Resistance (9 page)

“You can take a seat anywhere you like,” I tell him.
“I’m just going to take some chairs down so people can sit if they
want to.”

He looks around at the tiny plastic and metal chairs
and cringes a bit. “No thanks. I’ll be fine over here.” He leans
against the wall and watches me as I set up the room. I’ve done
this so many times now it’s ingrained. This hasn’t always been
where we had our community meetings, but it is where my Aunt Ruth
and I hold conferences and meetings for parents of our students.
The setup is the same regardless. By the time I finish, people are
already starting to trickle in, calling greetings to one another
and casting curious looks at Flint.

I boost myself up and sit on top of one of the tables
at the front of the room; waiting while everyone takes their seats
and gets situated. I see my brother come in with Seamus, Ruth and
their four boys and I wave happily at them. My brother actually
smiles at me and I feel my spirits lift even more. Things are still
touch-and-go with Eir, and I can’t help but think that dealing with
our parents’ death in drastically different manners is part of the
reason for that. For right now, I take things one day at a time and
hope he understands one day why I’m so careful about his
safety.

After a few moments the shifting and rustling stops
and everyone looks at me expectantly, waiting to see what the
meeting is for. I keep a pleasant smile on my face and look out
over the sea of faces; most of whom I’ve known my whole life. I’m
surprised to realize I’m not nervous at all. Public speaking has
never really been a big deal to me. After all, these people are
like family to me. I just hope everyone keeps their wits about them
and sets aside their innate prejudice regarding faeries to give
Flint a chance to help us.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming, I’ll
be brief so we can all get back home. I wanted to be sure you were
all aware that we have a newcomer to our community. I also wanted
to address any concerns you might have about his presence here.” I
pause to take a breath and gather my resolve. I gesture to where
Flint is leaning against the wall. “This is Flint. Yes, he is a
faery, but you have my word that he is not here to do any of us any
sort of harm.”

Flint gives a two fingered wave and then crosses his
arms across his chest; looking around at the assembly, tension
apparent in his eyes and the set of his jaw, despite his lax
stature. I let the muttering go on for a minute and then continue.
“I want you all to remember that Flint is here with my permission.
He has promised me he means no harm to anyone who is on our side.
That means he is under my protection as well, and anyone who tries
to harm him will answer to our law.” I look around, trying to make
eye contact with every anxious looking man, woman and teenager who
is present. “Does anyone have any questions for me?” I ask finally,
knowing at least one person will have something to say.

I don’t know why I’m surprised when my cousin Sean is
the person who stands up with his angry face intact and shouts,
“Have you lost your mind, Fianna? You’re telling us you’ve allowed
one of
them
into our city?”

I bite back a sharp retort, trying to keep my face
calm, but Flint speaks up before I can. "
Fi
isn't the one
who was asleep at her post when I got here. That would be
you
.”

Oh lovely, he had to choose
now
to divulge
that piece of information? I watch Sean’s already red face turn
purple with rage, and I slide off the table so I can more easily
put myself between my cousin and the Fae man should the need arise.
“Does anyone else have anything to add?” I ask the room at large,
and when no one responds I say, “Thank you all for coming. You know
where to find me if you have any questions or concerns. Have a good
night.”

I quickly make my way to the side of the room where
Flint is still leaning against the wall and watch as my cousin
barrels over, knocking into people left and right. I glance up and
see my uncle motion to his sons to start putting the chairs back up
on the tables, and he starts over to help me diffuse the situation
with Sean. I turn to Flint and can’t hold in a grin. “Thank you for
that, I think.” I hear my cousin shout my name angrily and sigh;
the grin swiftly sliding off my face.

I turn to meet him head-on, making sure I’m between
him and Flint and put my hand up. “Sean, calm down! It’s fine!”

He shouts right over the top of my voice, apparently
not caring who hears what he has to say. “Have you forgotten that
your parents are
dead
and you are supposed to look out for
Eirnin? How could you let a stinking faery in the city? I can’t
believe your carelessness! Your mother would—” He stops when he
feels my uncle’s hand close over his shoulder in a silent
warning.

