by Jana LaPelle
“What do you want from me? Why am I here?” I demand in a strangled gasp as I stand, watching the she-bitch in front of me carefully, not sure what to expect next. Hoping like hell that Daxell and Poppy are looking for me. Have they alerted my family?
“I have my reasons. None of which will be disclosed to your simple little mind until it’s too late.” She barks. “Grathgar, come here this instant!”
I watch as a hobgoblin enters the room. Normally they are cave dwellers, but he seems to be rather at home here in this mountainside dwelling. He stands about five foot tall, He’s bare-chested with skin the color of an unripe potato, mostly earthy greens and shades of brown. His eyes glow a yellow-green against the dark brown bags that line his eyes. His nose is long and broad and points downward to his scowling pinched brown lips and pointy chin. He has no hair to speak of, at least none that I can see, and his large pointy ears droop on either side of his skull. Everything about Grathgar seems to frown as he comes to stand before Nyx.
“Yes, mistress,” the hobgoblin croaks.
“Take our guest to change into the clothes that I have prepared for her.”
“Guest?” I challenge, cocking my head at her sarcasm.
“Make sure she has something to eat and drink. I’ll come to collect her within the hour.” Nyx continues without missing a beat. She glares at me before marching from the room, leaving me with her servant.
“Well, that’s just dandy.” I mutter before turning on Grathgar and demand, “Well?”
“This way, my lady. Please do not step out of line or I will be forced to deal with you in a most unpleasant fashion.”
“A fine mess you’ve landed yourself in, LJ. Why couldn’t you just stick to the plan? But no, you had to go traipsing away on your own and now you’ve become exactly what you swore you would never be. The damsel in distress.” I mutter as I follow the hobgoblin, not expecting a reaction or comment as I prepare to get what I wanted. A crash course in The Underworld, just not how I had planned it. Life’s a bitch at times.
24
So This is What Hell Feels Like
(Daxell)
Poppy traced us to Tarron’s place a little more than an hour ago. After he heard what had happened and that LJ was missing he went off on a tirade the likes of which I have never witnessed. The Horde King made himself known and all dark fae in the general vicinity have backed away. I get it. He’s pissed and I’m at the epicenter of his massive meltdown.
Clearing my throat, I dare to interrupt his berating of my ineptness, “Tarron, I’ve been patient as you have smashed things to bits while calling me every name in the book, but it’s well past time that we get to The Otherworld. I have to speak with Ashlinn and Alaric. They need to know what has happened and I need to see if I can’t find her with Cara’s help. You can unleash your anger on me after we get her back!”
Tarron jerks his head in my direction, “You are an idiot of epic proportions. You had one job. One! And that was to keep her safe while the two of you looked into the New Raven Order. Now, Lillie is missing and you have no more information than you had before you set off. Why should I allow you into Faerie?”
“Oh, let me see, Tarron. Because I fucked up and need to make this right?” I demand as my anger reaches a boiling point. “You don’t think I know how badly I messed this up? For the love of Lucifer, it’s LJ. She went missing on my watch, damn it! ” Suddenly my anger dissipates. Hanging my head, I mutter, “Because I’m in hell without her. I need to find her. I need her to be safe.”
“Dax,” he sighs, “Man, I’m sorry, but Ash and Alaric are not going to take this well. If you think for one moment that my actions were over the top, then you should prepare yourself, that, and I really hate to be the bearer of bad news.”
Looking up, I say, “Then let me tell them. It’s on me. I screwed up. Just know this, I will get her back and when I do … those responsible will have to deal with me and my demon.”
“Now you’re talking. All right, you have my permission to come and go from The Otherworld as you see fit. From this point forward, you are welcome there under my authority. Now, Lady Poppy, if you would do the honors, we need to get there as soon as possible.”
