by Mary Karlik
The whole noisy process ratcheted up Ian’s irritation. Ian wanted to jump out of the chair and demand the little man tell them where the portal was.
The old fairy took a bite from his biscuit, carefully set the remainder of it on the edge of his saucer and looked at Ian. “You are anxious to be on your way. But a few minutes here won’t change your future.”
“I’m sorry, sir. My friend is in danger.”
“The dragons aren’t prepared to attack. Not yet.”
Finn drummed his forefinger on the side of his cup. “And how do you know this?”
“One could say I have an alliance with them.”
Finn jumped from his chair and pulled his sword from its scabbard. Just as fast, the old fairy raised his staff, and the sword shot from Finn’s hand and clanged against the far wall.
Old Dorach lowered his staff. “It is my relationship with the dragons that has kept the creatures of our world safe.”
Finn retrieved his weapon but did not return to his seat. “Then you won’t mind telling us what they have planned.”
“I can tell you they are after the half-caste...”
“Her name is Layla,” Ian snapped.
The fairy ignored the warning in his tone and took another long sip of tea. “Sit down and drink your tea.”
Once Finn was settled in his chair, Dorach continued. “They know she killed Fauth. She frightens them, but they believe she has the silver wand.”
“What is the silver wand?” Ian asked.
Dorach took a bite from his biscuit and chewed as he spoke. “It was believed to be hidden in the human world.”
Ian flattened his hands against the tabletop to keep from pounding it. “But what does the wand do?”
Dorach looked across the table at Ian. “It can create new portals. It can destroy portals. It can shred the very barrier between the human and magical realms.” With each sentence, his words were more serious, his tone more threatening.
Finn’s posture tensed. “If the dragons possessed the wand, they’d destroy everything in both worlds.”
“She doesn’t have the wand.” If Old Dorach was looking for a way to get his hands on the wand, he was barking up the wrong dragon.
Finn shook his head. “But if the dragons think she does or think she can get it…”
Finn’s words became distorted, and colors swirled before Ian’s eyes. The dragon-spirit hissed and surged. Panic charged his pulse. He shoved his chair back and grabbed hold of the seat with both hands and forced his gaze to the fairy. “You drugged me.”
Dorach pressed his staff into the center of Ian’s chest. “Let the beast speak. I’ll keep you safe.”
The staff pinned Ian to the chair as if he’d been covered by a lead blanket. He was helpless to move and worse helpless to stop the dragon hisses from escaping his lips. The power of the dragon-spirit built pressure inside him, pressing against his heart, lungs, and ribs. His throat burned as the sounds slithered from his mouth.
Slowly the dragon-spirit retreated, and the pain eased.
Old Dorach lifted the staff from Ian’s chest.
Ian sucked in deep breaths. Sweat dripped down his face, and his throat ached from the unnatural contortions of the dragon’s words.
Finn towered over the fairy. “What did you do to him?”
Old Dorach smiled, exposing uneven, mottled teeth. “I had to know the dragon’s intent. The human wasn’t harmed.”
Finn wiped his face with the end of his plaid. “What did the dragon say?”
Dorach shifted a sympathetic gaze to Ian. “I’m sorry for your friend, Miranda.”
“You know about her?” Ian’s heart ached at the memory of the moment she was transformed into the dragon.
“The dragon-spirit spoke of her. Rest assured, there was nothing that could have brought her back.”
“I feel the spirit’s hunger. I’m afraid I’ll lose the battle just as she did.”
Dorach returned to his seat. “The dragon-spirit will fight you until you master it.”
“How do I defeat it?”
“You have to believe you are its master. You have to show it that you are in control. It will take time, but you can’t let your guard down. Not for a second.”
Ian nodded. “Aye. That much I figured out.”
“There is another matter we’re here about.” Finn sat on the edge of a chair with his sword across his lap. “Do you know of the portal the dragons used to enter the human world?”
“The dragons didn’t enter through a portal. They have managed to predict the breaches between the worlds with some accuracy.”
