by Sarah Noffke
Several times, Paris nearly tripped on thick roots or vines, which she didn’t want to think about, assuming they were the killer type. She moved so fast, leaping and jumping, her feet hardly touching the forest floor, that she reasoned nothing could catch her…well, besides the beast that was huffing and racing in her direction.
Considering her options, Paris debated using her magic to fight the animal. However, that felt wrong. Maybe it was frightened. She didn’t want to harm an innocent animal. Although Paris didn’t want to die either, and if it was between “kill or be killed,” the options were clear.
Still, Paris thought she could come up with a different strategy. Something that she could live with…if she lived. Glancing around as she sped through the Bewilder Forest, she considered climbing a tree using magic like the first time a hoofed animal had charged her. However, she didn’t think she could do it while running, and her climbing skills without magic were pretty untested.
Deciding that her best option was to out-think the stag, Paris scanned the upcoming area of the forest, searching for an opportunity. If she could find a place to hide, maybe she could buy some time. The twinkling flowers made concealment difficult since their bright lights illuminated everything.
Ahead, Paris spied a low branch that looked quite sturdy. If she could grab it and swing her body on top of it, she could scale the thick tree and get to safety, at least for a brief moment before the angry stag charged the tree with its hooves.
It was the best plan Paris had so she sucked in a breath, swung her arms fast at her sides, and prepared to leap for the low branch. She was so focused on the tree ahead that she didn’t see the thick roots on the ground. The tip of her boot snagged a particularly stubborn one that didn’t give when she caught it, sending her face-first to the forest floor.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Before she fully connected with the forest ground, Paris whipped around, rolling onto her back. It was too late.
The stag raced straight for her. Paris didn’t have a chance to jump to her feet before the beast halted straight over her. Its hooves were on either side of her. The stag lowered its antlers, staring straight down at her. Its hot breath knocked her in the face. The looming expression in its dark eyes sent a chill down Paris’ spine.
She choked on a mouthful of dirt she’d nearly swallowed after the fall. The beast watched her as she held her breath and considered her options.
Paris, out of options, prepared to use a spell when the stag opened its mouth and said, “Who are you, and how did I get here?”
Of all the things that Paris expected, that wasn’t one of them. The stag spoke…like Faraday. He had a refined voice and carefully enunciated each word. She pressed her hands against the ground and scooted back, stealing a few inches away from the stag.
“Y-Y-You can talk,” she stammered.
“Who are you, and how did I get here?” the stag repeated.
Paris nodded and wiggled back a few more inches. “I’m Paris Beaufont, and I’m not sure how you got here. Can you give me more information? I’ll try and help.”
The stag swung its head back and forth and huffed. Paris used this opportunity to push back and up, staring up at the large animal.
“I was in the woods in upstate New York,” the stag said, his voice very distinguished. “Then yesterday, I woke up and I was here. Where is this place?”
Was this what Plato had arranged? Was the stag a piece of the puzzle? This was growing more confusing, offering more questions than answers.
“You’re at Happily Ever After College.” Paris tried to catch her breath between words, her heart racing.
“Is that connected to Copper Union?” the stag questioned.
Again, this wasn’t how Paris saw interaction with the stag going when it had raced after her like a bull ready to mow her down. Really, she didn’t expect to be talking to a stag, but she was still alive, so she wasn’t complaining.
“It’s a college where fairy godmothers are educated and trained,” Paris explained. “This is the Bewilder Forest, and through there or there…I’m actually really turned around, there are the Enchanted Grounds.”
The stag thought this over, strange wisdom in its eyes. “So we aren’t in upstate New York then?”
Paris shook her head. “I’m not sure where the college is. I know that sounds weird, but it exists in a bubble of sorts due to its magic.”
He nodded. “I know magic well and how it can do strange things.”
“So you are…were…” Paris left the sentence unfinished, hoping the stag would fill in the words.
“A magician, yes,” the stag stated.
“Can you tell me how you became a….well, you know…?”
The stag opened his mouth, but nothing came out. “Unfortunately, it appears that I can’t.”
“Okay.” Paris drew out the word. It appeared she was going to have to play twenty questions like with Faraday. “Do you know a talking squirrel?”
The stag’s eyes widened, surprise written on his face. “Faraday?” He looked all around. “Is he here? Where? This is very, very important.”
Paris wanted to jump up and hug the stag, but that would have been awkward because she didn’t know his name yet. Plus, he was a stag…who could talk.
“He’s here.” She looked around the forest. “Well, he’s somewhere. I lost him when a ghost was chasing us. Then you came after me, and I’m really lost now.”
“I’m sorry,” the stag answered. “I haven’t seen anyone since I awoke here. I was confused, and I have to admit a little unnerved. We should start over.” The stag backed up and lowered his head as if he was bowing to her. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Paris Beaufont. I am Edison.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Edison. The name seemed strange. However, Paris didn’t think he could answer her burning questions. It appeared that someone had spelled the talking animals not to share their secrets. It was the story of her life at this point. However, she was unweaving this mystery, and hopefully, she’d found the next to last puzzle piece.
