The Little Fairy
Chapter 11
Thomas Brown of Needleman Street
The leader gestured to his two men, and one stepped forward. Jacquie drew in a breath, then daintily took off her hat. Seconds later the man was breathing in feathers and hatpins. She kicked him in the stomach with a very sharp heel, then whirled to face the second fellow. She wound her fur sash around his neck twice, and pulled slightly. She twisted it away and kicked his feet out from under him, letting him fall on his face in the dust.
She put the hat back on her head, the sash back around her elbows and turned to the leader. She shut her parasol and pulled her arm back, ready to whack him in the face with it, but suddenly she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned, facing Thomas.
He was quite pale, but he shook his head. "Don't hurt him unless you need to." Thomas begged. "He sees what you've done. Give him the chance to leave."
Jacquie blinked. "You're right." she nodded, and let Thomas guide her away from the two fallen men and the leader, who was standing, shocked.
Jacquie returned the parasol to her left hand, and Thomas offered her his arm. "May I escort you home?" he asked, politely.
Jacquie laughed, thrilled. "Perhaps I should escort you home?" she joked.
Both Jacquie and Thomas heard the chink of metal, and turned simultaneously.
The leader of the muggers held a sharp knife in his hand. Jacquie stepped forward, quite ready to kick him in the chest, but suddenly Thomas was in front of her. He stepped up to the man and grabbed the man's knife hand. Thomas elbowed him in the nose, getting blood all over both of them, then twisted the knife away. Thomas kicked the man in the shin and he collapsed to one knee.
Thomas tried to brush himself off as he stepped away, but he had blood all over one arm and his shirt front.
Jacquie stared at him, startled and astonished. "That was amazing." Thomas took her arm and they started walking up the alley.
"It was nothing compared to what you did." Thomas shook his head. "I'm Thomas Brown, by the way."
"And I'm Jacqueline Graystorm. Call me Jacquie." They shook hands.
"Do you live near here?" Thomas asked,
"On Needleman Street." Jacquie said, smiling widely.
"What a coincidence. So do I!" Thomas exclaimed. "Do you have people expecting you? You saved me, and the least I can do is to offer you dinner. My parents will have it waiting for me."
"Oh, I'd love to come!" Jacquie eyes shone. "You're sure it won't be imposing?"
"We'd all love it if you'd come." Thomas assured her.
"Then I shall." Jacquie accepted.
Thomas led her two houses down, and Jacquie leaned over to look at her own home. "Why, we're almost next-door neighbors!" she said. "How lovely."
"Blood on my shirt – my parents will be horrified." Thomas mused. "I don't want you to feel put off. They're overprotective of me. I have a fairly delicate health. They're always wondering how I don't catch pneumonia, walking to work rain or shine as I do."
"How, indeed." Jacquie smiled.
The Little Fairy
The nurse fairy walked back in. "It's time for the visitors to go." she announced. "Vidia has to rest if she wants to get back to work this week."
"We've had only minutes." Silvermist protested.
"That's all we meant for you to get." the nurse said, mercilessly.
"Tink." Vidia spoke up. "Stay a minute. Don't worry, nurse. I'll throw her out in a moment or two."
"All right." the nurse said, reluctantly.
"What is it, Vidia?" Tinkerbell asked.
"It was your first summer on the mainland. You gave it up to bring me back here. That was pretty sweet."
"You had already done more for me, from what I heard of the rescue mission." Tinkerbell replied.
"I owe you one, Tink." Vidia insisted. "But anyway, I have to ask a favor."
"Anything, Vidia. What is it?"
"I need you to find some lost things. Things that have value for humans. Jacquie will need a way to stay around Thomas on Needleman Street until he figures out that they have to get married." Vidia explained. "I would do it, but I don't think they're going to let me out of sick bay."
Tinkerbell nodded. "Of course, Vidia. I'll get the others to help me. It'll be done and on it's way to the mainland in a flash."
"Thanks, Tink." Vidia shut her eyes. "You'd better go."
Tinkerbell flew out.
The Little Fairy
Vidia woke with a gasp. She glanced around, but none of the firefly lights were on. It was strange. She glanced out of the window. All of Pixie Hollow seemed dark. She narrowed her eyes and got out of bed. She stepped cautiously out the door, wondering what was going on.
She walked a little way down the hall and peeked into a side room, only to come face to face with a nurse fairy that she'd never seen before.
"You!" the fairy gasped. "What are you doing here? You're going to get us killed! You've got to leave before they see you!"
Vidia blinked, confused.
The fairy grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her into the room and to a window. "Climb down the vine. It's nearly invisible, but it's strong. Run away from here and keep running until you're stopped." the nurse instructed.
"What are you talking about? What's going on?" Vidia demanded in a whisper.
"Just go!" the nurse pushed her toward the window.
Vidia climbed out and slid down the vine, then stepped away from the building. A shadow fell over her and she looked up.
Pirate!
She stepped back into the shadows as he passed, then ran.
She ran faster, and kept running.
"Psst! Hang on! Stop!" a voice whispered, and she slid to a stop.
Four strange fairies stood off the path that she'd been running on.
"Come here a minute." a blond-haired one ordered.
Vidia obeyed, uncertainly.
"No, it still isn't right." the same fairy told a fairy with short black hair shaking her head.
"Look who got dry so fast." A brunette said, teasingly.
"You'd think she'd have caught on by now." a different blonde smiled as she spoke.
The black haired fairy just grimaced.
"Don't worry." The brunette stepped toward her. "You'll get it."
"Heal fast, Vidia." the black haired fairy said.
Vidia opened her eyes.
It had been a dream.