Blog Story #9

Sorry I didn’t get to post yesterday. Here is a slightly longer one to make up for it.

The calm only lasted until they made it out of the police station, then Finn’s senses came back online as if the world was in new brilliant shades. The trees across the parking lot caught his attention. Each leaf glowed with tiny pinpricks of light. Finn stopped to stare at the strange phenomenon.

“It’s your fae senses,” Amon explained in a quiet voice as if not to interrupt the moment.

“What does it mean?”

Amon ran what he probably was a soothing hand down Finn’s spine. A spark zapped down Finn’s spine he took a tiny step away.

“Sorry. I forgot how sensitive new wings can be. To answer your question. It means you are fae. All fairies see all aspects of nature which includes what make something alive. You will be able to sense the spark in all living things.

“Huh.” Eventually it would either give him a headache or he would get used to it.

“Come, young one it’s time to go,” Amon urged. “No matter how tolerant on the surface, it is best not to stand around with your wings out. It makes you prey.”

That startled Finn out of his fixation on the tree. “Prey?”

Amon’s handsome face hardened into a cold mask. “Being fae isn’t all pretty wings and power. Let’s go precious.”

Finn allowed Amon to lead him into the white limousine he had missed while enthralled with the tree.

“How am I to get inside?” he pointed at his wings. “I haven’t figured out how to deal with these yet?”

“Allow me.” Amon placed his palm in the middle of Finn’s back. He muttered an incantation Finn didn’t understand.

Before Finn could ask any questions his back tingled and the base of his spine burned like he’d been exposed to too much sun. The weight on his back vanished and Finn groaned. “So much better. Thank you.”

“It isn’t a permanent solution. You’ll need to let your wings out again when we get to the palace.”

“Really why?” He would’ve thought it more convenient not to have to large objects on your back banging into things.

“If you are willing to hide your very nature, what else would you hide?”

“Do the different wing colors mean anything?” There was no information on fae wings in his mother’s library. Since only the royals had wings, they didn’t allow the information out.”

“You will learn, but no there where anyone can here. We don’t share out secrets with outsiders. Get in the car.” He opened the door motioning Finn inside.

Finn ducked his head and slid inside. A slim man with short gold hair and matching gold eyes sat in the bench across from him. Finn scooted as far to the other side as he could.

Power rolled off this new man stronger than any other para Finn had ever met.

Amon slid in beside him and the other guard sat beside the powerful being that watched Finn with cool disdain.

“He doesn’t look like much.”

“Prince Oisin,” Amon nodded his head. “He is newly awakened. Baby fae are rarely impressive.”

“Finn Bronich, this is Prince Oisin one of your ancestors.”

“Merry meet,” Finn offered, scraping the little bit of fae lore he had.

Oisin laughed, a rough, scraping noise. “We don’t actually say shit like that.”

Finn frowned. “Sorry, I got it from a fae diplomat’s guide.”

“That’s how we divine who understand us and who doesn’t,” Amon explained. “If they don’t know true fae greetings then we won’t deal with them.”

“Those who are allowed to deal with the fae know our ways,” the unnamed remaining guard said.

“How do they learn them?” This was information he could use. If he had the chance to ever get back to being a cop.

“Tutors. Where you will be sent to learn our ways and some manners.” Prince rising sneered.

“Easy, my prince. I am Cian, young one. I will probably be one of your tutors.”

“Nice to meet you,” Finn nodded his head at the other fae. To Finn’s mind Cian wasn’t as handsome as Amon but his eyes were a striking blue.

“We will see if you retain that thought under my tutelage.” Cian smirked.

“Don’t tease him,” Amon patted Finn’s leg. “He’s still shiny.”

“Already staking your claim?” Cian tilted his head. “The queen might have a word to say about that.”

Finn watched the world outside the window and dragged his nails along the seams of his pants. Everything changed. What would this do to his future? To his career? He had everything planned out for the next ten years. Now that was gone to shit. “How long will I be gone?”

“It’s hard to tell,” Amon said.

“You have something better to do than be a fae?” Oisin scoffed.

Finn pulled out his phone and called Haley.

“What’s up?” Haley answered.

“Hey, Hales, something has come up and I need you to take Sunspot.”

“That thing you were anticipating?” Haley knew better than to ask for details on an assignment.

“No. Something different. I’m not sure how long it will take. Could you water my plants also? I will let you know the details as soon as I can.”

“Sure bro, I’ll take care of the fur ball.”

“Thanks. Talk to you later.” Finn disconnected.

“Who did you call?” Amon’s tone held a harder cast than the gentle voice he’s used before.

“A friend. I need someone to look after my cat.”

“You have a cat?” Oisin asked.

“Yes.”

Oisin burst into laughter. The sound of bells chiming filled the air in a beautiful symphony of sound. He turned to the others in the limo only to get amused looks in reply. It took several minutes before Oisin stopped laughing. “I might like you after all young one.”

“Why does everyone keep calling me that? I realize I’m probably a lot younger than all of you but I’m not a child.”

“It’s traditional to call those who haven’t passed their first century by that name,” Cain explained. “It indicates to others that you might make mistakes or stomp on their dignity but it is due to your age and inexperience and to avoid them taking offense.”

“Ah, thank you for the explanation.”

“That is one thing true,” Amon said. “Don’t thank a fae. We take it as you owing us something. Instead, say that you appreciate the information. That way you don’t leave an open-ended debt. If you thank for information that let’s the other fae know that if you run into some information that could use you will return the favor but only that favor.”

Finn nodded. “Maybe it would be best if I don’t speak.” He was only partially kidding.

“Perhaps that would be best,” Oisin purred like the giant predator he was.

Maybe eventually they would share why it was so funny that he had a cat.