Dark Realm 54
It took over an hour for the women to reach the safety of the shop. The storefront looked empty and dark. “What the hell happened here?” Joy looked around.
“I don’t know,” Brinley whispered.
Joy pulled on the locked door. “Do you think you can get rid of this lock?”
Brinley shrugged. “I can try.” She cracked her knuckles and gripped the steel lock in her hand. The lock turned crimson, popped, and then dropped to the ground.
“Thanks. I don’t think normal people can do that.”
“Okay, give it a rest. I get it.”
“I never thought I’d hear those bickering voices again.” Herman appeared from the doorway. He looked like he’d aged a hundred years.
“Herman.” Both women rushed to each side. “What happened here?” Joy helped Herman to the chair.
“I can probably answer that better.” A strange woman’s voice echoed from the hall. Instantly, Joy and Brinley stood in front of Herman, weapons at the ready. “Would you two kill a friend?”
“If we have to.” Joy spat. “Who are you? What did you do to Herman?”
“Easy, ladies.” Herman coughed.
The air in the tiny space trembled so much that the hairs on everyone’s arms rose. “Tell us now.” Lightening danced from her index finger to the pinkie and back again.
“Let me show you how I enjoy threats.” The strange woman held up her hand encasing Brinley in a protective bubble which shrank the more Brinley tried to fight her.
Brinley held her throat, gasping for air.
“Enough, Fina. You’ve made your point release her.” Herman stared at the woman.
Fina placed both arms at her side. “I’m sorry, but I don’t take threats well. I am not here to harm you, either of you.” Fina tried to help Brinley to her feet, but Brinley rejected it, standing up on her own accord. “You’re stubborn, I like that. My name is Fina. I’ve been watching this place lately and I don’t like what I see.”
“Get to the point,” Joy said.
“I am Herman’s superior.
“She’s your boss?” Joy glanced at Herman.
“Damn, that must suck.” Brinley stared at Fina.
Fina looked at Brinley’s hand. “I see you have outgrown the glove I sent you.”
“Wait, you sent me the glove and all the brief hints?”
Fina bowed.
“Why didn’t tell me?” Herman asked, still hidden by Joy and Brinley.
“I cannot tell you everything, Herman, you know the rules.”
“Damn the rules, these are my girls. They could have died.”
“Yet they did not. Whether you want to admit it, we all need them right now.”
“I don’t get it. Who the hell is she?” Joy whispered in Brinley’s ear.
“She’s The Guardian.”
“At your service. Well, not exactly because I do not answer either of you. I helped you because I seek the same things you two see. Without you both the realms will fall. While you two were on vacation the darkness has claimed most of the town.”
“Bitch, did you just say we were on vacation?” Brinley growled.
“Look at your town you say you’ve loved so much. The darkness is claiming souls. I was almost about to give up on you, but Herman wanted to wait longer.”
“How do we stop it?” Brinley asked.
“The darkness started with where all darkness begins… in the heart.”
“Shit.” Brinley dropped her head.
“What the hell does that mean?” Joy stared at Fina. “You have no clue what we’ve been through, can you just for once, not speak in riddles.”
“You must go to Red Thai. It started with Asher, and it will end with him.”
“But how are the two of us going to take on the entire town?”
“Once the evil is removed, most souls should return to their rightful places,” Fina added. “Fighting Asher will not come with ease. We could use his obsession against him. It may benefit us.”
“His obsession? Raw human meat, right?” Joy snapped her fingers.
“No.” Brinley clicked her tongue. “Asher wants me. It’s time to give him exactly what he wants.”
Joy tugged Brinley’s shoulder. “Brin, that sounds dangerous.”
“I know, but we can’t just attack him straight on. Giving him what he wants may work. The only problem we have is, it is only the two of us. We need more muscle. We cannot ask Cillian, not now.”
“I agree. Wait, I have something.” Joy rushed out of the room.
Brinley stared at Fina. “Is there something you want to say?”
“Is there something you want to ask?” Fina mocked Brinley’s tone. “Mm. Could you excuse us, Herman?” Fina leaned over to stare at him. Once the two of them were alone, Brinley asked. “You gave me the glove, right?”
