Pixie-Led (Book 2 in the Twilight Court Series)

by Amy Sumida

  “How did you know about my magic?” I asked.

  “A little bird told me,” she smiled smugly. “We've been watching you. You are the good type of fire. The type which fertilizes the land, which enriches the soil so the world can be reborn.”

  “What are you saying?” I blinked at her.

  “We must cleanse the Human Realm, Princess,” she urged. “We must lead them, show them how to respect nature again. When we made the truce, we thought the laws would be enough to protect the wild things of this world but we were wrong. The humans have bred to excess and spread further than they should. Their greed and hunger have driven them to commit atrocities against Nature. They need our help. This world needs our help. It is crying out in pain. Can't you hear it?”

  “Cailleach,” I frowned. “I've seen the result of your actions and it is destruction. Complete destruction. The mirror moths have shown me.”

  “Not complete destruction, no,” she shook her head. “I've seen the light, Princess. I've been assured that this path is the best for humanity. This will save both the world and the human race.”

  “Assured by who?” I narrowed my eyes on her. “Danu?”

  “No,” she smiled sadly. “Most of us haven't heard the Goddess' voice in a very long time. You are truly blessed.”

  “Then who's helping you?” I pushed.

  “Someone powerful, wise, and honorable enough to not only see the truth but act on the knowledge,” she said grimly. “You have had one vision, Your Highness, but he has had many. Tell me honestly, are you certain that the images shown to you are that of destruction? Could you not have misinterpreted them?”

  “No, it's hard to misinterpret scenes of war,” I grimaced. “I saw people dying, buildings crumbling, bombs exploding.”

  “But are you certain it was a bad thing?” She pressed. “Wars are often fought to bring about change. Be it in belief or behavior. Could this not have been a good war?”

  “I don't think the moths would have warned me about it, if it was a good war,” I growled.

  “Perhaps it wasn't a warning but a call to arms,” Cailleach's hand absently stroked the crow on her shoulder. “If you stood with us, we could save this world together.”

  “This is not Danu's domain,” I recalled Dylan's words and hoped they would break through to her. “You should not be interfering, even with the best of intentions. If the humans destroy the Earth, that is their responsibility and they must live with their choices... and then find a way to fix them. They need to learn that every life on this planet is connected, that their behavior is only hurting themselves. It may be a hard lesson but perhaps that's what they need in order to grow. Perhaps they really are the good fire and once they see the harm they've wrought, they'll help the world to emerge stronger than ever. They'll record their actions and pass that knowledge down to their children, so that they never repeat their mistakes. But if you simply destroy them and make them begin again, they'll have learned nothing and history will repeat itself.”

  “So you would let the wolves suffer?” She asked with horror. “The boars and the bears? The fish and the birds? The waters will run with filth and the sky will weep black tears. You would sit back and allow that to happen so they can learn their lesson?”

  “No,” I said gently. “As you said, this is my fight. I am part human and this is my realm. I intend to use the gifts I've been given to help the humans realize what they're doing before it goes to such an extreme. Let me handle this, Cailleach. You've already inspired me to find those groups of humans who are already fighting to conserve our natural treasures. With my help, their numbers and strength will grow, I know it. There are a lot of humans who agree with you, just like that man you sent to me; Mr. Anderson. I just need to find them.”

  “Wayne only cares for Bristol Bay because his family's welfare depends on it,” she scoffed. “If he lived anywhere else, he would not be so determined to stop the mine. That's how humans are, they don't care about anything unless it affects them directly and immediately.”

  “That's not true,” I denied. “Sometimes they don't care because they simply don't know. They just need someone to show them the facts, help them see what's happening to their world. There are better ways to fight the damage that's being done. We can use our magic to motivate the humans into doing great things instead of simply destroying them.”

  “You disappoint me,” she sighed deeply and her crow cawed stridently. “We thought you'd understand. He believed you would help me. You saved the imprisoned fairies... of both courts. The twilight animals crowned you their princess. The goddess herself spoke through you and commanded the sidhe to treat us as equals instead of lessers. We thought you were special.”

