The Green Man: Tales of Evermagic, Book 5

By Jessica Lorenne

Demoncurse has left Nim and Newt to canoodle as newlyweds. Now back in his original form as Alaric, he's flirting with every girl he crosses paths with in his search to understand love. Never satisfied he moves on until he comes to the Fairy Tale Inn. There he finds someone he needs, and that's a nice change. He quickly forgets himself in mundane human's work, until he realizes that he's fallen in love with a human for real. A human who's an aura-mage of an ancient and well respected clan that he named himself after, a member of the Celestial Council, and very possibly already engaged.

But she's not just fulfilling her duties by maintaining the Fairy Tale Inn. She's hunting for Jack The Green Man, whom her superiors believe is killing women after seducing them. Does Alaric confess to being the spirit they're looking for and suffer the consequences of a crime he didn't commit, or will Sabina believe in him the way he's learned to believe in her? Will he be able to save her from the real murderer, and more importantly, from himself when he tries?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Lorenne
• Release date: Aug 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311741097

Jessica Lorenne

Jessica Lorenne started writing for assignments in elementary school, but didn't begin her first attempt at a novel until the age of 12 when she was inspired by Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, which she then read along with other works by Tolkien. This first story turned into the Bearer of Power series from which other relating projects have emerged.She grew up in western Oregon where the national forest was her backyard. It became the backdrop for her stories, and fed the fantasy realm of her imagination. She started rewriting fairy tales while studying theatre, voice, and writing at Brigham Young University-Idaho, beginning with Cinderella.As a result of her constant immersion within her own imagination, she has begun to have imaginary arguments with her characters. Through these encounters she has learned about them, and begun to tame them. These meetings can be read on her blog Character Arguments on wordpress.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 Jessica Lorenne

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, save for brief quotations in printed reviews without written permission in writing from the author.

All characters are fictional. Any resemblance to actual people is coincidental.

Cover design by Jessica Lorenne

Copyright © 2011-2012 by Sorkin Type Co (www.sorkintype.com),

with Reserved Font Name Metamorphous.

***

For Nanna

my sister, my ally, my confidant.

Special Acknowledgment to Sunny,

Thanks for not letting me get away with anything.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

EPILOGUE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1

Once upon a time ...

It has been a long time since I've been home. I know I should go back to take care of the fae, but I'm not ready. Watching Nim and Newt fall in love made me all the more desperate to understand that feeling. To know it. I've tried several times, but it was never quite right. As a being who has lived as long as this world, it was something I had seen and have become desperate to have.

After all of this time and after all I have done, I thought I deserved it. Though I have seen it cause trouble and turmoil, I have also seen it create a kind of joy I have never had in my life. I was ready for that joy. I wanted it.

What I didn’t expect was that first, I would have to endure pain. What should have been effortless was going to be the most difficult thing I have ever done, and I was not ready for it.

It was good to see you again, Suzette. The green haired green eyed man waved behind him as he walked down the steps of her little shop at the end of her hometown. It was a quaint place of cobblestone roads and fine looking shops. All of them had fanciful displays in the glass windows but had nothing that impressed him. And now that Newt and Nim were married, Suzette had no reason to stay at the cottage in Geran.

You oughtn’t leave so late, she called from her door. She leaned against the frame, her arms crossed and one of her hips lifted as she watched him. The smell of her love perfumes and incense came from within and seemed to curl out onto the street. It all wafted out like smoke, making it smell earthy and sweet.

He looked back and grinned at her, his hands in his pockets. I know better than to tempt you, sweet mistress, he teased.

She giggled, hiding her Cheshire’s smile. It’d been a fun day of play between them. Nothing romantic, though. She didn’t want to get mixed up with a being like him, and he’d had his fill of female attention for now. 

No. Today had been games. They’d made potions, daring the other to drink whatever they made. Sometimes they were transfigured, other times they hiccupped bubbled hearts. Having a fearless spirit-friend was outrageous fun.

Be good then, Demoncurse, she said with a wave. Think about staying at the inn down that road if you get there by nightfall.

I will never be free of that name, will I, he sighed against the tantalizing smells of her shop.

She only grinned and turned back within to the big-eyed little blonde boy that waited for her. Alaric smiled softly at the shy child and then spun around and started off on the road. He paused later only to give a pat on the head to the petite young woman that sold magic hearts by Suzette’s shop. She smiled at him and bid him farewell. 

