Chapter 4: Grimm Bar

- - -

Will was lying on her bed, blue frosting and cake crumbs smeared all over her face and clothes. Orange juice stained her pants and she could feel green jello slipping down her shirt into her bra. But she was too exhausted to move, knowing sooner or later she’d have to get in the shower. Her prediction was right. Kayla’s birthday party ended up being a disaster. After talking sensibly to Charlotte, she broke up with Alex. Although it was difficult for both of them the only one who’d actually cried was Alex.

Alex. She still couldn’t believe the pansy had actually cried. But he wasn’t the only one. Kayla threw one of her many infamous tantrums upon seeing the cake had blue frosting instead of the pink one she so desired. It was enough to make her wail, kick, and thrash about successfully driving all the guests out of the house. Not to mention Sebastian, Derek and Charlotte’s cousin, has started a food fight after blowing out Kayla’s candles and pushing her face into the cake.

Will groaned and turned over onto her stomach. She felt as gross as she looked. She willed herself to get in the shower and she was halfway to the door when the bell rang. Groaning and wondering who would be at her door this late, she trudged down the stairs and opened the door.

She felt a sudden case of déjà vu when she saw that it was Alex.

“You,” he growled, pointing a finger at Will.

“Me?” she squeaked. The look on his face was menacing.

He took a step forward, his finger so close it almost jabbed her in the eye. “You’re the reason my beloved Charlotte broke up with me.”

“I am?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“Yes, you dingbat!” he shouted. “And you’re going to fix this mess or I’ll have your head.”

“What are you going to do?” she mocked, hands on her hips. “Guillotine me?”

He smiled forebodingly. “Oh. I’ll do more than that. I’ll get you expelled from school. I’ll convince the whole town you’re a psychotic whore. I’ll have my bodyguards watching you. I’ll make you wish you’d never been born!” He shrieked the last part and when he was done he was breathing hard.

Will gulped but tried her best to remain stoic. “That’s going a bit too far, don’t you think?”

“No!” he shouted. “It’s exactly right.”

“Whatever. Get out or I’m calling the cops,” she told him seriously, raising an eyebrow.

“Mark my words Wilhelmina Walker,” he said lowly, nevertheless backing out of her living room. “I’ll get you for this…and your little friends too.”

“Whatever Pinkerton.” She rolled her eyes and with that slammed the door after him.

When he was gone she turned her back to the door, bounded up the stairs, and pressed her face against her pillow to muffle her screams. Stupid, stupid Derek. Look where he’d gotten her! Alexander Pinkerton, son of a billionaire, was threatening her. And the stupid weasel was probably going to follow through on his word. She just knew it.

Quickly she went over to her computer, turned it on, and accessed her Facebook where she’d received a message from a friend from school.

Kathy: OMG, Will! It’s all over Myspace! Some kid from St. Benedict’s said you lost your virginity to Derek Vanderbilt in the parking lot at a Starbucks. Congratulations, girl! He’s a total hottie! But I always thought you hated him? XOXO Kathy.

Suppressing screams of disbelief, she scrolled down the page where there were two more comments. The next one was from a guy.

Greg: heard about you and derek. kinky. you + me after school in my chevy. how bout it babe? Ttyl.

Growling she shook her head and continued downwards.

Martha: God bless you and good luck with the bipolar disorder. Feel free to come to one of the Friendship Club meetings on campus. We don’t judge.

Trevor: Dude I always knew you were two different people. ROFL.

Urgh! She couldn’t take any more of the gossip, which seemed to have sprung up in less than one hour, all courtesy of Alexander Pinkerton. Losing her virginity in the backseat of a car to Derek Vanderbilt? Having bipolar disorder? Multiple personality disorder? It was ridiculous but what was more ridiculous was the fact people actually believed it.

Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she dialed a number she never thought she’d be dialing – ever.

“What?” a sleepy voice greeted her.

She rolled her eyes at the unorthodox greeting.

“Don’t what me!” she shouted. “You’re in a lot of trouble, you stupid idiot. I can’t believe I listened to you because look where it’s gotten me! I actually thought I was doing Charlotte a favor but this was all part of your plan wasn’t it? Sick Alexander Pinkerton on me. Well, bravo Derek Nathaniel Vanderbilt. Making me Alexander Pinkerton’s public enemy number one was an excellent idea because he seems quite capable of destroying my life! It’s all over the Internet.” She was breathing hard by the time she was finished.

