by Sarah Beth
A phone rang, piercing the otherwise quiet alley. Briggs pulled his phone out of his pocket, answering it with a quick word. Alex eyed the wolf as he spoke, watched the way his face became grumpier by the second. Whoever he was talking to didn’t have good news for them. Too many scenarios played in Alex’s mind of all the things that could have gone wrong. He held his breath involuntarily when the phone disappeared back into Briggs’ pocket.
“They need us on the other side of the city, in the Park.”
~~~
Stone crumbled under Alex’s fist. The brief lapse in his control left him feeling like a petulant child and he hoped that the stone, now cracked in two, wasn’t some monument. One could never tell in Central Park.
“Alexandr.” Ira was looking at him, his face blessedly blank. He spoke again when Alex met his eyes. “If you would rather return to base, I will not hold it against you.”
Returning to base was the farthest thing from Alex’s mind — from the wolf’s mind. He wanted to run through the whole damn city until he found every blasted vampire and ripped their heads from their shoulders. But then Ira probably knew exactly what Alex was thinking. Willing his body to take a few deep breaths, Alex’s head cleared considerably. He had been dangerously close to letting his wolf take control, and they had enough problems without a rogue wolf running loose in New York City. “Please, accept my apologies. My behavior—.”
“Is understandable. I’ll say it again, my friend, if you’d rather leave I will send Briggs to accompany you.”
Waving off Ira’s words, not daring to delve into the memories they brought up, Alex walked around the stone. “No. No, I’m fine.” Just before they came into view, Alex’s hand fisted at his sides. He was not a child, he would keep control of himself.
Laying on the ground, prone in a way that was clearly set up, were three children. Their clothing was dirty and had holes, many of which had been there long before their attack. Alex noted how the littlest one, a boy, had shoes that looked to be three sizes too big. The three children were positioned with the backs to the rock, the two older ones framing the small one. Their skin was ashes, but that didn’t mean Alex couldn’t see the tear tracks on their faces. His jaw clenched so hard it was painful.
“From what we have uncovered, the three were homeless. They’d been staying at a local shelter but hadn’t checked in for the night.”
Alex heard Briggs speaking in a low and solemn voice, but the words barely registered. Memories of children long dead and a war long forgotten nearly blinded him. Ira’s suggestion had been a good one — Alex had never handled the unnecessary death of children well. He couldn’t even remember the year anymore, considering that the months surrounding the war were a blur to him, but he knew that Ira would remember. His friend was the only reason why he himself was still alive and standing there. Even now, standing in Central Park with snow falling into his eyes, he could feel the same primal anger burning in his veins.
His voice was gravel as he forced to the words out, “Do we know if they have parents?”
There was a pause, long enough for Alex to lift his head and catch the look that passed between Ira and his second. “Not yet, we have someone at the shelter looking into it.”
He debated calling them out on the blatant lie, but just as suddenly as the anger had surfaced, it bled out of him like someone had cut him. All he wanted to do was get back to base — to Tori — and call Warren. And then he would write a letter to Wesley, since it was the best he could do, even though all he wanted was to hear his son’s voice.
Turning from the children who would no longer have to worry about finding food or staying warm, Alex headed for the parking lot. He was grateful when Ira said nothing to stop him. Even more pleased when no one followed him like he was a criminal who needed to be watched. His wolf’s focus had shifted from the dead and onto making sure his own pack — his family — were okay.
The war could wait a few damn minutes.
Chapter Fourteen
Abby
The glade was just as breathtaking as the first time. The sun had been almost too hot in the training field, but here the canopy of trees created a reprieve. Light danced across the grass and over the water, making the surface of the pond shimmer. Abby immediately felt a sense of calm when she walked into the small clearing. The bubbling sound of the waterfall washing her stresses away. A bird chirped somewhere above them. It was almost easy to forget the tale that Soryn had told them.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere so naturally full of magic as this place.” said Wesley, standing just behind her, her hand still in his.
With a smile, she continued forward, towards the pond’s edge. Her fingers gradually pulled from his, her arm falling to her side. When she reached the rocks around the pond, she lowered herself to a flat surface. Gathering her skirts around her, so they didn’t end up getting wet, she settled down with a pleased sigh. After a moment, she bent forward and removed her velvet-like slippers from her feet. Spreading her bare toes in the lush grass.
She could hear Wesley coming up behind her, felt him when he sat close enough behind her that his legs brushed her back, but she didn’t turn. The shimmering water held her attention. Unable to voice her emotions to Wesley, she reached through their bond and tried to show him how much the glade affected her. It felt like home to her, like no other place ever had. Not even the feeling of Wesley’s arms around her made her feel quit like the glade did. Although she had never been there, it welcomed her like no other place or person. With a smile on her lips, she reached forward, the tips of her fingers submerging into the chilly water.
The feeling of a warm blanket being tossed over her shoulders settled over her. It happened the first time she had touched the water, too. When images played inside her mind, she was more prepared for it. But the images weren’t as friendly this time.
