Enemy Mine (Mending The Veil) (11 page)

“I look horrid!” She licked her palm and rubbed it over her hair.

Isina giggled, making Rissa briefly smile, though she had believed she would never do so again. The very act seemed so very wrong when her husband and lover was basically locked in a prison of limbo.

“Oh, bugger it!” Theo dropped her hands and flexed her fingers.

“We must hurry.” Isina held out her palms. “Drink quickly. They come.”

Rissa could hear the bigger men moving through the trees behind her. She met Theo’s gaze and nodded as they both took the flower blossoms. “Goddess, protect us.” Rissa tossed the cold liquid back, amazed at the changing flavor from strawberry to chocolate. Beside her Theo purred as she licked her lips with a smile.

“Follow me, ladies.” Isina turned and moved back behind the tree. Theo followed her quickly, but Rissa stopped to turn back just as three men came through the trees. She met the hungry gaze of the man with the scarred face.

“There you are, Witch. You escaped Holt, but you will never escape me. And that beast within you will never see the light of day.” He grinned, his mouth a mix of yellowed and missing teeth.

“You are wrong. And my child, she will be your end, Guardian.” Rissa heard his growl as he charged at her, but she calmly moved behind the tree, taking Theo’s hand as they stepped into bright sunlight that warmed her flesh. The last she heard was a cry of rage from the big man that ended abruptly as they stood ankle deep in soft, green grass.

Chapter Fourteen

The glaring sun made Rissa blink as she lifted a hand to shield her eyes as she scanned their surroundings. Gone were the dark trees of the forest. In their place were tall glass structures standing all around them as they stood in some kind of immense courtyard that looked more like a valley. Colorful people of various sizes, shapes, and races stopped to eye them with curious expressions on their pointed faces. Though several of them gave her suspicious looks of mistrust, most of the Fae seemed curious to see them suddenly appear amongst them. Rissa inhaled the scent of flowers and mint, her hand moving over her belly as her daughter moved anxiously within.

“Umm...I don’t think this is America, anymore.” Theo hissed as a small gnat buzzed her head. Isina grabbed her hand to stop her from slapping at it.

“The Fae people come in many sizes, shapes, and color. The queen will not take kindly of you smacking her children.” Isina started moving toward an archway of pink glass. “The queen wishes to see you at once.”

“Sorry.” Theo shrugged and ducked as the tiny being tapped her on the nose and flew off with a high-pitched laugh.

“Try not to offend them.” Rissa shook her head and followed Isina through the pink archway, down a very long hallway changed colors as they walked through it, then into a small closet. Glass doors shut them in, and Isina turned to them with an impish grin.

“This is the fun part.” She pulled on a blue string and immediately the tiny box flew upwards. Theo yowled and clutched at Rissa’s arm painfully, but Rissa kept her eyes open so she could see through the glass to the outer wall of what she assumed was the Fairy Queen’s palace. Sunlight danced over rolling fields of lush green grass and trees, bigger than she’d ever seen, held their branches up in worship of the life-sustaining light. A huge waterfall cascaded to her right, creating a rainbow affect in the sunshine. The beautiful rainbow arched down into a bright blue river that wound around the glass palace. The blue water flowed like a snake in between smaller structures of the same glass material.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Isina smiled with pride. “We care for our Mother and all who live within and upon her.”

“It is amazing.” Rissa gasped and grabbed onto Theo for support as the small elevator came to a jarring stop.

“This way, ladies.” Isina led them through a hallway draped in green and white ivy. The stems moved toward them as they walked down the corridor. “This is called the Queen’s Ivy. I wouldn’t suggest touching it. Those who are not summoned are...dissuaded from going further.” At the end of the hallway, green doors opened, and Rissa watched in wonder as she realized the doors were actually living plants. Solid walls of ivy moved like a nest of entwined green snakes.

Inside the huge chamber was another story. Big jungle cats came leisurely to their feet to stand at attention in two columns. Rissa was in awe of the lions sitting beside tigers as if they were oblivious to their species. Theo, however, bit back an agitated growl. She wasn’t the least bit comfortable with the big cats surrounding them.

