I could feel the color draining from my face as the gravity of the situation fully landed. “Vincent?” I said, my voice shaky.
“Here you go.” he said, handing me a joint. Jack lit it for me, and I inhaled deep.
“Keep it coming, bartender.” I said, taking another hit.
* * *
“Hey there.”
I really didn’t want to wake up. Sleep is comfortable, and nobody’s trying to kill me here.
“Nobody’s trying to kill you here, either.”
That caused me to open an eyelid. Standing above me, looking down, was a familiar face.
“Oh, hi Penelope.” I said, becoming instantly aware.
We were in the middle of an unfamiliar forest. Penelope (or Petronia, as Angelique knew her) sat on a fallen log, and I was on a bed of moss in a clearing. What looked to be late afternoon sun streamed in between the branches above, and everything felt lush and green.
“OK, so this is nicer than the gray, featureless plain.” I said, looking around.
“This was where I lived in life.” she said, her voice wistful. “I thought you might like it more.”
“You’d be right.” I said. “So, I take it we’re talking because of other reasons than a trip down memory lane.”
“I wanted to see if you’re alright. You freaked out so hard earlier, even dead people could feel it.”
“Yeah, well, when you discover that unfathomably powerful beings want you dead, it kind of throws one for a loop.”
“You’d think that the giant spiders would have brought that home.”
“Yeah, but...” I stood up and walked to the edge of the clearing. “That happened at Angelique and Vincent’s place. It’s easier to, I don’t know, compartmentalize it there? Like, I don’t know, maybe this happens all of the time to them? I don’t know.” I threw my hands up in frustration.
“And what about the ravager attack at your house?” she asked, reminding me of the non-traditional end to my graduation party.
I plopped down with a sigh on the log next to her. “You don’t understand. I was the girl who never called attention to herself. I was the one flying under the radar, avoiding all of the crap that comes from notoriety.”
Her voice was soft. “And now you can’t avoid it.”
“I never thought that I could stay anonymous all my life. I just imagined having to deal with the office jerk, or with cranky fans in the comment section when it happened. Not… giant murder spiders.”
“Annabelle, I know it seems scary now.” Penelope looked at me and smiled. “But you’re coming into incredible power. Power that can be used for good. Believe me, seeing the effect you can have, the lives you can save… you’ll come to see it as a blessing.”
“I hope you’re right. If I survive, we’ll have to see.”
* * *
“So anyway,” Trevor said over our laughter, “I say to the High Priestess ‘You’re okay, but the werewolf with the shedding problem has got to go!”
One visit with a dead Sorceress and enough weed to fuel a Snoop Dog tour later, and I was starting to feel like myself again. Trevor’s stories certainly helped me relax. The muscular Brit’s tales always had something to do with the paranormal, and yet always had some humorous tag. I looked at the Fae women that were gathered around him, each laughing and fawning over their guest.
Man, the guy tries so hard, and he doesn't need to I thought. I mean, he’s not really my type… if I have a type… but these ladies certainly like what they see! But he always turns on the charm…
“Gods, Trev,” Darla said, her skin flashing a darker blue. “Where do you find these people?”
“Why, 4-chan, of course!” he said with a grin.
“If you think you can scare us away from checking your story by mentioning a place that even the Lords of the Dread Outer Spaces won’t go into,” an emerald Fae named Dawn said with a laugh, “you’ve got another thing coming!”
“I welcome your scrutiny.” Trevor said with a mock bow.
“It's not like that time at Willie Nelson's, eh?" I added with a grin. Unfortunately, Trevor had chosen that moment to take a sip of his drink, which was then sprayed on Dawn and Cordelia, Darla's other sister. Her skin flushed a darker blue yet, but she laughed despite the mess.
“Oh you naughty boy!” she teased. “I think you should clean up your mess!”
She and Darla shimmied out of their outfits and advanced on Trevor. He looked at Darla and jerked his head with a grin. She smiled, and started to get in a similar state of undress.
“Do you want to exit this little party?" a voice said from behind me. I turned and saw Gaia, her green skin not showing any signs of arousal despite the scene in front of them.
Everyone else in the room being naked except she and me, so the decision was easy. "Hell to the yes!" I exclaimed quietly, rising.
We stepped outside and walked slowly down the road. A full moon shone through the trees, and the winds whistled softly through their branches. We passed more unicorns, these munching on shrubbery quietly, undisturbed.
“I hope you weren’t too uncomfortable back there.” Gaia said.
“Nah.” I replied with a wave. “I mean, Trevor’s somebody I first met after he was thrown out of a mirror, and the rest of them look like a naked pride flag. It’s not like running into my Kindergarten teacher at a leather bar, or anything!”
“Okay for them, just not for you, eh?” she said with a grin.
That brought out another sigh. “Eighteen months ago, I would have said yes. And I still haven’t been tempted while I’m here, but...” I trailed off with a shrug.
“But… what?” she asked, concern in her voice.
What the fuck ever! I thought. Maybe I need to unload on someone!
So I did. I told her about never being interested in sex until I met Vincent, about being horny all of the time since I met him, and about all of the past lives we spent together. I told her about Angelique, about our newly uncovered (for me) past histories, and just how sexual some of them were.
