by Dyan Chick
Hand still holding on to Brenon's, my brow furrowed. "I'm not leaving him like this."
She nodded, then without arguing, she left the room.
"I'll give you three some time," Miles said to me. "If anything changes, send Goldie to find me."
I nodded as Miles left the room.
Joe and Goldie walked over to where I sat next to Brenon's bed and sat down on the floor next to me.
"How's he doing?" Goldie asked.
"I don't know," I said.
Joe squeezed my shoulder. "He'll be okay. You're owed something good at this point."
"I hope you're right," I said, not sure if I believed it.
My fingers were asleep when I woke, stretched out next to Joe and Goldie on the floor.
"Morning," Goldie said.
I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the light streaming in through the windows. "How long was I out?"
"Few hours."
I shook out my hand and turned to where Brenon was still laying, eyes closed, on the bed. Brushing my hand against his cheek, I wondered how long I'd have to wait. Was he going to open his eyes again? He'd looked at me for a second in the car, but since then, there'd been little to no response.
"Hey," Joe's groggy voice sounded from behind me. "Any news?"
"Not yet," I said.
The door to the car opened and Evangeline entered. She took one look at Brenon, then let out a sigh, then looked back at me. "Ara, you should take a break. Get something to eat. I'll watch him."
The last thing on my mind was going to get something to eat, but my stomach growled at the mention of food.
Evangeline settled herself on the floor next to me, taking up vigil beside Brenon. "Go, Ara. Take Joe with you. Goldie can stay with me if you're concerned."
"That's not it," I said. "What if he wakes up?"
"Go," Goldie said. "If he wakes, I'll come running for you."
Knowing it would do no good to argue, I stood and crossed the room, pausing at the door before I left.
"Come on," Joe said. "We'll be back before you know it."
Goldie had settled in my place in front of Brenon. With a sigh, I pushed open the door and left, with Joe behind me.
"You doing okay?" Joe asked as we walked through the corridors toward the dining car.
"Not really." Terra was still alive, Gia was with Terra, Brenon had iron poisoning, and we weren't any closer to solving the issues we were facing. And now, anything we did would have to be without the Sayges.
"I wish I had something comforting to say," Joe said.
I glanced behind me and noticed his expression was darker than I'd seen in a long time. This was getting to him. My shoulders sank. I didn't want Joe to internalize all of this. He'd relapsed once before, and I didn't want this to send him there.
Pausing in front of a door to take us to the next car, I turned and pulled Joe into a hug. "Thank you. I couldn't do this without you."
He hugged me back. "Yes, you could."
I let go of him and looked at him, brows furrowed. "No, I couldn't. If you hadn't believed me in the beginning, if you hadn't agreed to go with me, I'd probably be going crazy somewhere alone."
"You've overcome so much," he said. "You're stronger than you know."
"I've never overcome something like this before," I said.
"Hey," Joe squeezed my shoulder. "If you can kick the blue pills, you can handle anything."
I froze as I recalled someone mentioning the blue pills. They kept magic away, making those with magic unable to use it so they could hide. I'd resisted the idea of Brenon cutting off the supply but what if we asked them to quit taking the pills? What if they came to us? "Joe, you're a genius."
I took off in the direction we had just come and burst through the door. Renewed hope rushed through me. "Evangeline, can you contact the others? The supernaturals and Fae that are in hiding?"
"Yes, why?"
"What if we ask them all to come here and stop taking the pills? Can we hide them while their magic returns? If there's enough of them, can we work together to surprise Terra?" My pulse raced. Could this work?
Evangeline stood and looked into the distance for a moment as if considering my words, then she nodded slowly. "I think it might work."
"I can put out an announcement," Goldie said. "Like we do for the Fire Festival invite."
Evangeline looked back at Brenon and frowned. "This isn't how I wanted to take the lead." She turned to Goldie. "Do it."
