by Marie Hall
The moment they’d stepped through the portal she’d expected doom, winged monsters bearing down on them. Maybe even Galeta’s fat rump making a showing. But nothing.
“I hope Violet and Ewan are doing well,” she said, glancing from the corner of her eye at her friend.
Miriam stood as a sentinel, one arm wrapped around a thin vine, peering like a barnyard owl into the thick gloom below them. “Mmm,” she nodded.
“Mir!” Danika stomped her foot. “Now really, this is enough. I’m your friend. You must talk with me.”
Eyes covered in bright red veins turned to stare at her. Exhaustion leaked from every crevice of her body, wrinkles marred skin in a permanent patchwork of lines and age.
“Dani, it’s better if ye doona ken too much--”
“Blast it all, you stubborn old fool. I’m your friend.” She gripped bony shoulders and gave them a gentle shake. “What’s happened to you, sister? How did you age so quickly? You look beyond your years.”
Miriam pinched the bridge of her sharp, thin nose. “It wasn’t easy, Dani. Living in that world. The constant use of magic to keep the humans away, making our home exist on fairy time. All of that’s taken a toll. I’m tired. Worn out and…” she paused, mouth open as if she wanted to say something, but then finally shook her head and sighed. “None of which is your fault.”
She patted Danika’s arm, giving her a tight lipped smile. Gray frizz surrounded her head like a sort of aged halo. Even her moth speckled wings beat slowly, as if Miriam hadn’t much strength for more.
“I’m worried about you.” Danika laced her fingers through Miriam’s. “You don’t look well, my friend. Not at all. Fairy should have restored your youth, and yet you look little better than a hag.”
Miriam snorted, some of the old light entering her eyes. “Ye’ve still a sharp tongue about ye, Dani, I’ll give ye that.”
The glen glowed silvery in the moonlight. A scuttle of tiny feet scampered up their tree, a bushy red tail disappearing quickly within a hole in the wood. The night was rich with the scent of hyacinth and lavender. Dark petaled roses opened their blooms, knowing the fairies were about and seeking a morsel of dust.
Miriam gently squeezed Dani’s hand one final time before letting go. “I loved these woods. This place.” Joy laced the longing in her words.
“You’re back now. We can fly through here anytime we want.”
She laughed. “That is until Galeta finds us. She will ye know.”
Danika twisted her lips. “Did you see that in a vision?”
“Aye.” Miriam nodded, not an ounce of fear in the word.
“Who’s coming to meet us?” Danika asked, glancing over Miriam’s shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of their mystery gust.
“A friend that made me a promise long ago.”
The wind picked up then, cool and sweet against Danika’s gossamer wings. She inhaled, invigorated by the night. There was always something so magical about the woods at night.
“I love this spot,” Miriam said again, this time there was a tremble of tears in her statement.
“You’ve already said that, dear.” Danika frowned.
“Did I?” Miriam’s eyes shone bright lavender. “I forgot.”
Something was wrong. Very wrong, and it irked Danika that she couldn’t figure it out. Miriam wasn’t herself. But then again, she’d not been around her friend for far too long. Perhaps this was Miriam now. Distant. Silent. She was The Shunned, and perhaps it was more than just a title now. Perhaps her friend believed that’s who she really was--an outcast and pariah within fairy.
Miriam pointed below. “We were born just there, do you remember, Dani?”
A small field of red roses waved in the gentle breeze. Most were snoring, though one was drooping, its petal dragging along the ground. Woeful eyes blinked at its sad petals.
“The moon was full and fairy song rang throughout. Aye,” Danika nodded, a fond smile on her face, “I remember.”
Miriam tucked a strand of hair behind her slightly upturned ear. “This is a good place. I could never be sad here, Dani.” She looked at Danika. “I think I should like to stay here forever, beside the roses.”
Danika gazed at her friend, trying desperately not to read more into the words, but her heart twisted in her chest with fear. “We’re not going to die, Mir. None of us. We will defeat, Malvena.”
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” A bell like voice said, reciting one of Danika’s favorite lines from Shakespeare’s play.
Danika twirled, recognizing the voice instantly. Esmeralda stood on the limb they were on, cloaked in shadow; green vines slithered like a snake down the tree’s bark.
Miriam nodded and smiled. “Hello, dear friend.”
Ese stepped into the moonlight, ivy undulated upon her body. Her thick mane of chestnut colored hair flowed down to her waist. She was a vision of fae loveliness, save for the solid blacks of her eyes.
Miriam rushed up to her, moving faster than Danika had seen in days.
“I did as you asked, Miriam. I led Galeta on a goose chase, but I’m afraid…” She gathered her hands together, clasping her fingers tight in front of her.
“It is okay, this was good enough. I know what I must do.”
“What?” Danika asked, though she really wanted to screech. She was so tired of being left in the dark, of knowing her best friend made plans without her knowledge. Why all the secrecy?
Ese glanced at Danika. “You should not have brought her, Mir.”
