The Blue Woods

by Nicole Maggi

  “We regained the Congo three days ago—”

  “And we’re just hearing about it now?” asked Cal.

  “That’s actually like a freaking miracle,” Bree said from behind me. “Their communication system is—shall we say—antiquated. We barely had electricity when I lived there.”

  “As I was saying,” Nerina said, raising her voice, “we still do not possess the Twin Willows and Angel Falls sites. The Concilio feels that once we possess all the ‘lesser’ sites, the Grove will be easier to reclaim.”

  “No, they should go after Friuli,” I said. “Jonah just told me their Concilio isn’t there at the moment.”

  “Yes, because they were just in the Congo,” Nerina said. “So they aren’t here either.”

  “They do have airplanes there,” Bree said. “They could’ve gotten back here by now.”

  “Unlikely.” Nerina waved her hand. “Our orders are to go in now, while they are still licking their wounds.”

  “Which is exactly what they’re expecting!”

  Nerina spun to face me. “Did you not hear me when I said our orders? This is what the Concilio has ordered us to do, and I agree with them. We go in tonight. End of discussion.”

  I backed up until I was in the only empty chair in the room. This didn’t feel right. There was a reason Jonah had been Called tonight, and not because he was on patrol, which he wasn’t. I gripped the arms of the chair.

  “It’s okay,” Heath murmured to me. He leaned over the edge of the couch toward me. “If their Concilio is there, we’ll retreat. You just make sure you look after Cal. This will be his first big battle.”

  I swallowed, my stomach a mess of tangles.

  In front of the fireplace, Nerina was talking to Bree, their heads bent close together so that none of us could hear what she was saying. I looked over at Cal, whose eyes were fixed on Bree like he was in a desert and she was a mirage. Like the way Jonah had looked at me just a few minutes ago. I forced air into my constricted throat, trying to dispel the heat and fear and nerves that gathered there.

  When Nerina was done talking to Bree, I vaulted out of my chair and grabbed Bree’s elbow. “Are you up for this?” I asked softly.

  Bree met my eyes. “My dad told me to not let his death be in vain. I might be a basket case outside of work, but trust me . . . when I’m on the job I am more than up for this.”

  “We’re all here for you,” Cal said. He’d come up behind me, and I backed away so that he and Bree could face each other. He took one of her hands into both of his, and to my surprise, Bree let him. “Whatever you need.”

  Bree cocked her head, and for a moment I saw her trademark spark return to her eyes. “What I need is for you not to get killed. Think you can do that?”

  “I’ll try.” Cal winked and let go of her hand.

  “Andiamo,” Nerina said. Everyone arranged themselves in comfortable positions, ready to transform. “In bocca al lupo.”

  “Wait.”

  We all watched Bree pull a small golden Buddha statue out of her backpack and place it on the mantel. “Shen—one of the Tibetan Clan—gave it to me. It’ll watch over us while we’re gone.”

  Nerina nodded impatiently, but Heath got to his feet and walked over to the statue. “That’s lovely, Bree. Thank you.” He took her hands in his. “I remember how all the families at the Tibetan site would watch over their bodies while the Clan was out fighting. It was . . . comforting.”

  “I sorta thought maybe we could do the same thing here,” Bree said. She looked across the room at Barb and Jenny, who stood in the doorway to the kitchen. “Like, the American version or something.”

  “It would be our honor,” Barb said, curving her arm around Jenny. With a start, I realized Lidia was standing just behind them. I met her gaze and gave her a small smile. Things were still a mess with us, but I didn’t want to go into battle so angry on the inside. From the shadows of the kitchen, Mr. Salter materialized next to Lidia. My goodwill plummeted. Why did he always have to be here? Why couldn’t he leave Lidia alone with me for once?

  Lidia pushed past Barb and came across the room to me. “In bocca al lupo, cara,” she whispered, her hand on my cheek. Her palm was warm and for an instant I let myself lean into it. “I will watch over you while you are away.”

  The Call tugged at my heart, pulled me apart. For one moment, I hovered in the air as Lidia stared up at the magnificent Falcon her daughter had become. I flew across the room and let the very tips of my wings brush her awestruck face as I passed. Barb threw the front door open for us, and I followed my Clan into the night.

