The Forest of Aisling: Dream of the Shapeshifter (The Willow Series Book 1)

by D. S. Elstad

  The lightning began striking directly above us; along with it, the Fomorians started to grow in strength. The Bird Women began flying, circling us like some misshapen vultures out for the kill. The Lizardmen, which had all but destroyed Aaron’s house, were now coming out of their languor with a vengeance. They hissed, sticking out their bisected tongues, their red and yellow eyes focused directly on Bram and me.

  Then there were the Goatmen. Even though they were small, they were fast and ferocious. They were now raising their spears into the air, making a creepy “meh eh eh” sound, almost as if they were laughing at us. We held our positions and watched as the creatures came to life.

  “We need to act fast, before they get their full strength.” I sent the thought to Bram.

  Without a word Bram rose into the air and began attacking the Bird Women. Instantly he had two of them, one in each of his talons. He bashed their heads together with such force I could feel the impact as I stood below them on the ground. The two birds reduced to transparent dust and disappeared. Another had latched onto the back of Bram’s neck when I became aware of that too-familiar stabbing sensation in my upper left leg. I looked down to see two Goatmen taking turns gouging my leg with their spears. I was able to fit both of the horned creatures in my mouth and clamped down tightly. Without even opening my jaws I felt them fade and vanish.

  A quick look up into the snowy sky displayed the foggy image of Bram, with Bird Women attacking him from all sides. There were more than I could even count and their cries blended with the screeches coming from Bram himself.

  My attention was drawn back to the ground when the slithering tongue of a Lizardman struck out at my head. He quickly reached up and pulled himself onto my back, sinking his saw-like teeth into my ear. As I shook my head trying to discharge him, I felt stabbing in my hind legs, along with awareness of more creatures jumping on my back. So much pain was shooting all over my body that it was hard to discern where it was coming from. I was able to shake the lizard off my back, releasing his teeth from my ear, but felt more and more things crawling all over me.

  I raised myself up on my hind legs. The pain grew worse as they plunged their spears and teeth deeply into my body. I tried to tune out the pain and let my wolf instinct take over, which it did. I immediately lowered myself to the ground and began rolling. I could hear some of the creatures moan as I reeled on top of them. Within seconds, transparent images of a few of them morphed then floated away. Once I felt like I had the majority of them off of me, I stood and began to run.

  I ran in circles around the perimeter of the sidhe, trying to scope out the best way to close it up, but also in hopes of confusing the Goatmen who were the most relentless in their attacks. They followed me obediently and it was almost funny to watch them grow dizzy running in circles. They stopped running, trying to regain their balance. That gave me the chance I needed to clamp down on several at a time, tossing them into a pile on top of the sidhe. One after another their transparent bodies would morph and disappear. I felt exhilarated. These creatures were definitely weakened compared to the ones I’d fought before and I was more determined than ever to take them out before they got their full strength.

  I looked up at Bram and saw him easily reduce two more of the Bird Women to dust by bashing their heads together. He repeated the tactic again and again until no more of the winged beasts flew near him. He glided down next to me and grabbed hold of one of the Goatmen. He bit into its neck and watched it disappear immediately.

  Just as we were beginning to feel we had the whole scene under control, the lizards surrounded us. Before I knew it one of them had wrapped its tail around my legs. I lost my balance and fell over, trying to stretch my legs against the tight squeeze the reptile had placed on me. Bram’s legs were tied as well by another lizard, yet he managed to spread his wings and lift into the air. He smashed the reptile against the trunk of a nearby tree, loosening its grip. He then grabbed hold of it with his beak and clenched down, sending the lizard into the mist. He jumped down and bit the one that had wrapped its tail around my legs, causing it to loosen its hold. Once it did, I pulled it away and shook it violently, which tore it into pieces. It disappeared just as the others. They came at us left and right but we were able to release ourselves from their grips and do away with them.

  After watching the last lizard creature disappear we looked at each other, then surveyed the area. It was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the breeze blowing through the ravaged trees and the cracking of branches falling into the snow. I took in a deep breath, hopeful that it was over but certain that it wasn’t. It was then I heard the low whispering begin again. I told Bram about it.

  We placed ourselves in the back-to-back position, getting ready for another onslaught. A new supply of Goatmen began rising from the snow, as well as the lizard creatures. They were motionless, almost like they were toys waiting to be switched on. Our eyes were drawn to the sidhe opening about ten feet away from where we stood. A sick, desperate feeling took over at the sight of even more creatures pouring out from below the surface.

  “How are we ever going to beat them all when they just keep coming?” I sent to Bram in mindspeak.

  Bram let out a slow exhale. “I don’t know, it seems like –”

  A massive clap of thunder echoed directly above us, followed by a series of lightning strikes. The volume of the thunder dropped me to the ground, leaving me trying to cover my head and protect myself. The lightning was so brilliant and blinding that I closed my eyes to shield them from the intensity of it. Even with my eyes closed, I could make out the lightning strikes that seemed to be encircling us. The flashes and thunder went on for several minutes; then stopped. When I opened my eyes again I looked around and was surprised to see that all the creatures were gone. Bram had shifted to his human self and was spinning around, a stunned look on his face.

