[Through Time 02.0] Whiplash

by Claudy Conn

  Intermission allowed him to get up and slowly make his way down the aisle crowded with Fae socializing and enjoying themselves. He exchanged a jest with one here, a pat on the back with another, a flirt with a pretty Fae, and he smiled to himself. Indeed, he knew how to work the crowd.

  It was time; he began slipping in a word here, another there, starting the rumor that the queen had taken up with the Milesian leader.

  He stopped beside Council Member Alana and inclined his head to ask, “I am surprised the queen is not here to enjoy her favorite vocalist?”

  Alana was the queen’s friend, but she was a stickler for rules, always had been. She was the perfect ear to drop a hint to.

  “Indeed, no doubt something important to attend to. Our queen is forever working,” she said absently.

  “Perhaps not always,” Banzar said with just the right inflection to intimate that he had not told the entire story.

  She turned large, sparkling eyes to contemplate him. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “Only that I believe our queen has another interest that keeps her away this afternoon.”

  “Really, and what would that be?” Alana asked, her brow up.

  “Indeed, Banzar,” said Prince Breslyn at his back, “tell us, do, what would that be?”

  Banzar spun around and displayed more irritation than he had meant to but quickly got it under control. The prince was an annoyance, but he could not show it. Breslyn was too well respected and, damn him, he always seemed to know too much.

  “Only that I have noticed she has been spending a great deal of her time … dealing with the Milesians.”

  Alana frowned and gave Breslyn her hand. “Breslyn, where is your sweet Ete?”

  The prince turned and smiled widely and warmly. “Ah, here she comes now … with the queen.”

  Banzar’s eyes narrowed, and he felt a deep-seated hatred begin to form. Breslyn would be in the way, as would his wife. It would give Banzar great pleasure to watch Breslyn suffer the loss of his mate, even for a little while, though it would take some doing, as she was a Daoine Seelie Fae and would not be easily captured.

  He did not bother to excuse himself but turned and left abruptly, thinking the prince would be sorry for all the rudeness he had exhibited towards him over the centuries. He knew Breslyn didn’t like him because the prince made no secret of about it. Damn his Royal blood, when he was done, they would know. They would all know who they were dealing with!

  * * *

  The prince was very aware of Banzar’s hurried departure. He knew, in the gut humans had taught him to use so long ago, that this Council member was up to something, but he couldn’t yet figure out what.

  Ete laughed and touched his cheek, and he smiled at her as she asked, “What? You look … concerned.”

  He took a lock of her beautiful auburn hair and tugged. “You chose that word carefully.” Then as the queen turned from greeting her friends to give him her hand, he took it and bent over it, saying as he straightened, “My Queen, I believe that Banzar means to make mischief, regarding your … er, friendship with Morgan LeBlanc.”

  “I know, and I am forewarned,” said the queen quietly. “It is a delicate matter we shall discuss at another time.”

  He nodded, but he had always believed that Banzar meant more than just mischief, much more.

  ~ Ten ~

  JAZZ HAD NEVER seen a sky so blue, nearly aqua in variegated shades that looked as though a brush had just gently stroked the heavens with fresh paint. No clouds interrupted the skyline, the temperature was perfect, and the scent wafting on the breeze was unfamiliar but delicious.

  The beach stretched out forever, the azure water lapping gently at the pink sandy shoreline. The landscape appeared to be tropical, as palm trees, pines of various types, and flowering fruit trees, all planted with style and precision, filled the scenery.

  Birds of every type, some she had never seen or even imagined existed, flaunted their colors and their songs.

  She stood in her boots and jeans in Faery, though if she didn’t know better, she might think she had just stepped into a Disney painting. Everything was so rich with color.

  She looked at Trevor, who gave her a reassuring smile, and then she turned to Frankie, who gaped at her and said, “Gawd!”

  “Right you are,” agreed Jazz. To Trevor she said, “So this is Faery?”

  “One of the Isles of Tir, yes, part of it.” He looked at the Orb. “Why the beach and not the queen’s chamber?”

  “I thought you all might wish to freshen up before presenting yourself to our queen,” said the Orb.

