Chapter Eight
Eli
“I don’t think Zoey is coming,” Lizzi said shutting the door. “We have to move on without her.”
Lizzi went over to the table lifting the chairs up and placing them onto the top of the table.
“What are you doing?” Eli asked her.
“This is a sign for Zoey letting her know that we’ve gone home.” Lizzi put the last chair up before helping Elijah with his fire.
Bending down, Lizzi reached into the pocket inside her cloak and sprinkled dust over the hot embers as Elijah poured water onto them. They hissed and crackled under the extreme change. Quickly, the pile of ash and only slightly burned logs seemed to age right before his eyes. It looked like there hasn’t been a fire in the hearth for months. Even the smell of Elijah’s meal was gone, and replaced with the musty smell of dust. It was undoing dust. Eli thought it couldn’t be anything else.
“Where did you get that?” Eli demanded, touching Lizzi on the shoulder.
She looked up at him startled at first and then smiled.
“None of your business,” Wes said, throwing a pack onto his back. “Let’s go.”
A full moon greeted them in their cover of darkness. Eli followed Lizzi and Elijah who led the way. Wes brought up the rear and Eli sandwiched in the middle wondering how to get the Everspell back from the Giant. Taking it by force was out of the question between Elijah’s strength and Wes and Lizzi agility he had to be clever. He knew Elijah had it in his inside cloak pocket securely fastened in place. Eli had to get it before they reached Arrinia.
They traveled on no path, and Elijah seemed to know exactly which way to go. He patted some of the large trees with his equally large hand every so often like a friend would do greeting another friend. Eli looked up at some of the massive oak trees. Their leaves were beginning to change in color and blanketed the ground coating the forest floor. The moon’s rays filtered through the nearly bare limbs making the light diffused and visibility good. The air was still and only the occasional owl swooping from tree to tree in search of an evening meal was the only movement except for them.
No one spoke and Eli knew each step he took would be harder to get away. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Wes had backed off a little and was a few steps behind him. Lizzi had her back to him. He could quickly knock her over and snatch the Everspell from Elijah’s pocket, but Wes would be on him. He would only end up with another bump on the head.
The terrain took a sudden grade downward, and the ground had embedded rocks that protruded out of it. You could easily fall if you stepped in the wrong place, Eli thought as he walked along.
“Keep moving.” Wes prodded him with a stick in the back.
That action inflamed Eli. He was no animal and didn’t need prodding along. He turned to give Wes a piece of his mind he wanted to give him when they first met when one of the jetting rocks caught his foot causing him to tumble down the hill. Eli heard Wes laugh, and Elijah scold him followed by Lizzi yelling after him. What Eli thought was a disastrous accident trying to get the Everspell back, turned into a brilliant idea after the third tumble.
He lay still at the bottom only pretending to be unconscious. He could hear their rapid footsteps come closer. Discreetly, he pulled out his dagger that they failed to take from him, and held it in his hand. Lizzi was the first to reach him, and gently she turned him over.
“Don’t move and you won’t get hurt.” Eli took the girl by surprise at his swiftness, and then slowly got up with his dagger at her throat.
Eli didn’t want things to come to this, but he had no choice. The Everspell couldn’t be in the hands of Rebels, each day that passed was a day that the Muses’ had a chance to get it. Eli didn’t want to take that chance any more.
Elijah and Wes came down the embankment side by side, stopping in front of Eli surprised to see Lizzi held at knife point.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want my book back and I will be on my way,” Eli said, looking at them as he pulled Lizzi closer, poking the blade into her skin.
Elijah then took from his cloak the book and held it in front of him. Eli thought they had come to their senses and realized he wasn’t worth taking along.
“Toss it over here.” Eli commanded.
Elijah gave it a toss and it landed with a thud as he shoved Lizzi forward. Quickly, he snatched the book and turned running into the woods.
“What are doing?!” Wes sounded like a whining child.
“No,” Elijah said in a booming voice. “The forest will take care of him”
Eli heard Elijah’s deep laugh echo through the trees and rumble inside of him. He didn’t take the threat seriously, and kept moving until he heard the first grumble. It sounded like an agitated animal, but Eli kept moving. He would be out of the forest soon as he traveled the way they had come.
