Beauty In The Beast

by Erik Schubach

  Chapter 9 – Our New Life

  The next morning, we broke camp early, just after the first warming rays of sunlight brushed over us where we slept. I looked back to see Illy just staring down at me. Had she even slept? The haunted look on her face brightened when she saw me looking up at her. I found myself feeling quite bashful and felt a slight blush on my cheeks. It wound up being much easier than we anticipated to find Peter's home once we broke through the forest atop the hills overlooking the city. I almost chuckled when Peter pointed down at a little farm. “That's our cottage!” It was indeed, the third farm on the right. Maybe Peter hadn't been so lost after all. I glanced over at Illiya, she was walking oddly, taking long strides and her back was straight as a board. After we had passed a couple wagons heading out of the city, I couldn't handle it anymore and asked, “What are you doing?” She shrugged and asked, “What do you mean?” I put a goofy look on my face and walked like a tin soldier with duck feet. She looked at me then herself and looked almost appalled as she said, “I'm trying to look normal. I feel like everyone we pass knows... what... I am.” I couldn't help it, it was just too funny. I started laughing, and it felt good. Her indignant look just fueled it until she put a foot out and I tripped over it. Peter giggled with her as I landed on my arse. Then she offered a hand down to me and said almost regally, “It's been some time since I've walked on two feet. I just wanted to get it right.” I smirked and took her hand. She pulled me up with a strength that belied her diminutive stature. I absently wondered if she possessed the strength of Yth'Ical in this form, even though she held her demon in check inside her. “You've been doing just fine until you started to channel a duck demon,” I said to her, a smile on my face. She looked shocked for a moment before she made duck lips at me, her eyes twinkling on that precarious edge she balanced upon. “Quack, quack.” Peter giggled at our antics as we led him down to his home. There were many people gathered about as we approached. Men with pitchforks and scythes and one large man even had an old bronze sword that looked to be from some long forgotten war. Then a woman at the door of the cottage screamed out toward us when she saw us approaching, “Peter!” He took off running and crying as he sobbed out, “Momma!” The portly woman engulfed him in a hug and lifted him as she clung desperately to him. The man with the sword stepped beside them and laid a hand on top of the boy's head. Peter sobbed out, “Pa.” The group of men all murmured as we approached. I had to squeeze and shake Illiya's hand as she started waddling. I whispered, “Stop that, Illy, you're doing fine. Just relax.” To punctuate, I pulled the apprehension from her, claiming it as my own as I pushed tranquility out to her, saying, “Be at peace.” She relaxed, then Peter pointed at us as we joined them. “Belle and Illiya saved me from witches! Illiya is a unicorn!” The big man who was Peter's father looked at us and offered an arm. “Thank God. I'm Jake Gerrard, and this is Eileen. We just got back from the search and were about to start again. Thank you so much.” We each grasped forearms with the man. Then he looked at his son then us and asked, “Witches? How did you free my son?” I shrugged, knowing they most likely wouldn't believe the tale I'm sure the boy would relay, and said, “It was nothing really. Just the right place at the right time. We stumbled upon them last night when looking for a place to camp. We just whisked him away in the darkness before anyone was the wiser.” If they knew the truth of it all, I'd be branded a witch and drown, and much, much worse would befall Illy. After a ration of questions, the men dispersed, and Eileen invited us in. They tried giving us coin, and we refused though it would have come in handy, I was almost out of coin myself. Jake insisted they resupply our provisions, assuring us that their farm had done quite well that year and they had plenty to offer without putting a burden upon themselves. When asked about Illy's odd attire and bare feet, we said that she had lost her pack during the rescue, and her dress was torn, so she was wearing all I had left in my pack. Eileen tutted about us as only a mother could, and pulled out garments from her youth from an old trunk in the corner. The clothing she couldn't fit into anymore, which she insisted Illy and I take. It was of older fashion but in good repair and some was even quite pretty. Jake gave Illiya one of his packs and a bedroll. We tried protesting that they were far too generous, but they wouldn't hear it. It was obvious to us that Peter was their world and they felt they owed us a great boon for saving