by Lynn Landes
“You will answer me, my King,” she orders. When she takes a step onto the driveway, she feels Drake panic; he knows what she’s doing now. “Nooo! Caderyn, turn around! You do not know what he is capable of! You will listen to your King!”
“You are bossy! It will be okay, trust me, Drake. We will be together soon.” She breaks off from him and uses her magic to shield him from what is coming. Caderyn is more than human now, thanks to her gift from the Queen. “It’s the only way,” she tells herself as she opens the side door to the yard. The greenhouse is her destination. The fairy garden is on the workbench where she left it. When she returned from Fairy Mary’s cottage, all the excitement distracted Caderyn. Now, she looks more closely at each piece, hoping to find a clue from the Fae Queen.
Rearranging the pieces, she begins to see the full story. The gazing globe would’ve been in the center of the garden. Next, the Fairy Queen stands beside the globe and around her different fairy’s watch. She sets the pieces aside which she remembers choosing and finds four pieces she did not choose. This is what she was looking for. The first is a Fairy with red hair, the second is an Angel, the third is a dark-haired Fairy Queen, and the final, a male fairy holding a green hummingbird in his hand.
“The moment my wife faded, and the Vale disappeared, he came to me,” his voice says from behind her.
Caderyn pushes the male fairy deep into the soil and slowly turns around, expecting a monster but finds a beautiful blonde Fae instead. He is tall and muscular with brilliant blue eyes. She holds up the two fairy queens. “Who came to you, Reese?” she asks quietly.
He flinches as though the sound of his name causes him pain. “You’re in danger, my Queen. It is not as you believe, I was too late to save her, but I can help you save him,” Reese says darkly.
“Where is my Drake?” Caderyn asks with flames in her now silver eyes.
“I see a fire in your eyes; would you kill to save him? Would you kill to protect him?” Reese asks, stepping closer to her.
“You ask the wrong questions of your Queen,” she responds and demands, “Did you kill to save yourself?”
Reese steps close, taking the fairy queen from her hand and side steps to the garden. “The day she killed my Wynn, we were here.” Caderyn moves closer to watch as he rearranges the pieces. “The angel should be here, hiding in the shadows. He watches from the trees. I should be here; pushed through the Vale and the Fae queen is here with Wynn. I felt her pain when the dagger pierced her soul, I longed for death. When the angel came, he offered sanctuary, freedom from the pain and loss,” he says softly touching the fairy that was his mate.
“For five hundred years I’ve waited for a chance to go home and be pardoned. I was accused of being a shadow, but it was not my darkness that was discovered, but another’s.” He picks up the dark-haired Fairy Queen and hands it to Caderyn. “I was only a pawn, to hide the truth.”
“I saw you, Reese, dragging Drake!” She says, confused.
“You saw what he wanted you to see. What they both wanted you to see? I do not have Drakes body or his soul, but I know where to find both.”
“Show me, then,” Caderyn says.
Chapter 11
Bastian and Jazmin walk inside the monastery and find a family of Nomads receiving sanctuary from the bad weather. Jazmin stays back near a wall, trying to be invisible while he speaks to the father. A little boy about nine years old looks at her and walks over. He takes something off his neck and offers it to her. She looks at him and smiles, “Thank you, what is this for?” Looking down at a hand carved turtle on a chord.
“It is good luck, the turtle symbolizes eternity, and they are a protection to ward off evil spirits,” he says proudly.
“Did you make this?” she asks quietly.
“Yes, my family made the turtles that guard the monastery. Now we sell these to tourists.” Trying to impress her he says, “Underneath one of the turtles is a special tunnel that leads all the way to the palace.”
Shock flows through Jazmin’s body; this is exactly what they need! “Thank you, I’m afraid I have no money, though. She takes off her bracelet; it is a sterling silver bangle and gives it to him. “A gift for a gift,” she says, slipping the turtle necklace on. A whistle calls and the boy says goodbye and returns to his family.
Bastian walks over, and Jazmin smiles, “I know how to get into the palace, undetected!” She grabs his hand, and they run outside. Jazmin points and they see two stone turtles in the distance.
