Mana Wells

Hiding Things

Talia was now to accompany Kurt and Layla to the Border which was the next stop on the trip. And perhaps the most troubling. They all had a feeling there would be a somewhat special reception from Midas. And that their coming was going to be known about. Carl had informed them of the same. And there was nothing you could realistically do about it and remain in good standing.

Kurt knew Talia's presence had nothing to do with it though. She wanted Kurt to get some real answers out of Layla. Really Kurt was trying to put it off. He knew Layla didn't like being interrogated, the last time he saw someone try to take their castle fell around them. But the best thing as always, was what Talia had on, a dress with a slit that let her beautiful legs show, about one at a time but it added to the allure.

Jerry was driving, Steve and Tyler guarding on the sides or front and back depending on the road. Their carriage was big enough to seat four comfortably as well as two bunks above the seat so six could come fairly well more if you crunched together.

Talia was seated next to Kurt while they were facing Layla, or out the window as Kurt was.

Talia nudged Kurt, "So ask her."

"What is it?" said Layla, looking at Talia, "obviously you're here for more than just the trip."

"Fine, I," Talia looked at Kurt, "I mean we want to know what you did to Kurt."

"What did I do Kurt? I don't know what you mean?"

"Stop it, you know you're different," said Talia.

"Come on," said Kurt, "there seems to be something about our auras.."

"And the wells," said Talia.

"…are different, we are just trying to figure out what that is," said Kurt.

Layla looked at Kurt, "You think I did something?"

"Some things aren't adding up?" said Kurt.

"Like why is Kurt so strong?" said Talia.

"Well, when I picked Kurt he had a particularly strong reaction to the well," said Layla.

Something was off about that answer to Kurt, what was it?

"So I'm supposed to believe Kurt just has the best reaction?"

Picked me? When did Layla pick me?

"You really don't remember, Kurt, what you did?" said Layla.

"What, did I?" said Kurt.

Layla got up into her normal high and straight posture, "Yes of course, I didn't do anything to you Kurt."

"What is she talking about Kurt? What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything?"

"But you did Kurt, you really did. Better than I could have possibly hoped for," said Layla, "it would have taken me forever to find it, but you just broke through that wall, and just drank it with no questions asked."

"The poison? From the room, after I…"

Layla started laughing, "Is that what you thought, this whole time? Why would you drink poison, Kurt?"

"I thought it was wine. And it was painful."

"I'm not following," said Talia, "what did you drink Kurt?"

"I don't know."

"It was the blood of Neptune Kurt, it was the blood of a god, and you just had to take it. And you saved some for me which was thoughtful, and the guardian process. That was just perfect. I'm so glad it was you. He was kind enough to store it in a relic."

"Wait what?"

"You're part god now Kurt, ever since you woke up in my well the first time."

"The pink water," said Talia.

"Yes," said Layla, "I assume that's part of it. It surprised me as well."

"And the fountains, you made them in each other's wells."

"You catch on quick," said Layla. "It's not fae water."

"No there's something else," said Kurt, "what did you mean you picked me?"

Layla gave Kurt a deadly stare, "Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to Kurt. What I have done but give you a kingdom, your little fiancé there you would have never met. And I'm not sure how much 'fabulous wealth' is, but isn't that why we are here trading, in this carriage? We are getting there I believe."

"So why me? When?" said Kurt, "That is the part that never makes sense, the first time. All you explained was that it was just random myself."

"And if it wasn't?" said Layla, "Would that change anything? You act like I'm trying to hurt you, Kurt? What have I ever done?"

"I almost died, a couple of times."

"The Lich wasn't my fault."

"And the horror rabbit, and the copycat? Did you not know about them?"

"You won, didn't you, I helped you. So you have to do a little work for your title and wealth, so what?" said Layla.

"Why me? When? How?"

"I told you that, it's because you have a very high reaction, you never even realized it when you took those low-level waters."

"When…I…took… those? Did you follow me?," Kurt's eyes widen, "The fucking squirrel?"

Layla was fuming, breathing heavily through her nostrils, "Yes Kurt the fucking squirrel I marked it, it's something young fae can do before they make a well, like a mini guardian."

"And you choose me for just that, I was the best."

"You're not going to like the answer."

"Tell us, " said Talia.

Layla turned towards Talia, looking at her and smiled, "Ohh, you must have noticed?" You really want to know why, the big reason I chose Kurt."

"Why did you get me involved in your mess?" said Kurt.

"It's simple, when I was in the fire clan hiding as a small fae, I was watching. Watching for a particularly powerful human, one who makes a good guardian. I had three main qualifications, a high reaction level, two, they weren't staying in Dakota Springs, and three, that he was…what do you call it…a pushover, someone that could be motivated..."

"Manipulated you mean," said Talia.

"There isn't much difference is there? You call it motivation when it's toward some good and manipulation when it's toward some bad, and your morals are different from mine. I motivated Kurt to get strong and defend the sanctity of the Fae species. You, Talia, have manipulated Kurt into marrying you. I'm sure you'd say it the other way round, yes." said Layla, to mean scowl from Talia.

"You mean you wanted someone who let you be queen," said Kurt. "And not ask a lot of questions."

"And you did just that," said Layla, "I don't feel bad about it. You have a whole kingdom too Lord Kurt, a blossoming relationship with an attractive young noble, and more wealth coming."

"So you had this all planned months before I even met you?" said Kurt.

"Yes."

"And knew there was something at the temple?"

"Yes."

"So none of this was an accident."

"You act like I plotted every little detail."

"The fire clan."

"You know what they did, what they would have done to me?"

"So, you were always going to go back."

"That was the whole point, Kurt. You do realize I get a lot of this from you all."

"From us," said Talia.

"I'm part human, you are all creatures of ambition, emotions, and greed. And some of it rubbed off on me," said Layla.

"So I was just a pawn in your revenge," said Kurt.

"So what if you were? You're obviously not anymore Kurt. You think I think of you like that? Do you actually think I like bringing you back to the well like that?" Layla screamed. "Well I don't, I don't like to see you hurt and you can believe that or not."

"You were lying to me?" said Kurt.

"When? When did I lie? I was always up front with you."

"You intentionally hid things?"

"And no one hides things from me? So Lady Talia randomly got a dragon's blessing? As a gift from you Kurt? Where were you hiding that?"

Talia and Kurt looked at each other.

"Nice story about some charm that doesn't exist there," Layla said tilting her head smirking. "Clever. I thought you just wanted to enjoy yourself, and yes sometimes you have to pick up that sword you have. The reality is you," Layla looked at Kurt, "never really became interested in ruling before recently.

"Before castle Bright flame, and Paul," said Kurt.

"Who's Paul?" said Talia.

"Hiding things?" said Layla.

"That's still your plan, what you're hiding."

"Who is Paul?" said Talia.

"Are you going to tell her or not?" said Layla.

"Paul is a Fae. And his well is in the Arrow Mountains."

"What?" said Talia, her eyes widening. "That's how you got back from…with Harvey… You put a well in our world," said Talia, staring at Layla. "That means you don't even need the gate?"

"Need the gate? No," said Layla, "not anymore. Though it's convenient, and quite the money maker."