“Hold!” Trik’s voice broke in. “Calm down, Mr. Tate. She’s not our enemy, at least not for the moment.”
“And you?” Mr. Tate asked, seeming to fully take Trik in the first time. His eyes filled with recognition as they narrowed on the Elf King. “I remember you from our house. What are you doing here? You’re one of them, aren’t you?” he asked shaking his head as his hand came up to cover his mouth. “You’re working with the one who kidnapped us. Tell me I’m wrong! Tell me you aren’t one of those things!” He shoved a finger at Trik and his words were filled with such vehemence that Cassie was sure they might just form a blade and stab Trik in the chest.
“No, Mr. Tate,” Trik said in a steely voice, “I would never work with him regardless of whether or not I am of his race. And you will have your justice for what he’s done to you and your wife. That I swear.”
“Please, someone tell us what is going on?” Mr. Tate insisted as he suddenly deflated like a popped balloon. As he turned to sit back down, he noticed Tony for the first time. “And who the hell are you?”
Tony held up his hands. “I’m just your run of the mill human. Unfortunately, dealing with Trik’s kind is part of the family business.”
Mr. Tate shook his head. “This just gets more and more outrageous.”
“Please, Dad,” Cassie began, “listen. This is a very long story.”
“And I don’t think now is the best time to tell it,” Trik interrupted. “Tarron still has Elora.”
Elora, Elora?” Mrs. Tate turned to Cassie. “What does she have to do with any of this?”
“Again, it’s a long story,” Trik responded. “Time is of the essence.”
“Hmm,” came the voice of the Voodoo priestess again, who, without anyone noticing, had risen and a placed a pot of tea on the cast iron cookstove. “It seems yo chosen ain’t da only one who needed to be learning ‘bout patience. You see, Triktaptic, yo battle will find you soon enough. Dat dark elf running round out there in dat swamp no longer concern you.”
“He does concern me as long as he has Elora,” Trik spat.
“No sir, no sir. You couldn’t find him now even if you wanted to. Thanks to me and my mistress, he gonna be wandering out there in dat swamp for a good while. His reckoning be coming through da hands of a light elf sho enough—”
“Cush,” Trik breathed. His head tilted back as he pinched the bridge of his nose, realization suddenly dawning on him. Cassie could tell the weight of his position and the responsibility he carried was heavy on his shoulders. Now that her parents were safe and she was able to focus on other things, she found that she desperately wanted to bare some of that load with her mate.
“You bet yo quiver on it, dat’s right. Now why don’t you and your lovely Chosen have a sit down and tell these nice people what need be telling, whilst we all have some of Chamani’s hot tea,” the priestess said as she placed four small china cups, which seemed to have been conjured out of nowhere, onto the table.
Trik stood for a moment, thinking about what the old woman had said. Though he didn’t trust her sweet southern hospitality act for one second, she had given Cassie back her parents. So far, she hadn’t shown any indication that she was going to betray them. He believed what she had said about Tarron and Lorsan upsetting the balance of power, and he believed that the Voodoo goddess didn’t want either of those two taking over the human realm. Further, he knew that the priestess held great power here in the swamp. Much like he, and at one time Lorsan, could do in the elfin realm; she could control the thoughts of someone wandering in her domain though it was a practice he didn’t like to use. She could make them think that they were wandering in circles, keeping them lost for hours, or that they were being attacked by savage swamp beasts. Many things were possible for one such as Chamani and her queen.
Trik wouldn’t deny that the thought of giving up his need to destroy Tarron felt as though his arms had been cut off leaving him feeling useless. But, he understood what Chamani was saying. Tarron was really Cush’s problem to deal with. He had stolen Cush’s Chosen after all. It was only right that Cush be the one to destroy Tarron. Trik had no right to deny the warrior that honor. Furthermore, Trik didn’t like the idea of leaving Cassie and her parents, especially not in their current position in Chamani’s hut. They were as vulnerable as chicks out of the henhouse and beyond the cover of trees giving the hawk an unobscured view. A few minutes alone with the priestess and Cassie might be selling their firstborn to Chamani for a magical talisman. Who knew what that cunning old woman is capable of?
