Chapter Eighteen: Bradley Endless
1977 Words
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BRADLEY ENDLESS
I didn’t know what I was doing.
Adelaide had a way of making me do stupid things. Not only stupid things, but reckless things. What Adelaide didn’t know was that going into limbo was actually illegal for humans. Every once and a while, some poor, helpless stumbled through. If they weren’t kicked out immediately, they often ended up going mad from being in a place that they weren’t supposed to.
But I’d never seen anyone look so hurt or so dejected. I couldn’t stomach the idea of it. I fed her a lie, even though I knew that we wouldn’t find Danny there. She might hate me if she ever found out, but at least I could say I didn’t disappoint her.
The thing about the forest in faerie was that you never found anything or anyone until you needed them. We walked for a while, saying nothing as we did. It was pure torture, being this close with her yet feeling so far away.
“You were looking for me?” a voice said.
Both of us looked down at that exact moment to see a rabbit in a blue vest staring at us. Adelaide gaped at him, too stunned say anything.
“Hello, Baxter.”
“Thief,” he replied coldly, “have you gotten my pocket watch back yet?”
I winced. “As it turns out Baxter, that watch was part of a debt that I have with a Pirate named Hook, so unfortunately I haven’t been able to remedy matters.”
Baxter crossed his tiny, furry arms over his chest. “What makes you think I should grant you any favors, Bradley Endless? You’re a thief, with a notorious reputation for being a liar. What I should do, is turn you into the sheriff. There’s a handsome reward they’re offering for your head, you know.”
“You wouldn’t be doing a favor for him,” Adelaide said, “you’d be doing a favor for me. If you do this, I’ll retrieve your watch.”
I winced. “Adelaide, I don’t know if that is a good idea, to go around making promises like that. Hook isn’t exactly Jack Sparrow.”
“And you aren’t exactly Prince Charming, yet here I am,” she replied tersely.
Her coldness made me wince, but at the same time, it didn’t surprise me. We were in an impossible situation. She was the love of my life, and she had just lost hers. We had found each other, yet at the worst possible time.
“Alright. We’ll get the pocket watch,” I said.
Baxter sniffed the air, as if trying to decide if Adelaide had the scent of a liar on her. Deciding that she didn’t, he nodded, “Alright, alright. Her, I trust. She doesn’t smell like a liar. But you’ve only got one shot, girl. If you go back on your word, you won’t get a second chance. Words are important in faerie. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” said Adelaide.
Baxter nodded. “That being said, Bradley, it is nice to see you an honest woman. I never thought that you would have a woman of quality. She’s much different from your usual fair.”
I stiffened. “Rabbit, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Baxter laughed. “I know a lot more than she does, I’d wager. Adelaide would you like to hear a story about this gentleman and a particular little mermaid---”
“Baxter,” I said harshly, “just because you’re helping us doesn’t mean that I won’t turn you into rabbit stew.”
“Bradley,” said Adelaide with a warning voice. Adelaide looked down at Baxter. “He doesn’t speak for me you know.”
I sighed and clenched my jaw.
Baxter grinned. “It’s perfectly alright, Miss. As long as Adelaide is with you it will be perfectly fine. If you even think about trying to come here by yourself, I suggest you have that watch back.”
“Noted,” I said, “now are you going to let us through to limbo or not?”
“I’ll let you through,” Baxter said, “and I’ll expect that pocket watch before you leave faerie.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, rabbit stew,” I said, “just open the hole.”
Baxter grinned, and with a wave of his hand, he made the ground shake, creating a hole in the ground. “Jump in whenever your ready, and then the hole will disappear.”
“How do we get out?” Adelaide asked.
“That’s up for you to decide,” Baxter said.
“For us to decide?” Adelaide squeaked.
“Exactly,” I answered.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Welcome to faerie, Adelaide. Now, jump.”
“Jump?” Her eyes widened in terror.
“We have to go down the hole someway, don’t we?” I reminded her. “Jumping is the easiest way to get there.”
“Okay, okay,” Adelaide swallowed, looking terrified, “and you’ll come with me?”
“Of course,” I said, “I’m not letting you go anywhere alone, ever again.”
