The Ravaged Fairy (12 page)

“Already too late.” Blood dribbled from its
deformed lips.

“You will explain or I’ll let him have
you. “

It hissed once again, spittle mixing with
the cascading blood. “By now, we have your woman.” Its words made Thame’s blood
run cold. “Our mission here...success.”

“Sweet Goddess...Breena.” The words were
quiet, pulled right from his aching, lonely soul. His heart thumped so loud in
his ears he couldn’t hear the Kings orders. Thame lifted into the sky as the
blur of blue finished off the dying troll. He heard two fairies behind him. Didn’t
know who was brave enough to follow him into a battle or Goddess forbid, the
aftermath of one. They were going after his woman, how did they even know about
her? What if he didn’t arrive in time? Questions plagued his mind as he pushed
himself harder than ever before. He had to get to Breena.

The sun settled into the horizon as he
precariously flew across the Irish Sea. This was a terrifying ordeal flying
over this much water with half his strength, but he focused on his innocent
Breena. Abigail might expect trouble but how could she possibly defend against bloodthirsty
trolls. He lowered in the sky, closer to the water. There was no strength to
stay high with the others. He pushed forward as the darkness began to gather
and hinder his sight.

It wasn’t long before they were at the
Aran Islands. The water dropped off and land was once again beneath him. Even
in the dark he could find her home. He aimed straight for it with his heart
ready to burst with anxiety. Should he have told her the truth from the
beginning? Should he have taken her with him?

The house was right there, sounds of
screeching and screaming blended with the sound of scattering night creatures. “Breena!”
he shouted her name as he neared. His heart beat wildly in his chest. His lungs
gasped for air; his sword was ready to tear apart those who threatened his
woman. He came to the front of the house and nearly fell to the ground at the
sight.

Breena swung the bottle of salt like a
sword, it rained on the creature that charged them baring its fangs. She used a
pan to knock it upside the head as it screech in agony. Salt would never be
just a seasoning again.

Gran was behind her, salting with equal vigor
and spurting Irish words so fast that even Breena didn’t understand. Together
they left a trail of screaming, dying trolls. That’s what they deserved. How
dare they attack their house. She felt empowered, amazingly strong as she
wacked another one in the head.

All that changed when one pulled a sword
from its hip and screeched as it ran toward Gran. It was sheer instinct as she
spun and stepped in front of Gran. She was ready to take the blow, tensed her
body and mind for the pain, but it never came. Her eyes squinted and the troll
had stopped mid-step, its eyes wide as it gaze behind her. She was almost afraid
to look.

Gran threw a full bottle of Irish whiskey
with a burning rag stuck through the narrow neck. The thing tried to dodge but
she had one hell of a good aim. Glass shattered; fire swarmed every flammable
surface on the troll as it fell back and charged out the window.

Nearly all the windows were shattered and
Breena flung more salt in a wide arc. Who said women couldn’t kick some ass?
She wanted to shout and then there was this strange noise. It was like a
thousand birds had suddenly flew into the sky at once. Now what?

She turned, facing Gran’s back as a man
came through the window. He slashed a sword and beheaded the nearest troll. She
was awestruck, stunned as his orange and brown wings spread. He was beautiful
and fierce at the same time. It was so hard to comprehend as she turned and
sprayed more salt.

The trolls seemed to be scared of the
winged man. The little bastards began to run away, scurrying like rats to flee
the house. Another winged man came through the window before her, and she
nearly pissed her jeans.

“Thame!” Her mouth dropped open. Giant,
golden wings protruded from his back, his long hair was pulled behind his head
and he handled a sword with deadly accuracy. A troll ran toward her and she
shoved the salt toward it before using the handy frying pan to bonk it on the
head.

“You know about trolls?” he shouted and
seemed stunned by the revelation.

