Not again, she thought as her body gave way to yet another fit of tears and despair.
“I am so sick of this!” she wept. “I’m sick of crying and feeling angry and sad all the time! Why…?” she cried. “He was so kind and good. And he loved me.” Feeling heartsick, she sobbed.
“You could have taken anyone! Why Papa?” Why?”
She was almost twelve, and the question had been haunting her for several months now. Her world was shaken to the core, and she was losing the battle for her faith.
She had always been a very creative, happy child, and just being around her brought a smile to anyone’s face. She remembered Papa telling her that she was beautiful and different, that she had a gift and a bright light about her, but she didn’t feel like that now. Deliah, you see, had a characteristically different look to her. Her ears were a tad pointy, and her nose was a tad pointy, too. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders in ethereal form. Her cheeks permanently flushed a glowing pink. Her lips were stained a fine shade of raspberry, and her eyes were big and expressive. She was a very small girl, but her heart was huge—and at the moment, broken.
Deliah slowly lifted her head from her knees. Through her tear-stained, blurry gaze, she seemed to spot something. Wiping away her tears on the long sleeve of her white cotton dress, she tried to focus. Suddenly her gaze shifted to a flicker in the grass a few yards away. She was drawn toward what seemed to be a tiny glowing light. The light started to move as if it were swimming through the luscious, green blades of grass. As she followed it, she was consumed by the beauty and the love it was giving off. Deliah sat very still, careful not to make a noise as the light stopped a few yards away from her at the top of a tiny embankment.
What is that? she wondered as a faint noise came from the area. The noise began to get louder, and Deliah thought she heard a singsong or some kind of rhyming chant.
“Well, hello! We’ve been expectin’ ya,” she heard. Deliah looked around but didn’t see anyone. “Down here, me dear, by the light.”
The light began to get bigger and brighter, causing everything around it to sparkle and glow. She crouched down in the grass, and using her hand to shield her eyes, she peered past the still-expanding, glorious white light and saw a tiny wooden door. Just as she reached for it, it burst open, and a flitter of fairies came pouring out, holding hands and singing loudly, “Fairy fun and fairy games as we dance among the fairy flames! Smiles and laughter, joy and glee! Come and join the fairy family!”
Deliah was captivated and stared silently with her big brown eyes as wide as saucers. She wondered if the make-believe stories Papa used to tell her really were true. Before Deliah knew it, the fairies had crowded around her, and she was in a circle, holding hands and singing along. She was grinning from ear to ear with not a care in the world. For the first time in a long time, Deliah was happy and felt like a kid again. After much singing and dancing, she plopped down on the grass and giggled endlessly with her newfound friends.
“We knew you’d be findin’ us soon, dear. I’m Mayweather!” an older-looking fairy exclaimed.
“Nice to meet you, but I should get back before my grandmother starts to worry,” Deliah said, suddenly realizing how long she’d been gone.
“No need to fret, me dear,” Mayweather replied. “We can stop time for you if we need to; it’ll yield when necessary. Your grandmother won’t even blink; she’s sleepin’ soundly by the fire.”
“I don’t understand,” Deliah said. “Why would it be necessary to stop time for me? I’m nothing special.”
Astonished at her remark, the fairies grew silent.
“Nothin’ special!” Mayweather gasped, holding onto the ribbons of her floral bonnet as if it were about to jump off her head. With wide eyes, the other fairies leaned in close, gripping her with their intent stares.
“Deliah, it’s time we told you why you stumbled upon us today,” Mayweather declared. “’Tis no accident, little lady. You have a destiny to help save our kingdom. Your Papa knew this.” The fairies’ wings wilted, and their eyes shrunk with sadness as they all sighed heavily and sunk down into the grass.
“The Dark Ones are taking over our land,” Mayweather continued. “One by one, they are turning the good fairies to their side, and we need your help to save the kingdom, or all of Faye will be forever lost.”
“But why me? What can I possibly do, and when did you see Papa?” She abruptly hopped to her feet. Suddenly angry again, she asked, “Is this some kind of mean joke?”
