Tales of the Fairy Anthology

by Catherine Stovall

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, including photocopying, recording, or transmitted by any means without written consent of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Characters, establishments, names, companies, organizations and events were created by the author. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events, companies or organizations is coincidental.

  Published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

  Text Copyright 2014 held by CHBB Publishing and the Individual Authors

  Edited by Catherine Stovall

  Cover Art by Rue Volley

  Dedicated to all those magical people and muses in our lives that make what we do possible.

  Thank You,

  The Contributors of The Tales of the Fairy Anthology

  Table of Contents

  Contents

  Part one, Day of the Fairy

  BELLAFINA

  Bringer of Light

  A Bird in Hand

  Broken

  Mischief and Magic

  Champion of the Forest

  FM

  Fairy Rules

  Part Two, Night of the fairy

  Soul Seeker

  Finding Us

  Saltwater

  We Danced

  Wings of a Butterfly

  Don’t Let Go

  Keeper of the First Book

  Darkness Rules

  Contributors

  Part one, Day of the Fairy

  From the rays of the brightest light, fluttering on tiny wings, they will guide you safely in and out of fairy rings. ~ CLS

  BELLAFINA

  I rushed through the green meadow, my bare feet barely touching the soft grass covering the ground. Spirala had warned me about them, told me I shouldn’t be near them, but it was so hard to resist. The humans were fascinating creatures, and I wanted to learn more about them. But one of the creatures had caught sight of me in the bushes on the edge of their village, and now, the chase was on. I didn’t know what the human wanted from me, but I couldn’t risk stopping to find out.

  My wings fluttered urgently, my heart thumping frantically in my chest, as the heavy footsteps began to gain on me.

  “Stop,” the male human voice yelled. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  As much as I wanted to believe him, I wouldn’t. It was against the rules for me to be near any human. In fact, they had nearly wiped us all out years ago, making us go into hiding to protect our future. Without us, there would be no changing seasons, no one to look over the land, and more than anything, there would be no magic.

  I continued out of the meadow and made it to the safety of the trees. There were plenty of places for me to hide in the forest versus the wide open meadow. I pressed myself up against the trunk of an elm tree, hoping to blend in, so the human couldn’t see me.

  He rushed past me, breathing frantically and clutching his hand to his side. Then he stopped a few feet away and glanced around. The dark-haired human dropped to his knees, bringing his hands up to his face, and sobbing. “No, this isn’t fair. What am I going to do now? I can’t lose her. I just can’t.”

  There was something about his sadness that broke my heart. This human truly was in pain. I fluttered away from the tree trunk and landed beside him, gently placing my hand on his shoulder. “Human, why are you in so much pain?”

  He gasped for breath, dropped his hands, and glanced over at me with his red, swollen eyes. “Please, I need your help. It’s my daughter, Arianna. She is gravely ill and the doctors say she only has days to live. I’ve heard about the magic fairies hold, and I think your magic could be the only thing that can heal her.”

  I swallowed hard as I slowly began to back away from him. He seemed truly devastated by what was happening to his daughter, but using my magic to heal her would make me weak.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “My magic isn’t meant to heal.”

  “No.” He reached his hand out to me. “Please don’t go. You’re my only hope. Fairies have the ability to bring things back to life, such as flowers and animals. You have to be able to heal sicknesses.”

  “I don’t know.” My wings continued to flutter. “I’ve never tried healing anyone before, especially a human.”

  “All I’m asking is that you try.” His brown eyes pleaded with mine.

  I took a deep breath, knowing I could get into a lot of trouble for this. “Do you promise to let me go as soon as I use my magic on her, even if I can’t heal her?”

  “Yes,” he said, pulling himself to his feet. “I have no intentions of making you a prisoner. I just want my daughter back.”

  “Take me to your daughter,” I said, hoping I wouldn’t regret my decision.

  ***

  “By the way, the name is Jonathon,” the human said as he walked back through the meadow.

  “I’m Bellafina,” I whispered, fluttering beside him. I was sure telling Jonathon my name was against the rules as well. Nearly everything was. Spirala would have my wings when I got back for sure.

  After a while, we crossed the huge log over the stream, following the path that would take us into the village. My stomach clenched in pain as I thought about all the humans. What if they saw me?

  “Jonathon, I can’t just fly into your village. It’s too dangerous for me.”

  He glanced over. “You’re right. I didn’t even think about that.” He slipped off his gray jacket. A brown leather bag was attached to a strap around his shoulder. “Would it be okay to put you in here until we get to my house?”

  I wasn’t very fond about being shoved into small spaces, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t let the other humans see me. “As long as you take me out as soon as you can. I’m sort of claustrophobic.”

  Jonathon laughed. “You won’t be in there long. I promise.”

  I sighed deeply, fluttered over to his bag as he opened it, and flew in.

  The bag was smelly and hot, but I managed to settle myself in the corner as Jonathon began walking again. At times, the ride became a little bumpy, and I had to brace my arms on the side of the bag to keep from falling over. Voices began echoing all around me, making me fully aware we had entered the village.

