Twist of Fae (Vegas Fae Stories Book 3)

by Tom Keller

  "I'd like to know too, Dad," Jay said.

  "I'm not sure if happy is the right word," I was forced to admit. I hadn't really wanted to get into this conversation yet, but I owed it to them to be honest. "It's not something I ever really thought about. Like you, my world was turned upside down when all this started. I'm not sure anyone is really ready to deal with something like this. It's too much like a fantasy or a dream. But here we are."

  "That's not exactly an answer, Dad," Nikki replied.

  "You're right," I agreed. "Okay, the truth is, I'm not sure happy is the right word to describe it. Sure I like some of it. Being able to use magic is pretty cool, even if I'm not always that good at it. Plus I've seen things that I know few people in the human world have ever even dreamed of. But it is tough. I'm trying to keep up a human appearance and at the same time I'm dealing with Faeries, Mages, Demons and all other sorts of weird shit. Hey, don’t get me wrong. I've got a few good friends that I would never have met if all this hadn't happened. Just wait till you meet some of them. But sometimes it's tough, not to mention that battling monsters was never something I thought I'd have to do. At least not the kind with scales or those that breathe fire."

  "Then I've got this place to deal with. Sure, Cacilia runs things just fine, but I still have to worry when I'm not around because, ultimately, I am the one responsible for them. Fortunately, we've got a good system in place for any that want to cross over, even if it's just for a visit. But that's because of the Milagres, and I still have to deal with the EAB on some of it. Although that part does seem to have worked itself out."

  "Then there's the other things. Like the Lilin and other shit left over from the old days. Something like this Dwarf thing can pop up any time, and that's the King's job, if you know what I mean." I stopped and chuckled. "Look guys, don't get me wrong. I wouldn’t trade what's happened for anything. But sometimes it can wear on you. Trying to keep a handle on things in two worlds is a pain in the butt. I wish it was a little less stressful at times, but I do like it. Overall, that is."

  "I know I'm making it sound terrible, but yeah, I'm happy," I finally said. "Now that you're here… and I mean that in the nicest way and not because I want you to take the throne. But this is probably the greatest adventure anyone could ever dream of, and even with the downside, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Nor would I want you to."

  The kids shared one of those glances again and I wondered again if I'd missed something.

  "Thanks, Dad," Nikki finally said. "I think that's what I wanted to know."

  "Ok, then," I replied with a chuckle. "What else can I help you with?"

  "Nothing that I can think of for the moment," Jay said. "Nikki and I were talking earlier about checking the place out now that it looks like we have the whole day."

  "Good idea. I've got some things to discuss with Cacilia anyway, so why don’t we just plan on a late dinner here. Unless you need me, of course."

  "Works for me," Nikki said, getting up from the table.

  "See you tonight then, Dad," Jay said, joining her.

  I took my last sip of Elf coffee, and after saying goodbye to Handion, went out to find Cacilia.

  ****

  It was early the next morning that Sendy returned to let us know that the Dwarves were close. I was already sitting at the table with the kids when she appeared. After messaging Cacilia and letting them know what was up, we decided to head for the temple and wait for them to arrive.

  Nikki was the first to get up from the table. "Okay then, let's do this. Lead the way, Daddio."

  A short while later we were standing on the temple dais, waiting for the Dwarves to enter. Cacilia had wisely asked Sylvana to stay hidden, her distaste for these Dwarves evident by her prior actions. It was no secret that I approved of making the Dwarves take the long way here, but I concurred with her decision. Sometimes you just have to play it quietly, and I didn't want to let the Dwarves know my position any sooner than was necessary. After more discussion with Cacilia about what to expect, we waited for them to arrive.

  Nikki was on the dais with us, but Jay was down in the crowd. Always security conscious, he felt that he would be able to better monitor them from a closer vantage point. It was good to see him taking that position, because I'd been somewhat concerned that he might feel left out, seeing that Nikki was potentially the future queen. But watching him confer with Nikki and work with some of Cacilia's guards, his concern for not only us, but the other Fae as well, once again made me realize how proud I was of both of them. My musings of family were cut short as the Dwarves came in to view, led to the temple floor by several of Cacilia's warrior Fae.

