Makenna eventually made it home. Her house was beside the Gator Pond on Jenkins Point, but she moped in her bedroom with the door shut the following day. During her journey, she had transformed back into a merfairy, but didn't stick around to tell her family how she earned it. The second she got home, she flew to her room and placed the Sunset Delay spell on herself again. Since then, she had closed her door and refused to hang out with her family.
It was noon, and Makenna hadn't gone down for breakfast or lunch. She gloomily stood in the heart of her room, head hung. In her hands, she held the dress Tracey had made for the Spirit Week Dance the year before. Sighing, Makenna tossed it onto a chair. Just thinking about Tracey, memories of when he stopped breathing at her school invaded her mind. It was all her fault that that had happened.
Makenna soon headed to her bed and plopped down.
After a few minutes, a knock came from Makenna's door. It opened to reveal her mother. She entered the room, carrying a plate of food, and forced a feeble smile. "Hey, darling. I've got lunch for you."
"Thanks, Mom," Makenna feebly spoke. She couldn't bring herself to start a conversation. The guilt was killing her. Thanks to her, Ash most likely didn't survive the Devil's attack, and Tracey probably lost his battle against the Octopus Man. She was never going to see her friends again. The Human and Magic Worlds were doomed to The Mincing.
Mrs. Delling sauntered to her daughter's dresser. She replaced an untouched breakfast plate with the lunch plate. "It's a beautiful day." She reached up and pulled Makenna's curtains apart. Bright sunshine flooded the room, and Mrs. Delling added, "Why don't you go for a walk?"
"Maybe some other time," replied her daughter.
Michelle glanced at her and said, "All right." She watched as Makenna lowered her head a bit more. Heading toward the door of her room, she added, "Caleb really wants to spend some time with you, though. Maybe consider taking him to the crab dock later." With that, she exited the room and closed the door.
Makenna remained on her bed. It wasn't long until she pulled her curtains over her blinds again. She then reached for the two necklaces she wore and took them off. Makenna focused on them and sighed. Wrapping her fingers around the necklaces, she tossed them into the corner of her room. "I don't deserve to be a fairy," Makenna told herself. "I'm nothing but a murderer." A few tears ran down her cheeks, and she hopped off her bed. "The Wizard Fairy would be disappointed. I've let everyone down." Falling to her knees, Makenna slipped her hand under her bed and pulled Crusader out, as well as the scroll.
She rose to her feet and picked up the sword. She held it to her face and examined it. The next memory that overtook her mind was the simulation of the terrifying monster on Coutarine Island, when she thought she heard Tracey call her. A fifteen-year-old girl couldn't defeat a monster like that, even if she did learn how to fight with a sword. It was impossible.
Makenna didn't understand why Ethelinda told her to keep the mysterious scroll and Crusader. She refused to get dragged into this mess, yet something about the sword intrigued her. It was the strangest thing. Just holding her, she couldn't help but feel like magic from the sword invaded her inside and out. It almost felt like it wasn't Ash who was meant to hold Crusader, but her. If the sword really did belong in Makenna's hands, then that meant she was the second most powerful fairy in the world, next to Selene. If and when Selene died, her title would be handed over to Makenna, and that would officially make her the queen of the Human and Magic Worlds.
Just thinking about that, Makenna's head hurt. She really was the one chosen to save the Human and Magic Worlds from Poseidon. No! Why? Why her? Why were the worlds putting their trust in a fairy who bullied her friends, nearly killed one of them the year before, and most likely killed her other friend, too? This was too much to bear.
Makenna tossed Crusader onto her bed and threw her covers on top of her. As soon as she did, another knock came from her door.
A voice was heard from the other side. "Makenna, it's Caleb. Can we please, pretty please, go to the crab dock?"
Makenna crossed her arms and yelled at the door, "No, Caleb! Just leave me alone!"
"You can't stay in your room forever," Caleb told her. "Why don't we put together a picnic and take it to the dock? While we eat, we can have fun pulling up the crab nets."
Makenna's anger and stress boiled inside her. She stormed to her door and threw it open. There was Caleb, holding an empty picnic basket, desperation in his brown eyes. He had combed his fairly long, brown hair and was dressed in a long, puffy-sleeved white shirt, long white pants, an orange belt-like sash, and brown shoes.
"Please?" Caleb begged. "I'm sure the crabs would like to see us. Also, if you want, we can play Neverland."
