The ocean breeze hit Copper full in the face as she watched the water slap the shore then recede before slapping it again. After realizing she’d fallen in love with Tiernan, she’d needed to get away for a while.
Not to mention she had to have time to focus. To figure out where the door was and to come up with a spell she could use against Darkwolf to keep him from opening it. The time was nearly at hand. She knew what had to be done.
Copper had jogged from the Haight-Ashbury district to Golden Gate Park, then to the opposite end of the three-mile-long park. Jogging cleared her mind and got her blood pumping and her thoughts churning.
She’d gone all the way to Ocean Beach, where she now sat on the sand for a bit to catch her breath. She stared at the water for a while longer, contemplating spells that could work to keep the door to Underworld closed.
When Copper felt she had worked out a strong enough spell, she brushed sand off her backside and returned to the apartments and Enchantments.
If her dreams were true, the door would be opened tonight, and somehow she would see it happen. It would be up to her to either make sure it stayed closed, or to close it if it was opened.
It made her feel a little better to have a plan and a spell readied before she arrived at that door. She just hoped it wouldn’t be too late by the time she got there.
Too late for what? she asked herself. What if I’m wrong about this door? What if I can’t find it?
She’d experienced dream-visions, and whether Balor influenced them or not, she would face whatever came next.
She had no doubt now this answered her question of why she’d been stranded in that small part of Otherworld. She’d had firsthand experience with the Drow, had been inside their realm, and had even seen the massive tunnel the giant had come through.
That was the key to it all. She had to return to Otherworld, and one way or another get through that tunnel and to the door. She had no doubt in her mind the Dark Elves had been working side by side with Darkwolf to find the door, and her ticket to stopping whatever could happen lay with Garran and the other Drow.
Except, unlike in her dream-visions, she wouldn’t be alone. She’d damn sure take reinforcements.
She’d had time to think about a lot of things during her mind-clearing six-plus-mile jog, and plenty of time to plan what she would do next.
The fact her sister was missing, and that she’d been unable to help Silver, was like molten lead in Copper’s belly. Somehow, someway, she had to get to Silver. It didn’t matter that all the divination readings had said otherwise, she couldn’t just wait.
She refused to let her thoughts stray to Tiernan. She kept him pushed well to the back of her mind.
Copper’s body and mind ached by the time she made her way up the stairs to Silver’s apartment. Fortunately, the key remained in the pocket of the black jeans she’d been wearing since yesterday. She felt sweaty, sticky, and grimy after her long jog and her time on the beach.
She let herself into the quiet apartment and choked back the knot of emotion in her throat. Goddess, she felt alone.
Silver wasn’t there. Her absence could be felt in every way. Polaris curled up in a chair beside the door, as if waiting for Silver to walk through. Copper went to him and stroked his head. “I’m sorry, big guy. If I could carry a big ol’ python like you. I’d take you with me to find her.”
When she turned away from Polaris, Zephyr zipped up to her with an angry sound. She’d left him in Silver’s apartment last night, and he obviously wasn’t happy at her for spending most of the day away without him.
“Give me some time to get myself together,” she said, and the familiar buzzed in her face. She felt his anger die and his sorrow for her flooded her being before he flew up to rest on the curtain rod.
Once she was out of the shower, Copper jerked on her bra and panties, a pair of well-worn jeans, a soft sweater, and comfortable jogging shoes. After she dried and then braided her hair, she stuffed her wand in her back pocket, grabbed her jacket, and got the hell out of there. She had things to do. For now she had to push aside all the pains in her heart and concentrate on Silver.
Zephyr zipped to his normal place on her ear. When she entered the shop, smells of sandalwood, berries, and patchouli wafted over her from the displays of incense beside the front door. Scents of cinnamon, vanilla, blueberry, pine, and apple met her nose next as she passed the candle display. Enchantments was arranged differently, yet the shop was much the same as Moon Song.
