The Council

by Phoenix Willow

  “Would you look at this. We let Girlie have the chance to heal only to have Rain cause unnecessary injuries.” Ambrosia teased with a roll of her lavender eyes and a fangy grin.

  Rain didn’t care though. She squeezed all the air out of Jewel and then some, almost as though Jewel had become a new teddy bear that Rain had wanted for a very long time.

  “Uh, Raindrop. Not that I’m not ecstatic to see you too, but I kind of can’t breathe here.” Jewel said in a squeezed tone of voice.

  “Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. I’m just so happy that you’re okay.” Rain said as she stood and helped Jewel up. With a serious look all of a sudden, she punched Jewel in the arm- hard. “And you had me worried. Again. You had another power overload and I didn’t know if you were going to be okay. Again.” She said while jabbing Jewel with her finger.

  “First of all….ow. And second, it’s not like I was trying to have a power overload. My emotions just got the better of me, but at least I have the renuviants now. They kept me from doing too much damage.” Jewel shrugged.

  “Yeah, well, the Meadow didn’t have any renuviants and you did quite a bit of damage to it. But don’t worry, we fixed it up before we left.” Galadriel said, stepping into the room, and rolling an emerald-green suitcase that Jewel recognized as her own.

  Jewel could see the faint burn marks on parts of his skin, and instantly felt a wave of shame. She had hurt him. Again. And hadn’t even meant to.

  “Are….are you okay?” Jewel asked, biting her lip as she waited for his response.

  “Who, me?” Galadriel said, acting as though he had no idea what Jewel was referring to even though Jewel knew that he did.

  “Yes, you Trickster.” Jewel rolled her eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, Green. The question is, are you?” Galadriel asked with a raised brow.

  Jewel nodded her head slowly. “I think I am now. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not great, and I probably won’t be for a very long time, but I’m okay.”

  “Well, good Draconis, because you scared everyone half to death.” Lyric said, making her way into Jewel’s room along with Dream and Sage, all three of them plopping on the bed with a bounce and a smile.

  “You sure did, Love.” Skye agreed as she hugged Jewel tightly.

  At this point, Jewel’s room was completely full and everyone in the group was present, except for Jade. Even Storm had stuck around it seemed, with his man-bun looking even more disheveled than normal and donning a shirt that read, ‘Windever’ in a writing script that was similar to puffs of clouds.

  Frost came and stood close to Jewel, but for the first time, he didn’t try and hold her hand. Jewel tried to taper down her own disappointment and focused her attention elsewhere.

  “So, what’s the plan now? And, where are we?” Jewel asked, noticing that Dream, Lyric, Sage, and Rain all had the same fluffy white robes with HS stitched into the fabric.

  “We are at the nicest hotel in the entire magical realm. It’s located in a small town outside of Faeville- thanks to Rayon who apparently has a lot of pull within the Fairy realm since he has money coming out of his ears, and let me tell you, this hotel has got everything you could ever want. These robes for instance- they insulate your body at a nice 70 degrees and the slippers actually mold to your feet.” Dream gushed as she snuggled into her robe.

  “Yep. The Hospitable Suite is a five-star hotel and I can definitely see now why there is a three-year waiting list.” Lyric added.

  “Hold up. Did you just say three years?” Jewel sputtered.

  “Yep. Three years.” Dream nodded. “Like I said, that Fairy you rescued has a lot of wealth and it didn’t take a lot of convincing for the hotel manager to honor his request at having the floor reserved just for us.”

  “That’s incredible.” Jewel smiled.

  “No. What’s incredible is all the stuff they have in the drawers, which I have already cleaned out in several of the rooms I might add.” Sage said excitedly. “I mean, they have the nicest array of bubble bath projects I’ve ever seen. Dozens of different soaps shaped like magical creatures, and a few jars of the healing cream manufactured by the Vampire community.” Looking at Ambrosia, he quickly added, “Not that I don’t appreciate the spit-dirt and all its healing properties, but the cream is a little less, well….-”

  “Dirty.” Lyric jumped in.

  “Gross.” Dream added.

  “Disgustingly sticky.” Rain chuckled.

  “I wasn’t going to say it quite like that, but yes.” Sage agreed with a sheepish expression, still glancing at Ambrosia to see if she was offended.