“I never thought I was a horn-dog until I met Vincent." I said, exasperated. "And until this stuff started coming out with Angelique, well… I always assumed I was straight, especially with my hunger for my vampire boyfriend's body, but now..."
“You know there’s no pressure.” Gaia assured me. “I know Angelique, and she’ll be fine with however you love her, even if it’s platonic.”
“Yeah, but what if I don’t want it to be?” I asked defiantly.
“Do you want more with Angelique?” she asked back.
I pointed at her, opened my mouth, and froze for a minute. I finally threw my hands up again. “I don’t fucking know!”
“Look,” she said, stopping and looking at me. “There’s no deadline here. Angelique’s been alive for one and a half millennia, and your Sorceress powers are going to grant you a longer life, so you have time to figure things out.”
“I know.” I began. “It’s just that… wait. What was that about a longer life?”
“You know,” she said slowly, “the energy in you makes your cells age slower, so you’ll live around a hundred and fifty years at the minimum, barring any unnatural ends… you know, right?”
“No, it seems like we haven’t gotten to that bit of information yet.” I said.
“Sorry.” she said sheepishly.
“Alliteration aside, it’s OK.” I said. “I shouldn’t be surprised. As long as I don’t grow nipples on my ass, I’ll be fine.”
“That is something I’m glad to say I’ve never heard of.” Gaia said with a grin.
“Good.” I replied, smiling back.
“And as for your Angelique quandary,” she continued, “You’ll just have to figure that out for yourself. But be patient… you have time.”
“See, the thing is, I don’t know if I could even… you know, be comfortable with doing things to women.” I said, starting to walk again. “I mean, it’s not like I’m disgusted by
the thought… I have the same equipment, so it would be hypocritical to be all ‘ew, gross!’ with someone else’s, right? But I’ve never, you know...”
“You never experimented?” she asked.
“You know… a little, but nothing big.” I said. “I mean, I did the usual kissing games with my girl… I mean, female friends. At slumber parties, you know? No mouths lower than the top of our bras, hands outside of the Pjs, that kind of thing.”
“Uh-huh..." Gaia grinned.
“So I wouldn’t want to be, you know, shitty if I did decide to, you know, try things.” I sighed. “I hope I’m not dumping too much on you.”
“Oh no, you’ve been very illuminating.” she said. “And let me say, you can come to me to just talk anytime. However,” she paused, smiling at me. “If you want to… you know… try things out without all of the history sometime. I would be honored.” She giggled nervously.
“The problem is, no matter how sweet your offer is,” I began. And I definitely don’t feel creeped out, now that the offer’s been made. “I still have a boyfriend to think about. I don’t want my personal explorations to hurt him.”
“You are truly a good person.”
“Thank you.”
Our conversation was interrupted by a high pitched wailing. Gaia threw an arm around me while the other wielded a sword that I have no idea where she was keeping in her silky outfit.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” she replied, eyes still scanning the surrounding terrain. “The general alarm hasn’t been sounded in ages.”
A whoosh of air signaled Vincent’s arrival, and he stood beside me opposite Gaia, also scanning the perimeter.
“Angelique’s going to find out what’s going on.” he said. “Jack and Raina are at Hatsu and Katsu’s.”
He knows me so well! I thought. “OK, so everyone’s safe. Should we move inside?”
Doors started opening all around us, and armed Fae moved cautiously into the street. They started clustering around us, eyes aimed outward.
“I think we’re pretty good out here.” Vincent deadpanned.
The siren cut off, plunging the street into silence. Everyone held their breath, waiting for something to happen.
Another whoosh, and Angelique appeared beside us. “Everyone can stand down.” she said. Her quiet voice shattered the spell, and Fae started moving back towards their doors.
“Contact your security contact to be briefed.” she continued. Angelique turned to us and lowered her voice. “There’s been an incursion on the edges of this realm.”
Gaia audibly gasped. ‘Great Mother...” she exclaimed, her hand to her mouth.
“Yes,” Angelique confirmed, grim. “There is going to be a central security meeting at Lucinda’s in twenty minutes. Our party is assembling there.”
“I’m going.” Gaia said, resolute. “I just don’t feel comfortable letting Annabelle out of my sight.”
“Well, this guardian appreciates your eyes.” Vincent said.
As does this frightened magickal figure!
* * *
“Some unknown agent penetrated our border deep in the woods.” the stern-faced Fae said. “They used the border path to move between realms, and were gone as soon as we discovered their invasion.”
I’d forgotten there even were male Fae, I thought, we’ve been surrounded by the rainbow queer gals since we’ve gotten here!
“They left no trace?” Trevor asked, his face serious.
“None that we have been able to detect.” answered a statuesque Fae, her deep emerald skin telling me that she was some relation of Gaia’s. “I need not inform you all how… problematic this is.”
I had never heard of a Fae realm being entered without permission. Even folks like Raina, who seemed to step in and out of the Wood Fae realm at will, could only do so with standing permission. If she had been banished, no amount of Fae crystal would gain her entry.
