Through Time-Slamming (14 page)

Jazz smiled to see such affection between Fae and Milesian. She had always been warned as a Fios that Fae could only befriend one another.
It was so not true.

After the newcomers made the rounds and warm greetings had been exchanged, Chance’s father took Royce and his son aside. Jazz heard a word here and there and realized that Morgan was bringing them up to date.

It was festive in the Queen’s chambers and Jazz found herself smiling. In some ways they were not so very different than humans. There was such joy at the prospect of a baby on the way.

Aaibhe brought the attention back to herself for a moment and said quietly, “Now that we are all together, I must tell you what Queen Mab and I have discovered regarding the
Twalla.
”

The laughter died down as they turned and waited for Aaibhe to continue. With a heavy sigh she continued. “Queen Mab and I have looked into my Orb of Time and tried to locate where the Twalla may have gone. We are now certain that it must have come with us. With the Danu dust and everything that came from Danu after its destruction. We believe we will find
Twalla
where the Danu dust was most concentrated.”

Shee Willow stepped up and asked, “I don’t know if my Sounder will work to find anything other than Fae artifacts, but I would like to try, my Queen.”

The Queen tilted her head, “You may wish to start at Newgrange in Ireland.”

Chance grinned mischievously. “Well, as to that,” Chance chuckled, “Well we won the war with the Fae alright. But there was a time when the land around Newgrange was covered in Danu dust. We Milesians collected it and over time ingested it. We found our little community forever changed. It was most plentiful at Bru na Boinne, what they now call Newgrange. Bru na Boinne was larger then; all those centuries ago, say two hundred yards larger than what stands in the Human Realm today.” He paused for effect as he seemed to be enjoying the looks that came over the faces of the gathered Fae. He sighed dramatically and grinned, “Then some years after
we won
the war and the Fae scurried off to Faery…”

Breslyn took a step forward at that and said, “There you go Milesian, getting your dreams confused with facts. You did not even come close to winning the war. Out of the kindness of our essence we spared you more causalities and left it at that,” Breslyn’s grin was naughty, belying the tough words.

Chancemont laughed and Jazz found she liked him. He had a certain cavalier charm to him that was most infectious. Trevor, however, glared at her and whispered, “You can’t seem to take your eyes off him.”

“Aww baby, don’t be silly,” she answered and laughed as she touched his lips with hers and felt a thrill rush through her.

“As I was aboot to say, we moved a great deal of Newgrange leaving only a part of what it once was. We took the land and many of the Sarsen stones with us when we created Dravo.” He waited but the Fae in the room with him had been totally unaware of this and stared dumbfounded for a moment. He liked that and slapped his knee with a laugh, “Ye dinna know that.
Ha.”
He eyed Danté and then Trevor before turning to Queen Aaibhe, “It is there, I think we should begin searching for this
Twalla
ye speak of for I doona think it could be anywhere else.”

His disclosure had everyone chattering at the same time, but Aaibhe turned to Morgan LeBlanc and said, “What do
you
think?”

“This is your call, my love.”

She turned to Queen Mab. Her white gold lashes were shading her iridescent eyes, quietly she nodded and agreed.

Aaibhe said, “Then I agree with Chancemont. We will start there, in Dravo,”

“Good,” said Shayne Bantry who Jazz had been told was an immortal Druid, and Shee Willow’s mate. She had no idea what their story was, but it was a story she meant to investigate at another time. “Let’s get going then.”

Aaibhe nodded once more, but said, “In a moment,” she said and turned. “You four, my Princess Royce and Chancemont, and Shee Willow and Shayne may leave shortly, but first let us spend a little time together. We must celebrate this momentous occasion. We as immortal Fae are not often favored with the ability to have children. Children of Fae unions are rare. It is with such happiness that I congratulate Ete, my cousin and Breslyn, my faithful prince.” She leaned her head back and added mischievously, “And I find myself in agreement with Breslyn, I think this baby is going to be a boy.”

Laughter and jesting broke out again.

After a time Queen Aaibhe presented each with a glass of heavily spiked Negus and said, “It is for moments like these that we fight and maintain life as we know it should be and as it will be again.”

Breslyn nudged his closest friend and beamed proudly, “Danté, I am going to be a father.”

“By Danu who will save spare us now?” Danté grinned broadly. “You have always been insufferable and now…?” he shook his head, “And I, I shall be the

baby’s
athair baisti
.”

“What is that? It translates in my head as master of the child, but that can’t be right,” Jazz asked of Trevor in an aside.

He grinned at her, “No,
not master
, love, I suppose guardian comes as close as we can get it in translation.”

