“Wait,” Brielle said as we grew closer, “what’s our plan?”
“What’s our plan?” I asked, a little confused.
“How are we going to get Zora out of there, walk the ten miles back to the pond, and then cross into the Elf Realm?”
“I don’t know, but we have to try our best,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be midnight when we cross into the Elf Realm, right?”
“Not if we go back the way we came. The restrictions don’t affect that part of the Human Realm because of Tarlore,” Brielle explained. “It’s the only portal that never has a time limit.”
“Then that’s one good thing. Let’s just hope we can run fast enough,” I said.
“Is that all the plan you have? Really? It won’t work,” she told me.
“I know it sounds crazy, and it probably is. But I don’t have another plan. I wasn’t prepared for a return to the Human Realm, and I didn’t have time to think. Let’s just get Zora out of there and make the rest up as we go along. I have no idea what else to do,” I admitted.
“Okay. I’ll trust you. But we had better hurry,” Brielle said.
I nodded and prayed that the simple plan I had would be enough to get us through this alive.
We crept to the side of the barn, our feet rustling slightly in the grass. I held my breath as we walked. I was afraid Finn and his followers would hear us. When I could feel the hard wood of the barn, I found a small peephole and peered through it. I motioned for Brielle to come closer.
I immediately recognized the musty smell and the very faint trace of blood; I knew we had found the right barn. I couldn’t see much of anything through the darkness, but I could make out the outline of a body slumped against the wall.
“I think I see her,” I whispered to Brielle.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“No, but I’m pretty sure,” I told her.
“Say her name. See if it’s really her,” Brielle suggested.
I nodded. “Zora, is that you?” I whispered a little louder, “Zora?”
The shape moved and a small moan escaped from its mouth.
“Zora?” I repeated.
“Maybe it isn’t her,” Brielle said.
“Hush, it has to be,” I retorted. “Zora?” I repeated one last time.
“Ramsey…,” the shape whispered.
I turned to Brielle. “It’s her. I recognize her voice from the connections.”
“Well, don’t just stand here telling me. Say something back to her!” Brielle suggested, gesturing toward the barn.
I nodded and looked through the peephole. “Yes, Zora, I’m here. How can I get in there?”
I heard her cough and then moan again. “There’s only one door and Wynter is guarding it.”
I turned to Brielle. “We have to figure out a way to get in there without being heard.”
“Give me a second to think,” she said.
I waited for a few moments, then Brielle’s eyes lit up.
“What?” I asked.
“Just stand back, all right? I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before,” Brielle said.
I nodded, unsure of Brielle’s next move. She unsheathed her sword and placed the tip against the barn wall. My eyes widened as a faint glow appeared on the sword. Brielle moved the glowing sword in a door shape and then the glowing ended.
She freed the huge slab of wood and set it gently on the grass, creating a passageway into the barn. It was small and crude, but big enough for us to step through without getting cuts and splinters.
“Let’s go,” Brielle said.
“What was that?” I demanded to know.
“I’ll explain later. We don’t have time to chat. Come on,” she said.
Still baffled, I followed her and stepped into the barn. I pushed away all thoughts as I saw Zora. I ran over to her and hugged her as tenderly as I could manage.
“Thank God you are still alive,” I said.
“Just barely, it seems. We have to get out of here right now before the Element fairies hear you. They treated my wounds, but I’m still weak and dehydrated. I need to see a healer very soon.” She saw Brielle and gasped. “What is the Princess doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” I told her.
“I won’t ask again until we are safe. But then you had better explain everything to me,” she said.
“I will, I promise. As long as you start explaining things to me,” I said.
Her eyes widened, and then she nodded. “Fine, it’s a deal.”
“Can you walk? We need to get out of here now,” Brielle reminded us.
“Yes, I think so. Oh no…,” Zora groaned.
“What?”
“The oath,” she said. “I swore an oath, Ramsey. We can’t escape.”
“Can’t it be broken somehow?” I asked.
“I don’t think so….” She sighed.
