by Kimbra Swain
“That he does,” I replied. “But I need a banshee. Unless you know of another here.”
“I’m the only one,” Betty said. “The consequences of this will go beyond this fight. Once people know what I am and what I do, things will change.”
“Things are always changing. We will adapt. Hell, look at me. I’ve changed,” I said.
Levi let out a grunt. I rolled my eyes, but Betty and Luther grinned.
“I’ll do it,” Betty said.
“Fan-fucking-tastic!” I said. “We will get out of your way. Happy Samhain. We will see you tomorrow afternoon in front of the Food Mart.”
Leaning back in my chair, I tried to play it cool. It wasn’t every day that you summoned a ghoul to visit. Even in Shady Grove, it was a bit unusual.
“He’s coming,” Levi said.
“Yep,” I replied. I could feel his cold lurk moving on the outside of the trailer office.
He rose up out of the floor as before, but this time, the shapeless form looked extremely pissed off. His eyes glowed as he stared at me.
“Before you eat us all alive, I have a proposition for you,” I said.
“I’m not making deals with a fairy!” he said.
“It is a dangerous thing to do, but please hear me out. Do you have a name?” I asked.
“Before this job, I was known as Edward,” he said.
“Ah, Eddie,” I said.
“Edward,” he repeated.
“Eddie,” I said with a wink. He huffed. I could charm a ghoul. Levi shook his head.
“Go ahead with your proposal, Queen,” he said.
“I have spoken to the Banshee. She will resume her duties tomorrow night on Samhain,” I said. “I would like to invite you to the occasion.”
“There is a catch,” he said.
“There is. And because I’m a good little fairy, despite what they say about me, I’m going to tell you the whole story. When I’m done, I’m sure we can come to a mutual agreement,” I said.
Levi and I explained to him the plan for tomorrow night’s impending attack. Eddie seemed curious that I would offer a being like him such an opportunity, but he did not hesitate to agree under one condition.
“If the Banshee does not wail, we take her,” he said.
I sighed. Betty had to keep her side of the bargain or I would have to go against my word to Eddie, the head ghoul. “Agreed,” I said.
“It will work out,” Levi said.
“I hope so. We are in deep shit on this one,” I said.
Sipping on the coffee that Nestor provided, Levi and I talked to him about his role in the fight. He agreed that he would be most helpful for taking care of the children.
“I went to see her again,” he announced after we told him the plan.
“And?” I replied.
“She is unrepentant. After talking to her for a while, I think you underestimate the ORCs,” he said as he pulled up a stool next to me.
“I don’t. Robin single-handedly turned my life upside down,” I said. “I give her plenty of credit.”
“They are not just coming for you, but for all of the Otherworld. They want to see the balance overthrown. As much as I don’t like the Summer Realm, it is equal to us. It must remain intact,” he said.
“It needs a King,” I said.
“I agree,” he replied. “Someone who will stand with you.”
“I’m already working on that,” I said.
Nestor looked at Levi, who shrugged. “It’s not me,” Levi said.
“No, it’s not,” I said.
“Astor,” Nestor guessed.
“Yes,” I said. “He deserves it. He is a good man and loyal. Plus, he’s in love. It won’t be long, and he will have his own Queen.”
“How do you plan to do it?” Nestor asked.
“I’m just trying to live through tomorrow. I have no idea,” I said.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. The bar was empty. Most of the town’s businesses were closed. We had spread the word earlier of the impending fight. Levi and I were waiting on the response of the townspeople to decide how big of a force we could count on to battle the Wild Hunt. Tennyson called earlier to confirm that Brockton and the others in the Otherworld were preparing to raise it. He assured me that we would be ready.
“Are the rumors true?” Nestor turned to Levi.
“What rumors?” Levi asked.
“That you have the Great Sword,” he said.
“They are true,” Levi responded.
“You gave it to him?” Nestor asked me.
“The Lady of the Lake gave him the opportunity, and the sword chose him,” I said.
“It chose well,” Nestor said.
“Thank you, Nestor,” Levi said.
“We are celebrating tonight. Are you going to join us?” I asked.
“Of course. No need to be here alone,” he said.
“You know, we have plenty of room at the house. You’re welcome to move in with us,” I said.
Nestor paused, then shook his head. “No, this is home for me. This is where I need to be,” he said.
“The offer stands,” I said.
“Thank you, Grace. I love ya,” he said.
A large hand pounded on the door outside. Nestor had locked it since he was closed. He didn’t want to have to run anyone out.
“I’ll get it,” Levi said.
He walked to the door, opening it to find Rostam Dastan at the door. “Is she here?” he asked.
Levi opened the door wider, and the rude man strutted inside.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he shouted at me.
Levi lowered his head behind him, and I felt the power in the room rush to him. I gave him a warning look, then turned to the loud man.
“Mr. Dastan,” I said.
“Prince Dastan,” he corrected.
“Ah, yes. Prince. Which is lower than a Queen, so I suggest you show some respect. I thought we discussed this before,” I said.
“I show respect where it is earned,” he said. “How dare you try to get me to join your little war!”
“You may leave this town,” I said. “Whether I pay you or not, I’ll decide that based on how quickly you leave.”