“It stands for
godfather
,” Z said brightly, “And I shall be his godmother!
”

“No, you won’t,
I shall be…
!” exclaimed Aida.

“His aunt,” Z cut in promptly. “You have that title
, I
should be the godmother.”

Aida frowned but conceded this.

Deimne who had remained behind to do a fly-by and make certain none of the monsters had escaped into Killarney Village, arrived at that moment. He went directly to Frankie who had been sitting silently on the floor next to Ete and was still holding her free hand.

“What is it?” He smiled at his daughter.

Jazz had smiled at her a few times, and was satisfied to see her calm and collected. With the arrival of her father, Frankie got to her feet and went to him.

She disappeared in his bear hug and after a moment looked up at her father and said, “Da, now everything is perfect. I have been waiting on ye.”

Jazz witnessed his face and was flooded with warmth. She took a moment and stood back to watch all of these beautiful Fae interact, not so very differently than their human counterparts would have done.

Her heart felt full and she realized once again that she still had a human heart. This made her happy, and whatever else the blood had done to her organs, it had left her heart intact. She always wanted to keep the human in her and her heart reminded her about many things the Fae forgot over their long, long lives.

Marine Biologist? She thought, perhaps someday, but for now this was her life.. These Fae were her family. Even though she did not know them all, they were her connection to her new and wonderful life.

Frankie held her father’s hand and smiled. Jazz couldn’t get over how very wise this twelve year old actually was. She was such a brilliant Fios Fae in the making. She absolutely loved Frankie and one day she told herself, she would ask Deimne’s permission to take her to a home she wanted to make in Charleston for them. A place where she could spend what was left of her childhood, a place with humans so she could get a full picture of everything. She couldn’t imagine life without Frankie. That was Jazz’s plan for the future. She hadn’t worked out the details yet, but she knew Trevor would help her create a home for all of them.

She sighed and got back to reality.

These special Fae were actually her family and she was filled with warmth at the notion. And now another little one would be entering their world and making it worth the trouble.

She began to wonder if she and Trevor could have a baby. She wanted one, some day in the future. If so many Fae were sterile because of the immortality would she and Trevor be able to have a baby?

That was for another moment in time for now a new baby was on its way, and this new life, well it was EPIC!

Chapter Thirteen

PESTALE’S DARK EYES narrowed as he watched his brother Graely enter the large chamber they had been using as their War Room.

Morrigu rushed to Graely’s side and petted his arm as she looked up at his handsome face and whispered, “He is angry with you Graely. I have been busy, but I know he is angry.”

Graely regarded her questioningly and patted her hand, “You have been busy?”

“Graely, I am in love. He is a very special human, and he loves me as well. I did not compel him. He is sleeping in my room just now.” She sighed. “I don’t feel as confused as I did when we were in the Dark Realm. Perhaps I am no longer insane?”

He smiled fondly at her, “That is good.”

“He is pretty though not as pretty as you and your brothers, but I do so like being with him. I think I’ll go now and be with him again. I miss him when we are apart.”

“Is he kind to you, Morrigu?” Graely asked.

“Yes, kind and gentle. I have given him one of my special potions to give him stamina, for he is only human. If I could find the elixir I would make him immortal.”

Graely was surprised. Morrigu did seem a great deal more normal than she had ever been. “I might be able to help you with that, sweet Morrigu.”

“Oh Graely, best of the Dark Ones, that is so kind. Will you come and meet him later?”

Graely smiled at her and touched her lovely cheek and took a strand of her long black hair and twirled it, “If it pleases you.”

She jumped and clapped like a child and Pestale watching this was pleased. He had always cared about Morrigu and was happy to see her quietly enjoying herself.

Pestale’s voice was sharp as he directed an irritated glance at Graely, “Where have you been?”

“Shifting about from city to city,” Graely shrugged, “Why?”

“Because your job is to assist us,” Pestale snapped.

“From what I saw it would not have helped and I wanted to do something else,” Graely said, unafraid of his brother’s wrath.

Pestale frowned, “Why were you going from city to city?”

Graely quietly replied, “I wanted to observe humans of all sorts.” “When we were here in the Human Realm last time, there was no opportunity. Our brother was killed because of Gaiscioch’s obsession to rule and your desire to do nothing but help him do so.” A glint of anger lit his face. “I believe that we should simply enjoy our lives here.”

Hordly frowned, “Idiot! How can we do that when all the Seelie want to send us back to the Dark Realm?”

“Perhaps they would not, if they knew we meant no harm,” Graely said hopefully.

