Samhain/Halloween Free fiction

[jana_denardo]

I wrote a short story for the spook_me challenge. I set it in my Kept Tears universe, just another day of things being crazy in Aaron's life. Being involved with a fae prince isn't easy. And since I was asked to bring back the twins and Corinne, they're here too! (If you want to take a peek at the source material's novel blurb go here, ebook also available. Oh, and that's Aaron and Rhys in my icon).

I had a ball writing this in one marathon session though I ran up short on editing time. Ah well.

My prompt was shape shifters and the picture prompt was lovely.


So have a happy Halloween. I hope you enjoy this freebie Firebird's Flight.

Aaron scanned the room, but there was no sign of Rhys. Granted, the venue embraced the dark tones of Halloween, and he couldn't see all the way across the dance hall. The flickering light from the projection screen on one wall added to the shadow play. On the screen, the silent film, Nosferatu, played. It was his steampunk 'airship's' holiday party, and most of them had on masks, if only the small domino ones. It shouldn't be enough to conceal Rhys entirely. For one, his boyfriend was a little vain for that and, secondly, his long, blond hair should be a dead giveaway.

“He didn't stand you up, did he?” Corinne's question sounded directly into his ear, making him jump. Aaron glared at her from behind his mask and she apologized. Corrine knew damn well he didn't like people coming up from behind him, ever since the war. “I couldn't come the other way. Too many hoops.” She pointed to a teen wearing not the usual steampunk Victorian but rather a somewhat earlier period.

That was one of the things he liked about steampunk, the creativity. “Rhys wouldn't do that.”

“He probably got caught up writing and forgot you.”

Corrine thought Rhys was somewhat flighty and that was okay with both men. They couldn't tell her the truth, that Rhys was a fae prince, one of the Tylwyth Teg, and that he often was called out to stop other fae from interfering negatively with the human world.

Aaron tugged at the torn portion of his uniform jacket, strategically done to show off his prosthetic arm which he had sleeved with geared decorations of its own. He thought about where his lover could be. Aaron had come to the Halloween Party with Corrinne and Tim but he had no intentions of riding back with them. “He said he had a surprise for me. It might be taking longer than he thought.”

“If he's not here soon, I'll call him and yell.”

She would too. Aaron smiled. “It'll be fine, Corrinne. I'm not worried about it. Go get Tim and dance.”

“I plan on it but here.” She handed him a cup. “Anne brewed her famous root beer and is sharing.”

He took it with his prosthetic hand. It was more difficult to hold and drink with it, but people were always amazed that the prosthesis was mobile. He'd switch over to his right hand after he gave anyone paying attention a little show. If he was going to be stuck living life one-handed, he might as well make the most of what was left to him. Aaron took a sip even though he wasn't much of a pop person. Anne knew what she was doing, not overly sweet, not too many bubbles, the root beer begged for a dollop of ice cream. It didn't matter that it was October and not prime float time. “Thanks. That's yummy.”

“Speaking of yummy, look at what just walked in.” Corrine all but purred as she nodded toward the doorway.

Two young blonds strutted toward them in mirror image costumes, one in a blue suit with white shirt and the other in a white suit with blue shirt. They wore identical top hats and self-satisfied expressions. The twins had gone with the dandified version of steampunk, much like Aaron did, though his own waist coat was minus most of the sleeve to show off his prosthesis. Behind them, equally blond and smug, was Rhys, looking resplendent in his velvet waistcoat.

“I see what my surprise is.”

Corrine widened her eyes as they lit up. “Rhys brought you twins to play with?”

Aaron snapped his gaze down, feeling the heat in his face. “What? No! Corrine, geez. Do I look like the kind of guy who has foursomes?”

“How do I know what kind of kink you get up to?” Corrine swatted his backside. “That would be a fun party to be part of. But if you don't want them....”