“You will pay me. We agreed!” he yelled.
“I paid you to do a job, which you did not do. I took care of it myself. Therefore, your services are no longer needed,” I said.
“Fairy deals!” he squealed.
I stood up allowing the power of Winter to take over me. My black dress swirled around my legs and the blue filigree stretched across my chest. The room turned cold, and a light snow started to fall.
“I am Gloriana, daughter of Oberon, Queen of the Exiles. You’re in my town and will abide by my law,” I said.
He snarled looking at me. “You’re nothing but a glorified trailer trash queen,” he said.
“Why, thank you,” I replied. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
His insult was a reminder to me of who I was. If I needed to throw down, I wasn’t above playing dirty. Perhaps I’d start with the arrogant Prince Dastan.
“Pay me, so that I may leave this place before the hunt arrives. If you don’t, I’ll give your Uncle whatever he needs to bring you down,” he demanded.
“You would only die in a confrontation with the Wild of the Otherworld. I understand that you need to run,” I said.
“You cannot goad me into this,” he said.
“No, of course not, but if you don’t do as I have asked, I will make you,” I said.
He laughed and it filled the room. “I’d like to see you try,” he said.
I let the cold darkness of my soul fill my intentions. Levi watched me closely. He was my life preserver. He would stop me before I went too far.
“You might be feeling a little weak in the knees,” I said.
Instead of stopping me, Levi joined in. A thrum of strings filled the room as a spell unleashed from his tattoo. Princ
e Dastan sank to his knees on the floor. I didn’t have to do a damn thing.
I raised my eyebrows at Levi. Perhaps I was a bad influence. He tilted his head sideways as if he didn’t care. It made me smile.
“I like you better silent, too,” I said, reaching forward with my power. A collar of ice formed around his neck. He started to choke and wheeze. “That sounds brutal. What do you think, Levi?”
“Collars suck,” Levi responded.
“Aw , poor Prince Dastan. You should have left when I asked you to leave. I have a thing about people who threaten me and my family,” I said.
His eyes bulged out of his head as he turned purple from the collar up.
“Maybe you should let him go,” Nestor suggested.
“Maybe. But something tells me he hasn’t learned his lesson,” I said. “Have you learned your lesson?”
Dastan nodded vehemently. I waved my hand releasing the collar. He sank to the floor holding his neck, gasping for air. Then, I made the move to give him the opportunity. Turning my back on him, I walked back to my coffee cup on the bar. I heard him shuffle to his feet and the dragging sound of metal on sheath as he drew his long sword. I did not turn, because I felt Levi’s power move once again.
A hard thud followed by the clanging of sword on wood echoed through the icy bar. Looking over my shoulder, the Prince in all of his glory was silent at my feet. Levi stood next to him holding Excalibur by the blade.
“I never realized the hilt of that thing was so heavy,” I said.
Levi held it toward me, and I took it from him. “It has to balance the blade,” he explained.
“Interesting. Bet that leaves a knot,” I said.
“I jerked a knot on his head,” Levi said. Nestor laughed.
“Eh, that one was a miss,” I said. Levi stuck his lip out in a pout. “What? It wasn’t that funny!”
“Whatever. I’m hilarious. What are we going to do with him?” Levi asked.
“I’m thinking we should drag him outside of the ward and take his clothes,” I said.
“Juvenile,” Nestor said.
“Yes, but very trashy,” I responded. “We will even give him his payment.”
“Really?” Levi said.
“Yep,” I replied.
Levi and I watched the naked Persian demigod curse us through the ward. He couldn’t see us, but we could see him. He stomped back and forth across the pavement. His only adornment was his belt and sword. I felt he might need the sword at some point. The rest of his clothing would be returned to him via human mail. In his right hand, he held a purple felt whiskey bag that I took from Hot Tin Roof. Inside it held thirty pieces of gold Darics, the ancient coin of the Persian empire. Tennyson pulled some major strings to get the coinage in time to pay the pompous asshole.
After reading through Levi’s information about Dastan, I had learned that he liked to play tricks. Levi and I had agreed that a trick needed to be played on him if he caused trouble. He was actually more like Odysseus than Achilles. A trick for the trickster. He got the trick and the treat, and he had better be damn glad that was all he got.
“From now on we handle our own shit,” Levi said.
“I agree,” I replied. “Although, this is too much fun.”
“It’s so bad,” he said, but he laughed.
“Yes, it is,” I replied.
“He’s lucky I didn’t kill him,” Levi said.
“You wouldn’t have,” I said.
“I would have if he had laid a hand on you,” he said.
“My knight in shining armor,” I replied.
“I think it’s about time that I get that armor you promised me back when the sylph was here,” he said. I thought back to when I had gained the blessing of the first elemental stone. Finley was there in his armor. Dylan had shifted into a Native American warrior which I had to admit was pretty damn hot. But Levi had felt out of place. I did promise to get him some armor. I supposed I could come up with something for him on short notice.
“You’re right. I owe you,” I said.
“I like it when you’re agreeable,” he said as he backed up the truck to turn us around.
I took one last look at the man across the ward. We had probably just saved his life because tomorrow might be the last day that Shady Grove existed.