Pestale scoffed. “Perhaps you are nothing but a dreamer. You have always been a dreamer. I suppose that is why our father preferred you over us.”

“I may be a dreamer, but our father always would have put
you
first had you not…” he stopped himself and shrugged. “No point opening old wounds.”

Pestale’s face clouded over and then he said, “So, you suggest a compromise with the Seelie?”

Graely’s eyes blinked and held a look of disbelief, “You would consider it?”

“No, but it wouldn’t hurt to use it as a ploy,” Pestale answered and grinned as Hordly laughed out loud.

Graely turned away and moved towards the window.

Pestale sighed. He didn’t know why it was that he held Graely with such affection. He shouldn’t, because his father had ended by choosing Graely as his favorite, and yet something about this brother always made him retrospect. He didn’t have time for that now.

“I have a plan,” Pestale said quietly.

Hordly grinned and slapped Pestale’s naked tattooed back “My brother, of course you do.”

Morrigu looked nervous as she started off, saying over her shoulder, “I am going to return to my human. I promised him we could take a walk in the gardens.” She flitted off and out the door.

Pestale frowned for a moment over Morrigu and then put it out of his mind. She was another of his secret weaknesses. He cared a great deal about her and about her needs. He could of course, throw her to the lions if he absolutely had to, but he hoped it would never come to that.

Silence filled the room for a long moment as Pestale pondered. Hordly threw down a shot of vodka and announced that it was his favorite human drink.

Pestale was concerned about Graely. Would he betray them in the end? He wasn’t sure what Graely was doing or why, but perhaps he was merely curious about the humans. That, he could allow as acceptable. “I have been in human terms, multi-tasking.” He grinned, suddenly pleased with himself. “What I need do next is visit the Realm our father created so long ago. When I was still in his good graces, he told me about it and trusted me with a great deal. It is the Realm where the last of the Gorka still lives.”

Astonishment covered both Hordly and Graely’s faces as they stopped what they were doing to stare at him.

“Father created Gorkum to hold the monster away,” Graely said. “What are you planning Pestale?”

“I have Father’s pendant. He had a habit of leaving things about our castle when he first brought Crystal to the Dark Realm and created her retreat. He forgot about Gorka and the pendant, but I did not.”

“There is another word humans use; awesome. This is awesome!” said Hordly as he frowned. “Can you control the beast? Father said that even the Seelie fear them.”

“Yes. This pendant can either control or kill it,” Pestale answered thoughtfully. “I have yet to learn the knack of that though.”

“You don’t know how to use all of its powers?” Graely asked “And yet you are going to try?”

“I am going to try, but not here, brother…there…in its dimension. I will draw on the pendant’s power bit by bit. I don’t want to kill the beast, for it is the last of its kind. Father killed its mate when he misused the pendant all those eons ago.”

“And then what?” Graely was horrified.

“While you have been busy observing your precious humans, I constructed a tunnel large enough to hold the beast. It will be directly under us in an extension of the existing dungeon.” He was very pleased with himself. “I have thought of everything.”

“If you release it, Pestale,” Hordly’s concern was apparent, “will the pendant be able to get it back under control. We don’t want the damn thing to turn on us. Father said it eats Fae.”

“Aye, it will,” Pestale rubbed the pendant thoughtfully. “But first, let us see if I can subdue it and shift it below.”

“When do you plan to do this?” Graely asked.

“Now!”
Pestale said and laughed as he shifted away.

Pestale knew his brothers did not know the coordinates to Gorkum and therefore could not follow. Graely would not be able to stop him.

Pestale had stolen those coordinates a long time ago when he had still been a welcome visitor at his father’s Retreat. Before he had tried to seduce his father’s consort, Crystal.

Pestale snapped that thought out of his mind. He didn’t want to think about that, or what followed—or his father’s eyes.

He opened his own eyes wide to look at the tropical jungle world his father, the Dark King had created!

~*~

Frankie watched her father. How wonderful that all her loved ones were together. She sighed as the party in the Queen’s chambers started to break up after Breslyn scooped up Ete and went off saying that his mate was tired. He had to see to her immediate comfort within their private retreat.

Queen Mab announced that she was returning to Daoine to confer with her lead warriors about their next move. Deimne looked at Frankie and asked, “If Jazmine Decker can spare you to me, I would very much like to take you to your home in Daoine and show you around. Would you like that?”

Frankie felt herself light up brighter than a room full of wax candles as she turned to Jazz and excitedly asked, “Do ye agree Jazz? I would like to visit with da.”

“Of course. It is a good thing. Trevor and I want you to have as many good things as you can get.”

