(CHAPTER THREE)
"MY WORD THATS AMAZING ALLORA, I AM SO PROUD." ALLORA SMILES PLEASED WITH HER FATHERS COMPLIMENT AS THE LONGDALE FAMILY ENJOY A COZY DINNER. Britha takes a sip of her glass of dragonfruit juice. The sweet taste simmering through her tongue. Jaser is next to her, he doesn't say anything as he listens to his father sing praises towards his twin. Blossom is nestled comfortable on Alloras hair, snoring away. Caris smiles softly as she sits across from her husband and Nyathera offers a cheers with her goblet of wine. Zox sets down a dish of deer meat in the middle of the table.
Relatively it was a calm evening with no trouble, however Britha can sense some tension in the air between her twin siblings. They haven't been able to talk to things out and she was sure Ember gloating over his daughter made it worse.
"Its amazing not only can you change the sizes of flowers and make them big or small but the colors as well? That is very much worth praising." Caris kisses her youngest daughter on the cheek. Ember nods.
"All of my children are just extraordinary talented. You all work so hard." He continues. Nyathera downs her wine.
"Well not a surprise, Longdales can never fail. Its in our blood to be best at what we can do." Britha puts a small piece of deer leg in her plate, she was used to that type of comment made by her grandmother.
"Yes but also a little practice works for everything." Caris kindly adds in. Britha takes a glance at her brother, Allora glares at him from across the table, clearly still mad at him. But he makes no move to look back. Britha nudges him slightly and he looks confused.
Clearing her throat, she begins to speak. "Its nice that you mention that step mother, Jaser has spent his good days practicing as well." Embers eyes brighten at that.
"Is that so?" Britha nods slowly, her brother straightens himself up in his chair.
"He's mastered on how to maneuver water from one glass to another." Jaser huffs proudly as his sister compliments him. "He also can manage it all in one go. His control has been getting better the more he practices."
"Ah ha definitely the key, control is all that matters." He begins to talk futher and futher. "If you don't end up having that thread of balance you can end up completely lost." Jaser nods really taking in his fathers words. But Britha couldn't help but ask.
"Do you mean control of just your own power or of others?" Ember blinks at his eldest's question.
"Well of course your own. It would do no good if it was others." Britha doesn't say anything after that. She looks at her own hand, her own blood. She can only wonder. Feeling a pat on her hand her father gazes at her with a message.
"But try not to stress too much about that." He reassures. Or it seems he's trying to. Zox refills Brithas glass of dragonfruit while the table goes back to being lively.
LIGHTS OUT OVERFLOW THE ENTIRETY OF THE LONGDALE MANOR AS BRITHA LIGHTLY TRUDGES HER WAY OUT. She is certain everyone in her family has been knocked out sleep. Definitely guaranteed as they all had quite a feast. She notices Zox had fell asleep on the couch. Grabbing a blanket she makes sure to put it comfortably on the imp. But she slightly panics when she notices a stir of movement. Last thing she needed was her housekeeper to be curious on where she was going. And she didn't want to have to lie. Taking one good look at Zox, Britha finally closes the door.
There is a particular lake that Britha had liked to spend time when she was younger. Whenever she felt pressured by her Grandmothers nagging or step mothers worrying she would gather he books and pens and take time to draw in peace. It was her special place, nobody really knew about it as it was quite small and covered. It was like a space that would give her some time to breathe and think things over when it got too overwhelming for her.
Sometimes she would bring Cattertail along and he would spend his time chasing the fish with his arm, ready to strike at any moment for his food. Overtime no one had known about this place it was Brithas only secret to keep and would stay that way. She was so confident that no one else would stumble and see her practicing her magic whenever she had the chance.