“Yes!” She swung the pan, missed and pulled
back as it swiped a blade toward her. There was a wide arc that didn’t have a
chance of reaching her but she used the opportunity to spray salt at it. When the
creature screamed, she used the pan once more.

This time the handle snapped, and she was
stuck holding the handle. It did the trick. The troll was down, and nothing
else ran at her. She turned to Thame who killed the last troll and faced her.
His handsome face was knitted with concern. His wings displayed beautiful with
the night behind him. “Thame, what the fook are you?”

He opened his mouth to speak but another
troll leapt through the window. Its mouth latched onto Thame’s leg, and he
swung downward. His blade parted flesh on its arm but it quickly spun out of
true harm’s way. He flipped backwards; his knees bent and sliced his sword just
as he came down. It gouged through the things chest and went still as blood
pooled beneath it.

Then there was silence.

Breena turned to Gran who had a wide grin
on her face. She held the salt in one hand and another half-full bottle of
whiskey. When she glanced back, Thame was before her. He looked intimidating
with his wings spread. Wings for crying out loud! “Thame...what are you?” Her
heart pounded from the fight for their lives and seeing him again. She would
never have expected this though.

“I’m...a fairy.”

She was guessing here. “You don’t mean
gay do you?” He lifted a brow and shook his head. “You’re a real fairy like out
of the Irish legends?” He nodded and this time she was the speechless one. She
wasn’t sure if she could process all this at once. Trolls and fairies existed. Who
knew what else. She was never going outside after dark again or go anywhere
without salt. “Why did they attack us?”

His eyes went downcast, but Gran was the
one who answered. “Iníon, I am part troll.”

Okay, any other surprises would have to
wait for tomorrow. “What?”

“And...I’m pretty sure you are part fairy.”

“The last time I checked, I didn’t have
wings sticking out of me back.”

“This is all dandy, but we have to leave.”
The other…fairy, said as he stood outside their house. “And your house is on
fire.”

Breena jerked around to see the hallway
filling with thick, black smoke. “Fook.”

“Care for a ride?” Thame whispered as he
leaned closer.

She wanted a ride all right but not the
kind he was suggestion. The sexual tension built inside her body until she was
ready to explode. Breena placed her arms around his neck and shivered as he
pressed their bodies tightly together. She heard Gran squeal in delight as the
other fairy leapt with her into the sky. Thame kept his eyes on her as the
lifted off the ground and actually flew out the window. Flames began to lick at
the sky and a portion of the roof collapsed as they flew higher into the dark
night. Emotions were running rampant, fear, excitement, sadness, delight. She
held tighter, her hard nipples pressing ever closer to his bare chest. He wore
the jeans she loved so much and she wanted to grin. Of course, that’s when reality
reared its head. The house, her beloved house exploded. The smoke and fire
burst into the clear night sky.

That was everything she owned, everything
Gran owned and collected over the years. The photos of her childhood were ash. All
her books were now fuel for the fire. She couldn’t seem to glance away from the
destruction as they landed on the very edge of the cliffs on Inis Mór. Breena
didn’t see Gran anywhere but spun around to watch the bright ball of flame that
used to be her home. How could everything she worked so hard for be gone so
quickly? Tears blurred the vision.. He pressed his front to her back and his
lips to her ear.

“I’m so sorry.”

She nodded. It wasn’t his fault. Trolls
had attacked and he had saved them.

“Breena...”

She tilted her head to stare into his mesmerizing
eyes.

“I don’t yet have all my strength. Bray
will have to carry you the rest of the way.”

There was someone beside her, but she
didn’t bother to look. “The rest of the way? Where?”

“You’re in danger here. The trolls know
about you. Both of you are coming to my home.”

He let her go, and she found herself face
to face with a pretty, female fairy. She smiled sweetly and wrapped her arms
around her waist. The ground once again dropped from her feet and together they
flew right over the body of water.

The flight gave Breena time to think, to
assimilate what had happened to bring her rubbing breasts with a real fairy. It
wasn’t long before land was once again beneath them, which made the trip much
less terrifying.

