The Four Tales

by Rebecca Reddell

  “This is not what I expected when I died! I expected better!” she shouted into the void.

  No one heard her or answered. Apparently, they were all on vacation or too good to speak to her in her predicament.

  Sighing again, Maezy took a tiny step forward. Then she took another and another. She had no clue where she was going to go. Being dead felt weird. Awkward. Strange. Creepy. Definitely creepy.

  Atropos hadn’t even given her a chance to leave. Why had she opened her eyes? WHY? It wasn’t as though she could have done anything. She should have left as soon as possible and retreated back to her mother’s realm until a new plan could be formed.

  “This stinks,” her voice echoed aloud. “Can anyone hear me?”

  Not even a rustle to be heard. Stopping in her tracks, Maezy plopped down on the black floor. She assumed it was a floor anyway. Ground? Maybe.

  Whatever it was, she was sitting on it until she figured out what she could do. There wasn’t a manual for being dead. Or, if there was, she had never read it.

  How does one act dead? What does one do when they’re dead? Shouldn’t she be more freaked out over being murdered?

  Wiping at her neck, feeling the wet stickiness, she sighed. Feeling her sides, the leather belt where her sword had been encased was still empty.

  “Figures,” she muttered. “Couldn’t I at least have my sword? Is that too much to ask? Being dead is STUPID!”

  “Prefer being alive, I understand?”

  Maezy screamed and toppled over backward. Lying there, she grasped the front of her shirt where her heart should have leapt out of her chest. In fact, it was pounding in fierce repetition. Sliding up and balancing on her elbows, she peered to the right where the voice had come from.

  A warm, fulfilling light began to throb and crackle from the direction of The Voice. It was a bit overwhelming, and she had to squint her eyes to ward off the bright blaze. Not looking directly into the shining gleam, Maezy felt the thump of her heart in her ears.

  “My heart works,” she murmured.

  “Did you think it wouldn’t?” The Voice inquired, with gentle speculation.

  “Well, I didn’t think you’d need your heart when you’re dead,” she riposted.

  “Ahh, I see your confusion. Do you want to be dead?”

  Unsure what to say, Maezy closed her eyes and breathed in until she could breathe no further. Considering her answer, she pictured her mother and Brandalfr. Just as she had left them, standing over her, one last glimpse before her eyes had slid shut and blocked their faces from view.

  A warmth spread through her. The light began to encompass her. She could feel its heat warming her bones. It took the chill away and wrapped her in a cozy and snug embrace. Her head nodded, chin resting on collar bone. It toasted her insides and made them wish to stay enveloped in the sun, in this moment, forever.

  It was peace, this warmth. A benevolent heat which healed her from the inside out. She’d never witnessed or felt such magic.

  “Not magic,” The Voice flowed.

  “What…?” she couldn’t form the words. Her mind spoke the question.

  “It is love. Pure and untainted by the evil you have experienced.”

  “Love?” her voice mumbled, apart from her body. “Is it always this beautiful?”

  “More so, when it is genuine and flawless. Would you like to stay in it?” The Voice wanted to know.

  Maezy felt it liquefy her, almost as if she was shifting from flesh and blood into some bodiless entity. A form where pain would no longer exist. Without seeing it, she knew the blood was gone. She felt that the holes were healed, and the fear replaced.

  How divine it felt. Celestial. Exquisite.

  Yes, was on the tip of her tongue. Who wouldn’t want to stay in this?

  Tears filled her eyes as she felt the healing to her very soul. Or was she already a soul? What’s the soul of a soul?

  “Your body is still intact. Atropos tends to interfere in life and death. She would like to believe she has say over it all and can command death on her own terms.” The Voice read her thoughts. “I defeated death. She has difficulty remembering that fact.”

  “You defeated death?” Maezy’s question was a susurrate against the wind.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Then, I can live?”

  Her only answer was the kiss of light and heat. She was cocooned in a cradle of relief and experienced the alleviation of pain. Her wounds healed, she was welcomed into another darkness.

  A familiar black orb. Rest called to her body and mind. Her heart beat a rhythmic stanza.

