The Outcast
Chapter 17: Mirages

The mirages turned out to be a bit of a tourist destination. The receptionist not only was able to tell them where to look for but they were able to give them a map which gave them the exact location of the five of them in the main city.

“The only one missing is the Macellavir,” Finn mumbled on the way out of the inn.

“Probably because it’s the stuff of nightmares and they didn’t want it terrifying children,” Lily laughed with a shake of her head. All the books she had read about the legends in the witch world described the beast just as hideously as the scary stories she had been told as a child. There was no question that she would be put on-edge walking past the rot and moss-covered skeletal body, and it really would stand out against the beauty of Mythanissiam.

The Treanguis mirage was found in the furthest south part of the city, where botanists and apothecaries seemed to be situated every few buildings all treating or helping with specific things.

“Do people really want to change their hair so much?” Lily asked, leaning to look into a window which had vials of potions all with different colours as labels.

“Yeah; if it was only your hair that changed when your potion wore off, you wouldn’t stand out as much as you think.” Finnigan chuckled as he motioned to the lime green vial with a raised eyebrow. “Please tell me some green fairies have hair that bright.”

“Some do, yeah.”

“That’s amazing. It’s more of a city thing here - you don’t see colours so much in the villages; and I don’t think they allow it at Quintegia. I’d love blue hair.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’d look so cool.”

“Surely red would complement you better?”

“You think?” He sent a smirk her way before pushing the door open to let himself into the shop. “That’s what we’re doing tonight!”

“Are you serious?”

“Sure! We’ve got time out from school and I can always change it back. Besides, I think I’d like to stand out as much as you when your hair is white.”

“I can’t let that show though,” Lily whispered in the quietness of the shop while Finn searched the shelves for a red colour he liked.

“Not yet, but you will be able to soon.”

Rolling her eyes fondly, she stood back and watched as Finn bustled up to the owner with a vial of the brightest red he could replace, offering over the correct money for them in a handful of silver coins. Once the vial was safely tucked in his pocket, they were back outside and heading towards the Treanguis mirage.

The mirage itself was gorgeously detailed. It spanned up a wall that was around ten-foot-tall and the three headed snake slithered up and down it in a slow motion. It was smaller than Lily had imagined the actual Treanguis would be, but it’s green and brown diamond patterning rippled with the movement.

“Do you reckon it was bigger than that?” Finn asked from her side before walking over to the mirage and none-to-graciously stuck his hand through to the wall behind.

“I figured it would be a lot bigger,” Lily replied, glancing around sheepishly at the strange look an elderly couple were casting at Finn. Thankfully, he only waved his hand around for a moment before jogging back to Lily’s side looking unabashed.

“Not sending anything there… Where is the other one?”

Lily pulled the little map the innkeeper had given them and opened it in front of them. “It was the Noctosseus which I think was in front of the old keep?” Scanning over the map she quickly pointed to where she was talking about. They had decided to do the further mirage first, because if the Noctosseus was unsuccessful then they would be close to the keep where they castle gardens in the rumour would be.

Mythanissiam wasn’t small though, it had taken a couple of hours to reach the Treanguis from the inn and it took a couple more to get back to the deep centre of the city. Finn was a little out of breath, but Lily had no issue with stamina.

“How are you doing this without wanting to sit down?” He demanded as they walked into the open space in front of the keep doors.

“I spent all my life walking and climbing and trying to keep up,” Lily shrugged with a smile cast down to the smooth floor. “Plus, this ground is easy to walk on, so it’s not straining me in any way?” Did that even make sense? She’d spent so long going up and down, walking over bark and through moss and around leaves that smooth marble was frankly very little resistance.

“Argh, you make me sound so old if I can’t keep up with you!” Finn was chuckling though, coming to a stop to stretch his back out from where he had started to slouch while he walked. Letting go of Lily’s hand he pressed both fists into the small of his back and pushed forward, encouraging the bend of his back and crackling a couple of bones. “Oh, that’s better!” He sighed before letting out a small gasp.

“I don’t think there’s going to be anything behind the Noctosseus…” at Lily’s confused face, he pointed upwards where the mirage swam over the sky above, likely trying to recreate the way the Noctosseus was said to move in the sky.

“Unless witches can hide things in clouds?” Lily ventured in jest.

“Maybe one day, but we can barely keep rugs and shoes levitating for more than a few hours at a time; I doubt we’re floating an invisible mystery lair in the clouds.” Finn laughed.

“True, that’s more a fairy concept.”

“You need to work on that!”

“Sure, once I’ve finished this job, that can be my next one” Lily chortled with a shake of her head.

“So, let’s get this job done then.” Finn took her hand once more and tugged her in the direction of the old keep where large steps of soft grey stone stood out against the white of the rest of the city.

“Are we going to be able to get in there?” Lily whispered, eyeing the witch guards at the front doors to the keep.

“Yeah don’t worry. I have a way.” Finn whispered back before enthusiastically waving at one of the guards. “Mikhail! How you doing, man?”

Lily shot Finn a horrified look. How was that going to help them sneak inside?!

