Prologue
Inanna felt a surge pulse through her that could only mean one thing; the baby was coming, and too soon.
She pushed on, through the thickening mist on her strong, white mare. She knew The Gate was soon within reach. The forest was dense and winding, but Inanna trusted that her mare could find the way. Few knew of this portal to the mortal lands. She prayed to The Divine Mother that her source did not deceive her, for there was no time for uncertainty now.
Another intense wave coursed through her, and it took all of her concentration not to scream out. There was no doubt that this baby was coming today. She breathed through the pain, and clutched onto Durga’s mane for support until it began to ease. Inanna feared that being on horseback would not be an option for much longer but she could see no alternative.Hewas coming for them, they had to escape.
“This is happening too fast, Durga!” Inanna gasped. This was the only cue her horse needed to quicken into a gallop. The crunch of hooves and the heaving breaths of Durga rang through the forest like a beacon. They both knew that they must try to keep as quiet as they could and hope their stealth wouldsave them, but going quickly was just as important now, so they pushed on.
Just as they came to the crest of a hill, finally breaking through the Tanglewood Forest’s gnarled embrace, a piercing howl sounded behind them that sent dread shooting up Inanna’s spine.
He had found her; and would rather rip her to shreds than let her leave.
A warm wetness burst onto her legs, soaking her skirts. Her waters had broken. She had to push through the fear, push through the pain to focus on saving her child.
“Make haste Durga! Take me to The Gate, to safety!” Inanna pleaded. With increased urgency, Durga continued at a full gallop through the dense mist with her ears flattened and sweat already glistening on her coat; the sound of growling was closing in on them.
The Mist felt tangibly thick here in the valley and she prayed to The Mother that it would hide them from the fast approaching creature, even if its power was something she had been told to fear as a child.
The density of the Mist pulled at them, forcing its way down their throats and into their noses. This was the last distracting defense before The Gate to keep the fae out… and the humans in. Inanna could feel the laboured wheezing of Durga under her thighs and a wave of guilt passed through her with the knowledge that Durga could not return once she passed through.
I can continue on foot. You’ve done enough,Inanna said into the mind’s eye of her steed.
I will serve you until my dying breath my Lady,Inanna heard Durga’s deep, steady voice down the line of their mental bond; an overwhelming dizziness suddenly cut their communication off as the Mist clouded her mind. She could feel its smoky tendrils pulling at her thoughts and memories,worming its way to her core. Scenes flashed through her mind like lightning.
A high domed ballroom — women in glimmering dresses that twirled in unison to the melody of the eight piece band — the green eyed stare of a devastatingly handsome man from across the room — a kiss on the hand and a wink as he led her onto the dance floor.
Inanna fought the urge to pound the images out of her head. She did not wish to relive the heartbreak, but the Mist was relentless.
Skin on skin in a heated embrace that consummated their love — skin turned to fur and a courtesan’s sweet smile morphed into sharp teeth and fangs — her father slashed down, blood staining the stone floor.
The visions wrenched open a still fresh wound within her heart. The Mist continued to push.
A cold, dark cell and a red-haired boy with fire in his eyes who smiled apologetically through the bars of her jail — the boy holding a loaf of bread, urging her to eat and pointing to her enormous pregnant belly — a key, baked into the bread — a fearful glance down the dark stone tunnel as she finally broke free from her prison.
The Mist tried to grasp her light, her essence and fed off her memories – it was wildly searching for her powers. It would feast upon her magic if she lingered too long within its grasp. She tried to distract the engulfing vapours with as many painful memories as she could.
Just as darkness began to creep into the sides of her vision and her hold on the reins slackened; they burst through the opening of a small cave at the base of a big mossy hill. Inanna’s whimper of relief cut through the stillness of their drastically changed surroundings. Safety, at last.
They found themselves transported into a crisp, clear meadow full of wildflowers that bobbed and danced in the breeze. Here, the warm sun was shining through the rustling leaves of the aspen trees that encircled the space like sentries on guard, everything was calm and still. No Mists, no need for escape. Inanna and her mare both knew the creature would not follow them into the mortal realm for fear that he could never return. For the fae – both Elemental and Metamorph – were cursed to stay within their realm; while the creatures-of-fae and humans could roam freely between the two.
It was an ancient curse that the Earth, Herself, hadplaced upon those with a thirst for power; a curse of balance. A curse to protect the land in a time when the humans and creatures-of-fae cared for Her more than the fae did.
The humans could pass through The Gates, and were free to live and move between both realms. The ferocity and tricks of the fae realm was often what kept them out. If the fae passed through to the human realm they were stuck to live out a mortal life and unable to use their powers. Over the generations The Gates were widely forgotten, as was magic in the human realm.
Durga felt Inanna start to sag in the saddle so she slowed her pace, searching for a spot to let her down. Just through the other side of a copse of birch she could see the glistening flow of a little creek; with many moss covered boulders and stones lining the edges and soft, whispering grasses blowing in the light breeze. She kept searching until she found a patch of grass that looked quite soft, then knelt down to let Inanna slide off her back. Here, she could rest for a moment before the next contraction took hold of her.
Inanna took a steadying breath and let herself collapse against a big boulder, leaning her cheek on the downy, tickling moss. She had never seen anyone give birth before but she trusted that her body knew what to do. She knew fear would nothelp in this moment yet couldn’t help but despair at what was to come.
Now that they were safe from the creature she tuned into her next contraction. She dove into the inner workings of her body; visualising the wave pushing down with the movements of her daughter, allowing a guttural moan to escape her lips as the baby dropped low in her pelvis.
“My daughter,” she said out loud, realizing this was the first time she knew.
A dizzy spell started to blacken her vision and she felt as if the world was tilting and rumbling beneath her.I must be about to faint, she thought to herself but noticed Durga quickly stood up and whinnied as she nervously padded at the ground, throwing her nose up as if trying to point behind her. Inanna felt two cold, hard hands grasp her shoulders.
“Do not fear poppet, Granny Mog is here!” a gravelly voice grumbled behind her. She turned to see a hunched gnome with a big nose, tiny spectacles and fluffy moss for hair smiling at her. Many of the surrounding boulders and stones started to tremble, uncurling from their resting places by the creek and shaking the leaves and dust from their limbs.
“Gnomes! Durga, where are we?” Inanna exclaimed before another contraction took hold, forcing her to lurch forward and up onto her knees. This one didn’t feel right. It felt as if a thousand knives were cleaving at her from the inside. Her scream broke free from her lips as she looked down to see a red patch blooming on her dress.