  The Vampiress had a stony expression, but Jewel was an Empath so she could sense Ambrosia’s sense of amusement. Unfortunately for Sage, he couldn’t though, which Jewel derived a little bit of pleasure from.

  “Well, I see. My spit-dirt isn’t as appreciated as I thought it was. That’s fine. No problem. I’ll remember that when your precious cream supply runs out.” Ambrosia smirked.

  No one spoke until the Vampiress threw back her head and laughed. It was nice to see Ambrosia having fun for once. She was always worrying about everyone else and rarely let her proverbial hair down, so Jewel was happy to see this side of her.

  Sage drew Ambrosia into a tight hug and squeezed her. “My Vampiress has got jokes.” He chuckled. “Well, anyway, like I was saying about the hotel. Everything here is great. They even have an array of scented candles that smell so good that your mouth waters. Yep. I don’t think I’m ever going to leave.” Sage sighed.

  “You know, sometimes I wonder about you.” Ambrosia smirked as she looked at Sage.

  “Oh, yeah?” Sage said, quirking his eyebrow. “And what exactly is it that you wonder?”

  Ambrosia turned beet red, but her response was cut off by a groan from Zephyr. “Elements above. Why don’t you two just get a room already? Or take a few for that matter. There’s plenty available on this floor.” He said cheekily.

  “Well, we wouldn’t want to intrude on the time you want to spend alone with Rain, would we Sage?” Ambrosia fired back, smiling fangily as she looked at the shock now placed on Zephyr’s cherubic features.

  Everyone had a good chuckle at that, and even Zekiel sang out ‘palm trees are sprouting, shade, shade, don’t go away, laughter’s here, I want it to stay’.

  Foster squeezed Ambrosia’s shoulder supportively before turning his attention to Jewel. “Well, going back to what Sage said about never leaving or not wanting to leave, or whatever it was he was bloody saying- the good news is that at least for now, we won’t need to. We’ve already set up an extensive number of protective spells, and Galadriel used his glamour, so no one knows who we are. Apparently, only the elite are allowed to stay at this hotel and management hasn’t set up the glamour detectors as of yet, so all they know is that Rayon has rented out this floor indefinitely.” He said as his wings flitted back and forth. “ Oh, and your Dad is here as well, just so you’re not concerned.”

  “Yes, and Love- I’m so sorry, but we went ahead and did a life ceremony for Winter before coming here. We can do an additional one if you want, but the Meadow was so unique that it just seemed fitting to lay her to rest there.” Skye sniffed.

  “It was beautiful, Spitfire. Mom would have loved it.” Rain said, her eyes watering. “Maybe you can see it in my memories at some point. If you want, that is.” She offered.

  “I’d like that.” Jewel nodded, feeling her own eyes begin to water, and a feeling of despondence settle into her spirit. She had lost Winter and had been unconscious when it was time to say goodbye so her feeling of loss was even heavier than before.

  Frost cleared his throat. “Not to intrude on the moment, but what we need to do now is figure out a plan and I’m not sure that a trip down memory lane is the best idea right now for Gem.”

  “Aye.” Teagan agreed. “We can revisit everything later, but Frost is right. We need to plan, and we need to do so quickly. It appears that Shade an
d Gertrude have become quite desperate in their attempts to find you, Young One. They are becoming much more violent.”

  “I can’t even imagine how that’s possible.” Jewel muttered, knowing first-hand what kind of violence both Shade and Gertrude were capable of already.

  “Yes, well, an obsession with power will definitely push you over the edge.” Storm stated as Jade walked in with a pen and what appeared to be a menu.

  “I think I have everything circled that everyone wanted. Did anyone want to add dessert before I order?” Jade asked, not yet having looked up to see that Jewel was awake.

  “Well, you might want to ask Spitfire if she wants anything.” Rain snapped.

  Jade’s eyes shot up and Jewel could tell by her yellow aura and the way that she was now standing that she was nervous.

  “Yes, of course. I didn’t realize you were awake. Sorry. Err, did you want anything? Or um…?” Jade stammered.

