“How do I know you aren't bluffing?” She enquired.
“I can tell you the wish that you desire.” he continued.
She seemed to think about the offer for a moment, looking at him warely. “What is it then?” She asked after a moment had passed.
“You wish to exchange your tale for legs.” His words rang true, causing a shocked appeal to spread across her face, and obviously confirmed her suspicions.
I scoffed, knowing that anyone could have guessed that wish. It was a Mere and a Human approaching land- what else could they want besides to get on land?
“Anyone could have guessed that.” She scoffed, raising a perfect silver brow “We are waiting at a bay, I have a tale, and we and a mermaid and human pairing, that is an odd enough sight to see.” despite her words, her expression weakened, giving away that she knew as well as he did, she didn’t have much of a choice other than to trust him. I felt my heart ache for her, despite my disgust for mermaids and the latter on her back. I could see from a mile away that he was looking to take advantage of that poor girl and her human.
“We should take the deal,” The human half-whispered to the mermaid, who turned her face to him, hushing. She was resisting.
“What other choice do you have, than to trust me?” The dirty man repeated her thoughts.
With hesitation she agreed, revealing her tale by emerging from the water, placing it onto the grassy shore.
“This is not how I wanted to do this...” She said, “But, it seems like this is the only choice we have, unfortunately.” She rubbed her temples in angst. “I don’t have any coin, though. Do you?” She looked at the human, who reached into his pocket to scrounge up any remaining loot. “I have this,” He offered a single coin, scuffed in appearance.
“That is not enough,” Hissed the miscreant.
“Well... it’s all I have.” The boy hung his head in shame, causing the dirty man to pace around in a circle, finally heaving his chest and agreeing on the available price.
“Now, give me that,” he narrowed his eyes, causing the coin to flick out from the boy's hand into his own, everyone but him gasping in horror. He grinned at their reactions, “This is going to involve a spell, so i’m going to go over some terms and conditions before we begin.” he cleared his throat. “It's going to have repercussions along your lifespan, such as...” He rushed the rest in a low and hushed tone, that was inaudible to any ears in range.
“Could you repeat that please?” The mermaid asked.
“No.” he said quickly as he raised his hands to begin the magic. I couldn’t take it any longer. Despite my hatred of both races in front of me, I couldn’t let them get into a binding spell that would ruin their lives forever.
“Wait!” I jumped out from my hiding spot. What was I doing, risking my life for these two. I sighed, holding my ground as they all gasped in horror.
“What the...” The miscreant began.
“You don’t know what you're getting into!” I continued.
“I can help you!” I quickly added, surprising myself and the others.”
“Where did you come from?!” The man jumped back, as did the human and mermaid, fleeting as they were still partly emerged in the water.
I ignored him, continuing on with my offer. “I’m only just learning how to balance my magic, but I think I can do it. It’s better than you trusting... that,” I nudged toward the repulsive odour, who was now scowling at my insinuations.
“That's true...” the human started, mesmerised by my breathtaking wings. I looked at him. Hearing his thoughts were flattering my ego and encouraging my confidence in what I was offering. He was considering the options.
“Okay, but I better not regret trusting a Faery.” The mermaid suddenly mumbled, stealing away my attention from the human, she rolled her piercing silvery-purple eyes in my direction.
“That is so hypocritical!” I exclaimed. “You almost make me want to change my mind about helping you at all!”
“Hypocritical?” She smirked in return, “How so?”
“Well, for one, you have a human attached to you...” I scoffed.
Her thoughts told me that she understood her accusation, but was holding strong. She turned her nose up, “Don’t help us then,” She said, crossing her arms.
“Ha! Fine. I should be getting back anyway.” I faltered. If she was going to be so stubborn, I wouldn’t lend my time. I didn’t particularly know what to do in the way of helping them, anyway, so It was probably for the best.
