RBC06.50 - Marcella, Vampire Mage (8 page)

The spear bounced off, but he turned and shot bolts of power in my direction, giving Nira time to create a blow of power strong enough to knock him back. He flew fifty yards and hit a large tree with enough force to crack it in half, the top tumbling to the ground.

With the wizard pinned momentarily to the tree, the conjured warriors stopped in mid step allowing my friends enough time to line of up their shards of power. Luke and Morna used the time wisely, blinding each of them just as Sammy and Georgia wound energy ropes around their ankles and one by one, pulled them to the ground.

All I could do was join my power to Nira’s, and hope it was enough. The wizard growled and started to push back our efforts.

Searing pain radiated up my arm and the next thing I knew I was flat on my back on the floor of the glen. I pushed myself up to see continuing battle. I jumped to my feet, gathered with the others, between the blinded warriors, now striking out and grasping at the air, in desperation.

“Everyone, use our power as one. It’s our only hope.” We took a deep breath and concentrated as hard as we could as one. “Now!”

We threw everything we had at the wizard. Our combined power pierced his protections and he screeched in pain, dropped his offense, giving Nira an opening to raise a final blow. She struck with a raging fireball and he was enveloped in the conflagration. He began to scream and continued to scream and writhe in pain until he finally disintegrated with an explosion so strong the sudden release of energy knocked all of us down.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, the glen was deathly quiet. I crawled to the side of each of my friends, who were just stirring. They seemed to be all right too.

I searched the landscape and noticed that Nira was tending to the Fae Queen.

“Katrina! Something has happened, we need El!”

“We’ll be right there, hold on!”

“Kaer?”

With no reply I flashed around the glen to see where he might be. The unicorns, including Selky, were in a circle facing out. I could feel their fear and tried to calm them.

“It’s going to be all right, help is coming. I won’t let them take him. I promise.”

Selky stomped forward and neighed, pawing the ground.

“What is it, boy?”

I knelt down and inspected the ground. A white object caught my eye. I swept away the dirt around it and picked it up.

“A dragon tooth.”

“Marcella, what happened?”

“Katrina.” I rushed into her arms and began to sob.

“It was a wizard, he was so strong, and look,” I said, handing her the dragon tooth.

“Where did you find this?”

“Right here, by the unicorns.”

“This is what the dark elves and wizards use to manifest warriors.”

“We had four here. When Nira destroyed the wizard, the warriors were destroyed too.”

“But the dragon teeth he used for that would have been destroyed with them. These haven’t been used yet. I better help El. Why don’t you check the wounded and make them as comfortable as possible.”

I again searched for Kaer; he was nowhere to be found. I made the others that I found comfortable, and was relieved to find that El would be able to heal them all. Selky began to follow me as I walked towards the forest.

“Selky, can you find Kaer?”

Selky tossed his head and sniffed the air. He looked towards the forest and trotted that way.

I followed him through the thick forest, to a fern covered grotto where the dew covered foliage now bathed in the first beams of daylight. Selky stopped and I heard rustling, grunts and groans.

I swept towards the sound and came upon a fight between two Fae. From forest to mid air, they chased each other, tackling, wrestling, and fielding blows with their bare fists.

I wouldn’t interfere, not unless I thought Kaer was in grave danger. I cringed every time they struck each other. Watching helplessly as they pushed each other through the trees, and up into the sky above me.

Finally Kaer’s opponent broke from the fight and shot straight up into the air and I thought he would disappear, but Kaer shot after him and grabbed his leg. I saw the strain on Kaer’s face as he used all his strength to slam his opponent to the ground.

I heard his skull crack as he landed and blood began to cover the ground. The salty, metallic scent hit my nostrils like nothing I’d ever experienced before. My fangs lengthened and saliva filled my mouth. The blood lust coursing through my body now was like a wild, painful torture.

I began to slowly step backwards. It was then that Kaer noticed me. I couldn’t let him see me lusting for blood, I just couldn’t. I turned away and quickly reached into my pocket, and pulled out the pouch I always kept close. I pulled the drawstrings open, patted two crimson tablets onto my palm, and tossed them into my mouth.

As they dissolved, the bloodlust receded, and I calmed myself.

When I turned Kaer was kneeling next to the limp body of his adversary.

“He’s dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. He was a traitor.”

“I’m not sorry for him; I’m sorry that you had to do that.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Let’s go back to the glen. Your mother needs you now.”

To my surprise, Kaer wanted to walk. He laced his fingers through mine as we made our way the short distance.

It was a somber scene in the glen. Selky came to our side, escorting us to where Nira cradled the Queen.

Nira’s looked up, her eyes telling the sad truth.

“Come close, my son,” the Queen whispered, reaching weakly out for Kaer. He knelt next to her, and pulled her into his arms.

“You will take my place now. You will continue our legacy, of peace and strength, generosity of spirit, a love for our people, and all people of peace. Do not embrace your anger; let it go with the wind. I love you, Kaer. I go to join your father now. Be strong, my son, and remember who you are; let that always guide you.”

Their gaze locked, Kaer leaned over, kissed his mother’s cheek, and held her close until her last breath. Tears freely flowed down my face as I recalled the passing of my own mother. Though I had not been there, hearing of it shocked me to the core. She was not a loving mother, by any means, but I had felt such pain at the loss, I could not imagine what Kaer must be feeling now.

