by Sarah Noffke
“You’re welcome,” Azure called, watching the rain patter on the shore. It wouldn’t completely heal the lake, but it was a start, a bandage. She’d do more one day, if she could.
The mermaid turned when she was submerged in the water, her head bobbing in the lake. “My name is Farrah. I’ll tell the Merfolk of your kindness.”
“Thank you. I’m Azure,” she said, and then remembering Gillian’s advice she added, “Actually, I’m Princess Azure.”
“Princess Azure, where are you headed?” Farrah asked.
“To the Land of Terran.”
A dark look crossed the mermaid’s face. “I hope you’re going there to make them suffer.”
“Something like that.”
“Well, you’d have to walk around the lake, which would put you in the Dark Forest at night fall. However—” Farrah dived into the water and disappeared. Azure, confused, batted her eyelids against the drops, blinking rain out of her eyes. She was now soaked again. Ever would be pissed if he saw her coated in mud.
The water in front of Azure rippled just as Farrah’s face popped from the lake. In front of Azure a surface broke through the water. A slippery surface, with ridges that resembled the spine and ribs of a creature.
“My friend has offered to transport you across the lake,” Farrah told her.
“What? Who is your friend?” Azure asked, reluctantly eying the thing that lurked just under the water’s surface.
“He’s a sea dinosaur, but you can’t formally meet him. Sorry. They are quite shy, which is why they are rarely spotted. Anyway, he’s perfectly safe, and crossing the lake with him will deliver you to the Land of Terran in minutes rather than hours,” Farrah said, smiling to reveal her sharp teeth. She was beautiful, if one got past the fact that she could eat them.
“Okay,” Azure finally agreed, realizing she had little choice. She needed to enter the Land of Terran soon. Her mother’s life and her crown were riding on what happened next. “Thank you, Farrah.”
“Thank you, Princess Azure,” the mermaid responded, holding her face up so the rain pelted it straight on.
Azure took a step, then remembered she was barefoot. She turned to the shore, pointing her wand at the horrible heels sitting on the bank. The effort it took to levitate the shoes and pull them to her was excruciating, but she reached out and grabbed them when they reached her. Then she stepped onto the back of the sea dinosaur, securing her footing on the animal’s slick skin. As soon as she was in place the creature drifted away from the shore, moving like a boat. Farrah laughed, giddy from the rain, and ducked under the water, her tail flicking the surface as she swam beside them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Azure would have fallen on her tailbone a time or two if it wasn’t for a stability enchantment she placed on herself. It wasn’t that traveling by sea dinosaur wasn’t smooth. She actually preferred that mode of transport over cars, which stopped often and went really fast. To her, there was something unnatural about strapping oneself into a small compartment and racing down concrete roads. Azure hadn’t even seen concrete until she reached Earth.
The sea dinosaur slowed as they neared the opposite shore. Farrah had swum beside them, sometimes showing off by jumping into the air and somersaulting above the water. Azure understood, though. The rain had infused the mermaid with momentary bliss. It had been worth it. Placing her hand on the soul stone around her neck, she felt its energy pulse. She would be able to draw from the stone in a pinch, but that was only advisable in an emergency. Once power was withdrawn from the stone, it couldn’t be restored.
Azure stepped off the sea dinosaur, her feet sinking deep into the wet sand on the shore. “Thank you,” she said to him, although he probably couldn’t hear her since his head was under the water with the rest of him.
Farrah’s head popped up a few yards from the shore. “I wish you luck in the Land of Terran, Princess Azure.”
“Thank you. I’m going to need it.” Azure stared down at her soaked and muddy clothes. She didn’t have enough magic to clean herself up. The most she would be able to do was a drying spell, but she doubted it would be entirely effective.
“If you ever find yourself in Mer territory, tell them you’re a friend of the mermaid Farrah. It is a currency that will earn you the instant favor of my people and their assistance should you ever need it.”
