Beware the Violet

by Maria Vermisoglou

  “You did say we were going shopping.”

  “Right.” Taking the bags from her, I took a peek, and I frowned. “Books on fairies?”

  “And other supernatural creatures. You need to do some reading as well, along with your training. They’re courtesy of the Blessed Realm but in front of humans, they will appear as regular textbooks. Neat, huh?” She winked, and I sighed.

  “Tomorrow, we’re going to have some fun!” She clapped and jumped up and down and I couldn’t get why she was so overexcited about healing magic. Unless I missed something as always. “Fairy magic is so exciting, you’ll see.” She patted my arm and waved. “See you tomorrow.” As I watched, she disappeared, leaving a trail of violet sparks on the ground.

  I looked at the sky and noticed the sun was beginning to set. Madelene was correct, the Blessed Realm’s time was slower than the humans’.

  “Did you have fun with your friend today?” my mother said when I set foot in our house.

  “Yes, we had a good time.” I filled a plate with food and hoped she didn’t ask any questions. I hated lying to my family, but I had no other choice. They would call me crazy if I uttered one word about what I had been doing today. For everyone’s safety and mine, the facade had to be kept.

  My mother smiled. “It’s good that you got to meet her. She’s good company and you get out of the house without your sister, but it would be better if you didn’t do it on a school night.”

  “Yes, it was kind of a spur of the moment decision.” I emptied my plate and grabbed my bag. “I’m going to go study now,” I said and wished my homework was already done.

  “If you need any help, let me know and there are books in the hallway.” Taking my plate, she headed for the dishwasher. “You could go to the library with your friend since you are both going to sit the final examinations. It’s a quiet place and you’ll get your homework done in no time.”

  The library! Of course! Astounded by my own stupidity, I nodded while I wished I could have slapped myself real hard. The solution was there all along and the need to lie or hold fake shopping bags could be reduced! “Yes, we were planning to go and study tomorrow. There are so many books at our feet.”

  “Great idea, I’ll pack a little something for you to take.”

  “Thank you, Mom,” I said and kissed her on the cheek. I went upstairs and found our room empty. Assuming Diane was at Ellen’s across the street, I pulled out my homework and ignoring my heavy eyelids managed to do everything in a short time. Packing my schoolbag, I placed the supernatural books to take a look at them tomorrow and dove into my bed, praying for nothing but happy dreams.

  Chapter 2: A Rabbit in a Cage

  The weather turned colder as I wrestled through school and training all the while, the dreams continued and each time, a new threat arose.

  I reported them to the witch, but she offered nothing other than a nod. Our lessons were good and enlightening as I discovered more about my past and my powers.

  After weeks, we moved on to other elements as the witch thought it was time to make things more challenging. Training with Kristy was more fun and relaxing since fairy magic was lighter, whereas witch magic needed more mental energy and focus.

  My parents didn’t question my whereabouts as they thought Kristy and I were always going to the library and I did not correct that impression. Studying for finals and training exhausted me and I went to bed early only to get dragged into that dark cave and experience these frightening dreams. They didn’t bother me in my waking hours again after that one incident, but I was afraid, something would happen again.

  I hadn’t seen Jacques during my time in the Blessed Realm and everyone said he left, making me even more angry. When he told me his story, I thought I understood him, but obviously, I was wrong. Even if he showed up in front of me with an apology, I wouldn’t want to talk to him or listen to him. The food was long gone, leaving an avenging fire that burned hot.

  On a Saturday, I went for a walk to clear my head before heading to the Blessed Realm. On the weekends, I was allowed to have a break from my training and lessons and I liked to take a stroll around the city. That particular Saturday though Kristy had invited me to take a walk to the Blessed Realm, and I had accepted. A walk to the supernatural realm would help me map the place better in my head and not get lost every time I went there.

  A white blanket coated the scene in front of me and when the sun peeked from the clouds, they turned amber. Standing at the edge of the forest, I admired the picture and smiled. If I was an artist, this would be a view I would want to paint and share with the whole world.

