by Martha Carr
"Tonight, we fight with honor and to the end," said the king, nodding.
Correk looked at Leira and tried to smile. "Even if this is the last good thing we do." He managed a crooked smile, the resolute look in his eyes giving him away. He was ready for the battle ahead. "Our new battle cry," he whispered. "Rush in, ask questions later and kick some ass."
Leira lifted her chin. "Damn fucking straight we will." I'm ready.
Leira grounded herself, pulling in the energy from beneath her feet as the troll dropped to the ground next to her, a determined look on his tiny face. Leira's eyes began to glow and she stretched her arms out wide, the symbols glowing on the backs of her hands, riding up her arms and covering her neck. She sent the energy out ahead of her, feeling for any signs of her grandmother, looking for a connection.
It didn't take long to get an answer. Mara appeared in front of the window, watching Leira, holding her position. "You came." Mara's voice echoed in the room. She reached out toward Leira, bowing the layer between Earth and the world in between. The veil had grown even thinner.
Leira took a step toward her, doing her best to tempt the fog to come out, and it obliged. The black mist appeared at her arms, creeping up Mara's shoulders and around her ankles, seeking out the source of the energy, feeling its way toward Leira. It was accompanied by a loud buzz that only grew louder.
The mass of dark energy swirled around Mara's waist, hugging her but she didn't move, still staring at her granddaughter.
The troll growled and grew to the size of a large dog, its teeth bared but he stayed by Leira's side, waiting. Leira felt a tug as the mist swirled around her stream of energy, tying knots with her energy to pull her closer. Her feet started to slide across the floor and flashes of light sparked and snapped within the dense black mist. She dug deeper and pulled more energy through her, fighting off the airy darkness.
A surge of energy stronger than anything she had ever felt pulsed through her, and pushed back hard at the dark magic. The mist grew around Mara, making it harder for Leira to see her as it came into the room.
Come closer bitch.
It swirled, pushing out till it was almost touching Leira, finally tearing a hole in the world in between, creating an opening.
"Now!" yelled Correk, grabbing the queen's hand.
One hand grabbed another, around the room as everyone stood firm and the mist spread into the room, coiling around ankles. Correk's eyes glowed brighter. He poured out his energy around the room, joining the flow as it spun, building and building. The queen's eyes glowed an icy blue and she gripped the hands next to her giving over her magic to the fight.
Leira's feet slid forward again. The mist was starting to overtake her.
The energy in the room spun faster and faster till it burst forward into a ball of brilliant, white light that filled the room, enveloping Leira. "Come to me, Nana! Now!" She let the light flow through her and Correk watched as it pierced Leira in the middle of her back, blasting out in a sharp, single stream of blinding light from her chest. Her head flew back and she grimaced in pain, arching her back but she held her position, her arms out wide.
Correk let out a loud, guttural cry, pulling harder on everything within him, sending it all out in front of him.
The light sliced through the darkness with a thunderous clap.
The mist faltered and drew back as Mara emerged and fell into the room, pulling a young wizard with her.
The mist continued to recede as the light dazzled, pushing back the darkness.
Leira felt another presence. "It's not retreating! It's regrouping!" she yelled over the loud buzz.
Her arms began to vibrate from the effort. Things were taking an ugly turn. The living and the dead appeared at the tear in the world in between pushing each other to gain access to Earth. Leira could feel the darkness coursing through all of them. The dark magic they had practiced poisoned their energy till it squeezed the humanity out of them. They were writhing and twisting, making it difficult to tell where one body started and another ended. The warning from the Gnome's book. Whatever is in the world in between could get out. Leira felt the edges of their madness. There was nothing left of them but darkness.
The light coursing through her started to sputter. She was growing weary as the arms reached out to claw at her, climbing over her energy, looking for freedom.
The young wizard rolled out of the way of the mist's captives as Mara quickly took her place beside Leira, bringing her energy to the fight.
