Clash of the Otherworlds: Book 1, After the Fall (24 page)

"Hey!  Watch what you're doing up there, Gigantor!  I'm trying to eat here too," said Tim's annoyed voice from down at the table.  He was wiping off a squirt of juice that had hit him in the cheek.

"Sorry," I mumbled, forcing the melon into my mouth even though I had no taste for it.  I was going to try and pretend that it wasn't pissing me off to see the guy I had no interest in, cuddling up to a girl I hated with every fiber of my being.

"Seriously, Jayne.  Let it go.  Things are going to work out, you'll see," said Becky, rubbing my back.

"Whatever.  I have other things to worry about.  Things more important than what Ben decides to do behind closed doors."

"Or right out here in the open," said Finn, still staring at them, frowning.

"Shush, Finn!" urged Becky, slapping him on the arm.  "You are not helping!"

"Oh, sorry.  I'll shut up now."  He looked down at his plate, but kept sneaking glances over at the other table.

"So, I talked to an angel and a demon a few minutes ago," I said casually, looking down at my food.

Several utensils dropped onto plates and the table around me, causing everyone from the nearby area to look our way.

"Whaaat?!" said Becky, leaning her face over my plate.  "Jayne, you are
joking
.  I know you are.  You didn't go back into a dream again, did you?  Cuz that seems too dangerous if you ask me.  I think you should avoid doing that, like, ever again."

"I feel like I'm completely out of the loop right now," said Scrum.  "I haven't seen you in a while, but geez.  Angels and demons?  What did I miss?"

I smiled ruefully at my daemon friend, patting him on the arm.  "Sorry, Scrum.  Shit's hit the fan again.  Wish you could have been there to see it."

"Maybe I should be in the future.  I was reassigned, but if you need me, I can be with you whenever you want.  I'm sure they'd understand."

"Nothing you could do would help me right now, I'm afraid.  But thanks for the offer."

"So what's this about more demons and angels?" asked Spike.  "Last time I saw you, you were outside Tony's door waiting for him."

"Yeah, well, when you
abandoned
me there, I was waiting.  But I decided to go hang out in the meadow while he was with the girls, and I met up with them then.  And they told me all kinds of crazy shit that we need to discuss.  But not here," I said, looking around.  I didn't trust that there weren't listening spells in every corner of this space, and I'd already revealed enough to get me in trouble.

"Meet me in my room after lunch," I said.  "We can talk about it then.  I need some help getting the pieces all put together."

"Maybe we should go to Tony's room," said Tim, munching on a strawberry seed.  "Then we can avoid Abby too."

"Good idea.  Tim suggested we meet in Tony's room.  That way he can participate."

"I think we'd better plan that for after dinner.  According to what I heard, you're supposed to be fighting the good fight tomorrow.  You're supposed to work with Ben today," said Scrum.  "There're about ten daemon being called in for extra protection, me included."

"Seriously?  What do they think is going to happen that they'd need that kind of squad there?"

He shrugged.  "Our two elementals in training for a power fight?  One of them ... uh ... a bit inexperienced?  Who knows what could happen?  We're just being cautious."

I sighed.  "Okay.  I get it.  Better wear your anti-coma gear."

"We already planned to," he said, smiling.  "Witches hooked us up."

I stuck my tongue out at him and stood.  "Well, I'm going to go talk to Ben.  Wish me luck."

Becky grabbed my wrist as I turned to walk away.  "Jayne ... be nice."

I shook her off.  "Fuck that."

I walked over to where Ben was sitting, stopping in front of his table.

He lifted his eyes as I approached, a haughty but guarded expression on his face.  

I refused to even acknowledge Samantha's presence.  "Hello, Ben."

He nodded his head once.  "Jayne."

"I hear we're supposed to train together today."

"Yes.  At the green elf training grounds.  After lunch."

"What time?"

"Two o'clock.  Bring your weapon."

"Hello, Jayne," said Samantha, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.

I turned my head slowly and looked at her, saying nothing.  I simply stared her down.

"Thanks for choosing to sit elsewhere.  Ben's a fun guy to hang with."

"I guess you've moved on from Jared.  Fickle, aren't you?"

Her smile became a frown.  "Shut up, Jayne.  You have no idea what you're talking about.  As usual."

