Blood of the Skies and Shadows - Chapter Sixteen

Hi guys, okay no extremely long piece of rambling from me again. Just want you guys to know, I might be a bit slow on the chapters just telling you guys ahead of time, might be due to homework, exhaustion or my emotional mood might just be spiraling down or flying high because I'm me that way :). Anyway this chapter is pretty long but enjoy, I put effort into all my chapters but this one had me racking my brain for a beautiful, elegant way of writing or at least my attempt to find one, he..he. Comment, please! Can be your thoughts or criticism or anything. Okay, enjoy chapter sixteen!

From Caelia, with love.
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Lexi.

I blinked hard, making sure I wasn't hallucinating and the scene in front of me remained. When Lucian and I stepped into the house, we had stepped into another forest. Though this one was far different from any of the human or shadow world forest I'd ever laid eyes on. Something whispered in the back of my mind, telling me I recognized something about this forest and then I recognized this sort of forest. It was a forest that belonged to faeries. Okay, to be clear faeries are not those exaggerated ridiculously small creatures that played pranks and frolicked in fields and gardens of flowers like nymphs, they were always immortal creatures of honor and beauty. I'd read about them in my studies of the shadow world and its shadows since I was young. Their species were part of the legendary shadows like dragons and basilisks, so it was morbidly rare to ever see one in the shadow world though they resided in it.

Faeries were also the only shadows that seldom entered the human world. They were actually one of the few shadow races that saw humans as equals and adored them, it's just that with time and modern technology faeries have been forgotten and written off as mythological creatures. Faeries don't find comfort with the modern world because everything is enveloped with technology and nothing is really magical or sacred anymore. Well at least faeries that belong to the Seelie Court adored humans, those faeries who belonged to the Unseelie Court just like most shadows loathe and shun humans and bring harm to them when they can.

I stared unblinkingly in awe at the scene in front of me. The door behind me had disappeared just as surely as the house we'd stepped inside. Faeries' "eternal lands of night" as their forests were called were always hidden from anything and anyone. Their forests were always under the cover of night since they're allied with the moon and night, though they were still allied with light, with good. I'd only seen paintings of their lands that shadows had painted from imagination and knowledge that their forests were forever cloaked in night. I'd seen many of those paintings and few had depicted the faeries' forest closely.

The world around though cloaked in night, wasn't dark, the entire place seemed luminescent, like the moon had touched everything in this forest. The night sky was still like the color of the shadow world's: dominant full white moon and no stars in sight, with the exception of the color. The night sky didn't look black as it did everywhere else it was an ethereal dark elegant sapphire. The sapphire reflected down into the forest, enough that everything was tinged with a subtle sapphire blue. The trees were abnormally tall, they reached so high they looked as if they were touching the sky. My eyes drifted slowly back to the ground. And even though it was a forest, there were pathways made of gray cement or some stone, it was actually hard to identify. But the pathways that lead down steeply were lined with waist-high walls of the same material. Those edges of those walls were decorated with wrought details that appeared as if a god had sculpted everything. The pathways were all lined with torches of small but bright oranges flames. It didn't look weird or creepy just uniquely beautiful. When Lucius chuckled I realized I was just standing there dumbfounded with wide bug eyes. I shook the astonishment off me and snapped my composure back into place.

"It is rather breathtaking." Alcaeus murmured airily beside me as if he could read my thoughts. That or he just read my strange expression, but his eyes didn't stray anywhere and stayed steadily on the view in front of him. Though I wasn't entirely focused, I noticed close ahead, coming towards us were lines of male faeries. I noticed that each of them had long fair hair and porcelain yet luminous skin. My eyes felt frozen on them, something in my mind made me want to be closer to them, to use my sight and slowly take in their beauty. Then their masculine strength washed over me like another spell. Each one of those faeries had a strong air around them, loyal and powerful, that of a soldier or warrior or fighter, whichever term you used. Then I really processed them, ignoring their compelling beauty. Each of them was carrying a sword or a bow matched with a quiver of arrows strung to their backs. Almost immediately after I'd noticed that my survival instincts kicked in. As they continued to draw closer, I automatically stepped back and inched towards Lucian. My hand instinctively started edging towards one of my hidden weapons, but stopped when Lucian shot me a cautious look. My knowledge told me they wouldn't harm me unless I attacked them first, but I couldn't help but to not trust so easily right now.

