by Linsey Hall
There was something familiar about her. Like I’d seen her before. I didn’t recognize her serene features, but her magic…
Fates.
She was the goddess who’d appeared in the stone circle in the fairytale realm, and again in my dream.
Except I’d thought she’d been a dude?
Her magic though…
I stepped out from behind the pillar. Lachlan reached for my arm, but I evaded him.
“It’s okay,” I murmured.
“Ana Blackwood. The Warrior Druid.” The goddess’s voice rumbled with power, deep and sure.
Yep, same one as before. Her voice had thrown me off.
“Sulis?” I asked.
“Indeed. I was the one who gave you the gift of light. Of life.”
“That’s what my glowing white magic is? The light of life?”
“In a sense, yes. It is light in its purest, most healing form. It can drive away sickness and darkness, and even control some plants and animal life.”
Wow. I rubbed my arms as I continued to approach her. “I’m having trouble with it, though.”
She nodded toward my arms, her golden hair gleaming in the light. “Your tattoos, I presume?”
“Exactly.”
“They are the mark of The Druid. Part of the transitional process. They will help you master and control your magic, as long as you can unite their power with your life force.”
“How the heck do I do that?” I stopped at the edge of the marble platform upon which she stood. The pool behind her gleamed with a pale light. The black splotch from the dark magic that streaked across the land looked like an oil slick.
“The torc that you seek in the sacred grove will help.”
“I’m seeking a torc in the sacred grove? What is that?”
“It is a sacred piece of jewelry. A talisman, of sorts, that is worn around the neck. You won’t be able to meet all of the gods who give you powers, so they won’t be there in person to help you learn their magic. Like I am. But the torc will help you understand and use their magic.”
I kept stealing glances at the water behind her, unable to help myself. The evil that had left this stain made worry churn in my gut. I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. “What happened here? Did you see who passed?”
“They were shadows of darkness that submerged themselves in the bath, partaking of the healing waters. They grew stronger, then continued on their way.”
Crap. Stronger was not good.
“I do not know who they were, but they felt familiar, somehow.” A scowl crossed her serene features. “They clearly felt entitled to my baths, yet they did not leave an offering.”
I didn’t want to point out that it wasn’t really the style of invaders to respect local customs.
Sulis caught my eye. “Together, we will drive this darkness from the baths. It will help you learn to control your magic.”
Heck yeah. This sounded promising.
Sulis gestured me forward. I glanced back at Lachlan, who waited at the side, alert and wary.
I stepped toward Sulis, who reached out and laid her fingertips against my arm. I jerked as if a live wire had hit me. Her touch was electric and strong, though not bad. It felt like pure power streaking through me, reaching deep into my middle and pulling on the light power that had been so hard to control. It flared bright, filling me up.
My arms burned, but I ignored it.
“Direct your light at the pool,” Sulis said.
I did as she commanded, envisioning my light shining on the dark water. It surged from me, easier and faster than it ever had. Lachlan’s help had opened the floodgates, but this was the water pouring forth.
It shot straight into the heart of the darkness, blasting it away. Within seconds, the water gleamed pure and bright. A sense of calm fell over the baths, making them feel like the most relaxing place I’d ever been to. Birds began to sing, and flower blooms fell from the trees.
The black scar in the earth still existed on either side of the marble and pool of water, but we’d fixed the bath itself.
I struggled to catch my breath, trying not to pant like a dog after a long run on the beach. That had taken a lot out of me. I couldn’t defeat all of the darkness in Otherworld—not when it took so much magic to do this little bit—but I was thrilled to have fixed the bath.
“That is what the torc will do for you,” Sulis said. “It is a direct conduit with the gods who have given you their power. The magic of The Druid is a difficult thing. Wild and untamed. You need our help to control it, and long ago, we imbued the sacred torc with the magic to help you master the powers we will give you.”
“So you mean it’s not entirely my fault that I haven’t gotten a handle on my magic?”
“You’ve done better than anyone would have expected.” Her gaze moved to Lachlan. “In large part because of your friend. His guidance allowed you some control. But you will progress no farther without the torc. It’s the other half of the druid magic, a sacred item that is required for you to complete your transition.”
I nodded, simultaneously confused and relieved. I’d hated feeling like such a half-assed Magica who couldn’t get a grip on her magic. Knowing that there was a reason why…
It was awesome.
And I was going to do whatever it took to get ahold of that torc.
“Thank you, Sulis.”
She let go of my arm and stepped back. The sense of control that I’d had vanished, like a flaming match had died inside of me.
Oh, heck yeah, I was going to hunt down that torc. Clearly, I needed it.
“Be careful on your journey,” Sulis said. “You will meet the fae in their realm. Respect their customs and they will respect you. But if you do not, you will spend a thousand years with them.”
Yeah, I didn’t want to do that. “Where will I meet them?”
“It will be quite obvious. Your gift of premonition will guide you. And remember. Before you confront the evil that is invading this realm, you must get the torc. It is everything.”
I nodded. The puzzle pieces were really starting to come together. “Thank you.”
She disappeared on a flash of light. I turned to Lachlan. “Ready to go find this torc?”
