Chapter 23:Homecoming

Tom, Shayla, and Mary walked up to the small cottage in the woods. From the way Ash had described it, they expected a small, peaceful cottage glowing in the afternoon sunlight. What they found what anything but that.

Anna was desperately trying to find enough food to feed everyone, especially those that really needed it. There were hundreds of elves on her doorstep, camping out in the clearing, with more arriving daily. She was irritated to see three more walk up, looking perplexed.

“I suppose you need help, too?” Anna asked rudely. They certainly didn’t look like it.

“Err . . .” one started when another group appeared.

“Mom?” Ash asked, running to hug her mother.

“Ash!” Anna cried. “Alvar! It’s Ash! She’s alive!”

Alvar immediately came out to hug his daughter.

“We missed you so much! We thought you were dead!” Alvar exclaimed.

Emily just smiled and tried to salvage the burning food. She decided to let Ash have her moment. He would hear about what happened later. She turned on the electravision to watch the news. Many elves crowded around to hear about the going-ons in the world. There was a great many murmurs about the dwarves coming out of hiding, while there were cheers for the liberated elves.

Spike awoke with a pounding headache. He didn’t remember anything except brandy, brandy, and more brandy. Since when did he even drink? Well, in court, but that was ages ago.

“Where am I?” he asked aloud, immediately regretting it, as it sent pain throughout his head.

“You’re in Bellfalis,” Lira answered simply.

“What?” Spike groaned at the pain in his head as he sat up too suddenly.

“You’re in Bellfalis. You wanted to come here, didn’t you?” Lina asked, as she and her sister shared a cruel smile.

“No,” Spike replied, wishing that he could lie. “Why did you bring me here?”

“We brought you here because we . . .” the rest of Lina’s sentence was cut off as Lira put a hand over her mouth.

“Because we needed to return a favor for you saving our lives by taking us with you,” Lira answered.

Spike sensed this was not the entire truth, only part. He was about to interrogate them further when a knock sounded on the door. An imperial guard came in and bowed to Lina and Lira.

“Your Highnesses, Her Majesty is waiting for you,” he said, bowing out of the room.

Spike suddenly had a bad feeling about the other two pixies.

“We got you drunk so you would tell us about yourself, and you told us you were outcast. We brought you here to prove a point to our mother,” Lina quickly said before darting out the door.

“I hope this doesn’t change anything just because you found out we’re princesses,” Lira added, before walking out and shutting the door. Seconds later, Spike heard the lock click shut.

“I’m doom,” he said simply. Then he noticed a piece of paper on the floor. He retrieved it and sat back down on the bed. He opened it and started to read.

Dear Supernatural Escapee,

In light of recent circumstances, you will be allowed another chance at life. Don’t mess it up.

Tanas wondered briefly who had sent it. He also wondered why he was given another chance at life, after everything he had done.

Once in a while he would see demons patrolling the streets. Deatrice had showed him how to let his eyes slide off of them, as if they were human.

Deatrice had started going to church. Tanas was surprised at first, but agreed to go with her the next time. There they met up with a woman named Marie. She seemed sad all the time, and Tanas soon found out about her recent miscarriage. He offered his condolences and soon they were friends.

One day he asked Deatrice if she would ever go back to being a demon.

“Go back?” she asked with a laugh. “Never!”