Missing Magic (5 page)

“Ok,” she sighed. “I’ve seen Rune. You’ve
accomplished your purpose – I now believe you’re a Faerie. I’m
still not sure about Mick, but I believe you.”

“Why aren’t you sure about Mick?”

“I’ve known him all my life. We’re both
orphans. If he had family somewhere, anywhere, I can’t believe he
wouldn’t have told me.” She shook her head.

All her frowning had made a tiny frown line
appear in her brow. Cenrick caught himself about to smooth it with
his finger.

“Also, I can’t believe Mick’s a… that
Mick’s…”

“Fae?”

“Right.” Spreading her hands, each time she
looked at him, her gaze skittered away. “Mick’s… Mick. He’s a cop.
My friend. Human.”

He simply arched a brow.

“What the difference anyway?” she finally
asked. “This place looks like Oregon, sort of. And you – and Mick –
both seem normal. Other than his good-luck, that is.”

“We are beings of magic.” Struggling to find
the right explanation, Cenrick watched her for signs of disbelief.
“Our people live at the grace of yours.”

“Explain.”

“As long as someone, somewhere believes in
magic, we can exist. Man, woman, child, it matters not.”

“So you’re saying you have… powers.”

He put his answer as simply as he could.
“Yes. We do. Would that upset you?”

“No.” Her direct gaze told him she spoke
truth. “I’m only angry because Mick and I told each other
everything.”

“He didn’t tell you this.”

“No.” Sadness mingled with her fury. “I’ll
never understand why not.”

“We’re forbidden to do so, unless we have
good reason.”

“Like now?” she asked.

“Yes. Like now.”

“Why are you so convinced he’s human?”

Her answer was simple, direct and to the
point. “Because he’s not beautiful.”

Not beautiful? Then he realized what Mick
must have done. “No doubt he disguises himself. Most Fae do this,
in order to live normally in your world.”

With a nod, she continued to scan the beauty
around them, her face impassive. She jiggled her leg, tapping her
toe, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Her brows rose. “What?”

“You’re,” he waved his hand. “Fidgeting.”

“Oh, that. I always start moving when I’ve
lost patience. Jiggle my leg, tap my foot, drum my fingers on the
nearest available hard surface. The guys back at the station always
teased me about that. Dee’s ready to go, they’d say.” Her sheepish
smile faded and he knew she was remembering she no longer had her
job.

Her next words echoed his thought.

“Sometimes, I really miss my job.”

He didn’t understand. In Rune, work was work,
play was play. “Why?”

“Because we were like family.” She blinked
rapidly. “Those guys still call me, but I won’t take their calls.
I’m too embarrassed.”

“Over what? You said you’d nothing
wrong.”

“True.” She looked miserable. “But someone
thinks I did, or they wouldn’t have suspended me. I couldn’t bear
to see doubt and disgust in the other cops’ faces.”

“Come on.” He held out his hand.

She shook her head. The frown was back, along
with the tiny line. “This is absolutely lovely, but we really don’t
have time for this,” she said. “Seriously. We need to go back.”

Blinking, he wasn’t sure he’d heard
correctly. “What?”

“All this.” She waved one hand dismissingly
at the lush landscape surrounding them. “I’d love to explore this
place, if I was on vacation. But I’m not and there’s no time. So,
take me back. Now.”

He blinked. She had to be the first human
he’d ever met who, once seeing Rune, wasn’t overcome. “I told you,
time passes differently here. Though we might spend hours here,
when we go back to your world, it will be like a matter of minutes.
You have all the time you want.”

One arched brow told him she didn’t believe
him. “Despite that,
this
feels wrong. We’re wasting too much
time here. Let’s go.”

“In a moment. There’s one more thing we’ve
got to do before we can leave. I want to look at the ones who’ve
been harmed. Mick’s friends. I wasn’t able to do so before I
traveled to your world.”

“I don’t know…”

“I would think as an officer of the law,
you’d want to see the people you’re going to help. And, though you
seem inclined to think Mick is the victim here, evidence points to
the opposite.”

