by T J Green
A red flush started to creep up Newton’s neck, and he couldn’t take his eyes off Briar. He looked horrified.
“Sorry, but you did kind of ask for that,” Avery said, as gently as possible.
He tore his gaze away from Briar and looked at her. “I didn’t mean anything by that! Shit. She hates me.”
Avery patted his arm. “No, she doesn’t. I better go. Stay safe tonight, and keep well away from—” she pointed across the sand, “them. By the campfire, where the crowd is thinning.”
She headed back to the dunes, and hadn’t gone far when there was an excited yell, and Ben, Dylan, and Cassie materialised out of the crowds. “There you are! We’ve been looking for you,” Ben said.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Avery said, shocked. “Are you mad? Things may get rough tonight.”
Cassie laughed. “But this is Lughnasadh, and if the Nephilim are coming, we want to see them. It will complete our investigation, sort of.”
“I’ve brought my camera, too,” Dylan added, gesturing to his bag. “We don’t scare that easily.”
Avery eyed them warily. “Well, please be careful. A storm’s coming, and we need to stop the Mermaids. We won’t necessarily be able to watch out for you, too.”
“It’s fine,” Ben reassured her. “We can look after ourselves.” And with that, they headed into the crowds.
***
By the time the festivities were about to begin, the skies had darkened, and the clouds were thick with the promise of rain. Not that this development curtailed anyone’s excitement.
The councillor, Stan, was dressed in white wizard robes, and he was holding a long, wooden staff. His hair was short and grey, but he had a beard that he had dyed, for some unknown reason, purple. He stood behind the mayor on a small wooden platform in front of the fire that faced the crowds.
The mayor, a woman called Judy Taylor who had bold red hair and short curls, gave a short speech about the importance of honouring pagan traditions and remembering the heritage of White Haven and the witches who once had lived there. Avery and others were standing on top of the dunes, watching the scene below, and they smothered smirks at that. Then, Judy passed the ceremony over to Stan.
With much pomp, Stan raised his staff and offered thanks to the Gods for the beautiful summer, and the promise of a bountiful harvest to come. He gestured to the flowers and fruits that had been placed on the small platform as gifts, making clear they were offerings. He then reminded the onlookers about the church service at the Church of All Souls, which would celebrate Lammas in a more traditional way. The Council were always inclusive. He then turned dramatically and pointed his staff at the bonfire. Two young men stood ready with a flaming torch on either side of the pile of firewood, ready to ignite the fire, but before they could move, a small bang emitted from the centre of the pile of wood, and it sparked into life of its own accord. The young men looked momentarily startled, and then lowered the torches to the wood hurriedly, as if it was meant to happen all along, and the crowd clapped and cheered. Stan looked shocked, but he smothered his surprise quickly as he turned and bowed to the crowd, and then proceeded to throw a large glass of beer into the fire as a libation to the Gods.
El was watching with a very large smile on her face.
“Naughty,” Reuben said, equally delighted.
“I thought it would be a nice touch,” she said with a wink.
Some people stuck around, watching the fire intently, while others drifted back to their groups, their blankets, and their booze.
Now that the fire was lit, the skies seemed even darker. The flames spread quickly and smoke eddied in the air, coinciding with the first stirrings of wind.
Avery stood next to Alex, and she nudged him gently. “How are you? I haven’t seen you for hours.”
He looked pleased with himself. “I’ve been contacting the Nephilim.”
She frowned, worried. “Are you okay? You managed it alone.”
He nodded. “I’m fine. Now that I have a connection, it’s easier. And it helps that they’re willing to be involved. You’ll be pleased to know they’re here.”
Relief flooded through her. “Thank the Goddess! Where?”
“Beyond the dunes. I’m going to go and fetch them.” He kissed the top of her head. “See you soon.”
She watched him for a few seconds until he disappeared from view, and then looked at Briar, standing silent, her gaze on the horizon. “Briar, are you all right?”
