Gossamyr

by Michelle Hauf

  "Hades," Ulrich moaned.

  In the next instant the revenant's bony fingers reached out from Shinn's chest and sprang, fully formed into the room. Heart beating heavily, Gossamyr knew then she should have allowed the essence to leave of its own. She had prevented the final twinchan.

  Now she held her father's essence within her. She could feel it pressing inside, filling and glowing. It sought freedom. From a species so foreign?

  The revenant spread out its wings. A shriek rattled Gossamyr's concentration. It slapped one wing back against the wall, crushing several stilled essences in a spray that showered distorted rainbows upon the Red Lady's bowed head. Shinn's revenant—it sought an essence to achieve the final twinchan. It would be off to Faery!

  Gossamyr reminded herself it was not Shinn, but a creature. Only when united with the essence would it become Turiau de Wintershinn, lord of Glamoursiege. Her father.

  The revenant's skull bobbed, searching the room. Hollow red

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  eyes focused first on Ulrich, then Gossamyr. Clutching her chest, Gossamyr's terror mixed with the strange filling sensation that glimmered throughout her being. A fee essence cleaved to her in-sides. Her mortal insides. She could gauge the strength growing in her muscles. Her thoughts wavered, parting to let in another. Shinn inhabited her. Though her mind remained her own she experienced an overwhelming calm. Of being touched by a being that could only communicate love. Faery, so rich and luscious. Shinn's final gift to her—light.

  She began to rise, floating up from the floor.

  The revenant slashed out with a long, clawed hand, missing Gossamyr's face by a breath. But she did not dodge. Still rising, shoulders straight, she hung before the creature, ready. Dropping the two remaining pins, they landed in a clatter.

  "Gossamyr, no!" Ulrich cried. "You are.. .do not sacrifice!"

  Delicious warmth seeped throughout her. Shinn would protect her. She believed.

  Yes, Father, I do belong—in your heart.

  "Take the essence if you canF'she defied the shrieking revenant.

  "No!"

  She ignored Ulrich's protest. If she did not do this all of Faery would suffer.

  "I love you, Shinn," she murmured. The vibrations of her voice echoed in her bones and the glowing, shimmering essence inside her twitched in response. "This is for you!"

  Stretching out her arms wide, Gossamyr lifted her chest, opening herself completely to the oncoming attack. A macabre grin cracked the jaw of the skull that flew toward her. Fingers of sharp bone moved through her ribs. The pain was real, tearing her open and parting her chest. All she could do was gasp as the revenant, its hand embedded deep within her, held her suspended before the wall of stilled essences.

  To her right the Red Lady still shivered and fought against death.

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  Ichor glimmered in a stream from her mouth. And peaceful upon the bed lay one she'd loved, gone to the Celestial.

  The hand inside her twisted and began to probe, to summon and gather.

  Gossamyr let out a yowl that birthed from a mortal midnight that saw her stolen from her cradle and secreted away to Faery.

  Verity d'Ange...

  .. .this day we baptize you in the name of our Lord.

  She is so precious. Do you like your little sister, Seraphim?

  She's stinky.

  Verity is ours to love.. .bless us all.

  The shimmering feeling began to subside, to give way from her extremities, pulling, balling and forming into a central mass. Gossamyr felt the revenant's bony fingers curl and scrape against her spine to clasp. In that moment she looked up into the fathomless red eyes of the skull and saw the circumference of the pupils begin to fill with violet. Faery seeped back into the revenant. Shinn returned.

  And in his wake, Verity d'Ange rose up from the remnants of Enchantment.

  Lifted high, her feet dangling above marble, Gossamyr thought the beast to fling her across the room—but instead it lunged toward the bed. Gently—the hand still within her chest—it laid her upon the red sheets beside Avenall.

  As the revenant hand withdrew, Gossamyr groped at the opening in her chest. Everything moved slowly, lengthening the pain. Bones moved out from her body, the creature, not Shinn. And grasped in the skeletal hand the violet and emerald essence.

  When the essence pulled free from her body, it brightened and expanded and began to overtake the revenant. Enthralled in a tornado of the brilliant violet and emerald essence, the revenant spun, moving across the room like a windstorm. Past Ulrich, who clung to the bedpost, and above Shinn's empty body.

