Faeward Stone

Anathema's Veil

written by axisixas

──⊱⁜⊰──

Chapter 7: Faeward Stone

There she stood like a regal being. Manon studied herself in the mirror, in awe and wonder. Never in her life did she wish she could wear something as beautiful as this gown. The fabric was light and soft carrying a grace she didn't have, the material flowed with fluid elegance, one she was sure she didn't have. 

The gown demands attention and admiration but there was a subtle hint of danger and allure that she couldn't pinpoint. She just stared at her reflection. 

Manon felt like a new different person. Though she had not forgotten who she was, she could feel she was wearing a mask. 

They adorned her face with magic. Her eyelids darker making her brown eyes pop alive, her cheekbones protruded, and to finish it off a crimson red on her lips. 

They let her hair down and put a cascading veil draping the crown of her head down just above her shoulders. The veil was made out of interwoven lace pattern resembling the Dark Hold's insignia of thorny vines and a depiction of a heart enclosed within the vines. 

Mr. Simoun went to her before she could leave her room. 

"Before everything else. Hold onto this tightly." 

In his hand was a delicate pattern bracelet where runes run along its chain. The insignia of the Dark Hold was in the middle. A heart encrusted inside piercing it or protecting it was thorny veins, long and sharp. It glimmers a vibrant deep purple color that somehow resembles the midnight sky. 

"This is no ordinary bracelet. This was designed to protect you from enchantment. Do not remove it. The moment you do, you will lose a sense of yourself, you will lose your mind like every human does. You will be forever trapped in the Seelie Court. Do you understand, Miss Manon?" 

She much preferred the name Human rather than Miss Manon. She felt like she was becoming far deeper involved with the Dark Hold.

"Yes. Of course. Thank you, Mr. Simoun. I would never remove this on me." She wouldn't. She did not like the idea of losing her mind and becoming like every human here in Feyren, senseless and enchanted. 

"Very well. The High Lord expects that you come home with them. Safe and sane. You have to return home as the Dark Hold's Champion." 

That was too much pressure but she nodded regardless. 

And then finally she went down to leave with the High Lord and The Heir waiting for her in the antechamber. She could feel her heart hammering against her heart, excited and somewhat afraid that they would hate how she looks, she disregarded that though since they chose this dress and they chose her to represent them. A sense of confidence wrapped around her as she held her head high. 

She stopped just before the ends of the grand doors to the antechamber. She felt the weight of everyone's eyes on her, including the one boy who wanted her the most. Stopping inside the antechamber with her dress almost hitting the marbled black floors, Manon felt the room was heavy with anticipation and of dark interest. 

"Are you ready?" The High Lord of the Dark Hold asked. 

Her heart was about to smash against her chest. There was a heavy presence coming off him, he carried too much darkness. Manon could feel the heavy weight of his power and magic. And though she knew nothing of this world. His presence was pure shadow. She did not even know what that meant but his life essence was pure dread and cataclysmic end. 

Manon knew that this dangerous lord owns the chains around her heart. That was their power, a minacious one. Chaining someone's heart according to their will. She felt the invisible weight of the heavy chains around her heart. Besides controlling the shadows or the darkness this power where they could crush someone's heart was something she wished she didn't know. 

"Yes, My Lord." Manon curtsied as to how she was taught. 

She dared not look at the boy who stood dashingly regal beside the High Lord. He was wearing something similar to his father, though his was a mixture of dark velvets and violet. The insignia of their house was small but it was silver and matches hers. She was wondering why he wasn't as whiny and vociferous tonight. 

And then when their eyes met, she knew the answer. His gaze lingered on her, studying her every expression and every movement. But him being like this made her want to go back into her room. His stare was spine-chilling with barely controlled emotions of wanting to devour or crush her. She did not try to guess those spilled emotions from his curved lips. 

The boy with the incomparable beauty and dark hollow eyes offered his hand towards her. 

"Shall we, Manon?" 

This was the first time she heard him say her name. The way it escaped his lips and the way his tongue curled around the word felt like he did nothing but say it again and again. 

An ominous feeling raked through her body when Manon heard the storm. The rain relentlessly fell, each drop hitting hard against the ground. 

Maden saw how Manon stopped. He went to her and offered his hand. Then Maden waved his hand and his shadows blanketed them from the noise of the rain. 

Manon realized how powerful Maden was with his display of powers. It was just the two of them walking with Maden leading them. She felt deaf but that was better than hearing how strong and powerful the storm was. 

"Is it better now?" 

Manon wanted to question him why he's doing this? Why is he being kind to her? Was he being kind because he wanted her? As plaything? A human toy? 

But she didn't want to be ungrateful so she answered:

"Yes, it's better now." 

Maden smiled, a boyish one. Boyish smiles shouldn't make him so deliriously handsome. But he had that charm. It was innocent and yet something else…

It was silent. The High Lord and his heir went into a different carriage. She was alone but it didn't feel like it, Maden's shadows remained blanketing her against the lash of the storm. Though Manon could see the journey towards the Seelie Court was dark, a blur against the rain streaked glass of her carriage door. 

The rain poured in heavy beats when the door to her carriage opened. 

Finally they were here. The Seelie Court stands just below Feyren's Heart. Suddenly it was bright and the storm had stopped. The sun was high up and the trees were tall and casting an elegant breeze. 

An otherworldly glow made Manon stop and stare in awe, there the Seelie Court, the House of Light Fairies, they were known to possess ethereal beauty. An iridescent light coming from the glass-like castles casted a soft glow over the horizon of its court. Pointed ears, ethereal beauty, slim figures and light skin colors that ranged from light blue to pale gold, every fae was beautiful, exquisite and light. A heavy contrast to the Dark Hold's grotesque and dark manor. 

It was filled with joy and laughter and light heartedness. Glowing magic made the court shine in a gleaming wonder. It was otherworldly and seemingly perfect, it showed the part of Feyren a side she imagined what a fae realm should look like. And the Seelie Court was just that. 

It made her heart happy and light and her head heavy and dazed. Suddenly she was starting to feel a little bit fuzzy. 

"The court would feel a little enchanted even if you are wearing Faeward Stone. The Seelie Court was designed to entice. Staying here would feel like a fever dream to humans. So you have to stick with me, okay?" 

Manon nodded. 

And then before they could enter the doors to the Seelie Court her eyes wide when the door spoke. 

"We are here for the banquet." 

"Everyone is here for the banquet, Young Heir." 

The other side of the door spoke. 

"Oh. Everyone has to trade something before they can enter the gates of the Phantasma. Trade something human girl and we will let you in," the door spoke. 

Manon looked sideways to where Maden stood. He looked clueless too. 

"A Memory Trade."