tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59499287146239563052024-03-14T08:27:20.538-07:00Fairya free serial story by Cody KennedyC. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-47662061095631666922013-12-15T00:00:00.003-08:002020-10-15T14:21:48.837-07:00Chapter Twenty<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "AR HERMANN"; font-size: 26pt; text-align: left;">M</span></span>erry nearly swallowed his tongue as he swallowed back another scream and yelled at the horse. “Whoa! Whoa!” </div>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">He pulled on the horse’s mane, but it ignored
him and soared higher, and straight into a fluffy cloud. Merry was instantly
shrouded in mist and it was eerie and scary, and he was frightened half out of
his wits. What if the horse kept going and never came back? </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Oh, no way!
He was not going to be kidnapped by a flying horse!</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> “Quinn! Quinn!
Help! The horse won’t sto—!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“There ye be,” Quinn greeted as Merry’s horse cleared the cloud and slowed to fall into flight with Quinn’s horse.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“H-holy c-c-crap!” Merry looked back at the cloud, then at Quinn. “Why didn’t you make it stop?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Why?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What if it kept going? Just took off with me and never came back?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn chuckled. “A creature o’ fae canno’ go beyond we horizon. Must needs be near we magicks o’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Fairy to survive.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Like I’m going to know that!” Merry dared to look down and his world began to spin. They were miles above the earth. “I-I don’t think I want to fly anymore,” he said feebly.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn laughed again and right before he hooked his feet over the horse’s rump and deftly popped to his feet. Merry was speechless. Quinn was... <i>standing</i>... on the... back of a <i>horse</i>... while it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">flew</i>... in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sky</i>...a million miles above the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">earth</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn leaped and landed deftly behind Merry and slid down to sit behind him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry looked over his shoulder at him. “Holy cow!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s voice was soft in his ear as he encircled Merry’s waist with his arms. “Be no bovine beast. Be ye Quinn.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Weren’t you afraid you were gonna fall?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Now Quinn burst into laughter. “Merry,” he chided softly as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Oh, yeah.</i> Quinn had wings. Merry’s cheeks went up in flames and he abruptly turned to face forward. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am so freakin’ stupid sometimes.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Enough, me Merry. Ye not be cruel to yeself.” </p>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-piAxCoFqoVs/Uq5zqD7oX2I/AAAAAAAACBk/zsItrS3RGKs/s1600/flowers_blue.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-piAxCoFqoVs/Uq5zqD7oX2I/AAAAAAAACBk/zsItrS3RGKs/s320/flowers_blue.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s chest was warm against Merry’s back and he suddenly felt good, and right, and safe again. Then he became aware of just how thin Quinn’s stupid little leaf shorts were. And even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more</i> aware of just how thin his stupid little bluebell shorts were. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh, no</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Please, not now</i>, he silently prayed. This can<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> be happening. It woul just be plain rude. He was certain this didn’t happen to normal people. Well, okay, normal people didn’t ride flying horses, but he was certain if they did, they would, well, not have this problem in the sky. He cursed himself and willed his unruly body to obey. The effort was futile. His body had a mind of its own and he was sure it delighted in embarrassing him. He inched forward on the horse.<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s soft laughter filled his ear, and quickly built into a full-bellied laugh.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“W-what’s so f-funny?” Merry glanced over his shoulder to find tears of laughter in Quinn’s eyes. “W-what?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Goddess and Consort help ye, Merry. It be a natural thing,” he said through his laughter.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry’s cheeks went up in flames for the second time in a matter of moments and he turned forward again. He didn’t think he’d ever felt more humiliated. “C-can I go down now?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn burst into laughter again and Merry looked over his shoulder at him. “What’s so funny?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s laughter radiated through Merry</span>’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">s back and he couldn’t help it. He began to laugh along with him. Before long, they were both laughing hysterically.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Okay! All right!” Merry eked out through his laughter.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s laughter died away. “Ye bring ye Quinn true joy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mo chroí</i>.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry could only grin and shake his head. Choosing his words carefully, he asked, “Will you please make the horse fly back to the ground?”</p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLm8xNDtYI8/Uq1qhJTLARI/AAAAAAAACA8/yWSXDHCTCX4/s1600/HOrseflyinginforest.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLm8xNDtYI8/Uq1qhJTLARI/AAAAAAAACA8/yWSXDHCTCX4/s1600/HOrseflyinginforest.jpg" /></a>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">At Quinn’s silent command, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rade</i> arced the sky and glided earthward in a slow turning spiral. To Merry, they felt weightless as they rode the thermals, nothing more than a leaf on a breeze. He looked down in time to see nothing but a forest beneath them and nowhere to land. A scream built in his throat as the horse flew into the trees and expertly navigated the narrow passageways between trunks and branches, its hooves quiet tamps on the earth as it <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">landed in the middle of a clearing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Holy cow!” Merry shouted again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn dismounted in one fluid motion bringing Merry with him. “Why ye say so?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I thought we were going to crash!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn smiled and shook his head every so slightly at Merry's dramatic exclamation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">With Merry’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">s softly shod feet on the ground, he was surprised at how odd it felt to support his own weight again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye need trust in we magicks, Merry. Come. Be time we feast.” Quinn held a hand out to him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The word feast brought to mind ogres using Merry’s leg bones as toothpicks and he was immediately nervous.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Be no ogre, Merry,” Quinn scoffed as they followed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rade</i> through the trees. They rounded a small copse and Merry found himself standing on the shore of a vast lake. Except, well, the lake was... <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pink!</i></p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34KmVM9vJGQ/Uq1rz9lkjdI/AAAAAAAACBI/5JLmGMt_muI/s1600/Lake_HIllier-02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34KmVM9vJGQ/Uq1rz9lkjdI/AAAAAAAACBI/5JLmGMt_muI/s320/Lake_HIllier-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry raised a hand and made a small pointing gesture. “Let me guess. Fairy magick?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn laughed. “Nay. Be the color of we waters in these lands.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ah-huh,” Merry said lamely as he stared across the expanse of pink. The setting sun’s rays danced on the water and resembled the glint he’d seen earlier on his skin. Small waves lapped the shore leaving trails of glittered foam as they ebbed away.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">They walked along the shore together following the musical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rade</i> and Merry felt strangely at peace in spite of the total weirdness of the past twenty-four hours. He wasn’t sure what was scariest: learning he was half fae or Quinn nearly eating him. Well, actually, it was no contest. The idea of Quinn eating him alive was definitely a ten on his scary weirdness Richter scale. “Hey, Quinn?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye, wee dote.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Can I, ah, ask you about, um, last night? About the, ah, curse?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">They stopped walking and Quinn sighed as he looked out at the lake. Profound sadness had filled his eyes and he looked lost, forlorn, and broken.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">His gloom bled into Merry’s veins, a vicious melancholy on his senses determined to destroy his will to live. The feelings that came roaring back to him were all too familiar and he felt horrid for having brought such misery to bear on Quinn. He moved in front of Quinn, wrapped his arms around him, and hugged him tightly. “Sorry,” he whispered. “Forget I asked.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn wrapped his arms around Merry and rested his cheek against his hair. “Ye know I care for ye true, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mo chroí?</i>”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yeah.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye must give me ye word on a matter.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What matter?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye must give me ye word ye leave me when ye stop believin’ in me.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry drew back and looked up at Quinn. “I’ll always believe in you.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn put a finger to Merry’s lips. “Whist, Merry. Ye not say such a thing.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry slowly pulled Quinn’s fingers away from his lips. “I’ll always believe in you, Quinn. No matter what.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn rested his forehead against Merry’s and closed his eyes. “Ye not say such a thing,” he repeated, his voice a mere whisper on the air.</p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HRqplFBDQNE/Uq1uwgmxCSI/AAAAAAAACBU/_c8FkKjIUsE/s1600/Evermindtheruleofthree.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HRqplFBDQNE/Uq1uwgmxCSI/AAAAAAAACBU/_c8FkKjIUsE/s1600/Evermindtheruleofthree.jpg" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I will always—”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s fingers covered Merry’s lips cutting off his words. “Whist. Not be thrice said.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry gently pulled his fingers away and hugged him tightly again. “I will always believe in you, Quinn. Forever.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">With a nearly inaudible sob, Quinn relaxed in Merry’s arms and the melancholy died away leaving Merry feeling small and scared. It took a moment before he realized they weren’t his feelings at all, but Quinn’s. “I’m here, Quinn. I’m your wee dote, remember? Talk to me.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">With a deep, pain-filled sigh, he began, “Once upon a time....”</p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/12/chapter-nineteen.html" target="_blank">Chapter Nineteen</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2014/12/chapter-twenty-one.html" target="_blank">Chapter Twenty-One</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
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</div>C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-28124450993198350992013-12-08T00:00:00.011-08:002020-10-15T13:53:11.410-07:00Chapter Nineteen<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L799bhr2_8c/UcJg3-foF4I/AAAAAAAABdY/s75rA7OAKBY/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+yellow+clear.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L799bhr2_8c/UcJg3-foF4I/AAAAAAAABdY/s75rA7OAKBY/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+yellow+clear.jpg" width="287" /></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "AR HERMANN"; font-size: 26pt; text-align: left;">C</span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">ymbals clashed, a
drumbeat began, and music filled the air. Quinn wrapped an arm around Merry’s
waist and lifted him up and onto his winged horse. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Led by Ethne the Wee riding Nolan, they formed a sloppy,
crooked line and took to the heavens in a cacophonous flight. The sky filled
with what seemed to be millions of fae. Unconcerned with any semblance of
order, their brilliant colors filled a cornflower-blue sky and their delicate
wings shimmered in the late afternoon sun.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: right; text-indent: 0.5in;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bPdK5-Y2K0M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Though he was terrified and held on to the horse’s mane for dear life, Merry couldn’t ignore the beauty around him. Where all the fae came from, he didn’t know, and he didn’t care. They laughed, sang, and spun on the air leaving glitter to trail in the wake of their revelry. Their mirth filled Merry’s veins with a happiness so pure it made him feel giddy, and he giggled. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Like a girl</i><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">. He quickly stifled his laugh with</span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> a small groan and glanced at Quinn.</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn paid no mind to his horse, their fanciful flight, or the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rade</i> as he watched Merry with nothing but adoration in his eyes. Merry’s face heated and he turned away. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man, I must be the lamest guy who ever existed</i>. Of course, other than Quinn, he didn’t really know any other guys, so he had no one to compare himself to, but giggling like a girl and blushing all the time? Those were symptoms of, like, a <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really, totally,</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very, exceptionally, extremely awkward </span>and definitely<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">uncool</span> kind of guy.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The sun was warm on Merry’s skin and felt good, and he tried to remember when he last enjoyed it. He searched the sky for the sun and, as Quinn had warned, pain seared his eyes when he found it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bí cúramach</i>, Merry,” Quinn cautioned.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry rubbed his eyes. “I forgot about the eye thing.” When he opened them again, the world looked different than it did before. Colors were fuzzy but sparkly in some places. He rubbed his eyes and opened them again. Still fuzzy and sparkly in places. Now his vision was all screwed up. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Typical</i>. He couldn’t do anything right.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Close ye eye. Let ‘em rest a nonce.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry closed his eyes. Colors stained the backs of his lids and ebbed, as if a miniature breeze floated the splotches across the horizons of his eyes. “What’s a nonce?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye call it a moment.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">After a few minutes, he opened his eyes again and looked at Quinn. Now his vision was very clear, and everything was sparkly around the edges.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye sight be precious. Ye not look at ye sun again,” Quinn said sternly.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yeah.” Merry blinked a few times trying to rid his vision of the sparkles. It didn’t help. He rubbed his eyes, opened them again and, to his utter astonishment, the palms of his hands glistened as if they were coated in diamond dust. He turned his hands beneath the sun and the backs of them looked as if they were coated in diamond dust too. His gaze traveled quickly up his arm and down his legs. He glistened all over! “Quinn?” </p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMYmUGsipcs/Uq1mmwLEeWI/AAAAAAAACAo/tl_OplNU04E/s1600/sparkleglitterhand.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMYmUGsipcs/Uq1mmwLEeWI/AAAAAAAACAo/tl_OplNU04E/s320/sparkleglitterhand.jpg" width="320" /></a>“Aye?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
“What’s wrong with my skin?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
“Naught be wrong. Why ye ask such a thing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
“You don’t see it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
“What?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
“I-it, um, sparkles.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye. Ye skin be beautiful.”</p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry flushed a light rose again. “Thanks, but, um, it sparkles. Like, for real.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“You’re acting like it’s normal that I’m all... shiny.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn smiled. “Be ye fae side, Merry. It happen when ye be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">athas</i>.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“When I’m what?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Happy. Ye be happy and ye glamour show.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“As in I turn all glitzy when I’m happy now?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“In a manner of speakin’, be ye charm worn on ye sleeve.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charm?</i> He was the least charming person he knew. “I don’t have any charm,” he blurted.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn chuckled. “If ye say so.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I can’t go around with my skin all... all... like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> every time I’m happy! How do I make it go away?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s brows shot to the heavens. “Why ye wish it away?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“How do I explain it? Chill, everybody. No, really, it’s no big deal. It happens all the time!” he mock explained. Then again, he was never happy, so there was nothing to worry about.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn chuckled again. “Hold ye whist, Merry. Ye human eye not see it.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Oh. </i>Well, that made it all okay then. Maybe, sorta. He looked down again. His skin glistened beneath the sun, the tiny refractions dancing as he moved making him look as if he were covered in tiny diamonds. It was better than okay. It was freakin’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cool! </i>“Wow,” he said softly.</p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXaVfqbKGV0/Uq1lKT96fQI/AAAAAAAACAc/Z4Vogkf7ftY/s1600/pegasus+in+clouds.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXaVfqbKGV0/Uq1lKT96fQI/AAAAAAAACAc/Z4Vogkf7ftY/s320/pegasus+in+clouds.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye. Ye be fair as we moon.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What’s that mean?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Beautiful.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry’s cheeks flushed again and he turned away. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man, I need to manage this!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Why ye always be hard on yeself?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s question frustrated him, and he accidentally dug his heels into the horse. Its massive wings whumped the air and it took off at a full gallop across the sky leaving the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rade</i> in the dust<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">—</span>so to speak<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">—</span>and Merry screamed. <i>Like a girl</i>. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p></div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/12/chapter-eighteen.html" target="_blank">Chapter Eighteen</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/12/chapter-twenty.html" target="_blank">Chapter Twenty</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; line-height: normal;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; line-height: normal;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-68390076325441020222013-12-01T00:00:00.004-08:002020-10-15T12:02:00.763-07:00Chapter Eighteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0KFETe3oYsI/UcJgwoIZSYI/AAAAAAAABdQ/VawB9WqqFFQ/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+orange.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0KFETe3oYsI/UcJgwoIZSYI/AAAAAAAABdQ/VawB9WqqFFQ/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+orange.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "AR HERMANN"; font-size: 26pt; text-align: left;">Q</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;">uinn’s hand tensed in Merry’s hand right before his anger zinged up Merry’s spine. Conlaoch began to back away and Quinn’s eyes searched the air for Sadb.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> “Sadb!”
his voice boomed on the air.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">She
floated down through the demi-fae and came to hover in front of Quinn. Though
she made the deferential bow, her face held nothing but defiance. “Aye, sire?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye
give ye word ye would spend five minute with Nolan.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I
do it!” she defended.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s
gaze moved back to Conlaoch. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Beggin’
ye pardon, ye majesty. She do naught more than sit on a rock with ‘im. When
Nolan speak, she ignore him and move away.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s
eyes had taken on a dim reddish glow and his muscles twitched beneath the
surface of his skin. Fear crept up Merry’s spine alongside Quinn’s anger as he
began to worry. The last thing he wanted was for Quinn to change again. Worse
yet, for his mom to feed off his anger again. The air thickened and it
became hard to breathe, and demi-fae began to drop out of the sky, their fall
only cushioned by the bluebells beneath them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p></div></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrTnjc32La0/Upv9PWxmy_I/AAAAAAAAB6M/5Eh2pJ4BeNE/s1600/butterfly+flight-against-sky3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrTnjc32La0/Upv9PWxmy_I/AAAAAAAAB6M/5Eh2pJ4BeNE/s200/butterfly+flight-against-sky3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Oh, no. </i>Merry gently squeezed Quinn’s hand and dared to ask, “Q-quinn?” Quinn turned his glowing eyes on Merry and he became even more afraid. “P-please don’t get m-mad. Y-you’ll change and th-then your m-mom will f-feed off y-your ang....”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Merry’s words died away as the look on Quinn’s face turned from one of anger to one of outright fury. Merry tried to withdraw his hand but Quinn held fast. “Who tell ye?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">“T-tell m-me what?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">“Who tell ye of me curse?” Quinn demanded.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">“Um, w-well, when you ch-changed into your other, um, form, last n-night—”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Quinn’s expression seemed to go through a thousand machinations before settling into a mask of infinite sadness. “I show me ugly side in we night together?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="text-align: justify;">Uh-oh. </i><span style="text-align: justify;">“Y-you d-don’t remember?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Quinn shook his head slowly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="text-align: justify;">How could he not remember? </i><span style="text-align: justify;">Now Merry was terrified he’d said something all kinds of wrong and his words came fast and furious. “Y-you k-kinda, well, changed, then you d-drooled a little, kinda on me, I guess, and then licked my f-face and I, ah, asked you n-not to eat m-me. Th-then, um, y-you roared a lot and I sorta g-got this feeling that you d-didn’t want to b-be, you know, all m-monstery, but I was kinda afraid you w-would, I don’t know, m-maybe eat me. Well, n-not eat me, y-you wouldn’t d-do that. Or at least I d-don’t think you would. Well, yeah, okay, I-I was afraid you were g-going to eat me, or at least take a b-bite out of me, a b-big one. Well, okay, really I was t-terrified you were g-going to eat me in one b-bite, sorta like swallow m-me whole, you know? And I think you were t-trying hard n-not to, and so Sadb told me your, ah, m-mom was sort of, you know, f-feeding off you, your anger, I mean, and she said to, um, touch you s-so you c-could feel, you know, how I, um, feel about you, and I d-did and the, um, well, you turned b-back into your, um, well, like you are n-now.” He made a nearly indiscernible gesture with his free hand. “Except, you, um, d-didn’t have the red glowy thing g-going on with your eyes k-kinda like you d-do r-right now.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Quinn stared at Merry.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Merry waited, truly frightened Quinn would lose it right then and there and change</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span><span style="text-align: justify;">and DEVOUR.HIM.WHOLE. “Are you g-gonna eat m-me?” His voice was small and high-pitched, and he cursed himself for sounding so </span><i style="text-align: justify;">freakin’ </i><span style="text-align: justify;">pathetic. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Quinn continued to stare at him as the air around them thinned to a breathable thickness again and the red glow left Quinn’s eyes. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">“Nay, me we dote,” Quinn said softly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Merry breathed a sigh of relief and dared to speak again. “Ok-kay, change of subject. D-do you want me to t-talk to Sadb and Nolan t-together? If it’s all right w-with you, I-I mean.”</span></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Nolan!” Quinn boomed again.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U94ElOjkHRs/Upv-WOYqqXI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/_I6ZWKvsQqE/s1600/Dragonfly+Bluebells.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U94ElOjkHRs/Upv-WOYqqXI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/_I6ZWKvsQqE/s200/Dragonfly+Bluebells.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<p></p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry started and nearly fell off his horse. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The horse that had wings. The horse that was frozen in mid-air. The horse that waited for the <i>rade</i> to continue. With a leader. <i>Un-freakin’-<span>believable!</span></i></p><p></p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Nolan appeared immediately. “Aye, sire?” he said with a deep bow.</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye be up to givin’ Sadb a second go?”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Nolan paused in thought, seeming to choose his words carefully. “Far be it from me to disappoint me prince as I exist only to serve ye, sire. Yet, t’would be slapdash of me if I did no’ confess she whinging try me patience and I be affronted if we make no progression of sorts.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sadb opened her mouth to speak but was quickly silenced by a brief, magical wave of Conlaoch’s hand. She made odd noises as she flailed on the air and fought the invisible gag. She bent backwards and forwards, flipped upside down, spun in different directions, her body contorting and shuddering as she fought to speak, and tiny sparks flew. She looked like an electrified Tasmanian devil. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry looked away quickly and covered a laugh with a portended cough.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye think ye can give ye wan a second time with help from me Merry?” Quinn asked.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Nolan smiled wide. “T’would be me pleasure to give it me utmost, sire.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn turned to Merry, his eyes kind, and full of love again. “Ye be willin’ to help, Merry?”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-jlEd4vCjw/UpGqP0IM_1I/AAAAAAAAB5w/Klwzj_vvm-E/s1600/CHAPTER+17+flying-horse.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-jlEd4vCjw/UpGqP0IM_1I/AAAAAAAAB5w/Klwzj_vvm-E/s200/CHAPTER+17+flying-horse.JPG" width="200" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry’s heart melted and he felt all mushy inside. After all Quinn did for him, the least he could do was to try to talk some sense into Sadb. “Sure. Um, can you make the horse go, like, down to the ground?” </p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The horse leaped skyward and, unprepared for the sudden burst into action, Merry tumbled off the back of it with a loud cry. The tiara spun away as he spun fanny over teakettle high in the air, certain he’d land with a sickening thud and break every bone in his body. He prayed it wouldn’t hurt too much. He didn’t want to cry in front of Quinn.</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“We consort’s crown!” Ethne the Wee shrieked. </p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekXummjbqmY/UpwAB1lTo-I/AAAAAAAAB6g/XdQ24NPHJ3k/s1600/Ethne+the+Wee.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekXummjbqmY/UpwAB1lTo-I/AAAAAAAAB6g/XdQ24NPHJ3k/s200/Ethne+the+Wee.jpg" width="143" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">A cloud of demi-fae swarmed the crown and, within seconds, Quinn’s arms were around Merry holding him close and slowing his spinning descent. </p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye be a right moppet, ye be, <i>mo chroí</i>.” </p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">They floated on the air, turning slowly, Quinn’s large, soft wings a stunning iridescent green wafting above them. </p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“We’re flying,” Merry breathed. </p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn smiled. “Seem I be aloft, and ye be takin’ ye pleasure in me transportation.” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry smiled shyly. “Thanks for, um, catching me.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn landed deftly, bringing Merry safely to the ground, and set him on his feet. “When I tell ye to take ye hold on, ye heed me warnin’ lest ye put yeself in peril again.” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I kinda forgot. Sorry.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Ethne the Wee flew to Merry and set the rescued tiara on his head.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“All be right. Where be the rock, Conlaoch?” Quinn asked.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Be in we dell, ye majesty.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Sadb! Nolan! To the rock! Come now, Merry. What be ye intentions?” Quinn asked as he guided Merry around the giant tree and down into a grassy ravine.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Well, I thought I would just get the two of them to talk.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“About what?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I don’t know. Anything. Doesn’t have to be anything special.” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Nolan whizzed past Merry’s head and Conlaoch followed at a much slower pace dragging a now bound and gagged Sadb by her antennas. She fought and squirmed and shrieked on the air and Conlaoch ignored her has he followed Nolan to the rock. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn shook his head. “Ye have ye work cut out for ye. Ye be certain ye wish to do it?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry shrugged as they came to a large boulder boldly situated beside a small stream. Nolan sat on one end of the rock, and Sadb squirmed on the other end of it as Conlaoch held her firmly by the antennas. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry sighed. “Can’t hurt to try.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye be a brave one. Sadb like to bite the head off ye.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry’s eyes went wide. “She bites?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn laughed softly. “Only with she words.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ah, yeah, okay. Good to know.” Merry looked at Sadb. “Lady Sadb?” She glared at him and he fought not to cringe. “Do you think if Lord Conlaoch removed your gag you could sort of sit there quietly for a few minutes?” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">A long moment passed before she nodded once. With the wave of his hand, Conlaoch’s gag was gone. Sadb sat there, sullen and sour as a rotten lemon.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry turned to Nolan. “Hey, Nolan.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Lord Merry,” he greeted with a bow. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“We’re gonna start this off simple, okay? Like, what’s your favorite color?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Nolan grinned wide. “Be me red.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry smiled. <i>Of course, it is. Dumb question</i>. “Cool. What’s your favorite thing to eat?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye not answer such a query!” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sadb’s shriek sliced through Merry’s nervous system like serrated knife. “Why not?” he asked.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She pointed an accusatory finger at Nolan. “He be a predator! He eat he first cousin, if ye let ‘im!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry turned back to Nolan who looked genuinely offended. “You, um, eat your relatives?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Be one or two occasion it happen, but only for cause. Be the way of me ilk.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Right. </i>“Ah-huh. Okay. Sadb, what’s your favorite color?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She gestured to Nolan as if to say “what he said” then turned her nose up at him. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ah, okay. If Nolan’s favorite color is red, then yours must be yellow.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye be an eejit if ye not figure that for yeself.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry frowned. “Please don’t call me an idiot.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I not name ye an eejit. I say ye <i>be</i> an eejit if ye not figure me favorite color.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry sighed again. “Okay. What’s your favorite thing to eat?” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She looked at him in disgust. “Ye be a right useless human. Have ye no memory?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry glared at her. He did feel useless and worthless most of the time but that didn’t mean Sadb could say he was. “Can you get through one sentence without a criticism?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What ye mean to ask?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Every one of your sentences contains a criticism. Are you always so negative?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“When must needs be.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“And when would that be?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“When I be within a shoe’s shadow of a horrid thing such as ‘im!” She pointed at Nolan again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Oh, my God</i>. “He is <i>not</i> a thing! How would you like it if he called you a... a... PITA?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“A what?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“A pain in the... ass.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sadb gaped at Merry in horror before launching into a tirade. “Ye be on the side o’ the dragon! Ye be unclean! Ye not be fit for me prince!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’m not taking Nolan’s side.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye be! Ye be! Ye not be fit for me prince!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I am not! You know what, Sadb? You need a shrink!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“A what?” Quinn asked.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“A shrink! You know, a head shrinker!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn frowned. “Ye mean to say a shrink of she head be a cure for she poor attitude?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yes!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn thought for a moment. “Ye be certain of it?”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87A3ghsANCk/UpwD5xJVmrI/AAAAAAAAB7A/7iWDDHAkZ5s/s1600/CHAPTER+18+Sadb+with+shrunken+head.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87A3ghsANCk/UpwD5xJVmrI/AAAAAAAAB7A/7iWDDHAkZ5s/s320/CHAPTER+18+Sadb+with+shrunken+head.jpg" width="272" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yes! She’s missing a food group!”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn was dour. “What food it be?”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I mean she’s nuts!”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye be certain?”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yes!”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“All be right then. Conlaoch, ye see to it quick-smart she have three meal o’ nuts a day from now on.” In the blink of an eye, Sadb’s head shrank to the size of a pea. Quinn nodded once in satisfaction. “Ye give ye Quinn right fine advice, me Merry. She be far less riotous with she small head.” </p></div>
<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnIed96Q10g/UpwCe-R5VAI/AAAAAAAAB60/kvNpms2qZv8/s1600/Evil+Queen+butterflyblack+blue-small.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnIed96Q10g/UpwCe-R5VAI/AAAAAAAAB60/kvNpms2qZv8/s200/Evil+Queen+butterflyblack+blue-small.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>Oh, no. </i>Merry felt faint. He should have known better than to use colloquialisms with Quinn.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn turned to Conlaoch. “Ethne the Wee lead with Nolan! We <i>rade!</i>”</p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">No one noticed the black butterfly lurking at the side of the ravine.</p></div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/11/chapter-seventeen.html" target="_blank">Chapter Seventeen</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/12/chapter-nineteen.html" target="_blank">Chapter Nineteen</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; line-height: normal;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; line-height: normal;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-87172568953904216172013-11-23T00:00:00.003-08:002020-10-15T11:36:47.049-07:00Chapter Seventeen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMxY-DN4j6k/UcJgttgrH3I/AAAAAAAABdI/zrOD5cVv3w8/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+lime+green.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMxY-DN4j6k/UcJgttgrH3I/AAAAAAAABdI/zrOD5cVv3w8/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+lime+green.jpg" width="287" /></a><span style="font-family: "AR HERMANN"; font-size: 26pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">B</span></span>right emerald green and bluebells filled Merry's vision and demi-fae in every color of the rainbow dotted the air. The sudden disappearance from his bedroom and reappearance in a field of bluebells left Merry dizzy and he held onto Quinn's arm to steady himself. When his vision cleared, he realized they were standing in a sea of blue beneath the largest tree Merry had ever seen. It spanned nearly the entire field. It stood proud amid the flowers, its massive limbs bowing low and resting gently on the ground. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Wow,” Merry breathed, as he looked up into the canopy and turned beneath it. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Be we oak,” Quinn said with pride. “She be as old as time heself.”</span></p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPxpZMFdbTg/VFr-q0QK4OI/AAAAAAAACnw/TQQ6B1k4fRM/s1600/Quinn's%2BOak%2BTree.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPxpZMFdbTg/VFr-q0QK4OI/AAAAAAAACnw/TQQ6B1k4fRM/s1600/Quinn%27s%2BOak%2BTree.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“How
tall is it?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“She
reach the heavens.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sometimes
Merry had trouble reading facial expressions, like right <i>now</i>, and
he couldn’t tell whether Quinn was kidding.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I
speak true,” Quinn assured, as he put and arm around Merry and guided him to
the base of the tree.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Its
trunk was massive and Merry guessed it was at least fifty feet wide. “Wow,” he
said again as he looked up into the canopy with appreciation, fully enchanted
by the tree. Something tapped his shoulder and he turned, thinking it was
Quinn.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn
leaned against the tree, arms crossed over his chest, watching Merry from six
feet away. Merry figured his mind was playing tricks on him and he went back to
admiring the tree. He turned slowly, admiring the massive branches and rich
green leaves. Overcome with a sudden desire to spread his arms and spin, he
closed his eyes and began to twirl.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuLGZpBOpWA/UpGo51bI0sI/AAAAAAAAB5k/Yo1Nh9mkHE0/s1600/Chapter+17+Angel+oak+canopy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuLGZpBOpWA/UpGo51bI0sI/AAAAAAAAB5k/Yo1Nh9mkHE0/s320/Chapter+17+Angel+oak+canopy.jpg" width="320" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sunlight filtered through the massive tree and felt warm on his skin as he
breathed in the fresh air around him. The bluebells parted, allowing his softly
shod feet to feel the soft earth beneath him. Bliss filled him as nature seemed
to take him into her arms, as if to welcome him home again. He felt secure, no
longer afraid, at peace for the first time in as long as he could remember.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Mid-twirl,
something tapped him on the shoulder again. He stopped turning, momentarily
dizzy, and looked around. <i>Nothing.</i> Surely, it was Sadb up to
her usual antics. “Stop it, Lady Sadb,” he said as he began to twirl again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Something
tapped him on the shoulder yet again. He stopped abruptly, nearly tripping over
his feet in the process. This time Quinn laughed. “What?” Merry was
defensive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Do
ye not see what be right above ye?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pbqDyr_27CQ/UpGi4g4hKRI/AAAAAAAAB48/Gx97QO-dD0E/s1600/Tree+branch+tip+cropped.jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pbqDyr_27CQ/UpGi4g4hKRI/AAAAAAAAB48/Gx97QO-dD0E/s200/Tree+branch+tip+cropped.jpg.jpg" width="171" /></a> <span style="text-indent: 48px;">“</span>Do ye not see what be right above ye?<span style="text-indent: 48px;">”</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry
looked up to find the very tip of a branch poised to tap his shoulder again. It
withdrew quickly, seemingly embarrassed for having been caught in the act.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry
turned and gaped at Quinn. “No freakin’ way!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn
chuckled and nodded. “She wish ye attention.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I-it’s
alive?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Be
certain she be. Top o’ the morn to ye, Dáira,” he greeted the tree. The tiny
branch reached down and began to play with Quinn’s hair. A second little branch
coyly reached out to meet the first and together they gave a small tug on a
lock. Quinn swatted them away. “She be a bit of a prankster, if I do say
so meself. Don’t be a stone, say hi.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry
snorted. “Right. Like I’m going to talk to a tree.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye
don’t greet the lady, she take an affrontery.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“A
whatery?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“She
take offense to ye.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry
gave Quinn a sidelong glance before looking up into the canopy and offering the
tree a small wave. “Hi, Dáira<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">,” he said softly, skeptically.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
annoying little branch reached out, tickled his ear, and quickly withdrew
again. Merry laughed as he shied from it with a hand to his ear.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn
put an arm around him and kissed the side of his head. “If ye wish ‘im to take
a likin’ to ye, don’t be givin’ ‘im grief, Dáira.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Suddenly,
the bluebells came alive with a cacophony of sounds, an orchestra abruptly set
to tuning. Merry winced as the noise filled his ears and he looked around for the
offending ensemble, but saw only bluebells.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Th-the
bluebells play music?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“The
demi-fae be preparin’ for we <i>rade</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“In
the bluebells?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“To
be certain. We bells have a fine part in we music.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Ah,
okay, that explained everything. <i>NOT</i>. “We’re gonna have music?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn’s
brows shot up as he looked at Merry. “How ye expect to have ye a <i>rade</i> with
no music?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I-I
don’t know. I’ve never been to a rah-yay before,” he said lamely.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Surely
ye have seen a parade?”<o:p></o:p></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8B-pHiTV9Hs/UpGkD_M-jXI/AAAAAAAAB5M/IGPHBP6wqco/s1600/Rose+Palace.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8B-pHiTV9Hs/UpGkD_M-jXI/AAAAAAAAB5M/IGPHBP6wqco/s400/Rose+Palace.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry
had been to a parade once. His mom took him to the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8596475682505025351/2583958887911980186?hl=en">Tournament
of Roses Parade</a> on New Year’s Day when he was ten years old. She’d
also arranged for him to help build a float. After a week of nearly freezing
his fanny off in the refrigerated warehouse of the Rose Palace and coming home
every night with flower glue stuck to every part of his being, it was a thrill
to finally see the float he helped build in the parade. And Quinn was right.
