The Faerie Slayer

We were now racing through thick forest mist and trees at full speed. My struggle to contain my anxiety overrode how exhausted I truly felt. At this pace, I couldn't make images of my surroundings. Reality became a rapidly moving blur of colours that consisted of green, dark brown and grey. I often shut my eyes and for long durations, they would burn and tear otherwise. I wished I'd tied my hair up, and worn something even thicker. Part of me never wanted to get down from Kade's back, I've never felt more free then now, whilst trapped in these woods atop this shapeshifting wolf. Part of me still questioned whether or not I was still dreaming.

I didn't know how long it had been since we began our journey. My hold on the leather was beginning to loosen. My palms were sweaty and beginning to ache. The sun had started to unveil and the sky was slowly brightening. I needed a break, and to eat something. My stomach rumbled in complaint and I realized that yesterdays lunch had been the last thing I'd eaten .

When everything was still normal, or so I thought. When Ben hadn't told me he loved me and werewolves and ogres didn't exist.

As if noticing my grip weaken, Kade slowed down. In the distance I could make out an ending to the trees.

"I think I need a break," I mumbled tiredly now that we were walking. Kade stopped and kneeled and I took that as my cue to get down. By the time I had turned to face the wolf, he was no longer. Replacing the animal stood the deceiving figure of a man. When our eyes met, I let out a breath I did not know I was holding.

"Over there is a gas station, we could go get some food and something to drink, then we'll get a room at the motel across the street, you need to get some rest."

I merely nodded and followed.

Beyond the edge of the trees was a small town corner store and gas station that looked as if it had been burned down years ago but not yet been refurbished. A sign nearby the road read; Welcome to Vermont. Inside, the cashier was an elder man lacking most of his teeth. He grinned a toothless sneer at us. I followed Kade to the back of the store where they kept a fridge stocked with sandwiches and pastries.

"Chicken or tuna?" The boy asked.

"I don't have any money," I mentally kicked myself for forgetting my wallet.

"That's alright," he reached into the fridge and grabbed a sandwich for himself.

"Tuna please."

I found myself wondering if he ate other things besides food for humans.

I wonder if he eats rabbits and deer.

He grabbed a couple of water bottles for us as well and proceeded to the checkout counter. To my surprise, Kade pulled out a shiny gold metal card from his camouflaged pockets. As if noticing my staggered expression, he chuckled.

"We're you expecting me to pay with a dead bunny?"

I don't know what I was expecting. So I didn't answer.

The motel was located just across the street. If the word sketchy had a tangible definition, this would be it. Kade was about to use his ID to check us in, but as if the cliche lords had been peering over us, the middle aged lady behind the desk replied to Kade's request with," we only have one room available for tonight."

He gazed back at me as if to assess my discomfort. My eyes shifted between the two.

"Is it, um, two beds?" I mumbled.

She looked at me as if I had two heads," why would you want to sleep in a different bed then him?" She proceeded to then eye him like he was a sizzling piece of steak.

Kade had grown adoringly shy and released an uncomfortable smile at the lady. I did not answer and instead, I flushed red.

She took a second to narrow her eyes at the screen in front of her before replying with, "it has one king bed."

We both remained silent.

"What's the matter, you two virgins or something? Cousins?"The lady raised her thin eyebrows at the two of us and immediately, I felt my cheeks sting even brighter.

"We'll go somewhere else," Kade began to turn but I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"There's no other place for miles and I'm exhausted. I really don't mind."

His eyes carried a look of understanding. He nodded without taking them off of mines and proceeded to hand the lady his cards. I sucked in a deep breath and looked away, feeling as if my legs could no longer support my weight.

The walk to the room felt longer then it was. It was just him and I now and I didn't have an explanation for why I felt so overwrought. Inside, the space was small, tacky floral wallpaper concealed the walls and there was nothing else in the room besides the bed in the centre and two wooden rocker chairs. I took my seat on one of them began to unwrap my food. Kade hesitated and then did the same.

We are in silence for the first few minutes before I finally decided that this setting bore the perfect time for an explanation.

I mentally debated where to begin and so I asked the question that had been bothering me the most.

