Becoming Fae

It’s amazing the things that happen when you stop running and hiding and start fighting back. Or attempting to, anyhow.

The imps were great at spying and were able to get us all of the information we needed to know just how screwed we were. The numbers alone of either army we were facing would overwhelm us. It didn’t help that most of those numbers were also some of the most ferocious types of demons. They even had freaking tooth fairies! The name was a misdirection, though. Those little demons were terrifying. They sought and devoured teeth and bones. It didn’t matter to them if the owner of its meal was alive or dead, though they preferred alive or recently passed.

I was sitting in the room with Mal, Naz, Rollie, Immail, Netiri, Harmon, Ben, and Blaine as we discussed options. They were looking at a map and I was relying on my memory and what they told me to make assumptions.

“Even with the support of Fae’s parents, a frontal attack would decimate us,” Rollie was saying.

“And we wouldn’t come close to winning with a Sin in command. Not unless we had all of the power players here,” Mal agreed.

“And even then, it’s not good odds that we’d be victorious,” Immail added.

“So, meeting them head on is out,” Ben said. “We can blitz them as the progress this way.”

“They have blood shamans. The blitz parties will be destroyed before they even get close,” Blaine said. “The protection the shamans give the army needs to be neutralized first.”

“That’s a suicide mission,” Naz scoffed.

“I could get in, being a Celestial,” Harmon said. “Their magic doesn’t affect me.”

“You’re only one person and Fae would skin you alive,” Mal pointed out.

“I would,” I nodded.

“I can go with him,” Netiri offered. “I might be out of shape, but I was never helpless.”

“I can go as well,” Immail said. “I’m not immune, but I can fight the magic the shamans use. I’ve done it before.”

“It won’t work,” I said. “There’s too many of them for just three of you. Even of you could kill some of them, the rest will know you’re there and then it made no difference in the end.”

“Well, I’m out of ideas,” Ben sighed.

“Blitzing them and wearing them down before they get here is the best chance we have,” Blaine said, sounding like he was frowning.

“I agree,” Rolle added.

“I have a suggestion, now that everyone has figured out that we’re as screwed as an escort on payday,” I stood up and put my hands on the table and leaned on them.

“Lovely imagery,” Netiri giggled.

“We’re desperate,” I said.

“No kidding,” Naz snorted, and I heard someone smack him.

“Thanks, Immail,” I smirked. “We’re like an animal that’s been backed into a corner.”

“They fight the hardest when they know there’s no likely escape for them,” Ben stated, amused. “I like where this is going.”

“Exactly,” I nodded at him. “A cornered animal fights hard and doesn’t care about low blows or fighting dirty. They just want to survive.”

“I’m beginning to like this as well,” Naz sounded smug and pleased with himself.

“We have an advantage or two that they don’t,” I said and waved my hand, hopefully, in the direction of the map. “We know the area and we happen to have the home-field advantage. That means we don’t rely on supply trains.”

“Attack the supplies,” Mal said thoughtfully.

“It will slow them down,” Immail said after a second.

“Not just attack,” I held up a finger. “What we don’t destroy, we sabotage. Salt the water, poison the food. Release the animals that are doing the hard work. Basically, just be giant pains in the ass.”

“Embracing the inner fox, huh?” Ben laughed.

“Blitzing is still a good idea, but the shamans are an issue,” I admitted.

“We need to get rid of them somehow,” Rollie said thoughtfully.

“Kill the leaders,” Immail said.

“Oh! Right! Of course!” Netiri snapped her fingers in excitement. “The shaman clans are deeply traditional. If the chief dies, the rite for a new leader begins and that can take up to a year.”

“They’ll be heavily guarded,” Naz said.

“The hounds can get in,” Blaine said. “A few targets instead of several hundred is easier to manage and many of the hounds have taken to carrying imps on their backs during the supply runs.”

“A few foxes to help make diversions wouldn’t hurt either,” Ben added.

“It still won’t solve the problem of their numbers, though,” Mal said.

“Way to be a Debbie Downer,” Ben muttered.

“I have a solution for that, too,” I grinned. “Who remembers their history lessons? Specifically, the battle of Thermopylae?”

“The battle of what?” Blaine asked and I heard Mal slap his palm to his forehead and giggled.

“Thermopylae. An ancient city in Greece. Back when the Persians were trying to invade with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, a small force of Greeks used the pass of Thermopylae to funnel the enemy,” I said.

“Basically, the Greeks used the natural surroundings to render the advantage of the massive army they were facing completely useless,” Mal said. “Instead of simply overrunning the Greeks, the Persians were forced into a narrow pass where the Greeks were able to hold them off for a whole week with only a few thousand men.”

“Like that one movie, right?” Ben asked.

“Not quite as drastically outnumbered, and not in Sparta, but yes,” I nodded at Ben. “There’s a narrow valley not far from Bahan in the southeast. If my memory is right about the locations, and you nincompoops are right in the descriptions, Envy’s army will be passing close to the area. If we can lure them there, we can use the valley as our own Thermopylae.”

“It’s also thickly wooded, which would limit the ability of those that can fly,” Immail mused. “But that goes both ways.”