  Frankie stared at the crystal and asked, “Be ye a girl or a boy? I can’t tell.”

  “Neither. I am the Orb of Time and once belonged to the Dark King,” said the voice, which was indeed genderless.

  The prince said, “I have a bit of a problem, Jazmine Decker.”

  “What? We are in the present, I mean, I know we are in Faery, but it is the present, right?”

  “Aye, but we have left the Dark Prince in the past. That won’t do. I shall have to go back and—”

  “Be at rest,” said the Orb. “When you took me in hand, Prince, I had the power to correct my error, and I returned him to the Dark Realm where he belongs.” The voice, though genderless, sounded proud as it added, “I did this while I brought us home.”

  The prince grinned and kissed the Orb. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Jazz was clothed in a close-fitting gown of soft blue silk, much in the Grecian style, and Frankie wore a lovely little yellow schoolgirl’s dress with Fae-styled sandals.

  Jazz looked down at herself and then touched her blonde hair, which his flicking wrist had piled high on her head. She looked at Frankie again and saw that Frankie was pulling her hair out of the ponytail Trevor had put it in.

  Jazz laughed. “Why so formal?”

  He took her hand, she took Frankie’s, and he said as he looked them over, “We are off to see the queen.”

  Jazz laughed. “As long as we aren’t taking the yellow brick road.”

  “What is that?” A puzzled expression flitted over Trevor’s face.

  “Never mind, Trev … lead on.”

  He shifted them to the inside of the castle, and before Jazz could take in their surroundings, she turned her head to the sound of a deeply sensual male voice that said, “Well, well … what have we here?”

  Jazz’s mouth dropped open as she stared at a huge, incredibly sexy hunk. He wore his dark blonde hair slicked back and tied at the nape of his neck with a string of leather. His silver Fae eyes glittered with humor and warmth. Intriguing tattoos banded his biceps, and a torque of gold around his wide neck made her wonder just who he was.

  Trevor grinned like a boy and went forward. Jazz and Frankie watched the two Royals grab one another’s shoulders to give each other a warm, comradely shake.

  “Breslyn … it is good to see you—better than you can imagine,” Trevor said with a gusty laugh.

  “Aye, I heard you were stuck in the past with Pestale’s brother Hordly. How did you get out, and where is the devil now?”

  Trevor held up the Orb. “We managed to get this. It is what sent him into the past when he tried to enter the Human Realm. The Orb realized he was Unseelie and retracted its spell, hurtling him into the past. We were in its sphere and ended up there with him, but now he is back where he belongs—in the Dark Realm with all the other abominations.”

  “Aye, then, but not for long. There is a small portal that repeatedly tries to open. Ete and I have just come back from the Highlands. We shut it down, but there is no saying when he will get it open again,” Breslyn said grimly.

  “Who—it can’t have been Hordly?” And then dawning lit in his eyes. “Pestale? Pestale is at it, isn’t he?”

  “Aye, and he is stronger than ever and even more determined,” Breslyn said and then stopped to return his attention to Jazz and Frankie, who were both watching him with their mouths open. He laughed and said, “W
ho do we have here, Trev, my boy? It seems you have been busy.”

  Trevor had just managed to make the introductions when the queen opened her door and raised an eyebrow. “Are you planning to talk all day out here in the hall for anyone and everyone to eavesdrop on?”

  Chastised, Trevor lowered his gaze, but Breslyn threw back his head, laughed, and pinched the queen’s chin as they entered.

  Jazz felt Frankie clinging to her and gave her a warm, reassuring smile, which helped to dissipate her own fears. Here was the Queen of the Seelie Fae.

  She was tall, ethereal, graceful, and almost too beautiful to behold. Her eyes glistened with a hint of rainbow colors, ever changing. Her skin was exquisitely soft in appearance, and the radiance surrounding her was both seductive and reassuring. And when the queen tempered her alien eyes, donned human Glamour, and came to stand before her, Jazz had a moment’s urge to drop to her knees and kiss her hand. She was so much more than the vision she had presented when she appeared through the magic of the pendant. So much more!