Chapter 24
A half-eaten plate of food sat on the low table near Brenon's bed. I'd left only to use the bathroom in the last two days. Time seemed to move more slowly than usual as I paced the small room, stopping every so often to check for any signs of movement from Brenon.
Settling into my spot on the floor next to his bed, I leaned back and let myself close my eyes. I'd only slept in small spurts despite Joe and everyone else's reprimanding. There was no way I wasn't going to be here when he woke up.
With each passing day, Miles grew more concerned, though he tried to hide it from me. He wouldn't tell me exactly how long he'd wait until he'd given up on Brenon waking, but I knew it couldn't be much longer.
I opened my eyes and turned around, so I was facing Brenon. I ran my fingers through his hair, then grabbed hold of his hand. "Please wake up."
A gentle knock sounded on the door behind me before it opened. I turned to see Goldie and Joe walking in. Goldie had taken Joe under her wing, finding things for him to help with while I sat vigil over Brenon.
"Any change?" She sat down next to me.
I shook my head. "How about on your end? Any word from the others?"
Goldie had sent out a message to the supernatural community two days ago, but last I'd heard, there wasn't an overwhelming rush of responses. I wasn't even sure how they communicated, but yesterday she'd seemed disappointed.
She shook her head. "I thought we'd have more responses by now. A few have let us know they'll come. Some have sent excuses as to why they won't. Mostly, they're afraid. Word got out about Terra."
"And there's the rumor she's spreading," Joe added.
"What rumor?" I asked.
Joe and Goldie exchanged a worried look.
"Just tell me," I said.
"Word is that Terra will be opening the gate in two days. The rumor is that Gia knows how to do it."
"That's impossible," I said. "Unless..."
I'd been thinking a lot about the curse and the threat that Terra was to us. Since there was nobody else like me, that we knew of, I had wondered if there was another way to open the gate. Sometime in the middle of the night, I'd had a terrible thought.
"Unless?" Goldie raised her eyebrows.
"Well, there isn't a set spell for opening the gates, and I know it says it has to be a child of both worlds, but I've been wondering if it's possible for Terra to take the magic of both sides and do it herself. If she had the magic of both Sayge and Fae, would it give her the same benefits?"
"If that was the case, why didn't she do it years ago?" Goldie asked.
"I wonder if it's about the power," I said. "She took Gia for a reason. She wanted Brenon's power. But he's not the only Fae with enough strength to give her what she wants."
"Tristan," Goldie said.
I nodded. "What if she takes his power? What if that gives her what she needs?"
Goldie stood. "I'm going to find Evangeline. We need to get eyes on Tristan. Find out where he is."
"Guess I'll wait here," Joe said as Goldie closed the door behind her. He turned to me. "You think Terra can open the gate with Gia and Tristan?"
"I don't know, but I'm guessing she's trying to find a way to do it without my help or Brenon's." I knelt back down next to Brenon's bed.
"Ara, have you even left this room in the last two days?" Joe asked.
I shook my head. "I want to be here when he wakes up."
Joe knelt down next to me. "What if he doesn't wake up?"
I glared a
t Joe. "He's going to."
"Then what?" Joe asked.
It was the question I'd been avoiding asking myself. Then what. I knew the answer, but I didn't want to think about it. There were only two ways this could end: either we all died fighting against Terra, or we defeated her and Brenon returned to Faerie. In either outcome, I was going to lose him. I knew that already, which was why I insisted on spending time with him here. Even if he didn't know I was by his side. I wasn't ready to say goodbye in either situation, but at least I was going to have the chance to say goodbye. It wasn't something I'd been granted when my parents passed. They were here one day, gone the next.
"Maybe it would be easier to say goodbye now and go help, Goldie. Do something productive. Take your mind off of things you can't control," Joe said.
"Giving up on me so soon?" Brenon's voice was scratchy and quiet, barely a whisper.
