Jewel nodded and thanked Storm again for coming, before Ryker took hold of Storm’s elbow and teleported him back to Weatheropolis. Ryker returned a few minutes later, and by that time Jewel had already formulated a plan in her mind. A plan that she hoped was fool proof. A plan to gain allies, to save her Dad, and to help the communities fight back. Now all she had to do was get everyone on board. Easy. Right?
Chapter Sixteen
Red and Orange, Orange and Red
“You can’t be serious?” Frost scowled- his signature expression more pronounced than ever.
“And I can assure you, yet again, that I am.” Jewel quipped back.
“It’s not a bad plan when you really think about it. Very strategic and hits from a lot of different angles.” Ambrosia said, receiving a glare from Frost in return. She didn’t care though. She merely looked at Jewel and smiled fangily. “Well, Girlie, seems like you finally picked up on a few things from me after all. I’m proud of you. Way to use your melon.”
“It is pretty ingenious, Draconis.” Lyric nodded.
“Gertrude and Shade will never see it coming.” Dream added.
“And even if they do, they won’t know where to begin to look for the ‘real’ us.” Sage chuckled.
“Yeah, except that she has to find Gertrude and Shade to be able to do this.” Frost fired back in frustration. “Does no one else see what a horrible idea this is? Surely someone else in the group must have retained at least a little bit of their sanity.”
“Insanity is in the eye of the sane, and the sane, at times, have nothing to gain.” Zekiel said with a flourish of his arms, the little wisps of hair fluttering back and forth with his movements.
“Here we go.” Frost rolled his eyes and threw his arm in the air with a frustrated growl. Jewel could tell even without his red aura, that he was angry. His gunmetal eyes were narrowed, and his jaw was clenched so tight that Jewel would be surprised if he didn’t chip a few teeth.
“Oh. Uh huh. Don’t do Zeke like that, Snowflake.” Rain snapped. Jewel knew she had a soft spot for Zekiel, same as Jewel, and Frost was really close to crossing a line that he probably wasn’t even aware existed.
“I’ve told you before, Princess- don’t call me that.” Frost said through gritted teeth.
“Enough.” Skye admonished. “We are here for protecting and for support. Now, I am just as open to constructive criticism as the next individual and yes, this plan is risky, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a good one. And you sir-” She said, a fire in her brown eyes and pointing a finger in Frost’s direction, “-you had better get it together and keep it together. I know why you don’t like the plan since it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you want to be the one to escort Jewel to the world of the Djinn, but too sparkling bad. Life isn’t fair and you can’t always get what you want, so stop being rude to everybody and act like the Protector that Winter chose you to be. And don’t forget that you’re the only one of us that can keep Jewel’s dad in the frozen state he’s currently in so suck it up, buttercup.” She said to Frost, effectively making his cheeks redden and his lips thin. Turning to Jewel, she added, “Now that we have that together, Love, let’s go over the plan once more. We need to make sure everyone is on the same page.” She said, casting a withering glance in Frost’s direction.
“Then I think we should have Jade here as well.” Jewel pointed out.
“Agreed. Hold that thought, Green.” Galadriel said, popping out and then popping back in within seconds and holding a very disoriented looking Jade by the elbow.
Jewel nodded. “Okay, good. We’re all here. Now- while we will end up all together again in Weatheropolis, there will be waves of this plan where all of us are separated. However, none of us will be alone at any point, which is key. The other part of the plan that’s important is the mind control I will be attempting. I’ve never done it on a scale like this, and frankly, I’m not sure it will even work, but I definitely think it’s worth a try.” She shrugged, before turning to Frost. “And I won’t need to be anywhere near Gertrude or Shade to make this plan successful, if that helps put your mind at ease. Their minions and followers will simply bring the news to them.”
“So, what exactly are you going to do, Young One?” Teagan asked.
“With Mr. Mangrove’s spellcasting help, I’m going to infiltrate the minds of those who have loyalty to either Shade or Gertrude and I’m going to plant a memory of them seeing me with a few of you. I’m hoping that once the fake memory takes hold, that their minds will fill in things like the setting and time that they supposedly saw us, because the exact same memory for everyone will definitely raise eyebrows and not in a good way. We want Gertrude and Shade to really believe that we’ve been spotted, so the goal is to have several different accounts of individuals reporting sightings in various locations. It’ll hopefully throw Shade and Gertrude off our scent and keep them occupied for a while.”
“A wild Jewel chase!” Lyric snorted.
“Ingenious.” Ambrosia stated.
“I like it, Spitfire.” Rain grinned.
“What if there is someone here at the hotel that is loyal to Shade or Gertrude. Won’t that blow our cover, Gem?” Frost asked, his eyebrow quirked up.