With the clearing in sight, he tried to focus on it when it became blocked by tangled limbs. He swung his dagger at them barely scratching them. A higher pitched rumble trembled beneath his feet like laughter. He pressed forward knowing he had to make it out before the trees blocked him in.
Suddenly, a large mass was in front of him. Two glowing eyes like flames looked down at him, a crevasse opened beneath the eyes in what looked like a grin.
“Landmerrow,” Eli said under his breath.
Quickly, he moved around the cumbersome tree towards the opening. He was almost there with nothing stopping him. Jumping over the unearthed roots of the Landmerrow, Eli smiled as he had the Everspell and the forest’s edge in sight.
Landmerrows can’t move very fast and escaping them would be easy, or so he thought when from behind something latched onto him pulling him back.
Eli was entangled in the limbs that seemed to vine around him turning him every which way. He couldn’t move as the vines curled around him, passing him along deeper and back into the woods. He struggled trying to free his hand with the dagger when suddenly, they dropped him hanging upside down by the ankle, and in front of Wes.
“Going somewhere?” Wes smiled, picking up Eli’s dagger that had fallen from his hand. “I’ll take this.” He placed the dagger on his side as Elijah came up lifting Eli upright as the vines receded upon his presence.
“I must say,” Elijah grabbed hold of Eli’s hands tying them together with a short section of the same vine. “I’ve never seen anyone out run a Landmerrow as well as you. You see, we can use you in our group.” Elijah smiled handing the rope to Wes.
“Now, let’s move on.” Elijah took the Everspell from inside Eli’s pocket as Wes tugged on the rope infuriating Eli.
He could do nothing now with his hands bound, Wes lead him along with Elijah behind him. The only thing he could do was come up with another plan.
Lyssa
“I’m really sorry for everything Lys.” Zoey sat next to Lyssa stroking her back with her hand.
The afternoon sun was warm, warmer than usual for this time of year. Everything was quiet except for the rhythm of the squeaky swing Zoey and Lyssa sat on under an umbrella of blazing orange leaves of the sugar maple.
“I know you are and I know you never intended any of this to happen.” Lyssa replied still mad at Zoey, but craving her attention more. “A lot has happened in the last month, and it is still very confusing to me.”
Zoey stopped the swing and looked at Lyssa.
“Lyssa, there is something I want you to know—something that only one other knows.” Zoey wrapped her sweater tighter and looked to see if anyone was around.
“What is it?” Lyssa asked turning to her.
Zoey smiled. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”
Lyssa followed Zoey through the golden trees until they were past Gwen and Sean’s fire pit to a rock bottom creek that was barely deep enough to cover your ankles. Zoey stopped her and looked around.
“What do you want to tell me?” Lyssa asked.
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br /> “If you could have magic, Lyssa, what would you do?” Zoey asked looking Lyssa in the eyes.
“I would bring my dad back, and have everything normal again.” Lyssa replied truthfully.
Zoey smiled warmly. “I know you would do that, but what else would you do?” Zoey’s voice was soft and sweetened with something foreign that Lyssa had never heard before. “You have magic, Lyssa.”
“I don’t know what I would do.” Lyssa felt overwhelmed. She didn’t want the responsibility, and besides, people don’t have magic or at least she didn’t think she did.
“No, listen to me, Lyssa, you have magic in you. I put it there it’s called Everspell, and it’s yours.” Zoey eye’s twinkled and she smiled at Lyssa. “It is a gift.”
“More like a hot gift,” Deravon said, stepping behind Zoey.
“It isn’t hot if you took it from someone that stole it in the first place.” Zoey retorted.
“What are you talking about?” Lyssa asked shifting her eyes between them.
“The Everspell…the rawest magic that’s left in this world is in you and …how shall I put this so you understand. Like clay that isn’t shaped into anything yet…a white canvas that has never been painted on…” Deravon stepped closer to Lyssa.
“I get the idea, but what, how and why do I have it?’
