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It's an awful nightmare, a real, genuine, honest-to-God nightmare, but I'm going to wake up from it, any
minute now.
There was another titter of laughter from the crowd, and the Unseelie Queen smiled. What you believe
and what will happen are two different things, child, she said. But, for the moment, you amuse me. So I
will let you live, I think, at least for now.
Look, lady, Kayla said, starting forward. The sound of a dozen swords being drawn stopped her in
her tracks. She glanced around nervously and then stepped back from the Queen's throne.
You amuse me, child, but don't push your luck, the Queen said dryly.
Kayla nodded, her mouth dry.
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Now, tell me, how did you come here? the Queen asked. Did you conjure a doorway with your own
magics between the human lands and our own? You look too young and unskilled to accomplish such a
feat.
How do I explain what happened? And why in the hell should I explain anything to someone
who's only part of a dream?
You may think this is only a dream, the Queen said, idly viewing the jeweled rings on her long,
-tapered fingers. But I assure you that it is quite real, and if you defy me, you'll discover the reality of it
in a most painful and immediate way. So, -answer my question: how did you come here?
I don't know what you're talking about with doors and all of that, Kayla began. All I know is one
minute I was in Los Angeles well, Santa Monica, I think, but I'm not certain about that and then all of
the sudden I'm out here. I bet Shari and Nataniel think this is some kind of a great joke. . . .
As she said Nataniel's name, she felt a sudden chill run through the crowd, a tension as the smiles froze
on the faces of those graceful figures.
Let me kill it now! the man with the red cap hissed.
In a moment, the Queen murmured. First, I would hear all of this one's story. So, you -admit that you
are in league with Nataniel, who was banished many centuries ago to the human lands? I would have
killed him for attempting to murder me, she added in an undertone, but he had too many loyal
followers, and a war would have destroyed the -Unseelie Court. Instead, I sent him and his followers to
the human lands, where now, apparently, he is recruiting young humans to do his work for him.
I'm not working with him at all! Kayla protested. Look, he kidnaped me, asked me if I wanted to
work with him, I said no, and so he sent me here!
I see. The Queen was silent for a long -moment, then spoke. Despite your words of innocence, I
cannot believe that Nataniel would have brought you here if you were not allied with him and somehow
part of a plot to overthrow my rule. Therefore, my Lord Skullcleaver . . . She gestured at an Unseelie in
dark armor, who stepped forward with a sword raised, firelight glinting off the blade.
Kayla swallowed. Even if this is a dream, this is getting way too real for me. She glanced at the
Queen, who was sipping dark red wine from a crystal goblet, and felt a shock run through her.
Something was wrong about the Queen, she could feel something was very wrong, and as the Queen
brought the glass again to her lips, she knew what it was.
You've been poisoned, Kayla said.
The swordsman stopped in mid-step.
The Queen stared at her. What did you say?
You've been poisoned, Kayla repeated. And there's more of the poison in that glass. At least, I think
it's poison. I don't know what it is, but I can see what it's doing to you, eating away at your mind and
body. . . .
The glass slipped from the Queen's hand and shattered on the stone floor.
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And how did you know this? the Queen asked, all traces of amusement gone from her voice. A
sudden silence had fallen over the crowd.
She's a healer, Catt whispered from behind her. We saw her heal herself only a short while ago.
Is that true? the Queen asked Kayla.
She nodded. It's what I do. I guess it's what you'd call my magic. There's something wrong with that
goblet, I can't tell exactly what, but when you drank from it, I could see the poison affecting you.
The Queen rose unsteadily from her throne, and the crowd parted instantly before her. She strode
across the hall, toward an arched doorway on the far wall. Bring the girl, Lady Catt, she said without
looking back.
Catt pushed Kayla ahead of her, walking quickly. Say nothing unless she speaks to you, if you value
your life, the woman said tersely to Kayla.
Not a problem, I don't want to get in that lady's way, not when she's got that To hell with
patience, I'm going to kill someone look in her eyes!
A moment later they were in the kitchen, walking past the greasy wooden tables and cowering servants
dressed in rags who were kneeling on the straw--covered stone floor.
Who poured my glass of wine? the Queen -demanded, glancing around furiously at the terrified
servants.
No one moved or spoke.
The Queen walked forward, her eyes moving over the servants' faces, and stopped in front of a kneeling
woman. She's human like me, Kayla realized, seeing the woman's normal ears showing beneath her
tangled mop of dark hair.
I know what you did, the Queen said dangerously. What did you put in my wine?
It wasn't me, milady, the woman wheezed, her face pale white beneath the grime. Impatiently, the
Queen shoved her out of the way, searching through the items piled on the wooden table next to her,
bowls and platters clattering haphazardly onto the floor. A moment later she straightened, something
small and white clenched within her hand.
What is this? she said, turning quickly to Kayla. This is not of my realm. Do you know what this is?
No-Doz? What is a bottle of No-Doz doing here?
Uh, it's pills, Your Majesty, Kayla said, looking at the white plastic bottle. No-Doz. They're caffeine
pills.
The Queen's fingers whitened on the plastic bottle, and Catt made an odd choking sound. Caffeine!
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