Crossing Paths
In My Darkest Hour

I don’t know what happened after I passed out.

I woke up to an unfamiliar scraping sound. I tried to remember where I was as I opened my eyes and looked around me.

I was in a meadow in a sunlit forest. Tall grass swayed in a gentle breeze that smelled like water and air and earth and flowers. Trees circled the small clearing and tiny blue birds hopped in the branches, singing random melodies.

I sat up quickly and got to my feet. I seemed to be okay. Nothing hurt. Everything worked. Not even a scar left at my wrists where those horrible straps had burned me.

I also had clothes on, though nothing I would have chosen. It seemed to be a robe or gown made of some light as air material that shimmered when I moved. It was beautiful, but I was more of a jeans and t-shirt girl.

“Please sit down, dear. You had quite a shock and then quite a thump. You’ll need some rest.”

I spun and landed in a crouch, snarling, facing a short and plump Fae woman.

Her hand went to her chest, and she blinked rapidly, but she didn’t seem afraid. She just looked disapproving. Like a teacher who knows you slacked on an important assignment.

I stopped snarling but stayed in my crouch.

“Who the hell are you?” I demanded.

The small lady smoothed her skirts and hair as she spoke, “I am Matron Flora of Clan Flora. I am a healer. The King asked me to look after you. So, there is no need for theatrics.”

I stood up and smoothed my own frilly skirts, feeling a little foolish, but also scared and confused.

I could feel tears forming and I was trying to hold them in. I didn’t want to show weakness. I also knew the sight of my bloody tears would scare the living crap out of this small, grandmotherly woman.

“I just want to go home,” I said, my voice cracking on the word ‘home’.

And the flood gates opened.

I started sobbing, loudly. I felt the tears start streaming down my face and I knew it must look terrible to this poor Fae healer who was just doing what she was told.

Matron Flora did gasp softly at the sight of my tears, but when I looked up to apologize, she was gazing at me with a look of wonder. She was almost smiling at me.

This irritated me.

“What the hell are you looking at? Am I some kind of entertainment to you? Crap, lady, you’re giving me the creeps!” I shouted, but I was still sobbing, and I didn’t sound as threatening as I had hoped for.

She looked embarrassed for a second, then said, “I’m sorry, dear, but your tears are…. Well, different.”

“I know that. I’m a vampire. I cry blood. Duh!” I said, glaring at the woman.

She was nodding slowly and looking thoughtful when she said, “Yes, of course, dear. But-”

Her words were interrupted by the sound of a knock.

I looked around in confusion because I was clearly out in a forest clearing, and there should be no doors to knock on, but then I saw a door begin to appear, slowly, as if through a fog.

“What the hell?” I said out loud.

“Language, dear,” Matron Flora said.

I laughed at this little Fae telling me to watch my language as if I was her child.

“Enter,” Matron Flora said, and the door opened.

A group of guardsmen came traipsing into my peaceful meadow with their boots trampling the soft clover and their clattering gear drowning out the sound of the birdsong.

Out of the center of the group, stepped a Fae man. He was tall, but unlike most of the Fae men I had the displeasure to meet, he was also very muscular. He seemed older, too. It was in his eyes, like he’d spent many years watching things happen. Good and bad things.

Matron Flora curtsied, bowing low as she said, “Your Highness.”

I looked back at the man, “Your Highness?”

The man was staring at me, standing there covered in my own bloody tears, and his gaze was stern, but not unfriendly.

Gerritt and Princess Dolphina slipped in quietly, behind the guardsman.

“I am King Ivor,” the muscular Fae said, then he bowed.

I laughed, “You can stand up. I’m not impressed by all this.”

Matron Flora said, “Manners!”

That made me laugh harder, “To hell with that, lady! Let me go! That’s all I want. Let. Me. Go!”

“I understand your desire to leave this place. You’ve not had proper treatment by the Fae you’ve met before me and for that I do apologize. Unfortunately, Lady-” he looked at me, questioning.

I sighed in frustration, but answered, “My name is Melissa. Melissa Preydor. No stupid titles.”

“As you wish, Melissa. It is a pleasure to meet you, if even under these unfortunate circumstances,” King Ivor said, sounding sincere.

I waved my hand as if to say, ’yeah yeah, whatever”.

“I would be more than pleased to allow you your freedom,” he continued, “under normal circumstances. However, according to what my son has told us, you may have been….”

He stopped and looked around.

“What?” I said, frustrated and irritated.

Princess Dolphina was the one to answer, in her soft but confident voice.

“You are not unharmed, vampire,” she stated, stepping forward to stand next to King Ivor, “I am afraid Almin had already begun his experiment. He’s described injecting you with…. Fae blood.”

I stared at her, not sure I understood. Was it infected Fae blood? Did I now have some freaky Fae pox? Would I turn blue or green, like the only two Fae women I’d met?

“That’s disturbing. What was wrong with this blood?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to look as confident as this blue-skinned princess.

She looked up at King Ivor and he nodded, quickly.

“She has every right to know,” he said.

I worried about what that meant.

“It was not only Fae blood. It was a magical compound created from the blood and life essence of a very famous, ancient Fae queen,” Princess Dolphina said, as if explaining.

“I don’t know what that means,” I said, “what does that mean? Magical compound?”

King Ivor said, “We are not certain how he did it, but we know it involved an atrocity against this queen, Queen Esther. She was thought to have been lost to us, forever.”

