by Lynn Landes
“Only Dark Fae are evil,” Katie says without thinking from the back of the group. All eyes turn to her and she frowns, now where did that come from?
“Oh, we have an expert, do we? Have you met very many dark fairies, Miss…,” he asks glaring at her, angry that she interrupted his planned speech?
“Too many to count…” she murmurs, and her head begins to pound so loudly that it drowns out all sound. “I think my last boyfriend was one,” she jokes hoping to distract them. Laughter ripples through the group and they turn back to their guide. The pounding in her head increases and she has to take deep breaths to calm down.
“Right, moving along now, just ahead down this path you will see the Faerie Pools. Be warned, now, it’s a twenty five minute walk. Follow the path to the right and return to the Glen Brittle parking lot by 4:00. Enjoy!” He sings out. The group moves off and his narrowed eyes follow Katie.
Katie falls back and allows the crowd to move along without her. According to the travel books, the pools are located in what looks like a glacier carved valley, at the foot of the Black Cuillins Mountains. The path is well worn and leads directly to the Faerie Pools, but Katie is mesmerized by the landscape around her as she walks. Tiny waterfalls pour into bright turquoise pools and they cut across several little rivers. Good thing she wore her wellies. The whole area is surrounded by blooming pink heather, and tiny green ferns. The gorgeous gray sky overhead promises a steady rain to come. The rocky path leads to the right and she has to laugh at the large groups of people that have come to see it. This is not how she wanted to tour Scotland.
“Rather on the back of an Angel,” she murmurs and the pain in her head increases. Katie squeezes on her temples and stumbles off the path to a large boulder in the shade of a Rowan tree. Nauseous, she sips on her water bottle and wonders if she isn’t pushing herself too hard after the car accident? Absently, she runs her hand over the bark of the tree, and it occurs to her that multiple Rowan trees line the path. Granny always said that this particular tree was special because it could protect against the dark faeries.
Katie touches the tree and feels her heart grow calm, her mind clears, and she sighs. “I must be losing my mind.”
The doctor warned her that amnesia isn’t something that just heals over night, but rather bits and pieces of memories come back. If only she could remember the car crash. A loud splash causes her to jump. Her heart pounds, causing her head to pound. Katie looks up and realizes some of the group are swimming in the freezing waters. Her headache is fading, so she stands up slowly, intending to return to her group when the clouds overhead begin to darken. The thick trees around the path seem to grow blacker with each passing second. A sense of foreboding fills her spirit.
Quickly, Katie returns to her group. Only five of them remain at the pools and she is relieved to see others are hurrying up the path towards the bus parking lot. A newlywed couple is swimming around each other, splashing, teasing and enjoying the moment. Two young males, obviously hikers are preparing their gear for a night in the Black mountains, and another female Katie’s age is taking photographs.
“The light is perfect!” Excitement fills the young woman’s voice as she climbs up to the top of the moss covered hill and takes more pictures. Katie has never seen anything this beautiful before. A soft mist has begun to cover the path and the others are beginning to feel the threat of oncoming rain.
“You sure you won’t come up the mountain with us, pretty Katie? We promise to make it a night you’ll never forget,” one of the men teases her.
Fear strikes Kathleen’s heart at the moniker. All color fades from her face and she quickly shakes her head.
“No, thank you. That’s a little too adventurous for my taste,” she attempts to smile but fails miserably. “I’ll just be heading back to the bus. Be careful.” Katie turns and quickly begins to make her way up the slippery, rocky path. The rain drops are getting heavier by the second. It is a twenty-five minute hike back to the bus and the rivers can swell quickly here. The men’s taunting laughter causes her head to pound once more. Running feet and the sound of sticks cracking has her spinning around in terror.
“Wait up, Daniel!” Sarah calls. They were married a week ago and this is the last day on their honeymoon before they fly home to New Jersey tomorrow. Katie sighs in relief as Sarah joins her.
Daniel runs past and laughs, “Last one back has to rub my feet!”