Nearly every float played music as it passed by, and there were a ton of
marching bands in the parade.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yeah,
and there was music.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDN_jef9BDk/UpGkU1444sI/AAAAAAAAB5U/KcwSmOgWUoU/s1600/CHAPTER+17+Rose+Parade+Queen.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDN_jef9BDk/UpGkU1444sI/AAAAAAAAB5U/KcwSmOgWUoU/s320/CHAPTER+17+Rose+Parade+Queen.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Of
course, after seeing the rose queen’s float, all he could dream about after
that was becoming a Rose Parade Queen and wearing a tiara.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Conlaoch
suddenly appeared, hovering on the air in front of them. “Lord Conlaoch an
Glas, in the service of we Prince of Fairy, he majesty Quinn Malloy O’Cuinn,
son of we Queen Muirgan of we High Court of Fairy, Queen of Flesh and Bone,
bearer of Hands of Fire and Water, reporting, ye majesty! We be ready to begin!”
he shouted over the dissonance of the tuning instruments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn
winced at the noise. “Ye be sure we instruments be ready?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye,
sire!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">As
if on cue, the cacophony quieted and formed the beginning of something
resembling music. Demi-fae floated up from the bells, each bearing an
instrument as they set to flight on the air.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
tiny little demi-fae who had dared to question Quinn in Merry’s bedroom
appeared, trembling, yet again, as she faced him. “I bring he crown, sire.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye
be a good lass, Ethne the Wee.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Out
of nowhere, a small crown—well, a tiara, really—made of glass and diamonds
appeared hovering on the air. Merry didn’t think he’d ever seen something as beautiful.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“<i>Álainn!</i>”
Quinn exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry
couldn’t help it. He reached out and touched it with a fingertip. “Beautiful,”
he breathed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye,
be what I say. <i>Álainn.</i>”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ay-lin,”
Merry repeated in a whisper.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye,
and it be for ye, me Merry.” Quinn went to place it on Merry’s head and he
leaned away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“M-me?
W-why? I’m not a p-prince of anything.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Ye
be me wee dote, me consort.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
demi-fae gasped and swarmed Merry. They lit on his head, his shoulders, even
the tips of his ears, and began to pet his cheek and stroke his hair. It took
every ounce of strength Merry possessed not to bat them away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What’s
a consort?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIfb1vBnH0c/UpGkapGhuEI/AAAAAAAAB5c/TL8tODKtW9c/s1600/CHAPTER+17+Crown+Fairy+crown2.jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIfb1vBnH0c/UpGkapGhuEI/AAAAAAAAB5c/TL8tODKtW9c/s1600/CHAPTER+17+Crown+Fairy+crown2.jpg.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Be what
I say,” Quinn said with pride. “Ye move off me Merry, now,” he ordered the
demi-fae as he set the beautiful tiara on Merry’s head. It fit perfectly. Quinn
stepped back, his eyes twinkling just like they did right before he kissed him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
demi-fae froze mid-air as if someone had stopped time and silence descended.
Quinn admired Merry and, after a long moment, he leaned in and kissed Merry’s
cheek. The cheek that hadn’t before been Fairy Kissed, and it began to tingle. “Ye
be beautiful, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Time
began again and collective “awwwws” followed by long sighs filled the air.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“We<i> rade!</i>” Quinn
shouted abruptly and Merry nearly jumped out of his skin, and the music began.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bPdK5-Y2K0M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Two
white horses flew down to greet them. Flew. <i>Flew.</i> OHMYGOD! <i>Flying
horses!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-jlEd4vCjw/UpGqP0IM_1I/AAAAAAAAB5s/8x6O5jEjhQw/s1600/CHAPTER+17+flying-horse.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-jlEd4vCjw/UpGqP0IM_1I/AAAAAAAAB5s/8x6O5jEjhQw/s320/CHAPTER+17+flying-horse.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Before
Merry could panic, demi-fae carried him aloft and gently placed him on the back
of one of the winged creatures. He’d never ridden a horse before, let alone a
winged one, and he had no idea what to do. Quinn deftly mounted his horse and, sensing
Merry’s fear, reached and took Merry’s hand in his.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Use
ye other hand to hold he mane.” Quinn demonstrated with a fist full of white
mane.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I-it
won’t hurt it? Isn’t it kind of like pulling its hair?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn
chuckled softly. “Be fine, Merry, and ye need hold on tight as we take flight.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“F-f-flight?”
Panic built quickly in Merry. “Were gonna <i>fly</i>?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aye.
Ye be right ready?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WruGb8JTkrU/UpGjAunyRII/AAAAAAAAB5E/fFs4RLQnr1o/s1600/CHAPTER+17+Butterfly+flurry2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WruGb8JTkrU/UpGjAunyRII/AAAAAAAAB5E/fFs4RLQnr1o/s320/CHAPTER+17+Butterfly+flurry2.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“No!”
As the small word escaped him, the demi-fae took to flight and his winged horse
leaped into the air.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Conlaoch
suddenly called a halt to the <i>rade</i>. Time stopped, the music came to
a screeching halt, and everyone froze, including Merry’s winged horse. Okay, it
was bad enough that he was half-naked, only bluebells covering his essentials,
a tree had tapped him on the shoulder, he was wearing a consort hat, or crown,
or tiara. <i>Whatever!</i> Now, he was frozen in midair on a winged
horse. He began to wonder if he was hallucinating.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What
be the matter, Conlaoch?” Quinn asked, anger plain on his face.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Conlaoch gestured to Sadb. “She not spend she five minute with Nolan. We <i>rade</i> canno’ proceed lest we have we a leader.”</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/11/chapter-sixteen.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chapter Sixteen</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/12/chapter-eighteen.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chapter Eighteen</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
</div>
</div></div></div></div></div>C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-36876652040011334932013-11-18T00:00:00.002-08:002020-10-15T10:48:52.976-07:00Chapter Sixteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“H</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">old ye whist, Merry!” Quinn’s whisper
was fierce. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s dad barged
through the bedroom door with an angry grunt, and Quinn clamped a hand over
Merry’s mouth before he could utter a sound.<i> He cannot see ye</i>, Quinn thought to Merry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry watched,
trembling with fright, uncertain his dad couldn’t see him, like, <i>right there</i> in
front of him!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
His dad looked
around before turning to the milk-crate desk, clearly having seen nothing but
an empty room. He picked up the papers that lay strewn and perused them
gruffly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
They were Merry’s
notes for his world history paper, and he silently prayed he hadn’t doodled
Quinn’s name on them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
His dad turned the
paper sideways. “Where in hell is Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry nearly
fainted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Probably some
mountain in Timbuktu,” his dad grumbled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Relieved, Merry
closed his eyes and thanked his lucky stars that his dad thought Quinn was nothing
more than a far-off location in the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eqNlWc5vik/UpEZ_dAOVzI/AAAAAAAAB34/ccYtqUJ2DbY/s1600/CHAPTER+16+Annoying+Fairy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eqNlWc5vik/UpEZ_dAOVzI/AAAAAAAAB34/ccYtqUJ2DbY/s320/CHAPTER+16+Annoying+Fairy.jpg" width="266" /></a>Sadb hovered next
to his dad’s head, arms crossed over her chest, her toe tapping the air angrily.
Merry motioned to her to move away and she looked at him defiantly. Suddenly,
she darted straight for his dad, whizzing past his ear, and dragging her tiny
hand through the hair on the side of his head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn grinned wide
and panic filled Merry’s veins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s dad
brushed at his ear with a hand as if a mosquito had buzzed by. Sadb covered her
mouth with both hands and giggled silently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry shook his
head rapidly, mouthed an adamant “no,<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> and motioned again for her to leave him
alone. To his utter astonishment, Quinn encouraged her with a smile and an
approving nod. Merry stared at him, incredulous.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb stuck her
tongue out at Merry’s dad and flitted around his head making faces at him. She
stretched her mouth wide with her fingers bearing her pointed little teeth, her
face becoming a miniature mask of horror, before darting at him again. This
time she dragged her small feet through the hair on the top of his
head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s dad
swatted at the top of his head and searched the air around him for the
offending creature. Finding nothing, he went back to riffling through the
papers on Merry’s desk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn gave Sadb a
thumbs-up and Merry couldn’t help the smile that formed on his lips all while
he nearly died on the spot.<i> Don’t</i>!<i> </i>he thought hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb became
indignant. Her antennas shot straight into the air, she bugged her eyes out,
and waggled her long, pink tongue at Merry’s dad. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry stifled a
laugh. <i>Ohmygod, stop</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb tiptoed on
the air to the back of his dad’s head and, taking a lock of hair in both hands, yanked on it. Hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJn2NTFOLyI/WZ4UAjyAdoI/AAAAAAAAE-E/53fG0RDHnd4ufNNTVAwIIAOfH1wS9vn-QCLcBGAs/s1600/CHAPTER%2B16%2BHair%2Bpulling.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="156" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJn2NTFOLyI/WZ4UAjyAdoI/AAAAAAAAE-E/53fG0RDHnd4ufNNTVAwIIAOfH1wS9vn-QCLcBGAs/s1600/CHAPTER%2B16%2BHair%2Bpulling.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s dad
slapped at the back of his head and turned in search of the offending creature
again. Sadb continued to annoy Merry’s dad until she had him
dancing a jig and slapping at his head with both hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry doubled over
in laughter, struggling with all his might to remain silent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Stupid kid,”
Merry’s dad grumbled before leaving the room and slamming the door behind
him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry fell back on
the bed dying in silent laughter and Quinn joined him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I can’t believe
you did that!” Merry whispered, barely able to speak through his laughter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“A <i>gobshite</i> in
need of a good giving out, he be!” Sadb said through a giggle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<i>Bí cúramach</i>, lest
ye find yeself in a right fine bobbery,” Quinn cautioned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Can my dad hear
us?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his
head, still laughing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Oh, man, I can’t
believe you did that, Lady Sadb,” Merry said through another laugh as he sat
up. Then he remembered he hadn’t cleaned up the spilled milk in the kitchen
from the night before. “Oh, no!” He shot to his feet and then realized he
was... <i>naked.</i> HOLY COW! He sat quickly again and pulled the sheet
into his lap.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye look shook.
What be the matter?” Quinn asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Get my pajamas,
please. They’re under the pillow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn reached
beneath the pillow and came out with his T-shirt from the day before. “Why ye
have me shirt under ye pilla?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s cheeks
flushed rose. “Um, I-I w-was saving it for you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn gave him a dubious
look. “Be an odd place for me shirt.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry snatched it
from his hand before reaching around Quinn to dig the pajamas from beneath the
pillow and shove Quinn’s shirt back beneath it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why ye put it
there?” Quinn asked in earnest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Where else am I
going to put it?” Merry asked lamely as he quickly put his pajama pants on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Where ye shirts
be?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry pulled his pajama
shirt on. “In the closet.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn stood and <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">opened the
closet door.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What are you
doing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Puttin’ me shirt
where it belong.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A smile threatened
to form on Merry’s lips. It was kind of nice that Quinn thought his shirt
belonged in <i>his</i> closet with<i> his </i>shirts, but
he wanted it under his pillow. He went to Quinn and took it from his hand. “I
like it under my pillow,” he said as he shoved the shirt beneath it again. “I’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ll
be right back.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye needn’t clean
up the milk,” Quinn said as he returned to the bed and sat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“If I don’t, it
will only make things worse.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rNt29vXuCoU/UoqUtJ_ETgI/AAAAAAAAB1M/-kyR0GZvCiM/s1600/milk+for+faerie.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rNt29vXuCoU/UoqUtJ_ETgI/AAAAAAAAB1M/-kyR0GZvCiM/s200/milk+for+faerie.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb clasped her
hands to her chest and nearly swooned. “We collect every precious drop!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What are you saying?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Cream be a
delicacy for we fae, Merry. The milk ye spill be enough to feed ’em for a
night. They not need to return to we mound for sustenance. Ye kitchen be spit-spot.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Spit what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn reached for
Merry’s hand and pulled him down to sit on the bed next to him. “Right fine. Ye
kitchen be clean, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Seriously?
Everything's cleaned up?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Relief flooded
Merry. This was a dream come true. He hadn’t wanted to face his dad after last
night. His dad would act as he always did, as if nothing had happened, as if
beating up your kid was just business as usual in the McDaniel household. Which
it basically was.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Time we dress ye
for we<i> rade</i>. Sadb, what have ye
in mind for me wee dote to wear?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She tapped her
chin with a tiny finger as she thought long and hard. “Flower!” s<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">he shouted suddenly,
and Merry started.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ryoYyXoSa4/UoqTOose8RI/AAAAAAAAB08/khhI581wbyE/s1600/Bluebellflower.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ryoYyXoSa4/UoqTOose8RI/AAAAAAAAB08/khhI581wbyE/s200/Bluebellflower.jpg" width="160" /></a>Within seconds,
demi-fae appeared out of thin air and swarmed Merry. Ignoring the buttons on
his shirt, they deftly pulled it over his head. Lifting him into the air, they
tugged his pants down. He tugged them back up quickly. They eyed him with
consternation before ten more demi-fae joined in and jerked Merry’s pants from
his hands, and down, and off. Merry nearly lost it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Moving at the
speed of light, they had his private parts covered in bluebells before he could
protest. With a heave-ho, they tipped him in the air, nearly upside down, and
fitted his feet with soft suede shoes. As quickly as they upended him, they
righted him and set him on his feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Gathering on the
air, they busied furiously, and parted to reveal a wreath of thorns adorned in
ivy. They hovered, holding the wreath steady for Quinn’s approval.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GmXSpBM1cNQ/UoqT-N4Sh7I/AAAAAAAAB1E/g4NZeclzudk/s1600/Crown+of+thorns&ivy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GmXSpBM1cNQ/UoqT-N4Sh7I/AAAAAAAAB1E/g4NZeclzudk/s200/Crown+of+thorns&ivy.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn considered
it for a long moment and, suddenly, the demi-fae gasped in unison, their eyes
wide with astonishment. A silent communiqué had passed between Quinn
and the fae.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The smallest
demi-fae Merry had seen yet worked her way through the crowd and hovered,
trembling as she faced Quinn. “Not to question ye, sire, but I must. Ye be
certain of it?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Irritated, Quinn
issued a curt, “Aye. Have it afore we proceed. Away with ye,” he ordered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Whispers and
murmurs filled the air as the demi-fae bowed and disappeared taking the wreath
with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry turned to
find Quinn dressed in the stupid little shorts made from leaves again. His
thoughts immediately tangled, unsure if he was more relieved or disappointed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be time we go,”
Quinn said as he stood and held a hand out to Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The idea of
leaving the house dressed in nothing but bluebells forced Merry’s unbidden
thoughts of Quinn away. “I can’t go out dressed in... in.... Like<i> this</i>!”
