Chapter 20

Anna had told him that magic didn't exist in her world. Jarlaxle wondered what he would do if his magic no longer worked and he had to survive on his wits alone. His lips twitched at the thought. He wondered if this world was ready for the likes of Jarlaxle.

A whimper from Anna drew the elf's attention. Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to focus on him. The elf frowned, "You should sleep." he said. Her indigo eyes were nearly black with pain. Jarlaxle considered his options. He needed to do something about healing her. He needed her knowledge of this world to formulate a plan.

"How is she?" Bovier's voice came from the doorway.

"Come, see for yourself." the drow invited him. The boy gave him an uncertain look and slowly approached the bed. Anna's dark eyes focused on the boy as knelt beside her.

"Bovier!" Anna's eyes clouded with confusion.

The boy grinned to hide his worry. "Hey there lazy girl," he greeted her. Anna smiled back through a haze of pain. Bovier leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead, "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you." He promised.

"I believe she could use some water." the drow suggested laying a hand on the boy's shoulder. Bovier nodded not taking his eyes from Anna's pain filled faced. He slowly got up, "I'll be right back. You just hang just hang in there." As soon as he was gone an agonized sound escaped from her lips.

Twisting one of the jeweled rings on his fingers, Jarlaxle held it above her injured shoulder. "This may sting a bit." he said and then closed his eyes and began to chant. Anna gasped and bit back a cry of pain as the spell began its work.

Bovier jogged to the well to get some fresh water. Quickly filling the jug he hurried back. "I got the water…" he started to say. The words died in his throat and his eyes bulged. The dark man was quietly chanting as his hand hovered over Anna. His hand was glowing. Bovier stared opened mouthed as the light from the dark man's hand grew until it resembled a ball of emerald light. The dark man pressed the ball of light into Anna's shoulder. She gasped, her back arching off of the bed as the light absorbed into her shoulder.

"Anna," Bovier whispered in horror as she thrashed in pain. "What are you doing," he yelled. Dropping the jug of water the boy raced to the bed and lunged at the dark man.

There was a flash of light and then Bovier was thrown across room. The boy sat up, shook his head and rubbed his ear. What just happened? He hadn't even touched the dark man.

"I wouldn't suggest you try that a second time." the dark man warned him.

"What are you doing to her?" Bovier demanded as he struggled to his feet.

"I was casting a healing spell until you interrupted me," the dark man said turning his attention back to Anna whose skin was still glowing faintly. Bovier cautiously approached the bed. The dark man had removed the bandage, exposing the wound. He stared as the blisters disappeared into her shoulder.

"Merciful heavens," Jour breathed from the doorway. She had thought that Artemis was dangerous one. She had been wrong. Moving closer to Anna she watched in disbelief as the blisters gradually disappeared. Though far from healed, the injury was no longer life threatening.

Slowly becoming aware of her surroundings, Anna blinked trying to focus. Jour and Bovier were staring at her in shock. Then she saw Jarlaxle sitting next to her.

Jour stared at the drow and whispered, "How is this possible?"

"You have never seen magic?" Jarlaxle asked. Jour wordlessly shook her head. The old woman's shock reinforced what Anna had told him about this world's lack of magic. Still, since he had been able to cast a healing spell so he hadn't lost his magic.

The pain, while not gone, was greatly diminished. Anna cautiously moved her shoulder and winced. She met the drow's red eyes. He had done something. "What did you do," she asked as him. The elf winked at her and said, "I cast a healing spell."

The old woman blanched, "A spell."

A smiled played along the elf's lips as he inclined his head. Jour shook her head and gingerly touched Anna's shoulder. "Is he really Fae?" she asked.

"Yes." Anna confirmed. Jour swallowed uneasily and glanced at the elf. Like Anna, the old woman had heard tales of the fair folk and she was afraid for the girl.

Anna saw the distress in the old woman's eyes. She smiled at her, "Don't worry Jour, they're my friends," she reassured her. Jour nodded slowly unable to shake the uneasy feeling. Patting Anna's hand, Jour forced herself to smile, "You rest up, I think this old woman has had enough excitement for one day." she said. Moving away from the bed, she shooed Bovier out of the room leaving Anna and the drow alone.

Anna watched them leave. "Poor Jour, I think you scared her," she told the drow.

