Read Online Fairy Thief by Johanna Frappier - Free Book Online Page A

know this, Saffron.”
    Saffron snorted. “They can cause accidents, can’t they?”
    “ He is not dead, Saffron.”
    “ But his soul isn’t here, is it?” Saffron’s nostrils were fixed in a permanent flare.
    “ No.” Li’s face looked properly concerned. “Do not lend free rein to your wrath, Saffron. You are hurting yourself. It does Markis no good.”
    For a moment, Saffron held to her countenance. Then, the mask of anger cracked and there below lay Saffron’s fear – naked for all to see. She brought her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes. “Li, we need to find Ny, and fast. I can’t go back home and tell my mother I left Markis’ body back on this blanket!”
    Li stared at Saffron’s hands as she flung them around in hysteria.
    “ Li.…” Saffron warned, hysteria peaking in her voice. Why did Li look worried?
    Li stood holding her elbows close to her body, and still, wouldn’t look Saffron in the eye.
    Evening was coming on. Saffron shivered in the typical, New England, August breeze, which had lost 30 degrees in five minutes. She never expected to be out here this long. Her mother would come for her soon, assuming she and Markis were getting it on.
    “ Saffron, when a fairy chooses not to be found, he cannot be found.”
    “ Wha…?”
    “ Ny can hide anywhere on Earth.”
    “ Yeah?” Saffron didn’t see the problem.
    Li held her hands out before her. “The Earthrealm is not the only realm to search. There are other places, other realms. Hundreds of concealed lands. Sanctuaries of which you know nothing. They are on Earth, but not of this time. They are through doorways you cannot see. To search them all…you would need more than your lifetime. Li looked forlornly at Markis. “We must take his body. We must move it to a safe place where no human will find it. We will hide it for safekeeping, so no one will come along and bury him.”
    Saffron’s hand was over her mouth. “No.” Her voice was weak. She didn’t know what she was saying ‘no’ to. ‘No’ to Ny kidnapping Markis. ‘No’ to Markis’ lifeless body. ‘No’ to a burgeoning problem so horrific, so impossible to solve…. She just didn’t know. “Oh, my God. What have I done?” Her eyes flashed to Li. “What have you done?!”
    “ Blame will not find Markis. We can search, Saffron. I can take a troop with me. We can search. But you must understand we may never find where Ny has taken the soul of Markis.”
    “ No.” Saffron moaned. “Why do you guys act like this? Why won’t you just stop? Why are you so twisted?”
    Another fairy stepped forward — a male. He looked like a tree. His skin was literally tree bark. His head was almost owlish, complete with large, pumpkin-orange, glowing eyes. “Fairy claims fairy games.” He crossed his arms over his chest (trunk), and looked down his nose at her.
    “ Yeah, okay. Not too effen creepy….” Saffron muttered as low as possible. She stood up and positioned herself on Ly’s other side so she would be out of sightline of the total-weirdo owl man.
    “ If by chance we do find him, it may be years from now. We can return him to his body, but he will go home to a place that is there no longer. People that are there no longer. He will not be able to live normally in your world again.” Li lowered her head. “Markis is not the first child taken by fairies.”
    Saffron stood rigidly and held her breath. This can’t be true. This is insane . She sighed heavily. “I can’t go back to my house without him. Are you listening to me? Tell me where to find him. You must know something. ”
    “ No, Saffron, no. You cannot find him. You cannot cross over into those worlds.”
    Saffron looked incredulous. “Well, how did Ny take Markis into those worlds? If I can’t go into those worlds, then Ny couldn’t have taken Markis there....”
    “ Ny took Markis’ soul, Saffron.”
    “ Then take my soul, Li.” Saffron’s eyes popped wide as she quick-shrugged. She