Firestone

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  Abi looked at Yvonne, glanced at Rodney, and then looked across the room at Fin.

  “You already have,” Abi turned to smile at Yvonne. “Her name was Ne Ne.”

  Yvonne’s mouth dropped open.

  “My Ne Ne?” Yvonne asked. “Rodney did you . . .?”

  “Abi told me,” Rodney said.

  “But Tannie said Ne Ne died,” Yvonne said. “Fairies can’t die!”

  “Fairies can die,” Abi said. “We just live a much longer life than you.”

  “But Ne Ne . . .” Yvonne started.

  “She’s a librarian where I come from,” Abi said. “She had to . . . retire from life here.”

  Yvonne’s brow furrowed as she thought through what Abi was saying.

  “But Tannie said . . .” Yvonne started again.

  “Tanesha doesn’t know,” Abi said. “Did you ever notice that Ne Ne never seemed to age?”

  Yvonne nodded.

  “That you never seem to age?” Abi kept her voice soothing with an edge of kindness.

  “I can’t remember what I look like one day to the next,” Yvonne smiled.

  Abi looked at Rodney.

  “You haven’t aged a day since we were twenty,” Rodney said. Yvonne turned in her seat to look at him. He placed his hand over her heart. “Here, in your heart, but not in your face or body.”

  “You are a sweet, sweet man,” Yvonne said. “You always know how to say just the right . . .”

  “He’s telling you a truth,” Abi said.

  “Oh,” Yvonne said. “But how can that be? Ne Ne might have been your child, but I’m . . .”

  “Her daughter,” Abi said.

  “No,” Yvonne shook her head vehemently. “As much as I’d like that to be true, my mother is . . .”

  “Ne Ne,” Abi said. “There was another child, a girl, born from a rape of the woman who claims to be your mother, Tanesha’s gran. The child didn’t survive and it broke the woman’s mind in two. Ne Ne was with child at the same time. She chose to pass her child off as her friend’s child in an effort to help her friend.”

  “Why?” Yvonne asked.

  “Can you think of no reason?” Abi asked.

  “That woman hates me,” Yvonne said. “Ne Ne loved me so much and . . .”

  Yvonne’s eyes well with tears.

  “Might I see her again?” Yvonne asked.

  Abi smiled.

  “Who is my father?” Yvonne asked.

  “Someone she loved very much,” Abi said. “She’s yet to love another.”

  “Am I a fairy too?”

  “Yes,” Abi lied. “You and Ne Ne, you are Fin’s only living family. His family was killed . . .”

  Abi smiled.

  “That’s a horrible story for another day,” Abi said. “Not today, when we are welcoming new members to our family, our fairy tribe.”

  Yvonne smiled. She held her hand out to Rodney and he took it. They looked over to where Jeraine and Fin were talking.

  “Does he love you?” Yvonne asked in a low tone. “Treat you well?”

  “Yes,” Abi smiled. “He’s allowed me to spend all this time with you.”

  “You’re my grandmother,” Yvonne said.

  Abi smiled.

  “Will I get fairy powers?” Yvonne asked.

  “More than you already have?” Abi asked. “Would you really like that?”

  “No.” Shaking her head, Yvonne laughed.

  Abi smiled at Yvonne.

  “Why did all of that . . . happen?” Yvonne whispered.

  “He wanted your fairy power,” Abi said. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault really. It never occurred to me. I discounted the human need to own and destroy what is precious.”

  “I met you right after,” Yvonne nodded.

  “Yes,” Abi said. “I came as soon as we knew. There was little I could do but . . . help.”

  Yvonne smiled at her.

  “Everything is fine now,” Yvonne said. “Is your man my Tannie’s lab partner? She said he was handsome.”

  “He is,” Abi smiled. “And Tanesha? She is magnificent.”

  “She is,” Yvonne said.

