Beware the Violet

by Maria Vermisoglou

  My family was in the human realm, my sister and all the people who were having a fun Halloween, unaware of the imminent danger. This creature would wipe them off the face of the earth. Nothing would be left. I couldn’t allow that!

  “Any last words, folks?”

  Kristy shot a purple ray of light that turned into flowers. The creature sneered. “You think flowers will make me look pretty?”

  He had a point. Flowers couldn’t make him less evil or hurt him in any way, but I assumed fairies didn’t have offensive powers.

  “Sorry. That’s all I can do.” Kristy looked at her palms in shame.

  Jacques pulled out his orange knife that turned into a sabre. He held it in front of him and while the Dark Master shot his dark powers at us, he ripped it through the air. The dark power was no more and Jacques smiled in triumph. “Ha! Zat’s what you call power? That is a game for my sabre!”

  The Dark Master’s red glowing eyes flared and he shot balls of dark fire, but Jacques was ready every time. I heard Kristy’s sigh of relief, but our joy didn’t last long. With a wave of his bony hand, the Dark Master made red flashes appear around Jacques and he retreated back until the flames pinned him to the ground, entrapping him like an ensnared rabbit. He fought to get up, but a power we couldn’t see kept him pinned down.

  “Jacques!” Kristy and I ran to help him, but even if we used all our strength, we couldn’t free him.

  “That is what happens to anyone who opposes me. You might get lucky and die, but I’m keeping him as a pet.” The creature cackled and Jacques fought, viciously swearing in French. “I will not be your pet and you’re going down!”

  Seeing him in that condition made me snap. “Enough!” I shouted. His cruel laugh was getting on my nerves and I knew he was just toying with us.

  “Join me, and I might spare you,” he whispered.

  “Never! I have a family and friends who love me.” I clenched my fists and stared at him in defiance. “I will never go with you. You’re evil, and you must be destroyed!”

  “Then you’ll die with them!”

  Dark arms stretched above us threatening to squeeze us in their clutches. I stood, my back to the other two so they wouldn’t be harmed, but I was undecided on the best way to protect them. Jacques was vulnerable being tied to the ground with no way to shield himself from any attack while Kristy didn’t have the power to defend herself or him.

  Kristy placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s all right, I’ll guard him. You take out this evil mishap,” she said and kneeled next to Jacques with her hands out in case a need arose.

  “Go get him, mademoiselle,” Jacques said, and I scowled, but a smile played on my lips. Maybe they would be fine and I was worried over nothing.

  After a last look at them, I turned to face the Evil Master. I might not know them, but I felt the need to protect them. Kristy had been kind to me from the beginning when I was lost and I felt a connection with her. While I always had friends surrounding me because of my sister, I never felt connected with them, but this fairy showed me her world and had faith in me as a being and not because a prophecy said so. Something no one had in me before. Jacques might be indifferent and somewhat cold, but only due to his experiences and I knew deep down, he wanted to help. I was still trying to come to terms with this new world, but whatever my feelings about these creatures were, I didn’t want them to die. They deserved to live and if I could help them, I would.

  I clutched my violet necklace in my fist. I know this is the key to awaken my powers. Please, wake up! I closed my eyes. Vampires are real, witches are real, fairies, ghosts, shapeshifters, and every supernatural being I thought was just a story, are real. They are depending on me, and I must not let them down. I must believe in them, I chanted and with every word my belief increased. I opened my eyes ready to kick this vile creature out of this world and into the hell where it belonged. I held my hand out, and I felt a tingle. It was like an electric current came rushing through my veins—alive, energetic, and powerful. I opened my palm, and a purple fireball appeared. Purple? Well, I’ll take what I can get. I shot it at the hands above us, and they disappeared, shriveling out of sight. Fortunately, I had played enough games of Frisbee so my aim was good enough for the task.

  The hooded creature screamed with his hoarse voice. “How dare you—?”

  “Defy you?” I interrupted. “You started it, and I will be the one to end it.”

  Kristy clapped. “Wonderful! Do it again!”

