Electric Blue

by Jamieson Wolf

  "No," LaWanda whispered.

  "I shot her. She was a dragon, a dragon capable of taking on the shape of a human woman. If I can kill her, I can certainly kill you." She spit in her face. "You are beneath me, let's be perfectly clear on that, alright?"

  "Yes Mistress," LaWanda said.

  Mistress smiled. "You're learning! Good. I wouldn't keep you around, but I need you. You know Poppy's heart, Alicia's. You know the house, do you not? The House on Harrow Hill?" She would not dare tell LaWanda the house’s true nature.

  "Yes."

  "Then you will be my way in. Do you have the list?"

  LaWanda wiped the spit off her face, the blood still pouring from the cuts on her chin. Blood was now dripping from her mouth too, where one of Mistresses rings had torn the flesh. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. On it were five names.

  "Is this it?"

  LaWanda nodded. "Lucas and Mark both hate Orlando for something, so they are more than willing to join. Jethro and Karma are both dead, and then there's me."

  "Yes, then there's you," Mistress said. "Are these all the people that would have a grudge against our Shifter?"

  "All that I can think of."

  "You said there were others. . .?"

  "I wasn't able to contact them. They are the members of the coven that broke up when Alicia had to leave. They are not at all pleased that the coven has disbanded."

  "Then you need to get a hold of them. How many are in the coven?"

  "Without Orlando or Alicia, eleven."

  "Thirteen members? How cute." She smiled to herself. "Find them. Then report back to me."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "I'm going to the cemetery," Mistress said. When LaWanda had left, she leaned forward and dragged her finger through the blood that had dripped from LaWanda on to her desk. She stuck the finger in her mouth and smiled in satisfaction.

  * * * * *

  The cemetery was dark at night. Smoke rolled across the moon and the stars were few. Mistress loved graveyards and cemeteries. They always put her in a good mood. She cherished the dead, thought of the skeletons underneath her feet as if they were antiques. She longed to die one day, so that she could experience what death was like. It was one of her obsessions. She took her time. She weaved in between tombstones and ran her fingers along the letters, letting the tips of her fingers dig into the grooves of the words. "Dearly Departed" or "Rest in Peace". She laughed. There was nothing peaceful about death. She found what she was looking for. The tombstone was new. In fact, the grave had only been dug a week and a half ago. She kneeled in front of it and ran her hand along the tombstones front. Karma's tombstone was cold to the touch. She knocked on the tombstone now, as if it were a door. "Come on granddaughter," she said. "We have some business to attend to." Mistress smiled to herself when the dirt of Karma's grave began to stir. . . .

  * * * * *

  Poppy had a growing sense of doom. Something was happening to Ashling, to the Otherworld she had brought life to. They had been traveling for what had seemed like days, though Poppy knew that time in the other world could be tricky and difficult to determine. Her watch had stopped working the moment she had entered the house and now the hands spun of their own accord. The world around her was in trouble. She didn't think that she was its creator; she knew that it had existed in some other form before her. But she seemed destined to be its protector. Something, or someone, meant harm to this Otherworld. It was up to her to find out whom. They had reached the part in the path that Tholonious talked about. It was as he said, a grey shapeless cloud that blocked the path they were on. The land on either side of them was still meadows and trees, large valleys that stretched as far as the eye could see. The landscape had been beautiful, Ashling gorgeous, until they had arrived here.

  Poppy looked at where the path was supposed to be, at the land on either side of it that was supposed to be there, but it was gone. Only a grey cloud remained. She felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, for some reason. Off to see the Wizard. . . .

  "So what do we do now?" she asked.

  "Your guess is as good as mine," Tholonious said. "I have thought for weeks on what to do but cannot rid the other world of the evil. It has sunk its teeth in deeply. Thankfully, we are safe at my camp."

  "Your camp?" Alicia asked.

  "Where we live. There are bands of Fairies all over the otherworld. We normally do not live in large tribes, so we are spread out all over the place. My people and I live close to here, just back behind the large hill we passed an hour ago."

