Chapter 8
When we met Morgana near Nalina’s house, she had changed into hiking clothes and sneakers.
It was easier for me to process how the gods dressed, which was very much like mortals when they visited over here rather than back in the Realms, now that I had gone through the process of deification.
Wearing long robes and heavy adornments was taxing, and in this day and age, anybody who had anything at all to do with the mortal world adopted the ease of mortal clothing.
Herne and I led the way into UnderLake Park, Viktor and Morgana taking up the rear. As we headed toward Nalina’s usual trail, Morgana cleared her throat.
“So much pain, so much anger…the land here is tainted with blood and the battles all rage on,” she said.
“I see why you say there are dark things here. But you don’t know just how many shadows linger beneath these trees.
Even the plants are angry. The soil has soaked up all the violence and pain, and it emanates it through the trees and the bushes and even the blades of grass and mosses that hang from the trees. ”
I shivered. “You just encapsulated everything I feel about UnderLake Park,” I said. “You know Raven?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Her first fiancé was killed here. A serial killer murdered him.” I thought back to the first days when Raven had come to us for help.
And to the end, when she had made certain that her fiancé’s murderer never again took another life.
Raven was chaotic, but at least she was on our side. The Ante-Fae lived by their own rules.
“Tragic. Sometimes blood must be shed, but for mortals like that—like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer—well, such wanton and wasteful loss of life is truly the work of evil incarnate.” Morgana sighed.
“Do you believe a killer can be reformed?” Viktor asked her.
Morgana hiked along behind us as the trail began to ascend, not even a single drop of perspiration showing, or even a rise in her breathing.
“Some say everyone has a redemption arc in them, but I don’t believe it.
There are many who go to the grave, knowing the harm they’ve done, who don’t give a fuck.
Cernunnos’s dungeon is filled with them,” she added.
I grimaced. Cernunnos had no problem judging those who broke the laws of decency and his punishments were harsh. But then again, the people who he imprisoned probably deserved worse.
“Are there will-o’-the-wisps in your realm?” I asked.
Each god and goddess had their own realms in which they lived. Some shared realms, as in Annwn, where the Celtic gods ruled, or in Kalevala, where the Finnish deities made their home. I would belong to Annwn, I had been told shortly after I’d passed through the Gadawnoin.
“Yes, there are. They inhabit just about every realm,” Morgana said. She stopped and looked around. “We’re near the Whispering Lights, aren’t we?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I can feel them, too.”
I stepped out into a small clearing off the side of the trail and within seconds, a group of the glowing orbs emerged from the side of the path.
I had to remind myself these weren’t will-o’-the-wisps.
They weren’t going to attack me, nor try to steal anybody’s energy.
Off to one side, I caught sight of the gyanatar, huddling beneath a bush, just waiting.
Suddenly feeling sorry for the Whispering Lights, I wanted to shoo it out of the way, to chase it off.
“Well, here we go,” I said. “The gyanatar is over there, by the way.” I pointed to the golden creature.
Morgana followed my gaze. “Yes, there it is. All right. I’ll teach you how to create a simple portal to another forest—one you’ve been in a lot. You can’t work out on other realms yet, so where can we send them?”
I considered the question. Finally, I said, “There’s a park near our house—right in back. The gyanatar would have to search them out to go there, and maybe from there, we can help them leave the area permanently. But this will do in a pinch.”
“Good,” Morgana said. “Herne, I don’t want you helping her.”
“Yes, Mother,” he said, a smile forming on his lips. “I promise.”
“What should I do?” Viktor asked.
“Go stand near the gyanatar. Both you and Herne. It might scare it off, since it’s manifested into this realm.” Morgana waved them to the side.
They headed over in the direction of the gyanatar and sure enough, it scuttled back beneath the cover of the ferns it was standing next to.
For a moment, we heard the rustling of leaves, then all was silent.
Another moment and raindrops began to splash down from the cloud cover above.
I grimaced. The rain here was beautiful, but cold.
But another rustle and the gyanatar had gone even further into the thicket for better cover.
“All right, now for the portal.” Morgana turned to me.
“You have always been able to connect with the element of water. And, to some degree, the land. Well, creating a portal into another place—in the same realm—requires connecting to the area that you want to open the portal into. I want you to think of a place in that park that you know so well that you can smell it, see it, touch it. Begin to forge that connection now.”
I closed my eyes, bringing to mind the clearing shortly after the trailhead behind Herne’s house.
Not five minutes away, there was a small area that had been cleared for picnics.
It was the size of our backyard—not large—but it had a firepit that had been built of natural stone, two half-log benches, a picnic table and benches, a water spigot, and not far off trail was a modern-day outhouse.
The area was safe—as much as the woods ever could be safe.
Since we had returned to Seattle, we often took the girls there.
It was an easy walk, even carrying the triplets, and it was always comforting. Nightshade, especially, loved it.
Inhaling, I could smell the soil and rain and the petrichor that filled the air, and for a moment, I felt like I was actually standing in the campground there.
“All right,” Morgana’s voice was soft and distant, yet crystal clear.
