Page 52 of Outcast Fae
“Are you for fuckin’ real?” Elon said. “You killed him. He died because of this damn island. I want to talk to my parents. Now!”
Meadow Song ignored Elon and turned to Captain Harring. “I have this under control.”
The man blew air through his nose. “Are you sure about that?”
“As long asyoudo your job, I can do mine,” she said, all sweetness gone from her voice. The sharpness of her tone was surprising, revealing the edge that lay just beneath the surface.
Captain Harring’s upper lip twitched at the comment, and they stared at each other in a battle of wills for a few long beats. Surprisingly, it was the captain who relinquished.
“Keep them away from here,” he spat, then gestured toward Karen who weaved her hands, causing the captain and Alonzo to dematerialize.
“Now,” Meadow Song said, turning back to us, that preening smile back on her face. “Where were we? Oh, yes.” She traced a pattern in the air, and Wally’s body disappeared the same way that Captain Harring and the others had.
My legs grew weak as I stared at the empty spot where Wally had been. I had barely known him, but if I got out of here alive, I would never forget him or the awful time on this island. I was sure of it.
“You broke one of the rules,” Meadow Song said. “You can’t say I did not warn you. Life is not a game, kids.” She clasped her hands behind her back and put on a thoughtful face. “Up to now, you have gone around thinking that the world is your oyster, that there are no consequences to your actions, but here, today, you have seen otherwise. Each and every one of you is responsible for Wally’s death.”
“The hell we are,” Vaughn spat. “Youare the only murderers here.”
Meadow Song made an exasperated sound. “Really, Vaughn, quit being so distracting.” She pointed her eyes toward the heavens and, without looking, wiggled her fingers at him.
A brand-new set of clothes and boots weaved themselves around Vaughn’s naked shape, covering him.
“That’s much better,” Meadow Song said. “As I was saying when you so rudely interrupted, I think you have learned a valuable lesson this day. But it was only Wally who paid the price, so I will have to think of ways for you to atone for your disobedience.”
“You all are fuckin’ dead,” Elon said. “When my parents find out, you will wish you had never been born. He’s a powerful man. He—”
Meadow Song sighed, then lifted a hand and snapped it closed into a fist. I felt myself dissolving into nothing, crumbling one small piece at a time like a sandcastle. When I next blinked my eyes open, we were standing by the beach, staring at the grayish bed of coals where the pig had roasted yesterday.
Daniella and Patricia sprang to their feet when we appeared. They held palm fronds in their hands and appeared to have been in the middle of weaving something.
“Where did you all come from?” Patricia asked.
Daniella’s large eyes went over the group. “Where’s Wally?”
In response, Elon cursed and marched away, his arms pumping as his booted feet sank in the sand with every heavy step.
“Tally,” Daniella turned to me. “What happened?”
I shook my head, unable to get my thoughts around what I’d witnessed.
“Your friend is dead,” Gina answered for me, still looking frazzled and upset. “They shot him.”
“What?! No, that can’t be right. They wouldn’t.” Daniella’s eyes darted from Gina to Henry to Sinasre to Vaughn, then back to me. “Oh, God.” She pressed a hand to her mouth as she realized it was true.
“This island is not what we think it is,” Sinasre said sadly. “There is something going on here, and I have a feeling it’s something very dark.”
Vaughn lowered his head and stared at his new boots.
I turned to him. “You have to tell us what you know.”
Everyone turned their attention to Vaughn.
“Hey, you guys are back,” Chan came running from the beach, a spear in each hand and two large fish spiked at their ends. He wore only his pants, which he had rolled up to his knees, and was dripping water from his dark hair. He had a huge smile on that slowly shrank as he noticed our mood. “What happened?”
Vaughn shook his head and took the opportunity to walk away, once more avoiding my question. I stood on the spot, considering whether to go after him or not. In the end, I decided that not another day would pass me by in ignorance. He was going to tell me everything he knew before anyone else was killed.
Leaving the others behind, I marched after him.
