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Forty-Two

A short story

By Laila Malik-BeyPublished 3 years ago 20 min read
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Forty-Two
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

If you’re reading this, it's far too late for us. Her story will matter to you, never in the way that you think, but it will matter. This story didn't begin squatting along the wood covered in earth and blood but this is where it begins for you. Oreiameli Drys is an oak Dryad of the Southernwood. An unforgiving land overrun with the new life of both our kind and theirs. The deep red morning sky lit up the forest floor as she scanned for her prey. A long slender dagger with worn edges and blood staining the wood of the hilt was tightly clasped in her rough palms. The leaves of the thick brush move quietly with her concealing her from her opponent with ease. Silence falls over the forest as she moves closer to the menace of her every restless night. Huntsmen originating from the 5th planet Deos. Deos is a human world filled with hatred and greed. Not all of their worlds are this way but this one was corrupt to the core. It was a dying planet flooded with more life than it could support and most of it deeply in poverty. A movement behind her stunned her out of her stillness causing her camouflage to flicker for just a moment. She turned her head slowly and met eyes with a pale figure that stood out roughly against the dark green and red foliage. Panic filled her before being replaced by malice. He was not human with skin too pale and smooth for the toil of such short mortality. He may have been her kind but they were certainly not alike. To be here in this part of the woods he had to have been with those vile creatures. He was Anunnaki, a fae slave to the Huntsmen.

He had seen her and would have to be dealt with before she could avenge her kin. In a swift movement, she had practiced so many times over she turned fully and dug her hands into the soil and whispered a short prayer to Artemis. Thick vines shot up around his ankles and wrists. Blood red filled the corners of his eyes as he realized his situation. She stared directly into his eyes, her own filled with disgust willing the vines further around his slender body. Before they could reach his torso an indistinguishable flick of his wrist sent the vines limply to the forest floor. She reached deeper into the soil elbows buried in the moist earth she called home the trees surrounding him bent and shot their limbs towards him. He moved to dodge one tree only to be captured by the next. Rough oak tore at the thin fabric of his tunic pinching at the soft flesh underneath never piercing the skin.

Moving carefully she approached him in long graceful panther-like strides. As she neared he whispered nearly unintelligible “I’m not here for what you think, if you’re not careful they’ll see us both. I'll survive but will you?” She stopped in her tracks, turning ever so slightly to ensure they were not looking this way. “Why are you here Annunaki?” She demanded back. “I am not Annunaki, I am looking for a friend.” He responded calmly. “Is your friend Annunaki?” She questioned after a beat. “No, he has been captured. I’m here to free him. Something you should mimic as this is not the most comfortable position to be in.” He said jutting his chin towards the tightening trees. After a moment she lifted her hand and delicately traced a pattern on the wood thanking it for its protection. “If you mean to rescue your friend then you will help me get to the chief won’t you? I can ensure you and your friend getaway safely should you choose to.” She suggested squaring her shoulders. “Frankly, I have no reason to trust you, nameless stranger. I’m not here to save every lost soul that was hurt by these barbarians, just the one.” He said adjusting his slightly tattered clothes and retrieving the gun he had been cleaning before he saw her. “Our chances are much better together you know. You’re everlasting right? Some kind of vampire or watered-down deity? You’re not invincible, they can hurt you. If they couldn't you wouldn't be here at all.” She called after him quietly. “I know that perfectly well dirt dweller, what I don't know is you.” He barked back. “Oreiameli. Dryad woman.” She introduced placing her hand in his path for him to take. He stood still for a moment before rolling his eyes. “Drake Checovich. Dhampir. Now can we just hurry up, they’re switching guards?” He said, pulling a pistol from the back of his jeans and a silencer from his thigh holster.

They crept closer to the campfire staying just within the lines of the forest. Six brutish men and women stood near two fires and carriages of fae and holy creatures both dead and alive. Two centaur women, we're tied to a nearby tree. Looking back at Drake, Oreiameli followed his stern gaze to a young but strong-looking changeling boy. The boy couldn't have been more than 20 years old and every bit of visible skin he had was covered in deep scarring. Her heart broke for him even if only for a moment. She continued scanning until she saw a man almost 7 feet tall with bloodstone embedded in his skull. That was the chief, no matter who carried out the actions that killed her sisters, he was the one that ordered it. All her suffering and struggling for the past 10 years was his fault. He would pay for his sins in blood and anyone in the way would meet the same blade. “I'll take him out, you take the two guards closest to him, the forest will neutralize the other goddess willing.” She said in a hurried whisper before shooting up into the overgrown branches above.

