On Dreaded Wings: An Urban Fae Charity Anthology

Copyright © 2014 by Wolf Paw Publications All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or transmitted by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, information storage and retrieval systems, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

***SMASHWORDS EDITION***

Edited by: Wolf Paw Publications (Sheryl D. Policar & Lisa Pottgen)

Format and typesetting by C.L. Foster

Cover Art: Wolf Paw Designs/Bookworm Productions

Model: Jason JC Kurtis

Photographer: Wicked Moon Photography

Our Charity

We hope you enjoyed this anthology. 50% of all proceeds go to the non-profit organization, Scares That Care!

Scares That Care! is a 501(c)(3) all volunteer non-profit charity that helps sick kids and women fighting Breast Cancer.

Scares That Care! fights the REAL MONSTERS of childhood illness, burns, and breast cancer by helping families that are experiencing these extraordinary hardships cope with the financial burden.

Each year, they raise and donate $10,000 to a Children's charity, to help a family who has a sick child, or a woman fighting Breast Cancer. More importantly, the charity or family will receive every single cent of the money they raise.

Our goal with this anthology is to help them meet their monetary goal, if not surpass it, so that the people that need the help can get it.

We appreciate your purchase of this book whether it be digital or print. Every cent counts and your purchase puts us that much closer to their goal.

To learn more about Scares That Care! and to find out how you can help:

Like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Scares-That-Care/195299815529

Or, check out their website: http://www.scaresthatcare.org

On behalf of Wolf Paw Publications and Scares That Care!, we would like to thank you for your support!

Dedication

We at Wolf Paw Publications, Authors and Affiliates alike, dedicate this book to our families, friends, and fans; as well as the volunteers and supporters at Scares that Care!.

Thank you for your continued support to us as well as this amazing charity.

We hope you enjoy our 1st Annual Charity Anthology.

We also thank Jason JC Kurtis for letting us turn him into our handsome Unseelie Fae Lord and Jason Hanscom over at Wicked Moon Photography for the amazing shot of Jason.

What Ought Not Be Seen

By Scarlett F. Angell

The moment their eyes met, Cami knew she was in trouble. There were some things she shouldn't be able to see, and now she couldn't unsee them. Grandma had always told her to ignore what the others couldn't see and she had just gone and met one's gaze head-on. She was crazy. Had to be. But she couldn't do anything about it right now because Toby, her little brother, was there and he was tugging on her arm, asking her about ice cream.

Sure, Toby, she said, not really paying attention to him. She was still staring at the young man across the road. He wasn't alone, either. There were two others standing beside him. They seemed to be asking him something, but the guy was shaking his head. A particularly hard tug from Toby pulled Cami's gaze away. Her little brother was squinting up at her, and then at the space she was staring at, across the road. He frowned at her. What's wrong, Toby?

What are you staring at, sissy? he asked, looking up at her and hugging his teddy to his chest. You've been staring for a long time now. What's over there?

It's nothing, Toby, Cami muttered, catching hold of his hand. Come on. Let's go home.

But, but, Toby protested, tugging back. He was protesting a lot now and continuously dug his feet in, but Cami just kept tugging at him. She didn't like the stranger or his two companions and she wanted to get the hell away from him. Even if that meant taking Toby home from the park before the time she’d told her Grandma they’d be back.

When she glanced back a few minutes later, she saw the first stranger bending to pick up Toby's teddy bear. No wonder he'd been tugging on her sleeve. He'd dropped his favourite toy, and she had to drag him off. The stranger straightened up, still staring down at the tattered teddy in his left hand. As she watched, he tugged on one of the teddy’s arm. Cami winced as it detached from teddy’s body.

Cami turned away and hurriedly urged Toby to keep moving, making several promises she probably wasn’t ever going to keep. Toby let her drag him along, tell her that she was a meanie, and that she had to buy him ice cream later. Cami barely listened to him, focused on getting them home before something really bad happened. She had a bad feeling about the strange young man, and she knew she’d have to tell Grandma about it when they got home.

When they got home, Grandma met them with a glare. Toby sidled off to the side, ice cream in hand, while Cami stood her ground. The older woman sighed and planted her hands on her hips. Where have you been? she demanded. It’s late and dinner was ready an hour ago.