"Was it you? In the woods that night with the snake?"

"Yes."

"How did you know? To be there?"

"I told you, I had been watching you."

"You saved me."

He didn't answer.

"You mentioned that thing in my room was an ogre, but what does it want with me?"

Kade looked up behind thick lashes and nodded to himself as if expecting my question," he's a faerie, and so was the snake. The ogre was from the Seelie Court. He's under instructions from the Queen of Fey to retrieve you, for what, I'm not yet certain."

I nodded and tried to comprehend," who is the Seelie Court, and the Queen of Fey? Are they faeries too?"

"Faeries are Folk people. They live in...other dimensions, we call it the Shadow World. Faeries often belong to either faerie courts, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. Both courts operate under the same ruler, also known as Folk royalty, the Queen of Fey."

"Other dimensions," I mumbled to myself, recollecting the information I had read from the book that Caleb's had given me," like on top of stars?"

"Yes."

"And we don't know what she wants with me, their Queen, we just know that she does," I concluded and he shook his head.

"When I found you with Jack, he had glamoured you into a coma. You were unconscious. I asked him what he wants with you, he revealed that you were a half-child."

"What's a half-child?"

"A half-child also known as a Moiety Child, is half human, half folk. It means that one of your birth parents was a faerie."

"And that would make me a half faerie?"

"Yes, but Moiety Children rarely survive. Faeries view them as dangerous beings, as they have the ability to expose their kind to the human race, and so they are often killed or enslaved for bearing both the benefits of being a faerie, and being a mortal."

"My birth parents," my throat had gone dry. I swallowed as a regard to moisten them," are they still alive?"

"I'm not sure, I would assume that they are not."

"Do you think the Queen, she wants to bring me back to kill me?"

"Jack mentioned that she does not wish to kill you, but to enslave you instead. Jack was not summoned by the Queen however, he was sent by someone else who is Folk, someone who does wish to have you dead, just like the snake was."

"Jack and the snake were both sent by someone to have me killed, but the ogre-"

"Was sent by the queen to retrieve you."

"You mentioned you were under the same instructions, to have me killed as well."

Kade looked away as if he were hesitant to answer. Finally, he proceeded," in werewolf packs, there are various positions. Mine is the Faerie Slayer."

"You are meant to kill all faeries?"

"Precisely. For thousands of years, there had been war between the wicked Folk and the Werewolves. Every pack, all over the world, bestows the role of a Faerie Slayer to the most powerful warrior in the pack. Before me, it was my mother, and before her, it was her mother."

"Your mother, is she...retired now, from the role?"

Kade gazed at his lap and bit into his sandwich. I suddenly realized that I had asked something I was not meant to.

"My mother died in battle," he continued," she was killed by a faerie."

"I'm sorry," I did not know how else to comfort him," I shouldn't have asked."

"It's alright, it's been a long time," I could tell the subject still pained him. As I peered at his saddened face I could only think that he was the most handsome man that I have ever laid eyes upon. His features were kind but virile. Simultaneously, how could one seem so tough yet courteous?

"Still. I should be more thoughtful."

A few seconds later, assuming that his silence was my response, I continued.

"And you were assigned to kill me, because someone found out I was half faerie, a Moiety Child," I concluded rather then asked.

"My father, he's the Alpha of the Odin pack. I recently discovered that he was working with a faerie to ensure you dead. I don't know who, but it was in the name of revenge."

"Revenge for what?"

"I have yet to discover.

I suddenly had grown silent. The pieces to the puzzle were either coming together or falling further apart.

"Was Caleb a Moiety Child too?"

He shook his head and seemed reluctant to answer," Caleb was a trow, sent by the Queen to introduce you to who you are."

I recalled moments of the first night we had met by Deadwood Creek. He had mentioned to me that I should be more willing to learn about my birth parents. It was all making so much sense now. The book he'd given me, the little secret displays of his power, he was readying me for the faerie world.

"You said you had his phone, that night at The Snake Pit. What really happened?"

"I was instructed by my father to capture him, he had been planning on taking you back with him that night."

I remembered Caleb's last words to me.

'I hope you come to terms with this quickly so we can move on and I can explain to you why I chose you to show this to.'