“Thank you, I’ll remember that. Best of luck to you!” Azure called through the rain that continued to patter on the surface of the water. The shower should fall for at least another hour or two, refilling the lake and hopefully revitalizing some of the plant life around the shore. Azure gave the lake and Farrah one last look and headed back into the forest.
***
The rain dissipated as Azure entered the forest, which was as barren as the area on the other side of the lake. Actually, this stretch of forest looked to have been mowed down in places. As she continued walking, the burnt-looking trees thinned and were replaced by stumps. The humans had clear-cut this section of the woods. How could Emperor Richard have allowed this? Didn’t he realize how shortsighted he was being?
Azure’s thoughts carried her across the stump-riddled forest until a large wall came into view. Dread mixed with anticipation made her throat tighten. She was finally at the Land of Terran. “Finally” was a strange term to use, though. A series of dangerous and complex adventures had brought her to this place, but she’d only just set out that morning. How could that be the case? It felt like it had been a week since she’d dislodged her soul stone at the coronation and found out she was human. She had tried not to think of her mother, suffering from the virus, but now, as she stared at the gated wall before her, her anger overwhelmed her. Azure wouldn’t leave the Land of Terran until she’d found her father, recovered her mother’s soul stone, and punished these people for what they’d done to the forest. Maybe she’d return with the dryads so they could turn the Terrans into statues.
She paused when her feet met concrete. While slipping on her wedge shoes, Azure noticed that there was a small building with a uniformed guard standing at a window. It reminded her of the security Ever and she had passed through when entering the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The thought of Ever made Azure tense. She remembered that he had been adamant about her appearance being perfect, telling her that the people of Terran were all about looks, as she scanned her mud-stained jeans and the damp shirt that hung from her shoulders.
Azure withdrew the soggy papers Ever had forged for her. She pulled her wand from her back pocket and flicked it at the papers, drying them instantly. After the small spell, her shoulders sagged slightly and she had the urge to lie down and sleep for many hours.
Aware that the guard would see her if he looked up, she pointed her wand at herself. Using a spell, which relied on a single word, was beyond her strength at this point. Invocations were easier but less effective. However, that was all she could summon at this point.
“Clean appearance for my own sake, return me to before the lake,” Azure chanted. She swept her wand over her body, conscious that the movement had to be deliberate and her focus sharp. Her clothes dried at once, and the mud around her toes and streaked down her jeans disappeared. She felt her hair tighten back into loose ringlets that fell over her shoulders. The enchantment wouldn’t last long, but hopefully it would get her through security.
She strode forward, walking like the women she’d seen in the mall. They all had an air of entitlement about them, their noses held high.
There was no one in line when Azure reached the security booth. The guard glanced up at her and then down before taking a second look.
“Hello, Miss. Entering the Land of Terran?” the guard asked, shoving a handheld electronic behind him like it was something that would get him in trouble if seen.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Azure said, her hands shaking slightly as she laid the papers and her identification on the window’s counter and slid them forward.
“Where d
id your travels take you?” the guard asked, his eager eyes pinned on Azure.
“I-I-I,” Azure began, trying to determine where humans would go when venturing outside of Terran. “I had business in the Light Elves’ Castle.”
“You did?” the guard asked, his head tucking back on his neck.
“Well, those pesky people needed by expertise on some designs for the castle. They paid me handsomely to save their rundown fort from looking like a shack,” Azure elaborated, trying to relate the things rumor had said. Her mother had shielded her from humans, and now she knew why. She was one of them.
“I know what you mean. I’ve heard their castle is full of antiques. Like, who would want that kind of stuff when you could have brand new things?”
“Exactly. I told them to throw it all out and go with a modern look.” Azure laughed to herself. The Light Elves’ Castle was considered to be incredibly beautiful, with its ancient artwork that dated back to when the portal between Earth and Oriceran had last been open thousands years ago. Throwing out those things would be a crime, but of course this human wouldn’t agree.
