She slipped her hands around Evander and into his jeans to grasp his hips, letting her hands teasingly circle from the back to the front, her thumbs sweeping ever lower along the crease of his thighs and gently nudging the weight of his firm penis. Evander took slow deep breaths to ease his body’s rapid response. He slid Brigid’s top and bra to the ground and watched the sun caress the beauty of her breasts. His shirt followed, and they let their wings unfurl. Evander moved behind Brigid, gently stroking her wings. He spread the blanket he had carried from their meditation on the ground, and they joined together on it. Stroking, caressing, and kissing, with the sun adding to the building heat between them, Evander released himself from his jeans and Brigid opened to him in welcome. Moisture and muscle clamped onto Evander. Slowly, he eased in and out, reaching his fingers to fondle her clitoris and heighten her response. The magic between them escalated and crescendoed with a powerful climax. They collapsed onto the blanket.
Brigid started to giggle helplessly. “You realize I’m never going to be able to look at an oak tree without thinking of making love to you.”
Evander smiled and stretched leisurely, comfortable in his naked state and enjoying the sun. “I feel much more refreshed now.”
“That’s good, and you’re welcome to bask in the sunshine, but you’ll have to do it alone because I’m on supper duty with Matthias.”
Brigid leaned over for one more hot kiss and then began to carefully examine her clothing to be sure it wasn’t overly wrinkled.
Evander hauled her in for another hug and ravishing kiss. “Until later,” he said as he released her. “I’m going to relax for a few more minutes in the sun.”
Brigid scurried to the house and in the kitchen door. Matthias was on a stool at the counter, chopping vegetables. He looked up when she entered.
“Relax, there’s no rush. I just thought I’d get a start on things. Did you enjoy your walk?”
Brigid blushed as she slipped her shoes off and walked over to the sink to wash her hands. “It was lovely, thanks. The sunshine’s a welcome change after the rain.”
“There’s nothing like the great outdoors. Take it from a shapeshifter! For instance, did you know the oak tree is a symbol of power and connecting with it is good for restoring strength?” Matthias kept his gaze averted as he placed peppers on his cutting board.
Startled, Brigid glanced at him and noticed the grin he was hiding. “You heard us! I thought everyone was inside.”
“You’re not wrong. The others dispersed throughout the house while I got to work here. The porch window happened to be open. Fun fact: foxes have an excellent sense of hearing as well as smell. Just so you know.”
“Thanks for the educational moment,” grunted Brigid. “I’ll keep it in mind. Now that I’m totally embarrassed, what are we making for supper?”
Matthias because serious. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have teased you like that. It’s such a relief to be free, that anything that affirms life adds to my sense of hope. I got caught up in it.”
As Brigid stared at him, he rolled his eyes.
“Not in that way. I meant I got caught up teasing you. Give me a little credit. Once I knew what was happening, I closed the window and put on some music.” He gestured to the tablet on the shelf that was providing a lively background of tunes.
Matthias shifted the conversation. “There’s a pot of wild rice steaming in the rice cooker. I thought if we stir-fried chicken and veggies with a curry sauce, we could serve it over the rice.”
“I’m glad you feel comfortable teasing me,” said Brigid. “Being in a relationship and having friendships like this is new to me, so I sort of over-reacted. I’ll get the chicken started.”
They worked companionably as Brigid revealed a bit of her upbringing and the isolation she experienced from others her own age. When she described the awkwardness she had felt around others, men in particular, Matthias was astounded. He told Brigid his first impressions of her had been of a confident, compassionate, and attractive woman.
Brigid blushed at the compliment; she could feel the genuineness of his words. Feeling herself perceived to be attractive by Quillon, and now Matthias, was confusing. Perhaps they were more comfortable with her build because people in the human world were larger than most fairies. Maybe she exuded more vitality as a result of her interactions with Evander. There was a lot to think through.
Brigid eased the conversation to a discussion of the types of herbs and spices they liked best. She talked about her brother Asa and his knack for pairing herbs with foods. Matthias talked about his younger brother and sister. His brother was also talented with food and had been the chef at the casino. His sister was the mastermind of the business, behind the scenes, while Matthias had been the face of the business. He had pandered to the preferences of the clientele who came through their doors and played to their desires to become winners.
Before they knew it, the meal was ready.
“I’ll go call the others.” Matthias stood up. He leaned in to whisper in Brigid’s ear as he walked by. “You might want to go and switch your shirt.”
Brigid looked down. She’d put her shirt back on inside out! She dashed to the bathroom before the others arrived.
There were lots of compliments for the chefs, even though Bernard chugged lots of water because he found the curry to be a little spicier than he was accustomed to. Once the dishes were cleared away, Quillon invited everyone up to his office. A few extra chairs were dragged in. Nicole and Symba sat on the floor, and Quillon turned his computer chair around to face them.
“I have news that’s going to affect us,” he said, looking at Nicole. “Yesterday, I sent a message to your parents to assure them you were okay. I went through a secure channel and didn’t use our names or give them a location. Apparently, they were in touch with your host family. Together, they’ve worked out an escape route for you to return to Frankonia.”