  “Yeah, I could eat.” Jewel replied with a half shrug. “What’s on the menu?” She asked, trying to have the encounter not be as awkward as it actually was. Everyone’s eyes were darting between Jewel and Jade, and Rain looked as though she was two seconds from attacking Jade. The tension in the air was so thick that you wouldn’t even need a knife to cut through it, more like a spoon.

  Jade took a step forward, but then stopped and used her telekinesis to float the menu and pen over to Jewel.

  “You know, I’m not going to hurt you Troll.” Jewel grinned, again trying to show that she didn’t hold any hard feelings towards the Sorceress.

  “Yeah, I know. I just, you know, um….look, I already circled what I wanted so just let me know when it gets here.” Jade said, backing out of the room and disappearing behind a corner.

  “You scared that girl something fierce, Draconis. She jumps at her own shadow now.” Lyric snickered.

  “Serves her right for what she said to you though.” Dream said, jutting her chin out.

  “I agree. She’s lucky I’m not you, Spitfire.” Rain added.

  “Yeah, but I never wanted to scare her. I just wanted her to understand how much pain I’ve endured.” Jewel shook her head. “I guess I got carried away. It’s a good thing that Galadriel was there to stop me from doing more damage, even though he almost turned into strips of bacon apparently.”

  Laughter resounded around the group.

  “I’m not sure whether I should be offended or not, Green. Are you saying that I’m somehow desirable like a yummy piece of bacon or are you comparing me to a pig?” Galadriel asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

  “Ugh. No. You know what I mean. I just didn’t mean to burn you, and you did get burned which is horrible, and I don’t think you’re a yummy piece of bacon- that’s just weird, and I don’t know about the pig thing either, because that’s strange too. But if it was one or the other, I guess I would go with the pig thing, but only because I think pigs are kind of cute, not saying that I think your cute, but ugh, that came out wrong too. Of course, your cute, but that’s not the point here.” Jewel was all but yelling at this point as her rant became more and more embarrassing. She was flustered and mortified and judging by the amused expressions on the group’s faces, they were all too happy to watch her spiral. “Oh, my gosh, come on, everyone here knows Galadriel is cute. He gets his good looks from his Mom, that’s for sure.” She said, getting a bright smile from Skye in return. “All I was trying to say is that it was a good thing that Galadriel was there to stop me from doing any more damage, but it was unfortunate that he got hurt in the process. That’s all I was trying to say.” She paused for a moment. “And at least Ambrosia was able to use the spit-dirt to help heal you.

  “Hah! See, my spit-dirt saved the day once again!” Ambrosia exclaimed.

  “Of course, it did.” Sage said in a playfully patronizing way while gently tugging on one of Ambrosia’s ebony locks that shimmered a beautiful red under the hotel’s lighting that reminded Jewel of actual sunlight.

  Ambrosia stuck her tongue out and punched his arm playfully, and Sage feigned injury by clutching the spot where she had punched and forcing a pained expression onto his face.

  Rolling her emerald eyes, Jewel turned to Galadriel, “I just wanted to say thank you again, Trickster. Thanks for keeping me from doing something I’d regret even more than I already do now, and for you know, just being there for me.”

  “Always, Green. I’ll always be there for you. You know that.” Galadriel said with a smoldering look that made Jewel’s heart stop for a moment, until she saw Frost’s icy expression, that is. He looked as though he couldn’t decide whether to leave or punch Galadriel in the face, so Jewel quickly averted her gaze from either of the boys and pretended that the menu was the most interesting piece of reading material she had ever seen.

  “Yeah, well all that is really nice, and all of us are here for you too. Unless, however, you don’t order that food soon, that is.” Ambrosia said with a smirk. “Then, all bets are off.”

  Jewel chuckled, but knew how Ambrosia got when she didn’t eat and there was no way Jewel wanted to deal with that, so Jewel perused the menu for a few moments longer, and settled on getting the salmon, rice pilaf, and a beignet. After circling it and adding a few desserts for everyone else, which of course included chocolate sauce for Rain, she said, ‘that will be all’ and magically the food appeared on the rectangular wooden table complete with dishes and silverware for everyone in the group. And it ended up being a very good thing that they hadn’t ordered anything else, because the table was completely covered- anything more and it would have spilled onto the sky-blue carpet.

