Blood of Sirens: Book 13 of The Witch Fairy Series (18 page)

“It is a start,” Dagda corrects.

“Even if we rescue your mate,” Kai begins.  I glare at him for saying mate instead of husband.  “We do not know how to stop the Sirens from attacking this land and any other they care to take.”

He does have a point, as much as I don’t like it.  Rising from my chair, I say, “I will find a way.”  I teleport out of the room.

The archives are as musty as I remember.  I scare the heck out of the new scribe when I suddenly appear a few feet from where she is shelving books.  I assume they are the ones Alita and Kegan sent back when they found no useful information in them.  Smiling to reassure her that she is not under attack, I say, “Hi, I’m Xandra.  You’re going to want to leave if you don’t want to risk getting hurt.”  Funny, she doesn’t seem reassured.

“Pr-princess,” she stammers.  The new scribe is a mousy Fairy who I would guess to be in her mid-twenties.  Her eyes are a pale green and her black hair is cropped short.  There is dust and dirt on her clothes giving the impression she has been searching through books that haven’t been touched in a long time. 

When she doesn’t say any more, I try again.  “I am going to enter the dark magic section.  The last time I did it, things went very wrong.  Leave.  Now.”

The scribe scrambles backwards.  “Yes, ma’am.”

Ma’am?  I’m younger than she is.  When she doesn’t turn around immediately, I add, “You want to hurry.”  Finally, she sets the books in her hands down on her cart and turns.  She doesn’t exactly run, but she’s doing some pretty impressive power walking.

Now that I don’t have to worry about her safety, I jog down the long aisle that will lead me to the dark magic section.  I’m a little worried about getting in.  Last time, it kept Kallen out because his soul was too pure.  My aura had been tainted by Tana, so I got past the barrier.  Now that my aura has been cleansed, will it still let me in?  I’m hoping that since I entered before, it will recognize me and let me pass regardless of the purity of my soul.  I am also worried it will let me in because my soul contains enough darkness to satisfy the magic surrounding the area.

When I get to the spot Kallen was stopped before, I pause.  I reach a tentative hand out to the magic I can feel in front of me.  I get no resistance.  Not wanting to focus on why, I continue moving forward.  Like last time, I begin to hear the calls of the books and scrolls stored here.  They want to be set free.  They want to use my magic to work their evil.  Some do not believe magic is sentient like that.  I do.  I have found magic often seems to have a mind of its own.

Now that I’m here, I don’t know where to start.  The dark magic section is huge and the scribes never come in here.  This section of the archives somehow maintains itself and it doesn’t use the Dewey decimal system.  Nor does it have an index.  I look at all the rows of shelves before me and my confidence begins to crumble.  How can I find what I’m looking for without causing a major catastrophe like last time?

I walk up and down the stacks, hoping something will pop out at me.  Okay, things are popping out at me, just not what I’m looking for.  I reach out and touch one of the books that inched its way to the edge of the shelf when it felt me coming.  Ouch!  I snatch my hand back when my skin starts to smoke.  I blow on my fingers while doing an ‘I just burned my fingerprints off’ dance away from the book. 

As much as I am afraid of doing it, I come to the realization I need to use my magic.  I could spend years searching down here if I don’t.  But, the spell needs to be worded carefully.  I close my eyes and let it slowly form in my mind.  “
In this cavern of darkness I search for light.  A powerful evil beckons in the night.  Amid these rows is the answer I seek, I come as a lamb, guileless and meek.  I shall leave as a lion ready to roar, prepared to fight darkness upon our shore.  Within these walls is the power I need to fight mine enemy’s strength and greed.  No foe can claim omnipotence, their weaknesses already on the verge of nascence.  Show me the words to fulfill my quest, but all others shall remain at rest.  No unwanted spell shall prey upon my magic, neither through my ignorance nor any trick.  Only the answer I need shall appear, to these words you must adhere.  My magic is mine alone to wield, no mishaps shall it yield.
”

I push the magic I’ve been pulling into the dark magic section.  I can feel spells lapping at it, trying to absorb it.  But, my magic stays true.  It repels these interlopers, not letting them take even the tiniest iota of power.  After a long moment, I hear the sound of a book falling to the floor.  The sound echoes through the archives and I race to find the source.  Seven rows down from where I was lies a book.  The book has opened to a certain page.  I fall to my knees to read it, not caring how dirty and disgusting the floor has grown over the centuries.  I run my finger under the words as I read and with each one, hope grows within me.  This is the answer we’ve been seeking.  With a wide grin in place, I pick up the book and walk to the end of the aisle.  I turn toward the exit and find a small crowd has gathered.  Everyone from the sitting room followed me here.

When I am close enough to hear her, Isla says, “I certainly hope whatever you found was worth the risk you just took.”

Oh, it is.  It definitely is.

“This could work,” Dagda says, a smile growing on his face.  “It could work.”  He, Tana, Isla and Arie are crowded around the book which is now sitting on the conference room table. 

“It will work,” I correct him.

I glance down the table to Alita.  “How are you doing?” I ask.

She shrugs.  “I feel fine.  Are you certain the book came from the dark magic section?”  Dark magic sickens her.  It begins with a headache and grows depending on the strength of the darkness.

“In the wrong hands, this information would be very dangerous,” Tana tells her.  “In and of itself, it is neutral.  Neither good nor bad.”

“It is still a great risk to take,” Isla says.  “If it goes wrong, we will all die.”

I shrug.  “If we don’t try it, there’s a good chance the Sirens will be successful in their plan to kill every last Fairy in the realm.”

The door to the conference room opens and two Fallen Angels walk through it.  “Are you ready to go?” Adriel asks.

Standing akimbo now, I stare at the two.  “You have been waiting for me to find this, haven’t you?”

Raziel grins.  “For several millennia.”

I shake my head.  “It’s a good thing I wasn’t made omniscient,” I tell him.  “I could never keep a secret like you can.”  I would have blabbed the answer the day the first Siren went bad.

Raziel inclines his head.  “It is weight I was created to carry.  But, it can be quite difficult at times.”

“If it makes you feel better, it has been killing him not to tell you these last few days.  That is why we stayed away,” Adriel explains.

I shake my head.  “Do you have any idea how awful these last few days have been?”  The guilt in Raziel’s eyes softens my voice.  “I guess there is something to be said for finding the answer myself, though.”

“Speak for yourself,” Taz grumbles.  “When the wanker gets his wings back, I’m going to pluck the feathers out one by one while he sleeps.”

“I just might help you,” I tell him.  Raziel winks at me and laughs.  Since he knows everything, he knows what Taz said.

“We do not have much time before sunrise,” Isla says pointedly.  It seems she is on board now that she knows the Angels are on our side.  “We should proceed with this sooner as opposed to later.”

Her brisk words chafe at me.  “Yes, I know.”

“Quit barking at the girl,” Tabatha says, bustling into the room.  Behind her trails a tired, angry Garren.  He is obviously here against his will.  “This whole thing rests on her and that’s pressure enough.”

Isla didn’t hear a word Tabitha said.  Her eyes are glued on Garren.  His eyes are looking steadfastly at the floor.  Good thing because the emotion pouring out of them has a better chance of not pouring out of his mouth if he doesn’t look at her.  It isn’t difficult to figure out he is here to help with the spell, not reconcile with Isla.

Doing my best to ignore their drama, I turn to Dad.  “Ready to lead us to them?”

“Whenever you are.”  This is the first time Dad has felt truly useful since becoming a ghost.  He is so thrilled about it, and Dagda is so impressed by it, the two haven’t sniped at each other once.

“Sire, the boat is ready,” Sindri says from the doorway.  Perfect timing, as usual.

“Thank you, Sindri,” I say because I know my biological father will not remember to say it. 

Dad told us the Sirens are about three miles from shore on a tiny island.  To conserve our energy and magic, we decided not to swim to them or bother with a breathing underwater spell.  If necessary, we can adjust our plan along the way.

Alita wraps her arms around Kegan and kisses him.  “Come back to me,” she tells him, a trace of desperation in her voice.  Alita’s magic is not very strong.  It was a difficult decision but it was decided she should remain behind.  She might not survive what we need to do and that is not a risk any of us are willing to take.

Kegan touches her cheek with his palm.  “Always,” he says softly.

Taz, ever the romantic, starts to cough.  “Can we get on with this?  The love in the air is choking me to death.” 

