Folk Lore (24 page)

“Yes, I do.” Sera seized the opportunity.
“Can Keelor come back now?”

“No.”

“Why not?
He wouldn’t be breaking the law anymore.”

“He broke the law before it was abolished so his banishment stands.”

“If he’d waited and told you today he would have been allowed to stay?”

“It is neither here nor there, Seraphina. It is done.”

“I can’t believe without a second thought you have just removed the law! I understand your reasoning but everyone is so stringent with the law. Now you just do it without thought because he asked! I just don’t understand. I thought the law was wrong from the beginning but now you don’t even question it!”

“I am not happy about the law, Seraphina, but a promise is a promise. I do not want to think about the consequences of the removal of the law.”

“The consequence is Keelor can’t come back!”

She looked past Kalar to her mother who merely shook her head and she knew it would be pointless to continue. As much as she’d come to love the lands she was not happy about the unwavering precision in which they followed their ludicrous decree. She would bide her time. Once victory against the wizard was at hand, she
could simply leave. The Mystic Lands and its beautiful garden held no appeal without Keelor or for that matter Sam either.

“
Moving on,”
Kalar continued leaving no room for further argument.
“Please welcome Jeremiah, Seraphina’s new protector,” she gestured to the young man Sera spotted earlier and she groaned.

He came to stand behind her and she nodded her welcome. It was at this moment that Minato and Figalo wondered from the forest with impeccable timing, she could continue to ignore Jeremiah for a bit longer. Minato gestured to Kalar and for the first time she smiled.

“Minato and Figalo bring us good news. They have been preparing a spell which, along with Seraphina’s power and our incarceration chant, will enable us to imprison the wizard permanently. We should make preparations to journey to the castle once again. Seraphina and Jeremiah need some time to form a compatible partnership which will entail they complete some training collectively. Jeremiah will need to learn how Seraphina’s power works to enable them to work together. Capturing Mecaldorf is going to be a difficult task therefore Angeles and Athena will call for reinforcements from their coven. Although many of their vampire companions can be
...
savage they are welcome here.”

The meeting was adjourned and Sera promptly stormed off towards her new home, Jeremiah, hot on her heels.

“
Why are you following me?”
She turned to him to give him her sternest look. He startled, which nudged her conscience.
“I’m sorry, Jeremiah, could you please give me an hour?”

“I guess so, I’m kind of hungry. I’ll go have lunch and meet you
...?”

“I’ll meet you in the practice field, OK?”

“
Sure.”
He shrugged and wondered off towards the hazer village.

When she entered Keelor’s hut Sera found the balcony window ajar and sensed she wasn’t alone. With trepidation she slowly walked over to the windows to close them again. An arm engulfed her from behind but she was ready. Using her fear she pushed the
feeling outwards through her whole body which sent her assailant reeling. She turned on her heel to discover with horror it was Keelor.

“You can do that without your hands now, impressive.”

“What are you doing here?” she cried and ran to him. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her with intensity.

“I did not say goodbye. I decided to watch from a distance and when I saw your new protector, I am glad I stayed. I do not trust anyone else with your wellbeing especially someone who is clearly inexperienced.”

“Modest aren’t we?”

“No simply in love. I would die for you, which is more than I can say for Jeremiah.”

“Really?”

“What?”

“You would do that for me?”

“Yes, Sera, I would.” Her heart burst with love and a serene smile filled his face.

“What happens if they find you here?” His smile dropped.

“I do not know. Incarceration I suppose.”

“Maybe not.
The law has changed.”

He studied her face, his completely perplexed.

“The elders gave Mortimer a favour in return for saving Nermina and he asked they abolish the mixed relationship law. If you waited one more day then you might not have been banished.”

“The elders did this for Mortimer?”

“Yes, why?”

“I understand their gratitude for his part in returning Nermina. I am merely surprised it was allowed so easily.”

“So was I. Aren’t you upset about this? If you hadn’t decided to be gallant you would still be allowed to live here.”

“Yes I would but it is so much more fun this way.”

“This is no laughing matter
...
wait, you just made a joke.”

“I am capable, besides it was not actually a joke, more like making light of the situation.”

“Glad you can feel light.”

“While I can watch over you, my heart is light.”

“Does this mean you’re hanging around? Where are you going to stay?”

“Yes and here with you.”

“What if someone comes?”

“I will disappear temporarily. Now stop talking and kiss me.”

30

Jeremiah

Two hours later, Sera reluctantly left Keelor and sought out her new protector. May as well make the best of the situation she was in and work with him she supposed. Knowing Keelor was close by helped renew her energy and lift her sadness, albeit slightly. He was still banished from his home. She endeavoured to change this as soon as possible. For now training with Jeremiah was all she could do. She was late and when Sera walked into the practice field she was greeted with a scowl.

“Jeremiah, I’m really sorry I’m late. I
...
fell asleep,” she told him lamely.

“I thought about coming to check on you but I decided against it. I wasn’t quite sure how you would take it.”

“Friends?” she asked extending her hand.

“Sure,” he replied cautiously before shrugging.

“So, are you ready?”

“What for?”

“This,” she announced and brought forth concern. She was interested to see how he would react to serenity and thought it could also help her cause, which in turn would have her returning to Keelor sooner.

