Okay, I changed this chapter. I'm actually quite happy with it now, just not so much with the end. I just checked for spelling and grammar errors before I posted. So, hopefully they aren't too common. I hope dearly it sounds better. Be nasty if you wish. And I would like to thank Rosey, Pippiedooda, Dreamworx and Merricat for their helpful reviews. Thank-you so much! Enjoy!
Pedro and I decided to wait and see if anything would happen before we told King Lucifer. We didn’t want to panic all Faeries because of nothing. Although, it did seem silly of us to withhold this information but we didn’t like drawing attention to ourselves. Even with our own kind. I actually tried to forget the whole thing. But sometimes, things like that come to bite you back.
I placed the last book onto the shelf and looked up at the clock. My shift at the bookstore was ending. I gave out a sigh. I didn’t want to go home. Pedro had been quite crabby of late. Mostly because of the conference that had happened two days before.
Pedro loved history. History of Earth, history of Argmar and the history of Faeries. He had to write an appropriate speech to tell the younger students at the Faerie College. His writing didn’t live up to the staff’s expectations and they docked him points. He needed at least two hundred points before he could graduate. It also didn’t help that his Spanish accent prevented people from understanding him. People who have ‘hearing’ problems. Note, that’s sarcasm there.
“Shift is over Antonio?” Nina inquired, walking past me.
“Of course. You still cleaning the floors?” I stared at her. Nina was the janitor at Liberty’s Bookstore. She was an older, rounder woman, but she had to be one of the kindest Faeries I knew. Besides Pedro and the bookstore’s owner, Quinn.
“The store closes in a few minutes. I’ll be here for an hour until everything is spotless. Bye Tony.” She began to stroll off towards the storage room.
“You know I don’t like being called Tony! Ant sounds better,” I called after her.
“I don’t know how, Tony.”
I rolled my eyes and strolled into staff room. “I’m going home Quinn.”
He looked up from the coffee machine and grinned. “See you tomorrow Antonio.” He turned his eyes back to the coffee machine and smacked the top of it. “The blasted piece of crap isn’t working again.”
I shrugged my coat on with a laugh. “Why don’t you use some of your magic?”
“Now why would I do that when I could go buy a new one that works ten times better?” He slammed a fist onto the machine and the coffee began to pour out. “Who needs magic?”
“Not me.”
“You be careful on your way home. I heard a young Misfit was beat to death the other day.”
I shoved my hat onto my head and shrugged. “They’ll never know I’m a Misfit. I’m an expert at hiding my animal side.”
Quinn shook a thin finger at me. “Just keep in mind Ant. They have powers and you don’t.” He poured himself some coffee and stirred in some cream. “Get going home before Pedro gets scared.”
“Ya, ya. Good night Quinn.” I turned and left the bookstore. I didn’t mind working in Liberty’s Bookstore. I loved to be around books, so it was an appropriate place to work and it was easy for me to hide my tail and horns. I merely had to slip into the backroom or hide behind a shelf. Quinn also only hired Faeries, so no problems there. Another bonus was that it was only four blocks from home.
I yawned and shoved my hands into my pockets. I had the evening shift at the store, but I didn’t mind walking in the dark. It was quite nice really, looking at all the lights. But that was just the minor reason. The major: Faeries loved the night life. We just loved the dark.
I could see the apartment building just ahead and gave out a sigh. I was getting quite hungry and hopefully Pedro had supper ready. It was unlikely, and maybe it was fortunate. He was a horrible cook and he knew it. Although, I’ll admit his spaghetti was delicious.
I tripped then and fell forward onto the granite sidewalk. I really had to pay attention where I walked. I was always tripping over my own feet. I groaned and turned my head to look at the wall. “Well, look at that, fellas! He’s got horns!” The voice did not sound surprised, but rather triumphant. These ‘fellas’ were Faeries.
Shit. I realized then that my hat had fallen off. Not good. Not good at all, especially if these thugs were losers who killed Misfits for the sport. I crawled towards my hat and reached a hand towards it. My fingers were just about to touch it when I a white sneaker landed down hard on my hand. I gave out a gasp of pain. I felt a knee press down in the small of my back and my other arm bend backwards.
