by K T Munson
“And the boys?”
“They have been strangely well behaved,” Mary-Ann mused with a little laugh. “Your father becomes melancholy, and the boys become choir boys. They are even doing laundry.”
Diana chuckled and imagined her brothers fighting over who had to match the socks. When they’d been children and had to help with laundry, the twins had never wanted to fold socks. Something about being a pair of identical things had made them reluctant to match other things. They’d never done it right, always making sure the socks turned out mismatched. So their mother had given the job to Diana.
“Socks, too?” Diana asked and smiled broadly.
“Socks, too,” Mary-Ann confirmed. “Though Harry had to fix Henry’s tendency to try to still mismatch them.”
“Of course he did,” Diana said, rubbing her thumbs back and forth over her mother’s hands.
Tears welled in her mother’s eyes. “I don’t understand. Why can’t you tell me?” She searched Diana’s face.
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I could tell you,” Diana said softly. “What I can tell you is I paid off your medical bills and put a hefty deposit into your bank account. If it was something bad, could I have done that?”
“Yes,” her mother said, bowing her head and starting to cry. “Have you fallen in with drug lords or the mafia?”
“Trust me, for the amount of money I put in your account, I would have to be the drug lord of the world. That couldn’t be done in less than a month,” she pointed out.
“No,” Mary Ann said, sniffling. “I suppose not. Though there are other things that are just as dangerous.”
Diana stood and kissed her mother’s head. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I love you,” Mary Ann said, touching a hand to her cheek.
“I love you too, Mom,” Diana said, heading toward the door. “I’ll go see Dad now.”
“Diana?” Mary Ann called after her.
Diana turned back at the kitchen’s threshold. “Yes?”
“Conk your father on the head,” she said, tears brimming. “He needs to come back to reality.”
Chapter 33
Diana made her way across the green campus grass, the sun warming her back. No doubt her dress is what drew some odd looks to her making her self conscious as her strange dress moved like water against her legs. The building felt cold as she made her way to her father’s office. Perhaps it was the feeling of dread. She took a breath and opened the door.
Her father turned and said, “I am not taking any—” He froze as a look of shock melted onto his features. “Diana?”
“Hi, Dad,” she said with a nervous smile.
The old chalkboard, her father had installed personally, was covered in her father’s large looping scribbling. She could smell old books and knew there was an old bound copy of Freud’s original works under glass somewhere in here. The rug she had become threadbare, but it was the same one she had played on as a girl. Diana sometimes felt more at home in her father’s office than at home; they were both sanctuaries for her, though different kinds.
“Are you really here?” he asked, searching her face.
“You’re not dreaming,” Diana said, closing the door behind her. “Mom said you were distressed, so I came to set you straight.”
“You’re right that it isn’t a dream,” he said, slowly smiling. “You’re never this mean in my dreams.”
“Reality is so much better though,” Diana reminded him as she threw her arms around him.
His fingers dig into her shoulders as he clung to her. Her father was not a sentimental man, and he had rarely hugged her, even as a child, so his tight hold on her was a little surprising. He didn’t keep useless things, even if they were tied to specific events, and he thought greeting cards were a scam. One year on Christmas when Diana was young, he’d given her mother a vacuum and hadn’t understood why even a four-hundred-dollar vacuum wasn’t a good idea for a gift.
After her mother had cried over the vacuum, he’d started bringing Diana to help him pick out more suitable gifts for Christmas, anniversaries, and birthdays, and Mary-Ann Williams had never cried over a present again. They had formed a close bond during that time—as close as Diana could get to her father anyway.
It is hard to describe the way her father worked. His mind knew he loved his wife and children, but it was so crowded with other things that sometimes this was lost in the noise. He wasn’t crazy, not in the least, but Howard didn’t operate on a level that was easily understandable for other people. He would get so lost in his thoughts that sometimes even Diana couldn’t bring him back to reality.
