Toil and trouble, p.2
Toil and Trouble, page 2
Not to be outdone, she retorted in the same tone, “It’s a rust bucket.”
“Hey, this old rust bucket has saved my life a time or two.” He patted the top of the car. “She didn’t mean it.”
Allie rolled her eyes. “Oh yes she did. Is it a deal or isn’t it?”
Dez ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Fine, drive your own car to your apartment. Then you’ll have to leave it.” He turned away from her, muttering under his breath about stubborn elves as he walked around the car to the driver’s side.
Did he seriously just call me an elf? Shaking her head with a frown, she walked to her own car, a beautifully restored ’69 Stingray. As a high school freshman, her father had told her he’d match her savings to get any car she wanted after graduation. She’d fallen in love with classic cars watching her parents’ favorite movies and decided right away she knew just what she wanted. Dad laughed at first when she revealed her plan saying she’d never be able to save enough. But with a lot of hard work, and a stroke of very good luck, Allie met her goal. She turned the ignition and listened to the engine purr before glancing in her rear view mirror. A smug grin replaced her frown at the look of shock on Dez’s face. Revving the engine, she pulled out onto the road and drove to her apartment building.
The drive did little to settle her nerves. Here she was, driving home in the middle of a workday and about to allow a complete stranger to take her no one knew where because her boss agreed that a bounty hunter was after her. It wasn’t like she’d ever committed a crime. She certainly wasn’t a lost princess or celebrity. She was just an ordinary girl, despite what her father might believe. But the memory of Mr. Creeper whispering, “Sleep,” in her ear couldn’t be erased. Even thinking about it made cold shivers race down her spine, causing goosebumps to dance up her arms. How had he known her name? And why on earth would he want her?
On arriving at the apartment complex, she checked to see if Dez had arrived. He was stopped at a red light. She pulled out her phone and called the one person who wouldn’t call her crazy.
“If you’re selling anything, I’m not interested. And no, I won’t donate to your phony charities.”
“Nice to chat with you too, Grandma,” Allie teased.
“Allie, darling, so sorry, dear, but those vultures seem to call every ten minutes.”
“Caller ID would mean you wouldn’t have to answer them,” Allie reminded her for what was probably the millionth time. “Listen, Grandma, is there something I should know about our, um, heritage?”
It was quiet and Allie wondered if the phone had disconnected. Finally her grandmother asked, “What happened?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but this guy claiming to be a fairy guardian or some such thing is making me leave work. Tallia even agreed to it.”
Grandma sighed. “I hoped it wouldn’t happen this soon. This fairy guardian, what is his name?”
“Dez Polanski, I think. Should I trust him?”
“Only as far as he keeps you safe,” Grandma said slowly. “Dez is not a fairy I’m familiar with.”
Allie felt herself pale. “You mean, this is real?”
“As real as you and I, darling. I’ll meet you at the safe haven. And if you’re not there within an hour, I’ll call in back-up.”
“He says I have to leave my Stingray,” Allie said, unable to keep the pout from her voice. She’d worked hard for that car and wasn’t about to give it up. Not without a fight.
“I’ll have it transported to the haven. For the time being, you would be safer going with Dez as he knows where he’s going. Did he give you a staff?”
Allie glanced at the pencil she was given. “Tallia gave me a silver pencil.”
“Even better. Be very careful with it and use it only if necessary.”
Dez tapped on the driver’s window and scowled at her. Allie held up a finger. “Dez is here, I’ve got to go.”
“Be careful, sweetheart. I’ll alert your father.”
After hearing the phone disconnect, Allie placed it in her pocket. She had hoped so desperately that Grandma would laugh and say it was a marvelous joke. But her grandmother sounded so serious. She got out of her car and frowned at Dez’s glare. “What?”
“Just what were you thinking, making a phone call at a time like this?” he demanded.
“It’s a free country and my grandmother deserves to know I’m safe. She said you weren’t a fairy she knew.”