  Suddenly, a distant sound reached my ears, and I focused. It seemed like banging but I couldn’t make it out very clearly so I tried to find the source. Uncertain about where to turn to, I used my senses to guide me and walked with my eyes closed. My powers enhanced my senses, and I managed to pinpoint it more easily without falling. When the sound was loud enough, I opened my eyes and finally located the sound. I was in the middle of the forest and the rattling noise came from a cage. Inside was a trapped animal, but when I took a closer look, my insides twisted. The animal was a rabbit I knew all too well.

  Ignoring the shivers that went up to my back, I bent down and using a pin from my hair; I unlocked it. The rabbit stepped out and before I could blink, a boy sat on the ground with a flushed face.

  “Finally! I’ve been trapped for hours!” His flushed face betrayed his anger, and I stood still watching him as he stood. He looked up and when he saw me, his cheeks turned redder. “Violet.”

  He hadn’t changed these past months, but his appearance was anything but neat. His usual fashionable clothes were tattered and his tangled hair gave the impression he had been in a jungle. Navy eyes adorned his face and were as bright as ever. I couldn’t look at him any longer so I took off without a word.

  “Violet!” he called after me, but I continued at a fast pace, trying to get to the Blessed Realm as soon as I could. Not that he couldn’t follow me there, but with Kristy there, he might leave me alone.

  “Violet, wait!” he said, catching up with me, but I said nothing and begged for the gate to show up a moment sooner. Grabbing my arm, he made me stop, and I shot him an angry look, but kept my lips firmly closed. “Can we talk?”

  Pulling my arm, I looked at him as anger boiled inside me. “No!” Almost running, I left and tried to contain the tears that threatened to break me. I had imagined a million times what I would tell him when I saw him, but in my imagination, I was calm and relaxed and not in a state of utter shock. The gate appeared and taking courage, I got close, but a hand pulled me back. “What?”

  “Please,” he said, “can we talk?” He pleaded, but I would not be entrapped in the magic of his eyes. I might have pitied him if he hadn’t left but he deserved no mercy.

  “I don’t want to talk to or see you again!” This time, I ran to the gate and opening it, I jumped without a second thought. Falling in the hole, I wiped my tears before landing gracefully on the ground. I expected him to wait for me, but when I didn’t see him here, I relaxed and made a beeline for Kristy’s house.

  “Are hellhounds chasing you?” Kristy asked when she opened the door.

  Heaving, I stepped inside and closed the door. I tried to breathe, but I ended up choking. Kristy waved her hand, and I was able to breathe normally again. “He’s here,” I managed and Kristy cast me a questioning look and then realization dawned on her.

  “Jacques? Jacques is here?” she said, and I nodded. “So, more like rabbit hounds.”

  I arched an eyebrow, ready to yell at her, but then jumped as the door I had my back on, quivered. There was no question who was knocking on the door. I looked around for a place to hide and Kristy pointed into a room ahead.

  “Go and I’ll deal with him.” I raised my eyebrows, and a frown crossed her features. “This is my house. I will kick him out if I have to.”

  I nodded gratefully and made a run for the living room.
I heard the door closing and relaxed. Staring at the pink flowers on the table, I thought how ironic it was. Kristy who wasn’t the bravest person in the world was defending me. My fear puzzled me though. Every time I thought of Jacques, fear overwhelmed me and I couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be natural, could it? Was it because he hurt me, but I didn’t know him long enough to be hurt.

  Waiting for Kristy, I gazed at the living room and I found it was stylish yet comfortable. Furniture made of vines and branches stood on every corner of the room while rugs made of grass were spread on the floor. Glow fairies flew to the ceiling, casting their soft glow downward. On the walls, I saw photos of people in frames made of branches, flowers, and leaves. Exploring and touching the texture of things, I smiled. Kristy’s house was full of fairy things and nature stuff. I couldn’t find one human invention, but I guess she didn’t need them. When you had magic, technology was useless.