Enchantments was perhaps even more homey and comforting. Colorful robes, a huge variety of wands, chalices, cauldrons, books, wind chimes, charms, pentagrams, and other types of jewelry, filled the shop. It was a place where one could get lost in enjoyment for hours.
One customer wandered around stands of bookmarks, shelves of pretty boxes, and displays of handmade shawls, and another perused the Faerie figurine section. Alyssa manned the register and Mackenzie handled the café.
Copper made her way into the cozy kitchen and barely acknowledged Hannah and Rhiannon, who were in a heated discussion about who the hell knew what. The moment they saw Copper, though, Rhiannon went to her.
“The time is now. Darkwolf has taken Silver to the door,” Rhiannon said, her eyes wide. “The one on the parchment.”
“You don’t know that.” Hannah scowled. The brunette brushed the single chunk of blonde hair from her eyes and it fell to the side of her face to frame her features. Even when she scowled she looked beautiful.
Rhiannon stared at her. “You just scried it with your mirror and salt crystals.”
“Balor could be influencing all of our divinations.” Hannah placed her hands on her hips. Her taupe slacks fell in straight lines to her taupe-colored heels. Her creamy blouse remained unwrinkled, sleek, and as sophisticated as the rest of her.
Copper wondered why she wasn’t at the software company where she was director of development. “We don’t know what to believe now,” Hannah added.
“Just as I finished telling you, this time I prepared.” Rhiannon’s cheeks had gone deep pink, her hair a little wild. “The goddess blocked out all outside influences when I had my vision. Silver is there, or will soon be. We must go after her.”
“Wait!” Copper shouted, and both women looked to her. “You saw Silver at the door?”
“I saw Darkwolf carry her to the center of the circle surrounded by those evil runes.” Rhiannon swallowed, fear evident in her features. “She was unconscious and bleeding.” Copper thought her legs would give out from under her.
She grasped the back of a chair beside the kitchen table to steady herself. Zeph gave a distressed buzz.
“Like I said, she may not be there yet.” Rhiannon took Copper’s free hand. “This could have been a future vision.”
“Either way, we have to go after her.” Copper took her hand from Rhiannon’s and pressed her fingertips to her forehead. “I’m certain I know how to get there. Through the Drow tunnels.”
“How are we going to get past a bunch of Dark Elves?” Hannah’s chocolate-brown eyes snapped along with her voice.
“I have a lot of Fae friends there now,” Copper said, then furrowed her brow. “At least I hope so. Anyway, Garran won’t hurt me, I’m certain of it. At worst he’ll take me there as a prisoner, and then I’ll have a chance.”
Rhiannon raised a brow. “And what about us?”
“You’ll go, too.” Copper began to pace the kitchen. Zeph climbed her ear to the top curve. “My dream-visions may or may not have been influenced by Balor. But your vision—if the goddess blocked out all outside influences, then we know it’s true.”
“It is true,” came Cassia’s soft voice from behind them. She pulled a large tray out of the oven. The air smelled of warm sugar cookies, and the heat of the oven whooshed over Copper before Cassia shut the oven door.
“But I can’t allow you to go.” Cassia’s turquoise gaze met Copper’s. “You must be protected at all costs.”
“I will go.” Copper gritted her teeth. “I won’t go alone, but I have to get to the Drow king. I have to get Garran to stop this madness and to help me find Silver before it’s too late.”
Cassia held her hands at her sides, her features still composed. More than ever she had the Elvin look about her. “I was sent to protect the bloodline—yours, Moondust’s, and Silver’s. I have failed them. You are the last and I cannot permit you to go.”
Copper just blinked at her. “You were sent to protect our bloodline?”
Cassia gave the faintest and slowest of nods. “It is my duty.”
“Screw your duty.” Copper felt blood rush to her face. “My duty is to my sister, and I will go after her.”
She turned back to Rhiannon, her face heated and her body tense. “Who will go with me?”
“You can damn sure count on me.” Rhiannon gestured to the doorway leading to the shop. “I’d bet that most would join us.”