For a second she didn’t answer, and then with visible effort she said, “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“You don’t need to apologise for anything. I was feeling pretty annoyed with him, too.”
Briar finally turned to face Avery. “I’m aiming to work out some of my aggression on those bloody Mermaids.”
“Good. Me, too.”
Avery looked behind her, down into the dunes, and for a second saw nothing. The veil of magic that protected the space had fallen like a blanket. She whispered the word of unveiling, and it shimmered and disappeared like smoke. Then she saw Eve crouched over their own small fire, and next to her were Nate, Ulysses, and Oswald.
“Come on, Oswald and Ulysses are here.”
The small hollow in the dunes was protected from the rising sea breeze, and the fire warmed it beautifully. Even though it wasn’t cold, there was something special about sitting around a fire and warming your hands.
Eve’s eyes were glazed in concentration; her arms were raised and reaching towards the sky, and she chanted quietly to herself for a few moments. Avery felt the surge of magic around them and its connection to the storm building above, and she shivered with anticipation. When Eve finished, she reached into the small wooden box next to her, chose some herbs, and threw them into the flames. The fire changed colour, sparking with purples and greens, and with it came a huge rumble of thunder in the distance. She smiled at Avery across the fire. “It’s shaping up nicely.”
“When will it hit?” Ulysses asked.
“In about an hour, as promised. I’ll bring the wind before rain. That should start to drive people off the beach.”
Reuben laughed. “There’s a few down there that will need more than wind to drive them away.”
“And that’s what the torrential rain will be for,” Eve said, grinning. “I have a spell that I’ll use to keep me dry here. This, essentially, will be the eye of the storm. I’m afraid the rest of you will get very wet.”
Reuben stirred. “Well, I’m going to keep an eye on the Mermaids, in case they decide to bring their plans forward. And I need a hot dog.”
“I’ll come with you,” El said, rising to her feet. She turned to Avery. “We’ll stay well hidden in the dunes, and let you know if anything happens.”
Ulysses and Oswald had fallen into silence. Oswald, as usual, was wearing his slightly odd, old-fashioned clothing, even on the beach, but he’d replaced his shoes with hiking boots, adding to the incongruity of his appearance. Ulysses was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, and was barefoot, his hulking build making everyone else look like dwarves.
Avery was restless. “Is there anything I should be doing?”
Nate shook his head. “The action won’t start until the crowds have reduced.”
“But I feel I should do something!”
“This was your plan,” Briar pointed out. She was barefoot too, and she dug her toes in the sand, wriggling them playfully.
“I know, but now it feels lame.”
“That’s how they want you to feel. Overwhelmed and underprepared. You’ve been manoeuvred, actually,” Oswald said, suddenly sparking to life.
“What do you mean?” Avery asked.
“As you already know, tonight is a challenge of power. If I’m honest, they have the upper hand. After all, they picked the time and the place. You had no choice but to turn up.”
“I know,” Avery answered, annoyed. “But what else were we to do? Say, ‘no thanks, have a nice night, and help yourself
to our innocent men?’ That’s why we asked for help!”
Ulysses stared into the fire. “Mermaids are wilful, strong, and vindictive. It gives them great pleasure to thwart the Daughters of Don.”
“I prefer to think of myself as a daughter of the great Goddess,” Briar said archly.
Ulysses carried on regardless, his green eyes reflecting the firelight, which had now returned to a bright orange flame. “To take the men from beneath your very eyes will give them great pleasure.”
“We’ve talked about the possibility of them raising a huge wave to drown the town, or us. Do you still think that’s likely?” Avery asked, curious for Ulysses’s opinion.
“It’s possible,” he said nodding. “I thought perhaps they would bring a great wave to wipe the beach, but now I’m not so sure. I think they will want you to survive—to remember their victory.”
Nate watched Ulysses thoughtfully. “That makes sense. Our failure will be painful, and horrible.”
