‘You’ll be long dead before that happens,’ said Alex, almost panicking, as Carrie was not in the dream.
‘I don’t think so,’ said Dagur, and vanished, taking Carrie along with him.
‘House can you get her back?’
Not yet, I can see her, she is not far down in one of the tunnels.
‘Protect the goblins,’ Alex told the soldiers, and ran through the cave followed by the others. House directed them on which tunnels to take as bigger creatures came at them. Alex threw his spear with such force it went through more than he could count, and Adair sent his lightning down the tunnel blasting them out of the way.
~~~~
‘You failed me, my love,’ said Dagur, still holding Carrie.
Carrie shuddered at his touch. ‘I am not your love, you creep, and it was your enchantment which failed.’
‘But you are my love, as I am yours. It does not matter what they did to you, as you can feel it growing inside,’ said Dagur, as he released her so she was facing him, and slid his hand down the side of her face.
Carrie could only feel revulsion growing inside, and in an instant she pulled out the short sword she had off James and drove it into his chest. ‘You moron, there’s only one love for me. That would never have been you, whatever enchantments you used.’
Dagur staggered backwards trying to pull the blade out. ‘That’s impossible, you must remember the enchantment . . . you cannot forget our love so quickly.’
‘You appeared as the only one I’ve ever loved, so how the hell would that make me love you?’
‘I never took on any appearance, it was just me.’ Dagur slumped to the ground.
‘All I could see was Alex, and the three nights I thought we spent together was with him and not you.’
‘No, that can’t be, he does not have that kind of power.’
‘He does over me,’ said Carrie, she felt no guilt, just relief as Alex and the others reached her.
‘My master will avenge me,’ said Dagur.
‘And who is that?’ said Alex.
‘You will find out soon enough,’ said Dagur, and fell silent.
Alex retrieved the sword and wiped it on the dead elf’s clothes. He passed it to Carrie before he put his arm around her.
The tunnels are full of them now, so you might want to get out of here, said House, as the golden spear appeared. Would you like me to do the honours?
‘Yes, please,’ said Alex.
The goblins had finished on the inside of the portal when they stepped through. Korzak said one word and the portal vanished.
James patted him on the shoulder. ‘How long were you waiting to say that?’
‘Not sure, but it felt like a long time,’ said Korzak.
Birkaz pulled on an ear. ‘And if one of them things came out first, I would have said it.’
Claire shook her head. ‘You would have trapped us in there?’
‘Sorry, my lady, but yes I would have.’ Birkaz sounded a lot gentler than he had since they first met him. ‘Wouldn’t you have made the same sacrifice for those you loved?’
‘Yes, of course I would.’
Alex nodded. ‘They would have gone straight for the mansion, we all know that.’
‘House would have brought us out anyway,’ said Carrie quietly.
‘No, my lady,’ said Birkaz, ‘not this time as it’s sealed.’
Actually I could, said House. I can take you back inside to prove it.
Birkaz raised both ears. ‘No, I’ll take your word for it.’
Korzak glanced up. ‘You can still translocate into that world?’
‘It’s lucky for us,’ said Alex, ‘the only other one who could is dead.’
‘How sure are you of that?’ James asked.
‘Not many have come out in the past that we know of.’
‘Then who’s Dagur’s master? If the time rift only just opened, it’s unlikely he’s from that world.’
‘A rift can take a long time to open,’ said Birkaz. ‘He might have had to search every time he wanted to go there.’
‘Wouldn’t there have been many more vampires out on the loose?’
Alex shrugged. ‘We have a history of monsters roaming our world . . . maybe they were not all fictional.’
‘And not always a psychic vampire,’ said Claire.
Alex nodded and turned to the goblins. ‘Do we need to keep soldiers here?’
‘No, it will not open again unless Korzak or I choose to open it,’ said Birkaz, and looked sheepish, as if he had said too much.
Alex smiled. ‘It’s a good job we trust you.’
