The Fairy Queen

Chapter 8

Meryl scared herself by not being surprised when she once again stared into his violet eyes. She sighed tiredly, sitting up straight on her bed. Lilith completely ignored her when she got home and two days following it. Even Percy gave her weird looks, preferring not to say anything.

She felt like a stranger, a sort of outcast in her own home. It hurt deeply, like an animal was gnawing a hole in her heart every second. She couldn’t even keep her tears back anymore, crying herself to sleep for three nights consecutively. At this point, she wished someone would kill her already.

“Make it fast and less painful please.”

“And what would you be talking about, your highness?”

“I’m talking about you killing me. You must be some kind of weird ass serial killer with a role play addiction. Go ahead and kill me now please. I’m tired of playing this game with you.”

Sylin c****d his head in confusion. He stepped back and sat on the windowsill. It felt so surreal when she saw those huge wings fold into his back and disappear.

“I have never planned to harm you, your highness.”

“If you’re still bent on k********g me, then you can forget it. I’d rather die here than go anywhere else.”

Sylin once again looked confused.

“Why?”

“Why? Because this is my home. And you know what they say, home is where the heart is.”

“Home…” He repeated. To him, it seemed like the word was foreign. He tasted it on his tongue and found it to have a bitter after taste.

“But princess, this is not your home.”

Meryl was raised and lived in that house all her life. If it wasn’t her home, she didn’t know where it was. But, she was curious enough to hear what he wanted to say.

“Where do you think my ‘home’ is?”

He was quiet again. His violet eyes swept across the room, landing on a stack of sheets on her table. It was the printed version of Meryl’s dream journal. She had wanted to give it to Isabella, who was interested in reading it. Before Meryl could blink, they were in his hands.

“Hey! Those are off limits.”

It was like he was purposely deaf, going through them at high speed. He went through all of them and as he did, his violet eyes slowly filled with alarm.

“How? How do you know of this?"

“How? This is my dream journal. Give it back! Hey!”

“Your highness, I-I have to go.”

Before she knew it, he was gone. The stack of papers were back on her table and her eyelids were getting heavier. She yawned, a tear falling to the side of her face. Even her supposed kidnapper didn’t want to come anymore.

Did she actually f**k up that bad? Even the dream journal, created from bits and pieces of her dreams over the years of growing up, a critical part of her life, was enough to repel someone? Those thoughts in mind, she had a fitful sleep.

There was a tangible anxiety in the school atmosphere. The usually smiley Gus and the goofy Warren wore strained smiles at lunch.

“Is this about the game?” Meryl asked, sitting beside Shelia. Coraline was on the other side.

“Yeah. They have been like this since. Sheldon’s sick too. Argh!”

“Well then, should we do something to cheer them up?”

“Why should we care?” Coraline asked with a scrunched up face.

“Are you okay darling? Since when did you care about them or sports in general? Meryl, are you possessed?” Shelia asks, grabbing Meryl’s face. She poked around her cheeks, eyes and nose. Meryl swatted her hands away.

“Well, if the game doesn’t go well because they were too nervous, they would be worse and we’re the ones stuck with them.”

“True…” Coraline hesitantly agreed.

“That’s a solid point” Sheila nodded.

“So, any ideas?”

“Oh, I know, I know! Strip tease!”

“Sheila, why? Just why?”

“They can see but not touch, hehehe”

“As much as I love that, no. That's just more frustration for them. Let’s get in contact with the girls from the other school and talk to them after the celebration after party. That’s good enough, right?”

“That’s so troublesome. Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Thank you Sheila.”

After Shelia stood up to make a call, Coraline moved closer to Meryl. She raised her hand and pat Meryl’s head. Meryl chuckled, resting her head on Coraline’s shoulder.

“What was that for?”

“You’re deflecting.”

“Hmm?”

“You do this when you’re too stressed. You talk about anything but your problems. Meryl…”

Coraline knew Meryl too much for her to lie her way out of the situation. Meryl couldn’t say anything coherent. All her problems were a jumbled mess in her head and worse, they just kept piling up. She sighed, throwing her head back.

“I’m so damn tired, Coral.”

“Tired of what?”

“I don’t know. I’m just tired.”

“Meryl, I’m your best friend. I want you to depend on me. Not only when everything’s going fine but when you feel choked up, like now. Gus might be unavailable now but I’m sure he’d help too.”

“Isn’t he only in this friend group because he likes you?”

“Meryl! Stop being so negative. He’s been with us since he was picking boogers and we love him because he loves dolls. Don’t be mean.”

“More like he has an obsession with dolls. Warren deceived him to join because of them.”

“Who would say no to a limited edition B**bie doll?”

“Me. B**rbie dolls are racist.”

“Riiiiight. Gus, Meryl’s complaining about the B**rbie dolls again!”

“Hey! Coral, I was joking!”

“How dare you, Meryl?!”

“It was a joke!”

“Coral, pass my handbook, I’m going to educate this plebeian.”

“Someone save me!” Coral passed over a notebook, pretending it was Gus’s supposed handbook. Coral cackled as Gus lectured Meryl in length about B**rbie dolls. There was no escape as even Shelia joined in.