[Hugo Prosperio]

Here is the new chapter (after MONTHS) I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Four: Lady Luck

Boston Common was littered with tourists on this spring day, and Jadaris, Beth, and Caitlin pushed through the crowds. Jadaris had her eyes shut, her right hand extended, as if using it to sense something.

?This way? she said, passing the Frog Pond where children splashed their feet in the water. They continued to walk, Jadaris focusing hard, until Beth gasped. There?not three away was all the proof they needed that something terrible had happened.

?Jenna?s clothes!? Caitlin said.

?You?re too late?? said a familiar voice. Da?av, stepped out from behind a tree, Human sized, which as an odd sight in itself.

?I got here as soon as I could, but?I wasn?t fast enough. I sensed today would bring another kidnapping, but I had no idea??

?It?s not your fault? Beth said leaning her head on his shoulder. ?How could this happen?? she sighed.

?Look?? Jadaris said as she held up a pouch, much like the one Da?av had found before. ?This one has the king?s seal on it as well?but it looks like it was filled with dust, and not a stone??

??you mean a stone like this? Caitlin said holding up a dull black, careful to pick it up with the sleeve of her shirt and not her hands. Da?av quickly moved and picked it up?

?The same as before, except?this still has it?s magic semi-intact?oh, my stars?this is bad.? He said with a voice filled with despair.

?What?? Jadaris asked

?It?s a stone from Onyx Ring?the great fairy ring that surrounds the Grand Colony?whoever our attacker is?he is within that colony?which makes this much more complicated?and now with Jenna?This is out my league??

?I think I know who to call? Jedaris said with a twinkle in her eye.

---

King Moon sat in his bed, coughing.

?Damn Cold.? He said to himself as he looked out the window. The sky was turning grey, preparing for a spring thunderstorm. ?At least I?ll have something to entertain me??

?Your Majesty?? spoke the calm voice of Moon?s highest royal advisor, Jorbeth.

?Ah, Jorbeth. What is it?? coughed the King.

?You have a visitor.? He said as Prince Mortimer entered, bowing his head.

?Ah, son, come in, come in!? the king said, his mood brightening.

?Father. How are you feeling?? he asked.

?Shitty.? He said smiling ?What?? he added after he saw his son?s reaction. ?Did you want me to lie??

?I just don?t expect such vocabulary from you, father.? Mortimer said with a slight sigh.

?Oh, I can?what?s the human term??cuss like a sailor?? the king said with a chuckle.

?Father, I?m serious. I worry for you. I don?t want anything to happen to you.? He said softly. His father gazed at him

?Mortimer, you are a wonderful son, but you do too much. I thank you for your concern, but it is a passing matter, and will be resolved soon. Now, how about a drink?? The king said with a wink as he pointed to the bar.

?What would you like, father??

?Wine, like usual.? Moon said with a smirk.

Mortimer walked over and poured himself a Brandy, and his father a wine.

?Don?t Skimp. I have no tolerance for wasting good wine.? King Moon laughed as Mortimer brought his drink over.

?To your good health, father!? Mortimer said rising his glass. Moon did the same.

?And to yours, my son? he added as he drank.

Something in the air felt off to the King, but he wouldn?t let the odd feeling spoil the moment with his son.

---

Kayla walked in front of Alana as her hips swayed with a seemingly excitied gait.

?So where are you from, Alana?? she asked as she lead her through the halls of the concrete house.

?Maine.? She said softly.

?Oh, Yes. Master Strom mentioned that he was headed north for the neweset member of our little club.? Kayla said with a giggle.

?You call him Master??

?Oh, Yes. Some don?t, but he?s kind to me, so I give him the respect I think he deserves.?

This didn?t sit well with Alana, but she didn?t say so. She just walked quietly behind Kayla as they reached a door. Kayla opened it and inside were ten other girls, dressed the same.

?Girls, fetch a new robe for our newest member?Alana?oh, I didn?t catch your last name? she said.

?Sweet? Alana said softly.

?Ah, yes. Alana Sweet! From Maine!?

The other girls ooohed and awed at this. One of them fetched a white robe and handed it to the naked Alana. ?They aren?t high fashion, but they work well enough? the black girl said with a smile. ?I?m Kari.? She said shaking her hand.

Alana was taken aback at all the smiling faces in front of her.

?This is the common room. We all hang out in here when we aren?t entertaining the Master and his friends. Did he say if you were a personal pet, or for sale?? Kayla said curiously.

?For Sale?!? Alana said alarmed.

?Oh, he auctions some of us girls off? said Kari. ?I believe I am for auction next week. I can?t wait to meet my new master.? She laughed.

