Prologue

I was going to die

Fathers are meant to be kind, loving and caring. But not my step-dad.
This whole mess started just before my mother died; when Nick my step-brother died; I was twelve. Over the seven years my mom was with Greg (my step-father), Nick and I had gotten really close. We didn’t care that we weren’t actually related by blood or that he was four years older than me. He was the older brother every girl wanted; he stood up for me when I was getting picked on and he let me hang around with his friends when I was lonely. We told each other everything.

Well . . . almost everything.

The one thing I didn’t tell him about had gotten him killed. If I had told him what his father had started doing to me at night he would have gotten me out of there and he would still be alive. But instead he found out by accident.

Greg must have hit me too hard one night when I yet again struggled to keep him off me and I cried out. Nick came in, thinking I was having a nightmare and saw what his father was doing. He had yanked his father off me and told me to run I started for the door when I heard Greg hit Nick with something. I had turned around and saw Greg punching Nick. I didn’t look like he was going to stop.

“NO!” I screamed and ran to try and help my brother. Greg had looked back at me and started towards me when Nick had grabbed at his dad’s leg. Greg had turned around and kicked Nick in the head; that kick had landed in the wrong spot and I saw his neck twist at an un-natural angle and I just knew that he was dead.

After that day I still tried to fight Greg off but I always lost. Then one day my mother suffered a stroke and died. Then Greg got worse it went from once a week to every opportunity he got. I often tried staying at friends’ houses; but it was hard to make friends when you were always moving state to state. Someone would see the bruises and would report it and Greg moved us.

Today I had had enough. I had kept a knife under the mattress of my bed and when Greg had tried to abuse me again I pulled the knife out and slashed at him. I must have got him because he cried out in pain and dropped to the floor. I used that opportunity to run. I flew out of the house I was running through the street; away from him. I could hear his loud breathing and footsteps behind me; chasing me.

“There is no use running from me Lena, I will get you, you stupid bitch” he roared.

I ran as fast as I could towards the river. I planned to swim across it and loose him in the long grass on the other side. I glanced behind me to see how far behind me he was. He was about 100 meters behind me and was gaining on me. As I reached the riverbank something reached out of the water and grabbed me around my waist and pulled me into the water. I struggled to breathe as whatever was around my waist kept dragging me towards the bottom of the river.

I struggled against the confinement, trying to get to the surface. My lungs were burning and my vision started to go hazy but I still couldn’t get free. The blackness increased till I passed out.

Chapter 1

I was woken up by water being poured on my face. I sprang up gasping, looking around wildly, ‘where am I? Why is it snowing? ‘

“Who are you?” a deep voice asked.

I spun around to look at the person who had spoken. He was older than me, I guessed about 25; he was also taller than I was, about 6 foot 7 inches to my 5 foot 4, with dark hair and grey eyes, he was attractive I caught myself thinking, attractive but dangerous as he had his sword drawn. ‘Wait . . . sword?’

“I said ‘who are you?’” he asked again

“Lena.” I replied quietly

“Where have you come from? You are not part of our people and nor are you part of the Kings.” Our people? Kings?’ gosh he made it sound like it was the middle aged.

“Where am I?”  I asked.

The man scoffed “Like you don’t know.”

“What are you talking about? Where the hell am I? Oh god, we have to go, he’ll kill us if he finds us.” I said spinning around trying to see if my step-father was around.

“Who is after you?” the man said worried

“My step-father, he’s trying to kill me, we have to go."

“Step-father?” he sounded confused “And who said I was taking you with me?”

“Please.” I begged

“I’ll take you to the Queen; she shall decide what is done with you.”

“The Queen? Where the hell am I?” I said louder than before

“Come with me.” he said walking away

“I’m not going anywhere till you tell me who you are.” I yelled at him, for he was several yard in front of me

“First you’re saying we have to leave then you saying you won’t go, we are not going to get anywhere at this rate.” he said with a sigh “I am Prince Dimitrius of the Unseelie Court.”

I had read enough books to realise that her was referring to the winter court of fairies. ‘Was this guy insane?’

I stood there staring for a minute when he called out while climbing on his horse “So are you coming or not?” that one sentence seemed to bring me back

“You honestly expect me to believe you’re a Faery?” now it was my turn to scoff “Where are the wings, the pointy ears and the faery dust. I’m not an idiot.” he just gave a confused look.

He swung up onto the saddle of his big horse and came towards me. As he reached me he looked me up and down, feeling self-conscious I asked “What?”

“Your clothes are torn.” he said shrugging out of his cloak “Put this on.” Handing me the dark brown cloak, I gingerly took it, as if it would bite me. I wrapped the heavy cloak around me and I began to feel warm, I hadn’t even realised I was cold.

