It finally occurred to her how hard this must have been for her not-men. In a matter of days, they’d gone from a relatively peaceful and quiet life in their pub, to being embroiled in the very things they had avoided for centuries—politics and power plays. Although, it was less about those and more about a grand quest to save the world.
And my mind is wandering again. I need to pull together. I will make this right to them—and Finnegan—somehow.
“No time,” Finn said, his voice commanding. “Even if that’s not the Hunt, we need to get out of here. This is no longer a secure location.” He planted himself beside Bat, Daniel still over his shoulder. “N—“
A bone-shaking roar thundered through the night.
And under it, Bat could have sworn she heard Finn curse. “Well fuck me, the dragon’s here.”
Chapter 5
Bastie! I met a dragon!
Or, sort of. I didn’t get to see him as a dragon.
But I definitely met one.
- Bat
BAT
“Dragon?” she asked no one in particular. A thrill of excitement shot through her veins, pushing aside everything else.
The entire room stood frozen. Not, she noted, that they had moved all that much since arriving at the pub. I wonder if we’re all in some sort of shock.
But, no, there was Ailis with a smug grin on her face. The men of ba looked just as excited as Bat, their needle teeth showing in wide smiles. The banshees were intrigued while the trooping fae stood with hips cocked and arms crossed, bored.
These were not the reactions she’d been expecting. But, maybe they were used to dragons? Maybe they didn’t really care about the Hunt being on their trail? Maybe she’d misread the earlier situation and the Hunt wasn’t all that bad?
“Ooh, now there’ll be blood,” Neasa, the red haired banshee, said.
Or, maybe there were simply all insane. This was a valid possibility. She recalled how exhilarated Dub and Finn had been when they returned after retrieving her harp from the Dubros, and the light that entered Shar and Mell’s expressions with talk of the coming battles. They were not happy about Balor seeking to return to life and the threat of war, no. But they were excited about the promise of battle.
So, yes, they were all crazy. Who got excited about war?
Unbalanced warriors, that was who. Unbalanced warriors and insane immortals.
Finn sighed, went to an empty seat, and dumped Daniel into it.
“Wha…” The human looked around, dazed. He was getting worse.
“We’ll give it five minutes, but I doubt Con’ll need that long,” Finn said.
Why do we keep having to wait so much?
“Ummm…” Bat raised her hand and everyone’s gaze shot to her. “Does this mean our original plan is… how do you say it… shot to hell?” That was actually a phrase she’d been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use, and now seemed to be the right time. “I mean the fact that someone has found us so soon, not a dragon showing up,” she hurried to add.
Mell laughed and a tendril of amusement wrapped around her mind. “Not shot to hell, realta, more shoved off the road. Just means things will be a little more rough.”
“We’ll let the dragon finish things, then talk.” This was Dub. “He’ll buy us the time we need.”
Silence fell over the room and Bat shifted on her feet. She was growing restless, though she wasn’t sure why. Well, she knew part of the reason. It was the waiting thing. Why were they all just standing here, not doing anything? Not talking, not planning, not fighting, not continuing to meet each other. Not even drinking.
Since when had she become too impatient?
Caw. Einin settled on a table in the middle of the pub.
Where had she come from? Was the raven actually a raven, or was she some spirit The Morrigan conjured? Annoyance pulled Bat’s face into a frown.
You’re restless because you’re running out of time, Egyptian goddess.
Why do you just pop up like this? I thought Einin was supposed to assist us. So far all she’s done is disappear and reappear without warning.
A dark chuckle sounded in Bat’s mind. Getting feisty are you? I don’t mind it, but if you encounter any of the members of the Tribunal, I suggest you don’t let any of that attitude show, or give away that you’ve been… gathering power. The Celtic goddess paused. I can’t stay connected long, but I promise to leave Einin behind as my eyes for as long as I can.
Bat didn’t believe her.
And you have Cu Chulainn. Use. Him. You’ll be going to the sea soon, and my influence there dwindles to almost nothing. The raven cocked its head toward Saoirse, the brown-haired woman who had claimed to be a guide, but who had yet to fully introduce herself. At least you’ve made one ally from the oceans. Einin locked her beady eyes on Bat once more. Don’t doubt yourself, goddess. There is a reason you are the one here, sorting out this mess. So, trust your instincts. You are restless because you need to move. You are worried about your companions and their ability to act together because you should be. You doubt them because you should. Do not doubt in yourself. This last was repeated with a slow and emphatic cadence.
Einin ruffled her feathers and settled back down. The Morrigan was gone. Bat returned her attention to her companions. The O’Loinsigh brothers stood in readiness, their attention on the doorways and shuttered windows. Cuchi stared at Einin. Ailis stood closer to the banshees now. Finnegan had stepped back, putting more distance between him and the raven. The sluagh were huddled together and Neall the Far Gorta had joined them. The men of ba formed their own group. Pixies glittered in the air over where Killer guarded Daniel and Old Mike. The two leprechauns she only knew by sight were with the older, gray-haired woman and Saoirse.
Muffled grunts and growls filtered in from the street in front of the pub.
You doubt them because you should…
That’s what The Morrigan said. No, she hadn’t personally scanned everyone, and she wasn’t sure if Ari or the other men of ba had had a chance to do so before the attack.
They needed a boat, yes, but before any of that, she needed to finish checking over the allies that had joined them. It was not something that could be put off simply because the urgency to find a safe base of operations had increased.
Five minutes. That was what Finn said. Now that she had something she could do in that time, her restlessness slid away.
Who to start with? Her gaze found Meera and the other banshees. These were immortals who once lived in Egypt. They had travelled the oceans along with the other Fomoiri and the men of ba.
And they were strong. She shivered at the memory of a demolished tree.
Bat would begin with the banshees.
Still looking in their direction, she shut everyone else from her mind and allowed her gaze to unfocus. Bat concentrated on Meera first.
As with Finnegan, there were shadowed places on her soul, wounds and bruises in her spirit caused by things that Bat could not even begin to imagine. There was a potential for wickedness, but there was no actual evil. The stain a corrupted heart and mind left on the soul was unmistakable, and Meera did not possess it.
Bat sighed in relief. She had not wanted to lose Meera as an ally, or as a friend.
She had just turned her attention to Teagan when a soft knock came from the front door. “Bat, are you guys there? It’s Ciara… and Con.”
Bat recognized the voice as the pixie who once loved a leprechaun. A leprechaun murdered simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and had stepped into the middle of a centuries-old feud.
Finnegan’s eyes closed and his brows drew together. A few second later he nodded, crossed the room, and opened the door to reveal a petite woman, an old man, and a giant hound flanked by two more around Killer’s size. The latter sniffed, then bolted across the room towards Killer, and began examining the pup with licks and playful growls.
Bat smiled at the small reunion as Ciara and Con stepped into the
pub.
“Well and now, that was fun.” Con stopped a few paces into the room and looked around. “This it then?” he asked.
Finn snorted and Dub grumbled. Mell’s amusement increased. Shar sighed.
“Yes, Con, this is it,” Finn answered.
“Not much to look at,” the pudgy man said. Except he wasn’t a man, he was a dragon.
Bat had figured it out.
Finn shot him a glare that didn’t last long. “Did you at least capture one of them so we could interrogate them?”
Con grinned. “Now why would I be going and doing that?”
“Con.”
“Two of them bolted as soon as I showed. And the others… well, I was hungry, and it’s been a while since I let my true form out.” The last was uttered in a sheepish tone. Then the dragon turned to Bat. “I hear we’re having a bit of a scrap with that old fucktard Balor.”
Bat’s eyes widened. While she was now used to the harsh language, it was shocking to hear it come from such a kind looking face. Con, even from their earliest meeting on her first night in Ireland, had been nothing but polite. “Umm, yes. He is refusing to stay dead.”
Con chuckled. “Can’t have that, now can we?” He crossed his arms over the slight paunch around his middle. “So, what’s the plan?”
Finn, Shar, and Dub all sighed. Bat returned the old dragon’s grin. “That’s what I want to know as well.”
“Now we get a boat,” Dub said. “And figure out how they knew we were here.” His lapis eyes focused on Finnegan. “Sorry, friend, but you’ll need to come with us.” Dub must have come to the same conclusion Bat had as soon as she knew they had been found—they couldn’t risk the barkeep remaining behind, for their sake and his.
Finnegan’s lips tightened then relaxed, and he nodded. “Yeah, the goddess there said as much.”
Con clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Let’s get to planning, then.”
Chapter 6
MELL
Mell had his emotions on lockdown. He’d pushed them deep, so deep he didn’t even know what they were.
He knew himself well enough to know it was necessary.
Why do we even have to do this?
He knew why. It was just…
Returning home was never easy. Especially when that home consisted of an indifferent mother and an abusive ass of a father. At least they were only meeting Da. Ma had been living at the property near Dublin for the last couple of centuries, so he didn’t need to worry about running into her. Sometimes, he thought he despised her more than his father. At least his father had been there, and, in his own sick way, at least he had cared.
Anger stirred and he pushed it down into the recesses of his mind, imagining it as a black hole from which nothing could escape….
He, Shar, Dub, Bat and Cuchi stood on a shallow balcony overlooking the harbor below. Weak morning sun shone through the fine haze that hung in the air. It would be burned off by the time noon rolled around.
Only a few ships were docked. Most were smaller freighters. One, however, stood out. A large yacht, the design sleek and powerful, floated at the end of the quay. The Royal Crane.
“You ready for this?” Dub asked. He, more than anyone, knew just what Mell had gone through over the years. By the time Shar was born, Mell had been spending as much time as he could outside of the hellhole called home.
Bat slipped her hand into his and gave a gentle squeeze. He knew she’d seen something about that time in at least one of her visions. She hadn’t said what it was and he hadn’t asked. He didn’t need to know what she saw—he’d lived it.
He also didn’t need to talk about it. No, what he truly needed to do was put it all behind him, once and for all.
“I’m ready,” he answered.
“Everyone remember their roles?”
Affirmatives came from all around.
