CHAPTER 2
Happily Ever After
Inverness
FIVE YEARS HAD passed since the Ailey family and villagers from Luminia made their great escape into the Scottish Highlands. For the first few years, they were in constant fear of Stygian breaking the barrier they’d created and the enchantments failing them. They roamed the Scottish landscape until they found a home. Inverness became their haven, and they called it such. The gorgeous seaside beckoned to them with a magnificent castle in the distance and a thriving village. An idyllic place for them to settle among the mortals.
Ensuring they could keep their identities hidden, the fae concealed themselves with elaborate headdresses and long flowing gowns to hide their elven features. The Ailey family was once again prosperous. Haven village began to grow in riches. Settled a comfortable distance from Inverness, the fae people were allowed to use their gifts to create thriving crops, farmlands full of livestock, and cozy homes with outdoor shops set up to sell their wares and culinary treats. The small village soon became known for its textiles and cuisine. All travelers from around Scotland would stop at the unique village to sample the local delicacies and bring home trinkets for their families.
Haven was truly thriving and growing. Each year, the villagers held a festival to celebrate their escape and remember those they lost. They disguised their festivities as a fete to celebrate the vernal equinox. They opened their village to the surrounding communities, providing games, music, and entertainment. It was the event of the year. The fae took opportunities to showcase their talents and procure new business opportunities.
As the head family, the Aileys hosted the opening ceremony. Their home, nestled in the center of the village, was the perfect location for the opening feast. They had tents with rows of tables set for families to enjoy a communal meal and pomegranate wine. Outside the tents were torchlit pathways leading to each event for the locals to discover. Jada was meticulous in her endeavors. She wanted to make Maximus proud. It had been five years since she last saw her husband, five years since she felt his caress, five years since she said goodbye. Her children told her he was lost, but deep down in her soul she knew he was still alive. She would hold onto hope until the fates told her otherwise.
Solasta
Stygian was beyond enraged when he was deceived and the Luminian villagers were able to escape to the mortal realm via the Kelpie Ring. Celeste had given her father enough time to hold off Stygian and his minions before the portal was closed forever. He knew Maximus held the key to breaking the barrier. Even though he wanted to tear him limb from limb, he restrained himself. Maximus would die a most gruesome death once he uncovered how to remove the enchantment.
The enchantments were created by the different families of the village. The only way for the portal to be reopened from the mortal realm would be to have a family member from each bloodline present at the Kelpie Ring, creating a Celtic circle, speaking the following words: From day to night mysterious sprites allow our worlds to reunite. As the villagers participated in this ritual they were warned. If they were to ever betray the fae village and attempt to reopen the portal, their powers would be stripped from them and added to the Kelpie Ring’s barrier to strengthen its hold.
Maximus knew of the failsafe. His main concern was Stygian discovering the key to the Kelpie Ring’s magic. He knew the moment Stygian realized what happened he would be dead. Maximus was astonished that Stygian did not immediately murder him as he stood in front of the Dark Fae King. Ready for a noble death filled with torture and humiliation, Maximus was ready to meet his demise. He was not ready for Stygian to take him as a prisoner. The last five years had been horrific.
He was tortured, starved, and beaten. Never once did he betray his family and village. As the originator of the Kelpie Ring enchantment, he was the key to breaking it. With the last of his magic locked away in the ebony box he’d given to River, there was no way for Stygian to probe or take from the Ailey bloodline. "You filthy swine! I will pull your toenails out one by one. You will beg me for mercy and death. How do I break the enchantment on the Kelpie Ring?" Stygian was furious. Each day that passed, his beatings became more and more gruesome.
After the first year, Maximus became numb to the lashings. "You may tear my flesh, break my bones, and bring me to the brink of death. You will never know how to reopen the portal." Maximus would laugh in Stygian's face before the next blow would land. Maximus knew as long as no one on the other side attempted to break the barrier, he would be safe. Stygian did not know with Maximus’ death the portal would be sealed for all eternity, as the enchantment required the originator of the spell to be in the fae world and the others to be in the mortal realm. Only he could travel between the realms under the current enchantment. One day the Kelpie Ring would be open to all, but until then only Maximus could cross the barrier.
The significance of the small parcel he’d given River so many years ago was the key to Solasta’s survival. Only when his village was settled and at peace would the parcel begin to call to him. He then could make his escape. Stygian believed Maximus’ powers were completely drained, but he knew the value of the Ailey blood. Until he could unlock the barrier, Maximus needed to stay alive. Stygian did not know that the depleted fae’s magic would return one day with the success of the new village and the love his wife held for him.
Haven Village
Even though everyone thought her silly, Jada spoke to Maximus daily in her dreams. The small parcel he gave to River was placed on their mantle. Each day the family would speak to it and share their wishes and hopes. They never dared to open the package. Maximus was always mysterious, and his family knew better than to open the ebony box without instruction. It was their Pandora's box, and they did not know what it would unleash. They all believed Maximus was murdered by Stygian the day they left Solasta. Only Jada believed him to still be within the living world.
As Maximus hung in Stygian’s dungeon, malnourished, dirty, and sodden, he began to hear the calling of his ebony box. It was a faint whisper in the beginning that grew into a thunderous roar. The ebony box had fulfilled its task to collect the happiness within his home and tie it to the earth within its confines. River was true to his word in assuring the parcel never left their family. Before the families escaped, the ebony box and the accompanying boxes of earth his children held were imbued with ancient blood magic. The power held within the box was Maximus’ remaining magic. It would call only him and attempt to rejoin its master when they were safe and their village in the mortal realm was prosperous. It was time to return to his family. The vernal equinox was the height of the fae magic. Even though he did not have his magic, the dream world always broke the rules. It was the subconscious that could travel through time and space. With every fiber of his being, Maximus began to meditate and place himself in a sleep-like state to project his thoughts to his wife within the dream realm.
