Birthrights

by Butler, Christine M.

  "Jax, it's okay. You are just starting out and what you don't realize is all magic is linked to our emotions. When you are angry you burn flame hot, which is why you are able to unintentionally start the fire when you get pissed like you did when you thought of Rick, but you couldn't do it when you were scared when the Fey were attacking. What you need to learn is how to calmly channel that same angry energy into the flame." Caislyn extinguished the still burning wick. "Now," she began as she pushed the candle closer to Jaxon, "I want you to think of something or someone that really pisses you off and I want you to channel that anger into the candle and see it burn away your anger." Caislyn let go of Jax's arm and watched as an unspecified anger brewed an angry rage on her friend's face. As suddenly as the rage was there, it was gone and the candle in front of Jaxon was ablaze. She hadn't just lit the candle, it looked like a flame thrower had melted through the entire thing. Both girls stared briefly at the puddle of burning wax on the floor. "Well, that was interesting." Caislyn quickly put the remaining fire out and looked back at a frustrated Jaxon.

  "Holy shit!" Jaxon looked at the puddle of melted wax that had begun to stream away from itself in red hot rivulets. "What the hell went wrong that time?"

  "I would say you channeled a bit too much angry energy to that little candle." Caislyn didn't bother peeling up the wax, she simply took another of the candles and stuck it in the still warm and pliable wax blob on the floor. "Okay, you ready to try again? This time, not as much anger." When Jaxon tossed a frustrated look at Caislyn, she remembered learning these same lessons with her mother and being just as overcome with the process as Jaxon. "Listen, most people think spell craft is about saying the right words, making the right motions and presto-chango you get what you want." Caislyn smiled lightly as she remembered her mother saying those exact words to her. "That's not how it works at all. That's why most humans can't cast a spell to save their lives. Spell craft and element manipulation is as much about mastering your emotions and yourself as it is about the task at hand. If your emotions are out of balance you can't possibly focus the energy in the proper way. You are transferring energy. All spell craft and element manipulation revolve around energy transfer. Our emotions are just," she paused trying to find the right words, "they're like our own personal batteries. Different emotions have specific energy and they will help a spell or an elemental charge immensely. As you have seen, they can also be over done. That's where balance comes in."

  "Oh. That makes sense." Jaxon said feeling a little better.

  She focused back on the candle that Caislyn had placed before her. Mustering her anger once again, she channeled it at the candle. This time she only poured a small amount towards it. The wick sparked and lit, its flame dancing and fluttering,

  Jaxon smiled widely and looked to her friend, "Ha! That was cool! What's next? What else can I do?"

  Over the next few hours Caislyn taught Jaxon as many basic rules about spell craft and element manipulation as she could. Jaxon was eager to learn more, but Caislyn noted her friend was beginning to look worn down.

  "How about we take a break and go get some tea?"

  "Can't we just magic the tea to us?" Jaxon asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  "No, champ, we can't magic everything to us. Besides, the tea is to help recharge your energy. Just because you're a witch doesn't mean you have an endless power pool somewhere inside. Just like finding a balance with your emotions, you must also find balance with magic use."

  Jaxon got up reluctantly and followed her friend to the kitchen. "So, how do you know when you've used too much?"

  Caislyn turned mid-stride to talk face to face with Jax only to have Jax run right into her. "For starters," Caislyn said as she laughed, "being too fatigued to notice abrupt changes!" Caislyn grew serious as she looked at her friends eyes. "Look inward and be honest with yourself about how you feel right now."

  Jaxon took a moment and closed her eyes. As she thought about her own body, she realized she had been shuffling her feet along as she walked, her shoulders had been slouched forward, and her concentration had become muddled again. The weight of this realization seemed to amplify the effects and suddenly Jax felt as though she needed a nap. She opened her eyes slowly and gave a sheepish shrug to Caislyn who had been waiting patiently. "Okay, tea sounds good."

  Caislyn handed Jaxon a mug of tea as they went into the living room and sat down. Jaxon sipped her tea, letting the warmth of the liquid start its healing affects.