Poppy stands and looks to us both, a look of pure exasperation on her face, “Well, that took long enough. I can take two at a time, but that’s my limit. I’ll take Cara first and come back for you both. Come on, girl. We’re going back to Glenndale Loch. You’ll get to see Ban and Lachlan and then we’re going to go find Lillie.” The two wink out of sight.
Tarron comes around the bar top that separates us, “Dax, I’m sorry for going off, but you should know that Alaric is going to lose his shit.”
“I’ve already done that. It didn’t get me anywhere. While I was flying around Mammon’s super skyscraper in New Vegas, the only thing I saw was a bright light coming from several stories above the party. When I went to investigate, the lights were dimmed and there was no one in the chambers.”
“Well, nothing can be discounted. Come on then, it’s time to pay the piper.”
Poppy appears back in the room with a disgruntled look on her pixie-like features, “They already know that somethings up. So … just be prepared.” She clasps both of our arms and we trace. The tavern falls away as we zip from The Mortal Realm to The Otherworld.
We pop into sight in a courtyard inside what looks like a medieval castle. Not ever having set foot in Faerie, I know immediately that I’m someplace so completely opposite of The Underworld and The Mortal Realm that I want to come back again and again. The colors here are so vibrant, so very breathtaking. The courtyard is large and square. The stone walls of the keep are almost white and look pristine and yet ancient at the same time. On some walls, there are vibrant green vines that have crept up the walls that hold beautiful periwinkle colored blossoms. On one end of the yard, there appears to be a training ground and the far end the gate to the keep is open and several males sit astride massive Shire horses. It’s then that I turn to see Ashlinn rushing toward us, she grabs my hand and pulls me to her side, “Daxell, I had a vision. Is it true? Has Lillie disappeared?”
Sighing, I hang my head, “Yes, but I feel that she’s here in this realm. I need to find her and that’s why we’re here.”
“Of course you do, Daxell. She’s your mate, your kindred. Come, let’s see if we can figure out our next course of action.” Ashlinn soothes my weary soul with her words of understanding. I swallow back the thick knot of emotion and nod, following her. Her gentle words have had the power to have me come undone.
Lachlan marches into the hallway and glares at me, “You had one job, demon spawn. How could you have failed so spectacularly in less than twenty-four hours Earth time?”
“Enough! Lachlan, we must all work together now. I saw what happened. There was nothing that he could have done. Nothing! Gather everyone together in the library. Don’t just dally. Now!” Ashlinn takes control of the situation quickly, “Come, I foresee a long road ahead of you. So you, Cara, and Poppy must fuel up for what is to come.”
Looking down at LJ’s petite mother, I ask, “How do you manage all of this?”
“It’s a blessing and it’s a curse, depending on how you look at it. My visions don’t give enough information. They prepare me for what is to come. All I saw was Lillie disappearing into a crowd as if into a void. No other clues or images to help me understand who was involved or how she got from one place to the other. That has never happened before, but then she reappeared in The Underworld, but I have no idea where. You will need to leave out for The Underworld in at the most thirty minutes. Daxell, you need to find my baby girl and bring her home.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll die trying.”
Ashlinn stops and reaches up to gently pat my cheek, “I don’t think that will be necessary. I do see the two of you happy. I just don’t have any idea as to the timeline.” She studies me for a moment before taking my hands in her own, “Lillie Joanna has always been the ser
ious one, the patient one, she has never put herself first. She needs you Daxell. She is so bullheaded that she will never admit that she needs another, but she needs you, and you need her. I think it’s safe to say that you two are two halves of a whole and without the other, you are not complete. You need to put your doubts aside.”
“The Underworld is not good to those that have no place there. It will test her limits and it will not be merciful.”
“I know. That is why you must find her and help her to navigate what is to come.” Ashlinn smiles back at me and gently squeezes my fingers in her grasp, “Daxell, trust me, and trust that this connection you feel to my daughter is the real deal. Okay?”
“All right. I can do that. So what’s the plan?”
