Larkspur

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  “Blane!” Heather yelled.

  Heather and Tanesha started across the battlefield toward Jill. They’d gone about a hundred yards when they disappeared.

  “What . . .?” Sandy started and disappeared.

  Rodney and Honey disappeared next. Delphie reached out for Sam but slipped away before she could grab hold.

  In a moment’s time, the heavy smell of blood, death, and filth that had marked the battlefield gave way to a cool ocean breeze. Sam, Jacob, Valerie, and James were standing in the middle of a bucolic meadow with Prince Finegal, Queen Fand, Manannán, and Gilfand. Liban appeared.

  “What just happened?” Valerie asked.

  “The druid impaled my sister with a thorn from the hawthorn tree,” Liban said.

  “I thought hawthorn’s were fairy trees,” James said.

  “Their thorns are poisonous to us,” Gilfand said. “The thorn kept my queen in a kind of suspension where she was unable to make her own choices. It’s how they were able to tear her human body apart.”

  A tall man wearing a deep gray monk’s robe and hood walked out of the woods. His eyes were completely white, and he seemed blind, yet he moved with absolute certainty. He continued toward them until he stood near Queen Fand and Manannán. Jacob shifted uncomfortably.

  “Mother,” the monk said. He bowed his head.

  Queen Fand straightened to her full height. She and Manannán went to the man. Prince Finegal shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but Gilfand shook his head.

  “They must do this,” Gilfand said under his breath.

  Liban, the queen’s sister, went to her other side.

  “Created in magic and great suffering . . .” Liban said.

  “Do you have any idea what’s going on?” Valerie whispered to Jacob. He shook his head.

  Queen Fand, Manannán, and Liban placed their right hands on the monk’s head.

  “I release you,” they said.

  The monk weaved in place. He looked up at the heavens, and with a sigh, he disappeared. The wool robe fell empty to the ground. Queen Fand let out a sob and Manannán clutched her to him. Their image vibrated, and it started to rain. In a moment, they were gone. Liban and Gilfand disappeared.

  “What the hell?” James asked.

  James shook his head and turned in place. He, Jacob, Sam, and Valerie stood alone in the meadow. Liban and Gilfand appeared in front of them.

  “We wanted personally to thank you,” Liban said. “Without your help, we would have continued in this way for all eternity.”

  “It seems like Jill did most of the work,” Jacob said.

  “You have all done your part to free us,” Liban said. “There is no way for us to thank you.”

  “And Jill? Valerie?” Sam asked. “Their children? Will they be able to have sons and powerful daughters and . . .?”

  “Yes,” Gilfand said. “You have broken the curse. In fact, Jill will have your sons any moment now. You need to go.”

  “We have one question to ask,” Liban said.

  “I will never give you Katy,” Jacob said. “And I will destroy anyone who tries to take her.”

  “Fair enough.” Liban smiled. “But that is not my question.”

  “You don’t want her now?” Valerie asked.

  “My question is . . .” Liban gave Valerie a beautiful smile. “May we join your family?”

  Jacob was so surprised he could only gape at Liban. He looked at Valerie, and she was equally surprised.

  “We’d like to be there when the boys are born,” Gilfand said. “Edie of the fairy corps has asked if you might consider her to be their nanny. That way she can help teach them and mitigate some of the damage they will likely inflict on everyone around them.”

  “I . . .” Jacob started. He glanced at Sam.

  “What about the boy?” Sam asked. “Jill left with a seven-year-old boy. What are you doing with him?”

  “His fate has already been determined,” Gilfand said.

  “By whom?” Sam asked. “Are you making him disappear, as well? That was a child and . . .”

  “The Oracle has agreed to raise him as her own,” Gilfand said. “She will soon have custody of another child, Anna-Marie?”

  “Ivy,” Valerie said.

  “Yes. She will raise them together,” Gilfand said. “Does that suit you?”