She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck with
her free hand. Again she checked her watch, shaking her head when
she realized what she’d done. “Sorry, it’s a habit. Will this take
long? And don’t say time is relative.”

“No. This shouldn’t take long.”

“You honestly believe Mick is behind all
this?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Considering him, she cocked her head. “I
would argue with you, but what you’ve told me means Mick’s been
lying to me about nearly everything. So yes, of course I want to
see the victims.”

“All right.” He nodded. “Take my hand. The
afflicted ones are with the Oracle, a great mage who resides across
the Plains of Lothar. Getting there will require another
spell.”

Chin up, she held out her hand.

As he gripped her fingers with his own, again
he felt that click of connection, of rightness.

Three words, repeated twice. They were
ancient words; the meaning of which were no longer known. An
instant later, the lush meadow of his home faded.

Another breath, another heartbeat, and they
reformed in an alpine meadow. The sparse grass and delicate flora
were at home in the thin air. Here, the breeze carried a chill, the
likes of which reminded Cenrick of winter.

“Ah,” Dee sighed, pleasure obvious in her
face. “This reminds me of Colorado.”

This time, she didn’t immediately yank her
hand free of his. Oddly, he found he liked this.

“This way.” He pointed to a narrow path
winding up the side of the mountain.

“Don’t we need an appointment or something?
Surely we can’t just barge in on this person, especially if she’s
caring for sick people.”

He had to laugh. “She’s the Oracle. She
foretells the future. Of course she knows we’re coming.”

Dee fell silent as they headed towards the
path. Once there, he released her hand and indicated she should
precede him.

They began to climb. Cenrick couldn’t help
but admire her shape as she continued on ahead of him.

When they reached the top, she turned to face
him, her chest heaving with exertion. Again, he found himself
enjoying the view.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m good. A bit out of breath, but fine.
You, you’re not even winded.” She pointed her finger accusingly.
“But then,” her gaze traveled over him, “you work out a lot, don’t
you?”

If by work out, she meant exercise, he
supposed he did.

“Yes.” He managed to answer, surprised that a
simple look from her made heat crawl over his skin.

The cool breeze ruffled her short hair. He
turned away, staring blindly at the sand-colored cliff walls.

“The Oracle lives there.” He pointed up sheer
rock. “See those steps?”

“In a cave?” She sounded shocked.

He glanced at her, nodding.

Above them, a hawk screeched. Dee jumped.

“That is Tinth.” Cenrick smiled, feeling
slightly relieved. “The Mage’s pet hawk.”

Hearing her name, the huge bird landed on a
boulder in front of them. Her bright eyes looked curious as she
cocked her head and watched them approach.

When they were within five paces of the hawk,
she spread her massive wings and took off, screeching as she flew
ahead of them, spiraling up, finally disappearing inside the
cave.

“She leads the way. Come on.”

Silently, they climbed the steps. Once they
reached the third plateau and could go no higher, they began the
descent into the largest of the caves. The air was cold, and the
familiar scent of heavy incense drifted up the passages. Torches
flickered, placed at strategic intervals along the rock walls.

Below, the tinkling of bells could be head, a
magical breeze swirling through the caverns below and stirring the
hundreds of crystal wind chimes and shell ornaments hanging from
rock ceilings and walls. For centuries the Oracle had used them for
decoration, as had those who had preceded her.

Little had changed in the Oracle’s adobe
since Cenrick’s last visit, even though twenty human years had gone
by.

Finally, they came to the great cave deep
within the mountain.

They stepped into the cool darkness and a
soft shimmer of light proclaimed the Oracle’s presence.

“Welcome.” Clothed in her customary white
robe, made of a material so rich the touch of it felt sinful, she
kept her hood up, her face in shadow. Even Cenrick, Crown Prince of
the Fae, had never seen her features. `Twas said the sight of it
drove even learned Fae mad.

“Greetings, Oracle. I have brought Dee Bishop
with me, from the human world.”

“You have come to see the soulless ones.”

“Yes.”

“It is fitting.” The brilliant scarlet of her
glowing gaze lingered on Dee. “You found her,” she said
cryptically. “One who lives to protect others.”

Dee started. “Yes, that’s true. How did you
know?”

