Night Finds

by Amber Lynn

  “Do I even want to know?” I ask as he takes a seat. The rest of the crew wanders out of their rooms and stands ready for action. Clyde has managed to come from our wing as well.

  “Nice of you guys to wake me,” he says sitting in a huff. “Tell Jake I need his help for a second.”

  “Jake, go help Demon Dog,” I order as I await Walt's reply.

  He waits for them to leave before starting. “Queen Adeline sends her regards and cannot wait to meet you.”

  “It sounded like she is a very joyful woman. You ready to clue me in on what race she rules and just where we are heading out to?”

  “Since Walt had to talk to her, I will let him erase her voice from his head and give you the details,” Jonas offers. “Queen Adeline is the ruler of Faerie. She rarely allows anyone entrance to her world. We were lucky that Aaron was able to get a pass when he did. The fact that Frank, and I assume a small army, were allowed entrance really stinks to me. I don't think that many people can just sneak in at once without her knowing.”

  Walt still isn't talking and he has started to shake his head from side-to-side. “Is he okay?”

  “He will be fine,” Hilda responds. “The witch, that term is used in the worst way possible, since cursing isn't allowed, talks in such a high pitch that she causes issues with your guys' superb hearing. She does it on purpose when she knows it will create an issue. I have heard her talk normally before and it wouldn't hurt a fly. He is in the head shaking phase, so he should come out of it any second.”

  “Do you think she will be an issue?” I ask anyone willing to answer.

  “Who knows?” Hilda helpfully replies. “She wants something in return. I know that much already.”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Sorry about that. I think the ringing has cleared,” Walt says joining in. “She granted access, but as Hilda says, she does expect something in return.”

  “What does she want this time?” Alex asks taking over the questioning.

  “Dinner with Nyx. I didn't specifically inform her that she would have to entertain the rest of us, but we can have that be our little surprise.”

  “Oh, not good,” Hilda claims causing everyone to glare at her. “If I am reading things right, I don't think we want Nyx eating any Fae food.”

  “I agree. We can sit down for a meal, but no one should eat,” Sebastian says finally allowing his teeth a little relief. “If she only asked for Nyx, she will be the only one expected to eat. We will just have to convince the Queen that her pregnancy has put her on a very restrictive diet and she can only eat the steaks that we brought along. The cows are specially raised, after all. We could also try to convince her that Nyx only has a liquid diet. That might work better for us.”

  “That could work. Addie is a bit unbalanced, but I think we can sway her. If it comes down to it, I will do something on my end. My magic should work through the veil.”

  If. If. If. There is a lot of that word being thrown around. My stomach is currently tied up in knots, so eating is the furthest thing from my mind.

  “How long does it take to get there?” I am ready to move. I have heard of Faerie, but as someone mentioned, the world has been closed off from the rest of us, for probably centuries. The books say that the Fae species had trouble surviving in this world because their magic only exists in their land. After a queen, not sure if it is the same one, lost her favorite concubine she forbade her kind from taking any more trips outside.

  “There is an old Faerie mound we can use about an hour away. With the way you drive, we should make it in forty-five minutes,” Jonas says.

  “Since she is refusing to stay behind, I am revoking her driving privileges. She is going to be chauffeured around today.” I reach down to grab a knife to let Alex know just what I think of his plan, but Sebastian grabs my hand.

  “Please,” is all he says.

  I look over at him and see he isn't in great shape. Jeez Louise. He is really making this into a big deal.

  “Fine. Alex can drive. I don't think you are in any condition to do it yourself,” I say turning the words that were uttered earlier against someone who doesn't have a beer gut. Ha. How do you like that?

  “Good. Now if Clyde and Jake would just rejoin us, we can get going.”

  The second the words leave his lips, Clyde comes around the corner in his best outfit yet. I didn't buy that for him so he either has a cohort amongst the guards, or he swiped my credit card.

  “I plead the fifth.” That is what I figured. I should have never let him watch me buy things online. The outfit he is wearing is a green camo shirt with a matching bandana. He has little leather booties on and something strapped on his back that I am choosing to ignore. My guess is a grenade launcher. Everything about the look is just wrong.

  “I am ready to leave,” I say and walk towards the opening in the room that no one has come from. I figure it has to be the way out.

  Chapter 6

  Ready for a cat fight

  Outside the troops are in full force. I joked about us looking like a funeral procession when we have had to take three cars before, but we are up to a good ten of them now. When we get to my Suburban, Sebastian directs me to the middle row of seats. I don't seem to have any choice in the matter, so I take a seat.

  “Why can't I sit up front?”

  “Because I don't want you to.”

  “Why isn't Alex in the car yet?”

  “Why do you ask so many questions?”

  “Because I can.” Poor Sophia is going to be stuck with some really moody parents.

  “Stop quarreling you two. I don't need that much preparation for more children in our family,” Alex says as he tosses a duffle bag in the row me and Sebby are sitting.

  “Did you actually bring weapons?” I don't believe it for a second; so I try to bend down to take a look. Beer gut stops me. “Dang it.”

