“Thank you, Muriel. I don’t know what else to say.”
“Nothin’ else to say. Good luck, child.”
I hugged the old woman. “Please watch over Evan.”
“Oh, I will,” she said. “He already asked me to move in here and help around the castle. He’s going to ask the couple who raised him to live here too. Now are you ready?”
I sighed. “Yes.”
We walked back over to Cal, Ava, and Evan. “It’s time, Cal,” I said.
Evan picked up Cal in a giant bear hug. “I’ll see you soon, little guy.”
“Promise?” Cal asked.
“I promise,” Evan said.
Evan picked up Ava’s hand and kissed it. “And you, m’lady, I hope to be seeing you soon as well.”
Ava giggled. “Oh you will.”
I hugged Evan. “You’re going to be a great King.”
“Yeah, I’ll try not to let it get to my head,” he said, hugging me back. “Take care, sis. Don’t be a stranger.”
Cal gripped my hand in his and sighed. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Ava looped her arm in mine and gazed wistfully at Evan. “I guess I’m ready too.”
“I’ll show you how it’s done,” Muriel said to Evan.
She said the words I’d heard countless times before from Gertrude’s lips. “Return to your world far from here but hold your love for Liralelle near.”
Ava blew Evan a kiss as the golden tornado swallowed us whole.
21
We landed in my bedroom. The clock read 8pm, but I had no idea if it was the same day or not. When Muriel’s tornado had come for me, Jay had been waiting downstairs. He’d insisted I get some rest and it had been late afternoon. Ava smoothed her hair back into place from the windstorm. “Is it bad that I miss Evan already?”
“Me too,” Cal piped in.
“Come on,” I said, ignoring them. “We need to find Mom.”
The house was so quiet that I didn’t want to yell.
“Jay? Mom?” I whispered as we walked down the hallway toward the stairs. No answer.
“Mom?” I called in a louder voice.
“Bree? Is that you?” Mom’s voice was shrill. Footsteps pounded and the door to her bedroom flew open. She looked a wreck. “Where have you been? Jay said you had to leave but he didn’t know when you’d be back. How could you take off at a time like—oh my Lord!” She noticed Cal behind me. “Cal!”
She swept him up and pulled him to her while she cried into his hair. “My Cal. Thank the stars you’re okay. My sweet, sweet boy.” She pulled back to look at him. “Are you okay? What happened to you?”
Cal kept his arms tightly around Mom’s neck. “I’m fine, Mom. I swear. I’m sorry you were so scared.”
“Is Jay still here?” I asked.
Mom blinked. “No, he told me to call him as soon as you got back.”
I didn’t know how to ask the next question without sounding totally crazy. “But when was that, Mom? When did he leave?”
Concern and panic crossed her face. “Yesterday afternoon, Bree. Adrian called when you missed practice yesterday, but when I told him what happened to Cal, he said to send you his love.”
“Wow, that doesn’t sound like Adrian at all,” Ava remarked.
Mom looked at Ava like she’d just noticed her. “And you. You missed practice too, and your mom called me and is worried sick. What is going on? Someone better tell me right now.”
Ava and Cal both looked to me. I took a deep breath and sighed. Here went nothing. “Okay, Mom, but I think we should all sit down first.”
I spoke for a while, with Ava and Cal filling in other bits and pieces. Cal mostly talked about his new brother Evan and how cool Liralelle was. Mom’s face was like a stone mask as Ava babbled on about trolls, dwarves, and witches.
“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked. “I know it’s a lot to digest.”
“I don’t know what to think,” Mom said. “You have to give me time. But I need to tell the police you’re both safe. They certainly won’t believe your story, so I’ll come up with something else.” She stood up, still looking dazed. “Does Jay know about this Liralelle place?”
“Yeah, he’s been there too,” I said sheepishly.
“Everybody’s been there apparently,” she said in a tired voice. “Maybe someone will take me there to see it for myself.”
“I will!” said Cal.
“Another day though,” I said. “I need a little break.”
Mom called the police, Ava called her mom to tell her she was fine and on her way home, and I called Jay.
He answered on the first ring. “Where are you? Are you okay? I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m home. Cal and Ava are with me. Everyone’s fine.”
Jay sighed in relief. “Thank god. I bet you have quite a story for me.”
