Reaching Venus

Disaster

Venus

After my karaoke routine I was on cloud nine. Having water magic both Maverick and I had beautiful voices, I think that's where the idea that mermaids were great singers came from. But how boring it would have been to go up on stage and sing a perfect duet. We wanted to make people laugh and we certainly succeeded. I was dying even as I answered my ringing phone. The name on the screen was Molly.

"Hey Mol! Oh man you should have come out with us tonight! We are having a blast. It even looks like Ian is happy" I greeted.

"VENUS!" She cut me off.

"You have to listen. Get Ian home now!"

I was shocked at the way she addressed me and asked, " Huh? Molly why?"

"A faery was just found dead not far from the ring. He was stripped of his magic. All the faeries have been called back to the faery ring but Ian isn't answering." She explained.

With a gasp I slowly brought the phone down from my ear. Faeries didn't die like that. They aged once their human counterpart died and then they turned to dust or something. If a faery had turned up dead without any magic left in them then something very unnatural was happening.

"We need to go" I said seriously.

Across the table from me Ian looked pissed. Maverick looked confused and concerned. Amber just looked like she had not a clue what was going on. Only Fern could hear the desperation in my voice and knew that if I was saying we need to go then we should've already been gone. She stood straight up and pulled me with her.

Maverick grabbed my wrist and said, "Guys wait. Venus tell us what is going on"

I looked straight into Ian's eyes when I said ," A faery was found dead. No magic left in his body. Not far from here."

All the color drained from Amber's face before she whispered, "Who?"

I had forgotten Amber lived with her mom, step dad, and 3 brother. All of whom were faeries.

I shook my head, "I don't know. But we need to get back. Now"

I tried to convince Ian to pop back home but he refused to leave us. I was guessing it had something to do with the way Amber was clinging onto his arm. She was on the verge of tears the entire way home. I had Fern drive because she was the safest and the least likely to get distracted. Maverick sat in the passenger seat and she made me sit in the middle of the back row because I was the smallest and wouldn't block the rear view mirror. We approached the faery ring and Fern stuck her arm out the window so her magic would open the barrier. We parked outside the academy and everyone piled out of the car except for Ian.

He placed his hand on my knee and whispered, "V I need to talk to you about something."

"Can it wait? I really should go check on Faery Mary and you should go be with Molly" I replied.

"I know it isn't the best time but this is important too. And if I don't say it now I don't know when I will get to."

Before either of us could say anything else the door on his side cracked open.

Amber stood there doe eyed and asked, "Um Ian, I was wondering if you would walk me home? I'm worried and I don't want to go alone"

"Oh my gosh. Yes Ian go with Amber. Make sure her parents and brothers are there and safe then head straight home." I said before jumping out and running over to give her a hug.

Ian agreed although he didn't seem like he was in any rush. I however was. I knew Mary would know what was going on. Once all of my friends were headed home I ran, aided by the wind, to the Tree of Life. Just as I had guessed the faery council was holding court. There were about 10 faeries all yelling over top each other so I was able to slip in the back and find Mary.

I sat down next to her and she squeezed my hand. The yelling around us went on for another 15 minutes before the head of the faery court called for order.

"Listen everyone. We have faced dark times in the past but never before have we seen a faery drained of all magic. We cannot be certain who or what is the cause of this although I suspect that this is a result of faeries breaking their connection with the earth goddess. Because of this we cannot risk faeries leaving the ring for the time being. We will be going on full lock down." His voiced boomed through the room.

Mary stood up beside me and said, "That is fine for us in this room as we have been tasked with caring for the ring. But what about those faeries with callings outside of it? You don't expect them to ignore them do you?"

Our leader responded quickly," Although that is not ideal, the callings will not be fulfilled if our faeries die. And with m*********r of faeries the state of the earth could be put in serious jeopardy. "

Lark spoke up, "What about the elementals? What if they take care of the callings? Even if they are stripped of their magic they will not die"

"But they do not hear the callings. How will they know what to do?" Someone else asked.

"That is true. Besides we do not have enough elementals in the ring to compensate for every faery." Our leader noted.

I slowly stood up and suggested, " It would be close if the older kids from the academy helped. And if you send the faeries with them...the elemental can do the magic while the faery instructs. And if anything or anyone suspicious shows up the faery gets out immediately. "

The room was silent for a minute as everyone thought it over. I could see that the idea made everyone uneasy. But it was also the only viable solution anyone was coming up with.

Finally the leader said. "Okay, in the morning I will announce that no faery is to leave the ring unless for a calling. In which case they must take an elemental with them. Headmaster William, I would ask that you brief the older students at the academy and work with the faeries to match elementals best suited for their callings"