The Way

by Janet Parsons

  “You are one of the Ellucidae, half Fae and half Earth Spirit, an Ellucidite.”

  “Here goes – my second question. What am I doing here and I don’t mean here in this cave, I mean here on Earth. What does an Ellucidite do?”

  “Look at you – asking the two most common questions any sentient being asks, ‘Who or What am I and Why am I here?’ As one of the chosen Ellucidae, you are here to fulfil your role in the Faeble of this age. I’m not talking Disney fairy tales here. The Faeble I refer to is a prophecy or divination that determines if this world as we know it, will survive. What that role is I don’t know. The lore around your path is revealed at predetermined points in the fabric of existence. Sorry, can’t elaborate any more than that, except that you are here on time and on purpose and you are surrounded by people that’ll help you through. Now, we need to be getting back.”

  Beth felt a pang of disappointment to be leaving the indescribable splendor of this secret place and having had Logan to herself for what felt like hours. She had to return to normal life knowing that after this experience, there’d be a whole new shade of normal.

  “Logan…I mean, Mr. Yeats, thank you. Thank you for the most breathtaking moments I’ve ever known.” She didn’t know what to call him anymore and had wanted to say so many things, yet the sands of magic time were slipping away.

  Logan looked into her eyes with a heat that made her heart skip a beat. “Beth, I… never mind.” He shook his head slowly as if to correct his thoughts. “You’re right, I have to remain Mr. Yeats for the time being and remember my place. When we get back, it’s business as usual but may this time be the first of many magic moments for you. Come on, are you ready?”

  CHAPTER 19

  Being

  “I hold a Beast, an Angel and a Madman in me”

  – DYLAN THOMAS

  Degarl had managed to slip out of the noisy soiree unnoticed and escaped up to the rooftop deck. There was a balmy breeze coming in off the ocean, most unusual for this time of year. He unlocked his telescope and peered into the eyepiece. He shifted the position, to scan for a comet that he had read was due to enter the atmosphere over the next few days and would make for fantastic viewing. After several minutes and no sign of the comet, he readjusted the lens, taking in the giant moon, its bright yellow proving an impressive backdrop for the scatters of thin cloud cutting across it. He shifted the lens again to focus on a particularly unusual cloud bank, moving quickly across the light.

  He concentrated and drew a breath in, as the form became ever clearer. “That’s no cloud bank.” Through the lens Degarl saw the defined winged silhouettes of two Fae. He snapped shut the telescope, turned and headed back into the house.

  Lilith spotted him as soon as he re-entered the room and moved swiftly across to meet him, smiling through clenched teeth at the other guests as she shimmied past them, and choosing her tone carefully, not wanting anyone to pick up on her annoyance. “There you are! Synan has reported that Daddy has been on the phone. I’ve explained we are entertaining and that you will call him later. However, you know Daddy—he insists you call him now. You be quick, there are much more pressing issues to be addressed here.” She flounced off back to a group of four men, whom she had been regaling with her impressive back stage stories of the New York Opera; “There you are boys… now, where was I?”

  Degarl made his way down the long passageway to his study, his footsteps echoing in the long space. He closed the heavy door behind him and sat down in the black leather chair at his enormous mahogany desk. He glanced over to the circular jellyfish tank illuminated with different colors, as the LED sequence changed. He dialed the number and Zie answered promptly, speaking in an abrupt tone. “I need you to get down to the laboratory on Monday and see that those idiots adjust the hive mind serum in the next batch of Vollens. I know it’s successful with my Myrmidons, but I have had a report that all thirty Vollens went over a cliff and the ones that are regenerating are severely malfunctioning.”

  “What about the girl? She went over the cliff too? So I take it they were successful in their assignment.” Degarl kept his tone cool, waiting for the response.

  “No remains were found of the girl. If she did survive – it would be some kind of miracle, so she was probably dragged off by a mountain lion. I am off to Germany tonight, so you get back to Lilith now and as soon as the lab re-opens, you deal with the changes; personally. Find out who has been working on the hive mind serum. They will pay for my loss!” He slammed the phone down in Degarl’s ear.

