The Screaming Stone: The Otherworld Series Book 2 (4 page)

The sonic sound of speed out racing sound erupted and Manny whether in careful withdrawal or hasty retreat fled from the company of the Derby Nine.

        Chapter Four

Speaking of Sam

After Manny’s quick and sudden disappearance it had taken a few hours for the Derby Nine to come to terms with the idea that they were on their own.  None of them, not even Duncan and Finn had any real knowledge of the inner workings of the Sidhe court or the magick which they guarded.  They had no idea what kind of help they could expect of if there would be any assistance offered by the Sidhe at all.  No one knew if Manny would return or even if could return as he had been in the natural world for the last twenty five years.  For the moment and possibly far into the future, they were on their own.

The group quickly formed into two factions one led by Duncan and one championed by Finn.  Finn insisted that they stick to Manny’s plan; with of course some minor alterations as he did not wish to incur the same wrath that had befallen Manny.  Duncan remained dead set against using the
Lia Fáils
as a method to separate the Life Spark from Annie, insisting there had to be another, closer, way into the Otherworld.  With a line drawn through the middle sides were quickly taken.  Each captain seemed to quickly amass a following.

Annie instantly sided with Finn.  She had many reasons for doing so; but the more she tried to convince herself of the multitude of reasons she always came back to the hope that she and the goddess she harbored could be separated.  Earlier events had her convinced that the sooner she was free of her silent goddess the better as she was quickly losing control.  Fiona, ever loyal to the will of her mistress followed Annie and agreed with Finn; followed by Robert whose hero worship dictated the side he chose.

Duncan’s group comprised the rest save one, all of his followers seemed more dedicated to the protection and preservation of Annie’s human form.  The lone holdout was Griffin, who saw each side as equally right and equally wrong.  The devil had an advocated in the room and after continuous hours of debate it was decided that whichever side gained the most support, no matter how small the margin, would be the path the entire group would take.

“The problem is we don’t have enough information,” Robert finally conceded.

“Aye,” Knackers agreed.  “The only thing we know for certain is that Annie must be reunited with the Battle Crow an’ Battle Queen ta strengthin’ an’ renew the veil.”

“That does no’ mean splitting Annie in two!” Duncan argued. 

Annie sighed in exhaustion.  The physical demands of forcefully restraining an ancient goddess were beginning to show.  She could feel the dark circles that had begun to form under her eyes as the exhaustion of the day was beginning to build along with the mounting pressure to let the goddess out.  The only thing that seemed to ease the building pressure inside of her was the comforting touch of Duncan.  It was something she could not afford to do or she feared the scales would tip in favor of Duncan’s group. After her conversation with the wise woman a few days ago she was convinced that the
Lia Fáils
was her only hope.  Only Fiona had been present when her “grandmother” had spoken to her and had pleaded with Annie to follow through and make the trip to Ireland and the ancient site of Tara.  She had promised her that there were answers in Ireland that could not be answered in Salem.  She had promised the wise woman that she would not repeat what she had been told.  Although right now she was quietly debating going back on that promise.

Silently she pleaded with Griffin to agree with her.  She needed the uncertainty to be over.  Time was quickly ticking away as Midsummer’s Eve was rapidly approaching.  A decision had to be made tonight or else she would take drastic steps and set out for the
Lia Fáils
on her own.  Her mind began to spin as it raced through a variety of options; but each one seemed as impossible as the next.  Images and thoughts from her human life and its Sidhe counterpart screamed in unison for her attention; until after minutes of senseless images, and a blossoming headache, she focused on one seemingly outrageous idea.

“Sam,” she whispered out loud.

As each group had continued to highlight its pros and the other pointed out the cons, Griffin remained immune to every word spoken and shouted but somehow he heard her one whispered word.

“Sam,” he agreed nodding his head.  Annie wondered silently if he had been waiting all this time for her to make the suggestion.  It was something she would not put past him.

The name worked like a domino as it fell first from Annie’s lips, to Griffin’s, next to Kat’s and finally Robert’s until everyone in the room stood quietly waiting for Sam to either be explained or reveal himself.  The humans in the room continued to silently converse through brow and facial movements as they argued without words, the idea, amongst themselves.

“It’s been so long since I’ve talked to Sam though,” Robert whined seemingly uncomfortable with the suggestion.

Annie barely hid her amusement as the Fae tried to follow the silent argument and failed leading a frustrated Duncan to bark out the question no one else seemed willing to ask.

“Who in the hell is Sam?”

Kat arched a humorous brow at Duncan.  “At least he’s starting to talk like us,” she admitted with the shrug of a shoulder.

Duncan growled in response.

“Remember laddie she’s on our side,” Knackers reminded him as he laid a calming hairy hand on Duncan’s shoulder.

“Sam’s a- uh-,” Griffin stuttered as he searched for the right word to describe Sam, and having failed looked to the others for help.

Kat shrugged her shoulders and Robert went uncharacteristically mute.  Annie gave Robert a quick glance and saw his normal mocha colored skin tone bleed out to a pale shade of gray.  Realizing no one was willing to explain Sam, she spat out the first thought that came into her mind.

“Sam is an oracle.”

