The man made my skin crawl. He was condescending and above all else, I didn’t trust him. He would betray us and kill us at his first opportunity. But we had no choice.
I ordered, “Emrys blast a hole in the wall. We make a run for the Great Oak and enter the land of the Godless. He’s coming with us, apparently.”
Neither Neil nor Emrys protested. Cian looked defiantly at Emrys as if he’d won.
I stepped so close to Cian that an outsider might think we were about to kiss. I looked up into his eyes and quietly vowed, “I will not hesitate to kill you, Cian. Do not give me reason.”
His face appeared genuine, with no smugness present as he answered, “I swear to you Morrigan, Queen of Tuatha, I will not betray you or your people. I am at your service.”
The fact was, he appeared to be telling the truth. His being so genuine unnerved me. I couldn’t tell when the man was lying.
Emrys blasted a hole into the wall behind the vampire King’s desk. He grabbed Neil and jumped out of the second story into the ally. Cian and I turned to see the vampires and werewolves leave the invisible wall and race out the door. We jumped into the alley.
“We’re gonna have company in a minute. Can you give Neil speed to keep up?” I asked Emrys.
“Done.” He said in a flick of his wrist.
The four of us raced towards the Great Oak. The streets were empty except for a few people and we no longer had our mirage. Though a few hundred vampires and werewolves barreling behind us I suppose would draw more attention than the four of us.
I was thankful Emrys had given Neil increased speed. I only hoped it would last. I was pushing myself past my own limits. I didn’t risk looking back. I didn’t need to. I could feel them close behind us.
Cian yelled between his gasps for air. “Emrys, one more favor to ask. Think you can recall what my battle gear looked like and could help a fella out now?”
Emrys boomed, “You are out of favors today but seeing as how we may need to fight our way through this, I’ll do this for us not you.”
He flung his hand and Cian was dressed as I had always remembered him. Gone were the modern clothes and shoes. He wore the strange mixture of black leather with the darkest blue fish scales. I knew the Fomoire all wore this, as an homage to the seas in which they ruled. Cian like most Fomoire had the blackest of hair and blue eyes. The coloring complimented him, and he knew it. His boots were black and lined full of knives. His long sword was fastened to his back and his whip curled onto his hip. Besides his hair being shorter and his stubble at the perfect length due to modern beard trimmers, he looked the way I remembered. Lethal.
Cian spoke as we ran. “Morrigan, you have the stone. You will need to go in first. We all need to be holding hands to enter the land of the Godless. If we break contact, even for a second, anyone other than Morrigan will be lost between realms.”
Neil tried unsuccessfully to keep the concern from his voice. “What does that mean?”
Cian’s sense of humor had returned, “I just told you dumbass. Where did you find this guy?”
“Shut up!” I ordered.
We were nearing the Great Oak. We should have been relieved to see it but our hopes were sunk in an instant. In front of the Great Oak were at least a hundred vampires. I glanced back as we ran. Though there were more vampires than werewolves, the werewolves were all behind us. They were far more deadly.
I formulated a plan. “Emrys, can you put a barrier up behind us? Cian and I will fight through the vampires to get us to the Great Oak.”
Emrys didn’t look insulted I was asking about his skill and ability. He was calculating if he could do it. “I can’t put up a wall but what I can do is create a bubble. A cage around us and the vampires in front of us with the Great Oak inside as well. I will have to focus on keeping the bubble intact. Neil, you will have to fend off any vampires that get near me while Morrigan and Cian take out the rest.”
We were getting close, this was going to have to work. Neil spoke up, “Morrigan and Cian can’t take out that many vampires. I’ve gone on dozens of missions to clear vampire nests. Two can’t defeat that many. I need to help.”
Cian spoke up, “You haven’t much faith in us have you boy?”
We were only yards away. I put as much firmness into my voice as I could. “Neil, do as you’re told. Protect Emrys. Do not let any vampires that may get past Cian and I live.”
“Morrigan you’ll die!” Neil pleaded.
