49
He had so much he wanted to ask her but pushing to the front of his mind was the image of his parents. It would not be denied. “I remember them. I can see their faces.”
“Who?” she snapped, and he remembered she detested when he wasn’t clear.
“My parents. The Fae who broke into my mind cleared the blockage and I remember them.”
“I will have to deal with this Fae,” Baba growled and he could feel the rage boiling within her.
“He’s dead,” Stanley blurted, drawing a surprised smile from the old woman. “Tell me please, my parents, what happened to them? How did… how did you get me?” Stanley begged and her smile instantly disappeared in a scowl.
“You think I killed them and stole you?” she asked in a quiet, stiff voice.
“My heart says no but I’m lost in this world of magic and intrigue. You’re more than who I thought you were. Please!”
“Don’t beg! I didn’t raise you to beg!” she snapped angrily.
Stanley knelt in front of her. “You did raise me! You’re the only parent I had growing up and I am eternally grateful. But I’m a Satyr and I know now my parents were Satyrs and the race hasn’t existed for a very long time.”
“That’s true. The Satyr’s were all viciously murdered by Humans. The very creatures I raised you to believe you were,” she said as she peered into his eyes as if gauging his reaction.
“My- my parents were murdered by humans?” he asked shakily.
The witch nodded. “I located them the night they were killed and spoke to them before the savage mob arrived. I could not save them but I gave them the opportunity to save you. They loved you enough to agree.”
Tears ran down Stanley’s cheeks as he shook with grief and relief. His parents loved him and his Baba hadn’t killed them. That was important to him. He nodded then he looked into her old eyes. “But something happened to me.”
The witch smiled slightly as she looked at him. “Yes.” There was something in her eyes that felt like intent, patience, and anticipation.
“I’m different than the others.”
“Yes.” Her eyes began to twinkle with mischievous delight.
“Why?”
She broke their gaze and threw her bony hands in the air in exasperation. “That question again. I will not give you its answer because it’s not time.”
He looked at her but knew not to press her any more on that. “The Fae Queen has spoken with me.” The old woman’s eyes snapped back to his.
“Did she now?”
He nodded. “She said I was one of hers. A Fae.”
“As your birth happened during the time interval she ruled them all I suppose she is… technically correct. The current treaty makes no provisions for an extinct race.” Baba reasoned calmly.
“She wants me,” Stanley said nervously.
Old eyes examined his young ones for clues of his intent. “Will you give yourself to her? Know this, she never gives up that which is freely given. What is taken however, may escape,” she said cryptically.
“I won’t go willingly. She’s terrifying!” Stanley gasped.
“Beautiful and terrible, I believe it is said,” Baba agreed casually, seeming at ease once more, knowing that Stanley wasn’t under the Queen’s thrall. She pushed herself to her feet with a quiet groan.
“My friends are in danger. How can I protect them?” Stanley blurted.
“Their fate is no concern of mine nor should it be of yours. Interfering meddlers,” she grumbled as she stepped past Stanley to exit the shelter. They saw Mr. Duncan jump in sudden shock and stare back at the old woman’s sudden appearance.
The witch turned back to face Stanley and gave his face a swat. “Pay attention. Be vigilant. You will know what to do when you have to. I didn’t raise a fool. Stop looking for me here. I’ve moved on. So should you.”
She shuffled away to walk behind the bus shelter and as she passed the corner post she didn’t reappear on its other side behind the clear glass. Stanley didn’t bother following as he knew she’d be gone. He had no idea how she did it but he had to accept that she could.
He walked to the passenger door and had to knock to break the man from his shock and unlock the door. Once he was inside he looked across at the big redhead. “Sorry, she frightened you. I didn’t know you couldn’t see her.”
“I’ll make no apologies for being afraid of Baba Yaga. She might be your grannie but she’s one of the most powerful witches that ever existed. She scares the pee out of me,” Roy growled as he got the truck started and headed back in the opposite direction.
Stanley just nodded to the man and kept his silence. A short time later Stanley spotted a shop and asked him to pull into the lot. They went inside and Roy was surprised when Stanley picked up a padded carrying bag and three bottles of expensive red wine.
“The Go- the bastards made me drop the wine I bought when they grabbed me,” he growled.
Once he’d paid they got back on their way.
“Who’s the wine for?” Roy asked.
