Violet Wings

  Was she hiding under an invisibility spell? Had she gone to Earth to get away from the crowds making much of her in Feyland?

  I had to find her, warn her to stay away from the portal in Galena. Once she was on her guard, we could work together to take away Jason's weapon and get rid of it.

  I flew back to Galena. I stood behind a pillar at the gateway until twilight had turned to darkness, waiting for Leona. She never arrived. Meteor passed

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  through with Portia and Andalonus, but no Leona.

  In the darkness near my home, I infused my wand. "I, Zaria Tourmaline, am protected from any and all enchantments tonight and tomorrow."

  I went in, dreading what I would find. How would Beryl greet me? What sort of blankness would fill her eyes? Would she play the concerned guardian--or someone else?

  But Beryl wasn't there. I went over the whole house. When I was sure she'd gone out, I crept to my own room. My nest looked so inviting, but I found that there were more enchantments lurking. The protection spell I had cast prevented me from getting within a wingspan of my comfortable nest. It was the same in my mother's room, too.

  I ended up sleeping on my floor.

  I woke at dawn to tapping on my door.

  "Zaria?" Beryl's voice.

  I dragged myself off the hard stones and opened the door. Beryl shuffled in. She leaned against the wall, wings folded, her face more haggard than I had ever seen it. "Do not worry, child," she said. "I have shaken the spells."

  Hope rose in my heart. "Who enchanted you?"

  "I did not see. I believe it was done under invisibility." She shook her head. "Why would anyone spend that much radia on me?"

  Hope died. Beryl would know that Lily had motive, and only a spell would keep her from saying so.

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  I forced my face to be expressionless. "I believe I'll go out early," I said.

  "Please, Zaria. I apologize for what I said last night. I was not myself."

  "I know." That much was true. I brushed past her, mumbling about gathering sonnia.

  "Wait. I have something important to tell you."

  I stopped, turned around, and gazed at her pitifully worn face. Her yellow eyes, filmy and dim, seemed ready to close with exhaustion. "You need to rest, Beryl," I said as gently as I could.

  "But--"

  "Please, Beryl. Rest now." I wished I knew how to help her.Today, I would find out more about layered magic. I'd go back to the library, this time to study. "But be careful of your nest--it may be enchanted," I told her.

  She nodded again. "I know," she whispered. "I know."

  I looked at her intently. How I longed to trust her. But I knew I must not confide in her. And if I listened to her, she might feed me hurtful lies.

  "Good-bye, Beryl."

  Outside, I gathered a handful of sonnia. I chewed the red flowers morosely as I flew toward Leona's, hoping to catch her before she left for the day.

  I knocked at Leona's dwelling. The door opened a chink, and she looked out. Glad to see her, I smiled.

  She didn't smile back as she motioned me inside.

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  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  ON EARTH, THERE ARE SKILLED HUMAN SURGEONS

  WHO CAN MEND DIRE INJURIES. IN THIS REGARD,

  HUMANS HAVE FAR SURPASSED FEY MAGIC, FOR ON tlrfeyne, healing spells do not exist.

  AS CHILDREN, FAIRIES AND GENIES ARE CAREFULLY nurtured in galena so that no injury may befall them. laws against harming one another are strict, for though minor injuries will heal for us just as they do for humans, we have no enchantments that can mend a broken wing or restore a sightless eye.

  THERE ARE ONLY TWO HEALERS IN FEYLAND: SONNIA

  FLOWERS AND TIME. SOMETIMES, NEITHER IS ENOUGH.

  --Orville Gold, genie historian of Feyland

  I looked for you yesterday," I began. "Leona--" A whimper behind her made me stop. I looked past Leona and saw her mother, Doreen Bloodstone, on a low perch. One of her eyes was swollen shut, and just above it was the mark of a deep burn.

  "She went to Earth last night," Leona said shortly.

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  Oberon's Crown! Doreen must have used the Zinnia Portal--and met Jason Court and his laser gun.

  Shivers traveled over my wings. How could he have been so cruel?

  "I've used ten thousand radia trying to take away her pain," Leona said. "Nothing helps."

