by A E M
After a moment, Faunus stepped forward. He was half goat, half human, and as tall as the shorter Half-giants. He was the Ambassador of Nature. He wore dark sunglasses, had a guitar strapped to his back, and he had many tattoos of trees and flowers on his human half. He motioned toward his wife and the Fauns surrounding her. “I have lost many of my children to this unknown enemy. I have so many that I don’t keep track of them, so the fault of not reporting sooner is mine. It wasn’t until we had our annual reunion that I noticed that far too many were missing. I will help in whatever way I can as we follow this menace.”
Isaac was brought to the stage in a wheelchair pushed by Alcott. “Whatever evil is circulating must be stopped. As I have only been conscious for a short time, I haven’t had enough time to form a better plan, but I have called my fellow professors to help me spread the word and find out any information we can. My friends will help by spreading the word and also researching amongst the danes to see if there have been signs of this evil in their world, as well.”
That left the fairies. They had been silent and without expression during the entirety of the meeting, even throughout the outburst after the giants had spoken. They both stepped lightly onto the platform. “Our names are Leander and Laila. We represent the royal family. We are here because we faced a similar attack. One of our entrances was breached, but we drove them out. We have destroyed the entrance, but remain concerned about the unusual menacing activity. One of the invaders mentioned that it didn’t matter if they didn’t get to us, for they had found the fairy we had never found.”
The room was silent. All of the fairies were supposed to be in their lands. “Three hundred years ago we lost one of our own. While we believed the fairy to have been captured and killed, we now believe that may not have been the case. We think this menace holds one of our own. We do not have any other information for you other than the warning that fairies keep to themselves for a good reason. We cannot allow this menace to use this fairy to access our magic. However, we cannot aid you in the same way. It is dangerous for us to even be here. We would like to do as the giants and leave a way for communication to stay open, even though it carries some risk for us.”
They bowed, and stepped back. Barnabas started back for the stage, but Charlotte found herself leaping up on it before he could. Her heart beating wildly, and she spoke at first with a waver in her voice. “Nobody asked me to stand here, but I will. I will represent the danes and the dane-weavers.” Many laughed and pointed, but Charlotte ignored the protests. “My mother was taken, and she is a dane. It only makes sense that I be able to speak.”
There was an increase in fuss over her presence until Triton smashed his trident into the ground and a geyser of water shot out of it. “Let the dane-weaver speak. Most of us have watched her grow up. It is completely fair that she speak on behalf of her family.”
Charlotte looked at him and gathered strength from the acceptance in his eyes. “Thank you, sir.”
The room settled down, and she spoke again. “While I may not have power or gifts, I can help us when we need things from the dane world.” Many in the room shook their heads or rolled their eyes. “It is the truth! And I can give you my heart.”
“You aren’t part of the magical world!” Somebody shouted out.
“You can’t fight!” Another argued.
“You are a child!” Yelled a voice in the back of the room.
“I’m as much a part of the magical world as anybody else here is.” Charlotte argued back. “What I don’t know, I’ll learn.” She scanned the room. “I can’t do anything about my age, but I’m willing to bet that my age could also be an asset.” She smirked. “How old are some of you in here? I’ve heard your knees creaking up our steps.”
Laughter filled the room.
“Let her be.” A woman cried out. “She’s got spunk.”
“If she wants to be a foolish woman-girl, then who are we to stop her?” A man near the front spoke loudly.
“Then let it be so,” said Barnabas as he stood up by Charlotte. “If you wish to remain in the castle, please check in with Josef at the front desk. We will meet again as soon as we hear from the group we sent out.” He bowed to the room. “For the Alliance!”
“The Alliance!” The room echoed him.
Charlotte stepped down from the stage. It was good, this joining of the magical community. But she still felt left out. Would they really let her be part of it? Would that extend far enough to let her keep her memories? She watched Barnabas roll her father out of the room. She took a step forward. It was time for answers.
8
Once Upon A Secret Story
Audrey rested naked against Isaac’s chest,
listening to the rush of the waterfall nearby.
They came back here from time to time to restore her powers,
but never had they stayed so long.
Never had they made love here.
Isaac sat at his desk, rummaging through the many drawers. His hair fell untidily over his face. His glasses sat lopsided on his nose. He wore a dress shirt, but it wasn’t buttoned on top, and his suspenders drooped down across his legs. Charlotte frowned and made her way quietly across the back of the library. She could not remember one single day in her entire life that her papa had looked disheveled. She let her fingers slide across the bookshelves as she walked and thought. Basil had said that he was going to tell her today. Maybe she wouldn’t even have to bring the subject up.
“You have grown into a strong woman with a fierce heart.” Isaac spoke loudly.
“Well, I suppose something good came from my stubbornness.” Charlotte sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk and leaned on one of the armrests.
“You want answers.”
“I do.”
Isaac threw his arms up and the walls and doors and windows of the library glowed blue-green. “My dear daughter, there are serious matters that you do not know about. I do not have the time to go into the details you deserve, but I will try my best to give you what you need to get through today.”
