by Jerod Lollar
“I love Johnathen, Jack, but I can’t help feeling that he is keeping things hidden from me. There are questions I have about the night my family died. Every time I ask him about it he skirts the issue and tries to change the subject. All he has said is that the fairies did it, but there has to be more to the story, Jack. I believe he is trying to protect me from something. He is very powerful and sometimes that power scares me, but I really do love him. I think he would accept that we are doing this. He wants the chance for both magic users and non-magic users to know about each other. He has been protecting us and now it’s time for us to protect him, even if it is from himself."
We walked down the street for a while, both of us silent.
"We seem to be between both worlds, Jack. “ said Michelle. “You even more than me. It is our responsibility to let them know that we are not dangerous and we can learn from each other.”
Chapter 30
It was very late when we arrived and the streetlights gave off a thin light as we walked down the alleyway that led to the club. We made sure our teardrops were working, then, walking with caution, we made our way to the door. I looked up at the dark skyline, visible between the two buildings, and saw the familiar flash of silver that let me know that Fetch was there. I looked over at Michelle, gave her hand an encouraging squeeze, and together we pushed on the double French doors that led into the club. As a blast of loud music hit our ears, we were greeted by the most incredible vision I had ever seen. It was like an explosion of all the fantasy books I had ever read. Everything from unicorns to pointy eared elves were there. The loud music would go up and down in volume and I realized it was a spell that allowed people to talk without yelling. When you got close to someone, the music would get quieter. When you began to talk to someone, the music around you would automatically go down in volume, allowing you to have a conversation with that person without having to shout. If you got too close to people as you walked by, the volume would go down. It was a strange experience walking around with the music getting louder and softer like someone playing an annoying joke. It really threw off my equilibrium for a few minutes. After a while I began to get used to it, and, after my eyes adjusted to the light, I looked around at this new incredible environment.
Every place I looked created a new experience of amazement. From the unicorns and pegasi that roamed around having genial conversations with each other, to the sprites colorful drinking games where the loser had to dive into a mug of ale and drink their way out. It was a fantasy geek's dream come true. To explain all I saw in that club that night would take years. I looked at Michelle and the amazed expression on her face let me know how fantastic this whole place was. There was a purple troll with a basket collecting all electronic devices that the few non magic folks had. Anytime a cell phone was brought out to take a photo or a video, he was there to take it away. Looking closely at them, you could see a glazed, glassy eyed look on their face. I watched one girl in particular who was staring at a blue unicorn. After a few minutes she shook her head and whispered to a friend about the place getting to her. She and her friend left a few minutes later. Another guy was busy trying to pick up what I could only describe as a pixy in human size. She turned to him with a ball of what looked like lightning in each hand. A purple troll pulled him away just as she tossed the balls of energy in his direction. They left a deep hole in the floor where he had been standing. The troll escorted the guy out as he shook his head the same way the girl had just moments ago. It was obvious to me that there was magic designed to manipulate the human mind. Looking around I could see several magic creatures pleased at the non-magic people's eventual, fuzzy headed exits. I overheard two pointy eared elves in Armani suits making bets as to who would be next to leave. Michelle had pulled her hood up. We had discussed how we needed a way to disguise our appearance in case we got bumped. Touching someone or bumping them could break the teardrops' spell and it was inevitable that we would be bumped in here. We didn’t know if anyone would have an idea who we were, or if we would be recognized, but we didn’t want to take any chances.
Pulling my hood up I signaled to Michelle that we should split up. I headed toward a particularly loud group of dwarves as Michelle headed toward a group of well-dressed elves. I know she was looking for fairies. I had been looking around trying to spot some myself. They would possibly have the answers we needed. I hoped I would see them first. I didn’t know what Michelle would do if she saw one. I wanted to signal Fetch and find a way to sneak him in, but I just didn’t know how. I looked around for Smith, but I couldn’t spot him either. It didn’t go unnoticed by me that out of all the fantastic creatures attending, there wasn’t one dragon to be seen.
