Lies, Mistrust and Fairy Dust

by Xavier Neal

  The sound of someone clearing their throat obnoxiously loud snaps me out of the heavenly state we had fallen into. Glancing over my shoulder I notice we now have a full audience. All three guys look impressed while Belle looks mortified.

  She waves her take out filled hands around. “Seriously?”

  I point playfully leaning back on my palms. “He started it.”

  “She started it.” Justin shakes his head pretending to be innocent. “See what she did to my pants.”

  Absentmindedly, I point. “See what he did to my shirt.”

  “What shirt?” Peter throws his voice into the conversation before Belle throws an elbow into his stomach.

  Humiliated my arms fly across my chest to cover my bra as Justin chuckles proudly to himself. Swiftly he grabs it and holds it up for me to snatch away. I cannot believe this is happening to me. The first time I...we...whatever, and this happens!

  “Now your face matches your hair,” Peter comments, forcing my face down in further embarrassment.

  “Oh like we haven't all caught you and Belle going at it at one time or another,” Eiden mutters heading towards the couch with Aiden on his heels.

  “What?” Belle sounds even more unhappy than before.

  Gratefully taking the heat off of me, I slide my shirt back on, holding it closed since he broke the buttons. Sexy, but not convenient. Justin helps me to the ground, softly apologizing, “Sorry.”

  I offer him a sweet smile and whisper back, “To be continued?”

  A heated look flashes in his eyes as he nods.

  Eiden kills the moment. “Like that time I got home late from a date to see the two of you going at it on the couch.”

  “Or that time I needed to borrow the keys to the car and you were going at it against the refrigerator.” Aiden states.

  “How about that time we were on the job in Hawaii and I woke for an early morning swim and you two had some issues going on with fruit?” Justin's description gets my imagination running. Not necessarily the way I want it to run.

  “Enough.” Belle's own face now becoming flush. “We get the point.”

  Peter pulls out a beer from one of the bags and uses a bottle opener to pop the lid off. “Yeah, that nobody in the group knocks.”

  Smoothly I slip out of the living room unnoticed. After a long shower, I dry off, and call Belle to assist in what she does best. Within what feels like record time, I'm a redhead again. However this time it's pinned up high on top of my head with tendrils, something I haven't had since I was a young teen. Once my glasses are on, moles and scar in place, I squeeze my body into a tight black cocktail dress flashing more cleavage than I do at work.

  Escorting me out of the room by the arm, she drags me into the living room where the boys are still enjoying their dinner. At the sight of me, their chewing slows down as if they all have something they want to say.

  “Well?” Belle questions.

  Feeling rather exposed, I attempt to cover my chest that's over exposed. “Personally? I'm feeling...a little cheap.”

  “You look a little expensive if you ask me,” Peter sneers leaning back with a cup in his hand instead of his beer he was sucking down before.

  Justin stabs his fork down into the Chinese food container. “You look perfect for the job.”

  “And the job is-”

  “Seduction.” Belle and Justin agree in unison as she takes a seat next to Peter.

  “And I can't seduce him with my mind?” I complain, watching Justin relocate to the arm of the couch to make room for Belle. “I had no trouble using my mind to get what I needed to from Nick.”

  “And we also had more time,” Justin clarifies.

  I frown at him. He can't be seriously comfortable with me looking like this for someone that's not him.

  Sensing the anger growing inside of me he does his best to undo possible damage. “Peyton, we know you have no problem using your sense of persuasion to get the job done and that's exactly what we're expecting you to do. Think about your personality doing all the work and your body is just there to assist and distract.”

  “So he's watching the cards and not the dealer?”

  Pleased that I remember this lesson from our first meeting he nods. “Exactly.”

  This feels like the time to bring up a very important point that I meant to bring up before we started enjoying our time together in the clay. “Speaking of, we may have a problem.”

  Peter looks up towards the sky and hums out, “Hm...”

  Annoyed I snap, “What?”

  “Just pondering what life was like before you were around to say that...” Before I can say something smart mouth back Belle nails him in the stomach for me.

  “What's the problem?” Justin asks calmly.

  “Well Landon's deposit box, has extra security on it. Key fob.”

  “Smart. That's not really a problem. You just need to make a copy of the key fob and the regular key.”

  “Yeah I got that...but the problem is he wears it around his neck-”

  “I don't remember seeing that on him on the video feed,” Aiden says, a noodle dangling from his lips.