Until... she met eyes with a certain curious golden haired Prince. She was in the middle of learning how to heal herself with her own blood, her own magic when he had stumbled across oher in the midst of it. She was clearly in concentration and in a bit of pain, she had cut herself for goodness sake. But it was all apart of the charm. Prince Dain watched in fascination as her own blood was able to clear up the scar on her wrist. It was as if nothing was there in the first place. Britha couldn't believe it herself as she stared over and over at her arm. Suddenly Dain had politely coughed and startled her out of her trance.
Britha was cautious, at the time she hadn't realized it was the prince because she din't care for the Greenbriars, the royal line. She thought all of them were scattered like bugs. She was only really familiar with Cardan because he had made it known to be a nuisance every time they crossed paths and High King Eldred due to her father holding him in high regard. But with the others in the family, she was completely in the dark.
But here unlocked a third Greenbriar in her presence, she had to admit he was a charmer. He knew what to say at that moment and was able to do it swiftly too. No wonder he was next in line. But even though Britha had decided to let her guard down and take the Prince into consideration she still felt that there was something deep inside his soul he was not willing to let out. But for now she would just observe and see how it plays out. Its the least she could do. Earning her trust was one thing, keeping it was another.
She had just dipped one of her feet in the lake, enjoying the coolness of the water when she heard crunches of footsteps. Dain stands across from her, ever so handsome. They stare at each other for a while no one makes a move. Dain clears his throat in what looks like amusement. He moves to approach her.
"I'm surprised. You are early this time." Britha raises an eyebrow at him, she light kicks the water.
"Did you expect me to not show up?" She asked. Dain doesn't shrug he doesn't do anything but stand and look down to meet her gaze. She gestures to the grass. "Your not going to take a seat?" Dain purses his lips.
"Not a fan of ruining my attire." Britha rolls up the sleeve her night pants.
"Thats so like you." She looks at him again. "I have some news to deliver." Dain suddenly looks more interested.
"Imagine my surprise when The Ghost had said you requested to see me." Britha gives him a look.
"I can't request anything, I'm not royalty." She says as if it was obvious, she was treading lightly.
"That you are not. It's certain." He crouches on level with her. He tugs her chin, not too rough but just enough for her to focus on him. "You are something else entirely." She would wish he would let her go. His eyes were too captivating to ignore. She lightly moves her head away and he reluctantly lets go. But his eyes were still piercing.
"Theres a mortal girl you might be interested in looking into. She's in one of my classes." Dain looks curious.
"I think I have a clue. One of General Madocs daugthers from the human realm, correct?" Britha nods.
"Yes her name is Jude."
"Have you taken a liking to her." Side eyeing the prince, she gets up from her position on the grass.
"I wouldn't go that far." Dain watches as she gazes out into the moonlight. It was crystal blue tonight. "But I feel like she might be of use to us, to The Court of Shadows." Britha didn't think she was wrong, considering how Jude was like she could see the mortal girl longed for adventure. Even longed for a place to be accepted in. While The Court Of Shadows wasn't a huge advantage like The Court Of Falcons it was pretty damn close. Britha look at The Prince. He seems to ponder in thought, she hopes he is taking her consideration.
"I am interested in a humans ability to lie." He murmurs to herself. Maybe she could be a spy for him in his Court.
"I failed to mention but she will also be performing in the tournament with me. You can observe her skills from there and make your decision."
"Very well then, I can use the tournament as a final verdict. It wouldn't hurt to have one more. Besides she would have no choice to abide my rules." He approaches Britha again, he doesn't move away this time. "Just like you. You've been so good."
"You won't have any trouble convincing her i'm sure." Britha simply says.
"I hope I won't regret it. Please note I am taking your word for it." Britha didn't know if she was hearing a threat in his words. She looks down at her shoes.
"When have I ever disappointed you?" And she didn't want to disappoint him. Not because she cared for him. But he had something he held and dangled over her head. Something that she needed. If she didn't follow through she would lose that chance forever. Britha wasn't going to risk it, for her or her family.