Merry protested.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why not?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’m, like, half
naked!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“And?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s cheeks
heated as his mouth gaped. “Be serious! I can’t go out like this!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, ye can.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No, I can’t.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye can.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I can’t!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn smiled. “Ye
be a stubborn one.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’m serious! I
can’t go out like this! Besides, I’ll freeze to death.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I keep ye warm.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Can I at least
put on a shirt?” Merry cringed. He sounded like a whiny little kid. <i>Pathetic.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye not need ye a
shirt. C’mon.” Quinn wagged his hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry quickly
reached under his pillow and brought out Quinn’s t-shirt. “I need this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Me shirt? Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“B-because it
smells like, well, you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s eyes held
surprise. “Ye smell me shirt?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s cheeks
flushed rose again. “Yeah,” he said lamely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Just wanted to.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why?” Quinn
pressed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why are you all
hung up on why I smelled your shirt?” <i>Back to stupid-sounding
questions.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn eyed him
with wonder. “Ye human side be a curious one.” He took the shirt from Merry and
brought it to his nose. “Ye spake true. It smell like me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Relieved, Merry
rolled his eyes. “Yeah, it does.” He snatched it back and pulled it on before
Quinn could object. The shirt was enormous and reached Merry’s thighs. <i>Cool.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn eyed Merry
from head to toe before sighing and shaking his head. “Ye ruin me fae vision of
ye in human cloth, me wee dote. C’mon.” He held a hand out to Merry again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Where are we
going?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ll see.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Wait. What do I
tell my dad?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nary a word. He
sleep on ye couch for the remainder of ye day.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry
smirked. <i>Typical</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s cheek
tingled right before he and Quinn disappeared.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/11/chapter-fifteen.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chapter Fifteen</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/11/chapter-seventeen.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chapter Seventeen</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-18791658838946329612013-11-10T00:00:00.001-08:002020-10-15T09:35:41.421-07:00Chapter Fifteen<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pf_bUFEqQSM/UcJZBXMOPDI/AAAAAAAABcY/5E3yDrEXj6A/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+teal.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pf_bUFEqQSM/UcJZBXMOPDI/AAAAAAAABcY/5E3yDrEXj6A/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+teal.jpg" width="287" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: cyan;">S</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ilvery moonlight cascaded through the window and illuminated the faint glittery sheen of perspiration on Quinn’s creamy-white skin.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-prop-change: CK 20200617T1355; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It had a slight mint-green hue and reminded Merry of the phosphorescence he sometimes saw in the ocean waves at night when plankton were in bloom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn slept, his soft breaths and strong heartbeat reminding Merry ever more that what existed between them was real. He still couldn’t get over the fact that Quinn cared for him. He’d led nothing but a life of hell since his mom left three years ago, and for Quinn to appear out of nowhere, and then for Quinn to like him, well, it was nothing short of a miracle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrP1F_gHGg8/UopgrJkHcqI/AAAAAAAABzs/JPnKW-WUiXU/s1600/bioluminescence+wave.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrP1F_gHGg8/UopgrJkHcqI/AAAAAAAABzs/JPnKW-WUiXU/s320/bioluminescence+wave.jpg" width="320" /></a>What he sensed from Quinn was troubling. Centuries ago, something bad had happened, and it had ripped Quinn’s heart in two and left him bereft of his senses. So much so, Merry knew that Quinn had wanted to die... and wanted to die when he was assigned to watch over teenagers just this past fall. To make matters worse, the queen had forbidden Quinn to care for anyone ever again. Merry couldn’t imagine it. He’d been alone and lonely for three years. To be alone and lonely for centuries was unimaginable. <i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Man, Quinn’s mom is seriously cruel.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb suddenly appeared and hovered over the muscled expanse of Quinn’s chest, utterly silent, her face contorted in genuine concern.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry whispered, “Is everything okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“A dream threaten ’im. Be nigh time to wake ’im afore it take hold.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You know when he dreams?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye. I be he empath.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
No matter how hard Merry had tried, he hadn’t been able to find worth in Sadb. As far as he could tell, she was nothing more than a huge PITA in a small body. If she could read Quinn’s mind, it gave credence as to why Quinn kept her around. It made her worthy. Mostly. Then Merry started to worry what she knew about him. “What’s he dreaming about?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycVwFtVuAnc/UpEU2ofJQwI/AAAAAAAAB3o/9qvx3-q4PUU/s1600/CHAPTER+15+EVIL340x229.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycVwFtVuAnc/UpEU2ofJQwI/AAAAAAAAB3o/9qvx3-q4PUU/s200/CHAPTER+15+EVIL340x229.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“All the evil.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What's that mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Just what I say.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry rolled his eyes. “What is all the evil?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be a fierce time for we prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Yeah, I sensed that, but what happened?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye sense it?” Her whisper held surprise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Yeah. Something broke his heart and h-he... he wanted to die.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her obsidian eyes became the largest Merry had ever seen them. “Ye be certain of it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Seriously certain of it. He still feels like he wants to die sometimes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her brow knitted. “Me mind not sense this. Wonder why.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry wanted to say “<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">probably because you live in </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">it’s</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">-</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">all-about-me</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> mode,</span>”<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> but held his tongue. “Maybe he doesn’t want you to know.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her brow contorted in anger. “Be me job to know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“It feels like he’s ashamed about it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb’s eyes grew large again. “We be in dire peril if he fade.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“We Queen wish to slay us and we prince protect us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why does she want to slay you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“We be powerful and plentiful, and she fear us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Startling Merry nearly to death, Quinn suddenly roared and struck out sending Sadb to flight on the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Wake ’im!” she shrieked at Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn now writhed, his muscles rippling and twitching beneath the surface of his skin, and Merry sensed he was about to change into his other form. He shook Quinn by the shoulders hard. “Quinn! Quinn, wake up!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Claws sprouted from Quinn’s fingertips and Merry dodged a vicious blow to the head. In panic, he shouted louder. “Quinn! Wake up!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shot off the bed with a deafening roar. Floating on the air, he turned back to them as the rest of him transformed into the angry creature he called his ugly side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SfRQz6716hg/Uopm0nIdArI/AAAAAAAAB0E/iJL63t6nCZc/s1600/Wes_Craven_s_New_Nightmare_sculpture_fantasy_monster_devil.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SfRQz6716hg/Uopm0nIdArI/AAAAAAAAB0E/iJL63t6nCZc/s200/Wes_Craven_s_New_Nightmare_sculpture_fantasy_monster_devil.jpg" width="157" /></a>“Run!” Sadb shrieked at Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Run</i>? He wasn’t going to run. Quinn cared for him. Quinn wouldn’t hurt him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry marveled at Quinn’s gigantic size as he crouched beneath the ceiling. He had this bizarre sort of scaly but velvety-looking, mottled, green skin, and weirdly bent limbs and... and... a tail with barbs along it. It whipped the air and Merry couldn’t help it. He backed up on the bed until his back was against the wall. Quinn’s eyes had turned a fiery red, and he had extra-pointy ears, and some seriously huge, canine-like teeth. But his face still looked like his Qui—well, okay, <i>not</i>. He was, um, yeah, okay. He was definitely ugly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn roared again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Run, Meriadoc!” Sadb shrieked again. “Afore he eat ye!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Eat me</i>?<i> </i>That didn’t sound good and fear crept up Merry’s spine. Quinn wouldn’t eat him, would he? <i>No way.</i> <i>Would he</i>? Merry gathered his flagging courage and shouted again, “Quinn! Wake up!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn roared again, and it sounded to Merry like a roar in frustration rather than in anger. Sadb flew at Quinn’s face shouting in Irish and he ignored her as he slowly began to advance on Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now terror filled Merry’s veins and he shrank back against the wall, wishing he could melt into it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn began to salivate as he leaned over Merry, and Merry slid down onto the bed, reaching for the pillow to use as a shield. “Q-quinn, it’s m-m-me, Merry! WAKE UP! P-please d-don’t eat m-me!” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saliva drooled from Quinn’s fang-ridden mouth, a long, sticky string coming to rest on Merry’s cheek.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Q-quinn, it’s m-me, Merry,” he whimpered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn licked his lips with a forked, black tongue, and drooled again before licking Merry’s cheek.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The tongue felt like sandpaper against Merry’s cheek and it left a sharp sting in its wake. “Quinn, p-please d-don’t eat me,” he begged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn licked the side of Merry’s head, and Merry was so scared he could hardly speak. “Quinn,” he whimpered. “You care for me. P-please d-don’t eat your w-wee dote.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something resembling recognition flickered in Quinn’s eyes and he abruptly straightened and issued another deafening roar. To Merry, it sounded like an anguished plea for help.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadb floated in the air between them speaking in rapid but soft Irish syllables seemingly in an effort to calm Quinn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He roared in anguish again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sadb, I think he needs help!” Merry shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, he do,” Sadb said sadly. “Touch ’im, Merry!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“T-touch him how?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Give <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">im ye hand. Let ’im feel ye love.”</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn roared again and this time it tore at Merry<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">s heart. Quinn was fighting some invisible something that wouldn’t release him.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Something’s wrong. Something is m-making him—”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, ’tis the horror of all the evil. We queen hold ’im fast with it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry tried to make sense of her words as he sifted through what he had sensed from Quinn. “He feels guilty?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, fiercely so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“And his mom uses it to make him... like this?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye. She taunt him and fuel he rage, then feed off him like a starvin’ beast. He anger give she power.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was incredulous and fury infused every fiber of his being. “She’s using him, his guilt, to give her power?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry's anger rose. That was seriously mean and just plain bullcrap. “How do we stop it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Touch ’im. He need ye love to regain he mind.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry set the pillow aside and scooted to the edge of the bed. He took a deep, shaky breath and slowly reached out to Quinn with a trembling hand. “Quinn, let me help you. Give me your hand.” Surprised by the calm in his voice, Merry fought to steady his hand in the air. “Let me help you. Give me your hand,” he repeated softly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn looked at it and licked his lips again before issuing another anguished roar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry jumped up, grabbed Quinn’s clawed hand, and thought with all his might, <i>You care for me</i>! <i>I'm your wee dote</i>!<i> Come back to me, Quinn. I need you</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
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As if someone had flipped a switch, Quinn transformed back to his natural form and collapsed into Merry’s arms. Soft sobs escaped into Merry’s curls as he struggled to bear Quinn’s weight and guide him to the bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They collapsed on the bed and Merry curled around Quinn and pulled him close. Stunned, relieved, and furious all at the same time, he sought to comfort Quinn. “It’s okay. You’re okay now,” he said softly as he stroked Quinn's thick hair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn wept softly for an indiscernible time and issued one final shuddering sigh before falling into a deep sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I won't let her do this to you again,” Merry vowed softly. He didn’t know how he would do it, but he would find a way. Quinn’s mom would not feed off his anger anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry woke to bright sunlight filtering through the window and Quinn’s emerald and gold gaze staring down at him. “Hi,” he greeted sleepily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdu3awgTGl4/UoptHiJRNPI/AAAAAAAAB0k/F0P6SKtbTAo/s1600/Window+panes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdu3awgTGl4/UoptHiJRNPI/AAAAAAAAB0k/F0P6SKtbTAo/s200/Window+panes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Quinn smiled. “How be me wee dote?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry smiled in return and rubbed sleep from his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Fine. What time is it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nigh ten in the morn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Panic filled Merry and he sat up quickly. “We’re late for school.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Don’t be daft,” Quinn said through a laugh. “Do ye not track ye days of the week? Be a Saturday for ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Oh.</i> He settled back against the pillow. “Guess I forgot. How are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn smiled again, his eyes warm and bright. “Need ye ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Ah, well, after a night like last night, yeah. You were a giant monster in my room</i>. But all Merry could sense from Quinn was utter happiness and adoration. “Where’s Sadb?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn pointed to Merry’s milk-crate desk. Sadb slept, snoring softly, nothing but a sheet of paper for a blanket and a pink eraser for a pillow. He turned back to Quinn. “Are you sure you’re okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye needn’t ask, Merry. Be the best I sleep in a century.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn kissed Merry in earnest, and Merry’s concern faded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb suddenly snorted and her high-pitched voice sliced into their moment like an icy blade. “Be no time to waste,” she said with obvious disapproval.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Please tell me you can make her go away,” Merry whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Sadb, ye be done preparin’ for we <i>rade</i>?” Quinn asked, his frustration more than apparent in his voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, sire. We be waitin’ on ye since nigh <i>meán oíche</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn issued a long sigh. “We cannot hold we <i>rade</i> up, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry slumped against Quinn. “What’s me-on-ee-heh?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye call it midnight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
When Merry heard leaden footsteps trudge down the hall toward his bedroom, he could barely contain his panic. “It’s my dad! You have to hide!”</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-fouteen.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chapter Fourteen</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/11/chapter-sixteen.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chapter Sixteen</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
</div>
</div>
C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-81248588640629055642013-08-11T00:00:00.002-07:002020-10-15T09:20:55.021-07:00Chapter Fourteen<a href="http://blingee.com/blingee/view/133087433-Fairy-by-Cody-Kennedy-purple" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Fairy by Cody Kennedy purple"><img alt="Fairy by Cody Kennedy purple" border="0" height="400" src="http://image.blingee.com/images19/content/output/000/000/000/7ee/830514898_1298790.gif" title="Fairy by Cody Kennedy purple" width="359" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">G</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">igantic red eyes filled Merry’s vision as he slowly opened </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">his eyelids.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrKUEmRGzPw/UpETGJO39dI/AAAAAAAAB3c/VtF9cgHg1J8/s1600/CHAPTER+14+Big+red+eyes2.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrKUEmRGzPw/UpETGJO39dI/AAAAAAAAB3c/VtF9cgHg1J8/s200/CHAPTER+14+Big+red+eyes2.jpg" width="100" /></a>“Whoa!” He started, tried to move away and found himself buried against his pillow.</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“He wake now, Ye Majesty,” Nolan said with a deep bow on the air.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry was on his bed. And, um, well, <i>still naked </i>except for the towel and blanket casually thrown over him. He pulled the blanket tighter around him before looking up at Quinn who sat next to him. “Y-you’re awake.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, I be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Are you okay? How do you feel?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The question be, how <i>ye</i> feel?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry took a mental inventory of his body. Other than a mild headache, he seemed okay. “I’m okay. What happened?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye fainted from bleedin’ in ye skull and Nolan mend ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VC7xOxMNpEE/UpEOfJJ91-I/AAAAAAAAB2w/iTPq0hzc3yQ/s1600/CHAPTER+14+AnnoyanceFairy50%25.jpg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VC7xOxMNpEE/UpEOfJJ91-I/AAAAAAAAB2w/iTPq0hzc3yQ/s1600/CHAPTER+14+AnnoyanceFairy50%25.jpg.jpg" /></a></div>
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Merry looked over at Nolan who floated on the air, alone. He looked around for the other demi-fae and found them huddled in a cloud of color across the room. Sadb looked like she’d swallowed a lemon as she floated, bound, gagged, and squirmy on the air as she made impolite screeching noises at Conlaoch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What happened to her?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conlaoch made a face. “She lose she temperament when I permit Nolan in ye home to heal ye. Riotous wench she be, she make a bobbery and wake we prince from he healin’ sleep. As so, I put an end to it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Oh.” He looked back at Nolan. “Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nolan gave another deep bow. “Be me pleasure, Lord Merry. Though, ’twouldn’t be fair to take ye healin’ to me credit. I only provide a daub o’ me small magicks. We prince be providin’ the big magicks to heal ye head.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry looked at Quinn. “Are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn smiled. “Other than a spate o’ worry for ye, I be well, me Merry. Thanks in no small part to ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I-I didn’t do anything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, ye did.” He looked at Conlaoch and something unspoken passed between them. The demi-fae suddenly cheered and faded away. Nolan’s big red eyes were the last to fade from Merry’s sight.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What are they happy about and where’d they go?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I send ‘em away to prepare.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry tried to sit up and decided against it when his head began to spin. He settled back into the comfort of the pillow. “Prepare for what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye return to we.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_P9kGrpmPg/UpEN_Jwqb8I/AAAAAAAAB2o/44ZaDFPH7oA/s1600/CHAPTER+14+Quinn's+Eyes.jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_P9kGrpmPg/UpEN_Jwqb8I/AAAAAAAAB2o/44ZaDFPH7oA/s200/CHAPTER+14+Quinn's+Eyes.jpg.jpg" width="200" /></a>“What are you talking about?” Merry winced as he turned his head so he could look squarely at Quinn. That was when he saw Quinn’s eyes. They weren’t their normal bright emerald green. Well, they were, but an emerald green iris circled a bright gold iris like Merry’s teal iris did his gold iris. “Your eyes changed, too,” he whispered with emphasis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his head. “Not be me eye that change, Merry. Be ye sight. Ye now see as we do.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s lips parted in a small <i>O</i>. “You guys see this way normally? Like, all the time?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Understanding filled Merry. “My eyes were always like this and I just couldn’t see it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No way,” he said softly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I speak true.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry studied the contours of Quinn’s face. He looked even more beautiful than he did before... before the new sight. “I’m going to see this way forever?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be careful of ye sun. Be painful to ye if ye look direct at it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“’K.” He didn’t normally look at the sun, so no big deal. “Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why'd you say I wasn’t a fairy when you knew I was one?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn became serious. “Not be me place to tell ye that ye be half fae.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Quinn, we’re talking about my life here. I mean that kind of information is majorly crucial, you know?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Only we Fates may dictate when ye know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<i>Another </i>fairy rule?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye.” Anger knitted his brow. “Though, me wish they be of a mind to permit me to tell ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Stupid rules</i>. Merry needed to know where the half fae part of him came from. After seeing his dad go all Freddy Krueger<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">™</span> on him last night, he sure as heck hoped it wasn’t from his dad’s side of the family. “Where’d the half come from?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye know ye answer, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“My dad?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn looked deep into his eyes and suddenly Merry knew. “My mom.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded once.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Myriad thoughts and questions bounced off the walls of Merry’s mind, but one particular question jumped out at him. He had to know. He <i>had</i> to. “I-is that why s-she left?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“After a fashion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I hate when you say that! What’s it mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“It mean in a manner of speakin’. Ye would say ‘sort of.<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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“So, it’s <i>part </i>of the reason she left?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn became grave. “Be nearly the whole of it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why <i>else</i> did she leave?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn ignored his question. “I hear ye have a donnybrook with ye da’.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry touched his cheek. It was no longer sore. “He did all the donnybrooking.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Conlaoch tell me ye see ye da’ for what he truly be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry looked away. “Yeah. It was horrible. It was like he was possessed or something.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Must be terrifyin’ for ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry turned back to Quinn. “Did you know he was like that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his head. “I know he be a dark one, but not so dark as to show he other self.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“What do you mean, show his other self?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Each of us have two self, Merry. Ye see me ugly side afore.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Only once, and that was ’cause you got seriously pissed off at Rick, which was totally fine with me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, but we all have an ability to show we ugly side.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nothing like that ever happens to me when I get mad. I usually just yell.” Long beat. “Or cry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn bent and hugged him. “I know it of ye, me Merry, I know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry melted into the comfort of Quinn’s hug. He felt more peaceful than he had in years and wanted to stay in Quinn’s arms forever. “What are the demi-fae doing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“They make a <i>rade</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What’s a rah-yay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“A procession. Ye call it a parade.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry sat up, his eyes wide with surprise, and his head didn’t spin this time. “Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“By the cause we wish to celebrate. Nary a fae allow a celebration come to pass without participation. Be a way of life for we.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry couldn’t help it. He suddenly snorted and began to laugh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What be humorous to ye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XrqXFZ23QjA/UpEPD9OidpI/AAAAAAAAB24/KKn0DHnHn6Y/s1600/CHAPTER+14+drunk+fairy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XrqXFZ23QjA/UpEPD9OidpI/AAAAAAAAB24/KKn0DHnHn6Y/s200/CHAPTER+14+drunk+fairy.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
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“I put sugar on your wing to help you get better and, when your wing healed, the demi-fae got drunk and passed out all over you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Over me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“On you! They were all over your wing!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s expression turned angry. “Be unforgivable.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s laughter died away. “Don’t be mad at them. They helped mend you and helped me a lot.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A shrieking and babbling Sadb suddenly appeared. Within seconds, Conlaoch and Nolan followed. Sparks flew from Sadb’s now yellow <i>and</i> orange wings as she shrieked at Conlaoch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Ho-ly cow</i>!<i> She’s on fire</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOpuXjrbSPg/UpEQt3DfXXI/AAAAAAAAB3E/KPSvyF6F-Xg/s1600/Chapter+14+fireball.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOpuXjrbSPg/UpEQt3DfXXI/AAAAAAAAB3E/KPSvyF6F-Xg/s320/Chapter+14+fireball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She hurled tiny fireballs at Nolan, which he silently, expertly dodged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sadb!” Quinn shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadb abruptly ceased her tirade.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Stop ye shitefire!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Oh, me apologies, me prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What in the name o’ Goddess and Consort be the matter?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I come to ask ye say-so. Conlaoch say I must ride Nolan’s back to lead we <i>rade</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What of it? He be dragon and we oft ride ‘em.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay, nay! He be unclean! I not do it!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Then ye not lead we <i>rade</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be what I tell she, Ye Majesty,” Conlaoch said evenly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry had had enough of this unclean business. “Lady Sadb?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What exactly is unclean about being part dragonfly?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She paused in thought, a tiny finger tapping her chin. “Everyone say it be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry gaped at her. “You think he’s unclean just because everyone says so? Because of rumors?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye,” she nodded emphatically.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Unbelievable!</i> Merry rubbed his forehead. “Lady Sadb?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What if I told you that Nolan is not only perfectly clean, but he’s totally cool?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye mean to say he not be hot?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I mean to say I think he’s the finest looking out of all of you and the nicest. If you took five minutes to talk to him instead of yelling at him and trying to... to fireball him, you might find that out.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her face scrunched in thought. “Nay. I not believe so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Just talk to him!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sadb shuddered on the air. “Ye not raise ye voice to a Lady of we High Court!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>How dare I forget.</i> “Okay.” Merry took a calming breath. “Lady Sadb, would you please indulge me and simply take a little time to talk to Nolan and get to know him before you decide not to ride him.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her eyes brightened, and her little pointed teeth showed bright in her grin. “Ye mean to ask a favor of me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No! No trixie! It’s a simple request.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her face fell. “Why ye never fall for me trixie?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I have no idea! Will you please take a little time to talk to Nolan and get to know him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“How much be little?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry groaned inwardly. “Five minutes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Three,” she countered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Six,” Merry shot back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Four,” she growled.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Five,” Merry insisted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Done!” she shouted her triumph on the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry smiled. “Cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The three of them disappeared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn was lying on the bed dying in laughter. “Ye be learnin’ we ways all too well, me Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry couldn’t help but laugh along with him. “The first time my mom did that to me, it took me weeks to figure out where I went wrong.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s laughter died away and he looked up at Merry. “Ye be a right fine young man, me Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s adoration flowed over Merry, a soothing balm on his once lonely and beleaguered soul, and Merry knew he was home at last, where he belonged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Seemingly from nowhere, the essence of Quinn’s agonizing sadness imbued Merry. Filled with unbearable shame, anguished regret, and a feeling of tormented isolation, it nearly tore Merry’s heart in two. After all Quinn did for Merry, he never once allowed Merry to see his pain and loneliness. Quinn had been alone for... <i>centuries</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>I’m here, Quinn. I’ll never leave you. I promise,</i> Merry thought hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Aye, me wee dote, ye be.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry looked at Quinn, and Quinn’s eyes twinkled for real. Merry gasped. “Your eyes! They, they just sparkled. What’s that mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s smile was suddenly shy, his cheeks flushed rose, and he bit his lower lip and turned away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry turned Quinn’s face back with gentle fingertips.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I show ye exactly what it mean, <i>mo chroi</i>.”<div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-thirteen.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Chapter Thirteen</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/11/chapter-fifteen.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Chapter Fifteen</a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div></div>C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-18729314794540383452013-08-10T00:00:00.006-07:002020-10-15T08:03:54.754-07:00Chapter Thirteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">M</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">erry woke lying on the worn carpeting outside his bedroom door.</span>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