Without meaning to, I’ve taken two steps towards him
with my hands clenched into fists so tight my fingernails are
cutting into my skin. My pulse is pounding in my ears and I shake
with rage. I don’t trust myself to speak, and I see my uncle pull
Sean back and step forward so he’s between us. His face is flushed,
a sure sign that his own temper is piqued. Looking over my cousin’s
shoulder I see my brother looking angrier than I’ve seen him before
he makes a beeline for the exit, and I am doubly furious with Sean
and his big mouth. I take a step, trying to swipe at my cousin
around my uncle’s bulk, but Seamus grabs me by the shoulders.
“Don’t worry, lass. I’ll send Aodhan after him. You deal with this
hothead.” He kisses the top of my head and lets me go; calling out
to the oldest of his sons to go after my brother.

Then to Sean he says, “You’d best remember who’s in
charge here, lad, and be glad I stopped her from giving you the
whooping you deserve. I’m not sure I will if there is a next
time.”

Sean seems to shrink a bit under my uncle’s scrutiny
and nods silently. His face is puce-colored from the effort of
holding in his temper. I find that for once, I don’t care. I look
at him. “When you’re ready to apologize, you know where to find
me.” I turn to Flint and motion towards the exit. “Let’s go,
please. I want to try and speak to my brother before he goes to
sleep, and I think it would be best if you stuck with me or a guard
for the foreseeable future.”

“If you say so, but just for future reference I
really can handle myself,” Flint says with that irritating smirk of
his firmly in place.

I smirk right back at him. “I didn’t say I was
concerned for your safety, did I? I might be pissed at him, but he
is family, and my aunt wouldn’t be too thrilled if you charbroiled
his stupid ass.”

Chapter 6—Eirnin

April 2102

I let the door to the school cafeteria slam shut
behind me and just start walking, not paying any attention to where
I’m heading. It’s fully dark now and there is a slight bite in the
air. I really don’t care, though. I am so angry I can’t think
straight, and I don’t do angry normally. Once again, Sean has
managed to make me feel like I’m useless. He keeps taking more
aggressive stances against Fi out in public, and it’s making me
more and more nervous. He never would have pulled a stunt like that
if my father was still here. I have a bad feeling where he’s
concerned, and I don’t know how to tell my sister to be on her
guard against someone she considers to be her friend.

Speaking of my sister, I know she’s most likely
freaking out back at the school, worrying about me being out all by
myself. I want to yell at the sky that I’m not a little kid – I’m
sixteen and I’m not exactly physically unimpressive. I tower over
almost everyone at six feet-seven inches tall, and while I’m trim,
I’m certainly not overly skinny. I am also armed, which she knows.
I don’t leave home without an assortment of throwing knives that my
father taught me to use. I am completely capable of holding my own
in a fight. For the umpteen-millionth time, I wonder when, or maybe
I should say if Fi will remember I am more than just one more
responsibility hanging around her neck. I miss her, which sucks
because she’s still right here in front of me. She’s just become
this unreachable, sad girl who tries to keep all of her emotions in
a little box locked away inside herself. I want my sister back,
plain and simple.

I look around and finally let myself take in my
surroundings. I know I should head home so I don’t make Fi worry
about me all night. I hear approaching footsteps behind me and my
cousin, Aodhan’s voice yelling, “Come on man, I know you hear me!
Your legs are way longer than mine.”

I stop walking and grin despite the anger still
simmering in my gut. “Get the lead out, A. You know patience isn’t
one of my many virtues.” I hear him chuckle as he jogs closer. I
actually don’t mind too much that he’s the one who found me. It’s
not like he’s really a guard. He’s only a year and a half older
than me, so it’s not quite the glaring insult as one of the older
guys coming after me would be. At least with him I can tell myself
that he came after me on his own, even though I’m sure his father
sent him to pacify my sister.

