Promise Forever: Fairy Tales with a Modern Twist

by Pauline Creeden

  “I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you. And I’ve sunk deeper and deeper every day that passes. Thank you for helping me find a way in.”

  I pulled him over to the couch where we could sit in the glow of the moon. “Why did it take you so long to come to me?”

  “I needed the right words. Marcus keeps a small book with important information that he keeps in his pockets. While he slept, I found the book and found the words to help me get in.” He wrapped my favorite blanket around us, then cradled me in his arms. “My uncle has a plan in place to get us out into the human world where our talents can really prove beneficial. We’ve finally convinced your Godmother to go along his idea. She’s hungry for power as much as Marcus is. I’m to help teach you how to blend into World.”

  “So, he knows how you feel about me?”

  “Absolutely not.” Liam shook his head, scowling. “He mustn’t know. Rachel, I have to be very careful. So do you. Promise me, that you’ll guard your feelings like a priceless treasure. We have to continue on as we have when people are around. I’ll come to you at night when I can, but you must only let me teach you about World. Can you do that?”

  I nodded, but something was bothering me. Nobody that I’ve ever encountered did anything for no reason. Even Miss Wrenn had her reasons for tutoring me. She’d said it was for protection. Godmother allowed my tutor to stay because she taught me, but I was sure Wrenn did other things, as well with those strange plants she grew and her alchemy experience. Someone was making those potions that Godmother used to keep people silent about what they saw here.

  “Why do you want to do this, Liam? I could stay here and we’ll keep playing together.”

  “Yes, that’s what your Godmother wanted. The music we play puts off enough enchantments to keep her magic at a comfortable level.”

  I didn’t really understand this. Though I recalled being told that living in World had a way of draining a Faerie’s magic over time. If they couldn’t return to Realm, then it made sense that they’d find other ways to maintain their powers. At least, those who were powerful enough, like Godmother and Marcus, to control others less powerful, like Liam and me.

  “Did you persuade Godmother today?”

  His smile was tight as he gave a single nod. “Yes. I’m not sure how long the enchantment will last, but we are able to start getting things moving.” He clasped my hands in his. “We are going to teach you how to be more persuasive. We know you are able, but you need to learn how to control it, how to make it less obvious. And your tutor is going to begin teaching you more about World so that if you do have to speak to someone, they won’t think anything is off about you not knowing what a president is or how the country is run. That will ensure that she can remain with you a little longer.”

  I sat up. “She had said that her time was almost finished. I figured she’d be glad to be rid of me, honestly. I’m not always the best pupil.”

  He shook his head. “No, quite the opposite. She expressed to Marcus that she is extremely worried about being separated from you, love. You are very important to her.”

  I shook my head in response, not believing him. She was kind to me, but I didn’t really think that I mattered all that much to her. She wouldn’t even let me hug her, or sit close to her. “I think you’re wrong. She’s worried about her job, perhaps, but I know she will still be useful to Godmother.”

  Liam bit at his lower lip for a long moment, as if contemplating something. Taking my hands in his, he rubbed his thumbs over my wrists in a soothing motion. “I’m not supposed to tell you this. You cannot let on that you know the truth…Rachel, can I trust you to keep this to yourself?”

  “I’m not even sure what secret you want me to keep. Out with it, silly. What big secret are you keeping?” I was about to laugh when his face halted any sense of amusement.

  “We’ve finally figured out your origins, Rachel. You come from a Royal family. Your mother fled her kingdom to save you from a contract on your life. She made a bargain with a wicked goblin. He would help her to spin gold so that she could spare her life and marry the cruel king’s son. In return, she would give over her firstborn. Which happened to be you.”

  My throat went dry. How did he know this? I opened my mouth to ask, but he hurried on with his story.

  “To keep you safe, she escaped from Realm and came to World where she met a man who she enchanted into taking you both in. He was human and easy for your mother to control.”