  This time, I summoned an energy whip. “Cool!” I used it to eliminate the dark energy balls the creature was throwing at us and Jacques’s invisible prison. We stood back to back—he with his sabre and I with my whip—and he gave me a charming smile. “Let’s do it, mademoiselle,” he said and swung his sabre while I waved my whip. Kristy distracted the creature, making vines grow under his feet and he constantly stumbled.

  The three of us continued in this methodical tango for a while and the combination of our powers made him fall on his face. While fighting, I tried not to notice that Jacques and I were completely in sync. When he saw me looking at him, he winked and embarrassed, I blushed.

  Focus! I chided, but after each move, my eyes darted to check on him first and afterward at Kristy, which was odd since he was the last one who would need help. What was that that drew me to him? If anything, I should hate him for being so mean to me at the beginning.

  Heaving, the Dark Master soared above us like a shadow. His eyes glowed blood red from anger. “You shall pay for what you’ve done,” he said and his next words froze my insides and squeezed my heart. “I will kill your friends.” His teeth glowed in the dark, and I really wanted to believe it was just a nightmare. “You will watch them die, and then I will kill you in the most painful way there is.”

  Jacques’s hand found mine and drawing courage, I said, “Anything else?” I was scared, but I didn’t want to appear weak. I wanted to seem strong and in that way, maybe, he would be discouraged. From the corner of my eye, I took a glimpse at the others. Jacques had curled his lip and focused on the creature while Kristy was pale faced, like all the blood in her face and descended to her feet. The fairy was terrified—her hands trembled and her shoulders were shaking—and couldn’t help me, but I was sure she wanted to. I tried to use the whip again, but the creature snapped his fingers, making it vanish into the unknown.

  “It all ends now.” The creature howled and raising his hands, black electric waves materialized, ready to zap us into infinity.

  “Violet!” Jacques cried and while I was turning, I felt as if a heavy object fell on me, pinning me down. Holding my head, I looked up and my eyes widened at the sight that unfolded before me.

  “Jacques!” I cried and ran at the same time as Kristy to help him, but it was too late. The strong shapeshifter lay on the ground, unmoving as a pool of blood was gathering on his chest. Placing my hand on the wound, I soon realized there was nothing I could do. He had saved my life and I couldn’t even return the favor. And for who? A human who couldn’t believe.

  “Why?” I said in a hoarse voice, trying to keep my tears from falling from my eyes. He didn’t even know me so why would he do such an act for me—a stranger?

  “You’re more important,” he said simply and I couldn’t understand.

  Kristy’s hands glowed pink while she attempted to heal him with her magic. I prayed she could do something, but after a few moments, she shook her head, sadness filling her eyes. “The wound is too deep, it has been tainted by darkness. We must get him to the witch, she’s the only one with enough power to heal him.”

  Jacques was overwhelmed by a cough and when it subsided, he said, “Don’t bother with me. Defeat this garbage and bring peace to our land.” He held my hands and looked at me with intensity. “You can do it, draw the power within you from your memories, mademoiselle.” He made a waving gesture and then his smile faded and he slumped to the ground, his hand still holding mine.

  “Jacques? Jacques
!” I screamed, but the rabbit could not hear me anymore for he had left the Realm for what lay beyond. The tears spilled, shock rendering me incapable of any act. I could only gaze into the void.

  “What are you going to do now, little human?” The creature cackled, and I looked at him glassy-eyed. What was the use of fighting? Everything was gone anyway and Jacques sacrificed himself for nothing. I remembered my grandmother who wasn’t here now, and I wondered, What was the use of even living when all your loved ones disappeared?

  A purple light showered me, making my heart warm. I felt like I held the sun inside of me, and it was chasing the shadows away. My head turned to face the lilac light and my eyes widened as I realized it was coming from Kristy who had lit up like a giant ball of fire. Her wings were shining purple as she took my hands in hers and when she touched me, she jolted me awake.

