Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Thirty-one

"I thought no one could wield the hunter's sword?!" Claire asked Liam as fear coursed through her vein. "Nobody said anything about not being able to magically levitate it and kill someone," Liam defended. Claire gasped as her father, Anede, Aiobel and Ryan walked towards them, their eyes a smoky shade of pink.

Liam's sword was dangling in the air over their heads. And they kept marching towards them, yet Claire knew they couldn't see her. "How do we help them?" Claire asked.

"I think the only way is to kill them," Scot suggested fearfully.

Liam eyed him. "Isn't that what the sprites are trying to do."

Claire chuckled nervously. "Uh, guys, why is the tip of the blade pointing towards me?"

"Because you're a faerie and also not possessed," Scot replied.

"That's very helpful, Scot," Claire replied, sarcasm dripping from her words, "You should also know how to stop them."

Scot scratched his head then turned to Liam. "He was the one who found out so he should know what to do."

Claire rolled her eyes. "Liam, get ready to grab your sword. I have a plan."

Claire focused her energy on the sword. She levitated it towards Liam who grabbed it and tucked it in his hostler.

Claire then focused on them after casting a sleeping spell.

"Phew!" Scot exclaimed in relief.

"That spell isn't gonna hold them down for long," Claire sighed.

"Was this your plan, princess?" Liam asked.

Claire shook her head. "I need a few herbs. If what you say about time passing is true here then we need to leave here as soon as possible. It's almost time for the supernova eclipse." "Why? We're here to seal the veil, not watch an eclipse," Scot said.

"The faeries are at the peak of their power during that time, Claire needs a lot of energy to find her mother and seal the portal," Liam explained.

After she had told them what kind of herbs she needed they left to get it while she focused on drawing symbols on the ground around them.

It didn't take long, and they returned. She got to work immediately chanting the ancient Celtic purge spell.

She had no idea how or why the sprites got so powerful because they drained almost all her energy before she was able to put them into a huge jar.

"Are you alright, princess?" Liam asked, running towards her.

She nodded and regretted that simple action as that made the earth spin. She felt something wet on her cloth and when she touched it, a red liquid stained her fingers. "Claire, why are you bleeding? What happened?"

She smiled at her confused father and smiled at her worried boyfriend then she fainted.

***

Light!

Fucking blinding sun rays!

"Who the fuck plans on having me blind!" Claire exclaimed.

She shielded her eyes with her hands when she realized she was designed a response by anyone that was when she realized she was in a moving train.

She glanced around her and saw she was lying atop a carriage that was being carried by Scot and Liam.

"What is this?" She whispered.

Adam glanced at her. "Oh, you're awake."

The walking ceased and she was lowered to the floor.

"Thank you," she grabbed Liam's outstretched arms to prevent her from falling.

The carriage vanished with a poof sound and everyone glared at Ryan.

He shrugged. "She's fine now so no more carriage duty."

Claire cleared her throat. "What happened?"

"You passed out and we didn't want to leave you behind, so we placed you on a magical carriage," Adam replied. "So where are we?"

"We're close to the portal. There's a final stop for us to make before we can stop at the portal," Adam replied. "Hopefully, it's not a monster or a ghost town," Liam exhaled.

"The town name is Isles of Truth," Adam said.

They shrugged and continued their journey.

Claire was excited as she skipped along the way towards the last town that was at the end of the road located up a slope.

She would finally seal the portal and go back with her mom and spend an amazing Christmas with them.

Liam finally caught up with her and smiled.

"You almost died, and you look so happy," he stated.

Claire shrugged. "I didn't die."

"Still, you scared me."

Claire patted his cheeks affectionately. "I'm sorry my love."

"I'm just excited to finally live a normal life. What will you do after this?"

"I'll go home and live my dreams," Liam replied.

Claire smiled. "I hope I'm... ah!"

Her piercing scream echoed all around her as she felt the ground give way beneath her feet and she fell in.

She didn't stop screaming until she felt like she'd been falling for eternity. Finally, her legs touched the ground and she wobbled to the grounds

She barely swerved out of the way in time before Liam crashed on the floor followed by the others.

When they were complete, she stood up.

"What the hell was that?"

"I don't know. I just fell like the earth pushed us inside here," Claire replied.

"What is this place?" Scot asked.

Claire looked around and took a deep breath as she stared at the eerie hall they were in. It was filled with different types of mirrors. Claire saw her reflection in the mirror and shrugged.

"Daddy, is this a kind of hall of mirrors?"

Adam shrugged. "I don't know but we have to get out of here as soon as possible."

Claire nodded. This place was starting to creep her out as well.

"If we could just find the exit," Liam mused walking towards the mirror which stood apart. He picked up a paper and gave it to Claire. "Desika hanima?"

Suddenly, the hall of mirrors vanished leaving them in an open space, a clearing which they haven't been in before.

