The biggest goblin bared his teeth at him. “We don’t take orders from a stinking shifter.”
Cillian shrugged and took hold of Mia’s wrist, casually sliding around the goblins with her in tow. “Then don’t come. It doesn’t matter to me either way. But if you want to know the truth then I won’t stop you from following us. It’s your choice.”
With that, Mia got into the front seat of her car, while Cillian slid into the passenger seat. Not willing to risk a glance at the goblins in case it made them angry, she started the car and pulled out. She didn’t look behind her to see if they followed. “Is that such a good idea?” she asked as they headed down the main road that cut through the downtown area.
“If they’re appeased with answers, they’ll leave you alone. Well... leave you alone more or less,” Cillian explained.
Mia grimaced. “I doubt that. The goblins hate me.”
“They see you as a threat to their family unit. You’ve taken away one of their cousins, one of their brothers. They don’t forgive an offense like that easily.”
Mia glanced at him. “I didn’t take Kai away. Kai chose to be with Angie, and he chose to be our friend.”
“His choice or not, they don’t care. They’d rather blame it on you, than see Kai as a traitor to their kind.”
“Well... then I guess I’ll just have to live with being at the top of the goblins’ Most Hated list.”
Cillian smirked. “I suppose so.”
They drove in silence the rest of the way to the Falls. To Mia’s chagrin when she parked, she found two cars park alongside hers. The goblins and their Fae friends had decided to follow them.
Cillian took off down the path at a brisk pace like he was on a mission. Mia had to hurry to keep up with him, so she didn’t fall behind with their small entourage. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she whispered. “I hope you can give them answers.”
He flashed her a confident grin. “I will. I have an idea of what’s going on, but I need Angie to confirm it.”
“Why Angie?”
“Because nymphs are connected to the earth. She can detect when something is off,” he explained.
Mia frowned, falling into step beside him. “And... do you think something is wrong? Like off?”
“Only Angie will be able to tell us that. She said she’d meet us at the Falls.”
Mia almost hoped there wasn’t anything wrong. A monster they could fight and get rid of... something unknown, something unseen and untouchable? That was another story all together.
Angie was pacing in front of the Falls when they got there. She stopped when she saw them coming and her eyebrows rose when she saw the goblins and Fae behind them. Her eyes were pink from crying. She must have heard about Rue. The first thing Mia did was pull her into a hug. “I’m so sorry about Rue,” she whispered.
Angie hugged her back just as hard. “Me too...”
She sniffled as they parted and quickly swiped a loose tear away. Angie took a deep breath and turned to Cillian. “What’s going on? What’s with the crowd?”
Cillian shook his head. He reached out and looped an arm around her shoulders. “Pay no attention to them Angie. I just need you to test something. Will you do a reading of the ground for me?”
Angie frowned, confusion puckering her forehead. “A reading? Here?”
“Yes.”
“What do you expect me to find?” Angie asked, glancing up at him.
Cillian shrugged. “I’d rather wait to see if it’s true or not. I don’t want to cause a panic.”
That sounded rather ominous and alarming... Angie nodded reluctantly as Cillian removed his arm from her shoulders. Mia stepped forward as Angie knelt down in the grass. “What’s a reading?” she whispered.
Angie splayed her hands in the grass in front of her and closed her eyes. “It’s hard to explain but... kind of getting the vibe of the land. It’s not hard or anything. Just an odd request.”
“Hmm...” Mia muttered, stepping back to give her some space.
Angie took a deep breath and her whole body relaxed. Nothing happened. No changes in the wind or temperature or anything. But Mia did notice Angie’s shoulders straighten and her body tense after a minute. She opened her eyes. They were wide and full of uncertainty when they landed on Cillian.
He folded his arms. “What did you feel?”
“A... disturbance,” Angie murmured, her voice sounding foggy and far away. “Almost like... a sickness. It’s coming from the portal. Oozing out of it and poisoning the land. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it till now...”