“Lil’ Finn! Good to see you.” The man was at least twice their age but his smile brought a boyish charm to his previously stern features. Leaning down to wiggle his fingers to Finn’s companion, smiling brighter as the little stoat trotted over to nuzzle his hand while the cats by Lily gave the stranger wary looks. “Here to see Essie?”

“Yeah, thought I’d drop in and say hi while I’m in town on a date,” Finn smiled smugly while Lily flushed and turned her head away, missing whatever reaction Mikhail gave that made Finn bark out a laugh. Was it an actual date now? They were here for a purpose. But they had kissed the night before. Did that make this different now? Were they not fake-dating now?

“Well don’t let me keep you,” Mikhail chuckled. “You know where her office is.”

“Cheers!” Finn squeezed Lily’s hand pulling her through the main gates to the keep. Not wishing to be totally rude in her awkwardness, she raised a hand in farewell to Mikhail.

“Who’s Essie?” She whispered when they were out of earshot.

“Esmaria, my cousin.” Finn explained. “We’re not actually going to see her but it’s a good excuse if anyone asks why we are here. She works for the council, mostly in administration of records but it means her office is right at the back of the old castle because she can use the old library as storage space. So, no matter how far we go to get to the gardens, we have the excuse that will still work for us.”

“Oh, yeah that will help,” Lily visibly relaxed, glad that Finn had thought so far ahead and already had planned answers for any questioning that happened.

No one did stop them though, a few greeted Finnigan when they recognised him, one young lady commented that she thought Esmaria was in a meeting and Finnigan said they would wait in the library; that was a good enough response that she said nothing more. All rooms of the old castle had been changed into places of work, and, according to Finn, the old throne room from the old times of human Kings and Queens was now the vast meeting room where they debated changes and punishments to be put in place. Lily would have loved to see the room, but there was no reason to head into the centre of the castle when their goal was outside.

On the first floor, they found a set of glass doors that were unlocked and led out onto a balcony.

“Oh… That really is overgrown” Lily commented, looking down at the mass of plants that tangled together and grew in different colours and sizes beneath them. Shrubs, bushes, trees, flowers… she could see all of them knotting together and giving the garden a wild look that would be unpassable to most.

“Yup. But that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Lily couldn’t stop the tiny smirk that mirrored the one on Finn’s face. “Oh yeah, I think I can handle some wild shrubs.” As if to prove her point, she placed a hand on the edge of the balcony and encouraged the plants from below to wind up and around the stone structure, creating a thick blanket of vegetation for them to slip down into the undergrowth.

“Nocto,” Finn breathed. “You’re cool.”

Lily’s head shook despite the loud meow of agreement that Kiki let out as she batted at the stoats back end where they had settled near their human descendants. “Charmers.”

Without letting them protest, Lily glanced around to check the hallway was still clear before hopping over the balcony and disappearing into the mass of vegetation, pulling the thick vines back down from the balcony once Finn and the companions were all down in the shadows with her.

“We’ll go around the edge first,” Lily commented quietly as she turned towards the left, plants untangling and bending out of the way to form an arch to walk under at a crouch. Every foot in front of them, more plants followed suit while a foot or so behind them, they knotted themselves back up into their original mess.

“This is amazing,” Finn breathed, so close behind her that Lily could feel his breath on her ear. Lily had long since forgotten how cool it was to manipulate the environment at will; back home it was just second nature that barely anyone used any magic consciously. But with Finn’s awed voice, she began to create little images in the walls of the arches as they passed through them. She bent and twisted the vegetation to design the shapes of woodland creatures, Finn’s stoat skittering up his leg as Lily created its mirror image in thorny twigs on the floor and had it trot alongside them for a couple of moments.

Her antics kept them amused until they reached the far end of the gardens, sticking close to the walls which her plant critters utilised and danced over. At the far end, Lily let out a loud scream while stumbling back into Finn.

As she had moved more plants out of the way, she had found herself face to face with a rotting body curling over them from a height and a dragon’s skull staring down at them, jaw ajar to show the razor-sharp teeth of a dragon from a long time back. Behind the skull was blackness that wasn’t even remotely penetrated by light. It was like staring into a void. It had skeletal arms which reached out to them slowly and it’s wide, trunk-like feet seemed to merge with the ground beneath it.

“It’s just the mirage,” Finn laughed softly as he wrapped an arm around Lily who’s breathing had become laboured as she looked up at the horrific sight of the Macellavir. It even had strips of flesh hanging from the teeth as though it had recently finished feasting on a body.

“It’s worse than I ever imagined” Lily whimpered softly, unable to tear her eyes from the nightmare of her childhood. Seeing it like this, she wouldn’t be surprised if it became the nightmare of her adulthood as well.

Kissing the top of her head gently, Finn moved to stand in front of Lily and took her right hand in his. “Come on,” he chortled, clearly tickled by her display of fear, and stepping towards the Macellavir with his left hand outstretched. Just like the other mirages, there was no resistance when he pushed his hand through the creature. So, Finn ploughed through the image, pulling Lily along who had opted to pick up Oscar with her free hand and hug him close while she squeezed her eyes closed.

