Suzanne Lazear - Charmed Vengeance

Why?

Because it’s nice, and he’s nice.

Oh. The sprite didn’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings. She gave him a huge smile. “It was nice of you to make this, Mr. Winky. I’m sure it’s delicious.”

“I try my best, Miss Noli.” He gave her a little bob of the head as he helped her dish out six bowls of surprisingly unlumpy oatmeal.

“Could you try to find some spare blankets?” the sprite added.

“Of course, Miss Noli.” Winky left.

Noli watched in a combination of horror and boredom as the sprite fussed over the girls, made a bed for them out of blankets, and told strange stories that made no sense to Noli but had the girls rollicking with unladylike laughter.

Every time Noli fought for control, she lost. Fear consumed her. What if she couldn’t regain possession of the body? What if she never did and eventually her real self faded away, leaving only the sprite. No one would ever know something else resided in her body, that she wasn’t truly like this.

You worry too much, the sprite scolded as she stroked the little blonde girl’s hair, the girl’s eyes heavy with sleep, as the sprite hummed an unfamiliar tune.

Finally, the little girl fell asleep. All six girls slept, a redhead snoring softly in the corner. Noli knew girls her age could often be found in joy houses, but this young? The tiny blonde was five, the eldest of the lot only ten. She’d like to convince herself they were destined for factories. Unfortunately, factories weren’t any nicer and probably wasn’t where they’d been headed.

The sprite yawned. I think it’s time for us to go to sleep.

Too bad we used all the water . Noli tried not to sound sour.

But I only used one barrel, the other is for us. I was just trying to be nice. Hurt leaked into her mental voice.

There were two? When were there two? This was getting to be too much. Noli sighed inwardly. Being nice is good, especially to hurt little girls. Yes, let’s take a bath and go to bed.

Perhaps in the morning she could wrest control of her own body back from the sprite.

Desperation to speak with Magnolia chased Kevighn like the air patrol pursued air pirates Kevighn crept into the engine room; his eyes fell on the flowers painted on the engine as he snuck past. It reminded him of Creideamh— his sister would do something like that, though she’d been a more accomplished painter.

The door wasn’t closed all the way and he pushed it open. “Magnolia?”

The only light came from the engine room, illuminating the sleeping Noli, sweetly cradled in the hammock. Her ears poked out slightly from her sleep cap, a doll cradled in her arms. She looked so …vulnerable when she slept.

“Magnolia? It’s Kevighn.” He stepped inside her tiny room, so he wasn’t obvious if anyone walked into the engine room, and closed the door behind him.

Her eyes flickered open. “I know you.”

Kevighn took a step backward, nearly crashing into the wall. What an odd thing to say. “Um, yes, you do.”

She sat up, green blanket slipping to reveal a white ruffled nightdress. “You’re fun. I like to have fun. It’s boring here.”

Magnolia flashed him a flirtatious smile—something very un-Magnolia-like.

His stomach churned and the hairs on his arms stood up. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t his little blossom. This wasn’t even the Magnolia he’d seen at supper.

“Who are you?” He peered into her steel eyes, which didn’t quite seem like hers. No. It was like someone else looked out of Magnolia’s eyes.

“I’m Noli,” she giggled, tossing her head a little.

That wasn’t her laugh. It reminded him more of those vapid courtiers the high queen kept. Magnolia never tossed her head like that, either.

“Where’s Noli?” he demanded. This girl who looked like Magnolia wasn’t a changeling or simulacrum—but she wasn’t quite Magnolia either.

“I’m Noli.” She giggled again. “Oh, you mean the other Noli? The boring one? She’s sleeping.” Magnolia made an exasperated noise. “Finally.”

“What do you mean the other Noli?” His heart sped as he leaned against the closed door. Something was amiss. “She lives here, too.” She tapped her head with her index finger. “She’s so bossy. She never lets me have a turn.”

His heart seized. “There are two of you in one body? How did that happen?”

“Queen Tiana. One day I was just there, in this body— but the other Noli wouldn’t leave. She was supposed to leave.” She huffed, blowing a wayward piece of hair out of her face. “How am I supposed to have fun if I have to share with her?

Queen Tiana? How and why would she do that? “What are you?”

It wasn’t difficult to guess—the pointed ears, the beautiful body, the not-so-bright-but-chipper occupant.

“I’m a sprite, of course.” She giggled again.

Things started to make a sense. But only a little.

“Will you take me to the Otherworld? It’s so boring here.” She batted her eyelashes.

“I don’t think Stiofán would like that very much.” He kept his voice guarded.

“Why?” She cocked her head, eyes widening. “He broke the stone. It hurt. The other Noli’s no fun because she hurts so much.”

“Wait, Stiofán broke her stone?” His jaw dropped as his heart did a dance of joy. If Stiofán had broken it off with Magnolia that meant he still had a chance.

She nodded. “The other Noli thinks someone made him.”

That sounded like his little blossom. Poor girl.

“You said the other Noli is sleeping? Could you wake her for me? Please?” He gave her his most charming smile.

“No. If I wake her up she won’t let me have the body back.” Her lower lip jutted out. “I never get a turn.”

“Please. I really need to speak with her. I’ll tell her that you should have more turns.”

“You will?” Her whole being brightened with such intensity he winced. Not being mortal anymore, she no longer had the Spark, but she certainly possessed something.

“Of course.” He added another smile for good measure. The sprite wouldn’t have the answers he sought, and well, that wasn’t his Magnolia. Magnolia and a sprite in the same body—a very attractive Fae body—who could imagine?

