Eli: Sick of me yet? Shinara, may I have an order of chocolate covered
froggies? Froggies that are jelly, of course. Everyone wants to kick
Jacob's butt. Heh heh heh. Well, I guess I do to. But trust me, you don't
even know half of the real story, and I don't think you guys are anywhere
near it. Well, except for my friend who begged and pleaded and refused to
write and since she had helped me with the story, I let her have all of
Little E's history. Anyway, here's the next chapter, Enjoy!
~
Ian woke Eli up for dinner. He took her into the kitchen for dinner. She shrugged when he asked her what she wanted, so he just made her a grilled cheese sandwich again. He watched her as she ate. She hadn't spoken since she had awaken, nor had she smiled. She was really beginning to worry him.
He took her plate when she was done and put it in the sink. He stood across from where she was sitting on the counter. "What is wrong?"
She looked up at him. "Nothing."
"Stop lying Eli. I know something is wrong." Her eyes filled up and it looked like she was going to cry again. Something like a knife could be felt be twisted inside himself. He found he really didn't want her to be sad. Remembering what made her feel better earlier, he picked her up off the counter.
She put her head against his neck. "I miss Tony. I miss him so much."
"Shh. It is all right." He told her. After about ten minutes, he put her back down. "Time for your bath."
She nodded her head. "All right." They headed toward the bathroom. Ian ran the water again. This time, he removed his sweater and rolled up his sleeves. Eli got into the bath tub in her panties and tank top.
"Ian, how come I have to wear clothes when I take a bath?"
"Because........ Because you are not my relative. Put your head back and get your hair wet." Eli nodded and did just that. Ian looked at the water and shook his head. "It is hard to believe all that came off of your hair."
She lifted her head back up and smiled. "Lots of playing."
"Tomorrow we will put your hair up." He said as he put the shampoo in her hair.
"Ian?" She asked as she closed her eyes. She hated when soap got into her eyes.
"Yes?"
"Is it bad to like boys?" Ian shook his head. He could anticipate a man's move before he even knew what he was going to do, but when it came to this child, she had surprised him more in one day than he had been in a whole lifetime.
"No, Eli, it is not bad to like boys." He told her.
"Oh, okay." She answered. He tugged a little on her hair, and she put her head back to get the shampoo out.
"Why do you ask? Do you like a boy?" He asked, smirking. Eli turned her head toward him, splashing his shirt with water.
"No..... Why do you think that?" She asked anxiously.
"No reason at all." He answered.
"Why, do YOU like a boy?" She asked him. He laughed.
"I do not like boys." He told her.
"Then you like girls?" She asked. He nodded as he started putting in conditioner. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"No. Please do not squirm so much. You are getting the floor wet." Eli smiled.
"Tidal wave!" She yelled.
"Eli, you better...... Eli!" She had caused a huge splash and had gotten Ian totally soaked from the waist down. She laughed a little and smiled.
"Sorry, Ian." He nodded his head and sighed. "Ian, do you like a girl?"
He didn't answer. Eli nodded her head. "What's her name?"
"None of your business." He told her as he rinsed out the conditioner. "There, get the body soap and wash your self. I will go get your night ware."
"Bring Pikachu too, please." She called after him. He rolled his eyes and nodded. He picked up her clothes and pikachu. He stared at the doll and shook his head. The thing was sickeningly too adorable.
Eli was done when he returned. He handed her a towel and then went to his room to change. She would either need to learn to bathe by herself, or he would need some sort of rain coat for protection.
He returned to the bathroom. She was once again trying to brush her hair. He tried to take the brush from her, but she moved away.
"Eli....." He said as he tried to look at her sternly. She put her head down and handed him the brush. He smirked. It had worked! He started trying to get the knots out of her hair.
"Ouch!" She said as she twitched.
"Sorry."
"Is her name Samantha?" She asked him. He looked at her confused.
"Who?"
"The girl you like."
"No."
