The Autumn Fairy of Ages

by Brittany Fichter

  “They keep coming at me when I’m focusing on the weapons!” Katy called. As she spoke, another fairy, this one growing rocks in his hands, approached from the other side. He didn’t even see Peter as Peter cut him down.

  “You cannot hesitate!” Peter roared over the sound of battle.

  When he glanced up again, the villagers were nearly all rounded up. William and his men were stuck in a pool of ice that had frozen their boots to the ground, and several fairies wielding flames surrounded them. Sebastian cried out as vines from a thorn bush encircled him.

  “Father!” From the opposite side of the valley, Peter saw Karel fall. A thick, dark cloud hovered several feet above him.

  “Please!” Peter saw Ethemu turned to Donella at the top of the hill. “Make them stop! They don’t need to kill him!”

  “He made his choice.” Donella nodded the fairies hovering above Karel’s cloud, their hands extended. She flew closer to the battle. “If you give up now, we can talk this out!” She extended a hand.

  Peter’s monster only wished he were close enough to chop it off.

  “Please, Katy!” Donella lowered herself again. “Don’t let any more blood be shed on your behalf!”

  Even in his monstrous state, Peter froze. The fairy knew Katy better than he had thought. Katy would do anything to spare a life. Would she do this now as well?

  Guards surrounded them on the ground, and fairies hovered over them, more than Peter could count. Katy’s mouth fell open as she looked around and seemed to realize just how outnumbered they were for the first time.

  A female fairy moved just an inch closer to her. Peter’s beast let out a guttural cry and launched himself at her just as she flicked her wrist. But Katy, for some reason, threw herself in front of him.

  “No!” she shouted as a flame licked the tip of the fairy’s wand.

  They both crashed to the ground as flame shot through the spot where Peter had just been. But it wasn’t the lightning that made Peter freeze.

  The second Katy’s skin touched his, like a bolt of lightning, a new sensation overtook him. Since the changes inside of him had begun, Peter had felt as though he were warring with himself. It was as if the blood-lusting monster and the man were wrestling for control of the body neither fully possessed. One form was ravenous and fierce while the other wanted nothing more than to be free. But now that was all changed.

  The second they touched, that tension inside of him was gone. So was the conflict. For the first time, the man and the beast inside wanted the same thing. The control Peter had so desperately fought for was his once again, leaving the raw strength of the creature fully at his command.

  It was glorious.

  “Did you feel that?” Katy whispered, her eyes wide.

  Peter nodded. Unfortunately, his new strength was found just as they were completely surrounded. He spotted his sword out of reach, where it had clattered when they’d collided. Fairies encircled them, their wands pointed at Peter and Katy as well. Captain Emory stepped forward.

  “If you would come with me, we can discuss this back at the palace,” he said quietly. When neither Katy nor Peter answered, his mouth tightened. “Please. I wish to see no more violence.”

  “I wish that were true,” Peter spat back.

  The captain’s face darkened. “Are you questioning my honor?”

  “Yes, for many reasons. Beginning with the attempt to poison me.”

  Discomfort flashed across Captain Emory’s face. “I didn’t know about that.”

  “And the forced tribute from the villagers?” Peter pushed.

  Emory glanced around and leaned forward. “If you do not come with me,” he said, his voice low, “I’m afraid she will shed all the blood I’ve been begging her not to.”

  “Does she command your men?” Peter snarled. “Or do you?”

  Captain Emory paled for a moment before moving closer again. “I cannot let you bring any more violence to this isle! You must put down your weapons! I beg you,” he added in a whisper.

  “Do as he says,” Donella called from above.

