Chapter Six #2
Wylda lifted her head and beckoned. Elodie and Delphine stepped onto the dance floor, and they let their power show. All of it. Stovos and Orvis were standing together, face to face, as the two stars and blessed light began to dance around them.
Stovos muttered, “This takes me back.”
Elodie smiled, and they kept dancing. The pipes led their steps, and the fiddle kept their energy up. She spun silken darkness in a veil around the couple. Del wrapped them in waves of light that were held back by the shadows. Her light could be dangerous.
Wylda brought the magic. She spun and danced inside the dark and light, leaving a fine weaving of power around the couple.
Elodie felt the glorious rush of being herself again. The dark star wasn’t seen often, but she was with her friends. The sisters who had fallen with her and been there when she gathered herself to walk this world under her own self.
As they moved, she saw light and a familiar face. Halla hadn’t left yet, and she had so desperately loved to dance. Elodie heard, “You can let me go now. I am free. We are free.”
Elodie continued her steps, gathered her dark magic, wrapped it around Halla’s spirit as tears streaked down her cheeks.
She saw Delphine, who smiled and nodded.
Light wrapped around Halla, and then she was thrust skyward, starting slow and then gathering speed.
A streak of a rising star left the ground, and Elodie grinned and spun and danced as Wylda cast her spell on Atolica and Stovos.
The power built and then snapped, firing inward on two very powerful people.
Their bodies fought it, but nothing could resist wild magic.
When the music stopped, the stars came to a halt. They should have been sweating, but it took more than joy to make them sweat. The guests at the party applauded, but Orvis and Stovos were staring into each other’s eyes. Shadows wrapped around them, and they disappeared.
Wylda dusted her hands and grinned. “Done and done.”
Elodie walked up and hugged her. “What do you think it will be?”
“Either a male harpy or a female dark elf. Or both. Twins are not out of the question.” Wylda smiled. “Tolly can take it.”
The gathering was looking at them, and Nessa walked toward them.
“So, Wylda, this is what you look like on your time off.”
Wylda smiled. “Only on special occasions.”
“So, Stovos and Tolly are...”
“Making you a brother or sister-in-law. I hope Hector is up on his calculus because he’s going to have to work with his sibling. Maybe they can dress the same.”
Nessa paused and then hooted with laughter. “All I can think is that Stovos is going to be shaking the house tonight, and Hector is going to either go quiet or try and drown him out. Twins do run in my family, and the house can only hold so many toddlers.”
Elodie blinked and then started laughing. “Oh. I get it. Dark elf king.”
Wylda frowned. “What?”
Elodie gave her the image of a black lion roaring on top of his female.
Wylda giggled. “Got it.”
Delphine touched Wylda and started snickering. “Make it a black-furred lion, and you are there.”
Nessa frowned. “What am I missing?”
Delphine touched Nessa and shared the image, and she started laughing. “Oh, now I have to face him at breakfast tomorrow.”
The other three started giggling, and the music started up. Nessa’s two pulled her away for a butterfly dance. Wylda smiled shyly and walked over to Lord Rez. Elodie sighed. “We just found each other again.”
Delphine smiled. “I saw you talking to Summer.”
“I saw you talking to Spring.”
“So, we are sticking around. You know. To be social.”
Elodie grinned. “To be social.”
They walked out of the circle of dancers, and Delphine asked, “What did you have your guy do?”
“Make amends to the women he insulted. He started with Ember.”
Delphine chuckled. “I did the same. They need to learn empathy with women.”
“Exactly. I am not up for someone who is willing to judge me when I put on a few pounds.” Elodie smiled. “My instincts tell me that he has about thirty apologies to make. I am curious as to what form that will take, but that is his business. I will know if he manages it.”
Delphine nodded. “They have not treated women kindly, but they have not been treated kindly by women. I hate cyclical abuse.”
“Well, if they break the cycle, I am willing to take Robert on.”
Delphine chuckled as Ty passed Elodie and went to speak to Delphine. Hands gently touched her arms, and Elodie looked up at Robert.
“I will take the challenge. Ember has already forgiven us. We are helping her with landscaping at her new house.”