"Katrina?" He shook his head. She watched his face in the mirror. "Danielle? Jessica? Mary? Linda? Brittany? Christina? Ashley?" All he did was shake his head. Eli thought up more names. "Nina? Jackie? Gracie? Victoria? Johanna? Sara?"
At the last name, he pulled a little too hard as he got the last tangle out. "Ouch!" She looked at his face and smirked.
"Her name is Sara! You like someone named Sara!" She announced proudly. Ian looked at her, but he couldn't pull off the stern look again. "I know who you like! I know who you like! Ian and Sara, sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n- g!" She sang out.
"Okay, time for bed." He told her. She grabbed pikachu and followed him to her room.
Before she got into bed, she pulled a book out of her bag. She handed it to Ian as she crawled into her huge bed. He looked at the cover confused.
"History of Sports?" He read out loud. She shook her head.
"Look inside." He opened it and read the first page.
"Grimm's Fairy Tales. This belongs to Antony Carver."
"Daddy didn't think it was right that boys read fairy tales. But Lily hates them and wouldn't read them to me. Tony was the only one who did. Will you read one to me, please?"
"Yes, of course. Which one would you like?"
"Twelve Dancing Princesses." She told him as she snuggled into her bed. He began the tale. Eli fell asleep just as he read the words 'Happily ever after'.
- Hour Later -
Ian was just about to go to sleep. The day had been surprisingly stressful. He didn't know children could be such energetic, tree jumping, sword wielding things. Despite the happiness she brought, he was glad the day was over.
Then he heard her voice from her room. He pushed aside sleep and ran down to her room. He opened her door and was relieved when there was no signs of an attack. But Eli was in pain. She had kicked off her covers and was kicking and screaming in her sleep.
"No, no, no. Stop! Ahh! Stop!" Ian went up to the bed and tried to wake her up. she just struggled more. "No, no! Daddy, stop it! I won't tell! I won't tell, please stop! Daddy, please stop!"
"Eli!" She woke up breathing heavily. He sat down next to her. "Are you okay? What did you see?" Eli shook her head. She pulled her knees to her and hugged herself. She was not going to talk this time, but he still hugged her and he felt her relax. He tucked her back into bed and picked pikachu up off the ground and put him next to her.
He was about to turn off the lights and leave when she told him "No, don't. It will be too scary."
He looked at her and nodded. She hugged pikachu and looked at him. "Please don't leave. Make the bad things go away. Please, Ian?"
He sat down on the bed next to her. "I do not know if I can, but I will try."
She smiled. "Thank-you. Night, night."
"Good-night."
- The Next Morning -
Ian was sound asleep when Eli opened the door. She smiled and quietly tiptoed up to his bed. She climbed onto his bed. She sat down next to him and......
WHAM!
Ian woke up when he felt something connect with his forehead. He sat up to find Eli laughing. He shook his head at her.
She accidentally shifted as she laughed and she fell off the bed with a huge crash. Ian looked down at her. She wasn't even fazed. She was rolling on the ground laughing. She looked up at him and pointed at him with her wand.
"You're a froggie!" She told him in between laughter. He looked at her confused. She had on a light green shirt, a frilly, see through skirt with sparkles, and bright green leggings. She also had a pair of wings that matched her skirt, a silver tiara, and a silver wand with a star on the end.
"What are you suppose to be?" He asked her amused. She stopped laughing and got up.
"I'm a fairy princess." She announced. "C'mon froggie, let's get breakfast."
"Froggie?" He asked as he got up.
"I turned you into a froggie." She told him. He nodded and took her into the kitchen. He took what was left of the Lucky Charms and gave it to her. She frowned.
"Where's the sugar?" She asked.
"Eli, you had enough sugar yesterday to last you for a month. I need to get dressed. Can you be good for ten minutes?"
Eli nodded. "I e ood." He looked at her one last time before he left the room.
Just as he had finished getting ready, his cell phone went off. He answered it as he made his way back towards the kitchen.
"Ian?"
