The Way

by Janet Parsons

  Aristotle barked loudly to greet them, running up and down the yard on the fence line. Lionel’s truck drew into the driveway and almost before he had stopped the engine, Maggie was out and at the door, jiggling the key around in the door lock.

  “Get down Aristotle!” Maggie snapped as the big hound, being his usual enthusiastic self, was on his hind legs trying to put his paws on her shoulders.

  Lionel came up beside them. “I’d listen to her, buddy, she’s not in a very playful mood.”

  Maggie ignored his jibe and opened the door, heading straight to the kitchen table, where her colorful deck of cards sat in a neat pile. She sat down, reaching for them, and began quickly shuffling until one card escaped the pile and fell out onto the floor. She stooped to retrieve it, and drew a gasp. “Oh no!” She slammed the card face down on the table, turning the rest of the deck onto it and reshuffled.

  Lionel, who’d been banging around in the cupboard searching for the whiskey, turned hastily at hearing her panicked tone and watched the color drain from her normally rosy cheeks. “What’s up? What do you see?”

  Maggie sat rocking slightly and staring, her hands moving the cards so quickly they were like a blur. “Our Beth is in some deep dark trouble.”

  * * *

  Lilith’s menu proved a resounding success. The last of the dessert plates were being cleared and the guests were being ushered to the elevators for ‘jazz and afters’ in the viewing room. A sophisticated jazz quartet had set up during dinner and were already playing as the elevator doors opened. A temporary bar had been erected in one corner and two wait staff were handing out trays with an array of tempting rare and exquisite cognacs, ports, dessert wines and liqueurs.

  Lilith had ensured the major newspaper’s society pages would be treated with an elaborately staged pictorial double spread, thanks to the efforts of one of New York’s finest celebrity photographers. Lilith had a ‘no cell phone’ motto for all their entertaining. Synan collected all phones and cameras at the door, and assigned one of the staff to courier any messages that were earmarked by a guest as ‘absolutely urgent’. She liked to be in complete control of any pictures that were taken of her – this whole selfie sensation had become quite a nuisance. God forbid these amateurs caught her profile on the wrong angle. Not that there was anything at all amiss with her profile, it was just that in Lilith’s view, the camera definitely lied.

  Degarl had played the engaging host all evening, setting up various meetings with some of the heavier hitting financiers who would prove a boon to the campaign. Politics was not just about ‘who’ you knew it was about, ‘how’ much money they could bring to the cause. He accepted a glass of cognac, subtly breaking free from the grasp of one of the guests’ extremely attentive spouse, who, fueled by an excess of champagne, was having trouble balancing on her five inch stilettos.

  Lilith looked over from her conversation and was quite amused watching this one’s attempt to garner her husband’s attention. Never one to be jealous, she enjoyed it when other women fawned over him, perhaps one day he would meet someone on this Earth who could keep his attention.

  Degarl excused himself from the rest of the group, and headed to one of the glassy overhangs. He stared out across the ocean at the still epic moonscape. The pit of his stomach had not settled. Zie had not returned his numerous calls earlier and his silence was deafening.

  * * *

  “Tamara, it’s me, Ms. Flanders, can you hear me?” Tamara’s eyes fluttered open.

  “Okay, you’re okay, just breathe. Are you hurting anywhere?” Ms. Flanders helped her slowly sit up. After giving her a couple of minutes to get her breath back, she asked in a clear composed tone, “Do you recall what happened before you staggered into the clearing? Can you tell me where Beth is?”

  Tamara shook her head slowly. “All I remember was that I was fumbling with my torch, trying to get my hand sanitizer out of the pocket of my jacket, and this absolutely disgusting stench filled the air. It was so gross it made my eyes sting and then I felt something, like a hand, no more like a claw, come over my mouth…and then everything went black. I guess I passed out from that smell but I honestly can’t remember how I got back. I must have hit my head real hard. Is Beth back?”