‘They would destroy our world too,’ said Korzak, ‘and move onto the others after.’
Torgon nodded. ‘If the witches could get to our world, those things would eventually.’
‘We would never open it again,’ said Korzak, looking a little worried as Zakora appeared.
‘Brothers did you seal it?’ he asked.
‘They did,’ said Alex, ‘and we’ll be asking you a lot of questions later, but where we ask them is another thing.’
Korzak’s eyes grew big with worry. ‘I don’t understand.’
Alex put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ‘About the great change, I guess you know a lot more than us, and I believe many here would like to learn of it.’
‘I could talk for hours,’ said Birkaz. ‘I went for so long without speaking to anyone while I was in the lake.’
Korzak smiled. ‘You’re not worried we might open the portal again?’
Alex shook his head. ‘You waited for our army on your own to save your people, and Birkaz waited for so long in that lake protecting the chest until I arrived. That makes you our friends, and trusting friend’s means a lot to us.’
‘Fine speech,’ said Birkaz, ‘but will I be able to get something to eat?’
‘Then it has to be our world,’ said Torgon, ‘as I will not have the lovely Summer cooking all night.’
‘Who is Summer? And what does she cook?’
Thalion put his arm around the goblin. ‘You have not lived until you have tasted her cakes, the flavours just explode into your mouth, and you always want more.’
‘You’re an evil man, Lord Thalion.’
‘We’ll do this soon,’ said Alex. ‘What I want to know is why Carrie wasn’t in my dream when I saw Dagur?’
Birkaz wiped his nose. ‘Dreams are dreams, what does it matter?’
‘Not my dreams, I stared at Dagur when he told me he would open the portal, but Carrie wasn’t there.’
‘Maybe,’ said Zakora, ‘your dreams are much more intelligent than you realise.’
‘I don’t understand what you mean.’
‘What happened on the other world with the Lady Carrie?’
‘She was taken away by Dagur, but she ended up killing him.’
‘Would you have let her go with you if you had seen her in your dream?’
‘Not a chance.’
‘So, Lady Carrie was meant to kill him, and she was hidden from you so you could not prevent it.’
Claire raised a brow. ‘You’re so strange.’
‘Tell me about it,’ said Alex. ‘I think our goblin friends should take Birkaz home to let their kind know he’s back, and have the discussion about the other worlds tomorrow.’
Carrie felt sad, she was also angry and completely fed up. She knew that Alex loved her, but there was nothing she could do about it. An idea came to her, and she searched out Aileen. House told her she was with the other seven white witches at Briana’s cottage, and asked him to take her there.
‘What’s wrong?’ said Luella, when she appeared.
Livvy and Donna hurried to her as they could see she was upset.
‘I can’t take it anymore, I need your help,’ said Carrie, as they helped her sit down.
‘Does it have anything to do with Dagur?’ Morven asked.
‘No, my problem helped me kill him.’
‘And what is yo
ur problem?’ Daralis asked.
‘Alex of course, I love him so much and I don’t know what to do about it.’
Morven passed her a drink. ‘I’m sure he will tell you the same soon.’
‘No, he can never do that,’ said Carrie. ‘I can’t remember when I cried before I moved into the mansion, but now I just want to do it all the time.’
Luella’s eyes grew large. ‘Why can’t he tell you?’
‘If he ever says that to me I know I would say it back, I wouldn’t be able to help myself.’
Aileen rubbed her eyes. ‘What would be so bad in doing that?’
‘I can never tell him how I feel. Do you know of any spell which will stop me loving him?’
‘No,’ said Luella, ‘it’s forbidden, love is something we cannot get involved with.’
‘You would be perfect together,’ said Livvy. ‘I could call you Mama.’
‘Why can’t you tell him?’ Luella asked again.
Carrie looked up with tears in her eyes. ‘Because he will die when I do, I’ve had the dream so many times now.’
‘What dream?’
