by JD MITCHELL
With a small smile, Ali pointed.
Jessica’s eyes followed the direction Ali indicated. She gave a satisfied nod when she spotted Leigh. “He’s fantastic.”
“Yeah,” Ali said. “He’s much better than I am.”
“You looked good too,” Jessica smiled. “I watched you electrocute that pile of dirt.”
Ali snorted. “I just figured out how to conjure solas. I’m nowhere near Leigh’s ability.” She conceded that she was the least talented of their group. “Sawyer is another who has a real aptitude for any spell he tries.”
Jessica’s gaze softened. “Did Sawyer come today?”
Ali shook her head. Sawyer spoke little since the news of his father and refused to join them at practice.
Jessica frowned. “I feel bad leaving him alone, but I can’t take him to these meetings with Aengus.”
“He wouldn’t go anyway,” Ali said.
A voice floated from the doorway. “There you are.”
They turned to see Red approaching. Jessica’s posture stiffened, and she averted her gaze.
“Hey,” Ali said forcing a smile.
“Aengus is ready for us.” Red gestured toward the open door, then stopped in his tracks. His eyes wandered toward the back of the training facility. He gestured toward Leigh who soared skyward and slammed a clay man mid-flight with solas. It exploded. “When did Leigh learn to fight?”
Ali crossed her arms. “What’d you think we did every day?”
“Well, I knew you were demolishing clay dolls, but I didn’t realize how far his training had progressed.” A small smile played at his lips. “Color me impressed.”
“Are you sorry you skipped training for the library?” Jessica asked. She smiled politely, but it looked forced.
Red shook his head. “No, I was where I wanted to be.” He smiled coyly. “Why? Do you think I can’t fight?”
Jessica shrugged. “I’m sure you can.”
The fire left Red’s eyes. It dawned on Ali just how much of an effect Ali’s interference had on them. Consequences be damned. They would fight the Sons tomorrow. Ali wouldn’t let a stupid rule make Jessica unhappy on what could be their last day.
“I bet you’re all hype and no substance,” Ali said plastering a grin on her face.
Jessica gave Ali a puzzled look.
Ali pushed her teasing a step further, hoping this worked. “Are you going to show us your mad skills?”
Red raised an eyebrow smirking. “I never back down from a challenge.”
With a quick glance at Jessica, he jogged across the enclosure. Leigh watched him approach, and they exchanged a few words before Red gestured to Ali with his thumb.
“Why’d you encourage him?” Jessica asked.
Ali shrugged. “So, he could show off.”
“Ali.” Jessica sighed, but her eyes followed Red.
Across the practice area, Red held up ten fingers to the Fae warrior who was helping Leigh train. The Fae nodded as Red took Leigh’s place. A few feet behind Red, Leigh slyly held up ten fingers, then another five. The Fae grinned.
Leigh glimpsed at Ali snickering.
“I think Leigh just added a few surprises to Red’s training,” Ali said with a grin.
Jessica crossed her arms.
Three clay men rose from the earth. Red cut his hands through the air like he was wielding knives. Two gold arcs flew toward the figures. They sliced the clay men in half, their forms crumbling to the ground.
From the rubble, five clay men emerged. Two sprouted wings and flew off the ground, the other three bobbed and wove like boxers. Red lunged toward one of the clay men on the ground. He grasped the clay man with an invisible force and threw it like a missile at the flying figures. All three exploded.
Red thrust his hands to his sides like he palmed two invisible basketballs. Bright spheres of electricity formed between his fingers, one orb in each hand. He thrust the solas at the remaining two clay men, which shattered. Before Red recovered, another seven clay men sprung from the dirt. They surrounded him. One of the clay men grabbed Red from behind. He flipped the clay man over his shoulder onto its back, then thrust solas into the figure’s chest. The clay man shattered. The other six circled him, lunging like they would attack, and then stepping back. It reminded Ali of circling wolves. Red spun in a circle, his eyes darting between them. His hands glowed. The intensity brightened until he thrust his hands outward and spun in a circle, expelling a large surge like a shock wave. The remaining clay figures collapsed as the surge cut through them.