  “Mr. Yeats has gone to find her. They’ll be back any moment. Just stay seated for the time being because although you don’t appear to have any injuries, we can’t guarantee you haven’t sustained a head injury.” Ms. Flanders called over to the campfire, “Can someone please bring some water for Tamara?”

  Toby sprang to his feet. “I’ll get it.” He raced over to the supply tent, returning with a bottle of water which he handed to Ms. Flanders. “Well, do you know what happened and can I go see if they need help now?”

  “Thanks for the water, Toby, poor Tamara is quite shaken up and no – you will stay here, my decision still stands. I can’t afford to let any of you wander off. Beth is in extremely capable hands. Mr. Yeats knows this part of the country better than any of us; he was telling me on the way up here in the bus how he spent much of his youth hiking and camping in this area.”

  * * *

  Beth felt the wind blasting her face as they raced towards the cliff edge, every sense heightened with the impending doom. The thudding footsteps behind gained momentum, and she didn’t dare look back.

  Logan gripped her hand. “Beth, you have to trust me. Hold on tight! Here we goooooo…” His voice trailed off as they leapt over the edge of Frankenstein Cliff.

  Beth closed her eyes, holding on to his hand so forcefully that she wondered if she’d break his bones. Suddenly, no ground under their feet, she felt her stomach drop and then the fear rose until it was palpable in her throat, causing incredibly sharp pains to course through her lungs and a searing pain around her shoulder blades as they plunged down, into the deep dark valley. Strange how everything seemed in slow motion now, it didn’t feel like such a violent end after all. She actually felt as if she was gliding, floating, and not freefalling like a stone. The brutal pain had stopped too—maybe she was already dead.

  “Beth, open your eyes and look at me.” She heard Logan’s voice beside her.

  She opened her eyes and looked over. There was Logan right there and real, still holding her hand. Protruding from his back, outlined in the moonlight, she could see an enormous pair of magnificent, iridescent wings. They were floating or flying or gliding – whatever winged people did, he was doing it, and she was safely hovering holding his hand. Her mouth fell agape as she drew in a breath, unexpected tears of relief and disbelief brimmed in her eyes. He looked at her and gave her a warm, reassuring smile. “Beth, do you remember when I asked you to have my back? I need you to look over your shoulder.”

  Beth turned her head and with her peripheral vision, she drank in her first glimpse of her own glorious wings. The searing pain she had experienced at the initial phase of the fall was obviously due to the emergence of these spectacular, elegant and most miraculous appendages. There was no pain at all now, just exhilaration. Her wings were magnificently sculpted and shimmering. The edges seemed to be laced in silver and they glimmered with rainbow translucence in the moonlight. She could not take her eyes off them, turning her head from side to side, giddy with pure shock and simultaneously overrun with excitement and joy. It was a feeling of freedom that Beth had only ever felt in her dreamscape. This was no dream. This was the most real, indeed the most alive moment Beth had ever felt.

  Logan’s face beamed as he enjoyed watching her utter astonishment. “As you can see now, you have your own back just as well as I have mine. A bit unexpected, this development; I wasn’t actually a hundred per cent sure that this trick was within your capabilities but from the look of those beauties, it most certainly is.”

  Beth stared. “You mean we jumped off that cliff without you knowing that… I’m, I’m a winged whatever you are?”

  “Hey, believe me, I would have landed you safely. Our wings are strong and incredibly well designed
. I understand you have a million questions racing through your mind right now, let me just promise you that the Vollens, the vile creatures that were on our heels, did exactly as I thought they would and plummeted over the cliff. There won’t be any strays, as they only ever travel in packs. If any survived they will need time to regenerate their limbs, so do not fret about our fellow campers. They are not in danger. Now, we are going to head back up the cliff face. I need to buy us some time.”

  Up and across they flew over the escarpment, hovering high above the glow of the campfire, Logan reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a tiny plasma globe, with streams of light racing through it. His fist clenched over it, he muttered an incantation and opened his palm, and the globe lifted off his hand and hung momentarily in the air before simultaneously exploding and expanding in a billion tiny fragments of white light, like a mushroom firework.

