Chương 74: Chapter 73 - Not Exactly Warm and Fuzzy

"Be careful, I think the bad man is still there, but I'm not sure, it's all fuzzy," Thai said nervously.

"What do you mean it's all fuzzy?" Rowan asked.

"I can sees it in my head, but it's like it's snowing out, so I can't really see," she said, trying to explain.

"It's kind of like when I used to talk to you and Mommy before my mouth could make words…

'cept instead of words, it's like… pictures," Thai replied. The group looked at each other wide eyed, processing the implications of Thai's declaration regarding her ability to psychically sense things.

"Were you able to get a good look at the bad man? Could you tell us what he looks like, in case he is still there?" Roxie asked.

"He kinda looks like Auntie Phina and Auntie Lestia. He has wings like they do, but he's not pretty like they are." She paused.

"But he also has pointy ears like me, mommy and daddy." She said, confused, "he's the same but different." Thai looked around the room then closed her eyes. Celestia and Seraphina looked at each other and shook their heads.

"What is it?" Regina asked.

"I think we know who he is." Celestia said, her stomach tightening with dread.

"His name is Armand Crenshaw. We were in the academy together. He was kicked out." The mere mention of his name made Celestia feel as if she were conjuring an evil spirit. She had spent so long trying to forget…

"He's young and has a tremendous chip on his shoulder." Seraphina added, disgust registering on her face.

"He's a half breed, half fairy on his mother's side and half elf on his father's." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. But Celestia, I love you. She could hear his voice in her head as she remembered him slipping the bag over her head. Why can't you love me? She could feel the coarse fibers scratching her face as his face rubbed against her. I didn't want it to be this way. If only you had given me a chance, you would have seen…

Celestia shook her head and the memory away.

"He's one hundred percent creep though," Celestia said, folding her arms.

"He doesn't take no for an answer. He believes he can take what he wants without there being consequences."

"This may have nothing to do with Thai, after all. He may have been trying to get to Celestia through Thai. He was pretty incensed when Celestia wanted no part of him. If I'm not mistaken that was what got him kicked out. He relentlessly pursued her and harassed her." Seraphina said, looking toward Celestia.

"Yeah, he was pretty gross that way. Everywhere I turned there he was, he just wouldn't leave me alone," Celestia said, sighing, wrapping her arms around herself, not wanting to relay the true torment to the group. Especially not in front of Thai.

"It was very unnerving, I'd turn a corner and he would be there."

"That doesn't explain though how he would know about a toy designed in the Goblin realm. The only way he would know about it was if someone from Blackwoods inner sanctum reached out. If that's the case then Mordak may know about the Elven Realm." Elena said.

"Wait, they may be right, this may have nothing directly to do with Thai." Alex said, "Think about it, Seraphina and Celestia both still have a bounty on their heads. Mordak never stopped searching for them, even after they were convinced that the…" He stopped mid-sentence, looking down at Thai.

"There's not just one bad man, auntie. There are more, and they are all afraid of the really bad man. The really bad man is the one who hurt Mrs. Abernathy. He's mean, but he doesn't look like the other one. He looks like auntie Gee Gee and auntie Roxie," Thai added, her eyes wide.

"Please don't go there, auntie," she said, wrapping her arms around Roxie. Rowan came up behind Thai and picked her up.

"Hey, Sweetie, why don't we go in the kitchen and put the candles on your cake," Rowan said, realizing this conversation needed to end. He placed Thai gently on the floor and gave her a playful tap on the bottom.

"Go on. I'll catch up!"

"Okay, daddy," she said, rushing into the kitchen.

"Can I put them on?" she asked over her shoulder.

"Sure, Sweetheart," he said rushing to catch up to her.

"Maybe I will let you help me light them."