“Do I need to remind you you're here with your boyfriend? You might want to wipe the drool off your chin.” Aaron looked around for Tim. Last he had seen, her boyfriend had been talking to David about how to fix up their penny farthings and Aaron hadn't been the mechanical type even before the traumatic amputation. He had wandered off when they started in on it.

“No harm in a little fantasy. Hi, Rhys,” she called merrily, waving at Aaron's lover. “Who did you bring with you?”

“Hello, Corrine. These are my brothers, Bran and Bryn.” Rhys rested his hands on the twins' shoulders in turn, but Aaron doubted she'd be able to keep them straight. He still couldn't when they were apart and barely could when they were side by side. Bran was in the blue suit and Bryn in the white. Aaron committed that to memory so he didn’t make an ass of himself.

So brothers was it? He shouldn't be surprised. It wasn't like Rhys could say 'hey these are my two hundred year old sons and by the way we're all Tylwyth Teg.' Aaron still found it disconcerting that his lover was both fae and over five hundred years old and currently looking hot as hell with his waterfall of waist-length hair loose from its customary braid. It was totally unfair just how turned on he was by that. He needed Rhys to let his hair free more often. Aaron was surprised at himself, since he usually preferred more conservative masculine features and Rhys, while masculine, did have finer features than Aaron usually went with.

“Nice to meet you. I'm Corrine. Well, technically Mad Maddie, scourge of the skies.” She fussed with her corset, making her breasts bobble.

Aaron wondered if he was the only man in the group that didn't work on.

“Our pleasure. We've heard...” Bran said

“Aaron talk about you often,” Bryn finished.

“If you two are going to finish each other’s thoughts, it's going to be a long night.” Their father eyed them sourly. “Or you can go elsewhere and annoy others.”

“I think it's cute,” Corrine said.

Aaron rolled his eyes, then noticed Tim windmilling his arms. “Corrine, your boyfriend is trying to get your attention.” He pointed with his metal fingers.

She elbowed him hard for destroying whatever twin fantasy she was entertaining before smiling sweetly at the twins. “I'll catch up with you two later.”

“She likes us.” Bran grinned.

“She thought Rhys brought you here so we could have a foursome,” Aaron replied.

Bryn shoved his father aside and rested a hand on Aaron's shoulder. “Lose the old and you can have twins to play with.”

Bran snorted and Rhys pushed past Bryn. “Ignore them. They're in a mood tonight.”

“Don't be so hasty,” Aaron teased, grinning when Rhys's eyes flashed fire. “It's a tempting offer.”

“There'll be nothing left of you,” Rhys grumbled.

“But what a way to go.” Aaron could barely keep from laughing at Rhys's vinegary expression.

“No flirting with the twins.”

“From the man who flirts with everyone.” Aaron did laugh at that.

“He knows you, old man.” Bryn slapped Rhys's back.

Aaron pulled Rhys to him with his living hand then captured a handful of silky hair, letting it trickle through his fingers. “You know exactly how good you look like this, don't you?” he whispered in Rhys's ear.

Rhys pressed a kiss against the pulse point in Aaron's neck. “Damn right I do.”

“Okay, if you two are going to start all that up, we're going to go find better prospects,” one of the twins said. Aaron wasn't paying attention to which.

“No one is stopping you,” Rhys replied before giving Aaron another kiss. “Dance with me.”

Aaron took a step back, noticing the twins had immediately deserted them, which was good. “I sucked at dancing before my leg got screwed up tens ways to Sunday.”

Rhys twisted around, gesturing at the dance floor where several masked people tried in vain to find a beat. “Do any of them look like they're going to win any trophies? It'll be fun. If they put on a waltz, I'll show you how to dance to it.”

“Great, dancing backwards.”

“At least you're not doing it in high heels.” Rhys glanced down. Aaron's boots, unlike Rhys's, had no square heels. “Just tell me if the leg starts bothering you.”

