Chapter 29

Evera’s hair flashed red in the moonlight as she fought with her former classmates. Blood had seeped from both from her nose and a large graze on her arm. Red smeared down to her fingers and splashed bits on her black dress. Five others lay cold at her continuous feet, each step a twisted dance of wrath.

Two large men fought her, one on either side. As one lunged sword to her head, she dived under the other’s legs, slipping underneath and kicking him from behind; the sword was only a pinch away from colliding with his nose. He was tossed forward into his comrade knocking them both to the ground. With their fall, the fighter turned her attention to her next target.

A woman, who had been previously hit down, came after her with the very dagger Evera had escaped with. The blade slashed through the air, whipping with such strength the air seem to suck in its own breath. With a block of her wrist, Evera took the woman’s arm, twisted it and stole back the dagger. In a single move, Evera threw the blade behind her, directly hitting one of the men in the neck. His blood dripping down his fingers glistened in the moon’s glow.

A whimper of fear roused William from his trance. Ilayda held to his shoulders firmly, her nails digging into his skin. Her face tried to hide itself into his back but her eyes kept glancing at the fight. It was truly mesmerizing to watch. Evera was instinctive, agile. She moved with speed and precision, her attacks hitting her adversaries’ weak points.

The two dismounted the horse, William running forth to try and help. He searched for any weapon before entering the battle but found only a broken branch. It would not do for striking but the end was sharp enough. He grabbed it and rushed forward.

Being closer to the combatants, William saw the face of the woman Evera had taken the blade from. She was the one who had tried to seduce him in the forest before he was taken to Morag. Perhaps it was the recognition which made him cry out when Evera twisted her arm torturously behind her back. His yell rang loud in the trees distracting Evera long enough for the remaining man to seize the fighter from behind and drag her to the ground.

With the woman’s arm released from its hold, she scrambled to a dripping knife on the ground, taking it from a dead Fae’s hand. William kicked at her, but her fingers wrapped around his ankle and pulled him hard to the ground. After fiercely turning his wrist and ridding him of his only weapon, the woman climbed on top of William and held the knife to his chest, the tip prodding into his skin.

“Finis, mando!” The woman cried out in the same language William supposed was the tongue of the Fae. Evera, still held back by the muscular man, stopped struggling immediately when seeing William on the ground.

Ilayda, who had stepped closer until the complete halt, had picked up the broken branch William was forced to toss away. She held it with shaking hands, barely gripping the splintered wood.

“Stay where you are,” shouted the man whose arms were wrapped at Evera’s waist. Cautiously he stood. Ilayda dared not move, already terrified by being so close to blood. Her dress, which until now kept perfectly white, seemed to draw in the red it fell upon. The Unseelie woman gave a crooked smile when she saw the stained material.

“I see you found the Cursed one.” She let out a dark giggle and climbed off of William’s stomach with a creature-like grace, all the while keeping the blade aimed at his heart. She dragged the tip grotesquely to his throat and forced him to sit upon his knees. “Did you think you could help little Angel? With all your good deeds I would not have thought you to be caught in battle.”

Evera’s suppressor grabbed her wrists and held them together in front of her in an almost romantic fashion. He nuzzled his ripped and bloody lip into her neck, blending the blood from her hair and his face. The Unseelie woman who held William did a similar gesture and rubbed her hands over his chest like a cat toying with its prey.

“Get off of him, Tamesis. He is no concern of our people.”

“Our people?” Tamesis clenched her hand over William’s face and whipped her eyes toward Evera in anger. “You were the one who left our people to find the stolen necklace. You were the one who turned your back on us to keep the necklace. You have no people with us.”

“I turned my back on no one. Who told you these lies?”

“Do not play words with us. Zahi and I… We will take the necklace back and return with full glory to our people.” Tamesis pressed the blade to William’s throat. “If you wish him dead, tell us more lies.”

“Fae cannot lie, you know that.”

“Enough!” All three Fae recoiled at her shout, even herself. The threatening woman’s grip on William’s shoulder tensed. After a quiet of hearing only Ilayda’s whimpers and the rising morning birds, Evera spoke softly.

“Oracle Gwydion sent me to find the Raven Necklace, convinced I would be the only to be able to take it back.” Tamesis glared at Evera but did not speak. Zahi tried to inch his arm up to cover her mouth to silence her but Evera would not have it. Struggling to speak while fighting his hand off, she continued. “During the journey, someone put the necklace on me as a sign of friendship. I came back to Morag as swift as I could carry myself.”

“Tae Kella told us you had not found your way back.”

“Did she say that directly?”

Tamesis shook her head, willing herself to believe her Elders. Two weeks ago, Evera would have been where she stood now, defending her people. If it had not been William with the necklace, would she be the one holding an innocent Human by knife?

