by Allison West
"Are we done reminiscing? We need to keep our voices down. Eilith isn't far," Orla said.
Orla could feel a strange dark warmth permeating into the tunnel through the dirt and stone. The land directly above was aflame. Teleporting to the surface with the wand would put them in more danger. They were rising up toward the surface as it was. It wouldn't be long until they saw light.
Orla thought of the maps her mother had displayed on the battle room walls. She'd memorized them after her mother had locked her in for disobedience. Orla couldn't even remember what she'd done. However, she could recall the desire to run away. She'd spent hours staring at the intricate details and elaborate paths.
"Can't you just use fae magic to fix everything?" Arianna asked. "Twirl the wand and make Eilith magically disappear from Elfinland?"
Orla glanced back at Arianna, annoyed. "It doesn't work like that. Eilith is capable of sorcery." Did they not understand the strength of Eilith's power? The kind of enchantment that Orla couldn't fight on her own.
"How is that different from fae magic?" Arianna's eyes narrowed.
Orla clenched her jaw. "Do you really think our mothers are alike?" She couldn't believe Arianna was bringing up the wand. There wasn't much magic Orla knew, and it was nothing like the sorcery Eilith performed. She would never purposefully harm someone with magic. It was only used when necessary, to travel between worlds, escape imminent danger, and appear invisible when absolutely necessary. Orla had mastered the invisibility spell when her mother had a Seelie Court meeting of the fae. The only problem: all fae could see Orla. She could only become invisible to humans. Why had her mother left out the important part of her teachings?
"Can someone catch me up?" Lil asked.
Willow explained about The Book of Incantations and Eilith's revenge of the fae.
"Don't forget about the pixies!" a young pixie in purple said.
"Yes. She's destroying Elfinland, all of it."
Lil sighed. What made Eilith's attack on the fae and surrounding inhabitants any different than the destruction of Orenda? Death was just that, death, any way you looked at it.
"We're all concerned Eilith will eradicate an entire species. The fae have provided us with protection markings, among other necessities. We owe it to them to help stop Eilith."
"Hasn't that always been the end game?" Lil asked.
"Yes, but it's different because with the fae's help, we have a chance."
Orla slowed, her movements both careful and cautious. "Often, we don't intervene because we're not strong enough. Few fae are warriors."
"Are you a warrior fae?" Jamey asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Seems I am now." Orla carried a sword on her back; she was definitely a fighter.
Marco cleared his throat. "Can you fly?"
Orla didn't so much as glance at him. "Does it look like I have wings?" She seemed just as annoyed with the Italian boy as was the rest of the group.
Marco tried his best to examine Orla. The entire group was between the fae and him. "I don't see any."
"What is it you saw in this guy?" Hudson mumbled to Lil, his voice laced with a tinge of jealousy.
Lil glanced over her shoulder at Marco. She almost felt bad for him, but he had followed her not only onto the bus for Mount Etna but also to Elfinland. He'd done this to himself. "Not so good with making friends?" A faint smile met her lips.
"Stop!" Orla held up an arm to keep everyone back. She drew her sword. The only other sound echoing through the tunnel was their breathing.
Had Orla heard or sensed Eilith's presence? Lil wished she had the sword for protection. She didn't even have a stick to use as a weapon.
Lil was about to ask what was going on, when thick black smoke drifted into the tunnel. Lil lifted the collar of her shirt, attempting to cover her nose and mouth.
Chapter 14
Ashes
"We're close." Orla sprinted through the last feet of the tunnel before rising to the forest floor.
The others followed, coughing and wheezing in the dense smoke. It burned Orla's eyes, forcing a few tears to leak out. Refusing to acknowledge the dampness on her cheek, she opened her mouth. "This way. We're almost there."
Although the air was difficult to breathe, the fire had ceased long enough for the embers on the ground to cool.
Orla wielded the sword in her hands as she trampled through ash. The forest was sparse and thin. Approaching where the castle had once been nestled, stones and debris littered the ground. "Mom!"
