by Elle Casey
Finn jumped in again. “I guess I ain’t exactly crystal clear on the differences between us an’ them. All I ever get is they’re the bad guys, we’re the good guys, now go get ready for battle.” He paused, looking at all of us changelings. “You know, this reminds me of civics class in the sixth grade. You know? When we studied the Civil War an’ all? There were families torn apart then – some brothers fightin’ for the South, some for the North. All because of their philosophical differences an’ all.”
“Finn’s right,” said Tony. “I think I understand what the different philosophies are from my work with the gray elves, but I wouldn’t mind an official explanation from you, Mr. Dardennes, about what they actually are.”
Dardennes smiled at us patiently. “I think perhaps that this clarification is long overdue. I know it was mentioned to some degree when you were first offered the opportunity to make the change. But so many things have happened in your lives since, and it has all been a bit overwhelming. I would be happy to explain in more detail.” He looked at Céline. “Feel free to add to my discourse at any time.”
Céline nodded her head.
Dardennes turned to face us. “As a former member of the Dark Fae, and follower of their creed, I can explain it to you thusly: the Dark Fae believe that fae are a superior species. They have supernatural abilities, are connected to the magic of the universe, and have intimate relationships with the elements – some can even walk between our world of the Here and Now and the Otherworlds.” He paused to look at Tony and then continued, “Humans do not have any of these talents, cannot do any of these things. So, in addition to this natural sense of superiority, the fae have needs that can, or in some cases must, be met by the humans. These needs include the need for sustenance – for example, the incubi and succubi use human sexual and life energy to feed themselves – and also the need for their resources. There are many fae in the world, but even more humans. We depend on them for their manufacturing, banking, farming – as many of us eat foods that are not human – and even their artistic expression. Some fae thrive in more creative environments. Humans can help them to stay grounded and stable.”
“So if this is true for all fae, where’s the difference between the Light and the Dark?” asked Becky.
“The difference is in the way we believe humans should be treated and the role we should play in their society. The Light Fae believe our best chance for survival and to have access to the resources provided by the humans is to stay hidden – to continue to operate in their shadows and dreams, not in their realties. However, the Dark Fae do not agree. They want to be out in front of the humans, living in the open, no longer hiding who they are and what they do. They want to exert their power over the humans and assert their fae domination.”
“Okay,” said Finn, “I get that. What I don’t get is why they don’t just go do it. Why fight the Light Fae at all? It’s not like they need our permission.”
Céline joined in the conversation now, and I noticed Tony nodding his head at what she was saying. “They do not have enough Dark Fae to fight a resisting human species. There are millions more humans than fae. The balance was different many years ago, but even then, there was a concern about the Dark Fae’s ability to not only meet human resistance but also the opposition of the Light Fae who would join the humans. They assume rightly that we would unite with the humans in fighting them; because we believe that it would be the only way we could live through it. Once the humans became aware of the fae, they would naturally want to exterminate them – we are a different and alien species in many ways and therefore a threat. We would have to pretend to be human and fight the Dark Fae just to survive the aftermath.”
“Yeah, but with the faes’ supernatural abilities, it wouldn’t matter that the humans have bigger numbers. One fae is worth about ten humans in terms of strength. Or in some cases, more,” said Spike, looking directly at me.
“Nah,” said Scrum, once more in mid-chew. “You hafta factor in the human fear. That makes ‘em stronger. Plus every human can have firepower – all they need is a gun.”
“Or a bow and arrows, I guess,” said Spike, shooting a look over at Finn, who tipped his head in recognition.
“The daemon is correct,” said Dardennes. “The fear of the supernatural is incredibly powerful. Humans may think they’d be happy to know that vampires and werewolves actually exist, as a romantic notion, but if they were ever really confronted by one that was trying to suck the life out of them or even eat them, they would feel differently.”
I laughed at that. “I know my first meeting with a real werewolf didn’t go exactly as I’d always imagined.”
