Fairytale Come Alive

Chapter Twenty-One Then they were gone. And he knew she was too.

Elle

Elle was sitting in her Land Rover outside the school waiting for Jace and Sally to get out.

It was three weeks after Christmas, there was a dusting of snow on the ground and the weather had hit a chill so cold the snow was going nowhere, not for awhile.

Elle’s gaze was on the kids pouring out of the school but she didn’t see them. She had a dozen things on her mind.

First, she had to get Jason to his guitar lesson, something he requested after he got the electric guitar and, about five minutes after the last present was unwrapped on Christmas morning, he worked with his father to set it up. He strummed once, the sound blasted back from the amplifier and he instantly fell in ten year old boy love. Considering the amount of time he practiced, Prentice had agreed to the lessons. It was clear Jason was committed to the guitar and, further, Prentice liked the idea that it linked him to his mother in an unusual but beautiful way.

When Jason got his guitar lessons, Sally, not to be left out, declared she wanted dance lessons and gymnastics lessons. Surprisingly to this too, Prentice agreed. He decided at her age she couldn’t know which she had more of an interest in he was just pleased she had any interest at all. So he told Elle that Sally might as well try them both and later, if she was still committed, follow through with the one she preferred.

Therefore Elle had to get Jason to his lesson, Sally home to change into her leotard then off to her lesson, then, after dropping Sally off, head to Fern’s to make final decisions on furniture and bedding (their rooms were, at that very moment, completely bare and being painted, they were sleeping in the guest suite) then back through town to pick up Jason then Sally then get home and start dinner.

She’d spent the morning booking their Disneyworld holiday on-line, the rest of the day cleaning the house and doing laundry all the while intermittently making tea for the painters and she hadn’t thought once about what they were going to have for dinner.

So as she sat in her Land Rover contemplating the mad dashes through town she would soon be making, hoping she could do what she needed to do at Fern’s in time to pick up the kids as well as thinking about what she had in the fridge for dinner and not concentrating much on her surroundings.

Until she saw something that caught her eye and she focused on the figure that appeared to be trying to hide, and poorly, around the corner of the school.

Hattie Fennick.

Hattie Fennick with a camera around her neck.

Elle pulled in a shocked breath as she watched Hattie scanning the kids streaming out of the school and Elle knew, she knew Hattie was waiting to take Jason and Sally’s picture. Just like she sold her and Prentice’s story to the gossip magazine, she’d been selling the recent photos too. It was Hattie who was their source, keeping the photos and stories coming and thus the interest alive.

In fact, just last week they’d printed a photo of Prentice and Elle wandering down the sidewalk two villages over, having a date night, the kids at Fiona’s sister Morag’s house. They were illuminated by a streetlamp, Prentice’s arm was wrapped around Elle’s shoulders and both hers were wrapped around his stomach. Her front was pressed to his side, he had his head tipped down to look at her, she had hers tipped back to look at him, she’d said something to make him chuckle and she was laughing with him.

The caption read, It’s Wedding Bells for Isabella and Prentice! And in a little square at the bottom right corner of the photo was a blown up shot of her hand wearing Prentice’s ring and that had its own caption of, And her hunky architect is not messing around!

As annoying as it was, she had to admit she loved that photo. They looked happy mainly because they were.

But that was two villages over; the shot had been taken after they had dinner and were walking back to Prentice’s SUV so it was after nine at night. There was practically no way Hattie would just happen to be in that village (with a camera), which was smaller by half than Prentice’s which meant it was tiny. They had a takeaway Chinese, the Italian restaurant she and Pren went to and a news agent. There was no reason for Hattie to be there.

This meant Hattie Fennick was stalking Elle, Prentice and the kids!

Hattie Fennick was stalking them and getting paid to expose snippets of their lives and steal photos of their memories and sell their privacy to the world.

As this knowledge burned into her brain, Elle lifted her hands and curled her fingers on the steering wheel in an effort to stop herself from opening her door and marching straight to Hattie, yanking that camera from her neck, smashing it on the ground and giving Hattie a piece of her mind.

It would not do to throw a temper tantrum in front of all the kids at Sally and Jace’s school and the parents there to pick them up.

No, she thought as her narrowed, angry eyes stayed focused on Hattie, she’d pick her time and it would be the right time.

The bed in the guest suite was smaller than the one in their room and the one they would be purchasing.

But it was cozy and comfortable.

They were good. The furniture could wait another day to be ordered, Elle decided as Hattie lifted the camera to her eye and Elle knew that Sally and/or Jason was headed her way.