“I do. I’d rather tell you in person though, after I shower and sleep.”
There was silence for a minute. “Okay, but no disappearing in the meantime.”
I smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m here for the long run. Jay?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s good to hear your voice. I know it’s only been a day here but I, uh, missed you.”
I could hear his smile through the phone. “I missed you too.”
Music reverberated through the theater and I could just make out Mom and Cal in the front row. I tried not to smile as Cal waved enthusiastically from his seat. The orchestra was below the stage but it was comforting knowing that Jay was there. During my last few weeks of rehearsals, Jay had dropped by the studio to watch. Adrian tried to shoo him away at first but relented and let him view practices through the observation window. We knew the performance was being filmed live, and after watching me practice, Jay told me that the recording should be all the audition I’d need to get into Juilliard. I hoped so. Especially if Jay would be there too.
Ava stayed with our family the past few weeks, while her mom got some help for her drinking. Her dad was basically living with his new girlfriend by this point. She was handling it pretty well all things considered. Rae came over one day and we had some good girl talks but we didn’t tell her about Liralelle—I was worried she’d tell her mom who’d have us committed or something.
The spotlight centered on me and I danced and twirled just like I’d rehearsed for hours and hours. There were no trolls waiting when I completed the rotations of my pirouettes and I lost myself in the flow of the performance. Ava and I exchanged smiles as she took the stage as the Canary Fairy. During the final curtain call, the audience rose to its feet, with no one yelling louder than Cal. The entire night felt magical.
Ava and I walked out to the lobby together and Jay waited near my mom and Cal with a bouquet of roses in his hands.
I smiled. “Are those for me?”
“Of course,” he handed them to me. “It was between flowers and a zipper so I went with these.”
“Huh?” Ava asked, and I laughed. Just then Ava’s mom walked up.
“Ava?” she asked tentatively. “You were wonderful. Can I take you to a late dinner?”
Ava’s face darkened but she nodded. “See you guys later.”
I hugged Ava tightly. “You were fabulous, A. I’m so proud of you.”
“Back atcha, B. Talk to you soon.” Ava went to her mother, who put an awkward arm around her.
Cal hugged my waist. “I don’t even like ballet that much, but you were awesome, Bree.”
“You were great, sweetie,” Mom said. “I just know you’ll get into Juilliard.”
When I showed Mom the sacks of gold I had stashed, she’d broken down and cried. That’s when I think she really believed the crazy story we’d told her. She opted to keep working because she said she loved helping others, but said she’d cut back on her hours and would take time off more often.
“If it’s okay with you, Mrs. McKenna,” Jay started, “I’d like to take your daughter out to celebrate tonight. Like on a real date
.”
I nodded. “Not that Liralelle wasn’t exciting and all that, but I’m ready for something more laid back, like pizza and a movie.”
Mom sighed. “I guess it’s okay. But no parallel-universe traveling and be home by 11pm Earth time please.”
Jay saluted her. “Yes, ma’am. Got it.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said. “See you in a few hours.”
I crept into the house a few minutes before 11pm with a goofy smile plastered across my face. No way was I going to be home late and ruin my chances of more dates with Jay. We had the best time laughing and eating pizza. Not to mention the goodnight kiss he’d given me when he dropped me off at my house. It seemed crazy to think that we could both get into Juilliard and spend even more time together, but maybe fairytales weren’t just for Liralelle.
Mom was sound asleep on the couch with the lamp still on. I turned off the light and kissed her cheek before covering her with a blanket. The house was quiet as I tiptoed up the stairs to my room.
“Bree!” Cal whispered loudly when I passed by his door.
“Cal, it’s late. You’re supposed to be asleep.” I walked to his bed to kiss him goodnight.
He clicked on his reading light. “But I can’t sleep. I’ve been trying for hours. Could you please read me just one story? Pretty please?”
I sighed. “Fine. Just one and then you have to promise to sleep in tomorrow. Mom doesn’t work so we can all relax.”
Cal reached over to the bookshelf next to his bed and pulled out the fairytale tome. “I promise.”
I groaned. “Does it have to be that book?”
He flipped it open. “Yep. It’s the best one there is. Let’s see …” His fingers flew down the index of fairytales and stopped on the last one. “That’s weird.”
