By Blood and Magic

by Jamie A. Waters

  “Malek?” Sabine whispered, closer than he’d expected.

  He opened his eyes and saw Sabine staring up at him in horror. All around them were crystal bars, and they were standing in the middle of the city before it had been destroyed.

  Sabine gripped his arm, her eyes wide with panic. “You can’t be here. You have to leave!”

  A woman cackled, and Malek spun around to see an old woman rocking back and forth on the ground surrounded by crushed leaves. “A pet! A pet! You’ve brought me a pet! I shall burn the dragon like he burned my city!”

  “No!” Sabine shouted, moving in front of him. “He’s mine, Treeheart.”

  “You’re both mine! Mine! Mine!”

  Malek stared at the old woman in shock. “That’s the treeheart? What’s wrong with her?”

  “Her mind’s been affected,” Sabine said quietly. “Malek, she doesn’t want to hurt me, but she wants you dead. You need to leave here.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders, wanting to protect her from this strange creature. Sabine might think she wouldn’t be harmed, but he wasn’t going to take the chance. The creature had already locked her up. He glanced down and saw a burn mark on Sabine’s arm.

  “You’re hurt,” he managed to say, barely recognizing his own voice as his magic surged to the surface. His skin heated and began to glow, demanding he shift to enact vengeance upon this creature for daring to harm the woman he’d claimed as his.

  Sabine grabbed his arm and urged, “Malek, no! You can’t shift. She’ll destroy both of us if you do. We’re in her mind right now, and this world obeys her rules.”

  His skin prickled and he squeezed his eyes shut, struggling to combat his instincts.

  Sabine reached up and cupped his face. In a soft voice, she whispered, “Look at me, Malek.”

  He opened his eyes and stared down into her lavender ones.

  She smiled up at him and said, “Just focus on me. I’m right here with you. Do you remember when we shared Faerie wine together?”

  “Yes,” he whispered, struggling to form a coherent thought other than his desire to steal Sabine away. Staring into her eyes and listening to her voice helped, but the treeheart’s sobbing laughter in the background threatened his focus.

  “When we shared Faerie wine back in Akros, you asked me if what happened in those memories also happened in the real world. Do you remember?”

  “I do,” Malek said, the need to shift beginning to fade the longer he stared into Sabine’s eyes. “You said the intent needed to be there for it to happen.”

  “Memories,” Treeheart wailed. “No more memories.”

  He started to turn toward the old woman, but Sabine grabbed his arm and whispered, “This place is part of Treeheart’s memories. She’s the one guiding us right now, but her thoughts are jumbled and confused. She was trying to tell me what happened here. That’s when the burning rain began to fall, but she stopped when she realized it hurt me.”

  Malek nodded, remembering Pearl’s warning about the city attacking if he were in dragon form. “All right. I won’t shift, but I’m not leaving without you. She may not intend you harm, but if she’s this confused, you’re not safe. How do we get out?”

  “Out, out.” Treeheart rocked back and forth. “You want to steal my pretty little Fae? Like you stole the others? Burn her alive too?”

  “He’s not stealing or hurting anyone,” Sabine said quickly, shaking her head in a gesture to indicate he needed to play along. “He was worried about me. I told you he’s not like the others. Malek is my friend.”

  “Not sure you can reason with her,” he said softly. “Even without shifting, I should be able to break these bars.”

  Sabine looked up at him and whispered, “Malek, I can’t leave. She’s trying to hold me captive because she doesn’t want to be alone again. I can’t break free without damaging her further. If I do, everyone and everything still in this pocket of Faerie will die immediately. Her mind is already fractured.”

  Malek turned back toward the old woman, who was babbling nonsense about fires and pretty little Fae. She was rocking back and forth, alternating between that strange cackle and sobbing uncontrollably. He grabbed Sabine’s wrist where the image of the chalice had been etched onto her skin. “Then use the goddess. Use my power. Use Bane’s. I don’t give a damn. But I’m not going to lose you to some crazy tree.”

  Sabine’s eyes widened. “I can’t control the goddess if she emerges.”

