by Megan Curd
I was unsure as to how to begin a conversation with someone that was probably older than my grandmother, which was saying something. “You like Aerosmith?”
The woman smiled as she posed in the t-shirt. “Oh, definitely. I like a variety of music, but Aerosmith is one of my favorites. You have good taste for a human if you like them.”
I nodded. “I’m not exactly human, but I’ll take the compliment anyway if you don’t mind.”
The woman laughed. “I didn’t think you were. Your eyes changed to about six shades of red when Antony was refusing to take you seriously a moment ago. That means you’re a Changeling, right? But if you are, how’d you get across to Adaire?”
She looked me up and down, taking in what I’m sure was a sight to see. I was drenched from head to toe, my jeans cut up and bloody from my bout with the window. I shook my head, answering both her voiced questions and the ones that lingered in her eyes. “It’s a long story.”
Smiling, she swept her arms wide, looking to each side of her as if to invite me to do the same. “Well, little one, welcome to Adaire. I’m Roslin and you’ve now met the Daoine Maite, or called Glaistigs among our faerie brethren. We’re the faeries of Irish folklore that Emily’s told you about your whole life. We have eons of time on our hands, so I’d love to hear your story. Probably won’t feel too long to me.”
My eyes roved over the new surrounding. The countryside seemed Tuscan; hills of vivid green, orange, and red trees ranged out on all sides except for the east, where there was a pristine lake that was as smooth as glass. White houses the size of small mansions speckled the land as far as I could see with cobblestone roads connecting them in spider web fashion. Across the lake, settled on the high mountain that cut into the water, was a great stone estate. It was easily six times the size of the largest mansion on this side. The walls around it were made of the same large stones and it was obvious that the land behind it was even more expansive than the countryside we were currently standing on. A waterfall fell from one of the two openings into the estate, causing a fine mist to throw rainbows into the air. The other opening was through the beachfront that led into the walls. A high, wrought-iron gate was closed where the sand met the green grass. I assumed this was where the committee that Memaw and Roslin had spoken of resided. A small boat was tied to a dock on either side of the lake.
Coming back to where we currently stood, the field we were currently in was gorgeous. Flowers of all kinds made a beautiful patchwork quilt beneath our feet. This area stood out against the rest of the land of fall colors. It seemed like every season was represented here somehow.
Roslin was polite and allowed me the time needed to take in my surroundings, waiting on me to return to our conversation. I finally turned back to Roslin to find her grinning ear to ear. She was visibly pleased with my wide-eyed expression of her home. “Wow,” was all I could manage.
“I agree. I enjoy it here. Much better than the humanly realm you’re used to, if I can be so bold?”
“Well, it’s definitely different,” I laughed. “I’ve never seen more than one season thirty feet away from each other.”
She nodded, smiling appreciatively. “This side of the lake is gorgeous. Springtime and fall are my favorites, and this meadow is close to both. I’m jealous of the faeries on this side. We’ve just got summer and winter across the lake.”
I looked back to the other side of the lake where Roslin lived. There were snow-capped mountains that disappeared into the clouds behind the estate. I shivered with excitement at the sight. “I’m partial to winter myself.”
“Well, we need to get moving that direction anyway. You’re soaked to the bone, so we should probably get you into some new clothes before you catch your death.” She smiled once more. She was a genuinely happy person by the looks of it. “We look about the same size, you can take a peek in my closet if you’d like.”
I rang out the hem of my shirt. “That’d be nice. Where’s Memaw, though?”
Roslin smiled. “She’s in her quarters across the lake. I’ll make sure you’re in the room next to her. She’ll be fine. I’ve never seen her be taken down for too long, and she’s come back much worse than the condition you’ve brought her in.”
I looked down, feeling terrible that she was hurt at all. She was my grandma; I was supposed to be taking care of the elderly, respecting my elders, and all that jazz. The rules probably changed when your grandma was a faerie Terminator of sorts, but still, there were guidelines to how things should work. Letting her get hacked up wasn’t okay.