Color rose in his cheeks. “Spoken like an elitist elf.” For a tense moment, neither said anything. Allie wasn’t sure how to respond and Dez looked like he wanted to challenge her. Well, she wasn’t going to jump into an argument without knowing what she was talking about. Finally Dez cleared his throat. “Nice wheels. ’71?”
“’69.”
Dez nodded appreciatively. “Very nice. By what magic did you come to own a fully restored Stingray?”
Allie ran a hand down the gleaming blue hood. “Hard work and incredible luck.”
“Hmph, no one’s luck is that good,” Dez muttered.
“Mine is,” Allie retorted.
He rolled his eyes. “Let’s grab your stuff and get you out of here, before your incredibly good luck runs out.” Dez gestured for her to lead.
With head high, Allie walked around the building and up the stairs to her apartment. “So, are you going to explain more about what this is all about?” she asked.
“Not out here, I’m not,” Dez spat. “You never know who might be listening.”
“Sure I do,” Allie replied, trying to keep the frustrated edge from her voice. “Mrs. Lampwick down the hall will be eagerly hanging on your every word. Probably hoping to find you and I caught in some delicious scandal to liven her day. Tora will be at her boyfriend’s house and everyone else is working. But I suppose we wouldn’t want lonely Mrs. Lampwick to hear all your little secrets, would we?”
Dez frowned. “You don’t understand how serious this is.”
Allie shrugged as she unlocked her door. “Hard to understand something I’ve never heard of before.” She held the door long enough for Dez to come in before turning to close it, noting that Mrs. Lampwick’s window was open and the older woman was sitting right next to it with her knitting. “Have a nice afternoon, Mrs. Lampwick,” Allie called. The woman made a show of being startled, but Allie knew better. She’d learned early on that Mrs. Lampwick was a snoop. Harmless, as she never seemed to share her eavesdropping with anyone, but a snoop nonetheless. “And now, Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious, would you like to explain to me what’s going on?”
Dez watched Allie pull a small bag out of her closet. “What do you know about your family’s history?”
“Not much, admittedly,” Allie replied, opening the top drawer of the ancient dresser which had come with the apartment. “I guess I’ve never really thought about it before.”
“Your parents didn’t tell you anything?”
Allie shook her head, wondering why they hadn’t. Surely they could have told her something. “No. I suppose it must seem strange. We visited Mom’s sisters and her parents. Grandma Jones has always lived close by, so I saw her all the time growing up. Grandpa died before I was born. And Dad was an only child, so there were no aunts and uncles on that side to know.”
“Wrong. You father has a twin brother.”
Looking up from the stack of shirts she was shoving in the bag, Allie gasped. “What?”
“Your father. He has a twin.”
“Why would you know that but I don’t?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Dez shrugged. “I really don’t know. I would think your family would have prepared you better for this eventuality. Apparently they didn’t.”
“So you’re telling me I have an evil uncle tracking me down?”
Surprisingly, Dez laughed. “I would never call Lord Drake evil. Pretentious, maybe, but not evil.”
“Is there a difference?” Allie zipped up the bag she’d packed. There were enough essentials in there to last a few days. But after that, she was going to need to come back. She wasn’t going to live out her life in some crazy-person sanctuary just because this guy claimed she needed protection.
“There’s a world of difference between pretentious and evil,” Dez replied. “Now, is that going to be enough?”
“I’m not staying wherever we’re going permanently,” Allie retorted. “I’ve got a life, classes to attend, a job to do. I don’t care what you say or what craziness is going on. You’re lucky it happens to be fall break and I won’t be missing anything or I wouldn’t go with you at all, no matter what Grandma says. I won’t live in the shadows.”
Dez sighed. “Believe it or not, Allie, that’s what we’re trying to prevent.”
Chapter 4
Allie watched buildings pass by as Dez drove them down the back streets of town. “There’s a lot you’re going to have to process in the next few minutes, so pay attention,” he said, taking her gaze away from what was going on outside her window.
