“I love you so much,” he said again as he pressed himself into me. “I love you,” he said again and again until he was done.
He then collapsed besides me and pulled me on top of him. He held me tight against his chest as if there was nothing that could make him happier. As my head was pressed against his chest, he whispered, “I love you Miranda…so much.”
“I love you too,” I finally replied.
As I took a deep breath of bacon-scented air, I finished putting on my shirt and headed out the door just in time to see Damon answer the door to Sydney. I smiled at Sydney and walked over to Luke. I picked him up and gave him a kiss on the cheek as I told him I loved him. I said goodbye to Benny and kissed him on the forehead. As he looked up at me to say goodbye, he gazed at me with his light blue eyes and smiled. It was hard not to cry as his smile belonged to his father.
Damon, my parents and I headed out of the suite to meet Roger and the others in the dungeon. We would begin the magic to remove Taylor’s powers today. The portal quickly dove underground, and when the doors opened, we all stepped out. The other fairies were all waiting just outside the portal, and the eight of us took off towards Taylor’s cell. Just as we started towards Taylor’s cell, my mom froze, and her skin began to turn white. My dad stopped and looked at her in concern as the rest of us came to a halt.
“Is everything okay sweetheart?” my dad asked.
“I’m sorry...I...I’m sorry Miranda. I can’t—”
“It’s okay Mom. I understand.”
“I’m so sorry Miranda. I’m so sorry.” She said again as horror swept across her face.
“Honey,” my father said, “I’m with her. We will be okay. Why don’t you go spend some time with the boys.”
My mother nodded her head and quickly walked back to the portal. She seemed to want to leave the dungeon as quickly as possible. As she was walking away, I wondered if I was making a terrible decision.
When our group finally reached Taylor’s cell, he looked confused by the audience, but he flashed a charming smile our way.
I signaled for the group to remain back while I continued walking towards Taylor’s cell. When I reached his cell, he flashed a smile my way and said, “Hello sweetheart. I see you brought an audience today.”
I looked into Taylor’s charming blue eyes and said softly, “Taylor, I need to talk to you.” I looked towards my feet, feeling incredibly nervous and full of guilt. I could hardly look him in the eye as I continued to speak, “We’re going to take away your superhuman powers. You’re going to be a human.”
When I returned eye contact, I saw that he was smiling, and his blue eyes were blazing as he released a chuckle. He continued to laugh loudly for several moments until I heard my father say nervously from behind, “Miranda?”
“It’s okay, Dad” I said without turning around. I held my gaze on Taylor and I said, “Taylor, if you can be a good person, you can be a part of our family. I would love to have you in my life.”
Taylor was still laughing, but he stopped for a moment as he said, “How nice.” Then he silently grinned, but he did not look happy, instead he looked quite evil.
I shook my head feeling defeated, but I turned around and walked back toward the others. “Let's do this,” I said quietly.
“We will have to go into the cell,” Emerlee said, “Will he cooperate.”
“We’ll tie his hands behind his back. He will have to cooperate,” My dad grumbled. “I got the zip ties. Damon and I will enter the cell and restrain him.”
My father and Damon stepped forward to open the cell. Taylor did not move, instead he continued to laugh like a psychopath.
“Put your hands behind your back,” my father said in a harsh tone.
Taylor cooperated and placed his hands behind his back. I watched my father forcefully place the zip ties around Taylor’s wrists. He put them on so tight, his skin turned bright red, and his fingers began to turn purple. Damon stood back, watching Taylor carefully for any sudden moves, but Taylor remained cooperative.
Once my father had Taylor restrained, he looked towards me and said, “we’re ready.”
I nodded my head, and the rest of us entered his cell. As I walked in the cell, Taylor stared at me and lifted the corners of his lips into a smile. Suddenly he stared at my father as his face turned cold. I saw Taylor’s pupils began to dilate and his eyes began to glow. He stood completely still as he continued to stare at my father with a crazy look on his face. I froze, as I was frightened of what Taylor would do. I put my guard up, ready to knock Taylor down if he tried anything.
