Iron & Wine (The Iron World Series)

by Osmond, Candace

  "No! Go, leave me alone! Ouch!" replied the little voice. It sounded like a kid or something, fumbling around in there.

  "Hey, do you need some help finding your parents? Are you lost?" I asked as I moved some of the branches, trying to see the tiny person. But, strangely, no one was there.

  "Okay, I’ll leave you alone. But I just live right over there, above the coffee shop," I pointed for the invisible person. "If you need any help or need to use the phone, you are welcome to come over. My name is Avery." I waited for a reply but got nothing. "Okay, bye," I said, and quickly walked away feeling absolutely ridiculous.

  What a bizarre day. I couldn't wait to get home and curl up on the couch. I entered the coffee shop and nodded at the barista, Penny. She usually worked nights that Will wasn't available. She returned the nod with a smile and I headed up the stairs.

  When I entered the quiet apartment, I was so relieved. I went to the fridge and pulled out yesterday’s leftover chicken and popped it in the microwave. While I was waiting for it to cook I went and changed into my pyjamas.

  I threw a glance at my laundry basket in the corner. The bloody shirt from earlier today was hanging over the edge, beyond saving. I cringed at the thought of seeing Max at school on Monday. There was no way she was going to be able to re-do another sculpture like the one that got wrecked. I felt really bad about that, but then again, she wouldn't feel bad if it were me in her place. So I decided to brush it off.

  I was about to leave my room when I heard something rustling behind me, but saw nothing when I turned to look. I stared for a minute, scanning my room, looking for anything weird. Suddenly, something colourful soared around my head. A pigeon! A pigeon had flown into my room. I tried to catch it with my sweater but the bird was so quick I could barely even see it.

  "Hey! You’re not very hospitable!" declared a tiny musical voice, the voice from the bushes. I froze in place immediately and dropped my sweater. My God, I think I was going crazy from the trauma of my day. Birds were talking to me.

  "Get out! You dirty little bird," I screamed. I didn't know if I was screaming at the pigeon or the voice in my head. Either way, I wanted it out.

  "I'm offended, I think I’m a little prettier than a filthy bird!" the voice claimed. I looked to where the sound was coming from. On my bed sat a tiny...fairy. That was the only logical word my mind would form. She was about the size of a Barbie doll and had shimmery sonic blue skin and tiny iridescent wings. Her stark white hair was cut short with tiny beads and things woven in it. Her huge almond shaped eyes were completely black, but not in a scary way. She was so cute, pretty actually.

  I don't think I blinked for a long time because my eyes began to water. Or maybe I was crying. I don't know. I slumped against my wall and let my limp body slide down to the floor. I believe I was passing out when the little fairy flew over to me.

  "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you. But you said if I needed help I was welcome to come here. And, well I need help," she stated.

  I looked at her dainty little face. Maybe if I let myself pass out this will all go away. I closed my eyes and waited but she slapped me! My eyes flew open in astonishment.

  "Hey!" I cried.

  "Now we are even for the rock incident," she said smugly. She crossed her skinny long arms and sat beside my face on the floor. "Please don't go to sleep, I cannot carry you if you do. And I need your help Avery."

  I became more alert when she spoke my name. "What could you possibly need from me?" I asked. She was a fairy for crying out loud.

  "I need a place to stay. There are others after me and I need to hide. Can I stay here?"

  She had the cutest look on her face, like a child asking for more candy. How could I say no? After all, I did throw a rock at her. But, what did I know about her? I was only assuming she was a fairy. And, from what knowledge I did have, fairies weren’t real.

  "Um, sure," I replied as I chewed my lip nervously. "But I have a roommate; you have to hide when she's here. I don't think I could explain you to her. I don't think I can explain you to myself, for that matter." What was I doing? Amusing my delusions? "Why are people after you? Should I be worried that the fairy police will invade my house?" I laughed at the thought.

  "This is not a funny matter Avery," snapped the fairy. "I have run away, escaped actually, from my home in Faerie. What once was a beautiful and magical land has been a dark and scary place for far too long, I had to get away," she explained with tears in her big black eyes. I couldn't bear to see her like this.

