chapter 32
Gemma
We land on the shore of the lake beneath the sun and are instantly blanketed by warm air.
“Thank God.” Aislin does a spin with her hands out to the sides of her, her hair blowing behind her like a cape. “It’s so good to be home.”
Home? Is that where I am? I stare at the castle at the top of the hill. Is that my home?
She stops spinning, letting her arms fall to the side, sadness filling her expression. “I just wish Aleesa could have been with us… she didn’t even really get a life, you know.”
“I know.” I have an urge to hug her, but, being an awkward hugger, I keep my arms to my side.
However, she hugs me, throwing her arms around me and gripping tight. It’s awkward, but not as much as it used to be for me. When she pulls away, she’s smiling and looking like her old self again.
“I’m not even sure Laylen and Evan are going to be here… they might have gone looking for me,” I say as we start to hike up the hill. The castle looks empty; no lights on, the curtains open, and there are no cars parked out front. “God, what if they did? What if they went to the Fey Realm and are there looking for me, and Luna is there and—”
Aislin’s fingers wrap around my arm. “Calm down, Gemma. Let’s not jump to conclusions before we see what’s going on.”
I nod and she releases my arm. “We’ll get everything fixed,” she says. “No matter what it is.”
I nod, frowning, as I think of everything that’s wrong. “Okay.”
“And Gemma,” she says, looking me directly in the eye. “When I say we, I mean we. You’re not in this alone.”
I have the urge to hug her again and I’m actually considering it, but my thoughts are interrupted by a loud explosion as the castle windows crack, burst, and fly through the air, along with sparks.
Aislin and I sprint off towards the castle, running as fast as we can, legs fighting to move, arms flailing, but we slam to a halt when Laylen and Evan come running out the front door, their eyes fixed on the castle, which is lighting up with roaring flames. Walking backwards with his back turned to us, Evan spreads his hands to the side, and his skin erupts with flames. He channels it to his palms and starts throwing them at the open front door.
“What the hell are they doing!?” I call out to Aislin as we race across the gravel driveway. “Trying to burn the place down!?”
She shrugs, panting and struggling to keep up. “I have no idea!”
Hearing our voices, Laylen and Evan turn in our direction and shock registers upon their faces.
“Where’d you two come from?” Evan’s flaming arms fall to his side, singeing a hole in his jeans.
I stop in front of them, gasping for air and hunching over. “What the heck’s going on?”
Laylen’s bright blue eyes widen as he rushes towards us, grabbing each of us by the arm without slowing down. “I’ll explain later, but, right now, we have to get the hell out of here!” He jerks us backwards and we both struggle to follow as well as keep up with him.
He lets go of our arms and we sprint behind him as he leads the way to the shore. Evan jogs behind us, shooting flaming balls from his hand towards the castle. He keeps cursing as explosion after explosion fills the air.
Once we reach the shore, he slams to a stop. “Gemma, Foresee us out of here.” He pants loudly as he sweeps his hair away from his sweaty forehead. “We have to go! Now!”
Evan jogs up to us, reaching inside his pocket, and he retrieves the miniature, ruby-filled Foreseer Ball. “I got it…” He stumbles over a log and the ball slips from his fingers, rolling towards the lake. Evan watches it plink into the water and he starts to chase after it.
Aislin grabs his arm. “Don’t.” She points to the water and Evan stops moving.
There are hundreds of Water Faeries in the lake, wispy and hauntingly graceful as they dance and twirl, spinning their fabric bodies and watching us with their hollowed out eyes.
“Why are they… Crap. I think everything in the Fey world is starting to fall apart,” I declare.
“Starting,” Aislin says incredulously. “Try, has been for a while.”
A loud crash booms from behind us and I tear my eyes from the lake and towards the noise. Suddenly, I understand what the panic is about.
A giant-size Faerie with purple skin and flowing hair charges from the castle, taking one of the towers out with her. Her skin is singed in spots, along with her hair and dress, and her eyes are burning with rage.
“Luna,” I say, my eyes widening as I back up towards the water.
And she’s not alone. Surrounding her ankles are loyal groups upon groups of Fey; carrying spears and more are exiting the trees.
I stop near the water, glancing down at the pendant on my neck. “Does this work on her?”
Hearing me, Luna laughs and it vibrates in the ground, sending trees from their roots. “I’m already an Empress, Gemma. Another Empress can’t rule over the same reign.”
I point at the Fey around her feet as she continues to charge at me. “They can, though.”
She laughs and it sends birds flying from the trees crashing to the ground. “You think they’d pick you over me? Try. Try and see!”
I don’t want to try. I want to get the hell out of here. I gather everyone in and we huddle together as the world around us falls apart. Closing my eyes I try to visualize someplace safe. Someplace no one will look for us. Someplace where I wish I could be instead of here. What surfaces in my mind surprises me.
“Stop them!” Luna shouts. “Stop them now!”
It’s too late. We’re already being pulled away.
“I won’t let you do this!” she cries, but her voice is fading. “You won’t reign over my people and ruin my plan. I will win the war!”
When I open my eyes we all stand in the middle of the living room of my old house.
It goes silent. I can hear Laylen, Aislin and Evan panting around me. For a moment, I don’t dare open my eyes, but when I do, it’s hard to take in. Because where I’m standing is where all of the craziness started; the place where I was hidden, forced to live in solitude from my emotions, and where I roamed my empty life until I found Alex. I have no idea why I’m here, but maybe my subconscious does.
Whatever the reason, I take a deep breath and glance around at the house I grew up in, located in the snowy mountains. The place I once called home.