Chapter 19 Jealousy and the flame of life

Rob Thomas Lonely no more

Nuada

She switched to telepathy at a raised volume.

Are you jealous? Not a problem for me to find them just to chat. Why this fuss?

No I'm not. They are busy. Don't bother them. And strangers. – I replied.

Who cares? Certainly not you. I'm here in the Bureau. It's so safe.

No you cannot. Unless I come too. I did care. I felt responsible for her safety.

They'll run away. You're so scary!

I wanted to catch her hand but she evaded. The door remained shut. "Hello I need to go outside now. Please open up!"

I implored Hellboy to stop her. He just looked on in amusement. "Let her go, man. She can take care of herself." Laira glared at me.

"Come back soon. Be careful." I touched the keypad. She saw Nuala outside and talked to her.

I lay down on my bed. How can she assume that I don't care? Nuala said I am too possessive. But this doesn't count. It is a duty of a warrior to protect the weak and the children.

"Where are the elves?" I asked tiredly. I sat up.

Red shrugged, whipping his tail. "Dunno. Lie down, you can't go anywhere. I'll be here. Liz is mad at me again.."

I sulked. But a good story was here. "Why?"

"I just lost her belongings! And spoiled her bed to get a cat down. What does she do, boom! How many times our room gets fried? Must she react so strong, Nuada?" he heatedly justified with strong gestures.

The scenario was comical. I smiled a little. Then I straightened my face and said, "No she did not have to. But you could try to find the things back. Liz does not bear grudges for long."

"Can't! I tried hunting for them, her toothbrush, dvd, even a lousy handbag. I really blew it big time. You understand her more, with the telepathic link stuff."

Hence drinking the alcohol. "No I only sense what she feels when she is near me. Usually an excitement looking forward to your company."

"Swear that's real, fairyboy?"

I nodded. "Fey promise. I won't lie to you."

He looked contemplative, exercising his big fist. "But what do I do to get out of this one? Besides finding her stuff back."

"Flowers, gifts. Don't you pamper your girlfriend with those? It's an age-old tradition." Nuala and I were reconciled, but I had a new problem on my hands. Didn't have stamina for girls. Elizabeth was a simpler woman.

Hellboy grinned. His tail tickled my arm. "Thanks Nuada. Want me to help? You look troubled."

"Keep an eye on the child. I'm supposed to make sure she's safe when we're outside."

"Sure thing. The guys' night thing still on. If you want."

I smiled. "Thank you. I will. How's the case? Did you solve it?"

"That one. Led to other things too, more attacks on governments. Ghosts even. But don't worry your blond head about it."

"I'm sorry, if I didn't collapse, you'd have settled it. Give me your hand." He was surprised but I managed to rest my fingertips on his skin. Manning had reprimanded them for not making sure I felt all right. Especially the demon. "Why didn't you tell me? I will explain to Manning it was not your fault."

He snorted. "Ah ancient history already. Never mind. You should not worry."

I frowned. "This is not right. Here I will write a note, you give it to him."

When it was done, I fell asleep.

The next time I awoke, the outside was dark.

I called Nuala.

"Hello brother. What's up?"

"Is Laira with you? She didn't come back."

"Yes right here. She is much happier now. We had a long chat about movies."

That was a relief. "Ask her to come to the phone."

"Nuada, are you going to scold me again?" she began.

"Of course not. I was worried. I can't leave my room yet."

A pause. "I know. I can take care of myself, I'm a teenager now. Have you eaten?"

"No. I slept past dinner."

She grunted and spoke firmly, "See, you're not taking care of yourself. I'll go ask them to bring food for you."

I smiled. "That'd be nice. Can you come and talk to me again?"

Meanwhile, I looked through what she'd recorded and wrote a few more things. It had been such a promising discussion. A similarity between Nuala and I was animals, we adored them. Example: easy taming of wild antelope and equines. It was very easy for me to speak to a wild animal to calm it. They were my only friends sometimes. All the points I had in mind written in a neat script. "You left out temper." True, I had a foul temper. Johann Krauss pointed that out as a similarity between the demon and I. Luckily it had been a private session.

Outside, someone stopped. "Dinner is here, Your Highness." I had found the remote for the door console and pressed. I thanked the person. It was a light meal rice and fish. She came in after a while, skipping along.

"Oh I wrote a few more things. Is it nice?" I said. She read the paper.

"Cool. Why were you so agitated?"

I held out my palm. Then I conveyed how I felt about this. You are my saviour, I can't let anything happen to you. And elves have many temperaments, not all of them are friendly. Although the BPRD is safe, some get through undetected. I need to repay you properly.

"I see. I was with Abraham and your sister, they took care of me, Nuada. Oh, I'm not a saviour, that's like so huge."

"It is true, Halfling. I owe you twice. Picture this, prince wants to care for you. No expiry date."

