by Nika Gray
I smiled for the first time in a week. It felt good to have a purpose, and I was happy to finally be taking my life into my own hands. Having Fae magic brought on even more questions, but it also answered the question of what the Magic Council wanted with me. If the veil to Faerie has been permanently closed since the Fae War, then how do I exist? How do we exist?
I woke up the next morning determined to start on my research project about Fae magic. I’d gotten up early to go to the Trahern library and check out whatever books were available on the magic the Fae used during the Fae wars. Some of the books listed were only available with written permission from a senior professor. I checked out all the books they would let me. As I walked out of the library, a small piece of paper appeared in my hand. I opened it up and saw ‘Stars sparkle bright but not as bright as you’ scrawled on it. I recognized Declan’s writing and although it was kind of cheesy, the message was also endearing. I clutched it to my heart and remembered that dimpled smile. Where was he? I would give anything for my shadow to be right behind me. Right now! I had to wait until this afternoon and our sparring session.
I pulled myself back from thoughts of Declan to my meeting with Professor Tremaine who had agreed to meet with me at ten o’clock this morning.
It was Tuesday, and my sparring class with Declan wasn’t until the afternoon. That gave me time to get some answers. Professor Tremaine set the meeting at her home in the professor’s village, which was a charming English cottage down the lane from Headmaster Hotchkiss’ manor. The last time I’d been in the village was the night I’d escaped from Alexis and found my way to the Headmaster’s home.
That's where Fergus told me we could all be together, and we had joined the resistance. It had been only several weeks ago but now it felt like months ago.
Fall had come to the quaint little village. Red, brown, and yellow leaves tumbled through the well-manicured lawns. I could almost smell Halloween in the air.
Professor Tremaine's home looked like a cute German-style looking cottage. As soon as I knocked, Professor Tremaine opened the door. It struck me she was the perfect mage to be living in such a house.
Her hair was braided into five braids and she wore a kooky red, orange, and yellow knitted hat. Her big blue eyes were made even larger by her coke-bottle glasses. She looked perpetually in shock.
“I'm so glad to see you,” she said and hustled me inside. “I put out some tea and biscuits for us. I'm excited you decided to come. Nobody ever comes to visit me. Well, of course, Professor Dobbs is here sharing the house with me because Professor Mathowny decided he needed a cottage all to himself.” She chattered on as she led me into a small, cozy sitting room.
I looked around the room in amazement. This woman apparently loved cats. There were cats in frames throughout the sitting room and as I glanced around, I noted other cat-themed décor, pillows, figurines, a clock. A cheerful little fire crackled in the fireplace. Two chintz armchairs sat in front the fireplace with a nice tea set between them on a low table.
“This is so cozy. Thank you so much, Professor Tremaine,” I said.
“What would you like to know?” she asked as she sat down and nodded at the other chair.
I sat down and as she started futzing around with the sugar, I began.
“I'm very nervous about going to the Borderlands in two months. As you know, I didn't grow up in the magical community and so I don't really know its history or very much about the Fae war except for what I've been able to read in the library and the lectures we’ve had in Magic History.”
“Would you like some sugar?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” I said.
She finished pouring the tea and dropped a sugar cube into the cup. She handed it to me, and I saw it had a little kitten playing with yarn etched on the side of it.
“Do you have cats?” I asked.
Professor Tremaine laughed. “Oh no, I don't. I can’t imagine having an animal with all the commitments I have at the school,” she said. “This place is filled with cats, though. It’s not my style. The person who lived in the cottage before me several years ago left all her furnishings. I've been on a temporary status and I've never really bothered to move in.”
It hadn't even occurred to me it might not be her own decoration and for some reason, I was relieved to hear it. “I'm so sorry. I thought this was always yours,” I said.
“I'm not that crazy cat lady,” she said with a smile.
I relaxed and returned her smile. I took a sip of the tea and savored the sweet warmth as I swallowed.
“What would you like me to tell you about the Fae?” she asked.
“What their magic does,” I replied. “Why are mages so afraid of them? What does their magic look like? Does it smell, does it interact with others? Or is it kind of like a spell that you throw at somebody and it hits them with an unseen force?” My questions came out in a rush. I sipped my tea and sat back in the armchair.
“It's been a long time since I've seen Fae fire,” she said.
My ears perked up.
“Fae fire? Is that what their magic is called?” I asked.
“Let me start from the beginning. Do you know how Mage magic works?”
“I know mages need to use spells and objects to filter their magic through. Like everybody has the conduit ring on.” I waved my hand at her, showing off my conduit ring.
“That's correct,” Professor Tremaine nodded. “Mages do not inherently have the magic within them. They are conduits, like the conduit ring, for the magic that comes from the outside. Magic from nature, magic from sources outside of this realm.”
“What kind of sources? How can mages source magic not from this realm?” I asked.
“Advanced spells allow mages to tap into other dimensions,” she continued. “It sounds completely crazy the first time you hear it and we’re getting into transdimensional physics. To be honest, I don't really know exactly how it works. However, there are certain objects imbued with ancient spells that give magic to almost all the mages living today.”