him. We all had a good chuckle when, after a hearty dinner that night, Eileen served delectable slices of pumpkin pie. Peter looked suitably embarrassed. The Gerrard's insisted that we stay the night before going to London to see if I could find Lady Locksley. We all chuckled when Peter again insisted that Illy was a unicorn. That caused a bit of anxiety from her and me, and I didn't need to taste our emotions to know that. I knew what we would find. That I had missed her by a day, as always. I had no doubt she had left the great walled city that night when Jacob and Wilhelm had indicated. I also knew in my gut that they had engineered it so that I would not reach her in time. The witches may even have been part of their plan, as they speak of moving pieces around in their game, though I cannot fathom how it would be. On the morrow, after a hearty egg and bacon and flatbread breakfast, we prepared to continue my quest. The Gerrard's walked us to the door, and Eileen gave us each a hug. “Thank you again for all you have done ladies, we will forever be in your debt.” She hugged Peter to her. Jake nodded, and Illy and I grasped forearms with him again as he said something that made me think that this simple farmer had been something else in another life, “I pledge bronze and silver to you. If in need, I will heed your call.” It sounded like a soldier's oath to me. My eyes absently went to the old bronze sword above the mantle of their stone fireplace, looking well used, with nicks in the blade, the cutting edges looked blackened with age like they were plated in old tarnished silver. I imagined what stories that blade could tell. My eyes hesitated when I noticed for the first time, the crest embossed in the hilt. A wolf's head. My eyes snapped back to the brawny middle-aged man. He had been a Wolf Hunter? Daring to brave the full moon nights to protect people from the cursed wolves that stalked the night. My respect for the man doubled. He deserved this peaceful retirement. Peter ran forward and hugged each of us, and I couldn't help but smile. Illy just looked awkward as she stiffened like she didn't know what to do. I gave her a grin, and she relaxed. Then we were off, heading down the hill toward the great city. I looked down when her hand reached out and grasped mine, lacing our fingers. I looked over at her feeling her warmth spread through me. “You don't need to come with me. You don't need to feel obligated.” She looked at me as if I were daft. “I'll take on your quest with you, not because I feel obligated. Well, there is the awkward fact that without your influence, I may rampage through Britain, killing all in my path. But you have a kindness about you that I find... intoxicating.” Then she looked down shyly and said, “No to mention you look quite fetching in that new dress.” It was my turn to feel bashful as my cheeks heated. I chanced a glance to her and she was tilting her head at me like she was studying me. Goddess did her full lips look inviting. She smiled in mischief and said, “You're staring at my lips again, silly girl. If you keep that up, I may kiss you again.” I tried not to smile as I squinted my eyes, redoubling my attention on her red lips, that cute cupid's bow enticing me. I had never wanted to kiss anyone like this before, I almost ached for it. She snorted and said, “You're positively wicked!” Then she stopped us right there in the middle of a fairly busy road heading into the city and moved in with a smile on her lips. My heart started pounding as her lips hovered a fraction of an inch from mine. I caught a hint of her sweet scent that was tainted by sulfur and was surprised that I found it arousing. She teased. “Say please.” The unnatural heat of her breath caused gooseflesh to race across my body. With need I had never experienced before, I nodded and whispered. “Please?” Then she gave me the gentlest of kisses, our lips seemed made for each other. She slowly started increasing the urgency of the kiss as I melted into her. A man in a wagon whistled a cat
call, and a woman yelled out that it was ungodly for two women to have intimate contact. She was spouting some quote from the writings of the Christian God. We broke apart and looked down at our feet in embarrassment, then Illy tugged me along as we scurried off. I was still in a bit of a happy fog until Illy growled out, “Ungodly? Where was her God when I was condemned to an eternity of suffering for five men to gain power?” Her eyes started glowing red with hellfire, and they started to smoke as her voice deepened as she spoke. I shook her hand and pulled the rage and... shame? From her. I whispered, “Be at peace, Illy, I am here.” She took a deep breath as she calmed. She saw the strain on my face and then narrowed her eyes. She asked with a voice heavy in suspicion, “What