My heart leaped at the sound. Turning my attention from Joe, I practically threw myself at Brenon. His eyes were open, squinting against the light. In a rush of relief mixed with joy, I laughed as I planted a kiss on Brenon's cheek. "You're awake."
He sat up slowly, pausing as if gaining his balance. "How long was I out?"
"Almost three days," I said.
"Three?" He tried to stand, then fell back onto the bed. "Terra took Gia, then they attacked. I don't know what happened after that. Where's Gia?"
"Shh." I stroked Brenon's shoulder. "Sit, don't rush, we're working on it."
Brenon covered his face with his hands, then dropped them and looked around the room. "Where is everybody?"
I glanced behind me and realized that Joe had left the room sometime after Brenon woke. "They're working on getting help. I'm sure they'll be here to check in soon."
Just then, the door opened, and Evangeline and Miles raced in. Joe followed them through the door.
Evangeline rushed past me and launched herself on Brenon, pulling him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her and patted her on the back. "I'm fine, Eva. Just groggy."
She let go and stepped back. "This one's been at your bedside since we returned, just so you know."
Brenon smiled at me, and I felt a rush of heat go to my face.
Miles handed Brenon a cup of the orange liquid I'd come to appreciate for its healing qualities. Without pause, Brenon threw back the drink, then gave the cup to Miles. "Thank you."
"Evangeline, Miles, come quick." Goldie raced into the room, stopping in her tracks when she saw Brenon awake. A huge smile spread across her face. "Welcome back, boss."
"What is it, Goldie?" Evangeline was back to business as usual, the brief show of emotion gone.
"You have to see this," Goldie said. "Hundreds, all here to help."
"What?" Miles set the cup down and walked over to the window.
"The Fae, all the supernaturals we called. They didn't respond, they just came. They all want to help us take down Terra. They're ready to toss the blue pills and go after her."
I helped Brenon to stand, and without words, all of us made our way over to the window. Goldie was right, outside the car were more people than I'd seen at any of the Rose Circus parties. Brenon kissed the top of my head, then moved away from me. He was walking regularly now, not showing any signs of having been incapacitated for the last three days. "Looks like we have some work to do."
I followed the group out of the train to the abandoned train yard we'd parked at for the last few days. Huddled around the Circus train, surrounded by graffitied, rusting train cars, the people who'd come to help us waited.
A cheer rose from the crowd when they caught a glimpse of the Ringmaster. And as if he'd never left the stage, Brenon seemed to light up, his stage persona taking over. He smiled and waved to the group, posture straightening as he addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for coming. This ends now. This time, we fight back. No more hiding. No more fear. It's time to go home."
The crowd parted, and murmurs rose as a figure made its way to the front. It took a moment for me to process what I saw as the leather jacket and long blonde hair came into view. Tristan was here.
Chapter 25
The murmurs turned to angry yelling, and before I could react, Evangeline had Tristan pinned to the ground. A gray blur flew past me, and a wolf joined Evangeline, teeth bared at the downed Tristan.
"Stop," I yelled as I ran to Tristan. "Jasper, back off."
The wolf took a step away but growled at me. I turned to Evangeline. "Get off of him."
"If we kill him, Terra can't use him against us," she said.
"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead already," Tristan said.
"Can't you see he's not fighting you? Let him speak," I said.
"Since when do you take his side?" Evangeline said, not loosening her grip on Tristan.
"Since I found out he's my father."
A unified gasp sounded from around me. I'd kept my connection to Tristan a secret from the Rose Circus, but now the truth was out.
"Let him go, Eva," Brenon was standing next to me now.
"Did you know this?" Evangeline asked Brenon.
He nodded.
A pained expression passed over her face for a moment before she eased up, then stepped away from Tristan. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"It wasn't my secret to tell," Brenon said.
Tristan stood and brushed the dirt from his clothes. "Well, I must say that's not quite the reception I expected from a group that did an all-call for support against Terra. You may want to rein in your kitty-cat."
Evangeline hissed at Tristan. "Watch your tone, Bird-boy."