He watched her dart through the branches with captivating precision for a moment before refocusing on the task at hand. He lifted his hands slowly to rest in the tiny opening created by the branches before him. With a breath, he fired two quick shots at the guards just as she lept down in front of the looming behemoth of a man. All three bodies hit the ground simultaneously. The guards that we're seated around the fire we're pressed against the ground wrapped in thick snaking blue vines. He pulled off the silencer and began his advance watching the carriages closely. Humans were known to steal the cloaking mechanisms of all fae children they came across. The forest warped next to him and without hesitation, he fired again a large burly woman appeared and fell to the floor groaning. A scream pierced through the air and his eyes shot over to Oreiameli with three deep slashes on her chest. Something caught in his chest and he ran towards her full speed. In a split second, he ripped the man away from her by his leather shoulder plate.

From a glance, he seemed far outmatched in this fight, and that would be the correct assumption. Huntsman chiefs are only human by name. The bloodstone in his skull fills his blood with magic like that of a shapeshifter but without the limitations of the earth animal. With a grunt, the chief used his massive palms and threw Drake against the bars on one of the prisoner cages. Drake spat a clot of obsidian blood out of his mouth to his side catching sight of Oreiameli’s blade. He throws the blade at her desperately. The skin on Oreiameli’s chest began to stitch itself closed as she pressed a glowing palm to it. Her tan skin tinged a deeper red and her eyes filled with the dark brown of her irises. Standing to her full height she lunged at the chief snatching up her delicate blade on the way. She used a small rotted stump to propel her into the air, smashing her blade into the Huntsmans’ face. Her eyes widened as he looked directly at her lifting his arms to her skull. She missed. Horror rooted itself into her chest. His malformed arms smacked against the side of her head tearing her small body off his shoulders and into a large oak tree a few meters away. The impact dotted her vision and stole her hearing. She didn't hit the only weak point on him, right into the eye socket with the bloodstone. If she didn't come up with something now she would die right here by the hands of this animal. Disgust rose in her, making her physically sick. Gently, as the ringing in her ears subsided, she attempted to pull herself off the forest floor. Eyes still just as wide she looked over to Drake seeing him pull the young boy out of the cage and encouraging the other prisoners to help overpower the chief. She knew it wouldn't work. They were all young and afraid as so many of our kind are. She reached into her soft leather boots pulling out a twin set of curved blades.

She stood again, covered in soil and blood, and charged at him knowing she would not win in this state. She prayed to the great goddess to welcome her soul back to her family with grace. She prayed that this would be enough to get all of them away safely. The chief let out an animalistic growl digging his feet into the dirt as she came barreling through the trees into the clearing. At the same time, thick roots of red and green shot into the air around them creating a fence to protect the escapees. Drake lept into a gap soon filled with yet another root knowing exactly what she planned to do. He would not allow anyone to throw their life away when he had so much of it to spare. His body now fully healed was just as agile as hers and twice as fast. Together they had a chance. Using the slick blood and thin sap to gain momentum he slid toward them firing six rounds into the unsuspecting man’s back. She reached him just before he could recover from the shots dragging the twin blades through the thick flesh of his chest.

Speed was the key to their attack. They needed to move in perfect synchrony even without prior planning. They darted around in such harmony it was almost a dance save for the splattering of blood from all sides. In a desperate final move, Drake fired his gun into the chief’s ear at the same time Oreiameli jammed her knives into both of his eyes. His body thudded to the floor in a puddle of mixed blood and brain matter. The stones faded into soft glittering lights as they rolled away from his corpse panting. “I’m pretty sure I had it,” Oreiameli said breathlessly. Drake returned rich laughter declaring haughtily “You would have been as dead as whomever you lost.” She let out a burst of profound grieving laughter in remembering her family. “They would be glad to have led to the freedom of so many faes.” She said fondly. “They’ll come after us eventually you know that right.” He said humor leaving his voice. “Let them.” she declared standing and putting away her blades.

