04 Shadow Blood - Witch Fairy (2 page)

“Shall we get on with this?” Isla asks.  There’s no twinkle in
her
eyes.

I nod and close my eyes.  I imagine my house in Colorado; the rambling ranch style that I grew up in, hidden from the world, high in the mountains.  Putting a hand out, I pull it back slowly as if I am peeling wrapping paper off a Christmas present.  Opening my eyes again, I smile.  I can see the front door of my home and it hits me how much I’ve missed it.  Until I see the snow.  I don’t miss that at all.

“Mom, Dad!” I call out.  It only takes a second for two ghostly bodies to zoom through the front door.

“Xandra, thank god!  Zac and Aunt Barb aren’t waking up,” Mom says.  I’ve never seen either of my parents look so worried before.  Not even when eight of the most powerful Witches in the world wanted to kill me.  Tears begin to well up in my eyes and slither down my cheeks.  It’s finally hitting me.  This isn’t just another magical quest or a fight with magical people who don’t come close to wielding the power I do. 
This
is a life or death situation.  If I don’t get my brother and my aunt back into their bodies, not only will they die, but the two ghosts in front of me will feel like they’ve died all over again.  They may even ask me to let them move on, as I’m the one holding them here.  I don’t think I could recover from the loss of my entire family.  Ever.  Suddenly, the Shadows don’t seem quite as scary as they did a few minutes ago.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I wipe at my tears and say, “I know.  Aunt Barb came to me a little while ago.  They’re trapped in the Shadow realm and Kallen and I are going in after them.  But, Mom, we need to bring Zac and Aunt Barb’s bodies here.  You and Dad, too.”

Mom’s eyes narrow to slits as her brows collide on her forehead like they were driven by two drunk semi drivers.  At first, I thought she was looking at me, and I was about to take a couple of steps back, but she’s looking at Isla.  “What is she talking about?  I’m not bringing my son’s body anywhere.  Or Barb’s.”

I knew this wouldn’t be easy.  “Mom, the Fairies can better protect their bodies while Kallen and I look for their spirits.”

That was one of those sentences that I should have run through my brain a few times before I let my lips loose on it.  I didn’t know it was possible for a ghost to turn that many shades of dark red.  This time, I do take those steps backwards.  I bump into Kegan and I turn around to apologize, but I don’t think he even noticed.  He’s still staring at the gateway in awe.

“What your daughter is trying to say,” Isla says with a severe look in my direction, “is there are many Fairies here to watch over them.  You will be here to make sure that they are fine, but if the Shadows escape, it will take more than a couple of magical beings to stop them.  Letting them loose in a Cowan dominated realm is too dangerous.”

That was much more diplomatic than what I said.  “Please, Mom.  I know you’re worried, but wouldn’t you feel better knowing that a bunch of people are helping you look out for them?”

I think Isla’s words must have taken the edge off mine, because she’s becoming just as pale as ever as her ghostly sheen loses the red hue of her anger.  “How are we going to do this?”

“Kallen and I will come through and carry them back here.  All you and Dad will have to do is follow us.”

“Will it be safe for them to pass through?  Will they be harmed in any way?”

I shake my head.  “No, they won’t feel a thing.”  After a minute, Mom gives a curt nod of approval.

“Julienne, are you sure about this?” Dad asks.  He doesn’t look happy at all with the plan.  “Do you really want to be in the same realm with that man?” 

That man?  Oh, my biological father.  I hadn’t even thought about that and how that will make both of my parents feel.  Especially when they find out that he and I have come to a fairly comfortable truce.  Well, he’s not going to try to kill me anymore, at least.  My parents, on the other hand, may want to go after him. Not that either of them could actually kill him in their current bodiless state, but I wouldn’t put it past either of them to try. Maybe this is the wrong thing to do.  We want to make things better, not worse.

“I assure you, Dagda will not be a problem,” Tabitha says.  “He is walking on eggshells right now, and he is not about to jeopardize his precarious hold on the throne to cause you any trouble.”

Apparently, I get my mumbling out loud from Dad, because that was a pretty clear ‘yeah, right’ that just came out of his mouth.  “Mom, Dad, this is Tabitha, and she’s right.  He’s really not going to bother any of us.  But, we do need to hurry.  The longer we talk about this, the longer it’ll take to get their spirits back in their bodies.  The Shadows are looking for them, as well.”  I’m debating whether or not to tell her that Aunt Barb can’t find Zac, but I think some things are probably best left unsaid.

