by B. J. Smash
“Gives you something to live for, doesn’t it?” I turned to see Izadora sitting on a branch in my tree. I hadn’t heard her arrive. Her happiness to see him was evident on her face, as she tried to tamp down a smile. She was proud of Drumm—of that I am sure.
“He certainly does.”
“Well, good. Because the tide is coming back, and you need to be ready,” she informed me sternly. “You have this in the bag—if you only focus. Do not give in.” She jumped in the air, transforming into an eagle, and flew back to her post.
The battle continued to rage on and was in our favor. I spotted one of the hellhounds and had to wonder if it was Lucian. There was no doubt that all the McCallisters would survive. And so it was, I turned to the sea and accepted my destiny.
***
My mouth dropped. My shoulders slouched, and I could have sat down where I stood as I saw the approaching wave. It had to be over two hundred feet tall and a mile wide, stretching from horizon to horizon. It appeared to grow even larger as it came toward us. I thought this was impossible, and yet here it was. It was coming for us. My sister had called forth a brute of a storm, and surely magic was involved with this wave.
“I’m sorry, Ivy,” I thought I heard her whimper. I could have been mistaken.
I grabbed the stone of my mother’s necklace and held tight, feeling the zing of its power. It comforted me.
“Ivy! Pay attention,” Izadora called over the wind. “It is time.”
She stood, generating big, white balls of energy in her hands. Her whole body was covered in a flowing white and blue stream. Her hair flew out to the sides, and her eyes were glowing white balls.
She lifted her hand and shot a bolt to Magella. Magella stood tall and firm, her hand outstretched. Right before the bolt hit, she sucked in a deep breath and braced herself, her feet apart. When it hit, she screamed a high-pitched wail that sounded like a witch being burned at the stake. Regardless, she remained tall, strong. Out the other hand, she sent a ball of light my way.
Before I dropped the Elven stone, absentmindedly, I kissed it.
And as the wave of jolting electricity swept my way, I held my palm out firmly, only fooling myself into thinking that I’d accept it with all the grace of a queen. I laughed hysterically at the thought. Right before it hit, I sucked in my breath as Magella had done.
Nothing, not a thing in this world, could have prepared me for that first jolt. When it hit, the surge was so incredible that I was forced to stumble toward the tree, leaning my forehead to its rough bark. It swam through my body, and some of the current exited out my other hand and sped toward Izaill.
I tried to scream, but nothing came out. I’d once been in ecstasy at a dance with the Fae. The music had been the reason. This was the exact and total opposite. Whoever said that hell was fire must have meant that the fire was electricity. The pain was like nothing I had ever felt before. It was a different sort of pain—a mind-numbing pain that consumed my body. I cringed inside, trying to escape its jolting pain. But I stood firm, lifting my forehead from the tree.
The bolt had hit Izaill, and he took it like a man. His bowler cap blasted off his head but he held firm, roaring like a lion. He threw a bolt back to Izadora, and we were all frying like bacon in a pan. I could hear the sizzling, the crackling.
Izadora’s arms went up, and Magella and Izaill followed suit, lifting their arms toward the sky. My own arms flew up on their own accord, as if following the wave, and I couldn’t have brought them down even if I tried. The invisible ceiling was intact. How long we could hold it, I couldn’t say.
When the wave hit the barrier, it slammed with such force that it sounded like a building had collapsed. Boom! Resounding over and over. The energy shield we created, creaked and groaned and whined but held steady.
I looked up and saw that the wave crashed down on the invisible ceiling, causing it to ripple. When it slammed down, it thundered overhead like a million horses. The dark water flew over us, with no end in sight.
How were we holding this monster back?
At one point I thought I heard the angels singing a glorious melody.
Blackness seemed to envelop me and then like a flash, colors formed. Every color from the rainbow passed my eyes, one at a time; little stars flickered within, mixing with the colors. I felt like my soul was being sucked through a tunnel as the colors changed from red and orange, to yellow. Then on to green, lingering at blue. Afterward came purple zipping to indigo. Then violet.