  "Mmm, this is really good. What kind is this?" she asked her friend.

  "It’s a special mixture my mom taught me" Caislyn answered. "It has Cowslip flowers, Chamomile flowers, Elderberry flowers, Violet flowers, Rose petals, Red Clover, and some other stuff. It helps to combat fatigue and lack of energy as well as give a bit of a mood enhancer."

  Jaxon sat staring at Caislyn for a moment blinking her eyes as she thought about what her friend just said.

  "So basically, I'm drinking a flower garden? Nice Cais, real nice," she said as she looked into her mug. "At least it looks and smells good."

  Caislyn laughed. "Herbs are very good for you. Not only are they natural without all the chemicals that are added these days, they have a ton of uses. There are teas that can be made to help promote any number of health issues, as well as pastes to help healing and reduce scarring of the skin. You just have to be careful what herbs you mix together and in what amounts. Too much of a good thing - of anything, can be bad."

  Jaxon shrugged. "Well, it tastes good and it’s working because I already feel much better!"

  Caislyn grinned "That’s because I put some ground cocoa bean in it as well. It helps with flavoring and antioxidants. It’s my own little twist to my moms' recipe!"

  "Really? Cool. I love chocolate. I've always said it should have its own food group!" Jaxon remarked nonchalantly. Her brow furrowed, "So tell me, why is it that we get tired and weakened when we use our powers but the Fey didn't seem like they were getting weak at all that day at the causeway. They just kept firing and firing on us. Is it just a witch thing or something? Because we are more like humans than any other species?"

  Caislyn thought for a moment. "The easy answer is, they were in their element. Water Fae in water and whatnot. They can pull the energy of the element they are aligned with. It's not necessarily their energy they are using, they borrow it from the environment around them. It takes less energy that way. They get tired too, but if they do things right, they can outlast a witch every time."

  The girls talked on about werewolves, vampires and other things that go bump in the night. Jaxon was asking questions and Caislyn answering to the best of her knowledge. It wasn’t until Jaxon started asking more about the People of the Faerie that Caislyn gave pause. She stood up and grabbed Jaxon's empty mug to refill it while she thought about how to explain the Fey to her friend. "The thing with the Fey is that they are different. They are immortal in a way. No one knows how long the Fey have actually been around. They are the most magical of all the supernatural creatures. The Fey were once worshiped as Gods because they are so close to immortal and so magical. Think Greek and Roman Mythology and what you are really hearing are stories of the Faerie people."

  "Wait," Jaxon interjected, "If they are immortal, how the hell are we supposed to fight them?"

  "They are not immortal in the sense that they can not die, it's closer to vampires, more like they live forever unless someone takes their head with hard, cold steel. Remember we need a demon to create that. That, or another Fey can kill them, but they seem to have trouble reproducing amongst themselves, so they hold the full blood Fey in high regard. Some Fey have been allowed to reproduce with humans to see if the Fey blood would be dominate enough to sustain an immortal life, as opposed to a human's short life span. I think it worked a little, but the halflings were a bit weaker than their full blood kin. They are never allowed to mingle with those of other non-human beings. I don't know why, just that it is strictly forbidden
and the consequences of those actions result in death.

  "Oh," Jaxon thought for a moment about everything she had learned and wondered why she knew so little since her parents were involved with the OTHS. Instead of dwelling on what her parents didn't tell her, she wanted to learn more about what Caislyn's parents did. "So, how did you learn about everything? I mean how did you learn to cast spells and teleport and all the other cool stuff?"

  "First of all, I don't know how to teleport. I did that by accident, and only when I was with you. Everything else, I learned from my mom and dad. A lot of what I know was taught to me downstairs. We have a back room behind the book store where we keep all our supplies and our indoor ceremonial circle. Come on, I'll show you."

  Jaxon followed Caislyn down the staircase and towards the back of the store. "This is where I spent my time learning spells and potions with my mother," Caislyn said as she opened the French wooden doors to the back room and went to light the gas lamps on the wall. "This room is void of electricity. All elements and nature in here, nothing more." Caislyn explained.