Deliah felt a gentle pull on the hem of her dress. A little blue fairy in a tiny, timid voice drenched in sincerity said, “’Tis no joke, Deliah. They took my brother. Kristoff was pure of heart but easily tempted, and they caught him….” His blue eyes swelled up with tears, and he coughed to clear his throat.
Deliah knelt down in the grass and looked into his eyes. “I’m terribly sorry about your brother; I know how it feels to lose someone.”
The blue fairy reached out his right hand and introduced himself, “I’m Ostephen.”
Deliah, afraid to shake his tiny hand for fear she may hurt him, laid her palm in the grass for Ostephen to climb on. She raised her left hand to eye level and said, “Pleased to meet you, Ostephen.” After a moment’s silence, Deliah looked around at all the fairies’ intent and worried faces and asked, “Can I see my father? Is he here?”
“He’s on a different plane, dear, but he is with you. He never really left. He watches over you day and night; he’s become your guardian angel.”
Deliah, even more confused, sighed heavily.
“Cordelia has asked to see you,” Mayweather interrupted. “I don’t mean to rush you, me dear, but when Cordelia asks for your attendance, ’tis an honor to be bestowed. She’s the keeper of the flowers of Faye. She makes flowers bloom and gardens grow. Without her, there’d be neither summer nor spring. Perhaps you could just trust in us a wee bit and listen to what Cordelia has to say? If you don’t like what she has to offer, by all means, we’ll leave ya be. I promise.”
Ostephen, still sitting comfortably in her palm, looked deep into her eyes and with pleading desperation said, “We can’t do it without ya. ’Tis the blueprint. Half-elemental, half-human that’s the leader, the savior.”
“I’m not half-anything,” Deliah said, trying to be understanding. “I’m just me.”
“Cordelia can explain,” Ostephen said.
Utterly perplexed, Deliah realized that there was only one way she’d get answers, and whether it was her innate sense of adventure or that strange rumbling in her gut, something inside urged her to follow them.
With her hands on her hips, she declared, “Well, let’s go. We don’t want to keep Cordelia waiting.”
The fairies cheered excitedly. With their little wings buzzing and flapping wildly, they jumped in the air.
“This way, Dearie,” Mayweather’s white-gloved hand waved her on.
Ostephen, overjoyed with her decision, stuttered as he tried to find the right words, and Deliah giggled.
“I know, I know,” she said and playfully dropped him into her front pocket.
Climbing up to the edge of her pocket with a shiny, silver-wrapped chocolate candy in his hand, Ostephen proclaimed, “Deliah, silver and chocolate! This is the perfect gift for Cordelia!”
Deliah laughed and said, “I always keep a few in my pocket.”
“You are more fairy than you realize,” Ostephen muttered under his breath. “Got anymore in there?” he asked as he peered down.
A little confused as to what he meant, she replied, “No, that was my last one. I ate the others.”
“Fine. We’ll save it for Cordelia,” he said defeated, dropping the candy back into her pocket. Flying up and taking a seat on her shoulder, he began to sing, “Fairy fun and fairy games as we dance among the fairy flames….”
Chapter 3
Open your eyes, and you will see
Just what you’ve been missing
; If only you’d believed.
A short while later, they arrived at the foot of a great oak tree, and the fairies all knocked in sync on the bark—rap, rap, rap—three times. A tiny door carved in the bark opened, and a little silver fairy peered out.
“We are here to honor Cordelia’s request for our attendance. We have the blueprint,” said Mayweather, enthusiastically pointing to the child. The bark door closed, and the fairy disappeared only to reemerge seconds later.
“Cordelia is pleased to honor your attendance and will meet you in the flowers of Faye garden,” he said, pointing to his left. They all nodded and bowed as he closed the door and disappeared once more.
The glowing garden was filled with an abundance of wildflowers: bright marigold, lavender, pansy, shamrock, tulip, and lily. There were more flowers than Deliah could ever begin to name, all growing wild and free.
Papa would have loved this, she thought.
