The Dark Fairy King
Chapter 50: The Terrors of The Night

Chapter 50: The Terrors of The Night

We left Lumera alone in her room—far too comfortable for her.

I was still annoyed by her subpar social skills.

Shooing us? Unacceptable.

But I wasn’t going to start an argument with Scarlette over her.

Scarlette pulling me away was a sign—we’d had enough of Lumera for one day.

Like two lovebirds, Scarlette and I held hands as we strolled through the long, majestic palace corridor. It was quiet—most of the palace workers were already asleep, the halls bathed in moonlight and silence.

When we finally reached our chambers, I heaved a sigh of relief, like the weight of the world had slipped from my shoulders. The two of us were wrapped in the soft quiet of our room.

But of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t make one last dramatic comment.

After all, Scarlette called me a diva earlier.

"Hear that?" I cupped a hand to my ear, theatrically.

"What am I supposed to hear?" Scarlette asked, confused.

"Exactly." I grinned. "Silence."

Scarlette laughed.

"It’s like we’re dealing with a toddler," I quipped. "Why is she so bad at reading the room?"

"Come on, Ver. She’s not that annoying," Scarlette said, defending her. "Lumera’s actually kind of adorable."

"Well, there’s that." I narrowed my eyes.

"What do you mean?" she asked, curious now.

"For some reason, you’re suspiciously calm around her." I smirked. "Did she put something in your tea?"

"You did not just imply I was drugged," Scarlette challenged, raising an eyebrow. "Me, of all people."

"Oh, that’s true. You’d detect it immediately," I conceded with a shrug.

"So..." I leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Dearest architect of magic, dawn of Love Magic, Professor of Magical Arts... what exactly are your plans for Lumera?"

Scarlette laughed again. "So many titles! How am I supposed to remember them all?"

"You’re the Queen of Hearts and Ruin. You’ll figure it out. Now stop evading my questions."

"Is it driving you mad?" she teased, leaning into the game. "So many questions and so few answers," she added in a mock-deep voice, clearly trying to mimic me.

"How’s my impression of you?" she asked.

"That sounds nothing like me," I protested, pretending to be offended.

"Typical Veravos," she smirked. "Saying one thing and meaning another in your heart."

Naturally, I did what any emotionally intelligent lover would do—I complimented her to derail the conversation.

"My heart?" I pressed a hand to my chest, theatrically. "There’s a Queen in there already. You."

She blushed—hard.

"Stop it." She lightly smacked my arm.

But I meant it. From my lips, and from my heart.

Scarlette cupped my face and said gently, "Lumera just needs a teacher."

"Well, that’s not going to be me," I grumbled, looking away.

She leaned in and kissed me softly.

"I love you, silly man."

And before I could react, she retreated to the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

"Scar?" I called, but she didn’t answer. She was already in deep sleep.

I smiled as I watched her, peaceful and blissfully unaware. For the first time, I whispered, "And I love you too," gently stroking her face as she slept.

But my night wasn’t over. There were things I needed to do alone. The less Scarlette and the others were involved, the better. She’d done enough for today.

I quietly extinguished the lights and slipped out of our chambers, closing the door behind me with a soft click.

"See to it that no one enters our chambers," I instructed the guard standing post.

He bowed in acknowledgment.

"Any of the fairies we freed show signs of returning with the infiltrators?" I asked.

"Your Majesty, three are currently in the dungeon. The Fairies are working together to find the other seven."

Oh? Working together? That’s surprisingly heartwarming. I do love unity.

"Any news of the Midnight Orchid or other Anti-Magic Mages?"

"Nothing further, My King."

"I’ll be in the dungeon," I said, turning to leave. He bowed again.

But just as I was about to turn the corner, a scream split the air, sharp and desperate.

I sprinted, shadows propelling me like a violent gust.

I found Lumera’s door wide open.

The guard stationed there was collapsed on the floor, his eyes burned out, his wrist marked with the tattoo of a broken wand.

Damn it.

How could this happen? I had screened the guards overseeing the Elders myself.

He was one of the Anti-Magic Mages. How did I miss this?

And where was Lumera?