Dain gives her a wicked smile, it was different from the usual facade the Prince carried. He only showed his true nature to a select few. Britha hadn't witnessed all of it but she noticed whenever it would slip. Like he was wearing a mask. But she didn't mention it to him, she feared she would be in trouble if she did so.
Which is why she allowed him to give her a kiss her goodnight before they parted ways. It wasn't a kiss out of love but out of dominance, power and lust. All sense of love was thrown out the window. Dain lightly sets her down on the grass, Britha lost in the kiss pulls him closer as her hand explores all around his chest. She had tried to resist her attraction for him but she always got lost in those eyes of his, as if he was always trying to seduce her with them. She was disappointed to admit it worked. Dain tugs her night pants down and moves to kiss the crook of her neck, Britha gasps in delight as he lightly bites the pulse, sucking it until a light bruise could be shown. He holds her down as they embrace battling for an intimate night of dominance. The night being completely lost on them.
"BRITHA!" FAND, A PIXIE GIRL WITH SKIN BLUE OF FLOWER PETALS CALLS OUT TO HER. SHE IS NOT ALONE AS JUDE DUARTE IS next to her aswell. Britha could see the mortal girl was pleasantly distracted. She wondered what was on her mind. Fand goes on a slight ramble, she lets them both know that there will be a run through tomorrow regarding the tournament, they are expected to attend. Britha simply nods and Jude follows suite. After the Pixie girl leaves the two girls regard each other for a moment.
"I didn't think you were serious about the tournament." Jude admits. Britha lets out hum.
"What made you think that I wonder?"
"I'ts just most of the time you tend to keep to yourself. I didn't think you wanted to remain in the spotlight." Britha had to admire Judes honesty.
"Things were getting a little dull out here. Besides it would be lovely to knock Cardan on his ass." Jude couldn't help but hum in agreement. At least their immense dislike for the prince was enough to bring them together.
"Britha, how do you think its gonna go?" the mortal girl asks. The witch girl doesn't have an answer, theres alot that could go wrong and go right at the tournament. If things were to go wrong they would still have to deal with Cardans endless suffering but even if things were to go well their relationship with the Prince fae wouldn't change no matter what.
Well at least Jude would have a true chance to prove herself. With that she regards the girl before her.
"Do your best. We're counting on you." Since they are in the same team she refers to the rest of their teammates who won't be content with a poor performance.
Most importantly i'm counting on you
Jude looks at her with determination.
"Trust me. I don't intend to slip." Britha tries not to let a smirk appear on her lips.
She didn't know why she decided to once again join the mortal girl for lunch. For some reason it felt like an instinct, strange since she had only sat with them one time. She decided not dwell on it as she chewed on her potato and bread soup. It was peaceful, everybody was eating their respective foods chatting amongst themselves. Britha perks up a bit when she notices the core four of bullies sitting down for their own meal. She misses to see the mischievous glint in Judes eye.
Cardan and his group begin to choke terribly from their food. It seemed like someone had spiked it with terrible salt. And it was really effecting them all. Britha finally turned to look at the mortal girls next to her and thats when she realized from Judes face. It all clicked together that she pranked them for good revenge.
She had to give it to the girl. It was a clever trick. It worked because Cardan instantly turned towards their group with a look of malice. One that could have a deer runaway with its tail between its legs. Jude messed up by giving him an evil smile in return. Cardan would definitely find a way to retaliate. Taryn ignores Britha and moves to shake her twin sister.
"Have you lost your wits?!" Taryn yells. "You're making everything worse. Theres a reason no one stands up to them."
"I know." Jude mutters. But there is no regret in her voice. "A lot of reasons."
"She is right. It was not the right call." Britha simply tells the girl. Of course it was stupid. But Britha could understand. For all their lives they have been ridiculed for simply being different from the people in the land of fae. Why shouldn't Jude have a little fun in messing with the people who constantly mess with her daily. "With that, you should have come to me so I could give you some tips. I missed out on the fun."
Taryn lets out a slight gasp while Jude snorts. "They would only turn to torture you next Britha. Would you really let that happen?" Taryn asks softly.