Ulysses frowned. “It is possible that they will raise a wave over White Haven only.”
“But the town is only a few hundred metres away. Could they make a wave so targeted?”
“Absolutely. The tide is coming in, isn’t it?”
“It will be soon,” Avery answered, wondering where he was going with this.
“And you are bringing in a large storm. This will make it easier to create a monster wave,” he mused. “It may not happen, but I think it’s a very good guess.”
“And what can we do about that?” Briar asked. “We’ll have enough trouble saving the men!”
“That’s why you have me,” Ulysses said, looking up finally. He rose to his feet. “My power over the sea is greater than all of yours. Come, Oswald. We must head to the harbour.”
“But we need your help with the Mermaids,” Avery said, standing, too.
“You’ll have to manage those alone, I’m afraid.” And with those ominous words, Ulysses disappeared into the night with Oswald at his side.
Only seconds later, Alex entered their secluded hollow, and behind him stood seven very tall men. The Nephilim had arrived.
26
The Nephilim were dressed in a mixture of army combat trousers, jeans, t-shirts, and boots. They had all shaved, and several had cut their hair, revealing their hard, angular faces, with high cheekbones and square jaws. They looked ex-military and their muscular builds were still apparent, but who knew where their wings were. Every single one of them had an intense stare; the look of those who had seen too much.
There was a second of silence, and then Alex spoke. “Are we interrupting something?”
Avery felt a wave of panic wash through her, and then she took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. This will be okay. “Ulysses thinks that the Mermaids may seek to drown White Haven in a massive wave. He and Oswald have gone to the harbour.”
Before Alex could respond, Nate leapt to his feet. “So, Alex, are you going to introduce us?”
“Avery, Nate, Eve, and Briar,” he said, pointing them out in turn. “We’re all witches, and we’re here tonight to stop the Mermaids from taking men. There are another two with us who aren’t here at the moment.”
“Reuben and El are watching the Mermaids,” Avery explained.
Alex gestured to the Nephilim. “I’ll let you introduce yourselves.”
A dark-skinned man detached himself from the group, and Avery recognised him from the cave as the one who had done most of the talking, the one she presumed Alex had the psychic link with. “I’m Gabreel, and this is Eliphaz, Barak, Nahum, Othniel, Amaziah, and Asher.”
Each one nodded in turn as he was introduced, but none of them spoke, and Avery knew she’d never remember their names. She wondered if they had any magical abilities, or if brute strength alone was all they needed. If your father was an angel, it must give you some special abilities. Time will tell.
There was another ominous rumble of thunder, a gust of wind ran through the dunes, and then there was a flash of lightning far off in the distance.
Eve spoke from where she still sat beside the fire. “I need to concentrate now. I’m going to draw the storm closer—it’s going to be big. You better get going.”
“I’ll stay with you, just in case,” Nate said, settling beside her again. “Good luck with the Mermaids.”
“Good luck to you, too, and thanks again,” Avery said, leaving the warmth of the fire as she led everyone else back to the top of the dunes.
The wind hit them, scouring their skin like sandpaper. Below them the fire still burned bright and hot, and there were a good number of people still on the beach. But it was almost dark now, and Avery could see a stream of people leaving, burdened with blankets and chilly bins.
The wind carried the sound of music from various smaller campfires, the shrieks of children, and the laughter of adults. Silhouettes danced around fires, and there were a few people at the water’s edge, barefoot and shouting.
“Good,” Alex said. “At least some of them are going. Where are the Mermaids?”
“That way,” Briar said, pointing to the left toward an almost deserted area.
They walked down onto the main beach and hadn’t gone far when El arrived, out of breath. Her eyes flickered across the Nephilim. “There’s some movement in the camp. It looks like they’re making a start.”
“Right,” Avery said, glad to be doing something after hours of waiting. “Alex, how do you want to play this?”
“We’ve decided that we’ll hang back, until the storm fully hits, and then when they’re getting close to the sea, the Nephilim will block them.”