Haven
As Jada opened the Vernal Equinox festivities and began the formal dinner, she felt faint. Her heart was pounding, and her mind began to feel foggy. Brianna, noticing her mother's behavior, stepped next to her mother to sense if she needed healing. Her mother reassured her that all was well and that she was just fatigued from the preparations. Once the dinner was in full swing, she would retire for a short while. She did not want to miss the singers and performers. The guests were seated at elaborately decorated tables with ivy, flowers, and fresh fruit with cheeses overflowing serving trays.
The eldest daughters of each of the villagers came out to serve the attending guests. Wild boar, venison, and duck greeted the diners with aromas to tempt the gods. The pomegranate wine flowed easily, and all the revelers were entranced. Conversations were lively, and the jesters provided plenty of entertainment with their quick quips and silly movements. The festival was off to a great start, and Jada took this time to sneak away for a quick rest. The moment she placed her head on her pillow, she was transported to the dream world.
Maximus was standing in front of her. Afraid to be disappointed, she slowly reached out to see if he was real. As her hand reached for him, she felt his hand caress hers.
“How could this be? My Maximus, are you truly here with me?” They were floating among the stars in a deep embrace. She held him so tightly. Kissed him, kissed his hands, kissed his forehead, and once again his lips. She knew he was alive!
“My love, we do not have much time before Stygian knows what I am doing. Even though I am here, my physical body is in Solasta in a trance. He will discover my attempt to connect with my family via the dream realm. The parcel I gave River holds the key to my return. I placed the last of my magic within the ebony box.”
Jada’s eyes grew wide. “Now I understand why you instructed us to never open it. Your magic would have returned to you. Stygian then could have drained you of your powers to destroy the Kelpie Ring.”
“Exactly, my love. We must hurry. I do not know how much time I have before my trance breaks,” Maximus told her.
Jada listened intently to her husband as he explained what she must do to release him from Stygian’s dungeon and bring him home. “This has to be done tonight while the veil between the worlds is thinnest. You must tell our children to form a Celtic Ring around the parcel. Jada, as my one true love, you must prick your finger and have a solitary drop of blood fall into the center ring of the parcel. This will activate the blood magic to the hidden portal. Every evening at nine, Stygian releases me from my bonds to test my magic. Each evening, he grows more and more angry that the Ailey magic is not his. Now that the parcel calls to me, my powers are strong enough to make the journey from our world to the mortal realm. My beloved, you have done well. The parcel only would have called to me if you and the children were safe and at peace. Our village must be beyond prosperous.”
Jada cried with joy and longing. She could not wait to have Maximus once again by her side. She repeated the details to Maximus to assure she did not falter in her duty to him. “We create a Celtic Ring around the parcel. Place a single drop of my blood in the center. Then we repeat the following words:
“Two worlds divided. Two loves apart. We summon the fae Elders to stand with us. As we join hands and summon our father. As he moves from realm to realm, seal his path so no other can trespass.”
“You are correct, my dearest beauty. Once the incantation is spoken, I will be transported from Solasta to your village. The Celtic Ring must stay intact, and no one can release their hold, as the magic was created by our family love and bond. Tonight at nine, assure the incantation is complete. I will be able then to follow the enchantment to you. If all works according to my plan, I will be with you, and Stygian will be sealed forever in Solasta.”
What Maximus did not know was that even though his magic was blood magic, held with the bond of familial love and all that was pure; it was still corruptible. He did not know that this fateful encounter would lead to a crack in the barrier and provide an opportunity for the malevolent Stygian to cross into the mortal world.
Jada awoke suddenly from her slumber. She ran to the small parcel on the mantle and noticed it vibrating. If you listened hard enough, a faint melody played from the box summoning anyone to open it, as if a call from a siren. Maximus warned Jada to not open the parcel, for it would unleash magic so powerful that it would destroy the barrier and thwart his return. She summoned her children with haste to explain what had just transpired. Skeptical of their mother's vision, they did know their father would have planned for all scenarios.
He was the most powerful of the fae, transcending all others. To guarantee they were not disturbed, Celeste cre-ated a vision for all the revelers. They would not see the family walk into the woods and begin the preparations for their fathers' return. All was in place; the family drew their Celtic Ring and positioned the small parcel in the center. Jada pricked her finger on a rose and released one solitary ruby-colored droplet of blood onto the center of the box. The droplet began to follow the Celtic pattern carved into its lid. The box began to vibrate more violently than before and soon revealed a beautiful, intricate design that channeled the blood. The family created an outer circle and held hands as they repeated their fathers' words. As the family spoke the incantation, the parcel illuminated. The siren song became louder.
They held on tight to each other to assure the Ring was not broken. As the incantation was repeated, the force became stronger and stronger. They did not know what to expect or how they would know the spell had worked. The family continued until the song and light grew so intense that it created an earth-shattering blast that threw the family back. After a few moments, they arose. Jada was the first to see the dark figure in the center of the Ring, followed by River, then Brianna and the rest of the Ailey family.
The shock froze them in place. Did they release a demon? Was it Stygian? The figure moved and slowly lowered his hood to reveal his gaunt and bearded face. It was Maximus! The family rushed him and nearly knocked him over. This was happily ever after. The Ailey family was once again reunited. Maximus collected the small parcel and placed it in his pocket for safe keeping. To maintain the balance of the barrier, he must conceal the power of the box. It was a magical portal made of blood magic tied to his bloodline.
Kommentare