“Lyssa, what I am about to tell you mustn’t go past us, there’s too much at stake.” Lyssa looked at Zoey who now stood in front of her pushing back Lyssa’s hair in a tender way that felt comforting. “Deravon is right in his explanation, you have raw magic in you and it needs to be molded into shape. I took it from the Muse Brothers who want nothing more than absolute power, and ultimate plan of cleansing the Fae world of lesser races. The Everspell was their key. I took it and came here seeking protection with Gwen and Sean. They introduced your father to me and I could see right away that you were perfect. There are very few who can be a magic vessel and you’re one of them Lyssa.” Zoey’s voice was soft with a hint of contained joy that was the very opposite of what Lyssa felt.
“I don’t like it. How could you do this to me?” Lyssa”s body felt foreign to her, like she had some exotic disease that had no cure. “Take it out of me.”
Zoey’s face fell and she pulled away slightly shocked at Lyssa reaction.
“I…I can’t, Lyssa…it doesn’t work that way.”
“You mean to tell me that I have this stolen magic in me and now you can’t get it out?” Lyssa turned wrapping her arms around her stomach. “What about my father? Can I use it to save him at least?”
“You have to have the key.” Deravon replied tilting his head to the side with a smile. Lyssa gazed at him. “It just keeps getting better doesn’t it, Etherling?” Deravon stepped forward. “Not to worry little Halfling, Zoey is right, you do have a gift that needs to be unlocked and molded into something we can work with.”
Lyssa turned away again with crossed arms as the air took a sudden chill.
“With my help, Lyssa, I can show you things you never knew were possible.”
“Why didn’t you just put the magic in you then?” Lyssa asked turning around.
“Because I didn’t take the bloodline you did. You’re a vessel, Lyssa.” Zoey stepped forward taking off her thick sweater and wrapping it around Lyssa in a motherly way that no matter how mad Lyssa was, always stopped to take in the attention.
“How do we find the key?” Lyssa asked.
“That’s what we are working on and is why I want to take you to the Fae world. You will be safe there and Gwen and Sean needn’t be in danger having you here unaware of everything,” Zoey said, just as a twig snapped in the stillness, a warning someone or something was nearby.
Zoey tightened her arms around Lyssa as Deravon pulled a large dagger from his belt. Lyssa saw the gold blade embellished with blue-green stones, and etched scroll designs up and down the blade. It looked too beautiful to be a weapon to kill someone with.
“Something is here.” Deravon scanned the land with his darting eyes and his body appeared to tense, waiting to pounce.
Everything was still again as they waited for something to appear.
“Maybe it was just an animal,” Lyssa said as Deravon turned shaking his head at her.
“Etherling, what else would be in the woods besides…” From out of nowhere, a dark figure lunged at Deravon knocking him to the ground.
Zoey pushed Lyssa back yelling at her to run, but she stood frozen in awe at the being before her. It had a dangerous beauty to it. Its rounded muscles she could see through his leather-like clothing, and was full of strength while its eyes glowed in an animalistic way. The face with hard angles and black scales around his eyes glinted like black diamonds.
Zoey yelled again, but Lyssa only stared entranced when her eyes met his. Even in that millisecond, Lyssa saw the creature underneath had a human touch to it.
Deravon rolled on top of the creature, but was quickly reversed, and nearly crushed by the creature. Deravon yelled out as Zoey reached into her pocket pulled something round, metallic, and flat, and placed it securely into her palm, flicked it outward expelling a long, silver blade that she sliced at the creature. It let out a yell, and released his grip on Deravon.
Zoey continued to take swings at the creature who now unfolded a pair of bat like wings. His eyes glowed yellow and he turned growling at Zoey. Lyssa had to do something as Deraovn laid on the ground motionless.
Lyssa’s searched her surroundings for a weapon, and then spotted Deravon’s dagger loosely held in his hand. She plucked it from his hand, and with all of her might, flung it at the creature. She remembered throwing knives at logs when her and her dad would go camping, she was never good at it and as the end of the knife flew from her hand, she only prayed it was a good throw.
She watched it go through the air like a gold bolt of electricity towards the winged creature that took a swing at Zoey only to miss, and have the dagger Lyssa threw embed into its shoulder.
