Instantly, the pixies zipped away from her and gestured madly at her waist. Her father’s knife was still fastened at her belt. Removing it from the scabbard, she looked at it regretfully and caressed the smooth finish with her fingertips; this was harder than she’d thought it would be. She pressed a soft kiss to the blade and then set the knife down on the ground.
“Goodbye, Dad.” Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she wiped them away and squared her shoulders. Taking a deep breath, she followed the pixies away from the light of the campfire and into the dark reaches of the forest.
At first she was completely disoriented in the oppressing darkness that claimed the woods, but just as Morrigann had promised, things began to look and feel familiar. More pixies joined the ones already flying around her, and before long, she had a whole host of faeries dancing wildly through the air to the faint strains of music playing in the distance.
It was, of course, her childhood lullaby. Smiling softly, she felt her spirits rise, and she took a dancing leap along the path. The pixies encouraged her with tiny smiles and excited waves of their hands. Feeling a bit foolish—it was a lot different to dance in a dream—she cautiously placed her hands in the air and swayed her hips along with the melody. The faeries obligingly swirled themselves around her in time with her tentative dancing. Feeling better by the minute she increased her tempo while the music did the same. Grinning, she threw caution to the wind and danced with the exuberance of a child.
The music was much louder now; she was getting close, she could feel it. Story danced into the clearing, and just like in her dreams, Morrigann was awaiting her arrival. The moonlight reflected off his skin with sparks of magical energy, and he beamed at her. As his arms opened in a clear invitation, she raced across the springy grass into his comforting embrace.
She knew she’d made the right decision. Morrigann was here, and he would get the Faerie Prince to help her, and then she could leave this place, and then maybe… maybe Morrigann would want to come with her? The thought of never seeing him again caused her breath to quicken and her palms to sweat. Anxiety coursed through her. A small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that this was irrational behavior—she barely knew him! But then he smiled, banishing the thought completely.
Maybe he can visit me in my dreams there too?
The music’s tempo picked up again, and Morrigann was twirling her round and round in their now familiar dance. Magic coursed off of him and left a trail of golden sparks in their wake as they waltzed about the meadow. The little pixies flew in effortlessly to weave flowers into her hair, and Story felt like a faerie princess.
Nearing the center of the clearing, he maneuvered her over to the stone they had sat on in her dream the night before. A seductive smile on his face, he peppered her neck with soft kisses trailing down to her collarbone. She sighed with pleasure, and Morrigann smiled down at her as he tenderly tipped her back against the stone surface. It was as soft as a bed of roses since the faeries had covered it in petals. They were, even now, settling a flowered crown on her brow.
She wasn’t exactly sure what was going on and had no idea how any of this was going to help her get back, but the truth was she couldn’t make herself care. Her mind was completely enraptured by Morrigann. His feel, his scent, his deliciously seductive lips and kisses, and mostly his warm, magic-filled hands as they caressed her skin making her feel more alive than she had in a very long time.
Her eyes began to feel heavy, and she stared up at Morrigann dreamily as he placed one hand firmly, yet gently, on her shoulder, while the other hand reached behind him.
“I am truly sorry about this, Story.” He leaned in close, his nose almost touching hers, and his sweet breath intoxicating her senses. “You seem like a delightful, if simple, girl.” He kissed her lightly on her lips, and she soaked in the feeling of him—all freshness and rebirth of nature. And then he was pulling away and standing over her again, his grip on her shoulder tighter, almost painful.
“But I can’t risk the elves getting their hands on you. I’m sure you understand.”
Before Story’s muddled mind could take in what he’d just said, he raised his right hand high above her. An obsidian blade gleamed, poised directly over her heart, and even if she’d had the time or the mental capacity to move, the flowering vines that had grown over her held her securely in place.
A small voice in the back of her mind screamed that this was wrong. That she should not just lay on this altar, smiling dazedly up at the man who was trying to murder her. But as she stared up helplessly at the black knife in his hand, time seemed to slow. The shiny blade came down, and she did nothing.
Suddenly Morrigann cried out in pain and dropped the blade, clutching at his hand. She heard the knife clatter harmlessly off the rock, and fixed her gaze on his hand. The blade of another knife—my knife!—protruded from the flesh of his palm. Smoke started to rise as the skin around the wound began to blacken and burn away.
The vines holding her in place began to wither, and she felt the fog in her mind clear. Sitting up, she looked across the meadow and could see Eirnin fighting off pixies. They were dive bombing him with stones and anything else they could get their hands on.
He must have thrown the knife in order to stop Morrigann from killing me!
That realization cleared away any lingering magic that the faerie had spelled on her mind. Seething in anger, she glared down at Morrigann. “You tried to kill me, you jerk! I trusted you.” She didn’t mean to sound so plaintive and betrayed.
Bent over in pain, he clutched at the hilt of the knife trying feebly to pull at it. The black wound was growing, charring more and more of his hand. Free from the vines that bound her, Story jumped off the boulder and slapped his hand off the hilt.
“Don’t you DARE touch it! You have no right!” Tears escaped the corners of her eyes, and she didn’t bother wiping them away.
He looked up at her, and she saw that his once beautiful face, while still perfect, was marred by the cruel sneer that crossed his features.
“Why not?” he coughed weakly, while slowly standing up. “You were so willing to trade your father’s memory for a few stolen kisses and a dance in the moonlight, you stupid little girl.”
Her eyes blazed. Rearing her hand back, she let it fly forward and punched Morrigann right in his perfect mouth, knocking him back down to the ground.
“Don’t call me stupid.” She stepped down hard on his right wrist, pinning his arm to the ground, ignoring his pain-filled cry. “And don’t you EVER mock my father’s memory again.” She twisted her heel, grinding his hand into the dirt and rocks. “You are nothing compared to him.” Leaning over she grasped the hilt of the knife and yanked it out of his hand savagely.
“Story, no!” Eirnin yelled from across the clearing, but it was too late.
Smirking up at her, Morrigann blew her a kiss, and then promptly disappeared.
* * * * *
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. As it is free here on Wattpad, I ask that you not copy or distribute War of the seasons, book one: The Human to anyone. If you would like to share this story with others please direct them here to read it, or to my website WarOfTheSeasons.com to purchase a downloadable copy for their kindle, ipad, or nook for only $4.99. Should you (or your friends) desire a print copy of any of my War of the Seasons novels or short stories, they are also all available for sale at WarOfTheSeasons.com and I will happily sign them for you should you desire.
Also, the third and final book in the War of the Seasons trilogy, The Hunter, is available for pre-order now through November 6, 2013, for only $5 for the ebook and $20 for the print book (which comes with the ebook as well). By pre-ordering before Nov 6th, you not only get the final book in the trilogy (and have an opportunity to purchase the previous two), but you will also get loads of freebies (most of the short stories in the War of the Seasons universe, for starters). Please visit Kickstarter.com and search “War of the Seasons” to pre-order by November 6, 2013.
The complete War of the Seasons title listing as of October 20, 2013:
War of the Seasons, book one: The Human
Songs of the Seasons, story one: Girl
Songs of the Seasons, story two: White Flag
War of the Seasons, book two: The Half-blood
Songs of the Seasons, story three: World Spins Madly On
Songs of the Seasons, story four: Fire and Rain (est. Nov 2013)
War of the Seasons, book three: The Hunter (ebook: Dec 21, 2013; print: Jan 2014)
Songs of the Seasons, story five: TBD, by Cleolinda Jones (est. Mar 2014)
Songs of the Seasons, story six: TBD, by Albin Johnson (est. May 2014)
And more to come. Keep an eye on WarOfTheSeasons.com for news and updates.