“I’m your teacher tonight.” Zaid’s tone is imperiously clipped.
The word “but” is on the tip of my tongue to question why he’s teaching me and not Carrick; however, something about Zaid’s cold eyes tells me to hold any further argument. I don’t know anything about this man or what his limits are. It’s not lost on me that I know absolutely nothing about daemons, and he’s clearly strong as hell even though he looks about three decades older than me. For all I know, he eats human flesh, and I am not about to become a snack for him. I make a mental note to find out what daemons and fae eat when I see Carrick because I need to know if I am in any way tasty looking.
So, for now at least, the safest course for me is to be a good, polite student and not anger the monster that’s lurking beneath his veiled glamour, which I still cannot see or get a vibe off.
Taking my silence as my permission—which it is—Zaid continues while I eat. “I’m going to be teaching you more about the fae, which also includes its offspring, daemons.”
My mouth is half full, but I speak around the food, not wanting to let an opportunity to question be left behind. “But I thought I was going to learn how to develop my abilities?”
“That will come,” he replies dismissively. “For now, you need more knowledge. For within that knowledge, we might find answers about you.”
Zaid offers no more and merely bustles around the kitchen, straightening things that are already in order as the area is pristine, but I know it’s so he doesn’t have to engage in small talk. When I swallow the last bite of my sandwich, but before I can get up to put my plate in the dishwasher, he’s snatching it from me.
“Thank you for feeding me,” I say because he apparently loves manners.
He merely grunts, which is something of a response, I guess, and then leaves the kitchen. I assume I’m expected to follow, so I do, moving back past the large gas fireplace, that is devoid of any flames, and into the living area.
Zaid chooses a small grouping of four chairs around a low round table. They’re powder blue and made of a velvety material that suggests they would be incredibly comfortable, but when I lower myself into the one opposite of Zaid, I find the cushions stiff and unrelenting.
It’s good because it forces me to sit with good posture, which gives the appearance I’m an attentive student. Anything to make sure I don’t incur Zaid’s wrath.
Deciding it’s for the best, I turn the ringer on my phone to vibrate so we won’t be interrupted, then slip it in my backpack and settle it on the floor. I have a feeling should I get a call during Zaid’s lecture, his head might explode, and I’d rather not see that.
Hands clasped loosely in my lap, feet flat on the floor, I give Zaid my best, most interested look.
“What do you know so far about fae and daemons?” Zaid inquires, and despite him having the power, I can tell he’s no more comfortable to be sitting here with me than I am with him. It’s obvious in the way he doesn’t strike a casual pose like Carrick did last night, but rather sits as straight and stiff as I do in my chair. His hands, however, grip the ends of the armrests.
“Carrick told me the general gist. The short story is there was an angelic rebellion, and God expelled them. The worst went to the Underworld and became known as Dark Fae, while the others were sent to earth to become known as Light Fae. They are immortal, super strong, can change their appearance and may or may not have some type of powers.”
“And daemons?” he asks.
“That they are the offspring of a Light and Dark Fae,” I reply succinctly.
“And did he tell you about the stone?”
Such a simple word.
Stone.
But it’s probably the most important thing Carrick told me about because it brought magic to our world. With that magic, the Light Fae were able to create Faere, and some of the Dark Fae were able to slip through small breaches into our world.
I recount what I’d learned last night. The stone was a meteor, hidden originally in a Giza pyramid, but hacked away until it was gone. Those pieces have been used for magical reasons.
That is where Zaid decides to pick up. “There’s no telling how many pieces of the stone were taken over the years, or how they were passed down among generations. We know both humans and fae were recipients, and we know the power is immense if someone knows how to use it right. Given the fae all have some level of power remaining after their expulsion from Heaven, they probably know how to wield it better than anyone.”