‘You can bugger off, mate.’
Alex smiled and noticed Paige rubbing sun cream on Carrie’s back.
‘Would you like me to rub some on you?’ said Carrie.
‘No, I’m good thank you, the sun doesn’t burn me,’ said Alex, the thought of Carrie rubbing her hands all over him was a bit too much, and he lay down.
‘I told you he had a nice body,’ said Kaeya, as she popped out from behind a basket and stood on Alex’s chest.
Claire shook her head. ‘I thought you was playing hide and seek.’
Kaeya grinned proudly. ‘I am, but they haven’t found me yet.’
‘You’re just weird, I’m sure you’ve got a pixie boyfriend now.’
‘I do, and he has a nice body, too,’ said Kaeya, which made Alex laugh and nearly knocked the pixie off.
Alex soaked up the sun, he closed his eyes feeling energised, but could still relax. It was twenty minutes later when he heard Claire.
‘Good grief, will someone stop him from doing that.’
Alex opened his eyes and could see the top of her head, and the realisation that he was floating made him drop to the ground. ‘What happened there?’ he said, looking at Kerry and Emma.
‘Don’t blame us,’ said Emma.
‘Where’s Kaeya?’ said Claire, looking shocked, and Alex turned over quickly but the pixie wasn’t there.
‘That was cruel, Claire,’ said Paige.
‘I know,’ said Claire, and went over to Alex and hugged him. ‘I’m sorry.’
Alex grinned. ‘I don’t know why, House wouldn’t have let me hurt her.’
‘You pig,’ she said pushing him back down, and returned to her blanket.
Adair sat in a long sleeveless white robe. ‘They don’t hate each other, then?’
Daralis, like all the white witches wore a light sleeveless dress. ‘No of course not, but they like to wind each other up.’
‘It’s too hot for that.’
‘Yes, and it’s so nice just to relax here,’ said Luella.
‘I totally agree,’ said Aileen. ‘I haven’t done this in such a long time.’
‘Even the gnomes are enjoying the sun for some reason,’ said Morven.
‘That I think was Master Alex’s plan,’ said Adair.
Kaeya climbed back on Alex’s chest, and stuck her tongue out at Claire.
Carrie looked ruefully at the little pixie. ‘Do you think anyone will mind me going topless?’ she said, and Alex nearly choked.
Paige laughed. ‘I don’t think anyone will mind at all.’
‘You will give Joseph a heart attack,’ said Alex, and the two women just giggled.
Paige lay on her front with chin on hands. ‘You wouldn’t mind if she did would you, Alex?’
‘I don’t care, I’m keeping my bloody eyes closed,’ said Alex, and even Claire laughed at that.
Carrie was still giggling. ‘We could get a Jacuzzi, and sit in it in our bathing costumes and Alex in his trunks.’
‘And when the children are in bed we can do it in the nude,’ Paige added.
That was too much for Alex. House, is Carrie topless?
No, not at the moment.
Good, I want you to take me to my room once I have lifted Kaeya off, as I need to go somewhere else.
Are you not enjoying yourself?
Yes, we won’t be long I just need to get something, said Alex, and carefully lifted the pixie off and sat up. He shook his head at Carrie and Paige before disappearing.
~~~~
‘Oh damn I was enjoying the view,’ said Carrie, realising she had said it out loud.
‘As was I,’ said Aileen.
‘Where did he go?’ said Morven.
‘Carrie scared him off,’ said Claire.
~~~~
Alex returned thirty minutes later with a freezer box.
Carrie sat up. ‘Why did you put your t-shirt back on?’
‘I had to go into a shop,’ he said, opening the box and taking out some ice creams and ice lolls.
Carrie was straight over, looking in the box with her cleavage almost in Alex’s face.
‘That . . . erm . . . sun cream smells nice,’ he said.
‘Do you like it?’ said Carrie, as she lifted up with an ice cream.