“Garwin, you are upsetting my visitors. Please exit my chambers.” A tall woman with jet black hair, falling in gentle curls from the diamond studded crown on her head, and piercing yellow eyes watched them approach her. She stood up gracefully from a lime green throne and stepped to the edge of her grass-covered platform. Her dress was a vivid purple with a low-cut bodice which threatened to spill her luscious breasts. A tightly corseted waistline and a full skirt hid her feet. Her fingers laced together before her as the long sleeves of her gown draped almost to the floor. She was breathtaking and every bit the royal blood of legend.

Theo relaxed as the big cats filed out through the ivy door one by one. A sigh escaped her as the doors shut behind them. Rissa turned back to the Queen of the Fae with a lift of her chin. She was standing before a myth in the flesh. One, who could be friend or foe. She hoped for the sake of her daughter that it was the latter, but she could not shake the uneasy feeling that the queen might have her own agenda.

“Your Highness.” Isina dropped to her knees, her wings popping out in a flurry of iridescent colors to flutter over her head. “I bring you the Witch and her Familiar.”

“You have done well, Isina. Take the Familiar to their assigned quarters. She will want to assure herself of her charge’s safety and comfort.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

“Ah...all due respect, I’m not leaving Rissa.” Theo growled as Isina stood and offered her hand.

“She will be safe here with me. You have my word.” Rissa watched Theo bite her lip in indecision. She clearly did not trust the Queen of the Fae. A fact which made Rissa second-guess her choice in putting their fate in the powerful woman’s hands.

“I will be fine and I will join you shortly, Theo.” Rissa raised her hand and gently brushed Theo’s almost white hair away from her face. “Go.”

“All right, but I don’t like it.” She hissed as she followed Isina out.

“You are tired and worn from your escape. I feel the child’s unrest within you. I will make this quick, so you can eat and settle into your quarters. You are not a prisoner here in The Glenn. You are my personal guest. I will make sure your every need is attended to. You need only ask for that which you desire or want.”

“That is very kind of you...” Rissa faltered, not knowing how she should refer to the impressive woman before her. The ruler wasn’t her Queen, but she didn’t want to insult her by using her informal name, either.

“Urlisa. All of my subjects call me their Queen or Highness. I would like us to be friends on equal standing, Rissalynn Holt.”

“Thank you, Urlisa.”

“Do you realize it has been many seasons since a true Witch graced the halls of The Glenn? Almost a millennia in the Mortal Realm’s time.” She stepped down from the raised dais to come to stand before Rissa. “This child will be special.” She reached out, but paused before her hand touch the swell of Rissa’s belly. “May I?” She smiled as Rissa nodded with an uncertain look. The queen’s hand touched the protruding bulge of her belly lightly. The child beneath her flesh jumped, then stilled, as if paying silent homage to the queen.

“Oh, yes. She is strong.” Urlisa laughed, and the ivy grew, extending new shoots inside the room as if eager to be closer to them.

“Will it harm her to be born here?”

“Why would it? Long ago our worlds were one. She will be better for it. I promise.”

“Why wouldn’t I wonder, since you exiled my kind so long ago?”

“A necessary action, but one I have regretted from time to time. There are wars being fought in the Mortal Realm. Wars that won’t be finished until the Veil is mended. You do know of the Veil of Life?” At Rissa’s nod, Urlisa turned and moved to the wall. It became clear glass, letting in the streaming sunlight as she touched it with her hand. “There are those in both our worlds that would keep the Veil open. It allows one demon and one angel to cross over every year. Demonic activity brings conflict and conflict ultimately starts wars. Unfortunately those wars provide resources and money to those who do not hold the lives of men, nor their world in great esteem. They will not be happy that I have brought you here.”

“Someone doesn’t want us here. Why? What influence does a Witch and a Familiar, who was cast out of their Coven, have over the grand design of the Veil?”

“The Veil between the realms of Heaven and Hell was ripped open by an act of greed. It is known in the secular circle that no less than three acts of love and selfless sacrifice may mend the Veil and close the doorway to the world of demons and angels forever.”

“That’s good information to know, but tell me, what does it have to do with us?”

