The dim lights barely allowed Halafarin to see inside Neverland, but the place was filled with the Seelie as they gathered around tables and along the bar, each lost in their own conversations and laughter. Halafarin walked up to the bar, dropping his glamour as soon as he entered the place. There was no need to hide here, among his own kind, among the Seelie of the Way. He would find his answers here.At least, he hoped he would."Well, well, well, lookie here. A Warrior of the Way."Halafarin turned to the bar, trying to find the speaker. But wasn't sure where… Then he looked down behind the bar and saw a dwarf with long, bushy, dark hair and a thick full beard that rested on his chin staring up at him. He wore a dark blue tunic and gray woolen pants tucked into black leather boots. He watched Halafarin in the mirror on the back of the bar while the dwarf stocked some shelves with various liquors from the Land Under. Halafarin arched a slanted eyebrow as he stared at the three-foot t
Trace watched as the wind tugged Giselle's hair, teasing the dark curls as she stared out at the water. A knot twisted in his stomach as he watched her, her expression almost a twisted mess of sadness to match the knot in his stomach. He wasn't sure what troubled her, but it was obvious something was. He asked her, of course, but she just shook her head, her eyes glassy orbs of anguish. He wouldn't understand, she said. There was just too much that she couldn't tell anyone. Even in a crowded room, she was always alone, always hiding who she really was, unable to be real for fear of persecution."But I don't understand," Trace said. "Who would want to persecute you? I mean, you're a young woman who works in a butcher department at a grocery store. Who would be upset except vegetarians and animal lovers?"She sniffed, wiping a tear from her cheek he hadn't noticed. "People don't like people who are different than them. I told you this before. Do you not remember?"He ran his hand through
"You're the sibling of the human Warrior?" Halafarin couldn't believe what he heard. What was a human doing in Neverland? It was bad enough the Seelie built a bar in this human cesspool of a town? They were to watch, not intervene. This was an abomination to everything the Seelie held dear. It broke traditions. The fact that Halafarin needed to even cross the threshold of the place had set his teeth on edge.The man, a kid by elven standards, shrugged. "What can I say? My parents kept going until they hit perfection.""Ha!" Gormec hit the bar with his thick hand. "Ah, Karl, you always say such funny things."Halafarin glared at the dwarf. It was just like a dwarf to associate with those lesser than the faerie world. They huddled around in caverns and caves, after all, preferring the dank, dark holes in the earth than the bright, glorious light of day. They were annoying creatures. Halafarin dismissed the dwarf without another glance, turning his attention back to the human Warrior's si
On the other side of town, the tangy breeze blew off the Indian River, tugging Aradhon's long, dark hair as he watched Trace walk away, his shoulders slumped in defeat, even though he walked like a man determined to do something for the one he loved. Weak. Emotions are the weakness of all humans. Of course, it was lucky for the dark elf that they were. Otherwise, his plan would not be going as well as it was. While he couldn't hear the exchange between the human and the aswang, he could tell by their body movements that things were progressing just as he needed. Soon, the aswang would lead the human Warrior out into the open and right into Aradhon's clutches. The Guardian Sword would be his. The human turned a corner and started walking down the sidewalk toward the downtown area. Aradhon slid his arms into the sleeves of his robe as he watched the man until he disappeared around a corner. Aradhon knew he needed to be working on the Gateway for Prince Dakath, but he desired to see this
Rhychard sat cross-legged on his Thinking Rock, facing out at Manatee Creek, the Guardian Sword across his lap. The evening sun caressed his face, the wind off the creek tugging the loose strands of his long, dark hair. He sat with his eyes closed, concentrating on his breathing as he prepared himself to merge with the sword once more.After the Brintohar, Rhychard spent a few days with Kendalais teaching Rhychard to reach into the sword to communicate with the other Warriors. As he envisioned the other twelve, they took turns sharing their stories and advice, teaching him the histories of the Warriors of the Way as well as the Land Under. Most of it was generic in scope but had given him a broad perspective. Sadly, since the battle of Feather Lakes, Rhychard had not had a chance to converse with the other Warriors again due to the chaos that became his life since. However, with everything going on with Renny and the appearance of the gnomes, Rhychard felt it was time to change that.P
"Naiads?" Renny's shocked expression had now twisted to one of a question."Water faeries. And don't let them catch you littering in the water. They'll throw it back at you." He glanced at the cigar he smoked as he remembered the hand that rose out of the creek and tossed his cigar butt back at him. He had yet to see one of the creatures outside of a set of hands, but he was sure they existed. His area of the creek had become cleaner than anywhere else along the creek bed, just as Marachin had done with the area around his Thinking Rock. Rhychard still found it weird that those in the faerie realm would want to pay homage to him. Unsettling was a better word."Now those would be cool to meet," Renny said, turning her gaze back to the water. "I wish I had known then how interesting your life had really become."Rhychard reached out and pulled her closer, Renny laying her head on his shoulder, or rather, his chest since he was so much taller than she was. "We have each other now; that's
Laci walked the downtown streets, her hands stuffed inside her pockets as she searched for help wanted signs in the stores. She loved the small historic area of Harbor City, relishing the artsy feel during the day and the eclectic nightlife downtown offered. The Murky Cauldron was also near, her link to both worlds, the normal human world and the life she was thrust into since Rhychard rescued her a few weeks ago. She sighed as she thought of Rhychard and all he did for her since that day. She needed to talk to him to let him know she planned on moving in with her family. It would be weird being back in her childhood home and not a part of Rhychard's life as a Warrior of the Way, and even though she still intended on practicing her witchcraft, she needed a break from the supernatural once in awhile. While she doubted she would miss Famallumi, she knew she would miss Kree the most. The coshey had been a shoulder for her when life seemed to explode around her, knowing how best to help h
The evening held a slight chill, which made Rhychard keep his cloak wrapped tight around his body. Fall was approaching, and even though the daytime hours were still sweltering, the nights sometimes held a chill a person's body wasn't ready to feel. Rhychard hid behind a row of bushes along the side of the Leary Building, the side door into the building only a few feet away. He doubted Aradhon gave up the building, needing a place to run his evil empire for the Unseelie, a base of operations of sorts, and why not? The Learys weren't going to need it any longer.Tugging the cloak further down over his head as he stared out at the surrounding area. Kree paced the edge of the property, his attention focused on the gargoyles who rang the upper parts of the building, acting as sentries. To the casual observer, they appeared as concrete statues, but to anyone in the know, they were dangerous foot soldiers for the Unseelie. Rhychard glanced up at the creatures standing guard at the corners of
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