“Well, I’m glad you’re helping them, but you’ve taken quite the risk leaving our borders. You’re only the second person I’ve checked through the border today,” the guard told her.
Azure was certain she knew who the other person was. Charmsgood’s murderer. She ground her teeth together at the thought of the Duke of Terran.
“Have the dryads been spotted out here?” Azure asked, indicating the forest at their back.
“Oh, yes. They turned a dozen Terrans into statues last week. They had left in the morning to fill their reserves, and never returned. As you know, that’s why they’ve started bringing in the harvest,” the guard said.
Azure didn’t know and had zero idea what the guy meant, but she was going to find out. First I need to rest, she thought, feeling exhaustion cloud her brain.
“The sun is going down, so I’d better hurry and get home,” she said, wondering where she’d sleep. Witches, as nomads, were used to sleeping outdoors or wherever they could find a suitable resting place. The key was that she’d need to stay hidden. Azure eyed the wrought-metal gates in front of her. The letters “LoT” adorned the front of the gate, and behind them a pristine sidewalk with shrubbery was visible.
“Yes, of course,” the guard agreed, taking her papers and reading them. The space between his brow creased as he read the form and scanned his eyes over her identification. “Well, Ms. Candace Smith, do you have anything to declare?”
Yes, she had something to declare. That humans were fucking monsters. “Uhhh…” Azure said, wondering what he meant.
The guard stuck his head out the window, looking her over. “It doesn’t seem as if you brought anything back with you. Is that correct, or do you have items to declare?”
“Oh, items…right. No, I left with nothing and I’m returning with nothing,” Azure said, relieved that she’d figured out what he meant.
“You might still need to go through Customs if you were at the Light Elves’ Castle. The Duke has asked that—”
“I’m sure that’s not necessary,” Azure said, cutting the guard off. The last thing she needed was for Duke Fuckface to know she’d entered the Land of Terran. “Look, I’m super-tired and really need to get home.” That wasn’t a lie, but she hoped that the way she batted her eyelashes at the guard would convince him.
“I totally understand, but I have to do my job,” the guard replied.
“How about I rest up and buy you a drink tomorrow night to pay you back for making this whole process go quickly?” Azure said. Ever had taken her to a bar, so she guessed that was something humans did on dates—although that wasn’t how she’d thought of her time with Ever. They were friends, and he was going to save her if she fucked everything up here. But that wasn’t going to happen, because Azure was going to succeed.
The guard pursed his lips and straightened the nametag on his uniform. It read “Robert.”
“I guess I could make an exception for such a beautiful young lady. And I’d never pass up a chance to enjoy her company. Let’s meet at the Del Rio Wine Bar on the West Side.”
“That sounds great,” Azure said, taking her papers from Robert. She absolutely wanted to buy him a drink for letting her into the Land of Terran.
He pressed a button on the wall and the gate released, slowly receding to make way for Azure. She took a step forward, pulling air into her lungs. Entering the land where her father lived made her feel like she was waking from a dream. Azure blew out the breath and continued forward.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Land of Terran couldn’t look more different from Virgo. The concrete road stretched before her, a sidewalk on both sides, and grassy yards bordering it. Not grass, actually. Azure realized that the bright green grass-like stuff was more like a rug. And the palm trees that flanked the road, well, they were made from plastic.
Azure hiked down the sidewalk, noticing that the houses sat on the hills around the town. She guessed that the city center, which she was approaching, was where the shops would be found. On this side of town there was little traffic, probably because this was the border entrance. However, she spied bikes and small cars crossing the intersection ahead. The various vehicles honked at each other, many of the drivers wearing angry expressions. Everyone in Terran seemed as if they were in a hurry, like they were all trying to make it home before the sun set.