"Yes, sir."
"How is the girl?"
"She is fine. No one has gone after her."
"It is doubtful anyone will, but be alert. There were arguments among the captors. Some wanted to kill the whole Carver line. She is the only living protégé. Some rogues may go after her."
"They will not succeed, sir."
"Good." Ian stopped outside the door to the kitchen. He peeked in to make sure she was okay. She was still eating breakfast. He lowered his voice so that she could not hear.
"Sir, have you seen the file on Mr. Carver?"
"Not recently, why?"
"Eli has told me that-"
"Eli?" Irons asked.
"The girl, Sir."
"Oh. What has she told you?"
"She has said things that make it possible that Mr. Carver has wed his own daughter from an affair."
"Ian, that is quite a bold statement. What has she said that makes you think this?"
"She has referred to the woman you are saving to once being her sister. She had nightmares, and in them she screams to her father that she will not tell. Sir, I believe something very wrong is happening in this family. What will you have me do, Sir?"
There was silence on the phone. "I will look into it. See if she will tell you what secret she is harboring. If this is true, I feel the need to break our association."
"Yes, Sir. Is Mr. Carver with you now?"
"Yes, he is across the room."
"Would he like to speak with his daughter?"
Her heard some mumbling over the phone. "No, he would not. We should be back in a few days. If there is an attack, contact me immediately."
"Yes, Sir." He hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket. He entered the kitchen. Eli was just finishing her breakfast. She smirked up at him.
"See, I was good." She announced. He smiled and nodded. She jumped down from the counter and put her bowl in the sink. She turned toward him and motioned for him to kneel down. When he did, she bopped him on the head with her wand.
"Now you're a bunny." He rolled his eyes and then noticed a black mark on her knee. He made her stay still for a second as he looked at it.
"Eli, did you take the band aid off?" She nodded. He sighed and took her back to the bathroom. He had her pull her leggings down as he dressed her wound. As he did, Eli kept hitting him on the head with her wand.
"Now you're a monkey." BOP!
"Now you're a fishy." BOP!
"Now you a dragon!" He moved before she could bop her again. She pouted. "Hey!"
"Let me stay a dragon for a little while." He told her. She nodded and he took her into the living room. She sat on the couch and picked up the remote. She turned the TV on and put it to a certain channel.
Ian sat down next to her. "What are you watching?"
"Fairly Odd Parents." She told him without moving her eyes from the screen. She sat still till commercial. Then she smirked and moved over towards Ian. She hit him on the head with her wand again.
BOP! "Now you a cat."
Bop! "Now you a frog-" He grabbed her hand.
"Eli, please go turn something else into a frog." He told her. She nodded and jumped off the couch.
"You're a dog! You're a parrot!" She yelled at various objects. "You're a froggie! You're a giraffe! You're a baboon!
CRACK!
Ian turned around. Eli had hit a table too hard and her wand had gone to pieces. Eli stared at it for a full minute before she pouted and....
"Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Waaaaaaaaaaahhh! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" She screamed out. Ian sighed and got off the couch. He picked her up off the ground, wincing as she cried right into his ear.
"Shhhhh, Eli. It is okay."
"My-my wand is-is-is broken! Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" Ian stroked her back. He wasn't very surprised to notice that the windows were shaking from the sound.
"Shhhh, stop crying. I will get you a new wand." He told her. She stopped screaming and looked at him teary eyed.
Yo-You-you will?" She asked. He nodded. She finally began to get calm. When she stopped shaking, he put her down. "Can we get my new wand now?"
"Yes, we can get it now. Where did you get your wand?"
"Toys'R'Us." She told him. He nodded. "I have to get my jacket." She told him. He took her back to her room and she searched through her bag and pulled out a black jacket. She also pulled something else out and put it into her pocket before Ian could tell what it was.
She took off her wings and put her jacket on. Then she put the wings back on. She smiled and took his hand. "Let's go."