“Yeah, it would, so I’ll be leaving this portion of Faeville alone. Mr. Mangrove will be using a dual spell- one for locating those loyal to Gertrude and Shade and one for shielding this hotel and the surrounding area from any involvement. Now, the next portion of this will involve all of us having an important job. Ambrosia, Teagan, and Ryker will be traveling with two purposes. The first is to find those who are fighting against Shade and see if we can align ourselves with them. And the second is to find Jeric and Ellis and try and get them to join us. If we can do that, we gain an alliance with most Shapeshifters and Vampires which would be huge. When that’s completed, they’ll be traveling to Weatheropolis to meet with Storm, Lyric, Dream, Zekiel, and Skye- who will already be there at that point, helping where need be and training those that are ready and wanting to fight. Frost and Jade will be staying here at the hotel, with the sole job of protecting our new home base, and taking care of my Dad. He has to be kept frozen which only Frost can do as well as Winter, and he’ll need someone to watch his back so Jade- I’m trusting you with a lot.” Jewel said, seeing a very surprised look appear on Jade’s face.
“And your trusting this job to me?” Jade asked in disbelief.
Jewel nodded. “Yep, and I know you won’t let me down, Troll.” She said confidently. “I know it, because you are one of only two that have felt how important my Dad is to me.”
Jade nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I have.” She said, pausing for a moment, before a very determined look settled on her features. “I won’t let you down, Hybrid.”
“I know you won’t. You’re resourceful and I know you can hold your own in a fight, so I have no doubt that both Frost and my Dad are in great and very capable hands.” Jewel stated matter-of-factly before continuing. “And, well, we still need the remaining ingredients for the potion to save my Dad, and we still need allies. A lot of allies. So, Rain, Zephyr, Galadriel, Foster, Sage, and I will travel to the Djinn world to procure the water needed for the potion and hopefully make an alliance in the process.”
“Interesting choice of who’s going where, Gem.” Frost frowned, obviously disgruntled that he hadn’t been chosen to travel to the Djinn world, but Jewel needed to know her Dad was okay, and Frost was the only one who she knew could keep her Dad in his frozen state successfully.
“I don’t really see the interesting part of any of this Snowman. It’s all strategy.” Jewel said.
“Yeah, and besides- she’s in good hands. None of us will let anything happen to her.” Galadriel added.
“Good hands, huh?” Frost sneered. “Hah. Wow. Well, okay then, Mr. Good Hands. Just a word of advice though- make sure to watch yours. Okay Trickster? And remember, the rules don’t only apply to me. They apply to you to
o, because it’s only a matter of time.” He added with a smug expression as he tapped the chain of the necklace with his finger.
Galadriel immediately tensed up, and even though he tried to conceal it- Jewel had already noticed.
“What are you talking about?” Jewel asked Frost. “What rules? And what’s just a matter of time?”
“Don’t worry about it, Gem.” Frost said vaguely. “Trickster knows and that’s what counts.” He finished with a smug expression
Jewel looked at Galadriel and saw that his face held both anger and irritation, but that his eyes had almost a sadness within them. Oh, yeah- he definitely understood what Frost had insinuated, and Jewel was going to get to the bottom of it. Just not at that moment. They needed to get going, and she needed to focus on the task at hand.
“This conversation isn’t over. Not by a long shot, but we need to get the first part of this whole thing going, so Mr. Mangrove- you’re up.” Jewel said as she watched Zekiel crack his knuckles and his neck in preparation.
Zekiel went to the double doors leading to the balcony and opened them wide. Turning back towards Jewel he motioned for her to join him. “The quicker the better, don’t think, just feel.”
Jewel nodded as Zekiel lifted his head to the sky and began murmuring words that Jewel wouldn’t have been able to translate or repeat if her life depended on it. The next portion of the spell-casting was a little more understandable.
“The reality they see is not the reality that is, but spark a desire to spread the lie, so that we may have time to gain more than one ally”. Zekiel repeated more than once before turning to Jewel and nodding with a maniacal grin on his face.
Jewel wasted no time. She closed her eyes and used her mind control power to send out a memory to anyone that was loyal to Shade or Gertrude. A fake memory where they would truly believe they had seen her, Rain, Skye, Ambrosia, Sage, and Galadriel skulking around. It was simple, not too many details, but Jewel hoped it would be effective. The one’s who received this mental push would hopefully fill in things like where they had seen Jewel and her friends skulking, but again- Jewel had never tried anything like this so they would have to wait and see. She could feel the renuviants vibrating as they amped up her power, and she felt the connection to more minds than she had ever felt before.
Jewel would never admit it, but in that moment, the thought did cross her mind that it would have been all too simple to just switch her mind control power to her pain manipulation power and cripple any who were loyal to her enemies. She didn’t even have to kill them, just send them a warning on what would happen if they found themselves on the opposing side. They couldn’t be very intelligent or nice if they thought Shade was a King or that Gertrude was worthy of their loyalty.
Jewel sighed. As much as she would have liked to use her pain power, it simply wasn’t her place. And not only was it not her place, but she didn’t want to lead by fear. Besides, as she warred between what was right and what was easy, Winter’s face flashed through her mind, and she thought of how Winter believed in her goodness, how Winter believed she was a good leader, and that was the end of even entertaining such a thing. Jewel focused instead on the task at hand and proceeded to plant the fake memory throughout the magical world.