“Yes, it can,” Brielle told us, giving me hope like a beacon for a ship.
“How can it be broken?” Zora wondered.
“By making a new oath to Ramsey that you won’t tell Finn,” Brielle explained.
“Sounds too easy. How do you know that?” I asked.
“How do you think I get out of the promises I make to my mother? If I didn’t break a few by promising a random stranger that I will go into the city after promising the Queen that I won’t, I would never see the light of day.”
“I’m not even going to ask,” Zora said quietly.
“I wouldn’t either,” I agreed. “But it’s proof that Brielle’s idea works.” I looked at the door where Wynter supposedly stood guard on the other side. Wondering why no one had heard us yet, I turned back to Zora, realizing I didn’t have time for questions. “Okay, Zora, make your promise,” I instructed.
Quickly, Zora said the oath. A new ball of glowing light left her and flew into me. The sensation tingled for a moment and even hurt a little, but then all was still. Zora was free. I took her hands in mine and helped her to her feet. She brushed the dirt off her ragged clothes and looked at me expectantly.
“Are we going to leave?” she asked.
“Right, let’s go,” I said.
We followed Brielle back to the makeshift doorway, but before we stepped through and out of the barn, we heard the sound of fluttering. The noise moved closer and closer until we knew fairies were right outside the main door.
“It’s them,” Zora whispered.
“We have to hurry,” Brielle said, stepping through the makeshift door.
I urged Zora forward, but she refused to move, like she was frozen in place with fear.
“Come on,” Brielle urged.
The door swung open, and our eyes locked on the entryway.
Finn stood in the doorway with Wynter and Lura by his side. A flame flickered in his palm, lighting the room. All three of them appeared shocked and livid. I reached my hand into my shoulder bag, unsheathed my dagger, and clutched it tightly. I wasn’t going to let them stop us from getting out of here. I wasn’t going to fail after coming this far. We had to escape this. Otherwise, Stellan and Addison would go to prison, and Zora, the Princess of the Elf Realm, and I would be tortured or killed. That couldn’t happen. For me, it wasn’t an option.
Using their sparkling wings, the fairies flew into the room and planted their bare feet on the ground only a few feet from us. Their beautiful faces shone in the firelight, making them glow. They appeared both mesmerizing and cruel. I could see the danger in their eyes.
“What have we got here?” Finn asked.
“It looks like Ramsey finally figured out where her sister was, Finn,” Lura said. “It’s about time you used your mind for once. However, I guess you really aren’t that bright. If you were, you wouldn’t have come here.”
“And she brought a friend,” Wynter pointed out, her tone alluring and ice cold.
Finn’s attention went to Brielle. He stepped forward to get a good look at her. I saw Brielle take a step back against the
wooden wall. Her eyes shone with panic. I saw her hand grip her sword. I hoped to God that she really knew how to use it.
“This isn’t just any friend, Wynter,” Finn yelled exuberantly. “This is Princess Brielle of Tarlore, Queen Taryn’s daughter!” Finn laughed. “What a great catch we have here!”
Wynter and Lura joined in the laugh. My entire body stiffened. They were going to kill us. I should have known, but I was too focused on finding Zora to think about the dangers of being caught. Finn walked over to Zora and me. His flame was so close it almost set my hair on fire. I shivered.
“Did you really think you could save her, Ramsey? When I told you not to come back, I meant it. Now, not only will Zora die, but so will you and your princess,” he said menacingly.
“No,” I said as confidently as I could.
“What?” he asked. He seemed surprised by my protest.
“I didn’t come all this way to watch my sister die. I won’t let you hurt her, me, or Princess Brielle.”
“How are you going to stop us?” Wynter asked from behind Finn.
“Very easily,” I told them, the corners of my lips pulling up into a sardonic smile.
“And how’s that?” Lura asked, amusement in her tone.
“With the power of an elfen holding a sword,” I said.
I nodded once.
