Blood of Sirens: Book 13 of The Witch Fairy Series (13 page)

“You cannot hold us against our will!” a Fairy shouts.  He has added his body and magic to trying to get the front door open.  It feels like a gnat attacking my magic.  He's not a very powerful Fairy. 

The chanting in the Great Hall grows louder until the cacophony is pounding painfully against my eardrums.  I can’t take it anymore.  I throw magic at the crowd and take their voices away.  A grim faced Isla nods in approval.  “Listen!” I call out to the crowd.  “No one is leaving here.  All that would lead to is more death and destruction.  You need to trust in the King and the Prince to keep your loved ones safe until we find a way to get rid of the Sirens.”  My words fall on unaccepting ears.  It’s a good thing the Fairies and Mermen can’t speak.  Some of the words they are silently screaming are pretty easy to read on their lips.  Turning to Isla, I ask quietly, “What should I do?” 

Her words are as grim as her expression.  “I believe it is time for your spell.”

“Against their will?”  That doesn’t seem right to me.

Tana places a hand on my shoulder.  “It is for their own good.”

I shake my head.  “No.”  I know how I’d feel if I was in their place.  “Not until I have their permission.”

“Xandra,” Isla says sharply.  “They are too emotional and frightened to think rationally.  There is a war coming and we need to finish this and prepare for an attack.”

I shake my head again.  “This doesn’t even sound like you.  You’re better than this.”  The look she gives me for chastising her almost makes me take a step backwards.  Instead, I say, “I have an idea.”

Turning back to the Fairies and Mermen, I shout loudly enough to be heard across the Hall.  “I am asking you to put a lot of faith in us, I realize that.  But, you know how powerful we are.  I will make a deal with you.  First, I am going to give you your voices back.”  I pull my magic from them.  I’m relieved when they do not start shouting again.  Their curiosity is peaked.  “You constitute an army both in number and strength.  An army larger than the Sirens could possibly have.”  I pause for dramatic affect.  Or to build my courage for my next words, I’m not certain which.  “I hereby challenge you.  You make me let you out of the palace and you are free to face the Sirens on your own.  If you cannot make me let you go in the next five minutes, I ask that you trust in my power to keep you safe.”  I let my eyes travel around the room, meeting the stares of the dumbfounded Fairies.

Finally, one in the front speaks up.  “It is forbidden to take up arms against a member of the royal family.”  He does have a point. 

Before I can respond, Isla calls out, “That edict is hereby suspended.  For the duration of this test, you may do as you wish to attempt to escape.  Provided,” she adds, “that if the Princess is undefeatable, you will abide by her terms.”

There’s a lot of murmuring in the crowd.  Me?  It’s my turn to be dumbfounded.  Not only is Isla backing me up, she is giving the Fairies free reign.  I can’t decide if she’s really on my side or not at the moment.  Yes, this is what I offered, but to tell them they can do whatever they want? 

As if sensing my thoughts, Isla says quietly, “There are no rules in war.”

“Xandra,” Tana whispers, “You do not need to do this.”

She’s wrong.  “Yes, I do.  I will not give the Fairies reason to distrust me.  Forcing my sleep spell on them is the same as taking away their free will.”  It occurs to me that doing so might put my Angel wings at risk, too. 

“We are agreed!” a Fairy calls out. 

Before I have a chance to take a breath, magic is flying toward me.  Okay, this does not feel like a gnat attacking my magic.  This feels like an army of Fairies, some weak and some very, very strong, attacking me.  It is pure instinct that my magic makes a wall around Isla, Tana and me.  A wall that is being battered relentlessly. 

I can’t stay on the defensive.  The Fairies need to trust in my strength and doing nothing but defending myself will not show them how strong I am.  Honestly, now that I’m doing it, I’m not a hundred percent positive I’m going to win.  I’ve never fought an entire army before.  Fairies are surging forward, charging me physically as well as magically.  Being careful to keep my magic holding the doors closed and the wall of magic around me intact, I push back at the Fairies with a windstorm of magic.  They try to fight it but it’s too strong.  The Fairies in the front begin to fall, their magic faltering.  I push harder, reaching deeper into the crowd, using my magic as a battering ram.  It burns through them, into them, leaving pain in its wake.  Two pinches on my back tell me my wings have come to me.  I use their power to push harder, deeper into the crowd until every last Fairy and Merman in the room feels its touch.  One by one, they fall.  The use of so much power is wearing at me.  I don’t know how much longer I can keep going.  I’ve taken on powerful beings, but never an army before.  I feel Tana pulling magic but Isla shakes her head.  She’s right.  I need to do this alone. 

