Forest of Mischief

The Fae's Secret

Freya stares at a carving in the wooden dining table of a bell flower. Her eyes trace the outline of it as she processes the information Rory and Lilli just gave her. He talked for hours, Lilli jumping into clarify the details of the multiple stories told. It couldn't be true.

But, they sat in front of her, the mask of their human features gone. Their 'allure' as they called it. The name comes from the allure's ability to trick humans Freya assumes. They still look like themselves, but their ears end in sharp points and an iridescent glow highlights their beauty. Both of them are stunning, intimidating Freya enough that she couldn't look at them as her mind reels over their words.

Fairies. The logical part of her rejects the word entirely. But she can't deny the proof sitting on either side of her. Both of them perched on the edge of their seats, waiting for her to react. Freya's mind is in the garden, envisioning the thick mist that lulled her to sleep. The unnerving darkness and absolute silence. That was magic. She never stood a chance.

She swallows, “Both of you are fairies," she states, working up the nerve to ask the question hanging in the room. “And, you...think I'm one too?"

“We don't think, we know," Rory says firmly. His playful tone disappeared at the start of his explanation, and it is still lacking. “Time moves differently in the Fae Realm, but you've been gone...awhile." His voice is almost sad as he says it. A drastic change from the sarcastic man he was a few hours ago. It seems like he catches the tone in his voice too, and shifts his mouth into a curved smile.

Lilli pipes up beside her, her hair almost glowing with the allure gone. “You have some time to decide. We leave for the Realm tomorrow morning."

“That's not much time to decide," Freya retorts.

“Well, it's all you've got," Rory snaps back. “Unless you want to go home." Another challenge. Everything inside her screams to take the way out. To go home and never think of them – this place – ever again. But something deep inside her resists the urge to run.

“I'll think about it," Freya responds. Surprising both of them, and admittedly, even herself. She stands up, pushing her chair back as she says, “Can I go to bed, or is there another elaborate story you want to tell me?"

Lilli hops up, “I'll walk –"

“I'll take this Lilli," Rory says as he slides a devilish smile toward Freya.

“I'd rather not," Freya protests, looking to Lilli for help. She just gives Freya an apologetic smile and nods at Rory, and then vanishes from the room. Well, so much for that. Freya looks to Rory, her eyes narrowing.

“Don't try anything magical or otherwise."

He gives her a low chuckle. “I'll agree to that for tonight only," winking at her. She turns on her heel, not waiting for him to catch up.

Of course, he does in a swift second. Instantly stepping in rhythm with her. They walk in silence, and Freya's grateful for it. That is until she notices Rory's wandering eyes on her.

“I told you to stop doing that," Freya says sharply. He glances at her one time, just to get under her skin. “If you have something to say, just say it."

“Well, did you know that we have history with each other?" Rory asks while raising his eyebrow.

“That is the most unbelievable thing you've said tonight."

Rory laughs, “Maybe I deserve that. Or maybe you're just in denial."

“I know exactly which one it is," Freya retorts. He stops outside her door, leaning against it. Once again blocking her way to solitude.

“Before we say goodnight, there's some things you need to know. You aren't a prisoner here," he starts.

Freya interrupts him, “That's a bold statement coming from someone who kidn*pped me and then locked me in a room."

The amber takes over his eyes as his face grows cold, “We needed to get you here to have the chance to explain why." His face softens only slightly, “If you want to go home just say the word, although I'll admit that none of us want that. I'll leave your door unlocked, just don't leave the castle and try not to get lost."

He opens the door a c***k, “Oh, and one last thing. There's a surprise waiting for you." His head nods to the door. Freya's eyebrows push together, not sure if it's a surprise she wants. She breezes past Rory, opening the door and stepping into the room.

Flora sits curled up on the bed, staring at Freya as if she's been waiting for her. Freya whirls to Rory, her words catching in her throat. He murmurs, 'Goodnight, Freya," while glancing at the fireplace where a slight crackling immediately turns into a cozy fire. He gives her a parting smirk, and vanishes, leaving the door gaping open.

Freya shuts the door, thankful for the privacy.

_______

Freya's legs are tired from pacing for hours. Flora watched her, her head following Freya's movements. Rory's voice, his words, repeating in her mind.

