Mistfall(Book One of the Mistfall Series)

18. Your Hair Looks Like a Bird’s Nest





The outdoor chapel furnishings were gone. In its place were tables with food overflowing everywhere. Long tables with benches were scattered about for guests to dine. Those I saw sitting hadn’t moved. They were still seated in exactly the same place as they were before, only new chairs and tables appeared around them.

The fireflies and fairy dust still bathed the area in its soft golden glow as the hamadryad decorations still graced the trees. Musicians began to play, their song beckoning the guests to enter the magically renewed area to celebrate.

The guests filter in and take their seats to dine. Various conversations were going on around me, but I was too mesmerized by the music to pay attention when my name was called. The musicians, four women in all were playing an enchanting melody. The flautist’s notes reminded me of a bird flittering between branches. I almost saw the leaves change colors from green to autumn hues when the violinist joined in. It was truly beautiful and I felt an overwhelming need to go to them.

“Be careful, those are sirens,” John pointed out while turning me around and distracting me.

My head cleared enough to realize John was talking to me, but I hadn’t a clue as to what he said. “What did you say?”

He chuckled at my fogginess. “Sirens Violet. The musicians are Sirens.

I shivered as the enchantment of the Sirens’ spell wore off. “Why on Earth would anyone hire Sirens to play at a wedding?” I asked, astonished.


“You’ll get used to it,” John reassured me. “Give it ten minutes and it won’t hold you captive anymore.”

“But why?” I reiterated.

“The Sirens have mastery over music and are the best,” he informed me while grabbing my hand just in case I felt the need to run off towards the Sirens again.

I wanted to say that they should come with a warning label, but became lost to the music once again.

John led me towards the dance floor. “Come on beautiful girl.”

I could see how a celebration could last for three days. Even those more accustomed to the Sirens seemed ensorcelled by their magic. It was a good thing they were friend and not foe.

There really was no floor to dance on. An area of flat earth, off to the side of the tables, had been cleared and manicured to accommodate the dancers. Guests were taking off their shoes to enjoy the pleasure of dancing upon the soft green grass.

John holds me close to him as we dance. Our bodies fit so perfectly, it was like we were made for each other. I found myself torn at the moment. I realized that my life would never be the same safe, happy self it had been, but I had John. On the other hand, had none of the past few weeks happened, I would be semi-safe, in a mild state of ignorant bliss, but without John. Good thing I didn’t have a choice in all of this, I thought. I would have never been able to make up my mind.

I did have him now though. The evidence of that lay beneath my hand which rest upon his chest. The steady beat of John’s heart reminded me of the here and now, breaking me free of the Sirens’ bewitchment, once again.

He took my moment of lucidity to twirl me around him. I laughed as I spun because who doesn’t laugh when they’re spinning around? Here in the Fae village we were safe and free to relax. Despite Abel’s previous ambush, I didn’t feel the need to keep up my vigilance. Rory was standing ten feet behind me, on the edge of the dance floor, watching me like a hawk. I’d let him be on guard for the both of us for the rest of the night.

Ensconced in John’s arms once again, he kissed me on the forehead. “I plan to make you smile like that everyday Violet.”

“Then we should probably never leave here,” I recommended as we both became slightly ensnared by the Sirens’ music yet again.

I’m not sure how long we danced. It could have been hours for all I know. My tolerance to the Sirens became stronger a little at a time, but had not advanced to the point that I could think clearly throughout the entirety of their concert.

My muddled thoughts took me near and far. Memories of my past and present fluttered in my head as well as some of the absurd. One of my daydreams showed me dancing in the heavens, amongst the gods.

In my last thought, I was being bathed in flames. When the music stopped, I felt like an elastic band had snapped, shooting me back into the present, clear headed. Goosebumps covered my arms as I lingered over my last thought as the Dreamweaver’s words of me causing the world to burn echoed through my mind.

“Take a break?” John asked.

