The Portal to Sidhe: Book 3

by Kelsey Schaeffer

  The guards looked our way, and Benny nodded his head as I sobbed against his shoulder. With on swift move, the guards carefully tossed my son through.

  I screamed and fell to the ground.

  Chapter 18

  As I lay on the ground, it felt as if death were consuming by body. I screamed so hard and so loud, my head began to pound and I felt as if I were going to vomit. Every nerve in my body was shaking so hard, I began to go numb.

  “Mom,” I heard my son say. “Please calm down. You’re going to pass out. You’re white as a ghost.”

  “Someone get a healing fairy,” I heard in the distance.

  “Mom, mom.” I heard Benny say, but his voice to grow further away. “Mom.”

  The emotional strain of losing my son was so harsh, it caused me to faint. I awoke in Ben’s room with Benny sitting in a chair across the room, and Ben sitting by my side.

  I quickly sat up and opened my eyes, but I felt dizzy, and my eyes seemed especially heavy.

  “Relax Miranda,” Ben said softly, “The healing fairy sedated you after you passed out.”

  “How long have I been out?” I asked.

  He thought for a moment and said, “A few hours…maybe two.” He looked at his son for agreement, and then nodded his head.

  “How is Damon?” I asked.

  “Nathen and Delia are with him,” Ben replied. “He was sedated as well.”

  I nodded my head. “Alice and Isabella?”

  “Roger and Allison are caring for Isabella. Nick is with Alice”

  “Is Alice okay?” I asked.

  Ben looked reluctant, but said shook his head. “She has been crying so hard, she made herself sick. She won’t eat and she was screaming constantly. We finally gave her a sedative as well. She’s sleeping.”

  I nodded my head, and felt sad inside, but I was so numb from the sedative, it was hard to react.

  For the next few days, I remained in bed, sleeping off and only, and only rising to use the restroom. My husband and son were constantly by side, trying to convince me to eat and drink, but I found it different to eat anything without feeling sick.

  Finally after three days of mourning, I demanded the sedatives stop, so I could care for my daughter. Ben and Benny agreed and that evening, I was feeling well enough to leave my bed. I quickly cleaned myself up before I checked on Damon. Damon was sound asleep, with Delia sitting by his side.

  The moment Delia saw me, she jumped up and quickly gave me a hug. “Oh honey, how are you?”

  “I’m about the best I can be,” I said.

  Delia frowned and shook her head, “I know. We’re all hurting.”

  I nodded and said, “I just wanted to check on Damon. I’m going to go see Alice now. I heard she isn’t well.”

  Delia shook her head, “Nick has been caring for her, but I’m unsure of her condition.”

  I left Delia and Damon, and headed to my daughters room. I slowly opened the door to avoid startling her. All the lights were off in her room, except a dim lamp near her bed that gave the room an eerie glow. My daughter lay in bed sound asleep, as Nick was sitting in her armchair.

  “Nick,” I said softly, “What’s going on?”

  “She’s been laying here. She won’t move…won’t talk…won’t eat. I’m scared to leave her.”

  “I can watch her if you want to go,” I said.

  Nick shook his head. Then he hopped off the seat, and sat on the ground. “You can take my seat,” he said. “I’m not leaving her.” He paused for a moment before he said, “Luke and Alice have been my best friends since I can remember. Luke cared for Alice and looked after her more than anyone, and they were my best friends, so I’m going to look after Alice now.”

  I smiled. “You’re a good kid,” I said, “You’re a lot like your grandfather.”

  Nick smiled.

  I smiled, feeling grateful that my daughter had a good friend like Nick in her life.

  The days that past after Luke’s departure, the family stayed near. With Alice back in her own room, Nick had practically moved in with us, and Benny had been crashing on the couch. Eventually Damon was taken off the sedatives, and life started to go back to normal.