“I suppose I could.” She sighed a little, as if it were a huge imposition. “Let me see if I can wake her.”

For a moment she was …gone, eyes blank, body still. It was nearly as strange as the other girl speaking out of Magnolia’s pink lips.

The eyes blinked and widened. “Kevighn, what are you doing here? Do you know how much trouble you’ll get in if the catch you?” she hissed.

Now that was his Magnolia.

“Noli, why aren’t you mortal anymore?” he blurted.

She looked away, face darkening. “I don’t want to talk about it—and I never gave you permission to call me Noli.”

True. However, everyone on the ship did, as did her friends—and that whelp of a prince.

His fingertips brushed her shoulder in a very familiar gesture, the white cloth of her ruffled nightdress soft under his fingertips. “Please? It … it involves the queen, doesn’t it?”

“Never bargain with the high queen.” Her voice a whisper, she clutched the doll to her chest like a shield, expression contorting into one of pain.

Kevighn’s hand stayed on her shoulder, since she didn’t glare at it or brush it away. “Why would you bargain with her?”

“I had to get home somehow.” Her voice cracked with pain.

“Oh, right.” He’d been to one to inform her that eating faery food bound her to the Otherworld—and the high queen possessed the power to send her home.

Eyes brimming with pain looked up at him. “It’s so difficult. It wears me out trying to keep her in check.” She straightened with resolve. “But we’ll fix it and I’ll be me again.”

“Of course.” He still didn’t understand what happened, but there wasn’t any way he knew of to get her humanity back. Getting rid of the sprite, well, that seemed more feasible. Maybe.

Then again, Magnolia Braddock was the most determined girl he’d ever met, even more than his sister.

“Why are you on this ship?” Her eyes met his in her old, refreshingly direct manner.

“I was looking for a job. You?” Kevighn leaning against the door again, since she hadn’t invited him to sit—not that there was a place other than a little bench and her hammock. If she invited him to her hammock he’d want to do more than sit and talk.

“It’s better than Boston.” She hugged the doll to her chest. “I miss V.”

Who was off questing—if Igan and his crew hadn’t accidently killed him. He prayed to the Bright Lady they had.

“I’m here.” He gave her a reassuring smile, but didn’t touch her. Yes, that was the right card to play. Slow and steady. “When you’re ready to talk, I’m here.” Kevighn’s smile grew lopsided. “If your brother hasn’t tossed me off the ship while it’s moving.”

Magnolia laughed her laugh, like bubbles popping in a glass of champagne. “I won’t let him torture you too much.” Her laughter stopped abruptly. “If he knew you were involved with my disappearance … ”

“I won’t tell…will you?” He gave her a searching glance.

She swallowed and shook her head as she chewed on her lower lip. “No. I won’t tell.”

Taking her hand, the one not holding the doll, he looked into her eyes. “I’ll help you in any way I can.” Kevighn kissed her hand. “Good night.”

“Good night, Kevighn.” Her big eyes stared up at him, a mixture of too many emotions to read. He most definitely had her off balance. Good.

He left, closing the door behind him, praying he didn’t run into Winky.

Magnolia wasn’t mortal. Stiofán had left her. Things just got better and better, and he gave his thanks to the Bright Lady.

Then again, Kevighn was a huntsman and he always got what he wanted in the end.

“I can’t believe we missed them again.” Steven wanted to bang his head on the wooden table of the dingy air terminal bar in Denver. “That is the most problematic tracking spell I’ve ever seen.” It made tracking with a sigil seem simplistic.

“At least I know one,” James huffed, signaling a serving girl and they placed their order.

He gave his brother a smile, trying to keep his own frustrations at bay. “I … I’m glad you do. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Really?” James brightened.

“Really.” For every problem James had instigated, he’d also offered solutions. Certainly, this quest had been more interesting, albeit frustrating, with his younger brother in attendance. At the same time he was grateful for the company and assistance.

He could do without the sulkiness and odd moods.

The serving girl brought their food and left, but not without giving them both winsome smiles. Many a girl in bars like this also made … personal visits.

“How are we going to find the ship?” Steven raked a hand through his hair. This time the tracking spell had been inconclusive.

James rolled his eyes and chewed his overly large bite of meat pie. “Um, ask if anyone knows where Barrel of Monkeys is headed? What sort of ship name is that, anyhow?”

“The name isn’t important. Finding them is.” Days had been wasted chasing this blasted vessel across the country. But if they found little Rahel and returned her to Dr. Heinz, it would be worth it. If they failed … well, he didn’t have the luxury of even entertaining the notion.

“What do you know of the Barrel of Monkeys?” a female voice demanded, a click of a pistol punctuating the question. Two blonde women, most likely sisters, stood in front of them, the taller of the two holding a pistol. No one in the bar even looked up from their conversations.

“Please, don’t shoot.” Steven put his hands in the air. “We’re trying to find it.”

“Why?” The woman with the pistol didn’t lower her weapon or gaze. Both women wore trousers. Trousers!

James shrugged. “They have something we want.”

“What?” she snapped. Her hair was longer and in one braid pinned up.

“An acquaintance has contracted us to retrieve his child,” Steven stammered, hoping these were friends, not foes. At least they were mortal.

Her pistol lowered. “Oh. We’re on the same side, then. I’m Hattie Hayden and this is my sister Hittie. We happen to know where those sons of dogs are.”