Kissing the Fae

Chapter 10 - Blue Jay

"Aw! What the heck, Teran!" Deniz whined after receiving the kick.

Sighing, I walked near them. These two really give me a headache. Following me even I told them not to, lending me help even a friend said no, and being here to be with me in this new voyage of mine.

Admittedly, my heart is happy that they didn't forget me. Deniz and Terran are still willing to help me despite the fight that happened between us.

I appreciate it. The only thing that held me from accepting their hands was Alistair. I don't want to cause another fight; and definitely not a fight between them.

We have had enough of it.

"Rani Letisha!" they said in chorus when I halted in front of them.

"What are you doing?" I taunted, my eyes went to Deniz. "I told you not to and yet, you didn't listen."

"That's actually a good job for Deniz, princess," said Terran. "We won't just sit around and let you be alone. F uck Alistair! You need us and we're here for that sole reason."

This will affect our lives and I don't want to involve any of them! Why can't they just let me be?!

"You don't know what you're saying." I gritted my teeth.

The three fled from my shoulders and Terran's eyes followed them. It was just a split second when he gawked at me again, smirking.

"You need us, princess. Don't be in denial."

I'm not denying anything!

Alright, I need them. It was the main reason why I went for Alistair last night. But when I realized that the obstacle might cause one life, I figured that it would be better if I don't bother them.

"I'm not denying anything, Terran."

"Well, if that's the case then, let's go and start this hell journey of yours, Rani Letisha."

"That's right..." Deniz was about to pat my head when I glared at him.

"Don't you dare..."

He chuckled awkwardly and kept his hand.

"Terran is the leader of Sidhe, the pathfinder of the Acres Kingdom. He's fit to be here, so let's go."

"I told you no!" I jeered, not giving up. "It might cost your lives and I don't want anything bad to happen! So will you?"

My voice weakened at the end.

Silence...

They stared at me with their eyes filled with determination. With that, I gave up.

I know them. They won't back down, they'd do anything to get what they want. They are both stubborn and me, being one, can't do anything but let them for it's exhausting scolding them.

Between us, they're older than me. But I handle them... Scold them whenever they cross the limit. I was their big sister and because of that, they always wanted to be there for me at any cost.

And me, acting as their big sister, doesn't want anything bad to happen to them.

Our relationship might be broken because of the past, the memories we have made together and the time we have spent together will not be forgotten.

The love and care we had for each of us, it's still there deep inside my heart. And it will never be gone.

But I can't... With all these dangers that chases me, I can't let them be involved with me again.

The past almost cost one of us, and it was something I promised that won't happen again.

"You just give us a deeper reason to go with you, Rani Letisha. We can't just sit back and relax knowing that our princess is facing another wave of danger."

"Why are you two so stubborn?" I asked, giving up.

"Is that a yes?"

Sighing, I didn't talk and walk past them.

I'm not belittling their power. They are strong... I've witnessed them train before, and for three years that I've been out of their lives, I knew they'd go good.

They are competitive. These two won't even let a child win the argument.

However, it's different. Nevertheless, I trust them with all my heart.

"The Achlys are far from the kingdom, Rani Letisha. Actually, the place is almost wiped out of the map. Only a few people know where it is," Terran explained when I told him about the place.

"Then, it wouldn't be easy to find it."

He nodded.

I let out a deep breath. The three little fairies fly behind us, listening to us.

"Yup..." he replied. "It was a forgotten place, princess. The Pixies also hid their haven so it wouldn't be discovered by anyone. But I'm sure some of them are still living there. We just need to find it."

"Alright... But we could try to ask for help from an old man the Queen Mother talked about."

Deniz stopped walking, so we did. "The old man? Where?"

"Said we'll come across him in the next town."

"The town next to this is called Asbel," he said. "I've been there countless times already, Rani. And I haven't seen an old man since the first time I went there."

My forehead creased. What does he mean by that? The Queen Mother won't give me false information.

I fetch out the acorn she gave to me. "The Queen Mother gave this to me. Said to give it to an old man so he could take us to the Achlys."

Again, silence filled in. The sounds of nature dominated us. It was calming, the air gave me a fresh feeling, and even from afar, I could still hear the rough sounds of water falling down the stream.

"A nut?" Terran slowly took the fruit away from my grasp. He studied it with curious eyes.

"Yup... The fruit of the oak tree."

"Birds eat this, right?" He sounded unsure.

"Yup," Deniz answered. "Oh..." A hint of realization hits his face.

Then, I heard Terran chuckled. "A bird. Right... My hunch was right, Deniz. F ucking bird. I knew it! That blue Jay was something!”