'You are one of us, Freya. You just haven't been one for a while. We don't know why or how, but years ago something happened between the human and fairy realm, severing the two. And when that happened, you vanished with no explanation. The day the link broke, the ability to travel to the human realm became nearly impossible. We had to wait, for hundreds of years, before figuring out how to travel to you. To save you. It's...taken us too long.

We didn't know what state you would be in, but we didn't expect human. Whoever did this...they did it intentionally. Your immortality seems to remain intact, but all of your essence, your memories, your powers...we think we can get them back, and that's why we want you to come with us. Plus, we don't know who destroyed the link between the realms. But we can assume it's the same fairy that sent you to the human realm and a life of eternal mundanity.'

The story seems preposterous, and yet since the encounter in the garden, there has been a stir inside of her. As if a part of her is coming back to life and tugging at the words they spoke. She argued that her life isn't mundane. Explaining how she was making a life for herself, one that she wanted.

She thinks of Rory's answer, 'Ah yes, the life of living through books and other's adventures. You now have the choice to live it instead of reading about it.'

Freya crawls into bed, Flora snuggles up beside her and Freya is thankful for the familiar comfort. Exhaustion from the fear and confusion of the night claims her, and she closes her eyes. She dreams of Lilli, Rory, and a shadow with glowing amethyst eyes. The former two radiating, and smiling at her. But they begin to dim as the shadows take over, covering Freya in a familiar inky darkness that thickens the air. As the eyes appear mere inches from her, Freya wakes up. The back of her neck is covered in a cold sweat.

Freya walks to the bathroom, splashing cool water on her face and neck until she calms down. She blocks out the vision of the eyes, the intensity in them as the darkness circled her. She shudders, coming to the conclusion that going back to sleep is out of the question. And he did say she could explore the castle.

She pulls on a robe that Lilli must have placed in her room, along with matching slippers. She winces as the door loudly creaks open. Pausing, she listens for any sound indicating someone coming to check on her. Silence. She tip-toes out of her door, and secretly appreciates the lighted sconces that line the hallway. Like he's inviting her to explore.

Choosing to turn left, Freya sticks to the side incase of anyone else is roaming at night. Lilli assured her that the four of them — including the man she has yet to be introduced to — were the only ones there. Freya hopes she's telling the truth.

Turning down another hallway, Freya keeps track of her pathway back to her room. Massive paintings line the never ending hallway, each one crowned in golden and jeweled frames.

She studies each one, scanning them for more information on the Fae Realm. Most of them are filled with enchanted forests, woodlands, and lagoons. Beautiful landscapes, but no answers. Freya's step falters as her eyes lock onto a romantic painting of two lovers in a scenic garden, a massive castle behind them. The colors are soft, echoing the tenderness as the two look lovingly into each other's eyes. As if they're the only two that exist.

Freya's insides turn to ice as she studies the faces of the lovers. The brunette girl with a soft smile and the strapping redhead beaming down at her. Both of them she instantly recognizes, it's a painting of her and Rory. She glances up and down the hallway, feeling like it's a trick. Or a test. This snapshot of them couldn't be real. The painting of Freya looks subtly different than she does, with the fairy-like features of pointed ears and glowing beauty like the others.

Rory looks exactly the same, his dark shirt slightly unlaced, tousled red hair, and a wide grin on his face. Somehow, his smile looks softer. And happier.

Hushed voices from the other end of the hall pulls Freya out of her trance. The deep male voices seem oblivious to her being there but she recognizes both of them. One belonging to Rory and the other as the man that urged Rory to hurry in the garden. To hurry and grab Freya.

She presses herself to the wall, wondering if they can sense her presence. She strains to hear their voices. “...you can't just ask her, Rory. Not after what she's been through," the stranger says.

“It's the only way to protect her," Rory demands with sharp anger in his voice. “Not just from who cursed her. But from the Realm, you know all too well the price of breaking an oath." Silence follows that statement. Freya inclines her head further, waiting for the other man to respond.

“Let's talk about this later. I believe we have company," the other one says. Freya freezes, they have sensed her. Not waiting for a confrontation, Freya slips away. Trying to make her footsteps as quiet as possible while taking each turn she kept track of back to her room. Safely inside, she shuts the door tight. Clicking the latch in place and locking it from the inside. She lays in bed, waiting to hear a knock at the door any moment. An interrogation of what she heard. But, as the night goes on and the fire crackles, Freya drifts into unconsciousness.