When she pulled back, there were traces of tears forming in her father’s eyes. He studied her face and framed it. He didn’t notice her dress or the strangeness of it. That was the way her father was, brilliant and oblivious. It had always been Diana’s role to be the backbone of their family. When she had been whisked away on the adventure through space, her family’s spine had fallen out, and they had been flopping around, confused.
“Where were you?” he whispered, his voice catching.
“I can’t tell you.” It broke her heart to say it again. “But I am well cared for and not being kept against my will.”
“The boys and I went to every government agency we knew and demanded answers,” Howard said. “They all said the same thing—that you just vanished.”
“Dad,” Diana said sternly so he would understand she meant it. “I can’t talk about it.”
“Then how do you expect me to understand?” His voice got a little louder.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” Diana replied, trying not to let her emotions take over. “I expect you to trust me.”
“You sound like you’re in a bloody cult,” he scoffed. “I’d think you were if we hadn’t already checked all the ones in the area.”
Diana’s nose scrunched up as she tried not to let her anger get the better of her. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, and she knew her father would be harder to convince then her mother. Determined to try, she opened her mouth to say something else when suddenly the door to the office flew open. Dimar came in quickly and closed it behind him, resting against it.
“We have to go,” he said, herding her towards the window.
Kissing her father’s cheek she said, “I have go, Daddy. I love you.”
Her father was startled as he stared at Dimar. Diana had never brought a man home before. Friends, sure, but no one who looked like Dimar. He looked like poisoned candy, the exact opposite kind of person you wanted to see your daughter with, especially when she’s been missing for a few weeks.
“Now listen here,” her father said, his face bright red with anger. Although Diana wanted to stay and reassure him, talk him through it, there wasn’t time. Dimar wouldn’t have shown up unless it was urgent.
Diana went to Dimar, ignoring her father, and took his hand without hesitation. “Who is here?”
“Humans are somehow tracking our ship,” he said, peeking out of the hallway before closing it abruptly. “We’ll have to go out the window.”
Her father’s voice had a hitch of hysteria as he said, “We’re on the third floor!”
It was summer, so one tall window in the office was already open. Dimar pushed it up the rest of the way and picked her up before jumping onto the ledge. Her father made a terrible choking noise as Diana glanced back at him.
“Everything is going to be okay,” Diana said softly, putting her arms around Dimar’s neck. “I’ll explain everything when it is all over.”
“Diana!” he called as someone banged on the office door.
Dimar jumped and Diana tightened her hold as she fought down the scream bubbling in her throat. He landed, his knees slightly bent, and she buried her head in his neck. When she pulled back, he looked down at her and smiled that same smug smile, the one she had hated at first, but was now relieved to see.
“Worried?” Dimar asked.
She patted his cheek. “Not when it comes to my demon lord.”
Dimar placed her in a standing position, and she noticed people were standing around gaping. Looking back up at the window, she saw her father looking down at them in awe. She waved to him as Dimar took her other hand and yanked her across the campus lawn.
They were nearly across campus when she heard someone squeal her name and Stella ran headlong into her. “Diana!”
Unprepared for Stella’s hug, they landed in a heap in the grass. Stella’s arms were wrapped around her neck and she was clinging like an octopus. Diana hugged her back—she had missed her somewhat crazy roommate.
“Where have you been?” Stella demanded, still holding on to her.
“Around,” Diana said.
Diana pushed her back and sat up, Dimar looked startled. She didn’t think it would be easy to explain what a glomp was and that it was Stella’s favorite thing to do. Diana couldn’t recall how many times Stella had come hurdling at her headlong and had latched on like a leech. It would take at least all her fingers and most of her toes. Stella finally sat back enough to get a good look at Diana.
“What are you wearing?” she demanded, sounding impressed. Leaping to her feet to get a better look.
“Clothes,” Diana answered vaguely as Stella helped her to her feet.
