by Zoe Parker
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” I know it’s not a good idea, the mild curiosity I might have over the old house isn’t enough to drive me into going there. “Too many bad memories.”
“Bad memories?” Her eyes hold a soft emotion as she says it. She continues, “I can understand that, but you’re letting bad memories keep you from moving forward. I figured you for a stronger person than that.”
Straightening in my chair I fight the urge to stand up and walk out, but she smiles at me in such an understanding way that I relax. Apparently, she doesn’t mean it to be as insulting as it sounds.
‘Maybe this is someone you shouldn’t befriend, monster girl.’
Ignoring Ciar’s warning I lean my elbows on my knees and study Lucinda. She looks apologetic, which proves true as she says, “I’m sorry, Keri. I didn’t mean that to sound like that. I guess I see you as this super-hero, and to find out that you have emotional baggage like everyone else surprises me.”
“No one is without baggage.”
“That’s the truth. I still think we should go. Maybe you can get a good look at it and see whether it’s worth selling or not.”
‘She might actually be onto something there, Keri. Property here can be valuable.’
I’m not sure if its Ciar agreeing with her or my own morbid curiosity, but I find myself agreeing. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll go this weekend?”
“Yes! My family will be out of town on holiday.” Well, I’m glad she’s so excited about it.
“Right then, you’re all done Mage. You can both come and pick up your dresses Monday afternoon.” Adelle turns to me and smiles then disappears behind some curtains.
That’s our cue to leave.
“So, Lucinda, tell me about you. Any hot boyfriends or girlfriends hiding somewhere?” She blushes and ducks her head as we walk out of the dress shop.
This is a sure sign she either has a crush or a significant other. Now I’m curious who the shy Lucinda has the hots for.
“Spill the beans,” I tease her, wrapping my arm through hers. She giggles and steers us towards one of the restaurants nearby.
“Well, he’s in my history class,” Oh, it’s a crush. “I’m thinking about asking him to be my plus one for the Mixer, but I haven’t gotten the courage yet.”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s human, obviously.” What’s this? “He has red hair, but I think it looks perfect on him. Our dads work together for the Senate, so I’ve known him my entire life. We even used to hang out when we were younger…” As she talks about this mystery red-head, her eyes sparkle and a smile stays on her face.
That’s not why I’m watching her, I’m doing it because of the human comment. Did she forget what I am? When she leans on my shoulder companionably I let the weird worry go and just enjoy myself.
This is something I haven’t had a lot of and it’s fun.
Ciar walks behind us like a shadow. He hasn’t said anything since the shop, but I can feel him thinking hard. Zag is awake and watching Lucinda, his thoughts are closed to me, but I don’t feel any hostility coming off him.
Lucinda is still chattering about ‘Mark’ the red-head—who’s name she finally mentioned, she chooses the restaurant with a point of her finger and since I see no reason not to, we go in. We’re greeted by a cheerful teenager who looks like every wholesome teenager you see on the TV programs. I smile at her while she steers us towards a table near the kitchen. It’s a bit warm outside so the cool air-conditioning feels nice on my skin. While I cool off I look around for any type of anti-Fae jargon, seeing none I relax.
I look over at Ciar who isn’t sweating at all, lucky dog. Lucinda’s face is slightly red and glistening from our brief walk. Which shows that she’s a bit out of shape, I’m hot but not winded like she appears to be. She doesn’t look it, but her body is telling on her. I don’t want to see my new friend get ill, maybe we could exercise together—wait, is that offensive to ask?
‘Let her be the one to offer, humans are odd about those things.’ Okay, I think he’s right this time and he’s also eavesdropping a lot. A quick check shows me my shields are nonexistent again.
Is that his doing or mine?
We order our food and chat about the school and Lucinda’s family, who are not nice people, while we wait for it.
