Hotter Than Blue Blazes

by Kimbra Swain

  “Devin? He’s staying with Luther and Betty. He’s a good kid. Kinda lost at the moment,” I said.

  “You should take him home,” he said.

  “Daddy, why don’t you just say, Gloriana, go to Summer?” I asked.

  “Because you will figure it out eventually,” he grinned.

  This was a part of my father that I had never seen. Sitting on the grass. Making jokes. I needed family more than anything right now, and he was filling the part. I pulled my knees up, burying my head into them. The sobs shook my body. Embracing was not part of my father’s attempt to be family, but I heard him sigh painfully.

  “You are strong, Gloriana. Remember that I am always proud of you. If it helps, I believe that Serafino will be found. One way or the other,” he said.

  I wiped away the tears with the backs of my hands. “I dare not hope, but thanks to him and that stupid dream, I had hopes of a wedding that seems near impossible now.”

  “Serafino dreamed of a wedding?” he asked suddenly serious.

  “Yes, but lately the dream faded. Then when the Solomonar moved to town, he had a liquid which put him to sleep and he dreamed it again. Only this time we got married at the house I’m building,” I said.

  “Solomonars make potent concoctions. However, I think you should take the dream seriously. The dream of a Phoenix can be more accurate that even some of the most talented seers,” Father said. “Why are you still in Shady Grove? You need to find him. He’s counting on you now to fulfill the dream.”

  His words sank into me. Why was I still here? My answers were in Summer. I needed to get there quickly. I stood up, brushing grass off my clothes. “You are right,” I said. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  “I hope you have something more appropriate to wear,” he called out to me as I rushed back to the home site. When I stepped beyond the rock circle, I found myself in the middle of the heated afternoon. Hurrying through the trees, I heard the beating of wings behind me again.

  “Why are you following me?” I said, suddenly.

  “My Queen, we wanted to know if Winnie was coming home,” Bramble asked, still hiding behind a tree.

  “Come out, both of you,” I ordered.

  The two brownies floated out before me. Neither of them would make eye contact.

  “I’m not angry with you about what happened with Winnie and Dylan,” I said.

  “We didn’t know she would go in there,” Briar said. “Then she was with the wolf, and they wouldn’t listen.”

  “Kids are like that. She’s okay and will be home soon,” I said.

  “You didn’t send her away?” Bramble asked.

  The notion stabbed me in the heart. He thought I blamed Winnie for what happened to Dylan, and perhaps even blamed them for not stopping her from going into the trailer.

  “Of course not. It was a misunderstanding and she will be home soon. Bramble, did you know who was in that trailer?” I asked.

  “The red-hooded lady,” he said.

  “Okay, from now on, I need you to be more forthcoming with information. She is to blame for all of this. The two of you would be very good spies for me,” I said.

  “We would do that for you, My Queen,” Bramble said.

  “Yes, we would,” Briar agreed.

  “Now, tell me why you are here,” I said.

  “Um, what?” Bramble asked.

  “Don’t play dumb with me. You didn’t just decide to come and take care of my child or be my servant. Who sent you?” I asked.

  Bramble shifted his feet mid-air, and Briar looked off into the distance.

  “Tell me now!” I ordered. The trees swayed with the force of the command.

  “If we tell you, he will kill us,” Bramble blurted out.

  “I promise you that I’m a lot scarier than he is,” I said.

  “Eep!” Bramble said covering his mouth.

  “You are a wuss,” Briar said, elbowing him in the side. “No sex for you.”

  “Aw, my little dragonfly, please don’t do that to me,” he complained. “You know I will die if we don’t copulate.”

  “You won’t die,” she scoffed.

  “I will!” he exclaimed. He grasped his crotch as if it were his heart, breathing hard. He began to drop to the ground pretending to die a slow death due to lack of pixie pussy. I almost smiled at the ridiculousness of it.

  “Stop it!” I said. Bramble hit the ground with a thud. He flipped his hand at Briar with a huff.

  “Caiaphas sent us,” she said. The moment she spoke his name, the ground rumbled around us, and he walked out into my line of sight.

