Disclaimer: I do not own the Fever Series, they belong to Karen Marie Moning.
Chapter Six:
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Barrons asked as he leaned against the one of the bookshelves in BB&B. His arms were crossed and he had one eyebrow raised.
Mac was busying herself with the adding the newest additions to the newspapers and magazines, which were horribly out-of-date due to her many days of absence. She had been busying herself with the all new opening of the bookstore as she had moved bookshelves around and had added new 'baubles' to the already growing and improving section. She was expanding her business, the bookstore which she could proudly call hers though the name didn't fit. Her bookstore! The one thing in life (aside from Barrons and etc...) that made her feel complete! Her true calling. She was dusting the bookmark rack when she was interrupted by Barrons. "What do you mean?" Mac asked innocently, both of them knowing she was anything but. After all, no innocent kills in cold blood and lies ruthlessly. Mackayla Lane O'Conner was anything but innocent. She rushed behind the counter to set her ipod on the dock, blasting out her playlist so that she could resume on her routine.
But even Mac wasn't able to stop Barrons. Just as soon as she had moved from behind the counter, the volume of the loudspeaker was set to low, and Barrons stood in his arrogant position with a lazy smile upon his face. He asked again, "What do you think you're doing?" There was no getting out of it. Mac knew exactly what Barrons was implying in that annoyingly, velvety voice of his. Her thought drifted back to this morning, since he didn't sleep, he had disappeared early this morning on some 'business'. She had taken full advantage of his disappearance as she slipped out of bed (finally able to move! Freedom!) and began her morning routine in the bookstore. She looked up at him examining the bookstore.
He walked over to the counter and stood directly in front of her. "You aren't supposed to be working." he said in a bluntly. He watched her expressions: surprise at his arrival before her, confused at his plain statement, the meaning coming to her as she deciphered the truth in the statement, and lastly to defiance. Of course he expected the defiance, after all she was a stubborn girl who wouldn't back of a task she set out to compete even if it meant her life, as she had done many times before in her life. He wondered now if there would ever come a day where she would no longer defy him, but to just come to accept his decisions. The answer he thought wryly would be: Never.
"No! I plan to work till you have to drag me screaming to the bed because I can no longer carry my weight or something of the sorts. And not the way you're thinking Barrons. You can't stop me Barrons, so don't even try." She refused as soon as the meaning behind his words hit her. She would never bend to his will. He had tried for so long... well, okay only rarely. Most often because he tended to be right.
"Screaming? I could do that right now." He smiled wolfishly as he motioned to the gate leading behind the counter.
"No. I'm working, the open sign had already been flipped. I'm working now, so shoo!" She motioned to him as if he were an unnecessary fly.
"Well, there's no one coming, so might as well-" He stopped as the bells chimed at the front door of the bookstore. Both Mac and Barrons looked to see a young couple enter arm-in-arm. Behind them, more people began to fill in.
The normal morning crowd! Mac exclaimed, visualizing herself jumping up and down in her head. They're early, thank you! "Well, there you have it Barrons! The many people who crave literature on a daily basis. So go on and shoo! Do something that you and your pack do." She motioned him to the door.
Barrons looked at Mac, he leaned across the counter to whisper in Mac's ear, "Don't think I won't stop you tomorrow, or the day after. I can do this for a long time, after all, we have all the time in the world." He casually walked away and exited the bookstore, disappearing into the crowds of people.
"Excuse me?" A voice drifted from across the counter, capturing Mac's attention. Mac looked up to see a beautiful, slender woman standing across the counter with a few books held in her hand. The woman had a pale complexion with pale silver hair cascading down her back, her cheeks accented her big, deep blue eyes and her gently curving chin made her full, pink lips stand out. Mac stood stunned, frozen by the woman's beauty. She suspected, for a second, that the woman might be one of the Seelie fae but when her sidhe sight showed her no illusions she thought the woman may just be a model.
"Yes, how can I help you?" Mac asked giving the woman her full attention making sure she wasn't rude anymore as she had been out-right staring.
"I'd like to purchase these books." the woman's accent was Irish...but it seemed more liquid. Not welsh. Weird, she could have sworn she had heard her voice somewhere.
Mac began to bag the woman's purchase, her cash-register began to cause her some grief when it wasn't responding to her attempts at ringing the purchases. She tried to work the machine but to no avail.
"So, you don't seem to be a native." the woman began to casually add, as she tried at a normal attempt at conversation.
"Yes, I actually moved here just a little while ago." Mac looked up, and answered as she attempted to make the cash- register obey. She dealt with it in the calmest matter she could so that the woman wouldn't notice her troubles. Barrons? She thought. It could be him. He was ready to have me safely tucked in his bed this morning. But would he?
"Really? How do you like it?" She brightened at the statement.
"I love it." Mac smiled at the elfin beauty in front of her. It made her feel like she was talking with the drea-wait, oops-Unseelie King.