Sarah’s smile fades as she looks at Katie. “Oh, hell no. Not after this hike!” She tears off down the hill laughing. Katie can’t help but laugh, they are so cute together. Katie picks up her pace and follows in the same direction.
“Help!” A scream rings through the darkening sky from the falls behind her.
Katie recognizes the voice as Bailey’s, the photographer from her group. She breaks into a run back towards the falls. A fat drop of rain strikes Katie’s cheek, a sure sign that she needs to hurry. The path is slippery as the rain begins to coat the rocks, and she is forced to run alongside the path, splashing through mud and water. Bailey was headed to a fall higher up behind the one they were visiting, so Katie heads towards it.
This is the crown jewel of the Faerie Pools. A large six foot waterfall flows into a pool of turquoise water, which looks as though it was carved into the black rock of mountains. It creates a private nook, where the water flows from the falls to the very pool Daniel and Sarah swam in earlier.
“Bailey!” Katie calls, no response. The rain begins to pick up now and she decides to climb the hill the fall is carved into. Bailey was setting up her photographic equipment up there earlier. It is a difficult climb because of the rain, so Katie grabs a large stick that will work as a climbing staff to help her up the hill. She is worried that the rain will swell the rivers and trap them on the mountain.
At the top, she stops to catch her breath and doesn’t see any sign of Bailey. Katie walks over to the edge of the falls, hoping the vantage point will permit her to see further. Still no sign of Bailey. The view is breathtaking and looking down, Katie can see that behind the falls, there seems to be a small cavern with water flowing from the main pool. “It must supply the falls below.” A crack of lightning has her jumping in fear.
“Time to go, Katie.” She turns and a can just make out a figure walking towards her through the combined mists of rain and waterfalls.
“Bailey, I was worried when I heard you scream…” her voice fades as a creature steps forth with silver hair, dark gray skin, and black eyes. Memories flash through Katie’s mind, jumbled images of being attacked in her grandmother’s home by a creature like this one. Pain explodes as her memory returns.
The blood-stained white robe tells Katie all she needs to know. Poor Bailey! This creature is a dark Fae, just as Colin was! The creature laughs.
“Poor, pretty, Katie, let me help you ease your pain,” with a hiss she leaps through the air at Katie.
Katie’s natural instinct is to swing her walking stick like a baseball bat. The force of the blow sends the dark creature screaming back onto the muddy earth, and flings Katie backwards over the waterfall and into the pool below. Katie struggles beneath the black water to find her direction. When she does manage to break through the surface of the water, she is coughing. Treading in the water, she swipes at her eyes and coughs again. A white blur of movement catches her eye.
“Oh, God!” The creature comes flying down the hill with unnatural swiftness. Katie swims away from it and realizes she is trapped! The vertically cut of the walls provide the perfect snare with no exit for her. Behind her lies a waterfall, and in front of her is a monster!
“Katie? Come out of the water, everything is alright,” Anya calls to her from the edge of the water.
Katie turns and sobs out her name, “Anya! You have to run!” Anya smiles at her and that’s when Katie knows it is a mirage. Anya’s eyes are not black and soulless. Katie turns and swims toward the falls. Her only hope is that the creature will not dare to cross the runn
ing water. Underneath the waterfall is a cavern, if she can just get to it, she could wait for help.
“No! Katie, come out. Da is hurt and I need you to help take care of him.” Anya screams and spittle flies from her fangs. The rage causes her glamour spell to slip and the side of her face shows a bruised welt along her jaw. Katie realizes she must have struck her with a rowan staff. The creature tries to step into the water and steam erupts from her feet and she roars in pain and fury.
Katie swims under the crushing force of the falls and manages to climb onto a ledge that she thought was a cavern. It is big enough for her to sit on, but that is all. Out of the rain and most of the water, she sits trembling with her arms wrapped round her knees. Staring through the wall of water, she watches the blurred image of the pacing creature. She takes a deep breath and tries to calm her heart.
“What’s happening?” Katie covers her ears and ignores the screeching sounds coming from her frustrated pursuer and tries to filter through the images flashing through her mind. Her hidden memories unlock and the pain dims.