His head throbbed, and he tasted dried blood on his lips. It was still dark, so he didn’t think he’d been passed out for long. When he rose to his hands and knees, nausea assailed him, and he nearly didn’t make it to the bathroom before he lost what little was in his stomach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With a soft groan, he rested his forehead on the cool edge of the porcelain bowl. His dad had been a great dad when Merry was little, and he wanted that dad back. Since his mom left, his dad had steadily grown worse. Now he was.... It was like he was freakin’ <i>possessed</i> or something. Merry sat there for a few moments and tried to puzzle it out. Nothing made sense. Nothing had made sense for a week. Well, except Quinn. Quinn cared for him. Quinn <i>loved </i>him—<i>him</i>—he was Quinn’s wee dote. And Quinn kept him safe. Except when fairy things interfered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s brow knitted in thought. In fact, there seemed to be an awful lot of fairy interference since Quinn kissed him. The real kiss, not the Fairy Kiss. He still didn’t know the significance of a Fairy Kiss. Quinn called it special, but that didn’t tell him anything. It didn’t tell him the true meaning or the magnitude of it. But something about it seemed to have set bad things in motion for Quinn. Not the least of which was his mom’s anger. <i>Man, what a cruel mom. </i>Then there was that whole bit about his hand. What had the demi-fae boss called it? A healing hand? He looked at his palm, then at the back of his hand. It looked normal. He sighed. Another thing that didn’t make sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He slowly got to his feet, opened the medicine cabinet, and reached for the Tylenol<sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">®</span></sup>. He downed a couple of tablets and thought, not for the first time, he should own stock in the company that made it. He brushed his teeth as he admired his bruised and swollen cheek in the mirror. <i>Perfect.</i> Yet another<i> </i>bruise for people at school to stare at right before they said something mean. He took a quick shower and realized he had nothing to wear as he dried off. <i>Crap</i>. He wrapped the towel around his waist and threw his bloodied clothes in the hamper. At least he hadn’t had to explain Quinn’s blood all over his clothes. His dad’s fists had taken care of that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He went to the bathroom door, put his ear against it, and listened. Once his dad was passed out in bed, he didn’t wake, but something had been <i>way </i>different about his dad tonight and he didn’t want to take any chances. When he didn’t hear anything, he opened the door ajar and peered down the hallway. Only his dad’s loud snoring filled the space. He was good to go. He made his way to his bedroom door and slowly turned the doorknob, worried he might scare the demi-fae in his room. “It’s Merry,” he whispered as he opened the door and slipped inside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Bright, silvery moonlight cascaded through the window and afforded him enough light to see almost as clearly as if it were day. <i>Man, this vision thing is weird.</i> He focused his eyes, looked around and, to his utter astonishment, the room was empty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He didn’t know the demi-fae boss’s name, so he whispered, “Lady Sadb?” No response. He stepped forward and his knee bumped something. He looked down and saw nothing. He bent and felt the air and his hand touched the blow-up mattress. <i>Invisible</i>? He moved his hand along the edge and his fingers met with the soft velvet of Quinn’s wing. <i>Wow</i>. Everyone and everything out of the ordinary was <i>invisible</i>! He took small, shuffling steps, afraid he would step on a demi-fae.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be well?” the boss demi-fae asked quietly from the shadows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry almost jumped out of his skin. “Ah, yeah. Where are you?” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The moonlight suddenly brightened and everyone and everything reappeared in the room. Demi-fae littered Quinn’s hurt wing, sprawled out, fast asleep. “What are you guys doing on his wing?” Merry’s whisper was a harsh demand on the quiet night air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“We partook o’ sugar.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anger instantly filled Merry. “You got drunk?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. We Prince’s wing be mended. Be cause for celebration.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s quick intake of breath sounded loud in the quiet of the room. “He’s all better?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay all, but most. A few deep wound in he chest and back be needin’ more healin’.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was so relieved he felt faint. He sat at the end of the bed carefully so as not to disturb Quinn. “When will he wake up?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Take much o’ he magicks to heal he wounds and he be weak. May not wake for a day or so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Oh, no.</i> He couldn’t hide Quinn in his room for the night, let alone a couple of days. What if his dad came home in the middle of the day? His dad had never done that before but knowing Merry’s luck it would happen now. “Are you going to take him home?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye dare not move a fae once he settle in he healin’ sleep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I can’t keep him here! What if my dad sees him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye need not worry of it. I put ye a spell on ye door. Ye da’ not enter nor see us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Seriously?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry relaxed a little. That was cool. Maybe. Mostly. <i>If </i>it worked. He looked at sleeping Quinn. With his features relaxed in sleep, he looked much younger than he was. The red-auburn waves of his hair were vibrant across the pillow. Soft and silky, Merry wanted to run his fingers through them. Quinn’s skin looked pure in the moonlight, almost luminescent in its shine, and was marred only by the few wounds that remained. They were deep, and looked tender and raw, and the memory of Quinn’s excruciating pain made him shudder. He wanted to lie down next to Quinn and hold him. He wanted to make sure Quinn would be all right. And he sure as heck didn’t want Quinn to defy his mom again. Ever<i>.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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He tore his gaze from Quinn and looked at the demi-fae sleeping on his wing. Some were stirring, beginning to wake, including Sadb. He could only imagine how safe he would feel wrapped in Quinn’s velvety-soft wings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, lad. We Prince keep we safe,” the demi-fae boss said quietly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was irked. It was rude to read someone’s thoughts without permission, wasn’t it? “What’s your name?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd9n8XAOlh0/UgcnQAyT3HI/AAAAAAAABsg/WPbjOIUQdeQ/s1600/CHAPTER+13+Conlaoch+an+Glas.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd9n8XAOlh0/UgcnQAyT3HI/AAAAAAAABsg/WPbjOIUQdeQ/s320/CHAPTER+13+Conlaoch+an+Glas.jpg" width="245" /></a>The little green guy stood and, with a sweep of an arm and a deep bow, introduced himself. “Lord Conlaoch an Glas, in the service of we Prince of Fairy, He Majesty Quinn Malloy O’Cuinn, son of we Queen Muirgan of we High Court of Fairy, Queen of Flesh and Bone, Bearer of Hands of Fire and Water.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry rolled his eyes in the dim light of the room. “Please don’t tell me I have to call you all that.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The demi-fae chuckled. “A gobful, to be certain. Ye may name me Conlaoch lest we be at Court. Then ye must use me title.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nice to meet you, Lord Conlock. Thanks for your help with Quinn. Please don’t read my thoughts.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conlaoch chuckled again. “Be me job to ensure ye be well in me Prince’s absence. Ye be he Fairy Kiss.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>OMG! Did everybody know?</i> “W-what’s that mean, anyway?” Conlaoch laughed outright now, and Merry was immediately defensive. “What’s so funny?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye should sense what it mean.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Well, I-I don’t. So, what does it mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conlaoch turned serious. “It mean he claim ye as he own. None in the Land o’ Fairy may court ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Court</i> me? “Y-you mean it’s, like, a public statement that w-we’re”—going steady sounded so<i> totally</i> grade school—“um, like, w-we’re together?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be he mark upon ye. A nonce short of a hand-fast, it be, Meriadoc.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s heart soared as his mind filled with a million thoughts. “Wow,” he breathed on the cool night air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye,” Conlaoch agreed. “By the cause if it, ye must pay due respect and remember he title.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was defensive again. “I didn’t know he was a prince until Sadb told me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Surely ye suspect so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why would I? I asked if he was a prince and he said, ‘after a fashion.’ That’s all. And sometimes it’s kind of hard to understand what he means.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conlaoch chuckled softly again. “How be ye sight?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry gaped in the dim light. “How did you know my sight was screwed up?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye not see ye eye in the mirror?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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No. He hadn’t. He’d been preoccupied with his raspberry-blueberry-bruised face. He rose from the bed as quickly as his aching head would allow and sped to the bathroom. He flipped the light switch, and all but threw himself at the mirror.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J67YKUwKD6g/UpERxakQQgI/AAAAAAAAB3U/x2PkfACzino/s1600/CHAPTER+13+Merry's+Eyes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J67YKUwKD6g/UpERxakQQgI/AAAAAAAAB3U/x2PkfACzino/s320/CHAPTER+13+Merry's+Eyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>OHEMGEE!</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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He peered closer, then backed away, and then peered closer yet, as if what he saw might change before his very eyes. Or whosever eyes they were. His eyes had turned gold—no, teal—no, gold. No! Gold <i>and </i>teal! And he had <i>two </i>irises! Rather, two <i>rings </i>of irises. The inner one was bright gold and the outer one was teal! And they moved! Like, dilated <i>independently </i>of one another!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>HOLY MOLY!</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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He ran back to the bedroom and slipped inside fighting to keep from imploding with hysteria. “What happened to my eyes?” he demanded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now awake, Sadb gasped when she saw him. “He be—!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conlaoch cut her words off with a slight wave of his hand. She gurgled once, then fell silent. “Whist, Merry. Calm ye self, lest ye wake we prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What happened To. My. Eyes!” Merry’s whisper was harsh, demanding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What ye see when ye look at ye da’?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry paused in his panic. “Evil,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. What else there be?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“H-he didn’t look... normal.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye see he aura, did ye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Y-yeah. He had this black misty thing happening and it was... scary. But that doesn’t explain anything. What happened to <i>me</i>?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Not be what happen. Be what a touch o’ Fairy set free in ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadb almost wailed. “He have the wild mag—!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQbMPV_qg2o/UgcnSqgQ_MI/AAAAAAAABso/2XhlToDjZWc/s1600/CHAPTER+13+Lady+Sadb+the+Fairy.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQbMPV_qg2o/UgcnSqgQ_MI/AAAAAAAABso/2XhlToDjZWc/s1600/CHAPTER+13+Lady+Sadb+the+Fairy.jpg" /></a>“Hold ye tongue, Sadb, lest I cut it from ye gob!” Conlaoch growled before turning back to Merry.</div>
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<i>Wow. That seemed a little harsh.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Touch we prince, Merry. Touch a wound on he back,” Conlaoch encouraged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“W-why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye’ll see.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“First, tell me what happened to my eyes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conlaoch made an exasperated noise. “Ye have magicks in ye, lad. When Sadb give ye a touch o’ Fairy, they come alive in ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He didn’t have any magick. He was boring, plain Merry the f-f-<i>non</i>-fairy. “S-so what’s that mean? I’m Fairy Kissed <i>and</i> Touched?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“And that’s why you think m-my hand is magick?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Now, ye take me meanin’, Meriadoc. Touch we prince. Heal he wound.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The part of Merry that thought all this was absolutely freakin’ nuts<i> </i>warred with the part that told him something had <i>definitely </i>changed in him. And the eye thing. Well, he couldn’t think of anything that could explain the freaky eyes. Freaky eye<i>sight</i> maybe, but not freaky-<i>looking</i> eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Touch we prince,” Conlaoch encouraged again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What he was about to do would prove the demi-fae right or dead wrong. Merry took a deep, filling breath and breathed in courage as he stepped around the corner of the bed and sat on the edge of it next to Quinn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Soft murmurs filled the air as the demi-fae woke and looked on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Just touch him,” Merry breathed to himself. With a tentative hand, Merry set a fingertip to one of Quinn’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">s wounds. His cheek began to tingle, his fingertip warmed, and Quinn’s skin began to glow violet beneath his touch. “W-what’s h-happening?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye be healin’ we prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No way.” Merry’s voice was nearly inaudible on the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, Meriadoc. Ye magicks come alive in ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry withdrew his fingertip and Quinn’s wound was healed. Suddenly, the part of him that knew Conlaoch was right loomed large in his mind.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I have magicks.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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He was no longer plain Merry the fairy. Rather, he <i>was </i>plain Merry THE FAIRY<i>! </i>Could it be any more confusing?<i> </i>He looked at Conlaoch, disbelieving and fighting the question that wanted to fly off his tongue. “Quinn s-said I wasn’t a fairy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“He mean ye not be full fae, lad. Ye be half fae.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those were the last words Merry heard before he fainted.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-twelve.html" target="_blank">Chapter Twelve</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-fouteen.html" target="_blank">Chapter Fourteen</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2012-2017 Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7..20</span></span></div>
</div>
C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-2704331094962586312013-08-10T00:00:00.004-07:002020-10-15T07:42:08.596-07:00Chapter Twelve<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> tell the lad he be </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">dragon!</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">” Sadb defended.</span>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry glanced at her and wanted to choke her again. Her criticism of the helpful demi-fae who simply didn’t look like the others royally pissed him off. Working to keep his anger in check, he turned to the green guy who seemed to be the boss of the demi-fae. “Where do you want me to put Sadb? She’s hurt.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Set she on ye pillow near we prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry set her gently near Quinn’s splash of red-auburn hair. Truthfully, he wanted to dump her on her buttocks. “What do you want me to do now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“More flower.” He paused before continuing. “And more dandiflies, if ye be willin’.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadb glared at the green guy, but kept her mouth shut.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be right back.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geAfLHwb-J4/UgXHqs3RBBI/AAAAAAAABpM/bLvP-fPlZ-g/s1600/Dragonfly+Red+gathering+dandelion.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geAfLHwb-J4/UgXHqs3RBBI/AAAAAAAABpM/bLvP-fPlZ-g/s1600/Dragonfly+Red+gathering+dandelion.jpg" /></a>Merry grabbed another brown paper bag and headed back to the garden. Nolan flew erratically through the tall grass, collecting as many dandelions as he could hold in his arms. He added them to a growing pile near the tree stump and shot away to gather more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Thanks, Nolan.” Merry clipped more roses, sharp thorns pricking his fingers and palms. When the bag was half full of roses, he went to the now vast pile of dandelions. “Wow. That’s great.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, Lord Merry. Ye set ‘em on he wing and add a wee bit o’ sugar. He feel less pain as he mend. But only a wee bit, lest he be bladdered.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He was “<i>Lord</i> Merry?” Where the heck did that come from? He didn't know what to ask first. “Bladdered?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye call it drunk. Truth be told, we fae be takin’ a likin’ to sugar. Ye not say I say so. Be forbidden to tell a human.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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“You get drunk on sugar?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“When it be plenty, aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“But it deadens pain, right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was <i>seriously </i>important information. “Thanks, Nolan.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A smile filled Nolan’s brilliant red face. “Ye not be thankin’ me. Be me job as a healer.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A <i>healer</i>? “Why aren’t you in there with everybody else?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye hear what we Lady say of me. I be one o’ we unclean ones.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Because you’re dra—” Was it impolite to call a demi-fae a dragonfly? Who knew? “Because you’re sort of dragonflyish?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nolan smiled again. “Ye may say it. It not offend me. I be proud of me lineage.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A smile played at the corners of Merry’s lips. He was happy he hadn’t offended the nice demi-fae and thought it was cool that Nolan was proud of what he was despite what the others thought of him. “C’mon. Help me get these into the bag.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before Merry could lift a single dandelion, the bag brimmed with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“There ye be. Go, now, and don’t forget the sugar.” Nolan pressed a tiny hand to Merry’s shoulder, urging him away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I’ll come back,” Merry promised as he sped back to the house.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Here.” Merry set the bag next to the bowl and noticed the first bag had fallen off the desk, now empty of its contents. Flower petals littered Quinn’s back, the stems and leaves but remnants left to the floor. <i>So much for a spotless room</i>. Merry didn’t care one bit. “I’m going to put the dandelions on his wing. Will you straighten it out?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“On what?” the green boss demi-fae asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>On what</i>? Good question. <i>On what, on what, on what</i>? An idea came to Merry. He opened the closet door and pulled an air mattress from inside. They’d used it on camping trips when his mom was still around. Their camping trips were some of the best memories he had of his mom and he’d kept the gear in the hope she’d return. He yanked the heavy thing from the box, plugged the cord to the air pump into the electric socket, and pumped the air mattress nearly full. He wanted it to be soft so he could fold it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He then went to the kitchen. His mom had turned a lower drawer into what she called the tool drawer because it contained all the miscellaneous things she periodically needed when working around the house. He dug through it until he found packing tape and headed back to the bedroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He folded the air mattress in half and taped the ends together. Filled mostly with air and folded, it matched the height of the bed, and he shoved it to meet the edge of it. “Will that work?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHY-1U0_7zE/UgXIkEvXhKI/AAAAAAAABpY/cWNxxT3UoNA/s1600/Lace+Red.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHY-1U0_7zE/UgXIkEvXhKI/AAAAAAAABpY/cWNxxT3UoNA/s1600/Lace+Red.jpg" /></a></div>
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The boss of the demi-fae surveyed his efforts thoughtfully. “Be a start.” He gave orders and the demi-fae went to work. With coordinated movements and gestures, they slowly, painstakingly, unfolded layer by layer of the red lace mountain that was Quinn’s mutilated wing and spread it on the improvised mattress. The mattress wobbled and a group of fae flew to steady it as more and more of Quinn’s wing was revealed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry cringed at what he saw, and a burning hatred for the queen slowly began to churn within. Much like his hatred for Rick. <i>How could she do this to him</i>?<i> Her own son, no less</i>? Having an evil mother was beyond Merry’s comprehension. His mother had always been kind and loving. Nolan’s instructions about sugar returned to his mind and, pushing away raw anger, he left the room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk4jzi2OAiA/UgXJeyGp5bI/AAAAAAAABpo/ceByxSFR8ik/s1600/Kitchen+pantry.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk4jzi2OAiA/UgXJeyGp5bI/AAAAAAAABpo/ceByxSFR8ik/s1600/Kitchen+pantry.jpg" /></a>He rummaged through the pantry and finally found a five-pound bag of sugar behind a bag of flour and a box of pancake mix. Never opened, it was hard as a rock, fused by the dampness of the California air. He bashed it brutally against the kitchen counter desperately needing it to return to its former self, and carried the broken, leaking bag to the bedroom. “Here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The demi-fae broke into excited chatter, and the boss silenced them with a fierce look. “Put a wee bit on he wing. A wee bit, mind ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paying heed to the instruction, Merry scooped sugar into a hand and began to sprinkle it lightly on Quinn’s ravaged wing. “Like this?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He worked his way slowly from the tip to the root of the wing where it met Quinn’s bloodied and devastated back. Merry’s hand had bled from the rose thorn pricks and sugar stuck to his palm. It built until a large clump of sugar oozed away and landed with a silent splat on Quinn’s back. “S-sorry,” Merry excused as he looked down at the mess.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then Quinn’s back began to heal outward from where the clump fell.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oohs and ahhs filled the air as Merry watched Quinn’s ruined back begin to smooth into lily-white, unblemished skin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye hand! Let we see ye hand!” the boss of the demi-fae shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fearful he’d done something horribly wrong, Merry held his hand out for inspection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“He bear a healing hand!” the boss of the demi-fae shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The demi-fae went into a frenzy of epic proportions and cheered leaving Merry stunned and confused. <i>What is so freakin’ exciting about my hand</i>? <i>I’m not a fai</i>—<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before Merry could untangle his jumbled thoughts, he heard his dad’s car pull into the driveway. “Oh no,” he breathed, suddenly terrified. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye look shook. What be the matter?” the boss demi-fae asked. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“You have to hide! My dad is home!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5OtusnKZdYs/UgXMA_Roc0I/AAAAAAAABqA/z27QhyWmh2Q/s1600/Fairy+flight+trails+in+the+dark.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5OtusnKZdYs/UgXMA_Roc0I/AAAAAAAABqA/z27QhyWmh2Q/s1600/Fairy+flight+trails+in+the+dark.jpg" /></a>“Go, go, be off with ye!” the boss demi-fae ordered. The demi-fae scattered in every direction. He turned to Merry and shoved his shoulder with a small, but surprisingly forceful, hand. “Delay ye da’ but a nonce!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry quickly left the room, closed the door, and ran to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and pretended to rummage for something to eat just as his dad came through the front door. By the sound of his unsteady footsteps, Merry knew he was drunk again. Fear filled his veins as he pulled milk and chocolate syrup from the refrigerator.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His dad entered the kitchen, clearly displeased to find him there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Merry looked at him, he was horror-stricken. It wasn’t his dad. Well, it was, but he was... <i>different</i>. Merry rubbed his eyes, silently cursed his weird vision, and looked at his dad again. Haloed in a dark aura of moving black mist, his features distorted and eye sockets hollow, he looked downright evil. “H-hi, D-d-dad.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What are you still doing up?” he grumbled.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Had a l-lot of homework and g-got hungry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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His dad glared at him. “Go to bed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry began to return the milk and chocolate syrup to the refrigerator and his dad grabbed the back of his shirt. Merry cowered in preparation for a blow and the half-gallon of milk slipped from his grasp. It hit the floor with a thud, milk splashed and splattered their small kitchen, and dripped from the tips of his dad’s black hair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Damn you!” his dad swore as he dragged Merry down the short hallway and slammed him against the bedroom door. “Go to bed!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I-I need to c-c-clean up the m-milk.” Merry tried to pull away but his dad’s fist held fast to his shirt.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I said go to bed, mister!”</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry cowered again as he tried to turn the doorknob behind him. His hand, now wet with milk as well as slippery with blood and covered in sugar, slipped from the knob. The mist around his dad began to boil on the air and his face seemed to turn grey with wrath. Merry struggled frantically to turn the knob as his dad’s face grew even darker in the mist, but couldn’t get the door open before the first blow landed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-eleven.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Eleven</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-thirteen.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Thirteen</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-6077037167190664842013-08-09T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T17:08:59.766-07:00Chapter Eleven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt;"><span style="color: lime;">Q</span></span>uinn roared and launched off the bed of flora.
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The colorful cloud above him exploded sending myriad petals and demi-fae to flight on the air. Airborne, Quinn rushed Merry. Or, not Merry, but Sadb. Or, maybe not Sadb, but her vision of him, or her projection of him, or her... <i>whatever</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the blink of an eye, Merry found himself on his back in his overgrown backyard. Air whooshed from his lungs as a gravely injured Quinn landed on him. Merry struggled to regain his breath as a multicolored demi-fae and petals rained down around them. Everything was überclear, garishly colored, and painfully bright. Enough to make Merry squint and want to shield his eyes as he would from the sun. And everything was three-dimensional, as if he were seeing through the glasses they gave you to watch a 3D movie. Maybe he was still seeing through Sadb’s eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Curse ye, Sadb!” Quinn’s voice thundered loud enough to leave Merry deaf in one ear.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadb shuddered and quivered, truly stricken by Quinn’s curse, and her flight became a chaotic zigzag through the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s rage shot up Merry’s spine and he was afraid Quinn would change into his other form right on top of him. He wasn’t afraid of Quinn, not at all, but he didn’t want a monster on top of him either. <i>My boyfriend, the monster. Talk about awkward in the extreme</i>. “Quinn!” Merry eked out. “Don’t curse her!” His shout was nothing but a murmur.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Blind with fury, Quinn didn’t hear Merry. “How dare ye risk me Merry’s sight!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I did not, sire! I use me mind’s eye to shield he vision! I swear it!” she shrieked as she zinged past Quinn sending a lock of his hair to flight in her wake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quinn!” Merry tried again, but Quinn’s weight made it impossible to take in enough air to speak.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye mind’s eye not be strong enough to shield one such as Merry!” Quinn raised himself on hands and arms and Merry took a huge breath before Quinn slumped back onto him, shoving air from his lungs again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I be, sire! I be!” Sadb shrieked back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quinn!” Merry tried again, to no avail.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye not have an inkling of what ye spake!” Quinn roared at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, deaf in the other ear, Merry could think of only one thing to do. <i>Quinn! Stop! I’m okay! But I can’t breathe with you on top of me!</i> he shouted in his mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn stopped yelling at Sadb long enough to look down at Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>I’m fine, but I can’t breathe! You must get off me!</i> Merry thought hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn rolled off Merry in an instant, but cried out when he landed on his shredded wing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like an arrow, Quinn’s pain-filled cry struck Sadb in the back and carried her aloft. She hit the tree stump in the mist and fell to the ground, still.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry gulped air as he sat up and looked down at Quinn. “Y-you okay?” he breathed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s emerald eyes looked up at him, all glimmer lost, and Merry knew he wasn’t okay. <i>AT</i>. <i>ALL</i>. He reached a hand out and Quinn took it. Indescribable pain instantly crashed over Merry’s senses and he gasped, right before the sensation of pain cut off and Quinn passed out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry thought it hurt bad when Rick beat him up, but it was nothing like this. He’d never imagined such excruciating pain and wondered how Quinn withstood it. Well, obviously he couldn’t. He passed out. “Lady Sadb! Help me! Quinn’s really hurt!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He received no response. “Lady Sadb!” he called again. Nothing<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something pinched the hand he leaned on and he looked down. It was another demi-fae. A guy one. His wings were as vibrant green as Sabd’s were vivid yellow, and a long parade of demi-fae arced the air behind him. With Merry’s vision all screwy, they looked like a brilliant rainbow of stars, their colors startling and almost too bright to look at.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<i>Beidh muid ag cabhrú leat!</i>” the small guy shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The fairy’s voice was surprisingly deep for a small guy, er, fairy, and Merry had no idea what “beg me-add egg cowroo leth” meant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<i>Cabhrú le</i>.” The demi-fae gestured as if to lift something.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cowroo leh? “You mean help me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The man nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Lift him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He nodded again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry looked to the backyards that bordered his and thanked his lucky stars that Quinn’s thunderous accusations hadn’t roused the neighbors from their beds in the middle of the night<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah, okay, let’s get him into the house,” Merry whispered fiercely.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The demi-fae swarmed Quinn en masse and lifted him into the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry quickly stood and moved to open the door. “Down the hall to the left. Put him on my bed.” He bent to lift Quinn’s one good wing to keep it from dragging on the ground as they carried him down the hall. It was soft, a frail green-tinted velveteen in his hands, yet it was as clear as glass.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry watched as the demi-fae deftly turned Quinn in the air and laid him on the bed on his stomach. That was when Merry saw Quinn’s front. It was a red ruin to match his back. He fought to remain calm in his escalating panic. “What happened to his chest?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The guy demi-fae was grim. “<i>An Bhanríon pionós a ghearradh air</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Don’t any of you speak English?” Merry demanded in frustration.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ah!” Pain shot through Merry’s skull and he gripped the sides of his head with his hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye understand we now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah.” <i>Man, that hurt</i>. “What happened to Quinn’s chest?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“We Queen punish ‘im.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was incredulous. “She did that because he didn’t answer her call fast enough?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry looked down at Quinn. His one shredded wing lay sodden with blood, a mountain of red lace at his side. The other wing now wafted slowly above him. The brief glance Merry had in the cavern hadn’t told him how large Quinn’s wings were. Merry supposed they trailed the floor behind him when he stood. He reached out to touch Quinn’s back then hesitated, not wanting to accidentally hurt him. “Is there anything we can do for him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Queen Muirgan take he ability to heal for such a time it be long in returnin’. Well, as so, we tend ‘im ‘til he be right to heal heself.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry cursed the Queen silently. “What can I do?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye bring water, and flower from ye garden. Many flower be grand. More color, more fine he be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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Merry tapped his foot impatiently and surveyed the flowers in the backyard as he waited for tap water to fill his mom’s largest salad bowl. There were tons of flowers to choose from and he wondered if any might be better or worse for Quinn. When the bowl ran over, he turned the tap off and carried the bowl to his room, careful to spill as little as possible in the process. He set it on the milk-crate desk. “Are there some flowers that are better for him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The demi-fae looked at him blankly, and he was certain his ignorance was plain on his face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I-I mean, like, stronger?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay, lad. They all be as kind to ‘im as he be to ‘em. Bring as many as ye can carry.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div>
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Merry quickly grabbed a brown paper grocery bag from their small pantry, a scissor, and returned to the backyard. The whole vision thing made the foliage loom large at him, a hallucination a thousand times more brilliant than it was in real life. He steeled himself against the <i>Alice in Wonderland </i>feeling, and collected brightly colored pansies, irises, orchids, and roses—and didn’t care that thorns pierced his fingers and palms. He didn't know how Quinn could stand such incredible pain and wanted him healed as fast as hu—fairily possible. As he neared the misty corner of the backyard, he heard a tiny shriek.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Get ye cursed hands off me, ye foul thing!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was Sadb and he only now remembered that she had crashed into the tree stump and fallen to the ground. He walked to the stump and found her little, scraped-and-bruised form sitting in the grass, one wing lying terribly askew.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She slapped at the other demi-fae. “Away with ye!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The demi-fae shot away, narrowly avoiding the slap. “Lady Sadb, allow me to help ye to ye feet, at least,” he pled.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye be foul! Ye not touch me with ye unclean hand!” she shrieked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry glanced back at the house. He needed to get back to Quinn and didn’t have time for this. He squatted next to them. “Lady Sadb? Are you hurt?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Not matter if I be! I not want an unclean one to touch me!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0qN-LMza24/UgVva_vUEvI/AAAAAAAABos/BKFgZfG3g4I/s1600/Dragonfly+sugar+spun+red.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0qN-LMza24/UgVva_vUEvI/AAAAAAAABos/BKFgZfG3g4I/s320/Dragonfly+sugar+spun+red.jpg" width="320" /></a>Unclean? Merry looked at the demi-fae. He looked a little freaky like all the others he’d seen, but he didn’t have horns or a tai—<i>Oh,</i> <i>he has a tail</i>.... And he had kind of a glittery-sugary thing happening. As brilliant and sparkly as he was, he had this whole... well, a whole kinda reddish-bug-thing going on that made Sadb look tame. Like, maybe to an extreme. And his wings weren’t soft and fluttery like those of a butterfly. They were thin and clear with veins—<i>pulsing</i> veins—running through them and were<i> </i>a little creepy. Okay, yeah, he was a little freakier than the others were. “Hi,” Merry ventured.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sugary guy gave a brief bow. “Nolan an Dearg, at ye service.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Merry. Nice to meet you,” Merry offered in return.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, I know of ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye know nothin’ of the sort!” Sadb shrieked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry winced at the sound of Sadb’s high-pitched voice and frowned. “What’s wrong, Lady Sadb?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Can ye not see, human? He be <i>dragon</i>!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dragon? Merry studied the little guy. <i>Ohhhh. Dragon</i>. Yeah, he had a dragonfly thing going on. Merry didn’t find anything wrong with that. He loved dragonflies. “So, what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She gaped it him. “Ye be daft? He be unclean!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry shook his head ever so slightly, irritated. He didn’t have time for this. “Here.” He set an open palm next to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She glanced at Nolan before dragging herself into his palm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Do you need help?” he asked Nolan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay, lad, I be well. I wait in ye garden for all o’ they ‘til we prince be mended.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Come inside with us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nolan waved his hands at Merry but, before he could speak, Sadb shrieked again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay, nay! Ye not permit such a thing in ye home!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was angry now, and he did <i>not</i> have time for this. “C’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">mon, Nolan. Follow me,” he said as he stood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
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Nolan waved his hands again. “I remain in ye garden.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Half out of his mind with worry, Merry acquiesced. “You sure?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. Plenty o’ flower t’keep me company.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Okay. I’ll be back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_FhcwsuImA/UgXaCJRVPmI/AAAAAAAABqY/4xulFe5bjE0/s1600/Dandelion+single+Black+BG.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_FhcwsuImA/UgXaCJRVPmI/AAAAAAAABqY/4xulFe5bjE0/s1600/Dandelion+single+Black+BG.jpg" /></a></div>
