That was fascinating. “So, is there like some hidden royal family that can take the throne back and restore Faery to its former glory?” It was a common trope in fantasy novels, my favorite genre.
Violet chuckled at that and removed the kettle when it started whistling. She poured the hot water into the cups. “The stories don’t mention that. I’m not Fae, but from what I have gathered the throne is taken by force. It’s not something that is passed down from heir to heir. The strongest rule Eidothea and its people. There is an upper echelon and only those top families have the capability to fight for the throne. I suspect your family belongs to that higher tier.”
I reared back as if she’d slapped me. I wanted nothing to do with beings that would exploit others for personal gain. “Ugh. Thank the Gods I’m not some vile person that would steal from others so I could take the throne.”
“Faery needs a ruler that thinks of the greater good. Maybe then the balance between our worlds could be reestablished.” Violet poured sugar into her tea then brought the steaming mug to her lips.
I lifted mine and let the aromatic steam calm me. “What would that mean? I can’t see humans accepting Fae exist. They’d deploy nuclear bombs to destroy us all if they learned mythic creatures were real.” There was no denying the way we reacted to fear. I considered getting a gun after Tim died. In the end I realized it would pose more of a risk than it would help.
“That’s true. It doesn’t matter right now anyway. There’s no one alive that will challenge King Voron.”
A gasp left me, and I dropped my tea when my hands flew to my head. That awful pinging had started again and was far stronger than it had ever been before. “Are you okay, Fiona? What’s wrong?” Violet’s voice came to me from far away. I couldn’t concentrate on anything except the noise and tugging in my chest.
‘My head,” I said through clenched teeth. “There’s this pinging.”
A hand ran up and down my back, rubbing circles. Find out where this shit is coming from! I took several deep breaths and focused on the source for several seconds. Violet was asking if she should take me to someone or something in town named Zreegy. I had no idea who or what Zreegy was.
All I could think about was settling the pinging and tugging. It was getting worse and was now downright painful. After several seconds, I dropped my hands and looked into Violet’s wide blue eyes. The concern was the exact reminder I needed that there were some in town that cared about me.
“Are you okay?” She asked after a couple seconds.
I bobbed my head and licked dry lips. “I’m good now. I’ve felt this pinging ever since I arrived, and it is getting worse. I thought it was coming from the house, but now I suspect it’s coming from outside.”
Violet turned and went to the pantry. “It might just be the leylines and you being sensitive to the power coursing through them, but we will go out and find what’s causing it. Not yet, though. Stay where you are. You’re barefoot and there’s ceramic pieces all over the floor.”
I hadn’t even heard it break. I kept focused on the pinging which was now getting softer and softer. “You know I’d be lost without you and Aislinn. Knowing I can turn to you both erases any doubt about my decision to stay. But what do you mean ley lines and why would I be sensitive to them?”
“Leylines are pathways of condensed magic. Here in Cottlehill Wilds several different ones converge. That draws supernatural to our location and is one reason we have a significant population living here. The other is the portal. I suspect the convergence made it possible for the portal to be created here.”
“I reiterate that I would be lost without you. I get the concept you are describing but my mind refuses to believe it outright.”
Violet dumped the sharp debris into the trash, and I mopped up the liquid with some paper towels. “I’ve felt a kinship with you for as long as I can remember. I just wish you’d known about your magic when Trent decided he was leaving me for his secretary. We could’ve hexed him with loose bowels like we joked about. That would’ve turned the twenty-something bimbo off.”
I barked out a laugh and stuffed my feet into the slip-ons I kept in the mudroom. “Now that’s magic I can get behind. Why do men do that when they hit their forties? As if that will turn back the clock? He will have to work twice as hard to keep that young woman. Dumbass. You deserve so much better.”
Violet snorted and followed me out of the house. “From your lips to the Gods’ ears. Now, let’s see what we can learn out here. Do you have any idea where it is?”
I thought about that as the cool night air surrounded us. The scent of nightshade and jasmine filtered to me from the garden. I really needed to do some research to discover what I had out there. And how to make potions. Perhaps I could find Violet’s ex and slip him something to give him cramps.
“I haven’t got a clue. It happens intermittently and at odd times. Like I said I first thought it had to do with the house because it started right after I informed Pymm’s Pondside that I was staying.”
Violet lifted a hand and muttered, “Revelare.” I have no idea what foreign language she was speaking, but energy pulsed through the air and my skin started tingling in response. A light blue glow seeped from my pores a second later. There was a green glow coming from the garden and various ones coming from the cemetery.
“What did you just do?” I turned in a circle and took in the forest and plant life around me. The maple with the nymph glowed brown and the flowers scattered about glowed brighter, as well.
I focused on the gravestones wondering why each one displayed a different color. And then there was the crypt. Pretty much every color in the rainbow emanated from the stone building.
“I cast a reveal spell. With magic it’s all about intent and I wanted to reveal anything your grandmother may have concealed. There’s far more hidden here, so it isn’t going to help us.” Violet waved her arms to encompass everything.
“What’s that?” I am moving through the foliage before Violet responds. There’s this black glow that pulls me forward. It’s now menacing, but there is definitely a darkness that speaks to the grief I’ve been carrying for far too long.
Violet’s steps were loud behind me as I kept going. “This is all your land. Your grandmother took in strays and allowed to live on Pymm’s Pondside, so you will find many out here.”
“How can I find out everyone that lives here with me? It’s creepy not knowing who’s close by.” Trees glowed randomly, as did hollows in the trunks and shrubs. The moon was high in the sky, telling me it was late. I hadn’t been out after eight for many years. It was nice to be out at this time of night. Almost made me feel like I was twenty again. Well, if I ignored the aches and pains, hot flashes and fatigue.
Before Violet could respond I stopped in my tracks. Sebastian was standing in the middle of the forest with his arms crossed over his chest. “What are you doing out here?”
“You live on my property?”
A growl rumbled from his chest. “No. You left Pymm’s Pondside about ten feet back. Go home.”
Violet stopped next to me. “Hello to you, too, Bas. Lovely evening isn’t it?”