“What? Let me see.” I grabbed the book and looked where his finger had stopped. It was a fairytale I’d never heard of and certainly hadn’t been there last time I’d read to Cal. It was called The Witch and the Ballerina.
“It’s about you, isn’t it?” Cal asked excitedly.
I turned to the page number listed in the book. The picture at the top of the story featured a ballerina in pointe shoes kicking a witch. Cal snuggled into me. “This is going to be the best one yet, I know it.”
I smiled, put my arm around him, and began reading.
Epilogue
It was dark and damp. The air was colder down here; each tiny sliver of light immediately swallowed up by the blackness. Every movement caused excruciating pain and she wondered if she still had full use of all her limbs. Maybe her neck had been broken and she’d never be able to walk again or use her arms. She lay on the cot with her eyes closed and willed her gnarled hand to move.
Her fingers were balled into a fist and she strained with all her might. For a long moment, nothing happened. Then one of her fingers spasmed and moved an inch. She tried again. Finally, after what seemed like hours, all of her fingers uncurled and she stretched her hand out toward the wall. Her fingers brushed against it and the condensation from the stones was cool against her skin.
Gertrude opened her eyes and smiled.
Acknowledgments
As the mother of a dancer, I’ve sat for hours watching ballet rehearsals, countless performances, dance conventions, and competitions. I think many people don’t realize the amount of hard work, sweat, and tears that go into dance. On top of managing schoolwork and assignments, these young women and men are often in their studios well over 15 hours per week. This novel is an homage to all the dancers out there creating art and beauty in the world. Thank you!
A huge thank you to the Awesomesauce ARC Army who helped with the beta reading of this book, and a special shout out to Kyra who helped with a character name. You are all the best and I’m so happy to have you in my tribe.
To my writing partners in crime: Becky Taylor, Aimee Henley, and Shawn McGuire. I don’t know what I’d do without you awesome ladies and your endless encouragement and inspiration.
A huge thank you to Wendy Terrien for reading an early version of this book and giving awesomely helpful feedback.
To the Bookclub Babes: I love you all and can’t believe we’ve been talking books for 15+ years now!
To my family near and far, you are the best and thank you so much for your support!
Finally, a huge thank you to all the readers of the world. Writing for amazing readers is what makes it all worthwhile. I hope that even when the world becomes dark at times, you can find solace, and some hope, through reading. Escaping to another world, even for a short time, can provide respite and relaxation. Thank you for sharing this journey with me!
Make sure to sign up for my newsletter for upcoming releases, free short stories, giveaways and fun writing anecdotes at kristihelvig.com! You get a free short story immediately by signing up here.
Preview of The Wing Collector
DEAD THINGS
Epping Forest, England
September 8, 6:04 a.m.
I wait for her behind a large oak tree. Cool mist dampens the morning air, yet I feel no chill. I’m too focused. I know how it will unfold; the girl’s initial confusion will give way to anger, then fear. Despite what I am about to do, I don’t want her scared.
I want her dead.
Killing her is necessary in order to find the One. Streaks of gold penetrate the woods, and I watch the rising sun with impatience. The less light, the better. Light, tentative footsteps crunch the dead leaves underfoot.
The girl mumbles under her breath, “I don’t know why we had to meet so early.”
I take a slight step in her direction and a twig snaps.
She peers into the fog. “Matt?” she whispers. “Matt, is that you?”
I step out from behind the tree. “My deepest apologies, but Matt couldn’t make it.”
She starts to run when she sees the knife, and the crumpled note from her crush—as written by yours truly—slips from her hand. Her back turned to me only makes what I have to do easier.
I wipe the blood on a cloth that I’ll later burn. One down, but many remain. I won’t waver. I won’t tire. I’ll make the world a better place—one freak at a time.
Grab The Wing Collector on Amazon.
About the Author
Kristi Helvig is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy author whose debut sci-fi novel, BURN OUT (Egmont USA/Lerner Publishing), was called "a scorching series opener not to be missed" by Kirkus Reviews. Her latest book, THE WING COLLECTOR (Dark Edge Publishing) is an urban fantasy involving a half-human/half-faerie teen who realizes her kind are being hunted when a pair of wings fetches big bucks in an online auction. Kristi muses about Star Trek, space monkeys, and other assorted topics on Facebook. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, two kiddos, and behaviorally-challenged dogs.
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