I awoke in my own bed with the sun glaring in through my window. I was thankful that today was a free day at school which meant no classes. Lattie was pulling on my hair to wake me. When I opened my eyes she jumped back.
"I'm so sorry, Avery, it's just so late in the day and you weren’t waking. I thought something was wrong with you," she apologized in her high pitched voice.
"Oh, that’s okay Lattie, I’m just tired, I guess," I said with another yawn and stretched. I ached all over, but in a good way, the most amazing way. I smiled blissfully as I remembered my wonderful and magical night. Lattie then huddled against my arm and hugged it tightly. She was so tiny that it felt like someone’s hand wrapped around my arm, but the feeling didn’t sit well with me.
"Lattie, what’s wrong? I'm okay really," I assured her.
"I’m just so happy that you’re safe. I'm sorry I ran away like a coward last night. But I didn't know what to do, I couldn't go back there. I just couldn't!" She was so scared. What was she talking about? Then I remembered the earlier part of my night, the not so great part, and panic set in fast.
"Lattie, what happened? Did you get a look at that lady?" I asked, suddenly very awake.
"Yes, I hid in the trees nearby. That was Evaine. She's one of Queen Mabry’s fairies. Evaine is very bad, Avery. If you ever see her again you need to run…I fear that your life is truly in danger," Lattie warned.
"Oh Lattie, I'm so glad you got away safely, don't feel bad for running. If that ever happens again, you do the same thing. Just run! I don't even want to think what would have happened if she caught you. Come on, we need to talk to Julie," I announced as I hopped out of bed. I realized then, that I was wearing a long blue men’s t-shirt over my shorts. I’d changed into his shirt after Jack bandaged my bloodied arm. I smiled as the bliss washed over me again. Despite the seriousness of the problem I now faced, I headed out toward Julie’s room with a spring in my step. She was awake but still in bed, reading.
"Hey, what’s up?" she asked absently, not looking up from her book. I crawled into bed beside her and Lattie planted herself on the top of her book, letting her little legs hang down over the pages. With a quick glance, it only took her a second to notice that something was up once she saw my bandaged arm.
"What the hell happened to you!?" she asked in alarm.
"That same fairy from the gallery attacked me last night, Jules," I started. "I think she was out for blood this time."
"What?" She sat up straight in bed and put her book down, almost squishing Lattie. "Who was she? Why was she after you?"
"Her name was Evaine," Lattie chipped in. “I think she was sent by the Queen.”
"That’s weird. Why, because you know too much about our world? No, she wouldn't send Evaine for that," Julie talked to herself as she stared off thoughtfully.
"You know her?" I asked.
"Well, I know of her. From what I’ve read, Evaine’s older than the Queen herself, probably even older than Orion. She's hell-bent on death and destruction, thrives on it actually. The myths say that she was some sort of fallen hell god before she joined the Dark Court. But, according to legend Evaine lost her mind, and she caused too much chaos among them, so they banned her. Evaine was a solitary fey for the longest time until Mabry became Queen of the Seelie Court," Julie explained.
My throat suddenly felt very dry. I had some kind of insane ex-hell god, who was too evil for the Dark Court to handle, after me? Was there even any hope? "She said something about a painting. I think she might be talking about the one I sold at that art fair," I said.
"The one in sixth grade?" she asked skeptically.
"Yeah, isn’t that weird?"
"Yes, really weird. Do you still have a copy of it?"
I thought for a second. "Yes, I do, in my portfolio somewhere. Do you want me to get it?" I asked, already heading for the door.
"Wait," she called after me. I turned to her grinning face. "What’s with the shirt?"
I smiled, bliss taking me over again. "I'll explain later. It's a long story."
I rummaged through my closet for my old portfolio. Once I found it, I headed out to the kitchen where Julie was making coffee and rolled out the copy of the painting on the island. Lattie flew over to take a look. She gasped in surprise.
"Avery, have you ever been to this place?" she asked.
"Of course not," I laughed. "It's just a scene from a made up place that Tess told me about when I was a kid." But, as I spoke the words, I realized that it wasn't a made up place at all. What Tess had described and I had painted was the magical land that a fairy king had ruled, once upon a time.
"This is the kingdom, isn't it? The one you ran away from?" I looked to Lattie for confirmation.
"Yes, it is the old kingdom, how it once was, when Orion ruled the Seelie Court," she replied with saddened eyes. I felt sorry for her. She’d lost so much. To have lived in a place as beautiful as that and then have your whole world turned upside down and ruined would be awful. I could only imagine how I would feel—so homeless and alone.
I sat down on a stool to be more eye level with her. "Lattie, I want you to know that Julie and I love you very much, and you will always have a home and family here, no matter what."
My tiny blue friend looked at me with tears in her eyes and then smiled at Julie, who was bringing two mugs coffee over.
"Thank you. You don't know what that means to me." She fluttered over to sit on my shoulder and cuddle into my face, a place where she often found comfort.
"Avery, we have a problem. Evaine is out to collect you. That means the Queen has reason to be threatened by the fact that you painted this," Julie pointed out.
I sighed. "I know, but why? It's just a painting. What threat could this possibly pose?"
"Maybe she thinks that you know things, things that you shouldn’t know."
"She did insist that I knew where Orion was,” I said. “But, how do I make her see that I don't? Isn’t he dead?" I really didn’t want to have to encounter Evaine again. It was pretty clear what her methods of persuasion were. And I didn’t think going to see the Queen herself would be much better.
