Lord Trevor

The Hasting carriage pulled up before our Manor's Massive oak double door. Not even waiting for the coach to stop, I sprang out of the vehicle with the newspaper strangled in my hand.

How dare he?

How dare he!

The guards posted at the entrance didn't waste a snapping second opening the bloody door for me when they saw the steam rushing out of my ears. Father was going to explain the meaning of this nonsense. He announced the engagement on the bloody times! So that was his plan, eh?

Navigating through the house with the will of a pissed off assassin, the maids and servants scurried off to a corner when they saw the raged man approaching. The heat in my body was hot enough to win a boiling contest against an erupting volcano. Right now, pouring volcanic magma on my father's head sounded like a bloody good idea.

After a few minutes of walking, I found myself before my father's study. The door was a massive double door designed intricately with iron and gold. Its design was an elm tree with its veins designed in hues of gold and black, the golden leaves falling in a dancing funfair ride. Bloody enough, this beautiful door seemed to calm my nerves. But when I saw the butler standing next to it, I became enraged again.

Father knew I would come...

That bastard son of a bachelor!

Bernard the butler, did a quick side-step, shielding the door from its furious visitor; me.

"Lord Hastings," He tried his best not to sound scared. I could see the spirit of fear and uncertainty cowering behind the depths of his brown orbs.

"Mr Bernard," I didn't hide my rage.

"The Duke is busy."

"With what?"

"Erm..." He scratched his shaved head, the lights of the gas lamp refracting on it.

"Let me help you with that," I held up a finger, "He's planning another publication. Maybe, this time, he would tell them we're madly in love."

The old man grinned, "That's not bad. In fact, I think it's a splendid idea, Lord Trevor."

What I thought was splendid was how he managed not to be in a psychiatric hospital. This man should be tested to see if he still had his bolts intact!

"I would like to see my father."

The butler held the lapels of his tailcoat, eyes to the golden ceiling, "I'm afraid that won't be possible. The Duke gave specific instructions not to let anyone through."

My jaw tightened.

My finger twitched.

My fists curled.

There were a few shuffles and ripping of fabrics.

Oh, there was also a distinct groan of an old man as I shut close the double door. Mr Bernard chose the wrong person to mess with today.

Ahead of me was my father's study, a lot bigger than mine. A labyrinth of bookshelves towered to the clear glass ceiling, tomes filled their spaces, my father's brown desk at the middle of the literary opulence. He was behind the desk, monocle over an eye, hands flittering through a file before him.

"I see you managed to get past Bernard. How surprising."

He must've heard the commotion outside. Ignoring the arrogance emanating from him, I stormed to his desk, slammed the newspaper before him, his eyes not for once leaving the file he read.

"What's this nonsense!"

Slowly, more than slowly, annoyingly slowly, he leaned back, brow raised, countenance cool, "A newspaper. I thought it was obvious."

A dangerous sense of deja vu struck me. I had said this before. My lips slightly parted when I saw a flash of humour in his eyes that died out in a splitting second. This....! Don't tell me he still had that in mind!

"It's more than obvious. It's eye peeling!"

"Appealing, you mean?" He observed me coolly above steepled fingers, yellowish rays of the sun burning on his white hair like fire on snow.

He still had the guts to make jokes at a time like this!

"You announced the engagement on the bloody times!"

"I can see that quite clearly," He inclined his head, "You wanted a lesser publication? I should've known, you took after me. A lesser publication would mean lesser money would be paid. You're a crude businessman, Trevor."

I batted my lids in utter bafflement, not able to comprehend how he could be so relaxed after what he did. He announced my wedding with that girl! I would rather eat horse poop every day than marry her.

"I can't marry her father."

"Pray do tell, child."

Child... He was trying to say my words were nothing but a childish babble. I searched the room for anything to lunge at him. Books. All books. Blast!

"I don't love her, father."

He gave me a long look.

"The engagement has already been announced. Nothing can be done again. Annulling the engagement would ruin the Hastings name. I have a reputation to protect and business to do. So if you would excuse me..."

That was my invitation to leave.

Maybe I would...

Maybe I would!

With my newly found idea, I marched out of his study.

***

A reputation to protect.

A business to run.

Those were the only things he cared about. He didn't care about how I felt. A grey cloud of sadness smouldered my mind as I reclined on my study chair. If mother was here, I was sure things would be different. I wouldn't be forced into this reckless marriage. Lady Jane was pretty no doubt, but not my type of woman.

Maybe Elain is.

She definitely was. Adventurous, brave, smart, beautiful and many more I hadn't yet discovered were enough to describe her. These few days I've known her had filled the empty hole years in this manor had created.

If my father had made up his mind to end my life with something as stupid as marriage, I wouldn't let him. I closed the novel I was reading and stared beyond the windows of my study. The sun strewed stubborn yellow lights across the forecourt, the pristine fountain glistening with opulence. It was a beautiful sight to behold. But there was something else I found a lot more beautiful

Not even dashing blue sky.

Not even the glimmering golden gates ahead.

But the world beyond it.

And at that moment, I made my choice. One that I knew I would regret sooner or later. But first, I had to speak with the Fae.

***

Two days had passed but there was no
sign of the fae. I went to the Hasting Lake thinking she would show up but was left alone with empty hopes. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe there was no fae. What if my bloody mind was playing tricks on me? I must've wanted adventure so badly that I created an illusion I chose to believe in. A fool I was to think someone like her existed. It was all an illusion.