The fairies took their seats. Some sat on bluebells, some on foxgloves, others on tiny twigs and leaves. Deliah picked a spot where she wouldn’t hurt any flowers and leaned against the base of a pine tree.
“This garden is amazing!” Deliah said, glancing about.
She heard a regal voice say, “Thank you.”
Deliah turned to see a fairy dressed in a long gown of deep red with silver lining and bell sleeves walking toward her. A crown of silver bells adorned the fairy’s honey-colored hair.
Before Deliah had a chance to get up, Cordelia knelt before her and said, “It is an honor to meet you. Thank you for coming.” After rising to her silver-slippered feet, the fairy continued, “Faye is in danger. There are Dark Ones who are slowly turning the good fairies bad and taking over our land. It is written in the blueprints, the prophecy of Faye, that a time will come when the land will be rescued by a child, a girl who is half-human and half-elemental. You, dear Deliah, are that child.”
Deliah was about to interrupt and correct this poor, mistaken fairy when Cordelia hurriedly cut in.
“Deliah, you are a part of us. You are half-fairy, half-human. Your pointy ears and pointier nose are a few of the characteristics you’ve been unable to hide.”
Deliah touched her ears, then slid her hand to her nose. She’d never thought about it before, but, come to think of it, Grandma didn’t have pointy ears, and neither did Papa.
Actually, she’d asked Papa once, and he had replied, “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently, you understand.”
She smiled, thinking of Papa. Then she remembered that she wasn’t alone.
“Cordelia, I just don’t know that I’m who you think I am or that I’m able to do anything to help.”
“I understand your fears, Deliah, and all I can ask is that you trust in us, trust in Faye.”
All the fairies were anxiously perched on the edges of their seats, hands clasped, wings still, praying that Deliah wouldn’t leave them hopeless.
Deliah looked from Ostephen’s face to Mayweather’s, and then back to Cordelia’s. Deliah shrugged her shoulders and took a deep breath. Everything had fallen so quiet that she swore she heard Papa’s voice whisper in her ears, “Do not worry. Do not fear. They won’t lead you astray, and I’ll always be here. Remember when I told you that you would make your mark. Well, here, my sweet child, is where you must start.”
Deliah felt her heart swell and then taking another deep breath, she slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out the silver-wrapped chocolate. The fairies buzzed with excitement! They had a penchant for shiny, silver things as well as chocolate, so this was quite a gift! She laid it before Cordelia who bowed graciously.
“Okay, I’m in,” Deliah said.
Instantaneously, Irish folk music rose up, and the fairies jumped up and started celebrating. They all crowded around Deliah, glowing brightly. They hugged her, some around the ankle, some the arm, and some even bounced atop her head to joyfully spread their thanks.
The silver fairy came out from behind the bark door with a large silver bell, and using it as a megaphone, Cordelia shouted, “The blueprint has accepted!”
Deliah laughed and walked with Cordelia back to her oak tree before joining the other fairies for the party. They drank from honeysuckles, rode on white fairy horses, and danced and sang the night away.
The next morning, Deliah awoke in the garden. She expected it to all be a wild dream, but she felt a little blue fairy tugging at the sleeve of her dress and pointing to a plate of fruit, cookies, and milk.
“Thought you might be hungry,” he said.
“Thanks, Ostephen,” Deliah said hesitantly, coming to terms with the fact that this wasn’t at all a dream.
“Don’t worry about your grandmother,” he said. “We sent Tatum to stay with her and make sure she’s protected. No harm can come her way. She’ll wake up eventually and won’t remember a thing; she’ll feel like she had the best sleep of her life.”
Deliah’s stomach started to grumble, so she reached for a cookie and took a sip of the milk. She noticed it was regular human food and asked Ostephen how they managed to get it.
“Oh, we have plenty of human friends who leave us treats all the time in exchange for us helping their gardens grow or healing their animals. Plus, not to brag, but fairies are known for their manifestation skills; all we need to do is think of what we need, and—poof!—we can have it.”
