The Veiled Monarch

by Shae Bryant

  We had a plan. Three days. I needed to get in, convince this Linden guy that I was going to join them and get whoever I could out. At the end of three days, I'd have my backup coming in after me.

  I took the fake file and headed out the door with it. Catherine stopped me, "Raina, I don't like this! You shouldn't be doing anything undercover. I'm afraid you aren't safe."

  "You know the other option, Catherine. Do you want Jacob Stuart back here with twenty of his friends?" I put my hand on the doorknob, "You know where I am. Vince does too. And you'll tell Isaac."

  She looked hurt when I said that, "I will not. I said I was worried. Not that I am going to go blab your business."

  I tried not to laugh at her, "Catherine. I want you to tell Isaac. I don't mean you're going to squeal on me. You are saving me from telling him."

  Vince watched me open the door, "In three days time, I will make sure we look for you. I hope you understand in order to keep you safe, we will take our normal measures?"

  "I know." I winked at both of them, "See you in three days or less."

  Once the door shut, I let out a deep breath. Without Catherine and my friends surrounding me, I was a little scared. This was unknown territory, and I had to do the first part alone.

  As I thought about this, a small gull landed on the ground near me. It was my little flying friend. He bid me a good evening and hopped around on the ground, excitedly telling me how Catherine was pacing the house yelling at Vince and telling him to go after me. Both Vince and Louis were reassuring her that Non Humans protect each other. I was going to be fine.

  I pulled a few threads from my jeans, placing them on the ground next to the bird. That was my thanks for keeping tabs on things. He did show me something I hadn't thought about. There was no way I'd be alone. Everything out there would be able to help me. If I needed help, I could get it quickly. If I needed an ear, I had thousands of them.

  When I arrived at The Everglades, I took an air boat close to the area I had been to earlier that day. I pushed the boat into a thicket of sawgrass, putting everything I owned safely in the seat. Then, I started out towards the clearing.

  This place was downright spooky at nighttime. So far away from civilization that the only sounds were the chattering of bugs, buzzing cicadas and soft chirping of the birds. Every so often, the water would make a little splash to indicate a curious alligator had come to see me. There was no light at all except for the illumination of a crescent moon. Trees and feeding herons made strange shadows on the ground that seemed to stretch out towards me.

  The clearing itself made me feel no better. Not a soul was nearby. I heard a familiar voice sing out to me. Starling. She must have been watching for me. I briefly told her what I had done and asked if she'd bring me to the place. Starling was all to eager to lead me to "the safe town".

  A mile later, Starling took me to a well trodden path. The swampy stench was replaced with wood smoke and the darkness of the night was replaced with the soft glow of a bonfire. Just a few yards away from me was another clearing where eight huts made of large strips of bark and palm leaves stood in a circle around a large central fire. Four people sat around the fire. One of them was Fawn, the other two were teenagers and the fourth was a man who looked to be nearing his 40s. He was gesturing and laughing as he told them some story that seemed to prove entertaining.

  As I got closer, the young boy jerked his head up "Someone is coming!"

  The man grabbed a large shotgun that sat next to him. He raised it towards me and shouted, "Stay back!"

  I put up my hands, "Please! Don't shoot! A friend brought me!" Here we go, Raina. Time to put on your best act yet.

  He kept the gun on me, "Explain yourself!"

  "The bird! Starling! She told me to come here!" I pointed to Starling who flew around the man, agreeing with my story.

  This seemed to be enough for him. He lowered the gun and broke into a smile. Something about the way he smiled reminded me of Jacob Stuart. It was fake and saccharine.

  "You are one of us." He extended both of his hands out to me, "Tell me what happened to you."

  My skin crawled when I took his hands. This guy was a snake and it permeated through me the moment we touched. This must be Linden. No wonder Fawn is so afraid of him.

  "The Police." I swallowed back crocodile tears, handing him the beaten up fake file, "They're looking for me. I was protesting at a grocery chain that wouldn't ban plastic bags, and they arrested me. For nothing! The canines in the Police Department helped me escape and I stole my file. That way, they can't find me again!"