Charlotte folded her trembling hands together and took a deep breath. The anger she had been simmering in turned to a cold soup of fear of the unknown. Isaac moved and sat in the chair next to her. He laid his hand over her hands.
“I have had many adventures. Some were daring, some were foolish, and some I have long forgotten; but my favorite adventure was when I found your mother. Charlotte, your mother is that fairy that the others were referring to today. We do not know who found out or how. Myself, Barnabas, Josef, Basil, Ebby, and your mother were the only six who knew the truth.”
Charlotte stood and walked away. Her mother was a fairy? So all that time her mother had had magic. Ebby had had magic.
She wiped the angry tears from her eyes. A lie. Her entire life was a lie. She laughed and turned to her father. She tried to say something, but anger blocked her words. She shook her head at him instead.
Isaac sat back in the chair. “Charlotte, she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. There was this pale green glow around her, and she looked like she was an angel sent to rescue me. I was injured and dying when she and Ebby found me. She saved me, Charlotte. She broke the rules to save me. She didn’t want to return to the land of the fairies, so I offered her passage with us until she learned what she needed to know to survive in the world. As we traveled together, we fell in love. In order to keep her secret, I wove a powerful spell to hide her powers deep within her. We lived happily for hundreds of years, Charlotte. And then we had you. I still don’t know how exactly we were able to have a child. It shouldn’t have been possible.”
Charlotte continued to pace. She rubbed her nose and coughed the threatening tears away.
“You were the most precious baby I had ever seen. But you had explosive powers. Powers we were sure would kill you. Powers I hid inside you to protect you. You see, we wanted a child, but the fairies do not tolerate a child of mixed lineage. You are either
a fairy, or not. Your mother and I and Ebby combined our powers to make a spell powerful enough to alter your appearance and hide your powers.”
She stopped pacing. Shivers ravaged her body. She had powers?
Isaac’s voice wavered. “While I did have a track on your mother, Charlotte, my ill health is also because I am trying to hold together that spell without your mother’s or Ebby’s help. I do not have that kind of strength. I’m dying, Charlotte.” His voice cracked. “I fear that if I release the spell, it might kill you. I fear that if I don’t, it might kill me. I’m so sorry, child. I never expected this to happen. We planned on telling you today, and then slowly releasing the spell so your body could get used to the magic. We planned on letting you stay with us, but out of sight of the magical world.”
Charlotte reached for a nearby chair. She breathed deeply for a few minutes, trying to control the swelling tide of anger, shock, and grief. “Papa, will you be back to yourself if you release the spell?”
He nodded.
“I’m going for a walk.” She said firmly. “Be ready to release the spell when I get back.”
Isaac stood and placed his hands flat on the desk. “Charlotte, I will be explaining this situation to some of the others soon. The time for secrets has passed. It may also be possible that the fairies will be able to help in some way.”
“Good. I know I have had my fill of secrets.”
“Lottie.” He whispered. “I’m sorry.”
She adjusted his glasses and straightened his hair. “I love you, Papa. I love you both.”
The hustle and bustle of movement and many conversations through the hallways was a helpful momentary diversion. Charlotte stood silently, unmoving in the throng of magani. She was one of them, but she didn’t have a group. She looked over and up at Lodestar. Is this how she felt? A part of the group, yet not? She saw Beau across the room and realized that she wanted desperately to talk to him. He caught her gaze, and she knew from the look on his face that he knew from the look on her face that something was wrong. It was one of the bonuses of old friendship. Words were not always necessary. He crossed the room and directed her into one of the smaller rooms off of the lobby.
“What’s wrong?” He grabbed her hands and held tight.
She stepped closer to him and whispered the news. She let him pull her closer and steady her with his hand on her back.
“What did you tell him?” He asked.
“I told him I was taking a walk. He’s probably telling those who are in the Alliance right now.”
Beau frowned and shook his head. “Telling others will put your life at risk right now if there are any remaining spies in the castle.” He ran his hand through his thick hair and sighed at the ceiling.
“Am I wrong in being angry with my parents over this?”
“Charlotte, I’m angry with your parents over this. There are going to be others angry over all of this, my family included. But everyone is going to have to forgive and move on. It’s done and no amount of anger is going to do anything. Besides, it’s not like anyone is perfect.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m scared. Will you come back with me?”
“You don’t even have to ask.”
A small crowd stood around Isaac’s desk. Triton waved her over. He wrapped his scaly arm around her and hugged her to his side. “It is fortunate for you that this menace did not know. If he had known your potential, then you would have been taken.”
Leander turned to her. “We are concerned about your life.”
Charlotte trembled. She held onto Beau’s hand for anchorage. “Is it true that I may die?”
Evangeline stepped forward and put her hand on her shoulder. “Nothing is certain. I believe there is a good chance you may live. The magic has been within you all this time, waiting patiently.”
