Death's Hand

by N. P. Martin

  In a burst of anger, I raised my hand over the still squealing creature to burn it once more, only this time to death. But I was stopped from doing so by some force that slammed me up against a nearby oak tree and held me there. The next thing I knew, Hedrema was in front of me, pushing one of the sharp branches of her staff up under my chin. "You would kill one of my kin just to save yourself some pain?" she said, sounding disgusted.

  "The thing bit me," I argued, pointlessly I knew.

  "Well, you’d better get used to things biting you around here." She pressed the point of the branch harder under my skin, forcing my head right back until it could go no further. "You will kill nothing here unless I tell you to, is that understood?"

  I would’ve nodded if I could. "Yes."

  She removed the staff from under my chin and pointed it at the creature that had bit me, which was now back on its feet, making faint mewling noises at the damage done to its back. The smell of its burnt skin was sickening. "There there, my kin," Hedrema said soothingly, just before a blast of dark red energy erupted from the head of her staff and hit the creature full on, instantly exploding it to pieces, sending blood and guts flying everywhere.

  Jesus Christ, I thought as I looked at Dalia, who appeared unaffected by the sight of the blood and gore. What have I got myself into here?

  Hedrema turned to look at me. "Only I say what lives or dies in this realm. You’d do well to remember that, human."

  She released me from her hold then, and I dropped down to the ground as my leg gave out from under me. When I looked at the wound, my mouth dropped open at the sight of the gaping hole now there. Something was definitely burning its way through my flesh. If I didn’t do something soon, my damn leg would fall off below the knee.

  I was about to cast a healing spell to try to repair some of the damage, but Hedrema stopped me. "Wait," she said, and then crouched down next to me, putting one hand over the wound as she stared at me with her dark eyes, which I now noticed weren’t completely black. There was a hint of color in the center that seemed to change the more you looked. It was strangely hypnotizing, in fact, and I found myself unable to look away. "There, like it never happened."

  Suddenly the burning pain in my leg was gone, and so too was the wound itself. "Thank you," I said.

  Hedrema smiled as if it was nothing. "You need your wits about you in here boy. There is much you can fall foul of."

  "I’m beginning to see that."

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, then she gave me her cold smile again. "Come, let us continue to the castle. Try not to die before we get there."

  The Otherworld is, in a way, a mirror image of the earthly realm in which it hides behind. As I walked just behind Dalia, with Hedrema walking slightly ahead, I noticed the landscape was almost the same. We were essentially still in Cork as we tramped through fields and up rocky hills, but the landscape itself seemed to shift as if everything in it was sentient. A copse of trees would move slowly across a field like grazing cattle, for instance. Or a huge boulder would roll its way up a hill. Even the grass on which we walked seemed to dance and sway to its own rhythm, and if you stood in the same spot for more than a few moments, the grass would begin to grow up around you, winding its way around your feet and up your legs. Then it would either let go as you started walking again, or it would try to hold you in place, in which case you would have to pull hard out of its grip.

  And besides the sentient features of the landscape itself, there were also many different creatures who dwelt within it: some small and wizened like the creature who bit me; others tall and spindly as if they were formed from tree branches; still others that were indescribable, so misshapen were they. Thankfully, the local wildlife maintained a respectful distance from us, which was no doubt due to Hedrema. If I had’ve been walking on my own, I doubt I would’ve gotten very far before being attacked or molested by one of the many roaming creatures, who I now realized were all Fae of some description, some of them even looking like they were human once, perhaps pets of Hedrema that had been turned out to fend for themselves.

  It also seemed to be twilight here as well, although I got the impression that no dawn would be coming any time soon. This being Hedrema’s realm, and she being of the Unseelie Court, darkness was most likely a permanent fixture here, at least in this part of the Otherworld. No doubt the places occupied by the Seelie Court Fae saw daylight. I’d also wager that the Seelie Court Fae themselves weren’t quite as nightmarish as they are in this part of the Otherworld.

  After walking for what seemed like quite a long time, Hedrema led us into a dark forest, lighting the way with her staff. "Welcome to Rotbloom Woods," she suddenly announced. "The place where everything rots and blooms in an endless cycle."