‘The one where I tell Alex I love him, and then I see his body lying there all broken.’
‘It’s just a dream,’ said Luella, sounding a lot more sensitive.
‘No it isn’t, I will be the cause of his death and I saw it today. My love for him helped me kill Dagur, and now it will kill him.’
Aileen put her arm around her. ‘We cannot do anything about your love, as much as we want.’
‘You could kill me, he would be safe then,’ said Carrie, and suddenly the room was full of pixies and fairies.
Kaeya stood on a table with hands on hips. ‘How could you ever ask a friend to do such a thing?’
‘It would save Alex’s life, is that not important to you?’
‘So is your life, we love you, too.’
‘How did your love for Alex kill Dagur?’ Luella asked.
‘He told me he appeared as himself when he enchanted me, but all I ever saw was Alex.’
‘Is that even possible?’ Briana asked.
Luella nodded. ‘Carries love for Alex overcame most of the enchantment.’
‘It didn’t stop me from trying to kill him,’ said Carrie.
‘There are different enchantments. The one he used on you wasn’t just love, but also of hate so you would kill Alex.’
‘You would sacrifice your love because of a dream?’ said Morven.
‘I would do anything to keep him safe,’ said Carrie.
Luella turned to Aileen. ‘What do you see?’
‘He is safe albeit less happy.’
‘You can see the future?’ Carrie asked.
‘I have visions now and then, and for some reason a few have been of Alex,’ said Aileen. ‘Is that the reason you wanted me to be with him?’
‘Yes, I want him to be happy, and it would give me a reason to stay away. He’s like a magnet, I have to touch him, and when I’m lonely I know I will end up in his bed. And no, nothing happens, as we have only ever kissed each other’s cheek, apart from his birthday.’
‘I don’t know what to do,’ said Luella, sounding helpless.
‘Why have neither of you said anything before?’ Livvy asked. ‘We have known about your feelings for a while.’
‘At first I thought he was some rich lord that I had no chance with, and then I sort of knew he loved me like he loves Paige,’ said Carrie. ‘When I realised it was more, I started having the dreams.’
Orlaith rubbed her eyes. ‘Then maybe your dreams are just fear of rejection.’
Carrie shook her head. ‘No it’s more, although he has never said anything to me.’
‘Maybe,’ said Donna, ‘it’s because he has too much respect to even try coming onto a gay woman.’
‘But I’m not gay,’ said Carrie, looking shocked, yes she had been in a relationship with a woman but that was for company.
‘I know, but remember our first night at the mansion when Claire said “and you’re OK with a bunch of mad lesbians in your home”?’
‘So, he thinks I am or was, but how will that help me now?’
‘Horribly,’ said Donna. ‘I’m sorry, Cas, it’ll not stop you suffering, but we’ll have to make him believe you’re gay.’
‘How are you going to do that?’
‘Just a few loose words when he’s around,’ said Livvy, with tears in her eyes.
‘That’s horrible,’ said Aileen, ‘we can’t let them suffer like this.’
‘It’ll mean he’s safe,’ said Carrie.
‘But what if Orlaith is correct and it’s just the fear of rejection?’
Carrie shook her head. ‘I won’t risk it, and I don’t believe he would reject me anymore.’
‘Does anyone else know about your dreams?’ Luella asked.
‘Just Paige and Claire.’
~~~~
The creature stood twelve-foot tall, but its horns made it look bigger. Its body was all muscle with a dark leathery skin. It had a small nose and large mouth, with sharp-pointed teeth.
‘Yes, Dagur, I will avenge you, even though you lied to me about your powers. I will feast on him and his children. I might even make him watch me do it to them first and leave him until last.’ The creature said, and picked up the dead elf by the shoulder. ‘Come, Dagur, death is not the end for you.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
Revelations
Extra tables were placed outside the Brightstone tavern as many arrived to learn of the great change. Marakus and Roscoe also joined them as they waited for their special guests to arrive. The three goblins appeared wearing fresh robes, and were given seats at the main table. Food was placed in front of Birkaz, but Korzak and Zakora declined to eat until afterwards.