“Aye.”
I grinned. We set off, departing the baths. We were only about a dozen feet away when a splash sounded. I glanced back. The Cats of Catastrophe had leapt into the baths. Princess Snowflake III and Bojangles each looked like a drowned rat. Muffin looked as skinny as usual, so that was no change.
Muffin meowed. Get in! The water’s great!
The cats seemed to glow with the light of health. I stopped walking. Sulis had said that the evil had grown stronger once it had gone into the bath.
“Hang on, Lachlan. I want to try something.” I returned to the bath and knelt at the edge. My muscles were weak and my insides felt empty from using my magic with Sulis. I dipped my fingertips in the water.
Strength and health flowed through me like a golden light. I gasped as it filled me, making my head spin. The magical energy that I’d used was replenished. Even my body felt better, like I’d had a good meal and a nap.
Lachlan joined me.
“Try it,” I said.
He dipped his fingertips in the water, a low gasp escaping his lips. He even looked healthier and stronger, which was saying something, considering he normally looked like he crushed semitrucks and ate them for breakfast.
He looked at me, his dark eyes turning heavy. “The evil that invaded this place bathed here. They took this power into themselves.”
Oh, fates. He had a point. This was like a magical battery charger, and it had just made our enemy a lot stronger.
5
After leaving a tribute at the baths—I left a dagger from my collection and Lachlan left a small vial of healing potion—we continued on our way. We didn’t have to walk far before the forest gave way to more rolling fields. The Cats of Catastrophe had refused to leave the baths, mostly be
cause Muffin had fashioned a raft out of twigs and leaves and was lounging like he was waiting for someone to bring him a piña colada.
I assumed they would show up eventually, though. It seemed to be their style.
The black scar in the earth cut through the land, headed straight for a large hill before veering right. My druid sense continued to drag me along toward the sacred grove, slightly stronger now that I’d dipped my fingers in Sulis’s healing bath. It always pulled in the direction of the black scar, indicating that the invaders and me were on the same track toward the sacred grove.
As we neared the place where the scar deviated away from the hill, my druid sense pulled me toward the hill.
“That’s weird,” I muttered.
“What is?” Lachlan asked.
I pointed toward the scar. “My premonition gift wants me to deviate and go toward the hill.”
The ground beneath us trembled, cutting off my words. Light glowed through the grass. I glanced down. A swirling design formed beneath my feet, three spirals attached together at the middle.
Lachlan wasn’t even looking at it.
“Don’t you see that?” I asked.
“See what? I’m looking at the dogs.”
I glanced up, catching sight of the two spectral white hounds who had guided us through the maze. They stood near the hill, watching us with silent majesty.
I looked back down at the light under my feet. “You don’t see the light in the ground? It’s a swirl.”
He squinted at the grass, clearly confused. “I see grass.”
“So, just me, then.” What the heck was it?
“Aye, appears so.”
The hill in front of us began to glow as well, a door appearing in the side. “Do you see that?”
“Aye. A door.”
It opened, and two figures stepped out. They wore sweeping green dresses, and their eyes glowed with power. Pointed ears peaked through their hair, and their figures were slender and willowy. The hounds strolled up to stand next to them.
“The fae.” I studied them as they approached, debating.
I needed to follow the scar in the earth, but my druid sense dragged me toward the fae. The druids and my mother had made it clear that I had to get the torc before I confronted the invaders. Perhaps this was part of that.
“We have to speak to them,” I said. “I feel it.”
“I doubt they’re going to let us off the hook, anyway.” Lachlan nodded toward the weapons on their backs. One carried a bow and the other a sword. Despite their dresses and slender forms, they were clearly battle fae.
The fae on the left spoke, her blond hair gleaming in the light. “Warrior Druid?”
I nodded. “I think that’s me.”
“I am Errawen.” She gestured to her partner, a dark-haired fae. “This is Bren. We are here to guide you to Annwn.”
Of course. The white hounds were the hounds of Annwn. They’d led us here.
“I’ve heard that not many people are invited there,” Lachlan said. “Yet you invite us?”
“We saw you help Sulis,” Errawen said. “Which means you must be good.”
“You know Sulis?” I studied them. They were beautiful, but danger vibrated from them.
“We do. We are from different branches of the Celtic pantheon. She is Romano Celtic, a melding of British and Roman belief, while we are Irish. But we know her.”
This pantheon really was huge, stretching all the way across Europe.
“What will we find in Annwn?” I asked.
“Answers, I believe,” Bren said.
I could definitely use some answers, so I nodded. We followed them toward the door to Annwn. As soon as I stepped through, magic took my breath away. It felt unlike anything I’d ever experienced. As if I’d stepped into a whole new world in which the very air was made of different stuff. Magic, mostly.
We followed them deep into the earth, taking a winding path that led downward. The space widened up until it felt like we weren’t underground at all. A pale sun even shone overhead.
“How does this work?” I asked.
“Another realm,” Bren said. “Everything is not always as it seems. We live under the hill, but not underground like rabbits in a warren.”
“Certainly not,” Errawen said.