  “Rest, my child. The battle has only begun,” The Voice whispered, before its presence left her. Only a residue of warmth seeped into her bones as the void captured her and pulled her inside.

  13

  She wasn’t breathing. Her chest was immobile.

  Maleficent’s voice turned into a high pitched keening. Falling to her knees, she wailed and pounded her fists against the wooden floor. She pulled at her hair and screamed. Her voice an echoing chant within the room.

  Brandalfr stayed where he had fallen and stared at Maezy for hours, when only minutes had passed. The time took on a slower speed than ever before, but it felt as though ages had passed in an instant. No one came to investigate the shrieking.

  They must be used to it, the thought came and went. At least, he supposed it had been a thought. He didn’t know if he’d said it aloud or within his mind only. His heart slowed until it felt nonexistent.

  Thunder and lightning flashed, rippled, and detonated the sound barrier around them. He heard it all through a haze.

  Still, he kept his eyes upon Maezy. Hoping she would awake and tell them of her adventure, Brandalfr tried not to blink. Maleficent’s lamenting crashed through the house as mother nature burst out every tirade she could shake forth. The reverberations of each new thunder strike were enough to distract anyone from their vigil.

  Certain the storm would tear them all a part, Brandalfr turned onto his knees. After he’d reversed and crawled to Maezy’s side, his hand took her own. Cold and lifeless, it rested there. Not moving, he squeezed the fingers and rubbed them.

  As he did so, he noticed for the first time a slick coating on his hands. Pulling his right hand back, he saw the blood as it dripped from his index finger, hit each finger in turn, and plopped onto the carpet.

  Eyes widening, he surveyed her arm and investigated further up. Soon, he saw splotches where there were rivers of blood and punctures on her arm and neck. Checking her other arm, he saw the same. The red liquid saturated her clothes.

  How had they not seen this before?

  Through the rumble and battered sound of Maleficent’s anguish, Brandalfr shouted, “Maleficent, look! Come look!”

  How she’d heard him he wasn’t sure, but in the next instant, she was shoving him away from Maezy. First, in anger, and then to investigate further. The thunder and lightning died with her confusion.

  “She’s been bit! The mermaids must have fed on her.” Clinical now, her voice was clipped.

  Stomach turning, Brandalfr wiped his hands against his legs wanting to get rid of the evidence of death. “You mean,” he couldn’t finish.

  “Maezy must have been seen. Her invisibility must not have worked, and they attacked her,” Maleficent speculated.

  Wiping the blood off with the corner of her long shirt, the witch couldn’t remove all of it. They watched as the perforations on Maezy’s skin began to dry. It was as if her body knew she’d died and was trying to catch up since she’d been in a realm walk.

  “No!” Maleficent’s scream pierced the air.

  The whole room shook before furniture was thrown and slammed against the walls. She’d moved them with her mind. Dropping to her knees, the woman sobbed against Maezy’s arm.

  Shaking, Brandalfr shook his head. Over and over again, he refused to believe what he was seeing. “She’s not dead,” he whispered. “She’s not dead! Maezy?”r />
  “My daughter is dead.” The words echoed and were punctuated by another explosion of thunder.

  14

  “I will kill him,” she whispered at first. “I! Will! Kill! Him!” she shouted next.

  Brandalfr didn’t have to ask who Maleficent planned on killing. He knew it was Ingvar. The Elf King who had started everything. However, when she turned her phosphorescent gaze toward him, he began to rethink his understanding of whom she planned to kill.

  “Why didn’t your father stop this? I should have prepared her better! This can’t be right! She can’t be asleep forever. Nevermore.” The tears glistening in her eyes made them even more intense and bright.

  He wasn’t sure if he was meant to answer. Looking down, he reached out and grabbed Maezy’s hand again. He squeezed it but fought the hope of her squeezing in return.

  “Your father could have prevented this!”

  “He would have, if he could. I don’t know if he could stop it. Something went wrong.”

  “Wrong? Wrong? Do you think so? My daughter is dead! Wrong is an understatement! I should never have allowed her to go!” The ranting was accompanied by thunder and lightning.