He catches up and glances at me for a moment, looking
pensive. “You okay?” he asks finally, and I raise an eyebrow at him
in response. He holds his hands up in a surrendering gesture and
says, “Okay. Just checking.” He pauses for a moment, weighing his
words. “You know you shouldn’t let that dick get to you, though,
right?”

I shrug. “He just has a talent for getting under my
skin,” I say; trying to downplay things.

We start walking towards home and after a few minutes
of silence, Aodhan asks, “Have you thought of talking to Fi about
him?”

I laugh bitterly. “Uh, no — I can’t imagine that
would go over very well. He’s the only person in the world she’s
ever considered a friend…I don’t know if I can take that away from
her.”

“I think you should talk to her, Eir. Fi would rather
hear something like that from you and you know it. And you’re right
about him, there’s just something off.” I grunt to let him know I
heard him. I have no desire to talk about this anymore, and I’m
grateful when Aodhan allows us to walk on in companionable silence.
I do my best to let the fresh air clear my head of all the worries
I’m hoarding inside and continue trudging along the familiar
sidewalks.

We’re around the corner from my house when he laughs
quietly and says, “Did you see Fi take a swipe at Sean?”

“No! She tried to hit him? What happened?” I ask. I’m
suddenly feeling loads better.

“She saw you leave and he said something about her
being careless and then mentioned your mom.” Aodhan pauses, as most
people do when they accidentally bring up my parents, but then
rushes on. “Dad had to get between them to break it up. She looked
ready to kill.”

I throw my head back and laugh when I imagine Fi
trying to take a swing at that hulking idiot, Sean. “Your dad had
to get between them?” I sputter; finding the image of my uncle
having to restrain my very petite sister from venting her
frustration on our burly cousin hilarious. “Oh, thank you for that
— you’ve made my night so much better.” He claps me on the shoulder
and chuckles as he heads for his back door. I look over at him and
the laughter dies in my throat. “Thanks for coming after me, A. I
appreciate you easing Fi’s mind.” Aodhan nods silently and raises a
hand to me in farewell.

My house is dark, which means my sister is still
dealing with people at the school and I’m glad for the quiet time.
I know she’ll want to talk when she returns, and I’m not ready to
have the conversation I know I have to with her yet. So I’m really
hoping I can at least pretend to be asleep by the time she gets
back. Plus she’ll have that faery, Flint to deal with. That should
buy me at least a few more minutes. I’m more than a little
intrigued by his presence here and looking forward to talking to
him at some point. I have a feeling that his arrival means good
things for us.

I can’t explain how I know things sometimes; whether
it’s what people are feeling, what’s going to happen or if someone
just lied to me — I just know. There is a feeling in my gut that
has yet to steer me in the wrong direction. It tells me when
someone lies, or even something as mundane as letting me know which
path to take to avoid guards when I sneak out at night after Fi is
asleep. It’s very handy most of the time. There is also a voice in
my head that tells me things from time to time. Luckily the voice
is my own, so I didn’t automatically think I was insane when it
first started whispering to me about the future and all the things
I’m ‘supposed’ to do in it. That doesn’t mean I didn’t freak out
and try to ignore it at first.

It took seeing my sister almost fall to her death to
make me a believer in my abilities. We were in one of the old music
stores where downtown used to be on one of our many adventures
outside the walls of the city. We used to sneak out together
whenever we had the chance and go exploring the old businesses that
peppered the city in its heyday. We were looking through the vinyl
collection in the store and Fi saw Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The
Cure up high on a dusty shelf. I wasn’t nearly as tall as I am now
and couldn’t help, though in my defense I did offer her a boost.
She scoffed though, and because she’s Fi, she decided to climb up
and get it herself. As soon as the words left her lips I knew it
was a bad idea, and that little voice in my head chimed in and told
me to stop the insanity. But I was twelve and didn’t want Fi to
think I was a baby she’d have to leave behind on her next trip, and
I knew my sister well enough to know that she wanted that album and
was going to get it, no matter the danger.