Alana couldn?t take anymore. ?You girls like this?! We are slaves. Tiny Slaves!?

?Well, you could look at it that way? said another of the girls. ?but Strom isn?t cruel?he is very kind. He treats us well, and sells us to the kindest masters around?

Alana just sighed and plopped down on the nearest object (a thimble) ?This is a dream. A very long, very stressful dream.?

---

Beth, Caitlin, and Jadaris approached the small pub, and Caitlin sighed.

?Drinks? Is that all you can think of, Jade??

?No! There is someone here who can help us. I just hope she is sober? Jadaris said with a groan as she opened the door. Inside was a charming little Irish pub that was mostly empty. The barkeep smiled and waved at Jadaris.

?Jadaris, how are you?!? he smiled.

?Oh, I?m fine, Bubby. Is Shannon here today??

?Oh, you want to see her, do you?? the barkeep asked. ?She?s in back. Feel free to go. Your friends can go too.?

?You are too kind, Bubby.? Jadaris said.

Caitlin looked at her oddly as they walked into the back room. ?You friends with the barkeep.?

?You aren?t the first human friends I ever made. Although, he already knew I was a fairy when we met, but now isn? the time. Shannon?! You back here??

?Aye!? said a small voice with a large hiccup. ?And who wants to know??

?Jadaris Pevnock.? She said simply.

?And what would the fey want with a wee lass like me?? said the voice again.

?I need your help, old friend.? Jadaris said looking around trying to spot her, when suddenly a paper cup sitting on the table flipped over, and there stood a tiny figure, dressed in green with firey ginger hair.

?Suddenly I?m an old friend, am I? she said hiccupping again. Jadaris ignored it and turned to Caitlin and Beth.

?Girls, this is Shannon Mahoney??

?A Leprechaun!? Beth gasped, sounding almost like Jenna.

?Don?t be giving away me secrets!? Shannon said, standing up putting her hands on her hips. ?I?ve a right to keep me heritage to meself.?

?I was just guessing? Beth said. ?Jeesh?These little folk are touchy?

?Watch your tongue, lass? the leprechaun said before turning to Jadaris. ?What is is you want my help with, anyway?

?A fairy is kidnapping humans?and one of our friends was the latest victim.?

?And you, Almost-Queen of the Fairies, can?t figure it out.?

?Almost-Queen?? Caitlin asked

?It?s a long story?? Jadaris said

?As big as her Ego?? Shannon interjected. ?Well, I suppose I?ll listen to your plea, but I don?t want to be yelling up at you three?? she said waving her hands and green dust surrounded Caitlin, Beth, and Jadaris. They felt the world shifting, and in a flash of light, they were standing face to face with Shannon.

?You could have just grown yourself.? Jadaris said, sighing, as the other two girls looked around realizing they had shrunk?again.

?Could have, prefer it this way?unlike you.? She said. ?now then, when did your friend disappear??

?Today. Only an hour ago? Jadaris said. ?The kidnapper is?well, he?s using stones from Onyx Ring to shrink humans and take them.?

?So your kidnapper is from the Grand Colony of Moon.? Shannon said. ?Interesting. You want me to find this?kidnapper, don?t you??

?Well, you are the best tracker in the world of magic, are you not??

?They don?t call me Lady Luck for nothin? lass? Shannon smiled.

---

?Let me go!? shouted Jenna from inside her new prison. The black box blocked out the daylight, and all she could do was hit the walls with her fists, but it was getting her nowhere.

?Quiet down in there? said the voice of the fairy who had taken her from her kidnapper. If only she had gotten a good look at his face, but she was too frightened to try. She couldn?t believe this had happened, and yet it seemed almost too perfect. She had survived the whole Mabia ordeal, and now Karma was paying her back in kind.

?Out you go?? said the voice as the lid of the box opened, and a hand came in and picked her up.

?The Master wants you separate from the others? said the fairy as he took her to what looked like a cage.

?Do enjoy your stay, now won?t you!? he laughed as she kicked and screamed.

---

The Banks Hospital for the Mentally Unstable was full of strange and unusual patients, but none more unusual then Patient #23. An older woman, she was found wandering the streets of Boston, mumbling to herself?claiming she was someone very important, and yet she couldn?t remember who she was at all.

She sat in her room, quietly watching the sky through the window, when suddenly a noise caught her attention.

?Hello there.? Said a dark figure in the corner, concealed by his long coat and Fedora style hat. ?You don?t know me?but I know you. Oh Yes?and I want to help you. I want to help you receive what is truly yours.?

She stared at him blankly as he stepped forward, revealing his eyes to her.

?I want to help you remember?