Deliah nodded in surprise. “Did the fairies help heal all the animals I brought home to Papa?”
“Of course!” Ostephen said, feeling pleased with her discovery.
She looked around and saw that a few fairies were still sleeping in the garden. It looked like something out of a fairy tale that Papa used to read her, and she giggled. There were fairies curled up, sleeping inside bluebells and hanging over foxgloves; others made a hanging shelter out of broad leaves. But Deliah’s favorite thing was that some of the fairies wore nightcaps and slippers made of leaves with little dandelion balls on the end. She smiled when she realized how glad she was to have discovered this magical world and how she didn’t feel completely sad for the first time in so long.
A short while later, the fairies gathered and explained to Deliah just how the Dark Ones were ruining their land and leading their people, creatures, and beauty astray.
“They tempt them, you see. They can sense what it is you most desire or yearn for (always the most materialistic and selfish thing), and then they find a way to make you believe it’s yours. Before you realize it’s a trick, it’s too late, and the soul of the fairy is held captive by the Dark King in the Dark Corner. We can still recognize our friends, but we know that they’re capable of doing the most horrid things because they have no control over their actions. You’ve come just in time, Deliah. It’s getting worse, and we desperately need help. You are the blueprint. You are part of the prophecy: half-fairy, half-human. It’s you who is needed. It’s your destiny. Ostephen has volunteered to be your companion, and there will be many people and creatures that will help you along the way. Indeed you have the entire realm behind you.”
“Why haven’t your human friends helped?” Deliah asked.
Ostephen sighed and answered, “We do have human friends but not nearly enough to even begin to make a difference. For every human who believes in fairies, there are hundreds who don’t. If only we could change this, there would be such harmony for us and for them. Until enough humans believe in our existence, they are unable to help us because our energy, our very existence feeds off of their belief. Unless enough of them choose to believe and help our energy build, they just don’t hold enough power. We will ultimately vanish.”
After finishing the plate of food, Deliah dusted herself off and was ready to set off on this unexpected and unexplainable journey. She was scared of the Dark Ones, and especially of reaching the Dark Corner, but she didn’t hesitate to go because Papa’s voice and her gut feelings confirmed that she was meant to be here for some reason. And Ostephen would b
e her companion, which made her happy. They had bonded quickly over their shared sorrow, and she knew they would be friends for life. So the little blue fairy and the little brave girl set out for the sunlight on a journey that would challenge two of the purest of souls.
Chapter 4
A fairy is a tiny thing,
But there is nothing it can’t bring.
Whatever you need ask for it,
In a sparkle of light you’ll see us flit.
As they continued down the worn path, Deliah began to complain, “Is it getting hotter, or is it just me? I can barely move because the heat is so strong.”
Ostephen’s suspicions had begun to rise a mile back when the sky had suddenly turned a gloomy gray, but he didn’t want to frighten her. Just then, he noticed a tiny, glowing red ember floating in the air. Suddenly, a rock knocked Deliah on the side of the head.
“Ow!” Deliah cried, rubbing her head. “That hurt!”
She turned around to see who was at fault when she heard Ostephen’s shaky voice scream, “Run, Deliah! It’s the Dark Ones!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Deliah followed Ostephen’s light and dashed like mad for the water where, thanks to Cordelia’s warning, she knew she could find safety with the merpeople. They heard the buzz of the Dark Ones behind them, taunting and terrifying. Their black cloud cast an eerie darkness over the entire land. With their red bodies and black clawed wings, they were frightening despite their small size. Their piercing, yellow eyes could cut right through you, paralyzing you with fear and dread. Truly they were exactly what one would imagine a good fairy gone bad might look like. Surrounded by a glow of flames, the only warning sign that they were near was the horrendous heat, ashes, and embers that filled the air. A painfully piercing screech filled Deliah’s head as they got closer and closer. She tripped on the root of a tree, fell to her knees, and scrambled to find her footing again. Beads of sweat were dripping down her face and her back from the heat of the Dark Ones as they continued to close the gap.
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