Satyr Play 02 Pt. 02

"Keep going! Drop Marisa below roof level. The spell should stop there," Mahati exclaimed.

More terrible noises came from the building structure below Marisa's body which continued to drop in increments. They all leapt back as the roof gave with a final squeal of protesting metal. Marisa disappeared into the darkness below with Sandy falling in as well.

"Sandy!" Dayshia shrieked.

They heard coughing and relaxed a little. "I- I'm ok! We're ok. Kesini caught us," Sandy's voice said from the darkness. Marisa could be heard coughing as well.

"What happened to the spell?" Sigrid asked.

Mahati held out her hands and muttered a few noises. "Dissipated. It completed its task."

Michelle moved forward after bonding her webbing to a railing and lowered herself into the hole. They heard Sandy squeak in fright then her apologizing. Moments later Michelle brought her back up to the surface. Kesini was positively drooping.

"What happened to Kesini?" Dayshia asked anxiously.

As Michelle went back down for Marisa, Sandy gathered her limp hair in her arms. "She's exhausted... and dirty! She needs a good shampooing!"

Once Marisa was back they saw the castle suddenly dim as it began its final slip into the between. There was a crash of glass, and a huge red beast came sailing through the debris of the second story window. As they were in midflight the lights suddenly dimmed then came back with a vengeance as spotlights lit up the antennae array on the rooftop. Roy landed on the pebbled roof surface with a thump. He sprawled out, and Camila rolled across the roof until Sigrid caught her.

"Where's Henry and Tish?!?" Sigrid yelled.

Camila looked up in a daze and glanced back. "They were... right behind us!"

They stood looking at the cluster of antennas... where their friends should have been.

-=-

Henry could feel it. The building was slipping away into... nothingness, forever in all directions. The building was going to drop away before they made it to the window.

In desperation, he thought of the magic realm, the Glass People, and threw his right hand out to open a tear.

But his finger was bare.

He was no longer wearing the ring which linked him to the Fae's global healing spell. In that moment, he realized he could no longer feel the subtle buzz of potential from the energy waiting for him to reach for it.

The magic no longer waited for his beck and call.

He couldn't open the way for them to escape.

Despair stabbed through him as he looked to Tish. She didn't deserve this. She deserved so much more-

Orange light poked him in the eyes, startling him into pinching them closed. His hoof caught the edge of a stone on the uneven ground, and he went sprawling in a field of tall red grass. Once he slid to a stop, he lifted his face and spat out a mouthful of plant matter. He looked back and saw the rip sealing. Xiong and a second glass being lowered their arms and the opening snapped shut. For the briefest moment, he was looking back into an absence of everything. Then it was gone.

He nodded gratefully to the two beings and felt their joy at having saved him this time.

Henry pushed himself to his feet and turned to see Tish standing a short distance away in the grass. Her mouth was open in shock as she took in the yellow sky, the enormous red-orange sun dropping to the horizon, and so many shades of red in the plant life.

Pushing himself back to his hooves, Henry inhaled slowly to get his first deep breath on this world. It was the first time he'd been here physically. He smiled at the air's strange and subtle blend of sweet and spicy, like a hint of cherries and cinnamon.

He walked up beside Tish and saw the joy on her face. "Welcome to the realm of magic," Henry said to her gently.

She turned to look to him as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Oh my..." she said struggling for words to describe what she was feeling. Then she noticed the two beings standing patiently nearby. "Oh!"

Henry smiled. "These are my friends. Two of the Glass People. Xiong and... Dave." The second name came through his link to them.

"Dave?" Tish blinked in surprise as she waved to them.

Henry nodded. "They used to be human but got caught in a strange and intense lightning storm back home. That's how they described it at least."

"You're talking with them?" Tish asked, a sparkle of excitement twinkling in her eyes. Henry touched his temple and nodded again making her bounce happily on her hooves.

"Wait! How did they get here?" she asked breathlessly.

"I got them here," he admitted.

"Like you got us here!" she gushed.

Henry shook his head. "No, they opened the tear to get us here." He gestured to the two beings watching them. "They must have heard my call. I- I can't open the way any longer." His throat tightened as he held his right hand in his left, staring at his bare finger. Mab's finger? His... daughter's?

He felt a smaller hand touch his chest gently. Compassionate eyes looked into his. "What happened?" Tish asked, but he could only shake his head. It was too soon; he was too raw.

She pulled him into a hug, and he struggled not to let his grief explode forth again. He felt the love and support from all of the Glass People linked to his mind. They saw everything and shared his horror and sorrow. He sent his love and gratitude to them as well.

When Tish pulled back, she smiled at him until he managed to return it. "While I am thrilled to be one of the first people to stand on a... alien planet, alternate Earth... does it have a name?"

Henry looked to Xiong and Dave and smiled. "They don't rely on words too much anymore, but after they first arrived, they called it Eden."

Tish grinned at the two glass figures and nodded. "Lovely name! Lovely place! But how do we get home? Our friends won't know we got out of the castle! They'll be devastated!" Tish looked more and more distraught as she thought of her friends.

Henry looked to Xiong and felt his response. The two beings turned and walked away. Henry held out a hand and wrapped his arm around Tish to calm her and guide her after them.

"They'll open a gate for us, but they need to recharge. Earliest is midday tomorrow." He gestured to the setting sun. "That's their main energy source, and they used up a lot to get us here."

They followed their escorts a short distance across the hillside meadows until they reached a clearing in a group of trees where the others relaxed on the grass.

Tish watched them moving around, and Henry could tell she had questions. The beings were different sizes, but all were humanoid in shape. Their facial features were minimal, but Henry knew they maintained their distinct personalities. It was just their drives that had taken a dramatic change. Body shape, wealth, social status all became meaningless in their new state of being.

"So many!" Tish gasped quietly.

"Population of a small Midwest town out watching their children play football!" Henry explained softly.

"What?!? Them? But they were reported as dead!" she gasped quietly.

"Yet here they are, very much alive. Happier than they've ever been. They'd love their relatives to join them but they don't know how to duplicate the circumstances that led to their creation, and most wouldn't volunteer to go through it," he said.

Tish looked at him. "They told you all this?"

He nodded. "Not in words. They're sharing their minds with me. I... it feels like memories. It's hard to explain. When linked like this, I can recall things that happened in their lives. I don't look too closely as it feels like I'd go mad if I did. Too intimate and too much."

The smaller beings brought soft grasses by the armload as bedding for them. Some of the 'elders' brought stones, wood, and kindling for a fire pit.

Another adult shot sparks from one of his limbs, and soon they had a lovely little blaze going in the pit. The fire had the bonus of trickle feeding the smaller Glass People who joined them in a circle around it.

Henry had to act as translator as they discovered they couldn't connect to Tish's mind.

It wasn't too long before Tish began yawning and their hosts began to slip away to wait for dawn's light in their dormant state.

Henry bid the final members a good night and headed for the bed of grass. Tish settled down next to him and cuddled up against his side.

She was silent for a while, and Henry thought she'd drifted off. But she was trying to determine how to ask him a question. "Henry?"

"Hmmm?"

"Your Baba. I get that she's an incredibly powerful witch but... is she a truthful person?"

He felt a shock go through his muscles when she surprised him with the question. Thinking of Baba was... difficult after what she'd done.

Tish felt his reaction and was immediately contrite. "I'm sorry, Henry! Never mind-"

He frowned. "No, it's fine. You just surprised me. Is she truthful?" He thought back and looked for lies she might have told him. "She's kept things from me. Important things. But she's not the type to speak lies. She's always demanded the truth from me and has no patience for less than direct speech. I can't recall her ever overtly lying to me... so, yes, she's truthful. Why?"

Tish was quiet once more, and Henry began to worry.

"When you healed me with Ikehorn... did you only fix my back?" she asked quietly.

He went back to the night, not that long ago though tonight it felt like a lifetime. He recalled wishing with all his might that she would be made whole, complete, and healthy. He also remembered Tish's confession about her accident. "I might have been concentrating on fixing... everything," he said cautiously.

She sucked in a quick breath, and suddenly her lips were on his. She kissed him feverishly, but he picked up a difference this time. She was crying!

