by Kimbra Swain
“How many brothers do you have?” I asked.
“Twelve,” he replied.
“Holy hell,” Dylan muttered. “Seven more.”
I laughed. Picking up my cell phone, I called Levi.
“Hey, Grace, what’s wrong?” he asked immediately.
“You still having lunch with Kady?” I asked.
“No, she left earlier,” he said.
“Get over here to the bar. I’ve got some info for your internet search,” I said. “And bring me a chocolate milkshake.”
“As you wish, my Queen. I’m on my way,” he replied and hung up.
“I’ll call Troy to come pick this one up,” Dylan said stepping away.
“Get up and sit on this stool,” I told the beady eyed fellow. He obeyed and propped himself up at the bar. “Can I have more peanuts?”
“No,” growled Nestor. I chuckled.
“Pretty sure you burned that bridge, Chad,” I said.
“Darn,” he replied.
“Do all of your brothers steal things?” I asked.
“No, Lamar likes to tip cows,” he replied.
“Yes, I met Lamar,” I said. “Why are you in Shady Grove?”
“Our mother is supposed to meet us here for Christmas. We have discussed moving here with your permission, of course,” he said.
“I don’t decide who stays. However, if you steal things and torture animals, I’ll kick you out of town. Or end you, whichever is easier,” I said.
He gulped, “That would be unfortunate.”
“It’s a matter of perspective,” I replied. “You and your brothers are a menace. I don’t have time for you.”
“Yeah, because you are dying,” he said.
“What!” Dylan said, suddenly hanging up the phone. “What did you say?”
“She’s dying. She’s cursed,” he said.
“How do you know that?” I asked him.
“My mother does magic. She taught us how to recognize it. Unfortunately, for you, you might not be around to end us,” he said without hatred.
“Who is your mother?” I asked.
“I’ll introduce you when she arrives,” he said.
“What is her name?” I pressed.
“She doesn’t allow us to speak it,” he said.
Levi entered the bar. The cool air from outside rushed into the bar as he closed the door behind him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was going to snow.”
“It’s Alabama. It doesn’t snow here,” Nestor said.
I turned to him. “Oh really?” As Levi stuck the chocolate shake in my hand. I took a long sip of it staring at Dylan.
“Fuck,” I heard him mutter as he turned away.
“You can do that?” Levi asked.
“Yes, but I don’t. Last thing I need is attention for creating a freak snow storm,” I replied.
“Who’s this?” Levi asked.
“Levi, meet Chad. Chad, Levi,” I introduced them as I enjoyed more chocolate shake. Dylan watched me too intently, cutting his eyes away when I looked up at him.
“What did you find out?” Levi asked me while eyeballing him.
“He has 12 brothers,” I said. “Thanks for the shake. It’s delicious.” I licked my lips.
“Oh, okay,” he said finally realizing I was teasing Dylan. He gulped as he plopped down on a stool. He pulled out his phone and started searching. Nestor sat a cup of coffee in front of him, but he didn’t acknowledge it. I poked him in the side as I pointed at the coffee. “Oh, thanks Nestor.”
“You are welcome, Levi,” Nestor responded keeping his eyes on Chad.
Dylan came up behind Levi and watched him search. “You are breathing down my neck,” Levi said.
“Sorry,” Dylan muttered. He picked up his cup of coffee downing the rest of it in one sip. He fixed his eyes on me waiting for me to enjoy more of the shake. He nodded toward it. It made me giggle.
“Staring is rude. You begged me to stop torturing you. I’m just enjoying this chocolate shake,” I said wrapping my lips around the straw.
“Staring is all I can do, for now, but you will pay for it. Keep it up, Blondie,” Nestor refilled his cup offering him the sugar. Dylan spooned two helpings into the cup and turned to Levi. “Levi, what does the Wizard of Google say?”
“Looks like they are Yule Lads,” he said.
Chad gasped. “Thanks for the confirmation bowl thief,” I said to him.
“It’s not what you think!” he protested.