The club was enormous and as I walked around I heard little conversations. I thought I heard someone say something about 'the dragon survivor', but when I got close to the group, of what I can only describe as air mermaids, the conversation had changed to the color of their hair.
I walked up to one group that had gathered by a back wall of the club. They were thick and strong looking. The tallest of them was no more than five feet tall. The men had thick beards and the women had long thick hair. The women were exceptionally beautiful and were just as loud and rowdy as the men. As I got close to the group, I saw what they were all yelling about. There was a young woman in a wheelchair. Her hair was blond and in a thick braid down her back. She had piercing green eyes that could stare right through you. She was concentrating very hard, lost in thought. She was very beautiful, and, judging by all the looks she was getting from the dwarves gathered around her, had many admirers. Standing facing her was a particularly fierce looking dwarf. He was firmly planted a little to her right. His eyes were tightly shut, as if he was bracing himself for something. The young woman had a little crooked half smile on her face. She sat there patiently waiting for some kind of signal from the dwarf. He took a few deep breaths, opened his eyes, and nodded. The whole group of dwarves quieted and stared at them both. They just stood there looking at each other, then, almost faster than I could see, the girl pulled her fist back and swung at the stomach of the dwarf. She hit him so hard that he was sent flying backwards, doubled over. He hit the wall that was thirty feet away from the girl. It exploded into rubble with the dwarf disappearing in a cloud of dust .There was a pause for a few seconds, as the dust settled, and then slowly the dwarf emerged. He was covered in dirt. He shook his head like a wet dog, stood there on shaky legs, and then, with a wave of his hand, and a bow toward the girl, admitted his defeat.
“See! I told you!" said a gray-haired dwarf to another. "She is truly strong. The dwarf blood is thick in her veins. She belongs with us. The council has to listen.”
Another mention of the council, the all-powerful group that decides the fate of so many. I wanted to hear more of this story, but something caught my eye from across the club. It was a group of fairies sitting quietly at a table. There were five of them, two males and three females. The one in the middle was my fairy. There was no doubt in my mind. My heart began to thud loudly in my chest. In my mind I replayed that day. The scar on my leg from Fetch's hatching burned and itched as I stood there looking at her. She was as beautiful as she was that first day. Part of me wanted to just rush over there and reveal myself. Just to show her I was there, and demand answers to questions I have had from the beginning, but I knew this was not the best idea. I had to get closer to them and try to listen to what they were saying. I stood there for a while trying to decide whether or not I should go over there. From my vantage point I could see most of the club. What I saw made me realize I needed to get to the fey as fast as I could.
Michelle had spotted them too. All the years of frustration and hate for the fairies seemed to be on her face. In her hands was a dagger just like the one that Johnathen gave me in the park, the one he told me would kill a fairy even if they just touched it. I hadn’t even thought about mine in over a month. My stomach fell into my shoes as I realized I wouldn’t be able to get t
o her before she got to the fairies. I didn’t want to believe it, but the way she moved toward them with the dagger in her hands gave me the idea she was going to kill one, and I couldn’t stop her.
It played out in front of me like a slow-motion film. I made my way across the club as Michelle came up behind the fairies with her dagger raised in her hands. She stood there panting heavily, and, even from the distance I was from her, I could see her shaking in rage. She moved right in front of them. Her teardrop kept her hidden as she stood there in front of my fairy, ready to plunge the dagger into her heart. Her face was a mask of rage and pain. Her eyes were wild and I knew that she was going to do this. I rushed across the club, not caring if I would be revealed. I had to stop her from doing this.
Then slowly I watched her face change. The rage melted away and was replaced with a look of confusion. She looked down at the blade in her hands. She seemed surprised that she was holding it at all. She shook her head like she was trying to clear her mind and stood there staring at the fairies. They were having a very animated discussion. She heard something that they said and looked over at me. I finally reached her. She was staring at me as if I wasn’t real, like she was seeing me for the first time.
