by Tom Mohan
Fallon stumbled as the world around her tilted and then shook. She felt a shift in the very fabric of reality. A single, blinding flash of lightning split the sky, followed immediately by a crash of thunder so loud it shook the town. Then the sky went so dark, the town so silent it was as though the world had vanished.
• • • • • • •
MARCAS JOINED THE flow of people as they entered the forest. His mind buzzed with the power that called to him. The excitement of gaining something forbidden pulsed within his chest. There was a darkness to the power that fed a part of him that had lain dormant his entire life. He knew that he should not want it. His mind was still his own, his actions his to control. He felt dirty as he moved deeper into the trees. His mouth tasted like he had not brushed his teeth in weeks, and his skin felt hot and greasy. Still he continued with the others. This was where he had always felt closest to his brother.
“I miss you, Conall.” The words crossed his lips without conscious thought. He became aware of someone walking beside him and turned to see his brother matching his stride step for step, just as he always had. It felt so natural to be walking the forest with him.
“Hello, brother,” Conall said.
“Hello, Conall. You’re dead, you know.” Marcas did not know why he felt it important to say.
Conall laughed, and Marcas felt something true and right slip into place. “You didn’t think a little thing like death could keep me from this party, did you? You can thank Eoin and Tobias. I’m not sure how, but they brought me along.”
“I’m glad,” Marcas said. “Really glad. I’ve missed you so much. I’ve made a mess out of everything.” Marcas noticed that many of the others were staring at them as they made their way through the woods.
“I’m the one who made the mess. I should have waited for you. I was so sure I could do this by myself. If ever there was a stupider Finn, I’ve never heard tell of him.”
“Fallon and I are the only ones left,” Marcas said. “You, Brianna, Mom, and Dad, you’re all gone.”
Conall put a strong hand on Marcas’s shoulder as he had done so often in the past. “Well, let’s see what we can do about getting them back, shall we?”
They remained silent as they traveled another fifty yards into the woods. The sound of a tree cracking and splintering somewhere ahead brought them to a halt. Marcas stared into the thick foliage. Something was moving ahead. He glanced around and realized that he didn’t recognize anything. He’d spent decades roaming this forest with his brother and could not remember the last time he’d been in an unfamiliar area.
“We are beyond the Mist, at the border of Tír na nÓg,” Conall said.
Marcas realized that his brother was right. Even the smell had changed to a richer, more organic scent. He and Conall were alone. No one else had come this far. More likely, they were unable to come this far. Ahead, another tree crashed to the ground. Something large was lumbering their way. “Can they hurt us since you’re dead? I mean, do we still have the gift?”
Conall shrugged. “I don’t know. This is new territory for all of us.” He grinned. “But if I’m dead, I’m pretty sure they can’t hurt me.”
“I wouldn’t get too cocky if I were you, Finn.” Johnny Caperelli materialized from the shadows, smoke wafting from the cigarette that dangled from his lips. “You guys aren’t top dog around here anymore, you know?” Caperelli laughed as others like him slipped from the trees to surround the Finn brothers.
“Came to join us, did you?” said a woman Marcas remembered as Julie something.
“Not so high and mighty now, are you?” asked a man wearing a bright yellow rain slicker covered in smears of blood.
They were everywhere, surrounding Marcas and Conall in a tightening circle. Marcas could feel their hate and fury. Their angry taunts assaulted him as they advanced. He stumbled as someone pushed him from behind.
He spun and saw only the spiritual darkness of those he’d helped. They shouldn’t be able to touch me. Not physically.
Fingers wrapped in his hair and pulled his head back. Another grabbed his arm, and then they were all over him, punching and kicking with pent-up violence. He fell to his knees, arms covering his head. And then he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, and the blows stopped.
“Stand, brother.” Conall’s words were gentle yet strong.
Marcas felt strength flow from Conall to him. He stood on shaking legs. The dark spirits still surrounded them, but they made no move to come near.
“Your shame and guilt make them strong and you weak,” Conall said, though the voice no longer sounded like his. It was deep and soothing, full of love and hope. “Let them go and bask in the love of the king.”
“Your king is a lie,” Johnny Caperelli said. “Your king is weak and worthless. The new king will show you what true power is.” There was an agreeing mumble from the crowd. Johnny bent down, picked up a broken-off tree branch, and hefted it like a club. “You guys don’t scare us anymore. We are the future of this world.” He lurched forward. Once again, the circle began to close.
Marcas glanced beside him and saw that he was alone. “Conall?” He spun around, but his brother was nowhere to be seen. “Conall!”
The circle of spirits closed in on him. Johnny Caperelli swung his club as others bent to retrieve weapons of their own. Marcas ducked and fought the urge to break into a run. “I am a Finn,” he said. “I have nothing to fear from you.”
