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"That's alright dear, if everyone is willing I can do an enchantment for us that will prevent us from being able to talk about the amulet or it's powers. I've heard of such an amulet. They are very helpful, but very unpredictable; as you never know when a vision will occur" Cirrus mentions. "I think that would be for the best, if everyone agree's" I say as the others nod in agreement. I thank them for their help with the matter and continue, "I think it wise to banish Thistle from the kingdom. Everything we know about her is a lie. She told us she was a young girl when she is in fact a fully grown adult under a disguising spell. She's lied about her identity to others and most importantly she murdered our dear Novus. She cannot be trusted." Everyone comments angrily about the matter and agree's that she needs to go. "I wish we could jail her!" Jax snaps. "I agree but we have no hard proof. The Queen can only banish her on account of hearsay" Luke points out. "That's true!" says Tulip in frustration. "It's better than keeping her here!" Arthur says bitterly. Bonnie gives him a look of hurt and folds her arms. "Darling I'm sorry, I know you considered her our own child. But, she isn't even a child. She is a con artist, a witch, an adult playing us. I promise one day we will have our own little one and you can love them to pieces" Arthur tells her kissing her hand. I've never seen Bonnie so weak; so broken. She bites her lip, as though to keep from crying, and gives Arthur a nod.
Cirrus presents a handful of black glittering dust from the small satchel around her waist. "Now everyone stand close to Shelly; not you Nora. Someone's got to be able to be able to speak of the amulet if the need arises" she says. Muttering what sounds like dark elvish she tosses the magic dust into the air, but instead of falling straight down, the particles seem to rush to each group members lips. Each person appears to be wearing the most radiant shade of black lipstick I've ever seen. The fairy dust dances along their mouths until Cirrus holds up her hands, and it quickly disappears. "So now we can't speak of the alphabet" Roonie says. Luke gives her a funny look and replies, "Alphabet? You mean the alligators." He claps his hand to his mouth and exclaims, "I didn't mean that! I said alligators!" Jax chuckles, "Looks like it worked, you can't even say alcohol." Jax lets out a laugh and asks Cirrus if they'll ever be able to say "that word" again. "Well yes, of course! But, only after you have slept. When you wake you can use the word again, but you won't be able to give any details about Nora owning one or what it does" Cirrus explains.
I head to the throne room and request one of the guards to retrieve Thistle and escort her to me. When she and the guard enter she greets me in a carefree manner, and has transformed herself once again into a child. I give the guard a subtle signal and he slips out of the room, quickly returning with two more guards. "Thistle. Is that your real name?" I ask her. She stares with a puzzled expression on her face before replying, "Y-Yes Queen Nora." Without blinking I ask her if she has ever gone by another name, or if she can remember her last name. She answers "No", but suspicion grows in her eyes. "Are you sure? Because I have reason to believe you've also gone by the name of Sheila Mills, and that your real name is Thistle Parfon! I also have on very good account that you were heard confessing to the murder of Novus Wisteria, and you are in fact not a child at all, but a full grown woman!" I finish, anger overtaking my voice.
"Those damn maids! Snitchy little filth!" Thistle curses under her breath. "So what! You can't jail me, you have no proof!" she shouts. "No, but I can banish you from this kingdom. Guards, seize her!" I exclaim. The guards rush her but she pulls out her wand and suddenly a thick green smoke spills out surrounding her; transforming her into her true adult form. One of the guards takes her by surprise as he approaches her from behind and snatches her wand from her tightened grip. She screeches loudly with rage as the guard hands me the wand, and the three of them restrain her. I snap the wand in half and with piercing eyes inform her, "Should you seek this place again, you will be killed on sight. Thistle Parfon, you are hereby banished forever from Brendlewood of the fae. Guards please see her out of the kingdom" I instruct. "Yes your majesty" they reply. Thistle's shrieks of rage cause the guards to place a cover over her mouth as she kicks and tries to wrestle free of their grasp. She remains unsuccessful as the guards drag her from the room.