  I began to look around to see what she meant, and sure enough I noticed the vegetation rotting at an incredible pace, and then blooming again at the same pace. It was like watching a piece of sped up film, and the same process of birth and decay was taking place across the whole forest. Even the trees would fall and rot, only for saplings to rise and grow into huge trees again in the space of just minutes. It was the strangest thing I’d ever seen, but nonetheless captivating.

  "This place is crazy," I said quietly to Dalia so Hedrema wouldn’t hear.

  Dalia nodded as if she knew full well, which I guess she did. "You haven’t seen crazy yet. Wait ’til we get to the castle."

  I didn’t ask her what we were going to find at the castle, for I knew I’d find out soon enough.

  3

  Hedrema’s castle loomed into view as soon as we exited the Rotbloom Forest. My eyes widened when I saw it, for it was much bigger than I expected it to be. Constructed from some sort of dark stone, the castle reached high into the dusky sky, with some of its towers being so tall, and stretching up so far, that you couldn’t see where they ended. The castle even had a wide moat all around it, and a drawbridge came down as soon as we approached. "Welcome to my abode," Hedrema said, sounding immensely proud of her oversized home. As she began to walk across the drawbridge, the massive main doors opened and out ran a number of small creatures that carried themselves on short, spindly legs. They were greenish in color, with large heads and long, pointed ears, with eyes that were a dull brownish color. About half a dozen of the short-statured creatures went running up to Hedrema, who greeted them like a person would greet their dogs when they arrived home from work, crouching down to pet their heads and make cooing noises at them.

  When Hedrema’s pets realized that Dalia and I were on the bridge also, they immediately turned their beady eyes on us, a few of them even snarling as though they were getting ready to attack. I was about to prepare a defensive spell in case one attacked, but then realized Hedrema wouldn’t be too happy if I did anything to hurt her pets, so I was forced to stand there impotently, hoping the creatures would stay put, which thankfully they did.

  "What the hell are they?" I asked Dalia as we continued across the bridge, Hedrema’s pets now firmly glued to her side.

  "They were once human children," Dalia said, making me wish I’d never asked.

  "How long have they been here to look like that?"

  "Some have been here for hundreds of years, others less so."

  I shook my head. "Jesus…"

  "Keep your head down in here. Do whatever she asks of you and we might get out in one piece."

  "Whatever she asks?"

  "If you know what’s good for you."

  The inside of the castle was as gloomy as I expected it to be, even though there were torches set into most of the walls. The flickering lights and the shadows they cast only made the place more spooky. We followed Hedrema through a number of narrow hallways until we finally emerged into a large hall, which turned out to be the throne room. Hedrema crossed the stone floor and settled herself into her high-backed-throne. It appeared to be made of metal, perhaps bronze, onto which was grafted bones and skulls. Massive pillars made out of skulls also flanked the throne, and I c
ouldn’t help but wonder who the skulls once belonged to. Just as long as mine or Dalia’s don’t end up there as well, I thought.

  As Hedrema settled into her throne, she crossed her legs and kept hold of her staff. Her pets settled in around her as well, some of them gently stroking their mistress’s feet and ankles, which Hedrema didn’t seem to mind, and even appeared to take a curious pleasure from. Dalia and I stood a few feet in front of the throne as if awaiting judgement of some sort. But before Hedrema could address us, a very tall Fae creature came walking out of the shadows to our left. The Fae was at least seven feet tall, and appeared to be made entirely from wood, its muscles and sinews as gnarly as a millennia old tree. Its face was formed from wood also, its eyes and mouth no more than deep hollows, although the eye sockets had some sort of faint light burning in them. A mass of smaller twigs and branches stuck out at all angles from the creature’s head. I’d never seen a more bizarre being in my life. I also noticed that Dalia couldn’t even look at it. She stared toward the ground as though she was afraid to make eye contact with the creature, which had now stopped to stand and silently stare at us, its gaze as withering as any I’d encountered.

  "Twig," Hedrema said. "Do you have news for me?"

