“Okay, okay. Let me think! I got the globe as a gift from that freak of a fairy. Now that I think about it, it makes no sense. She shouted at me not to touch it and then hid it in my bag. I’m going to take it back to her, and maybe she can help us.” Tearing off the dress she pulls on a shirt and jeans.
Jaz stands defiantly wiping her hazel eyes, “OH, she’s going to help us, or I will have a new set of wings!”
Chapter 4
Caderyn finishes changing into clean clothes and puts on some thick socks with her boots. Throwing her dark hair into a ponytail, she’s ready to go. Carefully, she places the box in her bag, and they take a cab to retrieve her jeep.
“Let’s go kick some fairy ass!” Jazmin climbs in and slams the door to the jeep.
On the drive, they go over the details of Caderyn’s dream again. It all started with the globe. “I hope she can give us some answers. I don’t think she would do this on purpose Jazmin. I felt a connection to her.”
Two cups of coffee later, they pull up outside Fairy Mary’s cottage. “No lights are on. She must not be here yet,” Jazmin says. Taking a deep breath, Caderyn grabs her bag, and they get out of the jeep and walk to the door.
Jazmin starts to knock on the door, and it slowly creaks open. A sick feeling of dread comes over, Caderyn.
“I don’t like this, we should go!” Jazmin says pulling on her arm.
Caderyn turns refusing to budge, “I have to talk to her, Jaz. She has to give me some answers!”
She nudges the door open with her foot, careful not to touch it and steps inside the dark cottage. In the dim morning light, without the music or sound of waterfalls, the shop feels sad like the magic has been lost. As she looks around, she walks to where the globe used to sit and finds it is empty.
A crash has them both jumping. Jaz clutches her arm and points to the sunroom. A low keening sound echoes through the shop. Caderyn rushes to the sunroom and screams, “NO!”
Mary is on the floor with her beautiful fake wings crushed beneath her. A bronze dagger is sticking out of her chest, with black blood staining the long silver dress.
“Mary!” Caderyn cries. The woman is gasping for breath, and clutching her throat, which shows bruising as if she were strangled. Black smudges appear under her hands and flow down her arms, beneath her dress and blood pools all around her body.
Jazmin runs for the phone to call an ambulance. Mary clutches Caderyn’s hand, wheezing, “You must save him Caderyn.”
“Don’t talk Mary, help is coming. You’re going to be okay!” She says comforting the woman.
“Save him!” She demands and grabs her hand. “Others will help you! Promise me that you’ll save my brother!” A silver tear slips free, and Fairy Mary’s eyes transform, turning violet. Silver hair morphs to fire and the aged mask slips, revealing the timeless beauty of the Fae Queen. Caderyn recognizes her from her dream.
“It’s you!” Caderyn gasps. Porcelain skin begins to turn gray as the veins turn black, spidering towards her heart. The sound of her stuttering heart fills Caderyn’s ears. Jazmin watches in shock and slowly hangs up the phone.
Caderyn, the roots are firmly planted, guarding secrets hidden deep. Only the water of life can free him! She hears the Fae Queen say in her mind.
“I don’t know what that means, but I will save him!” Caderyn promises fiercely. The queen reaches up and touches her face in relief. The spot on her temple burns for a moment and a tiny silver rose appears. A green vine trails above her eyebrow and down into her hair.
“Thank you, little warrior!” Just before her heart stops, she looks at Jazmin and smiles as she turns to sparkling mist. A powerful wind blows through the shop, and the windows explode outward, freeing the mist.
Caderyn picks up the dagger and stands, wiping her tears she grabs her friend pulling her along. “We have to go now!” She stuffs the dagger into her bag, and they run.
Chapter 5
Silence fills the jeep as they both absorb the death of Fairy Mary, or rather the Fae Queen. Caderyn drives aimlessly, finally stopping at a rest stop.
“Jazmin, I’m so sorry that you’re involved in this,” Caderyn says, resting her head on the steering wheel.
“She spoke to me, Caderyn,” Jazmin says quietly. “I heard her voice in my mind, and she said, ‘The key can be found under the silver tree.’ She said true sisters are a gift from the heavens. I will not lose you, as she did her brother.” Caderyn reaches out and grips her hand.
“I love you too, Jazmin, but I have no clue how to keep this promise. Where is this silver tree? How do we fight something we know nothing about?” Caderyn asks frustrated.
“Exactly, we need to do some research. Keep that blue ball in the box for now. Let’s go back to my place. Whoever killed her, could trace you through your credit card and your place is not safe.” Jazmin says.
“I do not even want to know how you know that,” Caderyn snaps.
“Easy, I dated a cop for a few months. I should call him sometime, the things he could do! Mmm, I definitely should call him later.”
“Really, Jazmin!” Caderyn scolds, laughing with her friend.
She pulls back onto the road and slams her brakes, skidding to a stop when the massive beast step out of the woods. “Look Jaz! Isn’t he beautiful?” A large white stag pauses to look
