Mistfall (23 page)

“What?” I was perplexed by the lack of an
answer and Rory’s amusement. I would’ve assumed I had something in
my teeth, but we hadn’t eaten yet.

Instead of letting me stew, he lifted his
hand and pointed past me. “Look behind you.”

I turned around, expecting to see empty
chairs with a few people seated in them. I was wrong.

The outdoor chapel furnishings were gone. In
its place were tables with food overflowing everywhere. Long tables
with benches were scattered about for guests to dine. Those I saw
sitting hadn’t moved. They were still seated in exactly the same
place as they were before, only new chairs and tables appeared
around them.

The fireflies and fairy dust still bathed the
area in its soft golden glow as the hamadryad decorations still
graced the trees. Musicians began to play, their song beckoning the
guests to enter the magically renewed area to celebrate.

The guests filter in and take their seats to
dine. Various conversations were going on around me, but I was too
mesmerized by the music to pay attention when my name was called.
The musicians, four women in all were playing an enchanting melody.
The flautist’s notes reminded me of a bird flittering between
branches. I almost saw the leaves change colors from green to
autumn hues when the violinist joined in. It was truly beautiful
and I felt an overwhelming need to go to them.

“Be careful, those are sirens,” John pointed
out while turning me around and distracting me.

My head cleared enough to realize John was
talking to me, but I hadn’t a clue as to what he said. “What did
you say?”

He chuckled at my fogginess. “Sirens Violet.
The musicians are Sirens.

I shivered as the enchantment of the Sirens’
spell wore off. “Why on Earth would anyone hire Sirens to play at a
wedding?” I asked, astonished.

“You’ll get used to it,” John reassured me.
“Give it ten minutes and it won’t hold you captive anymore.”

“But why?” I reiterated.

“The Sirens have mastery over music and are
the best,” he informed me while grabbing my hand just in case I
felt the need to run off towards the Sirens again.

I wanted to say that they should come with a
warning label, but became lost to the music once again.

John led me towards the dance floor. “Come on
beautiful girl.”

I could see how a celebration could last for
three days. Even those more accustomed to the Sirens seemed
ensorcelled by their magic. It was a good thing they were friend
and not foe.

There really was no floor to dance on. An
area of flat earth, off to the side of the tables, had been cleared
and manicured to accommodate the dancers. Guests were taking off
their shoes to enjoy the pleasure of dancing upon the soft green
grass.

John holds me close to him as we dance. Our
bodies fit so perfectly, it was like we were made for each other. I
found myself torn at the moment. I realized that my life would
never be the same safe, happy self it had been, but I had John. On
the other hand, had none of the past few weeks happened, I would be
semi-safe, in a mild state of ignorant bliss, but without John.
Good thing I didn’t have a choice in all of this, I thought. I
would have never been able to make up my mind.

I did have him now though. The evidence of
that lay beneath my hand which rest upon his chest. The steady beat
of John’s heart reminded me of the here and now, breaking me free
of the Sirens’ bewitchment, once again.

He took my moment of lucidity to twirl me
around him. I laughed as I spun because who doesn’t laugh when
they’re spinning around? Here in the Fae village we were safe and
free to relax. Despite Abel’s previous ambush, I didn’t feel the
need to keep up my vigilance. Rory was standing ten feet behind me,
on the edge of the dance floor, watching me like a hawk. I’d let
him be on guard for the both of us for the rest of the night.

Ensconced in John’s arms once again, he
kissed me on the forehead. “I plan to make you smile like that
everyday Violet.”

“Then we should probably never leave here,” I
recommended as we both became slightly ensnared by the Sirens’
music yet again.

I’m not sure how long we danced. It could
have been hours for all I know. My tolerance to the Sirens became
stronger a little at a time, but had not advanced to the point that
I could think clearly throughout the entirety of their concert.

My muddled thoughts took me near and far.
Memories of my past and present fluttered in my head as well as
some of the absurd. One of my daydreams showed me dancing in the
heavens, amongst the gods.

