Fairytale Come Alive (Ghosts and Reincarnation #4)(150)

So, at the same time, she kicked back with her boot, hitting him sharply in the shin as she scratched at his hand, her nails digging in. He yelped, his leg went back automatically to avoid her foot, his arms loosened; she pulled free, rounded him and ran.

Head for the road! Fiona shouted, zooming eerily beside her.

“You said that already!” Elle shouted back but did it anyway.

I know! I have super-ghostly sight, you don’t, so you have to listen to me! Fiona shouted back.

Super-ghostly sight. Insane! Elle thought.

Seriously, you need to rethink your footwear, Fiona advised and Elle kept running even as she rolled her eyes.

“You don’t think I know that?” she returned.

Faster! Fiona yelled. He’s gaining!

Elle tried to run faster, her breath coming in deep pants, her boots and Nigel’s boots hitting the road sounding jarringly in the quiet, dark, deserted night.

“Where are we?” Elle asked through her pants, deciding to zig and zag to see if she could put him off so she did at that same time hoping whatever Fiona’s answer was would give her the information she needed to get out of this bloody mess and back home.

Kenkames. No’ populated and nobody will be up here this late at night, Fiona answered.

“Marvelous,” Elle muttered right before she heard Fiona’s ghostly scream and Elle was tackled, going down hard, first to her knees then her hand slammed into the asphalt of the road, the pain in her wrist shooting up her arm then she hit the road at her chest, her breath going clean out of her.

Let her go, you fool! Fiona shouted as Elle sucked in air but still she immediately started struggling, twisting, turning and kicking out. Let her go! Fiona repeated. Let her go! Let her go, go, GO!

Then Nigel’s weight was off Elle, she rolled several times to the side, got to a knee and looked back to see Nigel struggling with the supernatural body of Fiona.

RUN! Fiona screeched as, with parted lips, Elle watched Fiona lifting Nigel clean in the air and darting away, both of them several feet off the ground.

Now! Fiona yelled, Elle found her feet, turned away from her surprising attacker and by far and away more surprising rescuer and she ran.

* * * * *

Prentice

“Prentice –” Dougal started, his voice coming from Prentice’s speakerphone on his mobile.

“Just do it, Dougal. Call the police and head up to Kenkames,” Prentice ordered.

“You should leave this to the cops, Prentice, you should –”

“I’m no’ discussing it, I’m telling you. Call the f**king police, get in your f**king car and head up to f**king Kenkames,” Prentice ground out, hit the button on his phone to end the call and tossed it in the passenger seat.

Then he focused on the road. He needed to focus on the road. He was in a 4x4 going twice the speed limit. He needed to get to Elle, get her safe and beat Nigel f**king Fennick bloody and not die in a fiery crash before he could do it.

And that was what he was bloody well going to do.

* * * * *

Fiona

Fiona forced Nigel in his car, locking it and keeping it locked with her newly realized powers. Once she accomplished that, she floated outside it, hands on hips, glaring at Nigel.

It wasn’t anger that brought on her powers.

It also wasn’t effort.

Or concentration.

It was love.

Magic came from love.

Who knew?

All she knew was, faced with the possibility that, if she didn’t do something, there would be no Isabella Austin soon-to-be Cameron in this world, Fiona couldn’t abide that.

Her children needed Bella.

Her husband needed her.

Annie, Fergus, Mikey, they needed her.

And Bella needed her happy ending.

And Fiona loved her enough to make it so.

So she did.

You’re mad, Nigel Fennick, and you need help, she informed him through the car window as she floated at its side and he struggled with the handle to a door she kept locked.

He stopped struggling and scowled up at her.

“You don’t exist,” he declared.

No, you’re right but then again, I also do, she replied. When Prentice finds Bella they’ll send someone up here to get you and then you need to get help.

“Go to hell!” he shouted.

No bloody way, she shot back, gave him one long, last glare then she dematerialized and materialized at Bella’s side.

A Bella who was walking, holding her side. She was walking quickly, very quickly, but she was still bloody walking.

Why are you walking? Fiona snapped, Bella’s body jolted and her head jerked to the side.

“You’re back,” she noted unnecessarily.

Aye, I’m back and there’s a bad man no’ too far away who’s lost his mind and wants you dead so why are you walking?

“I can’t run anymore, I have a stitch in my side,” Bella explained. “And anyway, you carried him away. A grown man…” Bella shook her head, disbelief stark on her features. “A grown man.”

Fiona drew in a needless, frustrated breath then advised, Bella, run.

“Have you taken care of him?” Bella asked.

I hope so. My powers are new, so let’s no’ take a chance, agreed?

Bella studied her. Then, thankfully, she started jogging.

Then, faced forward, she whispered as her breath started to get heavy, “You’ve been with us.”