And Fiona loved her enough to make it so.
So she did.
You’re mad, Nigel Fennick, and you need help, she informed him through the car window as she floated at its side and he struggled with the handle to a door she kept locked.
He stopped struggling and scowled up at her.
“You don’t exist,” he declared.
No, you’re right but then again, I also do, she replied. When Prentice finds Bella they’ll send someone up here to get you and then you need to get help.
“Go to hell!” he shouted.
No bloody way, she shot back, gave him one long, last glare then she dematerialized and materialized at Bella’s side.
A Bella who was walking, holding her side. She was walking quickly, very quickly, but she was still bloody walking.
Why are you walking? Fiona snapped, Bella’s body jolted and her head jerked to the side.
“You’re back,” she noted unnecessarily.
Aye, I’m back and there’s a bad man no’ too far away who’s lost his mind and wants you dead so why are you walking?
“I can’t run anymore, I have a stitch in my side,” Bella explained. “And anyway, you carried him away. A grown man…” Bella shook her head, disbelief stark on her features. “A grown man.”
Fiona drew in a needless, frustrated breath then advised, Bella, run.
“Have you taken care of him?” Bella asked.
I hope so. My powers are new, so let’s no’ take a chance, agreed?
Bella studied her. Then, thankfully, she started jogging.
Then, faced forward, she whispered as her breath started to get heavy, “You’ve been with us.”
Fiona didn’t answer.
“You’ve been with us for awhile,” Bella went on.
Fiona kept silent.
Bella waited then continued, “You gave him to me.”
Just run, Fiona whispered back, zooming beside her.
“You gave him to me,” Bella panted as she kept running. “You gave them all to me.”
Of course, I’m your fairy godmother, Fiona replied and Bella came to a rocking halt and turned sharply to her.
“What?” she gasped.
Oh for goodness sakes!
Bella, run! Fiona yelled.
“You’re my fairy godmother?” Bella asked, still panting.
Bella –
“Who would do that to you? God?” Bella queried, her expression, Fiona thought, in normal circumstances, would be hilarious, incomprehension mixed with a liberal dose of anger. But it wasn’t hilarious considering they were in the middle of nowhere on a roadside cliff in the freezing cold (though Fiona couldn’t feel it, she saw the chapped red in Bella’s cheeks so she knew it to be true), running from a madman.
Colonel Sanders, Fiona answered, watched Bella blink and couldn’t bite back her smile.
“Colonel Sanders made you my fairy godmother?” Bella demanded to know, her hands going to her hips. Then she declared, “Well, that’s crazy. And it’s… it’s… it’s mean. Why would he do that?” she asked then didn’t wait for Fiona to answer before she declared. “I’m never eating his chicken again.”
Yes, she was hilarious. Even in the middle of a trauma.
Fiona floated close and, surprisingly, Bella held her eyes and her ground, not frightened of her, not at all.
Then Fiona whispered, Love, please run.
Bella continued to hold her eyes. Then she turned again and ran. She kept doing this quietly, her breath beginning to heave as Fiona zoomed at her side.
After awhile, Fiona informed her, Once you’re safe, it’s likely I’ll move on.
“Okay,” Bella forced out then, carefully, “That’s good, right?”
Right, Fiona answered and hoped she wasn’t lying.
“Okay,” Bella breathed.
I don’t want them to know, Fiona said softly and watched Bella close her eyes tight even as she continued running then she opened her eyes again.
“Okay,” Bella repeated, it was breathy, again forced but it was also sad.
Thank you for taking care of them, Fiona went on and heard Bella’s breath hitch and not with the effort of running.
Then she pushed out, “It’s my pleasure, honey.”
I know, Fiona whispered then they saw them, headlights.
“Thank God,” Bella breathed, her pace quickening, Fiona saw the 4x4, she recognized it, she reached a hand out and slid it along Bella’s neck. Bella’s head turned, her eyes caught Fiona’s and Fiona smiled.
Then she disappeared.
* * * * *
Prentice
The instant he saw Elle running, Prentice stood on the brakes, pulled on the parking brake and was out the door. He barely cleared it when Elle hit him full on.
His arms closed around her trembling body, trembling even as she pulled in deep breaths, wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.
“Baby,” he whispered into the top of her hair, seeing the blood at her temple that had run down her cheek but other than that she seemed unharmed and he sent thanks to God quickly but he meant every silent word.
“Nigel –” she struggled to get out between pants and Prentice’s arms squeezed.
“I know,” he told her.
“He’s… he’s…” she pulled in breath, “he’s lost his mind.”
“I know,” Prentice repeated.
“He’s –” Elle began but she stopped when they both heard the car and saw the headlights.
Their heads shot around and they saw Nigel Fennick’s car racing their way.
“Oh my God!” Elle cried and Prentice caught her hand, pulling her with him, he dragged her to the back of the Rover.
The cliffs were to their right, the hills to their left. At Nigel’s speed, it wasn’t a good choice but he only had one and that was to round the boot of the Rover and head for the hills.
So he did, his head turned, watching Nigel’s fast approach, praying he could get them off the road to the safety of the hill where Nigel in his car couldn’t follow, running while pulling Elle behind him then suddenly he saw something form floating over the road.
Nigel saw it too and cut the wheel to the right, too hard. Way too hard.
He lost control of the car.
Prentice abruptly stopped, his chest freezing as the realization of what was about to happen hit him, Elle slamming into his back and they watched in horror as Nigel and his car flew over the cliff.
There was silence except a distant, disembodied male scream of terror then the loud, crushing crash of car slamming into rock.