  Oh man, I really hoped he bought this. I was stretching the truth so far that it broke. But, if they had been here as long as Fawn said they had, maybe they didn't know how things worked anymore.

  He pulled me close to him in an embrace, "I am so glad Starling brought you! It is time to meet your real family!"

  Linden opened his arms wide, showing me to the women who had come out of their huts. Every one of them was carrying a toddler and two were pregnant. The only ones who could take care of themselves were the teenagers who sat right in front of me.

  "Everyone! This is our new sister..." Linden turned to me.

  "Raina. Raina Escobar."

  Linden waved his hands back and forth, "No. That is the name they gave you. What's your real name? What's the name nature gave you?"

  I didn't have to play dumb for this. I had no clue what he was talking about, "Uh...uhmm..."

  Linden's arm slithered around my shoulder. "I'm so sorry you haven't learned to listen yet. Don't worry. You'll learn. Until then, I will listen for you. It tells me your name is..." Linden closed his eyes and took a deep breath, waving his head from side to side. Finally, he opened his eyes with a smile, "Aster."

  I just nodded "Yeah. That sounds right. It...uhh...feels right."

  "Because it is right!" He laughed, "Aster. Come. Join us. This is my chief wife, Fawn. She'll help you settle in with us. Rest. Eat. We'll talk soon."

  Linden opened his arms and Fawn put down the young child she was carrying. She smiled at me, taking my arm and leading me to a hut.

  "Thank you." I said.

  "No. Thank you." Fawn whispered in my ear.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The Outside

  My three days have started. I had little time to 'eat and rest' like Linden told me to do. But, I took Fawn's advice and ate some fruit while I kept an eye on Linden outside the hut. He was flipping through my file, looking at the arrest records and newspaper clippings. Every so often, he'd shake his head in disgust. He bought it.

  After eating, I was ushered outside where I was introduced to Linden's other wives and their children. Every one of them had names that were nature related. Fawn, Oak, Tulip, Wave — the two teenagers were both named Fox and Iris. After getting a closer look at them, I was fairly sure they were about fifteen or sixteen years old.

  Linden sat me down and gave me some words of caution. For the first few months, I wasn't to leave the 'sanctuary' of the safe town. The area was marked off by a crudely drawn map in the sand that showed a half mile radius outside of their dwelling area. I needed to purge myself of the outside world and become one with nature.

  He told me how he knew there were few Druids left outside. I simply confirmed his suspicions. No, I told you everything you wanted to hear so you'd believe me. His ideas were insane. He spoke to me of things that we hadn't heard of in ages. Long before the oldest Vampire ever lived. There were legends that the Celts could actually become the very animal their affinity was close to. Stories pass from Druid to Druid about the legendary Boadicea and how she became a bear.

  To Linden, this was the truth. If we learned to listen to nature once again, we would be as powerful as The Celts once were. We too could become an animal and gain our freedom. This is why the outside world was so afraid of us.

  He left me with Fox and Iris in front of the fire while he went to "attend to his wives". What a slimy... I hated this guy.r />
  Fox and Iris stared at me for a few minutes, trying to understand the way I looked and my way of dressing. Both of them were much like Fawn. Their dark hair was a tangled mess. They wore the same patchy clothes that Fawn wore and were just as dirty.

  Finally, Fox spoke to me in a timid voice "What's it like out there, Aster? It must be horrible."

  Iris leaned forward, "How bad are the fires?"

  "The...fires?" I was so confused.

  Fox nodded, "The fires people set to our homes. How bad is it?"

  I wanted to tell them something, but I didn't understand what they were trying to say. Fires? Set to our homes? What did Linden tell them?

  "I told you that didn't happen!" Iris pointed to my face, "Look! Look at her face! The birds were right! It's not true!"

  "Shhh!" Fox hushed her, "He'll know we've been talking to the birds about the outside! Fawn will be in trouble!"

