“No, it doesn’t,” Specca said shaking her head with a small smile. She knelt down and gently held Daniel from behind while her tail wrapped around his hand. “You’re a very chivalrous and caring person, Daniel. You wanting to save them from those monsters was a noble gesture, it shows you are protective of those around you. That doesn’t mean you love them like you do with us.”
Alyssa sighed then hopped over and sat down next to Daniel, holding onto his arm while showing a small smile as well.
“She’s right, maybe we’re just reading too much into this,” she agreed before giggling and tugging on Daniel’s arm. “We should be happy that you managed to cast your first spell. And once Triska gets back we’re going to celebrate. All of us, together.”
Daniel and Specca nodded with smiles to that before they all looked up at the sky together.
“Sounds like fun,” Specca softly said before nuzzling against Daniel’s shoulder.
“She’s probably killed all the swarm and is on her way back right now,” Daniel remarked with a small laugh, trying to hope his words were indeed true.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Alyssa agreed while holding onto his arm and resting against it.
Daniel nodded to that before they saw Falla and Luna slowly walking towards the caravan from in front of them. The two sisters were looking down while holding hands, their wings dropping slightly while Daniel and his girls exchanged glances before watching them approach the ride.
“Falla. Luna,” Daniel said as Alyssa and Specca let go of him and showed sympathetic smiles to the sisters.
“Listen, about earlier,” Specca gently said before Falla held her hand up to silence her.
“Daniel, we’re sorry,” Falla started with a remorseful frown. Luna nodded while watching him with a similar face as Falla held her hands to her head and looked down with a sigh. “But… we talked it over, and…”
“We think it’s best if we leave,” Luna finished.
“Leave?” Daniel asked worriedly.
Falla nodded then opened her mouth to speak before a bright flash erupted behind them, with everyone shielding their eyes as the sisters screamed in surprise. Inside the cabin Squeak jumped up with a squeak and saw the bright light shining in from the entryway along with hearing the sisters screaming.
“What is that?” Specca called out while holding onto Daniel fearfully.
Suddenly clicking and buzzing sounds were heard before a swarm flew over and tackled Daniel back onto the floor inside the cabin, the monster screeching with wide eyes as it tried to rip his shirts off.
“Swarm!” Alyssa cried out before another flew over and pounced on Specca, taking her to the ground with a shriek as it tried to bite her. Luna and Falla watched with surprise then looked behind to seeing Triska holding Complica, Clover sitting atop Kroanette, and two more swarm flying right at the sisters along with another shooting up into the air.
“AHHH!” Luna cried out before she was taken to the ground by one along with Falla.
“What the hell is going on?” Falla screamed as she and her sister held the ravenous monsters back by the shoulders just enough to avoid having their faces chewed off.
“Daniel!” Alyssa cried out as the swarm inside the cabin ripped his shirts then tried to grab his pants, with him frantically struggling to push her off and having no luck. The monster screeched at him with a wide smile before a pickaxe swung over and struck through its head, yanking the monster off of Daniel with a heavy swing before Squeak spun around with it then slammed the monster down into the floor with a loud squeak. Daniel scrambled to his feet while outside Specca was screaming as the swarm atop her was ripping her shirt off and trying to maul her.
“HELP!” Specca cried out with fright.
“Hold on!” Triska yelled as she quickly set down Complica and ran over to the sisters while drawing her sword. Complica dropped to her knees and watched with wide eyes as the human swung her blade and slashed through the swarm atop Luna while Clover quickly fired an arrow into the spine of the one atop Falla. The sisters scrambled away from the downed monsters screaming in fear while Alyssa held out her hand to the swarm holding Specca down before swinging it to the side sharply. The swarm was yanked off of Specca and thrown into the air before it quickly started buzzing its wings and flying around wildly next to the other one who was hissing loudly at the group below. Specca remained on the ground shaking with fear while she stared up at the monsters that flew around above them, her clothing in tatters while her glasses weren’t aligned with her eyes.
