Fairy Rings

10. Escape

"Ambrosia, come on! You need to help me with this case. It's a bit heavy," the younger boy shouted in defeat. Intoxicated by the warm embrace, Ambrosia took the box labeled climbing ropes and dropped them off the ledge onto the table, making the Dame pull his pistol at it and jump back.

"Give me a minute; I still have a few more things to grab up here. Take these boxes out for me." He leaned his head over, a mischievous smile plastered on his face as the Dame stared at him before promptly following orders. Dropping another few boxes labeled 'hoses, tools and misc bolts' down to the younger man, he turned back to Navaeha, who thought she had grabbed a box of lotion, perfumes, and lavish soaps.

"Please don't drop these next three. The bottles will break." Taking the unlabeled box from Navaeha, he opened the top of it, his face turning red as he bit his tongue harder.

"Are you sure it's going to break? Looks pretty uh- safe to me." Peering into the box as well, Navaeha gasped at the sight of newly bought adult toys that had hastily been thrown in there and stashed away. A box of police-grade handcuffs sat on the top with a whip and extra virgin olive oil. Grabbing a marker and some tape, Navaeha quickly wrote 'work out equipment' on the side before taping it shut, her face permanently red as she went to find the actual box of her lavish soaps, perfumes, and lotions. Ambrosia shook his head before handing off the box to the younger man before walking up the steps to get more boxes. Navaeha helped take some downstairs as well, ones with pillows and blankets, three filled to the brim with her favorite candles, a few with emergency food rations, and more and more boxes till finally they were about done. The two men quickly took out the pile of boxes that awaited them.

"That should be all of them. Do you want to pretend that we're busy?" Navaeha walked towards the window, her eyes fixed on the escape route that had saved her many times before. As she reached the window, Ambrosia was already sitting on the ledge, gazing out over the vast field that stretched beyond. The night sky was spread out above them, a magnificent display of twinkling stars that seemed to go on forever.

As he sat there, he smiled warmly in her direction, "Don't bother looking for the ladder; I shoved it aside." But Navaeha didn't really care about the ladder at that moment; all she wanted was to bask in the comfort of the present moment. The man's long legs dangled nonchalantly over the sleeping ewes, which were covered in thick, fluffy white wool. It was a rare moment for him to be able to escape from work, and he didn't want to return just yet.

"What's it like where we're going?" She asked. Ambrosia swung one leg back into the barn to face her. The quick movement made her hastily grab his arms in an attempt to help steady him if he needed it; although no one had fallen from that window, there was always a first for everything.

"You sure are handsy today." He laughed, her apologetic look made him stop. "Ava, please don't look at me like you're doing something wrong; it's alright. I like the attention." Navaeha didn't answer, her hands still holding his arms, the grip only lightening. "Devil's hill. . . It's not as bad as people say; the scenery is beautiful, most of the trees bear fruit, and there's a fenced-in garden with a hammock outside your room." Humming to herself, she nodded as thoughts of reading her books and eating grapes and tomatoes straight from the vine shimmered through her mind. "I hope I can take you to some of my favorite spots."

"That sounds wonderful." As she stood there, her arms gradually lowered to her sides. Suddenly, her gaze was drawn upwards as she caught a glimpse of a brilliant glimmer hurtling through the sky, leaving a trail of light in its wake. "want to make a wish?" Noting the shooting star, Ambrosia thought for a moment and turned back.

"I think I'm a bit old for wishes." He let out a barely audible mutter before standing up; the sound seemed lost in the room's vastness. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, his eyes fixed on the boxes in front of him. With a sudden movement, he reached down and quickly fixed the string of his pants, trying to compose himself before making his way over to the rest of the boxes. As he walked, his mind was consumed with what he felt was a not-so-secret yearning, a deep desire he had harbored for quite some time. He longed to bask forever in the ever-shining sunlight of Navaeha Rose Tennyson. Her name was like music to his ears; even a flashing thought of her made his heart race wildly. With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes; he had made a wish, though he didn't want to say it. He wished that somewhere deep down, Navaeha had the same desire for him, an ogre of a man, and more than that, he wished for a connection that went beyond words, a bond that would be unbreakable, a love that would last a lifetime.

Navaeha was still staring out the window when a loud voice startled her. " We're ready! Come on down," her father called, his heavy footsteps sounding through the barn. Giving Navaeha a sympathetic smile, Ambrosia held out his hand. With a terrified smile, she took it, her head held low.