“Wait!” The boy interjected; He couldn’t be more than my age, I thought before he continued, finally speaking after being taken aback by my beauty. “We need your help... please. I’m sick. I’m dying in fact. This mermaid can only do so much to help me. I know our worlds have been astray for many years, but if we could just come together...”
“Ha!” The mermaid, myself and the man all scoffed in unison.
“Hear me out,” he continued, “If we all come together, we could be stronger, as a unit.”
“You nearly didn’t come with me on the account that you didn’t want our kinds unifying.” the mermaid said at once, looking for a reaction before quickly returning to her stance, nose turned toward the sky.
“He's right though,” the unattractive man agreed. All three of us looked to him in surprise, forgetting he was even part of the conversation.
“Whatever.” I said, “Do you want my help or not? I really have to be getting back.”
“Yes.” The mermaid said, finally surrendering. Though she never would have if it weren't for the human and her curiosity about legs and everything that came with them.
“Great, let's get going then.” I said reluctently, “Let's take a look at that tail.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Bear
We had gone far beyond the realm of my comfort zone in the past twenty-four hours. I had gone to the depths of the sea, traveled by mermaid back across a wild ocean, almost made a bargain with a miscreant, met an unworldly creature- a fairy- who had beauty that I could have only envisioned in dreams. Her mesmerising wing-span branched wider than any of our ships' windsales, and her dark wings gleamed, reflecting crystal coloured light from them. Veins spread across the webbed corners of her pinion, intriguing me to reach out and touch them. As the thought reached my hand, causing my fingers to eject from clenched fists by my sides, she turned to face me, “Don’t even think about it.” I recoiled my arm back to its place by my side.
Could she hear my thoughts? my eyes widened at the possibility. I remembered everything I had envisioned about her earlier, actually, for most of the trip so far. Blood ran to my cheeks, warming them and bringing more colour to my olive skin-tone. I looked at the mermaid, who was positioned next to me, on the fairies back. The fairy had not yet displayed her magical ability to remove the mers tail and we were losing time. “When are you going to remove my tail?” she repeated my thoughts, growing more impatient, as was I.
“As soon as we reach a spot where I can use my magic without getting into trouble from Sugarland elders. I am out of bounds here too.” The fairy looked around cautiously.
“What's your name?” I asked her curiously, as if everything she had just said bypassed my ears. All I could see was her beauty.
“What?” the two of them asked at once.
“Mines Bear.” I continued
“Iris,” She said, shaking her head and peering out at the ground beneath us. We would be very visible to anyone that chose to look up at the sky.
“Mines Violet!” The mermaid interjected almost too urgently, as if she were missing out on my attention. I gave her a small smile for her efforts, and she grinned in return. I had thought she was the most stunning creature I had even seen, and she was, until I saw the fairy.
“Why don’t you focus on the matter at hand, rather than making acquaintances,” Iris stated plainly.
“Well I should know who is going to perform magic on me, shouldn’t I? I can’t put my full
trust into a stranger.” I replied matter of factly.
“Here,” She stated, seeming to ignore my statement. “We will do the magic up ahead. It's only a short walk but I can’t carry you any longer. I’m too tired. And, just so you are aware, I am performing the magic on the mermaid, not you.”
“Yes, but the magic is being performed so that I can be healed.” I said as I climbed off her back, dropping my feet to the grass, bountiful as it swayed in the slight breeze. I made a point of stroking a long dark feather on Iris’ wing as I climbed off. I felt her shudder slightly as I did so. Her reaction reminded me of a stray cat back home when you patted its back.
We took a seat on the ground, I helped Violet to get positioned, as she only really had her hands to maneuver herself with. “Make it quick! I am running out of time.” Violet glared at Iris, to which She returned the gesture. I watched as Iris put her fingertips to the temples of her ashen skin tone as she focused. “What is she doing?” Violet whispered impatiently into my left ear.
