The Faery Keepers (6 page)

             
Ceara shows us a hollow thorn with our blood in it, much like a needle from a syringe.

             
“That is all. I will leave you now. Thank you.” She gives a small smile and disappears into the trees in the general direction of the apple orchard.

             
“Well, that was fun,” Maggie mutters sarcastically.

             
I ignore her. Something else entirely has caught my attention. I hear a rustling in the vicinity of where the pool is. Adrenaline pulses through my veins as I go on red alert again. It was definitely bigger than a squirrel or bird. I creep over to the bordering trees and bushes, hoping for silent and stealthy. Thankfully my partner in crime realizes what’s happening and doesn’t make a sound. Otherwise we’d easily be found out.

             
I crouch behind a bush near where I heard it, inching around to peek my head out....to find Derek kneeling on the ground against the wide trun
k looking pale, his dark brown
hair falling into his eyes.

             
“What the heck are you doing here?” I demand vehemently, straightening from my crouch.

             
He jumps up and whirls to face me, shock painted on his face. He takes a second to compose himself until his usual bravado takes its place.

             
“Didn’t see you there,” he says smoothly.

             
I scoff. “Yeah, right. How much did you hear?”

             
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

             
“Stop messing with me, Derek. How much did you hear?”

             
“Enough,” he eyes my right wrist.

             
Better question: How much did he
see
?

             
I smack him across his chest. “You were
spying
!”

             
“Hey,” he rubs his hand over his dark sleeveless shirt, “that hurt, you know.”

             
I roll my eyes. Yeah, right. “Tell me what you saw.
Now
.”

             
“Pretty demanding for someone so short.” Says the person who is freakishly tall.

             
“I’m not kidding!”

             
“Relax, would ya? I had a feeling you were like me. See? I have a Mark. Just like yours.” He shoves his wrist in my face.

             
“I don’t see anything,” I snap. Just smooth tan skin covering tense tendons and veins.

             
“So, you’re new at it, then.” It doesn’t sound like a question.

             
“New at what?”

             
“The Faery business. It’s not easy, or fun for that matter. You’ll be able to See better once you get used to the game.  My question is why do they need you two? Tired of me already are they? What did Ceara tell you just now?”

             
“That’s none of your
business
.” I am not sure if I believe him. Not until I have proof. Besides, if he was watching, shouldn’t he already know what she said?

             
“You’re going to regret joining, you know. It’s a nasty game these
Faeries
play.”

             
“Whatever you say, Derek. I’m leaving.” I shove past him where Maggie can see me and wave her forward.

             
“You two need a ride again?”

             
He actually has the gall to ask that. Sometimes I wonder what goes through a
boy’s
head.

             
“No, we don’t. Good
bye now.”

             
“Do I want to know what that was about?” Maggie asks as we walk, leaving Derek alone at the tree. I try not to but I can’t help but look back and see him watching us, a strange expression on his face. It’s not bad...quite the opposite. Dangerous, but in a good way. Protective, even. And I refuse to think about it any longer.

             
“No, Mags, you really don’t.”

             
“You could have taken the ride, though. I’m sick of walking,” she complains with a saucy smile.

             
I smack her lightly on the shoulder. “What?” she demands.

3. Derek Carson

Now, I know what you’re thinking. I shouldn’t have made a deal with some Faery I’ve just met. On top of that I don’t even know what this whole deal entails. Trust me; I’m thinking the same thing myself right now. It doesn’t help that Derek’s words keep swirling around in my head, wanting to make themselves known. What did he mean by I would regret it? Sure, there were risks. Factoring in that there is a
war
going on I kind of figured that out for myself already. But what he said about it being a rough game these
Faeries
play...I’m not so certain it’s the humans I should be worrying about. Besides, what was the deal with Derek not knowing what was being said while Ceara and we were talking? Was he just playing dumb? He should have heard
everything
. Unless the guy was deaf...considering the volume level he kept his music at, I don’t doubt it.

             
Just what’s
with the whole blood promise anyways? Were we bound to them for the rest of our lives? Eternity? Until they no longer need us? I don’t like not knowing. Not one bit. What did she mean about Miruna facing an inquiry, anyways? Was it illegal to associate with humans? The thought is strange to me, surreal even.

             
I can’t help all of these questions brewing inside of me. So much is happening so fast. Just last week I was more worried about whether we were going to the mall or not. Now it seems so trivial, so unimportant, compared to what I’m facing.

             
One of the most prominent queries I’m bursting to ask anyone who has an answer
to it
is who the heck are those guys and why do they want the Fair Folk dead so badly?