25
Dark Days Ahead
(Lillie Joanna)
Grathgar escorts me to the room that I woke in, or at least it’s where I thought I was previously. There are black leathers laid out on the lounge for me to change into and food and drink situated on a small ornate wooden table in the room. Grathgar grunts and motions toward a changing screen in the corner of the chamber before he turns to leave me to do as I was told. For a few short moments, I pull at the bracelet, hoping like crazy that I can somehow manage to get it off, but it’s not budging. I assess my options and one thing is for sure, if that crazy bitch follows through with her plans, I need to be clothed in something other than an evening gown and stiletto heels. Grabbing the leathers I make for the screen and slip in behind it for some privacy.
Soon enough, I’m clothed in the black leathers that fit me like a glove. The leather is soft and supple, the boots she left for me are practical but stylish with a wedge heel, something I can run in if needed. The undergarment she chose to put me in is a soft cotton tank. Even the jacket she left is form-fitting and I toss it over the chair and wander over to the food ladened table.
“You’ll want that jacket. Where you’re going the nights will be cool and the conditions may be abrasive. The leather will protect your exposed skin.” She tosses a black silk scarf over the jacket. Have you eaten? If not, too bad. It’s time to go.”
“Are you always so unbearably pleasant to be around?” My sarcasm bounces off the queen of this godforsaken castle, “What are you going to do when you get your wish and bring dear old mummy back from The Underworld. You know that she will not sit idly by while you take over everything that she once worked for, right?”
“My dear old mummy, as you call her, has no idea what I’m capable of. She hid me away in plain sight. My majic was nurtured by the best of her dark witches until I became the leader of their coven, I was instrumental in raising my father from The Underworld, although this will be different. My mother didn’t die, she fell. My plans are my own for now and you will play your part like a good little pawn.” Nyx sneers at me as she pops a fig into her mouth.
“Why tell me anything at all? Why even show your face or give me your name? What will happen when I make it back here to Faerie and let everyone in on your little secret? What then?” Still trying to get her to confess to her end game. She is not freeing her mother from The Underworld out of the goodness of her heart.
“Lillie, you will play your part and will be none the wiser until the time is right. Time’s up. I suggest you at least grab the waterskin and a few items for the road, the biscuits there will keep longer. Elven majic is a wonderful thing. Isn’t it? Here’s a light knapsack, take what you will but we’re leaving now. I have places to be and things to do.” She throws me a black backpack that I catch and start filling up. I have no doubt that this will not last long where I’m going. I shrug into the fitted black leather jacket and stuff the scarf down in the bag and throw it over my shoulder. I could have resisted but it would have been pointless, the bracelet is weighing down on me the longer it has been on. Unlike my father when he found himself in this situation, I’ve been educated in the ways of these things and the only thing that can help me now is getting to my mother. The pendant at my breasts warms against my skin and for an instant, I feel the weight of the iron forged in angel fire disapate and my connection to Cara flares to life, I even feel the slightest of a link to Daxell, but at the rate we are going we will never complete our kindred bond. I try to reach out to them both, but when Nyx grabs my arm the connection breaks.
“Don’t think that I don’t know what you are doing. If you care anything about your demon … you will walk away now. You will be his greatest weakness and to survive in The Underworld you cannot be weak. Love is a weakness that the demons of hell will exploit. Besides, he will grow bored of you shortly. You are definitely not his type.” She smirks as she delivers her venomous words.
I stiffen, “You know nothing!” But isn’t that exactly what Daxell had said not that long ago?
“If that’s what you would like to believe, then have at it, little goddess, but what are you even a goddess of? You’re pathetic … and weak, and I have grown bored with our conversation.” She marches me from the chamber down a hall to a windowless, cavernous room.
She has struck a nerve on so many levels and I bite out, “What are you going to do? You can’t trace. Only the gods, goddesses, and the fallen have that ability.”