Roslin put her hand on my shoulder. “It’s all right, really. Emily was meant for battle. It looks as though you’ve been through your share as well.”
“Not like her. It seems like in the past three months I’ve encountered more weird things than I could’ve guessed existed, though.”
“You don’t even know the half of it, little one. How about we go find Emily?”
We headed toward the lake, passing through the meadow and into the fall colors. Large oaks stretched endlessly before us as we followed the cobbled path into a forest. Leaves swirled and danced around our feet to the rhythm of the gentle wind. Roslin continued to ask questions as we walked.
“So you knew about Emily’s portal. How?”
“She told me,” I said simply. I didn’t want to get Memaw in too much trouble. Even though I liked Roslin, it was probably better to keep as much information at bay as possible. The Jamie experience had taught that much.
Roslin didn’t push for more answers after asking a question. That was nice. After a moment’s silence, she asked another question. “Who are you?”
“I told you, I’m Ashlyn, Emily’s granddaughter.”
“No, I know that. The better question is probably what are you?”
I stopped walking and looked into the forest. That was something even I didn’t know. “That’s a good question.”
“What does Emily think of you?”
Not looking up from examining my feet, I began to walk again. “Well, she used to hate me, I think. At least it felt like that growing up. Then when Ankou and Jamie attacked me, she explained everything. She explained about herself, who she really was, what I might be. She has ideas about me, but she isn’t sure.”
“Are you similar to Tess?”
“How do you know Tess?”
Roslin smiled, pulling me into a side-armed hug. “Little one, I know all about anything that has to do with us Glaistigs.”
Roslin asked again, this time insistent on receiving an answer for her question. “So, are you like Tess?”
I tried to deflect the question again, knowing Memaw had a better idea of what was going on. “I think Memaw wanted to discuss it with the committee and see what they think. Are you one of the people on the committee?”
She smiled now, squeezing me once more. “Indeed I am. I look forward to hearing what Emily has to say about you. You seem special.”
We were silent for a moment as we walked. Curiosity overtook better judgment for a moment, and I blurted out a question that was burning inside of me. “Roslin, how old are you?”
She laughed, wrapping her arm around me. “Little one, I am six hundred eighty-three years old.”
That was mind-boggling. “You don’t look a day over eighteen.”
“That’s because that is when I was granted faerie status. I’ll never age again, just like Emily. Speaking of which, let’s get you back to your grand momma.”
As she finished her sentence, the beach appeared. Walking across the sand, I broke out into a jog at the same moment Roslin did. We both seemed to be excited to see Memaw, although I was thinking it was for different reasons.
TWENTY-EIGHT
The lake was smooth as glass as we crossed. We barely made a wake as the rowboat steered by itself along an invisible pulley. Roslin and I made small talk as we crossed, just enjoying the view. The boat from the other side passed by us silently, as if commandeered by a ghost. I looked dow
n into the water, amazed by the clarity.
The water was as still and clear as glass. It put the clear Caribbean waters I experienced on a family vacation to shame, making them look like a muddy river in comparison. Colorful schools of fish flitted underneath the boat, an ever-moving rainbow beneath the water’s surface. It was hard to believe this place really existed.
We pulled up to the dock with a gentle knock against the wood. Roslin was out of the boat in a flash, tying us firmly in place. She extended her hand and hauled me out of the boat in one strong pull.
“Welcome to Adaire, Ashlyn McVean,” Roslin said, smiling.
“I thought we were in Adaire over on the other side?”
Roslin chuckled. “Well, we were, but that was just the countryside. Adaire truly lies behind these walls. If I can be a bit cliché, this is where the magic happens.”
I shook my head, laughing as well. “I don’t think I can handle any more magic than what has already been witnessed.”
“Oh, this isn’t magic, young one. This is what your human realm was like before we left as well.”
I looked up in shock. “You were there?”