  Peter looked around once more, his heart sinking as he did. Just when he had gained full control of the beast inside of him, they had come to the end. For as strong as he was, he couldn’t face an army of fae alone. Not when there were hundreds of innocents surrounding them. Not when Katy was at the mercy of their enemies as well. She wasn’t going to kill anyone, and as far as she’d come in the last few days, she still didn’t have the control it would take to incapacitate everyone there. If Peter were alone, perhaps he could take them all down with him—

  But Katy wasn’t listening. Instead, she was frowning thoughtfully at her hands. “Take my hand,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  Katy grabbed his hand with her left. With her right, she snatched a white wand from one of the fairies nearby. Then she scrunched her eyes shut.

  Peter felt the explosion of power a split second before it came. But it didn’t just come from inside of her. He felt his own power being pulled as well. Like when the tide deserting the shore to prepare for a wave of monstrous proportions.

  The wave slammed into him so hard he was knocked to his knees, not only from Katy’s direction, but from around and below. Somehow, Katy was channeling power from every source of magic present, and the diamond floor beneath them was magnifying it and then throwing it back. For one short moment, Peter wondered if they would all survive.

  The sound of shattering wood echoed through the little valley. And Peter watched awe as every wand in the valley began to explode. The fairies cried out and grasped their hands, red marks on their arms and faces. Donella looked as though she might burst a vein as she surveyed the scene from above.

  A long moment passed as the fairies finally looked up from their palms to gawk at Katy. And for once, Katy didn’t look sorry. She didn’t apologize or even look as though it bothered her. Instead, she locked gazes with Captain Emory.

  Peter was tempted to lunge for his sword and take the upper hand. But something in Katy’s eyes held him in his place. For the first time, the monster inside of him obeyed.

  And his waiting paid off. Finally, the captain lowered his sword. “Stand down,” he said, sounding nearly relieved. Whispers erupted as the captain sheathed his weapon.

  “Stand down?” one of the fairies repeated.

  Captain Emory nodded as he stood, not breaking eye contact with Katy. “In an effort to keep the peace, we have chosen to take sides.” He finally looked at his men and the fairies surrounding them. “These people have broken no law. They shed no blood.” He turned shook his head. “We’re done here.”

  Katy looked back at Peter. Just as the guards began to move into lines, however, and everyone returned to their feet, Donella’s voice boomed from above.

  “I was right.”

  Peter looked up to see her approaching them slowly. Everyone, even the guards, stopped to look at her. She landed in front of Peter and Katy.

  “Doubt all you want, but the return of the autumn fairy did fulfill the prophecies!” she announced, holding her hand up triumphantly. She was clutching something, but Peter couldn’t tell what it was. He took a deep breath and was just about to launch himself at her when she turned and looked directly at him.

  “Peter, do you know what my gift is?”

  Peter glared at her warily. Now that he thought about it, he had no idea.

  “Blossoms are my gift,” Donella answered herself, holding up whatever was in her hand. “Making buds blossom. And I have been attempting to bring forth blossoms from the Tree of Diadems since the first time I set foot on this isle.” She turned in a circle, her face aglow. “But now that the autumn fairy is here, I can truly begin! The blessings of Atharo can finally return!”

  When she opened her hand, however, the blossom that laid in her palm was a sickly gray. With her other hand, she directed the breeze.

  The flower tumbled off her hand and rode the wind toward Peter. He sw
atted at the flower with his glove, but the wind was tricky. He missed, and the flower brushed his face before falling to the ground.

  Peter reached up and touched his cheek. The pollen grains the flower had left on his skin were gritty, and they felt like dirt between his fingers. Bewildered, Peter brushed off his hand, but even as he did, his throat began to close. He coughed and sputtered, and as his vision began to blur, with one final wheeze, he collapsed.

  42

  Time for Goodbyes

  Katy caught him awkwardly as he fell and struggled to lay him gently on the ground. His nose bled all over her arm, and his eyes stayed shut.

  “Peter!” she screamed. “Can you hear me? Peter, wake up!”

  A cough sounded behind her. “You won’t get a response.”

  Katy whipped around.

  Donella was standing behind her. Her face was nearly as ashen as Peter’s, and she began coughing again.

