Authors: K.L. Morton
"So if you are Fairon, what is a Fairy like, do they have wings?" Emma was sitting on her sleeping bag, her
lantern lit up the small cave they had taken shelter in for the night.
"They look very much like us, a bit like cousins I suppose. They have wings and they can make themselves very small to travel from place to place, a bit like Pixies, but Pixies are always small. Fairies can only fly when they are small, so their wings are hidden when they are our size." Garus had spent the last hour playing
Crash Bandicoot
on Emma’s IPod touch, and his attention was still on the game as he spoke.
"So if you're alike, can you make yourselves small and fly as well, or do anything cool like that?" Emma was finding that the fairy stories she had been brought up with were not quite correct.
"No, we are protectors, warriors, we are brought up to fight and defend the Ora and the Fae realm. The Fairies are peaceful, they are healers, but they also mine silver, it is what our swords and tips of bows are made from, it's super strong. They make themselves small so they can collect the delicate pollens and oils from plants that they use for medicine, Fairies also make the most delicious honey nectar that is sure to make you happy after a glass or two." Garus smiled like he was thinking of a fond memory.
"And the Pixies, what are they like?" Emma asked.
"Cheeky little things, about the size of my hand, they are terrible pranksters. You don't want to come across one unless they take a liking to you, or you may find yourself bound up in only your underwear, with your hair turned pink and rude words painted on your chest, only to be found by the King and Queen hanging upside down from their bed canopy." Garus looked up realizing what he had said, Morthos was smirking and Emma was looking slightly
confused. "Not that that's ever happened to me, just an example." He quickly put his head down hoping to avoid any further questions on the subject. Emma thought better of asking more about pixies.
"So what about Aarion? He can do some cool stuff, those balls of light he made were amazing."
"Only Fairon who have the royal bloodline can draw power from the Ora. They use this gift to protect the Ora and their people. They are born with the ability." Morthos answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh yes, Prince Aarion. Has he got a girlfriend?" Emma asked with ulterior motives.
"Aarion is not really the relationship type." Garus said.
"Is he not into girls?" Emma looked a little worried.
"Of course he is, but he's more dedicated to protecting the Ora, training and that sort of stuff, it's hard to get him out to have a little fun, why do you ask?" Garus looked up from his game with interest.
"Oh, I just noticed the way him and Trinny had a few moments, you know, the intense eye locking ones where the world fades away around you and there is suddenly just the two of you there alone." She grinned at Garus; he was looking a little shocked.
"No, I didn't. But even if there was something there, he wouldn't be permitted to see her."
Emma was offended.
"Are you saying my friend is not good enough for him because he's some prince? She's a princess, isn't that number one on the criteria for a prince's girlfriend?"
"What Garus is trying to say is that it is forbidden to mix races, Fairons are with Fairons, Fairies with Fairies and so
on. It can unbalance everything. If a Fairon royal didn't marry a Fairon, his bloodline could be tainted and his children may never receive the Ora's power, and then who would be its guardian? No matter what Aarion’s feelings may be, and knowing Aarion there are most likely none, he would choose his people over love." Morthos stated.
"Wow, that's sad, and hopefully you're right Morthos, that there's no interest, for both their sakes." Emma lay her head down on her arm and thought about Trinny, she prayed that she was safe. She couldn't remember a time that she was unable to contact her, at that moment she was wishing the Fae realm would get with the times and erect a few cell phone towers.
CHAPTER TEN
'There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil — a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.'- Jane Austin (Pride and Prejudice)
The floor was cold and wet, and every muscle in Nina’s body ached. Everything seemed blurry as she opened her eyes, there was only a small amount of light coming from above her head and she was finding it hard to focus on where she was. As her memory stirred she leaped up in fright and started to reach out around her.
"Morthos? Garus? Emma? Are you there?" Nina called out hoping to hear her friend’s voices. She was unsure if they had been caught as well, and even though she hoped
that was not the case she longed to not be alone in this dark, damp place. Her eyes were slowly becoming accustomed to the dim room now and she could see there
was
a pile of dry straw in one corner and a bucket of dirty water in another. The light was coming from a small rectangular window that was high above her head; it had jagged shard type bars that looked deadly. There was a small wooden door covered with silver spikes but no handle.
"Morthos? Anyone?" Nina threw a fireball at the door in frustration but it disintegrated on impact. "What the?"
"It's no use. There's a magical barrier in these cells that prevents us from using our power." The muffled dry voice startled Nina.
"Who is that? Morthos?"
"No. It's Micah, Micah Govad."
"Micah! I'm so happy to hear your voice, and that you're still alive, what happened? Where are we?" Relief flooded Nina, she was not alone and Micah was alive. She moved closer to the sound of his words. There was a tiny hole in-between the large bricks that made up the wall.