  “We’re going to get through this, Violet,” she said and looking deep in her violet eyes, I wanted to believe her so badly but the loss of a friend said otherwise. “The darkness might be thick but the light shines brighter than all. Trust the light inside your soul and your power will bring the sun out as well.” Nodding, she cast me a look. “Jacques would want you to fight, he wouldn’t want you to give up. Listen to him.”

  Her words penetrated my gilded cell and light poured in. Jacques’s final wish was for his home to be free and I was the only one who could help with that. Frowning, I got up, deciding to kick this crazy garbage out of this world and back into the void where he belonged. When the Dark Master saw me, his golden teeth morphed into an attempted smile. “Well, well, well…Desperation hasn’t kicked in yet? Trust me, it will!” He shot a wave of dark energy, but my hand as by an invisible power, shot up and the wave dissipated. Dark wave after dark wave, I blocked each of his attacks, making him angrier with each passing moment. Screaming and howling, he gathered all his energy and shot it at me, but placing my hands in the air, the dark energy dissolved.

  “Thank you,” I said, turning to Kristy, and she smiled.

  “The fairies’ power is to spread love and kindness among humans, but above all, we are tasked to bring them back from the darkness.”

  “And I will put the end to this,” a cold voice sounded and we turned terrified, we saw dark trees approaching us, using their roots to walk and enveloping Kristy in their clutches.

  “Kristy!” I yelled, but my attempts at trying to reach her proved futile. When I was about to get to her, the trees pulled her away.

  “Violet,” she said in a hoarse voice as the trees tightened their grasp around her. “Believe in your…”

  “Kristy? Kristy!” I screamed, panic threatening to overwhelm me. I couldn’t see her as the darkness had made her a part of it.

  “You’re alone now, little human. All your friends have abandoned you and darkness will thrive forever!” His cold laugh made my blood run cold. “You have no powers to stop me and no one can protect you!”

  Chapter 5: Believer

  His words stung as I realized he was right. I had no real powers to defeat him, only a power everyone supposed I had, but was never truly manifested.

  They could have the wrong person, but if I gave up now, Jacques, Kristy and everyone else’s sacrifice would be in vain. The Blessed Realm would disappear and the human world would soon be just a fairy tale. He had me cornered with nowhere to run. I was truly alone, and I couldn’t help my family, my friends, let alone the world. The fear was swallowing me bit by bit and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t defeat the darkness that was taking over my mind. Bowing my head, I clasped my hands and waited for the darkness to take me while my last thought was of my family. Warmth filled my chest as if I had a little golden sun glowing inside my chest. Confused, I looked around and my eyes widened as I saw Kristy standing across from me, smiling.

  “How?” Tears clouded my vision and made my voice sound raspy.

  “I told you. Fairies exist to bring people out of the darkness.”

  “I thought you were dead,” I admitted, and she scowled.

  “I will be if you don’t hurry up and believe in yourself.” She crossed her arms. “Remember what Jacques said, Violet. Remember…” Kristy disappeared, leaving me alone.

  Remember? What did Jacques say? I closed my eyes and his last words fluttered in my mind, demanding my attention. Going back, my mind wandered to all the things I loved and cherished. A walk under the bright blue sky, a smile from my sister, a hug from my father, and a chocolate cake from my mom. Slowly, the gates of my mind opened and soon, my brain summoned the people and the experiences I thought I had forgotten. My grandmother telling me fairy tales of fairies and of a place hidden in plain sight, I saw myself as a child playing in our front yard with a blonde child with pointy ears and a pair of butterfly wings. As the ball bounced, I noticed similar green drawings in her hands like Kristy’s. A fairy child? I shook my head, unable to wrap my head around what the vision showed me but didn’t open my eyes and let the vision continue. The scenery changed as I was brought to the present and caught glimpses of Kristy and Jacques. Her brilliant laugh, showering everyone with her kindness. Jacques’s charming smile and navy eyes, encapsulated by his charismatic aura.

