Reign of Witches

by Brooke Smiley

  When morning came, Tay was fluttering with excitement. It was the morning of her maturing wings ceremony. All the fairies were gathering every color of flower you could imagine. They were planning to build her the dream tower she had always wanted. I wondered if this could be my chance to escape.

  Looking up at the morning sky, I pondered all the ways I could sneak into Tay's ceremony without being spotted by King Trailyon. I didn’t think he would be too pleased to know that his daughter and I were still friends. I hoped I see Queen Lindy. At least I knew she liked me.

  "Anna..." Tay fluttered toward me with dazzle in her eyes. "Did you see this? They are building me a tower!" She had so much thrill in her voice and all I could think to do was smile as she gabbed away.

  "No more staying in that log, Anna! You can come live with me!" Tay was so animated and persistent. My friend's words were generous and welcoming. It was sad that she didn't have a clue this wasn't going to work. The king wouldn’t allow it.

  As my eyes set gaze on the beautiful colored tower, I let my thoughts flow away in my head. I wondered what it would be like to live with Tay. She wanted me to live with her. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. I twiddled my fingers over one another, trying to make sense of it all.

  Looking back at Tay I smiled. Her invite was beyond wonderful, but I still needed a disguise for her ceremony. "Anna? Anna! Snap out of it!" Tay smacked my arm. "Don't you want to live with me?" "Ouch!" I yelped. Her little hand felt like a bee sting.

  "I'm not trying to ignore you Tay, but in all your excitement you have forgotten one big problem," I said while rubbing my arm. Tay flew in a backward motion. Her little finger tapping her chin in deep thought. "What?" she asked cluelessly. "Tay, how am I supposed to join you this evening, when your father, the king, forbade us from being friends? Don't you think he'll notice me?"

  Tay glided up to my shoulder, made herself comfy, and lifted both of her hands over her head. "Well, that's easy. You can just wear one of my dresses. We'll make it look like you're one of the kingdom fairies." Tay's idea was doable, and I was hoping upon hope it would work. She gave me a quirky smirk, and before I knew it, she had in her hand a baby blue gown for me.

  "Here, Anna, wear this one.” All my weary thoughts vanished. I was no longer worried about the outcome. My eyes glimmered at the sight of this gorgeous shimmering garment in front of me. Tay's dress was exquisite. There were sequences of clear diamond shapes and little silver crystal specks all over it. Little see-through straps to go over my shoulders with a lace-up back that formed a bow at the top.

  Just when I thought things couldn't get any better... POOF! They appeared. Tay's astonishing blue glass slippers. My heart skipped a beat when I saw they shimmered just like the gown. The whole ensemble was captivating.

  Mesmerized by her hospitality, I thought this could actually work. Looking at Tay, both corners of my mouth rose high. She nodded her head. "Good. Then it's settled. We'll move you in after my ceremony."

  After the glamour wore off, I went right back to my worrying thoughts. Nervous as I was, Tay had never given me a reason to be scared of her.

  I mustered up another fake smile and lifted my finger to Tay’s hand while shouting, “This is going to be great!” Her hand met my large finger as she nodded and giggled. “We are going to have so much fun, Anna.”

  Night fell and it was time for Tay’s ceremony. Flying into the giant diamond, my eyes transfixed on enchanting sparkles of jewels and bright lights with glitter. Every color you could ever dream of. It was breathtaking. Cakes, candies, cookies, crumpets and so much more were over-flowing this gorgeous porcelain table.

  Lifting my face from all the deliciousness in front of me, Tay slid out between what looked to be two beautiful, icy, see-through doors. There she glimmered away in a snowy white gown. It sparkled so bright that my eyes had to look away for a second. Her wings glowed with a glittery substance radiating off of them.

  The trumpets sounded as King Trailyon and Queen Lindy soared in behind Tay. Standing in front of the crowd, the King proclaimed, “As you all may have guessed, this is a proud day for us.” His voice was jubilant and so loud it echoed through the entire banquet hall.

  My eyes dazzled as I watched Tay stand next to Queen Lindy in her stunning ballgown.

  "Silence!"

