by A E M
She pointed to a picture of Josef and all of his children on the wall.
“She wants to know about Chime and the others.” Basil said.
“First things first.” Josef said as he placed his hand on the small table next to him. “Protection for the rest of us.” A green glow spread across the room and covered everything including the hobs and Beau.
Basil started. “Most of us were still celebrating when the attack occurred. Josef put the barrier on the castle immediately. We didn’t know they were only after the fauns yet.”
“I’m glad we didn’t know.” Josef said. “It’s a horrible thing, looking in the mirror and admitting your faults while you stare yourself in the eyes. I’m not sure we would have stood by them.”
Basil’s face crackled. “I know.”
“Hobs are protective, you know that, but our magic is limited to household and protection. Even though I know more than most—”
“Nearly all.” Basil interrupted.
“There wasn’t much I could do. They were strong, and had some kind of magic embedded in their weapons.”
“Chime was fearless.” Basil said. “She and Phoebe held the creatures up for a long while. They even took a couple down.”
“Neither of us saw what happened.” Josef said. “One of the creatures spit in my eyes as he was dying. I lost my sight shortly after. I do remember Chime and Phoebe taking me into the castle.” He coughed and closed his eyes. “They wanted me to go with them, but I didn’t want to leave the castle. I was angry with Phoebe. By then I had noticed that the fauns were being slaughtered. I told her it was her fault that the creatures were there. Chime and I argued and I locked myself in my room.” He shuddered and gripped the chair arms. “That was the last I spoke to or saw her.”
Beau sat up straight in his chair. He caught Basil’s eyes and nodded to Charlotte. “That’s the look she gets before she blows.”
Charlotte closed her eyes and instantly she was tugged in by her mind. Something wet and salty splashed her face and dripped down her hair. She fell into freezing water. Her body rocked back and forth. She was a sailboat in the ocean, and the waves slammed her about. She heard voices over the waves. They laughed at her. Lightening struck the boat. It splintered apart and. She crashed into the water.
“Charlotte,” She heard somebody calling. It was a haunting call that wisped around the crests of the crashing waves. “Come back.”
She couldn’t come back. She couldn’t breathe; her body was freezing in the rain and water. She tossed and turned in the waves, gasping for air before being slammed back underwater repeatedly. She thrashed wildly, desperate to connect with something.
Josef appeared in the water with her. “Calm the seas! Remember that you have the power to control everything in your mind.” He was gone and she went under again. She fell farther and farther down. She watched the water smash on the surface, and felt the rolling. She calmed her mind and breathed deep. The water was still. The water began to drain away. She closed her eyes in the story that played in her mind and imagined being back in her bathroom with Ebby when she was human and Chime when she was alive. She choked down a sob and continued the memory. The water was warm and smelled of rose and jasmine. She opened her eyes again and she was in the bathtub. She sat up, and Ebby and Chime smiled at her. “Ready to get dressed?” Chime asked her sweetly. She shook her head and smiled. She wanted to remain in that moment. She watched them talk and tease until the memory began to dissolve. She opened her eyes for real and snapped back into the hob’s library. Josef stood before her.
“She’s back.” Beau said breathlessly.
“Good girl.” Josef said weakly. He pulled the shield down and sat back in his chair. “It is more intense for her than it is for a normal weaver.”
“Can she handle that much magic?” Beau asked.
Josef shook his head sadly. “I don’t know. There’s supposed to be a balance. She is tipping that balance. It’s not healthy.” He stood back up and walked behind the chair, his hand never leaving it. “No, don’t listen to me. The fairy side of her will help balance things. I forget she is also her mother’s child.” He walked behind Basil’s chair. Basil reached up and patted his brother’s hand. “How I wish Audrey were here or that I could talk to her or any fairy, really. Beau, do you know if the fairies will be at the meeting?”
“My dad is trying to find out.” Beau sat forward. “He made contact once, and he will try again soon.”
Charlotte turned to him with pleading eyes.
“He wasn’t able to talk to your parents. Sorry, Lottie.”
She scowled silently.
“That’s how we all feel, dear.” Josef said.
“Maybe Charlotte should go. Shouldn’t she have access to their lands? I’m surprised they aren’t taking more interest in her.” Basil suggested.
“Fairies are mean.” Josef said quietly.
Beau clenched his hands and stood. “They are waiting. They were surprised she survived at all, and they expect she won’t make it through the process of controlling her magic.”
“What?” Basil’s face reddened and the veins in his neck popped. “That’s ridiculous!”
“You mean they don’t want her to. They don’t want to have to come out of their little cocoon.” Josef said.
Beau frowned at his watch and stood. “I’m sorry, but we need to head back now.”
“Go now, and prove them wrong.” Josef added to Charlotte.
Basil pulled a small package out of his jean jacket and handed it to Charlotte. “Here’s some granola for you in case you need a meal on the run.”
Charlotte hugged them both and kissed each of them on their heads. She paused at the door. She nodded at Josef and waved a hand in front of her nose.
Basil chuckled. “We’ll take care of him, dear.”
“Who?” Josef asked.
