time in a while. “Then we just need to find her.”

  Kelty looked her in the eyes. “What if that isn’t possible?” she asked quietly.

  “Why do you mean? I saw her.”

  “I don’t think she exists.”

  “Why?” Nola’s hopes deflated. She narrowed her gaze at Kelty, who averted her gaze.

  What does she know?

  Kelty hesitated for a few moments, then she looked up to meet Nola’s gaze.

  “I think that faerie is you.”

  * * *

  Hours later, Nola followed Kelty through the wood. The faerie gave her very little by way of explanation of where they were going—only saying they had to see one of her court—but Nola was still in a state of disbelief and did not prod for more information.

  I think that faerie is you, echoed in her skull.

  She had asked Kelty how she knew. Kelty replied, “She has your eyes and hair. And something about her gentle demeanor is so like yours.”

  If it is true, it means I have the power to heal the Court of Outcasts, as a faerie anyway. But can I do it? Is it what I want? Can I truly leave my family and friends behind?

  Would it be the right choice?

  Briar fell into step behind Nola, causing a wave of anxiety that temporarily distracted her from her thoughts. She didn’t know what to say to him in the presence of the others.

  What would it mean for us? For him and Fable? Would Briar be happy with how it happened?

  Nola looked up as a yellow leaf gently grazed her head on its path through the air. She expected to see Rowan, who had set out to follow from above. Instead, her eyes met those of a male faerie with fiery skin, dark wild hair, and wings of a lighter brown. His entire body looked stiff, his intensity unnerving her.

  She didn’t realize she had stopped walking until she felt a gentle prod.

  “He won’t harm you,” Briar said softly in her ear.

  Nola relaxed slightly at his earnest expression. I’m still in the middle of everything, but I’m back with my friends in the place I call home, she reminded herself.

  Kelty glanced back at her and then up at the trees. After a slight frown at the red faerie, she beckoned Nola forward again.

  While they walked, Nola caught glimpses of the sunset-colored faerie called Lark among the higher branches as well.

  Well, I had to meet them sometime. It could be better circumstances, though. Will they hate me? Do they even know who I am?

  It suddenly hit her how much things had changed in the short time she had spent at Bliss and in jail. Though the woods still felt like home, there was a shift in the air, like an increase in tension, though not entirely a bad one. The trees and plants seemed stronger, brighter, healthier.

  This must be the work of the court. Nola refused to admit it even to herself, but she was a bit jealous.

  Before long, a pond came into view. It was small, nearly covered in lilies and low-hanging branches with small, thin leaves. The changing colors of the foliage reflecting off the surface of the water was so beautiful. Nola was grateful it was near the back of the park, away from the sounds of the other humans.

  Kelty stepped to the side, and Nola stopped beside her, giving her a questioning sidelong look.

  The surface of the water rippled, causing Nola’s attention to snap back to the pond as a faerie emerged from beneath the surface. She was the color of a crystal-clear ocean; her clothing was tattered and ragged, her hair tangled. Truly like someone that lived underwater, Nola thought. She took a step back as the strange faerie regarded her with a sad expression. Kelty moved so that she was sideways into a more protective stance to Nola’s side as Briar moved to her other side in the same fashion. Nola was glad to know Rowan was somewhere above. The melancholy energy surrounding this faerie made her fear she would do just about anything for she had nothing left.

  “Nola,” Kelty said. “Meet Sayra of the Court of Outcasts.”

  “I have a daughter like you,” Sayra said, abruptly. She hadn’t taken her gaze off of Nola.

  “Oh.” Nola noticed Kelty tense.

  “You said to come when we had found the answer,” Kelty addressed the water faerie. “What is it you know, Sayra?”

  Sayra gave her a look of pity. “I could not save her then. Now I can.”

  A shiver ran through Nola. She stepped back, looking to Kelty for help.

  At that point, Rowan dropped down from the trees to stand behind them. Kelty threw him an annoyed look. Nola was vaguely aware of the red faerie and Lark touching down as well.

  And then Sayra’s gaze snapped over to meet Nola’s. She struggled to breathe as liquid suddenly flowed down her nose and throat and into her body.

  No! Nola screamed in her mind, terrified beyond anything she had ever felt before. The moment seemed to stretch into forever as she struggled to breathe.

  Then she felt one strong arm encircle her. The suffocating feeling eased.

  And Sayra dissolved into a puddle of silver liquid on the ground.

  “Briar!” Nola heard Kelty shout, but her legs gave out and she went limp. Briar gently lowered her to the ground, expression closed off as he stared at the silver puddle instead of looking at Nola.

