by Kimbra Swain
Haint Blue
Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen, Book 9
Kimbra Swain
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Kimbra Swain
Haint Blue, Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen, Book 9 ©2018, Kimbra Swain / Crimson Sun Press, LLC
[email protected]
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
Book Cover by: https://www.ts95studios.com
Formatting by Serendipity Formats: https://serendipityformats.wixsite.com/formats
Editing by Carol Tietsworth: https://www.facebook.com/Editing-by-Carol-Tietsworth-328303247526664/
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Character List
Other Minor Characters
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Levi
Nothing worse than dry, rubbery scrambled eggs when you were feeling down. Luther was a great cook, but today, they just didn’t taste right. Then again, I figured I was the problem. Nothing was going to taste right. Not today.
“Why the sour face, honey?” Betty asked.
“You know why,” I said.
“Well, that’s the jist of it, isn’t it? Life is precious. Even fairy lives. We are all going to miss Dylan because he meant a lot to each of us in such a short time. Tonight will be difficult,” she said.
“Not for me. For her,” I said.
“Don’t dismiss your own grief, Levi. He was family to you as well. Despite loving the same woman, or perhaps because you both loved her, you and he were thick as thieves. He trusted you with her and his children. I know that weighs heavy on you,” she said.
“It does,” I said as I pushed the eggs around on the plate.
For me, it was more than just grief. I felt guilty, too. I’d never wanted Dylan dead, especially him not being able to enjoy his son. I supposed it was a heroic death, but I thought he deserved better. After his story about taking out the old school vamps in Greece, I’d hoped to see him throw down. Even Luther said he was impressive as hell. Now, I was left with all the things he’d told me, especially the wedding dream.
I didn’t understand how he could have had the dream without being there himself. After we talked to Mike, we realized the liquid that he had provided to induce the dream was actually a prophetic dream serum. So, Dylan had the dream, seeing what would happen at the wedding. I couldn’t accept it as fact. The future wasn’t written like that. I had had high hopes, but none of them mattered now. Grace was shattered into pieces, and my only hope was that she would be whole again.
Betty was right though. She wasn’t the only one grieving. Many of us here loved Dylan. He was the best of us. His abilities were unheard of, and now that they were split between his children, no one would ever carry a legacy as he had. I couldn’t imagine the pressure he was under to produce an heir. Had Winnie not died, he could have made her his heir and carried on with us all.
Which brought to the forefront of my mind, that now, Winnie had those gifts. Well, at least, the Firebird parts. Our sweet little Winnie was now a pistol. Grace hadn’t had time to grieve. Aydan was growing by leaps and bounds, and Winnie struggled with controlling her powers. She hadn’t burnt anything down, yet. I figured it was only a matter of time.
As I looked down at my plate, another plopped down beside it. The dark hands of Luther Harris came into view. I looked up at his kind eyes. Just by looking at him, you would have never known the power he held inside.
“Sorry. I’m off my game today. Here’s a fresh batch,” he said.
“No worries. I’ve not got much of an appetite,” I said, but he took the old eggs and slid the new ones in front of me.
“Eat. You look pale,” he said.
“No offense, Luther, but nothing tastes right,” I said.
“You can’t take care of her and the kids if you don’t take care of yourself which is why you’re here, isn’t it?” Luther asked.
“Sort of. I had to get out of the house. We go back and forth between the trailer and the house. She’s gone on with being the Queen and a mother despite her pain. I’m afraid tonight will be the breaking point,” I said.
“At least she agreed to the memorial,” Luther said. “Heavens knows we’ve had too many for Dylan.”
“This one is real,” I said.
“Yes, it is, and that’s why she is doing it,” Luther said.
“She is doing it because Winnie has begged her to do it,” I said.
“How’s Aydan?” Luther asked.
“Growing. Fast. Too fast.”
“Faster than a fairy?”
“Tabitha says yes. He’s walking. Still not talking though,” I said.
“Grace has her hands full,” Luther said.
I took several bites of the new plate of eggs. These were better than the first ones.
“And Winnie?”
“She’s still adjusting,” I said.
“I think I might be able to help with her. If you would, mention it to Grace. I kinda have experience dealing with fiery beasts,” Luther said. I knew that Luther had a handful of his own children. I had wondered if they were all Ifrits like their father.
“I’ll tell her. She has been a handful,” I said.