“If you insist.” Cassia came up to Copper and held her gaze. “If there is nothing I can do to persuade you otherwise, then I will be going, as well.”
“You all need to change.” Copper looked them over. “Jeans, sweaters, good walking shoes, and jackets. I think it might get chilly down there.”
Copper went to Sydney—who for some reason was also home from her job—Alyssa, and Mackenzie, and they all automatically said they would go.
After Enchantments’ patrons were encouraged to leave the shop because it was closing early, all the witches hurried off to their apartments to change, and Copper went back into the kitchen.
Cassia had taken off her oven mitts, removed her apron, and had started making sandwiches. “I know you’re hungry—I doubt you’ve eaten anything all day. You need to in order to maintain your strength.”
Copper hadn’t imagined she could eat anything today with all that was tearing her apart, but her stomach rumbled at the thought of the food. “You’re right,” Copper said as Cassia handed her an egg-salad sandwich. “Thanks.”
With Copper’s help, the Elvin witch made enough sandwiches for each witch and bundled them in paper towels. They retrieved seven oranges, seven packages of raisins, and seven plastic bottles of water.
Cassia also bagged up two dozen warm sugar cookies in a brown paper bag. Maybe she was sending them to use as bread crumbs. Copper almost smiled at the thought.
Cassia grabbed Copper’s earth-brown backpack off one of the hooks on the wall. She stuffed her pack with her share of the food along with the whole bag of cookies.
Copper helped Cassia pack every witch’s belongings so that each was ready by the time the women returned. Cassia went off to change while Copper and her friends made plans.
“Should we take any of the D’Danann with us?” Alyssa asked.
“None are here.” Rhiannon shook her head. “They’re all out patrolling the skies for signs of Silver. I have no idea when they’ll be back.”
“We can’t wait for them to get around to coming with us,” Copper said, slinging her backpack over her shoulders. Zephyr moved down to her earlobe, close to the swinging pentagram earrings.
“What about the PSF?” Sydney’s gaze met Copper’s. “Jake will be pissed if we don’t include him.”
“Can’t,” Rhiannon said. “They’re all human and can’t pass through the veils like Fae, Elves, and witches, except when escorted by one of the full-blooded Elves.”
When Cassia was back, dressed in jeans, too—which looked really strange to Copper since she’d only seen Cassia in skirts—they left.
Without waiting or saying anything to the witches, Cassia led the way through the swinging door of the kitchen, out into the shop. The other witches spoke in excited and nervous voices.
Copper stuffed her hands farther into the pockets of her bomber jacket and stared at Cassia’s back. Copper was in no mood for any kind of chitchat.
They headed through the front door, the warding bells giving a merry tinkle that annoyed Copper. Why should anything be merry when so many horrors had happened and continued to happen? After Cassia locked the door behind them, they hurried up the street.
Tendrils of Copper’s hair not held back by her braid ruffled in the breeze that met them head-on as they walked along the sidewalk. The light wind cooled Copper’s cheeks. She snuggled into her jacket as she followed Cassia who was setting out uphill.
“So you can get us exactly where we need to go?” Copper asked.
“I can take you to the location where we’ll need to cross,” Cassia said softly as Copper caught up to her. “Because you’re part Elvin, you’ll be able to travel to Otherworld without my assistance.”
All of Copper’s emotions had settled in her belly and she couldn’t think of anything to say as Cassia took them to Golden Gate Park, right back to where Copper had been all day. She couldn’t stop thinking about her mother, her sister, and Tiernan.
A cyclist whizzed by, a couple holding hands, and a panting jogger or two, but those were the only humans Copper saw. The air smelled of cypress and freshly mowed grass.
It seemed to take forever, and Copper’s body was already sore thanks to jogging from one end of the park to the other that same morning, not to mention all she’d been through the past couple of days. Her foot still hurt a little from the Fomorii bite.
Finally, Cassia took them over a rise into the trees where they could no longer be seen from the road. They went over another rise, and Cassia led them to a small bridge that spanned a little stream Copper had never seen before.
