off the dark-gray siding.
Maeve walked to the door, trembling in fear. Do my sorority sisters hate me for Magda's death?
She walked to the door, hesitating.
Do they blame me for the tragedy? Tears beaded in her eyes. Magda had been such a lively woman, full of passion. It had all been snuffed out by the disgusting Bodath. Maeve shook as she realized she would never experience her friend's passionate love.
Maybe I should leave. I shouldn't involve them in this.
She took a step from the door, swallowing hard.
It opened.
“Maeve!” Felicity gasped.
“Oh, it's you,” Raven clapped.
“Hi,” Maeve said, shifting, suddenly aware just how naked she was. “I...I'm so sorry for...”
Felicity hugged Maeve.
Maeve stood there wet and shivering as Felicity pulled her tight. The blonde buried her face into the nape of Maeve's neck, sobbing softly. Maeve's arms raised slowly, almost jerkily, as the Pixie was surprised by the love Felicity shared. Maeve hugged her, relaxing into Felicity embrace, holding her tight. Tears brimmed in Maeve's green eyes.
“You came back,” Felicity sobbed. “Oh, thank god, you came back.”
Raven threw her arms around the both of them. “Maeve's back!” she screamed in joy.
More tears fell from Maeve's eyes as the black-haired Raven rocked Maeve and Felicity. “I...I thought you would...hate me...”
“Why would we hate you?” Raven asked. “You saved us. You killed that...that monster.”
“Bodath,” Maeve whispered. “But...that thing was after me. Magda...Magda would still be alive...if it wasn't...for me...”
Magda's limp body lying on the floor filled Maeve's mind.
“But she's not dead,” Felicity gasped. “Oh, Maeve, she's alive.”
“What?” the Pixie gaped. “But the Bodath touched her. I saw it kill her. It smothered the life out of her.”
“She's alive,” Raven nodded. “Barely.”
“It's Maeve!” Other members of the sorority poured down the halls and stairs, hugging Maeve and pulling her inside the sorority house. Each girl had to take a turn kissing her cheeks and hugging her. Billie Jo, a blonde sorority sister, draped a blanket around Maeve's naked form and Georgina plopped her on a couch, pushing a cup of steaming tea into her hand.
Maeve sipped, tears still rolling down her cheek. All the women were asking her questions, wanting to know what happened and what Maeve really was.
The doorbell rang.
“That's probably Brad,” Felicity said, hopping to her feet. “I thought it was him walking up to the porch. I've been waiting for him to walk me and Raven to his apartment.”
“Why are you even here?” Maeve asked.
Felicity glanced at Raven. “Well...we were having some fun. And then she was going to have fun with me and Brad.”
Raven blushed and Maeve giggled. “I'm so glad that you've made a new lover, Felicity. You two were having so much fun at the party.”
Felicity nodded.
“So what happened?” Raven asked.
Maeve frowned. “Felicity. Bring Brad in, he should hear this, too.”
“We can't have a guy in the sorority after dark,” gasped Georgina.
“Oh, I know you snuck in that quarterback last year,” Billie Jo laughed, poking Georgina in the rib.
“Bring him in,” Raven nodded.
Felicity darted out of the den and returned a few moments later with her boyfriend. Brad grinned, adjusting his glasses as he walked over and gave Maeve a strong hug and a kiss on the lips. The sorority girls all whooped and cheered, bringing a flush to Brad's lips. He moved over to a chair, sitting down. Felicity plopped on his lap. A moment later, Raven joined them, her face brushing crimson.
“Okay, Maeve, spill it,” Georgina said.
“I'm a Faerie,” Maeve answered. “A Rose Pixie. I was sent by Queen Titania to find the Mortal Champion...”
The women and Brad all leaned forward as Maeve explained her mission, how she met Magda, and how she found Gunnar. “That explains all the guys you fucked the first day of class,”
Amos Oz
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The war in 202