There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. “What are you talking about?” he asked sounding wide-awake.

“Stop acting like you don’t know. I bet you gave him that first one – telling everyone at school that I lost my virginity to you. People think I’m a slut and I bet you’re getting a good laugh at that, aren’t you? Well, I’m not and I’m not letting you push me around anymore. Watch your back Vanderbilt because I am-”

“Yes, yes, it’s hilarious and I’m pretty sure I’d get a good laugh too if I actually knew what was going on,” he replied sardonically. “I’m not conspiring with Alexander Pinkerton to destroy your life and I didn’t make him your enemy.”

“Could’ve fooled me because he showed up here threatening to take me down, you stupid lying liar. You knew he was a psycho, didn’t you, and you-”

“Wait, wait. He showed up at your house?”

“Yes,” she hissed into the phone. “And stop interrupting me. I’m in no mood to play your little games.”

“I’m not playing games,” he bit back. “I’m telling the truth. I hate Alexander Pinkerton as much as you do and I sure as hell wouldn’t use him to destroy your life. I find satisfaction in doing that myself, thank you.”

“Very funny but–”

“I’m coming over.”

“You interrupted me again!” she protested. “And don’t come over.”

“Too late.”

- - -

Faye’s hand was grasped firmly in The Mad Hatter’s when they entered The Grimm Bar.

“Stay close,” Edward reminded her. “Don’t let go of my hand. Don’t let anyone know you’re a fairy. Don’t feed the wolves. And avoid snogging with a witch if at all possible.”

Faye nodded and pressed herself closer to her top hat wearing companion but as soon as they entered she felt like everyone was scrutinizing her with their eyes. Did it have to do with her golden curly blonde hair or sparkly pink dress and the general aura of happiness and love about her? She didn’t know.

Drunken goblins in the corner were arguing over a game of cards. A headless man in a suit embraced an elderly woman with silvery white hair and a cigarette in her hand and took her to the dance floor. On the stage, a beautiful curvy blonde woman with pouty red lips lay on a piano with a snake coiled around her neck sang a slow, sad song while a troll played the piano.

A man with a feather in his hat, a parrot on his shoulder, and a hook for a hand greeted Edward. Edward smiled back and Faye realized at once that he was quite popular at the bar. A violet-eyed waitress with a ring through her nostrils wearing a tight black dress winked at him and a cat wearing boots clapped him on the back.

Idly Edward slipped his fingers through Faye’s and tightened his hold. “Who’d you like to start with?” he asked cheerily.

Faye looked around the room. None of them looked very approachable and probably wouldn’t even give her the time of day. She’d never been in a place like this with so many criminals – all banished from Wonderland for serious offensive crimes. But then again so had she in a sense (she’d violated 1,500 council ordinances) and it wasn’t right to pass judgment on others. She was practically a fallen fairy herself, which put her in the same status as any of these creatures.

“How bout the waitress?” the fairy suggested, a big smile on her face as she pointed to the violet-eyed woman who’d walked by a few seconds ago.

Edward looked uneasy. “Not a good idea. She looks busy.”

“All right, how bout the woman singing on the piano,” Faye suggested instead. “She seems lovely.”

“It’d be rude to interrupt.” He gave a forced, anxious laugh. “Let’s try the bartender.”

He gave her hand a tug and pulled her along with him to the bar where a bulky, one-eyed man with an earring and a dishrag on his right shoulder was cleaning mugs. He looked content, listening to the woman on the piano singing as were the creatures sitting on the stools watching her.

“Eh, Findlay!” Edward called, waving at the bartender with his free hand. He helped Faye onto a barstool across from the cyclops and then sat on the one next to her. He kept their hands connected, resting them on the counter in front of them.

“Edward.” Findlay smiled at The Mad Hatter, happy to his friend. He looked like a genuinely nice man, Faye noted. Though his one eye begged to differ. But then, she wasn’t the type to judge. “Long time no see. What’ve you been up to these days?”

“Oh this and that. I’m discovering new teas every day,” Edward shrugged. He leaned closer, conspiratorially, and whispered. “You haven’t happened to see Red anywhere?”