  Aaibhe held her chin and said in a voice that enticed and bewitched, “Ah, my Fios, Jazmine Decker. How pleased I am that you are here.” She turned to Frankie. “And you, my little one. I hope that you will not be frightened. You are very special to me, so be at ease.”

  Jazz felt Frankie’s hand relax in hers and realized the queen had indeed calmed Frankie’s fears.

  Aaibhe turned to her two princes and said, “Do you both know what we must do next? Yes?”

  “Aye,” Prince Breslyn replied. “Danté and Z are guarding the portal we just closed, my Queen. Chance and Royce were on their way to the village of Swords when Ete and I saw them only moments ago, to guard over Daremont and BJ. We were concerned because they are not immortal, and if Pestale tries to open the monoliths on their land, they could be harmed attempting to stop him. Ete and I are headed for Trinity, as Ete believes he will strike in a public place in Dublin.”

  “Has she seen this with her sight?” the queen asked, one brow raised.

  “She isn’t sure. She only received bits and pieces, but she felt the scene was in Dublin, and there were so many young people … students, that she surmised it would be Trinity.”

  “Pestale means to send each brother to a different location, thus spreading our power off and away from his direct and first hit. We have no way of knowing which one he will hit and with how many of his monsters at his back,” the queen said as she pyramided her fingers.

  “Does he have the power to open a portal that large?” Trevor asked, his face drawn.

  “I think so,” said the queen. “I have tried to contact the Dark King, but he is off with his Crystal … and is unaware of time. I know that he was determined to convince her to shed the last remnants of her human essence and evolve as he has. While he is centered in that, he will be of no help in this.”

  “Where do you want me to go, and when do I leave?” Trevor asked.

  “Now,” said the queen. “Trevor, my young prince, I am asking you to enter the Dark Realm to contain the Dark Royals. I know that I am asking a great deal, and I also know you are up to the task.”

  He put his arm across his chest and made a fist of loyalty as he bowed his head. “It is an honor to serve.”

  She had taken the Orb from him while they spoke and said, “This will get you to the Dark Realm and back.”

  Although part of her had listened to the discussion, Jazz had also been deep in thought. How long had she been away? She knew her travel agency would have immediately enlisted a tour guide to help her poor seniors, who had been left stranded, but just how long had she been gone? She sighed; she had to set this aside, for she could do nothing about that situation. She could, however, do something else—she could help rid the world of the damned Unseelie!

  She stepped up and found the courage to say, “I am going with him.”

  Trevor rounded on her. “No—you are not.”

  “I can help you, Trev. I am coming.”

  “So am I,” Frankie said in a small voice.

  “Jazmine Decker,” Trevor said, his voice was a mixture of admiration and authority, “you must remain behind with Frankie. You can help by being with her and giving me peace of mind that you are both safe.”

  “I can’t do that this time. Frankie will be safe here with the queen. You know that, so I am coming with you.” She turned to Frankie. “You trust me, Frankie, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but … I be wanting to stay with you … and Prince Trevor.”

  Aaibhe bent to her knees and looked at the child directly. “You are the last of the Fios McCutchems on your mother’s side. And you will grow to be strong and sure. I need you to remain with me and train. Can you do that? When Trevor returns, he will be so very proud of all that you will learn while with me.” The queen rose and took Frankie’s hand.

  “You see, you will need to stay here with Frankie,” Trevor said to Jazz and turned to the queen. “Remind Jazmine Decker, my Queen, that she is mortal. She will not survive the Dark Realm.”

  “I cannot tell her that because she is more than mortal,” said the queen softly. She took a step to Jazz, picked up the pendant that was around her neck with her free hand, and began to chant. When she was done, she murmured, “While this won’t make you completely invulnerable, it will help keep you safe, because though you are more than what you appear, you are also mortal, and I will need you in the future.”

  Frankie tugged on the queen’s hand. “I have a fireball. I can help them. Send me, please send me with them. I can help.”

  The queen smiled warmly and shook her head. “No, my little one. You will stay with me and meet Nuad, our Chief Tracker, and his team, and one of them—you may pick which one—will take you to the training center and teach you how to use all your Fios skills, for you have more than the fireball. You have ways it can be used that you are still not aware of.”