My heart ached for half a beat. I didn’t know if his concern was really for me or for us all to get out of this situation. Once, I would have thought it to be because he cared about me.
Cian laughed as we slowed down and turned to me, “He’s never seen you fight has he?”
“I’ve seen her fight plenty asshole. This is a suicide mission.” Neil spat.
“Easy boys I need to focus.” Emrys said. His face held determination and calmness. I was enamored at how he was able to put himself in such a state when there was so much chaos around. He threw his hands up and electricity hit the air and sparked. A large bubble enclosed us. Emrys stayed at the farthest point away from the Great Oak, holding up the shield. Hundreds of werewolves and vampires hit it but it held. They clawed, bit and kicked at it. I knew Emrys was working hard and that this wouldn’t hold forever. The vampires in front of the Great Oak were confused but only for a moment.
I turned to Neil, “I mean it. Anything that gets past us you kill it. Emrys can’t take his focus away for a moment or we’re all dead.”
Neil’s eyes were soft as he looked into mine. A look I’d seen so many times and never took for granted. It hurt to have him look at me now. He nodded and spoke, “I promise Morrigan. I promise I will. But you…”
“Oh God…this is absolutely awful and pathetic.” Cian interrupted. “Sit back and watch how the grownups do it. She’ll be fine. She’s got me!” He shot Neil a spectacularly white toothy grin.
Neil’s eyes slanted but before he could say anything the vampires started to advance.
“OK Cian, let’s see if you have gotten rusty over the years. I was only asleep. You have been sitting around getting fat and hanging out with vampires.” I said pulling my swords.
“Red, try to keep up.” He winked.
The vampires stopped short of us. One in the center spoke. “You will pay for what you have done!”
I looked to Cian with a puzzled expression on my face. He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “These days your enemy wants to trash talk first before a battle. I blame Hollywood. I miss the days when you just went into battle. No pressure on having to match wits.”
I nodded and stifled a chuckle. Ok I didn’t stifle it but I tried.
The enraged vampires rushed us at once. I pulled upon all the magic I had and prayed to the Creator he would gift me with even more. I could feel Cian doing the same. Fomoire and Tuatha are cousins. We were created with the same strengths and skills though ours favored the land while the Fomoire favored the sea.
The vampires had speed but brought no weapons. They only had their fangs. Cian and I spread out a bit further, giving one another room. The first wave descended upon me. Not having to block swords I was surprised at how fast I was. I sliced through necks the second I had the opening. I didn’t check on Cian, I knew he would be fine.
I wasn’t having to move too much since the vampires were coming to me. I saw five rush past me towards Emrys and Neil. I knelt down and jumped as hard as I could doing a backflip landing in front of Neil and between the vampires. I took their heads and rushed back to the mass.
I heard Emrys, “Morrigan, I can’t hold it much longer. Hurry!”
I was making progress as was Cian but we weren’t half way through the vampires. There were still about fifty left.
“Cian!” I shouted. “Emrys doesn’t have long. We need to join.”
I didn’t trust Cian and joining was rarely used. Once we did, we would be bound to each other’s emotions for about a day and
completely drained of energy. Essentially we would have to rest a full day, feeling what the other felt, in the land of the Godless. I knew it was a terrible idea but we couldn’t take on two hundred more enemies, especially the wolves if the bubble failed.
Cian and I kept battling the vampires slowly making our way to one another until we were side by side.
“You ready?” He yelled.
I wasn’t. He saw the hesitation. “You are worried you will fall in love with me aren’t you Red?”
My stomach churned. He was extremely handsome and knew it. He was slimy like the black seaweed he came from.
“You’re an ass! Let’s do this.” I said as I grabbed his hand.
We pulled our magic and bound it together. Our other hands had to momentarily drop our swords and aim it at the vampires. A deep boom, like the sound barrier being broken sounded and our power shot out in front of us. The gold and blue light we created in our joining radiated into each vampire turning them to ash.
We both fell to the ground. I held Cian’s hand, mostly trying to hold onto my consciousness.
