by Talia Jager
Once he was out of sight, I rushed back to Kallan’s side. I clutched his hand again and tried to talk to him in my mind, but it was no use. He wasn’t answering.
The door swung open and Lena walked in. I jumped up. “Lena! Oh, Lena, thank goodness, please heal him.”
Lena looked from me to Kallan and she went to his side. Her eyes scanned his body and then she laid her hands on his head. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and looked at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t heal him.”
“Why not?” Fear rushed over me. If she couldn’t heal him what was I supposed to do?
“He’s not hurt. There’s no injury. Whatever is going on, it’s dark magick.”
“And you can’t fix it?” I laid my hand on my necklace.
“No, Rylie, I can’t.”
“But you’re a healer!” I whined loudly. “You’re supposed to be able to heal him.”
Her blue eyes were sympathetic. “I’m sorry. I would do anything I could to heal Kallan. You know that. But there’s nothing I can do.”
“So what do I do?”
“Talk to the council.”
“They’re not going to be happy.”
“You’re the Aurorian.”
I nodded, understanding what she meant. I needed to step up and lead. I looked up at Móraí and said, “Call a meeting here.”
She nodded and left the house.
“I need a minute. I’ll be right back,” I told him and kissed his forehead. I went outside for some air. What if the elders refused to help again? I had no idea what to do. I felt like I was being ripped apart. What if Kallan stayed like this forever? A lump in my throat rose and I knew I was going to cry, but I didn’t want anyone to see me break down. I started running away from Azura’s house and through the meadow into the forest and as far as my feet would carry me. Finally I stopped and fell sobbing to the ground. A clap of thunder sounded and rain started pouring down. The wind picked up and began blowing the trees around me. Of course, nature was responding to me.
Chapter Sixteen
I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore and then I pushed myself up and walked back to Azura’s. A few of the elders were already there; the rest were approaching.
“Where did that storm come from?” Rosa asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m drenched,” Alston replied.
“What is she thinking calling a meeting at her house?” Brigid questioned.
“She needs to be taught the rules—” Sheridan complained.
I charged past them and stepped onto a tree root. “Maybe the rules need to be changed.”
The council members looked up, surprised by my outburst.
“As you know, Kallan had been captured by his sister and her army. Satine’s talent has something to do with mind control. She took over Kallan’s mind and made him kidnap a human to get to me. She wants us dead and wants control over the land. We cannot let that happen, but in order to stop her, we need leaders. Kallan is one of those leaders and right now he’s unconscious. Our healer says it’s dark magick. I need to know how to fix him.” I stared into their faces, waiting for one of them to tell me what I needed to know.
Móraí came to my side. She looked up at the sky and then met my eyes. “It has to be done with the sun and the moon. We’ll need a dark and a light faery, as well as the healer. It’ll be dawn soon. Bring him outside to the meadow. Put him in the light of the moon and call upon the light magick to heal him as the sun rises.”
“How do I do that?”
“We’ll help you.”
“Thank you, Móraí.” I smiled.
“You’re welcome.” She retuned the smile. “I am very proud of you. The elders can be hardheaded. They’re used to things a certain way, but they need to start changing,” she told me right in front of the others.
“I’m trying to go about everything the right way, but I feel like I can’t win with them.”
“Don’t let them get to you. Keep being yourself.”
Just then Drake returned. He walked right up to me and said, “Adam is home safely and Sierra is emotional, but fine.”
“Thank goodness.” I let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Drake.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Would you help get Kallan to the meadow?”
“Of course.” He went inside and came out with my uncle Durin carrying Kallan and brought him to the field. The moon shone down on us. I knelt by his side and stroked his face with the back of my hand.
I’m here, my love. We’ll get you free.
The council surrounded us, along with my family and Lena. Lena took out some sort of bottle. She took off the top and let two drops of oil fall onto Kallan’s forehead. Then she held his head between her hands and closed her eyes.
“Oleander, put one hand on his head, the other over his heart.” Brigid surprised me by being the one telling me what to do.
I did as she said.
“Zanna?” Brigid said.
Zanna stooped down and placed her hands next to mine.
“Maude?”
Móraí knelt on Kallan’s other side and put her hands over mine. She met my eyes and smiled. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
In a hushed tone, she said, “We need to call upon the light magick. We need to ask it to take the dark out of Kallan’s head. The words are in the old language. A language the fey used to speak. You’ll have to repeat after me.”
“Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Keep your hands where they are until he’s conscious.”
“Will this work?” I asked my grandmother.
“Only if you have faith.”
Healing dark magick was something I wouldn’t have even thought about years ago and now here I was trying to fix the love of my life. I had seen the earth heal. I had made a field explode with flowers. So yes, now I had faith in all things faery. “I do.”