“Alright,” Mom says and she floats to the side of the gateway for Kallen and me to pass through without going through her. 

Putting my hand out, I run it through the almost invisible residue to clear it from the harmful effects it can cause to anyone passing through.  Turning around, I grab Kallen’s hand and we walk back into my realm.  Good lord, it’s really cold in Colorado.

“Where are they?” I ask Mom as I open the front door, hurrying in to get out of the snow.

“They’re in the garage,” Dad says.  “Your grandmother had already left, so we were unable to move them.”  He sounds more frustrated than ever about not having a physical form.

Kallen follows me through the house to the attached garage.  Aunt Barb has a lab set up inside of it for her research on astral projection.  I try to mentally prepare myself before walking in, so I stop a second before turning the knob.  Kallen puts his hand on my shoulder, gently urging me to keep going.  Reluctantly, I open the door.

It’s not nearly as bad as I expected.  Both Aunt Barb and Zac are sitting in reclining chairs and they look like they’re sleeping peacefully.  “I can’t believe Aunt Barb let Zac be in here when she tried this,” I say to no one in particular.

Dad startles me when he speaks.  I didn’t realize he had followed us and ghosts don’t make noise when they move.  “We thought the same thing, but I believe she was tinkering and it just sort of happened.  She hadn’t said a word to your mother or me about doing any experimentation today.”

I nod.  He’s probably right.  Aunt Barb would never intentionally put Zac at risk.  Looking up at Kallen, I say, “I’ll take Zac if you’ll carry Aunt Barb.”

He’s way ahead of me.  He’s already walking over to her chair and he leans down to lift her effortlessly in his arms.  I don’t look quite as graceful as I try to get Zac out of the chair.  I think if the circumstances weren’t so dire, Kallen would be laughing right about now.  Finally, I adjust my arms around him and manage to get my little brother out of the chair.  I think he’s gained a few pounds since the last time I picked him up.

Kallen goes ahead of me and I slowly make my way through the house and out the door.  As soon as I step through the gateway, Kegan, who has apparently recovered from his stupor, takes Zac out of my arms.  He follows Kallen into the house.

Turning back around, I say to Mom and Dad who are standing just on the other side, “All you have to do is come through.”

Dad looks doubtful.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”  Sort of.

With a sigh, he moves forward.  Mom starts to follow, but he puts his arm out.  “Let me go first,” he says.  I don’t blame him for being cautious.  We really don’t know a lot about their condition and what could hurt them.  They’re enigmas just like me.

Mom nods and waits for Dad to reach this side of the gateway.  He turns and holds his hand out to her when he’s safely through.  Mom follows quickly.  When we’re sure they’re okay, I close my eyes and imagine the seams of the gateway sealing themselves again.  When I open my eyes again, the gateway is gone. 

Mom and Dad looking about them with the same expressions I must have had when I first came through.  “Not what you expected?” I ask.

“Not at all,” Dad says. 

I laugh.  “I expected it to be kind of like the books back home in the library.”

Dad looks a little sheepish.  “I guess I did, too.”

“If you’ll follow me,” Isla says, “I’ll show you where the boys have brought them.”

My parents nod and follow her into the house.  I start to walk but Tabitha stops me.  She puts a hand under my chin and gently pulls my face up so I’m looking at her.  “You are brave, strong, and powerful.  You will bring them back alive.  I have all the confidence in the world that you are capable of doing this.”

I smile.  Tabitha always knows the right thing to say.  “Thank you, I needed to hear that.”  I give her a quick hug before following her into the house.

Chapter 2

Everyone is in the third floor bedroom that’s all decorated in green.  Isla has the rooms in the house color coded, for some reason.  I haven’t asked about it.  Kegan and Kallen have laid Aunt Barb and Zac on a king size bed, and they both still look like they’re sleeping peacefully.  Once they’re situated to Mom’s liking, she turns to me.  “What’s the plan?”

Jump in with both feet and hope.  Probably best not to say that.  “Kallen and I are going to the Shadow world and we’ll get them out.”

“Kallen, will you please send Dagda a message?” Isla says and instantly my Mom and Dad tense.

“I thought you said he wouldn’t be a problem,” Mom accuses.

Isla inclines her head in agreement.  “There will be no problems.  But he is King of this realm and if we are going to possibly set Shadows free within it, he should have a plan in place.”

