room. “Well, some think I am crazy for being a single mother this close to forty but I
love it. Ling Mae is so worth it.”
“Ling Mae?”
“Yes, I thought Marie had told you. I adopted a wee Asian baby. I travelled to
China a little over a month ago and brought her home. I have a friend from my College
days who works for an agency over there. She helped pave the way.”
Gordon sat down on the couch and a thoughtful look came over him. “Adopted,
you adopted a child. How wonderful.”
“Yes I think so. One doesn't have to be married anymore to have a child Gord.
There are so many wee souls looking for love and homes.”
Gordon hesitated. “Um, are you married? I am sorry if that is too personal.”
Fiona laughed heartily. “No Gord I am not married. I got tired of waiting for the
right fella so I decided that now was a good time to have the child I always wanted. If a
man comes along I'll be happy. But I am happy now, so my life is as is should be.” Gordon looked at Fiona with great interest. He had never thought of starting a
family without a wife or at least a serious partner in his life. He always assumed life had
passed him by. Fiona's views on life intrigued him.
“So, shall we get down do it then?” Fiona asked.
“What?” Gordon asked, jarred out his thoughts on life and children. “Oh, yes of
course. I'm sorry. You wanted some history on the house and its previous owner.”
“Are you okay Gord? I promise that whatever I learn here will stay with me. I
won't breathe a word of it.” Fiona asked.
“I'm fine,” Gordon sighed. “Before we get into the history, you seemed interested
with the word “glamour” earlier. What does it mean?”
Fiona gave Gordon a brief history of social faeries and how “glamour” was
comparable to a spell only more sensual in nature and almost always involving a female
faerie.
“If it is faerie power being used Gordon, you must know that they rarely do
anything for nothing. She'll want something in return for her seduction.” Gordon voice cracked as he spoke. “I...this is crazy. First you tell me I've been
contacted by some faerie and now you are telling me she is trying to seduce me? Give
me a break Fiona! Your crazier that I am!”
Fiona sat calming as Gordon tried to reason with what she had told him. “Gord
try and look at what facts you do have. Who owned this house before?”
“Mrs. Quinn”
“Where is she from originally? Do you know?”
“You know very well where she is from Fiona! Are you trying to tell me that she
brought these “things” with her?”
Fiona nodded once. “It's possible. Some Irish families have faerie folklore
associated with them. My own family has been told to have its own banshee.”
Gordon just stared at Fiona, trying desperately to comprehend what she was
saying.
“What type of plants do you have in your garden Gord? Do you mind if I have a
bit of a look?”
The pair walked out into the garden, Gordon silently leading the way and not sure
if he wanted to continue to hear what Fiona was saying. It was too unbelievable for words. Even he could not make up a story such as this. “How could someone as bright
as Fiona believe in this nonsense?” he thought.
“Just as I thought!” Fiona exclaimed as she walked closer to the rose bushes and
patches of flowering wildflowers. “It's perfect for her.”
“What is?” Gordon asked.
Fiona found herself smiling at Gordon's disbelief, but she had always found men,
even one's as bright and talented as Gordon had a hard time thinking outside of their
own intellectual “box”.
“Your trees, this garden and especially the Heather are a welcoming place for
faerie folk. Heather attracts faeries to people who are shy. But, I doubt you could have
known that! I just hope for your sake it's only the one and not a whole circle of them.”
“I need a drink.” Gordon mumbled.
“The drink doesn't solve the problem Gord. But a wee one can help steady the
nerves. Let's go back inside.”
As the pair entered the house, Godfrey made his presence known and rubbed
between Fiona's legs. “What a lovely cat you have Gord, what's his name?” Fiona asked as she picked
up Godfrey and stroked his velvet fur.
“Godfrey, his name is Godfrey. Normally he's so fussy about who he associates
with. I have never seen him take to someone so quickly. He was miserable the other
night.”
“Hello Godfrey, I'm Fiona. Animals know who appreciate them Gord.”
“All I know is he really took a dislike to my garden faerie, or whatever she is. He
almost tore a strip off of her.”
Fiona's back stiffened as she put Godfrey down on the carpet. “Keep him close by
you then. Felines know when a disruptive spirit is about. I am surprised your faeries
didn't try and kill him.”
“And here I though faeries were all sweet and nice.” Gordon sniffed as he poured
himself and Fiona a small glass of brandy. Fiona accepted the drink and shook her head.
“Even Tinkerbell had a mischievous side.” Fiona said with a slight smirk.
“What do I do Fiona? Sell the house and move away? This has become my
refuge...my home! I won't be driven away by some faerie tale creature.” The two were silent for a moment as they finished their drinks. “Lovely brandy,”
Fiona commented quietly as she took the last sip of the ruby liquid.
“I have had it awhile. I don't make a habit of drinking, especially alone.” Gordon
said as he drained his glass.
