Orenda (16 page)

Willow and Rawlie held hands, making it clear they were in this together. Lil wondered if that was a bad idea, giving Morgan more information than she may already have about their relationship, but she kept her lips tight. Jamie and Lil walked in together with Hudson trailing behind them. The Seelie Court appeared to reach the sky. The ceiling perfectly captured the outdoors. It was difficult to tell if it was glass or a painted masterpiece. The Fae loved to hide the truth, she remembered. Hudson nudged Lil to keep walking and keep up with Jamie.

“Willow Porter. I'm surprised to see you back in Seelie Court.” A male Fae—if the creature could be categorized as such—flitted over with the slightest buzz of wings and landed down on the first level of the castle with them. Lil eyed his back, staring at his wings. She thought she saw a hint of shimmer, but then he turned around to lead them toward the fairy queen.

“It's impolite to stare.” Lil jumped out of her skin when she heard the unfamiliar voice. A Fae landed alongside her and began walking with them.

“I wasn't staring,” she said. “Just curious, that's all. Have you ever seen a human before, because I've never seen a Fae.”

The young Fae boy laughed. “Never. Imagine that.” He pondered it for a moment before he lifted off the ground in flight. No one heard the soft hum and buzz of his wings except for Lil. Being in a strange place heightened her senses, including that of sound. She watched as the young boy fluttered to the second floor, whispering something to a young girl before they both waved at Lil.

“Don't,” Hudson warned. He stepped in closer. “Keep your eyes on Willow and Rawlie ahead of you. Don't wave back.”

Lil glanced at the second floor. The boy Fae had vanished, and the girl Fae hovered, watching Lil in fascination. The group crossed through the main entrance, walking farther inside the Queen’s court.

“Come in, come in!” instructed the Queen from atop her throne.

Lil shifted to see past Rawlie, curious what Morgan looked like. Her voice was soft but commanding, and her eyes were a deep, rich blue that matched her colorful hair. Blue and white glitter sparkled over her skin, up her cheeks. She didn't look a day over nineteen. Her fingers played with a string of pearls around her neck, and her white gown, in the light of the room, gave the illusion of changing colors. Lil wondered how a fairy queen could be so young.

Rawlie nodded his thanks. “We appreciate you seeing us on such short notice.”

Morgan laughed and shifted on her throne. “As if I had a choice? You coming into my court, armed.” Apparently, she didn't have to search them to see the weapons they carried into her home. Morgan stood, and the light danced against the material of her long dress. Staring at her was hypnotizing. Lil remembered what Hudson had told her about not looking at the fairies for more than a few short seconds. Now she understood why, the fairy queen's beauty was captivating.

Morgan came to stand in front of Lil, her finger dancing along the girl’s arm before finding her chin and raising it to meet her eyes. “You, my dear, are something unique.”

“I am?” The fairy queen was telling her she was different. Was that a compliment or insult? She swallowed her pride. “How so?”

“A daring one, aren't we?” Morgan laughed, stepping aside to take in the sight of each of them. “Why have you come to the Seelie Court?”

Rawlie stepped forward to answer the question. “For help. Someone’s created a man-made portal that allows them access to Orenda. We haven’t discovered the device’s location, only the portal.”

Morgan nodded in thought. “So, you’ve come to me, seeking my assistance. I knew this day would come. Yes, there is a machine powering the portal.” She gestured for Willow's doppelganger to step closer. “Lil is it? Does your home occupy the same space as Willow’s?”

“Yes, but in
my
world.” Lil was surprised the fairy queen knew her name.

“Of course. The device is located across the street from Lil’s house,” she said. “Close enough to use the dispersed energy between worlds, but just out of Willow’s grasp.” Morgan’s stare landed on Willow. “We’ve been monitoring it for some time now."

“Bray’s house?” Lil asked, incredulous. She felt Hudson elbow her in the ribcage. He probably wanted her to be quiet.

“Why didn’t Eilith kill me when she had the chance?” Willow asked.

“She might have, after the gateway between worlds was stabilized. I suspect she’ll be looking for
The Book of Incantations
to ensure the gateway works both ways indefinitely, so she can use her power to bring the Scourge to Lil’s world. Find the book, bring it to me, and the Fae will intervene.”

“Where’s the book?” Willow asked.

“I don’t have all the answers,” Morgan said. “I suspect it’s in Lil’s world, but I can’t know that for certain. My sight is limited. But, without a deal, no one is going to the other universe.”

Jamie glanced between Willow and Lil before stepping forward. “I'd like to make a deal.”

“What?” Willow reached for her younger brother to stop him, but he stepped forward to Morgan and out of Willow’s reach.

Morgan smiled. “A brave young boy you are.” She ran a hand through his soft hair. “Come with me.” She took his hand and led him toward her throne. Morgan sat down as he stood before her. “Tell me what you want and what you have to offer.”

“You help Willow regain her gift from the Mystics, and in exchange, I will give you my power.”

Morgan paused. “Your power is sight.” She tilted her head, trying to absorb his gift.

“Not yet!” Jamie held up his hand. “I need to know that Lil can go home safely. You must offer us a direct portal to her home.”

Morgan laughed. “I don’t have a portal, but I do have something . . . better.” She stepped out of the room.

“What's going on?” Lil asked, keeping her voice low.

Willow stepped closer to her little brother, her hand reaching out for his. “Do you know what you’ve done?”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t need it.” He stared at his sister. “I'm doing the right thing. Do you trust me? Lil sacrificed what she desired to save me. I owe it to her to try and protect her world by sending her back home. I also know how important your power is.”

Willow hugged her little brother to her chest and ran a hand through his hair. She dropped a kiss to Jamie's forehead. “I love you,” she whispered. “I just don't want to see you taken advantage of, Jamie.”

Jamie hugged his sister in return. “I'm okay. Don't worry about me.”

Morgan entered the room and Willow let go of her brother.

Morgan glided over to the six of them, handing a fairy wand to Jamie. “You will need this to return to Elfinland.”

Jamie took it in his palm.

Rawlie eyed the staff. “What does it do?”

“You don't trust easily, do you?” She eyed Rawlie. “Such a shame. What have the Fae ever done to you?”

Rawlie's eyes narrowed. “I’m smarter than to ever trust a Fae, especially the queen.”

“Just remember, child, you came to me for help.” Morgan stared at Rawlie. Her hand fell to her side. “We share a common enemy, whether you want to see it or not.”

Jamie played with the wand in his hand. Morgan stepped over toward him, reached for the wand, and pointed it down at the ground. “Never point it at another unless you intend to use it,” she said.

Jamie nodded, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “How do we use the wand?” It was heavy in his hands and shimmered like glass.

“It will do as you've asked—grant you passage to the other world. Take the hands of those you wish to transport. Use it again, and it will bring you back to the Seelie Court. When you return, I will restore Willow’s powers—after you've given me what's rightfully mine, of course.”

“Deal,” Jamie agreed. “Let's go.” He approached the others and reached for their hands. They stood together in a circle.

Blue Skies

Chapter 10

With the power of the Fae's wand, they appeared on Lil's front lawn. Those from Orenda stared up at the bright yellow sun and blue sky. It was clear where they were.

“Wow,” Jamie said, mesmerized.

“Home, sweet home.” Lil glanced back at her house. Her little sister, Jamey, was likely inside, watching television. Did she have a babysitter? Lil doubted her parents would ever leave their children alone again. She wanted to run inside, throw her arms around her little sister, and tell her she was home, but she couldn't. Not yet. They needed to stop Eilith, or they wouldn't have a home for long.

“Just like you remember it?” Hudson joked.

“Better,” Lil said before jogging across the street to Bray’s house. Fist raised in the air, she pounded on the front door. “Bray! Come on, let me in.” There was the sound of slow footsteps on the other side of the door. Lil assumed Bray was looking through the peephole, checking outside first. “Bray, it’s me!” Lil shouted.

Bray pulled open the door in a rush and threw his arms around Lil. “You’re home!”

“I am.” She smiled, returning the hug briefly. “But there won’t be a home soon, if we don't stop Eilith. The portal in the forest, it’s linked to your house.”

“What?” Bray’s eyes widened, and he glanced back at the others behind Lil. “Come inside.” He ushered them in and shut the door behind Jamie, the last to enter.

“Where’s the door to your basement?” Rawlie asked. “The device would need to be underground because of its weight and size.”