  “Special or not, I can help this world,” I offered. “I don't know what your plan is but please stop. Don't let that human find your staff.”

  “It's already done,” she said sadly. “While you were being pixie-led across the world of humans, I planted the staff for the chosen one to find. Now the fate of this realm is truly in the hands of the humans.” A large, silver, weapon appeared in her lap. Its dual blunt heads glowed dully in the dim room and she stroked a hand down the leather wrapped shaft. “But I will not let your weakness affect me. I will lead them for you and I will fight beside them until this world is reborn.”

  “What in the Goddess' name is that?” I gaped at the weapon.

  “My hammer,” Cailleach gripped it tight. “The human myths say that I used it to create mountain ranges but really, it has only one purpose.”

  “Which is?” I couldn't help asking.

  “To bring death,” the Blue Hag of Winter whispered, her voice fading like a cold breeze in a hot room. The crow cried and flew at me, claws extended. Midnight feathers filled my vision as the flapping of wings filled my ears. I fell back, covering my face with my hands, and when I opened my eyes, they were both gone.

  “Who do you think you are; Thor?” I yelled into the empty room.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Tiernan had come running in when he heard me shout and we'd spent the next half an hour arguing over what to do. He wanted to go back to Fairy and speak with the Fairy Council about who Cailleach's partner in crime could be. I wanted to wait for an ID on our potential president and locate the source of our problem. We both knew Uisdean had to be the fairy helping Cailleach and I didn't think there was anything the Fairy Council could do about it. We didn't have any proof and Uisdean had already denied involvement. We weren't going to get any further with him so why bother? Tiernan finally gave in, mainly because it became evident that I wouldn't.

  Dinner had arrived in the middle of the fight but it was still warm enough to eat afterwards. We did so in tense silence until I finally threw a crab rangoon at Tiernan's beautiful but pouty face. He caught the rangoon with a grimace but it slowly changed into a small smile. The rangoon got popped into his mouth and that was that. Soldiers don' need a lot of words.

  After dinner, I took the shower I'd been intending to take before Cailleach made her appearance. Tiernan would have joined me but we were still waiting for our clothes to arrive and someone had to be there to buzz the delivery guy up. They were delivered while I was showering and so I was able to slip into something clean while Tiernan washed off. Then we just laid in bed and decompressed.

  “This could go very badly, very quickly,” Tiernan whispered. “I don't like the thought of you being there when it does.”

  “If I'm not there, it will definitely go very badly,” I turned onto my side to face him. “I can't just run away from this.”

  “The humans have been notified,” Tiernan turned over too. “Once they know who has the staff, they'll be able to stop him on their own. They are very capable, as you well know.”

  “They are capable but I think I have an edge in this” I frowned. “Cailleach expected me to help her. I may be able to use that.”

  “How?” Tiernan asked.

  “I don't know but I have a
feeling that it's important for me to be a part of this,” I sighed and rolled flat on my back again.

  “Do you realize what your death would do to Fairy?” Tiernan leaned over me. “You're important to the future of our realm, Seren. And you're important to me.”

  “So I just hide?” I lifted a brow at him. “You want me to run back to Fairy and hope that everything works out fine? There are people here who I love, Tiernan.”

  “What about me?” His breath fluttered on my lips.

  “I'm not worried about you,” I said.

  “But I am worried about you,” the soft lamp light glinted in his silver irises as the skin around his eyes tightened. “Doesn't that mean anything?”

  “Yes, it means that I need to be careful,” I laid a hand to his cheek. “But I can't stop being me just because I love you.”

  “I wouldn't want you to,” he turned his face into my palm and kissed it.

  “Then what is it that you want?” I asked gently.