Katrina stepped closer and put her arm around my waist, pulling me to her.

This was the evil that Katrina and the others had pledged to protect us from. It angered me now that the human race that hated and feared us so much, was oblivious to the danger around them that was kept at bay because of the Protectors. While other races suffered their losses with dignity, in silence, the humans were oblivious to their sacrifices.

I felt like an intruder and began to back away to give them the privacy that they deserved.

 “If you don’t need me for anything, I need some time alone,” I whispered to Katrina.

“I understand. I’m always here if you need to talk.”

I nodded and backed away. I noticed Sammy and the others were watching from a distance, but the thought of talking about everything with them made my stomach tense. With my gift of speed, I found myself at the small pool at the base of the waterfall. I sat down next to the water, wrapped my arms around my knees, pulled them to my chest and sobbed.

I must have been making so much noise that I didn’t hear anything else. I felt a gentle nudge on my arm and looked up to see Selky standing next to me.

I reached out my hand slowly, to make sure it was all right to touch him. When he didn’t move, I stroked the side of his beautiful face.

“Thank you, Selky.”

He stepped closer and then lay down next to me. He let me stroke him; it seemed to comfort both of us.

After several minutes I noticed someone coming up the path.

“Marcella?”

“Richard, over here.”

Selky got up and trotted away as he approached.

“I guess he doesn’t think much of me.”

“They’re shy. Did you just get here?”

“Yes. I gave Sabine the truth serum without her knowing and asked her about everything. She was horrified that she couldn’t stop herself from telling me the truth.”

“And what is the truth?”

“Mind if I sit?”

“Not at all.”

He sat down facing me. “It’s terrible what happened tonight. I’m so relieved to see that you’re all right.”

“Tell me if it’s going to get worse or better.”

Richard sighed. “Sabine got a Fae to help her by saying they would be together in a better world. Of course she was going to betray him as well.”

“Kaer killed him tonight.”

Richard looked shocked. I wasn’t sure if it was the iciness of my statement, or the fact the Kaer had taken a life.

“What it comes down to, is that Sabine was seduced by the Dark Lord and his promises of extreme wealth and power, if she did as he asked.”

“I’ve heard that story, over and over. Usually it’s humans that are duped by the promise. Sabine should have known better.”

“She’s young and spoiled.”

“You’re making excuses for her now?” I abruptly stood and looked down at him. “I just watched Kaer comfort his mother as she died. Being young and spoiled isn’t an excuse for what she did. So many others were hurt and if she had succeeded, I shudder to think of the consequences. Tell me about the dragon teeth.”

Richard stood surprised that I knew about them. He started to pace. “I’m not the enemy here. You were the one that asked me to question Sabine, and I did. Right before she disappeared again.”

I shook my head. “Wait, what?”

“She’s gone. She said she was going to be sick and left the room.  She never came back. The Dark Lord must have come for her.” He looked down at his feet, visibly upset. “Her parents are devastated.”

“Finish telling me what she told you about the dragon teeth. I found one in the glen.”

He put his hands on his hips. “I asked her what she had done to endanger the kingdom, she told me that beings would appear and capture the prize. She smiled and added that ‘
nothing could stop it’
.”

“She’s been turned, we can’t help her now.”

“You would give up on her that easily?”

“She chose her path; believe me I’ve seen it many times before. Come on, we need to tell Nira and Katrina.”

“I should have been here to help.”

“You did help. You’re the only reason we know as much as we do.”

Nothing was said on the way back to the glen. The Queen’s body had been taken away by Kaer and any Fae that were able.

“Katrina, Nira. Richard questioned Sabine and I think there must be many dragon teeth still hidden here.”

“That’s not good news, but now that we know, I can make a spell and find them.”

“Selky seemed to sense them too. Nira do you think the unicorn foal is what they want, or is it something else?”

“He is the most magical being of any world and will be until another is born. A male unicorn is only born every ten years. I’ve been here for a very long time and we’ve never had anything like this happen before.”

“Drakar must be very desperate.”

“Drakar, how is he involved?” Nira asked.

“That’s where Sabine was going. She said he promised her wealth and power. She was very unhappy at home. Just after I questioned her, she disappeared.  She’s turned, Nira.”

“That’s such a shame; she really is talented. Now we may be fighting her one day. The mourning period for Queen Nur will be three days. You’ve actually had your first lesson and passed with flying colors, all of you. Without you, all may have been lost. And thanks to the Five, the Fae will survive and thrive again. Katrina, I’m going to need Allwain or Tao. I could do this myself, but it would take too long.”

“Of course, I’ll make sure they come right away.”

She sighed, and shook her head. “I waited too long to ask. My pride will be the death of me one day.”

Letta walked over and joined us. “El is really tired.”

“I think a visit to Cathos is in order. He will be able to re-energize her and he should have some advice about the dragon teeth, and Drakar.”

“Great idea, Katrina,” Nira agreed.

Once they had gone, Allwain arrived to help with the protections. The rest of us were exhausted, and together headed back to the cottage.

We ate and then dragged ourselves up to bed.

Sammy and I washed up, changed into nightgowns and snuggled into our down covers.

“Marcella?”

“I thought you were going to call me Cella.”

“It seems disrespectful somehow. Remember how you said that you wanted to be just like Katrina?”