Perfidious Read online

  “Hey, Elisia.”

  I faced Greyson with an eyebrow arched and my sweat-soaked shirt clinging to my sides.

  He avoided making eye contact as he scratched the back of his head. “There’s a pool party at my house on Thursday. Noah’s idea. It’s supposed to be around…ninety? I think.” He glanced at me with a half-grin.

  “That’s not really news. Noah has a new party brewing every couple of weeks.” It confused me why he was telling me.

  “I don’t know if it’d be your kind of crowd, but would you maybe wanna come?”

  I didn’t answer. It wasn’t like I got invited to any of the other parties he’d thrown. I blinked several times before he continued.

  “Noah…He, um. He wanted me to ask you. He said we don’t have to worry about homework because we won’t have school on Friday.” Greyson laughed nervously and shifted his weight.

  “Um, maybe.” I heard the uncertainty in my voice. “It sounds like fun. I’ll just have to check if I can go.”

  Greyson’s face brightened as he pulled a pen from his pocket. He reached out, grabbed my hand, and wrote something on my palm. “This is my number. Text me if you decide to come…or ya know, if you decide not to. Catch you later.”

  Greyson turned around and jogged to the boys’ locker room.

  I watched the way he went long after he was out of sight. I felt like I should have been wary. I looked down at the number on my hand. The handwriting was barely readable.

  A gleam of excitement danced like butterflies in my stomach. I hadn’t been invited to one of Noah’s parties before. It wasn’t like an invite was needed, but I still felt like I was too much of an outsider to go. Maybe I was overthinking it. I shook my head, hoping it would quiet my thoughts and wrangle my mind back on track.

  I needed to get to Perfidious.

  In the girls’ locker room, I copied the number into my phone and put my clothes into my gym bag. I ran out of the school and straight home, not wanting to miss my chance.

  I was barely winded by the time I reached my house. For a human, running a mile in four minutes was an accomplishment. For me, running the mile and a half home from school in four minutes was easy at top speed. Being half-elf definitely had its perks.

  My window was open, so I tossed my backpack and gym bag into my room as I passed it on my way into the woods.

  Each time, Kalvin took the same route coming back from his mom’s house—well, I guess it was more like a cave. I’d traveled with him a few times to visit her, but Kalvin usually went there on weekdays when I couldn’t because of school.

  Leaves crunched under my feet. I blazed through the gate and quickened my pace, hoping I’d make it in time. The path he took was the one that led straight into the mountains. There was only one. I twisted and turned around the trees in my way.

  Finally, the path was up ahead.

  I jumped to the lowest branch of a tree that towered over the narrow dirt trail and started to climb. The branches swayed as I made my way into the canopy. Soft footsteps creaked in the distance. I slowly balanced my way to a space in the leaves and crouched. My hand tightened. The bark poked my skin.

  Kalvin walked into view.

  He almost appeared human. But I knew he wasn’t, and I’d never underestimate him again.

  It reminded me of when we first met. I was up in a tree very similar to that one. I had gotten a little lost and was trying to find any landmarks I recognized. Kalvin and his dad, Aaron, walked past the tree.

  The boy, around the same age as me, noticed my bag and went to pick it up. I didn’t want him to touch it. My seven-year-old self tried to pick a fight with him. He appeared human then, too, and I thought I could win the fight. After all, Dad had started teaching me the basics of how to throw a punch. I thought I was prepared.

  But I didn’t stand a chance.

  This boy turned out to be half-dragon and was years ahead of me in training combat. After we settled down, Aaron helped me find my way home. Later, I stumbled upon them training and asked Aaron if he could teach me as well, since it seemed like my father had less and less free time away from his new job at the castle. He still wasn’t home very often, and Aaron was dead.

  I shook my head.

  Focus.

  Kalvin grew closer. I waited impatiently until he was directly underneath me.

  I jumped.

