Woe for a Faerie

by Bokerah Brumley

  “Why are you naked?”

  “Hi, Juliet,” he said and wagged his eyebrows. He plucked at his shorts. “Not naked. Though it wouldn’t take much to get that way.”

  Tongue-tied, I blushed and shrugged.

  “I showered,” he said. “You could, too. We could together.”

  I made another noise—something like no, and he went back to cleaning. While I watched.

  Earlier, Arún had told me the story of Romeo and Juliet over our first cup of coffee together. It was one of his favorite Shakespearean classics. He promised to read sections to me from his well-worn copy.

  “I guess I’m packing.” I chewed on my bottom lip. I had agreed to go, but it making the decision didn’t make me any less nervous.

  I watched his back muscles ripple beneath his pale skin. He said he never tanned. He couldn’t. His skin lacked melanin, but his smooth chest was perfect for me. I licked my lips. I guess the movement caught his eye.

  When he turned toward me, his chiseled thighs flexed. I nearly swooned. He probably loved that. He was incredible. Sexy. Heroic. I was a lucky angel.

  “What do you want to do, Romeo?” I sat up straighter and wiggled my shoulders. He tilted his head, his gaze dragging down my body, and whistled before he turned back to his chore.

  “You,” he answered. I could see his grin in profile.

  “Don’t tease,” I said. Then I squealed.

  Blue sparkles dissipated. I rubbed my bottom. He’d managed to pinch me from across the room. Not fair. I didn’t have magic. There should be rules. They should never use magic on regular mortals.

  Then I thought about the park bench and the kiss.

  Nope. Never mind. He could keep his magic.

  He tucked dishes into the dishwasher and shrugged before he went back to wiping.

  I rubbed my thumb along the handle of my moss-green coffee cup. I couldn’t help the smile that crept to my face. Green was Arún’s favorite color. I was probably the only human who knew that. I hid my joy behind the mug. I probably looked like a beaming idiot. But I couldn’t help it. Arún was pretty much the thousand-watt lightbulb in my lighthouse.

  And I was pretty sure this coffee stuff was addicting and had already set its hooks in me. I took a sip. It was my second cup and maybe I was feeling a little daring. “When should we visit your parents?”

  The rag halted mid stroke and he turned around slowly. “As soon as possible,” he said. The excitement on his face made him look boyish. I hadn’t known it meant that much to him.

  He asked, “Are you sure?”

  “I agreed, didn’t I?”

  “You could still back out.”

  I shook my head slowly, surprised to find that I did want to meet his family.

  After all, I hoped they would forgive me for not being what they expected.

  “Arún, what should I pack for the trip?” I called from the bedroom as I pulled a purple sweater over my head. Arún said he liked me in colors, so I had taken to wearing some here and there. Arún was in the living room and I was staring at an empty suitcase, unzipped, and open on the king-sized bed.

  “Whatever you want,” Arún called back. “You can change it all when we arrive. The trip takes seconds and you’ll have access to everything once we’re there.” He appeared at the doorway and hooked his fingers over the facing. When he leaned inward, his chest flexed and my gaze dropped.

  When I glanced up again, he gave me a crooked grin that sent heat rushing to my face. He was doing all the flexing on purpose. His grin widened. “Stop it,” I laughed and chucked a satin throw pillow at his head.

  Rather than hit him, the stuffed square landed right in his arms. “I love it when you look at my muscles.”

  “Well, I haven’t decided whether I like to be caught looking.” I bit my lip as my cheeks burned hotter. I wasn’t used to Arún’s openness. He didn’t mind showing when he liked something.

  “Hold still,” he said. He tilted his head and let his gaze travel the length of me, a roguish expression on his face, his hips hitched to the side.

  My blush worsened, but I did as he said. Finally, I fidgeted with my hair and fingernails. And still he raked me with his eyes. “Well?” I said in a terse tone.

  “If my family doesn’t like you, they’re blind.” He raised a silver eyebrow and winked. “Because I really, really like you.” His irises glowed.

