Fable, page 32
The timing of it all was unnatural. Serena wasn’t due for just over a quarter cycle, Shaylee thought. What influence did the dark magic have over her? Or was it her unborn child protecting her?
What Shaylee did know was that it would all be over soon.
Suddenly three dark Elvenfae carrying a prisoner emerged from the top of the far left staircase where the room being guarded was situated. As they approached, the dark lord appeared from the connecting hall. While the three heroes watched on, they could just make out what was being said.
“As you requested, my lord, the Fae queen.”
Shaylee stood up. They could all clearly hear what was said next as the dark lord’s voice echoed throughout the castle, “Ah, my queen, finally I have you right where I want you, on your knees and bleeding for me. It’s a pity your king isn’t here to witness it.”
Tianna replied swiftly after spitting blood onto the dark lord’s armor-covered chest, “This isn’t over. As we speak there are millions of Fae about to enter these halls with magic you couldn’t imagine.”
Varzunnos chuckled, not deeply, but enough to insult the queen as he scraped the blood she had delivered from his chest and into his mouth. “Hmm, sweet like honey milk, I will enjoy this. Besides, I have the power of Faelynn and the outer realms here with me. Do you think one treasure will stop me? And where is your insurrection you so confidently speak of? When I have sucked your life dry, I will do the same to your daughter.”
As he finished boasting angrily, he bent down farther, picked her up by the wings, and dug his sharp needle-like teeth into Tianna’s neck. He watched her writhe in pain as the blood drained from her body like a torrent of waves into the large creature’s mouth until she was more pale than the blossoms of a hawthorn tree in spring. Kicking her last twitch, she exhaled her last breath. As the light faded from her eyes, the last thing she would feel was the pain and the humiliation of all four wings being torn from her body as if she were a fly being played with.
Shaylee was trembling. The screams were still echoing from the room as she watched her mother succumb to the most degrading end a queen of the peaceful realm could have had. It took both Marlifyn and Faiay’aar to hold her back, his firm hand over her mouth as they both tried to control their own emotions. Their only saving grace was Serena’s screaming as the sounds of Shaylee’s agony and despair continued to come, only somewhat suppressed by the hand blocking them, until she fell to the floor in a heap.
“We need you, Shay, we need you strong. Do it for Serena, my dear.”
As Faiay’aar spoke those words, something resonated inside Shaylee’s mind, like a voice of reason. She closed her eyes and she could see Serena, begging for help, so she switched back into gear, strong, calmer, but with an overwhelming hatred in her heart that needed fulfillment. As she went to get up, she heard a commotion coming from the stairs on their side, and seeing who was making their way up, she suddenly felt even stronger.
Kalandrya, Van Coinan, and Darphanin had found them, and staying low they swiftly joined the rest of the group.
Kalandrya whispered, “We couldn’t find her. Everything was leading us here.” She paused as she saw her beloved friend without her wings, lying in a small pool of the remaining blood she had left after the attack. The others didn’t speak. Shaylee was intent now on saving her sister. As the rage rose in Kalandrya, her jewels vibrated on her neck and the pale skin she’d once had was an off-red. Just as they were about to try to hold her back, the castle was filled with one final scream and then the sound of a newborn baby crying.
Pulling themselves back behind cover and out of sight, they waited.
“Bring the child, the mother, and those wings to the other side of the castle where my treasures are. Set the tables up and bring the witch to me now. The moon is nearing its apex.”
Varzunnos’ commands were assertive and fearful. As his demands were being fulfilled, the group realized that they were on the other side where the dark lord was sending his dark servants.
Fearing the worst, they hastily snuck into the first room they could find, hoping it wasn’t occupied. As Marlifyn was the first to enter he was greeted by Glinoxx, who was also hiding from Viltzin. But before the loud goblin could open his screeching mouth, Marlifyn had his head on the floor, while lowering the rest of the goblin’s body gently to the ground, taking in pints of squirting blood to his face as he tried to quietly fix the situation without making noise.