"I only remember the park and the Werewolves, then waking up here. I tried to blow the door from its hinges, but my powers deflect every time. Then I met her, the Dark Empress. We are in her Liar. She has some type of spell that prevents me from using my powers effectively here and I have tried everything to get out of this cell, but to no avail. What about the others? Is Trinny alright?" Micah was anxious to hear news.
"They got away as far as I know, if they are not here, then that can only be a good sign. What does the Empress want from us?"
"I can only imagine she wants to make sure we cannot combine our Elemental powers to bind her for another 500 years. But I get the feeling there is something more she wants, I can't understand why she has not just killed us." Micah sounded weary.
"The old witch, I'd like to get my hands on her and wring her ugly little neck."
"That is hardly any way to speak about your host?"
Nina jumped at the softly spoken voice that came from above her head. She was shocked to see the pale face of a beautiful woman with long pure white hair and piercing blue eyes looking down at her.
"Who are you?" Nina asked abruptly.
"The one with the
'ugly little neck.'"
The Dark Empress let out a quiet cold laugh. "If I were you I would be a little more grateful as my guest my dear."
"What do you want from me you cold hearted witch?" Hatred was bubbling up from within Nina; the stories of her ancestor’s destruction stirred her being.
"Don't take my hospitality for granted child of Cassis. I have been kind enough to allow you to live, for now. In time you will help me in the call of my destiny." The Empress tone was slightly colder now and she leaned in closer taking hold of the jagged bars.
"Help you? You are as crazy as I thought you would be. I will never help you. And the only destiny in your cards is a painful death, hopefully inflicted by fire." Nina was fuming as she heard the Empress laugh loudly at her.
"Just like your ancestors. They were so easy to deceive, once I convinced them that the other Elementals were plotting against them, the fiery side of them could not see clearly enough to stop a fatal war against each other. You Fire
Elementals always leap before you look. Once Cassis was in ruins because of your races pride, my Stealth moved in and finished off what was left of the realm and the mighty Cassis Empire. You see my dear, I could hardly be afraid of one little Fire Elemental."
The Dark Empress was gone as quickly as she came, and Nina was left in silence. She had never heard much of the story of her ancestor’s demise, just that the Empress had been the one to instigate it. She had never understood that it was really pride that brought down an empire, the same pride she had just displayed.
"She is pure evil." Micah had been listening from through the wall; he could sense that the Empress had hit a nerve in Nina. "She will say anything to get to you Nina, you need to stay strong, don't let her weaken your belief in your heritage. She was ultimately the downfall of our Nations."
"Micah, she was wearing the Fire ring of Cassis that belonged to the Queen of the Fire Elementals, it's been missing for five centuries. She was the one who took it. No wonder she was not destroyed by the original Elementals when they combined their power. As well as enhancing the gifts of the user, the Fire ring protects those wearing it from the power of other Fire Elementals. So when they combined their power, it was not effective enough to destroy her as only the power of two Elementals was working. Micah, the only way we are going to destroy her for good is if we get that ring."
"We need to work out a way to get out of here first, then we find a way to get the ring that's protecting her." Micah replied.
"What if she finds Trinny and gets hold of her Earth pendant, she will also get protection from her powers?"
"She would have to kill Trinny to be able to wear her pendant. When there is a royal bloodline still alive, only they can wear the gemstones of Cassis, that is why she is able to wear the Fire ring, there is no royal Fire Elemental line left. I pray Trinny is safe, she is our only hope left." Micah was sounding worried.
"She hardly knows how to use her powers, how is she our only hope?" Nina didn't understand how this teenage girl could make a difference on her own.
"Nina, she is more powerful than anyone of us can imagine!"
CHAPTER ELEVEN
'At the first kiss I felt something melt inside me that hurt in an exquisite way.
All my longings, all my dreams and sweet anguish, all the secrets that slept deep within me came awake.
Everything was transformed and enchanted, everything made sense.'- Hermann Hesse
"Have you noticed we're being followed?" Trinny spoke softly toward Aarion and motioned at a tree a few feet back. Aarion turned to see a small blue bird with bright red feathers sticking up on its head.
"You had me worried there. It's a Milty bird, they're very friendly, unusual to see it on it's own though." Trinny looked back and smiled at the bird.
"Cute. I haven't noticed many animals here, why is that?"
"The animals here can feel the Ora is losing power, and the Dark Empress is not really an animal lover. They will be fleeing for safer realms, it's a natural instinct, but a bad sign." Aarion looked uneasy.
"We will save the Ora, Aarion." Trinny gave Aarion a reassuring smile.
"It's just.... I can feel the Ora's power getting weaker, I wasn't around in the battle of Taeith, so I didn't see what the Elementals could do, only my father was, he knows what needs to happen, I just hope we can get back in time." Aarion kept moving ahead, but Trinny stopped, looking a little confused.
"Hang on, didn't you say that the battle of Taeith was 500 years ago?" Aarion stepped back toward Trinny.
"Yes."
"And you just said that your father was there.... how can that be?" Trinny asked.