Chapter 7: A Royal Bargain
Chapter 7: A Royal Bargain
Prince Thorne reclined on his obsidian throne, fingers idly tracing the intricate carvings of screaming faces etched into the armrest. The Unseelie Court buzzed with whispers and sidelong glances, courtiers jockeying for position in the ever-shifting landscape of Fae politics. But Thorne's mind was elsewhere, fixed on the mortal girl who had dared to peer through the veil.
"Interesting," he murmured, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Very interesting indeed."
The silver-haired Fae kneeling before him looked up, curiosity burning in her cat-like eyes. "My prince?"
Thorne waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing that concerns you, Lisandra. You may go."
As the courtier retreated, Thorne's gaze drifted to the shimmering portal that hung suspended at the far end of the throne room. Through it, he could glimpse fleeting images of the mortal realm – a world ripe for the taking, if only the veil between their realms would weaken further.
His thoughts turned once more to the girl with the iron pendant and the voice that could reshape reality. Aria Blackwood. A mortal with the gift of Fae-song, untrained and unaware of her true potential. Such a rarity was not to be squandered.
Thorne rose from his throne, his movements liquid grace. "Prepare my chariot," he commanded. "I think it's time I paid our talented little songbird a visit."
The Unseelie prince's arrival in the mortal realm was heralded by a storm that seemed to coalesce from nothing. Dark clouds roiled overhead as Thorne's chariot, pulled by nightmares with eyes of flame, touched down in an abandoned lot not far from Aria's apartment.
Thorne breathed deeply, savoring the mingled scents of pollution and possibility that permeated the city air. How different from the perfumed gardens of the Fae realm, yet intoxicating in its own way. He could see why so many of his kind were drawn to this chaotic mortal world.
With a thought, he cloaked himself in a glamour that would allow him to move unnoticed among the humans. To mortal eyes, he appeared as nothing more than a striking young man with windswept dark hair and eyes of deepest violet. Only someone with true Sight would be able to perceive the crown of thorns that adorned his brow or the otherworldly aura that clung to him like mist.
Thorne made his way through the crowded streets, reveling in the press of mortal bodies and the cacophony of their mundane lives. How easy it would be to sow chaos among them, to lead them astray with whispered promises and honeyed lies. But he had bigger game in mind.
As he neared Aria's building, Thorne paused. Something was different. The air thrummed with a subtle energy, a melody just beyond the range of hearing. He smiled, recognizing the touch of Fae-song. It seemed his little songbird had been practicing.
"Oh, you are a treasure," he murmured, his voice carrying an undercurrent of desire and danger. "But do you even know what you're capable of?"
Thorne ascended the stairs, each step bringing him closer to his prize. When he reached Aria's door, he hesitated for just a moment, savoring the anticipation. Then, with a smile that would have sent shivers down the spine of any who truly saw it, he knocked.
Inside the apartment, Aria was in the middle of a practice session, her fingers dancing across the strings of her guitar as she wove a protective melody around Melody's sleeping form. The knock startled her, causing a discordant note to ring out.
Aria frowned, setting aside her instrument. She wasn't expecting anyone, and something about that knock sent a chill down her spine. Cautiously, she approached the door, the iron pendant cool against her skin.
"Who is it?" she called, one hand on the doorknob.
"An old friend," came the reply, the voice smooth as honey and sharp as a blade. "We met at the Revel, though I don't believe we were properly introduced."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice, had heard it in her dreams and nightmares since that night at the warehouse. The Fae lord with the antlers and the violet eyes.
Her heart pounding, Aria opened the door.
Thorne stood before her, his glamour firmly in place. But Aria saw through it instantly, her newfound Sight revealing the crown of thorns and the otherworldly beauty that lay beneath the human facade.
"Prince Thorne," she breathed, unconsciously taking a step back.
The Fae prince's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "You can see me," he said, a note of admiration creeping into his voice. "Truly see me. How fascinating."
Aria's hand went to her pendant, drawing strength from its protective presence. "What do you want?"
Thorne's smile was a dangerous thing, full of promise and peril. "Why, to congratulate you, of course. It's not every day a mortal manages to glimpse our Revel and walk away unscathed. You've piqued my interest, Aria Blackwood."
"How do you know my name?"
"Oh, I make it my business to know many things," Thorne replied, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Especially when it comes to mortals with... unique talents."
Aria's eyes narrowed. "You mean my music."
"Indeed. Your Fae-song is a rare and precious gift. One that could take you far in our world, if properly nurtured."
"I'm not interested in your world," Aria said firmly, though a part of her thrilled at the mention of her newfound abilities. "I have responsibilities here. My sister-"
"Ah yes, the unfortunate Melody," Thorne interrupted, his gaze drifting past Aria to the sleeping form on the couch. "Still suffering from the effects of Fae influence, I see. Such a shame."
Aria bristled at his casual tone. "You know what's wrong with her? Can you help?"
Thorne's smile widened. "Perhaps. But all things come with a price in our world, dear Aria. The question is, what are you willing to offer in exchange?"
Aria hesitated, torn between her desire to help Melody and the warnings she had received about dealing with the Fae. "What kind of price are we talking about?"