She smiled and picked up the spoon. "Ok eat up. You're funny elf."

Soon I finished the food, but felt too full to eat the pudding. Laira ate it instead. "Don't see Joe. He's busy?"

"Yep. He'll come tomorrow. When can you leave officially?"

I sighed. "Until the bloodtest result is out. But still cannot do too much. I will feel bored."

******

Hellboy came the next morning, saying Manning accepted my explanation. "He said sorry to me. Haha! But Liz is still angry."

I asked, "Did you do what I suggested?"

"Yea but her face was angry. Could ya talk to her for me? When she comes."

"Well if she does pass by I'll do my best. What do you want me to say?"

"Er, ask her what she wants from me. Coz when women are mad I can't ask directly." Sounded feasible.

I got my chance when Uriel pronounced that I could walk around. "I feel totally fine." I did not tell him that I would school my brain into thinking I could handle physical activity more than I felt able.

The wily elf shook his head. "These things are hard to tell. Good news is your blood is free of poison. But there may be a relapse, so don't exert yourself too hard yet, Nuada. We will make more of the Amaranth for you to take."

"How long will my energy take to return?" I sat still as he stuck a battery thing in my ear and it whined loudly. Retrieving that, Uriel smiled.

"No fever. Full recovery is 5-6 months. If you want to train, build it up gradually. First not longer than half an hour. Or we will see each other again in the ICU."

I made a face. Yuck. He had such audacity to laugh at me. But half an hour was better than no exercise at all. "Can I start now?"

I twirled a scimitar with my right hand, then my left. Soon the effort wore me out. But I had not lost my reflexes!

Liz Sherman

Nuada Silverlance was fine, eating ice-cream when I dropped by. On and off, I had peeked in to see how he was doing. But felt hesitant to talk. His preternatural appearance took my breath away. This time he glanced up at the door sliding open.

"Come in Liz."

I wanted to touch him. His ambers glittered. Lips lifted in a small smile but warm and genuine. "Chocolate cream your favorite? Got your appetite back. I'm glad."

"I like it to a fault. Thank you," he spoke carefully. "Are you still angry with the demon? He is sorry."

Oh Red had come to discuss our personal fight with him? Shit. I laughed in embarrassment. Nuada cocked his head as if listening to me. I replied, "Yea I am. I keep giving and giving, and it's too much, Nuada. I'm tired."

The elf nodded. I had no doubt he read my thoughts. Did they probe us freely for info? The silence was nice.

"So is anyone in my place? I cannot go on a mission yet."

"Yea some half wit. Hope it won't be a babysitter. From the Bureau in Europe, Romania. Part-siren. "

He assessed this, tinkling the spoon on the bowl. "Perhaps she has more experience with ghosts. They are more tricky to deal with. What about Johann?"

I groaned. "He loves the idea of a professional."

"Definitely his type." He laughed. Some of his fine hair covered his face. So handsome. My fingers were close to his arm. "You may hug me."

I put my arms about the lithe elf, felt some of his bones protruding from his back and ribs. His breath was light. Heartbeat stable. The fiery essence in me felt life throbbing in all creatures. The tinman had suggested I try to control my power by understanding this fact of life.

"Liz I need to clear my desk now."

"Oh sorry." Nuala told me her brother was uncomfortable with prolonged hugs. But I had been attuned to his heartbeat. That was progress. Nuada gathered some papers in foreign language and slid them into a new folder. "What are those?"

"Tracing family history. You are curious woman." Was he mad at me? I could not tell from his monotone.

Then he said, "Hellboy is a good demon. You did not choose wrongly, Elizabeth. You chose him over the world did you not?"

How had Nuada realized that? Such intuition! He smiled.

I said, "Only Red and me were inside that place… how did you?"

"When you hugged me I saw the Angel of Death presenting the choice to you."

"Yes. I was scared I'd lose him. Thank you. I will speak to him."

But also beat him up for telling our domestic quarrel to the elf! Fancy bothering him about trivial matters. "If he disturbed you I apologize first."

"No it was fine. We are friends. I'd not have imagined it then."

"Nuada, look forward to having you on missions again. Really! I take long to adapt to new people." I smiled.

He looked puzzled. Truth be told, I missed his fancy moves. The siren naturally would be trouble to me. Just a premonition.

In the night, the elf prince waited for me at the lobby. He wore a meridian green robe, something like the black and crimson robe he had before. Wow! He looked smart. Today I wouldn't go alone to the forest!

"Nuada, I thought you didn't want me to talk too much."

"Still take that to heart? No I want to show you some things. Come."

"Are you fully clear? Does it hurt?"

He answered with a frown, "Yes I am fine. But can't run or train hard. Uriel and doctors' nagging."

I laughed at the solemn speech of the elf.

The elf knelt at one of the trees, resting his hand on the buttress. "This is an elven species of fruit tree. A seed had taken root here."