  “If you were meant to look inside, your stomach wouldn't deter you. Try to keep that in mind,” Alex says and then runs to get behind the wheel. Walt jumps into the passenger's seat and Hilda and Marcus take up the rear. We could fit at least two more people, but it seems like everyone is being distributed how they want.

  Sebastian kicks the duffle bag over a little more out of my reach. Like that will make me not want to open it even more. I may have to try rolling out of the seat, so I am down on the ground next to it. That seems like too much work. I try to dive into Sebastian's head to see if he has any ideas on what Alex is hiding. Steel reinforced concrete walls greet me. Not cool. I give Alex a try and the same thing happens.

  I feel every one of my hairs stick up on my neck. I am like a porcupine ready to strike. “You do know I am not very happy about the walls, right? You both know me well enough to know that I am going to need ten hours in the quiet room to calm down.” I don't know if the new place has one of those installed, but I cannot imagine they would forget a detail like that. They should just make my closet one.

  “Why don't you try to talk to her,” Sebastian suggests. To me the suggestion reads, “Why don't you talk because I cannot lie to her and we really don't want her knowing what is going on.”

  “Babe, we just have some concerns about how this meeting will go. There is no lie in that. Our thoughts have turned a little dark and we don't want Sophia picking up on the things we may be planning. The duffle just has some things I thought we would need. No scary secrets involved. What we need you to do is lower your blood pressure and keep focused on the tasks ahead.”

  I hate it when he sounds logical. I am sure there was some fib in there, but when he says things that actually make sense it is hard to pick out where he wasn't totally truthful.

  “Fine. For now, I will focus on something else. Hilda, Walt, you guys seem to know the most about the Fae, or at least the Queen. Do you want to fill me in on the details of the species? The books don't say much since they locked themselves in their realm.”

  “No offense to Walt, but I do believe I
would be the expert here. I did spend a few years over there when the gates were still open,” Hilda says causing me to wonder just how old the witch is. She isn't a spring chicken that is for sure. Alex has got our procession moving and I still dislike having to sit back here.

  “Go right ahead. I have only had a few long distance calls with the species,” Walt says.

  “Great. Books, the non-ancient text varieties, say all sorts of things about the Fae. Some claim there are different courts ranging from light to dark and things like one for each season. In reality, there is one court. Addie lets her younger sister play 'queen' to another court. From what I hear, Sylvia annoyed Adeline so much that one day she banished her from her lands. Sylvia couldn’t very well head to our world, so Addie was forced to set up a pretend destination for Sylvia to go to. I think its name translates to Overtheresville.

  “As far as Addie's court goes, at last count she keeps five concubines and a Fae she calls her king. He doesn't really have any authority and they aren't married, she just got a bee in her bonnet one day that a queen needs a king. She really is rather loopy sometimes. Don't get me wrong; over there, she has crazy power. I might be able to take her in a fight, but it wouldn't be without a bunch of ruffled feathers on my end.

  “Moving on to the location, Faerie, in general, is a lot of green. It will probably frighten you at first because there is a weird sense of wonder coating the place, but you will quickly realize it is just a spell Addie has cast to make people want to stick around. I don't think it will bother you and as long as your guards and such have those charms I made, everyone should make it out of there alive.”

  Okay then. “Can they be killed if they get in my way?” I guess that is the most important question. I don't want to get stuck in a fight against a whole race and have no hope for victory. There hasn’t been an accurate report on their numbers in a very long time, but I would hope there were a few thousand, at least.

  “That is a funny question coming from you,” she replies laughing. “You have a weapon that will kill anything without even getting your full angel powers. Fae happen to be in the anything category.”

  “Does iron have any effect on them? That is something I have read in a lot of books that aren't certified lore.”

  “It stings them. Enough of it would probably do some damage. In Faerie, though, it would be next to impossible to kill them without your knife getting in on the action. The magic there keeps them from dying.”

  “That means you will probably not want to piss everyone off the second we get there,” Sebastian supplies.

  “Is that even possible?” Marcus asks from behind me. I thought it was agreed upon that no one would pick on me while I am as big as an inflated hot air balloon.

  “Hey, your girlfriend has a big enough mouth for the two of you, so let’s only let one of you be able to tease me. Walt, you and Jonas probably packed accordingly, but did you mention to the others where we were heading so they could also leave their less useful weapons at home?”

  Sebastian reaches over and starts moving his hand around on my belly. Soph doesn’t make any move to kick him. It is a little unlike her, but I think she has finally decided sleeping is a good thing. With everything going on out in the non-belly world, I hope she is happy just hanging out while mommy takes care of business.

  “We named her a few hours ago and you have already cut off a syllable from her name. I thought it would at least take you a day,” Sebastian says continuing his belly rub.

  “Butt out. You won’t let me in your head, so the least you can do is keep out of mine. It is quite rude.”

  “To answer your question,” Walt says interrupting the beginning of a spat between Sebastian and me, “I made sure everyone was loaded up with iron, as well as anything we need to blow the Collective agents that have your father out of the water.”

