by Martha Carr
“Life is risk, Leira,” he chirped. “If you don’t take the risks when they appear, you never really live.” He waved at her, smiling and grabbed the remote. “Yumfuck!”
Leira gave him a crooked smile and wiped her face on her sleeve as she softly shut the door. “Love that little shit,” she whispered.
“Leira!” The regulars all lifted their glasses calling out her name.
“You brought the party!” Kimberly smiled and got up from her seat to hug Leira. Estelle was on her riser opening bottles and stacking them in front of people before they could order, a cigarette dangling from her mouth. All of them were wearing royal blue shirts with the name, The Ice Cold Pitchers on the back.
“We won the pre-seasoner!” Mike’s face was flushed with excitement.
“Nice place!” Toni grabbed a Shinerbock and passed it over to Larry.
“I hit a double.” Paul picked up four beers at once, passing them around to the others.
Estelle took out her cigarette and blew out a perfect smoke ring and smiled. “We do alright.”
“Should we order nachos?” Craig waved at Estelle.
Mara took a long swig from her beer. “We can only stay for one beer. We have a…”
Leira cut off Mara before she could finish. “Work party. Can’t say more than that.”
“Good call,” whispered Correk. “You’re catching on. They’re all family.”
“We get it,” said Scott, winking. “Paranormal secret stuff.”
“Where’s that cute Alan Cohen?” asked Mitzi. “Will he be at the party?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Alan Cohen came up behind Leira followed by the agents, Mark and Gail from her team. “Now this is a party.” Mitzi and Janice both tried to hand him a beer.
She looked up just in time to see Hagan barreling through the door from the restaurant.
Estelle poured two fingers of bourbon and slid it toward Hagan as he got close to the bar and he picked it up, drinking them back in a long gulp.
“One second.” Leira held up her hand to Alan and went around him to the end of the bar.
“Hagan, I was going to tell you.”
“After the show, apparently. Nice way to treat a partner.”
“This didn’t seem work related.”
“Is it magical shit on Earth?” He shook his head, his eyes wide. “Seems like the job description I was given. You ever pull something like this again and I’ll…” he shook his head. “I don’t know what I’ll do but it’ll be something. Look kid, you don’t protect me from jack shit. I signed up for this. My choice. Thank goodness the general has a little more common sense and knew to send in everything you got.”
“Everything?”
“Yeah, those two wacky witches are on their way. They said they’ll meet us at the rock. They’re sounding the alarm at some place called Hilldale. Said you’d understand. More recruits I take it. Rhazdon sure knows how to pull people together. You know, Lois and Patsy are good assets, I’ll tell you. Can wield a wand.” Hagan grew serious. “Nobody is standing down for this one. Too much is at risk. I like my way of life. A yard I hate to mow, a wife I love, the occasional fried food I have to fight a troll to keep. It’s a good life. No one gets to take that from me without a fight. Here you go…” He pushed his glass toward Estelle as she went by refilling it, barely slowing down, smoke circling her red bouffant.
“I like her, she’s got style.”
“She has that effect on the good guys and scares the shit out of everybody else.”
Hagan chuckled. “Maybe she should stare down this Rhazdon. Is the tiny guy coming? Of course he is. How about I go get him and we get this show on the road.”
Leira felt another swirl of darkness surround her, tugging at her even harder. “No time like the present. Seems they’re ready for us.”
“We gotta go people!” Hagan put two fingers in his mouth and gave a sharp whistle. A groan went up from the regulars and there were promises to come back and spend more time. Everyone took their turn hugging Leira while Hagan slipped away to the guest house and collected the troll.
“Come back real soon!” Mitzi waved and blew a kiss as Leira went through the gate. She smiled and waved back.
“Can my mother and grandmother ride with you?” She looked at the large SUV parked behind her Mustang.
Alan nodded, “Of course.”
“Leira you go with them. Go with your team,” said her mother, pushing her in the small of her back. We’ll squeeze in the Mustang. Hagan will drive us.”
