The Council

by Phoenix Willow

  “No.” Jewel answered. “But I’m positive that I can figure it out. It’s all about intention, right? So, I’ll just focus on what I am trying to do and what I want to happen.” She said simply. Looking at Rain directly in the eyes, she said, “I really think I can do this, Raindrop. And to answer your other mountain of questions, just know that anything we do at any time will include a bit of risk. I would never ask any of you to come with me if I didn’t truly feel like it would turn out okay.”

  Skye stepped forward, her dress shimmering in the light as though sprinkled with stardust. “Well, I’ve learned better than to doubt your judgement, Love, so let’s go ahead and get this party started.” She smiled. “However, before we embark on what is sure to be a very interesting adventure, we need to figure out who will be staying behind to watch over Steele and our camp.” She paused. “Any volunteers?”

  “I’ll stay back.” Winter offered, surprising Jewel in the process. Seeing the perplexed looks on several group members faces, she explained further. “It makes sense. I am the one keeping him on ice, so to speak, and I’m honestly not sure if my presence would be a help or a hurt to you. It is well-known that I was a member of the Pentad and unfortunately, Shade made quite a few enemies with some of his laws and rhetoric. It won’t matter that I’m no longer a member or that I don’t agree with Shade’s ideology. Everyone will group me together with him for the simple fact that we were a part of the same governing body.”

  “That’s true. I hadn’t even thought about that, but you’re right- it does make sense. Now, maybe not for every world visit, but until Steele has recovered, I think you’re right.” Skye nodded before looking around the group. “Okay. Who else will stay behind to assist Winter in making sure that everything is okay?”

  “Dream and I will.” Lyric answered quickly. “No offense, Draconis, but I think I’ve had my fill of adventures right now. I can sit at least this one out.”

  Dream nodded, but both girls looked apprehensive, and as though they were waiting on pins and needles to see if Jewel would accept the reasoning or lash out since they wanted to stay back.

  “I completely understand.” Jewel replied truthfully. The two girls had been through a lot over the past year, and Jewel appreciated their honesty. She wasn’t the only one feeling appreciative, however, because when she stated that she understood, Lyric and Dream visible relaxed, grateful looks upon both of their faces. Jewel hadn’t realized how much the girls had been affected by past events until that moment, but she also didn’t want the girls to think that they still weren’t helping in a way, so she quickly added. “And thank you both for being willing to help keep my Dad safe.”

  “I will also stay, stay, stay. Keep any enemies at bay, bay, bay.” Zekiel sang out.

  Skye nodded and looked around the group, searching for anyone else that might want to stay behind. When no one offered, she said to Jewel, “Alright then. It looks like the rest of us will be accompanying you, Love. Do we need to grab anything before we leave?”

  “I just need to grab my satchel and then I’ll be good to go.” Sage answered, before taking off in a sprint towards the tents.

  “I think this is a really bad idea.” Frost scowled. “What do we know about this world? Will we be able to breathe? Is it all underwater? Do we have something to use as a bargaining chip? What is the climate like? Harsh or mild, really cold or really hot? Because I know that Gem has the gemstone necklace from her Dad to help keep the side effects from the polarrier at bay, but what if its power is somehow negated in these other worlds. We need contingency plans.” He huffed.

  Jewel reached for Frost’s hand, but he took a step back. “No, Gem.” He said, putting his palms out in a ‘stay there’ type of way. “You’re not thinking rationally, and I can’t believe no one else here is in agreement with me.” He said angrily as he glanced around the group. “Does no one else think that this is a horrible idea? Or is it really just me that sees how irresponsible and reckless this is?”

  “While I’m in agreement that planning is always a plus. I do see Jewel’s point in wanting to go now.” Ambrosia said which frustrated Frost even more. “Think about it- we could plan for the next three months and we still might run into something that we hadn’t thought of. I trust Girlie’s instincts. If she says we go now, we go now.”

  Frost glowered at Ambrosia. “Out of everyone here, I would have expected more from you.” He said with a disappointed expression.