That in itself wasn’t surprising—the park was somewhere around a thousand acres and had over a million trees, nine lakes, and a lot of ponds.
But this was a magical place. She was certain the footbridge was no ordinary bridge despite its weathered appearance, its green paint curling, peeling, and chipping away.
At the base of the bridge large boots had sunk into the muck. Dried mud from the boots was tracked up on the bridge then disappeared from sight at the midpoint.
“Someone else was taken across earlier,” Copper said as she looked to Cassia, who nodded but didn’t offer any explanation.
Copper hitched her pack up higher on one shoulder and Zephyr settled on the curve of her ear again.
Cassia looked at her solemnly, her Elvin features ethereal in the waning light. “This is a door to Otherworld. At the midpoint of the bridge you will feel a barrier. Picture the exact location you wish to arrive at, and when you cross that barrier you will be there.”
“That’s it?” Copper gestured to the bridge. “I just walk across and that’s all there is to it?”
Cassia nodded. “If you didn’t have Elvin blood, I would need to escort you across. But you’ll be able to travel alone with the faith that you will end up where you need to be.”
Cassia took two steps back. “Remember. Focus on the exact location you wish all of us to arrive at. We will be able to follow your energy.”
It felt as if Pixies created havoc in Copper’s belly as she looked away from Cassia and her friends. She gripped the backpack on her shoulder with one hand while grasping the roughened bridge rail with her other.
She started forward, one foot in front of the other. The dried mud from the large boot prints crunched beneath her jogging shoes.
The moment she reached the center of the bridge, everything around her fell silent. It felt like she had plugs stuffed in her ears, and her skin went numb. She couldn’t feel anything, hear anything, and her mouth was completely dry.
Her heart raced faster as the air in front of her wavered like the shimmering surface of a pool of water. She focused on her memory of the place she’d been trapped for so long. But she wanted to be a little away from it, not too close.
She stepped through the shimmer, still feeling muffled and numb—
And found herself in bright sunshine. Zephyr riding on her ear. Copper blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. She was in the middle of a meadow.
Her meadow.
Her chest seized. Not again. She couldn’t be trapped again. She’d wanted to be just outside the meadow, not in the freaking middle of it—just in case.
Copper turned to run back across the footbridge—and found herself face-to-face with the rock outcropping. No bridge, just rock. She had walked through the massive stones.
She backpedaled, knowing that she needed to get away from the rock wall to let the others through, so that they wouldn’t bump into her.
Copper waited.
Nothing. Not a blur, not a whisper of movement. Nothing.
She waited some more.
A little longer.
And longer yet.
She walked back to the rock and placed her palm against it. Solid. As if she’d never walked through it.
Her stomach clenched, she bit her lip again, and gripped the strap of her backpack so tightly her knuckles ached.
Crap. She bit her lower lip before saying aloud, “Where is everyone?”
Zeph answered her with an unhappy buzz.
She turned in a slow circle. The warm air felt and smelled like spring. Her body was no longer numb and she could hear the happy chirp of birds and the gruuup, gruuup of the ferret-toad things, which were apparently mating again. They were sure horny things.
Appletree leaves, grass, and dandelions ruffled in a gentle breeze and a huge forest lay beyond, a forest she hadn’t been able to see too well when she lived here, because of the barrier.
Her shoes sank into the soft earth as her gaze and senses explored the meadow. Last night it must have rained because the air had a rain-washed scent. She caught other familiar scents, too, including apples and wet earth.
It was hard to believe she’d left this place only three days ago. She thought she’d never be back.
She didn’t want to be back.
This time the grass was beneath her jogging shoes instead of her bare feet as she walked to the apple tree. She pressed her hand against the trunk. It felt rough against her palm, yet surprisingly comforting at the same time.
Birds twittered from the tree as if telling her to leave. When she looked up she saw among the leaves and apples a nest with two bright red birds perched on its sides. She had never seen birds in the meadow before. That had to be a good sign.
