The Witch and the Bottle of Djinn (The Seaforth Chronicles Book 4)

by B. J. Smash

  They giggled like school girls and it wasn’t likely that they’d listen to him. By the time Drumm reached Lucian and Solstice, he’d know everything he ever needed to know—plus more—about pixies.

  I described the cliff and the dark forest to Drumm. He would have to go through it with a bold heart. When I finished talking about the Death by Depression forest, I said, “Just be careful. It is a horrible place to be.”

  “Ivy…” he answered, “I’ve been through worse.”

  “How so?” I asked. He had never told me much about his travels or where he’d been or what he’d fought. As far as I knew, he’d lived with Izadora most of his life. And so, the next thing he said shocked me.

  “I’ve been to the gates of hades. I suppose this dark forest you speak of can’t be as bad as that.” He handed me his shirt full of berries and smiled.

  “You, uh…what?” I asked. Was there really such a place? He couldn’t be serious.

  “I will explain another day. We better get moving. Just do not worry about me. Concentrate on yourself.” His eyes sparkled in the morning light. As he turned to walk away, I whispered lightly, “I love you.”

  He cocked his head to the side and said loudly, “And I love you.”

  He had the best hearing of anyone I knew. My face flushed and I couldn’t control the giddy feeling that welled up inside me. I watched as he and the pixies made their way through the trees and were swallowed up by the forest.

  Chapter Nineteen

  One more night. That’s it.

  All I had to do was keep myself alive for one more night. I trudged through the thick forest pushing aside heavy branches and stepping over fallen limbs. Tomorrow, at the official race it would be quick and hopefully, easy. Running for the bottle couldn’t be that great of a task. I could run faster than anyone here, except for Ladriant. If he beat me to the top, I’d tackle him if I had to.

  I laughed inwardly. Who was I fooling? He was tough. Could I really take him down if I had to? And yet, I didn’t have a choice.

  What was it about this Dark Elf? What was he really here for? He admitted he was not racing for the king and that he needed the bottle for himself. But why? What were his plans for the bottle?

  Ladriant was the one I worried most about. He would be the only one to stop me from completing my task and I needed that bottle. Then again, I’d rather see Ladriant get the bottle before Ella or Ish McTish. I mean…Ish was the reason I was here to begin with. He was bitter and had some dark vendetta for Izadora. What would he do with the bottle? Take over Merribay? I knew that was Ella’s plan. And what tricks did she have up her sleeve?

  My palms began to sweat. That was a sure sign that I was getting nervous.

  At least I wouldn’t have to worry about Snake Man, or Tom and William. I knew I could outrun them with ease, but I continued to worry about Ladriant, Ella and Ish as I made my way through the gnarled bushes. Over and over I thought about what they would do with the bottle, and it all came back to Merribay.

  Many times I had to slow down and take it easy through the thorns and nettles that blocked my way, and with bare feet it was difficult at times. My feet were tough from running around barefoot all the time but they weren’t that tough. Thorns were thorns and they hurt. I couldn’t help but wonder if there had to be an easier way through this God forsaken forest.

  A short time later, I’d made it through the worst of it and stumbled onto a path. The narrow dirt pathway had been trod upon before and this was confirmed when I came upon little balls of horse manure. I didn’t have to lean down to figure out that it was fresh. Someone had been through here recently.

  I continued on the path for a few minutes but decided that it wouldn’t do me any good if someone noticed me, and the best thing to do was travel off the beaten pathway. That was my life’s story, or so it seemed.

  I made my way back into the dense woods and tall ferns where I would be less noticeable. Or so I thought.

  Not even ten minutes later I was accosted by Ish McTish. It was the weirdest thing to see him stumbling and weaving his way through the ferns calling my name, “Ivy! Ivy!”

  As he approached me, I was prepared to kick him like a football. As I readied myself, he held his small fat hands in the air, “No! Don’t! I need help!” His face was beet red like the inside of a watermelon and if leprechauns could have high blood pressure—he had to have it. Beads of sweat bubbled on his forehead and the bridge of his wide nose.

