Orenda

by Silver, Ruth

  “Bray’s house?” Lil asked, incredulous. She felt Hudson elbow her in the ribcage. He probably wanted her to be quiet.

  “Why didn’t Eilith kill me when she had the chance?” Willow asked.

  “She might have, after the gateway between worlds was stabilized. I suspect she’ll be looking for The Book of Incantations to ensure the gateway works both ways indefinitely, so she can use her power to bring the Scourge to Lil’s world. Find the book, bring it to me, and the Fae will intervene.”

  “Where’s the book?” Willow asked.

  “I don’t have all the answers,” Morgan said. “I suspect it’s in Lil’s world, but I can’t know that for certain. My sight is limited. But, without a deal, no one is going to the other universe.”

  Jamie glanced between Willow and Lil before stepping forward. “I'd like to make a deal.”

  “What?” Willow reached for her younger brother to stop him, but he stepped forward to Morgan and out of Willow’s reach.

  Morgan smiled. “A brave young boy you are.” She ran a hand through his soft hair. “Come with me.” She took his hand and led him toward her throne. Morgan sat down as he stood before her. “Tell me what you want and what you have to offer.”

  “You help Willow regain her gift from the Mystics, and in exchange, I will give you my power.”

  Morgan paused. “Your power is sight.” She tilted her head, trying to absorb his gift.

  “Not yet!” Jamie held up his hand. “I need to know that Lil can go home safely. You must offer us a direct portal to her home.”

  Morgan laughed. “I don’t have a portal, but I do have something . . . better.” She stepped out of the room.

  “What's going on?” Lil asked, keeping her voice low.

  Willow stepped closer to her little brother, her hand reaching out for his. “Do you know what you’ve done?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I don’t need it.” He stared at his sister. “I'm doing the right thing. Do you trust me? Lil sacrificed what she desired to save me. I owe it to her to try and protect her world by sending her back home. I also know how important your power is.”

  Willow hugged her little brother to her chest and ran a hand through his hair. She dropped a kiss to Jamie's forehead. “I love you,” she whispered. “I just don't want to see you taken advantage of, Jamie.”

  Jamie hugged his sister in return. “I'm okay. Don't worry about me.”

  Morgan entered the room and Willow let go of her brother.

  Morgan glided over to the six of them, handing a fairy wand to Jamie. “You will need this to return to Elfinland.”

  Jamie took it in his palm.

  Rawlie eyed the staff. “What does it do?”

  “You don't trust easily, do you?” She eyed Rawlie. “Such a shame. What have the Fae ever done to you?”

  Rawlie's eyes narrowed. “I’m smarter than to ever trust a Fae, especially the queen.”

  “Just remember, child, you came to me for help.” Morgan stared at Rawlie. Her hand fell to her side. “We share a common enemy, whether you want to see it or not.”

  Jamie played with the wand in his hand. Morgan stepped over toward him, reached for the wand, and pointed it down at the ground. “Never point it at another unless you intend to use it,” she said.

  Jamie nodded, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “How do we use the wand?” It was heavy in his hands and shimmered like glass.

  “It will do as you've asked—grant you passage to the other world. Take the hands of those you wish to transport. Use it again, and it will bring you back to the Seelie Court. When you return, I will restore Willow’s powers—after you've given me what's rightfully mine, of course.”

  “Deal,” Jamie agreed. “Let's go.” He approached the others and reached for their hands. They stood together in a circle.

  Blue Skies

  Chapter 10

  With the power of the Fae's wand, they appeared on Lil's front lawn. Those from Orenda stared up at the bright yellow sun and blue sky. It was clear where they were.

  “Wow,” Jamie said, mesmerized.

  “Home, sweet home.” Lil glanced back at her house. Her little sister, Jamey, was likely inside, watching television. Did she have a babysitter? Lil doubted her parents would ever leave their children alone again. She wanted to run inside, throw her arms around her little sister, and tell her she was home, but she couldn't. Not yet. They needed to stop Eilith, or they wouldn't have a home for long.

  “Just like you remember it?” Hudson joked.