“What?” shock washed over Nicole’s face.
“This afternoon, I received a message requesting we bring you to a particular meeting place: the fashion extravaganza being held at the Moyer Mall. The designer Alessandro Marino is to be our contact. He’s flying out of Greenberg via private jet tomorrow evening and can return you to Frankonia in disguise as one of his models. Your host family is going to take a short trip to a nearby town to distract attention that way.”
“I can’t leave. We’re a team. I’ve been training with you. I’m still healing. What about my boyfriend? My music?” Nicole’s words dropped off as she jumped up and rushed out of the room.
“Are we sure this Alessandro is a safe contact?” Matthias asked.
“I did some digging, and apparently he’s an old family friend,” said Quillon.
“We can’t really go against her parents’ wishes,” Bernard pointed out. “She’s a sweet girl and has been wonderful to be around, but if she were mine, I’d want her safely with me.”
“Let me go talk with her for a moment,” Brigid suggested. She rose and sought out the sound of sobbing she heard coming from Nicole’s room. She knocked on the door.
“Nicole? It’s Brigid. May I come in?”
The door swung open to the sight of Nicole’s woebegone face. Brigid stepped in and opened her arms. Nicole dashed into her embrace. After a few minutes of tears, she stepped back and sat on her bed, hauling tissues out of a box.
“It’s not fair. Part of me wants to see my family, but I’m afraid no one back home will understand what I’ve been through. I’m not ready to go yet. I want to be here.” Nicole blew her nose fiercely.
Brigid listened as Nicole poured out her hurt and frustration—her sense of powerlessness once again.
Brigid lifted Nicole’s chin with her fingers and looked directly into her eyes. “We love and value you. You know that.”
Nicole nodded reluctantly.
“You’re important to us, but you’re also important to your family.”
“I know that, and I do wa
nt to see them. It’s just that I’ve felt comfortable with all of you because you know what I’ve experienced. I don’t know how Mom and Dad will handle it.”
“Let’s hope they respond with the same love and courage they showed when they let you come to this country to study.”
“But I don’t want to hurt them or make them feel it’s their fault this happened.”
“You can’t control how they’ll feel, but you can help them understand your feelings by being honest and asking for what you need from them. I can show you a few more healing tips to add to what you’ve already learned. You could even teach them to your parents.”
Nicole’s eyes sparked with interest at the possibility.
“Do you feel ready to go back to the others?” asked Brigid.
Nicole assented.
“Before we go back, can you verify if Alessandro is someone you know?”
“Yes,” Nicole answered glumly. “He and my dad went to college together. I’ve met him lots of times, so I’ll know if it’s really him.”
They returned to Quillon’s office.
Before anyone could speak, Nicole cleared her throat and said, “I know I have to go back, but I appreciate so much having been part of your team. It really helps to have a sense of purpose and to feel I’m not alone.”
“We won’t leave you alone,” Quillon said. “You belong to us now too. If you agree, we’ll send you updates and keep connected when I can do so securely.”
“Really?” Nicole’s breath escaped in a long hopeful sigh.
The others nodded their agreement.
Treena spoke next. “I’ve been thinking. You may have a greater purpose than you realize. You’re returning to an area that has been somewhat sheltered from the experiences happening here. You’re a survivor. This is a unique opportunity for you to share firsthand what’s going on. People need to know the truth. If you share your passion and conviction with your parents, hopefully you can mobilize them to help you spread the word. Let them know this is healing for you—whatever it takes.”
Symba encouraged her to keep practicing her hand-to-hand and defensive techniques and to share them with her friends. Quillon mentioned the importance of building connections beyond Tavisland.
Bernard leaned forward. “As a parent myself, I’d encourage you to be patient with your parents. Give them a little time when you first return to them. Their feelings of fear and sense of powerlessness when you were taken may need a little healing too.”
Nicole looked around at each person with a wobbly smile. “Thank you, guys. I need a little time alone to let this all settle inside me, so I’ll say goodnight for now.”
She gave Brigid a quick hug and hurried from the room.
“I’m sensing you have more to share with us,” said Brigid, glancing at Quillon as she slid back onto the loveseat next to Evander.
“I do.” This time Quillon looked at Bernard. “I’ve heard from Gerarda. Conrad will be here tomorrow to pick you up. He’ll arrive in a delivery truck. We’ll need to provide you with a disguise as well, in case you get stopped after you leave here.”
Bernard tapped his hand on his thigh. “I’m eager to see my family, but I feel a little like Nicole. This time together, although intense, has been a gift too. I’d like to continue to support your efforts, because I believe we all need to be involved in our own way. You may have a specific calling through your prophecy, but our dwarf prophecy calls all dwarfs to action.”
“Education is a significant part of the work to be done, plus empowering protective and healing stones. Gerarda will need help searching for her husband and running more raids, getting tourmaline to as many fairies and shapeshifters as possible—there are many ways you can act on the prophecy,” Treena said.