“Demons and Celestials aren’t exactly numble when it comes to sharp maneuvers, but I happen to know a few fae that are,” I smiled. “Fairies, for one. Pheonix, too.”

“Those ash-brains don’t get involved,” Naz laughed.

“They might, if I ask very nicely,” I grinned.

“The fairies won’t even if you beg,” Mal pointed out. “Not after you gave their queen a proverbial spanking.”

“True. No offense, Mal, but fairies are terrible about grudges when it comes to their pride. Far too arrogant,” Blaine said.

“Speaking of arrogant... I think we should try the elves, too,” I said and pinched my forehead in thought. “They seem to have ways to bring down people that can fly.”

“Stupid net,” Mal muttered.

“And they’re superior magic wielders,” Rollie agreed. “I think it’s a good idea.”

“Sounds like we have a plan,” Naz said.

“We’ll evacuate the tunnels and send the women, children, and elderly to Royal City,” I said. “Mom and Dad are already making preparations for them to arrive.”

“Are they joining us?” Netiri asked.

“No, and I’m not asking,” I answered. “This is between demons right now. Should it spill to the Sidhe and its inhabitants, I see that being a different matter, but hopefully we can get this over with before that happens.”

“The battle or the war?” Immail asked.

“Both,” I said certainly. “While the battle is taking place, I’m going with Immail and Naz to the Hell Pits. It’s time I introduce my butt to a grudge holding chair.”

“How are you going to do that when there’s a literal army there, too?” Mal asked.

“Diversion, of course,” I grinned. “There’s no ruler, so the Legions won’t rise, however, they once obeyed Immail. Perhaps that’s enough to get them moving again, but if not, Naz is great at causing a scene and Immail knows the palace.”

“I vote for being the guide,” Naz said.

“I agree. It’s been a very long time. My memory of the place is not very clear,” Immail said. “I will outlast Garloth on distraction duty any day. And I seriously doubt the Legions will respond to me. It’s best if we don’t waste the time in trying.”

“Very well,” I nodded. “Greed and Gluttony will have their own armies ready and willing to help in the efforts.”

“How exactly are you planning on getting past the rest of the army, Fae?” Mal asked, sounding exasperated. “Wrath isn’t stupid. He’ll guess it’s a diversion.”

“I’m counting on it,” I nodded. “You know the cage that Grim kept me in? I think the Clerics can make another one with my help that is strong enough to hold a Sin. Hopefully for long enough to park my keester and call for the Legions to do clean up.”

“You’ll be seen,” he said flatly. “I’m not letting this happen.”

“She won’t be seen.”

I heard everyone turn to look towards the new voice and I smiled.

“Dad. I wasn’t expecting you,” I said.

“And I was sent by your very upset mother because you didn’t come visit. We heard about you losing your sight and she’s not happy that you weren’t the one to tell us,” he said, coming into the room and giving me a hug.

“It’s been busy since we got back,” I blushed sheepishly.

“I heard,” he said, taking my face in his hands and turning it slightly so he could look in my eyes. “You aren’t blind.”

“The lack of vision says otherwise,” I replied.

“It’s a curse. A very nasty one, but still only a curse. I’ve seen this before. I’ve used it, actually. It’s a dark fairy specialty,” he said.

“Can it be undone?” I asked, hopeful.

“No. Usually, it makes no difference, since the ones we use this curse on we end up killing, but it can be altered, more or less,” he replied. “Here. Let me in.”

He put his fingers on my forehead and temples and I felt pinprick pain behind my eyes as I felt my dad's magic, dark as the shadows slide into my body. After a moment, he put a hand over my eyes and pain seared through my head, making me yelp before it was gone, just as suddenly as a flash of lightning in the sky.

“I rearranged your senses,” he said, and I felt my mouth drop open. “It helps that they were already in the process. Not far along, though.”

“I don’t have that kind of ability,” Netiri stated. “I was coaching her to change them herself.”

“Interesting. I’m a little behind. Who are you?” Dad asked.

“Can we maybe do that later?” I asked blinking. “I still can’t see.”

Dad flicked me in the forehead, right between my eyes and pain flared again, burning as my eyes finally saw something.

“What the heck?” I looked around, seeing people shaped glowing in different colors and intensities.

“Heat,” Dad said. “It’s one of the ways dark fairies see in complete darkness.”

“No,” I said slowly and pointed at one that looked like Immail. “That’s black and red. And Netiri is silver and white.”

“Auras?” Netiri asked. “That’s... rare. It takes decades of practice to see them.”

“Yet another thing that’s freakishly strange about me,” I rolled my eyes and noticed something else. “I see shadows. Like... an actual shadow that you would see on a sunny day, but... It’s weird. They’re making up things.”

“Like?” Mal asked.

I reached out and picked up a piece of paper from the table.

“Things that don’t have auras,” Netiri said, curious.

“We’ll explore my freakishness later, but this is great,” I grinned at Dad, seeing his gray and steely blue swirls. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Your mother is going to be furious that you got cursed. I feel bad for the idiot that did to you,” he chuckled.

“He’s dead,” Harmon spoke up. “A long time ago.”

“Okay. Break time to fill in Dad for lunch!” I cheered.