Once Upon a Faerie

Michael

“Harriet, you are going to be late for school” Mum screamed from the hallway, startling me awake. s**t I must've slept through my alarm. I rolled out of bed to get ready for school. I tossed and turned all night dreaming about my dad, which I never do. Sometimes I imagine what he would’ve been like, but this dream was different. In this dream he wasn’t normal, he was a faerie, just how mum described them. Strong and powerful, although in my dream he was the most powerful and most strong faerie born in their world. He ruled the kingdom he resided in and people looked up to him. The dream felt so real that I woke up feeling sad that I didn’t get to meet him. Yes, I know my dream was largely fictional. Of course my dad wasn’t a powerful faerie, but the rest seemed real. The warmth and kindness that radiated out of him, I knew he would’ve been like that in real life. As I brushed my teeth I decided to make it my mission to learn more about him before Michael leaves at the end of the weekend. I mean who knows when I will get the chance to learn about my dad again after this? I put the thought temporarily out of my head as I raced downstairs grabbing my lunch mum made for us and heading out the door.

“See you later” I yelled as I was exiting the door. I just couldn’t wait to get today over and done with. I mean today was Friday and tomorrow will be my birthday party.

*Michaels POV*

I sat in the kitchen watching Ellis make the kids their lunches for school. I could tell she was nervous about being alone with me. She wasn’t ready for the confrontation; I could tell, but it was my duty and mission to bring Harriet back. She agreed to it all those years ago, and now we are here to collect our bargain.

“See you later” Harriet yelled out as she was leaving the house. The resemblance between her and her father was remarkable. I mean, usually girls tend to look like their mothers, but in this case, Harriet looks like a girl version of her dad. It’s like when he died, he literally passed all of himself to her. Her bright wavy golden hair reminds me of when her father decided to grow his hair out ‘for the ladies’ when we were younger. From the brief interactions I’ve had with her already, I could tell she has his fiery spirit, but it is masked by the warmth and kindness of her mother.

“So why are you here Michael” Ellis said, squaring up to me with her hands on her hips. She wasn’t impressed about my presence, I could tell.

“What do you mean, Ellis, you know exactly why I’m here!”

“Why though it’s been 18 years and her fathers dead, what use is she in going back there” She pleaded.

“Because a deal is a deal” I half yelled, trying to exude my power to make her submit to my demands. “She doesn’t belong here, and you know it!” She didn't look like she was backing down.

“We have made a life here, I can’t just up and leave I have a husband and a son” She pleaded even more.

“It’s not about you, Ellis. Besides, you don’t have to come back if you don’t want to. It’s Harriet that needs to come back.”

“She has a life here too; she knows nothing about the deal or that life. What if she doesn’t want it”

“She seems like she would love it” I said, referring to her birthday this weekend. “I was meant to come get her straight away but seeing as she has planned her birthday I will wait until the weekend is over”, Making it final, giving her no more room to debate.

“NO” She remarked. Her face then cowered, remembering who she was talking to. “I mean it’s not enough time, we need to at least explain everything too her, give her time to take it in and accept it.” Looking defeated she knew I wasn’t going to give in. I contemplated her words. I mean its not like I liked the idea of ripping her away from her family and friends. But this life Ellis has made for Harriet is fake. Her real life if back home with the rest of her family.

“OK, I’ll give you one week!. You can tell her on Monday then the rest of the week to say goodbyes and get ready to go” Ellis didn’t reply, but I could tell she was pissed off. I mean what did she expect that we would just forget? She didn’t even try to go and hide either to prevent this from happening. Maybe she was smart enough to realize we would’ve found them eventually.

“I’m going to report back about the situation and get my son in to help out, I’ll be back this afternoon” I started walking out the door. "You know, you're lucky it's me to volunteer to come get her. The others would not have been this kind"

"I know" She sighed in defeat. With that I left. I felt I had done enough to get her upset this morning already. I have to get my son here for the week. I didn't want to worry Ellis but there is more to me being here than a deal and Harriet's safety is the utmost importance.