  Bramble squeaked again, dodging behind me. Briar joined him this time.

  “Good afternoon, Grace,” he said.

  “I figured we would have to talk at some point about Jeremiah,” I said.

  “Yes, but the brownies broke their oath, so I am here to collect,” he said.

  “That’s going to be impossible,” I said.

  “Why is that?” he asked raising an eyebrow. A big, bushy eyebrow. I wasn’t sure he could see past the hair that hung down over his eyes.

  “They just agreed to be my spies,” I said. “They are employed by the Queen of the Exiles.”

  He rubbed his chin. His tangled beard shifted under his hand. “I suppose that would be okay.” Caiaphas never intended to hurt the fairies. If he wanted to, my weak assertion wouldn’t have surpassed his prior claim.

  “I’m sorry about Jeremiah,” I said. “He once said you were an ally.”

  “The fracture of our brotherhood has been devastating. I cannot help but think it was done on purpose, and its timing is unfortunate considering the changes going on in the Otherworld,” he said.

  “Rhiannon sold him out,” I said.

  “What?” he asked unaware of what Jeremiah had told me with his dying breaths.

  “She gave him to Brockton to appease him. I suppose she did it to keep Brock out of Summer,” I said.

  “Brock will eventually get Summer. It’s just a matter of time,” he said.

  “Why do you say that?” I asked.

  “He’s taken a wife,” Caiaphas said.

  “Stephanie?” I asked.

  “No. He has Stephanie locked up for her deception with the boy. We aren’t sure which daughter he married, but he has married one of Rhiannon’s daughters,” he said.

  “If she gave Jeremiah to him, it couldn’t be Riley. She wouldn’t have it,” I said.

  “Riley wanted to present the book to Rhiannon to gain her favor to be named the heir. That attempt failed. Rhiannon took the book and laughed at them,” he said.

  “Before Levi was taken, I received a letter from him saying that the things that we thought about the Otherworld weren’t true. He was afraid he wouldn’t return to Shady Grove,” I said. “I don’t know how he knew I was in trouble.”

  “Grace, your instincts do not fail you. Ask me what you will,” he said.

  “Did you tell Levi that I was in trouble?” I asked.

  “Yes. Bramble contacted me when he saw you go into the trailer. I quickly sent word through my contacts to the Otherworld to get Levi here,” he said. “Unfortunately, somewhere the network failed me. Word got to Brockton that he passed back alone. I have to think they were waiting for him to pass through again when they captured him. I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t my intention.”

  I gritted my teeth. He brought Levi to save me, but it condemned him as well. “I will go to hell and back to get him home,” I said.

  “My resources are at your disposal. Grace, the Sanhedrin are irrevocably split, but I have other connections. I chose the side that didn’t involve the obliteration of every fairy in Shady Grove. I fear that those who chose that path will do whatever it takes to fulfill that mission. Even if it means siding with Brockton. I would also humbly ask to move here permanently. With your permission,” he said, then knelt before me.

  A man that I had feared for most of my life now bowed before me begging for pro
tection. He offered me something in return, and I had him to thank for alerting Levi. I knew there were times for forgiveness, just as there were times for executions.

  “You are welcome to stay in Shady Grove. I look forward to any information you can provide to help our cause,” I said. He rose, waiting for a moment as if he had more to say. “What?”

  “I don’t want to give you false hope, but there was a price on Dylan’s head in the Otherworld. It wouldn’t have been paid if he were dead,” he said.

  “Someone collected the ransom?” I asked.

  “It seems so,” he replied.

  “He’s not dead. I’ve felt that all along,” I said.

  “He may be now, but I don’t believe the explosion killed him,” he said, crushing that flicker of hope.

  “Thank you, Caiaphas,” I said.

  Caiaphas walked with me quietly as I went back to the truck. Once we reached the edge of the woods, Remy stiffened to see me walking with the former head of the Sanhedrin. I nodded to Remy so he would know everything was fine. He approached us cautiously.

  “Caiaphas,” Remy drawled.