  “But …” Frankie said on a worried note.

  Jazz hugged Frankie fiercely. “None of this is normal, but you and I, we are not normal. However, we have found our place—finally, both of us know really what we are and why.” Jazz then whispered in Frankie’s mind, another skill she had learned from her mother, how to ‘mind-speak’ from Fios to Fios. I am going with him, no matter what he says … so you be ready to show us everything you learn when we get back. Jazz didn’t know if the mind-speaking would work on a Fae—though she wished she could use it with Trevor. She smiled to herself at the thought.

  Frankie’s eyes filled with tears, but she staunchly nodded her head and said, “Right, then.”

  Breslyn, who had been standing back from this scene, folded his strong arms across his chest and said to his queen, “You do know what is going on here?”

  She eyed him with one brow up. “Do you question me, Breslyn?”

  “Well, not exactly, but …”

  “Then let me answer you, my Prince,” said the queen. “Fate is taking its natural course.” She turned to Trevor and said, “It is time for you to leave, and, Trevor, after you ask the Orb to take you to the Dark Realm, spell it so that it will remain suspended with your Death Sword, both yours and both out of reach.”

  Trevor inclined his head. “As you wish, my Queen.” He then looked at the Relic in his hand. “Orb of Time,” he said, “I need to travel in the present to the Dark Realm. Can you do that?”

  “I can, but I do not wish to. I have only just arrived home … and would prefer to remain with my queen.”

  “Orb, it is your duty,” said the queen.

  “Yes, my Queen,” said the Orb, and Jazz’s eyes opened wide when she heard it sigh.

  “Not only does it talk, but it sighs? Do Fae Relics have feelings?” Her mind began to enumerate the things she had learned: Fae had feelings. Fae Relics, which she’d supposed were inanimate objects, could speak. Relics even evolved and ‘grew’ feelings. Everything she had been taught as a Fios was so out of whack.

  “Our Hallows are capable of much,” sai
d the queen with a soft smile.

  Jazz nodded and made up her mind. She knew Trevor would not willingly take her with him, but she also knew she had to go with him, and her reasons didn’t matter at that moment. Her gut told her to go with Trevor at all cost. She would use her Fios senses and wait for the right moment. Doing this, she knew the very moment the Orb’s spell opened the portal.

  Just as Trevor stepped into the swirling dark hole, she ran, grabbed hold of him with everything she had, and planted herself against his back. Her arms wrapped around his hard abs, and her eyes closed as her head rested at his broad back just as the portal sucked them deep inside.

  A moment’s dazzling of light and sound, and then black, all black.

  The next thing she knew she was looking at stone flooring at her feet and feeling a sense of bleakness as she managed a quick scan of the dark corridor they were in. Trevor broke free from her hold and spun around to begin his rant.

  She didn’t hear his first words because she was mesmerized by his golden eyes. His beautiful alien eyes simply held her captive. She shook herself free from the moment and put up her hand. “I know you’re upset, but I promise, I won’t get in your way … and I will watch your back.”

  “You are already in my way,” he seethed. “Don’t you realize that you being here is a liability for me? You are mortal … and I couldn’t bear it if they manage to capture you and hurt you … I …” He shook his head. “Pendant or no, I’m taking you back—I can’t have you in danger like this.”

  “Waste of time,” she said and looked around more thoroughly. “They must know we’ve entered their realm. If you leave and come back, they will be prepared for you, and your mission will be in ruins,” she said and watched him as he thought this through.

  All at once, Jazz shivered; the air was frigid. She looked down at the gown Trevor had ‘blinked’ her into for their meeting with the queen and said, “This is way not enough clothing for this place. Got any ski clothes handy?”

  A moment later, she was warmer in a dark knit hat and a warm, downy, well-fitted ski jacket. Her jeans were back on her legs and her boots on her feet. She smiled and said, “Better—you are quite handy to have around.” She glanced over him; he was still naked to the waist. “What about you? Aren’t you cold?”