by Amy Sumida
“They're dragon eyes,” I said gently as I gave his hands a squeeze.
“What?” Killian went still.
“Actually,” one of the twilight archers eased forward. “If I may, Princess?” I nodded and he continued. “They're snake eyes. It's a subtle difference, but the shade of the eyes is a clear indication. A green that's nearly yellow. Only snake-djinn have eyes that color.”
“Snakes!” Killian swore. “I have snake eyes?” Then he thought it over, and his tone changed. “Like the guy from GI Joe. Except he didn't actually have snake eyes, so I'm even better than him.”
“You're happy?” I blinked at Killian.
“Is it cool looking?” Killian waggled his brows at me. “I bet it looks cool. Sexy, right? Sexy cool. Call me Snake-Eyes from now on.”
“I don't even fucking believe you,” I shook my head and sat back on my haunches.
“Hey, of all the things that could have happened to me, getting a set of snake eyes was the least of them,” he shrugged.
“Don't forget the wings,” Alexis offered brightly. “Those are very pretty too.”
Then there was another rumbling, but it didn't come from the rath. It was in the air, a vibration which rattled the trees and trembled along my skin. It turned into a snarling, growling, roaring conglomeration that sent chills up my spine. I knew that sound. In fact, I was very familiar with it. I jumped to my feet and searched the sky as the hunters and the twilight archers backed into the trees. They knew that sound too. Even if they had never heard it before. All fairies instinctively knew the sound of the Sluagh.
“What the fuck is that?” Killian growled as he stood.
“Everyone get back!” I shouted. “Into the trees! Stay out of their way! Hurry! Daiyu!” I turned towards the sea dragons. “Yazi! Chaofeng! Bian!” I cried out their names until they looked over to me. “It's the Sluagh! They've come for Uisdean. They've come to punish him for killing Zhayu. Stand aside!”
“We will not!” Yazi snarled. “Uisdean is ours.”
“I was promised his death anyway,” I tried to reason with them. You can't kill him.”
“Zhayu made that bargain, and he is dead,” Daiyu hissed at me. “Killed while in your company, Princess.”
“I couldn't have prevented his death,” I tried to defend myself, but it was too late.
The Sluagh had arrived.
The sea dragons were arrogant, but it was for good reason. They were amazingly powerful, and there were four dragons among them. Plus, they'd been up against the Sluagh before and, like myself, had lived to tell the tale. But that had been in the midst of an army, on a battlefield, and Danu had been the one who had actually returned the Sluagh to their slumber. So really, the sea fey hadn't fully faced the mutant monstrosities which made up Fairy's dark line of defense.
There were two secret forces lying in hibernation within the bowels of Fairy. One was the Shining Ones, and they were formed of the dead souls of fairies who had chosen to continue to serve their people. It was considered an honorable sacrifice to become a part of the Shining Host. Even if you were an unseelie fairy, it was still an honor. Despite the fact that your main duty would be to defend Seelie. I never really understood that, why an unseelie fairy would want to protect Seelie after death. But that's Fairy for you.
The other secret force was the Sluagh. Again, it was formed of both seelie and unseelie fey. But these were living fairies. The opposite of the Shining Ones in so many ways. They were life, where the Shining Ones were death. They were monstrous while the Shining Ones were beautiful. They were the product of obscenity and shame, children born from the darkest, most depraved lusts. As such, the Sluagh represented the most disgraceful aspects of Fairy, while the Shining Ones were the epitome of honor. Still it lay upon the shoulders of these poor wretches, to defend one of the most sacred laws of Fairy. That which protected the lives of the monarchy. Killing a king in battle was honorable, but murdering one at any other time would earn you the wrath of the Sluagh.
And that was what the sea fairies sought to deny.
I thought they would be killed. I thought for sure that the Sluagh would slaughter all who stood in their path to Uisdean. But they didn't. The monsters merely brushed the sea fey out of their way. Dragon kings and fairies alike, went tumbling aside as the Sluagh claimed their prize. Uisdean was lifted up into the air, claws and paws and talons tearing into him. But when I caught a look at his face, his bloody and beaten face, it was smiling in relief. Because the Sluagh, as vicious as they appeared, were not cruel. They killed Uisdean quickly and mercifully. His head was cut from his body, and then his corpse fell lifeless to the ground. It was a job for them, nothing more. Nothing personal. And it was over in seconds.
