Killian tastes smoke and ash as his teeth close around the voice's hand.
The voice tuts.
"Now why would you go and do that?" it asks, bemused.
The darkness of their surroundings darken a lot more for a second before Killian is thrust into a lavishly furnished large bedroom, easily larger than Killian's own room.
"My Lord will meet with you in the morning." the voice says, disappearing before the human can see it properly.
Perhaps Killian shouldnt have been so curious to the Fae if this would have been his outcome in the end. Maybe he should have stepped in the Fae circles he often saw when he went forgaing for materials, or cursed to the Fae when something went wrong, maybe none of it would have mattered in the long run.
He closed his eyes as the darkness somehow got darker thinking perhaps now he was unconscious. But then was being thrust away from his kidnapper and into a room, too bright all of sudden for Killian to make out any finer details, much less finaly of his assailent before they disappeared. He sat knelt on the ground where he had been thrown down and coughed up the ash and smoke taste from his mouth. He took a few moments to take in the details of the room, lavish and decorated from floor to ceiling in gold and jewel tones, rich greens and purples made for nice accent colors across the room. It was almost enough to distract Killian from the fact that there was not door into the room. Almost. He stood from his spot on the ground and started walking the perimeter of the room. There had to be an exit somewhere, perhaps it was conceled within the decor of the room. After an hour or so of knocking on the walls or jamming various odject he found the room into what he thought were seams or cracks, Killina gave up looking for a door, figuring the fae or whoever captured him were at least smart enough not to put him in a room with an easy exit, for humans at least. Its partially why Killian didn't even consider the floor to ceiling windows across the room. There was a decent size balcony but below that were clifs overlooking mountains. Where he was used to the view of oceans, not a single body of water could be seen from here. Escaping seemed pointless anyways now, since he didn't know where he'd go to start his journey back home if he managed to get out. So he did the only thing he could do, wait. He'd wait for his captor or whoever they worked with the show up. Surely they would, constidering they had left Killian in a nice room rather than a prison maybe chances were high they'd meet.
Time seems to pass very quickly.
In no time at all, the sun can be seen rising over the mountains in the distance.
At the same time, a door appears on on of the walls. It opens by itself, revealing a long, narrow corridor that runs on for several hundred feet before it ends with a door similar to the one that had appeared.
Killian paused in his wandering around the room as the door appeared on the far wall. He narrowed his eyes, expecting some creature to appear. He waited, wishing he had a knife or something sharp to at least have the illusion of fighting back. He was sure whatever or whoever had taken him wouldn't be too harmed by a knife.
Killian came closer to the door and stuck his head out, brows creasing in confusion as he slowly left his room. Uneasy but determined to leave as soon as possible to get back home, he walked down the corridor and made it to the door, lightly resting hand on the handle before tugging it open.
As soon as the door opens, some force pushes Killian inside. The door shuts, and disappears,
Wyrdlights - magical balls that emit light akin to a fluorescent light - pop into existence, slowly lighting up the chamber that the human found himself in.
The sheer scale was unlike anything Killian would have ever seen or heard of in the human world.
And yet, it seemed very woods-y, the pillars ancient trees, the walls made of interwoven branches. The roof was a dense canopy of leaves that tinged even the wyrdlights green.
At the end of the hall, on a throne made of deer antlers, lounges a Fae.
"Come forward, Killian." the Fae says.
His voice was lyrical, like a bird's call, fluttering and whispering through the dozens of trees and leaves and branches. It was a kind, yet authoritative voice.
Killian stubbled fowards into the next room, barely catching himself on the wall. Once he regained his balance and straightened, he realized he wasnt inside anymore. Or at least the new room didn't look like the one he had been thrown into. While eqially as grand and beautiful, this room seemed to encompas a forest within it's walls. Trees and branches arched overhead to make the dome ceiling. Leaves the color of fire and gold occasionally fluttered down from the ceiling, it even smelled like a crisp fall morning. It took Killian's breath away and as an inventor who entire job was to understand how anything and everything worked, not knowing how the orbs of light or how the trees grew inside peeked his curiosity. Then again, this was the Fae lands. Maybe humans weren't allowed to understand much here.
