Crimson Dawn (29 page)

Mother looked at the crest as if she were staring at a shrunken head, instead of an ornate piece of metal. She turned it over and over in her hands as she shook her head in disbelief. "Does my mother know this?"

"No, only Valeria, and now you, but she and the boys will need to be told along with your siblings. They need to know the potential danger this poses to them," said Irulan.

Mother’s nails shrunk and her eyes returned to normal. "What danger?"

Irulan cast a quick look back at me before she continued. "One of the things that's unique about all Extras is, when we reproduce with different races, none of the power of the parents is lost. The attributes combine and instead of diluting, they become stronger, like the strands of a rope. We may have to access the power differently, but it’s there. If the wrong person finds out about this, you, your children, your mother, any offspring connected to Mikilos, could be hunted for the potential power within your veins."

At that moment, a sharp pain cut through my body and I doubled over, crying out in pain. Mother gasped and flew to my side. Irulan knelt on one knee in front of me. "Is it the same feeling, baby?” she asked.

I nodded yes as best as I could, as another wave rocked me. I held my hand up in front of my face and saw that I could see right through it. It was even worse than last night. "What's happening to me, Irulan? This is different than last night." I hated feeling so weak and dependent someone else. I bit my lip trying to hold in the cries of pain that were desperate for release. If I could face it, that meant I was strong, right?

“
I can’t let you feed from me so soon but this should help.” Irulan quickly grabbed my face and crushed my lips to hers, forcing her tongue into my mouth as she fed me her power. The charge spread through me, filling me completely until I thought I would burst. Once she was satisfied, Irulan pulled away, leaving me gasping for air but solid once again.

My father jerked Irulan up by the arm. "What the hell just happened to her and what did you do?"

Irulan pulled away from my father and pushed him back with a regal air about her. "I just saved her life, Hadrian. Don't you ever put your hands on me like that again. Familiarity has made you forget who I am."

Daddy huffed, "don't play that card with me," and prepared to step forward when mother stood, and pushed them both apart.

"Now is not the time!” She turned to Irulan and pointed at me. “ What's happening to her, Irulan?"

"The Fomori blood inside her is awake, but it's starving. Anya, you know I have to go home on a yearly basis or I'll fade. That's what's happening to Valeria. That, and the fact that her powers are developing all at once. She's gaining the powers of an adult Sidhe, but her body isn't adjusting."

Mama came, took my sweaty palm, and rubbed her hand across my forehead, "So what can we do to stop these changes?"

Irulan sat down, and dragged a hand through her hair, "Nothing can stop them, it's a part of who she is. I have to take her to the FaeLands to renew her powers. Once we're there, she'll stop fading, and her powers will grow to what they should be but it won’t be enough. A power transfer is a temporary patch. Because she’s a Vampire she needs an influx of blood to stabilize her. Strong Fomori blood. I'm taking her to the UnSeelie High King. Your great-grandfather, FaeVar."

My mother nodded, "Ok, so when do we leave?"

Irulan shook her head softly. "I'm sorry, Anya, you can't go.” Mother jumped up and began protesting.

"The hell I can't, that's my daughter! Just because you wormed your way into her pants doesn't mean you call the shots now."

Irulan sighed, "That's not fair, and you know it, Anya. I'm a Seelie Princess walking into the court of the High King of the UnSeelie with a Vampire. It's going to take every trick I learned at court to not to get us killed by the royal guards before we get to talk with FaeVar."

My father moved to lay his hands on Mother’s shoulders, but she slapped his hands away. "Keep your hands off me, Hadrian. You knew, you knew this entire time, and you never said a word. You need to leave...I can't be around you right now.” The look on my father’s face as he walked away caused my heart to clench in my chest.

After he was gone, mother focused her gaze on Irulan. "How long have you known?" She asked solemnly. Irulan ran her palms down the front of her face and cut her eyes towards me. Faeries are unable to lie without repercussions but she could skirt the truth with the best of them. We both knew that she wouldn’t though, even as she realized that her answer could be the end of a two hundred year friendship. She knew my mother deserved the truth.

"I knew before I ever came to Tire Nam Beo. Your grandfather came to me the day I was preparing to leave home and asked me to watch over his children here.” Irulan pointed to the crest that was still in my mother’s trembling hand. "Mikilos gave me that crest as proof of your family’s Sidhe heritage, should you ever have to look for help from the Dark Court.”

"If you've only been here for two hundred years, what about the memories I have of you from my childhood?" mother asked quietly.

"A spell." Irulan admitted. "One crafted by Mikilos so your family would accept my presence without question, but I swear the love I feel for the Gregorys is true."

My mother looked defeated as she handed the crest back to Irulan. "Then I guess you'll need this back if you're going to get anywhere with FaeVar."

Irulan accepted the crest and put in back into her pocket. My mother brushed by Irulan to take me into her arms. "Are you sure this is what you want? Irulan and all that comes with her?"

As I tried to fight the tears that were pooling in my eyes, I nodded yes. "I've never wanted anything more, mama."

My mother nodded and brushed the tears away from her eyes that were threatening to fall. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive you, Irulan. You kept this from me all this time. You pretended to be my friend."

Irulan gently pulled my mother away from my arms, "Anya, I never once had to pretend to be your friend. I love you. Please believe I never had a choice. If I could have, I would have told you years ago. Mikilos made me give him my word that I wouldn't tell unless it was a life or death situation. You know a Faerie's word isn't just for show. Once I made the vow, it was iron clad. Every time I tried to find a way around it, I got headaches that lasted for days. Valeria's illness is what broke my vow."