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Nolan suddenly flew to a dandelion, plucked it, and brought it to Merry. “She spores help we prince mend.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Seriously?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. She healin’ take to the air. Best to mend we prince’s wing,” he confirmed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, this little sugary dragon guy could read his mind, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye not say we secrets! Be forbidden!” Sadb shrieked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry wanted to choke her as he took it gently from Nolan and added it to the bag of flowers. “How many does he need for his wing? It looks—” Hot tears suddenly stung Merry’s eyes. “He’s really hurt.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye take ye flora to ‘im and I collect ye many dandiflies ‘til ye return.” The guy nodded rapidly, clearly pleased to be called into service.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Thanks.” Merry sped to the door, carefully holding Sadb to his chest so he didn’t drop her. He couldn’t help but look back at the dragon fae. He looked alone and lonely, much like Merry often felt. “It was nice meeting you!” he called back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nolan rose in the air and gave him a dragonfly salute with the tip of a veined, cellophane wing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry lifted the hand that held the bag of flowers and gave him a salute in return.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye not do such a thing!” Sadb scoffed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Shut up!</i> Merry thought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The look of indignation on her face told Merry that she’d heard his thought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Oops.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Here.” Merry set the bag of flowers next to the bowl of water on his desk. “Nolan said the dandelion is good for his wing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Every demi-fae in the room turned to him, all eyes now too large in their tiny faces. They looked stricken.</div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-ten.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Ten</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-twelve.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Twelve</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-20934795266805751622013-07-27T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T16:41:20.439-07:00Chapter Ten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">M</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">erry stilled.</span>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, ye hear me, Meriadoc McDaniel!” the little voice shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He turned and looked around the yard. Nothing. The large moth flitted at his face again and he batted it away, annoyed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ach! Ye banjax me wing! Ye cursed humans be ever so impertinent!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He looked down from whence the little voice emanated. The large moth fluttered angrily in the grass, seemingly trapped in the tall blades and unable to take flight again. Its wings were a vivid, neon yellow, and huge for a moth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, human! I be spakin’ of ye!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What the…,” Merry whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The moth batted its wings angrily at him as it twisted and spun gracelessly in the green blades. “For Consort’s sake, throw us a lifeline and stop lettin’ death take we hand!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjyqLLUMRrw/UfSvqzMl2eI/AAAAAAAABlM/k2hr7VzPvik/s1600/Moth+Argema_mittrei_Madagascan_Moon_Moth.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjyqLLUMRrw/UfSvqzMl2eI/AAAAAAAABlM/k2hr7VzPvik/s320/Moth+Argema_mittrei_Madagascan_Moon_Moth.jpg" width="240" /></a>Merry squatted and peered closely at the eerily beautiful moth, and jumped back with a start, landing on his buttocks when he realized it wasn’t a moth at all, but a small per—<i>Okay, wait</i>. The last couple of days had been weird. Seriously weird. <i>Insanely</i> weird. But this was wrong in the extreme. And if his neighbors caught him talking to a moth in his backyard, well, they would think he was certifiably insane. Worse yet, they’d call his dad. That would be all kinds of bad. He rubbed his eyes, certain his imagination was OUT. OF. CONTROL. He would not talk to a six-inch moth person. Nope. Not happening. He quickly stood and headed toward the door. “There is not a little hu—moth person yelling at me from my backyard. There is not a little moth person yelling at me from my backyard,” he repeated as he opened the back door.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Meriadoc McDaniel, I come at the behest of the Prince of Flesh and Bone, Bearer of Hands of Fire and Water!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“There is <i>not</i> a little moth person—”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I have ye a message from Quinn!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the mention of Quinn’s name, he stopped in his tracks. He turned and walked back to the fluttering moth and squatted next to it as it flapped madly in the grass. “Y-you’re a fairy?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Large, shiny jet eyes to match a wild ebony mane looked up at him. She looked like a miniature deranged Barbie<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">™</span> with wings. Thin and frail, she wore nothing more than a filmy tunic faintly hued in yellow. Tiny, black-velvet antennae sprouted above her large pointed ears and moved frenetically has she struggled to stand upright in the grass. “What else I be?” she demanded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Good question</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quit ye tomfoolery and give me a hand already!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry extended a hand and, with considerable effort, the small fairy climbed onto his palm, breathless and grumbling something about banjax as she straightened her wing. It looked a little crooked and slightly mangled, and he instantly felt remorse for having swatted at her. “S-sorry.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, well, ye be jammy I can heal meself. Be a moment,” she sighed. With more effort, she stood and brushed dirt from her knees and elbows. With a curtsy, she offered, “Lady Sadb an Buí, in the service of we Prince o’ Fairy, He Majesty Quinn Malloy O’Cuinn, son of we Queen Muirgan of we High Court of Fairy, Queen of Flesh and Bone, Bearer of Hands of Fire and Water.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Whoa</i>. “Hi.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“A human o’ few words are ye? Odd, if I do say so meself.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You’re really a fairy?” Stupid question. What else could she be?<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I be demi-fae!” she announced indignantly, parking angry hands on her hips.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Meaning?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her black eyes became larger still, now stunningly too big for her tiny face. “What ye mean to ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Great. Talking to her was going to be like talking to Quinn—definitely empirical evidence of fairyness. “What is a demi-fae?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Oooooh, oh. That what ye mean to ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Oh, well, we be the essence o’ Fairy. We carry all magicks of the land.” She abruptly sat in his palm, bent his fingers to her benefit, and leaned against them comfortably. “Ye see, long ago....”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry stared at her as she spoke of someone named Gaea, islands beneath the sea, deadly mists, and faraway lands. After five minutes, he couldn’t take it any longer. “You said you had a message from Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She was immediately offended. “Ye must address me proper. And if ye add a bit of deference, ‘twould right please me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He bit back the angry words that tried to fly from his lips. “Okaaay. What’s your name again?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Lady Sadb an Buí, in the service of we Prince o’ Fairy, He Majesty Quinn Malloy O’Cuinn, son of we Queen Muirgan of we High Court of Fairy, Queen of Flesh and Bone, Bearer of Hands of Fire and Water.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I must say all that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why not?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“How about Lady Sigh-eve-an-bwee?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A tiny fingertip tapped her chin as she considered his address. “All be right. What be ye question?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What’s the message from Quinn? Is he okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“That be two questions. Ye only ask for one question.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry frowned, irked. “What’s the message from Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“He wish me to tell ye....” She paused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry waited. And waited. And waited. “Tell me what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I not rightly recall.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was incredulous. “You don’t remember?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She glared at him. “I not be in the Land o’ Fairy!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“So, what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It make me mind weak and I cannot recall!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry wanted to strangle her. “Is Quinn okay? When he left here h-he was bleeding.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, he be a right ruin.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry wanted to scream. “Is. He. O. Kay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye dare not raise ye voice to a lady of we High Court!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Ohmygosh</i>. Talking to this demi-fae made talking to Quinn seem like a walk in the park. “Okay, sorry. Sorry. Please tell me if Quinn is okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“After a fashion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry rubbed his eyes with thumb and forefinger in frustration. “So, he’s not okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“He be when he return to ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“When is he coming back?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“On the morrow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Relief flooded Merry. “What happened to him? It was like some monster attacked him or something.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sabd’s jet eyes turned sad. “Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What was it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Not be what. Be who.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s frustration ratcheted another notch. “Okay, whom?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Queen Mother.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was shocked. “Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“We Mother lose she temperament.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry tucked his chin in disbelief. “Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Prince Quinn delay in he response to she call.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Questions bounced off the walls of Merry’s mind and he couldn’t decide what to ask first. “Quinn is a prince? A real prince?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye be daft? Why ye ask such a thing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Okay, okay. So, Quinn’s mom got mad because she called, and he didn’t answer fast enough?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, he delay a fair bit, then he dare to stop time, and she lose she temperament.” She was thoughtful for another long moment, fingertip tapping chin. “He ne’er defy we queen afore, but once. Make ye wonder what he be doin’ be so important as to defy she, don’t it? Ye know what he be doin’ when she call?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ah, yeah, he knew, but he sure wasn’t going to tell her about the bed and blanket fiasco. “He was with me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, but he would not ignore we queen’s call lest it be a matter of utmost urgency. What he be doin’?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yeah, it had been urgent, all right. The enormously awkward kind of urgent. Merry quickly changed the subject. “Is there any more to the message besides he’ll be okay by the time he gets back in the morning?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I not recall.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry rubbed his eyes again, aggravated beyond reason by the nonsensical conversation. “Will you take a message back to him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her brow knitted. “Me prince not say so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Will you do it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her eyes narrowed on him, an evil grin forming on her face to reveal sharp, pointed teeth. “Do ye mean to ask a favor of me?” she asked excitedly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It’s not a favor. It’s a request. Will you please take a message back to him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Blast! Ye not fall for me trixie!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the blink of an eye, she stood and stomped her foot hard on his palm. It startled him, and he dropped her. She took flight and zoomed at his face, her large black eyes frightening as they came at him. He couldn’t help it. He batted at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ach! Why ye aim to harm me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I don’t! Just don’t fly at my face like that!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She stilled and floated gently on the air in front of him, her eyes large and round as she ogled him closely. “Ye spake true.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah, I do. Will you please take a message back to Quinn for me, Lady Sadb an Buí?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why ye not address we prince by he title?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry fought not to raise his voice again. “He’s never asked me to. Will you take a message back to him or not?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She thought for another long moment. “He not say so.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was near to losing it with this little creature. “You can’t do something unless he tells you to do it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. What say we ask ‘im?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What do you mean, ask him? We have to ask him if you can take a message back to him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“How?” She flew at his face again and he fought not to bat at her. When he felt her tiny hand touch his cheek, he took a step back. “W-what are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye wish to ask ‘im, do ye not?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Doesn’t sound like I have a choice.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Then I need touch ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“So ye may spake to ‘im through me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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If he could speak to Quinn through her, he’d ask him how he was directly. “How does that work?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye try me patience! How ye think it work? It be fairy magick!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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That explained everything. <i>Not</i>. “Wait. Give me a second.” He wasn’t afraid of her, exactly, but there was something very menacing about her, and he definitely didn’t want to see those black eyes and sharp teeth coming at him again. He breathed deeply and gathered his calm. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her tiny hand touched his cheek, and she yelped and flew away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She darted back, her eyes wide with disbelief, a hand covering her gaping mouth. “Ye be Fairy Kissed!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Oh. My. Gosh! The stupid Fairy Kiss again</i>! “Yeah, so?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be forbidden to Fairy Kiss a human!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t want Quinn to be in more trouble than he already was. He needed to talk to him. “Can I talk to Quinn? Please?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVYCvwhI-S4/UfTEfY1K36I/AAAAAAAABlk/8siTuC9QGnc/s1600/Fairy+dust+blue+trail2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVYCvwhI-S4/UfTEfY1K36I/AAAAAAAABlk/8siTuC9QGnc/s1600/Fairy+dust+blue+trail2.jpg" /></a></div>
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She flew in erratic circles, leaving brightly colored trails to arc the air as she ranted in a language Merry guessed to be Irish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This went on for no fewer than ten minutes. He finally called her name. “Lady Sadb an Buí!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She halted her rant and flew at him, her frightening black orbs and sharp teeth monstrous as they came at him. Her wings buzzed a wickedly high pitch as she whizzed past, narrowly missing his cheek, and he fought not to step back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“All be right! I use ye other cheek!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally! “Okay. Ready?” He closed his eyes and her tiny hand touched his other cheek.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His mind swirled and dizziness threatened to overwhelm him right before a sterling calm filled him. He found himself seeing another world, as if he looked through someone else’s eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, Meriadoc,” Sadb whispered. “Ye see me prince’s chamber through me eyes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUiatU4Zotg/UgbeoHzNccI/AAAAAAAABsQ/g1mnxx_-04c/s1600/CHAPTER+10+Quinn's+Chamber.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUiatU4Zotg/UgbeoHzNccI/AAAAAAAABsQ/g1mnxx_-04c/s320/CHAPTER+10+Quinn's+Chamber.jpg" width="320" /></a>Only the sound of Merry’s name from Sadb kept his mind grounded in reality. His eyes drank in the vast, finely furnished cavern as the scent of freshly cut grass and spring rains imbued his senses. Ornate gold sconces littered the rough stone walls and filled the enormous space with soft, golden candlelight. Handcrafted rugs depicting unicorns, three headed dogs, and fire-breathing dragons graced a highly polished, smooth crystalline floor that looked to be made of polished diamonds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tearing his eyes from the spellbinding room, he looked for Quinn. He lay on a bed of flowers, his bleeding back a stark contrast to the soft pastels of the flora. One beautiful, glassy green wing wafted slowly above Quinn, while the other lay in bloody tatters at his side. A colorful cloud moved and swayed above him and Merry realized it was a flurry of demi-fae tending his wounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quinn,” he breathed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn turned his head toward the sound of Merry’s voice. “Sadb?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, ‘tis me, sire.” Sadb spoke quickly, defensively. “Merry wish me return a message to ye, but ye not give ye say-so to do so. So, he wish ye say-so for me to do so on ye say-so. So, I use me mind’s eye to ask ye say-so. Ye say so?” She abruptly fell mute.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn groaned as he rolled partially onto one side. “Must ye be so bloody literal, Sadb?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“If ye say so, sire.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, aye! Ye have me say-so! Do as Merry wish! But ye not permit the lad to see within we mound! Ye risk he human sight for all time if ye do!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Too late,” Merry said softly.</div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-nine.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Nine</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/08/chapter-eleven.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Eleven</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-23617194660368387842013-07-19T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T15:52:29.300-07:00Chapter Nine<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yX_buNirIoM/Ua-JKisRZtI/AAAAAAAABXg/hTQs4_qDXOM/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+orange-red.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yX_buNirIoM/Ua-JKisRZtI/AAAAAAAABXg/hTQs4_qDXOM/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+orange-red.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;">“H</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ow dare you defy me!” Queen Muirgan shrieked.</span>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn found himself shackled to a jagged obsidian wall in a dark chamber… the Chamber of Pain. He refused to cry out as Queen Muirgan drew a claw down his back producing yet another spate of blood from him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Blessed be, Muirgan, Queen of Flesh and Bone, Bearer of the Hands of Fire and Water. It could not be helped, me beloved queen,” he choked out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She seized a handful of Quinn’s hair and wrenched his head back until his long neck became an exposed line of flesh, his pulse beating against his skin like the wings of a trapped hummingbird. “How do you do that,” she sneered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What ye mean to ask, me queen?” He fought to keep his voice calm, to hide the fear she instilled in him, for she would feed off it to fuel her rage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Pay due respect when I cause you pain.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I live to serve ye, me queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She released her hold on his hair and pushed his head away. The abrupt movement caused his front to connect with the sharp protrusions of the obsidian wall. They sliced into his skin and rendered his chest and stomach a red ruin to match his back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You never fail to say whatever I wish to hear, and you manage to fill it with enough truth that you aren’t forsworn by the Host. I absolutely hate that about you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFhjbnA2Mag/Ugbcw5CopzI/AAAAAAAABr0/tByl5TnpDY4/s1600/CHAPTER+9+Quinn's+Sliced+Back.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFhjbnA2Mag/Ugbcw5CopzI/AAAAAAAABr0/tByl5TnpDY4/s320/CHAPTER+9+Quinn's+Sliced+Back.jpg" width="224" /></a>He winced and rested his forehead against the jagged wall. He’d worked hard to be worthy of her love and approval and, despite his efforts and centuries at Court, he’d never won her over. Or developed skin thick enough to tolerate her criticism. He could bear her physical torture, but her verbal and emotional abuse shredded and scarred his very essence. With his neck no longer hyperextended, his voice was steadier. “Forgive me, me queen. I beg ye, tell me what I have done to displease ye this time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She stalked around him, the many layers of her gown slithering across the floor. “How dare you ignore me when I call!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It could not be helped, me queen. Ye ask me to watch over the lad. I be doin’ it when ye call.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She wrenched his head back again causing his spine to bow, and he knew she could snap his neck with little more effort. It wouldn’t kill him, but he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life paralyzed from the neck down. He’d seen what his queen did with damaged fae. She kept them as nothing more than toys to torture, storing them in a great silver vault only to pull them out when the mood struck her. He would allow himself to fade before he became a victim of her cruelty any more than he already was.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You were to do nothing more than protect him! Now, you have not only exposed us, but you have enchanted him! An act so forbidden that, but for me, you would spend the next millennium in the Darkling Court!” Her shriek pierced his ears as her claws pierced one of his wings and drew down on the delicate veil, leaving it in tatters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
This time he did cry out as blood ran. “I did not, me queen! I swear it!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She canted her head and leered at him, a buzzard eyeing its carrion before plucking the orbs of its eyes out and swallowing them whole. “You wouldn’t swear such a thing, lest it be true.” Her voice was now a smooth, low contralto.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye know I cannot lie, me beloved queen,” he panted through the pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her fist tightened in his hair. “Tell me what you did!” she shrieked and shook his head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She used force enough he thought his neck would snap, and he didn’t want to tell her anything. Not for fear of what she would do to him, but for fear of what she would do to Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She pulled back and down, bowing his spine to the point he was nearly folded in half. “Tell me,” she growled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The enchantment be his,” he choked out, defeated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wBwP18jgM_U/UeofrDZ3V6I/AAAAAAAABig/k0w--w0K38g/s1600/Monstrous+Fairy+Queen.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wBwP18jgM_U/UeofrDZ3V6I/AAAAAAAABig/k0w--w0K38g/s320/Monstrous+Fairy+Queen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She righted him, the whiplash velocity of the movement sending daggers of pain dancing through his essence, and he thought he might pass out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She grasped his hair and turned his head so he faced her, her fiery red eyes gone dead as a winter sky with disbelief. Without glamour to give her beauty, she was hideous in her natural state, and she didn’t wear surprise well. “Are you trying to tell me that he bears a showing of magick?” she hissed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye,” Quinn breathed in defeat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A small laugh escaped her, the high-pitched titter leaving a sickening dread in Quinn’s veins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“And you have been enchanted by him? A half human, no less?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “Aye, me queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She abruptly released him and danced around the chamber, her cackle long and loud.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The manacles that held Quinn prisoner fell away, and he dropped to the floor, landing hard on his hands and knees as pain seared every fiber of his being. He thought to get to his feet, and then thought better of it. To rise without permission would only earn him more punishment. He kept his head bowed, his long red hair a convenient curtain to hide his pained expression.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You have always been so bloody weak!” Without warning, her slippered foot connected with the side of his head and he went sprawling onto the floor. “Get up!” she shrieked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He willed himself to stand as he fought pain and the fiery sting of his shredded wing. He dared not meet her eyes. His bare foot slipped in blood pooled on the floor and he caught himself against the wall, tearing a serrated wound in the palm of his hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What else does the boy show?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Naught more as of yet, me queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She put a clawed fingertip to his chin and slowly lifted his face. He had no choice but to meet her eyes. “You speak true, my weakling.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He wasn’t weak. In fact, he was far more powerful than she. If only she knew his lifelong desire for her love and approval was all that kept him from slaying her. “I do, me queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She released his chin, her sharp claw slicing skin as it left him. Warm blood trickled down his throat to pool in the hollow of his neck. “All the more reason to protect him. Stay with him all hours of the sun and moon from now on.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Being away from the mound denied him the eidos of Fairy, and the very essence that kept him alive. She’d sent him away so often over the past century it was all he could do to last enough hours in a day to protect Merry without beginning to fade. “Ye know I cannot, me queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You will!” she shrieked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her water magick filled the air and he began to drown, as if water was truly filling his lungs. “Great Mother, I beg ye. Please do not punish me for something ye have done to me!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her magick ebbed, a wicked wave withdrawing from his battered essence, and he gasped and gulped air as fast as he could.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ah, yes, sometimes I forget myself,” she said through a cackle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn tried to stand erect but didn’t have the strength.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Very well. I return your ability to heal yourself.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Thank ye, me queen, but ye know I still cannot be far from Fairy for more than a few hour.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<i>Ifreann na fola</i>!” she swore. “How in the name of Goddess and Consort did I bear a worthless fae?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He winced again. She wouldn’t deign to call him her son. “If I may be so bold, me beloved queen?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Return the lad’s mother to ‘im.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She advanced on him now, rage large in her fiery red eyes. “How dare you question me!” She slapped him hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
His face ignited in pain and he willed himself not to strike back. “Ye stripped she of every magick she possess, and she be weak as a new born bantling. She be harmless, me queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“This is why you will never be king! She betrayed us!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“She did not, me queen. She fell in love.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“With a human!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn couldn’t respond without running the risk of imprisonment in the Chamber of Pain for centuries. “Very well, me queen. I stay with the lad and return once daily.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Listen, and listen well, my weakling fae. If anything happens to that boy, I will consign you to the Fountain of Terror until you fade!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgURT-V-7yk/Ugbd7ijNdjI/AAAAAAAABsA/MEWmyuYZnBM/s1600/CHAPTER+9+Bloody+bath.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgURT-V-7yk/Ugbd7ijNdjI/AAAAAAAABsA/MEWmyuYZnBM/s320/CHAPTER+9+Bloody+bath.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I take ye meanin’, me beloved queen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her cloak spilled around her like black water as she turned and went to the antiquated wooden door and opened it. “Clean him up and see that he is gone by dawn!” she ordered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A flurry of demi-fae entered the chamber and swarmed Quinn, lifting him into the air, and carrying him from the chamber.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry touched fingertips to the blood-stained blanket. A fraction of a second before Quinn vanished, Merry thought he saw wings. Clear as glass with a hint of green to match Quinn’s eyes, they were beautiful and looked utterly frail. Merry shuddered as he remembered the blood that had splashed them and dripped from their tips. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry had called for Quinn, his desperate pleas loud in his mind, but he'd received no response. Adrenaline had flooded his body and left him feeling wired and weak at the same time. He didn’t know what had happened, but whatever it was, it left Quinn severely wounded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siNZWi_4srU/UgbeMP7WkRI/AAAAAAAABsI/g5Cw2kiNf3A/s1600/CHAPTER+9+Bloody+blanket.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siNZWi_4srU/UgbeMP7WkRI/AAAAAAAABsI/g5Cw2kiNf3A/s1600/CHAPTER+9+Bloody+blanket.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Bewildered and wholly afraid for Quinn, Merry rose from the bed. There was no way to explain the blood to his dad, so he had to wash the blanket. His hands shook like newborn leaves as he stripped it from the bed and was disheartened to find that blood had seeped through it to the sheets. He stripped those only to find that it had also seeped into the mattress cover. He stripped that too and was relieved to find it hadn’t seeped into the mattress. His dad would be furious if he saw it and, no matter the excuse Merry invented, his dad would know he was lying. After all, no one in their right mind would believe he knew a real fairy, much less that the real fairy had been attacked by an invisible force in his bedroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He carried the linen to their stackable washer and dryer in the closet and threw the mattress cover and sheets in first. They took less time to dry and would be done by the time the blanket was washed. He added soap to the washer, made sure he pushed the right buttons, and the machine began to fill with water.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He then went to the kitchen and looked out the window at the backyard. The mist was gone, and the sun shined bright in the sky. Until now, he hadn’t noticed the plethora of flowers in bloom. Their backyard had suddenly become a riot of color. Except for one tree stump near the edge of the yard still shrouded in mist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Interesting</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Send me a sign, Quinn. A thought. A smoke signal. Anything to let me know you’re okay,” he whispered to the window.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He had no idea how long he’d stood there, but next he knew the washer buzzed letting him know its duty was complete. He went to the machine and transferred the load to the dryer, then loaded the blanket and soap, and set both machines to task.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He returned to the window. He didn’t know what he hoped to see, but wanted—no, <i>needed</i>—to know Quinn was okay. Nothing appeared. No sign came to him. Not so much as a whisper on the breeze.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq7cnCf6ysQ/UeogJPPX6vI/AAAAAAAABis/ucr1qZ8nc4A/s1600/Boy+waiting+in+the+mist.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq7cnCf6ysQ/UeogJPPX6vI/AAAAAAAABis/ucr1qZ8nc4A/s320/Boy+waiting+in+the+mist.jpg" width="240" /></a>Over the course of the next two hours, Merry finished laundry, watched the sun set, and remade his bed. It was then that he noticed Quinn’s T-shirt on the floor. He picked it up and sat on the bed. Bringing it to his face, he breathed Quinn’s scent in. It was unique, like nothing he’d smelled before, a rich aroma of new buds and spring grass, and something he thought to be lemon. Who knew a guy could smell like flowers and still be cool? He breathed in deeply one more time before folding the shirt neatly and placing it beneath his pillow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He thought about eating, but food didn’t interest him. He thought about homework, but that interested him even less. He needed to know what had happened. He needed to know Quinn was okay. He decided to put on a hoodie and head to the backyard to wait for Quinn to return.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Go to him, Sadb. Tell him I be all right,” Quinn urged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The tiny demi-fae flitted about dressing his wounds with floral salve. “But he be human, sire.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn rolled onto his side with a stifled groan. “He won’t hurt ye, lass. Now, go on with ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her buzzing wings slowed, and she put angry hands on her hips as she hovered over his head. “It be forbidden for demi-fae to speak to a human!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be part of me guard, Sadb. Ye be in me service. Be nothing to forgive. Simply let ‘im know I be all right and I see ‘im on the morrow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She pursed her lips and tapped her foot angrily on the air. “Naught more?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn tried to offer a reassuring smile, but his pain was too great. “Naught more.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye swear it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I swear it, me lady.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She smiled then, pleased by the formal address, and Quinn knew he’d won her over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It was midnight and Merry had twice fallen asleep where he sat on the tree stump. He sighed as he grudgingly surrendered to the notion that Quinn wouldn’t return tonight. He stood and stretched, and a large moth flew at his face. He waved it away, knocking it gently aside as he turned to go to the house.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Meriadoc McDaniel, do ye not have a <i>beagán beag</i> of respect for we demi-fae?” a tiny voice shouted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-eight.html" target="_blank">Chapter Eight</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-ten.html" target="_blank">Chapter Ten</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-53222208458523029642013-07-13T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T15:43:25.371-07:00Chapter Eight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpxFbiAYVpc/Ua7BcIdd45I/AAAAAAAABWo/RaqZNlhgDQ4/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpxFbiAYVpc/Ua7BcIdd45I/AAAAAAAABWo/RaqZNlhgDQ4/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt;"><span style="color: blue;">T</span></span>hey reached Merry’s house and Quinn followed
Merry up the steps of the porch to the front door. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry
dug the house key from his pocket and shyly glanced up at Quinn, nervous. He’d
never had a friend over and certainly not a boyfriend. Or a non-boyfriend as
the case may be. “Um, if-if you can’t be my boyfriend, then what are we?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“We be friends.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I know, but we
like each—”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn silenced him
with fingers to his lips. “Say naught aloud, me Merry,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“’K,” Merry
breathed, a bit dazed. Man, Quinn’s touch did something to him. It was as if
even his mind could tingle. “Do you want to, um, come in?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn smiled, his
brilliant green eyes filling with mischief. “What ye think?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry giggled and
his cheeks heated. He wasn’t used to laughing, let alone giggling like a girl,
and it embarrassed the heck out of him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn chuckled
softly. “I like to hear ye laugh.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry giggled
again. “It’s not a laugh,” he said lamely. It took three tries before he was
able to insert the key into the lock. How freakin’ typical. He
finally managed to open the door and stepped inside, tripping over the doorsill
in the process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn caught Merry
with a firm grip on his arm before he face-planted into the worn carpeting. “Ye
be a right moppet, ye be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry withdrew his
arm from Quinn’s grasp and set his backpack on the coffee table. “Which one?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“They be more than
one?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ah, yeah, quite a
few Muppets<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">®</span></sup>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn went to the
front window and opened the curtains with panache. Dust filled the air as
afternoon sunlight filled the room. He waved it away. “Be a century since ye
let sunshine in?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry sneezed
twice. “It’s been a while.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Tyfgr8fpvw/Ugba1VJRQ-I/AAAAAAAABrU/Dm_7IQaok48/s1600/CHAPTER+8+Dust+motes+in+sunshine.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Tyfgr8fpvw/Ugba1VJRQ-I/AAAAAAAABrU/Dm_7IQaok48/s1600/CHAPTER+8+Dust+motes+in+sunshine.jpg" /></a>“<i>Mbeannaí dhuit</i>.” Quinn moved to the
second window, did the same, and dust billowed in the air again. “Ye need
sunshine in ye life, Merry. Open ’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">em every day.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry rubbed his
eyes. “Yeah, okay. What’s many-gwit mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Bless ye. C’mon.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn walked down
the short hallway, and Merry idly wondered how Quinn was confident in where he
was headed when he'd never been in his house before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry entered his
room as Quinn opened the curtains above his bed. Merry sneezed again, reached
for a tissue, and knocked the box off the milk-crate desk. He bent to pick it
up, smacked his head on the corner of a crate, and couldn’t prevent the soft “ow”
that escaped him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be as clumsy
as a drunken gnome,” Quinn said as he picked up the tissue box and set it on
the offending milk crate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry sighed. What
could he say? It was painfully obvious he was uncoordinated in the extreme. He
sat on the edge of the bed, blew his nose, and threw the tissue<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">—</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">missing the
trashcan in the corner of his room. He hadn’t expected to
hit it.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn picked it
up, put it in the trashcan, then sat on the bed beside him. “Ye room always be
neat as a pin?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry nodded,
suddenly nervous again. He was sitting on his bed. With... Quinn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn chuckled
softly as he drew Merry into his arms and fell backward on the bed bringing
Merry with him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry ended on top
of Quinn and he couldn’t roll off Quinn fast enough. In doing so, his elbow
connected with Quinn’s chin, a shoe tangled in the blanket, and he fell off the
bed. He hit the floor with a dull thud, bruising his sore side anew. He
mentally shook his head in disgust. He was more of a liability to his wellbeing than
Rick was.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn laughed
outright as he turned onto his side and peered over the edge of the bed at
Merry. “Ye be fierce in ye awkwardness, <i>mo chroi</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s cheeks may
as well have gone up in flames. He had no idea what to say or do, and he was terrified
the blanket would turn into another toilet paper situation. With his luck, the
blanket would come alive and try to eat him, and Quinn would have to rescue him
from that too. He kicked at it angrily, trying to dislodge his foot, and Quinn
reached down to help him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Mistake. Merry’s
foot connected with the side of Quinn’s face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>OHMYGOSH</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn burst into
laughter. “Blessed be, Merry! Be still!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Mortified, Merry
froze. “S-s-sorry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn only laughed
harder as he dislodged Merry’s foot, pulled his tennis shoes off, and set them
by the bed. He sat up, pulled his own shoes off, and set them next to Merry’s. “C’mere.”
