Banished To Earth Book Two, Souls Adrift (27)

Silhouette busted out laughing, “I do what I please. You gotta know that by now.”

  “And you gotta know. That I was joking.”

  “You were? Stick to brooding Davin. That’s what you do. That’s what you’re good at.”

  “You are laughing?” Pry asked as she approached them. She had returned to the oak; it’s ambiance and occupants always lightened her mood.

  “More like whistling by the graveyard.” Davin said as she squatted down beside him.

    “The dead do not hear.” Her tone was solemn.

   “Well, ‘round here they do.” Davin replied. “Looks like it’s going to be the three of us.”

   “Three?”

  “Yeah Pry.” Silhouette leaned toward her. “Oh yeah, we’re in the presence of royalty now.”

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   “Sava?”

   Beth sighed and shook her head. “Sava just made me, oh gosh, can’t believe I’m saying this, his fairy Queen.”

    Pry cut her eyes at Beth. “You mean…?”

   “Oh. No! Gross.” Beth’s face was crayon red, “Queen of the fairies. Not his Queen. Theirs’.”

   “Oh, that sounds fair.”

   “Said the same thing.” Davin added.

    An electric tingle turned his head, just as he was finishing his sentence. Tucker Trudy and Nikki hopped out of a portal and walked up to them.
“Ya’ll having a picnic?” Tucker asked, “Don’t see no food.”

   “The food is fat,” Davin said, “and we’re chewing it.”

  Trudy glanced over at Tucker, then down at Nikki, then back up at Beth, who nodded yes. Her eyes were already watering. She rose and walked over to Nikki. “Sweetie, there’s something you need to know.”

  “You look mad Mommie.”

  “Not mad sweetie, well, mad at…never mind that. Davin Pry and Silhouette are going to leave.”

   “Are they dying?” She asked, her small face, was a stone mask.

  “No, no Nikki. No one is dying.”

   “But if they leave…” Her big eyes floated in tears.

   Beth hugged Nikki. Sava flew to them, cuddled against the little girls’ neck. The oak sang, as hundreds of fairy wings fluttered from their leafy boughs and joined Sava. Soon a cloud of tiny comforters had gathered around the mother and child, their Queen and Princess.  

    “Perks.” Silhouette murmured, her eyes burned as she fought back tears. She grunted, glanced around, relieved that all eyes were fixed on Nikki and Beth.

    “What was that,” Davin asked as they stood, stepped back and gave Beth’s ‘subjects’ all the room they needed.

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  “Must be nice to have that kind of support…”

  “And love.” Davin saw tears in Silhouette’s eyes but dared not speak of them.

  Pry stepped beside her and took her hand, “You risk much by coming with us. You are a true friend, and a treasured ally.”

   “Wasn’t fishing for sympathy but, but thanks.”

   “Ya’ll goin’ somewhere?”

   “Yes,” Pry answered. “Our, enemies grow stronger. Have you not noticed?”

  “You mean, the ghosts?” He said the words ghost reluctantly. “Yeah, ah wasn’t going to mention it, but the lights seem dimmer.” He stopped.

   “It’s alright Tucker,” Trudy sidled up to him. “You ain’t gotta go there.”

   He smiled down at her, “But they’re already here, was hopin’ it was just the generator, stupid thing to hope for. Our ginny goes out we’re sunk.”

  “They’re probably siphoning off energy.” Davin added.

    Tucker smirked, “You mean like on those goofy ghosts huntin’ shows.”

   “You watched them,” Silhouette teased.

   “Yeah, but just for a laugh, ain’t laughing’ now. So, you think it’s safe to leave them,” he glanced over at Beth and Nikki, still sitting beneath a cloud of fairies.

    “Sava says the whole farm is monster proof and has vowed to stay with Beth forever.”

  “Forever. Sounds good. And you’re sure they will be safe?”

   “Well, it’s been over a month, haven’t seen anything out there, everything looks the same.”

   “Yeah,” Tucker mused aloud. “nuthins’ changed. Sun rises and sets. But no monsters. “’cept the ones that are already here. And you’re thinkin’ they just follow you out.”

   “The have to Tucker.”

  “Yeah, they do.”

  “What are you gettin’ at” Trudy asked. He tilted his head toward Davin and Pry. “Oh.”

   “If the three of you are safe, then.” He hesitated.

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   “We don’t need you here.” She finished his sentence. Slumping away from him, she drew in a deep breath. “You go with them, get her some blacks and a gun. Do whatever ya’ got to. And we’ll be right here waitin’ for you when ya’ git back.”

    He reached down and pulled her up to him and kissed her, then eased her down. “Don’t you worry Trudy, you might have to wait a while, pretty sure you will, but we’ll be makin’ our way back the minute we leave, promise. We can always shift back, quick and easy. Remember that.”

   “It’s goin’ to break Nikki’s heart.” She said.

   “I know, I know and I hate it but, her life is more important than her feelings.”

    They all nodded in agreement. A short time later they made their way back to the house. They walked. No one was in a hurry to get there.