  There was a sound of a baby wailing and the waiting room broke into cheers. A few moments later, another baby cried and they cheered again. Jill and Jacob’s boys had arrived.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Jillian Roper Marlowe

  and

  Jacob Lipson Marlowe

  announce the birth of their twins

  Tanner Handy Roper Marlowe

  and

  Michael Bladen Roper Marlowe

  Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-nine

  Wishes

  Saturday morning — 10:12 A.M.

  Jill felt someone sit down on the bed and she opened her eyes to stare at the white ceiling above. Her first thought was about the boys, her second about Katy. Of course, the boys disappeared with Megan a half hour or so ago. Katy was at Paddie’s house. Jacob was out at the earthquake site with Aden, Blane, and Sam.

  And she was . . . She wasn’t sure.

  She looked around. She was in a comfortable bedroom just off the medical offices. She was looking around at the lovely room when she saw the person sitting on her bed. With a groan, she started to sit up.

  “Please, don’t get up,” Liban said.

  Jill squinted.

  “Yes, I dare come into your room,” Liban said after reading her look.

  “I . . .”

  “Please,” Liban said. “If I may, I’d like to talk for a moment. I have a few things to say. If you ask me to leave, I will go immediately. But please, hear me out.”

  Jill was too tired to argue. She gestured for Liban to speak her piece.

  “Thank you,” Liban said.

  Jill lifted her lips in a guarded smile.

  “The boys are beautiful,” Liban said.

  “Thank you.” Jill squinted and wondered what Liban was buttering her up for.

  “I know that you don’t trust me,” Liban said.

  “If you’re here to talk me into letting your fairy take care of the boys, Jake and I have already decided that we do not need help from fairies,” Jill said. “You . . . people . . . don’t seem to hold the concept of children in the same way human’s do. I’d rather allow my children to be children, and not pawns in some political games.”

  “You’re angry,” Liban said.

  “Angry?” Jill asked. “Disgusted.”

  “I understand,” Liban said. “I assure you, the situation with Prince Kirk was unique. In fact, all of Fand’s children’s situations were unique.”

  “Fin was raised by Manannán’s human wives,” Jill said.

  “He told you?”

  “He told Tanesha,” Jill said. “He said that his sisters were raised by fairies and that Kirk was in the care of one of Manannán’s great-grandchildren when he was taken and she was killed.”

  Jill sniffed.

  “Just gross,” Jill said.

  “I see what you see,” Liban said. “I understand why you say it, and I would tell you that my sister’s children and their situation is unique. My sister . . . Well, as you saw, she’s not much of a mother. She was born a queen, born to bear a queen’s responsibilities. Her fairies take all of her time, energy, and thought. I’m not sure she was intended to fall in love. As you know, some things just happen. She is no mother. She couldn’t understand a child if she tried.”

  “Why is she so interested in Katy then?” Jill asked.

  “She believes Katy to be similar to herself, and thus in need of special teaching and care,” Liban shrugged. “You have impressed Fand, though. You are Katy’s mother, just as I was mother to my children. You know that Ne Ne raised Yvonne.”

  Jill scowled.

  “You’re angry about Kirk,” Liban said.

  Jill crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.

  “I understand,” Liban said. “Would it help to know that he no longer remembers what happened to him?”

&n
bsp; “What about the scars?” Jill asked.

  “The wounds healed the moment he arrived in this world,” Liban said. “His body shows that he’s suffered but his mind remembers none of it. He can remember it, though.”

  “How?”

  “If you remind him,” Liban said.

  “Where is he?” Jill asked.

  “Your friend, Heather?” Liban asked. “Didn’t she leave to speak with her social worker? Something about . . .”

  “Emergency placement,” Jill’s voice was filled with awe.

  “Of course, the Oracle has agreed to raise him,” Liban said. “But he needs a place tonight. Tomorrow his . . .”

  “Aunt . . .” Jill whispered.

  “So you do know,” Liban said.

  “Heather called when she found out,” Jill said. “She’s taking a boy for a few days . . . Keenan . . .”

  “Keenan means ancient one,” Liban smiled.

  “And his mother?” Jill asked. “Queen Fand?”