“There’s a hidden tunnel beneath one of the turtles, but which one?” She asks.
“Easy enough to determine, we look for the one that is the closest to the palace. They would not have been able to dig that far, without being heard or seen.”
As they walk away from the palace, they do not see the eyes watching them. The angel turns as though blown by the wind and watches the two figures. When the wind blows just right the trumpet sounds, and Jazmin jumps as the music floats across the grasslands. The first stone lion begins to crack, as it shakes itself from its thousand-year slumber.
“Bastian?” Jazmin calls in wide-eyed shock.
“We need to hurry!” They pick up the pace and find the giant turtle, with the carved stone scarf around its neck. Bastian looks around in frustration and attempts to push the turtle.
The trumpet sounds a second time, and cracking is heard beneath the fountain. A second lion blinks and begins to awaken. Jazmin drops down to try to dig around with her hands, while Bastian looks closely at the eyes. Bastian calls on his magic and tries to slide the turtle, nothing.
The third sound of the trumpet sounds and Jazmin jumps, and that’s when she notices her necklace. The stone turtle, the boy, gave her is lifting as though attracted to the larger turtle. A roar like the sound of lion cuts across the plains and Bastian pulls Jazmin to her feet. Looking behind him towards the fountain, he watches in horror as the angel spins pointing directly at them and sounds the horn again! With the final blow, the last lion breaks free! The leader calls to its brothers, and they bound towards them.
“Bastian, it’s magnetized! Look!” Jazmin drops to her knees and looks closely at the scarf. Her eyes fly open in surprise when she spots a space the exact size of the little stone. When she slips the stone into place, a great creaking sound is heard. They jump back as the turtle begins to slide forward revealing a set of stone steps. Bastian urges, “Go, Jazmin, I will be right behind you!”
The lion’s skid to a stop, showering them with debris. Bastian and Jazmin are now surrounded on all four sides by enormous stone lions. Jazmin screams when they roar in unison, covering her ears against the deafening sound.
“Go!” Bastian shouts in her mind and flashes away. He soars into the air and sinks his Golden sword straight down into the stone beast’s forehead. Jazmin hears the sounds of lions roaring as she runs down the steps and her heart drops.
“He’s Fae, Jaz. He’ll be okay,” she tells herself. She looks around the dark tunnel and walks back a few feet, turning when she hears the scream of a wounded animal. Another flash of bright light and a shadow fills the entrance to the tunnel.
“Bastian,” she calls out as she steps forward. Her scream dies in her throat as a lion makes it past him, into the tunnel. Jazmin knows better than to run.
Careful not to make any sudden movements, she takes a step back, and the lion drops his head stalking her. She freezes as his eyes go completely black; locking in on her movement, he leaps straight at her. Jazmin holds her breath and brings her pistol up and unloads into the demonic feline face. The third round shatters the beast’s face and sprays stone dust into the air.
Jazmin tries to stop the trembling as she stands over the dead animal’s body clicking her pistol repeatedly.
Bastian leaps down and flashes past the cat, pulling her close, he takes the gun from her hand. “You did well, for a human.”
Jazmin snaps out of her shock and whirls on him, only to find him smiling at her. His smile fades
when he sees the tears fill her eyes, “Bastian, I thought you were….”
“I am Fae, I will not fade that easily.” He whispers softly pulling her into his embrace. “They know we are here now. We have to hurry.” He pulls her along behind him, as they move deeper into the tunnel.
Jazmin follows clutching his hand and notices that he is dressed in armor. Bastian looks every bit like a Master Guardsman, carrying a sword and crossbow.
Above the fountain, the angel sounds its mournful tune, and the four serpents break free. They slither down inside the top of the tree, to wait for the thieves who dare to enter this hallowed ground.
“Bastian, who knows we’re here?” She asks as they run through the tunnel illuminated by his magic.
Chapter 12
Caderyn follows the beautiful Fae male through space and is confused. Reese would have no powers if he were stripped of his gifts. She’s afraid, but she knows this is her last chance to save Drake.
“Caderyn, do not follow him! He is shadow! I command you, to turn around!” Drake insists.