  Twig? I thought. That thing’s name is Twig? I would’ve laughed if I thought I’d get away with it.

  Twig finally turned his head away from Dalia and me in order to approach the throne and bend his long torso at the waist in order to speak to Hedrema. I could see his mouth opening and closing as Hedrema listened, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. Whatever news he was imparting to his Queen, she didn’t appear to like it. Her jaw set and her nostrils flared slightly as she seemed to struggle to keep herself in check.

  Great, I thought. Now she’s in a bad mood. Cheers Twig.

  When Twig had finished talking, he creaked himself back up straight again and remained standing by the side of the throne, looking like he’d just been planted there.

  "Come forward you two," Hedrema demanded.

  Dalia and I walked a few steps toward the throne, our heads bowed slightly as we stood in front of the Faerie Queen wondering what she had in store for us. Twig looked down upon us as well, staring as if he knew what was coming next for us, even if we didn’t.

  Hedrema’s stare was scathing and mostly directed at Dalia. "I can barely look at you, Dalia. Every time I do all I can see is your foul betrayal. You disgust me, everything I did for you, everything I gave you… everything I made you. Tell me why I shouldn’t banish you to the Realm of Shadows?"

  I had heard of the Realm of Shadows. It was located in the farthest reaches of the Otherworld, and it was the place where the darkest and foulest of Fae creatures dwelled, those who lived in perpetual darkness and existed only to spread evil, misery and suffering. Thankfully they tended to stick to their own realm, preferring to influence this world and the earthly realm from afar. "Because I will do whatever you ask, my Queen," Dalia said after a long silence. "And because you obviously need me for something, otherwise you would’ve dealt with me all ready."

  Hedrema’s nostrils flared as I tensed at Dalia’s boldness. "I could deal with you yet, you little wretch."

  Dalia bowed her head slightly. "I would understand if you did."

  I wasn’t sure if Dalia meant what she said, or if she was somehow sure that Hedrema had no intention of following up on her threat. Clearly Dalia believed that Hedrema did in fact need her.

  Hedrema eventually shook her head. "Do you remember Sorcha?"

  Dalia seemed surprised for a second before answering. "Of course. Is she still here?"

  The muscles in Hedrema’s jaw clenched for a moment. "No, she isn’t. You haven’t seen her, have you?"

  "No, my Queen, I haven’t. Why would I?"

  "Because she escaped!" Hedrema shouted, leaning forward for a moment. "She betrayed me, just like you!" She sat back and shook her head. "Humans! I give you everything, I make you beautiful, powerful, and what do I get in return?" She leaned forward again. "Nothing but betrayal!"

  I would’ve shook my head at her if I’d dared. She really seems to believe she was doing people like Dalia a good turn, kidnapping, keeping them captive, all the while twisting them into some version of herself. It was despicable, though I was hardly going to say so.

  "You!" Hedrema’s attention was suddenly on me, and for a terrifying moment I thought she had somehow read my thoughts and was about to punish me for my insolence. "What do you think? Is such betrayal not despicable, disgusting… unforgivable?"

  I could only stare at her dumbly for a moment. What was I supposed to say to that? "I think Dalia can redeem herself if you let her."

  Hedrema stared hard at me for a long moment as I struggled to maintain eye contact with her. Then a slight smile appeared on her face. "That’s a very… diplomatic answer. What is your name, human?"

  "Corvin Chance."

  "Corvin Chance." She seemed to mull the name over. "Your mother was recently killed."

  How the hell did she know that? "Eh, yes, she was."

  "As much as I hate your world, I still keep abreast of what’s happening in it. Knowledge is power, as you humans are so fond of saying. Did you avenge her death?"

  I nodded, thinking of plunging the dagger into Iliphar, and of Iolas being taken away in handcuffs. "Yes, I did."

  Hedrema seemed impressed. "I admire your loyalty, and you seem to get things done. I may warm to you yet, human."

