by Kali Harper
He had power before, but this? The Celestials were meant to protect and survey the city, not attack those trying to do good.
But these aren’t Celestials, I reminded myself. In fact, the Celestials probably didn’t even exist. If what Caleb said was true about Richard pushing others out of Fairmount, maybe he sent the Celestials away as well.
But then who was this guy? If he had control over the witch hunters, he couldn’t have been one of us, could he?
“Focus, Astrid,” Sammy’s voice rang out in the back of my mind, sounding a lot closer than before.
Deciding I’d found a stronger signal like cells with a cell tower, I took his advice and put every thought I had toward the creature, its large feathers, and how each one was a different entity. It was a lot harder than I liked, so I imagined placing a shield around the entire thing, and it worked!
Broomstick or not, the spell actually worked and did what I asked, stopping the beast short of grasping me in its talons. It screeched at me, its white eyes vacant as it tried to escape my spell.
The dark specks from before returned. The woods, the beast, and the open fields spun around me in wide circles, almost knocking me off my feet as I tried to keep track of whatever direction I was facing. Seeing a rock in the distance, I kept it as my main focus along with the creature, tracking its position to keep from passing out.
It worked, but only for a little while. With my mind completely fried, I held my arm in front of me. Then, knowing Darby had done as I asked, I lowered it and fell to my hands and knees, my breath coming out in ragged gasps. The end I expected to find never happened.
The creature cried out again, and as I lifted my gaze, Lance and Sammy both stood in front of me, shielding all three of us.
“How did you—”
“Later,” Lance said, removing a trinket from inside his pocket.
The tiny emblem glowed a bright blue as a shield—his or Sammy’s I couldn’t be sure—expanded around us. It reached as far as the woods Darby and I had flown out of, and as it did, the ward fell in on itself, turning at the creature as it got smaller and smaller.
Trapped inside an invisible bubble, the bird shrunk to the size of a tiny gem before the amulet sucked it back up.
Not so long ago, Lance told me how he could shield himself in life or death situations. However, he never said anything about using wards to protect someone else.
I was about to ask why when the creature vanished, the trinket in his hand going white before dropping to the ground. Sammy hissed at the inanimate object, emanating a very low growl as Lance scooped it up in his hands, depositing it into a cloth bag before shoving it back in his pocket.
With the threat neutralized, Sammy took his place by my side, pawing my hand as I closed my eyes and took my first breath in what felt like forever. “Darby…” I coughed to force the air from my lungs, every breath burning like fire. “She—”
“She’s okay, thanks to you,” Lance said, kneeling beside me before presenting me with a small vial of blue liquid. “Drink this. It’ll help.”
“A mana potion?” I laughed at the small joke.
Lance smiled then, his eyes bright. “It’ll help with the magic drain, but you probably shouldn’t cast any spells for a few days.”
“Does it ever get any easier?” I asked him, drinking half of the thick syrup before handing it back to him. The liquid was disgustingly sweet, but soon, the dizzy spell dissipated enough for me to sit down without the possibility of losing my breakfast.
“You’ll learn your limits,” Sammy purred, nuzzling my arm as he did.
“I know my limits,” I told him, stroking his fur, “but I can’t help it if I’m being chased.”
“Care to explain where that thing came from?” Lance asked, taking on his more common role as detective. “Sammy said something about Richard?”
“Oh no! Laura. We have to go.”
Lance stopped me before I could stand up. “Not yet you don’t. Take a few breaths.”
“No, you don’t understand. He’s been pushing folks out of Fairmount ever since his term started.”
“That’s one heck of an accusation, Astrid.”
“It’s true. Caleb told me.”
“The old Oswald’s kid? Astrid, come on. You know he can’t be trusted.”
“According to everyone else maybe, but he was extremely kind to us. When I mentioned Morpheus’ banishment—”
“You told him?”
