Chapter 7

"Why did she grab me?" I asked from the comfort of my large, black, leather, airplane seat.

"What's that?" My father was making his way back from the black lacquer bar at the far end of the cabin. He handed me a glass of soda as he sat across the aisle from me in his own luxurious chair.

"Well, if their mission was to kill Aideen, why didn't that fairy scoop Aideen up into the air?" I frowned as I recalled the attack. Now that we were relatively safe inside an airborne plane, I could think more clearly.

"You were blocking me I guess." Aideen shrugged.

"No, I wasn't." I chewed at my lip. "You were between me and Dad, but she could have easily picked you up instead of me. Why take the risk of attacking an extinguisher when she could have simply killed you and been done with it?"

"That is strange." My Dad started to frown; his eyes shifting around as if he were searching for an explanation.

"Maybe they don't want me dead anymore." Aideen gave us wide, panicked eyes.

"Don't worry, they're not going to get you," I reassured her. "Dad called the San Francisco division of the Human Council, and they'll be meeting us at the airport with a large group of Extinguishers to escort us to the Council House. Once you're there, you'll be completely safe. Nothing can get past the Council's wards."

"Thank you." She sighed and sank back into her chair.

There were lines of strain around Aideen's eyes and lips. Her shoulders drooped, hunching inward, and there was a tremor in her right hand. It made me wonder how long she'd been separated from her tree. Dryads lived in trees; great big ones that were hollow on the inside. They had a sort of symbiotic relationship with their home; their magic fed the tree while the tree helped to sustain them. It was a constant exchange of energy and the further away a dryad was from her tree, the less energy could be exchanged. Both could die if they were separated long enough.

"How long have you been away from home?" I asked her.

"Not that long." She looked up at me in surprise. "I was just there a few days ago. There's a mound close to work."

"Why didn't you just flee into Fairy?" My Dad asked suddenly.

"Because I needed to tell your council about the poison." Aideen gave him a confused look. "That was the whole point."

I glanced at my Dad and saw that he was baffled. Even though he'd bought into this idea that Aideen had some important information, I don't think he comprehended that she was doing a good thing for the human race. Us. A fairy was trying to save us at the risk of her own life. It was inconceivable for him, and I completely understood why. Since Mom had died, we'd both villainized the Fey and the idea that one of them could actually do us a kindness was hard to process.

"You're very brave," I spoke into the silence.

"I'm just doing what I believe to be right." She shrugged. "Life is precious."

"Some more so than others," my father grumbled before he took a long swig of whiskey.

...

The Human Council House in San Francisco was actually a composite of two Victorian homes which had been built so close together they were practically touching. The Council bought them and had the inner walls on the first floor torn down so they could be joined together in truth. I'd always thought the joining part was unnecessary since the council chambers weren't in either house at all but below them.

We'd been met on the runway by a contingent of Extinguishers, all clad in black, modern, body armor accessorized with crossbows, iron swords, and reflective sunglasses which made them look like a bunch of post-apocalyptic mercenaries. As soon as the steps lowered, they had rushed forward in that military hustle I've done myself on several occasions and formed a passage for us. They faced outward¡ªbodies tense like foxhounds searching for a scent¡ªas we raced down the stairs; Aideen between my dad and me.

The Extinguishers closed in smoothly behind us as we went; ushering us into the back of a large, black SUV (we Extinguishers like SUVs) and then we were driven directly to those conjoined Victorians. Another Extinguisher tunnel was formed and we raced through it again; right up the steps and into the council house. I barely had time to appreciate the filigree architecture or the lush blooms of the fenced-in garden in front of the house. Our escort didn't even pause when we made it past the front door but led us straight back through a narrow foyer. I had glimpses of elegant old world decor through open doors to our left before we were herded into a very modern looking elevator.

A button was pushed for the lowest floor as well as the one above that. There were three levels beneath the house and the whirring elevator carried us smoothly down to the second. That was where two of our extinguisher guards got out with our luggage and weapons.

"We'll leave these in your suite," one of them said over his shoulder as he left.

"There goes changing into my dress," I murmured to Aideen and then did a double take.

She was cringing beside me like a woman heading for the gallows. I placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her. Her eyes flicked over to mine and then settled. She took a deep breath and gave me a grateful smile. I had no idea what she was going through but being enclosed in a little metal box with a bunch of extinguishers couldn't have been comfortable for her.

We went down one more level and then stepped out of the elevator to follow our remaining escort down a long, white, empty hallway. There were closed doors to either side of us with brass nameplates on them. The offices of the councilmen and women. We went past all of them, straight to the door at the very end; directly opposite the elevator. Our escort opened the door and stepped aside; revealing a large room with soft green walls adorned with several expensive paintings. I could tell they were expensive because they had ornate, gilded frames and little spotlights over them. People didn't put spotlights over cheap prints.

The carpet was meadow-green and very plush; complimenting the assortment of potted plants around the space. A series of teardrop shaped lights hung down the center of the rectangular room; illuminating an oval, mahogany table. There was a carving of a candle snuffer in the center of the table with Celtic knotwork surrounding it and the words "Riamh Eagla an Dorchadas" beneath it. The symbol and motto of the Extinguishers.

"Never fear the darkness," I whispered as I translated the Gaelic to myself. The last words of the female hunter came back to me then; her cackling voice advising me to do exactly the opposite. What the hell had she meant by that?

"Good advice," Aideen whispered back to me with a smile as she absently reached out to stroke the leaf of a potted plant. For a second, I thought she was referring to the unseelie fairy's words but then I realized she'd meant the motto.

"Ms. Evergreen?" A man with graying brown hair but a very physically fit body straining his tailored suit, walked over to Aideen with his hand extended. "I'm Alan Murdock, Head of the San Francisco Council House. I know you must be frightened so let me take this opportunity to thank you for your courage and assure you that we will do everything within our power to keep you safe."

"Thank you, Mr. Murdock." Aideen shook his hand. "I admit that after the unseelie attack, I was pretty shaken."

"Yes, we've heard about that." He gestured to the table, and we all settled into seats around it.

Councilman Murdock took the seat at the head of the table and placed Aideen beside him on his right. Aideen grabbed my hand and pulled me into a seat next to hers; leaving my dad to follow us and take one on my right. I settled into the soft-green, leather cushion and leaned back with a sigh of relief. We'd made it; Aideen was safe. That's when I looked around the table and saw him.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted, and everyone went quiet.