  My body cut through the air as my adrenaline pumped. I thought I would finally surprise him, but he looked up at the last second. His orange eyes narrowed as he sensed the present threat. Realizing it was me, his irises extended back into a circle, but his pupils still looked like dragon’s eyes.

  In a flash, he stepped to the side. His hands grasped my ankles mid-air and spun me around, sending me flying into a leaf pile. The leaves exploded around me.

  That didn’t go as planned.

  I battled with the leaves to get them off. Kalvin laughed, which was contagious, and despite all my efforts, I smiled back at him. He extended his hand to me, but I simply stared at it. Close up, I could see the faint outline of scales on his skin.

  After rolling my eyes, I accepted his help.

  “I think ya almost got me?” Kalvin said as he gave me an encouraging shrug, but we both knew I wasn’t even close.

  I finally noticed the straps around his chest and the two swords strapped to his back. My frustration quietly faded.

  My eyes widened. “Is one of those for me? Was this the secret something you had to get from your mom?” I asked, remembering he told me he would teach me how to fight with a real blade.

  We usually worked with wooden staffs or wooden daggers, but that was only because I had never been interested in finding an actual weapon for myself. I just liked learning different hand-to-hand techniques. But ever since Kalvin started at his new job in Coalfell as an apprentice blacksmith, I’d been interested in trying something out. Kalvin suggested swords to start.

  “Yup, Mom made’em for us. She made sure they’re sharp, but not sharp enough to break my dragon skin. I’ll still need to go easy on you, though,” he said, unsheathing an elegant silver blade and handing it to me. “An elf’s skin is not so tough.”

  “Ha! Wait ‘til I learn how to use it. You’ll be eating those words.” I shifted my weight to my back foot, extending the sword towards him.

  He raised his hands in fake surrender. “Sorry, Elisia. I know I said we’d spar, but I can’t today. There’s this village thing I forgot about. Argon is making me go. He said, ‘an apprentice should be like a shadow.’” Kalvin rolled his eyes as he did an impression of what I assumed was supposed to be Argon, his boss. “Whatever that means. I was raised by a blacksmithing dragon, and he barely trusts me to sharpen a blade.” He kicked a rock close to his foot.

  I placed my hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll let you do something soon. You’ve only been there for…what…a month?”

  “Yup.” Kalvin looked back at me, all doubt gone as his eyes met mine. “But trust me, I’d much rather be here to prove you wrong. Tomorrow?” He started backing away.

  I nodded and bit my lip. “Alright...I guess I should probably head home too.” My words made Kalvin stop in his tracks and sigh.

  His shoulders slumped, and he tilted his head. “What’d ya do this time?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “What makes you think I did anything?”

  “I know you. Now spill.” Kalvin still showed no emotion as he stared at me, an expression that always made me think he already knew what I was about to say.

  “My parents caught me this morning. I may or may not be in trouble when I get back home.”

  Kalvin shook his head as a mischievous smirk appeared on his lips. “If you need to get away from your parents, my place is always available,” he offered mischievously as he started walking backwards again.

  “In your dreams,” I responded, unfazed by his flirty comment. “Plus, I can’t leave. I have to go to school.”

  “Oh right, that human night
mare you always complain about.” Kalvin sounded mildly disappointed, but the smile remained on his lips.

  “Yeah. Well, see you tomorrow, Kalvin.” I waved as I ran off.

  “Bye, Elisia! See you in my dreams.”

  1351 – 1450 AD

  The monsters continued to fight back, but without a leader, their efforts were futile. Both sides of the Human War suffered loss after loss, and it appeared as though no side would be victorious. Blood stained the land.

  King Scholet II discovered that neither side was prevailing. So, on March 4th, 1375, he posted a notice in every village stating his desire to convene with the leader of the monsters in hopes of discussing the terms of the war and a potential treaty.

  No one came forth. Years passed, and new kings were born.

  In 1406, a shapeshifter who had led many successful brigades against the humans appointed himself the leader of the monsters. He approached the human king, King Kloss, in human form while all the citizens expressed their concerns. Upon his turn to speak, the shifter stood before King Kloss and declared his true form, causing a raucous in the great hall. After much deliberation, King Kloss met with him to discuss peace.