CHAPTER Eight
Iris
We journeyed in search of a safe place to attempt magic for the removal of the tail. It was a gift I still wasn’t sure of why I was giving to these unwelcome guests. Perhaps it was to satisfy my curiosity of what lay outside of the isle of fairies, or maybe it was because I was hoping to hone in on my skills in order to improve, or maybe it was even because I felt some sort of sympathy for these outsiders, being one myself. One thing was for sure... I wasn’t feeling any sympathy right now as this human, who voluntarily introduced himself as Bear, was attempting to touch my wings, despite my unwelcome warning. His thoughts about me were just starting to get irritating. I mean, yes, we get it - I am beautiful - every fairy is. Now, let's move onto the more important matters at hand.
And the Mermaid... she was just as annoying, with her backhanded comments and rude gestures. She was lucky I couldn’t hear her thoughts, or I would probably have left her back a few hours ago, to shrivel up with her salty skin and putrid tail in the hot sun.
Ever since I had arrived in Sugarland, I had been able to access the skill of hearing thoughts. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t have it back home... Or perhaps I did, and fairies had some kind of blocker. I was also unsure about why I could hear the humans thoughts, but not hers. “Here.” I said as I offloaded them both onto the lush green grass, which was very well hidden in a clearing of trees. The grass gleamed in the sun. Similar to the trait of all the greenery in the Isle, causing me to wonder if it was reflective of my own home. They were connected after all. I looked up to the sky, where a light shimmer was displayed across the clouds. It was definitely a possibility.
I rubbed my temples, accessing the magic I had channeled in my mind.
“These two have no idea what kind of trouble they could get me in,” I thought as I focused on the warm feeling that circulated from my head to my fingertips, intensifying as I honed in, encouraging the magic to seep through each vertebrae and into the atmosphere. “Please work, please work” I chanted as I prayed I wasn’t doing this in vain. As the chant escaped my lips, a sudden ringing hit my ears. It vibrated through my whole body. I winced in pain as faces appeared in the forefront of my mind, overtaking my focus. The faces became more distinct as I began to realise who they were. The Hierarchy. My mother's face appeared first, and then my step father, followed by my aunts. I froze.
Suddenly aware that the hierarchy could see all. They could see when I was practicing magic, and most likely all of my thoughts too. The magic had made them aware of where I was... that I was way outside of my bounds, in Sugarland. “AGH” I growled in frustration. I always knew there had to be a reason why our minds were all so connected back home- the magic running along the intricate lines in my head, which was conveniently connected to my medication spot- It was a tracker. Suddenly, It was only a matter of time before they were after me.
Their faces faded from the forefront of my mind, and a different image took over. I was just a child, watching my mother practice magic, back before this kind of sorcery was banned in the Isle. I watched with delight as she used the power in her fingers to bring a single dew drop from a flower to a floating position in the air. I watched amazed as the single droplet of water raised from its place on the petal and transformed into pure magic. Right in front of my eyes. It expanded from its small size to a large sphere, now an Orbuculum, which sat upon a golden pedestal, placed next to my mother's throne, where it would sit, untouched forever. “You will be able to do this one day, my little love,” She said proudly, tucking a strand of raven hair behind my small pointed ears.
“Will you teach me?” I replied, eagerly, staring into her large eyes with my own.
“Yes, when the time is right, my perfect angel.” She had said. These were words I had tucked away, keeping safe until the time came when I was old enough to bring them out of hiding and remind my mother.
When my father died, things changed. A darkness came over the Isle, and everyone was forbidden from practicing. I would run up to my mothers throne at the young age of six, bouncing up and down excitedly, asking for her to teach me, but she would only scold me, telling me never to mention it again. Eventually, I stopped asking, and let the only reminder of that time, be the Orbuculum, which sat next to her hand at the throne.