  They came in walking in pairs, with a single Dwarf in the middle, or at least close to it. Two, who I can only assume by their dress were warriors, led the way, followed by two lesser armed guards with a rather more ornately adorned Dwarf behind them. Three more pairs of warriors, carrying both axes and swords, followed. As they reached the area in front of the dais, the two in the second row came forward with the more ornately adorned Dwarf between them. He stepped in front of the other two and without even a bow, began to speak.

  "Lady of the wood," he began. "I am Nain, emissary of King Grerin and sword master of the Dark Fields. I bid you greetings from the King."

  I knew I was being snubbed but I let it go as Cacilia glanced at me and I nodded, slightly sweeping my hand forward to let her know to continue.

  "Well met, sword master and spokesman for your king. Welcome to our woods," she said in response. "You have travelled far. Come, let us offer refreshments before you continue." As she said it, a small host of Fae set a table to the side of the Dwarves and on it placed food and drink, before retiring back into the crowd. "Now, how may we be of service?"

  "There are several matters we wish to bring forth, the first being that King Grerin seeks counsel from one once lost to him. Valen, you know him as. The King would be grateful if word of his location were known so he may confer with his old friend."

  "Valen has not been heard from in some time," she replied. "Like you, our borders are closed to strangers, but we will pass on your word should any of our Fae come in contact with him."

  "Sad tidings, then. We had heard he was near here not more than two moons ago. Perhaps you were not aware of his presence. Still, we would ask that you contact us if he is seen. In truth, they parted under unkind words and the King wishes to make amends to an old friend and brush past grievances aside."

  "A worthy cause," she replied. "It will be good to see your house, once divided, whole again."

  Bullshit, I thought to myself. A quick glance at Nikki's face and I knew she agreed. Assholes or not, I let Cacilia continue.

  "How else may we be of service?" she asked.

  "Times have changed, my Lady," he continued. "The King is saddened by what has happened, both during, and after The Fall. He asks you to remember the old ways and once again find your place at his side so that together, we may make Fae whole again."

  "Such matters are outside my purview," she replied. "I am but steward of the realm and matters of such import can only be discussed with our King, Lord Robert."

  I stepped forward and eyed the messenger Dwarf.

  "The King does not agree, my Lady," he continued, ignoring me for the moment. "Nor does he recognize his right to hold such a position. Such title among the Dryad has always been held by the eldest daughter, as the old ways ascribe."

  He looked directly at me as he uttered the last, almost daring me to reply. Nikki started to inch forward but I held her back, trying my hardest not to get too angry myself. Then I saw Jay and a few others move in closer to the Dwarves. I was about to jump in when Cacilia answered.

  "Your words are offensive…" she began to say.

  Then the floor trembled and Nikki stepped forward, red with anger. The Dwarves tried to stay on their feet, as did the other Fae, and then I saw their warriors try and reach for their weapons but the trembling made them unsteady. I
didn't know how she was doing it, Nikki that is, shaking the very ground we stood on. It had to be the magic taking over.

  I had told her about the first time it happened to me, when I met Delia and fought the werewolves, and I remembered what that rage was like when it had first overtaken me. I closed in, hoping to get her to calm down before she got out of control.

  As I grabbed on to her I felt her power surge. More than I had generated that first time or even when I'd battled the Demons here before. I didn't know what she'd become, but I was suddenly very afraid. Then she turned to me.

  "Don’t worry, Daddio," she whispered, her eyes glowing with magic. Then her face lightened and a mischievous grin appeared. "I've got this."

  She jumped down from the dais and into the crowd, her bow in her hand and arrows flying faster than I could count. I started to go after her but Charlie stopped me. As the crowd parted, I soon saw that she had fired an arrow at each Dwarf, expertly placing each one between their feet.

  "You little shits," she said, anger in her voice.