Becky smiled. “I know, right? Where are all the bare-chested Taylor Lautners anyway?”
The guys just looked at us with question marks floating above their heads.
“Never mind,” I said, looking back at Dardennes. “So, their plan is to what? Defeat us? Then how are they going to accomplish their goal if we’re all gone?”
“Their plan is not to defeat us,” said Tony. “Their plan is to make us join them. Through intimidation and fear. But there would be loss of life. It is unavoidable if we engage them.”
“Oh.” Bummer.
“That’s just ... wrong,” said Becky, “going after your own faekind like that.”
“According to them, what we are doing is wrong – hiding in the forest and walking away from what they say is our legacy,” explained Céline.
“So why are they called ‘Dark’ and we’re called ‘Light’? I mean, isn’t that them agreeing they’re evil by aligning themselves with Darkness?” I asked. I can’t imagine who would actually call themselves the friends of Darkness, unless they were Satan worshippers or something.
Dardennes smiled. “Now we’re getting into the theoretical realm. Darkness, according to the Dark Fae, is merely the absence of Light. It is, to them, the ultimate expression of who they are and the strength of their beliefs. They are a strong and proud group of fae. None of them calls their brethren ‘dark’ as in ‘evil’. They all claim to be the only fae who are truly fae, unfettered by human emotions and human influence. They consider our ‘lightness’ to be our concern for the humans and our need to protect them from our kind. They see it as a weakness and turn from it.” He looked at Céline for confirmation and received an answering nod. “Think of Dark Fae as those who have remained true to our original beliefs and can trace them back over many centuries – and Light Fae as fae whose ideas and values have shifted with time, adapting to the realities of sharing our world with the humans and their changing beliefs and customs.”
I tried to grab hold of what they were saying, but it was pretty much as clear as mud – which wasn’t surprising considering who was telling the story. I wasn’t even sure I was getting the basic concepts, but I decided to take a crack at it anyway. “So what you mean is that Dark doesn’t mean evil, it just means ‘old school fae’?”
Dardennes smiled and jabbed a finger at me. “Exactly!”
“And when you say Light, you mean like, ‘enlightened’?”
“Yes! You understand perfectly,” said Céline, proud of me for some nutty reason.
Whatever. This shit didn’t sound like a good reason to go to war. And a war that wasn’t really meant to eradicate anyone but to change their minds about their philosophies? Weird.
I shook my head. “Well, you guys can call it whatever the hell you want ... as far as I’m concerned, they’re the bad guys and we’re the good guys. That’s all I need to know for now.”
“Telling it like it is – Jayne is never one to disappoint,” said Tim, laughter in his voice.
“Thanks, Tim. Just trying to keep it real.”
Our attention was immediately grabbed by the sound of the door being thrown open and the voice of Gregale ringing out across the room.
“Anton! Céline! Come quickly. We’ve had a breach! The Dark Fae have come!”
Céline’s lips closed together in a thin l
ine, turning down at the corners in worry.
“Where? Has anyone been hurt?” demanded Dardennes.
“Near the gargoyle door. And yes, a witch was hurt.”
Dardennes came out from behind his desk. “How many are here?”
“We do not know, Anton. We think at least two, and one of them for certain is a witch.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” asked Tim.
I whispered back, turning my head to the side so he could hear me over the commotion, “If it’s Maggie, I’m gonna put her in a green power slingshot and shoot her sorry ass out over the top of this forest. Maybe all the way to Spain.”
“Now that’s something I’d like to see.”
“Yeah, well, let’s pray that you don’t.” I moved to join Dardennes and the others gathering around the door.
“What do you want us to do, Mr. Dardennes?” asked Tony. I reached out and grabbed his hand and he held onto mine, squeezing it reassuringly. Spike caught my eye and gave me a nervous head nod. I could see Becky sidling up close to Finn.