“Yes, I gave you the glove. You seemed ashamed of your mark, so I offered to help you hide it. Isn’t that what you wanted? Don’t you just want to be normal?” Fina raised her thin eyebrows.
“Are you listening to everything I say? Because if you’re listening, why didn’t you help me save the centaurs? The Alu slaughtered them like cattle. If you wanted to help, where were you?”
Fina remained quiet.
Brinley growled, then turned her back to Fina.
“That’s what I wanted to see,” Fina whispered. “How do you feel right now?”
“What difference does it make?” Brinley’s voice trembled.
“I cannot always see nor hear you all the time. And I cannot always help you. Do you think I have time to listen to the ramblings of a newbie… and one so stubborn as you.”
Brinley closed her eyes. “You’re trying to piss me off. Why?”
“You struggle with doubts and questions. I am not human like you, and I do not feel the same things as you. You want answers, I understand that. It is one reason I help you when I can. Did Cillian tell you sylphs have special abilities?”
“We didn’t get that far.”
“So, he told you nothing?”
Brinley turned around. “I think you know the answer to that question.”
“As you’ve already realized, time flows differently within the realms. You think you were away for days but in actuality, you’ve been gone for over a month.”
“A month?” Brinley echoed.
“Yes, it is one reason why I’m here.” The darkness crept through this town, and with no one here to fight your town fell. Did Cillian tell you anything?”
Brinley shrugged. “He told me some crap about being the lost princess of Aella.”
Fina gasped. “The Lost Princess of Aella.”
“Why would my parents give me away?”
“To save your life. Hiding you here among the humans was smart. They must have used magic to hide your sigil, even from yourself. You awoke your true nature while battling the mullo. Your power was dormant, now it surges through the veins… uncontrollably.”
“I can control it.”
“Are you certain?”
Brinley exhaled. “Nope. I’m not very certain.”
“Aella was once a peaceful place.” Fina stepped closer to Brinley to wave her hand in front of Brinley’s eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“Just watch. See what I have already seen.”
Brinley followed Fina’s suggestion and closed her eyes. In her mind, she saw an entire city made of stratocumulus clouds. As far as she could see were homes and buildings, and stairways to the realm of humans. Until darkness seeped from the hearts of many, causing the once peaceful beings to strike out among themselves, everyone claiming to be the one strong enough to retake Aella. There were rumors of the birth of a woman who could walk between the realms. It was called Realm Walker, and that’s who you are.”
“What happened to my parents, are they alive?” Brinley shook her head.
“I cannot answer that. I do your parents loved you. It tore their souls apart giving you away.”
“They loved me?” Brinley’s voice trembled. “But why would they give me away?”
“They did it to save you. Your sigil isn’t like the others, yours is very special, it marks you. Somehow evil people heard of your birth. Your father being horribly burned saved you from the raid and fire. No one knew if you survived the fire. Your father lost a lot that day, he lost his beloved wife and his only daughter.”
Finally, Brinley understood. “Is he still alive?”
“I do not know.”
Brinley stared down at her palm fighting back the tears. She wiped her face. “If my mother died in the fire what happened to my father?”
Fina shrugged. “Win this fight and find out. Something is coming and we all need to be ready when the time comes.”
“The coming storm.” Brinley sighed.
“Yes.” Fina pulled a chair. “Anything else?”
“Is this my fault?”
“No, the darkness was already here. Asher is an errand boy. Don’t allow the darkness to consume you. If Asher kills you and Joy, the town is his. Use all the knowledge you’ve gained. I’m sorry I cannot help you more. Sometimes you must create your own future. Here.” Fina gave Brinley a glass bottle.
Brinley held the small tube up to the light. “It’s empty.”
“You can trap things inside of it. It might come in handy.” Fina gave Brinley a wink. “Anything else?”
“How can we kill a wendigo?” Brinley asked.
“With this.” Joy entered the room carrying a silver Navy Revolver. “It will melt his frozen heart.”
“A gun?” Brinley furrowed her brow. “With a silver bullet, right?”
“Hell no, that’s how to kill a werewolf, a wendigo is different,” Joy smirked. “We must destroy his heart. But it won’t be easy. His underside has the thick bones of his enemies. It’s gonna be tough to break through but this gun leaves an enormous hole.”