A few weeks have passed since Luke and Roonie's wedding, and the castle has finally settled down. Luke and Roonie are away on their honeymoon in France, and us girls have been taking turns in reading, and spending time with Shelly, as we promised. Checking in on Shelly I find her and Thatcher talking softly as he gently rubs her belly. "Wonder if it's a boy or a girl?" Thatcher wonders. Shelly smiles, "Either way I just know the baby will be wonderful. I just hope it has your gorgeous hair color! All my little ones have been red heads!" Thatcher lets out a chuckle and kisses her forehead. "Hope I'm not interrupting! Just came to check on you" I speak up. "Oh not at all, just discussing our little one" Shelly says. "I wonder if it's time to find out what you're having?" I ask. Thatcher gives Shelly a strange look, "Wait you can do that?" Shelly laughs, "Well the faeries can. Humans don't have a way to find out?" Thatcher nods and replies, "Well the humans that live outside the magic realm have high tech machines that can show pictures of the baby when it's still inside. It's awful expensive, and we'd have to travel for weeks. You're in no condition for that hun. How do the faeries tell what the gender is?" The three of us sit thinking for a moment.
"I've never seen it done before, I have just heard that they can" Shelly mentions. "Well being sent here from the past I wouldn't have a clue!" I giggle. "Yea, and over in Blue Haven it's all just a bunch of humans. We don't usually study up on the magical practices of faeries" Thatcher smiles. "I'm sure Cirrus will be able to do it. She's so talented!" I tell them. "Hey that reminds me! How are Tulip's lessons going? Sometimes she'll talk to me about them, but I think she's a little shy about it" Shelly says. Thatcher takes notice of the goose bumps on Shelly's arm and goes to the closet to grab another blanket for her as Shelly and I talk about Tulip's enchantment lesson's with Cirrus. The three of us chat happily for a little while before I bid them good afternoon and head downstairs.
Later that evening as I snuggle into bed a vision comes into view. Cirrus bumps into Tulip as she rounds the corner in the hallway. "OOF! Oh my goodness! Tulip you scared the dickens out of me," Cirrus laughs. "What drags you from your bed this evening? I was just getting a glass of water, this pesky scratchy throat has got me up half the night" Tulip says. "You ought to make up some nice honey tea, maybe throw in a little rootseed. It helps keep that cough settled. I'm just making my nightly rounds as always. On my way to check on Shelly to see if she needs anything and how she's feeling." Cirrus tells Tulip. "I just peeked in to check on her. She and Thatcher are doing good and are trying to get some rest," Tulip says. "Good to hear she's feeling better. Ah well, this ole woman needs to get her rest too. You better be heading to bed yourself. Tomorrow I've got a very exciting lesson planned for your enchantments!" Cirrus says with a smile. Tulip nods and takes off to her chambers.
As Cirrus continues walking down the empty hallway, a draft steals the light of her candle and she is suddenly left in darkness. She feels someone grab her from behind, but as she tries to scream, a cloth covers her mouth and the world grows dark.
Three hours later....
As Cirrus awakens, she finds herself in a strange room with two figures that look like shadows standing in front of her whispering. When her eyes come into focus, she see's a strange woman with stringy brown hair standing with Ector. "What on earth!" Cirrus begins but is cut off by the woman, who instructs Ector to cover Cirrus's mouth.. She thrusts her finger at Cirrus and says, "Ah you're awake. So you're the famous Cirrus that everyone in town is buzzing about! I have heard of your powers and how you do such amazing things. Well here's the way this is gonna go down grandma, you will write a very convincing letter about how you have left to assist some of the folks in Stoneridge. Meanwhile you will be assisting us. Should you choose not to consent or perform any type of malicious spells etc, your precious kingdom will be at the mercy of the army that is awaiting my word. Trust me with your king gone and your tiny little army, Brendlewood wouldn't stand a chance. You however would be kept alive, and day by day put under torture. Only enough to bring you to the edge of death, but never the sweet release. Do I make myself clear?" Cirrus nods in fear behind the tape across her mouth.
A twisted smile forms on the woman's face and she continues, "Now then, we require a potion. One that will put it's owner in a trance-like state. Alive, yes. Able to think, sure. But, completely unable to move or speak. Others will simply think it's some strange illness. Do you consent?" Cirrus's eyes widen with horror and she sits perfectly still for a moment. "I don't even know who this potion is meant for...but our little kingdom wouldn't stand a chance against a mighty army like that, especially with Cade gone. Oh what are we to do! Perhaps I can agree and somehow send word for help" Cirrus thinks to herself. SLAM! Cirrus's thoughts are interrupted by a shooting pain down her left cheek as blood trickles from it, down her arm. Ector stands over her and fiercely states, "Kristen asked you a question!" Cirrus winces with pain and slowly gives a nod. Kristen leans in close to Cirrus, her piercing eyes inches from Cirrus's and sneers, "GOOD!"