I nodded my head, still a little dazed from the rude awakening. I’ve never partaken in narcotics, but I could only imagine I had experienced something similar to a drug-fueled haze.

“You’ll be fine in a few minutes,” John assured me, entirely way to amused by my sensitivity to the Sirens. “I told you it takes some getting used to.” I stuck my tongue out at him and pushed him playfully in response.

Once we found our seats John left to hunt down something to drink. He returned moments later carrying two goblets and sat beside me.

“What’s this?” I inquired of the drink he sat down in front of me.

“Fairy wine. Be careful and nurse that unless you want to end up forgetting the next week,” John warned me.

I sniffed at the libation. “Was water not an option?”

“I do love your sense of humor,” he mused while running a finger up my arm. “However, the wine will clear your head of any residual effects from the Sirens’ song.”

I cautiously took a sip and found it to be rather pleasant. With the tartness of oranges and the sweetness of honey the drink was perfect for a celebration on a summer day. As to its effects, John was right. Any unease I still felt disappeared, leaving me feeling light-hearted.

“Holy Hades!” I exclaimed once I regained full use of my faculties and remembered my elf-jacking. “What happened to you when Abel showed up?” I asked.

John looked down at his drink, suddenly finding it more interesting. “Please, don’t consider me a coward for hiding,” he pleaded, ashamed of himself.

I held his hand in mine. “I don’t,” I assured him. “I was just worried about you. That’s all I meant.”

John let out a big sigh of relief. “I thought you were asking because I didn’t come to your aid,” he admitted, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes.

“I would be mad at you if you had,” I scolded.

“I was hidden from Abel’s sight by guests waiting to congratulate Hailz and Fiona,” John informed me. The commotion you caused allowed Abel to zero in on you. He wasn’t paying attention to the rest of us.” I put my hands over my face in embarrassment at the realization everyone had heard my little outburst.

John pulled my hands away. “Relax Violet. From what I hear, that’s not even the worst thing anyone has said to Rory.”

“Well that’s good,” I said, relieved. “Now I don’t feel like an arse.”

“Back to the subject at hand,” John suggested. “We were all distracted with your outburst and Phineas’s confrontation with Rory. None of us noticed Abel until it was too late. I started to you, damning the consequences, but Hailz caught me before I exposed myself.”

John stopped to take a large gulp of wine before he continued. He still wore a look of shame at leaving me to the wolves. “As I was saying, Hailz stopped me. She assured me of your safety and berated me for jeopardizing everything.”

“I’m sure her diatribe was peppered with interesting metaphors,” I chimed in.

“Very much so,” he replied, “especially after Melissa gave herself away. She had her wife escort Melissa and I a safe distance away in an abandoned pixie hollow and there we stayed until Abel left.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Hailz,” I said.

John raised one eyebrow and one side of his lips pulled up in a half-grin. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

I shook my own head. Hades must be freezing over if I’m siding with Hailz. “What I can’t believe is that she did something nice, on purpose.”

“That’s one twisted relationship you two have,” John observed while finishing off the rest of his wine.

I jumped out of my seat. “Oh!” I looked around, searching through the guests for one person in particular.

John tugged at my hand to get my attention. “What are you doing?”

Finding who I was looking for, I turned back to John and smiled. “Come on, I have to give the newlyweds their wedding gift.”

Rory’s attention to me had faltered since he became focused on Melissa. I’m sure the Sirens’ music had something to do with it to. John and I took the opportunity and snuck away to find Hailz and Fiona.

We found them under the cover of a Weeping Willow, in a lovers’ embrace. Not wanting to interrupt such an intimate moment, we quietly tried to escape their notice. John stepped on a stick though and gave us away.


The couple, surprised at being intruded upon broke away quickly. Fiona’s face flushed crimson. Hailz, rather than being embarrassed was cross. Her eyes shot daggers at us. Hailz swore, at me in particular. “Can’t I get away from you for two bloody minutes?”

