Mistfall Read online

  “Oh my God Mags, Luca told me what happened. I can’t believe you were attacked by a wolf!”

  “Melissa, I can’t breathe,” I struggled out.

  “Sorry. I’m just glad you’re okay,” she said, releasing me.

  “Yeah, well David might not be so okay this morning,” I humored.

  Melissa’s mouth drew itself into an O and her eyes almost popped out of her head. “What? David? No Mags, are you sure?”

  “Call Owen, have him check on him. Mutt or not, he won’t be healed yet without magical intervention.

  Melissa ran to her room to call Owen and get to the bottom of things. I turned my attention to the very handsome Elf that was sitting at the kitchen table. He must have left at some point, because he was wearing different clothes and there was coffee and muffins on the table in front of him.

  “Good morning Mags, I trust you’re feeling better?” His brow furrowed as he showed genuine concern for me.

  “Completely healed, just exhausted.” I gave him a small smile and pointed at the coffee and muffins, “Are those for me?”

  Luca smiled back. “That they are. Have a seat gorgeous and we can have breakfast.”

  Beautiful? I felt the warmth immediately in my cheeks. I know I’m not hideous, but a comment like that would make any girl blush. I was only hoping he didn’t notice. I glanced at Luca and silently sighed in relief. He was busy attending to the coffee and muffins, not noticing my reaction.

  Unable to resist the tantalizing aroma of the coffee any longer, I grabbed the usual accouterments for coffee and muffins, and then sat down at the table with Luca.

  “Thanks again for last night and for breakfast,” I told him.

  His expression darkened. “Don’t thank me Mags. If I had been anything of a gentleman, I would have made sure you had gotten home in one piece.”

  Gentleman? Those still exist?

  “Luca, there’s only one person at fault here and I’m hoping he didn’t have such a great healer like I did. If it wasn’t for you, I would still be in that parking lot healing rather slowly or possibly dead because of my secret. As it is, the villagers didn’t come a runnin’ with their pitchforks and torches, so I’m calling it a good day.”

  His left eyebrow cocked up and a smirk found its way to his lips. “Alright, I’ll let it go for now, but my guilt has hardly been assuaged.” He handed me a coffee and a giant blueberry muffin. “So if last night is any indication, how have you made it this long in life?”

  I snorted. “Right? If I was an outsider looking in, I’d have to agree with you.” I paused a moment, deciding on how much else I should tell him about myself. He wasn’t running for the hills, but that didn’t mean I’d end up in trouble with The Powers later.

  I decided to stick with the bare minimum and toss in a warning for good measure. “I was trained to defend myself well.”

  “So this is a normal thing for you Mags, fighting off would-be suitors?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, not at all. That is one problem I don’t have, need, or want.”

  Melissa was the one who had a continuous line of men vying for her attention. She rarely gave most of them the time of day. It wasn’t as if she was a snob, she just had really high expectations. I was not jealous of that kind of attention. If I had that kind of attention, I would probably have been residing in a satin lined box, six feet underground by now.

  My mind started to wander over the next few minutes while Luca and I sat in a comfortable silence eating our muffins and drinking coffee. I was hoping he wouldn’t ask for too much background information. That’s the kind of stuff that could get other people killed.

  I didn’t want to have to explain Melissa and her involvement in my life. What if he slipped one day and accidentally told someone about me? I’d like to be the only one to have to deal with the repercussions and the less he knows the better, at least for now.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything about your situation Mags,” Luca said, interrupting my thoughts.

  “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “You were wearing your thoughts on your face,” he smiled. “Besides, we’ve just met and I’m asking some rather personal questions that I’m guessing, because of those lovely eyes, have sensitive answers.”

  I let go of the breath I was holding. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”

  Melissa came back into the kitchen with a duffle bag, her face ashen. “Mags, I thought you said that you left David alive.”

  “I did. There wasn’t any permanent damage, my daggers weren’t even silver. Why?”

  She threw the bag at Luca. “Clothes, now.” He got up and rushed to my room understanding the situation before I did.

  “Melissa, what’s going on?”

  “Mags, David’s dead.”

  I dropped my muffin onto the floor and shook my head in disbelief as it rolled away from me. “That’s not possible.”

  “It doesn’t matter and that’s not the worst of it,” she told me. “They know what you are Mags, I don’t know how, but they do. Right now Owen and his pack are on their way and they want your head. I’m guessing they’ll call The Powers That Be and the Aelfadl won’t be too far behind. You’ve got to get out of here.”

  Melissa headed to the basement while I helped Luca pack clothes and the small cache of weapons I kept in my room. He had the top drawer of my dresser open and gave me a questioning look when I walked in.

  “The short version is that it’s how I’ve stayed alive this long. I only have about ten minutes to pack and go, so that’s all the explanation I have time for. Sorry.”

  I went into the closet without giving Luca a chance to respond. Grabbing a pair of jeans, tank top, hoodie, and hiking boots, I hastily changed into them.

  “Mags,” Luca called from the room.

  “What?” I walked out of the closet fully clothed to find a perplexed Luca

  “Where are you going to go?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know yet.”

