The Evening News

Marsden was dead. His body was laying face up staring at a starlit sky. In his hand was a long knife - which by all appearance he had used to repeatedly stick himself with before bleeding out on his patio.

Forensics could not prove that he had inflicted the wounds on himself, were it not for the security camera that had recorded the minutes of him holding the blade and turning its point towards his chest and gashing the flesh until gravity took him.

It did not seem that he was frenzied or depressed - he just did it.

Puck and crew first heard about it happening during the late edition evening news.

"That is so disturbing" Nervina softly said as he passed the salad over to Marley who had got in late.

"Too right it is" said Puck quietly back.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Twelve Months Late

The door opened and in walked Nervina and Brogan- twelve months late but their timing could not have been better.

Marley had not seen Brogan until this moment and was astounded - she almost thought to herself that he was alive again - he looked so well.

"Brogan!" Marley yelled happily and put both her arms around him in a big theatrical hug. He took a step back, slightly perplexed.

Brogan hardly remembered who she was now, let alone who she might have been to him.

The reason for his vagueness was twofold. Firstly he had no recall because nothing really happened between them, in his lifetime just passed; and secondly, all that led up to his homicide was now blurred, for Puck had helped him to forget everything that occurred during and just after the ordeal.

Marley on the other hand had been torn apart to read those final reports of his forlorn dumping and decayed remains. And so to see him stand beside her looking better than ever was remarkable. He looked so normal - well, almost.

Puck moved forward and embraced the two of them, relieved also to see how well they both fared.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Demeaned by Beans

"Beans! You traded me for beans!"

"It wasn't like that... and who told you anyway?" said Puck, now agitated that he was in trouble for doing something right. 

"Who do you think told me? - it was Goober doing the inventory". .. "That's hardly the point! ... beans?" she glared her strongest glare.

Marley felt crushed. It wasn't so much that Marsden was back trying to cause trouble again, her upset chiefly lay in the thought that the tradeoff might have involved bags of gold or something more significant than just beans. She felt demeaned. Demeaned by beans.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Solid Food

"Where is the cow now?"

"She's being cared for in India."

"How did that all work out?"

"The Child of the Earth improved - he's now taking some solid food."

"A good sign for the Menkind."

"True, true."


-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Daughter from the Future

"All's well" he said gently, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

Marley had been holding Charlene's hand, Puck had taken hold of the other. He bent down and gave her a kiss on her forehead in kind.

A crack of lightning snapped just outside the shed and little Charley slipped her hands from their hold and ran outside into the rain.

"Charley!" Marley called, wanting to go after her.

Puck looked at her dismissively.

"But she's wet and alone."

"The rain can't touch her - she's a spirit - you know that. I will send an elf to watch over her, don't worry."

"It's just that I did not get a chance to help her. I think she mistook me you know, for her mother. I must have reminded her somehow."

"No, there was no mistaking." 

"How do you know?"

"Because one day you will be exactly that - her mother. Today you met our daughter ... from the future."

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series 

Unique to the Lock

All of a sudden the rain came down - not just a few drops here and there - but a sheet of water fell heavily on their heads. Marley scooped up Charlene and made it to the first shelter she could find - the Gardener’s shed.

Inside they could hear the rain pelt down on top of the iron roof, and the ground seemed to be filling fast with water. There was a strong smell of manure and in the half light small machinery glinted. The wind bellowed, the door slammed and with that Marley heard someone pushing from the outside - they were locking it!

She strongly jolted the door and shouted very loudly but whoever had fastened it shut was not responding. Her heart sank for the last of the light had gone and there was no electricity in the shed.

She banged once again on the metal door - hoping that the groundsman would hear her - but it seemed he had turned in for the night, absconding from the storm. No sound returned.

"I will concentrate on Puck and he will come" Marley said to herself assuredly - "I know that if I need him, he will know".

Only moments later the door was rattling and her name was being called.

She was relieved. "Why did you need a key?" she chided.

Puck ignored this question not wanting to alarm her.

Marsden had paid the trolls to find her and confine her. They were at liberty (he had said) to do what they liked, so long as she was not wounded in the mounting. Greville, a long time friend to Puck had forewarned him of this arrangement. Oswald had complied. 

The keys these Trolls make use of are not ordinary fasteners - they render any door impassable and are unique to the lock the spell is placed upon.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Charley

She decided to take the child to the local playground to see if she would talk to her there.

Walking up the grassy rise still the child followed on behind.

Marley sat down on a park bench a little distance from the play equipment and the baby girl climbed up and snuggled right beside her. Close up Marley could see just how pretty she was; long lashes, pale blue eyes, framed by caramel colored Shirley Temple curls.

She looked out across the park, the seat was on a small hill and the view of the trees and gardens was quite lovely.

It had grown quiet, strangely quiet for a public place - being the end of the day the usual patrons were now at home eating their dinners and preparing for bed.

Marley could see that she was holding a fluffy white rabbit in one hand and a small book in the other. No words came.

"Do you have a name?" she asked gently. The little girl nodded and then smiled. 

"Can you tell me what it is?"
The little girl shook her head "no".

"May I call you a name of my own then?"

The child moved up yet closer on the seat and put her chubby arms around Marley's neck.

"Charlene! Charley for short (rhymes with Marley she thought) ...how does that sound?"

The child clung tightly and Marley felt a wonderful warmth.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series