  Degarl slowly replaced the receiver. “Charming as always, Zie.” He tapped his pen against the glass of the tank and said, “Some kind of miracle…or some kind of magic.”

  * * *

  Logan and Beth landed just near the entrance of the path where Tamara had stumbled through earlier. The retraction of the wings was completely painless, as she noticed that Logan’s had disappeared, she looked over her shoulder and saw hers had too.

  Logan spoke quietly. “We’re in time, they just unfroze. You go first. I’m right behind you.”

  Ms. Flanders looked up as she saw Beth enter the clearing, Logan right behind her.

  “There you are. Thank goodness. Young Toby here was beginning to panic. I knew you’d be okay. I kept reassuring him.”

  Toby approached Beth with a look of relief flooding his face, then quickly whispered, “Well, did you take advantage of your five minutes alone? What did I miss out on?”

  Beth smiled, wanting to relive every precious memory, but instead rolled her eyes at him, thinking on her feet for a plausible response, speaking loudly enough for the rest of the group to hear; “You didn’t miss a thing. The solar flares had faded and I took a wrong step off the path. Luckily, Mr. Yeats knows this area and found me. I’m so sorry Tamara, for wandering off. Are you okay?”

  The color had returned to Tamara’s face. “Yes. I’m just glad that you’re back too. Did you smell anything weird? I don’t know what was in the air but I think it was some kind of gas that caused me to black out!”

  Professor Cragg approached them. “What’s that about gas? How fascinating! We had better look for the source of that tomorrow. Anyway, I think it’s time for lights out.”

  The remainder of the field trip was without incident, as Ms. Flanders took it upon herself to take all the rules up a notch or ten, including the new rule for night bathroom trips changed to two students and a teacher, ensuring no more mishaps.

  Both Daybian and Caleb had talked Shelby, Jemma and Ashley out of imbibing their bourbon, and instead saving it for the next party. The boys were terrified that any associated misdemeanor would have them off the football team. For Beth, this just meant more hours of good old gossip and speculation about inane reality television shows she never watched and celebrity statistics that were about as exciting as watching paint dry.

  During the day Beth had managed to be in a working group with Tamara and her friends and found them easier company. She and Logan had not had another minute alone since their return and she was really looking forward to getting home.

  Beth could hardly wait until they had packed up camp and were making the trek down to the waiting bus. Grabbing Toby by the hand, she pulled him to the front of the walking group. “If I ever start talking trash like I have had to listen to this weekend – please put me out of my misery.”

  The return trip was quiet as most of the bus were asleep. At one point, Beth turned over and was sure she caught Logan looking at her from the rear vision mirror. Beth had been running over and over the events in her mind particularly from the cave, like rerunning a favorite dream – except this time it was absolutely, wonderfully real. She’d written some lyrics via torchlight when the other girls had finally shut up. She would show Likely when they got back to school so he could help her compose a fitting tune.

  The bus finally arrived back at school and Beth was delighted to see the beaming smile on Lionel’s face as he leant on his truck waiting for their return
. After all she had been through, it was a relief to know she was going home to Maggie.

  Lionel’s truck rumbled up the stone driveway and Aristotle boisterously ran out to greet them. Maggie stood in the doorway, arms outstretched and enveloping Beth in such a mighty hug, she thought she might snap in two.

  She smiled at Beth, and a little tear slid down her cheek. “You did good lass, you did good! Thank goodness you are here and safe.” She wiped the tear away. “Look at me, I’m a mess and you were only gone two nights. Come on Lionel, you and Toby come in, I’ve just made fresh bread and there’s a delicious pot of chowder on the stove. You kids can get showered and then we’ll eat.”

  Over dinner, Beth and Toby regaled Maggie and Lionel with stories from the camp trip, but Beth did not share anything regarding the Vollens or her flight with Logan. Beth could not explain any of this to them in a way which would sound normal and not crazy. She held her own counsel, knowing Logan knew the whole story and she smiled at the memory of their flight together.