“Whoa,” Ali said. “He’s skilled.”
“Good.” Jessica’s eyes hardened. “He’s protecting our group.”
“Our group?” Ali asked.
Jessica waived her off. “Aengus will explain at the meeting in a few minutes.”
Across the training ground, Red flashed Jessica a wild grin before placing an arm around Leigh. They walked toward Ali and Jessica, laughing about something Red mumbled.
Ali spun on Jessica. “What I said the other night about Red… does it matter?”
Jessica’s eyes widened then narrowed. “Yes, it matters. I’m not going down that path again.”
“Have you talked with him about it?” Ali asked.
Jessica shook her head. “Why would I?”
Ali threw out her arms and gestured behind her toward Red. “Because you’re unhappy and you deserve a break.”
Jessica glanced over Ali’s shoulder. Red was almost within earshot.
“Red makes you smile, and I ruined it by sticking my nose into your business,” Ali said.
“There’s no future with him.” She chewed her lip. “It’s good you told me.”
“I wish I hadn’t.” Ali blurted. “Just… will you think about talking to him?”
Jessica didn’t reply. Leigh and Red were too close.
“Did you see that final move?” Leigh asked Ali. “That was some next level execution.”
Nodding, Ali forced a grin. She stared at Red then shrugged. “Yeah. You were all right.”
“Just all right?” Red asked, his eyes widening. He motioned toward the training ground. “Your turn. Let’s go.”
Ali feigned glancing at an invisible watch on her wrist. “I’d love to show you how it’s done, but Aengus needs us.”
“Oh right,” Red smiled. “You can school me another time.”
“Absolutely,” Ali grinned. She tapped her wrist. “When Aengus doesn’t need us.”
Red’s gaze fell to Jessica. He winked. “Admit it, you thought I was good.”
Jessica shrugged, but Ali saw her give him a tiny smile. “You seem to know what you’re doing.”
“You thought I played video games all day,” Red said with a satisfied grin.
Jessica scrunched her nose. “Actually… I did.”
“Oof,” Red said. His face dropped. “Really?”
To be honest, Ali had the same impression. The second time she met Red, he was lounging in a beanbag chair playing a video game.
“Sorry,” Jessica said. “I shouldn’t have assumed.”
The four of them fell into silence.
“Where do you practice?” Ali asked Red. “I assume you didn’t develop abilities overnight.”
“In my basement,” Red said. His eyes didn’t leave Jessica’s face. “Before work.”
Jessica’s eyes widened. “You joined the military after all?”
Ali had a hard time envisioning Red tolerating someone named Sarge yelling at him all day. She assumed Red was a construction foreman, or maybe in sales.
“No.” Red looked around like he was about to spill a secret. “I’m a cartoonist for the New England Harold.”
“You are?” Ali asked surprised. Red didn’t strike her as the artistic type. Or funny. “That’s awesome!”
“Thanks,” Red said.
“I never thought you’d do it,” Jessica said. She seemed proud of him. “You always talked about what your parents wanted for you.
I assumed you’d cave and enlist.”
He shifted his weight and crossed his arms. “I was tired of being told what to do.”
Ali now understood Nika’s comments about Red wasting his talents. She suspected the TDD had another occupation in mind for him. “I’m guessing your parents didn’t mean the U.S. Military?”
“Not quite,” Red said.
“Ah,” Jessica said as her eyes lit. “A few of your parents' angry comments make sense now.”
“Aunt Polly and Uncle Connor got their wish,” Leigh said. He pointed behind Red toward the sparring Fae. “You’re fighting with an army… the Fae army.”
Red snorted. He looked at Jessica again, but neither of them spoke.
“We should go,” Jessica said finally as she pointed to the door. “I don’t want to be late.”
Leigh grabbed a towel off a rack and wiped the sweat from his head and face. “Do I have time to shower?”
Frowning, Red surveyed the thinning training area. Ali realized everyone headed toward the exit.
