Tales of the Fairy Anthology

by Catherine Stovall

  Bella

  She didn’t stop to look at any of the fairies around her as she turned and walked from the mushroom circle. In a few minutes, the sun would be down and she would give up her whole life. Her walk back to the forest’s edge where she had left Scott was slow and painful. A tear threatened to fall for the careful life she was forsaking. Finally reaching the border of the trees, she saw Scott lying on the ground with hands behind his head, staring up at the sky. She cleared her throat when he didn’t seem to hear her approach.

  “The sun is down, you know.” He stood up and smiled at her.

  She kissed him on the lips, a chaste kiss this time, and smiled. “Yes, I believe it’s time for us to be foolish together.” She took his hand in hers and they walked away together.

  Part Two, Night of the fairy

  From the shadow rises the dark ones, eyes alight and wings a blaze. They will see into your darkest desires and take you to your graves. ~ CLS

  Soul Seeker

  The branches of the trees stretched all across the forest, twisting and twirling through one another high above me. Darkness would be setting in soon. That meant there were souls to collect for Arbion, my master. They were the only thing that kept him alive, the only thing that kept me alive.

  My bare feet skimmed over the forest floor, my black wings fluttering softly as I sniffed the air for any sign of life. Human life to be exact.

  Human blood was so much different than any of the other animals in the forest. Its scent had a sweetness to it, like honey and lilac blended together. At one point in my immortal life, it had been hard to distinguish the humans from the flowers in the meadow. But since Arbion had captured me and forced me to do his bidding, the meadow was only a fading memory. Every now and then , I yearned for the sunshine and the breeze, the bees and the butterflies, but I knew that life would never reappear. I was one with the night now, and my life would continue to wallow away in darkness and despair until Arbion released me from his grasp—and I knew that would never happen.

  After walking for hours, I finally picked up on the scent of a human. I dashed through the trees as silently as I could until I spotted him. The mortal walked along the dirt trail, leading his white horse. He stopped every now and then to stoke his hand over the horse’s head, his fingertips trailing down the top of its forehead to its muzzle. He whispered words I was unable to hear, words that seemed to calm the horse. Then he would turn and start walking again, gently guiding the horse along under the soft beams of the moonlight.

  I could sense there was something different about this mortal, something that greatly attracted me to him.

  Arbion’s face suddenly appeared in my mind. He was calling me, demanding I bring him another soul. If it weren’t for the hold he had on me, I would just let him suffer. Sometimes magic wasn’t even magic at all, it was some dark abyss that held me captive.

  I took a deep breath, whispering the words to make my wings invisible, and stepped out from the cover of the trees. “Please, sir, please help me,” I sang softly. I limped toward him slowly, dipping my head so I watched the ground, feigning a hurt ankle.

  The man’s footsteps rushed toward me, and I sat on the ground, waiting for him. It never failed. They always came to me without a fight.

  His black boots appeared in front of me, and then he knelt down, placing his hands to my ankle. My skin sparked as the tips of his fingers swept across my flesh. A tingly feeling raced up my leg and into the pit of my stomach. It stunned me, because this had never happened before.

  I couldn’t help but to glance over at him.

  His hair was dark, shiny, and it accented his bronze skin well.

  He turned his head, and I dropped my gaze to the ground so he couldn’t see my eyes. It wasn’t time yet.

  “Why are you out here all alone,” he asked, his voice nearly a whisper. “There are dangerous things out here at night.”

  “Yes, I’m aware,” I answered, knowing I was the threat he was referring to. The humans knew the legend, about me, the soul seeker, but none of the ones who had encountered me ever survived to confirm the stories. “I got lost.”

  “Do you have a name?” His eyes seemed to absorb into the side of my face.

  “Tazianna,” I replied without even thinking. No human had ever asked me my name before.

  Bring me souls! Arbion’s voice bellowed inside my head.

  “Well, Tazianna,” the man said as he scooped me up off the ground and into his arms, “I guess I have no choice but to help you return home.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, nearly hyperventilating from the shock of his touch as he carried me toward his horse. No man had ever offered kindness as this one had, either. Normally, they tried to steal a kiss, or even worse, take advantage of the poor hurt girl in the middle of the forest.

  “No,” I gasped. “Please put me down.”

  He tossed me up onto the horse’s saddle. “I have no intentions of hurting you, Tazianna. I’m just going to see that you’re safely out of the forest.”

  I opened my eyes and swallowed hard, knowing this was one human I couldn’t damn. He didn’t deserve it.

  The man climbed on the horse, situating himself behind me as I directed my gaze away from him and toward the trees. “By the way, the name is Garrett.”

  I let his name and the sound of his voice sink in as I closed my eyes and whispered, “Into the darkness, I fade away.”

  I stood in the forest, peering around a tree as Garrett glanced around, searching for me. I felt bad for leaving him this way—but it was the only way. Stealing his soul was the last thing I wanted to do.

  “Goodbye, Garrett,” I whispered as his horse began galloping away.

  Two

  The scraggily man approached me without a second thought. “Are you hurt, girl?” He leaned down next to me, swaying side from side. “Girl!” his voice rang louder. “Do you hear me?”