  Katy clenched her fists. “What did you do to him?” Whatever she had done, it appeared it had affected her as well, for Donella was now leaning heavily to one side.

  “If I can’t have you,” she rasped, “neither can he.”

  Katy did her best to stop the bleeding of his nose. Everyone around them stared down at him with horrified expressions, guard and prisoner alike. Katy stood and faced Donella.

  “You touched the petals too!” Katy pointed at Donella’s hand. “How are you still standing?” Even as she spoke, Katy was tempted to smite the woman from the face of the earth. But if she did that, there would be no one to tell her how to help Peter.

  If only Aisling were there. But where had she gone?

  Before she could wonder about the difference in Donella and Peter’s health, however, black flecks, much like lichens, began to grow on her chin and the majority of her jaw. Donella slowly rolled up her sleeve enough for Katy to see her right arm. The whole hand and the bottom portion of the arm were covered in the dark flakes as well.

  “I won’t be standing much longer.” She looked down at Peter. “But it was worth it. Now you’re truly free to fulfill your potential.” She coughed until a drop of blood appeared on her lip.

  Katy grabbed the woman by the shoulders of her dress. Her hands burned hot, and for once, she let them. “Tell me how to help him!” she growled.

  Donella pulled a red glass bottle the size of her thumb from her sleeve. She held it up. “This is fawn’s breath.” Her voice cracked. “Drop a few drops on his lips and he will find temporary reprieve.” Her eyes moved from Katy to Peter’s still form. “It’s not an antidote, but at least you can say goodbye.”

  “No! No, that’s not good enough!” Katy threw the woman down against the dais. She focused on the sash Donella wore. Within seconds, it had turned to dust. The crowd around them gasped, but Katy continued to stare Donella down. For once, though her hands were dangerously though, they did not tremble. She would feel no remorse for killing this woman. “There must be an antidote!” she shouted.

  “There is no antidote.” Donella didn’t move even as Katy advanced. “Don’t you think I would have used it by now?”

  Katy looked back at Peter. He let out a low moan, and Katy turned back to Donella. She could feel hysterics trying to work their way up her chest.

  Katy shook her head in disbelief. “Why? Why would you do this? You got your tree to bloom. What more did you want?”

  Donella stood, though it wasn't without difficulty. “You don’t seem to understand. We need you. Not just for the tree. But for new beginnings for all the isles! We need fairies—” She broke off to cough until she choked. “We need fairies from every season in order to see life begin anew. For healing!” She fell into another fit of coughing, which echoed by Peter behind her. When she was finally able to breathe again, though she was unable to stand straight, she held out a hand. “He is only holding you back. He won’t allow you to be who you need to be.”

  “Peter is part of who I am!” Katy cried.

  “Maybe he was. But not anymore. Now you can be free!”

  “How do you know my future? Help him or I’ll—”

  “You’ll what? Kill me?” Donella rasped a laugh. “I’m already dying.”

  Katy looked around desperately. She had to find something precious to the woman, something she wouldn’t risk.

  “I’ll kill the tree!”

  Donella raised her eyebrows.

  “I mean it,” Katy said, willing her voice not to tremble. “I’ll kill your precious Tree of Diadems. I’ll do it!”

  “You can’t.”

  “Don’t try me!” Katy raised a hand. “I can feel it from here. It would take so little effort to make it burn.” In reality, she wondered how big the hole was that she’d created in the invisible shell. She assumed that’s how the blossom had gotten through, for it had bloomed in the same place Katy had touched less than a week before. How would long it would take her to burst the entire casing open? It couldn’t take more than a few minutes in the mood she was in.

