Chapter 24: Nineteen

I had given Feyre the bow and quiver I had taken from the armory and donned the sword on my back with the sheath I had also stolen— maybe I should just leave this place and become a thief, stealing jewelry and weapons.

The two of us had left the Manor as if we were just going on a walk, though I'm sure I at least drew a bit of attention with the finely polished sword strapped to my back. But no one had stopped us, not even a warning. It was suspicious.

When we entered the woods I was overwhelmed by the silence. I could feel the creatures everywhere, yep there was not even a whisper. At one point as we passed a lake I could have sworn I saw heads pop out of the water, yet when I looked back there was nothing there. Somehow the Western woods were less scary at night.

Feyre had killed a chicken on the way; following Luciens instructions precisely. We had brought the supplies we needed, but we seemed to underestimate the time it would take to find a birch forest.

The forest was ancient— the trees seemed to have sunk into themselves over the years. The moss-covered ground swallowed all sound and the tree bark was peeling from the trees so much I wounded how the ground wasn't littered with it.

I wanted to be as alert as possible, but it was becoming increasingly harder throughout our journey in the woods as I noticed more and more strange things.

Thank the Cauldron, we were eventually engulfed in a lovely birch forest, a stark comparison to the rest of the forest. The only problem was, by the time we had finally found our way there it was almost sunset.

I felt safer in the night, but I had a feeling my sister did not share the same feeling.

We came to  a glen of young skinny birch trees— as per Lucien's instructions. Feyre began stalking around to search for danger as I planned to escape plan after escape plan should the situation turn sour. I made sure there was nothing that could block the escape routes.

We had no idea what we would face or what the Suriel even looked like, for all we knew the Suriel could look High Fae or human. We had to be prepared for anything.

As Feyre and I finished our jobs we began building our trap.

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My sister and I had taken to the trees. We both sat on opposite sides of the grove, still having a clear view of each other and our surroundings. Yet, if anyone were looking from the ground we'd be practically invisible.

We had waited. And waited. And waited some more. But the Suriel was deciding to be stubborn.

My stomach began to rumble. I had given Feyre the last bit of food we hadn't eaten on our journey here— but she didn't need to know that. I had gone longer without food and still put up a fight. This was nothing.

As I waited I let my thoughts consume me for a while. I wondered if Lucy and Timmy got tired of eternal spring. I'd been here for almost a week and I was already tired of it. But I could see Feyre warming to them and their nature, and I couldn't help but feel lonely here. I knew Feyre would always be there for me when I needed her. But would she still be there when I didn't? Feyre would never be a constant in my life, people were fickle like that. But I'd come to terms with it a long time ago after...

I didn't want to entertain the thought.

I was meant to stay in Tamlins manor with my sister forever. The forever part never really hit me until that moment.

I would never see Astrid or Flynn again— my two friends who had been with me through thick and thin. My two friends had stayed with me in my triumphs and my grief. I'd never see them again.

I would never see Nesta and Elain again. Yes, they had been terrible in the past. But they were still my family. I would never see Nesta put a man in his place (One of my favorite things to see.), I'd never see Elain tend to her garden again.

It all just... hit me then.

I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't let myself. Not while Feyre could see, I wouldn't let her see me cry.

No one ever did.

Spring Court was a magical land, but it would never be my home. If it was home I would feel it. When I thought about spring court I just felt... Cold.

I wondered if the wyverns felt the same. I would not be happy if I was to be stuck in an eternally happy land for thousands of years. I wished I could help them. But there was no way I was the person they sought. I was mortal. A human cannot save creatures that needed a god.

There was a ripple of silence around the grove and my hand was already reaching for the sword on my back. I wouldn't draw it yet. It would make too much noise, and I'd not yet assessed the threat. I was powerful, yes, but I also knew when to draw back and leave.

I looked towards my sister who already had her bowstrung. We were ready.

Closer and closer the silence crept. It was like walking through the forest yet magnified by thousands. The silence held secrets. It was filled with knowledge and power. It felt old.

I kept still, restricting my breathing a bit so it would make the least amount of sound possible.

Then I heard it. A whisper. Like cloth dragging across stones. A hungry, wheezing sniffing from the edge of the clearing.