"What- Tish! Wait! What happened?" he finally managed as he gently pulled her back to see her face. Tears were running down her cheeks, but her eyes were shining with joy, and she was smiling at his look of confusion and concern.

"Baba Yaga told me I was pregnant. It's ours."

"Oh! OH! Oh, Tish!" Henry's face showed his shock.

"Are- are you happy?" she asked, suddenly nervous.

Henry pulled her to him and held her close. He was going to be a daddy! Again! "I can't begin to tell you how happy I am!"

She clung to him, and they both shed tears. But that was ok. They were tears of happiness. Henry did feel a pang of sorrow at the thought that their child may never meet their half-sister.

He pushed that aside and just enjoyed the pure happiness of the moment. With how his life went, he had to savor these small intervals as they arrived.

Chapter 45

Meixiu sat by herself in the dark gazebo behind the mansion and waited. The others were inside, shedding tears of loss but she knew in her heart that Henry, and Tish, were alive. Sigrid has asked her how she knew, if she was in contact with him somehow, but she just shook her head. Meixiu couldn't explain how she knew. She saw the pity in Sigrid's eyes but knew the woman was hurting, so she took no offense.

After the castle vanished, they'd done a frantic but futile search for their friends amongst the antennae and machinery. Then the Minister of Security arrived to tell them they had to leave as the Human authorities would be coming shortly to discover the Celebrities in their drugged state. The clean-up crew had managed to move them all to an empty floor in the office building and made preparations. Escorted from the roof, Roy had to restrain Camila while Sigrid carried Marisa. They'd driven from the building moments before the police arrived.

The drive back to the mansion was quiet, the only sound being soft crying. Meixiu let everyone back into the home then made her way back here as Henry seemed to like it.

She'd been out here for almost 24 hours. She'd nodded off a few times only to jolt awake at bird calls, wind noises, or when Sigrid came out to check on her. But she hadn't lost hope.

The back door opened again, and Meixiu knew it was Sigrid once more checking on her. She smiled faintly at how much Sigrid cared for her. She truly was a beautiful soul.

"Meixiu? You should come inside and have something to eat."

"Not hungry." She'd said the same earlier in the day. It was true as well. She felt... nothing.

A pain suddenly began to grow in her chest, and she frowned. What was the source of this hurt?

She felt nothing.

Because he was gone.

She found herself on her feet, running down the steps and into Sigrid's open arms. The pain exploded, and tears flowed as sobs wracked her slim body. Sigrid held her close. Protecting her in her arms. Sharing tears with her. Sharing the loss.

They remained that way until the pathway suddenly lit up with a warm orange light. Sigrid sucked in a sharp breath.

Meixiu released her grip on Sigrid and spun in place and look back to the gazebo. She frantically wiped the tears from her eyes as the rip widened and orange sunlight spilled through, bathing them both in its glow. Tish hopped through and moved aside as Henry quickly followed her through the opening. Both were in their Human glamors.

Meixiu moved faster than she ever had and was pressing her body against Henry's chest, clinging to him as her tears started again. Henry's strong arms wrapped around her and held her close.

"I'm so sorry Meixiu. We couldn't get back until now. Our friends needed to recharge before they could open the way. They saved us too," he said gently.

She rubbed her face against his chest then looked back through the opening at the Glass Man gazing back at her. She gaped in surprise. Still clinging to Henry, she began speaking very rapidly in Chinese to the being on the other side of the tear in space.

Henry grinned in surprise. When she finished, she looked up at him in puzzlement as the Glass Man hadn't responded.

"Xiong is very pleased to meet you as well. He says he was from the same province as you and understood you very well. He also said you're welcome. He'd like to talk longer, but he must release the opening." Henry bowed to him and expressed his gratitude to them all once more in his mind. He felt their joy then the gate snapped closed. The area fell into shadows once more.

Screams of surprise and excitement immediately began at the back door of the mansion as his friends inside realized who was standing in the gazebo. Henry and Tish moved down the steps to meet the onrushing group. Meixiu clung to Henry's arm, almost afraid to let go as if he'd suddenly disappear if she did. Unsettled by her earlier breakdown, she watched Henry anxiously. She finally had to let go when the others reached out to hug him, but she stayed close.