Every face, save Robert’s, quickly snapped in her direction.  A warm flush crept up her cheeks under the scrutiny and irony of her situation.  Annie was, or rather had been, the hardened skeptic in the room.  Using the word “oracle” in a sentence without any hint of condescending tone was something she never had imaged herself saying, ever.  So using the word out loud was akin to verbally pinching herself to make sure she was still awake and not dreaming.  It was almost as painful as the physical pinch Fiona had given her the other day.  She still sported a fading bruise on her backside.  Once again she was faced with the very real and otherworldly turn her life had taken.

“Never mind them, from what you’ve shown me you spoke true.  Sam is indeed an oracle.  Tis a word they all understand,”
reassured the normally silent goddess within her.

“An oracle?” Finn asked in bewildered awe as his amber eyes landed on Robert.

“An oracle,” Griffin reaffirmed nodding in appreciation at Annie.  She slowly and loudly exhaled as she and the goddess within grew more enthused by the idea of consulting Sam.

“Why is this the first we’ve heard about Sam?” Duncan questioned with heavy skepticism.

“Because Robert’s the only one who actually talks to Sam,” Kat answered as if that explained everything.

When Duncan opened his mouth to reply Griffin quickly cut him off.  “Because oracles are not to be consulted unless all other options are exhausted; because delving into worlds humans don’t comprehend can and has led to dangerous consequences.”

“So why speak to the oracle now?” Duncan asked squinting at Griffin.

“Because,” Annie said before Griffin could.  “
We
both think it’s a good idea.”

Any further argument died with that statement as it became clear to all that both human and goddess agreed and no one had a counterpoint to the two beings that inspired two separate, yet equally devoted followers.

After a limited amount of debate two ambassadors were chosen one from each side.  Although this was the simplest thing that had been discussed all night, Rian disagreed with the chosen ambassadors.  “I see that Annie should go as this all concerns her an’ wit Duncan on our side both are obvious choices.”

Everyone had quickly agreed that Duncan and Annie would and should represent the opposing factions within the Derby Nine.  The irony of course did not escape anyone’s notice.  As two beings that had fought the monsters of time and hindrance to be reunited the fact that they still remained separated by similar obstacles now saddened everyone.  The division had not gone unnoticed by Annie either.  She knew that Duncan had fought, hard, to recapture the love that had been stolen from him by Bres.  It upset her that they could not agree on the best way to reunite him with his lost love.  Although they had grown close over the last few days she could not even hope to replace a woman who had inspired centuries of searching.

Griffin was to be the neutral party, the deciding vote, and so his presence was essentially a given.  It was Robert that Rian had a problem with.  His presence tipped the scales of balance and that was what was bothering Rian.

“I assure you Rian once Robert speaks to Sam any opinion he may have will be lost,” Griffin finally explained.

With Knackers starting to back the usually quiet Rian the groups began teetering on the verge of further dissension as the Fae on either side began to fight amongst themselves again.  The air in the room grew thick with negativity and tension as both sides battled to gain ground and seal their own personal victory.

“Enough!” shouted an exhausted looking Kat.  “Here’s what will happen.  Robert will go and get Sam.  You will all get to meet Sam and then Robert will talk to Sam in the presence of Griffin, Annie and Duncan.  Or so help me…,” she threatened pointing a shaking finger at everyone in her group.  “I will side with them and this whole thing will be quickly decided.”  Kat was terrifying in her angry glory.  Her usually cherub looking face transformed into an angry and terrifying sculptural mask that could frighten a Christian demon back to the comforting depths of hell.  This time was no different as every head nodded instantly in agreement with her violent proposal.

Once again Annie had to hide her amusement; albeit not her own.  “
I like that feisty one.  Always have,
” acknowledged the faerie princess.  Annie silently agreed with her.  If Kat were ever to gain a position of power things would get done, fast.

With the terms of Sam’s introduction to the group finally decided Fiona prepared a late, late night snack during which newly created party lines were crossed and old ones reinstated.  The three diminutive Fae chose to remain with Fiona in the kitchen while Finn and Duncan sequestered themselves in the back room while Annie retreated to her last safe spot in the world, her garden.

The mid-June evening air was unseasonably warm even though there was steady breeze that skimmed off the ocean inland bringing with it the taste and smell of the cool Atlantic.  Annie inhaled deeply drawing the mixture of calming seaside air and perfumed flowery earth deep into her lungs.  It was a scent unique to this one particular spot on the earth, and she loved it.  She allowed her senses to experience and imprint the memory upon her frail psyche.  She indulged herself one last quiet moment at night in her garden with only the waxing moon as her witness.

As much as she yearned to leave her garden and sprint to the comforting sound of gentle waves upon the small rocky shore of the Wharf she held herself still.  The Wharf held too many ghosts and it could never offer her comfort as it once had.  This spot, this tiny square space of land was all she had left.  It held no ill memories, only happy ones.  This space knew nothing but joy and laughter.  Everyone had a happy spot, at least she hoped everyone had one, she was just lucky that she could physically visit hers, at least for now.  Whether it was tomorrow or the next day, soon, all too soon she would have to leave it behind, unsure if she would ever be able to return.  Doubt painted with negative thoughts threatened to taint the joy that surrounded her as a single tear fell from her tightly sealed eyes.  Roughly she swiped away at the sorrow that threatened her.  She refused to taint the ground beneath her feet with such ill will and sadness.  There would be no tears falling on her garden tonight or any other night she silently promised herself.