  “Better,” Lil said before jogging across the street to Bray’s house. Fist raised in the air, she pounded on the front door. “Bray! Come on, let me in.” There was the sound of slow footsteps on the other side of the door. Lil assumed Bray was looking through the peephole, checking outside first. “Bray, it’s me!” Lil shouted.

  Bray pulled open the door in a rush and threw his arms around Lil. “You’re home!”

  “I am.” She smiled, returning the hug briefly. “But there won’t be a home soon, if we don't stop Eilith. The portal in the forest, it’s linked to your house.”

  “What?” Bray’s eyes widened, and he glanced back at the others behind Lil. “Come inside.” He ushered them in and shut the door behind Jamie, the last to enter.

  “Where’s the door to your basement?” Rawlie asked. “The device would need to be underground because of its weight and size.”

  “You don’t think I’d notice something like that in my house?” Bray shot Rawlie a look. “You’re insane, thinking I’m hiding anything in this place.”

  “Not you,” Arianna said calmly. “We think your family might be involved.”

  “That’s not helping matters.” Bray briskly walked to the basement door, opening it. “Knock yourselves out.” He stood at the top of the steps, watching the others follow Lil downstairs.

  “I’ve been in the basement before,” Lil said. “Bray’s right, I’ve never seen anything out of the ordinary—” She paused, hearing a strange whirling noise. “Do you hear that?”

  Bray shook his head and joined the others in the basement. “It’s just my dad’s old computer in his office.”

  Lil stared at Bray. “I don’t think that’s from a computer.” The hum wasn’t loud, but it was strong and steady. Lil tried the door to the office, but it was locked. The basement had been remodeled many years ago, and most of it was used for Bray’s father’s work assignments. A smaller portion had been designated a playroom when they were kids. Lil knew the door was always locked and remembered curiously trying to peek in when Bray's father would emerge from the other side. “Get me the key for your dad’s office.”

  “He’ll kill me,” Bray said. “There’s government contracts and classified information all over the place in there. That’s why it’s locked. You know that, Lil.”

  Rawlie gritted his teeth. “I’ll break down the door if I have to.”

  Bray shook his head. “Even if I could help you, I don’t have a key.”

  Rolling his eyes, Rawlie reached into his back pocket and retrieved a lock-pick set. “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

  “When did you get that?” Hudson asked Rawlie.

  Rawlie shot Hudson a look. “When I thought we might need it.”

  “You should hurry up. My parents will be home soon,” Bray said and shifted awkwardly on his feet. “I won’t be able to explain why there are two Lil’s standing in the basement.”

  “Were you parents mad that you disappeared?” Lil asked. She wondered how her parents would react. What had he told them? Probably not the truth.

  “I’m grounded until I’m eighteen, but I don’t think it’ll last. I have a scuba trip this summer in the Cayman’s. So far, they haven’t cancelled it, yet.”

  “You’re getting off easy,” Lil said. “Until they find out we broke into your dad’s office.” Lil knew his dad would be pissed.

  “Gotcha!” Rawlie turned the handle, pushing the door open. He felt around on the wall
for the light switch, flipping it on. No one stepped inside; there wasn’t enough room.

  “I take it that’s the device?” Lil stared at the chrome machine. It towered over five feet, scraping the ceiling, and stood seven feet wide. Its legs held the awkward weight of the device, and the whirring noise they’d all heard earlier intensified up-close. Lil took a tentative step forward. “How do we shut it down?”

  “There’s no off-switch?” Hudson asked. “There has to be a power source.” He pushed in past Rawlie, carefully circling the machine. He bent down, ducking his head as low as possible, trying to see if there was anything connected from underneath.

  “Anything?” Bray asked.

  Hudson stood. “It’s not possible. There’s no immediate power source being used, but it’s turned on.” He glanced at Rawlie. “Do you think it could be self-sustaining?”

  “You’re the tech genius,” Rawlie said. “I’m leaving this one in your hands to figure out.”

  Hudson’s face went pale. “I don’t know how to disable it. We could destroy it.”

  “With what?” Lil laughed, staring up at the giant metal spider. That’s what it looked like to her, a huge, chrome tarantula.

