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A myth was not supposed to exist in the real world, certainly not in the real world of the present. But 'real' was a word under siege and, though no one realized why it was happening, the effects of that siege were felt everywhere. Where there were people and imaginations there were problems.
But in the green hills of Ireland, where few had set foot in the history of the land, all was silent. The silence did not last.
The still air shimmered, then seemed to split in half, spilling out a flood of white light onto the grass. When the light faded the hill top was no longer empty.
The figure rose to her feet, wrapping herself in a deep purple cloak, staring about the hillside. She called out but there were none to answer. She was weak here, weaker than she had ever recalled. The faith had gone from this place, the magic had been stripped from the land. Magic that belonged to her.
But she could sense it, not far off, easily reachable with the power she possessed. She sensed it, recognized it. It was the power that long ago had been stolen from her, given to her sister. The magic of nature. Once again it would be hers.
*******
The young woman walked through the forest, drawing in the serene atmosphere of the world around her. She had no concerns that she was walking alone and no fear of being attacked. This was not New York, nor anywhere like it. It was half a world away in Ireland and the forest path was a little known nature walk she had trod since she was a child. That was long before fame, fortune and fate had altered the course of her life.
Even if she did happen to encounter someone and even if they did recognize her and even if they chose to try and abuse her solitary situation, she would probably give them a surprise. A potential assailant would soon stop when he found himself up to his neck in earth. He name was Lindsay Gael Christina Armaou. Most people called her Lindsay. Her close friends called her Linds.
She wielded the power of earth.
She was a witch.
She had once helped saved the world.
But right now she was simply enjoying the country air. It had been many years since she had returned here, not since she was much younger. The paths were still the same, slightly more overgrown than they once were, but it was still an inspiring natural scene. She came across a small bog blocking the track. It was too large to jump but she jumped it anyway, a simple push sending her floating through the air. Each of the four girls that composed the band B*witched had their own element of nature and using that power, each of them could fly.
For Sinead it meant lifting herself with currents of wind. For Edele it was using fire to heat the air around her, using jets as propulsion. Keavy used water molecules in the air. And for Lindsay it meant repelling the earth below her. It was all about knowing how to use the powers you had. One they'd had a teacher, a leprechaun who had put them on their destined path. She had died to save them but they didn't let it stop them. They continued their magical pursuits, drew even closer together and even managed a second album. But it was still nice to have a walk alone.
At least it had been until a bolt of lighting hit her in mid jump. Lindsay landed, instinctively using the earth beneath her to ground the electricity. She spun on her heel, ready for the next attempt at what had to be an attack. There was nothing, simply the leaves and branches of the forest. She wasn't going to take any chances. Instead she jumped again, this time sailing into the air with supernatural force. If there was something that wanted to attack her then she wanted the others to know about it. She almost cleared the forest ceiling when another bolt hit her. This time it wasn't lighting. It was some other force which shot through her nerves, burning within her.
"Yaah!" Lindsay yelled as she felt the sharp stinging pain which made her lose focus. She plummeted towards the ground, rolling over and over as she smashed through the branches. She struggled to regain composure and that alone saved her, her magic making the ground cushion her fall as she collided with it. Though the impact wasn't fatal, it certainly knocked the wind out of her. Lindsay struggled to her feet gasping, once again peering about the forest.
Again there was nothing.
"You are strong witch." came an ethereal voice, certainly female.
Lindsay spun on her heel but there was still nothing to see.
"You wield the power of nature well. But it shall be mine."
"Who are you!" Lindsay yelled in anger, ready to defend or attack.
"I am Magic little one. I am the power of all things supernatural."
"Where are you?"
"I am everywhere little one."
Lindsay felt a powerful blow strike her back, sending her spiraling to the earth. When she rolled to her feet there was nothing to be seen. "Show me where you arrrggh!" Lindsay felt another jolt hit her, a bolt of purple lighting blazing through her. It continued until she threw up her hands and a wall of earth rose in her defines.
