Author: Holly Black
Point of View: 1st Person
Into the room of lavish fabrics and plates of succulent cakes all around, we sit down and get ready to speak. I am meeting Kaye Fisher, the Kaye Fisher. From the New York Times best seller, Tithe.
"So, Kaye, How have you been? Roiben is doing well, I assume."
"Oh yes, he is doing lovely, I am faring. What is your name again?"
"Tori. My name is Tori. Faring? Have you seen him since he claimed the throne?"
"No, not yet. I am still waiting. I just hope he still finds me worthy as his Queen."
"Ah, I see. I surely hope he does, from reading the book, I gathered that you two are quite in love and that you are plenty more capable of being his Queen than any of the other faeries."
"Oh, really? Do you think so? That means so much, thank you."
"Do not thank me, it is the truth, after all."
"Have you heard anything of what he is doing after becoming the King of the Unseelie Court?"
"Sadly, no, I have not. I do think that he is only doing what is best, whatever that is."
Kaye's face falls slightly, the green hue showing through her weakened glamour due to all the metal here.
"Tori? Can I tell you something?"
"Of course, Kaye. What is bothering you?"
"I am actually green. I am wearing a glamour."
"Oh, Kaye, I am aware of that. Also, I am aware of your oil-slick eyes and quad-jointed fingers and toes."
"Oh, you are? I did not know that. Wow, It feels good for someone to know. You know?"
"Kaye, I do not think it is possible for me to understand that, after all, I am not a pixie like you."
"That is true. Did you hear about Corny going crazy and stabbing Nephamael to death after I poisoned him with iron in his drink?"
"Oh, yes. That was quite the show, don't you think?"
"I thought it was horrid. It was all so gruesome and... well, unseelie."
"That is understandable. Do you know how long it will be until I see Robien again?"
"No, I have not the faintest clue or idea, I am so sorry, I do hope that you see him again though."
"Oh, gosh. I really miss him. Can we go somewhere else? There is an opening to the Court near here, it would really help the iron sickness."
"Sure, let's go."
We begin walking to the Unseelie Court entrance about a block away.
"Don't you just love the air, Tori?"
"Yeah, I just don't know the feel of air like you do, I bet it is wonderful."
"Not as wonderful here as it is away from this iron."
"Well, yeah, but still, I bet it is great."
Alternate Ending:
Kaye's P.O.V.
I watch Corny as he murderously stabs Nephamael in the chest, getting rid of the faerie that used him. All at once, all of the Unseelie Court folk gasp and turn, I turn too and see the Seelie Court Queen, Silarial walk in with her usual grace, pulling Roiben's sister beside her. As Robien's sister, Ethine lurches forward, attempting to get to Roiben, I suppose.
Then Silarial speaks, "Roiben, Oh Roiben, are you ready to come back home, Roiben?"
"Oh, I bet you wish, but no, I am now ready to rule as the Unseelie Court King. You may leave now."
"I bet you are ready to come back, you just do not want to say so in front of your latest squeeze, Kaye, was it?" The Queen looks over to me with a flourish of her hand and nods in my direction. I attempt to keep a hard glare at her because, hey, she is trying to steal my boyfriend, what else do I do?
"She is none of your concern, wretch. Get back to your Court and I will begin ruling mine. Okay?"
"As you wish. I will be back to claim this Court as my own. Soon."
Silarial stalks off and leaves us all to look at the damage of the Unseelie Court. It is completly ransacked and I just do not know what to do. I begin to walk off, assuming that it is what Roiben wants me to do. I get to the hidden tunnel way out and I feel a hand grasp my shoulder. I turn around and see Roiben, looking me directly in the eye with those silver orbs.
"Were you about to leave, Kaye?"
"Yeah, I figured that was what you wanted."
He placed his hands on either shoulder and stared into my eyes and said, "I do not ever want you to leave my side."
THE END.
