A Fairy Tale (37 page)

“Okay, this isn’t so bad,” she said with a sigh of relief. Then the worst pain she’d ever felt struck, and she felt like her limbs were being ripped out of their sockets.

Central Park

Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

Michael had just allowed himself a sigh of relief at being back in the real world when Sophie abruptly jerked away from him, like something had pulled her. He turned to see her throwing her arms around a snarling beast. “Help me hold her, and whatever you do, don’t let go,” Sophie shouted. He might have asked why or how, but the queen in her came out in her tone, and it wasn’t the sort of order one disobeyed.

Michael got his good arm around the beast, and only then did he notice that Emily wasn’t with them. “Didn’t Emily make it?” he asked.

“This
is
Emily,” Sophie said as the beast turned into a bear. “It’s a spell. Hold her!” Amelia and Athena joined in, but Eamon stood back. Emily changed from snarling lion to hissing snake to fire-breathing dragon and just about every other creature in the menagerie. At last, she turned back into Emily and sagged against Sophie. Michael lent his support, and the two of them held Emily upright

“What happened?” Michael asked, breathless from the exertion.

“I’ve read about this sort of thing, but I thought it came from longer captivity,” Sophie said, sounding a little breathless, herself.

“It’s the Realm’s way of keeping its captives,” Amelia said, stroking Emily’s back. “One last test for the rescuers. You must be truly devoted to hold on to someone through all that. If you fail that test of devotion, you lose your loved one for good.”

“Was that because she drank?” Michael asked.

Sophie shook her head. “I don’t know. Maeve may have enchanted her to keep her from escaping. If she knew what I am, then she might have thought Emily could have the same power to leave the Realm.”

Michael didn’t want to ask the next question, but he had to know. “If we get Jen out of the palace and get her through a gateway, will this happen to her?”

“Almost certainly,” Athena said with a sorrowful nod. “And it will be worse if she isn’t going willingly. Emily didn’t try to escape from our grasp. Imagine holding on to the beasts while they’re trying to get away.”

“So, we will need to bring sturdy gloves on that rescue mission,” Sophie said briskly.

“Is it over?” Emily asked, still clinging to her sister.

“Yes, sweetie, I believe it is. Now, let’s get you home.”

Emily tried to move out of Michael and Sophie’s grasp and nearly fell. Eamon stepped in to support her. Michael couldn’t tell if her glassy look was because of what she’d just gone through or because she wasn’t adapting well to the real world. They bustled her home and up the stairs to Michael’s apartment, where Eamon eased her onto the sofa. She seemed oblivious to her surroundings, just staring vaguely into the middle distance.

As usual, Sophie took charge. “Water first, then she needs some food—preferably as strong a flavor as we can find.”

“My partner’s mother sent me some enchiladas,” Michael suggested.

Eamon had to coax water between Emily’s lips, and then Sophie fed her the first few forkfuls of reheated enchiladas like she was feeding a child. Emily’s color gradually returned, and her eyes regained some focus as she took the fork from Sophie and fed herself. She still didn’t look like her usual self, but when Sophie let out a long, slow breath, Michael got the impression that the worst might have passed.

Now that the immediate life-or-death matters had been handled, he realized they had other problems. “What about Tanaka?” he asked. “This is a missing person case. How do we explain where she’s been and the condition she’s in?”

“Obviously we can’t tell the truth,” Athena said.

“We could tell a version of it,” Sophie suggested. “She was kidnapped, then escaped, but she’s fine.”

“That could bring up a host of other problems,” Michael said, shaking his head. “Tank would have to investigate and try to track down these nonexistent kidnappers.”

“They exist,” Sophie said, quirking an eyebrow. “And he doesn’t stand a chance of finding them. But I think I can make it a little less drastic for him.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Amelia asked.

“It shouldn’t take much more than a nudge, since I’m not sure how valid a case he ever thought this was.”

“I think he’s already a little scared of her,” Michael put in.

Amelia and Athena looked at each other and seemed to come to an agreement. “Very well. We’d better leave before the police arrive,” Amelia said. To Sophie, she added, “And I presume you will be working with us now?”