  Ten thousand radia was a full degree of Green. Leona must have known there were no spells of healing, but she had tried anyway. I would have tried, too, if someone I loved had been harmed so terribly. For the first time, I understood how much Leona loved her mother, loved her even though they never seemed to agree on anything.

  "I don't know what happened," Leona whispered. "She hasn't told me." She spoke louder so Doreen could hear. "I want to know who attacked you, Mother."

  Doreen's good eye rolled back and forth. "It was a boy, maybe your age." Her voice sounded feeble.

  "Why did he do this?" Leona asked.

  "He did not explain," Doreen answered. "I had never seen him before, but he seemed to be waiting for me. He was just outside the portal."

  "I hope you turned him into a toad," Leona said.

  "A toad?" her mother sputtered. "Fairies do not harm humans. You know that."

  "We did once upon a time--if they hurt us. He was harming you'.'

  "Leona." Doreen shifted on the pillows, pain in her face.

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  "As I told you," she said evasively, "I had never seen him before."

  Leona drew her wand; it glittered dangerously. "If you won't tell me who did this, I can compel you."

  Doreen held up a hand. "No. Against the law to compel."

  "The law doesn't matter to me." Leona's silvery eyes darkened to slate gray.

  "No," Doreen said weakly.

  Leona touched her mother's head with her wand. "Enjorum es explia."

  Doreen jerked. Her shoulders drew back and her mouth dropped open.

  "Who burned you?" Leona asked.

  And Doreen answered in a flat voice, giving an exact description of Jason, down to the color of his jacket.

  I saw the news hit Leona. Not only her wings, but her whole body began to shake. She laid her wand against her heart.

  I didn't dare move.

  After a long pause, Leona resumed. "Did anyone help him?"

  "No," Doreen said. "No one else saw me."

  I let out the breath I'd been holding.

  "Did you use the portal you made in Galena?" Leona asked.

  "Yes. The boy caught me there. I ducked back through the portal to get away."

  Leona waved her wand. "Dos elemen restora," she said,

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  taking the compulsion spell off her mother.

  Doreen's eyes ran with tears; it was terrible to see them leaking from the swollen crease of her injured eye. Had I ever believed that she laughed too much?

  "Never do that again," she said.

  "I'm sorry." But Leona sounded enraged. "We should go, Zaree," she said abruptly. "Can't be late for our mentor meetings." She hurried past me out the door.

  "Good-bye," I told her mother. "I hope you get better soon."

  Doreen didn't answer, and I hurried out.

  Leona was flying fast toward the gateway. I felt dizzy and sick as I beat the air beside her.

  "What are you going to do after we meet with our mentors?" I ventured.

  She faced straight ahead. "Don't ask me to tell you."

  I hesitated, my breath short. "Do you want me to go with you?

  "No."

  "But what if something goes wrong?"

  "I am not my mother," Leona said. "And when I go through that portal, I'll be invisible."

  "But--" "You would get in my way."

  She believed invisibility would protect her, but I knew different. I couldn't forget the red beam from Jason's gun.

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  I remembered to draw a protection spell a
gainst Lily before meeting with her--but it was wasted. She didn't try any magic on me that day.

  She smiled a welcome. She wore an elegant pink gown and opal necklace. "Have you decided about the spell of disclosure?" she asked right away.

  "You said I had two days."

  "I hoped you would make a decision."

  I shook my head and imagined a bird of darkness devouring the rainbow butterflies flitting over the walls.

  Lily sighed. "Still distrustful? Well, perhaps it will help if I tell you a little more about myself."

  I watched her suspiciously. What could she tell me to make me trust her?

  "I am a high-level, high-ranking member of the High Council," she began. "I have many responsibilities. Not only have I served the Council for ninety years, but for the last ten, I have held the position of Forcier of Feyland."

  "Forcier?" I vaguely remembered several lessons about the Forcier, something about refreshing the durable spells.

  "I collect radia taxes. I dispense radia to the durable spells that need to be refreshed. It is difficult work, made even more difficult than it was in centuries past, because there is less radia available now. In these times, there are far too many Reds and not enough of the other colors." A rainbow butterfly darted across her face.

