The Silent Goddess: The Otherworld Series Book 1 (19 page)

              “Caelia,” breathed Knackers.  “You bitch!”  He hissed as he lunged for her.  Pete threw his arms around Knackers to restrain him.  “Dinna listen to her Annie.  She’s a hateful liar.  All of this can be laid on her doorstep!”  Knackers’ face was red with anger as he struggled in Pete’s grip.

              Caelia’s beautiful serene face changed into an ugly mask of pure anger.  “I am not the one who has been hiding her!”  She bellowed frighteningly.  She closed her jewel-like eyes and took a deep breath.  The anger slipped off her face and was quickly replace with an eerie calmness.

              “I am here to protect like I should have in the past.  I am here to right my wrong.”  Her eyes snapped open and pinned Annie forcing her to look at her.  “I am here to die if need be.”

              “Dinna listen Annie,” Knackers pleaded.  “She be the one who betrayed Duncan and ye.”

              Annie stared into Caelia’s gem colored eyes.  She was captivated by the unusual colors that sparkled in her irises and by the shame and sorrow that lay hidden just beneath the surface.  Annie believed her.  More than anything or anyone in that moment she believed every word.

              “Kat,” Annie began quietly as the strangest thought began to take shape in her mind.  “Is that what you mean about my eyes?  Is that what they look like?”

              “Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

              Annie felt her knees buckle as the weight of realization came crashing down on her.  “She’s not just in me is she?  She is me and I am her.”

              Caelia’s slight nod confirmed her guess.  This princess, goddess, was Annie.  She wasn’t sure of the details; couldn’t care about the hows and whys.  Because in one breath she had gone from being mortal to immortal, from human to Sidhe; and it was a terrible revelation.  She stumbled away from the group.  A few protested but she was vaguely award of Kat and Caelia defending her need for a few moments of solitude.

              “She just figure out she’s a Faerie fucking princess.  Let her breath.”  Kat’s voice, two curses in a few minutes, the impossible was possible.

Annie wandered to the shore.  She could still hear her friends arguing in the distance.  She tuned them out, focusing instead on the sounds of the ocean as it gently licked at the sand under her feet.  This had always been her quiet spot; the one location where she felt at peace.  Here the world seemed to easily slip away and become more of a dream than reality.  Now however her reality had become a dream.

She could not remember and therefore had a hard time believing.  Of course it had to be true otherwise the past two days made no sense.  The Fae, and she was sure they were very real, would not be so eager to befriend or destroy a mortal; especially a very boring, ordinary mortal.  She absently scratched at her left wrist.  The wound had already begun to heal, just another reminder of the impossible truth.

Something dark and evil was coming for her.  It had almost succeeded twice, and unless she quickly accepted the reality of the situation she was in she might not out live a third attempt.

“
Bhanphrionsa
,” whispered a tiny timid voice.  The familiar word drew her attention from the water’s edge.  To her left a tiny ball of light danced around her shoulders.  The greenish orb pulsed and grew with life as it expanded pushing its glowing tail towards the sand as it slowly lengthened into an almost human like shape.  The body was reminiscent of a trees’ trunk with long willowy limbs that floated gracefully in the air like branches wavering the trees. 
“Caraid
,” it whispered.

              Annie shook her head.  “I don’t understand, Gaelic?” she guessed.  “Are you a Dryad?”

              The Dryad nodded.  “Yes and a friend.”

              “Is that what ca-rit-sh means?”  Annie asked carefully repeating the Gaelic word.

              The green orb pulsed brighter as laughter emanated from its center.  “You have many friends,” the dryad whispered again.  “The dryads will protect the
bhanphrionsa
, the life spark, as will the Fae of the flowers for she nurtures us.”

              Annie wanted to offer her thanks but held back.  The Fae only give to those deserving thanks is a human expression and is considered rude to the fae.  It was something her father had told her long ago.  She could not recall when or why, she could only remember his words.  Hoping and trusting that he was right Annie nodded her head as regally as she could.

              The Dryad pulsed with laughter again.  “I have brought another
caraid
,” she said pointing to a spot in the water before winking away.

              Annie squinted into the distance towards the spot the Dryad had indicated.  A round shape bobbed with the incoming tide.  For a moment it remained stationary rolling with the rocking ocean waves; then slowly it crept towards the shore.  Annie stood tall and straight some unknown instinct begging her to remain still and accept whatever swam towards her.  The round shape turned into a head with long pointed ears that lay flat along the side of its elongated face.  It stopped a few feet from shore keeping its body submerged allowing only its head to remain above water.  The ocean water rolled past an elongated jaw, the chin rising and falling in motion with the tide. 

Two large offset obsidian colored eyes stared at her unblinking.  A fish like mouth remained tightly sealed as the new creature stared up at her.  Annie struggled to remain silent as millions of questions threatened to ask themselves.  She inhaled deeply and gave the newcomer a graceful nod of acknowledgement.

              “Tis true,” croaked the bobbing head, “The life spark has been found and in my own backyard.”  His fish moth drew up into a charming smile that Annie could not help but return.

              “I like your voice.”  The words flew out of her mouth before she could censor them.  Embarrassment heated her cheeks and she hoped her words would not offend him.  She was surprised when she heard a deep melodic chuckle.

              “And I admire your bluntness.  I am called Flick,” the deep voice tickled the nerves in her belly causing her to instantly relax.  She found herself leaning towards the sound wanting him to speak more.