I fumbled over my words as I tried to apologize. “Sorry. We uh, well we just came to find you, um not like this and…um, well here.” I stuck out my hand to Hailz and revealed my gift.

Hailz, Fiona, and John recognized what I was holding (I had told John and Melissa realizing I needed a safety net for Hailz, in case something happened to me.). All of their jaws dropped in unison.

“What in Hades do you think you’re doing?” Hailz shrieked.

I smiled at her surprise since she was never caught unaware. “It’s your wedding present.”

“Oh Mags,” Fiona gushed as she rushed over to hug me. “Rarely does one return the object to a bound jinn.” Tears formed in the corner of her eyes as she continued on, overjoyed by my gift. “I cannot thank you enough for your gift and generosity of spirit.”

“No need,” I said still enveloped in Fiona’s arms. I was beginning to think she would never let go. “Hailz has gone above and beyond to help me get here. The least I could do is release her so we can return to our adversarial selves.”

Fiona, still teary-eyed let me go. I guess I did good, judging by her reaction, I thought. John, proud of me, put his arm around my waist and pulled me into my second hug of the last two minutes. Thankfully he didn’t hang onto me as long as Fiona did. Once he was done, Hailz took the opportunity to show her appreciation by slapping me, hard, across the face.

The feeling of tiny little pin pricks made themselves known and I brought my hand to my cheek. I was taken aback by her reaction. “What the hell Hailz?”

Hailz grabbed the front of my dress, yanking me forward. I was so close that I could feel her warm breath on my face. I’ve seen the look she has on her face before. It was the look that Hailz had when she killed someone out of anger. Her jaw was tense, eyes narrowed, and a little vein pulsated on her forehead.

“Put that away and leave me alone for the rest of the night,” she demanded while tempering her murderous rage.

When dealing with Hailz, one has to throw civility out the window. “Listen here handbag,” I seethed, referring to her serpentine form. “I’m going home tomorrow. What could I possibly still need you for? Take your damn compass and I’ll leave you alone until it’s time to kill you.”

Hailz dropped her hands from my fancy dress as her anger abated. “You can really be a f*cking moron sometimes,” she told me. “It’s not over until you side with the Master or Abel kills you.”

It was now my mouth that dropped open. “No,” I gasped.

She didn’t reply, only looked at me as if I was stupid.

“No Hailz. I didn’t want to do this in the first place.” I paced back and forth as my heart pounded so loudly I thought everyone could hear it. “You didn’t give me any choice in the matter,” I accused her adding, “It was only supposed to be temporary!”

No matter how much I begged, Hailz refused to take back the compass. As Fiona took her turn arguing with Hailz, I took solace in John’s arms. I felt horrible. Hailz had bound herself to me knowing it was to be long term. She had willingly become subservient to me and wouldn’t let me give her freedom to her. There was nothing I could do but remain her master.

Fiona dragged Hailz away so she could continue the argument in private.

“It’s not your fault and there’s nothing you can do if Hailz is unwilling,” John pointed out in an effort to comfort me.

I looked up at him. “There has to be a way,” I insisted. “I can’t, I won’t enslave another being, regardless of their willingness.”

John outlined my jaw with his thumb and then held my face in his hand. I relished in the feeling of his touch, the heat from his hand warming my very soul. “I know you wouldn’t Violet, that’s one of the many reasons I love you.”

“That doesn’t make what I’ve done any less terrible,” I uttered.

“We’ll figure it out,” John promised.

“There you are,” a male voice interrupted my pity party. Apparently John and I weren’t as clever as we thought we were. Rory had known where we were the whole time. I was surprised at Rory’s decision to give me some room to breathe. I think Melissa may have said something to him. She really is the best friend a person could ask for.

Speaking of which, Melissa had joined Rory in finding us. “Hey Rory, Melissa,” I said.