"We don't have to go." The sound of her soft, distraught whisper pierced through him like a knife. He could feel the weight of her pain and sorrow in his chest. With a gentle touch, he cupped her face and leaned in to whisper words of comfort in her ear. But just as he was about to do so, she suddenly turned her head, her gaze fixated on the staircase. His lips missing their target, grazing gently against her cheek, the warmth of his breath lingering on her skin.

"Did you guys hear me! Time to go." Her father called out again; this time, the footsteps shook the barn, sounding even louder as he walked up the steps. "If I catch that they've left, I'll kill him." his red muttering nearly incoherent. As he rounded the stairs, he stopped briefly before bursting into laughter. In a hurry, Ambrosia grabbed a box full of packing peanuts. The contents inside unknown, but when he picked it up, the bottom broke, coating the floor in crunchy white balls. "You know what, I'm not even going to ask what you thought the use-" His voice stopped, caught in his throat as a metal object clattered to the floor. Navaeha lifted the massive battle axe with great care, marveling at its size and weight. The entire surface of the weapon was marred by black stains, which seemed to cover every inch of the hilt, the sharp edge, and even the beautiful green beads that adorned it. Despite its rugged appearance, the axe was undeniably stunning, with an air of power and danger that was impossible to ignore. "I stand corrected." Ambrosia's eyes widened in surprise as he heard the words spoken by His Excellence. He was so taken aback that he couldn't help but stare in disbelief. The words were unexpected and had caught him off guard, leaving him in a daze. "But it truly is time to go, Navaeha go down stairs. I'd like to have a little chat with this Mutt."

Hesitantly, she stared at him, unmoving from her position, the ax readying to be used against him. "Are you going to hurt him again?" She demanded as if it were a right for her to know.

"Navaeha, I am your father. I am also the head of an entire criminal organization. If I want someone dead, harmed, maimed or marred. . ." He stepped closer, his thumb gliding along the bladed edge of the mighty axe. Though it was dark in the loft of the barn, when he pulled his thumb off the edge, she could clearly see the fresh blood that stained it. "It will be done, and you can't do a damn thing about it except sit back in your seat and watch." Wiping the blood off the blade with an old rag he had found downstairs, he pressed it to his thumb before taking hold of the axe; its weight felt good in his hands. "Go downstairs, and don't forget your place again." Emotionlessly, Navaeha trudged down the steps; for a little bit, she could still hear them. Part of her wanted to sit at the top of the steps out of view and listen; the other was terrified that she'd be dead before she even reached the bedroom awaiting her that Ambrosia had spoken so highly about. Choosing the latter, she made her way to the awaiting men. The Dame and 27. Hopefully, one of them would be willing to talk to her to stay the crushing weight of not knowing the fate of her friend; she didn't want to chance that either, so, in between the table and the tool chest, she sat on the floor twiddling her thumbs till it was over. Her father and Ambrosia walked down the steps, the blade not seeming to have any more fresh blood on it, but that didn't mean anything. If Ambrosia had been injured, he hid it very well, his face as expressionless as hers, except his head was held high. His posture was perfect, his back as straight as a pin. How could anyone in their right mind call this man an ogre? Holding a hand for the young lady, 27 trembled as she took it, her slender frame climbing out of her spot only to stumble into his arms on accident.

"There you are, Young Lady. A thousand apologies." Kneeling once she regained her balance, the boy appeared to only be making a fool out of himself in front of her father till her father stood him up and patted him on the back with approval.

"This is how a gentleman acts." Turning back to Ambrosia, her father waved his arm over. "You're excused, boy." Ambrosia came to an abrupt halt in front of her, his sudden appearance almost knocking the poor boy out of the way. Navaeha couldn't help but feel dwarfed by his towering presence as he loomed over her, his chest rising just above her head. His broad frame seemed to cast a shadow over her, enveloping her in a sense of intimidation. "Though you're a chevalier, I need someone who's not a clumsy oaf to walk my daughter to the car." Ambrosia propped out his arm for her to hold, her small arm fitting easily into his own. A sly smile played across his lips as he turned away from the group and began toward the vehicles. Two vehicles were waiting for them - a large box truck and a black hearse with an extended cab, an unusual sight to behold. Ambrosia took charge, opening the rear passenger door of the hearse-like vehicle and gently placing Navaeha into the seat before opening the other door for her father. Once everyone was settled, Ambrosia climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. The box truck led the way as the group followed behind in the hearse, the engine's hum filling the air.