Lily's Magic by: Elsbeth Braden learns that his grandmother's stories might be true.

Chapter 3

Changing into some of her sister’s clothes seemed like a good idea. The last thing she needed was her pants falling around her ankles. What the young girl didn’t expect was the person gazing back at her from her sister’s mirror. “Is that really me?”

Breyana had to sit down for a moment as most of the blood in her body pooled around her feet. She touched her face, brushed the hair from her eyes and made a couple of funny faces in the mirror. The image mirrored back her movements, confirming to the young girl that it was indeed her own reflection in the mirror. “I look like my grandmother.”

“Is that a good thing?” Lily asked.

Breyana beamed. “Yes.” Looking thoughtful, the young girl stood up and went into her sister’s closet. “Lily, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” Lily stood in front of the same mirror preening, pulling bits of forest debris from her clothes and hair.

“Who are the Tuatha De Danann?” When Breyana didn’t hear a reply, she stuck her head outside the closet. “Lily?”

Lily stood in front of the mirror. “Breyana, where did you hear that name?”

While walking in and out of the bedroom closet, pulling out clothes to try on, Breyana told Lily about her dream. “So, it was a dream, right?”

The white haired Pixie screeched, jumped up and down and threw herself into the chest of young girl. “I knew you were special, we’re cousins.” Backing off she hovered. “Well you’re cousin to the Aos Sidhe of the Seelie Court but close enough.” She giggled.

Breyana found a seat again, the world was becoming a little gray. Turning into a girl and now finding out that she was related to the Sidhe, even if it was a distant relation, was a little too much to take in one day. “Gran said she was Cailleach Feasa.”

Lily nodded.

“So I come from a family of Witches?”

Lily made a face then shrugged. “I guess so but we don’t think of you that way. Your families are the Coimirceoirá­, our helpers, family and guardians of the ways into the Fairy Realm.”

Breyana had an epiphany. “You mean like Stonehenge?” She always thought that was a special place and still remembered visiting it when she was a small child.

“Of course, that’s a gateway into the Fairy Realm that opens up a few times a year. The Coimirceoirá­ used to guard the crossing.”

“So there is more than one family?”

Lily smiled sadly. “Not as many as there used to be.”

Throwing on a forest green heavy knit sweater, jeans and a pair of sneakers that sort of fit, Breyana ran back downstairs. Deep in the hall closet, she opened up an old cardboard box and found one of her sister’s coats. Grabbing a pair of gloves, the middle schooler was out of the door with Lily right behind her.

“Are you sure you’re not moonstruck?” The Pixie said her voice filled with worry.

“Let’s go this way.” The sun had long gone down and only the light of the full moon illuminated the way. Breyana wished it were much earlier in the day. The thought of facing the creature in the dark terrified her to no end but she needed to get to her father. Moving around the back of the house, the pair slowly made their way down to the creek. Both homes stood on a good parcel of land separated by a long wooden fence, which Breyana could easily climb. Not wanting to get wet, she jumped the small creek and climbed up the small embankment to stand in front of the long wooden fence that separated the two plots of land.

“I know this sounds crazy Lily, but something tells me I have to do this.”

The white haired Pixie sighed. “You are Coimirceoirá­. Still Breyana, you have to promise me if I tell you to run...you run.”

“I can’t leave you behind, Lily.” The young girl smiled warmly.

“Yes you can. I refuse to leave one of the Cailleach Feasa in the hands of one of those…creatures.”

“Lily?”

“Please Breyana.” The Pixie implored, her voice filled with love for this young human girl.

Breyana nodded tears falling down her face. Wiping them off, she set her shoulders squarely. “We ready?”

Lily nodded. “Let’s go.”

As soon as Breyana climbed over the fence, Lily began cursing in some dead ancient language. “I’m sorry Breyana, she knows we’re coming.”

“Don’t worry about it; we weren’t trying to surprise her anyway.” The young Irish Witch never thought that there was a real chance in that happening anyway. Her only concern was Lily. The Hag said not to bring her but she was positive the creature didn’t think either of them was a threat. With the forest to their left, the two crossed the fields with no problems. Climbing a small rise, they could now see their objective in the distance. The light of Mrs. Stile’s porch light was like a beacon urging them on.

“I see you got my note.” The old woman sat on the back porch of her home knitting a long purple scarf. “When my pets failed to return with you I didn’t understand why; now I know.”

A sense of calm had settled upon Breyana. “I want my dad.” She should be terrified but only concern for her father filled her heart.

