Chapter One

The Empress took the pot of pixie brew and walked out to the balcony, a nice change of scenery and a good place to relax. Needing a break from all the creatures that had come to seek help that day. There had been elves, at least three gnomes, two hybrid gremlins and a troll all by mid day. She loved helping these creatures, getting to know them; but today it had been more than overwhelming. On any other ordinary day it was always a little slow, a hand full at most. It had been over three months since her last quest; to save the Fae Realm, again. They had needed her enchanted assistance more than once. She'd received word this past week that things were calm and well in the Kingdom, she was more than happy to know of it.

Gazing over the balcony, savoring these moments, they weren't always an often occurrence. Taking a large gulp of the still hot liquid, staring deep into the forest. A perfect seven minutes of the brew and her inner thoughts. Filling the mug up one more time, then after a long sip, nearly jumped to the sound of a shriek. Not just any run of the mill scream, but a shrill soul shattering screech that echoed through the land. She had no idea what could make a sound that terrifying. It sounded as though someone was being slaughtered in the woods. The thought made her shudder. Quickly slamming down more of the pixie brew, instinctively grabbing her magickal bag, nearly flying down the stairs and out the castle doors. Running to the forest, stopping at the cross in the pathway, listening for the horrid sound to ring through the forest, fifteen seconds later, it did.

She hadn't the slightest clue as to what was making that awful sound; just that whatever it was sounded like it needed her help, right away. Darting across the forest as fast as she could, she could feel her heart pounding inside her chest so fast; she had to stop a moment. Less than three minutes passed when the shrill cry echoed even louder through the forest; it sounded like a werewolf being neutered with a rusty dagger. Sprinting the rest of the way, turning left another two yards she came face to face with the poor creature. It had pale off white flesh, grey-green frizzy hair. A pair of frightened ice blue eyes stared at her. This wasn't a magickal creature but a supernatural one. She was looking at a banshee caught in a spirit trap. These traps were vicious and painful, like being hit by several lightning bolts all at once.

"I'm not the one who did this to you.. I'm going to free you from it."

With a few oils, herbs and sorcery glitter she got right to work. In under three minutes, she had freed the poor thing from the spirit trap.

"There you are."

"Thank you, I'm forever in your debt."

"No need."

"You saved me."

"Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"No, there are these dark creatures, they hunt supernatural creatures."

The banshee nodded, then slipped off to the northern borders of the forest as the Empress headed back to her cozy small castle.