“How dare you?” Danika puffed out her chest, ignoring the desperate desire to grab her wand and turn Ese into a green toad. “She is my friend. Not yours. And I will support--”
“Hush now, Dani,” Miriam whispered, patting her hand in a soothing gesture. “She meant no harm. But you know as well as I do, Ese, that she must be here. It’s been foretold. It will only succeed if we follow the plan.”
Esmeralda glanced over her shoulder. “Galeta will be here any moment. Are you sure of this?”
“Wait. What?” Danika turned toward Miriam, tugging on the tattered sleeve of her blue dress. “You want to be caught? Miriam, have you lost your mind? We have time. We must go. What about the kids? We need to--”
Wide blue eyes pleaded with Danika to stop. “It is the only way, Dani. Galeta will find me now or later, I cannot escape her forever. I’m a fugitive.”
“Of what?!” Danika finally did shriek.
“Of my law,” Galeta’s deep throated voice boomed like cannon fire. “You were never to return, how dare you?” The Blue crackled with bursts of flames as she flitted toward their branch, a tail of blue glow trailing like a shooting star behind her.
Sharp fangs gleamed bright white in her face. Her eyes were narrowed to dangerous slits. “I will deal with you later,” Galeta said as she passed a contrite Esmeralda.
Miriam lifted her chin, her demeanor proud and almost arrogant. “Ye ken the prophecy; I’ve shared it with ye--”
Galeta’s sneer was a mile long and dripped with malice. “Your prophecy. As if that’s proof enough for me.”
What prophecy? Why the bloody hell was Danika always in the dark about everything. She clenched her fists, digging her nails into the palms of her hand so hard she felt the skin break beneath. Her blood buzzed with fairy energy, like prodding an electric gate. Angry didn’t even begin to describe how she felt at the moment.
“Lock them up,” Galeta ordered Esmeralda.
As the fairy of Justice and Truth, Esmeralda had no choice but to do as Galeta ordered. Though she was one of the Ten, none had greater power than the Head Mistress. Galeta’s word was law in fairy.
Miriam thrust her wrists behind her back. “We seek asylum and safe harbor through Kingdom.”
“Ha!” Galeta threw her head back, blue hair swishing back and forth like a pendulum. “You’ll rot in fairy flame. I’ll never release you.”
“But Galeta, surely,” Danika stepped in front of Miriam, dragging t
he cold glacial stare to herself, attempting to remain calm and rational and not wail and shriek as she desperately wanted to do, “you must understand, we’re going to kill Malvena now. In two nights we’re to meet up with the Heartsong and her wolf.”
A sharp blue brow rose so high, it nearly vanished beneath her hairline. Slowly, she turned toward Ese. “You knew about this?”
“Yes,” Esmeralda said with a sharp clip of her head. “I knew.”
“The Black grows stronger every day. The land sang when the Heartsong stepped back through, she will find the girl,” Galeta mused softly, as if she’d forgotten her audience and spoke to herself.
“Ye ken the prophecy to be true, Galeta,” Miriam spoke up. “I ken that ye hate me, and that’s okay, but for the sake of Kingdom, ye must let our journey continue to the keep. Without me, the child canna win.”
“Crows fly all about Kingdom, rats scuttle down my halls. The Black is desperate to find the girl.” Galeta’s nostrils flared, her words echoed with the faintest trace of capitulation.
“Have you been following Violet?” Miriam asked softly.
Galeta’s jaw clenched. “We follow her traces. The dark magic in her veins is potent, it leaves its marker. We traced her as far as Hansel and Gretel’s woods, but I lost her scent amongst the gore.”
“Please leave her be. I’ve charted a course for them to Malvena’s. They are headed there now. Do not arrest them, Galeta, please.” Miriam closed her eyes. “We will kill the Black.”
Scoffing, Galeta rolled her eyes. “And then what? Hmm? We all know the power of the fairy leaves the body when one of the Ten die. The Black power is too dark to contain, too deadly. It will be released and infect another unfortunate soul, and we’ll be right back where we started. We cannot kill the Black, we must kill the Heartsong. It is the only way.”
“No!” Miriam cried, her wings flapped so hard it stirred the leaves in the tree. “I ken how to stop that. That is why I must be there. That is why the girl must be allowed to continue the journey.”
“She speaks truth, Galeta,” Ese said, turning black eyes toward the Blue. “I’ve seen it. The Shunned will stop it.”
Miriam’s hands were clasped to her breast, her chest barely moving. Danika subconsciously mimicked that very stance, breathless to know Galeta’s decision.
It took only a second. “Stop the Black. Then you’re mine.”
Miriam swallowed hard. “Aye, Galeta. Then I’m yers. But only me; Danika must not be harmed. Nor can Violet or Ewan.”
“No.” Danika shook her head. “She’s done nothing wrong, Head Mistress. Don’t imprison her.”
Blue flames once more coated Galeta’s body as she rose high into the air. “So mote it be,” she said and the air charged with a swift current of spine tingling power. “Esmeralda, to me.”
Esmeralda gave Miriam a grim smile. “Good luck, my friend.”
Then they were gone.
And Danika could hardly believe any of it had happened. Nothing had changed. The air was still as sweet, the night rang with the quiet melody of sleeping creatures. Nothing had changed that was, except for the greasy pit of dread curled like a ball in Danika’s gut.