  After Samantha’s death and Luke’s departure, our house grew so full, we realized it was time for our home to grow. We made plans to turn our home into a giant royal complex. We would be adding three wings to our already large home. The main wing would consist of all the living quarters, where my family and myself would reside. The east wing addition would be a royal wing, where Benny would reside. His wing would include a library, a parlor and a small eat in kitchen. His suite would also house his master suite and three guest suites.

  The west would be built for my Aunt Allison and Brandon to reside. Nick, who was being raised by his grandfather would take residence in this wing as well. A modest suite was being built in this wing for Roger also. Like Benny’s wing, this wing would also house a personal kitchen, a library and a parlor.

  Unlike the east and west wings, the north wing would not be residential. Like the center house, the north wing would have access to the tunnel leading to the castle, so that the counsel would have access to this wing at all times. The north wing would be home to Benny’s main office, and would leave office space for the counsel, and other important residents of the realm. Along with offices, we would be building a brand new throne room for the counsel to meet.

  Building these new wings seemed to be a great way for everyone to take their mind off so many recent losses, and I knew this was something for Benny to look forward to. As everyone tried to move forward, both Damon and Alice seemed to stay behind.

  Two weeks after Luke’s departure, Alice still wasn’t eating, and she had hardly left her room. It was Sunday evening, and Ben and I agreed it was time for Alice to return to her classes.

  I stood outside Alice’s door while I knocked and waited for her to answer. After several minutes of waiting, I let myself in. Alice was buried under her covers, and only the dim light coming from behind her curtains illuminated her room. For once, Nick wasn’t sitting by her side as if he were her personal guard.

  I gently tapped on my daughters shoulder, and she let out a gently moan. “Alice,” I said softly, “Wake up, honey.”

  As I tried to wake her, she continued to make groaning noises, but refused to open her eyes.

  “Alice, come on,” I said a bit firmer, but she just groaned loudly.

  I went to the window and opened the curtains to flood the room with light.

  “Moooom,” Alice whined.

  “You can’t stay in bed forever,” I said calmly.

  “I don’t want to get up though,” she cried.

  “Your father and I agreed, you need to return to your classes tomorrow.”

  “I don’t want to,” she cried as she pulled the blanket over her head.

  “When’s the last time you ate?” I asked as I pulled the covers completely off of her, exposing her sickly, thin body. Alice had always been unusually thin, but her tiny body looked frail and white as she lay helplessly in her bed.

  “I don’t know,” she whined, hardly moving.

  “If you don’t start eating, we’ll have to take you to the infirmary for an I.V. Is that what you want?”

  “Just go away,” she cried.

  “Honey,” I said, “You can’t just lay in bed the rest of your life. Can you at least take baby steps? Come downstairs and eat, and then we’ll talk about classes.”

  “At least I’m not drinking myself to death and experimenting with psychedelic potions,” she whispered

  Suddenly I felt full of concern, “What are you talking about.”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know,” Alice hissed.

  “I don’t,” I said, feeling confused.

  “Your stupid husband,” she cried.

  I suddenly felt sick inside, as if I already knew what she was going to say.

  “Mom, everyone talks about Damon,” she said, “He
got that fairy pregnant, and tried to leave you, then he turned into a drunk.”

  “I know that,” I said, wishing she wouldn’t bring up the painful past.

  “Well apparently that mood stabilizer doesn’t seem to be working anymore.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mom, he’s your husband. How do you not know?” she said quietly as she propped her head up on her pillow, her eyes half open.

  I knew about the night he had been out drinking all night, but my daughter was acting like Damon was once again out of control. I had been so wrapped up in losing my son, and worrying about Benny and Alice, I had left Damon’s care to his parents.

  Alice continued, “I just heard from people that he drinks all night, uses psychedelic potions and sleeps with younger women.”

  “Who did you hear that from?” I demanded as anger flooded my chest.

  “Nick told me.”

  “How does Nick know? I asked.

  “Nick’s dad told him,” she said. “You know Nick’s dad’s a jerk and drinks a lot. That’s why he stays with us and Aunt Allison.” She paused, “Last time Nick saw his dad, he brought up that we went drinking with Damon.”