  Gossamyr, eyes fixed to the vision, clutched her chest. The

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  gown had been rendered wide, but beneath, her flesh bore not a mark. A deep inhale renewed her vigor.

  She pushed up to the edge of the bed just as the essence devoured the revenant and twirled into a long thin beam. Ulrich's touch stopped her from rushing forward.

  The essence poured into Shinn's prone body, covering the Faery lord over with its glimmer. The fetch, fixed to his forehead, fluttered its wings and took to flight. And then, the glimmer dissipated, leaving the dead fee in its wake.

  Tears coating her cheek, Gossamyr stepped over to her father's body. "You sacrificed for me." And she pressed her head against his gut and began to cry. She had witnessed his final twinclian. ' "Gossamyr!"

  At Ulrich's cry, she looked up from Shinn's body. There, pinned to the wall of exhausted essences, the Red Lady's essence began to emerge from the pinnacle of her skull. A dark crimson thing oozed slowly into the atmosphere to hover above its mistress's head. Taunting, as only the succubus could.

  "Shall I get it?" Ulrich wondered from over her shoulder. "I'll take your staff and smash—"

  "No." She reached for Ulrich's hand and turned to sit at the edge of the marble steps. "Just.. .witness."

  The blood-red essence remained above her head for so long Gossamyr thought the revenant might climb out and smash the thing itself. But suddenly the red globule popped.

  "Dragon piss," Gossamyr muttered. Feeling every muscle in her body tense she prepared.

  "The revenant?" Ulrich said.

  "Soon," she called. "Stand back!"

  Approaching the Red Lady's body, Gossamyr stood over the limp heap of white velvet speckled with gobs of the shattered red essence. "Have at me," she whispered. "This is what I've come for."

  It did not claw its way out from the body. No, this revenant

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  shrieked and flew from the cage of bones as if shot out from a cannon. It touched the ceiling of the collection room, floated momentarily, its red eyes surveying the floor, and then dived.

  This one was not a skeletal clatter of bones. This revenant was fleshed with red muscle and long glinting claws. A result of a suc-cubus, or that of a succubus's dabbling with magic?

  It mattered not.

  Gossamyr swung her body in a circle, drawing the staff straight out. Connection thrust her against the wall of essences. Cold goo oozed over her shoulder. A shriek to raise the dead pierced her ear. The revenant slashed the wall. Its claws cried to the Infernal as they destroyed essences and neared Gossamyr's face.

  Leaping forward, Gossamyr gripped the waist of the creature. It flew high with her clinging and kicking at the muscular legs. A shake released her hold.

  Falling, she let out a cry. "For Glamoursiege!"

  Her body hit marble. Briefly her sight blackened. She lifted her hand, still clutching the half staff. It connected with something solid.

  The revenant cried out and the staff jiggled in her hand. Gripping it with both hands, Gossamyr wrestled with the speared revenant. Claws hissed through the air and the foul stench of decay spewed over all.

  "The alicorn, Ulrich!"

  Releasing the staff, Gossamyr rolled on her side. She slid ungracefully down the two marble stairs. Behind her the revenant banged its shoulder against the wall as
it struggled with the staff fixed in its chest.

  Sliding to a stop at Ulrich's foot, Gossamyr felt the alicorn slap into her palm. "Get back!" She rolled to her back and aimed the alicorn toward the revenant.

  Not a glimmer of Enchantment beamed from the horn.

  The revenant, aware now, tilted its head curiously.

  "Ulrich, I think I need some magic to destroy this beast!"

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  "I'm not sure—"

  "Grab my hand!" She scrambled backward and when she hit Ul-rich's leg, she leaped to her feet. It was wrong to include Ulrich when the most possible outcome could be his death. But there was little choice—this revenant had been forged of both Enchantment and magic.

  The revenant lunged for her.

  Ulrich slapped his palm to hers.

  Believe, Gossamyr thought to herself. And then she shouted to Ulrich, "You must believe!"