"Of course I do, cousin.  Way more than you realize."

I walked away but not before I heard Samantha say, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?  Why did she call me that?"

I smiled, happy to find that I actually knew something she didn't.  Every time I interacted with her, it seemed to be that I was suffering the result of one of her awesome spells.  It was nice to have the upper hand just this one time.

I left the lunchroom, happy to sense Tim arriving to ride my shoulder just as I left the room.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED over there?" asked Tim, facing behind me.  "Samantha looks maaaad."

"Good.  I hope she is."

"You sure about that?" he asked, turning around to face forward while holding onto a hunk of my hair for balance.  "She's a crazy-talented witch.  It never hurts to have one of them on our side."

"Yeah, well, I can manage.  I have Maggie."  I pulled open the door and stepped through into the hallway beyond, letting it shut on its own behind us.

Tim snorted.  "You might
think
you have Maggie, but I wouldn't bet the farm on that one."

"Do you even know what a farm is?" I asked, making my way to the door that would lead me back to the meadow.

"Of course I do.  I spent three months on one as a dragonfly.  It had cows, pigs, horses,  chickens, dogs, cats, tractors, electric bug zappers ... the works."

"What were you doing there?"  This was one of the few times Tim had offered me a glimpse of his life interacting with humans.

"I was on a mission."

"For whom?  Doing what?"

"Spy stuff.  Top secret.  I can't tell you or I'd have to pixelate you."

"Are you serious?" I asked, stopping.

"That's for me to know and you to ... always wonder about," he said, jumping off my shoulder to do some barrel rolls out in front of me.

"You are a serious pain in the ass, you know that?  I can see where your son gets it."

"Someone who will insult a man's child, is in desperate need of finding criticism."

"Who are you, Confucius?  Shut up and come over here so I can flick you in the ass."

"No way, your breath is rank today.  I'll be keeping my distance, thank you very much."

I shook my head, grabbing onto the door handle leading to the Infinity Meadow.  "Whatever.  There's an angel and a demon vampire out here, so you may want to stay inside."

"Whoa, Nelly, what'd you just say?" asked Tim, hovering in the doorway, a look of fear on his face.

"I
said
, there's an angel and a demon out here, so if you're afraid, you may want to get back inside like a good pixie."

Tim put his hands on his hips.  "I'll have you know that I've been thrice recognized for my bravery in the field, young lady, and I have never shied away from danger!"

"Except when it comes in the form of your wife."

He dropped his arms.  "Well, of course.  The Underworld hath no fury, remember?"

"Oh, yes.  I'd forgotten.  So are you coming or not?"

"Lead on, Magellan!" he said, flying out the door Superman-style.

I shut the door behind us and trudged through the heather.  I found my two friends waiting for us under the tree.  Upon seeing Tim, Garrett backed up a few paces.

"He's with me," I said.  "Don't worry about him pixying you or anything."

Tim flew up to hover in between Shayla and Garrett.  "I shall permit you to share my airspace so long as you do not threaten me or Jayne," he announced, crossing his hands over his chest.

I noticed they were standing closer to one anther than they had been before when I was around.  I tried to read their expressions but they were giving nothing away.  I was curious whether their closeness was based on shared pixie-caution or maybe the fact that they'd reached some sort of agreement about their past.

"So.  What'd you guys figure out while I was gone?" I asked.

Tim cleared his throat.  "A-
hem
, Jayne?  Some introductions, perhaps?"

"Oh, yeah," I said, holding up my hands in a halting gesture.  "I forgot to introduce you guys."

"Make sure you add the good stuff," said Tim, speaking behind his hand in a stage-whisper.

I frowned not sure what he was talking about.  I shook my head and continued.  "Garret and Shayla, this is Tim.  Tim this is..."

"No!" yelled Tim.  "That's not the good way.  Do it the good way.  With style!  Put a little pizzaz on it!"  He did a somersault for effect.

I sighed and started again, putting zero inflection into my voice just to piss Tim off.  "What I meant was, Shayla and Garrett, behold.  This is Tim the Pixie of ... awesomeness.  Winner of three medals for bravery or something cool like that.  Pixelator of guardian angels."  I gestured towards Shayla.  "Tim, this is Shayla the dragonslayer."  I swept my arm towards Garrett.  "And this is Garrett the dragonslayer."

