- Matthias -

"Who are you?" I shouted. "Tell me your name." I'm chasing after her but there's something separating us. Her features are hazy and blurry but I recognized her as the girl I saw in my vision.

She turned back briefly and flashed me a grin. Revealing a glimpse of her gold eyes before turning away. Her chestnut hair fans out around her as she swivels to the right. Turning the right corner, I chased after her but I'm lagging behind and her shadow remains out of my reach.

She reached a dead end and stopped before a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders. A man stood behind her, a smirk on his face before both of them disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"No." I breathed. I know that pair of pale eyes. I could recognize it anywhere. The last remaining of his kind.

But the question is what has he got to do with the mortal girl?

"Micah." I sighed as I rubbed my temple, feeling worn out from the hours I spent scrying. The fading light signified that it was already evening, the ending of another day. My half-brother who was sneaking across the room behind me froze.

"Did I interrupt a vision of yours? Or whatever scrying thing?" Micah said as he turned to peek at the back of my head. "Well, I tried tip-toeing you know." He shrugged.

"No. Not exactly... I just needed some answers." I groaned a curse as I stretched my stiff muscles. "I need fresh air. I'll be out."

Prince Micah raised his brows in amusement. "Noah's place?" I nodded as I grabbed my hood and pulled it over my head. "Hmm sounds pretty bad then."

There are only two reasons for me to head over to Noah's place. Either to drink my sorrows away or some time alone. Ever since my mother has become incapacitated, I've always went there. It's almost like my second home.

I said nothing as I put on my leather boots and strapped any two daggers I grabbed into my waist belt. "Matthias." My brother's words forced me to look him in the eye. "You know we will always be here for you. Okay you know what? Scratch that. Maybe I should say I will be here for you, I can't guarantee for the rest. Knowing them." He muttered darkly.

"I know. You're the closest I have as a brother." I said as I grabbed an empty pouch and filled it with gold and silver coins.

"Huh so I'm closer to you than Ezekiel?" Prince Micah chuckled. "I knew it. I hold such a precious place in your heart."

"Yeah yeah. I saved a precious spot for you on my ass." I said as I stuffed the pouch into my pocket.

"Wow. Your sexy ass. I feel totally honoured." The older fae prince waggled his brows. "Ass that makes the ladies stare everywhere you go."

"Yes and yours will make Katherine stare until the both of you trip in the bedroom." I replied tersely. Hearing my words, Micah laughed, a deep rumbling sound. "How you've grown, little Matt. Never knew you were secretly fantasizing about our bedroom scenes. You have finally matured. Congratulations. Tell me which girl you fancy and I will bring her to our doorstep. Is it that blue-eyed who keeps staring at you?" He offered his arm as his other patted my shoulder. Each pat increasing with strength.

I rolled my eyes as I stepped into his open arms bidding him farewell with a half-embrace. A normal brotherly act but with extra pressure. He returned the same as he stared at me, communicating a silent message before letting me go. Internally, I sighed in relief. I knew I was pushing my luck. Micah may be my blood but here in the Night Court, they were never the loving sort full of affection. They are always constantly rivaling for the throne, fighting to gain the scattered factions to their sides. "They" because as the youngest prince I have no interest in the throne. Why fight for the same thing and throw myself to the wolves?

"There's no one." I said as I strode out of my room.

"Oh c'mon stop being such a spoilsport. There's plenty of them for your choosing. Just give me the word." My brother called after me. As much as I wanted to go back there to tell him to fuck off, I knew better than to do that. He's at least a hundred summers older, with years of experience. I wouldn't even last longer than 10 minutes in the fighting ring with him.

Striding into the throne room, I stopped as I spotted a familiar figure and almost bowed under his powerful gaze. It's an automatic reaction, not that I should ever do it since the Dark Beast is only my mother's right-hand and always of lower status.

He was alone in the throne room sitting on the steps of the dais. The single throne sits empty and the black roses that adorn it look as fresh as the day Suola sat there, commanding and imperious. The Dark Beast is loyal, and that is why I respect him from the bottom of my heart. Even without the Dark Queen, he has never abandoned his duties as our caretaker and advisor. How did mother find someone like him? Through sheer power I presume.

"How may I help you your majesty?" The Dark Beast looked away from the letters he was reading and inclined his head towards me. His piercing gaze stared right at me through his gold-rimmed glasses which I know he is completely fine without. A stack of papers in black-white print lay on the floor.

I recognised the newspapers belonging from the Human World. A cup of toasty coffee sits on the step of the dais, making it look like this is his own little home. As if the queen is taking a break elsewhere and he is waiting for her return.

"Mister... Uncle Beast." I say, still not used to addressing him so informally. "I'm going to be out for a drink. If there's news about the other courts, I would appreciate if you can inform me."

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He raised his brows with genuine concern lining his eyes. It always surprises me. His emotions that is. When I was young I heard many stories about Suola's pet. All depicting him as a cold-blooded killing machine. They call him Jack the Ripper or the Death Ripper and I always have a certain wariness towards this half-beast and half-man since I met him when I was three...

"Meet your uncle." Suola's voice was as sensual as the night and as imperilous as the High King's himself. Sometimes I even wondered if one day, were my mother and the High King began to wage a war between the two courts, who would be the victor.

Three-summers-old and still wet behind the ears, I peeked out from behind her long flowy garment only to find a pair of dark pupiless eyes staring at me. With a silent scream, I clutched the silky dress tighter and moved as far away as the material allowed me. My mother's child-like giggle reounded in the silent throne room as she was entertained by my reaction.

"Oh he's so inoocent." She giggled. "But I can't help but to help you out."

