"Be careful, child," he advised. "I am not all good nor am I all evil. I am a person who gets done what needs to be done. Do not elevate me or anyone to more than what they are."
I considered his words and I understood, but it still made me sad. "When the time comes to fight for her, I will be there if you need me."
He was taken aback by my words and pulled me into an embrace I never wanted to leave. He was beautiful, kind and fair. I knew for certain there was no such thing as good or evil in its purest sense, and the desire to attain it was impossible and wrong.
"I will remember your words, Balance. Your time draws near and the stakes are high. Your success will depend on looking at all sides with clear eyes."
"Um, since we both know the dust thingie isn't true. . .you wanna let loose with a little more?" I asked as innocently as I could without giggling.
"The dust thingie was created for a reason, little one. Just because you know we'll live through it, do you really want to know my version of the future when you still have the ability to change it—make it yours?"
Damn, I was so tempted I itched, but he was right.
"Is there anything else you can tell me without fucking with the future?"
"Astrid will be so proud of your mouth," he said as he contemplated my request. "The Balance of Chaos is not an abstract notion. It breathes and is temptation personified."
"Hmmm. A little vague, but more than I knew a few seconds ago, Fairy Man." I leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Are you gonna punch me like you punched Astrid?"
"Heavens no! I trained Carl over seventy-five years ago. His instruction is outstanding!"
"You trained Carl?" I was flabbergasted.
"I have trained many. Have a chat with your father or uncle sometime," he said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me back into my yard of warped reality. I shook my head in disbelief. Fairies were nuts and I liked them. A lot.
"You okay?" Myrtle asked as she offered snacks to our guests. I hoped like Hell she hadn't prepared them. She was a disaster in the kitchen.
"I'm good."
"Lucy's your sister?"
"Looking that way." I grinned and shrugged. "And Timmy your boyfriend is a wolf shifter?"
"Oh no," she whispered. "He's a bear shifter, and I can't even begin to tell you the things a bear can do with its tongue."
"Please don't," I begged as I made a quick escape. I'd thought all shifters were wolves. Don't assume. I found Lucy off on the side of the yard by herself.
"Do you want me to stay here?" Lucy asked, not making eye contact.
"Where have you been sleeping?" I asked, knowing she wasn't going home to her father anymore.
"My car," she answered.
"Then yes. You now live here. Period," I stated as a look of relief washed over her features. "Why didn't you stay with a Thing?"
"They're vultures."
"Yeah. And?"
"No, I mean they're seriously vultures. They shift to vultures, and when they're not at school they usually take their bird form and sleep in caves." She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"I can see how that wouldn't appeal," I muttered. "Why are you friends with vultures?"
"I got bored with the wolves and bears and lions. The vultures showed up about a year ago and they make good little followers." She laughed.
"You like having followers?"
"Breaks up the monotony," she said.
"I suppose. Do you remember the little girl named Dixie?" I asked.
"Kind of. I was climbing Mt. Everest for a couple of years back then."
"Years?"
"Yeah." She chuckled. "I could do it in a day, so I had to figure out ways not to freak all the mortal climbers out. It was a blast. I almost got hitched to a sherpa, but it would suck to outlive someone and there are just too many questions when they get older and you don't. It was colder than a witch’s tit, but beautiful. Oh my God, do witches exist? Wait, what the Hell did you ask me? I forgot."
"Do you remember little Dixie? And I have no clue if witches exist."
"They do and they're mean as snakes," The Kev yelled from across the yard as he examined the snack Myrtle had insisted he eat.
"Thanks," I yelled back.
"Damn, his hearing is good," Lucy said appreciatively.
"My question?" I reminded her.
"Right. I remember a little girl died and there was no body. I had no clue you were a Demon. I thought you were a shifter. I vaguely recall a ceremony and a marker placed in the cemetery."
"Eden has a cemetery?" I asked with an excitement that made me tingle.
She looked at me strangely and then her eyes lit up. "It's not in Eden proper, it's outside. Immortals don't often have much use for cemeteries."