He continued to look psychotic and mysterious until he suddenly yelled, “Booooo!”
My dad and the others jumped off the ground. Emerlee screamed, and my heart began to race, but Taylor started laughing hysterically. My dad didn’t find it funny, and he slammed Taylor’s face with his fist, as the others were ready to attack. Taylor fell to the ground as blood began pouring from his nose.
“Dad!” I cried. Both Taylor and my father looked at me. “Both of you! Stop!” I shook my head
“You fucking bastard!” my father yelled at Taylor, but Taylor just kept laughing. He quickly wiped the blood from his face as if it were nothing. I went to grab a piece of tissue from the bathroom as Roger helped Taylor to his feet. My dad shook his head and backed away.
“Let’s get started,” Emerlee said calmly as I handed Taylor the tissue. “I think I have the spell fixed so it will work in just a few day. This is very...very powerful magic. I have used it before on…” she looked at Roger but did not say more. Then she continued, “The six of us will start the spell...then one fairy must remain in the dungeon around the clock until Taylor’s power is gone. Sadie, Elona and I are strong enough to do the magic. How about you guys?” she asked looking at Damon, Roger and myself. We nodded our heads.
“I think we should have two guards inside the cell at all times,” My father said.
Emerlee nodded her head in agreement. Then she said, “Someone will need to help with Taylor as well. This magic is not for the...faint-hearted.”
“I will help him when I’m not doing magic,” I volunteered.
“I will too,” Roger volunteered.
Damon did not look pleased but he said, “Me too.”
Emerlee nodded her head. “I will try to recruit some help after we are through. Sadie, why don’t you take the first shift with the magic? Miranda, can you look out for him?” I nodded my head.
“I’ll guard,” my father cried.
“I’ll send another guard down when I head back.” She put her finger to her lip for a moment to think. Then she said, “We’ll do magic in three hour intervals. That will allow everyone to rest. Each of us will perform the magic three hours each day. I will find two more fairies to help us out. I think with focus, we can finish in seven days.”
Everyone nodded their head, while Taylor’s smile never left his face.
“Everyone circle around Taylor,” Emerlee said.
The fairies circled around Taylor, while my dad remained outside the circle to keep guard. Emerlee pulled a glass bottle of potion from her pocket and said, “I need you to drink this Taylor.”
Taylor snarled but didn’t say a word.
I frowned and looked deep into Taylor’s eyes, “ Would you drink it please?”
Taylor looked at me and gave me a smile, then his face went soft, “Oh, alright!”
Emerlee pressed the bottle of potion against Taylor’s lips. As she tilted the bottle back, allowing him to drink from it, Taylor guzzled the entire liquid down.
As soon as the bottle was empty, Emerlee said, “I’m sorry to say this, but it’s only going to get worse from here.”
Taylor’s smile grew and he said, “I’m sure I can handle it.”
After Emerlee began the magic, I watched from the circle as Taylor suddenly grabbed his stomach and began to gag. My dad ran to the bathroom and quickly returned with a wastebasket, which he flung in front o
f Taylor’s face just as he began to vomit. As Taylor vomited, Emerlee nodded at the rest of us, and we grabbed hands as we began to loudly chant. The louder we chanted the sicker Taylor grew until he turned sweaty and pale, then collapsed to the ground.
“Keep going!” Emerlee cried as she threw another handful of grey dust in the air.
As the dust swirled around in the air, and I held hands with the other fairies, I began to feel my magic being pulled from my body. I could feel a crushing pain in my abdomen, as the magic grew more powerful. I clutched my stomach in pain, but chanted louder trying to disregard the pain. As the magic grew stronger and stronger, I felt a single drop of blood fall from my nose. As I looked around the room, I saw that Roger and Damon were bleeding as well. The full-blooded fairies, Emerlee, Elona and Sadie were holding strong, as their magical strength was greater than the three of ours.
Finally after several drops of blood fell from my nose, I felt something warm emerging from my throat, and as I chanted loudly, I began to choke. My father instantly ran to my side as blood began to pour from mouth.
