Ada's Protective Mate

by Jo Palmer

  A very old Galdo greeting. Chase recovered first, bowing courteously.

  “Good day, madam. We are hoping to locate fairy Perry… Twinkle.” He smoothly covered his grimace with a devilishly attractive smile. “I am Chasen Diablo of the demons.”

  The fairy beamed up at them all. Penny swore she literally sparkled in the fading sunlight, a scattering of gold dust covering pale skin, and long sandy blonde hair curled down her back. She was petite, five foot two or three, very slender with delicate, exquisite features. With all that fairness it was a striking contrast that her eyes were a very dark chocolate brown. Warm liquid chocolate.

  “The eldest demon prince. What a lovely pleasure. I am Perry…Twinkle? Is this the new name given to me? I had no recollection of what the vampire allocated. Quite strange, truly, I think the creature may have been a touch bedazzled, though why I cannot fathom. I certainly did not touch him. Please, do come inside.” She breezed past them into the house, flashing an enchanting smile that had them trailing after her demurely. “I took up residence just two days ago…or was it four? Time slides by without my knowledge these days. Do come in.”

  Dazed by the flitting fairy, Penny and the demon cousins followed her into the ramshackle cottage. Penny held back a wince at the dust and mess in a small sitting room, continuing on through a doorway into a bigger room. There they all looked around with interest.

  Every surface was covered by some type of machine and container, the room full of tables and equipment. Lush plants grew out of containers, the windows were open letting a fresh breeze through, and there was absolutely no dust anywhere. Obviously this is where the fairy spent her time.

  The fairy herself was not what Penny was expecting, nor, she thought, had Chasen. Ruine said he had seen her from a distance yet seemed bemused and enchanted. She was an exquisite little creature who looked to be very young but by all accounts was the oldest creature alive. She flitted about, seeming to forget them instantly as she gently touched plant after plant and inspected machines.

  “Tea making.” Ruine murmured, sniffing the air. “I recall this, it was the best tea I ever had and could no longer get, the maker going into hibernation.”

  “Yes, Mother covets the fairy’s tea. Not the best set up for making such a delicacy.” Chase stepped forward. “Fairy Perry, could I offer the services of my demons and a building for your tea making venture. I assure you, my demons will be at your beck and call, we will provide all you require.”

  With how very ancient this fairy was, Penny was more than a little surprised to find her living in such dismal surroundings, attempting to make reportedly the best tea in the world out of pots and a few plants. Wouldn’t the fairies be taking care of their own legend? And after all this time wouldn’t she have enough monies and assets in reserve to choose to live and support herself to an extremely high standard.

  So many questions, and yet more to ask and find out from the fairy. Penny was just dying to quiz the exquisite creature on everything she’d seen and learned, on her experiences and her power, for the delicate little thing practically oozed fairy flair and power, barely containing it.

  Now she deemed to smile brightly at Chase. “So generous, demon prince, thank you.” She glanced about. “Dismal, yes, but I had a momentary thought to attempt something new this rising, so I came here to begin…is the term, ‘from scratch’?” She waved a hand carelessly. “Is it not profoundly unique? I thought to turn it beautiful, but alas am finding difficulty after difficulty.” She shrugged and waved a hand, gold rimmed fragile teacups appearing on a tray with a gold teapot. “Tea?”

  They all accepted. Chase began to demon deal without the fairy having to do anything but accept and be provided all she needed. Penny quickly learned Perry was impressively brilliant at not answering direct questions and could redirect the conversation with ditsy, lovely chatter and babble. Ruine looked ruined, dazedly watching the fairy, Chase was clearly charmed, and Penny marveled at how even she, who could appreciate charm, loveliness, and beauty, was falling for the ancient one.

  “You have a crystal on you, Prince Ruine. Would you care for me to cleanse the badness?”

  Chase had introduced Penny and Ruine properly when they sat down for tea in the dusty, horrible sitting room, but no one had mentioned the crystal. It was concealed in a special container so as not to affect anything or anyone with its evil, negative magic. Ruine removed it from the pouch then the container and held it out.

