The shapeshifter dragged the three woman, one at a time and not very gently, into the room opposite the doorway he had come in from. Michiko was the last one brought in, and when she was dropped off, she saw the two ogres who had helped the shapeshifter with the other women. “You're right, Beth!” she said. “It was him! Hiiii, Sunshine!” That ogre cringed and hid his face in his hands as the other laughed. “I think I'll call your friend Lollipops!” Michiko added; Sunshine laughed loudly as Lollipops growled.
The women were in front of a raised platform. A large, throne-like chair was set in the center, flanked by two lit braziers that cast shadows across the room. Tapestries decorated the walls, and elegant area rugs covered much of the plush carpeting. On a shelf against one wall were several vases and jars, and Robyn's sword.
The door opened again, and a woman walked in, leaving the door open. She had long, wavy black hair and a floor-length black dress that trailed behind her and seemed to drift and shift as she moved. Her eyes were dark and narrow. “Monkey Queen!” she said as she passed Michiko. “We meet at last.”
“The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure,” Michiko murmured.
“Such contempt!” the woman in black said. “Typical.” She sat in the chair on the platform; as she did, the shapeshifter stood by her, near one of the braziers. “I am Muirin,” she told the captives. “I am the mistress of shadows. I walk through them; I command them and give them life.”
“Impressive!” Michiko said. “Do you do children's parties?”
Beth studied Muirin. “I know you,” she said. “You tried to talk me out of working with Michiko at Wrexham's gala. You've been after me all this time.”
“That's how she got in without an invitation,” Michiko said. “The whole 'walking through shadows' part.”
“She may also have created or summoned the shadow rooks,” Robyn said.
“Including the one at my window Friday night,” Beth said.
Michiko raised an eyebrow. “You saw that?”
“I peeked out of my bedroom,” Beth said.
“Enough with the exposition!” the shapeshifter shouted.
“No, let them continue,” Muirin said. “I'm enjoying it.” She smiled smugly.
“I'm almost done, anyway,” Michiko said. “It's not just that you've been trying to lure or capture Beth. You were behind Puck's kidnapping all along. You and the shapeshifter. And Wrexham fell for it.
“The only question left is why.”
There was a loud knocking, over and over, on the front door of the old Victorian. Feng rushed down the stairs. threw the door open and saw Mandy standing there, holding a smartphone. “Hi,” she said. “I'm sorry, I know it's early, but I need to speak to Grandmother Fox.”
Feng sighed and started to close the door. “Wait! Wait!” Mandy pushed against the door. “You need to let me in! It's an emergency! Michiko sent me!”
Feng stopped. “Michiko?” he asked.
“Yes! She told me to come here! Please let me in!”
Feng sighed again and stepped back; Mandy slipped inside as Feng closed the door behind her. “Wait here,” he said as he hurried up the stairs.
A minute later, Grandmother Fox, wearing white silk pajamas and matching bunny slippers, came down to the foyer. “Young lady,” she said to Mandy, “I hope you have a good reason for making such a ruckus at such an early hour.”
Mandy tapped the smartphone screen twice and held it up sideways, facing Grandmother Fox. “This time, I do,” the pixie said as the video started.
“Grandmother Fox! Hiiii!” Michiko said on the smartphone screen. “It's me, Michiko! And you remember Beth!” To her right, Beth smiled and waved. “Listen,” Michiko continued, “if you're getting this message, that means that there's a crisis, and I can't help because I'm trying to find Puck and deal with his kidnappers. We need your help.”
Grandmother Fox watched the rest of the video grimly. “Thank you for showing this to me,” she said to Mandy after it concluded. “I'll do what I can. Please go back and let your friends know.” Mandy nodded as Grandmother Fox headed back up the stairs.
“Why?” Muirin chuckled. “Why is that so important to you, Monkey Queen?”
“Curiosity,” Michiko said. “What do you want with Duke Wrexham? What's in it for you?”
Muirin rose from her chair. “We both know the True Millennium is coming. It will bring changes.” She started to pace around the platform, gesturing as if she were lecturing her captives. “I see what will happen to Earth. Humanity is not able to handle the change. Governments collapse. Dictators and opportunists from Faerie and other worlds move in. Civilization as we know it is destroyed, wiped clean.
“One of the keys to stopping this is to weaken Faerie. Not just the Courts, but the Outlands as well. They must remain divided. I knew that Duke Wrexham sought to expand his lands, and I had heard that the hobgoblins could soon be a threat.
“In my travels, I had met a shapeshifter.” Muirin stopped next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I sent him to infiltrate Wrexham's court, and plant the idea in his head. It worked beautifully; soon, Wrexham and the hobgoblins will be at war.”
“Not if we can help it.” Robyn glared defiantly at the sorceress.
“Bold words,” Muirin said, “from someone in your position.”
“So you had the shapeshifter give Wrexham the idea to kidnap and replace Puck,” Michiko said.
“Where is he?” Beth asked.
“Somewhere safe,” Muirin said. “After all, I may need him later.” Beth's heart jumped for joy when she heard that, though she hid it as well as she could.
Michiko nodded. “So, what do you gain from this? If the hobgoblins are defeated, Wrexham grows stronger.”
“Not in this case.” Muirin resumed her pacing. “If Wrexham does destroy the hobgoblins, he will be openly scorned by the Outlands, and in all likelihood by some of the Dukes as well. But from what I have heard, the Hoblands have developed their defenses. The war will most likely result in both sides being crippled, and high casualties.”
“'Casualties,'” Michiko said. “Including all the innocent lives that will be lost.” There was a grim anger in her voice.
“They're just faeries and hobgoblins,” Muirin said, with no emotion.
“Are you saying that their lives are worthless?”
“Less than human lives, yes. The lives I seek to protect.”
“You're wrong, Muirin,” Michiko said. “All lives matter. Non-human and human matter just the same.”
Muirin's eyes flashed. “You are a fool to believe that, Monkey Queen. Humanity matters more than some greedy faeries and shiftless Emigres. And I will bring humanity through the times to come. I see the countries of Earth united. I see them driving away outsiders, and building a bright future. And the other worlds will leave us be.”
“And I see you in the shadows,” Michiko said. “You'll be running the show, won't you?”
“Who better?” Muirin smiled.
“What about the Emigres?” Beth asked. “What would you do with them?”
“The ones who work with me—” Muirin gestured to the shapeshifter and the ogres. “—will be richly compensated. The rest will be sent back to their homes, unless they resist.”
“But some of them were exiled here!” Beth said. “If they're sent back, they'll be killed! Doesn't that matter to you?”
“Not in the slightest. Earth will be saved. That is all that matters.”
“I refuse to believe that,” Michiko said. “We'll find a way to keep Earth safe, and it won't lead to any blood being spilled.”
“You're a fool for believing that,” Muirin said. “You and your Grandmother Fox, and the Council of Eight.”
She stopped pacing and looked down at the captives. “Beth McGill.” Beth jerked her head up as Muirin said, “I would like to make you an offer.”
“Lord Wrexham?” the faerie said as he nervously approached the Duke. “There are reports of intruders.
”
The Duke turned. “Is it the Monkey Queen, Lodge?”
“No, but—”
“Then get rid of them. We don't need anyone else getting in the way.”
“My liege? If I may?” Lodge asked.
“Go ahead.”
“Well, some of the men are on edge. They've heard about what happened with Puck.”
“Just another trick of the Monkey Queen and her allies,” Wrexham said.
“And they're reporting seeing a mad gremlin and a purple monster.”
“All tricks with seemings.”
“And they say that Scylla's here.” Lodge gulped. “With Windsor.”
“Really?” Wrexham forced a chuckle. “And are we to be scared of them?”
“Arguably.”
“Let them try to stop us.” He pointed to where the wizards were performing their ritual. “Any minute now, the auldgate will open. The Hoblands will be mine. And the Monkey Queen—”
“My liege?” Lodge said.
Wrexham sighed. “More intruders?”
“You could say that.” Lodge pointed up.
The sky directly above them grew dark. A woman, dressed in white and standing fifty feet tall, hovered in the clouds. Lightning flashed in her eyes. “Duke Wrexham of Faerie!” she thundered. “I am Grandmother Fox, of the Council of Eight! It has come to my attention that you are using the Earth as a springboard for an invasion! Earth is not your plaything or your battleground!”
She gestured. A burst of pure white light struck the ground where the wizards were standing, knocking them back like bowling pins. The light then sank into the ground between them. “The auldgate to the Hoblands is sealed again,” Grandmother Fox said. “It will never be reopened.”
Wrexham reached for his sword, but shouted with pain and yanked his hand away. He could see his men dropping their weapons. “You and your men are no longer welcome here,” Grandmother Fox said. “Abandon all your plans to attack the hobgoblins and leave Earth at once.”
“My liege?” Lodge asked. Around them, faeries panicked, running about madly or standing still with shock and fear.
Wrexham shook his head. “The invasion is off,” he said, gritting his teeth. “We're returning to Faerie. Give the order to retreat.” Lodge nodded and hurried away.
Grandmother Fox watched as the faerie forces made their way out of the plaza, putting on their seemings and heading for the auldgate in the woods. Wrexham was in the last group to leave. “Duke? One more thing,” she said.
“Yes?” he said.
“The Monkey Queen sends her regards.” Grandmother Fox smiled and vanished.
Duke Wrexham cursed all the way to the auldgate.
“What?” Beth said.
“It's very simple,” Muirin said. “Like almost everyone, I am fooled by seemings. I have tried time and again to find a way to see through them, without success. Until I can conquer this weakness, I could fall victim to anyone in a disguise.
“Join me, Beth. Let's work together to save Earth's future.”
Beth looked up at Muirin and said nothing. Michiko stared quietly at the floor. “Beth!” Robyn shouted. “Don't do it! Don't—” Before she could finish, the shapeshifter walked over to her and swatted her hard on the head. She fell silent, glaring at the shapeshifter.
“If you accept my offer,” Muirin said. “I'll let Puck go, alive and unharmed.”
Beth remained quiet, but her thoughts were racing. She felt like there was no other choice; they were outnumbered and chained, with no way out. She could feel the fear, the hopelessness, building up in her.
Muirin sighed. “All right. I will also release the Monkey Queen and the faerie, alive and unharmed. And that is my final offer.”
Beth swallowed hard. “No,” she said.
Muirin reared back. “What?” she shouted.
“No.” Beth looked the sorceress in the eye. “What you plan is wrong. Your future is going to be built on the blood of Emigres, of your enemies, of innocents. And I won't have their blood on my hands.”
The shapeshifter grabbed Beth's hair and yanked her head back; she gasped in pain as he pushed his face into hers. “Don't be a fool!” he said. “If you turn her down, you won't leave here alive! She only needs your eyes!”
“Enough,” Muirin said. The shapeshifter released Beth and moved back by the brazier. “I'll give you one last chance. You and your friends will not leave this place alive…unless you agree to work for me.”
Beth squeezed her eyes shut. “Michiko…Robyn, Professor…I'm sorry,” she whispered. “But the answer's still no.” The despair she had been fighting swelled up, wrapping around her heart. She hung her head as a tear trickled down her cheek.
“Beth.” She jerked her head up and looked at Michiko, who was staring calmly at her. “Listen to me,” she said. “We're all going to get out of here, and we're all going to be fine. I promise.”
The passageway was, for a brief moment, flooded with brilliant white light.
The flare quickly faded, leaving behind a pile of straps, gold fabric, and sequins. A guinea pig crawled out of the wreckage that had been Beth's purse, coughing and shaking his head as he pushed sequins aside.
Gregor had been stunned when the purse had been dropped and then kicked away during the ambush. As he tried to clear his head, he cursed the Monkey Queen, the unseen enemies who had left him abandoned there, the crisis he had found himself in, and his reincarnated lot in life. But, above all else, he cursed the purse.
When he had finished the last swear word, he looked up and down the passageway. “Beth?” he asked. “Monkey Queen?” There was no answer. Gregor started to swear again, but stopped when he heard a clatter echoing through the passageway.
He turned and saw Michiko's staff. It slowly rose several inches above the ground, fell down with a thud, lay still for several seconds, rose again, fell again. A gleam of understanding shone in the guinea pig's eyes.
Gregor hurried over and stopped in front of the staff as it set down. He waited through another rise and fall cycle. As it hit the ground again, he jumped on one end, his paws scrabbling for a toe-hold.
The staff slowly rose again, hovering in mid-air, moving very slightly as if it were testing its load. Gregor wrapped his legs around it and gritted his teeth. Then, the staff shot down the trail, Gregor clinging on to it like an awkward witch as it rocketed towards the porth.
Muirin's mocking laughter filled the room. “Such bravado, Monkey Queen!” she said. “You're helpless! You're at my mercy! And you say you'll keep the others safe!” She laughed again.
“I will. And you'll regret threatening and kidnapping my friends.” There was confidence, and a hint of anger, in Michiko's voice.
“And how are you going to accomplish that, you little fool? You're outnumbered! You're in chains!”
“Well…” Michiko paused. “I have two things that you don't.”
“Show me, then.” Muirin folded her arms.
“Okay. They should be here in just a moment.” The Monkey Queen smiled.
Her staff flew through the doorway into the room and struck Muirin in the head. She fell to her knees, dazed but conscious, as the staff landed with a clatter. The shapeshifter and the ogres gaped, frozen in place by shock.
Beth turned her head towards the doorway. “Gregor!” she shouted as she saw the guinea pig. He spoke two words, and the shackles that held her popped open; she saw Robyn kicking hers away.
Michiko jumped up, her shackles dropping off. “Beth, take cover,” she said as she leaped over her and Robyn. Her staff flew into her hand as she landed in front of the ogres; she swung it and hit Lollipops hard on the head. Sunshine growled, but before he could act, Michiko spun and kicked him in a very painful place. As they both crumpled, she somersaulted high in the air.
“Hey, ugly!” the Monkey Queen shouted as she landed next to the shapeshifter. “Time for round two!” She decked him before he could react. As he reeled, she swung her staff and caught him
in the midsection; he flew three feet through the air and smashed into the wall. He landed on his feet, his face contorted with fury, but he winced in pain as he kept his distance from Michiko.
“Stop them!” Muirin shouted. The ogres started to get to their feet. As they did, Beth saw, through the gap between them, the shelf with the vases and Robyn's sword.
Beth swallowed and dashed between Sunshine and Lollipops. She stopped at the shelf and grabbed the sword by the hilt. “Brave but foolish,” Sunshine said as he turned towards Beth. “You don't know what to do with a sword.”
“Actually, I do,” Beth said as she dropped to one knee. Fighting off nerves, she aimed the sword between the two ogres and tossed it past them; it bounced twice and landed in front of Robyn.
“Thank you, Beth.” Robyn picked up her sword as the ogres turned to face her. “Now…two against one?” she continued with a smile. “That hardly seems fair. Would you two like to go get some help to even the odds a bit?” The ogres growled and charged the faerie.
Beth crouched down beside the shelf, watching the chaos, trying to stay out of danger. Then, she heard a voice say, in a tone that made her shudder, “Defy me, will you?”
She looked up and gasped as she saw saw Muirin on the platform, majestic and terrible as the darkness embraced her. “You first,” the sorceress said, raising a shadow-wreathed hand. “The Monkey Queen should never have—”
“You're forgetting someone, girl.”
Muirin spun and saw Gregor, standing by the edge of the platform. “Oh, this is rich,” she said. “I'm being challenged by a hamster now!” She chuckled as she pulled her arm back.
“Guinea pig!” Gregor said. He then muttered under his breath. The shadows in Muirin's hand exploded in a blast of light, with a force strong enough to send her sprawling.
Beth took a quick glance around the room. The ogres were pressing Robyn, but had to stay out of range of her sword. Gregor watched Muirin, waiting for her next move. The shapeshifter was circling Michiko, ducking back as she jabbed with her staff. “Whenever you're ready,” Michiko said.
Of Introductions and Abductions Page 13