"I don't feel like we're in Italy anymore." Marco turned toward Lil. "What the hell is going on?"
She didn't answer him.
Orla glanced over her shoulder, hearing the young man's words. "You're in Elfinland. My mother isn't far; come this way," she instructed, climbing over piles of debris. The bricks were hot, the large mass trapping the heat as they searched for Morgan le Fey.
The farther Orla climbed over rubble, her pulse quickened, feeling the surge of energy into the wand as it slid through the sword into her hands. Her fingers tingled as a warmth spread through her veins, and her cheeks flushed. "Mom?" She had to be nearby.
Orla stopped walking and shut her eyes. "Did you hear that?" She concentrated on the sound, the muffled cry for help buried beneath stone. The wind whipped around them, forcing the voice to be silenced. "She isn't far."
Willow had never been fond of Morgan le Fey, but she also didn't want to see her dead. She remembered what it had been like losing her own parents. Even though she didn't know Orla very well, she hated to think the young fae might have a similar experience very soon.
Her mother struggled with the handle, pushing the front door open. They'd been alone nearly forty-eight hours. She had wondered if her mother would ever return home.
Willow's eyes widened, shocked, seeing the state her mother was in. "Mom?" She rushed to her mother's side as she fell to the ground in a heap. Blood trickled down her forehead; she was dazed. Cuts and bruises marred her skin. She looked like she'd reached Hell and gotten tossed out. "What happened?"
"I love you." It was a struggle to say those three simple words, evident in her breathing, her expression, and the pain she was facing. Gasping for air was like breathing water, she was drowning. Her lungs were no longer functioning properly. Each breath came out strained.
"You went to find Dad." Willow knew he hadn't come home in nearly a week. He was supposed to pay the academy a visit. After Rawlie had come to stay with the Porters, Willow's dad promised to keep Rawlie's aunt in the loop. He'd ventured out and never returned home. Her mother had gone out in search of her husband, and clearly, something had gone wrong.
Her mother nodded weakly, her expression grave, her face paling. The words didn't find her lips.
"He's gone?" A simple nod was enough for Willow to know the truth. It was what she had feared for the last six days without him home. She swallowed the sadness and heartache. She needed to be strong for her mother. "Let me get you something for that cut on your head." Willow knew it wasn't the cut causing the most pain for her mother, but she couldn't do anything to ease the internal injuries she was facing. Willow wasn't a doctor. She was a child. "Rawlie!"
Rawlie stepped out from the bedroom and perched himself at the top by the banister. "Ms. Porter?" He rushed down the flight of stairs and helped Willow carry her mother to the sofa. "You're going to be just fine." He grabbed a blanket, covering her body.
"Willow." Each word was drawn out, slow and methodical. "Eilith." She gasped and wheezed, struggling to breathe. "Wants."
"What does she want?" Rawlie hung onto her words.
Her eyes struggled to remain open. It had taken all of her energy to return home, alive. Ms. Porter's last breath slipped past her lips, the question left unanswered.
"We'll find her," Willow said.
The bitter taste of disappointment reached Orla's lips. "Maybe we're already too late," Orla said, her legs giving way as she fell onto her knees, skinning the
m raw on stone.
"You can't give up," Willow said, resting a hand on Orla's shoulder. "I know what you're going through. I've been there. Your mother isn't dead until we find her body. She knows fae magic, right? Isn't it possible she found a way to protect herself?"
"How are we supposed to find her? How are we supposed to find anyone alive?" Orla was exhausted.
"We keep looking and searching, until there aren't enough daylight hours and we're forced to leave for our own survival," Willow said.
Orla glanced at her, surprised by her strength. "My mother was right about you."
Willow raised an eyebrow, waiting for Orla to continue.
"She sent me to find you because she believed you could stop Eilith. You can, can't you?" Her mother had wanted to protect Orla, sending her to the academy, where she would be safe under protection spells. However, Orla suspected there was more to it. Her mother was wise, becoming queen wasn't a birthright for the fae.
"We're all invested for one reason or another in the war against Eilith." Willow turned to face Rawlie. "What do you think?"