He never truly cared for me, I was a mere assignment, a game of chess for him to laugh at when the shift was complete. I suddenly understood what Kade meant when he said that faeries were wicked.

Did he not care at all, what it would be like for me, to discover that I was alone in a relationship I had forged in my head lead by his deceive and lies?

"How can he be a trow, he looks like a human boy?"

"Some faeries have the ability to shape-shift. That was not Caleb's true form. In reality, he resembles a brute with a long snout, floppy ears and a tail."

I winced at the image in my head. I couldn't believe that I had been such a fool. Leave it to me to fall in love with a monster.

"Did you kill him?"

He glanced at me with the side of his eye. I could tell he was debating telling me the truth," I had to."

I did not feel pain. In fact, I felt nothing. Perhaps the part of me that felt hurt had been replaced by an empty hole of lost thoughts. I felt astray, like I'd been led out into the middle of the sea and left to fend for myself. Everything that I had believed in was a lie, including who I was.

I had more questions, I could have asked him to elaborate for days and he did not seem unwilling, but I did not want to push my luck. I finally asked the primary question leading the thoughts of my head.

"Why haven't you killed me? If you are the faerie slayer, and I'm as you say; half faerie, shouldn't you have done your job? Instead you're helping me."

"Because I kill faeries. Evil, wicked immortal creatures of Fey. To kill you seems...like murder. I couldn't do it."

There was something behind his eyes, an unwillingness to release any more then that.

"Your father, when he finds out that you haven't killed me, what would happen to you?"

"I'm not sure what would happen, I've never disobeyed him before. I may have bought us some time, but I hope that by the time he finds out, I would have found an explanation to provide him with, that shows him why we cannot kill you, and how you are better off alive."

"Why do you think I'm better off alive? You say that faeries are evil and dangerous, it doesn't make sense."

Kade had gone into a state of what looked like self-reflection. My question bewildered him. He seemed just as perplexed at the question as I was.

"Faeries are vile and wicked. Had they not been governed by their courts, they would freely roam the earth and kill for mere amusement. There is nothing comparably as evil as the true intent of a faerie."

He seemed to be lost in a trance. His eyes had gone astray from reality. I wished I could climb into his mind and read his thoughts. I wondered what that would make me then, was I evil in my true nature? Is that why I had managed to hurt Ben to this extent?

Ben, I thought, I should call him.

Kade's gaze met mines again, and for the first time, I didn't look away.

"I couldn't kill you, even if I tried, even if I were forced. You are not like the others that bear the blood of the folk."

"What makes you say that, you don't even know me,"I did not mean for my words to be whispered.

"I know more then you think."

As if seemingly unaware, his warm palm had gone up to cup my cheek. His thumb lingered on my bottom lip that sundered with every tottering breath I took. I could only tear my eyes off of his to linger on his mouth. I hadn't realized that we were gradually moving closer until the tips of our noses met. I could feel the breeze of his bated breath on my face. It teased me with desire that I was unfamiliar with. I burned with the yearning to acquaint our lips , even if it were merely a moment. I was always one to stifle my urges, helplessly mindful of the consequence but this time, I was far too weak. He gave in first, his lips on mine were gentle but still, they felt like the brunt of a thousands pounds. He was close enough that I could no longer withstand my hands on my lap. As if hosteling them here was unbearable, I wrapped my arms around his neck and veered him closer. For a while, we did not move. We remained put, taking in the overbearing feeling of our lips together. The only thing that made sound was the mutual thud of our chests. This kiss was different then any other kiss I had ever had. This kiss felt intimate in a way that made me feel as if I were bearing my naked soul to him. Emotionally, it was draining me. Suddenly, he pulled away. The gust of air that followed was disappointing. I did not want to breath if it meant parting his lips

"Kade-" I began but he quickly cut me off.

"My apologies," his gaze would not meet mine," I shouldn't have done that."

I remained speechless. How could I tell him that I wanted so much more?

"I don't want you to think that I've brought you here with other motives."

"Don't apologize," I responded,"there's no need. I kissed you back."

"We got caught up in the moment is all," he cleared his throat and stood up," you should get some rest."

