by Martha Carr
“Then I don’t know why the fuck we made this drive.”
The halfling lifted both hands to show him her palms. “I didn’t stab myself, in case you’re still confused. You ever hear the O’gúleesh who made the crossing talk about the in-between?”
“Once or twice.”
“Yeah, that’s what makes the Border crossing so awful.”
Rhynehart glanced at the shimmering wall of light and shook his head. “Please don’t tell me you tried to go through that thing.”
“No. But the asshole things that are only supposed to exist between either side of the Border tried to come through. Right here on this little patch of grass where we’re standing.”
“You can’t be serious.”
The halfling pointed at her head. “This is my serious face, Rhynehart.”
“Like I can tell the difference between any of your faces. Do you know how crazy you sound right now?”
“Oh, yeah. I know. You’re just gonna have to believe me on this one, or we’re all seriously fucked.”
The man sniffed and pinched his nose, then gazed down the length of the portal ridge and nodded. “Fine. I’ll take your word for it, but if I find out you’re just blowing smoke up my ass—”
“You won’t. Just make sure anything that tries to break through stays on the other side of that black wall. Got it?”
“Yeah.” He started pulling on his dampening gloves and didn’t look at Cheyenne when he muttered flatly, “Anything else?”
“Uh, shooting the biggest tentacle is a great way to make the main thing angry enough to try coming through. But if you take that one down first, you might catch a little break for, like, a snack or something.”
“What the fuck are you smoking?”
Cheyenne clapped a hand on the agent’s shoulder and gave it a little shake. “Oh. They’re shapeshifters, too. So, whatever it looks like you’re fighting, don’t expect it to stay the same thing for very long. And don’t hold back.”
Rhynehart’s head wobbled on his shoulders when she gave him another shake of mock reassurance, but all he could do was stare at the black wall rising from all the black spears of stone. “Shapeshifters.”
“Thanks for making the drive. You guys can do whatever you need to do out here, but the house is off-limits.”
“Uh-huh.” He turned away from her without another word and headed toward his agents, who had gathered in a loose group behind him.
The halfling scanned their faces and didn’t recognize a single one of them. ‘Cause Sir doesn’t want the halfling making friends with his operatives. Message received.
She spun again and headed back toward the house as the last of the light faded to black. When she looked at the veranda, her mother’s silhouette was stark against the house lights spilling through the wall of windows. Bianca Summerlin didn’t look down at the drow halfling making her way across the lawn, focusing instead on the team of agents in black fatigues milling around the edge of the woods on her property. The woman lifted the glass of the good scotch to her lips and barely tasted it.
Chapter One Hundred Two
Cheyenne had offered to drive Ember back to their apartment, but her fae friend had refused without a second thought. “I’m not gonna make you drive me home so you can come all the way back out here and miss three and a half hours of whatever might happen. I’ll just take one of the guest rooms, and we’ll head back in the morning.”
The halfling didn’t have enough energy to argue, so she’d set Ember up in the guest suite next to her childhood bedroom and didn’t leave until Ember shouted to quit smothering her so they could both get some sleep.
Now, lying in a queen-sized bed in a room that was at least the size of her old crappy apartment, Cheyenne found herself unable to get to sleep. Big surprise. FRoE agents out back, a broken portal about to spit out monsters at any minute, and everyone’s pissed about it.
She rolled onto her other side and stared into the darkness. The outline of her massive bookshelf in the moonlight spilling through the window made her frown. Showing up for dinner’s one thing. I hate this room.
The halfling closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep, focusing on slowing her breathing until it fell into one long inhale and exhale after another.
Just as she felt herself slipping off, a jolt of buzzing energy flared across her body. She opened her eyes to bright white light and L’zar’s glowing gold eyes staring at her. “What the fuck!”
She tried to sit up in her bed but couldn’t move. There wasn’t a bed beneath her anyway, and she glanced down to see her bare feet standing on white nothingness. Good thing I put on pajamas.
“What happened?” L’zar stood in front of her, dressed in his Chateau D’rahl prison uniform.
“Okay, why are we standing in the middle of nothing?”
“Don’adurr Thread, Cheyenne. I initiated it. Are you okay?”
“There’s gotta be some kinda warning signal before you pop into my head right before I fall asleep.”
“It doesn’t work that way. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but I had to make sure you’re all right.”
Frowning, the halfling stopped her spinning mind and focused on L’zar’s face in the white light. His gold eyes were wide, his shoulders hunched as he studied her in concern beneath disheveled white hair spilling over his shoulders. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s worried about something.
“I’m fine,” she said slowly. “Are you all right?”
“Knowing the Thread worked and I could still find you, I’ll be fine. Tell me what happened.”
“Lots of things happen to me. You’re gonna have to be a little more specific.”