“Nice to meet you, Edison. So you awoke in here?”
He nodded. “Faraday is here. That’s superb news. I’d all but given up trying to find him.”
“You’ve been searching for him?”
“Yes, for a long time,” Edison answered.
“Because you have to be reunited for you to turn back into a magician and return to your timeline, then?” Paris guessed, putting it all together.
“You know that I’m not from this time?” Edison sounded surprised and also relieved.
She nodded. “Yes, I’ve been sent to find you and another piece of the puzzle, which I think is also in the Bewilder Forest.”
“Curie,” Edison stated.
Paris let out a giant breath. She was finally making progress on this mystery. The stag could give her a tiny bit of information. Maybe the farther she progressed, the more he and Faraday could reveal. That seemed about like Plato’s and Papa Creola’s styles.
“Curie.” She mused on the name. “I’m guessing that’s another talking animal?” ‘
Edison nodded.
“You three have to be reunited. Then the stones send you back to your timelines and change you back.” Paris observed the stag for a hint she was on the right track.
“I can’t really say, for I simply don’t know. Although I can affirm that putting us together would be progress.”
Realizing she was still sitting on the forest floor, Paris pushed up to her feet and wiped her hands on her pants. “So you three turned yourself into animals, time traveled, got separated, and got stuck both in the future and also as animals?”
Edison huffed again, swinging his head back and forth. “If you can help me, I would be forever grateful. I’ll reward you for your efforts handsomely.”
Paris grinned but shook her head. “That’s kind of you, but not necessary. Faraday is my friend, and I want him to be happy. However
, it sounds like I still have to find Curie.” She looked around the Bewilder Forest. “Hopefully, that won’t take very long. Then I’ll return with the stones, but I’m not sure what happens then.”
“Curie will know,” Edison said with confidence. “She knows the spell that can change us back, but we must be together for it to work.”
Again Paris wanted to jump up and down with excitement. Things were finally coming together. “Father Time gave me the stones to send you back to your timeline. So I need to find Curie…somewhere in here.”
“Very good,” Edison said proudly.
“Oh, and I have to locate my squirrel too,” Paris added.
“I’ll be ready when you are then,” Edison stated. “You can find me at the sharp bend in the stream here.”
Paris didn’t know where that was, but she knew someone who knew the Bewilder Forest well, and he would help. She had to find Hemingway on the long list of people she was tracking down.
“Great,” Paris said with a relieved smile. “I look forward to seeing you again, Edison.”
Again the stag bowed to her. “You as well, Miss Paris Beaufont. Thank you greatly for your help.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Paris was doubtful that she’d have luck finding Curie or anyone else in the Bewilder Forest since she was completely and utterly lost. In her attempts to get away from the racing stag, who was a friend and not a foe, she’d gotten so far off the path that she didn’t know which way to go to get back to it.
The forest was as its name indicated and totally bewildering. Paris turned several times, doubting the direction she’d chosen. Through the twinkling lights, she didn’t see anything that marked the territory, like the fairy godmothers’ mansion through the trees.
Careful to watch where she stepped, Paris worked to avoid any bewitched vines or anything else that could harm her. When an owl hooted overhead in the trees, a chill ran down her back. She suddenly wished that Edison hadn’t left her side since she didn’t know what other creatures or ghosts could be hiding in the Bewilder Forest.
To keep her from thinking about what dangers could be lurking in the trees, ready to swoop down and gobble her up, Paris thought about what she’d learned. Edison, Faraday, and Curie had apparently done some experimental spell. That’s what she was assuming based on the little that the stag could share. They would have had to transform to animals to time travel, as Mae Ling had hinted. Then as talking animals, they’d become stuck in that form, seemingly lost their ability to do magic, and gotten locked in the future.
It was a relief to know that the three had to be reunited to do the magic. To further help, Curie knew the spell that would change them back. Then they could return to their timeline and go back to their real lives.
It simultaneously made Paris relieved and remorseful to know she was so close to putting the puzzle pieces together and fixing this mess with Faraday. She’d miss her squirrel sleeping in her sock drawer and offering his advice on her missions. Of course, she’d find herself in fewer sticky situations without the curious squirrel getting her into trouble. However, she would miss that too.
Paris’ feet ached, and she was exhausted when she finally stumbled upon the path that snaked through the Bewilder Forest. She was so relieved to have made that progress that she immediately perked up.
Picking the direction she thought would most likely take her to the Enchanted Grounds, Paris hurried down the path with a renewed sense of energy from her victory. When she spied the forest thinning, a sign she was coming out of the woods, light was growing on the horizon. It was morning, and the sun was rising.
Slowly the twinkle flowers dimmed as Paris strode down the path. By the time she made it to the edge of the Bewilder Forest, the lights were all out, and the sun was shining as morning dawned over Happily Ever After College.
Paris had thankfully made it out of the forest alive. However, she hadn’t slept at all and now had hardly any time before classes would start.
