Outrunning Her Past

Chapter 18

Talon

Flames climbed high, and then suddenly everything went dark and Dani was on the floor unconscious. Scrambling up from where we had all been thrown by whatever the hell that was, we again raced toward her, but this time nothing stopped us. Reaching her first, I cradled her in my arms. Her skin felt cold to the touch and her breathing was shallow.

"What the fuck happened?" Nate growled at Merith, who stood, eyes wide in sheer panic. "What's wrong with her?"

"I...I don't know," she sputtered, "That was a memory...it shouldn't, she shouldn't have been able to do that." Her hands tugged at her hair as she began to pace. Muttering to herself, she started pulling books off the shelves, then tossing them to the floor as she discarded them, only to grab another. "Nothing! There's nothing!" she screeched.

"Merith shut up and come help us," Dean demanded. The witch seemed to focus for a moment and nod. She knelt and began running her hands over Dani's form, similar to what Leo does. "Why won't she wake up?"

Merith's shoulders sagged. "Somehow that witch was able to push into the present. Whatever spell she performed wasn't just on Daniella in the past, but this version of Daniella. This is beyond my magic. You are all in danger now, including me. We need to move further into Faire and seek the Council. Only their magic stands a chance now."

"Are you serious? I can't enter Faire," Wyatt scoffed. "Your Council will kill me on sight!"

"Then she dies, and all of you along with her!" Merith shouted. "Don't you get it! Your own damn families have cursed her, and now that she found her way back to you, they will do whatever it takes to break your bonds. We just saw a sample of what that witch is capable of. The magic of Faire will keep Daniella safe. No other magic can affect her there. In the mortal world, she is a target."

"They can't break our bond, we won't agree to it," Leo protested.

Merith laughed ruefully, "They don't need your agreement if the magic wielder is strong enough. A witch like that can switch the bond to another - after the original bond is dead. It would be rewritten and you would never even remember Daniella existed." She looked at Wyatt, "I will vouch for you and the others. You are all under my protection now. That creature dared to use my home, my spell to curse another. I will see her punished along with her servants."

"When do we leave?" I asked. "Do I need to warn Dalton?"

"Tell him we are going on a trip with Dani," Nate said. "Don't mention what has happened, or give him any details, it will only place him in more danger. I nodded and sent him a quick message.

"Come, we leave now," Merith said. I stood, still cradling Dani in my arms as we followed the witch down a corridor that magically appeared before us. In seconds we went from being inside a cottage to standing in a large grove of bizarre-looking trees and flora. "Do not speak unless I tell you to," she said quietly. A bleating sound came from in front of us as a small creature stepped into view. He looked as if he were ancient, parts of his clothing and helmet covered with moss.

"Lady Merith, you are welcome to enter. The outsiders must leave immediately," the creature stated.

"Sentry, I seek sanctuary for myself and these outsiders. We were attacked magically in my home. I seek the Council and their guidance. It is a matter of life and death, sir," Merith replied in a formal tone, her head slightly bowed. Following her cue, we all lowered our heads slightly.

The sentry moved closer, sniffing the air. When he came near Wyatt, he made a huffing noise, "You bring a demon to our lands, my Lady?"

I could see Wyatt bristle and feel his aura begin to swirl, but he didn't move or say a word. Merith moved to him, then motioned at Dani. "They are her beloveds. She has been cursed and now they are all in mortal danger. We seek the Council to right this wrong, to save their love and their bonds."

His small shoulders relaxed at her words. The Fae have always taken mate and soul bonds quite seriously. They believe souls not only bond in a single lifetime but across all of them. A soul without its true beloved is lost and broken. "I will grant you entry, but you must travel with a witness, my Lady. If your words are true, as well as their hearts, the witness will stand in your favor with the Council. But be warned, a witness cannot speak falsehoods. If they see no love, no proof of the bond, this is what they will recount."

"We accept, good Sentry, and we thank you for the boon of a witness to guide us," Merith answered.

With the tapping of his staff on the ground, a delicate-looking creature stepped forward. It looked like a young woman, yet had ears, a nose, and a small tail like a doe. "Resa will accompany you as a witness and guide," he said, then vanished into the trees.

"This way," the doe said curtly. She darted forward, moving rather quickly as we hurried to keep pace. Dani remained unconscious as we followed the doe until it neared sunset. "We shall camp here tonight," looking at us she added, "Do not hunt in these lands. To kill a creature here would be punished by death. Most Fae do not eat meat, so you will have to be content with the food I can supply."

"We will gladly accept whatever you graciously provide, witness," Merith told her. What she supplied ended up being a mix of roots, berries, and greens. She did agree to let Merith conjure up bread and fresh water to drink. It wasn't much of a meal for our kind, but we ate and were thankful. Now if Dani would wake up...

Author's Notes:  So what do we think has happened to Dani?  Will the Fae help or betray them like their families?  Follow, share, vote, and comment, please!