Test of Fae Read online

  Also by S.L.Mason

  These Hallowed Hills

  Trick of Fae

  Test of Fae

  Thorns of Fae

  Test of Fae

  THESE HALLOWED HILLS SERIES

  This Book is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in the novel are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Its not about you.

  Copyright 2017 Quick Quill Publishing, LLC

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact us at www.Quickquillpublishing.com Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  DEDICATION

  To my daughter Gillian.

  She’s never seen a fight and turned away.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  Thorns of Fae

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 1

  No one here had seen me before. They don’t know what I really look like. They don’t know that my hair isn’t black and my eyes aren’t green. Every single one of them thinks this is me. That I look this way. Admitting to myself I’d been changed probably is the most difficult thing I have ever had to face.

  Inside, I feel the same. I don’t feel any different. I still feel human. But every trip to the bathroom, every glance at my reflection in the mirror, the window, or the shiny side of the car—all I see is me but alien me. I know what’s causing the change, and I can’t reverse it.

  I can’t go back to my parents’ hidey hole. There isn’t room for everyone. I have thirty-seven kids all looking at me—the new me, not the old me.

  I dart my eyes around the warehouse, searching for Arty and hoping to spot his hair or his hunched shoulders. I catch myself looking at tables and different surfaces, seeing if he left his eyeglasses behind.

  I could really use him. Arty isn’t just my best friend; he’s the perfect right-hand man: smart, strong, and always willing to do whatever I ask of him. The best part is that I never have to question whether Arty is on my side.

  It doesn’t matter what I do. If Arty wants to fight about it, he would later when we were alone. He wouldn’t make me look like a fool in front of people. But Arty isn’t here. Instead, I found somebody else to rely upon.

  The juiced-up quarterback who jumped in the truck cab with Zoe and me. It’s Nick. He’s reliable, he steps up to the plate, and so far, he hasn’t done anything to piss me off. He’s big and beefy, and he’s used to people doing what he tells them to do.

  After the maze, the only person who knows what’s going on, is me. Somehow, Nick got the idea I’m in charge. In his mind, I’m the top dog, and that makes him my right-hand man.

  I don’t know if Nick is loyal like Arty. What Arty and I had, took a lifetime to build, but Nick keeps everyone in line, keeps us moving and motivated. The Nicks of the world have their uses.

  I hadn’t sung anything since the moment I snapped everyone out of the enchantment in the middle of the street. To be honest, I’m afraid to sing now that I know I can create magic with it.

  I sit in this dingy, filthy, grease-filled warehouse with closed eyes. I can hear its song. The rocks, every piece of metal, even the glass in the windows. They all have a rhythm, a vibration, or a tune, and they sing to me. Every now and again I feel the desire to sing back.

  It has been two weeks since the maze, and we hadn’t seen even one Fae. But I can feel them lurking in the background, one step behind our every move. My greatest worry now isn’t just the Fae. I saw how easy it was for Janice to tame that dog, and I have seen pawprints all around the homes in my parents’ neighborhood. My greatest fear is that the Fae might be using animals to hunt us. It means going out onto the street is dangerous. Even in the daylight, birds, dogs, cats, and squirrels are a threat, all enlisted to the Fae.

  We don’t want to draw the gangs’ attention either since there are still gangs running around. I don’t allow guns anymore; guns draw attention. The report of a gun carries, and the sound is even easier to hear if you’re an animal. The last thing we need is a dog to follow the crack of a bullet back to us—no guns. Instead, we practice every day for an hour using bow and arrows, makeshift crossbows, and BB guns. A BB gun isn’t going to kill anything, but if you can scare an animal off, it’ll make it easier to get away. The animals are our real daylight enemy. They track you and then lie in wait until twilight to bring the Fae down on all of us.

  I don’t want to kill somebody’s pet, but if it’s a choice between me or somebody else’s Mr. Wiggles. I’m sorry, Mr. Wiggles is dead.

  “So, what are we doing today, boss?” Nick’s inquiry pulls me out of my head.

  “Same as we do every day. Go out. Look for food. Take only what you can carry. Meet back at the appointed place. Stick to the plan.” I cocked an eyebrow at him.

  He nods his head. It’s plain he has something to say, especially when his nose snarls up to the side.

  “Is this all we do? You know, scrounge for food and hope we don’t get spotted by some Fae pet?” The toe of his boot kicks at a dirt clod.

  I don’t like his tone of voice, but he clearly has a burr up his ass. Rather than start an argument, I cross my arms and sit back, throwing my feet up on the table.

  “All right, then. What’s your idea?” I ask.

  “We made a plan, it’s a war, humanity against the fairies. We could go to the government and tell them what happened. We could take a whole division back with us.” He’s right to do all those things. Everything single one of them relies upon me. It means that I have to get us back into the Fae realm if the government doesn’t decide to study me like a lab rat first.

  “I got us out the first time. I’m not sure I can get back in. You don’t even remember anything. The last thing you remember is some crazy, pointy-ear fucker was singing to you. Then your eyes went all milky-white, and you became a member of the Fae zombie clan. We aren’t going to the government. I don’t want to disappear into a black bag. And if you go to them, so help me. I will hunt you down to the end of my days. Stick to the plan, Nick!” In a flash, I’m up and leaning over the table with both hands planted into the surface.

  He opens his mouth to say something. I put my hand up. “You’re right, we should find some adults to take care of the littler kids. They need to be educated, loved, and coddled.” I look around, knowing the only adults within five miles are my parents. I can’t take anyone there. The rest of the adults are gangbangers and criminals, probably a few rapists too. “They aren’t going to get any of that with us. I don’t know how we would find good adults that are alive. I don’t want to go over this again.” I heave a sigh, blowing my bangs out of my eyes.

  All of their parents are dead. I’m not going to dissuade them of the belief that mine aren’t dead as well. My paren
ts are safer if everyone thinks they are dead.

  My head rolls to the side, creating a pop in my neck. My eyes slide around the warehouse. I focus in on one of the kids, Twitchy. He’s good with electronics. So is his buddy, Doug, the super geek. I turn my head back to Nick, cross my arms, and change the subject. “Has Doug found anything on the radio?”

  “They’re still playing music. He says most of the news isn’t worth listening to. The public service announcement to check in is still running.” Nick gazes off to nowhere.

  “We don’t want to send a reply. You don’t know who’s on the other end of that radio. They will find us and take all the supplies or worse. I’m sorry, but I think we’re just stuck with this for now. Our best bet is to keep organizing the softer teenagers to take care of the littler kids.” He doesn’t turn to look at me but nods his head. He stands up straighter and stomps off to the other side of the warehouse.

  “Is he trying to get rid of us again?” Zoe is always nearby. The truth is she’d make a perfect spy. She moves without a sound. She’s so tiny. I’m sure we could secret her away in a cupboard to eavesdrop on someone’s conversations.

  “He’s not trying to get rid of you. He’s trying to keep people safe. He knows we’re not adults, and little kids need love and somewhere safe to call home. We’re all so traumatized. I’m not sure we have it in us.” I rub my forehead. I don’t have all the answers.

  “I love my sister. I help out with little kids as much as I can. You’re right; they need love,” her eyes plead with me. “We’re the adults now. Don’t let Nick talk you into getting rid of us.” Fear etches her face. The same fear grips me.

  “Do you really think Nick has the ability to talk me into anything? Don’t worry about it. Nick’s not in charge. We stay together until we find a better option.” My eyes follow Nick’s movements across the warehouse.

  Like Nick, I want to go back, but to save Arty. I’d only been in the Fae realm for a few days, but time had marched on, resulting in three months passing on in the human realm. It has been two weeks my time since I returned to the surface, and I can’t figure out how much time had passed in Fae. A few hours?

  What do they say about procrastination? You may delay, but time will not.

  CHAPTER 2

  All my plans are taking too long.

  I keep running the picture in my mind. Arty’s black hair in free fall, his eye’s focusing on Olive and throwing her back on the platform. The last minute when our eyes met before he sank over the side and my stomach lurched. How did Arty wake-up? Everybody else was asleep. If Olive hadn’t tumbled over the side, he’d still be here.

  It’s not even a choice I want to think about. Olive didn’t deserve to be saved more than Arty. Arty would have wanted her saved before than him. She’s little, with a whole life to live. Arty would want her to live. He was sweet like that.

  I said it like he’s dead. He’s not dead; he’s stuck underground with the life-sucking Fae, I think.

  No one here is capable of withstanding the Fae. They would all become entranced, and it would be a big waste of their lives. Mine and Nick’s plan is the only way, and I can’t stay here.

  I flip through the pictures on Arty’s phone, most of them of me.

  “Looking at the pictures of your boyfriend again?” I grit my teeth and shift my eyes to him. Nick grates on me sometimes by pushing just the right button.

  “He’s not my boyfriend. I’ve told you that; he’s my best friend,” I retort.

  His dry laugh always follows. “I don’t know any guy who has that many pictures of a girl that he doesn’t want to bone.”

  “You’re a real Shakespearean there, Nick. It isn’t like that. Arty isn’t into me, more like I’m his sister or something.” I close my eyes. I can hear Arty’s words before we were taken. He told me to save yourself. Isn’t that what I was doing? No, you’re procrastinating. Yeah, to save lives.

  “Poor Arty, friend-zoned for all time. I’m sorry, Sarah! I’m not buying it. You’re good-looking and available. You like him, and you hang out with him. He’s your boyfriend whether you admit it or not.” Nick crosses his arms, forcing his biceps to bulge and making them appear larger than they are and they are large.

  “He’s not my boyfriend. Kissing Arty would be like kissing my brother. Gross. We’re friends, that’s it. I literally lost my best friend. Could you leave me alone about it?” I grumble, shifting my eyes from him and back to the phone before pushing the off button and sliding it back into my pocket.