toll do you pay for giving me this peace that allows me to be free of Yth'Ical?” I shrugged and brushed it off. “Nothing. It is just a strain to pull the magics up.” She didn't believe me, but she gave me a reprieve from her question by looking away and toward the huge stone wall, with veins of silver running through it, rising in front of us as we passed through an extremely busy square. The buildings had grown so packed together that there were no gardens nor green spaces. You would just step off the cobbled streets into the buildings. Was that the price of living in a big city? The loss of nature? We had a moment at the gates to the city where I worried. Prejudice had grown against those cursed, and the infected were turned away at the gates. Only Clean Bloods as they were calling the non-infected now, were allowed inside. They pricked my finger with a silver needle to ensure I was not infected, but Illy refused, she had been almost panicked. It was all I could do to keep her calm enough to stop from exhibiting demonic signs. I finally got her to agree to it as five more guards approached with their hands resting on the hilts of their blades. I held my breath as they pricked her finger and the blood didn't boil on the silver. I let out a discreet sigh of relief and pulled her quickly down the lane with me. It didn't take long to track down the last place that Lady Locksley had been, when we learned a man named Robin of Locksley had been in a tavern the prior night, lamenting the loss of his love, Marion. My heart almost stopped upon learning that. Lady Locksley always impersonated a man, the Hood of Locksley, so I knew this Robin was her. But knowing that the shining light of Robyn's heart had succumbed to time was heart-rending. We made our way to the tavern to see if anyone had heard where Lady Locksley had planned on traveling after that. People spoke of a Russian woman with hair of gold, who had the strength of a bear, who had bested Robin in an arm wrestling match the prior night. But nobody knew where 'he' had gone after leaving that night, they only knew Robin had been walking toward the west gates. I again felt so very tired. Would my quest never end? Would I never be able to live my own life ever again? As we walked the streets aimlessly, Illiya said to me, “So we head west. I'll be at your side, this is our new life now. We will find her, and you will have the peace you give to others.” Jacob said from beside me, “Sound advice.” I almost jumped out of my skin as I blurted, “Son of a...” I bit my tongue to cut off my curse. “Fascinating,” Wilhelm said as he watched Illiya's hand blur out toward his brother, almost faster than I could follow. But Jacob had already lazily sidestepped before her hand reached out to grab empty air. I placed a hand on her arm to lower it with a pleading look on my face, letting her know that they were no threat. Or were they? I'm not one to use vulgar curses, but I really disliked these fucking brothers.

  Chapter 10 – Perchta's Garden

  Years came and years went, as they are apt to do. Illy and I had become inseparable and had grown even closer. I doubt it would be possible for me to ever love someone with the ferocity I loved my girl. Our quest had taken on another aspect, as we found Illy was drawn to dark magics, especially demonic, and we found ourselves battling the darkness as often as tracking my Lady Locksley. The brothers showed up from time to time to make our lives a living hell. On more than one occasion, we found ourselves confronting werewolves that were bigger, smarter, and more powerful than any other wolf. She had been drawn to them like a moth to a flame. She says it is because their magics called to her like they were her own. We realized over time as they escaped Illiya's wrath time after time, that these intelligent wolves must be the Marcus brothers, that the curse seemed to have taken them too. I was getting so very tired but was happy to learn over the years, that time was not going to take my Illy away from me. She suffered the same curse as me, never aging as those around us succumbed to time. She was the love of my life, the light that kept me going. Even Yth'Ical had grudgingly accepted me and stopped trying to kill me every time she came out, though she would always try to scare me. I think the beast inside my girl was starting to crave the peace I offered, though she could never have it. We also learned more about demons. One revelation, in particular, chilled me to the core and had Illy turn in on herself for a few months. Demons cannot die in the mortal world, as their bodies are just constructs of the binding that summoned them. So if their body suffers enough damage, they would simply be banished back to the eternal damnation of the underworld. Which means if Illy ever