The one-eyed bartender laughed heartily and shook his head. “Don’t tell me you’re still scared. I’m sure she’s moved on by now, Edward. She stopped stalking you didn’t she?”

The Mad Hatter didn’t look offended in the least bit at the implication he was a coward. “You can’t really blame me for being scared, can you? She is a serial wolf killer after all. Remember Baddie? The poor sod wouldn’t have blown apart those pig houses if it weren’t for her. He was just looking for a place to hide and the swine didn’t even open the door for him. Here they call that the bystander effect. But anyway, I guess it’s my own fault for giving in to her so many times. She was rather good in the bedroom.”

“Right…Well in any case I haven’t seen her but don’t take my word for it – only got one eye.” It was then Findlay noticed the petite, golden blonde girl sitting daintily on the stool next to Edward, eyes inquisitive and somewhat apprehensive. “New arrival, eh? You are?”

“Faye,” she told him. “I’m a –”

“Necromancer,” Edward finished for her hastily. “Down here for practicing dark magic. Poor thing got it taken away from her.”

“Really,” Findlay replied, looking suspiciously from Edward to Faye. “Wouldn’t think so from the way she looks.”

“I agree. Isn’t she cute?” The Mad Hatter gushed, pinching Faye’s cheeks.

The “fallen” fairy winced and when his hand left her face, she wiped at the red mark he’d left.

“But evil,” Edward elaborated, looking serious. “Very, very evil. In fact she’s known as Faye the Foul back in the swamplands of Wonderland.”

“I…see.” Findlay nodded his head slowly. “Well it’s a pleasure to meet ya.”

“Likewise,” Faye smiled wryly, shaking his hand. It was big and rough and swallowed her tiny one.

The Mad Hatter gave a little cough, clearing his throat before speaking seriously again. “So Findlay, old pal. We need a favor.”

“Favor?” he echoed. “What favor?”

“We’re gonna need to borrow some magic,” Edward told him, plastering a big innocent smile on his face.

Findlay eyed the two warily. “I thought you said she was sent down here for practicing black magic. And you want me to give you some?”

Edward swallowed, realizing his flaw. Telling the bartender that Faye was a necromancer banished for practicing black magic probably wasn’t the best idea considering that was exactly what they were after – magic.

“I promise not to use it for evil things,” the fairy next to him spoke up suddenly. “After spending time with Edward, he’s really showed me the error of my ways. I’m truly reformed now. I promise never to use black magic again. So can we borrow it? Please sir?”

Findlay narrowed his eyes and then suddenly his face broke out into a grin. “Sure, sure. You can borrow it.”

“Really?” Faye squeaked. If she had her wings, they’d be fluttering in anticipation. Gosh, she really missed them.

“If you do me a favor and tell me who you really are,” he replied.

Faye’s face fell and she turned to Edward, hoping he could tell her what to do. He’d explained to her prior to coming to the bar that if the banished Wonderland creatures found out that she was a fairy, they’d probably rip her to pieces – except she didn’t have her wings so that brought down the fun (because apparently peeling the wings off a fairy was the best part). Fairies, apparently, weren’t very revered on Earth. In fact, there hadn’t been a fairy on Earth for over a thousand years – except for the dark fairies but as far as Faye was concerned they didn’t count anyway.

Edward smiled at Faye, the uncertainty in his eyes, but nodded anyway for Faye to continue. Findlay wasn’t like most Wonderland creatures. Edward knew that. He was actually a kind and generous cyclops.

“Well, sir…I’m a fairy,” Faye said, her voice low.

“Fairy!?” Findlay’s voice boomed, his expression shocked. Suddenly a pair of heads turned and, spluttering, Findlay grinned nervously at them. Faye held her breath and she felt Edward squeeze her hand like he was getting ready to pull her out any second in case a brawl broke out “None here, nope. No fairy around for miles. Thank goodness for that.”

“You got that right, pal,” a croaky voice yelled, coming from the elderly man of the pair with a patch over his left eye.

His friend, a gray rabbit with a long, red scar across his face, scowled. “If I got my hands on a fairy, I’d wring her neck, cut her up in small pieces to feed to the gizzards, and then dance in her blood.”