Yes, she thought, glaring at Hattie taking photos of her children, the furniture could wait.

Fiona

“Is everything okay, Elly Belly?” Fiona heard her daughter ask, her small hand held by Bella’s as Bella walked her into the dance studio.

Fiona thought her wee lass looked adorable in her baby pink tights and leotard, even with that big coat over it, scarf wrapped around her neck, wooly hat pulled over her ears, feet encased in warm boots (she would put on her ballet slippers in the studio).

Bella didn’t take any chances with the cold, Fiona was pleased to see.

But Fiona, for once, wasn’t thinking about her sweet Sally.

Her focus was Bella who Sally couldn’t help but notice was angry, walking stiffly, face set. Hell, anyone would notice it; that was how angry Bella was, she wasn’t even shielding Sally from it.

Bella’s thoughts were elsewhere, it was plain to see and Fiona knew where they were.

Fiona had seen Bella notice Hattie Fennick and she’d seen Bella’s reaction.

And Fiona wasn’t ready.

She had not realized her magic. She’d spent hours practicing, hours at her tent calling to the Colonel Sanders Messenger Man in hopes he’d materialize and give her some clue.

He hadn’t and she was no closer to finding her magic so she could use it when the time came.

And Fiona feared the time was coming now.

Christmas had come and gone and all was well, joyful, happy – even including a visit from Laurent Evangelista (who was an even bigger tosser than Fiona reckoned he was and she reckoned he was a pretty big tosser). Bella had barely reacted to his appearance. She dealt with it and moved on, no clenching of the fists, no nothing.

Fiona was proud of her.

Prentice, Fiona noted, was prouder.

But there was no word from Bella’s father. No mishaps roasting the turkey. The television didn’t explode when Prentice and Mikey installed the PlayStation.

The only danger, Fiona reckoned, was Hattie Fennick.

And Fiona knew, just looking at Bella’s face, that Bella intended to do something about it.

And now.

Wait! Fiona shouted at her as she floated by Bella and her daughter’s side. Wait until later! Talk to Prentice! Tell him about it tonight! Don’t go on your own!

Bella gave no indication that she’d heard Fiona as she walked toward the doors, pushing them open and lying to Sally, “I’m fine, sweetie. Just have something on my mind.”

“Okay,” Sally said softly, disbelief and worry clear in her tone.

Bella! Don’t! Fiona didn’t give up and kept shouting. She’s dangerous! Just wait, wait and talk to Prentice. He’s your knight in shining armor. He’s made to keep you safe. Don’t do something stupid!

Again, Bella gave no indication she heard her ghostly friend as she forced a smile at the instructor then helped Sally take off her winter things and put on her slippers.

Then she bent and kissed the top of Sally’s, her hand lifting slightly to curl around Sally’s soft cheek and Sally tipped her head back to look at Bella.

“I’ll be back in an hour, honey,” Bella said softly.

Sally nodded. “Okay, Elly Belly.”

Hearing her nickname, Bella didn’t have to force her farewell smile for Sally.

Then she dropped her hand, nodded at the instructor and a couple of the parents as she headed back out to her 4x4, Fiona so close to her side, Bella shivered at the cold caused by Fiona’s spectral body and not the deep chill in the air.

Bella, listen to me, Fiona begged, wrapping her ghostly hands around Bella’s arm causing her to shiver again. Please, please, at least call Prentice.

Bella bleeped the locks to her Rover, yanked open the door angrily and climbed inside.

Then she whispered, “No. I’m going to take care of this once and for all.”

Bella! Fiona shouted but Bella shook her head.

“No,” she kept whispering, “no one interferes with my happily ever after but they really don’t interfere with Prentice’s or the kids’.”

Fiona closed her eyes.

Bella switched on the ignition.

Bloody hell! Fiona yelled, glaring at Bella’s stubborn profile.

Then she made a mistake.

She dematerialized and materialized at Prentice’s office to try her hand at yelling at him in order to get through.

Leaving Bella alone.

She should never have left Bella alone.

Prentice

Prentice was at his drafting board at the office, sifting through phone messages Alice had left for him, thinking he’d need to have a look at the building where his offices were housed because, that afternoon, a chill had slid through them so arctic, it was uncomfortable. He’d never felt it before and they were experiencing a severe cold snap so he reckoned the heating wasn’t up to the task.

However, strangely, the chill subsided as suddenly as it came. Prentice still made a mental note to look into it.

These thoughts were in his head when his mobile rang.

He looked down at it, seeing a number come up on the display rather than a name. His head tilted to the side, he picked it up, engaged and put it to his ear.

“Cameron,” he greeted.