  “Where’d they go?” he muttered aloud.

  I walked to the edge of the sidhe, to the area where the Goatmen had just minutes earlier been standing, and I pawed at the snow. Tracks were fresh and undisturbed yet all the creatures were gone. I stared into the forest, then searched the sky above for a clue as to what had just happened.

  Bram stretched out his arms, shaking his head. “What’s…going…on?” he asked staring at me.

  I walked over to where he stood and was just about to shift to my human self when a beam of light began rising from the opening of the sidhe. Bram stepped over and ran his hand through the beam before kneeling down peering into the opening.

  I stood above him, uncomfortable with getting so close to the “monster maker,” as he had called it. I scanned the area all around us, not completely sure that the fighting was over. Looking back toward the light, I nuzzled Bram’s back, then looked down to see what he was doing. He had a stone in his hand that he had moved from the opening and was setting it aside when suddenly he was wrapped up in the light and pulled down into the sidhe.

  “Bram!” I screamed in my head and tried to position myself to look down the opening. I avoided getting close to the edge but could see movement deep inside the cavernous room. “Bram! Bram!” I screamed again, my heart lodging in my throat.

  I heard shuffling from beneath the mound. “Willow, run!” Bram’s voice echoed in the chamber.

  I backed away from the opening and felt panic take over. Bram’s voice echoed once again, “Willow, get out of here!” he screamed before more shuffling sounds took over.

  I stepped back, frightened and unsure of what to do. Blizzard conditions were beginning to take over. The wind was howling, swirling snow around the opening of the sidhe, like a tornado.

  Panic-stricken, I ran back to a rock formation a few feet away that offered some shelter. I nestled back against the boulders and lowered myself into the snow. I needed to calm down and think. Small involuntary yips and whines made their way from my diaphragm. I closed my eyes and tried to contact Bram.

  “Bram, Bram, please be all right…” I sen
t the thought to him, praying for an answer. None came.

  I watched the sidhe and saw nothing but a blanket of white. I closed my eyes once again and immediately the image of Grandma came into view. She didn’t do or say anything. She just smiled. For some reason, seeing her calmed me right away.

  I inhaled deeply, then channeled my hearing into the sidhe. At first I only picked up static and weird rumblings; then voices began growing in volume. The language was foreign at first but with a turn of my head I was able to understand it.

  “What are we supposed to do with him?” asked an angry male voice.

  “Nothing, we leave him here.” Another male voice echoed as though it was near the opening.

  “Why didn’t you let the creatures destroy them both? What are you doing, Cyril?” The first voice boomed, growing more outraged.

  “Calm yourself, Corman,” answered the man near the opening. “The creatures were commanding too much of our energy and taking far too long to destroy Lugh’s disciples. After I witnessed that these three followers of Lugh are nothing more than children, I saw before us a golden opportunity.”

  “What kind of opportunity?” growled the first man.

  “Not only is the Eye within our grasp, but do you realize how close we are to taking possession of the Triquetra itself? Can you fathom what that may mean, to possess both the Eye and the Triquetra?” Cyril’s voice echoed below the surface.

  A woman’s laugh sounded from the depths. “My darling Cyril, you are a mastermind. To have the Eye and the Triquetra guarantees us both eternal life and ultimate power. How could we have ever doubted you?” she said, her voice nearing the opening of the sidhe.

  “Precisely, my dear,” Cyril replied.

  “What about the other two…Lugh’s disciples?” asked a third male voice, sounding farther away than the others.

  “We will find them, and when we do, we must destroy them all together,” said Cyril. “To take possession of the Triquetra, all three of Lugh’s disciples must die at precisely the same moment. Once that happens, the holy power of the Triquetra will be ours for the taking.”

  Laughter resonated among the Fomorians. I quickly turned my head and lost connection to the sidhe, yet Cyril’s voice kept repeating, “…must die at precisely the same moment.”I shook my head again and looked around, shocked at how much snow had accumulated. I was buried in it up to my neck. I tried to regain my connection into the cavern and hopefully hear what the Fomorians were planning. Nothing was working. I’d lost the connection and wouldn’t be able to get it back until my power had recharged.

  I hated feeling so helpless. To think of Bram down there, below the surface with the most evil creatures ever to walk the earth, caused me to shiver uncontrollably. The cold was nothing compared to the dread that was overtaking me. I repressed an overwhelming urge to run and never look back, knowing deep inside that that wasn’t even an option.

  Then Quinn raced across my mind. I decided that what I needed to do was to try and get to Quinn. Bram was safe, at least for the moment. The Fomorians were clear in their intention to do away with all of us at the same time and leave Bram where he was until they captured Quinn and me.

  I was just about to rise from my snowy grave when a series of lightning bolts hit, once again striking the area of the sidhe opening. I narrowed my eyes, keeping close watch, wondering what was coming.

  A monstrous bolt struck and plunged itself into the opening of the sidhe. Within seconds I saw the beings who had just been speaking. They rose from the opening, one by one, riding the electrical charge like some kind of escalator. Their bodies morphed and adapted to the small opening.