“You have to stop Sweetheart,” he cried. “Take a break…they can handle it.”
The room was spinning, but I kept chanting. I wasn’t going to give up. But after a few moments, the blood was pouring from my mouth so fast I could no longer speak. My dad wrapped his arms around me as I began to wobble. I could hear the others in the background carry on, as my father walked me to the bed and sat me down. I leaned against the wall as I watched the fairies continue with the spell.
Emerlee, Elona and Sadie were completely fine as they chanted with confidence but Damon and Roger were both wobbling around as blood began to dribble from their mouths. It looked as if Damon would only last another minute, and I was terrified the three full-blooded fairies wouldn’t be able to finish the magic on their own. Just as I predicted, Damon collapsed to the ground. My father ran to his side and began to help him, but only seconds later, Roger crashed to the ground besides him.
“We can’t do this on our own,” Sadie cried as Elona and Emerlee continued to chant.
The bleeding from my nose and mouth stopped, and I was beginning to feel better so I stepped up to continue. As I walked towards the fairies, I said, “Dad, we need more fairies. Please, can you find help?”
“No, Miranda you need to—”
“Dad, please,” I pled. Taylor was lying in the middle of the circle completely unconscious, so I pointed at him, “We will be okay.”
My father finished wiping blood from Damon’s mouth. Then he stood up. He shook his head but left Taylor’s cell to find more help. “Be careful,” he cried.
I nodded my head as I joined the circle and continued chanting on. It only took minutes before I began to bleed again. I chanted louder and louder as I choked on my own blood, but I kept going. Finally the room began to spin and my vision began to blur. I had to keep going until my father returned, so I kept chanting louder and louder as I fought through the pain. Suddenly my vision began to tunnel and the room was turning grey. I chanted, but my voice was growing weak, and suddenly everything went dark.
Chapter 3
When I opened my eyes, I was in the infirmary and my mother was standing over me.
“Are you feeling okay, Sweetheart?” she said.
“I’m fine, Mom. Are Roger and Damon okay?”
“They are lying down right now, but they’re okay. The three of you lost a lot of blood, and you just need to rest a few days. Your father found help. There are six fairies doing magic right now. They have it under control.”
I started to get up. I felt dizzy and ill, but I couldn’t stay in the infirmary for a few days.
As I tried to stand up, my mom said, “Miranda, the healing fairy on duty thinks you need to rest for a few days.”
“I can’t rest! I have two children, a realm to run and a biological father to deal with.”
“Miranda, settle down, Sweetheart. I can help Sydney with the kids until you and Damon are back on your feet. Your dad has...Taylor handled. Your aunt and Brandon can handle the realm until you’re back on your feet.”
“Thank you Mom,” I said as I was hit with a sudden wave of exhaustion.
I rolled over and quickly fell asleep. When I awoke once more, Damon was sitting by my bedside. As soon as he saw that I was awake, he gently brushed away the hair from my face and kissed my forehead.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked with a tired look on his face.
“I’m okay,” I said. “Why are you out of bed…how are you?”
“I’m fine,” he replied, but he looked pale and weary. “I wanted to be by your side,” he said quietly.
Damon and I spent the next twenty-four hours in the infirmary, but the very next day, we both headed back to our suite. We spent the morning with our boys, but later in the afternoon, we checked in on Taylor. Damon remained by my side as we headed to the dungeon once more.
When we arrived outside Taylor’s cell, I immediately saw that Taylor was lying in his bed. Emerlee was standing above him, still performing magic over his unconscious body. My father was prowling in the corner, just waiting for Taylor to awake and stir up trouble, as a vampire guard stood adjacent to my father.
I quickly used my magic to unlock the cell door and Damon and I went inside.
“What’s going on?” I quietly asked my father.
“He’s been unconscious since yesterday,” my father said quietly, “Emerlee said she isn’t surprised as this magic is extremely powerful.” As my father spoke, I noticed he had heavy bags under his eyes and a dark shadow across his face where he needed to shave.
