Instead, the little pixie stepped closer to me and inhaled. His eyes widened until they threatened the limits of his head. “You’ve got faerie blood. You’re trying to use our magic!”
He bolted for the back seat, burrowing through the seats toward the trunk. I craned around, snatched him in my left hand and pulped his body with a tiny crunch.
“Tedious.” I turned back to a comfortable sitting position.
I shifted my hand from flesh to essence and absorbed his fluids into my own. His mass didn’t add a substantial percentage to my overall balance. A surge of magic coursed through me, though it didn’t seem as strong as his glamour.
Perhaps he exhausted his strength remaining unseen.
Success in all things came down to discipline and will, so even though he hadn’t provided instructions I determined to use his magic. I turned my left hand over, and concentrated. My fingers faded from view one by one.
I took a moment to shift and rebalancing my essence. Spreading the taint which accompanied his magic would hopefully limit notice by the others and possibly allow for more dramatic glamour experiments.
I started the car and pulled out of the garage. Fingers of my right hand absently slid through the icing, lifting the buttery sweetness to my mouth.
I smiled.
The limited essence of a mere pixie, absorbed rather than part of a rebirth, had granted me power I could feel. With practice and more Sidhe blood, the possibilities for making an increased difference in the war against the Sidhe offered just and delicious desserts.
Terrance
“I’m sorry, but no, severing essence never really gets easier, little sister. Death must carry a cost, even for a phoenix.” Terrance cupped her icy hands as her shuddering, emaciated frame quaked with grief. “If it is of any comfort, you will eventually become inured to the pain.”
“So, I just have to stop feeling.” A tear trailed down Quayla’s hollow cheeks. “Vitae will be pleased.”
The wounds she’d suffered defending the Shield and rescuing Vitae had healed. And yet beneath her mended skin, young, caring Quayla seemed more holes than heart.
“When Anima informed me of your actions, she did not convey how drastically you’d overdone severing essence.”
She refused to look at him.
The essence in her stone basin rose to the very brim. Junk food wrappers haloed her nest, but her emaciated body bore not even a single extra ounce. Her legs shook, barely able to keep her upright.
Even a peapod pixie would represent a mortal threat to her in this condition.
“If faerie’s war hadn’t monopolized our time, one of us might’ve looked in on you sooner.”
“I’m fine.”
“You are not fine.” Terrance eased the stone from his voice. “Why have you done this to yourself, little sister?”
The venom in her tone belied her body’s weakness. “I will not listen to Vitae call me lazy or incompetent any more. I will not listen to Anima announce an incursion and then stand idle waiting for the death cry of one of my brothers.” She pointed a shuddering hand. “My nest is full, make Vitae release me.”
“We’re not made for cages, true, but lend not your thoughts to foolish notions.”
Her eyes hardened.
“I know, little bird. It’s been only a few days, but young wings yearn for to fly free in open sky.” He pulled her close. “Vitae’s treated you poorly. We’re under assault. There are many reasons you might wish to flee the coup... perhaps to never circle back?”
“I don’t get that choice,” Quayla said.
“We have all felt as you do, been plagued by a desire to fly free without the chains of duty to hold us captive.”
“Really?”
Terrance nodded. “I felt much the same in days before our Vitae’s birth. Youth always seeks freedom they feel their elders are unfairly withholding.”
Caelum entered her bedroom with grocery bags in both arms. His smile lacked its normal vitality. His clothes remained disheveled from tangling with another breech somewhere between work and headquarters.
“Hello, beautiful, come here often?” Caelum asked.
Quayla smiled. “Hello, Caelum.”
“I was talking to Terrance,” Caelum said.
A thin, weary giggle escaped her lips.
Caelum’s answering smile hid his own exhaustion. Even the way he carried himself advertised the toll the opening salvos of the Seelie-Unseelie war had wrought on Atlanta and their Shield.
“I brought more contraband. Terrance and Ignis both contributed, so I bought you some really decadent treats.” He flashed another grin. “I left that stuff in my apartment and brought you this instead.”