He was about to reach out and touch one of the orbs when the voice spoke. He spun around, now finding that he was not alone anymore. Across the room was a dais, stairs leading up to the throne of antlers. But it was the throne that froze Killian in blace, though the deer antlers were impressive. no, it was the Fae lounging on it that turned Killian's blood to ice. They were stunning, not in the ways humans could look beautiful but in the way something wild and untamed could be seen as alluring. Killian blinked before slowly walking forwards, his gaze never leaving the Fae. Despite the fact that Killian was entranced by the fae's appearance, it didn't escape him that he had still been taken, most likely by this Fae. Away from his home, his life, and his little sister. "Do I have you to blame for suddenly leaving Eevee orphaned again?" He accused once he reached the bottom of the stairs. To hell with formalities. Perhaps if the Fae saw Killian as disrespectful and rash he'd let him go quicker. That or kill him but he was hoping for the first. "I have no business with you, nor your people." He continued. "So why did you take me from my sister?"
"She's being taken care of very well, Killian. By you. as a matter of fact." the Fae smiles.
He waves his hand and an image is conjured, of Killian in his room.
"See? You're still there." the Fae teases.
"As for having no business with us, that isn't exactly true, now is it? After all, few humans have ever done as much research on the Fae or other such creatures than you. Killian Archeveist," he chuckles, leaning forward in his throne. "Which means we have business with you. The nature of knowledge and learning is that it is a double-edged sword, just waiting to strike the user."
Killian narrowed his eyes but eventually looked over to where the Fae had conjured an image seemingly of his own home. He could see Evangeline sleepily going down the stairs, most likely confused by the sudden noise and deciding to check it out. Instead of finding his study area empty, Killian greeted her. But that couldn't be right because he was right here, in some fae world, not back home. His heart broke as the not-Killian crouched down and hugged Evangeline, comforting her and reassuring her everything was okay, apologising for the noise and doing everything he would have done to ensure she would be alright. It was perfect, too easily perfect that Killian wanted to scream. He was supposed to be there, not this fake. Was he really that easily replaceable? He whipped around and glared at the fae lord.
"I swear on the gods you hurt her there will be no force on Earth or Fae that'll stop me from killing you and your little court." He seethed, waving away the illusion and began to pace. He was human, and that threat, while rang true, was empty at best if the rumors about Fae were true. There was nothing physically he could do that would actually hurt the fae, save for iron, but he didnt see that as option here at the court. Besides he had never been the fighting type, at least not physically. One look at the fae on the throne and Killian could alost guarentee they've seen there fair share of battles in their endless lifetime. And even if they were proper and prim royalty who decided they were too good to fight their own battles, the fact that Killian had never once been restrained or checked for weapons oonly proved further that there was no possible way he'd pose a threat to any of them. He paused when the Fae spoke, turning his irritated and less than interested gaze on him. None of the beauty of the room nor the fae royal themselves naively captivated Killian as it did moments ago, not after seeing his little sister with some fae creature posing as him.
"Few yes but I'm not the only one. Is this supposed to make me feel special? Like I'm the chosen one out of all the humans simply because I take an inerest in noth natural and unatural worlds? Why not tytake in a lonely meister or even orphans. there are plenty interested in the inner working of worlds that would also love to live in a place like this with creatures interested in their work. Unfortunately, you've just taken somone completely uninterested in the latter it seems." He stopped in his pacing in front of the throne, slightly intimidated by the fae leaning closer but refused to let it show, at least externaly. He crossed his arms over his chest defensively, if not a bit childishly and nodded his head. "In that you are correct, I admit." He watched the Fae for long moment, trying to discern why on earth or beyond why they had such an interest in a human of all things. "What purpose do I serve here then? The answer all your curiosities whenever you have the urge to know about something?" He asked, glancing behind him to see if anyone else knew why a fae would possibly want a lowly human in their kingdom.
The rest of the Court starts to laugh.
The Fae Lord lets out a low chuckle.