I felt Neil pick me up. I knew it was Neil by how I fit. I let my head fall against his chest. I soaked in his smell. I was awake still. But barely.
Emrys was holding the bubble walking towards us. Towards the Great Oak. Making the bubble smaller with each step, keeping us safe inside.
Emrys spoke, “Neil, get the stone out of Morrigan’s pocket. You hold her, I’ll hold your hand, and I’ll carry Cian over my shoulder. We need to step through the Great Oak quickly. I’m about to lose the shield.”
I saw Emrys throw Cian over his shoulder. The scent and warmth of Neil. Of being in his arms. Feeling that familiar comfort, I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 21
Neil gently laid Morrigan on the ground while Emrys semi-threw Cian down. He looked around the vast open area. They had emerged from a giant rock, about the size of a house. Other than that there was nothing. The ground was grey, the sky was grey, the land flat, void of life or water. The air was warm; it felt heavy and smelled of stagnant dust.
Neal spoke first, “What’s wrong with them? Are they okay?”
Emrys plopped down a few feet away, leaning up against the rock. “They’re fine. They joined their powers to take out the remaining vampires. It drained them of their energy. They’ll sleep for about a day to rejuvenate, and be fine.”
Neil sat down next to Emrys. “I had no idea she could fight like that. Or even had that kind of magic. That was amazing.”
Emrys chuckled. “There’s a lot you don’t know, Neil.”
“Who is Cian?” Neil asked, full of questions.
Emrys closed his eyes, tilting his head back. “I’m not here to catch you up on the past. I don’t particularly like you that much.”
Neil cut his eyes away. “We’re stuck here for a day with nothing to do. And I know you don’t like me. I’m sure Morrigan hates me. I couldn’t help falling in love with Riley. It happened, okay!”
Emrys sat in silence for several minutes.
Neil said, “What if the Godless come while Morrigan and Cian are out? What if—”
Emrys cleared his baritone voice, “Oh for crying out loud, you aren’t going to shut up, are you? Pray the Creator that the Godless don’t find us. We haven’t a chance at the moment. I’m exhausted, our best warriors are asleep and you are too busy trying to chat. Here’s the dummy’s version for you. Cian’s father was leader of the Fomoire. The Fomoire and Tuatha are cousins. Fomoire ruled the seas and Tuatha the land, ridding the realm of demons or any other evil creatures that would do the helpless humans harm. When Morrigan’s father was a new King, he and Cian’s father, who was King of the Fomoire, met to discuss an uprising. The humans, I’m sure at this point egged on by one of the Gods, had become fearful of the Tuatha and Fomoire. They believed that they would enslave them. There were Tuatha and Fomoire that had battled a great beast that had terrorized the island. Large sea creatures sinking boats. Massive half-animal half-human looking creatures killing the villagers. The Tuatha and Fomoire went and cleared the city of the demons. They had a great feast and celebration afterwards. The unsuspecting Tuatha and Fomoire were beheaded as the local king made a toast to them.”
Neil interjected, “That’s why you guys are suspicious of humans, isn’t it?”
Emrys nodded. “Well that was the start of it, at least. Morrigan’s father knew the humans were scared and being manipulated by the Gods. Cian’s father didn’t care why they did it, he wanted them destroyed.”
“So what happened?” Neil was leaning forward at the tale.
Emrys raised one eyebrow. “You ever hear of Atlantis?”
“No way…” Neil’s eyes bugged out.
Again, Emrys nodded. “Yes, that was the city of Atlantis. After Morrigan and Cian’s fathers parted, the Fomoire descended upon the city and with their power, sunk it right into the ocean. By the way, all the places the humans have looked is not where it was, and there wouldn’t be a trace. It was sunk all the way beneath the ocean floor. Wiped clean.”
“That was the start of them becoming enemies?” Neil asked.
“Yes.” Emrys looked saddened. “They are not meant to be enemies. The realm needs both of them. The Gods were either trying to destroy them at the same time or get them to destroy each other, and it has nearly worked.”