It let out a yelp, clutched the blade with its other hand, and looked at Lyssa with eyes that had a mixture of anger, hate and she didn’t know why, but regret. He took off like a shadow dissolving in sunlight.
“Lyssa are you alright?” Zoey asked retracting her blade and bending down beside Deravon.
Lyssa didn’t answer as she knelt beside Deravon who had several scratches on his face.
“I’m alright,” he said, getting up.
Zoey and Lyssa helped him up.
“You’re not alright,” Zoey said as they moved quickly towards the house.
“What was that thing?” Lyssa asked trying not to stumble from her shaking knees.
“That, my dear, was a Drake, and a ferocious one too,” Deravon said, before letting his head drop down.
They took Deravon inside where Lyssa helped Zoey clean his wounds and fixed him something to drink. Deravon didn’t like Zoey fussing over him, and protested saying they were nothing more than scratches, but Zoey didn’t listen to him gave him orders to stay upstairs and rest until Sean and Gwen got home.
“Will there be more of them?” Lyssa asked putting away the tea kettle. “The Drakes, are they after me too?”
Lyssa turned to Zoey who sat at the kitchen table making a small pouch with dried herbs.
“It could’ve been only an isolated incident as you know Gwen and Sean harbor many refugees. Some stay here for a long time, and others simply pass by. I hope that Drake was just passing through, and nothing more.” Zoey looked up at Lyssa and smiled. “Come on, let’s go upstairs and give this to Deravon and you can give this to Toby.” Zoey handed her a tall glass of what looked like tea with a sprig of mint leaves.
Lyssa gently knocked on the door before she went in to see Toby sleeping soundly. He looked peaceful, she thought as she sat down and gazed at him. She wondered now with the all the spells out of him, if he stilled had any feelings for her. Her crush for him
was too stubborn to dissolve even though she tried to smother it with several doses of reality. None of them worked. They will have to just go away in their own slow embarrassing way.
The sun began to go down and the last bit of sunlight seemed to grow brighter giving all that it had before giving way to the darkness. Lyssa thought of her father. Was he cold, hurt, scared and the thought she dreaded, was he still alive? She drew in a ragged breath trying to release her worries as she thought about the magic that Zoey said was inside her.
The Eversepll was raw magic. Could she summon it by herself without the key and try to save her father. How could she do that with a chant or meditation? Lyssa’s head began to hurt making her shoulders tense up.
She got up turned on a light and closed the curtains before sitting in the chair and resting her head back on it and closed her eyes.
“Is that for me?” Toby suddenly asked.
Lyssa popped up and took the glass handing it to him.
“Zoey made it. I think its tea. I hope you like it,” Lyssa quickly said as he smiled taking it from her.
Toby took a sip. “It’s tea.” Toby sat up stretching his arms.
“So do you feel better?” Lyssa asked.
“Yes, I feel like my normal self…or at least closer to my normal self.” Toby swung his bare legs over the side of the bed.
“I thought Zoey got rid of all those spells.” Lyssa asked.
“She did and now she said…this is going to sound crazy.” Toby looked away shaking his head.
“Believe me, I’m not sure what normal is, so as far as I am concerned, anything goes.” Lyssa tried to reassure him.
Toby looked back at her and smiled giving a small laugh.
“I come from a line of Changelings. They are part Fae and part human or as they like to call us Etherlings. And Megan’s a Banshee and she put several spells on me” Toby gazed into Lyssa’s eyes as she gazed back unblinking. “Top that.”
“Well I found out that I have a stolen magic that Zoey put there because I am a rare magic vessel that can’t come out without a key of some sort. And now I have an ethnic cleansing, evil mastermind called the Muse brothers after me along with possible others interested in the magic.”
“Are you serious?” Toby’s face went slightly pale.
“Do you think I could make that up?” Lyssa asked with a chuckle even though she was scared.
“I don’t think Craig could even make that up.” Toby smiled taking Lyssa by the hand suddenly.
Lyssa felt goose bumps run up and down her arms while her skin cooled and burned at the same time. She looked at Toby who stroked her hand.
“I know, and I know you know, Zoey put a spell on me to fall in love with you, but…the truth is, Lyssa, is that I still…find you fascinating and pretty. I can’t believe I am saying this, and I’ve never said that to anyone before.”