  “You’re crazy,” I groaned and threw the other pillow at him. I hit him this time.

  I fell back on the bed, in a fit of giggles at the shocked look that crossed his face when the pillow struck him. Arún took two long strides toward me.

  The buzzer rang in the entrance.

  Arún’s forehead wrinkled with concern. He stopped abruptly in the middle of the bedroom floor. “Who knows you’re here?”

  I sat up, thinking carefully. “Maybe Vic guessed. She knows more than Jason does. But I haven’t told anyone.”

  Arún pressed his finger over his puckered lips. “Ssshhh.”

  From behind his bedroom door, he pulled a long sword.

  Nearly as tall as me, inlaid pearls shimmered in the black hilt as Arún crossed the room. He moved into the living room.

  I followed him as far as the threshold. He stalked on to the foyer and pressed the button to answer. His voice was too low for me to hear from this far away, but I saw him leaning the sword against the coatrack.

  When he turned back to me, he ran a hand through his hair and called my name. I trotted out with a smile on my face, but it faded when I noticed that the downward turn of his mouth didn’t change. “What’s wrong?”

  “That was Vic. Jason needs you in the Cavern,” he said and crossed his arms. “She said it’s important.”

  His mouth worked like he had something else to say, so I asked him, “What else?”

  “Vic asked me to come, too.” He pressed his lips together and his pointed ears trembled. “She said I might be interested in what Jason has to say. That’s why she came. She thought it might matter more if she asked in person.”

  I scowled as I scanned the room for my boots. “Did Jason ask you to come?”

  There. They were by the sofa.

  Arún leaned against the wall. “I don’t think so. Vic just said to come, but I got the impression she was asking, not Jason.”

  I sat on the couch. It squeaked against my blue jeans. “What will you do?” I slipped my stockinged feet into the shoes and pulled the laces tight.

  “I’ll go.” He dropped his arms and stomped to the bedroom.

  He might go, but it didn’t sound like he was happy about it. “Are you sure?”

  “It’s important to you,” he said, enunciating each point as though my question was borderline foolish.

  I didn’t argue with his logic. Instead, I asked, “How long will it take us to get there?”

  “Not long,” Arún answered as he came out in a tight black t-shirt and black slacks. I didn’t think I had seen him in anything that he didn’t look good in. He waved one of his hands across himself from left to right. A rectangle shimmered and a doorway opened in the middle of his living room. Through the opening, I could see the front of Jason’s church.

  For a minute, I had forgotten he could do that.

  Once we were both ready, he gestured that I should go ahead of him. I did, but I grabbed his hand first. We stepped through the portal into an invisible tornado like the one Arún had used on me before. When the street was empty, Arún waved his hands and the tornado dissolved.

  We were visible once again. This would be interesting. Arún had never been invited to the Cavern before. I straightened my shoulders. “Let’s see what the priest has to say,” I said. We might be strolling into a lion’s den. We pushed through the unlocked door and went inside.

  At the bottom of the second flight of stairs, I giggled. The hysterical sound echoed in the stone warehouse room, amplified by the foundation rocks.

  Arún’s brow furrowed. “Did I miss something?�
�

  “I didn’t throw up this time.” I patted his forearm. “I made it down here without having a meltdown. I’ve been claustrophobic since my fall.”

  Arún raised his eyebrows but nodded his head as though he understood. I couldn’t imagine that he could ever understand claustrophobia. I danced a little in place before I caught Arún’s hand and gave it a squeeze. When I moved to let go, he held on. And we stayed that way as I led him to the door into the Atheneum.

  The metal clanged when I leaned against the handle. As the seal disengaged, I heard voices coming from inside. I glanced over my shoulder at Arún. His gaze darted about the room and I could see his pulse pounding in his neck. He was nervous. I had never seen him nervous before.

  I turned back and placed my other hand over his heart. “Hey. Hey. It’ll be okay.”