  The lights cascaded down into a large shimmering dome entirely covering the campsite.

  Beth watched the striking display in awe. The dazzling light radiated from below and she could see every feature and expression of Logan’s divine face clearly. If only Toby could see her now, wings and all. They had spent many hours imagining, ruminating and howling with laughter about how her first date with Logan would play out—the laughter mainly due to Toby’s bizarre and twisted sentiments and scenarios. Never had she envisaged the bedazzling magic of this moment.

  She recalled Toby’s dogged insistence that as soon as she and Logan were alone, she promised to play the Life-trax he had been busy preparing. He had explained that by doing so, he would have played his part in any budding romance.

  Logan looked across to her, pleased that the spell was completed and in effect. “There. That will keep everyone safe and temporarily frozen in time. Hmmm, I am unsure how my head office are going to react when I tell them of our little adventure. I’m probably in for a telling-off; nothing new there. Think I’ve broken a few Fae rules, but I believe you deserve to at least have a couple of questions answered, so you can start to understand your power, Beth, and the enormity of your purpose.” He squeezed her hand and grinned cheekily. “What better way to start than by jumping off a cliff ? Let’s fly!”

  Beth was beaming. “I have to tell you from a girl who has had some mighty weird, in the words of Toby “shite” go down in my short life, this feels totally surreal. Just give me a second, I’ve got a promise to keep.”

  She reached into her hoodie pocket for her phone, found her earphones and inserted one into her ear. She tapped on the playlist – and the distinctive bass line kicked in.

  Beth laughed out loud; trust Toby to choose “Age of Consent” by New Order. Logan led the way and they flew off, into the starry, enchanted night sky.

  CHAPTER 18

  Secret

  “Can I keep you in our secret place?”

  – BETH HARLOW

  Lionel had prepared two white mugs emitting a sweet malty aroma complete with thick cream on top, and was bantering away in an attempt to distract Maggie from her solemnity. “Come on Maggie, drink up this Irish coffee, it’ll help settle your nerves and get some sleep. Like most great Irish things, it has the opposite effect of coffee. You see, some rude people think that we Irish have things back to front but truth be told, we almost always have it the right way round, don’t you agree?”

  Maggie sat shuffling her cards. “All right then Lionel, I’ll have my coffee. It’s time enough now that I can do a redraw and see if the situation’s improved. Always good to give the cards time to assess what’s happening.”

  She took a sip from the mug and laid out three of her cards face down. She turned the first card over, and sputtered into her coffee. She promptly turned over the other two, then threw her head back, making her curls bob up and down as she laughed loudly, making her belly shake.

  Her laugh was so infectious, that Lionel, who had taken a large sip with plenty of cream, spat it out across the table, a large glob landing on Aristotle’s nose, as his own mirth took over. “What? What now? I didn’t put that much whiskey in did I? What did the cards say that’s so hilarious? Is Beth okay?”

  Maggie managed to get her breath to answer. “Beth is fine, but I think whoever is with her may have a bit to answer for.” She held up her mug. “Cheers Lionel, to mischief and mayhem – long may they reign!”

  * * *

  Mapellier entered the Great Hall, grabbing one of the attendants on the shoulder. “Where is Llandyr? I need to speak with him urgently.”

  The Fae pointed in the direction of the dance. Llandyr had a ring of Faebs dancing around his feet as he entertained them with a comical jig in the middle. A crowd had gathered and were enjoying watching the unexpected fun.

  Mapellier made his way to the edge of the crowd and made eye contact with Llandyr, tilting his head to a quieter corner of the hall where they could speak privately.

  The Faebs aired their disappointment as he excused himself and he asked Lady Ashling to step into the center, much to her chagrin. The cheeky Faebs were immediately trying to pick up the edge of her gown and some were hiding underneath. She called after him, “Thanks so much for this!”

  “That’s my pleasure. I know how you love playtime!” he called back sardonically to her and headed over to the table where Mapellier had pulled two chairs aside.

