"Can you freak-out with a tad-bit more volume?" Layol huffed. "I'm sure at least three of the kids in the front of the line didn't hear you."
"But I didn't mean to," Dekram wailed. "Darn it," she shushed to a whisper, "wouldn't you know they'd make an impin' spectacle out of me the minute I go all Cinderella and break out the fancy dress."
"Not like I didn't nail this whole thing last night, especially since Soahc was all over Detaf at the buzz—Egar nowhere in sight." Layol smiled at the wispy gauze dress that fell over Dekram's hips in jagged layers embroidered with roses and lavender on the tips. "You look like a storybook fairy, not Cinderella," Layol mused.
"Right?" Dekram did not seem amused. "What was I thinking?" She reached around and tugged on the back of the dress until the low cut neckline slid up an inch or so in front. "Will you trade clothes with me? You are so much more fairy-bookish and always wear pixin' cute dresses. No one will look twice at you."
"Really, Dek? Like you so totally will not find my picture on page eighteen in Judy Allen's Fantasy Encyclopedia. I have my own style and it's definitely not fairytale-fairy," Layol said, shaking her head. "How did it go after I left last night?—must've been romantic to have you flitting around in a dress today."
Dekram blushed, eyes sparkling. "He didn't…we didn't…I mean… Crap, I look stupid, don't I?"
"You look-"
"Dekram," Mrs. Evol got their attention. "Can you do me a favor? I promised Mrs. Edia that since there is not a speaker in the sensory room I'd have you stop by and get Mirg and Etah on the way to the assembly hall.
Dekram shot Layol a set of big eyes. "Soahc?" She mouthed and then gulped as her wings dribbled iridescent sparkles.
Layol's lips spread scary and her shoulders hiked up a barren answer. Addressing Mrs. Evol, she asked, "Can I go with Dek?"
"I think she can handle it, Layol. Join the rest of the class, please," Mrs. Evol said as she picked up a sawgrass pouch and pushed her daily planner and a notebook and pen into it on her way to the front of the line.
Chapter 13
DEKRAM SMILED AT Mrs. Laretil as she whizzed by the library and zipped over the heads of students entering the halls on the way to the auditorium. The sensory room was outside and up three hollows in the Oak tree. She breezed through the spinning portal at the end of the hall and out into the sunlight. Detaf strutted on a branch above the first hollow.
"Where ya goin', pretty lil fairy gal," he asked with a faux-Jamaican accent. He'd changed his façade along with his voice and wore long dreadlocks, a brightly striped watch cap pulled down over the pointed tips of his ears, and a baggy white shirt, one button done mid-chest, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His distressed jeans were also rolled, all the way up to his calves over black leather ankle boots, unlaced, no socks.
Dekram hovered, darted around for a second and finally said, "I have to get Mirg and Etah from the sensory room for a training session with Human Services in the auditorium."
"Nasty job for a lil one, true dat," Detaf said all Jamaican and Fire. "I offerin' da services." He bowed, palmed a circle toward the two hollows above them.
Dekram filled her lungs, let it out slowly. "Thanks Detaf, but I can handle it. You should get to the assembly. Before he could speak, she darted up, but heard Detaf follow. As they got to the second hollow he caught up, snagged her wings, and dragged her inside the oak.
The offices should've been on this level but it was dark, empty and damp. But not too dark; she could see Etah stood waiting.
"Where's Mirg?" Dekram fumbled the question, eyes big and frightened. This doesn't feel right.
"On her way to the auditorium—don't need her for what we're plannin'." Etah smiled hatred and for the first time, Dekram saw Fire in her eyes.
"Now don't be scarin' the lil fairy gal, Etah. We got us business wit 'er, true 'nough."
"I hate her. Don't know how Soahc is gonna walk around in her skin for the rest of her life." Etah's lips curled, nostrils flared, face pushing the promise of something foul in the air.
Dekram back-winged. "What is she talking about Detaf?"
"He's not Detaf," Etah said, "Egar's who you're talkin' to."
With a quick intake of breath, Dekram realized why Fire had been dragging fairy in and out of the portal. Layol's words rung in her ears. Did you know that if Tink gave me her wings I could become Tink? She sidled for the door, heart hammering, rapid breath blackening her peripheral vision and, wings revving, darted. Etah leapt, dragged Dekram to the moldy floor of the hollow. Egar, wearing Detaf's wings, looked just like Detaf as he held damp, rancid smelling Spanish moss across her nose and mouth.