Although Azure knew she needed to figure out what her gran had meant about using human magic to enchant her soul stone, that would have to wait until she rested. Right now, she needed to find a place to sleep. She crossed the intersection, nearly being run over by a tandem bike. The riders held up angry fists and shook them at her. Ever had told her that in Santa Monica pedestrians had the right-away when crossing the street, but apparently that rule didn’t apply in Terran.
“Watch where you’re going!” a lady yelled from the back of the bike.
Azure sorely wished her magical reserves weren’t depleted so she could actually cast spells. She’d make that woman grow a beard that reached her knees, like those of the ancient wizards in Virgo. Oh, she’d have fun for days, giving humans ingrown toenails and cowlicks that couldn’t be tamed with hair gel. It would absolutely ruin their lives. However, she had real business to attend to.
The city square, a manicured set of roads that bordered a fountain with park benches around it, came into view. Around the edge were stores with brightly glowing signs. What had Ever called those on Earth? “Neon signs,” Azure remembered.
She walked on, watching as the humans entered and exited shops, smiles plastered on their faces. Witches and wizards didn’t walk around smiling. That was a wasteful thing to do. They only smiled when something made them happy, and remained neutral otherwise. It was considered disingenuous to grin for no reason in Virgo. These people embodied the term “disingenuous.”
“Fabulous hat, Molly,” she heard a lady say farther down the sidewalk.
“Thank you! I picked it up at Neiman Morcus,” the women replied. She was wearing a black hat with a brim and a cylinder. “They call it a ‘top hat’ on Earth. All the rage.”
“Oh, I love Neiman Morcus, but did you hear that we’re getting a ZalMart? Those are apparently one-stop shopping places on Earth,” the other woman told her.
“I’ve heard, and I can’t wait. I need a new toaster. I only have three. I can’t believe they’re only good for one use,” the lady said.
Something was off about the Land of Terran, Azure noticed now. The people were all wearing exaggerated clothes, like tutus and monocles. And Neiman Morcus? She’d seen a store in the mall in Santa Monica that had a similar name, but it was Neiman Marcus. Was it possible that the humans, in their study of Earth, had gotten things a bit wrong? Ever would be able to tell Azure when she returned.
A blast of cold air hit Azure’s back when someone opened a door behind her. It was air conditioning leaking fr
om a restaurant. Too curious, Azure waited for the group to exit and then entered the place. Dispensers lined one wall, and excited teenagers and adults had small bowls they were filling from the machines.
“Do you want a sample, or do you know what you want?” a guy with dark skin and a bowtie asked.
“Huh?” Azure said, looking at the kid dumbfounded.
He handed her a small plastic spoon. “We have thirty-two yogurt flavors. Taste and decide which ones to fill your bowl with, then you can find the toppings over there,” the guy explained, pointing at a counter where candy and fruits of various colors were arranged.
Azure didn’t have any money, but realized suddenly that she was starving, not having eaten since lunch. She took a handful of small spoons from the guy and strode off to the machines. Watching a father help his son, she observed there was a lever that one pulled down to make the frozen yogurt dispense. She centered herself in front of a machine labeled peanut butter and pulled down on the handle. A dollop of yogurt dripped into her spoon before she lifted the handle back to its original position. Azure brought the spoon to her mouth, feeling the cold before it touched her lips. She didn’t know what Cheetos tasted like, but fuck those nasty chips. Peanut butter frozen yogurt was the best thing on Oriceran. She threw the used spoon into a bin and used another to take a different sample from a new machine.
The yogurt wasn’t really filling, but what she’d ingested would have to do. Once she’d emptied her hands of the sample spoons, Azure slipped out of the yogurt shop, hoping no one noticed she didn’t buy anything. On the streets, lamps were starting to flicker to life. They used the same electricity she’d seen on Earth, which meant that the humans were powering it somehow using magic. Azure stared at all the shiny shops with their bright lights. No wonder they’d sucked up so much of the forest! It would take half the Dark Forest to keep this place going.