It comes faster than I expected. Lucinda ordered bird food. All that is on her plate is a piece of fish smaller than a domino and a piece of broccoli, that’s it. Seriously? I have to figure out how to get her to eat real food.
Seeing me staring, she takes a small bit out of the fish and blushes. “My mom makes me take measurements of my waist, she says that no man will have a fat woman who hasn’t Awakened.”
Wow, just wow.
“She sounds like a great person.” Sarcasm is thick in my voice, but Lucinda doesn’t pick up on it.
“Oh, yes. She Awakened in her teens, so she’s held in high esteem in our social circles.” I blink at her and nibble at the burger I ordered, feeling guilty about what I have to eat compared to her speck of food. “And my dad is sought out often for his opinion on government matters.”
“Is he part of her Triad?” I ask, raising my drink to my lips.
“My mother doesn’t have a Triad.” Lucinda frowns at me while I choke on a mouthful of tea. Holding my hand up in apology I wave for her to continue. “She had a Triad, but the other two members weren’t equal to my dad’s caliber, so they were cast out.”
Now, I don’t know everything there is to know about Triads, but I do know that you can’t cast out a member. You can have a normal relationship with them, you can even live separately, but you can’t get rid of them.
There’s only one thing that can do that, premature death. Typically, all members die at the same time or near the same time. It’s the connection between them. How did her mother survive the deaths of two of her Triad?
Unless… “Where did they get sent off to?”
“They were locked up by the Senate for crimes against the crown.” So not dead, imprisoned.
From the description she gave of her father it’s not hard to imagine that he did it on purpose. That also crippled their Triad.
I don’t understand humans.
Lucinda keeps talking and I give up the guilt and eat my food. Mark comes up again and by the end of it I’m ready to strangle the guy. I know she’s not subtle in her liking of him. She says flat out that she stares at him and giggles around him. Unless he’s an idiot, he knows.
Either he is shy like her or he’s not interested.
“When are you going to ask him to the Mixer?”
“This weekend. He’s staying in from visiting family too so after we get back from exploring your old house, maybe I’ll go see if I can build up the courage to ask him.”
“I’m sure he’ll say yes.” Smiling at her, I take another drink to wash the lie out of my mouth. I’m not sure at all.
Any man can lose his hat in a Fairy wind. ~Irish saying
We spent several hours wandering around town checking out various shops and laughing a lot. It’s been a long time since I had that kind of fun and I’m sad to see it end. Lucinda is yawning behind her hand, obviously tired. We walk her back to her dorm and she hugs me at the door.
“Thank you for the great day. I’ve never had that much fun,” she says, giving a little wave she shuts the door and we head to our own room.
Changing into my pajamas, a tank top and shorts, I climb onto my bed and watch Ciar strip off his shirt and pants—disappointingly he’s wearing boxers—and put on a pair of shorts.
Zag gives me a kiss on the cheek with a flick of his tongue and disappears out the window to go fly. Fluffy is snoring under the bed and that leaves Ciar and I basically alone.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable going to the house?” he asks into the quiet.
I figured this question was coming. “She’s not wrong, it really is time I deal with it, and like you said maybe
I can sell the property, if nothing else.” Mada gave me money but I won’t mind having my own.
“Have you considered living there? It was a long time ago, monster girl.”
Having our own place, especially considering the addition of more of us wouldn’t be horrible.
“I hadn’t, but it gives me something to think about. Having our own space might be nice. Living here makes me feel like I’m always being watched.”
“You mostly are.”
“Way to encourage my paranoia.” He chuckles and rolls on his side to face me.
“Do you still want to know about me?”
“Of course, I do.” There’s no way I’m missing this chance to get to know who he is as a man and not just the Lord of the Hunt. “Spill.”
“As you well know, growing up with the Sluagh is an adventure. My childhood was a happy one. I even fancied myself in love once.”
Oh, just, oh.
Clearing my suddenly choked throat I ask, “What happened to her?”