  "Then why didn't we stop there?" Alicia asked.

  "I wanted you to both see the Darkness with your own eyes. Telling and seeing are two different things."

  Alicia smiled. "Very true."

  "So your camp is not far?" Poppy said. "I say we head there and figure out what to do next."

  "A very good idea," Tholonious said.

  As they trekked back towards Tholonious' camp, Poppy retreated within herself. She could hear her Crow Self whispering in the back of her head. Her father's voice called to her. She went a little further inside her mind so that she could hear him.

  You are still on the right path, he said.

  Are you sure? She thought to him.

  Yes. This will lead you away from the path, but you will find it again soon. A rest will do you good.

  If you can talk to me here, why can't you just show yourself to me, come to me so that we can meet?

  She felt her father sigh within her. Because, that is not the way things were meant to be. It's unfortunate, but we are bound by laws we don't understand here. We must adhere to them.

  Poppy paused for a moment, while they climbed a particularly bumpy part of the path and then asked her next question. Why could I not talk to you before? She thought.

  You were not listening before.

  It can't be as simple as that.

  It rarely is, her father assured her. The other world, this Ashling that you have created, it enhances your powers as you spend more and more time in it. It is your heart home. As well, as you get closer to me, it is easier for us to talk like this.

  How are we talking to each other?

  It is kind of a mind talk, Shape Shifters can talk to each other telepathically.

  Then that must mean. . . .

  Yes? Her father prompted.

  That you are a Shape Shifter too.

  She heard her father chuckle. Yes, that is what it means.

  I thought I was the only one. . . .

  Never assume, Poppy. It will get you into trouble.

  Can I know your name? She thought

  Her father chuckled again. Full of questions, just like Lucy. Everything will be answered soon. In the meantime rest assured that I am always with you and will make sure no real harm comes to you. I will see you soon. . . .

  And Poppy felt her father drift away from her. She huffed. She wished that people would start telling her what she needed to know instead of dodging questions because she had to go on a quest. She sighed inwardly, thinking of her father’s warning that she must never assume. There were laws in the other world that she may not like, but she would have to abide by them. She was pulled out of her private world by Alicia tugging on her arm. They had arrived at the camp.

  Chapter Forty

  Land of the Fey

  Poppy shook her head to clear her mind after her conversation with her father and followed Alicia. She grabbed Alicia's hand nervously. Alicia smiled back at her and squeezed her hand. The path veered off to the right of where they had been going, heading into a dense forest. Trees grew tall and long on either side of the path which switched from dirt and gravel to a small cobblestone path or road. The sun did not reach through the trees. As they followed Tholonious through the forest, Poppy felt eyes watching them. She could hear the whisper of the wind as it played in the branches of the trees overhead. Rather than make her nervous, this place calmed her. The ground hummed under her fe
et.

  "Are you the leader of your people?" Alicia asked.

  "No," Tholonious said. He was flying just ahead of Poppy, his small silver wings flapping furiously. "Our people have a wise man. Our leader is Morganna, Queen of the Fey, though none of us have ever seen her."

  "Do the Fey not have a court?" Poppy asked.

  "They do, but you must know the right people to attend it." He winked. "Besides, I prefer the forest. It is more of a home to me than a court could be. Held prisoner by walls. . . ." he shuddered. "I don't even want to consider such a notion."

  "So what does the wise man do?" Alicia asked. She stopped to pick a small flower that had grown in the path and put it in her hair.

  "He is the holder of dreams, the one of who we seek for answers to our questions. He gives us a way to communicate with the gods. He is protection against evil."

  "Do the Fey have gods?" Poppy asked in an awed voice.

  Tholonious smiled. "I see there is much you do not know."

  "That's putting it mildly," Poppy said, smiling back.