died, she would go back to the pit in her nightmares. The only exception to this, are certain types of demons who can bring true death to other demons, or using a demon's own magics against it can destroy their soul. Illy is one of those who can reap the souls of other demons, we surmise it is because she was an innocent sacrifice and was never meant to be among the damned. That's when we found ourselves taking on a group of necromancers who were raising an army of the dead in a cemetery outside of London. They were attempting to get into the Black Crypt where it was said the Lady who Sleeps was entombed behind the barrier of blackened and twisted thorny vines and briars. A single touch of those living vines meant a quick and excruciating death. They believed that they could animate her as they did the dead, and have a dark avatar with a thinking mind to control, instead of the mindless zombies. They thought that since the bodies of those they raised from their graves were already dead, they would not be affected by the poisons of the briar thorns. What they didn't realize is that the rumors were apparently true, that Death's Lady herself, Thsalias, had torn a piece of her heart from her chest, to ensure the barrier would endure as long as she had breath in her body. We had arrived to see the mob of the dead, in various states of decomposition, assaulting the briars under the will of the necromancers. They tore at the vines, but the vines filled back into the damaged areas of the briar patch, and twisted around the animated corpses, sawing them into pieces with those steel-strong thorns. It seems Death's Lady had created the ultimate defense for the one it is rumored she loved above all else, if a reaper could possibly love. Yth'Ical made short work of the corpses that reminded when we arrived, while I stopped the necromancers from fleeing. The three had killed the caretaker and a constable who had happened by before we had arrived in the cemetery. I had to grant them peace in the afterlife before I could confront the necromancers. It was then that I found my ability to give peace worked well against the animated dead, as it truly gave their soul peace and that disrupted the spells on them. Ending the influence the black magic casters held over them, allowing them to return to the eternal slumber of death. I turned to the three warped magic users, two men and a woman. Why were there always three in dark workings? Was the number significant in some way? “Surrender yourselves to the mortal authorities now, lest I allow my companion to have at thee,” I told them. They had the sense to look afraid of that as they looked over to where my beautiful beast was on a furious rampage, trampling, impaling, and tearing bodies and tombstones apart as if they were dried leaves being crushed into dust instead of flesh, bones, and stone. And her bellows of rage were causing all of our eyes to bleed. But they came to their own decisions, the wrong decision as it turns out. They exchanged looks then turned on me and chanted something in a tongue I could not and did not wish to comprehend. It sounded similar to what they had been chanting to raise and control the dead when we arrived. When I doubled over in pain, I realized what they were attempting. Necromancers dea
l in life, in giving life to those who have left the mortal coil, but apparently, they could do the reverse and strip the life from the living. I gasped as my skin started to blacken until my breastbone felt as if it were on fire when the talisman flared with blinding intensity, washing away the cloying magic which threatened to rot my flesh away, as my life force was stripped from me. I could taste their surprise and sudden rising fear when I stood straight and drew my staff from my back. I almost felt sorry for them as I took a new wall of rage and fear I felt from Illy, and I drove all that fear into them, just as Yth'Ical slammed into them, trampling and impaling one man. They shouldn't have harmed me where she could witness it. I know it was cruel of me to enhance their fear to terror like that so that they died afraid. I looked over at the bodies of the two men they had killed while implementing their scheme. Life had meant nothing to them. The... gift... I gave them in the last moments of their lives, showed them how precious life is. I paused as I watched my girl pulverizing their bodies and wondered if I had lost all my own humanity over the years, as I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for them. But enough was enough. I reached out and touched Yth'Ical's flank. She spun on me swinging her bloodied horn toward me. I grabbed the tip of it and shook it hard and pushed it away as I slapped her nose. “Don't get grumpy with me.” She bellowed in my face, and I conceded the point. “Fine. You're