She nodded, eyes distant in thought. “Yes; I was there before the war. Faeries and humans intermingled openly and peacefully until Ankou and his band of Changelings decided they would rather enslave humans. After they began their carnage, humans were scared of all faeries. Once they started trying to hurt those of us actually trying to help their cause, we decided it was necessary that we have a place to live in peace.”
“Ah,” was all I could say. It seemed like Ankou was the catalyst for everything horrible that had happened in the past millennia. I shook my head, trying to fathom a utopia like this for Mom and Chris.
We reached the gate that had been visible from across the lake. The intricacy of the design in the wrought iron was breathtaking. Upon further inspection, there was no divide where the doors would swing open. People were woven into the iron fresco, with a hillside not unlike the one we were just on in the background. A group of five stood out among the rest, the clear centerpiece of the work. Roslin placed her hand on the chest of the woman on the far right, who glowed to life in the iron. Instead of being the hard, black color of iron, the woman’s dress became a brilliant sky blue, her short hair being tousled by a nonexistent wind. Roslin nodded toward the woman, then declared in a clear voice who she was. Her voice was professional and lost almost the entire Southern drawl I heard the rest of the time we had been talking.
“I am Roslin, the woman you represent. I request passage into Adaire.”
The iron version of Roslin looked at me. In the same exact voice as the real woman, she spoke. “Who is this young one you bring?”
“Ashlyn, granddaughter of Emily, the protector and assassin.”
At that declaration, the iron woman in the middle blazed to life. It was a perfect replica of Memaw, complete to the bloody skirt. “I have not permitted Ashlyn to come through here before. She cannot have passed to Adaire.”
Roslin laughed at the woman, patting her tiny shoulder. “Oh she’s here, Emily. Seek out who you represent if you don’t believe. She will tell you.”
Gate-Memaw harrumphed, and began walking away from us, toward the hillside. She disappeared from the fresco in a matter of moments. It was one of the most bizarre things I’d ever seen.
The iron Roslin nodded, apparently satisfied with me entering without waiting on iron Memaw to return. “You may pass.”
The remainder of the group divided. The gate began to glow, then split in half and swung open. Once we were out of range to potentially be smacked by the doors, I heard iron clang shut behind us. Looking behind, the gate had sealed itself back into the design. The iron group of five had come back together, looking as though it was one complete piece. Iron Memaw had her head in her hands. She’d probably found out it was true that I was here. It was amazing. Roslin put her hand on my shoulder, pushing me to step forward with her.
“Can anyone enter?” I asked.
“No, only the five you saw on the gate,” Roslin said, her accent back in full swing. “We’re the committee. Your grand momma was awful protective wasn’t she?”
“Really? I didn’t notice at all.”
She laughed. “Your grand momma is the newest addition to the committee and we did that three hundred years ago. We don’t change much.”
I smiled, but inside I was reeling. How old was she? Obviously she wasn’t as old as Roslin, but definitely much older than anyone human could be. “Are we going to her now?”
“Yes ma’am, she’s in her quarters this way.”
We reached the enormous stone archway that began the monstrous estate. Passing under it, we walked under a stone overhang, columns of grey marble with intricate carvings holding it up. The magnitude of everything was almost overwhelming.
Coming to the giant marble doors, Roslin pulled them open and we entered the silent entryway. The doors shut without a sound behind us. I jumped at the sound of the man’s voice that had been in the meadow. He sounded as bored as ever.
“You brought the Changeling, did you?”
I turned and was face-to-face with the most gorgeous man I had ever seen in my life. Leaning down to see me, his auburn hair was in natural disarray and his honey-brown eyes were taking me in. He ran his hand through his hair, scratching his head as he came closer to us. He was a good six inches taller than me. The muscles in his arm rolled as he rubbed the back of his neck. My breath involuntarily quickened at the sight of him.
He had an English accent. Glaistig were from all over the world, apparently. “You’re too short, Changeling. I got a crick in my neck trying to see you properly.”
