Return of the High Fae (Vegas Fae Story Book 1) (25 page)

"Find a weapon!" I yelled, turning to see where
the danger would come from. There was nothing in sight.

"What is it?" Siegfried asked, pulling his seax.

"Something's wrong." I went over and grabbed the
sword the fallen Fae had carried. It was no longer worn and dull. Its luster
had been restored by whatever had just happened and it looked as if it had just
been forged. "Diantha, can you use a weapon?" I didn't bother asking
Delia, I'd seen her swordplay. She was already running toward something lying
in the field and I saw her reach down and pick up what looked like a bow.

"I am no warrior," Diantha answered.

"Then look for arrows."

She didn't hesitate this time, but started searching through
the grass.

Siegfried had found a sword as well. He walked over to me.
"Where is the danger?"

"Back toward the temple," I answered.

"Can you tell what we are up against?"

"No, it's like something, or maybe someone, is blocking
it; same as last time. I only know it's here."

Delia had come back with the bow and a sword as well.
"Danger seems to follow you, Fae," she said.

"So it appears."

Diantha chose that moment to come back. She was carrying a
few dozen or so undamaged arrows. "Will these do?" she asked.

Delia took them from her and examined them. "They will
suffice," she said, as she placed them in a leather quiver she had found.

I turned back to Diantha. "You ever fire a gun?"

"A few times, my Lord."

I reached back and pulled my Walther from its holster.
"Here," I said as I handed her the gun. I pointed to the safety and
toggled it. "Just make sure this lever is up before you use it."

I watched as she took it. I was a little worried. She didn't
look that confident. "Listen," I added. "Stay behind us and find
a place to hide when we get closer. And be careful with that thing, you only
have seven shots."

Well, we were as ready as we would ever be. Wait, where was
Elithia? "Anybody seen the Faerie?" I asked.

The others shook their heads. I knew I hadn't seen her after
I touched the ancient Fae, but I had no clue to where she'd gone. I also knew
we weren't safe where we were.

"We'll just have to keep an eye out for her then."
I said, as we started back toward the temple.

Siegfried took the lead and headed up the rise to where
Elithia had first stopped. As he approached the berm, he fell to his knees and
signaled that something was in front of him. Damn, why wouldn't my magic come
into focus?

I told Delia and Diantha to stay put and crawled up to his
position. He signaled me that there were three somebodies ahead of us. I took a
quick peek. Shit, Mages again. They weren't coming our way, but they were at
the now rushing waterfall, blocking our way back to the temple. Damn, where
were the Dwarves? Where were the animals? I couldn't believe they'd just give
up. No, I was missing something, again. I motioned to Siegfried and we slid
back down to the others.

I turned to Delia who was fingering the bow.

"You any good with that thing?" I asked. I figured
she must know a little as she had already nocked an arrow.

"I can hold my own, Fae," she answered.

"Good. I hope you feel like some payback, because
there's three Mages over the hill and I'm guessing we've met their type
before."

"If these arrows will hurt them, then I can take one or
two out."

"These are High Fae weapons or they wouldn't have
survived. They will defeat most magic, as well as kill," Siegfried
answered. "If you can take two, I can put down the third, if I can get
close enough. If we are skillful, the others may not know what is
happening," he said, leaning in.

"Whoa, what about me? I'm supposed to be the High Fae
here, remember?" That was assuming, of course, that my magic started
working better than it was at the moment.

"It is you they will be after. Besides, there will be
more. No, better to keep them in the dark as long as possible. Once we
eliminate these three, we can make for the temple."

"Fine. We'll go with your plan. Once these three are
down, we'll rally on this side of the waterfall, out of view from the temple. I
don't know about the Dwarves, but Charlie and Lucinda wouldn't just sit back
while these guys ambush us, so watch for them as well. Diantha, you stay behind
me and keep an eye out for Elithia." I wasn't happy, but it made sense. I
just hoped my magic would kick in when I needed it.

She nodded her assent, and Siegfried and Delia started
moving up the hill. Then she moved closer. "Remember, my Lord, if need be,
I cannot die," she whispered.

I considered what she said. "I hope you're right, but
there's a lot of strange magic here and I'd rather not test that again just
yet," I whispered, remembering her bout with the Were-creature.

"I knew you cared," she whispered in my ear,
adding a kiss, as we followed Siegfried and Delia up the hill.

I stopped a few feet down from the two of them. I watched as
Delia placed two extra arrows at her side and then, with bow ready, waited for
Siegfried.

He looked down at me and I nodded. Looking over at Delia, he
nodded and she loosed two arrows, Siegfried jumped up and went over the berm,
seax and sword in hand. Damn they were quick.

