The Silver Bough
A.M. Carr
(This is the continuation of 'Wanna Live Underground'. It won't make sense unless you read the Prequel (Only six chapters).)
A Prophesy Concerning the Underground's
Potential Downfall (Vol. )
Foretold by Sir Robin of Zaker and the Woman in Grey.
Part One
1)A dark triad has been formed; three from the Underground removed; one banished, one transported, and one expatriated.
2)Twenty-five of the Aboveground kin have fallen into darkness; two have returned, ten who have descended into the Land of Shades, four who have been sacrificed, three who have been cured, three who are lodged amongst the insane, and three who are still under the darkness' control.
3)But the division of the Twenty-five appears; two, thirteen, one, three, three, three.
4)The three realms are threatened with a descent into darkness unless the Key (the princess servant, the Labyrinth's champion, the Trailblazer, the daughter of mortals) is instructed and assisted by the disregarded Fae King (the Ruler), and the Exiled girl-child (the Illusionist).
5)The Key shall be assisted by the Elfin son (the Enchanter), the mortal girl (the Seeker, whose brother had tasted the darkness), the Keeper of the Tomes (the Knower) and the two who came after and who the Key fought to retrieve (the Inquisitor and the Observer).
Chapter One
No One Can Blame You, For Walking Away
LABYRINTH: 1) A structure containing an intricate network of winding passages that are hard to follow without losing one's way; maze. 2) A complicated, perplexing arrangement, course of affairs, etc. New World Dictionary
-X-
July 22, 1990
'On the 22nd day of the 7th month, four score and ten years into the 19th Century: in an alignment shall be Gaia, the Leader, and Time with Sol blacked out by Selene.
The Ruler pledges that those taken by the darkness will be saved.' (Proph. 10, Vol.)
"This has to stop!" The Goblin King told the Seelie council. "I have it on good authority that at least six of our Aboveground brethren have succumbed to the wiles of one of our own."
"Goblin King." Lady Morgana Le Fay said, "We do understand the severity of this, but you have given us no proof, nor even a real name of who is doing this. Personally, I need a shred of evidence before we open an inquisition onto these charges."
"I would like to know," Said one of the older members, a wizened male, "Who your emissary is."
"Lady Kiandra."
"The banished imp?!" The council's reaction ranged from disbelief to laughter.
"Exiled." Jareth corrected quietly beneath his breath.
"Have you thought that perhaps your scout is playing a prank?" Queen Tatiana asked regally. "I do recall she is quite good at that."
"She wouldn't joke about something like this. One has crossed over to Tir Na Nog, you can question him. Another is staying near to her, and fully intending to do the same thing. A death that the mortals are calling a 'mugging gone wrong' reeked of magical interference. So does the arson victim. And I was there when the second most recent victim leapt from a bridge. The most recent victim, a former competitive swimmer, drowned on a clear, calm day in less than two metres of water, and well within reach of the shoreline."
"You make a persuasive argument," King Oberon finally said, "We will keep an eye open for anything odd. But, unfortunately, we can not start a formal investigation until we have more evidence. We'll need you and your agent to keep an eye open when Aboveground."
July 30, 1990
"Darn!" Kiandra hung up the phone. She picked it back up, and dialled. The answering machine picked up.
"You've reached the office of Professor Kinsey." A tinny voice told her. "At this time, he is either away or on the phone. Please leave a message after the tone."
"Hey, it's Kay. I just got a call from Officer Mike Faison. There's been another suicide of dubious origins. Call me." That would be the last one they would have to deal with.
August 2, 1990
'On the 2nd to 7th day of the 8th month, four score and ten years into the 19th Century: in an alignment shall be Gaia, War and Death, with Selene red with blood.
The death of an Innocent is foretold; A bloody attack on the Council and Underground. The Illusionist is weakened.' (Proph.11, Vol. )
"I'm worried." Kiandra said, staring out at the river.
"Of course you are." Jareth replied. "Most of the Council isn't taking this seriously."
"There's that. And the fact that the moon will be in eclipse means that we won't be able do a thing." She was bound to the moon's power in every way, they both were. "And if you're right about it being an UnSeelie attack, that means they will get their power from the fact that Mars and Pluto are aligned, as well as the eclipse. I just wish the prophecy was more helpful about the innocent."