I knew we had caught the creature we were looking for.

We'd laid the snares carefully. Making sure to keep our scents away from the bird and supplies as much as possible but I'd never met a Suriel before, never faced one, and I didn't know how keen its senses were—

There was a snap, a whoosh of air, and a wicked scream that could only be described as a noise, not of this world.

Another enraged shriek sounded and the snares groaned as they held the creature.

I looked to Feyre and she looked to me. We nodded at each other as we climbed down the trees to go greet the Suriel.

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Lucien, I decided as I crept into the glen, was a walking dead man. And if the Suriel didn't kill me here, I would kill him.

I hadn't known what to expect as I crept into the grove— but it was not the tall and slim veiled figure in dark tattered robes. The creature was not Facing the two of us as we approached. The Suriel was hunched over, I couldn't tell if it was because it was trying to get out of the snare or it was naturally like that.

I was ready to reach for my sword and Feyres arrow was still loosely knocked.

Feyre seemed to be a bit shocked so I spoke first, "Are you the Suriel?" I kept my voice from wobbling and my tone was strong. But I couldn't help the tinge of fear that coursed through my veins.

The Suriel went rigid. It sniffed. Once. twice.

Then slowly. Ever so slowly turned to us. It's dark veil blowing in a phantom breeze.

Its face looked like it was crafted from weather-bone. A lipless mouth and too-long teeth. It was a living skull. Its eyes were pits of milky white— the white of death.

"Human." It spoke looking at my sister, its voice was one and many, beautiful and grotesque, it was all and none. Waves of fear now swept through my body. But I would not let it show. "Did you two set this clever, wicked trap for me?"

"Are you one of the Suriel?" Feyre asked this time.

"Indeed I am." Its long nails clicked as it put them together.

"Then the trap was for you," Feyre added.

"I have not seen a human woman for a long time." It looked at Feyre then me, I could have sworn its white eyes seemed to widen, "And you." The words were clipped. Almost as if that's all the creature could manage.

The Suriel shook its head as if clearing from a fog, "Come closer so I might look upon my captors."

I smiled slightly, "I know you are an ancient being, but we are not so stupid as to approach a creature of your power." I spoke.

I threw the small compliment in to warm the Suriel up. It would be more likely to help us if we showed it kindness. I had used both kindness and force over the years to get people to tell me what I want. In fact, it's how Flynn and I became friends.

The Suriel let out a huffing breath as its mouth lifted a bit in a smile, "And which of my brethren betrayed my secrets to you?"

"None of them. Our mother told us stories about you."

"Lies—I can smell the lies on your breath." It sniffed again, its fingers clacking together. The Suriel cocked its head, the dark veil going with it. "What would a human and Lady want with a Suriel?"

Lady? I believe it has the wrong person. I'm an assassin for Cauldron's sake. Do I look like I want to attend balls and tea parties with the rest of the Courtesans? Though I did take a small amount of joy at the thought, it wasn't me.

"You tell me." Feyre challenged.

It let out another breathy laugh, "A test? A foolish and useless test, for if you dared to capture me, then you must want knowledge very badly." Neither of us said anything and the Suriel smiled once again. "Ask me your questions, then free me."

Feyre swallowed, "Is there— is there truly no way for us to get home?"

"Not unless you seek to be killed, and your family with you. You must remain here."

"What do you know about Tamlin?" Feyre questioned again.

"More specific, human. Be more specific, for I know a good many things about the High Lord of Spring Court."

Oh, great. The Suriel just had to go and spill my only means of leverage. I loved my sister more than anything, but she's not the best secret keeper.

The Suriel looked over to me, "You did not tell her? How interesting." Feyre spared me an ice-cold glare but looked back to the Suriel.

"Did you also not knot that this is the Spring Court, little human?"

"Yes—yes I knew about that."

The Suriel settled on the ground, "Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Dawn, Day, and Night." It explained anyway, "The seven Courts of Prythian, each ruled by a High Lord, all of them deadly in their own way. They are not merely powerful—They are power."

Feyre seemed to push away her fear, "Everyone in Spring Court is stuck wearing a mask, and yet you aren't, are you not a member of the court?"