  “Are you sure you want to touch this, Perry?” Ruine could be protective sometimes, was in an old demons nature.

  She smiled a dazzlingly, sweet smile and took the crystal. She didn’t seem alarmed in the least by the contact and after a half second it was cleansed, its original beauty shining brightly.

  “Amazing.” Penny leaned forward in her seat to study the gem. “Research performed at the museum in Galdo after a recent break-in leads to the belief the crystal belonged to you. Do you remember it, Perry?”

  “I feel its essence.” She looked to be far away, recalling something that for a very brief moment showed sadness and dismay, even pain. The look vanished, and she was tranquil once more. “The crystal was mine once, no longer. It has a new mistress now.” She motioned for Penny to hold her hands out then placed the crystal in her palms. “The imp Remika Alberts. A gift and a guide.”

  “How do you know of Remika Alberts?” Chase asked intently.

  Perry sat straight and perfect in her dusty chair, not concerned by Chase’s tone. “I heard from an acquaintance of her misadventure. More tea?”

  “Thank you, no. Perry, how is it the crystal came to be in the museum if it were yours?”

  “It was misplaced. I travel so much I honestly may have lost most items I have had over the centuries.” There was a loud pop from the other room, Perry excusing herself to investigate. Ruine went with her, probably to protect.

  “Chase, she has evaded and not answered most of our questions, yet I do not feel like she is lying, just—”

  “Leaving out truths.” Chase nodded. “I felt it too. Right now I don’t know what to make of it, of her, but I have an uneasy feeling.”

  “She is far from evil, in fact, she is probably a bit detached. Is it the curse, do you think?”

  “Undoubtedly. They say the ancient fairy does not feel love, so there may be repercussions in other emotions because of this.”

  Fairy Perry was cursed never to love, never to be touched. Those that fell for her were cursed not to have love returned and were sent crazy from it. Penny had read in an ancient scripture of one such occurrence when Perry lived in Galdo for a time. The story told how a creature was driven to insanity after falling in love with her. The ancient fairy was careless with feelings, and the creature ended up tearing half the city apart and could barely be contained by the sentinels. They were unable to destroy the love-struck creature for some reason. Penny hadn’t read all the scripture, so she didn’t know how man was stopped.

  “She was cursed twice, wasn’t she?” Penny was making notes on her phone.

  “I’m not sure of the true story, Penny, only that to break the curse, or curses, her true name must be spoken. And that knowledge was lost millennia ago. And no, she cannot reveal her true name for the consequences are death.”

  “She’ll die? Can a curse truly kill?”

  “This one is capable. The bad part—”

  “Being killed for saying your own name isn’t bad? Sheesh, this doesn’t sound good.”

  Chase gave his cute lopsided smile. “Ancient times and their curses are never filled with the happy jollies.”

  “Happy jollies, I like it.”

  “Cheeky. There is a clause. When the fairy and her soul mate connect souls, the mate has forty-eight hours to say her name, or she will perish. And slowly over that forty-eight hours, she will suffer growing pain until she either dies or her name is spoken.”

  Penny felt creeped out. In fact, she realized, she’d been feeling creeped out ever si
nce arriving here. As an immortal who knew all about magic and curses, and having now met Perry the fairy, she came to the logical conclusion. A part of the curse was to drive others away from the ancient creature, instead of being drawn to her like they would naturally be.

  “That’s a nasty curse. Either someone really hated her, or she did something really horrific.”

  “A jealous imp and powerful magic. Only Perry would know the reasons fully.” Chase stood as Perry rejoined them. “Your machines are fine?”

  “Yes, thank you, just a little malfunction. The wiring in this house is abysmal, so I must keep using magic to override any irregularities. More tea?” Perry placed a silk pouch on the table, a few very old coins sliding out.

  Immediately, Penny recognized the coins, though these did not hold dirty, horrible dark magic.

  “Thank you, yes.” Chase accepted the tea.

  Ruine nudged his cup closer, the small, delicate little thing looking ridiculous against his big hand. Perry obligingly poured him another cup of the delicious brew.