“Dad, when is the last time you slept?”
“I’m fine. Been here all night.”
“Dad!” I cried, “Take a break. Get some sleep. Go eat something.”
“I can take over for a bit,” Damon said.
“No son,” my father said, “You just got out of the infirmary. Take the day off. If you’re really worried about me, send a vampire down to take my spot.”
I nodded my head, but I looked at my watch and remembered we had a council meeting in twenty minutes. “Damon, we need to get going,” I said, “We forgot about the council meeting today.”
The two of us headed out of the dungeon and towards the portal. Before stepping into the portal, Damon sent a vampire nearby to take over for my father, and we took off. We stepped off the portal in hall 1, as the throne room was nearby.
The throne room was another exquisite room inside the castle. The previous Queen once used this room to sit on her enormous throne to rule and control her realm. When I took her position as Queen, I burned her throne and placed a large solid wood table in the middle of the room to symbolize the end of her tyranny. Once the Queen was killed, I made it my goal for the creatures of Sidhe to have a voice in their government.
Like Pine Lake, Damon and I had a full council to advise us and keep our power in check. My aunt and Roger were members of the council to represent hybrids. Vic and Brian represented the vampires of Sidhe, while Elona and Sadie represented the fairies. Although the superhuman population on Sidhe was small, a woman named Elizabeth was one of the superhuman representatives.
After Brandon’s wife, Maria died at Pine Lake, Brandon and his children moved to Sidhe to start a new life. Brandon joined the council as a second representative for the superhumans and as liaison between Pine Lake and Sidhe. Although nothing had been made official, I noticed my aunt and Brandon spending quite a bit of time together for the last several months. I was happy for them both, as they both seemed quite lonely.
As King and Queen, Damon and I held our weekly meeting and discussed several important matters. Nothing out of the ordinary was discussed in the current meeting, but I made the others aware of the magic being performed in the dungeon. Some of the council members seemed agitated, but no one argued with the decision I made, as everyone knew who Taylor was to me.
Once the meeting came to an end, Damon and I w
ent back to our suite to spend the day with our family. I decided to relax the rest of the day and to visit with Taylor tomorrow. When bedtime came around, Damon and I climbed into bed, and as I shut my eyes and drifted to sleep, visions of Ben instantly swam through my mind. Like my previous dreams before, I was lying on the cold dungeon floor. My leg was broken, and severe pain swept across my body, like daggers piecing through every inch of my flesh. In anguish, I looked around the cell to find Ben, and when I did, he was lying on the floor with blood pouring from the hole in his chest. Ben looked pitiful as he lay completely still on the cold concrete ground.
“Ben! Ben! No!” I screamed. “Not again, please! Not again!” I screamed as if someone would wake me from this miserable dream. Ben didn’t move, and I was stuck on the ground with a broken leg.
Suddenly I heard a familiar clicking of heels coming towards me. A small figure entered the cell. It was Desmorelda, and she laughed the moment she saw my wounded body sitting on the ground.
“Stupid, stupid little girl!” she laughed, “I could have gave you luxury. I could have given you everything! All you had to do was behave, but you ruined it all! Now I am going to take your son! He will be mine!”
I cried out, but just over my scream, I heard a faint noise coming from Ben’s body, “Miranda, Miranda,” the voice cried.
“Ben? Ben?” I cried. I looked towards his body, but he was lying perfectly still.
The Queen began to howl, but I could hear the faint noise under her laughter once more. “Miranda, Miranda,” the voice cried out, “Keep him safe.”
“Ben please…please! Come back. Please,” I plead, but the sounds were gone and Ben’s body was just as still as before.
Tears streamed from my eyes and I screamed out, but all I could hear was Desmorelda’s evil laughter.
Suddenly I heard my name again, “Miranda, Miranda!” the voice cried.
“Ben! Come back to me! Ben!” I screamed.
Suddenly a warm feeling washed across my body and my pain began to diminish as I heard someone quietly say, “Momma?”
The Portal to Sidhe: Book 2 Page 3