"Nothing too onerous," Thorne assured her, his voice a silken caress. "A favor, to be called in at a later date. Or perhaps... a song? I would so love to hear you perform for me, to witness the power of your Fae-song firsthand."
Aria's mind raced. She knew the dangers of making deals with the Fae, had read countless stories of mortals tricked and trapped by carefully worded bargains. But if there was even a chance it could help Melody...
"If I agree to sing for you," she said slowly, "you'll cure my sister? Completely?"
Thorne's eyes glittered with triumph. "You have my word as Prince of the Unseelie Court. One song, freely given, in exchange for your sister's complete recovery."
Aria took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Alright. I'll do it. But not here. I won't invite you into our home."
"A wise precaution," Thorne said approvingly. "Very well. There's a park not far from here. Meet me there at midnight, and we shall conclude our bargain."
As the Fae prince turned to leave, Aria called out, "Wait. The silver leaf you gave me. What was that about?"
Thorne paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Insurance, my dear. A way to ensure our paths would cross again. And perhaps... a key to unlock your true potential. Use it wisely."
With that, he was gone, leaving Aria standing in the doorway, her heart pounding and her mind awhirl with possibilities and dangers.
As midnight approached, Aria made her way to the park, her guitar slung across her back. The streets were eerily quiet, as if the very city was holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come.
She found Thorne waiting for her in a moonlit clearing, his glamour discarded. He stood tall and regal, antlers gleaming in the silver light, eyes burning with an inner fire that both attracted and repelled.
"Welcome, Aria Blackwood," he said, his voice carrying on a wind that seemed to come from nowhere. "Are you ready to fulfill your end of our bargain?"
Aria nodded, unsling her guitar. "Remember your promise. My song for Melody's complete recovery."
"Of course," Thorne agreed, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I am bound by my word, as are all of our kind. Now, let us hear the music that has set the realms abuzz."
Taking a deep breath, Aria began to play. The melody that flowed from her fingers was unlike anything she had created before. It spoke of moonlit glades and ancient forests, of the wild magic that pulsed at the heart of the world. As she played, she felt that familiar sensation of connection, of tapping into something vast and primordial.
Thorne watched, transfixed, as threads of light began to weave themselves around Aria's form. The very air seemed to shimmer and dance in response to her song, reality bending and reshaping itself to the power of her music.
As the final notes faded away, Aria opened eyes she hadn't realized she'd closed. The clearing around them had transformed, flowers blooming out of season, trees swaying to a nonexistent breeze. And there, watching her with an expression of hunger and fascination, stood Prince Thorne.
"Exquisite," he breathed, taking a step towards her. "You have no idea of the power you wield, do you? With proper training, you could reshape the very fabric of our worlds."
Aria clutched her guitar tightly, suddenly aware of the dangerous ground she trod. "I've fulfilled my part of the bargain. Now it's your turn. Heal my sister."
Thorne inclined his head, a gesture both regal and mocking. "As you wish." He raised a hand, and a swirl of golden light coalesced in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it speeding away, presumably towards Aria's apartment.
"It is done," he declared. "Your sister will wake tomorrow, free from all Fae influence. But I wonder, Aria Blackwood, if you truly understand what you've set in motion this night."
"What do you mean?"
Thorne's smile was equal parts alluring and terrifying. "You've drawn the attention of powers beyond your imagining. The Courts will not ignore a talent such as yours. They will seek to use you, to shape you to their own ends."
Aria's grip tightened on her guitar. "I won't be anyone's pawn."
"No," Thorne agreed, his gaze intense. "I don't believe you will. Which is why I offer you a choice. Let me teach you, Aria. Let me show you the true extent of your powers. Together, we could reshape both our worlds."
For a moment, Aria was tempted. The rush of power she had felt while playing, the way reality itself had bent to her will – it was intoxicating. But then she thought of Melody, of the price her sister had nearly paid for involvement with the Fae.
"I appreciate the offer," she said carefully, "but I think I need to figure this out on my own. My place is here, in the mortal world."
Thorne's expression flickered with something that might have been disappointment. "As you wish. But know this, Aria Blackwood. The door between our worlds is opening wider every day. A storm is coming, and you will have to choose a side eventually."
With that ominous proclamation, the Fae prince vanished in a swirl of shadow and starlight, leaving Aria alone in the transformed clearing.
As she made her way home, Aria's mind raced with everything that had transpired. She had made a deal with a Fae prince, wielded power beyond her wildest dreams, and potentially drawn the attention of forces she barely understood.
But as she entered her apartment and saw Melody sleeping peacefully, the sickly aura that had surrounded her completely gone, Aria knew she had made the right choice. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever storms were brewing on the horizon, she would face them on her own terms.
With a small smile, Aria picked up her guitar and began to play a soft melody. As the notes filled the air, she felt that familiar connection to something greater than herself. But this time, instead of bending reality, her music simply soothed and comforted.
In that moment, Aria realized that her greatest strength lay not in the raw power of her Fae-song, but in her ability to choose how to use it. And as the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, she made a silent vow to use her gift to protect and heal, no matter what temptations the Fae world might offer.
The game had shifted, the stakes raised. But Aria Blackwood was ready to play by her own rules.