Read Online Trial By Fire (Avalon: Web of Magic #6) by Rachel Roberts - Free Book Online

her guitar over her shoulder. “It’s been the subject of debate for years in the Fairy Realms.”
    “One thing is for sure.” Crimson spun to a stop in front of Kara. “It’s up to you to find out.”
    “You know,” Andi said with a smile. “You were drawn to us, too.”
    Sylina nodded. “Only creatures possessing fairy magic may enter here.”
    The throng of fairy creatures were all staring at Kara. “I’m not exactly a spriggle.”
    B*Tween studied Kara intently.
    “What?”
    “Come, walk with us.” Sylina led Kara and Lyra away from the curious creatures. “You are here for answers, blazing star.”
    “Everyone, back to the party!” Crimson jumped, sending a row of toadstools spinning around the garden. The crowd began dancing wildly around the thumping drums.
    Kara walked among cavorting fairies. A little purple spriggle stood, arms crossed, mumbling and scowling at her.
    “What’s with him?” Kara asked. “I only asked his name.”
    “It is very rude to ask a fairy his or her name,” Sylina explained.
    “Fairy names are secret. They are only given as a powerful gift,” Crimson continued.
    “Ya name a fairy, ya capture its magic,” Andi said.
    “I’m not up on my fairy etiquette,” Kara said. “Sorry, little purple dude.”
    The spriggle smiled and threw himself onto a crowd of dancing boggles.
    “Many years ago, humans and magical creatures worked together,” Sylina told Kara. “When the portals between worlds closed, some of the magic remained on Earth. Many animals of Earth descended from magical ancestors.”
    “Some retain highly developed senses,” Crimson added.
    “Yeah,” Kara mused. “There was this dog that saved his whole family from a fire.”
    “The same is true for humans as well,” Sylina said. “Some humans still carry its seeds. Every few generations the magic becomes strong in them.” The trio stared at Kara pointedly.
    “But I …” Kara’s eyes went wide with realization. “You’re telling me someone in my, like, great, great, great past was a magic fairy?” She looked aghast at the spriggles and sproggins dancing around the gardens.
    “Not just any fairy, Kara. Fairy Queen Lucinda, the greatest and most powerful of fairy queens.”
    Kara rolled her eyes at Lyra. “Fairy Queen, uh-huh.”
    “Everyone knows you’re a princess,” Lyra quipped.
    “That is why the fairy map was given to you,” Andi told Kara.
    “Only you can open it,” Crimson said.
    Kara listened intently.
    “Others draw magic from their past, as well,” Sylina said seriously. “One has been transformed and now uses magic for evil.”
    “The Dark Sorceress,” Lyra growled.
    “Yes.”
    Kara’s head was spinning. “This is crazy!”
    Sylina walked Kara under gently raining flower petals. “The sorceress has released a powerful fairy from the Otherworlds, a hidden realm like this but full of dark magic. This creature is working for the sorceress in return for becoming ruler of the Fairy Realms.”
    “This fairy can appear in many different guises, flowing from one element to another—a shape-shifter,” Crimson explained.
    “A spellsinging master with a black heart,” Andi told her grimly. “And it’s after you.”
    Kara’s face grew pale. “The Skultum…” She was suddenly frightened. “But I already opened the fairy map… wait, the Firemental said there was another.”
    “Two fairy maps to find Avalon,” Crimson laughed. “That makes sense. Fairy magic is not always what it appears to be.”
    “The shape-shifter has not completed his work,” Sylina warned. “You must defeat the dark fairy and return him to the Otherworlds.”
    Kara shuddered. “The Skultum is too powerful.”
    “You are particularly susceptible to fairy magic,” Sylina agreed. “But you can use that against him. If you get the fairy creature to reveal his true name, you will be granted all of his powers. They will be your own, and the dark fairy will be left powerless.”
    “How do I