Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) (3 page)

Two young men in doublets and hose were running out of the first aid station like the devil was after them. They were followed by an angry mother in a long, daffodil-yellow gown and her crying daughter.

“If that woman is a nurse,” the mother said ferociously, “then I’m Madam Curie. Come on, Bella. Let’s go.”

I knew Wanda was in the clinic. She had that effect on everyone. I knew she’d done this to me, whatever it was. I had to make her take it all back.

I took a deep breath and went inside to face her.

Chapter Three

There she was, Wanda Le Fey, in all her living glory.

I realized there was no way she could pull off being alive again. She wasn’t blue from head to toe either. Even if this was the greatest prank ever, it couldn’t happen.

“Jessie.” Her red lips turned up in a snarky smile. “How lovely to see you.”

Wanda was the only actual Brit in the Village. No matter how hard the rest of us might try to imitate her accent, we were never quite as good. Or as subtly evil.

I was never sure how she’d managed to become a nurse, but everyone she’d ever treated had suffered for it. She always wound bandages too tightly on sprained ankles and never gave out the right medicine. I knew we should all just be thankful she wasn’t a surgeon. She’d certainly have managed to cut off a limb if that were the case.

She hummed to herself as she adjusted her pink bustier and sorted through some items on a tray.

Seeing her there in the flesh was nearly more than I could handle. Her bright red hair curled around her face, and her shrewd eyes searched for any weakness on my sure-to-be pink face. I still believed that she was at the heart of whatever was happening to me. But this was more than I’d expected. I had to sit down for a moment.

“What can we do for you today, Jessie?” she asked in a sweet voice that probably fooled some people into believing she was actually a good person.

“You can tell me what deal you made with the devil to ruin my life.” I tried not to cry—she’d just take advantage of me.

“A fascinating idea, but I’ve had my mind on other things. Getting revenge on you can’t be all I do, despite how interesting that sounds.”

“How did you manage it? Did you hook up with the sorcerer again or something? He brought you back to life and then you decided to get even once and for all.”

“You really are ill, poor dear. Let me take your temperature. I have a nice rectal thermometer right over here. Lie down and lift your skirt for me. There’s a sweet angel.”

“Forget it.” I stood and fiercely faced her. “I know you’ve done something magical to me. Just admit it.”

“I truly would love to tell you that I’ve done something naughty to you, Jessie.” She smiled as she toyed with the thermometer. “But honestly, ducks, I’ve been too busy. Come back later. Maybe I’ll think of something fun by then.”

“I’m not leaving until you tell me how to get Chase back.”

She laughed. “So that’s it. You and Canyon are finally over, and you’re on the hunt for someone new. Well, don’t look at me when it comes to Chase Manhattan. That’s a one ‘knight’ stand I never had in the Village. Not for lack of trying, mind you. I’d certainly be happy to let him dip his toe in my pool anytime.”

Had the entire Village gone insane? Why did everyone think I was sleeping with Canyon? Why couldn’t anyone remember that Chase and I were married?

I picked up the only thing I could imagine using as a weapon—a magazine—rolled it and held it toward her in a threatening manner. I was bigger and taller than her. Even without a sword I could beat the snot out of her.

“Easy, easy.” Chase came up behind me and grabbed the magazine. “Wanda, something is really wrong with Jessie. Can you help her?”

“Of course, my love.” She smiled in a possessive manner. “Just heave her up here on the old exam table, and we’ll see what the problem is.”

He lifted me easily in his arms. His long brown braid came around on his shoulder, and I held it to my face as I started crying.

“Please don’t let her hurt me,” I pleaded with him. “I’ve really had a bad day.”

“
Shh
.” He sat on the exam table with me on his lap.

He was six-foot-eight, two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle covered in dark leather, and wearing a gold earring. He was the most understanding and wonderful man I’d ever known. I loved him with all my heart. This had to be something we could fix. Chase and I were meant to be together.

“Wanda will make it better. Right, Wanda?” He smiled at her.

He’d always trusted her. I could never figure out why.