Someone kneeled down in front of my and pressed the side of my face into the sidewalk. “Sure thing! He’s got horns. Little goatee horns.” I felt fingers tugging my horns. Bastards.
“Let’s teach him a lesson for being a Misfit,” the man in front of me said. I knew, from experience, that if I even tried to run or fight back they’d use their magic to immobilize me. It had happened the first and second time I encountered Misfit killers.
The world you see is like an over-sized school yard. You have the bullies and the bullied. You see it all the time, throughout history and even in the present. We Faeries really are no different. The ones with powers and shifting abilities bully those who were just almost normal and the Misfits. The normal ones in turn, bully the Misfits. We Misfits just…go through life.
I shut my eyes and covered my head with my arms. I tried not to think of the pain those idiots were inflicting. They just kept kicking me. My ribs screamed with pain as I tried to curl into a ball. I hated feeling so helpless. It just really sucked. I wasn’t too bad of a fighter myself. I got into plenty of fights at the schools I attended too when I was younger. Of course, all those fights were mostly with Faeries with magic, but that isn’t the point.
“Come on, Misfit! Just try and fight!” one of them taunted. I couldn’t resist the challenge and kicked one of my legs out, tripping one.
Someone grabbed the front of my jacket in his fist and raised his other hand as he prepared to hit me. His jaw was clenched and I glowered at him.
“Go on,” I whispered. “Hit me. Give me your best shot.”
His eyes narrowed and his grip on my coat tightened. I felt him tense and knew he was going to do it. I could see it in his eyes. Eyes that were brown like shit.
“Hey!” shouted a feminine voice I recognized.
“Crap. Split fellas. This Misfit gets to live a little longer.” The man let me go and I received another kick in the ribs before they all scampered off. I gave out a groan and rolled onto my stomach. I put my hands onto the sidewalk. I tried to push myself up, but a sharp pain flew through my shaky hands and I lost balance.
“Antonio! Ant, are you okay?” It was Gabrielle, Pedro’s girlfriend. What the hell was she doing over here? She dropped down beside me and grabbed my hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I managed to sit up the second time and looked at her, blinking my eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I was on my way to visit your brother.” She gave me a smile. Her gaze drifted upwards and I remembered my horns. I ripped my hand out of hers and laid it across the. “Could you pass me my hat please?”
She handed me the hat and I pulled it on, wincing with pain. I saw her swallow and there was a strangeness in her eyes. Something like a mixture of surprise, suspicion, and curiosity. She climbed to her own feet and helped me up.
“Thank-you.” I studied her face. She was beautiful and I felt a twinge of jealousy for my own brother. I wasn’t in to blondes, even a strawberry blonde like her. But I loved her eyes. Those emerald eyes.
Gabrielle laughed and began to walk to the apartment. “Let’s get you back home. Sometimes I wonder who the older one is between the two of you.”
“Him,” I said simply. “He’s older, but not in years.”
She helped me down the street and to the apartment. She opened the door and ushered me inside. “I’m going to get him and then we’ll take you to the hospital to get your hand x-rayed.”
I watched her hurry up the stairs and looked at my swollen hand. Faeries couldn’t be x-rayed. It burnt us inside out and I heard it was terrifying to see. I couldn’t help but imagine the pain the person went through. We Faeries had our own hospital. It was in an old building with boarded up windows. I’ve never been there and I didn’t want to, but my hand was throbbing.
I heard feet clambering down the stairs and I knew Pedro was coming. He came flying through the door and embraced me tightly. So tight it felt as if my ribs were being crushed and I was suffocating. I gave out a gasp. “P-Pedro! My ribs!”
“Oh! Sorry. But are you okay? What happened?” he demanded. “Gab said you were attacked by at least seven guys. Muggers?”
I looked over his shoulder at Gabrielle. She was still staring at me in that unusual way. Was she feeling sorry for me? Or was there something else?
“Well?”