The Duarte twins felt their hearts jump a bit when they remarked the darkness in the young witch's eyes. "Well they can certainly try."
With that she sets her now half done soup to the side and begins to pack the rest of her basket. "Lets not dwell on it longer. Lessons are about to begin and i'd rather spend a good thirty minutes of it restoring my sleep."
Once she packed everything in her basket she bends down to pick it up. Crouching down she makes sure she is on a good eye level with Jude. "I would take a different route home today." She advises. Jude doesn't have time to take in her words before the young witch leaves and heads in the direction of their class.
Britha was rather thrilled in class. It was quite pleasing to her seeing the faces of distress Cardan and his group carried. She didn't know if it was the sadism in her but whenever some karma is given to folk who deserve it she can't help but rejoice. It was one of the reasons she was actually paying attention to the lesson today. A cat headed goblin named Yarrow recites ballads and asks questions. Cardan and his little posse rows down looked bored out of their mind as they all slumped in their chairs, not a care in the world shown on their faces. Britha had to admit the prince was quite pretty to look at when he wasn't running his mouth in arrogant delight. But of course she would never tell him that.
The only one of the select few of students who were listening to the lesson and eagerly willing to answer was Jude. She was seated two rows above Britha. As always Taryn was seated next to her. Question after question Jude was able to answer and every time she got it right the more bitter the Greenbriar prince became. It was quite amusing, seeing how much Jude being a mortal and being able to answer the questions most of the fae couldn't in the room was a sight. It showed she was making more effort to get to know Elflame. And she wasn't even from there originally.
Blinked once and the lesson was over in a jiffy. For some reason while she was packing Britha couldn't help but sense a bad feeling loom over as she observed Cardan and his group. The Duarte twins left first. Britha stayed behind a bit. She made a move to pretend to ask Yarrow a question regarding the lesson. It pained her to act as if she was interested. Luckily Yarrow was happy to provide her some answers, she noticed from the corner of her eye Cardan and his group had instantly made sweep to follow Jude and Taryn. She stood corrected.
Bidding a short goodbye she left the room as quickly as she could.
It didn't take her long to locate where they were. She had to take a slight detour due to some traffic in getting out. So many people were in the way it was starting to overwhelm her. She managed to find them near a creak full of nixies. Her heart thumped in slight fear. Britha knew Cardan and his group were heartless, but to go this far? It was beyond sociopathic at this point. She grew irriated at the whoop of laughter that howled throughout the riverbank.
Nixies, she had studied them once with her father. They were not the kind of creature that would come out and play for fun. Rather they dwelled on consuming anything with flesh or closest to combined. Jude and Taryn were soaking, pushed in the river.
"There are nixies in this river." Valerian jeers. Nicasia makes a move to kick water in Judes face. "If you don't get out before they find you they'll pull you under and hold you there. Their sharp teeth will sink into your skin." Britha pulls something from her boot. She moves closer to the group.
"Nixies can't help what they are." Jude splutters as the blue fae kicks water into her face again. "Just like you won't be able to help drowning." Jude tries desperately to get to her sister. Brithas heart sinks, she sees the panic in her face.
"Is this fun?" Jude snaps. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"
Cardan doesn't miss a beat. "Enormously."
"This is just a game. But sometimes we play too hard with our toys and then they break." Nicasia taunts. Valerian follows with a laugh.
"Its not like we drowned you ourselves." He says.
"You might as well have." Britha finally comes from her hiding place to confront them. Valerian and Nicasia smirk at her while both Cardan and Lockes expressions are unreadable.
"Would you like to join in on the fun?" Valerian speed walks towards her but before he could reach her, the young witch brings out her switch blade and moves it towards his eye. Valerian trips slightly but he manages to catch himself.
"You as so touch me." She looms protectively over both Jude and Taryn. "And I will curse you all." Two out of the four bullies cackle.