The light pulsed into the darkness, sending out a surge through Leira with a large crack of thunder. Someone flinched at the noise and the spiral of energy hesitated, weakening Leira even further. A dead man put a foot onto the carpet, smiling, a hole through the center of his chest big enough to put a fist through, reaching for Leira. The troll bared its teeth, growing and stretching till his head brushed the ceiling and he was bent forward, his claws outstretched. He opened his mouth and roared, drowning out the hum, swiping the dead man, ripping off his head and tossing him back into the darkness of the world in between in pieces.
The troll advanced, slamming a giant paw onto the ground, letting out another ferocious roar, rattling the windows, clawing at the darkness, shredding whatever was in his path. He put himself between the opening and Leira, blocking their path.
The pile of lost beings retreated, pulling back as two pinpoints of light appeared on either side of the mist. Queen Saria felt a familiar thread of energy coming closer. "Rolim!" The king grasped her hand tighter, stopping her from getting too close to the tear and being pulled inside. Prince Rolim emerged from the darkness, his eyes glowing, battling with the dark beings, sacrificing what was left of himself. It was possible for the dead to still suffer in the world in between.
"Rolim!" cried his mother, pulling away from the king, trying to get to her son, watching him be destroyed all over again.
But the second point of light grew brighter and out of the darkness came an older Light Elf with a long grey beard wearing a silver crown.
"It's true!" gasped Correk. The lost King of Oriceran rushed to his grandson's side. His eyes glowed and his arms were lit by symbols. He fought his way toward the ragged opening.
"The world in between only opens and closes from the inside," yelled Leira, as she looked at Correk. The old king was fighting to close the tear, even if it meant sacrificing his chance to live again outside of the world in between.
"Tonight we fight with honor and to the end!" he yelled, ripping apart the beings, cracking their limbs, pulling them off his grandson.
The troll roared again, reaching into the world in between, slashing the back of a dark being clinging to Prince Rolim, cutting the being to ribbons. "Mother Fucker!" roared the troll. Leira felt the rumble in her chest. The troll stomped a foot, shaking the room, dust from the ceiling raining down on everyone's head.
Leira could feel the darkness pull back. It was weakened and unable to hold open the tear much longer. Hang on.
The old king continued to fight, pushing the darkness back, the tear growing smaller.
"No," gasped Correk but the hole was closing and the veil was growing thicker. Prince Rolim fell to one side, suffering even as he lay dead.
Queen Saria finally freed herself from her husband's grasp and ran to the hole, reaching inside. It was just big enough for her to get her arm inside.
She wanted to feel her son's energy one more time. "My brave boy," she cried, her fingers grazing his foot. Please don't let him suffer.
A light gradually appeared behind him, enveloping the Prince. He stirred and lifted his head, pulling himself to his feet. Leira recognized the young prince she had seen in the vision. He was restored.
Queen Saria looked into the eyes of her son and saw the energy return to him. She strained to reach him as he smiled, putting out his hand till their fingertips touched and she felt a small wave of his energy fill her entire being. It was so familiar to her.
"Mother… I love y
ou."
She looked at him and did her best to smile. "I love you with all that I am..." Her voice broke but she made herself say what she knew needed to be said. "And I send you on your way with peace. You can go. I'll be alright." Tears filled her eyes but she kept his gaze, smiling, letting her energy go out to him one last time. "My brave son."
The light grew till it enveloped him, drawing him in till he was gone. The king pulled his wife back just as the hole sucked in air from the room in a sudden gush, creating a whirlpool in the center of the room that spread to the bedroom till it reversed and turned in on itself, disappearing with a bang.
Several people collapsed on the floor, gasping for air. Larry threw open a window and checked on Jack and Toni. The troll gave one last stomp as he gradually shrunk back down to the size of a large dog, posting himself between Leira and everyone else.