Tristan smirked at her, then looked from me to Brenon. "I suppose this is the best I can expect from the notorious Rose Circus. Can any of you even use magic anymore?"
"What are you doing here, Tristan?" Brenon asked.
"Can't a father stop in to say hello to his only daughter?" he ruffled my hair, and I batted his hand away.
I smoothed out my hair. "Listen, I stood up for you because you helped me get away from Terra and because you're blood. It doesn't mean that I like you."
"Fine, I'm used to having less than a warm welcome. Reminds me of home, actually." He shrugged. "Listen, I want to take out that crazy sister of yours more than you can imagine. If you want to do that, you need me."
"He did help me escape," I said, looking at Evangeline.
"Because it must benefit him somehow. Like making you take his side now." Her eyes were still locked on Tristan as she spoke to me.
"You can't take her down without me," Tristan said. "We used to be friends once, remember, Eva?"
"Don't call me that," she said.
He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Whatever you say. Just let me talk, if you don't want me to stay, I'll go. You know I always keep my word."
Evangeline was quiet for a moment, and both Brenon and I stood in silence next to her. There was a past between her and Tristan and whatever it was, it was enough to keep Brenon from interfering.
"Fine," Evangeline finally said. "But you step one toe out of line, and I'll show you just how much damage my claws can do."
Jasper, still in his wolf form growled from beside Evangeline.
"Got it." Tristan winked at her. "I like women with a little fire."
Evangeline rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."
"Let's take this inside," Brenon said. "Eva, I need you out here with the others. Give us a few minutes to talk to Tristan."
Brenon went up the steps back into the train car where we'd spent the last few days, followed by Tristan, then me. Once inside, Tristan and Brenon took the two folding chairs that had been brought in, and I sat on the bed, watching the interactions between the two of them.
They seemed familiar, like they knew each other well. I recalled the reference that I'd heard about Tristan and Terra and their romantic past. Had Brenon known Tristan back then, too? Was it possible they'd even been friends? There was a lot of history I didn't know about the Fae, and I wondered how much I should
know.
"What are you doing here, Tristan?" Brenon asked.
"I told you, I want to help you. I assume that if you're finally taking the offensive, either you're ready to go home, or you know how close Terra is to getting that gate open." Tristan leaned back in the chair. Looking totally at ease in the tension-filled room. Maybe it was just me who was tense.
"What do you mean?" I wondered how close I'd been to guessing Terra's plans. "How will she open the gate?"
"Her original plan was to have my help. Now I'm pretty sure she'll come after me for my magic," Tristan said.
"Now I see why you're here," Brenon said. "You need to save your skin."
Tristan shrugged. "Why do you care as long as you get an ally out of it? You think she's going to stop chasing after Ara once she gets the gate open? Doesn't matter if Ara is needed anymore, now it's personal. You know how she gets."
Brenon glanced at me. "Yeah, I know how she gets."
"Besides," Tristan leaned forward, looking over at me. "Would it be so hard to believe that I don't want to see my daughter killed? Even if she wants nothing to do with me."
A pang of guilt echoed through me. At first, I'd considered finding Tristan, I'd wanted to talk to him, find out the truth, but once I had, I never considered forming a relationship with him. I'd been too worried about my survival. About my current relationships. I looked down at my hands, feeling like a kid caught it a lie.
"I can see that," Brenon said. "Say you are here to help us. What would you propose? How do we finish off my sister?"
"You have to break the curse," Tristan said.
I looked up at him, mouth open. We couldn't do that. It was far too dangerous. Hadn't everyone said so?
"No," Brenon said. "We've got a whole group of Fae and supernaturals waiting to help. As soon as the blue pills wear off, we can go after Terra."
"No time for that," Tristan said. "It has to happen now. You've got to break the curse."
"We can't do that. It's too dangerous. We don't know what it would do to Ara if we broke it. Plus, we don't know what form our magic will take."