  “He will need a father figure,” Liban said. “The queen and her husband will be in his life, of course, as well as Prince Finegal, but the boy will need someone day in and day out . . .”

  “I can’t think of a better father for my son. Manannán appeared next to Sam. “You will do me a great honor.”

  “Of course.” Sam nodded. “I . . . of course.”

  “We are family,” Liban said.

  “More like ancestors,” Jacob said.

  “May we join your present-day family?” Liban asked.

  “Sure,” Valerie said.

  “Of course,” Sam said.

  “Jacob?” Gilfand asked. “You have no reason to trust us. You have every reason to keep us far away from your home. But we are family.”

  “And Fin?” Jacob asked.

  “He is with your wife right now,” Liban said.

  “What?” Jacob asked.

  “He’s assuring her that you will be there in time.” Gilfand grinned.

  Jacob shook his head.

  “What do you say?” Liban asked.

  “You get to keep the sword,” Gilfand said. “It’s one of Fin’s.”

  “Fine,” Jacob said. “But you start . . .”

  “We understand,” Gilfand said.

  “Will you take us to her?” Jacob asked.

  “I’d like to go as well,” James said. “I have something I need to talk to Edie about.”

  “Come along,” Valerie said.

  The meadow disappeared. In the blink of an eye, they were standing in the waiting room of the Castle birthing area and wearing their normal clothing.

  “Hey!” Charlie said.

  Everyone jumped to greet them.

  “Jake? Is that you?” Blane yelled from the birthing room. “It’s time.”

  Sam squeezed his shoulder, and Jacob went in to be with Jill.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Julie Hargreaves slipped out of bed. She waited a minute to see if Colin would wake. Exhausted from his night at the earthquake site, he didn’t move. She slipped out of their room. She went down the hall to the tiny alcove tucked under the eaves that served as Paddie’s room. She closed her eyes at the door.

  “You have to believe that Paddie will come home,” her mother-in-law had said. “Visualize it. See it.”

  Julie knew her mother-in-law was right. She also knew that when she’d called the Castle to talk to Jill, Jill’s mother had told her that Paddie was with Katy. Or she had thought it was Jill’s mother. The phone had crackled so much she couldn’t be sure.

  All she knew was that Paddie had vanished out of his bed.

  Julie didn’t want to be negative and jinx anything.

  She just wanted her son home.

  She opened Paddie’s door and went inside. She sat in the chair next to his bed. Even though she knew she shouldn’t, she began to weep.

  Paddie was her miracle, her baby. He was so strong and sweet. From the moment he was born, he’d charmed everyone who met him. Through her tears, Julie prayed for his safe return. The more she prayed, the more she cried. She’d been strong and positive too long. Her emotions came in a flood, and she began to sob.

  “Julie,” Colin said in a low voice from the doorway.

  She looked up at him. He pointed to the bed.

  There were two lumps in Paddie’s bed. Unable to stop herself, she flew to the bed and pulled off the thick quilts. Her precious Paddie and his best friend Katy were curled up on their sides, sound asleep and facing each other. Julie grabbed Paddie from the bed and pulled him onto her lap. Paddie opened his eyes and smiled at her. Julie hugged the child. She covered his face i
n kisses until he protested.

  “Where have you been?” Julie asked through her tears.

  “I had to get Katy,” Paddie said. “Her brothers are coming tonight. We had to fix everything.”

  Julie looked at Colin. He raised his eyebrows at his son’s explanation. Julie tried to hug the child again.

  “Mommy, I’m sleepy.” Paddie pushed her away from him. “I’m not a baby.”

  She smiled. Since Connor had arrived, Paddie did not want to be treated like a baby. She set him back in the bed, and he pulled the covers up.

  “Oh,” Paddie said. “Can Katy spend the night?”

  The question was so sweet and simple that Julie snorted a laugh. Paddie gave her one of his “tricked you” grins, and Colin laughed.

  Julie sat on the side of the bed until Paddie was sound asleep. She tucked the quilt over his shoulders and around Katy. She got up and hugged Colin.