  Finally, after what seemed like forever, Jonathon opened the bag. I blinked a few times against the brightness, and then I flew out. His house was small, simple. A black stove sat in the middle of the kitchen. Next to it was a table with two chairs.

  “She’s in here,” Jonathon said, crossing the room.

  I quickened my pace until I was right behind him, following him into a tiny room. In the corner sat a small bed.

  I flew over to the bed, and there she was. Her small face was pale, her breath slow and shallow.

  Jonathon took a cloth out of a wooden bucket sitting beside her and began wiping it over her forehead. “She is the only thing I have left in this world,” he whispered. “I can’t lose her.”

  The young girl began to moan softly, but her eyes remained closed.

  “Daddy’s here, Ari.” He smoothed her dark curls away from her face. “Everything will be okay.” He picked up a raggedy doll from the end of the bed and tucked it into her arm. Then he turned to me. “Do you think you can save her?”

  “I can’t make any promises.” I watched her in awe. I’d never seen a human child before. It was the most amazing thing ever. “All I can do is try.”

  I fluttered forward, balancing
myself just over her head. Closing my eyes, I pressed the palm of my hand to the crown of her head, resting it on her dark brown hair. Within seconds, my hand heated up, and my magic quickly absorbed into her. Weakness began to consume me as I pushed all of my energy into her body. My wings began to tire, and I was losing altitude.

  Before I could hit the wooden floor of the house, Jonathon caught me in the palm of his hand. “Are you okay, Bellafina?”

  “I need rest,” I said weakly.

  Jonathon laid me at the end of Arianna’s bed and covered me up with a small piece of her blanket. My eyes blinked a few times as I glanced around the room, but eventually, sleep took over.

  ***

  “She really is pretty, Daddy,” a small voice whispered. “And tiny. Why are her wings clear?”

  “I’m not sure, sweetie,” he answered. “I don’t know too much about fairies.”

  “Can we keep her,” she said, hope swimming in her voice.

  “I’m sorry, Ari, but I promised I would let her go once she helped me.”

  “Can I at least go with you when you release her? I want to say goodbye to her.”

  I slowly opened my eyes to Arianna’s round, beautiful face in front of me. Knowing I had saved this little girl made everything so much better.

  “Hello,” she said, smiling. “My name is Arianna.”

  I sat up and returned her smile. “Hi, Arianna. I’m very pleased to meet you.”

  “Why are you so small,” she asked. Her eyes were wide and full of wonder.

  I laughed at her question. “Because I’m a fairy. We’re supposed to be small.”

  “Okay, Ari.” Jonathon laughed. “I think it’s time for us to keep our promise to Bellafina. We need to get her back to the forest so she can fly home.” Jonathon scooped me up in his hand and carried me across the room toward the bag on the table.

  “Daddy, would it be okay if I carry Bell to the forest?”

  Jonathon gazed at her wearily.

  “Of course, you can carry me, Arianna.” I smiled, liking the nickname she came up with.

  “Yes, yes,” she said, jumping up and down. She held out her hand while Jonathon gently placed me in her palm.

  “Now, you need to be careful. The others can’t see her. If they do, they might want to do mean things to her.”

  “Okay, Daddy.” Her voice rang with joy.

  Jonathon took Arianna’s other hand into his, and then he led her through the house. When he opened the door, darkness had already fallen over the town. They stepped outside and continued over the dirt road as villagers rushed this way and that.

  We reached the edge of the village, losing our source of light.

  “You can let me go here, Jonathon, if it’s easier for you. I can find my way home in the dark.”

  He glanced down, the expression on his face unsure. “You will be alright, then?”

  “Yes.”

  Arianna lifting her hand in the air as I spread my wings out and fluttered away, illuminating myself in the darkness.

  Suddenly, a figure jumped out from behind a tree, capturing me with a small net. “I knew it,” he said, focusing on Jonathon. “You actually managed to capture one.”

  My golden light changed into a fiery red as I rammed into the net, desperate to escape. “Let me go,” I shouted.

  “Leave her be,” Jonathon yelled. “I made her a promise, and I intend to keep it.” He pushed Arianna behind him as the man pulled a small knife from his pocket.

  “Her magic is mine now,” the man scoffed. “And if I’m not mistaken, I’m entitled to wishes for capturing her.”

  “You let her go,” Arianna said as she stepped out from behind Jonathon. “You will never be able to get her to give you her magic or grant any of your wishes.”

  “Little girl, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll go back behind your father.” The man raised the knife in the air.

  Jonathon attempted to pull Arianna back, but she slipped out of his grip. “Ari, no,” he said, as she raced toward the man.

  I’d never had as much fear as I did now. I watched helplessly as little Arianna lunged toward the man. Her fists were in the air, cheeks flushed red.

  I held onto the netting as the man violently sliced the blade through the air, focusing on Arianna’s chest.

  “No,” I screamed, tears spilling from my eyes. It was like the small time I had spent with her had connected us somehow.