Rhys always fretted over Aaron's injuries. “Don't worry. I know my limits. Dancing is one of them but sure, why not? I can't do any worse than the dude in the gas mask.” He inclined his head to the spindly young man flailing around on the dance floor.

Aaron let Rhys lead him out and he did his best to at least not maim anyone around him. Rhys, naturally, moved with a grace Aaron could never hope to match. He wasn't sure any human could. At one point Corrine and Tim swept by them. She grinned like a fool to see Aaron out there. One of the twins danced past with a beautiful woman in his arms. She had feathers in her hair.

Finally, after they did attempt a waltz which wasn't as hard as Aaron feared, he did tug Rhys off the dance floor. His injured leg had begun to throb a little and if he wanted to last the night, he needed to give it a rest. He sat down and sent Rhys after some more root beer. A loud clatter made Aaron jump, his heart racing as he looked around for enemies before the rational part of his brain reminded him he wasn't in the war zone any more. At the end of the chairs, a few of them now disarrayed, the feather-haired woman lay sprawled on the floor.

Aaron force himself up, ignoring the pain in leg. He helped her up. “Are you all right?”

Before she could answer, a loud crack echoed over the music. A hole burst in the chair next to them.

She grabbed his arm, yanking him after her before she even said, “Run.”

He ran, having no choice. For another ugly moment, the desert intruded on the now. That had been a gun shot. His hind brain knew it even before the more developed parts of his mind comprehended it. His system flooded with adrenaline, the pain of his war-scarred body numbed out as Aaron did what he'd been trained to do: find a defensible position or run for it.

They ran into a short hallway that either led to offices or outside, he didn't know which. Aaron pulled to a halt as someone grabbed him from behind. He stumbled caught between two opposing forces and he nearly knocked the woman over.

“Aaron!”

He looked behind him to see Rhys has hold of his shirt. The twins raced around him, flanking the woman on either side.

“What's going on?” Rhys demanded to know but the question wasn't addressed to Aaron. He stared at the woman.

“I thought I escaped him weeks ago.” She tried to push past the twins. “I didn't know....I wouldn't have come here.”

“A boyfriend?” Aaron asked.

She shook her head. “You have to let me get out of here.”

Rhys said something in a language Aaron didn't know and the woman's eyes widened.

“I didn’t know a prince was here,” she said lowly then spun around and ran down the hall. She waved for them to follow. She hit the door but it didn’t open. “Damn, locked. Isn’t that a fire code violation?”

Aaron figured it was but he was more concerned over the fact the woman knew Rhys was fae royalty. That must have been the language Rhys spoke. Then that meant the woman with feathers tied in her hair might actually have feathers for hair. “My friends are back there.” He gestured back the way they came. “And that was a gun shot.”

“He's hunting me for my feathers.”

Aaron wasn't even that surprised when her gold and silver feathers rustled. “Another fae?”

She did look surprised that he knew.

“Firebird,” Rhys said, “and we have to get her out of here.”

“And figure out who has the gun,” Bran said.

“Hard to do at a steampunk Halloween party. Half of us have guns.” Aaron patted his own Nerf gun, modified to fit his persona with modeling clay and gears. “No one is running. Why?”

“They probably thought it was off the sound effects. You’re more attuned to it,” Rhys replied. “We can't let this guy get a clear shot.”

“It's too crowded here. I can't endanger anyone else, but I can't make a portal here either.” Says who?

“We’re two buildings away from the alley. That should be cover enough,” Aaron said, feeling the sweat pouring off his body. He'd had his fill of being shot at in the war. He was surprised he could still think.

“All right, but you stay here, Aaron. This isn't your fight.” Rhys put a hand on Aaron's arm.

What he meant was 'you're too crippled and you'll be in the way' said the little voice in Aaron's head and it wasn't wrong. Aaron nodded.

“Guys, that's going to be a problem,” Bryn jabbed a finger down the hall. A man dressed more like a cowboy and far less like steampunk stood there, a decidedly real-looking gun in his hand.

