Celia and the Fairies Page 9

  Yes, she recognized the rarely heard sound of tags clanking and the click of his toenails against the hardwood floor in the hallway. Now Clem was yelping loudly and coming this way. This was not good.

  Vicky stirred and then sat up, wide awake and angry. “What the—?” She faced the door, so she wasn’t looking in Celia’s direction, but still, it was only a matter of time before Celia was found out, and that would mean big trouble.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  The fairies clustered together in the trees behind Paul’s house. “This is your part,” Mira told Jasmine. Up until this point, Mira had run the show, guiding Celia through the woods and encouraging her through the house. One of the younger fairy boys, Jameel, had interrupted at one point, questioning her tactics. He’d asked if it was really such a good idea to encourage the girl to trespass. Foolish boy. As if she could stop to answer such a complex question when they were in the middle of something this big and important. Now she focused on the fledgling, Jasmine. “Are you ready?”

  “But I don’t know what to do!” Jasmine said, the panic evident in her voice. “Can’t you do it for me this time? I’ll pay attention and then next time I’ll know better.”

  Mira sympathized with Jasmine’s fear but also knew you couldn’t put off your responsibility to another fairy. She reached out and grabbed the younger fairy’s shoulders, making her wings tremble. “Snap out of it. We’ve practiced this plenty of times. You know you can do this.” Goodness gracious, now the girl looked like she was going to cry. That wouldn’t do. Mira softened her tone. “Okay, let’s just take this one step at a time. You already took care of the parents and they’re in a deep sleep. Now close your eyes and think of the boy, Paul. What is he doing?”

  Jasmine sniffed and cooperated. With eyes shut tight, she answered, “He’s hugging his panda and dreaming.”

  “Dreaming of what?” Mira coaxed.

  “Paul’s dreaming of swimming on a sunny day. He’s floating on his back, feeling so happy and peaceful. He’s paddling around.” She herself sounded relaxed now, which wasn’t good. It didn’t help to get too caught up in human dreams. Jasmine’s arms waved at her sides, like she was swimming. The other fairies, especially the younger ones who didn’t have a family yet, watched enthralled.

  “Pay attention now. This next part is important,” Mira said. “Slide into his dream, but don’t let him see you. Let him know he’s dreaming and he needs to wake up and go to his aunt’s room across the hall. Tell him Celia needs his help.”

  Jasmine scrunched her forehead in concentration. Her fairy glow intensified and brightened so that all of them were enveloped in love light. This girl really had the gift, Mira thought. Such an improvement over that loafer, Boyd. Maybe, with Jasmine’s help, Paul’s house could become a happy place after all. “I’m telling him,” Jasmine said, and smiled. “He hears me.”

  “Is he waking up?” Mira asked. Time was critical. She sensed poor Celia was crouched next to the bed not knowing what to do. She was holding up well for now, but she needed help. It was clever of the shadow things to rile up the dog, but it would take more than that to ruin the whole mission, if she had anything to say about it.

  Jasmine shook her head. “He’s confused. He says he doesn’t want to wake up, and he doesn’t want to go near his aunt’s room. He says he’ll see Celia tomorrow.”

  Mira was afraid of this. “Sometimes this happens,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “But you know what to do, right?”

  Jasmine’s light faded. She knew what she needed to do, but it wouldn’t be pleasant. “I have to jerk him awake.”

  “That’s right.” They’d covered this many times during fairy training. There were different strategies depending on the dream. If the person was walking or running, the fairy often made them lose their balance. Then the dreamer would jerk themselves awake trying not to fall. For car dreams, they’d need to put on the brakes. Flying dreams would suddenly have obstacles like mountains or tall trees. Jerking someone awake was a basic skill but one that involved fairy creativity. “Can you do it?” Mira asked after a minute or so of silence.

