FORBIDDEN HEARTS – By Lisa Kessler
Copyright 2018
Chapter 1
Her ankles wobbled in the strappy heeled sandals. How did humans manage to walk in this crazy footwear? Barefoot was much more practical, but this world had signs everywhere about no service without shoes, so she conjured up a pair she’d seen another female wearing.
She had to admit, the heels definitely dressed up her tiny feet and added three inches of height to her petite frame. She’d get used to them. Eventually.
Kathryn made her way down the crowded sidewalk without bumping into too many people. At least she thought they were people. She never realized it would be so difficult to tell.
Aliens, samurai warriors, robots, and something that looked dead surrounded her on all sides. The dead thing didn’t stink, but his eyes were cloudy and his skin was gray. He dragged his right leg when he walked, too.
A shudder ran up her back. This wasn’t how she pictured the human world would be.
When she stepped out from the shadows of the skyscrapers, the bay sparkled on her right, and a smile of pure joy crept up on her. The sunlight danced on the water, calling to her, but she wasn’t ready to answer.
Not yet.
With a sigh, she forced her gaze forward again and did her best to manage a wobble-free gait. Only a couple more blocks until she reached the convention center.
Her heels clicked the pavement faster, until the mob became too thick for her to weave her way through. She jutted her chin out and puffed air up at her multi-colored bangs.
Waiting made her crazy.
The moment she made it to the front of the line, a woman who maybe lost a battle with some sort of piercing demon, rolled her eyes up at her. “Your badge?”
She glanced around at the other people moving through the doors with lanyards dangling around their necks. Oh shoot. She needed a badge. “Um…I forgot it.”
The woman raised a pierced eyebrow. “I can’t let you inside without a badge.”
Kathryn sighed and turned back, working her way through the mass of humanity like a fish struggling to swim upstream. When she found an empty alcove, she slid out of the crowd and tried to think up a fake name. Her father’s men would be hunting her, no sense making it easy for them.
Her gaze darted around the passing crowd until she noticed a female dressed in a hot pink body suit complete with a face mask. The woman froze in a fighting stance for a photo.
“Magenta.” Kathryn smirked. “but Magenta what?”
All the other humans had two names on their badges. She clicked her fingernails, trying to think. Then it came to her. “Fae. Magenta Fae.”
A fit of giggles swelled, but she did her best to contain them. She wasn’t really a Faerie in the purest sense, but she was in the human world now. No one would question her about it.
She slipped her fingers inside the neckline of her silvery tunic, magic tingling against her skin, and slowly withdrew a badge with her new name on it. With her head held high, she waded into the long line again and presented her badge to the woman at the door.
The woman waved her device over it, and Kathryn started to move through, but the woman blocked her.
“Sorry. It didn’t scan. I need to try again.”
The person covering the other door swiped her device over another human’s badge, and it lit up with a loud beep. Kathryn focused on hers with a little push of magic. The device beeped, and the woman let her inside.
Immediately, someone handed her a large bag, but she didn’t stop to poke through the contents. The noise and camera flashes stunned her for a moment. There were people, elves, turtles, demons, and even fae everywhere she looked. Excitement bubbled in her stomach. She’d done it. No guards, no handmaids; for now, she was free.
She wandered toward a door with a primitive drawing of a person wearing a skirt. Her cousin, Princess Talia, had spent years in the human world. Since her return, Kathryn had peppered her with questions without mentioning her own intentions to cross the veil.
This door led to a chamber the humans called a restroom. Perfect spot to get out of her jacket before she started to itch.
Once inside, she found a row of tiny rooms with bowls of water in the center. She wasn’t sure of the purpose, but she wasn’t in a hurry to investigate. She went in and latched the door before slipping out of the jacket and tucking it into her new convention bag. Stretching her arms over head, she let out a soft blissful moan as her gossamer wings unfolded behind her.
Much better. She fanned them, stretching the tight muscles. Keeping her wings confined made her back hurt, like forcing her feet into shoes that were too small. She could have hidden them with her glamour, but each time she used her magic on this side of the veil, it made her easier for her father’s guards to track. She’d already conjured the badge.
The guards could be on the way now.
She pushed the thought away. Her time here was limited, she wasn’t about to spend it obsessing over being caught.
Besides, humans didn’t have wings like she did, but this was Comic-Con, and Talia had mentioned it was the only place their kind could walk among humans without being noticed and without using glamour.