  “Perry, these coins. Are they very rare?”

  The fairy’s eyes met Penny’s over the rim of her teacup. The knowledge and shadows there were enthralling.

  “Extremely. I only have this small pouch of them. I heard that there are none left in the museum. I brought them out to give to you to return to Galdo along with the others to place in the museum.” She smiled serenely. “Jaac did not have time after I cleansed the last coin he found in the museum. He has an important task to attend to and minimal time to do it in.”

  They all stared at Perry, bewildered, a little stunned. Chase carefully placed his teacup on the saucer.

  “Would, perchance, Jaac have been to visit you in the past few hours?”

  “Yes,” Perry said brightly. “Such a fun young fairy, though very serious. He was so concerned about the dark magic on the old coin and what it meant. It was very bad fairy magic.” She frowned over this for the briefest moment then her face cleared and she smiled. “Like the crystal did, though they both had a different purpose. Fruit?” With a wave of her hand, a large platter of delicious fruit appeared.

  They all ignored it, still reeling from the knowledge that the youngest fairy prince had been here with a bad fairy magic ancient coin. And if Penny wasn’t mistaken, the dazzling ancient fairy had just subtly, purposely, informed them of this, in a rather ditzy way.

  “Devil take the boy,” Ruine grunted. “I’m guessing you didn’t ask where the brat was going, Perry?”

  “Oh, he murmured something about saving souls and love and took some tea.” She beamed a smile. “I think you will find he is doing something very good.”

  “Ah, except he isn’t allowed in the Outside by himself and with the Revmiras running around, it’s too dangerous,” Chase said quietly. “Perry, can you tell us where Jaac went?”

  “Umm, he did not inform me, dear…I am sorry, I forget how young ones have to be taken care of. I can look for him if you wish?”

  “Not necessary,” Chase assured.

  “I saw the coin for a split second at the announcement of the Revmiras problems in Galdo in Jaac’s possession. Because of what was happening with Remika, I completely forgot about it.” Penny said quietly to Chase and Ruine.

  And now of course she felt bad about it as she may have been able to prevent Jaac from running wild on the Outside and placing himself in terrible danger. She turned to Perry who was calmly snacking on a slice of melon.

  “The coin belonged to you?”

  “No, I felt no connection to it. It once belonged to the Montello royal family. It was the first coin ever produced. I believe that many centuries later it was given as a gift to Giselle’s betrothed.” She shrugged, dark eyes losing their spark and becoming a little vague. “Please, do try some fruit.”

  “Been a pleasure, fairy Perry.” Ruine stood up. “I’ll scout around outside.”

  When he left, Perry flashed a small, off with the pixies smile somewhat in his direction. Still bemused, in awe and dazzled by the fairy, Penny felt she had missed some important details. There was something that the fairy said that was telling her to go back to their conversation and try to figure it out.

  The woman was dazzling and appeared so much younger than Penny. All creatures when reaching their twenties stopped aging physically. Penny looked forever twenty-five, whereas Perry only twenty at the most.

  “You were able to remove the evil magic from the crystal with great ease, Perry. I have only ever seen Dareios of the fairies able to accomplish such a feat. Is it your talent? Or are you as incredibly powerful as they say?”

  “Dareios is undeniably immensely powerful.” Perry murmured distractedly. “I dare say he may be nearly to my strength now…” Perry seemed surprised she had said that and with a smile and a shrug, tinkled a laugh. “Gracious, I rarely think of magical prowess.”

  “But you are the most powerful, you are an ancient. Perhaps you were always this strong?” Chase queried.

  Perry nodded. “Oh yes, always.”

  Penny loved the openness. Fairies had no modesty about their beauty, what they liked and magic.

  “Is that why you were cursed?” Possibly rude to blurt out such a question, but the fairy wasn’t put off by blunt questions, and Penny was just desperate to have the scoop. No one had ever been able to tell her the exact reason, and if she found out, she would have one of the best pieces of information ever.