“This way.” Bran kicked the door so hard it splintered, reminding Aaron vividly his companions weren't human.

They piled into the room, a cramped office. Rhys gestured, tearing a hole between the realms. Aaron didn't dare linger and risk becoming a hostage for the fae-hunter. He could run. It hurt, but he did it every day, anyhow. He sure as hell could do it to save his life.

Cowboy moved faster than they counted on, faster than Rhys or the twins could close the portal. Their human appearance melted the moment they stepped back into their own realm, ears more like Legolas and eyes brighter, almost glowing in the darkness. The fire bird's plumaged filled out in her hair and Aaron could imagine how beautiful she must be in her bird form.

Cowboy glanced over his shoulder. “I hope the hell I can get home. Still, never thought I'd see this place. Wonder what price I'd get for you men? You don't seem to have pelts.”

“Time to show him why we're called the Kindly Ones,” Bran grinned, his hands forming something that looked like solid electricity.

“Gladly.” Rhys stepped in front of Aaron to shield him, his hands coming up to ready whatever magic he had in mind.

Aaron scanned for any cover he might get to. He was useless in a gun fight since his gun was fucking Nerf and humans were decidedly unmagical. Sadly, the portal had emptied out into a grassy field. That sucked.

Cowboy didn't back down or do the smart thing, run back to Earth's plane. Even as the fae started flinging magic, shots fired. Aaron heard Rhys grunt, stumbling against him just moments before he felt fiery pain in his arm. Aaron cried out, as much in rage as in pain. He could feel the blood running down his arm. He tossed off his coat and vest, trying to get to his skin and almost as important, to his very expensive prosthesis. He had to get it off before the blood got into the mechanisms. How the fuck could he get a serious wound in what was left of an arm that had been blown off? Life sucked sometimes.

Cowboy kept firing. The bastard had a banana clip in his semi-automatic. It was enough to keep the twins or Firebird from landing their magical attacks with any accuracy. Aaron slipped his arm off, jumping when he heard a thud next to him. His heart clench seeing Rhys sprawled on the ground. The metallic tang in the air wasn't all his own blood. Rhys pressed a hand over his upper chest. Oh God. No. Rhys couldn’t be shot.

Aaron dropped to his knees, not even worrying about the battle going on around him or about the man who would likely skin them all if he thought their hides would bring him whatever the fuck it was he wanted. His hand trembled as he touched Rhys's face. “Rhys?”

“Get...through the portal,” Rhys said the words slow and slurred. “Be safe.”

“Don't you dare die on me.” Aaron dropped his arm next to Rhys, scrambling in the grass to find his shirt to press against Rhys's wound to help staunch the flow of blood. His own pain faded away even though he knew his own wound pumped blood at an alarming rate. Aaron couldn't worry about that. He needed to save Rhys. Couldn’t he heal himself? Aaron knew Rhys said the fae had healing magic. He wasn't going to let Rhys die.

His fingers brushed a rock, and he picked it up. Cowboy's back was to him as he concentrated on trying to kill the fae. What could these feathers do that he wanted them so badly? They glowed, Aaron noticed, the brightness of Firebird's plumage burning away his pain and grief. But not his anger. He held tight to that as he lurched up to his feet, rock in hand.

The grass muffled the sound of his approach. Some of the twins' electrical attack nearly tagged him as he came up behind Cowboy. Aaron clubbed him on the side of the head as hard as he could with the stone. Cowboy crumpled, moaning. Bryn raced up, lashing the man up with what looked like organic, glowing duct tape that he pulled out of nowhere.

“You're hurt,” Bran said, running up with Firebird.

“I'm fine. Your father is shot in the chest.” Aaron twisted around to go back to Rhys. The world spun. Okay, so he wasn't fine.

Bran helped him over to Rhys. In Firebird's light, he could see the bright blossom of blood on Rhys's shirt. Aaron slumped down next to Rhys, wishing his lover's eyes weren't shut. He needed Rhys to be awake, to be all right. Maybe he was concentrating on healing himself.