  “That's because he wears it underneath his tie where no one can just slip it off without his consent. And yes, the simple answer would be to slip him a little sleepy sleep pill in his drink and take it off him that way, but there lies the actual problem. Landon is a control freak. I mean down to knowing how many dashes of salt were put on his fries and how many minutes they were fried. When we were at lunch yesterday, he left to use the restroom, and when he returned, he ordered a fresh water and had the waitress take that one away untouched.”

  Eiden smacks loudly. “Wow. It's like he's paranoid.”

  “It's like he's trained,” Justin slowly corrects. “Like he's been warned about some of our tricks.”

  “I need a solution.”

  Belle starts to speak, “Well there is-”

  “No.” He cuts her off.

  “Technically-”

  “No.”

  She huffs. “Are you going to let me finish?”

  “No.” Justin stands to his feet. “That is not an option. That's not an item on the menu. That's not even a card in the deck, Belle. Absolutely not.”

  Cautious I question “What exactly is it?”

  “It's not a choice, is what it is,” Justin snaps.

  “Get your panties out of a twist,” Belle demands taking a bite of an egg roll. Turning to me she explains, “You can slip him the pill another way. You-”

  “Belle-”

  “Justin, cut me off again and I'll use the same tricks I do on Peter when I want his mouth shut.”

  He clenches his teeth together and grips the arm of the couch where he was sitting.

  With a pleasant look on her face she turns back to me. “We can coat a pill in fairy dust and a little bit of Finuga. You place it on your tongue and it instantly dissolves. You have a small window of time to press your tongue to his. He'll ingest it quickly and you'll be fine thanks to the coating.”

  “What happens if I take too long?”

  “It um...depends on how long extra you take. Just a little and you'll be feeling like your drunk, too much and you'll be passed out right alongside him.”

  Shrugging I sigh. “That doesn't sound too hard. What's the window?”

  “About 16 seconds.”

  I gape at the answer.

  “We're not doing it.” Justin denies. “The risk is too high. Look, best case scenario, it works, you get the copy of key fob and the key and you wobble out of there a little tipsy like. Worst case scenario, you don't get a copy, you miss the only window we've got, and you're out for hours in enemy hands, the night before we need you here.”

  “Couldn't I just send you an 'Everything is OK' text? Like a check in. If I don't send one then you know I need help,” my suggestion forces Justin to growl under his breath.

  “I can't leave to come rescue you baby.”

  “Why not?”<
br />
  “I've got to baby sit the coin in the oven. I'm only halfway through with this forgery and I can't disappear without running the risk of it being ruined. Belle? Can you go get her if she needs you?”

  “I would but I'm on limo duty tonight...”

  Trying to hide a smile that I'm not the only one having to use her sexuality to get something we need I ask, “What's his name?”

  She does her best to hide a smile. “Ronnie.”

  Justin turns. “Eiden?”

  “I'm on boat duty tonight. I've got to make sure everything is in working order and start getting our stuff loaded.”

  Still hopeful Justin chirps, “Aiden?”

  “I've barely got time to eat with the rate the Precious Society is burning through the information I'm providing. If I don't keep a steady flow they're going to catch on and get suspicious that I'm leading them down a phony path.”

  Annoyed Justin tosses his head back and then looks at the only option left in the room. In unison the two of them snap, “No.”

  “In unison. That's impressive,” I mumble.

  The two of their eyes stay locked. And then it happens again. “No. Hell no.”

  “Could you two just forget the fact you drive each other up the wall for like a minute,” Belle starts. “The shoe has been on the other foot before. I've been in situations where Justin has rescued me. Don't you think you owe him?”

  “Thought you paid him back when you two kissed,” Peter's cold words shock me.

  “You what?!” Aiden, Eiden, and I cry out in unison.

  “Not the time.” Justin lowers his head. With a simple shake, he lifts his face. “I don't want him being responsible for this. For her.”

  “I don't want to be responsible for it either,” Peter agrees.

  “Let me rephrase this.” Belle waves a sassy finger around. “You will be the one to rescue Peyton if she needs it. And you will be alright with it. This conversation is over.”

  They cry out in unison. “But―”

  “What did I say?” She raises her voice and they both shut their mouths.

  Justin folds his arms across his chest. “Fine.”

  “Fine.” Peter slams back the rest of his drink. “But Peyton, one request?”

  I hum, “Yeah?”

  “Try to avoid pasta. I don't want you any heavier than you already are.”

  The words cause me to slide my arms around my stomach feeling worse in a situation I didn't think I could possibly feel any worse about.

  Belle punches him in the arm and he growls, “Sorry...”