“At last! Throw me the keys, kid! Good omen for me already.” Hagan held out his hands.
Leira whispered to her mother. “Really? Right now? You’re thinking about finding me a man.”
“You have to grab opportunities when they appear and you don’t seem to have many quiet moments anyway. Go or I’ll start telling stories about you from when you were a baby.”
Correk smiled. “See you there, Cousin.”
“You too, okay. I see how it is. Fine.”
“You have your PDA jacket with you? I brought mine.” Hagan went and got it out of his car, jogging back.
“Not official, not really. Not going to wear it this time. Fine, let’s go.”
“You can sit up front with me.” Alan hit the button to unlock the door. “We’ll lead the caravan.”
“My mother has plans for you.”
“Most mothers do when they meet me. I’m very charming.”
“And calm under the circumstances.”
“Doesn’t pay to worry. I’m trained, I’m briefed and I’m ready. Now, in this very moment, my goal is to enjoy every second. That way…”
Leira got in the car and shut the door, watching him walk around. The other agents piled into the back. She looked over her shoulder at all the people piling into cars and minivans and trucks and felt a tightness in her chest. One magical creature threatens all of this. Please let me be ready… if it’s the last good thing I do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The parking lot was already full when they got there with cars that had license plates from all over the country. Alan found a space under some trees by the road near the exit. “I like to have my getaway car pointing out at times like this.” He smiled and got out of the car. Enjoy every minute for as long as you can.
They gathered in the parking lot as a hush came over the crowd. They could hear the murmur of voices from just over the ridge on the high plateau. All the magical beings in the group could feel the hum of the collective dark energy that was amassed not far from where they were standing.
The troll climbed down from Hagan’s shoulder and ran to Leira as she bent down and scooped him up, putting him on her shoulder. “Look out for Hagan, tonight, okay?”
Correk came and stood by her side. “Are you ready?” He gave her hand a squeeze.
“I thought Turner Underwood would be here.” She looked over the heads of the crowd.
“He must have his reasons. You’re ready. Trust the energy and let it lead, even when your instincts tell you to take back your will… trust.”
“The fight starts here and now. We take it to them.” Leira centered herself and put out an intention to let the energy stop Rhazdon by any means necessary. Hollow bone. Her arms lit up with fiery symbols reading out information, changing shape as rapidly as they appeared.
Her eyes glowed as she let the magic flow through her, gathering in intensity. She let it lead, breathing evenly remembering what Turner taught her, following behind the energy. Make space for it. She walked forward, surrounded by her friends and family as they made their way up the side of Lavender Rock.
The magic spread out, filling the air, rolling over the giant crystal. The magic helped Leira see Rhazdon standing on top of the rock before she got there. The tentacles on Rhazdon’s head turning in one motion as Rhazdon looked in the direction of the approaching magic, smiling. “At last,” she whispered into the stream. “A worthy opponent… or ally. I
t’s not too late to join me.”
Rhazdon was surrounded by witches and wizards with their wands at the ready, determined to stay standing.
Leira resisted the urge to respond. It’s just bait. Rhazdon wants me to tell the magic what to do. Limit the power. She focused on her breathing, looking in every direction inside the magic, even as she came to the top of the crystal kemana.
The magic was giving her a view in every direction, all at once. She felt a rush of wind through her chest and stopped at the edge of the crystal, finally facing Rhazdon as Correk joined her.
“I knew your father.” Rhazdon pointed at Correk, teasing him. “He fought well. Not well enough but better than I expected.”
Leira felt his anger grow and hesitated, wanting to grab him by the arm but she heard Turner Underwood’s voice in her head. Stay the course, focus.
The magic poured over the rocks, gaining speed, intertwining with the darkness surrounding Rhazdon, weaving itself into the black and shimmering mist.
Suddenly, Rhazdon’s face took on a confused look and she lifted her arms only to be yanked off her feet.
