(Finally. The second part of Ch. 2. It took me a while because I started focusing on my Vampire novel again. Protected One is getting good, so I’m really dividing my time here. I hope you guys enjoy!)
Malik Davenport watched as another group of faerie siblings were brought through, and placed in the iron pen. They writhed in pain for a brief couple of minutes, before they apparently got soothed by the others in the pen. Malik would never say it, but he was relieved to see that there were no more younger faeries in that group. He ran a hand through his hair, and replced his Yankees baseball cap, squeezing the visor down a little more. His second in command, Fredrich glanced over, and he shrugged. “Is that all of them for the moment?”
“Yes.” Fredrich’s dark eyes narrowed. “There were some that had escaped from the apartment complex downtown. We’re not sure how.”
“How? They’re faeries. That’s how. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve been keeping tabs on the Extermination and had an escape plan. I heard there are a couple of human children aiding the one that have escaped.” Davenport sighed, rubbing his face. His daughter Melissa was one of them, and he had been told that it was his responsibility to stop her, no matter what it took. Davenport wasn’t sure if he would be able to do anything about her, but he knew if he didn’t, someone else with less heart would.
“You know the old run down complex just past the city line? We found, but lost several dozen faeries and another child. They’ve gone into hiding, but we’ve got people everywhere looking for them. Human children aren’t meant to live on streets. The child will have to go home eventually.” Fredrich didn’t sound a bit sorry. “Then we’ll put her, and her family under house arrest. “Glad I don’t have any meddling kids involved.”
“It ain’t right, you know. Picking on the human children. It’s not like we should expect them to understand everything that’s happened.” Davenport said casually. “Sure it’s annoyance for them to be aiding the very race we’re trying to obliterate, but they don’t know any better, really. They see them as friends.” He stood up from his metal folding chair, and stretched, wandering over to the pen of new faeries. They all looked up at him, the young ones peeking out from behind their elder siblings. Davenport estimated there were at least twenty faeries in the pen at the moment. He spoke quietly to them, as he saw his second in command leave. “Listen up. We’re still out there, looking for the others of your kind that have managed to escape. If any of you knows where they might be, I’ll make it worth your while to tell us.”
“Forget it.” One faerie stuck her tongue out at him. “If they managed to get away, then all the better for them.” The young faerie girl was leaning close to a male faerie that was holding her close to him. Davenport imagined they were either brother and sister or boyfriend and girlfriend.
“We’re not going to hurt them. We just need to contain them.” Davenport tried to smooth it over. “Your kind has caused the human race a great amount of trouble.”
“That’s not true!” The male holding the female said then. “You’re blaming a whole race for something a couple did. It doesn’t surprise me. You do it to your own kind. Why should we be any different?” The faerie’s eyes glittered furiously. “You’re putting innocent children on the chopping block. Some of these children have never even been out of their colonies!”
“That’s not my problem.” Davenport’s patience was waning now. He felt his stomach growl. “Fine. We’ll find them, and then we’ll take care of all of you.” Davenport turned and went in search of something that would resemble lunch. He made a mental note to ask Fredrich where he’d gotten his burrito from the night before. It had smelled incredibly appetizing, considering Davenport didn’t really like Mexican food. When he was back at his post, Fredrich was eating a Reuben sandwich. The smell of the sauerkraut turned his stomach. Malik had never liked cabbage. “They’re not going to crack. Looks like we’re going to have to go to extremes to find out where the other colonies are.”
“Man. I hate the shrills of screaming faeries. It’s nearly deafening!” Fredrich sighed. “Well, we should be getting our other packages later in the day, if Gilroy has any say about it.” Bob Gilroy was their team leader, and he was not any kinder than either of them. He was much worse, in reality.
Great. Gilroy gets to deliver the packages, and tell us what to do with them, and we’re left with the dirty task of harming these tiny creatures. Sounds like the work is evenly divided alright. Davenport bit his tongue though, refusing to comment on Fredrich’s statement. “Hey, I have to go pick up Melissa from school. If I don’t leave now, I’ll miss her.”
“Sure, boss. Go ahead.” Fredrich turned his attention to the tiny faeries in the pen. The faerie youngsters were whining and crying; two things that Fredrich couldn’t stand. As soon as Davenport was out of earshot, he glared. “Will you all shut up?! A poor man can’t think with all that racket!” Silence followed instantly, and he smiled, leaning back in his chair. Now all he had to do was wait for the Package to arrive.
***
Narissa, also known as the Grand Fae, was in a state of dismay, as she watched the destruction of the Brick Colony in Michigan. “This is an outrage.” She had heard rumors of the Exterminators, but now she was sure they were more than a rumor. She glanced up as her handmaiden Giselle entered her room. The younger fae woman’s face was stricken. “So I assume you, too, have noticed that it is not getting any better. The humans really are attempting to wipe us out.”
“Nari, what are we going to do? Innocent faeries are dying. We have some responsibility to our race!”
“No. I have some responsibility. You, dear girl, are just my support. I won’t let you take responsibility for something I should have seen coming.” Narissa sighed, running a hand through tangle black hair. “I need to call a meeting of the grand council.” She turned sad eyes to her handmaid then. “Will you please get the word out? Tell them I will meet them in the Clearing come nightfall.”
“I will.” Giselle turned to leave the room, her leaf green dragonfly wings fluttering intensely. They always did that when she was nervous or on edge.