One look at those more experienced in these places told me that my assumptions weren’t wrong.
“Who in the hell is powerful enough to crack a way in here?” Evelyn asked. Though she still sat on the lap of Cordelia, who persisted in playing with her hair, she looked anything but relaxed.
“Someone I don’t want to run into on a darkened Fae forest path!” Raina said. She held hands with Drucilla, who leaned on her shoulder.
Okay, so now I know where she’s been!
“We have half of Asia’s paranormal community looking into this.” Hatsu added. “If they came from there, we’ll find out.”
“Jack and I are also combing through human networks, to see what’s out there.” Katsu put her hand on Jack’s, and he shifted in his seat.
“Have the paranormal networks had anything?” Angelique asked Jack.
“You mean the Necronomi-net? Nothing of note.” he relied.
“Anything on the human internet?” Vincent asked.
“Nothing except a report of flying Wooly Mammoths over Siberia, but that’s on the tinfoil hat side, so...” Jack started, only to be cut off by Trevor.
“Wait, did the piece specifically say woolly mammoths?” he asked.
“Well, no,” Jack said, “But I think that the combination of ‘elephant’ with ‘hairy’ and ‘massive tusks’… all of which were in the piece... kind of implies mammoths, but...”
Trevor cut him off again. “What do you think, Evie,” he asked his sister, “hellephants?”
“Sounds like it.” she answered, her voice grim.
“And what are… whatever you just said?” Raina asked.
“It's an enchanted beastie from the Himalayas." Trevor answered. "Very much like mammoths in every way, except these shoot fire out of their tusks."
“We had to deal with a stray one in South Africa last year.” Evelyn continued. “Burned down half of a village before we got the thing to go down.”
“You’re the one who didn’t want me to bring the fifty caliber,” Trevor chimed in, annoyed, “… so all I had to work with were the grenades and napalm rounds...”
“Ok, ok...” Vincent said, holding up his hand and cutting off Trevor’s complaints. “I think you and your sister should return to South Africa, to see if there were more being held there that you guys missed.”
“You got it, chief.” Evelyn answered.
“I’m going into the shadow realm, through the mirror.” Angelique added. “I will see what our friends there have to say.”
“I still have friends with the Wood Fae.” Raina said. “I’ll check to see if they were hit as well.”
“I’m going to check with the Morning-tide Fae.” Vincent said. “For the same reasons.”
“I think Annabelle should stay here, along with her remaining friends.” Gaia said. “She’ll be safer here than anywhere.”
“Yes, there’s a reason that these people didn’t venture beyond the very edges of our realm.” Lucinda said, breezing in. Her purple skin was flush with effort. “As I can now confirm… the incursion lasted under a minute.”
“Is that OK with you?” Gaia asked, looking at me intently.
I shrugged. “This is all new to me. I’ll defer to the legions of experience in the room.”
Besides, I thought, there’s still something I need to do.
* * *
“You really want to do this now?” Gaia asked.
“Yes. I need to.” I answered.
“And you’re sure you want both of us involved?” Lucinda said, her voice tender.
“Why not?” I shrugged. “I mean, one of you, two of you, what’s the difference in the end?”
“So long as you’re comfortable.” Gaia said, smiling.
I wriggled slightly in my seat… a large, overstuffed cushion… and smiled back. “it’s super comfy!”
The room was lit by flickering candles, enchanted ones that bathed the room in purple, blue, and teal light. I sat in the room’s center, with Gaia and Lucinda seated nearby on their own cushi
ons. Instead of their normal, ultra-revealing clothes, they were dressed in shimmering robes that covered all but their faces and hands. I was dressed the same, and finally didn’t feel overdressed.
I had heard of a ritual, one done by the Fae, in the reading that I had done on Twilight Fae lore on the airplane. It was one meant to find those we have shared feelings with in previous lives. Pop culture would probably call it something like "The Soulmate Rite" or something hyperbolic like that, but it wasn't just for soul-mate level feelings.
However, it was based on feelings, not hormones. Hence the uncharacteristic modesty on the part of my Fae hosts.
“Very well.” Lucinda said, settling in. “I am more practiced in this operation, so I will take the lead. Gaia will help lend her energy to draw you in.”
“And what should I do?” I asked.
“Close your eyes and pay attention.” Gaia answered. “We will draw you in, and the spirits we ally with will show you your most consequential past life.”
“It won't be the most important incarnation to your entire life, either." Lucinda said. "It will be the most consequential you right now.”
“Let’s begin.” I said. I closed my eyes and waited.
I heard a few words that Lucinda said in her own Fae dialect, and I was amazed that the same vocal cords could make both those sounds as well as English. I hardly had time to grin, however, before the world spun around me and I was dropped into a quite different scene.
The cabin was nondescript… it could have been from a dozen different cultures over centuries. It was from a time when the lives of poor people didn't change that much. The same could be said for the clothes I wore.
Stained shirt, long skirt, body that’s already bore children… it’s another peasant life! I thought. I noticed, however, that I had a bright red ribbon woven into my long, dark braids. I relaxed and let my old memories flood in…
The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga Page 16