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  "Why?" I asked. "Why are there more Reds now than there used to be?"

  She spread her hands. "No one knows. But it is a dangerous situation. Lately, it has become impossible to refresh all the durable spells that need radia. Some are in danger of failing." She gave me a sad smile. "But you, Zaria, with your rich stores of radia, will be able to help. You will be very important to the future of our world."

  A small alarm began to wail deep inside me. "I don't want to be important."

  She laughed. "You are important, whether you want to be or not."

  Hating her laugh, I tried desperately to turn the subject. "I have a question for you," I said abruptly. "As my mentor."

  "Speak up." She smoothed the lace at her neck.

  "What happens to humans who hurt the fey?"

  Lily stood in disapproving silence for several moments before she spoke. "Is this about your family, Zaria?"

  Her words felt like iron barbs. "My family?"

  "Surely you have heard that your family was lost after taking a portal to Earth?"

  I couldn't make myself speak.

  "You want to hear about it," she said. "Naturally, you do. And I can tell you, Zaria. The whole story. But only if we have trust between us."

  I wanted to shout that I would never trust her, not ever,

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  not for anything. But she was all too right that I wanted to know about my family. My resolve crumbled.

  "Trust requires an honest foundation," she continued. "If you allow me to do the spell of disclosure, we can begin to build that foundation."

  I dug my toes into the thick yellow carpet. "Not today," I choked out. "Not yet."

  By the time Lily dismissed me, a crowd had gathered in the courtyard. They must be waiting in hopes of seeing Leona. Good. That meant she had not yet left for Earth.

  I sped to Galena Falls. Invisible, I settled in to watch the Zinnia Portal. Whether she wanted it or not, I would go with Leona.

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  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  FEY FOLK ARE DEPENDENT UPON HUMAN HAPPINESS, for the leaves of sonnia plants convert human happiness into the nourishing flowers that fey folk eat. the method is akin to photosynthesis, where green plants convert sunshine into

  OXYGEN.

  JUST AS SUNSHINE IS ENERGY, SO, TOO, IS HAPPINESS. IT ARRIVES UPONTIRFEYNE FROM EARTH IN A MANNER similar to the arrival of light and heat from sunshine. There are degrees of happiness, just as there are degrees of heat. whatever the degree, the world of tirfeyne has the capacity to soak in this energy of happiness, and then sonnia plants convert it into nutrients.

  IF HUMANS CEASE TO PRODUCE HAPPINESS, FEY FOLK will eventually die due to a lack of needed "sunshine" from the human world. however, most of the fey have forgotten that this is true; only scholars seem to remember. this forgetfulness is a puzzling circumstance that i have attempted to remedy, by doing my best to preserve the historical record.

  --Orville Gold, genie historian of Feyland

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  When I saw the flowers of the Zinnia Portal moving even though there was no wind, I knew it was Leona, invisible like me, passing through. Leona, heading to Earth for vengeance upon Jason Court.

  Slipping after her, I floated above the familiar hillside. Out of habit, I glanced up toward the grove. There I saw a lonely human figure pacing back and forth beside the towering blue spruce. Reddish-gold hair caught the sunlight.

  Sam.

  My wings began to pump. What if Leona recognized him as Jason's friend?

  I flew fast, but not fast enough. Before I reached the grove, Leona had popped into view directly across from Sam. What a sight she was, a raging fairy with shining wings, black hair pouring over her shoulders, silvery eyes filled with sparks of brilliant darkness.

  She and Sam stared at each other as I flew closer. Sam's eyes widened.

  "Where is your friend?" Leona asked.

  He seemed transfixed.

  "Where is Jason?"

  "Please," Sam said. "Don't go near him."

  "Where?" She drew her exquisite wand. Its blue stars sparkled fiercely.

  Why didn't he run? But then, where could he run that she would not follow?

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  The wand's tip touched his head. "Enjorum es explia." Leona's mouth turned up in a feverish smile. "Where is Jason?" she repeated.

