The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen Read Online Free PDF Page B

and snap down twice. I toss the jar to the ground and leap back. The jar glimmers as the little beast flies innocently.
    Suddenly Ivo is at my side. “You’ve only caught one fly?” he laughs. “Are you giving up already?”
    “I just don’t feel like it anymore.” I peer fearfully into the jar.
    He collects the jars and twists the lids open. The flies scatter, flashing through the mist as the thunder grows louder.
    I walk toward a tree and rest against it, staring at my empty jar, haunted by the fly’s message.
    Ivo follows, leaning next to me and I sigh.
    “Ah, don’t be a sore sport,” he laughs and nudges me with his elbow.
    “No, that’s not it,” I say. He stands silently, waiting for me to continue. “Do you think I am weak?”
    “When it comes to catching fireflies? Yes, you are terribly weak.” He smiles widely. I shake my head and cannot help but smile back.
    I nudge him in the ribs. “Be serious! Do you think I am weak?”
    He smirks, looks down at the ground, and shuffles his feet a little as he thinks. He sighs and shakes the hair from his face.
    “We all have weaknesses…” he says, staring straight forward. His fingertips brush the inside of my hand. “But it’s the people, the things that we have weaknesses for that bring us the strength and courage to do what we must.” His fingers wrap around my hand and my pulse quickens.
    A crack of thunder causes me to jump and the sky dissolves in a heavy downpour, drenching us immediately. I cup my free hand and the rain pools inside it. Rain pours down Ivo’s face and drips off his nose. I feel the same happening to my face. We look into each other’s eyes and smile.
    He drops his jar in the mud and slides his hand beneath the soaked tangles of my hair, gripping the nape of my neck. My heart races as his other hand slides to the small of my back and he pulls me in close. The warmth of his body is a welcome contrast to the damp cold of our clothing. I gasp, and feel the heat of my breath reflect off his lips. A warmth rushes to my cheeks, my belly...
    We both are weak. I relax in his arms and reach for the sides of his face. For the briefest moment our eyes catch and then close.
    A flash of light blinds me through my closed eyes and a deafening crash shakes the earth. Lightning. I cower beneath him and feel myself scream.
    ***
     
    I awake with a start, knocking over the empty jar. I grab my hot cheeks, still blushing from the dream. But it isn’t just a dream. It all really happened nine months ago. When there wasn’t a fever and my mother was alive.
    A warm, delicious ache throbs low in my belly as I think upon the kiss that almost happened. I look around. Father is not yet back. It is still dark. The thought of bed crosses my mind, but my heavy head and eyelids convince me to stay where I am. It is the kind of dream I hope to continue. But not just to see Ivo. I want to see my mother again. I rest my head on my arms and sigh as I surrender to slumber.
    ***
     
    I hear the gong of church bells and realize it is the ringing of my ears. Ivo’s lips move as I scream, but I do not hear him. His hands grip the sides of my face like a vice.
    “I can’t hear you!” I shout, unable to hear my own voice. I try to pry his hands from my head.
    Staring at his lips, I realize he is asking me if I am all right. “I’m fine! Are you all right?” I holler.
    His eyes dart across my face and he nods, mouthing the words:
I’m all right.
He releases my face and hugs me so tight I cry out in pain, but neither of us hear it. Our eyes meet again and a wave of disappointment shadows his face. Our kiss shall not happen, at least not tonight. The ringing in my ears gives good reason not to have an uncomfortable conversation about it.
    Lightning
, I mouth.
    He nods his head in response. His eyebrows rise as a wide grin spreads across his face. He shrugs, shakes his head and laughs.
    The ringing fades, but I still cannot hear. He points to the direction of