“And with it... those who belong to the land,” Cillian finished.
Angie grimaced and nodded, getting to her feet.
Mia opened her mouth to ask what that meant but one of the goblins beat her to it. Cillian turned his grave attention to the bystanders. “I have a few theories but for now I’d rather not say… I’d like to do a few more tests before I know for sure.”
“Why not share some of your theories? What are we dealing with here? How do you know it’s not Mia’s fault?”
Cillian frowned. “Because it’s coming from the land, not from Mia.”
The goblin ringleader folded his arms. “What do we do about it?”
Cillian rubbed at his jaw and glanced at Mia for a millisecond before turning his attention back to the goblin. “I don’t know. But I will find a solution as soon as I can. For now… try not to worry or panic. This will be under control.”
Once they were out of earshot, Mia turned her attention back to Cillian. “So do you really not know?”
Cillian glanced between the two girls. “I have a few ideas, but I suggest we talk in the safety of my shop. Let’s leave.”
“Yeah...” Angie said, rubbing her forearms. “Now that I’ve felt it, I can’t unfeel it. I feel kind of sick...”
Mia walked beside her friend, wrapping her arm around her shoulders. “It’s OK,” she said. “Cillian will figure it out.”
That was what she told herself as they headed back to the shop. Cillian would figure it out. He had to. Or more people were going to die.
Chapter Fourteen
“You’re blaming this on us?” Ryker growled, gesturing between him and Joelin.
Mia started to nod, more than happy to put the blame on them, but Cillian beat her to a big fat YES! He took the more diplomatic approach. “Neither of you could have predicted this would happen. A shut portal like this... it’s such a rarity that no one could really know how it would react to being pried open the way it was. So, while your actions may have caused this curse... it doesn’t seem like it was intentional.”
“Of course it wasn’t,” Ryker snapped, folding his arms. “We don’t have time for this. Mia needs to be training.”
“I told you,” Mia butted in, glaring at him. “I’m done training. I’m out.”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “And I said... you aren’t.”
Mia was about ready to blurt out to everyone in the room that he had threatened her to keep training. Rhett wouldn’t take that. She half wanted to see two of them duke it out, fighting over her. But they didn’t have time for that. They needed to put a stop to this curse before anyone else died.
She took a deep, calming breath and turned her attention to Cillian, choosing to ignore Ryker. “So what do we do? From what Angie said it seems like it’s infecting the whole town.”
Cillian nodded thoughtfully, turning to Angie. “What do you think?”
Angie grimaced, braiding the pink strands of her hair anxiously down her shoulder. “It sure feels that way. I called Hazel and a few of the other nymphs willing to help to see what else they can feel. From what I could tell... it’s pretty bad. It feels... sickly and wrong. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.”
Rhett stepped forward. “Not even in Faerie?”
Angie shook her head. “No... though...” She paused, lost in thought.
Rhett scowled and smacked her shoulde
r lightly. “Though what?”
Angie scowled and smacked his shoulder back, less lightly. “Though I’ve felt something... on a much smaller scale back in Faerie. There was a network of trees who were sick and dying. We figured it was from a rogue nymph but realized later it was a sickness in the earth. The ground felt dark and ugly. One of the nymphs tried to connect with one of the trees and it hurt her badly... This feels similar to that, only on a larger scale.”
“Should the nymphs not, like, try to connect to the trees and stuff then?” Mia asked.
Angie made a face and whipped out her phone. “I’m so dumb... Let me call Hazel real quick. I’ll be right back,” she said, hurrying out of the store.
Mia frowned. Hopefully, none of the nymphs had done anything too bold with the forest. She wasn’t sure what connecting to a tree meant but... she’d rather not have any more dead nymphs in town.
Ryker made an impatient sound. “What are we supposed to do about this? Joelin and I may have caused this so... it’s only fair of us to try and put a stop to it.”