With a flick of her fingers, I was propelled towards that hulking mass of shadows which roughly resembled the form of a man kneeling in front of the throne. The same pair of depthless eyes bored into mine, piercing through my very soul, as if it could see through me and taste my fear. As my small body fell forward into the arms of that very monster who has murdered thousands of our kind, I squeezed my eyes shut in horror.

But the Dark Beast patted my head and whispered. "Do not fear Death, for Death is the end of your fears. Be brave my little prince."

...

"I won't take long." I continue to say though I have no idea why. I just feel that I need to prove my worth to him.

He stared at me silently for several beats before nodding. "If you need my help, don't hesitate to demand it of me. Your mother treasures you the most out of your six brothers and I will make sure you will remain safe until her return."

I blinked. He made it sound so easy, as if Suola will wake up one day and materialize in the throne any time now. Deciding to change the subject instead, I say. "How was the war council?"

"Oh, it went smoothly. No need to worry about it. Leave it for this capable one to handle." He winked. With a nod, I left, feeling the weight of his bottomless gaze tracking my back.

***

"Mm secrets and secrets. So many secrets." She said as she breathed in my scent, latching onto my body. Placing one hand on my chest, her other trailed down my arm, caressing my stiff muscles. And also stealing some of my magic from the contact.

"Ursla, I'm here for Noah." I say as I gently detached her from my body. The succubus pouted, before laughing. "Ew. As cold as always and Noah this and Noah that. If I hadn't known you I would think you're into the other type."

The hushed conversations stilled and continued. In Noah's place all visitors are his guests and he the host. Status do not matter, everyone is treated the same here. The bar is a neutral place in the middle of the dark factions in the Night Court and a place for bartering information.

"Respect Ursla. You're talking to the prince of the High Court." I warned, my tone revealing a glimpse of the restless power inside me.

Rolling her eyes, Ursla huffed, but I can sense her uneasiness as she brushed it off with a flick of her hair. "Yes Princeling, I apologise. To me you'll always be that small boy who stumbled into the bar looking like a lost little lamb. I forget my place sometimes." She grinned before bobbing into a curtsy. I shook my head as I scanned the place, trying to locate the person I wanted to meet.

"Your highness." The same tall wispy bogeyman at the drinks bar bowed. "What drinks would you fancy today?"

"Anything's fine." I replied at the same time my eyes caught a familiar tall massive form moving towards me.

"Matthias?" A deep voice called as the large figure made his way toward me. He easily towers the place and his presence domineering. But when he saw me, his grim face broke into a wide grin. The muscular warrior stretched out his arm towards me and I took it firmly in mine, feeling myself being reeled into his grip. I leaned against his steady strength as I squeezed back before we clapped each other on the back.

"Noah." I said grinning. His face is neatly shaved, his white hair braided behind him, and his eyes the richest shade of hunter's green. I easily stood as tall as him.

"What brings you to my humble abode?" He talks to me like how he greets every guest. But if you know Noah well, his concern is carefully veiled behind his brazen eyes.

"I'm looking for something." I say quietly.

"Your drink is here, your highness." The bogeyman at the bar counter placed the glass on the counter top and bowed before disappearing. Ursla is also gone, she's now sitting on one of the guest's lap entertaining them as she was supposed to. It was a silent unspoken agreement that they always gave us privacy to talk. Because they know how precious the time I have with Noah means to me. That and the information I need is highly classified.

Noah only raised his brows as he made himself a drink. A strong one that rivals mine because I can smell the amount of alcohol in both our glasses. I raised my brow at Noah and he shrugged in response. "Don't tell me you've come this time in search of a treasure or a miracle drug. You know I can't do anything to help the queen."

"I'm looking for a person. A mortal." I said as I stared into my cup. The liquid sparkled under the low tavern lights and appeared transparent, reminding me of a person's tears. Swirling it's contents, I sipped it. The heady fragrance of tigerlily, mint and lemon intersects and mingles in my mouth. There's something else, pear and frangipane before it slides down my throat leaving a trail of burning.

Noah on the other hand has no such qualms about tasting, he gulped his drink in one go and placed the empty cup down on the table.

"A human?" He said curiosity and disbelief ringing his deep voice.

I know it must have sounded like a joke. A prince of the Fae Realm interested in a human? "Yes. A girl. 18-years-old and extremely gifted." I lowered my voice further and Noah strained to hear over the din of noises and raucous laughter of his guests. "She can speak the Old Tongue."

The slight widening of his eyes confirmed that he had heard what I just said despite the burst of roaring and laughing.

"This... I can't help you. You know the Human World is off-limits. Even for someone like me." He said not bothering to mince his words. Wordlessly, I pulled out my bag of coins and placed it on the table between us. This was the reason why I brought it. The price for information. Noah raised his eyebrows but took the bag of coins weighing it in his hands before pushing it back to me. He shook his head.

"More? I can give it to you. Just name the price." I say. But Noah stopped me. "No. I don't want your money, keep it. I'm disappointed Matiás. I thought we were way past this." He stood up from the stool signalling that our private conversation was over. But instead of moving away, he moved closer, and shoved the bag into my hands.

"The only person who can help you is the Beast Suola keeps her leash on. He has access to more information than you give him credit for." He whispered in my ear before clapping me on the back.

"Spare your money. We have enough as it is." The dark elf said coldly as he walked off. "More rum my guests?" He shouted as he made his way into the midst of travellers, misfits, battle-weary warriors and possibly even spies. I placed some coins on the bar top and finished my drink before stalking off.

***

That smart man. I stared at the piece of folded paper in my pouch. I was emptying the coins back in my room when I saw a flash of white. When did he put this inside? I didn't see it.

Opening it, I read the simple line. "Ask the Beast about Paranormal Departments." A grateful smile tilted my lips, and I silently vowed to thank him properly the next we meet.