-Ten minutes later-
Ian learned many things about children in cars. They like to try to take off their seat belts. They also like to play with the window switch. And most annoying of all, they like to play with the radio.
Eli switch it from station to station. After about five minutes of messing with it, she finally settled on a station and began to sing along.
"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was lookin kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead"
When they reached a red light, he looked over at her. She had followed the song and made an L with her fingers. She looked at Ian and started laughing. He shook his head.
" Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with takin the backstreets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow"
Eli nodded in tune with the music, though her singing was not in tune with the music. She was on a higher octive. Ian ignored the urge to gag her.
" Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid,
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars break the mold
It's a cool place, and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now, wait till you get older
But the media men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is gettin pretty thin
The water's gettin warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
Cuz that's the way i like it and i never get bored "
Ian saw the Toys'R'Us and sighed out of relief. His musical torture was almost over.
"Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid,
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars "
Eli attempted to whistle with the music, but only made blowing sounds. Ian laughed at her attempts and she hit his side lightly.
"You try!" She told him. He did and when Eli heard him succeed, she stuck her tongue out at him. He turned into the parking lot smirking.
"Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
I said yep, what a concept, I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change
Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Head to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with takin the backstreets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow "
Ian parked the car and the music went off, but Eli knew the song by heart and continued singing. Ian sighed and opened her door for her. She continued to sing all the way up to the door.
"Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid,
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars break the mold
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars break the mold"
He was very relieved as she sang the last note. They entered the store and Ian had to stop himself from groaning out loud. Apparently, Toys'R'Us was a much bigger store than it looked. Eli got really excited and he had to really hold onto her hand to keep her from running all over the place.
Somewhere between the video games and the Barbies, she let go of his hands and ran off. "Eli." He called after her, but she was long gone. He wandered through the aisles looking for her. He ignored the people staring at him. Finally, he found her on the ground in the book section.
"Eli." She looked up at him. He shook his head at her and she got up and came to him. "I hope you see that something could have happened to you. Do not ever do that again without my permission. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ian." She mumbled out. She held up the book in her hands. Hans Christian Anderson's Book of Fairy Tales. "Ian, can we get this? Pleeeeeaaaaassssssseeee?" She pouted out. His heart melt and he sighed.
"Yes." She smiled. And tucked the book under her arm.
"Thank-you!" She said. He took her hand and started leading her to the girl's section. The people around them were staring. He smirked at the site they must have made, he with his black, 'bad ass' apparel holding the hand of a small girl in a fairy costume + a jacket.
They finally arrived in the aisle with the wands and costumes and such. Ian stifled a groan when he realized how long it was going to take. There must have been about fifty different wands. Eli was going insane. She could not make up her mind.
"This, no this, or this. The red, no green!" Ian felt a head ache coming on. After what felt like a century, she finally chose a wand. Ian then dragged her straight to the line. She hummed some song as they stood in line. Eli placed the book and the wand on the counter. The young woman at the register smiled down at her.
"Hey cutie! You gonna cast some spells with that wand?" Eli nodded and smiled.
"Yep, I'm a fairy princess." She announced. She pointed at her nametag. "Your name looks pretty."
The woman giggled. "Thank-you." Eli got closer and stared at it.
"Kat-ri-na. Katrina! Your name is Katrina!"
"Very good!" Katrina stuck her hand into her pocket and fished out a sucker. "Here you go."
Eli put it in her mouth. "Tank oo." She spotted some vending machines and smiled. She tugged on Ian's arm and pointed to them. He dug some quarters out of his pocket and she ran off. He paid for the book and the wand. Katrina smiled and handed him his change.
"There you go. Your daughter is sooooo adorable." She told him. Before he could say anything, Eli came back with a handful of M&M's. She took the bag from Ian and pulled out her wand. She tapped his arm with it.
"You're a snake!" She announced. Katrina laughed really loud. He just rolled his eyes as he began to lead her out. Eli took his hand and turned back half way. "Bye bye Katrina!"
"Bye, have a nice day." She giggled again.