  The shapeshifter and King Kloss signed a treaty on June 9th, 1411 stating that there would be an area set aside for the monsters where humans would not hunt them. The shapeshifter was appointed king, and it was declared that should the land ever be without a central ruler, the treaty would become invalid.

  They named the land Perfidious.

  An excerpt from The King’s Legacy:

  A Complete History of Perfidious

  3

  I jumped through my open bedroom window and made my way to the kitchen, hanging my jacket on my doorknob. My stomach growled anxiously, so I opened the refrigerator and rummaged through its contents. Finding nothing, I closed the door to check the cabinet.

  Unsure what to make, I paced around the empty house. Mom usually worked at the news station until seven. What would put Mom in a good mood? Maybe make dinner or clean up the house? I knew we’d be talking about me leaving without permission that morning. Buttering Mom up didn’t always work, but it was worth a shot.

  I got to work straightening up the house. It needed to be vacuumed, dusted, and mopped. Mom liked to make sure we always had ingredients for easy meals, so dinner was the easy part—spaghetti.

  After dinner finished cooking and was set aside for serving, I paced the kitchen, listening for Mom’s car. I checked the clock again. 7:06. She would be home at any moment. My heart jumped at every car that passed by our house.

  Why was I so nervous?

  It wasn’t about sneaking out.

  Greyson’s party.

  I’d never asked to go to a party before, but that’s what normal kids did. Humans went to parties all the time and hung out with their friends. Maybe Mom would say yes.

  A car slowed down near our driveway.

  Headlights blinded my vision as I peeked out the window. Rushing back to the kitchen, I grabbed two bowls and dished out the spaghetti. My ears focused on the sound of her heels clicking up the walkway, the jangle of her keys in the lock, and finally the door opening and closing.

  “Dinner’s done,” I called to her.

  Mom shrugged off her coat, her tired eyes brightening as she made her way into the dining room. She grabbed a fork and dove in before I had a chance to set it all the way down.

  “Sorry, hun,” Mom said between mouthfuls. “Busy day…no time for lunch…needed food.”

  I laughed. “Did something interesting actually happen in this town?”

  She nodded and slowed down eating. “I mean, it’s not anything unusual. A reporter started looking into the disappearances around the forest line that leads to Perfidious. I had to find an even bigger story than his to deter him.”

  “Did you find anything?”

  “Eh, some medical supplies went missing at the hospital. By the evidence, it looks like they were just misplaced, but he’s new. He’s trying to find stories where there are none. I placed enough doubt in his mind for him to dive into the investigation.”

  I nodded and the sound of chewing again filled the air. After it seemed like my mom had relaxed, I decided to ask her about the party, my sweaty hands fidgeting in my lap.

  “So…” I elongated the word, trying to get her attention. “There's this party that I got invited to by a guy from school. It's the day after tomorrow. Can I go?”

  Mom set her fork down. “Hm.” She didn’t say anything else for a few moments. It felt like hours as she sat there, her lips thin. Finally, Mom turned her gaze toward me. “There’s a chance I’ll let you go. But first, let’s talk about how much trouble you’re in after this morning.”

  I cringed. I was hoping she’d forgotten about that. “Right…This morning…I, um, I was only going to the Mourning Willow. I wanted to go before school. And if I waited until you were awake to ask you, I wouldn’t have made it. And I wasn’t alone. Kalvin was there. He walked with me.”

  Mom raised the corner of her lips. “I know. I talked to your dad. He seems to think you're spending too much time in Perfidious, and that you shouldn’t have gone to the Mourning Willow.”

  “Is Dad still here, or did he already leave?” I already knew the answer.

  “He already left.” Mom paused before she spoke next. Her words seemed slow and calculated. “Your dad doesn’t like to spend much time away from the castle. That’s why he’s only here once or twice within a week.”