  “She and the Oracle agree that she will be in his life, but he will grow up human,” Liban said. “Like his brother, Fin.”

  “Like Fin,” Jill’s voice was vague, as she thought through what Liban was saying. “Fin and Abi?”

  Liban gave Jill a broad smile.

  “Love is unusual for us fairies,” Liban said. “We don’t usually mate for life. If we find love, it is strong, overpowering even, but fades. We rarely love another fairy unless, like Gilfand, we draw a mortal into our world. That takes the kind of power only available to the ancient, like Gilfand or myself.

  “But Fin and Abi . . .” Liban smiled. “She’s supposed to be his mate. He is a fairy ruler, a prince, thus she should be a lady of court. She should not be on the fairy corps. And yet . . .”

  “They are both here,” Jill said.

  “As I said, love is unusual for us,” Liban said. “But then again, my nephew is half-Manannán.”

  Jill looked at the wall to think it through. There was a large picture of Katy sitting on the table along the wall. Jill smiled at her baby-girl.

  “I like that you ask me about the boy before you ask me about what you get,” Liban said.

  “What I get?” Jill asked. “What do you mean?”

  “As your gift for making our family, our entire community whole,” Liban said.

  “My gift?” Jill asked. “I don’t really want anything from you.”

  “Yes,” Liban said. “That’s refreshing.”

  Liban smiled.

  “But?” Jill asked.

  “You are given a wish for every single person involved in this adventure,” Liban asked.

  “A wish?” Jill asked.

  “For your friends, Jacob, Sam, Valerie, James, the Oracle, your family, and your friends who valiantly fought the men who wanted to take your babies, the people at the earthquake site . . .,” Liban said. “You can wish for anything you want.”

  “You mean you could heal Honey’s back so she can walk again?” Jill asked.

  “No,” Liban said. “I cannot heal an old injury. A newer injury, sure, but Honey has healed and . . . I’m sorry. Honey is wonderful. Older injuries are . . . tricky. There’s a good chance I would make it a lot worse.”

  “So you could heal Tink’s seizures?” Jill asked.

  “Would you like that?” Liban asked.

  “Yes,” Jill said.

  “What about her memories?” Liban asked. “I can take them . . .”

  “No,” Jill said. “She needs them for the trial so she can testify. But could you help her not feel so bad about them, or scared, or . . .”

  Liban nodded.

  “While you’re at it,” Jill said. “Can you help sort out that whole thing – the boys responsible and the boys who were just there and the boys who watched the videos and . . .”

  “Done,” Liban said. “Good choices, Jillian. However, you must watch your own nature.”

  “My nature?” Jill asked. “What . . .”

  “You have a tendency to destroy to create something new,” Liban said.

  “What?” Jill asked.

  “It’s in your blood,” Liban said.

  “How would you . . .?”

  “It is what you do, isn’t it?” Liban asked. “Destroy an engagement party, get a new life?”

  Jill blushed.

  “I’m not chastising you, Jill,” Liban said. “I’m saying we need to be careful. For example, you might want to heal the child Sissy’s eating disorder. But by wiping her slate clean, you will leave her vulnerable to other trouble as she moves forward in her career as a ballerina. By having this disorder so early in life, she is less vulnerable to situations and people that keep other girls from greatness.”

  “I see what you mean.” Jill nodded. “Did we do that with the rapist boys or . . .?”

  “For a few,” Liban said. “As you know, destruction brings healing.”

  “And I get to decide for everyone?” Jill’s inner meddler squealed with glee.

  “Who else?” Liban smiled.

  “Can I have some time to think?” Jill asked.

  “No,” Liban said. “With the birth of the boys, the surrounding magic is elevated right now. We can get more done. Plus, I’m confident you already have a plan for everyone.”

  “Well . . .” Jill smiled.

  “I’m listening.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Saturday—10:12 A.M.

