A Witch's Destiny

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  “Please allow him to know the truth one day soon.”

  She wanted to discuss this further, but she had no time for she was startled when she saw Danhoul come from within an adjoining portal. He came to Alainn and, in an uncommon display of affection, he took her in his arms and held her tight. He did not speak, but Alainn knew his heart was undeniably heavy and in hearing his thoughts, he believed it was unlikely they would see each other again in this life.

  “Sure we will meet again in another life!” She spoke through telepathy and gently touched his cheek.

  “And then you won’t recognize me.” He sadly related as he answered her in the same manner. “You will think of me as a stranger, yet again.”

  “Have we had this conversation before?” she asked, but Danhoul simply turned away leading her to believe it had been so.

  “I’ll remember you, Danhoul. I will make a point of remembering you and recognizing our friendship. I do thank you for all you’ve done for me. You have been an ever-vigilant guardian and a valued friend.”

  He nodded, but did not speak and she knew he was filled with deep emotion.

  The three of them stood before the huge golden portal that evidently led to the realm of the gods.

  “It is best you wait here, Danhoul. Decisions are to be made today regarding your future as well.” Aine declared.

  Danhoul looked at Alainn with obvious concern, but having dealt with the gods for admittedly many lives, he simply nodded his head knowing resistance was futile. As Aine stepped before the portal and it started to glow, Alainn’s skin began to crawl and the hairs on her neck stood on end. She stopped where she stood, clearly aware something was amiss, and that the demon was near. She soon noticed a large dark cloud billowing down the corridor toward them. She felt the quick and disturbing movements of the evil child within her. It was surely responding, perhaps even calling to the darkness that was now headed directly for them.

  Danhoul must have recognized the terrified look in her eyes and turned to see the black cloud as well.

  “Aine,” he called out.

  Ever the warrior, she held up her shield toward the blackness, and although it moved slower, still it made progress toward them. Another man suddenly appeared. Donned in battle armor and carrying a large sword and shield, he charged toward them. He was unusually tall and powerful and the stalwart determination in his eyes suggested he was prepared to meet the dark enemy. Alainn thought he was much liken to the knights she had seen in paintings, yet his eyes were oddly familiar.

  “Bulwark,” Aine called for apparently the keeper of the portals was now a formidable young defender ready to do battle. “How has this happened? How was the evil able to penetrate the many shielded walls and warded protective layers?”

  “I am uncertain, Aine. It has never been accomplished before not in all these centuries that humans have lived on this land!” Bulwark replied in a voice filled with confusion and disbelief. “Something has capably broken down the barriers and allowed the demon access!”

  Alainn doubled over in pain as the dark cloud approached and she was certain the being within her had been responsible and was signaling to the demon. Soon the cloud dispersed and the demon was standing before them in his grotesque physical form with a malicious grin on its hideous face.

  “Did you truly believe we on the side of darkness would simply allow the gods to dispose of the being this witch carries? He grows stronger each day and he draws from her vast powers. He and his mother are our greatest hope in ensuring evil will prevail in the final battle. By the time he is born, he will have abilities unlike any other surpassing even her own, and when he is schooled by me and my dark preceptor, we will take much pleasure in it, for he will rain terror in the next battle and beyond!”

  Bulwark and Danhoul both glanced at Aine, and then at Alainn. If this demon was capable of breaking through the barriers in one of the most warded mystical locations, then it was a distinct likelihood he could steal Alainn away with him perhaps to the Unseelie Court. If that happened, it was certain she would be held there till the dark being within her was born. Then her only choice would be to join their forces, or surely be put to death.

  Danhoul’s instinct was to reach for his sword, but Bulwark’s eyes moved ever so slightly indicating that he should not move. Aine, too, remained standing stock still.

  From within another chamber a door opened and Alainn saw Killian slowly step out. It was apparent he was in much discomfort, but as was sometimes the case as her guardian and her love, he must have sensed she was in need for his sword was already drawn. Alainn glanced away from him hoping the demon whose back was to Killian wouldn’t notice.

  Yet, another portal magically opened and Alainn saw her father, Teige O’Rorke come through. He was accompanied by another man who must be Kieran O’Brien, Killian’s father, for he looked a more mature, shorter and slighter version of Killian. Teige with his many intuitive powers must have sensed the evil and known they were needed. He and Kieran wore identical dark blue garments, and they both carried the small peculiar weapons in their unusual scabbards.

  Bulwark cried out. “I must see to the portals to the dark worlds, to ensure they remain sealed, so others do not come to aid this demon. I will return soon enough.”

  Lugh appeared before them as well, and the demon was clearly surrounded and outnumbered. This wasn’t the first time they’d battled this demon, and each time, although it had been wounded, it had managed to escape through the use of its dark magic. Alainn doubted it would leave this day without her, for as he’d claimed, the dark child within her was too important to the side of evil. Even though he was surrounded by magical beings all intent on destroying him, the demon didn’t appear to be dissuaded, for the atrocious creature continued to walk toward Alainn and he held his repugnant clawed hand out before him as if communicating with the dark child Alainn carried. She screamed and once more bent over in pain rendering her helpless. The child within her seemed to be clawing and scraping her womb as it began to exert its powers and weaken her abilities to stand up to the demon.