“Put some muscle into it,” Taz encourages unhelpfully.  “Is that really all you got?”

“Shut it,” Felix growls at him.  He moves in front of me and snarls at the Fairies.  “You can do this, Xandra.”  I should so get rid of Taz and keep Felix.  My doppelganger had no idea how great of a Familiar she had.

Gathering my strength, I make my magic explode around the room.  Chandeliers fall from the ceiling, sending Fairies scurrying from their path.  The floor and walls shake violently, causing more than one Fairy to fall.  The water in the river splashes everywhere, pulling Fairies into its stream and forcing the Mermen to concentrate on their own safety rather than attacking me.  Fairies are lying on the floor, some moaning in agony, others bleeding from where pieces of window and chandelier have cut them.  I am unscathed, my magic wall still intact.

I don’t want to keep hurting them.  “Tell me you’ve had enough!” I call out. 

At first, they ignore me.  They continue to battle my magic. But, as my magic continues to rip through them, one by one they begin to surrender.  White flags appear in hands, some barely lifted from the floor.  Huh.  I guess the white flag thing is universal.

An older Fairy with a touch of gray in his hair and eyebrows forces himself to his feet and calls out, “We surrender.”

“Does that mean you trust me to keep you safe?” I ask just to be sure.

After a long pause, the Fairy rasps out, “Yes.  Do as you will with your spell.”

Well, that was a lukewarm surrender.  I’m about to comment on that fact when Isla murmurs out of the side of her mouth, “You cannot expect better from an army of males taken down by one female.”

Ah.  It’s a male ego thing.  I guess that’s universal, too.  Then again, my ego is pretty big so it’s a female thing, as well.  I wonder if Dagda and Kallen are having the same response from the female Fairies as I am the male.  It’ll be interesting to compare notes in the morning.

“Princess,” a younger Fairy calls out, “I think I could use a good nap now.”  Several Fairies around him laugh but I can tell he’s serious.  He was one of the stronger Fairies sending magic my way therefore he was among those who took the brunt of my magic.  Still, I’m glad he’s on our side.

“I am more than happy to oblige,” I tell him.  “I will give you all a few minutes to get comfortable.”  With the moaning and groaning going on amongst those hurt the worst by my magic, I’m not certain that will be possible for everyone.  A good night’s sleep will speed their recoveries, though.  If I help the process along.

After their few minutes are up and they are as comfortable as they are going to get, I grasp Isla’s and Tana’s hands.  I definitely need to siphon some of their power to say the spell now.  When they both indicate they are ready, I begin my spell, adding a couple of lines for the Fairies’ healing. 
“The night brings temptation from ones who would do harm.  But those who slumber shall not fall prey to their charms.  Hearts both true and untrue shall sleep this night through.   Guardians in the night shall watch over you.  Nothing shall wake you before the morning dew.  Neither charm nor spell shall touch you.  Magic neither ancient nor new will have any effect hitherto.  My magic alone will hold and heal you.    Lay your head down and feel at ease.  Wake on the morrow rested and at peace.   With dawn comes sanity and light, be safe in slumber this dangerous night.”
  Magic pours forth from the three of us.  It is ripped from Isla and Tana and funneled through me to join all of ours together.  The amount of magic the spell takes may have killed lesser Fairies.  Both Isla and Tana breathe a sigh of relief when the Fairies are finally at rest.  I pulled a lot of magic through them.  Isla seems okay but Tana is much paler than normal.

“Killing wicked step-mothers slowly, that’s the way to do it,” Taz snarks as he takes in the Queen’s pallor. 

Turning to me with hands on her hips, Tana demands, “What the hell were you thinking?  Do you know what your father would have done if any of those Fairies hurt you?  And you!”  She rears on Isla.  “You encouraged it.”

Isla is unperturbed by Tana’s outburst.  “Yes.  I admire Xandra’s sense of fairness and determination.”  She unnecessarily adds, “Even if it is misguided at times.”

I eye her.  “Do you mean this time?”

Isla is trying not to smile.  “Of course not.”  Liar.  My skin feels like a hundred bugs are skittering across it as proof she is lying.

Tana shakes her head.  “This was an outrageous use of magic and you know it.  Now, we are all weakened.”

I don’t know, I feel pretty good.  I’ll keep that to myself, though.  “Should we search the grounds for outliers?” I ask.

Isla shakes her head.  “No, we have more important things to worry about than those too stupid to seek shelter in time.”