  Jade eventually made her way back to the room and ate a few bites of her pasta before excusing herself once again. Jewel sighed. It had taken a long time for her and Jade to bond, and now it looked as though she was going to have to start all over again. At some point they would need to have a conversation, but for now, time was what was needed.

  The group ate and talked about how best to move forward now that Shade and Gertrude were literally ransacking every city to try and glean information as to where Jewel was. A hundred different approaches were considered, but it seemed that no one was going to be able to settle on anything, so Jewel took the reins. Winter had believed in her ability to lead, so it was time to step it up.

  “Okay, before we keep going in circles, squares, and triangles- I need to understand how Shade and Gertrude are becoming more violent, what is happening in each community, and how many are against the two of them.” Jewel stated.

  “We have been trying to gain some intel on our end without giving away who we are.” Foster began, stretching his wings behind him, his tell-tale sign that he was full.

  “Aye. And it seems that all the magical communities have pockets of individuals who are either fighting back or are in hiding. The truth has come out about Shade’s involvement with Gertrude and it has turned a lot of influential individuals away from him. They might still believe that separation of communities is key, but they won’t follow someone they deem to be unstable, which Shade obviously has become. There have even been quite a few attempts on his life, from what we gathered, but the Dispatchers and Gertrude are quite loyal and have made sure that he has been uninjured every time.” Teagan answered.

  Jewel bit her lip. “So, how have they become more violent?”

  “They’re doing mass executions, Girlie.” Ambrosia said. “Anyone who is found to have beliefs contrary to King Shade-” She sneered, “-is immediately found guilty and killed. They are also gathering up entire families and questioning them.”

  “Yeah, or just torturing them until they plead for death and will agree to just about anything.” Frost added. “There is no more court system. The Dispatchers, Shade, Gertrude and her Horde have become judge, jury, and executioner, Gem.”

  “And anyone who is thought to have or to have ever had any sympathy towards you or the mere thought of intermingling of magical races is being hunted down.” Skye said. />
  “And that’s not all, Green.” Galadriel said, a serious expression on his face. “They’re weaponizing potions now. And not just like the darts with the power suppressing potions in them. But potions that are used for the sole purpose of causing so much pain that one loses their mind or maiming a magical permanently where no amount of Vampire cream or spit-dirt can help, or even worse- killing a magical.”

  “That’s what we think Ella was trying to throw on you, Love.” Skye said hesitantly. “The potion that killed Winter…….we believe it was merely one example of the potion warfare that Shade and Gertrude have developed.”

  “And that’s not even including the spells being thrown around now. There are five that we have now learned about that basically emulate the same thing as a potion but can only be used by those with spell-casting abilities. But they are dark, Draconis. I mean, like there is no redemption for these individuals- none.” Lyric said pursing her lips.

  Jewel took a deep breath as she took everything in. “O-kay. Sounds like we’ve got our work cut out for us, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try and help where we can. What’s the status of the other Protectors, and are there any places where we could join the rebellion against Shade and Gertrude, offering our help in relative safety?”

  “The other Protectors know what’s going on, but they have their hands full with trying to protect their own communities and with trying to stay alive.” Ryker answered. “Frost, Skye, myself, and Zekiel will stay with you throughout the entirety of this process, however, and eventually someone will have to take Ella’s place.”

  “Agreed. And Jewel, just so you know, I wish I could stay here and guard you as well, but I must get back to Weatheropolis. We have a spy that has been helping us gain intel about the other side, but I don’t want her to think that we’ve abandoned the mission.” Storm explained.

  “I completely understand, and I appreciate you for coming. Wish it was under better circumstances, though.” Jewel said softly.

  “As do I.” Storm said. “But our job is not one to be taken lightly. We all knew the risks of being a Protector and I think I speak for everyone but Ella when I say that we wouldn’t have chosen things any other way.” He said, gaining nods from every Protector in the room and a smile from Skye. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must return. Skye, Frost, Zekiel, and Ryker know how to find me. There is a stronghold just outside of town that we are using as our base. If you end up needing extra hands to fight, that’s where I’ll be, and the rest of the Elementals are just itching at the opportunity to take a proverbial swing at the Dispatchers and especially at Shade, so you’ll definitely find allies.” He finished with a wink.