Fire That Licks My Face

Nyx

The next time I see the Prince Tasht, he is slithering around like a snake. I frown and decide to follow him. Spying was always my specialty. As I said, I am night, am I not? And who else better to watch over others than night itself? My eyes are two little stars that shine and greedily take in everything around me.

He heads for the dungeons. I am not allowed in there, yet I move swiftly, tracking him. I could shapeshift and it would be million times easier than trying to walk like a shadow spider, my feet barely touching the ground… but I won't do it. I am not weak. I won't use cheats. I plan to beat the fate in a game of gamble by my skills alone.

Tasht looks around himself and frowns, making sure he isn't being followed.

I don't think he is allowed down there either. Hah, that makes two of us. I get down on my belly and crawl under the shelves and swiftly land behind him then take cover behind a huge marble statue guarding the entrance.

"Oh, visiting me again?" I hear a voice coming from inside as the Prince unlocks the door. The voice is masculine, deep, yet cheery. "You seem to be doing that quite a lot lately."

"Is everything ready?" Prince's voice replies. I find it grating and annoying - he always talks like he's so full of himself. Full of shit, if you want.

"That depends. Are you ready to take what's yours? And give what's yours?"

I frown. What are they talking about?

Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder and I flinch.

Vatra stands next to me, grinning.

"Spying?" she quietly asks.

"What's it to you?" I bite back and swat her hand off my shoulder.

"You shouldn't meddle into things you know nothing of."

"Look who's talking."

She smirks and taps my nose. I scowl at that. She is so much taller and plans to use it well, for intimidation. They all think us pixies scare easily just because we are small. I can see fire burning in her eyes.

"Maybe I know more than you think," she whispers and yanks my hand. "Spy time is over, little Nyx. Come with me."

"Where to? Execution?"

She laughs. "No, actually not. Unless you want it to become one."

"I will fight you to death if needed. I want to know what's going on." I didn't particularly care in the beginning but now it's become personal.

"Then let's take it outside."

"No problem. I will extinguish your little wings like a kitchen fire."

She immediately spreads her wings and backs away, cackling.

I have no intentions of fighting her, actually. Instead I leap on the marble statue and knock it down. It falls with a loud crash. It doesn't crumble - thankfully - but Vatra seems caught off guard by my action. She opens her mouth to say something but next moment I leap onto her, knocking her down and sending us both rolling down the corridor, back to the main hallway, away from the dungeon cells.

I hear gasps from the cells. Prince Tasht turns his head to look at where the noise has come from. I can feel how tense he's become - scared, worried. Whatever scheme he's got going on there is broken. The other fae cackles. "Maybe it's the Seelie coming to get your head? Your crimes will be deserving of it."

"I wouldn't be so sure," the Prince hisses and stays low - a good choice, considering he would reveal himself if he followed the sound of me and Vatra battling it out. I hold her down by her neck and she tries to spread her wings and burn me.

"If you try anything funny, the head goes off," I hiss as I grab my blades. "I want to hear more. Who's in there?"

"Like hell!"She tries to push me off. "I can't have you ruining this deal!"

"Who are you fucking, Vatra? Prince or whoever is in there?"

She spits into my face. The moment I wince on reflex she moves and manages to release one wing, the fire shooting up and licking at my face.

"Oh you won't always get to act like a brat, you little bitch," she hisses at me. I almost scream from the fire's kiss and jump off. I touch my face. It burns. It's sticky, the melted flesh sticking to my hand. Whatever, one more scar, I don't care. My skin is already dry and scarred, changeling skin, nothing like the lovely fae one.

Vatra doesn't waste a second - she spreads her wings and makes her escape.

I can't follow her into the skies.

I frown as I stay on the ground, looking up and frowning.

***

I decide to retreat to my room, groaning and limping from pain. Lapis always takes hold of me if I overexert myself. It weighs me down, pulling at my feet, making them heavy to lift and walk. I keep holding my scarred cheek. It's red, burning, and I am pretty sure that bubbles will start popping any second. A gruesome sight.

Just as I make the corner, Princess Cybelia does as well. This time we both stop before crashing into each other again. I quickly move to the side, taking a position of a guard, showing her my other cheek. I don't want her to see my wounds.

"Nyx? What's wrong?" She blinks. Oh she's read me immediately.

"Nothing, your fairness. Training wounds," I lie and cross my hands behind my back. Cybelia curiously leans over to my other side, to see what I am hiding, I immediately spin to try and hide it.

"What are you hiding?"

"Oh, nothing."

She frowns and persistently leans over again. I try to do another pirouette. It goes on for a while before she grabs me tight and forces my head the other way. I never knew she could be that strong… to have a devilish grip.

She audibly gasps in shock and covers her mouth.

"Nyx!"

I swallow and force on a smile. "You see, your fairness, it's just a training wound."

"Why didn't Kora heal it if you were training?"

"…Didn't let her. It builds character to feel pain from time to time."

She tugs my hand. "You are coming with me. I am no Dryad, but Leptirae also have skills and magic."

"With no offense, your fairness, you do not produce enough faerie dust to heal me."

"It can be supplemented."

I blink in surprise. Faerie dust is at high price. Our bodies constantly produce it, but collecting it is hard and takes a while considering that - well - it is dust. But I guess she has enough gold to get some.

"I don't mind wasting it on a wounded soldier," she says as she leads me down the hall. "I appreciate all you do for me. But I will talk to Kora, she should had insisted…"

I cannot exactly refuse a Princess, I guess, so I obediently walk next to her. That's also not according to the etiquette but oh well, if she wants it, she gets it.

"So, how long have you been together?"

"Kora has joined us about nine months ago. We immediately fell in love." Cybelia dreamily says.

"Ah, nine months ago." Same time when the Dryad Princess disappeared. I don't know why, though. Also I didn't particularly care, aside from waiting for her with my bandit crew, hoping that she's carrying some loot.

"Yes, I know she is the Princess. It's not a secret." Cybelia gently smiles and unlocks the door to the library. "I don't mind her past."

I definitely believe she is of noble birth, but a Princess? Well I wouldn't be so sure. Just what is going on?

Cybelia sits me for the table and takes out a pouch of faerie dust. She sprinkles some of it on her hands.

"Have you ever been to the dungeons?" I ask. Getting some information isn't a bad idea.

"No. I am not allowed there."

"And your brother?"

"Him neither. Why do you ask? The cells are empty. Nobody's been there for years, since the Vilarian Pact was signed."

Ah, the Vilarian Pact promising peace amongst the Courts… though pacts can be easily broken. All I know is that it doesn't have the Seelie stamp, making it, well… absolutely useless. The leaders have sworn with their blood but seriously, I doubt anything would happen if the pact was crossed.

I have no idea if Seelies don't care for us, or if they enjoy our quarrels and blood spilling on the ground like red wine they drink.

"There. All done." Cybelia smiles as she withdraws her healing hands.

She doesn't even know we are more alike than she thinks. That we both suffer from disease that does not recognize poor from rich.

And it always ends in a stony grave.