"Alcaeus, you brought guests back with you." A pleasant regal feminine voice chimed. She didn't sound accusing or even inquisitive, just merely pleasant. As if we were old friends that were really close.

The first line of warriors stepped aside for the tall woman to face us directly. Her waist length straight platinum blonde hair swept delicately at her back as she glided towards Alcaeus. This woman was beautiful, more beautiful than any vampire or shadow or even human that I'd ever laid eyes on. Her skin was the color of the white of the moon, around her head lightly sat a wreathe of pale green vine leaves, her eyes were large almond-shaped and the color of them was the same as the night sky, her eyes contrasted beautifully against her platinum hair. Her serene eyes washed over to my face. The depths of the night sky captured my attention, I could feel that mental pull again, I wanted to stand there and stare at her in awe forever but I forced that compelling urge away and looked at the ground. When I was sure the pull was only a slight irritation at the back of my head I shifted my steady gaze back at her. The eyes that stared back were genuinely surprised, as if she hadn't been surprised in a very long time. Her head tilted slightly to the side as she scrutinized me inconspicuously, it was like nightfall washing over me. The long silence was broken by the pretty lady.

"This child is special. It isn't just her physically. She possesses a mind, heart and soul of an honorable human. She also holds aspects of a strong warrior." She smiled at me, her gaze was warm and her eyes were sparkling with surprised mingled with adoration. What did she mean it wasn't just me physically? Was there something about me or blood she already guessed? I could feel several pairs of curious eyes boring into my face. I saw Alcaeus' gaze pass over me, his eyes not surprised, merely approving.

"Rhyannon. This is my brother Lucian and Alexia. There is something urgent we must discuss." Alcaeus murmured calmly and blankly, disregarding her comment. The woman nodded her warm eyes suddenly serene and blank again.

"We shall speak privately in the throne room." With that, she gestured her hand for us to follow her. Her warriors watched me with inquisitive gazes as we passed them. I shrugged it off and tailed closely behind Lucian.

As we walked deeper into the fae's forest, I noticed more signs of civilization. There weren't any tents or huts like I'd suspected, instead swirling around the thick and wide trunks of the tall ancient trees were steps wooden steps with wrought silver arches over them, those steps lead high into the overlooking leaves and thick branches above. Amidst those branches and leaves there were structures of buildings that looked like homes from medieval times but the size of manors. With roofs of dark wood, rimmed with wood against from what I could see gray-white walls.

Other faeries around stared at us wonderingly, but didn't murmur or turn to the person near them to gossip. Each one of them was fair-haired with pale skin and they were all angelically attractive. I decided to stop glancing around like a buzzing tourist and kept my eyes forward. We went up many stone steps to what seemed like the center of everything. We stopped in front of the widest and tallest tree of what seemed like the entire forest. The steps were wider than they appeared; the arches over the steps were just as wide and tall. It was like stepping through the doorway of an old cathedral.

As reached the top I noticed more closely the structures of the buildings, the wooden rims on the edges of the buildings were decorated with elaborate wrought golden designs and the columns, holding the outside shelters were pale gray with subtle sparkling vines and leaves made of silver or some other metal. Each one of the medieval looking buildings were exquisitely unique and beautiful, with windows that gleamed with the color of translucent light sapphire, thin olive-green wrought iron shaped as more vines and leaves weaved in a small area of the corners. We slowed as we came to large pair of white wooden doors, as tall as the arches of the stairs. Two men opened them for us, the faerie woman known as Rhyannon stepped aside for us to enter first, but as I stepped forward to enter two of her faerie guards stopped me. I eyed them suspiciously but didn't move. Suddenly the reached for the areas where I hid my weapons and they were taken in the blink of an eye. I was about to protest when the beautiful woman spoke.

"No harm will come to you, Alexia. Your weapons will also be untouched and will be returned to you when you leave. They are only taking precautions with my safety." She said apologetically, her eyes truly regretful. I made no protest and nodded at her in acknowledgment.

"Stay outside. Since you've taken Alexia's weapons there is no risk of danger to me." She murmured. The authority and power she had crackled in the air around us, almost as if it was tangible. After I stepped inside her 'throne room' the doors slammed shut behind her.