He didn’t stay long with her because she made him sad. How could someone like her smile so easily? Well. She wasn’t a fae, so there wasn’t much he could do for her. He’d let Cupid keep an eye on her like he’d been doing since she came. Alaric chuckled and shook his head. A Cheshire cat, lost heart, and the Cupid all in one town. It was a wonder nothing exciting had happened there yet.

***

Sabina rushed about to the inn’s customers feeling stuffy and a little hot as she hurried to fill orders. Today they had an Evil Queen, some fairies, a Jack carrying beans, a couple of princes, a Snow White who was not the present Evil Queen’s Snow White, and a dozen other characters.

This was the Fairy Tale Inn. An inn for all characters, good or bad, where all were served without discrimination or bias. Sabina was the owner. But she worked as a bar-maiden under the scrutinizing command of the innkeeper. 

She had hired her for her knowledge of business and housekeeping. But she hadn’t expected to be demoted. It couldn’t be helped, though. She’d inherited the inn without any knowledge of how to run it for she’d been raised elsewhere. It came as a surprise when her father passed away and news of his will reached her.

She had thought about selling the place many times and return to her old life. But she had a subconscious fear that it would lose its purpose should it be sent out of the family.

She held a tray with one hand and served a mug with the other. The prince thanked her, never looking up from his map. She then went on to the next customer and gave the Snow White a lunch. But she was too busy blushing and making eyes with one of the princes to notice it.

Sabina smiled and shook her head. She moved on to the next customer when the doors of the inn came open with a loud bang. She looked up and watched a handsome young man with long pale green hair loosely tied back enter with several young women hurrying after him. A mischievous fae. Humans didn’t usually have strange colored hair. 

Alaric grinned and let the women fawn over him. With them, he went straight to the largest table and took a seat. 

You, girl! He called to Sabina. She thinned her lips and made her way to him. He grinned up at her, smiling as he looked her up and down. I'm hungry, he said, putting his legs up on one of the maiden’s laps. 

Sabina raised her brow and glanced at his boots. They looked as if new without a bit of dirt clinging to them. Or perhaps that was magic, for they appeared well used despite their cleanliness.

She cleared her throat and sighed. What will you have? She asked.

His grin grew, and Sabina narrowed her eyes. He laughed. Something simple today. Bring me your best cheese and loaf of bread. And your favorite wine, he replied.

Hmmm… She turned away and fought through the crowd to fetch his meal.

He was trouble for the rest of the day, making a loud ruckus with his many lady-acquaintances. And though most of the customers left soon after their meals, the green-man stayed all day. He made the rounds with those who came in and out, flirting mostly. On one occasion, he picked up a mandolin and sang. 

Sabina suspected he was drunk by then. 

Girl! He called, slurring and now pushing one of the women’s faces away from his. He looked a little annoyed at her clinging to him. Sabina went to him and waited. He looked up at her, pink-faced and indeed annoyed, but not drunk. I want a room for tonight, he said.

She glanced out one of the inn’s windows then. It was black out. She looked back at him. But as she was taking a breath to tell him they were full for the night, the innkeeper rushed to her side and took her arm. Sabina gasped, whirling around. And the innkeeper, Ms. Allycia, pulled Sabina’s face close to hers. She whispered in her ear, and Sabina frowned, glowering back at her. But she had no choice but to obey. Ms. Allycia, a plump woman with wiry black hair released her arm, and Sabina went back to the green-man.

There is one left. Top floor, right corner. You may take that one, she said tightly. And with that, she reached behind her, whipped off her apron, and marched out of the inn.

Alaric watched her, not a trace of amusement on his face as the warm candlelight lit it with its adoration. 

The door rattled shut behind her and pausing, she looked up at the black sky and pushed back her hair. The stars were bright at least. She sighed, now turning away to go to the stables. The stable boy––a young man near her age––was mucking out the stalls when she entered. He looked up through the floating dust of hay and dirt when she came in and frowned.

She did it again? He asked, looking back at his work. 

Sabina nodded and kicked at a pebble of dung. Don't go telling her off again, Blaze, she warned. I may not be able to save your job like I did the last time.

You oughtn’t to let her have so much control, he said, turning and leaning on one of the stall posts. 

She glanced at him and his hair. It was red with golden flecks, but he hadn’t a trace of freckles on his perfect skin like many redheads did. Though, he did have blue eyes that were piercing as a sapphire.

She is the only reason this place is still in business, she replied, looking up at the loft. My things still up there? She asked, a little forlorn at the idea of such an uncomfortable bed.

