Chapter Nine
Anteus and Dragon were making their way to the hills just outside of the Fairy settlement they had arrived in. Dragon knew that the only Guardian that had more invested in the search than Anteus was Whirlpool but he tried to lighten the mood all the same, “You give any more thought to the whole 'Scorched Earth' thing?”
Anteus shook his head in disbelief, “Really? You're still going on about that? Yeah, it's cool when we partner up but no offense, I'd rather be with Eve sometimes. What about you and the whole 'Fire and Ice' thing you got going with Nessie?”
Dragon shrugged his shoulders, “I don't know. I don't want to really biff it up by spending too much time with her too soon. We already live together, different bedrooms and all that, but you know how it is.”
Anteus had to disagree, “Not really Rick. You guys live in a house where it's just the two of you. I live in Mama Draiman's house. That means that there is not only me and Eve but also Mama Draiman and Dawn on the nights that she comes home. Of course you need to figure in that every once in a while when Dawn comes home she's bringing some guy with her. I know that bugs Mama Draiman so I have to make sure I behave myself. I won't even go so far as getting a hotel room because Mama Draiman will know exactly why. To top it all off Kefmak likes to look in the windows to check in on us. I'm still hearing about it after he pulled that stunt with Eve.”
Dragon threw his hands up in surrender, “Okay. I get it. So not the same situation. I take it you guys are gonna be moving out as soon as you get married?”
Anteus confessed, “Marriage actually hasn't come up in conversation yet. My converting to Judaism has though because I brought that up myself.”
“Wow. That's serious. You're converting? Seriously?”
Anteus nodded, “Sure am. I really believe that Eve is the reason I'm still alive after that run-in with Piranha. Allorah must've sensed it because she had me running after wedding stuff while I was in a coma. She made it sound like I was getting all that stuff for her though. It was weird.”
Before they knew it Anteus and Dragon were at the bottom of the first hill. Dragon nodded toward the hill, “This is your expertise. Can you move it?”
Anteus knelt down and put both hands on the hill, “Not a good idea. There are a few springs on the other side and I don't want to screw them up.”
“Maybe an escalator then?”
Anteus laughed, “And ruin your training to become a Firefighter? No way. I will give you a head start though.”
Dragon laughed too but his was nervous, “Seriously? After walking the path to get to Faerie and then walking all the way here after that? You want to race up the hill?”
Anteus crossed his arms over his chest and feigned a yawn, “Unless you're absolutely certain that you know who will win.”
Dragon couldn't believe it, “You've got to be kidding me! I have to do ladders and stairs. Nobody lives on a hill in Kirbyville because there are no hills in Kirbyville!”
Anteus argued, Mount Trashmore is pretty close by. What if someone at the top of it caught fire?”
“That someone would probably be me so it wouldn't matter!”
Anteus wouldn't give in, “You use the same muscles going uphill as you do going upstairs. I will even give you half the hill before I start.”
Now Dragon was offended, “You really think you can beat me if you give me half the hill?”
Anteus answered with a question of his own, “You think it will even be close if I don't”
Dragon rubbed his hands together until he had created a fire. From the fire came Dragon's pet flame, Sparky. Without a word between them, Sparky knew that he was there to lead his master up the hill in a path that avoided any loose stones, half buried tree roots as well as any other potential pitfalls or obstacles.
For the task, Sparky had assumed the form of a small mountain lion. Dragon was used to Sparky changing shape to suit his mood but it still amazed the other Guardians how lifelike Sparky could appear. Sparky started off slowly at first and as it gained confidence in its footing and that it wouldn't burn the ground it gained speed as well. This lead Dragon to think that the real race would have been between Anteus and Sparky but that wasn't the agreement. Figuring that the walking had him warmed up already Dragon took off, following Sparky's zigzag path.
Dragon knew that he was already running out of steam before he got halfway up the hill so he had Sparky slow down and run around his ankles. The Fire Guardian knew that Anteus had the advantage in this race because as long as Anteus was in contact with the hill he had superhuman stamina. The same held true for Dragon when he was in the middle of a burning building trying to find people trapped inside and this was the very reason that he had Sparky running so closely to him that they were in constant contact with one another. The quantity of one Guardian's element available to him versus the quantity of the other Guardian's did come into play as Anteus casually made his way to the top of the hill with Dragon just a few feet behind.
Even though they were both on the top of the hill now Dragon was the first to see it, “Remember those springs you were talking about? Looks like a couple of Fairies are relaxing in one of them. They might be able to help.”
Anteus was on board with the idea, “How often would a human come through Faerie anyway? Mama Draiman would be sure to stick out.”
To appear less of a threat Dragon recalled Sparky so that it would be just the two Guardians coming down the hill. Even if the Fairies in the pool of water could identify Dragon as a Fire Guardian it was agreed that it would make a better impression if they weren't showing off their abilities.
The trip downhill seemed more exhausting to Dragon. He didn't have Sparky to spot anything that would throw off his footing or to increase his stamina. Dragon considered himself lucky that he was able to make it downhill to the pool of water without twisting his ankle or doing even worse to himself. Normally Anteus was the injury-prone Guardian but this was his element and it seemed that his tendency to injure himself was trying to pass itself along to Dragon for the moment.
Once Dragon and Anteus were closer to the pool they could see that the Fairies not only had their backs to them but also appeared to be bathing nude so the Guardians decided that they should announce their presence so the Fairies wouldn't be surprised or even accuse them of spying on two naked Fairies like perverts. Anteus cleared his throat and Dragon did the same but it caused the Fire Guardian to launch into a coughing fit that he apologized for.
One Fairy was a brunette and the other a redhead. Without turning around the brunette inquired, “Who are you and why did you feel the need to sneak up on us?”
Anteus signaled to Dragon that he was going to field this question, “We are the Guardians Anteus and Dragon. There is a human woman here in Faerie named Rose Draiman that we're looking for. We believe that she was brought over here by a Fairy as a guest so she isn't to be taken as a threat or anything like that.”
The brunette Fairy sighed, “I think you've been in the healing springs long enough for them to have their effect on you. How do you feel?”
The redhead Fairy responded, “I never thought this would be possible but not only is the pain gone but I feel ten years younger!”
Anteus was growing impatient, “Please. This is important. Could either of you tell me if you know where Rose Draiman is? She came here as a guest of... of...” Anteus fumbled around his memory for the Fairy's name but it was Dragon that finished the statement, “Deshica is the Fairy that brought her over. Even if you know where we might find her that could help.”
As an answer to the pleas of the Guardians the Fairies stood and turned and it was immediately apparent that only one of them was actually a Fairy. Anteus and Dragon had just found Rose Draiman and Deshica.
Rose and Deshica Page 9