I held up my hand and continued. “Will you let me finish? Caleb said no one ever leaves Fairmount unless they’re asked to. What if Richard asked Morpheus to leave, then banished him when he refused?”
“The mayor of Fairmount? Are you crazy? Richard’s run Fairmount for years.”
“And he’s been forcing folks to leave for just as long,” I said.
“Accusations like this could relieve you of your magic for good,” Lance said. “Questioning the mayor of Fairmount is unheard of. If you question him, you question the Celestials, and they’re the most powerful beings we have.”
“Where do you think that thing came from? There are no Celestials, Lance. They’ve been replaced!”
“Your magic’s going to your head,” he warned me, getting to his feet.
“Funny seeing as I don’t have all of it.” I stood and wobbled a bit, but I didn’t fall. “Think what you want, but I know what I saw. He summoned those, those… things and sent them after us.”
“Why would Richard work with hunters?” Lance asked, clearly not convinced.
“I don’t know!” And I was starting to realize Lance wasn’t going to help. “Forget it. I’m going home. Come on, Sammy.”
“Astrid, wait.”
Whatever he had to say, I didn’t hear it because I’d already gone, walking through a portal Sammy opened for me on the side of a tree. I didn’t care how he did it, where he’d come from, or where we’d end up. So long as it isn’t here.
Okay, going right to the mayor’s office wasn’t what I had in mind, but it’s exactly where we ended up. The office itself was empty, and it was nearly dusk. If Richard wasn’t here, he would be soon. I didn’t know how he’d sided with the hunters or where the Celestials had gone, but I had a feeling we wouldn’t find any answers in his office.
“The gargoyles,” Sammy said, padding over to one of the pedestals before pushing it with his paws. The platform shook, nearly dropping one of the statues to the floor.
“Sammy, don’t do that.” I corrected the statue and turned away when he did it again. This time, I was a second too late and the sculpture fell to the floor, its head breaking from its shoulders. Sammy did it to another one, and another, and another, until all the gargoyles were broken in half, their pieces littered across the floor. “And the point of that was…?”
“Just wait.” He puffed out his chest, and as I folded my arms in front of me, a soft breeze filled the room. In a flash of light, blue spectrals appeared in front of us, dimmed, then vanished completely.
“Sammy, were those—”
“The Celestials Lance told you about,” Sammy said with a nod. “I thought something was off when we came in here before, but I couldn’t place it and I couldn’t investigate with the mayor around.”
“And you never thought to tell me?” If his portal brought us here, why hadn’t he done it before?
He jumped onto the desk in front of me and knocked everything to the floor. “I’d thought of telling you, but your projections would’ve blown our cover. Which, I might add, was a very good idea.”
“Good thinking. I’m sorry I left you on guard duty with Izzy.”
“I was never far away,” he purred, his ears swiveling toward the door to Richard’s office as heavy footfalls came from the other side. “He’s here.”
Looking around the room for a place to hide, I realized the only thing I could do was huddle under the desk. I sat behind it instead, trying to remain calm as the golden doorknob turned, then clicked. Sammy stood in front of
me, no doubt holding whatever wards he could in place as the Celestials watched over us.
Even though they’d vanished as soon as they arrived, the air around me warmed, assuring me they were still there.
“You,” Richard said, pointing at me as he quickly closed the door to his office. “I sent you away.”
“Chased me away,” I corrected him, “but I suppose that’s what you do to everyone who questions you, isn’t it? Is that why you banished Morpheus? Because he refused to leave and challenged your authority? Such a small, insecure man. You had all the power, and instead of helping a city we all love, you dismantled it.”
“Watch what you say. We don’t know if there’s anything else hiding in here with him,” Sammy warned, holding his ground as he stood on the desk.
“The city’s corrupt and needs a fresh start, though I suppose I could take care of you, first.”
“You mean like the fresh start Laura should’ve had?”
“Don’t you question my loyalties. I tried to reverse what had happened to her. I begged Morpheus to give her magic back.”
