Here's chapter 6! Please Review. Please.
Chapter 6:
I looked down at the crumpled sheet of paper and re-read it for what seemed like the thousandth time.
You will find the one for whom you seek
in the place that few can see.
Cold, and warm,
it is where two opposites meet.
I threw it on my bed. In the place that few can see... Tabh'rs! I jumped up. Okay. What do tabh'rs lead to? Faery, the silvers, the White Mansion, there's one tabh'r in Alana's house! I got up and ran down the stairs, looking for anybody to help me out. When I found nobody I turned to my only other alternative.
"BARRONS! KELTAR! MAC!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. I heard crashing, and banging, and one by one, all of the Keltar men line themselves up along the wall, lounging and looking alert, and aloof at the same time. Mac and Jericho came next, followed by Jeremy.
"What?" Barrons Senior practically growled.
"I've found a lead to where Solus is hiding! A legit one! Here:
You will find the one for whom you seek
in the place that few can see.
Cold, and warm,
it is where two opposites meet.
I think that the 'place that few can see' is a tabh'r. Because very few can see them. I don't really know about the last two lines." I looked up to see Mac and Jericho whispering hurriedly. Mac glared, and then Jericho sighed, nodding and she looked at me.
"Dru, I think the person you're looking for is in the White Mansion."
My face fell. Of course they are. Because they couldn't have picked a nice tabh'r leading to a hot tub
with a nice bar beside it. Of course not. "Alright. Where's the tabh'r leading to it? Where in the bricks behind the bookstore?"
"About that..." Jeremy looked around, and his father narrowed his eyes at his son. "Alana had some men go into the alley that night, and somehow they managed to transfer the tabh'r into her house. That was the tabh'r you saw Dru."
"Because having my informer waiting in the White Mansion wasn't enough.." I muttered darkly. "Well how are we going to get in there?"
"Yes, how dae ye plan tae get in there?" Brody was looking extremely attractive as always in his tight jeans and light v-neck tee shirt.
"Here's how we're going to do it."
.
"Why is Mac here again?" I asked, not even trying to hide my discomfort at having her with us.
"Because I'm the only one who knows the White Mansion- and what if your informer is Unseelie? I might need to get into the prison to get the information for you!"
I sighed. "Fine. But if you die, I don't want Jericho murdering me. Unlike him, I can only die once." I said without thinking. Damn.
"Wait you know about that?" she hissed.
"Don't tell him or him and Ryodan are going to have at each other. Ryodan promised me protection."
"What else has been going on that I don't know about?" Her hands were on her hips, and her lips were pursed. She didn't look very happy with me at all.
"More than either of us thought. I figured Jeremy'd tell you everything. Apparently not." I shrugged and turned away.
She grabbed my shoulder and whipped me around. "You're fooling yourself if you think you run things around here. No matter what the sign says BB&B is my bookstore, and you're staying there because I am tolerating you, because we need you to complete this, and I owe it to Dani. You may be my goddaughter, but I'll be damned if you are going to screw over my family. No matter how much your mother meant to me, my family comes first. You'd do best to remember that."
"Wow. How very gracious it was to have me kidnapped from a home that I was extremely happy in. How very tolerant of you, to let me live in your bookstore, as if I was the one who came to you. Don't you remember how you felt when you came here? How you just wanted to escape all of this? Because I do. I know how you felt, and I honestly cannot believe that you could come and throw somebody into the same kind of situation. I'm just trying to figure things out, to do what feels right, you know, like you did when you first got here. So forgive me, for screwing you over. I guess that just makes us even." I turned and walked to the car, getting into the passenger seat and slamming the door shut. Mac just stood there dumbfounded on the sidewalk. I guess she'd become something like Mac 12.0, and it was getting hard to remember Mac 1.0.
The car sped down the highway, and I went over the plan again in my mind. I was to take Mac and Jeremy up, and help them incapacitate the guards using illusion, and then I was to speed back and get Brody, Gavrael, Pierce and Dean, who would be waiting at the front, just getting out of their car to come and party. I would then speed back, and show Mac and Jeremy where the exact tabh'r was. They'd first just wanted to feel the wall until they found it, and go just the two of them, but I was adamant that I came, and the Keltar wanted at least one of their own to go as well, so the twins, Gavrael and Brody were going to come into the tabh'r as well. Dean, Pierce and Spencer were to keep watch outside the tabh'r, and radio Jericho if anything went wrong, or if anyone came to stop them.