I blinked my eyes and returned my gaze to his worried face. I leaned forwards and whispered into his ear so she couldn’t hear. “Misfit killers.” His face blanched as he took a step backwards. “And there were only five of them.”
“Can you remember what they look like? Perhaps we could go to the police,” Gabrielle suggested, taking a step forwards.
“No. I’m quite content with letting them roam the street. They were probably just a bunch of teenagers messing around. Trying to find an easier way to get money.” I yawned. “I hope you made supper, I’m starving.”
“Ha ha no. You know I’m not a good cook,” Pedro chuckled. “But let’s get you to the hospital.” He turned to Gabrielle. “Gabbie, you should go home. I’ll take care of my bro and phone you when we get back.”
She frowned stubbornly. “No! I’m going with you two!” she cried. “I’ve known you two hooligans long enough to be considered a close friend.”
Although I was in pain I couldn’t help but smile. “Oh yes. A close friend.”
“Shut-up Antonio.” Pedro walked over to Gabrielle and hugged her tightly. “I can take care of my older brother. I’ll call---”
“I saw th-those horns on your head Antonio,” she interrupted. Pedro’s face grew horrified, but I’m sure my own face was no different. “Why do you have horns? Are they fake, or is it some mutant, generic disease?”
I licked my lips and swallowed. Oh dear. Now I knew the reason for the weird look in her eyes. This was the first time any human had seen my horns. There was a law set down by King Lucifer. Any human who found out about we Faeries, are to be put to death. Usually, we Faeries are clever enough to hide our real identities, but there are some instances where we are found out. Those human deaths are made out to be horrible accidents. Gang shootings, car accidents, etc.
“It is a mutant, generic disease,” I stammered. My hands were shaking worse than before.
“Antonio!” Pedro cried. I could see his fear. It was written plain on his face.
“What? It is true enough.” I mentally slapped myself. Enough. Perfect word choice, idiot.
“Gabrielle, go upstairs okay? We’ll be back.”
“Hold it! What are you doing Pedro? She should go home.”
Gabrielle stared at the two of us. “Shut-up! The both of you!” We looked at her with surprise. “Tell me the truth! Why do you have horns? Why do I have to go home? Why can’t I go to the hospital with you?”
I glanced at my brother. “Pedro? What do we do?”
“What do we do? If you kept your damn horns hidden, we wouldn’t be having this discussion!” he snapped.
“What’s the deal? You’re going to blame me because I lost my hat while I was being beat to death? I tried to keep them hid. Now because of one mere accident you’re---”
“Yes, I’m blaming you! She could die now because she’s found out! She’s in danger and you don’t even care!” He bit his lip as he realized he said too much.
“Idiot. Now it’s your fault too.”
“I’m going to die because I found out you have horns Antonio?” Gabrielle inquired. Her expression was one of disgust. “You two are pathetic. Just tell me the truth or I’m out of here.”
“Fine! Gabrielle, your boyfriend isn’t a human. He’s a Faerie. We’re both Faeries.” Her face first showed surprise but turned to anger.
“You think I’m going to fall for that Antonio? I’m not a child and neither are you. If the two of you can’t be truthful…”
“It’s true Gabrielle. We’re Faeries. Don’t ask any questions now, okay? I’ll explain everything to you after we get Antonio to the hospital,” Pedro said in a pleading tone. This night was getting better and better.
“No! I want you to tell me everything right now!” I could see she was getting scared. I groaned and headed for the stairs.
“We’ll go to the hospital tomorrow. I’ll wrap my hand up and you can explain everything to her. Okay Pedro?”
He hurried over to me and lowered his voice. “But Ant, she knows Faeries exist. She’ll be put to death.”
“They can’t kill her if you plan on marrying her. I know you’ve been thinking about it.” I gave him a smile but ended up wincing again. My hand was really killing me now.
I just couldn’t believe how this evening went. It went from good to bad to worse. I didn’t know what to expect next.
I think this chapter is much better now that you have edited it- I like the changes you have made and how you have focused more on Gabrielle's reaction. I like the storyline so far 
I've still got some comments but overall I like what you have done.
'but that's not the point' might be better than 'but that isn't the point'.
