The Draoi

Part 4

"You can't come with me?" Mark asked, the gap between the two seeming small, but feeling large.

"I can't leave the forest. Not unless it's for a spell. I can't move closer to the town, that cabin has been there since the first Draoi practiced magic."

"What happens if you try?" Mark asked.

Jack sighed and stepped onto the road, no longer in the forest. Immediately, his pale skin began to tinge red and he whimpered in pain as sores opened on his arms. The skin blistered and Jack's knees buckled, forcing Mark to try and hold him up. Jack shrugged Mark away and stepped back into the forest, the sores closing and his strength returning as he moved back into the forest.

Mark flinched at the weary sight of Jack. "You could have just told me. You didn't have to do that."

Jack lazily waved his arm. "I prefer to show, it helps build up my pain tolerance."

Mark hunched over himself, almost in guilt. "Oh."

Jack immediately threw a smile on his face. "No more sad face! The reason you came to me was to make you happy! Go on, go get some rest."

Mark smiled at the energy of the warlock. He turned to leave, but quickly faced Jack again and pulled him into a hug. His arms wrapped around the smaller man's frame and he had his head cheek to cheek with Jack, with a view of the forest where Jack had to return. "Thank you."

Jack almost screamed. He didn't get many hugs, but that wasn't why. Jack almost screamed because the feeling of Mark's torso pressed against his chest made his cheeks burn a bright pink. Jack almost screamed because his arms were also wrapped around Mark's body. Jack almost screamed because he wanted to nuzzle the red-haired man's neck and run his fingers through his hair and God he smelled good.

But Jack didn't scream. He patted Mark's back, smiled, and pulled away.

"No need. I do this because I want to. But you're welcome nevertheless." He took a step back into the forest and watched Mark start jogging towards the town. The red-haired man turned while running and waved hastily, leaving Jack to stand on the end of the forest.

Jack loved what he did. He loved helping people and solving their problems, but the part he hated the most was right now. Watching them run back to civilization, leaving him alone again. He longed to chase after Mark, pull him close. But he was a Draoi, an ancient being made of stardust and magic in Mark's eyes. All Jack ever saw when he looked in the mirror was himself. Jack turned, to see the branches of the trees bent over him, dropping their leaves as would a willow. He smiled sadly and patted the trunk of the nearby tree. It swung its leaves happily and as soon as Jack passed it, it closed the gap that made up the path.

"Ma would kill me if she knew what was going through my head." Jack said to himself.

It was true, the thoughts that ran through Jack's mind would have had him killed during his mortal life. Impure and of the devil, they would have said. Who knew Jack would become the devil himself. Jack heard the rustling of trees as they moved to hide his path, and he saw the lights of his cabin in the distance, welcoming him home. He knelt quickly and grabbed two red mushrooms, stuffing them in his resource bag. He neared his cabin, and detoured off to the garden, walking behind through some thick trees. It opened into a clearing, and Jack spotted the large, misshapen tree. The roots were gnarled and lifted up in certain areas, small enough so one couldn't see beneath it. Jack laid down and slid beneath the roots, dirt staining his shirt. Pushing up the root, he disappeared below the tree and slid on his back down a small slide of sorts. Rolling onto the softer earth, he grunted and stood.

The faerie hideout. It was the home to all the faeries that existed in this half of the United States. Jack smiled, this place was the prettiest place ever, in his mind. He remembered when he had been brought here the first time.

--

The boy awoke. He stood from his cot, and rubbed his eyes. Walking over to the enchanted teapot, he poured a mug and took a sip. He wondered if there was anything stronger available to him. Opening up the 7th spell book, he turned to page 47 and yawned, reading over the new spell. He'd been at this for 6 years already, and even though it had gotten easier, this spell was hell-bent on giving him a hard time. Carefully waving his hand in a circular motion, he splayed his fingers outward and closed his eyes.

"Glaoch mé an seirbhísigh."

Silence met his order. Once more, the boy put his head in his hands and rubbed his face in frustration. Taking another sip of tea, he tried moving past the spell to the next one. He was met with a blank page, and another one, and another one. It seemed that the books simply wouldn't let him advance unless he did the current spell correctly, and it annoyed him to no end. As he stood from his chair, he took another sip from his mug and peered out the window. He wondered how life was out in the world, how his siblings were. It was not as if he didn't wonder this every day, but the memories didn't get easier to relive. Opening the cabin door, he stepped his cloth shoes on the soft earth outside and wandered to check on the garden. Grabbing the small tin watering can, he tipped it onto the budding plants, smiling fondly. He was proud of his garden, and every spring he loved sitting out in the yard and watching his plants bud. Kneeling down, he sprinkled some water over the blooming flowers and sat back on his haunches.

Suddenly he felt something small whack against his head and he fell onto his side. Groaning, he rubbed his head and looked up, only to see a small female rubbing her head as well. A small...glowing...FLYING female to be exact.

"What the 'ell!"

He jerked back in surprise, pushing his heels into the dirt to get further from the small projectile. The object in question backed up as well, flitting 'her' small wings quickly. She shook her head, and a gentle voice came from her small mouth.

"You're the new Draoi, aren't you? We were wondering when we would meet you!" She flittered near his arm and grabbing a hold of his hand with her own.

"What are ye talkin' about?" The young man stumbled forward with the impressive force of the small faerie.

The creature was silent, only pulling the Draoi towards her home. Entering the clearing, he sighed.

"I've been here before, there ain't nothing here."

The faerie simply smirked at the Draoi and flew up to the opening of a rotted trunk, disappearing underneath the dirt. The young man bent down to peer in, only seeing darkness, before the faerie popped out from below and yanked at his short hair, pulling him off balance to slide, headfirst down the hole.

--

Jack parted the glowing flower sheath and ducked his head to the small utopia. There were small mushrooms growing off the walls and small mouse holes that meant to serve as the faerie homes.

"Sean!" A small faerie nearly flew into his face, only stopping inches from the tip of his nose.

"Reanna, how are you?" He asked, smiling fondly.

Holding out his pinky finger, the younger faerie flittered over to sit on it. Smiling, she swung her legs and looked up at Jack.

"Draoi, how come you don't visit anymore?" She asked.

"Oh, I'm just a bit busy lately." Jack poked Reanna's head gently, leaving the young faerie to giggle. "Do you know where your mother is? I have to talk with her."

"She's dealing with Adair, he did something bad." Reanna suddenly dropped her gaze, and her legs stopped swinging.

Jack's smile dropped. "What did Adair do that was so bad?" He lifted her chin gently, to meet eyes.

"They found him trying to kill you."