Lyssa smiled, and her face flushed.
“What about Megan?” Lyssa didn’t want to even bring her up, but before she let her heart fall into the bubbly pool of love, she wanted to know where Megan was in the picture.
“After all of those spells, I don’t think I trust her any more. She really isn’t my type anyhow.” Toby replied with a shake of his head.
“I don’t blame you.” Lyssa had to let out a giggle.
“Zoey said your father is missing, and they’re trying to find him.” Toby’s eyes looked sincerely sympathetic to Lyssa.
“Yeah,” Lyssa felt her heart drop like it was on a bungee line. “When I left the dance, I found my dad missing, and some lunatic ninja girl waiting for me. She works for the Muses’ and took my father to them. She would’ve had me if it wasn’t for Deravon.”
Toby looked away for a moment as if trying to recall something.
“That night is still kind of foggy. But, I remember seeing you in the road, I brought back your shoe and a guy with dark hair,” Toby’s eyes met her with raised brows. “…was wearing a suit that glittered.”
Lyssa smiled. “That’s Deravon.”
“Interesting guy.” Toby shook his head and then laughed along with Lyssa.
It was a stupid thing to laugh at, but somehow just being with Toby all of her troubles seemed to melt into a small glob that was manageable.
“So what’s it like having magic in you? Does it feel any different?” Toby asked finishing his tea.
Lyssa smiled really thinking about it. She felt like everything inside of her was not her, like her insides were tainted with poisons that she visualized swirling plumes of green goo. The thought made her shiver.
“Are you alright?” Toby asked concerned.
Lyssa’a face flushed. “Yeah, it really doesn’t feel any different. I guess when we find the key, I will find out.”
Toby smiled letting his thumb run over Lyssa fingers. It tickled to her. She like the sparks she felt when he would barely brush against her. She then let her eyes meet his. He smiled as if inviting her to lean closer to him. She followed the magnetic pull, letting herself move closer until their noses barely brushed against each other. Finally, she thought, I am going to kiss….
“Lyssa!” Gwen’s voice pierced through like a bolt.
Lyssa stood up like a soldier being called to attention. Gwen’s eyes drifted from Toby to Lyssa. She gave Lyssa a slightly prudent and scrutinizing look. She then cleared her throat and focused her eyes on Toby.
“Toby, my name is Gwen and my husband Sean is the one who treated you. I am glad you are better and you may return home tonight,” she said in a formal tone.
“Tonight?” Lyssa said with Gwen’s eyes looking at her with curiosity.
“Yes, tonight. I think it is best that the fewer involved the better.” Gwen said returning to the door. “Say your goodbyes and come downstairs, Sean is going to take Toby home. You have five minutes.”
The door closed, leaving a crack that Lyssa went over and pushed shut. Now that Toby was truly interested in her, she couldn’t be around him. She ran her fingers through her hair pacing the floor.
“What are you doing?” Toby asked.
“Trying to come up with a plan.” Lyssa stopped and looked at Toby.
“I can still come and see you. You aren’t that far away,” Toby said looking at her with his deep green eyes. “My parents don’t need to know and it would probably be better if they didn’t.”
“You don’t get it. I probably won’t see you again because I won’t be here. I’m going to the Fae world soon with Zoey. Gwen and Sean don’t know I have this Everspell, and just being here puts them in danger, and even you.” Lyssa wished she could just pee out the Everspell and hand it over to Zoey, but knew that wouldn’t happen. “It is so ironic. Everything comes to this and it just blows up for me.” Lyssa looked up at the ceiling closing her eyes.
“Hey, I’m not gone yet.”
Lyssa turned to him and smiled.
“Are you always this optimistic?” Lyssa asked with a shake of her head.
“I am a glass is half full kind of guy. If there’s a will there is a way.” Toby’s lips curled into a smile.
Toby
Toby got into his truck after he said goodbye to Lyssa. He really wanted to give her a kiss, but Gwen put a stop to that practically pushing him out the door.
“You know I could have driven myself home,” Toby said looking in his rear view mirror at Gwen’s headlights glaring back at him.
“I know, but we want to see you safely home,” Sean said as he drove Toby’s truck down the highway.
