The Edge of Strange Hollow by Gabrielle Byrne (best affordable ebook reader txt) 📕

“That is true,” said the queen.

“I hope what I brought pleases you,” Nula interrupted.

The queen stilled. “We shall see, Fionnula of the pooka-kind. They interest me adequately.”

Nula bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

The queen’s eyes fell on Dog. “Let’s have a look at that cerberus!” Her long fingers, black at the nails, gripped the smooth arms of her throne as she rose. Each side was carved to look like an arm itself, ending in hands carved into fists. “How did a human come to have such a treasure?” the Faery Queen purred.

Poppy’s heart sped as she gripped Dog’s collar. She wished—truly wished—for the first time that she’d left them at home. Something about the queen made her want to tuck all her friends into the shadows. “They were a gift from my parents,” she said. “That’s why I’m here—my parents, I mean.”

The Faery Queen’s grip relaxed, but her attention seemed to sharpen. “Go on.”

“I—my parents … David and Jasmine Bright. They hunt maledictions.”

The Faery Queen gave a derisive sniff. “Are you here to accuse me of something, girl?”

“What? I’m not—I just hoped…” Poppy steeled her spine and continued. “I want to know what you know about a certain malediction. It’s called the Soul Jar. I want to know if you know where it is, or how to … how to get someone out of it. I think my parents might be stuck inside.”

The queen studied Nula. “What makes you think I have those answers?” She paused. “And if I did, why would I give them to you? Your people are nothing to me.”

“I have some gold. I’ll give it to you—I just … I just need to know if you know anything about the Soul Jar—or my parents.”

The queen exhaled, weaving her long fingers across her chest as she moved to recline again in her throne. “That is interesting.”

Mack stilled. “What can you tell us?”

Her head snapped to him, almost as if she hadn’t seen him until he spoke. “An elf! Fascinating.” She turned to Poppy again. “You do travel in interesting company, girl. I have decided, however, on the cost of your answers.” She examined her pointed nails. “I would like your cerberus.”

“What? No!”

Nula shifted uneasily next to her. “You won’t have a choice, Poppy,” she mumbled. “You can’t say no to the Faery Queen.”

“No!”

Next to her, Mack had let out a low snarl.

“I will not,” Poppy told the queen.

The queen’s face hardened. “You are not worthy of this creature.”

“Dog is my family, and you can’t have them.”

The queen’s fingers wrapped tightly around the fists of her throne. “I see. You offer me gold coins?”

“Not coins—it’s … it’s a gold locket. But yes, I offer a trade. Gold, in exchange for information.”

“Gold I have already, in uncountable amounts.”

Poppy said nothing.

Another sniff. “Join my court.”

“Yes!” Nula cried.

The queen frowned. “I’m not talking to you—pooka.” Her voice could have cut glass. “There is no gift that could prevail upon me to let the lesser folk into my midst.”

Nula’s ears flattened, and Poppy felt a pang of pity for her friend. Then she realized what the queen had just said. “You’re asking … me to join your court?” Poppy sputtered.

The queen held out her arms as if putting her realm on display. “You interest me. I see you are braver than others of your kind. And you seem to attract the attention of the Grimwood folk—that interests me too.” She flicked her fingers at Mack and Nula. “What do they see in you, I wonder.”

Poppy’s mouth had gone dry. She should feel honored, probably, but instead she was slightly nauseous.

“What is your name?” the queen asked, her voice like a barb.

“Poppy … um, Pandora Sunshine, Your Majesty.”

The queen studied her, taking in her all-black clothing and serious expression. “Your parents have a sense of humor, then.”

“What?” Poppy said blankly.

“And what is your answer, Pandora?”

Mack gripped her arm. “Don’t do it, Poppy. If you agree, they’ll keep you here forever. You’ll just be another servant to her.”

“Shush, elf.” The queen flicked her finger and a glob of spider’s web threw itself over Mack’s mouth. “You speak too freely.”

“Mack!” Poppy cried, helpless as she watched him peel the sticky web away from his face and struggle to get it off his hands.

The queen looked smug, but when Poppy turned to ask Nula what to do, she saw that her friend’s blue skin had gone so pale she was almost white. Poppy startled at the inexplicable hurt in Nula’s gold eyes.

“Well?” the queen asked. “Will you be honored among all other humans?” She clapped her hands, and all the spiders’ handmaidens moved toward the throne.

“Umm. I—you honor me, great Queen.”

“I do! Wonderful—”

“But unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to accept. I apologize, Your Majesty, but I came here to trade gold for information, and gold is all I have to offer.”

A pause, and the air seemed to grow heavy around her. The queen’s expression forced Poppy back a step. The thought flew through her head that maybe they should just leave. “If you don’t know about my parents”—she hurried to get the words out—“then … maybe you can just point me in the direction of the Soul Jar…?”

A longer pause. Mack drew back a step, pulling Poppy with him.

The queen’s voice was cold—dripping with venom. “Very well, Poppy Sunshine.” She nodded at the nearest handmaiden, who stepped forward and held out her hand. Poppy hurriedly fished out her locket and poured it into the faery’s cold palm. Despite the pang in her chest as the queen’s fingers closed around it, relief washed over her. She couldn’t wait to get out of here.

The handmaiden returned to the queen’s side.

“Your parents I know nothing of—and care nothing for,” the queen began. “But I can indeed put you on the path of the Soul Jar.”

Poppy took an involuntary step forward. “You can? Thank you! I—”

The queen held up the locket. “A little gold piece of your heart, however, is not enough.”

Poppy froze.

“You will not part with your cerberus. You will not join my court.” Her