  “Will the goddess hurt you?”

  Sabine’s brow furrowed. “I don’t think so.”

  “Then do it, Sabine. We’ll deal with whatever happens, but we can’t stay in here. It’s only a matter of time before the True Folk outside hurt you.”

  Sabine inhaled sharply and nodded. She closed her eyes, and a brilliant white light surrounded her. When she opened her eyes again, Sabine was gone. Her features had changed ever so slightly to be more alien, harsh and even cruel in their beauty. He gaped at her, knowing intuitively this wasn’t the woman he’d grown to care about.

  “You dare try to steal my child?” Sabine’s voice intoned, but it had the same quality Blossom’s had possessed when Lachlina had spoken through the pixie. Lightning struck the ground in front of Treeheart. “You are a relic, a memory, a vessel designed to obey my children’s will. Nothing more!”

  “No, no, no,” Treeheart pleaded, rocking back and forth faster and faster. Branches sprouted through her patchy gray hair like antlers. “She’s mine. Don’t take my pretty little Fae away.”

  “She is mine! My creation and blood of my blood, just as you are her creation. Release her or I will destroy even your memory from this world!”

  The crystal bars faded away, and Malek let out a sigh of relief. They still needed to escape the city, but at least Sabine was no longer in immediate danger.

  Treeheart buried her face in her hands and sobbed. “No more mine. All alone. Alone. Alone. Always alone.”

  Lachlina ignored the distraught treeheart and turned toward Malek. “Dragon, it was your idea to summon me. Have you grown to care so much for my granddaughter that you no longer fear for your life?”

  Malek paused. He wasn’t sure he wanted to have this conversation with an angry goddess who was currently inhabiting Sabine’s body. It was impossible to forget his people had warred against hers for generations or the callousness she’d displayed when slaughtering the hunters. Despite the fact Lachlina had been instrumental in sealing the portal, it wasn’t from any fondness she had for dragons.

  He studied the goddess, searching for any sign of Sabine, but it was a stranger standing before him. “I will do a great deal, even treat with someone who was once the enemy of my people if it will save Sabine’s life. I care for her deeply.”

  Lachlina studied him for a long time. He had the impression she was weighing the truthfulness of his words. After a moment, she inclined her head. “Then you may remain with her for now. I would have her… think kindly of me. In exchange, you will tell her I saved you both. She may negotiate with me at a later date to resolve her debt for my intervention.”

  Malek frowned, uncertain what Lachlina would want in exchange for coming to Sabine’s aid. “She can’t hear us?”

  Lachlina studied the sky and crystal spires towering over them. “No. She has agreed to remain in my prison while I am here. There is much about this world I do not understand yet. Much has changed since I last walked this realm.”

  The idea of Sabine being trapped in the goddess’s prison sent a new surge of worry through him. “Will you release Sabine?”

  Lachlina turned back toward him. “Her imprisonment upsets you?”

  “Yes, dammit,” he snapped, his hands curling into fists in frustration. He couldn’t fight this goddess without harming the woman he loved in the process. Being powerless was a new concept for him, and he didn’t care much for it.

  Lachlina’s mouth curved upward. “Very well. Tell her the treeheart can be healed with a blood of
fering. All will be as it should be. Until we meet again, dragon.”

  Sabine started to collapse, but Malek grabbed ahold of her and eased her to the ground. Her features softened, returning to their normal appearance. Sabine blinked open her eyes and murmured, “It was so dark. I could see you, but it was hazy and confusing.”

  “It was Lachlina,” he whispered, holding her tightly. “She switched places with you to break whatever hold the tree had over you. Are you all right?”

  Sabine sat up, holding her head as though it pained her. “I’ll be fine. I’m just a little out of sorts. What—what happened?”

  Malek frowned. “I’m not completely sure. Lachlina mentioned she wants you to think kindly of her, but I’m not sure of her reasons. She said you were in debt to her for saving us, but you could negotiate the terms later.”

  Sabine frowned. “That doesn’t bode well. What did she do to Treeheart?”