“I was marked by the Dark Fae and Reese saved me.” Her blue eyes fly open when she remembers the rest. A vampire named Colin attacked her in her Grandmother’s house and tortured her. It was only by the grace of her friend…
“Kathleen, come to me,” Reese calls to her. The sky is completely dark as night sets on the mountain. Katie thinks it’s a blessing to be in the blinding darkness. To see the twisted images of those she loves and holds dear would be hell. She closes her eyes and waits for death. A warm salty tear trickles down her cheek and she remembers him… “Morgan,” she sighs.
In her memory, he captures her tears and turns her sorrow into dreams. She remembers the scent of the ocean and the intoxication of his kiss. “Floating with him in the cocoon of his wings…” her blue eyes fly open and she remembers he isn’t human, but Angel! He let them lock her memories away! The flash of a memory hits her, and she remembers another angel altering her memory and planting a false car crash.
“Morgan, how could you?” Katie’s betrayal whispers, and it’s as powerful as a scream. He hears her and terror floods his soul. With a rush of wings, he leaps into the air and soars through the night sky.
“Katie, come out, and I will take away all of your pain. They used you. Men always do, but I can give you the power to avenge your heart,” a seductive voice promises softly in Katie’s mind. “We have a powerful friend who wants to meet you. Caius is waiting.”
“Go away, you will not claim my soul tonight!” Katie screams at her and clutches her grandmothers’ cross necklace.
The pissed off aberration picks up a large rock and throws it through the falls at Katie, hoping to knock her from her perch. Over and over she sends rocks into the ledge and wall while Katie is bludgeoned by shrapnel from the mini explosions. With a bowed head, she weeps out a prayer, “Father, protect me from the evil here.”
A massive wind begins to blow, and it whispers to her of relief. A bright flash beyond the falls explodes through the black mountains and the flying stones stop.
“Katie, come out, all is safe now,” Morgan’s voice sends chills down her body.
“Nooo,” she moans and turns her face away from the falls and her bloody hand’s cling onto the rocks behind her.
Morgan watches from the edge of the water and realizes she is terrified. The corrupted Fae was easily dealt with, but they must go, before more come. “Looks like I’m getting wet today.” He leaps into the pool and swims silently through the water to the edge of the falling water.
Katie hears a splash and her heart begins to pound. Behind the curtain of water, against the wall of rock, she’s entombed. She can make out a shape and her heart is beating hard enough that Morgan is worried about her safety.
Morgan waves his hand and the falls go silent.
“Morgan?” she whispers almost afraid to believe. Frozen for the moment, he can see her clearly now. She is trembling, bloody and wounded. He smiles when she stands on her quaky legs,
“That’s my girl, come on.” He reaches out a hand towards her and jerks in shock when she whips out a hand and slaps him.
“I am not your girl. How could you let them do that to me?” She demands.
Morgan jerks in shock, no human has ever dared to strike him before. Katie laughs a hollow, bitter laugh. “You left me defenseless against this evil. Did it ever occur to you that I needed to know what I’m up against?”
He considers this for a second, then he pulls himself onto the ledge beside her, and he reaches to touch her bruised face softly with his hand, “I’m sorry, Kathleen. Forgive me.”
With a sob of relief, she throws herself into his arms and weeps. She feels like an ice cube in against his chest and Katie snuggles into him, hiding her face in his neck, she doesn’t care where he is taking her, “Just don’t let me go again.”
Morgan is entranced by the feel of her finally in his arms. Desire rips through his body and his nostrils flare as he drinks in her scent. “Katie,” he murmurs, “you smell so good and it seems like centuries since I’ve touched you.” He wraps her tightly against his body and leaps from the ledge into the air.
Katie drinks in his heat and comfort he offers. Chills erupt and her soul sighs. Morgan can smell the blood from her wounds, and he whispers a healing prayer. It’s too dark to see anything, but she can feel. A silver dust wraps around them and sinks into her skin. Every inch of her body comes alive in an instant. Sparkling warm dust floods her body and heals all of her wounds. Katie pushes back in disbelief and Morgan stares entranced at the image of her covered in his dust.