Faye swallowed, her throat tight. That didn’t sound very appealing. Edward had been right about keeping her true identity a secret. Thankfully soon enough the two males went back to their business, looking off at the woman at the piano, and no one was the wiser. Releasing the big breath she was holding, Faye relaxed her shoulders and turned back to Edward and Findlay.

“Sorry bout that,” the bartender apologized. “Just came out. But you can trust me. I got nothing against you-know-whats. In fact, my late wife was one, bless her sweet soul. I got a picture.” He reached for something in his pocket and handed it to the fairy.

Faye examined it closely. The picture was wrinkled but the image of Findlay’s wife was crisp and clear. She was in her mini form, Faye could tell, and her pink hair was tied into a loose bun. Her outfit was made of palm tree leaves and she was laughing.

“She’s very beautiful,” Faye smiled, handing the picture back to the cyclops.

“Don’t I know it? Here,” he handed her a mug filled with foaming brown ale. “It’s on the house – for almost getting you in trouble.”

Faye picked up her drink and looked at it for a minute before Edward plucked it out of her hands.

“Probably not a good idea,” he said and then patted her head. “Cute as a button fairies should just stick with tea.”

Faye shrugged. She didn’t really mind because she really did like tea and the brown stuff didn’t seem so appetizing to her. She turned to the bartender who was busy giving drinks to some newly arrived customers. He returned shortly after.

“So what brings you here looking for magic?” Findlay asked.

“I’m on a mission to find true love for a human,” she explained. “But the council took away my wings and my magic.”

“Ah, true love,” Findlay sighed. It was comical to see such a big brute of man with only one eye look so dreamy. “It’s a wonderful thing. Okay, I’ll help you. I’ve got a vessel in the back to put it in. I’ll be right back.”

When he left through a door, Faye turned to The Mad Hatter with a large smile on her face. He beamed right back, squeezing her hand. She felt like jumping for joy but the creatures in the bar probably wouldn’t like that very much. Most of them preferred to look sullen and be depressed all the time – which Faye didn’t understand at all. When Findlay returned, he held a small glass container with a cork on top and glittering olive green colored magic dust inside.

“That should be enough,” Findlay said, carefully handing it to the fairy.

“Thank you so much, sir,” Faye gushed. “You don’t know how much this means to me. I could kiss you.”

For the first time, Faye saw him blushed. Bashfully, Findlay scratched the top of his head. “Aw shucks. It’s nothing.”

Oh, but it was something. Faye though this when she and Edward finally left the bar, waving at Findlay on their way to the exit sign. It was step one in completing her mission so she could finally go home – back to Wonderland. Then the Fairy Council would give her wings and magic back. And everything would be right with the world again.

She hoped.

- - -

When the sun had set and the moon was plunged into the night sky with familiar stars that Faye recognized from Wonderland’s night sky, she and The Mad Hatter had arrived at 4643 Evergreen Street. And Faye was feeling absolutely petrified.

She and Edward were sitting inside a car. It was like wings for humans – their lazy mode of transportation. Except Edward’s car was old and didn’t work as well as the other cars Faye had seen driving along side them. At first, she’d been scared but Edward calmed her down and explained to her what they were for. And then he went off into a tangent about a man named Karl Benz and another one named Henry Ford. Apparently he’d been taking classes at the local community college to learn about the human world.

It was strange but Faye figured if humans could get used to cars after building them then so could she. She wasn’t sure about getting used to the roar of the engine, though, or the strange noises Edward’s car made every twenty seconds. She didn’t notice that in the other cars.

Currently they were parked (which meant stopping a car) in front of Wilhelmina Wednesday Walker’s house. It’d be Faye’s very first human interaction. She quite hoped that when she walked through the castle door for the first time into the dungeon, Wilhelmina wouldn’t eat her.

“Here goes,” Faye said, turning to Edward.

The Mad Hatter smiled back and then grabbed something from his pocket, shoving it into Faye’s hands. “Take this.”

“What is it?”

“Chocolate – in case she turns beastly.”

“Thank you, Edward,” Faye grinned.

“Good luck, wingless one.”

With that, Faye stepped out of the car (with Edward's help because she hadn't quite gotten the mechanics of the car just year) and walked to Wilhelmina Wednesday Walker's house.

Heloise: Thank you jammi, cup of glee and sparkles, and Faith Adeline for reviewing. Next chapter's going to be really good! Hope everyone liked this one. :)