  I stabbed my fork into the noodles with more force than I needed. “It’s not fair that he doesn’t like me being in Perfidious, but he rarely leaves.”

  “Elisia, it's different for you.” Mom sighed. “Being a half-breed, you’re in a lot more danger in Perfidious. I know you and Kalvin are always together, but from what your father is telling me, you’re not making smart decisions over there.”

  “Mom, I promise you. I’ve been training in combat since I was seven. I know how to protect myself.”

  Mom took my hands. “So, this party. Where is it?”

  I struggled to find the words. “Um, down the road. Not far. I think it’s about a mile or so?”

  She nodded, but it seemed as though she was agreeing to something inside her own head. “You can go to the party.”

  My eyes widened. She was letting me go? I lost all brain function and didn’t remember how to speak.

  Mom’s smile grew. “It’s a chance for you to hang out with your classmates. I’m not going to say no to that. But you will have extra chores, including making dinners some nights.” She took a bite of her spaghetti. “I think we both need more home cooked meals.”

  “Deal.” It was the only word I could form. I couldn’t believe she was letting me go. Wasn’t I supposed to be in trouble? I expected a grounding or something a little more extreme.

  Mom pointed her fork at me. “You’re also cleaning up dinner. I’m way too tired, and I need a bath.”

  I nodded and went back to eating my food. After dinner, I took care of dishes per the agreement and made sure Mom had a container for leftovers. I had more homework, but I needed a chance to sit down before I did it. I laid my head down on the couch, grabbed the remote, and turned it to a show about people surviving in the wilderness. My eyes quickly got heavy. At some point, I dozed off.

  Pain radiated through my body. I couldn’t remember getting hurt. I limped forward. Two pathways stretched out before me. I knew I had to take one of them, but I wasn’t sure which way to go.

  Leaves rustled behind me, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.

  I turned around.

  A dark figure lunged toward me with a sword. I didn’t have anything to block it with. Fire exploded. I shielded my eyes from the blast and the heat spread over my body, threatening to burn me alive.

  I woke up sweating, frantically searching the dark room. I was still on the couch. The TV was off. My heart rate slowed, and my breathing returned to normal.

/>   It wasn’t real.

  But it certainly felt like it was.

  Checking the time, I realized I had accidentally slept through the night. School wouldn’t start for another hour, but I needed something to do to distract me from that nightmare. I walked around the couch and through the kitchen to my room. The green dresser creaked as I yanked it open, pulling out a color-splattered shirt and a pair of jean shorts. I slipped on my sneakers, grabbed my backpack, and headed out the door.

  The dream stayed on my mind throughout the day. The injuries, the fire, the surroundings, all of it felt way too real. Anytime I heard a rustle behind me, someone shifting in their desk, the dark figure entered my mind, making me jumpy. I was so focused on not thinking about it that I barely paid attention to what was going on around me.

  Before I knew it, I stared at the food choices in the lunch line. Everything smelled processed, so I grabbed a salad, exited the line, and looked for an empty tablet. A blur of a person ran in front of me. I retracted my foot and took a couple short steps back. A tray bumped into my back.

  “Sorry,” I apologized as I turned around. His milk carton and pudding cup had fallen over on his tray. A pair of wide, green eyes looked back at me. “Greyson.”

  “I’m sorry, Elisia. I didn’t see you there,” he responded, even though it was my fault.

  “It’s alright. I should’ve watched where I was going” A smile rose to my lips.

  His lips parted to speak but then closed tightly.

  Someone called his name, and he looked away. A guy with dark brown hair that seemed almost black and deep blue eyes stood next to a filled table, waving him over. Noah. Greyson nodded, then turned back to me.

  I took a step away from him. “I better go.”

  “Why don’t you sit with us?” he asked.

  My heart jumped at the offer, but my brain froze.

  “You’re going to the pool party, right?”

  I nodded.

  “This way you can meet some people that’ll be there.” He scratched the back of his head.