Sophie rubbed a weary hand across her forehead. “I don’t see why you need me. Your job is keeping the throne empty, and I’ve got that taken care of for the rest of my lifetime. I need to get back home before my mother has a nervous breakdown.”

Amelia and Athena exchanged another look, but they didn’t argue. Athena just said, “I do hope you’ll stop by before you leave, and let us know if you need help with Emily.”

The two china dealers/enchantresses/whatever said their good-byes and left. “You’d probably best not be here, either,” Michael said to Eamon. “It’s your description that’s been circulating as the prime suspect.”

“I can change my appearance,” Eamon said.

“No, Michael’s right,” Sophie said. “The fewer oddities around here, the better it will work.”

Eamon gave Emily’s hand a squeeze, and she turned to look at him. For the first time since her return, she seemed to notice another person. “You’ll come back, won’t you?” she asked, pleading.

“I will come back,” he assured her, dropping a light kiss on her forehead. She reluctantly released his hand as he moved away.

When he was gone, Michael said to Sophie, “You’ll have to make the call. I’ve already cried wolf once today, and I’m not sure Tank will believe me if I call again.”

Sophie got out her cell phone and punched in the number Michael gave her. When she got an answer, she put on her most honeyed drawl to say, “I’m so sorry to call you on a weekend, but Detective Murray assured me you wouldn’t want me to wait, under the circumstances.” She took a deep breath, then blurted, “Emily’s back. She just came home. She seems to be okay, just a few scratches and bruises, and she’s tired and hungry.” She bit her lip while listening, then said, “No, I’m afraid she’s not clear on that.” Another pause. “Are you sure that’s absolutely necessary? It could wait.” She winced while she listened, then said, “Okay then, if you insist, we’re at Detective Murray’s apartment. Thank you so much.”

She ended the call and said, “He’s on his way over.”

Michael frowned at Sophie. “Might I suggest that you change clothes before the cops get here? You being covered in blood is going to bring up questions.”

Sophie glanced down at her dress and groaned. “You’re right. I’ll be back in a moment. Don’t let her go anywhere.”

Emily turned to watch Sophie go, then said, “You know, this explains so much about my childhood. I should have known she had magical powers.”

Emily’s Apartment

Saturday, 9:00 p.m.

Sophie was glad of the excuse to go downstairs and be on her own for a moment. She still hadn’t processed everything that had happened, and she suspected that would take a while. Once she’d washed off the blood on her arm, she was surprised to find no trace of the knife wound. It had healed itself—or perhaps she’d healed it unconsciously. She peeled off her bloody clothes and put on a clean dress before heading back upstairs.

“Are you all set?” she asked Michael and Emily.

Emily gave her a mock salute. “Yes, your highness. We have discussed the cover story.”

Her sister’s words were slightly slurred, but at least she was talking and showing signs of life. “You sound like you’re drunk. Are you okay?”

“I’m exhausted. I haven’t had much sleep. Maybe if I act weary, the cops will leave me alone.”

There was a knock on the door, and Emily muttered, “Places, everyone!” Sophie gave her a quick glare before going to open the door.

“Detective Tanaka,” she said, ushering him inside. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Not a problem. I love it when a case resolves itself.” He went to the sofa, bent over Emily and said, “And I take it this is Miss Emily Drake? It’s good to have you back with us. I’m Detective Tanaka, and I need to ask you a few questions.”

Emily grinned up at him with the smile that had audiences eating out of her hands. “Wow, Detective Tanaka was on my case?” She turned to Sophie. “He’s like Michael’s Yoda.”

Tanaka visibly fought a grin, but lost. “I thought I was more of an Obi-Wan.”

He sat in the chair facing the sofa, and Sophie sat next to her sister, with Michael to her other side. The questions were along the lines of what Sophie had expected, but she concentrated on getting into Tanaka’s mind instead of on listening to the conversation. It was a little more difficult than working with Michael. Tanaka was more guarded and didn’t have the residue of painkillers or extreme emotional turmoil, but finally she found the way in. She nudged him to accept all of Emily’s answers and to be satisfied with the outcome. In no time at all, he wrapped up his questions and stood to go.

