by Leah Cutter
Nora wasn’t sure what woke her. It was as though someone tapped at the very edge of her dreams. Or as if a bug had skittered across the deep waters of her sleep.
She lay in the darkness of her dorm room, cocooned in blankets, listening to the night.
No one walked in the hallway outside her room. She couldn’t even hear traffic in the street below. What had disturbed her?
She couldn’t see anything in her room, though she didn’t bother sitting up, just opening her eyes and moving her head. Her dorm appeared to be just as she’d left it, a comforting mess, with piles on every surface and stacks spread across the floor. The small apartment refrigerator kicked on, humming quietly to itself.
Suddenly, Nora’s eyes were drawn to the trap she’d hung on the wall above her bed. Even in the darkness, she could see the outline of it—a darker black hole going through her wall.
It shivered slightly.
Nora took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling her way back toward the trap she’d woven.
Yes. That had been what had disturbed her. Something had touched the edges of it.
Brett. He was coming for her. Or so he thought.
Nora took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and sent her spirit up, out of her body, and to the nether plane, a place between magic and reality.
All she had to do now was patiently wait, let the trap do its thing. Then she could deal with him, once and for all.
Edeline flew with Floyd to the edge of her territory, stopping just before the death trees, the white birches with their tall, menacing branches. They’d snatch at her if she let them, would hold her still while the foul magic of the Old One’s land drained her of life.
“Be sure to tell Cornelius that we’ve found the perfect spot,” Edeline instructed Floyd as they flew, “with both an outdoor area and an underground lair. And tell Sebastian that he’s going to positively drool over the fairy circle.” She knew the old priest had been longing to conduct more ceremonies outside. Once he’d sanctified the circle, she’d have a hard time getting him to budge from it.
“Sure, sure,” Floyd said.
Really, he didn’t have to be so sullen about it. Flying back to the kingdom shouldn’t be that bad, despite the cold and rain. He needed to just toughen up.
Just past the pines flew a small dark spot. Edeline shivered. It wasn’t that monstrous hawk coming to pick off her people, was it? She turned to call Thirza forward when the warrior shot past her, aiming directly for whatever was flying there.
Ha! That would show that dumb bird.
Wait.
It wasn’t a single bird. No, there were many creatures flying this direction. Edeline’s heart beat hard when she realized it was a group of fairies. Not just a group. A long string of tired travelers.
Why were they already coming here? What had happened?
Edeline waited impatiently at the border until Thirza came flying back.
“Dwarves attacked the kingdom,” she said. Her face had grown pale. “Hundreds of them. That same foul magic that makes your wounds bleed killed most of the injured as well.”
Edeline gasped, her soul suddenly grown cold. Dwarves? Dwarves had done this? Destroyed the old kingdom?
She looked at Thirza, only to find the warrior watching her expectantly.
“What should we do?” Thirza finally asked.
Do? Why was Thirza asking Edeline? She was the youngest of the fairies. The smallest.
The smug look of satisfaction on Floyd’s face finally made Edeline realize what was happening. Any fairy could declare herself queen.
The challenge became whether she could actually act like one.
A sudden calm came over Edeline. Though she was short, she felt her spirit grow tall and strong, like the first queen, Queen Georgina, when the gods had chosen her.
“Thirza. Organize the warriors to act as escorts. There are birds and other creatures of prey that would take out any of the injured who have survived,” Edeline said.
The warrior gave her a brief smile before nodding and hurrying off.
“Floyd,” Edeline said, turning to him. She didn’t let the smug satisfaction she felt overcome her. “You need to hurry back to the kingdom. Start assembling beds, getting places for people to sleep. They’re going to be tired, and will need rest.”
“Why me?” Floyd said.
“You want to be considered a royal who leads? Part of the inner court? Then lead. Do something useful for a change.” Edeline paused, then added, “Tell me right now if you can’t, and I’ll assign someone else.” She would not brook being disobeyed at this point.
“Fine,” Floyd said and flew off with ill grace.
Edeline sighed and shook her head. She’d have to see to him later.
She called the next warrior to her, sending her back to the new kingdom to start cooking. In addition to being tired and heartsore, her people would need food. Edeline was willing to sacrifice all the local mushrooms for stew. They needed something hearty. More mushrooms would grow next year. Feeding her people was more important than beautiful decorations.
Then the first of the fairies from the old kingdom arrived over the border.
“Welcome,” Edeline said graciously. “There’s food and shelter ahead. Comforting grass to lie on. Trees as well as an underground lair.”
The poor fairies merely nodded and continued on.
Edeline stayed where she was, encouraging all who came across the border, cajoling them to hurry up before all the stew was gone.
At the back of the long line, she saw a few were struggling. One faltered and started to fall.
Without any thought for her own safety, Edeline made a bee line across the death trees. Her side started bleeding again immediately. But she was determined to save as many of her people as she could.
She took the hand of the poor fairy who’d passed out, supporting him with her magic, bidding his friends to continue on ahead.