Trudging across the Enchanted Grounds for the fairy godmother mansion, Paris laughed, thinking that Faraday had better promise to do all her homework that day. Otherwise, she was going to threaten to make him into her next assignment for Magical Cooking.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“That’s, like, the tenth time you’ve yawned,” Christine said from the couch in the sitting room of the fairy godmother mansion, where she was lounging. “I guess I’m boring you.”
“Zero things are boring about you, Miss Drama Queen.” Paris shook her head. “I’m tired from spending the night talking to a stag and getting lost in the Bewilder Forest.”
Paris hadn’t told her friend about Hemingway’s mother haunting the Bewilder Forest. She trusted Christine, but that wasn’t her secret to tell, and she’d promised Hemingway. However, Paris had told her about Faraday and the mission to recover him and the others. Her friend thought it was cool that she was breaking the rules and going into the Bewilder Forest at night—but that was also on par for Paris Beaufont's behavior.
Christine sighed. “Again, why is it that you get a cool talking sidekick squirrel and all I have is this guy who only sleeps?” She pointed at Casanova, who was snoozing on her lap. The fat orange cat had taken to Christine, always finding her lap when they worked on the FriendNet case. Christine had said it was because they were both gingers and she understood him like no one else.
Paris didn’t know if it was that, but she noted that the tattle cat made an appearance during their meetings. Still, he worked for the headmistress mostly, sharing things that went on at the college with her. Willow had assigned Paris the FriendNet case, so she rationalized it was fine. Maybe the cat did like Christine because when she wasn’t wearing the blue gown, her hair was the same orangey-red as the cat.
“I won’t have a talking sidekick for long,” Paris remarked, working to keep the remorse out of her voice.
Christine petted the fluffy cat. “Knowing you and your awesome life, you’ll probably upgrade and get a unicorn or centaur or something.”
Wilfred cleared his throat, standing beside the couch. “According to several sources, centaurs do not socialize well and prefer to live outside of magical societies, on their own.”
“Yeah, but our odd defiant halfling will probably be the first to tame the wild centaur. Then she’ll have a cool sidekick and a ride,” Christine joked.
“You realize that you’re incredibly ridiculous, right?” Paris asked her.
“Oh, want to know how ridiculous I am? Ask my ex-boyfriends,” Christine related.
“Yeah, what have you found out with your investigative research of FriendNet? I updated my account and tried to investigate, but none of my exes wanted to talk to me. Is anyone else shocked?” Paris hoped to stay focused on the mission at hand. It would also help keep her awake and not thinking about Faraday, who she hadn’t seen since returning from the Bewilder Forest. She hoped that he was okay and had made it out okay—Hemingway too, although she suspected he could handle himself just fine.
“Well, I learned that I dated a whole slew of narcissists, most of whom have advanced degrees in manipulation and gaslighting,” Christine said dryly.
“Oh, that sucks,” Paris offered sensitively. “I’m sorry.”
Christine shrugged. “Honestly, I think that reflects worse on me than them. I did choose those psycho-pants.”
“Well, did you learn anything related to the FriendNet mission?” Paris asked.
“Yeah, there were some interesting correlations I found when doing my social media away from the college.” Christine glanced at Wilfred. “Seriously, I don’t know why we can’t get a special router that gives the fairy godmothers access to the internet. This is the twenty-first century.”
“Saint Valentine has been trying to change the regulations on that but has met a lot of resistance from the board,” Wilfred offered.
Christine sighed dramatically. “It should be the headmistress’ decision.”
“Althou
gh I agree,” Wilfred began. “It is the board who has the final say on curriculum, rules, and regulations at Happily Ever After College. Even Saint Valentine can’t overrule a majority vote.”
“Sounds like we need a new board,” Paris remarked.
“Well, at least you have messaging on your phone.” Christine pointed at Paris’ mobile sitting on the side table.
“Yeah, we seriously live in a removed bubble here, don’t we? So, this correlational evidence that you found regarding FriendNet. What was it?”
“According to Jerk Wad Number One,” Christine began, “he wasn’t surprised to hear from me, although probably a bit put off. He says that for some reason, FriendNet has been suggesting friend matches with many of his ex-girlfriends.”
“That’s interesting,” Paris muttered while thinking.
“Psychotic Number Two,” Christine continued, “his feed on FriendNet had only been either ex-girlfriends or girls he was interested in. So he broke up with his current hussy because—drum roll, please—he wanted to upgrade. However, that didn’t work out because he got dumped for someone the new hussy thought was better.”
“Wow, it’s like the platform is luring people into old or new relationships,” Paris mused.
“Then there was Inflated Ego Number Three,” Christine went on, “who said he was fighting with his train wreck girlfriend all the time. When I dived into it, he was always in a bad mood lately because his feed on FriendNet displayed all things he can’t stand, meaning people doing better than him. He was like, ‘did you know that so and so won the lottery and my old high school buddy owns a jet, and my rival is marrying a supermodel?’” Christine had broken into a deeper voice to impersonate her ex-boyfriend, making Paris laugh.
“It’s starting to sound like someone or an organization or something is intentionally doing things to make people unhappy in their relationships and break up,” Paris offered.