Ascension

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  I struck out once more and my katana found its mark. Dark green mixed with the blueness of the aquatic world, and the kelpie’s mouth opened in its own shriek. I grabbed Zander and kicked for the surface. I pulled him onto his back after we breached the water line and swam to shore. Uncle Kalen grabbed him and started chest compressions while Caden and Ryn helped me to my feet. Zander sputtered and coughed liquid from his lungs as Lucian flipped him onto his side.

  A hard pressure gripped my right ankle and my feet were jerked out from under me. I was yanked underneath the water and dragged down to the lakebed before anyone could offer me assistance. Green blood spurted from the kelpie’s wound as it held me in place. No matter how much I struggled to free myself, its teeth were like iron manacles around my foot. A pink fin swept out and knocked me to my back as the kelpie moved over me with its mouth now open.

  “Seelie Princess.” The hissing voice resonated in my head. “You have killed me and stolen my prize. Two pieces of evidence is all I will give to my worthy opponent. The weapon you seek hides in plain sight, but you must survive the dancing tricksters before the end of the night. Follow the path to where it leads, and you just might succeed.”

  Darkness lurked on the edges of my vision and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold my breath. The kelpie released one last cry before its body floated away from me. I kicked off from the bottom of the lake with all my strength and saw Caden and Ryn’s forms swimming towards me. Bubbles left my lips when I stretched to reach them, the tips of my fingers barely grasping theirs. Fire seared my lungs as they used up the last bits of oxygen left in them and they banged on my ribcage to find more. I clamped my lips together while both of my soulmates pulled me to safety.

  My head broke the surface and I sucked in as much air as I could without choking. Both of my arms were slung over two hard shoulders, lifting me slightly with the toes of my boots dragging the ground. Uncle Kalen waited with a blanket and wrapped me up like a burrito as Ryn and Caden struggled over who would help me over to our packs.

  “That’s enough.” Uncle Kalen tucked me under his arm as my teeth chattered out a new song. “This fighting stops now. She’s not either of yours yet. She is still my child and I won’t have her treated like a prize to win. She deserves better than that.” I stayed silent for once while he gave them the tongue lashing they never seemed to listen to from me. “If the two of you can’t come to some sort of compromise, I don’t want you around her for the rest of our time in Faerie.”

  Both Caden’s and Ryn’s mouths pinched and I saw the muscles in Caden’s jaw clench. Uncle Kalen escorted me to our packs and snatched them up in one hand.

  “I miss home.” I snuggled into my Uncle’s side as the whisper left my lips ready to sleep after my fight with the Kelpie. Normally, my body would’ve already bounced back to peak performance but without my supernatural sides aiding me, I had to recover like a human.

  “I do too.” He kissed the top of my head and refused to release me.

  My heart ached for Serenade Falls, but most of all I missed my wolf and fae magic. Not having either left my limbs heavy and numb, and I found myself rubbing at my chest to ease the weight which sat there. I sent a silent plea to the Creator to return them as I walked on autopilot in the direction Uncle Kalen led me.

  Chapter 15

  I DOZED IN AND OUT next to a sweltering fire. My clothing had long since dried and my hair had been braided into one long plait, hanging over my shoulder. My armor had been removed and was resting above my head. With warmth heating my back, I peeked through one half open lid and noticed we were nowhere near the lake, but in the open field against the tree line. The others were scattered around the fire, but Uncle Kalen, Caden, and Ryn were within reaching distance as they discussed the dangers we’d faced so far and what possibly laid in wait. The kelpie’s warning rang in my ears as I remembered the mention of dancing tricksters. Were they the only obstacle we had left to encounter?

  A deep laugh drew my attention to dark hair filled with blonde highlights. Zander’s head was thrown back and his body quaked as he watched Linc reenact the response some girl had to him when he walked by her in the hallways at school. How could the time since we started homeschooling feel like an eternity ago? Zander wiped at his eyes as a coughing fit started. He shot to his feet, gulping for air while Linc jumped into action and patted his back when he tried to catch his breath. I had almost witnessed the loss of another friend on this journey and now he was trying to erase the scars it left behind. Zander’s dark eyes widened, and his face turned blue as the air finally rushed into and saturated his lungs with oxygen. The black ink peeking from under Linc’s collar strained, a vein bulging beneath his tan skin’s surface as Zander shooed him away from him. Watching them pretend everything was normal crushed my heart to dust. I sat up, rubbing at my own chest when their chattering stopped.