“I can’t.” The drow pressed his lips together and took a sharp, anxious breath through his nose. “But I felt—” He sniffed and looked away from her, blinking quickly. “I felt you fade, Cheyenne. And don’t try to tell me I’m imagining it. I’ve felt the same far too many times before, and none of them were there when I—” L’zar hissed out a breath and bit his bottom lip in irritation.
He’s scared, and it pisses him off. Cheyenne stared at her wild-eyed father. “I faded, all right, and then I came back and took care of it. A new portal burst out of nowhere on Bianca’s estate. Right behind her house.”
“A new—” The drow growled. “If it just opened, Cheyenne, it can’t possibly be as strong as the others. Not yet. How did you almost die at a brand-new portal?”
“A lot easier than I expected, actually. I went down to check it out; you know, to keep it away from my mom, and I might have overestimated my abilities a little. But I took care of it.”
“Alone?”
She glanced around the white nothingness and nodded.
“Where was Corian?”
“I don’t know. Out on one of his weird errands. You wanted him at that first portal, so that’s what he was taking care of.”
“But he’s with you now. And you’re okay.”
Cheyenne shook her head. L’zar Verdys, too panicked to put two and two together. “I’m okay. He’s not here.”
“What?” A sharp, furious snarl escaped the drow, and he closed his eyes to try pulling himself back together. “He knows how important it is to make sure you stay on track. You can’t be left unprotected!”
“Hey, I did a pretty damn good job of protecting myself, thank you.” She wanted to step toward him but still couldn’t move. “And I had tricks up my sleeve that came in pretty handy. I’m fine.”
L’zar’s eyes flew open. “What tricks?”
“The other two abilities I have left, I guess. Whatever telekinetic thing I can do and the black fire.”
“Black fire. Black—” A sharp laugh escaped him. “Fire. You used black fire.” L’zar took a deep, shuddering breath, and that wild, feral grin split his face. “Where’s the Cuil Aní?”
“Not with me. I told Corian that part too.”
“You need to get it, Cheyenne. Find that box and tell Corian if
anything’s changed. That’s crucial, do you understand?”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“Is that how you finished it, then? The black fire?”
Am I the only sane person I know? Cheyenne shrugged. “Yeah. That’s how I did it. Finished the thing off and got the hell outta there.”
“Excellent.” Chuckling like a cartoon villain, L’zar wrinkled his nose above his predatory grin and nodded. “That’s good, but we have to be sure. Check the Cuil Aní, Cheyenne. Have Corian bring it to you, wherever you are. Tonight. Use the Don’adurr again as soon as you know what’s happened. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Come on, I don’t even—”
The world spun madly around her, then she felt like she was falling through the sky before her eyes flew open. Cheyenne gasped and doubled over, her head jutting over the side of the bed as she heaved. Nothing came up, but she gave herself a moment just in case. Once her breathing had slowed and the dizziness had faded, she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling of her old room.
“I should’ve dumped that stupid potion on the ground.”
She snatched her phone from the bedside table and texted Corian.
Had another visit. Anytime you wanna bring that box over would be great. Call first if you’re gonna show up.
Double-checking to make sure the phone wasn’t on silent, she turned the volume up all the way and put the phone back down on the nightstand. Then she turned over again with her back to the bookshelf and closed her eyes. He’ll call or he won’t. I’ll check that stupid puzzle box tomorrow, but I’m not gonna lose sleep over it tonight.
* * *
L’zar paced back and forth in his cell at Chateau D’rahl, whispering to himself in the darkness of Alpha Block. “It’s been three goddamn hours. What’s taking them so long?”
Some asshole several cells over let out a massive fart. The orc in the cell next door turned over in his sleep with a grunt, the cot squeaking and as his hand and forearm thumped against the stone wall.
The drow glanced up at the red light keeping watch beside the guard tower, then spun around again and paced back across his cell. Something’s not right. Another portal, right there in front of her. If she told him about the fire, he’d know we’re close. He’d get her that fucking box already.
Another frustrated growl escaped him, but he squashed it back down again before it grew any louder. I have to be sure. This whole thing’s a waste of time unless I’m sure.
An inmate fell into a fit of dry, hacking coughs, and L’zar shook his head. “I can’t. She’ll reach out.”
His other neighbor smacked the wall, either in sleep or to get the muttering drow to quit talking to himself.
For two more hours, L’zar paced back and forth across his tiny, useless cell, turning the old crone’s prophecy over and over in his mind. I can’t risk it, not after I’ve gotten this far. Not after twenty-one years of breaking through the veil.
He felt the tug at his core again; had been feeling it since before lights out, when he thought he’d lost another young magical he’d been so sure would make it this time. Not just another one. She’s different. She found me. That’s worth something.
The door to the guard tower creaked open and shut with a bang as the night guard on duty stepped out to relieve himself. The drow heard the man muttering about drinking too much coffee.