"About?" he asked.
"How many more hours do we have of daylight? The entire kingdom of Elfinland has burned. There are not enough of us to search a tenth of it before dark. How long do we have, and where do you think we should head?"
"Why are you asking me?" Rawlie frowned. "Eight hours, tops. We could split up, but then we're vulnerable to Eilith."
Lil scoffed, "We are not splitting up."
Orla agreed, "Lil's right. We should stick together. I didn't suggest we bring Lil here to send her on a mission of her own."
"Why did you bring me here?" Lil asked.
Orla finally stood. She came face to face with Lil. "You still have a gift. One that is powerful, especially right now. My kind are dying, and you have the ability to bring life to them."
"You want me because I'm a Nightblood and for what I can do?" Lil glanced at Marco.
Orla saw the exchange between them and frowned, puzzled. "Are you worried he'll find you unattractive if he knows of your powers? One ability doesn't make you a witch."
Marco's brow furrowed. "Witch? What is she talking about?"
"Forget it," Lil said. "Besides, I thought my magic wasn't any good in Elfinland."
"That was true when my mother was in control. With Elfinland in shambles, I suspect you're more powerful here than before; just as Eilith is, too."
Lil frowned, confused. What was Orla talking about? Last time she was in Elfinland, her powers were mute within the castle walls. Morgan had told her as much. Had it been Morgan who had intentionally caused her to give up—something? Lil couldn't remember what exactly had transpired that day. A fog filled her mind, heavy with questions, and every time she tried to ask her younger sister, Jamey refused to answer. She'd always change the subject. Willow's brother, Jamie, was no different.
Lil wasn't thrilled with returning to Orenda. Aunt Rosa would be concerned, and worse, this nightmare was real. She shifted her feet and walked over to Arianna. This couldn't be easy on her, either. "Long day, huh?" What else could she say to the girl whose mother had caused the destruction lying at their feet.
"Understatement of the century," Arianna said. She looked exhausted with dark circles beneath her eyes and pale, glistening skin.
Orla walked over to Arianna. "Can't be easy, knowing your mother is responsible for all this." Her hands gestured toward the ruins encompassing the land.
"Oh, it's a picnic," Arianna snapped. "Can't wait for our next family reunion."
"Don't blame Arianna," Lil said. It wasn't Arianna's fault her mother had opened Pandora's box and unleashed a curse upon herself. If she'd have known, Lil suspected Eilith might have done things differently. Or perhaps it was wishful thinking.
"What makes you think you get a say in who I put blame on?" Orla was fuming. Her cheeks burned, and her eyes turned emerald. "My mother is dead, and it's her fault!" Her finger shot up, pointing at Arianna.
"My fault? How is what my mother did my fault?" Arianna scoffed.
Orla's hands trembled, and she clenched her fingers into a fist as her arms stayed at her sides. The debris of rocks and rubble beneath their feet lifted slowly off the ground. Orla failed to notice, continuing her rant at Arianna. "How isn't it your fault? Weren't you with her when she opened Pandora's box? Surely, you could have done something to stop her!"
"I was a child!" Arianna threw her arms up in the air, frustrated. "Look at what you're doing. Who's the witch now?"
The pile of debris they stood on had levitated several inches above the ground.
"I didn't do this!" Orla's frustration mounted.
The debris tumbled to the ground. "Right, and who's holding the fae wand?" Arianna pointed at the sword in Orla's hands. The wand sat nestled tightly to its back for safekeeping.
"It wasn't me," Orla seethed between clenched teeth and walked briskly over debris to get away from Arianna. Orla stumbled repeatedly and muttered a few curses under her breath before stopping. "Everyone shut it!"
"What now?" Lil grew impatient with their arguing. She could see both perspectives uniquely, but Arianna was here trying to help. It was more than most daughters of an evil sorceress would offer. Just because she was Eilith's daughter, didn't make her automatically wretched. Evil came in many shapes and sizes. Some entities weren't born evil but became it, as Eilith had. Could Orla not see that? Was she so wrapped up in her own mother's disappearance that she was willing to push away the people trying to help? Maybe one less body wouldn't matter, but they'd wanted Lil's help, and she needed Arianna. They were friends. Lil wasn't going to abandon her in Elfinland or anywhere else.
