When Lightning Burns [COMPLETED]

Chapter 7: Blooming Trees

           

The tree in the garden bloomed overnight. She paused in the doorway to the small courtyard. Julie had watched Smidge flitting around it all Sunday but hadn't bothered to look out before she went off to the Academy that morning.

For the last week, the creature had been quiet, gradually letting Julie relax that the decision to let Smidge live here wasn't a bad one.

This morning, though, instead of heading straight out to tutoring, she found herself drawn to the garden. What was going on? She had a sinking feeling that she knew who was behind the tree's dramatic change.

"Mistress!" Smidge crowed. "I know it's small. There isn't enough sun back here." The little creature looked up at the building, frowning. "But I think I can grow this tree into something nice for you."

She beamed, her eyes huge with hopeful approval.

Well, crap. Even if the tree was kind of out of place, it wasn't that obviously weird. Julie could let this slide. She looked at the large purple blooms that sprouted all over the tree, pretty sure this wasn't even a flowering tree. "It's beautiful. Just make it into a nice home for yourself."

Smidge looked down, shuffling her tiny feet that were hard to see under her squat body. "There are some other flower beds here that need help. Can I invite a few others to help me with them? I know I'm half gnome, but I'm better with trees."

Julie shrugged. Whatever. She had barely noticed Smidge here over the last few days. The thought made her feel guilty. She should have checked on her new friend, but there was so much on her mind, and her days were so full already. "Sure, why not?"

"Great!" Smidge looked up, grinning. "Pudge, come out. She said it was fine. I told you she was nice!"

Pudge? Julie looked over as another creature waddled out from behind a bush. It was round and squat with splotches of green and brown all over. It wasn't a gnome—more like a large, round, mottled rock that walked on big feet with arms that almost dragged to the ground.

Pudge held out his or her hand. Julie swallowed back the slight distaste she felt. It couldn't help how ugly and irregular it looked. Even its eyes weren't the same size.

"It's nice to meet you." She took its hand, or pretended to, since her hand passed through the overly large hands, like a thickening in the air. So weird.

Pudge didn't respond.

Smidge flitted around them, smiling. "Pudge doesn't say much. Ever. He's happy to meet you. I can tell. See? He's smiling."

Yeah, Julie couldn't tell. But if Smidge said so..."About the tree—"

"Oh no, you don't like it! I thought purple was your favorite color." Smidge ran over to the tree. "Here, what about this?" As her tiny hand touched the tree, the flowers changed to bright red. "Or this?" They turned pink.

"No, no, no." Julie looked around at the windows around the garden. "Purple was fine. I just didn't expect it to flower. That's all."

Smidge giggled, turning the tree purple again. "Oh, I fixed that. I know you like flowers. I saw them all over your house!"

She had been in her house? Did no one in the Fey world understand privacy or just general creepiness? "Um, okay."

Pudge waddled back over to the bush he had been hiding behind and edged back in. He blended in perfectly with the brown dirt and green bush. She would never have known he was there except that now his dark eyes blinked out at her. She swallowed and tried to assure herself that he seemed okay.

"Don't mind him," Smudge whispered loudly in her high–pitched voice. Julie dragged her gaze back to Smidge, who smiled, obviously proud of whatever she thought she had done. "He's a weird mix—gnome and troll. He doesn't know if he should live above or below ground. But he's a good guard. He'll keep this place safe."

Weren't trolls bad? But she didn't really know anything about these creatures, only that they existed. She looked over at Pudge, who was still staring at her, clearly more scared of her than she was of him. Julie rubbed her head, glancing at the windows all around. It was late enough that hopefully no one was looking out to see the tree below changing colors. "What is he guarding against?"

"Why, intruders! We saw a couple of them hanging around today. Humans dressed in black with a gold circle on their arms. Pudge and I confused them." Smidge wiggled her fingers. "It's a minor Fey trick to confuse humans. Don't worry; they are so turned around they won't be back."

Julie groaned and sank down onto the small patch of grass under the tree. A.R.S.E had been here, and her new misguided guardians had driven them off.

"What's wrong, mistress? Did we do something wrong? Don't you want us guarding your house while you are out?" Smidge's angular features were screwed up like she was about to cry.

Julie sighed. "It's fine. But next time please tell me. I want them around; I'm trying to hunt them."

"Oh, a Fey Hunt." Smidge nodded solemnly, a little fist going to her mouth. "I haven't heard of one of those in a long time. Can I help you when it is time?"

"Sure." What the hell was a Fey Hunt? It sounded significant.

"What about the other Great Fey here? Are they okay with us?" Smidge barely breathed out the last part.

Julie snorted. They would be. "They're fine. If they give you any problems, let me know."

"Okay." Smidge didn't look too sure.

"Julie? Are you out here?" Rory walked out into the courtyard.

"Speaking of the devil," she muttered under her breath. She could count on Rory creeping around her. Luke wasn't as obvious, but he was probably around too.

"What?" Smidge tilted her head to the side.

"Oh my god, Julie. Get up. There's a defective Fey next to you."

Smidge's face fell, and Julie cursed. It had taken a while to get Smidge to stop crying that first night. Rory better not get her started, or she would make him deal with it. She needed to get to the Academy.

"I know. I invited her here," Julie snapped at him. "She didn't have a home."

He seemed at a loss for words. "But they're—"

She interrupted before he could upset Smidge. "So what? She's nice, and look at how she's taking care of the tree."

Rory put his hands up. "Okay, okay. It's just they can be...unpredictable, mixed like that. Their nature can be capricious."

Julie snorted. That was an understatement.

Smidge glared at Rory. "What does capricious mean?"

"Don't worry." Julie watched Smidge, saying quietly. "He and the other one are connected to me. They will do what I ask."

Smidge twirled up in the air, looking at Julie again.

"Two of them? Two connections? My mistress—Pudge, our mistress...she is a Queen!" The creature flew to the ground, groveling. "Forgive me. I didn't know. No wonder you are so kind and powerful. And to give time to me and give me a home..." Smidge's face screwed up again, big, fat, green tears dripping down her cheeks. "I don't deserve you!"

Rory watched the whole thing with wide eyes as Julie tried to edge away from Smidge. "Let me know if you need help with this. I know how to take care of pests."

Smidge whipped her head up, glaring at Rory and floating in the air, her tiny fists balled up and ready to strike him. Rory snorted. Smidge darted closer. "The Queen says we can stay. Who are you to interfere, consort?"

"It's okay, Smidge. You're right. He doesn't get to decide who stays in the garden. Rory, can you please leave us alone for a while? I want to talk to Smidge about being subtle, with the humans around and everything." She waved at the flowering tree.

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Just let me know if you need pest control."

Smidge turned her back on him as if he didn't exist.