  "Hey, it's okay. Don't worry you can stay here as long as you like..." I realized then that I didn't know her name. I was betting it wasn't Tinker bell.

  "Lattie, my name is Lattie," she offered, holding out her hand to shake. "I’m pleased to meet you." I shook the five tiny fingers between my thumb and index finger. This was the second introduction I got tonight, but definitely far more interesting than the first.

  "Hi Lattie," I replied as I pulled myself off of my bedroom floor. "Are you hungry? I made some chicken." She smiled and followed me out to the apartment and over to the microwave. She looked at it in awe.

  "What is chicken? It smells good." Lattie was fluttering over my plate and sniffing everything as if she had never seen it before.

  "You don't know what chicken is?" I asked surprisingly. "It's, like, the most universal meat."

  "Oh, I don't eat meat,” Lattie informed me. “I eat fruit, nuts and insects."

  I tried hard not to show my utter disgust for the last part.

  "Really, will it hurt you if you do eat meat?" I asked. I had a feeling that there was a lot to learn about my little guest. I still wasn’t quite sure if she would just disappear in the morning, confirming that I’m just utterly crazy.

  We stayed up most of the night in my room watching late night television and talking. Well, mostly it was me asking questions about her world and she asking questions about mine.

  I found out that the new Queen of Faerie is not a very good one. A lot of fairies have been fleeing to my world, which they call Iron World because it’s the side of the veil full of iron objects, to live as solitary fey in disguise. Iron makes them ill, but they would rather live a secret life and suffer it out than to live in their once beloved land with a horrible Queen. I felt sad for my new friend. How could she possibly ever disguise herself in my world?

  I told her all about my life, my friends, Tess and my Dad. I told her about school and the Max incident today.

  "This Max seems scary," Lattie said. "Why are you not afraid of her?"

  "There's no point to be afraid of her, it will just make things worse. I need to show her that I won't stand for it," I replied through a yawn. I was pooped from my long day. I was so glad that there were no classes tomorrow; I just had to submit my painting.

  "You are tired," Lattie pointed out. "I am too, let’s go to sleep."

  "Sure thing, you can sleep on this if you like." I grabbed a throw pillow and laid it on my dresser for her and folded a pillowcase in half for her to cover up in. She was ecstatic about this.

  "Thank you so much Avery," she said as she cuddled up on the cushion. "This is the most comfortable thing I have ever slept on."

  I smiled, said good night and cuddled up into my own bed. The last thing I remember, before falling into a deep sleep, was a memory of my childhood. Aunt Tess held my hand as we walked through her garden and she was warning me to never give a sprite gifts or tokens, the gesture binds them to you forever and you will never be rid of them. I swallowed hard as I thought about my pillow and hoped that my aunt was just crazy.

  Chapter Eleven-Civil

  I awoke to the pulling of my hair. It must be caught in something, I thought, but then I remembered my strange night.

  I opened my eyes and found myself looking into the sleeping face of a little blue fairy. So it wasn't a dream, I wasn’t crazy. At
some point during the night, Lattie had crawled in beside me and nestled into my hair. I gently tried to free her from the tangle but she woke.

  "Good morning!" she chirped, wings fluttering madly.

  "Shush, my roommate!" I whispered in alarm. Too late, I heard Julie walking towards my door.

  "Hide," I simply said. But she was tangled in my red hair. The blue of her skin stood out like a sore thumb, Julie would notice her immediately.

  "I cannot get out!" Lattie cried as she tried to free herself. I cringed as she pulled hard on my hair. "I'm sorry Avery; I can use glamour though, so she won't see me."

  "Just do it!" I said in a panic.

  Just then, Julie tapped on the door and walked in.

  "Hey, you up?" she asked. "I didn't want to wake you earlier, but I thought I heard you up."

  "Yeah, I’m awake. What's up?" I asked. She came over and sat beside me, ready for girl talk no doubt. I couldn't help but nervously think about the tiny creature in my hair. My hands were sweaty already.

