“What is an ‘elves’?” Prudence asked.
“Elf is the singular, dear sister,” Death scoffed.
Justice waved a hand, allowing their sisters to view the results of their magic. In the brief time since they’d left the creation area, the spell was nearly complete. Daravius was still clutching Zarasha and Xakiok close, with the swirling silver of his eyes now marked by Fate nearly invisible through his tears.
“You had no right to end our experiment,” Eternity accused.
“I saved those people from winding up in the ebirlloba,” Death snapped. “And it is not ended. Life can create a new Fae who will summon his or her bemollo. They will be the new leader.”
“Of no people,” Justice said. “We have stripped the land of everyone.”
“Everyone must have a mate,” Fate argued. “You cannot leave them alone on an empty realm.”
Death shrugged. “Send them to the planet with the elves.”
“I would argue that it is unfair to punish Drekkoril and Roriethiel. They should not be killed for the mistakes of the Vol’Gon era,” Eternity commented.
“We are ignoring the gravest issue here, which is that Death and Justice created a new race without permission,” Temperance remarked. “You have stuck thousands of people on a planet not nearly advanced as them.”
“They are already split into tribes…make them isolationists. They deserve the immortality they lost when stripped of their magic and allow them to progress slowly from this point,” Grace said. “They have no memory of being Fae, so give them the most basic knowledge to survive.”
“I agree with that; many were guilty of nothing,” Innocence interjected.
“Justice will pay no price,” Courage stated. “She saved those souls from the ebirlloba.”
“You need not make my home sound horrid.”
“I wish we had been able to have some effect upon the former fairies and bemollos,” Fate lamented. “I did have a wonderful idea for something.”
“Since no one protected the matebonds in the lost memories and all those that were together now have to seek one another out again, you may take a portion of the elven population and change it slightly,” Courage said.
“I offer no argument,” Justice remarked.
“Just a curl to the ears with a lovely little ball of color,” Fate murmured, her magic sweeping out. “Change the hair to streaks with black and white foundations. Scrollwork on both cheeks and an earring that will twist up as they nurture their relationship after bonding. For the elves, a hoop at the top of their ears.”
Innocence raised a hand. “A second one if they wait to consummate until after their blood is bound?”
“Intercourse only. They need to have some fun as they get to know one another,” Prudence said.
“I have decided the leaders of these new tribes will be branded with a barely glowing sword below their collarbone, while my new race—which I’m calling sprites—will have a crisscross pattern in their eyes,” Fate remarked.
“Can we please find Life and create a new Fae leader so I can get back to the ebirlloba?” Death demanded.
“No, the Fae should no longer exist. Either we convert the rulers to elves or sprites or they die,” Honor stated.
“I do so hate the idea of the fairies not existing. Maybe we could put the leaders into a deep sleep until a solution can be found to help the crumbling realms?” Eternity suggested.
“Your weakness when chosen relied upon balance. With no Fae, it will still be turned to dust,” Temperance answered.
Feeling remarkably stupid that she’d not realized that no matter what, her realm would dissolve into nothing, Death folded her arms over her chest. The only thing she was able to console herself with was that she would have Daravius, Zarasha, and Xakiok in the ebirlloba. Death would protect them from harm, and they’d have rooms in her castle. “Allow me to have Drekkoril’s and Roriethiel’s souls. We have no choice but to end our experiment.”
“I would like everyone to consider the idea of enchanted sleep,” Eternity begged.
“For how long would you punish them?” Death demanded. “The Dark Fae have suffered enough.”
“It would be a peaceful rest,” Grace responded. “We can ensure it.”
“I will vote for sleep, but we must be forever barred from creating new fairies,” Courage stated.
