A Fairy Story By Any Other Name

A Fairy Story by Any Other Name

(Being the continuing adventures of Guy Shepardson, the Demon Detective).

Alex Sumner

© Copyright Alex Sumner, 2015

The moral rights of Alex Sumner to be identified as the author have been asserted under the Patent Designs and Copyrights Act 1988 and all other relevant legislation.

Artwork © Copyright 2015, the author.

ISBN: 9781310443602

SmashWords Edition, License Notes.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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1

The sun shone glorious golden beams down on the fairy land of Xanaria, causing the very trees and flowers and the landscape itself to burst forth in euphonic harmony. The mountains of Yanivanda, formed from pure emerald, provided the rich tenor voices to the more mezzo-soprano warblings of the Sapphire Desert of Elisas. Across the continent, the great fields of Krotra, dappled in varying shades of indigo and purple, competed within themselves as to the more nuanced notes in the high-treble registers.

A party of Fae half-walked, half-floated on butterfly wings down the main avenue which led deep into the heart of the Franan Forest which covered much of the eastern peninsula. About them, the fiery red and orange Shabjab Trees, which grew in abundance here, provided the low fundamentals as they emitted a bass hum. They came to their destination – a large clearing – where twenty of the Fae formed themselves into a choir, whilst the rest smoothed down their flower-petal clothes and sat on the glistening Shi’amon stones which lay thereabout to listen.

The Conductrix flapped her bright turquoise wings until she hovered in front of the assembled singers. She pulled a golden star-topped wand from inside her bright clover green dress and held it up: the choir came to attention, attentive for her next move. She swung the wand down –

Gently, with delicate attack, the choir launched into a motet of surprising complexity. First one half presented a lilting melody, then the other provided the counterpoint: then they sub-divided again and again, each time adding a new layer of polyphony which fairly befuddled the listener with which parts of the omni-fugue led and which chased.

As the Fae sang, globes of multicolour appeared and thrizzed and whizzed in time to the melodies unfolding in the clearing. Circling around, rushing toward each other to draw away again and vice versa in a terpsichorean pyrotechnic display.

The melodies increased in intricacy: the preternatural light traced out ever-new patterns in the atmosphere. The volume rose to a crescendo: the luminous phenomena increased in size and volume –

Now the choir incorporated a new melody into the motet, in the high treble range. There appeared in the air a new colour unlike any other in the spectrum.

A beautiful female Fae sitting in the audience, pushed back her flaming red hair with her left hand, and gasped at the new apparition.

The ghost ray! she involuntarily exclaimed.

The other Fae sitting next to her stared at her: she put her hand to her mouth self-consciously, and smiled awkwardly.

The choir reached the climax of the motet: the clearing experienced an explosion of light which surrounded and engulfed all the Fae, both choir and audience. For a moment they found themselves within a large sphere, not merely observing the light but existing as part of it, in its midst. Then, by turns the phenomenon subsided so that the forest almost returned to normal: although, to the red-headed Fae, it appeared to glow with an increased luminosity.

Without thinking she started applauding the choir. Almost immediately, however, she noticed that the other Fae did not join in, but instead stared at her curiously.

The conductrix turned round and addressed her. Is this the first time you’ve experienced the Skibablion of Fotosmé, Bindweed?

The red-headed Fae bridled indignantly. I am a million years old! Of course I’ve experienced it, Bindweed said. It’s just been a while, that’s all.

So you’re still a comparative youngster then! Buttercup Hailglitter, the conductrix, slipped her wand inside her shift. The clapping sound itself affects the harmony that’s been created.

Bindweed Elfspider curled her lip in a half-snarl. She should have remembered.

Buttercup continued: "Ah! Can you not feel... can you not feel... the sheer effervescence of it all?"

Bindweed opened her mouth to say of course, but Buttercup, intent on holding a rhetorical conversation, carried straight on.

The marriage of sound and light... it’s the very life-force of the Fae, and of the whole Fae realm, she said, wandering around the clearing in a dreamy fashion. Every one and everything in harmony with one another. I can’t believe you’d want to live your life apart from all this.

I don’t, Bindweed replied. That’s why I come back so often.

