by CC Solomon
Ahmed nodded. “So, I suppose you have an army of your own to build,” he said.
He was right. We had to gather supporters. How we were going to get enough people to prepare for a war that most didn’t even know was coming was the first problem to tackle.
I leaned towards Ahmed. “Tell us everything you know about these soulmates and how we can take them out.”
What happened to Lisa in the Fae realm and the others while Amina was banished? Find out in Mystic Realms, A Paranormal World Novella.
Mystic Realms
A Paranormal World Novella
By
C.C. Solomon
Acknowledgments
Thank you to all my friends and family who supported my dreams. Thank you to my beta readers, Judi, Marcia, Ellen, Charity and Lynne. Your time and feedback are truly appreciated. Thank you to Katherine B. for your formatting skills. Your help is invaluable. And another thank you to my editor, Nina Gooden, for all your help and expertise.
Chapter 1
The Disappearance
Lisa Xu was building an empire before the world had gone to hell. She had almost been at one million subscribers on most of her social media channels. Her focus was makeup and hair tutorials, as well as fashion. She’d collected sponsors and had been in talks to get a limited-edition makeup collection with a very popular, but affordable, makeup company.
At only twenty-one, she’d been proving to her critical parents that she hadn’t needed a college education to be successful. They’d been Chinese immigrants who had worked hard to provide for her and her siblings. Her brother and sister had been making her parents proud. Her little sister was in college to become a chemist and her brother had been starting out in some tech company. They would have been successful and taken care of her parents. But she would have too.
She would have become a celebrity makeup artist and hair stylist. Heck, maybe even a celebrity stylist. She would have gotten her own TV show. She’d have married a hot celebrity. Maybe that new actor, Justin Devlin, from her favorite TV cop drama, Philly P.D. She’d read that he was single.
She had thought she was cute enough to get his attention, if she’d ever get into any of the celebrity parties. She was petite with flawless skin and full lips that she’d kept covered in her signature red. She had almond-shaped eyes, and brown hair highlighted with blonde at the time. Sure, she was only five feet tall, but she had stayed in heels so she could compete with any glamazon model who might have tried to stand in her way.
Lisa had a plan and it was set to come true.
Then the supernatural had taken over the world one Saturday afternoon. She’d hidden in a closet when she heard screams of panic outside of the Manhattan hair salon where she worked. She’d actually left her client in her chair when what she now knew were gremlins crashed through the windows and began to attack people. They had been short—shorter than her—bald and pointy-eared, with razored teeth and claws. They were covered in scaly green skin.
She hadn’t thought twice. She’d just taken off and climbed into a tiny supply closet. The last thing she’d seen before she’d closed the door was a gremlin jumping on the back of a shampoo girl, who’d run around in circles trying to get the small monster off her back.
Lisa had slammed the door closed and folded her body inside, hidden amongst the chaos. At some point, she’d begun to feel nauseous and passed out. When she’d awakened, she had felt different. Renewed almost. Things in the hair salon had gone quiet but she could still hear pandemonium farther off. Screams, car alarms, sirens. She had also smelled smoke. She’d feared the building was on fire.
Lisa remembered getting out of the closet in a panic and then recoiling in horror at the death and blood all around her. She remembered passing a blood-splattered mirror and seeing that her eyes were different. They were the color of emeralds. She hadn’t had long to stare at herself because a gremlin appeared. It hadn’t attack her, it’d just skittered over on all fours to a dead customer and begun chomping on the deceased woman’s leg. It’d gnawed at the appendage like it’d been a chicken leg.
Lisa had lost her lunch before taking off in a run through the exit doors in the back. And for nine years, she had run. Sure, she’d found a stable community here and there, but nothing had stayed permanent. The world had become a mix of humans who were paranormal beings and regular, unaffected humans.
She was a fairy, she had come to learn, and her kind was always hunted.