  A noise came from the hall, the closing of a door. Liam gasped and stood. “I’m sorry Rachel, I must go. I can’t risk being caught here.” He bent and kissed my cheek.

  I grabbed his hands. “No, you can’t leave without telling me…what happened to my mother?”

  From outside in the hall, one of the maids knocked on my door. “Are you all right, Miss? I heard voices.”

  He leaned in and whispered against my ear, “Wrenn has been enchanted so she can’t remember her past. But she told Marcus that ever since you turned eighteen, dreams and memories have started to plague her. She remembers leaving Realm to save a child. She can’t quite remember who, but knows that she had to protect the child with her life if needed.”

  I gasped. “But—? Am I…?” He wasn’t saying Wrenn might be my mother. That was impossible. We didn’t even look alike.

  “We aren’t one-hundred percent sure yet. You must keep this to yourself, love.”

  The pounding grew louder.

  Liam’s hands slid from mine. He gave me an apologetic kiss, then whispered, “I’m taking too much of a risk, love. We have to be careful. I’ll return when I can. Promise.”

  With that, he hopped from the open window. I ran to see if I could see him in the yard below, but he was gone!

  Chapter 9

  Present day.

  Liam’s music pierces my heart, soothes my nerves, and makes me yearn for those quiet afternoons hidden in the garden where we’d curl up together in the shelter of a willow. Liam knows how to fade into his surroundings. When I am in his arms, I disappear right along with him.

  The music falters a moment, then the last refrain repeats. I realize that I’ve missed my intro and quickly try to correct my mistake. Did she notice? I chance a peek toward the audience and breathe out a sigh of relief. Godmother is too enraptured with sucking in the emotions of the audience, sapping their energy. She drinks it down like fine wine.

  I send a silent apology to Liam. His warning stare reminds me to not lose myself in daydreams now. Not while in front of so many witnesses. Godmother is no longer as tolerant of me as she used to be.

  But that is my fault, alone.

  As I rejoin the song, I begin to hum a soothing tune, imploring the listeners to ignore the jarring dropped notes. Liam increases the pace and I follow along, our powers intermingling and joining together to influence the listeners’ feelings and thoughts. I follow his lead. Ever since we joined our souls together as one, the feat isn’t hard to accomplish at all.

  Will Godmother realize what we are doing?

  I so hope not.

  This is what we base our hopes on, being able to enchant the audience, and Godmother Estelle, as well. This is our only hope of finally breaking free of our gilded cage.

  My greatest fear is finding out that after a lifetime of lies, the truth is even worse. I keep these fears to myself.

  One Year Past…

  For the next few weeks, Master Marcus and Miss Wrenn increased their lessons, which left little time for me to seek refuge in the garden. I knew all the training was necessary for me to be able to blend into World. Godmother still insisted that I’d not be allowed to speak to anyone, not even during our performances.

  Liam hadn’t returned to my room since that one night, and he refused to speak any more on what he knew about my family. When I tried to dig the information out of him, he eventually became angry and told me that when it was safe, he’d explain everything. For now, I needed to accept what information I was given and
try harder to learn how to fit into the human world.

  Godmother brought in more musicians. I’m not sure what kind of enchantment they were under. None of them ever spoke to me or Liam. None of them spoke at all, for that matter. They entered through the doors of the music room, took up their instruments, and played along with us. When we finished, they all stood as if they were like the robots I’d once read about, and marched out the glassed doors. Soon as they left the shelter of the house, they disappeared, transported back to wherever they came from, far as I knew.

  The musicians weren’t completely human, nor were they completely faeries, either.

  “They’re called mélange in the Realm. Half-breeds.” Liam explained once when we were actually left alone for a few moments. Godmother hadn’t come to oversee the practice today, leaving Miss Wrenn in charge to make sure there was no forbidden communication. She seemed to ignore when Liam and I talked, or met together.

  “Half…breeds?”