  If anyone in Twin Willows had actually been out, they would have freaked out at the sight of a wolf, a catamount, an eagle, a falcon, and a stag carrying Bree on its back racing across Main Street. Not to mention a griffin, which wasn’t supposed to exist. But it was too cold for anyone to be outdoors. I felt the wind deep in my bones, felt the ice in my feathers as I winged toward my farm. The pasture lay dark and dormant, the burned-out barn like a nightmare shadow against the moonlight. We raced over the stone wall and into the woods, closing in on the birch trees that marked our place of attack.

  But as the pale gleam of the birches loomed into sight, I knew at once something was wrong. Their bark was too silver, too brilliant, too much like the glow of the Malandanti’s aura.

  I opened my mind to find Jonah. The instant I did, his voice ricocheted in my head. Get out of here! You’re outnumbered!

  Nerina! Jonah says—

  But before I could finish the thought, an unholy sound ripped through the forest. Out of the copse rose a silver figure, its huge scaly wings beating so hard that one of the trees was flattened. I stopped in midair, my heart plummeting as the thing shot upward, high enough that we could all see its form, black and silver against the night sky. A Dragon, its scales shimmering like multicolored fractals, its jaws opening wide.

  Get back! Nerina screamed.

  A stream of fire roared out from the Dragon’s mouth, scorching the trees just beneath, just missing Cal, who in typical fashion had raced ahead of the rest of the Clan. He stumbled out of sight into some brush. Cal! Are you okay? I called to him.

  Yes. Just a little singed—

  Retreat. RETREAT! Nerina ordered. We all fell back on her command just as the Dragon let loose another jet of fire. I dodged up and away, following the Clan as we raced back to the farm.

  A freaking Dragon? Bree gasped. Are you kidding me? Far below me, she clung to the Stag’s neck as he rocketed over a fallen log.

  He’s the head of the Concilio Argento, Heath said. Their Concilio turn into mythical creatures just like ours.

  We have one too—Dario turns into a Dragon—

  Who the hell cares? What are we going to do? The Dragon was still chasing us over the treetops. Cora kept pace with me as we swerved this way and that, trying to shake it off. I told you they’d be here—

  Nerina ignored my dig at her. We have to retreat until we know it’s gone—

  It’ll track us right back to my house, Jeff said. We need to throw it off.

  But as we crossed over the stone wall that marked the edge of my farm, an unearthly glow came over the pasture. Hundreds of Malandanti in all shapes crested the hill, swarming the ground like a plague of locusts. Jesus, Heath breathed.

  I thought I destroyed all of them! Bree said.

  These must be the last ones left—

  But what the hell are they doing here?

  Nerina didn’t answer, probably because she didn’t know the answer. It didn’t matter what the hell they were doing here—the fact was that they were here and we had to deal with them. We couldn’t retreat; there were too many of them, spread out across the whole length of the farm. I whirled to look back at the forest. The Dragon hovered over the treetops, daring us to face him. And out of the woods below, another figure shot up to join the Dragon: the Harpy’s ebony wings beat in rhythm with the Dragon’s.

  An army of Malandanti in on
e direction. The Concilio in the other.

  We were trapped.

  Nerina faced us. Bree, you deal with the fake Malandanti. Jeff, Cal, and Heath, get to the Waterfall and see what we’re up against there. Alessia and Cora, you’re with me. She didn’t have to say what she wanted us to do. We were the winged creatures of the Clan. The only ones who could take on the Dragon and the Harpy.

  No one had to be given their orders twice. Cal, Heath, and Jeff raced back over the stone wall, their bright blue auras disappearing into the woods. Bree cloaked herself in shadows, swallowed up by the night. Cora, Nerina, and I soared toward the Dragon and the Harpy. Watch out for the fire, Nerina warned.

  No shit! Cora said.

  He has a tell, Nerina said. The Dragon rose higher. He sliced his huge serpentine head to the left, then to the right. There. Did you see it? He shakes his head once. Then—

  A wall of fire lit up the sky, blasting us backward. Look for that, Nerina said. You two go low. I’ll go high.

  Cora and I dipped low, bursting through the fire just as it fizzled out into the air. As we wove in and out of the trees, little balls of silvery auras appeared all around us. The winged fake Malandanti surrounded us on every side. My heart stuck in my throat as the silver auras multiplied. This was not good. This was not going to end well . . . Come on, Bree . . .