  Iris sat down slowly, "You're right. We can't talk about it here. We can talk later when we take our walk. You can come with us, Aster. We'll show you the nesting tree. The birds are all so nice!"

  Both of these kids had my head reeling with questions. It was obvious that they were like Fawn. They didn't know what was and wasn't true anymore. The birds who flew in and out of The Everglades had been talking openly to them. It must be so confusing for all of them to have to deal with this.

  "Yeah. I'll go."

  Fox jumped from his seat and ran to Linden, "Father! Can Aster come with us to the nesting tree?"

  Linden poked his head out of one of the huts, "Is she ready for that?"

  "Yes." Fox nodded, "Fawn can come with us if you think that's best?"

  "No." Linden patted his head, "You take the new sister to the nesting tree. It will be a wonderful experience for her."

  We walked through a small thicket until the glow of the fire had dimmed to nothing. Both Iris and Fox knew their way around in the dark. Which was good since I was walking around blind, afraid I was going to step on a snake or worse.

  Both of them stopped in front of a large tree that stood out from all the rest. The entire tree was full of large white blooms that looked like huge cotton balls covering the branches. Spanish moss hung from the flowers, dipping into the water and floating past the trunk. A quiet song seemed to be coming from the tree. It was like a content hum of hundreds of tiny voices.

  I stood in awe of the sight. It was truly one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. What sort of tree was this? Nothing like it exists.

  "They aren't flowers." Fox said.

  "What?" I broke from my trance and looked at him.

  "Those are hundreds of birds nesting in the tree. In the morning, when the sun comes up, every 'flower' flies away."

  I smiled, "That's beautiful."

  Iris kept her eyes on the white 'flowers' for a moment, "The birds keep everything away from us. We can speak freely here. They know what we say, and they don't tell anyone. Some of them have gone outside. They told us things. Is it really true all of you live freely? There are no camps?"

  "Camps?" I shook my head, "I have my own home. I don't know anything about camps."

  "The fires?" Iris asked.

  "No. No one has ever set my home on fire for being a Druid." I turned to the tree again, listening for the birds. A few woke up when we came in. They were encouraging me to tell the truth. I think the birds wanted them to know.

  "I told you, fox!" Iris gloated, "I told you Fawn heard them right!"

  Fox looked confused and upset, "I...don't know!"

  All three of us stopped when the grass rustled nearby. Moments later, Fawn appeared again. She put a finger over her lips. "It's me. I told Linden I was worried about Aster, and he told me to come look after you." Fawn took my hand and squeezed it tightly. "Aster knows more than you think, children. We need to listen to her. She can help us."

  "I can tell you that you have some strange ideas. Druids aren't hated. I have friends that aren't Druids. I work with people who aren't Druids. My best friend isn't a Druid. My parents aren't either." I squeezed Fawn's hand, trying to assure her that I was doing everything I can.

  Iris looked at me with so much sympathy when I mentioned my parents, "Oh, they must hate you."

  "My parents?" I cleared my throat, "No. We...loved each other. I mean, I see them all the time! Almost every weekend." OK I lied.

  "I think the birds are right, Fawn." Fox started to bounce with excitement. He grasped my free hand and shook it back and forth, "Aster! Take us outside! Please?"

  I thought I'd be taking a grown woman out of here along with their young children. Not a teenager who had no idea how to socialize or handle life. I gulped. "I can't just...do that!"

  "Yes you can." Fawn urged me, "You made Lily safe. Make them safe too. You can take them!"

  "Fawn, I can make you all safe!"

  Fawn shook her head, "Linden will never let Oak leave. He won't allow Fox and Iris either, but they have some freedoms the young ones don't. You can take them, and they'll be safe."

  I had no choice. If I took Fox and Iris, it would be a start. I could start getting them all out. That, or Linden would be furious at both of them and probably take it out on the women.

  "Fawn, stand up to him. Just walk out. Come with me." I tried to encourage her.

  She responded with a sorrowful look, "You don't know what he will do if I do that. Please, take Fox and Iris. I'll take their punishment."