"You will not see me unless I wish it."
"Whatever!" Lindsay yelled and send a hail of rocks out, ripping through the forest. If they made contact with her enemy then it did not show. She saw another bolt approaching her and this time she jumped out of the way, hovering above ground cautiously. She deflected another bolt, this time bringing a solid pillar of rock up around herself, hoping to buy some time to think.
"She's invisible." she though to herself. "So how do we find her."
Lindsay closed her eyes, connecting with the earth around her. Vibrations. She could sense vibrations in the earth. Ahead, twenty meters away. Footsteps. Lindsay dropped her wall and sent a hail of stones directly at the location of the footsteps. This time the attack was effective, the rocks revealing an invisible figure which was knocked of it's feet. Lindsay floated back to the ground, cautiously watching ahead. She badly wanted to contact the others but she didn't want to get struck from behind again.
"Well Duh Lindsay." she said to herself and drew a cell phone from her jacket. Sometimes it was easy to overlook technology for magic. But then magic could be more reliable. The phone connections were down. Cursing, Lindsay put the phone away, looking up to see a figure walking out from the cloud of dust. It as a woman, wrapped in a dark purple clock, with black hair that flowed unnaturally. She looked across at the young witch with jet black eyes, her smooth features revealing a chilling smile.
"Well you are a smart little witch. It seems I can't hide from you can I?"
"Who are you?" Lindsay demanded again, this time summoning up a storm of rocks in front of her.
"My naive child, I am The Morrigan, Morgana, I am the Faery Queen."
"So?" Lindsay did her best to maintain her bravado. "What do you want?"
"Oh you'll soon see." the beautiful woman laughed as she reached out a hand.
Suddenly she let out a flash so bright that Lindsay's vision blurred, her sight filling with after images and stars. She fell to her knees, trying to blink her vision back, hoping that her earth senses would be enough. They weren't.
She felt a cloak wrap around her neck and though she had time to grab it, to stop herself being choked, it still lifted her into the air. She felt herself flying through the air, spun about line a yo-yo on a string. She collided with the side of a tree and this time she was unable to cushion the blow which drove the air from her body. She crashed down to the ground, looking up through blurred vision to see a figure approaching.
She threw a hail of rocks but they were ill aimed an easily dodged. Lindsay swung her hand but Morgana grabbed it, sending a jolt of purple, magical energy through Lindsay's already hurt body. The young woman screamed in pain but the Faery Queen did not stop. Instead she gripped a hand to Lindsay's head, sending another magical jolt into her. Lindsay screamed again and felt her world go hazy. Through dim awareness she felt herself being dragged, moved across the forest.
When at last she regained her senses, and her sight she found herself in the middle of a stone ring. Morgana looked at her calmly, as if savoring the look of a meal. Lindsay tried to get to her feet but instead fell to her knees, too weak to stand.
"Now child of the earth, I have something I wish to possess."
The Faery Queen floated over to her and when Lindsay tried to fight her off, the flowing purple cloak lashed out, restraining her hands at her sides. Morgana moved herself close to the exhausted witch, staring at her with her dark eyes.
She raised her palm, almost touching Lindsay's face and let out another crackle of purple lightning, making the witch shudder.
Lindsay could feel the crackling energy flow through her, over her skin and under her clothes. It was almost like thousands of scratching fingers clawing at her. She felt them digging at her clothes, ripping at the fabric until it no longer held, falling from her body in scraps. When the purple lighting finally ceased, Lindsay found herself naked to the waist. As her head dropped in weariness she saw something moving. From somewhere beneath the purple cloak, two black snakes were extending, their mouths like toothless leeches. Lindsay groaned, trying to pull away but finding the cloak too tight.
Each mouth stuck down onto her nipples and began to suck.