Makenna glared and yelled, "Oh, Caleb, grow up! We're not little kids anymore! We're too old for Neverland! I refuse to leave my room! Go to the crab dock yourself!"
"But, Big Sis!"
"Leave me alone!" Makenna clenched her teeth and slammed the door in Caleb's face.
On the other side, her brother scoffed and sang the lyrics to a song he once heard: "'Why you gotta be so rude? Don't you know I'm human, too?" Then, he lowered the picnic basket and left Makenna.
She stayed in her room for a little longer, and then the guilt of slamming the door in Caleb's face hit her. What on earth was going on with her? She had to apologize.
Quietly, Makenna's door creaked open, and she peeked into the empty hallway. She didn't know, but Caleb went ahead to the crab dock by himself, so she only heard her mother and father's voices down below.
As quiet as a mouse, Makenna slipped into the hallway and started down the second story's staircase. Halfway down, she stopped and hid behind the railing. Makenna's eyes landed on the kitchen, where she saw her father.
Mr. Delling sat at the table, a cup of tea in hand, and was reading the newspaper.
Mrs. Delling headed toward her bedroom for a nap.
Makenna searched for Caleb, but didn't see him. Where was he? She was getting ready to slip into the kitchen and ask her father, but a knock at the kitchen door stopped her.
"Coming!" called Mr. Delling, setting down his newspaper. He held onto his cup of tea as he stood from the table and approached the door.
Makenna curiously watched. Who had knocked? They weren't expecting anyone, right?
Mr. Delling took another sip from his cup and opened the door.
Makenna's eyes widened at who she saw standing in it. It was Ash! She couldn't believe it! It was Selene's apprentice! He was alive? Makenna thought she killed him! What was he doing there?
Ash was dressed in his medieval battle tunic, and he wiggled hello with his fingers to Mr. Delling. He looked a lot better than he had the day before. His shield, broadsword, bow, and quiver of arrows rested on his back.
"Um, hello," Mr. Delling said. "Can I help you with something, sir?"
"Is-Is Makenna Delling here?" Ash asked in a desperate tone. He still stuttered when he spoke, but it sounded a little better.
Mr. Delling slowly nodded. "Yes. Why?"
"I-I'm a fr-friend," Ash sputtered. "Please, sir. I-I really need to speak with her."
Just before Mr. Delling responded, Makenna stomped down the stairs. She messed with her fingers, since she was still mad at Ash because of their argument the day before. Without meeting his eyes, she asked her father, "Dad, if by any chance a boy named Ash shows up, can you tell him, 'I'm not talking to you right now, Ash.'?"
Mr. Delling glanced at Ash. "I don't think she wants to talk to you."
Groaning, Ash pushed past him and entered the house. "Please, young lady, I-I'm so sorry about what happened on Coutarine Island, but apparently we need to travel to the Ber-Bermuda Triangle and meet up with so-some bo-boy named Trac-Tracey."
"Strange," Makenna spoke in a bossy voice, "I hear a weird whining sound. Did you let the mosquitoes in, Dad?" She sauntered into the living room and plopped down on the couch, continuing to mess with her nails.
Mr. Delling didn't bother to ask what was going on. He, instead, gripped Ash's arm and tried to lead him out of the house, but he didn't let him.
The two sauntered into the living room, where annoyed Makenna sat, and Ash glanced at her father, asking, "M-Mr. Delling, can you tell Ma-Makenna that I'm really sorry about this whole Ber-Bermuda Triangle thing?"
Though he didn't understand, Mr. Delling went ahead and did as he was told. He placed his hands behind him and said, "Ash here says that—"
"I heard him," Makenna interrupted, "and you can tell him that he's immature to think that I would risk my life, just so his master can be pleased with him."
"Imma—?" Ash started. For some reason, he didn't like being called immature. "Listen, Ma-Makenna," he stuttered, storming toward her. "I-I don't know why we have to go to the Ber-Bermuda Triangle, but apparently we-we can save the Human and Magic Worlds if-if we-we do. Some fair-fairy named Selene told me we-we have to-to."
Makenna looked up. "Oh, so now you're calling me stupid? How dare you make it sound like you don't even know your own master! I know what you're trying to do here!"
"Well, I do-don't," Ash stuttered. "Th-This fairy, Selene, just told me to fly-fly here and teach you something called Spe-Special Spells. I-I didn't say anything about you being stu-stupid. All I-I'm saying is that if you-you are to save the Human and Ma-Magic Worlds, then you mu-must travel to the Triangle and de-defeat some beasty known as the Oct-Octopus Ma-Man."