“I have seen you.” She glanced at Cenrick.
“And you. Only the two of you, working as one, can halt this great
evil.”

A prophecy? Cenrick looked at the small human
woman. The Oracle was never wrong.

Dee crossed her arms, considering. “Working
together, huh? Has he told you I work better alone?”

“Not this time.” Gossamer robes shifted in
their own breeze. “One alone will surely die.”

“A prophecy?”

The red of the Oracle’s eyes became brighter,
flaring from red to plum. “I speak but truth,” she said finally,
turning away. “But I cannot speak prophecy, not with humans. Their
machines make seeing within their world difficult.” She seemed to
grow, looming over them like some towering flame, but he blinked
and she seemed normal- sized again. Perhaps the visual deception
was the result of the shadows cast by the flickering torches.

She seemed to float ahead of them into the
passageway, calling over her shoulder, “Come with me.”

“Where?” Dee looked at Cenrick.

The Oracle answered for him. “We go deep into
the bowels of the earth. There, I keep the soulless ones. Come,
both of you, and see what has been done to our people.”

Silent, they followed as she led them further
and further down. Around each jagged corner, torches flickered on
the walls and lit the way. The air became thinner and cooler the
deeper they descended.

Finally, the Oracle stopped. “They are here.”
She waved her arm, the white fabric glistening as her ruby eyes
glowed. “Here, where magic once coalesced. They gather around the
Pool of Dreamers, hoping the power of the waters will restore
them.”

Her words gave him hope. “Have they begun to
heal?” “No.” Though her voice rang with authority, sorrow threaded
needle-sharp through her tone. “Look for yourself.” She stepped
aside, her brilliance going ashen as she appeared to blend with the
stone walls.

Even though Mort had warned him, Cenrick was
shocked when he saw his people.
The Soulless ones
, the
Oracle had called them, and he saw exactly what that meant.

They milled about aimlessly, like beautiful
cattle. Nothing of their spirit peered out from behind dull eyes.
Even the murky water of the underground pool sparkled far more
brightly.

Worse, the malaise had rotted more than their
bodies. With horror, he saw that their auras, which should have
been shining with the brilliance of copper and gold, were black and
interspersed with soot.

Ruined. Horribly, awfully damaged.

His people. His family. His friends. Though
he didn't know all of them intimately, in Rune all were
connected.

How many
friends
does Mick have?” Dee
sounded shocked.

It took Cenrick a moment to understand her
meaning. “Not that kind of friend.”

“Still, Mick knew all these…” she waved her
hand in front of her.

“Nay.” The Oracle’s voice echoed. “This
sickness began with those closest to Talmick. Since then, the
disease has spread. There are men and women, those that prefer
their own sex and those who desire the opposite. The only
similarity is that they are all Fae.”

Dee persisted. “Have they all lived in my
world? Or did some of them become infected here in Rune?”

The Oracle’s eyes glowed softly, telling
Cenrick she understood why Dee questioned. It was Dee’s nature as a
police officer to get all the facts.

“They were all in your realm.”

Again Dee glanced around the room. “Really?
Then how many Fae would you estimate live undetected among
humans?”

“The number is unknown.”

“Can you guess?”

Cenrick stepped in. “I would say
thousands.”

Dee nodded. “Then how many Fae live here in
Rune?”

“No one knows.”

“You don’t count? Do any sort of census?”

“No.”

When Dee opened her mouth for another
question, the Oracle lifted her hand. “Enough. Prince Cenrick, look
at your people.”

“Prince?” Dee stared. “Did you forget to tell
me something?”

He gave a half shrug. “Does my social
standing matter?”

The puzzled look she gave him answered for
her. “You’re the strangest man – er, Faerie – I’ve ever met. You’d
better go,
Prince Cenrick
, and see your people.”

Throat tight, Cenrick moved among them,
touching a man’s shoulder. Realizing, with shock that this, this
hollow shell was all that remained of a man named Galyeon, whom
Cenrick remembered from his youth. He had been a cheerful sort,
always ready with a joke or a laugh. Now, empty eyes peered out
from a gaunt face.