Kathryn opened the door and stepped out in front of the full-length mirror.
“Wow! Beautiful wings…”
Kathryn smiled at a woman in a skin tight black outfit complete with a cape and long white hair. “Thank you.” She retracted her wings to allow the woman to get past her.
She stopped on the other side of Kathryn. “They look real.” She met Kathryn’s gaze in the mirror. “And those blue contacts are to die for. They almost seem like they’re…changing.” She ran lipstick over her mouth and then smiled. “Are you entered in the Masquerade tonight?”
Kathryn shook her head. “No, I’m only here until the sun sets.”
The white-haired woman with a small X on her chest raised a brow. “Too bad. You’d be tough to beat.”
After the woman left, Kathryn stretched her wings, and straightened her silvery tunic a little. The hem fell to her mid-thigh, scandalous for royalty. Hopefully it would help her fit in on this side of the veil. Her skin shimmered, almost opalescent, but in this crowd, she didn’t draw too much attention. They assumed it was an elaborate costume.
Next, she gathered up her ocean blue hair into a messy ponytail, exposing the pointed tips at the top of her ears. She glanced around the restroom to be sure she was alone, then gazed into the mirror again.
A tiny bit of magic couldn’t hurt. Just once more.
She brought her finger up to her mouth, and with a spark, her lips were bathed in a deep purple. Perfect. She stepped out of the room for ladies, and into the throngs of humans, vampires, elves, pirates, aliens, more of those dead things, trolls, dwarves, and something called Power Rangers.
Countless compliments came in about her wings as people passed her by. Her cheeks flushed with color. They were by far her best feature, but even so, she’d never gotten so much attention for them in her world.
For years her father had warned her of the dangers of the human realm. They were violent, primitive creatures without magic. Mundane and ordinary, he’d called them. But she couldn’t take her eyes off them. Pictures moved on devices they clutched in their hands, and that was just the beginning.
She couldn’t stop smiling. No politics or danger. They accepted her as one of them. Freedom. The realm of humans might be the wild side of the veil, but she loved it already.
Too bad she couldn’t stay long.
While she was here, she wanted to try everything. Up and down each aisle, she drank in giant overhead screens with moving pictures, toys, games, books, and a constant flow of people.
And they all smiled at her…
“Princess!” Someone grabbed her elbow.
She gasped. “Let me go!”
“Your father sent me. You must return home. Now.” The captain of the Royal Guard frowned, his voice as deep as the ocean. “This world is no place for you.”
She tugged her arm free. “I said, let me go!”
“Hey is this guy bugging you?” A warrior asked, sizing up her royal guard.
“Bugging?” She looked from one male to the other and slowly nodded. “Yes, I think he is.”
Her guard opened his mouth to speak, but the warrior raised a gloved hand and poked his chest. “Back off, buddy. Leave her alone.”
Smiling up at the royal guard, she slid her arm through the warrior’s. He placed a hand over hers with a tilt of his head. “After you, M’lady…”
She glanced over her shoulder at the befuddled guard and grumbled, “Go away.” Leaning closer to her rescuer, she kept her voice low. “We better run.”
Without waiting for a response, she wove through the masses of humanity as fast as her tall shoes would allow, tugging her warrior behind her. He kept a tight grip on her hand until she finally stopped to look back. They’d lost him.
Laughter bubbled from her lips. “We made it.”
He grinned, and for a second, the packed building faded away. She warmed all over as she looked up into his bright green eyes. Even though she was wearing tall shoes, she only came up to the center of his chest. His dark hair was short, not a long braid like the males on her side of the veil. It exposed his muscular shoulders.
She’d brushed against many males since she’d entered the crowded convention hall, but none of them had this effect on her. And somehow, he did it without any magic.
He chuckled, checking behind them before turning toward her again. “Did you know that asshole?”
“Asshole?” She tilted her head.
He cocked a brow. “Jerk, idiot, imbecile, simpleton…”
“Oh.” She grinned. Simpleton was a word she recognized. “He is the leader of the Royal Guard. I didn’t realize he would find me so quickly.”
“Royal Guard?” He plucked a bottle of water from his convention bag. “From what series?”
She tried not to watch his lips as he took a swallow of water. “Series?”
He put the lid back on, confusion lining his brow. “You know, like which anime or comic… I’ve never heard of a Royal Guard. He looked like an elf.”