  “Mr. Blake,” Caiaphas returned. No love lost between these two.

  “Caiaphas is moving into Shady Grove. He has resources that will help us with the problem in the Otherworld,” I said.

  “Are you sure about this, Grace? The Sanhedrin tried to kill you for hundreds of years,” Remy reminded me of something I’d never forget. He said it to see how Caiaphas would respond. Remy had been hunted by them too, until he married.

  “I am sure, and the Sanhedrin no longer exist. They may still come after us, but they are split. I’m more concerned about the issues in Summer. I am making a trip there as soon as possible. Want to go?” I asked him.

  “You have lost your damned mind,” Remy said.

  “Perhaps,” I said. “But I see no other way forward.”

  “No, I will stay here. You can trust me to keep an eye on things,” he said. Caiaphas coughed.

  “Remy, I trust you about as far as I could throw you,” I said. “Without magic.”

  Remy chuckled, “That’s why I love you, Grace. You don’t parse words.”

  “I’m fond of the unfiltered truth. I think I want a trailer put out here,” I said, changing the subject.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Yep. Get one of those silver motorhomes. They are shiny,” I said.

  “A streamliner? Why?” he asked.

  “I can’t live in that apartment anymore. Jenny’s nocturnal activities are not limited to nighttime,” I said. “It’s fucking all the time.”

  Remy and Caiaphus laughed together after that. “If that is what you want, I’ll call Tennyson,” he said. “I do wish you would reconsider going to Summer.”

  “I do too,” I replied.

  SITTING in Nestor’s small apartment, I’d gathered those I trusted the most to tell them of my plan. They sat silently pondering the load I’d just dropped in their laps. Remy and Tabitha sat next to each other on the couch. Amanda sat in the chair while Troy stood behind her. Nestor sat at a small dining table near the kitchen as Mable leaned on the doorway. Betty and Luther leaned on the wall near the steps down to the bar.

  “I don’t know. It sounds dangerous,” Amanda said, speaking first.

  “It will be,” I replied.

  “And you have no protection,” Troy added.

  “And you are pregnant,” Mable added.

  “I wasn’t aware of that, Mable,” I sassed her. She rolled her eyes at me.

  “You’ll go ahead and do whatever floats your goat. Don’t know why you are even asking us,” she said. Nestor grunted, and she closed her mouth before adding more fuel to the fire.

  “You can’t go alone,” Nestor said.

  “So, you admit that I need to go?” I asked.

  He sighed, but answered, “Yes, you need to go.”

  “I will go with you,” Luther said.

  “You can’t go to Summer! That woman will kill you,” Betty said.

  Luther chuckled. After Jeremiah returned my memories, I recalled that Luther and Deacon Giles were both with Dylan when he rescued me in Greece. However, Levi’s account of the story put most of the battle on Dylan’s shoulders. I knew that as an ifrit, Luther would be a formidable protector.

  “What about the diner?” I asked.

  “Business has slowed, but Betty can handle it,” Luther said.

  “I’ll go help, too,” Mable replied. “My cooking is decent.”

  “Jenny needs an occupation,” I said. They laughed. “I’m having a motorhome put out at the home site. I can’t live in that apartment anymore.”

  “Is it because of Jenny or Levi?” Tabitha asked knowingly. I wanted to punch her, but she was right. It was mostly Levi. However, I ignored her, because punching friends was a bad idea.

  “I want to leave as soon as possible. Any other candidates for going?” I asked.

  “I’m going,” Tab said. “I’m your doctor.”

  “Yes,” Remy added. “She should go.”

  “Getting rid of her already?” I teased him.

  “Not at all, but you shouldn’t go without her in case something happens,” he said. “Tennyson might have some men to take with you. I’ll give him a call.”

  “Let me know,” I replied.

  “You have to dress the part,” Betty said.

  “Ugh,” I replied. I knew this was coming. She was right. I couldn’t prance into Summer in my cutoff jeans and a tank top. If I were to be respected as a royal, I would have to dress like one.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Tabitha said. “I’ve been needing to run to town for a few things.”