  The next couple of weeks at school seemed to drag – between music classes at least. Beth wanted to catch Logan alone to ask him more about being an Ellucidite, but he seemed to be intentionally avoiding any attempts she made to talk privately. Beth looked forward to those classes and she and Likely worked on her composition most lunchtimes. They had decided her new song would work best as a duet, so they had persuaded a reluctant Mike Newman to learn the boy’s part.

  Toby had been busy on the prom committee and had persuaded the very vocal Melinda Wiseman to be completely supportive of his interesting prom theme—“Baz-tacular,” which drew artistic and musical inspiration from three of Baz Luhrmann’s movies, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby.” As they were studying “Gatsby” in English, the theme won out over the others and the elaborate set building began.

  Beth’s name had been drawn out of a hat in class as one of the seniors to perform at the upcoming whole school assembly, and as the day grew closer, she became more and more nervous. Toby had stayed after school and made a recording of her singing with Mike, to ensure he knew his lines.

  The day of the assembly arrived and the school piled into the theater to hear the formal announcements and semester progress awards being handed out. Beth scanned the audience looking for Mike, to no avail. When the performers were called up backstage, there was still no sign of him. Beth approached Logan. “Sorry I won’t be able to debut my song today as Mike Newman is not here.”

  Beth could feel the relief wash over her as she was now off the hook.

  Toby suddenly appeared beside her. “But that won’t be a problem will it Mr. Yeats? Always looking out for you Beth, you see I had Likely work on the other song you wrote, the one representing the Jazz Age, just in case, so you can sing that one instead. Likely knows it. I made sure he was up to speed with both songs. Couldn’t have you missing out Beth, could I?”

  Beth didn’t know what she wanted more—if she wanted to strangle Toby or for the ground to open up and swallow her. “I don’t think that song’s ready to be aired, Toby.”

  Logan smiled at her. “Beth, I’m sure it will be great. Aren’t you lucky to have a manager like Toby?”

  Beth tried to calm the knot in her stomach. “Oh yeah, he’s a real trooper,” she replied, standing on Toby’s foot hard.

  “Ouch! Trust me, you’ll thank me in the end,” Toby called as he went to take his place at the MC’s microphone. He turned around, hesitated and leant in and whispered into Beth’s ear, “Sing it as if you’re singing it to the person you penned it for. Just the two of you, no witnesses. Own it, girlfriend.”

  Likely had already taken to the stage and was quietly warming up behind the heavy black curtains. The school orchestra had received the music earlier in the week and were busy tuning their instruments, readying for their parts.

  “This first song we will hear today is a jazz piece with lyrics by Beth Harlow and music composed by Likely O’Reilly and Beth Harlow called ‘Too Hot to Handle’. Beth is feeling a little nervous as the song she was going to debut was a duet, but Mike Newman’s not around—so she’ll be opening solo. Please give her a very warm welcome.”

  As Beth took her place on stage her legs were shaking and a great knot tightened in her stomach. The curtains opened and the stage was simply spot-lit in a muted purple tone. The first few smoldering opening piano notes sounded and she took a deep breath in. Heeding Toby’s words, she imagined singing directly to her muse, who was sitting front and center of the auditorium and began.

  Too Hot to Handle

  Heat is searing through my veins

  There’s a part of me

  I can’t explain

  The color and hue

  That’s determined by when you come into view

  Too hot to handle

  Too hot it seems

  Too hot to handle

  Too hot it seems

  Pouring over like an inferno of flame

  Looks like I found what’s to blame

  Sidle up and bring those eyes into mine

  Ooohh look at that—creates starshine

  Feel the thrill through your being

  Get into that raw zone

  Can’t control the undertones

  Too hot to handle

  Too hot it seems

  Too hot to handle

  Too hot it seems

  Pouring over like an inferno of flame

  Looks like I found what’s to blame

  Skin on skin I feel the sublime

  Press those lips here onto mine

  Take my hand

  and start the climb

  Don’t look now I see an avalanche arrive

  As the last note was played the audience erupted into an elated standing ovation. Beth took a moment to drink in the appreciation, catching Logan’s eye he gave her a warm smile and two thumbs up.