"By all means, Killian Archeveist! You may certainly attempt to do so," the Lord says, voice full of mirth. He even pulls out a dagger and holds it out to the human. "You can even attempt to do so right now."
If Killian were to actually take the dagger, he'd be able to tell immediately that it was iron, though the implications of this would be. . . unclear.
But the Fae knew the human wouldn't.
"Orphans can't give insight as to family, and neither can a lonely meister. Orphans also rarely know how to read, while a lonely meister. . . well, they're always a pain to deal with, and always end up dying in a year or two," the Lord grins.
"Besides, there are few who can claim to have even stumbled across the name of our King or Queen like you have," the Fae adds with delight.
The Fae leans back.
"Entertainment, of sorts. And yes, you are here to answer any questions about humans I might have," the Fae Lord smirks. "In return, I'll give you any knowledge you desire, within reason."
The longer Killian stood before the High Fae Lord and their court, the more he realized he was being played for a fool. Killian made no move to reach for the knife. While it would bring a sliver of reassurance that at least he'd have some sort of weapon, what good would it do when the one it was supposed to be hirting held it so confidently. He could attempt to first, take the weapon from the fae and then actually use it against him, something he had high doubts the court would allow him so freely to do so easily. He stayed put, eyeing the dagger warrily, aware that it could just as easily be use don him.
His gaze shot back to the high fae and gave a humorless laugh. "You'd be surprised what they could offer, not jsut you but the world." He muttered, shaking his head in dissapointment. Not at the fae per sae, he didn't expect such creatures to give any though to those less than themselves, that'd be giving them too much credit, but on a larger scale, at the world he supposed, for not giving kids like he had been and Evangeline had been a chance to show what they could offer. As for the lonely old meisters, it had been through them that Killian had learned the most. Not only about his own craft but about life and philosophies and so much more.
He looked away for a moment and made the decision to stay quiet in the moment. What the fae had said was true. He knew for all the warnings and caution tales he was told about studying the fae, Killian couldn't help but want to know more about more. In his studies, yes he had ome across the Queen and King's names, ones he couldn't pronounce, but they had intrigued him. He had even scrounged around his village archives for the fae ancestory and lineage trees, his curiosity peaking as he read about each heir and heiress. But for all his harmless if not very pointless research, he never thought it'd garner anyones attention, much less the fae lords.
"And if i don't answer your questions? If i don't satify as entertainment?" He questioned, sidestepping the topic of the king and queen for now. "and if i wish to know nothing from you?"
"What use does the world have for kids that it itself abandoned?" the Lord says with a frown. He wasn't going to argue with the point about the meisters.
The Fae lord smirks, knowing he had Killian in check in this moment.
"It's not like you can leave anyways. Even if you choose to not satisfy as entertainment, that itself is entertaining, though obstinance wears through Fae patience quickly, especially human obstinance," the Fae smirks.
"As for wishing to know nothing from us. . ."
The Fae Lord disappears from his throne, now towering over Killian.
He bends down so his lips flutter against Killian's ear.
"You know you won't be able to resist the temptation of knowledge. It's what has led you so far into your studies, has it not?" the Fae whispers, chuckling.
Killian narrowed his eyes at the fae, finding the statement ironic considering not too long ao he had been considered an orphan child. He still didn't have parents of his own but he had a family, no matter how small. or at least he used to have one until now. Now that family belonged to a shapeshifting fae thing in his own home. The more the fae lord smiled and smirked and found enjoyment in their interations, the more Killian was reconsidering taking the dagger. He wasn't going to be do much with it but he was almost positive it would relief him of some frustrations at the very least.
"That doesn't really seem to be my problem, considering you decided to take in a human. Perhaps you should have considered takeing a more willing participant for your games." He suggested cooly, watching the fae closely, though apparently not closely enough. one moment the fae was lounging on his thron, the next he was at Killian's front, bending down and whispering in his ear.