“There may be other stones that can be used in ways we haven’t considered yet.” Bernard was excited at the possibilities of what he could do. “I’ll consult with some of my friends and we’ll stay in touch through Gerarda.”
“One last thing,” said Quillon as he turned back to his desk and picked up a piece of paper. “I received this note today. I haven’t been able to trace it, but whoever it was, knew how to access one of my secure sites and send this.”
Everyone could hear the tension in his voice. Immediately, the others began to worry that their safety had been compromised.
Quillon read,
“I’m not a nut, and you are safe,
but I have found a door.
You’re not complete, you’re missing one,
the Player knows the score.
Find me you must to move ahead,
to cross and mend again.
Like grains of sand within the glass,
it’s time I was your friend.
Seek for me well. That is the task.
It isn’t tough to do.
Go east, then west, turn upside down.
You’ll find me once you’re through.”
As Quillon set the paper down, Evander spoke. “This sounds like it connects to our prophecy. How would anyone else know about it?”
“Who’s the Player?” said Treena. “This is confusing.”
Matthias shifted in his chair. “I think that might be me.”
“Because you ran a casino?”
“That’s part of it. Our casino’s name was ‘Player’s Choice’ and my call name was ‘The Player’. Throughout the day and evening, I’d float from game to game, encouraging play. At the end of every night, I’d choose a selection of gamblers to join me for a final high stakes game of blackjack at midnight. I learned to read people well. I could discern who’d provide the best entertainment for the crowd that would gather and who could afford to play. Although to you I probably seem to be pretty withdrawn, I was very adept at playing the crowd.”
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” Treena asked.
“At first, I was battling so much pain inside that all I could focus on was being safe. When I started working with Brigid and felt myself healing, I still wasn’t sure how much I trusted the rest of you or if I was up to being part of your effort. When Evander read the prophecy three days ago, and we shared the connections between the stories of our races, I needed time to think about it all.”
“What have you concluded?” Symba pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them as she waited for his answer.
Matthias looked around at the group. “Each day I feel stronger, thanks to Brigid’s excellent care. Having this safe place to shift and eat has supported my physical recovery. As we’ve trained and meditated together, I’ve felt a growing connection between us.”
“We’ve all felt that bond,” said Bernard. “It seems we’re each finding our own way of supporting it and working to strengthen it within the wider circle of our peoples.”
“Agreed,” said Matthias. “Yet, as I sifted through the story of my elders in light of the other prophecies, I considered the pain the Creator must be feeling. I felt a responsibility to not only focus on my own healing, but to be a part of overcoming the divisions between our races so the mending of all could begin. I became convinced I must be the Player.”
“Does any of this message make sense to you?” Quillon asked.
“Not immediately, but my sister and I used to love challenging each other with riddles. Give me some time with it tonight, and I’ll see what I can come up with by morning.”
Treena stretched. “Sounds good to me. Ladies, what do you say to a last pajama party movie night with Nicole? I’d like to send her off with happy memories of us together.”
The vote was unanimous, and Nicole was thrilled. Symba prepared popcorn and a cranberry ginger ale punch while the others selected a movie. They chose a comedy that drew out continuous laughter. Long after the movie had finished, they talked into the night about music and first dates, hairstyles and clothes, their dreams and their challenges. Wrapped in blankets on the bed, the sofa, and the floor, they gradually tumbled into sleep.
Quillon showed t
he men to a back room on the main floor that none of the visitors had been in before. It boasted a beautiful pool table. The game was new to Evander, so the others had the delight of teaching him their favorite tricks. As they headed off to bed, Bernard thanked them for the comradery they had shared.
***
Goodbyes
Breakfast was somewhat subdued the next morning as everyone pondered what was ahead. Matthias shared with Nicole that he was the Player from the fairy prophecy and linked it to his role at his casino. He showed her the riddle that Quillon had copied and he had been working on. He felt it pointed to the group’s need to find the Mind mentioned in the prophecy:
When the Player seeks the Mind, the prophecy will be empowered.
Bernard let her know he was going back to his family too. He shared that he had mixed feelings about leaving, like her.
Nicole nodded her understanding. She appreciated knowing she wasn’t being sent away because she was too young. Bernard described how he had decided to support the prophecy by harvesting more tourmaline and working to enhance its energy, as well as educating others about what was happening.
Nicole asked, “Before Conrad arrives to pick up Bernard and our circle begins to change, could we have one last time in the garden together?”
“I’d appreciate that too,” said Bernard. “The garden has been a special place for us.”
“Let’s meet there in ten minutes,” suggested Evander. “I want to collect a few things.”
It was still early morning and cool in the garden, so they donned sweatshirts or light jackets. They decided to stand in a circle around the fountain, holding hands for a final time. Evander led them in a prayer of thanks, drawing out the memories they’d formed together in such a short time. Brigid took over and eased them into a meditative state where she teased strands of energy, one from the other. She guided them to see the connections they shared and the bond they had forged which meant that, even as they parted, they would carry a part of each other within them.
The Prophecy Page 23