I dropped my arm down to my thigh.  "Is everyone happy now?  Can we move on?"

Shayla bowed respectfully to Tim.  "Sir Tim.  It is my privilege and honor to make your acquaintance."

My draw dropped open.

Garrett was next, bowing down almost to his knees.  "Tim the Brave.  I am at your service, good sir."

Tim was nodding regally.  "Now that's what I'm talkin' about."

I laughed to myself, not sure if they were just shining him on or if he actually had a reputation out there in the fae world as some sort of superhero.  But I had other more pressing issues to deal with, so I let that thought float out of my head and steered the topic towards our former conversation.

"I've invited my friends to talk to you.  Any chance I can convince you to meet with us in my friend's room in the compound?  It's not that big, so it might be a little crowded, but I know they'd like to hear what you have to say."

"Why can't they meet us out here?" asked Shayla, fluffing her wings once.

"One of them is sick.  He's my friend who's recovering from the Gray incident."

"Ah, yes.  Well, it isn't a problem for me," said Shayla, looking over at Garrett.

He shrugged.  "Nor I.  Although ... I am concerned that I have once again become quite hungry."

Tim flew up high above my head, yelling, "Run for the compound, Jayne!  Hungry vampire on the loose!"

I laughed.  "Relax, Tim.  He's not going to attack you."

Tim slowly lowered himself down, never taking his eyes off of Garrett.  "Don't be so sure about that.  He's a demon.  Never forget that about him."

"You can have another sip of my blood if you want," I said, rolling up my sleeve.

Shayla stepped towards me suddenly, grabbing my arm.  "Are you
mad?
  Why would you offer such a thing?"  She looked down at the marks on my arm left over from his earlier meal and gasped.

"Uh, because he needs it?"

Shayla was outraged.  "Tell me you did not take blood from her without discussing the sacrifice!" she demanded of Garrett.

His lips thinned and he shrugged.  "There wasn't time, as I recall."

"The hell there wasn't!" she said, pulling the dragon fang out of her sheath.

I grabbed her arm, stopping her.  "Hey, relax!  Nothing happened.  He took a sip and I was fine.  See?"  I held up the arm that he'd drank from before.  Two black circles remained where he had bitten me.  I frowned, not noticing before how ugly they were. 
Ew.  That's kind of gross.

"Tell her!" demanded Shayla.  "Tell her right this instant or I shall burn you all the way back to the Underworld. 
And
I will make it my eternal mission to ensure you never see the light of the Here and Now ever again."

Her oath had my throat closing with fear. 
What could possibly be so bad that she'd go that far on my behalf?  What have I done now?

Garrett sighed and took a few steps closer to me, but Shayla's weapon coming out and pointing at his heart made him stop in his tracks.

"Jayne.  Please allow me to explain.  I apologize for not doing this before, but as you will recall, we were in somewhat of an emergency situation."

I nodded.  "I do recall that.  I'm not angry at you.  Not yet, anyway.  Go ahead."

"Thank you.  Well, what I should tell you before you offer to feed me again, is that blood-letting by a member of the Underworld upon a member of the Here and Now can place a taint on the soul of that fae or human."

"A taint?" I asked, my voice lacking its usual volume.

"Yes.  A taint.  It is but a smudge.  But too many of those smudges can equal a swath of evil that is quite hard to move beyond, in one's daily existence."

"I have no idea what you just said."  I looked to Shayla.  "Translation?"

"What he's dancing around saying, is that if he drinks from you enough, he will turn your insides black and cause you to become a permanent member of the Underworld, even though you might still be present in this realm ... in the Here and Now.  All the decisions you make will be tainted with this blackness.  You will, in effect, be evil personified."

"You'd turn me bad?" I asked, feeling more than a little betrayed.

"In a manner of speaking, that could happen.  But I would not allow it.  I would never take that much from you."

"As if you could control your need," scoffed Shayla.

"I
can
control my need!" shouted Garrett.  "I have had a thousand years to learn how!  Believe me, it was a difficult lesson, but one I have mastered quite fully, no thanks to you or anyone else."