Delia hadn't been boasting about her prowess with a bow,
either. Two Mages were down with arrows in their chests and Siegfried was
already pulling the Seax from the third, when I caught movement out of the
corner of my eye. A fourth Mage had come from around the waterfall, but before
he could raise his wand or call out, a black shape pounced on him. It was
Lucinda. We didn't need to worry about him revealing us to anyone. She had
ripped his throat out.

Siegfried and Delia started moving bodies out of view and I
watched as Lucinda dragged hers to their position. I caught up with them behind
the waterfall, with Diantha not far behind me.

Lucinda turned to me, tail twitching from side to side.
"There are more," I heard her say in a slightly deeper whisper than I
was used to. "Charlie watches," she added a moment later.

"What about the Dwarves?"

"They cannot interfere," she replied.

"Dwarves! Did I not warn you?" Diantha muttered
behind me.

This time I agreed with her.

"Can't interfere? Why not?" I asked,
incredulously. What the hell was going on? I mean, besides me discussing
strategy in the middle of a battle with a panther!

She looked directly at me, her eyes wide and glinting in the
new found sunlight.

"It is forbidden. I believe one of the others is like
you. We must do this alone," she growled lowly, so the others couldn't
hear and then moved to the pool to take a drink.

Like me? Shit! I wasn't sure if I was ready for this
confrontation; not that I had a choice. If there was another like me, it was
the other High Fae. I could only hope that his powers were as muted as mine in
this place. We needed a plan, fast. With the dead Mages safely tucked out of
view for the moment, we huddled behind the rock wall next to the waterfall to
discuss our next move.

"Ok, things just got complicated," I said. "Lucinda,
do they know you're here?"

"I do not believe so. Charlie was with the Dwarves when
they appeared. I was behind the thrones and came to warn you," she
answered, her tail swishing back and forth.

I turned back to the others.

"We defeated these four easily enough," Delia
boasted. "What is different?"

"One of the others may be a High Fae," I answered.

"What of it. You are here as well. We are, at worst,
evenly matched," Delia snickered.

"I agree," Siegfried chimed in. "We are
indeed evenly matched. While not of our choosing, this may be our best chance
to defeat him."

"Maybe, but even with the clearing of the skies,
something about this place is still obscuring my magic. I can't sense very much
and that worries me."

"Well," he said. "There has been no counter
attack, so perhaps their magic is obscured as well."

"We can only hope," I answered. I turned to Delia.
"Come here a minute," I said, leading her around the rock wall until
we were out of sight of the others. "How are you doing?"

"I can hold my own."

"I'm sure you can, and while I'm sure Fae blood works
wonders, it can't last forever, not as badly wounded as you were. I need you at
your best." I started rolling up my sleeve. I watched as her eyes widened
and then she backed away.

"No. I will be fine. I don't need your blood,
Fae."

"Don't be an idiot," I said. "I got you into
this mess, so the least I can do is try to help you survive." I pulled her
closer to me and held out my arm. "Take it."

Her green eyes stared into mine as she moved her mouth to my
arm. The look she got as she took in my blood was almost erotic. After a minute
or so, I pulled my arm away. Hesitantly, she let go.

"Mmm...," she purred. "I see now why this was
forbidden."

Oh, great, and I was setting them free.

She looked up at me and smiled. "Fortunately, we are
not the same Lil as those your ancestors fought against."

"I'd love to discuss this later," I said, pulling
down my sleeve. "But we've got a battle to win. You ready?"

"Oh, yes," she answered, glowing with the strength
the Fae blood had given her. Still fingering her bow, we rejoined the others.

"How do you wish to proceed?" Siegfried asked as
we approached.

Wait a minute, wasn't he the warrior? Another disadvantage
to being the King; you have to make all the decisions. I was just about to come
up with a brilliant plan when Charlie appeared, almost knocking me over as he
ran up to greet me. My face wet, I pushed him away.

"Charlie, down. What's happened?"

He stayed close and once again I heard him in my head as he
spoke. "Danger, she waits, Bernd says must come."

Wow, that's the most I'd ever heard him speak. Wait. Did he
say she?

"Charlie, did you say, she?"

"She," he repeated. "Bad, danger. But Bernd
says must come."

I heard a guttural growl from Lucinda, then looked at the others.

"It matters not," Siegfried commented. "God
or Goddess, we are committed to battle."

"True," I noted. "Ok. She knows we're here,
and she's gotta know we already took out a few of her Mages. If Bernd sent
Charlie to get us, I don't see any reason for me to hide. Siegfried, how many
entrances to that temple do you remember?"

"At least twelve: one for each throne. What are you
thinking?"