“But he wouldn’t do it because he knew you had another agenda.” Laura’s earlier comment was starting to make sense. “Using your own mother to get your way? I never knew a child could run for mayor. Do you need her to change your diapers as well?”
“Enough!” he cried out, waving his arm in front of him as the room sparked around us.
My heart beat slowed and almost stopped completely as Richard changed the fabric of time. I wondered then if he could reverse it, but if he could, it never happened. As soon as he closed the distance between us, the Celestials made themselves known, casting a web around him and holding him in place until Lance arrived.
He took longer than I’d expected, but then, he didn’t have Sammy or the portal we’d used to get here.
“Celestials?” Lance asked with disbelief as the Celestials came back into focus.
“We were imprisoned,” one of them said, his voice echoing off the walls, “but are now free, thanks to you.” His last words were directed at Sammy who was as frozen as I was.
“Imprisoned? How?” Lance asked him, keeping a cautious eye on Richard as he struggled to break free.
“A trick,” another said, “a terrible trick.”
“It was a trap, and we walked right into it,” said another.
“So this entire time, you’ve let hunters roam the streets?” Lance glared at Richard. “Why? What unholy reason did you have for siding with such things?”
“Because life isn’t fair. My mother never should’ve lost her magic like that,” Richard replied.
“And you thought removing the Celestials would let you have your way?”
“No, I thought getting rid of Morpheus would. She was against this from the beginning, but have you seen her? Her lack of magic’s killing her. I had to do something!”
Lance shook his head and removed the trinket from his pocket. Looking to one of the Celestials, he said, “He may deserve a fair trial, but these do not. Do with them what you will, so long as they aren’t free to hunt the younger generations of our kind.”
The head Celestial took the trinket and closed a hand around it. When he opened his hand again, the trinket was gone. “Rest assured, they won’t be able to harm anyone else ever again. As for him, are you sure? We could keep him with us if you like.” His eyes hardened at Richard.
“I’d sooner put him in a cell than allow him to watch over our streets, even as a prisoner.” Lance removed a pair of cuffs from his pocket and slapped them on either of Richard’s wrists behind his back. The metal glowed with magic as soon as the Celestials released their hold on the mayor. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say…” Lance’s voice trailed off as he led Richard out of the room, leaving me and Sammy behind to talk to the Celestials.
“How can we ever repay you?” the main one asked, smiling down at me.
“Is there any chance we can get Morpheus back? I hear it’s quite the ordeal.”
“It is,” he agreed, “but with a little help from our friends, I’m sure we can put things right back to the way they were.”
Chapter Seventeen
With Richard’s arrest and Lucy released of all charges, it seemed as though everything was going back to normal. Or as normal as they could be, anyway.
Being part of a magical world was far more complex than I ever could’ve imagined. Learning I was a witch was bad enough, but to know our world included shifters, vampires, and other magical creatures as well? It was overwhelming.
Especially once we’d all gathered in the middle of Fairmount Square.
“Where’s Mark?” I asked Lucy, my eyes fixed on the center of the large gathering. “I thought you said he was coming.”
“He’s getting things situated at the house,” Lucy said, not looking at me as she took my hand in hers.
“Situated for what?”
“Shh, it’s starting.”
In order to call Morpheus back from his banishment, the Celestials requested the help of Emberdale along with those living beneath Fairmount. Due to our large size, we gathered in the middle of Fairmount Square since Morpheus’ shop was too small.
Beside me, Maggie smiled, her spectral form hovering between me and Lucy as everyone else joined hands. The entire gang had come out to help with the ritual, including Ida, Harris, Connie, and Mr. Clark.
The Celestials stood in the center, holding hands the same way everyone else had done. Darien, Caleb, and those living beneath Fairmount made an even larger circle around us. Together, we made three full circles with a handful of familiars scattered between.