Lindsay groaned again, each undulation of the snakes draining more of her energy. She could feel her life force, her magical energy, slowly being milked from her body. She looked up through half closed eyes to the face of the Morrigan, a face contorted with delight. when she realized Lindsay was watching her she hit her with another jolt. Lindsay felt her body loosing it's feeling, her limbs going dead until all she could feel was the constant repetitive pulse of the mouths, sucking from her nipples, draining her more and more. Lindsay felt her eyes drooping further and further until she could hold them open no longer. For a short while she stayed there in the unfeeling darkness, the milking still continuing.
Then came blackness.
The mouths released the erect nipples, withdrawing to their body. The tangles of the cloak flicked away, letting the half naked, unconscious witch fall face first to the earth. Morgana stood and waved her hand, the earth swallowing the witch to her waist, hands encased in the earth, head slumped over her naked chest. The Morrigan possessed the power of the earth.
*******
"Does anyone else feel an impending sense of doom?" the thin blonde asked casually.
Her two companions nodded in unison. They'd all had that feeling ever since dark and unnatural clouds had covered the Dublin skies. They were aware of what was natural and what was not, each of the trio holding a power of nature. Keavy exchanged a quick glance with her twin sister Edele, then returned her gaze to the stormy sky. Lightning flared and thunder boomed yet no rain was falling. Things were not right.
"What do you think it is?" Sinead asked, casually diverting a gust of wind from blowing at them.
"I have no idea." Edele replied grimly. "But I think we should find out. Library?"
"Place to start." Keavy nodded. "Where's Linds?"
"She went for a walk in the old woods. But whatever this storm is it's playing hell with the cellular network."
"Sinead, we'll go to the library. You find Linds and bring her back here. I think we might need a little unified force on this one."
"Can't hurt."
"You'll be okay in this wind.. oh yeah.." Keavy realized that her friend had perfect control over those very winds.
"I'll be back soon." Sinead winked then was picked up by a gust of air and propelled into the sky. A whirl of dust concealed her from any eyes that might be watching.
Even as she flew through the stormy air she looked down at the city below. People were staying in their houses, not willing to brave a potentially fierce storm. For the moment it seemed little more than glamour. Sinead hoped that it would stay that way. Once she reached the woods and dropped below tree cover she shed the dusty shell which had been spinning around her. The woods were rarely ever walked through these days and she wasn't going to be seen up among the trees.
"Linds?" she called out, her voice filtering through the trees, propelled by the wind.
Sinead waited. When no reply came she lowered herself to the earth, walking along the path casually.
"Lindsay? Are you here?" she called out again, this time in her normal voice.
She tripped, almost falling to the earth had not a cushion of air slowed her fall. Sinead turned to examine the hole she had stepped in. It was small, but she was sure it hadn't been there before. There was a rustling in the trees.
"Lindsay? Is that you?"
"Your friend can't hear you."
The cold voice sent a chill up Sinead's spine.
"Who's there?"
"You command the winds young child."
"So what if I do?" Sinead turned, trying to find the source of the voice. "Ngaa!" she tumbled forward as a jolt of energy stuck her in the back.
"So I want your power."
Sinead spun again still seeing no source of the voice. She took a deep breathe and exhaled, the winds blowing with magical voice from her lungs, bringing up a wall of dust and dirt before her. If her enemy wasn't going to be seen then neither would she. She peered through the swirling dust, at last finding a shape that matched a human figure. She spat a gust of wind at it, blowing the figure of it's feet, smashing it into a tree. As the dust settled the figure stood.
Sinead stared at the woman in the purple clock, her dark hair trailing in the settling winds. She was clearly a being of magic though Sinead had no idea what kind. The woman looked at her with a cold smile. Sinead matched it with her own determination.
"You are strong. But you will fall like your friend."
"You want to take me on?" Sinead growled at the mention of Lindsay. "Let's rock."
"Yes." the woman grinned. "Let's."
A barrage of rocks rocketed from the earth towards Sinead. Most of them she was able to deflect but a number managed to strike her with bruising force. With a sudden, sickening shock she realized what the woman meant when she claimed to want her power. She had stolen Lindsay's.