Then the Sluagh left as quickly as they had appeared.
“He's dead,” I whispered as a hand slipped into mine. “Uisdean is dead.”
I could hardly believe it. Even in the midst of his torture, I'd had this thought in the back of my mind, that Uisdean would survive. He was that kind of evil. The monster in the horror film who kept getting up even after you ran it over with a bus several times. Shoot it, slice it, blow the damn thing to pieces, and still the evil would survive. But not this time. Both Rue and Uisdean were dead. Truly dead.
“Anu will be disappointed,” Killian squeezed my hand. “But he'll have to understand. There was nothing you could do.”
“Yes, he will have to understand,” a voice rang out through the clearing, and Danu appeared in the middle of a shaft of sunlight. “My brother has told you a great many things he shouldn't have.”
The sea fey scrambled backward, some hissing at the Goddess. There was a dark history there. I'd made an effort to heal the wounds, and Danu had even appeared to Zhayu. But now Zhayu was dead. It was difficult to heal an old scar when you were suddenly bleeding again.
“I can imagine why you wouldn't want me to hear that Anu actually cared about his people,” I noted casually. “About me. That would interfere with your plans, wouldn't it?”
“Seren, when will you stop assuming that any effort to guide you is manipulative?” Danu chided. “I didn't want you to know about your ties to my brother, because Anu is lax with his attentions. I don't agree with the way he looks after his children. If you can call doing nothing while you watch them suffer 'looking after',” she huffed. “I care for you,” she turned to look at the angry sea fairies. “I care for all of you.”
“Then you should have allowed us to have our vengeance,” Daiyu snarled. “Uisdean killed my brother. I deserved to drink Uisdean's blood.”
“You deserve?” Danu cocked her head at the dragon, and for the first time ever, I saw fear cross Daiyu's face. “Deserve? No, Daughter, you had the smallest claim to Uisdean's life. Even Seren, who lost a mother, a father, and friends to Uisdean, did not have a large enough stake. Even my brother, who thinks he's been wronged by Uisdean, did not deserve my son's blood,” Danu hissed, her shifting face settling into a terrifying visage.
We all went silent.
“He was mine! My child, my creation, and the only one entitled to end his life was me,” Danu took a deep breath and calmed, her features softening and her skin changing to light gold. But long, blood-red hair, the same shade as Rue's had been, whipped around her, as if Danu were still clinging to her anger. “Yet even I didn't claim him. Because I abide by the rules of Fairy. How can I not? I was the one who wrote the laws. And the law says that anyone who murders a ruling fairy, shall be hunted and killed by the Sluagh. As soon as Uisdean killed Zhayu, his death was out of my hands. Out of all of our hands. If I must abide by it, then so shall you.”
Well, there wasn't much Daiyu could say to that.
“Now, Seren,” Danu turned away from the dragons. “This sacrifice my brother has asked of you. Do you have any inkling of what it would have done?”
“He said it was to seal our bond, or something like that,” I frowned, not being able to clearly remember Anu's words. Why couldn't I? Strange
.
“Yes, something like that,” Danu's smile widened, literally, as her face shifted into that of a baobhan-sith, her hair darkening to black as if it were soaking up ink. “You would have given him power over you.”
“What?” I growled.
“Failed to mention that, did he?” Danu chuckled. “Yes, all the little witches are scrambling about with this new revelation. 'There is a god',” she rolled her eyes. “Certainly, there is. And I will even admit that he loves them, perhaps as much as I do. But Anu, my dear brother, is greedy. The idea that the witches, who are technically,” she rolled her eyes. Eyes which, by the way, looked exactly like mine. As usual, I saw my own eyes in Danu's face. And I'm sure that everyone else saw their own eyes in her. Danu loved that trick. “Technically,” she said again, “part his, would only worship me, is terribly annoying to Anu. They reside in his world after all. He believes the witches should be worshiping him.”