Time ceased to exist, and the only reality that remained was the pulse of power flowing from Jewel in waves and the constant vibrating from the renuviants as they lent her their own magic which amplified her own. Jewel had no idea how she would know when her magic had reached everyone it should, but she focused on one group at a time. First the Fairies in Faeville, then the Shapeshifters in Shiftsburg, then the Sorcerers in Mage City, then the Elementals in Weatheropolis, then anyone in the D.E., and finally the Vampires in Fangsborough.
When Jewel was certain that she had done all she could, she pulled back her power. She opened her eyes slowly, needing to adjust to the light, and turned to the group who had been watching her with interest for who knew how long.
“I think I reached everyone. I guess time will tell.” Jewel announced and then looking at her shoulder, added, “Thanks for your help, guys. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Your darn tootin’, you couldn’t have.” The skinniest renuviant squeaked as the four jeweled bugs let down their invisibility again.
“But we’re more than happy to help.” The smallest renuviant added.
“Always the face of diplomacy.” The largest renuviant snorted.
“Doesn’t mean it’s not true.” The renuviant with two mismatched antennae retorted.
“Well, thank you all just the same. And wow, I still feel like I’m buzzing with energy and power and well, kind of like I just drank a whole cup of marenergen.” Jewel admitted.
“Chocolate covered cherries, Spitfire. If you start running around crazy, I’m going to have to tie you down.” Rain joked.
“Uh, uh.” Jewel shook her head. “I had to deal with you doing that and vegetables flying and a whole bunch of other stuff when you drank too much of it, so you’ll just have to deal with me the same way if I end up like that.” She teased. “But I don’t think it’ll get to that point. I feel energized, but not like I can’t control it, so I think you’re safe, Raindrop.”
“Well, I think we should all get going.” Skye said, a little sadness in her voice. “There is a lot to get done, and we have no idea how much time we have to do it in.” She said, glancing around the group until her chocolate brown eyes landed on Jewel. “There will be many obstacles ahead of you, Love. But I know that you will face them and come out on top every time. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t let fear or grief rule your decisions.” She advised. “We will all be together again. Of that I have no doubt.”
Jewel felt a lump form in her throat. It was easy to joke and laugh when she wasn’t thinking of how dire the situation actually was. The reality of things came crashing down like a bucket of ice water. The group was splitting up and each had a very difficult and dangerous task ahead of them. None were completely safe, and there was always the possibility that someone might be hurt or worse in the process of reaching their intended target or goal. But no one looked as though they were afraid. A little sad, yes, but that was more from the actual separation they were facing than a feeling of true loss. Skye hugged Galadriel, making him promise her that he would be safe, and telling him how much she loved him. Ambrosia embraced Foster, making a few lighthearted jokes about him making sure he didn’t get caught and end up needing to be rescued, but Jewel could tell that Ambrosia was worried for her friend. When she released Foster, she turned to Sage. The two of them held a passionate look between them.
“You know what, I don’t even care that everyone’s in the room.” Sage stated as he pulled Ambrosia to him and kissed her as though he might not ever see her again.
Jewel felt her eyes begin to tear up. She could see both of their auras perfectly. They each had red, but there was also yellow, which showed Jewel that even the thought of separating was hurting their hearts and causing anxiety. Jewel knew she could switch the groups again, but she also knew that it wouldn’t be the best route and right now she was having to put strategy above emotion, which was becoming harder every second as she watched her friends say their goodbyes and their see you later’s.
And then there was Frost, who was staring at Jewel with an unreadable expression. Looking almost torn about something, but Jewel didn’t know what it was that he was torn about, and this was one time that she wished she could read his mind without feeling guilty for prying.
“You be safe, okay Snowman?” Jewel said.
Frost looked to Ryker, then Skye, and then Zekiel, before muttering something under his breath and running his hands through his midnight blue hair. Looking at Jewel with a determined expression, he took three long strides, and was in front of Jewel before she had a chance to understand what he was doing. He pulled her into a bear-like hug, told her to stay safe, and then released her. The whole interaction happened so fast that th
ere was no time for Jewel to process what was happening. And just like that, Frost turned his back and walked away from Jewel, and out of the room.
Jewel had always felt safe in Frost’s arms, but this wasn’t the usual embrace she had become accustomed to. More like a real goodbye with the prospect of never seeing each other again, which wasn’t something that Jewel intended to let happen. She had never admitted it to Frost and they had never talked about it, but there were feelings there that Jewel wanted the chance to explore. Maybe they could be like Sage and Ambrosia, or maybe they would just be friends, but Jewel wanted to figure it out either way.
“It’ll be okay, Hybrid.” Jade said, sensing Jewel’s disappointment. “He’s just worried, but he’ll come around.”
Not knowing what to say to that, Jewel merely nodded, and Jade excused herself, exiting the room the same way that Frost had.
“Well, I guess this is it then. Time to go.” Lyric stated, cutting through the awkward silence. “You be safe Draconis and try to stay on your feet.” She teased.
“Yeah. And out of the water if you’re not intending to go for a swim.” Dream joked.
Jewel chuckled. “I’ll do my best, but no promises.” She winked.
“Take care of our Sage, too. You know he thinks he knows everything, but he needs to realize that he’s not invincible.” Lyric said seriously.
The Council Page 25