"Like home?" she asked, hope strong in her voice.
"...Yes..." Mac answered wondering what she was trying to lead her up to?
"Was that man your husband?"
"Who?" Mac focused all her attention on the woman, no longer trying to work the machine.
"The one who was standing here just a while ago. I mean, you two seemed awfully intimate."
"I'm sorry, that seems like a personal question. I don't know you. or even your name!" Mac apologized, feeling a little conscious about the woman's familiarity with her.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry! I often start to babble and well I just get too carried away." She gushed out an apology, making Mac feel as though she had done something bad.
"But that's something everyone loves about you. Well, it's mostly me." A tall man walked up beside the woman and wrapped a hand around her waist. He had black hair and the darkest eyes Mac had ever seen. But, like the woman, he also a glow of brilliance and sort of beauty about him that left everyone in his-their- circle mystified. As though they didn't quite belong to earth.
Yeah and next I'll start thinking they're fairies! Mac thought wildly as she tried her sidhe vision once again on the couple and when it showed nothing but humans, Mac just felt like an idiot for even doubting. But then again, in this world you could never be too sure about who was who. Everyone had a face they showed to public, but no matter how innocent and naive that face may look like- the heart of a devil could reside beneath the mask that lays on the surface. It was a rule that applied to everyone in Mac's world. She had learned too late of the rule because of the innocence and naivety that she had when she had taken her first steps in Dublin.
The woman tugged on the man's shirt and whispered into his ear. A smile spread across his face as he looked in to the woman's eyes for confirmation. They straightened and looked across to Mac. "Hi, my name is Aine and this is my husband, Ciaran." She said as she introduced in a formal fashion.
"Hi, I'm Mackayla." Mac introduced herself as the cash register began to work.
"A fitting name for a brave, young woman." Ciaran replied as he took out his wallet to pay the amount his wife owed.
"So, was he? That man-your husband?" Aine asked, her eyes sparkling in pure delight.
"Uhhh- more like boyfriend? Maybe?" In honest truth, Mac had no idea what she and Barrons were. Were they going out? Were they going to get married? They already had a child on the way. She wondered, for the first time in a long time. She was so used to knowing the facts, knowing the enemy. She was organized and thorough but to this she had no reply.
"Any plans?" Ciaran asked as he grabbed the bag from Mac as she began to put the money away.
"Umm, I don't know."
"Aww that's too bad. May-" Aine started to reply when Ciaran tugged at her waist and drew her to his side.
"We'll see you later, little Mac." He replied as they walked out the store, leaving behind a very confused Mac.
Little Mac? Mac wondered just who exactly that pair was that came through the door. If she knew one thing about the meeting today, she was damn positive that they were going to come around again. Mac just wasn't sure of what she felt about them.
"Hey Mac, Whatcha doing?" Dani asked as she freeze- framed into the store.
"You know Dani, you should be a lot more careful, what if there had been humans in the store?" Mac asked leaning against the counter. It was only four-thirty and she was already exhausted. How much longer till that damn clock reached five on the dot?
Dani pondered the question and carefully answered, "Well, they've seen the rhino-boys in all their ugly glory, so I'm pretty sure they won't care about a peace-loving girl using the abilities that were give to her."
"Peace- loving?" Mac asked amused at her little sister.
"Well, as much as I love killing the fae, I do like the peace in the city." she sheepishly re-phrased her sentence. Dani walked over to the front door, aware of Mac's scrutinizing glare fixed on the clock. Dani had been watching Mac for the past few minutes and not once had the girl looked away from the clock. I'm a really nice girl, Dani thought to herself as she flipped the sign to closed and did her older sister a favor. Mac was about to voice a protest when Dani spoke up, immediately silencing her, "Geez, Mac you've been staring at feckin' clock for as long as I've been here, so don't tell me that you don't want me to do what you've been trying to do all day behind that damn counter of yours." She finished locking the door and shuffled to the back of the bookstore and stretched lazily on one of the comfy love seats.
Mac watched the girl go and make herself at home in the den. She sighed, glad that Dani had done the deed. She feared that she'd have ended up screaming if another customer had waltzed in and her aching muscles would've never had the chance to relax. But then again she did force herself into this mess all because of her pride and stubborn attitude, Man, life was just harsh sometimes.
"MAC!" Dani shouted in impatience, successfully breaking Mac out of her reverie.
Mac locked the cash-register and walked from behind the counter, all the work could wait till tomorrow morning. Yes, she planned to work tomorrow and the days after no matter what. She sunk into the comfy loveseat and propped her feet onto the coffee table and sighed dreamily as if this is what heaven should be like. The heavy feeling from her limbs slowly disappearing. The satisfaction of a good day's worth. The peace of mind knowing that she had something to return to the morning after.
"You really need to take it easy." Dani muttered as she watched Mac, oddly fascinated by her. "Seriously though, are you okay?" Dani became worried as Mac's breathing began to grow deeper and longer.
