When he finally pulls away, my heart is beating so fast, the machine next to my bed is beeping furiously. Arthur smiles. “Haven’t you been paying attention?” he whispers, smiling up at me. “I’ll always be with you. You are, after all, my knight in shining armor.”
I laugh, then wince as the movement pulls at my scar.
“Alright, alright,” Bri says, sounding strangely like Keva, “now that we’ve settled the fact that she’ll make an honest man out of you, how about we all celebrate outside before the doctor changes her mind?”
“I know a quiet and cozy place nearby,” Sir Neil adds. “The owner’s a relative of mine, and I know his wife will make sure Morgan’s well taken care of.”
“Sounds good to you, Morgan?” Arthur asks me softly.
I grin at him. “I am kinda hungry,” I say.
The cousins spring to their feet, evidently glad for the excuse to leave the stuffy room. And after Sir Neil and Arthur have helped me into a wheelchair, we follow suit.
The air outside is cool, with hints of the warm summer months to come. I turn my face towards the sun as we make our slow way to the parking lot, wondering where Keva, and all the others are now, and if any of them can see us.
Arthur stops my wheelchair beside a fiery orange sportscar that I know only too well, and my mouth drops open in shock.
“I know,” Arthur says. “But this way I still feel like Percy’s with us, you know?”
I nod, swallowing back down the sudden tears. “I don’t think he’d approve of the bird shit that’s all over his hood, though,” I say, giggling as I let him help me inside the car.
As Arthur collapses the wheelchair to stuff it in the back seat, my gaze wanders up the tree’s branches where fat buds about to flower can be seen among delicate green leaves.
My breath rushes out as I find myself staring into a single golden eye.
“Ready?” Arthur asks, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Morgan?”
“Ready,” I whisper back.
As we tear away from the parking lot, I turn in my seat to watch the black feline climb down the tree, its one eye never leaving us. Surely not…
Then the car speeds around the corner and I lose the cat from sight.
“What’s the matter?” Arthur asks. “Did you forget something?”
I shake my head. “I’m good,” I say with a small smile. “In fact, I’ve never been better.”
THE END
Brief Glossary of Revised Mythology
Banshee – a fairy woman in Irish mythology whose wails and keens mean someone’s going to die soon. Banshee wasn’t always like that. In fact, she used to be a beautiful Fey, until bad choices and disaster struck. But that’s another story for another time…
Brownie – Usually found in British houses, this small Fey creature loves to take care of all house chores, particularly at night, when the humans are asleep.
Clurichaun – trickster fairy in Irish mythology who lives to drink alcohol, preferably alone. Nibs greatly increased his intake of alcohol once Arthur removed his ogham.
Dark Sidhe – technically, according to Scottish mythology, should be called members of the Unseelie Court, but that term went out of fashion in Mordred’s time. They hate humankind, and knights in particular, and will do anything to get their revenge.
Draugar – term for the undead in Norse mythology, or those who walk again. No matter their previous bodily state. Keva thinks they’re disgusting.
Dybbuk – a Fey creature in Jewish mythology who can possess someone else’s body (or steal their skin, if you want) without anyone else noticing—hence why even demons hate them.
Elementals – basic Fey creatures known across the world, though under different names. The Order has been following Paracelsus’s classification since the 16th century, namely:
Gnomes to represent the element of earth—they often take the shape of miniature people no taller than three apples;
Undines or Nymphs to speak of the water element Fey—their shape can shift and vary, though they like to take on the form of flying fish;
Sylphs for the element of air—these elementals can easily be confused with pixies, much to the latter’s annoyance; and finally
Salamanders, which are the names for the fire elementals—they take on the shape of either chameleons or lizards, and are often used to light up Lake High and other knights’ homes. Dragons are their distant cousins.
Excalibur – Fey broadsword that was provided by Caim to the de Cornouailles family, and is known never to break, no matter the foe. Its grip and guard form a large cross.
Fomori – followers of Balor, and foes of the Tuatha Dé, Danu’s people. They have become demons that can both haunt the land as well as the seas, and bring chaos and death wherever they go.
Gae Assail – Lugh’s fiery spear that never misses its mark. According to Irish mythology, the weapon always thirsts for blood, and can only be kept temporarily at rest if its head is doused with a poppy seed-based sleeping draught.
Geas – a vow, often sealed in blood. The vow will differ depending on its reason, but is usually used to keep something secret, like Lake High’s location.
Hobgoblin – a little elf often considered to be hairy and ugly, and usually used to do odd bits and things around one’s house.
Kelpie – often found in Scottish waters, this water Fey often takes on the shape of a terrifying horse, with a mane of seaweed, and glowing red eyes. Although an omnivore, it does have a predilection for human flesh.
Leanan Sidhe – beautiful Fey women who like to take on human lovers, often taking the look and appearance of their lover’s sweetheart to more easily beguile them.