I was floating.
Before me, I could see the vast universe in all its greatness. A matrix of lines formed and at the center, a pyramid lay over the universe like a grid. And I was told a secret that was no secret at all.
“Every soul is from the same source. We are all connected.”
Sucked back to my consciousness, seeing the colors in reverse: indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and finally red. I stood before my tree, my arms raised; the surge of electricity flowed with the raw power of the elements. For a flicker of a moment, I was power. I was life. I was death. I was reborn.
I bellowed out a scream of victory. Even if I died today, it was not the end. The whole universe was teeming with life. We were not alone. I had seen things that I couldn’t explain, and things that blew my mind. Information overload.
Slowly, I came back to the now. My present situation flooded my mind. My body burned inside; my sides felt similar to being freeze-sprayed with a can of compressed gas, and then squeezed by a gorilla.
Oh my God, I was one of the four. I couldn’t hang with these three any longer; I placed my forehead to the tree and started to slide back. I was not in their caliber yet.
Today, I would be a disappointment to them all. And then…I felt hands on my back, pushing me up. Soothing hands.
“I’m here,” a voice said faintly.
Like bending a blade of steel, I slowly turned my head to see Drumm. My Drumm. He braced his feet in the earth, gritted his teeth, and pushed me up. The current seemed more bearable, the excruciating pain a little less. Subsequently, two more hands appeared on my shoulder. Angling my head to the left, I saw Zinnia. And things were just that much more bearable. I couldn’t believe she’d come to help me.
The wave continued to crash overhead, and I could see that Izaill’s shoulders hunched. He grew weary. And Magella, she could barely hold herself up. Izadora, of course still held firm. In fact, her eyes continued to glow white, and the blue and white current zipped around her at a dangerous speed.
Now Aunt Cora arrived. She must have seen the battle and had decided to return to us. She climbed upon Magella’s boat and placed her hands on her arm. Instantly, Aunt Cora’s face crinkled up in pain, but she held fast, and Magella was able to rise back up.
Minimus showed up next to Izaill. He laid a single hand on his shoulder. Izaill straightened his stance, and he was back in business.
It seemed like an eternity passed; nonetheless, the wave lessened and finally passed. We disconnected from one another as the last trickles of water came splashing down upon us. I fell to the earth and Izaill bent over to lean on his knees, huffing and puffing. Magella flopped to the deck, disappearing from view.
We were spent.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Unbeknownst to me, I had passed out for quite some time. My eyes fluttered open to see a dark blue sky filled with sparkling silver stars. A balmy breeze drifted by, carrying with it the scent of jasmine. My body sunk into the softest bed ever. My head was propped up on smooth and silky pillows.
I felt heat radiating close by—a body. Reaching out, I touched Drumm’s arm. He lay atop the fluffy covers of the bed, breathing softly as he slept.
We were in some type of tree, on a platform. The limbs hung around us, and the leaves rustled gently with the breeze.
My hair had been cleaned, smelling of flowers, and I wore a soft, silky nightgown, exposing my shoulders and arms.
When Drumm felt my touch, he woke up and lifted his head,
propping it up with his hand. A generous smile beamed on his face when he saw me. “I’ve missed you,” he said.
“You’ve no idea,” I replied. His smile melted my heart, and I reached my hand out to touch his hair. Feelings inside me stirred, my stomach full of butterflies. I forced myself up, shoving the blankets aside, and jumped on him, pinning him to the bed. “I can’t believe it’s you!” I stared at him, absorbing his features to memory. I adored him. Then I nestled my head into his neck.
He laughed and squeezed me tightly to his chest. “Me either. I never thought that battle would end.”
“I take it you won.”