She and Ector cross the room, but Cirrus can just make out what they are saying. Ector smiles at Kristen, and in a low voice tells her, "See darling you are every bit as powerful as your mother." Kristen scowls, "Shut up! I need to be more powerful, can't you understand that! She's the queen of Dragon Valley, the ruler of the largest army in the magical realm. I wonder if the faerie filth can brew up some strength potion for me while she's at it...this would be alot easier if that pathetic witch could perform her spells! She sounds pretty worthless actually." Ector frowns, but quickly hides his expression and replies, "Well she seemed quite powerful until Queen Nora snapped her wand in two! She has no power without it! By the way putting someone in a coma like state seems like it would be pretty advanced if you ask me!" Kristen's face furrows into a horrible look, "Well it's good that no one asked you then, isn't it! You better not be falling for that deplorable witch! You'll ruin everything, you belong with me!" she shouts. Ector apparently realizing how much he's upset her apologizes nervously before she slaps him upside the head, then pulls him into a firm kiss. She smiles that sick smile of hers and states, "Set up everything for her, we must get that potion brewed immediately!" The vision fades and I snap out of my stare. "I've got to do something" I say to myself and jump out of bed in haste.
Springing from the bed in my rush, my foot becomes entangled in the loose covers. I lose my balance, grabbing for anything in arms reach to grab hold of. Unfortunately the closest thing is the bedside lamp, which isn't stable at all. In my panic I grab the lamp but it and the side table come crashing down right on top of my head. For a moment I lie there on the floor, staring at the ceiling, until pain floods my head and the world blurs and grows dark.
"What happened here?" an eerie voice whispers from what seems like far away. "An accident, it seems. Looks like the nitwit took a fall and got pegged on the head" a man's voice replies. A crackly woman's voice instructs the other two to put me back into bed and get things cleaned up. "Very good now restrain her!" she demands. Their voices seem clearer and closer now. I feel their skin graze along mine, pinning me to the bed; one at my feet, the other at my arms. My eyes gently flutter then fly open as I survey the room frantically. Ector stands over me forcefully restricting the movement of my arms, while Thistle is at the foot of the bed binding my feet and holding them firmly down. The third member I have never met in person, but I know her well enough from the visions I've seen recently. I open my mouth to speak but she swiftly slaps me across the cheek, "No one asked you to speak!" Ector quickly covers my mouth with a strip of tape to prevent me from making any sound. "Kristen! Don't rough her up too much or the plan won't work" Thistle hisses. Kristen shoots Thistle a fiery glance, "How dare you interfere!" Their arguing ceases as I try to break free from their hold. I feel Ector tighten his grip on me, and I'm completely unable to attempt to move. "Both of you cut it out! The potion! Quickly now!" he grunts. Pulling a small vial from her cloak, Kristen leans in close to my face, our noses almost touching each other's. Her putrid breath fills my nostrils as I try to keep from gagging, she whispers cynically, "I'm going to remove this tape, and you will be given a potion to drink. If you scream everyone you hold dear will be slaughtered in front of your very eyes!" Her hazel eyes burn with intensity but they quickly flash to red and then back once again to hazel. Fear washes over me and I shudder in terror. I try to find my courage but something about this woman weakens me and I cower to her threats.
Violently she rips the tape from my mouth, and I grimace in discomfort. Popping the stopper from the potion vial she readies the container placing its' edge against my lips. I clench my jaw shut tightly and pierce my lips together as hard as I can, but instead of anger a sickening smile spreads across her face and she sneers, "Ah you want to do this the hard way I see..." From her cloak she pulls a metal device that resembles a horses' bridal. With Thistle and Ector holding me down with all their might I can't even feel my body as Kristen prepares the contraption. A flat piece of metal is connected to two outer and inner side pieces and a curve piece on top, on either side is a small gear with a little crank like that of a pencil sharpener. She gives Ector a nod and he presses firmly on a pressure point near my elbow. I gasp in pain and Kristen acts quickly sliding the metal gadget over my head. The flat piece of metal slides horizontally to the back of my mouth, the two inner side strips slide into my mouth and my teeth rest along them preventing me from closing my mouth entirely. The two outer side pieces lay along my cheek and the top follows the curve of my head; the three fasten together at the back of my head. She takes hold of the cranks on either side and turns them as she stands over me smiling. As she turns the cranks my mouth is forced open wider and wider; far wide enough for a bit of potion, but she still continues turning. I wince as best I can and she laughs a little under her breath, "Aw is that hurting?" She gives a final turn as my mouth is stretched as far as it can go before breaking my jaw, and I moan in pain.
