by Marcy Lynn
These type seemed to have long tendrils on their back, spiking up in various lengths. And so very pretty in their translucent silver blue coloring all over. In her usual impulsive way she’d gone straight over here hoping to ask for help. It wasn’t as though she were used to being a diplomat or speaking to pure magic dwellers. She’d heard stories and lore of how to go about it. But she felt like there aught to be more grace and grandeur on her part. She hadn’t considered that this could maybe take years to reach a trust where they’d even consider opening the star light veil here to the seekers and casters on the Island. Still, she felt compelled to try since she’d already begun.
“It’s very lovely, isn’t it?” Elanor said as the sprite touched very gently at the fabric of the dress she’d worn at her wedding. A puff of air released from the sprite, it’s wide mouth had opened only enough to part it’s lips. She assumed it was a noise of agreement. A side glance to Derek showed he’d taken to watching and letting her try to speak to the Faye. His hand though slid into hers, holding it with a squeeze.
“Would you like some of those?” Elanor spoke up when the little being next touched the fruit. Silver eyes met hers and then swept away again to the pile. She didn’t know what that meant but assumed not.
“No, wait!” The webbed hand had reached for the gully knife’s blade. Freezing in motion the sprite regarded her with a slightly panic expression or at least it seemed like one. Elanor lifted the knife by the handle and let go of Derek’s hand to grab a piece of the fruit. The garden fairies back in Inglid knew about blades and weapons, she’d assumed that the sprites would too. She sliced into the fruit to show what it could do and it’s purpose. An astonished but maybe slightly impressed expression changed the features of the sprite. Elanor leaned to return the knife but another sound of air releasing combined with a pitched noise stopped her.
“I’ll take it back.” Derek said reaching for the handle to put back on his belt. “It’s my tool.” The explanation eased the stiff ridge of the sprite’s body as though understanding. The small being settled to its knees like Elanor and Derek; regarding them openly.
“You’re doing just fine.” The comforting remark from Derek gave her waning confidence a small boost. But she’d acted once again impulsively without thinking of what this would take. After the success of getting away from the bounty hunters, she’d promised something that she couldn’t actually guarantee. “You’ve done more than enough to protect our home and friends, Ela. We’ve survived without the magic. We can manage to take care of things as they happen.” He leaned to kiss her temple, tenderly brushing lips against her head. The disappointment cooled a little knowing logically he was right but it still lingered with the silence from the sprite.
Had it been the offerings? Or the way she’d presented them? All the handed down stories of magic dwellers working together hadn’t seemed to take time.
Bargains struck and carried out.
A little light of hope did keep alive by the lone sprite answering and Derek’s encouragement. If she could just reach their interest fully. She just wished she had more experience with interacting. With anyone really. She’d been too withdrawn the past few years. She could see that now. There really wasn’t any way about it, she’d have to be blunt in her questions now. The pleasantry and long observing had gone on for what seemed like forever. After what had happened on the water, she just couldn’t let it go without at least asking.
“We were hoping to speak about the magic protecting your kind from,” She searched for the right expression while keeping eye contact with the sprite. “Intruders. The star light.” She gestured in a wide sweep of her right arm. But the sprite only stared on, no sounds or facial expressions to indicate it knew what she were speaking of.
A bark came floating down the beach on the breeze catching both Elanor and Derek’s attention. King galloped happily down towards them having discovered their location through no doubt his nose. Elanor turned to tell Derek it might be best if he stopped the dog from reaching them when a gasp tore from her throat. No longer did the sprite sit alone before them, in fact, a crowd of fifty or more showed themselves. Their tendrils dancing in vibrated excitement. Little translucent humanoid bodies now mobbed on the shells and rocks, even the trunk of a nearby tree. A hum of noise, as though bees or flies had swarmed buzzed in the air.
“Bugger me.”
All at once she could feel the Sprites in unison. Their thoughts translated through the power of magic and swarming in thought in her mind. She brought her hands up to clasp together and touch her lips. The laughter bubbling in her chest and freely as she listen to the many thoughts excitedly crashing into her mind.
“Their demands are that you give them full permission to play with King.” Soft giggles accompanied the relating. “They’ve never seen a dog before. They’re rather fond of his antics. They want one of their own, in fact. Oh, yes there is many kinds.” She related to Derek and then answered a pressing question that had come to the forefront of the rapid chatter. Then carefully mind cast back to them, answering in case they didn’t speak their language.
“They are- talking? To you?”
“They are but not like you and I are now. It’s more… like hearing your own thoughts but knowing it’s more than that.” She tried to explain.
King reached them with a playful bounding in between Elanor and Derek. A spray of sand and tail like a happy whirl wind sent the Sprites into an almost roar of buzzing and air sounds. The dog’s nose began huffing and puffing, noticing the many beings. Elanor winced a little wondering how they would take the dog’s intrusive and aggressive sniffing but it only made the vibe of energy increase in pleasure.
“Is there anything else?” Derek laughed as they realize that it may be possible that the sprites had played with King before without anyone knowing. There seemed to be an air of familiarity between the Sprites and the dog.