“Prentice?” a female’s voice asked.

“Aye,” he answered.

“Hello, this is Lydia, Jason’s guitar teacher.”

Prentice’s body started to tighten as his mind went alert, wondering why she’d be calling him considering Elle dealt with the children’s instructors. Elle found them, she checked their references and she hired them. Except for telling Prentice about them and him meeting them briefly, since their lessons happened while he was at the office, he had little to do with them.

“Yes?” he prompted.

“Well, I’ve been calling Bella but she isn’t answering and she hasn’t picked up Jason from his lesson. She’s over a half an hour late and she’s never late. I’ve got another student coming in soon and I was wondering if wires were crossed? Perhaps you were supposed to pick up Jason?”

Prentice gut tightened along with his body but it did it harder, sharper, making him feel instantly sick.

“No, I –” he started to say but his phone vibrated in his hand, he took it from his ear quickly, glanced at it, saw he had an incoming call and he put it back to his ear and said, “Just a minute, another call is coming through. Maybe that’s Elle. I’ll be right back.” Then he took the phone from his ear again, hit the button to engage and put it back. “Cameron.”

“Hi, Prentice, this is Gemma, Sally’s ballet instructor. Listen, the lesson just ended but all the other kids are gone and Bella isn’t here as usual to pick up –”

Prentice was no longer listening. He was out of his chair and moving to the hook and his coat.

“Someone will be there soon,” he told Gemma then didn’t wait for a response, he went back to Lydia, told her the same thing then disconnected from her too.

Then he grabbed his coat and shrugged it on at the same time calling his mother to ask her to pick up the kids and he swiftly walked out of his offices without a word to Alice or anyone.

Then he got in his Rover and drove just as swiftly home.

Elle

“That’s what I get,” Nigel Fennick muttered. “That’s all I get, day and night, day and bloody, fucking night.”

Elle’s head lolled on the backseat of Nigel Fennick’s car, blinking away the fuzzy feeling in her head as she felt cold sting, sharp and piercing, at her wrists.

Something, or it felt like someone, an invisible someone, was picking at the ropes binding her wrists.

That was bizarre, impossible but she couldn’t think of that. She had to focus on clearing her head after she’d knocked boldly and imperiously on Nigel and Hattie Fennick’s front door, Nigel opened it and she’d furiously demanded a word with Hattie. Nigel stared at her a moment, sighed deeply, invited her in and she walked into the living room only to stop, watch Nigel turn to her and then watch his face studying her. Then, as she watched, it twisted with something ugly and unbelievably frightening. She tensed in preparation for flight but before she could react, he’d picked up a vase and conked her on the side of the head with it.

Yes, conked her on the side of the head!

She’d blacked out instantly and woke up in the backseat of his car, wrists and ankles bound and a gag tied around her mouth, something or someone working at her bounds and Nigel ranting from behind the wheel as he was driving.

“Prentice this. Bella that. Sally and Jason this, that and the other. My God! She has a husband! She has a son! Does she pay a mind to us? No!” he ended on a shout and Elle closed her eyes, her heart beating wildly, fear saturating her entire body.

He’d gone mad.

Or Hattie had driven him to it.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. At the end of the fairytale, the heroine gets to live in her castle and enjoy her happily ever after.

Okay, so Elle could put up with trolls making an appearance every now and then. And the handsome hero could be annoying but he was always beautiful and loving even when he was being annoying.

The heroine wasn’t supposed to end up in the backseat of a car, bound, her head pounding, terrified and the wicked witch actually being a wicked construction worker at the end of his rope with his catty, awful, miserable wife and taking it out on the heroine!

Elle had enough wicked in her life. It was now her happily ever after.

Didn’t he know?

“She makes money from those photos and we need a new boiler,” Nigel raged on. “Does she buy a boiler? No… she… does… not. She goes to Edinburgh and gets her hair done and it cost two hundred bloody pounds! She buys a membership to the gym, pays some bloke to work with her and she goes there every evening. She doesn’t make dinner for her family; she gets in her car and goes to the bloody gym!”

Elle hadn’t noticed Hattie got her hair done or that she’d lost any weight.

Then again, she tried not to notice Hattie at all.

“And I know why,” Nigel seethed, bringing Elle’s attention back to him. “She thinks she can catch his eye. She lies in bed beside me and pretends he’s there lying beside her. Do you know? Do you know how it feels to lie beside your wife every night for over a decade and know she doesn’t want you at her side? Do you know how that feels? Do you know?” he ended on a screech and Elle winced.