  The stench of rum and tobacco was overbearing. It nearly gagged me. “Yes, sir,” I sang the words. “Please help me.”

  The man placed his hand on my bare ankle and attempted to grin. “What are you doing out in the forest all alone?”

  Night after night it was always the same. The same questions. The same reactions. Except, for Garrett. I quickly shook his image from my mind so it wouldn’t distract me. Arbion had been pestering me nonstop since I had watched Garrett ride away. I had to get him a soul before he came looking for me.

  “I got lost, sir,” I answered, grimacing at the dirty hands and blackened nails resting upon my leg.

  “Is that so?” his voice slurred.

  “Yes, sir.” I closed my eyes, willing to wait him out.

  “Well, then,” he began inching his hand up my leg, “I’ll help you, if you help me.”

  “But, sir,” I said, knowing exactly where this was leading. “I have nothing to give you.”

  The man laughed. Then he leaned his heavy body against mine as his hand continued to trail up to my thigh. He placed his other hand under my chin, lifting my face. “Show me your pretty eyes while I kiss you.”

  He asked for it.

  I opened my eyes, snagging his gaze. Then I smiled widely, revealing my razor sharp teeth as I inhaled deeply, sucking his soul away from his body. It came out as a mist, his complexion turning ghostly white as his skin began to shrivel. Like the rest of them, he attempted to scream. But it was useless. None of them could. The only sound that exited through his lips was a whimper as his body limply fell to the ground.

  I shoved his body away and stood up. Lifting the small bottle attached to the string around my neck, I exhaled his soul into the opening. Then I sealed it shut.

  This would please Arbion, for now.

  I turned and hurried through the forest as the light began to overtake the darkness. Time was an asset. If I didn’t return to Arbion before sunrise, it would be my soul he would take.

  Three

  I dipped inside the opening of the ancient oak tree as the sun made i
ts appearance. Slamming the door, I rested with my back against it while I caught my breath and struggled to push the memory of Garrett out of my mind. If Arbion knew about him, discovered that I let him go and why, he would make him my next target just to torture me.

  Finally, I started down the wooden stairs. I rushed around the twists and turns, the steps taking me further and further under the ground, until I reached the narrow tunnel to Arbion’s lair.

  I walked through the doorway and slammed the bottle on the table.

  “You’re late, Tazianna,” he grumbled as he approached me. “I could have shriveled up into an old man.”

  “I’m sorry.” I glanced at the dirt walls as he grabbed the bottle off the table. “There weren’t many humans in the forest tonight.”

  “Excuses, excuses,” he said, lifting the bottle to his lips and inhaling the misty soul inside. “Look at me.” He dropped the empty bottle on the table.

  I swallowed hard, not wanting to watch the transformation, but I had no choice. I slowly turned to him. The wrinkles on his face began to tighten, the gray strands of his hair darkened, and his pale skin became shiny and smooth.

  “My dear, Tazianna.” He smiled and closed the distance between us, slipping behind me and placing his hands on my shoulders. His touch was cold, bitter. “Why do you seem so different today?”

  He pushed me over to the only mirror in the lair. The mirror where he spends hours upon hours gawking at himself.

  His piercing green eyes watched our reflection, his lips parting into a smile as his dark hair swallowed up the rest of the gray. “Is there something on your mind?”

  “No, Arbion,” I lied, knowing my feelings for Garrett were resurfacing. “Nothing is on my mind.”

  He slipped his hands down my bare arms. “Is it something this last soul did to you?”

  “No.” I knew where this was leading. He knew what these men did to me, and he always got a thrill from taunting me about it.

  “Tell me then,” His hands dipped to my tattered, black dress, and then to my waist. “Where did he touch you?” He slid his fingers around to my upper thigh, causing me to draw in my breath. “Was it here?”

  “Please, stop,” I whispered.

  Arbion’s eyes narrowed as his lips tightened. “Why is it you always refuse me? You should feel privileged I let you live, allowed you to keep your soul.” His hand drifted up to my face, his fingers wrapping around my chin, as he placed his other hand over my breast. “Whether you accept it or not, Tazianna, you are mine for eternity.”

  He jerked my face toward his and planted his lips on mine. As much as I wanted to fight him, I couldn’t. His power refused to let me go. I only had one choice; give him the kiss he wanted. But that would be all I would give him.

  ***

  I lay on the floor, staring up at the dirt ceiling, waiting for the darkness to drift back over the forest. Arbion had already retired to his room. Thank the goddess for that. I wasn’t sure how much more of him I could withstand.

  Finally, nighttime came. I hurried out the door before Arbion woke up. He would be growing old and bitter again. Then I would have to hear his complaints and feel his rough, wrinkly hands over my flesh. Old or young, Arbion still sickened me.

  I hurried into the forest. The dirt path was calling me, drawing me to it. As soon as I reached the dense line of trees, I saw him leading his horse down the path.

  “Garrett.” I let the sound of his name roll over my tongue. Just the sight of him caused little butterflies to awaken in the pit of my stomach.

  As if he’d heard my whisper, he turned around. I pushed myself into the cover of the trees. I couldn’t allow him to see me.

