Chương 18: Whispers and Stories

Celestia sat on the sofa on the verge of tears. Little Miss's cries had now reached ear-splitting levels, which made the young fairy's nerves raw.

"I don't know what you want!" she shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of frustration. Little Miss flinched, stunned into eerie silence. Her eyes widened. Her tiny chin trembled. She sucked in her bottom lip… then drew a trembling breath. For one blessed moment the house was silent. Celestia drew in a deep breath of her own, relishing the silence. Then it happened. The scream to end all screams pierced the silence like an air raid siren. It was unlike any sound Celestia had ever heard before.

She clamped her hands over her ears, in a futile attempt to muffle the sound.

"How can something so small be so loud?" she grumbled, drawing her knees up to her chest, clutching her head. Celestia looked over at the infant, her screams unrelenting. Her small face was now bright purple; her tiny hands now balled into tight fists.

"I've changed you! I've fed you! I did the burp thing! I rocked you! I even tried to sing to you! Please... I'm begging you. STOP!" Suddenly, the front door burst open with a bang, hitting the wall. Celestia jumped with a start. Seraphina rushed in, face flushed, eyes wild and wide.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Celestia shouted over the din of the baby's cries. Seraphina ran toward the screaming infant. She plucked the infant out of the makeshift bassinet and in one swift motion put the baby on her shoulder. She began firmly patting the child's back and within moments Little Miss let out a long, loud burp. The baby stopped her fussing and Celestia saw her bright blue eyes begin to flutter closed.

"Hey, I tried that!" Celestia said, defensively folding her arms. Celestia motioned for Seraphina to check her shoulder. Seraphina turned to her shoulder and rolled her eyes, when she saw the milky stain.

"I really need to start using a burp cloth," she muttered, then turned her gaze to Celestia.

"Sometimes, you just have to keep at it with a firm hand to get the bubble out," she said, giving Celestia a half smile.

"What's wrong? I don't think you rushed in here because of her cries. You looked downright rattled," she said softly now that the baby had settled.

"You're right and there really is no time to explain. We need to leave now!" Seraphina said, grabbing the baby blanket from the bassinet frantically. Celestia looked at Seraphina with eyes as round as saucers.

"Seraphina, you're scaring me, what is it?" Seraphina thrust Little Miss into Celestia's arms.

"Get out to Shirley. Fast. Don't stop for anything… just go. Run. Run as fast as you can. I'm right behind you." Seraphina felt a cold chill running up her spine. They're coming for her. A warning emanated from somewhere deep within. She watched as Celestia instinctively cradled the baby firmly against her chest and ran out the door. Within mere steps of Shirley, Celestia glanced behind her to be sure Seraphina was following.

"Keep going!" Seraphina called out. The lights in the woods were drawing dangerously closer. With a racing heart, she made her way into Shirley. When Shirley's door finally closed, Celestia and Seraphina both exhaled a shaky breath.

"Shirley, emergency evac to the closest gate to EB48," Seraphina called out, holding the key card she had pulled from her pocket up to the reader.

"Yes, Fairy 9876," Shirley replied, her gears whirring into action.

"Before I engage, please provide PIP."

"The silent fox eats rolled oats."

"PIP approved." Shirley confirmed.

"I will now take you to the closest gate to EB48." Celestia looked at her, confusion tightening her features.

"Seraphina, that's not…" Seraphina pressed a finger to Celestia's lips. Celestia gave her a slow nod.

"We have arrived at E425, Fairy 9876. It is the closest gate to EB48. Do you require any further assistance?" Shirley asked with computerized coldness.

"No, that will be all, Shirley," Seraphina replied. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Shirley's door silently slid open. The warm summer breeze enveloped them both. Seraphina stepped out and pulled Celestia with her into a thicket of trees.

"Okay, we can talk now," Seraphina said, her posture loosening now that the imminent threat had passed. She turned to Celestia.

"I know you have a million questions, and I owe you answers." She took in a deep breath, looking down at the sleeping baby in Celestia's arms.

"I will answer what I can, but you have to understand, I don't have all the answers myself." Celestia blinked at her.

"You bet your keister I do! First off, you're Fairy 7642, not Fairy 9876. Secondly, what the hell happened back there?" Little Miss began to stir at the commotion. Seraphina reached for her and Celestia handed her off without hesitation. Seraphina took the baby and cradled her in the crook of her arm and began gently swaying, watching her eyes get heavy.

"How could you possibly have remembered my fairy ID?" Seraphina asked, her eyebrows coming together, her voice soft to not disturb the now sleeping infant.

"Oh, I have a memory like a steel trap," she said, her tone clipped and precise, "especially when it comes to numbers." She shook her head before continuing.

"Didn't I mention that?" Celestia asked, looking at Seraphina, her features sharpening.

"Anyway, don't change the subject. What is going on? Why all the cloak and dagger?" Celestia watched as Seraphina began scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, Seraphina tilted her head back, her eyes darting from tree to tree.