"Well, I'm hoping her powers are as muted as mine.
Maybe she can't tell how many of us there are. I want to go in the same way we
came out, while you and Delia take the entrances to each side. Charlie will be
with me. Lucinda, you pick a spot halfway around. Diantha, can you lay back on
the other end and just keep an eye on us? You've got my gun and I'd prefer to
keep you two a secret for as long as I can."

She nodded, then gave me a wink. Good.

"I may need a diversion, so find a good place, but try
and keep out of sight."

"You wish to challenge her then?" Siegfried asked,
checking the sharpness of the sword he was carrying with his thumb.

"Not necessarily, but I will if I have to. There's a
lot going on that we don't know about. I'm hoping to get a few answers before
we go to war."

"You cannot trust her. We should go in fighting."

Maybe he was right. But I had to think there was more going
on here than just another battle. Hell, the dead didn't sink into the earth and
the skies clear in this place for nothing.

"No, I don't think so. But that doesn't mean we won't
be ready."

I removed my seax and picked up the Fae sword. Charlie was
already at my side. "Ok, let's do it," I said.

Delia had an arrow nocked and Siegfried was armed as I was.
Lucinda was already out of sight, but as we started around the pool, I saw her
headed back to the temple. Diantha ran up to me.

"Be careful," she said as she hugged me.
"Remember what I said, I will be there when you need me."

"Just don't do anything foolish," I sighed.

"Only if I have to," she countered, before
sprinting off to the other side of the temple toward Lucinda. That girl was
gonna be the death of me, I mused.

We halted a few feet from the entrance to the temple. This
wouldn't be the first time I'd walked into an unknown situation. Since it was
clear I was going to be at a disadvantage, four dead Mages or not, I took a cue
from some past experiences and decided to play it unconventional. I was hoping
I could at least keep her off guard long enough to know what I was up against.

"You guys ready?" I asked.

Both Siegfried and Delia nodded.

"Ok, come in after me and follow my lead. Let me do the
talking, but be ready for anything. If it comes to force, we'll let them make
the first move."

With that said, they took off toward their respective
entrances. As they reached them, and with Charlie at my side, I went in.

The moment I went through the arch, I felt something. It
reminded me of when I put the jewel on Diantha. This time, there were no
tendrils of green magic coming at me. It was almost as if the temple itself was
trying to talk to me. I glanced at the stone column. It looked the same.
Whatever had happened outside had not made it in here, but yet, there was
something. It almost seemed as if it was waiting for me to wake it up, but that
didn't make sense. Did it?

I'll have to admit, I was nervous. Other than another High
Fae, I had no idea who, or what, we'd be facing. But something had passed
between the temple and me, and although I wasn't sure what it was, it gave me
comfort. Then the magic kicked in. It wasn't quite like before. It was less
intense, and although it was muted, at least I felt like it was part of me
again.

As I passed through the arch, I sensed her presence. But I
also sensed something more. There were six others with her: two Mages and,
damn, the other four were Fae. They weren't High Fae, of course, but they were
still an unknown I'd have to deal with. They were all armed with bows.

I had a second to see our adversaries when I stepped fully
into the temple. The two Mages were like the others we'd encountered outside,
maybe a little stronger looking, and they carried bows. The Fae reminded me of
Siegfried. They were probably warriors as well... and then I saw her on the
main floor in front of the Dwarves.

She didn't look like some High Fae Goddess, but then again,
I wasn't the spitting image of Zeus either. She was dressed in leather and I
couldn't see a weapon. Of course, that didn't mean she didn't have one, or make
her any less dangerous, for that matter. She had long dark hair woven into a
single braid that reached to her waist. I couldn't guess her age, but she had to
be younger than Meredith. I suppose you could say she was beautiful, as most
Fae are, especially with those pointed Elfin ears. But the beauty faded when
she turned to face me. Her blue eyes were cold and I could almost feel the
hatred as she stared up at me.

"You," she whispered and then turned to the
Dwarves. "Surely this is a jest. Motgnir, you cannot have chosen this one
over me," she said, gesturing, her arms wide.

Interesting, she hadn't known it would be me.

"What'd I miss?" I asked, as I took a few more
steps. Like I said, unconventional. "Sorry I was delayed. I hope you
aren't waiting for those other guys, because if you are... well, I don't think
they're gonna make it." I may have overdone it a bit.

"I have had enough!" she exclaimed, pointing at
Motgnir. "This half-breed is nothing. I claim what is mine."

"He has bested everyone you have thrown against him,
Marissa. Besides, he has the stronger claim and is no half-breed, as you should
well know," he replied, angrily.

So now I knew her name, but what did the rest mean? I
watched as she threw her arms up in frustration.

"I have had enough of false rivals and of
Dwarves," she said, and then paused. A half smirk came to her face.
"Kill him! Kill them all!"