The car lurched to a halt and I got out, looking up at the lovely building. Time to put the plan into action. I made myself look tall, and walked up to the front door, with Mac and Barrons following about ten feet behind me. I stopped in the front hall, and sucked in a deep breath, expelling all other thoughts from my mind. The building is on fire. The building is on fire. The building is... I heard a scream, and knew it had worked. I hurried down the hall, aware that Mac and Barrons were behind me, and we stepped into the room that was adjoined the elevator room. I took an energy bar out of my bag and dug into it.
"There's nobody left in the building." Ryodan radioed in from the roof. I nodded and stopped the fire illusion, and abruptly felt the pull of my energy stop. I shoved two more bars into my mouth before closing my eyes once more, and concentrating on what I had to do. I am Solus. Mac and Barrons aren't actually here. I am Solus. Mac and Barrons aren't actually here. I am... I shoved another bar into my mouth- just incase- and stepped into the elevator room. Mac and Barrons followed quickly.
A camera swivelled in its spot and regarded me, and then the room started to move upwards. Slowly, Alana appeared, grinning hugely. "Solus! 'ow good it ees to see you!" She ran forward when the elevator stopped, and made like she wanted to kiss me, and I stepped away quickly. The image would shatter if touched, but, Mac and Barrons would remain invisible.
"Not now Alana." I said firmly, trying to make my expressions look less human and more Fae. One of her guards fell, and then the other did as well. The remaining two looked at each other in fear before they, too, fell to the ground. They weren't unconcious. I flinched, knowing that they would never smile again.
"Now, Alana," I lifted the illusion on Barrons and Mac- we would let her think that Mac was the one proficient in illusion- and her eyes widened in horror and fear. "You have two choices; stay, and die, or leave and live another day." Barrons started circling her.
"Jeremie, pourquoi are you doing this? What did I do to you? Rien!" she was trembling, and I knew that she thought Solus had turned on her. Good.
"Alana. Now or never."
She didn't make any move to go, and she didn't say anything. Barrons shrugged, and my heart sank, knowing what that meant. The next moment she was on the floor, her neck at an odd angle, and Barrons was standing over her with a look that said 'good riddance'.
I wiped sweat off my forehead, and stopped the illusion- if I hadn't eaten the bars I'd have been dead by now. Barrons lowered the floor just enough so that I could squeeze out. I shoved some more bars in my mouth and freeze-framed to the front of the building. The Keltar were almost at the front, walking in. I realized now, that there really was no need for them to pretend to be partygoers- there wasn't another house within miles of this place.
"Let's go." I ran at normal speed, leading them to the room which was now fully back in 'going up' mode. We all stepped on, and were brought up to where Barrons and Mac were standing- the same place Alana had been the first time I'd come, on the plum couch.
I turned to face behind me, and I saw the glimmering of the tabh'r. I walked toward it, and my hand started twitching, and then so did my knees, and then my eyelids did, and by the time I was within a foot of it, I was spasming everywhere, looking like a kid with severe Tourette Syndrome. I fell to the floor inches from the tabh'r. I turned my head as much as I could and made my lips form words.
"Brody. Pick. Me. Up. Take. Through. Tabh'r." I could barely make my lips form that, with all the jaw twitching going on. He came over cautiously, dodging a leg and nearly getting punched in the face. He grabbed me in a fireman's carry, and surged forward, right through the tabh'r. We were in the Mansion.
"Walk. Away. Tabh'r."
He nodded and got me far enough away that I could stand. Barrons and Mac came barrelling through, followed by Gavrael. "Maybe next time, Dru, you should just wait on the other side with Dean, Pierce and Spencer."
"No chance in hell Barrons." I growled. "Okay. Scout everywhere. I'll act as messenger. Barrons and Brody, you're together, Mac and Gavrael you're together." I followed Brody and Barrons, not wanting to go any closer to Mac than I needed to.
We set off down a pink hallway, getting lost in it's twists and turns. After about ten minutes I freeze-framed down to where we started, and then to where Mac and Gavrael were. They were now in a golden hallway, and they were on either side of a partially open door.
Mac gave me the 'shush' sign, and I nodded. I motioned that I was going to freeze-frame to Barrons and Brody and bring them over and she nodded. We should all have just gone together.
"Barrons, Brody we've found something, come quick. And be quiet!" I grabbed Brody, and freeze-framed him with me. "Elbows in!"
