It took a moment for Ethan to remember and realize the other man indicated the apartments above them, and specifically one of the occupants.
He instantly felt ashamed. How could he have forgotten the problem Stanzer and Dawn faced? They had been separated by years as well as miles when their guardians, the Hounds, brought them and the other members of the Hunt through to Earth from their world. Dawn would soon be a legal adult, but that didn't make it any easier for her and Stanzer to fulfill the betrothal of their childhood, when there was twelve years in age between them. Ethan supposed in some ways, the loss of memories he had endured had made it easier for him to live the centuries away from Angela.
"Sorry," he said. "Feeling sorry for myself again."
"Understandable. You want to rip the hide off those guys and keep ripping it."
"Part of me hopes they are the enemies who separated us. So I can keep punishing them. That they keep trying to come after us." He leaned back in his chair and slowly put one foot, then the other, up on his new, temporarily clean desk. "And part of me hopes that it's just another manifestation of Big Ugly downstairs."
Ethan rather liked the appellation Maurice had slapped on the dimensional enemy that threatened the safety and balance of Neighborlee.
Whoever they really were, the Von Helados had entirely vanished. Three weeks of searching, of pulling all the strings he could, using all the favors that people in high places owed him, had yielded not a clue, not even a confirmation that the Von Helados had ever existed. Whoever they were, Ethan and Angela knew their enemies would return, with a new trick, a new attempt to hurt them. Perhaps to separate them again. Perhaps to damage or take over Divine's Emporium, and either destroy or control all the wonders and magic that the shop guarded.
For now, though, Ethan was at peace.
No, not at peace--happy to the point of being drunken giddy.
Just this morning, the sign painters had finished putting the name of the new partnership on the front window of the storefront office--Stanzer and Jarrod Investigations, LLC.
Every afternoon, Ethan went home to Divine's Emporium and to Angela, his bride. The shop had worked its usual dimensional magic without even being asked, expanding her quarters to an almost palatial apartment. Angela had altered her business hours, opening later in the morning and closing earlier in the evening. They enjoyed long, quiet, private hours in the garden behind the shop, or walking in the forests at the base of the hill. And once a week, they allowed themselves the indulgence of vanishing through the gate into their private garden.
Best of all, every morning, Ethan woke with Angela in his arms. Though it always gave him a pang to release her, he knew it was only for a few hours--not for centuries.
"Hey, guys, how's it going?" Maurice called as he strolled into the office.
"Uh oh," Stanzer said, glancing sideways at Ethan. "Somebody looks pretty happy."
"I got a job!" He struck a pose, chest out, thumbs hooked through nonexistent suspender straps. And the next moment released it when they called out their congratulations. "You're now looking at the official relocation officer for all Fae choosing to live in the northern hemisphere of Earth, as well as the customs inspector for all legal importation of chocolate to the Fae realms."
"Customs inspector for chocolate?" Stanzer and Ethan exchanged grins and shook their heads.
"Big brouhaha went down for months, back home, thanks to finding out that carob is poison for Fae. Lots of legislation going through, calling for inspections and health certifications. What it means is I'm gainfully employed. Won't be sponging off my Holly-berry."
"Does that mean she'll make an honest man of you at last?" Ethan asked. He chuckled when Maurice went dark red, with hints of purple in his ear tips and a faint hissing of deep blue sparks coming out of his ears. "I guess it does."
"Yeah, and if you guys had shown any patience at all, we could be making it a double wedding," he shot back.
"When it comes to love, and especially when it comes to Angela..." he sighed contentedly, "patience is overrated."
END
About the Author
Michelle has been a story addict for as long as she can remember, discovering Narnia and Star Trek at an early age, and becoming addicted to Greek mythology. After discovering fandom in college, she published 40+ short stories in various universes including Star Trek, Highlander ,and Stargate SG-1. This launched her writing career, eventually creating her own universes instead of playing in someone else's.
She has a BA in theater/English from Northwestern College and a MA in communication, focused on film and writing from Regent University. She continues to write and submit scripts for various screenwriting competitions.
In 1990, she broke into the public market when she won 1st place in the 4th quarter of the Writers of the Future contest, earning prize money, royalty money, and publication in that year's anthology. It took another 10 years before her first book contract, for Heir of Faxinor. Since then, Michelle has published 40+ books and novellas with multiple e-publishers, in science fiction and fantasy, YA, and many sub-genres of romance. She has been a finalist in the EPIC Awards competition multiple times, winning with Lorien in 2006, and The Meruk Episodes, 1-5, in 2010, and has garnered 4s and 5s from many review sites.
Her training includes the Institute for Children's Literature; 8+ years in advertising; 10 years at a community newspaper; and freelance editing for small presses and a major business publisher.
In 2008, she launched her own freelance editing business, offering proofreading as well as light or in-depth editing services on an hourly basis. Check her Web site: www.Mlevigne.com and click on the red pen to learn more.
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Uncial Press brings you extraordinary fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Put a world of reading in your pocket.
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