Page 45 of Storm

Melek refuses Adam’s apology, telling him how often he’s been late for dinner, ushering him to take a seat. I stare unashamedly.

The pointy-eared fairy is back, and I know this isn’t just a case of pregnancy brain. I’ve seen him on two separate occasions. Extricating my eyes from Adam, who is talking with Melek, I notice Sunny, who also has his mouth on the floor, staring. Shit, shit, shit, can he see him too?

I pray to all the gods, goddesses, aliens, and unknown beings in the sky that my boy doesn’t say anything with his father around.

The entire dinner, Melek and Adam eat and drink like nothing is amiss. Occasionally, a question is thrown my way, but they mostly talk about work while Sunny and I eat, staring at the fairy in our dining room. The fairy my husband doesn’t seem to notice is a fairy.

His enemy. The people he is fighting against.

I’m mostly surprised our five-year-old manages to keep his cool during this whole situation. He has had some experience with our own secrets, though we all know that was a bust, and he apparently can’t hide much from his father.

As soon as I see the last morsel eaten off of his plate, I’m excusing us both to get Sunny ready for bed. Neither fairy nor hollow bat an eyelid at my leaving, which I’m surprised about, considering Adam threatened me in my downstairs toilet the last time we met.

Once we are in Sunny’s room, I grasp his shoulders. We lock eyes, the whites shining in the lamplight, a smile curving his pink lips. “What colour was Adam’s skin?”

Wide eyes dart from left to right before my son whispers, “Green.” He’s almost bouncing on his feet in excitement. For him, this is one of the many stories I tell him coming to life. Sunny knows of the fairies with ‌rainbow skin and pointed ears. I’ve never allowed him to visit the Astral or one of the solence rituals. My son ‌only knows what I’ve told him. In my stories, they are always our saviours.

Nodding, I continue. “What else did you notice, baby?”

“His ears have points. He’s taller than Papa. I’ve never seen a man taller than Papa. He is the tallest,” Sunny states matter-of-factly. “Do you think he’s here to save you, me and Papa?”

“Oh, Sunny.” I pull him in close and stroke his hair. “I’m not sure why the fairy is here, but you must not tell Papa, okay? This time, you must keep it a secret. Pinky promise?”

Pulling back, his little face crinkles with seriousness. “Pinky promise, Mama.”

With one crisis averted, I aim for bed to contemplate this new turn of events. Voices drift from the other side of the hallway, where Melek’s study lies. My footfalls are silent under the carpeted rug, and as I place my hand on my bedroom handle, the study door opens to reveal the green, lithe giant who has been causing havoc in my mind.

I’m not crazy. He’s real.

Closing the door behind him, he sets his sights on me. Walking with purpose, he heads my way. Suspended, he places his hand on mine and opens the door to my room, pushing us both inside.

My skin tingles from his touch. I shake it off.

“Have you come to kill me, then?” I murmur brashly, regaining some composure.

Dark, tinted green lips kick up. “If I were going to kill you, I would’ve already done it. I’m not into killing pregnant women. Goes against everything I stand for.”

“And where does Melek think you are?”

“Toilet.” Shrugging, he prowls over to where I’ve currently plastered myself against the en suite door in an effort to keep a wide berth between us.

“Stop right there. Don’t—” My demand is useless. The fairy doesn’t listen. He lays one large hand next to my head, glowering down at me. “How can I see you?”

Cocking his head to the side, he assesses me. “Do you believe?”

“Believe in what?” I ask, confused.

“My kind, magical beings?”

Of course, I want to say. I have to believe in the creatures beyond the tree line. Without that belief and without them, I have no hope for my children or myself. “Yes,” I murmur softly, and we glare at each other for untold seconds.

“But what to do with you is the real question.” Golden-specked hazel eyes skim my body up and down, a full appraisal.

“Help me.” The words are a surprise, even to my ears, as they slip out of my mouth. Maybe Sunny has the right idea. This fairy could help us escape from this hollow world. As much as I see the change in Melek, I haven’t changed. This is not the place I want my children growing up in. I’m still the same girl from the lightning fields who wants to escape beyond the tree line. Who believes in things that have no bearing on reality. Now, I have even more incentive to go. I will not have my children brainwashed by the Halo government, seronds to some unknown identity.

“Hmmm, and how would I help you?” His finger trails up my clothed arm. An odd zipping sensation follows in his wake, like he’s a battery zapping my soul.

“Take Sunny and me to the Fairy Lands.”