Even though she was in the one place she thought she’d never want to be in again, somehow it felt like home. At least one home she had come back to visit, but definitely not to live in again.
She continued to look around her. The rock outcropping was there—well, she’d just walked out of it, duh. The water from the small waterfall tinkled into each basin before flowing back into the ground.
So much emotion swirled through her.
Her throat ached and she felt the pain of her mother’s death as fresh as when she had first learned of it. This was where she had been told her mother had passed on to Summerland. The rush of pain was harsh and the back of her eyes felt as though they were being singed from the hot tears that wanted to flood her cheeks.
And this was where she first met Tiernan.
Copper swallowed and tried to turn her mind to other things. Her gaze rested on the meager shelter she had shared with Tiernan before they left, and her chest seized. She had fallen in love with him in this very place.
Copper forced her thoughts away from him. She stared at the part of the rock outcropping she had just walked through. Her friends. Where were they?
Zephyr buzzed his concern, too.
The bushes at the Faerie mound remained still. No Faeries collected nectar, and no Faerie children played tag among the flowers. No Pixies, no Brownies, not even the Undine, were there to greet her.
It felt so incredibly lonely.
Copper sighed.
She dropped her pack beside the apple tree and walked to where she knew the shield had always been. Holding out her hand, she took a step forward, then another step, then passed right through where the barrier had encapsulated her for so long. She continued to walk around the meadow, testing the air for the barrier. It wasn’t there, thank the goddess.
A huge rush of relief left her chest and she grinned. She bounced up and down on her toes, her earrings jangling. She’d done it. Before she left she really had set them all free.
She whirled to head back to the tree and came to an abrupt stop. The Faerie queen, Riona, along with several other Faeries, a few Pixies, and a couple of Brownies, all of whom she recognized, gathered around her backpack. They all looked at her as if expecting something. To her side she saw the beautiful Undine rise from the water.
Riona flitted away from the others, the lavender dust from her wings sparkling in the sunlight, and the scent of roses accompanying her.
“Welcome back, Copper.” The naked Faerie perched on Copper’s shoulder, crossed her legs, and swung her foot. Zeph gave a buzz of greeting from Copper’s ear.
She smiled at the Faerie queen. Copper went to the odd group of creatures that normally didn’t have a patient cell in their bodies, but now stood uncommonly still. Maybe Riona had cast a spell on all of them. With the Faerie queen on her shoulder, Copper knelt and settled on her haunches in front of them.
“It’s good to see you,” she said and did her best to smile. It was so hard when the situation was so dire.
The Faeries bowed, the Pixies jumped up and down and clapped their little hands, and the Brownies made little grumbling noises. It occurred to Copper that she could offer them all a little treat as they’d done for her so many times.
“I’ve got something for each of you.” Copper retrieved her pack from between a Pixie and a Brownie who had been shoving one another, then dug out the paper bag of sugar cookies.
The cookies were slightly warm, and huge compared to the Pixies and the Faeries, but the Brownies handled them all right. As a matter of fact, they munched down on the treats so quickly that in mere moments all that was left of their own cookies were crumbs. They made sure to lick what was left from their fingers and to snatch crumbs from the grass. Copper gave each another cookie, which they took with greedy little hands.
Copper glanced at the rock outcropping, hoping to see her friends walk through. Had they been transferred somewhere else?
Riona fluttered to Copper’s hand and broke off a small handful of cookie and delicately ate an itty-bitty piece of it.
“This human food—delicious,” she said. “We will take our portion back to our Sidhe to share with the others of our kind.”
She waved her hands like a maestro conducting a symphony and all of the Faeries’ cookies disappeared, along with the Faeries who had greeted Copper. Queen Riona stayed.
Riona stood on Copper’s backpack as they watched the Pixies vanish into the greenery with their own cookies. The Brownies trundled away, looking pleased and full.
Copper pushed herself to her feet and carried a sugar cookie to the Undine who graciously took it with a bow of her head. “It is good to see you again, dearest Copper,” she said in a voice like water trickling over stones. She sank down into the shallow basin of water and disappeared, cookie and all.