fearsome and terrifying, and I quake in my boots.” Her eyes flared, and I had to chuckle as I slapped her nose again and wiped the blood and spittle from my face. Then I pulled at the poisonous hatred, rage, and malice, letting it flow into me as I pushed out tranquility and humor to my girl. I returned to my previous thoughts about my humanity when I realized that, while still an exhausting burden it was to take on all her darkness, I wasn't as repulsed by it anymore while I held onto it for the feather to consume. Maybe it was because I was a much darker person than I had been all those years ago, or I just accepted it as part of the woman I loved, so it made it easier to hold inside of me. Jacob said, “One of these days, she won't take that from you. You do realize she's a demon don't you?” I squeaked in surprise and swung my staff toward his voice. He and Wilhelm were sitting on a low branch in a nearby tree in the cemetery. Illy bellowed and charged, but they simply hopped off the branch lazily, a moment before she slammed into the tree, driving her horn through the trunk and twisting, tearing a great ragged chunk of wood from the heart of the tree. The oak made a cracking sound, then fell so very slowly to the ground with a huge thud that shook the ground and knocked over some headstones. She would tear up the entire cemetery to get to them, so I called out to her, “Be at peace. Come back to me, love.” I tore at her negative emotions, claiming them as my own. The flush of rage, malice and fear flooded me, red hot and stinking of sulfur. And as the talisman started to consume it, my frustration over the men who were now somehow standing at my sides just then, had me lash out. Yanking my staff back to my chest, and hitting them in their stomachs simultaneously, as the negative emotions dissipated. They oofed and doubled over. I exhaled and calmed and smiled sheepishly at the men. Wilhelm's brow was furrowed while Jacob stood back up, rubbing his midsection, saying in confusion, “That... we did not see coming.” His brow furrowed accusingly. Then it turned into a smile as he said in amusement, “You are just one surprise after another, Belle.” Wilhelm asked him, “Possibly because it was someone else's borrowed anger and not her own decision?” Jacob nodded his agreement. “That would make sense.” I growled out as Illy contorted on the ground, her Yth'Ical aspect bleeding away. “Oh no, believe me, I'd make the decision to hit you on my own. Repeatedly. With enthusiasm.” They just gave me toothy grins as I crouched by my girl, pulling her cloak from my pack. We had learned to get her out of her clothing before a change. I wrapped her as she regained her human form and just held her as she cried into my shoulder. She hated being consumed by the darkness so very much. I have only had momentary tastes of it, and it was so overwhelming. I do not know where she finds the limitless strength inside of herself to survive it. I hissed at the men, “What goose chase or task are you here to manipulate us into this time?” Jacob nodded. “Straight to the point as always.” He inclined his head in capitulation. “You're making a mess of things in your travels, you and Illiya aren't supposed to be here.” Wilhelm echoed to himself, “Too many inconsistencies.” My girl looked up from where I held her to me, and she said as she wiped blood and tears from her eyes, “We're sorry to be an inconvenience to you. Sod off.” I grinned at her, she was getting the hang of English more and more. Then Wilhelm just spoke up, saying plainly, “We know where Robyn of Locklesy is this very moment. Would you like to go to her?” I just blinked dumbly at them. Since the day I met Illy and they told me Lady Locksley was in London, they had only given me rumors as to where she was. This was the first time they said unequivocally where she was for the first time. Hope swelled inside me. Was this a chance to finally finish my quest? I nodded slowly, cautiously, as I wondered if they came to me in earnest. Then I looked down at Illy, who was starting to stand. I helped her up, and she swayed slightly, and I told the men, “But not tonight. I must get Illiya to our room at the inn. She needs to rest and recover. Can you guide us on the morrow?” They nodded in unison as they walked backward in front of us as I helped my girl toward the gates of the cemetery, casting a single glance back to the black briars and mangled bodies around them at the Black Crypt. Was the Lady who Sleeps really in there? Once we stepped out, we heard a constable's whistle. And three men ran past us into the cemetery as if they hadn't even seen us, toward the carnage beyond. I narrowed my eyes at Jacob, who just shrugged far too innocently at me. Did they wrap us in whatever confounded shroud they used when they didn't wish to be