Quayla gave Terrance a pointed look. “Thanks, Caelum, but since my nest is full, I’ll head over to your place and grab it.”
Caelum raised his brows.
We are in desperate peril, but no matter how much we need her at our side, we cannot allow her to leave until she’s restored body and soul.
Pain ran wide paths from her eyes into the depths of her soul.
“Not until your egg is remade,” Terrance said. “Rest up. We will come together as soon as the Sidhe allow.”
Caelum tucked the bags inside her bedside cabinet.
“Vitae requires your immediate attendance in the garden,” Anima announced.
Quayla stiffened.
Terrance offered a smile as a peace offering. “Vitae is weary from battle. He speaks without thinking.”
“Thinking has never been his strong suit anyway,” Caelum said.
Rather than laugh, she darkened. “Thinking of others might cost him something.”
“Shield Quayla, that accusation is unfair and unworthy of you,” Anima said. “Especially considering the weight he has carried on your behalf.”
Quayla opened her mouth to retort, but Terrance placed fingers over her lips. “Peace, little sister. Be the dappled pool, not the roaring waterfall.”
She pried herself from his embrace and staggered toward the garden with her jaw set in a taut line.
Terrance sighed.
“We need to do something,” Caelum said.
“I know, but it is so long since I have been only two centuries old, I fear I don’t remember how she feels well enough to help.”
“Vitae summons you all,” Anima said.
One trouble at a time.
Terrance led the way, pausing to help Quayla up the last few steps. She threw him off the moment they reached the landing. He tried not to take offense, but her attitude left his feelings bruised.
Caelum offered a reassuring smile on his way past.
Putti had repaired the outer greenhouse, but there’d been little time to clean up after the battle and even less to heal the garden itself.
Vitae and Ignis stood on opposite sides of the fountain, both closed off behind folded arms. Ignis’s new body had grown a few inches and become more muscled while remaining Asian. That his dark eyebrows and a thin stubble on his head remained spoke to the constant onslaught of faerie incursions. The older warriors hid their fatigue better. Ignis had fought twice as many battles as all but Terrance himself. He’d rescued both Vitae and Caelum, though on the last he’d arrived a moment too late to prevent Caelum from dying.
Vitae wore fatigue like a cloak. An unknown burden bent his shoulders. Several diplomatic trips to the Courts had increased the incursions rather than rein in the Sidhe. The Wyldfae envoy Thatch had reportedly failed to uncover any hint of their eggs’ whereabouts.
Vitae shot Ignis one last dirty look and beckoned them toward the fountain. “Come to order and praise the Undying Light.”
They rose, each bowing to the fountain’s statue. Summus appeared in a blaze of light. It died away, leaving the sparkling, shining Divine Phoenix nonetheless shadowed by the efforts of his first month on the job.
Caelum helped Quayla genuflect as they all bowed and spoke. “Summuseraphi.”
Vitae stepped into the
ir center and lowered his head. “I address this Shield feathered in shame.”
Terrance glanced at Ignis.
The flame phoenix wore a hard scowl.
“I have acted badly, treated members of this Shield and yay even Divine Summuseraphi with disrespect. I offer apologies without excuse, though I’ve discovered some cause for my erratic actions.”
“What are you talking about?” Caelum asked. “You’re always grouchy and besides, we’ve all died this week—except Summus.”
“And Terrance,” Quayla offered him a proud if weak smile
“Hard to beat blood out of a stone,” Caelum said.
“May I please continue?” Vitae asked.
He waited until every head granted him permission before forging on, the image of humility. “When Knights Dolumii and Gherrian exploded in my room, Sidhe blood tainted my nest.”
Caelum and Quayla shot each other looks.
Ignis pressed his lips together, head nodding slightly.
I knew Vitae was acting out of sorts, but this makes much more sense.