  Jaxon stepped in and immediately felt a charge of energy surrounding her. It felt like the air was alive and that it was exploring her as she was surveying the room. Once beyond the threshold of the door it no longer seemed like a room. It seemed, alive. There were trees, the floor was the softest, greenest grass that Jaxon had ever laid her eyes upon. She slipped out of her shoes just to run her bare feet through the blades of grass. She turned to Caislyn in awe, "I have never seen anything like this in my life. How?" The question hung on the air as Caislyn shut the door and stayed silent while Jaxon took everything in. Jax noted the pond in the distance, the ceremonial circle in the middle of the grass. She took note of the natural cabinets and shelving created by the tree branches along the walls. "This is amazing, and way bigger than you have space for." She looked at Caislyn a mix of puzzlement and wonder painted across her face.

  "My dad's magic somehow creates a larger space than is actually here." Caislyn looked around the vast expanse of the outdoor room. "I don't know how he did it." A flash of shame swept through her that was not missed by Jaxon. "I took so much for granted about them."

  "We will find them, Caislyn. We have too. Why else would all this be happening if it wasn't to prepare us to find your parents and who took them?" Jaxon turned and placed a hand upon her friend's arm.

  "Oh, hey, I almost forgot. Seth called while you were trying to burn the house down with your candles. He wants to know where we're gonna meet and when for the party tonight.”

  "So, you think going to this thing with Seth is a good idea?" Jax waited while Caislyn nodded her head, "uh huh, well damn. That sucks."

  "They always have yummy drinks there!" Caislyn threw in to try to entice her friend a bit more.

  “Well, at least there are perks, fine, you knew I would go with you anyway. Now, I just have to figure out something to wear."

  "I've got that covered already." Caislyn said as she jumped up to head to her room she added, "though, you may not like it."

  ***

  Raving Lunatics

  "I can't believe you let him talk us into going to this thing." Jaxon squirmed in her way too tight vinyl outfit that Caislyn convinced her to wear. "I really can't believe you wanted me to dress like cat woman for a party!"

  "Jax, you are at the Summer's End Rave, you can't exactly wear business suits and fit in!"

  Seth gave an appreciative nod towards Jaxon, "It suits you," he began before being interrupted by Jax.

  "Oh, no! You don't get to comment, the peanut gallery is closed tonight." She readjusted the leggings, all too aware of just how much Seth was noticing as she bent over to do so. She didn't really need to adjust anything, but her nervousness had her fidgeting with everything including the pigtails Caislyn had insisted on. She straightened up and pulled her left pigtail a little tighter until she felt certain that it was even with the one on the other side of her head. She looked up in time to see Seth quickly looking away, smiling.

  Caislyn was too busy searching the crowd for anything and everything to respond to Jaxon's further complaints about her outfit. Non-humans had a great sense of humor when it came to Halloween, so the Summers End Rave was always fun to attend, 'except this year,' Caislyn thought. "Damn, I always liked coming to these things before, but now it's so hard to tell who is who or what here."

  "What do you mean?" Jaxon said as she finally found something to take her mind off her outfit. She began looking around and saw that she was hardly the only person dressed up in Caislyn-esque outfits. "Shit! How the hell are we supposed to know who's after us if everyone's wearing costumes?" Jaxon looked more than a little miffed when Caislyn answered her with an exasperated sigh.

  "Seriously, Jax? Did you live under a rock before you moved in with me?" Caislyn looked around, "okay, here's what we do," she looked at Seth, "you can obviously sense other vampires."

  "So can she," he nodded toward Jaxon.

  "Oh, here we go again," Jaxon began mumbling, "freak girl there is able to sense vampires, but she's only a witch, no she's a vampire, no she's a witch." Jaxon tired herself out while the other two just stared at her during her outburst. She shrugged a semi-apology for her tangent and stayed quiet.

  "Tried and true, Seth. We know your sense works all the time. We aren't sure what's going on with Jax." She looked out at the crowd around them, pulling in the feel of nervous energy that always accompanied a party where people were trying to conceal themselves. "I can usually sense Lycans, but I know a spell to help out with that."