Wow.  I wonder how she really feels about it.  “You know, I did have the doors locked.  There may have been some late comers who couldn’t get in.”  I can tell she didn’t think of that.

“I will send staff members in small groups of search parties,” she relents.  “But they are to return before full dark.  As it is still half an hour until dusk, that should be plenty of time.”

“What are we going to do, then?” I ask.

“We are going to prepare for war.”

Two wars in one day.  I’m such a lucky girl.

“What are those for?” I ask Isla when she places several crystals on her desk.  She had them in a locked cupboard in the corner of the room.  They’re pretty cool.  They glow in varying shades of blue and purple under the lamplight.

“We are going to set traps,” she informs me and Tana.

I give her a dubious look.  “Are there going to be spiders involved?”  The last time she had me work with crystals it was to make a giant spider web.  I called millions of spiders to create it.  Creepiest thing I have ever seen.

Half a smile touches her lips.  “No, there will not be spiders.”

“We’re trapping Sirens?  Like how my mom set up Fairy traps around our old house?”  I don’t miss the disgusted expression on Tana’s face.  “Dagda didn’t exactly leave a positive impression of Fairies on her,” I say in Mom’s defense.  I hope she and Dad are doing okay.  I haven’t seen them since coming to the palace.  They are working with Adriel and Raziel to keep stray Fairies from killing themselves.  And keeping my little brother safe. 

“Indeed,” Tana drawls, not liking the reminder that Dagda cheated on her with my mom so I’d be born.

“No,” Isla interrupts knowing a dangerous topic when she hears one, “these will not be the same.  They will be more of an alarm system than an actual trap.  You experienced the power of deception the Sirens utilize when hiding their location.  Even when they are close by, their magic saturates the air and it can be impossible to find the source.  These,” she picks up a purplish crystal, “will help us narrow down their location.”

“How so?” I ask, ignoring Tana’s pouting.  Geez, get over it already.  I guess that’s easy for me to say since Kallen hasn’t ever cheated on me.  But, I had to come to terms with the circumstances of my birth and so does she if we are ever going to have a healthy relationship.

“They do not measure magic, they measure heat.”

Heat sensors.  Interesting.  “They pick up body heat?”

She nods.  “They can be tricky as animals also put out body heat, so we cannot completely rely on them.”

“Better than nothing,” I say with a shrug.

Tana unrolls a blueprint of the palace Isla had waiting on her desk.  “A hundred yard perimeter with crystals every fifty feet should do nicely.”  I guess she knows about crystals.

“Agreed,” Isla says.  “We shall each take crystals and place them.”  She glances at her watch.  “Dusk is upon us.  We need to do this now.”

“Do we have to do anything magical when we place them?” I ask.  I know nothing about crystals.

Isla shakes her head.  “Tabitha charged them earlier.”  Tabitha is apparently great with crystals.

“Where is she now?” I ask.  I haven’t seen Tabitha since lunch yesterday.

“She is at home.  If there is a war, her place is not on the battlefield.  Her healing powers are too valuable.”  Considering the fact that my healing powers are about a thousand times better, I’m not buying that.  Did Isla send her home because she was worried her old friend wouldn’t be strong enough to fight?  Reading my mind, Isla drawls, “I have no qualms about Tabitha’s strength in regards to battle.  But she can read people better than anyone I know.  She can see down to their souls and determine how much darkness is there.  If we capture any of the Sirens, that will be a useful tool in regards to finding a solution to our problems.”  That might be part of it, but there’s also a big part of Isla that wants to keep her oldest friend safe.  I’m okay with that.

“Okay, which crystals do I take?” I ask reaching out for several of the bright blue ones.

“Those will be fine,” Isla says.  “There is no particular order in which they must be placed.”

Something magical without picky little details?  Weird.  “Okay, I’ll take this area,” I indicate a section on the blue prints.  “Let’s meet back here in fifteen minutes.  That should give us each enough time.”

“Agreed,” Isla says.  She and Tana each take their share of the crystals.

Outside, I find the growing darkness eerie.  It’s so still and quiet.  Usually, there’s a lot of bustling going on around the palace.  Bustling, a word I never thought I would use in a sentence.  It’s such an old fashioned word, but it’s an apt description.  To be walking around the grounds with no one in sight and no sounds indicating there are others about makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  I feel like the stupid chick in a horror movie that decides taking a stroll alone in the woods is a good idea when there is a serial killer on the loose.  I guess I feel that way because I am doing exactly that.  Only, there may be more than one serial killer out here waiting to mow me down.  My life is very strange. 

“Boo!” Taz shouts, jumping out from behind a tree and scaring me half to death.