“That’s right.” Wanda put her soft hand on my forehead. “She is rather heated, isn’t she? Probably sunstroke or heat apathy. I’ll just call an ambulance, shall I? I’m sure she needs a hospital.”

“No!” I surprised Chase when I jumped up. “No hospital. No Wanda-care. I’ll see you later after I’ve figured this out. I love you, Chase. Please don’t forget that.”

“Jessie . . . wait.”

Chase was fast, but I was faster. I ran through all the paths and byways I knew from the first aid station to the Main Gate. I suddenly knew exactly what I had to do.

I had to visit one of our newest residents, Madame Lucinda. She knew everything about magic and strange things that had happened in the Village. She’d know what Wanda had done. She’d know how to set it right.

I got past the minstrels at the gate as they played their lutes and harps for visitors. Flower girls tossed their petals at the ladies and gentlemen. Dancers and joke-telling jugglers were there too, wishing everyone a good evening as they departed.

And finally I ran through a group of Robin Hood’s Merry Men to reach the purple and gold tent where Madame Lucinda lived and told fortunes for her visitors.

But the tent was gone, as it had been before the coming of magic to the Village. All that was there was an old wood sign that said, “Village fun this way” and an arrow pointing toward the cobblestones.

I looked across the street at the three brick manor houses that had never been used until I’d opened the Art and Craft Museum last year.  The wonderful houses were empty again, their silent faces elegantly turned to welcome visitors coming through the Main Gate.

“Jessie!” It was Robin Hood in his forest green doublet and tights. “Where are you headed? You look upset. I heard you lost your apprenticeship at the bookstore today.”

“I lost everything else.” I was on the verge of hysteria. “But I didn’t lose an apprenticeship.”

Toby Gates had played Robin Hood at the Village for as long as I could remember. He was a nice guy who loved his role and loved living in the five acres of woods that were known as Sherwood Forest. Every year, he picked up a few more Merry Men and Women. They lived in the large tree houses together and spent their time stealing toaster ovens from residents while amusing visitors.

We sat on the steps of one of the manor houses. I was confused and ready to give up. Maybe I’d gone crazy. Maybe this was my life and I just couldn’t remember. I tried to hold on to what I thought my life should be, but it kept slipping through my hands.

“It’s getting late.” He nodded at the Main Gate where large groups of people were noisily filing out to the parking lot. “You’re welcome to spend the night in the forest if you don’t have anywhere to go.”

His face told me that he’d heard about my ‘breakup’ with Canyon. Naturally he assumed that breakup also put me out on the cobblestones.

But I wasn’t that woman anymore.

I squared my shoulders, held my chin high, and smiled at him.

“I’m fine. Thank you. I’m not sure what’s wrong right now. But I’ll figure it out.”

He took my hand. “Just remember you’re always welcome in the forest. Let me know if you need anything.”

His words were so sweet that I hugged him until I saw his present Lady Marion coming our way, kicking her little booted feet on the cobblestones as she walked. She wouldn’t have been so upset if she’d known how many Lady Marions there had been in the forest, including me for a time.

“Thank you. I think you need to go now unless you want to find a lady-sized dagger in your back tonight.”

Robin laughed his signature laugh with his hands on his hips and head thrown back. “You know I love the ladies, and they love me.”

“I know.”

“But a friend like you is a friend forever, Jessie, my dear.” He bowed and kissed my hand. “Now I must away to stave off yon lady’s harsh words.”

I curtsied to him, holding the sides of my ink-stained gown. “A good night to you, sir.”

The visitors leaving the village paused to take a few pictures and exclaim over our fascinating conversation. Robin and I posed together for them, and then he made his escape into the forest with his men and Lady Marion.

I watched the visitors leaving with a mournful eye, wishing I could walk through the gate too. But there was no one out there for me. My life was here with Chase, and even my brother, Tony. Our only living relative had died many years before.

What was I supposed to do?

Everything was familiar, and yet completely changed. Chase wasn’t the Village Bailiff any longer. I wasn’t the museum director. And yet,
Rare Reads
was in the Village. It had only been here since last year. How could some things have stayed the same and others changed?