Elle didn’t know and she didn’t think that would feel very good but it wasn’t worth conking someone on the head, binding them and throwing them in the backseat to drive around while ranting.

“Well, I’m done,” he raved. “I am bloody, fucking done. She wants Prentice Cameron; I’ll give her a clear shot.”

The cold at her wrists vanished but Elle barely noticed as her body went rock-solid with terror at his words.

“But for Prentice Cameron, he’ll experience again what it’s like no’ to have the woman he loves at his side,” Nigel maniacally vowed and Elle started panting behind her gag just as the icy feeling came back to her wrists. “The body’s there for me but it isn’t. He’ll know that feeling, I’ll bloody well make it so, he’ll know. He’ll bloody fucking know what it’s like to be alone.”

The ties binding her wrists came undone and almost immediately the cold could be felt at her ankles.

“They’ll never find you,” Nigel muttered. “They’ll never, ever find you. They’ll think you ran away again. They’ll all think you left him again. They’ll never know.”

Elle circled her hands to work out the pins and needles and tried to steady her breathing, letting the cold she knew was her ally work her ankles without moving and making it more difficult. As the cold worked her ankles, she concentrated on getting her thoughts in order. She tried not to think about how stupid she’d been, not telling anyone where she was going. She’d called Fern to reschedule but she hadn’t explained why.

And now the kids were surely done with their lessons and waiting for her to pick them up. Waiting and worried.

And Prentice…

She closed her eyes tight, the car came to a halt and her eyes shot open.

It was late, dark, so dark she knew they were well out of town. They had nothing but the moonlight. She had dark, she still had bound ankles, she didn’t know where she was.

The only thing she knew was she had to get away. She had to get back to her happily ever after.

She had to.

She heard Nigel exit the car and she rolled to her back, lifting her hands to pull the gag from her mouth, the wintry workings at her ankles seemed to get more frantic and the ropes were loosened but not undone when Nigel pulled open the door at her head.

She could delay no further.

Before he could lean in, Elle lifted up, scooted on her behind toward the other door then turned on the seat and did her best to kick out with her bound feet.

It worked. Nigel wasn’t prepared, she hit him in the chest and he went back, slamming his head on the doorframe with a pained grunt as he went.

Elle twisted her torso and fumbled with the door handle.

It’s locked! She heard the disembodied shout in a feminine voice with a Scottish accent, a voice that was vaguely familiar but that familiarity was deep in her memory banks.

She couldn’t focus on hearing voices, even familiar ones, because she had to get out.

Then she heard the door lock disengage but it wasn’t her that pressed the button.

What was happening?

She didn’t ask, she just went back to the handle and opened the door, pushing herself out and, without full use of her lower extremities, falling to a hip. She rolled to her bottom and scooted quickly away from the car, stopped and both the frosty touch as well as her hands went to the bounds at her feet.

“You stupid bitch!” She heard Nigel shout as she kicked her feet free of the ropes, rolled and got to her hands and knees. “Stupid bitch!” he shrieked as she lifted up on the fly, already running. “Don’t you run away from me!” he yelled.

Elle ran faster.

No! No’ that way! That’s the cliff! Go to the road! The voice came back, urgent, scared and Elle switched directions instantly. Good! The road!

Elle ran and as she did she wondered why she still wore high-heeled boots when she lived in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands with a job as a happy homemaker. Happy homemakers didn’t wear high-heeled boots.

Or, at least, if she made it through this night, she was never going to do wear them again.

She heard him pounding after her and she ran faster, as fast as she could but in those heels she couldn’t run fast enough.

He grasped the back of her jacket and she cried out as her limbs kept moving forward but her torso jerked back. He pulled her to him then clamped his arms around her and jerked her around, marching her back where they came.

“No!” she cried, struggling violently, tearing at his hands with her fingernails, dragging her feet, bucking her body, slamming her head backwards in hopes of connecting. “Help me!” Elle screamed. “Somebody help me!”

“No help out here for you, lass. And when I’m done, I’ll no’ hear Hattie raving about Isabella Austin Evangelista. No more. No more,” Nigel whispered crazily in her ear as he forced her through the darkness and that was all she could see, a vast sea of darkness and she knew where he was taking her. She couldn’t see it but she knew it.

There was nothing beyond that darkness.

Nothing but cliff at the bottom of which was to be Elle’s watery grave of sea.

Knowing that, she kicked back, arched her body and shrieked, “Somebody help me!”

And at her words, she and Nigel Fennick came to an abrupt halt and she heard his grunt of surprise.

But Elle didn’t process this.

She was staring in front of her, no longer struggling because floating before them in the darkness was a see-through Fiona Cameron.

