Nohea Marketplace wasn't what Chris had imagined.

When he, Cassie, and Joe arrived, there were crowds of fairies bustling through the canopy-covered booths and open-faced island huts. But that wasn't what concerned him. He had gotten used to the idea that he wasn't human and seeing fairies with wings no longer fazed him.

But, in Nohea, bizarre was apparently the norm. The colors and patterns were bright and wild. Though many of the fairies resembled tiny Polynesian humans, Chris was dwelling on the faces that didn't even resemble faces. Some were tattooed and pierced with sharp objects in a way that looked painful and grotesque. One fairy-male passed by whose face was half covered in what looked like dragon scales.

Chris stared until another strange sight acquired his attention: two comparatively tall, wide creatures with large hairy ears and noses, and disproportionally short arms and legs. They were waddling along while enjoying a long skewer of meat and vegetables from a nearby food stall.

He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword just in case.

After the ugly creatures stomped past, Cassie squeezed his arm and stood on her toes to say, "Gnomes, and plump enough to be harmless. You only need to be wary of the thin ones."

On her other side, Joe took a step ahead and turned to see them both. "Chris, at this point, how can anything surprise you?"

Joe and Cassie were both smiling at him. He forced a tentative grin back, but it was a hollow gesture. The marketplace was busy enough to lose each other if they were careless. And there could be enemies nearby, some of whom might be looking for them.

After wandering around for a while with no destination in mind, Cassie tugged them both aside. She led them to a spot between a spice tent and a bakery booth.

"Chris, is everything all right? You look unwell," she warbled kindly as if he were on his deathbed.

"She's right, Chris. You look like crap," Joe added with much less sympathy.

"I'm fine," Chris claimed, and it was close to true. He was in a secluded place, and the smell of fresh bread was overpowering the exotic spices, so he was almost back to his normal self—cautious and watchful with a good dose of paranoia. Nothing he couldn't handle. So, he ignored their scrutiny and took a gulp from his canteen. Then he pulled out their shopping list and the wad of orange-edged bills from his pocket. "Where should we go first?"

He handed a third of the "manako notes" to Joe.

Joe glanced at the list and flicked the paper where it said flour and yeast. Then he flipped through the Kāne money. And just as he had earlier that morning, he chuckled at the sketch of General Kimo Jokura in the center of the fairy currency. The picture looked just like him; the eyes even had the right combination of ferocity and impatience.

Chris handed the rest of the bills to Cassie. He had seen enough of his former father-in-law lately and didn't need to carry the heavy essence in his pocket. The day at the market and his portion of the spending money were meant to be for her anyway.

Cassie was reluctant to take it, but Chris insisted, so she shrugged and placed it in the plaited bag at her hip, one she must have made herself from grass and natural materials. It was too elaborate to have been made by anyone else.

While Joe took a place in line at the bakery counter, Cassie led Chris across the way. He pointed in the direction they were headed when he caught Joe's eye. At Joe's nod, they entered a fairy boutique.

Inside, the colorful clothing displays were like a work of art. While Cassie gravitated toward the fem-fairy side, Chris remained by a table of simple, solid-colored shirts, the only ones they appeared to carry. He was keeping an eye on her while passively checking out a black tunic, similar in style to the off-white one he was already wearing, borrowed from his father. Before long, Cassie had sidled up beside him. "You should choose forest green."

Chris dropped the black shirt back on the pile. "I don't really need anything."

"You should get it." She held the green shirt underneath his chin. "It brings out the green in your eyes."

He squinted one eye and then the other. "My eyes are brown."

"No, they're hazel."

"I think I would know the color of my own eyes," he bantered back.

"Chris, I don't think you are nearly as observant as you think you are."

"Not true."

"Sorry, I'm not swayed." She turned her back and covered her eyes with her hand. "Do you even know the color of my eyes?"

"Black when you're far away. Dark brown when you're not. And almost purple up close," he said immediately.

"You do pay attention." She twirled back around like a dancer and ended up nearer to him than she was before.

"Yes, I do, but that was way too easy. Your eyes are piercing enough to bore a hole into something, especially when you're angry."

"And what about when I'm not angry?"

Chris tapped her on the nose. "Now you're just fishing for a compliment." He quickly sought to rectify the awkward moment he'd just created. "All right, you win. My eyes are hazel. I'll get the green one."

He tucked the shirt under his arm and followed her to the back of the tent. She browsed through the racks for a few more minutes and kept returning to the dresses.

A pink dress made her eyes light up. When she held it to her body, it brightened the hue of her lips and brought out the rose in her cheeks. He liked the dress she was wearing, white with blue and purple flowers—a doll dress she had customized—but this one looked like it was made just for her.