  “I want you to remember that you're risking more than yourself every time you encounter danger. Even when I'm not beside you, I'm still right here,” his placed his hand to my chest. “I want you to understand how powerless that makes me feel, especially when you don't allow me a say in what you do. I want you to know the torment I go through just because I love you.”

  “I do allow you a say,” I put my hand over his, holding him to my heart. “If I didn't, we wouldn't have spent all that time arguing.”

  “Fair enough,” he sighed and rolled to his back. His hand slid out of my grasp. “Maybe it just feels like I don't have a say since I never win our arguments.”

  “Sounds like a tactical error to me,” I smirked. “Don't blame your opponent for your own deficiencies.”

  “Now she says I'm deficient,” he waved his hand at the ceiling as if it could sympathize with him.

  “Oh, I'm sorry,” I slid on top of him. “Am I tormenting you again?”

  “Yes,” his hands slid down my sides slowly and he began to smile. “But what sweet torment it is.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  In the morning we were woken by an annoying buzzing. I groaned and rolled over but Tiernan was already sitting up and reaching for the bedside phone. He told the person on the other end of the line that we'd be right down, and then he turned to me.

  “No,” I held up a hand. “I need a few minutes.” I sighed and sat up. “I at least want a shower.”

  “Make it fast,” Tiernan grabbed my hand and helped me from bed. “There's a car waiting for us. I'm assuming the council has determined the identity of our human.”

  “Oh double damn,” I swore and started pulling on my clothes. “Forget the shower, let's go.”

  Except it wasn't a council car waiting for us and the driver wasn't human, it was Conri.

  “What? How?” I gaped at Conri in his slick leather jacket and worn blue jeans. Arms crossed over his chest, booted feet crossed at the ankles, he was leaning against a sleek, black Lexus like a millionaire playboy. A glamour hid his horns and dark sunglasses hid his flaming eyes but he pulled the shades down to wink at me and flash some fire.

  “Thought you could ditch me, huh?” Conri laughed as he pushed off from the car. “When King Uisdean sent word of your new plans, I used the rath to walk the Between to Gentry Tech.”

  “What about Cat?” I glared at him. “I put you in charge of her well being.”

  “She's a puka not a pussycat, Princess,” Conri rolled his eyes and opened the door for me. “She'll be fine. Ainsley is looking after her.”

  “Still not cool, Conri,” I pointed a finger at him as I slid into the passenger seat.

  Conri looked up just as Tiernan slid into the driver's seat. “Hey, what do you think you're doing?”

  “I'm driving,” Tiernan leaned across me and held his hand out for the keys.

  “I don't think so, Sir Crashes-a-lot,” Conri growled and stepped around to the driver's side. “This is a Gentry vehicle and I'm responsible for it. I'm driving.”

  “First of all, I have never crashed a car. Second, would you care to try and pull me out of this seat?” Tiernan's eyes held a hopeful gleam.

  “Could we not attract the attention of the human security guards?” I snapped. “Just get in the car, Conri. I don't like it either but the Lord of the Wild Ride over here is also the Prince of Pigheadedness.”

  “I prefer Prince of Pertinacity,” Tiernan said as he took the keys from Conri's reluctant fingers.

  “Nobody except pigheaded posers like you, know what the word pertinacity means,” Conri huffed as he strapped himself into the backseat.

  “But even a dumbass like you can figure it out from the sentence it was used in,” Tiernan retorted.

  “Does it mean asshole?” Conri snapped.

  I chuckled as Tiernan took off with a squeal of tires and a glare at Conri through the rearview mirror. Conri fell backward into his seat with a muffled curse. Within a few harrowing minutes, we arrived at the Council House. It turns out that Conri had excellent timing and we were informed that the Human Council already had a name, location, and photograph to work with.

  James Penderson; forty-six year old Republican Governor of Ohio. He'd been an underdog in the race to become the Republican nominee for President but had recently pulled ahead. Several parties, including the Republican party, were surprised by this. News reports were calling his last few days of campaigning “miraculous” and many cited how he seemed to “enchant the crowd”. He'd been in San Francisco a mere five days before our arrival.