The two shifted hand in hand and Frankie’s thoughts were too complex for her age. The life that had been thrown at her had taken over, and she knew she was maturing at a very rapid rate. She sighed, thinking her body would have to catch up one day soon if anyone was going to take her seriously.

They shifted onto the manicured lawns of Deimne’s estate and she stood for a moment staring.

“’Tis like a storybook castle,” she whispered. “Like one m’mum used to read to me.” This was her father’s home. This is what she might one day call home. It made her feel warm and gave her an immediate sense of belonging.

She looked up at the peaked turrets, arched windows, and the climbing roses that intermingled with some kind of lovely and flowered vine.

The landscaping around the castle was a collection of neatly spaced and clipped hedges, exotic blooms and a topiary of oddly shaped animals. No doubt the kind of animals that might have been found in Danu.

A lake that looked inviting, dominated the central theme of the grounds. Two black swans glided peacefully along the clear green water and a white peacock strutted on the nearby lawn. His tail spread out as he attempted to lure the hen marching in front of him to turn and look his way.

“Da!” Frankie said pointing to the enormous and brightly colored butterflies. “I have never seen anything like them…even in Tir.”

He smiled proudly, “Aye, daughter. This castle which we call the House of Shanok, has always belonged to a Sluagh. There never were many of us.” He looked into the sky. “Then our numbers were almost extinguished.”

“Why da, are ye the only one left?”

“We Sluagh were never royalty and yet revered by the Daoine for our unusual abilities and skills. I was betrothed to a lovely…” his voice trailed off for a moment as he got a faraway look in his iridescent eyes. “She was a daughter of the House of Espi Sluagh. It used to lie just over the hill from my home in Danu and…” he shook his head. “Too many of us had been killed off you see, fighting the Gorka. Because we are immortal, our ability to have offspring had dwindled.” He touched her face. “It took your lovely mother to save me and our kind.”

“But what is this thing…Gorka? What happened, da?”

“The Gorka on Danu had always been a problem and somehow their breeding abilities seemed to increase over time. Our skies were overrun with them. Their food of choice was Fae. We Sluagh took to the skies to fight them, but year after year we were defeated. That is what happened to us my child.”

“Oh da! How did ye survive?”

“Queen Mab. In truth I was nearly gone from my wounds, but she gave of her royal blood to save me.”

Frankie hugged him fiercely. “Oh da, I am so glad. I shall always love her for that.” She sighed as he took her hand and led her inside their castle and asked, “but da, are these things dragons? What happened to them? Did they die with Danu?”

“Indeed they are like dragons. Magnificently built, but very deadly. They did not die when Danu was destroyed, as did all other life forms.” He shook his head. “We tried to destroy them when there were but two left, a male and a female. Queen Bridget did not wish to make them extinct. At the time the Dark King and Queen Bridget were already having problems with each other. The Dark King used his skills born of the Dark Magic he prized to aid her in the capture of the beasts. She allowed him to help her rid us of the Gorka but kept them alive. Probably her first mistake was letting the blackguard help. The Dark King used his black magic and managed somehow to capture the two remaining Gorka and transport them to another realm. He failed in as much as only the male survived. Even so, after that he thought too much of himself and what his position in our kingdom should be.”

“What did the Gorka look like?” Frankie asked curiously.

“Their eyes were red and dripped tears of poison. Their scales were spiked and also dripped the same poison. Other than the Death Sword, that poison is the only other thing that can kill Fae. We have since found an antidote for it. The Gorka breathe fire, and their fire burns but cannot kill us. The burn is painful and takes a rather long time to heal. Their wing span was wider than ours, for they are enormous.” He paused and sighed again. “They considered Fae a food delicacy. You see, they weren’t just dumb animals. They had a thought pattern that we were able to detect and to some extent, understand. I believe they went after the Sluagh because we could fly. I always felt such rage emanating from them every time I encountered one.”

He grew silent and Frankie squeezed his hand. “Never mind, da. They are gone forever.”

“Yes, they are in fact extinct, but for one. The Dark King somehow used too much power and the female died during transport. Only the male survives.” He shook his head of white gold hair and Frankie was awestruck by how beautiful he was.

“Come, let us go to dinner. I have your favorite foods waiting for us.”

“Da?” she said surprised. “How do ye know what m’favorite foods are?”

“Now I can’t tell you all my secrets, can I?” He was pleased beyond his wildest expectations when she fiercely hugged him. He patted her back and felt a flutter of concern. He had never cared for anyone more than himself, until now. He discovered that Frankie now would always come first.