  I stared at him for a time and recalled what Drumm had said, “Don’t trust anyone!”

  The little man was frantic but it had to be in my best interest to flee from him. As I turned to leave, he toddled up and grabbed my pants with both hands. His head came about mid-thigh and he reminded me of a child but he was an ornery old man. The temptation to kick him to the moon was so great but I paused to listen.

  “Ivy, please listen! They stole Beanie! Hide me!” he pleaded.

  Now, I’d seen this little man’s temper a few times. Once in Aunt Clover’s visions; once at the starting line of the race where he spat on me; and the time he flipped me off when his apples fell to the ground. I couldn’t help but snicker at the contrast between his attitude now and his mean temper during those times.

  “What do you need my help for? You’re a leprechaun. Can’t you curse whoever it is…?” I asked.

  “NO! Not them. I can’t curse them…” he raised his voice.

  “Who?” I asked.

  However, there was no time for him to answer. A wind whipped through the forest, tearing strands of hair from my braid and forcing it to whip my cheek. Horses trotted nearby and voices could be heard. What keyed me in was the familiar sound of tinkling bells. Strange tinkling bells. It almost sounded like bubbled wine in a champagne flute, rushing to the top of the glass, or the wind whipping through wind chimes. It was always confusing and was clearly meant to be so.

  I grabbed Ish McTish by the chubby hand and searched for the best tree to hide in. I found a spot where the limbs were high and the Fae would never suspect that Ish could climb. I ran toward it at full speed and jumped, springing up to the first limb towing Ish along with me. His head hit the trunk once and sort of bounced, but that wasn’t what he complained about.

  “Ouch! Me arm!” He sneered at me as he sat next to me on the limb.

  “Shhh,” I whispered. The Fae were approaching our tree and while they couldn’t have seen us…they were smart. Too smart.

  A twig snapped beneath the big hoof of a highly decorated horse as it slowed. Blue velvet was braided into its white main and little golden bells hung from the ends. On his white body, he wore a matching blue velvet blanket. The Fae who sat upon this horse, pushed a branch out of the way and it snapped back to his face. This infuriated him and he broke the branch with one hand. He was definitely Unseelie.

  I could only see the top of his blond head through the thick foliage but when he looked up into the canopy, I saw his perfect features.

  “Darvon,” I whispered so lightly that even I could barely hear it. I suddenly didn’t feel well as a giant knot formed in my stomach. What was he doing out here? He should be with the queen. Did she order him to come into the forest?

  “We shall find that slimy little weasel before he gets away. He cannot be too far,” Darvon said with an accent. He brushed pine needles from the shoulders of his fancy burgundy coat.

  Three horses behind Darvon stood Ish’s white deer. Apparently, his name was, “Beanie,” and he had the look of a deer caught in headlights. His eyes were round like O’s and the Fae were having a heck of a time getting him to follow them.

  Atop the horses were three strikingly beautiful Fae woman. Two brunettes and a strawberry blonde. Their clothing shimmered so beautifully that I wanted to jump down and touch the fabric. One of the brunettes wore a brilliant blue-green dress that seemed to ripple like water and the hem was covered in peridots and pearls—of the highest quality—I had no doubt.

  “Darvon, he must h
ave went that way,” the strawberry blond commented. Her off white dress hung low on the shoulders revealing perfect milky skin. The neckline was embroidered with fresh lavender flowers and her hair glistened brilliantly in the sporadic rays of light.

  I never cared much for dresses but if I could have any dress in the world, it would probably be the one she wore now.

  The next lovely Fae wore a pretty gold gown that hugged every curve and her breasts nearly spilled over the top of her bodice. Her pouty lips were dark red and her skin bronzed like a goddess. “I smell the little creep,” she said sniffing the air.

  This caused Ish to grumble, “Why you posh little…” I slapped my hand over his mouth.

  “Did you hear that? I think the pig just squealed,” Darvon said, and glanced around. His eyes settled on a tree limb close to us and I noticed that Ish’s eyes grew wide with fear, and he accidently bit down on my finger.