“I’m listening.”
Dez glanced at her before returning his focus to the road. “All right. So, first things first, you’re an elf and I’m a fairy.”
“Right,” Allie retorted, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Tinkerbell could totally be your cousin.”
He rolled his eyes. “She’s a pixie, and a fictional one at that. Not even remotely close to the same as a fairy. Suspend your disbelief for five minutes and pretend to understand what I’m telling you.”
She glared at him, but nodded. Might as well try to figure things out.
“Pixies, fairies, elves, we’re all part of the magical world woven into this one. We’ve been known by many names, but most call us the Fey. Most of us live among humans without them being any the wiser. They might think we’re a little odd, or perhaps even otherworldly, but for the most part humans have no idea we’re a part of their world.”
“You said for the most part. That means some humans do know?”
Dez nodded. “Yes. There are people like your mother who become romantically involved with a member of the Fey, in which case it is our law to reveal our true identity to them. It’s only fair for them to know what they’re getting into.”
Allie frowned. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”
He shrugged as he turned out of town and drove onto a small dirt road toward a large forest. “It can be. Most of the Fey are good, but as with any people, some are not. And there are dangers in our world no longer present in the mortal world.”
“What like dragons?” she scoffed.
“Among other things.”
“Wait, seriously?”
Dez gave her a long look. “I know this is a lot, but every word I’m telling you is true. So, yeah, there are dragons. And unicorns, brownies, mermaids, and other beings you’ve labeled as mythical.”
“This is impossible!” Allie cried, trying to keep her voice even.
“Nothing is impossible. Improbable, maybe. But not impossible. The world isn’t always as simple as we’d like to believe,” Dez pointed out.
Allie sank lower in her seat, her arms firmly folded across her chest. “Easy for you to say. I bet you’ve always known about this stuff.”
“Not all that hard to believe since both my parents are Fey. I grew up in this world. I can’t say why your parents decided not to tell you about it, but they didn’t and here we are.” He pulled the car into an old garage Allie would have driven past without a second thought. “The rest of the journey will be on foot. Think you can handle that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Just because I’ve got a nicer car than you doesn’t mean I’m incapable of a little hiking. As it happens I enjoy walks through the woods.”
“Good,” Dez said, “because that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing.” He got out of the car and Allie followed suit.
The garage he’d parked in was near the opening of the forest Allie had always seen on the edge of town, but been warned against ever going in. She wasn’t sure what it was about the woods that frightened her parents, and particularly her grandmother, but she hesitated as Dez walked forward unfazed. “Should we be going in there?”
He turned to her with a mocking grin. “I thought you enjoyed walks in the woods.”
“My parents have never allowed me to go here,” Allie replied, her voice small.
Dez scoffed. “You’re telling me that never once in twenty-one years have you decided to sneak a peek inside? You’ve never crossed into the forest just to see what was so forbidden about it?”
Allie shook her head slowly, a blush rising in her cheeks.
“Are you serious?”
“It was the one rule they made me promise to never break,” Allie retorted, feeling a need to defend her obedience.
“They made you promise?” Dez asked, suddenly looking unsure.
She nodded. “I was four I think, maybe five. But I saw the forest when we were driving somewhere and I asked about it. They wouldn’t say much, just made me promise to never go there. And I haven’t.”
Dez growled and ran a hand through his hair. “This complicates things.”
“Why?” she asked. “If you really need me to go into the woods, I’ll go.”
“You can’t. Once an elf gives their word, it cannot be broken. You would have to get permission from the person you made the promise to.”
Allie stared at him. “It can’t be that hard. People break promises all the time.”
“Have you ever broken a promise?”