Prentice

“Prentice, I hardly think –” Hattie, standing in her front door, began but Prentice leaned into her, getting into her face and she clamped her mouth shut.

“Bring me your boy,” he growled.

“She wasn’t here,” Hattie snapped back. “She isn’t here.”

“Her Rover is at your curb, woman,” Prentice returned.

“So? Maybe she’s visiting Mrs. Kilbride. She lives just across the street,” Hattie shot back.

“You think I haven’t already knocked on her door?” Prentice retorted.

“Why on earth would she –?” Hattie started but Prentice interrupted her again.

“Your boy has been home since school,” he stated.

“Of course,” Hattie replied shortly.

“And you told me you just got home but if Elle was here, he’d know and I need to know. She’s disappeared, she’s no’ answering her mobile, no one has seen her, no one has heard from her except Fern who only knows she canceled their appointment at the last minute, no’ why. I need to retrace her steps and her Rover is at your curb, Hattie, so if you haven’t seen her and Nigel isn’t here then I need to speak to Davey to see if he has.”

“I have,” a young boy’s hesitant voice came from behind Hattie and Prentice’s gaze jerked around the woman to see her son standing behind her in their hall.

“Davey, upstairs to your room,” Hattie ordered on a turn and Prentice beat back the desire to wrap his fingers around the silly, bitter cow’s throat.

“You’ve seen her?” Prentice asked and his gut, already tied in a tight knot, clenched even further when he took in the boy’s pale face and frightened eyes.

When Davey didn’t answer, Prentice pushed by Hattie and strode swiftly to the boy who backed up at his advance but slammed to a halt against the banister of the stairs.

“Prentice Cameron! You are no’ welcome in my home!” Hattie shouted from close behind him but Prentice ignored her and bent his face to the boy’s.

“Why are you afraid, Davey?” he asked, his voice low, his meager reserves of control slipping, his focus on trying not to terrify him further because he needed to know, and now, what the boy knew that was making him look so fucking scared.

“Davey, up to your room!” Hattie snapped and only Prentice’s neck twisted so he could lock eyes with the bitch.

“Why won’t you let him speak to me?” he clipped.

Hattie tossed her hair and crossed her arms on her chest. “I already told you, I don’t know why you’re here or Bella’s Rover is in front of my house, Prentice. The never ending drama of your life doesn’t intrude in ours. We have no’ one thing to do with you and jet-set Isabella Evangelista.”

He straightened and turned to her. “You do. You know you do. You live and breathe Elle and me. It’s coiled in you like a rotting vine.”

“Hardly,” she hissed with another toss of her hair but Prentice was done, he didn’t have time for Hattie Fennick, he never did and he turned back to Davey.

“Talk to me, boy,” he demanded.

“Go to your room,” Hattie ordered.

“Talk to me, damn it!” Prentice shouted and Davy got tense but he spoke.

“She came, earlier, Dad let her in then I saw Dad carrying her out to his car.”

Prentice’s body shot straight as he heard Hattie breathe, “What?”

“She was bleedin’ from her head,” Davey whispered.

Fear cut through his body leaving nothing but raw in its wake because he suddenly knew, he knew what life was like at the Fennick household when someone as controlling, twisted, bitter and malicious as Hattie lived in it, obsessed with another man and his family.

“Where would he take her?” Prentice bit out quickly, Davey’s mouth opened and shut and then again before he swallowed. Prentice gave up on him, turned to his mother and repeated, “Where would he take her?”

“I don’t –” she started, her face pale, she was shocked, completely unable to comprehend what her warped obsession with another man wrought on her husband.

Prentice didn’t have time for her to think so he turned and advanced, fast, Hattie retreating and then she slammed against the wall by the door and stared up at him with deeper shock as his body pressed close and he got nose to nose with the bitch.

“Where would he fucking take her?” Prentice gritted through his teeth.

“I… I…” she stammered.

“Where?” Prentice roared.

“The cliffs,” she whispered. “The cliffs at Kenkames.”

Prentice said not a word nor spared a glance.

He sprinted out of the house to his Rover.

Elle

“Bloody hell,” Nigel Fennick breathed and even though Elle was staring at Fiona floating and shimmering in front of her, her beautiful dark hair drifting like it was caught in a stiff but delicate breeze, the ends of the attractive tunic she wore doing the same, Elle knew Nigel was stunned and this was her chance.

And it could be her only one.

So, at the same time, she kicked back with her boot, hitting him sharply in the shin as she scratched at his hand, her nails digging in. He yelped, his leg went back automatically to avoid her foot, his arms loosened; she pulled free, rounded him and ran.

