by Kimbra Swain
“What would it do to you?” Dylan asked.
“Physically nothing,” I said leaving the rest unspoken.
Dylan knew how much Levi meant to me. He never questioned it or showed any jealousy. Not much.
“If he shows back up and wants to be released, you will do it?” Dylan asked.
“Yes, as long as she tells him everything. If she doesn’t, I’ll tell him then let him decide,” I said.
“Aren’t you afraid she will enthrall him?” he asked.
“He can’t be enthralled, except by me,” I said.
“And he resisted that,” Dylan reminded me.
I laughed. “Yeah, he did, the bastard.”
Dylan smiled. “You enthralled me.”
“Devil,” I said.
“Come here,” he said. I hit the light switch turning the room dark except for the glow of the moon outside. I crawled into the big recliner with him. “He won’t do it.”
“Maybe. I don’t know for sure. He’s not been himself lately,” I said.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with his loyalty to you,” Dylan offered.
“That’s right. He doesn’t talk to me anymore,” I said as the sarcasm dripped from my words like molasses on a biscuit.
“What did your father have to say?” he changed the subject.
“I’ll let you do this just this once,” I warned. He chuckled causing the whole chair to shake. “Apparently, Jeremiah was his servant on the inside of the Sanhedrin. And he’s mine should I choose to employ him.”
“Really?” Dylan said. “I can’t wait to see the old coot’s face when you tell him the news.”
“What news?” I asked.
“That he’s got a new boss,” he laughed.
After all the years of me trying to follow Jeremiah’s rules, I wondered if those rules were actually my father’s rules. In fact, they probably were my father’s instructions to Jeremiah. I planned to skin his hide the next time I saw him. Every time I think I have a handle on all the things I didn’t know, another one slaps me across the head.
“You can force him to come right now, can’t you?” Dylan asked. Dylan and Jeremiah were good friends. I knew what Dylan wanted, but I couldn’t do it.
“I suppose,” I said.
“Do it. Call him here. Order him to come here. I’m gonna laugh my head off,” Dylan said.
“I won’t,” I replied.
“Then make him call. Please, Grace. You gotta do it. I can’t wait,” he said, giddy as all get out.
“Alright. Let me focus. Be quiet,” I said.
He stopped laughing and remained very still while I focused on Jeremiah. I found him down at the bar. He must have come in after I left.
“Jeremiah Freyman,” I called out to him.
“Holy fucking shit!” he answered.
“Watch your tongue, Holy man,” I said referring to his standing with the Sanhedrin who actually weren’t Jewish nor religious. I liked to tease him about it. He knew it was me because of the servitude. Yep, I had me another one.
“Grace! I’d kill your father if he weren’t already dead,” he said. I looked at Dylan and winked. He shivered with excitement.
“Call Dylan’s cell phone. Now!” I said.
“Fuck,” he grumbled.
Within seconds, Dylan’s cell rang. He shifted his weight to pull it out of his pocket.
“Riggs?” he said, grinning like a possum eating sweet potatoes.
I could hear Jeremiah’s voice on the other end. “You are just loving this, aren’t you?”
“Yep,” Dylan replied.
“What does she want?” Jeremiah whined.
“Don’t be upset with her. I made her do it,” Dylan said.
“No one makes that woman do anything. I suppose she knows,” Jeremiah said. Dylan handed me the phone.
“Yes, I know, Jeremiah Freyman. And you know what? I should have heard it from you instead of my father’s ghost,” I replied.
“His ghost?” he asked.
“Yeah. His ghost,” I repeated.
“I’ll see you tomorrow unless you have some task for me, My Queen,” he drawled.
“Keep that tone up with me, and I’ll jerk a knot in your tail,” I teased. It seemed my list of tails that needed knots was growing.
“God help me,” he said.
“Ain’t no god here to help you now. You're mine, bitch,” I said. Dylan died laughing.
“You tell him that I’ll fix his red wagon in the morning,” Jeremiah joked.
