Red and Her Wolf (Kingdom, #3)

The sound of chimes rang loudly in the air as Esmeralda emerged with a loud pop (like an object escaping a bubble) from within the swirling mercurial radiance. Her full pink lips tipped up into a grim smile. The air turned crisp, smelling of morning dew and clinging ivy.

“Well met, Godmother,” Esmeralda nodded her chestnut colored head respectfully toward Danika. Then her eyes widened as she finally took notice of the scene before her. “What has happened here?” Her tiny voice trembled, her gaze unflinching and focused as she stared at Jana--or, at least what was left of her. Bits of the Green were scattered throughout, but her trunk and legs were now glowing a deep hued moss. The magic, a fairy’s very soul, would soon erupt from the body, seeking a new and suitable host.

Danika trembled at the thought of so much power. To be one of the Ten, could she do it? Would she want to? She gripped her wand tighter, palms sweaty as her heart beat hard. Who would the magic take?

Galeta rolled her eyes, her mouth set into a tight line. “That is why I’ve called you here, Ese. The wolf knows, his memories must be revealed.”

A change overcame the lovely fairy then. Esmeralda’s head tilted as a helix of black bled through the color and whites of her eyes. No less beautiful, but alien and frightening as she turned that penetrating gaze on the black wolf who was now eerily silent.

“Wolf,” she said in that same flute like voice, “show me the truth.”

Whining, but unable to resist the command, the wolf looked at Esmeralda.

Wind ripped and roared through the tiny thatched cottage, stirring dirt and brambles, making Danika’s hair whip into her eyes painfully. Wincing, she narrowed her eyes, trying desperately to keep them open so she could see the vision unfold.

A scene stirred like a ripple in a pond. Slowly at first, largely blurred at the edges, but tightening at its center, forming a picture.

Galeta narrowed her eyes when a healthy Jana came into focus. Her long white hair flowed well past her waist, nearly to her knees. And though she appeared a fragile woman with liver spots and wrinkles covering her from head to toe, her eyes gleamed like the glint of steel in flame. A nasty smile curved her lips as she spoke, not in terror, but calmly to the black wolf.

Jana pointed a gnarled finger--the sharp nail long and curling downward--at the door.

Danika’s eyes widened. Why was Jana not fighting the wolf? Why did she not attempt to defend herself?

The scene shifted again when the Heartsong entered the doorway. Her eyes moved between the wolf and Jana. At first with fright, but then her facial features dropped and something akin to horror flickered in the depths of her eyes.

The red wolf leapt into the picture, creeping in behind her. The wolves had set a trap and Jana was smiling.

“Bloody, bloody hell!” Galeta spat as Danika’s heart sank to her knees.

How could this have happened?

Then Galeta spun that arctic stare on both her and Miriam. “None must know of this night. Should Kingdom ever discover what has transpired here, our world would cease to exist as we know it. Swear it!” The power of her words rolled like shifting lands, stealing the very breath from Danika’s lungs.

She gulped, but nodded. Miriam nodded too, but closed her eyes. She had her arms wrapped around herself, and Danika knew her friend was not well.

Galeta’s nostrils flared. Esmeralda blinked and the black of her eyes were no more, they’d returned to the vibrant green of a tree’s canopy.

“Sister,” Esmeralda said, pointing to Jana, “she glows.”

The green light encased Jana’s remains like a tomb, lifting what was left of her high into the air. The room grew heavy with the sharp nip of ozone. Bolts of lightning streaked from within the corpse itself.

Galeta pursed her lips. “The magic will find who it will.” Then she turned her hawk like gaze back on the wolf. “Destroy them all. Malvena must never know how close she came this night.”

Miriam’s head shot up then. “What? All? Even the Heartsong?”

The Headmistress snarled. “How dare you speak to me? I’ve given the order. Kill them all!”

Danika’s head seemed completely independent of her body at that moment, turning this way, that way, following each harshly spoken word with a lump in her throat.

“NO!” Esmeralda cried, one eyebrow rose as she studied Galeta with the look of a fairy who would do bodily harm if ignored. “You may not kill any.”

“You cannot stop me--”

Esmeralda crackled as she flitted towards Galeta’s projection. She planted small hands on her hips and spread her legs, a shower of dust dropped from her wings as she spoke. “I am truth, Galeta. Do not forget it.”