  “You and I both know you won’t.” Donella coughed. “You care too much for life, human and other. Killing the tree would only dash the isles’ hopes of a new High King. Besides, I already told you. I don’t have a cure. The tree hasn’t bloomed in a thousand years before this. What makes you think I have a way to save him?” She looked at Peter’s body on the ground. Her smile faded. “He was a man worthy of respect. I can see that now from his continued desperation to save you. Flawed. Dangerous. But worthy.” She turned and began to hobble away. “I’ll give you time to say goodbye.”

  Before she got very far, however, Captain Emory stepped in her way. “Madam Orator, I’m afraid I cannot let you leave.”

  “Are you serious, Jacob?” Donella coughed until she doubled over. “I’m dying.”

  “And another is dying because of you.” His voice hardened. “A rhin for that matter.”

  For a long moment, Katy stared after her as she argued with the captain, torn between bringing the woman more pain than she’d ever felt in her life, killing the tree, or spending those moments with Peter. When he rolled over and let out a whimper, however, there was no question at all.

  “Peter! Peter, I’m here!” she scrambled to lift his head on her lap, only to remember the bottle Donella had given her. Praying it truly worked as Donella said, Katy emptied it on his lips. A few moments of torture passed, but finally, he did regain consciousness, sputtering and coughing as he did.

  “What can I do?” But as she spoke, she was interrupted by a shout from the top of the hill.

  “The veil is here already!” a woman cried. “And it’s falling fast!” Even as the woman spoke the words, the sky grew darker, though it was impossible to see why through the willow branches. Everyone else, however, seemed to understand. Pandemonium erupted as families sought to escape together. Fairies darted through the willow branches and the guards attempted to keep control. Katy lost sight of William and Sebastian, and she hadn’t seen Firin Reaghan since the battle had ensued.

  “Katy?”

  The confusion surrounding them faded away, however, when her favorite voice formed her name.

  “You’re alive!” she smiled, trying to wipe the dirt from his face only to realize it was the beginnings of the black lichens that had grown on Donella.

  “If you can call it that.” His voice was barely above a whisper. He groaned as he tried to sit up. Katy helped ease him up against the tree. She could feel his pulse in his arm. It was far too fast and somewhat faint. His skin shone with sweat, and his head rolled back against the wall. The dark flecks were beginning to make their way up from his chest to his neck as well.

  “What happened?” He broke into another fit of coughing.

  “I’m sorry, Peter!” Katy began to sob. “I’m so sorry! This is all my fault!” Anger and horror circled inside, a maelstrom of pain and rage inside of her. Anger as much for herself as Donella, for her insistence on coming here in the first place.

  Frustration at her inabil
ity to focus on more than one object or person at a time. She’d tried to break the weapons of the soldiers advancing upon them at the same time as she broke the wands of the fairies circling above. But there had been too many, and she hadn't been able to focus enough to stop any of them. It had been far too easy for someone to distract her, apparently. She hadn’t even used a fraction of her power. Even worse, she hadn't stopped the wind or the deathly petals that had landed on Peter.

  “I won’t lie,” Peter rasped, struggling to push himself into a higher sitting position, “this isn’t exactly how I had planned to spend my wedding night.”

  “I should have tried harder. Better yet, I should have just killed them all!”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do!” The wind around them began to pick up and the air around them began to thicken. And yet, Katy clutched handfuls of his tunic that stuck out from beneath the chain mail. “If I hadn't been so worried about weapons or gifts and had just gone after the people…” Her voice hardened as her throat thickened and made it nearly impossible to talk. “Donella never would have had a chance.”

  But Peter leaned his head against the wall and shook it. “Civilians would have died. There were still too many nearby. Besides…” He coughed then tapped her nose. “That’s not who you are.”

  “Without you, I don’t know who I am,” she whispered.

  “Sure you do.” He pulled her close to his side, but his arms seemed to strain even doing that, and it made Katy’s heart hurt. “Atharo made you. He gave you a gift unlike any in a thousand years. You have worth because he made you.” He turned his head and kissed her temple, his fevered lips lingering long enough for a sob to escape Katy. “And you’ll always be my little Katy.”