              “What kind of Fae are you?”  She asked cocking her head to the side to study him.  She knew there were many types of Fae that lived in the water, but his whitish, almost translucent smooth skin and fish shaped mouth had her confused.

“I am an Ashray, a water ghost.  My kind can offer you some help from the sea.  Nothing will reach you, nothing will harm you from the sea,” he promised.  “But I come with more to offer.  A Redcap gathers goblins to him as we speak in the cove.  He is coming.”

The sound of dogs howling and barking in the distance echoed of the ocean.  Flick cocked his head towards the water.  One long ear dipped below the surface.  He listened to the water.  Annie could hear the gurgling and croaking beneath the surface.  Suddenly he whipped his head up spraying Annie with water.

“He is coming now!”  He croaked in alarm.  “Quickly back to your protectors.”

A sudden panic seized Annie.  Instead of freezing in place her legs dug into the loose sand and propelled her away from the shore.  Her friends waved their hands frantically calling her to them. As she sprinted towards them she heard Flick call out one last warning.

            “Stay close to the Faeriedae!  He will allow no harm to touch you!”

Annie reached the small mixed group of friends and Fae moments later.  Her lungs sucking in air in massive fear induced gulps.  The sound of angry dogs grew closer as the entire group began talking and questioning at once.

“Silence!” shouted a deep voice that instantly had everyone obeying.  Seven pairs of astonished eyes swung towards the commanding voice.

Before them stood an imposing figure, his tall well-built frame was decorated with tattoos and deep scars.  His short cropped hair surrounded a fierce looking ace.  His strong angular jaw was clenched shut and his dark eyes scanned the distance as his ears listened to the howling dogs.  He caught sight of Annie and raised a dark thick brow at her as his harsh face softened slightly.  His face and stance reminded her slightly of Duncan.

“I am sorry my lady,” he said.  His commanding voice softening as he spoke to her.  “I am Finn this,” he said motioning his head over his right shoulder, “is Callum.”  A burly, red headed bearded man nodded.  “And this,” he said nodding his head in the other direction, “is Colin.”  A thick bald giant nodded as he was introduced.  “We have come by the request of my adopted son.  Where is he?”

“F-Finn?”  Robert stuttered.

Finn’s dark eyes searched through the small group until he found Robert.  “Robert!” he exclaimed enthusiastically.  “I am blessed to have two of my sons by my side.  Come here son,” he said extending his arms towards Robert.  Robert pushed his way through the group and steeped into Finn’s open arms.  Finn grasped Robert tightly by his shoulders and gave him a quick once over before pulling him tightly to his chest.  “You are with us son.  Callum give the boy a sword,” he commanded pushing Robert behind him.

Finn’s eyes surveyed the group quickly a small frown turning down hi smiling face.  “You,” he said pointing a finger at Caelia.  “No one gets past you. And,” he added with a menacing growl.  “One twitch of deception and I will relieve your shoulders of its pretty little head.”  He emphasized his last words with an affectionate kiss on her forehead.

Finn stepped past Caelia and gave her a slight push away from the rest of the group.  He beckoned Kat and Griffin to him.  Both went willing each one walking towards an outstretched arm.  He curled them close to him, his head leaning down to speak to them as if he had a great secret to tell them.  Until he stood close to Griffin Annie did not realize how massive and imposing he was.  “Now my druids,” he uttered in a low tone.  “You create a shield around her.  Nothing in and nothing out, understood?”  Kat and Griffin nodded slowly in understanding, and rushed to stand on the spot he indicated.

“Knackers,” Finn called.

Knackers, glamour gone, walked proudly to Finn’s side, his tail swishing behind him.  Finn squatted down to look the Wag-by-the-Way in the eye.

“You my old friend are the last defense,” he said clasping both hands on Knackers’ shoulders.  “No matter what happens promise me her safety.”  When Knackers looked like he was about to protest Finn silenced him with a finger.  “No matter what Knackers, for Duncan.”  Knackers hesitated then reluctantly gave his agreement. “Thank you,
caraid
.”

Finn stood and clapped his hands together and rubbed them in excitement.  “Everyone clear?” A chorus of “Ayes” responded.

“Excuse me, Finn?”  Annie called after him as he turned away.  He ignored her turning his attention to the flat ground that surrounded them.

“Callum, take Robert there,” he said pointing towards the south side of the wharf.  “Colin you and I will take the west.  The ocean shall guard out back-“

“Excuse me!”  She shouted over Finn’s directions.  Finn paused and finally acknowledged her.

“Yes my lady?” He asked without looking at her.

“What am I supposed to do?  Sit here and look pretty?  I’ll have you know I wounded that Redcap without any assistance from, from whoever you are.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her, a wicked knowing grin curving up one side of his face.  “Aye, that ye did.  Brave and fierce ye’ve always been,” He said as his voice thickened with a brogue she had not caught before.  “Through yer love and spark ye’ve assembled a whole army of Fae and Riders to ye with just yer presence.  Tis a wonder I have no’ seen in an age.”  He turned towards her, respect shining in his dark eyes.  “Ye,” he said taking a few slow steps towards her.  “Are, our secret weapon.  Yer power will shine like a beacon of hope and light durin’ the darkest point of the battle.”  He reached out a hand to cup her cheek; his calloused thumb rubbing in reassuring circles.  “Listen to yer heart an’ all will be as it should daughter.”  He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead; and left her hand firmly in Knackers’ hairy paw.

            “Come Annie,” Knackers said pulling her towards Griffin and Kat.  “Finn kens what’s right.”