  “I shouldn’t have allowed it either. It was my quest. I should have gone, come what may.”

  “She will sleep now. Never to awaken. Even True Love’s Kiss can’t fix this.” Shoulders slumped, Maleficent looked defeated.

  Brandalfr had never seen a scarier sight. If she didn’t have any idea of what to do, then there really was no bringing Maezy back from the dead.

  “Death is beyond even my means, Brandalfr. I don’t know if we’ll ever rescue your father. The only good thing I can say about my daughter’s murder is that Ingvar will never have her now.”

  Brandalfr shook her head and exhaled long and low. For the moment, he only stared at Maezy’s face. Her closed lids and the shadow of her long red lashes resting against her cheekbones. How the freckles danced across her nose.

  He wanted to memorize them. Hold them in his mind and his heart until he could seek his revenge and decimate her murderers. If there was any way he could exterminate them all, he would.

  Anger throbbed in his heart. It felt hot and fierce and fervent. He would find his father. He would rescue him. He would annihilate whoever killed Maezy. Sucking in a breath, he made a silent promise to get retaliation. Trembling, he gripped her hand tighter.

  If only she would wake up. If only he could kiss her and have her open her eyes like before. Leaning closer, he ignored Maleficent’s ranting and pacing.

  Trying to hear one breath. A puff of air. Anything. Holding his own, his face hovered over hers.

  Refusing to break down, Brandalfr decided on his final act. A preoccupation actually, which had been on his mind since the last time he’d done it. Lowering his head, he was deliberate in his descent.

  His lips met hers. They were still warm. They tasted soft, smooth, and sweet. He pressed closer for a heartbeat and felt a spark before he dragged himself away.

  A breath caught in his throat and suffocated him. He experienced a hitch in his chest. Releasing her hand, he arranged it across her stomach.

  Brandalfr stood and backed up a few steps before turning around. He needed to leave. This was affecting him much more than it should. He’d just met her.

  “Ridiculous,” he whispered and made his way to the door.

  “Is this going to become a habit? You kissing me when I’m asleep?” the voice croaked, on an exhale.

  Her voice filled the room beyond bashing wind, crashing thunder, and blinding flashes of light.

  Jolted to a stop, he heard the weather cease. Quiet filled the air before a hacking cough resonated in the sudden solitude. He heard the whisper of Maleficent whipping around from her prop against the desk.

  “Maezy.” The name murmured in the abrupt hush. A reverent quality filled the one word with tenderness.

  His eyelids slid closed. An exhale came before he smiled. Comprehending what she’d just said, Brandalfr stifled a chuckle and turned around. The sight greeting his eyes made him feel better than he had in days.

  Maleficent held Maezy close. Her head peeked over her mother’s shoulder, chin tucked there, Maezy was smiling at him. Smiling back, he shrugged one shoulder.

  “I guess there are fewer complaints,” he quipped, the right corner of his mouth tilting upward.

  “I doubt that,” Maezy threw the jest out like a challenge.

  “I guess we’ll just have to investigate further,” he added, before Maleficent snapped at them both.

  “Enough!” Her one worded command was heeded straightaway.

  But both elf hybrids continued to smile at one another even as the interrogation began.

  15

  “What happened? You were dead, Maezy! What in the world did you do?”

  “Mother, calm down. I will tell you everything in a moment. I just need to readjust to being welcomed back to the living.” Watching her mother’s eyes turn into flames, Maezy figured that was the wrong thing to say.

  “Exactly! This is what I mean! Atropos was there, wasn’t she? I should have known she’d come for a visit at the time she isn’t needed! Meddling Fate!”

  Turning around, with her hands waving in the air, Maleficent began to pace. “Her antics are going to get her in trouble one day. Someone should clip her thread and see how she likes it! In fact, I think I need to contact Zeus…” Maleficent broke off and looked at the ceiling.

  “Mother! We need to focus. Atropos is there. She cut my thread.”

  Hearing Maezy say the words had Brandalfr sucking in a breath. He turned his head down and to the right before rubbing at his eye. It felt a bit damp, and he didn’t want to be accused of crying. Elves don’t cry.