I stepped into the room, scanning for signs. Her gold silk blankets were tossed aside, pillows strewn across the floor. The vanity mirror was shattered, as though someone had been flung against it.

I rushed back into the corridor.

"Lumera?" I called, my voice echoing down the marble halls. No response.

"Of all nights, why does this palace have to be so enormous?" I grumbled.

"Looking for something, My King?" a passing guard asked, far too casually.

I pointed to the fallen guard outside Lumera’s room.

His eyes widened in horror.

"Where is Light Fairy Elder Lumera?" I demanded, furious.

"I—I don’t know," he stammered.

"You had one job!" I roared, making him pale.

Another Fairy guard came sprinting down the corridor, breathless. "Your Majesty—the courtroom—"

I didn’t wait for him to finish. Darkness coiled around me like a living tornado as I vanished into it, racing toward the courtroom.

Even I, King of Shadows, wasn’t prepared for what I found.

Shadows uncurled from the corner of the courtroom as I materialized inside.

There, floating in the center of the room between the two empty thrones where Scarlette and I would usually sit—Lumera.

But not the Lumera we knew. She was a warring angel.

Her wings were stretched, sharp and stiff. Her eyes blazed pure white, like twin stars. In her hands, a dense orb of light pulsed and crackled, aimed at a trembling Light Fairy kneeling before her.

The same broken tattoo scorched his arm.

"Tell me," Lumera’s voice thundered, "why did you try to imprint that tattoo on my arm while I slept?"

"To protect you, of course..." he lied, his voice shaking.

"Lies!" she roared. "Tell me the truth."

"The Anti-Magic Mages... they want to control the council by forcing the tattoos on new Elders," he confessed, desperate.

"So. They want to control me?" Lumera’s fury shook the air.

"It’s for survival. At least you’d still be alive..." he pleaded, but she wasn’t listening.

"I will not let anyone control my body, wear my skin, or steal my will," she declared, her voice breaking as a single tear slipped from her glowing eyes. "Not even if it comes from my own kind."

Something about her words, her wrath—it froze me. I hadn’t expected this from Lumera.

Before I could intervene, the orb of light detonated, a brilliant explosion engulfing the kneeling Fairy. He was flung across the room, crashing hard. His eyes—burned out like the guard outside.

"Light," she whispered, "it can cut, it can guide, it can blind. Now—you will never see again."

Powerful words. I hadn’t expected her to get philosophical. Was this who she really was?

Then, just as suddenly, Lumera collapsed.

Her body hit the marble floor with a heavy thud.

Concern—or maybe just suspicion—propelled me forward. I knelt beside her, shaking her gently.

Her eyelids fluttered open, her expression dazed, confused.

"King Veravos?" she whispered, blinking at me. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Lumera..." I said carefully. "This isn’t your room. You’re in the courtroom."

She frowned. "Did you say... the courtroom? How did I get here?"

"You tell me." I gestured toward the fallen Light Fairy.

"Was I... sleepwalking?" she asked, voice small.

"I wouldn’t know," I said dryly. "But you’ve successfully taken out two infiltrators in my palace tonight."

"I did that?" she asked, horrified.

Was she serious? That wasn’t the work of a rookie.

"Lumera..." I narrowed my eyes. "Care to explain yourself?"

She clutched her head like it hurt.

"I saw Judorah again," she said slowly, as if recalling a dream she’d told herself too many times. "The evil Queen in my dreams. She was going to wear my skin again. Pretend to be me. But this time, I fought back. I said no. I refused to obey."

"And then what?"

"Then... I landed here." She looked around, bewildered. "I didn’t mean to—"

Sleepfighting. The most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard. And yet... part of me wanted to believe her.

But Lumera—she had become more complicated.

"Injuring two Anti-Magic Mages because of a nightmare. How convenient," I said flatly. "You’re a good liar, Light Fairy Elder."

"Please, believe me," she begged.

But I wouldn’t. Not yet.

Because tonight, she was the terror of the palace. And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.

Was I being fooled by her charade of innocence? Was Lumera a wolf in sheepskin?

Time will tell. But nothing slips past me.

She can play innocent all she wants. The truth always bleeds through cracks.

And I’ll be watching.

You better watch out, Lumera.

Liars always get caught.