“We’ll see about that,” Johnny Caperelli said as he drew the club back for one final swing.
A blinding explosion of lightning lit the woods as though an atom bomb had detonated overhead. The thunder that followed caused them all to stumble. Marcas fell to his hands and knees, and then the sun went out and the world vanished.
You fool!” Oberon’s voice rang through the courtyard. “What have you done?”
The host of fae had gone deathly silent. Liza found that her own voice had quieted as well. Pain that had been held back by the song crept back into her exhausted body. She looked up at the furious Prince standing over her and then down at the knife handle protruding from her abdomen.
“I…I have made my choice.” Her words came out soft but strong enough to be heard by those standing nearby. She heard gasps of disbelief and anguish. She also felt pity for this proud folk who had waited such a long time for their Princess to come and release them. She coughed and felt warm blood spill over her lips as the taste of iron filled her mouth.
“This cannot be!” Oberon yelled. He grabbed Liza by the back of the neck and lifted her upright. “You will not ruin all that I have worked for.” He grabbed the knife and tore it from her abdomen.
Liza cried out as her hands fought to cover the gaping wound. Darkness crept in around her vision. She watched as through a tunnel as Oberon swung the knife to bury it in Paulie’s chest—but Paulie was no longer there. Oberon yelled and spun in search of his prey. His grip on Liza released, and she fell to the ground.
“The chosen one has failed,” a voice boomed from the heavens.
“She has chosen,” boomed another.
“She cheated. This was not allowed.”
“She chose love.” The voice was much softer, nearer, more human. Liza looked up and struggled to focus her gaze. Paulie stood a short distance away. He was smiling at her as though she had given him some wonderful gift.
“No! This is not right.” Oberon’s words blended with the booming voice as the two cried out in unison.
“Unexpected, yes,” Paulie said. “But very much right.”
Oberon grabbed Liza’s limp form and held her before him. His face faded in and out of darkness as she fought to remain conscious. “You ruined everything, human whelp. I’ll cut your heart out.”
Liza watched as he raised the knife before her. The world tipped and she put a blood-covered hand on the pillar that Paulie had been bound to. The pillar pulsed beneath her fingers, like a heartbeat. It grew warm, and a strengthening energy flowed into
her. The pillar flashed in a blinding light that forced her to close her eyes and look away. Oberon yelled something she could not understand, and his grip on her vanished. She fell with her back against the pillar, feeling the light wash over her.
In her mind, she saw that same light spread out through Tír na nÓg. Most of the fae folk fled from it, others fell to their knees weeping. None could stand before it. Liza sagged back as strong arms wrapped her in their embrace. Through her closed eyelids, she was aware of the brilliant light fading to a more natural illumination. Her eyes fluttered open. A man’s face smiled down at her.
“You have done well, beloved,” the man said. He looked familiar. It took Liza’s dizzy mind a moment to recognize him from the vision Nidawi had shown her.
“You’re…the fae king?”
His smile widened. “I am, child.”
“How?”
“Your sacrifice. Your love. You made the one choice that could save human and fae alike.”
“You are beloved, Liza McCarthy.” Liza shifted her eyes to see Paulie kneeling beside her.
“My son,” the king said. “The true Prince and heir.”
“Oberon?” Liza’s voice was growing weaker as she sank into the king’s loving embrace.
“My brother is still out there,” Paulie said. “I pray he someday has a change of heart, but I fear his hate runs too deep.”
Liza saw others standing behind Paulie. A host of fae folk gazed down at her, but these were different from those she had seen before. These were beautiful. She could sense their goodness and concern for her. She smiled as her eyes closed. The king was not the only one who had been freed. His people had come out with him. She felt herself begin to slip away, and that was all right. She was ready.
“Liza!”
Another familiar voice. Liza pried her eyes open. Brianna hovered over her, concern etched on her face. Behind her stood Ana and Cullen.
“You’re alive?” Liza’s voice was little more than a whisper.
Brianna took Liza’s hand in hers. “We are fine, thanks to you.”
“I’m so tired,” Liza said. She began to drift again.
Beloved daughter.
Liza could not tell if the voice came from her own head or elsewhere. Father?
You have done well. I’m very proud of you.
I don’t know who you are.
I am the one who created you, the one who loved you before you ever existed. You will have plenty of time to know me if you so choose.
Another choice?
Liza heard an amused chuckle. An easy one. Do you wish to live?
“Do you wish to live?”
Liza opened her eyes. The king and Brianna were still there. Paulie had joined them and held her other hand.
“Liza, do you wish to live?” Paulie said again.
“Please live,” Brianna said. “You’re one of us now. We need you.” Behind her, Ana and Cullen smiled their agreement.
Liza’s eyes slid closed as the last of her energy faded. A slight smile crossed her lips. “I want…a family.”