CHAPTER NINE
Bear
I walked slowly through the clearing, an open field between two tree lines. The stars focused on us as we passed through. We moved slowly as Violet was not able to completely walk on her own yet. I felt vulnerable, like we were being watched. I worried about what we were walking into. Could this be a trap? Iris flew ahead and waited in the cover of a clearing of trees. “I hope she knows where she's going,” I spoke in Violet’s direction. She groaned back in immense pain. The thought dawned on me that she was probably going through a lifetime of growing pains all in these short moments. “As do I” she managed a pained reply.
We made our way to a small shelter that Iris had spotted when she was flying overhead, “We will spend the night there,” She announced, as we followed her shadow closely. It would be as good as any to spend the night. I hoped we would reach it before the darkness grew colder. I felt the air escaping my lips, taking the form of mist. My fingers were beginning to sting and as I spoke, I could feel strain forcing my moving lips to still.
As we neared the tree line, I recalled the spell that had been performed on Violet. It was something I wished to never remember again - her screams of agony as she flailed about on the ground were more terrifying than any murder I had seen in battle. Her writhing feet dug up the lush grass into an area of dirt as they struggled to form, her tears drenching the earth. Her agony was worse than that of a man being slain in the battle field, taking an axe to the back. Though we were all warned of the trials if we were to go ahead, I don’t think any of us, Iris included, were prepared for the event that took place.
The protector inside of me wanted to behead Iris to stop the pain, yet Violet would never have gotten her desired legs and I never would have the chance I needed to be healed.
I felt incredibly guilty for the pain I had caused her, after all, It was for me that she was doing all of this. Though, I had a sneaking suspicion there was a double motive - that she was curious to have legs and explore, driving her to help me.
“Move quicker,” Iris hissed at us as we reached her. She seemed strangely eager to reach the spot. Like she was harboring a secret and was not just physically drained from casting the spell and flying us around; There was something else going on with her. I could feel it. A look of worry, panic even.
Could she be afraid of the dark? I speculated about the options. She turned to glare at me. “No.” She said sharply. Well, that confirmed it. She could hear my thoughts. We approached a boulder. Finally we were here. I let out a sigh of relief as she landed to roost for the night, only slightly above us on the journey.
Our place of residence was a raised small hill with smaller stones all around it. T
he trees grew smaller the closer they came to the stone. “Down there,” she pointed. I squinted to see that between the base of the large boulder and another stone, it was pitch black. It looked like an entrance... We followed her toward it, as she walked purposefully. I entered first. If it were a trap, I'd be the only one strong enough to fend it off. As I entered, I bumped my head and fell forward, sliding for what felt like an eternity, though was more likely, only a few seconds, until I came to a halt. Iris followed, dragging Violet behind her. She made a click with her fingers and murmured something, as a pile of rubble caught spark. The light flickered as fuel was added to the flame. We sat by the fire in silence as one by one we began to drop off to sleep.
Before I was aware, my eyes were blinking open, as if no time had passed. My throat was dry from thirst, feeling as though each molecule was cracking like a dry desert. I peered around me, wiping the tiredness from my eyes. Both Violet and Iris, in their shared beauty, were in a deep slumber; though I noticed that Violet was shivering. I gestured toward her, placing my cloak on her mangled body. I noticed scars, bruises and blood placed sporadically over her legs, which looked less misplaced at this point. I looked over at Iris who didn't make as much as a silent snore as her wings lightly twitched. I made my way over to the dying fire and tried my best to rekindle its flame.
I was lost in my thoughts as I tried to warm my body and my heart; Sorrowful at the loss I felt for my family... They would be missing me greatly and no doubt would have a search warrant out for me by now. My heart ached for Sage in particular... what would she be thinking of my disappearance? especially in my condition... I let the flicker of the flame caress my hand. Defrosting under the lick of the heat. I thought myself a gentleman at the moment, allowing my own body to freeze as I protected the ladies at my behest.
“Do you have a death wish?” A sweet but irritated voice came from the darkness. I turned to see Iris looking at me with sarcasm spread across her beautiful face. Her eyebrows knitted together and her lips in a straight line.
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