Elodie smiled. “It’s a solid start.”
He smiled, and there was still wonder in his gaze. “You are exactly what I pictured when I heard Halla’s, or rather, Elodie’s voice.”
“Shiny and made of darkness?” She ignored the shiver she felt when he said her name.
“Eyes with thousands of stars swirling in them.”
“I suppose I should see an optometrist.”
He smiled. “Your eyes are beautiful. Your soul is gorgeous. Was that Halla in the dance?”
“Yes. She hung around to make sure that it was good for her to leave. She needed complete freedom, and I found that for her, so she took it. She gets to become a star now.”
He looked up and then down at her. “But... you are staying?”
“I will live out this life, no matter how long it is, and then I will return to the skies with Wylda.”
Robert looked relieved and then asked, “How long can you live?”
“There are stars here who have been here for over a hundred years. They leave when they feel the time is right.” Elodie grinned. “I am an elf. I can live as long as I want to.”
He smiled slowly. “Same with the seasons. We live until our partners are gone and we don’t have a reason to remain. The way Ember and Rowan are going, Autumn is going to be here forever.”
“What?”
“They have one child so far, and he is looking forward to the second. Ember and Orla are linked, so where one goes, reproductively speaking, they both go. I would imagine it would be similar with you and Wylda.”
She blinked. “Oh. That would be different. Enmar beat the hell out of Halla because she couldn’t have children. I repaired the damage he had done, and then he passed away, so it was never delved into.”
Robert blinked slowly. “I would really like to delve.”
She paused and then laughed. “Worst flirting ever.”
He gave her a bashful look. “Sorry.”
“I like sweet honesty. This body became mine due to an arrogant abuser who destroyed the wife, who lost the will to keep fighting. I was definitely capable of fighting, so I comforted her, and then I kicked his ass before I took his life.”
Robert’s face tightened. She knew that look.
“You would like to kill him again, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
She chuckled. “So would I. I imagine the terror in his last moments was akin to what he had made her feel over and over. I really wanted him to suffer more.”
“Bloodthirsty?”
“Only for him. His death was too fast, and I made it last as long as I could.” She was grim.
Robert smiled. “I can offer you a little more revenge if, or rather when, you agree to my courtship.”
“That is intriguing.”
“Part of the gentle courtship.” He smiled.
“You have my attention, Bobby.”
He grinned. “No one calls me that.”
“In that case, I am no one.”
“Dance with me again?”
She looked at him with a serious focus. His eyes were bright and dark green; his black hair coasted down over his forehead with a soft wave. She stared at him. “Is your hair curly?”
He winced. “Yes. My mom used to straighten it so I didn’t look like a black and white child star.”
“Wow. And now?”
“I brush it wet to keep it under control.”
She grinned. “Well, I will deal with that when the time comes.”
“What?”
“Kids with curly hair. Of course, that is contingent...”
“Got it. Working on it. I have checked, and there are thirty or so. I will find a way to lift what I stepped on.”
“So, you can feel them?”
He sighed and slumped a little. “Yes. Now that I know what to look for, I can feel them. I didn’t even know what the effect was until you mentioned it.”
She shrugged. “I know what it is to feel beaten down and disregarded. Words hurt. But if they didn’t hear you, you need only lift their spirits in one way or another. You are Summer. I am sure you will figure something out.”
He nodded. “I am getting ideas. Ty is on the same quest?”
“Yes. Delphine has the same bit of outrage when it comes to insulting people in public. She is not a fan. Ty is hope and waking, you are excitement and energy, Autumn is satisfaction and ogres. So many baby ogres.” She grinned. “And Winter is following with tiny mages.”
“Wait. Are you a seer?”
“Little bit. I can see what will be around me and have an effect.” She shrugged. “This will be different because Wylda is not linked to an equivalent being. Lord Rez is strong, but his life will be measured in three more centuries.”
“Maybe Wylda will extend his life?” Robert asked.
“Perhaps. Hey, where did they go?” Elodie looked around, but her friend was gone.
She sent her senses out and grinned slowly. “Oh. That’s where they are.”
“What?”
“Never mind. Everything is happening as it should.” She patted Robert’s hand and smiled.