  Jacob looked out over their old construction site. While he’d been in the Isle of Man, his crew had fought to stabilize the site and save lives. Their efforts were evident in every area of the site. He was proud of the men and women from Lipson Construction, who’d fought so valiantly through the night. He grinned at his princely thoughts, and wondered if his time at the Isle of Man had changed him.

  “Marlowe?” an Adam’s County Sheriff’s detective yelled at him from an area near the trailers. “We’re ready.”

  Today was the day of reckoning. The Adam’s County Sheriff’s along with police detectives from every city in Adam’s County were here to go over what happened last night and take their statements. Sam was out on the north side of the site, the pit area, with Rodney and Honey. Blane was with DeShawn, Jason, and Pete in the medical tents. Aden was with Jerry and his team going over their work.

  They had asked Jacob to discuss how Lipson Construction managed to withdraw from the site four days before the earthquake. The first police detective they’d met with had told them the state was planning on charging Jacob for reckless endangerment of the other construction teams. The Adams County Sheriff was looking for reasons to charge Jacob with criminal negligence in causing the earthquake itself. There were other threats—survivors filing suits, the oil company claimed their wells were spoiled by the repairs, and every other fantastic claim designed to shirk responsibility. Jacob had smiled and called their lawyers.

  Less than a day ago, he’d been wielding a sword in hand-to-hand combat against an experienced army. He rubbed the cut on his chin. This legal wrangling was nothing compared to the horror of staring down the Christian Cavalry. He waved at the detective and started toward the trailers. The alarm on his phone rang.

  Looking down at the phone in his hand, he saw the picture he’d taken of Jill, Katy, and the boys. The alarm was to remind him of his life and his priorities. Smiling, he carried the phone in his right hand, or as Fin called it, his sword hand and went to the trailers.

  He was met by two men in expensive suits. Samantha Hargreaves was out of town so she sent one of her colleagues to handle any criminal complaints. He introduced himself and smiled. Their corporate lawyer hugged Jacob. Flanked by the warriors of the law, Jacob entered the trailer to talk about the events, as he knew them, at the construction site.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Saturday—12:15 P.M.

  “Hi,” James said in a low tone.

  Edie looked up from the infant in her arms. She was sitting on a soft loveseat in the makeshift nursery in the medical offices. S
he smiled at him and nodded toward the seat next to her.

  “Who is this?” James asked.

  “Tanner,” Edie said. “He gets a little fussy after he eats.”

  “How did you, uh, sort this?” James asked.

  “My aunt, Liban, had a chat with Jill,” Edie said. “Jill agreed to let me help while she’s resting in the next few days. If all goes well, then we’ll talk about the future.”

  “Wow,” James said. “That’s real progress.”

  “She feels like I tried to steal Katy from her,” Edie said.

  “Did you?” James asked.

  “If we talk about what I did,” Edie’s cheeks flushed pink. “I tried to keep her safe. I encouraged her to bring her friend Paddie, who is clearly her champion. I taught her a few fairy skills so she wouldn’t be so vulnerable. I put them to sleep so they wouldn’t be frightened. That’s what I did.”

  “But?”

  “My orders were to procure the child for the queen,” Edie said.

  James nodded. They sat in silence

  “Liban is your aunt?” James asked in a neutral tone.

  “I’m Queen Fand’s third child,” Edie said. “Her second daughter.”

  Edie’s face went bright red. She cleared her throat.

  “Listen,” she started at the same time James said, “I wanted to . . .”

  He chuckled and she blushed. To cover her embarrassment, she looked down at Tanner. He was squirming.

  “They are good babies,” Edie said. “And so close with their mother. They don’t like being away from her for very long. She’s lucky she didn’t have them in a hospital.”

  “They would have burned the nursery down,” James said.

  Edie smiled.

  “Abi told me what they said . . . to you . . . um . . . about me,” Edie said.

  “Yes.” James furrowed his brow. “That was . . .”

  “Mari loves messing with humans,” Edie’s voice was indignant. “She thinks it’s funny to make humans upset and uncomfortable. Everyone hates it when she does it but there’s no stopping her.”