"How do you know?" I came close and touched too. Felt nothing.

He said in amusement, "I feel its voice. All lifeforms have an inner telepathy which is accessible to elves. You cannot. Liz, you mentioned that walking with nature is a hobby. Alone?"

Solitude had always been my constant companion. I had told Nuada before. I nodded. "Yea. I needed to be away from all the humans, they hated me for burning down their homes. I was out of control with this stupid fire thing. Only Red came to support me. I will do anything for him."

The prince did not stare at me, nor have visual contact. No interruptions, their race is so patient with listening. Even Nuala was like that too. He ventured, "Sounds like you ought to join us. The humans should not live for their discrimination. Why slave for them still?" Arrogance against the humans.

I understood what he meant. He wished for justice and action against the mortal race who had abandoned their love for nature.

I had been a victim. But not all of them are evil. "Among them who hated me, I had some friends, like in the institute*, the sisters treated me well."

Nuada rose to his full height. Taller than me by a few inches. His blond locks caught by a breeze. I continued, determined to persuade him, "I do this to help the good ones. There's a wise saying- ignore the wicked and the foolish, they know not what they do. The humans are not fit to judge us. We answer for our own deeds."

Dreamily, he said, "I envision a rebuilt Bethmora. The seeds are scattered everywhere. Some have already sprouted. "

I wondered where this was going.

Hated humans, that's me. "I'm human too. What will you think of me?"

Nuada faced me, his expression softening. "No you are a Firechild. You should not group yourself with them."

Fine. I switched the topic- "I think it's a nice start if Bethmora is to be restored. How large is your entire elfland?"

He explained to me, but I can't quote it here. Much too complex for me. Haha! The last time we went to Ireland was just part of Bethmora. The prince sat down on the grass first gracefully. I leaned against the trunk beside him.

"Firechild, meaning a compliment or what?"

"Offspring of human and the firespirits of old. Phoenix, the bringer of life. The first of them." My goose pimples rose. I liked the legends.

"How's Laira and Joe? They always ask about you, first thing when they come."

Nuada's teeth showed. His golden eyes deepened. "Good. We write and talk on the phone. I like them very much. Seems surreal to me."

How sweet! They could gradually turn his mindset for good after all. "It is true. You have proof as well, prince."

His golden hair swept over his face as he turned to watch the moon. Perhaps Nuada didn't feel like he deserved this. No one should feel that way. "I understand, Liz. In the past, I was warned not to be attached or get close to humans by the weapons masters. I myself felt that way after their treachery. Well, for now I don't think all the humans are evil. Some of the fey wanted a union with them and Halflings became the result."

"Cool. Nuada wear this color more." I loved the way his fair tresses accentuated against his meridian robes.

He chuckled, brushing on the material. "Why thank you."

"I only see you in black and crimson. Also the blue was nice. Where's the special fancy belt?" I mimed buckling my hips.

The elf said, "That's a glamour belt. Okay I will take up the suggestion. Black is a personal preference. I like dark colors."

"Let me show you the mysteries of the forest and the fey." He held out his hand. I accepted the gesture.

******

More and more I learnt about what he had to share. Sometimes Nuada spoke to things or organisms I couldn't see. I learnt to spot them but had to squint and wear special glamour-lifting glasses(smaller pairs). I hoped Red wouldn't misunderstand. I needed time out.

Nuada's confident presence brought out the shyness in me. Normally I talked incessantly when I was around other people, but I didn't have to act in front of him. "We could have been best friends. If, I went to Bethmora earlier." I remarked.

The prince dismissed a pixie like a gold fluff. "What? Come again."

"I know you heard me."

"Why would you even come to my homeland?"

His smirk while I pondered this. "Well just. I had practically zero friends. The fire throwing freak."

Nuada paused. "How old were you when this gift surfaced?"

"Ten. Oh, you're calculating the age span. Yea!"

"At the time I was a young elf. Sixteen? It may have been possible."

I grinned. He assured me that Red and Abraham, also his sister, were my friends. We had some kind of commonality. Little me. Spontaneously, I zapped a bug with my flame, small spurt. He glared at me, having moved to safer ground.

"Hey that was a mozzie. You don't support those bloodsuckers do you?"

"Have my instructions and education meant nothing to you?" the elf asked in offence. He examined the remains of the bug. "Might have been a fairy. Liz!"

"Sorry. I'm very very certain it was a mosquito. Spreads disease." I loved these eco-lessons. Elves know so much, walking nature guides. "Do you get sucked? I mean…"

"All right, enough enough. Are you in control of this power? I do not wish to perish."

"Totally." I beamed. Nuada shook his head.

*Oh Jani, i wld really like to message u. thx so much for your support.

*Referring to the place where Liz was locked up until she joined BPRD. I like to visualize she had some friends and to me, it's a holy place. I'm not sure of her background