"It's alright Yumfuck. The battle's over. She's alright." Correk pet the top of Yumfuck's head. The troll leaned against Leira and let out a mournful trill, shrinking even further till he was only five inches tall. Correk scooped him and put him on his shoulder. "Well done, my tiny friend. Very well done."
Leira ran to her grandmother and fell into her arms. The smell of lilacs was everywhere. Mara wrapped an arm around Leira and held out her other arm for her daughter. Eireka took her mother's hand and held it against her face.
Leira took a step back and looked at Mara, finally noticing the young wizard still on the floor, pressed against the wall.
"Wait a minute, I know you. I saw you at the... the bowling alley! That night!"
Ernie from the Order of the Silver Griffins sat on the carpet, his heart pounding, surprised to be feeling anything solid.
"You didn't have that before," she said.
There was a wide streak of silver through his dark hair. "Am I really free? Can they come back for us?" He looked around the room, blinking in the light.
Someone offered him a hand and helped him to get up. "You're gonna have quite the story to tell, young man," said Larry. "The women will love it! You were in the world in between and lived to tell about it!"
Ernie's eyes widened and he saw the possibilities. "I could be popular..." he gasped.
"I found him wandering in there getting pushed around by every magical thug that came along. I took a chance," said Mara. "Couldn't leave him in there."
"It fucking worked." It was starting to hit Leira what they had done.
"It fucking worked!" yelled Jack. An exhausted cheer went up from both rooms.
"Thank you." The queen stood in front of Leira, the hard edge at last gone from her voice. There were green vines wrapping themselves around her crown and small white flowers were blooming. The queen took off her signet ring and handed it to Leira, placing it in her palm. "I was wrong about you and I'm sorry. This ring contains some of my energy. More powerful than my son. Use it when you need to and it will aid you in whatever comes next."
Leira grasped her hand. "I'm sorry for everything you've lost. Thank you for being here, no matter the reason. You helped save someone in my family... I will never forget that."
Leira turned to thank everyone in the room and noticed someone was missing. Turner Underwood had already slipped out of the room without anyone noticing. I wonder what will bring you out of the woodwork again.
"I owe you all my life and the life of my grandmother," she said.
"That's what family does for each other, honey," said Toni. "You get it now?"
"I think I do," said Leira.
"E.T. phone home," trilled the troll, pointing to the ceiling.
"Where the hell did you go last night?" Leira put out her hand for the troll and he stepped into her palm. "Yumfuck," he trilled, curling up in a ball.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Leira spent the next few days staying close to home getting meals sent over from Estelle's kitchen. She gave her bed to her mother and grandmother and slept on an old air mattress in the living room. Correk offered the couch but she told him she was fine.
Every day she stood in front of the bathroom mirror where no one else could see her and looked at the two perfectly round scars the size of a fist. One on her back and one on her chest. A souvenir and a reminder. She touched one gingerly and felt a sharp twinge.
One morning she came out for more food and Estelle waved her over to the bar. She sat her down and pointed out the guest house was looking more like a hostel. To her credit, she didn't ask where her grandmother had been or what exactly brought her back. She was awfully good at reading what people needed.
"Your society will drill the story out of you. I'll just eavesdrop when they do." She let out a cackle. "Till then, do the right thing. Let those ladies find their own place, get reacquainted. Your mom can afford it. Make that tall drink of water find his own place too. Time for you to build a life of a different kind this time. A happy one." She blew a perfect 'O' and marched back inside the restaurant. Most conversations with Estelle didn't involve give and take.
"What do you know, Estelle?"
Eireka brought it up before Leira could say anything. She had found a house for rent not too far away big enough for her and Mara. Leira hugged her before her mother could plead her case. "It's okay. I'll be over there, you two will be over here. It's okay."
"You'll be busy with that big new job," said Eireka, brushing Leira's hair out of her face.
"Speaking of which, I gotta go. Duty calls."
"Go save the world, dear. We'll be here. There's time. Let's get pizza later."