Van Coinan was the last to enter. He had a strange look on his face— he’d been holding everything in for far too long, and now he couldn’t help but do something impetuously stupid. He was just about to jump on top of the goblin’s head and kick it around, but Shaylee glimpsed his movements and intervened before he could do too much damage. The door quietly closed behind them, as Shaylee, still holding the pooka’s arm, put her finger up to her lips, indicating silence.
Van Coinan wasn’t stupid, not one bit, but he was a mystical creature with energy, and it was all getting too much for him seeing his beloved friends perish, one by one. Shaylee knew it and wouldn’t chastise him. As the noise of traffic passed their doorway, they hoped no one needed any goblin clothes or tools from the small closet they were in.
Viltzin, an evil Zeytar, had delivered Serena’s son, something she would never forget as long as she lived. Being now a mage and once a scientist had come in handy, and he patched Serena up enough after the difficult birth to avoid blood loss by order of the dark lord himself.
Viltzin sensed his master wanted more with Serena afterward, but couldn’t quite pinpoint what. It wasn’t the time nor the place to concern himself at that late stage. He took the child, while two dark Elvenfae lifted the unconscious Serena onto a long wooden trolley. They wheeled her out of the birthing room and into the halls, toward the newly modified sacrificial quarters where the Tuatha Dé Danann treasures were releasing their full power.
They had set up the altar, had the wings of an Elvenfae queen, of noble blood which Varzunnos thought would help, and he had his sword Severed Wing by his side, with three of the Tuatha Dé Danann treasure stones. The dark ones from the twisted hollows deep in the forest had been reluctantly persuaded to attend, and all that was needed was the apex of the blood moon, which was climbing ever higher as the bloody night went on.
The witch re-dressed Serena herself in a traditional dark purple and black gown of the old Tuatha Dé Danann, which had been found among old items by Viltzin and had been worn by the dark lord’s low level witch mage long ago. Varzunnos wanted Serena to look the part for the ceremony, even though she didn’t want any involvement in it.
The moon climbed higher, as the screams of battle could still be heard echoing from the dark of the night. Serena’s body was now ready. Still out cold, she was unaware of what was about to happen. Her son lay on the altar with not one tear, as Viltzin checked the boy over for the prophecy markings, lifting his left eye, revealing brown, before looking at the right blue one. Once satisfied, he checked over the boy’s hands, but there was no mark. So the twisted mage wiped the boy clean as best he could—but still no markings were visible.
Viltzin was getting nervous. He was not sure if the spell would work without all the markings of the prophecy being present. Too scared to tell Varzunnos, he gave his dark master the all clear as they waited just a little longer for the moon to reach its powerful apex.
A COSTLY NIGHT
SHAYLEE AND THE OTHERS HAD SETTLED on the best plan they could devise under such circumstances. They were running out of time and would need to act quickly if they were to stop any attempt on Serena or the child’s life.
Kalandrya explained that the dark lord and his minion Viltzin’un’dandaar could see through any spells, but they had their goblin cloaks still with them. They needed a third dryad to fulfill the power of the sylphs and the treasure they had, but would try as best they could to stop them at all costs.
Using the element of surprise was the key strategy agreed on, since the dark lord and Viltzin were still very much unprotected—his creatures were still out fighting. Shaylee would be the one to rescue Serena and the baby, while the others would distract them long enough so Shaylee could fulfill the spell and destroy the dark ones.
They had one shot at it, and this was it. Shaylee looked all around the room at her close friends and fellow brave warriors. “It’s time.”
While moving quietly to the door, they jumped in fright at a sudden blast of blue and white light coming from behind them in the room. They turned to witness Van Coinan change from his pooka form to that of a full humanoid, still with whiskers and long ears, but now he had longer arms and legs. Standing quite tall, he wasn’t covered very well by his overalls, which were now too small, revealing the grayish-white fur of his body. He reached down and found a goblin’s cloak to put on.
One of his ears still pointed in the air and the other behind him, and his face looked the same, but he was able to move a lot more delicately and fight harder. Casting his eyes on the floor around him he saw a black-stained blade, so he picked it up. Then he looked at the rest of the group, who were still in shock, and whispered, “What? Are we going now, or standing around?”