I can tell Mom’s itching to say something and I’m pretty sure if she does, I should put my hands over my ears because I don’t want to hear my mother use those kinds of words.  Amazingly, she refrains.  “Of course,” she finally says through tiny cracks in her ramrod tight lips.

Isla nods towards Kallen.  He can send messages with his mind.  It doesn’t hurt him, but it does hurt the person on the receiving end.  They get an instant headache. 

To me, Isla says, “You can fill your parents in on what we know and I will wait downstairs for Dagda’s arrival.”

Um, I already filled them in.  I’m not sure what else she expects me to say, other than we know where they are and we’re going in to get them without any plan whatsoever.  Maybe she wants me to sugar coat it a little.  And maybe she wants me to try to get that murderous look off from Dad’s face before Dagda gets here.  “Do you guys know what the Shadow world is?”

“Yes.”

“No.”  This is Dad.  Since he is new to most of this stuff like me, he needs more explanation.  I tell him what Tabitha and Isla told me.

He turns to my mother.  “Julienne, how can we send her in there?  Can’t we try to find them first?”

Mom shakes her head.  “Without a body waiting for us in another realm, we would be stuck there forever.”

“I would rather have that than have both of our children in Hell.”

“Dad, really, this is the best plan.”  It must be so hard for him.  He’s used to being the one who takes care of all of us, and now he’s almost helpless.  I hate that they’re ghosts.  But it’s better than them not being here at all.

Tabitha looks empathetic but uncompromising as she says, “I am afraid Xandra is right.  But, we will all do our best to make sure the four of them come back safe and sound.”  Dad still doesn’t look convinced, but he nods his head once in agreement anyway.

No one knows what else to say and the silence in the room is becoming suffocating.  “Would you like a tour of the house?” Tabitha asks to fill the void. 

Mom gives her a half smile.  “Maybe later, but thank you.”

Tabitha nods.  “I will be downstairs if you need anything.”

Walking over to Mom, I do my best to put my arm around her cold, translucent shoulders.  “I’m sorry, Mom.”

She tilts her head so it’s sort of leaning on mine.  Brr.  “This is not your fault.  I should have steered Barb away from this research a long time ago.  I was always afraid something like this would happen.  I just can’t believe Zac got caught up in it as well.  I’ve tried so hard to protect you two from magic.”

“I’ll get him back.”  I have to.  Not just for her sake, but mine as well.  I won’t lose my little brother; or the loving aunt who gave up her life in Denver to move up to the mountains when we needed her.

Mom’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes when she nods.  “I know you will.”  A little more oomph in the confidence level in her voice would have been nice, but she’s stressed.  I get it.  Moving away from me, she says, “You are probably needed downstairs.  Your father and I will continue to keep watch.”

“Okay.”  I don’t want to leave them alone, but I have to be a part of the planning.  I don’t think Mom and Dad want to know too much about it.  Their parental sensibilities probably can’t handle any more stress or worry at the moment.  “I’ll let you know when we’re ready to leave.”

As I walk down the two flights of stairs to get to the first floor where the kitchen is, I try to bolster my courage.  This is the first time I’m really, truly scared.  I don’t want to spend eternity in hell.  I can only imagine what pure evil could think of to do to our spirits there.  Actually, I’m trying really hard not to imagine it.

I find everyone gathered around the kitchen island counter again.  This has become our official meeting place, apparently.  “What do we have to do?” I ask, sitting on the stool next to Kallen.

“I do not believe getting to the Shadow realm will be a problem.  You will simply open a gateway,” Isla says.

My brow crinkles.  “You think I can do that?”

“Yes,” she says firmly.  “The tricky part is, what do we send in with you?”

“What do you mean?”

Kallen answers.  “She means that we need to be armed with something that will protect us from the Shadows.”

I think this conversation is going to cause wrinkles on my forehead because I keep scrunching it together.  “Why can’t we just use magic?”

I don’t miss the underlying condescension in his voice when he says, “Just as magic is different here than it is in your realm, the magic may be different in the Shadow realm.”  The magic in the Fairy realm is purer, more powerful.

“If there is magic at all,” Tabitha says as she gets up to get the whistling teapot from the stove.

“There might not be magic?”

“It is likely that the Shadow realm is devoid of magic.  The Angels would not want to let loose pure evil into a realm where it could combine energies to create spells.”  I like it better when Tabitha explains things.  Isla and Kallen can’t help but be haughty, it seems.