  Everyone stilled and began to quiet their chattering. "Oh no!" I whispered with a silent squeak. My heart began beating so hard that I thought it was going to come right out of my chest. The king spotted me. My palms were sweating, and my body was starting to tremble. I thought where I was standing was helping me to blend in with the rest of the crowd. Clearly I couldn't have been more wrong.

  Raising his voice toward me, the king shouted, "You there! Who invited you? And why in all the fairy realms are you not in your human form?!" I gasped. King Trailyon was livid at the thought of me being there. I looked to my friend for any glimpse of an answer, only to find her eyes were popped open as wide as mine.

  Just as I took a deep breath to try and give him some form of explanation, I heard a friendly familiar voice speak. "Trailyon, leave Annalise alone. She is our daughter's friend and she can be trusted." My pulse slowed. Queen Lindy had come to my rescue. Thank the stars! I had almost hyperventilated.

  Tay's father definitely wasn't thrilled with me being there, but when his Queen spoke, he obliged her request out of respect.

  Clearing his throat, the king sat on his throne while continuing to address the crowd.

  Everyone stilled and began to quiet their chattering. Clearing his throat, the king sat on his throne while continuing to address the crowd. “As you all know, my daughter Tailya has come to the age where it is time for her to spread her wings on her own now. Let us all wish her a journey full of adventure and prosperity.”

  What? I mean, Tay was my age. Or, so I thought. I began questioning what I had thought I already knew. Just how old was she? Maybe she really did care for me. I drifted off in thought, thinking about when we first met. I remembered she was very kind and smiled a lot. Now I was certain – she really was my friend. But still, what did she want with Kedron? The thought unsettled me.

  As I focused back on the present, my ears were pierced with the roar coming from the crowd. “Hail, Tailya, our soon to be queen!” Wait, Queen Tailya?! What was going on? Tay turned my way and as our eyes met, she saw the look of confusion on my face. Giving me a slight smile and head tilt, I felt more content, just as I had the day I met her. Somehow, I knew she was going to explain it all to me.

  Before taking my eyes off her, I noticed an over-joyed Tailya as she laid her wide eyes on her finished tower. It was like a dream. A wonderful, beautiful, enchanted vision. So many colors that sparkled like crystals. Stunning bright flowers of every color. All wrapped around the clear glass walls of Tay’s magical new home. Living here with my friend was going to be wonderous!

  The ceremony had ended. It was time for all the tribes to say their peace and wishes for Tay. She yawned as the last fairy nodded and fluttered away. It was time for me to escape and return to my log. “Annalise.” A faint whisper from afar said my name. But who else knew I was here? I began to feel like a stiff tree…my wings stiff like papier mache.

  “Oh, come now, child, I will not harm you. It is I, Queen Lindy.” My heart sunk back down from my throat as I gulped and spun around to give Queen Lindy a curtsy. “Pleased to see you again, Your Majesty.” “So formal these days, aren’t we, Annalise? I told you, child, call me Lindy.” “Yes, ma’am,” I said with delight as a giggle rose up out of me. “Lindy, I know you are fine with my presence, but what about King Trailyon? I do not want to defy his orders. He said I was never welcome here again.” I lowered my head in an undeserving manner.

  “Raise your eyes, Annalise. You are welcome here by order of Queen Lindy. You let me worry about that old coot the king.” The queen lit up with laughter and I laughed right alongside her, feeling joy and a new sense of peace. I was safe. The chain-breaking thoug
ht floated through my brain as I bowed and fluttered away to find Tay.

  “Anna.” I flew toward the calling of my name once more. “Anna! Over here, Anna.” I knew I was getting closer. The voice sounded like Tay’s, but a little different. Just as I reached the sound, a wave of shock flashed over me. I was fluttering in front of a human Tay!

  “What are you doing?” I asked, as water droplets filled my vision. “I thought we were going to stay together!”

  POOF!

