by Amy Sumida
“Yes,” he narrowed his eyes on the fairy again. “Grateful. Good little children are grateful.” He lifted the whip and brought it down on the fairy's back. Another lash and he paused to close his eyes and shiver. “Good sons do what their mothers tell them to and ask no questions. Isn't that right, Mother?!” He shouted suddenly. “I have to be strong and cruel and devious and GRATEFUL!” He brought the whip down hard and the fairy screamed.
I watched him spiral out of control and his magic followed suit; condensing into a distressing mass of thunderclouds which roiled across the ceiling, sparking and rumbling like an angry beast. Bress shouted more insanity about his mother, his voice melding with that of the swelling storm, and I prayed silently for help. Tell me what to do. Please, God... Goddess, anyone, help me stop him. Help me save us. Then suddenly it came to me, an understanding, like I'd known Bress all of my life. I knew why he was so angry, what created the madness and violence in him... and what would quiet the storm.
“My son,” I called in a breathy whisper and he froze, the whip dropping from his startled grip as his whole body tensed. “Come here.”
“Mother,” he whispered and closed his eyes tight. “I hate you so much.”
“Why do you hate me?” I asked as the beaten fairy looked over her shoulder at me in shock... and hope.
“You made me like this!” He turned and yelled at me, thunder punctuating his words. “You made me into a monster who has to taste blood before he can taste pleasure. Do you think I wanted to be this way? Why did you make me do those things? Why couldn't you just love me as I was? I'm your son. Not just his but yours. I am not my father.”
“I do love you, Bress,” I whispered. “You don't have to do this anymore. Come here and let me hold you.”
“Mother?” He looked straight into my eyes but I knew he saw her; Moire. I could feel magic shimmering along my skin and I wondered if I really did look like Moire in that moment.
Dismal, charcoal-black clouds paled to kitten gray and then trailed off into misty fingers. Thunder echoed its last cries as lightning sizzled out like a snuffed candle. The scent of moisture and electricity was blown away by a fresh breeze.
“What have I done?” Bress rushed over and undid the manacles. “Forgive me, Mother. I don't know why I chained you.”
“No, Bress,” I held my arms out to him. “Forgive me, my sweet boy. I've made so many mistakes. I wanted to make you strong enough to survive our family but now I see that I hurt you, crushed the real you beneath my feet. No mother should do that to her child.”
“Mother,” he cried and fell into my lap. “Mother, I didn't mean it. I don't hate you, I love you.”
“I love you too,” I crooned and stroked the hair back from his abused face.
His jaw and the corner of his eye was bruised from my earlier attack and there was still a hint of blood at his lips. It gave me a very satisfied feeling but I pushed that aside so I could continue impersonating Moire.
“Just relax, sweetheart.” I drew my fingers across his eyes instinctively and felt my magic gather. Stardust fell from my fingertips and drifted over his tumultuous eyes. The lavender dust sank into his irises, sparking once as they settled the storm, and then faded away.
“Seren?” Bress blinked, sat up, and then stared at me calmly. Sanely.
“Bress?” I asked carefully.
“What is this feeling?” He frowned and rubbed his temples. “It's strange.”
“He's fairy-struck,” the seelie woman called over to me. “You have him in thrall, Princess. He will obey you, just speak your commands.”
“He will?” I looked back at Bress, who was staring at me with a peaceful expression. “You will?”
“Will what, Seren?” He smiled softly.
“You will help us escape the Unseelie Court,” I ordered. “Me and her,” I waved a hand to the tortured fairy. “And you will see us safely to the Twilight Court.”
“Of course I will,” he got immediately to his feet and held a hand out to me. “We must get you two free of this place. Come,” he threw open the chest and pulled out two cloaks. “Put this on,” he handed me one and then went to the seelie woman.
He carefully undid her bonds and caught her when she nearly fell. Gently, he wrapped the cloak around her, angling her wings down her back, and then he lifted her over his shoulder. She whimpered, even with his careful movements, but then settled against him. I just gaped at Bress as he went to the door, peered out into the hall, then motioned me forward.