  “You don’t…what?” The flabbergasted look on his face turned upset at my lack of a plan.

  His eyes turned an electric shade of turquoise as his jugular bulged slightly. Good grief, even furious this man was good looking.

  “What?” I laughed a little. Did you think the craziness over the past twelve hours was over?” I waved him out of the room. “Come on, I need to find Melissa and get out of here.

  Back in the living room, Melissa was waiting for me with my favorite sword. “Here,” she handed my weapon along with an envelope to me.

  “What’s in the envelope?” I asked.

  “A contingency plan and that’s all I can tell you about it. You need to head east of here for twenty miles on this side of the Mistfall. Once you’ve found your destination, open that envelope.”

  “And what would that destination be?”

  “You’ll know when you find it,” she replied sarcastically and rolled her eyes.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Rather melodramatic, don’t you think?”

  She looked a bit uncomfortable with what she said next. “It’s not my plan and I don’t have time to get into that. You need to go, now.”

  I hugged Melissa as if it was the last time I would see her. I turned to Luca, not too sure what to say to him. Hey, thanks for taking care of me last night. Sorry we can’t see where this is going because everyone seems to think I killed Alpo-breath. Then again, it is straight and to the point.

  I grabbed the handle of the duffle bag Luca was still holding. “Luca, I’m sorry I dragged you into this. If you leave now, no one will know you had anything to do with me.”

  His grip around the handle tightened. “The last time I let you out of my sight, you were nearly mauled to death. I think I’ll feel better if I at least drive you to your destination.”

  I started to argue, but Melissa cut me off. “Go with Luca Mags. No one will recognize his vehicle. It’s your best bet, now go.”

  I cou
ldn’t argue with logic. Not only would I be hidden, but I could cover a large amount of area more quickly in a car than on foot.

  Once in the driveway, Luca started rummaging through his trunk. I walked over to help him, but he quickly shut the trunk door and came around the car with a blanket in hand. He had become a man of action.

  “Get in the backseat and lie down. Once we’re out of town you can get in the front seat,” he ordered.

  I complied, not wanting to die today or sit in a seat I had bled all over last night. Luca covered me with a blanket and my duffle bag, leaving little room for movement. We drove away and even though I knew my life would never be the same, I had no idea the direction it was about to take.

  5. Like an Old Married Couple

  Ten minutes later, Luca gave me the all clear. I grabbed the blanket to cover the front seat, but when I went to climb over, there was no trace of the hemorrhaging blood loss I had experienced the night before.

  “Elves and nature magic. I should’ve known you’d have a stain removal spell,” I mused. “Though I don’t think you’re the type to wear an apron and cook and clean for your husband all day,” I said rather pointedly, teasing him.

  “What if I was?” Luca questioned.

  “Well then, your husband’s going to have to rethink your relationship. In the last half day, you’ve not only kissed me, but you’re running away with me too. That kind of thing doesn’t exactly keep the marriage bed a rockin’.”

  My abdomen constricted and I laughed, the hilarity of the conversation making it impossible not to. Luca’s chest shook as he chuckled along with me. I quickly found Luca could give it as well as he could take it.

  “So Mags, what exactly does keep the marriage bed going?”

  What was he expecting? Was I supposed to clam up and turn bright red? Sorry, not this girl. “Oh you know, hearts and flowers…and ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ type of stuff.” I grabbed onto the door handle and the middle console as the car swerved.

  “There was a, uh, raccoon in the road,” he covered.

  I guess I won that battle. It was time to change the subject. I’m not a shy type of girl, but sex talk with a near stranger I was already having dirty thoughts about couldn’t end well for my dignity.

  “How much farther do we have to go?”

  Luca checked the odometer. “We’ve gone about twelve miles, so maybe ten more minutes. Do you know what you’re looking for yet?”

  The envelope I was holding was your standard white office type, nothing of note about it. My name was the only thing decorating it. The handwriting wasn’t Melissa’s as I had assumed, but was familiar, even though I couldn’t quite place its owner.

  “No, but Melissa was sure I would recognize it. I haven’t been outside Harmony the five years I’ve lived there, so the list is pretty small.”

  “Never?” He looked shocked, as well he should. It’s impossible to fathom never leaving a small town once in five years, but hey, it’s me. The rules seem to go out of the window where I’m concerned.

  “Extenuating circumstances,” I replied.

  “Anything to do with the roller coaster ride I’ve been on since I’ve met you?”

  “My entire life has been that roller coaster ride Luca.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  It was my turn to look confused. “What for? It’s not your fault.”

  I could have sworn I saw him flinch as if he felt guilty. You’re imagining things, you’ve just met Luca, I told myself. Probably all hyped up on a day full of adrenaline running through your body and know you’re seeing things.

  Luca glanced at me sideways before turning his blue-green eyes back to the road. “Do you ever wish your life was different, normal even?”

  I laughed. I loved my life. Sure, it hadn’t been easy, losing loved ones and constantly being hunted, but there was good in it too. I had a best friend who I loved like a sister. Even killing the occasional bad guy was fun. If I had been born an elf, I probably would have joined the Aelfadl.