‘Yes, it’s lovely,’ he said, and laughed as he passed the ice creams and ice lolls around. Carrie had not opened hers yet, but was cooling herself down by rubbing it over her chest. Alex just smiled and shook his head.
‘They are too big for us,’ said Kaeya.
Alex raised both eyebrows. ‘What are?’
‘The ice creams.’
‘Oh . . . them . . . yes, I got you something else,’ he said and took a few tubs of ice cream out, and small wooden stirring sticks. The pixies stood around the tubs eating the different flavour ice creams.
Alex took his t-shirt off again and started eating his when Kaeya jumped back onto his shoulder.
‘Can I have a bite of yours?’ she said.
‘Of course,’ said Alex, and lifted it up to her.
‘Can I have a bite, too?’ said Carrie.
‘If you want,’ he said offering it to her.
‘Not that, I have my own ice cream.’
Paige smiled. ‘You’re a bad girl, Cas.’
‘I do hope we get to fight tonight,’ said Alex, and they all laughed. He remembered lying in the sun years ago and the disorienting feeling he felt afterwards, this wouldn’t happen now as the sun only made him stronger. He lay back after eating his ice cream and should have kept his eyes shut, but he had to keep looking. Carrie had moved position, and all he could see were her feet. He could see more if he wanted, but it was her feet which had his attention as there was a leaf stuck to one of them. For some reason it was annoying him and had to remove it.
‘What are you doing?’ said Claire, as Alex closed in on Carries foot.
‘This leaf is annoying me,’ he said.
‘Why are you looking at her feet?’
‘Have you seen what she’s wearing, I’m not looking anywhere else.’
Claire smiled. ‘Do it,’ she said, ‘do it.’
‘Do what?’ said Alex, and Claire wiggled her index finger and he smiled.
‘STOP!’ Carrie screamed, and sat up yanking her foot away.
Alex was still laughing when she jumped on him. ‘You shit, you horrible shit,’ she said, and finally got her hands on his body, the only problem was, they were pounding into his chest. Carrie might have stopped if he wasn’t still laughing. Claire had forgotten to mention that Carrie was highly sensitive when it came to tickling. Alex put his arms around her and pulled him to her, which stopped her punches so she bit his shoulder. It didn’t break the skin but left a mark and he didn’t mind.
Carrie got off him. ‘I’m not apologising for biting you.’
Alex was still laughing. ‘Well I did say you could have a bite.’ Everyone watched, and the children found it highly amusing.
‘I think my nephew is very clever how he has everyone at ease,’ said Adair.
‘At some things maybe, but not so smart at other things,’ said Luella. ‘I wonder if it’s too late to teach him about the birds and bees . . . Great Mother, preserve us.’
‘I’ve not heard that for a long time.’
‘I don’t suppose the company you’ve been keeping for the last two thousand years were ever fond of the goddess.’
‘Move over,’ said Carrie.
‘Why?’ said Alex.
‘I’m lying here in case you think of doing it again.’
‘But you’ve got so many bare spots, where it would be so easy to do it,’ said Alex, looking down her body, he decided it would be OK to do so as he was only looking for vulnerable places.
‘Try it mister and this bikini is coming off,’ she said, and if they had been alone at that moment, Carrie would’ve been tickled silly.
They stayed outside for another couple of hours.
CHAPTER TWENTY
After dinner Orlaith approached Alex who sat on a sofa in the hall. ‘Could you take us back home to get some things?’
Alex stood. ‘Of course, we’ll go now.’
He asked the Scottish ladies if they wanted to get anything, and they both did. He took Orlaith first and a few of the gnomes who also wanted to get some of their belongings. House returned to the mansion to take the others home.
Alex sat on the step outside Orlaith’s cottage. ‘How have you stayed hidden for so long?’
Jarlath stood holding an old-fashioned sack over his shoulder. ‘The white witches shield us with their magic.’
‘They’re quite special, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, we think so, and they have spent a long time watching after us and the pucas.’