“I think you and your brothers are in my town causing havoc right before a huge holiday celebration. Aren’t Christmas elves supposed to bring toys and goodies?” I asked.
“He’s not an elf. He’s a troll,” Levi said.
Chad started giggling. My anger rose as I approached him. He saw me coming and stopped laughing. I thought about how each one of his brothers were interrupting my holiday. The curse was weighing on me, and I just wanted to have a holiday with my family. Was it too much to ask? I intended to take it out on him.
“You son of a bitch!”
“Don’t talk about my mother that way,” he yelled but slid off the stool moving away from me.
“Grace, leave him be,” Dylan said.
“No, he and his brothers are interfering with our town. With my town. I’m done with it. I’m not here for his amusement!” I said stalking toward him.
“Levi, get her,” Dylan growled.
“Huh?” Levi muttered, his attention still on his phone search. Dylan grabbed him by the collar and shoved him toward me. “Oh, Grace, stop!”
“He’s going to pay,” I said ignoring them. Cold gripped my heart as the tattoo on my right arm ignited. A battle waged inside of me. I was the Queen of the Exiles. This was my town. This twirp and his brothers were causing a disaster. Gloriana was keeping me alive, but she was also in control. It was like watching a train wreck while driving the train.
Levi grabbed me by the waist. I wrestled with him, but I knew his ability to control me. Plus, he was damn strong. “Stop it, Grace,” he forced his will through his voice. I stopped struggling with him and stood still. He released his hold on my waist, so I spun shoving him across the room.
Dylan sprinted across the room standing between me and Chad. “You will stop,” he said.
“You can’t touch me,” I said.
“I can. I just don’t want to do it,” he said.
“Oh, you don’t want to touch me,” I purred. I still had the milkshake. Bringing it to my lips, I stared at him.
He stammered, “I mean, I do want to, but I…”
I paced right in front of him. “But what, my love?”
The bar door slammed open once again. Sheriff Troy Maynard entered. “Hey everybody, where’s the new menace?” He stopped and stared at us. “What’s going on?”
“Stupefy,” Levi said softly in my ear, and my knees buckled. He caught me before I hit the floor. Dylan ran his hand through his hair turning his back to me. He’d been distracting me as Levi approached. Levi deposited me in a chair near the pool table. I tried to cuss him, but my mouth felt like jelly. “You can beat me within an inch of my life later,” he muttered before leaving me sitting there.
He and Dylan explained to Troy the situation. “Thirteen!” he exclaimed. “I don’t have room for thirteen prisoners!”
“We don’t take up much room. Back home we shared one room,” Chad replied. “We were kind of poor.”
“Shut up!” Dylan said.
“We will figure something out,” Troy said. “What should we expect with the next one?”
“According to the article online, the next one slams doors,” Levi said.
The troll laughed. “Hee hee! Ol’ Keith! He’s a pistol!”
“Shut up!” Dylan shouted again.
I’d regained my ability to walk and talk, but I didn’t clue them into it. However, Nestor walked over, took the milkshake which was mostly gone, and handed me my coffee cup refilled.
“Drink,�
� he said.
I looked down at it and could tell he’d altered the spell inside the coffee. It normally had floating glitter in its muddy darkness, however this one had an oil slick sheen to it. “What did you do to it?”
“Drink,” he replied, walking away. I took several sips and previously his coffee would warm the soul. I supposed he didn’t want to take chances with warming me up. The coffee just tasted good and my senses heightened beyond their already sensitive state. Look at all of them, I could visibly see the stress on Dylan and Levi. They both cringed at the moment Troy would haul Chad away giving me the chance to exact my wrath on them for subduing me.
The truth was I’d always avoided being the fairy queen, because I didn’t always have control over the impulses that came with being that part of myself. I was working on a full-fledged multiple personality disorder. Perhaps I should go visit the local shrink, Dr. Deon Tucker.
Levi was my anchor. The bard that could control me. Dylan’s grip on my heart reached through the cold exterior warming me without a touch. I didn’t need a shrink. I had my own rescue squad. Look down at the coffee, I swirled it around and the spell faded. When I lifted my eyes, Nestor watched me. I nodded to him, and he smiled.