“Night, Jeremiah,” I said cutting off the conversation.
“Night, Grace. Fuck off, Dylan,” he swore as he hung up.
“That was great. You should make him hop on one foot for a whole day or something,” Dylan said.
“It’s a good thing you don’t have servants,” I said. “They would all be walking around town like idiots.”
“Whatever. I’d have them cutting the grass, massaging my feet, and all sorts of menial tasks,” he laughed.
I took a deep breath and leaned into him. His warm arms enveloped me. “Father said he doesn’t hate you.”
“I don’t care what he thinks of me,” he said. “But it’s nice to know. Why don’t we turn in?”
I agreed that it was time. It took a while for my brain to shut off. Here I was once again with a big fat mess on my hands. The fighting council, fairy relations, a pig in the wrong neighborhood, a mad sylph, and a woman trying to steal my bard.
Just as I faded to sleep, I heard Winnie talking in the other room. Her sweet little voice drifted through the trailer. It was late, and she should be asleep. After a few minutes, I didn’t hear her again. I supposed she woke up, then fell back to sleep. If she was ever scared or sick, she would come to us. I waited a little longer, but she never came into the room. Closing my eyes, I drifted off into a deep sleep curled up next to Dylan.
The alarm went off, and Dylan kissed my cheek. “I’ll get her ready for school.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Did Levi come home?”
“I didn’t hear him if he did,” he said. “Are you worried?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “I know. I know. He’s a big boy. He will be fine.”
Dylan slipped into jeans and a t-shirt. “Did you hear her talking last night?”
“I did. Not like her,” I said.
“I’m going to sneak in her room and see if she got up and played or something,” he said, slipping out of the room.
I decided to get up. I was awake, and all I could think about was Levi. Staring at myself in the mirror in the bathroom, I took a deep breath to force myself not to contact him in my head. I brushed my teeth and hair. Turquoise eyes stared back at me, and for the first time looking at the mix of my glamour and my true self, I felt out of balance. Getting my head on straight should be my focus. Perhaps talking to Jeremiah would help. I expected him to show up any moment. I might as well cook breakfast. If Levi came home, he would be hungry too.
I put on jeans and a button up plaid shirt. Pulling my hair back in a ponytail, I sighed looking at myself in the mirror. I wouldn’t have to worry about aging my glamour. Every moment of every day I felt older. You could see it in my eyes.
Walking to the kitchen, I heard Dylan talking to Winnie. I reached down to pet Rufus who ran around my feet.
“Who were you talking to last night, Winnie?” he asked.
“My friend,” she answered.
“You have an imaginary friend?” he asked. I could hear her struggling to get dressed. Daddy wasn’t the best at getting the clothes on straight.
“He’s not imaginary. He’s real,” she explained.
“Well, you are my girl. I don’t know how I feel about you having another guy in your life, besides Uncle Levi,” he said.
“He’s over there in the closet,” she said.
“Oh yeah? Can I meet him?” he asked.
“No, he said he doesn’t like grown-ups,” she said.
“I don’t like the s
ound of that, Winnie,” he said. I heard the closet door open. “Holy Fuck!”
“Mom, Daddy said fuck!” Winnie exclaimed.
I ran into the room with Rufus on my heels. “Dylan!”
“Look!” he said pointing at the closet.
Rufus started barking, and I shoved him out the door. Whatever was in there he didn't like. It was a little late to be a guard dog. He and I needed to have a discussion about his duties.
I peered into the tiny closet full of toys and clothes. Amongst them sat a very small man with iridescent wings. His boyish features made his face seem pleasant even when he grimaced at the sight of Dylan and me. He wore brown knickers with a green vest coat. The white sleeves of his undershirt billowed out from under the tight vest. His brown shoes had tiny brown laces. His hair, which also was brown, sat rumpled on his head. A long lock hid his left eye from sight, but the eyes were also brown. His tiny ears slid back to a point. As if I needed my newfound fairy sense to know what he was, the bright neon blinking above his head told me what I already knew.
