Demon Day by Penelope Fletcher (best novels in english .TXT) 📕

The two fairies he’d left me with hadtaken one long look at me then coaxed me to the pools edge. Slowly,they had approached and when I did not move or speak they begantheir careful grooming of me. Each touch was feather light and theyclearly had a deep appreciation of my personal space for never oncedid I feel like hissing at either of them. Wrapping my arms aroundmy legs, and resting my chin on my knees, I let them tend to me.They dressed me in a sheath of dark muslin and tied flowers into myhair. They were attentive and respectful, so I sat quietly let themdo what they wanted. In honesty, I didn’t know what to do, orthink, and getting upset over a gentle rubbing down with a softcloth and flower scented water seemed silly.

“I sense you have hadhealing magic, Lady Priestess,” the older fairy-woman said in atinkling voice. “It is not wise to indulge in healing magic toooften, but would you let me sing to you? You will find it soothesyour mind and revives your body.”

I eyed her distrustfully, but evenmaintaining that seemed too much effort, and I shrugged lifelessly.She smiled her eyes crinkling at the edges, and she sung to me in asoft, lilting voice. I let the words wash over me, and wassurprised when I did begin to feel better. Finishing she peeredinto my face, and I gave her a genuine smile, even if it was a bitsmall. She beamed back at me and gave – whom I realized was herapprentice – a short order to tidy up.

They stood, but I remained seated,glancing at them in vague interest. The elder fairy paused. “Shouldyou have need of me again my name is Lily,” she motioned elegantlyto her apprentice who stared at me in awe, her chubby facepinky-purple. “And this is Grace.”

The fairy-girl sank into such a lowcurtsey the ends of her red hair scraped the forest floor. “Anhonor, Lady Priestess,” she greeted breathlessly, remaining bentover.

“Hai,” I blurteduncomfortably, my voice cracking from lack of use.

Lily winced delicately, her paperyfeatures wrinkling. “I served your mother and I know the burdenscan be many. Should you ever have need of me do not hesitate toseek me out.”

With a small nod of her head Lily leftme at the pools edge with my thoughts, gliding away with her handsclasped in front of her. Grace trailed behind her; the woven basketof oils and cloths clutched in her hands, shooting me an amazedlook over her rounded green shoulder.

Liking the peace and quiet, I enjoyedthe sight of the sun climbing higher in the sky, edging towarddense cloud cover I knew would smother its radiance until the nextdawn. I suspected outside of the Wyld the bright yellow sunshinewould become pale.

I heard the crunching ofleaves behind me. It was not Breandan for I could sense when he wasnear. Mybrother? I frowned when feet too big to beConall’s stepped into view.

“We must talk,” a gruffvoice commanded. And it was a command. I doubted this fairy knewhow to address others in a casual manner.

“I thought you had returnedto the Grove?”

“I came back. Foryou.”

My eyes drifted closed. “Right now,Lochlann? Must we do this now?”

He exhaled loudly. “I can bring myselfto understand how this may be hard for you, but I do not have theluxury of time. Nor do you.”

“Devlin will still be therein a few days from now. He’ll die by my hand, and it doesn’t matterif it is today or tomorrow.”

“You know I cannot allowthat.”

My eyes opened and I shrugged, peeringat nothing. “At what point did I give the impression I give a damnwhat you say?”

“You would listen ifhe asked you. But you lovehim, don’t you?” Lochlann paused, waiting for my answer. I saidnothing. “Your love I do not need.” He crouched down on his hunchesbeside me. “I need your loyalty, Rae. I need your respect and,” hegrabbed my chin and yanked my head round, “at the very least I needyour full attention.”

I jerked from his grasp and glared athim, my body recoiling at his touch.

His handsome face was stony,unimpressed, and his eyes narrowed at the same time asmine.

Lochlann was a fine fairy male. He wasbulkier than Breandan, rugged, and from what I gathered much older.His ears had the point of fairy and his skin had the faintest ofgreen tinges. He had no tail or wings, but what he did have was apowerful and commanding presence that I had to fight not to feelintimidated by. His hair brushed his shoulders in golden blondewaves, and his jaw was square. The most striking thing about thisfairy lord was that he had one green eye and one blue, both coldand beautiful. I saw much of Breandan reflected through that gaze,and it made me uncomfortable.

“Why do you, Breandan, andMaeve look so different?” I asked. “Conall and I have the samecoloring even though my fairy form is like this.” I looked down atmy tail, flicking on the ground by my leg. “Not that I understandwhy I’m shaped differently either.”

Lochlann watched me for a while beforehe said, “Truly, you know nothing of what you are?”

I flushed. “Just what I’ve learnedfrom the Clerics.”

He snorted. “Then you know nothing.Fairies conceive like humankind but our bodies do not work thesame.” He frowned. “The genetic markers do not behave the same. Weare all born with a purpose and a destiny. We all used to havegreen skin, red, or light colored hair, wings and tails, but as weevolved and mixed with other races our blood diluted. You andConall come from an ancient bloodline, and there is strength inyour blood that defies time. You have wings and a tail, proof ofthis. We have not seen a form so pure in a long time, Rae. It is agreat honor.”

He hadn’t answered my question. “Andyour family?”

His upper lip twitched. “Breandan andMaeve were birthed by different mothers to my own.”

“And may the gods keep themwarm in their embrace for an eternity,” said a high trill frombehind me.

A fairy, the first I had ever laideyes on, skipped up to us and