Her father and sister had passed from the deadly Sickness, which had killed half the world’s regular human population. Her mother and brother had become fairies, just like her. However, they had been killed by humans and other paranormal beings. Her mother had died four years into the new world, at the hands of humans convinced her magical fairy blood would heal the sick. Magic blood could heal, but it had no effect on the supernatural Sickness. Her brother had died in year six of the new world, killed by vampires who had a special taste for Fae blood.
She’d come to meet only one non-relative fairy in the new world and she’d learned a great deal from the woman. That knowledge had helped her to survive. Encountering other people with good hearts also helped her. Like Erik Bennet, who’d saved her from being eaten by members of his were pack. And witch siblings, Charles and Amina Langston, who’d helped her when the earth had literally been trying to swallow her whole. And finally, the succubus, Faith Thomas, and Felix Gonzalez, a paranormal with mysterious magic, who’d saved her life when another were had tried to eat her.
Yes, her new friends had kept her going. Finding that she had purpose as a member of this special paranormal six, foretold to save the world, had made her stronger. She’d helped save innocent paranormal people, captured by humans using them for their blood. She’d fallen in love with a handsome and funny man, Charles.
And now Charles was dead. Killed by the leader of the paranormal-stealing humans. That beautiful soul had died right in front of her. She fumed over all that she’d been through and all that she’d lost. Hadn’t she suffered enough?
She ran from the sight of his body at the morgue in Hagerstown, unable to handle the pain. Amina was so hurt and angry and there was nothing Lisa could do to help her.
She slid down the wall in the hallway of the hospital, tired and distraught. She’d just teleported Felix out of that farce of a hearing. He’d been sentenced to blindness by Silver Spring’s ruler, Phillip Leal, because he’d killed a pack member who’d tried to eat her.
Now they’d have to go on the run again, she was sure of it. There would be no way Phillip would let Felix roam free and defy his sentencing. He’d probably come for Lisa, too, because she’d helped Felix escape.
She folded her legs into her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I don’t know what to do.” she whimpered.
“How about you come to our realm?” said a long-forgotten, female voice.
Lisa looked up quickly and gasped.
Isabella “Bella” Moreno. The first fairy Lisa had met other than her family. They’d met in Philadelphia when Lisa, her mother, and brother had been looking for a new community. Bella had stayed with them for a few weeks before disappearing, robbing them of a proper goodbye.
Lisa shot up. She looked at the woman with questioning eyes. “Bella? Is that really you?” she asked.
Bella smiled, opening her arms. “It’s been too long,” she said.
Bella was of average height and build. She wore her chocolate-brown, curly hair in a ponytail and her light-brown eyes stood out against her café au lait coloring. She appeared to be in her thirties. However, as a paranormal, her aging was different and Lisa was sure she was older. The best gift, at least to Lisa, since changing was that paranormals aged at an extremely slow rate.
Lisa walked to her and they hugged for a long moment as Lisa wept in her arms.
Bella patted her back slowly. “It’s been a difficult time for you these past several years. I know. Perhaps it’s time that you finally come to our realm. T
he world of the Fae.”
Lisa pulled back. “Fairy world? I thought newly-made fairies like me weren’t allowed.”
Bella smiled at her. “It’s not that you aren’t allowed. It’s that you have to earn our trust. You aren’t like most Fae; you weren’t born in our realm or raised by the Fae. Now that the magic has returned, you are part of us again. However, you’ve been of this world too long to easily come to our realm. We have to trust in you as Fae and not human. If you were a child, it would be easier.”
“Is that why you left without saying goodbye last time?” Lisa asked. “You didn’t trust us?”
Bella sighed. “It wasn’t the right time. At least I thought it wasn’t. I am sorry. Perhaps if I had brought you back, your mother and brother would still be with us.”
Lisa looked down at her boots. “You can’t take the blame for that. We didn’t ask to come back with you. Honestly, I don’t think my mom would have gone. This new world was too much for her. I can’t imagine going to a whole other realm would have been her thing.”
Bella nodded. “Would you like to go now? I think it would be good for you.”
Lisa looked up. “How did you find me?”
“I never lost you.” She gave a light chuckle. “I have my ways.”
Lisa looked back to the doors of the morgue. “I should tell them I’m leaving, but I don’t think they’ll understand.”
“They’ll want you to remain.”
“I need to go for a little while. To clear my head. I can leave a note.”
“I can tell Felix telepathically,” Bella stated. “He has the means to hear me.”
Lisa nodded slowly. Felix was able to telepathically speak to some angelic being known as Azrael. She still wasn’t sure this angel’s voice was real, but since Felix seemed mostly stable, she didn’t question him too much.
Bella closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them. “He knows you are leaving.”
“Are you sure he understood?” Lisa asked. Felix wasn’t the best at comprehension. She never understood how he was able to teach children, but she had likened him to a sort of Rain Man. Until they understood what he was, until he could remember who he’d been, he would never be the most reliable of the group.
Bella gave a nonchalant shrug. “He nodded his head,” she replied.
Lisa shook her head. “I need to verify. I should go back in there and tell them all.”
“They won’t want that. They’ll try to stop you.”
Lisa shrugged. “They can try, and that’s okay. I’ll just explain to them that I need a breather.”
Bella frowned, bunching her brows together.
“Bella, what’s going on?”
The older fairy sighed and rubbed her forehead. “You have to come to our realm. There is bigger stuff going on and the queen needs to meet you.”
“I’m going to meet a queen?” Lisa’s eyes grew wide. “Maybe the others should come with me.”
“I’m sorry, Lisa. They aren’t Fae. They’d have to get preapproved for that. How about you just try to reach out to Felix telepathically? Since he has the ability to hear it, it might work if you give it a go.”
Lisa put her hands on her hips. “How would that work? I’m not telepathic?”
Bella smiled. “You are part of The Six. You can communicate telepathically. You all haven’t grown to that level yet. However, since Felix apparently already has the power, he might be a good place to start.”
Lisa gave a curt nod and then closed her eyes. She opened one eye and looked at Bella. “What do I do?”
“Just focus on Felix and let your thoughts reach him.”
Lisa closed her eyes tight and thought of the giant, handsome man whom she’d come to love like a brother.
Hey, Felix. Can you hear me?
Silence.
Er, uh. Hello? It’s me. Knock, knock.
Who’s there? Felix’s heavy voice rang in her head.
Lisa! Lisa clapped her hands in excitement.
Lisa, who?
Really, dude? It’s me, Lisa. The fairy girl!
Oh, yeah, I know that. I just thought you were about to tell a joke.
This feels like a time to tell a joke, to you?
Not really but people cope in different ways.
Lisa rolled her eyes. Okay, fine. Look, I have to leave for a bit. I won’t be gone long; I just need to clear my head. You understand, right?
I guess? But we can help you. You don’t have to leave.
I know I don’t, but I need my space. I’m going with a friend to the Fae Realm. The one who just spoke to you.
Bella?
Yes! She’s good people, so don’t worry about me.
I can’t help but worry.
I know, but don’t. I’ll be back in two weeks. Tops. It’ll be good for me to take some time with other fairies. Tell the others, okay?
Silence.
Felix?
Oh, sorry, I nodded. I don’t like this, Lisa.
I know, but I have to go. I have to meet a queen and shit.
A queen? That’s some fancy shit.
Right! So, I have to go. Two weeks. I’ll be back. Don’t worry about me. Don’t forget to tell the others everything I just told you. Okay. Repeat it.
I got it. I got it. You’re going to meet a queen in fairy world for two weeks. You also gotta clear your head. You’ll be back.
Yes! Okay, I’m leaving now.
Bye, Lisa. I’ll miss you.
I’ll miss you too!
She opened her eyes, wiping away a tear escaping down her cheek. She really hoped Felix would remember everything. She’d have to check back in with him later.