But she’s not safe. L’zar spun again and paced back toward the bars. That’s what this is. If Corian can’t find her tonight, it’s over. And I can’t do anything from this fell-damn joke of a hellhole.
When he reached the bars at the front of his cell, the drow slowly reached out and curled his fingers around two of them. Gripping the bars, he pressed his face against the cold iron and glanced at the empty guard tower. He took a deep breath and tried to dampen the urgency overwhelming him, stronger than it had been almost twenty-two years ago.
By the time he opened his eyes again, his rapid breathing had calmed, and he’d made up his mind.
I can’t let her face this alone. There’s still a chance she’ll make it, but not if no one’s with her when the Crown makes her move.
He released the bars and slowly withdrew, his gold eyes glowing in the darkness. Then the drow who’d spent the last seventy years in Chateau D’rahl by choice turned toward the back of his cell and glared at the stone wall. Fuck this. I’m getting out early.
The End
The adventure continues in The Drow There and Nothing More. Dark magic is seeping into this realm from the other side of the portal. Cheyenne Summerlin is mastering her abilities, completing the Drow trials to unlock that puzzle box. Now, to claim her true legacy and the only power strong enough to stop the coming threat. The Goth Drow halfling must cross the border herself to face the enemy in her father’s world.
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Dark Is Her Nature
For Hire: Teachers for special school in Virginia countryside.
Must be able to handle teenagers with special abilities.
Cannot be afraid to discipline werewolves, wizards, elves and other assorted hormonal teens.
Apply at the School of Necessary Magic.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON RETAILERS AND IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!
The Magic Compass
If smart phones and GPS rule the world - why am I hunting a magic compass to save the planet?
Austin Detective Maggie Parker has seen some weird things in her day, but finding a surly gnome rooting through her garage beats all.
Her world is about to be turned upside down in a frantic search for 4 Elementals.
Each one has an artifact that can keep the Earth humming along, but they need her to unite them first.
Unless the forces against her get there first.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!
Author Notes - Martha Carr
March 31, 2020
Afternoon everyone. Notes from the dream house where I’m sheltering in place with the good dog, Lois Lane and the sweet pittie, Leela. I think this is week three but frankly when I get the day right, I’m a little excited. It could be week 4, I’ve kind of lost count.
I spent last weekend testing the elasticity of my brain. An ER nurse in my neighborhood put out a request for as many headbands as we could make with buttons sewn on just above the ears. The elastic from face masks was wearing out their skin. Well, of course we all answered the call.
For some of us, like me, that meant brushing off very old skills and looking up the directions online for that sewing machine we haven’t looked at it in years. Or decades.
Let me just add in here, big shout out to the Girl Scouts. They’re the only reason I have these skills and they must have done a pretty good job because before long I had successfully threaded a bobbin again. I felt like a rock star. Things got a little rocky from there. Stitch tension turned out to be a bugaboo for a while. But a few YouTube videos and FaceTime with a crafty friend and I figured out most of it.
It took an entire weekend to almost complete four of them, but I’m picking up speed.
Every time my back ached, and I wanted to give up, I thought of how selflessly nurses and doctors around the entire world were performing against overwhelming odds and thought, I’m making headbands from the safety of my house. Try again.
It’s a unique moment in time where for once we all feel how connected we are around the globe in a very real and necessary way. We’ve always been this connected, but it’s so easy to lose sight in the pursuit of ambition or family or a million other things. The choices we make reverberate out and affect others, but that’s easy to forget when I can’t see everyone else.
Now, we all see the world as a collective and as each d
ay creeps by and the news get harder to look at, we are digging deeper to let each other know a few very important things. We are all connected, we all matter, we are willing to take care of each other, we all have unique gifts that benefit others, and the smallest kind gesture has an echo that can be heard around the world.
One day, all of this will be solved, and we will get the chance to go back out into the world and hug each other and gather together around tables and hold hands. When that happens, I will remember how the world became one crazy large family for just a little while and we laughed and cried and grieved and rejoiced as one. Love you all, stay safe, find a little joy in the day.
More adventures to follow.
Note: I’m out here reading a chapter a day from Guardians of Magic, Book 08 in the Leira Chronicles right now from my Facebook author page every day at 1 pm. The completed Adult Story Times can be found on my YouTube channel so you can catch up or play them again.
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
April 13, 2020
THANK YOU for reading our story!
We have a few of these planned, but we don’t know if we should continue writing and publishing without your input.
Options include leaving a review, reaching out on Facebook to let us know, and smoke signals.
Frankly, smoke signals might get misconstrued as low-hanging clouds, so you might want to nix that idea.
I don’t sew
Last week, I went by the amazing BBQ place Jessie Rae’s and supported their effort to make sandwiches for the hospitals around Las Vegas during this pandemic.