The other couple in the room of which only one will be going say a less romantic good bye.  Basically, Arie nods at Kai and he nods back.  They have a lot of work ahead of them to save their marriage.  Because of Kai’s earlier doubts, Arie thought it best he not come along in case the spell is not successful.  In other words, she thinks he’ll become a Siren slave.

The rest of us file out of the conference room and make our way outside.  I can’t help but notice Garren puts as much distance between him and Isla as possible.  I hope his animosity doesn’t screw things up.  I’d tell him to stay behind but Raziel made sure to bring him meaning we need his magical strength. 

In the river outside the palace sits a moderate size boat, not the yacht I expected considering Dagda’s need for all things ostentatious.  Noticing my surprise, Kegan leans over and says in my ear, “This one is for speed. His private yacht is considerably larger.”  It all makes sense now.

We climb into the speedboat that is being helmed by one of the guards.  There are enough seats for eight but there are eleven of us – Dagda, Tana, Isla, Tabitha, Kegan, Adriel, Raziel, Arie, Garren, Dad and me.  Dad doesn’t need a seat and Kegan and I elect to stand.  Kegan does because he’s being polite; I do because I’m too antsy to sit down.  I second guess my decision when the boat starts to move, though.  I’ve never been a boat before.  I had no idea how hard it would be to remain upright while it is in motion.  Seeing me struggle, Garren gives me his seat.  I smile in gratitude.  Antsy or not, I should sit.  Falling overboard would just slow us down.

The miles fly by and it isn’t long before we see the island in the distance.  “If your magic doesn’t work on them, have them ride in a boat with me.  After I throw up on them a few times, they’ll agree to anything,” Taz mumbles through the paw holding his nose to the floor.  He keeps swallowing back bile and the sound is making me seasick.  He probably should have skipped the bacon before we left.

“How close do you want me to get?” the guard asks Dagda. 

“Bring us to shore,” my biological father tells him.  The guard grimaces and turns back to the ocean before us.  He’s not happy about getting so close to the Sirens.  Right about now, he’s wishing this was his day off.

About a hundred warriors are gathered on the shore to greet us.  All of them are magical beings.  Not a single Cowan among them.  Wise choice on the Sirens’ part.  It only would have ended badly for the humans if they tried to stop us.  Not that it’s going to be any better for these guys.  The first one to point a weapon at Dagda ends up lying flat on the ground with his own weapon pointing at him. 

“Take us to Irena,” Dagda orders.

“No need for such dramatics, love,” a voice I recognize purrs.  There is no need to search for her.  Irena has come to greet us and she is not happy despite her attempt to appear unruffled.  “I knew it would not be long before you found us.  In fact, I admit I thought it would be sooner than this.  You are not the sharp Fairy you once were, Dagda.”  Liar, she did not believe we would find her.  Her eyes scan the Fairy King from head to toe.  “My, the years have not been kind, have they?”  She turns and begins walking away.  “Come, we will converse in my tent.”  Dagda ignores the insult and motions for us to follow the Siren.

There are a ton of tents covering the island but it’s not difficult to determine which one is hers.  Most of them are white with a few colored ones here and there.  But, there is only one the color of a Siren’s hair.  The red tent is massive; easily five times the size of the other tents.  We follow Irena in silence, ever conscious of the garrison of warriors surrounding us.

The inside of the tent is beautiful.  All of the furnishings are vivid in color and designed for comfort.  Large pillows are scattered around with several Sirens lounging on them in various stages of undress.  The rugs beneath our feet are plush and a large fire pit in the center of the tent is keeping out the night’s chill.  At the far end of the tent there is one large bed.  Chained to it is my mostly naked husband. 

Kallen doesn’t make eye contact with me.  In fact, his eyes appear hazy and unfocused.  Is he truly under Irena’s spell?  If so, what has she been doing with him on that oversized bed?  Anger bubbles up my spine and with it, magic gushes into me.  Immediately, I am flanked by Dagda and Isla.  A not so gentle pinch in my side reminds me I’m jumping ahead of the plan.  I force the magic to seep from me.  Each drop that returns to the earth takes with it a piece of my sanity.  I find Irena and the self-satisfied grin on her face is almost enough to start the process all over again.

The Siren’s voice is a perfect combination of amusement and malice.  “Your husband has been quite entertaining in the short time we have been together.  If I had known what an incredible lover he would be, I would have escaped years ago.”

I feel the blood drain from my face.  So much of it, I’m convinced there will be permanent damage to my brain.  Kallen and her together?  He slept with her?  Well, from what she’s saying, there wasn’t any sleeping involved.  Could it be true?  I find Kallen again and he is sitting with the same dazed expression staring at nothing in particular.

“Pull it together,” the Angel of Death behind me orders.  “She is lying.”

She is?  It dawns on me that the sensations my body is feeling are not from the devastation of her claim.  It is because of the magnitude of her lie.  She and Kallen didn’t have sex.  I am so relieved, I actually giggle a little.  I get a lot of strange looks from Fairies, Angels and Sirens because of it.  I don’t care.  My husband didn’t touch the red haired vixen in front of me.  “I guess no one mentioned my ability to detect lies,” I tell Irena.  It is my turn to have a self-satisfied grin on my face.

It takes Irena a moment to recover.  Nope, she had no idea I could detect lies.  Sucks for her.  She tries to recover.  “I believe our magic is interfering with your ability, then.”

I snort.  “Not likely.”  My eyes travel from her to Kallen.  His eyes are suddenly clear as ever and he is staring straight back at me.  Now that he doesn’t need to play along with the charade, he dresses himself in jeans and a black t-shirt, my favorite combination on him.  He also breaks the chain holding him to the bed. 

Irena whips around when she hears the chain snap.  “No!” she growls, stalking toward Kallen.  “You are mine.”

“Sorry,” Kallen tells her.  He doesn’t sound like he’s sorry.  “My heart belongs to someone much more powerful and beautiful than you.”

Irena screams in anger.  I cover my ears.  The Siren really knows how to scream.  Her voice brings Sirens and warriors rushing into the tent.  They surround her, weapons drawn.  There are so many of them, they block Kallen’s access to us.  I want to use magic to shove them aside, but I can’t.  It would spark a fight and we didn’t come here to fight.

“Irena!” Dagda shouts over her screaming which is apparently her way of calling her troops to her.  She should seriously consider a cow bell.  Much easier on the ear drums.

The Siren lets her voice fade until there is blissful silence in the tent.  After a moment, she finds Dagda.  “You bring your Fairy bitch before me then dare to speak my name?”  Now it’s Dagda drawing magic he shouldn’t be drawing.

Isla steps forward.  “We have not come to discuss the past.  We have come to discuss the future.” 

A malicious smile spreads across Irena’s red lips.  “You have no future, Fairy.”

My turn.  I do my best to sound fearful.  “Yeah, about that complete annihilation plan?  We’d like to avoid it.” 

Irena laughs.  “I am certain you would, little Witch Fairy.”  Little?  She has maybe an inch on me.  “But do not fear. I have no intention of killing you.” 

Doubtful of her claim, I ask, “Really?  Why not?”  My curiosity is probably going to get me killed someday.  Not today, but someday.

Moving until she is only a few feet from me, she says, “Because I am going to use you in my rise to ultimate power.”

I consider her words for a moment before shaking my head.  “I’m not really onboard with that plan.”

She laughs again.  “You have no choice in the matter.  I hold your dear husband captive.  You will do whatever I tell you to do if you do not want me to put him permanently under my spell.”

I purse my lips.  After a moment, I shake my head.  “No, still not feeling it.”

A feral growl escapes Irena’s throat.  Spinning around, she gestures for her entourage to split apart until she can see Kallen.  He is standing with his arms crossed over his chest and his expression is the direct opposite of the dopey adoration the Fairies I’ve seen under the Sirens’ spell have.  Stalking toward him like he is prey, she begins to sing. 

I cut her off before she gets the first word out.  “Irena, please don’t.”  Kallen’s eyes widen in surprise before darkening in anger.  He sees my words as a betrayal, that I believe him capable of falling under the Siren’s spell.  Well, he’s the one that left me to come here so he can believe that all he wants.  At least, for a while.

Believing the power has once again shifted in her favor, Irena turns back to me.  “Not as confident in your love as you want to appear, I see.”  She strides forward, smug expression in place.  “As Queen of the Sirens did you know I have the unique ability to seduce females with my voice?  I will make you my slave, Witch Fairy.”