~~

Trinity

~~

I could hear how upset they were about what had been happening. But I had to ask once more, I had to know.

"Has anything else happened?" Glory looked at me with eyes that clearly said that she wished that I hadn't asked that question. It was like she was trying to both hide it, but not at the same time.

"Alright, I will tell you the rest."

Glory took a deep breath and looked around the room again. I think she was trying to gauge whether or not to trust all of the people here before she continued. I had been expecting that things were bad, but I hadn't been expecting that they were getting this bad. Just what else could be happening that it was worse and harder to tell me than Fae being murdered?

After exhaling on a heavy sigh, Glory looked at me and spoke as if there wasn't anyone else there, like everyone had left, and it was just the two of us.

"They've been trying to break into the castle. That part we expected after the attempted prison break. However, the truly bad part of it all, is that there seems to be a leakage of dark Fae magic coming into the compound."

"Dark magic?" I looked at her with confusion.

"Yes. The magics that we locked away with those that were banished centuries ago. The ability to create and control horrible disgusting monsters. The ability to control and manipulate minds. The ability to bring people back from the dead. There are more, but they're not things that we should be discussing right now."

I was already staring at her flabbergasted. What had actually been going on here? Had they had people rising from the dead at random? Were they like themselves from before or were they zombies? Were they mindless creatures at the control of the others? I just didn't understand what it was that had happened in the year that we were away.

"Glory?" Reece called out to get her attention. "Who had these powers to begin with?"

"There were so many different Fae that had them. Some people who had these powers gave them up willingly, deciding not to fight with the dark Fae of old. They sided with us and put those old magics to rest."

"And do they have them again, those old powers of theirs?" Gabriel was the one who asked this.

"Yes, they do. And they are just as terrified as I am." She looked at him with worried eyes.

We discussed this issue a little more. We found out just how many Fae had been given their dark magic back. Seventy-three and counting the last time that they knew. And we talked about why this was bad for them all. Those with the powers back could fall victim to the mind controlling and do something for the mastermind without wanting to.

There were just way too many unknown variables within it all that we just didn't know what to do about all of this.

"We will need to monitor the situation from here on out." I told Glory with an authoritative tone in my voice.

"I will be staying here with her, so I can keep an eye on it." Trevor's voice was firm and filled with resolve.

"Good, you will know what to look for." I nodded at him. "Now, Aunt Glory, I think there is something that I need to tell you."

"Trinity?" She was looking at me again, her eyes holding fear in them.

"I never told you about something that happened the last time that we were here." I saw the look on her face, it was almost as if she felt betrayed. "Reece and I had been summoned by Danu."

"Mother?"

Glory looked completely shocked to hear that I had seen the mother Goddess Danu. I often forgot that Danu was not just another Goddess to Athair mòr and Glory. She was their mother. She birthed the two of them and their deceased brother Sorrel. They were her children, not an ascension into the Fae realm like the others.

"Why did Mother call on you and not me?" She was hurt, visibly heartbroken about that.

"The celestial beings are forbidden from interfering too much in the lives of their children. She called me to see her to give me a warning about you and Athair mòr."

"A warning? What type of warning?"

I watched as Trevor wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her close to him while she stared at me. I don't think Glory even realized it because she was focusing on me too much.

"She told me that an unknown enemy was coming for you. She didn't know who it was, but they were full of evil and malice. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to become too suspicious of your people, but it looks like it is too late for that. You don't know who to trust now. And so, for that matter, it is time for me to tell you what Danu told me."

"Mother is trying to protect me?" She was still at a loss to be hearing about her mother.

"Yes." I smiled and nodded to her.

"You were right not to tell me." She looked me in the eyes again, this time they were clear and determined. "Had you told me before, I would have suspected everyone of doing something wrong. I would never have been able to come to this point on my own. Thank you, Trinity." She nodded at me and smiled happily. "You are becoming a wise Queen, and so quickly as well."

"I had excellent teachers." I nodded back at her with a smile that matched hers.

"What do you say that we move onto the meal?" She looked like she didn't want to talk about any more unpleasantness.

"That sounds good to me."

We cleared the room of the 'attendants' and sent them back to the room. The food was brought in and Pierre and Waverly came in to test it all before anyone in our 'royal' family was permitted to eat any of it.

"Mommy, he ate my food." Reagan pointed at him with an accusatory finger.

"He isn't eating it, honey. He's checking to make sure that it's extra yummy for you." I reassured him.

"Mine too?" Rika looked at me with wonder. "Is mine extra yummy too?" She turned her look to Waverly as he tested her food. He waited a moment so that any effects of poison would be known. When nothing happened he smiled at her.

"Mmm, that is yummy. I think it is just perfect for a little Princess."

"Really?" She grinned at him.

"Really, really." He set the plate in front of her now. "Why don't you taste it and see."

"OK!" She called out excited and grabbed her little, child sized fork that had been provided for her. "Mmm, that is good." She grinned at him. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Princess."

Now that we were all eating our food, we moved the topics of conversation to that of the family. We talked about the different things that had happened with us, and how the kids were doing. We told Aunt Glory all about the new castle, and the changes we had made to our 'kingdom' now that things were set up. It was quite a lovely family dinner, just like we had planned. It was just sad that it had taken so much heartbreak to get to this point.

And having Daciana and Trevor at dinner made things that much better. I could tell that Aunt Glory was beyond happy that she had finally found a mate.

"Wait a minute." Reece called out when he realized something. "Does this mean that you are now my great great great uncle in-law?" Reece asked Trevor while laughing.

"Yeah, so know your place and respect your elders." He joked right back with him.

"Oh, Goddess." I buried my head in my hands and laughed. Aunt Glory was smiling happily, not hiding her laughter at all. "I hope you know what you're in for, Aunt Glory." I smiled at her.

"Oh, I think I do." She gave Trevor a heated look. "I think that a Queen like me needed a man that was a bit on the wild side. All my previous consorts have been sticks in the mud."

"You won't need them anymore, baby." Trevor wiggled his eyebrows at her. "You will find that this wild bear of a man is more than enough for you."

That and more cringe worthy lines were said throughout the night. Still, it was nice, despite how it all began. And I was truly happy for Athair mòr and Aunt Glory. They got what they wanted.