“We will let Cassie’s parents recover their strength. Then we will be on our way,” Trik finally said.
“Good, good, Mr. Dark Elf, you do just dat. Take yo time. My house is your house. If you’ll need me, I’ll be out back doing a little mixing. The job of a humble housewife is never done, you see?” And she cackled her all too familiar cackle as she shambled out the door.
Cassie, who had poured them all some tea, sat back down beside her parents. Trik and Tony took the remaining seats at the table.
“Who is that woman?” Mr. Tate asked, staring after Chamani.
“That is a very dangerous Voodoo priestess,” replied Trik. “She and her family have haunted this particular swamp for many years. Don’t let her silver tongue fool you for a second.”
Trik, away from the sight of Cassie’s parents, touched her leg under the table so that they could speak to each other’s thoughts. Be careful what you say, Beautiful. Too much information too quickly could be overwhelming. You have a choice to make. We either tell them about the elfin realm or I make them forget. There is no way to get around either of those options. They’ve heard Chamani speak and there is no telling what Tarron said to them while he had them in captivity. And we need to get out of here as quickly as we can. Seeing that there is no glass in the windows, we need to find a mirror if possible. I don’t think your parents have the strength to trudge through the swamp to get back to the motel.
“We’re going back there to wait for Cush, Elora, and Oakley?” she asked. Trik felt her confusion over the decision with her parents. She wasn’t ready to address it just then, but he knew that she was aware that she would have to make a choice, and quickly.
“Yes, Cush will know to go back to the original meeting place. And I want to be close if he happens to need me.”
“Voodoo what? You can’t seriously believe that any of this is real?” Mrs. Tate asked them both. “I mean, that lunatic who captured us kept rambling on about Cassie being his chosen―whatever that means―and elf kings and revenge, and he babbled like crazy. I just thought he was insane. And I figured the old woman is just filled with superstition like a lot of the people in this area.”
“Superstitions are often shrouded in truth,” Tony pointed out.
Trik nodded. “True enough. And Tarron may well indeed be insane, but I’m afraid the things he said are very real, and Chamani is far more than superstitious, she is the real deal,” responded Trik. “Tarron, the man who captured you, is not a man at all. He’s an elf—a dark elf to be more precise—as am I or at least I was for a very long time.”
Mr. Tate made a gurgling sound deep in his throat. “An elf? You mean like with pointy ears and a bow and arrow? Right and I’m a snow fairy. This is just too much. There is no way I can believe any of this nonsense. My family and I are leaving and getting as far from this place as possible. Cassie get away from that man.”
Trik tensed at the command Mr. Tate had given his Chosen, his wife. Father or not, there was no way in hell Cassie would be leaving without him.
“Mr. Tate,” Tony said quietly, “it is never advised to come between a male and his Chosen. They take possessive and protective to a whole new level.”
Trik started to stand when her father began to rise from his chair, but Cassie put a hand on his arm. Her touch was gentle but her words were firm.
“Dad, wait,” she said. “Trik is telling the truth. Show him, please,” she said
looking at Trik with eyes so full of love that it still made him feel unworthy of her.
Trik stood. In a shimmer, where once there was a handsome man with dark hair, now stood…something else. His dark hair lengthened and turned even darker―so dark that it appeared to have a purple sheen―his eyes turned silver and began to gleam, and, if possible, he seemed to grow taller and more muscular.
“Oh,” Mrs. Tate gasped. Mr. Tate’s jaw dropped open as though a hinge that controlled it had broken.
“I know it is hard for you to believe, but elves are very real. We are powerful immortal beings. And though we have our own realm in which we live, many of us often travel to this realm, for various reasons―some good, some bad.”
“But all of them can be a tad unreasonable at times,” Tony smirked at Trik.
“You aren’t helping,” Cassie snapped.
Tony shrugged. “I’m just making sure the humans have all the facts.”
