Fairy Guardian - Warned Ch17

 "Anna is missing?" Hal said in an annoyed voice. "Anna takes off to her vacation home all the time, check there. Call Basil. He would know where she is at?" Looking directly at Lily. She gave him a stare that he was not going to like what she had to say, "Basil is the one that sent the message. He was wondering if I knew where she was?" Now Hal looked a little more concerned and saying under his breath, "Like I need anything else right now."

Pulling himself back from the kitchen table and standing up, he says gives his orders, "Draco, head over to the five leading factions families and see if they saw or heard anything. Ember, go to Anna's house and check to see that she is indeed missing. Lily, head over to the King's residence and check with Michael to see if he has any news." Everyone leaves all their plates and heads out the door, leaving Helena and I at the table.

Giving his mom a look of your now in charge, "You need to keep watch to make sure, She." Points directly at me. I am here. Bucko. Going to interrupt him, but he beats me to it by saying, "She stays here. She is not to leave this place for ANY. I mean ANY reason." Then portals away. Who does he think he is? He is going to be King. Not my lord and master.

"Who does he think he is?" Saying to no one but obviously Helena heard me, "He has been running this realm for a very long time. I think he forgets he is actually talking to real beings not just pieces of chess pieces to move on the board." She gets up to start collecting the dishes, you could just tell something was bothering her. Decided to not pry but help. 

We made quick work of cleaning the kitchen. "Do you want a drink?" Sticking her head in the fridge. "I don't drink?" I literally hate having this conversation, but it comes up a lot. "I thought all humans have to drink water or they die?" Confusion and surprise coming over her face as she turns to me. Heat flares in my cheeks. Oh. Why do I always think it's about alcohol when someone asks? 

"Sorry, I don't drink alcohol or drugs if I am just laying it out there." Hoping she does not ask why, I hate talking about when life was completely out of control. Without Regina intervention. The Crash. Locked up. Sobering up. Getting clean. Without her. I would not be here. Love was spreading to my chest by a warm wave of peace and calm. She saved me. Yes, she lied but without her. Without Regina. My real mom.  Felt a little rabbit hole coming but Helena pipes up,

"Oh, I meant would you like water, juice, or lemonade. Fairies don't drink or do drugs," then she gets some lemonade out of the gigantic Side by Side Fidge. Fills two glasses and hands me one. Taking the glass and putting it to my lips for a cool refreshing sip. It tasted like fresh lemons. Tangy flavors tease my tongue and slide down my throat. Love lemonade that is not overly sweet.  Yummy. Smiling to myself. 

Conversationally I say, "Why don't fairies drink? Against some moral code?" Might as well ask the person that is not on a three question per day. Now the kiss outside comes to mind and all parts of me start t warm up.

Helena informs me, "Fairies are filled with light magic, and with using any kind of substance that can alter your magic brings the shadows in. The shadows can steal magic if you are intoxicated. Some fairies do, but I for one do not want to welcome any dark magic within me," shivering comes over her. Wiping her hands on herself to ward of even talking about it. 

"I would warn you. Do not take any drink from any fairy you do not know or trust?" Putting her hand to place it over mine. "Fairies are power hungry by are nature. The weaker some other fairy is, the better your able to control them." Patting my hand one more time, taking her hand back and sipping her lemonade slowly. 

"Thanks. I never thought to find some place that being sober is a majority. Not drinking in the human world, is almost being unicorn. You cannot believe they are real." One thing goes in the favor of the fairy realm. Never have to say I don't drink. Winning. Then looking over to her. 

Seeing tears leaking down her creamy skin, "You can't be with my son." Shock and a little stiffening come over me. My mother reenforced, 'Carson, no one will ever want you.' She was seriously fucked up. "Can I ask why? I will be honest Helena," she stops me, and says "Call me Helly." Ok. We are friend level but dating son a no go. Okay.

"Helly, Hal is hot." being braver than I have ever been and honest. "I would like to sleep with him," now getting a spine. Usually don't tell their mom before them but I like her. Who cares. "But I don't want a relationship with him. He is loving me one minute and the next my dictator." Jumping off the kitchen island chair and moving around.

"Love is a fantasy. You can love people that are nice to you and support you but love between a man and woman does not exist. They are to people that have sex, its good, gets obsessed, stop having sex, and then hating each other. No thank you." Still pacing. Thinking of my parent's marriage. Then thinking of my dad. He never treated me like my mother, but he was also never there literally and figuratively for me. Which is worse? Direct abuse or neglect. Huh. Rabbit hole number two coming.

Hands falls to her lovely larger breasts, "Well thank the stars. Because don't get me wrong I love my son. But. But after his magic was taken. He became. Empty. Like a dry husk of a fey." More tears fell and I could not stop from reaching over and giving her a side hug. "His father gave him back his magic, but something altered in him. He is not always him." Thinking back our time together since we met. And saying those exact words a minute ago. 

"I like you. I know we will be very close as friends. I think you are going to make some fairy male very happy, but Hal needs a political marriage. He gets to be whatever version of himself, and no feelings are involved. I can tell you feel things. Deeply," looking at me with motherly love and a knowing. Seeing in my soul. Take my hands off her abruptly. And backing up. Can she see me?

"Carson. I am an empath and pure blood. Anyone around me, I can feel everything quickly and accurately. It gets me in more trouble than it's worth but it's my magic. A gift," defending herself and pleading with me to understand. Wow. Supermom that knows when it's getting hot and heavy with her son. Not cool. But she is a wonderful fairy that has treated me nothing but kindness and compassion. 

Doing another side hug with Helly, "It will take a minute to accept that you can literally read any mood. But if you can accept I am a mess than I can certainly embrace your special magic." Getting up from her seat, giving the best full warm hug. Those hugs that don't feel stiff but grandmotherly. 

"Enough talk. You must be exhausted." If on cue, a big yawn comes. Both of us chuckling. "Yes, it's been a day of too many revelations. I do want to say, whatever happens with Hal and me. Just know. Know I will try not to be hurt by him, and I will try not to hurt him." Almost too tired to think anymore, she grabs my hands and walks to my room.

Going into the room. Wait. This is Hal's room. Looking at her with confusion on my face. Helly says in please understand once again, "Hal is a very private person. No one stays here except him. He has no staff. I don't even stay here but have a place at the King's private residence. Since your tired and Hal is busy finding Anna. Just tonight. We will put you in here until better arrangements can be made."

Too tired to argue, she shows me where the showers and then exits the room. Stripping down and getting into the world largest shower with jests on all sides, a rain forest shower head above, and steam bench to the left. White tile and real stones floor. Beautiful. Getting in and working the knobs for a while to get them to work. Hot water is just what I needed. Feeling my body relax. Seeing his products, decide to use them. Smell minty. Stepping out of shower, grab the big blue towel. Dry myself off and realize I have no clothes. 

Feeling like a creep going through his room, but girl needs sleep wear. Finding his very large closet. I thought I had quite the selection of clothes. His closet was the size of some people's condos. Seeing some plain shirts off the side, grab one and put it on. It goes way past my knees. Smelling it. Yes, a little creepy. But better than the lemonade. 

Now eyes practically shut, get in bed and fall right to sleep. 

Fading to dream space. Seeing my favorite magical white fairy tree right in front of my eyes. Ahhh. Placing my right hand on her bark and then my head. Feels like coming home. Safe.

A male voice startles me, and states in devil may care tone, "Hello. And who might you be?"