I stop, my heart pounding.  “Taz, I’m going to kill you.”

“Nah, you’d miss my witty repertoire and keen sense of humor.”

“In my time here, I have found evidence of neither,” Felix informs him.  I am definitely keeping Felix and getting rid of Taz.

Once I swallow my heart back down into my chest, I do what I came out here to do.  Since I have no idea how far out a hundred yards is, I count out three hundred steps and put a crystal down.  As soon as it touches the ground, it loses all color.  I really hope it’s supposed to do that and I didn’t somehow suck all the magic out of it when Taz scared me.  I’ll do another one and see what happens.  Counting out fifty steps to the right, I place another blue crystal on the ground.  Again, all the color drains out of it.  Okay, I’m going to assume they are supposed to do that.  I count out fifty more steps and place another crystal.  I do this until I have placed all of them. 

“Uh, Xandra, you might want to look behind you,” Taz says quietly.

“I’m not falling for your tricks,” I inform him.

“Move!” he screeches as he leaps past me, teeth bared.  Felix is right beside him, growling and gnashing his teeth with the same ferocity. 

I whirl around and come face to face with a man holding a sword.  We are only face to face for an instant.  He cannot remain upright when two Tasmanian devils lunge at him and begin tearing pieces of flesh from his body.  Eew.  I appreciate their loyalty but could do without the blood and gore.  The biggest question going through my mind at the moment, though, is why didn’t I sense him?  Moving closer, I call off my Familiars.  “He’s down guys.  Thanks for that.”

Not happy to leave their prey, the Tasmanian devils reluctantly back away but they don’t go far.  If the guy moves, they’ll be on him again in an instant.  I move closer.  It hits me why I couldn’t sense the guy coming.  He’s human.  Or Cowan as the Fairies will call him.  He’s also big.  At least six feet and a good three hundred pounds of solid muscle.  I can’t believe Felix and Taz got him down.  It was probably the surprise of the attack.  No one expects to randomly be attacked by Tasmanian devils.

“Who are you?” I ask.  Why didn’t the crystals work?

Reading my mind, Felix says, “He was already inside them.”  He adds, “Cowans are not nocturnal.”

Oh, crap.  This is not good.  There could be warriors already in place around the village and palace simply waiting for the Sirens to wake.  I need to warn everyone.  But, what do I do with this guy?  He still hasn’t answered my question but that’s okay.  Knowing who he is isn’t important.  Finding out what he knows is.  “We’re going back inside,” I tell my Familiars.  I reach down and grab the man’s leg, half expecting him to kick out at me.  He doesn’t.  He’s more worried about stopping the blood flow from his neck wound than anything else.  Felix may have nicked his carotid.  I’ll worry about that inside.

I teleport us straight to a holding cell.  Pulling magic, I use it to heal the guy’s neck wound, but nothing else.  I don’t want him to die but I don’t want him back to full strength, either.  Cruel, yes.  Fair in war?  I guess I’ll have to rely on hindsight later to give me the answer to that.  As soon as his neck is healed, I teleport to the other side of the cell enclosure.  “Felix, keep an eye on him.  I’ll be right back.”

“You got it,” Felix growls.  His teeth are bared and there’s a little foam gathering at the corners of his mouth.  He could be the poster child for rabid forest animals.

“Taz, with me.”  There’s not enough time to run through the palace.  I teleport to Isla’s office.  It takes one glance at the panic on my face for Isla to know something is seriously wrong.  “They are already here,” I tell her.

Isla closes her eyes for a moment.  When she opens them again, they are a green so dark with fury, they don’t look real.  Freaky.  “How do you know?”

I tell her about the Cowan.  “What do we do first?” I ask.  I’ve never fought a war before.  Not like this, anyway.

Tana comes rushing into the office.  “I saw one,” she says between breaths.

“We know,” Isla informs her.  To me, she says, “Find out what he knows of their battle plan.”

“What about Kallen and Dagda?  They need to know what’s going on.”  That is higher on my priority list than interrogating a prisoner.

Isla grimaces.  “I suspect they already know.  Regardless, I will get a message to them.”  A paper appears on her desk.  She scrawls a note on it and when she’s done, it folds up into an origami swan.  She uses magic to open her office window and the paper flaps its wings and takes off into the night.  Okay, I’m impressed.  “That is the best we can do,” she says.  “Tana, gather the staff so we can develop our own battle plan.  I will seal the exits.” 

She doesn’t ask me to do it.  She must want me to conserve my energy.  I take a deep breath.  This is about to get ugly.