  “I already have.” Jasmine smiled, and again she lit up from within. “He’s up and heading out the door.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Something in his dream had pulled Paul underwater, and he’d jerked awake fighting his way to the surface. In a panic, he jumped out of bed and ran into the hallway just in time to see Clem’s back end disappear into the guest room. A moment later he heard Aunt Vicky yell, “What the—?” Paul peered in and saw Clem sitting on top of his aunt, licking her face.

  “Get off of me!” Vicky screamed, swatting at the dog. Seeing Paul in the doorway, she said, “What’s the big idea, letting your stupid mutt in here when I’m trying to sleep?”

  “Sorry, Auntie,” Paul said, reaching for Clem’s collar. For some reason, he wasn’t surprised to see Celia pop up on the far side of the bed. Had he heard something about this in his dream? It was hard to tell. His head was still foggy with sleep. Celia motioned for silence with one finger to her lips and held the flute necklace up in the air. He understood.

  “Being sorry doesn’t help,” Vicky snapped, unaware that Celia was right behind her. “Just get him out of here.” Her voice was so shrill and loud, it was amazing she hadn’t awakened his parents.

  Paul thought fast and said, “Sometimes Clem acts like this when something is happening outside. I thought I heard someone on the driveway doing stuff to your car.”

  “What?! Why didn’t you say so?” Vicky threw back the covers and got out of bed. “Nobody better be messing with the Beemer.” She pushed past Paul and Clem and ran down the hall to the stairway.

  After they heard her clomping down the stairs, Celia got up from her hiding spot. “Thanks, Paul,” she said quietly.

  Paul pulled on Clem’s collar. “You gotta move quick and get out of here. She’s gonna come back, and my mom and dad might wake up any second,” he whispered, gesturing for her to follow him. Celia put the necklace over her head and trailed Paul and Clem down the stairs.

  “It’s a good thing you came,” Celia said breathlessly. “I didn’t know what to do.”

  At the bottom of the stairs, Paul held out an arm to stop her. He peeked out the front window and said, “You have to go out the back, and we gotta move fast. Come with me.”

  The pair moved quickly through the house. Now Clem was following them, his nose nudging Celia’s legs toward her escape. Paul unlatched the deadbolt, flipped the lock open, and turned the knob. “Thanks, Paul,” Celia said softly and then, “I’m sorry I wasn’t so nice before.”

  “It’s okay.” Paul jiggled the knob impatiently. “But you hafta hurry.”

  “Come over tomorrow,” Celia said as she slipped through the door. “We can play whatever you want.”

  Paul didn’t say anything, but he nodded before closing the door and locking her out in the cool night.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Celia let out a sigh of relief, turned on the flashlight, and aimed the light ahead of her as she walked. The breeze felt good after the stuffy air in Paul’s house. How long had she been trapped on the floor next to the bed? Forever, it felt like. If Paul hadn’t come along, she would have been discovered for sure.

  Finally, finally, it was over. One half of the flute was in her pocket, and the other part hung around her neck. All she had to do was go into the woods to connect the two pieces and she could make a wish that would save her house and the woods that were home to the fairies. But that could wait until tomorrow. It was late and the path was dark, even with help from a flashlight and the moon. Deeper in the woods, the darkness got so thick it was suffocating. She had no desire to go there now. Tomorrow would be better.

  Making the wish would be tricky, especially since she only got one. She thought about Mira’s rules: One, no wishing for more wishes. Two, she couldn’t force someone to do what they don’t want to do. Three, the wish had to bring a good
outcome for everyone involved. The rules were going to make it hard for her, but Mira said other people had successfully used the magic of the flute. Hopefully she’d figure out something.

  She hummed as she went, careful not to trip or walk into brambles. Grammy had left the back door unlocked so she could slip in without waking the household. If her parents were awake, she could always say she’d heard something outside and went to investigate. They would be horrified, she knew that, and she’d get a good talking to, but there wouldn’t be any serious consequences. Maybe grounding. She could live with that if it meant her home would be saved from the bulldozers.

