Leo wriggled onto his back in a definite request for his belly to be scratched. I swear you’re part cat sometimes. She chuckled and smiled down at the rabbit. “Well at least I’m not going to be here alone.”

“Hello?”

“Mum, hi. I’ve got something I need to tell you. Do you have a minute?”

“Oh dear Lord? Are you pregnant?” Ella saw her face deadpan back at her from the reflection in the Television.

“No, mother, I’m not pregnant.”

“Oh thank goodness for that. Your tone dear. It was very worrisome. Go one then? What’s the story?” Ella shook her head with a chuckle. Well hopefully my luck will last and they’ll take this as well as Drake did.

“I’ve put in an offer on a house. The one I’m working in. It’s beautiful Mum. When I’ve finished with it it’s going to be-”

“Oh that’s wonderful news!” Ella’s mouth hung open in shock. Wait, what? “You’ve found your first BnB at last. Oh it’s about time you got started on chasing your dreams. That was the plan wasn’t it? A BnB first, then hotels? Oh fantastic news honey. Do you have what you need for the deposit? Your father and I don’t have much but I can cash in some bonds and help you out if you have the need?”

“N-no Mum.” Ella pinched the brow of her nose. Do I let her believe I’ve bought a BnB? They would be happy for me and understand me moving if they thought I was simply taking the next step towards my goals…but I don’t like lying to them. “I think I have enough in my savings. I’ll find out at the bank tomorrow.”

“Oh that’s wonderful. The only thing that would make this better is if you told me you’d found yourself a nice Irish boy to start courting.” Ella couldn’t stop herself from snorting with laughter. Oh yeah. A nice Irish boy alright. Can you get more Irish than Aos Sí? A terrifying fairy that I have to give offerings of cake and sweet fruit to keep it from killing me? If so, then yes. Absolutely. She looked down at Leo who’s left leg was happily twitching like he would be thumping it with pleasure at his belly being scratched.

“Well in a way. He has black fur, long ears, the cutest little nose and a preference for carrots.”

“…what are you about girl?” Ella laughed and shrugged.

“A rabbit, Mum. His name is Leo. He’s a Lionhead rabbit and the cutest little guy you’ve ever seen.”

“Wow. You really are settled there if you’ve got a pet as well. When do you think we can come and visit?” Elle’s blue eyes widened and she swallowed a lump in her throat. Oh no, they can’t come and visit?! I can’t let my parents anywhere near the monster.

“Oh I don’t know. I’ve got the place for a cheap price because it’s still quite a wreck inside.” Ella lied through her teeth and looked around at the polished walls and floors, soft rugs, and fully functioning electrics. The house, in truth, didn’t need very much doing to it now. Just cosmetic things really. “When it’s safe for you to visit I-I’ll let you know.”

“Oh that’s grand dear. I’m sure you’ll have the place ready to receive guests in no time. Oh we’re both very proud of you dear.”

“Thanks Mum.” Ella grimaced. She hated lying to her parents. Just as she could sense that the conversation was about to draw to a close, Ella decided to take advantage of having her mother on the phone. “Mum, while I’ve got you, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that dear?”

“The locals here have a strong connection to the same old stories that you used to tell me when I was little. You know? The fairy stories. The Aos Sí?”

“Oh goodness I remember telling you some of my mother’s tales, yes. Right before bedtime and before you discovered comic books.” Ella chuckled and slid her body down to lay across the sofa. She manoeuvred Leo to lay beside her and continued to scratch his belly, which he approved of from the way he continued to purr against his teeth. “You used to enjoy stories of the Good neighbours, and your favourite were tales about Leprechauns and the fairy court.”

“Yes I remember.” Ella blinked and looked down at Leo. It almost looked like he was looking up at her curiously and listening to their conversation. “…well I’m wondering if you can help me identify a particular fairy the locals talk about.” Leo wriggled suddenly for freedom and hopped quickly over to the front door. Oh, times up. He either needs to go and do his business or go back to his rabbit family. Ella smiled and pushed up off the sofa to open the front door for him.

“Go on?”

“Yeah. This guy is big, like a man big, and is covered in black fur.” She opened the door and Leo…lingered in the open doorway. His head turned to the side to look up at her. “Yellow eyes, horns on his head and long ears. Like a hare or something. Oh, and he can talk and is…dangerous if pissed off.” Ella watched as Leo bolted for the forest and shrugged. She wasn’t a rabbit whisperer, but Leo always came back, so she didn’t worry too much. She closed and locked the door with the iron key and headed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

“…does this fairy a trickster and associated with luck? Good and bad?”

“Yes!” Ella nodded frantically as she pressed the switch on her kettle to start boiling water. “I’ve tried looking up what it is but I never get close. Do you know what kind of fairy it is?”

“It sounds to me like there is a strong local legend where you are about the Púca.” Ella felt something pulse in her chest. Somehow knowing what she was dealing with made dealing with it more manageable. At least now she’d be able to do some research. Then again? In for a penny in for a pound.

“Cool. Do you happen to know anything about Púca?”

“Only what my mother told me.” Ella hummed curiously as she poured the kettle. “They can change their form, but they always have rabbit ears-” Ella recalled it transforming into a large wolfhound to drag away the bodies of the electricians. It had long rabbit ears in that form too, so the theory fit. “-and they are not really bad or good. They tend to enjoy a good natter and can be as much of a trickster as a leprechaun. Famous for pretending to be a horse and giving anyone who get’s on their back a hell of a ride, if you catch my drift.”

“A huh?” None of that sounds too bad. My creature is a deadly monster, not a trickster. “What about offerings? Apparently this fairy, this Púca, requires offerings? Sweet bread and fruit?”

“That’s right. But only if you are on it’s land or you make a wager with one.” Her mother chuckled. “Like all fairies you should never make a deal with one. They’ll hold to it to your last breath.”  

“Do you understand the nature of the pact?”

“Yes.”  

“Tell me you understand.”

“I-I-I u-u-und-d-ders-t-st-stand.”  

 Oh crap. Ella groaned and palmed her face. That’s why he asked me to say I understand. Because now we have a deal. I’ve agreed to stay on his land in exchange for offerings. Well, it’s a good job I’m buying the place and staying put. If the Púca would hold me to the deal to my last breath, I’d be breathing my last breath the moment I left the place. I bet I’d not even make it out of Gleann Caillte before those jaws found me. Ella finished making her tea and sighed.

“If, for the sake of argument, a person did make a deal with a Púca…how would they get out of it?”

“By dying.” Her mother chuckled. “To the Aos Sí a promise is a life long deal. You don’t get out of it until you’re no longer alive.”

“Ah. Good to know.” I’m boned to the day I die. Great. My first lead project has become my last one. That is some serious bad luck. “Thanks for that Mum. Oh, I’ve got another call on the line. I’ll give you a call over the next couple of days. Love you Mum.”

“Oh, bye sweetheart! Good luck with your new BnB!” Ella ended the call and sighed. She hated lying to her parents, but she couldn’t tell them the truth. Not without endangering them. Ella allowed herself a moment to process her new life as the captive of a creature that shouldn’t exist, before carrying her cup of tea back into the living room. She cleared her throat, opened up a web browser on her phone, and typed in ‘Púca’. Well? I might as well get to know the devil I know. Since I’ve basically agreed to live on his land and supply him with cake and fruit for the rest of my life…or die…crap.