Fable (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 3)

“Mina?” Jared called out when he didn’t immediately see her.

“Who was it?” she asked from her hiding spot by the couch.

Jared saw her and knelt in front of her, being careful not to touch her.

“I don’t know, but they’re gone.”

Mina shivered. “You believe me, though, right?”

“Of course I do. There was someone out there—I could smell them. I just didn’t recognize the scent.”

“You mean they were Fae?”

“Most definitely. I just don’t know what kind, and that worries me.” He stood up and brushed off his knees, and turned as if heading out the door again.

“Wait, Jared, don’t leave me.” She felt silly at being so scared, but this was real. At first she didn’t know who it was and didn’t know how to fight it, but now, knowing it was a Fae gave her the knowledge that she could beat it. But she needed the Grimoire; she needed Jared.

He stopped and turned to look at her with an irritated frown. “Oh, so you didn’t need me all summer, and now all of a sudden you want me around more? Look around you. You don’t need me when you’ve got all this. Besides, whoever was out there couldn’t get past this house’s defense, and I doubt that they will tonight, or any other night. Call it a special gift that comes with the house.”

“Then how did you get in here?”

“You summoned me, dummy. Where you go, I go. Unless it’s the women’s bathroom.” He made a face at her. “Or you leave the book somewhere really far away or lose it, and then that can cause problems, like you already learned.”

“Yeah, I remember,” she scoffed. “But what do you mean, ‘he couldn’t get past the house’s defenses’? What defenses?”

Jared moved across the room and plopped down on the dust-covered sofa. A small poof of particles floated into the air before settling around him. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes as if he was taking a nap, purposely ignoring her question.

She stood up and stormed over to him, fully prepared to hit him on the shoulder, when she noticed how tired he looked. His stormy gray eyes were closed in a feigned sleep, and she couldn’t help but fixate on his looks. It wasn’t apparent at first, but if you looked closely at his angular jaw and the way his skin shimmered, it was quite clear that he wasn’t from this world. He was too handsome. His hair was getting a little long and looked like it could use a trim, but it was still messed-up and very stylish. Standing there next to him, she couldn’t help but compare him to Brody. The Fae prince could very well take on her high school crush.

She had been avoiding Jared, because seeing him reminded her of her oath to kill his brother. How could she tell him that she needed to become stronger, to work harder, because, Hey, I want to kill your family. The truth was, she couldn’t. She couldn’t face the truth, and therefore she couldn’t face Jared.

What could she say? Mina decided to forget it. There was nothing she couldn’t tell him tomorrow, in the middle of the day. She had moved away from him to go back to her room when her eye caught the easel and frame that she had almost knocked over. She took a quick glance at Jared and his eyes were still closed, so she moved to the lone picture and raised her hand to pull at the covering.

He spoke without opening his eyes. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“Why not, Jared?”

“Because some things are best left undiscovered...like Spam. Nasty stuff—that should have remained a mystery.” He turned to his side and smiled at her wanly.

Mina wanted to roll her eyes at him, but he stopped her with that haunted look of his. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you that day.”

She tensed up. It wasn’t Jared’s fault, it was hers, but she secretly wanted to blame him for Charlie’s death, for losing their house. But she knew that was a lie. She was to blame. She looked up at Jared and shook her head. “No, I could have called you, and I didn’t. It’s my fault he’s dead…no one else’s.”

Jared looked uncomfortable. “I was ignoring you because you had been ignoring me. So I purposely tuned out your emotions. I didn’t know something was wrong until you fell. I almost didn’t get there in time. I didn’t know about Char…about what happened till after…”

“You caught me, didn’t you?”

He nodded. “I carried you to the alley by the ambulance and left you there. I’m sorry. I was still angry.”

“You should have stayed with me. Not left me and my family alone on the worst night of my life. I thought you’d abandoned me.”

Jared leapt off the couch and stood within inches of her, his breath warm and sweet upon her face.

“I would never abandon you. I will always be there to catch you when you fall.”

She closed her eyes and leaned into him, being careful not to touch him…and careful to shield her heart.