CHAPTER 17: Blowing a gale.

Wynter had to pee but she refused to get up and relieve herself. For more than twenty minutes she had been engaged in a staring contest with the good constable and she was determined to win. Deep down she was aware that this was a ridiculously immature act that would prove nothing in the end but she couldn’t back down.
She had already returned her brothers phone call and expected him to arrive soon. He would have shown up much sooner if she had informed him of the situation but she figured it would be better to wait ...cell phone signals are easily picked up by radios and it was best if no one outside the group was aware of what was really going on in their town.
At least that’s what she told herself. Truth was she was panicking on the inside. Marche had caused a little niggling of doubt and she knew that she was in over her head. Without Tanner there to back her up she was looking at jail time or a trip to the Waterford.... She could always untie the constable but it wouldn’t help the situation in the slightest...Besides he had a look in his eye that frightened her; he would have no qualms in killing her, he obviously was prepared to kill Tanner so why would he stop there? No it was best to leave things as they are and wait for her brother.
“How did you get mixed up with that sack of shit anyways?” asked Marche.
Wynter frowned at him and said nothing. It was better for her temper to keep her mouth firmly shut.
“Ahh I sees how it is; not talking now eh? Starting to feel ashamed of yerself? You should be! Though it’s not entirely yer fault that he got ya on the flat of yer back...”
“Shut up!” Wynter‘s words exploded out of her as her cheeks flamed from temper and embarrassment. “You have no clue what you’re talking about!”
“I don’t do I?” he said slyly “I bet you spread yer legs for him within minutes of meeting him!”
“I think it’s time I shut you up” said Wynter getting to her feet angrily and grabbing the duct tape at the same time. “You have no right to talk to me this way!”
“Ha! Truth hurts don’ it? He was just using you like he will others...” he never got to finish as a great gust of wind filled the apartment and sent Wynter flying into the wall where she remained pinned from the sheer force of it.
“Jesaus! You stay the fuck away from me you hear!” exclaimed Marche as the air rippled before the chair. Craning his neck to look at Wynter he demanded for her to untie him and give him his gun.
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ and all the angels and saints in heaven above to go back to where you came from!” he shouted as the wind churned and whipped around him.
Eyes watering Wynter couldn’t tell if the fairy had just stepped out of thin air or what; all she knew was that where there was nothing there now stood a male fey. He had pale ash blonde hair that looked silver and he wore pure white from head to toe. If she hadn’t known better she would have mistaken him for an angel such was his idyllic beauty.
“Your words are meaningless to me mortal” the figure announced with a tone of indifference. “I am to bring you before the Court where you will be sentenced for your crimes” He held a hand up and immediately Marche was silenced. He then turned his gaze upon Wynter who gasped.
The fairy had the same Celtic blue eyes as Tanner...except these were cold and flat. Shark eyes; as her Nan would say and she felt a shiver run up her spine. “You are to be a witness” he stated.
“Fine...but can I go pee first?” asked Wynter. The fey frowned at her but the wind stopped and she toppled down to the floor. Giving a cry of pain as she landed on her ankle Wynter cursed on the fairy with a silent triad that would have done a sailor proud.
Hobbling to the bathroom she let her thoughts run wild. She needed to let Rayne know what was happening....in case she never made it back....Just as she was closing the door she recalled her phone. Checking her pocket she gave a sigh of relief as her fingers brushed against the plastic case.
Texting as fast as her fingers could go she gave him a briefing of the events as they had happened and how she loved him no matter what. Wiping away a tear she finished the text; used the bathroom and left her phone on the side of the sink. Where she was going there would be no service and she could only imagine the roaming charges that she’d incur...
Squaring her shoulders she returned to the living room...there was no sign of Marche... nor of the mess from the earlier struggle...it looked cleaner than before. Gone were the empty take out containers and Pepsi cans...even the piles of newspapers and books were now stacked neatly upon the book shelf.
“Let us go” said the fey from behind her making her jump. Before she had much time to react he had taken her by the elbow and was leading her through a doorway that she hadn’t seen until they were beneath it. She felt a slight popping in her ears and the sensation of diving into cold water...then they were on the other side....
The sunlight at first was so bright she was blinded but then things came into focus and she saw that they were in an outdoor theatre type of place. Like the great Roman amphitheatres...long curved stone benches stood before them; tiered upwards towards the sky. Upon those benches were thousands of different fairies....most of which Wynter had never seen before but she had no problem picking out the familiar faces of those who had visited her previously with their threats.
“I have brought her my liege as you requested” said the fey that was still holding onto her elbow. His voice carried above the crowd and the whispers of the ancient trees that surrounded the stones. It was at that moment Wynter realized that she was facing the wrong way...the fey was addressing someone behind her.
Turning around she was forced to lift her head up to see the group upon the raised platform. She counted seven of them including the servants...at least she assumed they were servants as they stood behind the ones seated and wore what she supposed were a type of fairy uniform in green and gold hues.
She felt like an extra on a movie set.
Someone had been speaking while she had been lost in awe at her surroundings and now she was uncomfortably aware that all eyes in the audience were trained on her. “What?” Her voice was barely audible and someone jeered at her.
Her escort glared at her. “Tell them what you saw happen to Lorcan” he instructed and fell silent his eyes scanning the crowd as if he were expecting something to happen...
“Uh...” she began nervously and the sound of silver laughter made her look sharply upwards again. The earth swayed and her knees buckled as her eyes made contact with the lone female upon the platform.
She could never forget those eyes or that smirk. They had haunted her for way too long. They belonged to Her; the one responsible for her parents death during a quiet winter day...Her escort jabbed her in the ribs bringing her back to the present.
Somehow she managed to relate the earlier events of the day and as she spoke; she never once took her eyes from the female fairy. A quiet rage was starting to build inside of her and the more she looked at that perfect face the greater the urge became to bash it in....
“This way” said her escort and suddenly her part in the trial was over. As she walked she heard a great roar from the crowd. Looking back she saw to her horror a badly beaten and terrified Marche on his knees before the platform...even from where she stood, she could see the blood fly from his mouth as an invisible blow was rendered to him.
“Holy shit” she whispered and nearly fell over as the impatient fey shoved her through the doorway and back into Tanners apartment. The door disappeared and she was once more left alone.
Her phone was ringing a cheerful ‘Have a Nice Day’ by Bon Jovi but Wynter paid it no heed. Rayne would no doubt be on his way to the building if not in it already...she would have to explain everything to him soon enough...she just wished that she had someone who could explain it all to her and maybe tell her that it wasn’t her fault the fey killed Marche.
The phone went dead and the silence overwhelmed her as she curled up on the couch, eyes staring blankly ahead.