Buttercup turned and stared at her for a moment. She then broke out into a smile, and flew straight up to Bindweed and hugged her. And it’s so good to see you! she said, as she held her tightly. She then stared at her old friend for one moment – before kissing her, open-mouthed.

Bindweed jumped in shock. Buttercup! she exclaimed.

Buttercup looked at her, puzzled. What’s wrong?

I… I… much rather prefer male fae, she said, blushing terribly. No offense.

Buttercup laughed out loud. You hear that? she called to the rest of the Fae. Bindweed wants a male fae!

I didn’t say… Bindweed began.

About time too! one of the males exclaimed. He flew over to her. I was wondering when we would get onto the serious stuff.

Another male flitted over to them. "Too right! Singing’s fine, but it’s only the second favourite Fae activity, after all."

Well, well! Buttercup said. It looks like you’ve got a willing queue of volunteers! Which one did you want?

Bindweed stared wide-eyed at them. The choice which Buttercup had forced upon her over-awed her.

Well? Buttercup said.

The first male had a toned, muscular physique, with ripped abs and dark good looks. The second had a more slender figure, with long shiny hair, and smooth boyish countenance.

Bindweed suddenly smiled and licked her lips. "I’ll take both," she said.

The male Fae both smiled, crowding round her, caressing her.

Buttercup squealed with delight. Let the fun begin! she cried.

A loud murmur of approval went through the assembled crowd of Fae, as the gathering descended into mass love-play. The Fae coupled-up – or even tripled-up – changing periodically with one another as they took their pleasure.

Bindweed herself lay down on the grass, and luxuriated as the males between them divested her of her clothing, and attended to her. The rugged one kissed all down her body, whilst the boyish one remained by her head.

Ah! she cried, as she felt the rugged one’s ministrations find the right spot. "To think I gave up living at the bottom of a tangled garden for this!" She ran her hand over the boyish one’s smooth torso, and kissed him.

The music which the Fae had created moments ago seemed to hang in the air, now taking on a slower and more sensuous cadence. It seemed as if, without prompting, the land itself provided a romantic soundtrack to the amorous activities taking place. A kaleidoscope of different colours filled the air as globes of light, suddenly appearing with every new sensation of pleasure: then splitting off, merging and forming new luminescent aggregations.

What seemed like an age passed. Bindweed smiled throughout. She contented herself to stay in that position for a moment: forever if need be. Then, however, she suddenly opened her eyes.

No! she said.

She got up, extricating herself from the male fae, who looked bemused at her. She however ignored them, looking around in every direction, an expression of deep concern spreading across her face.

What’s that? she said.

Buttercup – who happened to find herself in the middle of a good seeing-to by a particularly lusty male fae, looked up. What’s what? she said.

Bindweed gathered up her clothing, which she slipped quickly on. A sound... she said as she did so. She looked around again. Where’s it coming from?

Buttercup laughed. Which sound? There are millions of them.

Bindweed flew hither and thither nervously. "A beating noise, like a vibrato."

Buttercup looked irritated. She reluctantly un-mounted her lover and got up. Beating? What do you mean? she said bemusedly.

The effect you get when two strings are trying to play the same note, Bindweed said, but one’s out of tune slightly.

Buttercup raised her eyebrows. Out of tune! she said, as if her friend had said a dirty word. That’s impossible! This is Xanaria, we don’t have...

Another Fae, a male sitting nearby, suddenly broke off his love-play with his own partner and got up with a worried look on his face. Wait! I can hear it too, he said. It’s quite jarring!

Buttercup stopped and listened: with horror she realised she could now hear it as well. She gazed around, open-mouthed.

One by one, the fairies got up, disconcerted. They flitted about nervously, unsure of what to do.

It’s getting louder, a Fae said. Like it’s getting nearer.

I can hear a second! Bindweed said. No! A third! No –

A cloud covered the sun, plunging the clearing into deep shadow. A gust of wind sprang up. At the same moment, the harmonies established by the Skibablion all seemed to disintegrate and de-tune.

Buttercup shook herself out of her shock. Something’s coming! she said. We’ve got to get out of here! We’ve got to -

Tall-dark creatures with bizarre unkempt hair strode into the clearing: first one, then others, moving through the trees. The Fae gasped as they saw they had faces like skulls.