I decided to keep quiet for now, weigh my options and see how the Suriel worked.

"I am a member of no Court. I am older than the High Lords, older than Prythian, older than the bones of this world."

Oh, Lucien's definitely a dead man.

The Suriel looked at me now, and spoke in a tongue only I could understand; Leshon Hakodesh, "You have been quiet, World breaker. What questions do you seek?"

I smiled slightly, I could feel Feyre's eyes on me, "I have a great many questions, Dark bringer. It is impossible to choose." I annunciated the words perfectly. When I spoke the language I felt as though I was from another time.

"Then pick the one that has been clouding your mind since it was thought."

I swallowed hard, "Am I truly the person I was said to be in those caverns?"

The Suriel smiled, "Yes, Lady."

There was a lump in my throat and a breath whooshed out of me, "That's impossible."

The creature sighed, "Is it?"

I steadied myself, this morning I had decided to ignore this and that is what I planned to do, "Are we safe here?"

The Suriel gave me a smile I could have mistaken as comfort, "Stay with the High Lord, World breaker. That is all you can do. You will be safe. Do not interfere, or you will be devoured by the shadow over Prythian. He will shield you from it, stay close to him, and all will be righted."

Stay close to Tamlin? Did this Suriel hit its head on a rock?

It turned to Feyre and spoke in the common tongue again, "You, human. The queen in red waits for you."

The Suriel looked at the two of us, "The High Lord does not know that you came here today, does he? He does not know that his human woman and her sister came to trap a Suriel because he cannot give her the answers she seeks. But it is too late, human— for the Highlord, for you, for Mundi Ruptor, perhaps for your realm as well..."

Mundi Ruptor. The translation in the Holy tongue was "World Breaker.", I suppose it was a fitting title.

The Suriel went on, "Across the violent western sea, there is another faerie kingdom called Hybern, ruled by a wicked, powerful King." I had heard of Hybern. Terrible, unspeakable things. "Not a High Lord— there, his territory is not divided into Courts. There he is law unto himself. Humans no longer exist in that realm— through his throne is made of their bones."

It made me sick. But I am a hypocrite. I have killed Faerie and human alike. I cannot help but compare myself to the wicked king.

I did not wish to be him.

"For some time now, the king of Hybern has found himself unhappy with the treaty the other ruling High Fae of the world made with you humans long ago. He resents that he was forced to sign it. To let his mortal slaves go and remain confined to his damp green isle at the edge of the world. And so, a hundred years ago, he dispatched his most-trusted and loyal commanders, his deadliest warriors, remnants of the ancient armies that he once sailed to the continent to wage such a brutal war against you humans, all of them hungry and vile as he. As spies and courtiers and lovers, they infiltrated the various High Fae courts and kingdoms and empires around the world for fifty years, and when they had gathered enough information, he made his plan. But nearly five decades ago, one of his commanders disobeyed him. The deceiver. And—" The Suriel straightened, "We are not alone."

I unsheathed my new sword, it was light and similar to my old one, I would have no trouble killing with it.

"You must free me and run, Mundi Ruptor." It looked to me. The Suriels eyes widened, "Run for the High lord's manor." The Suriel switched to the Holy tongue, "Do not forget what I told you— stay with the High Lord, World breaker, and live to see everything righted." I nodded at the creature.

"What is it?" Feyre questioned the creature.

"The naga—" My blood went colder than a frozen sea. Naga. Cauldron I hated the Naga. "Faeries made of shadow and hate and rot. They heard my scream and they smelled you two. Free me. They will cage me if they catch me here. Free me and return to the High Lords side."

I wasted no time lunging for the snare as I raised my sword. I cut the snare and a swift blow and when I looked back to the Suriel all that was left was a swift breeze where it once was.

I looked at my sister. "Run." I told her, "I will hold them off."

"No, I'm not—"

"I don't care, Feyre. Run." I looked at her pleadingly, "Please."

Feyre gave me a look that seemed like she wouldn't do it but then she ran. I sighed a breath of relief. But I wasn't spared a moment of reprieve as four shadowy figures approached through the birch trees.

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I'm spoiling you all with these chapters today. 😌😌I won't promise another chapter is going to be out today, but it's likely. so enjoy.