Taken

Chapter 10 (Part 3)

"Bloodlines are of great importance in this realm," she began, reaching out to pull a tray sitting on the table towards me. She gestured towards the slices of bread, cheese, sliced meats, unfamiliar fruits, and various colorful spreads it held. "It determines how capable one will be at manipulating their string of nature."

"Silas mentioned that yesterday," I said as I reached for some bread and smeared one of the sweet-smelling jams over it with a knife.

"It also determines one's place in their court. The stronger the fae, the higher their place is. Everything revolves around power and who has the most. It's why mixing between courts is so frowned upon, especially by High Fae. They're proud of their pure bloodlines that are untainted by the blood of other courts. Though I'm sure if they went back far enough they would find a similarity here or there with Lower Fae that they find so beneath them," she dryly ridiculed as she reached for a small red berry and popped it into her frowning mouth.

"Lower Fae?"

"Those with the blood of two or more courts," she answered as she reached towards the cart and lifted the lid off a container that had the handle of a small spoon protruding out of it. "Though they hold the capabilities to manipulate each string of nature tied to their blood, most can barely sense them, let alone weld them." Lifting a spoonful of sugar, she emptied it into one of the delicate cups that sat on saucers, before turning back to me. "Sugar?"

I gave her a nod that had her retrieving another scoop. "I appreciate the additional knowledge, but..." My hand rose to rub at my chest that still felt the ghost of Silas's grazed touch. "What does it have to do with this?"

Lifting the lid off the teapot, steam rose as she reached for a long spoon to stir its contents. "Power. There is no way to increase the power a fae welds. Sure, couplings can be arranged to strive for more, but once a child is born, all that can be done is hone the power they were born with as they grow into it." She paused, putting the spoon down and returning the lid to the pot. Lifting it, she began to pour a lavender-colored tea into the cups with sugar. "The only exception is the Blood Stone."

"What's the Blood Stone?"

She placed one of the cups before me. "The small pearlescent stone I insisted you take last night."

My eyes widened. The pearl.

"But... I don't have any power for it to increase."

"That doesn't matter. What matters, is that your body can hide it better than any charmed box I can purchase."

"Hide it from what?" I asked, though the unease turning in my stomach already knew.

"Not what, but who," she corrected, lifting her cup to take a sip.

"Then who?" I asked, a hint of annoyance seeping into my tone.

A soft clink sounded as she returned her cup to the saucer in her hand. "Everyone."

"Everyone?" That was worse than what I had expected to hear. Would I need to be constantly looking over my shoulders, or would my body's ability to hide it keep me safe?

"All covet the Blood Stone."

"Why?"

"Power. It amplifies the bearer's capabilities to surpass those of even royal bloodlines while giving them control over all four of Nature's strings. Air, water, earth, and fire. Whoever takes it gains the capabilities to build empires and tear them down."

"And you... decided to give it to me?" I put my barely eaten slice of bread down, managing to fit it onto the saucer that held my untouched tea. "If it's so powerful and coveted, then why didn't you use it? Or Silas?" It sounded like he knew about it.