  “She’s awake!” Austin barreled into me from the right, knocking me backwards as he landed on me and pulled me into a bear hug.

  Allie joined the fray not long afterwards and their weight crushed me. “I can’t…breathe.” I wiggled an arm free and pushed on Austin’s hard chest.

  “Give her room.” A growl rumbled near my ear. Their suffocating hold lifted, and I saw them dangling in the air above me as Caden and Ryn set them on their feet.

  I rose up onto my elbows and Zander extended a hand to help me to my feet. I clasped his fingers and saw moisture gathering in his dark lashes as he pressed his lips together. I launched myself at him once he pulled me up, my arms caging him in. Zander wrapped his own arms around me with one hand cupping the back of my head as we held each other. His body trembled, and I squeezed harder. No words had to be spoken. I knew he was grateful for my actions and I was thankful he was still with us.

  Once his shaking stopped, Zander stepped out of our hug but stayed close to me as Uncle Kalen quickly took his place.

  “What’s our plan?” Curtis clapped Zander on the shoulder and Uncle Kalen pulled back. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to finish this so we can get back to Serenade Falls.”

  Many murmurs of agreement followed, and I took a deep breath as I moved to the center of our semicircle. “The kelpie spoke to me when it pulled me back under the water.”

  “Spoke to you?” Allie clutched Curtis’s tunic and cleared her throat. “I didn’t know they could speak.” She blinked several times and bit at the fingernails of her free hand.

  “Yes.” I swallowed past the lump in my esophagus. “It called me a worthy opponent and shared some incite about our quest for the weapon.”

  After I explained what the kelpie told me, the others spent several minutes discussing what dancing tricksters might mean and if we should follow the path at all. While they were hashing out our options, Allie helped me secure the back of my armor. I tossed my pack over my shoulders and picked up my katana. Thankfully someone had fished it from the water and cleaned it. Dried kelpie blood would have been a pain to scrub off. I walked towards the path when several shouts reverberated around me.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Uncle Kalen’s long legs caught up with me in no time. For every step he took, I always had to take three. Usually my wolf made her displeasure known anytime we were reminded about our vertical challenges and when she didn’t acknowledge the difference, my soul cracked. I wished I could feel her comforting presence if only for a moment just to erase the loneliness filling the void she left.

  “Following the path.” The others joined us as I kicked up some dust with each drag of my feet. “The forest is dangerous no matter which direction we decide to take.” The alluring trees with their white leaves appeared harmless and unassuming, but we all knew the truth. This was a place for those with a death wish and I was determined not to lose anyone else. “The kelpie said we might succeed if we follow the path, so that’s what I’m doing.”

  “The same creature who almost killed Zander and you.” Uncle Kalen stopped in his tracks with h
is arms crossed over his chest, the corded muscles in his forearms straining against his rolled sleeves. “I don’t like the idea of knocking on death’s door.”

  I pointed at the silent giants towering over us. “They could come to life at any second and zap us with their paralyzing mojo. I don’t plan to let their roots eat me.” I took a few more steps and turned to see the others still watching me. “It doesn’t matter if we’re on a path or among the trees for whatever the kelpie meant by dancing tricksters to find us. I’d prefer to see them coming.”

  They were silent for a minute and then Lucian came up next to us and swept his arm out. “After you.”

  For the most part, the dirt path was straight and inclined slightly as it wove around a group of denser trees. The sunlight coming through the canopy in stray rays vanished, blanketing the area in an eerie sea of fluorescent flora. Leaves of several ferns glowed blue while the moss-covered landscape pulsed red. Smaller specks of green were clustered near the trees’ roots and I assumed they were some type of fungi littering the ground. Quarter-sized orange objects lifted from the forest floor and the buzz of insects filled the air. If I were a dancing trickster, this would be the place I’d attack unsuspecting parties.