  All emotion left Sam's face. "I think he's at home," he answered in a hollow voice. "He asked me to come over, and I said I would, but I didn't. He's probably waiting for me."

  She swished her wand. "Dos elemen restora."

  Instantly Sam's expression changed to one of desperation. "Whoever you are, don't go near Jason. He has a dangerous weapon."

  "I don't think you quite understand the meaning of danger." She pointed her wand. "Reducto et eloquen."

  A gag spell! But Sam had never done her any harm. He was trying to protect her. Why couldn't she see that?

  "Now you won't be able to warn your friend that he will have a surprise visitor," Leona said.

  Sam clutched his throat. He opened his mouth but no words came.

  "Stay here if you know what's good for you," she said menacingly.

  He held out both hands to Leona, but she turned and lifted into the air. Her wings almost brushed me as she flew away.

  I wanted to help Sam, but if I lost Leona now, the next time I saw her, she might be mutilated by a laser gun. Not only that, but what might she do to Jason in her anger?

  I could try reversing the gag spell on Sam with a spell

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  of my own, but if I got it wrong I would waste precious moments. So with a regretful glance at Sam, I flew after my old friend.

  In flight, I renewed invisibility. A second later, the silvery speck of Leona winked out. She, too, was invisible again. I poured on speed, hoping to arrive at Jason's house before she did.

  Spotting the big brick house with the iron balustrade, I descended to land on its roof. From there, I viewed the grounds.

  The yard in back of the house was surrounded by a tall wooden fence. Trees stood like many-armed giants, their gnarled fingers garlanded with leaves. Under the trees, grass grew in patches around several stone benches. A human stood near one of the benches: I recognized Jason's pale hair and black jacket.

  If Leona was there, she had not yet made her presence known.

  Jason was holding the laser gun and muttering to himself. He kicked the bench in front of him, then kicked it again, so hard it tipped over.

  He aimed his gun at the fallen bench. A red beam caught the white stone. He held the beam steady until part of the bench blackened and crumbled away.

  Jason scowled. "I'm not waiting all day,
Sam." He pointed his gun at the sky and waved it in an arc. I heard a muffled cry.

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  Leona!

  I drew my wand. Infusing, I swooped toward Jason. "Sleep," I ordered.

  Jason dropped to the ground, but he was still clutching his weapon, and now the red beam ran through the grass to the fence. "Where it touched the wood, a fire started.

  Darting forward, I kicked the gun out of Jason's grip. When I did, the beam went out.

  "Leona?" I called softly. "Leona, where are you?"

  "Here," said her voice.

  And then she appeared.

  A charred line slashed the margin of one of her quivering wings. Livid burns crossed the fingers of the hand holding her wand.

  "Leona!" I bounded toward her.

  She glared furiously at Jason lying on the ground beside the fallen bench. "Sleep spell?" she asked.

  I nodded.

  "Wake him," she said. "But first, get his weapon."

  "This place is on fire! Humans will be swarming here."

  "All the more reason to get his weapon," she said darkly. "Please, Zaria. Pick it up. I would do it, but my hand is burned."

  I stooped to the smooth black thing lying quiet in the grass. I lifted it cautiously, afraid of its deadly beam. "I have it," I said. Behind Leona, rising flames crackled, and I heard the wails of sirens heading toward us. "Let's go."

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  "Not yet. Wake him up."

  "Leona! The fire. You don't know if you can fly." I looked doubtfully at her stricken wing.

  "Wake him."

  "I don't know the spell for waking," I said uneasily.

  "Then reverse the sleep spell."

  Flames were consuming the fence, spitting sparks and ash into the grass. Smoke billowed; some of it blew in my face. I coughed, and my eyes watered. I shut my eyes. "What do I say?"

  " Chantmentum pellex, Level Thirty," Leona said impatiently. "But first hide the weapon."

  I hesitated.

  "It's harmless unless you squeeze the trigger," she said.

  Vaguely, I remembered the class during which we had studied guns. Yes, there had been something about the trigger. But no one had taught us about a gun that would shoot red beams that could burn through stone.

  The sirens howled louder. Very carefully, I put the laser gun into the deepest pocket in my gown.