Shaylee grinned slightly and shook her head. She just hoped that he could still use his mind-breaking dust as a backup.
Out into the dark of the halls they went. The light and noise was coming from far down the hallway to the right. They needed someone brave and quiet to creep down and see how many there were. Darphanin volunteered, but then they noticed two dark Elvenfae guards right at the entrance to the large room.
“Wait, Darph, it’s too dangerous. Here, come behind this barrier out of the way and I will try something.”
As they all took cover, Shaylee pulled out her crystal and began concentrating on Serena’s position. She didn’t want to appear to her, as she would be killed immediately, but her thinking was to at least get an understanding of where everyone was positioned. She closed her eyes and thought hard. She saw her sister lying at the rear of the room near the windows. Shaylee tried to look around but caught the eye of the dark lord who could see her shape in the room.
Shaylee broke her concentration immediately, turned to the others, and whispered, “They know we are here; we have to move. Serena is to the rear and the three dark mages, including Varzunnos, are in the center of the room, each near an active treasure. They are doing a sacrifice now so we must go, we have no choice.”
As Shaylee finished, they could hear the two guards moving down the hall and diverting off down the stairs. Not more than a moment later, a loud horn reverberated out into the forest. “He’s calling all his creatures. The guards have gone. Let’s go now.”
Varzunnos had his sword high above his head. Serena had just awoken and was screaming out for her son. She was being held by four goblins, while the moon was only minutes away from its perfect position. The other two, Viltzin and the witch of the Hollows, were focusing power from the treasures, awaiting the blood splash from the child and then the mother. The wings were being held by the last dark Elvenfae guard in the room, as the ending was about to begin.
All six ran as fast they could down the hall and into the room. Shaylee was first in and straightaway, as if he had been waiting for her, Varzunnos threw her against the wall, meters from Serena. She was stuck there, as if he had a permanent hold on her. Shaylee struggled but to no avail, and as the dark lord was about to thrust his sword down, Van Coinan, Darphanin, and Marlifyn started taking out the goblins that had let go of Serena. Meanwhile, Faiay’aar and Kalandrya were using as much force as they could on the three dark mages, who were jolted and stunned for a moment. The noise of the power was deafening. Faiay’aar let out a cry, “We need Felvora! It will not hold them!”
Different colored lights were swirling through the room as the dark lord overrode the two dryads, pushing their power back and forcing them against the wall. There were echoes coming from deep in the castle as the dark lord’s minions were heading up to the top. Viltzin was out cold, the impact of being thrown knocking him straight out, but the witch turned and joined Varzunnos in spraying the dryads hard with blasts of elemental and personal power.
“I see you brought me a gift. Now I can take this world without a sacrifice—the last of the treasures is mine.”
As the life force began draining from the two dryads, a green mist flew into the room screaming, “Did somebody call for me?”
Felvora smashed her staff filled with her power amulet at the witch, turning her to stone at once, as Grilif and Darf stormed in right behind her, along with Vaelenflixx Leafenvein, still with the tiny chain around his ankle. The twitchy sprite started pulling at a goblin’s ear, doing his part, as a flurry of dark goblins began filling the room.
Felvora concentrated all her power onto the dark lord, giving the other two enough time to avoid the constant blast. Faiay’aar crawled toward Shaylee who had now been freed and was attending to Serena, when the whole castle shook and started rocking, and bricks fell from the sides and the roof. As the treasures had been focused on the dryads, the mist shield had lifted, allowing the outsiders to enter. Then the shaking stopped, and an enormous roar rang out over Xarkynan.
“Here, Serena, take your sword. Cut your child’s hand now. We have little time.”
Serena sparked enough maternal energy to do the task at hand. She trusted Shaylee to no end and would do as she asked. As soon as she lifted his tiny finger up to cut, though, she froze, as the three Alicorn marks appeared. She turned, hesitating a little, while Shaylee nodded, put the vial next to her, and whispered, “It’s OK, Serena, just a few drops into this vial. I promise he will be fine.” Serena turned back, made a small incision, and watched the blood flow freely into the vial.