  One Dwarf behind Nain began to pull his axe, and swift as lightning, her bow was up and an arrow pierced his helmet.

  "Anybody else?" she asked, another already nocked and ready to fire.

  "This is…" Nain started to reply but was quickly shushed.

  "Shut up!" Nikki said, shouldering her bow. "Just who the hell do you think you are?"

  Cacilia hadn't moved, and we watched spellbound as Nikki waved her right hand and the earth rumbled again as small, thin roots shot up from the ground towards each Dwarf, relieving them of their weapons and dragging them into the ground behind them before retreating back from where they came.

  Her eyes glowed and I could see tendrils of magic forming around her, swirling and bursting back and forth between the trees and ground. I'd never seen anything quite like it but it reminded me of the night I'd freed the Lilin. Even so, I'd had the sword of Zeus and a talisman from Demeter when that had occurred. Nikki was doing this on her own.

  "You think you can just waltz in here, call us liars and disrespect my father… my family?" she asked loudly, daring for Nain to reply. "On your knees!" There was a sound of thunder and I felt my ears pop as the air shifted and the Dwarves were forcibly pushed down to the ground. Once again, thin roots appeared and this time they quickly wound their way around the Dwarves wrists and ankles, securing them so they couldn't move. Then Nikki returned to the dais and walked over to Demeter's throne. There was a hush among the Fae as she stood there a moment, then making her decision, sat down.

  Holy shit! I thought to myself. What had she become?

  "Where was your king when the Gods fought and the heavens trembled and my people died with weapons and magic forged by your kind? I'll tell you where he was. Trembling like the coward he is while Valen and the others did what they could. Oh yes, master of nothing but an empty hand, we remember too well. We also want Fae whole again, but not, I think, the way your king would. At our expense while our backs bow under the weight of his madness. No, I don't think so."

  "This message I pass to your king. Listen well for I will not repeat myself. Whether under my father's rule or mine, your kind are banished from our woods forever under pain of death. I offer sanctuary to any that you would prosecute, including Valen and his kin, and woe be to you if I ever see you again."

  "You cannot," Nain muttered, trying to wrestle free from the roots that held him down. "Your magic is no match for our K…"

  "Isn’t it?" Nikki replied. She exploded from the throne and in a single leap stood before him. Removing an arrow from her quiver she knelt down and forced it into the Dwarf's mouth. "Here is my answer to your king. You can tell him what he is up against yourself." Then she plunged her fist into the ground as magic bolts surged and poured forth from her body. Then there was a loud pop and the roots that once bound them fell to the ground, empty. The Dwarves they had held, gone.

  No one moved. Hell, I don’t think anyone let out a breath. Then Jay walked up to where she was still kneeling and grabbed an arm, helping her to stand. The magic had retreated and she was just Nikki again, or at least that's how she looked.

  "Wow," he said. "That was impressive and the arrow was a nice touch."

  "Yeah, saw it on a TV show," she replied. "I thought it would make a good visual."

  "Not as good as making them disappear. Where'd you send them anyway?"

  "Back to their Dark Fields and their King," she said. "Or at least I think I did."

  "You think you did?" Jay asked with a raised eyebrow.

  "Did you know this was going to happen?" Cacilia asked me.

  "I had no idea," I replied, still flabbergasted at all that I had just seen.

  By this time Nikki had realized that everyone was quiet and took a good look around. As her eyes rested on the crowd a single Fae fell to one knee and bowed, then another, then another and within a few seconds the rest followed suit. I saw a slight blush as she turned to me and then, seeming to come to some decision, walked towards us with Jay in tow.

  "It appears that she has made her choice after all," Cacilia pointed out as Nikki leapt back on the dais and sat down on the throne. Jay, taking his place to the left of her, stayed at her side.

  "I guess she has," I replied. I wasn't sure what, or even how, she'd done it. But I walked over to where Nikki sat. Stepping in front of the throne and knowing what I had to do, I knelt down on one knee.