“They say they’re willing to expand the star veil magic as long as everyone on the Island never kills for anything but for protection and food. And, of course they get their own dog and get to play with King.” Elanor felt her face almost painfully stuck in a wide happy grin. This turned into a much better outcome than she’d hoped. Their demands weren’t excessive nor unreasonable. Nothing like she dreaded or what the seekers always told their stories as. Suddenly, she had an overwhelming desire to write down her own stories.
“It’s a deal then.” Derek said to the Sprites directly. The air changed into a cool breezy mist; as though a first snow were in the air. Sprinkles of misty drops carried on the breeze and then it faded away.
“What was that?” Derek asked.
Elanor hadn’t known from her Grandmother’s country side veil because it had been in place for centuries. She’d never felt the lift or placing of a veil but the comfortable, safe feeling that had washed over her just then told her instinctively that it had indeed been placed.
“Yes. The whole Island and a little past the coral is now protected. No one will find the Island. I asked them to give the Water dragon some protection as well so her babies can grow safely.”
He gave her an endearing grin and offered his hand. He helped her to stand.
“Let’s go swimming. King can stay and play with- his new friends.” She could tell he’d purposely tried to not insult the Sprites. She offered him an approving genuine smile back for his efforts.
“I think that would be nice. I’m still feeling a little drained.” Walking in the sand made her legs feel heavy. When they reached the water she gave one last look towards the Sprites and King. A pleasant feeling of accomplishment energized her a little more. She’d done it. No, they had done it. Joy bubbled and shone in her eyes. She could feel the all too wide grin on her face. Without thinking she threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged tightly. Derek circled his own arms around her squeezing affectionately.
“We did it!” Her heart sang with elated joy. She hadn’t felt this good about anything in so long. He swun
g her around sending sprays of water from her toes skimming the water’s edge.
“You did it. All this,” He said while letting her down so they could walk further in the water. “You’ve really helped this Island, Ella.” She playfully waded in the water getting deeper and deeper. The Sprites hadn’t wanted things, they wanted something real. Like companionship, respect of their home and like the Water dragon, she’d discovered it through trying.
Derek scooped some water sending droplets over her, laughing. His happiness evident on his handsome face too. She couldn’t help the magnetic pull towards him nor leaning up to kiss his soft lips. Elanor felt the quick intake of breath. At first he seemed stunned but it only took a matter of seconds for his arms to move once again around her, pulling her closer. He recaptured her lips, more urgent and demanding a response. And she did. Spirals of passion ebbed and flowed throughout her recharging body. The intensity of them kissing, touching and holding onto one another in the water transported her into a state of awakening. She needed more. She needed more to connect and celebrate the good that had been brought back into their lives. Her body melted against his, her soul soared with the renewal of hope and love.
He broke the kiss, breathing hard. “We need to go home and have our wedding night. It’s tradition.” His kiss left her lips warm and moist, tingling pleasantly.
“But it’s still day time.”
He’d nuzzled his lips now into her neck scorching a path along the angle she had made when tilting her head. The time for teasing quickly passed. They were in danger of making love there in the water. The thought aroused her even further.
“Not here, home where we can fill the day and the night with our vows to each other.” His voice deep, sensual velvety caress against her ear. Her throat had constricted and wouldn’t allow her to respond. She allowed him to pull her towards the beach again. They walked towards the path; stopping to kiss and then breaking apart. Impatience getting the better of her, Elanor started running up the pathway towards the house. A wild and carefree feeling making each stride barely felt. He caught her by the waist when reaching the door, swinging her around to yank back against his chest. Before his mouth lowered onto hers she could see the promise that they would be making love until they were exhausted in his beautiful gray eyes.
Elanor let herself feel hope again.
Chapter twenty-five
Unbearable heat scorched everything. Reds, yellows, blacks, blurred and swirled.
Elanor tried to focus her eyes better on the surrounding but it didn’t help.
Where was she?
Dry air burned her throat as short coughing bursts of air came from her chest.
It wasn’t right. None of it made sense. She tried to calm her scattered brain to understand. Had she brought herself to the astral plane? Maybe someone or something else had, she wasn’t really sure. Having opened her mind to her magic so fully, either were possible. And then it was there at the corner of her conscience. A dark and allusive shadow.
“Reveal yourself to me.” She commanded. The shadow moved but didn’t come clearer to her. It’s wispy smoke movements, frustrating when trying to focus on it directly. Something nagged at the back of her thoughts trying to pull to the forefront. Where was she?
“I brought you here! I brought you here!” An all too familiar shrill of voice finally said high pitched and shrill with cruel enjoyment.
“Show yourself!”
A shriek come clearly to her ears, “You cannot command me! You are no one! You are nothing! Only one may command me!” Elanor knew then it was the rat; the trapped entity. It had taken advantage of her weaken state after the ship battle and visited her in the plane while she slept. But she still couldn’t understand where they were and why it seemed so important to explore. Demons weren’t actually from a burning place. They were humans once who committed horrific crimes in one life and spent the next as blacken souls, shadows roaming that fed off of pain and misery of others to keep their energy alive.
