Clash of the Otherworlds: Book 1, After the Fall (28 page)

Gregale looked like he was about to faint, his shaking hand fluttering up to rest on his chest.  His eyes darted around the room, taking in all the fae and other creatures standing less than ten feet away from him.

Jared's gaze followed my pointing finger.  He gradually stood, loosening his hold on Garrett.  

When he was nearly straight again, Garrett shoved Jared's arm off of him and immediately set about putting himself to rights.  "Of all the rude greetings I have ever suffered ... that has to be the very worst," he huffed, trying to smooth his hair.  A clump on top refused to lie down, making his attempts at seeming sophisticated almost comical.

"I'm sorry, vampire, I didn't know that you were invited."

"My name is not vampire, daemon.  It's Garrett."

Jared held out his hand.  "Nice to meet you."

Garrett stared at the offer of peace for a few seconds before finally accepting it.  "And may I say it is a unique pleasure, having met you ...?  I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"It's Jared." He looked over at Shayla.  "Welcome."

"Thank you.  I am Shayla of Blackthorn."

Jared looked from her to me.  "She is of your line."

"Yes, she is."

He looked at her again, studying her closely.  "You are the dragon slayer," he said finally, sounding surprised at his own conclusion.

"Yes.  As is Garrett."  Shayla nodded her head towards the very proud-looking vampire standing next to her.

"Forgive me, Garrett.  I had no idea," said Jared, nodding his head in deference.

"It's quite all right.  I do not walk around with a sign around my neck announcing my past deeds."

The now mostly-recovered Gregale half-bowed from the doorway as well.  "It is an honor to meet you both."  His eyes were shining as he stared at them, and I could practically see the wheels spinning in his head.  He wanted to question them about every event they'd ever seen in the last three thousand years so he could analyze it until the day he died.

Garrett and Shayla seemed even more impressive to me now, knowing that Jared and Gregale held them in such high esteem.  Gregale was brilliant and Jared was nothing if not loyal and dedicated to all faekind.  I knew that even if I couldn't trust him to do what was best for me personally, he'd always do what was best for the fae.  He had a kind of singular purpose that I envied.

Tim interrupted my self-analysis and review of the status of those before me with typical Tim style.  "Wow, it's hot in here, and there's no circulation
at
all
.  I hope no one has gas today.  Were there beans on the buffet?  Does anyone remember?"

I cleared my throat, grateful that no one but me could hear him.  "So, I guess we'd better get started talking about what's going on, since I think we only have about an hour's worth of oxygen in this room.

That earned me a few laughs.

"Where is Ben?  Shouldn't he be here?" asked Jared.

"Maybe not for this meeting," I said.  "We've had some incidents lately, and I think he's probably in recovery somewhere right now, anyway."  I ignored the twinge of guilt I felt tweaking my heart.

"Recovery?" he asked.

"I'll tell you later.  Anyway, I wanted all of you here to talk to these two, Garrett and Shayla, and see if we can figure out what's going on and what we can bring to the council."

"Why us?" asked Becky.  "I mean, I appreciate the vote of confidence and all, but why not bring these guys right to the council directly?"

I wasn't sure I even knew the entire answer myself, and since I didn't think they'd buy the I'm-going-on-instinct answer, I pulled some stuff out of my butt.  "The council gave me the job of finding out how the demons were getting through to our realm and told me to go talk to Maggie and stuff.  And when I did that, I found Garrett.  And then I found Shayla.  So I'm just doing what I was told.  But I don't want to go back there with half an answer, and since all of you are from different races, I figured you'd have as much input as any of those dodes on the council."  I cringed and looked over at Jared and Aidan.  "Not including you guys, of course.  You're not dodes."

Aidan smiled.  "Of course."

Jared said nothing.  He just studied my face, and I tried not to let it freak me out.  He could be so intense sometimes.