“Matt and I have been so worried,” she said, turning back as the young man who had been in their kitchen the morning of her birthday walked up slowly. “We drove all the way here to see your family.”
Dimar suddenly stepped between them and put his hand on his hip. When Diana looked at Matt she saw something glimmer on his skin. Blinking Diana held firm to Stella as her friend inspecting Dimar, seemingly noticing him for the first time. Matt passed, his head tipped back in a cocky manner.
“Dracoon,” he said, his voice sweet like honey.
“Fairy,” Dimar spat.
“Wait,” Diana whispered to him. “Like fairy, fairy?”
“What brings your kind to this lonely planet?” Matt the Fairy asked.
“What is going on?” Stella demanded, looking confused, but everyone ignored her.
“None of your business,” Dimar all but growled at the handsome man.
Diana glanced back and saw a short man with glasses carrying some serious equipment she couldn’t identify and running towards them. Her guess was that he was the human that had tracked them somehow. Putting a hand on Dimar’s arms, caused him to stiffen. She could feel his hair was on end, and she had a feeling his adrenaline had kicked in because his eyes were dilated.
“They’re coming,” Diana said, looking back towards the man, who was getting closer every second.
“Stay out of my way,” Dimar said to Matt.
“I want her,” Matt said, pointing at Diana. “I thought Stella had the power, but it is her. Give her to me.”
Diana snatched Stella’s arm and started dragging her back away from them. Her friend gave Dimar a hateful glare before she turned a softened gaze on Matt. “What exactly does that mean?” she snapped.
“It means, human,” Matt said as his skin seemed to ripple again, “that I don’t need you anymore.”
“You can’t have her,” Dimar said through clenched teeth.
“We are allowed to bid on her hand,” Matt said, reaching out to Diana. “Come with me, Bearer, and I will show you the pleasure a Fae can give you as a husband.”
Before Diana could answer, Dimar lunged forward. Matt, if that was even his name, jumped into the air and an energy sword appeared in his hand. It baffled Diana that they were centuries ahead of humans but they still fought with swords.
“Where did they go?” Stella whispered.
“You can’t see them?” Diana asked as she watched them fight towards the parking lot.
They were blurs of movement. Dimar blocked an attack and caught Matt with a punch to his ribs. The Fairy stumbled back and then jumped into the air. Translucent wings appeared behind Matt as he zipped around above Dimar’s head, grappling for an opening.
“They disappeared,” Stella whispered and slipped her hand into Diana’s.
Diana didn’t dare take her eyes off them. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until she felt lightheaded. Taking a deep breath, she watched as Matt swooped down and planted a kick in the middle of Dimar’s chest, flinging him around a bend in the parking lot. Gasping she took a step forward to help him as Matt disappeared behind a row of trees. When Stella’s hand tightened, she realized she couldn’t leave her friend alone.
The man with the equipment finally reached them. It took him a minute to catch his breath before he fixed the straps on his backpack. His brown hair was wild, and his glasses were round. Diana waited patiently, despite the fact that she wanted to run to Dimar’s aid. Stella wound her arm through Diana’s. Her eyes were as round as quarters as she clung to Diana for comfort and was likely going into shock.
“That wasn’t human,” the man said.
“You don’t say,” Diana said, trying to sound surprised. It came off biting. If Dimar was hurt, the Fairy would pay dearly.
He pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. “This may come as surprise to you, but that was not from this world. It was quite possibly an alien.”
Diana couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “Oh. Amazing.”
Stella, on the other hand, squeaked, “What?”
“Please try not to faint,” he cautioned.
“I think I can manage,” Diana said, glancing at her friend, who understandably didn’t appear as calm. He ran off in their general direction despite the fact that they were moving too fast for him to actually see them.
Today was a strange day, and, unfortunately, it wasn’t over.
Chapter 34
“Can you please explain to me what just happened?” Stella asked as Diana hurried through the parking lot.