  Alainn looked at the pained expression on Killian’s face as he took only a few steps and he limped noticeably. He clearly had no notion who the two strange men were at the opposite end of the dark corridor. They began to walk faster toward the demon. Danhoul, Aine, and Lugh also drew nearer surrounding him.

  The demon must have assessed the grim situation and chose whom he believed would offer the least resistance in dealing with him at the moment. He once more changed forms to the black cloud and sailed through the air toward Killian.

  “Killian,” Alainn screamed and she placed her hands before her and caused a ray of gleaming light to strike the dark cloud. It fell to the ground and was soon returned to demon form. The pain in her belly ripped through her again and she found herself hoping through all this calamity she would simply miscarry with the child, that she would lose the dark being naturally.

  Killian took two unmistakably painful steps, raised his sword, held with both arms high over his head, and hurled it toward the beast. It hit its target with perfect accuracy and it stuck in the demon’s chest. The beast screeched wildly, but soon ripped the sword from its chest. Black blood poured from the wound and dripped on the floor. The provoked demon tempestuously made its way toward Killian once more and the two men at the end of the corridor pulled their weapons and pointed them at the demon.

  “Stand back!” the shorter, dark-haired man called out.

  Killian instinctively did as he was instructed and stood tight against the wall. Teige and Kieran caused the fire weapons to erupt with many loud bursts and several projectiles were sent into the demon. It screeched and twisted in agony, black blood oozing from its many wounds, but still he was not completely hampered.

  Lugh aimed his mighty spear at the demon and hurled it as Aine tossed her glowing shield at the beast. The spear hit the demon and the shield knocked it soundly to the floor. Alainn employed her magic and caused
the entire corridor to be filled with a shimmering bright light so intense they were all made to turn away from the brilliance and shield their eyes from the blinding radiance.

  The demon shrieked at that for his powers markedly lessened in the light and it appeared to cause it insufferable pain. Alainn glanced at Killian and saw he had retrieved his sword. She raised her hands and sent an unusual magical luminosity to his weapon. He lifted it up and brought it down once more where it landed solidly in the beast’s throat. He was surely attempting to sever its head, but in his weakened condition Alainn noticed as Killian moved his arms above his head there was now fresh blood from his previous wounds that soaked through his light tunic.

  Teige and Kieran raced toward the demon and it was clear they had readied their weapons once more and were firing at the demon’s chest and his head.

  Aine raised her own sword and looked toward Alainn to ably charm it so that it would cause the demon to be affected more adversely. Alainn obliged, and sure enough, the demon continued to writhe in agony.

  Sensing the demon was finally weakened, Danhoul lifted him up by way of his powers and then sent him crashing back down. Although they thought they had the upper hand the demon managed to stand once more and again turned into a black vapor again.

  “All the weapons must be used at precisely the same time,” Aine ordered. She glanced at Teige and Kieran and questioned them. “Have your weapons been charmed?”

  “Yes, capably charmed and filled with silver and salt also.”

  Alainn hadn’t time to determine the relevance of those elements, but briefly considered it must be something discovered in the future beneficial in wounding or killing demons.

  As soon as the black mist neared Alainn, he swiftly changed to demon form again and attempted to draw near enough to touch her and take her away with him. This time, they were ready. Killian, Danhoul and Aine threw their swords and Lugh his spear, all charmed by Alainn’s magic. The two other men opened fire with their futuristic weapons. The demon thrashed about disturbingly and dropped to the floor.

  Bulwark jumped out from within one of the portals and his face was stricken.

  “It is believed this demon and the dark unborn child even now summon others from the Unseelie Court, one of the dark portals to hell. I have sealed many portals, but the remainder must also be sealed before any others from the Unseelie Court come through and we have perhaps hundreds of these devils to battle. I admit full well; I cannot manage the feat of sealing them all on my own.”

  Alainn did not consciously decide what must be done, but still she knew the drastic measure that must be taken. She stared hard at the demon and at his cold cruel eyes. She summoned an enormous fire ball from her magical fingertips and it landed on the demon setting him ablaze. It flew through the air even in its large grotesque form. Alainn sent more flames toward it. Soon the entire corridor appeared to be engulfed in a long tunnel of endless flames.

  “We must leave now. This location is no longer safe. The magical fire will surely seal the openings to other worlds, but to the portals to where we must escape as well. Make haste through the nearest portal,” Aine called out to all in a commanding voice.

  Danhoul raced toward Killian, surely knowing in his wounded condition he might not be capable of reaching safety. As Killian glanced at Alainn with regret in his eyes, Danhoul encircled Killian with his magical powers and they both were pulled through the nearest doorway. Teige and Kieran took refuge within the portal closest to them. Bulwark transformed into a hawk and flew out a window that magically appeared above the roaring flames.

