Take Flight - 15. Chapter 15

“Stop them!” Sayer gasped when a hand grabbed his ankle, yanking him down. “There’s more than one!”

None of the men answered him.

Sayer strained his wings, flapping hard, but couldn’t break free of the iron grip on his ankle.

Rittenhauser heaved them downward. Sayer held Birch closer and protected his head as they tumbled to the floor. He landed on his back with a thud. Birch cried out when Sayer couldn’t prevent his legs from being jarred.

“Don’t move, or I’ll shoot!”

The man who’d captured Birch stood over them, his feet spread wide. He pointed his shotgun at Sayer’s face. “I’ll do it, demon.”

He was insane. “I’m not a demon!” Sayer protested. His instincts screamed for him to use his magic, but he was too weak still.

“What do think I am? An idiot? Your filthy tricks won’t fool me.” The remaining light flickered. Sayer strained his eyes, careful not to move his head. The sprites were dancing near the bulbs. He had to stall. The other fae would contain the humans. Birch’s boss was something… different.

“Why harm Birch? I know you said you saw me, when we were kids.”

“He drew you to our town. I’ve seen it happen. He draws you demons like a moth to a flame. He is no innocent! My father warned me of your kind so I could be a soldier in the war against evil.” Spit flew from his lips as Rittenhauser raged. A fire smoldered in his eyes. “I am Grigori! I can sense your filth. I know when your evil comes creeping out of the shadows to taint mortal men. But not here! Not in my town!”

The priest gasped and began mumbling.

Sayer had never heard of any being called a Grigori, but Birch’s boss was definitely not a mortal. It explained why he could see the fae, and why the cross had such an effect on the balance of power in the fae realm.

There might still be hope to hide the fae from the human realm for a while longer, at least until they could recover from the damage this being did to them.

A loud boom echoed off the high stone ceiling. “Mitch, stop!” A huge man, easily seven and a half feet tall, ducked through the open doors. How had he gotten by Croll? “My son, you are mistaken about these folk.”

Rittenhauser shook his head violently. “No, Father. I saw them; I feel it!” He gestured wildly with the fun. “Tell me you can’t feel that taint all around us. You taught me how to sense demons and their effect on men. This is my purpose, my calling. I will eradicate the evil on behalf of the Lord. They deserve to die.”

The barrel of the gun he was staring down shook. Sayer desperately hoped the incensed man wouldn’t pull the trigger.

“There are many folk on this Earth beyond mortal men and demon-kind. I only told you after you came across a demon as a child to help you understand. I never intended for you to become a Scourge.”

“They wouldn’t have me! Said I was delusional. But I saw him turn into smoke. He flew! He has wings!”

Birch trembled in his arms. Sayer could smell his blood and feel his pain. He had to get away from the church and get his beloved to Haverlseen. “I am Lord of the Fae. We are magical beings, but we are not demons. We are not evil.”

“No! Your kind all lie. You’re trying to trick me into letting you go, but I won’t.”

“Mitch, my son”—the man’s voice was closer, almost directly behind Sayer—“he speaks the truth. There are many realms on Earth and many creatures who have no affiliation with demon kind. I am sorry that I left your education so lacking. I wanted to keep you from this war.”

The tip of the man’s shotgun began to lower. “B-but… you said… You said to be vigilant against evil around me.”

The man reached over them with one long arm. He gently closed his hand over the barrel, plucking it from Rittenhauser’s limp hands. The older man no longer looked at Birch and Sayer; he stared at his father. He shook his head.

“I-I don’t understand.”

“That’s okay, I’ll help you. We’re going to let these folk go, and they’ll free your… friends.”

Sayer took the first deep breath he’d allowed himself since he found out Birch had been captured. The insane man who’d grabbed him looked like a lost child. All his rage seemed to have disappeared with the arrival of his father.

“What are you?” Sayer asked.

“I am a Grigori.”

There was that word again.

“I don’t know what that is, but you clearly know what I am.”

“My kind are rare. We were angels once, but now we live among humans and cannot ascend to the heavens.” The giant man sighed. “I am very sorry my son hurt your people. I know it means little to redress the balance, but he did not know he was doing wrong.”

“He poisoned my people and shot my beloved. An apology is not enough.”

Sayer curled Birch into his arms more securely and carefully rose to his feet. “I don’t have time to deal with this. I must see to my beloved. I will release his men, but not their weapons.”

“When you have settled things, you can find me through the father over there. He can contact me with a time and place. I’m sure you have questions for me.”

Sayer nodded sharply.

He rose into the air. “Let’s go.”

***

The fae who had followed Sayer into the church to rescue Birch followed him out the open doors.The dark hid them as Sayer flew for the veil. Birch clung to him, wishing he could fly beside Sayer. He shivered in the cold air. “Hang on, Birch. We’ll be there soon!”

“I’m trying.” Birch struggled to stay conscious. He was so tired. His head sank against Sayer’s chest, and he closed his eyes.