  “Human and Faerie.” He went to the windowed doors and stared outside. The crisp fall day was bright with those puffy clouds racing across the sky. “I’ve told you that many of our kind have taken refuge in World. They learn how to blend in. Eventually, their powers from Realm fade and they become more human than fae anyway. Some even marry humans and have children. Like those who your Godmother has collected into our little orchestra. The mélanges are extremely talented and very intelligent. Many have grown up to become famous composers, artist, some even hold positions in the government. They are beautiful and appealing. They find favor without really trying.”

  I sighed, leaning against the piano and fighting the sense of being overwhelmed. “There is so much I still have to learn, Liam. No wonder Godmother wants me to keep quiet. People will think I’m some kind of imbecile.”

  Liam glanced around the room to make sure we were truly alone, then took my hand and led me outside. Fall had arrived and with it the glorious autumn colors. Deep russet reds, bright yellows, and crisp shades of orange. Browned leaves fluttered around our feet as Wind sent them tumbling across the paths.

  “You are not dumb,” Liam chastised once we were in the shelter of the woods. He gave my arm a gentle jerk. “Don’t ever say that about yourself. You’re anything but.” His arms circled my waist as he pulled me to a stop.

  I spun to face him, grinning. Liam always made me feel special. “I’m thinking that you are a little biased.” I cupped his face in my hands. His skin, rough from needing to shave, warmed my chilled fingers.

  “A little, but I’ve known this even before I lost my heart to you.” His kiss was gentle and warmed me even more. “Let’s find somewhere sheltered to sit. The wind is having too much fun today.”

  Wrapping my arms around his waist, we walked as one unit toward the woods that surrounded the gardens. He led me to a secluded spot, one he frequented often. There was a circle of fallen trees we could sit on. In the middle was a pit where he often built fires. I helped him collect some sticks and kindling. He pulled a small lighter from his pocket and soon had a nice blaze going. We sat on a bed of pine needles and crunchy leaves, our legs crossed and knees touching.

  “Rachel, I’m sorry that I’ve not visited in a while. Marcus has been keeping me very busy.” He took my hands in his. “I wanted to let you know that no matter what happens over the next couple of months, I always have your best interest at heart. I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too, Liam.” His tone troubled me, along with the way he wouldn’t look me in the eyes. That wasn’t like him. “What’s—”

  “Shhh,” He pressed his finger to my mouth. “I promise that I’m going to help you find a way to escape Estelle. I can’t promise to get you back to your home, or to your kingdom, but I will help you break free from this place.”

  I started to shake my head. “I don’t care, Liam. I only want to be where you are.”

  His lips pressed into a tight line as his thick brows wrinkled over his troubled gaze. “My origins are still a mystery. There are no guarantees—”

  “You shush. You are my home. You are my heart. I love you and we will stick together. Promise me! That’s the only promise I want from you. Promise that you’ll stay with me forever.”

  “If I promise that, there will be no guarantee of your safety. There are worse ways to be separated, Rachel. I will not risk your life because of any selfish desire I might have. You come from royalty. You need to return to your home.”

  I shook my head, not caring about any of that. “You don’t know that for sure.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “How?”

  “I just do. I showed you, in the book we stole. I showed you where your kingdom is. I’m looking for one of the portals. I have two places that are possibilities. Soon as I figure out which place is the true entrance, then—”

  “I’ll not go unless you swear to go with me.” I squeezed his hands tightly to show him I meant this. “Matter-of-fact, if going out into World will risk us being together, then I’m don’t wish to go anymore. I’d rather stay here and have you a little, then not at all, Liam. I mean it.” I stood and started toward the house, ready to tell Master Marcus and everyone else that this deal was off.

  Liam caught me before I made it too far. “Don’t do that, Rachel. Not because of me. I’m not worth it.”

  “Yes, you are.” He was very much worth it. Everyone went on about how beautiful and talented I was, but so was he. And more. He was kind, patient, gentle and so very loving. He’d never tried to take advantage of me during our times alone. We kissed, a lot sometimes, but that was it. Mostly we talked, shared our dreams, read books to each other and played music together.