  “Here's your purse...” Aiden tries to shift the conversation. “There's a makeup container in there. There's a button on the bottom you push and out slides a small strip. You can scan the key fob and make an impression of the key. And if control freak gets snoopy then he'll find your makeup instead of what you're actually hiding.”

  “Brilliant,” I compliment, taking the handbag away.

  “Thanks.”

  Turning to Justin I insist, “Walk me out?”

  “Yeah,” the sigh is followed by conversation returning back to normal.

  Once we're on the outside of the door, a border between us and the rest of the group I hit him harshly in the chest.

  Quickly he rubs the injured area. “Ouch! What was that for?”

  “You and Belle-”

  “Not now Peyton,” he whines tossing his head backwards, shoving his hands in his pockets.

  “What the hell do you mean not now?”

  “I mean not now,” he snaps rudely in my face. “Now is not the time to throw a tantrum about ancient history-”

  “Tantrum-”

  “You have work to get to and so do I.” The volume and tone in his voice is not appreciated. In fact it's cold and empty like I don't mean anything to him, like I'm nothing more than just another girl to walk in and out of his life.

  Doing my best to choke back tears, confused how someone can be cooing they love me and want to protect me, then turn around and treat me like a useless disposable one night stand, even though they claim I'm their soul mate, I nod. “Fine. Have a good night. Justin.”

  I'm no more than a foot away when he calls out my name realizing he's done something wrong. He continues to call after me until I'm out of sight. I don't have to put up with this. In fact, I hope Landon and I actually have some fun tonight.

  Landon's limo takes us out of town to a very unique restaurant that overlooks the lake. Our seat is at the perfect location to where we can enjoy the sun setting over the water creating a beautiful atmosphere.

  My body relaxes against the back of the plush seat while I admire the simplicity of such a moment. I've spent so much time running through life I almost forgot what these moments were like. Right about now would be the ideal time to take my sketchbook out and draw this miraculous view.

  Dinner is as smooth as I hoped. It's full of easy conversation, mostly about the kind of work he does and for who. Any time I try to inch towards the real reason I wanted to come out on this date, to find that information, he steers the conversation away insisting it'll be accompanied with dessert. I would push harder, but that's when he starts asking questions about my family and the scar on my neck. Insisting I don't wanna discuss either, I lead him back to topics he can't help gush about. Around the time I decide I can't take another story about red wine versus white wine I excuse myself to take a breather in the rest room.

  As soon as I'm inside I place my purse on the counter top and lean both hands on it staring at my reflection. Between the dress, the hair, and the glasses, I look like I'm a cheap secretary for the president. Or vice president. My disgusted growl at the reference to Justin's past is followed by the sound of the bathroom door opening. Expecting to see another female I grab my purse preparing to head back to the table when two males in waiter uniforms appear instead.

  I gasp backing up towards the farthest wall. “You're not supposed to be in here...”

  “Of course we are sweetheart.” The one on the left grins as a knife slips from inside his sleeve. “We go wherever you Lost Boys go.”

  “Dark Watchers...” I mumble opening my own handbag with one swift motion pulling out a butterfly knife to my surprise. Note to self, thank whoever put that in my bag.

  Dropping the purse I arm myself with the knife as they come straight for me. I wish I wasn't wearing heels or this tight fitted dress. It makes me feel like I'm in a Mission Impossible movie. The first comes at me and with a heavy kick to the chest he stumbles backwards leaving the other to come straight for me. I grab a hold of his arm and swing him into the wall behind me. His face smashes into it with heavy thud, followed by a swift stab in the back from me. He disappears just as the one I kicked body slams me against the wall.

  Wincing in pain I struggle against his body as his face lowers to my neck taking a long whiff. “No wonder Alex is always obsessing over you.”

  Disgusted but thankful I still have the ability to somewhat move, I twirl the butterfly knife around in my grip. Between his attempts to retrieve it from my grip, I shove it forward into his abs. The second my body is free, I feel an immediate relief. Damn. We have to get out of here. No telling how many more there are or where they came from. Now that they know exactly where we are, we really have to get moving.

  I escape out of the bathroom and slide back in my seat. Trying to remain calm I lean over the table and coo, “How about that dessert?”

  With a wiggle of my eyebrows, he gets the picture, and quickly takes out his wallet. “Of course.”

  Not waiting for our check, he tosses a few hundred dollar bills on the table, reaches for my hand, and escorts me out of the restaurant. With an arm wrapped around me, I let him hold me close. I make sure to keep my face down just in case there are any more Dark Watchers hunting.