In my last thought, I was being bathed in
flames. When the music stopped, I felt like an elastic band had
snapped, shooting me back into the present, clear headed.
Goosebumps covered my arms as I lingered over my last thought as
the Dreamweaver’s words of me causing the world to burn echoed
through my mind.

“Take a break?” John asked.

I nodded my head, still a little dazed from
the rude awakening. I’ve never partaken in narcotics, but I could
only imagine I had experienced something similar to a drug-fueled
haze.

“You’ll be fine in a few minutes,” John
assured me, entirely way to amused by my sensitivity to the Sirens.
“I told you it takes some getting used to.” I stuck my tongue out
at him and pushed him playfully in response.

Once we found our seats John left to hunt
down something to drink. He returned moments later carrying two
goblets and sat beside me.

“What’s this?” I inquired of the drink he sat
down in front of me.

“Fairy wine. Be careful and nurse that unless
you want to end up forgetting the next week,” John warned me.

I sniffed at the libation. “Was water not an
option?”

“I do love your sense of humor,” he mused
while running a finger up my arm. “However, the wine will clear
your head of any residual effects from the Sirens’ song.”

I cautiously took a sip and found it to be
rather pleasant. With the tartness of oranges and the sweetness of
honey the drink was perfect for a celebration on a summer day. As
to its effects, John was right. Any unease I still felt
disappeared, leaving me feeling light-hearted.

“Holy Hades!” I exclaimed once I regained
full use of my faculties and remembered my elf-jacking. “What
happened to you when Abel showed up?” I asked.

John looked down at his drink, suddenly
finding it more interesting. “Please, don’t consider me a coward
for hiding,” he pleaded, ashamed of himself.

I held his hand in mine. “I don’t,” I assured
him. “I was just worried about you. That’s all I meant.”

John let out a big sigh of relief. “I thought
you were asking because I didn’t come to your aid,” he admitted,
looking up at me with puppy dog eyes.

“I would be mad at you if you had,” I
scolded.

“I was hidden from Abel’s sight by guests
waiting to congratulate Hailz and Fiona,” John informed me. The
commotion you caused allowed Abel to zero in on you. He wasn’t
paying attention to the rest of us.” I put my hands over my face in
embarrassment at the realization everyone had heard my little
outburst.

John pulled my hands away. “Relax Violet.
From what I hear, that’s not even the worst thing anyone has said
to Rory.”

“Well that’s good,” I said, relieved. “Now I
don’t feel like an arse.”

“Back to the subject at hand,” John
suggested. “We were all distracted with your outburst and Phineas’s
confrontation with Rory. None of us noticed Abel until it was too
late. I started to you, damning the consequences, but Hailz caught
me before I exposed myself.”

John stopped to take a large gulp of wine
before he continued. He still wore a look of shame at leaving me to
the wolves. “As I was saying, Hailz stopped me. She assured me of
your safety and berated me for jeopardizing everything.”

“I’m sure her diatribe was peppered with
interesting metaphors,” I chimed in.

“Very much so,” he replied, “especially after
Melissa gave herself away. She had her wife escort Melissa and I a
safe distance away in an abandoned pixie hollow and there we stayed
until Abel left.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree
with Hailz,” I said.

John raised one eyebrow and one side of his
lips pulled up in a half-grin. “I can’t believe you just said
that.”

I shook my own head. Hades must be freezing
over if I’m siding with Hailz. “What I can’t believe is that she
did something nice, on purpose.”

“That’s one twisted relationship you two
have,” John observed while finishing off the rest of his wine.

I jumped out of my seat. “Oh!” I looked
around, searching through the guests for one person in
particular.

John tugged at my hand to get my attention.
“What are you doing?”

Finding who I was looking for, I turned back
to John and smiled. “Come on, I have to give the newlyweds their
wedding gift.”

Rory’s attention to me had faltered since he
became focused on Melissa. I’m sure the Sirens’ music had something
to do with it to. John and I took the opportunity and snuck away to
find Hailz and Fiona.

We found them under the cover of a Weeping
Willow, in a lovers’ embrace. Not wanting to interrupt such an
intimate moment, we quietly tried to escape their notice. John
stepped on a stick though and gave us away.