‘That’s something we have in common. I think Mother or Daralis would’ve looked after the other pucas we found if things had been different.’
‘That may be true, but it looks like destiny was waiting for you.’
‘Why would you say that?’ said Alex, a little puzzled by it.
‘From what I be told your powers started to grow about a year ago when the first pucas in over six hundred years were born. Then you and your friends get rid of the warlock and witches, and bring us altogether.’
‘Well, that happened I guess, but we didn’t know it would happen the way it has.’
Jarlath sat next to him while they waited. ‘But it did happen, and I believe it was meant to happen.’
Alex nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re probably right, and many other things are about to happen. Morven said something about you enjoying the sun for some reason.’
‘Over the years we’ve become almost nocturnal, as we can move about easier at night. Today was the first time I can remember spending it outside in the sunshine.’
Alex glanced back at the cottage. ‘You can’t all sleep in there.’
Jarlath shook his head. ‘No, we live below.
‘What about Fergal? He was only visiting Briana from what I could see.’
‘No, he lives there; they must have been away for a few days,’
‘Are they the only family of gnomes there?’
‘Yes, there were others but they had left for the old world a long time ago. He tells me you were fitting a television for Briana.’
‘Michelle was fitting it, I was just watching, she also put in electricity for her.’
‘You know the other ladies will want one now.’
Alex nodded. ‘And they will get one.’
‘You be a very generous person, you feed us and let us stay at your home.’
‘Isn’t that what friends do, and I ordered more ale.’
Jarlath smiled. ‘Yes, I guess they do, and there be something else.’
‘What is that?’ said Alex.
‘Some of the gnomes would like to leave their children at yours a few days a week for schooling, just so they can learn how to read and write.’
‘That would be nice, and I don’t think Sally would mind, Gort and Flax can already read.’
Blaze sat watching the ball but nothing was happening when Alex returned. ‘Any luck?’ he asked.
‘I saw you and the gnomes, but it went blank not long after.’
Alex leant on the door frame. ‘What did you ask it to look for?’
‘To search for any mythical creature in Ireland.’
‘And it understood that?’
Blaze glanced up at him. ‘It found the gnomes, but went blank not long after.’
‘How long after you saw us did it go blank?’
‘Not long after they got their stuff.’
‘We would’ve been back by then, have you tried anything since?’
‘No, I’m not sure what to look for.’
Alex rubbed his chin as he considered it. ‘Is it still looking or have you turned it off?’
Blaze shook her head. ‘I told it to rest.’
‘Ask it to search again, I’ve an idea I want to try.’
Blaze did and nothing happened. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Just watch the ball, don’t ask it anything else, and I’ll make a few trips back with some of our friends. I want to know if the image changes.’
‘I could manage that.’
House took Alex, along with Fergal, Flax and Kaeya, to Ireland one at a time and they all showed up on the ball.
Blaze sat watching when Alex returned. ‘This could be handy . . . I never knew it could do that.’
Alex nodded. ‘Yeah, we just need to wait now.’
‘That’s something I’ll do.’
‘We’ll take it in turns.’
‘No, a few of the ladies will be joining me. They have so much history and I can’t wait to hear about it, as will a few others.’
‘Take some notes for Joseph.’
‘I’ve invited him and George to join us.’
Alex glanced around the room. ‘You’re gonna need another sofa in here.’
‘You could join us.’
‘No, I have a few hours left before the children go to bed,’ said Alex, and left the room.
~~~~
James stood in the gym watching the male gnomes swinging their new axes. He counted sixteen from Scotland and fourteen from Ireland. ‘I hope you’re going to leave some demons for the rest of us.’
Roth held a heavy-looking one bladed axe, but the gnome didn’t appear to notice. ‘Alex said he saw about three hundred of them.’
‘Yes, but I don’t think twenty of them would be a problem for one of you guys.’
‘From what Fergal has told us, you’ll have no problems doing that yourself.’
‘Don’t the ladies want to join us?’ said Claire.