They spent their time rehabilitating those that they saved that day. On occasion, they would find the family of a person who was separated at capture. This usually only happened to communal magic users. They spent years like this. Never saving the world or leading rebellion just helping where they could. You’ll come to understand that they are no great exception. There are no heroes here, only creatures with compassion for life. Her story doesn’t pick up again until one fateful morning in the Neo-French isles of Henri. She sat with Drake, whose birth name she later learned was Drayus, and his young friend Xifen Kasaris in a hotel on the coast of the gold sea. Over the years they had spent together she had learned much about the two. Xifen was a changeling boy abandoned by his family soon after his birth due to his less than appealing features. He grew up orphaned on the streets and mistreated by both fae and humankind. He struggled so much in life based on his appearance and yet he was so sweet. He clung to Drayus’ side like a small child, likely because compared to them he was just that. He loved the world and life so deeply despite the way that the world looked down upon him. Xifen believed fully that the world was worth loving because if there is beauty in a thing then it should be loved and appreciated to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, however, he didn't see that beauty in himself most of the time. He was though, a beautiful soul uncommon in our world. Drayus found him at the age of sixteen and has been protecting him since. He saw himself in the boy not so much in his outlook or experiences but the way the world was unjust to them both. Drayus was born centuries ago when the planets were still being discovered and cherished and more importantly fought over. He was born to a human father who would be killed in the great Russian war when he was just 15. His mother was a vampire woman who took her own life by walking into the sun after the vampire she fell in love with after his father was killed by huntsmen. He watched her die that day and could do nothing to save her, a scar that he still struggles with after so many years. To cope he has had many lovers and companions from all walks of life and of all genders. The only problem being their mortality, every time it crushed him. Sometimes for a year other times for ten. He had grown connected to her and the boy even though they were not everlasting and he quietly regretted it daily.

At the hotel, they were planning their next raid to save the daughter of an incubus whose wife had already been killed. “We have to do this within the week, you know what they do to succubus children, and she’s too young for that.” Xifen pleaded. “I understand that kid but we have to give enough time for reinforcements to get her or we’ll just get her killed.” Drayus reasoned. “Both of you shut up so I can think properly!” Oreiameli snapped feeling the urgency of the situation. “If we go into East Greenwood we can gather some warrior fae from the natives. I’d have to go alone but I’m certain I could convince them to join us.” She continued after a deep sigh. “By warrior fae, you mean dark fae don't you,” Drayus grunted standing. “They aren’t to be trusted, the slimy bastards are selfish by nature and mischievous for fun.” He continued sternly. “Who else are we supposed to call Dray? This is a hostile city and our people are three weeks away if we're lucky. If we're going to get her out we have to move now.” She argued pacing. “I have to agree with Meli. We don't have any other options.” Xifen added. “We can find other options. There has to be someone else nearby. What about the selkie warriors, how far are they?” Drayus questioned desperately. “Two months at least they went to the eastern waters on the Vladivostok territory for the winter feast.” She reasoned. A silence fell over them as they awaited Drayus’ decision. With a sigh, he nodded and went to his hotel room to prepare.

This week would be hard on all of them. Detailed plans were made that night. Everything had to go smoothly or the little girl’s life would be on the line as well as everyone in the operation. After a few phone calls and tough discussions and everything was in place. Tomorrow morning Oreiameli would go alone to the greenwood and convince the dark fae to aid in their cause. The next day she woke to Xifen beaconing her to come down for breakfast. They met in the lobby Drayus and Oreiameli both cold and quiet with worry. Xifen being the bright person he was, talked enough for both of them. They packed their supplies wordlessly. Drayus and Xifen would spend the day getting their weapons repaired and transportation secured. They parted ways just as the sun rose to paint the sky various shades of purple, red, and pink. She jumped in a fae chariot drawn by centaurs giving 40 copper coins to the two towering women. “Edge of the greenwood ma’am, thank you.” She said sitting down. “Buckle up zat onez a bit of a rough path.” The taller woman said in a thick German accent before the two set off in a trot. She sat in comfortable silence as the morning wore on and the sky returned to its warm red hue.

They passed many run-down buildings and withering trees on their way to the outskirts of town. Fae people only live in the parts of the city humans no longer want to. The areas their wars have destroyed and sucked dry for resources. Right now there are only five cities like that on this planet but with an influx of huntsmen in recent years that number is bound to increase. More huntsmen just mean they plan to evacuate another human city. Soon enough all they passed were trees, some healthy and others weak. The carriage stopped for a moment at a rest point. “Zis is ze last rest point before we get zere take a break, stretch we will do ze same.” She said gently removing herself from the harness to order a drink from the elf tending to the rest point. “Thank you I will. I have to insist on a short break because I am in a hurry.” Oreiameli said, stirring from her thoughts. She exited the carriage and reached her long arms into the air stretching her stiff back. Her unevenly cropped hair brushed gently against her shoulders as the crisp wind blew against her face. She could smell the light snow on the air and figured it would be getting colder there as well soon. Before she could bask in the smells she had once been so familiar with she heard the centaur women extending their thanks to the cashier signaling their break being over. She turned away from the forest she had been looking at and got back into the carriage.

