The Fairy Tale

by Talia Haze

Father cracked another ball of power, sending Uncle Harrison trembling back next to his family. “You are a liar. You welcomed my generosity, yet you hid my name from my children. I gave you everything; a roof over your head, land, a decent income. Everything you lost was restored to you and all I asked for in return was for you to take care of my girls.” With every breath, Father grew angrier. “You didn’t even just fail in that regard. You did the complete opposite and made them as slaves in their own home! You not only deprived them of my comfort…of my generosity…you deprived them of me!”

  Uncle Harrison took each word to heart; Aunt Beth sobbed so loudly I could barely hear Father’s angry tone.

  “It is partly my fault,” Father continued. “I should have never left my girls in the first place. Especially not in such unscrupulous hands. But to remove me from their very memory and play me the fool with your letters?” Father pulled another crumpled paper from his pocket, tossing it at Uncle Harrison. “And now, you will defy my wishes for you to leave? Stating my injustice? Such insolence…!”

  Father’s last words were so loud, I feared he would harm Uncle Harrison. His hand glowed blue, but Sean put a hand on his shoulder. Father spun around in a fury.

  “You heard him, Harrison,” Sean said in a low tone. His dragon eyes boldly flashed yellow. “It is time for you to leave.”

  Uncle Harrison nodded slowly. Aunt Beth was inconsolable, and Jessica couldn’t make a sound. They walked to the little servant’s door that led to the outside. That same little door that I once went through without supper. Beth and Jessica went out quickly. Harrison slowed, looking around and taking everything in.

  “Gone. Everything is ruined!” He spun around in a fury. “This is my home, Renard! You abandoned it, and your children. Take your waif, but this place is mine! You’re nothing more than a curiosity! You will leave this place!”

  Kyle was infuriated, and held his hand out. “Stand down!” he demanded.

  Harrison took another step. “I worked to maintain this place! I kept things in order. And you will remove me? No!”

  Father still didn’t turn, and Harrison’s face turned red. “I am the master of this house! I will call the guard and they will remove you! Who will they believe; thieving trash or an upstanding gentleman such as myself?”

  “Stand down!”

  “Gabriella!” I unconsciously took a step back. “You don’t know them. I am not perfect, but I tried. You’ve spent your entire life with me as father. Will you throw all that away? Look at this man! Throwing me out like garbage…I who raised you! If he has no pity on your caretaker of fourteen years, what makes you think he will have pity on you?”

  A few months ago, I would have believed Harrison’s words. I would have had just the tiniest sliver of doubt. But now, I had none. I shook my head.

  “He has already shown me more pity than you ever did.”

  I didn’t know what to expect. I had never spoken so outright defiantly towards Harrison. Even when I was deliberately disobedient, there was fear in my voice. Now, I sounded as cold as Angel. Now, I was stronger. Harrison could see that, and his shock quickly turned to rage.

  “After all I’ve done!”

  With a bellow, he lunged at me. But I didn’t move. I didn’t cry out. I stood. I wasn’t afraid. He had no power anymore. I stood. And I stared him in the eye as his fist loomed closer.

  In a blinding, blue flash, Uncle Harrison went flying backwards. Father stood before me, lowering his hand to his side. Harrison tumbled to the ground out of the door, sending up a puff of dust.

  “You will not lay a hand on my girl ever again,” Father’s voice was so contorted with anger that it was nearly unrecognizable. “Now get. Off. My. Land.”

  Harrison had no more fight in him, but Kyle still took it upon himself to blast his feet, making the man run quickly to catch up to his wife and daughter. Father gently put his arm around my shoulders as we watched Kyle tear after them down the avenue.

  Finally.

  The sound of Ryan’s laughter. Sean’s relieved sigh. The security of Father’s square hand around my shoulder.

  Home.

  “Kyle!”

  Kyle stopped at Father’s voice, spinning on his heels back towards us. Father turned to face me and kneeled.

  “I’m sorry, Gab,” he said, softly. “I see now how I terribly I have failed you. I am to defend you, and I abandoned you. I swear to you, from now on, I am yours. I will guard you until I die…as I should have done from the start.” He smiled and wiped the tear on my cheek. “I will never make you feel alone again.”

  I nodded and threw my arms around his neck.

  He reached up and grabbed Sean, pulling him close. “Sean, I owe you my life. I have failed you too.” Father put his forehead against Sean’s. “You were the man in my stead. You stood when I did not, and that responsibility never should have fallen on you. Thank you, Sean.”

  Sean’s smile grew and he nodded. “I did my best.”

  Father released us. “You did. And I am grateful.” His eyes looked down the road. “Still. Even now, my pity still exceeds my rage.”

  He sent Stony to catch up with Harrison and give him some money. With Stony’s blazing eyes and relentless face, I knew Harrison couldn’t mistake it as a sign of forgiveness, but as an act of mercy. Stony quickly returned with news that Hannah had gotten married over the months we were gone and wouldn’t come back to the house.

  I feel sorry to have missed her wedding.

  I sit at the top of the stairs, dangling my legs and daydreaming, remembering and listening to my family talk excitedly down the hall. It feels like it was only the other day that I scrubbed these floors to perfection…but it also feels like a lifetime ago. I sigh and I rest my head against the cold banister.

  Father made it right. Now, I can have my old room back. I can sleep late and play outside whenever I want. I will never have to go to bed hungry or lie locked in the cellar. Father would call the servants back and I will no longer be forced to clean the place from top to bottom. Painful punishments would be nonexistent. The fair maiden Gabriella has finally found her happily ever after.

  But Father said that the best tales began after the phrase.

  My family’s laughter echoes in the halls, and I can’t help but smile.

  So then, let the best one begin.

  ABOUT

  Talia Haze lives in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. She has been writing since the age of 13. In addition to writing novels, she also writes scripts, spoken word and productions for her church. The Fairy Tale is her first published work in 16 years.

  Fables of the Lands

  Upcoming Titles

  The Ambassador

  The Fairy Tale 2-Search for Excalibur

  Margaret

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