Fires were burning the surrounding buildings. Screams pierced the night air. It was a city, that much she knew. But there were no landmarks around that would tell her which city.
Another image. Vampires running after a couple. Their laughing was just as haunting as the screams coming from their prey.
Another. Faye warriors shooting arrows off of rooftops. Others on the ground, fighting by sword. Abby shut her eyes tight when a vampire’s head was cut cleanly off.
Three children, running through a park in terror. Their screams tearing right through her very soul.
Her eyes flew open. She was still in the glade, but it wasn’t the glade she remembered. It was broken. The waterfall no longer ran with crystal clear water. The grass was brown and prickly. The trees above her head were dead and in various stages of decay. If it wasn’t for the fact that she was in a dreamlike state, she was fairly sure her heart would beat out of her chest. What was wrong with the glade? Why was it showing her these images?
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
With a gasp, Abby spun back around to the pond. There, floating above the water, was the spirit girl from her dreams. But she was different. She didn’t look hollow or lifeless here, but vibrant and royal. Her hair was still down but braids and jewels adorned it. A circlet, just like the one still on Abby own head, sat above her brow. Abby had never noticed before, but here in the glade Abby could tell immediately that the girl was Faye. How she hadn’t been able to tell in her dreams, or when she saw the girl at Claire’s, she wasn’t sure. Maybe because the spirit didn’t want her to know.
With a deep breath, Abby took a step towards the water’s edge. “You’ve been waiting for me?”
Nodding, the spirit floated closer. Her eyes were the same iridescent white that they had always been, but there were lines around the edges. Abby realized that the spirit looked sad. “I’ve been waiting until you came to my glade. You took longer than I expected.”
Her mouth open loose, Abby shook her head. “You...you’re the reason why I’m here?”
The spirit made an impatient noise, “Of course, child.
I led you to your Fate.”
Feeling so confused, Abby raised her hands palm up. “I — I don’t understand. Why are you showing me these things?”
“Because, child. This is your future, unless you and your Protector find a way to stop it.”
Clear blue eyes came into focus, concern clear in the pull of Wesley’s brow. His hands were warm on her shoulders, gripping just a little too tightly. His mind filled hers in a wave, emotions of panic flooding her senses. “Abby, can you hear me?” His voice was off. It sounded strained. Blinking, she took a gasping breath. Wesley sighed, his body visibly relaxing. He squeezed her shoulders, “Are you okay? I’ve been trying to get your attention, and you were just...not here.”
Raising a hand to her forehead, Abby nodded slowly. “Did you see her?”
He sat back on his heels, his hands falling to her gown covered knees. “Her who? What are you talking about?”
She wanted to show him, but she didn’t have the energy. Not when her body felt like it had just been put through a washing machine spin cycle. Besides, they still weren’t very good at sharing images with each other’s minds. Emotions were easy, images were complicated. “I’ll explain, but I need to go see Elazar. Now.”
~~~
Elazar’s home came into view, perched high in the tree. Abby didn’t think she would ever get used to houses that sprouted out of the sides of trees, like a growth. She realized that she hadn’t asked anyone how they did it. She was sure some form of magic was involved, but how it was possible was still a mystery to her. Maybe she would ask Elazar sometime, when they didn’t have more important matters needing their attention.
Her bare toes stepped onto the first stair, the path jutting out of the tree leading up to Elazar’s house. Only when her foot stepped on the flat surface of wood did she realize she had forgotten her shoes in the glade. As she ascended the steps, she could feel Wesley close on her heels. His presence was a calming caress on her mind. He was concerned when she told him of her vision, of the girl from her nightmares. His emotions were leaking through to her, ever so slightly, even now. She had trouble distinguishing his from her own they were so similar. The stairs stopped to reveal a large entry platform. A door stood before her, painted in soft azure. Before either of them could knock on the door, it swung open to reveal a concerned looking Faye.
“Don’t just stand there, come in.” said Elazar, as he stood aside. When she walked by him, his brows pulled together. “Abigail. Where are your shoes?”
She had the grace to blush. Shrugging, Abby stopped beside him. “I forgot them in the Glade.”
He sighed, gesturing for her to continue into the house. Once Wesley was through, he shut the door firmly behind him. “I just sent a guard to find you, but it would appear you were ahead of me. Soryn told the Elders of your letter from Alexandr.”
Wesley pulled the letter from inside his tunic, handing it over to Elazar. “Will the High Council be here soon to discuss it? They need our help before it gets worse.”
Unfolding the piece of parchment, Elazar hummed. His eyes scanned the page as he said, “The Council will arrive when they choose to. Hopefully, in a couple of days.”
Shock filtered clear through the bond. Abby put her hand on Wesley’s forearm as he reacted, taking a step forward. “A couple of days? Dozens more could be murdered by that time!”
Looking up from the letter, Elazar sighed. “Yes, I realize that as well as you do, Wesley. But there is nothing that can be done. We must wait for the High Council to arrive.”