  Sage reemerged with his satchel and several small backpacks just in time to see Ambrosia and Frost glaring at each other. “O-kay. I obviously missed something. What’s going on?” He inquired, his blue eyes narrowing between the two.

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing is going on. I’m done pointing out the obvious.” Frost seethed.

  “You know that you aren’t required to go, right, Snowball.” Rain snapped. “If you don’t trust Spitfire, if you think this is stupid, then don’t come. But what you’re not going to do, is stand here and make everyone feel as though they don’t care about Spitfire’s well-being or that we’re not willing to argue against a bad idea.” She said, somehow voicing what Jewel had been thinking. “So, either get on board or stay behind and help my Mom. But either way, stop with all the doubting and negativity, because it isn’t going to help anybody.”

  “Here, here.” Galadriel said as he smirked and clapped his hands in a dramatic fashion.

  Jewel couldn’t suppress the giggle from escaping her lips, which made Frost’s scowl even more pronounced and Galadriel’s smile even wider.

  Sage shook his head at everyone and began handing out the backpacks he had brought back with him. “Okay, well before we get going, let me fill everyone in.” He started. “From what I’ve gathered from studying The Worlds Around Us, the Mermaid realm is completely covered with water. So, I think Foster may have to sit this one out too, unless his wings are waterproof.” He said with a questioning tone.

  “That, they are not.” Foster answered. “I will stay behind and help Winter in any way that I can.”

  Sage nodded before continuing. “Now, before everyone starts panicking about how we will breathe, just know that based on what I’ve read, the minute a non-Merperson steps foot into the realm, a bubble forms around their heads to allow them the atmosphere they need breathe, so that’s one less thing to worry about.”

  “See, Snowball. You were worrying for nothing.” Rain said pointedly, earning her a withering glare from Frost in return.

  “Well, we should be a little worried, because based on the book, the realm is also filled with dozens of poisonous creatures, and then there’s the whole, we have to somehow meet with the leaders and convince them to help us.” Sage added.

  “We won’t need to convince them.” Jewel said assuredly.

  “This I gotta hear.” Ambrosia said with a shake of her head.

  “Yeah, I need to hear this too. Why exactly won’t we need to convince them to help us?” Sage asked with a quizzical expression.

  Jewel smirked. “Because I have no intention of trying to bargain and coerce our way into an alliance or to get any type of help for that matter. I’m just going to be honest and let them decide. If they want to help us, great. If not, we come back here and decide where to go next.”

  “Straight to the source and the point.” Ambrosia smiled fangily. “I like it, Girlie.”

  “I do too.” Jade agreed.

  Jewel nodded. “Alright. I feel like we’re just going in circles. There’s no time like the present, so let’s do this.”

  And before anyone could interject anything further, Jewel closed her eyes and began to concentrate on utilizing magic she had never used before. In her mind, the time to talk had come and gone. This was the time for action.

  Jewel first concentrated on calming her mind and body. Little by little she felt her body relax and her mind clear. She had no idea what a portal to another realm should look like, but for some reason, in her mind it looked like a shimmery vei
l within a sparkly, gem and shell encrusted doorframe. Jewel chuckled to herself. She had definitely been hanging around Skye too much lately. The Sorceress’ obsession with all things sparkly was beginning to rub off on her.

  But that was neither here nor there. That was the picture her mind had come up with, so that’s what she was going to focus her attention on creating. Jewel also took what Sage had explained about the Mermaid realm to try and picture that in her mind as well. She pictured the sparkly portal swirling into existence in the Meadow. She pictured herself and the rest of the group walking through to the other side, bubbles forming around their heads, so they could breathe under the watery realm. She pictured this over and over again, until she heard someone mutter, ‘she did it’, in an awe-filled voice.

  Jewel peeked with one eye and saw that what she had seen in her mind had now formed right there in the Meadow, and it was more sparkly than she had imagined. The door frame was filled with gemstones and shells and what appeared to be actual glitter. There was no door in the frame, however. Instead, there was a thin shimmery veil-like lace that had an opalescent appearance.