“We fear two things,” Stonebinder added. “We fear because we don’t know what your powers are; we fear because you will not know how to control your powers. You may be a danger to both yourself and others for a time.”
Faunus eyed her curiously. “It’s up in the air whether you will live through the transformation. If you do live, who knows how you will deal with this mentally. You may go nuts on us.”
Beau rolled his eyes, but remained silent.
Triton turned to Charlotte, “What he says is true, and it should be said. But I see a flame in you that I don’t think will be put out.”
“There’s something else everyone needs to know,” Evangeline mentioned. “The girl Raven has woken. She claims that she was manipulated and is sorry for the harm she has caused. She has offered to lead us straight to her former master.”
“Which is a stupid idea,” Faunus scoffed. “I get it. She’s young and stupid and was told various lies to gain her loyalty, but let’s not forget that she personally kidnapped Audrey and killed Ebby. The only reason she may have any regrets is that she started to have actual feelings for her pretend boyfriend over there.” Everybody in the room glanced at Beau.
Beau stepped forward until he was nose to nose with Faunus. “I didn’t know she was using me. How was I supposed to know?”
“Calm down. A lot of men know what it’s like to be used by a pretty face, myself included.” He winked at the scowling Beau.
“She’s still suffering from major burns all over her body,” Stonebinder interjected. “We know not if she will even live.”
“Can’t you simply ask her for directions?” Rhett asked.
“Peace.” Evangeline said gently, yet firmly. “I will check on her health again and ask her more questions. I will return and let you all know what I find out.”
The minutes painfully ticked by. Evangeline returned to alert them that Raven had indeed woken, but that she had managed to escape using a temporary portal. The door burst open shortly after, and a dozen centaurs rushed into the room followed by Wilder and Wynn and their fellow bronze eagles.
“Shield the property!” Wilder ordered. “We were followed!”
The centaurs untied passengers from their backs. Sebastian went to work on the injured, and the dead were laid in a row next to a wall. Charlotte scanned the room. Audrey was not one of dead or injured.
“Charlotte, come here.”
She hurried through the magani to sit beside her father on a bench. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she wrapped her arm around his waist. He placed his other hand between their legs and opened it to reveal a miniature version of Audrey.
“Mama!” Charlotte cried out. “Is she okay?”
“She’s alive for now.” Isaac said softly.
Wynn kneeled down in front of them. “She was brave. She chose to lift the spell off of herself so she could fight the Chimeras. She and the others had been desperately trying to get back to us when we found them shortly after we found the dead Chimeras.”
“Fairies can kill Chimeras?” snorted a Merman. “I thought they were tiny dust sprinkling floating bugs that hide from the world.”
Leander strode right up to him. “Do I look like a tiny bug to you, fish?”
“No,” answered the Merman. “But I thought you were using a spell to look like a bigger bug.”
“There is much you do not know of fairies. Would you like me to educate you?”
“Leander, calm yourself.” Laila chided. She looked down at Audrey. “Isaac, we need to take her home.”
Isaac shook his head. “I will find a way. We’ve been together so long.”
Laila sat down in a chair nearby chair. “She doesn’t have a guardian any longer, right?”
“Correct,” Charlotte answered solemnly. “I was present when Ebby passed.”
“Then Isaac, you could come with her as her guardian. You can stay with her that way, but you will have to vow to stay in our lands.” She glanced at Charlotte. “You might not be able to see your daughter again.”
“But you could save her life?” Charlotte looked down at the tiny figure of Audrey cradled in her father’s palm
and tried to calm the wild beating of her heart.
“There is no doubt. She merely used up all the rest of the magic she took with her. She needs to go back to her home to replenish. It’s the only way.”
Charlotte laid a hand on her father’s arm. “Papa, you have to go. You know you do.”
“You will need to leave immediately, and we should provide you with an escort.” Zorach said.
“Yes, of course. Thank you.” Isaac hugged Charlotte fiercely. “I’m so sorry, Charlotte. I would have never chosen to leave you like this.”
Charlotte hugged him back. She wished she could freeze time and stay in his arms, but the clock ticked away and she pulled back from his embrace with tears in her eyes. “I know.”
Isaac reached for his bag on the desk and placed it near her feet. “It is yours now, as is the castle. I love you, daughter. We both love you.”
She kissed his forehead. “I love you both, too.” She bent and kissed her mother gently. “Give Mama my love as soon as you are able.”
Laila approached Charlotte with a large box. “I present you with a gift from the fairies. You will need new clothing with the transformation and perhaps afterwards. Make sure you wear one of these outfits and pack the rest.” She laid a hand on the box and tapped it lightly. “Now, I can’t guarantee that you will ever be allowed into the fairy realm, but we will be keeping an eye on your progress.” She leaned in to whisper in Charlotte’s ear, “I have packed a second set of clothing. Somebody should be with you when it happens, and he may need to wear the clothing, too.” Laila winked and nodded towards Beau.