“I see,” Mr. Tate said quietly after some time.
“But what does that have to do with us?” asked Mrs. Tate, “or Cassie?”
“Well, apparently Tarron believed that Cassie was his Chosen. All elves have what is called a Chosen, someone that we are fated to be with, someone the Forest Lords, our gods, have chosen specifically for us. It turns out that Tarron’s Chosen was actually Cassie’s great great-grandmother, on your side I believe, Mrs. Tate.
“But he threw that love away long ago. And, in his own twisted way, he thought he could recapture that through Cassie, who apparently bears a striking resemble to her great great-grandmother.” Trik carefully avoided telling them anything about his own Chosen. The Tates had had enough of a shock for one day. They didn’t need to hear that their daughter had run off and gotten married without them knowing. For some reason he had a feeling that wouldn’t go over near as well as elves are real.
“And he thought he could get to Cassie through us,” breathed her father. “I’m so sorry, little one,” Mr. Tate said to Cassie.
“Don’t be, Dad. I’m the one who should be sorry. All this happened because of me.” She was in tears again. She stood and hugged them both in turn. “Trik, we need to get them out of here,” Cassie said.
“Agreed.” He looked around the small shack. Sitting on a counter, with various untoward things resting atop it, was a small rectangular mirror. Trik picked it up by the edges and dumped its contents out on the counter. He brought it over to the table and laid it down, face up.
“Mr. and Mrs. Tate, do you remember how you got here?”
“No, not really,” responded Mrs. Tate. “That crazy,” she paused before finally stuttering, “e-e-elf just burst into our home and attacked us. He knocked us out and we woke up here.”
“Well, I’m about to show you. Please take Cassie’s hand and don’t let go. I’m taking you home.” And with that, Trik reached out and took Cassie’s other hand. “We will take them home for now and then go back to the motel. You tell them whatever you want to for now. Once everything is said and done, then you must make the ultimate decision. I’ve sent a message to Rin to let him know we are coming.”
Cassie simply squeezed his hand acknowledging that she’d heard his words in her mind.
Once they’d all grabbed hands linking the four of them, Trik, with his free hand, touched the mirror and was instantly pulled through it with the others following. Trik kept his eyes and ears open for any attacks from dark elves that had been monitoring the portals for Lorsan, but to his surprise their passage was smooth. Suddenly they were one by one stepping through the hall mirror in Cassie’s home in Oklahoma City. Rin was waiting for them a few feet from the mirror. To Trik and Cassie he looked like an elfin warrior, but he knew the Tate’s were seeing his human glamour.
“Why is there a strange man standing in our house?” Mr. Tate asked calmly. Cassie was impressed with her father’s collectedness despite all of the strangeness.
“This is Rin,” Trik answered. “He is one of our most trusted warriors. He’s been watching your home to make sure Lorsan didn’t set a trap for us. He will continue to stay here as your protector until Lorsan has been dealt with.”
“Is that really necessary?” her dad asked. “I am capable of defending myself.”
Cassie didn’t point out that he’d been captured by Tarron. She didn’t figure he would appreciate that. So instead she said, “Yes, it’s necessary. I would feel better knowing he is here. He could be a big help if dark elves show up.” She glanced at Rin. “Right?”
Rin winked at her and then looked at her dad. “I’ve totally got your back.”
“See, he’s got your back,” Cassie said as she tried to bite back her laughter. Trik wanted to tell her to just let it out; appropriate or not, he loved hearing her laugh. What were they trying to save if not moments like that―moments of laughter, joy, and love in the midst of struggle?
Trik noticed that Tony was chuckling at the warrior, which he knew would help Cassie not feel so bad about laughing. He gave the human an appreciative nod. He’d been a quiet, but at times like that, helpful presence, and he wanted him to know that he was thankful.
Cassie looked back at her parents. Though she’d let go of her mother’s hand, Trik kept her other hand in his holding it tightly, letting her know he was there supporting her, and waiting to catch her should she need to fall.