Sorry, Grandma, Cami said, I hadn’t realized how late it was. In the other room, there was slight electronic click as Toby turned the TV on, and then the sounds of Saturday afternoon cartoons. The older woman shook her head, turning away to flick the electric kettle on, and then opened an overhead cupboard. Toby lost his teddy while we were at the park. When we couldn’t find it, I offered to buy him extra ice cream.

Grandma sighed, dragging a pair of identical mugs out of the cupboard and setting them down on the bench beside the kettle. You mean he nagged at you until you agreed, she said, setting out everything she needed for two cups of tea. We both know what Toby’s like.

At least he’s speaking clearly, Cami said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. She watched as the older lady moved about the kitchen, making two cups of tea before setting one down in front of her. Cami placed a button on the table. Toby’s teddy lost an eye.

Oh, dear, Grandma said, glancing at the button. The kettle began whistling and the switch flipped off. She began pouring hot water into the two mugs. I take it I’ll be fixing it when you find it?

Cami sighed. Probably, she said, accepting the cup of tea the other woman handed her. That’s if I can find it, of course. She took a sip and scowled at the mug before setting it down on the table in front of her. Grandma took a seat opposite her and sipped at her own drink, waiting patiently for Cami to continue. It was one of them, Granny. The ones you told me about.

Grandma was silent for a long moment, and then she lowered the mug. Oh, dear.

Yeah, he picked it up and looked straight at me.

Shit, Grandma said, putting the mug down a little heavily. Milky tea sloshed over the side. Cami stared at her grandma for a long moment, shocked that the older women had sworn. Grandma leaned forward, her expression intense and concerned. Did it follow you? Did it see where you went? She stood abruptly and headed for the front door, flicking the lock and peeking out the curtain. When she turned back, she looked partly worried and partly scared. Did it see which house you entered?

Cami frowned at her. I wasn’t checking, Gran. What’s the point if it saw which house I entered? They can’t enter without permission, right?

That’s what I thought, the older woman muttered, and turned away. Cami watched as she made a round of the house, warning Toby not to open the doors or windows for anyone and, Cami assumed, locking every single one. Eventually, Grandma came back into the kitchen and settled into her chair again. That’ll keep them out.

Grandma? She’d never seen the older woman like this. Not even when her mum had died and her dad had moved out of the country. What’s up? You’re starting to make me worry.

For a long minute, Grandma wouldn’t answer. She just sat there and drank her tea, staring fixedly at the wall beside Cami’s head. Eventually, her eyes darted towards Cami and she blinked. They stared at each for a long moment, the sound of an animated movie on TV drifted into the kitchen and Grandma’s eyes darted to the clock hanging on the wall beside the door.

Drink your tea, Cami, she said, and Cami leaned back in her seat. Then get your brother to take a bath and get him into bed, will you?

Cami hesitated for a moment before she stood up, taking her mug with her. Alright, Granny. Goodnight. See you in the morning.

Grandma watched her pour the tea out and sighed heavily, and then she went back to staring at the wall again. Cami had a feeling Grandma wasn’t going to sleep much that night at all. She turned and headed for the lounge room to find Toby and was nearly out of the room before she heard Grandma speak. It wasn’t soft, but it was quiet, more-or-less so Toby wouldn’t hear.

Goodnight, Cami. Take care of your brother, and watch your back tomorrow.

Cami woke to the sounds of an empty house. Somewhere, there was a tap leaking; a steady drip, drip, drip. It was annoying, but she could easily ignore it in favour of her own company and her messy room. She pushed up onto her elbows, frowning at the gap in her curtains that let in a wide ray of morning sunlight. Sometimes she hated that her room faced east. This morning, though, she welcomed it. Cami's heart was pounding. She'd been dreaming--no, having a nightmare. Something large and dark had been chasing her. She figured it was a monster. Cami hated monsters.

There was a thump, then the rustle of blankets being shifted, and then a knock at her door. Quiet, but insistent. Cami glanced towards it and wasn't surprised to see Toby pushing it open, up on his tiptoes to get a hold of the handle. Cami? he whispered, rubbing at his eyes with his other hand. You up?

Yeah, she whispered back, smiling slightly as her little brother thumped back down onto his feet and gave the door a shove. What's up?

I had a bad dream, Toby said, trotting into the room and right up to her bed. He tugged at the blankets and Cami let him slip into bed beside her. I'm scared.

It's okay, Toby. They can't get you now. She smiled down at him softly, watching as he snuggled into her side and closed his eyes. Cami glanced up and blinked at the clock beside her bed. It read 5:02 AM. She sighed and lay down.