When we arrived there Mac and Gavrael were exactly where they'd been before. I snuck up to the door, a little tired, but none the worse for wear. I poked my head around the corner and saw a male Fae, with a halo of golden hair to his waist shimmering around him. He had a robe on, but nothing more, and it was of the same kind as Viridia's iridescent and see-through.
I entered the room cautiously, motioning for the others to wait outside.
He looked up, and his ancient eyes looked over me with slight curiosity. "Sidhe-seer. I was wondering if you were going to show up. Come, sit." The room was decorated as a sunset, and I sat on a bed that felt as if it was made of clouds, it was so soft.
"Viridia said that you had some information for me, about where Solus is hiding."
He nodded, looking out a window that looked onto a huge garden, clothed in the fading light of the sun. "I do."
"Will you share?"
"I will- provided, that you do something in return."
Of course. The old you-do-something-for-me-then-I'll-do-something-for-you trick. Well played. "What do you want?"
"I want possession of your true name sidhe-seer."
"I do not have a name of that sort, Fae. Only the Fae do, and I am not Fae, thusly, I do not have one."
He nodded, taking that in. "A boon then. Something that you will give me, yourself, for what I give to you."
"You're being very vague Fae. If there is something you wish, name it or please cease wasting my time." I pressed my lips together. I was suddenly very uncomfortable sitting next to him.
"I want you sidhe-seer. I have never had a sidhe-seer before, and have been told the experience is enjoyable."
It took me a few seconds to clue in to what he was saying. My eyes widned. "Hell no Fae!"
"You will reconsider sidhe-seer. The girl will not survive for many more months." he turned, and stood up, going to walk out the door. I panicked, not knowing if he knew if they were outside. I grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait! Isn't there anything else I can do?" I pleaded, and his iridescent eyes glittered, loving my begging.
"That is all I want, sidhe-seer." he showed me teeth, in what I knew was his attempt at a smile, but all it did was make me shiver.
I weighed my options. I didn't know Harmony, but she was Brody's sister, and he really cared about her, and for some reason that mattered to me. Not that my innocence didn't. I didn't really like the idea of giving it to a Fae, but if it was for Brody... "I'd do anything." I whispered, just realizing it. "Fine, Fae."
Brody jumped into the room, looking horrified, just as we were about to shake hands. "Are ye mad lass?"
"I'm doing this for you!"
"But ye shouldn't have tae dae this for me! This isn't right of me tae ask! Of anybody tae ask! Yer worth more than this lass! We'll find another way tae get tae Harmony." He came and looked down at me. I could see the pain in his eyes about not getting the information about Harmony, but he didn't want me to do that.
"But Brody..." I got an idea. I whirled and before the Fae saw what had happened, I had him on the bed, and my sword was out, pointing at his throat. He was stuck.
"Where is she?" I growled.
He laughed. "You forgot about something sidhe-seer."
"What?"
"Damn!" Barrons swore, and lunged at the same time as Brody did. Mac was just behind them, with Gavrael.
The room changed, and we were suddenly in a giant white room, with high, arching ceilings and seemed to be glowing. There were multiple Fae who'd stopped doing what they were doing, and were now all staring at us. Damn.
"Well this didn't go as I had planned." I said, and jumped off the Fae. I grabbed both Barrons and Brody, and noticed that Mac hadn't made it. Gavrael was just barely holding on to Brody's ankle.
They all let go as well, and I looked around. The Fae looked as if they were backing away, and closing in on us, all at the same time. I felt cornered, and backed up, and bumped into Brody. He looked down at me, and pointed the tip of my sword down. I blushed and sheathed it.
When nothing dangerous was on my person- at least, not dangerous at the moment- I backed up even more, trying to press myself as far into Brody as I could, so that maybe I could disappear. I only realized that I was creating an illusion when Brody whispered, "Dru, what are ye doin'?"
I blushed, and came back into view, and looked around the court. They were all chiming, and making inhuman noises- their form of communication, probably. I grabbed Brody's hand, and threaded my fingers in, not caring if he wanted me to or not. When he squeezed it, and clasped it with both of his, I grinned, in spite of our current predicament.
One Fae stepped forward, and came closer and closer, and then suddenly I was weak in the knees, and my whole body was yearning for him. No! Stop! I chided myself, and looked at the ground, to see my shirt laying down on the floor. I put it back on, not really knowing how I'd not noticed taking it off.
"Turn it off." I growled at it.
It just laughed. "What are you doing here sidhe-seer? Why have you brought them with you?"
