Stolen Hearts

by Sasha L. Miller

  "I'm not mad at him!" Denzil snapped, springing up from his seat to pace again.

  "I know," Mervyn said, fiddling with his tea cup before setting it down again. "I tried to explain. I told him some of what we've done, but he's not very convinced."

  Denzil muttered something under his breath that Mervyn pretended not to hear, taking a deep breath and bracing himself for the next objectionable thing he had to tell Denzil.

  "Denzil," Mervyn said, waiting until Denzil turned around before continuing. "If he prefers to not see you before the charm is replaced, would you give him the space?"

  "Did he say that's what he wants?" Denzil demanded, and Mervyn sighed, wondering if it was a family trait to treat hypothetical questions as facts set in stone. "No, I'm sorry, he doesn't get to hide from me."

  "Denzil," Mervyn tried, but Denzil had already turned sharply on his heel and started storming towards the room. Rolling his eyes, because really, Denzil still needed to grow up in some respects, Mervyn hurried after him.

  Unfortunately, there was little to do to stop Denzil when he was in a snit. Hopefully, he wouldn't upset Callisto too much, Mervyn thought, unsurprised to find the door to the library wide open again. Hurrying his steps, Mervyn slipped inside in time to watch Callisto drop the cup of tea he was holding. It spilled, and the cup rolled over the edge of the table where Callisto was seated to shatter against the stone floor.

  Mervyn winced, but ignored it—it was just a tea cup.

  "You don't get to hide from me," Denzil said, much more calmly than Mervyn had expected of him, considering how angry Denzil had been when he'd stormed from the salon. "I'm not mad at you, you did nothing wrong, and I'm going to find the goddamn wizard who thought he could get away with messing with you and tear out his heart."

  Perhaps not completely calm, Mervyn conceded, hanging back in the doorway.

  Callisto nodded woodenly, but before he could reply properly, he abruptly went pale, bracing himself on the table. Mervyn winced, hesitating because there really wasn't anything he could do to ease the pain of Callisto's energy being siphoned away.

  "Sorry," Callisto muttered after a moment, dropping his still-trembling hands back to his lap. He didn't meet Denzil's eyes, and Mervyn wondered if he'd been noticed at all yet.

  "Don't be," Denzil ordered sharply, making Callisto flinch. Denzil sighed, moving around the table and kneeling next to Callisto's chair. Callisto looked at Denzil uncertainly, before glancing up at Mervyn briefly.

  "We're going to fix this, I promise," Denzil said, completely confident in every word. "We will fix this. I'm sorry, Callisto, I never should have let you go off on your own that night."

  "You didn't know," Callisto said, briefly pressing a hand against the charm under his shirt. "It's not your fault."

  "It could be," Denzil said, looking about as happy to admit it this time as he had been when he'd told Mervyn the same thing. "It's possible someone twigged me as a fairy. It was one of the reasons I wanted you to leave, as quickly as I could get you to go."

  "But no one was close enough to overhear us," Callisto said, frowning. "Except—"

  "He was with me the whole night," Denzil said, cutting Callisto off mid-sentence. "He couldn't have told anyone.

  "Then it was random," Callisto said quietly. "I've never been here before, and we don't look alike, so there's no way anyone after you would know who I am in relation."

  They didn't look at all alike, Mervyn realized belatedly, which was probably part of the reason he hadn't made any connection between them. Callisto was dark-haired and fine-boned, with pale gray eyes, whereas Denzil had fair hair and dark brown eyes, with a wider, more muscular frame.

  "Good point," Denzil conceded after a moment, frowning. "It still could have been whomever is after me, taking an opportunity."

  "Either way, you should still stay here," Mervyn interjected, stepping further into the library as Callisto and Denzil both looked his way. "It will be safer until we can figure out who is behind it."

  "I was planning on it," Denzil groused, standing up. "I need to write those notes."

  "You can use the writing desk in the salon," Mervyn said. "Then meet me downstairs. I'll clear a work room for you. Give your letters to Evandie when you're done; she'll see they get to where they need to go."

  "We'll talk more later, Callisto," Denzil promised. He clapped Callisto on the shoulder, completely oblivious to the less than thrilled look those words elicited.