When Ian got her outside, she looked up at him. "Thank you very much." She said sweetly. Ian told her she was welcome and got her into the car. He ignored her singing and her spells and drove her back to the mansion.
~
Ian woke Eli up for dinner. He took her into the kitchen for dinner. She shrugged when he asked her what she wanted, so he just made her a grilled cheese sandwich again. He watched her as she ate. She hadn't spoken since she had awaken, nor had she smiled. She was really beginning to worry him.
He took her plate when she was done and put it in the sink. He stood across from where she was sitting on the counter. "What is wrong?"
She looked up at him. "Nothing."
"Stop lying Eli. I know something is wrong." Her eyes filled up and it looked like she was going to cry again. Something like a knife could be felt be twisted inside himself. He found he really didn't want her to be sad. Remembering what made her feel better earlier, he picked her up off the counter.
She put her head against his neck. "I miss Tony. I miss him so much."
"Shh. It is all right." He told her. After about ten minutes, he put her back down. "Time for your bath."
She nodded her head. "All right." They headed toward the bathroom. Ian ran the water again. This time, he removed his sweater and rolled up his sleeves. Eli got into the bath tub in her panties and tank top.
"Ian, how come I have to wear clothes when I take a bath?"
"Because........ Because you are not my relative. Put your head back and get your hair wet." Eli nodded and did just that. Ian looked at the water and shook his head. "It is hard to believe all that came off of your hair."
She lifted her head back up and smiled. "Lots of playing."
"Tomorrow we will put your hair up." He said as he put the shampoo in her hair.
"Ian?" She asked as she closed her eyes. She hated when soap got into her eyes.
"Yes?"
"Is it bad to like boys?" Ian shook his head. He could anticipate a man's move before he even knew what he was going to do, but when it came to this child, she had surprised him more in one day than he had been in a whole lifetime.
"No, Eli, it is not bad to like boys." He told her.
"Oh, okay." She answered. He tugged a little on her hair, and she put her head back to get the shampoo out.
"Why do you ask? Do you like a boy?" He asked, smirking. Eli turned her head toward him, splashing his shirt with water.
"No..... Why do you think that?" She asked anxiously.
"No reason at all." He answered.
"Why, do YOU like a boy?" She asked him. He laughed.
"I do not like boys." He told her.
"Then you like girls?" She asked. He nodded as he started putting in conditioner. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"No. Please do not squirm so much. You are getting the floor wet." Eli smiled.
"Tidal wave!" She yelled.
"Eli, you better...... Eli!" She had caused a huge splash and had gotten Ian totally soaked from the waist down. She laughed a little and smiled.
"Sorry, Ian." He nodded his head and sighed. "Ian, do you like a girl?"
He didn't answer. Eli nodded her head. "What's her name?"
"None of your business." He told her as he rinsed out the conditioner. "There, get the body soap and wash your self. I will go get your night ware."
"Bring Pikachu too, please." She called after him. He rolled his eyes and nodded. He picked up her clothes and pikachu. He stared at the doll and shook his head. The thing was sickeningly too adorable.
Eli was done when he returned. He handed her a towel and then went to his room to change. She would either need to learn to bathe by herself, or he would need some sort of rain coat for protection.
He returned to the bathroom. She was once again trying to brush her hair. He tried to take the brush from her, but she moved away.
"Eli....." He said as he tried to look at her sternly. She put her head down and handed him the brush. He smirked. It had worked! He started trying to get the knots out of her hair.
"Ouch!" She said as she twitched.
"Sorry."
"Is her name Samantha?" She asked him. He looked at her confused.
"Who?"
"The girl you like."
"No."
"Katrina?" He shook his head. She watched his face in the mirror. "Danielle? Jessica? Mary? Linda? Brittany? Christina? Ashley?" All he did was shake his head. Eli thought up more names. "Nina? Jackie? Gracie? Victoria? Johanna? Sara?"