When she gave him her wide-eyed gaze, a clear request for his input, he nodded his approval. How could he say no?

They paid for their purchases and left to find Joe.

There was no longer a line at the bread booth, and Joe was not in sight. Chris and Cassie wandered around a small area, and then broadened their search. They traveled all the way back to their starting point and turned around.

The crowd had thinned considerably. Joe shouldn't have been that hard to find. They made it to the other end of the market and there was still no sign of him.

They came to a patch of long grass. Chris heard faint tropical music coming from somewhere beyond. While Cassie moved the grass aside so she could peek through, Chris began to visually backtrack through the market. He whirled around when he heard Cassie gasp.

Joe had come up beside her. He was tucking a pink plumeria flower behind her ear—tiny in general, but half the size of her head. It looked just about right for Hawaii.

"Where have you been?" she scolded. "We were starting to get worried!"

"I couldn't find you and then finished the list by myself so it wouldn't take all day, figuring we'd meet up, well, here." Joe lifted the three bags he was carrying for her to see. "Come on, both of you. I found something fun to do."

Joe led them toward the music. The grass flattened into a circular clearing. The fairy ukulele, the warm breeze, the glow of the early evening sun set the mood for dancing and romance.

Fairies ebbed and flowed like waves of grass in the wind. Some were even fluttering in the air around each other as if partaking in a magical mating ritual.

Chris's hand went into the back of his hair and he shifted his weight toward the exit. If he'd had a watch, he would have checked it. "This is nice and all, but I think we should get going."

Joe dropped the bags by Chris's feet. "Why? What's the hurry?" He removed the flower from Cassie's ear, put it between his teeth, and danced his way over to the center of the action before Chris had a chance to protest.

To Chris's surprise, Cassie remained by his side. Together, they watched Joe choose one partner after another, dancing until he was receiving the attention and laughter he sought.

"Is he always like this?" Cassie asked.

"Pretty much. You should see him once he has a few beers in him."

Her giggle tapered off to a silence that was more uncomfortable than usual. She took an audible breath. It sounded deep enough to be revitalizing.

He envied her. His heart was in his throat and his lungs were on the verge of closing over.

"Do you dance, Chris?"

"No!" he blurted. "It would take a lot more than beer to get me out there."

"Oh," was her only reply.

By the time Chris realized why she was asking, Joe was staring right at her. With the flower still in his mouth, he lifted his arm and curled his finger.

She shook her head and waved him off.

"Awwww, c'mon," he shouted, head cocked to the side.

Soon there were a few other fairies smiling at her, hooting and hollering. "Dance with him! Dance with him!"

When she still would not join in, Joe danced his way over to her and took her by the hand.

"I don't know how," Cassie said as she resisted his pull.

Cassie threw Chris a desperate glance over her shoulder. Chris grinned and shrugged, and felt a pang of regret when she took her place in Joe's arms.

At first, she paid more attention to her feet than anything else. But soon her inhibitions were no longer holding her back. Her grace and talent at all things had a chance to shine through.

Joe dipped her, spun her around. They made a great pair, and Chris felt more alone than ever. He spun his thoughts out into the future. He would always be the widower, the third wheel, the outsider. The happy couple would tolerate him only because he was family. But they would always gaze at each other with mutual pity in their eyes. Poor Chris. If only he were as happy as we are. . . .

The upbeat music waned to a stop. A slower song began. Another fairy took Cassie's place in Joe's arms.

Cassie bowed her head at her replacement and offered what looked like words of encouragement. With a wave good-bye, she wove her way back in Chris's direction.

And she had an immediate shadow, a shirtless fairy-male with enough metal piercing his face and body to be a hazard in a lightning storm.

He clutched onto her wrist. When she turned toward the tug, he grunted something with his shoulders puffed out and muscles flexed. Chris thought he might be delivering some poorly rehearsed pickup line.

Oh, you look familiar. Do you fly here often?

She shook her head and pointed over her shoulder.

Denied! Ha! Take that!

Whatever she had said should have been enough to send the pierced fairy on his way, yet he did not let go of her arm. He plastered on an abhorrent excuse for a smile and said something else.

Chris's weight shifted to his toes, but he forced himself back on his heels. He had to remind himself that it would be best to wait. If Cassie could handle the situation herself, he should let her. She had pegged Scott as sexist, and it was a title he'd prefer to avoid.

She shook her head again. The pierced fairy donned a look of stubborn incomprehension. When his hand went to her face in an aggressive attempt to entice her, Cassie flinched. She backed away from his touch and twisted her arm free. As she turned, she bumped into Chris's chest.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I. . ."

Chris barely noticed her flushed cheeks. Or the stammering. He was too busy giving the fairy who wouldn't take no for an answer a look that said cease and desist.