Mac looked up surprised and shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "I'm just really tired." She yawned and stretched again. Then she froze and whipped her head to look at Dani in the eyes, "You're not using dude anymore. You're not using any of those words anymore!" She yelled in surprise, then she counted the months and realization struck in hard. "Your birthday!"
"Uhh Mac it passed away like a month ago." Dani said watching Mac's eyes go watery just before she burst into tears. "Ohh! I'm sorry! Oh! Mac what's up? Are you alright?" Dani rushed to Mac's side to stop the older woman's tears. But to no avail, Mac began to sob. "No, seriously, I just realized too. What's wrong?" Dani asked as she rubbed Mac's back and panicked. Damn, rhino- boys and fae she could handle. A crying, sobbing Mac was sending her brain into haywire.
"No, it's just that, I wanted to do something special. But I'm just so emotional and my tear ducts are really weak right now. It's okay, I'm fine." Mac wiped at her eyes. This pregnancy was sending her emotions into a jumble and making her cry. And she still had what eight months to go. Great.
"What's wrong? You're freaking me out." Dani watched Mac pull herself together and then, making sure once again, that Mac was just fine did she return to her own seat.
Mac began to burst out, "You're already fifteen and I'm going to do something really special, I promise. And the store is back, the war's ending, so many things are going on and I'm pregnant and the abbey's finall-"
"Wait," Dani interrupted Mac in mid-sentence, "Sis you just say you're pregnant?" Dani yelled as she jumped out her seat and looked at Mac's surprised face.
"So, it seems. Before you go on, congrats you're the first one to find out!" Mac smiled and threw her hands up lamely.
"Pregnant! Are you- why'd you- are you-w-w-are you serious?" Dani stuttered out and watched Mac nod in confirmation. "You do realize that the war just ended and that another may start and you you're-" Dani said as she motioned to Mac's stomach.
"Well, it just-wait, what do you mean another may start?" Mac asked confused by the newly presented information.
"Oh, didn't you know, Cruce managed to break free and oh." Dani said in high tone until she realized that Mac indeed had no idea what was going on outside of the little bookstore she ran, "Oh, you didn't know. Wow." She flopped back onto the sofa and watched the colour disappear from Mac's face. She felt horrible to tell Mac. Why hadn't Barrons told her-damn. She could be such an idiot! Barrons didn't tell her because of the pregnancy. Ugh! She hit herself on her forehead.
"Cruce, huh?" Mac asked as she settled into her chair.
"This is turning out to be a fun day for everyone." Dani muttered as she closed her eyes and let her head roll back.
Mac observed the young girl. Fifteen. Dani still looked like a young girl, but gone away was the childish features and the childish attitude that had once made Dani , Dani. Her beauty had taken a turn for the better. She had always had an aura of confidence but now it seemed to make her powerful and strong, not a weak girl to be meddled with. Her auburn hair cascaded down her back to her waist, curling slightly at the end. Her nose and jaw remained the same but her mouth had formed to a cupid's bow, her green eyes had become even more vibrant than before. She was taller and and had curves in all the right places. It was hard to believe that she was fifteen. But then again she was an adult in more ways than she should have been.
"What?" Dani asked as she stood up and straightened out her clothes.
"Well, isn't this an unfamiliar sight?" Ryodan interrupted as he and Barrons walked into the lounging area.
"Ryodan." Dani greeted, "It's been a while."
"Dani," Ryodan said in a husky voice, "Too long, hasn't it?"
Vibrant eyes met dark eyes. Mac and Barrons watched the strained meeting.
"Well, I'll see you later Mac. Good day, Barrons." Dani said as she sashayed out the store.
"How old is she again?" Ryodan asked in an interested voice.
"Too young for you." Mac spoke before either Barrons or Ryodan could add anymore. Ryodan's challenging eyes met her defiant ones. NO, she thought one last time before walking out of the room. Let beasts be beasts.
Mac was lying in bed, utterly exhausted but sleep would not come to her. Instead the terrifying image of her lake and the little boy came in view. How she wished she could stop the Sinsar Dubh from it's wicked ways.
Barrons walked in and joined her in less than a minute flat.
"How are you?" he asked as he spooned himself against her.
"Tired." She sighed as he nuzzled her neck and protective arms rested on her stomach.
Her heart was fluttering with his nearby presence.
"You know, you could stop working." he suggested as he bit her ear softly.
"I don't think so." Mac replied defiantly. A smile curving upon her lips.
"Then let's spend time trying to change your decision, hmmm?" Jericho whispered just before flipping her on the bed, so that he lay on top of her. And he slowly drew her to him and kissed her sweetly...
A/N- I apologize for the late update but hopefully you enjoy. Sadly, there weren't many Jericho and Mac scenes but I intend there to be more! Stay tuned!