  He nodded. “I never worry for me.” He squeezed my hand, his look earnest. “Promise that you will do only what you feel compelled to do. You have the freedom to choose. No matter what the priest tries to push on you.”

  “I know.” I patted his chest.

  “Then you must also know,” he made a funny face that shattered the solemn mood, “that you must always choose me.”

  I laughed then, and I let my hand fall. But at the corners of his eyes, I saw a touch of seriousness that hinted at what bothered him.

  My strong Fae warrior worried that I wouldn’t choose him.

  29

  Vacation Plans

  Jason

  We chatted over scones that Lev had baked earlier, and Vic had brought some weird tea when she got back from her room. She said it was butter tea from Tibet.

  The Librarian stood in the corner, holographically organizing folders in an oversized file cabinet. They didn’t know what I knew. Woe hadn’t arrived yet.

  I heard the latch mechanism trigger. That had to be her. As the door swung open, there she stood, wearing a purple sweater and blue jeans.

  She never wore color. Color was too joyful. She had said so herself.

  I smelled him before I saw him. The stench of rotting fish wafted into the Atheneum. Magic. That meant Arún. I kept my face schooled until I saw his white eyes peek around Woe’s dark hair.

  That was it. I hadn’t invited him, and I didn’t want him there.

  Arún had the freedom to pursue Woe in a way I couldn’t. Woe admired him too much.

  I stood with such force that it shifted the heavy desk and everything on it.

  “Jason, my lad, don’t.” Lev’s deep voice held a warning.

  “This meeting is closed to visitors,” I said offering, an apologetic smile.

  Woe froze on the threshold, her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

  “He’s my guest,” Vic said, and I turned toward her. She hadn’t asked if he could attend our meeting. I couldn’t control her either.

  “Without permission.”

  The Librarian looked from one to the other and back to me. He tugged viciously on his mustache and then the hologram winked out. He knew when to leave.

  I didn’t have time to coddle anyone. People were dying.

  From the sitting area, Vic took a step toward me. Her foot caught on the chair leg at one end of the room and then she trip-fell, all the way across the floor until she finally face-planted on the carpet at my feet. I had never seen anyone take so long to fall. Her shoulders shook.

  I leaned over her, certain she was crying. “Vic?”

  When she rolled over, she howled with laughter. “Leave it to me to trip my own self.”

  I stared at her. “I don’t think this is the right time to—”

  “Jason…Jason.” She gasped over and over until she composed herself. After she wiped tears from her cheeks, she sat up.

  Finally, she continued, “Don’t be an idiot, Jason. I know you’re mad about Woe picking him.” She punched my ankle. “I know. Oh, how I know. But if you want Woe, you have to let Arún help, too. It’s too late for jealousy. You can only woo with honey. Besides, he can help keep her safe.”

  I stared at her gape-mouthed. I dropped my voice low enough so that I hoped only she would hear. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure thing, Padre.” She winked and then climbed to her feet with a sheepish grin. Louder she said, “I’m just a sucker for a happily ever after.”

  It was maddening how un-mad she always managed to stay.

  As she made her way back to her seat, those last few words took root, and the more I stared at the young woman with an old soul, the more I understood that Vic was right.

  It wasn’t okay for me to hoard Woe. No matter how much a part of me wanted to. I couldn’t drive her away, not when we needed to protect her from the Boss.

  I cringed. I’m sure I resembled a kid pitching a fit. My shoulders dropped several inches. I couldn’t win. Not against all of them.

  “Fine,” I said. “He can stay.”

  Woe eased into the room and hurried to the settee by the coffee table where Vic was patting the empty cushion beside her. Woe’s gaze kept darting to me as she walked.

  Perfect. I had scared her. Now she would be nervous around me for a good while. I stifled a sigh.

  “Lev’s the only one you haven’t met yet.” I gestured toward the wingback. “This is Lev. He’s been around longer than I have, and he’s the baker of those buns you like.”

