by Norah Black
“It’s over. Kheelan is victorious.” Foster smiled with his Grandmother.
“And, what of Lily?”
“Dead.”
Zuzana nodded and didn’t say a word. There was nothing to say.
“I want to take Nadia to my room.”
“Oh, yes, that’s a good idea. Diana has nursed her quite well. She hardly let me do anything!” she said with a laugh. “Oh and that little light pixie is worrying herself sick.”
“Where is she now?”
“I think she went to the barn. I don’t know. I had a hard time trying to figure out what she was saying. I think you both will have to live near or in the Realm. I don’t think Aurilla will want to leave Nadia.” She said with a wink.
Foster looked down at Nadia and smiled. “A pet Pixie. Who would have ever thought it?”
Nadia gave him a weak smile in return. As if on cue the little blue light flew into the room and hovered near Nadia’s face. Her little features lit up and she kissed the end of Nadia’s nose. Foster bent low and whispered. “The Queen is defeated.”
Aurilla did a somersault in the air and gave Foster a kiss too.
He gently lifted Nadia in his arms and began carrying her upstairs. “Come on Aurilla, let’s get Nadia comfortable.”
Zuzana watched them with a chuckle and began cleaning up the table. Diana walked in with Drake in her arms, yawning loudly. She stopped suddenly and looked at the empty table.
“What tricks is this? Where is Nadia?”
“No tricks, Foster is back and is settling her in his room.”
“Was Warren with him?”
Zuzana shook her head. “No, but the battle is over already. Lily is dead.”
“What a bountiful blessing!” Diana cried and began dancing gently with her baby.
*****
Several hours later, Darren and Julia looked into Foster’s room and saw him sleeping on the floor next to Nadia. His arm was resting across her stomach, and a tiny blue light was resting on her chest.
“He’s really something.”
“Yes.” Darren said quietly. “I think Nadia is too.”
“She will have much to learn.”
Darren nuzzled his wife’s neck and murmured, “She will have a good teacher.”
They quietly shut the door and stared at each other in the darkened hallway. As if sensing what she would say next, Darren spoke first. “He’s chosen his path, Julia. We raised Darren, but he’s a grown man. One day he will answer for his sins.”
A silent tear fell from her eyes and splattered on the front of her chest. “He’s my son.”
“He’ll always be your son. Let him go.”
*****
Darren turned the stolen car into an empty parking lot. The sign on the building read ‘WE BUY GOLD’. He knew it was some kind of Pawnshop on the outskirts of Fredericksburg. The lights of the approaching city lit the horizon with a greenish white glow. He just needed to sit and think for a moment. Going home was not an option. Pressing forward seemed best. He would need a line; some way to break into business for himself. He wasn’t going to flip burgers or push a broom. No sir, not Darren Anak. A tap on the glass of the driver’s window startled him and he was pleasantly surprised to see a busty blonde smiling at him. Her red lips were saying something, and Darren rolled the window down to hear her. He thought maybe she was a prostitute, and that was ok by him.
“What can I do for you?”
She regarded him with crystal blue eyes and leaned into the car. “I thought I would see what I could do for you.”
Darren opened the door and stepped out. He didn’t have much cash, but what the hell? He could always get what he wanted anyway. “What do you have in mind?” he smiled at her.
She stepped backwards and crooked her finger, motioning for him to follow. He watched her perfect butt clad in some kind of purple spandex that just barely covered, and felt his body responding. Her legs were long and ended on a pair of black three-inch heels.
This is going to be good. He thought as he followed her into the dark behind the building. Nothing prepared him for the two men that stood there waiting for him. Nothing prepared him to be thrown to the ground just before that beautiful blonde straddled him and sank her fangs into his neck.
It was over for Darren. And just beginning for Foster and Nadia. Nothing would ever be the same.
The End
*****