  “I have a baseball bat.” Bray reached for the wooden stick in the corner of the basement.

  “Do you think that’d work?” Lil asked Hudson.

  “Who knows? It could blow up in our face, or it could obliterate the thing. Think about how unstable the portal is. It shouldn’t be in the forest; it should be here in the house.” Hudson frowned. “The Fae can power it down. We need to find the book.”

  “What book?” Bray asked, turning off the light and shutting the door to the office, locking it behind him. They headed back up the stairs.

  “The Book of Incantations,” Lil answered. “Eilith will use it to keep the portal open and make it work in both directions. Once she stabilizes it, there will be no stopping her from destroying our home.”

  Bray took a deep breath and nodded. “We can’t let that happen. I’m trying to think. If my father had the book, where would he keep it?”

  Lil looked to the front door, her eyes widening as it started to open and Jamey snuck in.

  “Lil!” Jamey exclaimed. “I thought I saw you come in here! What are you doing at Bray’s?” She ran toward Lil, throwing her arms around her sister, giving her a tight hug.

  “Trying to save the world.” Lil grinned, returning the hug as fiercely as Jamey was giving it. “Do me a favor and call Mom.”

  Jamey gave her a guilty look. “I already did. I told her I saw you across the street. She told me to stay inside, but I couldn't listen. I had to see you, Lil!” She hugged her sister again, tighter.

  Lil patted Jamey's back. “I missed you too, tiger.”

  Jamey stepped back, examining the rest of the group. She gave a peculiar look to Lil when she saw Lil's doppelganger beside her. “I'm confused.”

  “I was too,” Lil said. “We don't have much time. You should get home, lock the front door, and stay inside, where it's safe.”

  “No!” Jamey was adamant. “I'm not leaving you again, Lil.”

  “Lil's right. It's not safe for you here, Jamey. Do you see how your sister is dressed?” Bray asked.

  Jamey eyed the sword hanging over Lil's back and the eternal suit she wore. “Cosplay?” she guessed.

  “Oh, I wish it were that.” Lil kissed Jamey's cheek, trying to usher her back outside, but it was too late.

  Glass from the back door shattered and flew through the air. Lil ducked, trying to shield her sister from the shards cascading onto them. A roar of air and a whoosh of smoke permeated the first floor, followed by a rich laughter, causing Lil to shudder.

  “There you are!” Eilith beamed as she glided in through the shattered back door. Eilith ran a hand over Arianna’s arm when she was close enough to touch her. “I'm glad to have you back, dear.”

  “I’m not going with anywhere with you.” Arianna stood her ground. “Leave us alone. Go back to Orenda.”

  “You can't have her!” Rawlie shouted at Eilith. He gripped the dagger in his right hand.

  Lil pushed Jamey behind her. “Go home, now!” she demanded.

  “What is she?” Jamey whispered in awe.

  Eilith flashed her set of double razor sharp teeth. One hand gripped Arianna's arm, and her nails left scratches on her bare skin. She would not let her go again.

  Lil refused to bow down before Eilith. She tried to keep Jamey hidden behind her. The others reached for their weapons.

  Eilith let go of her daughter long enough to freeze Jamey in place. She was displaying her power, showing everyone what she was capable of, if they betrayed her. “Do you really want to defy me?” Jamey was breathing but unable to move or react. “Give me The Book of Incantations, and I’ll let her go. I’ll be generous and let you all live.”

  “The book is here?” Lil asked, surprised. Her eyes flashed toward the bookshelf. Could it be so obvious to be hiding in front of everyone? She rushed toward the shelf in the study, Eilith just inches behind her. Nothing looked different, or out of place. If it was magical, wouldn’t it be someplace safe from evil?

  “I see it!” Hudson ran for the shelf, his eyes a sea of green that Lil had never noticed before. His pale skin glowed a warm cream, and he reached toward a book, blue and thick with antique pages, only to be stopped short by Eilith.