  Celia was halfway home when she heard the wind’s shrill, whispery voice say, Now you’re going to get it! She shut out the sound and trudged on, quickening her pace. As she trotted forward, she patted her pocket and then touched the chain around her neck, making sure both halves of the flute were still with her. The wind picked up with a fury, lifting her hair off her shoulders. It was then that she heard the sound of something running through the underbrush. A large animal coming right at her. Celia remembered her grandmother’s story about the shadow thing disguised as a coyote, and felt a stab of fear. She ran faster, not looking back. From the noises behind her—the snapping of sticks and the yelping—she could tell it was getting closer. Terror-stricken, she had the urge to scream, but held back. It wouldn’t help.

  She turned off the flashlight and veered off the path into the woods, hoping the darkness would cover her. Outrunning it wasn’t going to work. Maybe it would go past if it couldn’t see her. She pressed her back against a tree and held her breath, waiting. The dark was her friend. It made her invisible.

  The animal slowed and was nearby now, nosing around on the ground just a few yards away. Following her scent, most likely. Why hadn’t she thought of that? The dark wouldn’t help if the creature could find her by smell. “Mira,” she called out softly. “Help me. I need your help.” Nothing. Tears sprang to her eyes, and her breathing got harder. Could she hit the beast with the flashlight? Should she try to run away? The wind picked up and said, I told you so. Little girls shouldn’t be out at night by themselves.

  The animal shuffled on the other side of bush, and now she heard a familiar sound. The clinking of dog tags. Just then, Clem burst through the brush and jumped up to lick her face. “Clem,” she said with relief, “what are you doing here?” Clem barked a response and wildly wagged his tail. He barked and barked, and she petted his head, wondering if the fairies had sent Clem to see her home safely. He was like a big furry guardian angel in a dog suit.

  She stepped out onto the path, and Clem bounded after her. “I’m going home, boy,” she said, rubbing behind his ears. “We have to be quiet now.” Her steps were lighter with Clem by her side. She was sure the dog would go home on his own once she was safely inside her own house. Clicking on the flashlight, she continued down the path. Clem walked next to her, occasionally pausing to check out something of interest. Celia looked down, waving the light over the ground as she walked.

  She was so preoccupied she didn’t notice the other person in the woods, the one following her on the path. The one who reached out and grabbed her sweatshirt, yanking her off her feet. Celia dropped her flashlight and felt her stomach lurch when she came face-to-face with Vicky McClutchy.

  “You little thief,” Vicky said. “I bet you thought you’d get away with it. But I’m too smart for you. When I came back in the house, I heard the back door click, and there was Paul stammering like an idiot. Then when I went upstairs I noticed my necklace was gone. It didn’t take much to figure it out.” She let go with a forceful push, and Celia fell backwards onto the ground. Looking up, Celia saw the full moon behind Vicky’s head, like a halo. An angry halo. “Luckily that stupid mutt led me right to you.” Next to her, Clem barked happily, unaware of his role in this whole thing. “Now hand over my flute before I call the police and have you taken off to jail.”

  Celia covered the flute with her hand. “It’s not your flute. It’s belongs to my grandmother. She got it as a gift when she was a little girl.”

  Vicky threw back her head and laughed. “You are so wrong, little Lovejoy. It’s mine and I can prove it. I’ve worn it continuously for nearly thirty years. Everyone knows it’s my good luck charm. It’s been in every photo of me since grade school.” She leaned over and put her foot on Celia’s stomach, holding her firmly in place. “I’ll tell you what. I’m in a good mood. Hand it over right now, and I won’t call the police.” She smiled. “At least not tonight.”

  Celia swallowed hard, stuck on her back between Vicky McClutchy and the hard ground and not knowing what to do. Trapped. This would be a really good time for some help, she thought. Mira, get me out of here. Off in the distance an owl hooted and the wind roared, reminding her of every scary movie she’d ever seen. Fear settled into the pit of her stomach and she closed her eyes, hoping this was just a bad dream.

  “Did you call?” Mira asked, and Celia looked up to see Mira and the other fairies clustered around Vicky’s head and shoulders.