  Opening my eyes, I wiped my tears and gazed at the Dark Master in defiance. I knew what I was fighting for. I fought for love and friendship. A smile flickered as my confidence grew for the first time since I’ve entered the Realm. I can do this, I can defeat this monster! Looking down at my fingers, I noticed purple dust covering them and grinned. This was my power: love, friendship, kindness, and magic—all of the good things I harbored in my heart.

  “Let’s just finish this, shall we?” I said, as the creature stared at me.

  I snapped my fingers, and a bow with a single glowing violet arrow appeared in my hands.

  “What?!” The Dark Master screamed and quickly, dark energy covered his hands.

  I aimed, love and friendship fixated firmly in my mind supercharged the arrow along with my belief that I could defeat him, making it glow a bright violet, at the same time as he threw the blackness toward me and then I shot the arrow. Never before have I used a bow, but the arrow shot true, penetrating his dark heart.

  If he actually even has a heart.

  The vile creature screamed, his howl more horrifying than anything I’ve ever heard in my life, but even as he stumbled backward, he still stood his ground.

  With renewed energy, I looked at where the sky was supposed to be and yearned there were stars to wish upon, but only the vast background of dark energy surrounded the Blessed Realm. I blinked as a gleam blazed and watched in wonder the skyline slowly turning lilac. The violet sky reminded me of Kristy’s eyes and her strength. If Kristy was here, I hoped she would be proud of me and Jacques… Tapping on my power, this time I drew power from my recent memories of The Blessed Realm.

  As I was looking at the stars, words formed in my mouth and I slowly chanted them aloud:

  “Under the violet sky, I wonder what my life would be like.

  In a world where no monsters exist and no evil creatures with red eyes terrify us.

  I wish my power was strong enough to make it come true.

  I can see a witch, a fairy, and a vampire with a ghost among them for good company.

  All together they join powers, and those with red eyes perish once and for all.”

  With every word I released, I felt stronger. I didn’t know where that song came from, but it felt like the right thing to say. With every verse, the violet light around me intensified until it reached its peak and blinded me to the world. However, I still continued the chant as I felt it was important to keep it going. A loud explosion pierced through the darkness and now, I was looking at a black scene blotched with purple. If I didn’t know any better, I would think we were inside a painting.

  A sudden movement drew my attention, and thinking it was the Dark Master, preparing a sneak attack on me, I held my hands up alerted but the creature standing before me was not
dark. A purple glow enveloped Kristy as she levitated in front of me. “You did it,” she said flying around, she hugged me, lifting me in the air. “I knew you could do it!”

  I laughed as tears ran down my face and felt silver dust sticking in my hands while I threw my arms around her. When Kristy settled down, she landed and I pulled away. “How—?”

  “You broke the spell of darkness and brought the light back!” Dancing, she pointed upward.

  It was then that I realized the entire darkness had vanished and a violet sky without a patch of darkness shone above us. Not only that, but next to Kristy stood the witch, a vampire, and a ghost. “But how—?” I said, puzzled.

  “I’m not sure since I was not around much and the darkness has clouded my head but I heard your song,” Kristy said, stopping her flying dance. “You sang and put your belief in it.”

  “I don’t know how I did it. It just seemed right.”

  “Your power guided you, child.” The witch smiled at me. “You defeated the darkness.”

  “You’re wrong. I’m still here!” the creature screeched. He was heaving, and his voice was hoarse. He had lost most of his power as he was crouched on the ground, fighting to get up.

  I raised my hand, but the vampire stopped me. “Allow me.” He attacked and sank his teeth into the creature’s neck.

  “Ugh! I wished that was a myth,” I said, grimacing and turned away, trying to mute the splattering sound. The thought that I almost became a meal myself came biting at me again. I was so lucky that Jacques came to my rescue. Jacques…If I had figured out a solution faster and listened, then he would be here, spreading his sarcastic smiles again.

  Kristy laid a hand on my shoulder and her lips turned into a grimace. Her sad eyes looked at me as she said, “You couldn’t have done anything, Violet. You didn’t know anything about our world and you did great in such a little time and with so little knowledge.” Her lips twitched. “Jacques…Jacques would be proud of you.”