"She's here!" Orla said, digging at stones. "My mother's buried under the stones."
Lil and the others rushed over and joined in to help. The boulders struggled to move, forcing Lil's knuckles to bleed as she scraped them raw against debris.
Morgan coughed and wheezed. "You shouldn't have come."
"Don't say that. You knew I couldn't just wait around for news." Orla bent down and reached a hand to her mother.
Morgan's lips were stained crimson. With her hands now free, she wiped the stain away, seeing the evidence on her fingers. "You should go, before Eilith returns."
"Not without you," Orla said. "I didn't come this far to abandon you, Mom."
Rawlie cleared his throat. "Morgan's right. There's too much debris to clear it all away, unless either of you can use some of that fae magic to help. Orla has the wand with her. Maybe you could tell us what to do?"
Lil raised an eye. This definitely got her attention.
Morgan's eyes grew heavy. "No. I don't have the strength." She coughed, a splatter of blood spraying the stones. "Too much magic can turn blood black."
Lil bent down to Morgan's level. She had the power to heal. Her hands rested on the woman's head, trying to heal her injuries.
Morgan's eyes shut for a moment. "You mustn't use your magic on me, Lil. I'm too far gone."
"What?" Orla asked. "What do you mean, Mom?"
"Live, child." Morgan reached out for her daughter's hand. "Fight for your freedom." Her voice trembled and the words grew weak as they slipped past her lips.
"Mom." Orla reached down for her mother, embracing her as best she could. Stones still covered most of Morgan's body. She buried her face in her mother's neck, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Don't cry," Morgan said. Her breath mixed with the wind. "Take this." Morgan struggled to remove the ribbon around her neck. A square wooden tile coated in fairy dust rested against her skin."
Her hands trembled. "Okay." Orla carefully removed the chain from her mother. "What is it?"
"Lil," Morgan said, struggling to speak.
Lil inched closer, bending down to Morgan's level. Morgan's hand reached out, touching Lil's cheek. A moment passed before the words fell from her lips, "You've kissed Bray."
Lil's eyes widened. "I don't know how that's any of your concern."<
br />
"He's not the one you love."
"I can't believe you're leaving." Lil stared at Bray. She would miss him, even if she hadn't been able to admit it until now.
"Oh, come on. It's just a quick vacation to scuba dive in the Caymans. You can't blame me for needing a vacation."
"No. You're right." Lil agreed with him. They did need a vacation. She would be going to visit a relative that she barely remembered in Italy for the summer. Part of her would have rather spent her vacation with Bray, exploring an exotic island and sunbathing. Instead, she had her younger sister and now a younger brother to look after.
Bray reached for her hand, forcing her eyes to meet his. "What's on your mind?" he asked. "You've been different since you came back."
"How can I not be? You. Me. The fact we went to a parallel world and can't tell anyone about it."
Bray smiled. "That's not entirely true. Your mother and my father both know. Though, I know what you mean. You can't tell your friends."
Lil didn't have friends outside of Bray. They'd always hung out, and at least he'd been the one to experience Orenda with her, the bad and the strange. Not much had been good, except for the rare friendships she'd made. A constant reminder when she looked at the little boy Jamie and knew it hadn't been a dream.
"You could always come with me to the Caymans," Bray said. He squeezed her hand and leaned in closer.
Butterflies rushed at her heart, making her hands sweat, and she pulled away. Bray looked hurt, his eyes cast down and his jaw square. Lil hadn't meant to upset him. She hadn't even said anything yet! Lil leaned in, dropping a chaste kiss to his cheek. "I wish I could, but Italy's already paid for. Mom will never let me change my plans."
"Next summer," Bray said, meeting her stare. His eyes narrowed slightly, confused by her demeanor. She never kissed him, not even on the cheek.