seen? I started leading Illiya in the direction of the inn, her stride getting stronger and more sure with each step. I told the men, “We're staying above the...” Wilhelm finished, “Blind Crow. We will see you at first light ladies.” Then he bowed gracefully like he had been doing it his whole life. Jacob followed suit without a word, just less shallow and they almost skipped down the road in the other direction. I shook my head and looked at my blood covered girl. She rolled her eyes. I agreed with her assessment of the men completely. I started to ask as I looked back to them, “Where is...” They were nowhere to be seen. I called out to the air, “You're not as clever as you believe you are.” I could taste amusement on the air. The few people out this late at night gave us a wide berth when they saw Illy. I had called out to one couple, “Carriage accident.” Their shock and disgust then turned to understanding and compassion. We slipped into the Blind Crow Inn and moved through the half empty tavern to the stairs that led to the rooms for let. As soon as we entered our room, she dropped the cloak and started rubbing at the blood on her skin. I stopped her and said, I'll fetch water for a bath. Go wait for me there. She exhaled and looked at her hands then me and just nodded without a word. I smiled at her and stepped into the bath chamber, grabbed a bucket, pausing only to put a kettle on the cast iron stove to temper the cold water I would be bringing up from the trough. The hellfire inside of her would do the rest. She whispered to me before I left our room, “They had no souls... those poor dead people. I don't think I like necromancers.” I played it wryly and said, “Then you have at least a modicum of sense in your head, Illy. Nobody likes necromancers.” I gave her a silly grin, and that seemed to knock her out of her black reflection. She smiled back, her eyes half mad, and I loved both halves of her. After many trips to the trough, we shared a warm bath, and I cleaned the blood and ichor from her. Scrubbing her back and running my hands along her curves. Her unnatural body heat was not the only thing that heated the waters of the tub as our lips met. But that is not for you to know, it is only for my Illy and me. I believe the talisman enhances our lovemaking, amplifying the feelings of love, the feelings of finally being one, of finding our other halves. The beauty and wonder of it all, of being with her, brought tears to my eyes each time. When we finally just lay in bed later that night, we
whispered our dreams to each other as we always did. It warmed my soul that all of those whispered dreams had we, or us, in them. I wrapped her in my arms, pulling her back to my chest, and held her as we drifted off. My breastbone heating as the feather of my Lady shared its peace with us. As it is apt to do, the sun rose the next morning. I have not been a morning person ever since I met my girl. Morning meant I had to release her, and we'd have to leave the artificial shelter of the bed to enter the world yet again. Though I did have a bit of excitement and apprehension giving me a boost of energy. Perhaps I could finish my quest if the brothers were dealing with us in earnest. I had to temper that excitement with what I knew was their nature to forever play their infernal games with us. I took one last moment to savor the feel of Illiya's hot skin against mine, then released her from my embrace. She muttered in disappointment. “Awww... must we?” I kissed the soft skin in the crook of her exquisite neck and reveled in the shiver I got from her as gooseflesh raced across her skin. I loved that I could still get that reaction from her after all the years we had traveled together. I nodded and said, “Yes love, we must.” She twisted in my arms and gave me a quick peck on the lips then slid out of bed, letting the sheet drop from her, exposing her naked form to me. Is it wrong that I started salivating? She coyly grabbed my peasant dress I had worn the prior day and slid it on. I sighed as she pulled some of the fabric to her and inhaled deeply. I understood, I enjoyed her scent as well. I asked playfully, being denied the pleasure of seeing all of her, in her natural glory, “Why must you tease me so?” She just winked as she shimmied into some knickers from our packs. “It is an obligation that is well documented in the book of amorous pairings.” She always teased that she may or may not have read the fabled Kama Sutra that was rumored to have been written before the Christian God's son was said to have walked the mortal coil. Then she paused as she dug out some clothing for me to wear. “Do you think they really know where Lady Locksley is?” I nodded. “That I do believe. Though whether they are doing this without some ulterior motive remains to be seen.” She just