  Woe’s eyes widened, and she settled next to Vic. “That was you?”

  Lev gave a nod.

  Arún closed in behind her. He never eased anywhere. He strode in like he owned every place he visited. The arrogance. Another wave of anger crashed over me. I tried to smile at him, but I probably looked more like a bearded monkey baring his teeth.

  “Welcome to the Cavern, Arún,” I said. “We don’t allow magic in here.”

  “Understood,” he said, and took a position between the wall and the settee, directly behind Woe. He relaxed, and then he tossed a wink at Vic. That made Vic and Woe fawn over him and made me feel like the jerk in the room.

  Woe beamed up at Arún, and I had to face the truth.

  I might lose Woe.

  30

  The Boss

  Woe

  I should punch Jason in those nose.

  I didn’t care that he didn’t like Arún. Arún spent enough time getting me out of trouble that Jason should at least be civil. I didn’t belong to Jason, especially now, and Jason didn’t have the right to exclude Arún.

  I settled into the settee and crossed my arms. “Where were we?”

  Jason studied the three of us. Lev looked uncomfortable, scenting the air with seaweed cigar smoke in the silence that Jason let stretch. But Vic grinned from ear to ear, like she knew a secret that nobody else knew.

  A long white feather rested on the low table in front of me.

  Jason came around his desk. His dark hair stuck out all over. I had never seen it like that. The last time I had touched his hair, it was stiff with hair gel beneath my fingers. Today, it would be soft. My fingers twitched. No doubt Arún sensed everything I thought. I tried to push thoughts of Jason away.

  He wasn’t himself. He settled in a semi-seated, sort of leaning position on the front edge of the desk. He was wearing a t-shirt with messy sweatpants. His beard was unkempt and his graying hair disheveled. Strange for him. He wasn’t often out of his priestly garb and he always looked neat. His hands trembled as he crossed the room.

  The Librarian had fled just after Jason yelled and now he ducked his head in through the wall and scanned the room. Vic nodded at the bodiless light man and he nodded in return before pulling his head out of the room. The telltale whir came shortly after and he appeared just behind Jason, his projected face taut and his lips pressed together.

  Jason glanced over his shoulder. “Welcome back.”

  The Librarian wrung his hands and twitch-nodded. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Welcome back,” he said offered the sullen words begrudgingly. To me.

  “Th
anks.”

  Arún gripped my hand, and I laced my fingers through his. When I glanced up, I met Jason’s sad gaze. He glanced down at our hands, and his shoulders drooped even more.

  Something weighed heavy on his mind, and my heart went out to him.

  Jason grimaced and then smoothed a hand over his mouth. “I have news.”

  Vic squinted at Jason. “What is it?

  “Frank is dead.” The words dropped like a grenade in the center of the room.

  Vic gasped, and Lev blustered in his wingback.

  I leaned forward, and Arún did, too. “Your friend, Frank? The chess guy?”

  Jason’s eyes turned glassy. “Yes.” His voice broke.

  “You saw him every week,” Vic said. “What happened?”

  Jason’s composure slipped, and his mouth twisted. “Not anymore.”

  Lev puffed on his cigar.

  Jason turned to the room. “A week ago, a friend of mine, a fine cop and a standup guy, asked me to investigate some strange occurrences in the park. The only clue he had was the white feather.”

  The sentence came as one long sigh, and then he waved to the table in front of us.

  I picked up the beautiful feather. Arún reached around me and gently took it from my fingers as Jason continued.

  “Recently, I was invited to the park where–” Jason’s voice cracked and his eyes watered. He cleared his throat. “—three men held Frank captive. A woman was with them—” He scrubbed a hand across his face. “When they untied her, she murdered Frank.”

  Vic’s gasp matched my own. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  Lev blustered in his wingback.

  “We had to consider all the options.” Jason sighed. “And I couldn’t remember enough about the event. As you can imagine, most of what I see in my memory is… Frank.” Jason’s voice cracked, and it broke my heart.