Unlike the element of Fire, which had given me about a minute to adjust before searing into me, the earth wanted no part of doing any such action towards me. I knew that it was waiting for me. The element was almost asking me to signal when I was ready for her power. My lower lip trembled for a moment before I finally gathered up every ounce of courage I could muster. I finally just nodded and then braced myself for the earths power to envelope me.
The tree roots immediately tightened around my body, and I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. The dirt that had looked almost beautiful now looked like the wrath of God had been unleashed in this little grove of trees. I tried to keep my eyes and lips shut, but I couldn’t. There was a force greater than I had ever felt pry my mouth and eyes open. I tried to yell in protest as my eyes were being scratched by the flying dirt which now felt like knives on my unprotected eyeballs.
I instinctively wanted to swallow, but I fought against that reaction until finally I had no choice. Dirt, leaves and roots travelled their way down my throat, and I gagged as they kept getting stuck. I don’t know how many times I almost threw up, but something always stopped me. I tried to look around to get my bearings, but it was impossible. My vision was so blurry that the only thing I could make it out was a dark brown color with flecks of green.
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on standing here. Just when I thought that though, the situation got worse. I could hear the sharp crack of something penetrate the air, and I prayed that Jeremiah had a shotgun and was going to break through the branches to save me. When I felt the terrain beneath me tremble, I realized that the sound I heard was not of a gun but the earth itself opening.
My feet plunged in first, and I screamed as an incredible heat hit my toes. I tried to stand upright but the more I fought, the more my body was being plummeted into the soil. The only good news was that the dirt had stopped flying around, and I could incredibly see things better than I ever had in my life.
Unfortunately though what I could see made me want to go back to being blind.
I was being sucked down into the hot core of the earth. I looked up at the small hole of light from the sky before the hole caved in, and I cried out in anguish. It was then the tree roots wrapped around my body started moving, and I was being twisted in a circle faster and faster. I twirled around so many times that I didn’t know which way was which anymore. Around and around I went until finally I shot back up towards the surface.
I lay on the ground completely numb. I didn’t realize that it was over at first. My body stayed tensed up because I was waiting for something else to happen. I was plagued with images of being sucked into the ground, and I started to whimper in fear. I held my head and almost ripped my hair out. The whole experience was like being buried alive only a hundred times worse.
When I felt someone kneel down next to me, I curled up into a ball and tried to move away. I didn’t even realize that it was a person. I thought it was a tree root coming back over to wrap itself up around me again.
“Willa,” someone said. “Willa, it’s me.”
I trembled at the sound. I could barely remember who I was much less who was trying to talk to me. What if it was my imagination? What if I was dead and this was a voice of an angel or demon? I tried to crawl away as that thought came over me. Demons lived underground was all I could think. This voice had to belong to some horrific creature that was going to hurt me.
I felt a hand on my arm, and I screamed. “Get away from me.”
“Willa,” the voice said again, this time more firmly. “It’s Jeremiah, Willa. I’m your cousin. I’m not going to hurt you.”
There was a part of me that began to recognize his voice, but what if it was all a big trick? Demons were clever and could trick people. I had to get away from here. I had to leave before the creature hurt me.
“Willa Cecelia McCormack,” Jeremiah said. “Open your eyes now.”
I cracked one eye open and saw not a demon, but a blonde haired man staring at me with a determined expression. I knew him, I thought. My name is Willa. I am a Gypsy-Fae princess. My parents are Cecily and Cormac. My mate is Mathias, and I have a dog named Cupcake. Jeremiah is my cousin and my friend. I could trust him.
I sat up slowly and as I looked around. I didn’t perceive that this was Patcoena at first but slowly the fog began to lift from my brain, and I also saw Holly and Forrest looking extremely concerned. My whole body began trembling as a soft breeze wafted in through the trees. After being in the warmth of the earth’s core, I was freezing.
“Here Willa,” Jeremiah said softly. He handed me a long sleeved black shirt which I immediately lunged for like a lifeline. I knew that this was Mathias’s shirt that I had picked off the floor of his bedroom the day I left. I threw it in my bag like a teenage girl who had stolen an article of clothing from her boyfriend’s before he could notice. I placed it to my face now and inhaled deeply. His spicy scent filled my nose, and my heart leaped as I thought of him.
I pulled it over my head and then looked down at my hands. All I could see and feel was dirt everywhere. I tried to wipe it off, but it stayed on stubbornly. I started scratching my scalp because I could feel the roots still wrapped all around the strands. I pulled, but the only thing that came out was hair not leaves or branches.
“Willa, stop,” Jeremiah ordered
“I have to get clean,” I said persistently. “I’m filthy. My mommy hates it when I bring dirt in the house.”
“Willa you’re not dirty and your mom’s not here,” Jeremiah said but I ignored him as I went back to scrubbing my skin
“Jeremiah, Forrest and Patcoena,” Holly said. “You need to leave. Let me help Willa.”