Gabreel smiled like a shark. “It will be a nice surprise for them.”
“What about their Siren call? Will it affect you?”
He shook his head. “No, but they can try.”
“Okay,” Avery said decisively. “El, take everyone to Reuben, and when they make a move, we’ll intervene. Me and Briar will test the waters—sorry, terrible analogy,” she said, grinning. “Ready, Briar?”
“I’ve been ready for hours.”
Avery and Briar threaded their way through the remaining partygoers. A flash of lightning illuminated the Mermaids ahead, clustering around the flames of their own small fire.
As they approached, Avery felt the power of their magic, and her skin rose in goose bumps. The wind carried their wild music that emanated from some mysterious unseen place, making her want to run across the sand and fall at the feet of the beautiful women with their pale skin, long hair, and beguiling eyes. She resisted its pull, but quickened her pace, Briar right next to her.
They were only a short distance away when a figure left the fire and walked to meet them. It was Nixie. “Stay away, witches. You won’t win.”
Avery peered behind her. “Where’s Dan?”
She grinned, and her glamour briefly fell away, revealing a row of sharp teeth. “Out of your reach. Do you want to say your goodbyes?”
“You’re very confident, aren’t you,” Avery said. “To invite us here and think we can’t stop you? It’s not a game. These men will die.”
Nixie considered them both for a long moment, her eyes full of hate. “Life beneath the sea is not death. They will have long lives and father many children.”
“But,” Briar said scathingly, “you’re not really giving them a choice, are you? Maybe if they were going willingly we would have less of a problem with this.”
“Yes,” Avery agreed. “Drop your magic and ask them now. We won’t stop those who choose to go freely.” Nixie didn’t answer, and Avery laughed. “Exactly. No one would go. Blame Llyr for your predicament. The Gods love foolish games, but we won’t tolerate it.”
Nixie was clearly furious, and she did something so quick that Avery barely registered it before the sand turned into liquid beneath her feet, sucking her in until she was knee deep, and she saw Briar floundering next to her.
At the same time, there was an enormous crack of thunder, and lightning
sprang across the sky, slicing it into pieces, and with an unexpected suddenness, rain started to fall in huge, freezing drops, stinging her skin. Within seconds it was pouring down, and then the storm really raged. Crack after crack of thunder and lightning followed.
Excellent. Nobody would notice what she was about to do.
“You’ll have to do better than that, Nixie.” Avery summoned air, using it to pull her and Briar from the sand, until they were both floating just off the ground. Then she pushed back, hitting Nixie full force in the chest.
Nixie shrieked as she flew over the sand, landing with a thump several metres away. She rose to her knees, her face furious, lifted her head, and keened like a banshee.
It seemed this was the signal.
As one, the Mermaids pulled the men close and started to walk towards the sea. They didn’t run. Instead, they performed a laughing, teasing dance across the sands. Even from a distance, Avery could see the men’s glazed expressions.
Avery saw the Nephilim break free of the dunes, the other three witches next to them, charging towards the mesmerised group.
Briar ran to join them in a pincer movement, but thick strands of seaweed caught around Avery’s ankle, dragging her back. Avery whirled around, but Nixie was upon her, tackling her to the ground, her glamour completely gone now. Her nails scratched and pulled and she snapped her sharp teeth at Avery’s face. In seconds, Avery felt her lungs start to fill with water and the sand suck her down. Terrified she was either going to drown or suffocate, Avery blasted Nixie away, and spewed water, coughing furiously. She was keenly aware that Nixie would attack her again, so summoning all her energy, she leapt to her feet and then hit back with ball after ball of fire, doing the same to the seaweed still rising out of the sand like tentacles.
Avery harnessed the wild wind that now shrieked around them, muffling all other sound, whisked it into a small tornado, and sent it after Nixie. It pulled her into its whirling circle, and carried her away into the darkness.