"You translated more of it than anyone else. Remember, you figured out that the seemingly opaque symbols actually referred to the planets. We've done all we can. The Williams are safe?"
"Of course, they're all on vacation in Massachusetts, staying at two adjacent cabins on the lake. And the surrounding area has been discreetly sheltered by various protections. You have no idea how hard that was. Also, I have various Labyrinth citizens helping including her friends, and our headquarters is in a third adjacent cabin. I'd like to see the UnSeelie try to find them." She bragged slightly, proud of her work.
"Hopefully, you won't have too." Jareth was far more cautious.
"So, this is it? I wait it out Aboveground while you stay with the Labyrinth."
"What other choices do we have? Unlike us, the vast majority of the Council is not dependant on the moon. It would be another story if it was a solar eclipse. Anyway, I need you up here."
"Despite being weakened, you're still a formidable opponent."
"That's why I can't and won't abandon my kingdom and the remaining residents."
"You wouldn't have had this problem if you had chosen another animal form."
He chuckled, "I deserved that." Becoming more solemn, he told her, "I want you to promise you'll be careful."
"Hey, no problem."
"I mean it; no stupid risks, no mockery of the opponent. And I don't care if you do have an iron skillet."
"I promise." She said with a sigh, "I better get to Massachusetts before this eclipse starts. You be careful too."
For the first time in a long time, Sarah's family; dad, Karen, mom, Jeremy, Toby and Clare, had gotten together for a family vacation, on Plum Island, Massachusetts. Currently, she was reading a book on the beach, while the two little ones played in the sand. It was serene, but something didn't feel right. The feeling would continue to nag at her for the next five days until something would happen to make her realize that something was indeed not right.
August 7, 1990
Despite the charms, the protections, something was trying to push itself up through the only Ley Line intersection with in the area that was protecting the Williams family. Kiandra had to rally her 'troops'.
"What do we do?! What do we do?!" Twitch was panicking.
"This is what we do!" Kiandra announced. "We will fight them on the beaches! We will fight them in the forest! And, if it comes to it, we will fight them in the cabin! But we will try not to break anything! I want to get the security deposit back. Now charge!" They went running. Kiandra pulled on some gloves, and followed, carrying her trusty iron skillet. It was weird, usually they would be guided by the light of the moon, but the moon itself was ruddy and dark.
Several dark, shadowy figures hissed out of the intersection. "They're using cloud beings!" A dropped crystal and a bright flash of pure light, and most of the cloud-beings disappeared. The last one merely retreated.
But, something bigger and denser was forcing its way out. Part of the body came through, and Kiandra thrashed it with the skillet. It pulled back, howling in pain, and disappeared.
In the William's cabin kitchen, the adults were talking and playing cards. A scream came from the room where the two youngest were sleeping. Sarah got there first, and threw open the door. An oppressive shadowy figure was trying to work its way through the window. The door slammed shut behind her.
"You shall not pass!" She screamed at the shade, raising her hand. A flash of white light engulfed the room, and the creature evaporated.
"How did you do that?" Toby asked in awe. Behind her, the bedroom door gave way, and the adults tumbled in.
"What just happened?" Karen demanded. At the Ley Lines, the attacking creatures had disappeared, the victors returned to their headquarters. The battle was won.
After that, the forest was silent.
August 8, 1990
Down in the Underground, the Labyrinth itself was the opponent of the darkness and nothing broke through. Kiandra, followed by her brave troops, entered the Throne Room.
"Na, na, na, na. Na, na, na, na. Hey, hey, good-bye!" They sang happily. Unfortunately, most of them couldn't carry a tune. She saw the solemn look on Jareth's face, and stopped suddenly.
"Whoa. Who died?" She asked. Realization hit, "Did someone actually die?"
It turns out, while she was in Massachusetts, the Masry's, who leased the curio shop had her shift filled by Chelsea Masry, the young adult daughter from Mr. Masry's first marriage. The Aboveground police were calling it a 'robbery gone wrong'. But, any magical being worth their salt knew there was magical interference.
The same awful surprise was awaiting Sarah when she returned from Massachusetts. It was the same Chelsea from her Drama club.