Shot in the Dark (Shot in the Dark Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Shot in the Dark

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty

  One

  Twenty

  Two

  Twenty

  Three

  Twenty

  Four

  Twenty

  Six

  Twenty

  Seven

  Twenty

  Eight

  Twenty

  Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty

  One

  Thirty

  Two

  Thirty

  Three

  Thirty

  Four

  Thirty

  Five

  Thirty

  Six

  Shot in the Dark

  A novel by Anne Kendsley and Mary Dublin

  Interior formatting by Maggie Munyon

  Original story by Anne Kendsley and Mary Dublin.

  ISBN: 9781521525944

  To Kim, for never giving up on this story, or me. And to all the wonderful souls who still believe in fairies.

  -Mary

  To Maggie, for being a source of never-ending inspiration and for making my love for writing blossom over the years. And to everyone who’s encouraged me to keep doing what I love.

  -Anne

  One

  The sun made the world beautiful. Even in the dying hours of dusk, it still left a parting gift—golden rays that filtered between the hanging fronds of the willow trees that grew around Fog Lake. The radiant beams transformed the lazy strands of leaves into a dazzling sight. Cascading branches drifted in a warm breeze, showing off brilliant greens intermingled with flashes of light between. And if one looked closely enough, there was just a hint of trailing smoke that dotted along with the distant clouds on the horizon.

  Sylvia drank it all in, her green eyes darting over every minute detail like any moment could be her dying breath. She hung from a lower branch like it was a jungle vine, short brown hair drifting in time with the willow fronds in the wind. She hardly inconvenienced the branch with added weight. Only five inches tall, she just barely spanned a few leaf lengths herself. Though, her mother said that was the perfect height; Fae men were notoriously picky about their women being taller than them.

  "Sylvia!"

  She stiffened, instinctively releasing the branch in favor of spreading her wings. Upon facing the underside of the willow, she found two blurs flying her way. But she recognized these blurs. The two fairies circled around her, coming to stop in a hover level with her own.

  "Why'd you wander all the way over here for? So close to the Edge?" Rebecca laid into her immediately, throwing a wary look out between the outer branches. "There's barely any cover on this side. You're gonna get your ass eaten by an owl."

  "It's too early for owls, Becca," Damian dismissed. He deftly plucked a segment of blackberry out of Rebecca's leather satchel and took a generous bite. "You just wanted her to do all the work, finding the good berries."

  "I did not!" Rebecca folded her arms tightly over her chest after making a point of fastening the clasp on her satchel. "It's just not safe near the Edge and… well, you know how she is!" She brandished a hand in Sylvia's direction, exasperation seeming to curl the ends of her long hair.

  "How I am?" Sylvia feigned innocence, pushing aside strands of hanging leaves beside her and prompting the glittering light to wink. "I'm not breaking any rules here. Is it so dangerous to look for the best spot to watch the sunset?"

  Damian snorted. "You mean, look for the fastest way to slip past the night guards."

  Sylvia gave a short laugh. "Look for a way? They make it too easy." She gave him a pointed look. "As if you can act so innocent." She lunged forward and made a grab for his berry.

  He dodged away, his wings carrying him half a foot backward as he held his hand away for good measure. He chuckled, but there was no hiding how uneasy her comment made him. "Oh, that's not fair. It's been years since I've done anything like that."

  "Shh!" Rebecca looked less amused, throwing a cautious glance around, though chances were slim that anyone else was relaxing that close to the Edge. She kept her voice low. "Do you want someone to hear you talking about that kind of thing. They'll lock you both in your rooms."

  "Relax, Becca. For talking about kid stuff?" Damian looked skeptical.

  Rebecca raised her eyebrows at them, but Sylvia noticed it was mostly directed at her. "It's not kid stuff if you're still doing it when you're not a kid."

  Sylvia gave her a tight smile in return. "What's that supposed to mean?" She waved a hand before Rebecca could answer. "Since you're so worried about getting into trouble, maybe you should get back before curfew?"

  Rebecca paused, looking at her strangely. "You're not coming?"

  Sylvia bit her lip and glanced away sheepishly, inadvertently confirming the unspoken suspicions.

  "Stars above, you're going to try and make the flight to that hill house, aren't you?" Rebecca asked, paling at the very mention. "Sylv, it's a human place!"

  "An empty human place," Sylvia pointed out, more guarded and almost wishing she hadn't confided her plans to her friends in the first place.

  Rebecca shook her head. "Not true! There's reports of humans showing up there during the day. The bounds were pulled even tighter in that direction because of it. You know that."

  "Yeah, but there's no reports of humans hanging around at night. It's the safest time to go." Sylvia wasn't at all surprised by the strange looks her friends gave her. Humans and safe didn't belong in the same sentence. She understood their aversion, but she wished they would extend a little understanding of their own toward her. She sighed, frowning between Rebecca and Damian. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

  She was dismayed to see them hesitate, exchanging a brief look of discomfort. Then Damian put a hand on Rebecca's arm, angling himself so their beating wings didn't clash. "We won't breathe a word about it to the perimeter guards. But what are we supposed to tell your mother?" He crossed his lean arms across his chest, leaning back in midair with his eyes narrowed. "Need I remind you that she almost burnt my hair off last time I tried to cover for you?"

