Rhychard stood in the ruins of Harvest Fellowship, memories of the madness that took place here over a month ago still very vivid in his mind. He clutched the ring, savoring the feel of it in his hand, the strength he always pulled from it. Last night, once he arrived back home and after a long, scalding shower, he managed to talk to Tryna and ask how they could send Renny on to her next journey. Renny, of course, argued against it, but in the end, Rhychard's stubbornness won out. It also helped that the ellyll was on his side. "It's not fair of me to keep you here," he told her. "There is something greater waiting for you. You've done what you needed to do here. You deserve to move on, to gain real rest and peace.""We don't even know what moving on means," she argued. "It could be terrible, you know."He smiled at her. "Tryna swears it's not and I trust her. The Guardian wouldn't send his precious creation somewhere bad. Something special awaits you and I won't be the reason you rema
Giselle Bamford jerked open the back door of Moss's Butcher Shop, her heart thumping in her ears, her breathing ragged gasps. Snatching her apron off a hook on the wall, she jerked it over her head and quickly tied it around her waist, her fingers trembling, making the task almost impossible, but she fumbled through it, yanking it tight just as she shoved her way into the front of the store."I'm telling you, Judy, it's the worst thing I've ever heard," Betsy Moss, wife of the shop owner, said to the elderly woman on the other side of the glass counter. "Can you imagine those poor parents?"Judy just nodded, her eyes scanning the lamb chops in the case. "Are those still on special?"Giselle stepped up to the counter. "Who's next?" Her voice was just as shaky as her fingers. The butcher shop overflowed with people, most scanning the aisles or glass cases. A few added to Betsy's tale, sharing their versions of disgust and disbelief."I'm next," an elderly man, thin, his fingers trembling
Once she was behind the wheel of her Skyliner, which she parked in the alley behind the butcher shop, she headed for her apartment on Oak Drive. She wasn't sure how much the elf knew about her, but she hoped Harry could keep him busy long enough so that she could grab some things out of her place to take with her. It was time to move. Again. She hated that, too. Brighton Cove had become a home to her in a quest to never settle down, never get involved with a community. However, after only two months, she already wanted to settle down, surrendering her centuries-long mantra of always being on the move.She pulled into her driveway, shoved the car into park as she opened the door, already stepping out of the vehicle before even turning off the engine. She didn't need much, a few clothes, some of her keepsakes she collected over the centuries, reminders of when she had grown too close to people. It was never a good thing, allowing herself to fall in love with people. It never ended well.
Moving to present time:They say that life isn't fair, but as far as Rhychard was concerned death was even more unfair. The worst part, at least for him, was that unfairness seemed to have filled his life as of late. First, death swallowed his beloved Renny and those at Harvest Fellowship who didn't make it out before the gargoyles ripped them apart or who were left behind as the church imploded. Then, death claimed many of the residents of the Bottoms the night they faced off against Bertram Leary. In his sleep, he heard the screaming of the dying during the battle at Feather Lakes, humans, elves, and gargoyles alike. He snorted a small burst of laughter. What a name for the history books—The Battle of Feather Lakes. Sounded more like some Broadway number than an actual battle with the Unseelie. Yet, it had been a gruesome fight, costing many lives, including that of the young witch, Rose Tillery.The ground was still wet from the rain that poured all around them, rain that wasn't so
Rhychard turned his gaze to Mark Rochester, the only cop who fought alongside them during the battle at the Bottoms, his partner already slain by Bertram Leary. The officer had witnessed things he never knew existed, fought creatures he thought lived only in fantasy books, and when it was all said and done, he stood beside them and kept their secret. He was there today to honor the young witch who tried to protect him, just as they were all there yesterday to honor his fallen partner. Beside Officer Rochester stood Jordan Thomas, longtime resident of Feather Lakes as well as recent champion of the community's residents. Rhychard tried his best to keep others out of the battle against the Unseelie, but in the end, it had been the entire community coming together, risking their lives, who had defeated the Learys and the dark elves of the Void. He remembered what Kree had told him at the end of the battle. :It takes a village, Warrior, to protect a village.: The residents of Feather Lakes
The car ride to the Murky Cauldron started out quiet, but it didn't stay that way for long. Jayden drove as Buttercup never managed to get her license, but that wasn't where the youngest Valentine's control ended. "You know you have to move out, right?"Buttercup glanced over at her sister, her brows bunched in confusion. "What are you talking about? Move out of where?""Out of warrior boy's condo. What did you think I meant?" Jayden weaved through traffic, focusing on the road ahead, although Buttercup had the feeling Jayden's focus was just an excuse, and she was doing her best to avoid glancing over at her."Why would I need to do that? It's my home." Rhychard's apartment had been her home ever since he rescued her from the gargoyles at Mark Shepherd Park. Why would she leave it? She didn't understand what Jayden meant. Had someone said something to her? No, that couldn't be it, because her little sister had barely talked to Rhychard or the others. Since Renny had reappeared into th