“Breaches?” Ian sat up. “You mean the world … tilts?”
“Aye.”
Finn leaned forward. “Do you know what causes them?”
“No. There are theories. The dragons claim they are occurring more frequently.”
Ian looked at Finn. “If we can figure out the location and time of the next breach, I can return to my world.”
“There is another way.” The fairy spoke so softly Ian almost missed his words.
“Tell us.” Ian leaned toward the old fairy.
“There is a portal. It will be difficult and dangerous to get to. But if you succeed, it has been opened before.”
“Grand.” Finn stood and sheathed his sword. “Tell us where to go.”
The fairy raised his gaze to Finn. “It is hidden in the center of the dragon’s den. The dragons aren’t even aware of what it is.”
Finn rolled his head on his neck. “Oh, great. You’re sending us into the mouth of the dragon.”
Ian shook his head. “Wait. What about the portal the Dark Harvester used? Layla passed through it. I know for a fact it is not in a dragon’s den.”
“And it’s been destroyed,” Dorach said.
“What do you mean destroyed?” Ian asked.
“There was a surge of power—presumably when your fairy friend was passing through. It blew up the portal.”
Ian rubbed the back of his neck. “That explains why she can’t find the door in the human side.”
Finn shrugged. “I guess if I’m going to the center of the dragon’s den, I’d rather do it with a dragon-shifter.”
Dorach crawled off the chair and leaned on his staff. “The dragon is quiet for now and will remain so for a while—a little added bonus to the drink. When it fully awakens, it will battle you for power.”
“Then I need to get to that portal before it wakes up.” Ian stood and turned to Finn. “But I won’t endanger anybody else. This is where we part.”
“Oh, no,” Finn said. “Layla is my best mate. We go together. One of us has to get through that portal. If you lose to the dragon, I still have a chance to get through.”
There was a part of Ian that wanted to argue, but the truth was he needed Finn to maneuver in the magic world. And Finn was right. They had a better chance of reaching Layla if they traveled together.
He looked at the old fairy. “How do we find this hidden portal?”
Old Dorach blinked, and the bags beneath his eyes drooped lower. “The den is a maze, but eventually it will guide you to a chamber in the center. Inside the chamber is a sloc—a pit. That is the portal. I’ll get to the den and help you if I can.”
Ian’s gut churned. Just the thought of entering the dragon’s den ramped up his system. He smiled at Finn. “Simple. We just have to survive long enough to jump into the pit.”
Dorach narrowed his gaze at him. “First you must survive the journey to the den. Second, you must get to the pit.”
Finn blew out a long breath and looked at the forest beyond the granite doorway. “Well, it looks like a beautiful day for a dangerous journey.”
Ian extended his hand to Old Dorach. “Thank you for helping us.”
The old fairy looked at his outstretched hand. “I assume this is a human gesture of some sort?”
“A handshake. It’s a human greeting, a goodbye.” When Old Dorach didn’t take his h
and, he lowered it to his side. “Did I just offend you?”
Finn smirked. “In a world full of magic, holding your hand out like that means your likely about to throw a spell. It’s not seen as a friendly gesture.”
Ian folded his arms across his chest. “Aye. Of course. That makes sense. My apologies.”
Finn bowed toward Old Dorach. “Thank you for your generosity.”
Ian bowed as Finn had done. He waited for Dorach to return the gesture before straightening, but the fairy just stared at him.
Finn ignored the awkwardness in the air and ducked through the doorway. Ian tried to follow, but Dorach blocked him with his staff. “The half-caste is tied to your soul?”
“Aye. The fairy is tied to my soul.”
“She must live at all costs. Therefore, you must live at all costs. Remember, to fear the enemy is to give it strength. Be confident in yourself. You have the power.” He lifted the stick and let him pass.
“Thank you.” Ian ducked through the opening to the forest.
Finn adjusted the belt holding his sword. “Everything alright?”