  "Okay," Callisto said quietly, and Mervyn offered him a small smile when Callisto glanced at him.

  "Make sure you double-check those fire charms, Mervyn," Denzil groused as he made his way towards the library door. "I don't want a repeat of that charbroil charm."

  "You were fine," Mervyn said easily, getting a rude gesture from Denzil before he disappeared into the hallway. Mervyn waited a few beats before addressing Callisto. "I'm sorry. I had meant to give you the time, but Denzil had other thoughts on the matter, as you can see."

  "It's okay," Callisto said quietly, running a shaky hand through his hair. "I should have just faced him, not tried to hide."

  "Still, it was your choice to make," Mervyn said. "I will try to keep him from hovering too much; he likes to do that."

  Callisto looked disbelieving for a moment, but then he just shrugged, apparently accepting it. Mervyn hesitated, at a loss what else to tell Callisto.

  "I should get to work," Mervyn said, offering Callisto a brief smile, somewhat surprised when Callisto returned it with a small smile of his own. Perhaps talking with his brother had calmed him down some. Certainly having someone he knew fighting for him wasn't going to hurt. "Enjoy the library, as you can, and let Evandie if know if you need anything."

  "I will, thank you," Callisto said. "Sorry about your cup."

  "Don't worry about it," Mervyn said, unable to keep from grinning a little. "I have plenty, and if I run low that just gives Evandie another excuse to go shopping. She likes to shop. I'll send her to come pick up the mess."

  "Okay," Callisto said. Mervyn nodded briefly before turning and making himself leave before he stayed and tried to talk to Callisto more. It was odd, how much he wanted to just talk to Callisto.

  It was also heartbreaking—most of the fairies he and Denzil had helped previously had been tougher, had at least anger to bolster them. Callisto was so defensive and wary and withdrawn, and it was sad, but he was completely justified in feeling that way. The best thing Mervyn could do for him was to make the charm, make it quickly, and then find Callisto's real heart for him.

  Part Three

  Callisto shut the book he was holding, leaning forward and setting it down on the table in front of the couch he was sitting on. Mervyn and Denzil had been gone since this morning; there'd been no sign of them since Mervyn had left to clear out a work room so Denzil could work safely.

  Callisto still wasn't sure how he felt about Denzil knowing. On one hand, it was a relief that Denzil was there and knew how to help fix it. It also lent Mervyn a lot of confidence, since Callisto couldn't believe that Denzil would work with any wizard who was less than level about helping fairies, so Callisto could trust him now.

  On the other hand, it meant that Callisto could never completely pretend it hadn't happened. There was also the worry that Denzil would tell their parents, on purpose or accidentally, and Callisto was sure they wouldn't be anywhere near as accepting as Denzil had been.

  Of course, they'd also disown Denzil in a heartbeat if they knew he'd been mucking around with his magic again. That had been the biggest point of contention between Denzil and their parents—Denzil had wanted to learn when he was younger; their parents believed it was too dangerous to show off any magic at all, even that which could be passed off as wizard magic. Denzil had dropped it after a few years of huge arguments, and Callisto had thought that was the end of it, but obviously Denzil had only hidden it.

  Sighing, Callisto reached for the next book in the stack he'd collected before settlin
g on the sofa, wondering if Mervyn would mind if he spent the entirety of his stay inside the library. He'd already taken a short nap here earlier. Until he'd been awakened by yet another nightmare that had nearly sent him tumbling to the floor.

  Drumming his fingers lightly against the silver letters on the book's cover, Callisto stared wistfully at the library. He'd always wanted to do more schooling, or at least have access to a library like this. The little town he'd lived in had only a small collection of books, most of them used for teaching reading and writing. His parents had never put much stock in it, though, more focused on keeping the orchard running—there wasn't much use for reading and writing past what was needed for that, as far as they were concerned.

  Flipping open the book, Callisto trailed shaking fingers over the image displayed on the first page. It was obviously a picture of a painting, though the words beneath the image were in a language he didn't recognize. The painting was beautiful, a detailed landscape of some faraway coast, the setting sun touching off brilliant colors in the waves lapping against the shore.