"Well this lovely creature brought us here. Really appreciated it Fae." I sneered at the one on the ground. The one that was standing had darker hair, with threads of gold in it. He was hurting my eyes to look at and I felt like I was going to explode from need if he stayed any longer. You don't feel anything. I repeated that in my head and the need went away. And then I realized- I was using my powers to make myself think that I wasn't being affected. "And they're here for different reasons."
"Idiot Kar'an." The Fae sneered at the one on the ground. They obviously didn't like each other very much.
"You're one to talk T'vren." He sneered back, standing slowly, and backing away from us, but still keeping an eye on T'vren.
"Well if you're all quite finished, we have some business to attend to." Barrons stated, fairly quietly. It was his 'dangerous' voice. I was glad that I was on his side- as far as I knew at least.
He started walking and I screwed my eyebrows together. "What is he doing?"
"I donna know lass. We should follow him." He tugged me along, and Gavrael followed, with Barrons leading the way through the crowd. The Fae parted as he walked past, and I hurried to catch up to him, beginning to tug Brody along- I didn't want to be stuck in Faery with just Brody and Gavrael- Barrons was really the only reason that the Fae hadn't already killed us.
"Hurry up!" Barrons growled.
"I'm trying but not all of us have godzilla legs." I glared.
"If you don't hurry up you're going to get yourself killed. And I know for a fact you can go much faster than that."
"Yes but Brody and Gavrael can't."
"You grab one I'll grab the other." He said and I sighed. I shoved a bar from my bag into my mouth, and tightened my grip on Brody's hand.
Barrons went into super speed mode, and I set off after him, and we whizzed down the halls, everything passing in blurs. I smashed a few Fae in the ribs with my elbows, and I heard their yelps of pain, but then they were drowned out again. Barrons stopped, and I swerved, trying not to hit him. We were in a dark corridor, far away from the Fae. I was exhausted, and my knees wobbled. I leaned against Brody for support, and he caught me as I fell.
I searched in my bag for the protein bars, but I only found one. "This is my last one." I ate half of it- I might just need some of it later.
"Well we're just going to have to do without your special gifts for now then." Barrons replied, and we stealthily made our way down the hall.
As we got closer, I could feel something cold, and evil residing in the room at the end of the hall. From it there came a faint glow, and I shuddered. The closer we got, the colder I got, and by the time we got to the door, I was shivering and my arms were aching. I was also trembling in fear; the room was practically screaming 'evil'.
"Well, open it." I muttered to Barrons, who did just that.
The door opened, and I was washed in warmth. I frowned. That didn't make any sense. I had just been freezing. Now I was warm. Freaking Fae magic.
Solus was sitting on a bed, and he was smiling and it made me shiver- Fae shouldn't use human expressions. A girl with long black hair to her shoulders and light silver eyes with fear flashing in the was being held in the air by some unseen force. Her hair was dishevelled and she was breathing heavily.
"Harmony." Gavrael breathed, and she was heaved higher into the air with a flick of Solus' fingers.
"That's not how this is going to go down." he twirled his fingers, and Harmony started moving around him, moving to his other side. "You see, you have something that I want."
I frowned, and even Barrons looked confused at that. "Weren't you the one that assaulted Mac, and took Harmony? Didn't you start this?" I blurted.
"But did you never wonder why I did those things sidhe-seer? I thought at least you would have wondered." he flicked his fingers again, and Harmony was floated back to the far wall. The walls were bland, and white, and so was the bed.
"Not really... I just assumed that you were a malevolent creature who gloried in the pain and sorrows of others." I stated, and he glared. "But, if it makes you happy, I can lie, and say yes, I did."
"I'm going to ignore that previous comment sidhe-seer. The reason that I still have Harmony, here, is that I want something. Two somethings actually. I started with the goal of getting one something- Mac's diary." he waved his fingers again, and what I figured was Mac's diary floated into the air, and then dropped back to where it came from. "But, after getting back, I noticed something else that I could have, that I didn't. A very powerful something, that would help me complete tasks that I wouldn't even have dreamed of. That something is you, Drucy." He tried to look attractive, but he made a face that I would only see in my nightmares.
"Great. Just great. I hope you know that this is going to really piss you off." I said and focused on creating the illusion that there was a wall in the middle of the room, cutting him off from where Harmony was. I ran over to her and grabbed her. She was now on the floor, the magic not able to get through the illusion.
I started to see black spots in my vision, and I collapsed, my knees giving way. I concentrated, still, on the illusion. I needed to get us out safely. "Get...us...out." I whispered and was engulfed in black.