Holy fairy cow, it was working.
“Now, Your Highness!” Bress urged me forward and I hurried after him.
He took us swiftly down a few hallways, pulling back into the shadows every so often, when another fey would walk by. Then we slunk down some stairs and emerged in a stone room. I peered around it nervously. It seemed to be carved from the mountain itself, with corridors branching off in three directions; one to either side of us and one directly across. I could hear muted conversations coming from the side corridors, as well as other sounds I didn't want to interpret, but Bress led us forward.
The corridor soon became a tunnel and it branched off in several places but Bress seemed sure of his path and I continued to follow him through the maze of passages until he eventually led me out onto a moonlit field. I stepped out into the thick grass, took a deep breath of the fresh air, and sighed in relief.
“Wait here and I'll fetch us a carriage,” he put the seelie down carefully and then ran off.
“Should we trust him or run?” I asked the woman.
“Oh, he'll return as promised,” she smiled with her swollen lips as I helped her sit up, then leaned her against my chest. “You're the Twilight Princess aren't you? Only the Twilight King has the ability to render a fey fairy-struck.”
“You're talking about how fairies can cast an enchantment over humans and make them behave like idiots?” I asked.
“Among other things,” she nodded. “Any sidhe can work that kind of magic on a human but to cast it on a fellow fairy is impossible for all but King Keir. So you must be the new princess, his half-human daughter.”
“I am,” I waved it aside. “Tell me more about this magic. You're sure we can trust it to keep him on our side?”
“Yes,” she said gravely. “He will stay under your enchantment until you release him. The magic is called star-crossing and those under its sway are the starry-eyed. It's one of the few magics which can only be undone by the caster.”
“Very witty, starry-eyed,” I chuckled and she moaned as I accidentally shifted her. “Oh crap, I'm sorry. What's your name, anyway? I'm Seren.”
“I know, Your Highness,” she smiled bravely at me. “All of the courts have heard about your homecoming. I am Nighean of the Seelie and I'm in your debt.”
“Nah, I'm an Extinguisher,” I said casually. “We're supposed to protect the peace and save the innocent. It's literally in my job description.”
And I suddenly knew how I'd help the Council... by helping the fey right there in Fairy. If the fey were safe here, they wouldn't venture into the Human Realm to cause mischief. Torquil hadn't left in centuries, so if all the fey were as content as he, wouldn't it be the same for them?
“So that's true as well,” her eyes fluttered closed. “I'm in good hands then.”
“Nighean?” I felt for the pulse at her neck and it was steady so I relaxed.
She'd be okay, we just had to get her somewhere safe so she could heal. The pounding of hooves vibrating through the earth, had my head jerking up. Then I shook it in amazement when I saw Bress, still bare-chested, driving a carriage straight towards us.
“Thank you,” I whispered into the air and a shiver coasted over my skin, a sign I was starting to recognize as the presence of something divine. “Thank you, Danu,” I said more firmly and the feeling intensified, rising inside me till it burst free in a wave of laughter. Who would have thought? When God finally answered my prayers, it was because he was a woman.
Bress pul
led the horses to a stop right before us and then jumped down to help Nighean into the carriage. I stood up and put my hands on my hips, watching it all with a smirk.
“Well, damn,” I huffed, “I really am a fairy.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
We rode for hours, Bress driving the team of horses as I huddled inside the carriage, cradling Nighean as carefully as I could so she wouldn't be jostled too much. I'd given Bress my cloak since it was cold out and I felt bad for not making him put his tunic back on before we left. I was warm enough inside the carriage anyway.
Then a wave of magic gave me the chills and I looked out the window to see packed earth walls surrounding us. The dark intensified into a void but Bress kept his rapid pace. I suddenly realized where we were; inside a large fairy mound. Was he taking us into the Human Realm first? Why?
The passage brightened and then we were riding out into another forest. This one felt familiar and I just knew it was the Twilight Forest. What the hell? I hung my head out the window so I could shout to Bress.