Wesley opened his mouth to speak, but Abby stopped him by squeezing his arm. She took a step towards Elazar. “We may not have a couple of days. I saw something while we were in the glade.”
Elazar regarded her for a moment, before handing the letter back to Wesley. “Let’s have some tea.” He put his hand on the back of Abby’s shoulders, guiding her further into the house. She heard Wesley put the parchment back into his tunic before he followed close behind.
Once they were all seated at the same table where they had eaten dinner the night before, Abby told Elazar of her vision.
Scratching his chin, his brows were pulled together. “And you’ve seen this Faye-child before?”
Abby nodded, playing with the rim of her delicate glass tea cup. “In my dreams and once outside of Claire’s house. She’s the spirit that told me to find Buern. She’s the whole reason why I met Wesley.” she glanced at him, sitting beside her with a soft smile on his lips. Looking back at Elazar, she added, “She said that she led me to my fate.”
Making a noise in the back of his throat, Elazar shook his head. “No one leads you to your fate, child. Your fate finds you, whether you want it to or not.”
Shrugging one shoulder, Abby put her hand in her lap. “Maybe. But then why did she visit me in my dreams, in Buern, and again in the glade? I never realized she was Faye until today. She looked different in my dreams.”
Taking a sip of tea, Elazar hummed. “No, I would assume you didn’t. The Lady of the Glade can appear however she chooses. The fact that she appeared to you as a child is interesting. I don’t believe she has ever done that before.”
Abby and Wesley shared a glance. Leaning closer to the table, Wesley said, “The Lady of the Glade? She is known amongst the Faye?”
Inclining his head, Elazar set his cup back on the table. “She is. Some view her as a goddess, or a weaver of fate.” He shrugged, “What she really is, no one knows. But I wouldn’t put much stock in the words she speaks.”
“So you don’t believe in the future she showed me?”
Smiling slightly, Elazar shrugged a shoulder. “It doesn’t really matter what I believe. She spoke to you, so what do you think?”
Taking a deep breath, Abby sat back in her chair. What did she believe? The future that the Lady had showed her was so hard to imagine. But with the direction things were going, was it impossible? Abby didn’t think she was ready to gamble on it. “I — I don’t know. But I know that my friends are in danger. I have to help them.”
Elazar nodded, a small smile pulling at his lips. “Then I suggest we get you ready to help them. In any way that you can.”
Chapter Fifteen
Abby
Abby held Wesley’s hand in her own, their fingers intertwined. Elazar had made a plan of what things he could teach her that might prove useful — she would start the following morning. Elazar said it could be days before news from the Council arrived, so they would train while they waited for them.
The longer it took the Council to get there, the more annoyed Abby got. No matter how many times she told herself that it had only been two days, one day since word had been sent to the Council, they still weren’t moving quick enough. She didn’t care if they had hundreds of years. She didn’t care that she had hundreds of years. Her friends didn’t. The humans didn’t. If she was going to do anything to help them, to stop the future that the Lady had shown from coming true, she had to act fast.
Someone’s hand squeezed her own. Wesley’s crystal eyes looked at her when she lifted her own eyes, a small smile pulling on his lips. “You’re brooding, I can tell by the way your forehead is getting more and more wrinkly.”
She couldn’t help but smile, pulling lightly on his hand. “I’m getting wrinkles, huh?”
Chuckling, he kissed the top of her head. “No. I think we’ve got a good three hundred years before that happens.” He smiled at her again, before his eyes became concerned. “What’s on your mind? You’ve got it all locked up tight in there.”
Oh. She hadn’t meant to close him out. With a groan, she shrugged her shoulders. “Everything? Time isn’t on our side. And yet here we are heading to a fancy dinner, like our friends aren’t in danger. Like the whole human race isn’t in danger.” He raised a single brow in her direction. With a sigh, she bumped her shoulder into his side, “Okay, maybe that was a little over dramatic but it’s also true. We don’t have time to waste.”
He stopped walki
ng, her arm pulled taut before she turned back to him. He held her gaze for a moment, “I know it’s difficult, I know it’s making you frustrated. But this is our path right now. We have to do all we can so that when we can get back to them, we’re ready to help.”
She knew he was right — she had been telling herself the same things. But hearing him say them, his warm hand holding tight to hers, made the words stick a little more. “When did you become the sagged old werewolf of our relationship?” She tried to keep her voice serious, but knew she was failing. She couldn’t keep her lips from quirking up at the corners.
Chuckling, Wesley tugged on her arm gently. “Someone had to be.” Kissing the side of her head, he started walking again, giving her no option but to follow.
Meandering through a part of the village Wesley hadn’t seen before, he stopped. “Are you sure this is the right way?”
She smiled, “Yes, come on. It should be right around the next bend.” Pulling gently on his arm, he slowly followed. When they followed the flower-lined path around a tree, a house came into view. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting, but a large building on the ground wasn’t it. Unlike Elazar’s home, and a lot of other houses in the Forest, Lady Neirdre’s wasn’t in a tree.