Sean looked sideways at Toby and gave him a crooked smile. “You know, I got my scar from saving her from a terrible creature called a Drake, in fact it’s how we met.” Sean let his smile fade. “I would do anything for her as there are some things worth going after even though there is a dragon at your back.” Sean eyes drifted upward to the rear view mirror.
Toby glanced in the mirror as well.
He wanted Sean to turn around, but knew that wouldn’t happen even though he sort of had Sean’s blessing to see Lyssa, or at least that’s what he thought he meant. Toby could still feel the string that drew him to Lyssa and the further they got, the thinner it felt. His skin itched to turn around, but headlights flashing him in the face reminded him that Gwen thought otherwise of him.
“She isn’t really a Dragon is she? I mean after everything that has been happening to me…”
Sean let out a deep laugh. “No, no, no. Gwen isn’t anywhere close to one, but she is protective of Lyssa and always has been.” Sean’s eyes were steady on Toby. “All I am saying is that if something is worth having it is worth fighting for no matter what.”
Toby looked back again at Gwen’s headlights. He liked Lyssa, and could think of no one he wanted to be with even being spell free, he still had feelings for her.
“So what will happen now?” Toby asked. “I mean what will Lyssa do?”
Sean let out a sigh, and looked straight ahead. “As far as we know, our connections are still holding and we are safe, for right now. When you handle the things we do, everything changes all the time. We were lucky we got to live here as long as we have.”
Toby saw the exit for Briarwood, they turned off going down the lit up main street. Everything still looked the same, but had a different aura to it. The clock showed it was ten ‘clock at the bank and 42 degrees. He’d been gone for a few days and in those days he realized that he didn’t even know who he was. Toby directed Sean to his house where he parked across the street.
Everything looked the same, but different. The lights were on inside, and he saw the faint image of his mother at the kitchen sink.
“They’re fine, and as soon as you open the door, everything will be back to normal for you.” Sean smiled as Gwen’s headlights blasted them from behind.
“I care about Lyssa, and something feels so right when I am with her. I care about my family, but I feel like I don’t fit in like everyone else. Now everything has come together and I want something different. I am part of another world too—a Changeling. I don’t even really know what that means, but I want to find out.”
Sean gave Toby a sympathetic smile and shook his head.
“My boy, I do have to say you have something in you and I knew it when I saw how many spells where in you. It is no wonder you didn’t go mad. But, you can’t come with us right now. Your home is here.”
“You don’t understand…” Toby started to protest when Sean waved his hand in front of his face. “Toby Winslett you will go home and tell your parents you had a good time visiting your Aunt Sophie.” Sean’s voice was soft and slow. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Toby’s thoughts melted away like snow on a warm spring day.
He tried to cling to the thought of Lyssa and everything that Sean had told him, but he couldn’t. Everything became a shadow without definition until he opened his eyes and was staring at his house.
Toby stood in the driveway with the rumbling of a motor fading in the distance. He looked around the lit street. Everything was quiet. His truck was parked in front of his dad’s car. But something wasn’t right, and he couldn’t put a finger on it.
A porch light flicked on, and he was greeted by his mom and dad. They quizzed him about his trip, and he answered them like he really visited his Aunt Sophie which felt more like a dream to him.
He went upstairs and sat in his room for a moment. The glow from his clock illuminated the room. His mom must have straightened his books and got all of his dirty clothes out as everything felt like it was his, but at the same time it felt like a hotel—foreign and yet familiar. He lay back on his comforter that covered his bed and closed his eyes. He wondered if Megan had called and then he remembered she was visiting family too at the same time Lyssa was. He wondered when Lyssa would be coming back. But why did he care about her so much?
Toby sat up and ran his fingers through his hair as a light caught his eyes. He looked around his room and saw nothing then he noticed a faint glow under his palm that made the navy blue comforter look like a flashlight was underneath it. Slowly, he lifted his hand and the light grew brighter. He flipped it over and held it in front of his face. Lines of moving light ran through his skin then he remembered. Everything seemed to crumble around him and he remembered who he was—a Changeling from a hidden world called Fae.
People of Fae Page 11