“I am glad to hear that Gord. Listen, I have taken up enough of your time and I
am sure you have a few things to think about. Let me research a few things and I'll call
you if you don't mind? In the meantime, I am glad to have met you and I hope you'll feel
free to call if your “guest” decides to make another appearance.” “And Gord...”
“Yes?”
“I wasn't lying when I said I was a fan. Your books are superb! Thank you for
writing them.”
Clearing his throat and managing a smile, Gordon walked Fiona to the door.
“Thank you Fiona. I am glad to have met you too. Thank you for not being...you
know...odd about all this.”
Quickly squeezing his hand, Fiona winked and walked out the door. “You have a
friend in me Mr. Parks. I am here to help if I can!” After watching Fiona drive away, Gordon could still feel the warmth of where she
had squeezed his hand. He had never met a woman like her. She was so gracious and
intelligent and she believed in all this superstitious nonsense. Most of all, he was
amazed that she didn't think him eccentric or crazy.
“Take it easy Gordon. She has a child and obviously doesn't need a man in her
life. Don't make this any more complicated than it is.” He commented silently. CHAPTER SEVEN
It was three a.m. when Gordon awoke to strange scuffling noises downstairs. He
sat up in bed in a panic. Holding his breath, he strained to hear who or what was making
the noise.
Godfrey and already jumped from the end of Gordon's bed and lay flat against the
floor in front of the door, sniffing the air.
“What now?” Gordon whispered, upset that his night sleep had been disturbed.
Cautiously, he slipped from the warmth of his bed, put on his slippers and as
quietly as possible, opened the bedroom door.
The noise stopped.
Gordon stuck his nose out the door and listened again. Once again, a rustling
could be heard down stairs. Gordon's heart thumped wildly in his chest as he tried to
imagine what manner of person or animal could be down there.
“Please God if it's a thief let them take what they want and be on their way.”
All of a sudden, Gordon heard his name being called by a soft, sing song voice.” “Gordon, my Gordon. You have left me such pretty colours. I knew I made the
right choice. I just knew.”
Gordon squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Not again, please let it be a
dream.”
“I can be any dream you like Gordon, but I need your help first. Oh look at all the
pretty colours!”
Knowing that the soft, feminine voice belonged to Fae, Gordon steeled himself to
face her and ask her leave. After all he had never asked her here. He didn't want her
here.
He stopped midway down the staircase, his eyes opening wide in shock. There in
the middle of his living room was Fae, dressed as she was the night of the storm. Her
diaphanous white gown was wrapped around her feet and ankles and boxes of Christmas
glitter lay opened before her. She look like a faerie tale princess with coloured glitter in
her hair and silver beads around her neck, hanging between her tiny, round breasts. She
was so obviously a woman but very childlike at the same time.
Gordon sucked in a breath and continued down the stairs until he came to the
bottom where he just stood and continued to stare. “Good evening Gordon. I just love all your pretty things. Don't they make me
look lovely?” Fae asked as she stood up and turned toward him. The outline of her body
was visible under the thin material of her gown.
“Yes...uh...no! Enough of this nonsense, I don't want you here!”
Gordon watched as Fae slowly walked toward him, her face beaming and her
fiery red hair creating a curtain around her half naked shoulders. She was too beautiful
for words.
Gordon shook his head and closed his eyes, struggling not to look at her until he
felt her so close that her body touched his.
“I know what you want Gordon and I can fulfill every desire you have never
dared to ask of human woman. I can make all those pretty words you write come true.
But, I want your help.”
Fae's breath was hot against Gordon's neck as she spoke. She stroked his arms
and cheek with her tiny, delicate fingers. His stomach grew tight and his breathing grew
more ragged with every touch. A fired burned in his belly and it scared and delighted
him at the same time. No woman had touched him in this manner...ever.
“Fiona.” It was a simple, distinct thought in the back of his head. The memory of
her simple, friendly touch came flooding back to him. “I do not want you near me. This is not right! You are not real!” Gord struggled to
release himself from the “spell” that Fae had placed on him. His body desired her but his
mind ruled and he was able to back away and stare her straight in the eyes.
“I said get away!”
With a shriek and a high pitched wail, Fae flung herself at Gordon and they both
tumbled to the floor. Godfrey hissed and exploded in a bundle of fur and fangs,
attaching himself to her back.
“Evil creature! I have had enough of this. If your Master will not comply then
consequences have to be paid!” Fae roared and quickly grabbed Godfrey around the
neck and flung him toward the wall. A sickening crunch could be heard as Godfrey's
neck and back were shattered by the force.
“No! Godfrey! How could you!” Gordon cried as he tried to move toward his
beloved feline.
“Stay where you are human! I am nowhere near finished with you!” Fae hovered
over Gordon as he lay crumpled on the floor, sobbing in grief. “All I wanted was your
help and in return you could have had me and anything you ever wanted! No man dares
to refuse me!” Fae hissed in anger. Gordon looked up and noticed that her eyes had turned from emerald green to
ruby red. It seemed as if they were consumed by a fiery rage.