Flying hard, using as much of her magic as she dared, Edeline carried the pair of them across the border. A warrior waited on the far side, picking up the poor fairy and carrying him back to the kingdom.
Edeline rescued a few fairies that day, never resting herself.
“I think that’s all,” said a quiet voice from beside her.
Edeline started. She hadn’t realized anyone had waited with her. The warriors all hovered at a distance, only helping when she called to them.
“Cornelius!” Edeline said in surprise. When had he arrived?
The poor old man looked so tired. His face was pale with the strain of the last few days.
“I’m glad to see that you’ve been living up to your duty, O Queen of the Northern Realm,” Cornelius said.
Edeline cleared her throat, a little embarrassed. She’d wanted to talk with Cornelius first before she declared her ascendance.
Then she lifted her chin defiantly. She still planned on becoming queen. And she liked the ring of what he said, the Fairy Kingdom of the Northern Realm.
“Will you support me?” Edeline asked seriously. She didn’t want to fight the old fairy. She’d prefer his backing. But she would if she had to.
“Before today, no, I wouldn’t have,” Cornelius said bluntly.
Edeline blinked, surprised at his clear talk. Cornelius rarely said anything straightforward.
Or was this a trick?
“Now—now I think I would support you,” Cornelius continued. “You called the right people to organize the camps for the refugees. You made the right sacrifices. You’ve conducted yourself well. And…” Cornelius paused, drawing a deep breath, “and I don’t have the heart to fight you.”
Edeline nodded. She could see how heartbroken he was. The count of those who had made it across the border was far too small.
“Do you have the heart to stay and guide me, councilor? At least for a while?” Edeline asked.
Cornelius gave her a sad smile. “For a while,” he promised.
“Then let’s retur
n to the Northern Realm and see to our people,” Edeline said. With great daring, she slid her hand around his arm, feeling the strength of him, yes, but loaning him some of her magic as well.
Cornelius started, but he allowed her the liberty of treating him like an old friend.
Arm in arm they flew back to the newly formed kingdom, to tend the weary, the heartbroken, the unsettled survivors and give them new reasons to live.
Dale tried not to breathe too much soot into his lungs, but he couldn’t help it. The stairs had turned into a ladder. Greasy ash covered the treads and clung to the sides. His calves ached with the constant strain, his thighs felt leaden. He kept coughing as well, dust coating the inside of his mouth.
He was never again going to laugh at Leslie and her insistence that the Stair-master was the true test of any gym rat.
He heard his mom still wheezing beneath him. He paused and let her catch her breath.
Very little light shown in the tunnel they climbed up. Every now and again a small dot of brightness lit their way. But there wasn’t much to see, other than endless ladder and darkness.
Dale had only reached out once to touch the walls surrounding them. His palm had sunk into the solid rock. It had been the weirdest feeling—his fingertips knew that there was stone there, but his mind knew it wasn’t real.
Was that because of the magic that Brett had given him over a day before? The remnants of it? Possibly.
Dale wasn’t sure he wanted to actually see what they were climbing through.
At the next break, he paused and craned his head up.
Wait. Was that light up above? And not one of the fairy lights, but a softer blackness?
“We might be near the end,” Dale called down to his mom.
“Good,” she whispered. She sounded as rough as he felt.
“We’ll make it,” Dale told her. He’d make damned sure of it.
Denise merely nodded. She was more tired than he was, more out of shape.
Yup. Gym memberships for all once they got out.
Dale kept climbing, keeping his head raised. Yes! That was an opening!
Hopefully to the outside world.
He couldn’t help but hurry faster when he realized he could smell pines and the ocean. He knew he should stop at the opening, pause before racing above ground, make sure that it was safe. He didn’t stop, though. He sprinted as fast as his tired legs would take him up the ladder.
That first full breath of fresh air tasted better than even his mom’s homemade biscuits. Smelled more delicious than Sunday dinner pot roast.
Dale finally remembered to look around. He stood on the edge of a clearing. If he had to guess, the ocean was to his right. Trees surrounded him, all the branches flowing to his left, away from the great winds.
He knelt down next to the hole and offered his hand to his mom as she drew closer.
“Finally,” she whispered.
Dale merely nodded. Then he lay down on the cold hard ground, just for a moment, just to recover.
Mom sat down next to him, knees drawn up. She coughed, hacked, and spat.
“Bleh,” she said distinctly.
Dale smiled. They were going to be all right.
He finally pushed himself up to sitting and looked at her. Bright eyes stared out at him from a black, soot-covered face. Even her blonde hair was dull and coated with ash.
“If I look about as good as you do, no hotel will take us,” Dale commented.
That made his mom smile. She coughed again and groaned. “You’re probably right. I think I have an in, though.” She pulled out her phone.
Who was she calling? Mom didn’t have that many friends in town, did she? They kept mainly to themselves.
“Sergeant Palace?” she said into the phone.
Huh. That police officer.
Dale remembered wondering if the officer had wanted to date his mom way back when.
Give the smile he could see even in the darkness, he decided that they would make a cute couple.