“You are smelly, brother.” He grinned at Charlotte. “We’ll dunk him if we have to.”
Charlotte smiled and let Beau guide her back to the windboard. The sun had set, pulling the last warm rays of light with it. Charlotte shivered. Beau wrapped her in his arms and they took off. The return trip was quiet and far too fast. Beau wished he had more time with her that night, but he would need to go home immediately. David and Vincent were waiting for them.
Beau whispered in Charlotte’s ears as they landed. “I hate to miss the fun, but I’ll be back soon.”
She smiled and gave him a long kiss.
“Maybe I’ll be back sooner than I planned.” He said. She traced down his arms and across his hands with her fingers as she pulled away.
He grabbed her hands. She shooed him and smiled, but he pulled her closer. “Be easy on the poor fools. Heaven knows they are actually just now understanding what they’ve got themselves into.” He kissed her again and waved at the men. “It was my idea. Back safe and sound. She’ll tell you what happened. By the way, guys, she needed to grieve. You’re welcome.”
14
At the Bottom of the Totem Pole
David carried the sleepy boy up the stairs to his room.
Today had been a good day.
The spell had worked, and there seemed to be no negative side effects at all.
“Brush your teeth and get in bed. I’ll be back up to check on you in a bit.”
David started to set the boy down, but Vincent held his grip around his neck.
“You okay?” David asked. He patted the boy’s back, but still he held tight.
David sat down on the bed with him. “Hey, I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you, too.” Vincent said for the first time.
Charlotte didn’t know what she was supposed to do. She couldn’t apologize, so she walked up to them and stood against the rock side by Vincent. David leaned forward slightly and flashed his contagious grin at her. “Welcome to our family, little sister.” He stepped forward. “I’m off to tell Alcott we are famished.” He tousled her hair. “I’m told I can release
your tongue now.” He snapped his fingers in front of her lips and leaned forward to whisper, “Choose your words wisely. He’s a good guy, but he’s young. You’re both going to have to learn to play nice. And remember, your position on the totem pole is at the bottom.” He swaggered off, waving as he went. “Be good, kiddos! Don’t stay out too much longer; I may eat your portions.” He turned back to them and wagged his finger at them. “I will eat your portions if you two don’t behave.”
“David, get lost.” Vincent said.
“Right-O, boss.” He said and winked at Charlotte. “See, sister, if you’ll just pet his ego now and then I bet you two will get along just fine.”
“David!” Vincent walked towards David, who pulled him into a hug, and then reached out for Charlotte to pull her in.
“Charlotte, this is my boy. I love him like you can’t believe, and he’ll be an excellent teacher. Be good to him. And Vincent, take care of my baby sister. She’s new and she needs a lot of care, just like a little bitty baby.” He tweaked her nose. “Isn’t she so cute? She’s kept her tongue so far, looks like she’s learning.”
“David, you promised.” Vincent reminded him.
“Technicality.” He smashed them into one more hug. “This is great, isn’t it? The three of us are going to be tight. Four counting Beau. Alright, I’m leaving this time.” He stepped back, threw a disc in the air, jumped, and vanished as he touched it.
“Show off.” Vincent muttered. He turned to look at Charlotte. “I’m going to overlook the flying off thing, but make sure it never happens again. You need to pass everything by me first, do you understand?”
She nodded and blurted out, “The fairies think I’m not going to survive this process.”
Vincent crossed his arms and nodded at her. “What do you think about their prediction?”
“I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“Well, neither do I.” He said. “Come on, we’ve got a long walk back and no horse and no portal. How about you tell me about your day, and I tell you about mine?”
“How about you tell me about your day first?”
“That’s not how this work, but thanks. It’s my job now to make sure you are okay. Tell me everything, and not just what happened. I want to know what you were thinking, and what you were visualizing in your mind.”
“That’s rather intimate, me telling you everything in my mind.” She said. “I don’t even tell Beau that much.”
“It’s how this works, and it works this way for good reasons.” He replied.
They walked quickly through the tress. Charlotte sorted through her thoughts. It was dark, and getting colder. She finally started to tell him everything about her day: her dreams, her thoughts, her feelings, her discussions with Lilybet and the hobs. She left out the kissing, but included the darkness. They finally reached the old homestead and hurried inside. David was waiting for them on the first landing with two plates of food. He didn’t say anything, just handed them the plates and then walked down to the next landing and sat down.
They ate quietly. Charlotte glanced at the painting of galloping horses right above Vincent from time to time. Vincent hadn’t said a word to her all that time she rambled on the way back, confessing that she didn’t really hate him, but that she didn’t know where to place him in her life. She told him that she doubted that he would see the details, but she didn’t point out that he had already been missing details.
“I’m frightened.” Charlotte admitted as she finished her food and set her plate on the step above her. “I so desperately want to control something, anything in my life.”
She couldn’t stand the empty space between them anymore. She couldn’t be with, let alone trust, people who were strangers to her. Untold stories lay between them, preventing freer speech and feelings. She ran her hands down her knees and lower legs. Would they fill the space with their own stories soon?