  “Will you sleep now?” Colin asked.

  Julie nodded and moved past him. Colin looked at the bed one more time before turning to go. The door was almost closed when he stopped.

  “I don’t know how you did it, Katy, but thank you for bringing my son home,” Colin whispered.

  He closed the door and followed Julie to bed

  .

  The story continues at

  Denver Cereal.com

  Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/DenverCereal

  More about Claudia at: ClaudiaHallChristian.com

  Glossary of Characters

  Aaron Alvin: Father of Ava; also called “The spider.”

  Aden Norsen:

  CEO at Lipson construction; single father of Nash and Noelle; husband of Sandy.

  Alexandra Hargreaves:

  Identical twin to Max Hargreaves; ‘The Fey;’ the leader of the Fey Team; wife of Dr. John Drayson; sister to Colin and Samantha Hargreaves.

  Anjelika:

  Megan, Mike, Steve, Candy and Jill’s mother; grandmother to Katy; wife of Perses.

  Andrea Menendez or Andy Mendy:

  Mother of Sandy; Seth’s love & lover from the time he was 14 until he lost her when he was 30.

  Arthur “Raz” Rasmussen:

  Member of the Fey team; boyfriend of Samantha Hargreaves.

  Ava — Amelie Vivian Alvin:

  Denver Police Crime Lab Technician; fiancé of Seth O’Malley; daughter of Aaron Alvin.

  Ben Red Bear, Detective:

  Denver Police Detective in charge of investigation of rapes; possibly involved in the distribution chain.

  Bestat Behur:

  Partner to Zack Jakkman; step-mother to Teddy; dragon.

  Beth Baker:

  Ava’s best friend; Child Psychologist; murdered by Saint Jude.

  Blane Lipson:

  Jacob’s ‘cousin;’ raised in foster care; assistant to Jacob Marlowe at Lipson Construction; Chinese Medicine doctor; husband of Heather; father of Mack.

  Bob aka ‘Blood spatter Bob’: Former expert forensics instructor with the FBI; currently a laboratory technician in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.

  Bree or Briana Lipson: Step-child of Sam Lipson.

  Becky Lipson: Step-child of Sam Lipson.

  Bumpy Wilson:

  Good friend of Seth’s; medical doctor; father of Jeraine Wilson, husband of Dionne, born Leroy Wilson.

  Candace or Candy Roper: Daughter of Anjelika; sister to Jill.

  Charlie Delgado:

  Step-brother of Sandy; street kid; drug addict; has been out of school for a long time; comes to live with Sandy in Cimarron.

  Celia Marlowe:

  Wife of Sam Lipson; mother to Valerie Lipson and Jacob Marlowe; Delphie’s best friend; died of cancer nine years before Denver Cereal begins.

  Cleo: Black and white cat belonging to Sandy.

  Colin Hargreaves:

  Brother of Alex, Max and Samantha Hargreaves; Homeland Security Agent; Fey Team member; father of Paddie Hargreaves.

  Dale:

  Boyfriend of Beth Baker, Amelie’s best friend; housemate of Amelie; Handyman who lives with Seth O’Malley.

  Delphinium or Delphie:

  Psychic; beekeeper; master gardener; best friend of Celia Marlowe; girlfriend to Sam Lipson.

  Dionne Wilson:

  Wife of Bumpy Wilson; mother of Jeraine and LaTonya; medical nurse.

  Erik Le Monde:

  Wanda’s father; plumber; works for Lipson Construction.

  Edith Stiefel:

  Mother of Wanda. Ex-wife of Erik Le Monde.

  Evette:

  Secretary of Jacob’s for one week; claims romantic relationship between them.

  Fand:

  Queen of the Fairies; wife of Manannán; ancestor of Jacob Lipson.

  Fran: A laboratory tech in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.