Mell smirked, though there wasn’t much mirth involved. Their roles weren’t really roles at all. They weren’t going to act in any way, or try to be cute and trick Da. No, they were going to go in there and lay it all out. They were going to assess Da’s reactions to what they had to say. They were going to do their best to monitor every single person on that ship, every single clan member gathered around their father, and they were going to determine the level of the Crane Clan’s involvement in Balor’s return.
If there had been more time, subtlety would have been the best course. But, as Bat had pointed out after Con dealt with whoever had come for them at the pub, there was no time.
So, they were here to confront Da and gain a boat. It sounded much more simple that it really was.
Mell snuck a look at Dub, who’d pulled out his phone. He knew his brother was thinking of trading the brooch for cooperation and a boat if Da turned out to simply be oblivious of Scath’s manipulations instead of in on them. Mell wasn’t about to allow that. He’d thought it over, and he had a plan.
Dub hit a few buttons and the speaker on the phone rang out in the mid-morning air.
“Hello.”
Mell’s fingers twitched in Bat’s grip. That voice was as harsh and grating as ever.
“Da,” Dub said. They’d agreed he would be the one to handle their father, and Mell would let him, right up until it was time for him to take over.
“My boy.” A dark chuckle came over the line. “We weren’t expecting you for another week or so.”
“Some things have changed.”
“Have they now?”
“I will not play with you, Alatrom. We will meet at the main boat in ten minutes.”
Silence. Then, “I am already there, no need to wait. You and your companions may enter now. I’ll expect you in a few moments.” Then he hung up.
So, Da had eyes on the harbor and knew they were there already. Not a surprise. Those last words also meant Alatrom knew that Cu Chulainn was with them, and that he could transport them directly aboard the yacht.
Also not really a surprise.
Alatrom was never stupid. Oblivious to some things that he didn’t want to see or acknowledge, yes, but never stupid. It was the reason they had decided on the direct approach.
“I’m ready,” Cuchi said.
Mell’s fingers twitched again. He didn’t mind the giant idiot as much as his brothers did. All his animosity for the guardi stemmed from the fact that his brothers had been hurt by the sidhe in one way or another. And the fact that Cuchi kept trying to flirt with his goddess…
Though, his behavior had grown a bit more respectful since Bat had cast the curse on the guardi.
Which was exactly why Cuchi was here instead of Finn. One, they trusted Finn to manage and protect the other fae while the O’Loinsighs handled the boat. Two, due to that curse, Cuchi had to protect the brothers.
“Go,” Dub said.
Cuchi twisted his hands and a moment later they were on the deck of the yacht. A startled bird scrambled out of the way, its colorful feathers trailing behind.
“Is that a peacock?” Bat asked. “Why are there peacocks?”
The pure bewilderment in her tone startled a laugh out of Mell. Some of the tension in his shoulders melted away.
Gods and goddesses, he loved her. He loved her straightforward attitude. He loved the look on her face when she encountered something new. He loved the way her lips quirked and her head tilted. He’d become fascinated with guessing which new words would come out of her mouth next. He loved her truthfulness, and the way she held his hand in silent comfort.
He just… loved her. One day he’d work up the courage to say the words out loud.
The deck was empty except for the lone bird, but Mell knew better. Da had eyes on them. Mell loosened his hold on his powers enough to scan the ship for emotional signatures. One, two, three… twelve. There were twelve Fomoiri aboard, including his father.
It took a few seconds, but a man appeared at the top of a companionway. He was bulky, like most Fomoiri, and his shoulders filled the narrow passageway. “
This way,” he grunted out. He turned his back and headed back down.
Mell narrowed his eyes. Even though it had been a while since he’d come around, he thought he knew each of his father’s men. The clans of the Fomoiri did not change quickly, or often. He tugged on Bat’s hand to keep her beside him and took his place behind Dub. Shar followed, and Cuchi brought up the rear.
He couldn’t help but compare this yacht to the last Golden Crane he’d been aboard. That one had been a beautiful galleon, which Alatrom had somehow taken off of a Spanish captain. The sleekly modern lines of this newest version of the Crane were lacking compared to the warmth of the rough wood of the older one.
The man halted outside a pair of doors at the end of the gangway, knocked twice, and pushed the door open. “Ya can go in.” Again the words were curt, almost disrespectful.
It has been a while since we’ve come around.
They entered the office.
And Mell once more confronted the man who had turned his early years into pure torture.
Chapter 7
Dearest Bastet,
How does one deal with someone they do not like, but cannot bring themselves to hate?
I think the answer to this question will be very important. The more I think on it, throughout my existence I have had many people like this my life…
- Bat, the goddess who apparently still has much to learn about life
BAT
She tightened her grip on Mell’s hand as he pulled her into the office. He wasn’t giving off any sort of emotional tendrils, but she could imagine some of what he must be feeling based on the one vision she’d seen.
Her life had been nothing like his, but she did understand how it felt to have those who were supposed to care for you turn their backs. It was not a pain easily recovered from. Mell had been one of the ones to show her that she could belong again, that she could be whole.
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