“What the hell are those things doing here?” Alyssa yelled out before the swarm flew about and dived at them, with one taking Alyssa down onto the seat with a screech while the other swooped by and snatched Falla up in its arms.
“HELP ME!” Falla cried out as she tried to use her wings to fly away, the two spiraling around wildly as they grappled and flew against each other in the air.
“SISTER!” Luna shrieked with fright as she watched Falla struggling to keep the swarm from biting into her face while the two were flying around erratically together.
“Get it off me!” Alyssa screamed as the swarm kept trying to maul her, the witch slapping its face and kicking it wildly before Squeak rushed out through the cabin and tackled the swarm off of her. The two dropped down onto the grass as Alyssa scooted back on the seat and Daniel ran out next to her. Squeak grabbed the monster’s head with both hands and squeaked loudly as the swarm thrashed around and tried to claw her, its nails scratching her arms and face before a loud crack was heard from Squeak crushing the skull with her bare hands.
“Falla!” Specca cried out as she pointed up, with everyone looking to seeing the swarm holding the butterfly flying about wildly in circles with Falla screaming for her life.
“Somebody help her!” Luna yelled out while grabbing her hair.
Daniel watched Falla spiraling around in her hold with the swarm, her scream and frightened expression causing his heart to skip a beat.
“Shoot it!” Kroanette called back to Clover as the elf held another arrow in her bow and aimed at the swarm.
“I will if you wouldn’t mind the arrow piercing that girl as well,” Clover warned while she kept a sharp eye on the two girls flying around close together.
“Falla!” Triska called up at the butterfly as she watched the swarm hissing loudly before it snapped into Falla’s shoulder. The girl shrieked as her wings stopped fluttering, with the swarm then grabbing her tightly and veering around to fly off again. As it did Daniel watched them coming around in front of the driver’s seat, then without pause leapt off of it and grabbed hold of the swarm from behind in midair.
“Leave her alone!” he yelled as the monster spiraled down onto the ground away from everyone with him holding onto its back.
“What are you doing?” Alyssa cried out as the three rolled to a stop in the grass, with Falla being pinned down on the ground, the swarm screeching at her with blood dripping from its mouth, and Daniel holding the monster with one arm around its neck and another around its chest. He tried to pull the swarm off of Falla as the fiend held onto the girl’s arms tightly, its mouth inching closer back to the bleeding wound it had chewed into while Falla was staring at the monster with wide eyes.
“Daniel!” she screamed as the swarm grabbed her face with one of its hands and leaned closer with a wide open mouth.
“Get away from it!” Clover yelled as she kept her arrow aimed at them.
“We’re coming!” Triska called out as she and Squeak ran towards them.
“Sister!” Luna cried out as her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees.
Daniel shouted out with all his might as he felt the monster getting closer to biting into Falla’s neck with its razor sharp teeth. His heart ached at the thought of her dying like this before him, his muscles straining to pull the ravenous monster away as it held onto Falla with an iron grip. Everything faded around him as he could only focus on saving her from being killed by the
swarm. His desire to protect her pushed him past his limits as he suddenly felt a burst of light and warmth igniting within him.
‘I love you, Daniel.’
As Falla’s words echoed in his mind he felt a surge of energy race through him, channeling into his hand as he refused to let anything take her away from him.
“I said, let her go!” Daniel roared before a flash of bright light shot out from his hand. Everyone watched with surprise as he heaved the swarm back with incredible strength, the monster letting go of Falla and screeching loudly while the hand of his arm which was holding the swarm by its neck formed a brightly glowing blade of light. The edges shimmered with a blue and crimson hue while around his wrist green and purple light glimmered in the shape of a gauntlet. All eyes watched with wonder as Daniel yanked his arm away from the swarm, drawing his glowing blade in his hand across and through its neck before slicing its head clean off. The swarm’s body tumbled back and dropped onto the grass while its severed head bounced further away with a stunned expression on its face, an expression that Triska and Squeak also had as they had halted in their tracks from seeing Daniel kill the swarm with a glowing sword of light.