The vile creature known as Black Mary smiled set down her knitting and walked off the porch into the yard. “I thought, girl, that all I would do is suck the marrow from your bones.” The old woman smiled kindly. “But now I see something much more interesting.”

“Stay away from her, you Hag.” Lily leaped from Breyana’s shoulder to hover in between the Hag and her friend. “We are here for her father.”

The old woman laughed. “Stupid pixie, your kind always amazes me. You did this to her didn’t you? The mortal child would just have met his death, unpleasant perhaps but that is the way of things. Now I can feel the blood flow through her veins, an untrained Cailleach Feasa my dear, you have given me such a wonderful gift.”

The Hag’s body began to change. Arms grew longer and thinner, her skin darkened to moldy grey and sharp black fingernails protruded from claw like hands. Black Mary’s face became a twisted mockery of the woman Breyana once knew. With a long nose, black eyes and a mouth full of shark like teeth, a Hag of the Unseelie Court now faced the young girl. “She is to be my Sclabhai.” The old woman cackled gleefully. “One of the Coimirceoirá­ in thrall to me, the irony is so delicious.” Her voice had sharpened, the warm voice of Mrs. Stiles gone.

“I am going to be no one’s slave.” Breyana understood enough of her grandmother’s language. She knew the old stories of the Dark Fey taking mortals into their realm never to be seen again.

“What, you think your little powers can match mine.” Without a flick of the wrist, a wall of darkness rushed towards the two girls.

Breyana turned away but the force didn’t touch her. Turning back, she found Lily with her arms wide open surrounded by a ball of white light. “You will do no harm to my friend, Hag.” The Pixie’s voice was filled with fury.

Black Mary’s laughed. “And I thought I had found a family of the Coimirceoirá­ unguarded. The others were easy enough to take. What’s so special about this child?” The smile left the Hags lips. “You might be your clan’s Keeper pixie, but know this I am called Black Mary. You will regret coming between me and my prey.” A thick miasma formed around Breyana, a chill stabbed at her heart. The bright light that was Lily began to fade.

“Breyana run!”

Before she could move a step, a warm light pushed back the foulness. “Gran?” The young girl felt something familiar when the whole area lit up as if it was day. Black Mary stumbled backwards her hands covering her dark eyes. Suddenly scores of Pixies shot out of the trees but it wasn’t that threat that disturbed the Hag the most. Four of the Aos Sidhe strode forth from the woods. The first a tall armored man wielding what Breyana knew to be a claymore. A second Aos Sidhe followed, a young woman dressed in the greens and browns of the forest carrying a long rowan spear. Another woman stood by the man’s side, dressed in a blue and white kirtle and wielding a Boleen. However, it was the third young woman who caused Black Mary to leap back and hiss.

Dressed in the purest white, shining silver stars circled around the young woman’s head, in her hand she bore a blade edged with Silver-Steel a precious gift from two clans of grateful Knockers. “I am Morgan, daughter of Mab, Princess of the High Court; I think you need to step the hell away from our cousin.”

Balls of black light flew from the hands of the Hag straight towards Breyana but it was the woman dressed in blue and white who stepped in the way deflecting the power, which exploded in the fields beyond. “Don’t worry child no harm will come to you this night.” The Aos Sidhe smiled kindly. “So Lily, I see you have been busy.”

Lily squeaked and flew into Breyana’s hair. “Hi Rá³isá­n.”

Breyana couldn’t believe she was having a conversation with one of the 'The Fair Folk' while there was a battle taking place in front of her. Seeing the concern on her face the woman, known as Rá³isá­n wrapped her arms around the girl and whispered, “Don’t be afraid; Her Highness has everything well in hand.”

While the Aos Sidhes with the claymore and the spear kept the two black hounds that had just appeared busy, the girl in white stood toe to toe with the Hag. Long nails filled with black power slashed at the Princess, which she deftly deflected sending back quick thrusts, white pure fire pouring from the blade. The two were moving so fast it was hard for Breyana to see the fight.

“Rá³isá­n, how did you know we needed help.” Lily asked still hiding in her friends red hair.

“We had just returned from the gathering with the Knockers when we made Morgan take a nap. “ Rá³isá­n smiled down at Breyana. “when suddenly she flew off the couch stating that one of the Coimirceoirá­ needed our help. I guess that means you?”

“I’m Breyana.”