  "Well, I wanted to hear all about the fight," she said. "Only if you want to talk about it though," she added.

  "Actually, there's not a whole lot to tell. I accidentally wrecked her project and she lost it!" I started. "You should have seen her Jules, total nut job I tell you. But I do feel bad about her sculpture. Anyways, then she pushed me through the glass doors in the studio and then that's when Will showed up."

  "Wow, I can't believe it. Max is a scary chick but she doesn't look like the fighter type you know?"

  "You have no idea. She was so strong! I could barely fight back; it felt like I was being attacked by an animal." I shuttered at the memory of almost falling over the balcony. Julie hugged me the way she usually did to comfort me. I noticed a strange look on her face as she pulled away. She seemed to be looking for something, but never said anything. Could she tell that there was a magical creature tangled in my hair?

  "Hey, can we talk later? I wanted to submit my painting early so I wouldn't run into Max. I got to get ready.”

  "Yeah, sure," she replied, getting up and letting herself out. "I'll have breakfast ready for when you get back." She smiled and closed my door, but not before she took another look around my room.

  Phew. I could still feel Lattie in my hair.

  "Hey, are you alright?" I asked. She suddenly flickered back into sight.

  "Yes, it was tangled around my leg. There, I’m out now." The tiny being fluttered her wings like she was stretching and flew over to my dresser to sit down while I got ready.

  "Why are you avoiding her, Avery?" Lattie asked as she followed me around my room, her little wings buzzing madly. "You are going to be sitting next to her for a long time. You need to talk about what happened."

  "Yes, I am aware of that," I whispered. Julie was in the next room and I didn't want her to hear me talking to someone. "But just not yet, it's too soon after the fight."

  "Fine, but you are being stubborn," she replied and sat on the edge of my dresser, letting her long and boney legs dangle below. "Can I come with you to school?" she asked hopefully.

  "No way, someone might see you!" I said, quietly. " It's one thing for you to be out and about as you please, but if you are ever seen with me and it leads whoever you are running from here, I’d never be able to live with myself." Little Lattie, how could I ever let anything happen to her? She was so small and helpless. I realized that I was quickly becoming attached to her.

  "Avery, I can take care of myself!" She held her head proudly and crossed her arms. "So, you can take me along or I will just follow you."

  "Fine, hop in," I huffed in defeat. I held open my bag for her to hide in. Suddenly I was rethinking this whole fairy roommate thing.

  "I am not hiding in your bag! I can glamour myself you know," she cried, offended.

  "Yes, to humans you'll be invisible, but to other fairies you won't be. Like, say, bad fairies that are out to get you?" I reminded her. She hesitated for a moment and then gave in. The tiny blue fairy hopped in my purse and we were on our way.

  We were at the school in a matter of minutes on my bike. I parked where I usually did and took off my helmet.

  "Hey Lattie, how are you doing in there?" I whispered as I peered into my bag. She was lying on her back, her gossamer wings curled neatly at her sides, reading a candy wrapper.

  "There are unspeakable ingredients in this product. You actually eat this?" she asked, appalled.

  "It's bubble gum Lattie. You don't eat it, you chew it. Have a piece, you'll love it," I persuaded her. She broke off a tiny piece, large enough for her little mouth, and started to chew. Her face brightened instantly.

  "My goodness, this is spectacular! Are you sure I cannot eat it?" she asked.

  I laughed at that. "You can if you want to, but Tess always told me that my insides will stick together if I swallowed my gum. Not sure how true that is, but I probably wouldn't if I were you. I’m beginning to second guess my aunts strange tales of caution."

  I continued on towards the school entrance, while listening to Lattie in my bag trying to blow bubbles. I only passed three other students, all of which paid no attention to me as I walked down the hall to the studio and stopped just outside of the doors. Someone was in there. I peered around the corner enough to see in.

  It was Max, of course. It just had to be the one person that I got up at this ungodly hour to avoid, but I wasn't mad once I saw her face. I felt sorry for her. She was fixing her sculpture, no, she had completely remade her sculpture. I felt terrible; Max looked as if she had been here all night. I turned and made my way to the coffee cart that was located outside the dining hall. I got two coffees and two muffins and walked back to the studio.