Green, rolling hills passed beneath and a
cluster of trees. A large willow tree came into view and then she was in
absolute denial as this amazing kingdom was laid out before her. Tall towers
were scattered with brightly painted dome tops. Gigantic sunflowers were
reaching for the sky. Could they even get that big? There was some sort of big
castle like structure in the middle of this place. It rose as tall as the
others with green vines climbing the side. A waterfall greeted her ears, but
she couldn’t see it. She was too busy digesting the amazing view of Thame’s
home. What was that American saying about not being in Colorado or Kansas
anymore, something like that? She sure as hell wasn’t in either place. This was
magnificent. The cool air rushed passed her as they fell, rather quickly toward
the ground. They landed in a lush pile of three leaf clovers as Thame landed
directly behind them.

She quickly separated their breasts and
spun in a circle at the amazing view of this magical place. “You live here?” He
nodded just as a familiar squeal of delight sounded above. Gran was hugging
some well-muscled man in a loincloth. It looked similar to the one Thame had
worn when they first met.

“That was the best ride I’ve had in
years!” Gran grinned and glanced around at the world that took Breena by
complete surprise. “So this is it. I finally get to see the fairy kingdom.”

Not only were there fairies but they had
a freaking kingdom? She felt lost in the middle of a strange, wacky world.

“Welcome to our home.”

She turned to see another fairy with huge
blue-green wings step from the palace’s doors. “Um, thanks.” What was she
supposed to say?
Did I die in that fight and go to some warped form of
heaven?

“You must be the king. I’m Abigail, and
this is Breena.” Gran spoke as she gave a slight curtsey.

A woman came from the doors behind him
and joined Bray. She instantly felt a wave of self-consciousness. They were
gorgeous, beyond beautiful and looking at them made her feel rather dull in
comparison. Okay, she died and went to a warped form of hell. Normal women
didn’t look this beautiful and the new girl had white wings sprouting daintily
from her back.

“Why don’t you both come in and rest. You’ve
been through a lot tonight.”

Gran nodded her head and grabbed Breena’s
hand. A smile lingered on her lips, and she glanced at the faces of the fairies.
Was she looking for someone? What was all that part-troll business? They
entered the hall, which was wider than an average hallway. She felt Thame
behind her, his heat, his intensity, as she stumbled along the path. Twice she
tripped and had to catch herself before she took Gran down with her. It seemed
like her clumsiness was back. Didn’t it just figure.

They were led into a large chamber with
glass ceilings to reveal the cloudy night sky and glass walls to showcase this
amazing place. Breena didn’t bother to sit. Instead she walked to the nearest
transparent wall and stared out. Thame remained by the door. His eyes follow
her every move. The king sat beside Gran who decided to flirt with every breath.
She had never seen her Gran so happy to have her world thrown upside down.

“You seem to know a lot about us.”

Gran nodded. “When me mother was younger,
she was attacked by a troll. It didn’t kill her, but I was the result.” Silence
seemed to engulf the room. “I don’t sympathize with them at all, which is why I
took care of that one.” She pointed to Thame.

“We are glad to have you.” King Carrick
smiled slightly. “Thank you for watching over my warrior, my friend.”

“And what am I?” Breena turned from the
view although she made a note to spend hours memorizing the landscape.

Gran walked to her and placed a hand on
her shoulder. “Iníon, your mother, me little girl was a fool. She returned from
but I never knew from where. She brought you with her. The moment I turned me back,
she was gone, but I got the gift of you. I can sense the fairy blood within you.”

Just went she thought it couldn’t get
stranger. Her mouth opened but no words came out. Instead, she turned back to
the glass and the night surrounding the fairy kingdom. She was part of this
world. Her blood wasn’t all human. How long had Gran kept this from her? Should
she be angry? She didn’t feel angry. She felt lost, confused and overwhelmed.