"What are you looking for? Don't think you're off the hook. You still need to answer my question. I know that the answers are not going to be hanging there like fruit, you know, because if they were I would pick them myself." Celestia huffed. Seraphina tugged Celestia's arm, pulling her close.

"Quick version," she whispered, "someone knows about Little Miss." Celestia's eyebrows knitted together.

"That's not possible. I didn't tell anyone, I brought her straight to Fairy Central. You didn't say anything to Simon, did you?" Seraphina raised her eyebrows.

"No, I didn't tell a soul, there wasn't time." Celestia shook her head, eyes widening.

"Are you sure? You didn't mention it at all? I mean, there is no way anyone could know."

"I know. The only possibility is we're being watched, but I don't see how or why." She shook her head slowly.

"I am just as mystified by this as you are," Seraphina said, almost whispering.

"Tell me exactly how you came across Little Miss. There must be something we're missing."

"First, you need to tell me whose ID you were using and why you are using a Fairy ID that I know wasn't yours. It goes against every protocol we have," she said, folding her arms. Seraphina looked at her with a wry smile and shrugged.

"Well, under the circumstances, I guess I can tell you. I honestly didn't think you would notice." She paused, looking off into the distance before returning her gaze to Celestia.

"When I first came to the company, we worked extensively with abandoned and unwanted infants. We would leave them with parents who desperately wanted a child of their own but were unable to have one." She shifted the baby from one arm to the other as she explained.

"EB48 stands for Elven Baby 48, and Fairy 9876 is actually Simon." She sighed.

"I wasn't sure it would work, but it did." Celestia looked at Seraphina, perplexed.

"How exactly did you get Simon's Fairy ID?"

"Are you kidding me?" Seraphina scoffed.

"You have met Simon, haven't you? You know… middle aged, round, and drowning in the world's worst cologne."

"Yeah. Your boss. Why?" she asked, eyebrows arched.

"Celestia, that man doesn't know his ID number from his birthday. He forgets it more times than he remembers." She snickered.

"He is so lazy that he gave me all his ID numbers and PIPs so I could basically do his work for him."

"I see." Celestia nodded, considering the implications.

"So, what you're telling me is that you have all Simon's sensitive information at your disposal?"

"Exactly," Seraphina said, winking.

"Brilliant! I must admit it, I'm impressed," Celestia said, grinning wide. The grin faded as her brows drew together.

"What?" Seraphina asked.

"What is it? Spit it out." Celestia sighed heavily.

"Well, that still doesn't answer how anyone else could have known about our little mystery child here. Nor does it explain why they are so desperate to get their hands on her."

"I need you to retrace your steps for me. There has to be a piece of information that we have overlooked," Seraphina said as she gently rocked Little Miss in her arms. Celestia plopped down on a plump pile of pine needles and leaves, her gaze landing on the baby.

"You might want to sit down for a bit," Celestia commented sullenly.

"I think we have a far more pressing question to address here. I think we have a far more pressing question to address here. You know, like where we can hide Little Miss until we figure it all out." She let out a sharp breath as she looked at the baby in Seraphina's protective embrace. Placing a finger on her chin, she continued, "Once the baby is safe, then we can potentially figure out the who, the what, and the where."

"I may have a solution, but it is going to take some assistance from the daughter of old friend," Seraphina said, hope ringing in her voice.

"Please, do tell. What is this proposed solution?" Celestia asked, leaning forward, eager to hear Seraphina's answer.

"EB48," Seraphina said flatly.

"I don't understand," Celestia said, her eyebrows furrowing deeply.

"What would an old protocol have to do with our current situation?"

"EB48 was not just a protocol, it was a code name for a specific placement," Seraphina said, looking down at Little Miss, who was staring intently up at her.

"EB48 stands for Elven Baby 48. It was the code name for a baby I took to an Elven Mother some 35 years ago," Seraphina added, smiling and cooing to the baby, who seemed to hang on to every word she spoke. Celestia shifted position.

"I don't see how a case from 35 years ago helps us now," she said.

"I mean, really? That happened before I was even born. I know I'm not old, but I wasn't exactly born yesterday either."

"Because EB48 is all grown up. She's actually expecting a child of her own any day now," Seraphina said, smiling.

"If she's willing to help, maybe she could suddenly be expecting… I don't know… Let's say, twins." Little Miss suddenly began to coo as if in agreement with the idea. Celestia looked at Seraphina skeptically.

"A child you rescued," she paused, "years ago, is certainly not going to remember you, Seraphina," she said, rolling her eyes. Celestia sighed loudly before adding, "What are you planning to do? Show up at her door and say hey, remember me? I facilitated your adoption, here's a baby. Oh, and by the way, it's not just any child, but would you mind passing it off as yours? She will certainly slam the door in the face of the crazy lady." Seraphina smiled wryly.

"What if I told you I was her fairy godmother?"