  My hand rested on the hilt of my katana and we used the bioluminescence to guide our way on the path. Each new sound was a sinister threat ready to pounce from its hiding spots. Our pace slowed as a couple of my Guardians moved back-to-back behind me with their weapons drawn. Every step was deliberate as we watched for any movement among the trees. I wanted to kick myself for being such an idiot. Following the kelpie’s advice was only going to get each of us killed. An area of still blackness gained my attention.

  My breath hitched, cutting off in my lungs as I watched the shadow block out light while it glided to the other side of a tree trunk.

  My pointer finger lifted, and the hair on the back of my neck lifted in preparation for another fight to the death. “W…what is…t…that?” We halted while Ryn followed the direction of my finger. The solid black mass crouched to the ground and slithered to a tree farther away before rising to a height well over seven feet tall. My gasp wasn’t the only one heard as two piercing eyes the color of ice opened near the top of the shadow.

  My foot twitched and Ryn latched onto my arm. “Don’t run.” His grip tightened as the shadow released a roar loud enough to burst eardrums. His hand dropped when he moved in front of me and the thing among the trees grew quiet. “Follow me. Don’t stray from the path.”

  I grabbed a hold of the back of his tunic as his pace increased. “What is it?”

  “A Phouka.” Ryn’s pronounced it as poo-ka as his eyes stayed on the shadow. “A creature like shifters, but able to take any form it wants. They’re one of the most dangerous creatures in Faerie. Legends say their saliva is toxic on contact and its true form is akin to a goblin, but no one is positive because they usually stay to themselves.”

  The phouka moved with us, darting between the trees and I couldn’t help but think of the shadow Caden and I had seen on the day of our picnic. Was it the same thing? Was it stalking us? Up ahead rays of sunlight broke through the canopy before the trees ended and we ran for the light. The path opened to an enclosed circle of grass surrounded by tall gray stones with the yellow trees outlining the ring. I bent with my hands on my knees and inhaled a lungful of oxygen. Ryn was facing the forest as one hand dragged through his blonde hair.

  “It didn’t follow us.” Lucian stepped into the light and he and Uncle Kalen kept their gazes trained on the darkened path.

  “What is this place?” Zander was reaching out to touch one of the tall rocks. Deep indentations of arches and knots were carved into them, creating a beautiful design that reminded me of an essay I once wrote on Celtic myths.

  “Stop!” Allie’s yell halted Zander’s fingers centimeters from the rock’s surface. “Don’t touch it.”

  “Why?” Caden had been about to touch a rock also.

  “Because, now I know what the dancing tricksters are.” Allie spun in a circle, looking around the ring. “Pixies.”

  “Pixies?” Caden stepped past the outer ring of stones. “Those don’t sound too dangerous.” Allie was already screaming for him to get back, but it was too late.

  The beat of hundreds of wings rose around us as tiny blue-green humanoid bodies with transparent glittery wings filled the circle. Bulbous yellow eyes blinked on their football shaped heads and the one closest to Caden hissed, exposing a set of inch long fangs. Each pixie wore either brown pants without a shirt or a brown halter type dress and they all had tiny quivers filled with arrows strapped to their backs and a bow in their hands. Several pixies swarmed Caden, tugging at his ears and pinching his skin. He flapped his arms wildly, swatting at anything that moved.

  “Now, I understand the dancing trickster part.” Curtis’s breath left in a huff when Allie’s elbow connected with his ribs.

  “They’re mostly just pests. Caden, try to get out of the circle.” Allie moved near its edge. No sooner than she moved, the pixies swarmed the rest of us. “I thought they weren’t able to cross the ring!” Her palm connected with a female pixie and launched it across the circle.

  Lucian howled as one nasty male pixie sank its fangs into his shoulder. He gripped its small body and slung it to the ground before stomping on it. All motion from the pixies stopped as they eyed their fallen comrade. A female pixie wailed and flew to Lucian’s boot, trying to pull the other out from under it. Another male pixie notched an arrow and let it fly.