“You’re not returning to her, Miriam? Please tell me--”
Miriam smiled. “No. I’m not.”
Relief washed over Danika, and the tension between her shoulders immediately eased. “Thank the goddess.” She laughed. “Good. For a moment you made me question your sanity. Galeta wanted nothing more than to ground you. Strip you of your wings; I couldn’t imagine a worse fate.” She shuddered.
“I can.” Miriam said softly. “Leaving fairy.”
“Oh, Mir, I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head. “I’m back now, and I’ll never leave.”
“Good.” Danika’s wings buzzed, verve and joy bubbled through her body. “We’ll hide and drink cherry blossom fire until we grow old and fat.”
“That sounds lovely.” Miriam hugged her swiftly. “Don’t ever change, Dani. Never. Ye keep that joy, it’ll take ye far.”
“Us far. Us, right?” Danika hooked her arms through Miriam’s, and then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Now, what is the real plan?”
Miriam withdrew her wand from inside her dress pocket and flicked it at a thick bunch of leaves, plucking them gently off the branch and forming them into a tight green nest. Once finished arranging the leaves, they flew to the bed and settled in, lying on their backs, they gazed at the stars.
“Do ye remember asking me why I dinna allow the Green’s power to go to ye?”
Danika nodded. “Yes. I’ve always wondered that. Though, I must say you saved me that night. I couldn’t imagine having to work with that inflated bag of blue poo day in and day out.”
Miriam chuckled. “The truth is, Dani, yer a magnet. Ye draw powerful magic to ye, but the power isna meant for ye.”
Danika sat up on her elbow, facing Miriam. “That’s why I’m here isn’t it? To draw the Black’s power?”
For centuries Danika had wondered what that level of power would feel like, to be one of the Ten. Magic to rival even the Djinn’s of the east. But never, in all her life, had she desired the Black’s power. Malvena wasn’t the first Black, she was third. Each one more terrifying and destructive than the incarnation before. That power was so dark it always corrupted, no matter how pure the heart started out.
“Will I have to absorb it?”
“Nay.” Miriam shook her head quickly. “I’ll destroy it.”
“But, Mir?” She pressed her lips tight. Not wanting to injure her friend, but how did Miriam think she could destroy something so powerful? Miriam was only a fairy, not one of the powerful Ten.
“It could kill you, Miriam. Are you sure you’re strong enough?”
“Aye, Dani, I’m strong enough.”
Danika didn’t utter another word, heart troubled and more than a little worried for her friend. Maybe they were on a fool’s errand, because she just wasn’t sure how Miriam would able to destroy something so malevolent.
She stared at the stars, praying to the goddess that somehow a miracle would happen, otherwise Danika knew, they’d all die. If Violet couldn’t kill Malvena, if Miriam couldn’t contain the Black’s dark soul… none would survive.
Kingdom would be ruined.
Chapter 14
Just let go. Alice’s words kept echoing in Vi’s head. Ewan was in the next room, she’d heard his prowling this past hour. Pacing back and forth, muttering softly.
He was worried. All through dinner he’d stared at her, his eyes so sad, so haunted, and something inside her cried at the look.
This was all so scary and new. Life had been planned, it’d all made sense. Find the wolf, kill him then kill Malvena (maybe)… end of story. Live a happy, immortal, and boring eternity.
She hugged her knees to her chest, sinking deeper into the soft mattress. Moonlight cast kooky shadows on the wall. But she wasn’t scared. There wasn’t a lot in life that terrified her anymore. Violet had faced down a wolf. Yes, she’d nearly died, but the thrill of meeting her fears head on and surviving, had been euphoric. Although the old hag had creeped her out, but in her defense, she’d still totally laid waste to her.
Her heart hammered painfully in her chest as she dug her toes into the thick white comforter. She’d faced those fears, so why was she so hesitant to face this one? To walk up to him, to tell him that maybe she’d been wrong. No, that she had been wrong. That something inside her longed to know him better, learn who he was.
That she was lonely.
Needed him.
Wanted.
She squeezed her eyes and licked her lips. “Ewan,” she whispered, so softly she knew he wouldn’t hear through the wall. “I’m… sorry. I’m sorry for the pain I caused you. I’m sorry that I made you the bad guy and you weren’t. I’m sorry for a lot of things.” She rocked. “But mostly I’m sorry because I’m too much of a wimp to tell you to your face.”
>
Her door opened on squeaky hinges.
She gasped and grabbed her chest as a dark shape slinked into her room. Golden eyes stared at her from within a wolf’s face. Swallowing hard, she scooted to the head of the bed.
“Did you hear that?”
His tail thumped, gold eyes searched her face. Almost as if he could peer below the surface, exposing her soul, her strengths, her weaknesses, taking her measure, and giving it back. Letting her know he saw her, but didn’t judge her.
His onyx colored fur gleamed in the moonlight. Like a dark flame, it fascinated. There wasn’t a mark to mar his coat. His snout was long and regal, long whiskers hardly moving. But the eyes, the eyes that stared back at her sparkled with more than just the wild flicker of wolf, there was intelligence, humanity staring back at her.