“I can tell you have made the connection with that part of the land. I want you to stretch out your right hand and summon up the spell of Opening. Remember—it opens the locks to doors, both seen and unseen. As you cast the spell, focus on the space in the air where your hand is, and open the space that separates this park from that park.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant, but I had often found that just following instructions led to success. I held out my hand and began to whisper the incantation, focusing on the area surrounding my fingers.
The way is closed, doors are locked.
I call to you, now unblock,
Open the way, let results speed,
The path is open, now I may lead
You through the gate, now unbarred,
Let this spell cast, free and unmarred.
What was closed, now shall open,
The spell is set and unbroken.
Another moment and I opened my eyes to see a ripple forming in the air.
It grew larger, and—as I turned—I saw the Whispering Lights heading toward it.
I was afraid to speak, afraid of disrupting the magic.
I didn’t want to break the spell, so I just watched as the lights gently bumped against my hand, then headed straight into the rippling waves of energy, vanishing from our sight.
Another moment and the last one vanished. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the gyanatar hurrying out of the bushes, trying to follow them. Before it could reach the portal, I closed my hand, swiping it through the portal, closing the opening with an abrupt “No!”
Another second, and the creature stopped, staring wistfully at the direction in which the lights had gone. It seemed to sense that its prey was no longer in the area, because with an audible sigh, it seemed to sag a little, turned tail, and headed the opposite way.
“Did it work?” I asked, daring to hope that I hadn’t screwed anything up.
“It worked,” Morgana said. “They probably won’t come back to the area. Now that the gyanatar has been here, it left an energy signature that other Whispering Lights can sense. They’ll avoid it because of the danger to their existence.”
Relieved, I let out a long breath. The Whispering Lights were safe, the gyanatar was still alive, and now Nalina wouldn’t be their target.
As we returned to the office, I called Ginty and told him he could let Nalina and Muffin go home.
She could catch a ride home from one of his bouncers, or she could call a taxi.
I asked him to tell her that we’d be in touch later today, but that it was safe now and she shouldn’t have a problem with the lights again.
Talia had ordered lunch—I’d also texted her—and it was waiting for us. As we gathered around the table, it occurred to me that I might learn more about being a goddess over here, in Seattle, than back in Annwn.
“So, now that we’ve got that out of the way,” I said. “I have another issue to ask you about.”
“What is it?” Morgana asked.
I told everyone about my dream. “He was a kelpie, that much I know, but I have the feeling he was also a messenger. He told me his name was the God-Killer.”
Morgana’s smile faded. “Are you sure that’s what he said?”
I nodded. “Of course, yes. I had the greatest sense of dread watching him. It felt like he was leading a parade, though I have no idea just what kind of parade, or who was associated with it. Like he marched in front of them.” I paused, then asked, “Can you think of something that might relate?”
Morgana shook her head. “No, I can’t. But we need to figure it out. It was a premonition—of that, I’m sure. And whatever’s connected to it, the energy is dark and massive and amorphous. Start researching and I’ll ask around,” she added.
“Will do,” Yutani said. “Ember, get me a description of him—as clear of one as you can.”
“So, I guess meanwhile, we just hurry up and wait?” I asked.
“That’s about the size of it,” Morgana said. “Onto other topics, Ash will be starting to work on Monday. She’s more skilled than you might think, so don’t worry about confusing her. If she has questions, she’ll ask.”
“Looking forward to it,” Herne said. “What else should we be doing?”
“Keep a tight eye on events that happen out in the waters surrounding the area. Not just Puget Sound, but the lakes around here. And Ember, I want you to come with me. I’m going to show you a place where I think you should open your temple.
It’s time. Lyrical can live there once it’s done and tend to the sacred well. ”
“Sacred well? I’m going to have a sacred well?” I asked, feeling suddenly out of place. Everything was starting to move so fast, though time didn’t really matter much. Not now.
Yutani quietly excused himself, and I realized that hearing Lyrical’s name had disconcerted him. I was about to say as much when Morgana interrupted me.
“He’ll have to get over this,” she said. “And he will, though it will take time.”
As Herne and Morgana began chatting about Danielle—Herne’s other daughter—and the fact that she’d be visiting in a few weeks, I headed over to the window, looking out.
Everything had changed, but yet—stability remained. Our friends were still with us. Angel was coming home. The Wild Hunt would continue because the Fae Queens were back to sniping with each other. We were needed here, and so here, we were.
And yet, new chapters were opening all over the place.
I was opening a temple, complete with a priestess.
A new breed of Fae was emerging from the shadows and we would host one of the first of the Crystal Fae, right in our midst. Herne and I were watching our daughters grow, beginning to see the glimmer of their individual personalities.
And the world continued to need help—evil still walked among us, and chaos, and we were here to help smooth the path and negate as much of the damage as we could.
I opened the window and the scent of rain swept into the room. Autumn was on the doorstep, and—for good or ill—it was bringing dark clouds and shadows aplenty. But we’d be here, to face them, and hopefully, we could clear away the darkest shadows, leaving room for the light to grow.