The dagger never made it to the floor. Smith had appeared at our sides, seeming like he had just appeared out of nowhere. He caught the dagger as it fell. Without looking at it, he quickly concealed it in the sleeve of his purple sweatshirt. He looked at me with concern on his face, and gently led Michelle away from the fairies and over to the bar. I started to follow them when I overheard one of the fairies say the word 'dragon'. I looked over at Smith and Michelle. Her head was in her hands and I could tell she was crying. I made a move to come toward them and Smith signaled for me to stay where I was. He motioned to the fey and pointed to his ears. I got the message. As much as I wanted to be there for Michelle, this was my chance to get the most information I would probably get on the fey. Michelle looked up at me, nodded her head and pointed at the fairies herself. She gave me a smile, through her tears, to let me know she was ok and again pointed at the fey. She would never forgive me or herself if I let this opportunity pass.
I looked over and realized I was right behind the fairy who led me out into traffic. The one who stood over me staring after I broke my hip. A strange phantom pain shot up my leg as I stood there looking at her. The whole exchange went unnoticed by the group of fairies. Somehow we had both made it across the club without being revealed. Our concealment had not been blown. They would never know how close they came to being killed.
I stood there just a few feet behind them. I could smell her. She smelled like the desert after the rain. Then she spoke.
“We have to find them. They can’t be left alone. There are too many things that could happen. There are already people talking about them, and, if we don’t find them soon, no telling what could happen."
“It is not our responsibility to protect them,” said one of the male fey.
They were all hovering above the ground, their wings creating a cool breeze behind them. As perfect and fragile as they looked, there was a power that radiated around them making it very clear to anyone near them that they were not to be messed with.
“That’s not fair, William,” she said. “They never asked for any of this. He has already been forgotten by his family and friends, and no telling what the dragon is going through.”
I realized with a shock that they were talking about Fetch and me. They had been looking for us. The other female fairy was bobbing up and down with an excited look on her face. She spoke in a high voice so different from the rich alto voice of my fairy. I found myself wanting to know her name, hoping that someone would say it. The excited fairy was an ebony skinned beauty, with a blue glow that radiated a few inches from her body. With every word she spoke her blue glow would get brighter.
"It is obvious that someone is concealing them from us,” she said. “Perhaps whoever has spread the dragon eggs around is the one hiding them.”
“Please Molly, keep your voice down,” said another fairy. "If word gets out that there are more dragon eggs out there, just scattered around, it could cause a panic.”
It was one of the guys that spoke. Both the male fey were dressed in what looked like very expensive suits. One had dark brown hair and dark tanned skin. The other had hair that looked almost white with skin to match.
“I don’t care," replied Molly. “There is someone who is using the essence of hatching dragons to gain power, and I feel that it is up to us to warn the public, magic and non-magic."
“Not until we find the 'dragon survivor' and the 'named dragon',” said my fairy.
Those words used to describe me sounded too much like a title. I wasn’t sure I liked that. When you had a title, there were always people expecting certain things from you, and I had no idea what those things were. Fetch and I deserved some freedom. We never asked for this life, but it was still ours, and I didn’t want to lose it. It was time to get Fetch in here. I realized I should have had him there from the very beginning. I felt trapped. I wanted to stay and hear more, but I wanted to get Fetch in here to hear it with me. It affected him too, and it was only fair that he heard what was being said. I looked around for Michelle and Smith. I finally spotted Smith sitting at a bar stool. He was looking right at me with a concerned look on his face. Michelle was nowhere to be seen.
I left the fairies to go ask Smith where she was. When I reached him, he had tears in his eyes. In his hand was the dagger that Michelle almost used on the fairies.
Chapter 31
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Where is Michelle?”
Smith looked at me and said. “Your blade, I know you have one as well. Let me see it.”