  “Really?” I asked nervously.

  “Yeah,” she said, “and they did psychedelic potion together.”

  I felt my chest grew heavy as I wondered whether to believe the things out of my daughter’s mouth.

  “I didn’t want to believe it either,” Alice said as she noticed my hesitation, “Nick has been watching him, and he’s sneaking out late at night and coming in really early.”

  “Does your brother know?” I asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said as she covered her eyes up with her hand to block out the sunlight and pulled the covers up over her skinny body. “Even if he does, he won’t do anything. He doesn’t want to hurt you.”

  I nodded my head. I didn’t want to believe the things my daughter was saying, but I had already caught him out drinking. After speaking to my daughter, I decided to give Damon the benefit of the doubt, and try to catch him in the act myself.

  Alice agreed to have dinner with the family, but refused to return to classes the following day. I decided her step forward in the right direction was enough, and agreed. As Nick walked her to the dinner table, her appearance terrified me, and I was certain she weighed under a hundred pounds as her tiny clothing hung from her frail body. Her once lustrous blond hair had dulled and thinned as it hung wildly from her head, and her face was pasty white. Nick helped her to her seat before taking his own seat next to her. It shocked me as I watched Nick, who was only seventeen years old, cut tiny pieces of food up for my daughter as if she were a child. Though she hardly touched a thing on her plate, Nick was able to convince her to take a few bites of the food he had cut up.

  After dinner, Nick returned Alice to her room, while the rest of the family headed to the living room to relax. Damon joined us, so I made sure to pay special attention to him. As I gazed at him, I realized his eyes looked more blood shot than normal, and his face looked red and puffy, both signs of heavy drinking.

  At promptly eight thirty Damon stood up and said, “I think I’m going to retire for the evening.”

  I waited a moment to not seem suspicious. I quickly yawed and said, “You know what. I think I’m going to head up too.”

  Damon headed up the stairs, not suspicious of me following close behind. I headed into the bathroom I shared with Damon, and began getting ready for bed.

  “Are you sleeping in here tonight?” I heard Damon call out from the other room.

  “Yeah, If you don’t mind,” I said casually.

  “That’s fine,” Damon said. I didn’t notice any resentment in his tone.

  When I was ready for bed, I joined Damon in bed; he was casually watching television, so I snuggled up and joined him.

  After a half hour of television, he looked at me and said, “I’m exhausted. Love you.” He quickly kissed my cheek and handed me the remote.

  I decided to turn off the television and lay with him, although I didn’t have plans to fall asleep. I quickly snuggled up next to my husband and shut my eyes.

  Only moments after I was snuggled up to him, he rolled over and began kissing my lips. After a few moments of passionate kissing, he opened his eyes, and with a smile on his face said, “I didn’t realize you would be ready for this so soon, but I’m glad.”

  I was confused for a moment. Then I realized Damon had thought I had followed him to the bedroom so early to make love and try for a baby.

  I smiled and lied, “Of course. I told you we would try.” I quickly kissed his lips and began to pull off his shirt.

  Although my mind wasn’t completely there, Damon and I made love, and when we were done, I could see his smile through the darkness.

  “I want to try again,” he said through a deep smile.

  I wasn’t in the mood, but I didn’t want to throw off my game, so I made love to Damon a second time. Afterward, Damon rolled over and seemed to drift off to sleep. I did the same, but I only pretended to sleep, as I lay with my eyes wide open, trying not to fall asleep.

  I’m not sure how long I lay awake, but I eventually drifted off to sleep. I awoke in a panic, when I felt Damon leaving the bed. My eyes bolted open, and through the darkness, I could Damon’s outline headed towards the bathroom. As I heard the toilet flush and the sink turn on, I awaited patiently to see what he would do next. To my surprise, he immediately returned to bed.

  When Damon returned to bed, I continued to lay with my eyes open, as I stared at the wall, trying to keep myself awake. Not long after Damon used the restroom, I felt him begin to fidget once more, and through the darkness, I watched Damon’s shadow move. He slowly dressed in clothing that he had left out on the dresser, and when he was done, I watched as he headed for the door.

