The Bubbleship Series; The First Heroes

Kontessa and the Fey; Pt. 1

Chapter 5

Fey Magic and Kontessa

“Oakleaf fairy cries with no relief

Her oak tree has left but on leaf

It falls, she vanishes. Fallen has the last leaf."

Book 1, set 1

Friar John Tiliwhistle looked uneasily about as he sat outside the apartments where the Demon Kontessa Eldeman lived. He knocked earlier, but no one answered then; he knew he had the right place having asked. He sat bald, wearing his sackcloth tunic, which was rather warm in the city's humidity by the sea. Not being used to it, he sweats a good deal; beads ran down his neck.

***

Kontessa left the poem on the table where Marjory could find it. It read,

Sweet love

Tender, passionate one

Let me feel your body

in the quiet moonlight

With sultry stares

And longing embraces

Your face is a face I long to see among faces

Kontessa taught the girl could take it to the clerics to get it read. After all, you must seduce a woman’s mind as well as her body. Kontessa smiled ivory. She knew what it did to the redhead.

A simply dressed man found her outside the apartments as she came down the stairs from her place.

“Hello,” he said. “You must be the lady Kontessa, the demon from hell.”

Kontessa smiled. “Yes, I am from hell.”

“There’s no mistaking you in a crowd,” he said.

"I'm sorry, but may I help you? You have an advantage over me, I know not your name, but you know me.”

“No, no,” answered the friar. “Of course not. Anyway, I’ve come seeking your help. My name is Friar John Tilliwhistle; I hail from a hamlet, Tuttle home by name. Are you familiar with the fey beings, fey peoples, Kontessa Eldeman?”

“Not really, other than fairies, I know a fairy. Haven’t seen him in some time, how did you find me? How did you come to know me?”

“The fairy queen Lensa sent a message to me through a sprite named SeaChan, Taylenel must have told her of me. I know not why she contacted me, but you know those fey people they know everything. Said you could help me. We've been having a problem with the tall elves of our land, they take the children, a huge problem... Yep, yep."

"Tell me, do you think Taylenel had a soul? He did suffer like no other fairy; they're not meant for the human world, live forever."

"Yes, I believe he had one. What about breakfast, Can I get mead in this town?" asked the friar. He could not help but think of how desirable the demon was. How voluptuous. These words never occurred to him to use before, but .... ah. He must remember his vows.

“So, tell me, do these fey take the children often? I would be glad to help.” Kontessa and the friar reached the pub where they would eat, it being Kontessa’s favorite place to eat. It was not the place of work for her Marjory, but it did it for her come breakfast.

“Yes, they do,” answered the friar.

They entered the Red Boar by the double doors in front and sat at the nearest table to the door. The serving maid came, and it occurred to Kontessa that she would rather be unobtrusive. "You have the same red hair as my girl; what is your name?"

The girl simply smiled. “May I help you this morning?” 

“You're new here, aren't you."

"Yes," she stated simply.

“WE would be great if we could get some breakfast, eggs, bacon.” Kontessa laid her sword on the table. “Ale and mead as well.”

The girl left and came back with the mead and ale in clay mugs.

“I never did get your name,” stated Kontessa.

“I didn’t give it.”

Then out of nowhere, as the demon took a long swig of her ale, her eyes began to bleed. The girl suddenly was not there, and the friar jumped to his feet.

“I... I..., help.” Kontessa hit the floor.

***

Kontessa’s relinquishment of reality gave way as Marjory came through in a blur above her bed. The friar poured ale down her throat and almost made her gag. "Take this down, lover," said Marjory of the bitter herbs given her. "The physician gave us these."

"Your physicians know little of the fey, but these are good herbs; I use them to heal poisons often." John put his hand on the redhead's shoulder. "Your constitution has done well for you; I could never have healed this fast. Maybe we should take a day."

"No, we must get going." Kontessa threw back the blankets, but when she stood, she fell back dizzy. Marjory came to her aid. “No, I’ll be fine. You know what business I have to take care of for the next ten days, so I’ll trust you to see to it.” She finally got to her feet steady and looked to the window. “What day is it?”

“You lost only a day; it was yesterday that you were poisoned. Yep, yep.” The friar patted his belly.

The seductive demon noticed the friar's glance and felt even sexier if she could seduce even a holy man. It made her feel good, and she gave him a glance as she gave her Marjory a kiss. "Come Friar John Tilliwhistle. Let us begone.”

“Our first stop must be the fairy kingdom, though," stated the friar. “We must get a certain fairy.”

***

With astonishing speed, they reached the borders of the fairy kingdom, the tender mercies of the Queen became apparent as they approached the fairy seals. You had to know where to look for this land, for if you did not realize, no secrets would be revealed. The land would be hidden if you did not know what blade of grass to seek or where the trees lay.

