Chapter 4

Once Arkaya led Selene through the castle gates, the rest of the evening went by in a blur. Selene didn't see the horned man again but passed several strange-looking creatures as they weaved through the castle. Many shared features similar to Arkaya, but others had feathered wings, green-scaled skin, or ears that stuck out like fish fins. They even passed a large furred being who bore a strong resemblance to Bigfoot. The castle was also filled with bands of cats, roving freely.

After rushing through countless corridors and up two sets of stairs, Selene wondered if Arkaya was deliberately trying to disorient her. Finally, Selene was led into a bedroom. It had beautiful arched windows and was roughly the size of her and Kevin's entire apartment. The rich furnishings made her think of the designs in her father's Art Nouveau coffee table books. She felt very lost in the vast space.

"This will be your room," Arkaya said. "The queen has meetings tonight, but expect a visit from her in the morning."

"And then she'll be able to take me home?" Selene asked, wringing her hands.

"I don't know. Are you hungry?"

The thought of food made the anxiety in Selene's stomach churn even faster. "No, thank you. I feel like garbage. I really just want to sleep."

"Of course." Arkaya frowned as she looked Selene up and down. "But you can't sleep in that. Do you prefer to sleep in a gown that's short or long?"

Selene looked down at her faded jeans. "Long, I guess?" She usually slept in an old T-shirt and shorts.

Arkaya nodded, then disappeared into a closet. She emerged holding a white handkerchief. She lifted it above her head then let it fall while tapping her staff on the ground. Selene watched the fabric drift to the floor, somehow creating a puddle five times its original size.

"Will this do?" Arkaya asked, lifting the pool of fabric to give it a shake. Selene was shocked to see a beautiful white nightgown in Arkaya's hands. It had tiny pearl buttons down the front and lace-trimmed shoulder straps.

"It's wonderful," she breathed. She hugged the nightgown to her chest and swallowed the lump of fear rising in her throat. There"s no need to freak out. So magic exists here. Good to know.

"Get some rest, and we'll talk more in the morning." Arkaya turned to leave, her gray braid swinging out behind her. "Don't look so frightened, child. No harm will come to you here. Goodnight."

Selene watched Arkaya close the door, then sat unmoving on the bed. She looked down at her trembling hands and tried to steady her breathing. Eyeing the door, she considered pushing a piece of furniture up against it to ward off unwelcome visitors, but all the chairs in the room looked too heavy to move. Deep fatigue washed over her as she pulled off her shoes and socks. If she could just get through the night, she could try to find a way to get home tomorrow.

Selene slept fitfully, jumping at every sound outside her bedroom. It wasn't until she began to calm herself by internally chanting, "There's no place like home" that she fully drifted off. A nagging urge to pee woke her after sunrise. When she rolled out of bed, she assumed she was about to have her first experience with a chamber pot. However, she was delighted to find that the door in the corner led into a pleasantly appointed modern bathroom.

The relief at her discovery plus the comedown from yesterday"s stress had made her slightly loopy. Flushing the toilet was enough to make her giggle, but she broke into applause when she discovered hot water flowing from the sink. Her celebrations were dashed when a sharp knock from outside her bedroom door made her stomach clench.

She rushed out of the bathroom and saw Arkaya coming through with a tray of food. She set it on the small table in front of the velvet couch and said, "Come and eat. Queen Thema is on her way to meet you."

Selene's fists tightened in the sides of her nightgown. "Shouldn't I get dressed first?"

"In a moment. I'm having Hollen bring—"

Arkaya's words were cut off by a melodious voice that called, "By the silver light of the stars, a living human in my lands!"

Selene turned to see a woman enter the room with flourishing movements. She was petite in stature, but her presence seemed to fill up the whole room. Selene took a step back as she took in the woman's large golden eyes, pointed ears, and towering bun of ebony braids. Although she didn't wear a crown, her identity was unmistakable—this had to be Queen Thema.

"H-howdy," Selene said, then cringed. Howdy? Was that any way to greet a queen?

The folds of Queen Thema's yellow gown shimmered as she lowered herself to sit on the couch. Her posture was stately even when sitting, undoubtedly a result of the ornate metal breastplate she wore. An orange cat trotted in to flop at the queen's feet.

"Come, human, tell me all about yourself," Queen Thema said, patting the cushion beside her. "Ah, where are my manners? Introductions first!"

Selene tensed as she questioned the correct protocol. She dipped into a clumsy curtsy and said, "Hello, I'm Selene Riley. I'm so pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. I mean, Your Royal Highness?"

Queen Thema looked confused, then laughed. Arkaya smiled too from her position at the end of the couch. "Charming! Simply charming. Arkaya, she's as innocent as you proclaimed. Now sit down. I am Thema, Queen of the Malkina. I welcome you."

"Thank you," Selene said. She suddenly understood what people meant by the term "larger than life." The diminutive queen was like the embodiment of a celebrity icon—glamorous, charismatic, but also incredibly intimidating.

"Please go ahead and eat while we chat," Queen Thema said, gesturing to the tray of food. Selene's eyes widened as she realized the tips of the Queen's fingers ended in pink claws instead of nails. They were dainty, pretty claws, but looked lethally sharp.

The queen seemed to mistake her apprehension as worry about the food. "Fear not, my dear. It's not like you traveled to the fairy world. You can eat and drink here without consequences."