“We should leave. Aengus wanted to start his briefing in fifteen minutes and it’s already been ten,” Red said.
***
Hundreds of Fae and Tuatha de Danann crammed into the Hall of the Sol to hear Aengus speak. Ali stood near the front of the cramped room next to Leigh. Training had left Ali sticky and dirty. She sniffed herself. Ali wasn’t stinky, but Leigh smelled like old gym socks. She longed for a shower and would have convinced Leigh he needed one, but this wasn’t the time. Aengus was about to review the plans for tomorrow.
She perked as Aengus walked toward the front of the stage, dressed in black sparring gear the Fae soldiers wore. His outfit reminded Ali of a low budget batman. He had brushed his dark hair out of his face showing his fierce blue eyes. The overall effect gave him an air of authority.
Aengus held up a hand. The buzzing in the room settled into a hum which faded into quiet.
“First, thank you for coming. Many of you are angry, confused, and have suffered losses. Once again the Sons of Carmen have challenged the Tuatha de Danann.” Aengus paced to the right side of the stage, standing at the corner. “You may not agree with what I say today. Know I do not speak for the Tuatha de Danann, I only speak for myself.” Aengus paused, making eye contact with various people around the room. “We are faced with a burden left to us by our friends and ancestors. As we have done before, we must protect ourselves from the Sons.”
He sucked a deep breath. “Since their release, the Sons have systematically sought the descendants of Cridhinbheal, Ollamain, Bé Chuille, and Laebach. Recently they have murdered any Tuatha de Danann in their path.”
Ali peered over her shoulder. Tears rimmed eyes, but anger was the prevailing emotion. The survivors in this room wanted retribution. She harbored no doubt Aengus would gain the support he needed.
“Soon Dain and Dub will set on Ireland, exposing our world.”
Aengus gestured behind him to those who stood with him, which included Jessica, Red, and Grace. When he turned back to the audience, his eyes held fire. “We do not have the luxury of time. We do not have the Tuatha de Danann warriors. Our resources are scant.” Aengus strode to the center of the stage. “We have those of us in this room and a plan.” His tone intensified. “Tomorrow we confront Dain and Dub.”
The room erupted into thunderous applause. Aengus raised his hands, causing the commotion to quiet.
He spoke louder. “I call upon the Fae to aid us in battle and fight for victory. You are the warriors.”
A single battle cry came from the back corner of the room, then Fae voices across the room answered with a loud cheer. The scene reminded Ali of every movie she’d seen where the general was rallying the troops. Their battle cry died as quick as it rose.
“I call upon the Pixies to aid us with machinery. You are the technology.”
Ali was about to ask Leigh what on earth Aengus referred to when the ceiling pulsated with a thousand lights. They looked like fireflies dancing across the roof.
She felt her mouth drop. “Are those tiny fairies?”
“Yep,” Leigh said.
When she first set foot in Aengus’s place, she noticed something similar. “Were they the fireflies I saw when we first arrived?”
“Huh?” Leigh asked.
“The night we arrived; the ceiling was covered in twinkling lights.”
He shrugged. “Those were probably the pixies. They mostly live in the otherworld, but some live here. Actually, some still live in the human forests.”
Ali couldn’t tear her eyes from the twinkling lights. The pulsing faded into the shadowy ceiling, but she continued to search for the hint of a glow.
“I call upon the Tuatha de Danann to protect Ireland. You are the defenders.”
A smaller cheer rose from various pockets of the room.
Aengus waited, his eyes searching the room again. Ali knew this next group was who he was after. Without the descendants, they couldn’t defeat the Sons.
“I call upon the scions of Cridhinbheal, Ollamain, Bé Chuille, and Laebach to step forward and fight. You are the key.”
The cheer from this group was louder than Ali anticipated. She didn’t think they’d have the numbers. Now, she was convinced they may have more than Aengus expected.
Next to her Leigh let out a whoop and Ali realized this included her too. She didn’t cheer; the idea made her cringe. These were not her people even if they claimed to be.