  “Someone sent me back. I don’t know who. I didn’t see him. He told me my time isn’t up,” Maezy added.

  “It isn’t,” Brandalfr whispered, in agreement. He’d be forever indebted to the being who had returned Maezy to them.

  The red-head glanced at him, pausing in the midst of her discourse. She must have heard them. Her quick smile lit up her face and disappeared just as fast.

  “However,” she continued, “I don’t think I’ll return to the Mermaid Lagoon until we have a more solid plan. I don’t think dying twice would be a good idea.”

  Maezy’s brows raised, and she glanced back and forth from Brandalfr to her mother. Both listened to her with thoughtful looks on their faces. Her mother’s face calmed, and her eyes didn’t resemble two death beams any longer.

  “That doesn’t sound like Zeus. He usually likes to make a display. Especially when he’s granting a favor.” Maleficent sounded as if she knew him personally, but Maezy didn’t ask any questions. Sending a glance Brandalfr’s way, they exchanged shrugs.

  “I don’t think you should go back, Maezy. If you can die in your realm walk, it’s too dangerous for you to return. We have to think of another way.” Brandalfr came to the end of her daybed and sat on the end.

  Next to her feet, he shook his head before asking, “Did you even see my father?”

  “Yes. I did. He’s there. He looks well and tried to warn me.” Sending him a small smile, she took a deep breath. “We have to think of another plan.”

  “Agreed,” Maleficent turned on her heel and walked to her desk. Stepping around the edge, she pulled out a thick, old book.

  “The Sorcerer Manual?” Maezy mocked as she sat up. Pushing herself to a sitting position, pain startled her. “Ow!”

  “What?” Brandalfr leaned closer to her, his brows frowning.

  “What happened?” Her mother dropped the book back to the desk and hurried to Maezy’s side.

  Blood seeped through her clothes along her arms and neck once again. Feeling the liquid drizzle down her skin, the sharp pinpricks stabbed her with each movement. It surprised her because she remembered them being healed while she was in the bright light. However, maybe returning to her realm had brought them back?
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br />   “It’s starting again?” Her mother’s eyes were glowing again.

  “The mermaids apparently like to snack out of water too.” Her dry tone tried to smooth over the moment.

  “Maezy!”

  “Mother, no need to overreact. It isn’t as though I stayed dead.”

  Silence. No one laughed. No one exclaimed over her choice of words. They just stared at her with sad eyes.

  “Fine. I didn’t mean it. Can we just figure out what to do? Has father come close to finding this realm?” Maezy changed the subject.

  “No,” her mother shook her head. “He hasn’t breached our spells. I think it will take him days to even find us, if he does at all. Brandalfr helped cover our tracks well.”

  Maezy noticed the brief, instant smile her mother sent the warlock. Surprised, she wondered how much bonding they’d been up to while she was out. “Then, what do we do?”

  No one spoke for a lengthy amount of time. Brandalfr sat back on the end of the sofa and crossed his arms. His eyes stared out into the distance as he thought. Maleficent went back to her desk and the book there.

  Taking advantage of their preoccupation, Maezy used her handkerchief to wipe away as much of the blood as she could. Her shirt had soaked up most of the fluid. Feeling gross, she hoped a shower was in their plans. In fact, she might as well go take one now while they tried to figure out the next course of action.

  Looking up, her eyes caught Brandalfr’s. They were cinnamon again. His lips were pressed together, and his brows were squinched.

  He doesn’t look happy, she thought before noticing his scrutiny was directed at her blood-soaked handkerchief. Shaking his head, he met her stare again.

  “I’m going to go get cleaned up, mother,” she said, but continued looking at him.

  “Good idea-- No! This won’t work!” Maleficent began muttering to herself once again, dismissing them both.

  Without a word, Brandalfr stood and helped her off the cushions. Keeping her hand in his, he escorted her to the door and through it. Neither articulated where they were going. Together they walked down the hallway, and instead of turning left and returning to the hall they’d been in earlier that day, took a right.