“Oh, I hadn’t heard that,” I said. “I didn't realize there were objects that provided the magic. If something happened to these sacred objects, then the mages wouldn’t have access to any magic at all?”
“In theory, yes.” The professor nodded as she sipped her tea. “Mages can draw some energy from the earth and from nature, but most of it comes from these sacred objects.”
“How is that different from Fae magic?” I asked. “And then what is Fae fire?”
“All this was told to me by a Fae friend of mine before the Fae war, so I might get some details wrong,” she said.
I took a sip of tea and waited for her to continue.
“You understand that Fae are magical creatures and not human. They do not require outside magic. When the Fae teleports, or disappears, or shapeshifts, it's all enclosed within them, within their aura, their soul.”
“How is that different from shape shifters?” I asked. I thought of Declan and his ability to shape-shift while also having this Fae fire she was describing.
“The shapeshifters are magical creatures, as well. Most scholars believe they have Fae blood somewhere in their family line. I mean, back before the Fae war, there were many instances where Fae and humans procreated. Those offspring tended not to have full Fae abilities. A rare few have the ability to shift.”
“Most shifters are half-blood Fae then?” I asked.
“That’s the prevailing theory.” She dropped her voice to just above a whisper. “That’s the reason shapeshifters under the Magic Council are second-class citizens. Because they’re known to have some Fae blood somewhere.”
“Why does the Magic Council hate the Fae so much?” I asked.
“The Fae War. Many mages were slaughtered during the war. And mages aren’t as powerful as Fae. So, for the more power-hungry of us that’s an even bigger problem,” she said.
“What does Fae fire look like?” I asked.
&n
bsp; “My friend showed me her Fae fire. It came out of her skin like smoke rising from a fire and played in the air above her hand. Hers was a purplish-pink hue and could travel over objects, other people. It even touched me,” Professor Tremaine said.
“How would Fae fire affect us on the battlefield?” I asked, sipping my tea.
“It burns. The Fae fire used in battle is like real fire, but a hundred times more powerful. We have very few shields effective against it and we really have no magic that’s a match to it.”
“How would someone know they were part Fae?” I asked. The question had come out more bluntly than I’d meant, but it was what I needed to know.
“There are no half-Fae,” Professor Tremaine answered. “The Magic Council rounded up all half-Fae creatures during the war.”
I gasped and nearly dropped my teacup. I set it down with a clatter.
“Rounded up?” I asked.
“The shapeshifters were one thing. They’re rare and as I said, we still don't know exactly where shapeshifters come from. But it's the creatures that were able to create Fae fire the Magic Council rounded up and reportedly relocated back into another realm at the beginning of the war. I haven't heard any mention of Fae fire by anyone for close to twenty-five years.”
I sat back and stared at her. We were in a lot more danger than I ever imagined. The boys had to know what could happen to us if our Fae fire was seen by anyone. We’d be banished to another realm. If we weren’t executed on the spot, that is.
I hadn’t triggered any suspicions, had I? I gulped down a lump of fear and gave her a small smile. I worried now about even trusting Professor Tremaine.
“What happened to your friend?” I asked.
“She disappeared just before the started rounding the half-Fae up and I never saw her again.”
“I'm so sorry,” I said.
“So am I,” she said. “This probably doesn't help with your fears about the battle coming up. I still can't believe the Magic Council is forcing you all into such a short timetable. Things must have gotten really bad on the Borderlands,” Professor Tremaine said.
The cat clock chimed, and I realized I’d stayed longer than I intended. “Thank you for being so open with me,” I said and stood up. “I have classes to get to. At least now I have a better idea of what to expect. I am so grateful. Thank you.”
Professor Tremaine stood up, too with a bright smile on her face. “You're a very powerful healer Miss Bishop,” she said. “I know you're going to do brilliantly on the Borderlands.” She gave my hand a squeeze and then walked me to the door.
I hoped she was right.
8
Declan
I ran for over an hour and still couldn’t get the energy out of my system. I’d shifted to pull myself together before my meeting with Fergus. I’d kissed Sadie. It was more amazing than I’d ever imagined. I shook my massive head, trying to bring myself back to the present. To the smells of the squirrels, the damp earth, leaves decaying.
The breeze flowed through my fur as I ran amongst the trees and the bushes. Fall was officially here, and I was glad for it. It was one of my favorite seasons, even though the spring held a special place in my heart. Spring was a rebirth when everything awakened renewed from a long sleep. Fall was the beginning of the death cycle. It seemed so poetic.
I picked up my pace and felt my limbs stretch out as I as a ran forward. Fergus had picked one of the farthest destinations possible to make sure that we weren’t seen together. I found that funny because we were still roommates.
I’d seen little of him in the last few of weeks, though. I could only imagine the mood he’d be in after spending so much time with his father, Gregory. It would be hideous; I was sure of it.
As I ran, the tug came again. I could feel myself changing already.
Sadie.
