Saxon watched his older brother pace in front of him, obviously annoyed at the world.
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“What’s wrong this time?”
“Why is it taking her this long?”
“Did you fight with your girlfriend again?”
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Erin scowled at his younger brother, fully prepared to wack him over the head. Sighing he slips onto the couch beside Saxon.
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“You are dense aren’t you? Don’t you have something else to do?”
“Not really. What’s wrong? I haven’t seen you like this in forever, not since we were kids.”
“I saw Luke.”
“That’s not surprising. If Kali hadn’t caught you all those years ago, I’m sure you would’ve kept stalking him.”
“I told him to come home.”
“You spoke to him? And he spoke back?”
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Erin nodded, smiling at the shock on Saxon’s face. This would be surprising to anyone, knowing how long they have all gone without talking to Luke. It was harder for the elf brothers, who knew that he was their only job in the human world.
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“When was this?”
“Six years ago. You saw the news article, they broke up, so he should have come straight home.”
“He doesn’t even remember who we are, what made you think he would remember the way home?”
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Erin frowned at this. Luke had lived a terrible life but somehow no matter how hard he covered himself, he would always see him for him. Maybe it was a fairy thing. Erin’s phone beeped and he excused himself from the lounge room. It was time to put his plan into play.
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I breathed in a breath of fresh air. I stretch my aching body and give James an evil eye. He gives a small nervous laugh before hopping off the plane. You would have thought that your team, would have been nicer to their boss, but unfortunately, I seemed to have drawn the short straw. This will be the last time I fly business class with my full team. I knew it was a mistake to trade in my first-class ticket for someone else.
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“So we are all gonna grab a few drinks later, you up to join?”
“Come on James, why do you keep asking him? He’s never once said yes to coming out with us.”
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Rolling my eyes, I picked up my suitcase from the terminal and check my phone. No urgent messages as per usual. You would think being this famous, someone would have reached out by now.
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“After the flight I just had, James, my drinks better be on you.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’ll come for a couple. But I’m not staying for second rounds and there's nothing you can do to convince me otherwise. Head home first and I will meet you out.”
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I wave my team goodbye and head back to the office. Booting up my laptop, there is this nagging hope, that when I press that mail inbox, an email will be waiting for me. But as per usual, it is empty. Sighing I make my way to the Fable, spotting my team in a corner, already three rounds deep. They seemed surprised when I tap their table with my business card.
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“Next round on me”
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This earns me a rather loud shout and I gather their drinks from the bar. I sit and watch my team laugh and drink like they didn’t have a problem in this world.
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Humans.
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They live so carefreely. James; twenty-seven, still single, a loudmouth but one of my proudest researchers. Jess; is eighteen, fresh from high school and probably the best writer, besides myself of course. Nick; my editor, all my work would be lost without him. Then there is Rico and Juan, my translators. Between both, they speak a total of ten languages. We can cover so many stories worldwide and we travel constantly thanks to those two.
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I keep quiet and wave goodbye to the team. It is time I go home. One drink is enough, I can’t drink like I used to. I flag down the bartender for a glass of water, almost spilling it all over me when I see who was standing next to me. I cough, earning his attention and that stupid smile he had.
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“I know you, you’re Luke Paul right?”
“Of course. I don’t think I have ever caught your name. I only have you saved as Sandy’s assistant.”
“That’s fair. This might so sound so creepy, but Sandy’s expecting you.”
“What?”
“We have been here all week, the information given to us to say that you were here.”
“I’ve only just gotten back from France today.”
“Well, that explains that. You should come to see him.”
“I want to head home…”
“It wasn’t a suggestion your majesty.”
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There is was again, your majesty. First Erin and now the assistant. I wanted to see where this would head. I follow the assistant to a quiet back room, that I didn’t even know the Fable had. Sandy greets me with a sad smile and I sit in front of him.
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“Donald, get us a drink.”
“Nothing alcoholic, I can’t drink anymore.”
“Of course.”
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Donald gives a little bow and for a moment our eyes meet, and I swear I could see them sparkle. Maybe the one drink I did have already has messed up my mind. Recovering alcoholics aren’t meant to drink alcohol. This one tonight would have been the first one in seven years.
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“Your assistant said you had been here all week waiting for me. Why?”
“I have some information to pass on and I hadn’t been able to get into contact with you all week. I thought since your team were regulars here, I would hope to bump into you one night.”
“Whoever is your source failed to mention that I had spent the last three months in France then?”
“Ah, that's why I haven’t been able to contact you.”
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Sandy tisked and reaches into his folder, bringing out a small flyer. My fingers traced the face on the cover of the brochure, clenching the tiny piece of paper in my sweaty hands.
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“When is this happening?”
“In two weeks. By the look of the interview lineups we have gotten, it looks like everyone will be home for this. The trees have missed you, your majesty. Your father doesn’t have much time left.”
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