"I do apologize for your weapons being apprehended. I do not believe you would attack unless attacked yourself." She apologized, inclining her head slightly.

"No, it's okay." I managed to say, it felt weird to have this faerie that had so much power to bow her head and apologize to me for something so trivial. Her face changed instantly as she turned back to the matter at hand. Her face became serious and solemn with business, her authority and power came to life as she breezed past everyone regally to her throne.

As she sat down I noticed the throne room in closer detail. The entire room wasn't actually large like it first seemed, it was just exceedingly tall. The room was like any throne room you'd expect to see in a movie. A long marble pathway with tall columns following that pathway, leading to a big noble chair sitting on a pedestal stage with steps, at the farthest end of the room. Every inch of the room was bathed in different shades of white, except for the tapestries that hung on the walls behind the tall columns. I followed Lucian as we walked over to her to talk.

"So what was the important matter Alcaeus? I understand it must have something to do with Alexia since you have allowed her to enter our lands." She said, smiling warmly at me again. I felt kind of embarrassed, maybe, if I were a normal human girl, something like being praised in front of an audience. Alcaeus cast me a long stare, his eyes studying my eyes with curiosity and awe.

"Yes, it's time the Angel's Grimoire is brought out. Alexia is indeed the vessel, and someone is planning to awaken Lucifer and bring the Underworld to the human and shadow world again. So they must summon Alexia's chosen angel." Alcaeus said calmly, as if he was talking about the weather and not hell being brought to both worlds. At this information the faerie's face changed from serene and blank to dead serious. I chose this moment to speak, though Lucian shot me another warning look.

"What part do the faeries play in this..." I asked, my tone was clear and quiet blank actually which gave me courage to grip the edges of my blank mask of an expression on my face. My question dragged on because I was addressing the woman faerie. I knew her name, Rhyannon. I just didn't know if I should just address her as that.

"You may call me Lady Rhyannon, Alexia." She murmured happily with a small pretty grin on her pale rose-pink lips. I smiled my thanks and nodded.

"...Lady Rhyannon?" I finished. Her warmth did not disappear though she was talking about the important matter, in fact she seemed to welcome my questions and spoken thoughts.

"The fae are technically the offspring of Lilith and other fallen angels, though we are called shadows. We reside in our own lands in the shadow world but we not actually of the shadow world. Our part in all of what is happening to you is that it is our duty to guard one of the weapons of summoning angels. The Angel's Grimoire. You see we follow this duty to prove we are worthy of the trust the angels and skies have given us. To prove their belief that we are not the same as demons or fallen angels and we have not chosen evil is true." Her warm eyes were rather sad. Like they were still not accepted. I pursed my lips, but couldn't find anything to say. I only walked to her, stood awkwardly at the bottom of the step and finally patted her hand. She seemed genuinely surprised but she smiled back sadly mixed with her warmth again. Her face turned regal and hard again as she turned back to Alcaeus.

"I shall have my closet warrior bring forth the book. Do you know the other locations of the last two weapons?" She said, watching their expressions closely. I stepped away and waited quietly for their answers as well. Alcaeus spoke again, his face blank and cold as ever, though Lucian looked fine with not speaking.

"The shield of Gabriel is guarded by the other half-blood, Kiron. And regarding the sword, it should be with Lucian. Brother?" He asked, his cold stare becoming a sharp gaze directed at Lucian. I could guess why, he sure as hell wasn't carrying a sword no matter what he could fit up his sleeve. Lucian looked unfazed.

"It is buried beneath the grounds of my home. No one is able to unlock the seal unless they have my blood. Lexi and I shall retrieve it when dawn comes. Demons aren't capable of being active in daylight even with shadow hosts, they must be wearing a human body." He explained to me, rather than his brother. I nodded indifferently. Lady Rhyannon murmured silently to the air around her and almost instantly after two warriors appeared in the doorway. I recognized them as the two leading the lines from when we entered. They were always by her side when we walked here as well. They were also identical twins. Both with light pale blonde hair reaching mid-way down their backs, with a lock of hair at each temple braided to the backs of their heads. Their eyes were two different colors though one pale sky blue and the other pale grass green. They both had the same body build, broad shoulder and tall but not bulky or scrawny, their faces were strongly structured and angular than most but still inhumanly attractive.