Nephilim – the children of fallen angels and humans. Although diluted, they have enough Fey blood in them to still command significant powers.
Ogham – pronounced “owe ‘em”, it is the crystallization of a Fey’s power, through which it can access its magic, as well as receive that of their Fey Lord or Lady for additional sustenance. It usually takes on the form of a gem, but depending on the Fey’s power, can take on different forms, including that of living creatures with a semi-independent will. By knowing the Fey’s true name to which the ogham belonged, a knight may be able to call on its power.
Pair Dadeni – a giant cauldron recorded in ancient Wales, known to be able to revive the dead, and therefore give an unfair advantage to whoever uses it. Thought once to have been destroyed, it turns up in a rather unsettling location instead…
Sangraal – also called Lapsit exillis, or the stone that fell from Heaven. It is a stone bowl inscribed with runes along its rim. It once belonged to Lucifer, and, when touched with a true heir’s blood, will fill up with liquid that can restore any Fey, angels and demons included, to its full power.
Scrying – the practice of looking into a reflecting surface, such as a lake or mirror, to be able to see and communicate with others at great distances, and even in other realms.
Teind – the tithe or tribute, chiefly made up of humans, Dark Sidhe have to pay to Hell to retain their powers. It used to happen once every seven years, but this activity has increased lately.
Acknowledgments
I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people who have helped me make this book a reality.
First of all, I would like to thank my parents for always cheering me on, and for helping me get back up whenever I fell. Mom, Dad, without you, I would still be working on this today.
I am also very grateful to my friend Jason R., who always knows how to make me laugh, even in the darkest of times.
And, finally, a very special thanks goes to Elisabeth Szentkereszty de Zagon for using up all her free time—lunches included—to edit my story and give me her honest opinion on it.
About the Author
Ogre killer, witch subduer, bookkeeper for the Gnomes Of Terrible Hirsuteness Society, and Fairy documentarist, Alessa Ellefson uses any spare time she has to write her accounts
of the Fey kingdom before her memories can be wiped clean.
Curse of the Fey is the final installment in Alessa's Morgana Trilogy, a young adult fantasy series based on the memoirs of Morgan Pendragon that were relayed through the goodwill and resilience of pigeon messengers (a true feat in dragon- and harpy-infested skies).
Alessa won the second prize at the CINEFANTASY International Short Film Screenwriting Competition in 2016 for her screenplay The Seeker's Key, a tale of two brave children in a tension-filled immigration camp.
To keep up to date with Alessa's activities and latest investigative forays into the magical realms, sign up for her newsletter on www.alessaellefson.com.
* * *
[1] A poisonous plant.
[2] To completely erase or wipe out.
[3] Toothless.
[4] Blood of any Fey, including that of Dark Sidhe and demons. Can have a different consistency or color from that of humans.
[5] A false god in Zoroastrianism.
[6] Blue tattoos that Mordred wears, in reference to the tincture he used to make them.
[7] Medium-sized mouse that’s fed to snakes, bigger than the pinky and the fuzzy.
[8] Demon’s head in Arabic
[9] Satan’s head in Hebrew
[10] The piled up corpses in Chinese
[11] Muscles that bend joints and limbs by contracting, like those on the inside of the forearm
[12] French expression of surprise similar to “holy cow.”
[13] The carved ornament at the beginning or end of a piece of furniture.
[14] A traveling minstrel or poet/musician.
[15] ‘Evil demon’ in Russian.
[16] ‘Blind fool’ in Russian.
[17] Semi-circular recess at the end of a church where the altar stands.
[18] A type of fungi that grows on trees and looks like a miniature platform.
[19] Celtic symbol of interlaced arcs that look like three connected leaves.
[20] Vertical piece of wood that divides a window into sections.
[21] Thigh armor.
[22] Butts, in French.
[23] Tuareg drink made from goat cheese, millet, and dates.
[24] One of the greatest of the fallen angels, whose name means the “Destroyer.’
[25] Goddess of death and destruction in Hinduism.
[26] Random speech that makes no sense.
[27] Demon possession in German.
[28] The knights Templar are still amongst us in French
[29] Circle crossed at the base—a symbol used to cast away evil spirits.
[30] Prayer desk and kneeler combined into one, primarily used for private devotionals, or for praying at church.
[31] A tight white cap that covers the head and is worn under a nun’s veil.
[32] Monster made up of dissimilar parts that give it a grotesque and horrifying appearance.
[33] The joining of two or more runes into one.
[34] Infinite series of numbers where the next one is found by adding the two numbers before it: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…
[35] The end of a sword’s blade around which the grip, guard piece, and pommel are placed.
[36] The groove on the long sword that starts about halfway up the naked blade.
[37] Eh?, in French.
[38] Little snot, in French.
Curse of the Fey: A Modern Arthurian Legend (Morgana Trilogy Book 3) Page 41