Head for the road! Fiona shouted, zooming eerily beside her.

“You said that already!” Elle shouted back but did it anyway.

I know! I have super-ghostly sight, you don’t, so you have to listen to me! Fiona shouted back.

Super-ghostly sight. Insane! Elle thought.

Seriously, you need to rethink your footwear, Fiona advised and Elle kept running even as she rolled her eyes.

“You don’t think I know that?” she returned.

Faster! Fiona yelled. He’s gaining!

Elle tried to run faster, her breath coming in deep pants, her boots and Nigel’s boots hitting the road sounding jarringly in the quiet, dark, deserted night.

“Where are we?” Elle asked through her pants, deciding to zig and zag to see if she could put him off so she did at that same time hoping whatever Fiona’s answer was would give her the information she needed to get out of this bloody mess and back home.

Kenkames. No’ populated and nobody will be up here this late at night, Fiona answered.

“Marvelous,” Elle muttered right before she heard Fiona’s ghostly scream and Elle was tackled, going down hard, first to her knees then her hand slammed into the asphalt of the road, the pain in her wrist shooting up her arm then she hit the road at her chest, her breath going clean out of her.

Let her go, you fool! Fiona shouted as Elle sucked in air but still she immediately started struggling, twisting, turning and kicking out. Let her go! Fiona repeated. Let her go! Let her go, go, GO!

Then Nigel’s weight was off Elle, she rolled several times to the side, got to a knee and looked back to see Nigel struggling with the supernatural body of Fiona.

RUN! Fiona screeched as, with parted lips, Elle watched Fiona lifting Nigel clean in the air and darting away, both of them several feet off the ground.

Now! Fiona yelled, Elle found her feet, turned away from her surprising attacker and by far and away more surprising rescuer and she ran.

Prentice

“Prentice –” Dougal started, his voice coming from Prentice’s speakerphone on his mobile.

“Just do it, Dougal. Call the police and head up to Kenkames,” Prentice ordered.

“You should leave this to the cops, Prentice, you should –”

“I’m no’ discussing it, I’m telling you. Call the fucking police, get in your fucking car and head up to fucking Kenkames,” Prentice ground out, hit the button on his phone to end the call and tossed it in the passenger seat.

Then he focused on the road. He needed to focus on the road. He was in a 4x4 going twice the speed limit. He needed to get to Elle, get her safe and beat Nigel fucking Fennick bloody and not die in a fiery crash before he could do it.

And that was what he was bloody well going to do.

Fiona

Fiona forced Nigel in his car, locking it and keeping it locked with her newly realized powers. Once she accomplished that, she floated outside it, hands on hips, glaring at Nigel.

It wasn’t anger that brought on her powers.

It also wasn’t effort.

Or concentration.

It was love.

Magic came from love.

Who knew?

All she knew was, faced with the possibility that, if she didn’t do something, there would be no Isabella Austin soon-to-be Cameron in this world, Fiona couldn’t abide that.

Her children needed Bella.

Her husband needed her.

Annie, Fergus, Mikey, they needed her.

And Bella needed her happy ending.

And Fiona loved her enough to make it so.

So she did.

You’re mad, Nigel Fennick, and you need help, she informed him through the car window as she floated at its side and he struggled with the handle to a door she kept locked.

He stopped struggling and scowled up at her.

“You don’t exist,” he declared.

No, you’re right but then again, I also do, she replied. When Prentice finds Bella they’ll send someone up here to get you and then you need to get help.

“Go to hell!” he shouted.

No bloody way, she shot back, gave him one long, last glare then she dematerialized and materialized at Bella’s side.

A Bella who was walking, holding her side. She was walking quickly, very quickly, but she was still bloody walking.

Why are you walking? Fiona snapped, Bella’s body jolted and her head jerked to the side.

“You’re back,” she noted unnecessarily.

Aye, I’m back and there’s a bad man no’ too far away who’s lost his mind and wants you dead so why are you walking?

“I can’t run anymore, I have a stitch in my side,” Bella explained. “And anyway, you carried him away. A grown man…” Bella shook her head, disbelief stark on her features. “A grown man.”

Fiona drew in a needless, frustrated breath then advised, Bella, run.

“Have you taken care of him?” Bella asked.

I hope so. My powers are new, so let’s no’ take a chance, agreed?

Bella studied her. Then, thankfully, she started jogging.

Then, faced forward, she whispered as her breath started to get heavy, “You’ve been with us.”

Fiona didn’t answer.

“You’ve been with us for awhile,” Bella went on.