“What’s going on?” she asked, noticing my sullen expression.

I couldn’t say anything in front of Rory about the situation between Hailz and me. I opted for the truth but skipped around the details. “Hailz didn’t like my wedding present. She and I got into an argument over it and then everything went south from there.”

“That stinks,” she commiserated with me. “I swear, it’s like a tug of war between the two of you. No matter what, Hailz is always pulling in the opposite direction of you.”

Rory, oblivious to the conversation, said nothing. His sole focus was geared to Melissa’s ample breasts. I rolled my eyes but said nothing. That’s as close as he’s probably gotten in a long time.

John still held me in his arms. He gave me a quick squeeze and suggested we head back. When we returned, the party was in full swing, but still PG-rated. The rip roaring raunchy randiness wouldn’t start until after midnight.

We returned to our table. Two women from the Witch’s Council were seated with us. They introduced themselves as Astrid and Edith Grall. They were middle aged women who time hadn’t been kind to. Astrid looked as if she had been beautiful once, remnants of her beauty apparent in her wrinkle free skin. Edith, on the other hand, I think was born with the sour expression she wore on her face.

When it was my turn to be introduced I was greeted with evil stares from the two Witches. They were polite as could be with everyone else at the table. The Grall sisters only seemed to have a problem with me. Abel may no longer be here, but his influence was apparent in these two women.

I made the best of the situation. Being seated between John and Melissa, I was safe from the evil eye of the Witches. Rory, on the other side of Melissa, seemed to relax and enjoy himself. I think it may have had something to do with Melissa.

A new glass was set in front of me and I took a hearty gulp, hoping to steady my nerves. The only thing it did for my nerves was set them off kilter even more as I realized I had just downed half a glass of fairy wine.

I spoke in a low voice, not wanting eavesdroppers to listen in. “I accidentally took a big drink of the wine,” I informed John. “Am I going to be okay?”

He cupped my chin in his hand and chuckled softly. “You should be just fine, just switch to something else.”

Oh thank the Goddess, I sighed in relief. Waking up a week later with no memory of what I did wasn’t sounding like my idea of fun.

“Just in case, I won’t leave your sight,” John added, patting my hand.

I took a moment to take him in. A five o’ clock shadow was making its appearance on his face. Even dressed like a foppish French gentleman from the 1700’s, the stubble looked good on him. I loved how he always smelled like nature, the scent of fresh mown grass radiating from his every pore.


Melissa cleared her throat, gaining our attention. “Mags, are you going to sit there all night and stare at John all doe eyed or do you want to come and dance with me?”

Rather than face another embarrassing situation, I left with Melissa before John had the chance to tease me. We left John at the table, with Rory as entertainment.

I mentioned Rory’s attentiveness towards Melissa to her as we made our way to the dance floor.

“Rory’s nice enough, but I think I’d break him,” she mentioned. “Does that make me sound superficial?”

“A little,” I responded, “but who isn’t. Besides, you haven’t seen him at his best yet.”

She raised her eyebrow at me, knowing I was up to something, but unable to put her finger on it. “What do you mean, at his best?”

“Stick around him long enough and you’ll find out,” I warned, laughing at my little joke. I wondered what she would think of Rory if she saw him transform. After all, Melissa did like a beast of a man.

There were two circles of dancers, one inside of the other. They were getting ready to begin when we joined them. Melissa and I found ourselves between a Dwarf and a Fae. The Dwarf acknowledged us and nothing more. The Fae was kind enough to explain the dance to us.

Each circle danced in opposite directions until the music stops. Then, you and the person opposite you on the inside circle dance round and round until the music stops once again. Whichever circle you are in when the music ends is the circle you begin the whole process with again. The dance is meant to give each dancer as many partners as possible.

Melissa and I had a blast in the dancing circles. I can’t remember who all I danced with, but even the queen’s consort and I shared a twirl.