  "Avery? Where are we? I thought you were just going to be a few minutes?" asked Lattie as she poked her head out of my bag.

  "Shush! Get back in there. Max is here," I told her.

  "Max! Are you going to talk to her?"

  "Yes, I pretty much have to; I think she was here all night," I replied. It doesn't matter how mean you are, karma shouldn't be that cruel. Besides, it was pretty much my fault that her sculpture got ruined. Once again, I stopped in front of the entrance of the studio and took in a deep breath.

  "Hey Max, how’s it going?" I asked lamely and walked over to her work center. She quickly glared at me in anger, but then relaxed like she didn't have the energy to hate me right now.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.

  "Our projects are due today; I figured I’d get up early and do it."

  "Why on earth would you get up this early?"

  "Well, to tell you the truth, I was trying to avoid running into to you." I laughed a little when I told her that. "Max, I’m really sorry about your project. I didn't mean for that to happen." I held out one of the coffees and a muffin in front of her. She looked at my token of an apology as if it were covered in disease.

  "Max, don't be like that. I'm trying to make a truce with you. We can't go on like this anymore." I laid the items down on the table in front of her. "I'm not saying we should be friends or anything, but at least be civil."

  She stubbornly crossed her arms and examined my face with her tired eyes. Looking at them made me feel even worse, but at least I was trying to fix this.

  "Fine, civil is all I can do," she grabbed the coffee and took a sip. "I could never be friends with you anyways." Even during a truce, she has to be a bitch. But I swear, as she took another sip, I could see the hint of a tiny grin.

  "Hey, Max," I started. "Do you have any plans for Halloween?"

  "Maybe, why?" she asked.

  "Well, Julie is having this costume party at the apartment. It's an open invite; you can come if you don't have other plans already. It should be pretty cool, she kind of goes all out for stuff like that, and now she has a helper." I smiled to myself as I thought
about poor Will helping Julie.

  "And why would you assume that I have no plans?" she asked bitterly. Well, this didn’t go the way I planned.

  "Well, I didn't. I just wasn't sure if you did or not. And if you do then that’s fine, but if you don't then come to the party." I immediately regretted inviting her. It's like she wasn't used to having a real conversation or something. I could tell that she was searching every angle to fight with me. "Max, don't be like that. The invitation is there, use it if you like. I got to go." I stood up and grabbed my stuff. Just then, I heard a shriek from inside my bag.

  "What was that?" Max cried, eyeing my purse and moving towards me. "What’s in your bag?"

  "Uh nothing; must be my IPod. Sometimes it turns on by itself; I actually think it’s broken," I blurted out quickly. Damn it, Lattie. I waved over my shoulder and ran out before Max could follow. Lattie managed to survive in Faerie with and evil ruler for years, one day in my world and she almost ends up in a science lab because I’m sure that's where she would be if someone like Max ever found her.

  Once outside, and away from prying eyes, I ripped opened my purse and peered in. "Lattie, are you okay sweetie? What happened?" She looked up at me with tears in her big black eyes. She was completely covered in pink gum.

  "Oh Lattie, what did you do!?" I laughed.

  "I blew a bubble," she muttered under her breath.

  I laughed some more, but I felt bad, poor Lattie.

  "It's not funny Avery. Sprites don't like to feel trapped and right now I am bounded in this crazy stuff! Get me home now please," she cried.

  Chapter Twelve-Fairy Tales

  I spent the entire day and night with Lattie on Saturday. We walked through the park as she told me more stories of where she came from and how wonderful it was to live in Faerie. She described all of the amazing forests, castles and parties.

  I felt silly when she was amazed by such mundane things like ice cream, cookies and hot dogs from the guy who sold them in the park. She disguised herself as a bird as she flew next to my head. I'm sure it looked funny. A girl walking around talking to a bird that was following her, but we decided it was better than a girl walking around talking to herself.