  “I’ll drive,” Remy said smiling at her.

  It made me happy to see him settle on someone. For it to be Tabitha made it that much better. I knew her to be a great person. Probably one of the nicest fairies I’d ever met. She was steady and predictable. She was actually the least fairy-acting fairy I knew.

  “It’s settled then. Luther, Tabitha and I will set out for Summer tomorrow,” I said. “Plus, some of Tennyson’s men.”

  “And Devin,” Betty added.

  “Yes, and Devin. We need to find his father,” I agreed.

  “I would volunteer to go, but we are short-handed,” Amanda said.

  “It’s okay. Oh, perhaps we should take Matthew with us. Rhiannon seems to favor him. She might be able to heal what Robin did to him,” I said. I hadn’t told them what Oberon told me about Robin. Nestor must have somehow known, because he watched me intently.

  “I have done all I can do for him,” Tabitha said.

  “I’m not sure traveling through Summer with a child and an invalid is a good idea,” Nestor replied.

  “He’s right,” Betty said. “I wouldn’t go to Tuscaloosa with a child and an invalid.”

  “Okay. But is he stable? I mean, I hate that this happened to him,” I said.

  “He’s a grown man, Grace. He made his decision. I’m sure he knew she was a fairy. There are always dangers,” Nestor reminded me.

  I sighed because he was right. For now, there was nothing I could do for Matthew Rayburn. I needed him well for my hopes to continue. He married us in Dylan’s dream. Who was I fooling? Not even myself. I was only holding on to the strands of what remained of the life that I had built. My trusted advisors quietly left the room one by one leaving me alone with Nestor. Just as Troy guided Amanda down the steps I called to him.

  “Troy, you and I need to have a conversation about what happened in that trailer,” I said.

  He froze in place, and I heard Amanda whisper something to him. “I don’t remember a lot of it,” he said without looking back at me. Troy Maynard could only hide from me for so long.

  “You will tell me or I will demand it of you,” I said.

  Amanda stormed back up the steps, with Troy pulling her arm. “No, Mandy, don’t,” he begged.

  “We have done more for you than has been a
sked. Don’t demand anything of us because we freely serve you. When he is ready to talk about it, he will.” She growled showing me her teeth.

  “I will have the truth either way,” I said, unafraid of the bitch.

  “Grace, give me another day. Please,” Troy asked.

  I took a deep breath to control myself. “Tomorrow,” I said.

  “Tomorrow,” he replied.

  I nodded, as he coaxed Amanda back down the steps.

  I slumped down on the couch, as Nestor sat beside me.

  “I won’t pretend that I like this idea no matter how much I know it needs to be done. Why don’t you tell me what made you decide this?” Nestor pressed.

  “I talked to Oberon,” I said. “And Caiaphas. And Bramble. Not in that order.”

  Mable stepped out of the kitchen. “I think I’ll go get things ready to open up downstairs,” she said. She always knew when Nestor and I needed to talk privately. I also knew that Mable was a fairy witch who used to work for my father. She didn’t need to stay to be able to hear us talk.

  I waited for her to walk down the steps, then turned to Nestor. “Caiaphas made Bramble and Briar spy on me.”

  “You knew they weren’t there on their own accord. The fact that it was Caiaphas is actually a relief. It could have been a lot worse,” he said. “Go to the memorial. Even if you don’t think he is dead.”

  “You honor him as you see fit. I will honor him by not going,” I said, standing to leave. He slipped his hand into mine before I walked away.

  “You should be there,” he said.

  “I am not going,” I said, pulling my hand from his light grasp. The wish that Dylan was alive was the only thing that kept me going. Going to a memorial at the trailer swamp wasn’t going to make me feel better.

  GLANCING out the window of the apartment building, I could see people gathering in the parking lot of the Food Mart to walk to the swamp that they considered Dylan’s final resting place. I released the curtains and went back to the strips of paper I had on the dining room table.

  Four torn strips of paper each with one word: die, live, expose, and mithe.

  I tried to assign a man I loved to each one. I wrote their names down on the potential connections.