Brett saw the focus piece that Nora had woven as soon as he drew close to her physical space. What lovely, delicate work! He paused, admiring the knots she’d tied for focus and listening. How clever!
He didn’t recognize the exact pattern, but he intuitively understood the intent. Nora was really serious about her studies if she felt she needed this sort of single-mindedness.
The essence of the staff he carried with him nudged him. The coolness of the nether plane stirred around him. Brett was, but wasn’t, in the physical plane. He touched the quiescent night, tasting the thick air with his tongue.
Something waited for him. But where? Did one of Nora’s human teachers really have the arrogance to challenge him?
No matter. He’d defeat them if they came to this plane. He was still stronger than any human, even though he was weaker here, out of his territory. They would not be able to stop him from seeking his mate.
Brett turned his attention back to the focus piece, then chuckled when he realized that something else awaited his discovery.
Though Nora was powerful, she was still young. Still learning. The center of her delicately woven snowflake remained hollow. The perfect tunnel for him to slide through.
The staff he held nudged at him again. He wasn’t sure why. Did it feel uneasy about this simple hole? Brett wrapped both his physical and mental hand more firmly around the staff and started spiraling in toward the hole in the middle. The smoothness of the woven circles fascinated him. What had Nora used? It soothed his skin like silken winds.
He was going faster than he intended, his consciousness sliding down toward the center. Was that intentional? Had Nora put in some sort of boost to make the slide better? He’d have to ask her later.
The staff tugged at him a third time. Finally, Brett stopped and looked behind him, in the direction the staff seemed to be pointing.
Nothing but blackness remained there. No clear tunnel back to the outer planes.
Brett twisted again, the softness of the hole starting to smother him.
Clever girl. Oh so clever a trap she’d set for him.
Though he wasn’t really caught tightly. He could shoot out of there at a moment’s notice.
Besides, since she had ensnared him, didn’t that mean that she wanted to talk with him?
Brett continued to twist his form around, encasing himself in the lovely black threads that Nora had woven, waiting until she finally spoke.
Brett! Brett was here! And the trap worked better than Nora had even hoped as she watched him twist and turn, getting himself more tangled.
Was he confused? She didn’t remember adding knots that would cloud someone trapped inside the center. Maybe the next time she wove a trap like this she’d have to add knots that would diminish her prey’s ability to think clearly.
No. There wouldn’t be a next time. She would never build a trap like this again, despite how the smooth darkness whispered to her, telling her it would be easy.
Nora shivered and started pulling the edges of the trap tighter. She exulted as Brett continued to twist and turn, obviously not understanding what was happening to him.
He carried a long stick—something foreign to him, but still magical. It wouldn’t help him as Nora pulled the strings tighter.
Too soon, she realized her mistake. She couldn’t close the absolute center and suffocate the monster trapped there without fully transporting her awareness to the nether plane.
She did not want to get near Brett. What would happen if he touched her there, in that other plane? He’d be too close to her magic, to her soul.
But she had to get closer in order to kill him.
The risk was worth it. Nora moved herself forward, bringing her natural light with her.
What she saw in her mind’s eye was Brett, as a human, not a monster, tied up in the center of a black spiderweb. The ropes that made up the circles were as thick as her wrist and constantly twisting, moving on their own. Brett’s arms and legs w
ere splayed out.
God, if she could tear out the heart of him while he was captured, she would. But he had no heart.
As she watched, the human figure dissolved and the monster appeared. His desiccated skin was a black as the trap that held him. The golden light of his eyes had faded since the last time she’d seen him. His long silver hair flowed free from restraint.
In one hand he still held a long staff that also resisted being wrapped in the ropes. Tendrils of black web would unfurl, try to wrap around the wood, then fall back, broken and burning.
Huh. She’d have to examine that staff. After she killed Brett.
“Ah, there you are,” said the silky smooth voice that she remembered from her nightmares.
Nora ignored him. She stood to one side, a few feet away from the trap, spinning strings of magic then knotting them together, drawing the web tighter and tighter.
“I’d hoped I’d see you again,” Brett said. He chuckled. The sound sent shivers down her spine. “Though I’d hoped for a different welcome than this.”
How could he sound so calm? Didn’t he realize the danger he was in?
“I’d hoped to win you over with my news,” Brett said. He stopped and didn’t continue.
Nora pressed her lips together firmly. She was not going to ask him about anything. She was going to take care of this monster once and for all. She felt tears pricking her eyes. God, she hated him. Her arms felt tired and her fingers moved as a blur before her as she kept tying knots, desperate to keep him in place.
She would not stop. Not until he was dead.
“I banished the fairies,” Brett finally continued, his voice harsher now. “They’ll never come back. And the dwarves, too.”
Nora nodded. Good. Now, all she needed to do was to banish him as well, send his soul back to the hell it surely came from.
Brett laughed this time. “Not even a thank you for releasing your brother from his obligations?”
That just made Nora madder. Brett had practically kidnapped Dale as well, forcing magic through his human body. She had learned why that was such a bad idea, finally having actual teachers show her magic. She refused to reply, refused to be drawn into his own web.