“I’ve been invited to a party this weekend. I intend to be there. The Fae aren’t going to make me change my plans,” he insisted while he scowled out the window. He missed Roy’s impressed look.
They made it back to Camila’s without trouble and were greeted at Camila’s door by three anxious women.
They drew Stanley back to the sofa and sat him down between Marisa and Sigrid. Roy smirked at Stanley’s flustered expression and carried the bag of wine over to put it next to the computer bag.
“What happened?” Camila asked her Head of Security quietly.
Glancing over at Stanley briefly, Roy spoke quietly to his boss.
“The swamp is gone. Filled in with dirt and bulldozed flat. His old home is gone,” he said.
“Oh my god! How did Stanley take that?” she gasped.
“He was pretty shook up. I went back into the truck to give him some privacy. There’s just the bus stop out on the road where the side road used to be… but she was there. She came to speak to him.”
A shiver ran down Camila’s spine.
“I thought Stanley was talking to himself as I couldn’t see her. Then she walked out from behind a pane of clear glass as she was about to leave. The way she just appeared and disappeared was scary as fuck!” He looked at Stanley thoughtfully. “She was kind enough to him though.”
They walked over to join the others.
Sigrid looked at them. “She acknowledged she changed him but not why.”
“You learned more than I expected you would,” Camila said gently to him.
“I learned my parents were killed by humans and saved me by giving me to her.”
“So, either she was there that very night and somehow kept you in a state of suspended animation through the intervening millennia or… she learned how to reach back in time to collect you from your parents. I can’t begin to comprehend the power she’d need to be able to do either of those things! Neither should be possible!” Sigrid said in awe.
“We need to focus on the now for a moment, Stanley,” Camila began. “While you and Mr. Duncan were out we spoke to VRL’s legal representative, Walter Zhou, who let us know that the Fae are making noises about an important member of their Royal Court who was killed last night. He indicated that they are not filing charges for the moment as they want to speak with you.”
At his sound of protest, she raised her hand to calm him. “Before you even entertain the idea of speaking with the Fae we feel you should meet with Walter. He can act as a go-between and perhaps we can completely avoid a face to face with the Fae entirely. Especially the Queen.”
“Walter Zhou. What kind of law does he practice? If he’s corporate law will he be able to deal with this?” Stanley asked nervously.
“Walter is well versed in every form of legal practice. He’s… had time to study it.” Sigrid acknowledge begrudgingly.
Stanley picked up on her unease as she wasn’t good at hiding her true emotions. “You don’t like him.”
She looked him in the eye and shook her head. “He’s an excellent lawyer but he’s also… extremely self-serving. He doesn’t do anything unless there’s something in it for him, personally. This makes me suspicious of his motives.” She looked at Camila’s scowl. “He has the right to know whose parlour he’s entering.”Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“He’s a big spider?” Stanley gasped, staring at Sigrid with a shocked expression.
Everyone looked at him and Sigrid snorted. “Oh! I’m sorry Stanley! I didn’t mean that in the literal sense! He’s not an Arachnid.”
Stanley relaxed a little then stared at her again. “But there is a race of Spider People amongst the Hidden Races?”
“Arachnids, Stanley. Not ‘Spider People’.” Marisa said calmly. “They are typically very shy but nice people.”
He shivered but forced his mind back to the issue at hand. “So this Mr. Zhou, he could help me but there will be a cost?”
“We’ll pay his bill-” Camila began.
“It’s not money I’m worried about,” Sigrid interrupted.
“Ok, this option isn’t sounding like it’s much better than the Fae!” Stanley blurted.
“Only because Sigrid is letting her personal dislike of the man interfere with her better judgement!” Camila growled as she tried to stare the Valkyrie down.
Sigrid turned to Stanley and took his hand. “Listen, Stanley. Camila is right. Walter can be a great asset in dealing with the Fae. She’s also right that I don’t like him but know this. I will be there with you, by your side, and I will protect you. I give you my solemn promise.”
He read the conviction in her eyes and nodded to her showing he trusted her.
“Can we get moving then?” Camila said in exasperation.
“Give us a few minutes,” Sigrid said as she stood, pulled Stanley to his feet, and led him out of the living room as the others watched curiously.
She held his hand as she brought him down the hall and into a guest bedroom. She closed the door behind them, then moved to close the blinds.
“What’s wrong?” Stanley asked anxiously.