"Where's Lindsay!" Sinead yelled throwing a concentrated hurricane of force at the woman, which a barricade of rocks only partially served to deflect.
The Morrigan stumbled to the earth again, the winds bearing down on her. "Where is she!" boomed the winds, speaking the voice of their mistress.
The purple cloaked figure managed to regain her footing, through her black hair was buffeted wildly by the winds. "She is still here. Where it suits me. Where she will remain until I unify the forces stolen from me.."
"What are you?" Sinead demanded as she walked towards the woman.
"I am Morrigan, Faery Queen and soon to be queen of nature. I have been freed and now I shall get what I deserve."
"Oh you'll get it alright. Show me where she is."
"Very well. Look closer."
Morgana beckoned with a smooth hand. Sinead looked closer. She fell back screaming, her hands to her eyes, burning from the sudden flare of light that had erupted. When she opened them she could see nothing but a white blur. She tripped and felt claws of earth reaching for her. Rolling to her feet blindly Sinead rose to her feet and launched into the air. The further from the earth she could get, the safer she would be. Through the white haze she saw a flare of purple and she twisted to her side with the speed of the wind, hearing the crackle of lightning as the bolt shot past her. She kept blinking, her eyes filled with tears, wishing that Keavy was here to wash her eyes out, to cool the burning that she still felt. Until she regained her vision there was no using in flying anywhere but she knew she wasn't safe here. She dodged another lighting bolt, the wind giving her all the speed and skill she needed to out maneuver them by instinct. When a third bolt came she was able to spin out of the way too. But as she did a tremendous blow struck her square in the back, almost knocking her out cold. She spiraled through the air, her winds slowing her fall but unable to stop it. She plowed into a mound of earth and leaves, still reeling from the force of the blow. It was as if a tree had fallen on her.
It had.
A simple motion of the earth had sent the tree toppling down, striking the blinded witch on it's way. A clump of earth hit her, then another and another until a hail of rocks and earth was bearing down on her, not with enough force to kill, merely to damage. She did her best to deflect the hail with a whirlwind but she was still to dazed from her fall.
With a final desperate motion she pushed forward, a gust of wind before her, hoping to escape the assault. She ran headlong into a bolt of purple lightning which sent her to her knees in spasms. She rolled over onto her back in time to see a hazy purple shape appear above her.
"Morrigan." she whispered as she closed her eyes. A wave of purple lightning came down to claim her.
*******
"What are we looking for here?" Keavy sighed as she slammed an old mythology book closed.
"Anything about storms. Anything about anything."
There was a flicker and the lights of the small reading room went out. "Great." Keavy groaned. Now the powers out.
Edele snapped her fingers and a ball of fire sparked, giving the room all the light it needed. She looked about, located an ancient lamp then lit it, hanging it on a hook.
"I know this seems pointless, but if we don't know what we're dealing with then we can't hope to stop it."
"Morrigan."
"Sinead?" Edele turned her head but there was none there.
"You heard her too? It was a wind whisper. She sent her voice to find us."
"Morrigan? That name seems familiar."
"I know. And I don't like the sound of it either. I hope they're okay."
"So do I Keavs. But let's get looking. Sinead's a big girl."
*******
Sinead's eyes still hurt but at least she could see upon waking up. Not that what she saw was a pleasant sight. She was lying in the middle of a ring of stones. Not far off from her was Lindsay. Her friend was still alive but she looked worse for wear. Her head was drooped over her naked chest which rose and fell with deep, even breaths. Sinead could see the top of her jeans, below which she was embedded in the earth. Likewise her hands at her side were encased dirt. Morrigan stood looking at the unconscious girl, a look of victory in her eye.
"What have you done to her?" Sinead demanded angrily.
"Don't worry." Morrigan smiled. "She's perfectly all right." she stroked her fingers across Lindsay's fringe. "I just want to make sure she's not going to wake up and spoil our fun." A crackle of energy ran through the unconscious girl, her body twitching as the purple shocks ran through her.