As I struggled to understand, I saw Chase coming toward me. I loved everything about him, from his kindness to his intelligence, and the wonderful way he dealt with people. I could see by the look on his handsome face that he was about to find an answer for me too.

How could Canyon ever have taken his place as Bailiff?

“Jessie.” Chase smiled and held out his hands as though I was a skittish mare. “I know you’re in some kind of trouble. I figured you could use a friendly face and a place to spend the night.”

I got to my feet, excited that I’d made some kind of breakthrough with him. Maybe he was starting to remember who I was and why I was in his life.

“Thank you.” I might not have been interested in spending the night in the woods with Robin Hood, but I’d jump at the chance to spend the night with Chase. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

“Sorry I’m late.” My brother, Tony, came up behind me. “Chase said you’ve been having a nervous breakdown or something. I’m here for you, Jessie. My place isn’t very big, but I’m sure we can squeeze in together for a while.”

I was so stunned that Chase had brought Tony to help me—my crazy brother of all people. Chase knew what a handful he could be. How many times had we bailed him out of trouble?

“Really?” My gaze stayed on Chase’s. “This is it? I spend the night with Tony? That’s the answer?”

Chase’s expression was apologetic. “I’m living with Princess Isabelle at the castle, or I’d ask you to stay with me. Sorry, Jessie. Better Tony than Canyon, if the two of you are breaking up. I could check with Village housing tomorrow to see if anything is available.”

“No. That’s okay. I can figure this out. I can check on Village housing myself, if I need to. Thanks Chase.”

He put his hand on mine. “I’m sorry you’re going through a bad time. Let me know if I can do anything else.”

“Sure.” I managed to smile at him even though tears were welling in my eyes. At least he probably thought it was because I was breaking up with Canyon.

To make matters worse, one of the pop-up, late evening thunderstorms that frequently hit the Village from the Atlantic chose that moment to rear its ugly head. Bursts of thunder and lightning came first, followed by drenching rain that swept the cobblestones and sent what visitors were left quickly out the gate.

Tony and I scrambled too. The last look I had at Chase, he was standing in the rain, watching me leave. Was that a trace of sadness in his eyes?

I couldn’t tell because there was too much rain in mine. And really, I hoped he was miserable without me.

We went to one of the Village housing sheds. It was more like a shack than a house. Several people were living together in three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. There was no air-conditioning, and it had a lingering scent of dirty socks. It reminded me of being in college.

Most of the workers who were housed in these places were college and high school students. There were also some full-time, adult employees. I stepped over dirty clothes and avoided discarded bits of armor, wigs, and staffs. There was also a horse’s head and the front half of a cow.

“Mi casa—you know what I mean.” Tony sat on one of the lumpy old chairs. “You can stay here as long as you need to. No one will notice another person.”

“Thanks.” I glanced around the dirty room. I’d lived in places like this over summer break for years while I was in college. I’d finally found my own small space but had given it up to live with Chase.

“What happened to you?” he asked. “You’re usually too well organized for something like this. I guess you didn’t see it coming with Canyon, huh?”

I put my hand to my head. It might be the only opportunity I had to tell anyone what really happened. I knew Tony wouldn’t believe me—might even laugh at me. I didn’t care. It was a release just to say it out loud.

He stared at me with our father’s brown eyes. He was left handed like him too. We were both six feet tall, but it looked better on him. His brown hair had a bit of curl in it from our mother’s side. Mine was stick-straight.

“Hey. That’s pretty cool,” he said when I’d finished explaining. “So you’re a time traveler. How’d you do it?”

That was one question I wasn’t expecting.

“I don’t think this is time traveling. Some of the shops and people in the Village are from ten years ago, but some of them are new. Even worse, some of the people are dead.”

Tony sat up straight. “Like who? Am I dead in the future? Is Chase dead? What about that hot girl that sells pretzels down by the
Field of Honor
?”

“You’re not dead,” I assured him as a few other people wandered into the conversation. They wanted to know if they were dead in the future and if I could help them time travel. Before I knew it, the entire room was filled with young men who wanted to know if I’d used a time machine and where I’d stored it.