  Malek looked at the old woman, who was still rocking back and forth and crying. At least she wasn’t doing the weird laughing thing anymore. “She said you can heal the treeheart with your blood.”

  Sabine’s eyes widened. “It’s that simple?”

  Malek hesitated and then shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Your magic is tied to your blood. If that’s how the Merfolk have been corrupting the treeheart, by using that walking stick to murder the Merfolk, then it makes sense your blood would bring her back.”

  Sabine gaped at him. “They were sacrificing Merfolk with the treeheart itself? No wonder she’s gone crazy. What were they thinking?”

  “I don’t think they were. Pearl said they’re ignorant of the old ways.”

  Sabine stood and said, “You need to leave here, Malek. I’ll take care of Treeheart, but I need that walking stick. Find Blossom and tell her we need to locate Aberforth.”

  “Will you be all right?”

  Sabine nodded, turning her gaze back on Treeheart. “Yes. And she will be too. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Using her dagger, Sabine cut her hand and offered it to Treeheart. The old woman gripped her tightly and drank deeply of her blood.

  Infusing her voice with power, Sabine said, “By blood and magic, and by my rights to both, I command you to return to awareness and serve once again.”

  Treeheart released her hand, and her features softened. The wrinkles on her aged face faded away, and her thinning hair softened from stark gray to a brilliant silvery white. In less than a heartbeat, she’d changed to appear no older than Sabine. Treeheart’s eyes sparkled liked the crystal spires, and she gave Sabine a beatific smile.

  The sun shined brightly, gently warming the area. Nearby trees all shifted colors, turning to deep greens and silvers. The crystal spires caught the sunlight, casting a rainbow over the entire area. Everywhere Sabine looked was a glimpse of paradise. But there were still no animals or even birds. It was a little too quiet.

  “It has been ages since I’ve been able to think and see clearly. You have given me a great gift, Your Highness. I am forevermore your loyal servant.”

  “You’re not completely healed yet,” Sabine said, taking Treeheart’s smooth and unlined hands in hers. “I need to locate your missing branch to make the rest of this place whole. Where is it?”

  Treeheart frowned, and her grip tightened over Sabine’s. “At my tree. The thief has brought it to me. The invaders wish to strike you down, but with your permission, I will repel them. Allow me to serve you, Your Highness.”

  Sabine shook her head. “I will handle the invaders. You will serve me best by restoring the forest and healing it with my power. I’ll call upon you soon to make plans for the city and to install a representative to act on my behalf. You won’t be alone again, Treeheart. I swear it.”

  “As you will it,” Treeheart said, lowering her head in deference, but Sabine saw the glimmer of emotion in her eyes. “I shall await your command.”

  The world shimmered with light, and Sabine came back to awareness in the partially destroyed city. The Merfolk were still surrounding her, and Zander was holding the knife to her throat. She’d lost all sense of time, similar to how Faerie wine could affect perceptions.

  “The tree is only partially healed. I’ll need the branch to complete the process,” she said to Zander, and he lowered the dagger slightly. She glanced around but noticed no sign of Malek. Her shoulders relaxed. At least he was out of harm’s way.

  Using her new mystical connection with Treeheart, the magic of the city beat steadily inside her like a second heartbeat. Through it, she knew the missing piece of the treeheart was close. It called to her, the same way the tree had called to her.

  “I think not,” Marsious said, stepping forward out of the crowd to approach. He was carrying the walking stick, and Aberforth was a few steps behind him. From the way Aberforth was glaring at Marsious, his anger was directed toward the Elder and not her.

  Sabine didn’t respond right away. She studied Marsious a bit closer, catching a glimpse of the same madness in his eyes that had been plaguing Treeheart. If these people had been cut off from their home for this long, they must be feeling the effects just like Treeheart.

  Sabine looked over the rest of the True Folk to see if she could detect any trace of madness, but they just seemed angry or frightened. Another realization struck her, and her eyes widened as she scanned the crowd.

  Everyone here was much younger than Marsious. If she had to guess, none of these people except for him were over two hundred. Even when they’d been walking in the city, she hadn’t seen anyone who could be considered an Elder. That must be why Marsious was the only one showing signs of madness; he’d been the one deprived of his magic for the longest.