At first I didn’t know what he was talking about. Then it hit me. Michelle must have told him about the dagger that Johnathen had given me. It was identical to hers. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pouch that Johnathen had given me. I wasn’t concentrating hard enough and as I pulled out the dagger money spilled out of the pouch too. I quickly handed the dagger to Smith and bent down to hastily pick up the money and stuff it into my pockets. I stood up and saw Smith sitting there with tears streaming down his face. He was looking at the blades in his hands and nodding his head.
“Of course, it is all making sense now."
His hands began to shake and he shut his eyes tight. When he opened them again, he began to speak to me in a low voice, completely unlike anything I had heard from him.
“I was there, Jack. I was there the night Michelle’s family was killed. I had a feeling that she was the girl that survived, but I had to be sure. There have been many attacks on places like the one Michelle’s parents owned. Magic attacks that needed to be cleaned up. No one knew who was involved in those attacks. The only clue found was these daggers. Do you know what they are used for?"
"Johnathen told me they could destroy a fairy," I answered.
A chill was going up my spine. I had a feeling where this was all going and I didn’t think I was going to like it.
“They disappeared after I found them. It was the only evidence that the fairies might have something to do with the attacks. I was told they were concealed to protect the fairies on the council. Their magic is strong and can harm a fairy at a distance if in the wrong hands. I had no idea they were given to Johnathen. Why he gave them to you is another mystery. When I mentioned that they were found at the scene of the attack on her parents, Michelle cast a spell, keeping me here, and ran off saying she would get answers from Johnathen. These blades have a magic attached to them, Jack, a dark magic. If a fairy was to just see one, it would mean their end. If Michelle had revealed herself to them without even stabbing them, just them seeing the daggers could have taken their very life force from their bodies.”
He looked around and quickly concealed Michelle’s blade up his sleeve. He handed the other back to me. At first I didn’t want to touch it.
“It w
as given to you, Jack. I’m sure Johnathen had a reason to give it to you. I imagine for protection. It is said that if a fairy were to even suspect someone had one of these blades they would retreat and leave whoever had them alone. With Johnathen's belief that the fairies have been behind so much trouble in the magic world, I’m sure he meant for you to have it for protection, you and Michelle. She is so confused right now. I wish I could have stopped her, Jack. She seemed to be realizing that not all fairies are bad. There is trouble brewing and I think Johnathen suspects someone on the council is the cause. Michelle is in danger now. Running after Johnathen the way she just did can lead the unknown enemy to him. On her way out she bumped into a goblin. I was unable to move because of her spell or I would have stopped him. As soon as she revealed herself, the goblin got a wicked look on his face and disappeared. I am afraid that she is in serious danger, Jack."
I ran for the door cursing myself for not having Fetch with me the whole time. He might have been able to stop her from leaving. I hoped he saw her as she left and was with her outside right now. I knew that Michelle was dealing with conflicting emotions and wouldn’t do anything foolish. As I ran for the door, I bumped into a unicorn. It was blue with a red mane. As I was revealed, it jumped back in surprise
”You are the dragon survivor!” it shouted.
I ran for the door bumping and brushing up against all sorts of different things. I heard many different magic creatures yell and gasp in surprise as I was revealed to all that I happened to touch on my mad dash for the door. I could hear the unicorn still yelling that he had just bumped into the dragon survivor as I made my way into the alley.
I looked up for a sign of Fetch. I wasn’t paying attention to what was around me. I was about to call out to him when it happened. Something hit me on the back of the head. It was some sort of club and I could tell that it was meant to keep me from getting up. I went to my knees wondering if Booger and his friends had pulled a sneak attack. Whoever it was kept on hitting me. I was in pain and shock but somehow I managed to stay on my knees. I refused to go down all the way. I could hear the heavy breathing of my attackers, and, through the haze of pain, I was amazed at how much I was taking without going down. I had become stronger. Finally a blow to the kidneys brought me down completely. My attackers continued to hit me. I couldn’t see who they were. I had covered my head for protection and tried to call upon the forced magic. That first unexpected blow kept me from concentrating enough to get it to work. I was not doing well.