  "Not needed, I can smell them," Seth said as he wrinkled his nose. "They have a strong odor that no amount of cologne can hide from a Vampire's heightened sense of smell."

  "Good, then you have Vamp and Lycan I.D. duty." Caislyn looked at Jax, "Just be ready to keep your shields up so that we are protected from any attacks." She breathed in deeply and let the air back out slowly, clearing her mind. "I will find the Fey."

  Seth looked over at Caislyn, showing a rare moment of surprise before he gathered himself.

  "What," she questioned? "It's a trick my dad taught me years ago." Caislyn noted the guarded look on Seth's face, but figured they had more important things to do than worry about what was on Seth's agenda - for now! Caislyn went back to her breathing, closed her eyes and imagined the glamors of all the Fey dissolving until she saw their true faces. She had to make the attempt several times before it worked, but then the Fey started to glow amongst the throngs of darker beings. Fey had an inner glow that showed through their being, but only to those who could see past their glamor. Her father had told her that it was a rare talent amongst non-Fey to be able to glimpse the magic that they possess. She was able to do it though, because it was a trait her father had passed on to her. As they began to walk through the crowd she would point out the Faerie people that seemed to be taking an interest in them. While trying to maintain her concentration, she missed Seth's watchful eye scrutinizing what she was doing.

  The Summer's End Rave was always held at Fun Junktion, which was an old human landfill. At some point in time the bright idea was to turn yesterday's trash heaps into a park for kids. In the valleys beyond the trash mounds were playgrounds, skate parks, ponds, and plenty of outdoor space to accommodate all the non-humans that came to this party. As their group walked closer to the mounded areas of land, Caislyn felt a tug inside her. She almost felt as if a part of her were trying to get free. She decided to follow the instinct and began walking where her body told her to go. Jaxon and Seth followed, though each gave the other a questioning look.

  "Shit!" Caislyn said, distractedly. "I lost it for a minute. There's a witch nearby." As she looked around to try to see who was watching them Caislyn made eye contact with Gregore. "Oh hell," Caislyn said under her breath.

  Seth noticed Gregore coming their way too, "get rid of him, Caislyn. We need to keep moving, standing still in this place too long will be a danger to us."

  "Cais?
" Gregore questioned. "It really is you. Two raves in such a short time span? Are we getting the old Caislyn back, finally?"

  Caislyn looked at Gregore, her long time friend. He was beaming down at her from his lofty six foot four frame. He still had the same dopey grin she used to cherish,and she wished more than anything that she could be a normal girl at a normal party and throw her arms around him and run off to play pranks on the party-goers like they used to. Caislyn wasn't that normal girl anymore. Since her parents were taken her life was turned upside down and she didn't have the comfort of Gregore being around her anymore. "Greg, I'm..."

  Her tone caught him before her words had the chance. "You're with your new friends now," Gregore said with such a sad tone that Caislyn didn't need to see his body sagging to know how he felt. "No, I get it Cais."

  "Gregore," Caislyn began.

  "No, really. I understand. I wasn't able to help you before, with your parents. I guess these two are as deluded as you have become. It's been over a year, Cais. They're gone." Gregore's shoulders slumped forward even further if that was possible. "Shit, Cais, I didn't mean..."

  Gregore's words were like a slap in the face to Caislyn, and she honestly didn't know what to say to him. Jaxon picked up on her feelings and decided that this was a distraction her friend couldn't afford right now. "Caislyn, we have to go." She looked at Gregore pointedly and said, "I thought you were different that night at the gallery, but you are an ass!"

  "Cais?" Gregore waited for her to respond and when she didn't he added, "I'm sorry." Then he walked back off into the mass of people loosing himself in the crowd.

  Caislyn wiped the tears from her cheeks and cleared her mind again. "Gimme a second, please, I um, need to refocus a bit."

  Seth and Jaxon stepped off to the side giving Caislyn some room to breath as she tried to clear her mind and reconnect to whatever trail she had been following before. Suddenly, she was on the move again walking around the mounded hill they had come upon until they were out of sight of the rest of the party goers.