I could see my mother fighting to hold onto her anger, and the slump that settled into her posture when she accepted Irulan’s explanation. "It's still going to take time for me to forgive you, no matter what the reason. I'm sorry.” The friendship was sound, shaken, but ok nonetheless. They had known each other for so long, I can't think of a pair of sisters that were closer.

My mother walked to a window and pressed her hand against the glass. "How soon will you leave?” She asked, too hurt to turn and face us.

Irulan closed her eyes and tilted her head upwards. I felt her aura wash over me for the tiniest of seconds, and then it was gone. "The doorways to the FaeLands change locations according to need. I feel the pull of one not far from here, a mile, if that. If it's alright with you, we'll leave the car here and walk."

Mama came to me and began straightening my clothes the way she used to when I was a child. "Come back to me, baby girl, OK?" I threw my arms around my mother and crushed her to me as if it were the last time I'd ever see her. Who knows, if the blood infusion didn't work, it very well may be. My mother kissed me on the forehead and turned to leave the room. "Take care of my daughter.”

Irulan and I made our way back through the house to the kitchen. When we got there, my father was waiting for us holding an ornately jeweled, Scottish claymore. "I see you don't have your usual set with you. I thought that maybe you could take this. It belonged to my father. He won it in a game of chance long before I was born."

As I took the long sword from my father’s hand, he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "The sword’s name is Bas, it means death in Gaelic. You're a Trumaine first. Remember that. Use any weapon you have to your advantage if you need to.” He pressed his hand over my heart as he spoke. "Even if it scares you, use it anyway. It doesn't change who you are right here."

I threw my arms around my father and for the first time, I didn't complain when he used his aura to pull me into a partial shift. We looked at each through darkened eyes and he smiled at me. "See. Still my Valeria, no matter what.” My father released me and waved goodbye as he walked away from us. Stunned by his unusual show of emotion, I was at a loss for words.

"I guess it's time," I said as I strapped the heavy sword to my waist. We crossed the driveway and entered the woods to the side of the house. Irulan paused once more and checked to make sure we were going in the right direction. I stopped beside her, closed my eyes in an imitation of Irulan, and pushed my aura ahead of me. The rush of magic that met me took my breath away, and. I felt the purest contentment I had ever known settled into a place within me that I never knew existed. "Is that...?" I couldn't find the words to express what I was feeling.

Irulan smiled, took my hand, and led me on. "Yes, that's the call of the FaeLands. They always lead their children home.” I smiled and hooked my arm through Irulan’s as we followed the pull of the FaeLands as it called to the Sidhe within us.

Everything was going to be all right. My grandfather would fix me and I could finally take care of Tristan. For once, since this whole thing began, I believed my own hype. I felt too good inside not to.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It didn't take us long to reach the source of the pull that I felt. Dead in the center of the sprawling forest, I saw a large shimmering haze that blocked out everything behind it. It was almost as if the world behind it didn't exist, and in a way it didn't, at least it didn't exist in the world that I knew. Irulan came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. "It's not too late to change your mind," she said, mistaking my quietness for hesitation.

I turned in her arms and gave her a quick peck on the nose. "You'd like that wouldn't you.” I pulled away from her and walked over to the doorway. "You keep me out of the FaeLands, and you keep me away from Tristan. It's not gonna happen. I need to face him now more than ever.”

Irulan exhaled slowly and stepped forward to press a hand to the shimmering pool. "I don't want to keep you out of the FaeLands, just modify the length of your stay.” The moment she made contact, the doorway caved in on itself in a flash of brilliant green light. When the flash settled, I could see a long rolling field dotted with majestic trees on the far side of a glistening arc.

Irulan laughed and ran through to the other side. Every move she made showed the joy she felt at being home. I smiled as she passed her hand over a patch of wildflowers, as she quietly talked to herself. As I watched her, I felt a quiet trepidation I couldn't explain. The flowers seemed to stretch towards Irulan as if they were aching for her touch. Trying to squelch the feeling, I stepped through the arc and watched her walk to a tree and knock on the thick trunk. A group of Pixies flew out of an opening in the trunk and flitted around her head. A few settled onto her shoulders and up-turned hands and began franticly chattering Elvish in high-pitched voices.

Irulan's laughter had a light ring to it that floated through the air and brought a smile to my face. She patiently answered their questions, pointing in my direction a few times during the course of the inquisition. Once they finished speaking, a lone Pixie darted over to hover in front of my face. The little man was as green as the grass beneath my feet, and had iridescent wings more lovely than any butterfly I'd ever seen. He leaned forward in a deep bow and came up with a very determined look on his face. "The Pixies of Moon Hollow owe allegiance to neither Light nor Dark Court, as such, you are welcome here young Fomori Princess."

I smiled and dipped my head at the prim little Pixie and looked past him to mouth the word 'Princess' to Irulan. "By right and by blood, you are a princess, Valeria.” Irulan held out her hand for me to take it and she pulled me to her side. "Valeria, may I introduce Danzie, Queen of the Moon Hollow, and the best source of information this side of Faerie."

The portly little pearl-colored woman smiled and slightly nodded from her throne that was sitting on a nearby tree branch. "Welcome home, Dark Princess," she said in a light airy voice. "My Irulan tells me you've come to deliver death to the visitor of King Fazion."

I smiled and nodded back, "That's one way to phrase it, I guess."

"Make haste then young one. Word across the lands says the key is here.” Danzie tapped a finger against her chin as she spoke. "Your man is growing stronger every day."