Dekram held her breath—kicked, arms flailing, head jerking—gagged, couldn't hold it any longer, sucked in a deep breath as she heard Etah ask, "You got this?" followed by Egar's, "Yup," before everything went black.
*
Layol glared at the auditorium door for the zillionth time, like it was her worst enemy.
Nesohc patted her knee. "We've only been here ten minutes. Give it a rest."
"I don't like it. No one has said a thing about Soahc being banned and Etah hates Dekram. Aren't you worried?"
"We're in school," Nesohc said. "How much trouble can Etah, Mirg and Soahc cause from sensory to the auditorium?"
"Plenty if Soahc is directing them. They pummeled Dek in the girl's bathroom with the whole school out in the halls!"
"What?" Nesohc gave Layol his complete attention.
"Yeah, they beat up on her the day you went to the buzz to talk to Soahc. Etah kicked her. Etah told Bacs, Bacs told Mirg, and I overheard Mirg telling Detaf the whole story three lockers down from mine this morning. Dek doesn't know I know, so zip it."
"Crap, Lay, why didn't you go with her to the sensory room?" Nesohc looked major tense.
"I tried," Layol whined, "Mrs. Evol wouldn't let me."
Three loud taps reverberated from the speakers hung from the ceiling in all four corners of the auditorium and quieted the whole assembly.
Mr. Nrets blew into the microphone and had everyone's hands jerking to their ears. "May I have your attention, please? I have an announcement to make before the task force from Human Services opens the meeting with a list of repercussions from yesterday's first mock missions."
The principal paused, eyes searching the gathering. Looking pleased with the attention he had mustered he continued. "It has come to our attention that there has been a fair share of intolerance and consorting with Fire among the student body as of late, and-"
The auditorium buzzed. Whispers turned into group conversations and a wave of movement added further disorder.
Principal Nrets obnoxiously cleared his throat and the room hushed. "We do not condone this kind of behavior. Our usual form of punishment for intolerance has been demerits, and on occasion, withdrawing special events."
Not a wing fluttered, all eyes were on the elder behind the podium. "Consorting with our students has always meant a term of imprisonment for Fire."
Before the noise level got out of hand, Mr. Nrets raised his voice and clipped the buzzing wings. "But! The incident in question is absolutely intolerable. Therefore Soahc has been abjured for consorting with Fire during school hours," the principal shouted the remaining announcement, "and in accordance with the Fire treaty drawn up after Fairy War I—preceding what would most assuredly have been Fairy War II—Egar has been banished from Wandermere."
He picked up a gavel and rapped it on the podium in front of him. The noise hollowly echoed throughout the auditorium. "Settle down or I will cancel the missions' altogether! Do I make myself clear?"
The room boiled with rapid retorts, and simmered with anxiety, and roiled with movement but the noise level ratcheted down rapidly and Mr. Nrets continued without interruption. "Consorting with intent to cause bodily harm is unacceptable. We have videoed proof of at least one incident. Therefore both fairies are now in the human world, stripped of their wings, and in conjunction, their powers. Let that
be a lesson to all of you.
"We STRONGLY advise, should any of you see them in the human world during your mock missions, that you do not make contact. If we find out differently, you will join them."
Mr. Nrets scanned the crowd and with a finger hammering his point, he shouted, "Intolerance is not acceptable in our world and will not be overlooked by the Elders."
"Holy, impin', wrath-of-Rumpelstilzchen," Layol said with a breathy voice. "Dekram sooo did not tell me Fire was in the restroom that day."
"This is bad. Really bad," Nesohc mumbled.
"Okay, so now I'm worried to the nth-degree," Layol said.
"Don't panic," Nesohc said, "Mrs. Evol just said something to Mr. Nrets and he briskly walked out of the auditorium. I bet he's going to check on Dek."
"Ya think?"
"I hope, because Mirg just walked in. Alone."
Layol's head jerked back to the auditorium doors.