Quinn lifted Merry as if he weighed nothing and brought him back onto the bed.
He settled Merry beside him, with Merry’s head resting comfortably on his
shoulder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry tried to
turn onto his back and almost fell off the bed again. Quinn caught him in time
to keep him from falling, but his lower half still did a slow slide off the bed
until he hit the floor again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn broke into a
full-bellied laugh. “Goddess preserve us. Why layin’ on ye bed be such an
impossible feat for ye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry was
defensive and beyond embarrassed. “It’s n-not.” He tried to stand, his socks
slipped on the polished wood floor, and he landed on his rear with a soft
grunt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn rose from
the bed and stood over him, shaking his head. “Hold ye whist, Merry,” he said
through another laugh. “Be still. Don’t move a finger.” He bent, lifted Merry,
and set him gently on the bed. “Ye think ye can manage to lie back without
breakin’ somethin’ or I need help ye with that, too?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Despite utter
humiliation, Merry let out a small laugh. “No, I’m good,” he said as he lay
back against the pillow with his hands tucked safely to his chest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded his
approval. “Now, put ye arms and hands at ye sides.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry complied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Now, we be makin’
a bit o’ progress. Hear now, no matter what happen, ye not move a muscle. Ye
take me meanin’?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn pulled his
T-shirt over his head and let it fall to the floor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Ohmygosh! Quinn
was half naked! Merry’s breath sped, and his heart began to dance in his
throat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
With a wary look
at Merry, Quinn climbed onto the bed and carefully lay on his side next to him.
His long red hair cascaded around them and cocooned them in warmth and sweet
smell. Quinn smelled of flowers, and cinnamon, and his own brand of musk. Merry
began to squirm, certain one final indignity of epic proportions would take him,
and he’d die right there on the spot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Whist, Merry.”
Quinn looked down at Merry, his emerald eyes bright with silent laughter. “Why
ye think ye body be public enemy number one and ye must use all manner of force
to contain it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry found his
voice and dragged it out kicking and screaming. “Ohmygosh, I can’t believe you said
that!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn chuckled. “Well,
ye do. I be fearful what ye do to it with a sword.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry gaped at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be all right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He was better than
all right. Then realization set in. “You’re doing it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You’re making me
so I don’t feel bad.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Am not.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Are to.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn propped his
head on a hand. A small sadness seemed to take the glimmer from his
eyes. “Nay, Merry, not be me. Ye begin to grow a wee bit. Ye be so preoccupied
with feeling worthless for so long, some of ye maturin’ be left behind. Ye
confidence not grow as it should.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry knew he was
preoccupied with feeling worthless. Who wouldn’t be with a life like his? He
just hadn’t considered that it would mess up his development. Though, being
stunted in yet another way didn’t surprise him. “Stunted” may as well
be his middle name.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn traced the
side of his face with a fingertip and his cheek tingled beneath Quinn’s touch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Whist, Merry,
stop ye self-criticism.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry reached for
Quinn’s hand and held it against his chest. “What’s wisht mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Hush, calm yeself,
be still.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry rolled onto
his side to face Quinn and looked into his beautiful eyes. He had a million
questions. Questions he couldn’t ask for fear the queen would hear him. He knew
he and Quinn were more than friends, but what, exactly, did that make them? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn laughed
softly and shook his head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You can read my
mind,” Merry whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Every twice in a
while.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry mustered his
inner strength and thought his question hard. <i>Are we boyfriends</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn winced. “Ye
needn’t shout, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry
half-laughed. “Sorry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye may think of
me as ye wish, <i>mo chroi</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A boyfriend! He
had his first, honest to goodness <i>boyfriend</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn winced again.
“Ah, Merry, don’t shout.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It was Merry’s
turn to laugh. “Sorry. That thought was, ah, meant for me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn smiled
warmly. “If ye wish it, so be it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s face
suddenly took on a surprised and pained look, and he sat up quickly, his face pressed into his hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn struggled to
speak and Merry sat up too. “Quinn, what’s the matter? Are you okay?” Stupid
question. It was obvious he wasn’t okay. Merry reached to put a hand on his
shoulder to comfort him but hesitated when he saw the muscles in his back flex
and twitch. “Quinn? Are you gonna—” <i>How do
I ask this politely</i>? “—are you gonna change?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s entire
body abruptly stiffened, his back arching away from Merry as if he were in
pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Panic quickly
built in Merry’s veins. “Quinn, what’s happening? What is it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYcYdf2qKU/UgbblNiBybI/AAAAAAAABrc/4zev_tMSPl4/s1600/CHAPTER+9+Bloody+back.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYcYdf2qKU/UgbblNiBybI/AAAAAAAABrc/4zev_tMSPl4/s1600/CHAPTER+9+Bloody+back.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn stifled a cry as his body tensed and arched again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Quinn! What’s
wrong!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I must—”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s answer was
cut off with another jerk of his torso. A gruesome welt streaked his back, and
blood began to run.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Hysteria filled
Merry at the speed of light.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Quinn! What’s happening?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Another welt
appeared, and another, and yet another, and Quinn’s back swiftly became a red
ruin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I must go, Merry.”
Quinn’s choked words ended in a cry of pain right before he disappeared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-seven.html">Chapter Seven</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-nine.html">Chapter Nine</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">©</span>Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-77621089714498103442013-07-09T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T15:01:14.884-07:00Chapter Seven<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L799bhr2_8c/UcJg3-foF4I/AAAAAAAABdY/s75rA7OAKBY/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+yellow+clear.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L799bhr2_8c/UcJg3-foF4I/AAAAAAAABdY/s75rA7OAKBY/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+yellow+clear.jpg" width="287" />
</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 34.6667px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: yellow;">Q</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">uinn clamped a hand over Merry’s mouth before he could utter a word, and Merry started in his seat.</span>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Not that Merry could speak because he was stunned speechless and unable to form a single coherent thought. Quinn more than liked him. <i>Him</i>. Shy, spineless, awkward, plain, nerdy, pathetic Merry the fairy. <i>Him</i>! The thought was overwhelming and Merry felt squishy inside. It was if his guts had turned to jelly. Now he understood what people meant when they said, “don’t get all mushy on me.” He was in seriously mushy condition.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Say naught aloud, Merry, lest me queen hear ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s seriousness and intense emerald gaze scared Merry, but he nodded his assent and Quinn slowly removed his hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I-I won’t say anything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded. “Nary a word on the air.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He nodded again. “This queen, she can, like, she can hear what I say?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, she can.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn was dead serious, and it made Merry more afraid. “Okay. Um, can I ask some questions?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s brow knitted then smoothed. “To answer ye first question, I be carin’ for ye since I begin me assignment. I find ye that first day under a tree late at night in the park. Ye be bleedin’ bad. I see it meself, I did.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9il-8LpHkyw/UgbW1-3HTaI/AAAAAAAABq4/ed6aaG0gqa0/s1600/CHAPTER+7+Night+in+the+Park.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9il-8LpHkyw/UgbW1-3HTaI/AAAAAAAABq4/ed6aaG0gqa0/s1600/CHAPTER+7+Night+in+the+Park.jpg" /></a>Merry tried to remember when he’d last been in the park at night. Sometimes he went there in the middle of the night if he’d had a particularly bad day with Rick; and sometimes if things got rough when his dad was drunk. The painful memory of that night drifted back to him. That had been a particularly bad day. And night. Rick slammed his head into a toilet bowl and his forehead split open. Luckily, some jock entered the bathroom in time to stop Rick from slamming his head into the toilet bowl a second time. The school principal had been furious, as if, somehow, it had been Merry’s fault that his head met a toilet bowl and split open. Then it was totally freakin’ embarrassing when the school nurse called an ambulance to take him to the hospital. All he’d needed was ten stitches and an x-ray. His dad came home drunk—again—and went ballistic about the anticipated hospital bill. Merry quickly explained that the school had taken care of it because it happened on school property, but it hadn’t done any good. His dad had hit him hard enough to break open the stitches. Blood had streamed down his face as he ran from the house. He didn’t remember much after that, except that the blood felt warm on his face in the cool autumn air as he ran.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It seemed as if it had happened light years ago when, in fact, it had happened on the first day of school only two months ago. He always shoved away memories that were painful to process. Some things could happen yesterday, but if they were too hard to think about, too painful, he locked them away in the library of his mind. He’d learned long ago to compartmentalize things, to carefully sift through the thoughts and memories, painful and not. Things that were painful went into this box or that box and were then placed on an imaginary shelf in the library. Things that he couldn’t figure out went into another box. And things that he never wanted to remember, well, he didn’t store those at all. He threw those away. If they came back and tried to haunt the library in his mind, he didn’t care. He kept them out by sheer force of will. He had to, or he wouldn’t be able to function like anything even remotely close to a human being.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, ye recall. Rick be an arse, and ye da’ not be better.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry absently rubbed at the scar on his forehead. “That was the first day of school.” Surprisingly, his voice was steady. “Why didn’t I see you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye did, ye simply not recall.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
No. If he’d seen Quinn, he would have remembered him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn smiled. “Who ye think got ye back to the hospital to mend ye stitches?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It was Merry’s turn to frown. He remembered someone walking him to the hospital, though he couldn’t remember being there or getting home after that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, me Merry, ye recall. Be time we go to class. I release time now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry hadn’t remembered that the first bell had clanged overhead only moments ago. He stood, and his side rudely reminded him that Rick had kicked him in the ribs. He breathed through the pain, picked up their lunch trays, and carried them to the trashcan. He dumped the trash, and Quinn took the trays from him and stacked them atop a nearby cart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn put an arm around him. “Come, me Merry. We get ye to class.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry couldn’t help but to look up at Quinn in wonder as they walked. He had many questions. Questions like why no one mocked them as they walked down the hall, for starters. Should he put an arm around Quinn’s waist? He wanted to, but, as usual, he didn’t have the courage. Most importantly, did this mean that Quinn was—he could hardly think the words, let alone say them aloud—his boyfriend?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Quinn?” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Are we invisible right now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Then why isn’t everyone freaking out because you have your arm around me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I do not wish it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“So, you can wish people not to be jerks?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Lest they essence be ill set from the start. Take Rick, by way of me example. His cruelty be like a fuel for ’im, and I cannot change ’is thinking.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
They entered the locker room to find Rick standing in front of Merry’s locker, insane with rage and snorting like a bull ready to stampede. His ugly grey ears stood at attention, and a long, thick tail whipped the air behind him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUWCB8Dmj00/UgbVRlZfEhI/AAAAAAAABqo/8kQ_VFq8HmA/s1600/CHAPTER+7+Evil+Donkey.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUWCB8Dmj00/UgbVRlZfEhI/AAAAAAAABqo/8kQ_VFq8HmA/s1600/CHAPTER+7+Evil+Donkey.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry stopped in his tracks as alarm bells sounded in his head. He shifted on his feet, fighting to stifle the flight response that had become a permanent fixture in him over the past three years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn one-arm hugged Merry before letting his arm slip from Merry’s shoulders. He moved down the aisle toward Rick, his tall, lithe frame graceful with each step. Merry wanted to reach for him, to stop him from going any closer, to tell him it wasn’t safe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn stood directly in front of Rick, no more than an arm’s length away. His anger hummed softly up Merry’s spine, as if they were strangely magically connected, and he knew—rather, <i>felt</i>—only extraordinary self-control kept Quinn from tearing Rick apart. The muscles in Quinn’s back flexed and twitched beneath his white T-shirt and told Merry he was fighting hard to keep from losing his temper and changing into his other form.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What in hell are you?” Rick growled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye needn’t be concerned with what I be. Ye need be concerned with what ye be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Undo it,” Rick growled through clenched teeth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his head slowly. “Nay, Rick Adams. Jammy ye be that be the only thing I done to ye. Ye deserve far, far worse, cur that ye be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Undo it! Now! Or I’ll destroy you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSTiyWUQjwY/UfTJ31cec_I/AAAAAAAABms/X-9GKR_sjUA/s1600/Hand+Single+clawed3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSTiyWUQjwY/UfTJ31cec_I/AAAAAAAABms/X-9GKR_sjUA/s1600/Hand+Single+clawed3.jpg" /></a>Quinn’s hand was suddenly up in front of Rick’s face, his fingers spread wide. It slowly morphed into the clawed hand of the beast he’d become in the cafeteria. “Reel yer neck in, Rick Adams. Ye not be makin’ anyone dead.” He flexed clawed fingers at Rick.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
For the first time in Merry’s pathetic high school history, he saw fear flicker in Rick’s eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Now go on. Hump off afore I pan ye out again. And keep ye a fair distance from Merry, lest ye be pushin’ up daisies afore ye time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn turned to head back to Merry, and Rick made the mistake of grabbing Quinn’s shoulder with one hand and pulling the other back in preparation for a punch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s clawed hand shot out and met with Rick’s chunky chest. He flew twenty feet backward down the aisle, his back hitting the wall with enough force to crack the tiles around him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn advanced on him, his anger large on the air, and Merry was now afraid Quinn would do something irreversible. He ran down the aisle after Quinn and reached him just as he grasped the front of Rick’s shirt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Quinn, wait! Don’t!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<i>Pog mo thoin</i>! Ye dare lay a hand on Merry or me again and ye get a right bollixing from me. Ye be warned for the last time, Rick Adams.” Quinn shoved a dazed Rick against the wall one last time before turning back to Merry and guiding him back down the aisle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Get ye gym clothes on, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry continued to feel Quinn’s anger hum up his spine as he opened the locker door and began to dress. “Pog-ma-ho-en? Is that, like, a spell or something?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Quinn dressed quickly. “It mean kiss me arse. The boy be nothin’ more than a bleedin’ spleen with a face like a back of a bus and he need to stop he tomfoolery afore he get hurt.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry slipped his gym shoes on. “Um, okay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Everyone around them acted as if they hadn’t seen or heard a thing as they finished dressing and headed out of the locker room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn slammed the locker door and Merry jumped. “Sorry, Merry. Didn’t mean to frighten ye. C’mon, now.” Quinn held a hand out to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry looked at the hand that had only moments ago been the clawed hand of a monster. “Y-you want me to hold your hand?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn wagged his hand. “C’mon.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It looked normal, and Merry didn’t see any fur, or scales, or claws, or boils, or warts, or anything else his imagination could think of. He took it tentatively. Quinn wrapped his soft, warm hand around Merry’s, and led him from the locker room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn had asked Merry to wait for him at his locker after school. Merry shifted nervously from foot to foot, worried Rick or one of his goons would show up and kick the crap out of him. Some guy who Merry didn’t know walked by, shoved his shoulder, and left a loud “faggot” to ring on the air in his wake. Merry turned into his locker and tried to make himself small. Which wasn’t hard. He was small. And scrawny.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I be on me way, Meriadoc,” came a whisper in Merry’s mind. He nearly jumped out of his skin. How did Quinn do stuff like that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Relief flooded him when Quinn rounded the corner and headed straight for him. With a girl in tow. The same girl who kissed his lips. <i>Great</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Merry, this be Emily. Emily, this be Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her face became a contorted mask of disgust. “Him? That’s who you have to walk home?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She said it with such overt revulsion that Merry cringed and tried to melt into the lockers behind him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Don’t have to, lass. I choose to,” Quinn said easily.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She turned a harsh glare back to Quinn. “But he’s gay!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sdKHIhxms0/UgbZlvWtolI/AAAAAAAABrI/z9leTqyBx0Y/s1600/CHAPTER+7+Angry+girl.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sdKHIhxms0/UgbZlvWtolI/AAAAAAAABrI/z9leTqyBx0Y/s1600/CHAPTER+7+Angry+girl.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, he be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Understanding filled her eyes and she gaped at him. “Ohmygosh! You’re a fairy!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, I be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I kissed you!” she huffed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, lass, ye did.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“And you didn’t say anything!” she puffed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I did not.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She slapped his cheek hard, turned on a heel, and walked away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Whoa.” Merry watched her walk away then turned back to Quinn. “Are you all right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn rubbed his cheek. “Aye. Seems she be a little short on she threshold.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Meaning?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Poor in she tolerance.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry rolled his eyes. Who wasn’t when it came to anything Merry the fairy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be ready to go?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Yeah. Have you seen Rick?” Merry asked as they headed to the front doors of the school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nay. Why ye ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry did his usual front-of-the-school-recon through the window next to the door. “I like to know where he is before I leave school.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No matter where he be.” Quinn opened the door for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Yeah, it does.” Merry stepped outside with trepidation and turned back just as Quinn put an arm around him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn pulled him in. “I keep watch for ye, me wee dote.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Dote?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shrugged. “Object of me fondness.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry couldn’t help it. He grinned from ear to ear feeling cared for and unafraid for the first time in more than three years.</div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-six.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Six</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-eight.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Chapter Eight</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">v.10.7.20</span></span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-14622701295448907152013-06-23T00:00:00.002-07:002020-10-07T14:39:33.559-07:00Chapter Six<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTZwjPQRLxI/UcJiL5V6-4I/AAAAAAAABdo/8_JAz1h2zK4/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+white+clear.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTZwjPQRLxI/UcJiL5V6-4I/AAAAAAAABdo/8_JAz1h2zK4/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+white+clear.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "AR HERMANN"; font-size: 34.6667px; text-indent: 0.5in;">Q</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">uinn rested a forearm above Merry’s head against the stall wall, and leaned to him.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye listen to ye Quinn, now, Meriadoc McDaniel. ’Tis forbidden.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry swallowed hard, and blinked once, twice, still dazed from his first kiss ever. “What d-do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be forbidden for one o’ Fairy to care for a human.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s eyes seemed to plead Merry. “So, you c-can’t like me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I cannot.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s words crushed Merry anew. “N-never?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn was grave as he shook his head slowly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“It’s a fairy rule?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn nodded. “But it does no’ mean I cannot be ye friend.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s heart ripped in two and unbidden tears welled again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Come on, little fella.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn held him against the muscled expanse of his chest. Merry melted into the warmth and comfort and fought to rein in his tears. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Don’t jump to conclusions. A fairy’s friendship be as deep as he love.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I don’t want just your friendship,” Merry mumbled against Quinn’s chest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I know, but ’tis the way it must be.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You can’t break it?” <i>Can I sound any more pathetic</i>? Merry thought to himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Break what?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The rule.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Put me in dire peril, if I do, Merry. Does no’ mean I cannot be with ye.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry leaned back and looked up at him. “With me how?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I be ye friend.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry didn’t want peril to happen to Quinn, especially the dire kind, and he couldn’t lose Quinn’s friendship. He couldn’t stand it if he were friendless again. He felt safe in Quinn’s arms, his strong, rhythmic heartbeat helping to calm Merry. He took a deep, shuddering breath and stepped one step back from Quinn. “Okay.” His lower lip quivered on the single word, and he hated himself for it. <i>I</i> <i>am pitiful</i>. He turned and tried the door of the stall again. It still wouldn’t budge. “I gotta get something to eat and lunch is almost over.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXrq8fc-kvk/UpD7GZ3wvPI/AAAAAAAAB2M/uTNaHGu_GSE/s1600/Stop_time_III_by_vimark.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXrq8fc-kvk/UpD7GZ3wvPI/AAAAAAAAB2M/uTNaHGu_GSE/s320/Stop_time_III_by_vimark.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nay, me Merry, I stopped time for ye.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You can stop time?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“With good reason.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The stall door slowly swung open on its own. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
~*~
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry glanced at Quinn as they walked to the cafeteria. The kiss had left him dazed, breathless, and all tingly inside. Then Quinn’s words had devastated him, leaving him feeling hollow and weak again.</span>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
They went through the cafeteria line and, when Merry put a bag of potato chips on his tray, Quinn looked down at him. “Ye need eat more than that.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry had lost his appetite, but he reached for a banana and a salad to make Quinn happy, and added them to the tray.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
They headed to an empty table and Rick ran by and knocked Merry’s tray from his grasp. The tray crashed to the floor and the food fell with an audible splat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Fury ignited in Quinn’s eyes and Rick was suddenly airborne, seemingly having tripped over an invisible step. He face-planted onto a table with a yelp, and the food on it scattered everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry stared in shock as Quinn picked Rick up, straightened him out, and brushed food from the front of his shirt. “Now, ye listen and listen well, Rick Adams. Ye come near Merry again, and ye pay the piper, ye will. Ye take me meanin’?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s voice was low and full of menace. Merry had never seen Quinn lose his temper, and it scared him a little. Merry bent to pick up the tray and food, and glanced at them, fearful a full-fledged fight would break out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Rick’s face turned as red as a beet as he slapped Quinn’s hands away and issued an earsplitting yell. “Get your hands off me!” He shoved Quinn in the chest. Quinn didn’t wobble. It was as if Rick had attempted to shove a boulder. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In a moment of unmitigated cruelty and gall, Rick moved around Quinn and kicked Merry in the side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry hadn’t seen it coming. Air shot from his lungs as pain bounced off the walls of his mind. The tray went sliding across the floor, stars danced in his vision, and he fell onto his side with a stifled cry. From his pain-filled low place on the floor, he watched as Quinn magically transformed into a raging beast. A clawed hand wrapped around Rick’s neck and lifted him into the air. With a guttural growl, Quinn cursed him. A donkey tail and ears sprouted on Rick right before he was airborne again. He crashed through the cafeteria doors and landed with a sickening thud in the hallway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn transformed again, returning to his natural form, and went to Merry on the floor. “Merry, little fella, ye be hurtin’ bad?” Quinn’s brogue had thickened commensurate with his concern.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
With Quinn’s help, Merry sat upright. “Uh-uh. Just knocked the breath out of me.” He coughed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye be certain?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’ve had worse.” He tried to stand and slumped to the floor again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Here, now.” Quinn lifted Merry from the floor as if he weighed nothing, carried him to an empty table, and carefully helped him into a chair. He pulled a second chair up and sat next to Merry. “Ye be all right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jc8_07R9pCg/UpD6e3f-PZI/AAAAAAAAB2E/7uyszVYxHI4/s1600/CHAPTER+6+high-school-cafeteria.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jc8_07R9pCg/UpD6e3f-PZI/AAAAAAAAB2E/7uyszVYxHI4/s320/CHAPTER+6+high-school-cafeteria.jpg" width="320" /></a>Merry nodded as he looked around the cafeteria. It was if no one had seen a thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Take a drink of ye juice.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry turned back to find their two trays on the table, the food and drink restored to original states. He looked at Quinn, who proffered an open bottle of cranberry juice. Merry accepted it and took a swig, and wiped his mouth with the back of a hand. “So, um, so, d-does that h-happen often?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The, ah, the, ah, well, you k-kind of changed there for a minute.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, be me ugly side. It come out when I lose me temperament.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
That was understandable. <i>Not</i>. “Yeah, okay, no problem. I hope I never piss you off.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn leaned and placed a soft kiss on Merry’s cheek and it tingled again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye could never be the cause of me ire, Meriadoc. Sorry ye had to see it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Um, yeah, okay. Are we, like, invisible or something? Because no one’s looking at us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shrugged. “Humans see what they wish to. Not be difficult to tease they minds.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry scratched his head. He was almost afraid to ask. “If you c-can’t be my b-boyfriend, how can you kiss me, my cheek, I mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn gave him a long, considering look. “I should not but cannot help meself.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry wasn’t surprised. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
HE. WAS. THUNDERSTRUCK. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn couldn’t hold himself back? From kissing <i>me</i>? A giggle bubbled up from somewhere deep inside Merry. <i>Man, when was the last time I giggled</i>? <i>3rd grade</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye needn’t be surprised. I be very fond of ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Very</i>. It was <i>that</i> kind of fond. Not just the regular, everyday type of fond. Not just any kind of fond, but the <i>very</i> kind. V-E-R-Y! That kind! Quinn was <i>very</i> fond of <i>him</i>! Merry had never been very anything to very anybody and it very thrilled him. Very instantly became his new favorite word. He fought to collect his very jumbled thoughts. “Ah-huh, okay, um, thanks. I’m very fond of you, too.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, ye be.” Quinn was matter of fact.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ah, okay. So, Rick has a tail and big floppy ears.” He was disbelieving of his own words.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“So long as he behave like an arse, he wear ’em.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aaaaand no one’s going to notice?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his head as he took a bite of fruit salad. “Won’t see ‘em but can feel ‘em. Teach Rick to stay away from others after a bit.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Right.” Merry watched Quinn for a few moments as he ate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn looked up from his food with a wink, all evidence of anger gone. “Ye need eat.” He peeled the banana and handed it to Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry took a bite and looked around. It was as if absolutely nothing had happened. “How do you do that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What ye mean to ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You can disappear, walk through doors, stop time, push someone without touching them, make a person grow a tail and ears, and put our food back together. And turn into a-a....” <i>Monster</i> seemed kind of harsh considering Quinn had just saved him again. “A, ah, well, into another being. How do you do that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be Fairy magick.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Magick. Okay.” His mind still ruminated on the monster thing. “Can you do anything you want to?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his head. “Nay. They be limits. Eat ye salad.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry opened the bag of chips and ate a few. “What kind of limits?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I cannot rid the realm of the perils of fairy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Fairy perils?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye. Be things to make we fade.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Fade?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Lose material form.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You’re mortal?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You just said you can lose material form. That sounds like dead to me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nay, we essence continue to exist in the dark realm. Be like a free fall in blackness to ye humans.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
