Chapter 4 - "Acceptance"

"W-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???," I said as shock and panic hit me like a Mack-truck.

"You know, you're not taking this as well as I'd hoped, Sorrow.," Kabren said with obvious regret.

"Well it's not everyday you find out someone wants to kill you. I mean, I'm nobody! ...This can't be happening. In what world is it possible that I'm on a hit-list of a person with supernatural powers. And who, oh-by-the-way, has MURDERED PEOPLE BEFORE?!!"

"Yes, three times she's killed, and that's not including the casualties along the way…"

"What casualties?"

"Well, there were injuries sustained by each victim's family members or friends who were, inadvertently, involved…oh, and a couple of beloved pets, respectively.," Kabren said with a nonchalance that was unnerving in and of itself.

"So, not only has this PSYCHO Fairy come to kill ME...she's going to hurt everyone else too? …WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO KABREN?!!"

"Sorrow, for the better part of an hour I've been trying to get to that-"

"-You do realize that you've just handed me, and probably my family, a DEATH sentence, right? Just so we're clear? You act like I'm not supposed to freak out or something! And up and until an hour ago, I didn't know things like you existed."

"THINGS?!! ...Lovely. *sigh* Truly, I was expecting too much from you. And now, having observed you during a period of stress, well…I don't much fancy our odds." Kabren said disgustedly as he eyed me up and down.

"You know, I don't much fancy YOU, Kabren!," I said trying to stifle the tears that had been building within me for the past hour...and the puzzling thing was, I couldn't tell which bothered me more, my impending death...or the fact that my cowardice was disappointing him, "Look, I'm sorry, I guess I just don't handle things like this very well. Okay, okay, I'm okay…is there anything else she's done you haven't told me about? ...You know, since we're on the subject and I'm already about to pee myself!!," I said becoming more and more panicked with each passing second…truly, I'd about hit my limit…

"…Well, if you must know, the Fae who've attempted to intervene and protect their wards were destroyed as well. ...However, given your current attitude regarding us, I doubt you'll find that facet of truth to be particularly troubling.," Kabren said quietly with contempt.

"Stop judging me! Don't you get it, I'm the VICTIM here!"

"-Yes, and from what I've surmised about you, it's a hat you wear far too often. …I think you're Mother is coming down the hallway. I can hear her footsteps and I can already smell the cigarette smoke.," he said disgusted, ...though it was hard to believe more disgust from him was even possible.

"What? How would you…? …You barely even know me, so how could you possibly know her! And my Mother doesn't smoke. She quit more than five years ago.," I told him matter-of-factly. …After all, if I could prove he was wrong about one thing, perhaps I could prove he was wrong about everything.

"Well, if you say she doesn't, then it must be so… The sooner you accept the truth of my words, Sorrow, the better off you and your family will be.," and with that, Kabren quickly pulled one of the hospital privacy curtains between us, blocking himself from my sight.

"What are you, like, four years old? I can still see your sneakers!," I said grabbing the curtain from in front of him and pulling it back…

But as I attempted the big reveal, he was gone. He'd completely vanished…everything but the size 11 orthopedic shoes. ...And as I hopped off my bed and looked under my non-existent neighbor's, my Mother strolled into the room.

"Should I even ask what it is you're doing now, Sarah? You know, if anyone were to walk in here, they'd get a great view of your undies…in particular, the ones I asked you to throw out over a month ago. *Tsk*…Look at those worn-out things, the elastic is gone and they're not even white anymore. I can only imagine what a total stranger would think of you, not to mention Me…"

I stood up abruptly and consciously breathed in the air as she walked towards me. ...Nothing, just the slightest hint of Altoid.

"Mom, were you smoking just now?," I asked her doubtfully.

"What? ..Uh, well. …Yes, but it was just a puff or two. It's been a very stressful day and I just needed it to calm down a bit. By the way, I'd appreciate it, if you wouldn't mention this to your step-Father."

Suddenly I had to accept the realization of Kabren's words. My mind had just been pried open with one trivial question answered by my Mother. I wasn't going crazy...my life, my beliefs, and whatever else I'd held dear were forever changed. Suddenly, the world around me seemed to grow exponentially larger and I felt naked and overwhelmed. I began to eye my Mother with trepidation. I began to sense that there was a very real chance I would lose her…forever. It never really dawned on me before, but she really was all I'd ever had. She was part of who I was and I couldn't imagine my life without her. My eyes began to tear up…

"I'm really scared, Mom…," I said as I walked up to her and hugged her as if it were the last time I would ever see her…and who knew? …Maybe it was.

~Meanwhile~

Maddy sat on the floor, surrounded by a menagerie of manila envelopes and folders. She laughed exquisitely as she poured over the school records and all of the secrets she now held over most of the student body…not to mention some very questionable behavior recorded within the past few years pertaining to some of the teachers and staff too.

"Naughty, Naughty Wendy Shapher,

......kissed the girl A-man-da Mayfair'

............…Wendy was the last Prom Queen,

....................…but now she is a Les-bi-an!

(Oh this is too easy by far…)

"Little Milton Templeton, had a cute puppy, will you look at him!

......…but his Mommy called to say it's gone

............And odds are Mil-ty is all wrong!

..................But lo' and behold the puppy is found!

.......................Drowned in his dog dish,

.............................Though Mom claimed the pound

...................................Now Milty is on medication

.........................................And hush, hush by administration!

.............................................…Until dog no.2 shows up dead at the school

...................................................…Now doesn't dear Mommy look like quite the fool!"

"Oh little Sorrow, guess what I know…

......You're nothing at school,

............Not a friend nor a foe,

...................I'll give you a notion, perhaps maybe a clue,

..........................In fact, I'll even be nice and give not one, but two!

................................It will start with a Fey

.......................................Not tomorrow, nor today…

.............................................You'll be lost to my world

...................................................…a fresh D.O.A. !!!!!!!!!!"

Maddy continued to peruse the information in rhyme until she had everything she could possibly use and then some. There wouldn't be anyone left to question her or stand in her way… Humans and their precious reputations were always her best weapons, and at this particular school, she had a veritable arsenal…

Te be cont....

Authors comments: PLease R & R! Your reviews and advice have been invaluable and I appreciate it immensely!!!

p.s. please forgive any mistakes in grammar...I'll (hopefully) have it all under control within the next day or 2...I edit these things myself and I don't always catch mistakes right away...thankyou for your patience with me on this... :-)