“Luther, leave that man alone. He’s trying to eat his breakfast,” Betty said.
“He’s not bothering me. It’s nice to talk,” I said.
Luther patted me on the back. “Anytime, Son.”
He rose from the stool and went behind the counter to cook for others who had arrived. I didn’t notice who had come in until Riley sat down next to me.
“Mornin’,” she said.
“Hello, Riley,” I replied. Not sure why she chose now to speak to me. She had been back from the Otherworld for months.
“How are you?” she asked.
“Fine. How are you?” I replied politely.
“I was really asking, Levi. You look terrible,” she said.
“Thanks,” I replied.
“I mean it. You look tired,” she said.
“I am tired, Riley,” I said looking up at her.
Making eye contact with her, my mind was flooded with memories
of the two of us together. The sex had been great, but she had used me to get the songbook. It had been more than that for me, so it hurt just sitting here next to her. I didn’t want to be rude, but I certainly didn’t want to make nice.
She reached up to touch the scar on my face, and I backed away from her.
“Don’t,” I said. “What do you want?”
“You don’t have to be rude,” she fussed.
“Riley, I’m tired. I’ve got a lot on my mind. If there is something I can do for you, please tell me. If not, I ask that you don’t touch me. You lost that privilege when you used me to get that book.”
She stared at me as if I had hurt her deeply. It didn’t matter if I had. I wasn’t up for playing games today.
“You were never rude, Levi. What has she done to you?” she asked.
“Luther, thanks for breakfast. Catch ya later, Betty,” I called out, ignoring Riley’s statement.
“Levi, I’d like to make it up to you,” Riley said.
I leaned down over her, looking into her emerald green eyes. She shuddered as I moved closer to her. “Riley, you had your chance with me, and you blew it. Don’t expect me to make the same mistake twice.”
As I walked to the door, I heard her say, “Nothing has changed. She still doesn’t want you.”
Backing away quickly, I paced out of the diner and climbed on my Harley. Watching Riley through the window, she never turned to look at me. She wasn’t wrong, but that wasn’t the point. It didn’t matter how many Rileys came along. No one but Grace would ever be enough for me. If I had to wait until forever, that was exactly what I was going to do. Even if it meant turning into my father.
Grace
Black. Such a morbid color. I supposed that’s why you wore it to funerals. This wasn’t exactly a funeral as much as a memorial. This town had had two other memorials for Dylan. One I went to while the other I avoided. However, this one was real.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I realized Astor was right. I was looking thin. He had commented on it yesterday as he and Ella washed dishes. She had been at the house a lot lately spending time with him. They seemed to be hitting it off quite well, which in the midst of all this sadness, gave me a little light of hope for the future.
My brightest light was my son, Aydan who was growing faster than I ever imagined. He was the happiest little boy on earth. His sister, on the other hand, had turned into quite the handful. She wanted to try out new things, like flying! Something I knew nothing about. Bramble and Briar were eager to help, but soon they found that singed wings were no fun. I wondered how all the other Phoenix children learned to control their powers. It was something that Dylan and I never got a chance to talk about. There were so many things we never had the chance to do. The biggest one was raising our children together.
The low rumble of Levi’s Harley approached the house. He’d left this morning in full brood mode, and he’d been gone all day. He was hurting like the rest of us. I regretted making him kill Dylan. In those final moments, all I could think about was hoping for a last-second miracle, but I knew that this time Dylan’s death was permanent.
I smoothed the dress out, then put on my teacup necklace. The memorial wasn’t until later tonight, but I decided to go ahead and get dressed now. Levi’s heavy footsteps came up the stairs but paused at Aydan’s room. He was lying down for a nap.
Another few footsteps, then a light tap on the door.
“Come in,” I said.
Levi walked in with Aydan who was wide awake.
“Look who I found standing up in the bed,” Levi said with a smile.
“I’m surprised he isn’t climbing out of it,” I said. Aydan smiled and reached for me. When I reached to grab him, Levi pulled him away making him giggle.
“No, you don’t want your momma,” he teased.
I smiled at the game. Each time Aydan reached for me Levi pulled him away. His sweet laughter filled the room. That was my hope for the future. For days when both of my children could laugh.
“Now, do you want Momma?” Levi asked Aydan who reached for me again. His little hands opened and closed. “You have to say it.”
“Levi, he’s not going to say it,” I said.