  We veered up behind the Dragon and the Harpy as Nerina dove toward them. A dozen Malandanti shot up after us, nipping at my feathers. I struck my talons out, catching one across the nose. It tumbled away toward the earth, its aura fracturing like shards of lightning. Two more took its place, trying to catch me. I swerved back and forth, flying blind, my eyes fixed on their beaks and claws . . .

  Alessia, watch out!

  They just keep coming! I can’t shake them off!

  No, above you!

  I swiveled my gaze away from the Malandanti and met the cold black eyes of the Dragon. I’d flown too close to it in my attempt to get away from the fake Malandanti. The Dragon shook its head left, right . . . I dove just as it opened its huge mouth and exhaled a stream of fire that caught my tail feathers. I plummeted to the ground, my body a ball of fire and smoke, excruciating heat climbing up up up as I went down down down.

  I hit a patch of snow, and the coolness washed over me like a baptism. Alessia! Cora yelled in my head. Answer me!

  I’m okay, I’m okay.

  They’re right above you.

  Got it. I zoomed up, bits of snow raining from my feathers. Just above the trees, the Harpy met me. She stretched out a talon, but I dove beneath her and then shot back up, right into her underside. She screeched as my beak bit into her belly. I slashed her again and again before diving out of her reach.

  The Harpy fell back, tumbling down into the forest below. Cora and Nerina faced off with the Dragon. I soared over to help them, but Nerina stopped me. We’ll hold him off. Fly around the perimeter. Tell me what’s happening.

  I climbed in the air to get a better view of the scene, high enough so that I could see the entire Waterfall site and the surrounding woods. It was beyond anything I ever could have imagined. There were just too many of them. I scanned the circle of the Waterfall. Cal, Heath, and Jeff were holding their own against the Malandanti Clan. Inside the barrier, Jonah stood rigid, watching the fight. I forced myself not to open my mind to him. I could not be distracted right now.

  As I worked my way out into the forest, an itchy feeling started in my gut. Why weren’t the fake Malandanti at the Waterfall, fighting with the real Clan? Why were they staying just outside, in the woods?

  I spiraled outward, my eyes sharp on the ground below. Deep in the brush, I spotted seven dog-like shapes, slinking low and quiet along the ground in a close-knit pack. I would’ve missed them, so stealthy were they, save for the telltale silvery glow that encircled each of them. You guys, I said, there’s a bunch of Malandanti Dogs in the woods.

  Are they real or fake? asked Jeff.

  Dropping a foot to get a closer look, I peered at their auras. They look real. Not fractured like the other ones.

  One of the Dogs raised its head and sniffed. I dodged behind a thick pine tree, hoping its scent was enough to cover my own. The Dog put its nose back down. A moment later, the seven Dogs broke apart from each other and fanned out. They’re surrounding the entire perimeter, I told the Clan.

  Holy shit, Jeff said. It’s the Wild Dogs from the Congo Clan.

  What? Why aren’t they in Africa? Cal asked.

  They don’t need to be, Nerina said, not since we retook the site. I looked back at her. She and Cora zoomed around the Dragon in circles, disorienting it. Alessia, stay up there and track their movements. They are extremely cunning hunters, so stay alert.

  I fluttered from treetop to treetop, using branches and pine to cover me. Though the Wild Dogs were now several feet apart from each other, they moved in absolute unison, closing in on their prey with an almost beautiful precision. If Cal, Heath, or Jeff were to leave the Waterfall now, they would be pounced upon by one of the Dogs.

  I couldn’t just sit there, perched on a branch that towered above everything. I launched myself into a dive, right at the Dog near the birch trees. My talons were deep in its haunches before it even knew I was coming. The Dog yelped and snapped its jaws at me, but I twisted every which way to inflict as much damage as I could. With a powerful push, I shot several feet in the air. The Dog leapt up after me just as I dove again. There was no way on earth or anywhere else that Dog could ever hope to catch me. When it landed back on the ground, I heard one of its hind legs snap.