Trace Wheeler ran his hand through his shaggy, walnut-colored hair as he stared over the box of plastic wrapped comic books at the small, dark-haired lady. She was engrossed in the section of comics she thumbed through, seriously examining each one, sliding some out a bit to get a better look at the cover. She was actually into comic books. He couldn't believe his luck. Most of the women he met had just rolled their eyes at him when they found out he was into comics. Of course, most never lasted past the knowledge that he lived with his mother still, but this woman thought it was sweet that he was determined to take care of his mother. "Most men would want their own bachelor pad so they could bring girls home for sex or something," she had said when he told her. "I think it's noble that you sacrifice your privacy for the benefit of your mother." Trace forced himself not to jump up and down. He had struck the motherlode. His friends in the chatroom didn't believe him. They made him send
Hope. He hated hope. It made people cocky, bold. People were not as easily manipulated when they had hope. Instead, they were stubborn, determined, a barrier to his goals. Aradhon did not need a barrier to his goals. Not when he was so close. The dark elf stood on the eighth floor balcony of the Leary Building, staring out over the hovels of Feather Lakes, his arms crossed over his chest, his face stoic. They had been close to opening a Gateway to the Nether. Close until Bertram Leary screwed it all up in his ridiculous quest for vengeance on an elf that had been dead for centuries. Not only was Mephalus dead, but his soul was trapped inside the human Warrior's Guardian Sword. Bertram's vengeance could have waited until after the Gateway was opened. The man was lucky that he and his sister, Alana, were killed a few days ago. It spared them from being tortured by Prince Dakath. The dark elf prince did not suffer failure easily. Aradhon was glad that he was not the one in charge of ope
While their mother piddled in the kitchen fixing them a plate of fajitas, the Valentine sisters sat on the living room sofa, legs folded under them. Maria Valentine put most of the house back in order after Baltabek's attack, but the destruction remained obvious to Laci. She held tight to her sister ever since the Summerlands, scared to let her go. Jayden, of course, fussed at her to stop being a mother hen.Once everyone arrived back at Rhychard's Thinking Rock, a place Renny decided would cause the least amount of sightseers, the witches and Famallumi returned to the Murky Cauldron while Rhychard placed a still-weak Jayden in the back of Laci's car. The eldest Valentine wasted no time or words as she headed straight for home."I almost lost you," Laci said. "I don't know what I would have done if that happened.""Probably moved into my room since it's the biggest," Jayden said with a shrug."That's not even funny," Laci snapped, shoving Jayden's hand away from her in disgust.Jayden
Rhychard wasn't sure what he hit, but he found himself spinning backward, the Guardian Sword leaving his hand as he hit the ground with a hard thud, the air whooshing out of his lungs. Scrambling to his feet, a pain tugging at the back of his head from where he hit the ground, the first thing he noticed was Laci sprawled on top of Kree. Renny! He jerked his attention around until he saw her still gripping Jayden's arm as both women lay stretched out on the grass. However, he didn't see the wall he ran into, knocking him back on his ass. Another glance around, and he noticed the salt circle and the three witches sitting on the ground, eyes closed as they chanted. An older man he didn't recognize stood behind Wanda, his face a mask of admiration.A groan alerted Rhychard to Baltabek stirring, and Rhychard lunged for his sword. The demon moved faster, however, and shot a burst of his demonic power at the Warrior, knocking him back against the invisible barrier, the air he just managed to
Rhychard heard screams, but he couldn't tell whose or where they originated. They might have even been his for all he knew. Pieces of the broken table jabbed him in his back and legs, and he felt blood making a trail down his side. Groaning, he tried to sit up. He must get up. Renny needed his protection as did his parents.:Warrior, Baltabek is heading to your home,: Kree sent. Rhychard could hear the elven hound moving toward him through their connection. :He hid among the woods along the creek.:"Rhychard!" Renny shouted, and then he felt her hands on his arms along with someone else's on his other side.:Well, he knows how to make an entrance.: Rhychard sent.He could hear shouts of panic coming from the parking lot and other apartments, people screaming at the sudden explosion.Glancing up, he noticed the other set of hands helping him to his feet belonged to his father. His mother stood by the sofa, her face pinched with concern, and Tryna picked herself up off the floor from whe