Sigrid pulled Henry into a fierce hug, and he kissed her. A big tremble of relief shook her body, and he kissed the tears on her cheeks making her hiccup and giggle.

The moment he released her Camila was in his arms, and she was kissing him and crying, talking a mile a minute. Henry held her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly until she calmed.

Marisa was next, and he held her in his arms as she trembled. He noticed the sadness in her eyes when she pulled back. He was immediately concerned.

"What happened?" he asked.

Marisa's bottom lip trembled as she gave him the news. "It's Nate. I think Mab took him. I think it was her but younger. We can't find him."

He froze as an intense rage swept through him. The Queen's name pushed him beyond his ability to think coherently. If she'd been within his reach, he would have gladly murdered her with his bare hands. No one could have stopped him.

"Henry? Henry!"

Roy's voice cut through the red haze clouding his sight, and he came back to himself. "Oh, Roy!"

The big man abruptly pulled him into a tight hug then immediately held him out at arm's length to look him over as if looking for injuries. "Aye lad. It's good to have you back in one piece. We thought we'd lost you. What happened?"

Before he could answer, Sandy and Dayshia pulled Tish over to him, and they gave him a group hug. While he couldn't see her, he felt Kesini's warm hug as well.

Suddenly, it was all too much. Henry looked to the joyful and relieved faces around him. His friends- no, his family. The love they showed him him was more profound than he ever expected to have in his life. Then he thought of the new life inside Tish, and he wobbled a little on his feet.

"Henry! Are you ok?" Sigrid gasped.

He felt Kesini bracing him, so he just smiled at Sigrid then turned that smile on the others. "So much better than ok!" He looked to Tish, and they shared a special smile. Then his stomach grumbled. "We haven't eaten or had anything to drink since before we left. We weren't sure what was safe to consume there."

"OH! I will make you and Tish dinner!" Meixiu squeaked and rushed away, finally comfortable he was here to stay.

"There? Where did you go?" Mary asked as she stood slightly behind Roy, curiosity burning in her eyes. Henry reached out and hugged her too then stepped back to look at the others.

"We'll tell you all about it, but maybe we could sit down first? They had no chairs on the other side!" Henry said, and chuckles erupted around him.

"Where are Mahati and Michelle?" he asked as they walked back into the home.

"I've got to call them to give them the good news!" Camila gasped and rushed ahead to get to her cell phone.

Sigrid guided them to the dining room, and everyone took chairs around the big table, Henry and Tish sitting next to each other with their backs to the wall facing everyone else.

Once they were settled and listening, Henry began by explaining the Glass People. Then he told them how they'd been saved and taken to the alternate world which was the source of their magic. Tish added in how they'd done a little exploring while their hosts absorbed enough energy to open the rift for them. They'd even been able to go for a run, as long as they kept their eyes open for the flying black ribbons. Nasty beasts!

"What happened here? I didn't get a good look at who was at the party. Anyone we know?" Henry asked.

Camila answered. "We don't know what she intended, but she brought Human celebrities and public figures to the castle."

Henry gawked at her. "Mab said with her new power, the Fae would rise again to rule the world and put the Humans in their place. She was going to use her guests as heralds for her return. Did she expose the Hidden Races?"

Camila shook her head. "Minister Hoek's team was as efficient as it was quick. They couldn't cover all the anomalous activities and facts, but they spun up a story that the public can accept. The story is that a new, technologically savvy cult lured them to the building with promises, injected them with a potent hallucinogen, and strapped them into virtual reality simulation in an attempt to brainwash them into joining. To corroborate this, each wore a VR headset, and they had injection marks on their arms, covered with a bandage. They were injected with a harmless substance that mimics LSD and mescaline. The blood tests will be inconclusive, but there's enough to cast a shadow of doubt and reduce the credibility of the alternative; that their virtual dream experiences were real. Not a perfect cover but it provides a mundane and believable answer. The Feds are never going to close this case."

She shook her head. "There is still the issue of how these celebrities were snatched from their homes all over the world only to show up in a building in New York instantaneously. Mab's magic door is causing the Hidden Races Council a tremendous amount of grief but a few hints have been dropped here and there on the web about new technologies that someone is perfecting. Not a perfect cover story but it does point away from magic."