Page 109 of Sidhe
“Nathan…” Jim said like a breath, “are we really seeing this?”
Every last inch of Nathan wished he could say no.
The land beyond the Gatehouse was changing, shifting and moving, some of it falling away to deep cavernous drop-offs, other parts struggling to reach the sky as high cliffs. Those watching could see it all like eons of landmass changes over time happening in the span of minutes.
It looked exactly like Nathan’s dreams, his recent dreams of the battle ahead, fruitless but inevitable, creatures of all kinds fighting and him leading one side of the fray.
Nathan took two steps until he was just outside the doorway, able to see farther, more clearly despite the blackness of the sky with no sun. He could see so far, as if the Gatehouse was onthe highest peak looking down on the changing land, but at the farthest point there was only deeper shadow. Nathan couldn’t see any fae advancing, not yet, but he knew they were coming, knew they were almost ready to break forth into the mortal world as a giant mass.
“I was worried that Malak hadn’t come to me since that day, or tried to send any more spies like Walter thought,” Nathan said as he stared, awestruck and frozen to the spot as Jim and Sasha came up on either side of him. “He didn’t have time for any of that. He was making sure his army got here before the rest ofours.”
Nathan squeezed his eyes shut.
“Nathan.”
Then his eyes sprang back open. He hadn’t even gotten to the praying part, but Walter was with him, right in front of him looking especially tired, his brown eyes urgent.
“Walt,” Nathan stepped toward him, “what’s going on? Is it happening now? We can get everyone ready but we need—”
“Nathan,” Walter cut him off, “I am sorry. Malak’s army, led by Solrin, will reach you before Gwen arrives with the remaining light fae. I am so sorry,” he said again, “help is not coming soon enough. We must get word to the incubi and succubae to send over everyone they have.”
Four words clanged in Nathan’s head.
Help is not coming.
“Jesus.” Nathan scraped a hand back through his hair, pacing in place. “We really have no one else? This is it?” Looking around, though their numbers were impressive, having so many seals and non-humans with amazing abilities, it wasn’t enough, even if they got every sex demon to fight with them.
Malak knew exactly what he was doing, always had several aces up his sleeve just in case things went wrong. This was thetrump card, plowing his army ahead so that Nathan and his forces would be long dead by the time the light fae arrived.
Nathan thought of what Dave had told him in that diner so long ago, thought of how easy it had been then to follow that advice no matter how little faith he had in himself.
Malak can’t have power over you if you choose them instead.
It was almost as if Nathan could hear those words speaking right to him in Dave’s comfortable drawl. He knew what he had to do. The others came first, they were what was important, they were who Nathan had faith in. He had to believe that what he was about to do was the right thing and that everyone would fight their hardest to prove him right. He knew they would, believed in it more strongly than he ever believed in himself.
“It’ll be okay, Walt.” Nathan put his hands on his Spirit Guide’s shoulders. “We just need to hold the line for as long as we can, however we can…and it’ll be okay.”
Swiftly, Nathan turned to Jim, Sasha, and Alex, knowing that the others nearby were waiting on bated breath to hear his orders as the first war cries sounded in the distance to warn of the approaching horde. Nathan only spared the briefest glance, but it was enough to solidify his decision.
“Jim, guys.” Nathan pulled his gaze from that awful sight, forcing his friends to look at him. “Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do to get the Gatehouse ready; they know where their marks are, how they’re supposed to prepare for an attack. Now they need to do it. Jim, you help get the last of the wards up. I know we can’t get any to work inside the Gatehouse, just do whatever you can. Al, start telling the seals to get to their posts, stocking up on weapons, as many on each person as they can carry. And baby,” Nathan looked too long, too longingly at Sasha, that he was afraid for a moment he might give himself away, “Sasha, get everyone who can fly and work magic up onthe roof. Keep watch. I’m counting on you to let us know when it’s go-time. Okay?”
Something shimmered across Sasha’s face like suspicion. “What about you, Nate? What are you going to do?”
Nathan held his expression like stone, knowing he couldn’t afford for them to doubt him, or for Sasha to sense that he was lying. “There’s something I have to do…then I’ll join you. Just go.” He looked to each of them again. “I’ll be back before you even miss me. Go!” he shouted once more, and then he was running, moving past them back inside the Gatehouse for the stairs.
He ran through chaos, but it was organized chaos, everyone already knowing to get to their posts, get weapons, get ready. Nathan was thankful for that because it would keep them occupied, help keep the fear down, keep away the thoughts that there was no way they could beat an entire army of dark fae, darksidhe, a powerful changeling, and the king himself with just their small fortress.
He raced for his and Sasha’s bedroom, knowing time was too short, knowing the army would reach them faster than they could possibly imagine. He reached the room, shut the door behind him, and stared for a moment as he clung to the knob, feeling doubt flicker through him, knowing he could walk right back out that door again and forget this insane idea. But no. He had to trust this. He knew it was right. He had already called forhimsilently the moment he came into the room.
“You’ll slaughter all of them, won’t you?” Nathan whispered.
There was a small, haughty huff of air, letting Nathan know that it washerinstead. “Of course, Nathan. This is a war. And I’m afraid your piddly little army is no match for mine.”
Slowly, Nathan turned to face Malak, hating her smile, her red hair like Sasha’s, like Gwen’s, those damn yellow on blackeyes. “If I’m…if I’myouthen I can send them back to the Veil?” Nathan asked carefully, knowing the weight of his words.
Malak honestly glowed at hearing him say that. “Oh yes. You can do whatever you like, Nathan. You could kill the whole lot of them, if that’s what you want.”
“Maybeyou’rewhat I want,” Nathan said steadily, eyes locked on hers.
