And for what?
Power?
How much more of my home, of my history did they need to try and erase?
A circle of dark faeries in robes surrounded a firepit, chanting strange words that sounded almost like old world Gaelic.
How did I know that?
I’ve never spoken Gaelic in my life...
The power of the ley lines beneath me thrummed with a vibration that echoed the magic in my veins.
There was no sun, only moonlight that shone over us, over the firepit in which the flames were starting to change color.
From red and orange, to blue and purple...
My insides twisted with warmth, a spark of hope igniting as I tried to channel my own magic to my palms.
I was still held in place… but I was able to call a ball of energy. I attempted to flex my fingers, the movement much harder.
I just needed a little push, a little jolt... and then perhaps I could break these chains.
If I could break them, if I could call my magic and perhaps channel the ley lines as I had when I’d awakened...
Perhaps I could get enough of a boost to channel a big enough ball of energy and strike these dark faeries like bowling pins.
And then get my mother and I as far away from them as I can...
I smell him before I see him.
Burning fire andfury.
And then I see him, or rather I see his large, bat-like wings, his gray, sleek chest with glowing rune-like tattoos, and he isn’t alone.
Behind him is writhing mass of tentacles, a pair of very long legs, and a bob of bright red hair I’d recognize anywhere.
Norman, Wanda, and Delaney.
My heart flutters at the sight of him, and I want to cry out, but with the chanting faeries so intent on their color-changing fire, I can’t risk drawing too much attention.
His gaze catches mine, and it soothes my panic, my anxiety, in an instant. His eyes glow as his words reverberate in my head from the last time we were here, in the Forest of Lir.
I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you.
The flames in the center rise, getting larger. Lightning blazes from the sky, and the ley lines beneath me vibrate, and then...
I feel it.
All of it, the power channeling through me like a lightning rod, going through my center like a knife, slicing through me and spilling into the ley lines beneath me.
I cry out in pain, because it hurts.
It hurts more than any pain I’ve ever felt before.
I reached my tiny toddler hand across the divide, the magic inside me disappearing as I did so.
My mother stirs beside me, thrashing in her own spelled prison. Purple and blue energy surround her and I watch as the lightning fractals reach out, the ley lines lighting up beneath us, as she is pulled in, too.
