Blinded by the Light

Blinded by the Light
Pure light radiates from Danu’s wound. It fills the room, knocking Isolde against the wall. The light explodes into the hallway, toppling Ciaran, Ainmire and Branna. Dian Cecht appears and is immediately slammed to the floor. The wave of light continues upstairs. It beams out of every window in the house and strikes down every occupant.

Danu cries out in pain. She shakes, then when calm, she draws the light back in. The basement is quiet. No sound but the protesting whimpers of Isolde as she huddles near the wall, trying to heal herself. She glares at Danu, disgust in her eyes. She knows she cannot kill a god, but for a moment she hopes that like so many things is a myth.

“Stupid, fairie. If you cannot die, what made you think you could kill me?” Danu smoothes down her gown and runs her fingers over the area where the wound once was.

“Worth a shot?” Isolde struggles to her feet. “Figured maybe I would wound you enough to escape.” She laughs. “That light trick you do is pretty intense.”

"I am the goddess of the moon. That light ‘trick’ could have killed any mortals in its path.” She scowls at Isolde. “You better hope there are none in this house or their deaths will be on you.”

“How can that be my fault, when you let loose the light storm?” Isolde rests her fists on her hips like an impertinent teenager.

“You stabbed me.” Danu thrusts her index finger at Isolde. “You are the cause of the light ‘trick’.”

“What an impetuous deity you are.” Isolde stomps her foot. “If you didn’t need to heal yourself so quickly, no mortals would have had to be hurt.”

“You insolent little brat.” Danu has had enough of Isolde’s off-putting attitude. This insignificant fairie should be cowering before her, but instead she is back talking to her. Where did she get such audacity?

“I shall take my leave of this place, now.” Isolde declares as she tries to rip a hole in the air to step through. Each slice is met with nothing. No other side appears. Isolde sighs and spits with frustration.

“Did you think I was just going to let you leave?” Danu shakes her head. “Not only insolent but stupid as well.”

“Don’t call me that,” Isolde lunges towards Danu. Her feet leave the ground as she bears her claws of ice. Her actions are swift, but Danu’s are quicker. Isolde crumbles to the ground inches away from Danu. She lets out a yelp of pain as her body hits an invisible wall.

“I am not going to let you do that to me twice, dear Isolde. Unlike some thickheaded fairies, I learn from my oversights.” She glances down at Isolde, a satisfied smirk on her face.

In the hallway, Branna, Ainmire, and Ciaran return to their feet. They shake the pain from their bodies and check themselves for any open wounds. By the elevator, Dian Cecht tries gracefully to recover his balance and strides toward the threesome. They turn toward him, hoping that the news he brings is not devastating. Dian Cecht’s expression is stoic but gives away nothing.

“Is everything okay in the Mag Mell, Dian Cecht?” Ciaran is the first to inquire.

“Ciaran,” Dian Cecht approaches him. “Quinn is in trouble. Alroy is in the Mag Mell with her. The Cailleach is there as well, but I do not believe she is there to harm Quinn. Alroy on the other hand, I am unsure what his intentions are but I am certain they are not good.”

“Send me there, now!” Ciaran demands, fear and rage coursing through his words.

Dian Cecht does not try to calm him. He simply opens up a portal and on the other side a simple cabin is visible. Ciaran steps through and the tear disappears. The deity turns back towards Branna and Ainmire.

“And what has been transpiring here?” Dian Cecht scans the hallway and turns his attention to the closed door. The door behind which Isolde is cowering before Danu.

“Danu is judging Isolde.” Ainmire replies.

“Judging?” Dian Cecht furrows his brow.

“Deciding her fate based on her actions,” Branna chimes in.

“I know what judging means, my dear child.” Dian Cecht does not scold Branna, but looks at her with endearing eyes. He then focuses his attention on Ainmire, “Why is Danu deciding Isolde’s fate? Danu is not one to intervene.”

“I guess she feels giving the blessings makes her an impartial party,” Ainmire scratches his head. “In some strange way, I think Danu is trying to make it up to Isolde.”

Suddenly, the door to the room cracks open and with a burst of wind flies open revealing the scene inside. Sprawled out on the floor is Isolde’s bloody body. She quivers and begs as Danu towers over her, striking her when the fairie protests.

“Interesting way of making it up to her,” Dian Cecht comments as he approaches the door.

For a brief moment, Danu turns her attention away from Isolde. A chilling smile graces Danu’s face. Fire flares in her eyes as she views Dian Cecht. The door slams closed before he can step through, catching Dian Cecht off guard.

He stumbles backward, then collects himself. Danu never acts impulsively, he thinks. There must be something Isolde has done to cause such anger in his fellow deity. Dian Cecht wonders why the moon goddess has picked this indiscretion to meddle in.

“Did Danu say anything to either of you?” Dian Cecht asks.

“I told Danu to judge Isolde. I threw her at Danu’s mercy.” Ainmire responds.

“But did Danu say anything directly to you?” the deity persists.

Ainmire closes his eyes trying with difficulty to recall the conversation. When he opens his eyes he says, “I don’t think Danu said anything.” He shakes his head. “She looked at Isolde with such pity. Although I wished her judgement would be harsh, I did not think Danu would be from the way she looked at Isolde.”

“Isolde must have done something to change Danu’s perception of her. Danu does not intervene unless she feels she has done wrong. I have never seen such fury in the moon goddess’s eyes before. I think she believes Isolde has wronged her.” Dian Cecht stares at the door. How could Danu be so viscous?