I glanced to the side and saw Killian frowning. He'd been so wrapped up in this new god. So had I, for that matter. The righteousness, the revelation, the truth of it. We had all fallen for the idea that there was another divinity who gave a shit. And Anu did. He just had ulterior motives. But then, so did Danu. It all left a sour taste in my mouth, and part of me wanted to tell them both to go to hell. And it looked as if Killian felt the same way.
“Now you see why I didn't tell you about Anu,” Danu sighed.
“No, hold on,” I scowled. They were tricky, these gods. I would have to judge their actions with more weight than their words. And Anu... “Anu just saved my life. That shield he gave me protected me from Dagda's club.”
“And I have never saved your life?” Danu lifted a brow.
“Fair enough,” I nodded, and then something occurred to me. “How exactly would Anu have gained power over me?”
Danu's entire form shifted, her body flashing through several types of fey before settling on sidhe. Was that a goddess version of a guilty flinch?
“Danu,” I narrowed my eyes on her. “Tell me or I shall stride through that rath and ask Anu himself.”
“You dare to threaten me, girl!” Danu shouted, flying towards me, and stopping mere inches from my face. “I have blessed you, helped you, saved you, and you question me continually. You deny me your trust. You deny me your worship. I am Danu! No one denies me!”
“Well shit,” I whispered and looked over to the dragons. “Maybe you guys had it right all along.”
Daiyu gave me a commiserating nod as Danu screeched.
Wind whipped through the clearing, strong enough to make the trees creak, trunks bending as if to kneel to Danu's wrath. Lightning struck somewhere to the left, close enough for me to smell the electricity and feel the heat. Thunder boomed, and Danu's face twisted with fury.
“Right then,” I nodded and pulled on Killian's hand. “Looks like the weather's taken a bad turn, Snake-Eyes. Let's head back to Earth.”
“Sure thing, Twilight,” Killian gave me a cocky grin.
The world went quiet, buffeting wind dropping to stillness.
“Stop,” Danu whispered. She muttered in irritation to no one in particular, “Why do children have to be so trying?”
“Tell me the straight up truth, Danu,” I turned back to her. “I get that you're a goddess, and that you could probably crush me with a thought. I know I've been irreverent and a little obstinate,” she snorted (yep the Goddess snorts), “but I thought that was what you liked about me.”
“It can be endearing,” she grimaced, “for a little while.”
“I love you,” I said to her simply. She brightened, as any mother would at hearing those words. “You've never failed me. You've even sent me help when you couldn't reach me yourself. Don't think I didn't realize it was you who sent Raza. Both undersea and recently to Earth. I know how much you help me.”
“Then why won't you trust me, Daughter?” Danu asked sadly.
“I do,” I shrugged. “I trust that you won't do anything to hurt me. But I can't trust you to choose for me. If you want to make every decision in my life, then you should live it. Why give it to me?”
Danu stared at me thoughtfully, then finally spoke, “Anu would have been able to establish a link with you. It would have given him the ability to reach you, even when you're in my realm.”
“Ah,” I nodded. “So, not the type of power over me that you were implying.”
“No,” she sighed. “My brother is many things, but he's not evil.”
“Greedy but not evil?” I asked slyly.
“Aren't all gods greedy?” Danu smiled suddenly. “Now, I've had enough of you, Seren,” she teased, waving me aside. “Come forth, Killian Blair.”
Killian blinked, casting a surprised look at me.
“She won't bite,” I shrugged, “much. Just be careful if she offers you an apple.”
“Seren,” Danu growled.
“Sorry.”
Killian stepped forward, releasing my hand.
“Hello, Son,” she smiled brightly at him, running a glowing palm over his cheek.
The poor guy was coming face-to-face with a deity for the second time in as many months. He was dazzled and dumbstruck. Killian just stared up at Danu with a lopsided grin.
“Welcome home,” she said. “I've been waiting for Seren to bring you to me.”
“You what?” I snapped.
“Shush, Seren,” Danu chided me. “It was for your good as well,” she gave me a wink.
“Oh hell no,” I gaped at her. “You can't be implying that...”
“What?” Danu gave me a wicked grin. It looked even more wicked because she morphed into a kitsune as she did so, and the fox-shifters tended to naturally have a sly look about them. “Any other woman would feast on the bounty I've placed before you. But you turn squeamish, and push away your plate. Just look at him,” she turned back to Killian, who didn't seem to care one whit what she said, as long as she kept stroking his face. Danu tapped his nose gently, “such a beautiful man. And his magic is ten times stronger now.”
Oh that snapped Killian out of his Danu-daze.
“Say what now?” Killian blinked.
“Your power was amplified when you stepped into Fairy,” Danu chuckled. “Didn't you realize?”
“I...” he glanced to me.
“I told you the magic in your blood would alter you,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, but you didn't say it would make me stronger,” Killian grinned. “If I'd known that, I would have asked you to bring me here sooner.”
“Men,” I rolled my eyes.
“You will find much power here,” Danu smiled secretly at him, “and much pleasure, my newborn nathair-sith.”
“Your what?” I narrowed my eyes on her. What had she done to him? “What the hell is a nah-hith-she?”
“Haven't you realized it yet, Seren?” Danu smirked. “He's one of yours now,” Danu glanced over at Killian and gave him a saucy wink, “in so many ways.”
“Can we just have a normal conversation for once?” I sighed. “Or does everything have to be cryptic with you gods?”
“He's a twilight fairy,” she huffed. “For my sake,” she rolled her eyes. “Killian has become the first of a new race. The nathair-sith. A blend of sylph and snake-djinn. And you are lovely, my son,” she kissed his forehead, and Killian's body shook, a pale purple, sparkling glow flowing over him.
“No,” I rushed forward to catch Killian as he fell back, and then stared up at Danu in accusation. “Dang it, Danu. What did you do now?”
“Just a welcome home, gift,” she looked smug.
“As if he hadn't already received one?” I snapped.
“Daughter,” Danu shook her head. “You must see that Killian is your gift as well.”
“Don't start,” I huffed.
“He's a partner to help you in the other realm,” she tsked me. “You'll need men to moor you on both sides of the raths. Killian is a crossover, just like you. He can work with the Councils a
nd the Coven on your behalf, allowing you more freedom. To do things such as... rule a kingdom. Or two.”
“And there it is,” I sighed and glanced at Killian's peaceful face. “Well, at least you don't mean for me to sleep with him.”
“I never said that,” Danu chuckled. “Be strong, my beautiful children. I am always with you,” she turned her gaze to the sea fey. “All of you,” and she disappeared before I could tell her off.
“Sorry, Snake-Eyes,” I whispered as I brushed the thick hair back from Killian's face. “I like you, and I like the thought of having you as my intermediary with HR, but you got no chance of being anything more to me.”
Then Killian opened those startling eyes, and I lost my ability to speak. Danu damn it all, but she was right. Killian was a beautiful man.
Chapter Forty-Four
All of us, except for the twilight archers, went back into HR. Lucas, his father, and the twins had to return for obvious reasons. The sea fey had to retrieve Zhayu's body before they could venture home through an undersea rath. I had to go back to Ireland with the twins, so that I could fetch Cat. And Killian had decided we were partners (the Goddess had decreed it) and would go where I went. I sent Uisdean's body home with the archers. I knew my father would want to see to his brother's remains. Uisdean had been an evil bastard, but he was still family.
On the plane ride back to Ireland, I pointed out to Killian that Danu had said he would be my partner in HR, so that I could live more freely in Fairy. That meant Killian wouldn't be going back to Fairy with me. He had frowned at that, but nodded, saying that he would deal with the HR end of things for me. I started to relax until Killian added that he would be sure to report in often. And as a twilight fairy, he would now have the ability to walk the In-Between. Which meant he could easily deliver his reports in person.
I hadn't thought of the perks of Killian's new twilight status. I would have to teach him of course. But walking the Between came pretty easily to a twilight fairy. It was already in our blood and the instructions were pretty basic. I didn't think Killian would have any issue with it. It would be Raza and Tiernan who had issues with Killian visiting. Well, maybe just Raza.