Smirking she waves her hands before her and chants a dark guttural language that I’ve never heard and then suddenly, a bright light begins to swirl in the air before us. It starts off like a mini-tornado, spinning clockwise in the air, a brilliant blue, violet, and shades of red all swirling together as it grows in size to reveal a portal. She just freaking conjured a portal out of thin air. “I’ve learned to adapt. I’ve learned to utilize all the resources I have been given over the years. I can portal to anywhere across the realms that I have physically been to, and lucky for you, I’ve been to the Fields of Punishment in The Underworld.”
I’m stunned and rendered speechless. Then I feel a push from behind and I’m sucked into the portal and carried straight to hell.
Stumbling forward, I find myself standing in a strange land. The soil here is a dark grey, and granular. The sky is crimson red. There are mountains in the distance to my right and off in the distance behind me, there is a large body of what looks like water. The portal closes behind me with a distinctive sucking noise. The backpack on my back is weighing me down, it feels unnaturally heavy. I really didn’t put much in there to weigh it down so much. Although, if memory serves, Da said that he felt weighed down mentally, physically, emotionally, and none of his natural majic could come to the surface. Even his panther was in hibernation.
So, this is The Underworld.
Okay…
All right, to say that I’m freaked the hell out is an understatement. What did Da and Mama say about this place? The Great Divide. I need to get to the mountains in the distance. If I can get there then I can get to Luc and then he can get me to my mother.
I can do this.
What if you can’t do this?
Where did that thought come from? I worry the bracelet on my wrist and move forward, adjusting the pack on my back. Looking out toward my destination, I take a deep breath and begin walking. Scanning the horizon, I’m looking for noctorbeast, drakes, anything that could possibly prey on me. I have no clue as to the unknowns here, or what I could encounter.
I find a stream to follow and walk beside it. Nyx was right, its cool here but I’m not sure if its night or day. The sky here is so odd. So far, so good, I think before I spy what looks like a swarm of insects making their way to me. Quickly, I pull the scarf out of my bag and wrap it around my head and mouth. Covering my hair as the swarm approaches.
What I didn’t expect to see were sprites. Demon sprites to be exact. Evil looking little creatures with long pointy ears, sharp teeth, and a mottled grey, black skin tone. Their black, silvery wings buzzing as they make their way toward me. If I didn’t know better, I would think that they were heading straight for me.
“What do we have here?” The leader of the swarm buzzes about my head.
/> “I don’t want any trouble. I’m just trying to get to The Great Divide. I need to speak with Luc.” I say as the demon sprites buzz around me.
“Did you hear that? She needs to speak to Luc?” The swarm laughs and points at me as if I’m hilarious. “That’s new.”
I begin to feel seriously uneasy as I say, “Really, he will speak with me. I just need to get to him.”
All the tiny demon sprites begin to snicker, their laughter borders on an evil taunt that I can’t seem to ignore. I’m drawn to the wicked little creatures and they form a barrier in front of me, and announce, “You are not a dead soul. You are unusual but it makes no difference.” They say in a singsong voice, “You belong to the Fields of Punishment now.”
My heart stutters to a stop, “What do you mean? I’m sure that if you looked to Luc’s guidance, he would want to talk with me.” I’m scared, and I now know that they mean me harm.
They converge on me all at once, and in an instance, I’m covered in their pixie-like dust. It’s dark and feels so wicked. I find that I’m smothered by it, and I can’t escape it. It clings to me, suffocating me, intoxicating me. Without warning, I feel dizzy, uncertain, and everything around me appears distorted somehow as if I’m on a bad trip. All the while the wicked little sprites continue to giggle and torment me. Looking around, I see the sandy soil begin to rise up to form images of my loved ones until they no longer look like sandy statues but real people. Shaking my head, I try to dispel the hypnotic feeling that has taken over my senses.
“Are you kidding me?” I demand. “You’re not real. None of this is real.” I whisper.
“Lillie Joanna, what are you doing?” The granules of the soil solidify to form my father.