  Sabine frowned and asked Zander, “What happened to your Elders?”

  “I am an Elder,” Marsious said, his eyes narrowing on her.

  “You’re the only one I’ve seen. In Faerie, we have thousands of Fae of all different ages. Where are all your Elders?”

  Aberforth stepped forward and crossed his arms over his chest. “Dead. Our longevity is one more thing we lost when our heritage was denied to us. Other than Marsious, all of us were born here in this city. We hear the call of the ocean, but we’ve never known its embrace.”

  “Because you have corrupted the balance,” a woman’s voice called.

  The group surrounding Sabine turned to stare at the newcomer in shock. She was a striking woman with long, pale-blonde hair and light eyes. Her features were more refined than the other Merfolk, and she moved with undeniable grace. The necklace she wore could have been twin to the one Ilwan had given Sabine. That, and the very attractive and charming dragon walking beside her, made Sabine suspect this woman was the one they’d been seeking.

  Sabine smiled at Malek before turning toward the woman. “Pearl, I presume?”

  Malek winked at her and said, “Pearl, I’d like you to meet Sabine. Sabine, meet Pearl, our missing Merfolk woman.”

  Pearl inclined her head in greeting. Without another word, she flicked her wrist and the walking stick flew out of Marsious’s hand and toward Sabine. She caught it, the wood warming under her fingertips. A feeling of completeness filled her, but the magic in the stick was still wrong.

  Sabine quickly cut her hand and slapped her bleeding palm against the stick. It trembled in response before quieting down. Sabine smiled and threw it toward the tree, where it disappeared in a flash of light. The treeheart was now fully healed. Next time she reconnected with it, there would be birds in the sky.

  Dozens of pixies were poking their heads out of the rubble and underbrush. Their wings all fluttered in excitement as they frolicked around the treeheart. Blossom landed on Sabine’s shoulder and whispered, “I knew you could save the treeheart! Now we can rescue Esme too!”

  Sabine nodded. The immediate danger had lessened, but they still needed to escape Marsious. The treeheart would need time to regain strength. Until then, they were on their own. “Soon. Go keep an eye on your friends and make sure th
ey’re ready to leave at a moment’s notice. This could still go badly.”

  “You dare steal the key to the city.” Marsious hissed at Pearl in barely restrained fury. “I will destroy you all for this! This city is mine!”

  Pearl narrowed her eyes. “I dare nothing more than a return of the balance. You are not my equal nor are you an Elder, Marsious. You were cast out of the sea for betraying our people. We have not forgotten your deception.”

  “I never betrayed them!” he shouted, the vein at his temple throbbing in anger. He slapped his fist against his chest. “I saved them. You left us all to die while you were safe in the sea. I brought them here and claimed this city as ours. Me!”

  Malek walked toward Sabine and leaned down to whisper, “Our newly liberated Merwoman has more than a few secrets. There’s a very interesting one she shared about the real pearl of the sea and how it was used to seal the portal.”

  Sabine arched her brow at him, but Malek didn’t elaborate. She hadn’t realized the Merfolk possessed one of the artifacts. But none of that would matter if she didn’t concentrate on Marsious. The people living here still deferred to him, and the city was too weak to help evict them.

  Pearl walked toward Marsious and said, “You thought to create and rule your own kingdom by using stolen magic to divide the ocean. The desert wasteland was your doing, Marsious! Your punishment was to wander the sand for eternity, never to feel the coolness of the waves again.”

  “The dragons created the badlands! Not me!”

  “The dragons sought to cause havoc among our people to weaken the gods,” Pearl retorted, glaring at him. “You know better than anyone the tides ebb and flow. You were the one who corrupted this place when you realized you were trapped in your current form. You are the reason the seas never reclaimed this land.”

  “You know nothing! While you’ve been trapped in the sea, I’ve found true power,” Marsious shouted, lifting his hands into the air. A cold wind descended, and the strong scent of brine filled the air. Clouds streaked across the sky, and rain fell in torrents. The ground trembled underneath them.