The leader of the creatures stared about the clearing with small green eyes set in what seemed like almost-empty sockets. He wore tight-fitting metal body-armour – as did his companions.

Who are you? one of the Fae said. What do you want?

The leader said nothing, but opened his mouth – revealing rows of shark-like teeth. Suddenly and without warning, his neck telescoped from his shoulders towards the Fae that had spoken. Simultaneously, the creature somehow managed to distend its jaw, turning its mouth into a giant tooth-lined hole – which it promptly clamped down upon the head of its Fae-victim.

The Fae started screaming in terror. Panicked, some started running in all directions: the rest of the creatures pounced on them, taking the heads within their jaws as their leader had done.

The others took to the air: but the creatures with their telescopic necks managed to snap them cleanly in flight before they could gain altitude.

Bindweed, hiding behind a Shi’amon stone, watched in horror. Instead of biting them clean off, the creatures seemed more contents to envelop the heads completely within their jaws, leaving the Fae’s limbs thrashing about, until the victim lost his or her strength.

Bindweed decided to make a run for it. She broke cover and, taking a run up, launched herself into the air –

She jerked and looked down. One of the creatures had seen her and had caught her ankle with its bony hand. She flapped her green cicada-wings with all her might, trying to pull free –

The monster opened wide its jaws and pulled her toward it. For one moment Bindweed stared down at the thousands of razor-sharp spikes. She screamed –

Let her go! Buttercup had suddenly appeared and charged straight at the creature, cannoning straight into its mid-riff. The creature staggered slightly, its armour absorbing most of the impact. Buttercup battered the thing with her fists. Let her go! she cried.

The creature let go of Bindweed – and grappled Buttercup instead.

No! Bindweed cried.

Two of the creatures’ companions came up and grasped Buttercup, pinning her immobile.

Fly! she cried to Bindweed. Go! Get help!

Her attacker opened his jaws once again – and clamped them down over Buttercup’s head.

Bindweed screamed.

One of the creatures helping to hold Buttercup noticed her and stared at her with pure malevolence.

Needing no further cue, Bindweed launched herself skyward again.

The creature tried to telescope its neck to catch the escaping Fae. At the last moment however, Bindweed put on a spurt of speed – and just managed to avoid the creature as it snapped its jaws.

She flew higher and higher, sheer terror preventing her from looking back. The screams echoed in her ears. With tears streaming down her face, she rose above the tree-line and set off across the Franan forest.

****

Across the land of Xanaria, harmony turned to disharmony - and then transformed even further into a new symphony never heard before by Fae ear. The lively bass-rhythms of the Great Fire-Drums of Gabricia fell silent: while the stamps of thousands of marching boots provided the only low-pitched percussive noise. Tramp - tramp - tramp they went - syncopated only by the sound of buildings burning, villages falling into ruin - by the sound of the invaders setting forest and field ablaze.

The choirs of the Fae lost their voices, replaced with dirges of lament, with the descant parts replaced by screams of despair and death.

Whilst the armies of the grim creatures spread havoc over the land, a party of them gathered on a hill far to the west, from where they had a vantage point to see the destruction unfolding. Among them stood a tall figure, unlike the rest in that his features lay hidden in a black cloak which concealed all.

Bah, hellfire! he said, in a gruff, raspy voice. If I had any earlobes, this sound would be music to them!

He paused a moment to savour the cacophony that he could hear over the breeze. He then turned to the skull-faced creature standing nearest to him.

Give orders that all Fae who can be captured alive are to be brought here - to this spot, he said. I shall build my Tower of Agony here, where in to place the Orb of Power.

From within his robes he pulled out a glowing sphere, about half the size of volleyball. As he did so, the creature caught sight of the hand of its master - the only part of his body to poke out from the robes. It saw the flesh of the hand had all but necrotised: a metal frame enclosed it like an exoskeleton. The creature shuddered.

Go! the cowled figure commanded. The Fae captives can be feasted upon after they have served their purpose.

The creature said nothing but nodded to the figure, and turned and strode off.

****

At first she had thought she would reach safety once the screams had died down. Hours seemed to pass – but still she heard no diminuendo.