  Sylvia smiled apologetically, softening. It hadn't been that long ago since last time she snuck out and her absence was noticed, when she'd come home to find her mother had scolded her friends severely—and then some.

  "Fine, I'll be generous this time," Sylvia said, trying not to let on how truly guilty she felt for getting them into trouble. "You won't have to cover for me, since she won't know I'm gone. I'll come back with you for dinner, she'll see me go to bed, and I'll leave once everyone's asleep. The patrol on the inside is even weaker than the outside, anyway."

  "Wow. How selfless of you," Rebecca monotoned. "You know, you could at least try—"

  "HEY! You three!"

  Sylvia, Rebecca, and Damian all pulled away from each other to face the sudden voice. A ripple of orange light was barreling toward them. It evaporated into a mist of the same color just before reaching the trio. Harmless though the warning spell was, it had all three of the fairies with their hair standing on edge. As the mist faded out, the spell caster became
visible: a burly fairy wearing a stony expression and the green-stained leather uniform of the perimeter guards. A long line of runes were inked permanently on his left arm—a tribute to his superiority in combat magic.

  "Curfew," the guard barked. "You three need to head underground now."

  "Take it easy, we were on our way!" Damian hollered in return.

  Though her dark hair was still frizzed from stress, Rebecca gave Sylvia a softer look and elbowed her arm. "Come on, you nut. Let's get some dinner before you go all human-hunting on us."

  Sylvia snorted. She put up no protest this time, taking off alongside them in a curved flight. She tried to ignore the way the guard watched them all the while, aloof and critical. Though their diligence was questionable, she swore the perimeter guards all had the same sticks up their ass.

  "I just don't get it," Damian said, veering closer to Sylvia to be heard over the rush of wind in their ears. "You and this human stuff. It's just old junk, isn't it? Giant junk, but… still."

  "I get it," Rebecca admitted quietly. "It's interesting, no doubt about it. Just… not worth the risk." Out of the corner of her eyes, she sent Sylvia yet another reproachful look, as if she could guilt her into backing off.

  Sylvia swallowed whatever hurt feelings tried to surface. After all, Rebecca and Damian were still her friends despite her tendency to wander. "It's the only thing around here that is worth the risk," Sylvia said with finality. "And there's hardly any risk involved! No humans are there at night. And I know how to steer clear of a couple of stupid owls." She pursed her lips. "I've wanted to take a look in there for years, and now could be my last chance. It won't stay empty for long if those reports are right."

  "Sneaking past your mother, sneaking past the guards, sneaking past the Edge." Damian's chuckle was nearly lost to the wind. "Right, hardly any risk involved."

  "Are you even listening?" Sylvia huffed.

  "Yes, but you both better shut up before someone else listens," Rebecca warned in a quieter voice.

  More sets of wings buzzed up ahead. It wasn't long before home came into view—the largest willow tree for miles. Thick, gnarled roots pushed in and out of the earth, wild and elegant. Only someone who knew where to look would find the main village entrance hidden near the base of the tree. Curtains of hanging leaves sheltered all around. Barely a drop of sunlight could make it through even on the clearest day.

  Even after seeing it day in and day out her entire life, Sylvia couldn't deny its beauty.

  Though the ceiling hung low during the initial descent, it soon opened up to a far more generous space. Sunlight was replaced by the illumination of light orbs at fixed points along the corridor. The azure lights never flickered, never dimmed. The simple spellwork was imperative to the underground community, lighting their expansive home in otherwise impenetrable darkness.

  Distantly, Sylvia could hear the main entrance being sectioned off by the woven twig barriers. Curfew was in place. It was for their protection; fairies would remain safe, undetected by humans and untamed wildlife. She knew like everyone else that it had a noble purpose. But as the passing seasons drew closer to her twentieth birthday, it only became more stifling to endure.

  Sylvia glanced around. Surely she hadn't been the only one who heard the barriers being closed off… yet, as always, she seemed to be the only one perturbed by it. Bearing this in mind, she buried her clouded thoughts and tried to be optimistic. Luckily, the curfew barriers wouldn't hinder her nocturnal excursion that night. There was more than one way out of the village.

  "Smells like Lou whipped up something hot tonight," Damian remarked, taking a whiff of the air. He practically skipped ahead of the girls, disappearing around the corner of the leftmost winding hallway long before they could catch up.

  Sylvia's stomach growled in reply to the warm aroma wafting through the air. Hot supper was a rare provision. Maybe it had been a good idea to stop inside first tonight after all.

  The floor of the hallway sloped downward and widened, ending with an archway that opened into the round mess hall. Clusters of orbs hung in greater concentration near the ceiling, casting the room in a cheery glow. Smooth wooden tables and benches stood near the center, about half of the seats occupied.

  A short line of fairies waited by the counter at the back of the room. Damian was already near the front of the line. Rebecca led the way, weaving around the benches. Scattered conversation drifted about the mess hall, but the group of guards seated at the end of one table was by far the rowdiest. Sylvia couldn't blame them. If they were there, it meant they hadn't received night duty. Circling the perimeter alone at night while nothing happened had to get old at some point.