Julie appeared to draw a blank. “I don’t know, Ave, I think we need help.”
Who could we possibly burden with the weight of this secret world and the constant danger that came along with it? I could think of only two people.
"I think I may know where we can get help," I suggested. Could I tell Julie their secret? Was it a secret? They all belonged to this enigmatic and mythical world, didn’t they?
"Like who?" Julie asked curiously. "Who would believe it? You can't exactly go to the cops about something like this."
"Yeah, I know. I wasn't thinking about that. Maybe Celadine and Jack could help, or at least help protect us from Evaine and the Queen." They both looked confused.
"Explain," Julie simply said. She wasn't naive; she knew I had something big to tell her.
"Well, Celadine and Jack are special, like you guys," I began hesitantly. "Only, not fey, they are...of a different nature." I didn't know how to say it without sounding ridiculous. But who was I kidding? I was sitting across from a pixie and a sprite.
"They’re vampires," I said quickly. I figured I would throw it out there and see how they reacted. Apparently, they chose to take it badly.
"Are you crazy?" Lattie cried, as she flew into the air. "Vampires! Avery, you must not be serious?"
I looked at Julie, who wasn't speaking at all. She appeared shocked and nervous.
"Jules, what's wrong? They're just another kind of mythical being, like you guys.”
"No, Avery, they’re not,” she reluctantly replied. “Vampires originated from diseased humans, cursed by magic. They live in our world, but they don’t really belong there.” She paused for a moment. “Also, vampires are known as one of the most deadly threats to the fey. It's not your fault, you didn't know. But, it's like we're catnip or something to them, they love to...eat us." I gasped
in horror. I tried to picture Jack or Celadine being like that toward any creature. Not possible. I shook my head in denial.
"No, they’re different. They had a mother. A human mother, who saved them and raised them to love and be kind, Jack and Celadine would never hurt anyone," I argued. Well, I was at least sure they would never hurt me.
"That's impossible," Lattie accused. "There is no way that two young vampires could live with a human and not kill her. I lost my brother to a vampire. It ripped his head off in one bite and I was forced to watch my brother’s blood drip down the vampire’s face and the life drain from his body.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she spoke. I felt horrible that I stood here, defending Jack and Celadine, when my friend was heartbroken because of a creature just like them. “I barely got away. Avery, you cannot associate yourself with them," she pleaded shakily.
I refused to believe this. "Julie, you've studied this stuff your whole life, isn't there some way that it's possible? I mean, think about it. I’ve worked with Celadine for months now, and nothing has happened. In fact, she cares a great deal about me. And Jack..." I stopped there. I felt a little shy and embarrassed at the thought of sharing my intimate story with the judgmental fey sitting in my kitchen.
They cocked their eyebrows in curiosity and Julie crossed her arms. "What about Jack?" she asked. But, she was already guessing the answer. "Where were you last night?"
"I'm not going to tell you if you’re going to be like that," I replied defensively.
"Like what, concerned?"
"No, Judging! Stop it! Jack is not like what you think, and neither is his sister. I know they would never hurt me."
The three of us just sat there, not looking at one another, arms crossed in frustration. A few minutes went by when finally someone broke the silence.
"I guess it could be possible," Julie said quietly. "I mean, you're right. You have been working with Celadine for a while and I met them both. They didn't seem to be affected by me at all. They showed no more interest than any other person would."
"Thank you. It’s true Jules, Celadine and Jack are wonderful. I feel safe with them. If we're in danger from Evaine, and possibly even the Queen, then we need some help. If what you say is true about the myth, then what two better people than vampires?"
They seemed really unnerved by this idea, Lattie especially. How could I reassure them?
"Hey, how about I get the two of them over?" I suggested. "I know you've already met them Jules, but not officially. And Lattie hasn't met them at all. That way you guys can see how different they really are. Trust me," I begged.
My roommates exchanged glances.
"I don't think I would be very comfortable with that, Avery," Lattie admitted and hung her head. "I'm sorry."
“It’s alright Lattie, you have no reason to be sorry. I won’t make you do something you’re not comfortable with,” I promised her.
"I'd be okay with it, but if Lattie isn't then maybe we could meet them outside of the apartment?"
I smiled in appreciation at my best friend. "Thank you. I'll call Jack and see if they’re free later." I went to my room to make the phone call and sat on my bed for a moment. What if Celadine and Jack were upset that I told their secret? They’d managed to keep it for almost two hundred years. Within twenty-four hours, I’d already blabbed to two people. I sighed and figured I’d deal with it if they were mad, but I had to call.
"Hello? Avery?" answered Celadine after one ring.
"Um, yes, how did you know it was me?" I asked.
"Oh, I always know when it's you, darling," she said jokingly. But, now that I thought about it, she probably wasn't kidding. "Is there something wrong?"
"No, I mean yes. I think so," I stammered. "Celadine, I may need your help. And maybe Jack’s, too."
"Anything," she quickly answered. "What is it that you need?"
"Well, it's kind of hard to explain over the phone. Can Julie and I meet you at your place in a bit?"
"Of course, you do not even need to ask. Come over when you are ready. Jack and I will be here."
"Thanks, Celadine. We'll be over in a little while." And I hung up.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
REASSURANCE