“While I imagine tainted essence would have negative affect on anyone, as my own essence is also lifeblood, it created a potent reaction. I would ask you to forgive me for not realizing sooner and taking measures to ensure I remained the best Vitae I am able.”
Vitae crossed to Quayla and knelt. “I wronged you, little sister, and ask you especially to grant me pardon. Ignis has convinced me your mortal has a good soul and a visit would ease your convalescence.”
A pensive scowl furrowed Ignis’s brow.
Something’s amiss. Could Ignis have convinced Vitae without realizing it?
Indecision warred behind her eyes. Water was easy going, taking the path of least resistance in most things. Just the same, once the river raged it could rend even the mountain.
Quayla refused to meet Vitae’s eyes, but she nodded. “I choose against wisdom to forgive you—once Dylan forgives you for every wrong you did to him.”
Vitae stiffened.
“And I want my phone replaced,” Quayla said.
Terrance smirked.
Rage and gentleness in a single breath.
“Does this mean you’re going to stop trying to reverse our right to keep our apartments? Our jobs?” Caelum asked.
“If you desire to take the risk,” Vitae said.
Ouch, Quayla must’ve stung him deeper than I thought.
“How about letting me travel a bit for work?” Caelum asked.
Vitae’s gaze shot to Summus. The archangel cleared his throat. “Things are too dire within this Prefecture to permit being shorthanded.”
“The picnic next week?” Caelum asked
Vitae’s lips pressed together.
That’s enough pushing.
Terrance cleared his throat. “We can discuss that later, once things have calmed.”
“Shield Terrance speaks wisdom,” Vitae said. “To business. Ani, please recap this week’s activities.”
“In the past five days, we’ve repelled armies from both Courts, sealing forty-two of forty-nine Veil breeches...did you call me Ani?”
“I meant no offense,” Vitae said.
The garden went silent.
“Anima, please continue,” Summus said.
“Yes, of course Praefectus. We’ve died six times. Nest levels for Terrance, Vitae, Ignis, Caelum and Quayla are as follows: full; ninety percent; eight-four percent; ninety-seven percent and full.”
“Excellent work, Quayla,” Summus said. “Are you strong enough to reform your egg?”
Quayla opened her mouth.
Terrance spoke first. “She’s worked hard this week, but exhausted her essence too far for such an ordeal.”
“Soon though, I think,” Vitae said. “Aquaylae has found admirable focus. If only the rest of you emulated her.”
Ignis’s normally lighthearted tone crackled with bite. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that Aquaylae is showing the drive, the fire of a true Shield of the Undying Light, while her brothers have failed to find even a whisper of our missing eggs.”
Ignis marched up to Vitae. “So says one of her failing brothers.”
Caelum stepped between them. “Hey, we’ve been a little busy.”
Vitae folded his hands. “Events have distracted us. This mustn’t continue.”
Ignis’s jaw hardened. “What exactly do you expect from us? Abandon the mortals? Quit our jobs? Terrance’s work is in service to the Isaac. I’m using mine to seed the city.”
“Maybe we could get help from another Shield,” Caelum said.
“This war has spilled into other jurisdictions,” Summus said. “The Courts seem almost happy to have the distraction. We must handle this issue on our own.”
“We must interrogate wrong doers, not just drive them off or slay them,” Vitae said.
“Oh, I see,” Ignis paced away. “We’re not imperiled enough for your satisfaction, so we need to focus on maiming the armies of Faery so we might question one or two.”
“Warriors of our experience should have little trouble saving one or two,” Vitae said. “I’ve questioned several.”
“And have you learned one God damned thing?” Ignis asked.
“Shield Ignis, have a care with your tongue,” Summus said.
Caelum stepped onto the fountain’s edge, gathering eyes to him. “Taking the little ones isn’t too hard, but they don’t know anything.”
Terrance gestured Caelum off the fountain. To one side, anger and fright fought for Quayla’s expression.
I must do something to quell this.
Terrance crossed behind Vitae toward Quayla.
