“Wings,” I said gently and laid a hand on his arm, stilling his movement. “Their smaller than usual but clearly sylph. I know some sylphs and they have wings very similar to those.”
“Sylphs?” He stared at me blankly.
“Air elementals,” Tiernan added. “I don't think those are big enough to allow you to fly but at least you have your answer now. Storm is descended from sylphs.”
“At least I have my answer,” Frederick said blandly and then huffed. “Useless wings. Be careful what you ask for.”
“And what about me?” Aidan asked. “Do I look any different? How's my face?”
“Still ugly,” Ainsley smirked.
“You haven't changed at all,” Conri chuckled as Aidan punched Ainsley's shoulder. “But then if you're from my line, you wouldn't; we are as we are. You lucky bastard.”
“I think I must have been lucky too,” Albert said over the fading cackles of Sarah and Jennifer. “I don't feel any different.”
We all just gaped at him.
“Uh, you might want to take a look down,” Conri advised.
“Oh!” Al declared. “Well, I think that's a bit of an improvement, don't you agree?”
“I do,” Conri nodded. “You look good, man.”
And he did. Albert had gained about fifty pounds and it appeared to all be muscle. His arms and legs bulged, tearing through his clothes in places, and his chest had widened. His features were thicker too, more manlier, and his voice had deepened.
“What do you suppose I'm descended from?” He mused as I headed back to Tristan and Sarah, who were now huddled together and moaning.
“Who, not what,” Gradh corrected him as she eased up to the now-buff man. “I'd guess trolls or dwarves.”
“Trolls,” Ian decreed. “Look at his teeth.”
“My teeth?” Albert bared his teeth and revealed a pair of thick fangs. He poked at them. “Oh wow.”
“They look good on you,” Gradh grinned.
“Seriously?” I asked her. “You're gonna flirt with a troll witch while I'm trying to help Beckoning witches?”
“You mean the dullahan witches,” Jennifer smirked and stood. She was done cackling but I wasn't sure if this was an improvement.
“Shut up, you feathered whore!” Sarah screeched.
“No, I won't shut up,” Jennifer strode over to Sarah, spreading her wings aggressively as she went. “I've taken enough of your bullshit, Vex. As far as I'm concerned, this is payback for all the witches you've ever tormented or abused. Fuck you, you dullahan monster.”
“Damn you to hell Jennifer Wasutke!” Sarah shouted as she stood and the shockwaves of her voice seemed to radiate visibly through the air.
“Oh no,” I whispered as Jennifer's face went blank and the life faded from her eyes.
Prime Elder Jennifer Wasutke fell to the ground; dead.
The whole meadow went silent, all of us staring at the winged corpse. Honestly, I wasn't too upset to see the Flight Elder expire but I was concerned about the fact that Sarah had inherited the dullahan ability to hasten someone's death through simply calling their name. Except she shouldn't have been able to kill Jennifer unless Jennifer was fated to die. Which meant that either these witches were going to soon die from their transformations, or Sarah had just developed another mutated magic.
“What did I do?” Sarah whispered.
“It's not your fault,” Tristan hugged her against him. “You didn't know. It was an accident.”
“And now, I truly am a monster,” Sarah cried. “Oh Goddess, kill me!” She started to bawl pathetically and then pulled away from Tristan to scream at the sky. “Kill me! Do you hear me, bitch? You've never done anything for me, you've never answered a single prayer, but if you do exist, I'll forgive all of your silence if you just kill me now!” She dropped to her knees and placed her face to the grass, weeping.
We all stood around her in a mournful circle, silent and grim. I was about to head over to give her as much comfort as I could, when a vibrant energy rushed through me, straightening my spine and lifting my head. I inhaled sharply as my body came alive with more magic than it was meant to hold.