  They continued through the forest for a while longer. The trees around them began to thin a little until they came to a small village gathered around the centre of the forest. In the sky above them, sun shone down through a large circular break in the leaves. The sun lit the small houses around them and they could hear beings inside. Poppy looked around and saw other small Fairies, like Tholonious, working and playing in the forest. She heard her Crow Self inside her head and felt her eyes narrow, becoming crow's eyes. She could see the Fey in the forest and could not think of how she could have missed them before. She blinked and her eyes were normal again.

  "My people have lived here for centuries. I have led them, but I am not their leader, as I have already told you. We enjoy a peaceful life and hope that you can bring an end to the Darkness," Tholonious said.

  "I'll do what I can," Poppy replied.

  "I know you will and it does my heart glad. I know that, with your help, we may see the end of this. You will need to speak to our wise man before you can roam around the village. The Fey are nervous of humans, regardless of the magic within them. When you see the wise man, this puts them at ease. They are more likely to accept you."

  "But they know who I am?" Poppy asked. She had seen a few of the Fey looking at her with open curiosity.

  "Yes, we all have heard of your coming. You are the first Shifter in a thousand years. Surely they should be wary of you?" Tholonious smiled quickly, his curly black hair falling into his eyes that were a smoky grey colour. "But don't worry, they will warm to you soon enough."

  "Where do we find the Wise Man?" Alicia asked.

  Tholonious pointed to a small hut just outside of the circle of light. "In that hut. None of us have ever been inside, so it is an honor for you to be accepted into his company."

  "Why have you never gone in?" Poppy asked. "Is he mean?"

  "Not at all, we just mind our own business most of the time and he calls on us once a week to see how we are. It has always been this way. His house is a sacred place. He is expecting you."

  "Aren't you coming with us?" Poppy asked.

  "No, only you are to enter. I will go prepare the house we have for you. My wife, Mafalda, will guide you there after your meeting with the wise man." He smiled, bowed his head and flew away quickly. Poppy and Alicia looked at each other, clasped each other’s hands and entered walked the small distance to the hut. Its front door was made of rough pine planks and its walls were made of straw. The roof overhead was made of crude clay. But it had all been painted different colours. The straw walls had been painted a soft blue, the roof a shade of yellow and the door had been painted purple. Poppy knocked on the door. The door opened of its own accord and they stepped inside. The door closed behind them.

  It was dark in the hut until a single candle began to flicker to life in a far corner of the room. The flame intensified until it lit the whole room. They could see nothing but shadows, but on the floor near them, Poppy saw a medium sized owl. It had grey markings around the eyes, a black beak and white and silver feathered wings. It hooted at them softly and regarded them with soft grey eyes. The owl hooted again and Poppy and Alicia felt the air around them begin to pick up speed. The candle flame flickered out and they were left in darkness for only a moment. The flame relit itself and the hut had light once more. Alicia gasped. Where the owl had been moments before, they watched open-mouthed as it changed and morphed into the shape of a man. When his transformation was complete, he regarded them with soft grey eyes. He had brown hair that fell in curls and a soft face. His eyes were kind and his skin was tanned a soft brown from the sun. He stood and smiled at them. He turned to Poppy.

  "Hello daughter," he said.

  Chapter Forty One

  The Woman Under the House

  Deep beneath the house, Monica and Moe were exploring the city's Town Hall. They went into the foyer and closed the main door behind them. There was another door in front of them, this door just as ornate as the first. Moe pushed it open and it opened up into a large room. The room was a wonder to behold. There were maps covering every wall of the cavernous room, but they were of places that neither Moe nor Monica recognized. It took them a moment to figure out that they were looking at maps of the city. The maps were drawn by hand and then pasted on the walls so that whatever you were looking at in the maps was what was on the other side of the walls surrounding them. The room was round, with no straight edges, so that they were completely surrounded by the maps. There were more skylights in the roof of the room and stairs leading up to another floor. Moe was about to suggest that they go upstairs, to see what was there, when they heard a noise coming from the stairwell.

  The stairs were creaking and they watched, their hearts pounding in their chests, as a pair of legs began to descend the stairs. They belonged to an old woman, who smiled at them when she reached the bottom. "Good day." She said. "It has been so long since I have had visitors. Pray, what are your names?"