“You have us, dear one. You will always have us.” Ana’s voice seemed to come from down a long tunnel.
Liza felt herself being drawn away. She was no longer aware of her body nor the pain that went with it. All was peaceful and quiet. Yet there was still a choice to be made.
I want to live.
Liza woke to birds singing and bright sunlight streaming in the window of her room at the Finn farm. She felt like she had been asleep for a very long time.
“Welcome back, sister.”
Liza turned her head and found Fallon sitting in a chair beside the bed. The girl’s face was bruised and scratched, but her smile made her injuries insignificant.
“I’m alive?”
“So it would seem.” Her smile faded to a look of genuine concern. “How do you feel?”
Liza was unsure how to answer that question. She moved her arms and legs a bit. “Stiff and sore but, otherwise, fine.”
“Brianna told us what happened. She said that Paulie healed the wound in your gut. Man, I wish I could have been there to see you put the screws to Oberon.”
“That was real?” Liza felt that she was waking from a long dream.
“Of course it was real.” She pointed to her bruises. “Would this face lie?”
Liza stretched. She felt surprisingly good. “How about everyone else? Are they all right?”
Fallon sat back in the chair. “For the most part. Brianna’s back in her house. The view out her front window is different, though. Brighter—not so gray and depressing. She hasn’t seen any fae out there yet. Marcas, Mom, and Dad are all fine. Ruth is still in the hospital but expected to make it. People who hang out with us seem to handle major stab wounds quite well. The Mill is a disaster area. Without the Old Ones, they’re figuring things out, and that is going to take a lot of explaining. I fear our little secret is out.”
“What do you mean without the Old Ones? How many are left?”
Fallon turned her gaze out the window. “None. They’re all gone. The remaining four locked themselves in a room beneath the old mill. I’m not sure exactly how, but they played a huge role in putting an end to this whole thing. Marcas and I went down there while Mom and Dad got you settled in. They were all dead. Long dead. I’m talking dust and bones, like they’d been in there for hundreds of years.”
Liza closed her eyes. So much death and destruction. So much change. “What now?”
“Well, we don’t really know. The fact that Brianna’s house is back to normal tells us that, in some ways, things are the way they’ve always been. Though having no Old Ones to cover the town changes a lot.” Her face grew sad. “Then, of course, without Conall, there are no Twins. We have no idea what the future looks like.”
“I thought I heard voices up here,” Ana said as she entered the room. “How are you feeling, dear?”
“Much better than I should. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Think nothing of it, dear. That’s what family is for.”
Liza’s heart skipped a beat. “Family?”
Ana smiled and took Liza’s hand. “You are one of us now. If you choose to be, of course. Like us, you are quite different from the rest of humankind. We love you. You belong here.”
Liza blinked as tears blurred her vision. “You want me to stay with you? Really?”
“You will always be a part of our family, whether or not you choose to stay.”
“Family,” Liza whispered. “I’d like that very much.”
“Then it’s settled.” Ana bent down and kissed Liza’s cheek. “Welcome home, Liza McCarthy.”
The town of Halden’s Mill is based on the tiny Missouri town in which I grew up. The town park was much as I describe in the book, complete with the Air Force jet that we climbed on as kids. The jet is long gone, deemed much too dangerous for our modern tastes. Maggie’s coffee shop (I can’t remember what it was really called) came and went many years after I left. However, the owner of that little shop had much the same attitude as Maggie; it was open when she felt like opening and closed otherwise. At least that was how it seemed when I would visit. The Amish horse and buggy is a common sight and the Amish store that Maggie uses as part of her directions to Tobias’s house is there as well. Those who are familiar with my family will probably recognize Brianna’s house.
The Finn Family Farm is also quite similar to the farm on which I spent many of my childhood years. The pond and woods behind it are still there, as is the ancient oak tree where Liza finds some comfort after learning of her friend’s death. The house itself is different but most everything else about the farm I wrote as a familiar place that I cherish to this day.
Small towns are funny. The one I grew up in provided a perfect childhood that I still look back on happily. Then puberty set in and I hated the place and all the limits that came with it. The military gave me the escape I needed to see the world and live the life I thought I wa
nted. Now, having reached middle age, I think I’m ready to return to the small town. Of course, nothing can ever match childhood memories nor is the grass always greener on the other side (OK, in this case the grass in Missouri is pretty much always greener than in Southern California).
Such is life.
Tom
Tom Mohan grew up in rural Missouri, where he learned that reading was a great escape from the restless boredom he often felt. He loved anything scary, and latched on to the writings of Stephen King and Peter Straub. After joining the U.S. Navy in the early 80s, Tom discovered epic fantasy and read as much of it as he could get. Tom currently resides in San Diego.