by Blythe Baker
“I wasn’t planning on it,” I said.
The phone in my pocket started to ring, making me jump.
“I should leave you so you can get some rest,” Lucan said. “Why don’t I swing by and bring you over something to eat later? We have plenty left over from the party last night. I am certain I didn’t see you eat a thing.”
I smiled at him as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “That’d be nice. Thank you, Lucan.”
He smiled at me, and with a graceful turn and his coat fluttering behind him, he swept away back toward his car…which was parked in my driveway.
I looked down at the phone and saw that it was Bliss calling.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey!” Bliss said. “Good news, Marianne! I just got back from the Hollow! Athena’s awake!”
Relief as pure and potent as a first breath of air after breaking the surface of water coursed through me. “She is?”
“Yeah!” Bliss said. “Turns out I have a sort of affinity for healing magic. Pretty cool, huh? Zara and I combed through, like, a hundred books at the library, trying counter-curse after counter-curse, before one suddenly worked! And Athena woke up and stared at me, and I knew that she was immediately wondering where you were. I filled her in on everything. Where are you? Are you at your cabin?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll meet you guys at the Lodge – ”
“We’re already on our way out the door,” Bliss said. “We’ll see you in five minutes.”
I smiled. “Okay. See you two soon.”
I hung up, feeling better already.
14
So…that’s it, then, huh? Athena asked.
I sighed heavily. “Yeah…I think so.”
We were wandering along one of the forest’s many hiking trails. The dense trees hid most of the sunlight from us, but it was comforting being surrounded by their ancient presence.
Twigs snapped underneath my boots as we walked, and Athena’s nose kept sniffing at the cool air. It was a little warmer than it had been the night before, and I was comfortable in my jacket as she and I caught up on the night’s events.
That Delilah was smarter than we thought, Athena said, the end of her tail twitching as she watched a pair of robins flee from their branch at her approach. She was paying closer attention to you than I thought she would.
“Someone was bound to figure it out,” I said. “Not that I’m exactly happy about it…”
I stared up at the blue sky overhead that was just peeking through some of the branches that intertwined above us.
“I guess I was just hoping it would be on my own terms, is all,” I said.
Things won’t be the same after this, Athena said. Especially if what Isabella said was true. Your mother hid her identity as a faery, but many were suspicious of it.
“I’m honestly worried about how this all might upset the balance between all the different Gifted classes,” I said. “They’ve managed to live in relative peace for some generations now. Will my being a faery cause them to turn on each other again, seeking my power or to attack those I’ve allied myself with?”
What interests me is that Cain knew all along, Athena said. And yet, he treated you no different. He even said that he was trying to protect you.
“Yeah, I know…” I said. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot. Part of me wants to talk to him, but…I don’t think he’d want to.”
Have you tried? Athena asked.
“No,” I said, sliding my chilled hands into my pockets. “He said he never wanted to see me again, so…maybe I should wait for him to reach out if he changes his mind. Besides, he’s the one who warned me that things were going to change now that my secret’s probably out.”
Athena peered up at me. I think he will still protect you. He will find a way to convince Sheriff Garland that his sister’s death was an accident. It’s just as important for him to keep the Gifted a secret as it is for you.
“If he tells Sheriff Garland anything at all…” I said. “I thought the rumor was that his sister was already dead.”
Which would actually be the truth, ironically, Athena said.
I shook my head. “Lucan knows, Cain knows, Delilah knows…some of the most powerful people in Faerywood Falls know who I am.” I laughed hollowly. “And not even twenty-four hours after I found out the truth, too.”
You still have friends, Athena said. Lucan will stand by you no matter what. As will I. And your cousin and your aunt. You have support. You aren’t alone in this.
“I know,” I said, smiling down at her. “And I’m incredibly grateful for it. Thank you.”
A peace settled over me as I stared out into the forest, the trees quiet and still.
“I guess not everything’s changed,” I said. “Just because I knew who my parents were doesn’t mean I suddenly have gained all this power. I still know pretty much nothing, and still only have the most basic understanding of what a faery is.”
There will certainly be those who will want to tell you what that is, Athena said. We should be on the lookout for those looking to manipulate you, disguising themselves as friends and helpers.
“You’re absolutely right,” I said. “I have to be very careful who I trust from here on out.”
There was a tiny glimmer of green light just inside the line of trees, causing me to stop in my tracks. I blinked, but it was already gone.
What is it? Athena asked, slowing her trot to a stop beside me. What did you see?
Another bright spark of green light, but when I turned to see it, it was gone again.
A third, and then a fourth.
I gasped. “Fireflies…” I murmured.
Suddenly, there were hundreds of fireflies surrounding me, their emerald green lights flickering on and off around me, like glowing crystals hovering in the air.
It’s the forest, Athena said. It’s trying to reach out to you.
“Just like last time…” I said.
I looked around at the trees, my heart beginning to race.
“Dear forest…” I said. “The place that has protected and shielded me. You have shown great kindness to me. You have helped me, strengthened me. And I learned that my mother asked the magic deep within your trees to protect me.”
Part of me felt silly for talking to the trees like they were people, but something stirred inside of me as I did it. It was as if the earth itself was responding to me, turning to hear me speak.
“I ask for your protection again,” I said, holding my hands outstretched. “I ask that you would help me. There is still so much I have to learn, and…you are all I have left.”
The branches above my head seemed to tremble, leaves parting with their stems and falling to the forest floor.
“And I hope that my mother’s spirit found rest here,” I said. “I wish I could have known her…”
The fireflies swirled around me, pressing in close to me for a brief moment, almost like a hug…before heading off through the trees.
I stared after them, dumbfounded.
“Was that…?” I asked.
…Your mother? Athena asked.
I couldn’t have been sure, but all of the fear I’d been feeling was gone. I suddenly didn’t feel alone anymore.
I smiled and looked down at Athena. “Come on, Athena. Let’s head home.”
But –
And I turned and headed back down the path toward the cabin, suddenly feeling as if there was nothing that anyone could do to stop me.
Continue following the Mountain Magic Mysteries in Book 7: A Mysterious Murder in Faerywood Falls.
About the Author
Blythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthless
ly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
To learn more about Blythe, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter at www.blythebaker.com