  I would have swatted him if Darvon wasn’t about to discover us. But suddenly, right before his eyes were about to settle on us, a loud yelp sounded in the forest. Not the kind from a dog or wolf. No. More like a warrior with a lot of time on his hands.

  Before the Fae even knew what hit them, Ladriant barreled toward them with long quick strides. He seemed to glance our way letting us know he knew we were there. Or did I imagine it? I couldn’t tell for sure, he was too dang fast.

  He charged Darvon’s horse but the horse didn’t seem to understand what was happening. Flabbergasted, he just stared at the crazy elven about to run him down. Ladriant stepped on a log and lunged high up in the air. He seemed to float mid-air and landed his right foot on top of the horses head. He kicked Darvon in the face with his left foot and Darvon fell to the ground. He then did a flip and landed on the horses back.

  Darvon landed on the forest floor with a thud and rolled over a circle of mushrooms.

  “He just stole that horse right out from underneath that bloody fool!” Ish cackled.

  The three females turned on Ladriant, but he nudged the horse in the sides and off they went.

  The two brunettes went after Ladriant, their long hair flying behind them as they picked up speed. The one who had been holding the white deer captive, dropped the reigns and the deer took off in the opposite direction.

  The strawberry blond stayed behind to help Darvon. She slid from her horse, smoothed her dress and held her hand out. At first he didn’t accept it and sat there rubbing his arm.

  “MY. COAT. IS. TORN,” he said through clenched teeth. I felt Ish shudder beneath my hand and I removed it from his scruffy mouth. There was definitely something about Darvon that freaked him out.

  “Well, we can glamour it. No one will ever see it.” The Fae woman leaned over him. She held her fingers over the long rip and chanted a few words. Soon the rip couldn’t be seen and the coat looked brand new. Extending her hand one more time, Darvon grabbed it.

  They locked eyes as she pulled him up and when he stood before her, he said, “You look lovely today, Ashton.”

  She giggled and tilted her head to the side. “Well, thank you.”

  He leaned in for a kiss and she wasn’t shy. She kissed him back. His hand went up to the back of her head and he grabbed a hand full of hair. She grabbed his coat with both hands and pulled him in closer.

  “Oh geeeeez,” Ish said gruffly.

  They didn’t hear him and I was thankful for that. These two seemed dangerous to me and I just wanted them gone. But what happened next chilled me to the bone.

  She pulled back and her upper lip was red from rubbing on his lips. His eyes were still closed and she smiled. “What about Albright? Wouldn’t she be angry right now?”

  “Oh who cares? You sure know how to spoil the moment,” he opened his eyes and then rolled them as he sighed a lengthy sigh.

  I knew the Fae didn’t believe in marriage and I’d never thought any of them could have it in them to be jealous of another partner. For all I knew, they had two or three partners a piece. I was to learn that some of them did care and I was to learn the hard way.

  “I care. You told me that you’d be rid of her soon. That hasn’t happened yet,” Ashton said, her eyes blazing with anger.

  “To be honest, it’s likely to never happen but just forget it now. We should probably find that little leprechaun before he gets to the queen. We don’t want her to know what we’ve been doing all these years, now do we, Ashton?” Darvon said.

  Ish snorted and scowled. “Little!” he whispered loudly. “I’ll give him my little fist up his nose!” Apparently, leprechauns didn’t like to be referred to as little and Ish couldn’t contain his anger.

  “Calm down. They are going to hear you!” I whispered. He gave me a snotty glance and continued to watch the drama below us.

  By this time, Ashton was angry. Her breathing had changed and her chest heaved. Darvon turned his back and bent down to look for Ish McTish under a bush. While he was searching, Ashton reached down to her inner thigh and pulled something out of a strap. She held it high in the air and I could tell by the whiteness of the blade that it was a bone knife.

  Ish and I both watched as the knife came down and sank into Darvon’s leg.

  “Ow! You bloody bitch!” He turned on her, but she’d already lifted the knife and sank it into his leg again.

  “Take that you…you…Casanova!”

  It didn’t end there. She slapped him hard across the face and stomped off. She took ahold of the horse’s fancy bridle and turned the horse around. Putting her foot in the stirrup, she was soon sitting side saddle and galloping away.