“Thanks” I mumbled. Taking his hand he helped me up onto his large horse. I was in front of him with my back against his chest.

“How old are you?” Dimitrius asked.

“I’m nineteen. How far away is your home?” I asked quietly

“Not very far” He said, he nudged his horse and we were off.

                        ********************************************************         

As we were riding along I was fascinated by the forest we were riding though. Of all the placed I had lived in, I had never lived in or near a forest. All the trees and snow whizzing past were beautiful. I couldn’t help but look around like a kid in a toy shop.

 After about twenty minutes riding at a fast pace we emerged from the forest and just ahead was a huge stone wall surrounding a castle.

 “Welcome the Winter Court” Dimitrius muttered. He almost sounded like he hated this place. He hated his home.

“You live here?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes” he said bitterly.

 “Wait. You said that you were a prince. So you’re taking me to your mom, is she nice?” I asked hesitantly.

 “It all depends on what kind of mood she’s in. Last time I saw her she wasn’t in a good mood, so hope that her mood has improved overnight.”

Chapter 2

As we rode through the courtyards surrounding the castle I refused to look around. I could feel the stares of the people on me. When Dimitrius stopped his horse and dismounted in a graceful movement. I froze. I had no idea how to get off a horse.

 Dimitrius was about halfway up the marble stairs when he must have noticed that I wasn’t following him, I was still atop the huge horse

 “Do you need help getting down?” he asked sounding mildly amused.

I gave a slight nod and Dimitrius walked over, because he was so tall he grabbed my waist and lowered me to the ground.

 “We must go to the Queen. But I must warn you, only speak when spoken to and do not in any way make her angry.” He gave a slight chuckle “And keep up, otherwise you’ll get lost and that wouldn’t help you get on the Queens good side”

The castle was huge. Every few room there would be yet another hallway. I was trying to keep track of where we went but after a while I lost track and gave up. Dimitrius walked at a fast pace and I struggled to keep up.

“Can you slow down?” I asked, I was exhausted from when I ran from Greg.

“We must hurry” he sighed “The Queen would skin me alive if I didn’t take you to her right away. We’re nearly there; the throne room is right down this hall”

We turned down the corridor that Dimitrius mentioned. There were no doors just a wall of complete windows. At the end of the corridor there was a huge door made from wood carved in beautiful swirls. Dimitrius stopped and turned to me.

“Wait here till either the Queen or myself calls you into the room.” And with that he turned and walked to the door. He didn’t knock or announce himself; he just pushed the door open and walked in.

“Mother, I have something important for you to see and deal with” he said with a bow. This wasn’t the Dimtrius that found me in the forest. Acting formal didn’t suit him. ‘That must be why he doesn’t like it here.’  I thought.

“And this urgent matter couldn’t wait a few more minutes till I finished with this meeting?” she sounded annoyed.

“I can never win with you can I? You dismiss the important t matters then go crazy when you find out how important they are. And it’s the opposite with things that are small; you deal with them first. You’re impossible!” Dimitrius roared.

“And what makes you think you’ll be a better ruler of this realm if I were to give you leadership? If you had a father you’d be just like him” The Queen scoffed.

At the rate Dimitrius was going the Queen would be majorly pissed when she found out about me.

“I know when things are important and aren’t you lucky that I don’t have a father cause with the three of us and him you’d be screwed.” He said mockingly.

As I listened to the scene unfolding in-front of me between Dimitius and his mother, suddenly a hand grabbed my arm and another clamped on my mouth. I kicked and thrashed wildly; I must have landed a decent kick cause my capture let me go with a grunt.

Not knowing what to do I ran to Dimitrius and hid behind him. He looked at me like I’d sealed my own death wish but I barely noticed. My eyes were fixed to a man who looked like Dimitrius but younger about 23. Dimitrius followed my gaze and landed on the man.  He scowled at the other man.

“What did you do Shade?” Dimitrius growled.

“I caught the female listening in, it is our duty Brother, to keep our mother safe or have you forgotten what it is we do?” the man Dimitrius had addressed as Shade said bitterly.

“Why, is there a half breed in my throne room?” the Queen asked slowly. She was pissed, that was for sure.

“See mother, this is what I wanted to show you? As you can tell she has Fey blood in her veins. She has power. We could use her. I do not know what power though, hell I’m not sure she even knows.” Dimitrius said in a dispassionate voice. I was shocked; he said his mother would be able to help me not use me.

“I trusted you.” I whispered “You’re a complete stranger and I trusted you. You said your mother could help me.” tears started welling in my eyes. I quickly wiped them away before hopefully anyone saw them.

“Come here child” the Queen spoke. Her voice was a lot softer than before. Hesitantly I walked towards the Queen sitting in her throne on the dais.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 18.01.2013

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