One of the women in the inner circle began to scream, breaking up the frivolity and drawing everyone’s attention. I tried to push through some of the onlookers to get a better look, but Rory pulled me away.

“What happened?” he asked while on the lookout for the source of the threat.

John had found Melissa and brought her to where Rory and I were standing.

“I don’t know,” I replied, just as baffled as anyone else. “I was dancing and all of the sudden a woman started freaking out.” I looked at Melissa. “Did you see anything?” I asked her.

“No. I didn’t see anything either,” she replied.

John was in his familiar warrior stance, alert to everything and scanning the area for dangers. As long as I’ve known him, he’s always been prepared like a finely trained soldier. As long as I’ve known him, he’s always seemed ready to go into battle. I wonder where he trained or why he did it. I made a mental note to ask him about that.

“I doubt she’s screaming bloody murder for no reason,” John remarked while putting his body between the group and I.

The queen’s consort made his way through the mass of people and was walking past us when he overheard John and stopped short. He dismissed our concerns with a wave of his bejeweled hand. “It is nothing to worry about. I’ve simply won a bet.”

Rory bowed in deference. “But my lord, she’s screaming,” he pointed out.

Melissa, John, and I were not used to Fae customs and hastily made the same courtesies as Rory had.

The consort, gleeful of his victory, was all too happy to tell us his story. “The woman was frightened, that’s all. I told Aurora this morning that something would try to nest in one of these ghastly wigs we’re all wearing.”

Melissa’s hands shot up to her mouth in shock. “Oh my goodness!”

The consort looked Melissa over with a rakish eye. Finding her countenance pleasing he continued. “Yes, quite shocking indeed,” he told as he kissed her hand. Melissa giggled, like a little schoolgirl, at the pleasantry. Rory bristled as the exchange took place. I had no doubt a green eyed monster was, well, going to replace his monstrous self. I wonder if Aurora knows her lover is a cad.

The consort, remembering his manners, continued with his tale, this time addressing all of us. “It seems a group of hummingbirds have decided that Baroness Carrick’s wig was a fine place to make their new home.”

We all broke into laughter at that. Even the consort couldn’t hide his joviality at the ridiculous scene. We drew the ire of the other guests. I guess some of them took the woman’s predicament more seriously than we and thought us impolite.

I didn’t want to find Pixies playing hide and go seek in my beehive of a nightmare. Wasting no time, I got rid of my wig and Melissa’s, relegating them to wherever things go when they magically disappear. Other women, not having to be the first to do so, followed suit and removed their hairpieces.

“What did you win, my lord?” Rory asked of the consort.

His wandering eye had led him to Melissa’s bust line again which led to his distraction. “Win?” The consort took a moment as he tried to figure out what it was that Rory asked. His eyes lit up when he realized what he had been asked. “Oh yes, the bet. I won a village,” he said nonchalantly and walked away, being summoned by Aurora. The queen had noticed his appreciation for Melissa.

“A village?” Melissa asked in disbelief.

“Is something wrong?” Rory inquired back, confused by her reaction.

She took her time and chose her words carefully, not wanting to offend Rory. “How do you feel, being won and lost in a bet at the whim of a noble?”

Rory’s lips curved upward and his eyes twinkled in amusement. “I appreciate your concern. If I was anything other than Fae you would have a valid point.”

“It isn’t problematic?” John asked as we still mulled around.

“No, it’s not,” Rory replied and explained why. “Though village leaders change, their treatment of us is always humane and just. We don’t rule and treat each other like your leaders do.”

Melissa was placated by his answer. She couldn’t stand injustice and her heart always bled for those she felt were oppressed. The Fae way, socially evolved light years beyond the rest of ours, seemed alien and strange to the rest of us. Maybe one day we’ll be lucky enough to follow in their shoes.

Crisis averted, the wedding reception was back in full swing sans party hair. We, along with the others joined back in the merriment as we ate, drank, and danced well into the night.