At the last name, he pulled a little too hard as he got the last tangle out. "Ouch!" She looked at his face and smirked.
"Her name is Sara! You like someone named Sara!" She announced proudly. Ian looked at her, but he couldn't pull off the stern look again. "I know who you like! I know who you like! Ian and Sara, sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n- g!" She sang out.
"Okay, time for bed." He told her. She grabbed pikachu and followed him to her room.
Before she got into bed, she pulled a book out of her bag. She handed it to Ian as she crawled into her huge bed. He looked at the cover confused.
"History of Sports?" He read out loud. She shook her head.
"Look inside." He opened it and read the first page.
"Grimm's Fairy Tales. This belongs to Antony Carver."
"Daddy didn't think it was right that boys read fairy tales. But Lily hates them and wouldn't read them to me. Tony was the only one who did. Will you read one to me, please?"
"Yes, of course. Which one would you like?"
"Twelve Dancing Princesses." She told him as she snuggled into her bed. He began the tale. Eli fell asleep just as he read the words 'Happily ever after'.
- Hour Later -
Ian was just about to go to sleep. The day had been surprisingly stressful. He didn't know children could be such energetic, tree jumping, sword wielding things. Despite the happiness she brought, he was glad the day was over.
Then he heard her voice from her room. He pushed aside sleep and ran down to her room. He opened her door and was relieved when there was no signs of an attack. But Eli was in pain. She had kicked off her covers and was kicking and screaming in her sleep.
"No, no, no. Stop! Ahh! Stop!" Ian went up to the bed and tried to wake her up. she just struggled more. "No, no! Daddy, stop it! I won't tell! I won't tell, please stop! Daddy, please stop!"
"Eli!" She woke up breathing heavily. He sat down next to her. "Are you okay? What did you see?" Eli shook her head. She pulled her knees to her and hugged herself. She was not going to talk this time, but he still hugged her and he felt her relax. He tucked her back into bed and picked pikachu up off the ground and put him next to her.
He was about to turn off the lights and leave when she told him "No, don't. It will be too scary."
He looked at her and nodded. She hugged pikachu and looked at him. "Please don't leave. Make the bad things go away. Please, Ian?"
He sat down on the bed next to her. "I do not know if I can, but I will try."
She smiled. "Thank-you. Night, night."
"Good-night."
- The Next Morning -
Ian was sound asleep when Eli opened the door. She smiled and quietly tiptoed up to his bed. She climbed onto his bed. She sat down next to him and......
WHAM!
Ian woke up when he felt something connect with his forehead. He sat up to find Eli laughing. He shook his head at her.
She accidentally shifted as she laughed and she fell off the bed with a huge crash. Ian looked down at her. She wasn't even fazed. She was rolling on the ground laughing. She looked up at him and pointed at him with her wand.
"You're a froggie!" She told him in between laughter. He looked at her confused. She had on a light green shirt, a frilly, see through skirt with sparkles, and bright green leggings. She also had a pair of wings that matched her skirt, a silver tiara, and a silver wand with a star on the end.
"What are you suppose to be?" He asked her amused. She stopped laughing and got up.
"I'm a fairy princess." She announced. "C'mon froggie, let's get breakfast."
"Froggie?" He asked as he got up.
"I turned you into a froggie." She told him. He nodded and took her into the kitchen. He took what was left of the Lucky Charms and gave it to her. She frowned.
"Where's the sugar?" She asked.
"Eli, you had enough sugar yesterday to last you for a month. I need to get dressed. Can you be good for ten minutes?"
Eli nodded. "I e ood." He looked at her one last time before he left the room.
Just as he had finished getting ready, his cell phone went off. He answered it as he made his way back towards the kitchen.
"Ian?"
"Yes, sir."
"How is the girl?"
"She is fine. No one has gone after her."
"It is doubtful anyone will, but be alert. There were arguments among the captors. Some wanted to kill the whole Carver line. She is the only living protégé. Some rogues may go after her."
"They will not succeed, sir."