When Cornelius, the oldest and more graying of the Celestials, explained the ritual, I’d never imagined this. The square was so full, I could only see half of the circle as the other half was down the hill.
Cornelius insisted on it. According to him, the circle was the most powerful of gatherings and would be the easiest way for us to get Morpheus back.
The ritual started once we were in position. The trinket Lance had handed over to Cornelius was a lot like a Canundrum. The only difference with this one was we’d never be able to unlock it as there was no name to summon the witch hunters by. The Celestials made sure to lock it away with no hint of where or when in time it had gone.
My projections were slowly getting under control thanks to Sammy and Lance’s guidance. Together, they’d shown me how to shield my thoughts the same way Sammy’s ward imprisoned the creature. It was a lot of work, but Sammy promised once my first trial was over, I’d have a better understanding of my magic and be more capable of hiding my thoughts on my own without his help.
I hoped so. The projections were starting to go both ways. I’d caught Sammy’s thoughts in my head multiple times, along with a few of Darby’s and even one of Maggie’s.
So, as we all joined hands and closed our eyes, I begged—I wished for a way to keep my thoughts my own. Lucy squeezed my hand, likely hearing my thoughts, and as I focused on her, a soothing calm came over me. It wasn’t until I opened my eyes when I realized the calm wasn’t coming from her but Cornelius who was looking right at me, his kind eyes warm and bright as he completed the ritual.
Releasing Lucy’s hand, I watched wide-eyed as a bright light appeared in the center of our gathering. When it finally cleared, a dog materialized in front of us. He had short stubby legs, long droopy ears, and howled like a Basset Hound. His white and brown coloring completed the look, but I never thought he’d talk.
“You’re a fool if you think you can—” he cut himself off, looking around at those of us who brought him back from the other side. “Celestials?” His tail wagged behind him. “I don’t... How? Richard was right… there.”
“Welcome back, Morpheus,” Darien said, walking toward the hound. “The city hasn’t been the same without you.”
“Darien? Cornelius? What’s going on? The last thing I remember is sitting in my office.”
“
Glad to have you back,” Darien said, petting the dog before excusing himself. “I need to go take care of a few things, but I think this group here can answer most of your questions.” Then, in a low whisper, he added, “Go easy on them, will you? They just saved your hide.”
Morpheus watched Darien go and thanked the Celestials before they returned to their posts around Fairmount. As folks went back to their respective lives, Lance, Sammy, Darby, Lucy, Izzy, and I stayed behind along with Maggie whom only I could see.
Kat broke away from the group heading back toward the portal and took me in her arms. “Fill me in as soon as you get home.”
I smiled and hugged her back. “You aren’t staying behind?”
“Are you kidding? I have some books to collect.” With that, she squeezed me tight, then headed toward the library.
A moment later, Morpheus waddled toward us. I couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s so funny?” he barked, the simple action causing his front paws to lift off the ground.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting—”
“A dog? How about this?” He shifted into a hairy troll, complete with warts on his nose and horns all down his back.
“No, no. The Basset Hound’s perfect,” I said, shielding my eyes from the other form. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.”
“Offend? Don’t be ridiculous. As I understand it, I have you to thank for setting me free.”
“There’s a lot of that going around,” I admitted. “To be fair, I did what anyone else would’ve done.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, but I thank you all the same. And you two,” he directed his attention to Darby and Izzy who were currently holding hands, “I suppose an apology is in order. The Canundrum was never meant for you.”
“We know,” Darby said, “but I really shouldn’t have been there anyway.” I could see she was struggling with her wish to have Izzy in Emberdale, but in the end, Darby kept whatever concerns she had for Izzy to herself.
“I should also apologize for being so quick to judge,” he went on, sitting back on his haunches in front of her. “Bringing a human into the fold isn’t something I or the Celestials take lightly. However, removing one’s memory as closely knit as Izzy’s would be unwise and have terrible consequences. Removing her knowledge of our world would remove her feelings for you, which we’d never do.”