Cami? Toby asked a few minutes later. She glanced down at his face. He was staring back up at her.

Yeah?

Why isn't Grandma up yet? He was worried. Cami glanced at the clock again. Grandma didn't get up til five-thirty, and it was only about five-o-seven. As she watched, the seven clicked over to an eight.

Grandma gets up at five-thirty, remember? she told him, rolling onto her side. Toby sat up abruptly and twisted to stare at the clock. Cami watched him for a long moment before sitting up as well and reaching over to hit the button that turned off her alarm. You're up early, you know.

Bad dream, was all Toby said in reply to that. Cami understood.

They sat there for a few minutes, just letting their heartbeats slow down. Well, Cami was anyway. She wasn't so sure about Toby. For all she knew, Toby's was still racing. He looked okay, though. Not too scared, but not exactly calm either. She wondered what kind of bad dream he had. He probably wouldn't tell her, even if she asked. Toby was odd about those kinds of things. He had never even told Grandma about his dreams. Or what he saw from time to time. Cami had a feeling that in a few more years, Toby was going to start seeing the things she saw. She dreaded what would happen when that started.

How about we go make breakfast? Cami asked, dragging Toby's gaze off the numbers clicking over on her digital clock. Toby gave her a wary look. She smiled and tried to bribe him, giving him a sly look. I'll even attempt to make you pancakes.

That brightened him right up. Yay! Pancakes! He jumped off the bed, nearly stumbling a couple times on his way to the door. How he stayed on his feet, Cami might not ever know. Come on, let's go! Let's go!

Cami followed a more sedate pace, watching him race ahead down the hall, around the corner and into the kitchen. She giggled at his antics, then caught Grandma peeking out of her door as she passed the older lady's room. Grandma winked and pushed the door almost fully closed. Cami grinned and sped up; catching up to her little brother as he was pulling the frying pan, they used to make pancakes, out of the cupboard.

Hey, let me get that, she said, gently taking it from him. Can you get the butter out of the fridge?

Toby nodded and raced over to the fridge, pulling the heavy door open as fast as he could. Smiling, Cami turned to the stove and set the frying pan down on it. She glanced at the buttons and dials for it, and turned the correct one up to medium heat. Toby appeared at her side with the tub of butter.

Here, sis, he said and plonked it down on the bench right next to the stove. I'll get a knife!

Be careful! Cami called as he bounced over to the drawer that held all their cutlery. She kept half an eye on her brother as he opened the drawer. Toby carefully pulled a dull butter knife out of the drawer and pushed it shut. He came back and handed the knife to Cami. Thanks, kiddo. She glanced at the frying pan, then to Toby. Go get Grandma, okay?

Toby nodded and ran out of the room. Cami heard him telling their Grandma to get up, that Cami was making pancakes. She smiled and went to get the bottle of pancake mix. By the time she got back to the stove, Grandma and Toby were sitting down at the kitchen table, so she set about making the pancakes. She got the jug of water from the fridge and filled the bottle of pancake mix to the line, just as the instructions suggested. Then went about making pancakes and listening to Grandma and her little brother talk about Toby being sent to school the next year.

While she cooked pancakes, Cami mused over the weekend. Sunday had been like any usual Sunday; breakfast, church, and then lunch at the local fast food joint. Grandma seemed to be in better spirits, but she was much quieter than she normally was. Careful and paranoid, too. More than once, Cami had caught her glancing back over her shoulder like she’d spotted something and had moved so she and Toby couldn’t see it. There was never anything there, though. Well, not that Cami saw, and she certainly didn’t see the stranger from the day before.

Suffice it to say, Sunday passed fairly uneventfully.

Today, though. Today felt off somehow. Cami wasn't sure how to explain it, and she wasn't sure if Grandma would even believe her. So she ate her pancakes and kept musing. Unfortunately, she still had that feeling that things were about to go to hell. She still had a week until school started again, and she knew Grandma wanted to take her shopping for school supplies. Of course, that didn't mean anything would go as planned, so of course, someone had other ideas.

Not long after breakfast that Monday morning, while Cami was still eating, but after Toby had finished up, the little brat decided he wanted to put his fist through a pane of glass. There was a bit of commotion before Grandma told Cami to grab her stuff. She had heard the glass shatter, but hadn't really been paying attention. Grandma was