A Ribbon Strand: Raised Hackura

A Day to Celebrate Pt. 3

        My dad sighed, “Princess, we are very good at what we do. We lose people occasionally. That’s just a fact. I will never let anything happen to you or your brothers. Your guards are there to protect you, and none of my children venture out of this realm until they can handle anything that comes their way.” I sighed, “You aren’t going to let me go to Emmaline’s party, are you?” My dad closed his eyes, “If I can go with you along Marcus, Bjourn, and your guard. You can go. We will have to negotiate that with Aiden.” I smiled, “Aiden will say yes! He’s been wanting me to see Faerie.” My dad said, “I’d like to go back to the what we do conversation.” 

        I nodded, “Ok daddy.” My dad said, “We are the protectors of the realms. You are not wrong. Everyone doesn’t like that. That’s ok. We are here to help, and we do. Our family leads our people. We go on missions to gather intelligence. We’ve been trying to eradicate a specific problem, but they are good at being in the shadows. We protect even humans from supernatural’s; however, we protect all supernatural’s from humans. Our existence is a secret for a reason. Humans have a history of being scared of what they don’t understand. There are those who do understand, and they are brought in typically as mates. Or as a child or a partial supernatural group. Most though, well not even most, their governments and scientists would do things to the groups we protect if they knew. We stop that from happening. We act on our information. We will go guard people for a price. I do not accept money from anyone who is not good. We don’t need the money.” I asked, “Why do we go for a high price only? Why don’t we help them if they need it for free?” My dad smiled, “Pure of heart indeed.” I frowned, “Aiden said that to me earlier.” My dad said “So he did. Haley, we protect those that need it. Our people are very well trained. It would be insulting to send them for free. I will not affront any of our own people.” I nodded, “I understand.” My dad said, “I hold a great deal of respect for our people. For my children and their mates. My grandchildren as well.” I said, “Will I ever go out to protect people? Or gather information?”

        My dad sighed, “Yes, Princess. You will. You are our princess, and with that comes certain responsibilities. I’ll be a nervous wreck when you do. I’m sure ALL of your brothers will be out there watching over your first mission.” I frowned, “But I could do it!” My dad smiled, “Bjourn has been out on all your brother’s first missions. Marcus has been on all the younger brothers. I’m sure most of them will be out on Logan’s. They are protective.” I said, “I could help Logan too!” My dad said, “You won’t be ready to be in the field when Logan goes. He’s been training.” I said, “I’m going to start training. I’m a quick learner! If I learn really fast, can I go with Logan?” My dad smiled, “Logan will deserve to go on his own Princess. Just as all the others have. One day you and Logan will go together though. I promise.” I sighed, “I could help him.” My dad said, “Oh I know you could.” I said, “I could help Bjourn too. Everyone says he’s good at torture. They say he’s our best. I could make people tell him the truth.” My dad said, “I see our attempts to shield you from that information was in complete and utter vain.” I shrugged, “Aiden tells me about his court. He executes fairies for treason. I think it’s about me.” My dad startled, “Why do you think that?” I said, “Arion feelings. I asked Emmaline about them. She said there was something with that conversation Arion blamed me for.” My dad sighed, “It’s not your fault princess.” I asked, “Do you know what it is?” 

        My dad sighed, “Not everyone is progressive. Some are stuck in the ways of the past. That’s not anyone’s fault except those people who cannot get out of their own way. The human realm can be a place that is unaccepting. Even some supernatural groups refuse to move forward. They see our ways as weird. Fairies see other supernatural’s acceptance of their partials strange. They view their blood as scared.” I frowned, “I thought Uncle Arthur said that’s how vampires see their blood.” My dad nodded, “It is. Fairies think full blooded fairies are all that should be accepted.” I was crushed. I looked down and said, “They don’t like me. Arion is right. It is my fault. Are they mean to Aiden because of me?” My dad said, “Anyone who doesn’t like you princess they are wrong. They are also on the wrong side of right, or an i***t. You are light itself. Everyone here knows that. Many covet it. THAT is what’s given Aiden problems. There are some who don’t like you because they are prejudiced about you being a partial fairy. Some believe you belong there in Faerie. With them.” I shook my head, “No daddy! Please! I want to stay here.” My dad said, “Princess….” I popped away to my treehouse. I started to cry. I wanted to visit Faerie. I didn’t want to live there. My dad said in court often we had to do things we didn’t want to do all the time. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay. I loved it here. I felt arms around me. Logan said, “Hales? What’s wrong?” I said, “Don’t make me go Logan! I want to stay!” Logan said, “Go? Where would you go?” I said, “Daddy said the fairy’s want Aiden to bring me to Faerie to live. I don’t want to go!” Logan held me tight, “Any fairy would have to rip you away from my cold dead hands little sister to take you there to live. You won’t go anywhere. You live here.” 