Sophie walked him to the door, pausing to say, “I appreciate all you’ve done for us.”

“I have to confess, I was mostly worried about Michael.”

“I understand. This has been very difficult for him.”

“It’s too bad that the connection with Jen’s case didn’t pan out. He had such high hopes.”

“Yes, that is a shame,” she agreed. When the door was safely shut behind him, she leaned back against it and let out a long breath.

“Way to go, Soph!” Emily said. “Oh wait, do you do that all the time, to everyone?”

“I don’t think she can help it,” Michael said, but he was smiling a little, almost fondly. Sophie couldn’t hold back her own smile in response.

“Well, I don’t know about you two, but I am dead. I could use an epic nap,” Emily said, stretching and yawning.

“You can use my bedroom,” Michael said.

“That way we can keep an eye on you,” Sophie added.

“Maybe you should also lock the door,” Emily suggested with a grimace.

Acknowledging that she was struggling was a bad sign, and it worried Sophie. “Michael, do you have your handcuffs?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light.

“It’s not that bad,” Emily said.

“Beau, you go with her,” Sophie said to the dog.

Once Emily and Beau were safely on the other side of the bedroom door, Sophie struggled with what to do next. There were too many things to deal with, and no matter how magical she was, she couldn’t be in more than one place at a time. Then she remembered the tiny creatures who’d helped her win the throne and the lesson she’d learned about asking for help. Forcing herself to disregard a lifelong habit, she turned to Michael and said, “Do you think you can keep her from trying to escape for a while?”

“She won’t get past me,” he assured her.

“I need to go take care of a few things, but I’ll be back.” She headed toward the door, stopped, and turned back toward him. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help more.”

“At least I know she’s alive, and she seems to be happy, even if she isn’t quite herself.”

“I’ll do everything I can,” she assured him. She moved to hug him, then thought better of it. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to make herself let go.

She left the apartment, hurried down the stairs, and went back to the park. The information that had come through the crown remained in her brain, granting her the secrets to the Realm. Emily had been right about her being able to commute, but not just between the real world and the Realm. As she stepped onto the grass in the park, she created a gateway, and then once in the Realm again, she opened another one, this one to her backyard in Louisiana.

She eased open the kitchen door and called out, “Mama? I’m home!”

Her mother met her at the doorway between the kitchen and the hall. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?”

“I caught an earlier flight, but I’ll have to go back to New York again. Emily needed me to bring her some things. Now, how’s Nana?”

“She’s been asking for you all evening.”

Sophie made her way to the parlor that now served as her grandmother’s room. The frail old woman sat huddled in her armchair, singing softly under her breath. Sophie recognized the song and joined in as she sat on the footstool facing her grandmother and took the wizened hands in her own.

Her grandmother looked at her with eyes clearer than they’d been since Sophie was a teenager. “You did it, then,” she said.

“Yes, Nana, I did it. Thanks to you.”

“Now we can stop singing that gosh-darned song. I was beginning to get tired of it. When you pass it on to your daughters, come up with something new. Tell it as a story.”

“A fairy tale,” Sophie said with a smile.

Her grandmother squeezed her hands. “Yes, a fairy tale.”

You have just read the first book in the Fairy Tale series,
A Fairy Tale
. The second book in the series is
To Catch a Queen
.

Read on for an excerpt from
To Catch a Queen
.

Book two of the Fairy Tale Series

Central Park—New York City

Wednesday, 1 p.m.

Michael Murray ducked under the crime scene tape his partner held up for him and asked the uniformed officer at the scene, “What’ve you got, Milton?”

“Dead body. You’ll have to wait for the M.E. to know if it’s natural causes or not, but it
is
weird.”

“Define weird.” Michael’s threshold for “weird” had shifted radically in the last couple of months.

“See for yourself.” Milton gestured toward the body lying sprawled in the grass nearby.