Tennyson was busy preparing for war, so we skipped the planned meeting. He promised to catch Levi up on all his activities later in the evening. We gave him our news about Betty, Edward, and Dastan.
“Please tell me you took pictures,” I heard Jenny say in the background.
“Video,” Levi said.
“You didn’t!” I gasped.
“You need to pay more attention to technology,” he said.
“I didn’t know what you were doing with that thing. It’s a phone. Not a camera,” I said.
Jenny laughed as Tennyson said goodbye.
Our Samhain celebration began at dusk. Our extended family joined us. William arrived first. Levi greeted him, treating him with more respect than I had ever seen him do. Perhaps that relationship would get better for the both of them.
Astor greeted Ella, Mayor Jenkins, and Chaz Leopold when they arrived. It was nice to have all of them there to remember our dead.
Nestor came in with several wine offerings. It reminded me of the first time he came to the trailer with the wine. It was the night he told me who he was. I was so thankful to have at least one member of my blood here to remember our past as well.
Levi and I had cleared the coffee table to create a shrine for the dead. Astor had prepared a meal for us all to share afterward. We all gathered with a candle to represent the ancestor that we were memorializing tonight.
Winnie insisted on showing her new skills. She walked very slowly to each candle, lighting them perfectly. I held my breath each time, hoping she wouldn’t cause any major damage. She did a fantastic job, and I was very proud of her.
Levi started us off with a passage from a new songbook. His songbook.
“Goddess of the tree of Life, as the veil thins, send us our beloved dead so that we may remember and honor them. Horned god of the forest, protect us from the evil which will try to cross into our realm. Grant us the power to turn back those who would destroy us. As this new year begins, let us all be thankful and remember the past to make us strong. Bless us this coming year to bear the fruits of wisdom and joy,” he said, then lowered his book. “Ella, you guys go first.”
Ella walked forward to the table with Eugene and Chaz. “This is for my mother, Laudine. You’re remembered and loved,” she said, setting her candle on the table.
Astor sat his candle on the table and simply said, “For my wife in my past life, Condi.”
Nestor was next with his candle. Setting it down, he bowed his head. “For my daughter, Ellessa.” My mother, whom I only barely knew, had died when Brockton took the Otherworld. We suspected that he had killed most of my father’s harem that refused to service him. He would pay for those deaths as well. One day. Hopefully soon.
Levi and William shared a candle. William looked grave but sober. “This light is for my mother who was a light to us. May we carry her love to those around us so that her light continues to shine.”
Levi took Aydan from my arms as we walked up to join him. We held three candles. Winnie placed hers down and said as she had practiced, “This is for my mother, Bethany, who is up in heaven looking down on me.” She sat the second candle down.
“This candle is for my father, Oberon, King of the Otherworld. His legend lives in the hearts and souls of all that knew him. May his kingdom continue on for many years to come,” I said.
I sat the candle in my hand on the table. Winnie said, “This is for my daddy, Dylan, who gave me his power and saved my life. I love you, Daddy.”
“Dylan, my love, we go forward from this day with your spirit in our hearts. I will honor your memory and our love until the last day that I draw breath. I miss you so much.” I wrapped my arm around
Levi’s and leaned on him. “Thank you for the gift to our daughter and for this beautiful boy, our son.”
“We invite these honored dead to join us in a silent meal. We have a plate at the table in your memory,” Levi said.
I bent down to wipe Winnie’s tears. “You okay, baby?” I asked her.
“Yeah, I just miss him,” she said.
“Me too,” I said.
“He would have liked this,” she said.
“Yes, he liked to celebrate holidays,” I replied.
“We have to be quiet at dinner?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. I didn’t think we could be quiet for the entire dinner, but we were going to try for tradition's sake.
We each took our places, and at one end of the table a chair was draped with a black cloth. This was our spirit chair. The reserved place for those who had gone on into the next life.
Surprisingly, the only one to make noise during the dinner was Aydan and we figured he would get a pass. Although at one point he realized he was the only one making noise, and he got louder and louder. Winnie giggled at him, but that was the extent of the noise outside of plates and utensils being passed around.
Astor and Ella cleared the table, and each one of us left the room by stopping at the Spirit Chair to thank our ancestors for joining us. I was the last one to leave.
“I love you. Thank you for loving me back,” I said, then turned off the light.
“Phew, I’m glad that is over,” Winnie exclaimed. “I thought this was supposed to be fun.”
“Now is the fun part,” I said.
Levi came out of the kitchen with a pumpkin. “Let’s carve this!” he announced.
Winnie jumped up and down clapping. Aydan joined in the clapping with no idea what was going on. Astor served desserts with all sorts of pumpkin themes, but we also had apple tarts which were the traditional fruit of Samhain.
After the pumpkin carving, we said goodbye to our guests except for Nestor and William. Astor drove Ella home. He told me not to expect him back tonight. I didn’t comment, even though I wanted to.
“Thank you for joining us, William,” I said.
“Thank you for having me, Grace. It was a nice dinner. I believe our dead would have been proud,” he said. “I wish there was something I could do to help with this battle ahead.”