“Go to your rooms and await further instructions, with the exception of you, Tony. Please report to the strategy room to meet with the gray elves.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Tony before squeezing my hand one more time and then letting it go. He rushed out of the room, trailing behind a fast-moving Gregale.
Dardennes and Céline left in a hurry too, leaving the rest of us standing in the doorway.
“So, we goin’ back to our rooms?” asked Finn, his hand on his bow.
“Hell to the no. I’m going to the friggin’ gargoyle door,” I said.
“Jaaayyyne...” warned Tim.
“Shush, Tim. I’m going. If you want to take your pansy ass to the room, go ahead. But you’d better watch out so you don’t get stepped on, because I’m not taking you back there.”
“First of all, how dare you suggest that I walk to the room.” He sniffed in disgust. “Pixies do not walk. We either fly or get taken places. And second, I wasn’t suggesting we split up. I was merely reminding you that you recently messed with a certain someone who lives just outside that door, and that this certain someone might not be all that excited to see you right now.”
“Yeah, well, that certain someone can kiss my big white butt.”
“Who can kiss your big white butt?” asked Becky.
“No one.” I looked over at Spike and he looked like he was about to say something sexy, so I held up my hand. “Put it away, Spike, put it away.”
“Put what away?” asked Finn, now as confused at Becky.
Scrum leaned in and looked at each of us. “I think she’s telling him to put away his ... ”
“ ... And that’ll be enough from you, daemon boy,” said Spike, smiling and clapping Scrum on the back, throwing him forward and off balance. “So what’s the plan, warrior boy? Gargoyle door or room? Where’re you going?”
He shrugged. “Where Jayne goes, I go.”
These words that I’d heard uttered more than once by Chase made my heart squeeze uncomfortably for a second. I missed him and his strong, silent, dependable presence. His amazing biceps and chest didn’t make him easy to forget either. I looked at Scrum and there was just no comparison. Adonis or the beer keg with legs? Yeah. Easy. No offense to Scrum, because he tried like hell and usually did okay, but I really needed Chase right now and wished like hell he were here.
“Let’s go then,” said Finn. “I’m tired of shootin’ at targets and playin’ around. I wanna go at the real deal.”
“You mean, you want to shoot someone?” asked Becky, disbelief and censure in her voice.
Finn frowned. “No. I mean, if them assholes’re gonna come here to our home and try to mess with us, I ain’t gonna take it lyin’ down. And neither should you, little non-violent water sprite – ‘cuz this is your home too. If you don’t fight for it, you ain’t gonna have it for long.”
Becky swallowed hard. She squared her shoulders and said, “Fine. I’m with you. But if I disappear, I don’t want any of you complaining and calling me a chicken. Sometimes ... I can’t help it. When I get scared and start thinking about somewhere I’d rather be, I just sometimes end up there. Okay?” She looked at each one of us for confirmation that we wouldn’t rag on her.
“That is the most lame ass excuse I think I’ve ever heard. ‘I can’t help it? I disappear by accident’? Man, you water sprites are total wusses.” I tried to look at her all serious but the outraged expression on her face had me laughing. “Chill out, fish-girl, I’m just messing with you.”
She closed her lips and blinked her eyes a few quick times. “Fine. Let’s go,” she finally said, pushing past me and out into the hallway.
I stepped forward and grabbed her hand, getting ahead of her and then pulling her along, refusing to be shunned and ignoring her continued attempts to stay mad at me. We followed Finn, who had taken his bow off his shoulder and loosely notched an arrow in the string. I’d seen him in action before, so I knew if someone appeared around a corner, he’d have that thing flying in no time at all. It made me feel a small measure safer. But not much.
Chapter 36
We arrived at the gargoyle door and saw no one and nothing out of the ordinary. We gathered at this place we had not so long ago rushed into, looking at each other.
“Should we go out?” asked Finn.
“Just open it,” said Spike, “see if there’s anybody out there.”