That didn’t sound good. “What are the perils?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I cannot tell ye. Be forbidden.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Humans can use ’<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">em again‘</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> us.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You have a lot of rules.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn sighed. “Aye, we do.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry ate a few more chips. “Where do you live?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Fairy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Not what are you, where do you live?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Fairy,” Quinn repeated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Fairy is a place?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye. Ye humans have a likin’ for the labels, don’t ye know? They be many an ilk of we fae, but ye humans put us in one kettle and call us by the name of we home.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry knew all too well how people liked their labels. “What ilk are you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Leannán Sidhe.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What’s a lah-nan shee?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“We be of the High Court of Fairy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
That explained it all. <i>Not</i>. “Where is Fairy?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6qMo2sWwMo/UfNhuG19dXI/AAAAAAAABkk/UsqkzAlPqhc/s1600/Mound+neolithic-mounds-van-corey.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6qMo2sWwMo/UfNhuG19dXI/AAAAAAAABkk/UsqkzAlPqhc/s320/Mound+neolithic-mounds-van-corey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be the sidhe.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Shee?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, the mound.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Where’s the mound?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be about.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry rolled his eyes. <i>Here we go again</i>. “How do you get to it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What ye mean to ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“How do you get there? You know, the directions. Like, I don’t know, take the 405 south, then the 10 west until you hit Pacific Coast Highway, then north to the California incline, then what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kKZzKiAdABI/UpD85GP0BMI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/aqhZh-R8Ah4/s1600/CHAPTER+6+California-Incline-Palisades-Park.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kKZzKiAdABI/UpD85GP0BMI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/aqhZh-R8Ah4/s320/CHAPTER+6+California-Incline-Palisades-Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Quinn frowned. “I wish it, and I be there.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Just like that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye. Why ye ask?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Can I visit you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn’s face darkened. “Nay. Be perilous for ye. Once a human set foot in the land o’ Fairy, he cannot set foot on human lands again. Ye be forever lost to we fae.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s heart sank. “So, I can’t go to your house?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn shook his head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Can I have your number?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Me number of what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Your cellular phone number. You have a cell, right?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn laughed. It was a full-bellied laugh and, despite Merry’s embarrassment, it warmed him and kept him from feeling awkward. “What’s so funny?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye simply wish for me and I be here, Merry. Be that simple.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I don’t have to call or text you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn chuckled again. “Nay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
That was kind of cool. “So, um, what do you guys do for fun?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Feast on humans.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry blanched and Quinn burst into laughter again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry realized Quinn was teasing him again. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ogres think it be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgeNimZwgoU/UfNilu-Gq6I/AAAAAAAABks/EpeX3W7BBzk/s1600/CHAPTER+6+Ogre+in+forest.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgeNimZwgoU/UfNilu-Gq6I/AAAAAAAABks/EpeX3W7BBzk/s320/CHAPTER+6+Ogre+in+forest.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry’s eyes widened to the size of golf balls. “Ogres are real?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Be certain of it. They eat ye alive and use ye leg bones as they toothpicks.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry felt ill. “What do you guys really do for fun?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Feasts, parades, balls, rings, duels, spells, curses, hand-fasts, and the like.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Hand fasts?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye call it marriage.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Can you marry whomever you want?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Must stay within we Court and caste.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjHsgVJaCjU/UfNkC-FzqqI/AAAAAAAABk8/FWsTY36eOTA/s1600/CHAPTER+6+handfasting-ribbon.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjHsgVJaCjU/UfNkC-FzqqI/AAAAAAAABk8/FWsTY36eOTA/s320/CHAPTER+6+handfasting-ribbon.jpg" width="320" /></a>“So, if you’re born on the wrong side of the... the mound, it’s all over?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Ye wouldn’t want to see me hand-fasted to a troll, now, would ye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry nearly choked on a chip. He didn’t want to see Quinn married at all, let alone to a troll. “Ah, yeah, no, that wouldn’t be cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, they breath smell of rotten blood.” Quinn shivered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Eeeeeeewwwwww</i>. “Is it okay to, um, to, um.... Can you be gay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn finished the last of his food and sat back in his chair. “Setting apart we do not genderize, gender not be a class.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Genderize?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Gender, as ye humans see it, not be a class for us. It be matters of essence that concern us. What ye do with ye essence must be in the balance of nature. Thus, ye can love who ye wish if they be within ye Court and caste.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“That’s cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, but we have a rule.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No kidding,” Merry said without inflection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I not be. Ye must have ye one bantling.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now Merry did choke on his food. He coughed, cleared his throat, and took a sip of juice. “So, wait. You can marry another guy, but you still have to... to do the wild monkey dance with a girl?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn frowned. “The what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You know,” he leaned in and whispered, “sex.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn chuckled and nodded. “Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry winced, unsure which was worse, his jealousy or revulsion at the thought of sex with a girl. He’d had sex ed, and he understood the mechanics, but he soooooo didn’t like the idea of it. Hella-gross!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn laughed softly. “Ye be a jealous one, ye be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s cheeks flushed pink and he turned away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn turned his face back with gentle fingertips to Merry’s chin. “Don’t be takin’ a reddener.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn would know he was lying if he said he wasn’t jealous. They’d already covered that ground. “It’s not only that. It’s just... the whole idea.... It’s gross.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye not worry of it. Be a century or so afore it be required of me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry gaped. “How old are you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Draw nigh seventeen. Same as ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Draw nigh?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye would say draw near.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah, right. Almost seventeen what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s emerald eyes twinkled with ancient knowledge as the bell rang overhead signaling the end of lunch. “Time we go.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Wait. Is there, um, is there a way for a human to become a fairy?” When Merry saw the look of shock on Quinn’s face, he wanted to crawl into a hole.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why would ye want to be fae?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“S-so we could, I mean, y-you could like me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A sad smile replaced the surprise on Quinn’s face. “I tell ye I be fond of ye, Merry. I speak true.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, I mean so you could be m-my boyfriend?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadness flickered in Quinn’s eyes and was gone before it came to fruition. “Be that important to ye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry looked away again. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A long moment passed before Quinn spoke. “Ye needn’t be fae to be <i>mo chuisle mo chroí</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry turned back to him. “Muh koo-shleh muh cree?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Me pulse of me heart. Ye be me pulse of me heart, Merry.”</div>
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Without warning, Quinn’s adoration imbued every fiber of Merry’s being, a tidal wave of affection against a careworn shore. Merry had never been in love before but, somehow, he knew that’s what it was.</span></div>
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<a href="https://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-five.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;" target="_blank">Chapter Five</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><a href="https://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><a href="https://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/07/chapter-seven.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;" target="_blank">Chapter Seven</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 150%;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 150%;">v.10.7</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-64914141554517637512013-06-22T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T13:21:18.415-07:00Chapter Five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGkwPdlXW1Y/UcJgrjEvtaI/AAAAAAAABdA/uhg5GEI-mSc/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+green.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGkwPdlXW1Y/UcJgrjEvtaI/AAAAAAAABdA/uhg5GEI-mSc/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+green.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGkwPdlXW1Y/UcJgrjEvtaI/AAAAAAAABdA/uhg5GEI-mSc/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+green.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: lime;">M</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">erry was out of breath by the time he entered the school. He saw Rick outside, but Rick hadn’t seen him.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Thank gawd</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Determined to make it to class before Rick caught him, he made his way to the locker and unloaded his backpack at Mach 9.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“How be me Meriadoc this fine morn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry jumped, his heart filled his throat, and he turned to Quinn. “Don’t do that!” His voice shook in a harsh whisper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I can’t ask how ye be?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No! I mean, yes, but don’t sneak up on me like that!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I did not. I merely appeared.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Exactly!” Merry took deep, even breaths willing his pounding heart back into his chest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s brow knitted in concern. “Ye be truly frightened.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ah, yeah. Rick’s outside and I thought you were he, or him, or whatever. I thought he found me.” He took another deep, calming breath and closed the locker door. “I swear, Quinn, Rick’s going to kill me one day.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s frown deepened. “Well, now. We can’t have that, can we? I see ye to class, then.” He put an arm around Merry and guided him away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn had his arm around Merry. In school. In the hall. In front of <i>everybody</i>! Merry looked around nervously and waited for the taunting to begin. When no one said a thing, he relaxed a little into the comfort of Quinn’s arm. He felt safe, cared for, and wished he could stay there all day. He was also dying to ask Quinn if he were gay, but still couldn’t work up the courage to do so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye not swear such a thing, Merry, lest ye make it true.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He glanced up at Quinn as they wended their way through the throng of students. “What are you talking about?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye don’t swear Rick will kill ye lest ye wish it to be true.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Seriously?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. Truly.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Is that, like, a fairy thing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before Quinn could answer, Rick and his goons appeared in the hallway ahead of them. Merry stopped walking, fear filling every fiber of his being and causing his bones to turn jelly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Come on, now, Meriadoc. Ye be fine,” Quinn reassured.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry numbly put one rubbery foot before the other and waited for an attack that never came. Rick and his jerk friends walked by without as much as a glance in their direction. “H-he didn’t see me,” he breathed, his voice a mere quaver on the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn winked at him. He actually <i>winked</i>. What did that mean? <o:p></o:p></div>
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They reached Merry’s classroom and stopped outside the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I see ye at lunch, little fella.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Can we meet outside the cafeteria doors?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I-it’s safer. Rick might see me in the cafeteria. It’s like I’m a magnet for him.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn frowned, seriousness filling his visage. “Truly?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RfEk4Fl_dVA/UpD5ZL_eNUI/AAAAAAAAB18/nKmzscb00_Q/s1600/magnetneutrons.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RfEk4Fl_dVA/UpD5ZL_eNUI/AAAAAAAAB18/nKmzscb00_Q/s320/magnetneutrons.jpg" width="320" /></a>“Yeah, it’s as if my electrons are screwed up or something. No matter where I am, he finds me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It be a problem of polarization, then?” Quinn was grave.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry looked up at him, and realized Quinn was teasing him. “You’re making fun of me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Wouldn’t think of it,” he said with a smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry couldn’t help it. He laughed for the first time in as long as he could remember. “Stop,” he said shyly and looked away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn chuckled. “If that be ye wish, so be it. I’ll see ye outside the café door.” With a peck to Merry’s cheek, Quinn was gone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry flushed crimson, and his eyes darted the hallway as he waited for the ews, disgusted looks, slurs, and at least one shriek to fill the air. Nothing happened. No one in the hall noticed him. At all. Rick hadn’t seen him either. It was as if Quinn had made him... invisible. <i>Oh, no freakin’ way</i>! He shot through the doorway into class.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry rounded the hallway corner to the cafeteria and saw Quinn outside the doors as promised. He was talking to a girl. One who was obviously crushing on him—hard. She may as well have been drooling on him. When she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips, Merry froze. His hopes weren’t dashed. No, of course not. His hopes were callously thrown to the ground, crushed under the weight of heartrending anguish, and ground into the earth under the heel of jealousy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He made it into a bathroom stall before he fell apart, leaned his forehead against the cool metal of the door, and couldn’t stop tears from welling in his eyes. He should have known not to hope. Even if Quinn were to be gay, Quinn wouldn’t want someone as pathetic, weak, spineless, nerdy, and plain as Merry the fairy. He was a care package in the extreme with seriously heavy baggage and offered nothing of value to anyone. He was a total waste of space. Why had he been so stupid as to hope Quinn might like him?<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Merry,” Quinn’s deep voice sounded on the other side of the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Great. Just freakin’ great</i>. <i>How’d Quinn know where I am</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Open the door, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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He quickly dried his face with the hem of his shirt.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Open the door, Meriadoc.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“How’d you know where I was?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I always know where ye be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry jumped and turned to find Quinn standing behind him. “Don’t do that!” He turned away quickly. He didn’t want Quinn to know he’d been crying, utterly feeble excuse for a human specimen that he was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn brushed a wisp of brown hair from Merry’s temple with a gentle fingertip. “Tell me what upset ye so? Ye be in one piece, so I know Rick didn’t find ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nothing.” Merry reached for the toilet paper to blow his nose and it tore beneath his fingers. He grabbed at it and only succeeded in knocking the entire roll to the floor. <i>Great</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Come now. Tell ye Quinn what be the matter.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHFCRmxLmRc/UfNFencbqVI/AAAAAAAABkE/aOIe2kLFmzc/s1600/CHAPTER+5+Toilet+paper.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHFCRmxLmRc/UfNFencbqVI/AAAAAAAABkE/aOIe2kLFmzc/s320/CHAPTER+5+Toilet+paper.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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“Nothing.” He bent and picked up the roll and gathered tissue in a hand. The roll flipped from his grasp and landed in the toilet bowl, immediately swelling in the water, sure to become a monstrous marshmallow within seconds. The blob now loomed large in the water. <i>Crap</i>. Even toilet paper mocked him<o:p></o:p>
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Merry dared to blow his nose with the toilet paper in his hand and hoped it didn’t do something totally weird. Like catch fire. And fricassee his eyebrows off his face. Worse yet, fry his measly five whiskers. That would be a tragedy he couldn’t overcome. Man, he hated his life. No one had a life like his. It was as if he lived in his own personal hell. A toilet paper hell at the moment. Like, who fights with toilet paper? Was he doomed not only to be a victim of life, but of toilet paper as well? When toilet paper could best you, that said it all, didn’t it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn cupped Merry’s chin with a gentle hand and Merry closed his eyes, refusing to look at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Open ye eyes, Merry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No,” he whispered with what little strength he had left. The T.P. feud had taken the last of his reserves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, open ‘em for ye Quinn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Against Merry’s will, his eyes slowly opened to Quinn’s emerald gaze. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ahhhh,” Quinn said with a soft, deep laugh. “Ye be green with envy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry pulled away quickly, and his shoulder connected with the metal wall of the stall with a dull thud.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why ye be jealous?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’m not.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn gave him a dubious look. “Aye, ye be.” He looked deep into Merry’s eyes again then began to laugh. “That? Ye be jealous of a kiss? From a lass, no less?” Quinn laughed harder, the sound of it echoing off the tile walls of the bathroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry flushed crimson again. Quinn could read minds, too? <i>Great</i>. That meant Quinn knew he had a crush on him the size of the continental US. The air in the small stall was suddenly hot and Merry needed to leave. Now! He tried to open the door and it wouldn’t budge. He fought with it until he realized Quinn was holding it closed. “Let me out!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s laughter died away and he shook his head slowly. “Ye be jealous of a kiss from a lass,” he repeated, his voice now full of wonder.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry fought the door again. “No. Let go of the door!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, ye be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Am not. Let me out!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. Ye cannot hide these things from ye Quinn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry gave up on the door and kicked it. “Is kissing, like, some kind of fairy thing? Because you go around kissing everybody!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I do not!” Quinn feigned indignation through a smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Is it a fairy thing?” Merry demanded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Is it a human thing?” Quinn countered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah, when you like someone!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Well, then. Ye have ye answer, don’t ye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry stilled, his heart twisting in agony. “You like her?” His question was but a breath on the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry dared to look up at him now. “Then why’d you kiss her?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I did not.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I saw it!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay. You saw the lass kiss me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You let it happen!” Merry sounded petulant again. What was it about Quinn that made him so freakin’ emotional? He wanted to kick the door again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, I did. I can only interfere with fate when doin’ me job.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“So, it’s your job to let girls,”—<i>worse yet</i>—“people kiss you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Don’t be daft.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry stifled a growl. “What’s daft mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Silly. The important thing be, I did not kiss the lass. She not be Fairy Kissed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back to the stupid Fairy Kiss! This needed to stop, or he really would go nuts. He took a deep breath and lowered his now-tremulous voice. “Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why is a Fairy Kiss different from a regular kiss?” Back to Stupid-sounding Questions 101.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be special.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What’s that mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Just what I said. It be special.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry gritted his teeth. “What. Kind. Of. Special?” he asked as evenly as he could.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn cupped Merry’s chin again and Merry dared to meet his eyes this time. “Ye know in ye heart of hearts what I mean to say, Meriadoc.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry prepared to fire back then stilled at the look in Quinn’s eyes. Did Quinn like him? In <i>that</i> way? Fragile tendrils of hope brushed his heart again. Oh, man.... Could it be true?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, little fella, now ye understand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You like me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I tell ye, I did.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You said fond. Fond can mean a lot of things. What kind of fond?” Merry was bordering on belligerent again. This sort of behavior was a definite first for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn laughed softly. “Aye, ye have fight in ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Answer the question, please.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now Quinn did frown, all humor lost. Merry waited, pensive, terrified he’d pushed it too far.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then Quinn kissed Merry in earnest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry started at first then eased. He had never been kissed, much less kissed like this. No one had ever cared for him like this. A profound sense of belonging pushed away the ancient loneliness and hurt that had lain like an ugly wet blanket over his pathetic existence. Merry didn’t want the kiss to end. Ever. He wanted to freeze time, to stay in Quinn’s arms, to be safe and cared for forever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The kiss left Merry dazed and breathless, his head reeling, and Quinn’s eyes held him rapt, his gaze intense. “Ye have ye answer now, me Meriadoc?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Merry couldn’t speak. Nary a word left his lips. He could only nod.</span>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-four.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Chapter Four</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-six.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Chapter Six</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v 10.7.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-72254716566510882462013-06-21T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T12:38:34.460-07:00Chapter Four<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "AR HERMANN"; font-size: 34.6667px; text-indent: 0.5in;">I</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ncensed, Merry opened the back door with a flourish. “Where were you today?” he demanded without preamble.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn smiled a soft, knowing smile. “Knew ye had fight in ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry didn’t know what Quinn was talking about and didn’t care. “Where were you?” he demanded again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s brows arched at Merry’s tone as he stepped into the kitchen. “Ye needn’t open the door. I can pass through it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry stared at him, his mouth agape, and then rallied. “Rick almost drowned me in the drinking fountain! Then he threw me in the showers with my clothes on! I had to go to class soaking wet and run all the way home freezing my butt off!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn frowned. “That be so?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gaining momentum, Merry’s words came fast and furious. “And I fell asleep in class! And you made me forget my lunch money!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Did I, now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s calm only served to fuel Merry’s ire. “And there’s something wrong with my cheek where y-you... k-kissed it!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Stands to reason.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“And I’m beginning to think I’m crazy!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Nay, Meriadoc, ye not be touched in the head. This I would know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Just like you know I’m not a f-fairy!” He sounded like a petulant child. A crazy one. It wasn’t Quinn’s fault that Rick bullied him. He shut his mouth, his eyes drifting away to....<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ao8jsa3JwcA/U8ODYlni4JI/AAAAAAAACWE/gQln_hO_ni8/s1600/CHAPTER+4+Male+Fairy+in+Leaves+PEENECTOMY.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ao8jsa3JwcA/U8ODYlni4JI/AAAAAAAACWE/gQln_hO_ni8/s1600/CHAPTER+4+Male+Fairy+in+Leaves+PEENECTOMY.jpg" /></a>His heated anger plummeted, and another kind of heat zinged up his spine slamming all thoughts of Rick into his subconscious. Quinn was... almost... naked. But for the stupid looking little shorts made from leaves.... Well, they weren’t really shorts because they didn’t <i>COVER</i>. <i>HIS</i>. <i>HIPS</i>! But for the leaves in all the right places, Quinn would be nude! Right in front of him! Only inches away! He’d spied on Quinn in the locker room, but hadn’t seen him, well, you know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He took in Quinn’s tall, sinewy figure, and the muscles that rippled beneath the surface of his creamy, white skin as he moved. He was built like a sleek racehorse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was breathless. <i>OMG. I am so gay</i>. His body began to do awkward things. Embarrassing things. <i>Great</i>. He had a miserable time dealing with spontaneous… <i>yeah, those</i>. With the image of Quinn’s body now seared on his brain, he was all but ruined. He tore his eyes away, jerked a metal chair from beneath the card table that was their kitchen table and sat, hoping to hide the traitorous bulge in his jeans. Mentally shaking his head to clear it of those kinds of thoughts, he cleared his throat and rallied again. “Where were you today?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn was immediately solemn. “Fairy business.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Self-absorbed, Merry hadn’t noticed until then that Quinn’s emerald eyes had lost some of their luster. He looked sad. “What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn lifted a lean hip and sat on the edge of the card table.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry looked away quickly as some far-off part of his brain wondered why the rickety thing didn’t give way beneath Quinn’s weight.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Had me a donnybrook.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry scratched his forehead with a thumbnail, mustered his courage to face Quinn again, determined to keep his eyes riveted to Quinn’s face. “A what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye’d call it a fight.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was immediately alarmed. “Why? With whom?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn was grave. “‘Tis forbidden to tell a human I be of the Land o’ Fairy. I should no’ have told ye. Cost me fairly, it did.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry groaned inwardly. He didn’t want to be the cause of any trouble for Quinn. Ever. Quinn was the only friend he had, and he couldn’t lose him. Not to mention, he had a humongous crush on him. Despite his anxiety, he had to ask. He had to. “Are you really a fairy? Because, I mean, you have to know how totally insane that sounds.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn disappeared.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Okay! All right! I believe you! Please come back!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn reappeared.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry couldn’t help it. He needed empirical evidence. His hand shot out and he poked Quinn’s thigh with a fingertip. <i>Yep</i>. Quinn was solid. His mind wasn’t playing tricks on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Notwithstanding his somber mood, Quinn chuckled. “Why’d ye do that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. “I just... only wanted to make sure you were real.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn chuckled again. “Ye be certain now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry nodded reluctantly. “So, who’d you have this donny-whatever with?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Me Queen Mother.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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His queen mother? Merry was incredulous. Knowing his nervous system had ratcheted a thousand notches since Quinn appeared, he worked to ask his question as dispassionately as he could. “Are you, like, a prince or something?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“After a fashion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry tried to figure out what Quinn meant as he fought to keep his eyes riveted to Quinn’s face. “After a fashion?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“In a manner of speakin’.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Oh</i>. “I won’t tell anyone you’re a fairy.” <i>As if anyone would believe me</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn’s face darkened. “Ye give me ye word, Merry?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s anger tried to resurface. “Yes and, unlike you, I keep my word.” He regretted the words the moment they left his lips.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadness filled Quinn’s eyes. “Couldn’t be helped, Merry. I be truly sorry I not be there for ye today. Ye forgive me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry scrubbed his face with his hands and blew a long breath. What could he say? It wasn’t Quinn’s job to save him from Rick all the time. Or his fault that Rick hated him so much. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye must say it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Say what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“That I be forgiven. I need ye to say it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was Merry’s turn to frown as his thoughts jumbled like wild acrobats in his mind. Quinn needed him to say it? He <i>needed</i> him. That was kinda cool, but maybe in an all-kinds-of-wrong way. “Yeah, I forgive you, and I’m sorry you got in trouble because of me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, Quinn smiled, sudden and bright, and he ruffled Merry’s hair with a gentle hand. “I feel it in ye, Meriadoc. Ye speak true.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speak true? Merry guessed he meant honest. Talking to Quinn, especially when Merry was upset, was hard. Really hard. “Why are you in high school? Or do fairies have to suffer the purgatory of high school just like us mere mortals?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I be a Watcher. Be me job to look after humans. Though, I be assigned to bantlings.” Quinn’s face darkened again. “But the Queen Mother demote me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Bantlings?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Wee ones.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He had to be talking about babies. Merry gritted his teeth and stifled irritation at having to ask Quinn what he meant after every other sentence. “Babies?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4VfI2Ra5_I/UpD05Qtq5HI/AAAAAAAAB1k/sH34JYQzi0I/s1600/fairybaby.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4VfI2Ra5_I/UpD05Qtq5HI/AAAAAAAAB1k/sH34JYQzi0I/s200/fairybaby.jpg" width="150" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye, babes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You were demoted from babies to teens?” Could his question sound any more stupid? He waited, positive Quinn would ridicule him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry breathed an internal sigh of relief when Quinn didn’t laugh at him. “W-why’d you get demoted?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“‘Tis unimportant. What say we work on keepin’ ye safe tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A glimmer of hope blossomed in Merry. “You’re going to be at school tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Aye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Yes</i>! Relief flooded Merry. WATCH. OUT. RICK! Merry’s cheek tingled and he rubbed it again, seriously annoyed. “What’s wrong with my cheek?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Nothin’. Ye be Fairy Kissed is all.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“What’s that mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://blingee.com/blingee/view/69532039-gold-kiss" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank" title="gold kiss"><img alt="gold kiss" border="0" height="188" src="http://image.blingee.com/images15/content/output/000/000/000/424/253197741_237337.gif" title="gold kiss" width="252" /></a>“What I said. A fairy kissed ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I know that! But what does it mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It mean a fae from the Land o’ Fairy kissed ye cheek.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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What the heck is a fae? Tears of frustration pricked Merry’s eyes. “What’s a fae?” He was surprised at the calm in his voice given his incredible frustration.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“A fairy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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O.M.G! Sometimes talking to Quinn was like trying to chew the bumper off a Hummer with bare teeth. Not that Merry would know anything about that, but Rick had slammed his face into a car bumper once. Mustering his nearly nonexistent courage, he tried a different tack. “W-why’d you kiss me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I wished to.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah, but why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I be fond of ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another tendril of hope tried to wend its way into Merry’s heart. Fond? Did that mean Quinn liked him? Liked him in <i>that</i> way? “Fond?” he dared to ask.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, I be fond of ye. I must leave ye now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s shoulders slumped. He couldn’t help it. This was the most in-depth conversation they’d had, not to mention the longest, and they were finally getting to important stuff, the things that mattered to Merry. And he had a thousand more questions. Vital questions. “Do you have to leave?” He turned away in humiliation. He sounded weak, so pitiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye. Ye be a good lad, and I see ye on the morrow.” Quinn hopped off the table and stood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Are you going to be at school for sure?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Aye, little fella. I give ye me word.” With another quick kiss to Merry’s cheek, Quinn was gone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry shot from the chair and made it to the window in time to see Quinn fade into the mist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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The cursor blinked out at Merry from the empty white page on the computer screen. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on his homework because his conversation with Quinn played over and again in his mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn had kissed him. Again. Was Quinn gay? Or was kissing a fairy thing? Maybe they went around kissing everybody, or at least those whom they were fond of. Fond<i>. What exactly did that mean</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