"Now then, shall we try again?" she says callously. She tips the vial slowly into my mouth and from the moment the thick purple slime touches my mouth a burning sensation rips through my nerves. It slides down my mouth, into my throat and down into my stomach, all the while creating a fire like feeling in its' wake. The blood in my veins pumps forcefully, and as I begin to violently convulse, I can hear the malicious muffled laughs of Ector, Thistle, and Kristen. Suddenly I stop moving completely, and Ector removes the metal device. The three of them stand staring at me without a word until finally Thistle speaks, "Well did it work?" Kristen tilts her head from side to side, then quietly says, "We've had our fun, you're free to go." I try to leap off the bed and call for help but my body remains absolutely motionless. No sound escapes my lips, they don't even move though I scream as loud I can. "Too bad, looks as if you're stuck here" Ector mocks before the three of them turn and leave the room.
I lay in the darkness for what seems like hours, as the morning light begins to shine through the windows Midi enters my room with a younger chambermaid. After seeing the state I'm in and checking me from head to toe she calls for the nurse. "Oh dear, I thought we were done with all this mess! Her majesty must've gotten hold of some omni venenum vines" the nurse replies. "What's that?" the young chambermaid asks. Midi and the nurse turn to the young woman, and the nurse replies, "Well dear, it's a bit like poison ivy. Omni venenum vines grow in the forest, and if you come in contact with a very potent one it can send you into a coma-like state for several weeks. We've tried every remedy imaginable, but it just has to run its' course. I'll have to see that the spells are placed throughout the forest again. I thought we had killed it all off already." The young chambermaid comments about how she's never venturing into the forest unless every inch of her is protected by clothing. Midi cleans me up and dresses me for the day but returns me to my bed. "So very sorry this has happened to you your highness. Don't worry I will see to your every need, and I'll send word to King Cade of your unfortunate state." I try my best to thank her but my body doesn't even twitch, nor does sound emerge from my lips.
Later, after the room has emptied a vision seeps into my mind, and I see Tulip standing in front of one of the castle doors. She gives a sharp knock, and I hear Shelly call out, "Come in!" Tulip smiles widely and enters the room, giving Shelly a gentle hug. Shelly greets, "Thank you for coming! I know you have been wanting to try out your skills, and it's not every day that you have a pregnant woman available!" Tulips cheeks turn a soft pink and she uncertainly responds, "Are you sure you don't want to have Cirrus do it? I mean, she is the expert. I mean I know the enchantments, I just haven't used them other than at my lesson's." Shelly gives a light-hearted laugh, "Of course! You're one of my dear friends and I know you can do the spell just as well as she can! Plus Cirrus told me the other day that this spell is very safe to perform, so you don't have the worry of doing me or the baby any harm!" Tulip relaxes as she remembers this and cheers up as she takes her place next to Shelly's bed.
"Ok just lift up your shirt a bit to reveal your bare belly, and we will begin" Tulip tells Shelly. Tulip dips her hand into her little satchel of faerie dust, and whispering soft words of elvish, gently tosses the glittering powder into the air. It lands in little dew drops freckling Shelly's bare stomach glistening in the light. Shelly grins and giggles a bit looking down at her pregnant tummy. "Is it working?" she asks with eagerness in her voice. "We must wait, it will reveal the gender shortly" Tulip tells her just as someone knocks at the door. "Oh that is probably Thatcher" Shelly tells her. "Looks like you're just in time! Come in!" Tulip greets as Thatcher enters the room.
He beams and takes a seat next to Shelly. "Did I miss anything?" he asks her. Shelly shakes her head excitedly, "We are just waiting to see the gender reveal." Thatcher takes his eyes from Shelly's tummy and asks Tulip what will happen. She gladly responds "Well, in a few minutes the little dew drops will...Oh look!" All three of them fix their eyes on the little sparkling dew drops, as they begin to change colors; blue then pink, then blue again. The vivid brilliance of the light they're producing is mesmerizing as they flash from pink to blue, pink to blue. Suddenly the lights stop and the dew drops resume their clear color once more. Tulip looks confused, and she nervously avoids Shelly and Thatchers eyes. "Tulip..is it supposed to do this?" Shelly asks somewhat baffled. But before Tulip has time to respond, the dew drops color burst with a radiant pink light. Shelly gasps, and Thatcher couldn't smile any bigger if he tried. "Oh gosh it's a girl!! Congratulations you guys! A sweet baby girl will be here before you know it!" Tulip exclaims. She cleans off Shelly's stomach and pulls the ends of her shirt back down. "Thank you so very much! I'm just so happy; a girl!!" Shelly says stumbling over her words as tears of joy run down her cheeks. "You're most welcome my dear friend" Tulip tells her giving her hand a little squeeze. Thatcher leans over and kisses Shelly sweetly with tears in his eyes. "A little princess..." he says softly.
If I could smile I would be wearing the biggest grin, but unfortunately I am stuck in this state. "They think it will wear off because it's omni venenum. I've got to figure out a way to let someone know I'm trapped this way" I think to myself. I find it very difficult to get to sleep that night and my mind is filled with a million thoughts pulling me in all directions. I finally doze off into a dreamless sleep until suddenly my eyes fly open as a vision forms in my mind. Thistle is tramping through the forest making her way toward a dilapidated cottage. "I know this place, it's the edge of the kingdom" I think. She approaches the door and it creaks loudly as it swings open. I can hear Kristen and Ector talking as she draws nearer to them. "We will complete the mission my mother has failed to complete. With that nosey Queen out of the way, and their King on a far off mission, there's no one to stop us" Kristen says with a grin.
"What about the faerie filth? Surely we can't keep her alive!" Ector mentions. "Well we certainly can't kill her, what if someone gets suspicious? Everything will be ruined!" Thistle interjects as she joins the other two. "Nonsense! Anything could happen on a solo journey to Stoneridge. What if she meets up with a troll? Or those wild lycans they're so terrified of?" Kristen retorts. Suddenly Ector gasps as Kristen's eyes begin to morph into their true blood red color. "What's happening?" he questions. Kristen whips round to check her reflection in the mirror and see's that as well as her eyes, her skin is changing also. Her fleshy pink skin is melting back into its true pale sickly hue as she returns to her vampire form. "Well we couldn't have asked for better timing at least! That disguise was keeping my urges for a fae feast under wraps. Now that the human disguise has worn off, I know just what to do with our delicious guest" she tells Ector and Thistle as she runs her tongue along her lips hungrily. Cirrus's eyes widen in complete horror and her muffled screams try to break through the tape across her mouth. "Poor little faerie, your compliance wasn't for nothing, well at least not for us" Kristen lets out a venomous laugh. Composing herself she smiles sweetly at Cirrus who is shaking her head forcefully, and trying with all her might to free herself.
Kristen gently runs a pointed nail along Cirrus's forearm, and up to her neck where she makes a small puncture with her sharp nail. "Mmmm..." Kristen exhales in anticipation as she leans toward Cirrus and slides her tongue along her neck before pressing her yearning lips against Cirrus's skin. Taking Cirrus by the shoulders, Kristen earnestly begins sucking at her neck, moaning and squeezing her arms tightly. Suddenly she releases her, leaning back in a terrible fit of laughter. "It's incredible! I feel indestructable!" she cackles wildly. Ector smiles seeing her in such a state and Thistle watches from nearby. Kristen wipes her fingertips along the wound collecting a bit of blood, and eases over to Thistle.
"You have to taste this" she seductively whispers pressing herself against Thistle and smearing the blood along her lips. Thistle closes her eyes as she glides her tongue along her now blooded lips and whispers, "I think I could grow to like that..." Kristen gives her a wide smile. "Ahhhh!" she cries out throwing her arms out to either side of her own body. "I need more...Mmm, it's empowering!" she continues in a blind rush. She lunges at Cirrus with her jagged nails at the ready and penetrates straight through her chest, tearing her heart from its cavity. The tape rips from Cirrus's lips as a dreadful cry of pain explodes from her mouth. Ector rushes to Cirrus and covers her mouth to muffle her, but in a brief moment the sound fades and she slumps over, as death takes hold of her.
Kristen holds Cirrus's heart up towards the heavens, it still beating vigorously as blood from the heart trickles down her forearms. She brings it to her lips kissing it delicately, before sinking her fangs into it and draining it quickly. She tosses it to the side, then returns to Cirrus's corpse to finish the remaining bloody beverage.
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