‘They would if we were still in the forest,’ said Jarlath, ‘but this place has somewhat enchanted them.’
Fergal nodded in agreement. ‘Roisin be more interested in watching the children enjoy themselves, and she gets to talk to so many new friends.’
‘How long since you were in a battle?’ James asked.
Roth spun the axe in his hands. ‘Too long, but do not worry, we’re ready.’
James rubbed his chin. ‘I have no fears there. It’s your battle tactics I was thinking about.’
‘We never had any. We just attack and kill the enemy.
‘I reckon you could be so much more,’ said James, as Alex entered the gym.
Fergal leant on his axe. ‘What do you have in mind?’
‘I want ten of you to stand in a line holding your axes,’ said James, and after a few seconds they stood ready. ‘Carrie, I want you to stand down there,’ he said, pointing to a spot further down the gym.
‘What do we do now?’ said Fergal.
‘I want you to march on her, and you have to stop smiling.’
‘But that be the lovely Carrie.’
‘Tonight she is an evil witch and wants to take your homes. Look as angry as you can, and march on her.’
The gnomes stopped smiling and marched, they swung their axes up and down in unison. Carrie watched as they closed in on her, and at the last-minute she leapt over them past James to where Alex now stood. The gnomes turned and marched towards them, Alex smiled, as did Roth standing next to James.
‘I think you can stop now,’ gulped James, as they got close.
‘How was that?’ said Fergal, as they stopped about a foot in front of him.
‘Pretty scary, but I’m not the witch.’
‘No, maybe not,’ said Fergal. ‘But you wanted to know what affect we would have on others, and you had to feel that for yourself.’
‘And what did you feel?’ said Alex.
‘Claustrophobia, they were like an impenetrable wall closing in on me,’ said James. ‘Can you fight like that in battle without harming your friends?’
Fergal nodded. ‘Yes, we can, but why would we need to fight like this?’
‘You may never have to, but it’s always worth knowin
g. I reckon you could push any army back.’
‘James is correct,’ said Alex. ‘We don’t want to kill everyone we fight, as they might not always be demons.’
‘That doesn’t include this battle you’ve seen in your dream,’ said Jarlath.
‘No, you can have as much fun as you like there.’
‘Can we go back to one on one now?’ said Carrie.
Alex sighed. ‘Do you not tire?’
‘Oh no, I can go all night,’ she said with a cheeky grin.
‘Then think about our friends,’ said Alex.
‘Don’t worry, my lord, after training with them I’ll be soon kicking your ass.’
‘Come on then, me lady,’ said Fergal, swapping his axe for a staff.
Roth raised both eyebrows. ‘I don’t know if I envy you or fear for you.’
‘I think pity would be a better term,’ said Alex.
Roth smiled and resumed training.
James put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. ‘I believe you like our Caz.’
‘Yes, I do, but too much I’m afraid.’
‘How can you like someone too much?’
Alex just looked at him. ‘She is gay, or have you forgotten?’
‘The way she’s been acting around you I thought we got that wrong.’
Alex watched Carrie swing her staff at Fergal, who blocked it. ‘There was a time when I thought that, but do you remember the day when we talked about our nightmares the witches had caused us to have?’
‘Yeah, I don’t think I’ll forget it in a long time.’
‘Well Paige mentioned Carrie’s ex, and that ex was a woman.’
‘Oh, yeah, I see how that could be a problem,’ said James. They both had the utter most respect for the women, and falling for one of them was a definite no-no. He suddenly felt very sorry for his friend.
~~~~
Alex sat on a sofa in his usual seat next to Claire. She was the only other one in the hall, as the rest was either with Blaze, training, or watching a film.
Claire closed her book with a sigh. ‘OK, what’s your problem?’
‘No problem, I just wanted to sit down.’
‘There’s something on your mind, I know that much.’
‘There’s always something on my mind,’ said Alex, he wanted to ask about Carrie, but couldn’t.
Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy Page 24