“Strike!” Mara yelled the order, sending out fireballs aimed at the Witches in the back of the crowd behind Rhazdon. They wouldn’t be able to easily return fire without hitting their own comrades. Larry, Jack and Molly touched each other’s shoulder, combining their energy sending out a golden line of barbed wire, wrapping it around the ankles of approaching Witches and hurling them off the side of the rock.
Alan gave the signal to Gail and Mark to move down off the rock and flank the witches and wizards. “Use lethal force. Don’t take chances. If they so much as look at you, shoot.”
The troll dropped off Leira’s shoulder and ran between everyone’s feet to Hagan, growing in size till he towered over everyone and let out a deafening roar. He advanced on the rock, his arms outstretched batting people off the rock with a swipe as more came clambering up to replace them.
“There must be hundreds!” Hagan followed just to the troll’s right, shooting anyone who came close but the bullets veered off into the horizon. “Not good,” he muttered, still trying to get off a good shot. He reloaded as quickly as he could.
Rhazdon picked herself up off the ground, the smile gone from her face, standing with her legs far apart, leaning forward with her arms outstretched. “Enough!”
Leira felt the dark magic take on a sharp edge cutting through her energy. The pain cut into the middle of her body. The old scar ached as it glowed red. She gritted her teeth, the pain pushing into every part of her body. No matter what, don’t give into the urge to tell the magic what to do. Keep the intention.
The darkness pushed at her, tearing at her from the inside. I can’t hold on much longer.
A fireball shot by her, close to her shoulder making her see small dots of light in front of her eyes. She glanced over, her eyes almost shut from the searing pain and saw Correk fall back. No!
Leira tried to reach for him, interrupting the flow of magic through her and felt the dark magic slam into her chest throwing her against the rock, knocking the wind out of her. She looked over the edge of Lavender Rock in time to see Yumfuck steadily marching backward, defending the magical beings behind him, his fur singed in places. None of us will make it. I failed. Turner I failed. She rolled to her side, determined to rise. If I die, I’ll do it standing on my feet. It felt as if her bones were breaking under the weight of the dark magic.
She saw Rhazdon advancing on her mother, already assured of victory over Leira. Eireka stood in front of Mara as she passed energy through her daughter. Eireka stumbled backward, teetering on the edge of Lavender Rock, and looked at the thirty-foot drop to the rocks below.
Leira got to her knees, nearly blinded with the pain. I will rise. I can do this. She screamed out in pain just as her mother started to fall.
A scream came out of Leira she didn’t know she could do, rising from her depths. I am tired of losing. Not again!
Just as Eireka fell backward, a blue wave of magic encircled her, lifting her back to her feet.
Rhazdon whipped around, surprised. Queen Saria stood at the far end of Lavender Rock, the king by her side.
Climbing just over the top of the rock came Patty and Lois, helping each other to the top. Behind them an army of Kilomea and Light Elves and Gnomes were fighting their way to the top. All of Hilldale was climbing onto the plateau. They were battling their way from the entrance to Hilldale, cutting off the dark Witches and Wizards, flanking them.
Leira felt the tears on her face watching the Jersey Willens come scurrying into view followed by dozens of their cousins.
“You can do this.” She felt a heavy hand on her shoulder and heard the tapping of a cane. “Get up and let the energy help you. This was your lesson to learn. Magic isn’t about what you can do. It’s what we can all do together. Come on, let’s get the fucking bitch. She’s getting on my last nerve.” Turner Underwood put out his hand and helped Leira to her feet.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I’m the Fixer, kid. I always arrive at the moment I’m needed. It’s a hard and fast rule.”
Leira looked back at Correk’s still body and wanted to go to him but Turner pulled her away. “Not yet. Finish this. Focus.” She took a step and almost fell again. Her left leg was broken and there were cuts all over her body. “Focus.”
She limped to the queen’s side, pain shooting up her leg with every step. She was doing her best to keep most of her weight on her right leg.
Mara quickly pulled Eireka back onto the rock, holding her tight as Rhazdon turned to face the queen.