  The wind of the revenant's savage growl bruised her face. Staring at slimy maws, Gossamyr lifted the alicorn and drove it up through the revenant's throat. The tip emerged at the top of its skull. She felt little resistance. But a spark of dust sifted from the alicorn's tip and floated over the revenant.

  Keeping hold of the alicorn, Gossamyr shoved Ulrich behind her but kept his hand in hers. She could feel it. His truth. His belief flowing through her arms and out her other arm to focus in the alicorn.

  A brilliant crackle of bone and muscle exploded before her. No

  glimmer. Not a single glint. Particles of bone clattered to the marts o o

  ble floor.

  And it was done.

  "That," Ulrich gasped over her shoulder, "left a mark."

  "We're safe. Circelie Sangreul of Rougethorn has had the final twinclian."

  With a shimmering flight over their heads, the fetch landed Gossamyr's forehead. So brief the touch, and yet, in that moment she saw a flash of the time she had cried three days. And following, Mince storing her tears away in a crystal vase, where they hardened and sparkled like quartz. That was all she saw before the fetch alighted and twinclianed.

  Dominique entered, the unicorn in tow. The changeling took

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  in the destruction, glancing to the body of Avenall, and sneering at sight of the Red Lady, yet pinned to the wall. Red had begun to trickle from the pinprick marks around her left eye. Finally Dominique's eyes fell upon Shinn.

  "Your father?"he said as he knelt beside the Faery lord. "I am sorry."

  Involuntary shivers rode Gossamyr's spine. She could not force herself to speak, to offer an "I know, he sacrificed for me." Instead, she fell into Ulrich's embrace, tucking her face against his shoulder. The soul shepherd stroked her arm and kissed the crown of her head. Bare of shirt, his flesh felt ridiculously warm and so very.. .like home.

  "He must be returned to Faery," Dominique said softly. "I will prepare him for the journey, if you will allow."

  Gossamyr simply nodded. She knew that without Shinn's assistance there was no Passage back to Faery for her. Though the rift yet remained open.

  When you return to Faery jou shall age and wither. Belief had been altered. No return, ever. And yet, someone must now sit the Glamour siege throne.

  From the corner of her eye she observed Dominique as he stood over Shinn, finger to chin in thought. Devising a plan? Tor walked up to the changeling and nudged a suede nose into his palm.

  "It is a unicorn," Ulrich's hot breath whispered reverently.

  Dominique looked over his shoulder at her. Then he turned back to Tor, pressed his forehead to the beast's nose, right between its eyes, and held there. Communicating? Mayhap, and similar to Shinn's communication with the fetch.

  Why had the fetch shone her a picture of all her tears?

  A twist of her waist focused her gaze on Avenall, laid carefully upon the bed. Glimmer of faery dust sparkled there on his chest where the pin had pierced through flesh and heart and married his stolen essence with the body.

  "You remembered,"she whispered,"just before you died. I hope it was a good memory."

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  "He loved you, Gossamyr," Ulrich reassured. "As did you him."

  "Call me...Verity."

  "Why?"

  "It is who I am, who I have always been."

  A sigh sloughed out final tears. She pulled from Ulrich and touched the leather saddlebag.

  "I know," Ulrich said. "We should return it now the unicorn is here."

  "Not we. You, Ulrich. You have journeyed far for your wish."

  "Tor is aware the alicorn is within reach," Dominique announced. "But not here in this lair of evil. We must to a place of calm, far from Paris and closer to Faery. He will bear Shinn and the other on his back. We should be off."

  And so the threesome carefully secured Shinn and Avenall upon Tor's back and left the Red Lady's lair as it was. The essences that had not burst were rapidly dissipating. One after another gave a bright twinkle before finally dissolving to but a whisper of dust. Gossamyr could not guess if it be the final twinclian or merely a sigh of final release.

  She strode from the room without looking back.

  As they emerged from the depdis of strange darkness and despair, the chill of the morning reawakened their senses. Tiny chirps from a hidden nest brightened the sweetness of the dawn. Clasping a hand to her breast, she only now realized the gown had been rent wide, revealing the curves of her breasts.

  Dominique stood waiting with his cloak, which Gossamyr gratefully accepted.

