Let me back in, I can do this. Noli tried to shove her aside.
I’m a much better hair-braider, the sprite shot back as she sat everyone down in a long hair brushing chain. Noli hadn’t even realized she owned that many combs and brushes let along brought them with her.
It’s my turn, Noli demanded after everyone’s hair had been combed and braided No, it’s always your turn. No fair. “Let’s see if Mr. Winky has your supper.”
“Miss Noli, are you and the girls in there?” Winky said from the other side of the engine room door.
“We’re coming right now.” She led the girls back down the stairs, into the hold, and sat them down on crates. The sprite peered at the tray Winky carried. “What is that?”
Winky bobbed his head. “Oatmeal, Miss Noli, we weren’t planning on taking passengers.”
“Oh.”
Noli wanted to smack the sprite. Don’t hurt his feelings—tell him he did a good job.
Why?
Because it’s nice, and he’s nice.
Oh. The sprite didn’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings. She gave him a huge smile. “It was nice of you to make this, Mr. Winky. I’m sure it’s delicious.”
“I try my best, Miss Noli.” He gave her a little bob of the head as he helped her dish out six bowls of surprisingly unlumpy oatmeal.
“Could you try to find some spare blankets?” the sprite added.
“Of course, Miss Noli.” Winky left.
Noli watched in a combination of horror and boredom as the sprite fussed over the girls, made a bed for them out of blankets, and told strange stories that made no sense to Noli but had the girls rollicking with unladylike laughter.
Every time Noli fought for control, she lost. Fear consumed her. What if she couldn’t regain possession of the body? What if she never did and eventually her real self faded away, leaving only the sprite. No one would ever know something else resided in her body, that she wasn’t truly like this.
You worry too much, the sprite scolded as she stroked the little blonde girl’s hair, the girl’s eyes heavy with sleep, as the sprite hummed an unfamiliar tune.
Finally, the little girl fell asleep. All six girls slept, a redhead snoring softly in the corner. Noli knew girls her age could often be found in joy houses, but this young? The tiny blonde was five, the eldest of the lot only ten. She’d like to convince herself they were destined for factories. Unfortunately, factories weren’t any nicer and probably wasn’t where they’d been headed.
The sprite yawned. I think it’s time for us to go to sleep.
Too bad we used all the water . Noli tried not to sound sour.
But I only used one barrel, the other is for us. I was just trying to be nice. Hurt leaked into her mental voice.
There were two? When were there two? This was getting to be too much. Noli sighed inwardly. Being nice is good, especially to hurt little girls. Yes, let’s take a bath and go to bed.
Perhaps in the morning she could wrest control of her own body back from the sprite.
Desperation to speak with Magnolia chased Kevighn like the air patrol pursued air pirates Kevighn crept into the engine room; his eyes fell on the flowers painted on the engine as he snuck past. It reminded him of Creideamh— his sister would do something like that, though she’d been a more accomplished painter.
The door wasn’t closed all the way and he pushed it open. “Magnolia?”
The only light came from the engine room, illuminating the sleeping Noli, sweetly cradled in the hammock. Her ears poked out slightly from her sleep cap, a doll cradled in her arms. She looked so …vulnerable when she slept.
“Magnolia? It’s Kevighn.” He stepped inside her tiny room, so he wasn’t obvious if anyone walked into the engine room, and closed the door behind him.
Her eyes flickered open. “I know you.”
Kevighn took a step backward, nearly crashing into the wall. What an odd thing to say. “Um, yes, you do.”
She sat up, green blanket slipping to reveal a white ruffled nightdress. “You’re fun. I like to have fun. It’s boring here.”
Magnolia flashed him a flirtatious smile—something very un-Magnolia-like.
His stomach churned and the hairs on his arms stood up. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t his little blossom. This wasn’t even the Magnolia he’d seen at supper.
“Who are you?” He peered into her steel eyes, which didn’t quite seem like hers. No. It was like someone else looked out of Magnolia’s eyes.
“I’m Noli,” she giggled, tossing her head a little.
That wasn’t her laugh. It reminded him more of those vapid courtiers the high queen kept. Magnolia never tossed her head like that, either.
“Where’s Noli?” he demanded. This girl who looked like Magnolia wasn’t a changeling or simulacrum—but she wasn’t quite Magnolia either.
“I’m Noli.” She giggled again. “Oh, you mean the other Noli? The boring one? She’s sleeping.” Magnolia made an exasperated noise. “Finally.”
“What do you mean the other Noli?” His heart sped as he leaned against the closed door. Something was amiss. “She lives here, too.” She tapped her head with her index finger. “She’s so bossy. She never lets me have a turn.”
His heart seized. “There are two of you in one body? How did that happen?”
“Queen Tiana. One day I was just there, in this body— but the other Noli wouldn’t leave. She was supposed to leave.” She huffed, blowing a wayward piece of hair out of her face. “How am I supposed to have fun if I have to share with her?
Queen Tiana? How and why would she do that? “What are you?”
It wasn’t difficult to guess—the pointed ears, the beautiful body, the not-so-bright-but-chipper occupant.
“I’m a sprite, of course.” She giggled again.
Things started to make a sense. But only a little.
“Will you take me to the Otherworld? It’s so boring here.” She batted her eyelashes.
“I don’t think Stiofán would like that very much.” He kept his voice guarded.
“Why?” She cocked her head, eyes widening. “He broke the stone. It hurt. The other Noli’s no fun because she hurts so much.”
“Wait, Stiofán broke her stone?” His jaw dropped as his heart did a dance of joy. If Stiofán had broken it off with Magnolia that meant he still had a chance.
She nodded. “The other Noli thinks someone made him.”
That sounded like his little blossom. Poor girl.
“You said the other Noli is sleeping? Could you wake her for me? Please?” He gave her his most charming smile.
“No. If I wake her up she won’t let me have the body back.” Her lower lip jutted out. “I never get a turn.”
“Please. I really need to speak with her. I’ll tell her that you should have more turns.”
“You will?” Her whole being brightened with such intensity he winced. Not being mortal anymore, she no longer had the Spark, but she certainly possessed something.
“Of course.” He added another smile for good measure. The sprite wouldn’t have the answers he sought, and well, that wasn’t his Magnolia. Magnolia and a sprite in the same body—a very attractive Fae body—who could imagine?
“I suppose I could.” She sighed a little, as if it were a huge imposition. “Let me see if I can wake her.”
For a moment she was …gone, eyes blank, body still. It was nearly as strange as the other girl speaking out of Magnolia’s pink lips.