When Copper made it back to the apple tree to wait for her friends a little longer, it was just her, Zephyr, and Riona. While Zeph left to pollinate a few flowers, Copper sat cross-legged on the grass beside the Faerie queen. Riona perched on the smooth rock that Copper had sat upon so many times before.
“So everyone made it home?” Copper asked.
Riona still delicately nibbled on the remaining cookie. “The barrier went away the moment you returned to your world. We still live nearby, but we are free to come and go as we please.”
Copper smiled and felt another swell of relief in her chest. “I’m so glad.”
But then that smile and relief disappeared as it hit her again that she was alone. None of her friends had come through the barrier. And worst of all. Silver was in danger.
Riona braced her hands on the rock to either side of her and looked up at Copper. The queen’s black hair lay over her shoulders, covering her perfect little breasts. Her amethyst eyes were wide and serious.
“Your friends…” Riona started slowly.
“You know what happened to them?” Copper rushed the words before Riona could finish. “Why didn’t they come through with me?”
The queen delicately cleared her throat. “Balor blocked their way. He wants you alone, without the defenses of your companions.”
Copper’s body went limp and she slumped against the apple tree. “Oh, goddess.”
“Although your sister is in trouble, you cannot go by yourself,” Riona said softly. “It could mean your death, as well.”
Copper dropped her hands to her lap. “Excuse me?”
Riona shifted on the rock. “Suffice it to say that we know some of what would lie ahead of you if you made this journey alone. I wish we could be of assistance, but as you know, the Fae cannot tolerate being deep within the earth. It would kill us.”
This time it felt like Brownies nipped the inside of Copper’s belly, hard. “Are you saying that Silver is in danger, but that you don’t think I should go after her?”
Riona sighed. “She will soon be at the door. We do not know if she will be injured enough to die, or if she will survive.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Copper jumped to her feet “You’re telling me my sister could die and I’m not supposed to do anything about it?”
The Faerie queen stared solemnly at Copper. “You could die, as well.”
“It doesn’t matter what happens to me.” Copper dropped to her knees and grabbed her backpack. “What matters is that I save my sister.”
“No one can help you.” Riona pleaded with her. “The Mystwalkers cannot live far from water, the Shanai and the D’Danann are too far for us to contact in time. I can send word, but the only way they could make it is if they use the Elvin transference point. The D’Danann and Elves do not speak to one another.”
She shook her head. “The Elves cannot assist you, for those of pure Elvin blood cannot go below ground or they will become Dark Elves. And as I said, none of the Fae can help. Only the D’Danann could if they were near enough. But as it is, I doubt they will be here in time.”
Riona fluttered beside Copper while Zephyr zipped to her ear as she stood and slung her backpack over one shoulder. She headed to the side of the rock wall that she had always dreaded going to.
“Please.” Riona spoke urgently. “Do not do this alone.”
“I don’t have a choice.” No one had arrived to help her, and no way in hell would she let her sister die. “I’ve got to find her, and I have to save her. I will save her.”
When Copper reached the Drow door, she took a deep, deep breath. Then without any further hesitation, she stomped on the door five times.
While Copper waited for the door to open, Riona gave her a feather-light kiss on her cheek, then moved to hover in front of her and sighed. “I will send word to the D’Danann, but I do not know if it will make a difference.”
Copper sucked in a breath. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
“Good luck, Copper Ashcroft.” Riona fluttered her wings so that Faerie dust sprinkled over Copper’s head and shoulders. “May the goddess be with you.”
The door began to screech open at Copper’s feet. The Faerie blew her one last kiss and vanished in a blink of an eye.
The horrible nails-scratching-chalkboard sound grated along Copper’s spine as the stone door moved. She shuddered when it finished and the door finally opened.
The steps leading deep into the darkness were barely visible. She withdrew her wand from her pocket with her free hand and the crystal at the end began to glow its golden light. She hitched the pack higher on her shoulder and started down the stairs.