Light in Torment: An Annora Park Novel: Book Three

Chapter Nine: Flying without wings

I feel remarkably better after having changed clothing and cleaned up.  I'm eating some more cake and drinking coffee like it's going out of style.  God knows why I can't get enough of Walker's mother's cake.  But it's totally delicious.  Like the best thing I've put in my mouth—ever.
   "Some more?" Walker asks.
   I nod, and my eyes gleam when Walker puts another large piece of cake on my plate.  I dig in.  "Okay, so we know all the Fairies are light Fae.  I'm not sure what the entire skinning thing is about though."
   "Lesser court Fae," The voice melts right above my ear and I jump so startled I drop the plate of cake and swear.  "Oh my God, Terrenel.  Seriously can you give a girl some warning or something."  I don't miss the fact that the rest of my guys are glaring at him.
   "I did as you bade and made inquiries.  The Fae that were murdered were Lesser Court Fae.  Minstrel, Catalina and her sister Rorina."  Terrenel looks so sad and I can't help it.  I forget about the dropped plate of cake and I give him a hug which he returns wholeheartedly.  "I was so lost in my own agony I didn't see what was happening.  This is my fault," He says.
   I pull away from him and poke him in his chest.  "NO!" I say.  "This is not your fault.  The only fault here lays on the murdering bastard that took those poor girls lives."
   "I should—"
   "—Should of what?" I ask again in a harsh voice.  He doesn't need softness from me right now.  "You can only be in so many places at one time.  And these girls were on Earth.  How were you to keep track of them."
   "They were youngings in Fae years.  Their mother's are devastated."
   God, I'm sure they were.
   "We will find who is doing this."
   "I may have a lead for you, my love."
   My eyes gleam.  "You do? Tell me!"
   "The Shasharra."
   "What the heck are Shasharra?"
   "They are a sect of Light Fae, and they are sometimes born without wings.  It has caused them to ostracize themselves and they keep mostly to themselves."
   "Ohhhh that is a good lead."
   "Yes."
   "But I wasn't aware that wings could be stolen?" Walker pipes in.
   Terrenel sighs.  "Usually they cannot be stolen.  They are part of us, as intrinsically as a limb.  But with the right magic, a potent spell, sometimes, well, horrible things are capable of happening."
   I mull that over.  "So do you think these Shasharra are stealing wings?"
   Terrenel shrugs his broad shoulders.  "I do not know.  I would have once said I didn't think any of the light Fae capable of such monstrosities.  Now that one..." And he points to Branuel angrily.
   I hold up my hand.  "Nope, nope, we're not going there.  We are not casting blame on anyone.  We have a singular purpose here, and it's to find out who is skinning these poor girls."  I about to retrieve the plate of cake from the floor when the door bells rings.  I groan.  Great.
   "Amarettai, let me in.  I need to see you."
   "Must we let him in?" Walker groans.  Branuel and Terrenel stiffen and even Garrett puts his hand to his waist where his weapon is holstered.
   "Stop it everyone, cool the fuck down."  I go to the front door and look through the peephole and sure enough there is Helios in all his glory.  "Should I even ask how you got though the wards?"
   He laughs.  "No.  Now let me in, ma cherie."
   I let him in.  He strides purposefully in and looks immaculate in a three piece tailored suit that probably cost me more than two months rent on my apartment.
   "Well, well, Helios, what brings you here?"
   "Things have been happening.  ANd I need to be a part of it."
   "Things?"
   "Murders."
   I still and stiffen.  "Murders?"
   "I have had two of my own in the in-between murdered."
   "But...but..." I stammer.
   "They were skinned, ma cherie.  Horribly so."
   I rub my temples and take a deep breath.  "Did these Fairies have wings?"
   "How did you know they were Fairies?"
   "You'd better sit down Helios."
   Helios does as he's bade.
   "I've already been to two murder scenes where there have been three victims.  All Fairies, Light Fairies at that.  They were skinned and there was special attention paid to their wing buds.  There was no blood, it was definitely done magically.  There is no way you can skin a body without leaving blood, unless you bleed them out first, and that wasn't the case here."
   "Three murders..." Helios murmurs.
   "Five, if we're counting yours.  Tell me, we they Fairies.  Light Fae?"
   Helios nods his dark head, he looks tortured. 
   "Why in the Goddess name would two of mine go to the in-between?" Terrenel asks angrily.
   "Why anyone goes, to get away!" Helios counters heatedly.
   "They have everything in Tir na nOg."
   "But freedom!" Helios shouts.
   "Children, children," I shout, shutting them up.  "Seriously, this is NOT the time for this argument.  Does it matter why they went to the in-between? Hell they might have wanted a vacation." Yeah Right.  But it was worth a try.  "Listen, not we need to be singularly focused and completely unified in finding this murderer."  I turn to Terrenel.  "We have to visit the encampment of the Shasharra."
   "They are difficult to find.  They live in the Dark Forest."
   "The Dark Forest?"
   "The Forest that borders both Branuel Or De A'lanuel's land and mine.  It has just enough light to keep them sane.  But they enough darkness to keep them hidden from prying eyes."
   "Well aren't you their king? Can't to bring them to court?"
   "I can bring their ambassador to court yes.  But I can't guarantee that other's will come."
   "Well, that's a start."
   "Have I missed anything?" Chamuel says from my side and a jump again.  I was beginning to miss the days when the chiming of bells announced his presence.
   "Oh just that Helios has missing murdered girls as well, and there is a dark light sect of Fairies that could be stealing Light Fairy wings.  So, no not much."
   Chamuel looks shocked.
   "We're going to Terrenel's and we're going to question some dubious Light Fae."
   "No, WE are going.  You will need to stay here.  They will likely feel ambushed if you all show up," Terrenel says.
   "No, where she goes we go," Walker says.
   Terrenel shakes his head.  "She is my prophesied Queen.  They will listen to her.  They will not listen to you."
   I look around at my assortment of men and sigh.  "Guys, I won't be gone long.  I need to have this meeting.  I'll be back soon, okay."  I narrow my eyes,  "Can I trust you all NOT to kill each other while I gone."
   They all look at each other and look for all the world the picture of innocence.  I don't believe it for a minute.  "We will behave." Walker says calmly.
   Branuel laughs.  "I will return to The Dark Court.  You can portal there after you're finished at the Light Court."
   "Walker, Garrett?"
   Garrett wrinkles his nose.  "I'm going back to the station I'll fill in the captain."
   "Okay, Walker and Chamuel then?"
   Chamuel smiles.  "I will start nothing."
   "Walker?"
   "As long as Birdie doesn't start anything I won't have to finish anything."
   "I don't like that answer."
   "It's the best one I can give you."
   I throw up my hands in disgust and nod.  "Fine.  But I'll be really really put out if I come back and see blood everywhere."
   "Ohhhhhh you do know how to ruin a good party," Walker says dramatically.
   "Oh, shut it, Walker.  Now behave."  I have Terrenel's hand and let him porta me to Tir na nOg.