Troy left with the troll. My two men turned to face my wrath. I stood and walked to the bar ignoring them. Setting my cup down on the counter, I said, “Thank you, Nestor.”
“Grace, I had to,” Levi said. When I turned to look at them both, Dylan elbowed him in the ribs. I wasn’t sure what that was about, but it made me laugh.
“Get over yourselves. I’m not mad,” I said. “Stupefy? Really Levi? You’ve been playing fantasy card games again, haven’t you?” He blushed, because I knew his nerdy little secret. He’d started playing one of those silly card games with guys he met at church. Levi Rearden was no nerd. He was sex on a stick, but he’d made quick friends with the awkward crowd.
“You aren’t mad?” Dylan asked.
“No, but I suggest you don’t try your luck, Pookie,” I responded.
“Oh, hell no!” he exclaimed.
“What? You said you needed a nickname!” I reminded him.
“Not that!” he said.
“Pookie,” Levi giggled. Dylan elbowed him again.
“Grace,” Dylan growled.
“Well, if you don’t like it, perhaps you should think of something else,” I suggested.
“I was thinking Stud,” he grinned.
“Keep dreaming, Dylan,” I said.
“How about Sexy Beast?” he said.
“I really like Pookie,” I replied.
“You better not!” he said.
“Methinks you protest too much. That you secretly like it,” I teased.
Levi continued to laugh. I even heard Nestor smirk behind the bar. “Play me for it,” he said nodded toward the pool table.
“Oh, a rematch,” I grinned
“If you win, you can call me Pookie or whatever you want,” he said. “If I win, I pick my own nickname.”
“You cheated last time,” I said.
“No, Nestor cheated,” he claimed.
“Leave me out of it,” Nestor interjected.
“When was this?” Levi asked.
“A long, long time ago,” I laughed.
Dylan said, “Long ago as in four months. So, are you scared, Fairy Queen?”
“I told you once before that calling me a coward doesn’t faze me, Dylan Riggs,” I said.
“No, it doesn’t, but you still want to play,” he said.
“Nestor, I’m going to need tequila,” I said.
He promptly poured two shots.
“What the hell?” Levi said.
“Sit down and watch,” I told him as he slid onto one of the bar stools. I stared at Dylan as I licked my wrist pouring salt over it. He shook his head. I licked it again downing the first shot quickly.
“Wow,” Levi said staring at me.
“Rack ‘em up, Pookie,” I said.
He pulled the rack off the wall arranging the balls in the staggered order. Drawing on the power in my tattoo, I shifted my shimmering gown to the silver duplicate of my outfit the night I first played pool with Dylan Riggs. As he looked up from the rack, he gulped. Raising my eyebrows at him, I said, “Trying to make it authentic.”
“Holy shit,” Levi said. Walking up to him, I remembered the poor blokes who lined the stools that night. I ran a fingernail up his arm. He shivered.
“My dear Levi, Mr. Riggs and I played this game once before and he cheated,” I said with his eyes fixed on mine.
“Uh-huh,” Levi muttered as Nestor laughed.
“Dylan won the game,” I said. Dylan’s eyes blazed as I touched Levi.
“What did he win?” Levi asked in a whisper as I stood close to his ear.
“A kiss,” I replied.
“It was more than that,” Dylan interjected.
“It was? Oh, oh, OH!” Levi said realizing the significance.
“I did everything I could to distract him. Showed my boobs. Shook my booty, but alas, Sheriff Dylan Riggs had game,” I said.
“I don’t believe that at all,” Levi smirked.
“Get over here and break, Grace,” Dylan said fed up with the tease already.
“No, you go ahead, Pookie. You won’t beat me this time,” I said.
“Fine,” he said lining up his shot. He broke the balls apart. None fell. “Damnit.”
“Bad time to lose your touch, Honey Bunny,” I said.
He groaned. “I think Pookie was better.”
Lining up shot after shot, I dropped four balls in a row missing the fifth by a millimeter.