Selene tried to keep her expression neutral. Great. So not eating foods in another world was a thing? She looked down again at the tray. There was a bowl of what looked like miniature watermelons, a thick cut of mystery meat, a dollop that reminded her of clotted cream, and a basket of bread. Odd, but nothing shocking, like a plate of squirming tentacles or bowl of giant bugs. Tentatively, she bit into one of the baby watermelons and found it delicious.

Queen Thema smoothed the sleeves of her gown then said, "I'm sure you have many questions about where you are, but I have questions of my own. How is it that you came through to our realm?"

Selene wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I don't know. I was hiking with my sister in the forest—"

"Of Tennessee?" the queen interrupted.

"Yes, how did you know?"

"No matter. Please continue."

Selene looked at her uncertainly but continued, recounting her story of the hum, her headache, and the puddle. Then how Arkaya had stumbled upon her in the strange forest. When she finished her story, Selene tried not to sound desperate when she asked, "Do you know how I got here? And how I can get home?"

The queen tilted her head. "You came through one of my portals. I was injured in your world and must have failed to close the gateway behind me properly. It was careless of me. Foolish."

"Nonsense! You are never foolish," Arkaya argued.

"No, no. I was," Queen Thema said. "But what's done is done. Selene, my sisters and I have been given a sacred duty. We guard the portals between planes. It's very unusual for someone like you to travel to our world and survive. But now that you're here, fear not. You are welcome and safe."

"I appreciate that, but how do I—" Selene's question was cut off by a loud crash at the bedroom doorway.

She turned to watch as a young Malkina woman with long chestnut-colored hair tumbled into the room with an armful of dresses. Arkaya came toward her, looking irritated, to help gather the fallen dresses from the floor.

"Sorry, Arkaya. Damn, I keep tripping on the belt of this pink one, and I… oh!" The young woman looked startled as she stared at Selene. "Wow! She really is human, isn't she?"

A hot blush settled over Selene's face as the young woman gawked at her like she was an alien. She had the same pointed chin and large eyes as Thema and Arkaya, her wide mouth set into an "O" of surprise.

When her gaze shifted from Selene to Queen Thema, her face changed to panicked. "My queen, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were in here. I'll come back later."

Queen Thema stood, waving her hand. "It's fine, Hollen. We are done here for now."

Selene leapt to her feet. "But wait! When can you take me home?"

Thema's dress rustled as she turned back. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Selene blanched. "Why?"

"Your world is a harbor realm. This means creatures from different worlds can visit and leave as they please. But Aurelia is closed. What comes in cannot go out again. My sisters and I are the only ones who can breach the veil."

Selene shook her head. "That can't be right. If I came through one way, I'll just go back through the other."

"It doesn't work that way."

"Why not?" She could hardly recognize the tinny, pleading tone of her voice. "I can't stay here! I have a family and a boyfriend and a job. They will all be wondering what happened to me. I left my sister alone in a forest, and she's probably freaking out. The rest of my family is a mess, and at the office they need me to—"

"Hush now. It is the way of things," Queen Thema interrupted. She turned thoughtful for a moment, then snapped her fingers. "Ah, but I may know of someone who can help you get back. Give me a few days to make some plans. I'll know more soon, I promise."

"A few days? I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I need to get back now. There's probably a search party out looking for me, and my mom doesn't cope well with stress. She'll be an absolute monster to my siblings and I… " Selene's voice broke as tears filled her eyes at the thought of all the ways her mother might be self-medicating her feelings.

Queen Thema raised her eyebrows. "Calm yourself, human. Perhaps a ball would cheer you? Yes, let's hold a ball tonight! To welcome our lovely visitor and show her all the wonders of our realm. Arkaya, make the arrangements, will you? Guests and staff of the castle only, no outsiders."

"Certainly," Arkaya said. Hollen had retreated to one corner, but a wide grin spread across her face.

"We'll be off now. Hollen will help you with whatever you need. Enjoy your day, precious Selene," the queen said, turning to walk away.

Selene watched Arkaya and the orange cat follow the queen out the door. Before she could even begin to process the conversation she just had, she was tackled by a hug from the woman with the dresses.

"Welcome! I'm sorry I stared before, but you're just so amazing. Did you actually come through our queen's own portal? Have you been to other realms besides ours? Is Aurelia your favorite? Can I see your round ears? Tell me everything about humans."

Selene leaned back to take in Hollen's frenetic energy. She looked to be about twenty years old, but her face was as excited as a child's.

Hollen continued, "Am I talking too much? Sit and enjoy your breakfast. I'll hang up these clothes Arkaya pulled for you. When she told me last night there was a human living among us, and I was to be her lady's maid, I didn't get a wink of sleep. Arkaya said I was to help you with anything else you need. What else do you need?"

"Um… I'm not sure. Did Queen Thema say she wants to throw a ball?"

"Yes! Can you believe it? We just had one last night when the Nereid arrived, but this one will be even better! I'll help you get ready. What sort of dress do you want to wear? I think pink would suit you. Would you like me to show you around the castle? We can get snacks from the kitchens, lounge in the courtyard, play in the game room, visit the library, take a nap… "

"There's a library?"

Hollen nodded. "On the eighth floor."

Selene sat back on the couch, debating how to spend her first day in Aurelia. There was a strong pull to hide away in her room where nothing bad had happened to her so far. But another part of her was curious about what could be found outside her door. She had always dreamt of travel and adventure, and now here she was, a true stranger in a strange land.

I might as well make the best of it.

"Why don"t you show me the library first, then we"ll figure out the rest," she said.

Hollen flashed a smile so broad Selene could see her small fangs. "As you wish, my lady."