Reaching Venus

Playing with Fire

Ian

After Venus left I decided to just go home. My little sister, Molly, was the only one home. To be clear Molly wasn't her real name just as Ian wasn't mine. Faeries are bound to the earth as the earth goddess is the only one that knows our true name. Some faeries decided to use a name that was completely different than their own while some used names that eluded to their real one. And yes Molly was not my sister by blood or anything. We had been in trusted to the same couple.

If I were to say anyone was my best friend it would be Molly. She had found her person when she was six years old. Which meant that unlike other female faeries, Molly was not a sad, depressing mess. She also knew what it was like to not have that person in your life so when I was rude to her she called me out on it without getting mad.

When I walked into the living room Molly smiled at me and made room on the couch for me. I dropped down in the space next to her and we watched TV for a bit.

Soon my phone chimed. I checked and the message read 'Hey, had fun this afternoon. You free to meet up after classes tomorrow? - V'

I quickly replied," Yeah I could help make up for you missing class today. I'm a pretty good tutor '

Molly leaned over my shoulder and read my messages.

"Weren't you supposed to go see a movie with Amber tomorrow night?"

"Probably. I'll just cancel" I shrugged off her concern.

Molly sighed and said, " OK bailing on a date for another girl is not cool. You can at least try not to be a jerk"

"Did I ask for your advice Molly? No I didn't. And did I ask you ro read my messages? Also no. Maybe try minding your own business for once." I retorted.

Molly laughed and said, " Do you ever ask for my advice? No. Does that stop me from giving it or from being right? Also no. Just think about it "

Molly turned the TV off and saluted to me as she made her way upstairs. Of course she was right. But I wanted to see Venus again. Ultimately my selfish nature won out.

----

The next evening I met Venus out by the fountain where I first saw her. She gave me a big hug the moment she saw me. She felt warm in a comforting way. I held her tiny frame close to me, a little longer than necessary.

When we pulled apart Venus had a mischievous look in her eyes.

" How about we pop outside the faery ring and go get some ice cream?" She suggested.

Faeries were not allowed outside of the ring unless they had a calling, something the earth goddess had tasked us with doing. Since Venus was an elemental she could come and go as she pleased but judging from the look in her eyes she clearly knew that if I were caught I'd be in major trouble.

I chuckled and asked," You really want to risk me leaving? And then sneaking back in with me?"

She raised an eye brow and replies, " Who said I'd be coming back in with you? But seriously you don't have any teeny weeny little callings you've put on the back burner that could get you out for a few hours?"

Venus had mentioned the other day that since she had grown up in the faery ring and didn't know anyone outside of it she didn't have much reason to leave. She was probably just as sick of it in here as I was. So we left for the night. There was a river I was tasked with maintaining on the other side of the nearest town. Usually I just popped over once in a while and made sure the ecosystem was still as designed but a detour wasn't going to hurt.

The place Venus chose was one of those frozen yogurt places where you pick a bunch of different stuff to throw on top. Venus went with a combination of coffee and raspberry. She spent at least 5 minutes explaining to me the importance of flavor profiles and insisted I couldn't just throw brownie bits and gummy worms into cotton candy ice cream. She got really fired up about it and in the end I decided not to argue.

After the ice cream we walked together to my river. When we got there of course everything was as it should be. But then I felt this sudden need to go start forest fires in Arizona. Forest fires, when started and maintained by faeries were good for the natural growth of the forest.

I turned to Venus and said, " Hey I gotta go. You good finding your own way back?"

" Um yeah sure. I'll catch ya later I guess."

And with that I blinked out to go take care of my new calling.