  “Hello,” he called out. “Is there someone there?”

  He glanced around for a few minutes while his horse nervously stomped its foot on the ground. It could sense me.

  He squinted into the forest in my direction. “Tazianna, are you there?”

  I stayed silent.

  “Please, Tazianna.” His voice was soft. “If it is you, please come out. I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I met you last night.”

  What was I doing? I knew I shouldn’t be here. I was a danger to Garrett. I backed further into forest, knowing I had to let him go.

  Suddenly, shouting came from Garrett’s direction, but it wasn’t his voice. I turned back around and rushed through the trees until he came into view. He was surrounded by three men. They were much bigger than he was, and one of them had the reins of Garrett’s horse in his hand. The other two were pushing and shoving Garrett.

  I crouched down and placed my hands over my face. I wanted to help him more than anything, but I couldn’t. I peered at the men through the gap in my fingers.

  “Stop,” Garrett pleaded with the men. “Don’t take my horse. I’ll give you everything I have on me. I have golden coins.” He held out a red bag toward the man holding the horse. “Here, take it. Just please leave the horse.”

  The men looked at each other and laughed.

  “We’ll take the coins and the horse,” one of the men said. He was husky and dirty, resembling many of the low life’s who frequented the forest looking for people to rob.

  “No!” Garett leapt toward the guy holding his horse, but the other two men stopped him.

  One of them grabbed him from behind, securing him, while another rammed his fist into Garrett’s stomach and face over and over again.

  Finally, the man released his hold on Garrett and let him drop to the ground.

  Heat erupted through my insides as the men walked away, laughing, with Garrett’s horse and coins.

  They wouldn’t get too far. Not if I had anything to do with it.

  Four

  I raced through the trees, determined to get ahead of them. Once I was sure I was far enough away from Garrett, I rushed out into the dirt road and sat down in the middle of it. Holding onto my ankle, I lowered my head, made my wings invisible, and waited.

  Within minutes, they came down the road laughing. What they did to Garrett had been a big joke, the highlight of their night.

  “Help me,” I cried out in my musical voice. “Please, someone help me.”

  “Well, look at that,” one of the men said.

  “Boy, we sure are lucky tonight,” another one said.

  All three of them laughed as they picked up their pace.

  The dirty, husky man approached me first. “Are you hurt?”

  I sighed deeply. How stupid could these humans be? Did they think I just decided to sit out here on the road in the middle of the night because I had nothing else to do?

  “Yes,” I sang. “My ankle. Something is wrong.”

  The other two men laughed as they stepped up to me.

  “Money, a horse, and a girl,” one of them said. “Tonight couldn’t get any better.”

  “Let me see your ankle, girl.” The dirty, husky man leaned down, ready to place his fingers across my skin.

  I quickly lifted my face and caught his eyes. Smiling, I revealed my set of razor-sharp teeth. “You have been a naughty, naughty boy,” I said. Inhaling deeply, I pulled his soul from deep within his body.

  His body shook vigorously, his skin turning ghostly white, as he struggled to scream.

  “John, John,” one of the men yelled. “John, what’s wrong?” Panic rang in his voice.

  They had no clue what was happening.

  As soon as John’s body dropped, I quickly exhaled his soul into the small bottle around my neck. Letting my wings loose, I flew up from the ground, turning to face the other two men.

  Garrett’s horse reared up and neighed in sheer panic before turning and racing the other the way.

  I left my teeth exposed as I locked my gaze on the other two men. Within seconds, I had inhaled both of their souls. The shell of their bodies lay at my feet.

  “That is exactly what you get,” I snarled, kicking one of the bodies.

  “Tazianna,” Garrett whispered from b
ehind me.

  I drew in a deep breath and froze.

  “What . . . what are you?”

  I raced over to the trees, not expecting Garrett to follow me, but he did. Leaning up against the trunk of a pine tree, my back against the bark, I cried, “Please, Garrett”—I pleaded—“don’t look at me.”

  “You’re the one, aren’t you?” his voice remained soft from the other side of the tree. “You’re the soul seeker. The one who kills men and leaves the shell of their bodies behind.”

  “Yes, Garrett.” Hot tears stung my eyes. “I am the one.”

  “I don’t understand it,” he whispered. “You were so close to me last night. Why did you let me live?”

  “Because you’re different.” It was the only thing I could manage to say.

  Suddenly, Garrett swung around the tree until he was directly in front of me. I quickly dropped my gaze down to his pants, where his hand rested on the golden handle of a knife.

  I swallowed hard, the tears trickling down my cheeks. “They sent you to hunt me, didn’t they?” my voice cracked.

  He slipped the knife out of his loop and pressed the sharp blade to my chest. “Yes.”

  “Please make it quick,” I whispered through trembling lips. “Don’t make me suffer any more.”

  I need souls now! Arbion’s voice rushed into my head.

  I pushed his voice away. “Please, Garrett. Do it now,” I pleaded, knowing if he killed me it would free me from Arbion’s spell.

  The knife dropped from his hand and bounced across the ground. “I can’t,” he exhaled. “I haven’t been able to think about anything, except for you, since you left me last night. There’s something magical about you.”