“Your turn, Puddin’,” I said motioning to the table.
He shook his head, but quickly honed in sinking ball after ball. He had one stripe, plus the eight remaining. He missed the shot on the stripe.
“Poor Muffin,” I cooed. Levi and Nestor laughed. I slammed down the second shot. No salt. It had been so long since I’d had any alcohol, the tart burn made me shudder.
Finishing off the table except for the eight, I lined up the shot leaning over the table and winking at my victim. “Get on with it,” he grumped.
“Now, now, Mr. Riggs, no bitterness,” I teased.
I struck the white ball sucking in a small breath causing it to backspin and slow down. It rolled to balance on the edge of the pocket. Perfect.
As it teetered on the edge, Levi stood approaching it cautiously. “It’s not falling,” he said.
“Well, darn, it’s your table, Boo Bear,” I nodded to Dylan.
He grabbed his stick, dropping his last ball before even lining it up. He eyed the shot on the eight ball, then stared at me.
“What did you do to it?” he asked.
“Whatever do you mean, Snuggle Bumpkin?”
He grinned. “You did something to it. There is no way you missed that shot.”
“Are you accusing me of throwing the game, Gum Drop?” I acted innocent.
“Yes, I am,” he said.
“How dare you, Love Bug! I thought we had something,” I grinned.
He pointed the stick at me and said, “After this shot, you’ve got to stop with the names!”
“As you wish, Sugar Lips,” I grinned.
“That’s my favorite,” Levi said. It was the best one so far. I could always taste the sugar from Dylan’s coffee on his lips.
“Shut up, Levi!” Dylan said.
He lined up the shot, and the eight ball fell easily. Leaning on the stick, he seemed quite satisfied with himself.
“What shall it be, Mr. Riggs?” I asked grinning.
He placed the stick on the table and rolled it across the felt. Stalking toward my position at the edge of the bar, he leaned on it with arms on either side of me careful not to touch me. He leaned into my ear, whispering the name. When he backed away, I stared at him and nodded.
“Seems kinda plain,” I said.
“I like the way it rolls across your lips,” he
said.
“What is it?” Levi asked enthralled with the whole conversation.
“Shut it, Levi,” Dylan said staring at me. “Well?”
“You won fair and square,” I replied.
“Say it,” he prompted.
“Not here,” I pretended to be shy.
“Say it. I won, Grace,” he said.
“I let you win,” I protested.
“Did you?” he asked. “You cheated?”
“No, you can’t cheat to lose!” I said.
“I put nothing past you in this form!” he replied. “I don’t know why you let me win, other than you knew good and well, I had no intention to let you call me Pookie or some other asinine name.”
“Pookie is such a sweet name,” I said grabbing his shirt. He flinched at the contact. I was sure not to touch his skin, but even touching his shirt, I could feel the heat radiating off his body.
“Let go. Please,” he said nervously. The fear of losing me broke through the game, so I released him, but leaned forward and whispered the name he’d requested.
I leaned back watching his eyes roll back in his head. How ridiculous! Over a pet name.
“No more milkshakes,” he grinned.
“You can’t handle it,” I replied.
“No, I can’t,” he admitted.
“I can’t hear y’all. What are y’all saying?” Levi teased.
“I thought I told you to shut up, Levi?!” Dylan said.
Levi lifted his hands in surrender. “It can’t be as good as Dublin,” he muttered. I agreed, but it was what he wanted. I was to the point where I’d give him whatever he wanted.
December 18th
The call came while Levi and I made cookies with Winnie.
We’d cut out Christmas shapes, decorating them with sprinkles. We were waiting on them to finish while Dylan watched television.
“I’m so excited,” Winnie jumped up and down shaking the whole trailer.
“Calm down, munchkin. You are shaking the whole house,” I said.
“It’s a trailer, Aunt Grace. Not a house,” she corrected me.
“Well, haven’t you developed a smart mouth!” I said. “If you are naughty, Santa Claus won’t come.”
“Momma said Santa Claus wasn’t coming this year anyway,” she said.
“What? Why not?” Levi asked.