Emrys caught Neil up on what Druantia had told them. Neil’s shoulders slumped at the weight of it all.
“We can’t fail at this, can we?” Neil’s voice was small. It wasn’t really a question.
Emrys put his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “No, we cannot. I think the Creator has a plan, and I believe in my heart, even though the odds are drastically stacked against us, that we will prevail. We have the most powerful Fomoire warrior, the most powerful Tuatha warrior, and a King of Erin all working together to try to save the realm. But I have no doubt the cost will be high.”
Neil sat for a while taking it in. “So what happened to Cian’s father?”
Emrys shook his head. “That, I do not know. Since I was awakened I’ve never come across any Fomoire. Not a single one. I hadn’t a clue they still existed until Cian walked in.”
“Can we trust his help?” Neil asked.
Emrys’ eyes narrowed. “Cian’s father and brothers are the ones that killed Morrigan’s family. Our King, our Queen, and her three brothers. Morrigan only survived because she had just left with me to go on a quest. They thought she would be there as well. She would have been killed too.”
Neil sat in silence.
Emrys said, “King Conall was leader of the Teulu. He didn’t make it to the family in time, but he killed Cian’s brothers. Morrigan and Cian weren’t there when this happened, but every time they’ve ever met in battle they try like hell to take the other one’s head. So I guess you could say there is some bad blood between them.”
Neil shook his head.
Emrys added, “And now they’re stuck in one another’s heads for a day. Who knows, maybe Morrigan will get some answers.”
“Wait, what?” Neil perked up.
Emrys replied, “Joining is rarely done. If done improperly it can kill you. If you are lucky, like they were, you’re able to stop before your life force drains from you and you’re put into a deep sleep. Since they joined in essence, their life force, their magic, they share a bond and while sleeping they are inside one another’s minds… so to speak. It’s a dreamlike state. Whatever Cian dreams is what Morrigan is dreaming, and vice versa. Like most dreams, you cannot control them. You are a spectator.”
“That sounds intrusive,” Neil offered.
“Well of course it is, dummy,” Emrys scoffed. “Now can I please get some rest? I’m drained myself, and once they awaken tomorrow we have a bunch of Godless we have to convince to give us a sword, some magic God killing weapons, and oh yeah, hope they don’t eat us.”
Chapter 24
Morrigan lay on a white sandy beach. Th
e air was clean and salty as the sun warmed her even though the cool waves trickled over her toes. She sat up, looking at the cloudless blue sky and the bright turquoise ocean.
She knew she was in Cian’s dream. She dreaded and wondered what Cian would see in hers. Being bound like this was frustrating. It didn’t seem fair that you could never know what the other person was seeing about you. But life was rarely fair.
She looked behind her, but the details were blurry. The dream wanted her to look at the ocean. She stared at the water, appreciating the beauty and gentleness of it when she heard a child laughing. She turned to see a small boy, about five years old she guessed, giggling about fifty feet away on the beach. He was up to his ankles in the water, staring out at it. His long black hair blew behind him in the ocean breeze. Large blue eyes searched the water. Not scared, but in anticipation. A large man burst out of the water ten feet from him and he jumped. The man landed next to the boy and picked him up. The boy laughed hysterically, as only a child can.
Cian stood with the small boy now on his hip and said as he stared at the water, “Where do you think Mommy is?”
They walked up and down the beach for a few minutes and Cian sat the boy down. “I guess Mommy left us.”
A woman jumped out of the water landing on the other side of the boy as he squealed and jumped into her arms. “Mommy! Mommy! I found you!”
“Yes you did, my little shrimp,” she said, poking his bare belly. She had long black hair that shone dark blue in the sunlight. She was beautiful. Long and lean, very strong. Her heart shaped faced had chiseled cheeks and large blue eyes that matched the boy’s.
“I didn’t know Cian had a wife and son.” Morrigan said, realizing she was talking to herself. “What the fuck, it’s not like they can hear me.” She screamed, “Hey asshole what the hell happened to make you such a douchebag?”
Awakening - The Morrigan Chronicles Page 12