Fiona kept silent.

Bella waited then continued, “You gave him to me.”

Just run, Fiona whispered back, zooming beside her.

“You gave him to me,” Bella panted as she kept running. “You gave them all to me.”

Of course, I’m your fairy godmother, Fiona replied and Bella came to a rocking halt and turned sharply to her.

“What?” she gasped.

Oh for goodness sakes!

Bella, run! Fiona yelled.

“You’re my fairy godmother?” Bella asked, still panting.

Bella –

“Who would do that to you? God?” Bella queried, her expression, Fiona thought, in normal circumstances, would be hilarious, incomprehension mixed with a liberal dose of anger. But it wasn’t hilarious considering they were in the middle of nowhere on a roadside cliff in the freezing cold (though Fiona couldn’t feel it, she saw the chapped red in Bella’s cheeks so she knew it to be true), running from a madman.

Colonel Sanders, Fiona answered, watched Bella blink and couldn’t bite back her smile.

“Colonel Sanders made you my fairy godmother?” Bella demanded to know, her hands going to her hips. Then she declared, “Well, that’s crazy. And it’s… it’s… it’s mean. Why would he do that?” she asked then didn’t wait for Fiona to answer before she declared. “I’m never eating his chicken again.”

Yes, she was hilarious. Even in the middle of a trauma.

Fiona floated close and, surprisingly, Bella held her eyes and her ground, not frightened of her, not at all.

Then Fiona whispered, Love, please run.

Bella continued to hold her eyes. Then she turned again and ran. She kept doing this quietly, her breath beginning to heave as Fiona zoomed at her side.

After awhile, Fiona informed her, Once you’re safe, it’s likely I’ll move on.

“Okay,” Bella forced out then, carefully, “That’s good, right?”

Right, Fiona answered and hoped she wasn’t lying.

“Okay,” Bella breathed.

I don’t want them to know, Fiona said softly and watched Bella close her eyes tight even as she continued running then she opened her eyes again.

“Okay,” Bella repeated, it was breathy, again forced but it was also sad.

Thank you for taking care of them, Fiona went on and heard Bella’s breath hitch and not with the effort of running.

Then she pushed out, “It’s my pleasure, honey.”

I know, Fiona whispered then they saw them, headlights.

“Thank God,” Bella breathed, her pace quickening, Fiona saw the 4x4, she recognized it, she reached a hand out and slid it along Bella’s neck. Bella’s head turned, her eyes caught Fiona’s and Fiona smiled.

Then she disappeared.

Prentice

The instant he saw Elle running, Prentice stood on the brakes, pulled on the parking brake and was out the door. He barely cleared it when Elle hit him full on.

His arms closed around her trembling body, trembling even as she pulled in deep breaths, wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.

“Baby,” he whispered into the top of her hair, seeing the blood at her temple that had run down her cheek but other than that she seemed unharmed and he sent thanks to God quickly but he meant every silent word.

“Nigel –” she struggled to get out between pants and Prentice’s arms squeezed.

“I know,” he told her.

“He’s… he’s…” she pulled in breath, “he’s lost his mind.”

“I know,” Prentice repeated.

“He’s –” Elle began but she stopped when they both heard the car and saw the headlights.

Their heads shot around and they saw Nigel Fennick’s car racing their way.

“Oh my God!” Elle cried and Prentice caught her hand, pulling her with him, he dragged her to the back of the Rover.

The cliffs were to their right, the hills to their left. At Nigel’s speed, it wasn’t a good choice but he only had one and that was to round the boot of the Rover and head for the hills.

So he did, his head turned, watching Nigel’s fast approach, praying he could get them off the road to the safety of the hill where Nigel in his car couldn’t follow, running while pulling Elle behind him then suddenly he saw something form floating over the road.

Nigel saw it too and cut the wheel to the right, too hard. Way too hard.

He lost control of the car.

Prentice abruptly stopped, his chest freezing as the realization of what was about to happen hit him, Elle slamming into his back and they watched in horror as Nigel and his car flew over the cliff.

There was silence except a distant, disembodied male scream of terror then the loud, crushing crash of car slamming into rock.

“Oh my God,” Elle breathed, pressing close. “Oh my God, did he just…?”

Elle spoke more but Prentice didn’t hear her.

And he didn’t hear her because the floating form had turned and her sweetly familiar eyes across the distance landed on him.

“Fee,” he whispered.

Her head tilted to the side and he remembered that. Christ, he remembered that. She did it when she was about to smile and say something beautiful to him or to their children.

Or when she was about to say something self-mocking or teasing.