  “Finally! I made him leave,” Kristy said, flying into the room with a tea set.

  I was amused as I saw she owned teacups decorated with fairies and fairy shaped biscuits. “Thank you.” I almost cried with relief when I heard her words and taking a blue teacup, I turned my lips into a trembling smile.

  “Very insistent but I won the battle in the end,” she said proudly and sat cross-legged in an armchair. “But I’ve never seen him so upset. You really changed him.” She giggled, and I blushed.

  “Will he leave me alone now?” I whispered.

  “Hmm…that remains to be seen. He feels really awful, and I never knew he could have actual feelings.” Kristy took a biscuit and my heart sank. “He is so stoic and sarcastic, but now I’m seeing human feelings. It’s interesting.” Placing her cup on the table, Kristy looked at me. “So, why did you run? How did you run into him in the first place?”

  “Well, I freed him from a cage. He was trapped in his rabbit form,” I said and Kristy’s eyes widened. “He tried talking to me, but I just fled.” I shrugged. “I’ve thought a million times what I would say if I ever saw him again, but I just…” Helplessly, I battled with words that never came.

  Kristy patted my hand. “Sometimes, things don’t work like we imagine them and the wounds are still fresh. It will pass with time.” I was startled by her wisdom. The little time I have known her, she seemed silly, giddy and on occasion, she would become serious.

  “I like it,” I said, waving my hand around and Kristy glowed. “But I thought you were living in the human world.”

  “I’m glad!” Her smile shone on her face like the light of a thousand glow fairies, as she was taking a sip from her tea, she said, “I lived in the human world for a long time but when the darkness came things changed and I was summoned back.” She frowned but then looked at me. “You can say I was studying abroad” which brought a small laugh from the both of us, breaking the tension. “Let’s go for a walk.” She held out her hand, and I reluctantly took it. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep him away if there’s a need, but it’s best if we enjoy this walk and the sun while we can.”

  I nodded, and she guided me outside. Kristy was right. The walk was great and there were so many exciting things to see and admire. Being sociable, Kristy introduced me to every creature we met, and they thanked me for saving their land from the darkness. I was unsure on how to respond so I smiled and shrugged like it was no big deal.

  Fall had come to the Blessed Realm as well and orange, yellow leaves peppered the soil and a frosty chill covered our skin like a cape.

  “I thought a magical land would have endless summer,” I said and Kristy tilted her head.

  “I guess we could if we asked the witch, but that would be boring.” She stopped and pointed at a row of bushes with red leaves. “This is the border. If you go past this point, you’ll cross into other realms, but it’s best not to. You don’t know how to navigate through them yet.”

  I nodded and noticed that where the bushes stood, there was something that betrayed the border was there. An invisible wall and if I concentrated hard enough, I could hear the sizzling sound coming out of it.

  “Layers,” Kristy said, and I turned to her. “Layers are all over our world and that’s what you sense. You can’t see them, but you can sense them.”

  “And do you get visits from other creatures?” I said, and she shook her head.

  “After the darkness came, no one entered and now, the witch is thinking of closing the border entirely. Most creatures stay in their realms and don’t care about traveling around. That’s a human thing.” She hesitated and her reaction worried me. “And a shifter thing,” she said at last and I tried to erase her words from my head entirely. Why was he here even though he was not?

  Getting back, I was lost in thought and when I looked up, I saw the sun lowering on the horizon. “I’m sorry, I must get going.”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll walk you to your house.” She took my arm and the whole way, she was talking about various subjects and I listened. I liked hearing her soft voice, and she kept my fears at bay. “We’re here,” Kristy announced when we stopped outside my house. “See you on Monday. I’ll see what I can find out.” She winked, but I looked at her horrified.

  “No! I don’t want to think about this subject anymore.”