Before the Element fairies could begin to grasp what I said, Brielle took her sword from its sheath. It gleamed in the firelight, looking sharp and commanding. With one quick move, she lunged forward and shoved it deep into Wynter’s stomach. I had to look away. The water fairy screamed in pain, and I heard her drop to the floor. Brielle pulled the sword out just as Wynter took her last breath.
“Wynter!” Lura gasped. She ran to the water fairy and crouched over her lifeless body.
Meanwhile, Brielle had backed up against the wall, shaking with sobs. A look of pure horror spread across her face.
“Brielle, snap out of it! Keep fighting!” I shouted.
“I…killed her…,” Brielle sobbed. “I…never thought….” She slumped to the floor.
Realizing Brielle was in no shape to continue, I jumped up and took out my dagger. I had to do something.
Finn, who had paid no attention to his dead companion, threw his head back and laughed, a blood-curdling sound that made me feel nauseated. Then he looked at me with eyes as red as fire, full of hatred and wickedness.
His hands grabbed my shoulders.
The hot fire he sent from them made me drop the dagger and scream in agony. The burning went right through my shirt and to my skin. I could feel my flesh ripping open, and the smell of it made me sick and dizzy with queasiness and pain. Smoke rose from my body and around the room. Finn kept his malevolent gaze fixated on me as he slowly burned me alive.
Zora started screaming, and pounded on Finn’s legs, but it didn’t do any good. Finn was too powerful, and I wasn’t strong enough to break his grip. Shocked by the pain, I could do nothing but shriek.
“Brielle, Brielle, please do something! Get up!” I screamed through the torture.
Finally, Brielle came to her senses and raised her sword, ready to strike at Finn. He removed his hands from my shoulders, which sent me dropping to the ground with a thud. I wasn’t able to hold myself up. I couldn’t even move. The throbbing was so unbearable that I could barely keep my eyes open to watch Brielle and Finn’s encounter.
Finn raised his hands in the air and sent waves of fire toward Brielle and her sword. In quick jolts, she swung the sword around to block the flames. She dashed around the room in what seemed like a great blur. Light from the fire cascaded around the walls. I was afraid the wood would catch fire. The fighting continued for a while, and I could see that Brielle was tired and breathless. Finn didn’t look the least bit fazed. But nothing changed. No one gained an opportunity to really strike.
Every flame Brielle’s sword caught caused it to increasingly glow from the heat. Brielle finally dropped the sword with a loud cry. The blade was now red hot and had started to melt out of shape. But Brielle wouldn’t back down. She jabbed in and out at the fire fairy with her fists, but he was quick and his wings gave him the ability to dodge the blows.
Meanwhile, Lura had stopped grieving over Wynter. She made a gesture with her hands that sent a giant funnel of wind to surround Brielle. It carried her up to the ceiling and twirled her around. With another gesture, the funnel disappeared and Brielle dropped to the hard floor. Her head hit the ground and she was out.
I screamed in horror and anguish as I watched blood seep around the Princess. I couldn’t let her die! I couldn’t give up this easily!
“Zora, get out of here!” I screamed.
Zora had to leave. At least one elfen had to live through this. I couldn’t and wouldn’t fail completely.
“I won’t leave you!” Zora retorted.
“Don’t argue, Zora. Just go!”
“No!”
“Zora, please, listen to me! You have to get away!” I begged.
I didn’t know if it was the certainty in my voice, or just pure luck, but Zora listened and headed toward the doorway. But she stopped when she saw what Finn was about to do next. Lura had her by the shoulders an instant later.
Satisfied with the attack on Brielle, Finn turned around and walked back to me. I ignored Zora’s cries and rose slowly to my feet. Filled with rage, I kicked Finn in the worst possible place. Human or fae, it still worked as long as they were male. The attack sent him to the ground in pain, but not before he reached his hand outward and grabbed me, trying to pull me down with him. Thankfully, he was only able to grab hold of the necklace with my name on it. He yanked it from my neck and fell to the ground. The necklace burned in his fiery palms.