"Dear God," I sighed, running my fingers through my hair.

Night had come and I was in my usual place for this time of the day; my study. The lights of the gas lamps burned, shafts of silvery light lunging through my arched window. Hours had passed and I waited. I waited till the chattering along the corridor outside died down. The servants must've gone to bed. I checked my watch - it was getting late.

Every lingering hope I had about her existence burnt out as the night grew thicker. She wasn't coming because she didn't exist. Hours ago I was at the lake waiting patiently for a sign. For anything to prove to me she wasn't just a figment of my bloody imagination. And as the night grew, I was disappointed.

She didn't come so I had returned to my study. Sighing my last hope away, I got up from my study chair. Mazing through my study, I fixed the novel I was reading into a bookshelf. I gazed one more time at the forecourt, hoping for a sign. I didn't want to give up. Not now. Not ever. She had to be real. I felt her tender hands. I felt the warmth of those soft forearms. I witnessed the magic she performed during the great exhibition. She had to be real. She had to.

But reality was telling me a different tale. If she was real, she would here. If she was real, I wouldn't be in such a temperament. Blast me for believing in a fairytale. Blast me for wanting something more. She wasn't going to come, was she?

I was so drunk in my bloody thoughts I didn't hear the voice calling out to me.

"Trevor," it was a soft whisper. Shivers of excitement racked my body, my heart leaping for joy. Even in unconsciousness, I would recognise that voice.

"Elain," I whispered, my eyes searching the room for her.

"This way," she said, "your bloody window!"

My gaze sped to the window, her blue eyes glinting in the dark. She was real... She was real! Deftly skirting past the decorations of my study, I approached the window. I paused for a moment, taking my time to observe her glorious presence. Closer now, I could see her waves of black hair floundering on her shoulders.

"Open up before a guard sees me!" Her glowing blue widened with panic.

With unbelievable speed, I raised the windows, the Fae flying inside, trails of golden dust following her. Shutting close to my window, I turned to meet a grinning Fae.

"Missed me?"

Not knowing the bloody force that overcame me, I embraced her in a chest-tight hug. She stood frozen for a few seconds, not able to comprehend my unreasonable action. I too didn't understand why.

Exiting the embrace, I took her in with one look. The lights of the gas lamp bounced off her tight black trousers, her callipygian structure defying the laws of anatomy. She was majestic. She was womanly. And more importantly, she was real. Curse me for thinking otherwise! Heaven be praised!

"Where have you been?" I asked, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

She rested her curvy behind on my desk, arms crossed, "Something came up at home. I couldn't leave. But with the help of someone, I managed to sneak away."

I wanted to ask more, but I deemed it rude. Her private life was none of my business. Clearing my throat, I spoke of a matter that had been at the back of my mind for the past two days.

"You were talking about giving me adventure the other day. What does it entail?"

A pool of life swirled in her blue eyes, "You really want to know?"

"Indeed."

She smiled lovingly, her red cheeks darkening, "Well, I was thinking of taking you to my realm."

"Realm?" I had only heard about such in the fantasy novels I read.

"Yes, fairy realm."

My lips went apart unable to believe my ears, "It exists?"

She let out a bubble of laughter, "Of course it does! Where else do you think I live?"

My curious gaze travelled to her pointed ears. They were other people like her too. People with bloody fae ears! My blasted mind knew this to be true but the knowledge was too beautiful to be a possibility. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to see this place she spoke of. If what I read were true, I was sure the lands would be filled with glistening lakes and sweet scenting flowers.

"My realm is filled with new experiences at every corner," she continued, "I'm sure you want to get away from the arranged marriage your father planned. I could take you there now if you wish."

"N-now?" I stammered.

She inclined her head, "Is there a problem?"

Of course, there was! My father, his Dukedom, his business - I had been too busy thinking of running away I didn't think of what I would be leaving behind. If I left, he would be so devastated. But a naughty part of my mind reminded me of what he felt was important to him.

His reputation and his business.

Surely he wouldn't notice my absence. Such nonsense! Are you okay, Trevor? He would! He locked himself up for a week when my mother died. I wouldn't want him experiencing such a thing again. I thought I had this whole thing planned. Apparently, I didn't.

I closed my eyes, blowing my scrambled thoughts away, "Elain, my father..."

The itching silence stretched, the hooting of an owl prevailing the silent night. The Fae watched me, her blue eyes swirling with an ocean of pity. Heaving a huge sigh, she spoke up.

"Trevor, if you don't go away with me today, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to see you again. There has been... certain changes at home. My family..." Her voice weakened as she went silent. What just happened? I moved closer, stretching a hand out to touch her rosy cheek but retreated. I couldn't touch her. Not yet. I wasn't ready.

"What happened, Elain?"

She put on a smile that I knew too well to be fake, "Nothing. I'm just being silly."

Either she was or she didn't trust me enough to tell me what was bothering her. She spoke of certain changes and her inability to visit me from today. Whatever that was, I'm sure it was the reason for her mood change. But I couldn't live with the thought of not being able to see her anymore. I had to choose between a Fae I knew little about and a father I had known for twenty-seven years. Whatever I chose would decide my future.

Deep down in my dilemma-enslaved mind, I knew what I wanted. A decision I had already made but knew I would regret. I would have to push aside my responsibilities for this. I would have to leave behind a legacy. I would have to leave behind my father. A fool I was. An idiot I had become. All these for someone I didn't know too well. But there was something else - something I knew too well.

Adventure.

And I would go after it.