Birkaz glanced around the assembled crowd. ‘Where would you like us to start?’
Joseph rubbed his chin. ‘You could start by telling us what you are.’
Birkaz raised a hairless eyebrow. ‘We’re goblins.’
‘Yes, we know that. Korzak said he’s not a wizard but can cast spells, and you can change into a sea dragon.’
‘Oh, I see, yes I am a wizard, and Korzak is more of one than he likes to admit,’ said Birkaz, in between mouthfuls. ‘Korzak as you may have noticed is of a gentler nature, Zakora is the level-headed one, and I’m the forceful one who likes to get things done.’
‘If we start from the beginning,’ said Zakora. ‘They will understand what we are.’
Birkaz washed the food down with his drink. ‘You’re much better at telling it than I am.’
Alex scratched his head. ‘I thought after all this time you wanted to talk.’
‘Listening is just as good when you’re eating.’
‘But you have finished,’ said Torgon.
‘Was that not the starter?’ said Birkaz, and more food was brought out to him.
‘Anyway,’ said Zakora, ‘we were students to the Elders, at a time when goblins were different and quite sophisticated.’
‘I have heard of the Elders, but never of sophisticated goblins,’ said Thalion, ‘current company not included of course.
‘It was before your time, and there were many intelligent goblins who only believed in peace. The Elders told all their students that our world was dying, and would have to leave. There was much confusion between us, and almost panic, but they told us of the new world and how beautiful it was. We of course thought it was your world,’ said Zakora, looking at the humans. ‘But that was not to be, as too many of your kind was coming and you breed very quickly.’
‘Alex only has to dream and he’s a father again,’ said Claire, they all looked at him, and he shrugged his shoulders.
‘There were many other races that had moved to your world as it was safer, like the pixies, pucas and gnomes, who ended up staying there.’
Fergal frowned. ‘Are you saying that gnomes were afraid?’
‘Only for the pucas,’ said Birkaz. ‘You and
the great ladies kept them safe and hidden so much that they were almost forgotten.’
Zakora continued. ‘We were learning all about the new world when an illness took our kind, and many died. The Elders had the illness too, and were dying. As we were the only three who was not affected, they passed their powers on to us. The Elders died from it and for all those who survived, madness took them, and they all became vicious savages. We were given the task of saving and watching over them.’
‘You all lived on one world together,’ said George, ‘then separated and put onto other worlds.’
‘Yes, the Dark Worlds were created early by the Ancient Ones while all the Elders still lived, and all the evil creatures were taken, which had no choice in the matter.’
James scratched his head. ‘We thought the other worlds might be connected in some way.’
‘They are, through the portals.’
‘We thought,’ said Korzak, ‘the other worlds might be one big world, but separated on one big world like Earth.’
‘Maybe,’ said Zakora, ‘but I do not know. What I do know is that the worlds are alternative realities which are connected to Earth’s sun.’
Torgon clasped his hands together. ‘How is it that the elves did not know of this?’
‘Your parents knew of it,’ said Korzak. ‘I talked to them many times, but like us they kept it secret.’
‘They never said anything.’
Zakora shook his head. ‘We never told the other goblins, all they had to know was there would be a new world. The relocation would have been hard enough for them and didn’t need any distractions.’
‘It was easy for us,’ said Thalion.
‘Yes, and your parents would have told you, but sadly they passed away before you came here. We would have told you sooner, but we became sort of enemies.’
Torgon raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re not blaming us for that, are you?’
Zakora clasped his hands together. ‘No, of course not, it was the sickness. We were given tasks by the Elders to try to save them and keep them under control, but it wasn’t enough and some still attacked you and other innocents. By the time you knew them they were not savages, but violent and always wanted to conquer.’
The Final Destiny: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Three - Fantasy Page 11