“I know this is a lot,” she began as she brushed some stray hair that had fallen from her ponytail back from her face. “And there is more to explain but I can’t do it right now. I need you both to trust me. Can you do that?”
Trik wanted to just tell them to deal with it and take Cassie back with him to wait on the others, but he knew that it was important to his Chosen to make sure things were alright between her and her parents. Humans were so weird.
“I heard that,” Cassie’s voice murmured into his head. She was getting better at being able to focus on their bond and whatever was going on around them.
“I don’t suppose we really have a choice, but we also know Elora needs you,” Mrs. Tate pointed out. “You’re eighteen, an adult for all intents and purposes. We trust you. Bring back Elora and yourself as well. And please just,” ―her hand gently brushed a tear from her face as she looked at her daughter― “just be safe.”
“I don’t suppose we really have a choice,” Mrs. Tate pointed out. “You’re eighteen, an adult for all intents and purposes. But please just” ―her hand gently brushed a tear from her face as she looked at her daughter― “just be safe.”
Mr. Tate took a step toward Trik and it took everything in him not to step in front of Cassie. Instinct often took over before rational thought could kick in.
“You will keep her safe.” It was not a question.
Trik somehow kept the smirk off his face. As if he needed his Chosen’s father to threaten him to keep her safe. The need to keep Cassie safe was ingrained into every cell in his body. It was a part of his very essence. He could no more allow something to happen to her than he could force his heart to stop beating. But he didn’t say all of that to Mr. Tate. Instead he simply nodded and added, “Always.”
Cush might have thought he was losing his mind had the Voodoo queen not just told him to listen for his Chosen’s soul. He might believe he was imagining her voice in his head because he wanted to hear it so badly. But that wasn’t the case. The fact was that he had heard her! Her voice, her sweet voice, had been a balm to his aching soul. He wanted to wake up, to be conscious for the interaction, but his soul rejected the idea.
We can see her if you remain in slumber. The words were as clear as if he was sitting across from his own soul having a conversation just as he might with Oakley.
“Elora?” Cush called out in his mind. He and his soul were in one accord as they sought her and it made their effort even stronger. “Tell me you are alright.”
“I am her soul.”
“Yes,” his soul answered her. “You are mine. Tell us you both are okay.”
“She has been in a deep sleep. A spell has been cast on her but it was unable to touch me because I have united with my other half. I have tried to reach her but was unable to wake her. The spell that kept her asleep is weakening. But the other spell is not. It holds her in its grip, wrapping her mind in lies that she cannot see past. She does not know our mate, though she knows something is missing. She is in pain because of the separation.”
Cush was sick over the thought of Elora being enthralled to the point that she couldn’t remember him. He was even more upset that someone had tampered with her mind. Who knows the kind of damage they could have done to her, short term and long term? The Voodoo queen had spoken of a spell and he had a feeling that she was a part of it. Someone had summoned her and bargained a price for his Chosen. Too bad she would never receive payment because Cush was going to crush whoever was stupid enough to take another’s mate, his Chosen.
“Do you know where she is? I can feel her. She seems close.” Cush’s words were becoming more and more urgent now that he knew some of the circumstances of Elora’s disappearance.
“We are in the very land that you are. I am not sure how far we are from you. I feel you, which made it easier for me to reach out to you. I have been calling for you for some time now.”
Cush felt the anguish of his soul. He felt as though he had failed her because they had not heard her. “I am sorry you have had to endure so much for so long,” his soul practically whispered.
“We are not weaklings. We appreciate your protection and desire to shelter us, but we do not back down from a fight because you aren’t there. Do not blame yourself. Come for us now. You are our warrior. You are the one who will vindicate us. Fight for us and do not listen to the lies that will shoot forth from Elora’s mouth like piercing arrows. She knows not what she says and she needs you to shed light into the darkness that has surrounded her.” She paused and Cush could tell she had more to say so he waited. “Hurry,” his Chosen’s soul said hastily. “She is waking and he will be able to fill her head with more lies. He will attempt to strengthen the false bond.”