  Movement drew Nola’s gaze to the trees behind him. A tall faerie the color of charcoal looked down at her from halfway behind a tree. He’s so tall, she thought in hysteria, unable to process what was going on, almost close to losing consciousness.

  At that moment, Fable stepped out from the trees to the left, re
garding the remains of Sayra with barely veiled satisfaction.

  Chapter 30

  Kelty turned horrified eyes from Briar to face Fable, who put up one slender hand as the others of her court stared at him, looking unsure of who he was or what to do.

  He did this somehow. Her thoughts whirled as she tried to catch up. Or he knew Briar would do this to save Nola. To give her a chance at being faerie. Someone had to die for that to happen. Why does Fable want Nola to become faerie so badly? Just to restore the Court of Outcasts?

  She had no answers to her questions, and she reeled at the sudden death of her courtier. I couldn’t save her. I didn’t have the chance. I didn’t even get to know her that well. Kelty’s hands shook, and her breath came in small gasps.

  But her internal protectiveness rose as Fable stood only a few paces away from both Nola and Briar.

  “You did this,” Briar said to Fable before Kelty could utter a word, his voice low and dangerous.

  “I did not,” Fable said lightly. He gestured to the silver puddle. “This was you.” His gaze slid down to Nola on the ground.

  She shrank back, eyes wide.

  “Don’t look at her,” Briar snapped. “This is why I wanted to stay away from you. Everyone close to you suffers.”

  A hurt expression crossed Fable’s face before it smoothed over once again. He gestured to Sayra’s remains. “She was barely a husk of a being. She was beyond hope. You know this is true. And now we can both have what we desire.”

  Briar’s nostrils flared. Kelty’s heart raced as she realized his meaning. They both wanted to turn her faerie. And now they have the means to do it.

  But she did not consent to it.

  Kelty opened her mouth to tell them just that, when Rowan put a hand on her arm.

  Rowan murmured to Kelty under the cover of their raised voices, “We cannot defeat him now, but we need him to leave. He may do worse things to Nola if he stays.”

  Kelty recognized the truth in his words, but panic froze her. How do I get Fable to leave for good? What he has wanted is within his reach.

  Rowan caught her gaze this time. “He is distracted. Convince him to move on.”

  If I do so, he might do worse things in Faerie…

  As she wavered, Anthem took advantage of the lull in the brothers’ standoff to gather the winds around them and focus on Fable.

  No! He will break you!

  Fable turned with a smirk, as if relishing the challenge.

  Kelty thrust her magic at Fable, digging deep, remembering the vision she was stuck in, his unwavering devotion for The Glorious.

  Your work is done. You would rather be with The Glorious.

  “Oh, but my work is not done.” Fable turned and locked eyes with Kelty. He gestured to Nola. “She is still human.”

  Kelty hissed at him. Briar’s expression darkened to fury.

  “If I agree to turn Faerie, will you leave?” Nola’s voice rang out.

  Fable looked surprised for once as he stared down at the girl.

  Nola struggled to her feet with the help of Briar’s arm. He whispered desperately to her as he did so, but Nola kept her determined gaze on Fable.

  “If I turn faerie, will you leave us all alone?” Nola gestured to those in the clearing around them. Lark shrank back as she did so, eyes wide and slightly panicked. Dane watched intently, while Anthem still looked murderous, but was smart enough to realize Kelty had stopped him from doing something stupid.

  “Nola,” Briar spoke louder this time.

  “I am afraid I cannot do that,” Fable spoke.

  Kelty sent another wave of power at Fable before the girl could actually promise him something. She desperately channeled the vision again. The Glorious will be more pleased with the dark magic. You will miss out if you do not return to her side. She winced internally, hating herself for every word.

  She kept up the steady stream of magic, grabbing for Rowan’s hand and his extra burst of energy.

  Fable smiled at Nola. “I will have to return…but I do have other matters to attend to first.”

  Kelty didn’t dare hope as he turned to give her a devious look⁠—a smile on his face but eyes narrowed.

  “You will make sure she awakens.”

  He removed something from the folds of his garment, there was the telltale bright light that meant he jumped to Faerie, and he was gone.

  Kelty gaped for a moment at the spot he had been.

  Have I doomed Faerie to save Nola and my new court?

  Chapter 31

  Nola nervously looked to Briar. His lips were pressed into a thin line, shoulders stiff as he glared at Kelty. She glared back.

  Nola took in a breath and tried to force her brain to process all that just happened. Instead, one question played on loop in her mind:

  Did I really just agree to become a faerie?