I dodged as two arrows came my way from the Mages. Damn they
were fast. One missed me, but with my still diminished magic, the second one
should have hit me. Instead, there had been a blur and I heard a yelp. Charlie
had taken the arrow, that damn lovable mutt! He was down, but at least he was
still alive. I didn't have time to check on him any further, as I expected more
arrows to be coming my way.

I shouldn't have worried. Only seconds had passed and both
Mages were down. As Delia nocked a third arrow in her bow. I watched her start
to aim, but two Fae were coming at her fast. She dropped it and pulled her
sword as Siegfried showed up beside her.

Then I had problems of my own, as the other two Fae warriors
came at me. The first one swung at me running and I ducked and stabbed. He was
down, but the other caught himself and we traded blows for a few seconds. He
was clumsy and I found an opening. It took a moment, but he was no match for my
Fae sword.

I didn't think about it at the time, but it had to be that
whatever muted the magic had given me an advantage. I think they were surprised
that their magic wasn't stronger, whereas it was all new to me and I didn't
depend on it as they apparently had. That was something to remember for the
future. Then again, it could have just been that I was pissed off that Charlie
had been hurt.

Seeing Siegfried and Delia holding their own, I left the
other warriors to them and started down the stairs toward Marissa. She pulled a
sword from behind her back. Damn, I hadn't even seen it. But her next move was
worse. She reached down and grabbed something.

"That's close enough or this one dies," she
uttered, as I realized that what she had picked up was actually the Fae healer,
Elithia. "Drop your weapons."

Then Elithia screamed as Marissa held her by the neck and
drew her sword closer.

The problem was, I knew that Marissa was serious, which
meant that Elithia was already as good as dead and there was nothing I could do
about it. On TV, the good guy always puts down his weapon and a moment later
miraculously saves the day.

Unfortunately, the real world is somewhat different. I knew
that if I dropped my sword or ordered Siegfried and Delia to drop theirs,
Marissa would not only have Elithia as a hostage, but us, too. Judging from
what I had seen so far, she'd kill us all when she got the chance. Sometimes
the real world just sucks. I took a few steps closer. Her sword point moved
closer to the Faerie's neck.

"Marissa, stop this foolishness," I heard Bernd
say.

"I have had enough of you, Dwarf," she jeered.
"I tire of your kind and their ways." She cut the Faerie's neck and
threw her broken body to the ground. Stepping toward him, she raised her sword
at both Bernd and Motgnir as she closed the distance.

I started to run toward them, but knew I was still too far
away to get there in time. Suddenly I heard a shout and then shots rang out; it
was Diantha with Lucinda close behind. She had stopped halfway down the steps
and fired, the gun still smoking in her hand. Marissa stared down as her
leather shirt became stained with blood.

"Whore of Apollo, you shot me," she said with
disbelief, then collapsed to the floor. Whatever power she had given to aid the
Fae warriors failed at the same instant. I watched Siegfried and Delia
incapacitate both their opponent's moments later.

I stopped for a second to see if Marissa would heal as I had
when fighting the Weres, but she didn't move. Whatever metal was used in the
bullets, they were more effective than claws. I immediately ran to Charlie's
side. The arrow had pierced his left rear leg in the upper muscle and continued
on and grazed the other. He was breathing but didn't seem able to move his
legs.

"This is a Fae arrow," I heard Bernd say, as he
bent down to examine the wound. "Its spell prevents him from moving. Have
no fear. As I have said, this one is no ordinary hound."

"Steady boy, it must come out," he said as he
reached for the arrow. He placed his other hand on Charlie's chest.

Charlie gave a short bark, which I knew meant he understood,
so I told Bernd to do it. Grabbing the arrow gently, he used both hands to
break it on each end and then slid the shaft out of the wound. Blood gushed,
and Charlie immediately tried to stand. Bernd placed his hand on the wound and
it slowed, but did not stop completely.

Holding him down, I pulled my seax and cut a few long strips
from my shirt, binding the wound to stem the bleeding. It wasn't perfect, but
it would do until I could get him to a Fae healer. Then I hugged the big dog
and told him thanks. I heard him say "safe" and he began licking my
face. Between him and the others, there was no one I'd rather be in a battle
with. Then the earth began to shake.

I turned to see what was happening and saw the temple
vibrating. No, that wasn't right. It was more like parts of it had turned
molten. The floor on the other side of the pool from Motgnir began to rise and
before long, a giant figure began to form. It was like watching an invisible
mold being poured from the floor up. It took a few moments, but it slowly
coalesced and then the shaking stopped. The giant form had become a huge, nude
figure of a man some 20 or so feet tall.