"What about you?" I struggled to meet his sight but he had yet to look at me. He strode for the door and with expressionless eyes finally on mine, he said," I'm going to keep a look out for while you sleep."

"What about your rest? Don't you need to sleep too?"

He smiled forcibly," don't worry about me."

Without sparing me another moment to object, he unbolted the door and walked out.

Although I was exhausted, sleep was not keen on taking over. I remained conscious, constantly tossing and turning, wondering if Kade would come back inside. If he did, I wondered if he would lie next to me? The thought made my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. Did we truly stray victims to the heat of the moment or was there something deeper? The glimmer in his eyes after he'd kissed me wasn't just one of guilt. There was shame. Could he feel demeaned because I was part-faerie? A Moiety Child, as he referred to it. I suddenly realized that I was dwelling on the wrong matter.

For fucks sake, Abby. You just found out you're a faerie.

If faeries were as horrid of creatures as Kade had described, how could one of my parents possibly fall for, let alone bear a child with one. I could only presume that both my parents must have been horrible. After all, they did abandon me on the porch of a stranger during a thunderstorm. The puzzle suddenly began to transform into a picture with molding pieces. Or they had done that as an attempt to keep me away from the Queen of Fey. To protect me.

The queen must have found out about the crimes of my parents, to have a Moiety Child and not kill nor enslave it. That is why they are here, to capture me. I remembered Kade mentioning that Jack and the snake were not sent from the Queen, instead by someone else, who wishes to see me dead. A missing piece of the puzzle, and I wondered if this was a riddle that I would ever complete.

I pondered on the thought of what would be next once we'd made it to Nakoda. How long would I have to stay, and what would my parents think? Through the window, I could see Kade's figure, outside of the door. He couldn't possibly protect me from every single faerie for eternity. I recalled seeing the guilt in his eyes after we'd kissed.

After tomorrow, will I see him again?

When I rose, the alarm read that it were almost noon. The sun was peaking through aged sheer curtains. I darted my gaze around the room but I was the only one here. I hurried to my feet and dashed for the door. Outside, Kade was no where to be found. It's too early to panic.

I retrieved and used the bathroom to bathe. I ran the water as hot as it could go, longing for the burn to halt my thinking for just a little bit of time. I changed into my other outfit that I'd folded into my backpack and brushed my hair. My fingers landed on something heavy and cold and I regretfully realized that it was my phone. I could not bear to check the missed calls and messages from my parents and Ben. I could only imagine what my best friend was thinking.

First she breaks my heart and then she disappears. Classy. I pulled the phone out anyway and switched on , now peering at the screen. There were over a dozen missed calls and messages. I held the phone up to my face and snapped a live photo. I sent it to my parents and labeled it,' almost there, promise I'm safe. Love ya.' I could not think of an apriperate thing to say to Ben and so I didn't. Instead, I'd hoped that he'd eventually call my parents and they would explain. It was a cowardly thing to do.

Briskly, I shut the phone back off and shoved it as deep as it could go, back into my backpack. I peered around the bathroom, now surrounded by nothing but my lonely. I remembered when I was just a kid and my father would bring us to motels like this one, on long road trips in towns where there were no hotels to stay. I recalled when I was only twelve years old, on a drive from New York to Nevada, we'd stopped at dozens of places like this. My father would let me use the outside pool and my mother would rant the entire time that it was littered with filth.

'They don't clean those things, ever,' she would always say.

A knock at the door brought me back from my trance. By the time I had exited the bathroom, Kade had let himself in and I immediately let out a sigh of relief. I had subconsciously expected him to have concluded that I was a burden and ran off.

"Where were you?"

"I got us some more food before the ride,"" he lifted the white plastic bag in his hand," egg sandwich."

I reached into the bag and grabbed one, careful not to look into his eyes because I was afraid I'd see a shadow of last nights shame," thank you."

We ate in silence and left the room in one too. It seemed as if the kiss had developed our relationship backwards because he could not stand to even look at me. Back amongst the horde of trees and without warning, Kade leaped into the air and shifted.

I nervously swallowed and proceeded to climb onto his back.

***

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