  "You think if I get you to eat enough, you'll be too stuffed and change your mind?" Rebecca muttered to Sylvia once they were in line.

  She snorted. "Not likely."

  "Sylvia," another voice said from behind.

  Sylvia gave a small start but turned around calmly. "Mother," she greeted with a smile.

  Her mother's long auburn hair was tied back, flyaway strands framing her face. She managed to have a constantly stern look in her green eyes, but she didn't look particularly upset about anything at the moment, so Sylvia relaxed.

  "I'm glad you're here." Her mother raised her eyebrows. "I was afraid I would I would have to go out and find you myself."

  "Becca and Damian already covered that for you," Sylvia said with a casual laugh.

  "Hi, Melanie." Rebecca leaned around Sylvia's shoulder, smiling a little too brightly. Nervous. "Are you joining us for dinner?"

  "Thank you, but Hazel and I already ate." She gave Sylvia a critical look. "If you didn't insist on coming in right at curfew, you could join us more often." When Sylvia answered with nothing more than a sheepish shrug and an apologetic smile, her mother sighed. "I'll see you at home, then."

  With her mother gone, Sylvia gave a Rebecca a gentle push to alert her the line had moved up sufficiently. "Well, you're getting a little better at not making her suspicious," Sylvia told her under her breath.

  "As if that's a good thing," Rebecca murmured, to which Sylvia rolled her eyes.

  The line cleared sufficiently once a mother of triplets had received the allotted supper for all of her fluttering youngsters. All three were at the ripe age of four, just learning to use their delicate wings for flight. Sylvia ducked as one of the more daring of the toddlers soared steeply over the line with a silly grin on his face. The frazzled mother took off after him, and the line calmly moved forward.

  Behind the counter, a cluster of fairies were bustling around a row of three brass cauldrons. Some were tasked with stirring the stew inside while others inventoried the ingredients being used. And still others were tirelessly doling out bowlfuls of the steaming stuff and passing them off to the counter staff. The sweaty fairy at the end pushed two oblong bowls across to Rebecca and Sylvia, barely sparing them a glance before moving onto the next person in line.

  Sylvia nearly melted at the tantalizing aroma wafting under her nose: wild onion broth with floating leeks, parsley, and potatoes.

  "Mmm-mmm. Hope there's enough for seconds." Rebecca seemed to read her mind. They crossed around the busier tables, making their way over to Damian near one of the arcing clay walls.

  "Thanks for waiting," Rebecca droned, raising an eyebrow at his empty bowl.

  "On hot dinner day? Sorry, guys, I don't love you that much." Damian scoffed, tilting back on the stool.

  ***

  The second helping of stew was almost enough to tempt Sylvia to turn in for the night as she lay in bed, full and satisfied. However, the towering human house never strayed far from her mind. Her nerve hadn't come close to dying out, especially not with circumstances standing so perfectly. Her mother and sister had already said their goodnights an hour ago, and Sylvia had done the same.

  The opportunity was there for the taking. She would be gone and back before anyone even realized.

  She sat up in bed, swinging h
er legs over the side of the fibrous sheet covering her mattress. Clasping her hands together, she shut her eyes to the dark and murmured a simple light spell under her breath. She opened her hands, producing a shimmering blue orb to cast out the darkness of her tiny room.

  Still dressed from that day, Sylvia released the glowing orb for only a second to slip her boots on. She took nothing with her, seeing as all she needed was her wings. Her fingers closed more carefully around the light as she passed under the low archway of her room and entered the main chamber of her family's dwelling. Almost there. Holding her breath, she wove soundlessly around the couch and armchair.

  She reached for the door, praying the hinges would be nice to her and not squeal too loudly.

  Something shuffled behind her.

  Feeling her heart drop, she whirled around to find her little sister grimacing and rubbing her eyes in protest to the light. Sylvia relaxed a fraction. It wasn't her mother. Her plans weren't completely ruined.

  "What are you doing up?" Sylvia whispered. "Go back to bed."

  Hazel squinted, rubbing the back of her messy red hair. She looked disoriented, but not quite enough to overlook that Sylvia was fully dressed.

  "Where are you going?" Hazel asked, voice jumping up an octave. Sylvia cringed, stomping forward to hush her.

  "Do you want to wake Mother?" she hissed, keeping the orb of light cupped close to her chest as she glanced at the farthest archway of their home. Nothing stirred, but Sylvia didn't ease up. Their mother could wake at any moment if Hazel didn't keep her mouth shut.

  "She'll find out anyway, and you'll get in trouble!" Hazel frowned, looking more upset the more awake she became, though she thankfully kept her voice down to an angry whisper.

  Sylvia gave her a hard look, leaning down and squeezing her shoulder. "I'll be back before she knows it. Unless, what, you're going to tell her?"

  Hazel squared her jaw, glaring up at her indignantly. "I could." It didn't take long for her anger to wilt into worry. Hazel shrugged away Sylvia's hand and sniffed. "I just don't like it when you leave. A-and I don't want you to get locked up in your room again."