  Whimpering, the Dog dragged itself into the brush, its aura sizzling from the injury. I rose back into the air. The other Dogs were still in place; they hadn’t even moved an inch to help their fellow Clan member. They obviously had their orders. But now there was a hole in their ranks, a window through which one of my Clan could pass.

  A cry of fear and triumph, of inhuman effort and sorrow, tore through my mind. With a force that shook the trees, a blast of light exploded over the Waterfall, rippling out all the way to my farm. One by one, the fake Malandanti disappeared, each of their artificial auras dissolving into the ether. I paused in midair to watch it, saying a prayer as each light went out. Far away across the world, people were mourning over the bodies of their fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters and friends. It was disgusting what the Malandanti had done, and I was glad to see those souls finally at rest.

  A figure tumbled out of the window I’d created in the forest and came to rest against one of the birch trees. I floated down. When I got close enough, Bree raised her head. Tear tracks ran down her cheeks. I landed on her shoulder. She buried her face in my feathers and sobbed.

  You did the right thing, Bree. You brought those people peace.

  I still killed them. Just like I killed—

  I pushed against her. No. You didn’t kill them. The Malandanti did that. What you did was . . . extraordinary.

  Bree snorted in that totally Bree-like way. I have to go help Nerina, I said and lifted off her. You stay here and rest until we need you again.

  I soared upward, wind whistling through my feathers. I still didn’t think we would reclaim the site tonight, but now with the elimination of all those Malandanti, we would at least get out of there alive. I set my sights on the Dragon above me, climbing the air toward Nerina and Cora. Just before I reached them, the Dragon spotted me. He flicked his long spiky tail, nearly catching me. My wings faltered, and I tumbled down several feet before I could right myself. As I did, something on the ground below stopped my blood in my veins.

  Cal had drawn the Malandante Coyote out toward the birch trees. But before he could get back to the Waterfall, the Wild Dogs closed in, and Cal’s golden fur disappeared from my view.

  I plunged down and down, but suddenly the Dragon was there, blocking me, hurling fiery blasts at me. I dodged over and under each breath, trying to see what was happening on the ground below. Cal! Cal!


  He didn’t answer. I could hear his panting in my mind as he fought the Dogs off. God, he wasn’t ready for this kind of battle . . . I hadn’t trained him well enough. And now he was going to get hurt—or worse—again because I’d failed him.

  With a burst of angry speed, I shot around the Dragon and zoomed down. I latched my talons into the back of one of the Dogs. It yelped and twisted away, revealing Cal’s battered form beneath its paws. He bucked off one of the other Dogs. His head rose above the fray, and he gasped for air. I dove in to claw at the Dog closest to Cal’s throat. At the last moment, the Dog turned its head. With one snap of its sharp, saliva-dripping jaws, it caught me in its mouth.

  Pain sliced through me. I screeched, thrashing in the Dog’s mouth, but its teeth bit into my flesh. Warm blood spilled over my feathers. My heartbeat filled my ears, fast, shallow, and desperate. I tried to scream, tried to cry for help, but the pain clouded everything. I fought for each breath, every tiny bit of air that would give me just one more second to cling to life . . .

  In a last feeble attempt, I reached out across the Clans . . . Jonah? . . . but it was nothing more than a whisper. Dimly I heard Cal yelling for help . . . a glimpse of white fur flashed by me . . . Heath, always Heath to my rescue . . . I opened my eyes and saw myself surrounded by blue light . . . At least the last thing I’ll ever see is Benandante blue, I thought. Then silver streaked across the blue . . . there was a yowl, a crash like lightning. The world shut down around me, and all I saw was black.

  Chapter Nineteen

  One Step onto the Path of Redemption

  Bree

  If someone had told me six months ago that in half a year I’d be battling a Dragon and shooting magic at it that I’d learned from ancient books written on bark, I would’ve asked them what they were smoking and could I please have some. Because you’d obviously have had to be really high to predict that.

  Yet somehow that was what my life had become. I twisted cords of red smoke around the Dragon, trying to weaken him enough to shoot him out of time and space. He breathed a long lick of fire at me. I blocked the fire and turned it into smoke, shot it back at him to cloud his vision. He screamed in frustration. Oh, sure, I got it. Some little bitch who was no bigger than his tail comes along and thinks she can take on a Dragon. I’d want to fry me to a crisp too, if I were him.