“Mine,” his heart demands. He wants with all of his soul to taste the flavor of his dust mixed with the taste that is all Katie. Her fingers thread in his hair and she tugs his mouth towards hers. Bated breath mingles and her lips part with anticipation.
When he lands in a rush of wings, she lifts her head in surprise to look around. They are on the coast near the ruins of an abandoned castle. The look of frustration crosses her face and he smiles as her feet touch the rocky ground.
“Come with me.” He reaches out and takes her cold hand in his, pulling her along beside him. The rush of damp air hits her and Katie begins to tremble as they hurry inside past the rubble and crumbled stones. Morgan is forced to close his large bronze wings tightly against his back to fit inside the opening. After a moment’s hesitation for her eyes to adjust, they walk up stone steps to a second floor.
As they reach the next level, Katie can see the sky is open above them. Half of the tower and ceiling has been destroyed or perhaps simply aged by time. “Morgan, what is this place?” She whispers to him. Her body is on alert, every nerve is on edge and she knows that is not good.
“This is a gate, Kathleen. There are four such gates in your world, and each is guarded by three archangels. We are called the Twelve.” Morgan searches the stone wall in front of them, running his hands over the bricks as though seeking something.
“Okay, where do the gates go?” She asks. Katie was almost afraid to hear the answer. Some things are better left alone and unknown. Morgan doesn’t answer straight away. He is still searching. He moves to a crumbling corner of mortar and stones. Placing his hand against the brick, Katie jumps in amazement when a copper light erupts beneath it. The stones activate, one by one, creating an illuminated archway. A great groaning echoes in the small room. The stones shift and pass into the wall before disappearing, to reveal an elaborate doorway. A rectangular plaque is carved in the center of the stone door with ancient scripts. Morgan sighs and walks forward, placing his hands upon it. In a flash, the script glows, and his hand is sucked inside up to his wrist. Katie gasps and watches fascinated as he begins to talk.
“Each gate allows the guardian to move between our realm and earth. We are more effective if we can move quickly and go where needed.” Morgan hisses and his muscles jump when the tile pricks the finger of his hand, taking what it needs to test the user of the gate.
“Does it hurt?” Katie moves forward, stopping just short of stroking his wing. As soon as she asks the question, his body jerks, and he roars in pain. Morgan attempts to pull his hand back, by pushing against the brick wall. Only to have the other hand drawn in as well!
“Morgan!” Katie screams his name and runs towards him to help, but he stops her by unfurls his massive wings to block her.
“No! Run, Katie!” He yells back. Katie turns to run, and her heart almost stops. Standing behind her are two creatures, one Vampire, and one Angel. The angel is armed with a large sword and the vampire smiles, revealing her preferred weapons.
Katie backs up, placing her body in front of Morgan. “You see how she backs towards Morgan, as though a human could protect him. That’s adorable.” The beautiful vampire smiles at Katie. She is stunning with her waist length blonde hair, black eyes, and red lips, but Katie sees past the image she presents.
“I managed to kill one of your kind today, so perhaps you shouldn’t underestimate, this human,” Katie snaps. The lessons from her grandmother begin to filter through her mind. The vampire laughs and twists round.
“That creature was more animal, than a vampire. Just one of Caius’s creations. You got lucky, little human,” she hisses at her.
Morgan struggles to free himself, “Let her go, Daria. Your business is with me.”
“That’s where you are wrong, brother. Kathleen is the reason we’re here.” The angel, Balthial laughs when Morgan looks over his shoulder at them in shock.
“No,” he whispers, “You would betray us for this creature?” he struggles violently to free himself. “Release me!!” he roars.
Balthial draws his sword and advances on Morgan in a rage. Before Katie can move, Daria leaps at her. Morgan’s sweeps his wing out striking the vampire across the chest, while the other wing knocks Katie to the ground.
Daria screams out in anger as Balthial attacks. He sweeps his sword down and slices one of Morgan’s arms off at the wrist. Katie screams in horror while trying to crawl, but Daria jerks her to her feet with a hiss of warning.