Silence befell the clearing as everyone stared at Daniel with surprise, Falla especially as she saw him standing over her holding his magical blade while his eyes were set in a focused glare at his kill.
“Daniel,” she breathed out as she started to feel lightheaded. Her eyes wearily watched as Daniel glanced down to her while his blade flickered then vanished along with the lights around his wrist. Slowly he knelt down next to her and held her hand while everyone else watched quietly in wonder.
“Why?” Falla breathed out as she started to lose consciousness. Before she did she distinctly heard Daniel say something, something that caused her heart to flutter even with her then fainting from her ordeal.
“I’m not letting you go, Falla.”
Chapter 11
The Price of Lying
Honesty was always considered the best policy, though not as often held to heart by those in Eden as it should have been. Whether it was a small fib to get out of being in trouble with one’s elders or perhaps a deeper lie about having an affair with the voluptuous flower girl in the market, lying about anything was wrong no matter how you looked at it. The giant butterflies of Eden rarely learned this lesson, since their deception and slick tongues were their primary way of stealing men away in the first place. However, sometimes their lies would catch up with them as well, as it did for many in the world.
And for them the costs for their false words may end up being much worse.
*****
Inside the cabin Falla was lying on the bed while Squeak and Luna were tending to her, the unconscious butterfly’s wound being cleaned with a wet towel by Luna while Squeak was licking around the injury to help with its healing. Sitting near them holding a pillow close to her chest Complica was watching as Falla remained still on the bed with worried eyes, her wings remaining limp behind her back while her antennae twitched slightly over her head. Specca stood beside the bed watching as the girls were taking care of Falla with hope that she would be alright, the nixie now dressed in a new shirt and tie after her frightening encounter with a swarm, before she glanced behind her towards the entryway curtain. Walking over to it she brushed it aside and peeked outside to seeing Daniel trying to keep the peace as there were some anxieties being voiced by the other girls.
“Holy shit!” Triska cried out while staring at Daniel with wide eyes. “Did you use magic just now?”
“Where’s Lucky?” Alyssa demanded while looking around quickly. “Why didn’t he come back with you?”
“That’s a fairy!” Clover screamed out while pointing to the unconscious Pip who was being held close by Kroanette. “That’s a fucking fairy!”
“Could you please control your language?” Kroanette scorned with discontent. “There is a child inside the caravan as we speak.”
“How did you do that, Daniel?” Triska exclaimed looking over Daniel with awe. “What was that I just saw?”
“Where’s Lucky?” Alyssa cried out again while waving her hands around. “Where’s my horse?”
“Holy fucking shit!” Clover yelled out as she grabbed an arrow and aimed it in her bow at Pip. “What are you doing with that thing? Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“How dare you point that thing at her!” Kroanette shouted as she held Pip close to her side and stepped back. “She just saved all our lives from those swarm! What is the matter with you?”
“Hey!” Daniel called out as he stepped back from all of them, the girls looking to him as he held his hands up to try and silence them for a moment. “Can we please talk about all of this one at a time? We all have questions, so let’s be rational about this and calm down a bit, alright?”
All the girls fell quiet as they briefly glanced to one another before Daniel took a steady breath.
“Now, first things first,” he said before walking over to Triska, grabbing her close, and kissing her deeply. The girl closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck as she felt him holding her in their embrace, relishing the comforting gesture after the nightmare she had just been through. After the kiss ended Daniel smiled at his blushing mate while holding her still.
“You had me worried sick about you,” he said before nudging her nose with his. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Nothing could keep me from coming back to you, Daniel,” she replied with a bashful smile forming.
Daniel kissed her again then brushed her hair around her ear before looking to Kroanette as she was still cradling Pip close to her.
“I’m glad you’re back too, Kroanette. We were all worried we might have lost you today as well.”