  Callisto smiled faintly, wondering briefly if he could recreate some of the colors—but probably not, between the lack of time his parents gave him to pursue such "frivolous activities," and the lack of any real paints at home.

  Dismissing it, not really wanting to make his mood any worse, Callisto turned the page to find a depiction of another painting. There were more unintelligible words beneath it, but Callisto paid them no mind, more interested in the artwork than the words below it.

  He wasn't sure how long he spent flipping through the book of paintings, but he was only halfway through when someone cleared their throat from far too close for Callisto's comfort. He jumped, barely managing to hold onto the book, but losing his page in the process.

  "Sorry," Denzil said sheepishly, then sat down on the couch next to him. Callisto resisted the urge to slide further away; Denzil wasn't going to hurt him, even if Callisto would prefer a bit more personal space.

  "Are you done?" Callisto asked, settling the book securely in his lap.

  "I am, for now," Denzil said, shrugging as he sprawled out across the sofa. "Mervyn needed to start actually building the charm, since the spell can't be embedded in just anything. I'd just be a distraction for that."

  Callisto nodded, curling his fingers around the edges of the book of paintings. "How—how long will it take him?"

  "At least a day, maybe two," Denzil said, frowning in thought. "It's hard to say. He's also going to be laying preliminary spell work, and it can be hard to tell how they'll change as they're laid and whether they'll all weave together the way we plan, or if Mervyn will have to do a lot of tweaking throughout his casting."

  Callisto nodded again, not really sure he understood that. Fairy magic, as far as he knew it, was simple. It either worked or it didn't; it was all or nothing. There was no interweaving of spells and the magic couldn't be embedded in objects like wizard magic often was.

  "So what are you reading?" Denzil asked after a short, somewhat uneasy silence. Callisto hesitated, but then simply handed Denzil the book.

  "This is in Kaplir," Denzil said, giving the book a skeptical look.

  "I'm not reading it," Callisto said, more harshly than he meant to. Sighing, he gestured at the book impatiently. "Look inside."

  Denzil flipped the book open to a random page, displaying a colorful portrait of an older man wearing a blue and red uniform. "I see," Denzil muttered, flipping through a few pages before looking back at Callisto. "Want me to get you some … stuff? Then you can do your art thing here instead of just looking at it."

  Callisto muffled a snort, somehow managing to say politely, "No, thank you."

  "You sure? I don't mind, and it would give me some errands to run while Mervyn is doing his thing," Denzil said, and he probably meant well, but Callisto couldn't take it. Denzil had always been dismissive of him, and while he probably meant well, he didn't even know what Callisto was interested in past 'art stuff'." He wasn't even paying attention; if he had been, he never would have offered.

  "You're not supposed to leave," Callisto said stiffly, skirting around the art issue because he didn't want to get into a fight with Denzil. "There's someone watching you."

  "If they haven't done anything yet, they won't," Denzil said dismissively. "Do you still carve? I could find a shop—"

  "Denzil," Callisto said sharply, scowling. "No. I can't—" He cut off, not wanting to say he couldn't do anything. Instead, he just held out his hands, displaying the tremors that made his fingers shake.

  "Oh," Denzil said, subdued. Thankfully he turned his attention back to the book, flipping through a few more pages. Callisto sank down into the couch cushions a little more, wishing Denzil would find somewhere else to be so he could go back to enjoying the fragile peace he'd managed to find before Denzil had shown up.

  "Is there anything I can do for you?" Denzil asked, not two seconds later, and Callisto really just wanted him to stop it. Denzil was never this nice or solicitous, and Callisto couldn't tell him to stop, to go away, because Denzil was just trying to help.

  "No," Callisto said, shaking his head. "I'm fine. Stop—stop trying to make it better. I'm okay with this." Callisto made an abortive gesture towards the rest of the library, though he didn't really know what he was trying to point out.

  "Sorry," Denzil said, pausing as he handed Callisto the book of paintings. "I'm trying to help, and I can't help Mervyn anymore without getting in his way. I'm not very good at sitting around."