We walked through a forest of trees with pale trunks. They were almost a silvery tan. The leaves themselves looked to be pure silver, and lights glittered through the branches.
Fairy lights. Just like at the enchanted grove back at the Protectorate. The forest gave way to a village filled with beautiful pale wooden houses. They were carved with delicate scrollwork, and the roofs were made of pale gray tile. Fae faces peered out at us through the windows.
“Have you experienced any trouble from the evil that is making its way through Otherworld?” I asked.
“We have someone who would like to talk to you about that,” Errawen said.
Well, that was clear.
She led us across a delicate bridge that arched over a glittering river. It sparkled with blue light deep within, and I was simultaneously drawn to and repelled by it.
“We’re nearly there.” Bren led us toward a tall palace built of pale wood with silver trim. It was almost too beautiful to be real. The large courtyard housed a sparkling silver fountain that burbled with water. Desperately, I wanted to drink from the fountain, but I remembered what the Kelpie had said. We must not eat or drink anything from this realm if we ever wanted to leave.
And I did want to leave.
As beautiful as it was, something in the air here made me uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Lachlan still had the pack of food from my mother.
“Odd place, isn’t it?” Lachlan whispered.
“Yeah.” Like the fae themselves. Beautiful but dangerous. Offputtingly so. I wouldn’t put it past them to try to coax us to eat food and stay forever.
Except, maybe they didn’t even want us. I’d make a terrible guest.
Fortunately, they led us around the side of the castle. I didn’t want to go in the castle, no matter how beautiful it promised to be.
At the side of the castle, there was a small grove of trees. Silver birches, tall and slender. In the middle of the grove sat a well, guarded over by a woman.
I gasped. “Cebhfhionn.”
She turned to us, her pale eyes bright. “The real one, this time.”
I believed her. I might not trust the elves, but this was the real Cebhfhionn, unlike the Bean Nighe back at the maze. The Bean Nighe had possessed a powerful magic, but it had been nothing like Cebhfhionn’s.
Her magic vibrated, strong and bright. Like Sulis’s magic, it was so powerful that it nearly knocked me off my feet. There was no doubt that this was the true goddess.
I approached, stopping about ten feet from her. She wore a brilliant white dress shot through with golden thread that matched her hair. “So you know you have an imposter?”
“She’s still in the maze?” Cebhfhionn asked.
I nodded.
“Aye, that doesn’t surprise me. The Bean Nighe will transform into whatever she thinks you want. The maze helps her.”
“What did I want?” I asked. “Why did she pretend to be you?”
“I would think it’s obvious. You want knowledge, and I represent that.”
“Okay, you have a point.” I’d thought I wanted many things—my sisters’ safety, to earn my place at the Protectorate, to master my magic.
But at the heart of it, I wanted knowledge. In the end, knowledge would get me everything I wanted.
“Why did you call me here?” I asked. “I’m meant to follow the path to the sacred grove. It should align with the path taken by the evil that has invaded Otherworld.”
“Aye, that is your mission. But first, I wanted to offer you some water from the well of knowledge.” She dipped her silver bucket into the well and drew out some water.
“Why?” I asked.
“You are the Druid
Dragon God, and this is my gift to you. Like Sulis gave you her light and the druids gave you their sense of premonition, I’d like to give you the gift of knowledge. It will help you control your magic, and it will sharpen your sense of premonition.”
“Thank you.” I stepped forward, eager for anything that would help me. Then I pulled up short. “Wait, I’m not supposed to eat or drink anything here.”
She smiled. “Ah, smart, Ana. This is true. Someone has warned you about the dangers of the fae realm.”
“The Kelpie.”
“He is a smart one.” She smiled. “But fear not. You will not drink this water. You must bathe your hands and face in it.”
“I’ve been having a lot of magical baths today.”
She gave me a quizzical look, then her brow smoothed. “Ah, Sulis and her baths.”
“Exactly.”
“That didn’t hurt you, and neither will this. As long as you don’t drink it. Humans—even magical ones—cannot handle the full strength of the water within my well. It is why I must guard it from them, here at this underground palace. But you are strong enough to bathe in its waters.”
I nodded, liking the compromise. I wanted the knowledge and the power that she promised. And if this kept me from the long-lasting side effects of spending eternity in Annwn, I’d take it.
But I couldn’t stop myself from sparing one last glance for Lachlan. He looked torn, but finally, he nodded, as if agreeing that this was a good idea.
I’d have done it even without his approval, but I felt a bit better since he’d deemed it safe.
I stopped in front of Cebhfhionn, and she held out the bucket. Carefully, I rinsed my hands within. Then my face.
My mind seemed to clear, clarity of thought falling over me and making me gasp.
My druid sense tugged hard, as if it had been given a hit of an energy drink.
“I can see that it has worked,” Cebhfhionn said. “But you must use it wisely, in pursuit of good.”
“Speaking of that, do you know anything about the evil that is cutting through Otherworld and leaving a dark stain on the earth?”
She nodded. “The evil bypassed our realm, of course. It was not welcome here. But my scouts report that the evil consisted of three shadowy figures who are nearly opaque. Women, they thought, but they could not be sure.”