“Did you know the very first Witch was a fallen angel?” At Rissa’s negative shake of her head, Urlisa smiled. “You wouldn’t. The knowledge of The Beginning Times would be hidden well in myth and lore. We, Fae, remember the old ways. It was the very first Guardian, a demon, who tricked the angel into breaching The Veil. Both fell into the mortal world. Many of the old ones believe they are still there, existing in the shadows.” She shrugged a shoulder and turned toward Rissa. “The girl-child you carry is part Guardian as well as part Witch; Demon and Angel. She is a blend of both factions and will possess great power. The mending will start with her. Which is why I had to save you.”

“Thank you.” Rissa moved to stand beside her. Looking out at the breathtaking landscape beneath them, she took in the magic of her surroundings and felt a calm reassurance that they were safe at last, despite the small hint of warning in the queen’s voice. “I have one question, though. Why would you care about what transpires in the mortal world? You live here in such beauty and peace. The wars you speak of will never come here.”

“Good question, little Witch. The answer is simple. If the Veil continues to disintegrate at the current rate, more occupants of the spiritual realm will spill out. The mortal world will be swallowed up and introduced to the same endless bloody battle which has gone on there since The Beginning of Times. The Glenn will be next.” Her jaw clenched and her gaze burned with a passionate intensity. “It must not be allowed to happen. The mortal world must be cleansed, the Veil mended, and peace made between the two houses of magic users. Nothing...
No one
is more important than that.”

For only a moment, Rissa felt the amulet on her chest burn with a flash of warning heat. She gasped and just barely stopped herself from reaching for it beneath her shirt. Urlisa’s dark brows drew together in question.

“Sorry, I just can’t believe all you’ve told me. My child will be the end of all this tragic fighting? It seems...impossible.” She placed a hand on her chest over the stone as she spoke. It was still warm, but she didn’t doubt she would be blistered by it.

“We will do all we can to ensure her safety.” Urlisa laid a hand on her shoulder, but Rissa didn’t feel much comfort in the gesture. “This is why you must remain inside the castle at all times. My magic cannot protect you outside my home.”

“There’s always a snake in paradise.” Her words had Urlisa’s black ringlets dancing as she turned to look at her.

“I do believe I like your spirit, Rissalynn. We will be fine friends.”

“I hope so.” Goddess, she really hoped so, because the Queen of the Fae was not known for letting old hurts pass. It was she, who left the Witches and the Guardians in the mortal world to fight amongst themselves. Rissa wasn’t fool enough to think a couple eons would change her that much. No, Urlisa had ulterior motives for wanting her and her unborn child in The Glenn.

“There is a small price to pay when a mortal, even a Witch, comes into The Glenn.”

“I knew there was a catch.”

“You must do one favor for the Queen of the Fae.”

“Only one? Tell me I don’t have to promise you my unborn child?” Rissa wanted to sound like she was kidding, but her gut was telling her the queen would take whatever she desired here in The Glenn.

“No, nothing like that. You and your Familiar must stay here until the next summer solstice.”

“Um...isn’t that a couple hundred years in the mortal world?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, that is a long time in your realm. One day here is one seasonal year there.”

“I can’t do that.” Rissa heard the panic in her own voice and swallowed her fear. “Three hundred and sixty-five years! No way. I can’t Travis...”

“We must ensure the child will not return amongst war and strife. She must not go back too soon, or your enemies will kill her. As for Travis Holt... Do not fear for your lover. He will stay in stasis until you return with your daughter. He will not age, he will not feel pain. You will see him once more. I give you my word as your new friend.” She wrapped an arm around Rissa’s shoulder with a mysterious smile on her red lips. “I can save your little family, but you must give me your promise right now.”

Rissa took a deep breath, but her mind was a mess. She could not go back to be captured by the Guardians, but she didn’t trust the Queen of the Fae, either. A small thought dawned on her just as she was about to ask to be returned. “I promise you that my Familiar and I will stay here in The Glenn.”

“Good. We shall take very good care of you. Now, to take you to your quarters. I will personally give you a tour of the palace. I hope you like heights.”

Chapter Fifteen

Rissa sat at the center of the courtyard surrounded by a crowd of the queen’s subjects, who were fawning all over her. In her arms was the sweetest little girl. Her eyes were wide-open and the same exact shade of brown as her father’s. Her tiny head was covered in thin brown wisps of hair and her brows were drawn together, as if she was puzzling over her new world.