  Cacilia, still behind me, did the same and then I presented Nikki with the hilt of my sword.

  "Oh, please, Dad," she said in a slightly embarrassed tone. "Get up. You, too, Cacilia."

  "Uh, okay Nikki... but you do realize that by everything you've done and by sitting in that throne you just became Queen."

  She just smiled and then stood and faced the crowd before her.

  I helped Cacilia rise and we stood to the right of the throne as Nikki began to address the Fae.

  "My friends, no, my family, please rise," she began. "Today we witnessed what happens when those who would use lies and deceit to tempt us are unmasked. I'm sure many of you may question why I would do such a thing and I will tell you. These Dwarves spoke of a return to the old ways. But what old ways are they talking about? My father told me that when the worlds were young all of us lived together in peace. Humans, Fae, Elves and Dwarves, as well as the other creatures that inhabited our worlds. If these were the old ways of which they speak then I would be all for it. But, unfortunately, they are not."

  "No, what these Dwarves want is a return to the time when Gods ruled and the Fae were nothing but servants and playthings for them to use as they wish. With the old Gods gone, Grerin thinks he can assume their place and that we will meekly follow. Not on my watch!"

  "When I was a little girl I wondered about others. Those that had more material things than we did and those that held positions of power. I thought, like some of you may, that they might be better than us. But then I asked my father and he told me something that I never forgot. That, yes, they did have more than we did, that was true. But they were not better than us. They, like all of us, put their pants on one leg at a time." Then she chuckled.

  "I'm sorry, it is easy to forget that you may not know much about the human world. But it simply means that while some may hold higher positions, or have greater wealth, within us, where it matters, we are all the same."

  "My father also told me that what will keep us safe is our strength. Strength in magic. Do you remember the last words Nain spoke? He began to say that their magic was stronger than ours. But I showed him he was wrong. You may look at my father and me, and say that that power must come from being a High Fae. But that alone is not true. That strength comes from being a part of something greater than ourselves. For that magic was not his, nor was it mine alone, it was ours. For only through drawing from your strength could I do such a thing. I know you are frightened by what has happened today, but there is no reason to be afraid. Together we will weather any storm that others w
ould bring to our realm."

  As she finished the Fae began to cheer and she stepped back down from the throne to mingle and speak with the crowd, Jay following behind her. Then from above, the winged horse, Althaea descended, landing on the dais next to us. From behind me, I saw Handion and Sylvana approach. She was carrying a wrapped bundle and stopped at Althaea's side, waiting.

  "It appears that you have lost the throne," Handion said as he slid up next to me.

  "Yeah, well," I said with a smile. "I was only holding it for her anyway and I think the Dwarves will think twice before moving against us again. Wish I knew how she did it, though. Although I guess I should be happy she didn't have to go through what I did. But it almost seemed like she knew how to wield it all the time."

  "Indeed," he agreed. "Perhaps when you opened her mind you did something more."

  "Something more?" I asked. "Like what?"

  "Perhaps you gave her a bit of yourself. Some of your power as it were, both to her and your son."

  "So, what? I turned her into a High Fae… or is she something more?"

  "I cannot say," Handion replied. "But she is certainly more than I expected."

  "Boy, isn't that the truth. Well, whatever she's become, I'm going to need your help," I said, still trying to digest what I had seen and heard. "To guide Nikki, that is. At least until we can find Bernd."

  "You do not wish to do so yourself?" he asked.

  "Yeah, right," I said with a chuckle. "You should have seen me trying to teach her to drive."

  He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

  "Forget about it," I said, still smiling. "Yes, I can teach her some. But she'll need someone like you to keep her on the straight and narrow. We're just too much alike for some things."

  "Perhaps," he said. "But from what I have seen this morning I do not think that will be a problem."

  "What will happen now?" Cacilia asked as she approached the two of us.

  "I think we're about to find out," I replied and pointed to Nikki, now back on the dais and walking towards us.

  "Sorry, Dad," she said as she walked up to me. "It was just something I had to do."