The walk back through the hallways and into the city was silent between herself and Tamesis, which she didn't mind, it seemed that they both had a profound appreciation for silence. She almost smirked, but Jenkin's last words echoed incessantly in her thoughts, 'Silver tidings, twilight teas, death hides behind the angel trees.' She knew that if she ignored her own name, tidings was often used to describe information, stories, or even rumour. If that was the case, then perhaps Freya and Visoth's wanderings and charm offensive, would be very useful.

She had a good idea of the meaning behind 'twilight teas', and by extension 'death hides behind the angel trees', but she really needed to speak to Freya about the darker side of the immortals' vices.

Before long, the two of them had reached the King's palace once more, 'or should she say, her father's'. The unsettling thought made her snort out loud, which caused Tamesis to turn around and eye her with his burning golden gaze, yet in contrast he radiated a chill that rivalled that of the Arctic glaciers. Distracting them both, were Freya and Visoth who appeared on either side of her.

Yet Destan surprised them all when he stood before them, showing a truly enchanting smile. "I'm afraid it's time, Silver... The celebration and announcement of your true status awaits." His tone, as well as his words, indicated that he understood her reluctance, even though a wry smile hid behind his eyes.

Visoth, suddenly cut in with a very impish look. "Don't worry shining Silver, Freya and I retrieved your daggers and other things from Destan... you can hide them on you as you celebrate," he said, lightly hugging her.

As Silver glanced at Freya, she caught her wink, and then watched as she sent Destan a truly wicked smirk, to which he paled considerably. The four of them then left, to the sound of Visoth's soft giggling and Freya's delight.

Upon entering her room, she found four maids waiting to prepare her. "We'll meet you after you're ready," Visoth said. "I can't wait to see how beautiful you'll look." His whole being glowing, he skipped off towards the door.

"If you harm one hair on her head, I will show you a new meaning to the words slow and painful death," Freya stated in a frigid tone. Silver didn't miss the maids tremble, before they bowed to show that they understood.

The fae were notorious for their plotting and unrelenting intrigue, and now Silver was a part of it, but she was no stranger to lies and deceptions. She would give them their finest game if they dared to cross her.

Surrounded by her maids, she undressed and slipped into the bath prepared for her. Her thoughts suddenly reminding her of all the times that her grandmother had cared for her, growing up. As she gently washed herself, one of the maids saw to her hair, and she did her best to ignore the hollowness in her heart.

The soft scent of blossoms rose and lingered in the air, letting her relax for a while, before she decided that she'd had enough. Wrapped in a light and silky robe after she had dried herself, she sat at the dressing table. While the maids braided her hair, woven with light pink flowers, she thought about the darkness that had slowly taken hold of those behind the mounting deaths.

Finally, the maids placed a fine white gold band across her brow with the lightest of touches, and then stepped back, allowing her to rise.

The look on their faces was a mixture of relief and hope, as their postures relaxed into a more natural slope. Silver bowed to them, hiding her amusement, as the thought that Freya really does know how to make an impression, crossed her mind. The maids bowed in return and left her room.

Within moments, Freya, Visoth and even Tamesis had settled back into her bedroom. Surprised, but mostly suspicious, she focused on Tamesis. "Have you taken a liking to my room?"

He relaxed back into one of the chairs as he took his time in answering. "There's unrest in the fae realm, and I know you know why." He raised a brow, and she knew that he was referring to the unexplained deaths. "It was suggested that I stay close to you, and as for your room, there is one thing that I have come to like."

"Well, I hope for your sake that the feeling turns out to be mutual," she said with a sly smile, to which he returned a sardonic grin, shaping over his shadowed cheekbones.

Looking away, she moved over to behind a screen where her dress hung in shades of pale pink and white, to match the flowers in her hair. As she slid into the corset, holding it in place, Freya appeared behind her, taking the ribbons and firmly tightening them. The wispy silk and chiffon draped her arms and shoulders, showing her pale skin as the high slits veiled her legs in airy caresses. Delicate chains the same colour as her name rested upon her, glimmering in the light.

As she carefully turned to face Freya, she remembered what she had meant to ask her. "Thank you for your timely help, as ever... But I need to ask something of you."

Sensing her serious tone, Freya narrowed her eyes, but kept silent, giving only a subtle nod.

"You said that back when you were younger, you kept some very dark company... Have you ever heard of a way to draw power from another?" She was sure that if there was, that Freya would have heard of it.

She waited as Freya tensed, her eyes thinning in remembrance of darker times. "I have never seen anything of such a nature, but I did once hear whispers of those that claimed, there was a way to draw power from both mortals and immortals. I don't understand how it is possible for a mortal to give power to an immortal, but this is only a rumour." She looked over and into Silver's eyes. "There is something else Silver... when you left this afternoon, I noticed and overheard some of the angels and demons speaking to the fae of you." Her ice-blue eyes blazed brighter. "Considering who you are now, I suppose that's to be expected... but be wary tonight, and by that, I mean to say kill first, regret later... but that's only if you truly have cause to regret anything." Freya smiled as a roiling darkness deepened the colour of her eyes.

The word rumour seemed fateful to Silver, and with what Freya had said, she began to understand what had been happening.

The demoness gave her a searching look, as the two walked out from behind the screen, and Visoth jumped up, his wings fluttering in his excitement, stirring the air in a prism of colours.

"You look beautiful, shining Silver! Like one of the fairy queen's from my book of fairy tales." Once again, his golden aura flared in pure rays.

Tamesis stood, his expression darkening with such intensity that it seemed to shadow Visoth's radiance.

Together they all left the room, but for Silver there was anything but celebration on her mind.

Thank you for reading <3
(Word count 1220)