“Did we just go through a fairy mound?”
“Yes,” he called back. “The road between Unseelie and Twilight.”
Right, the paths between the kingdoms. I'd forgotten about those. We were now in Twilight but we literally weren't out of the woods yet. So I pulled my head back inside and began to pray to Danu for our safe passage, that we'd make it all the way to the Twilight Court before Uisdean realized I was gone. I don't know if she heard me, there was no answering tickle of magic, but a few hours later, just as dawn was lighting the sky and the power of the in-between was filling me; the twilight castle came into view.
I nearly cried in relief as Bress brought us right up to the gates but then the twilight guards started shouting down at Bress aggressively and I had to lay Nighean down so I could jump out and explain.
“He's with me!” I called up to them as I rushed forward and laid my hand on the gate. It shimmered away to reveal a courtyard full of twilight warriors.
Bress drove the carriage through the gates and then the bars reformed behind us and a shimmering curtain of magic fell. I climbed back into the carriage as Bress got down from his seat in a daze.
“Bress!” I called and he rushed over to me. “Take her,” I put Nighean gently into his arms and then jumped down. Before I could say anything to the knights around me, I was bowled over by a peppy puka. “Cat!” I laughed and ruffled her fur. “Did you miss me?” She yipped happily and licked my face with her sandpaper tongue. “I missed you too.”
“She was inconsolable... as was I,” Tiernan's voice came from somewhere above me and I pushed Cat gently away so I could see him. His face was strained from a lack of sleep and his eyes were shadowed with worry. They cleared when they met my own and I gave him a small smile.
“And I,” Keir pulled me to my feet and into a hug. “Seren, I've never been so terrified. How did you manage to escape Uisdean?”
“With his help,” I jerked my thumb towards Bress, who was still holding Nighean. With his wounded face, bare chest, flowing cape, and an armful of damsel in distress, he looked like he belonged on the cover of a romance novel.
“Bress?” Keir gaped at his nephew. “Are you...?” He turned and looked at me with wide eyes. “You struck him?”
“A few times. With fists and magic,” I shrugged and saw Torquil edge around Tiernan. “Hey, blue fairy. It's good to see your face. I was worried about you guys.”
“I failed you, Princess Seren,” Torquil hung his head and dropped to his knees. “I'm so sorry.”
“We failed,” Tiernan's jaw clenched as he set his eyes on me. “Please forgive us, Your Highness.”
“Guys, come on,” I grabbed Torquil's shoulder and yanked on it till he stood up. “I was there remember? There was no way to win against them. You did your best but we were outmanned and outgunned. You can't win every battle. I'm just happy to see that you're okay. No one failed.”
“Your Highness is too forgiving,” Torquil swallowed hard. “I will endeavor to be worthy of your kindness.”
“She is quite reasonable, I think,” Keir decreed to everyone's surprise. “You both performed as best you could. If a Lord of the Wild Hunt was defeated, then the challenge was too great two knights alone. Sometimes our enemy wins the day but twilight will always conquer in the end.” The soldiers filling the courtyard shouted in agreement and then Keir turned back to me. “We were just arming ourselves to ride to the Unseelie Court and obtain your freedom,” he shook his head with a smile. “But it looks as if you've freed yourself. You are definitely your mother's daughter.”
“And my father's,” I added in a low voice. “I'm told you're the only other fairy with star-crossing magic.”
“I am,” he ran his palm over my cheek. “I'm so glad it has manifested within you.”
“It was damn good timing,” I agreed.
“Seren?” Bress asked, looking confused. “What do I do now?”
“We're going to take Nighean inside in just a minute. Hold on, Bress,” I said gently.
“Okay, Seren,” he smiled at me complacently.
“Sweet Danu,” Keir breathed as he looked over Bress. “You did a hell of a job for your first time. He's as starry-eyed as they get.”
“Yeah, I guess I know what I can do with my magic now,” I shrugged and absently stroked Cat's head.
“This is only the beginning, Seren,” Keir said with a wry look.