  “No dear, merely part the reason for it,” Perry said calmly, as though not bothered by a pesky curse. “As is one of my magical skills. We all have certain things we are talented at, something a little different, unique or more powerful. A few fairies are capable of giving emotions with touch… Gracious fairy wings, I do believe Queen Giselle’s sister-in-law, Tasmin, has a certain level of the skill.”

  “I wasn’t aware.” Chase paused in selecting a piece of fruit, frowning. He did so like to be up on everything, great for his position of sentinel and royal demon.

  Perry gave him a beaming smile. “Fairies are happy creatures; we have little need to give emotions to one another usually.”

  “Perry, the problems we are having with the Revmiras pose a great threat to yourself. They will want you on their side, considering you spend all your time on the Outside. If they cannot persuade you to their way of thinking, they may try to use you against us in other, not so pleasant ways.” Chase brought the conversation back to one of the important reasons they had come in search of Perry.

  She pouted and waved a hand dismissively. “I am of no interest or importance. I will be very pleased to give you all some tea to take home though.”

  “Who do you think put the bad juju on your crystal and the coin?” Penny asked, ignoring that Perry may have been politely directing them to leave.

  “It is old magic.” She said absently. “As in, placed a long time ago. I really know not.”

  Chase recoiled just a little. Perry had lied. And she was hopeless at it. Seeming to guess this, she sighed then smiled and sipped her tea.

  Penny laughed, unable to help herself. “I very much wish to ask you more questions, Perry. May I visit you again? Do you plan to stay here? Galdo is probably better for your tea making business.”

  Perry paused, the teacup not reaching her mouth. “Oh no, I cannot possibly stay here! I find I am useless at beginning from scratch. Do come again though, visitors are so much fun.”

  Chase concluded it was time to go after stressing the importance of Perry returning to Galdo as soon as possible. When he said he would inform Queen Giselle and the council, she pouted but did not comment.

  At the door Perry rose, hovering above the ground, face serene and at ease.

  “Thank you for your concern, but I will remain here and see to my own safety. As for the items, I know not how they will lead you to capture Grydern and the desolate one. I must apologize, but I have another appointment. Please, do visit again soon! Bye!”

  With that the door clos
ed, and they were left standing to look at a weathered, buckled door.

  “We were dismissed very nicely. I sort of feel all warm and gooey.” Penny grinned, hopping down the stairs. “I think that was one of the strangest meetings I have ever been to.”

  “Yes, it was…unusual. I do not recall mentioning the items had anything to do with Grydern. And who, the devil take it, is the desolate one?” Chase growled low. “We obviously know nothing.”

  Penny stopped hopping down the overgrown, broken cobbled path. She turned and looked back at Chase who remained standing on the porch, body still, eyes flashing.

  “What does that mean?” She felt creeped out again. It wasn’t a feeling she enjoyed.

  “Secrets, immortal, powerful ones.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Ah, hon, you do know the frigging hot werewolf crown prince is your mate, right?” Remi looked at Ada as though she were a few loaves short of a baker's dozen. “I realize you brownies are like one of the slower creatures to sense a mate—hey, don’t brownies only know when they do the horizontal mamba?”

  As this seemed to be bordering on gossip that Remi would definitely pass around, Ada rolled her eyes, selected a delectable pastry, and nibbled while Remi laughed and teased. Remi was still recovering from her abduction and ordeal at the hands of Grydern, though seemed to be in much better spirits. Since arriving back in Galdo a few hours ago, she’d had a brief rest, saw her family and was now at a café across the square from the council chambers where they would go next to speak to the sentinels.

  “Actually, brownies do not necessarily have to have sex to tell if another is their predestined mate—”

  “No? Hells, that’s disappointing. So how long have you known?”

  “Brownies receive a sense. We pay more attention to a particular creature when we receive a sense or run for the nearest immortal to cast a banishing spell.” Ada sighed. “In this case I felt he was a hot-headed annoyance, and I was suffering under a little bad-boy infatuation. Unfortunately that illusion lasted briefly, and I began to suspect. Unfortunately, I had no time to seek out an impartial immortal, what with you being abducted.” Ada cast her best friend a chiding look. “By twenty-four hours I knew.”