The couple, surprised at being intruded upon
broke away quickly. Fiona’s face flushed crimson. Hailz, rather
than being embarrassed was cross. Her eyes shot daggers at us.
Hailz swore, at me in particular. “Can’t I get away from you for
two bloody minutes?”

I fumbled over my words as I tried to
apologize. “Sorry. We uh, well we just came to find you, um not
like this and…um, well here.” I stuck out my hand to Hailz and
revealed my gift.

Hailz, Fiona, and John recognized what I was
holding (I had told John and Melissa realizing I needed a safety
net for Hailz, in case something happened to me.). All of their
jaws dropped in unison.

“What in Hades do you think you’re doing?”
Hailz shrieked.

I smiled at her surprise since she was never
caught unaware. “It’s your wedding present.”

“Oh Mags,” Fiona gushed as she rushed over to
hug me. “Rarely does one return the object to a bound jinn.” Tears
formed in the corner of her eyes as she continued on, overjoyed by
my gift. “I cannot thank you enough for your gift and generosity of
spirit.”

“No need,” I said still enveloped in Fiona’s
arms. I was beginning to think she would never let go. “Hailz has
gone above and beyond to help me get here. The least I could do is
release her so we can return to our adversarial selves.”

Fiona, still teary-eyed let me go.
I guess
I did good, judging by her reaction,
I thought. John, proud of
me, put his arm around my waist and pulled me into my second hug of
the last two minutes. Thankfully he didn’t hang onto me as long as
Fiona did. Once he was done, Hailz took the opportunity to show her
appreciation by slapping me, hard, across the face.

The feeling of tiny little pin pricks made
themselves known and I brought my hand to my cheek. I was taken
aback by her reaction. “What the hell Hailz?”

Hailz grabbed the front of my dress, yanking
me forward. I was so close that I could feel her warm breath on my
face. I’ve seen the look she has on her face before. It was the
look that Hailz had when she killed someone out of anger. Her jaw
was tense, eyes narrowed, and a little vein pulsated on her
forehead.

“Put that away and leave me alone for the
rest of the night,” she demanded while tempering her murderous
rage.

When dealing with Hailz, one has to throw
civility out the window. “Listen here handbag,” I seethed,
referring to her serpentine form. “I’m going home tomorrow. What
could I possibly still need you for? Take your damn compass and
I’ll leave you alone until it’s time to kill you.”

Hailz dropped her hands from my fancy dress
as her anger abated. “You can really be a fucking moron sometimes,”
she told me. “It’s not over until you side with the Master or Abel
kills you.”

It was now my mouth that dropped open. “No,”
I gasped.

She didn’t reply, only looked at me as if I
was stupid.

“No Hailz. I didn’t want to do this in the
first place.” I paced back and forth as my heart pounded so loudly
I thought everyone could hear it. “You didn’t give me any choice in
the matter,” I accused her adding, “It was only supposed to be
temporary!”

No matter how much I begged, Hailz refused to
take back the compass. As Fiona took her turn arguing with Hailz, I
took solace in John’s arms. I felt horrible. Hailz had bound
herself to me knowing it was to be long term. She had willingly
become subservient to me and wouldn’t let me give her freedom to
her. There was nothing I could do but remain her master.

Fiona dragged Hailz away so she could
continue the argument in private.

“It’s not your fault and there’s nothing you
can do if Hailz is unwilling,” John pointed out in an effort to
comfort me.

I looked up at him. “There has to be a way,”
I insisted. “I can’t, I won’t enslave another being, regardless of
their willingness.”

John outlined my jaw with his thumb and then
held my face in his hand. I relished in the feeling of his touch,
the heat from his hand warming my very soul. “I know you wouldn’t
Violet, that’s one of the many reasons I love you.”

“That doesn’t make what I’ve done any less
terrible,” I uttered.

“We’ll figure it out,” John promised.

“There you are,” a male voice interrupted my
pity party. Apparently John and I weren’t as clever as we thought
we were. Rory had known where we were the whole time. I was
surprised at Rory’s decision to give me some room to breathe. I
think Melissa may have said something to him. She really is the
best friend a person could ask for.