“Let’s begin.” She started saying words I didn’t know or understand and Zanna, Lena, and I repeated every word. I hoped I was getting the words right. Seconds passed, then minutes, and maybe even an hour. The light of the moon faded as the sun rose above the horizon. My arms were tired, but I didn’t move. Kallan depended on me. As I repeated the same verses over and over, memories flooded my mind. Memories of meeting Kallan, falling in love with him, willing him to kiss me that day in the water. I thought about that night when it was pouring and I saw him outside my window. He was my everything and I couldn’t lose him to his crazy witch of a half-sister. Closing my eyes, I concentrated harder on the words, which were oddly making sense to me.
C’mon, Kallan. Feel me here. Come back to me. I can’t do this without you. I need you. All of me loves all of you… Tears trickled down my face.
And then I heard something back. Rylie?
Kallan? Is that really you?
I’m stuck somewhere awful.
It’s just your mind that’s stuck. You’re safe with me. I need you to follow my voice and get your mind unstuck.
Out loud I continued to repeat the words my grandmother was saying.
I love you, Kallan. I need you. Come home.
I heard a gasp and my eyes snapped open. A cloud of darkness—I didn’t know what else to call it—came out of Kallan’s mouth and he began taking deep breaths. My grandmother raised her voice and I did the same, saying the words louder.
Kallan’s eyes fluttered open and he stared up at the sky. None of them stopped chanting, so I didn’t either, not until he blinked a few times and then looked at me.
I never thought I’d see you again, he said.
You can’t get rid of me that quickly.
Kallan smiled and reached up to touch my face
. I need to make sure you’re real.
Laughing, I leaned over and squashed my lips to his for a very long, overdue kiss. Don’t you ever do that again. Going all mind warped on me. I need you, Kallan. I want you. I love you. You’re my forever and I don’t ever want to lose you. Do you understand me?
Yes.
I pulled away. Oh. Everyone is looking at us.
Lena and Móraí’s hands were off Kallan, so I let go and shook them to get rid of the pins and needles feeling.
Kallan slowly got to his feet. “Thank you all for your help.”
Brigid said, “We’d like to hold a meeting as soon as possible.”
“You can give him some time to relax. I’ll let you know when he’s ready,” I said firmly before taking his hand and leading him back to Azura’s.
Kallan raised his eyebrows. Look at you. All leader like.
I hid a smile and led him inside. Once we were away from prying eyes, I kissed him on the cheeks, forehead, hands, and finally lips. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“I think so.” He looked over his body. “Physically fine. Mentally a little freaked out.”
“What happened?”
Azura handed him a glass of water and sat across from us.
After drinking nearly the whole thing, he answered, “I remember the guards grabbing me and they dragged me to Satine. Kyro was by her side.” Kallan pressed his lips together. “He was enjoying the reversal in roles. Satine has some sort of mind control. She’s able to take over a mind so completely I didn’t know what was going on. It was like I was put aside into some state of paralysis. It was dark and cold and very lonely.”
“Why didn’t you wipe her mind?” I asked, remembering that creature in Targore he had blubbering like a baby.
“She had a faery there with the ability to block. He blocked me from using my power. Did I do anything I should know about?”
I thought about his hand around my throat and decided he didn’t need to know that, but he should hear the rest from me. “You fought for them, but we handled it. Also Sebille died protecting you.”
He wrung his hands in his lap. “Oh…Oh, Sebille. She was so loyal. She came to me after Varwik died and told me how she knew I’d make a great leader. She said she had waited for the day Varwik’s reign would be over. She really believed in me, Rylie.”
Using my thumb, I wiped away the tears running down his cheeks. “She died for you and what she believed in.”
“Did anyone else die?”
“Bayard. And many of their guards.” I hesitated. “There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Satine wants me, so she had you capture Adam and bring him here. She wanted to use him as bait to get to me. She put him in a cage and had you guarding him.”
Kallan’s blue-green eyes grew big. “I don’t remember any of this. I can’t believe…I kidnapped Adam? Where is he? Did I kill him?”
“No!” I took his hand. “No. We freed him and well, I had to explain some things and then had Drake take him home. He’s fine.”
“I can’t believe this. I hate her. She’s just like Varwik.” He scowled.
“We’ll get her. I promise that. I’m going to take that bitch down.”
“We’ll do it together,” he said.
“Are you ready to talk to the council?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes.”
I got up and crossed the room to the kitchen where Azura and Móraí sat. “We’re ready.”
Móraí nodded and rose from her chair. She walked past me and outside to spread the news.
“How are you doing, love?” Azura asked.
“Tired.”
“You need to rest.”
“I need to take care of this first.”
“You are stubborn.”
I smiled. “I get that from you.”
