Ghost Light

The wisp peeked out from behind the headstone and floated tentatively toward me.  It rose to head height and twinkled happily.  Though the wisp didn’t communicate with words, I could feel hope, joy, and acceptance roll off its body in warm waves.

This wisp welcomed me as its leader.  I just hoped the other wisps felt the same way.

“The lamia Melusine and The Piper with his demon flute are my enemies,” I said.  “I’m here to rescue the children.  If you help me, I will forgive your role in leading them to this place.”

The wisp’s light dimmed in shame.

“Can you lead me to the children?” I asked.

The wisp brightened again, bobbing up and down.

“Good,” I said.  “Lead the way.”

I waved for Jinx and Ceff to follow and turned back to the wisp.  It was already dancing and weaving through the fog, nearly out of sight.  That little guy could move fast.

I grinned, teeth flashing in the night.  Pride surged through me, and with it returned my desire for revenge.  Melusine had murdered Ceff’s sons, put over thirty fae children in jeopardy, and manipulated my people.  It was time to teach the lamia a lesson—payback’s a bitch.

I gripped my knives and ran.  Adrenaline surged through my veins as I rushed forward, heart racing.  I launched myself over gravestones and urns filled with rotting flowers, all the while keeping the wisp in my sights.

As I ran more wisps joined us, but I sent them away with a quick command.  Their combined glow would likely give us away.  We needed to approach with stealth if we were to keep the element of surprise.  With an unhinged lamia and a demon flute wielding faerie as adversaries, I’d use every possible advantage.

I remained ahead of my companions.  Jinx was only human, though she’d had the sense to discard her platform shoes, and Ceff was still recovering from the effects of iron poisoning.  I could hear their heavy breathing fade into the distance behind me and pushed on.

My legs ached and my lungs burned, but I never slowed.  I ran along the waterfront every morning, preparing myself for moments like this.  That training and my newfound speed and strength allowed me to move at a breakneck pace, but still I was too late.

Someone blew a long, tremulous note on a flute and music began to fill the air.  The sound pulled at me, making my aching feet want to dance.  I shook my head and slowed my pace.  Even at a distance, The Piper’s music was entrancing.  I had to block the sound before continuing on.

I reached into my pocket for the earplugs that Jinx had given me.  I inserted the bright colored foam into my ears, immediately dampening the music.  For once, I was glad that my friend enjoyed clubbing.  The earplugs were high quality and made to reduce sounds even at high decibels.  Since The Piper’s flute played a low, haunting melody, the plugs almost completely blocked it out.

Of course, I was still a couple hundred yards away.

I checked my phone and brought up the text from Father Michael.   Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.  Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur, tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude.  Amen.

Below the Latin, Father Michael had included the words in English.  Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.  And do thou, oh prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.  Amen.

I repeated the phrase, securing it to memory.  I slid the phone back into a secure pocket and took a deep breath.  I just hoped that the priest’s theory was correct.

I flipped my throwing knives, rotating each one hundred and eighty degrees to hold the blade between my fingers.  I bent low and scooted closer to the music and dancing lights.  When I could feel the music tugging at my body like a gale wind, I ducked behind a headstone and dug my boot heals into the turf.