Mirg glided toward the benches where the student body sat, black lace dress whishing around tattooed ankles, bare feet dressed out in a black macramé strung from her middle toe to her ankle. A lace veil covered her hair, face and neck. Thin white arms hung awkwardly, one hand holding a cross hanging from a string of leather, the other a human doll, arms spread, hanging upside down from a matching string of leather. Against all the black, a red armband was striking. She knew.
The microphone squawked and a tall thin HS officer, flanked by two other members of the bureau, put it to his lips and said, "Hcti and Spil Lluf, front, and center."
Hcti swaggered across the stage, followed by a petite fairy with full lips the color of a magenta sunset and timid gold eyes hidden behind long navy lashes.
Mirg hovered over a place on the bench two rows down, and a group of students parted as she slowly descended into a sitting position.
* * *
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, after tons of angst from both Layol and Nesohc, Dekram and Nrets, followed by Etah, walked into the assembly. The girls tapped knuckles as though they'd been friends for life, separated and flew toward two different places in the stands.
Dekram wiggled in between Layol and Nesohc, ran an arm through his, and planted a big kiss on Nesohc's lips. "It's all good, fairy boy. We had us a nice long talk."
"Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" Layol laughed and reached in for a group hug.
Chapter 14
PRINCIPAL NRETS TAPPED his index finger on a live microphone, sending a wave of order around the auditorium. "Everyone take a seat, please, and we will get started on the training portion of today's assembly."
Etah stuck her face in front of Layol's. "Yeah, the sooner the better."
"Be nice. You promised," Dekram kidded.
"You look stupid in that fairy dress," Etah said, arms folded around skull and crossbones imprinted on her long-sleeved shirt. "Bet her daddy suggested it—wishing for a little Air goddess. You know I'm right."
Bacs scratched his butt and snickered. "Swamp-thang, you never looked better. I be standin' in line; jumpin' on it first chance I get. True-dat."
"What the heck?" Nesohc leaned in. "You touch Dek and I'll-"
Layol shoved Nesohc's words aside, snagged a handful of Bacs's orange hair and yanked hard. "Over my dead body, scab-face."
"I ken 'range dat, too," Bacs spat.
Dekram put one arm around Nesohc's shoulders, the other around Bacs', a big smile across her face. "It's fun when we're all getting along, isn't it?"
Nesohc frowned at Dekram.
Shaking her head, lips curled in a twisted smile, Dekram said, "He ain't gettin' none of this, sweet cheeks. You neither, you don't stand back and let me deal. Hear me?"
Nesohc's nostrils flared, his eyes widened. Before he could address Dekram's strange behavior, the Principal cleared his throat loudly, lowered the microphone, and gave them a stern look until they wiggled into place.
With a forced smile, Nrets continued. "As you know, today was set up for the first session of repercussions training in regards to your behavior on the human side of the portal. After Human Services had reported their findings, a spontaneous decision was made. Based on the elders' desire for clarity in regards to your abilities, we will be testing your powers in a controlled setting. Now I'm sure there are those who think this goes against the no tolerance policy for using magic on this side of the portal, but due to…"
Layol watched the teacher's and staff's heads nodding in agreement.
"Stinks like a pile of bull crap." Etah shared an affirmation with Dekram. "They just wanted to see what half-breed's made of." She smirked at Layol. "Well, good luck wit dat."
"Yeah, and I'd bet my iPod you were switched at birth," Layol growled. Encouraged by snickers from the kids seated around them she added, "I'm thinking the spawn of Puck and Medusa, right?"
"Nope, not me, girlfriend," Etah guffawed.
While Dekram and Etah shared chuckles and whispers, Nesohc grabbed Layol's hand resting on the bleacher between them and squeezed hard. Layol locked eyes with him. "They changed Dekram just like Detaf. She even kisses different." He blushed.
"Ya think?" Layol exaggerated agreement. "We need to get out of here and back to the portal behind the Black Shamrock. I bet the re-" Layol expelled the first part of the word and then her lips froze in a tight circle when Dekram turned back to them, grabbed Nesohc around the neck, and pulled his face to hers. As she forced a kiss on him, Nesohc stared at Layol over Dekram's shoulder and the look was pure disgust.
"Dekram and Detaf! Etah and Bacs! Front and center," a voice boomed from the speakers.