  “Aren’t you curious? Something must have happened because ever since he came to live with us, I’ve never seen him in such a state. Not a hair out of place, not a speck of dust, it’s unnatural, but now…it’s like he’s been to hell and back,” Kristy said concerned and guilt hit me.

  Of course, she was concerned about her friend. They might not have been close, but Kristy cared for everyone. I was just selfish and only thought about myself.

  “It’s okay to feel that way, Violet but maybe there’s a rational explanation.” She scowled. “Not that I defend him in any way. It’s unforgivable what he did.”

  Her words managed to cheer me up, and I gave her a tentative smile. “All right. But no word about me. I don’t want to have anything to do with him.”

  Kristy nodded. “Goodnight, Violet.” She waved and disappeared into the night.

  I sighed and quickly got inside my house, as it was a chilly night. After a quick dinner, I studied for a while, trying to stall the inevitable. I dreaded the dreams that the calm night brought as they had become even more dangerous. The two evil creatures continued their schemes, but the vampire I saw had disappeared and it worried me. He was sent to look for me and that alone was enough to cause me some sleepless nights.

  I could only keep the tiredness at bay for so long and when it wore me out, I sighed and made the decision to give up fighting. Lying down, I prayed I didn’t have any dreams and before even completing the thought, a raspy voice sounded: “Your Evilship!”

  Chapter 3: A Charmer

  The days following Jacques’s reappearance were rough. If training wasn’t enough, he would show up at random times, asking me to talk. Fortunately, Kristy was there and soon, he gave up and I had a little peace at last.

  Training was becoming more demanding, and I even had to study about supernatural creatures, training techniques, and magic as well as preparing for my exams in the human world. The dreams continued every night and sometimes, they were so frightening, I would wake up screaming. My parents and Diane noticed my increasing nightmares, but I reassured them it was just stress.

  “Maybe you should go to the doctor, Violet,” my father said one day, and I wrestled for a believable answer that would put his mind at ease but my mother saved me.

  “Don’t worry, dear. After the exams are over, she will be fine. I remember how stressed I was during that time and I would have nightmares of failing,” my mom said and smiled. “It’s just some months away and then, you’ll be free.”

  I wish, I thought as I nodded and headed outside. My mom was a lawyer, and she knew what stress was, but my nightmares had nothing to do with the exams. Sighing, I watched people go about their business on my way to the library. They didn’t realize how lucky they were.
Wandering around completely oblivious of the presence of supernatural things, haunting dreams, and confusing shapeshifters.

  The small blue library building appeared, and I entered, smiling. This place held a magic that not even the Blessed Realm could surpass. I chose a remote corner and started with the books about the supernatural which were more difficult. Madelena wanted me to memorize spells and learn about every creature that existed even the ones that were thought to have vanished and Kristy wanted me to practice my aura vision. Being in the library I could do it since everyone was looking at anything but the books they studied. I was careful not to stare too much though, or that would result in questions and suspicious glares.

  Focusing on the wall behind the woman I chose her to be my first target, I half-closed my eyes and trusted my Believer sense to guide me. Slowly, I saw specks of yellow and with some effort, a whole cloud arose behind the woman like a tail. Smiling, I turned my head at the librarian and repeated the process. The colorful cloud swirled around the librarian, giving her an eerie appearance. Amazed, I looked a bit longer before commanding myself to look away.

  Kristy had mentioned that most people had one color auras, but there were some individuals with colorful auras because they were unique to the world. Mostly, were artists and intellectuals but sometimes, the reason defied explanation. It was amazing to watch and I would have liked to stare at it all day, but instead, I dug into the rest of my books.

  When I went to a coffee shop across the street for a break a few hours later, my head was buzzing with all the information I had consumed. I decided to study for my school’s exams and end this day’s magical studies. It was ironic that I looked forward to studying for school because of its lightness of difficulty. Getting out of the coffee shop with a half-eaten bagel in hand, I waited for the green light to signal the end of my break and my return to the cozy library.