             
These questions and more plague me as I lay in my bed trying to fall asleep.  I hear my mom come home around three AM, restlessly thrashing around in an attempt to get comfortable in my lime green bed sheets. Even with the window thrown full open and the ceiling fan going on its highest setting it’s still stifling hot in my room. The fabric sticks to my exposed skin. To do list: talk mom into getting the A/C fixed. I mean, seriously? How can she stand this?





             
Maggie and I hang around her house the next day. Recuperating, I guess. I’m completely drained from the lack of sleep the last few nights. The two of us and Parker watch
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
on the tattered blue couch. I feel myself dozing off before Harry even makes it to Hogwarts. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

             
I’m startled awake not by the sounds of the TV but by someone pounding frantically on t
he front door of the O’Connor’s’
apartment.

             
“Whasgoingon?” I jump up from my spot of being curled up on one of the arms of the couch.

             
“Hold on, I’m checking,” Maggie makes her way to the peephole in the door. The chain locking it shut rattles with the force of the person who is on the other side. “
Oh, what do you want
?” she says, exasperated. She unhooks the chain and throws the door open, nearly dumping them into the room.

             
Derek straightens, but not before doing that windmill thing with his arms to regain balance. I giggle. It
is
pretty funny seeing
him
do that. Mr. Cool and Collected.
Right
.

             
And then it sinks in that it’s
Derek.
The one guy we know of who’s associated with this whole Faery business. Don’t we ever get a day off?

             
“Why are you here? Better yet, how did you
find
here?” Maggie demands.

             
Parker picks up on her hostility and unhitches himself from the sofa. “Is there a problem?” he asks,
full of brotherly protectiveness
, going over to glare impressively at Derek.  I decide to join them. Why miss out on the fun that’s about to happen?

             
“No,” Derek says.

             
“
Yes
,” Maggie and I speak simultaneously.

             
“Now, come on. I only want to talk.” He smiles a dazzling grin that’s more devil than angel.

             
“I think you should leave,
right
now,
” Parker growls. “Get out.” He shoves the door in Derek’s face, forcing him out.

             
“
Wait
!” he calls from behind it. “I’m here to
help
you two. Don’t you want information?”

             
“Quite frankly I was enjoying a nice nap and you just interrupted it, so, no. Later.” I call to him.

             
“It’s not my fault you’re so lazy!
Please
, let me in!”

             
Heat rushes up my face. If he thinks
that’s
going to get us to let him in here, he really is crazy. But there is a pleading tone to his voice. Like he has extremely urgent information that can’t wait any longer.

             
I sigh, this better be good, and unlatch the door.

             
“What are you doing?!” Parker and Maggie exclaim indignantly. “Are you crazy?”

             
No,
I want to say. I bite my tongue because it’s a rhetorical question...I hope.

             
“You’d better not be wasting my time,” I tell Derek who is still standing outside the door.
             
“I’m not, I swear.” He pushes past me; ignoring the glares the other two shoot at me and him.
Yay
.

             
“You guys are watching this?” He gestures towards the screen.

             
“Yes, and if you don’t mind I would like to finish it, so hurry up,” Maggie snaps.

             
“Okay, okay,” he concedes. “Does he know?” he points at Parker.

             
“I—”

             
“No. He doesn’t. Shut it, Derek. Or you’re out of here.”

             
Derek grimaces. “It was just a question. You don’t need to bite my head off.”

             
“
Maggie
. What don’t I know?” Parker demands. “Are you in trouble?”

             
“No, Parker. I’m not in trouble. At least not that I know of,” she smirks conspiratorially. “I can’t explain right now, though. So maybe it’ll be better if you aren’t here for this.”

             
He looks at the three of us speculatively then shakes his head decisively. “Look, I’ll leave. But you have to promise me you’ll be careful.
”

             
We nod dutifully.

             
“You’ll be alright? Maggie? Kate?”
             
“
Parker
,” Maggie whines. “Stop being so overprotective, I can take care of myself.”

             
“I hope so,” he kisses her on the forehead and ruffles her hair.

             
“Hey!” she protests, knocking his hand away. “Get out of here.”

             
“Alright already. Why don’t you just kick me out the door,” he grumbles disappearing through the door with one last glance behind his shoulder.

             
Maggie gives a little wave and then we’re alone.

             
“The first thing I need to know is what Ceara told you yesterday. All of it.” Derek begins, sitting down on the lone recliner in the room as if it’s his own house he’s just walked into. I’m miffed. I wouldn’t have been nearly as comfortable in a total stranger’s house. “No leaving minor details out. Your minor and my minor are completely different. I can assure you that
,
now.”

             
“Why?” I want to know. “You were there, weren’t you?”