  She threw a dagger across the room, just missing Lil. Hudson wasn’t so lucky. The blade slammed into his back, causing him to cry out in pain. “Thank you. Seems you came into your powers, just in time,” she said, snickering. She reached for the book that he’d been attempting to get off the shelf and spun around on her heels.

  Lil reached for her sword, surprised to find it was heavier now than when in Orenda, but it was not impossible to wield. “Drop the book, now!” she spat. She wanted to bend down and check on him, but she couldn’t yet. But Arianna rushed over to his side, the only one unafraid of Eilith.

  Lil held the sword out, pointed it away from Eilith, and turned the blade on Arianna. “I’ll kill her.” She knew Eilith’s weakness. She could see the flaw behind the sorceress’s eyes, a hint of love that was buried deep within her.

  “You wouldn’t dare. You care about her too much to kill her.” Eilith’s hand whipped through the air, throwing Jamey across the room. Jamey’s head smacked loudly against the wall before she fell to the ground, unconscious. “Who are you going to save?” Eilith beamed. “If you’re lucky enough to wield power here, you won’t have enough for Jamey and Hudson.”

  Lil glanced back over her shoulder. There was a tremendous amount of blood coming from the wound on Jamey's head.

  “Go home! Back to Orenda. Leave us alone!” Bray shouted.

  Lil plunged the sword at Eilith’s chest and found herself forced back against the wall. Eilith lifted her off the ground. As her feet dangled, she gasped for breath, choking underneath Eilith’s boney fingers.

  “Let her go!” Bray ran up from behind, taking a frying pan with him and slamming it against Eilith’s head. The frying pan bent in half, having no effect on Eilith. Bray cursed under his breath.

  “Nice try, mortal.” Eilith flicked her wrist, tossing Bray across the room, slamming him into the bookshelf. The top two rows slid down the shelf, burying him.

  Lil dropped the sword as she tried prying Eilith's fingers away from around her throat. Her mouth opened, choking from the absence of air as she struggled to stay conscious. The world was spinning, black dots floating across her vision.

  Eilith's arms stretched beyond any natural capacity. One hand held Lil to the wall, choking her. The other struggled to lift the sword.

  “No!” Willow shouted, but it was too late.

  Eilith whispered a chant and the sword beneath her right hand glowed gold with an unrecognizable Latin inscription on the blade. She lifted it with ease and stabbed Lil. Only the eternal suit saved her life from the enchanted blade. Lil's outfit sizzled and s
parked. Eilith groaned as her hand holding the blade burned, and she dropped Lil to the floor.

  “Touch me again, I dare you.” Lil refused to show fear. But her heart pounded in her chest, terrified as her friends and family were dying beside her.

  “Another time,” Eilith said, looking Lil over, taking note of her outfit. With the book in her hands, she walked out the back door toward the forest.

  “Where's she going?” Lil asked. “We have to go after her!”

  “To the open portal in the forest,” Willow said. “Go check on your sister.”

  Lil didn't waste another second. She rushed to Jamey’s side. A puddle of blood smeared the linoleum. “Jamey, no.” Lil's eyes burned with tears as she tried to save Jamey in the same way she'd saved Willow's brother. Nothing happened.

  Willow walked over to look through the window shades. She stared at the house across the street. It looked just like her home. A car pulled into the driveway, and her breath caught in her throat. She glanced at Lil and the young girl in her arms. “Lil, you have to go back to Orenda. It's the only way to save them both. Your magic will work back there.”

  Lil nodded. Rawlie bent down, helping Lil lift Jamey into his arms. Arianna and Jamie helped Hudson, sharing his weight.

  “Willow, come on,” Jamie said.

  “I can't, I'm sorry,” Willow called out as she rushed out the front door. She wasted no time, running across the street.

  Lil didn't have time to turn around and see the exchange. She suspected her mother would throw her arms around Willow and be grateful she was home. Her mother wouldn’t know it wasn’t really Lil, but a lookalike from another world. They didn’t have time to consider Willow; right now, they needed to save Jamey and Hudson. “Are you coming?” Lil asked Bray. He was looking better than he had when Eilith flung him across the room.

  “I have to sit this one out,” Bray said. “Someone needs to clean up the mess before my parents get home.”