I looked at him sideways, wondering if he were going to call me on my bullshit, but when he said nothing, I continued.  "So here's the nutshell version of what we're looking at: the demons are getting through to our realm using a tear in the Gray.  That's the space dividing our realm from the Underworld.  Because of that tear, Shayla got through too ... something to do with our connection and being related or whatever.  Garrett got through when Maggie messed around with some spell at her house.  I happened to be visiting when it all went down.  Tony was in the Gray recently, and he has some stuff to add to my story."  I glanced over at him, receiving a nod before I continued.  "I also had a dream the other night, and during the dream I pulled Torrie the demon and Leck the wrathe in with me.  Then I called Ben and he came in.  I'm not sure what that means, or how these things are connected, but I'm open to hearing what you think.  Especially if you have ideas about making that dream stuff never happen again, because it pretty much sucked the major honkis."

"What can you tell us?" Jared asked Garrett and Shayla both.

Shayla spoke first.  "As you know, the portals were closed a thousand years ago, give or take a decade.  The Overworlders ended their influence in the Here and Now as requested by the fae.  We have respected that request and will continue to do so until or unless the portals are opened again."

"That cannot happen," said Aidan.

Garrett spoke up. "You might not have a choice.  The demons are coming.  Their determination grows stronger with each breach.  They have tasted the freedom of this realm, and all it has done is increased their thirst.  They have found a way in.  And not only do you have no guardians at the gate, you risk the fall of the Gray entirely."

Aidan gasped, and it sounded spooky as hell coming from such a strong guy.  "You cannot be serious!" he said, his last word turning into a growl.

I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw him grow taller and some hair sprout out of his face.

Jared took a step towards him and yelled, "Control the shift, Wolf!"  Jared's arm was angled back towards me, stiff, as if keeping me away from Aidan.  Or Aidan away from me.

Aidan growled loudly and then craned his neck out really far, the sounds of cracking bones making me jump in fear and disgust.  But then, a second later, Aidan shook himself hard and was suddenly back to his normal self, but now looking chagrined.  "Sorry," he said, shaking his head again, "but that was a little shocking, you must admit."

Jared ran his fingers through his hair.  "Yeah, you're right.  I don't blame you.  If I were a shifter I'd be covered in fur right now too."

Aidan laughed.

I just stood there, mystified, looking around at my changeling friends.  They all had the same expression as I did. 
Good.  I'd hate to be the only clueless one in the room
.  

Tim came over and settled on my shoulder.  "Wow.  The doo-doo is really gonna hit the fan.  And in my lifetime.  How unlucky can a pixie be?"

"What are they talking about?" I asked quietly.

Jared interrupted Tim's response.  "Tony ... tell us what you saw in the Gray."

Tony cleared his throat and sat up straighter in bed.  His color was back to its normal pink, but all his acne was suddenly gone.  He was handsomer than I ever remembered him being, which was weird because I never even noticed that stuff about him anymore.  He was always just ... Tony.  Now suddenly he was a cute guy. 
Weird.  Maybe the end of the world really is coming.

"I was in the Gray, checking out some strange vibes in there when I found a space that just seemed ... off."

"Off?" asked Jared.

"Yeah.  That's the only way I can describe it.  I was trying to figure out what it was, when I encountered some beings there who didn't belong."

"And who were they?" asked Jared.

"And
what
were they?" asked Aidan.

"I believe they were Torrie, the demon, and some of his friends.  They were definitely from the Underworld and not the regular souls I usually see and feel there.  And they were in solid form, not the spirit form I also usually see."

"What about Leck?" I asked.  "Wasn't he supposed to be in there with you?"

"Yes.  He was there and then suddenly he wasn't.  First Torrie disappeared and then Leck did.  I didn't know what happened to him until you mentioned pulling him into your dream.  I think you pulled them both out of the Gray and into your head or whatever."

"I wish I knew exactly when everything rolled out," I said, mostly to myself.  Leck wasn't off the hook in my mind.  I was going to have to confront him someday about it, but right now I was more worried about this falling Gray thing.

"You really believe the Gray could fall?" asked Jared.

Shayla nodded her head.  "Yes.  And so does Garrett.  We've discussed it at length.  You know the Gray was never meant to be a two-way egress.  It's being abused right now, and no one knows what could happen if the abuse were to continue for too long."

Jared nodded, his expression grave.  "We need to bring this to the council immediately."

"What exactly would we be bringing to them?" I asked.  "I'm sorry to sound so ignorant, but I'm kind of lost again.  What's this about portals?  And the falling of the Gray?"