"You summoned us, my lady?" The twin on the right asked, his tone polite tinged with awe and adoration. Lady Rhyannon nodded with a gentle smile, sort of like one when a parent looks at their child with pride and love. She turned to me and Lucian, her eyes glinting with pride.

"These two are my most trusted warriors. Kalen and Kheelan." They bowed towards us nobly, the way vampires saluted Demetri. My heart felt a sudden sting at his name and the straying thoughts of my friends but I fought against it. I was going to get them back.

"Kalen, Kheelan, this is Alexia and Lucian." She said, waving her hand to gesture us. I did what I usually did when I was saluted: I nodded back in acknowledgment with no trace of my sheepishness. After introductions were through, they shifted all their attention back to Lady Rhyannon. Her face lost all gentility as she spoke in a grave manner.

"Fetch the Angel's Grimoire. You may use my blood and Alcaeus' as well if he allows you to draw it and take it away." She murmured, her order sounding more like a request. Her dark eyes flickered over to Alcaeus and with the slightest of nods from him, the twin warriors pulled knives and separated. One going to Lady Rhyannon and the other going to Alcaeus. Lady Rhyannon and Alcaeus held out their palms face up and I watched as the two warriors used their knives and drew blood from their palms. The twin with Lady Rhyannon handed her some material, bowed as his twin did with Alcaeus and they both left after that. As she was wiping the blood from her hand I asked a question I was curious about.

"And where is the other half-blood, who holds the shield?" All eyes turned to me. Lady Rhyannon smiled again but the one that seemed too flattering.

"He lives in the human world. He has no family and chooses to 'expand his knowledge' of the human world mainly." Lucian answered me. His words were somewhat laced with traces of disdain and sarcasm, but still overall still unfazed. I shrugged the thought off but nodded back. The twin warriors seemed to dissolve into view in front of Lady Rhyannon without notice. Their knives were put away but one of them held a wooden box sprinkled with a thin layering of dust. The wooden box looked plain and not beautiful or elegant as anything else looked here. Precautions. My mind acknowledged. Lady Rhyannon whispered low and unheard as her hands reached towards the front of the box. Her perfect complexion blanched, turning ghostly pale and her forehead started showing a thin layer of sweat. With a final whisper, her attractive complexion snapped back into place and it looked as if she had never sweated at all.

She unlocked the black metal lock on the box and opened it. Her hands slipped past the lid and pulled out a thick book. Its spine and edges were withered and wrinkled with age and its covers were plain snow-white and the edges of its pages were torn-looking and a bit thick. The two warriors stepped away and Lady Rhyannon beckoned me over to her. Cautiously, never really taking my eyes from the book I went to her side. She lifted the heavy-looking thing in front of me so automatically I held out my hands. She let it go and settled back comfortably in her seat. She nodded for me to flip it open. I eyed the book suspiciously. Wouldn't there be some sort of seal like there was on the Book of The Blood Brothers? Vigilantly I gripped the side of the front cover gently and started opening it. To my surprise it did open. My questioning gaze slid over to Lucian for some answers.

"The Angel's Grimoire can be opened by humans and angels of heaven only. Because you have yet to summon your angel your blood as a vessel has not fully activated. This is the reason that any human can open it if they wish. But if a shadow or demon attempts to open the grimoire it is likely they will lose their life, whereas a fallen angel will be severely wounded." Lucian answered, his eyes serious, warning me to guard it like it was my life. Not like I didn't have to guard that either.

"Well that is what is written in the Book of the Blood Brothers." Alcaeus said, glancing over to the door.

"Rhyannon your warriors grow restless." Alcaeus murmured distastefully as he turned to face Lady Rhyannon again. She nodded morosely and disapprovingly.

"Yes, I feel my warriors' unease growing. Very well, there are still many hours until the dawn of the shadow and human world. Alexia, Lucian I welcome you to stay in the guest chambers of my palace, of course if that is your wish. I assure you no demons or shadows will be able to enter our eternal lands though it is nightfall, unless invited in and no faerie shall allow them to. You have my word on that." She said with grave serenity. I really didn't mind, it sounded like a good idea until dawn anyway, but Lucian was the one with say, since he was the guide. Lucian bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"That would be best, thank you Lady Rhyannon." He said indifferently. I smiled my thanks to her and did as Lucian did: bowed my head. So we were spending the night in the lands of faeries. Human and shadow world balance. Right.