"What did you do, Claire?" Aiobel asked.

"I only said the words in the paper Liam gave me," Claire replied.

"Uh, is that why this giant mirror is here?" Scot asked.

They whirled around and saw the mirror standing before them. Adam glanced at his map and frowned.

"We've almost arrived at the portal, guys."

"Why am I sensing a but?" Claire asked.

"But the portal is right in front of us," Adam finished.

"But that's a mirror," Liam pointed out.

"And there's nothing but a cliff behind us," Anede added.

"I think the portal is going through the mirror," Claire said.

Adam nodded thoughtfully. "For you to go through the portal, you must succeed in passing the mirror test in the Isles of Truth."

Claire cocked a brow at her father. "What did you say?"

"Those were the words John told me before you guys arrived," Adam replied.

"Alright, I guess I can walk through a mirror. I'll go first," Liam said.

Claire raised her hand to stop him, but he was already standing before the mirror placing his right hand in.

There was a flash of light and for a moment, everything went dark. Then, something began showing in the mirror.

Claire gasped when she saw Liam and his father discussing her.

"Liam, I want you to keep an eye on Claire Ryes, I have a feeling about that girl," Tyler was saying.

"Dad, there is no way I'm hanging out with that weirdo," Liam had snapped.

The darkness cleared and the mirror Image disappeared leaving Claire In shock.

"Your father asked you to spy on me?" She asked.

"Claire, I can explain," he began but the mirror image started again.

Claire saw everything clear. How he would report back to his father everything that happened between them. And on the day he had that accident, his father had found out she was a magical being. But the heartbreaking part was that Liam had told his father she was a faerie and his father had made him promise to kill her once the veil is sealed.

"Claire, I swear I wasn't going to do it. I just wanted him to get off my back!" Liam pleaded.

Claire looked away wiping off the stray tear. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I tried so many times, but you wouldn't let me," he replied.

Claire remembered the time in the tent and her birthday, but it didn't help the pain, hurt, and betrayal she was feeling.

"So, our relationship meant nothing to you?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"It means the world to me, Claire. I fell in love with you after realizing the real person you are. That's why I asked you out." Claire shook her head, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Why, Liam?"

"I'm sorry, Claire but I love you and I'm not going to harm you."

"Well, I will!"

Claire gasped as Anede tackled Liam to the ground pinning him with his sword.

"Why didn't anyone tell me he's a fucking hunter?!" He roared.

"Anede, no!" Claire exclaimed.

"He came into our realm, a fucking hunter!" Anede roared again as Liam managed to slip from his grasp and back away. Anede grabbed him and Liam took a dive jumping into the mirror and pulling Anede with him while Scot raced in after them. Claire screamed as she ran towards the mirror attempting to pass through, but the portal won't grant her access.

"Dad, do something!" She cried, "Anede is going to kill Liam!"

Adam sighed. "He deserves It, Claire!"

"Dad?!"

"Yes, he was going to kill you. He was sent to spy on you, he wasn't your true friend or in love with you," Adam said, "I'm sorry but that's the truth. He betrayed you." "The truth Is that you're scared of your daughter," a voice sounded from the mirror.

"Not now, mirror!" Claire snapped.

"What's in your back pocket, Adam?" The voice in the mirror continued.

Adam snorted. "This mirror is starting to get on my nerves."

Claire glanced at the images forming in the mirror. It was Adam and Morgana talking about her on the day of her birthday.

"You can never be so sure, Adam. Claire is filled with darkness if that happens, we can't have her running around," Morgana had said before handing her father a dagger. "Mom, this isn't necessary."

"One strike can penetrate through any immortal skin. It's just a precaution, Adam. Once she seals the veil, she'll be weak."

Claire covered her mouth in shock as Adam produced the dagger.

"I wasn't going to use it, Princess!" He exclaimed.

The portal sucked him in followed by Aiobel leaving her with Ryan.

"I'm so sorry, Claire but since everyone is telling the truth then I guess you should know that I love you and I enjoyed the kiss. Yes, I remembered Claire."

Claire sank to her feet burying her face on the ground as tears streamed down her cheeks while the portal sucked Ryan in.

No one trusted her to do the right thing. So, what if she walked away from them and never returned leaving them trapped on the other side.

The mirror lit up and Claire saw the image of her parents and how they had died that morning screaming her name.

When the murderer stared back at her she saw it was the green-eyed man except he looked so much like her.

This doesn't make any sense.

"Nothing makes sense, Claire."

She didn't need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to.

"What do you want? Why can't you leave me alone?!"

"Once you are ready for that then it will happen, Claire."

Claire snorted. "Always as cryptic as ever."

The man smiled. "You should go, I smell blood."

Claire's heartbeat picked up its pace as the man disappeared into a mist of smoke.

Blood.

That could only mean one thing...

Liam.