Móraí was back at the door. “They’re on the way to the meetinghouse.”
The five of us—Azura, Móraí, Drake, Kallan, and I—began the journey to the meetinghouse. I held Kallan’s hand the whole way. I never wanted to let go of him again. He was quiet and I could tell he was trying to come to terms with what happened.
We were almost at the cabin when a ripple hit again, causing me to suck in a deep breath.
“What is it?” Azura looked at me, concerned.
“That feeling…something’s wrong. It’s strong here.”
“We’ll figure it out too,” Kallan said.
I nodded, hoping he was right. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Each time I felt it, it was stronger. A single brown leaf floated to the ground and landed in front of me. I knelt down and as my fingers touched it, the leaf disintegrated. Confused, I looked up to ask Azura her thoughts, but she was walking away. I’d have to ask later. I stood up and hurried to join the others.
Drake, Kallan, Móraí, and I entered the building and walked to the table. The elders waited until I sat down and then they sat in order. The head chair felt more comfortable than the last time I was in it. As I looked around the table my eyes rested on the empty chair Sebille had filled, and I said, “I hope we all can put aside differences and figure out what to do to save our land. Kallan, why don’t you start?”
Kallan filled the council in on the details of what happened and then said, “Satine needs to be stopped. She wants control over all the land and she’s powerful. I have no doubt she will win if we’re not united.”
Brigid leaned forward. “How big is her army?”
“I can’t be positive. I saw at least a hundred, but she also has allies such as goblins and trolls. It’s not just faeries.”
“What do you propose we do? How do we win?” Zanna asked.
“Being united, sharing info, weapons, people. Standing together. That’s what’s necessary. Using everything we’ve got until she’s dead.” His voice was hard and cold. “If we continue to hate each other, distrust each other, and work separately, she will be able to win.” He sat back in his chair and waited.
There was a long pause and that bothered me. The response should have been immediate. “I know many of you think I’m an outsider, that I don’t belong here. I can’t change that. I grew up in the human world and coming here to this beautiful realm changed me and made me rethink life. Hate is horrible. Whether it’s religion or race or what one’s opinions are, people hate the other side. So much time and effort is put into that kind of fight, nothing is left for the real enemy. In this case, the dark and the light have hated each other for so long, they can’t see the real enemy, Satine. It’s time to mend the fence and focus on how to take her down.”
Wow. Very well said.
I smiled, but didn’t look at him.
Brigid spoke next, “You’re right, Oleander. The light faeries will forgive and forget. Let’s focus on Satine.”
Kallan reached over and stuck out his hand. “We too will forgive and forget.”
Brigid and Kallan shook hands. The rest of the faeries followed.
“Kallan, what do you think is the best way to defeat them?” Brigid asked.
Pleased, I sat back and listened to the two sides discuss strategy. They talked about armies and reinforcements like the dwarves and piskies. As soon as a plan was hashed out, Kallan kissed me and said, “I’ll be outside talking to Drake.”
“Okay.”
As I headed to the door, Brigid approached me. She didn’t smile or hug me, but she said some simple words that meant a lot. “I have wrongly judged you.” With that she walked away.
It was a step in the right direction. She may not like me, but she didn’t hate me anymore. Maybe I could actually do this—lead the fey. Maybe I would be the great Aurorian who brought everybody back together. Or maybe Satine would still win and kill us all. No. I could
n’t let that happen. We had to beat her. Even if it meant losing my life. I had to do whatever necessary to make sure she didn’t live.
Brigid was outside talking to a few faeries I didn’t know. “I need you to talk to the piskies and you to talk to the dwarves. Alston, I need you to organize a meeting with the guard.”
“Right away.”
Things were falling in place for the battle that was brewing. I didn’t know when or where it would happen, but it was coming for us.
I spotted Azura waiting for me by the tree line and I walked toward her. Suddenly I fell to the ground, gasping for air.
“What’s wrong?” Kallan rushed to my side.
“I…don’t…know.”
Azura was on my other side. “The earth is trying to tell you. Listen to it.”
I placed my hands flat on the ground. Okay earth, I’m here. Tell me what I need to know. Tell me how to help you. I’m listening.
And then the earth told me. Or rather, it showed me… I saw Satine with a stone, she was chanting in the light of the moon. Then I saw transparent walls, they were moving. I saw black earth and wilted trees.
My eyes snapped open. “Satine is moving the border.”
Around me, the other faeries gasped.
“How do we stop it?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” Azura helped me to my feet.
“What happens if we don’t?” I stared at her.
“Our land will cease,” she answered.
Faeries—light and dark—piskies, and dwarves filled the meadow. Brigid climbed up on a table and raised her hands for everyone to quiet down. “Friends,” she began. “We have been made aware of an impending doom.”