Suddenly, Fae shrank back and held her hands over her ears. Her ferocious
behaviour dissipated as quickly as it had started and she looked like a helpless child
being rebuked by its mother.
“No I do not want to go! I was having fun! You have spoiled everything again!”
Fae turned on her heel without another word, ran out the back door and
disappeared into the garden.
Gordon hurried to his feet in pursuit only to find an empty garden. The rose
bushes and Heather were untouched and birds were singing loudly amongst the Maple
Trees. It was as if Fae had never even existed.
His heart sank as he slowly trudged back into the house to once again view
Godfrey's broken body.
“I am so sorry old friend.” Gordon murmured as he sank back to the floor and
placed his head in his hands in despair. “I was useless to you. What kind of man am I?”
Getting an old towel from the mud room, Gordon lovingly wrapped up Godfrey's
body and held him in his lap. “You were a good friend to me Godfrey and I will miss you so much. Now I am
truly alone.”
Hot, fat tears streamed down Gordon's face. He felt anger well up within him and
was at a loss as to what to do with it. “You need to be in the garden Godfrey, where you
chased the butterflies and terrorized all those poor birds that nest in the trees.”
Burying Godfrey was the hardest thing that Gordon had ever had to do. He felt
like part of him died as well. As he covered over the small burial plot he made in the
garden, he whispered a prayer then sat, staring at Godfrey's makeshift grave.
“All this because of some...some...faerie? What the hell is going on?”
Gordon's moment of grief was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. He
threw the spade down and impatiently flung open the phone.
He hesitated, and then spoke quietly into the phone. “Yes?”
“Gord? Is that you? I can barely hear you.”
“Hello Marie. Yes, I'm here. I really don't want to talk right now. I can't talk right
now.”
Gordon heard an intake of breath on the other end of the line. “Now you are worrying me. Fiona called and said she had spoken to you. What's
happened?”
Gritting his teeth and gathering every bit of patience he had, he explained to his
sister that he had a rough evening and promised to call her the next day. He had to call
Fiona! CHAPTER EIGHT
Fiona sat on her overstuffed couch and watched as Ling Mae played in her
playpen.
“Almost time for bed wee one. It has been a busy day and I need a night's rest.”
Ling Mae cooed in agreement and grabbed one of her toes; Fiona laughed as she
scooped up the baby and brought her into the bathroom so they could bathe. Fiona
enjoyed the nightly ritual that she had developed with Ling Mae. At the end of the day
she ran a warm bath with chamomile baby wash used as bubbles and with Ling Mae on
her lap, she would wash both their hair and use the time to connect with her baby
daughter.
“You are God's
gift.” Fiona said brightly as she used a soft towel to dry off
herself and Ling Mae. “My life would not be the same without you.”
Fiona dressed Ling Mae in a fresh diaper and a clean sleeper and cuddled up in
her own soft, warm bathrobe and padded down to the kitchen to warm up a bottle. She
was startled when the phone began to ring.
“Now who do you think is calling at this hour?” She asked her sleepy daughter as
she picked up the phone. “Um, hello? Is this Fiona?” A familiar voice asked.
“Oh my, hello Mr. Parks...Gord how are you? I was just putting my daughter to
bed.”
“Oh God, I am sorry Fiona. I didn't even think of the time. I can call tomorrow.”
Fiona could hear the urgency and panic in Gordon's voice.
“No, please don't be like that now. You sound upset.”
“Um, yes I am. Godfrey's gone; he's dead.”
Fiona brought the phone into the living room and placed Ling Mae back in her
play pen with the bottle and her blanket.
“I am so sorry Gord. What happened? He looked in the pink of health when I was
over earlier.”
“Fae.”
Silence.
“Fae came back Fiona and this time she left angry and she killed Godfrey. She's
no figment of my imagination. She is very real and she has proved to be formidable.”
A long exhale of air escaped Fiona's lips as she thought about what to do. “Gord, can you come by here? I can't leave now as my wee babe is asleep. But I
think we need to talk.”
“I don't want to be a bother, I just...”
“It is no bother, please come by. I think I may be able to help.” Fiona's voice was
firm but caring as she gave Gordon directions to her home. When she hung up, she
carefully lifted Ling Mae out of the play pen and placed her in her crib.
Quietly closing the door, she hurried to her room and got dressed in a pair of
jeans and her favourite old fuzzy pink sweater. After toweling her hair as dry as
possible, she went down stairs to the kitchen and made a pot of tea.
“Now, how do we deal with you, you nasty little faerie? I have not heard of one
of your kind for quite some time. I wonder if Mrs. Quinn knew of you? She must have
had some secrets to deal with you.”
Grabbing some leather bound books from her small home office; she placed them
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