Adriana POV
Eros made quick work of strapping some supply bags to Venus's neck before settling himself at the front, with me behind and Emily between us, a piece of rope strapping her to me (to her loudly expressed disdain). Within no time, we were up in the air, my sister's previous complaints forgotten as she enjoyed the feeling of the wind and watching the landscape shift around us in awe. Kellen and Kata took the lead below us, looking no larger than a speck of dust from where we were.
It didn't take long for us to cross into the Unseelie kingdom. If it hadn't been for Eros announcing the fact from the front, I'd never have known it - the kingdom, from air at least, largely matched the scenery I have seen from flying on Venus before. Of course, when we closed in on the area of our destination it was a different matter - we had to dismount Venus once we reached the more densely populated area that, surprisingly, was not too dissimilar to a human city. We then sent Venus back to find Mahlia.
As of right now, Emily and I are under a glamour that Eros put on us to make us look like fey - something he told me Mahlia showed him some years ago to help with his 'hunting' duties. It's really quite strange, seeing Emily with pointed little elf ears, her eyes glowing a brighter blue than usual. What's even weirder though is how much it suits her. I don't even know what to think; I had expected it to look more foreign or out of place to me, but she looks as if she almost belongs here. Perhaps the glamour just plays on the childish innocence that is common for her age. I on the other hand look a little alien - I caught my reflection in a window - not that anyone seems to have noticed. My appearance hasn't even changed much, but the pointed ears and brighter green of my eyes seem off putting. I didn't understand at first why I had to be changed - Eros looks pretty human-like after all being a High Fey, but he quickly told me that because there aren't many of that status, seeing a 'new' one would raise suspicion.
As we walk through the streets, I have to say I'm once again surprised by our surroundings. It isn't at all what I had imagined. The more I see of this world, the more I question every pre-concieved idea I had about what it entails. The city is much busier than Kata's quaint village, with so many elves rushing about. Some wear dark business attire, wearing stern expressions. Dispite there being so many people, the area is eerily quiet, with nobody socialising much at all. The roads are also full of vehicles looking exactly like cars; they don't have exhausts or appear to operate in the same way as they would back home; some don't even have wheels, hovering instead as if by magic, contributing to the quiet. Although, saying that, I suppose they could quite literally run on magic.
There doesn't seem to be as many different types of fey wandering about as there were in Kata's village. The city mostly appears to house elves. Eros never explains why this is, instead opting to keep a keen eye out for anything suspicious and for once I feel he might actually be ignoring everything going on in my head. He seems incredibly tense, constantly on guard. I can never quite tell how necessary that is. Many of the elves, while looking at him with a quiet acknowledgment, pass by without second thought. I do wonder how many here actually have an inclination of the motives for his visiting.
A little tug draws my attention; I look down, noticing Emily pulling on my shirt and looking off to our left, whimpering. I hold on to her hand tightly before following her gaze - a group of male elves are sitting around a table outside of what looks like a small, dreary café. Most of them appear to be minding their business, save for one. In any other circumstances he may seem completely normal, blending into the crowd. However, I can't help but notice the familiarity of the sheer white colour of his eyes. There's barely any colour to them at all.
The elf's stare stays fixated on Eros, paying little attention to Emily and I. Eros pays him no mind, but this somehow makes the matter even more unsettling. He's surely aware of the man's presence.
At the very least, if he isn't already, he soon will be.
The elf stands, turning away from his group. They watch him intently as he slowly stalks towards us, his shoulder's tense despite his vacant expression. Emily hesitates, tugging at my hand again. I don't stop walking though, continuing to follow the prince. He still ignores the man, almost as if doing anything to avoid looking towards him.
"My Prince," a hoarse voice reaches us as the elf steps directly into our path.
Eros halts but makes no response, only raising a brow at the man.
"It has been too long since we have seen you in these parts, your highness," the faintest smirk plays at his lips. His eyes briefly drift towards Emily and I before snapping back to Eros.
The Prince's expression remains unreadable as he clears his throat. "Yes well, as much as I would surely enjoy discussing that time I have elsewhere to be. If you'll excuse me-" he barely makes two steps before the elf is blocking his path again, smiling.
"Surely you must have a minute or two, your highness. A lot has happened since you visited last."
In the corner of my vision, the group of elves stand one by one, coming forward as they watch the scene unfold. Emily's grip on my hand tightens.
Eros steps towards the man, completely unfazed, pressing his hand on the man's shoulder. "I can assure you, sir, that I will be able to discuss matters another time," removing his hand, he steps around the man, Emily and I following his lead.