It took everything in Killian not to immediately back away and instead he stayed stiffly in place. He tilted his head slightly towards the fae, trying his best to ignore how close his sharp teeth were to his neck. "You forget, Fae. I didn't come here willingly looking for knowledge. That I can get for myself without your help. It is you that needs something from me. Something that right now I'm not willing to give up so easily, least of all to you." He then took a step back and clasped his hands in front of him, mockingly innocent as he gave a sweet smile. "bring me my sister. My real sister, alive and well, and then maybe I'll consider. But until then, I give you nothing." He reasoned, knowing it was a rare chance his request would be met, especially since more drastic measures could be considered before making a deal with a human.
The Fae Lord shrugs.
"They aren't 'games,' Killian," the Lord states.
The lord chuckles delightedly.
"You know you've hit a wall in your research. Where was it. . . ah, yes. 'The Bloodlines of the Autumn and Summer Courts,' no?" he snickers.
The Fae Lord smiles.
"We can do that," the Lord says.
With a click of his fingers, one of the bystanders nods and steps back into the shadows, disappearing.
Moments later, the bystander returns with Killian's sister in his arms.
Killian's eyes widened slightly in surprise but he dispelled that as quickly as he could. Yes, he had paused in his research when he got to the Autumn and Summer courts, their history alluded human research and himself the most since he had started looking into fae culture. Alluded and very much interested Lucian for all its mystery. But how the fae lord knew that Killian couldn't understand, that or didn't want to think about much. He had never thought of himself as someone to be watch, to be intriguing enough for anyone to observed him and his life. He was just a regular man, once orphaned and now trying to provide a decent life for his adoptive sister. He had the dream of traveling the world when he could scrounge up enough money from his tinkering job and take himself and Evangeline out on a vacation every now and then just to enjoy and take a break. Never in a million years to be caught up in the desires and intrigue of a full on Fae Court.
"I'm assuming you're the fae lord of the summor or autumn court then. Am I getting too close for comfort in my so called research, enough to warrnt my capture?" He questioned, brows knitting together in confusion. Before he could make more specific agreements for his siter's security, the order had already ocme out of the Fae's mouth and a moment later, the thing that had taken Killian the first time appeared again with his sister in his arms.
To her credit, Evangeline was kicking and scratching at her captors arm, angry and most likely afraid.
"Let her stay with me for however long I am here for and I'll give you whatever answers you want, as much as I am able to." He turned back to the fae lord, no longer haughty and defiant, instead more pleading and reserved. "Please, she's the only family I have. I'll work better knowing shes safe with me, rather than with a stranger back home."
(boop)
(Oh shit. My response never sent, did it? I'll do it in the morning.)
(all good reply when you can!)
"Who, me?" the lord grins. "I'm merely a simple lord. Whatever gave you the impression that I rule either court?"
The fae lord's gaze turns cold.
"No. You may see her once a month, provided you answer my questions and serve as a good source of entertainment. And only when I feel like sending one of my people out to get her. If you don't cooperate, you have no chance of seeing her. If you do, you get the chance to see her. A good deal, no?"
Killian's gaze flicked around the room and then to the alter throne on the dias but said nothing, it didn't matter anyways who the lord was or wasn't he wasn't going home now. He belonged to the Fae whether he liked it or not.
He faltered turning to find his sister in the crowd, who had stopped her struggling and was watching Killian with tears in her eyes. Killian smiled sadly, "Its going to be okay," He mouthed, shaking his head when she started struggling again, calling out his name and begging him to stop.
It took everything in Killian to turn back around, ignore her please and address the fae lord, or whatever they were. Killian couldn't care less. "You want someone who can tell you about family and life, yet here you tearing one apart." He said, not with the same sarcastic maliscousness he had a few minutes ago but more sadly. He shrugged and took a deep breath. "Once a month it is then, for any answere to your questions you may have at any time. seems fair." Now that had been sarcastic. "No, but I get the feeling I'm not allowed to refuse. Can I at least say goodbye?"
The fae holding Killian's sister clamps a hand over her mouth, muffling her cries and pleads.
"Tearing it apart? No no no. . . in my eyes, I'm strengthening your relationship. After all, it's unhealthy for a girl's development if her older brother is always around, watching her," the fae lord replies easily.