  Toby took his place back at the microphone. “Wow!” Toby was fanning his face with a program. “Did it just get hot in here or did it just get hot in here? Beth Harlow! What an amazing performance! Next up we have a slight change of pace with the debut of Maeve Frith’s, “Touch Me You’re Dead.”

  The heavy guitars and bass line kicked in and Maeve took it up a notch or ten.

  Beth found herself surrounded by the other performers backstage. She stood on her tiptoes as she hugged Likely, who was looking as close to smiling as she had ever seen.

  “See, didn’t that feel good to get your message across in such a… wholesome way? Vocal foreplay at its finest. I always choose the right track for you at the right time.” Toby grinned cheekily at her.

  After the assembly, Beth, Likely and Toby made their way out of the building and into the bright sunshine.

  “Come on you lot, now that that’s over, we’ve got a prom to plan!” Toby reminded gleefully.

  Likely stooped down to pick up a tattered piece of thin yellowed cardboard blowing around the yard. It was a historical map of the Scituate Harbor, which had fallen off the wall, and he was turning it slowly around in his hands. He held it up to the light, on an angle and then back down. His hands began to shake violently.

  “What is it, Likely?” Beth went over to him, concerned, as his face was ashen.

  His large trembling index finger pointed to an area of the map. Beth looked at it as he traced over it.

  He dropped the map as if it had burst into flames and ran back into the building, beating at his chest.

  Toby picked it up off the concrete. “What the hell was that about?”

  Beth leaned in and turned the map around. Tracing over the area that had spooked him, she saw the contour lines of the harbor formed a clear, detailed outline of a giant dragon-like serpent, its eye suddenly flashing a gleaming blood red.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  JANET PARSONS

  Janet Parsons is an internationally published, award winning author of both stories and songs with most ideas coming in at 3am when other people are slee
ping soundly. The youngest of thirteen children, she believes her imagination was fed a healthy diet observing the antics of her siblings and fuelled with great literature in a TV free home. She lives in beautiful Melbourne, Australia with her husband, children and enough wildlife to start a zoo.

  Other Titles by Janet Parsons

  The Five Senses of Love (Children’s Picture Book)

  Seasons of Love (Children’s Picture Book)

  Open Your Mind and say Ahhh! – capsizing a crisis (Self help memoir)

  Titles by Janet in the pipeline

  Lore Book Two : The Truth (YA)

  Madame Curiose House of Opportunity Knocks (YA)

  How To Tame Your Drag Queen (Musical)

  ABOUT THE ARTIST

  JESSICA JAMES

  Jessica grew up with a love for art and fantasy. Her passion grew into a hobby, drawing and creating characters, and now she illustrates for fun and work.

  To contact Janet or Jessica

  Please email: info@potoroopublishing.com

  or go to the website www.potoroopublishing.com

  If you want to hear Beth and Likely’s songs follow the links on the website.

  LOVE & GRATITUDE TO

  Michael Parsons

  Joel, Eliza and Eden Parsons

  The Wampanoag People

  Scituate Town Folk

  Scituate Town Library

  The Fleehan extended clan

  All of my precious nieces, nephews, God-children, in-laws & outlaws and their families

  Ria & Hele my fairy pond friends

  Kazbah

  Meaghi

  Wobe

  Ammi

  Suzi Q

  Dotski, Flick & co

  The Vikings

  The Tathra Crew

  The Merks

  The Pearls

  Club 5-0

  Get Serious

  Mary and Rod Hare

  The Entire Team at BP (past and present)

  The Writer’s Coven @ Heide

  GLOSSARY

  Broin: precious pink stone central to the Faeble.