"Good." Ian stopped outside the door to the kitchen. He peeked in to make sure she was okay. She was still eating breakfast. He lowered his voice so that she could not hear.
"Sir, have you seen the file on Mr. Carver?"
"Not recently, why?"
"Eli has told me that-"
"Eli?" Irons asked.
"The girl, Sir."
"Oh. What has she told you?"
"She has said things that make it possible that Mr. Carver has wed his own daughter from an affair."
"Ian, that is quite a bold statement. What has she said that makes you think this?"
"She has referred to the woman you are saving to once being her sister. She had nightmares, and in them she screams to her father that she will not tell. Sir, I believe something very wrong is happening in this family. What will you have me do, Sir?"
There was silence on the phone. "I will look into it. See if she will tell you what secret she is harboring. If this is true, I feel the need to break our association."
"Yes, Sir. Is Mr. Carver with you now?"
"Yes, he is across the room."
"Would he like to speak with his daughter?"
Her heard some mumbling over the phone. "No, he would not. We should be back in a few days. If there is an attack, contact me immediately."
"Yes, Sir." He hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket. He entered the kitchen. Eli was just finishing her breakfast. She smirked up at him.
"See, I was good." She announced. He smiled and nodded. She jumped down from the counter and put her bowl in the sink. She turned toward him and motioned for him to kneel down. When he did, she bopped him on the head with her wand.
"Now you're a bunny." He rolled his eyes and then noticed a black mark on her knee. He made her stay still for a second as he looked at it.
"Eli, did you take the band aid off?" She nodded. He sighed and took her back to the bathroom. He had her pull her leggings down as he dressed her wound. As he did, Eli kept hitting him on the head with her wand.
"Now you're a monkey." BOP!
"Now you're a fishy." BOP!
"Now you a dragon!" He moved before she could bop her again. She pouted. "Hey!"
"Let me stay a dragon for a little while." He told her. She nodded and he took her into the living room. She sat on the couch and picked up the remote. She turned the TV on and put it to a certain channel.
Ian sat down next to her. "What are you watching?"
"Fairly Odd Parents." She told him without moving her eyes from the screen. She sat still till commercial. Then she smirked and moved over towards Ian. She hit him on the head with her wand again.
BOP! "Now you a cat."
Bop! "Now you a frog-" He grabbed her hand.
"Eli, please go turn something else into a frog." He told her. She nodded and jumped off the couch.
"You're a dog! You're a parrot!" She yelled at various objects. "You're a froggie! You're a giraffe! You're a baboon!
CRACK!
Ian turned around. Eli had hit a table too hard and her wand had gone to pieces. Eli stared at it for a full minute before she pouted and....
"Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Waaaaaaaaaaahhh! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" She screamed out. Ian sighed and got off the couch. He picked her up off the ground, wincing as she cried right into his ear.
"Shhhhh, Eli. It is okay."
"My-my wand is-is-is broken! Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" Ian stroked her back. He wasn't very surprised to notice that the windows were shaking from the sound.
"Shhhh, stop crying. I will get you a new wand." He told her. She stopped screaming and looked at him teary eyed.
Yo-You-you will?" She asked. He nodded. She finally began to get calm. When she stopped shaking, he put her down. "Can we get my new wand now?"
"Yes, we can get it now. Where did you get your wand?"
"Toys'R'Us." She told him. He nodded. "I have to get my jacket." She told him. He took her back to her room and she searched through her bag and pulled out a black jacket. She also pulled something else out and put it into her pocket before Ian could tell what it was.
She took off her wings and put her jacket on. Then she put the wings back on. She smiled and took his hand. "Let's go."
-Ten minutes later-
Ian learned many things about children in cars. They like to try to take off their seat belts. They also like to play with the window switch. And most annoying of all, they like to play with the radio.
Eli switch it from station to station. After about five minutes of messing with it, she finally settled on a station and began to sing along.