As much as Diana wanted to go and help Dimar, she needed to get Stella to safety. “Get in your car and drive to your grandmother’s house,” Diana told her as she searched for the white Chevy Malibu.
Stella gave her a deer-in-headlights look. “I don’t understand. Who is Matt? What is he? They literally just vanished. Poof. Wait, why aren’t you losing it?”
Diana stopped as they came to Stella’s car. “Both of us can’t freak out.”
“That isn’t it,” Stella said, narrowing her eyes. “I may not be super smart like you, but I know you don’t look at all surprised.”
Diana glanced back at her friend. Stella had her hands on her hips, and she was eyeing Diana closely. Her roommate was still Stella, but something was itching in Diana’s brain that something was off. It was right there on the edge of her brain but it wasn’t clear.
“What did he do to you?” Diana asked, taking a tentative step forward.
“Matt? Or whatever his name is,” Stella said. “Other than some really awesome sex-athons, nothing.”
Diana squinted at her friend. “You have no idea what is going on? Matt didn’t say anything?”
Stella wrapped her arms around herself, seeming to get smaller. “No,” she said, looking up at her. “You and that guy were walking, and I just was so happy to see you were okay. I ran halfway across the quad before tackling you.”
Diana frowned. If Stella didn’t already know something, Diana couldn’t explain. “Okay, get in the car,” Diana said, and Stella pulled the keys from her purse.
Her hands shaking so badly that it took her a few tries to open the door. “Maybe I’ll go visit Nana. I’ve been promising for a while.”
“Good idea,” Diana said with a smile.
“You should come with me.”
“I can’t,” Diana said, shaking her head.
“I don’t know what you’re into,” Stella said, looking warily at her. “But be careful.” Stella got into the car and started to pull the door closed. Diana suddenly reached out and caught it.
“You never mentioned how sexy the guy I was with was.”
Diana felt the itch in her brain release as the light bulb came on. Stella never missed an opportunity to point out a hot guy—she would even flirt in a drive-thru. No matter how scared she was, she would have mentioned how gorgeous Dimar was.
“Well no one is as wonderful as Matt,” Stella said, laughing, “and he’s all mine.”
Diana’s eyebrows furrowed as she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Touching Stella’s shoulder caused the power of the Heart of the Cosmos to pass from Diana through her friend in a subtle spark of red light. Stella slumped in the driver’s seat, and Diana crossed her arms on the top of the car before leaning her head on them trying to ground herself. Stella had fallen victim to a Fairy because of her, and she was going to find out exactly how to fix whatever he had done. Regardless she would make him pay for whatever he’d done to Stella.
Diana closed the door and locked it. She took Stella’s key ring with Dori from Finding Nemo swinging from it and marched back into the parking lot. Diana could feel her anger boiling, threating to escape the pot and cause damage.
Rounding the corner she saw Dimar slamming his elbow into Matt’s face. Though he stumbled backwards a few steps, he easily blocked Dimar’s parry. The swords hummed and crackled with energy as they slammed together. Star Wars fans would have been jealous. They moved impossibly fast, striking out and looking for a weakness in their opponents.
When Matt sliced across and cut a small cut across Dimar’s shoulder, her anger bubbled over into a blindly fury, “Dimar!” she yelled.
Dimar disappeared from where he held his offensive stance and reappeared in front of her. “You called?”
Diana reached out and put a hand on his chest. The Fairy appeared behind Dimar, but when he brought his sword down toward Dimar, red light exploded off him. The Fairy was thrown back, and he skidded across the pavement. Dimar was connected with her, and what was a threat to him was immediately a threat to her, so the bracelet reacted accordingly.
As she walked around Dimar the loose sheer parts of her dress ruffled in the soft breeze. The Fairy slowly pushed himself up. One arm was covered in road rash, and there was a cut on his head. Diana crouched down and took hold of his hair. Yanking it back hard as an ugliness she didn’t know she had possessed her and pushed reason aside.