With a grim smile, she snaps, “Stop distracting me! Save your energy, my love, you will need it to save our people!”
Rainbow strobes of light flicker past and begin to slow, and Caderyn’s feet touch down once more on the rocky ground from her dreams. A look of surprise shows on her face, as she turns to face Reese. The sound of the ocean pounds on the shore, and she struggles not to show her feelings.
“Which way to Drake?” She asks quietly.
“This way, my Queen,” he begins to walk quickly over the ground, but instead of leading her towards the black mountain, he turns back into the forest. Caderyn smiles to herself when her hummingbird returns zipping quickly past; to rest on the leaves of a large tree. They walk, illuminated by the moon above, and Reese stops before a giant lifeless tree.
Caderyn hears the Queen’s voice saying, “The roots are firmly planted, guarding secrets buried deep. Only the water of life can free him.” Its gnarly branches reach toward the lunar beams as if praying for help. It is beautiful in its dead repose, and Caderyn feels him, beneath it.
“Drake!” she gasps. “I feel him, Reese! How do we get him out?” She shouts running towards the tree and placing her hand on its silky bark.
“You don’t get him out, YOU JOIN HIM!” He screams as he strikes her from behind. The sword sinks deeply into her back, and she hears Drake screaming in her mind.
Laughing with glee, he removes his blade and watches her crumple to the ground. He kicks Caderyn over onto her back and laughs at her gasp of pain. She looks up at Reese and watches as he morphs into a dark angel, and smiles. Her blood soaks into the ground beneath the base of the tree, feeding its starved roots.
“Thank you,” she whispers to him and turns away to meet her mate. Confusion flickers on his dark face and then horrified understanding.
“NO!” he screams too late.
A great creaking and groaning is heard when the tree breaks apart. The trunk splits in two and Drake’s soul explodes with all the power of the stars, spearing the betrayer straight through his soul!
Caderyn coughs and turns away from the brilliance of the light, and that’s when she sees it! The Vale has moved forward, called by the pain of the Queen.
“Drake?” she whispers. He returns from destroying the betrayer, drawn by the stuttering of her heart. ‘Caderyn! You will not fade!!’
Once more, he shields her with his soul, as they wait for the Fae to heal her. The hummingbird shoots from the tree and pokes Caderyn’s hand. She jumps, and he pokes her again. Opening her eyes, she looks at her little friend, and he zips away, only to return and poke her hand. Again, she jumps, but this time, she sees the Fae waiting on the other side of the Vale.
‘Caderyn, get to the Vale. They can help you!’ Drake orders. She knows she’s running out of time. Rolling over she begins to pull herself with her hands and crawl slowly towards the Vale.
“Call for them!” Drake screams.
“Help me!” she coughs out. The Vale explodes as guardsmen and Fae pour through the barrier anxious to save the Queen.
The little emerald hummingbird zips around frantically, watching to see if the Queen survives. The Fae are healers, and as the new Fae Queen, Caderyn will survive the damage, but she needs time to heal. The healer allows them to move her and Caderyn is lifted through the Vale. Peaceful in Drakes protective embrace, she allows the healing to continue.
Chapter 13
Jazmin holds tight to Bastian’s hand as they run through the darkened tunnel. Fear and worry cloud her mind, and she wonders why she’s following him blindly. The dirt floor has changed, becoming sleek stone. Two large marble pillars hold up the arched ceiling leading to the subterranean chamber beneath the Silver Tree fountain.
Just before they step into the chamber, Jazmin pulls her hand free and stumbles, skidding to a stop. She stares at the domed ceiling, painted with shooting stars and angels. Scattered around the room are more large pillars, supporting the weight of the fountain. In the center of the room, a large chandelier hangs, with crystals, reflecting light around the room. The bodies of the dead lay buried beneath the inlaid marble tiles, which cover the floor beneath their feet.
Bastian is motionless, listening for sounds of trouble, but all he can hear is the drumbeat of Jazmin’s heart. “We have to find the key.” He tells her anxious to get her to safety.