  I was just about to ask for permission to speak—so I could begin to argue Dalia’s case—when I noticed movement behind Hedrema. My eyes went to one of the columns of skulls and then I noticed something slithering around it—a huge green serpent. As soon as its massive head came into view, I couldn’t help but think of the serpent that Iolas had conjured to kill me, and I was suddenly nervous in the serpent’s presence. It uncoiled itself from around the column and made its way up the back of Hedrema’s throne, coming to rest its head on her shoulder, its light green eyes seeming to stare right at me as its tongue flicked in and out of its wide mouth. "This is Osaba," Hedrema said as she reached up to stroke the serpent’s head. "She’s my closest advisor."

  Osaba soon made her way down off the throne and onto the floor, raising herself right up in front of me so that her head was mere inches from mine. It was all I could do not to step back away from her, but I knew if I did that Hedrema wouldn’t be pleased, so I gritted my teeth and stayed put while Osaba stared into my eyes and flicked her forked tongue around my face as if she was somehow tasting me. When she opened her mouth and showed me her fangs, I stopped breathing for a moment as I felt sure she was going to bite me. But instead, Osaba suddenly darted to the side and reared up in front of Dalia. Then, in a lightning fast movement, she struck at Dalia, sinking her fangs right into Dalia’s shoulder. Needless to say, Dalia screamed as the serpent bit down on her. I wanted to go and help her, but I knew I couldn’t. The second I did, either Osaba or Hedrema would stop me. Hedrema herself was smiling as she watched Osaba force Dalia down to her knees. When the serpent finally released her grip, she spoke in an expectedly hissing voice. "I’ve misssed you, Dalia," she said.

  Despite her pain, Dalia stared defiantly back at Osaba. "I’ve missed you too, Osaba," she said.

  Osaba’s fangs dripped with blood. "Ssstill ssssuch ssssweet flesssh you have…"

  "Enough, Osaba," Hedrema said, as though she was suddenly bored by the whole display of dominance.

  Osaba hissed at Dalia one more time, and then looked at me, her emerald green eyes full of knowing, though I had no idea of what. She slithered back to the throne, and then shocked everyone by suddenly striking at one of Hedrema’s deformed pets, sinking her fangs into the smaller creature’s skull as it screamed horribly and struggled to free itself from the serpent’s grip. As the sickening sound of bones being crushed filled the air, Osaba then began to slowly swallow her prey as she seemed to keep her eyes on me, for some reason. Hedrema’s remaining pets had all s
crambled around the other side of the throne, keeping well away from Osaba as she continued to eat their kin.

  "Really, Osaba?" Hedrema tutted and shook her head. "What have I told you about eating my pets? They don’t grow on trees you know."

  Twig made some sort of noise as he looked down at Osaba, a noise that could’ve been a laugh of amusement.

  "I’m glad you find it funny, Twig." Hedrema suddenly conjured a fireball in her hand and threatened to throw it at a now frightened Twig. "That’s what I thought."

  I looked at Dalia, who was just getting back to her feet. "Are you all right?" I asked her.

  She nodded grimly. "I’m fine."

  Her shoulder was drenched in blood and her face full of pain, so I doubted she was fine. "Do you want me to heal you?"

  "No, she doesn’t," Hedrema said. "She can take the pain. Dalia has always been good at taking pain."

  I was getting sick of Hedrema and her callous ways, and angry at her sadistic, bullying attitude toward Dalia. I just wanted to grab Dalia and get the hell out of this crazy place, but I knew if I did that I wouldn’t get very far. So I was once again forced to bite my tongue and hope the ordeal would be over soon.

  "You mentioned Sorcha," Dalia said as she held her injured shoulder. "Why?"

  Hedrema shook her head dismissively. "She has disappeared, that’s why, and she took something of mine before she did."

  "Why can’t you find her? Is she in this world or the other?"

  "She’s in the human world. She was seen escaping, forcing some of my kin to carry her ill-gotten gains. After that, she disappeared, the conniving little snake." She looked down at Osaba, who was busy digesting her meal. "No offense, Osaba."

  "You said she took something," Dalia said. "What did she take?"

  "She stole the Arc of Annihilation. Do you know what that is?"

  I certainly didn’t, although the name didn’t sound good. Dalia shook her head. "No."