Vincent sat against the wall, watching her quietly and waiting for the flow of words to cease. David stayed quiet sitting against the same wall as Vincent, but further down the staircase near the next landing. Charlotte faced them both. She wrung her hands, begging them to stop shaking. She felt the heat start to creep across her skin.
“Come here.” Vincent said and patted the step below him. She looked at him with fear, but he held her gaze. “You’ll control yourself. Now come sit.” She scooted across the stairs to sit on the step beneath him. “Close your eyes and pretend you are one of those horses you’ve been staring at. You are free to run through the grasslands, the wind races across your back and you run fast to the beat of your heart and the beat of your hooves across the ground.” Her breathing slowed and the heat vanished. She opened her eyes. David scooted up to the stair beneath her.
“The fairies are chicken, you know?” She said quietly. “They are choosing to sit back and hope I go away and solve the problem I am.”
“I don’t know what will happen. I wish I had all the answers.” Vincent reached over and pulled her hand over to his leg to rest between his hands. “But this I do know: I won’t let you drown.” David was silent, but he reached out to hold her other hand. Vincent looked down at her. “What David said earlier is true. This is our little family. Potholders and all.”
“How am I going to get through tonight? How am I going to get through the next however many years it takes to be safe?”
“One day at a time.” Vincent said.
Charlotte squeezed David’s hand and looked down at his face. A smile rested on his lips and danced across his eyes. “I’ve never heard you so quiet, brother.”
He gave Vincent a teasing smile. “Somebody seems to think it’s his turn to be in the spotlight.”
“What did he threaten you with?” She teased.
“Ha, he wishes!” David laughed.
“I don’t know, something tells me he’s good with pranks.” She laughed lightly.
David groaned. “I’m never going to live down the glue and the pants thing. Too many witnesses.”
“David, could you leave us?” Vincent asked.
David stood. “See? You got me in trouble.” He smiled at them both. “I’ve got to put the dishes away anyway. There’s a mean looking lady with a broom down there. I think she thinks it’s a quarterstaff.”
“Oh, my weapons!” Charlotte remembered. “I didn’t even stop to look for them!”
“Destroyed, kiddo.” David said. “We’ll have to get you new ones.” He scooped up the dishes and left.
“Tell me about your day now.” Charlotte said as she turned back to look at Vincent.
“Do you have any idea how hard it can be to track down a dozen magical storms and the resulting tornadoes?” He stood up.
Charlotte stood and looked at his sweater. “Yikes, no. You look like you have several states there.”
“I do.” He said. “Next time you mess up, it’s your mess to clean.”
“Well, that just punishes us both.” She said.
“Oh, I’ll find a way to make it worse on you.” He said as he stepped down to the step below her.
She turned on her step so she could face him. “I’m sorry about today.”
There was a small sparkle in his eyes. “You’re going to be sorrier tomorrow.” He started down the staircase.
“Hey!” She said as she hurried to follow him. “Can’t we all be adults?” She stepped down past him and turned to block his way down.
“Someday, many years from now, when you take an apprentice, you can join David and I in the big boy club.” Vincent said smugly and stepped around her.
She placed her hands on her hips. “Do you know what I think of that?”
He turned back to her and wiggled her ear. “Do you think I want to know what you think of that?”
She shook her head, but there was fire in her eyes.
“Good. Come on. We have a tour of this place tomorrow and David and I are going to have to take shifts tonight to make sure you don’t drown or explode in your dr
eams.”
She smiled sweetly and hoped he tossed and turned the entire time he was supposed to sleep.
15
Training with the Aegard
Charlotte sat in the window seat and ignored the students who walked past her.
None of them approached her anymore anyway.
They had gathered around her when she was little, but now they all had magic and she had none.
The girl with the famous castle and the famous father had fallen hard and far.
She gasped when the boy dropped the book in her lap.
“Don’t give up.” He said. “Your path is different, that’s all.”
She traced the etched letters of the title. Famous Magical Exceptions.
“And those are just the ones we know about.” He whispered before he left.
Vincent went to bed feeling ragged. Twice he and David were up to help Charlotte control her dreams. Both times she had woken up screaming and shaking. This morning he had woken up to a slight rash on both of his hands from the gloves. He let the cold water in the bathroom sink cover them for several minutes. It was going to be a long day, and the lack of sleep would make it longer. He got ready quickly in the bathroom and slathered lotion on his hands. David was snoring again when he got out of the bathroom. The snoring hadn’t helped, either. He made a mental note to see if David would alternate nights with him until she was more stable. Finally, he sat down on the bed at Charlotte’s feet to put his shoes on.
“Up and at ‘em, princess.” He said wearily as he shook her foot.
“What time is it?” She croaked from under the blanket.
“A little before five.” He answered grumpily. Questions this early would need to be outlawed soon.
“The tour starts this early?” She asked.
She wanted more words. He rubbed his forehead and tried to keep his voice calm. He should have gotten coffee before he woke her. “No, the Aegard trains this early, and you are working with them, remember?” He responded and put on his shoe.
“Would you two please leave so I can sleep?” David grumbled from the pallet on the floor. Charlotte headed to the bathroom.