Page 72 of The Water Witch (Fairwick Chronicles 2)

Adelaide shot her a cool stare. “They were found near where Lorelei was last spotted.”

“Still, that doesn’t mean she did this to those men,” I said.

“This isn’t how undines usually behave,” Soheila added, staring at the gruesome image. “Something’s wrong.”

“Yes,” Adelaide agreed. “Something isverywrong. Those woods have become a breeding ground for creatures from theother world. These aren’t cute fairies and brownies—these are monsters. Not only has Fairwick failed to control the traffic of immigration from Faerie, it has created an atmosphere in which such creatures thrive. It has been suggested by some members of this council that the only solution is to shut down the entire town.”

“You mean,” Liz said, blanching, “like Fluges?”

“It’s your own fault for hiring so many otherworlders,” Delbert Winters hissed at Liz, his face dyed red from the slide projection. “I’ve warned you about that before.”

“Clearly there should have been stricter monitoring structures in place,” Lydia Markham remarked, her face also a mask of blood.

“This is what happens when the avenues of discourse are severed due to self-fulfilling paradigm shifts,” Loomis Pagan remarked enigmatically.

“‘Violence is the last resort of the helpless,’” Eleanor Belknap quoted somebody. “These creatures need help.”

“Otherworlders who cannot control their urges—as the rest of us have—need to be escorted from this world and never let back in again,” Talbot Greeley said, adjusting his now crimson bow tie. “Lest they ruin it for the rest of us.”

I turned toward each board member but saw only bloody, scared faces, their voices mingled with the restless rustling sound that seemed to be growing and coming from everywhere. It sounded like a stampede—or a flock of angry birds. Frank was standing with his back to the table, still staring up at the slide. The Grove members were talking among themselves, Garnette Davis leaning toward Adelaide, whispering in her ear. Adelaide shook her head several times, then nodded once and held up her hand. Instantly the room went quiet.

“My esteemed colleague, Garnette Davis, has another suggestion. If we announce that the door is to be closed and thecaptured undine is escorted under the armed guard of the Stewarts to the door, the majority of otherworldly creatures in the forest will also leave this world. It may take some time to clean up the woods entirely, but we may be able to save the town and the college.”

The IMP board members murmured their approval.

“That is, if Dr. McFay is willing to close the door for us,” Adelaide added.

“And if I don’t?” I asked.

“That would be regrettable,” Adelaide said severely, “but I assure you we have our ways of doing it ourselves. You won’t be able to stop us.”

“What about the otherworlders living in Fairwick?” I asked. “What will happen to them?”

“The creatures who have made their homes here are free to choose which world they will live in,” Adelaide replied.

“That seems eminently fair,” Talbot Greeley said with a relieved sigh. “Don’t you think so, Delbert?”

Delbert Winters snorted. “Too fair by half, but I suppose it will do.”

“But if the door is closed forever, many will be forced to choose Faerie,” Liz said.

“So they’ll have to choose,” Lydia Markham said brusquely. “We’ve all had to make hard choices. Why should fairies be any different?”

“And what of those who have used Aelvesgold to lengthen their life spans?” Liz asked. “Or to control illnesses? Lydia, didn’t your mother receive treatment when she was sick last year? And you, Talbot, I know you don’t maintain your physique through going to the gym.” Neither professor met Liz’s gaze.

“Vanities,” Eleanor Belknap remarked. “We’ll learn to dowithout them. Are we ready to take a vote? All those in favor of closing the door forever, raise their hands.”

Five of the six board members raised their hands. Liz kept her hands clasped in front of her, fingers knotted together.

“Very well, then,” Adelaide said, smiling. “We’re agreed. The door will be closed forever.”

“When?” Soheila asked, the single word gusting from her mouth with a force that snapped the window blinds and chilled the room.

Adelaide smiled. “Since tomorrow is the solstice, it seems a fitting time. The door will be closed tomorrow morning at dawn.”

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