  Whatever Fawn meant scared me, because Iris immediately jumped "Fawn no! You can't!"

  "I can and I will." Fawn stood firm in her decision, "You will go with Aster. When will you take them?"

  My eyes closed slowly. This was going to be an absolute nightmare. "Soon. Let everyone go to sleep first. Then, I'll wake you both, and we'll slip away."

  Linden gave me a vacant hut to sleep in. He told me it was best that I slept alone and 'learned to listen'. The sleazeball already dropped a hint that he'd join me one night, so I could 'listen better'. Yeah, listen to him huff and puff on top of me, maybe. I really hated that guy.

  I laid there with my eyes opened, listening to the crackle of the fire die down and the soft breathing of everyone around me. Once I was certain they were all asleep, I slowly got up and left the hut. Fox and Iris both slept in a hut that belonged to them. I tapped gently on the flimsy bark wall and scratched it twice.

  Iris poked her head out of the hut, rubbing her eyes "Is it time?" She whispered.

  I nodded my head, putting a finger on my lips to indicate they both needed to be quiet. Fox emerged next, stifling a yawn. We crept slowly away from the huts, careful to make as little noise as possible. A few feet and then a few more. Soon, we were at least three yards away. Then four. I let go of my breath, leaning my head back with relief. We'd made it.

  The noise of a shotgun being cocked caused my blood to run cold. I turned to see Linden standing a few feet away from us, pointing the gun at me. "What are you three doing?"

  I knew if I had to, I could shoot him. I wasn't dumb enough to leave everything. My gun and my phone were still hidden on my person. I know it was a gamble, but Linden didn't bother to search me. But, his shotgun could easily hit two innocent teenagers.

  I put my hands in the air, "Don't shoot!"

  "Father! It's us!" Fox called out.

  Linden jerked the gun towards me, "You. You're taking them outside? I won't allow it!"

  "No. We're just...going for a walk. That's all." I tried to think of a quick excuse.

  He didn't buy it. "You're taking them from me! How dare you!? After we accepted you. Your mind is so full of their lies. Children! Get away from her. Aster is banished from this place!"

  Iris was anxious. She quickly looked between me and Linden, "Father we..."

  "You what?" He raged, "You want to go? Is that it? In just a few hours you allowed her to fill your head with these lies!?"

  "Please Father." Fox was begging him, "We just want to see. We'll come back."

  Lind
en stepped closer, still keeping the gun trained on me. "Once you leave the safety of this place, nature won't listen to you any longer! It won't speak to you. You'll be cut off. Is this what you want, children? No! It isn't what I want and you are my children. Come back to me, now!"

  The women in the huts had come out now. They were standing near the clearing, trying to see what Linden was yelling about. Two of them were crying quietly. I wondered if they were the Mothers of Fox and Iris.

  It was Linden I was concerned about. His behavior was growing more and more erratic and his anger was starting to become wrath. Someone like him could be very unpredictable. The fact that he had a shotgun in his hands worried me far more than anything else. At any second, he could pull the trigger and I don't know who he would shoot first.

  I had to make a hasty decision. I reached into my waistband and pulled my gun out, "Drop the gun!" I commanded.

  Linden paused, tilting his head towards me with a look of utter disbelief. Then, he roared with laughter, "A gun? You have a gun? You are no better than anyone else out there! Do you see this, children? She came to kill me, so she can take you!"

  Both Fox and Iris started to cry when I pulled my gun out. They were terrified of their Father and now they were terrified of me. I very well may have lost them for what I'd done.

  For an eternity of a few seconds, I waited to see what Fox and Iris would do. They didn't move a muscle. They watched my standoff with Linden and their eyes were pleading with me not to kill him. Oh no, I wasn't going to kill him. Not in front of his children.

  I dropped to my knees and grasped the sawgrass in my hands. The soil underneath Linden started to bubble and crackle to life. Huge blades of sawgrass sprang up around him, curling around his shotgun and his arms. He screamed loudly, fighting the grass that he had become entangled in. My other hand pointed the gun in the air and I pulled the trigger.