“Nice to meet you Breyana, I’m Rá³isá­n. The girl with the spear is my daughter Emily and the handsome man with the big sword is my husband Liam.” The young girl watched the two dogs suddenly burst into black flame. “Good they sent them back.” Rá³isá­n commented. “Princess Morgan, of course, is the one in the white that’s about to put the vile hag into the ground.” The Aos Si shouted fiercely.

Breyana watched the Princess shift her foot and crouch down coming underneath the claws of the Hag. With a quick swipe of the Princess’s sword, Black Mary’s right arm came off at the shoulder. Before the Princess could swing around for a finishing stroke, the Hag jumped back screeching deadly curses at the Aos Sidhe of the High Court.

With thick dark blood pouring from the wound, Black Mary turned and fled. Breyana watched as the two Sidhe, Emily and Liam quickly followed charging past the house into the woods beyond. Right behind them was a huge swarm of very angry Pixies.

The young girl watched as the Princess pointed her sword at the still moving arm of the Hag and in a burst of white light, the arm shriveled to nothing but ash. “Evil thing.” When the light faded, the Princess no longer stood in shining white but now wore a simple pink flowery blouse, jeans and a scarlet and white BU windbreaker. Dressed like one of the High Schoolers that attended SHS, Breyana realized the Princess might be only a few years older than herself.

“Hi, I’m Morgan, you must be Breyana.” The Princess approached with a warm smile on her lips.

Breyana started to say something then looked at the house. “Daddy.” Quickly she ran to the door.

“No.” Morgan shouted behind the young girl.

Three member of the Seelie Court sat in Morgan Rynders living room. Scattered about the room were also a couple dozen Pixies on guard ready to protect the Princess if necessary.

“I can’t believe we didn’t kill her.” Emily growled banging the haft of her spear on the coffee table. She had thrown her rowan spear straight through the chest of the Hag but it didn’t slow it down.

“We didn’t take her head.” Morgan didn’t look particularly happy herself. She did have the pleasure of lopping off an appendage but Hags were notoriously difficult to kill. Black Mary had centuries of evil that she would one day be held accounted for.

“Alex is going to be annoyed he missed the fight.” Emily chided her Princess while passing her spear back and forth between her hands.

Rá³isá­n reached over, took the spear from her daughter, and leaned it against the wall. “I’m sure he will get another chance.” Black Mary would need time to heal the wounds inflicted on her but she would be back for revenge and Morgan’s Troupe would be ready for her.

”What about our little cousin?”

Morgan looked down and stroked the head of the girl sleeping on her lap. Of all the things that happened, Breyana running into the Hag’s house to find her father was the most unfortunate. The house was a nightmare, bloody bones littered the floor, but it was the real owner of the house; with her corpse sitting at the kitchen table that panicked the girl the most. “I’ll have to talk to my mother but she is going to stay with me.” The other two women nodded. The young girl had not let go of Morgan, who rushed to the screaming girl’s aid, pulling her out of the house to comfort her. Thankfully, they found her father still alive in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

“Her father must have been Hagridden since the summer.” Emily fumed.

Rá³isá­n believed that Black Mary had been feeding on Breyana’s father through his dreams. ”Liam will bring him to your mother’s family Your Highness, but the mortal is almost beyond our help.” Rá³isá­n looked at the unhappy Princess. “It’s not your fault, Morgan.”

“If I had been able to defeat Ashur, the Green Man would still be alive.” The Princess said unhappily. Morgan being unable to defeat the Redcap caused the Green Man to sacrifice himself to stop the beast. With the Guardian of the Sacred Grove absent, the darker powers of the Fae have had a greater influence in the mortal world.

“What about Lily?” Bria sat on the other side of the couch, looking down at her wayward Pixie. Lily was fast asleep, snuggled up against Breyana’s shoulder.

“Well Xera has been complaining that she doesn’t have an apprentice.” Morgan grinned. Everyone was in the room was impressed that the white haired Pixie stood up and took the brunt of the Hag’s power. Someone would need to keep an eye on Lily and her use of magic. She might in time and with lots of training become the clan’s Keeper of Names. “For now it wouldn’t hurt if Lily continued to keep an eye on Breyana or maybe its the other way around. Either way it might actually be difficult to separate the two.” Morgan Princess of the Summer Court looked upon the sleeping form of Xera’s new apprentice fondly.

Bria sighed; as Clan Chieftain, it was her responsibility to tell her Keeper the news. She really wasn’t looking forward to it.

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth