Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 39 (Juliana)

After I leave Caldina, I walk back up the dais since there is a secret stairway behind the throne that leads to a secret room. I walk up the stairs, and I hear Sienna talking to someone.

"Is Caldina still in there?" Esta queries, coming up behind me. I nod, still trying to figure out who Sienna is talking to. I am still behind the black curtain that covers the stairway. I have never heard this voice before. As I walk out from behind the curtain, I choke back a scream. There is one of the largest men I have ever seen, about 6' 8", and not to mention muscular; his ears were also pointy. There was only one explanation, Fae. Where were the pointy teeth though? Behind him, six others stand, and one of them catches a glimpse of me, he has blond hair, and blue eyes. He winks and smiles. I straighten my back and look away. Ingrid steps closer to me, but I walk past her making my way toward Sienna.

"Caldina might be a little late," Sienna says.

I turn my attention to the man that she is talking to. "If you will excuse me," I say, walking past them. If their goal is to scare people I won't let them scare me. Suddenly, I turn back to them, "Oh, I forgot, welcome to my sister's palace!" All of their eyes go wide in shock, all but the one who has the audacity to smile at me and roll his eyes. I turn on my heels and march out.

As I round the corner, I run smack into Wesley.

"Juliana! Did you see them?" Wesley says with the excitement of a five-year-old. I wonder if he is feeling okay. I look behind him to Anya, who is sheepishly looking at the ground. Both Cole and Peter have the biggest grins on their faces.

"Did I miss something?" I ask.

"Nothing except Wesley and Anya did what..." Peter starts to say, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

"Peter! Don't you dare!" Anya interrupts, stepping forward to stand next to Wesley, who then wraps an arm around her waist. I look at Cole, raising my eyebrows.

"Okay! Now I am really confused. Aren't you two mad at each other?" I ask my brother.

"Nope! Now back to my question," Wesley responds.

"Yes, she saw them," Sienna says walking towards us. "And I'm guessing, from the looks of it, that Wesley and Anya finally kissed."

I open my mouth in shock. "REALLY! And you weren't going to tell me!" I shout.

"Shh. Caldina is in an important meeting," Esta reports as she and Ingrid walk over to us.

"Oh yeah, what are they?" I ask.

"Fae." All three of them say together.

"Fae!" I shout. "As in the legendary fairytale Fae?"

"Yes, and no," Sienna says, leaning against the wall.

"What do you mean?" Wesley asks.

Just then the door opens up. Some of the Fae make their way through the door. One of them is the annoying one. He looks over my group, giving a knowing smile when his eyes land on Wesley and Anya, though it vanishes as soon as he spots Peter's arm around my shoulders. I quickly shove Peter's arm off, and back up, though I don't make it far before I bump into Cole's chest. "Move," I say through clenched teeth. Cole's arm wraps around my middle.

"No," he says before he shoves me behind him. My back hits the wall, I am now currently staring at Cole's back.

"Um, Cole. Could you move?"

"Peter take Juliana and Anya to their rooms." He turns back to me. "I'll explain later."

"I think it's funny that you think you can protect her. Believe me, if I wanted to hurt her or your friends, I would have. And you would be able to do nothing," The Fae says. I move out from behind Cole, and both Cole and Peter have their swords drawn. Wesley is standing in front of Anya with his hand on his sword. Sienna, Esta, Ingrid, and the rest of the Fae have their hands on their weapons. The blond Fae just stands there with his arms crossed shooting Cole a cruel smile.

"Peter, I gave you an..." Cole starts.

"What is going on out here?" A voice snaps. I turn my gaze to Caldina, who has finally entered.

"The witch finally makes her entrance," The blond Fae snorts, turning his gaze from Cole to Caldina.

"Hold your tongue, before I remove it for you," Caldina snarls.

"You wouldn't, or it would be counted as an act of war."

"Want to find out?" Caldina questions, stepping forward, arms crossed. They both stare each other down. Someone needs to do something.

"Come on, let's find the others," Wesley says, one hand gripping Anya's, while he offers his other to me.