"No. You've seen her for this month," the lord chuckles.
The fae disappears again, with Evangeline.
"When she wakes up in the morning, this will be but a dream to her. Her brother will still be home, and everything will be fine," he croons. "Isn't that what you want from her for now? Once a month she'll come here and then wake up in her own home, thinking it's a dream. . . human children are quite resilient like that."
He would have rather been dead than be told he'd barely get to see his sister for some rediculous reason as pleasing as far lord's request. All in a few moments his entire life he'd worked so hard for was gone.
"If only you knew what she's been through for me to be so protective." He murmured in dead tone, barely audible becuase he knew the fae wouldn't care so long as his curiosities were satisfied.
He breathed a soft laugh, turning around to face Evangeline once more to mouth 'i love you' before she disappeared before his eyes. He glared at the fae lord, but it was void of emotion now, his whole body seemed to weigh him down as he faced his captor and regarded him with dead eyes. "You know it's not. But you also don't care." He tilted his head and nodded slightly "resilient yes, especially her."
"Yes, well, we've all been through some shit. Doesn't mean I have to treat humans like equals or friends. Or anyone, really," the lord shrugs, but his tone was clear. You have no idea who you're talking to or what you're talking about.
"Exactly. So no point in getting so depressed about it," he smirks.
He clicks his fingers and the doorway appears again, leading to the corridor that ha led Killian from his room to here.
"Just shout if you need something. There's a door on the far left wall that'll take you to the washroom and privy," the lord chuckles.
"And if you need me, just call out 'Everen Thorn.' I'll open the doorway to either my chambers or this room," he grins.
Killian leveled his gaze with the fae's before nodding slowly. "In that we can agree the ." He replied almost reluctantly. Agreeing or relating with his captor was the last thing Killina wanted to do, considering everything that just happened but he'd be lying if his his faith and tolerance for his own kind didn't wayne throughout his life. After he had been abandoned as a child, not even wanted by his own parents, much less strangers so he learned quickly to only trust himself. It was only when he became decently well known in his craft and settled with his sister did he slowly begin to allow people closer to him and even then they were seperated by experience.
"Then you have quite a lot to learn if you think being torn away from the one thing you love is not worth being even mildly depressed over. As genuinly as I possibly can, your lordship, I hope you never experience such loss." Killian didn't return the smile, he simply turned around and watched in mild facination as the corridor came back into view.
At the very least he'd have his own room and some semblance of privacy. He'd be able to try and research a way to leave without much disturbance.
He started towards the corridor without staying to listen to the fae. He wouldn't stay long enough to ever have a need for Everen. He certainly wouldn't have a need to go to his chambers either, though he did wonder why that would ever be an option to him.
"You don't have any damn clue what you're talking about, human," Everen snarls. The chamber trembles with the vicious tone.
He's shaking, himself. He lets Killian go without another word.
Killian allowed himself to revel in the small victory of pissing off the fae Lord. It felt breifly good amongst the grief of losing his sister. While she wasn't dead, she wasn't with Killian. He had failed her in every way possible. He had broken every single promise to keep her safe, to provide her with a home where he would always be waiting, to be by her side forever even if she chose to one day venture out into the world by herself. Now those promises would be upheld by some fae creature pretending to be him and while Evangeline would most likely not know the difference, Killian would, every single day he would know. That would kill him, if the fae didn't first, that guilt and greif would surely kill him.
He didn't let himself cry until he got back to the lavish room and the door had disapeared. He knew better than to trust anyone or thing in the fae realms so he took up a corner by the window sill over looking the mountains and quietly allowed himself to sob and yell into a pillow and do whatever else he needed to do to get his emotions out. After an hour or two, he wasn't sure that he cared to keep track of time, Killian found the private shower, refreshed himself as best he could and toured his room again, and promply headed to bed, foolishly thinking perhaps this was a dream or maybe he could sleep away eternity. In reality he knew that wasn't true, as much as he wished he didn't, he would wake up here, in a beautiful bed, in a beautiful room, living the nightmare that was serving a fae lord in place that could and most likely would kill him any chance it got.