“Your Queen said the key is beneath the Silver Tree. We are under the tree, so what now?” She whispers looking around.
A whisper of silk, the rustle of skirts and the scent of lilies fills the tomb. Bastian tries to flash to Jazmin, but he is struck, unable to move.
“Bastian, my love,” she says, standing before him, wearing a long sheer gown of red silk. Tall, beautiful and deadly, Gavina, the former Fae Queen runs a silver nail, down his armor causing it to spark. Long dark curls, trail to her waist, covering her breasts from view.
“Gavina? How is this possible? You faded!” Bastian asks desperate to keep her attention on him.
“I did not wish to fade, Bastian. Why should I give up all this power?” She whispers as she drags her breast up his chest. “I offered a truce to the Fallen Shadows, in return for sanctuary. I would open the Vale for them, and they would take care of the new Queen. It was quite a shock to see a King come with her, but he took care of himself.”
“What about Reese and his family?” Jazmin asks.
She turns her venom filled purple eyes on Jazmin. “Reese, he was a problem. You see, some of the Angels want the same freedom as the Fae, without the judgment. How perfect for me, they are powerful beings. Reese became suspicious and saw me with the Guardian of this palace, my lover. A little black magic and the mist was poisoned. It chose Reese as a betrayer.”
“You are disgusting!” Jazmin screams at her. “He had a family, he was innocent!”
“Bastian you brought me a gift, I see. A pathetic human, who needs to learn her place,” she snaps her fingers, and they begin slithering. Four stone serpents, the protectors of the souls to be judged.
“Look my pets; a thief has come to steal from you! Enjoy her.” Turning back to Bastian, she is surprised to see him shaking, trying to break free of her hold.
Jazmin hears the sound of the snakes, as the stone scrapes across the marble floor and trembles in fear. Her fear quickly turns to fury, when the slutty female rubs her body against him. ‘Mine!’ Her heart screams!
‘Find the key and get out. The Nomads will help you, Jazmin,’ Bastian, says, speaking to her mind.
A tear of hopelessness slips free, sliding down her cheek as she hears his voice. “Bastian, if you let her touch you again, I may have to shoot you!”
His laughter ripples in her mind and across her soul as he responds, ‘You are my mate, Jazmin. I had given up hope of ever finding you, she is nothing to me!’
Jazmin watches Gavina wrap her arms around him and rubs her body up and down his. “Bastian, do you remember
the waterfall? God, it has been so long since I had a Fae.” She turns to face Jazmin and takes his hand and places it on her breast, squeezing it. Throwing her head back and moaning.
A tear of fury slips free, flowing down and falls to the ground. Gavina smiles and says to Jazmin, “In a few moments, he will not even member your name. It will be my name that he screams in the heat of passion.” She turns to Bastian and kisses his lips, and Jazmin watches as a silver mist passes from her mouth to his.
Bastian feels the mist enter his lips and tastes her sweet ambrosia. “Gavina lets go somewhere private!” He says, pulling her against him as the spell takes hold.
Jazmin gasps and a tear of betrayal slips free. Jazmin struggles with everything she has to break free. The serpents are closer now, and she feels her death is near. Jazmin looks up at the ceiling, anywhere but at the two lovers embracing and her tears fall to the floor. The angels look like Fae! They do not wear wings but have the distinctive ears of their race. One holds a harp and is singing on top of a fountain, while around her on the floor four large serpents face away, protecting her!
A song whispers in her mind and Jazmin sings. The moment her husky voice echoes through the silence of the tomb, the snakes respond. They begin contorting on the floor, and Jazmin sings on. The stone covering their bodies explodes to silver mist, and they turn on the one who trapped them.
Gavina screams in rage when Jazmin begins to sing, but when she tries to move, she finds Bastian’s hands holding her firmly. “Gavina, meet my mate, Jazmin!” Terror fills her heart as he shoves her to the middle of the serpents. Immediately, they seize the betrayer ripping her apart, and she fades. All that is left is the silver mist of her soul. A scream fills the chamber as it is sucked beneath the tiled floor of the mausoleum. She will face judgment for her crimes against the Angels and the Fae.