Adelaide nodded, and with a jump, she went down into the black, deep dark rabbit hole. I followed after her. Only this woman could make me jump into different worlds, to chase after impossibly dangerous pirates.
I loved her.
I would do anything for her. Even if it meant facing unquestionable things. So, I made the jump. When I landed, I groaned as I’d hit my arm. Adelaide stood over me and helped to pick me up.
“Oh my god!” Adelaide exclaimed. “I can’t believe we did that. We’ve jumped worlds!”
“Yes, we did,” I said, grinning at her. It had been so long since I had seen anyone enthusiastic about faerie. I had long since forgotten the magic that came with the place because I also knew the terrible things about that.
Adelaide looked around, taking everything in. Limbo was filled with mist, slightly cold, and slightly damp. “It’s not at all what I expected. It’s sad.”
“It’s very sad,” I agreed, “but this is more of a waiting room. This isn’t where souls have their final resting place. Here, we have to grab a candle, and say a prayer.” I walked over to where there were candles, waiting for us in golden candle holders. I took to of them, then handed one to Adelaide.
“Think of the soul that you want to speak to,” I said, “and he should appear.”
Danny Boyle appeared. Danny Boyle was tall, muscular, with red hair who slightly resembled Prince Harry. It wasn’t any wonder why Danny had been the object of Adelaide’s childhood first romance. He was also in his military uniform.
“Adelaide!” he said. “What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here! They told me you were safe when I passed over.”
Adelaide smiled. “Danny, I’m fine. But they told me about what happened, and I couldn’t…I couldn’t move on until I was able to say goodbye with you.”
Danny frowned. “Move on?”
“Hi, Boyle,” I said, stepping forward, and waving at Danny.
Danny looked at me suspiciously. “Bradley Endless?”
“You always thought there was something between us,” Adelaide said, “you were right. But the Endless estate is enchanted, so if anyone spends anytime there, they forget everything that happened once they step off of the property. Bradley and I have been in love for as far back as we can remember, and he found a way to make it so that the enchantment was taken off for me.”
Danny smiled. “You want to be together?”
“I do,” said Adelaide, “I…. but I couldn’t move on until I knew that everything was okay. That you weren’t suffering.”
Danny stepped forward and took her hand in his. Or tried to. His hand went through hers, as he was no longer solid. “I want you to be happy, my dove. I’d never want you to wait around for me. You don’t need my blessing, either. I’ve always known that you had a history with the Endlesses, I just could never figure it out. Do not feel guilty for being with him, if anything, I should be the one that’s guilty?”
“What?” Adelaide blinked.
Danny looked from Adelaide to me. “When we teenagers, I found a note that you had written Adelaide, explaining everything that had happened to you. Explaining everything, including about faerie. I tossed the note.”
“You…what?” Adelaide looked shocked.
“I was in love with you,” Danny said, “I had to take my shot, and I knew that I could never be with you because I would never stand a chance against Bradley Endless. I’m sorry, Adelaide. Truly sorry.”
Adelaide had tears streaming down her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Danny. I love you too. I’ve always loved you.”
Danny nodded. “Be happy, Adelaide.”
“You too, Danny.”
She reached out, as though to touch him, but once more, her hand went through him again.
Danny looked directly at me. “You take care of her, alright Endless?”
“Alright, Boyle,” I said with a nod.
Danny looked at Adelaide. “Send me home, luv. Send me home.”
Adelaide nodded, and blew out her candle. I did too. Danny vanished, leaving me with a still crying Adelaide. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I thought that would make you happy.”
“It does make me happy,” said Adelaide, “but also sad…I…I never thought that this would end this way.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologized.
She looked up at me. “You were really going to tell me about everything?”
I nodded. “I’ve been in love with you for as far back as I could remember, Adelaide. I’ve always wanted you. I would have risked everything, including my family.”
“I…I’m not there yet,” Adelaide said, “this is all new to me, Bradley. And after losing Danny…”
“Take your time, Adelaide. But one way or another, we’ll be together. I promise.”
She nodded, and wiped tears from her face. “How do we get out of here.”
“You don’t,” a cold, cruel voice said.
The both of us turned and standing there was a man dressed like a pirate, wearing a long, duster leather jacket, with a silver hook glinting from his hand. “Because you have to deal with me first.”
- Writer