  “Who is she?” the red faerie burst out, gesturing to Nola.

  Kelty turned the force of her glare on them. “Go. All of you,” she ordered. “I will send for you later.”

  There was a tense moment where Nola wondered if the strange faerie would defy Kelty, then the gray one slowly backed away, Lark turned and darted into the wood, and Anthem took to the air in a gust of wind that only seemed to piss off Kelty more.

  “That means you, too.” Kelty pointed sternly at Briar.

  He looked back at Nola, indecision warring on his face, but then his shoulders drooped, the rage draining from him. She could see all the things he wanted to say to her in his eyes, yet he seemed to be at a loss for words. He had killed for her. But had she wanted him to? Had that really saved them from Fable in the end? The whole situation was confusing, and Nola grew more and more overwhelmed as she thought of it.

  “You’ve done enough, Briar,” Kelty said sternly.

  Rowan stepped forward to take Briar’s arm then, and he let the other faerie lead him away.

  Kelty planted herself square in front of her, unnerving silver eyes boring into hers. “Is this truly what you want, or did you say that to get Fable to leave?”

  Nola took a breath. Why did I say that? Is it what I want? And can I truly go back to my old life as if nothing happened? Is it worth giving Fable what he wanted? Will I be happy as a faerie? Could I live with myself if I didn’t save the Court of Outcasts?

  “Does it even matter?” Nola asked in a choked voice.

  “Yes,” Kelty answered tightly. “This is not your problem. It is mine.”

  Nola felt a little offended. Hadn’t they basically found the woods together?

  Tears leaked from Nola’s eyes as she closed them. How can I possibly make this decision? Is it even really a decision?

  Dainty hands tugged on her own. She opened her eyes as Kelty placed one of her hands and then the other onto a large tree.

  “The energy of the trees always calms me,” Kelty said softly. “They know what they are and they simply are. Your decision boils down to that. Forget everything and everyone else. What are you, Nola?”

  Pressing her hand closer to the rough bark, Nola closed her eyes again. The steady energy of the trees had always calmed her as well, but she wondered at their ability to give her this answer.

  She tuned into the magic beneath the surface, that flowed down and out of the roots and connected to everything around them. The feeling of calm washed over her⁠—the feeling of home.

  What am I? she thought at the tree. Of course, it had no actual answer for her. And she felt silly for asking.

  It hit her then. This is where I feel most like myself. This is where I belong.

  But something still nagged at her. Fable’s words: “Your future will be greater than you know.” The knowing way he said them.

  Nola opened her eyes and turned to Kelty. “I need to think,” she stammered before rushing off.

  * * *

  The afternoon sun reflected off the bay window in front of Nola’s house. She hunkered down into the bushes, unable to make herself enter. Her parents
sat in the front room, her father lost in a book, her mother staring blankly at the television.

  I escaped from jail. Can I really go back to my real life anyway? Do I want to?

  “They do not understand you.”

  Nola swallowed a scream as she whirled around to see Fable in Mark form, standing in the middle of the yard.

  “What are you doing? They’ll see you,” she hissed at him when she recovered her voice.

  “They are lost in their own worries.” He waved a hand carelessly.

  Nola breathed in slowly in an effort to calm her beating heart. Why is he here? To make sure I don’t run or back out of my decision?

  “I can make them forget,” Fable offered kindly.

  Nola was immediately tempted. They would be better off never having known me. But do I trust him to do just that and not destroy other parts of them?

  “Why would you do me a favor?” she asked warily. She shifted her legs but remained in her uncomfortable crouched position. If her parents saw her, she wasn’t sure what would happen.

  “Worry for your parents will distract you from the greatness you will become.”

  “What does that even mean?” she burst out, forgetting she was talking to a dangerous faerie in human form for a moment.

  He smiled at her indulgently. “Only that your future is bright.” Then he walked casually toward the front door.

  No! I did not agree to this! “Fable!” she hissed.

  He ignored her as he rang the doorbell. Not knowing what else to do, she ducked further into the bushes as her father answered the door. Outwardly, there was no sign Fable did anything, but Nola could see the magic light up inside her father’s head. Bright at first, it then dimmed and disappeared. Though Nola didn’t dare peek into the window to see if the same happened to her mother, she was sure it had.

  Fable would make sure it was both of them. Nothing left to keep me human, she thought numbly. Nothing else in the way of getting what he wants.

  “Is your daughter home?” Fable asked in a pleasant tone.

  Nola’s father shook his head as if to clear it, and Nola held her breath.

  “Daughter? We do not have a daughter,” he replied, brows furrowed.