“How very noble of you,” Rhett drawled, smirking.
Ryker sent him a glare.
Cillian tapped his chin. “There aren’t many ways to get rid of a curse of this magnitude. Frankly, I’ve never seen anything like this before. The nymphs could try purging the land... Though that would require significant risk to themselves depending on how they went about it. I could try to concoct some sort of potion to slow it down... But the only definite way I can think to get rid of it is through Mia’s magic.”
All eyes turned to Mia. A slight triumph sparkled in Ryker’s eyes. Mia took a halting step back. “My magic? How am I supposed to stop this?” she asked, a hand going to her chest.
“Because your magic is the only thing keeping the portal shut. By opening it the way they did, Ryker and Joelin violated your magic. Therefore, only you can end the curse.”
Mia swallowed. How in the heck did he think she was going to do that? She didn’t even know how to use her magic, let alone access it. How was she supposed to get rid of a curse? She shook her head. “I would if I could. But I don’t know how.”
Cillian nodded. “If you had your memories and your magic at full strength... I would have said you could purge the curse yourself easily. But right now, I don’t think that’s the best way to do this. I do, however, have something that might make this easier for you.” Raising a finger, he headed into the back of his shop.
Rhett turned on Mia once he was gone. “I don’t trust him,” he declared.
Mia folded her arms. “I’m aware.”
“No, I mean, I don’t think we should trust anything he says. For all we know, this thing he has might make it worse.”
“Why would he do that? It would be putting this town and everyone in it at risk, and as much as you don’t like him, I don’t think Cillian is capable of letting innocent people die,” Mia hissed, not wanting Cillian’s keen shifter ears to hear.
Rhett shrugged. “He’s a shifter. They can’t be trusted... they’re... shifty.”
Mia snorted. “They’re shifty?”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “You don’t get it because you’ve never lived around shifters before. All of them are selfish and out for themselves. They can’t be trusted. It’s their nature.”
Mia scowled, eyes narrowing. “I don’t believe people just have a nature they can’t resist. Anyone can be any kind of person they want. Kind or mean. Cruel or compassionate. And I think Cillian may be a little fishy in some areas, but he’s not a horrible person,” she shout-whispered.
Rhett shook his head. “You’re just blinded because your mom’s dating him and you always want to see the good in people even when there’s no good to be found.”
“You should be thankful I can see the good in people,” Mia snapped back. “Or I would have never fallen in love with you.”
There was an audible silence. Ryker was staring down at his hands while Joelin was watching their conversation. Rhett just stared at her, a small smirk curling his lips. “You...”
Before he could finish that sentence though, the door opened and Angie breezed back in, waving her phone in the air triumphantly. “Hazel and the girls have been warned. All is well once again... What did I miss?” she asked, glancing around at all the tense faces.
Mia’s face blazed at what she had just said. She looked away, staring at one of the shelves. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. Now Rhett really wouldn’t leave her alone. He knew now that she had been in love with him... “Nothing,” she mumbled. “Nothing important.”
“Mmmhmm.” Angie didn’t sound convinced but before she could ask anything else, Cillian reappeared.
He held a black glittering box in his hands. “Here it is,” he declared proudly.
He walked past everyone and set it down on his desk. Everyone stared at it. It was pretty with a silver half-moon on the top of it and a silver latch. “What’s it for?” Mia asked. She walked over to the desk to give herself space from Rhett. She could feel his gaze on her, but now wasn’t the time to finish that argument.
Later...
Unfortunately, she knew he would bring it up later.
“Simply put, it’s a curse holder,” Cillian said, gesturing at it.
Mia’s eyes widened as she stared down at the simple, pretty box. “A curse holder?”
“Aye. All you have to do is summon the curse and stick it in there. It’ll be trapped in that box forever. The box has never been used, so it’s squeaky clean inside and ready to hold a nasty little curse,” Cillian said, smoothing his hand over the surface of it like it was a purring kitten.