“That is why we will have to send you in with something to protect you.”  Good thing Isla explained it to me.  I wouldn’t have gotten the idea myself after hearing the realm may not have magic.  I refrain from making my sarcastic comment out loud.  I think.  Kallen’s looking at me kind of weird now, though.

“Okay, what do you suggest?”

“I believe that my crystals will be of some use.  Crystals carry their own magic,” Tabitha says.  “You can syphon some off if you need it.  You would have to be extremely careful not to let the Shadows get them away from you, though.”

I think I’ll have Kallen carry those.  I can be a bit clumsy at times.  “Okay, anything else?”

“We will need light,” Kallen says.

Yeah, I probably should have thought of that.  It did look awfully dark there.  “Anything else?”

“Isla, what is going on?” Dagda’s voice booms from the doorway.  “You know that I do not like to receive messages in my head.”  He glares at Kallen who is trying really hard not to snicker.

I answer before Isla can.  “My brother and aunt are in the Shadow realm and I’m going there to save them.”

“What?!” he bellows.

Wow, overreacting a bit isn’t he?  “I said…”

“I heard what you said; I am just wondering why you said something so incredibly stupid.”

I glare at him.  “I don’t like you enough to let you get away with calling me stupid.”  I don’t care if he’s my biological father.  He tried to kill me once; maybe he needs a taste of his own medicine to let him know again who’s stronger.  Not that I’d actually try to kill him, but he doesn’t need to know that.

His lips are in a tight line while he contemplates exactly what I mean and if it’s a viable threat.  He must think it is because he tries again a little nicer.  “Why on earth would you want to willing go into hell?”  He’s still a bit snippy but I guess I’ll let it slide this time.

“I already told you.”  Yes, I sound snippy now, too.  So much for letting it slide.  “I’m going in after my brother and aunt who are stuck there.”

“If your brother and aunt have enough darkness on their souls to end up in the Shadow realm, why would you want to bring them out of there?”

Ah.  That’s what he’s missing in this conversation.  “They didn’t get sent there by the Angels of Death.  My aunt has been trying to figure out how to astral project and she accidently caused both of their spirits to jump realms.  They ended up in the Shadow realm.”

Shaking his head, he says, “No intact soul has ever travelled to the Shadow realm.  Are you sure that there is still enough of their spirits left to salvage?”

Salvage.  Like they’re some bits of trash that I just can’t throw away?  “Yes, I am.  My aunt came to me a little bit ago and she’s fine right now.”  I hope.  I don’t need to add the part about her losing my brother because I am trying really hard not to think that much about it.  I’m still thinking as many happy thoughts as possible.

“And you believe it is worth risking the safety of this entire realm for two lost spirits?”

That’s an easy question.  “Yes.”

To my surprise, he grins.  “Stubborn and willing to do what is necessary regardless of who may get hurt.  You are definitely my daughter.”

“No, she is not,” a voice growls from the opposite door.  “She is my daughter; you simply contributed sperm.”

Oh, Dad, that is sooooo gross!  I know my face is turning many, many shades of red.  Probably even more shades than Dagda’s face is turning.  “Um, Dad, this is Dagda.”

“King Dagda,” he snarls from his side of the kitchen. 

“Don’t expect any respect for your title from me.  You are nothing more than a murdering psychopath in my book.”

Dagda starts walking towards Dad, each step falling harder than the last as his anger increases.  Well, this is going about how I expected.  Kallen, Isla and I stand up pretty much at the same time, blocking Dagda from getting closer to my father.  “Don’t even think about it,” I say.  “Regardless of how many times you say you want to have me in your life, the fact that the man behind me is my real father will never change.  If you do a thing to harm him, I will never forgive you.”  I don’t know what he could possibly do to hurt him, but I’m just saying.  “I will also take my resulting anger out on you.”

“What is going on?” Mom asks from behind Dad.  And then she stops.  If ghosts could faint, I think she would. The torrents of emotion crossing back and forth on her face have to be overloading her psyche.  “You,” she says barely louder than a whisper. 

Dagda actually looks a little bit contrite.  I never thought that would ever happen.  Bowing his head in Mom’s direction, he says, “Quillian, how nice to see you again.”  Quillian was her birth name.  Her name is Julienne now.  She changed it when she fled from her father who wanted to kill me in her womb.  And then tried again recently.  Did I mention that my extended family is massively dysfunctional?