  Llandyr’s expression became serious as he asked, “What news? Were you able to track those pesky, filthy Vollens? I had some reports come in from my forest friends that there was quite a pack headed to the area where our Ellucidite was expected. Do you need reinforcements sent? I can arrange if need be.”

  Mapellier shook his head, wondering how to best deliver the unexpected update. “Well yes, I was able to track the Vollens, they won’t be causing too much harm to anyone at the moment.” He stalled. “You see, there’s been a bit of an unusual development.”

  “Yes, come on, what’s happened? Spit it out. You found the Vollens and…?” Llandyr quizzed impatiently.

  Mapellier continued, “Well I found the Vollens in a mangled heap at the bottom of Frankenstein Cliff. Some are regenerating but most are beyond repair which is great news. When I flew up to the camping area, well, umm…”

  “No umms, what on Earth has Logan done now?” Llandyr sighed and waited for his response.

  “There’s a spell over the campsite – all are present, safe, frozen in time and accounted for… except there was no sign of Logan or the Ellucidite.”

  Llandyr let out another deep sigh. “Not a word of this to anyone, until we know the extent of his misdemeanors. He knew his instructions were to send for assistance. At least we know she is safe, for the time being. Thank you for coming to report. We will just have to hope that he keeps to the code. Not that Logan can seem to adhere to any rulebooks. Come, we will go and relieve Lady Ashling from her sentence.”

  * * *

  Once they were high up over the campsite, Logan led them off towards the coast. Beneath them, little towns were lit up like tiny jeweled rings, and the headlights from the cars on the highway like scattered pearls. Beth found the whole sensation of flight absolutely thrilling.

  “Are you willing to try your maiden solo voyage? If you are, I’m going to slowly let go of your hand, but don’t worry, I’ll be right beside you. Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Logan loosened his grip on her hand until just their little fingers were gently hooked together. He let go, staying quite close to her and she splayed her arms out, enjoying the warm air current they were travelling in.

  “Okay, you’ve got this! You’re a natural, kid. Let’s get going with a few basic maneuvers.”

  Logan taught her how to effortlessly change direction and pace. “Because they are part of you like any other limb, your wings are controlled by your thoughts. They respond to your every command. We are going to head over to that valley, where I want to show you my secret place.”

  They headed towards a clear
ing that lay between two sides of sheer granite mountain. A sheet-like waterfall poured into a deep round pool, the moonlight reflecting on the bubbling ripples and the larger flat stones that surrounded the pool edge.

  Logan showed Beth how to slow the beating of the wings to ensure a graceful landing. “Just like this,” he said, as his feet touched the mossy ground.

  Beth slowed her wing beats and looked down to ensure she was in a good position. Her landing not quite as graceful as she would have liked, as she was totally unused to the extra weight of her wings. As soon as her feet landed, she toppled over a bit like an ‘imperial walker’ from a Star Wars movie.

  Logan raced to her aid. “You’ll be okay. You just need to find your land legs. Now, come with me, I want to show you something special.”

  They walked towards the side of the waterfall, and found a space behind it. A doorway led into a vast open cave. In the middle of the cave, a pool of the most magnificent luminous jewel blue shimmered, and all around the glittering rocks of the cave, mosses and lichens of pink, mauve and green tones gave a multihued glowing effect. Tree ferns were covered in drops of dew that glistened like tiny diamonds.

  Beth gasped at the mesmerizing scene. “This place is like another world.”

  “I’m glad you approve, I like to call it the ‘Cave of Wonders’. Now, I know there are probably a million questions that you need answering—but I can answer only two questions for you. I’ve already broken enough Realm Code for one day. Think carefully which ones you choose to ask. Then we had best get back to the campsite before my spell wears off.”

  Beth’s head spun wildly. Which questions to ask? She used a martial arts exercise to help center her breathing and slowly quieted her mind, asking her higher self to help her choose.

  “First question—What am I?” she asked.