“Zahi, keep her steady.” The woman flicked her head at Ilayda and motioned to Evera. “Unclasp the Raven necklace.”

Defeated, Evera let her convincing words die in the air. She nodded for the young Angel to do what would eventually take place. Ilayda made her way unhurriedly to Evera. Pleading eyes met with fearful ones. Her hands dropped the splintered wood it carried and raised to Evera’s neck, shaking with regret.

“Ilayda, do not touch the Raven necklace!”

Silence and panic spread like wildfire in the air. Forced by the command of the weakest among the battle, Ilayda’s hands snapped to her sides. With the diversion of William’s cry, Evera spread her wings from her back, forcing Zahi to let go with shock.

“No!” Tamesis wrenched William’s neck sideways to the ground and flung the dagger at Evera. The Human lay dazed on the ground choking for breath and trying to regain his bearings. Before he could see what had happened, the two Unseelie women cried out rage, attacked each other, and then all fell silent.

Evera sat back on her knees, Ilayda’s body lying on her lap. Red trickled out of the corners of the Fallen Angel’s mouth, as she coughed up the same liquid that poured into her lungs from the wound in her back. William had rummaged through the saddlebags, searching for anything to heal her. Finding nothing, he stumbled back desperately trying to hold onto his nerve.

“We need to get her onto Taipa. How far is it to Ceilidh? The High Assembly surely have powers to heal her.” He moved to the mare once more and pulled her forward. The horse stomped the ground and nudged her nose to Ilayda’s head. Sensing the girl’s fate, she backed in silent mourning.

Evera stayed still, stroking the girl’s black hair. William saw she made no effort to move the Angel. He tried to grab Ilayda’s wrist and shoulder but the young one waved his hands away and shook her head.

“They have no power to heal a Cursed one. There will be no help for me there.”

“But we must try,” William whimpered. His voice became weaker as her breathing became raspier.

“It will not help,” the young Angel replied.

“But we cannot leave you here!” William’s eyes clouded with tears and his fingers clenched into fists. Evera continued to caress absently with the girl’s hair. Her green eyes glazed over and stared into the trees, listening to and seeing nothing. Ilayda reached for William’s hand and held it with all the strength she could muster. Her labored breathing bore heavily into his soul.

“I command you to stop bleeding.” Ilayda smiled and laughed lightly at his attempt.

“I am afraid it does not work like that.” She reached her small arms up and held his own hand to his chest. “Trust in yourself and do not fear for me. I will return in due time. Just pray for me and I will be safe.” She smiled weakly and turned to the entranced Fae. The Fallen Angel let her fingers fall lightly on the young woman’s cheeks, gently bringing her from her state of disbelief.

“Evera, take care of him.”

The young woman tried to find words to comfort the dying Angel but none came to her mind. She nodded her understandings and squeezed the girl’s hand.

In a great coughing fit, Ilayda’s body folded on itself. Evera held her upright, and sang the words that had comforted her since her days of youth.

“Above in the branches, they wait for you…” Her voice cracked with raw feelings choking her words. William’s sobs carried on with the melody and soon all three were voicing the words.

“Hidden in shadows, love always flew…” Evera felt Ilayda’s hand loosen its grip. The ice blue eyes that used to hold the lust of life faded into glassy dull color. With one last breath Ilayda sighed and let her head fall to Evera’s shoulder.

“No. No…No!” Evera gasped for breath between sobs. Her hands gripped the girl’s body over and over again, trying to hold onto the spirit that had already passed away. Veins became apparent along the Fae’s neck and her eyes burned from pain.

William took Ilayda from her arms and laid her on the earth. He brushed away her black hair from her face and leaned over her body to act upon her final wish.

“God in Heaven,” The coarse voice, even uttering from his lips, sounded distant and strained. “Please take Ilayda into Your arms. From the moment I had met her, she has done nothing but live as You would command. Take her soul. Keep it safe. Let her be at peace and let Your will be done.” He stole a glance at Evera who knelt before Ilayda’s body and laid her head over the girl’s heart, coughing from her cries. “Keep us safe. In You Holy name and with Your blessing. Amen.” His voice could barely speak the words but he had no doubt in his mind that God had listened to this distinct request.

Evera wept harder with his finished prayer. She picked her head off the girl’s chest and closed the blue eyes for their eternal slumber. William took the blanket from Taipa’s saddlebag and draped it over the Fallen Angel, covering her glistening body and red stained dress.

They sat there in heavy, sobbing silence. William held Evera, unable to sit up by herself. The dead Fae she used to know scattered around the clearing only added to the mourning the young woman felt. Blood, blended with tears and dirt caked both their bodies.

All at once the fight was over, and both sides had lost.