“Sure, he will. Aydan, do you want Momma?” he asked.
Aydan opened and closed his mouth, but nothing came out.
“Maybe next time,” I said.
“Maybe,” Levi said, sounding defeated. He’d been trying to get him to say Momma for days. He just wasn’t ready. As much as I wanted to hear him say it, at least it was one thing that seemed to be progressing at a normal speed. My 4-month-old looked like a toddler. Tabitha was pleased with his development despite the fact he wasn’t talking.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Where have you been all day?”
“I went to eat breakfast at the diner, then I just rode around town. When I drove past the Santiago place, Deacon flagged me down to show me that the crops had recovered from the evil eye curse. They should have a good harvest. Then, I stopped to help Mrs. Frist who had a flat tire. She still freaks me out every time I talk to her. Then, I drove around a bit before heading back here. I need to get a shower before the memorial,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be gone all day.”
“I survived,” I said.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said.
“I know. Just the same. You don’t have to babysit me,” I said.
“I like babysitting you,” he grinned, but his smile faded quickly.
“I see that. What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Riley was in the diner today,” he replied.
“She’s kept quiet since we got home from Summer,” I pondered.
“Yes, well, she wasn’t quiet today,” he said.
“What did she say?” I asked.
“Nothing that matters,” he huffed.
“Levi,” I scolded.
“Really, Grace. She’s just trying to get under my skin,” he said.
“I’m sorry,” I replied. Whatever she said to him had to do with me. If I knew Riley, she taunted his loyalty and affection for me. Scorned bitch.
“Don’t do that. You haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.
“I know, but you’re hurting like the rest of us. I wish I could take it from you,” I said. I reached up to touch his cheek. Pressing my hand against the scar on his face, he leaned into my palm.
“Tonight will help. It will give us all a chance to say goodbye,” he said.
“Yes, then we need to get back to business,” I said.
“Oh, I did go by and see the prisoner, too. I wanted to see if she was ready to talk,” Levi said.
“And?” I asked.
“She wasn’t,” he replied.
“That’s too bad. Because I’m going to make her talk,” I said. I saw a flash of worry in Levi’s eyes. He knew the darkness inside of me too well. He knew what I was capable of doing. I didn’t care that she was my grandfather’s girlfriend. Mable Sanders and I were about to have a reckoning.
Astor and I waited downstairs as Levi finished his shower. Winnie ran around the room with a ton of energy. She was bouncing off the walls lately, and there was little we could do to calm her down. I was going to have to take her out of school because she wouldn’t calm down long enough to learn what she needed. It made things awkward when Ella was around, but she knew we were struggling with what to do with our new little Phoenix child.
“I don’t even think I had that much energy at my peak,” Astor said.
“Are you saying you aren’t at your peak now?” I asked.
“Well, I think my first life was a bit livelier than this one,” Astor said.
“That’s because you haven’t had your way with Miss Ella yet,” I said. He blushed brighter than a whore in church.
“You don’t know that, Grace,” he protested.
“But I do. If there is anything I know, Astor, it’s sex, and you aren’t having it,” I said.
“Well
, perhaps I’m just being a gentleman. Waiting until she is ready,” he declared.
“Really? That woman has been ready,” I said.
“You think so?” he asked.
“Lord have mercy, yes,” I replied.
“She looooooooooves you,” Winnie said.
“See, even she notices,” I said.
“The Queen’s assessment is accurate, Sir Knight,” Bramble added as he, Briar, and Rufus chased after Winnie romping around the ground floor of the house.
“Okay, enough,” Astor said.
“I’ve been wondering, Sir Knight, do you plan on picking a last name anytime soon?” I asked.
“Is it necessary?” he asked.
“I suppose not, but if we ever venture out of Shady Grove it helps to have identification with your name on it. Remy can get all the paperwork you need,” I said.
“Is Knight a proper last name?” he asked.
“If that’s what you want, I suppose it is,” I smiled. Astor was simple, but not a simpleton. I loved that about him.
“You all call me Knight anyway,” he said.
“Astor Knight,” I said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Levi said as he came down the steps.
“Do you not like it, Bard?” Astor asked.
“Seems kinda obvious,” Levi said.
“Like Rearden isn’t?” Astor said.
I looked at Levi who shrugged. “I didn’t name myself,” he said.
“It is interesting though. Rearden was your mother’s husband’s last name, correct?” Astor asked.