  “Sparkles above.” Skye said as she gazed at the portal. “It’s beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.” She gushed before turning to Jewel. “And you, Love, are in trouble now- because I need this type of a doorframe in my house!” She smiled, gaining a few snickers and chuckles around the group.

  Rain was the first one to approach the doorframe and when she was only feet away, she spun around. “Chocolate covered coconuts! Look! Look through the portal. Spitfire, you have to come here to see this.”

  Jewel hurried over to where Rain was and what she saw had her emerald eyes opening wider. “Holey buckets.” She marveled.

  “Right!” Rain stated excitedly.

  “I want to see!” Jade exclaimed, joining the girls.

  “Me too.” Ambrosia agreed.

  Before Jewel knew it, the entire group had huddled around the outside of the door and were peering into the Mermaid realm in utter amazement. There were ooh’s and ahh’s, murmurs, and an awestricken silence. And Jewel completely understood why, because what she saw on the other side of the doorframe both terrified and delighted her. The Mermaid realm was, as Sage had already said, completely underwater, but the thing that had everyone’s jaw dropping was the water itself, and the world within. It was the clearest turquoise water Jewel had ever laid eyes on. She had seen countless photos of the ocean when she had lived in the Human Realm and had seen her fair share while in the Magic realm, but none of them even came close to the sparkling liquid that she was looking at now.

  And it wasn’t just the water that had everyone speechless- it was also the colorful reef that was laid out before them which was laid out in such a way that it resembled a large city. The colors of the reef were not muted whatsoever by the bright turquoise water, and in fact, somehow seemed even brighter still. Emerald greens, hot pinks, neon orange, purple, and yellow that could rival that of the sun could be found in the vast body of water. And the intricacies of the design made the reef look almost purposeful in its creation, and not as though it was accidental in the least. Fish of every shade, size, and type swam around lackadaisically and there were several that Jewel had never seen before- giant seahorses with what appeared to be wings instead of fins, a bear’s head that was attached to what looked to be a shark’s body, crabs with oversized teeth scuttling across the sand, and countless more.

  “Well, what are we waiting on?” Galadriel smirked. “Let’s go!” He said, his excitement palpable.

  “Hold on, Trickster.” Ambrosia said as she stepped towards the doorframe. “Teagan and I will go first. That way, if something unexpected happens, Girlie has a better chance of being able to help us out.” She stated, but upon seeing Galadriel’s frown, she quickly added. “Don’t give me that look. Teagan’s a fast healer and no offense, but I’m a lot more capable when it comes to combat than you are, and since we don’t know if your magic will work, it just makes sense for us to go first.”

  Galadriel crossed his arms over his chest, and his lips thinned as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite figure out what his argument should be.

  “Great! Now that that’s settled, let’s get this fiesta started, shall we?” Ambrosia said with a mischievous expression. Turning to Teagan, she asked, “You ready, Mongrel?”

  “Aye.” Teagan nodded. You would have thought by Teagan’s reaction or lack thereof that he wasn’t very excited about going to the Mermaid realm, but the twinkle in his sapphire eyes showed his true level of enthusiasm- and it was through the roof.

  “You ready, Girlie?” Ambrosia said as she stood right in front of the doorway.

  Jewel nodded. She was as ready as she was ever going to be, and she’d already had one success by creating the portal. Now she just had to close it, reopen it, keep everyone safe, meet with the leaders of the Mermaid realm, and find some of the missing potion ingredients that her Dad needed. Easy, right?

  Ambrosia was the first to go through the doorframe, and it was a sight to be sure. The lace-like material that had appeared within the doorframe immediately wrapped itself around the Vampiress the second she touched it. Jewel would have been a little concerned, but it all happened so fast that there was no time to be. Once Ambrosia made it to the other side, the lace expanded until her whole body was covered. It looked almost like a second skin that was hovering just inches away from her actual body.