“You’re no match,” Rhazdon sneered.
Queen Saria took a long look at Rhazdon, taking in everything about her. “You killed my son. You banished my father-in-law to an unforgiving place.” She said every word coolly and evenly. All the anger was drained out of her. “If there was ever anything good about you, any sanity in your cause your twisted magic has drained it out of you.” The queen swallowed as her voice caught, tears in her eyes. “It’s a hard thing to find out, isn’t it Rhazdon. You are alone in this world. For eight hundred years no one has wanted to touch you, know you, comfort you.”
Rhazdon raised her arm in anger at the words, ready to send a fatal blow to the queen.
“Do you know what happens when you spend that much time listening to your own bullshit?” The queen raised her hands for the last battle. “You forget a very basic rule about all of life. Oriceran or Earth. Love trumps everything.” She looked at Leira, tears on her face. “Ready?”
“Yeah, I am. Together.” It started in the back, down on the grounds behind the plateau. Every creature touched the being closest to them, sharing the energy, passing it through until it reached the queen. Hundreds of them all connected by one source.
The queen smiled at Leira, her eyes glowing brightly and she reached out and touched Leira as her entire body began to glow.
Turner Underwood stood just behind the king. “Let us all go out there with you.”
Leira faced Rhazdon, tasting blood in her mouth and raised her shaking arms, burn marks etched across them. “For Correk,” she whispered, “my family. With honor and to the end.” She gasped, startled as the energy lifted her off her feet, passing through her as it swam out toward Rhazdon, enveloping the Atlantean, suffocating the darkness, sapping her energy.
Rhazdon’s eyes widened as she slowly began to age. She looked at her hands as the skin grew looser and dark spots appeared and screamed in rage. “No! No! No!”
Leira limped slowly toward her, inching her way pulling away from the queen, even as the connection remained.
She stopped right in front of Rhazdon and looked her in the eyes as she reached up and ripped the necklace from her and held it aloft. “Mine hag.”
Rhazdon recoiled covering her face with her hands.
The few remaining dark witches and wizards abandoned their posts and fled, falling as they ran aw
ay. Rhazdon grabbed on to a wizard as he ran past her, her tentacles shriveling on her head as he helped her off the plateau. Leira let her go. I hope she lives for a hundred more lonely years.
Slowly, the magic eased and Leira dragged herself slowly to Correk’s side and fell to her knees, quickly running her hands over his body searching for a sign of life. “I don’t even know what a fucking sign of life would be in a Light Elf. Wait! There! There!”
“Out of my way kid. It’s my turn. If there’s a flicker, I’ll give the spark.” Turner Underwood placed his large hands over Correk’s chest, symbols lighting up on his skin.
Leira read them as fast as she could but some of them she had never seen before. She looked up at Turner’s face. “There’s something different about you.”
“So I’ve been told, kid.”
Correk stirred, taking in a sudden rush of breath. “Don’t move, Correk. You took more than one direct hit. A rather sturdy fellow, though.”
Leira threw herself on top of Correk, hugging him, still clutching the necklace.
“Not recommended but, okay. We’ll play it your way this time.” Turner pulled himself to his feet, leaning on his cane. “Looks like we lost some good people.”
Leira looked up, scanning the rock and saw Toni kneeling, running her hands over a body, sobbing. “Larry! Larry!”
“Too late for that one.” Turner shook his head.
The rock was littered with bodies from both sides. The magical beings from Hilldale were already collecting the dead, carrying them back toward the entrance.
“They’ll give everyone a proper burial out of sight from the humans. It’ll give everyone the chance to celebrate their lives and grieve their dead without having to lie about any of it.”
A Kilomea gently picked up Larry and cradle his lifeless body in his arms as Toni hung onto his hand and sobbed.
The Jersey Willen keened as other Willens helped carry his grandmother off Lavender Rock. “I’ve never seen a Willen fight like that for anyone but another Willen. You matter to all these people,” said the queen.