"Leave her alone!" Sinead tried to move but found herself immobile. Looking to her side she realized that her limbs had been sunken into the ground below the elbow and knee.
Morrigan turned from Lindsay to Sinead. "Of course I'll leave her alone. I have much more important things to deal with."
She leant down towards Sinead. The young witch blew in her face. It was a gale that would knock down trees. Not expecting attack, the Morrigan flew into the air, crashing into the branches then back down to earth. She rose to her feet slowly and with difficulty, her smiled turned to a snarl. For a second Sinead felt a feeling of victory. Then the earth closed about her head.
Sinead held her breathe, knowing that there was no air to be gained, that if she gave in to the need she would die. Quickly her lungs began to burn, her head feeling like it was going to explode. She had to be freed soon. The Morrigan needed her alive otherwise she and Lindsay would already be dead. The pain was almost intolerable but still she held on, refusing to gasp for breathe. Finally, after what seemed like minutes, the earth opened up. Sinead took in deep gulps of air, savoring every breath of the cool oxygen. A purple cloth whipped across her mouth.
"Lmmmgghh!" she struggled to talk but the cloth held tight, binding itself about her head, preventing anything from coming from her mouth.
"I will hear nothing more from you child of the wind." the Faery Queen sneered as she placed her cold hands on Sinead's breasts. "Save the sound of your muffled screams."
"mmMMMMNNN!"
Sinead's body arched as best it could and her screams were stifled by the gag as the purple energy ripped through her body, tearing the garments from her torso. Like being held under the earth, Sinead felt her body burning with pain, her muscles refusing to obey her commands. She even felt her short blonde hair standing on end as the lightning surged through her. When it was finished she slumped back to the ground, her eyes closed as her body tried to recuperate.
She never had time. As soon as she felt the probing at her breasts, her eyes shot open in fear, staring at the black snaking mouths as they attached to her. Immediately they began to suck, causing Sinead to moan in muffled protest. It was no use, the mouth kept milking her magical power and her strength. Each time they pumped at her she felt weaker and weaker. Morrigan, straddling her victim, looked down at the helpless witch with victorious pleasure.
"mmhmm.." Sinead struggled slightly, unable to move much anymore.
She watched her breasts shake with each suck of the mouths until she could no longer keep her eyes open.
"m..m.." she groaned, a weak mumble from the verge of consciousness.
The mouths milked the last traces of her magical power.
"m......." Sinead let out one last gasp and slumped unconscious to the earth.
The mouths retracted to the cloak, Morrigan commanding the earth to move Sinead until she stood along side Lindsay, set in the earth to her waist, hands sunken, mouth gagged. Her blonde fringe covered her eyes. The Faery Queen blew slightly and a gust of wind blew the hair away from the young woman's unconscious features. The Morrigan possessed the power of the wind.
*******
"Here!" Edele called out to her sister, pointing to a reference in an ancient book. "The Morrigan, Morgana, The Faery Queen. When the world was young she and her sister watched over the world. But Morgana turned to the supernatural magic, her sister to nature. The gods decreed that The Morrigan and Gaia each have their own realms, one of magic, one of nature. Morgana was enraged that she should have her powers stolen and vowed to wage war on her sister. When in the end man turned away from dark magics, Morgana lost and was bound to the by the Guardian of Balance. She vowed that she would return and take back the powers of nature..."
Edele finished reading the passage as a chill filled the room.
"But.. this is just a myth right? Gwen never mentioned it."
"Well.. Even if it is a myth.. it might have come to life... and even then it means that.. whatever the Guardian of Balance is, it no longer holds Morgana in check.. If she is out then she wants the powers of nature."
"Our powers." Keavy shivered. "What if she gets Lindsay or Sinead?"
"What if she already has?" Edele added, meeting the frightened gaze of her twin.
"Then.." Keavy said eventually.. "We get them back.."
THE END??