  The first, ghostlike in appearance, rose through the narrow opening before he solidified in human male form. He was dressed in clothing from centuries ago – layers of dark-colored robes over leather pants and boots. He had long brown wavy hair with braids hanging at the sides and stood with his back to me.

  The second man rose in the same way and took his place across from the first. He had long blonde hair pulled back and tied with a leather strap. He also wore layers of robes with leather pants and boots. His reddish beard was braided and rested against his chest. He stared out into the forest, which caused me to lower myself deeper into my snowy refuge.

  The third figure that rose was a woman who took her place adjacent to the other two. Her raven hair was partially obscured by a violet-colored hood that offset her pale complexion. She had ruby lips and eyes that almost looked purple. The long flowing velvet cape that brushed the snow at her feet moved gently in the breeze as she transformed from her ghostly appearance.

  Another man ascended and took his place opposite the woman. He was dressed like a knight, a sword sheathed at his side, gauntlets over his hands, with a silvery metal chest plate covering his torso. On his head was a helmet with a face mask that hid his features. After the knight stepped off the lightning bolt, it rose back into the snowy sky and disappeared.

  The four Fomorians stood quietly without any movement until the man with his back to me reached up into the sky. He breathed in the frigid air deeply and began to catch snowflakes in his hands. He did this for a few moments then turned to his companions.

  “How marvelous it is to be back, is it not?” he asked of the others.

  They all stood silent, staring at the man speaking. I recognized his voice as the man named Cyril.

  “Let us take pleasure in this moment. It has been far too long since our senses were allowed to rejoice in the simple things offered here on the surface.” I was surprised to watch Cyril reach down and take a handful of snow and press it to his face. He laughed wholeheartedly and was enjoying the experience like a child. The other three looked on and appeared annoyed as they watched him.

  “You will not join me in a playful moment, my beloved?” Cyril reached out to the woman standing to his right.

  “There will be time for fun and games after we resolve everything, my love,” she answered in a haughty voice.

  “Well, I see you are anxious to get on about our business, and so we shall.” He held his hand out to the woman, who grabbed hold of it. He pulled her close and extended his other hand to the man across from him. The man grimaced.

  “Come now, enough of your games, Cyril. Let us be done with this,” said the blonde man impatiently.

  The man named Cyril tilted his head in disappointment and said, “Tsk, tsk. I had so hoped we could make the most of this, Corman, but I understand your sense of urgency.”

  “Shall we then?” Cyril asked, raising his arms into the sky. Lightning bolts raced down and implanted themselves into his palms. He then reached his right hand over and took hold of the woman’s hand. The current visibly coursed through her as she lifted her other hand and held it out to the blonde man. He took hold of her hand and reached out to the knight. The knight grabbed hold and the current raced through the four. The Fomorians had recreated the picture we’d looked at in the ancient documents. A quick flash rose off of each of them, leaving them luminous.

  “Let us be off. You all know what to do. The first order of business is to locate the Eye. When we’ve done that we will then rid ourselves of Lugh’s disciples,” Cyril ordered as he stepped away from the others.

  One by one they took their place inside the four corners they had created by holding hands. First to go was the blonde man. His face was glowing as he raised his hands and, in a flash, disappeared into the night. Cyril reached out to the woman.

  “Now you, my love,” he said, leading her to where the blonde man had just stood. “Soon, Carissa, soon.”

  The woman smiled and raised her hands. She quickly disappeared.

  The knight stepped up and without a word raised his hands and quickly vanished. Cyril shook his head and laughed, then took his place inside the four corners. Once inside he began glowing just as the others had, but he didn’t immediately disappear. He looked around the area and up into the sky as though he was drinking in all the sensations he could.


  Then he turned and faced the area where I lay hidden. I was frozen with fear and prayed the snow had me camouflaged enough so that he wouldn’t see me.

  He just stood there staring, his face shimmering. As I watched him, feeling as though he was staring right at me and seeing him clearly through his illumination, a horror rose up deep inside, so intense that I had to bite my tongue to keep from yelping out.

  The familiar features of the man flared into my vision with each flash of lightning that was now surging around him. The curve of the nose, the side smile of the mouth, the dimpled jaw…all were too familiar, and the eyes, the gray-blue eyes that even now reflected the brightness of the sky on this stormy night. Features that were all too familiar… and loved.

  Features of my father.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I stayed cowered, my body covered by the freezing snow. The image of Cyril’s face had burned itself into my mind’s eye. I shook my head lightly to clear the snow but also to shake away the likeness of my father. There must be some explanation, I thought. There was no way that the man who just stood before me, the man who rose out the sidhe, was my dad.

  I heard a rustling sound coming from the sidhe and quickly snapped to attention. I stood and walked over to the opening, then shifted to my human self and peered down. The area was dark with the exception of a small light coming from the right of the cavern.

  I went into mindspeak. “Bram, please tell me you’re there.” I lowered my head as close to the opening as I could. A shadow crossed the dim light and was soon standing beneath the opening.