Oscar nuzzled under her chin with soothing whispers reminding her that the Macellavir wasn’t real and it was ok. She knew that logically, but that didn’t make the cool sensation of the mirage feel any less like the ominous chill of death.

“There’s a door!” Finn exclaimed, Lily’s eyes blinking open in time to see his left hand try the door handle. It opened without issue. “Weird, I thought it would be locked…”

“Maybe someone’s in there!” Kiki hissed from the ground, nudging ahead to sniff at the gap Finn had pulled the door open to create.

“If there is, then they can give us answers.” Finn suggested, pulling the door open further. Lily recoiled a little at the damp scent that came from the entrance and squinted into the darkness to make out a stone staircase down into the ground.

“You don’t think we should come back later?” Oscar piped up while wiggling a little to see better from the position Lily had him held.

“If we do that, we’d have to sneak through the whole keep…” Lily reminded him.

“I can’t hear anyone.” Kiki added.

“We’ll be fine!” Finn stated, with a finality that settled the whole debate. Even if it hadn’t, him walking through the door and pulling Lily into the darkened stairway certainly did.

The stairs were worn and uneven under her feet. The stairway was obviously ancient and not refurbished like the rest of the castle had been over the years. That was probably a good sign that this was not a common place for people to venture, and therefore a good place to hide truths. The damp scent grew with every step that descended them further past ground level. They didn’t venture too deep, likely on the same level as old human dungeons would have been in the old days.

They emerged into a wide room with a low ceiling, a slight layer of moss growing through the gaps of the dark stone, each slab curved on the edges from where water and moss had worn them down over time. One of the walls had a set of shelves from floor to ceiling that was filled with all sorts of objects. Oscar hopped up onto Lily’s shoulder as she approached for a closer look.

This was more what she had expected when she had come to the witch world. There were potions that appeared to sizzle and bubble where they sat, in the shelf above her head there were jars of varying sizes of hearts. Lily recoiled a little recognising a human heart within the collection.

“Ok; this truth might be eviller than we thought?” Oscar whistled as he jumped up onto the shelf to nose through the jars for a closer look.

“Yeah, these don’t look like anything we’ve studied,” Finn agreed, picking up a couple of the potions to look closer inside the glass containers. “None of our books told us about potions that sizzle.”

“Or creepy leeches…” Kiki chimed where her and the stoat were sniffing at a large glass container that was filled with slimy creatures about the size of Lily’s thumb. Moving closer, she saw that they were in a small layer of water and some seemed to have latched to one another.

“What are they?” Her question was received with naught but silence in return.

Turning away from the shelves that seemed to fascinate all the others, Lily headed to the other side of the small room where a desk sat with papers and journals strewn across it. There was no organisation, no filing system that would allow a stranger to know where to start. So, she started with the first piece of paper that sat on top of the rest.

’Q, my love.

There is a fairy being sent into your school by our woods. The council are sending her in to ‘replace information’ but of course, our dear child will not allow the council to believe a word she says. Though, if you could replace a way to prevent her from returning, that would add fuel rather than suspicion.

Our children here are all well, they come to speak to me often to see how you are. They all send their love, and I send my heart as always.

Love, C.’

Lily’s eyes narrowed a little at the words she read. This C person had to be in the Fairy Kingdom to have known that she was being sent, and was requesting that Lily was prevented from returning all together. There really were people who wanted the war to continue. But why?!

Placing the letter down, Lily rummaged through the rest of the loose papers. They were all letters from the same person; but mostly seemed to be general conversation and terms of endearment. Whoever C was, Q was certainly a lover or more from the way they wrote to them and the reference to their children. Children who were always referred to as another letter and never a full name. From the letters, Lily could conclude that there were another seven who lived in the Fae Woodlands and saw C on a regular basis; their names apparently being L, Y, S, B, and O. Were they the first letters of their names? Or was it some kind of code?

One letter reported that one child known as R had been acting against the plan and so they had been taken care of. The phrasing was ominous and Lily had a horrendous feeling that she had just read the report of a death.

Pushing the letter aside, Lily went for the scroll next, rolling it open over the rest of the paperwork and replaceing her eyes scanning a family tree. Well, she thought that was what it was. In the centre there were two names. Each lineage only extended down to grandchildren maximum, and many names were crossed through with a blood red smear. Looking over the names, Lily spotted the name Riole smeared out. Was that the R from the letter she had read? Were these people really killing their own children?

Glancing over her shoulder to look where Oscar and Kiki were now browsing the top most shelf, Lily decided to make a conclusion before she called them over. All these pieces of writing made her more fearful than she had been in a long time, this whole thing was deeper than she could have figured out.

Her eyes turned back to the scroll, scanning over more names. Her stomach sank as she read over the name Esmaria.

And then… Finnigan.

A sharp intake of breath was all the response she got to give before something collided with the back of her head, knocked her forward and turned everything black as she fell to the floor.