  “Thank goodness you’re here,” she said, scooting out from under Vicky’s foot.

  “What are you talking about?” Vicky stumbled. Her concentration was broken as she regained her balance. It was only for a second, but it was enough.

  “Run, Celia! Run!” Mira yelled. “Follow me.” Celia scrambled to her feet and took off as fast as she could, not even watching where she was going, just following the cluster of fairies, who led the way with the glow of their light. She heard their small musical voices urging her on, and she plunged onward, trusting them to lead her to safety.

  Deeper and deeper into the woods they went, but they couldn’t quite lose Vicky, whose yelling could be heard in the background. “Come back here, you little brat. I’m not done with you yet.”

  Mira and the rest of the fairies led the way through the dark woods and didn’t stop until they reached the space under the branches of the Triple Trees. Celia, who’d been right behind, came to a halt and leaned over to catch her breath. “I thought,” she said panting, “we’d never lose her. Do you think we’re safe here? Or do you think she’ll find us?”

  Mira peered down at Celia, a smile tugging at her lips. “She’s not going to find us,” she said. “She can’t see fairies. You’re the only one who can. But she’s going to find you for sure. About two minutes from now. You can be certain of that.”

  Celia was puzzled. “But why are we here, then?” She looked around her trying to figure out an escape. With the fairies’ help she might just make it out of there. “But there’s still time to get away. Quick—if you show me the way home, I can maybe stay ahead of her.” Even as she spoke, she heard Vicky and Clem thrashing through the underbrush. With every passing second they got closer.

  Mira fluttered down in front of Celia’s face. “I didn’t bring you here to get away from Vicky McClutchy. I brought you here so you can make your wish.”

  “My wish?” Celia said. “But I’m not ready to do that yet. The rules are confusing, and I’m not really sure how it works. I was going to think about it some more and ask my Grammy for advice. I need more time.”

  Mira tapped the tip of Celia’s nose. “You’re over-thinking it. Wish with your heart and not your head.”

  Celia swallowed hard. “But what if my heart makes a mistake? If I do it wrong, the county will take my house and these woods will be turned into a highway.” One of the other fairies gasped at this news, and Mira shot her a look of reproach.

  “Don’t worry about that,” Mira said. “Just let your wish come from the heart, and everything will be fine. You can do this.”

  Celia took the chain off from around her neck and dug into her jeans pocket to get the other half of the flute. When Vicky burst into the clearing of the Triple Trees, she had a piece in each hand.

  “I’m done playing games, little girl,” Vicky said, roughly grabbing Celia by the arm. “I’m marching you straight home. Yo
ur parents are going to hear about this and so are the police. No one messes with Vicky McClutchy and gets away with it.” Even in the dim light Celia could see that her face was contorted in anger, the kind of anger that was frightening. Vicky McClutchy looked like she wanted to kill the world.

  As Vicky reached for the chain, Celia slammed the two parts together. When the two pieces met, they sparked like fireworks. The fairies twittered happily.

  “What the—?” Vicky said, taking a step back. “How are you doing that?”

  “It’s magic,” Celia said.

  Vicky scoffed. “Like I’m going to believe that. I don’t know what you’re pulling, but it’s not going to make a bit of difference, little girl.” She stopped though, transfixed by the glorious colors of the light bouncing all around as the two pieces of the flute fused together. The sight of it filled Celia with joy, but it didn’t seem to cheer Vicky up. Her face was still grim and unyielding. It struck Celia that Vicky wasn’t a happy person, and that it must be awful to be her. She remembered what people said about Vicky McClutchy.

  Vicky McClutchy is ruthless.

  She never thinks of anyone but herself.

  She’s a vile, wicked, jealous person.

  And then her grandmother’s view: Vicky McClutchy isn’t bad, she’s just misguided. She can only see things from her point of view, so she doesn’t understand how her actions affect other people.

  Vicky jabbed at her with a sharp fingernail, interrupting her thoughts. “Give me back my flute,” she said, her teeth bared.