  “Normal doesn’t apply to us Luca, even if I wasn’t the enemy. To answer your question…STOP! Stop the car Luca, we’re here.”

  Lo and behold we had arrived and my life over the past five years had come full circle. I was back at the diner I had first set foot in when I ran the night my parents and Willa were murdered. Sadly, I was running again. One day I’m going to stop in here on purpose.

  “The diner?” he asked.

  “One day I’ll tell you the story. Right now it’s time to find out what’s in this envelope.” I felt a shadow of foreboding close in on me as I opened the letter. Some small part of me realized nothing would ever be the same, let alone end well. I chose to ignore that part and opened it up, girding myself for whatever came next.

  Dear Mags:

  This is a letter I never hoped you would have to read, for various reasons. The second reason you’re reading this is that something has happened to separate you from all the protections I had in place for you. (The first reason is not relevant at the moment. I will get to that later.

  First things first, you need to find shelter. Time is of the essence. You should be at the diner you found after whatever befell me happened. I know what you’re thinking. The long and short of it is that I had you spelled to find that diner if something happened to me.

  You need to travel into the forest heading south. A day’s journey from here is a Fae village. They will help you. By the way, don’t worry about eating or drinking their food. You’re immune, except for the fairy wine, stay away from that. Read the rest of this once you are safe.

  Love,

  Willa

  Willa was still keeping me safe, even from the grave. I returned the pages to the envelope, sighed, and turned to Luca. “I guess it’s time for me to go.”

  His well tanned arms were rigid against the steering wheel. “I don’t like it Mags.”

  “Don’t like what?”

  “You, going to see the Fae. They’re a bunch of randy pranksters. I don’t trust them.”

  Wow, he was pretty adamant against my visiting the Fae. I guess he’s had a bad run-in or two with them.

  “Luca, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big girl. I think I can handle a horny fairy.” I had a short bout of the giggles after that and Luca was questioning my sanity.

  Puzzled he asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking that if we were human this conversation would be a non-starter. Well, maybe it would, but I’d be having it with you because I wouldn’t be his type!” I continued giggling while Luca groaned and shook his head.

  “You’re in a life or death situation and you’re joking?” he asked incredulously.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s how I deal. It works for me. Besides,” I looked to both sides, “no one followed us, there’s nothing suspicious in the general area, and I have a plan. Can’t be better prepared, under the circumstances.”

  There was something about Luca not wanting me to go to the Fae that caused a vein of ice to form in my soul. It just didn’t make sense. Then again, maybe he was just insecure. The Fae really were a randy bunch. My brain was on high alert, nit picking everything I heard and saw. I decided to go with the simplest answer. He probably thought the girl he’s interested in is heading into Fae territory and the chances of that ending well were gnawing at him.

  While I was mulling that little nugget of truth over, I wasn’t paying attention to Luca. Had I been aware, I would have noticed his face was only inches from mine. It wasn’t until he put his hand behind my neck and brought me in for the kill that I came back to reality.

  His kiss was short and frantic. It felt like a plea for me to stay. As quick as he kissed me, he stopped. Luca dropped his forehead to mine. “Come with me. I can protect you. My job, it has resources-“

  “Luca,” I interrupted, “this isn’t something to get involved in. I have all of good and evil hunting me down. Do you know what the Aelfadl would do
to you if they found out you were helping me?”

  “I know very well what they would do Mags, more than you.”

  I moved away from him. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s just,” he hit the steering wheel out of frustration. “I’m an Elf; of course I know what would happen. Damnit Mags, I’ve seen the treatment they’ve given prisoners. I don’t want that to happen to you. Please quit being so stubborn and come with me.”

  Me stubborn? Noooo.

  I thought it was fantastic that there was still a chivalrous knight willing to help the damsel in distress. This damsel, however, isn’t helpless and has a wicked sword arm.

  I pushed the car door open, ending the conversation. We’d go in circles if we kept on this way. “Luca, do me a favor,” I asked.

  “What’s that?” I almost felt bad, hearing the defeat in his voice. It’s not that I didn’t care what he thought. If I didn’t have a plan I knew to be solid in place I may have entrusted him with my life. But, Willa trumps good looking blonde elf any day.

  “Please make sure Melissa is okay.”

  His shoulders slumped. “I guess there is no changing your mind.”

  I shook my head.

  “Yeah, I can do that Mags. Stay safe and if it’s at all possible, I’d like to see you again. In one piece preferably.” He gave me a lopsided grin which, under normal circumstances, would’ve been adorable, but just seemed sad now.

  I smiled at that. You had to give him credit, he didn’t scare easily. I grabbed my things from the car, waved goodbye and entered the forest to see the Fae.

  6. Snake In the Grass

  I knew the moment I had made it into the valley that I was being followed and I knew by whom. My shadow wasn’t being all that discreet about it. Leaves had been falling and twigs snapping ahead of me, not of their own volition. I walked until I was near her, under the cover of the forest, before I addressed her.