"Your people truly have never seen magic," Jarlaxle said staring at the empty doorway. Anna smiled and tried to sit up and then immediately laid back down. The pain, while better was not entirely gone. The drow looked down at her his white brows drawing together. The spell should have totally healed her. He would need to experiment later to see how well his magic worked in this world.

"Thanks for healing me." Anna said. The drow grinned at her, "I had to do something, you were becoming frightfully boring." He teased.

"Aren't you ever serious?" she grumbled making him laugh. "Not if I can help it," he said brushing a lock of her dark hair away from her face. Anna laughed quietly. Jarlaxle arched a questioning brow. She smiled back at him, "I was just thinking that it is a good thing that you aren't serious." She said.

"Why is that?" he asked. Anna giggled, she was feeling a little silly, "Because if you were serious you would be scarier than Artemis."

"Do you truly think that Artemis is scarier?" He inquired softly. She nodded her eye's dancing with laughter.

"Then you would be the only one." He said shaking his head.

A thought suddenly occurred to Anna, "How did we end up at Jour's house?" she asked and then suddenly laughed, "Poor Artemis."

"Poor Artemis," he repeated.

Anna nodded, "Bovier will probably follow him around like a lost puppy." She suddenly laughed and clapped her hand over her mouth. "I feel giddy," she told him.

Jarlaxle was puzzled by her reaction to the magic. That particular spell was painful, she shouldn't be happy. Though Anna never reacted the way he expected.

"You didn't answer my question," Anna said. The elf looked at her questioningly. "How did we end up at Jour's?" she reminded him.

"I believe she thought that we were unable to care for you properly." He answered. Anna giggled, "That sounds like Jour. She's like a mother hen."

"You are fond of her," Jarlaxle said.

Anna's eyes softened, "I often wished that Jour had been my mother. When I first came to France it was so hard. My French wasn't very good and I felt like an outsider. Jour, Jacques and Bovier made me feel like family. I don't know how long I would have lasted if not for them," she explained.

The dark elf listened silently. Cruelty and deceit were a way of life for the drow. He couldn't imagine ever being so trusting. The only person that Jarlaxle had ever relied on was himself. It had always been that way. You never trusted and you never let your guard down, at least not if you wanted to live.

"I am going to kill that boy," Artemis snarled as he stalked into the room. Anna turned towards him and giggled causing his scowl to deepen.

"Apparently healing spells make her giddy," Jarlaxle remarked dryly as Artemis joined them.

"What did Bovier do?" Anna asked.

Artemis' entire face scowled, "Doesn't that boy ever stop talking?" he asked. Anna's lips twitched, "No, especially when he likes someone." The drow dissolved into laughter at the look on Artemis face.

Anna grinned up at him, "Bovier will grow on you, just wait and see."

"So can fungus." Artemis grumbled drawing another laugh from Jarlaxle. He shot the drow a hateful look, cursing the day that he met the dark elf. He kept finding himself in situations he normally took pains to avoid.

Jarlaxle was thoroughly entertained, "I believe it was you that offered to assist the boy in repairing the roof," he remarked. Artemis glared at the grinning drow. Unable to resist teasing his friend, the dark elf asked, "Am I wrong?"

Artemis groaned and ran a hand through his hair. His experience with children was almost nonexistent and he had no desire to change that. Without another word he stalked to window, pushed opened the shutters and leapt over the windowsill, landing on the grass below.

Jarlaxle watched Artemis retreating form, a speculative look entering his eyes. Noticing that Anna eyes had drifted closed the dark elf moved to the window and followed his friend into the darkness.

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Sunlight streaming across the bed wakened Anna. Bringing a hand to eyes she squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. The first thing she noticed was the lack of pain. Amazed, she touched where the wound had been. It was almost totally healed. Sitting up, she moved her arm experimentally. She had nearly a full range of motion back as well.

"I brought you some clean clothes," Jour said, walking into the room with an armful of clothing. Setting the clothes on the dresser, she sat down beside Anna and stared at her shoulder. "That wound shouldn't be healed," she said her eyes filling with worry.

Anna patted Jour's hand, "Don't worry, I'm fine," she comforted the old woman. Anna knew how serious the wound had been, if not for the dark elf's help she might have died.

Jour's shoulders slumped as she looked away from Anna, "I'm afraid for you. You can't trust a Fae."