Mia cocked her head, staring down at the box and then up at Cillian. He made it sound so simple, but she knew it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. “How am I supposed to summon a curse and stick it in a box?”
“With magic of course.”
“We just established that my magic sucks. Is there another way? You said this would make things easier for me,” she said, gesturing at the box on his desk.
Cillian patted it, grinning slyly at her. “It will. It’s easier to transfer a curse than to eradicate one. Takes less magic and energy as well. So, as long as you get at least somewhat of a handle on your magic... you should be able to use this to get rid of the curse.”
Mia tapped her foot against the ground, mulling over his plan. He made it sound so easy. She knew it wouldn’t be but... he was right. Sticking a curse in a box sounded easier than getting rid of it all together. And if it required the bare minimum of magic, then Mia could roll with that.
“So... I just have to have a sort of handle on my magic to use this?” she asked.
Cillian nodded. “Yes.”
Mia considered it. What other choice did she have? She couldn’t just keep going about her days while more people died when she knew she could put a stop to it. Pressing her lips together, Mia nodded after a moment. Unfortunately, Ryker would get his wish. Mia was going to have to figure out her magic problem. “OK...” she finally said, not believing she was agreeing to this. “I’ll do it. Only because people are in danger,” she added, shooting a glance at Ryker.
He merely nodded, but she could still see the triumph in his eyes. Mia started to reach for the box, but Rhett came out of nowhere and slapped a hand on the lid, stopping her from taking it. “What’s the catch?” he asked, glaring at Cillian.
Cillian raised his hands in surrender, innocence written all over his face. “No catch. This one is on the house.”
Rhett’s eyes narrowed. “Nothing is ever on the house with you.”
“For my sweet Amelia, it is. She happens to be a friend and a favorite of mine,” he said with a grin at Mia over Rhett’s shoulder.
Mia grinned back and reached for the box yet again. This time Rhett didn’t stop her from taking it, but his eyes darkened as he glared at Cillian. “I don’t like this. You have an angle.”
“I always have an angle princeling,” Cillian said b
ack smoothly. “But I happen to live in this town. I’d rather not live in a town where people are dropping like flies and a curse is weakening the earth. This is my home. Why wouldn’t I want to save it?”
Mia held the box to her chest. “That seems like a good enough angle to me,” Mia declared.
Rhett shot her a look over his shoulder. A look that said she should stay out of this. Well too bad. “I think we’re done here. I have training to do... I guess. Thank you so much for your help Cillian. It means a lot.”
Rhett’s lips twisted and without a word, he turned and stormed out. Angie snickered under her breath at his obvious frustration. Cillian took it all in stride. He gave Mia a little bow. “Of course. Anything for you my dear. I hope your training is swift and successful. I’ll also find my way back to the Falls and see what I can do about slowing it down.”
Mia gave him a half-hearted smile and then left the shop with Ryker, Joelin and Angie in tow.
“We should start immediately,” Ryker announced as soon as they left the shop.
She knew he would say that. Angie patted Mia’s arm, giving her a sympathetic smile. “Sorry, I would stay, but I promised Hazel I’d meet her at the Falls to talk about the curse and stuff.”
“It’s no problem. You go and see what you can do. I’ll work on this,” Mia said, holding up the box.
Angie gave her a grateful smile and headed down the sidewalk. Mia took a deep breath and turned her attention to her car. Ryker, Joelin and Rhett were already speeding away in Rhett’s car back to their house. Mia set the box gently in the passenger seat of her car and then got into the driver’s side. She turned the car on but didn’t move, needing a minute to prepare herself for what she had just agreed to.
Mia had been so pushy about not doing any magic training that now that she had to... it scared her. A lot. She tugged at a loose strand of hair and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. But people were dying. Mia couldn’t sit back and let that happen. This was up to her. Do this and then she could be done. Open the portal for Ryker after she stopped the curse and that was that.
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