“Let me see your arm,” Bran knelt next to Aaron.

“I'm fine. Help your father,” Aaron said, but didn't resist when Bran took the stump of his arm into his hands. “Rhys.”

Rhys's eyes opened. “Still here.” He managed a smile. “Your poor arm.”

Aaron glanced down, his breath catching. The front of the stump didn't look so bad, but the exit wound in the back was a mass of torn flesh and bone bits. Tears hit harder and faster than he could stop them. All the pain and hard work he had done to get his “Luke” arm and now it was gone. They'd probably take what was left of his arm off at the shoulder. He'd have to retrain, get a new arm, if they could even rewire it.

“It will be all right.” Firebird touched his arm.

“I'm human. I can't heal myself,” he snarled. “I've lost most of my arm. I can't lose the rest. I just can't.”

“Aaron,” Rhys reached out, touching Aaron's leg.

“I can't lose you either.” Aaron wiped his eyes.

“No one is losing anything,” Firebird said. “You helped save me and you don't know me. You're not even fae. I am Akilina and on my name, I'll not let you or my prince suffer.”

Akilina changed. Gone was the lovely woman, replaced by what looked like a large peacock with metallic gold and silver feathers intermixed with ruby ones. She roosted between him and Rhys and she sang. Aaron had never heard a sweeter bird song. Warmth enveloped him, his arm tingling. Aaron glanced down, his jaw dropping as he watched his flesh knit together. Once Akilina's song ended, his stump was whole - his hopes the arm would regrow came to naught - and Rhys was sitting up. Akilina changed back to her human form.

“That was amazing.” Aaron touched the area the bullet had torn through. There wasn't even residual pain.

“That was one reason I'm sure he was hunting me. Firebirds and Phoenixes can heal.” Akilina looked at the stump. “I cannot regrow the limb.”

“Rhys told me that there wasn't really magic that could,” Aaron replied, even though he had been hoping Rhys had been wrong. He took Rhys's hand. “Are you all right?”

Rhys squeezed Aaron's hand. “I'm fine. The bullet must have gone through me and into you. I'm a little weak. I can heal but that doesn't mean I don't suffer blood loss.”

“I'm light-headed myself.” He looked over at Cowboy who was still unconscious. “What are you going to do with him?”

“If the guard I sent for arrives any time soon, they'll take him to the dungeons until we can deal with them,” Rhys said, rubbing his chest as if it still twinged.

“But he's human.” Aaron didn't know why he cared or how Rhys summoned help for that matter. Telepathy? More fae magic he knew next to nothing about.

“Who knows enough about us to hunt us,” Rhys replied. “We'll deal with him. Besides, he shot you. No one shoots my lovers.”

Aaron felt a strange pressure in his sinuses then a half dozen armed fae popped in out of nowhere. The guard, he assumed. The twins helped their father up and he went to discuss arrangements with his guard even though he didn't seem too steady on his feet. Akilina sat next to Aaron, smiling. She was very beautiful, with fine features. It was then he realized that she studied him as hard as he was examining her.

“I heard the prince had human lovers, but I wasn't sure if it was just a rumor.”

He let the plural go, figuring she might mean through the centuries. “Not a rumor. Sometimes I forget how your world can impact mine. Every time I end up over here, someone is trying to kill me.”

“That happens to the prince a lot, from the news I hear.”

Just what he needed. Rhys tended to downplay that.

Akilina reached up and plucked a golden feather from her head, handing it to him. “As a payment for your bravery. It will glow always.”

“Thank you. I'm Aaron, by the way, and I'm glad he didn't hurt you.”

“My kind have been hunted to near extinction. I thought by now your kind would have forgotten about us.”

“I guess some people know it's not mere legend.” Aaron sighed.

“Aaron, ready to go?” Rhys called.