"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was lookin kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead"
When they reached a red light, he looked over at her. She had followed the song and made an L with her fingers. She looked at Ian and started laughing. He shook his head.
" Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with takin the backstreets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow"
Eli nodded in tune with the music, though her singing was not in tune with the music. She was on a higher octive. Ian ignored the urge to gag her.
" Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid,
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars break the mold
It's a cool place, and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now, wait till you get older
But the media men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is gettin pretty thin
The water's gettin warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire, how about yours?
Cuz that's the way i like it and i never get bored "
Ian saw the Toys'R'Us and sighed out of relief. His musical torture was almost over.
"Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid,
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars "
Eli attempted to whistle with the music, but only made blowing sounds. Ian laughed at her attempts and she hit his side lightly.
"You try!" She told him. He did and when Eli heard him succeed, she stuck her tongue out at him. He turned into the parking lot smirking.
"Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
I said yep, what a concept, I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change
Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Head to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun,
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with takin the backstreets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow "
Ian parked the car and the music went off, but Eli knew the song by heart and continued singing. Ian sighed and opened her door for her. She continued to sing all the way up to the door.
"Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid,
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars break the mold
And all that glitters is gold
Only shootin stars break the mold"
He was very relieved as she sang the last note. They entered the store and Ian had to stop himself from groaning out loud. Apparently, Toys'R'Us was a much bigger store than it looked. Eli got really excited and he had to really hold onto her hand to keep her from running all over the place.
Somewhere between the video games and the Barbies, she let go of his hands and ran off. "Eli." He called after her, but she was long gone. He wandered through the aisles looking for her. He ignored the people staring at him. Finally, he found her on the ground in the book section.
"Eli." She looked up at him. He shook his head at her and she got up and came to him. "I hope you see that something could have happened to you. Do not ever do that again without my permission. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ian." She mumbled out. She held up the book in her hands. Hans Christian Anderson's Book of Fairy Tales. "Ian, can we get this? Pleeeeeaaaaassssssseeee?" She pouted out. His heart melt and he sighed.
"Yes." She smiled. And tucked the book under her arm.
"Thank-you!" She said. He took her hand and started leading her to the girl's section. The people around them were staring. He smirked at the site they must have made, he with his black, 'bad ass' apparel holding the hand of a small girl in a fairy costume + a jacket.
They finally arrived in the aisle with the wands and costumes and such. Ian stifled a groan when he realized how long it was going to take. There must have been about fifty different wands. Eli was going insane. She could not make up her mind.
"This, no this, or this. The red, no green!" Ian felt a head ache coming on. After what felt like a century, she finally chose a wand. Ian then dragged her straight to the line. She hummed some song as they stood in line. Eli placed the book and the wand on the counter. The young woman at the register smiled down at her.
"Hey cutie! You gonna cast some spells with that wand?" Eli nodded and smiled.
"Yep, I'm a fairy princess." She announced. She pointed at her nametag. "Your name looks pretty."
The woman giggled. "Thank-you." Eli got closer and stared at it.
"Kat-ri-na. Katrina! Your name is Katrina!"
"Very good!" Katrina stuck her hand into her pocket and fished out a sucker. "Here you go."
Eli put it in her mouth. "Tank oo." She spotted some vending machines and smiled. She tugged on Ian's arm and pointed to them. He dug some quarters out of his pocket and she ran off. He paid for the book and the wand. Katrina smiled and handed him his change.
"There you go. Your daughter is sooooo adorable." She told him. Before he could say anything, Eli came back with a handful of M&M's. She took the bag from Ian and pulled out her wand. She tapped his arm with it.
"You're a snake!" She announced. Katrina laughed really loud. He just rolled his eyes as he began to lead her out. Eli took his hand and turned back half way. "Bye bye Katrina!"
"Bye, have a nice day." She giggled again.
When Ian got her outside, she looked up at him. "Thank you very much." She said sweetly. Ian told her she was welcome and got her into the car. He ignored her singing and her spells and drove her back to the mansion.