  "You never were very good at that," Callisto said, wincing at a flare of pain. It lasted only a second before the pain charm neutralized it, thankfully, and Callisto was going to have to find some way to repay Mervyn for everything he was doing.

  "No, I wasn't," Denzil said, smiling ruefully. He slouched down against the couch, looking thoroughly put out about it. "I should have stuck closer to home, been around more. I'm sorry, Callisto, I never should have made you go that night. I was selfish and stupid, and I didn't want to hear that mother and father wanted me home for some stupid reason or another."

  "You couldn't know," Callisto said, wishing Denzil would let that drop. Endeavoring to change the subject, Callisto continued, "Mervyn won't accept payment."

  "He usually doesn't," Denzil said, shrugging dismissively. "One of the reasons I did the fairy lights for him."

  "How do I say thank you, then?" Callisto asked, feeling stupid to even be asking it. The way Denzil brushed it off, it seemed as if Mervyn's not accepting payment was no big deal.

  "Saying it usually works," Denzil said flippantly, and Callisto wondered why he'd even bothered.

  "Never mind," Callisto muttered, deciding he was sick of the library. Or of Denzil, at least.

  "Letting him help is actually a big thanks," Denzil said more seriously. "We run into a lot of fairies who won't let him help because he's a wizard and of course they're all the same. Even with my reassurances, he's untrustworthy at best, and I'm deceitful at worst."

  "I was letting him help even before you showed up," Callisto said, wincing as another flare of pain caught him by surprise.

  "You okay?" Denzil asked, and Callisto nodded. He really didn't need Denzil mothering him to death on top of everything else.

  "It's as good as it gets," Callisto said flatly when Denzil just stared at him unblinkingly for a long moment.

  "Okay, okay, sorry," Denzil said, then asked hesitantly, "How bad is it?"

  Callisto didn't answer for a second, then decided to go with the least offensive answer he could come up with on short notice. "It's better with the charms Mervyn gave me."

  "I know some fairies that can do pain-blocking—"

  "No," Callisto snapped, standing up quickly and regretting it. He caught his balance on the arm of the sofa, scowling at Denzil. "You're not going anywhere; I don't need more pain-blocking, and I don't want anyone else to know!"

  "It's not your fault, Callisto," Denzil said, frowning worriedly
. "You know that, right? You didn't do anything wrong."

  "I know," Callisto said, probably more harshly than was necessary, but Denzil still wasn't listening. "I know, but not everyone will think that. I don't want—I don't want it to get home. The fewer people who know, the better."

  Denzil winced then nodded. He knew their parents; they were incredibly old-fashioned when it came to fairy-wizard relationships. Any sort of wizard taint on either Denzil or Callisto, and they'd pretend to not know them.

  "I won't tell them," Denzil said, standing up as well. He was unfortunately taller than Callisto, but Callisto refused to let that get to him. He wasn't going to feel sorry for his outburst. "I wouldn't be that cruel, Callisto, and they don't know anyone here except me and a few old business acquaintances."

  "I know," Callisto said. It wasn't that he didn't trust Denzil, but before Denzil had shown up, there had been no way for him to know that Denzil didn't share the same mindset their parents had. It had never come up before, and Denzil definitely hadn't seemed open to magic and wizards and to helping fairies who'd gotten unfairly bound.

  "Let me know if you change your mind about the fairy pain spell, hmm?" Denzil said, and Callisto just nodded dully, tired all over again now that the anger had drained out of him. He really should just go back to his room and rest some more, but he was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to take the books from the library.

  "We will fix it," Denzil said, stepping forward and looking rather like he was going to hug Callisto.

  Callisto took a hasty step back then turned it into a turn towards the door as it opened. Mervyn stepped into the library, looking distracted as he shut the door behind him. He held a sheaf of papers in one hand, and there was a smudge of dirt or something on his left cheek.

  "Oh, Denzil, there you are," Mervyn said, shuffling the papers he held. He gave Callisto an absent smile then frowned a little. "There's a schematic I need you to look at, but I think I left it in the work room."

  "I thought you were done with me," Denzil said, stepping forward to stand just behind Callisto. Callisto tensed a little—stupid, because it was just Denzil—but he really didn't want anyone too close, not until it was all fixed.