Anna was well aware that Jarlaxle wasn't trustworthy. "I know, but there are things about Jarlaxle that don't match up with what I've been told about the Fae."

"Like what?" Jour asked.

"I was always told that if you ate the food in Faery you would be trapped there, but that's not true," Anna told her.

"You were in Feary?" Jour gasped.

"I thought it was Faery," Anna frowned.

"Why don't you start from the beginning?" Jour suggested. Anna nodded and told her what had happened. Once she had finished she waited anxiously for Jour to say something.

Jour was silent for a long time before she finally spoke, "If I am understanding you correctly you're saying that Feary isn't a separate realm," she paused and then continued, "If that is the case then an entire race disappeared without a trace." Jour studied her young friend as she tried to digest everything she had heard. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

Anna raked her hand through her hair, "Jour, I am so scared that the disease killing the Fea is my fault. I have to find a way to save them," she whispered.

Jour wrapped an arm around the girl, "If there's a way you will find it." She thought about what Anna had said about humans and creatures of Feary living side by side. How was it possible that there was nothing left to suggest that Feary and Earth had once existed in the same place? "Are you sure that you weren't in Feary?" Jour asked.

Anna laughed, "Not unless they have the Tower of London in Feary."

Jour was startled, "You were in London?"

Anna nodded, "Yes, from the way London looked I would guess it was around the early 14th century."

"As far as I know there has never been any evidence that the Fae even existed, let alone lived along side of us. How could an entire race disappear without a trace?" Jour wondered out loud.

"I don't know. There should be because there were as many Fae as there were humans," Anna said as she stood up and stretched. "Speaking of Fae, have you seen Jarlaxle or Artemis this morning?" it was strange that the dark elf wasn't pestering her.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen them since yesterday." Jour said.

"I wonder where they went." Anna remarked. She had gotten used to the elf's continual chatter. It seemed to quiet without him.

"Go get cleaned up and I will make you some breakfast." Jour said as she got off the bed and headed towards the kitchen.

After a long hot bath, Anna felt more like herself again. Picking up the clothes that Jour had brought, she was surprised to find a new uniform. Tucking her hair into the bonnet she was surprised at how itchy the uniform felt after wearing the silk dress Jarlaxle had given her. Walking to the kitchen, Anna poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. She smiled as Jour bustled around the kitchen. It felt like she had never left.

"Morning, Bovier." Anna said as the boy sat down opposite her. He looked worried. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Dad didn't come home yesterday." He said.

Normally this wouldn't have concerned Anna since the doctors work long hours but Jacques had been there when the trench was breached yesterday. She hoped he hadn't been hurt. "You know how long the shifts can be, he probably had to work overtime." Bovier nodded but the worried look didn't leave his face as they ate breakfast.

"When did your dad leave for work yesterday?" Anna asked trying to ease the boys concern. Bovier met her eyes, "Day before yesterday, in the morning," he replied.

He had left forty-eight hours ago. No wonder Bovier was worried. Jacques never left his family alone for that long. Since the death of wife, he had been constantly worried about something happening to his son and mother.

"Jour is there a horse we can borrow?" Anna asked finishing up her coffee.

"There are the horses your friends brought with them. Why?" Jour asked suspiciously.

"I want to check on Jacques," Anna said. Jour put her hands on her hips and glared at Anna, "Not by yourself you aren't." she informed her.

"I'll go with her," Bovier announced, bringing a scowl to his grandmother's face. "I'm sixteen ya know, I'm not a kid anymore," He exclaimed.

"See, Bovier will go with me. I'll be perfectly safe," Anna lied. Jour sighed in resignation, "I can see there will be no reasoning with you," she said. Pulling out a drawer from one of the cabinets she took out a small object wrapped in cloth and handed it to Anna.

Anna's eyes widened as she unwrapped it. In the cloth was a pistol.

Author's Note: Oh yeah…I'm just getting warmed up! The next two chapters are gonna be fun!

Sonra: Thanks! I'll pass your praise along to the war nerds.

General zargon: No, no, my evil twin is working on my next two chapters. Hehehe. So, you think it wasn't one of the better fight scenes? Hmmm…how interesting. My imagination thanks you, even if the war nerds are going to pout. :P

Surreptitious Chi X: I know! I love turning the tables! Just wait…it's gonna get better. Lol.