“No.” She looked up at him. Talia hadn’t mentioned how handsome the men were on this side of the veil. “We’re sprites.”
“Sprites?” He stared at her like he’d never heard the word.
“Yes. We’re shorter than Elves,” she leaned in close with a conspiratorial whisper, “but we’re much better swimmers.”
He dropped his water bottle back into his bag with a crooked smile. “Do elves swim?”
“Not if they can help it.” She rolled her eyes. “They like boats.” She shifted a little struggling to ignore the ache in her feet as she examined his armor. “I can see you are a warrior. Is your kingdom far?”
His eyes widened. “You don’t recognize me?”
“Not really.” She shrugged her shoulders.
He straightened up, pushing his chest out slightly. “I’m Aragorn.”
“Nice to meet you, Aragorn.” She tipped her head, recognizing fellow royalty.
He frowned. “You seriously don’t know who Aragorn is? Come on. Middle Earth? Human warrior destined to claim the throne of Gondor…”
“Gondor?” She squinched her nose. “There aren’t any humans in Middle Earth, and no cities named Gondor.”
“Jesus woman, where have you been hiding?” He shook his head. “You’ve never heard of the Lord of the Rings trilogy?”
People gasped and walked in a wider circle around her like she had a disease they didn’t want to catch.
“I’m not from this world.” She crossed her arms. “I have never met this Lord of Rings.”
He wiped his brow and shook his head slowly. “We better not talk about this here. We’re liable to be attacked by orcs… Or worse.”
Aragorn took her hand and led her through the building, and out the back doors to a balcony overlooking the bay below. She took a deep breath of the salty air and smiled up at him.
“I am pleased to meet you Aragorn, future King of Gondor. I’m sorry if I offended you in some way, but I’m certain you are not from Middle Earth. Humans cannot cross into Summerland.”
“Okay, enough of being in character.” He set his convention bag aside. “Drop the act for a sec.”
“Character?” What was he talking about?
“Yeah. Come on, who are you really?” His gaze wandered to her name badge and back up to meet her eyes. “And please don’t tell me you’re Magenta Fae. That’s such an obvious fake name; I can’t believe they let you in with it.”
“My name…” Her brow furrowed. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t? Look, I’ll start.” He pointed to his chest. “My real name is Scott Jones. I work at a Jiffy Lube in La Mesa, and when I’m not in the gym working out, I waste my free time gaming online.” He offered her a crooked smile that made her heart flip a little. “Okay, now your turn.”
“Fine.” What could it hurt? She wouldn’t be in this world long, and humans didn’t believe in the veil separating their worlds anyway.
She peeked around Scott, checking for any sign of the guard before she turned to face him again. “I am Princess Kathryn, cousin to the Queen of Summerland. I’m a water sprite.”
He didn’t bow, reach to kiss her hand, lower his gaze, nothing. Instead, he suddenly burst out laughing. “You really expect me to believe you’re a sprite. And not only that, but a ‘Princess’?” He shook his head and reached for his bag. “You’ve got problems, girl.”
“You’re right, I do.” She flipped her ponytail back over her shoulder as his smile faded. “I am my father’s eldest daughter, destined to be the Ìobairt for my people. My life will appease the Dobhar-chú and protect my father’s realm.”
His brow knotted. “You don’t quit.”
She didn’t cross the veil to argue with a human, even a handsome one. The royal guard would find her again soon. She didn’t want to waste the time she had left.
“I’m sorry, Scott. I never should have told you.” She looked out over the water of the bay. “You may go now.”
She wanted to turn toward him, but she resisted the temptation. He had kind, green eyes and the heart of a hero, but she couldn’t involve him any further. She’d already told him far too much. Not that he believed her.
The magic behind the veil that separated her world depended on humans only seeing with their eyes. If they started to believe in magic, the veil would thin until their worlds once again shared the same plane. Her mother had told her stories of the ancient days when the fae and humanity lived together. Now humans believed they were nothing more than legends and myths.
He cleared his throat. “It’s a detailed backstory you came up with.”
She glanced over her shoulder before she could stop herself. “What’s backstory?”
“History.” He shrugged coming closer. “Like how the character became the person she is now.”
Unable to control herself any longer, she turned to face him. “And who do you believe I am, Scott?”
Forbidden Hearts is part of the FAE WORLDS collection releasing on June 4th! You can preorder now for only $2.99! On release day the price will be $4.99 for 5 never-before-published novellas.
