15

Luc Zelsor and the Long Story

The truth was, it wasn't a long story. Luc Zelsor was simply a pathological liar.

All it had taken was one very short conversation, and Reval Zelsor had Luc in his grips for the rest of his faeborn life.

"I found your mother after all these years." Those were the words Reval uttered as he approached Luc from behind on an evening three short years ago. The silver moon shone brightly, and the forest crickets sang a sharp, ear-piercing tune. Luc had been sorting shellfish, but his hands froze upon the sapphire clams. He didn't dare turn and look at his father, but his ears tilted, wide open, listening. "I've put her somewhere."

"Where?" Luc's mouth betrayed him. He should not have asked or made it seem like he cared.

Reval was quiet for several moments. "It's a secret, Luc. But not to worry; I lower food through a hole so she can eat. It's quite dark, but your mother has always survived in darkness."

Luc swallowed the hard lump in his throat. There were more questions he wanted to ask, but he fought his impulses and stayed quiet. He was admitting too much with each peep he made.

The Dark Prince's cold monstrosity felt more enormous than normal as he took a step closer to Luc's exposed back. Luc watched as his father's shadow engulfed his in the grass before him.

"It's a safeguard," Reval stated in his sweet, icy voice, "so you can never turn against me, Son."

Luc nearly dropped the sapphire clams. He grabbed a pot like he'd been intending to anyway, and he tossed each clam in one by one, keeping busy.

"Now, if I ever die, she will starve to death. You understand, right?"

Luc turned to face his father. They were the same height now, almost the same build. Reval's power was treacherously horrifying but Luc had grown strong. Possibly strong enough to give him a good fight, maybe. Clearly strong enough to worry him.

Every ounce of Luc's fairy flesh worked to put a broad, crystal-clear smile upon his face that could not be read as anything but assurance. "I would never betray you, Father."

It was a lie. Luc would have. Right up until that moment, Luc had dreamt of the day he might grow strong enough or clever enough to outsmart and destroy the man who had ruined him.

But it seemed Reval had been more clever than Luc that night; had been one step ahead of him all along. That evening the young nine tailed fox decided he would run away instead. A plot of destruction transformed into a plan of escape in the blink of an eye.

It took Luc over two years to get the permission he needed to leave the Shadow Army's daily routine to become a scout among the humans. Two years of hard work, lying, bribing, cunning strategy, being in the right place at the right time, placing bets, making bargains, and giving away large promises.

Two years before he made it to the human realm.

And there, he had hoped to be free of fox games forever.