“But...” Jeremiah protested
“But nothing,” she said. “Get out. Christ, don’t you understand what’s going on with Willa? The earth is called Mother Earth for a reason. I think Willa has a touch of childlike fear going on right now, and she needs a woman’s touch to help her. Just imagine if your mother put you through what Willa just experienced.”
“Oh God,” Patcoena said in horror. “Of course, she has reverted back to being a child.”
“Jesus,” Jeremiah breathed in horror
“Just give us a few minutes,” Holly said. “She’ll be fine.”
“Come on fellas,” Forrest said. “If anyone can help Willa right now it will be Holly.”
“Willa,” Holly said after we were alone. “Come here sweetheart.”
I gratefully went into Holly’s arms. She muttered words of comfort, but I didn’t even hear them. The sound of her voice was all I cared about. She gently rocked me from side to side as I held on to her for dear life. I felt her rub my arms and hands in a brisk but soft motion. When she pulled me away from her I let out a small cry of protest but that was replaced with a sigh as I felt her run a comb through my hair.
“You have such beautiful hair,” she said soothingly. “Long, thick but not too thick, and the color is remarkable. Red, brown and gold strands that shine so brightly in the sun.”
“I want to go home,” I said as tears finally started falling down my face
“I know my brave girl,” Holly said. “I know you do.”
“I want Mathias,” I sobbed even harder. “Why isn’t he here? I need him.”
“Oh honey, I don’t know who Mathias is but I’m sure if he could be here he would,” Holly said. “You must be brave. I’m afraid this is something that you may have to do all by yourself.”
Holly stopped brushing my hair and wrapped her arms around me again. I could feel her light kisses in my hair, and I calmed down. I felt my shoulders drop a few minutes later as I relaxed for the first time in what felt like hours. I untangled myself from Holly’s arms and took a deep cleansing breath.
“Good, take a few more deep breaths,” she said. “Are you up to moving about or do you want to stay here a little longer?”
“I want to go,” I said. “I don’t want to stay here any longer.”
We walked out of the grove of trees and Jeremiah came right over to me. “Are you…”
“Don’t,” I said warningly. “Don’t ask me if I’m all right. I’m not. I just want to leave.”
“Do you want to go back to our home and rest?” Forrest asked, his face flooded with concern
“No,” I answered. “I want to go and finally meet a Goddamn Sprite.”
Chapter Seven
I didn’t even ask for guidance from Patcoena when I made a portal to the Air realm. I opened it with barely a conscience thought. The power that was flowing through me was unbelievable. I could feel the earth and fire elements rippling underneath my skin. I tried to calm down, but it was impossible. When we stepped through into the Air realm, I knew that everyone was sneaking glances at me, but I tried to ignore them. I desperately wished I could be alone for a few minutes, but I knew that was not going to happen anytime soon.
I tried to take in my surroundings as I followed the others. We had landed in a large field at the base of a snow-capped mountain. My father had told me that the Air realm was like the Alps on steroids, and I smiled briefly when I realized his assessment was correct. I could see mountains everywhere I looked. Some were so tall that even though it was a clear day I still couldn’t see the top. They just seemed to go on and on.
I felt like I was having some out of body experience. I was there, but I wasn’t. Absorbing the power of Earth was much more frightening and disturbing than I could have ever imagined. It was just a bizarre feeling. I went from being cocooned with warmth and gentleness to an onslaught of brutality that I had never thought possible.
I also was somewhat startled because I was beginning to see the elements as almost human in their presence. I knew if I told anyone that they were starting to feel like people to me, Patcoena and Jeremiah would probably be so alarmed that they might call Mathias. Even though, I was desperate for his touch, I still couldn’t take the risk of having him come here.
I had to buck the fuck up and get this over with as soon as possible.
I shivered as a gust of wind sliced through my body. I hugged Mathias’s shirt even tighter around me. I heard Holly say something to the men before she slowed her pace to walk beside me. We made our way together in silence through the fields that showed signs of spring peeking through with bright green growth. I waited for her to start grilling me, but she held back for a while. Finally, I turned to her and spoke.
“Thanks again Holly,” I said. “I’m sorry I lost it back there. I don’t know what happened to me, but I felt like I was five years old. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Willa you have nothing to be sorry about nor do you need to thank me,” she said. “I’m sure your mother would’ve done the same for Polly.”
“Yeah, but still you just met me,” I replied. “You and Forrest have been pretty amazing. I suppose with a daughter like Polly you’re used to rolling with the punches.”
Holly let out a sharp laugh. “I think it’s more the other way around sometimes. We haven’t exactly been what you call normal parents. When we had to leave Fairlia, we moved around so much, I’m afraid it might have left a mark on Polly.”
“I think it takes more than moving a few times to faze Polly,” I said wryly
“You are correct,” Holly said. She was quiet for a minute before lowering her voice. “Who is Mathias? I’m assuming he’s your boyfriend.”