Sure. But they stink, he said with a nod and going back to his work. It will cling to you tomorrow, he warned as he scooped up a pile and moved it.

She sighed and went to the ladder. I ended my work when she gave up my room. If she comes in looking for me… Her fingers twitched, so she shook them to relieve the tension. Well, I’ll come down.

Blaze nodded, not looking up, and Sabina climbed the ladder. In the loft, she looked down at her little makeshift bed and sighed. But then she hit herself for it. She’d been doing that a lot since coming to this place. She looked down at her hands and rubbed her fingers over her calluses. She missed her old life. Her exciting, comfortable life. How had she ended up from top dog to sleeping in the stables?

CHAPTER 2

The innkeeper woman must have thought I was stupid. That, or she suspected me to not care she had kicked a girl out of her own room for the sake of making more money. I played along, though, pretending not to hear her whisper to the little waitress. Well, not so little. She was a bit thicker than the starving commoners I was used to. But most of that looked like muscle. Anyway. I pretended not to hear her. And I pretended not to sneak about and look in on the conversation Sabina had with that Blaze boy. People disgusted me. But then. Not everyone could be like Nim.

Alaric glanced about. This room was an exceptionally nice one. Though it was poorly furnished. And the furnishings that were there were in sorry condition. He waved his hand at some candles so they flickered to life and glanced about, considering. 

He rolled his long fingers against his chin. There was a vanity decorated with several personal looking items. A shredded letter, a rose petal, some chocolates in a box. Two were gone.

He stroked his chin again in thought and looked around, finding a small wardrobe in his musings. He went to it and opened it up. Inside were a few lady’s dresses and underthings. He considered them and then went to the shelf where there were a few books. 

He glanced at their titles but didn’t recognize any of them. Most people carried a set of fairy tales and the like. But this person’s interest was of maps, horses, and other dull things. He took one book and opened it up to find that it wasn't reading material at all. Rather, inside was a group of notes concerning the subject of its title. 

He then looked at the rest, finding the only actual text there was a collection of songs from an ancient tribe. One that was nearly extinct from the current world.

He straightened, dusted his hands of the old paper’s dust, and went down the stairs to the main room. He met the innkeeper woman there and smiled at her. She took it as a cue for conversation or assistance, and so came over as the noise of clattering dishes and hot washing sounded in the kitchen behind her.

Dear Mr. Alaric. Is there anything I can do for you? She started in a pleasant voice. Is the room all right? She asked, her smile so big it made her eyes squint.

Forgive me. Ms. Allycia, was it? He asked. She nodded, her face pink for his remembering her name. I am concerned. The room I was given seems to belong to a young woman. Where is she? He asked, feigning proper gentlemanly distress for a poor lost damsel.

Ms. Allycia’s face fell, and she shifted uncomfortably before clearing her throat. What do you mean? There is no one living in that room, she said a little too lighthearted.

His pleasant smile turned demonic as he took a step closer to Ms. Allycia, looming over her so she coward under his shadow. To her, he seemed to become taller, sprout horns, and grow pointed teeth. Though none of that actually occurred. It was an illusion that he himself projected into her mind so she might fear him. Things got done much more quickly when the weak were cowering. He saved genteel tactics for the strong minded, which Ms. Allycia was not.

I would like her brought to my room, he commanded.

Ms. Allycia swallowed and curtsied quickly, not about to make a fuss about his appearance. If there was anything she had learned while working at the inn, it was that they were to serve and tolerate all sorts. This was the one place where good and evil could meet neutrally. 

She’d tried changing that before, but a powerful magic had refused her. And she had suffered painful consequences for it. 

She hurried away. If only that girl would give her ownership of the inn to her. She could make it a more respectable place then. But so long as it belonged to the Alaric tribe, the conditions of the inn’s existence could not be changed or broken.

She wondered if Mr. Alaric was at all connected with the clan or if his name was pure coincidence? She burst into the stables, Blaze jumping up when she came crashing in. He blinked back at her, but she paid him no mind. She went to the ladder that went up into the loft and climbed it. When she reached the top, she threw a bucket at Sabina. Sabina, alert even in her sleep, popped up and caught it before it crashed on her head.

You! Girl! Ms. Allycia pointed a shaking finger as Sabina opened her droopy eyes. Go back to your room at once! She screeched, her breath coming out in a puff of fog for the cold.

Sabina, now awake, gawked at her. Did the gentleman decide not to stay? She asked.

What that man does is not my concern. Return to your room this instant. She whipped around and marched back down the ladder. 

Sabina watched her and then glanced