Roslin laughed. “Antony, she’s no Changeling. Do you think she would’ve gotten this far if she were?”
He dipped his head back down to my level, as if to get one more good look at me. “Has she done anything interesting to prove otherwise?”
I looked away, trying not to be disgruntled with this guy. He was handsome enough to earn a bit of redemption, but his lazy disinterest was offending. The fact he was so aloof sent me over the edge, considering he had allowed Memaw to writhe in pain when we first got here. Focusing on Memaw, I allowed the electric current to wash over me. A moment later I felt myself shoot four inches taller, matching Memaw’s height. In a flash I pinned Antony to the marble wall, a small dagger to his throat. “Is this interesting enough for you?”
To my chagrin, he still looked as bored as ever. “Well, you just proved you were definitely part changeling, as you can shift. However, your quickness with your blade does show Emily has taught you a few tricks of our trade, as well.”
Like a lightening strike, he flipped me over his head, my face pushed into the marble with my left arm pinned painfully behind my back. He was good. He laughed as he antagonized me. “Ready to say ‘Uncle,’ little grasshopper?”
I sideswiped him with my right foot, taking his knees out. In his moment of surprise, I broke out of his arm hold and spun around to kick him in his gut. He flew backward and Roslin jumped out of the way. She was watching the entire fight in amusement. Antony skidded across the floor, his head smashing into the wall on the other side of the entryway. I sprinted over to him, straddling him to put my knees on his hands on either side of him. Less than thirty seconds after the fight had begun, he was pinned.
He licked his lips hungrily, eyeing me up and down. “You’re feisty. I like a girl that knows what she wants.”
I felt the back of my shirt being yanked up, choking me in the process. “Are you done flirting yet? You have a boyfriend, Ashlyn.”
Memaw pulled me to a stand and we stared one another down. I couldn’t believe she had recovered so quickly, but there she was, standing in front of me. As usual she was her fierce, immortal version, yet she wasn’t wearing her usual bloody ensemble. Instead, she was wearing dark blue jeans and a knee-length wool pea coat. The collar pulled high, it brushed her strong jaw line. S
he tugged at the base of her leather gloves. “You do a wonderful rendition of me, Ashlyn. Now change back.”
I sighed, closing my eyes. Once again I shuddered from the electric sensation that coursed through my body, then opened my eyes again.
“She’s quick. She’s good,” Roslin said appreciatively. I looked over to her and smiled.
Memaw put her gloved hand on my shoulder and steered us away from the heap that was Antony. He sprang up, rubbing his head. “Emily, leash your little experiments from now on, would you?”
I was smug to have done damage in a petulant way. That man would acknowledge me, even if I had to beat him senseless to do it. I walked forward, half under Memaw’s power and half on my own.
Memaw continued forward without glancing back at him. “You shouldn’t have provoked her. You know we McVeans have short tempers,”
He ignored Memaw’s comments, instead muttering to himself. “Figures she has a boyfriend. All the good ones are always taken. She busted my head open, too.”
Memaw waved a hand behind her. “Roslin, heal him so he’ll shut up, please.”
I heard Roslin giggle. “Can do, Em.”
Curiosity got the better of me. I turned to see what Roslin was doing. What she was doing was amazing.
Small, wispy, balls of light were hovering in her cupped hands. She smiled as Antony pulled his head back in protest. “It doesn’t hurt all that much, really. I can make do.”
Roslin snorted. “Be quiet and take it like a faerie, Antony.”
She moved forward and pressed her hands against his temples. I thought the balls would stop her from physically touching him. Instead, as she pressed them against his skull, they sunk into his skin and disappeared. His skin took on a faint glow. The cut along the side of his head stopped bleeding and then vanished all together.
Antony wrinkled his nose in disgust and shook his head. “God, now I’m going to have a headache for an hour while this all clears out of my system. Thanks a lot.”