  Monica and Moe stared at her open-mouthed. The woman smiled. "Are you capable of speech?" she came a little closer. "Do not be afraid, I will not hurt you. My name is Lilly. What are your names?"

  "Um. . . ." Monica stammered. She had heard somewhere that it was not a good idea to give out your full name, as they held power. But Lilly seemed harmless enough. "My name is Monica and this is Moe."

  "I am pleased to meet you!" Lilly smiled at them again, her teeth bright and her eyes a soft blue. Her long reddish brown hair fell to just below her shoulders and hung in tight curls. "Please, come with me to my home. I want to get out of this dusty Hall; there is little to no ventilation here you know? I would love to serve you tea and I think that I have some cakes in the cupboard."

  Moe smiled at her. "That would be wonderful."

  "Excellent!" she said, "then follow me."

  They followed her out of the Town Hall and through the grass surrounding it. "This used to be better taken care of, but I am the last one here and there is always so much to do, I don't have time to upkeep a patch of grass. Pity though. I do have a garden at home, though."

  This piqued Moe's interest. "A garden?"

  "Oh yes, with flowers and bushes and the like. I love my garden; flowers make anywhere home."

  "Ain't that the truth," Moe said.

  "Moe is a gardener," Monica volunteered.

  Lilly turned and smiled at him. "Another green thumb? This day keeps getting better and better. I hope you like my garden, Moe. I have tended it since I came here."

  "Where is here, exactly?" Monica asked.

  Lilly stopped walking and looked at them. "Do you not know where you are, then?"

  "Not really," Monica said. "We were exploring in the basement of the Coven House and found the door. We've been exploring ever since."

  "Ah, the Coven House. . .tell me, how many are in the Coven now, has it grown?"

  Monica and Moe looked at each other and finally Monica spoke. "There has been no Cov
en until recently." As they walked the distance to Lilly's home, Monica and Moe filled her in on what had become of the Coven. Lilly looked crestfallen at the news. "I can't think why they did not tell me. . . ." a tear slid down her cheek. "I have waited here for years and years. . .decades I think; time moves differently here. There are only four members of the coven now?"

  Monica nodded. "Orlando, Alicia, Nai and Cecelia. But more are joining, so it will grow again."

  "I just can't believe that I was left alone here. . . ."

  "Don't feel so bad," Monica replied. "I was locked in the attic room of this house for more than a century."

  Lilly's eyes grew wide. "Do you mean that you are the one that was sacrificed to the house by that mad woman?"

  Monica nodded.

  "Oh, child, then you are welcome here. Come in, come in, I will put on some tea." They had reached her house and Monica heard Moe take in a breath. In front of them was the most beautiful garden that either of them had ever seen. Roses bloomed and thyme, and rosemary. Petunias and lilies bloomed side by side with marigolds and poinsettias. There was climbing ivy and mistletoe, cat’s tails and african violets. The bursts of colour were brilliant against the grey of the rest of the city and the perfume of the flowers was heavenly. "I have passed a lot of time in my gardens," Lilly said.

  "There is more than just this garden?" Moe asked.

  "Oh yes, I have several more."

  "Are you the Coven's gardener?" he asked with a smile.

  "Oh no," Lilly said solemnly. "I am the Coven's Keeper of Prophecies." And she stepped through the open door of her house.

  * * * * *

  They were in Lilly's foyer. It was a medium sized room with a cobblestone floor. A window was to their left and it let in the grey sun. The light filtered through yellow curtains, so that the rays were coloured a soft gold. Lilly opened a door with a small stained glass window in its centre. The glass was in the pattern of a rose, all different colours of red and the light twinkled on its surface as well. She opened the door and stepped through the doorway that led to the rest of the house. It was a large dwelling, built all on one floor. They were standing in the living room, a large fireplace in its centre, deep bay windows looking out at the grey city. There were arm chairs and a soft comfortable couch to sit in and ottomans to put your feet on.