As we come to walk around the white-eyed elf, his arm darts out, his fingers now digging in to my arm. Startled, I release Emily's hand as she squeals and runs towards Eros who quickly grabs her.
"Haven't seen many young newcomers in a while," the elf sneers, his eyes piercing as they meet my own. "Is she yours, my dear?"
Gulping, I glance towards the Prince, who simply nods while holding Emily. "My sister," I croak.
"You should be careful considering all those rumours, dear," he turns his gaze towards Eros. "Someone might think you're lying..."
"You would accuse your Prince of lies?" with his previously unreadable expression now gone, Eros glares at the man, his stance full of authority.
"Surely you know of the rumours, your majesty..."
"I am well aware. Yet they are just that, rumours. Release the girl."
The man makes no move to release me, instead tightening his grip. A few yards away, I spot a pair of glowing purple eyes creeping closer through the crowd; at least one of the vampiric siblings has caught up to us, waiting to see if they should intervene.
"You should be careful, sir, or someone might believe you to be treasonous," Eros glances at the elf's companions, making it clear that anyone who joins the man in whatever he is trying to achieve will be included in this judgement.
Reluctantly, the man loosens his grip, allowing me to yank my arm away. I don't wait to get away from him, immediately moving to take Eros's outstretched hand. I look back at the man - his white eyes catching my attention again while they remain fixed on the Prince. Although, they aren't the brilliant white that they were before; now, there appears to be the suggestion of a pair of pupils, maybe even irises. I could have sworn that they weren't like that before.
"Of course your Highness. Please forgive my behaviour," his face twitches before his gaze leaves Eros, now observing the ground.
"Get back to your business. We are all finished here," without letting go of my hand, Eros begins turning to continue our path while guiding Emily with his other hand placed on her upper back, though he stops for a second. "Should I hear anything more of these 'rumours'... Expect that it shall be considered treason."
Most bystanders at this point are now staring at the ground, following the elf's lead and not daring to question Eros any further. Some of the crowd begins to disperse; I spot Alec, who gives me a reassuring nod before slipping away. Eros never lets go of me or my sister, and while you wouldn't know it from his posture, I can feel the effect that this encounter has had through his tight grip.
*****
Eros barely spoke during the rest of the journey, except for offering to carry Emily on his shoulders when she began complaining that her legs were tired, which did cheer her up after the incident earlier. We had continued to walk through the bustling city in silence before reaching the safe house, which actually happened to be a small apartment belonging to one of Mahlia's contacts, Darius, who came with her when we first met. Obviously, since Mahlia is still waiting for him and the other people they came with, he was not home when we arrived, however Kellen and Kata were here to greet us once Eros had unlocked the door 'wizard style'.
The apartment is nothing too glamorous - it rather reminds me of the type of thing a student might live in back home while studying. There is a kitchenette and washing machine underneath the only window, with a bed and wardrobe against the wall to the right of the front door. There is only one other door which I am assuming leads to the bathroom. Other than the bare essentials and a single shelf of books, there isn't much here at all, and there's even less privacy.
The lack of anything to do quickly makes Emily restless, but lucky for me Kellen is equally as restless and they both find themselves play-wrestling (ish) on the floor, Emily's laughter filling the space.
Sitting next to Kata, I find myself contemplating the man from the city. Those eyes...
I was certain that they had been pure white. But they had changed when I looked back at them, having become more 'normal'. How can that be possible? I suppose I could have mistakenly thought that they were white; I never did truly see them actively changing. But then how many things have happened lately that I would never have even dreamt of? Maybe I'm finally losing it. With all the weird crap that I've now seen, I'm sure that even if I did see something rather than just losing my marbles, it's got to be normal. Or at least, not that worrisome. There are clearly more important things at hand. Though I had given it no second thought at the time, the fact that the elf seemed to be unaffected by Eros's high fey magic-shit is surely worth some consideration.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, those more important things may have to wait for a little while, because His Royal Highness currently doesn't want to speak to anyone at all, opting instead to brood on the floor by the washing machine. Something is clearly bothering him, but any attempt from myself or Kata at communication results in a scowl or an irritated 'hmph', followed by him going straight back to being all wrapped up in his head. At least he's out of mine for once I suppose.
Despite Alec having been fairly close by earlier, he and Becca have yet to appear; we are still waiting on them by nightfall. With Kellen and Emily now snoring innocently in the bed, the rest of us attempt to stay up, awaiting their arrival. Kata was the first to succumb to the night, slumped against the wardrobe in the silver beam of light coming from the curtain-less window. Against all odds, Eros manages to remain awake, though I can tell it is difficult. For how long he managed this I have no idea. Too soon, I find myself at peace, weightless.