  She turned herself back to a fairy with a quick flash. “Calm down, Anna. I was simply trying out my first spell of being incognito.” Wiping my eyes and face, I asked, “In-cog-what-o?” “No, Anna. Incognito. I’m practicing on hiding in plain sight.” “Oh.” I replied, sniffling out the word. “I thought you were going to leave me or something.” “Now Anna, why would I do a thing like that? I go where you go, and you go where I go. We are best friends, remember?” “Em hmm,” I nodded in agreement. “Now then, let’s go get all your things so we can move into our new home.” “Home.” I said as I let out a secure sounding breath.

  Both of us took off, fluttering side by side, into the night to retrieve all my belongings from that old crumbled log I had been calling home. But it was never meant to be my home. I knew that now as my eyes turned toward the one I felt safe and protected by. My best friend – Tay.

  CHAPTER 10

  We gathered up everything that meant something to me and left everything else behind. Gliding through the starry night made me feel like I was dreaming. Each star had its own unique shine and twinkle. The joy of becoming a fairy had flowed through my heart once again.

  “Look! There’s the tower, Tay!” I shouted with excitement. It was so beautiful. Like a different world I would have never known had it not been for whatever was trying to harm me. I wouldn’t have needed to run away. But if I hadn’t, I would not have met Tay.

  SMACK!

  My thoughts steered me face first into the tower wall. “Ouch!” I said while shaking my head side to side. “Are you ok, Anna?” Tay asked with a chuckle. She seemed to be holding something in. She was turning bright red. “Oh no! Breathe Tay!” The sound that came out of her was more than just breathing. She was downright laughing hysterically at me.

  Her uncontrollable laughter started to anger me. “Anna, I am sorry. But I have never laughed so hard in my life.” “Glad to amuse you,” I said, gritting my teeth in frustration. “What you did was mean.” Would she even understand if I told her? No, she wouldn’t. I didn’t say anything. After all, she had been the only one who had been there for me.

  There I go again – keeping it all bottled in. I pushed everything deep, deep down, hoping I would forget it all. Once more, we began flying up the tower wall. Reaching the window entrance, I hovered in astonishment. My eyes would not shift away from this wonderful enchanted tower.

  The outside may have been covered in flowers, but the inside would make your head spin. This new home of ours was spacious with three giant rooms that had windows high as the ceiling. Both of us wanted to explore, so we dropped my things at the entrance, including our wings. “I’m standing!” There I stood, next to Tay on my own, and might I add, my two very small feet.

  “Wow, Tay. We can be like humans?” “Yes, Anna. We can do whatever we want, be whatever we want, even go wherever we want.” “Wow!” I said, only this time my eyes wouldn’t blink. They were filled with wild anticipation.

  “Anna, can we please go explore now?” Tay asked, ardently. “A rainbow!” I yelled in excitement. “You’ve never seen a rainbow?” Tay asked while looking confused. “Well yes, Tay, of course I have seen a rainbow. But I have never been inside one.” We took each other’s hand and stepped into the magical colored doorway.

  “It’s like a ginormous coloring book in here, Tay.” “A what?” “Never mind. I don’t know how to explain it to you.” This was all extraordinary. “What does that mean, Anna?” Tay still looked dumbfounded. I knew I had to say something. “Tay, this is like being in a world of candy!” She smiled in agreement and I knew she understood.

  We had only seen the first room. We continued to explore in great anticipation to see what else our new home had in store for us. Leaving candy land, we arrived at our second room. Tay looked to be in tears as we entered into a mirror imaged shaped like a crystal. Inside it looked like we were in an ice castle. The walls were see-through like glass and there was snow everywhere. But it wasn’t cold at all.

  “Tay, why are you crying?” She turned to me, smiling and wiping her eyes. “They are not sad tears, Anna. It’s just that I have always asked for a room like this, and my king always said I was not able to have one. I guess he wanted to keep it a surprise until now.”

  Nodding and smiling in complete bliss, I said, “Let’s go see what the third room is.” We walked to the third door and found what looked to be a shimmery light guarding the entrance. Tay needed her wand for this door. It seemed to be locked by the shimmery light.