Jeremiah stood rooted to the spot and stared at her for a moment before tilting his head to the side and giving her an odd gaze. He moved as though to approach her, so she switched to annoyance, which of course sent him stumbling back, even though she’d done it gently.

“What was that?”

“
One of my many talents.”
She knew she was showing off but decided it was fun anyway.
“Stand back, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of this one.”  She sent her angry bolts to a nearby tree, which was left smouldering.

“Wow, they weren’t exa
ggerating about you were they?”
She grinned.
“I don’t think we need to practice any further, I believe you’re well prepared. Perhaps if you could inform me of which emotions stirs what, so I’ll be prepared.”

“Sure.”

“I want to ask you something first.”

“Go ahead.”

“Were you upset today because of Keelor?”

“Yes.”

“Now the law is gone, you can pursue a relationship?”

“If he wasn’t banished, absolutely.”

“If that were to change, where does that leave me?”

Sera suddenly felt sad for Jeremiah, for he had a point. If she could convince the elders to remove Keelor’s banishment then he could become her protector again.

“I don’t know, Jeremiah. I wish I could promise you that you would be staying with me but I can’t do that.”

He shrugged.
“I may as well make the most of it while I can. Now could you run through with me exactly what you can do?”

Sera and Jeremiah became friends quickly and spent the idle afternoon learning about each other and Sera’s abilities, totally unaware they had company.

Hours later, Nermo waited for Sera on the path leading to Keelor’s hut. She groaned when she spotted him. The last thing she
feel
like dealing with his unwavering belief in his vision. She was also anxious to see Keelor.

“Good afternoon, Seraphina.”

“What do you want, Nermo?”

“That is an unkind way to greet me. I thought you may be a little happier to see your future life mate.”

“I’ll be happy to see my ‘life mate’ when I see him.”

“Are you still harbouring fanciful notions regarding the elfin?”

“No, Nermo, I’m not but I also don’t think we are destined either.”

He shrugged. She walked past him towards the door.

“Aren’t you going to ask me in?”

“No, I’m tired and I was going to rest for a while.”

“Why are you staying here?”

“It’s bigger and I feel closer to him this way.”

“So, you are still harbouring the ridiculous.”

“No because it isn’t ridiculous. We love each other and when this is all over, I’m going to do everything I can to bring him home, where he belongs. If I can’t do that then I’ll leave with him.”

“He will not make you happy. He will resent you in time for being the reason he left the lands.”

She sighed in frustration.
“Nermo, I don’t think you know Keelor like I do.”

He shrugged.
“His track record is very difficult to ignore.”

“Nermo, I’m really not in the mood for this. I would like to remain friends with you but if you keep pushing this, you’ll make me feel uncomfortable.”

“I told you the law would change and Keelor would be gone. So we will be together.”

“Yes, you were right about the law but you won’t be about the rest. I was surprised Kalar allowed it to happen.”

“That is because I predicted it would. Kalar was prepared for it. It there is one thing besides the law that the elders believe in is visions. Theirs must correspond with mine or they would not have allowed it so easily. You seem to forget they can foresee too.”

“I hadn’t forgotten. It still doesn’t change anything
...
now if you’ll excuse me.”

As she went to walk off he gave her an appealing smile, one she hadn’t seen before. If she wasn’t totally enamoured by Keelor, she would be attracted to him and that smile. Nermo was definitely attractive, more so than any human she’d met, however no-one could compare to her elfin. He tainted the world with his beauty to Sera now and it pleased her immensely.

“Very well, I will leave you be for now, however, know this.” Stepped forward, he took her hand, his bright blue eyes sparkling
.“
I
would treat you as you deserve to be.”  He trailed his hand down her face and for a moment she wavered, Nermo dazzled her.

She watched frozen as he strolled down the path. She began to notice things about him now, which she’d overlooked before and felt almost smitten by him. When she shook her head, her mind cleared in an instant. What had he just done to her?

31

Vampires

Sera left a sleeping Keelor to take a walk and clear her head. She loved Keelor there was no doubting her heart but Nermo made a strong point, would Keelor come to resent her in time? Where would they live anyway? It wasn’t like Keelor would blend in amongst the humans in her world. Did she really want to go back to her old home and life? The Mystic Lands and Garden along with Keelor and her newfound duty filled a void in her once empty existence. There were lands surrounding the mystic, would it be the same? Keelor lived here his whole life, he loved his home, anywhere else wouldn’t compare.

Her other creeping doubt was the depth of his feelings. She didn’t doubt he believed in how he felt however she couldn’t help but wonder whether her ‘abilities’ were projected her feelings onto him. Was she merely dazzling him as Nermo had her the previous afternoon? Confusion swirled through her.

She ventured deep into the forest, the darkness swathed her making visibility limited. She turned in circles trying to work out exactly which direction she’d come from and realised she was lost. Great, just what I need.

Several low guttural growls emitted from the darkness and appeared to surround her. Her fear rose to lodge itself in her throat and she forced it aside and tried to concentrate to prepare herself for whatever was awaiting her.

All of a sudden, in a blur of movement, she became encircled by six vampires, none of which were familiar.