As this was happening Varzunnos caught what they were up to out of the corner of his eye. He blasted Felvora back and lifted his sword to strike the altar as more and more creatures poured into the castle. Grilif, Darf, Vaelenflixx, Marlifyn, and Darphanin were working overtime to keep them away from Serena and Shaylee. Kalandrya had recovered somewhat, but as she stood, a goblin took Darphanin’s head completely off in front of her, splashing her with his blood. As she watched the woodland elf fall, Marlifyn pushed her aside to avoid a blow from a dark Elvenfae, taking the full brunt of the force into his stomach. Bravely continuing, he took out the dark Elvenfae and moved on to a goblin, holding his stomach.
As the dark lord was just about to strike, a white light encompassed the room, stunning all the dark ones involved and giving Faiay’aar time to reach the sisters.
The dark creatures covered their eyes, all of them affected, even the dark lord, who dropped his sword to cover his horned head and face. Out of the light emerged a white figure floating above the altar.
Serena looked up. The light was not hurting her eyes at all. She noticed a black mark in the middle of the sweet-looking woman’s forehead and was mesmerized for a moment.
The white woman spoke to Serena’s mind, “My sweet, sweet child, you have endured so much. It’s time now to end this. Now go, fulfill your destiny.”
Serena knew instantly who it was. With her hand stretched out to the white woman and tears coming down her face, she whispered as the light kept stinging the dark, “Vyyuna, I miss you.”
Shaylee too had tears in her eyes, knowing it was the last time she would ever appear to them. It had come at the right time as if she had seen a snippet of the potential future that was now taking place before them.
Serena gave the vial to Faiay’aar as the white light gave Felvora and Kalandrya enough time to take a Tuatha Dé Danann treasure each. The stones burned their hands, but they were the only ones who could wield them without the proper protection spell. With full force they cast the power from their staffs, red and green in one hand and a treasure each in the other, while reciting old powerful magic, all at the dark lord. At the same time the light faded and Shaylee yelled, “Now!”
Faiay’aar began reciting the old Tuatha Dé Danann spell she had remembered from the old book over and over as she poured the blood mixed with Alicorn over Serena’s child. The boy was hysterical, but Serena could not touch him while the ritual of the prophecy was being conducted.
The blood moon had no bearing on this enchantment, but it helped with power. On the incantations went from all three dryads, working hard for two separate outcomes. As Felvora began shaking, Kalandrya noticed the dark lord moving off the wall and ambling toward them. Kalandrya screamed out, “Hurry, Fay, and finish it! He’s getting loose.”
Faiay’aar had another few moments to complete the spell. As the dark lord started breaking free, a massive burst of light hit the room. This time it wasn’t from Vyyuna; it was coming from Serena’s son. As he lifted his hand out, the light flowed like a wave of light blue mist, ceasing soon after as it took on a life of its own, turning everything of darkness to ash.
Kalandrya and Felvora could continue to hold the dark lord but without Faiay’aar’s help they would lose their grip. She pushed away some goblins that were turning to dust at the same time as the blue light mutated and flowed, as if it were chasing the dark ones, growing, and changing from a light blue to light red and back again as it swallowed the darkness wherever it went.
Faiay’aar took up the post with a third Tuatha Dé Danann treasure, and while it burned her skin also, she could maintain enough power to hold the dark lord back with the others’ full bursts of power. Shaylee helped Serena get her son and wrap him up, placing her sword Long Leaf inside the wrapping as Serena grew concerned about her motives, “What are you doing, Shay?”
But Shaylee continued, and then looked at her half-sister, and whispered, “I will love you, my sweet sister, until the end of time. Now go.”
As Shaylee planted a kiss on her forehead, her tears fell onto Serena’s son. She lifted her crystal out as Serena screamed “No!” over, and over. Soon a blue vortex opened and Shaylee whispered, “Go to your Eric in the woods. I love you.”