"Maybe bring Donald?"
"That's an idea."
***
Leira pulled up to the familiar house, the black poodle barking in the front window. She tucked Yumfuck into her jacket pocket and draped two jackets over her arm, picking up the three pink boxes and balancing them under her chin as she got out of the Mustang. She went up the front steps and rang the doorbell, standing back as Hagan answered the door.
"Oh fuck me, three of those damned boxes. What, did you kill somebody? Am I the cleaner now? Not that I wouldn't do it but geez, don't ruin doughnuts."
"Doughnuts," trilled the troll from Leira's pocket.
"You brought the doughnut bandit with you. Couldn't find a magical babysitter? Come on in." There was a strain in his voice and sweat across his forehead.
"I gave him his own doughnut this time. Where's Rose? I came as soon as I could."
"She's upstairs. The damn cold has gone into her lungs. Doctors say it isn't good. They want her to go the hospital but you know Rose. Hates the place." Hagan was wringing his hands. Never saw him do that before.
The troll leaned out of Leira's pocket and offered his half-eaten doughnut.
"Take me to her." Leira rubbed the troll's head.
"You think you can help?"
Leira put the boxes down on a side table in the front hall, resting the jackets on top of them. "Let's find out. Correk told me what to do. I've got this."
They went up the stairs and Hagan led the way into the bedroom. Rose was propped up on pillows, coughing and flushed. Leira sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "Don't be afraid," she said gently, sending out a small buzz of energy to relax her.
"Leira, why would I be afraid of you." Rose let out a hacking cough, doubling over.
Leira waited, settling herself as she pulled up the energy, her eyes glowing. The symbols appeared on the backs of her hands.
Rose's eyes grew wide but her chest immediately felt lighter and she took in a deep breath. It was working. Leira was pushing out the heavy energy, restoring Rose.
"How did you do that?" Rose's color was returning to normal.
"It's a lot like the flowers."
"What about the flowers?"
"Never mind that dear. Not important," said Hagan quickly. "Is it done?"
Leira got up from the side of the bed and let Hagan take her place.
"What flowers?"
"Well, you see..." Hagan shrugged, ready to confess.
Leira stood in the doorway letting her eyes glow again and quietly said, "Never was, never will be," as the couple froze right where they sat. She went downstairs and grabbed the boxes and the jacket, going back outside, waiting till she was sure the spell had worn off and rang the doorbell again.
Hagan came rushing to the door. "Leira, you'll never believe it. It's like a damn miracle! Rose is better! Damndest thing! Oh geez, what are you doing with all those doughnuts? What'd you kill somebody? And I see you brought the doughnut bandit with you. Come on in if you're coming. You stay out of sight. Rose is just feeling better."
The troll blew a raspberry. "Elliott..."
Hagan stared at him. "You owe me twenty bucks, at least."
Leira started to ask but changed her mind. She followed him in, putting the doughnuts back down on the side table, draping the jackets back over the boxes.
"I have an offer to make to you. Hear me out. I know you love being a detective."
"Stop right there." He held up his hand. "I was gonna tell you in some more formal way, you know, over a beer but I turned in my resignation. I'm telling you I can't take training another one. Rose is not thrilled with me but I hit the wall! I could retire but I don't think she wants me under foot all day."
"What if you could have a partner you didn't need to train?"
"You recommending somebody for your old job?"
"No, I'm recommending you for a new one with me."
"What? I'd chase magical creatures with you?" Hagan fluttered his fingers.
"Don't do your magic hands. I've told you that."
"The Feds know you're here?"
"Not only do they know, they gave me this to give to you. Standard uniform." She handed him one of the jackets. "I'm told you have to wear it. Or at least something like it."
"PDA? What exactly are we part of?"
"Paranormal Defense Agent. PDA. I didn't come up with it. There's a bump in pay and no more paperwork." Leira waggled her fingers. "It's okay when I do it."