  Ulrich embraced her. "Your father truly did love you."

  "I wish he had not sacrificed himself before I could tell him I understood. He kept his secrets thinking to protect me. I could have lived forever in Faery without knowing."

  "We must all bear the cross of our lacking wisdom, Faery Not."

  "Do not call me that."

  "Very well, champion."

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  "I am not a champion."

  "Oh ho?" A dramatic gesture of arms to the air revisited the good-natured Ulrich she had first met. "You defeated a vicious suc-cubus and rescued all of Faery from those manic revenants. You were prepared to give your life so others may live. I'd call that a champion."

  "The man speaks the truth," Dominique echoed from the other side of Tor.

  She tugged the soft wool cloak high, pressing one of the cool hematite stones against her chin. "It is not important anymore."

  "So what is?"

  She glanced to Tor, who ambled ahead by a few paces toward the gates of Paris. "Seeing my father returned to Faery. And..."

  "Yes?"

  She must wed Desideriel to place a successor to the throne. But how to return yet alluded her scatter of thoughts. And there were other desires—new to her—but strongest of all— "Finding my sister. I have one, you know?"

  "I did not."

  "You will come to my home in the Valois woods," Dominique stated as he strolled off. "I want you to meet my wife. She will be pleased to know you."

  "Sure," Verity answered. "But I shall seek my sister first."

  "I can help you," Dominique stated.

  But it was Ulrich's eyes that held her transfixed. She wondered, "You up for a holiday in the woods?"

  "Are there any wicked red faeries lurking within, waiting to kiss me to death?"

  1 don t expect so.

  "Then I am willing. You would have me accompany you?"

  "I couldn't imagine leaving you behind, Ulrich. I.. .1 favor your company. That is, if you favor mine."

  "I think what you are trying to say is you like me?"

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  "Er, I do."

  "I like you as well, Gossa—Verity. I may even love you."

  "You—you do?" She grinned and felt her smile grow loose and

  wild. The heat of her blush startled her. She pressed her fingers

  to her mouth and glanced down.

  "You are sweetest when you are out of your element, Verity. Ir />
  love you for that."

  "I shall always and ever be out of my element."

  "I will help you to adjust. If you will allow it."

  "I wouldn't have it any other way. Shall we to the unicorn?"

  "Indeed," Dominique called as he began to follow Tor's gait.

  He turned a curious gaze upon Gossamyr. "Did he name you

  Verity?"

  "It is my mortal name," she offered.

  "Ah. Well then, my wife will certainly be pleased to meet you."

  Tor led them out from the gates of Paris and to the edge of a forest bisected by a stream. Far from the dangers of marauders, here in the peaceful meadow the sun danced upon the leaves and grass, and butterflies flittered deliriously, unmindful of those congregated around the white beast.

  Shinn was laid upon the ground and Gossamyr crossed his hands upon his chest. She touched his face; it was still soft and a little warm. His hair, so white now, flowed across a crush of fragrant heather. Touching the short horn at his right temple, she smiled to remember the many times as a youngling, when she had grabbed hold of both and rode upon his back as if he were a beast. They had laughed until Shinn would fall to his knees and gently roll over her and tickle her to oblivion.

  To Shinn's side had been laid Avenall. Gossamyr felt sure now Shinn would not mind the Rougethorn being placed aside him in death. They two had loved her; Shinn knew that.

  "This Roupethorn was fine and kind," she said to them both.

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  "It will be well," Dominique said as his shadow drew over Shinn's legs. "Trust that it will."

  "I know." Gossamyr stood, and stepped back from the two men she loved. Of a sudden the fetch twinclianed before her. The creature lumbered in the air. She noticed a small stack of crystals in the harness strapped to its back. "What is this?"

  She did not touch the fetch or the crystals, but further observance deduced something most remarkable. "My tears?"

  And the knowledge became hers as if granted by the fetch. Her tears would provide her means to return to Faery.

  "I can use my tears to twinclian back to Faery."

  Ulrich strode up beside her. "You said there was a danger in your return."

  "Yes, but mayhap if my visit is brief. I am willing to risk the danger. There are things to be tended. Desideriel, my betrothed, must take command."