“Sure as heck did. In the end, and after killing many, the Fae fighter turned and fled. They might be dumb, but they are not so dumb that they don’t know when to quit. Right now, King Alinir’s men are escorting the captured Fae back to where they came from, with a great warning to never return. Your sister also got a tongue lashing and a good warning.”
“Wow. I’m sorry I missed that.” I giggled. “I can’t believe it’s over.” Picking my head up, I said, “Where are we?”
“Just through the gateway to the land of the Elven.”
“Seriously? How long did I sleep?”
“About twenty-four hours.”
“We’re inside? Who—who broke the spell?”
“That would be Izadora. She’s the only one who had enough gusto to finish the task.” He laughed.
A steely voice could be heard a short way away. “Stop calling me ‘Izzy.’ I loathe that petty name.”
“I know. That’s why I use it,” replied Izaill.
“So, I see they are back to normal.”
“Yup. They are having tea together. Magella waits for us on the ocean.”
“Waits for us?”
“We must leave soon. Your mother would like to have a word with you first.”
“My—my mother?”
“Yup. She’s right down the hall, unless she’s relocated somewhere else.”
“Hall?” I sat up to see that we were in a tree, but the tree ran up through a balcony of sorts. The wall, several yards away, had escaped my view when I had lain in the bed. It was translucent alabaster that reminded me of clouds, and adorned with brass wall lamps. Inside the lamps were candles that burned blue and purple flames, which reflected and glimmered on the wall. We were just outside the most beautiful building imaginable. “This place is unreal.”
“We can go check it out if you’d like.” He stroked my arm.
I fell back into his arms and squeezed him again. I couldn’t get enough of him. He smelled like the woods, and his embrace filled me with feelings I never knew existed.
“I don’t want to let go of you.”
He laughed again. “I feel the same way.” He kissed me on the top of the head. “But we don’t have much time. Your mother can explain it all to you after you check out the view.”
I reluctantly let him go.
The view from the balcony which we stood at was incredible. The ostentatious palace was laid out over the hills and built into and among their gray folds.
“The whole area is part of the palace. You’re in the main building now. The city extends well out over the hills and beyond. It’s quite an extensive megalopolis.” His accent when he said “megalopolis” made me smile, and I had to stifle the laugh that bubbled in my chest.
The streets were lined with trees covered in fairy lights. Part of the city reminded me of Venice, with its waterways and canals. Wooden boats drifted from place to place. Other parts were cobblestoned pathways with flowery arbors connecting the walkways. The buildings themselves cast a white, warm, muted glow. It was surreal. Too fantastic to sink in all at once.
One massive building had four columns in the front. “What’s that place?”
Drumm put his arm around me. “That’s the Hall of All Records. It has big libraries and some technology that might surprise you.”
“This place is like another dimension—so unreal.”
Taking in the majestic layout before me, I noticed a couple of lights flying around. “What are those?”
“Oh, just pixies.”
Remembering my own pixie friend, I asked, “Where is Pladia?”
“That’s probably her, actually. She did say she would return so that you could walk her home and say good-bye.”
Good-bye? I’d grown attached to the little ball of fire. But he was right; Pladia and I would be parting ways soon.
He took my hand and held it in his, and we just observed the awesomeness of the city; now and then he’d point out a building and explain its purpose. Inevitably, a question had been eating away at me and surfaced. I asked, “Drumm? Where is Lucian?”
I must have asked with too much eagerness, for his next words shocked me. He licked his lips and bit the bottom one for a moment before saying, “He’s with his uncles at the meeting table. But before we go to see them, I have to say something.”
“Okay.” His tone made me nervous, and my pulse sped up.
“It was you that I fought for. You were always there with me.” He pointed to his heart. “And it is you that I will always love.” He faced the city, avoiding my gaze. “I realize that you may be quite fond of Lucian now. After all, you spent some time with him, and experienced some traumatic events in one another’s company.” He met my eyes now. “I am a patient man. I will wait for you to work through your feelings, to decide and to know within your heart that you and I belong together.”