Dorach had listened to the dragon, heard its story. All Ian knew of it was its rage. How could he control something he didn’t understand? And Layla was counting on him, even if she didn’t know it. A shiver ran down his spine.
Ian put on a smile. “Aye. Just more doom and gloom stuff.”
Chapter Ten
Layla wanted to believe that Amelia hadn’t intentionally hidden the fact that she knew her nanna was a gatekeeper. People in this world either denied or didn’t believe in magic. But it really rankled her wings that Amelia was reluctant to talk about portals, or magic, or saving her brother.
But Amelia was going to talk now. If she wanted Ian back, she had to talk.
So Layla waited and watched Amelia twist her hands like she was trying to figure out what to say. The orange striped kitten she’d held crashed its side against Amelia’s legs. She gave an over exaggerated lurch with the impact and managed to work her mouth into words. “I don’t know a lot. And I never believed it was true. But I’ll tell you what I do know.”
She hooked her hand on Layla’s elbow and hurried them to the left front corner of the barn—the furthest away from the fairies. She stood with her back stuck in the corner and scanned her surroundings, looking for anyone who might overhear. If there was one thing Layla was sure of, it was that Amelia didn’t want to be overheard.
Amelia licked her lips before speaking. “I heard my nanna arguing with Mum. She told Mum it was time she learnt the craft. Mum was dead against it.”
“Dead against being a gatekeeper or allowing magical creatures into this world?” Layla’s tone could have been a little nicer, but she had fairies to save and Ian to find. She didn’t have time for nice.
“I suppose all of it. Nanna said it was time Mum stopped hiding her power and learn how to use it. Apparently, Nanna’s skills were fading. She begged Mum to let her teach her before they disappeared.”
“And your mum refused.”
“They had a bloody row over it. Mum forbade Nanna from using her skills.”
“And did she stop using them?”
Amelia shook her head. “No. But I think her skills were already too weak. I saw her try to call fairies forth. The only time I saw her succeed was when the red cap came through.”
“You’ve known all along you’re a gatekeeper.” Layla backed away and ran her hands through the ends of her curls. Her wings opened and closed in slow rhythmic movements—completely incongruent with the anger rattling through her.
“Don’t look at me as if I lied,” Amelia bit back. “I didn’t know. I’ve never had any indication of the sort.”
“And would you have kept quiet about it if I hadn’t pushed you?”
“Do I look like the type who’d keep a secret that could save my brother? Instead of directing your anger at me, why not teach me what I need to do to open the bloody portal.”
If Amelia was trying to keep from being overheard, she had failed miserably. The last sentence fairly rattled the rafters of the barn.
Layla blew out a breath and relaxed her wings. “Aye. You’re right. It makes sense that you wouldn’t know. You live in a world that pretends magic doesn’t exist. Did you ever see or feel anything odd around where your nanna called the fairy?”
“When I was a child, I pretended that area was magical. But I don’t remember anything happening. After Mum and Dad were murdered, I lost the desire to pretend.”
“With the portals closing, I’m not sure you would have felt anything, anyway.”
“There is something.” Amelia licked her lips again. “A few weeks ago, I was in that back garden looking for a cat that had been injured. I was helping the owner catch the tom so he could bring him to surgery. I thought I heard music from the spot.” She rolled her gaze to the rafters. “No. I know I heard music.”
The anger and anxiety that had whirled in Layla’s belly turned to explosions of joy. She grabbed Amelia’s hands. “Don’t you see what this means? That’s the portal. If you can open it, we can bring Ian back and take the fairies home.”
Amelia pulled away. “I—I don’t know if I can open the portal. I don’t know if it is a portal. I’ve never felt magic, Layla. What if I’m not magic? What if it skipped me?”
“You heard music. That’s something. You have to try. Lives depend on it.”
“Aye. Okay. Let’s get the fairies settled, and I’ll take you there.”
Layla was too excited to walk to her sister. She fey-sized and flew to the fairies. She didn’t want to get the fairies hopes up, but she had to tell Esme.