“I ate her.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“She broke the laws of Faerie and was hunted.” Blinking several times, I try to wrap my head around what he’s telling me.
“Didn’t that upset you?”
“Gods no. She tried to kill me, it was all some big set up by the king to usurp my position in the Hunt.”
Licking my dry lips, I ask the question that’s burning on my tongue. “Did you still love her when you ate her?”
“No, like I said—I fancied myself in love. I discovered her treachery rather early on and spent several weeks manipulating her into giving me all of her conspirators.”
“Wow, Ciar—just wow.” Another question pops into my head and right out of my mouth. “What if I break the law of Faerie?” Those green eyes of his flash in the darkness of our room.
“Then we die together because there is no force in existence that can make me or the Sluagh hunt you.”
“How would we die then, if the Hunt doesn’t hunt me?”
“There would be consequences for my refusal.” Well, then. “I’m the only Puca in existence and sometimes that makes me feel lonely… made me feel lonely. I haven’t felt that way since I met you.” I suspected he was the only one but didn’t know for sure, now I do. I have no idea what to think about the second half, I feel the same way.
“Were you and Mada ever… intimate?” It’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for a long time and well, now’s a good of time as any. His guffaw of laughter is not the answer I expect.
“I’d rather eat glass then sleep with that woman. Mada isn’t what I’d call easy to get along with, monster girl.” His laughter dies down. “Why would you ask something like that?”
“Well, you know, both of you in the woods for a million years together…”I feel relieved when he starts laughing again. I’m incredibly glad they didn’t have sex because I’m not sure how I’d process that. Mada is a lot like a mother to me and that’d be weird…
“My turn. Why are you so obsessed with Fairies?” That’s a hard change of subject and it’s only right that I answer.
“Peter, my nanny, was a Fairy. He was a huge part of my early life.” I smile picturing him in my mind. “He had bright green hair that always reminded me of spring grass and I loved to play in it. It’s how I learned to braid. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who raised me from a baby. He’s the first memory I have, his bright green hair and green eyes, always had a smile for me.” The smile fades but I continue, “my mother hated him but for some reason let him stay. I didn’t ask why.”
Throat tight with the fading memory of his laughter I take a breath, and continue, “he taught me to hunt, to be patient and he taught me to laugh, despite the circumstances. Back then, Peter was my whole world. Then when she went super nutso and came after me, he got in between us, but whatever Fae she was… way out-classed a Fairy—no matter how strong he was.” Swiping at the hot tear rolling down my cheek I keep going while I can.
“He died, and it distracted her enough to stop stabbing me. The Sluagh… you and the Sluagh who found me might have saved my life then, but he saved it first. I still miss him to this day.”
“I’m sorry, monster girl. I’d kill her again if I could.” A snotty snort escapes me, and I use the distraction to wipe the rest of the tears off my face. His proclamation is one of the sweetest things ever said to me.
“So, what was the name of this chick you loved and then ate? Should I be jealous?”
His chuckle floats through the darkness and the warmth that fills my chest makes the sadness fade.
“Na, she was boney and a bit tough. You’ll be juicy and tender.” If only my aim were better, the pillow I threw at him might have smacked him in that smug face of his.
“Ha, so funny. So, about that plant in music class.”
“Some creatures have hidden from others for a long time, monster girl. I suggest patience and the answers you seek will be found.”
Cryptic much?
“You’re not done with share time, already are you?
He chuckles again, and his soothing voice once again fills the room. “The first time I had sex I was so nervous and excited I tried to put it in her belly button…”
Ciar used magic on me, he had to have. Why else did I fall asleep mid-sex story? There’s no way I’d miss that otherwise. The sneaky butt-head. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I sit up and blink at the empty bed across from me. He didn’t go far, I can hear the shower running.
My bladder is not happy about it, either.
With a smile of pure evil, I go into the bathroom and quickly do my business.
“Keri, are you peeing?” As if this is something new?
