Isle of the Faeries

And into the Fire

Two Chapters in one Day!

Breena

      "Bree, my love, why don't you come out to play?" Ciná calls out rooting me in place. It is now that I realize that I have played right into his trap; it is me that he wants for whatever reason not my sister; she was just the bait. In freeing Fiona first I have revealed myself and put myself exactly where he wants me.

      Taking a deep breath I decide to face him head on, showing weakness will only serve to satisfy him. I stand and walk into the clearing with my heart in my throat.

      "Bree, no," Kean yelps but he his cut short when one of the Fey punches him in the gut.

      I wince inwardly but manage to keep my gaze ahead and my expression neural, my fingers clench around the knife in my hand.

      Ciná begins to circle and I follow his motions. I would rather be in the position of two predators circling than predator and prey. "Our friend Kean here has been selfish keeping you away, I've wanted to talk to you for a long, long time."

      "Is that so?" I ask to keep him talking.

      He nods with a chuckle, "Yes it is. You see Kean owes me."

      I cock my head.

      "See the way the Sidhe work is that every favor must be repaid in the form of a Tithe within seven years. Our friend Kean here has been avoiding paying his Tithe for about three years now, he doesn't seem to want to repay me. Even though I did him a kindness, even though I was there when no one else was."

      "Don't listen to him Bree," Kean yells earning himself another fist to the gut.

      "The thing is he doesn't want to pay me back. First I asked him for his stallion, a fair trade considering I saved his life, he tricked and avoided me refusing me what I wanted. Then I moved on, decided to respected his wishes, find something else for him to repay me with; you."

      "Me?" I squeak out thoroughly disgusted.

      "You," he agrees with a nod, "the first person he has cared about in all the years that I've known him; a perfect trade."

      "You," I say rage simmering in my voice, "are the most spoiled, entitled, bratty Faerie that I have ever had the displeasure of encountering," I spit my voice rising with each word. "Have you ever heard of doing something nice for someone without expecting anything in return? And I am a person, not a gift to be given, not money to be spent –"

      Before I can finish my angry tirade, faster than I can even process, Ciná's knife is hovering just above my throat, "Better watch it girly, I can still enjoy my present without a tongue."

      My eyes bug out of my head at his comment and I begin to regret my words. He nods his head and Kean lets out a shriek as one of the Fey restraining him carves a 7 into his arm. I can't stop a whimper from slipping between my lips.

      "Now," he says, "if you don't want to see him carved like a Christmas ham I suggest you take off that ring and toss it as far as you can."

      "Don't do it Bree," Kean manages between gritted teeth, "that ring is the only protection you have."

      "Need I remind you that you have none, Keeper," Ciná hisses. He presses his knife closer to my neck not quite touching me. I hesitate until a scream rises from Kean's throat as the Fey digs his knife into Kean's forearm.

      I let out a breath that is half sob as I watch the blood run down his arm, "Fine," I breathe out. Ciná motions for me to continue. I slide the ring off my finger, it glints in the fire light as it soars through the air before disappearing in the grass.

      The second it touches the ground Ciná grabs my arm and twists me so my back is to his front and his knife is at my throat caging me in. Judging by the heat that licks the skin of my neck the glowing knife is as hot as it is sharp, its touch will burn.

      "Ciná, take Cinis, take my life, just leave Bree out of this, she hasn't done anything to you," Kean pleads.

      "She made you happy," Ciná says, "and we can't have that now can we?" he presses the flat of the blade across my collar bone. The blade is scorching hot and sears my skin on contact; I can't stop the scream that escapes my lips when it touches me. When he lifts the blade from my skin I am left panting for breath, covered in a sheen of sweat and with tears on my cheeks.

      When I regain awareness of my surroundings I can hear Kean shouting from where he is being held back and I can feel Ciná's chest shaking against my back with laughter. "See how well this works," he chuckles. "You avoided me for three years so you get to watch her suffer to pay me back for those three extra years knowing that there is nothing you can do to help her or ease her suffering. You will both beg for death before the night is over."

Kean

      During Ciná's little speech panic makes me nauseas and my eyes are glued to the smoking burn on Breena's collarbone. He runs just the tip of the knife slowly up the inside of her right arm drawing a line of bloody blisters that makes her scream again. I strain against my captors but they hold me firm muttering that they don't want to have to knock me out before the grand finale.

      Their words and excited tones make my blood freeze. I have never felt as helpless as I do now. I can feel every wound that he inflicts upon her but I am numb to the injuries that I have. Every scream that she lets loose feels like a knife to my chest. It isn't until my vision is wavering and clouded that I realize I am crying and it makes me feel like Ciná is winning but he kind of is and I can't stop it.

      Breena twists her bleeding right arm and the next thing I know Ciná is yelling and pushes her to the ground. My iron knife glitters in her hand painted with the gold blood of a Faery. For a moment I want to cheer but then I see the deadly look in Ciná's eyes as he examines the stab wound in his side. It is then I know that while I am proud she tried fighting back she also just pissed him off and things are about to get a hell of a lot worse.

      In two steps he is before her. He kneels down and leans over her, his smile as deadly as his knife. He runs his hands down her arms making her flinch and me growl. Ciná meets my eye for a moment and winks at me, dread settles heavily in my chest threatening to suffocate me.

      "So my dear, it appears that we have done a good job making sure your arms don't forget me anytime soon." She strikes out with the knife again and he swats it out of her hand sending it flying. "Now that that pesky knife is out of the way we can get to making sure the rest of you remembers me as well." He prods at her shirt with his knife, "Should we start with your stomach? Or your legs?"

      I can see her begin to hyperventilate, "Kean," she cries out desperately.

      I've never felt such pain before as I do in this moment calling her name promising it will be okay while I strain against my captors. Knowing that I am lying to her kills me, there is no way this will end okay but I don't know what else to say.

      "He can't help you know," Ciná says stroking her face, "but he will be watching every second of this, it's his fault you're here in the first place. Now take deep breaths, we don't want you passing out now, I want you awake for all of this."

      I can see where his knife is and in that instant I know what his goal is. I lose it screaming and fighting against the Sidhe that hold me back, if I have to sit here helpless while he ruins the only person I care about it will destroy me. What is the use of being a Keeper if I can't even save the only person who matters to me?