“Giselle, relax. They’re just trying to drive them out of the city. They’re not going to come here to the forest.” Narissa did carry that worry herself, but it wouldn’t do if those around the tree began to panic. She waved the girl on before moving to her desk. She needed to begin writing out a formal plan of action. The first thing she needed to do was find the Exiles. If what she was hearing was true, they must be put under lock and key until their innocence, if they had it, was proven. Benny would ner kill a child. He loved children. I find it hard to believe that he would take out anything I’d punish him with on a defenseless human child. Arla might, but it’s unlikely, since she recently lost her child friend to ailment. Deacon is the only I worry the most about. He’s been trouble since we found him back when he was four. `Yet, I can’t see him ever laying a hand on a child either. Narissa shook her head, and she continued to make her list, uncertain if any of it was going to make sense.
The second item on her list was to get a message out to Trixie Trell, and her colony in the IntraCity in Syracuse, New York. That would be tricky, as their community was guarded by a lot of secret runespells and magicks that Narissa had never learned. She would have to send Gavin for that. Gavin was the only one with real high magic, and really, Narissa wouldn’t have minded handing over her position as Grand Fae to him, but the law forbade anyone else other than the next in line of her family to do it. She hoped she wasn’t going to die any time soon. Her next of kin was a faerie boy named Marlon, and she had yet to ever have laid eyes on him. He had been fostered out to a city family at birth. His parents hadn’t wanted him to grow up royal. She scribbled a note on her pad to consult Gavin on the matter.
Finally, Narissa stood up, stretching. Her thick bronze colored hair fell down her back, coming loose from it’s ponytail disobediently. She sighed, but didn’t bother to fix it. Narissa’s moth shapped wings twitched on their own, and she looked up out of habit. Her wings were notorious for involuntarily warning her when something was either going to go wrong, or just be all out unpleasant, if not wrong as well. Narissa heard an uprising in the corridors leading up to her office. She shook her head. “Well, my beautiful wings, it looks like you were right, yet again. There’s trouble. She heard the unmistakably loud voice of Garron Brighttail arguing with Gavin. With a digusted grunt, the Grand Fae left her office to find out what it was all about.
“Nari! Did you see where they struck this morning? My SON lived in that colony with his foster family!” Garron exploded before Narissa even had a chance to call order to the chaos that awaited her.
“It is regrettable,” Narissa said. “however, we can only work to prevent further execution. I am holding a council meeting in the Clearing tonight after dark.”
“Regrettable? Just like that?! Why didn’t you see this coming, woman?! This was the year I was to bring Marlon back to begin his proper training.”
Narissa smiled sadly at Garron. “We don’t know the fate of those in the colony. We can only speculate. I am sure someone will send us word any day now about the losses.”
“And we’re supposed to just sit here and wait? Nari, I feel like we’re spoiled here in the deep forest while our city counterparts are being vaporized. We should be in the fight.” Garron’s arms folded, and he glowered at his ruler. “My son, Nari. Your nephew.”
“I know, and I’m truly sorry, but we shouldn’t lose hope, Garron. Your son is, of course, of Royal Fae. He’s just turned seventeen, if I remember it right. His power will manifest in full force over this situation. Have faith.”
Not if he was vaporized. Garron thought darkly, but he smiled more for Nari’s benefit. He could see that she really did feel bad about the situation at hand. “Do you think we can figure out a way to stop this?”
“I’m not sure. We’ll have to try.” Narissa replied, before she continued down the hall. “I’d thank you not to start trouble with someone who’s about to risk himself to find out.” She exchanged a silent glance with Gavin, giving him all the information he’d need to follow her into the Hall for a private discussion instantly. The doors to the Hall closed with a loud bang.
***
Tracie unlocked the door to her Victorian house, and called into the entrance way, wanting to see if anyone was there. When no one answered, she let out a sigh of relief. She took her stuff upstairs ,and set the Starbucks cup down by Lottie Beth’s old greenhouse on the windowsill. She let the faeries out into the greenhouse, and watched as they took in deep breaths of what she imagine was probably fresh air for them. “Sorry it took so long.”
“It’s okay.” Marlon offered her a smile. “The importan part is that you got us here.” He watched Tracie careful fill the bottom part of a soda bottle with the herbal tea. “Hey, Felix, bring Gace over here. Tracie’s ready for her.” Marlon watched Felix bring his sister over to the makeshift tub of tea.
Tracie took the young faerie child carefully, and sat her in the tub. She watched Gracie breathe in the herbal liquid, and saw her muscles visibly relax. “There, Gracie. You should feel better now.”
The faerie girl smiled gently, holding out her little hand to her brother. “It feels good, Felix.” Tracie hadn’t heard her speak often, so it her soft voice took the human girl by surprise. “Tracie’s a good friend, Felix. Can we stay with her?”
“Yeah, we can.” Felix looked up at Tracie then, and smiled gratefully. “Thank you, so much, for helping my sister out.”
“You’re very welcome, Felix.” Tracie nodded, then her head turned sharply, hearing someone at her doorway. “Tawny…”
“Are those faeries? Really?” Tawny’s deep blue eyes were full of tears, her expression unreadable. “Daddy said we can’t have them anymore. How can you have them? It’s not fair!” Her voice raised slightly, and Tracie thought there was going to be an all out tantrum. “Uh… Tawny, honey, it’s okay. See, I brought them for both of us! They’re in a lot of trouble, Tawn. Don’t you want to help them?” She went over to the doorway, and pulled Tawny into the room closing the door behind them. Her sister didn’t look happy.