        I cried into his neck. Bjourn and Marcus ran in next. Harper was close behind. Bjourn said, “Little one, you misunderstood.” I shook my head, “Please...I don’t want to go. Arion doesn’t want me there. I know it! Please...Bjourn….” Marcus knelt down, “Dad wasn’t about to say you were leaving. You are not leaving. They fairies cannot have you. Feel your bond with me. With dad. I am not lying to you Haley. Dad doesn’t even want you to visit Faerie without him.” I thought about that. That was true. He said I could go for Emmaline’s birthday IF he was able to come. I felt my bond with my dad. He was distraught. I said, “Daddy is upset.” Marcus said, “He doesn’t want you to think he was going to send you to Faerie. You live here Haley. You’re going to be raised here. That’s the end of that story.” I nodded. I grabbed their hands and popped us to my dad. He was right below my treehouse. He grabbed me. He said, “Princess, I won’t part with you for any fairy.” I said, “I’m sorry. I thought you were about to say sometimes we have to do things we don’t like. I’ve heard you say that in court and…. earlier you said there’s a reason I’m here even though I’m not sixteen.” My dad squeezed me tight. He said, “I couldn’t part with you with you for the world. I will never give you to the fairies. I do say that in court. We all have to do things we don’t like. One of those things, had you stayed in Faerie to grow up, would’ve been that for me. I would’ve hated missing out on that time with you. I am so glad you are here with us, Princess. Aiden can fight his battles. He is strong. I will not give you to him to appease the fairy’s that believe you belong with them.” I said, “Ok. I’m sorry daddy.” My dad said, “Don’t pop away from me like that princess ever again.” I whispered, “Ok.” 

        My dad carried me back to the castle. My brothers trailed behind him.  Once we got inside the main hall the rest of my brothers were waiting. Ubbe said, “What the hell is going on?” My dad said, “A misunderstanding that is now cleared up.” Ubbe studied me then nodded. My dad said, “You have guests’ princess.” I hugged him, “Love you daddy! BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!” My dad smiled. I checked my connection with him. He was settled. I popped to my room. I said, “Hey guys!” Miley said, “Lexi brought my pretty pony for us to watch.” I smiled and snapped myself into my unicorn pajamas. Lexi said, “I’m sorry is Haley wearing something that's not pink?!” I looked down, “The shorts have pink on them….my shirt is pink.” Lexi laughed, “YOU GUYS! She knows about other colors besides pink and sparkly pink.” I laughed and playfully shoved her. I said, “I wear other colors sometimes!” Lexi laughed, “Not often our little Hackura fairy princess. Not often.” Emmaline said, “I wear blue a lot.” Lexi said, “With other colors.” Miley said, “I wear red a lot.” I said, “Yeah, and you’re in black ALL the time. Your mom asked me if I could get you into color the last time, I visited the shroud.” Lexi sighed, “She knows I’m all about the color black. One day she will accept it.” 

        We turned on the movie. Miley said, “You know who’s super hot?” I asked, “Who?” Miley said, “Heath.” I blushed. Lexi said, “My brother Heath?” Miley said, “Uh yeah…. you have to know your brother is hot!” Lexi said, “Not to me he’s not.” Emmaline and I exchanged a glance. She knew I was disappointed when I realized fairies can tell their mates their entire lives. I wanted Heath to be mine, but he wasn’t. I had the biggest crush on him, but he always called me his kid sister’s friend. Emmaline said, “Haley and I are going to go get us some snacks.” We popped to the kitchen. Emmaline said, “Haley?” I sighed, “He said he saw me like a sister. He’s just my first crush. Miley says I’ll have a lot more.” Emmaline said, “You are sad.” I shrugged, “I was hoping he was my mate, but he’s not. He doesn’t even think I’m pretty.” Emmaline snorted, “Everyone thinks you’re pretty.” I said, “Not Heath.” Emmaline conjured the snacks. She said, “Even Heath. You are beautiful. Your mate is out there Haley. So is mine. You know they have to be great.” I smiled, “And hot.” Emmaline said, “So hot! Mouthwateringly hot! They have to deserve our beauty. Look at Katie…. she landed your brother.” I laughed, “Logan was worried he’d have to wait to find his mate. He just had a feeling his mate wasn’t Hackura.” Emmaline smiled, “Imagine if we hadn’t met! Katie lives in California! They might have missed each other for years.” I laughed, “The horror! Logan would be moody until he found her.” Emmaline laughed, “Not to mention. Our troublesome foursome wouldn’t have been around until later.” 

        I laughed, “Who calls us that?” Emmaline said, “Uhhh everyone. Literally…. everyone around here calls us that.” I laughed, “Not around me.” Emmaline said, “You’re the princess. Your brothers would kill anyone who made you cry. Miley and I think we will have to have a fairy date you first. They’d be the only ones bold enough to ask you on a date.” I wrinkled my nose. I said, “That’s not a today problem. Marcus says you have to focus on today and not borrow trouble from tomorrow.” Emmaline said, “Borrow trouble?” I shrugged, “I know, it doesn’t make sense, but that’s what he says.” My mom came in, “What are you girls doing down here?” Emmaline said, “Snacks.” My mom smirked, “You have your snacks. What else is going on?” I sighed, “Did you know fairies can tell who their mate is their whole life?” My mom said, “I did know that.” I said, “I didn’t.” My mom’s smile softened, “You wanted Heath to be your mate, and now you know he’s not.” My cheeks turned red, “How did you know?” My mom smiled, “Sweetie, I’m your mom. I pay attention.” I buried my face in my hands. I said, “Tell me the guys don’t know.” My mom laughed, “Oh please. None of them have a single clue. They still think you girls think boys have cooties.” I tilted my head, “What’s cooties? It sounds serious. I would’ve healed Heath if he had cooties.” My mom laughed, “Nothing. It’s not real.” I said, “Then why would I think that?” My mom smiled, “Why indeed?” She took my hands, “Your mate is out there. He’s going to be an amazing man who loves you so much. Just because Heath isn’t your mate doesn’t mean you two can’t date when you’re older.” I sighed, “He said I’m like a sister to him.” Veronica said, “Growing up has a way of changing those things. We will see. You might not even like him when you’re older.” I hugged her. “Thanks mom.” She smiled, “Anytime. Happy birthday sweetie.” I smiled and popped back with Emmaline to watch our movie. I smiled. It was a really good birthday.