Tansy walked over to where Alex's backpack lay on the ground from where the gnome dropped it when they first entered the Summerlands, pulling out the container of salt that rolled halfway out. As she stood, she couldn't take her gaze off the dark pack, remembering its owner and how far he came since walking into the Murky Cauldron that first day. Her heart twisted, and she did her best to keep the tears at bay. She didn't know how much time they had, so she needed to make sure she completed the barrier spell before Renny arrived with Baltabek.Kayla and Wanda sat off to the side, Kayla with her arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at the last spot she saw Alex, and Wanda absorbing her surroundings. Since the demons had been cast out of the Summerlands, the dank grayish color slowly faded away, replaced once more by the lush greens and vibrant colors of the flowers that filled the Land of the Dead. They had even seen the return of some of those who had already passed on from the
"Mom! Dad. What are you doing here?" Rhychard just stood there, staring. He didn't need this right now."Your father thought I was crazy," Catherine Bartlett said. "He even made sure I didn't have any hidden wine bottles anywhere. Empty wine bottles, that is. I had to drag him here to see for himself.""You're alive," Rhychard's father said as he stood there and stared at Renny, his brows bunched in disbelief. "How is this even possible?"Rhychard sighed. "I've discovered just about anything is possible these days.""Hello, Mr. Bartlett," Renny said as she casually closed her purse, hiding the gnomes from sight for now. Catherine didn't handle them well last time, and Renny didn't know how Rhychard's father would react. "I'm sorry we didn't come over and tell you. We've just been…well, we've had our hands full."James Bartlett swooped in, wrapping his arms around Renny and giving her the tightest bear hug she ever had. "I can imagine you have," he told her, his voice filled with enthus
Rhychard watched as Renny gathered up the other Warriors and returned them to the Guardian Sword, only to reappear a moment later with Pux on her shoulder. Laci paced the entire time until Renny returned, eager to be on her way to protecting her sister. With the bridges gone, she had no other way back to the Land Above than Renny. None of them did, actually. Rhychard ran a hand over his long, dark hair, worried about what they would find when they arrived in the Valentine household, concerned for his brother, just as Laci showed concern for her sister.Tansy still stood off to the side, holding a sobbing Kayla and a shaking Wanda. Both witches shifted back to normal once the demons left them, but still wore the wear and tear from the possession. Rhychard hoped they would continue to heal with time, at least physically. He highly doubted Kayla would heal emotionally anytime soon considering her hands snapped Alex's neck even though the demon controlled her. That would be a heavy weight
Karl stood there, still not sure what he should be doing or even what was actually happening. He saw what those demons did to downtown. He couldn't possibly stop one if it showed up now and took over Jayden's body. Glancing over at Famallumi, he wondered just how much power the elves possessed. Gormec seemed to always have his giant hammer nearby, and while Karl had seen its power before, was it enough to stop the demons? There were only five of them against a demon like the ones who killed a witch and almost defeated his brother, the Warrior. Karl didn't particularly care for his odds."How do you feel?" he asked Jayden, his hands over his chest."I'd feel better if you'd stop staring at me like I'm about to go off my meds," Jayden snapped."How about I go and fix us all some lemonade?" Jayden's mother suggested. "It'll give us something to do while we wait for the others.""Do we even know they're going to be here?" Gormec asked, leaning on the handle of his hammer. "It's been longer
The witches continued to shout their chant, their power strengthened with their success. Baltabek sent a blast toward them, but Rhychard blocked it and hurled the power at the demon's feet, the ground exploding and shoving Baltabek up and backward into the air. The other Warriors quickly pressed their attack while the demon lay on the ground.Kayla let out a wail, slicing the air, and dropped to her knees. The demon inside of her wasn't so easily taken, however. With clenched fists, he shoved his power at the witches, doing his best to stop their chanting. Rhychard caught one of the bolts before it struck Tansy, but the next slipped past him and struck Laci in the chest, somersaulting her backward to land on the ground in a heap.Kree leaped up on his back paws, spinning in midair before racing over to the fallen witch. Rhychard could hear her moan and breathed a sigh of relief that she still lived. :Is she okay?: he asked Kree.Kree leaned down, pressing his muzzle against Laci's sho
Rhychard blocked another blast, sending it off to the side to explode into the ground. The gnomes fought from inside the ground, churning up the soil the demons stood upon and causing them to slip and lose their balance. Kree darted in all directions, drawing the demons' fire while he attempted to get close enough to bite one of them. The witches sent their power at the demons, Rose from behind and the others in front, doing their best to keep Baltabek and the others from focusing on any one person. They all did their best to bide Renny time to bring the other Warriors out of the sword, but Rhychard wasn't sure how much longer they could keep it up.The demons who possessed the witches spun, one sending a bolt of power at Rhychard's head and the other one sending one at his feet. He swung his sword, blocking the bolt to his head, but missing the one aimed at his feet. The magic snatched at his ankles, spinning him around and dragging him to the ground. His sword arm hit the ground, his