  Tay’s wand appeared in her hand from out of nowhere. Pointing it toward the shimmery light, she shouted, “Echo entoli no anoixete!” The shimmer vanished before us, leaving a hollow steel door behind. “Look!” I blurted out. “There’s a place for a key.” “Shh…quiet, Anna. I’m trying to concentrate. Ah-hao” she said with clarity. With a flick of her wand, she called for it to appear. “Kleidi!” she said. One golden key with an image of a tree on it appeared in her hand. Our eyes met as we began to insert the key into the lock.

  One twiddle of the key and we heard the lock click. Our eyes were overtaken with the rays cutting through the room as the door flung open. Our feet tried taking the first step inside the entry, only to get stuck side by side.

  “Anna, maybe I should lead.” Tay looked skeptical in her decision. But I was quite timid myself. She took my dropping jaw and blinking eyes as a sign of agreement. Watching my friend step across the threshold first stirred up a deep favor in my gut. I wanted to be like Tay someday. She was so brave and there was no denying that I wanted to become as brave as her. I hoped she would teach me, I thought, as I peeked into the open room.

  “Anna!” Tay yelled for me with zest. “Coming!” I replied. After a drift of hesitation, I had no idea what I was about to see. “What? Oh my! What is it, Tay?” The view through this strange window was wonderous.

  Through an orb I saw what appeared to be two unicorns. A mom and her baby just laid in this bright green and yellow flowered meadow. They were resting in front of a pond with lily pads and little frogs were jumping from one to the other. I giggled as I watched them play. Bright carnations in blue, pink, orange and purple surrounded the pond. Off in the distance there was a little straw cottage.

  The view was magnificent. But it was only that – a view. I needed to get my head out of the clouds and come back to reality. I told myself it was just a picture. Tailya seemed as stunned as I was. I wondered if she knew something.

  After much contemplation, I concluded that she knew exactly what this picture was. “Come on, Anna, take my hand and we’ll go in together.” “Go in?” Although I was hesitant, I had a sense of curiosity that pushed me onward. I was that scared yet curious little girl I remembered from not so long ago. Tay grabbed my hand, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and we slowly walked through the picture together.

  Our eyes popped open the moment we had reached the other side of the looking glass. It was even more enchanting than it had appeared from the outside. The portrait turned out to be a whole other world.

  Two suns lit up the baby blue sky. White puffy billowy clouds helped occupy the airspace. They were so thick, they looked like a vast swirl of cotton candy. We were surrounded by tall trees with leaves as green as the meadow, and a little brown like the dirt in the old forest I once played in.

  Oh, how I missed Ghost and Sampson. The thought of leaving them behind hurt. But I didn't think I would be able to take care of them on my own. Tay told me they would be just fine without me. They would be spoiled
and that helped my decision.

  This place was so beautiful, and yet I still missed everyone in the castle. Ghost and Sampson were probably playing in their new kingdom right now. I could picture them both. Ghost being fed carrots and Sampson all snuggled while eating plenty of treats to fill his belly.

  My pets were getting all the pampering they needed. That thought brought a smile to my lips.

  As happy as I was to know they were safe, I had to return my focus to where I was now.

  “Tay, look! A bridge. I didn’t notice it before.” The grey stone bridge looked to be a pathway across the pond and over to where the unicorns were relaxing. “Shall we go across?” I asked with enthusiasm. This enchanted place filled me with so much zeal. I was having trouble controlling my outbursts. Tailya let off just as much joyful energy as I did. We were both eager to explore this newfound land.

  CHAPTER 11

  Tay and I smiled and giggled at each other as we skipped across the enchanted bridge. Looking down to the water with the lilies floating at the top, I noticed how clear the pond was. We could see straight through, all the way to the bottom.

  “Tay! Come here!” I belted. My heart filled with glee as we saw little fish swimming about. They even swam up out of the water to greet us. I was in awe! The shape of their bodies was like angelfish. Their tails silver and shimmery. When they swam, it was like looking at jewels sparkling in the sun.

  The frogs were still jumping back and forth on the lily pads. They were a bit peculiar to me because I had never seen such colorful frogs before. The frogs were red, blue, yellow, orange…so many different colors! I’d only ever seen brown or green frogs, and where I came from, we called them toads. These frogs, however, all had the same color eyes – black. That was quite mysterious to me.