  Frankie Aziz:

  Boyfriend of Wanda Le Monde; videographer of group of rapists; brother of DPD Sergeant Aziz.

  Gilfand:

  Loyal male servant of Queen Fand; one of the oldest fairies; appears as a gargoyle.

  Heather Lipson:

  Jill’s childhood friend; one of Jillian Roper’s group of best friends; mother to Mack; wife to Blane Lipson.

  Honey Lipson:

  Paralyzed; step-daughter of Sam Lipson; wife of Sergeant MJ Scully; Lives at the Castle and works at Lipson Construction.

  Jacob Marlowe:

  Son of Sam Lipson and Celia Marlowe; husband of Jillian Roper; brother of Valerie Lipson; president of Lipson Construction; owns his own rehabilitation business; carpenter; hockey player.

  Jeraine Wilson:

  R&B sensation; husband of Tanesha Smith; son of Bumpy; drug and sex addict.

  Jillian or Jill Roper:

  Daughter of Anjelika and Perses; mother of Katy Roper; wife of Jacob Marlowe; ex-wife of Trevor Mc Guinsey; pregnant with twin boys.

  John Drayson, MD:

  Vascular surgeons; husband of Alex Hargreaves.

  Julie Hargreaves:

  Mother of Paddie Hargreaves; wife of Colin Hargreaves.

  Katy or Katherine Anjelika Roper:

  Daughter of Jillian Roper and Jacob Marlowe.

  Leslie: A laboratory tech in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.

  Leslie Roper:

  Wife of Steve Roper; mother of infant Elisa Roper.

  Levi Johansen:

  Won Delphie in a card game when she was 5-6; held her as a slave/The Oracle Tabor; gets out of prison and wants Delphie dead; evil.

  Liban:

  Queen Fand’s twin sister; looks like Cleopatra.

  Mack Lipson: Infant son of Heather and Blane Lipson.

  Margaret Peaches or Sergeant Margaret Peaches:

  Fey team member; partner of Sergeant MJ Scully.

  Manannán:

  A Celtic sea deity, husband of Queen Fand, ancestor of Jacob Lipson

  Maresol Tafoya:

  Seth O’Malley’s housekeeper; mother of Bonita’s Seth’s second wife; friend of Delphie.

  Max Hargreaves:

  Identical twin to Alex Hargreaves; brother to Colin and Samantha Hargreaves.

  Megan Roper:

  Daughter of Anjelika and Perses; partner of Tim; mother to Ryan and two other boys.

  Melinda:

  Daughter of one of Sandy’s clients; Nash Norsen’s romantic interest.

  Mike Roper:

  Son of Anjelika and Perses; husband of Valerie Lipson; hockey goalie; painter.

  Mitch Delgado:

  Sandy’s step father who she called ‘Dad’; father of Charlie and Sissy; Seth O’Malley’s best friend; died of lung cancer 8 or 9 years ago.

  MJ or Sergeant Michael Scully Jr.:

  Fey team member; partner of Sergeant Margaret Peaches; husband of Honey Lipson.

  Molly:

  Bookkeeper for Jacob Marlowe’s rehabilitation business; wife of Pete.

  Nash Norsen: Son of Aden and Nuala Norsen; brother of Noelle Norsen

  Nelson: A lab technician in Ava’s Denver Police Depart
ment lab.

  Noelle Norsen:

  Daughter of Aden and Nuala Norsen; sister of Nash Norsen; artist.

  Nuala Norsen:

  Ex-wife of Aden Norsen; biological mother of Nash and Noelle Norsen.

  Paddie Hargreaves:

  Best friend of Katy Roper; nephew of Alex and Max Hargreaves; son of Colin Hargreaves.

  Patty Delgado:

  Mother of Sissy and Charlie; mother to Sandy; wife of Mitch Delgado.

  Pete: Husband of Molly; father of her children; friend of Aden Norsen.

  Perses:

  Paid assassin; rescuer and biological father of Jillian Roper.

  Rodney Smith: