Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart

by Ashley Du Toit

  “Your werewolf didn’t escape, he’s lying over there. I put a binding spell on him that caused him to fall into a deep sleep.”

  Brighid looked at Bella, a new look of respect in her eyes. “Very clever, Fairy,” she wheezed.

  The witch started to move to where the werewolf was lying trussed up. She frowned down at him.

  “I don’t quite know what happened. One moment we were out gathering herbs and ingredients for a new spell I’m working on, and the next he turned and attacked me. He’s a new familiar, I’m training him for a young member of my coven, but now I know that he’s too dangerous to keep, I’ll have to get rid of him,” she said, as if speaking to herself.

  “What do you mean, he’s a familiar?” Bella asked.

  Brighid, her eyes glowing blood red in the light, looked at Bella. “Do you know much about witches?” she queried.

  Bella shook her head. “I’ve been taught to be careful around witches. Like the trolls, they seek our wings and powers for their own, but other than that I don’t really know anything.”

  Brighid smiled faintly. “Witches do like fairy wings, that’s quite true, but you, Fairy, are safe. Familiar means that he’s my man in command. If I need help or can’t be somewhere that I have to be, my familiar goes in my place. They are supposed to be our most trusted friends and companions, with the exception of the others of our coven.”

  “Oh,” said Bella. “Can I ask you something else?”

  “Yes,” breathed Brighid.

  “I’ve heard that witches travel in the most unusual ways, creating chaos wherever they go, but no one will tell me exactly how they travel within the mortal realms. I’ve always been curious to know, but never knew a witch that I could ask. Will you tell me?”

  “That’s an easy one, Fairy.” She laughed. “We used to travel on broomsticks years ago, but they’re not really very fast and you can’t always take along everything that you might want to, so my witch’s coven and I experimented a bit. One day we made a tornado. We could see the potential but we couldn’t seem to make it work for us. After all, a tornado is pretty, but useless—all it does is twirl around. But we persisted, and we found a way to make it grow, and then to travel in any direction we wanted it to go. Soon we could travel within its eye and take whatever we wanted with us. Those were exciting days to be sure,” she reminisced.

  “Although now the guild of immortals is trying to get Nemesis to ban us from using them; they say it’s too destructive to humans. I can’t imagine going back to broomsticks though—so old fashioned.” And she shuddered theatrically.

  As Bella pondered the witch’s words, Brighid nudged the werewolf with her foot. He didn’t move.

  “How long will he stay asleep?” Brighid asked.

  “Until you remove the ribbon,” Bella replied.

  Brighid nodded her head. She stood over the wolf, raised her hand and began chanting beneath her breath. The wolf shot straight up into the air, as stiff as a plank, and floated above the ground. Bella smiled at this. Nifty spell, she thought.

  Brighid looked at Bella. “Since I owe you a debt, what can I do in return for you?” she asked.

  Bella thought for a second “Do you know how I could rescue a kiss?” She asked.

  “Let’s go to my home, I’ll have a look in my Spell Book.”

  Brighid began to walk away, the werewolf floating behind her. After a few steps, she realised that Bella had not followed her, and turned back.

  “Don’t worry, Fairy, you’re quite safe from me.”

  Bella thought about it, then nodded her head. She walked to Brighid, and they set off together towards the witches’ dell. Bella looked over her shoulder at the werewolf trailing them like a kite—still stiff as a plank, still in a deep sleep.

  Brighid lived on the other side of the dell, and her house, if it could be called that, looked dreary and depressing, although to be sure it wasn’t as bad as Yarg’s home. The path was covered with what appeared to be tiny fragments of glass. Bella stepped lightly, expecting her dainty feet to be cut, but the fragments were smooth to the touch.

  Bella looked around her. The grass was short, but patchy; the flower bushes defiantly not normal—the stalks were there, but the flowers had all been chopped off.

  “Why are there just stalks and no flowers?” she asked.

  Brighid smiled, “I imagine that this must come as a surprise to the Protector of Tulips, but I’m not so fond of flowers, they smell funny to me. But I do enjoy the stalks, so I keep those.”

  As Brighid had predicted, Bella had a hard time understanding this, so she turned her attention to the house before her. It looked small from the outside. Dust gathered across the walls, giving a dirty brown tinge, and fat spiders lazed in the corners; creepers and cobwebs covered the windows. The roof had two pointy steeples on either side, and it carried a general air of dilapidation. Each row of the unevenly placed, rickety wooden tiles projected halfway over the one below it, the last row hanging dejectedly over the end of the beam. Here and there a few hung out further, loose teeth waiting to be pushed back into their spaces, and there were random gaps where some had broken away completely. It was quite eerie.

  They neared the front door, Bella thinking that the patches of peeling paint made it look rather tatty and tired. A knocker in the shape of a witch’s head surprised her by opening its mouth and booming: “Who comes here?”

  Bella took a hasty step backwards.

  Brighid raised her eyebrows at Bella. “Sorry about that, it was a housewarming gift from my coven.” Sighing, she turned to the knocker. “It’s me Ditsy, open the door.”

  The front door swung open. “Come in, Fairy. I’m just going to put my werewolf away and I’ll be with you in a moment,” she said. She closed the door behind them as Bella entered.

  Brighid led her werewolf down some stairs. From the corner of her eye, Bella saw a small black cat enter the room. It eyed Bella before saying, “I’m Kink, what can I get you to drink?”

  “Nothing, thank you,” Bella politely replied.

  Kink turned and left the room without uttering another word. Alone, Bella rubbed her arms and looked around her. The inside of Brighid’s house was very different from the outside. It was light and airy, which was very surprising. There wasn’t much furniture that she could see—a massive fireplace dominated the centre of the room, and a comfy-looking couch was placed against the wall, a handwoven rug on the floor in front of it. A single bookshelf holding a handful of books graced one wall. Bella was just about to go over to it when Kink appeared at her side again.

  “Are you the Fairy of Pure Heart?” he asked.

  Bella blinked with surprise, “How did you know that?”

  “The news of your quest is running through the immortal realms like wildfire,” he said simply.

  “What’s this?” asked Brighid as she walked into the room.

  Kink spoke up before Bella could answer. “She’s the Fairy of Pure Heart, and she’s on a quest to save a mortal from Nemesis. Remember I told you about it?’ he said to Brighid.

  Brighid looked at Bella with newfound interest.

  “Yes, Kink has told me of the courageous fairy who seeks to save a mortal. Are you really that fairy, Bella? Is it true that you gave your wings to Yarg of the trolls in return for a list of tokens to help you save a mortal? I don’t understand why you would risk yourself in this way. You will live forever, while your prince will fade from time before he has even had a chance to exist. Surely you know that you cannot be together? Why pursue what cannot have?”

  Bella stared at Brighid and Kink; she was silent for a moment before answering.

  “I know that I’m an immortal, I can live for all time, and that my prince is denied me. But he is brave and courageous, and I must save him. Were I not the Fairy of Pure Heart, perhaps I cou
ld put aside the ache of not knowing where he is, how he is. But it surrounds me, consumes me, and I cannot ignore it, no matter what happens to me. Because of all that I am, because of all that he is, I have to save him.”

  All three of them were quiet for a long moment. Silence rang through the house, until finally Brighid said, “I think that you are rightly named, Fairy of Pure Heart. Come, let’s go to my chambers.”

  Brighid walked along a corridor and turned into a room, Kink right at her heels. Bella followed. The room was completely different from the first that Bella had seen. It was cluttered, and it had an odd smell about it. A massive cauldron held court in the centre of the room and beneath it was a fire cradled by large logs.

  The walls were covered with shelves holding an assortment of bottles and strange containers. That looks like some really weird stuff, thought Bella. She walked closer to get a better look.

  The bottles were coated with layers of old dust that seemed to be growing. In one bottle gooey eyeballs floated, in another fat worms slithered about in a slimy liquid.

  Beside the cauldron was a roughly-constructed workbench with another assortment of oddly-shaped jars and containers lined on it. Bella narrowed her eyes at one jar, which had fluorescent-green stringy goblin snot. Wrinkling her nose, Bella looked at Brighid, who gave a small knowing smile in return.

  Brighid pushed a few bottles out of the way, leaving her handprint behind on one. She pulled an old, shabby book out from under the table, put it in the space she had cleared, and then opened it. She waved her hand, and the old pages crinkled as they turned. When Brighid found the page for which she had searched, she made another motion of her hand and the pages stopped.

  “Ah, here it is,” and Brighid read out: “Kisses Shared.”

  “What do kisses shared have to do with my quest to find a ‘Rescued Kiss’? Why are shared kisses so important?” Bella asked in a loud whisper as she moved to look over Brighid’s shoulder.

  Brighid smiled, amused that Bella was staring at her book so intently. “I imagine for a variety of reasons,” she whispered back, choosing to answer only the second question at this point. She raised her eyes to look at Bella. “Think for a moment. What is the most powerful thing that can ever be shared?” she asked.

  Bella just looked at her; she could think of many things, but none seemed to be more powerful than any other.

  “It’s not the kiss itself that’s important as much as what it represents. It’s a symbol of trust. Trust—it is very powerful,” said Brighid softly. “You would never share a kiss with someone you didn’t trust. You cannot be friends with someone without wanting to give them your trust and receive theirs in return. Think—if you kiss your fairy sisters or your fairy pet goodnight, what is it telling them?”

  Bella thought for a moment. “Well, I guess it would be that I love them. That I’ll be there should they ever need me. That they can trust me. Oh, yes, I see,” she said slowly, blinking as if surprised that she had voiced that.

  “But why would a kiss convince Nemesis to grant me an audience? And how can a kiss be rescued?” she tried again, locking her eyes with Brighid’s.

  “I don’t think the kiss itself is important here. I think it is a symbol. It shows you understand that a kiss is not something to be shared lightly, that it should be given to someone you trust and who can trust you. And that you realise trust is a very powerful gift to give away. Do you see?”

  Bella nodded hesitantly. Still puzzling it through, she asked, “So why are you giving me a kiss?”

  “You saved me. You put yourself in danger when you could so easily have turned your back and walked away. You showed me that I could trust you. And then you gave me your trust when you came to my home, even though you know that witches and fairies are not always the best of friends. I’m going to share a kiss with you to show you how much I trust you, and how much I value the trust you have given me,” said Brighid, then added with a mischievous smile, “And, of course, by helping you gain a token for your quest, I am repaying the debt I owe you for saving my life.”

  Bella was silent as she absorbed this. Brighid started to gather the ingredients that she needed. She reached for a blue bottle. Removing the lid, she pulled out a clump of blue troll’s hair, and dropped it into the cauldron. Splash!

  “Trolls don’t like it when you take pinch snippets of their hair, they squeal like little babies,” she giggled.

  She put the bottle down and reached for a green. Off went the lid and out came some green herbs. Plop! They also went into the cauldron. Brighid put the green bottle down and reached for a purple bottle with no lid. She pulled out some small snapdragons and tossed them in after the troll hair and the herbs.

  The mixture in the cauldron slowly began to twirl in a clockwise direction. She put the purple bottle back onto the table and reached for a yellow. She uncapped it to reveal small sparkling lights.

  “What are those?” asked Bella, coming out of her reverie and focusing on Brighid’s actions.

  “The magical spots of Manukies. They will bind the ingredients together,” the witch said as she dropped them into the cauldron.

  She put the yellow bottle down before reaching for a pink bottle. Off came the lid, and out came something small and furry. Brighid kissed it, then it also went into the cauldron. The mixture now began to bubble and boil. Soft clouds of mist gathered together, rose, liquefied, then plopped back into the cauldron.

  Brighid reached for a wooden spoon that was lying on the edge of the table. She stirred slowly in one direction, then removed the spoon and waited for the liquid to stop moving. She stirred slowly in the other direction, then again waited for the liquid to still. When the potion had come to rest, Brighid reached under the table and pulled out a small vial. She filled it with the misty liquid, and then reached her hand into the cauldron and pulled out a perfect pair of lips.

  Bella couldn’t believe her eyes. Brighid smiled and held the vial and the lips out to Bella. Bella reached out her hand and took them. The lips were plump, and oh so soft.

  “I have shared a kiss with you. I am no longer in your debt.”

  “But I still don’t understand. How is this a rescued kiss?” Bella was almost in tears with the confusion of it all.

  “This is not a rescued kiss—yet,” Replied Brighid. “When you see Nemesis, give him the vial and the lips. He’ll know how to rescue the magical kiss.”

  “Thank you.” Bella raised her now shining eyes to Brighid, and grinned.

  “Thank you, Bella. Good luck on your journey,” Brighid said. “Kink will show you out.”

  Bella took one last look around her, before turning to follow Kink out of the room. She glanced over her shoulder, but Brighid was no longer in the room.

  Kink opened the front door, and Bella thanked him for his help before stepping out into the sunshine. Her heart skipped a lively beat. There, at the end of the path, Teague was waiting for her.

  She hugged him, saying through her smile: “My friend, I was beginning to think you would never arrive.”

  Teague nuzzled his neck against her shoulder.

  6

  The Elfins

  “I’ve just begun a great adventure, Teague,” she whispered as he nuzzled her.

  Where are your wings? he telepathed to her.

  “I’ve so much to tell you,” she answered, and proceeded to relate all that had happened. Afternoon was well advanced by the time she finished her tale.

  Teague was riveted as he absorbed her words. Get on my back, Bella. Let’s find the next token on your list. What is it again?

  Bella thought for a moment before answering, “Life’s Wind.”

  Where does one get life’s wind from?

  “From the Elfins of course,” she replied. This token at least would be straightforward.

  Bell
a climbed onto Teague’s back. It was soft, like sitting on a giant squishy pillow. She leaned down closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Teague lifted off the ground, hovering for a second before starting for the sky. Bella felt the wind lift her hair. Joyous memories of her early times with Teague came flooding back. I have missed this since I learned to fly, she thought for a moment, then gave herself to the wonder of being airborne with her friend.

  Where is the Elfin’s Glen, Bella? Teague’s voice in her mind brought her back to the present.

  “It’s just across the border of the witches’ dell; we should be there by nightfall.”

  Teague raced in the direction of the Elfin’s Glen, Bella securely on his back, each of them deep in their own thoughts.

  As night approached Teague came to land on a high branch of an old oak tree. Bella climbed down from his back. Looking around for a place to spend the night, she spotted an opening in the tree trunk. She walked up to it and poked her head in, to see a hollow inside. It’s big enough for both of us, she thought, before looking over her shoulder at Teague.

  “Let’s spend the night in the tree, it should be safe enough.”

  Teague fluttered up to follow Bella, who had already moved into the trunk’s haven. Bella lay down and Teague curled up around her. Bella lifted her head and rested it on Teague’s warm body, even as her eyes started to close. In a few moments, both of them were fast asleep.

  They woke to sunshine filtering into the hollow, leaves murmuring in the soft breeze, and the bubbling sounds of a nearby brook as it tripped over river pebbles and larger stones. They left their small shelter, and Teague flew them down to the ground.

  They had started to walk towards the brook when a baby elfin came racing towards them, a female elfin running behind, anxiously calling for him to come back. Bella moved into the tiny elfin’s path to intercept him and put an end to his obvious dash for freedom. Far from slowing, the toddler cannoned into her, knocking her over.