Bella looked to her. “You ready?” she asked.
Lisa shrugged. “I guess.”
Bella smiled before snapping her fingers.
A cold breeze passed over them, gently raising the hair off of Lisa’s shoulders. The breeze became stronger until it changed into a strong wind, sliding Lisa back on her heels. Bella reached out and grabbed the other woman’s hand and brought Lisa closer to her.
Colorful specks of dust appeared from nothing, encircling them like a mini-tornado.
“What is this?” Lisa shouted through the sound of the wind.
Bella laughed. “Fairy dust!” She yelled back.
“Are you serious?” Lisa shielded her eyes with her free hand as the swirling fairy dust grew around her. She couldn’t see anything past the colorful swirls. Not the hospital walls or floors.
The tornado sped up in its swirling pattern and, seconds later, it stopped. The particles of color floated away to nothingness. Lisa’s eyes widened as she took in the new scenery. She wasn’t in Hagerstown anymore. She wasn’t sure she was even on Earth any longer.
Bella released her hand and stood back. “Welcome to the realm of the Fae.”
Chapter 2
The sky was a pale pink and silver sparkles glittered above like tiny stars. Lisa looked down. The ground was covered in what appeared to be snow but she wasn’t cold. She bent down to touch it and felt a substance much like cotton candy. The trees were impossibly tall with leaves of purple, green, blue, red, yellow, and orange. Dome-shaped buildings stood tall in the distance and the strange call of animals filled the quiet.
“This looks like a place where fairies would live,” Lisa stated.
Bella chuckled. “This is just one city. There are several. Our city is Seelie and you’ll find it more pleasant to your human sensibilities.”
“The Seelie fairies are the good guys, right?” Lisa asked, still twirling around, taking in her surroundings.
Something the size of her hand flew past her face in a blur. She ducked down, covering her head.
Bella laughed again. “Come on. Follow me. Yes, the Seelie are good fairies. Or ‘light fairies,’ as we call them. I don’t like that term. People get confused when they make false determinations of what is good because it is lighter and what is bad because it is darker. Some of the worst fairi
es are blonde and blue-eyed, and some of the kindest are the color of the night.”
Lisa followed Bella as they headed towards the town. She looked down. It felt odd to stand on the cotton-candy-type substance, but it was as sturdy as dirt. “Aren’t there other kinds, too?”
“Unseelie, which are the bad fairies, and then there are Neutral fairies. There are fairy courts within all of the groups and ultimate rulers. I’m taking you to the top of the Seelie fairy chain. She’s amazing. She was even able to make a truce with some heads of the Unseelie and Neutral courts. Stay here long enough and you’ll meet them both,” Bella explained before veering left onto a path made of what appeared to be white marble.
“Is this a road?” Lisa asked. She looked to their sides. On the right was a lake the color of midnight blue. To the left was a wide field, peppered with the sky-high trees and tall flowers that bloomed from the fluffy ground. The flowers appeared to be roses, daisies, and tulips, except they were at least two feet tall. “So, what’s the name of this queen we’re seeing?”
“Queen Arwa. She requested to meet you. She is very excited about you.”
“Why?”
“For so many reasons. You are very special, Lisa.”
“People have said that, but I don’t feel that way. If special means suffering, I’ll take a pass.”
Bella looked over to Lisa with a worried frown. “Things will get better for you. I promise.”
Another flying blur crossed in front of Lisa’s face. She let out a shriek and jumped closer to Bella. “What are these things? Bugs?”
Bella looked over to her as Lisa swatted at another flying blur. “Slow it down! She doesn’t want you in her face,” Bella scolded the flying thing. “They aren’t bugs. They’re Fae. Pixies, to be exact.”
The blurs slowed down and Lisa could now see three tiny humanoids. Perhaps no more than six inches tall, with pointed ears and translucent wings that gave off a blue glow. There was one male and two females and they hovered in the air, staring at her with wide, purple eyes.