“Oh, for shit’s sake, people ... get out of my way.” I shouldered my way to the door and grabbed the ring handle, pulling it in towards me and forcing everyone back. At first I saw nothing, so I turned to tell my friends they were overreacting, but then I felt it. A buzz on the ley line.
I turned back to the door’s entrance in time to see a figure coming towards the door from the edge of the trees. It was Samantha.
“It’s Samantha, get back!” I yelled, shoving them back with my butt and pushing the door shut as fast as I could. Just before the edges made contact and closed completely, a force began pushing the door inward.
“Shit! Help me! She’s got the door!”
Scrum and Finn rushed to my aid, bracing their shoulders against the wood and pushing with me as hard as they could. But it was no use; the door continued to open farther. There was an ominous creaking sound coming into the hallway as the two forces battled to win control of the door.
“She’s ... using ... magic,” grunted Scrum.
“Spike, get in here!” yelled Finn, “I’m gonna shoot her!”
Becky screamed, “Finn! You can’t shoot Samantha! She’s our friend!”
I looked at Becky like she was crazy. “She’s no friend! She joined the Dark Fae! She’s trying to get in here to hurt us!”
The door was open about a foot now, but so far no one was standing in the opening. I could see the muscles in Scrum’s and Spike’s arms and backs straining against Samantha’s force.
Becky grabbed my arm, squeezing as she begged. “She’s only with them because she was rejected by Dardennes,” Tears filled her eyes as the pleaded with me silently.
I pulled my arm back, shrugging her off. “Whatever the reason, she’s who she is and is doing this to attack us. You think she wants to come in for tea? You think she’s not going to blast us right between the eyes when she sees us? You’ve conveniently forgotten, I guess, that she was one of my kidnappers.” I shot her a look of anger so strong, I think she felt it.
Becky flinched back at my emotion, dropping her hands at her sides. “It’s not ... it’s too ... ” and then she was gone. Disappeared into thin air again.
“Fucking water sprites!” I yelled out into the air.
“Jayne, let her go. You have bigger things to worry about,” advised Tim, nervously, pulling my hair like crazy. “You need to power up and blast that witch to smithereens!”
The door was now open wide enough for a smallish fae to fit through. I had about five seconds before it was fully open – Scrum and
Spike were losing their momentum, their feet sliding along the stone floor inch by stuttering inch as they lost the battle, and their faces were showing the strain of their efforts. Finn stood off to the side, arrow notched and bow up at the ready. He was waiting for the right moment to pull back on the arrow and let it fly.
I plumbed down into the depths of the nearest ley line, drawing up its power and letting it roll over me, while also blocking Samantha’s access. I heard sounds coming from outside the door now, but I ignored them in my bid for focus over my control of The Green that was now flooding up from the earth and filling my every cell.
The door opened more, and the sight of many bodies greeted our eyes. It was no longer just Samantha standing out there and we were no longer alone at the gargoyle door.
The door opened the rest of the way, flying back and hitting the wall as Scrum jumped out of the way, to reveal a battlefield.
Finn rushed out, his arrow drawn back. Scrum moved to be near me, standing at my side. Spike dropped back too, taking up a position on my other side. Tim was my eyes and ears, better able to see what was going on, since so much of my concentration was taken with accumulating and channeling my energy. We stepped out into the grasses and entered the fray.
An entire company of Light Fae elves was battling a motley crew of Dark Fae. Standing in front of the Dark Fae contingent was Samantha, a thin, gray haze surrounding her. I watched as several arrows bounced off it and landed on the ground, useless. There were a couple Dark Fae on the ground near her with arrows sticking up out of their bodies – ogres by the looks of it. Big ugly fuckers.
In the dying light of evening, I saw Falco off to my left and then farther away Robin and many others I recognized from our training in the forest earlier. Was it only today that we had been there? It seemed so long ago. The orange and gold sunset gave the battle a surreal feeling – as if this were all just a bad dream.
