Charmed Vengeance

got the job done.

Vix nodded, brow creased. “I believe in giving people chances—and you don’t have to wear a dress.”

“I like dresses.” The words slipped out and Noli put her hand to her mouth, cheeks warming. “I … I … ” She looked at her feet. “I’ve always wore a dress or a skirt, even when hoverboarding.”

“You may wear a dress,” Jeff said. “What Vix is trying to articulate is that that you have a choice. If you wish to wear a dress, you may, but if you want to wear trousers, that’s perfectly acceptable. Whatever you’re comfortable in. We don’t really give a gear what you wear.”

Noli nodded, not wanted to offend anyone. She couldn’t envision herself wearing trousers, but options were useful. At least here no one would think her indecent if she wore a dress without sleeves when she worked on the engines. “I … I appreciate that.”

“Vix, if you would kindly take the helm for a few moments, I’ll get Noli set up.” Jeff gave Vix a wheedling smile.

Vix shook her head and waved them off. “Go ahead.”

“Are you part of the women’s equality movement?” Noli asked Vix shyly. “I … I hope they make it legal for women to operate conveyances solo. I happen to like hoverboarding.”

“Me, too.” Vix exchanged knowing glances with Jeff. If she dressed like a boy she could probably get away with hoverboarding far easier than Noli.

Jeff pushed on Noli’s shoulder. “Let’s get you to bed. It’s been quite the day.”

“Too much excitement running away from home?” Vix snipped as she took the helm. The bridge had a panoramic view of the sky as well as a periscope, something that projected what was happening behind them onto a small screen, and all sorts of lights, switches, and system monitors. A large lever controlled the speed of the engine, another released barrels of water from the hull, lightening the ship to make it go faster.

“Vix, please?” Jeff put an arm around Noli.

Vix huffed. “Good night, Noli.”

“Good night, Captain.” Noli nodded, nearly bobbing a curtsey out of habit.

Jeff led her down the stairs. “Go back to your room, I’ll be right there.”

“Don’t want me to see crew quarters?” Noli grinned.

“No.” This came out sharp.

“I’ll meet you there.” Noli returned to her little room and took a few things out of her bag, such as her nightdress. She frowned as she held up a soft knitted blanket made of many different shades of green, with fringe and tassels. Charlotte had made it for her, but she didn’t remember putting it in the bag, the little embroidered pillow, either. Sometimes that happened, not remembering things. Hazards of the sprite occupying her body. The sprite didn’t remember much, preferring to live in the present.

There was a rap on the door. “Noli, it’s me.

Come in.” She turned the little pillow over in her hands. The blue pillow had brightly-colored inexpertly embroidered flowers on it. A gift from Elise, James and V’s little sister.

A small footlocker filled Jeff’s arms and he sat it down on the ground in area she’d cleared. “Here you go; a blanket and hammock are inside. Sorry, I couldn’t find a pillow.”

She held up hers. “I have one—it’s small but it will work.” Jeff’s eyebrows rose. “You had one little bag to fill and you brought a pillow?”

How would she explain all her things? Using the magic valise seemed like a good idea at the time. She shrugged. “Um, my valise is bigger than it looks.”

“Is it new?” Jeff studied the valise on the workbench. “It was gift from my friend Charlotte.” Noli sniffed a little. Generous, sweet Charlotte had given her so much— including her life. “I miss her.”

“Charlotte?” Jeff’s face contorted in thought. “She’s your school friend and from the south someplace, right? When we head south perhaps you could visit her.” Noli shook her head, busying herself by opening the trunk and taking out the hammock so she didn’t have to look at him. “She passed on recently.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?

It’s … complicated.” She wasn’t ready to speak of it.

“All right, then.” His voice softened. “Here, allow me.” Jeff hung the hammock for her, turning the right wall into a sleeping area, footlocker underneath. “It’s surprisingly comfortable.”

“I appreciate that.” She gave Jeff a big smile. “I’ll try hard, I promise.”

“I know. I meant it when I said you’re an ace at fixing things. This will work out for the better, you’ll see.” He pulled her to him. “We’ll take everything one day at a time.”

She laid her head against his shoulder. “I’ve not gone round the bend, promise.”

No, she just had some other girl in her head, one that sometimes took over. Not that she could say it out loud, since that did sound as if she were barking mad.

He stroked her hair. “No, you haven’t gone mad. You’ve simply been through a lot.”

“V will find a way to fix this.” To fix her, for them to be together. She had total and utter faith that it would happen eventually, and until then she’d persevere. At least she was with Jeff, who accepted her as she was and didn’t try to change her to conform to society. Jeff pressed his lips to the top of her head in a way that reminded her of their mother. He held her at arm’s length. “One day at a time, little sister. Now, go to bed.”

“Good night, Jeff.” She yawned. Jeff left and she pulled on her white ruffled nightdress, slippers, and cap. Exhaustion filled her. Noli draped her dress over the workbench and turned out the light. Grabbing her pillow and blanket, she crawled into the hammock, closed her eyes and went to sleep, listening to the hum of the ship’s engine.

Five A Questing We Will Go

With a heavy sigh, Steven signaled the sprite serving girl. Again. She’d forgotten to bring them their supper. Again.

“Couldn’t we have left in the morning?” James whined, head in his hands, elbows on the rough wooden table. Indulgence brought out the worst in his little brother. The small pub and boarding house catering to the Otherworldly had come alive with a cacophony of sound and a symphony of smells. The non-mortals of Los Angeles ate, drank, and were noisily merry.

“We needed to get out of the house before … ” Before Noli’s mother knocked on the door. Before his heart broke in half at the thought of Noli being whisked off to Boston and paraded before potential suitors. Before his father told him one more time that he’d brought this upon himself. “Before Jeff beats the stuffing out of you for making Noli cry?” James lifted his head up.

“Jeff?” Steven cocked his head, hair falling in his eyes.

It never did like to lie flat, though wasn’t an outright mop of unruly curls like James’.

James nodded, rubbing his temples, one elbow still on the table. “I saw him land his hoverboard in their backyard. He must have come to visit her. Ugh, my head hurts so much.”

“Drinking two entire bottles of cognac will do that to you.” Steven took a notebook and a pencil from his rucksack. “I didn’t realize Jeff was in town—are you certain?” Noli hadn’t mentioned it. Then again, there’d been more urgent matters to discuss. He knew she’d been in contact with her brother since returning from the Otherworld, but he couldn’t remember him visiting since he’d left to be an “aeronaut.”

“That or it’s the twin brother he doesn’t have.” James moaned and laid his head right on the table.

“Sit up, you brute.” Steven kicked him under the table. This noise of this place was overwhelming. Quinn had recommended they start here so they could come up with their strategy. He’d agreed that they should leave the house as soon as possible. Not to mention it was a quest, heroes were supposed to dash off immediately, not wait for their younger brothers to sleep off their grief-induced hangovers.

The serving girl set steaming plates of boiled meat and potatoes in front of them. Finally.

“We need to figure out what sort of amusement we plan to acquire for her.” Steven moved his notebook to