Chapter 15. Meanwhile, Back in the Real World…
Heledd was telling Vicky she looked rough. ‘You should have let me keep watch for a couple of hours; I wouldn’t have minded,’ she added.
‘As if I could sleep!’ Vicky replied. ‘Why isn’t she back yet? Anything could have happened to her.’
‘Maybe she’s just having too much fun with the fairies.’ Heledd was always so calm. It was infuriating.
‘At least Mum and Dad are away all weekend. If she’s not back by Monday…’ Vicky brooded.
‘Have some more tea,’ Heledd urged. ‘It’s a very soothing blend.’
‘I wish you’d brought coffee. This won’t keep me awake,’ Vicky said.
‘You’re a bag of nerves already,’ Heledd said. ‘She’s done this before, though, hasn’t she? Left you to cover for her, I mean.’
‘Yes, but then I knew where she was,’ Vicky sighed. ‘It’s one thing covering for her staying up late – she could actually be in real danger now. If nothing bad’s happened to her, I’ll kill her. Don’t laugh, you’re supposed to be on my side.’
‘I’m not laughing, I promise’ Heledd said, although Vicky wasn’t convinced. ‘I am concerned, but what can we do from here? You’re wearing yourself out with worry, and it could be for nothing. I’ll have a serious word with her if she’s put you through all this for no reason – but isn’t it better that she’s being thoughtless rather than actually in trouble?’
‘Hmm, maybe a small injury would be okay, just to teach her,’ Vicky replied.
As Heledd reached for her flask, the portal beside them began to glow with a cold, green light, then the water began to froth, and within seconds it was dazzlingly bright and bubbling furiously.
There was a figure in the middle of the light, water pouring off it, and Vicky was about to snap, ‘About flippin’ time,’ when she realised it wasn’t her cousin. It was far too short for Demi, and the wrong shape. A teenage boy? But as he stepped out of the portal and the glare diminished, Vicky noted his stance, his determined look, and his skin-tight trousers, and realised that, although he was short, he was a fully-grown man. He looked fierce, and had obviously been fighting, but Vicky didn’t feel threatened. This was her world, and there were two of them against him, and he seemed defensive rather than aggressive. She got to her feet, trying to look confident.
‘Vicky, Heledd…’ he said, and Vicky was just wondering how he knew their names, when Heledd squeaked, ‘Blackbird, is that you?’ and Vicky knew him. Without the beard, the tangled hair and the grime; with a black eye and swollen lip, she knew him – his voice, his stance, his wide green eyes, and that elusive smile as he saw her recognition. Relief flooded through her as the portal began to brighten again. But as the light grew, she saw the full extent of Blackbird’s injuries. ‘What the hell have you done to him?’ she demanded of the figure emerging behind him from the portal. To her despair, the voice that answered wasn’t Demi-Lee’s.
The girl stepping out of the portal was even taller than Demi-Lee, and a few years older. Green eyes glared from olive skin. As Vicky watched, her beige cape and dress paled as they dried, and her long red-brown hair sprang up into ringlets – held in a complicated style with clips and combs. A thick strand of hair clung to her forehead, and as she released it from her skin, it curled up into a perfect spiral. She took a moment to consider Vicky’s question, then matter-of-factly replied, ‘We beat him. He deserved it.’
Vicky flew at the newcomer, fists flailing, but Heledd restrained her, and Blackbird talked her down.
‘It’s done, Vicky,’ he said, his voice hoarse, ‘You can’t make it not happen. And don’t fight this one, you need to help her, for Demali’s sake.’
‘Where is Demi?’ Vicky asked. ‘What on earth is going on?’
The elf was confused by Vicky’s idiomatic language, and Blackbird had rehearsed what to say over and over, so he explained about Demi Walking the Walk as gently as he could.
‘She was tricked into it,’ he said, ‘but this elf needs to fetch some food for her as part of the quest. We may as well help her – it’ll be helping Demali.’
Vicky was trembling, and tempted to add to Blackbird’s collection of bruises. Blackbird noticed her turmoil, and apologised with such a look Vicky believed him.
The elf had no such tact. ‘I need someone to guide me to Burg-A-World,’ she interrupted. ‘You’ll have to do. The quicker you help me, the quicker she’ll be back – assuming she succeeds.’
‘Fine,’ said Heledd, before Vicky could react. ‘I’ll direct you to Burg-A-World and give you some advice, but I’ll give you a warning too. This is our world, and we don’t take kindly to people who just waltz in and expect us to play by their rules. We’ve been fighting back for over 700 years, and you’re just one more tourist with a bad attitude. Be polite and show a little respect, or you won’t get very far. You’re a long way from home now, bach.’
Heledd led the elf out of the grove before there was any more conflict. Vicky stood and watched as their voices diminished, and soon the quiet of the grove surrounded her once more. High summer sunlight filtered through the leaves, and she realised it must be noon.
Vicky sat down onto the jacket she’d slept on, and curled over with her head on her knees. She felt Blackbird sit beside her. Part of her wanted to tear him to pieces for letting Demi-Lee get into such danger, but a bigger part needed someone, anyone, just to help her through.
‘You were supposed to be looking after her,’ Vicky said.
‘I’m sorry, Vicky,’ Blackbird said. ‘Hafren tricked her into it. His followers did this to me.’
‘So you got a black eye,’ Vicky replied. ‘But that won’t kill you, will it? What about this Walk – will it kill Demi?’
‘It’s risky,’ Blackbird said. ‘But, she doesn’t have to do it. She could back out and leave Annwn.’
‘But?’ said Vicky. ‘There’s always a ‘but’ isn’t there? No-one comes back from Fairyland unchanged.’
Blackbird was quiet for a moment, then spoke in a low, even voice. ‘She would forfeit her magic. All of it. And the nixies will never carry her again, so she’ll be stuck in Terra.’
‘So she’ll be a normal person. Big deal! Tell her to come home right now!’
‘I would also be trapped in my home world. I’d be stuck in Annwn, and I’d never see you or Demali again.’
There was silence then, filled by the rustling of the leaves, as Vicky took in what Blackbird had just told her. Finally she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
‘Magic’s the only thing she’s good at,’ she said. ‘Apart from whistling, and getting into trouble. If she didn’t have her magic – and you – she’d have nothing.’
‘She’d have her life. And soon enough she’ll discover boys and parties and she may not want to be a witch. If you think it’s too dangerous, I’ll tell her to come back. There are people in Annwn who can persuade the nixies,’ Blackbird said.
‘But we’ll never see you again.’
Vicky turned to Blackbird then, and looked at him, really looked at him, drinking in every detail of his face and his wounded body. He was gazing at her too, although neither would meet the others’ eyes. Outside the grove Vicky sensed the world dissolving and recreating itself, but her eyes were filled with the green of the grass and Blackbird’s ridiculous trousers.
She lifted her head, and their eyes finally met.
‘It has to be her decision,’ Vicky said.
‘Whatever she decides,’ Blackbird replied, ‘I’ll abide by it. I won’t try to influence her.’
Vicky wanted to pull him close, and hold him tight, maybe the only chance she’d ever get, but he was bruised all over. She heard herself telling him he looked tired; maybe he should rest.
‘We should both rest. You look tired too,’ he said.
Aelwen encouraged the bracken to grow into a soft bed beneath th
em, and scented herbs to grow into a shelter around them. They were alone together in fragrant green silence. It feels right, Vicky thought, as sleep overwhelmed her.