"And how are you going to do that?" Cardan asks with a bored tone. "You yourself know the risk just as much as they do." He walks slighly closer to her but she holds the knife towards his face.
"Troubling your precious family. You wouldn't want that would you?" Brithas breath hitches, the young prince waits for her response.
"Simply quit. You all should have never been tutored with us. You should quit the tournament. Go back to that wretched homeland of yours. And Jude can tell Madoc that she and her sister don't belong with us. yours better." He gestures to Jude. "Do that and this will all be over."
"Don't you want me to save you both." He asks the twins.
"I don't think the loner has any place to go." Nicasia cackles as she refers to the witch in disgust. "Her homeland is practically in shambles. Poor thing."
"All you have to give in, easy."
"Do you really want that Jude?" Britha asks her seriously and the mortal looks distressed. Of course she didn't want to give in. But her sister was everything to her.
"Think on it. Your giving them more power than ever before." Well at this point she didn't really have a choice did she.
"And you'll save Taryn too?" Jude ignores Brithas words and asks Cardan. Britha tries not to clench her jaw.
"Oh so you'll do it for her sake?" His eyes glint. He stares back at Britha again, his eyes flicker to her blade. "You can put the blade down Longdale, it looks like the mortal has made her decision." Britha doesn't say anything as he lets a hand out.
"You can't mean to stab us all with that?"
The young witch is troubled, she doesn't know what to do. On one hand she wants to save Jude and Taryn right then and there but on the other hand they were all preventing her from doing so. All four of them were by her on different sides. She didn't have time she needed to get to the twins quick.
Scoffing she rolls down the sleeve of her sweater, "I don't have time for this." The four faeires look on in slight confusion as Britha cuts deep the blade on her skin. Taryn screams at the sight.
"Britha!" She tries to catch her breath. "What are you doing?!" Blood slips from her arm.
"Well look at that the mad woman has graced us with her true self." Locke says as his two friends snicker beside him. Cardan simply watches. And soon then the rest of them watch in wary interest as her blood creates a thread, not one but two threads and she lures the blood towards Jude and Taryn. She decides to get a hold of Taryn first. Taryn feels the thread slowly pull her out of the water. She coughs trying to catch her breath.
Britha then moves on to thread the blood around Jude, it was a little easier on her as she was the most close to her by the river bank. But before Jude could meet the surface Valerian gets his chance to push Britha on the ground, preventing her from moving.
"Valerian." Cardan has a warning tone. He wasn't stupid he knew what the witch was capable of when provoked.
"What an interesting magic you have there, pretty." Valerian grins widely at her as he whispers. "Do you have anymore tricks under your sleeve?" He moves his hands towards her skirt. "Or maybe even more under?"
Britha has never felt so violated in her life. Not a care in the world she moves to knock her head onto his. This time he does fall and Britha moves to kick him in the crotch. Valerian howls in pain. Before Britha could turn around and continue Nicasia grabs her by the hair and screeches. "You crazy bitch I'll show you!" She threatens.
"Nicasia." Of course Locke is always there to hold her back.
Britha meets eyes with Cardan. "Haven't you had enough already?" She is slightly out of breath. Cardan perks his ear and Britha thought she saw his signature tail move in glee.
"Is that desperation I hear in your voice?" He asks in amusement. At that Britha simply ignores him and moves to cut her other wrist. Cardans voice stops her.
"Twin sister." He refers to Taryn. "Would you make a similar sacrifice? Lets find out. I have a most genorous offer for you. Kiss me on both of my cheeks. Once thats done, so long as you don't defend your sister by word or deed. I won't hold you accountable for defiance." He gives Britha a dazzling smile. He was enjoying this immensely. "But you get it only if you come with us with us now and leave her there to drown. Show her that she will always be alone."
"What makes you think she will stay alone?" Britha challenges but the prince merely gives her a sneer in response.