Wasting no time, I picked up my dagger and staggered over to him. I raised it into the air and brought it down hard on his right shoulder; I was too weak to aim directly at his chest. He yelled with fury as I removed the dagger, preparing to strike again.
From out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lura hurtling herself toward me. I didn’t have time to react. She was on me in an instant, bringing us both to the ground. Zora rushed over, now out of Lura’s grasp. She took the dagger from my hands and pushed the sharp end into Lura’s back, making the air fairy cry out with rage and despair. As Lura’s eyes began to close, her hand flew up and sent a wave of air right into Zora. Already weak, she was no match for the air fairy’s power. She hit the wall and slumped to the floor, unable to get back up again.
I threw the now-unconscious Lura off me and looked around. Finn was slowly getting up; the fire radiating from his hands was hotter and more menacing than before. I tried to get up as well, but I didn’t have the strength. The burns on my arms sent waves of pain through my body. The effort of using the dagger and falling to the ground had taken all of my lasting strength. I gasped for breath through the pain and the putrid reek of smoke. Finn got to his feet and started walking toward me once more.
I screamed in agony both outside and inside. I did everything I could! It has to be enough! Oh God, oh God! I sobbed and screamed with everything I had. I screamed my sorrow to Zora and Brielle. I begged Finn to have mercy. I had never felt so broken and frightened. It was my worst moment, my worst feeling. My heart thundered wildly in my chest, as my last seconds passed by in a blur.
“Please,” I cried, “don’t. Please don’t kill me,” I begged, even though I knew it was no use.
“It’s too late to beg, Ramsey.” Finn said darkly. “I wanted to know your secret, but killing you will have to be good enough. It will at least put an end to everything. I will never have to worry about you again.”
His hands rose up into the air. The flames flickered from his palms, ready to end my life. I screamed one last time as the fire shot out, left his hands, and made its way onto my already burning body.
The last thing I saw before the flames struck was a large hawk flying into the room and crashing into Finn. Everything was on fire as I felt
myself fall to the ground.
Then I was gone.
~19~
Betrayal
The darkness was unbearable. It was all around me. I could see nothing. I thought death would be an escape, but it only brought on a terrible darkness I could hardly bear. It wouldn’t go away or leave me alone. It was making me crazy.
Why was it so dark? I thought Heaven was full of light. Was I even in Heaven at all?
All I could think about was Zora and how I had failed her; left her to burn as I had, the flames licking at her as they had for me…
The flames! The burning! It was still there, I realized, all over my body. Every part of me was covered in the fire, tingling like needles shoved into my skin. Oh God, I thought, I am still alive.
I could still feel.
But should I fight…or should I let go? It would be so easy to let myself slip away….But no, I couldn’t let go. Giving up wouldn’t get me into Heaven. It wouldn’t get me anywhere worthwhile. I struggled to hold on. I thought of how much Zora needed me. If she was still alive…No! I couldn’t think like that. If I wanted to live, I had to be strong and optimistic.
I focused my mind on those I loved. Maybe my memories of them would give me the strength to recover. I thought about Stellan and Addison, but they couldn’t hold me. Neither could thinking of Brielle or Aaliyah. Nothing I thought of was strong enough.
Then the Stranger’s emerald eyes came into view in my mind. I didn’t waste time wondering why he was enough to hold me again. I focused my thoughts on him. I could feel myself coming back, but slowly. I had hope inside of me once again. I just needed a few more moments.
Then his image disappeared. Thinking of him had helped, more than anyone else, but it wasn’t enough to let me open my eyes. I needed more. What else could I do?
Then I heard a voice.
“Ramsey! Ramsey, please, wake up. Ramsey, don’t die on me. Don’t leave us.”
I grabbed onto that voice. I allowed its call to pull me forward. It was my last chance to live. If I didn’t grab hold of it now, I knew there would be no other chance.
“Ramsey, Ramsey! Ramsey, come on! Come back! Open your eyes, Ramsey!”
The Elf Girl Page 32