In a moment they were off again this time in a sprint. Twenty minutes later they stopped along the edge of what looked like a forest to the untrained eye. For a dryad woman, this was a beautiful city. She bid the women goodbye and marched into the unmarked city. Trees slowly turned as the faint fluttering of wings was heard in the canopy. She gently laid a single silver coin, a small blade, and a piece of cake wrapped in clear wax onto the stump of a tree towards the edge of the clearing and sat down. Silence fell over the forest for a long few moments. She could feel the watchful eyes all around her but didn't dare to move an inch to try and see them. After the longest 10 minutes finally, a fairy woman descended from the treetops. Without a word, she picked up the blade inspecting it before turning shapely on her heel and throwing it into the dirt at the base of a tree nearby. Fairies dressed in deep reds, blues, and greens, descended all around her with quiet chatter among them. “I need fighters to save a succubus child from huntsmen. The pay is good and you would mainly support.” She announced eyes never leaving the woman in front of her. To look away from the matriarch was a great disrespect to the clan. Murmurs erupted throughout the forest silenced by a flick of the matriarch’s wrist. “I will allow my people to choose if they wish to join you. How many fighters can pay?” She spoke in a quiet voice that echoed through the trees. “Six.” came Oreiameli’s reply. Eight warriors all with massive wings and blood-soaked sashes signifying their victories in battle. The matriarch walked to each of them her long black hair shimmering behind her and simply tapped the shoulders of those that would come with me. Four women and two men we're all armed to the teeth. She let out a small sigh as the others returned to the treetops and the families of those that would travel with her said their goodbyes to their loved ones. After some time an escort was arranged and they returned to the hotel where they would meet up with Drayus, Xifen, and whoever would drive them. The tension on the ride back was almost visible illuminated by the bright blue hues of the night sky. Oreiameli resigned to gazing at the dark planets that filled the night sky.

As they approached the run-down hotel Xifen appeared out of the shadows. Drawing his cloak further over his head he signaled with hands that they were being looked for. Some human men who wanted to be huntsmen we're asking around. Wordlessly she got out and directed the faerie soldiers to follow her. The favor of the faes living here would work in their favor because now they needed to relocate. If they were found it would put hundreds of lives in jeopardy. Just above a whisper, Oreiameli explained their situation “Humans are stirring up trouble. At random start taking turns away from one another and going into random buildings. The locals will lead you to the back then you need to disappear. We will meet at the tall willow on the other side of the city at midnight. By then we will have a new place to stay and a dead tail.” Immediately they nodded and began walking further from each other. One by one they turned off into alleyways and streets lost in the masses of nightwalkers that appeared as it got darker.

Just as expected the human stayed on her tail foolishly. She led him to the edge of town just half an hour before midnight. This would have to be quick. She disappeared into the canopy above watching him scramble to try and find her on the ground. She unsheathed the long sword gifted to her by Drayus silently preparing to jump unto her opponent. He neared the tree almost to the point she could make out a face. She knew better than to look in their eyes, if a human presented themselves as a threat then looking into their eyes would only weaken your attack. She dove sharply plunging her blade into his shoulder. Using the slight slowing of momentum she swung her legs down behind him falling into a crouch with his falling body. As the sword ripped out the front of his stomach, she clawed into his throat to stifle the scream threatening to escape into the still night air. She cleaned the blade on a partially dry piece of his clothing and called into the woods for the help she knew was there. Six dryad women morphed out of the serpentine trees around her. One offered her a change of clothing while the others used their energy to decompose his body growing a lush patch of grass in its place. “Thank you sisters, may Artemis be with you.” she bowed in recognition. “Athens bless you.” they echoed back in unison as was customary for dryads from different woods. Though they offer to escort her she chose to walk to their meeting site. Reverence needed to be paid to the goddess for her protection and to gods for her strength and lifeblood.

The details of the raid that followed the next day are unimportant because she was killed in that battle. She didn't change the world and she didn't die some magical death. Not every protagonist is a hero to the whole world. But she did save me. That succubus girl she gave her life for went on to save other people and tell her story. She didn't start the rebellion, but her action will lead to it if I have anything to say about it.

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