  I watched Damon’s shadow, as he slowly and quietly unlatched the door, and softly shut it behind him. In that moment, I knew Damon was up to something. I waited a few minutes, and then I hopped out of bed and dressed myself.

  Once I was dressed, I carefully left the room, and headed down the stairs through darkness. I crept around the house in the dark, but Damon was long gone. I quickly paced through the tunnel below the house, and headed to the lounge. I assumed Damon would be at the bar.

  When I arrived at the lounge, I tried to be sneaky in case Damon was inside, but to my surprise the entire lounge, including the bar was empty. Only the bar tender stood alone, waiting for a customer. I took one last look to make sure I wasn’t missing something. Then I headed out. Just as I tried to decide where to go next, I heard a commotion coming from the stairwell. I quickly looked towards the noise and saw two attractive women who seemed to be in their late twenties. They both seemed a bit hyped up and laughing hysterically at one another. Not only did their commotion interest me, but they were both dressed in very skimpy dresses, the type the Desmorelda favored.

  Something about the two young women caught my interest and I decided to follow them. I waited until they were inside the stairwell before I headed their way. I was able to stay far behind them, as I could easily follow their wild laughter. As I followed them, I realized the only place they could be leading was to the pool room, and as soon as I grew near, the shrills and laughter began to multiply.

  When I was almost to the entrance of the pool room, I heard a thundering of footsteps coming from behind me, followed by laughter. I jumped out of my skin in shock and quickly turned around. To my surprise, Nick’s father, Glen took just behind me.

  “Well, hey good lookin’!” he snickered.

  He was a few feet away, but I could smell the stench of alcohol lurking on his breath.

  “Hi,” I said casually.

  He seemed a bit confused by my presence, as he raised his eyebrows and he said, “You here to party with us?”

  “Uh, yeah,” I lied.

  Then Glenn gave me a seductive smile and said, “I’d love to escort you…a
lthough your husband might not like that.” He snickered, “I guess your fairy powers are what keep you so young and beautiful. I’d never guess you have a son in his mid-twenties.”

  I gave him a polite smile. I quickly opened my mouth smacked my hand against my forehead, “Oh darn,” I said, “I forgot something. I’ll be back soon.”

  Glenn gave me another seductive smile and said, “I’ll be waiting for you, honey.”

  I nodded and watched as he stumbled off towards the pool. I rolled my eyes, and wondered how such an idiot could be the father of such a wonderful young man like Nick. I didn’t know Glenn well, except that he was Brandon’s son-in-law, Nick’s father, and he did a lot of work for Damon when the two of us were King and Queen.

  I waited just a moment; then I quietly snuck into the poolroom to see what awaited inside. I was surprised to see at least fifteen men and women heavily intoxicated and making a scene. Most of the individuals were young women and men, but to my shock a few individuals my age, including Glenn and my husband, were partying with them. The wild vision reminded me of so many memories that Desmorelda had engraved in my mind, but for once this was not her doing.

  Most of the women were dancing provocatively and wearing very lewd attire that looked as if it were stolen from Desmorelda’s closet. Some of the women were completely naked dancing or swimming in the pool. Most of the men were dressed fairly casual, but some of them were topless and others were just as naked as the women. After sending Desmorelda to hell, I was surprised to see a vulgar scene like this on our magnificent Sidhe.

  Thankfully Damon was fully clothed, but he was already stumbling around as he stood by Glenn and two attractive young women who seemed to be in their twenties. It seemed by the looks of things, Alice was telling the truth.

  I hid behind a giant statue, but most of the individuals were so intoxicated, they wouldn’t have noticed me. I watched the individuals dance through glistening fairy d as they drank from bubbling bottles of brightly colored potions. Although I watched everyone, I kept a close watch on Damon’s every move. For the most part, he wobbled around, laughing and drinking alcohol, but after about a half hour he seemed to grow more flirtatious with a young blond haired woman.