I couldn’t say anything; my lips wouldn’t move.
“I’ve seen him, and when you are mentioned, his aura now burns like an ember.” He gave a long sigh. “I don’t blame him. How can I? And yet, at the same time I want to rip his innards out.” He snickered. “But I won’t, of course.”
I still couldn’t speak. I felt like a fool. My eyes welled up with tears. I loved Drumm; there was no doubt he was my soul mate. But I loved Lucian, too. Not in the same way as I loved Drumm, but how could I explain that? Couldn’t Drumm tell how much I cared for him when I held him in my arms? How could he be confused? Or was he right? Was I the confused one?
“I guess what I’m saying is, I understand if you have mixed feelings. But I know you will figure it out. And I’ll be waiting.” He kissed my cheek. “Let’s go see your mother now. She’s told me to get her as soon as you awoke.”
Chapter Forty
Princess Anah-Lilli, my mother, sat on a bench in the center of a courtyard. On either side of the walkway, fuchsia-colored flower bushes were clustered with white fairy lights. The expelled flower petals dotted the cobblestoned walkway, and it made for a breathtaking view.
She stood when she saw me. She was a beautiful woman, with cascading long, blonde hair that fell well beyond her shoulders, a perfect smile, perfect face, and big blue eyes. I half expected to see sailboats floating in her eyes, the blue was so intense. Her arms lifted, and without a second thought, I walked into them. She embraced me tightly and softly said in my ear, “After all these years, here you are.” Her speech, accented like Drumm’s, sounded like a melody.
Gripping her sapphire blue robes, I held tight. I couldn’t find my voice. This moment—this meeting—would be engraved in my heart. And I felt as though I’d known her my entire life. After all, she’d been in my dreams.
“Don’t cry, dear,” she said.
I hadn’t realized I was crying, but she was right; my cheeks were moist.
She went on to tell me how much she had missed me but had watched me grow up from afar and occasionally visited me in my dreams, sending me visions. She knew that one day we’d meet, and she told me that I’d grown into a remarkably beautiful young woman.
We spent the evening eating wonderful tarts and drinking thyme mimosas with only a splash of bubbled wine. My mother had a kind, warm heart and seemed exceptionally wise at times—and a tad psychic.
“I can read your thoughts at times. You could be a bit more positive.” She sat across from me at a mosaic
table decorated with fancy blue and green gems. She tipped her glass for a sip of her drink. “I understand the world can be negative. However, we must strive to be a light in the world.” She smiled now. “We are light elves.” She winked.
I instantly loved the Elven being sitting before me.
“Sometimes your visions freak me out,” I said bluntly. “Like the last one you sent me. I saw an Elven in a glass coffin.”
“Oh, darling. That is just my way of warning you. You could have died. Don’t ever take lightly the dreams that I present to you. If I didn’t warn you, you could go into a situation unprepared. That very well could have been you in the coffin, if you didn’t take certain precautions. And I only wanted you to be careful. You must understand I only come to your dreams in dire circumstances.”
I nodded. I understood her method of madness—warnings to be careful.
“Unfortunately, our time draws to a close. I don’t mean to alarm you, but you must head back to Merribay. Your father is not well.”
“Father,” I whispered. He’d been in my thoughts so often, even during the toughest of times. My father was my rock, and worry filled me. “Will he live?” I asked, knowing she must know the answer.
“He will, but you must leave at sunup. And one day, your father and I will meet again.” She patted my hand. “But you must make haste and get to his bedside with the vial Maximus has given you. All will be well. I’ve seen it.”
Relieved, I let out a deep and gratifying sigh.
“I see that something bothers you—the Elven boy, Drumm. He only wishes the best for you. Don’t let his concern about the two of you dissuade you. He has a generous heart and wants you to see him for who he is, and what he believes in.” She narrowed her eyes. “Jealousy can eat away at even the strongest of souls. Do you understand what I mean?”