"Yeah, sorry, y'all, but I'm a little lost myself," said Finn.

Becky raised her hand.  "Me three."

"I expect all of you changelings to be lost," said Jared.  "This was definitely not included in your training."

"We had no reason to think it needed to be," said Gregale.  "This is just ... inconceivable."

"Never doubt the determination of a demon with a taste for human light," said Garrett, looking every inch the scary vampire.

I rubbed my wrist, glancing down at the scars that remained white.  If they started turning black again, I was going to have a party in Samantha's honor and invite Spike over for a three-way, so they could both work their healing magic on me again.  No way did I ever want to feel that shitty again.  I narrowed my eyes at Garrett, wondering now how much I could trust a guy who'd put a smudge on my soul like that just because he was hungry.  I ignored the part about his survival and the whole ashes to ashes thing, not sure it warranted being so sneaky.

Garrett looked over at me, the darkness in his eyes lightening as he straightened his features.  "I am sorry, elemental.  I did not wish to cause you harm."

All eyes in the room turned towards me.

"Never mind.  It won't happen again.  The blood bank is closed."

Jared's eyes grew wide.  "Please tell me I misunderstand."

"Oh, you don't," said Tim, flying up in front of Jared's face.  "He was, like, 'Oh, I'm so hungry, why don't you let me sip a little of your blood, it won't hurt at all, just a little smudge, yadda yadda yadda' ... and she was, like, 'Okay, go ahead handsome demon,' ... and he was, like, 'Grrrr, nom nom, black mark on your soul, nom nom nom ...'"

I leaned over and waved Tim away from Jared's airspace.  "It's over with, Jared.  I've learned my lesson, and I'm fine, see?"  I held out my wrist for his inspection.

He took it in his hand and studied the marks, looking up at Garrett with accusation in his eyes.  "You've let her blood twice."

"Yes."

"You knew the danger."

"Yes.  She was informed."

"Only the second time," said Shayla, challenging Garrett to argue with a lift of her eyebrow.

Garrett merely nodded.  "Shayla speaks the truth."

"He didn't have time to tell me the first time," I said, yanking my arm back and pulling my sleeve down, "and the second time was a mistake on my part.  I knew exactly what I was getting into.  But I won't do it again, trust me."  I looked at Garrett.  "Sorry, dude.  If you get hungry you're just going to have to blow away in the wind, because I'm done with that shit."

He bowed once.  "As you wish."

Shayla's jaw tightened, and I saw a flash of fear in her eye before she schooled her features to appear unconcerned again.

Jared shook his head in disgust and then turned to Aidan.  "You are on the council.  What are your thoughts?"

Aidan remained silent for a full minute, the only sounds in the room that of people breathing and shifting around.  Then a tiny squeak from Tim's butt.

"Sorry," Tim said, before flying to the corner of the room, giggling as he went.

"I think we have two problems of immediate concern, and I am honestly at a loss as to which must be dealt with first."

"I know of one," said Jared.

"You have been gone a while," said Aidan, sighing.  "We have a power challenge, issued by Maléna against Ben and Jayne.  They are to meet tomorrow to resolve the issue."

"That is a problem," said Jared looking at me.  "Are you ready?"

I laughed bitterly.  "Uh, no.  Not really.  I was supposed to train with Ben today and that didn't really work out."

"She killed him," said Scrum.  "Then she brought him back to life.  It was kind of shocking, really.  I was a little afraid for my own life too, which doesn't happen often."

"Scrum!" I exclaimed, feeling a little sold out.

"Oh, sorry.  Did I say that out loud?  I meant to keep it in my brain."

"Stupid gnome-head," said Tim, flying down near me again.  "Don't listen to him.  He hasn't shampooed in weeks.  All that nastiness is seeping into his gray matter."

"Well, that's not a good sign," said Jared.  "What caused all of this to happen?  Wasn't he there to help you?"

I felt my face getting red.  The heat was burning my ears, too.  "Well, Samantha showed up and threw a couple spells at me.  And she was lording her Ben crap over me.  And with all that vampire shit going on inside me, I guess I kind of ... lost my temper."  I looked down at the floor, unable to meet his eyes.  He was totally channeling Dardennes, and I felt like I was facing down the most powerful dad of all time.