Like a coward, the pierced fairy dropped his eyes, mumbled something under his breath, and flew off.

Chris's unforgiving stare followed him until he was out of sight. Then his attention was back where it belonged—with Cassie.

They were the only two stationary objects in the clearing. And though they were facing each other, her eyes were deflected to the side. He had no idea what Cassie was feeling in this moment—shame, embarrassment, fear, relief, loneliness? But he thought she looked unhappy. So he grasped onto her fingertips. 

Lifting their hands, he twirled her in a slow circle. Then their positions and hands settled, his on her waist, hers tentatively on his shoulders, and the music sent them into orbit.

"So, you got me out here," he said when he caught her eye. "You and that fairy pincushion."

"It certainly took you long enough."

He tried to find the words to explain why he had waited, but she had a playful twinkle in her eyes, so it really didn't matter.

As her eyes lowered from his face, he saw the strange flick of purple inside them and couldn't stop staring. "They're soothing."

She looked back up. "What's soothing?"

"Your eyes. When you're not angry, your eyes are soothing. Remember when you asked earlier?"

"I haven't forgotten."

"Whatever is in there, it's magical and it's working. See how calm I am? I haven't felt this calm in. . ."

Ages.

He never said the word, but he must have said something right. She pressed against him and rested her head on his chest.

Easy as that, all calm abandoned him. His body went rigid. His heart began beating with so much nervous energy. He was worried she'd feel it pounding against her. And she was about to feel something else—so uncontrollable and so wildly inappropriate.

He should have stepped away from her, made some excuse. He was treading in dangerous territory, but he couldn't deny himself the rush. His hands moved to her lower back and kept her close. He was sure she could feel his body reacting and wished he didn't have to be ashamed.

He rested his chin against her hair and was able to escape outside of himself. He became someone who believed in the possibility. Of peace. They'd find a place in their world where there would be no more fighting. He could love again as if it were the first time—freely, openly, fearlessly.

But the moment passed quickly. There was no such thing, in this world or any other world. And the sudden stab of guilt, as well as the suspicion he was being watched and judged, made him aware that happiness wasn't his to have.

It belonged to someone else.

Chris opened his eyes. His brother was beside them, waiting.

Joe raised his eyebrows when he was finally acknowledged. "Sorry to interrupt. Are you two ready to go?"

Cassie withdrew from Chris's hold. The warmth of her glow vanished. A word of protest almost shot from his mouth. But, at the same time, a buzzing filled the air. A gang of winged fairies dropped in from the sky like a swarm of black locusts.

"Who are these creeps?" Chris said, his mood, energy, and ardor all so abruptly redirected.

"No idea," Joe replied, "but let's get out of here."

They grabbed their bags and hurried toward the grassy exit. But they weren't the only ones who were eager to flee. The chaos stirred up pollen and dirt clouds and made it hard to see, move, and stay together.

The three of them somehow managed to escape to the marketplace. There was more room to breathe, but the danger was just as real. Knifed-up canopies dangled from their splintered bases in booth after booth. The dark-winged fairies were looting the marketplace. Knife fights were in progress all around them.

Chris pulled out his sword and led them toward the market gate, beyond which lay one of his father's magical wormholes. They were nearly there when Chris heard a slash and felt a disorienting burst of pain on his left side.

Cassie was seized from his protective huddle.

A winged fairy with a bald round head was dragging Cassie away by the wrist while in flight, making an attempt to lift her into the air. Her arm thrashed and she was digging her toes into the ground hard enough to leave furrow marks.

Her will to resist gave Chris and Joe enough time to launch a counterattack. Chris was closest to her and dove to his knees, grabbing her waist with his free hand.

To avoid the swing of Chris's sword, the bald fairy released Cassie, but his malicious smile suggested he wasn't about to surrender his prize, not without a fight.

Joe came to Chris's side. He crossed his arms and gave their enemy a hard stare. Invisible energy popped forth and the bald fairy spiraled into the sky as if caught in a cyclone. Once Joe's eyes were free to wander, he gave Chris a quick, pointed look, lazily lifting one eyebrow as if to announce that he wasn't useless anymore.

Then he walked on. And all eyes seemed to follow him.

Though his magic had solved one problem, he had potentially created new ones.

Allies? Enemies? It was hard to tell the difference among the circus show of fantastical creatures. And to anyone with a keen eye, they had just announced who they were and where they were.

With Joe leading the way out, making space if necessary, they continued their trek from the marketplace. They stepped into the brush, and soon, they entered the full-blown jungle.

They ran without a word until they made it back to the wormhole. Once safely inside, Chris finally had a chance to check on the nagging source of pain.

The back of his shirt was torn and covered in blood.

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Hawaiian Instrumental

https://youtu.be/9QGMTZZsS9Y