“He’s a brownie,” I said.
“His name is Bramble,” she said.
“What are you doing here?” I asked the tiny man.
“She caught me. Now I’m hers,” he said with a shrug.
“You aren’t supposed to be seen,” I replied.
He stood, brushed his suit coat down, and bowed deeply. “My queen,” his shrill little voice pierced my ears. “Forgive me for getting caught. I was doing my business inside your home when this wee one trapped me. She’s a clever little thing. Now, I am her servant.”
“So much for the fairy talk,” I told Dylan. He put his hand over his eyes, shaking his head.
“What do we do about this?” he asked.
“Nothing we can do now,” I said. “It’s sooner than I would have liked.”
“Sooner than what?” Winnie asked. “He’s my friend. Don’t hurt him.”
“Winnie, I’m not going to hurt him. Do you know what he is?” I asked.
“He’s a fairy. A little boy one. I didn’t know there were boy fairies,” she said.
“Did you know there were any fairies?” I asked.
“Just the ones on television, but they are cartoons,” she said.
“Yes, those aren’t real. But Bramble is a family fairy. He belongs to our family and our home. As long as we treat him well, he will do things for us. But he’s a secret, Winnie, you can’t tell anyone about him,” I tried to explain.
“I can’t tell my friends at school?” she asked.
“If you tell, Bramble has to go away,” I explained.
Bramble fluttered his wings, lifted off the ground and floated over to her. “Miss Wynonna, I am your humble servant, but the Queen is right. If you tell anyone that I am here, then I have to leave,” he said. “Can you keep our secret?” He looked as desperate to stay as she was for him not to leave.
“I promise not to tell anyone. Even Uncle Levi,” she said.
“You can tell the Bard. He’s part of the family,” Bramble explained.
“Winnie, you can’t keep him in your closet. He can come and go as he wishes, but I bet he will always be here to help with whatever you need. Isn’t that right Bramble?” I said.
“Yes, my Queen,” he said. By this time Winnie was used to people referring to me as the Queen. She didn’t question it anymore.
“Tell her what you require Bramble,” I said to him knowing there were conditions to remain in his good graces.
“I would very much like a cup of milk in the morning and the evening. Perhaps something sweet as well. That is all I request,” Bramble said, as he landed on the bed next to Winnie.
“Can we do that, Mom?” she asked me.
“Yes, of course, we can get him a small cup, and each morning you will get him milk. I’ll buy some cookies for him. Okay?” I said as if Bramble were her new pet. In some ways, he was like a pet. Not human. Not an animal. Just fairy. “I’ll see to his milk this morning, okay? You go get dressed for school.”
She nodded. “Bye, Bramble. See you after school.” She jumped up and rushed off to the living room with Dylan. I eyed the little fairy channeling my father’s authority. He visibly cringed.
“Bramble. Shame on you for getting caught,” I scolded him. He hung his head. “But if I find out that you did it on purpose to hurt this family, I’ll cut your wings off and feed you to Rufus.”
He gulped. “Yes, my Queen. I swear on my tiny life that I was caught by accident. I am Winnie’s faithful servant.”
“You are my faithful servant,” I emphasized.
“Yes, my Queen,” he nodded in agreement.
“Good. Welcome to the family. I’ll get your milk,” I said cheerily. He cocked his head sideways with the change of attitude with me. “You have nothing to fear from me as long as you don’t hurt my family.”
“I will stay here while you get my milk,” he said. I studied his expression for a moment to make sure he wasn’t getting mouthy with me.
Making my way to the kitchen, Winnie slipped on her backpack while hugging Dylan. “Bye, Daddy. I love you.”
“Love you too, Winnie,” Dylan smiled.
“Love you, Mom. Thanks for the fairy,” she said busting out the door to catch the school bus.
“Thanks for the fairy, Mom,” I mocked as she went outside. “What a cluster.”
“Agreed. I suppose you threatened him?” Dylan asked.
“Yeah, he will be wingless and dachshund food the moment he pulls some bullshit,” I said pouring milk into a plastic cap that I took off a bottle.