“Birch? Birch!”

The panic in Sayer’s voice scared Birch. He forced his eyes to open. “Yeah?”

“You need to stay awake.”

“Mmhmm.” The chill faded. Birch blinked. His eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.

“Please stay awake.”

Sayer risked himself to rescue Birch. All he wanted was for Birch to stay awake, but he couldn’t do it.

“Too tired.”

***

Birch roused from his lethargy briefly.

“Let him sleep.”

“But I have to go to the human realm. I don’t want him to wake up when I’m not here.” Sayer was speaking to someone.

“We’ll watch over him for you.” The man’s voice wasn’t familiar. “He’s recovering nicely, Haverlseen said. He needs rest, and you should stop hovering.”

Sayer sighed. “Fine. I won’t be gone long. I need to do some research on Grigori, and meet with that man.”

Birch didn’t want to be left behind while Sayer was meeting with his lunatic boss. He struggled to speak, to object to Sayer putting himself in harm’s way.

He failed as the darkness overtook him again.

***

The second time Birch woke up someone sat on the edge of the bed. It dipped under their weight. “Time for you to wake up, Birch.”

A trickle of power flowed into him. Birch gasped. His eyes flew open, and he sat up.

“Haverlseen!”

“What?” The healer glanced over his shoulder. “I didn’t hurt him.”

“That’s not a very nice way to wake someone up, though.”

A woman glided toward the bed. Her long hair hung, raven-black, to her waist. Her exquisite face was drawn down into a frown. “He would have woken naturally soon.”

“Well I have other patients to see to.”

“What’s going on? Where’s Sayer?” Birch coughed, his throat and mouth dry.

“I’ll get him some water.” The woman slipped away silently.

“Sayer will be back shortly. In the meantime, let’s see how you’re holding up. You know, you really should stop getting hurt so much. It takes a lot of energy to heal.” Haverlseen sniffed.

“I’m sorry,” Birch said automatically.

“Nevermind. Like before, I want you to focus within. See your inner light.”

Birch closed his eyes. “I see it.” It pulsed, not bright, not dim, but quiet. A red light imbued the space he imagined as the center of his power.

“Good, good. You’re healing nicely.”

A tingle ran down Birch’s leg. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Checking the mending I did on your leg. Again.” Haverlseen stopped running his hand through the air over Birch’s leg, and then stood up. “You’ll be a bit stiff and you should rest for a few more days to fully recover your strength. There were no adverse effects I can detect from handling that cross the others mentioned. I’ll let Sayer know when he gets back.”

“Thank you.”

Haverlseen nodded. The woman came back with a goblet of water. He took it from her and motioned toward the soft chair pulled up beside the head of the bed. “You should sit down too, my lady.”

“I’m fine.”

The healer snorted. “Yes, well, who’s responsible for that?”

She sighed. “You.”

“Exactly. So, unless you believe I would ask you to rest and not have a sound reason, you should sit down. Your recovery could last weeks, not days, my lady. Don’t hinder it.”

The woman smoothed her skirt and sat down regally.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Birch watched their interaction with interest, but he wanted that water. His tongue felt like it was stuck to the roof of his mouth.

“Can I have the drink?”

“What? Oh!” Haverlseen flushed. “Yes, of course. Sip it slowly.” He handed Birch the goblet. “I’ll be back later.”

He swept out of the room without a look back. Birch groaned when he finally got a drink.

The woman in the chair laughed. The throaty sound was at odds with her ethereal appearance and the dainty way she sat with her hands folded in her lap.

“I bet you’re really confused.” She smiled at Birch.

“Yes.” Birch wanted Sayer. The last few days were jumbled.

“First, introductions.” She held out her hand. “I’m Sayer’s mother, Lady Celeste.”

Sayer’s mother wasn’t dead? But… Birch didn’t know if he should kiss her hand or shake it. He sat up to take her hand and the covers slithered down to rest in his lap, exposing his bare chest.

“Oh my god.” Birch gasped. Would he ever learn? He clutched at the blankets, glad they hadn’t gone down any farther. Heat prickled up his neck and face. He stared at the rich colors on the goblet’s mistletoe design, sure his face was as red as the berries against the deep green leaves.

Lady Celeste laughed again. She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry! I wasn’t laughing at you, truly. You just look so embarrassed, and your face turned so red. Don’t worry, invoking the Christian Lord’s name won’t bring harm, but you should probably avoid it.”

Birch sagged against the pillows. “Thank go-goodness,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

She waved his apology away. “Don’t trouble yourself about it. Old habits are very hard to break, I know.” She looked sad. “Our realm is healing, because of you.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Birch gestured toward his leg. “Except get hurt, again.”

“Stuff and nonsense. Croll filled us in on everything that has happened since we…,” she faltered. “Well, everything. Without you, the son of the Grigori who tainted our magic and used you as bait would have destroyed us. No one here could have done what you did, without thinking of the consequences to yourself. My husband and I owe you a great debt. All fae do.”