  “Where is he now?” I asked Councilman Murdock.

  “Seattle, Washington,” Murdock said grimly.

  “A republican. Why'd he have to be a republican?” I sighed and looked over the campaign photograph of Penderson and his wife, Claire. It was definitely the man from my vision. “Are all politician's wives named Claire? It seems like they are.”

  “I think you've watched too many episodes of House of Cards,” Karmen smirked.

  “Thanks,” I grimaced back at him.

  We were in a small meeting of council people and I was glad Karmen was there. He would bring a little levity to the dire ambiance. Everyone else was strung tight enough to strum a tune from and it was making me twitchy. Conri standing like a bouncer near the door didn't help either.

  “Do we know where he's staying in Seattle?” Tiernan asked.

  “Yes... let's see,” Murdock riffled through a pile of papers in his hand. “The Hotel Andra. It's near Pike's Place, on 4th Avenue.”

  “And you said that you already have a team in place?” I looked over my own handout.

  “A team of three Extinguishers,” Murdock nodded. “They've scouted the hotel and are in possession of the campaign schedule. They'll meet your plane when you land and debrief you.”

  “It shouldn't be too hard to sneak in and steal the staff,” Tiernan nodded. “Hotels don't have the highest standards of security.”

  “But presidential candidates have their own security teams,” I added and then rethought. “Don't they?”

  “This one does,” Councilwoman Rachel Forester confirmed.

  She was seated beside Karmen and I wondered if it was due to both of them being born outside of the five Irish psychic families. All Extinguishers were descendants of the Great Five; Kavanaugh, Sloane, Teagan, Murdock, and Sullivan. But the council recruited outside the families if they found someone with big psychic talent. Which meant that both Rachel and Karmen were exceptionally gifted.

  “So we make like ninjas and sneak in,” I shrugged. “Once we get the staff, his political dreams are none of our concern. He can go back to campaigning like a normal politician.”

  “So; making grand promises he can't keep, kissing babies and asses, lying about his personal beliefs, and spending more money on clothes than any man should,” Karmen made a disgusted face. “And coming from me, that last bit says a lot.”

  “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up,” I chuck
led.

  “As long as we don't have to physically remove the staff from his hands,” Tiernan frowned. “That could be difficult.”

  “How difficult?” I asked.

  “Like parting the sea,” Tiernan grimaced.

  I sighed and glanced at Karmen.

  “Don't look at me,” Karmen huffed. “I'm way too pretty to be mistaken for Moses.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “I could use the In-Between to get into Penderson's hotel room,” I said to Tiernan as we drove to the airport.

  “Have you been in Penderson's hotel room?” He asked casually.

  “No.”

  “Does it have a proper name?” He continued.

  “How do you know all about a magic you don't have?” I pouted.

  “I may not have been born a twilight fairy but I am a member of the court,” Tiernan chided me. “I know all about my home and its fey. You can't get into that room using the In-Between.”

  “Can't I just say; James Penderson's hotel room?” I tried again.

  “The only way that would work is if the hotel had named the room; The James Penderson Suite or something like that,” Tiernan sighed.

  “I don't even know about that,” Conri added.

  “Fine,” I gave in.

  “Besides, I don't want you going in there alone,” Tiernan muttered. “What if he's in there with the slachdan?”

  “Conri could go with me,” I glanced at Conri but he shook his head.

  “I'm not risking that walk,” Conri declared with finality. “Maybe a princess would be okay but I don't want to know what would happen to me if I didn't have a clear destination in mind when I walked the Between.”

  “Good point,” Tiernan set his solemn stare on me.

  “Alright already,” I mumbled. “You can't blame a girl for wanting to use magic.”

  “We're almost to the airport, Ambassador,” our driver called back to me. “The plane is prepped and waiting and the flight should only take about two hours. You'll be there in no time at all.”