  “Well, that was definitely not included in the book I’ve been studying.” Sage mused as Ambrosia gave everyone the thumbs-up sign. Teagan wasted no more time and also went through the doorframe, the same thing happening with him when he reached the other side.

  Jewel watched in amusement as Teagan and Ambrosia smiled broadly at one another and began flipping and twirling around in the water. They were gliding through the liquid with such ease that if Jewel didn’t know better, she would have thought that they were both Merpeople.

  “I don’t know about all of you, but I’m not waiting anymore!” Sage exclaimed, rushing through the doorframe to join Ambrosia and Teagan.

  Jade, Skye, Ryker, and Zephyr all followed Sage’s lead which left Frost, Galadriel, Rain, and Jewel- who had planned on going last anyway since she had to close the portal once on the other side.

  “I don’t know about you three, but they are having entirely too much fun that I’m not a part of. Totally unacceptable.” Rain smirked before sprinting through the portal door to the watery depths on the other side.

  “You ready, Gem?” Frost asked, taking her hand gently in his and giving it a small squeeze.

  Jewel gave a half-smile. “Ready as I’ll ever be Snowman.”

  Frost let go of her hand and turned to walk through the portal, but Jewel said, “Wait!”

  Frost spun around with a mixed look of confusion and curiosity.

  “I just wanted to say that I understand why you said everything you said earlier. I may not agree with it, but I understand that you just want to keep me safe, and I really appreciate it, Snowman.” Jewel said genuinely.

  Frost nodded, gave a small smile, and joined the rest of the group that were now looking more and more like an underwater circus act.

  “Well, Trickster. You’re next.” Jewel said, anxious to go so she could face whatever needed facing and come back.

  Galadriel, however, seemed to be in no hurry. He grabbed Jewel’s hand with the gemstone ring he had given her months prior and rubbed his thumb over the gemstones that were set in the band. “You have to promise me that you’ll be careful and that no matter what- you won’t leave me behind or out of your plans like you did with the Pentadentiary.” He started. “I mean it Green. I don’t know what I’d do if something were to happen to you. I really don’t.” He added softly.

  “Well, good thing then, because I have no intention of allowing anything to happen to me or the rest of us for that matter.” Jewel smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

  Galadriel looke
d at Jewel with not a bit of humor crossing his handsome features or chocolate brown eyes. “Promise me.”

  “Okay, okay. I promise. Happy now? Can we go?” Jewel asked.

  The smirk Jewel was used to seeing on Galadriel’s face began to form. “Almost.” He said before placing his hands on the necklace Jewel’s dad had given her to keep the side effects from the polarrier at bay. He said a few words over and over and Jewel felt a pulse of power as he did so.

  When he finally stepped back, Jewel asked, “What did you do?”

  “Just an extra precaution. I placed an unbreakable spell on the necklace so that no one other than you can take it off.” Galadriel shrugged.

  “Thank you, Trickster.” Jewel said, unconsciously touching the necklace, and hoping that he knew once again how much gratitude she had for everything he did for her.

  “No problem.” Galadriel said, walking towards the portal. “Now, how about we get in there and show everyone what ‘fun’ really looks like.” He said with a wink and a mischievous expression.

  Jewel’s eyebrow shot up, and a smirk formed on her lips. “Let’s do it.”

  Galadriel beamed and grabbed Jewel’s hand before taking off into a sprint. They went through the portal, one after the other, and it was the weirdest sensation Jewel had ever felt. It was unpleasant and nice all at the same time. Sort of like walking through a ginormous spider web which is creepy, but then realizing that the web itself was made up of material that felt good upon the skin. It was strange, but even more so was the fact that she could feel the thousands of lace-like strands rapidly moving all over her body, forming some sort of shield-like second layer or exoskeleton around her form. Jewel’s face began turning red as she hadn’t yet taken a breath. She had just seconds before she ran out of air entirely, and her lungs were screaming at her for relief. Now, rationally Jewel knew that she would be fine since everyone else had been so far, but her mind just didn’t seem to want to chance it.