"Britha please." Taryn begs softly as she gets up from her position. She doesn't want there to be more trouble so she does exactly as Cardan abides. She presses her now bluish lips onto Cardans cheek, but the Greenbriar prince doesn't pay her any attention. He sets his sight on Britha across from him. She is struggling to keep her composure, she seems angry. She is.
He gives her a malicous smile. Thats it, stay angry, He thinks to himself. Show that emotion you never wish to bear. The tension is cut by Nicasias nasal voice.
"Say 'I forsake my sister Jude. I won't help her. I don't even like her." Taryn looks shocked as she panics and shakes her head. She looks apologetically at her sister and Britha. "I don't have to say that. That wasn't apart of the bargain."
Cardan rolls his eyes. Locke begins to add his input but Cardan speaks over him, successfully cutting him off. "Your sister abandoned you. See what we can do with a few words. And everything can get so much worse. We can enchant you to run around in all fours and bark like a dog. We can curse you to wither away for a want of a song you will never hear again. Or a kind word from my lips. We're not mortal. We will break you. You're a fragile little thing. We'd hardly need to try. Give up."
"Never." Jude still stands her ground. Britha agrees with her right then and there.
"The villain speech has touched my heart oh my dear prince." Britha says sarcastically. "Frankly i'm getting bored. The Duarte girl has done what you asked. If it pleases you, can you just hurry up and let me save the girl from the river? I hear the nixies are not quite kind to their dinner." Jude shivers at that. Britha walks away and moves to help Jude from the river herself. Shes had enough. Fortunately Cardan lets her.
"Don't think I forgot about you. Where do I begin." Britha ignores him as she moves her arm towards Jude, silently begging for the girl to take her hand. "A lone witch in the crowd of powerful faes, looking for a place of longing after her own place of comfort has been torn away from her. She scrambles and scrambles to look for friends. But the rest of the faes are expressing a look of horror as they see her malicious true nature and run away."
Britha tries not to let his words get to her as he continues. "So she tries to hide her indifference by acting cold and nonchalant, detaching herself from the rest of the folk. Acting as if the sneers and whispers don't bother her. But in reality we all know the truth on how much the witch cares."
She feels somebody looming over her and Jude. Meeting his black eyes mixed with slight cold he gives her a smile full of mocking and belittlement.
"You try to act as if you don't care for power and recognition but I know you're just as bloodthirsty as everyone else."
"It interests me. I didn't think you'd care about me so much to make an observation." She commented. Nicasia scoffs.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Britha ignores her. She has her arm around Jude trying to warm her up a little.
"Say what you have to say. I mean you already have had your fun and did the most cruel thing you could do imaginable so get along with it and say it." She challenges him again. Cardan crouches down on eye level with her.
"Think on us. All through your long sodden shameful walk home. Think on your answer. That is the least we could do." With that the four of them leave the trio by the bank, two soaked and one ruffled watch as they go.
"The least he can do." Britha scoffs to herself but the twins aren't listening. "Consider them lucky this was half the power I showed them today." Her eyes glint slight red in anger. This time Jude does notice but she stays quiet.
The three of them eventually walk back, Taryn is a sobbing mess as she walks slightly behind the two. Britha walks straightfoward, her hand is still clutching her blade as if she is expecting more trouble for the night and Jude simply looks at her shoes. Like Cardan said it ended up being a shameful walk, but Britha would be damned if that stopped her from holding her head high. She didn't care before but seeing how they dangerously played with the mortals lives right in front of her without a care would they learn to not mess with the wrong person.
And she was going to show them at that tournament.
my my Britha is ready to rumble!
We got a little insight on Brithas relationship with Dain and it will unfold more and more as we go. The riverbank scene was so hard to write I wondered how it would turn out differently if someone else was involved, luckily it was Brithas
Speaking off we see more of Brithas magic and what she could do. But that's not all of it
once again thank you guys so much for reading please like comment and share just any form of feedback would be helpful I'll know y'all are out there!
C, OUT!👀