“I need to put my arm back on.” Not to mention his shirt and the rest of his attire. His arm was easy to locate in Akilina's bright glow. Aaron pushed the stump into the prosthetic clamps then strapped it on. He stopped before getting his shirt on. “It's covered in blood.”

“Here.” Bran took it from him and wiggled his fingers at it. The stain disappeared but the hole in his sleeve stayed.

“Really? You have magic stain removal? Where was that when I got mustard all over my favorite Star Trek shirt at the O, Rhys?”

“I can't do it in public and I was more interested in getting you out of the shirt later.” Rhys smirked.

Aaron rolled his eyes and let Bran do his magic on the vest and jacket, too. Rhys slipped an arm around Aaron's waist but from the way he leaned against him, Aaron guessed Rhys's strength was fading.

“Akilina, are you coming with us?” Aaron asked.

“I think it best I stay home for a while.”

“And we're coming with you right now. We'll come back to deal with the hunter,” Bryn said.

“Not necessary,” Rhys said.

“You can barely stand, let alone successfully reopen the portal and get Aaron home safely,” Bran replied.

Rhys didn't argue further. Bran caught hold of his father's free arm and Bryn put his arm around Aaron. Before he could blink they were back in the steampunk dance hall.

“We thought you might want to tell Corinne you're going home,” Bryn said before Aaron could question it.

He nodded. To Aaron's surprise, the party was still going on. He spotted Corinne and waved to her. She bustled over, worry etched into her face.

“Where did you go?” Corrine asked.

“We just couldn't wait.” Bryn beamed at her, patting Aaron's hip for emphasis.

She scrunched up her nose. “Geeze.”

“I wouldn't go anywhere near the back of Rhys's car,” Bran added.

Corrine's eyebrows shot up and Aaron went red. “Someone broke a door.”

“That was us. I'll pay for it,” Rhys said.

“Dear god, you guys.”

“It wasn't that!”Aaron palmed his face.

“Uh-huh.”

“I'm going home with Rhys. Just wanted to let you know.” Aaron desperately tried to save the topic of conversation.

“Yes, please do, before the orgy spills out into the dance floor.” Corinne arched an eyebrow at them.

“It's not...fine. I'm going. Have a good night, Corinne,” Aaron said.

“Bet it won't be as fun as yours.” She laughed.

They did go outside but not to Rhys's car. Bran said they'd bring that back later. They went into the alley then walked through a portal to Rhys's home. The twins saw them up to the bedroom before leaving. Aaron or Rhys could barely manage getting into the shower, holding each other up. Aaron tried not to see the dried blood loosening up and going down the drain. When they fell into bed, Aaron curled up with Rhys.

“You got shot,” Rhys said, stroking the stump of Aaron's arm.

“Me? I nearly lost you. I could live without my arm. I don't want to face not having you.” Of course one day, he might, but not like tonight. He couldn't bear to lose Rhys to violence.

“I'm tough to kill,” Rhys replied, leaving off Aaron's arm so he could caress Aaron's cheek. “You were scared.”

“Of course I was. You were shot. I was shot. Magic bolts flying everywhere.” Aaron shuddered. “I was so scared I'd be even worse off than I am now.”

“You are remarkable, Aaron. You took him down with a damned stone. That's the second time you've clubbed someone in the head and come out on top. I haven't forgotten what you did to Alberich.”

Aaron chuckled. “I get lucky. I know you told me you guys had healing magic, but I guess I didn't fully believe it. She was amazing.”

“I'm glad you got to see a Firebird. She gave you a gift.”

“Yes. Not sure where I'm going to hide an ever-glowing feather but it's really neat.” He kissed Rhys. “You need to sleep. You look ready to pass out.”

“I'm not the only one. Sorry you got caught up in another fae mess, Aaron.”

“I guess I'll have to get used to it because you're worth the craziness.”

As he nestled in with Rhys, Aaron knew that wasn't a lie.