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He closed the vacant document, opened the Google browser, and typed ‘‘define fond.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
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Results filled the page instantly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fond \fänd\ <i>adj</i>.</span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 1in;">
1. Affection;<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. French archival term used to describe a collection of papers originating from the same source;<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Background design in lace; <o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Residue in a pan after cooking meat usually used to make gravy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry clicked on number one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 1in;">
a) To care for sincerely. As a mother, she was fond of her children.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Bleh</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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b) A predisposition to like something. He had a fondness for whiskey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>More bleh</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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c) Absurd or silly because unlikely. Fond hopes of becoming President. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>All wrong</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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d) A strong preference or liking for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Strong liking</i>. Merry could certainly get behind that. On that note, Merry went to bed and dreamed of Quinn.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-three.html" target="_blank">Chapter Three</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-five.html" target="_blank">Chapter Five</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v 10.7.20</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-87405008958690062672013-06-14T00:00:00.001-07:002020-10-07T12:19:41.125-07:00Chapter Three<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArCmlFV44T0/UbQKPQ2_aTI/AAAAAAAABa8/L3d3uDjSWM8/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+red+no+sfx.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArCmlFV44T0/UbQKPQ2_aTI/AAAAAAAABa8/L3d3uDjSWM8/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+red+no+sfx.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArCmlFV44T0/UbQKPQ2_aTI/AAAAAAAABa8/L3d3uDjSWM8/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+red+no+sfx.jpg" width="287" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 22pt;"><span style="color: red;">M</span></span>erry looked around in the dark of his room. “Quinn?” Nothing. “I am not nuts,” he whispered with conviction as he lay down and pulled the covers over his head again.</div>
</div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry woke the next morning to an overcast day. He stretched and stilled when pain from yesterday’s beating shot through him. With a small grunt, he slowly pushed the covers back and climbed out of bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry ate a bowl of Froot Loops<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: super;">®</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, the irony not lost on him. Sometimes he wanted to tell his dad he was gay just to see the unavoidable shock on his face. A small snort escaped him at the thought. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>DAD. </i></span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">WOULD</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">FREAK</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qU-LxS9i9uM/UfMoqiHS5AI/AAAAAAAABjY/2K1PvjUMlP0/s1600/Window+panes+fog.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qU-LxS9i9uM/UfMoqiHS5AI/AAAAAAAABjY/2K1PvjUMlP0/s1600/Window+panes+fog.jpg" /></a>Merry’s cheek tingled and he rubbed it with purpose. It tingled more, feeling like small pinpricks on his skin. Tenuous as it was, it was the only evidence of Quinn’s kiss and, in a way, it kept him from believing he’d lost his mind completely. If his mom were still around, he could ask what she thought about it. He’d always been able to talk to her about anything. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He looked out the kitchen window at the backyard, now shrouded in fog. “Did you leave because I told you I was gay?” he whispered. When the view from the window offered no answer, he headed to his room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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The ancient, familiar fear built as Merry dressed for school and thought of Rick. Rick would probably try to kill him after what happened yesterday. Merry studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror as he brushed his teeth. Large brown eyes looked back at him from beneath mousy brown curls. He’d never seen a more boring face in his life. A light shade of plumb encircled an eye and he looked tired. He contemplated shaving the whole five whiskers he sported on his chin. Every guy he knew shaved, even the freshmen, but not him. Puberty was taking its agonizingly sweet time with him. And he hadn’t grown an inch since ninth grade. Typical. <i>What is short on top of everything else</i>? He rinsed his mouth and ran a disposable razor over his chin not bothering to lather his skin with soap.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry made it to school safely and passed through the doors of what he’d come to regard as his own private purgatory. He dared to hope Rick would be absent from class today as he rounded the hallway corner, and stopped in his tracks. His hopes dashed, he watched as Rick leaned against his locker and laughed with his friends. <i>Crap</i>. There was no way he would go to his locker now. He’d go to class with a full backpack. He turned on a heel to make a hasty retreat, but not fast enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Hey, Merry fairy!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Double crap</i>! Merry bolted and reached the door of his AP English lit class as Rick grabbed the back of his shirt. Panic stung his spine and terror filled his veins turning his bones to liquid. This was it. He was going to die.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Quinn, please be close by</i>. His prayer went unanswered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rick dragged him to the drinking fountain and held his face to the stainless-steel bowl while someone turned the water on. Merry choked and gagged as he fought Rick’s grasp and tried not to drown. Students walked past without as much as a glance, and teachers were never around when Rick terrorized him. No one ever came to Merry’s rescue but Quinn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s hair and the front of his clothes were soaked with water by the time Rick released him. He gasped and wheezed, and desperately gulped air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rick smacked the back of his head hard. “There ya go, fairy. All nice and clean.” Rick walked away laughing loud enough to startle everyone in the hallway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Traitorous tears pricked Merry’s eyes, but he refused to cry as he headed to class.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quinn held Merry’s face gently as he kissed his bruised eye and each tear away. “All be right now, little fella.” Merry melted into Quinn’s comforting touch and wished he could stay there forever. He was safe. Quinn leaned in and—<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Mr. McDaniel!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s head shot up from the desk. He’d fallen asleep in Calculus. He wasn’t sure if he was more alarmed by Mr. Williams’ shout or disappointed to find Quinn’s comfort had been a dream.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Are you back with us?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry wiped his mouth, hoping he hadn’t drooled in his sleep. “Sorry, sir—”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What is the Pythagorean Theorem?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Mr. Williams was being a jerk. It was a question for an eighth grader. “The theorem to determine the area of a right-angled triangle, and the equation is A squared plus B squared equals C squared.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Williams moved on to the next vict—er, student.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry stowed books in his locker and thought about ditching fourth period class. His clothing remained damp, and he felt exhausted. This morning’s Rick episode had sapped his energy and left him depressed. He hadn’t seen Quinn all day and that made him feel more depressed. He needed to see him, if for no reason other than to reassure himself that Quinn was real. His one class with Quinn was gym, but he usually saw him in the hallways before then—always surrounded by a bunch of giggling girls. A cerebral light bulb suddenly shed a painful light in his mind. Girls. <i>Girls</i>. The final bell rang overhead telling him he was late for class and he sped off as he shoved the horrible thought from his mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry dug for change in his pockets and managed to pull together two dollars and twenty-five cents. He had enough money for a slice of pizza and an apple. He’d forego the juice and drink water and added an empty cup to his lunch tray. His dad hadn’t left lunch money for him this morning, which happened more often than not lately. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Two dollars thirty-five cents,” the cashier announced.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It should be two-twenty-five.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ten cents for the cup.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry handed the cup over with his coin and headed to an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria. He tried to analyze the events of the past twenty-four hours objectively as he sat and ate alone. Quinn saved him from Rick. Quinn walked him home. Quinn kissed his cheek. <i>Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up</i>. Quinn said he knew Merry wasn’t a fairy because he—Quinn—was one, then he kissed Merry’s cheek and... and... vanished. The ideas were insanely illogical and Merry was thankful for the privacy afforded by thought. If he’d dared to voice them, people would think him deranged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there had been Quinn’s promise in the pitch of his bedroom. A voice from somewhere in the dark. Where was Quinn when Rick nearly drowned him in the water fountain this morning? Merry’s anger rose, and then quelled as quickly as it had risen leaving him feeling deflated and lonely again. In all fairness to Quinn, he could have dreamed Quinn’s promise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry tried again with a simple review of the facts: Quinn saved him from Rick, walked him home, said Merry wasn’t a fairy but that he was—<i>totally weird</i>—and kissed his cheek—<i>kind of, well, really cool weird</i>—then vanished—<i>seriously, insanely weird</i>. And his cheek tingled—<i>weirdest of all</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the objective analysis, Merry concluded that the probability that he’d lost his mind was high. Could one lose a mind from a beating? From living in terror five days a week? From shyness? From aloneness and loneliness? From being gay? Merry didn’t know, but the weirdnesses were piling up and that fact surely didn’t bode well for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAh9B0cvp-g/UbQKuEoRDvI/AAAAAAAABbE/N_k845PcMUA/s1600/Highschool+gym+showers.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAh9B0cvp-g/UbQKuEoRDvI/AAAAAAAABbE/N_k845PcMUA/s1600/Highschool+gym+showers.jpg" /></a>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
When Merry changed back into his clothes after gym, Rick threw him into the showers fully dressed. His clothes, shoes, and jacket were soaked with water. Even his backpack was wet. It would be a cold walk home and a fitting end to another day in the loser life of Merry the fairy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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His teeth chattered all the way home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Merry took a hot shower in a futile effort to get warm, dried off, and went to his room. He tugged a pair of jeans on, buttoned them with shaking fingers, and thought for the millionth time that it hurt like the dickens when Rick beat him up. He whacked his face with an awkward hand as he threaded aching arms into a sweatshirt and pulled it over his head. His limbs were user-unfriendly in the extreme, his lack of coordination a permanent affliction. Moments like this made it hard to stifle the self-loathing that whispered a constant, dull roar in his mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Making his way to the end of his bed, he sat gingerly, and lifted his backpack onto the milkcrate desk. When he unzipped the bag, his heart sank. Everything in it was wet. His World History paper, his report for Physics, and the draft of his English essay were smeared blue with ink. Fury zinged his spine and burst like bright fireworks in his mind, and he cursed Rick at the top of his lungs. He shot to his feet and dumped the contents of the bag on the floor, viciously shaking it until the last pen fell.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I hate you!” he shouted at the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry had endured Rick’s reign of terror for three, nearly four, years and it had to stop. It had to, or he’d never graduate high school in one piece. Feeling defeated, bereft, and ignoring the tears that fell, he headed to the kitchen to forage for food. He was starving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He opened a can of ravioli and ate it cold out of the can as he stared out the kitchen window. The grey miasma that filled their backyard mirrored the color of his day, his mood, his whole freakin’ life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Swallowing the last bite, he rinsed the can, peeled the label off, and threw it in the recycle bin. Turning back to the window, he glimpsed a five-dollar bill on the kitchen counter. <i>Crap</i>. He’d been preoccupied with thoughts of Quinn and hadn’t seen it this morning. Wearily, he shoved it into his jeans pocket.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csEqjnZxF7w/UbQLDqtKc3I/AAAAAAAABbQ/W6pHIbmKfaA/s1600/clouds+vortex.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csEqjnZxF7w/UbQLDqtKc3I/AAAAAAAABbQ/W6pHIbmKfaA/s320/clouds+vortex.jpg" width="320" /></a>Movement beyond the window caught his eye as he washed the spoon. The dense fog swirled and heaved, then slowly coalesced to form a vortex. He’d never seen fog do that before. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">As miniature lightning in every color of the rainbow began to permeate the gray, and fear slowly mounted in Merry’s veins, Quinn emerged from the mist.</span><br />
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-two.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;" target="_blank">Chapter Two</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"> </span><a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-four.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;" target="_blank">Chapter Four</a>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v 10.7.20</span></div>
C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-8581594402715490472013-06-05T00:00:00.002-07:002020-10-07T12:13:33.890-07:00Chapter Two<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> <em>For </em><em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5180617-deeze" target="_blank">Deeze</a>,</em><em> who simply couldn’t wait any longer.</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s1600/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcGaoQyCC0c/Ua-LBt_1ltI/AAAAAAAABX0/kv1HSYdVnHA/s320/Fairy+by+Cody+Kennedy+cover+purple.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt;">M</span>erry was in the middle of a snarky “yeah, right” when Quinn kissed his cheek and vanished. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Dumbfounded, Merry blinked, rubbed his eyes, and looked around. He reached out and felt the air where Quinn had been. Nothing. He looked around again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quinn?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Silence reigned supreme save for the angry sound of someone’s lawnmower in the distance. Merry dared to lean back, his side and back in excruciating pain, and look down the expanse of the wrap-around porch. Nothing. He looked down the other side of the porch. No Quinn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quinn, come on. Where’d you go?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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The lawnmower fell silent and the sound of a weedwacker started up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Quinn?” Silence, except for the distant whir of the weedwacker. “Quinn!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s shout startled the old woman who lived across the street and she looked up from her gardening, a sour look painting her face as she glared at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry looked away from her gaze quickly. Quinn had vanished. As in disappeared, vamoose, gone. Like, totally, <i>not here</i>! Had Merry imagined that Quinn saved him? Walked him home, and... and...? He rubbed his cheek where Quinn had... had... kissed him! <i>Holy cow</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry was many things. Shy, spineless, a geek of humongous proportions, but he was not crazy. Maybe Rick had knocked him unconscious and his brain had rattled so hard against his skull he was delusional. This had to be some imagination of his figment caused by trauma. <i>Yeah</i>. Trauma sounded good. His figment was damaged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His cheek began to tingle. He rubbed it and the tingle deepened. He rubbed his cheek harder as if to wipe the tingle away and then looked at his fingertips. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, he was not nuts. He gripped his backpack and made the mistake of jumping to his feet. He reached for the porch railing as dizziness and nausea assailed him. He hated Rick with all his might.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Had Quinn really kissed him? <i>Nope</i>. <i>Not possible</i>. There was no way that Quinn had kissed him. <i>No freakin’ way</i>. The only explanation was trauma. Plain and simple. Rick knocked him out and this was plain old trauma. He could be delusional from trauma. Right? <i>Right</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry fished the house key from his jeans pocket and stared at it in the palm of his hand. First fingering the solid metal, and then squeezing the key tightly, he told himself again that he was not crazy. He fed the key into the lock, turned the door handle, and pushed the front door open. It creaked softly on its hinges as he closed it behind him and leaned back against it. “I am not nuts,” he said softly.</div>
<div bp.blogspot.com="" cj43rxaf3i="" class="MsoNormal" d0="" erry="" h8xvd-cei="" http:="" imageanchor="1" pst_kpyi04="" s1600="" s="" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" ungalow.jpg="">
<img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDh8xVD-cEI/UcJ43RxAf3I/AAAAAAAABd0/WpST_kpYI04/s320/Merry's+Bungalow.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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Merry’s California bungalow was small, dark, and dingy, and hadn’t been cleaned since his mom left three years ago. It was only him and his dad now. Well, really, it was only him. His dad worked long hours at the concrete plant, and then went out drinking with the guys almost every night. He was rarely home before midnight and, equally rarely, sober.<o:p></o:p>
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Afternoon sunlight filtered through the gap between the window curtains and illuminated the dust motes floating on the air—and only served to remind Merry of his absolute isolation. At nearly seventeen years of age, his life had become one of perfect loneliness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry slid down the door and came to rest on his sore buttocks. Rick had literally kicked his butt. His forehead came to rest on his knees. His cheek tingled again, and he rubbed it absently as the first tear fell. He’d come to hate his life so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After an indiscernible time, Merry struggled to his feet, the soreness from the beating taking hold, and trudged down the short hallway to his ten-by-ten-foot bedroom. Small as it was, it was his only haven. He kept it spotless and the ancient wood floor polished to a high gloss. Everything in the room was his. Everything in it was safe. Including him. He dropped the backpack on his twin-sized bed, reached for the neatly folded pajamas hidden under his pillow, and slowly made his way down the short six foot hallway to the small bathroom. He would take a shower, down some Tylenol, nuke some frozen food of zero nutritional value for dinner, and go to bed. Screw that it was only four o’clock in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry set the pajamas on the lid of the commode, undressed, and surveyed the damage. The bruises were already turning an ugly shade of purple. Great. More fodder for Rick to hassle him about in gym. He pressed on his lower back with a flat hand and it hurt. Bad. He turned his back to the mirror and looked over his shoulder, but the small mirror above the sink was too high on the wall to show him anything. He turned back to the mirror and peered closely at his cheek. Though it continued to tingle, there was no evidence of Quinn’s kiss. Yep, trauma. It had to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry took a hot shower, the small water heater affording him but ten minutes of warmth. He dressed slowly, feeling better now that he was clean, and the Tylenol he’d taken had given him a modicum of relief. He threw his dirty, grass-stained clothes in the hamper, and headed to the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry searched the refrigerator for something that looked vaguely edible. At least, something that didn’t have hair growing from it. He tossed an old sandwich and wasn’t surprised when it missed the trashcan. He never did anything right. He closed the refrigerator door and opened the freezer door. Half a pound of freezer-burned hamburger, one deflated hotdog bun, and Pizza Bites<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: super;">®</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. He reached for the Pizza Bites and shook the box. There were enough left in the box to satisfy his hunger. He tossed them onto a plate, shoved the plate into the microwave oven, and hit the two-minute cook button.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGqulVYyGXY/UfMme-3awBI/AAAAAAAABjM/JB4bvFoAc9c-AfgsKr6cn6iDnhWVYft5gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Backyard%2BOvergrown1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGqulVYyGXY/UfMme-3awBI/AAAAAAAABjM/JB4bvFoAc9c-AfgsKr6cn6iDnhWVYft5gCPcBGAYYCw/s400/Backyard%2BOvergrown1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Merry stared out the kitchen window above the sink as the sound of the microwave droned on. Their small backyard looked wild in the twilight, overgrown to the point of being a veritable jungle. He’d watched his mother through this window more times than he could count, and could almost see her lithe, ghostly figure tending the garden. She had loved her bright pansies, crimson bougainvillea, and tender ferns.
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<i>Miss you, Mom</i>, he thought wistfully. Her ghost looked back at him, winked, and mouthed “I love you.” The dreamlike moment only affirmed his thoughts about trauma.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The microwave beeped. Merry removed the plate and carried it to his room. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He glanced through his homework as he ate, found nothing he wanted to do, and was ahead in all his classes anyway. He swallowed the last bland Pizza Bite and did something he rarely did. He didn’t bother to return the plate to the kitchen. He set it on his desk—rather, the four milk crates that made up his desk. He raised his arms above his head and tried to stretch but gave up when pain beset him again. With a sigh, he stood, turned the overhead light off, and climbed into bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the night wore on, Merry became increasingly convinced he had imagined Quinn saving him from Rick, walking him home, and kissing him. His cheek tingled again, and he rubbed it, certain his imagination acting up again. He yawned, rolled onto his side, and pulled the covers over his head. He hated his life. He hated his loneliness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Ye no longer be alone, little fella. I give ye me word.”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry shot up in bed. “Quinn?”
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-one.html" target="_blank">Chapter One</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-three.html" target="_blank">Chapter Three</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v 10.7.20</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span>C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949928714623956305.post-20879054491202159232013-06-04T00:00:00.002-07:002020-10-07T12:12:42.837-07:00Chapter One<a href="http://blingee.com/blingee/view/133087433-Fairy-by-Cody-Kennedy-purple" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Fairy by Cody Kennedy purple"><img alt="Fairy by Cody Kennedy purple" border="0" height="320" src="http://image.blingee.com/images19/content/output/000/000/000/7ee/830514898_1298790.gif" title="Fairy by Cody Kennedy purple" width="287" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "ar hermann"; font-size: 26pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“H</span></span>ey, Merry fairy! Still got your cherry?” Rick yelled loud enough for everyone in the locker room to hear as he snapped a wet towel at Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry dodged it by a hair’s breadth and quickly put his boxers on. He wanted to hurt his parents. Why they named him after a hobbit was beyond him. “Shut up.” His words were a whisper on the air. If he spoke them any louder, Rick would smack his head, shove him into a locker, or snap a towel at him again. Or all the above.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rick Adams was big, mean, and ugly, and he did anything he could to torture Merry. Rick made school nothing short of a war zone for Merry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Oh, the fairy speaks! What’d you say, fairy?” Rick slapped the back of Merry’s head and it bumped the edge of the locker door as he reached for his shirt. He said a muffled “nothing” as he pulled it on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yeah, you did.” Rick grabbed Merry’s head with meaty hands and shoved it into the locker. “Mumble up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry stilled. The one time he’d tried to fight Rick, he’d ended up with his head in a toilet and stitches in his forehead. He didn’t want stitches in his head from being bashed against a locker too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Leave ‘im alone, Rick,” Quinn said calmly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sound of the familiar Irish brogue gave Merry hope that he wouldn’t endure another of Rick’s beatings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rick cackled and shoved Merry’s head further into the locker before releasing him. Merry quickly pulled his jeans on, his socks, and slipped his tennis shoes on. He never untied them—so he didn’t have to spend time tying them again. Everything, anything, to make his escape from the locker room faster was essential. He closed the locker door and Rick’s fat fist slammed against it causing him to jump with fright.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Stop acting the maggot, Rick.” Though still calm, irritation was plain in Quinn’s voice now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Just messin’ with Merry the fairy,” Rick said through a laugh as he cuffed Quinn’s shoulder, and then left the locker room with a rousing “Woot! Let’s go!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn was the new senior at school. He was tall, and kind of skinny, and had long, wavy auburn hair and emerald-green eyes. Merry thought Quinn’s accent was the coolest thing he’d ever heard, but sometimes it was hard to understand him. Rather, understand what he meant. “Acting the maggot” Merry understood to mean being a jerk. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Lately, Quinn always seemed to be there for Merry when people hassled him, and he dared to turn to Quinn and thank him quietly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No worries, little fella. Ye look shook. Ye grand?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry didn’t think Quinn literally meant grand. “I’m okay. Thanks.” He turned and quickly walked away, afraid his crush on Quinn would somehow take material form and insinuate itself between them only to humiliate him even more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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~*~<o:p></o:p></div>
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The final bell rang signaling the end of seventh period class. Now came the most dangerous part of Merry’s day: getting to his locker, and then making it home before Rick caught up with him and kicked the crap out of him. Again. Or took his backpack and threw it in the pond. One time, Rick spray-painted him with neon orange-colored paint that didn’t come off with water. Merry smelled like turpentine for a week after that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry raced to his locker, packed his backpack at the speed of light, slammed the door, and ran.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Merry reached the front double-doors of the school, he looked back over a shoulder. Rick was nowhere in sight. Now, to reconnoiter the front of the school. Merry peered left out the window, then right, and then out at the front lawn and parking lot. No Rick. He was good to go. He bolted out the doors and down the front walk to the sidewalk, and accidentally bumped a girl’s backpack with his own. “Sorry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Eww, gawd, fairy germs! Now I have to sterilize my backpack!” she whined.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry didn’t know her, but everyone in school knew he was gay. He’d stopped listening to the slurs long ago. Except for fairy because it rhymed with his name. Everyone called him Merry the fairy. He cursed his parents again and silently vowed to change his name the minute he turned eighteen. He refused to live his adult life with a name like Merry. <i>No freakin’ way</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He made it three blocks from school, and then it was over. Rick and two of his goons saw him and he knew better than to run. He wasn’t fast enough. He stood there, dumb as a rock, and waited for the beating. Or the whatever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Hey, Merry fairy!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The taunting and abuse began. The first kick was to Merry’s kidneys and he went down hard. Then they all kicked him. He curled into a ball, covered his face with his hands, and fought not to cry out with each kick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Curse ye, Rick Adams! He’s no fairy!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Merry heard Quinn’s voice, he dared to peek through the slits between his fingers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn punched Rick in the nose. “Merry not be fairy!” Within seconds, Quinn had laid out Rick and his goons. “I hear fairy out of any of ye gobs again, I’ll schkelp ye!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn helped Merry to his feet and handed over his backpack. Merry slung it over a shoulder with a wince and stifled a pained grunt. Quinn put an arm around Merry’s shoulders. “Ye be grand, little fella?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Humiliated, in pain, and shocked that Quinn would put an arm around him, all that Merry could manage was a nod. He tried to withdraw gently, and Quinn’s arm only tightened around him. “Come on, now. I’ll see ye home.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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They made it to Merry’s small house and he hurt so much he dropped his backpack on the front porch and sat on the top step. “Thanks, Quinn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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To his surprise, Quinn sat next to him. “No worries, Meriadoc.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry’s eyes widened in surprise. “You know my name?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“‘Course I do, and a fine name it be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry blushed. He couldn’t help it. “I hate it.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Quinn laughed, and it was warm and round on Merry’s senses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Don’t be takin’ a reddener, there, Merry. I like ye name. Don’t much like it when they call ye fairy, though. They be gobdaws for sayin’ such a thing. It could earn ‘em a cursin’.” Quinn delivered his words with certainty, and Merry wished he had but a fraction of Quinn’s self-confidence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry shrugged and winced again when pain shot through his shoulder. “I’m used to it. They’ve been calling me that since everyone found out I’m gay.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Gay ye may be, Merry, but ye not be fairy.” Quinn was adamant. “I would know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Merry smiled for the first time in as long as he could remember and almost laughed. Almost. “Ah, yeah, okay, I’ll bite. How would you know if I was a fairy?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Because I be one!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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With a quick kiss to Merry’s cheek, Quinn vanished into thin air.</div>
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Chapter One originally published in <b><i>Inklings Newsletter</i></b> (May 2013)
by <a href="http://harmonyinkpress.com/" target="_blank">Harmony Ink Press</a><br />
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<a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">Table of Contents</a> <a href="http://fairybycodykennedy-white.blogspot.com/2013/06/chapter-two.html" target="_blank">Chapter Two</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Cody Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v 10.7.20</span></div>
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C. Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396380168103494380noreply@blogger.com0