Whispering Suits

The bridge is packed, which is what I expected. People from around the city gather here to watch the various firework displays being set off around the city, and at 7pm the castle sets off their display and this is the best view you can get for free. Last year, Mum managed to convince Dan to come down and watch the display with us. I find the exact spot where we had stood together, huddled up the three of us, but there's a different family stood there now. I watch as the mum hands out bonfire toffees to the two kids with her, and the Dad has his arm around his wife as they laugh about something he's just said. I walk along until I find a solo spot and wait. A few fireworks go off in the distance, and I feel a small shiver of excitement go down my spine. I've always loved fireworks, and bonfire night especially. When I was younger and it was just me and mum, we always used to go to the local bonfire and I loved sitting next to the fire and feeling it's heat. It was the one thing I liked about it getting colder, getting to sit around a roaring fire. I shake myself out of it, for now I know I have to focus on the task at hand. Almost as if on cue, I feel Nat's presence and turn round to see her walking towards me. Nat pulls me in for a hug, and I'm about to say hello when I hear her voice in my mind. ‘Don’t speak. It's not safe here. We're being watched. Just follow my lead’. Nat steps back, she has a forced smile on her face and I try my best to match it. “Izzy, so good to see you” she says, her voice catching slightly. Izzy is the name I use when working at her cafe, if she's using that now it can only mean one thing. There is a Faerie nearby, and one we don't want knowing my real name. I nod slightly to show I understand. “It’s been too long, Tish” I say, using the nickname Nat uses at work. Her smile relaxes a bit now she knows I understand. She takes my arm and starts walking down the bridge. “The sky is beautiful tonight, the stars are really shining”. Nat says, her eyes darting to somewhere behind us. It takes a moment to remember the code that NAT made with mum, Stars means the Faerie following us is from the Winter court, shining means it's not a noble. Which is a small mercy, but any Winter Fae can be deadly, and now that the seasons have changed they'll only be growing in strength. I try not to seem panicked, but it's difficult. “Yes, it has been a lovely night. Though, it does make one sleepy” I reply, asking how long she thinks the Faerie will follow us. Nat doesn't reply, but shakes her head, which can't be good. “Let's grab a drink, perhaps some coffee would be good”. Nat finally says. I stop walking, she can't be serious. Getting coffee was the code for going to a Faerie hideout. She wants to take a mortal with The Sight to a place teeming with Fae. She gives me a look, and I realise this is the only idea she has. If we're avoiding a Winter Faerie, then that means either a Spring or Summer hideout is the best place for us to go. Nat gives me a nod, meaning she's read my mind and is waiting for me to pick my poison. I'll be the one at risk after all. I take a deep breath, and try to think about what mum would suggest. Then I feel it, the deck in my pocket, I feel it calling out to me. I reach my free hand into the pocket, and am somehow not surprised to find that the box is open and one of the cards is peaking out. I fumble the card into my hand, trying not to draw the attention of whatever is watching us. I slowly withdraw my hand, and look at the card I've retrieved. The card has a faint glow, and I can feel the warm tingles if magic coming off the card. The drawing on the card is intricate, and depicts a male Faerie holding glowing sun. As I look at the card, I could swear that the figure was moving, balancing the sun from one hand to the other. I slip the card back into my pocket, and feel as it whips itself back into the box. I turn to face Nat, ignoring the puzzled look on her face as I confidently make my choice. “Yes, hot coffee would be perfect on a night like this. I like my coffee with cinnamon in”. Now it's Nat’s turn to look surprised. Cinnamon means I'm suggesting the summer court, who are known to be volitalie and hot headed. Someone with more sense might have chosen the Spring court, we'd still have safety from the Winter Fae and Sring Fae are typically milder in temperament. But, the deck showed me The Sun card, and I'm certain it wants me to pick the summer court. I'm not sure why I'm trusting it, maybe because it makes me thinks of my mother. Maybe because I don't have any choice. Whatever the reason, I am choosing to trust it. Nat gives my arm a squeeze, I can tell she's not exactly thrilled with my choice. But, since this was her idea in the first place I don't suppose she has much right to complain. We both take a deep breath, then she begins to lead the way. We thread through the streets in silence, and I can feel the Faerie that's following us. The air is getting colder, and the air feels sharp in my lungs. It must be on the hunt, and it's decided that Nat and I are it's prey. We turn the corner and I'm surprised to see where heading to the same bar Gran held the wake at. I look at Nat inquisitively, if this was a Faerie hideout why did she let us hold mum's wake here. In my mind, I hear her reassure voice. ‘Don’t worry Indigo. This isn't their main base, I wouldn't bring you here if it was. This should just be enough to deter that beast following us.’. I nod in understanding, and follow behind Nat into the bar, which I only now see is called ‘The Sun’.