Aengus gestured toward the large hall doors. “Those of you unable to fight, I ask you to exit. I will assign anyone who remains a team and a task.”
“He’s not explaining the plan to everyone?” Ali asked.
Leigh shook his head, looked around, and lowered his voice. “Red and Aengus didn’t want to risk exposing our plan. As a precaution they compartmentalized the attack. Everyone will know what their job is, but not the objective.”
Her first reaction was to claim bullshit, everyone had a right to know, but she stopped herself. It made sense.
A few people cleared the room, but most stayed. Once the shuffling died, Aengus divided the room into fourths and assigned smaller groups within each quarter. By Ali’s count there were twenty-five descendants, three times as many other Tuatha de Danann, and between three and four hundred Fae. She had no clue how many pixies floated around the ceiling, or if they were still there.
There was a tug at her sleeve, and she turned to see Sawyer.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
“I’m going with you,” Sawyer said.
“That’s a terrible idea.”
“I’m a Bé Chuille descendant,” Sawyer whispered.
Ali spotted Aengus passing by and vigorously waved at him. He hesitated, then headed her direction.
“Please tell Sawyer he’s too young to go with us,” Ali said.
Aengus pursed his lips and Ali realized she made a mistake. She should have started with Jessica.
He studied Sawyer, his voice lowering. “Do you understand what we’re doing?”
Sawyer nodded. “Banishing the Sons.”
Aengus’s eyes darkened. “Some of us will die.”
Sawyer’s eyes widened, but he nodded.
Ali couldn’t believe they’d gotten to a point where Sawyer was an acceptable addition.
Aengus looked at Ali. “Red is taking a team of reserves. You are on that team. As are Leigh and Nash. We need Sawyer.”
Ali was numb. “Isn’t there another Bé Chuille who can join us?”
“There are, but they are older and stronger. I need them on the front lines.”
“We aren’t going to the battlefield?” Ali asked, feeling some relief.
“You are piloting drones,” Aengus said. Then he softened. “It’s too dangerous to risk all of you, so we need to split into groups.” His sudden warmth reminded her of when they first arrived. She wasn’t certain how he managed the range of emotions he proj
ected.
Ali glanced at Sawyer. His interest seemed peaked, and with the promise of a less dangerous job, Sawyer’s involvement was easier to swallow. “What are we in reserve for?”
Aengus’s smile faltered. “In case the rest of us fail.”
Twenty Two
Ali tried to sleep. As expected, her dreams were restless. Every imaginable failure of piloting a drone played out in her thoughts. Once her doubts faded, her dreams shifted to the training grounds. The clay men weren’t exploding. She couldn’t even knock one to the ground. Ali struggled, trying harder and harder as her frustration grew. When the clay man finally exploded, the hung in the air like thick brown smoke which wouldn’t dissipate. Ali pushed the particles aside revealing a teenage boy. Shocked, she stared as gravity resumed and the dirt rained onto the ground with a gentle whoosh.
Ali pegged him at seventeen. He wore black slacks and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearm. His short curly hair was the color of charcoal, but his eyes were vividly blue under thick eyebrows.
Dub.
She froze.
“I’m dreaming,” she whispered, clinging to the hope he couldn’t harm her here.
Ali took a step back.
Dub stepped toward her.
She turned to run, but there weren’t doors in her dream. The stone training wall encircled them, trapping her. A flash of panic rooted her feet to the dirt, then just as quickly her fear bubbled into resentment.
“What do you want?” Ali asked spinning to face him.
He cocked his head to the side; his smirk matching his amused eyes.
“Screw this,” Ali said as she lunged toward Dub, intending to shove him out of her dream.
Dub's eyes widened in surprise as her hands pushed through him into thin air. Ali paused, confused as his image wrapped around her fingers like disturbed smoke. His eyes narrowed, and he disappeared. Around her the scenery distorted into crumbling castle walls. Gray shadows filled what was once a grand stone room with a section of missing wall. The ocean crashed below her as a thin orange band breached the skyline. Dawn approached.
He appeared before her once more, his lips parting as he watched her with raised eyebrows.