  Suddenly, just as the blade inched closer and closer to her, Arianna narrowed her eyes and tossed a bright light from her hands. The light smashed into the guy, knocking him backward and causing him to drop me and the net to the ground.

  Jonathon shook his head as he stood staring down at the unconscious man. “What…what was that? What happened?”

  Arianna bent down to the net and released me. I fluttered up to her face and placed the palm of my hand to her cheek. “You saved me, little one.”

  “Yes, but you saved me, too,” she whispered.

  “Will someone please explain what just happened,” Jonathon’s voice grew louder.

  I flew over to him and smiled. “When I healed her, I put my magic into her. Arianna and I are connected. We will always be connected from this day forward.”

  I glanced over at her, thinking. Just then something occurred to me. That’s why we were forbidden to come into contact with humans. If we touch them with our magic, they received a part of it. If humans knew the truth, instead of thinking we only granted wishes, we would be in serious trouble.

  “Look, Daddy,” Arianna squealed. She held a wilted flower in her hand. She touched the flower with the tip of her finger and it slowly came back to life.

  I flew over to her. “My dear, Arianna. If you ever need anything at all, don’t be afraid to call for me.”

  “Do you really have to go?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry.” Moisture brimmed in my eyes. “But if you need me, you’ll know where to find me.”

  Without another word, I turned and flew off toward the forest, knowing that it wouldn’t be long until I was connected with Arianna again. After all, it was almost spring. Someone had to help me bring the flowers back to life, and who else would be better suited for the job than a little girl full of love.

  Bringer of Light

  *Written in UK English*

  Dion Adair looked at his kingdom. Most people called him Mr. Adair, but a few close to him had named him Dion, and an ever rarer inner circle knew his real name. The lights flashed off writhing bodies in sequins and sheaths on nubile young women, glowing shoes and crisp shirts on young men. The music jarred Dion’s teeth, and he adjusted the ear plugs he invariably wore on these nights.

  The DJ was good, for a human. Dion would only allow the best, which is why his club was the most popular. He surveyed the crowds from his mezzanine floor office and signalled the bouncers discretely when he wanted someone removed. There was a distinct lack of muscular thugs in this nightclub. Everyone was beautiful and every one of them deadly. The décor was unusually tasteful for such a venue, and he knew that, out in the street, there were several blocks lined with people eager to be there. His kingdom was a perfect little oasis.

  “Mr. Adair?” A timid knock alerted him to the presence of the only discord in the entire establishment. The young woman at his door was frumpy and dull with no apparent hidden depths apart from keeping his paperwork in immaculate order. “I’ll just be leaving now, sir. I left some papers on your desk to be signed and used those little sticky arrows so you know what needs to be done. I’ll file them in the morning if you could just find a moment to sign them tonight, sir.”

  Dion found her obsequious manner mildly irritating, but valued her skill too much to pressure her about it. He pursed his lips for a moment as looked at her cheap clothes, worn shoes, tightly plaited hair that had been pulled back from her freckled face, oversized glasses, and braces that made her lisp—which irritated him more. He kept their conversations to a minimal.

  �
�Miss Dearn, thank you for your diligence. Would you like me to have a car take you home?”

  “Oh, no thank you, sir. I can find my way.” She bobbed in a bizarrely out of place little curtsey, and he frowned at her retreating back.

  He had tried every persuasive method at his disposal to mould her into something more visually appealing, but she had somehow proven immune to all of them. She had continued to quietly and discretely arrive and leave through the back staff entrance, right on time, and every time in the same drab ensemble. Dion sucked an irritated breath across his teeth. If she were not so damned good at her work, he would have replaced her years ago. He signalled for one of the bouncers to see she arrived home safely. Discretely of course, he didn’t want to upset her.

  He needed a distraction from his mousy little secretary and soon forgot her in the colourful view of the dance floor. He glided down the spiral staircase onto the floor below. Moving amongst the writhing bodies, Dion breathed the scents, touched fabrics and absorbed electrical impulses from auras. Occasionally, he licked the salt from a glistening neck or shoulder, letting the sensory input recharge his energy levels. The only awareness of his tongue on their skin was additional moisture to their patina of sweat; human perception being what it is.

  A particular scent caught him and he followed it to an enchanting couple coiled around each other.

  “The music is to your liking?”

  They heard him in spite of the noise levels and smiled, pulling him into their coil. They writhed together for a few moments, arms entwined around necks and bodies in an organic rhythm, and then freed him. He moved on.

  His own kind was always easy to spot. They were the most tactile, the most fluid in their movements and always the best dressed. It surprised him there were so many here tonight with this DJ. He had this one for human nights, when it didn’t matter if the music only went ear canal deep.

  Dion moved toward the DJ, who proudly announced his boss, eliciting sycophantic cheers from across the floor. Giving a mocking half-bow to the crowd, Dion enjoyed drinking in that energy rippling toward him before returning to his mezzanine floor as the music pumped up again.