  “We are going to try to only fight one battle at a time, though,” Alex interjects. “Fighting the Collective and the Fae might be a little more than we can handle at the moment.”

  “Say that all you want, but them Fae let my brother be taken hostage. I am at least going to have a few words with them about the definition of hospitality. Aaron was not happy with how he was treated to begin with. I don’t think he would mind if I throw a few punches on the way to rescue him.”

  “I concur. Walt, find me a couple of people that I can slap around too. I don’t want Sophia to see a lot of bloodshed, but an active cat fight shouldn’t traumatize her too much.” My little fights with Phee are fun, but I haven’t been able to get a good workout in the gym since it was broadcast that Baby Sebby was growing inside of me. None of the guards wanted to deal with Alex and Sebastian’s wrath for actually taking me on in full combat mode. Fighting with a person that is allowing you to win gets old quickly.

  “I see that happening about never,” Sebastian says. He must be satisfied with whatever he was feeling because his hand leaves my stomach.

  “Sophia says she doesn’t mind. She wants to help,” I insist.

  “Sophia wouldn’t talk to you after you promised her an expensive car and a pony. I doubt very highly she has become a chatterbox in the last hour,” Sebastian replies.

  “Plus, she is sleeping,” Alex adds.

  “She will be talking to us all soon enough. Why don’t we turn the discussion to how we are going to keep the mother and baby safe,” Hilda suggests.

  “I vote for strapping her to her seat when the rest of us travel through the mound,” Alex advocates.

  “I thought you said you didn’t want to distress me. If that was your plan, my bed is much more comfortable, but sadly we are far enough down the road now that turning back would be foolish.”

  “The closer we get, the more I am thinking you shouldn’t go. There are a lot of things that can go wrong.”

  “Even Frank said that the chances of me getting killed are zero. I might get a couple of bruises, but nothing major and I am sure Peanut is in a bulletproof shell.”

  “Sorry, Nyx, but I wouldn't put that theory to the test. I would hate for us to find out she was only candy coated,” Hilda offers.

  “So, how are you guys going to keep me safe? I am not willing to wear a bubble suit.”

  “When it comes down to exchange time, I say I take your place,” Hilda states like it is the most obvious thing in the world.

  “I don't know if you have looked in a mirror lately, but we look nothing alike.” I know it is actually a really stupid thing to say to her, but I can't help myself.

  “I think she has hit her head just a few too many times in those sparring matches you guys have, or maybe during one of the times she has been shot she landed funny when she fell,” she says extending her hand to me over the back of my seat. “Nice to meet you, super powerful witch here able to change forms at will. I could turn myself into Clyde if I felt like it, but I really don't want to have to mess with the fleas.” She takes her hand back, I hadn't made a move to shake, and she sits back in her seat.

  “What would I be doing? I want to be there during the meeting and I don't think they would buy there being two of me.”

  “I am guessing you guys won't let me alter her physical appearance. Maybe make her in to a gnome. I hear she likes their pointy hats.”

  “Now would not be the best time for that,” Sebastian says. “I don't know what it would do to the baby, but as you can imagine I am not willing to allow any physical alterations.” Yeah, because I have no say whatsoever in the matter.

  “Because of her condition, I don't want to do a body swap. I usually only do that with guys anyway. I love to watch the shock on their face and then I laugh hysterically when they start playing with their new milk jugs. It never fails that they become fascinated by them. Well, they would on any body other than Nyx's pre-pregnancy version. I could put them in a ten-year-old girl and they would probably feel bigger lumps than what she had.”

  “Thanks, Hilda. Can you move on to whatever plan you are cooking up? It isn't
like I wanted to switch bodies with you either.”

  “Fine. But you have to admit being a normal height would have been fun. Since we will be in Faerie, it is probably best to do as they do and just use a glamour. There will be no actual changes to her. Others will just see a different appearance when they look. Glamours can be seen through, so I would want to put some other levels of distraction in place.” I can tell by her voice she is getting excited about making me look like someone else. I swear if I end up green, I don't care how much Marcus thinks he is falling in love with her, I am killing her.

  “For this glamour, will I have to ingest anything? My stomach doesn't feel all that great right now and I don't want to upset it further.”

  “I will go the spell route and leave the potion part to your other double,” she replies and is successful in losing me. I wish I had a giant sign filled with question marks that I could just raise up for all to see at times like this.

  “I am pretty sure we only need one person that looks like me and I thought you volunteered.”

  “I did. How shocking is that? However, as I mentioned, the glamour isn't foolproof. There are crystals and other oddball objects that can allow a person to see through the disguise. To adjust for that, I vote we turn the female wolf along with us into another you, like I will be, and then put a glamour on in front of that. The spell on me and her would not be crackable by anything they have, so if they are able to bypass your new exterior, they will find them trying to figure out which of the three of us is the real thing,” she explains.

  Three of me running around is my idea of a nightmare. I bet most of the people that live with me would concur. It will offer a good amount of confusion though.