  Darvon sat with his back to a tree, blood spurting out of his leg. The blood, however, was not red but a deep blue. He moaned and complained, and complained and moaned.

  “Stupid Fae woman. Right now humans don’t sound bad at all. I might just steal a human female and make them all jealous,” Darvon said. He took something out of his coat pocket and popped it into his mouth.

  “What should we do? I think he just took the remedy. He’ll be healed soon enough,” Ish whispered. At this point, I think Darvon had forgotten all about Ish McTish but I knew that he would soon be healed. You’d have to stab a Fae in the heart to kill him…if you could even get near one. They were hard to take down. They had many, many ways to heal themselves. It would be easier to take down a Fighter Fae in battle, rather than a Regal Fae.

  I swallowed hard. We could wait for Darvon to heal himself and take the chance that he wouldn’t see us. But the chances of that were slim and he would eventually see us. Then, I would have to fight him. I didn’t really know how powerful he was, but I knew the Fae were master manipulators and could control humans quite easily. But I wasn’t just human. I was elven, too. I stood a good chance of beating him. The other option was to jump and run like hell on wheels.

  This was the option I opted for.

  I grabbed Ish by the arm, and said, “Get ready. We are going to make a run for it.”

  “Are you crazy? Have you lost your…” he began to say but I tightened my grip and jumped, hauling him along with me like a thirty pound rag doll.

  When we landed on the ground, Darvon grabbed his heart. “Ivy! He scooted back as far as he could, leaving no gap at all between himself and the tree.

  “Uh…just keep doing what you’re doing. We didn’t see a thing,” I lied.

  Ish began to kick and squirm, and he broke away from my grip. His face flushed red and he ran over to Darvon and kicked him in the good leg. Darvon leaned forward and almost got ahold of Ish’s green coattail but the pain in his leg jolted him back.

  “You little…” Darvon started to say but Ish turned once again, and kicked him in the shin. Darvon reached for him but missed.

  This could have gone on for an hour. I stepped forward and grabbed Ish by the arm and pulled him away. He continued to squirm but when I told him that I’d just leave him there…he stopped.

  I turned to look at Darvon one last time. I could tell by the determined look on his face
that he was thinking of a way to keep us there. I could feel him probing my mind. If he looked in the right place, he would have control over me. That was how the Fae usually got thier way. They could find a soft spot, fool you, and force you to stay. They were masters of trickery.

  Right now, he knew that I was freaked out but he couldn’t do anything about it. I squeezed Ish’s arm and lifted him right from the ground as I ran like a cheetah through the forest. I didn’t care that I stepped on nettles and I didn’t care that I stubbed my toe on a log. I kept going.

  We didn’t stop till we reached a slow-moving river and I immediately jumped in—Ish and all—with a big splash! I should have known he couldn’t swim. He flailed around splashing water in my eyes, and so, I let go of him. He lifted his face to the sky, desperately trying to get his body to follow. I think he was trying to float but he sank like a bag of rocks. Big bubbles escaped to the surface, one by one.

  It was possible that Izadora might have just left him there but I decided that I could never do such a thing. Sighing, I dove in after him. Several grey and black fish swam around my head, but I managed to push my way around them and down to the murky bottom of the river, where Ish sat upon a large gray stone. When he saw me he scowled but flagged me down.

  His white hair floated above his head and his usually bulbous red nose was pale as a pearl. More bubbles escaped his mouth as he tried to scream at me. I pulled my arm through the current, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to the surface.

  When we reached the shore, I carried him up and set him on the grassy bank. He lay down, coughed up a bunch of water and sucked in breath with loud gasps. Even after several minutes he was wheezing and he sounded like a squeaky door hinge that desperately needed to be oiled. I sat in a sunny spot to let my clothes dry and watched him.

  “I’m sorry about that, Ish. I didn’t know leprechauns couldn’t swim,” I said.

  “Well, we can’t!” he screamed. “Actually me cousin can,” he wheezed, “but that’s only because he took lessons for fifty years.”