“Oh?” I blinked. “What else is coming?”
“Only Danu knows,” he shrugged.
“Great,” I sighed. “Well, in that case, can we get Nighean inside? She's hurt pretty bad.”
“Nighean?” Keir frowned and I made a motion toward the bundle Bress was carrying. Keir went forward and pushed back the hood around Nighean's face. “Fetch a healer!” He shouted as he ushered Bress inside. “Seren, why do you have a injured sylph with you?”
“You don't want to know, Dad,” I sighed, “but I'll tell you anyway. Let's just get her taken care of first.”
“Alright, Daughter,” he kissed my cheek and we all went into the castle.
I began to follow Keir through a door on the right side of the entrance hall but before I made it through, Tiernan stopped me and pulled me off to the side.
“Seren,” he whispered a second before he set his mouth to mine.
I slid my hands around his neck and sank into his kiss; relief, happiness, and excitement pooling inside me. I'd worried about Tiernan during my entire night in unseelie hell and seeing him whole and alive was another answered prayer. I was racking up quite a tab with this fairy goddess.
“I'm so glad you're alright,” I whispered when he pulled away. “I thought they might have killed you.”
“I'm a Lord of the Wild Hunt,” he reminded me... again. “I'm not so easy to kill, though they almost managed to kill Torquil. Once they had you, they gave up on us and left. I was able to carry him into Fairy and get us home.”
“Good job, my Lord Shadowcall,” I traced a finger over his shimmering scar and then my eyes fell on the statue behind him. “Oh damn,” I pressed my hand to his cheek. “My grandmother is the Seelie Queen.”
“Yes,” he blinked in confusion.
“She's the queen who gave you this scar, isn't she?” I whispered.
“Yes,” his voice lowered as well.
“I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner,” I groaned.
“It doesn't matter,” he shrugged.
“How does it not matter?” I gaped at him. “My grandmother hurt you. She tried to kill you.”
“And your father gave me a new life,” he smiled gently. “Neither action has anything to do with you.”
“I kind of hate her now,” I mused as I began to trace the scar again. “Even though I like the scar.”
“Seren,” he caught my hand. “I was scared. I've never felt anything like that, not even when I was cast out of Seelie.”
“Me too,” I teased. “I saw a nuckelav
ee.”
“You know what I'm trying to say,” he rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“Yeah. I dig you too, Legolas,” I grinned.
“Really, Twilight Princess?” He narrowed his eyes on me. “You wanna go there?”
“I'll go anywhere, as long as you'll come with me,” I purred and was rewarded with another toe-curling kiss.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Dad?” I asked as I sat beside Nighean's bed, waiting for her to wake up.
“Yes?” Keir smiled at me. It was getting easier and easier to call him Dad, which seemed to delight him to no end.
“Do you remember the night I made the cloud appear?” I was staring thoughtfully at Bress, who was seated across Nighean's bed from me, staring at me like not only was I his entire existence but he was perfectly happy with that.
“Yes, of course,” Keir frowned. “The night before you were crowned.”
“Is this what I did to our fairies?” I waved a hand at Bress.
“I...” my father's face fell. “Not this exactly. To achieve this kind of result, you have to pour stardust directly into your victim's eyes, but it's possible you cast a version of it. Something less...”
“Consuming?” I asked.
“Yes,” he agreed. “Less consuming. I don't have that ability but magic always changes a bit in the transfer. Perhaps you're able to spread out the spell to affect an entire room full of fairies.”
“Or perhaps it was a fluke,” I offered. “I wasn't in control, it just happened. It could have been a result of its initial manifestation.”
“Or, it could be nothing,” he smiled but it looked strained. “It could have just been a bit of visual fluff.”
“But you don't believe that,” I stated like it was fact.
“No,” he admitted.
“So that's why they like me,” I sighed.
“That's not true,” he said but I could see the worry in his eyes.
“How do I undo it?”
“You just wish it so,” he shrugged. “Seren, if you did cast some magic that night, it was a light enchantment.”