"Boy, you got trapped..."

They both laughed at the end as they started walking again, and I was left, feeling confused.

What the heck are they talking about?! I don't get it. Why are they laughing at the mention of the bird? How does it connect to the acorn?!

And what? A blue Jay?!

"What the f uck..." I blurted out, feeling a little bit annoyed.

"I guess it was only intended for guys to understand, Rani Letisha." Rin tried to console me.

My upper lip rose up in disbelief. I can't believe these two. How can they leave me alone in bafflement?! They could have just told me what it was all about.

"Deniz!" I tried to keep up with them. "What the heck was that?! Why are you two laughing? What's so funny?!" I jibed nonstop.

"Uh, oh... I think we angered the princess."

"You will know once we arrive in Asbel, Rani Letisha."

With that, I kept my mouth shut. I never bothered to ask them again even though my tongue was itching to talk.

Besides, I will eventually get the answer to my nonsense questions.

I felt Deniz arm on my shoulder in which I let him.

"Finally! My arm misses your shoulders! It has been so long since he touched his favorite lounge."

"Uh, you should try to rest on the Sisters' arms," I teased him.

"Oh, crap... Don't mention them again. Just the mere thought of those ugly sisters makes me want to throw up."

He even acted like he was about to vomit.

"Mean..." I uttered, chuckling.

We continued to walk. The town Asbel is just near to the Queen Mother's haven, so we didn't bother to use our power to be there right away. Besides, walking with these two felt satisfying.

I felt like it has been ages since the last time we did this. Both my mind and heart can't deny that I have missed them so much.

After all, aside from the little fairies, it was them whom I grew up with. These guys were overprotective and it can be annoying sometimes but it was something I always look forward to.

To be annoyed.

And yup, thinking of the other one missing annoys me more, in a bad way.

Alistair refusing to help me will never be forgotten. It was carved deep inside me, and I think it was the most painful thing I have ever received from him.

I expected a lot from him.

"Are we near?" I queried honestly, I'm not someone who knows a lot of places.

I'm only familiar with the Acres Kingdom. These two are in charge, especially Terran, to remember even the slightest detail of the place.

"Only three trees away, princess."

I nodded. The trees were meters away from each other, giving one enough space for nature is no joke, so we are not getting any closer yet.

It's all tall and big. A meter isn't enough for its long branches.

"Alright..." See what I was talking about?

When we arrived there, the two stopped in front of a small tree, waiting.

"What are we waiting for? We should go and look for the man, Terran, and Deniz."

"He'll be here soon," Terran whispered, showing us the acorn. "The Blue Jay is the old man, Rani Letisha. Birds eat a nut as part of their diet, and the only bird I always see here, right in the border of the Asbel, is the blue Jay."

"How sure are you that the bird is the old man?"

"Asbelians talked about it," Deniz added. "A bird that shifts into an old man, and helps those who are in need as long as you bring him a fruit of the oak tree, specifically, the Queen Mother's fruit."

I'm out of words.

"Why the Queen Mother's fruit?"

They both shrugged.

"We don't know. Jay must have been so picky, princess. Choosy... He only wants to taste the fruit of those ones that were majestic."

I saw the little fairies flying to surround the small tree. Among the others, this one was the smaller one. Just an inch taller than the guys, and a few branches with no leaves in sight.

It was lifeless. And for some reason, I felt sad seeing it.

I stepped forward. I could grow trees and plants, and for me to stop the sadness from spreading all over my heart, I'd be willing to hold onto the tree and let it be alive.

But before I could even touch it, a bluebird landed on the branch that made me step backward.

Its glaring eyes first landed on mine. It was as if it was protecting the tree from being touched.

Only if he knows my intention. Clearly, I just wanted to heal it, so it wouldn’t look so bad.

The trees are a big part of my life. I have a soft spot for trees!

Deniz held my arm to hide me behind him. Meanwhile, I can’t seem to take my eyes off the bird. It was still staring at me, glaring as if I did something wrong that angered it.

“Hey, stop staring at her!” Terran waved his hands in front of it. “I’m about to take your eyes off, Jaybird. I don’t like it.”

“What are you doing here?”

My eyes widened when I heard it talk!

“What the f uck...”

“You can hear it...” Deniz uttered.

“Of course! It was loud and clear,” I exclaimed, can’t hide the surprise in my voice.

“What did he say?” Terran asked suddenly, which made me more confused.

“What do you mean? You can’t hear it?” My brows furrowed.

Deniz looked at me. “No one can hear what it says, Rani Letisha. Only you...”