And he watched as she said something self-mocking.

That’s unfortunate. It appears I should have taken away his keys.

A jolt tore through his body.

Christ, her voice. Christ. He never thought he’d hear it again. Never allowed himself to even dream. Not like that, not husky with humor. Not at all.

Then, head still tipped, she smiled and said something beautiful.

Stay happy, my darling, you worked for it and so did Bella. You both deserve it, he heard her aching voice was now filled with love right before she started glimmering slightly then he heard her whispered, I love you, right before she disappeared.

Prentice stared into the darkness, Elle pressed to his back and he didn’t move.

He couldn’t believe he’d seen what he’d just seen.

But he’d seen it.

Then Elle pulled her hand gently from his and her arms slid around his stomach, she moved in closer, pressing deeper, her arms going tight.

“She saved me,” Elle whispered.

But Prentice didn’t move, he didn’t speak, he just stared where he’d last seen his wife, her words echoing in his head.

“She told me, when we’re safe, she’ll move on,” Elle said on a squeeze.

Prentice stayed silent and motionless.

“She doesn’t want the children knowing she’s been here,” Elle finished and Prentice closed his eyes and dropped his head, the knowledge that his wife, his beloved Fee, had been with them, and he knew then, he knew she’d been with them awhile, burned through him like acid.

How had she endured it? Any of it? All of it?

Christ. His Fee.

Elle held him close and also didn’t move or speak.

Then she whispered, “Pren, you know, think about it, you know she helped us find each other again.”

Prentice kept his eyes shut and his head bent but he murmured, “Aye.”

“I feel she’s gone, Pren, she’s going home. Do you feel it?”

He did and it was like losing her again.

There was a strange beauty in Fiona keeping Elle safe for him.

But losing her once was bloody well enough.

“Aye,” he repeated and that one syllable was so rough, Elle pressed even closer and he felt her rest her forehead to his back.

Prentice took in a deep breath, lifted his head, opened his eyes and looked where he last saw Fiona.

I love you too, Fee, he said in his head, hoping his words reached her.

He only knew they did when she came back, he felt an icy touch glide along his jaw, Fiona’s touch, her fingers trailing there like they did time and again when she was alive.

Then they were gone.

And he knew she was too.

This time for good.

He pulled in another breath, long and deep and when he released it, with some effort and not a small amount of pain, he let his wife go.

Then he turned in Elle’s arms.

She tipped her head back to look at him through the darkness.

When her searching eyes caught his, he murmured, “Let’s get you home to the kids, baby.”

He watched her close her eyes and then he watched her head fall forward and hit his chest.

Then he watched as well as felt her nodding but she did it through a sob.

Fiona

“Are they okay?” Fiona asked Colonel Sanders Messenger Man as, her hand wrapped around his elbow, they whooshed through the streaking stars.

“They’re okay,” he answered.

Fiona bit her lip and then noted, “Prentice seemed –”

“He’ll be fine,” Messenger Man told her. “You’ve done your job well, Fiona. You leave them healthy, happy and safe.”

“That was hard on him,” Fiona whispered and she knew this to be true by the look on his face, the line of his body and because it was hard on her too.

Bloody hard.

Nearly unbearable.

“No one tells the handsome prince’s story but sometimes,” Messenger Man stated, patting her hand in the crook of his elbow, his touch warm and welcome, “it also isn’t so fun.”

“Nigel –” Fiona started.

“He’ll work harder not to go to black,” Messenger Man said firmly, giving her the knowledge that Nigel was very dead.

Fiona really should have taken his keys.

And she had no doubt his mission would be more difficult than hers and considering hers was bloody hard and he was a lunatic driven to attempt murder by his cow of a wife (still, he could have chosen a different path that didn’t include mayhem), she felt that was fair.

“Hattie –” she continued.

“The police and Dougal made it to Prentice and Isabella within five minutes of you leaving. Hattie Fennick will shortly know she’s lost her husband due to her fixation. How she copes with that, I’ve no idea. Beings have free will. I have no way of knowing how she’ll react. I do know that if she makes the foolhardy decision to remain in that village, her life will be an even less happy one.”

Fiona had no doubt of that either.

She decided to change the subject. “Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer at first and she turned her gaze from the streaking stars to look at him and see he was grinning.

“You said it, you know it…” he paused and his grin turned into a smile. “We’re going home,” he whispered on another squeeze of her fingers but she felt it, the warmth, and she saw it, the brightness and she looked forward as they whooshed through it and her first instinct was to laugh which she did, loud and long.

Because Messenger Man was right.

She wasn’t home.

She was home.

Finally.