Sadie Bishop. I knew that if I touched her, if I kissed her like I’d wanted to since the first moment I saw her, everything would change.
The need between a mated pair is legendary, my mother told me. I felt that need now. I wanted to be near Sadie at all times. I wanted to touch her, kiss her, and feel the universe collide around us.
Our kiss was like that.
Earth-shattering.
Home.
And what would touching her, tasting her, feel like in the real world? The mirror world dampened all sensations. We couldn’t do that again until this was all over. Too many complications in a time of crisis.
Every single part of my being screamed no when I thought about backing away from her. It was unnatural not to want to be with your mate.
And I would do anything right now to be with her again.
But at what cost, that annoying voice in my head asked?
Fergus gained Fae fire ability from her. The Magic Council must know something about her Fae fire and had kidnapped her because of it. Sadie Bishop wasn’t human. She had to be at least partly Fae, and that made her enemy number one to the council.
The bigger question for me was how I could be mated to a Fae woman?
Both my parents were mages. When my shapeshifting presented itself as a child, they were shocked.
My mother viewed it as a gift whereas my father was embarrassed because it meant one of my ancestors had to be Fae. He insisted it was on my mother’s side.
This was unthinkable to my father. I was persona non grata to him until I’d received admission into the Protectors Academy. Natural shapeshifters like myself were rarely let in. The admissions committee preferred mages that used spells to shift. The larger magical society viewed us as less than mages because of the Fae blood link, something I’d never understood.
Battalions on the Borderlands had no problem with us, though. I wondered sometimes if they saw us as grist for the mill.
Never mind that, I had to focus on keeping Sadie safe without being distracted by the strange magnetic attraction between us. My neutral relationship was growing harder and harder to maintain, and I needed to pull myself out of my fantasy thoughts and into the present reality. If I didn’t, whatever the council was up to would bring down all the people I cared about. First though, I needed to deal with Fergus.
I entered the clearing and saw him already there. He held a bag of clothes for me, so I didn't have to stand naked talking to him. He had a scowl on his face and my typically cheery best friend looked beaten down and morose.
I barked at him and shifted back to my human form. I stood up and Fergus threw the bag of clothes at me. I put on the T-shirt and shorts.
The air felt chilly against my bare skin and I wanted my fur back.
“You look like shit bro,” I said.
“You're looking rough around the edges too,” he shot back.
Touché. “And you didn't want to meet IN the room because?” I asked.
“The walls have ears,” he said.
Fergus’ default was not paranoia and his words spike my attention. “What’s going on?” I asked as I rubbed my hands over my arms to get warmer.
“They found something on Sadie,” he said. “No information from my father about this, but I have some access to Leonora Trahern. She’s hinting at leaving Protectors by end of this week. She wouldn’t be leaving so soon if she hadn’t found something.”
My concern drove me to pace around the small clearing.
“Wasn’t your father supposed to be here training us to not get killed immediately on the Borderlands?” I asked dryly.
“I told you my father’s not a teacher. Lenora seems to think Professor Kyrsz is perfectly capable of teaching us how to at least last a week on the Borderlands.”
“They only give us a week?”
“That’s what she said,” Fergus said.
“Good to know how disposable we are,” I said, my skin reddening from the anger coursing through me. “That’ll be a lot of casualties if the Fae are really breaking through the veil.”
“I wonder if that's actually true. I haven't heard any stories coming out of the B
orderlands that portals are appearing, and the Fae are surging into our realm. There would be recorded deaths of mages if that was happening, wouldn’t there? What I did overhear Leonora saying is the magical shield has been cracking in some places, but they haven't figured out why. She didn’t mention anything about portals opening between the two realms.”
“How can this whole situation be only about Sadie? Why is she so important? Could it be because she’s the only Fae the council has seen in our realm in twenty-five years?”
“You think she’s Fae?” Fergus asked. When he said that, his own golden Fae fire flickered around his fists.
“I think you might be, too. And Cole Trahern.”
“How is that possible?” Fergus asked even though by the look on his face he’d already come to the same conclusion.
“I have no idea,” I admitted. I hadn’t come up with anything that seemed remotely possible.
“Leonora wants a real public display when they take Sadie into custody. They’ve been talking for days about how to announce it to the school.”
“It's not enough for them to kidnap her now. They want to do it publicly?” I asked incredulously.
“They want to make a statement. They want as much attention on it as possible to make an example of her.” Fergus kicked at the dirt at his feet sending a small plume into the air. He looked as frustrated as I felt.
Today was not the day to tell him about what happened between Sadie and me. I didn’t think he’d be upset, but in his current mood, who knew? I knew all about his arrangement with Cole and doubted he’d mind if I joined their group.
“What if they've discovered actual evidence she's Fae?” I asked.
“I'm most afraid of that right now,” he said. “The Alexis thing was always a ruse. What if they have evidence from one of the other students here who’ve seen her magic?”
“What about your Fae fire?” I asked.
As I said that, golden flames flickered at his fingertips and filtered into the air. He’d gained some control.