"Why are you stuttering so much? It makes you sound like you're five years old. Who cares?" Makenna narrowed her eyes and glared at Ash. "Do it yourself, you immature brute! I'm younger than you, so it isn't my time to die!" And just like that, she stood and approached Ash. She shoved his shoulder to get by him and stormed up the stairs again.
Ash clutched his shoulder and watched her disappear upstairs.
There was a moment of silence between Ash and Mr. Delling, and then Mr. Delling spoke: "I'm sorry about her, kid, but she's been a bit moody since she returned from Coutarine Island. Which brings me to ask…" He glanced at Ash. "Are you a fairy, too?"
"Fai-Fairy?" Ash confusingly stuttered, scratching his head. "Wha-What's a fair-fairy?"
For a bit, Mr. Delling stared at him. He then snorted and burst out laughing. Wiping his mouth, he asked the boy, "Are you serious? You really don't know? But just a second ago, you mentioned Coutarine Island! Makenna told us that's where the fairy sprites live. She also mentioned someone named Ethelinda."
"E-Ethelinda?" questioned Ash. "Who-Who's Ethelinda?"
Mr. Delling finally just dropped the topic about the island and Guardian, inquiring, "Forget that. I'll bring that up later. What I do want to know is, why are you speaking with a stutter?"
"It's because he's got a pretty serious brain injury," a voice behind him spoke.
Mr. Delling leaped ten feet in the air and whirled around.
Ash stared at the wall, spaced out.
A sparkle emerged from the kitchen door, and Mr. Delling watched as it soared into the room and approached his face.
Evelyn placed her hands on her hips and added, "So, you must be Makenna's father!"
"I-I am," Mr. Delling stuttered. "And you're a–you're a—!"
"I'm a sprite from Coutarine Island, but you may call me Evelyn," Evelyn explained. "Silvey and I traveled here to help Ash on his mission."
"Silvey?"
A small bark came from the front door, and in sauntered Silvey. With a smile on her face, she stopped before Mr. Delling and glanced into his face with her big, cyan eyes.
Mr. Delling's heart skipped a beat. "Oh, my goodness!" Evelyn moved aside so he could kneel before the fairy dog. Andy scratched her behind the ears and admitted, "You're so cute! My heart feels as if it's about to burst! What are you? Are you a dog of some sort?"
"Silvey's a fairy dog," Evelyn explained. "Fairy dogs are special dogs that are born and raised in the Magic World."
"She's adorable!" Mr. Delling squealed.
Silvey flopped onto her back and stuck her four legs into the air. She closed her eyes when Andy scratched her tummy.
"Oh, you like it there, don't you?" he asked.
Evelyn chuckled, but then her face changed to serious, and she took her hips again. "Sorry, Mr. Delling, but we don't have much time. Ash needs to see Makenna."
Andy took his hand away from Silvey and offered it to the sprite.
She landed in it and hooked her fingers behind her.
"She just went up to her room," Mr. Delling explained, "but I have to warn you that she's a bit grumpy."
"It's stress. She's worried about Tracey and Ash," Evelyn quipped.
"Tracey? Wait, he's all right? The last news I heard about him was that he was still in the ICU."
"Well, you don't need to worry. He was discharged from the hospital a few months ago."
"Oh man, that's a relief." Mr. Delling admitted. "We were scared he wouldn't make it. Speaking of which, what did you mean when you said Ash here has a pretty serious brain injury?"
"It's a long story," Evelyn politely explained, "but there's no time to explain. We've got to see Makenna. Where's her room?"
"Just go up the stairs and take a left. Her door is at the end of the hallway."
"Thanks." Evelyn flapped her wings and lifted off Andy's hand. She and Silvey approached spaced-out Ash.
Silvey pushed him toward the staircase.
"Come on, Ash," said Evelyn. "We're going to take you to Makenna's room."
"Makenna's room?" Ash questioned. "Wh-Why? Do-Don't you think that it-it's a little we-weird when you bare-barely know the gi-girl?"
Understanding his reference, Evelyn quickly spoke up. "We're not doing anything weird. We're just going to talk to her." With a shake of her head, she glanced at Silvey and said, "We've got to retrieve Crusader so he can regain his memory."
Silvey nodded in agreement. She watched her step as she, Evelyn, and Ash started up the stairs toward Makenna's room. Andy merely stood speechless at the bottom.