“You don’t think I’d notice something like that in my house?” Bray shot Rawlie a look. “You’re insane, thinking I’m hiding anything in this place.”

“Not you,” Arianna said calmly. “We think your family might be involved.”

“That’s not helping matters.” Bray briskly walked to the basement door, opening it. “Knock yourselves out.” He stood at the top of the steps, watching the others follow Lil downstairs.

“I’ve been in the basement before,” Lil said. “Bray’s right, I’ve never seen anything out of the ordinary—” She paused, hearing a strange whirling noise. “Do you hear that?”

Bray shook his head and joined the others in the basement. “It’s just my dad’s old computer in his office.”

Lil stared at Bray. “I don’t think that’s from a computer.” The hum wasn’t loud, but it was strong and steady. Lil tried the door to the office, but it was locked. The basement had been remodeled many years ago, and most of it was used for Bray’s father’s work assignments. A smaller portion had been designated a playroom when they were kids. Lil knew the door was always locked and remembered curiously trying to peek in when Bray's father would emerge from the other side. “Get me the key for your dad’s office.”

“He’ll kill me,” Bray said. “There’s government contracts and classified information all over the place in there. That’s why it’s locked. You know that, Lil.”

Rawlie gritted his teeth. “I’ll break down the door if I have to.”

Bray shook his head. “Even if I could help you, I don’t have a key.”

Rolling his eyes, Rawlie reached into his back pocket and retrieved a lock-pick set. “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

“When did you get that?” Hudson asked Rawlie.

Rawlie shot Hudson a look. “When I thought we might need it.”

“You should hurry up. My parents will be home soon,” Bray said and shifted awkwardly on his feet. “I won’t be able to explain why there are two Lil’s standing in the basement.”

“Were you parents mad that you disappeared?” Lil asked. She wondered how her parents would react. What had he told them? Probably not the truth.

“I’m grounded until I’m eighteen, but I don’t think it’ll last. I have a scuba trip this summer in the Cayman’s. So far, they haven’t cancelled it, yet.”

“You’re getting off easy,” Lil said. “Until they find out we broke into your dad’s office.” Lil knew his dad would be pissed.

“Gotcha!” Rawlie turned the handle, pushing the door open. He felt around on the wall for the light switch, flipping it on. No one stepped inside; there wasn’t enough room.

“I take it that’s the device?” Lil stared at the chrome machine. It towered over five feet, scraping the ceiling, and stood seven feet wide. Its legs held the awkward weight of the device, and the whirring noise they’d all heard earlier intensified up-close. Lil took a tentative step forward. “How do we shut it down?”

“There’s no off-switch?” Hudson asked. “There has to be a power source.” He pushed in past Rawlie, carefully circling the machine. He bent down, ducking his head as low as possible, trying to see if there was anything connected from underneath.

“Anything?” Bray asked.

Hudson stood. “It’s not possible. There’s no immediate power source being used, but it’s turned on.” He glanced at Rawlie. “Do you think it could be self-sustaining?”

“You’re the tech genius,” Rawlie said. “I’m leaving this one in your hands to figure out.”

Hudson’s face went pale. “I don’t know how to disable it. We could destroy it.”

“With what?” Lil laughed, staring up at the giant metal spider. That’s what it looked like to her, a huge, chrome tarantula.

“I have a baseball bat.” Bray reached for the wooden stick in the corner of the basement.

“Do you think that’d work?” Lil asked Hudson.

“Who knows? It could blow up in our face, or it could obliterate the thing. Think about how unstable the portal is. It shouldn’t be in the forest; it should be here in the house.” Hudson frowned. “The Fae can power it down. We need to find the book.”

“What book?” Bray asked, turning off the light and shutting the door to the office, locking it behind him. They headed back up the stairs.

“
The Book of Incantations
,” Lil answered. “Eilith will use it to keep the portal open and make it work in both directions. Once she stabilizes it, there will be no stopping her from destroying our home.”

Bray took a deep breath and nodded. “We can’t let that happen. I’m trying to think. If my father had the book, where would he keep it?”

Lil looked to the front door, her eyes widening as it started to open and Jamey snuck in.

“Lil!” Jamey exclaimed. “I thought I saw you come in here! What are you doing at Bray’s?” She ran toward Lil, throwing her arms around her sister, giving her a tight hug.