Ignis’s voice cracked and popped like a bonfire of green wood. “How do we know you aren’t still corrupted? You could be lying or working against us.”
Terrance’s gut became a glade plunged into deep winter.
Vitae stood ramrod straight. Tension bunched his shoulders. Anger-knotted fingers clasped behind his back where only Terrance had the angle to see.
A flickering nimbus haloed Ignis as he paced back and forth in front of Vitae like some kind of inquisitor.
Summus stood in arm’s reach of both, but indecision and inexperience froze any response.
“Bide.” Terrance’s basso fell heavier than intended. “This family is fatigued. It is wounded and weary and thus our words are the snaps of an injured and cornered animal. We must stop this.”
“We?” Caelum asked. “You never opened your mouth.”
“A trait one hopes is in your near future.” Vitae closed his eyes, mouthing curses. “I am sorry, Shield Caelum. I regret hasty words.”
“We must find our eggs,” Terrance said. “To achieve this, perhaps it’s better to adjourn, take food and rest, and return to council with eased spirits.”
“Shield Terrance is wise,” Vitae said.
“You two have your little tea party.” Ignis scowled at Vitae. “I’m going hunting, lest my dedication be openly called into question.”
Ignis stormed out of the garden before Terrance could object.
Vitae strolled away, shifting folded hands to his front and turning his back to the others.
Summus tightened his jaw and vanished in a flash of light.
Quayla shoved Vitae from behind. “How could you say such things to Ignis? He’s fighting harder than any of us.”
Vitae’s brow rose. “Us?”
She balled her hands together once more, knuckles whitening. “I understand you thinking you have some right to bully me around, but Ignis is everything you keep telling me I’m not.”
Vitae chewed his words.
I have to stop this before it gets any worse.
Terrance rushed across the garden.
Vitae lowered his head in deference, fixing her with his gaze. “You are perhaps correct. Thank you. I appreciate your candor and willingness to assist.”
Quayla blinked at him.
“If you’ll please exc
use me.” Vitae exited the garden.
Terrance replaced him at Quayla’s side, feeling almost as confused as her expression.
Caelum ambled over to them, caressing Quayla’s cheek. “Rest quickly, sis. You’re missing...not all, but at least most of the fun.”
6: Hidden Omens
Vitae
I marched into the downtown high-rise, still tingling from the two Seelie sprites I’d used to counterbalance an Unseelie pixie whose essence I’d absorbed. Wafers gossiped like a gaggle of hens in the foyer. I pushed through them without even offering what would’ve been insincere apologies and strode to the security desk.
An older woman with iced golden curls smiled up at me. “May I help yo—:
“You will fetch Dylan Snyder.”
“Do you kno—”
“I’ve invested more than sufficient breath to provide what is needed for you to execute your task.”
“Sir, you don’t understand. We have over twenty thousand employees. I need you to—”
Impudent, waste of—If I’d brought my swords, I could’ve disemboweled the wafer with barely a—
I met the woman’s eyes and pushed like I might when squeezing my essence. The world spun and the woman blurred. “Be about it.”
She blushed, pushing at her hair as if to straighten it. “Yes, milord. It’ll be my pleasure.”
A much larger security guard crossed to us. “Is there a problem here, Manda?”
I met the man’s eyes and summoned my essence once more.
A hand rested on my shoulder. I spun around with a cutting, pithy retort on my lips. My eyes locked on a vast emptiness framed by leathery, wrinkled sockets. A voice of fathomless depth whispered. Each word settled on my chest like an entire atmosphere of water. “This is not the path, Vitae. Walking it will destroy everything you desire to accomplish.”
Time seemed to slow.
Stars and brilliant clouds of color floated in the enrapturing darkness, easing from the speaker into me. Countless brilliant flares of life sent my heart into inhumanly fast sprints.
The blackness cradling all of the color and light slipped into me like zephyrs of shadow. All of the life infusing me vanished in an instant, snuffed like a single candle. My heart stopped for a breath that endured without visible end.
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