“For you to call Mathias my boyfriend just sounds so wrong,” I laughed. “He’s more than that. He’s everything. He’s my life. I miss him so much. Nothing feels real, you know? I think it’s because he’s not here with me. I know that sounds like I’m some fawning teenage girl who can’t pick her clothes out without her boyfriend’s approval, but he’s just such a huge part of me now that I want to share everything with him, but I can’t. I have to do this on my own, and it sucks because he makes me a better person than I am sometimes. I suppose I like to think I do the same for him.”
“I’m assuming he’s a Gypsy?” Holly asked
“Well, he does have a little Gypsy in him,” I answered thoughtfully before explaining Mathias’s complicated lineage
“Mathias is a vampire?” Holly asked astonished. “That must be forbidden. I can’t imagine what both your grandmothers must think.”
“To be honest, neither one of them knows,” I said. “I think my Granny Winnie may have formed some opinions about our relationship but she doesn’t know that we are true mates.”
“You certainly don’t play by the rules Willa,” Holly said. “I love that.”
“I wasn’t aware that life was supposed to have them,” I mused before turning my attention back to the ground that had become rocky. I wasn’t surprised a minute later when I tripped over a rock hidden in the brush and landed on my face.
“Hey Grace, I thought you were going to lay off the sauce?” Jeremiah asked jokingly as he came over to offer me a hand
“Cute,” I said brushing off my clothes. “Did you learn that in grade school?”
“Actually I think my father used to say that to Julia and I whenever we tripped and fell on our asses,” Jeremiah grinned
“That makes sense,” I muttered as I thought of my big, hulking, boisterous uncle Cuddy
“Holly, do you mind if I talk to Willa alone for a second?” Jeremiah asked
“Not at all,” she answered. “I’m afraid I have to go and answer the call of nature.”
“Huh?” Jeremiah asked
“I have to urinate,” she replied before walking briskly away from us. When I saw her pull down her pants I shook my head and turned around
“I know you said don’t ask you this but are you ok?” Jeremiah said softly. “Willa, I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“Seen me like what?” I asked. “Like a candidate for the loony bin? Come on Jeremiah, you’ve seen me act much crazier.”
“Don’t try to blow off what happened,” he warned. “This is much bigger than anything I ever imagined. I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I said. “Apparently this is what I was born to do.”
“You have the power of fire and earth,” he said. “Do you need the air and water as well? I just think that you’re already powerful enough. You don’t need to do this Willa. We can leave right now and make a plan.”
“I wish it were that easy but it’s not,” I said. “Besides when have you ever known me to give up and do things half assed?”
“If anything happens to me, don’t try to avenge my death or anything. Get yourself out and when you get home tell Veronica…” Jeremiah started to say
“Nothing will happen to you Jeremiah,” I interrupted. “I will never let anything happen to you. I was thinking maybe you should leave.”
“What?” Jeremiah asked incredulously. “I’m not leaving.”
“I don’t think I need you Jeremiah and honestly the deeper we get into this, the more uneasy I feel with having you here.”
“You don’t need me?”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not what I mean. I’ve never been more grateful of your presence, but something’s coming. I can feel it in my bones. I don’t want you anywhere near me when the shit hits the fan.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he said again. I could tell by the look in his eyes that no matter what I said he wasn’t going to budge. I gave him a quick hug, and when I pulled away I heard him gasp. Instinctively I pushed him behind me and looked around for any threats.
“Are those flying rainbows?” I asked.
I had to squint as I saw several figures flying through the air towards us
“Ah,” Forrest said. “The Sprites are coming to welcome us.”
“Or kill us,” Patcoena said matter of fact
The colorful creatures that were heading towards us looked nothing like I expected. I was also a little taken aback by the fact that they seem to grasp sharp looking spears almost as big as they were. As they came closer to our little group and landed in the field I almost smiled in greeting until I noticed the ferocious scowls on their faces.
One by one they fluttered to the ground. I counted about fifty of them all together. They were small in stature, only about three feet high and their faces and wings represented the deepest red and orange colors that I had ever seen. Their colorful faces peered at us suspiciously before one of them stepped out of the circle that they had formed around us.
“Forrest, why did you bring strangers into our realm?” he asked
“Guard number one, it’s great to see you,” Forest said. “I brought some important visitors.”
“Important or not,” Guard number one said. “You have broken our trust. We do not allow the Fae or Gypsies here without an introduction from the Queen.”
“These people are here on an important quest,” Forrest said. “They must speak to your King immediately.”
A laugh went up amongst the Sprites. The only one who did not look amused was Guard number one. “You must leave now Forrest and do not ever come back with anyone again or you will not be welcome here.”
“My good man,” Patcoena started to say as he stepped forward. All of a sudden the Sprites aimed their spears at us threateningly
“You do not speak to me Fae,” Guard number one said. “Leave now before you get hurt.”
The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* Page 74