  “I know you just lost your friend. We all lost somebody. You never once asked me why I was there or who I went with.” The chiding tone of his voice mists over me like a cold fog and my head hangs as I run my fingers through my hair. Long, thick and unruly, my hair is a pain in the ass, but it covers the point at the end of my ears.

  “I’m sorry! I never asked you whom you went in with. I didn’t ask you why the Fae were holding you at the tree. Who was so important they tied your lives together? I didn’t ask, not because I don’t care.” I chance a glance at him and then around the warehouse. “Everybody’s got their own demons. I didn’t think it was my business to pry into yours. Want to tell me? I’d be happy to listen.” I turn my full attention on him.

  He looks down and away, his shoulder rises as he draws in a breath. Then everything about him sags. “My sister. I have a twin sister. I’m Nicholas, she’s Nicolette. I know, cheesy. If you knew my parents, you would’ve understood. I’m sure based on what you told me about the maze that she made it through. Nikki’s really smart. She’s the smarter of the two of us. Now you know who I’m going back for—you to get your friend, me to get my sister. I don’t care if you’re in love with him. All I care about is Nikki. She’s in there, fighting for her life alone. I’m her brother. I’m supposed to be by her side, always.” Obviously, his sister is the one in charge of their relationship. He’ll do anything to save her. So, if it’s a choice between Arty and his sister, he’s always gonna choose his sister. Which is okay because that’s kind of what I would expect. If it was my sister, I would choose her over somebody’s friend every time. I would choose Arty.

  I dart my eyes around. “Is this why you keep pushing me? You don’t want to be responsible so we can go back and save Nikki?” I tap my hands together, lightly letting the tips of my fingers meet.

  “Yes, that and frankly I’m not ready to be micro-dad. Some of these kids, they look up to us like we’re supposed to be their parents. I’m not ready for that. I’m not sure I would ever be ready for it. Until a couple weeks ago, the only thing I wanted to do was play football and get into a good college. That’s it.” His words come out hard and pleading at the same time. “I wasn’t thinking about anything else other than girls. Now all I can think about is Nikki, killing Fae, and getting revenge.” His right fist smashes into his left hand, flexing the muscles in his upper body at the same time. Nick likes to put on a show of strength. For a moment there, the bravado vanishes and I see the real Nick. The guy without all the brawn and he is hurting and alone. Just like the rest of us. I stand up, keeping my eyes on his, I pat his arm, and turn my mind away from all our losses.

  I know how he feels. Before all of this, the only thing I was worried about was finishing high school and who I’d go to prom with.

  It had all been so clear when I spoke to my parents. I had to go back in the Hallowed Hills and find Arty. But the longer I think about it, the more I realize it won’t be that easy. What if he’s dead? The what-ifs play a broken record in my head. There is only one way to make them stop. That is why Nick and I made our pact.

  CHAPTER 3

  Of course, it’s always quietest just before the storm. That’s what they say, right? The whole hindsight’s 20/20, all the stupid catch-22 cliché phrases you hear from adults and on television. I just turned eighteen, and it’s one of those moments where you look around and realize your parents were right about everything and then you hate it.

  We do our best to ma
ke sure there are no signs of occupation in the entire industrial district. Everyone packs our trash out and leaves it at homes around the neighborhoods. We go into the houses the gangs have already raided, only taking what food is left. Most kids raid the refrigerators and freezers. I tell them to take canned goods and jars, dry beans, rice, cooking oil, and condiments.

  We got lucky once and found a backyard garden. I had the kids to pick it clean and dig up all the root vegetables. We eat fresh salad and tomatoes for a few days. Potatoes taste great with salt and butter, but we only have salt. Zoe got the kids to pretend we have butter.

  We cook early in the morning right after the sun comes up. We MacGyver’d up a bunch of solar ovens from a few books one of the kids scrounged up. We put them on the roof of one of the industrial buildings and then go back and check it in the afternoon. We sleep elsewhere. If someone finds the food, they won’t find us.

  No gas or electricity usage. I didn’t want anyone walking up and checking electric meters to see if it was moving. We steal the propane tanks from BBQ grills and cook with those—no briquettes, no smoke. I try hard to teach the kids everything they need to know to be super careful and safe.

  There’s always something you forget. Most businesses only have one bathroom. The commercial buildings, automotive shops, manufacturing plants, body shops, and offices all just have one bathroom. With thirty-seven people all eating and drinking, it reaches a point where the bathrooms are not available. People want to take a bath, but not everybody wants a cold shower.

  A couple of boys pee outside. Boys always pee outside. Boys will be boys, my dad said it enough times. I told them to stop.

  ----------------

  Warm lips and breath arrive on my ear. “Sarah, I hear noises outside,” someone whispers.

  My whole body freezes up. I wasn’t asleep. I didn’t sleep at night. I hardly ever sleep at all.