  Aine took Alainn’s arm as they sought to escape to the realm of the gods with Lugh close behind them. The entire corridor, the cottage, and all the chambers were being consumed in rising flames. All portals at this location were now aptly and permanently sealed, by the flames Alainn had created. Danhoul and Killian would need to find another portal to return to the human world, but much evil was thwarted with several dark beings sealed behind the portals as well.

  Alainn glanced at the demon merely a darkened, fiery corpse, but she would not be content to leave any doubt in her mind. She walked toward the flames and Lugh and Aine even with their godly powers seemed unable to prevent her from doing so.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Strangely, the thought of walking into the immense flames did not cause Alainn to be fearful even though fire had always been her deepest fear and her greatest weakness. She barely noticed the heat that enveloped her even though she detected the scent of singed hair so close was she to the inferno. She walked to the corpse of the demon that was still ablaze. She stood above him and she caused further hotter blue fire to flow from her fingertips and cover the already burning creature.

  The being inside her protested, but it was as she had suspected, he was not as powerful since he was no longer aided by the demon. It was surely taking all his power to keep Alainn safe from the fire. He would not allow her to be killed even here in this blazing corridor entirely engulfed in flames. He had somehow encased her in a protective shell and as she stood there watching what was left of the smoldering demon now a pitiful blackened creature, Alainn instinctively was aware no harm would come to her.

  When she was satisfied even an immortal magical being such as Odhran could not resurrect this creature now turned to ash, she began calmly walking back toward where she had left Aine and Lugh. She was relieved the demon was dead, grateful she did not meet death by fire this day, but also filled with unparalleled dread for it was unlikely even the combined powers of the gods could destroy the being within her. They would need to end her life, and that was perhaps the best she could hope for this day.

  The child within her urgently protested the demon’s demise and it sent inconceivable and unbearable pain throughout her entire body. The closer she got to the portal to the mystical world of the Celtic gods, the more intense the pain became. She screamed and eventually collapsed, but Lugh caught her and carried her to the realm of the gods.

  *

  Alainn blinked her eyes as she awoke and found herself in an unfathomably immense circle of stones surely as large as the tallest castle. She’d been to the realm of the gods before on more than one occasion. She had even requested to meet with the council of the gods before, but it had been in a large antiquated chamber, not here in a stone circle. Beside each towering stone, stood an imposing figure.

  “I am most certainty no longer in the human realm!” she whispered.

  When Alainn had met with the council of the gods before there had been thirteen gods present and even that had been intimidating. Now, as she further looked, she noticed more and more gods appeared before her until she was surrounded by possibly one hundred or more. Many were aged and distinguished in appearance, but others appeared surely no older than herself.

  She stared up at three fierce goddesses, strangely beautiful and terrifying at the same time. They exhibited such similar features she deduced they were sisters. The Morrighan. The three formidable goddesses often associated with war and death, and usually with the Tuatha de Danann. As she continued to observe all the many gods that now surrounded her, she came to realize she was standing directly in the center of the council of the gods, but in the magnificent archaic outdoor location reserved for esteemed rituals and only frequented during the solstices or Bealtaine and Samhain.

  Apparently all of the gods had been called together to discuss her situation and to determine what was to be done about the evil that grew within her. Aine had told her when the moon was full they would perform a ceremony that would ensure she would be ridded of the dark abomination. She glanced up at the unusually large full moon that now dominated the night sky. She noted there was only one moon here in the realm of the gods, the same as in the human world, although she remembered, oddly there were four suns.

  Each one of the Celtic gods stared down at her with great interest and she felt as though she were an insect to be dissected. There was a murmur of voices as they
discussed her fate and she glanced at Aine nervously. The Celtic princess, her own great-grandmother, came to stand beside her in the center of the stones and Alainn’s fears lessened having the magnificent goddess beside her.

  An odd ancient-looking god dressed in ragged clothes typically worn by a peasant, with a balding head and a pot-belly and clearly not nearly as large or imposing as most, began to walk toward them. He held within his hands a large club; it appeared disproportionately large in his spindly frail arms. When he began to speak everyone became silent, turned to look upon him and seemed to hang on his every word.

  Alainn must have registered surprise at his appearance and the way he commanded the others.

  “Appearances can be deceiving, can they not, young witch?” The god who was scarcely larger than herself and noticeably shorter than Aine addressed Alainn with his inquiry.

  “Aye, that has been a conclusion I have come to in assessing humans, magical beings, and gods.” Alainn replied, clearly aware her responses could determine her fate this day.

  He seemed to be having much difficulty managing the large club and without conscious thought, Alainn sent her magic to the man and lessened the weight of his load. He noticed and soon he was able to lift the weapon high above his head and each of the gods gasped as he raised it. Some fearfully took cover behind the standing stones and Aine’s eyes filled with uncertainty as well. He then slowly brought the club down and gently settled it at his feet.

  “You are driven by your uncommon empathy, young witch. You seem inclined to assist others without thought of consequence of your own fate. You employ the unusual magic you were born with and the many powers you have attained throughout your life to better others’ circumstances. You are guided by your heart and it appears you use your mind less often.”

  “It has been said before,” she admitted.

  “Do you know who I am, young witch?” He narrowed his eyes and looked upon her as she replied.