Knowing the Queen helped, for she could guide you. Give you signs of her existence. It may be hard for a mortal to understand, but the fey know. And that is the way it is.

There they stood, summoned by Queen Lensa to her fairy court. Rare was the occasion that a mortal would be summoned but always precious.

"Welcome to these lands, good Friar and Demon. "You are welcome to stay the night, for I know no children are to be taken soon. My crystal pool has told for it sometimes tells the future.”

“Your Grace, May I ask a favor?” Kontessa requested.

“Surely you may. I also have a reason for you to stay the night. But what is your request first?”

“I have heard of a drink called blood wine. I was told of it when young. In the depths of the place, you call hell. May I drink some." A sly smile came over the demon's face.

 The queen returned the smile and knew the demon could deal well with it because of her blood. “Yes, you may drink of it. For now, however, hold for there is one you should meet.”

The fairies danced for the Friar and the Demon for some time. Hues of blue, jade, and scarlet showed through the night, glowing in the glow globes. Around midnight, he came.

“Hellooo,” said a scarlet fairy, dancing in the light of a glow globe. “Do you see me? I am the Queen's Champion now, for the one you called Taylenel is gone. Gone the way of mortals.``

Kontessa brought the blood wine from the forest in a wine bottle. Dragon’s blood mixed with rare herbs and juice made it sweet and thick. You could almost chew it. The demon took a long swig. “Who are you?” Asked Kontessa.

"This is the brother of Taylenel long gone from these lands living with the elves of the north in their mountain homes. Introduce yourself, good fairy." announced the Queen.

“I am SeaChil, Brother of Taylenel. Now Champion, killer of goblins and slayer of dragon. Before I received the sword. I can kill with a touch." he laughed and danced, fluttering through the air, diving amongst the ferns at the edge of the courtyard. Then he flew to face the demon and held her gaze as he hovered. He bowed in the air at the waist. "I have no soul, friar. As sweet as pie I am but cold as the blue steel used to forge this sword, only I shall call it Death Awaits. And I shall live forever.

He spun in the air and dove for the fairy throne to land and stand beside the Queen.

Kontessa swayed in the light. The fairies drew forth their harps, their fiddles, and flutes. Beautiful music sang out from the strings of the harps and the holes of the flutes. Bows were drug across the catgut of the fiddles. The music moved the Demon Kontessa.

The friar sat and laughed; long had he felt desire for the demon, which felt forever. His pudgy belly shook as she swayed to the music. SeaChil spun and clapped his hands. The queen tapped her finger on the throne's arm made of yew, forest green in color.

Kontessa drank from the bottle, and it stirred her heart. Arousal seeped into her being. She laughed with the friar and the queen, intoxicated. Her hands caused glyphs of seduction to appear. Known only to other demons. The queen laughed and made a sign of protection but nonserious. The fiddles sang out songs of demons innocently as the band began to play.

***

Morning came clear and bright in the fey wood. Friar John awoke and washed his face with the dew from the fern leaves. The queen was absent, but the Champion, SeaChil, sat on the throne with his legs over the arm. He Twirled the sword in the air by the bottom of the hilt.

The friar bubbled happily, almost as if he drank the night before; he looked at the sleeping form next to him and reached over to shake her by the back. "Wake up, demon, we must go."

Kontessa moaned.

The scarlet fairy SeaChil noted this, and he laughed. John shook her again and received a swung hand ill aimed but still in his direction. “Leave me alone,” came the mumble from the turf that almost suffocated Kontessa.

The friar shook her again, and she rolled over.

“Can’t you just go away?”

The friar shook with laughter, as did the fairy.

Without warning, the yew that housed the fairy queen's rooms burst asunder. Fairies screamed high-pitched screams that made the friar's ears bleed, dripping red blood. Everywhere pandemonium set in. The Champion flew high in the air, then spun to face the hounds that burst from the ground where the tree once stood.

Hounds, hell hounds from depths of the region where most demons only go when summoned.

One leaped at the fairy; flames shot from its nostrils and mouth as the scarlet one ducked and twirled aside, dodging the fire breath.

He dove at the eye of the hound, piercing it causing fluid to gush forth.

But the hound did not relent. It snapped at the Champion, and they dove into its mouth. The blade pierced its roof. And into its brain.

It burst into dark mist.

The second dove for the friar, but Kontessa came to place herself between it and him. On her knees, she thrust the cold iron sword into the face of the hound. But instead of the hound vaporizing, it latched onto the blade and dragged the demon through the ground. The earth closed, leaving the fairy wood bare and aflame.