“Yep.” Standing, I flush the toilet and laugh when he yells at me. The dorm has a shared water tank, when you flush a toilet the showers let you know. Just to be a dick I flush it again while I’m washing my hands, with hot water.
A wet washcloth makes a splat sound when it connects with the back of my head. In retaliation, I flush again, looking over my shoulder to vaguely see a soapy Ciar pressed as far away from the spray of water as possible.
Ha.
“Payback is a bitch, Keri” he warns me, as I turn the cold water on to brush my teeth. Laughing, I at least hurry it along and leave him cursing at me in the shower that’s trying to boil him alive.
What an awesome way to start the day.
Every time a child says, ‘I don’t believe in Fairies,’ there is a Fairy somewhere that falls down dead.
~James Matthew Barrie (Peter Pan, Chapter 17)
Familiar class leaves me feeling a bit sick to my stomach. Mr. Sputen gave out cupcakes and I couldn’t resist them, so I ate two, which shouldn’t make my stomach feel this way. Since they’ve tried to poison me before I should have been more cautious, but it was from a teacher, so I didn’t even question it.
Gods that was a dumb thing to do.
Ciar is strangely absent, he’s probably on a Hunt. Something he’ll always have to do, Ciar IS the Hunt. Those can call him away without warning, he literally disappears—he’s done it mid-sentence before. Zag is snoozing and Fluffy is back in the room.
Something doesn’t feel right.
“Zag, wake up, I think the cupcakes were poisoned.” The room starts to spin as he raises his head in alarm and immediately hops onto the floor and starts to grow to his natural size. “Zag, not in the room!” He’ll bust the walls out at his full size. He’s already decimated a bathroom and an entire hallway.
Cold sweat breaks out all over my body, this isn’t good. Zag roars and I feel the room tipping sideways. My vision starts to get wonky, well, there’s pretty colors everywhere at least. Putting my head down on the desk I hope its enough to keep me from falling out of my chair.
“She needs medical attention NOW!” The last word is another roar and several people scream. I keep my head on the desk and pray for the room to stop moving like I’m being shaken in a bottle.
“The healer is on her way, back to her Blank Space, Dragon!” Mr. Sputen orders. I laugh, or try to laugh it might be coughing, but I want to laugh, does that count?
“Make me, Mage.” Oh, there’s a lot of threat in that sentence. This time I do giggle, I hear it. Actually, I hear it more than once, it’s echoing. Uh-oh, everything is echoing.
“Mistressssssss.” I giggle again, I wonder how he’d feel if I told him he sounds like a snake right now. An echoing snake in a long tunnel.
“What the fuck is wrong with her?” Ciar’s familiar voice demands as he wraps me in the warmth of his arms. I promptly throw up all over him.
“So-sorry… cu-cupcakes.” I stutter out, it’s cold, like blizzard cold, teeth chattering and all.
If only I can open my eyes, so I can tell him about the echoes and cupcakes. I try to no avail, I’m not even sure when they closed. My body heaves and I feel horrible about throwing up on him again, I can smell it, but nothing I try to do works.
I’m flopping around like a ragdoll.
A loud crash is followed by a snarling growl that’s so flipping awesome I smile, or I try to smile. My lips are rather numb, like the rest of my face and, hey, my arms are numb too.
Be a super great time for a nap, right now.
A sharp slap to my cheek floods my mouth with the taste of blood. Which is better than the taste of puke, but I can’t even swallow it. I want to tell Ciar things, but words are hard.
“Monster girl, you wake your fucking ass up right now!” I want to listen, opening my eyes seems important somehow. But the colors…
“Ciar, she is fading fast, they hid it with magic, Fairy magic.” Oh no, Fairies won’t hurt me, Peter promised ‘never hurt by a Fairy.’ But Peter died and left me… bad Peter.
Oh, moving again. The colors are going down in the dark tunnel, I want to touch them.