And when she did, they spun in circles all the way to the ceiling and back down.
Amelia watched them flutter around the barn with a critical eye. “If you’re finished playing around, I have a wheelbarrow that we can use to move the sickest of the fairies to the solarium.”
“Aye. Thank you.” Esme flew close to her. “Most of us can fly, but there are those who are too weak.”
It didn’t take long to sort the fairies into who wanted to ride to the house from those eager to fly or walk. Layla’s heart warmed as she followed the trail of fairies from the barn to the house.
Amelia pushed the wheelbarrow, and Layla saw the concern on her face as she kept watch over the ill. “Are you alright?”
“There has to be more that I can do for them.”
“You just get that portal open, and they’ll be fine.”
Amelia let a half-smile slip. “No pressure then.”
As they settled the fey in the solarium, Layla watched the lads in the back garden.
They were crouched in a circle dumping plants from flower pots and replacing the contents with fresh-cut peat. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but from Buzzard’s serious expression, she doubted it had anything to do with the project they were working on.
Esme waved her hand in front of Layla. “Hello? Are you in there?”
“Sorry. Were you talking to me?” Layla kept her eyes on the lads in the garden.
“Go on. We’ve got it sorted here.”
“Thank you.” Layla flew from the solarium to the circle of men and human-sized.
Buzzard slapped his chest and did a little I-nearly-stepped-on-a-gnome dance. “Christ, Layla. A little warning.”
“You’re a special agent. Shouldn’t you be aware of your surroundings?”
Jack tipped his chin at Buzzard. “She’s got you there.”
Buzzard stopped mid-way from pulling dirt from a pot and looked up at Layla. “We’ve been discussing the timeline of Ian’s parents’ death and Fauth’s banishment. We can’t quite find the connection.”
Layla looked at Andrew. “Well, I had quite the interesting conversation with Amelia.”
Andrew sat back on his heels. “Oh?”
“Did you know your nanna was a gatekeeper? And your mum, and therefore Amelia?”
Andrew’s eyes grew wide an
d his face lost a bit of color. “Not Mum. Not Amelia.”
Buzzard looked at Andrew. “If it’s true, she can open the portal to the magic world.”
Layla’s wings fluttered. “If she can open the portal, we can get Ian back.”
Buzzard sat the pot on the ground. “What do you mean if?”
“I don’t think it’s as simple as saying ‘would you mind opening to the magic world, please?’ She’s never done it before, and it might take a bit. But at least we know where it is.”
Andrew nodded. “The back garden where we grew up. The spot where Nanna called the red cap through.”
“Aye.” Amelia spoke from behind Layla. “The fairies are settled.” She looked at Andrew. “We’re going to see if I can manage to open a portal.”
Andrew stood. “Okay. Brilliant.” His expression said he didn’t think it was brilliant at all. Judging by his wide-eyed look, Layla figured he thought it was terrifying.
Buzzard stood. “You lads finish up.”
Jack shoved peat in a pot. “I’ll finish up. I’d like to stay behind and keep an eye on the fairies.”
Buzzard nodded. “That’ll be fine. I’ll unload our things from the car.”
He started around the side of the house, but Layla stopped him. “I’ll go with you. I want to put the scepter in the house.”
“Aye. Just make sure you secure that thing.”
“Of course.”
The village was tiny—maybe three streets wide—and nestled in a cove. There was a ferry dock and a few fishing boats, but that was about the extent of it. Layla and Amelia walked in front of the lads as they made their way to a row of shops that faced the seawall.
“Is it difficult to return to your childhood home?” Layla asked.
Amelia rolled her gaze up the side of one of the buildings and back to Layla. “I have to admit, every time I set foot near the place, I feel a twinge of pain in my heart. There were a lot of happy memories growing up there until there weren’t.”
Layla’s chest burned. “This year was the first time I returned to the site of my parents’ murder.” It seemed like a million years ago since she’d walked onto the fairgrounds where so many fey were massacred. She would have never imagined that returning to that place would have led to her to the human world.