Dekram pulled her mouth off Nesohc. "Gotta go, baby. Daddy's calling." She placed her index finger on the tip of his nose, wiggled it and then gave it a dismissive pat. As she got up, she and Detaf slapped palms, and, his arm around her waist, they headed for the stage. Etah and Bacs followed not far behind.
Excitement fluttered wings all over the auditorium; fairies darted upward, vying for a better view. Nesohc rubbed the back of his hand across scowling lips and mumbled, "Let's get out of here."
Layol was already dropping out of sight under the bleachers. Nesohc shook his head, folded his wings, and slipped through the opening under the bench after her.
Outside of the Oak, darting toward the Black Shamrock, Layol shouted, "If Soahc has hurt the real Dek; I swear on the Elements, I'll kill her." Layol's form flickered. Long gray hair fell over the length of a bony, wrinkled body, dried and tanned like a piece of leather suffering many years of exposure. In a wink she was back to the glamoured teen.
The illusion flicker seemed unnoticed by Nesohc. "What are you talking about?"
"That was Soahc in the auditorium. She took Dekram's wings."
"Really, Lay?" Nesohc said. "You have to go throwing out Internet folklore right now?"
"No! It's a fact!" Layol snapped. "Hey, crank it down a notch, buddy, because you are not going to find the Dekram you fell in love with over here. She's human now. See, if they plucked her wings, left the real Dekram on this side, Soahc would be able to-"
"Shut up and fly—let's just get her back."
"Crapolla!" Lay whispered. "I hear swarming on the other side of the portal."
* * *
DEKRAM’S EYELIDS FLUTTERED. A hard surface covered in gritty sand made movement harsh on her naked arms and legs. Echoed mumbles surrounded her. The smell of blackberries worried a thought of thorny vines and she tried to rise. A moan escaped her lips when boney fingers rolled her on her back—grabbed her chin and shook. Dekram opened her eyes and screamed; tried to fight the grubby man as he pulled her to a sitting position. But she felt weak and fell against his chest, mewing fear. Each fetid breath the man exhaled smelled like fermented berries.
"It's okay, girly." His breath was fetid, hands cold and greasy as he raked them over her cheek; typically a comforting gesture, it made Dekram shiver and croak a sob. "And far as I can see, nothin's broken and you're not bleedin' nowhere." His gray hair was knotted and oily
, clothes tattered and filthy. The man offered her a pint size bottle half-filled with clear golden liquid. "Take a sip; it'll warm your insides."
Her lips felt dry and cracked as the old man tipped the bottle to her mouth. She shook her head and pushed his hand away when a small bit of the liquid burned all the way down to her stomach, a good burn. Dekram cleared her throat. "Where am I?" she asked with a squeaky voice.
"An old warehouse in Leesburg. You know who left you here?"
"Leesburg? I don't know Leesburg." She leaned away from the man's chest and braced herself, palms on dusty pavement. Her head swam with visuals of the buildings in and around Wandermere. She couldn't remember any old warehouses. This is a bad dream. I'm going to wake up in my bed, and... Her temples throbbed as she tried to bring clarity to the situation. Vision blurred, she attempted to focus on the old man who had just wiggled a few inches away from her.
His eyes studied hers. "Leesburg, Florida. You got family 'round here?"
Dekram bolted upright; pain shot through her body. Eyes big, she exclaimed, "You don't have wings!"
"I'm not your guardian angel, girly," the old guy giggled, "just an old man who's tryin to live out the last of his days in peace. This warehouse's been a dumpin' ground for teenagers in the last few months. Makes a fella think about relocatin'. That, an 'bout half of you mentioned wings and drugs; got me thinkin' 'bout cops an' things, one of you overdosin', the others squawkin' 'bout some old man in the warehouse crap. First time I felt like movin' on since I made this my home. What'cha think, you gonna make trouble for me? How 'bout you tell me how you got here, an' if you think someone's gonna come lookin' for ya."
Dekram looked around. The cold concrete floors and walls were like nothing she'd seen before. The sounds around her were not birds singing or trees rustling, but strange rumbling machines, loud honks, and angry sirens. She did not smell flora, or musky earth, or crisp and fragrant breezes and dew covered grass, but noxious smells enough to trap a breath in her gravelly throat.
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