Dylan laughed. “Brutal,” he teased.
“I was serious,” I replied.
“I know! Don’t pull my wings off, my Queen. I promise to be a good bird,” he teased. I wanted to throw the cap of milk at him, but it would mean that I’d have to refill a new one for the fairy.
When I entered the room, Bramble sat patiently on the small wooden vanity that Levi made for Winnie.
“Here,” I said, turning to leave.
“My Queen?” he asked, stopping me in my tracks.
“Yes?” I prompted.
“Why don’t you have any other servants, besides the Bard?” he asked.
“I grew up in this world. Servants and slaves are not permitted, nor would I have them anyway. Levi is a special case,” I said.
“How do you know the fairies here are loyal?” he asked.
“I don’t,” I replied.
“Oh,” he said sipping his milk.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“No ma’am,” he replied with a southern drawl. I shook my head as I left the tiny man in the room alone. I knew he would come and go as he pleased. Having her own little fairy might be the best way to introduce Winnie into the world she lived in without getting too deep into it. On the other hand, brownies can be particularly temperamental if they don’t get their milk. I felt like I’d inherited a stray dog that I didn’t want, but those sweet pleading eyes of my daughter were one of the two things on this earth that could melt me. The other sat in the recliner in the living room.
“When do you report for duty, Officer Riggs?” I asked.
“I need to get going. He’s expecting me this morning. Are you sure you are okay with this?” he asked again.
“I’m sure. Just be careful. Call me if you need anything,” I said.
“It will be like old times,” he said.
“I don’t want to relive old times,” I replied.
“Why not?” he said stepping into my trap.
I could be rather averse to being straight up sappy sweet, but I had my moments. “Well, you weren’t mine then,” I said.
He usually responded with something sweeter, but this time, he paused. “Grace Ann Bryant, that’s probably one of the sweetest things you’ve ever said to me. I might marry you.”
I shook my head at him. Silly man, we were already engaged. Then he did it. “But I’ve always been yours.” He ca
me up behind me wrapping his arms around me. His warmth enveloped me. “Always.”
He climbed in the red Camaro, throwing gravel as he left the trailer park. I saw a light in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in a while and didn’t even realize was missing. It made me happy. I spent a few hours doing laundry and cleaning up the house. I needed a few brownies of my own. Everything was sunshine and sweet tea, but then, Levi came home.
Rage filled his normally brooding features. He stomped into the room. He was doing that mind blocking thing again. I needed to take that damn book away from him. Shutting me off always made me feel like a small part of me was missing.
“If you wanted to get rid of me, you should have just said so,” he grouched.
That wasn’t what I expected. “I don’t want you to leave. Why would you think that?” I asked.
“She said that when she asked you about it that you said it was okay as long as I agreed,” he replied.
“I thought you would never agree. Besides, it is your decision, Levi. I wouldn’t hold you if you didn’t want to stay,” I said.
“I’ve never belonged to anything until I met you. It just seems like the Grace that I know would have told her to go fuck herself, but you didn’t,” he said.
“You don’t know how much I wanted to tell her that, but I’m trying to be more diplomatic. This town has gone fairy crazy. The last thing I need is them thinking that I was holding you against your will. It would cause problems for all of us. Levi, you are my bard. My servant. My best friend,” I said as I walked toward him.
He stood with his hands on his hips like Winnie when she pitches a hissy fit. I touched his cheek, letting the tingle of fairy on fairy touch ripple through him. I saw the goosebumps raise on his arms. His tattoo peeked out from under his royal blue t-shirt, igniting with golden light through the touch of my power. His jeans pushed lower on his hips as he moved his hands from his hips to his pockets. He closed his eyes and leaned hard into my hand.
“She is Stephanie’s sister. You could have told me that,” he mumbled.
“I promised her that I wouldn’t. She felt like she needed to be the one to tell you. She humbled herself before my rule on the night of the debate. I don’t break the trust of my servants,” I said.