“Thank you, Daniel,” Kroanette said glancing down to Pip with a gentle smile. “I was rather concerned when we were separated, but it feels great to be back again.” She then watched as Daniel walked over to her and gently rested his hand on her hip.
“Seems we’re always losing you every now and then,” he jested with a smirk. “We’re going to have to keep a closer eye on you, aren’t we?”
Kroanette giggled softly and shrugged before Daniel turned his eyes toward Clover, the elf still keeping her arrow primed and aimed towards Pip with a stern glare.
“Before we introduce ourselves like civil beings of Eden, would you mind not aiming that at us?” Daniel plainly asked.
“Wait a minute, where’s Lucky?” Alyssa asked again while looking to Triska with worried eyes. “Where is he? And where’s Tabitha?”
“Tabitha ran off,” Kroanette spoke up. “When Triska and Complica were surrounded by the swarm she assumed they were lost and took her leave. I’m not sure if she escaped the village in one piece, though I do hope she did.”
“And Lucky?” Alyssa whined with tears forming in her eyes.
“I left him outside the village when we arrived,” Triska remorsefully said. “I didn’t want him being found so I tied him to an old fence outside the village limits. I don’t know if the swarm found him or if he managed to run off. I’m sorry, Alyssa. We didn’t have time to go back after him when things got bad.”
Alyssa whimpered and dropped to her knees as she started crying, her hands shakily grabbing hold of the grass while she shut her eyes and wept quietly for her missing horse. Triska showed a saddened smile as she knelt down and held the witch close.
“I’m sure he ran off before anything got to him. He actually refused to go into Rackleholm when we got there, he knew something was wrong about that place before we did, he wouldn’t have stayed when the swarm came out.”
“We’ll head out at first light to look for him,” Kroanette offered. “I’m sure he managed to run off before he was found, he’s very lucky after all.”
Alyssa sniffled and looked up to Triska with watery eyes as the teen smiled gently and wiped a few of her tears away.
“We’ll find him, I promise,” Triska
gently assured her.
Alyssa nodded and looked down again while Triska held her close, praying her horse didn’t become food for the swarm.
“What the fuck is wrong with you people?” Clover demanded. Everyone looked to seeing her eyeing them like they were crazy. “Who cares about your stupid horse, there’s a goddamn fairy right there and you’re all acting like that doesn’t matter!”
“Why are you so upset about Pip being here?” Kroanette asked. “You act like she’s a Darker One or something.”
“She is a Darker One!” Clover shouted at them. The group looked at her puzzled while Specca glanced back into the cabin at the monster book on the table with a cautious eye. “Are you all insane? You didn’t know that? Fairies are Darker Ones, how could you not know that?”
“What do you mean she’s a Darker One?” Triska questioned as she and Alyssa stood up together. “She’s not some evil monster, she’s extremely friendly and cheerful wherever she goes; she’s nothing like a succubus or a deathmare.”
“She’s a bit strange, I’ll give her that,” Alyssa admitted with a shrug. “But I wouldn’t rank her as a Darker One in the world, not even close.”
“Why do you say she’s a Darker One?” Specca asked carefully as she hopped down from the ride and walked over to them.
“Because fairies are the most destructive monsters in all of Eden!” Clover cried out. After all she got were confused stares from everyone she continued. “What is wrong with you people? Don’t you know the danger you’re all in with that thing near you?”
“Her name is Pip, and she is not a thing,” Daniel sternly told her.
“Oh? Pip is it?” Clover scoffed at him. “Who cares what she named herself. You’re all going to die if you don’t get rid of her.”
“And just how is she going to kill us?” Kroanette inquired.
“Don’t you idiots know anything?” Clover snapped. “Nine times out of ten fairies annihilate everything around them along with themselves with their magic! And one out of ten times they completely destroy everything twice as far away along with themselves with their magic!”
Chronicles of Eden - Act V Page 34