I was only becoming more confused with each new piece of information.

“How he did what? What does this mean?” I said, looking from Princess Dolphina to King Ivor and back again.

She smiled sadly, “Almin was attempting to create a new species. Instead, he believes he imbued you with the life of the queen. He believes her power and knowledge are now yours.”

I laughed, but no-one else did.

Some of the guards had their hands over their mouths, as if in shock.

“I don’t understand. That’s ridiculous. It’s not possible,” I said, still smiling.

Matron Flora cleared her throat and pointed to my bloodied skirt, saying, “Look at her blood, King Ivor. It has a soft shimmer, Your Highness.”

I looked down and sure enough, there was a bit of shimmer or sparkle in the dried blood staining the fabric.

“That’s weird. Must be the fabric. What is this made of?” I asked as I brushed and scraped at the crusted crimson splotches.

Princess Dolphina said, “Butterfly wings. Here….” she stepped closer and said, “Flutter.”

The folds of material flowing down my body began to tremble. It tickled. Then, one by one, wings separated from the fabric. They were beautifully colored butterfly wings. They flapped softly for a few seconds and as they did, the stains turned to powder and drifted to the floor, leaving the dress looking brand new again as the wings settled back into the shape of the fabric.

It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen.

“What the hell?” I mumbled, stepping out of the powdered stain that lay around my feet.

I stared at it, dark red with tiny sparkling particles throughout. I knelt down to look at it closer, positive that my vampire eyes would see something to prove I was okay, but there was nothing but sparkles. Magical -looking sparkles mixed in with my dried blood.

I stood up and every face was looking my way.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” I said, “Let me go home.”

King Ivor stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I am sorry, Melissa, but that would be irresponsible and unkind to you. We must be certain of what my son has done to you. It is for your own good,” he said, firmly.

I was not happy with his answer. In fact, I was pissed.

“So, what you’re saying is that because your piece of crap son decided to drug me and kidnap me and do weird stuff to my blood, now you think you have a right to keep me here? No.” I said and I mustered every ounce of anger in my body and let out a vicious, snarling roar that send most of the guardsmen running from the room.

I moved with vampire speed to hold Princess Dolphina’s neck in my hands, squeezing until she had a reason to be blue skinned.

The princess made a choking, gasping sound and grasped my hand with both of hers.

King Ivor called out for the guardsmen, but none dared to re-enter the room.

“You will take me home,” I demanded, growling.

“Princess Dolphina has done nothing but advocate for you, Melissa. Please do not punish her for my rules,” the king said.

So, I dropped Princess Dolphina and before anyone even knew she had been released, I had King Ivor’s neck in my hand.

His eyes got big for a second, then he seemed to regain his composure. He looked me right in the eyes, showing no fear.

The guardsmen seemed agitated and obviously knew they were supposed to protect their king, but none would enter the room. Instead, they milled about outside the door, cursing and planning amongst themselves.

Gerritt, who I had forgotten was even here, had slipped around to my rear.

I heard his careful movements. The inaudible scratch of his soft, leather boots against the floor. The creak of the leather belt as he slowly pulled his sword.

At the same time that Gerritt pulled his sword, I turned around, holding the king’s body between Gerritt and me.

There were shouts of alarm, and I heard Gerritt curse. Then, I smelled blood. Not human. Not vampire. It was different. Sweet and soft, like sad music. It reminded me that I was very thirsty. How long had it been since I’d fed? My head spun and started to throb.

Gerritt had dropped his sword and stood staring down at the king with a horrified expression.

Princess Dolphina screamed and tried to run to the king, but her own guardsmen held her back.

I couldn’t see straight. Everything was blurry. This was nothing like I’d felt before.

“By the gods! Father!! Father?” I heard Prince Oskar’s voice and felt as he jerked his father out of my grasp.

I looked down at the king, laying on the ground, a deep wound in his belly.

“The blood….” I heard someone say.

Yes, the blood. It was deep crimson, shining, sparkling like the glitter glue I used to make Christmas cards when I was in one of the many foster homes.

I leaned down over the king. My mouth had felt so dry, but now it watered. I took a deep breath of the delicious scent again.

“No! Get back! Guards!! Seize the vampire!”

I didn’t know who said it, but I heard a small rustling of uniforms, then silence.

I dropped to my knees and growled fiercely, suddenly ravenous, not willing to risk someone taking my meal.

“Melissa...” the king murmured, clearly pained.

I leaned down and pressed my lips over the opening in his belly, a huge gash compliments of Gerritt’s hasty actions, and drank from the slashed, pulsing vein.

It was heaven! The memory of chocolate, then campfire, soft fuzzy blankets… floated through my mind. I could see the most beautiful things, but at the same time I saw nothing at all. I felt nothing but it was the most amazing feeling I’d ever had. I could hear yelling, but it didn’t concern me. I drank and drank for what seemed like a really long time.

Then, I sat up and let out a snarl of excitement, ready to have some more.

Matron Flora, small and trembling, suddenly stood in front of me.

“Goodnight, Melissa,” she said, then she held up her hand, full of blue dust, and blew it in my face.

I spluttered and brushed at my eyes and cheeks, but it only took a second to know I was going to pass out. What was it with these Fae? Kidnapping, drugging, experimenting?

I tried to fight the darkness that was closing in, but it was no use. I definitely needed to get some of this fairy whammy powder……