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Jazz was riveted by his ethereal beauty, he seemed to be laughing and crying all in the same breath as he slowly descended. What the heck was going on? What was he? She sensed more than just Fae…but what?
He reached the ground and drew in his wings to his back until they were nearly hidden. Jazz decided that he had to be some form of Fae angel. He was exquisite.
He stood with his hands clasped together as he focused on Frankie. He was staring at her, laughing and clapping his hands together like a young boy just given the most supreme present he had ever had.
She wondered if he was a little bit tipsy. As he was looking only at Frankie, all Jazz’s protective juices flowed. Both girls jumped to their feet. Jazz stood between Frankie and the angel, so that the newcomer could only address her.
The winged Fae shook his beautiful head of white gold hair, and said in a voice that was heavily and sweetly accented by an ancient Danu dialect. “No, no, you mustn’t fear me.” He held out his hands. “I am here because of Queen Aaibhe. She thought it time I knew that you were safe.” Jazz was in awe as the angel spoke past her, directly to Frankie.
“I am Deimne, the Daoine Sluagh, and Aaibhe said that she believes now is the time for us to meet—as she, like our Daoine Queen Mab is most wise.” His smile was wide and Jazz saw the joy in his eyes as he said, “Indeed, I once thought I was the last of my kind, but no more.”
Jazz was struck silent by this information. She tried to say something, but nothing entered her head or passed through her lips.
She was stuck on the fact that he was a Fae with wings.
She had never heard of a Fae with wings. Not in all the Fios tales of the ‘old days’, had a Fae with wings been mentioned. He had said he thought he was the last of his kind. Did that mean there were no other Fae with wings? She had always thought only the Pixies had wings. This was extraordinary, but why shouldn’t he have wings? After all, she was standing in Faery, breathing Faery air, experiencing Faery time, so why not a Fae with wings. Frankie eyed him curiously and then surprised Jazz by moving forward and going right up to stand in front of him.
In spite of Frankie’s warrior leathers, she dropped an old fashioned and very elegant curtsey. Her face was solemn as she said in a quiet voice that sounded so much more than her years. “I think I saw ye once…with m’mother. Ye were in our barn, and I only caught a glimpse of ye. I didn’t see yer wings then.”
He laughed and squeezed his hands together as though he could not contain the infinite happiness he seemed to be experiencing. “Queen Aaibhe explained much to me.” He nodded towards Jazz, “My darling girl, I thought I lost you—that you were human and that I lost you to human time. I did not know that you were brought here from the past when this Fios, now of Seelie blood, found you being ill treated.” He hung his head suddenly as though remembering another time with regret. “My child, I am sorry I did not know your parents had passed. Had I known, I would have come for you. I cared for your mother a great deal and I have always wanted what was best for you. Your mother never said you were Fios. She never told me that you were anything but human, and I believed you were mortal like she. Even so I wanted to be with you, but she said being raised amongst your own kind—humans were what you needed. She said I would only confuse you and that I had no place in your life. I believed I was giving you what you needed; but even so I still came by and often watched you from the air. I watched as you grew and then time travel became next to impossible, for even the Daoine.”
Jazz felt a tingling in her brain as now there was of course no doubt who this winged Fae was. He was Frankie’s father.
As she studied Frankie’s face she also knew the child was so completely brilliant. Jazz saw at once that Frankie had known the moment she met him, just who he was.
Frankie said simply in a hushed voice, “Ye are m’father, then?”
“I am,” he said proudly. “You are the only child I have ever fathered and had I had my own way,” he spread out his hands as his voice trailed off. “Your mother was convinced you were human. I did not see any Fae signs when you were young and did not wish to impede on your human life,” he explained putting out his hand. “Come with me daughter, allow me to show you Daoine and our home.”
Jazz stepped in front of Frankie then, “Oh no, no, oh no! She stays with me until we can get everything sorted out.” She saw a glint of anger light in the Sluagh’s brilliant eyes and hurriedly added. “Of course you must be with your daughter and are most welcome to visit here with her, but life for Frankie has been turned upside down. She needs time to understand what she is, who she is, and where she is headed. I hope this does not offend.”
He considered this and tilted his head, “Very well, I understand and I shall accommodate my daughter’s needs—for now.”
“Thank you,” Jazz said respectfully. Frankie’s father was proud and she could see he was used to getting his own way. This could be a problem in the future.
Deimne smiled. Jazz realized then that he loved Frankie. He loved her and that would make all the difference.
He said gently, “I see from your expression that we understand one another. However, I am not ignorant of the fact that I owe you much, Fios Fae,” he said looking into Jazz’s eyes. “Queen Aaibhe informed me that I have you to thank for my child’s rescue from an intolerable situation. She was in need when I tried to respect her mother’s wishes and had stayed away for a time. Our time in Daoine, as it is here in Tir, moves differently than in the Human Realm.” He frowned as he paused. “I am told that she was being ill used and you did not hesitate to step in. Thus, your position in my house is worthy.” Again he paused and this time looked at Jazz intently, “Do not allow my respect for you to lull you into believing I will ever again give up my rights as her father. I did that once and it did not work out well.” He looked at Frankie. “It hurts me gravely to think you had been left alone after your mother’s death. It hurts me to know that someone mistreated you. If I could go back in time I would, and although we may not take a human life I would make sure he suffered all the rest of his.” He sighed heavily. “However,” his voice edged with determination and for a moment he seemed to struggle with his words before saying, “You will never be alone again.”
Frankie went forward touched his hand and looked up into his face, scanning it as though it were a map she was memorizing. “Thank ye. I know ye mean me well and I know ye understand that now, but I need to stay with Jazz while I get to know what I am. Jazz and I are both Fios ye see and now we are also both Fae. I hope that makes a bit of sense to ye, da—and I hope ye won’t mind, if I call ye da?”
Jazz felt a smile take hold of her mouth. Frankie was already learning the knack of charm. She was sure Frankie was thrilled with this meeting and happy to call him da. Her timing had been perfect.
Deimne scooped his daughter into his arms and flew straight up into the cloudless sky. His laughter rang out and Jazz smiled.
It was evident to her that he loved his child and that his pleasure was real. His feelings for Frankie were real. She knew this was just what the girl needed to help her transition from not only another century, but from the human world into her Fae world as well.
Jazz heard the laugh of a little girl reunited with her father. This was what she wanted for her. Too many awful things had made Frankie such a serious little girl. She needed moments like these to compensate, to replace the bad memories, to heal and allow her to develop properly. She had lost so much in such a short span of time: her parents, her lifestyle, her time in the past. She had been flung into the future where suddenly she was not only a Fios, but a Fae, and the world was at war with monsters.
Jazz was concerned for them all. Matters were diving into epic chaos at a rate that was zooming without pause. At the moment it appeared as though the Fae would be literally thrown into a war in which they had
never really expected and probably were not really prepared to handle. The Royals and their warriors were able, but their numbers were so few.
Jazz could not see any other choice—war seemed inevitable.
She knew the Queen was committed to keeping the Human Realm safe, but she also knew the Queen was far sighted. What had Aaibhe seen that she wasn’t telling?
She knew the human world was the first barrier the Dark Ones would take down before they turned their hungry eyes to Tir and the Seelie Fae. Pestale had nothing to lose. He would throw his lowly Unseelie in huge numbers to be killed and sacrificed while he and his brothers worked to take down the Seelie warriors with Dark Magic.