“Why have you done this?” She asked.
“You wants to be here! I brought you here!” A sickly delighted laughter with the shadow dancing all around her at the corners of her eyes. She looked at the scene before her again still seeing nothing but red streaming down black with yellow flaring at times. Thick smoke- no, steam and smoke?
“I don’t understand.” She had practice this type of spell casting many times. It had been the one magic casting she’d learned earlier as a child. Alone in bed she could practice without fear of it being a problem. The silver cord between her body and spirit a solid glimmering she knew how to find. Elanor reached for it.
“No! No! You stay!” The shadow moved in a feverishly, rolling and twisting. “This where you wanted to go!” Her brows furrowed confused what it was trying to make her understand. Where she wanted to go?
“Your ship went wrong way!” It hissed with impatience. Through the haze the understanding came clear.
“You mean this is Istlant?”
“Yes! Yes! Now you see! Now you know!” Oh Gods, sweet Goddesses the volcano had erupted. Both Teagan and Araminta had warned her that going to try and get Meagan might be a disaster. The volcano had given them both reason to fear the worst; their prediction of its eruption had come true. The energy from it felt vibrantly through the plane. The size of the eruption nothing like the earth had seen in many moons.
She’d failed again. She had sinking thoughts and shattered hope.
Could Meagan have even survived that?
She stared through the haze of the dream state into the lava streams deciding to take over the vision and- find her sister. Elanor had learned so much. And a determination built with a fierce intent. Forms shifted and passed, unlike the shadowed Ent but still blurred in the mist of vision. They were tall, large forms and human. Seekers? No. Something about them made her eyes squint hard to make them come into focus. She couldn’t be sure as it had been from stories and books but they looked like a clan from the north that long ago left into another realm.
Had they returned? Could Meagan be with them? And then as though straight out of her prayers her sister’s form took shape until Elanor came face to face with her.
“Meagan!”
A gasp of air hissed in the quiet of the astral plane. “Elanor!”
“I can’t believe I did it! Are you alright? Have you made it to safety? Tell me where to find you, we’ll come for you!” The words poured out of her in a rush of excitement. She’d thought cast her sister’s awareness into the plane. Her younger sister’s face so much like Teagan’s, mirrored the happiness. Joy shimmered and floated in bright lovely light now.
“I’ve made it to shelter. The volcano can’t reach us here. I have missed you so much. All of you! But you mustn’t come here. It’s too dangerous and I won’t be here when you arrive. I’m to go through a star light veil and Elanor- it’s one of the old ones. It won’t be here for another two years when the stars align again.”
Another two years! She shook her head in denial wanting to tell her not to go in it! But her sister spoke quickly as though she didn’t have much more time to speak.
“Elanor, I’ve seen Mother, she’s worried about you being off your path. She sent you a vision to set you back on it. She’s watching over all five of us. She wants us to find happiness and joy. And- she’s with us always.” She felt a warmth radiate through her energy. Meagan’s elemental power was spirit and she had connected with the other side since they were little girls. Meagan had been the first to discover the true strength of their powers.
Elanor’s throat felt raw, tightening with emotion reaching her translucent hand towards her sister. “Are you sure that we can’t help you, Meagan? Isn’t there a way?” The wispy image of her sister shook in denial of that. “No. We have to move now. We were resting and I can feel them stirring around me. Take care of yourself and send my love to our sisters and Father. You tell them I’m going to be just fine. I will see you all when it’s possible.
Please Elanor, Mother was insistent….don’t carry it alone.” Before Elanor could protest the fading image of her sister disappeared from the plane. A soft sound of misery penetrated the silence of the astral plane.
No, this wasn’t how she’d thought it would be when she found Meagan!
For the first time since the accident she had to face the reality that there wasn’t anything to be do but wait for her sister to find her own way home. Elanor had forgotten about the Ent who lingered nearby in her conscience. It fed on her anguish and frustration squealing in delight.
“Your blood, it comes.” The demon hissed through her searching thoughts. “Your blood on water!” More riddles. The scene began to merge with new colors. Grays and navy blues overcame the reds and blacks. Like a candle melting they streamed. Through the haze of the dream she could see now a ship on the sea. It was one of her Father’s merchant ships. She could see Nain and her Father standing on the deck looking worried.
“They’re coming here!”
“They lost! They lost you. Searching now.”
“Derek sent them word that I was here. No. They’re coming for me.” The shadow danced more frantically, screeching in laughter.
“He didn’t! He didn’t! Lied, lied, lied, lied!”
“You’re the one lying.” He wouldn’t do that to her. Not after all the things they’d been through, the things she’d shared with him. He wouldn’t.
“I heards him! He never is going to let you leave! You are trapped just like I!” Hateful laughter filled her ears. It couldn’t be true it was another ploy to upset her. Dark entities fed off fear, hopelessness, sadness. She tried to gain her composure but something caught her eye through the haze. Another ship was bearing down on her Father’s. Like a shark emerging it’s fin, the sails of the other ship stalked the merchant ship.