2 Deja Blue by Julie Cassar Page B

It is, after all, their Court.  T hey have final say on the Water Court competitors. The binding ties of our magic is very strong within our own Courts.  The Royal families have a special link directly to each member of their Court and they will sense whether or not a chosen competitor will attempt to throw the competition. I t is true that most members of the Water Court usually prevail in the C hallenge. But, some members of other Courts have won in the past. It’s not very common, but it has happened.” Brennan looked like he knew something we didn’t. A touch of arrogance was reflected on his face.
                  “Well, what if whoever Bexin chooses doesn’t win?”
                  “ Remember, i t’s not Bexin who chooses his competitor. I t’s the next-of-kin or someone else of their choosing who competes for the love birds.”
    I rolled my eyes, “Details, details. Whatever. So what if whoever competes for Bexin loses? What happens to Celestine and Bexin ?”
    Brennan uncomfortably cleared his throat and hesitated. That’s when Anya spoke up.
    “Well, there are two choices. They end the relationship and go their separate ways, or they get married anyway and become exiled.”
    Confusion spread across my face, “Exiled? You mean, from like the Mer -world or whatever? Like, her parents kick her out of her house?”
    “Ha,” Jeremy chortled, “No different from here. Tons of kids get kicked out of their house s .”
    “Not exactly.” Anya said slowly, “They are exiled not only from their home, but also from Fey itself. The portals are sealed to them forever , and they are forbidden to ever speak to anyone – Fairy , Troll , M erperson , or any other creature, from our world – forever.” 
    Brennan spoke up, “It’s a pretty big sacrifice…to never be able to return home again. Devastating to some. Anya and I are stronger because we are R oyalty…but most F airies and other creatures of Fey need to return home to…to…re-energize so-to-speak. We are connected to our world in a very unique way, and if we are cut off from it, survival could be pretty grim. It weakens our spirits. I’m sure Celestine and Bexin could live…to be with the one you love, that is…well…I suppose it’s phenomenal. But, our world is not like your world. For someone from Fey to have their connection permanently severed…” He shuddered at the thought , then he continued, “I don’t know if they could really thrive after a time.”
    There were only two other times I had ever seen Brennan this serious in the twelve years I’d known him. The first was when we were trying to figure out what to do about Sirrush . The second was when he came to rescue me from nearly drowning. His mischievous twinkle had faded as he obviously mulled this fact over.
    Anya spoke quietly, “It would be like sending you to the moon and telling you that you could never go home to Earth.”
    “Well. That just sucks rocks .” I stated grumpily. “Why in the world would your people do that? Just block off the portals because somebody is in love with someone from another...ah …Court ?”
    Brennan stuck out his chin and answered defensively, “It is not our people who do this. It is the way of the M erpeople , n ot the F airies.”
    “So, back up a sec,” Jeremy said, “You said the next of kin competes for Celestine and Bexin . So…who exactly would that be?”
    “Celestine has a sister, Freya, so she will be competing for her. Bexin , as you know, has a brother. Grobel will be competing for him.”
    “ Ughhh ! ” I said. “ That craptastic creepy stalker Troll is gonna compete for Bexin ?  He’s so rotten he’ll probably lose the competition on purpose just so they can’t get married! ”
    Brennan’s twinkle came back in his eye again. “ Wellllll ...maybe not…” he slyly smiled .
    Uh-oh. I didn’t like the sound of that. I also didn’t like the way Brennan was looking at me. “Wait. You