sat there unmoving with my clothing in her hands. “What... what of us if you complete your quest?” I smiled at her and stepped out of bed to grab her hands. “If we indeed find her, and she can forgive me for the trespass of using her talisman of power, and not being able to return it as I intended when I first began my quest... then my dear love, we live happily ever after, like in the children's tales.” Then I added hesitantly, “If you would have me?” She smiled as I took the clothing from her. “Of course I'll have you. You are my life, my love, my everything. Just when I was about to surrender to the darkness, you were there, shining with the light of love and hope.” I gave her a whispering kiss then went about getting dressed as I mused, “Maybe Lady Locksley will know of a way to keep Yth'Ical in slumber.” She brightened at that. Then I slipped on my boots as she did hers and said as I stood. “Shall we break our fast before the brothers show? We've still coin from helping in the harvest in Bristol last month.” A proper meal sounded so much better than the rations in our packs, we deserved to splurge on occasion, like when we let this room. We shouldered our packs, and she secured my staff to mine, pulling my hair back to lay over it, her fingers brushing and tracing down the skin of my neck. By the Goddess! I swallowed and whispered, “Stop that, or we'll never get out of this room, woman.” She chuckled mercilessly and looked overly smug with herself. I grinned and shook my head at her antics, and we stepped to the door and opened it. I gasped out in surprise at Jacob and Wilhelm standing in the doorway. Jacob holding a large tray of food. Illy grabbed Wilhelm by the lapels of his fancy wool jacket and slammed him against the wall of the corridor. She growled as smoke drifted from her eyes. “Don't do that!” I just grinned, not bothering to pull her surprise and frustration from her. They deserved it, and they knew it. Otherwise, she would never have been able to grab Wilhelm. I patted her shoulder, and she looked back at me, her eyes glowing red pits, and then she exhaled in frustration and smiled at me as her eyes became human again. She shoved one last time at Wilhelm then moved back beside me. My stomach growled at the tantalizing smells of the hot food on the plates. I saw ham-steaks, fluffy eggs, thick bacon strips, and fresh rolls. Everyone grinned at me and I blushed. Illy nudged her chin toward my stomach and said, “Her battle cry.” They shared a chuckle at my expense. I grabbed the tray from Jacob and bumped Illy's hip back. We went into the room, and I kicked the door shut in their faces when they went to follow us. I grinned when one of them deadpanned, “Ow.” Then they started knocking incessantly as I set the tray down at the little table by the door. “Umm... we're sorry? May we join you? We did bring breakfast.” I looked at the silver tray and the quality of foodstuffs. This definitely hadn't come from the Blind Crow, and I absently wondered where they had pilfered it all from. No, I take that back, I really, really didn't want to know. My beautiful beast grinned at me and said, “They'll just keep knocking until Yth'Ical gets frustrated and kills them just for some peace.” I rubbed my chin like I was contemplating that, then winked at her and called out, “By all means brothers Anderson, or Columbus, or whatever you are going by this week... join us.” They opened the door with and stepped in with those infuriating grins on their faces. Jacob shared, “Grimm. We travel as the brothers Grimm at this time.” Hmm... German? It actually befits their given names... if Jacob and Wilhelm were actually their given names that is. We sat and ate. The food was exquisite and stayed hot the entire meal. It had me wondering again, what powers these men possessed even though they didn't outwardly show any power at all. I could never definitively say what, if anything, they were actually doing. The conversation was light, for how aggravating they were, they were amusing and nimble conversationalists. Though they seemed to avoid speaking of recent events. We had been noticing quite a lot more uses of black magics and many more instances of lesser demons or otherworldly creatures popping up across the landscape. We found ourselves moving from one battle to another to help out the people of England. They simply looked at us accusingly as if we were somehow causing this new rash of evil. They keep alluding to that whenever they say she and I weren't supposed to be here. I asked over my last bite of eggs, which were just as warm and fluffy as the first bite, “So tell us, just where is Lady Locksley?” They exchanged a glance and Wilhelm shrugged and offered simply, “In a garden.” I could see we would need to pry a straight answer out of them. “What garden? How