eyes. An army of Trackers stood banging outside the Academy gates. They shook the metal so violently, I feared it may break free before we were prepared to fight. They called to us, shouting and preparing their weapons.
“Now,” Ace commanded, as he stood in front of the large, oak front door.
Raising our hands as one entity, we all held our hands high above our heads. “You have brought death and destruction to the Supernaturals for far too long,” Ace yelled. The Trackers stood in unison, waiting to attack. As he spoke, they listened. “You killed my parents and Brie’s too. You may have gotten away with it in the human world, but the Supernaturals know you are behind those attacks and murders. It all ends here tonight,” he screamed into the night.
My eyes wandered all around, waiting and watching, anticipating something--anything.
Watching.
Waiting.
Suddenly, they began their attack. Using a large gun, they burst through the gates, sending metal and debris flying everywhere. They stormed through the Academy entrance in the form of a V. Their guns were firing. Bullets whizzed past us, but the Witches had set up a protective barrier that the bullets were bouncing right off of. I felt my wings sprout and looking around, I smiled as the other Fairies were already having their wings fluttering as they began to take flight. Together, we began to fly. An electric current coursed between us as we used the strength of one another to build large sparks and shot them at the Trackers who were still rushing toward the Academy. Some of the men screamed out in pain as the sparks burned through their heavy uniforms and began to burn their flesh. The stench of burning skin tainted the air and almost made me sick. Other Trackers began to shoot up in the air toward us, but we just flew higher, darting through the air and refusing to allow them to catch us. I spotted Ace and the other Shifters morphed into their animal forms. It was fascinating to see wolves and leopards jumping and biting and clawing at the men. Limbs from the human Trackers were being ripped off and bloody screams echoed through the night.
Angered at seeing that the Supernaturals were causing more destruction than they had imagined, the Trackers jumped back to their feet-- while others ran off into the night. Bodies lay down below where I now floated in the air. As much as I hated the idea of killing people, this didn’t bother me. The Trackers had murdered my parents without a care. And why? Because they hated them for being different. It wasn’t right-- none of this was right. Suddenly, I was struck with an intense need to see all of this violence end. Death didn’t justify death.
“Stop! “I screamed.
At first, they didn’t hear me. The fighting was too loud and I was too high up for my voice to carry over the noise below. The other Fairies watched me with mild intent as I floated back toward the destruction.
Seeing me, Lisa looked up with wide eyes. “What are you doing, Brie?” she asked.
“I am finally ending this,” I stated.
As I floated back to the ground, I stood in between the chaos that surrounded me.
“Get out of the way, Brie,” Ace shouted at me. He had his sharp teeth locked on a Tracker’s arm, tearing through his flesh. The man was crying out in pain.
“No. We have to stop this,” I cried out.
A few people around us began to stop and look to see what was going on. Electra moved as though she were floating on air. “Brie, you and Ace wanted this. Now, you want it to stop?” she asked calmly.
I nodded, tears pooling in my eyes. “What the Trackers did was awful and it ruined my life. But killing them doesn’t make any of that right. It won’t bring back my parents,” I cried.
Electra nodded and just then, I realized what she had been saying all along. Going after the Trackers to kill them didn’t solve anything. It would just spark another war.
“Stop!” Electra shouted. Her voice boomed so loudly that the ground shook below me like an earthquake.
Everyone around us froze in place, including the Trackers.
“Electra, what are you doing?” Ace questioned, as he stood over one of the Trackers, holding him down with his thick and heavy paws.
“The Woodsong Academy is about peace and bringing together the Supernaturals. We have never encouraged death and revenge. But, that is exactly what is happening here today.”
As she spoke, the world seemed to stand still. No one dared to move or speak.
As she continued, I felt hot tears pouring down my cheeks. I was ashamed of what I had done. I had allowed vengeance and revenge to control my life. I hadn’t seen the beauty and majesty that came with the powers of being a Fae. I had known that Fairies were woodland creatures-- created as soulful and loving creatures with magical abilities. My parents wouldn’t want this for me. I don’t want this for me.
“Students of Woodsong Academy, I plead with you to allow the true magic coursing through your veins to speak to you. Let us bind our Academy with magic to protect all Supernaturals.” She then turned to the Trackers who were left. “I ask that all the Trackers present stop this hatred and violence toward Supernaturals at once. We are unable to understand why you set forth to destroy the Supernaturals. All we want is to live in harmony,” she finished.
One of the Trackers stepped forward, moving his way through the bodies and limbs scattered over the ground. I hadn’t noticed him before, but he was wearing a white helmet, instead of a black one like the other Trackers.
Taking off his helmet, he revealed his face. He had tan skin, shaved dark hair, and brown eyes. He stood with a stoic expression as he took in the scene that had unfolded around him. We all stood watching him, waiting for what-- I had no idea.
Finally, he opened his mouth and spoke. “Supernaturals have taken over parts of our land for centuries. My family lost their farming land so this Academy could be built. We want to take back our power,” he shouted.
I took this as my opportunity. I was now face-to-face with one of the people responsible for my parent’s death. “Killing off Supernaturals won’t bring back what you lost. All it does is bring more death. This has to stop. Allow us to live peacefully and we will leave you alone. If you don’t, you will continue to see the wrath of our powers. Look around.” I motioned. “You are mere humans. You will never win against us. Sure, you might be able to kill some of us, but there are too many more of us waiting to attack. Let this go now,” I screamed.
The man glared at me and after a long pause, he simply nodded his head. “I have lost too many good men here tonight. If the Supernaturals agree to stop this bloodshed, then so do we,” he added.
Electra sauntered over and stood next to me. She patted my shoulder and smiled down at me. “What do you say?” she asked the Tracker.
“I agree, but if I see any Supernaturals near me or my family and land, I can’t promise we won’t be back,” he said, his voice gravelly and gruff.
“That’s only fair,” Electra agreed.
And with that, the Supernaturals let go of the Trackers they had been fighting with. The remaining Trackers who were able, helped carry off the wounded while others picked up the dead and escorted them off our grounds. None of us dared to move or speak until the last Tracker was gone and out of sight.
Once there were no more in sight, I crumpled to the ground and began to sob.