GAISCE (At Our Best, Book 3, Part 2 in Baile Series)

Chapter 15 The Queen, Knight, Pole Dancer, Archer and Eternal Flame

April

'Aibreann.' A timeless, disembodied voice spoke clearly in my mind. 'Aibreann.' The male voice repeated slowly.

"What's wrong?" Alick sensed my shift in mood in Asuka's weapons room.

"I'm just gonna get some air." I vacated the room.

'Come home.'

As I stepped through the doorway the scene around me shifted, involuntarily transporting me to Ireland.

I sighed deeply. "You couldn't have just called?" I asked before turning around to face my fossil of a million-greats grandfather.

"I have never really been a fan of this era's technology." The old man's once porcelain skin was beginning to look tired and weathered. His out of date Victorian era clothing certainly added to his ancient, decrepit persona.

"I would imagine that people communicated in your time with cave paintings." I approached Conan.

He smiled, leaning heavily against his cane on the hill we stood upon. "I suppose we could have, if we didn't have our own vocal language."

"Why did you bring me here?" I changed the subject, itching to get back and prepare.

"I have tried my best to uphold the Byrne name... the empire." His gaze became distant as he stared at the horizon. "It has been my dream to merge both Ash and Byrne, to reclaim the Vampire Realms and forge peace. I failed...but you will not." He turned to meet my eyes.

I couldn't believe what he was suggesting. "My family hates me. Nobody wants me to rule, they would rather me dead." It was a painful truth.

"Do you know how long I have been waiting for someone to replace me?" He asked rhetorically. "I have been waiting my whole life for an heir that pushes boundaries and listens to their own heart." He took a step closer toward me. "I see no better person to take my place." His voice lowered to a whisper.

I knew that there was no escaping my fate. "And where will you go?" I asked.

Conan shook his head with a small smile. "It does not matter where any of us go after this life, for it is only one that matters." He took my hands in his. "My crown is yours, wear it proudly." He expelled a shaky breath and I watched in fascination and horror as red light poured forth from his body and into my own, his eyes paling and his skin wrinkling.

I clenched my teeth from the exhilaration of energy that filled me. I had never felt more powerful as Conan's life-force fled his body for my own. As the process ended Conan's body ignited with flames, rendering his body to dust before being blown away in the wind.

I was left standing alone, filled with a higher purpose for not only my friends but also the entire Byrne Empire. A smile crossed my lips as I used my powerful magic to teleport myself directly to the weapons room in Asuka's temple. My smile grew to laughter at Alick's high pitch squeal as I materialised right before his eyes.

Isla

"Hello mother." I greeted the Seelie Queen as I waltzed into her throne room, which was bustling with Faeries preparing for battle.

The Seelie Queen's sapphire eyes flew wide as she stood from her thrown. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was dangerously low.

"Somebody showed me something that I believe to be false. I wish to confirm my suspicions." I replied calmly, unnerved by the bloodthirsty Faerie knights braced against the crystal walls of the room. The Unseelie Queen had shown me images of my mother looking upon me with scorn and practically throwing me away to die. I had no doubt that the Unseelie Queen fabricated the images to manipulate me.