many days travel?” Jacob said like it was obvious, “Not far, just a few minutes walk. The garden of Perchta.” I dropped my fork and stared at them, my ire rising. “The Goddess has not walked the mortal realm for centuries, all believe her gone. Her gardens are but a myth. Like the garden of Eden for the Christians. If you only came to tease us, then you best leave before I let Illy release her beast. I do not find it amusing.” I absently touched my dress at my breastbone, feeling the power of the talisman, knowing that the Goddess had been real at one time, my Lady Locksley knew it to be true, and she carried her power. Jacob assured us, “Her gardens are quite real, and she has been... indisposed... for a while. She may yet find herself again one day if the need is great enough. Robyn has had a crisis of faith and has retired to Perchta's garden to contemplate her calling.” My heart sped up, and I dropped my hand from the heat beneath my dress, wondering if my Lady would be forgiving. After all these years, would I see her again? I felt like that young girl from so long ago, wondering at a woman who bowed to no man, and aspiring to be that kind of woman when I grew up. I hoped I was not a disappointment to her. I stood, and Illiya stood with me, and I said, “Then let us not tarry. Please, take us to Lady Locksley.” Jacob squinted one eye. “Weeeell we don't exactly know where Perchta's gardens are, they are beyond our influence in this realm. You'll have to bring us.” Illy growled, “Don't toy with her and speak in riddles!” I said with a touch of angry frustration, “What do you mean you don't know?” Wilhelm spoke, “Only Perchta or one of her own can walk the path.” Jacob picked up the narrative. “Robyn u
sed the writings of Perchta to walk the path, and she is of Perchta's creations.” I muttered, “And I am not. So again, you tease me with the completion of my task... just out of reach.” Jacob shook his head. “I assure you, you can walk the path, the talisman has bonded with you. The feather knows where its home is, as it is pure, from the Perchta from before her great sacrifice for the one who is fairest of them all and pure as snow.” I huffed. “Stop speaking in riddles.” He shook his head. “Walk with us, I assure you that with our help, you will find the way.” We grudgingly went with them, and we started down the street as he started to explain that the feather was somehow a piece of Perchta, untainted. We turned down an alley as he spoke, and I wondered absently how we wound up in the forest, it was miles away. The trees changed as we walked, the light was wrong, too bright. Illy held tighter to my hand as she realized we weren't in the city anymore. We were in a tunnel of trees lit as if in the sunlight, but the foliage was too dense for that much light to seep through. I was going to ask when I realized that no, it wasn't a forest with trees, though I swear I saw the trunks and branches moments before, it was some sort of thick hedge now. Then a couple steps later I knew it to be a garden hedge maze just as we stepped out into the most spectacular meadow in a forest I had ever laid my eyes upon. A brook that bubbled through it, which seemed to glitter with diamonds as it reflected the sunlight from its surface. We looked around at the brilliant flowers and soaring trees. Behind us was the entrance to the maze. I exchanged smiles with Illy as she laced our fingers tightly. Jacob said, “As promised.” He nudged his chin down the meadow where we saw a cottage that I swear wasn't there a moment earlier, and my Lady stepped out with a pack slung over a shoulder, her bow over the other, and she started walking the other way, around the cabin. I started running through the meadow calling out, “Lady Locksley! Wait!” Illiya paced me as we ran to the cottage, calling for my Lady. When we reached the charming dwelling and ran to the other side, there was the entrance to another hedge maze. I looked back over the meadow, and the Grimm brothers were nowhere to be seen. They had tricked us once again, we had just missed my lady. I pulled Illy with me as I ran into the maze. We ran and ran and came out the other side, back at the top of the hill where we started. In frustration, we ran down to the cottage again and came to a faltering halt when we went behind it, and the hedge maze was nowhere to be seen, just idyllic forest as far as the eye could see. We turned our gaze back up the hill, and the hedge maze there was nowhere to be seen either. After weeks of exploration, we resigned ourselves to the fact that we were stranded in a world similar to our own, but so peaceful and beautiful. We were alone in a land untouched by man, untouched by anything to cause Yth'Ical to ever claw her way out of my girl to ravage the world. We realized it was our own private paradise.