Chapter 6

Sol and La galloped away with Tyler. La's goin' so fast. I think I'm goin' to fall off. All of a sudden, they came to a halt.

"This is as far as we can go. We're not permitted to cross the border," Sol said.

"I hate that you have to go to that awful Unseelie Court by yourself. I'll worry myself sick until you come back. We'll wait here for you," La cried.

"Don't worry about me. I'll do my best to find out what they're up to and come right back. You won't have time to miss me."

Tyler stared at the other side. It's bright here and so dark just over yonder. How strange. The grass was ebony, and the trees were onyx with orange moss. The sky was slate. Tyler waved and crossed the border.

This swamp has the filthiest water I've ever seen. Can barely see the sun. Reminds me of a solar eclipse. Never seen a gray mist floating everywhere before.

As he walked, Tyler watched three beings floating toward him. What are they? As they came closer, he could tell they were women. They're even uglier than some of the saloon girls that Dylan would end up with after being drunk.

"You're the other handsome twin, but your eyes are as black as the grass. You're heart's unfortunately pure. I'm Pino." She pointed her long bony finger at him.

"Regretfully, the other part of the prophecy's coming true. The dreadful stench of kindness is all over you. Pino's my name." She faced him showing her long skinny nose.

"Queen Mabon will want to see you. The brightness of your aura's so ugly. Sino's the name." She turned her head away from Tyler.

They must be triplets, identical except for their eyes.

"What are y'all?"

"We're the three wise hags," they said in unison.

"Soko, Soko, Soko!" Mino shouted.

Soko appeared. This must be the riding faerie Samdy was talkin' about.

"Climb on me, and I'll take you to the Unseelie Saloon until Queen Mabon summons us."

Should I go with him? Won't find out anything if I don't. After he climbed on the creature, Soko galloped away. This riding faerie bucks worse than a horse that hasn't been broken in.

When they arrived at the saloon, Soko bucked Tyler off.

"Why did you buck me off like that?"

"I don't like being ridden by humans who side with Seelie Court scum." Soko laughed and disappeared.

Tyler stared at a black building. He surveyed a faded sign that read 'Members of the Seelie Court Not Allowed' scrawled in red ink. Should I try to go in? Won't get a nice welcome, that's for sure.

The building was a two-story dwelling with hunter-green tinted windows. Tyler glanced at the peeling paint and cracks in the windows.

He walked to the red door and put his hand on it. The door burned his hand and left a mark, shaped like an x, on his palm. A little man, who wore a flannel shirt with 'Kill Seelie Court Faeries' scribbled in crimson, opened the door.

"Tyler Walsh, I'm Tombo, the elf. Don't expect any service. Just sit down and wait until the Queen's ready to see you."

"Fine." Tyler strolled over to a worn out, rusted table with a ragged ruby tablecloth.

He sat and glanced at a raven-haired woman with yellow eyes, who stood at the bar. She ambled over to him.

She sat by him and whispered, "Leave this place while you still can. I would if I weren't bound here by a curse. The prophecy needs to happen. I don't want to be a siren anymore. I want to be a soran."

"I'm here to make the prophecy happen. Won't say anymore because I don't know if I can trust you or not."

"Be careful, you may not make it out alive."

"Avia, don't talk to him. Get away from him!" Tombo shouted.

Before Tyler could say anything else, Soko walked into the saloon. "The Queen has summoned us. We should leave right away."

Tyler walked out of the building. Was Avia tellin' the truth? Will I leave here alive?

Tyler climbed on him. Soko galloped fast and bucked all the way to the castle. When they arrived, he bucked Tyler off. Tyler clenched his fist, but before he could do anything, Soko disappeared. All Tyler heard was laughter.

Tyler stared at the ebony castle. Is this goin' to be my doom?

While walking down the creaky bridge, he stared at a black hairy creature guarding the door. The closer Tyler got, he could see the long sharp nails on him. Those gosh dang nails look like they could cut my throat.

When Tyler stepped in front of the being, he growled, "Come with me." He grabbed Tyler's arm cutting into it.

"Hey, watch it, whoever or whatever you are!"

"Torro, the troll. Queen Mabon's bodyguard. You're coming with me. Don't try to struggle, or I'll cut you more!" he demanded in a raspy voice.

Torro spat on the door, and they walked inside the castle. While they strolled down the dim hallway, Tyler stared at the heads all around him. Will my head be the next one on the wall? Torro led him to a door at the end of the hall. He opened it and shoved Tyler in.

Tyler peered down at his arms and stared at the three deep cuts that bled. He glanced back up. This has to be the most evil looking group of creatures I've ever seen in my life. This is like being in Hell. They divided themselves, as Torro dragged Tyler to the Queen.

Queen Mabon gave him an icy stare as she sat on her throne.

"The other side of the coin's standing before you. The man who's the very instrument with which my mother will use to end our world and make the prophecy come true!" She jabbed her finger at Tyler.

"Kill him, kill him!" the crowd shouted.

"Put him in the dungeon then crucify him!" screamed a woman in the crowd.

They want to crucify me like Jesus Christ was thousands of years ago! He turned around. What's Marta doing here? Was she the one who called for them to crucify me? Why would she do that? She's a Judas!

"Throw him in the dungeon and chain him to the wall! He'll get a trial in the morning. If he's found guilty, he'll be crucified. Take him away, Torro!" demanded Queen Mabon.