  “Watch out!” Allie dove to the ground and the rest of us dropped, but Lucian wasn’t fast enough. The arrow struck his bicep and he howled once more. Another arrow struck his stomach and Lucian gasped for air, falling to the grass as more arrows launched at the rest of us. “Move!”

  My katana was out in seconds, slicing through the air to block the onslaught the tiny creatures aimed my way. Allie ran around the outer ring of the tall stones and I was hot on her heels as more male screams filled the air. We got on the other side of the path and Austin joined us, dragging Curtis who was curled in fetal position, panting with sweat dripping over his brows.

  “What did the arrows do to him?” I helped Allie pull multiple feathered sticks from his skin.

  “It’s elf-shot.” Curtis whimpered, and I looked back at the rest of our group still fighting the pixies with different measured looks of pain on their faces. “Any place the arrows hit feels like lava has been poured over the skin. It’s part of pixie magic. They’ll defend their families and their home. That’s why they attacked Caden and Lucian.”

  “What do we do?” I watched Austin lay a glowing golden hand on Curtis’s chest, healing each of his wounds.

  “Bring the others to me if you can.” Small spots popped up on his exposed skin. “The pixies didn’t follow me once I made it into the tree line.”

  Allie and I both shot off as Caden and Linc hit the ground. We made it back only having to thwart a few arrows and she grabbed Lucian under his armpits, but she wasn’t moving him much. Ryn was still on his feet with an arrow sticking out of his shoulder when he noticed what we were doing.

  “Help her!” I pointed to my struggling friend and Ryn sheathed his sword and grabbed Lucian’s feet.

  I turned back to the fight and saw Uncle Kalen crawling towards me with an arrow protruding from both calves and his back. He collapsed in front of me out cold. I grabbed his wrists and pulled with all my might. I dug my feet into the ground and heaved, but it was no use. I tugged the arrows from his skin and flipped him over onto his back and grabbed him the same way Allie had with Lucian. I dragged him closer to the edge of the trees when Allie jumped out and helped me pull him into their cover.

  Allie and I ran back into the melee, finding Zander first. He was groaning and clutched at his thigh. The wound there resembled a bite, but he did have an arrow stuck in the top of his foot. Allie grasped him under the arms, and I lifted him by the ankles, swaying back-and-fort
h as we got him back to the others who were sleeping peacefully. As Austin’s hands started glowing again, a sleek ebony horse with a matching mane and tail erupted from the darkened side of the forest. It neighed loudly, and the pixies stopped their assault on Linc and Caden, who had fallen in the middle of the circle. They squealed, clapping their tiny hands and flew towards the animal as it raced around the circle, leaving the way to the others clear.

  Austin joined us and hauled Linc to cover while Allie and I rescued Caden. Both boys had over a hundred arrows protruding from their bodies and the pallor of their skin was gray.

  “Get back.” Austin worked his magic on them one at a time and more scars coated his skin. Once he was finished, he fell forward as the others slowly roused. “Don’t tell them.”

  Allie and I noticed all the tiny marks which marred his flesh and she reached out to roll down one of his sleeves. I started on the other as the men roused and started questioning us about what happened.

  “We pulled the arrows out and got you to safety while their effects wore off.” The black horse from before raced past us and back into the forest. “The horse showed up and the pixies went crazy over it like they wanted a ride and left you all alone.” Ryn’s brows drew together at Allie’s lie. “What about Austin?” Linc’s head was between his knees.

  “He was hit too. Let him rest.” Allie moved to Curtis and checked over his spotless flesh.

  The others knew it wasn’t just pulling out the arrows that saved them as each one regarded our sleeping friend. Austin was selfless with his gift and didn’t want the others to see the toll it took on his body. He also didn’t want them to blame themselves for the scarring. He wanted to help and told me once before that it was what he was meant to do. To aid his friends. I understood, but I didn’t want him to do more than his body could handle. Once he awoke, we wanted to wait just in case he needed more time, but he wouldn’t hear of it and we continued down the path the kelpie had told us to follow.