general fae population. They shun the company of other fae, except when they prey on them. We call them low-fae.”
Tim added, “I call them the lower-than-low-fae. Fae eaters, all of ‘em.”
His reaction seemed overly strong, even though they were technically cannibals I guess. “Seems kinda discriminatory to me.”
She shrugged. “The term is an old one. They don’t seem to mind it.”
We had reached the door leading to the compound. Céline opened it and stepped inside, waiting for us just by the entrance. “Did I answer all of your questions?”
I rolled my eyes and tried not to notice her flinch at it. “I guess. Maybe. Then again, you created about twenty new ones, so if I do the math, the answer is a definite no, since I’m walking away with more questions than I came with.”
Céline’s laughter at my frustration practically twinkled it was so sparkly. “You are a joy to be around, Jayne, I hope you know that.”
I looked at her face to see if she was messing with me, but it appeared as if she were being sincere. I shook my head in pity. “I think you’ve rode the wind a few too many miles, Céline.”
She reached out and rubbed my back as we walked down the hall. “You were only human for seventeen years. Perhaps after a few more years as fae you will begin to see in yourself what we see in you.”
I smiled reluctantly, wondering how it was that this mysterious silver elf could possibly appreciate me more than my own mother. “Well, I’m going to see what I can do to earn your praise, anyway. I can’t promise I’m going to succeed though. I don’t want anyone getting their hopes up about this whole Mother thing.”
Céline shook her head. “It’s not about hopes. I am who I am. You are who you are. The nosy pixie riding behind your hair is who he is.” She reached the door to Dardennes’ office and opened it, pausing in the entrance. “We do not desire to change anything. Everything is exactly as it should be, as imperfect as it sometimes seems.”
“Okay, silver elf, if you say so.”
“I do. Now go have some lunch. I will see you later.”
“Okay. Later, then.” I walked away from the doorway, headed to the lunchroom, thinking about what she said.
“I’m totally busted,” said Tim, his voice muffled in my hair.
“Yeah. But you’re perfect the way you are, nosy parker.”
“I know. Doesn’t take a genius silver elf to know that, though.”
I smiled. “High-one, pixieman, high-one.” I held up my finger near my shoulder so he’d come out and slap his hand on it.
He obliged me and then burped. “Are we there yet? I’m hungry.”
I sighed and shook my head as I reached for the door, pulling it open.
I was completely unprepared for the sounds and visions of chaos that reached my ears and eyes.
Chapter 6
Fae were standing in huddled groups, yelling intermittently, and holding out utensils and plates in front of them like weapons and shields. Food was all over the floor and tables as if there had been a massive food fight – or as if people had been in the middle of eating lunch and suddenly decided to use their fully-loaded-with-food plates as armor.
My eyes were drawn to the place that all of them faced, seeing for the first time the object of their fear.
The buggane had gotten loose, and he was standing in our lunchroom.
“Gor... ,” I started to yell, before I caught myself and started over. “Chase! What are you doing?” Now I was finally able see what a Chase, slash, buggane monster looked like – and it was nuts. Yes, he looked like Chase. But then again, he didn’t. He was too lumpy and too shiny – and there were hairy parts where there shouldn’t be hairy parts. It was kinda gross actually. I think I might have seen some drool drop out of his mouth too. Ugh .
“Jayne!” it roared back at
Tim added, “I call them the lower-than-low-fae. Fae eaters, all of ‘em.”
His reaction seemed overly strong, even though they were technically cannibals I guess. “Seems kinda discriminatory to me.”
She shrugged. “The term is an old one. They don’t seem to mind it.”
We had reached the door leading to the compound. Céline opened it and stepped inside, waiting for us just by the entrance. “Did I answer all of your questions?”
I rolled my eyes and tried not to notice her flinch at it. “I guess. Maybe. Then again, you created about twenty new ones, so if I do the math, the answer is a definite no, since I’m walking away with more questions than I came with.”
Céline’s laughter at my frustration practically twinkled it was so sparkly. “You are a joy to be around, Jayne, I hope you know that.”
I looked at her face to see if she was messing with me, but it appeared as if she were being sincere. I shook my head in pity. “I think you’ve rode the wind a few too many miles, Céline.”
She reached out and rubbed my back as we walked down the hall. “You were only human for seventeen years. Perhaps after a few more years as fae you will begin to see in yourself what we see in you.”
I smiled reluctantly, wondering how it was that this mysterious silver elf could possibly appreciate me more than my own mother. “Well, I’m going to see what I can do to earn your praise, anyway. I can’t promise I’m going to succeed though. I don’t want anyone getting their hopes up about this whole Mother thing.”
Céline shook her head. “It’s not about hopes. I am who I am. You are who you are. The nosy pixie riding behind your hair is who he is.” She reached the door to Dardennes’ office and opened it, pausing in the entrance. “We do not desire to change anything. Everything is exactly as it should be, as imperfect as it sometimes seems.”
“Okay, silver elf, if you say so.”
“I do. Now go have some lunch. I will see you later.”
“Okay. Later, then.” I walked away from the doorway, headed to the lunchroom, thinking about what she said.
“I’m totally busted,” said Tim, his voice muffled in my hair.
“Yeah. But you’re perfect the way you are, nosy parker.”
“I know. Doesn’t take a genius silver elf to know that, though.”
I smiled. “High-one, pixieman, high-one.” I held up my finger near my shoulder so he’d come out and slap his hand on it.
He obliged me and then burped. “Are we there yet? I’m hungry.”
I sighed and shook my head as I reached for the door, pulling it open.
I was completely unprepared for the sounds and visions of chaos that reached my ears and eyes.
Chapter 6
Fae were standing in huddled groups, yelling intermittently, and holding out utensils and plates in front of them like weapons and shields. Food was all over the floor and tables as if there had been a massive food fight – or as if people had been in the middle of eating lunch and suddenly decided to use their fully-loaded-with-food plates as armor.
My eyes were drawn to the place that all of them faced, seeing for the first time the object of their fear.
The buggane had gotten loose, and he was standing in our lunchroom.
“Gor... ,” I started to yell, before I caught myself and started over. “Chase! What are you doing?” Now I was finally able see what a Chase, slash, buggane monster looked like – and it was nuts. Yes, he looked like Chase. But then again, he didn’t. He was too lumpy and too shiny – and there were hairy parts where there shouldn’t be hairy parts. It was kinda gross actually. I think I might have seen some drool drop out of his mouth too. Ugh .
“Jayne!” it roared back at
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