  He'd become my friend, my heart, my sense of purpose and safety. I wanted no part of any world that didn’t have him in it. “Liam, I don’t want to lose you, either.”

  “I can’t protect you out there. Not like your Godmother can since you are connected to her by her enchantments. I don’t have that kind of power. So, the only hope I have in keeping you safe is to help you break free of her and get you back into the Realm. From there, you’ll travel to your home. Your bloodline will protect you in Realm.”

  I shook my head with more determination. “No. Not without you. You talk about how I’m connected to Godmother and my home. You and I can have that same kind of connection. We can bind to each other. Then I’ll protect you and you’ll protect me. Nobody can break a union, it’s Faerie law. I read about it.”

  His brow furrowed again. There was something that I knew and he didn’t? That was a change. I smiled triumphantly. “I can show you. I remember which book talks about Unions. We speak a vow to each other while our hands are tied together. We need some kind of natural fiber, like the reeds that grow beside the pond, or a vine.”

  Liam grew still for a moment. I knew that posture. Master Marcus was calling to him. Time for them to leave. I grabbed the front of his shirt. “Come back tonight. I’ll have the book and….” Then another thought struck me. “I mean if you want to.” My fingers loosened on the cloth of his shirt as I stepped backward. “Of course, you might not want to. I…I let myself assume—”

  He pulled me back into the circle of his arms, crushing my body to his. “Yes, I do. Ever so much, love. It’s only…I’m not sure of my true lineage. What if I’m not suitable for a princess.”

  “I’m only Rachel. And you are very suitable. Liam, I can’t imagine ever loving anyone the way I love you. Please, don’t try to push me away. I’ll not be able to stand it.”

  His lips crushed down on mine as he kissed me with such a hunger, I nearly forgot to breathe. I kissed him back, my arms circling around his neck tighter. I forgot where we were, the danger of being caught, all of that. There was only me and Liam, our arms entwined around each other. His lips traveled down my neck. I gasped for air. If I could somehow melt into him, that would be fine with me. I wanted a solemn promise that we’d always be together. I never wanted to risk losing him.


  “Promise me, Liam.”

  “I’ll return as soon as possible, my love.” His breath was hot against my ear. “I promise.”

  Suddenly, he released me and vanished into the trees. The wind’s cold chill crept in, freezing away the warmth I’d found in his arms.

  No, I’d not let him even think about leaving me. We’d protect each other. I’d show him how we could bind ourselves to each other and only death itself would be able to separate us.

  I had found the book, but Liam didn’t return that night. What if he didn’t want to be bound to me? Why hadn’t I considered that before opening my big mouth?

  Miss Wrenn woke me the next morning, chastising me for my laziness. “What have you been up to, young lady? Your Godmother is due to arrive any minute and look at you!”

  I jumped out of bed and rushed to find a fresh dress and tame my long tangled hair. The hairs at the base of my neck were tingling. She’d arrive any minute.

  Miss Wrenn held up the book I’d been clutching all night. “Where did you find this?”

  “The library. I could reach it, so I figured it was safe.”

  For a moment, my instructor stared down at the book of laws while slowly shaking her head. “What interest does this have for you?”

  I shrugged, trying to act as noncommittal as possible. “It helped put me to sleep.” That was true in a sense. I’d read and reread the chapter about unions several times until the words, the steps were all committed to memory. We didn’t have all the components required, but if Liam agreed, we’d make do with what we did have.

  But he’d not shown up.

  Deciding to pull my hair into a loose braid instead of trying to brush out all the tangles, I stepped before the mirror, hoping I was passable. There were dark circles under my eyes. Wonderful.

  Miss Wrenn took me by my shoulders and turned me around so I had to face her. “Tell me, Rachel. Why do you really have this book? I can see you dog-eared the chapter about unions. What has that boy talked you into?”