She thought for a moment and realized he was right. Any promise she’d ever made had been kept. Even the one to kiss the kicker on her high school’s football team if he managed to make a winning score. It hadn’t seemed like a big deal at the time because even though he wasn’t a particularly gifted football player, he was cute and a good friend of hers. She figured they didn’t have anything to lose by it. Add on top of that it had seemed highly unlikely that such a score would be made. Their team rarely won games and the few times they did score a touchdown, the coach usually had them try for a two-point conversion rather than a field-goal. But at the last home game of the season, being tied up with little time left on the clock, the coach sent Patrick in and somehow he’d kicked the football right through the middle. They’d won the game and Allie gave him the promised kiss.
“Which of your parents made you promise not to go into the forest?” Dez asked, scattering Allie’s thoughts.
“I honestly don’t remember. It’s been years ago.”
“Think, because I’ve got to get you to the haven and this is the fastest way,” he retorted.
Allie closed her eyes in concentration, a low humming in her ears.
“Hurry, Allie.”
“Shush so I can think.” She tried to envision the car ride. Mom and Dad sat in the front seat with Dad driving. Grandma was in the seat next to her booster. Echoes of easy laughter and snippets of conversation crossed her memory. She saw the forest looming on the side of the car. It looked warm and inviting, the leaves changing with the colors of fall. She heard her little voice suggest going there for a picnic.
“You must never go into the forest, Allie,” Dad’s voice said.
“Why?”
“It isn’t safe for you. Promise me you’ll never go.”
“But, Daddy…”
“Promise.”
Allie’s eyes snapped open. “It was Dad.”
“Great, get back in the garage and call him,” Dez replied, pushing her towards the dilapidated building. “We’re nearly out of time.”
Allie would have protested being pushed around, but the humming had been growing louder. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as chills swept down her spine. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed her father’s number.
“Dorian Jones speaking.”
“Dad, it’s Allie.”
“Allie.” Worry and relief colored his tone. “Are you okay? Have you made it to the haven?”
“Yes, I’m okay. No, I haven’t gotten to the haven yet. I need you to give me permission to go in the forest.”
Dorian sighed. “I can’t do that, Allie. The forest is ancient and it’s dangerous.”
“Dez says it’s the fastest way to the haven and there is something out here.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know exactly,” Allie cried in frustration. “When were you planning on telling me about all this?”
He sighed again. “I’m sorry, Allie, you must feel terribly confused. I will allow you into the forest, but only if you follow exactly what the guardian tells you to do. Promise?”
“No, I’m not promising you anything,” she retorted.
“I see your guardian explained about that. I will not grant permission unless you make this promise.”
Allie narrowed her eyes as darkness fell around the garage. “Technically you already did and I’m taking it. Bye, Dad.” She hung up and walked out of the garage, Dez grabbing her hand.
“We need to run. Now.”
Chapter 5
Dark clouds gathered above them as Allie and Dez sprinted for the forest. “What’s going on?”
“Short story, magic is gathering. The sooner we’re under cover, the better,” Dez replied.
“Is that why my ears are humming?”
“Yes. Stop talking, run faster.”
Allie glared at Dez’s back as they continued into the forest. The trees grew dense around them, the leaves rattling in the autumn breeze. Dez ducked behind a thick tree trunk, pulling Allie close to him. “What are you doing?” she hissed.
Dez clapped a hand over her mouth. “Shhh. Just trust me,” he whispered.
Allie’s heart thundered in her ears as the humming grew and faded like a badly tuned radio. A low growl sounded nearby and Dez turned her slowly toward the tree before pulling Allie closer still. Her breath caught as the growling neared. In a voice so faint Allie could barely tell Dez was speaking, he chanted something she couldn’t understand. She felt warm, despite the earlier chill. She grabbed the collar of his jacket and buried her face in his chest, as though not being able to see out would prevent anything from seeing her. He smelled of earth and trees, a spicy note tickling her nose. The steady beat of his heart calmed her and she felt herself relax, despite her fear. Somehow she knew, here in Dez’s arms, she would be safe. It seemed forever they stood with Allie’s back against the rough bark of the tree, though she supposed it was really only a few moments. Dez relaxed his grip on her and pulled back slightly. “I think we’re safe now. The Predator has gone.”
