Mortuus Fabula - Arc 1

Faith is a witch who somehow ends up traveling to a different world called, "Fearie", one where mythical creatures, fairy tales, and religious mythology exist.

Mortuus Fabula:

Universe 1

 

Faith

 

                You know that feeling, when you’re walking around in a crowd, but you’re really alone in your own world? Maybe it’s human nature, that eventually everyone wants to escape through a rabbit hole…pulled in by hands of fate…to our own Wonderland…deeper…

 

…deeper…

 

…taking a leap of faith through darkness, hoping for light, but sometimes, we forget.

 

We forget that hope doesn’t always mean we deserve a happy ending.

****

“And what do you think you are doing?” A faded voice; a flashlight in the depth of darkness.

“Kekeke” A choking whisper, the manifestation of what goes bump in the night, in spoken word, “Who’s asking?”

“Someone capable of turning that grin upside down.” No faces to fit the voices, eyes behind curtains that cannot pull open.

“You lie…” Hesitation, “…What’s it to you?”

“While I assure you, I do not lie, might I remind you who are in charge and what HE will do if he finds out you have eaten something HE wants…” Authoritarian in this; clearly my savior’s voice.

“Kekeke. I’m the one who found her.” A pause again, whispers are a passive aggressive form of doubt.

Long silence.  The show must still be going on, as the swirling of the surrounding darkness ensues.

“You lie…I eat her.”

“But did you think to ask what brought her here?”

“Kekeke………you don’t lie?”

“Maybe eat later……”

The sound of howling winds and shifting shadows as a final whisper echoes, “Laterrrrrrr…”

Once again, a silence, but it is one of comfort, as light begins to peer through those curtains. Cold air dissipates in favor of the warmth that belongs to that light. No choking whispers, no harsh swirling whispers of the dark, or the feeling of endless falling. Everything is still, stuck in time, but nothing can stay perfect.

“Good, easier than I thought.” That light in the form of my savior’s voice.

“Now then, we’re waiting for you.”

I can feel myself lunging forward to consciousness. The curtains will soon lift, and my show is to continue…or maybe begin.

“…I’m sorry…”

This is all I remember when it all started, with what seemed a dream…

ARC 1

 

The feel of warm linens and the comfort of a feathered pillow under my head, my senses are in joy upon waking up. I can smell wood furnishings and dusty books; forever in place on their respective shelves; their homes. Opening my eyes, the curtains lift, and before me stand a gorgeous armoire with simplistic design, next to a vanity mirror and desk setup. What beautiful furniture preserved in their timeless glory, no scratches or real damage.

This is no time to observe furniture unobtainable to the pigeon-holed orphan. I sit up, my head throbbing.

Where am I?

I hear a knock and a voice, “Hello? Are you awake?”

“Where am I?” I say out loud, not really paying attention.

The door opens. A head peekaboos through the door. She has my attention, as I turn to look at her, “You’re awake! Is it okay if I come in?”

She’s very polite. I have no idea who she is. Not the faintest idea of where I am, but I answer, “Ummm….yeah. I mean, it’s not even my room.”

She smiles, “It’s still not polite to intrude upon someone reposing.”

She’s pretty much the ideal form of a studious and elegant beauty. Chestnut brown hair held lightly in place by a blue bow that matches her blue and white dress, her dark brown-black eyes are quite kind and her smile is reassuring. Judging by her verbal etiquette, she reads, probably a lot. There’s no peculiarity in her presence, she seems wholesome.

“Yeah, I…I guess so…” I am the opposite of her, even as someone who reads habitually, my communication skills lack.

Still standing there, smiling, without a skip of a beat, “My name is Belle.”

I’m still not even sure of where I am.

Yet, it is common decency to make introductions, “Faith.”

“Hm? I’m sorry…?” She looks at me, puzzled.

I rub my face with my hands, still discombobulated, but coming to, “My name is Faith.”

“What a unique name.”

“Yeah, ‘unique’ is not my chosen word for it. I’d put my dollar on lame or even pretentious.”

She smiles, “Well, Faith, how about you follow me downstairs? I have some errands to attend to and it is best I not dawdle. Plus, we need to learn a little more about you.”

“Where am I even?”

“I think it would be best I show you. You can be the judge of it all when you get a better idea.”

Yeah! That tells me everything, I think to myself. “Okay.”

“Perfect!” She claps her hands, and I stand up to follow her.

She pauses as we get out the door.

“Faith……” A smile again forms on her face, “What a perfect name for such a lovely witch.”

 

I observe everything on the trip down the long spiraling staircase leading to a large foyer. There are women in dark dresses and headbands frantically running in different directions. The ceilings are high, with paintings, depicting cherubs flittering around the chandeliers. Each chandelier is fitted with enough gold to feed whole continents. Even something as simple as the archways of the doors are detailed to the most ridiculous meticulousness.

“Belle, do you live here?” I ask in a voice maybe a bit too meek to be asking such a bold question.

Belle laughs a giddy laugh but then stops, “Yes, I guess I do. However, it does not belong to me.”

“Can I ask you something?” She is now biting her lip, looking down.

I’m the one who should look anxious, but she’s starting to tap the toe of her heel into the floor, “Have you played around with any of that power?”

My mind thinks back to the incenses and open books. To closing my eyes and letting my mind flow into meditation. To times of opening my eyes and the world around me being upside down, my body suspended in the air, floating. Thinking my parlor tricks may be able to relinquish some of the grief and perhaps bring some happiness to those less fortunate.

Before I can answer, a fury of dishes begin flying against the wall nearby as an older man in a gentleman’s suit dodges and runs in our direction, stopping just a foot away from us. An alarming roar resounds from another room close by. Dents now in the wall hit by fancy, now-broken, delicate dishes is suddenly crowded by the women from earlier, scuttling to their fast pace, picking up pieces and observing the damage.

“Madame Belle, perhaps YOU can put some common sense into that BEAST’S head!” The well-dressed gentleman addresses Belle.

“Now Jaques, you know he does not fancy your ideas and insights.” Belle smiles politely, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“If he continues on like this, everything he has will come crashing to the ground. He needs to put his stubborn ways behind him. This is the deal of the century.”

“It’s not goin-“

“IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!” A voice growls angrily from behind us.

Surprised and caught off guard, I turn around. A tall man…well…mostly man; as two large horns rested upon his head, at least a foot in a half long, curved back and then upwards, his dark hair whisking in all directions around them. Two goat-like ears in place of human ears stood there. His nose, much more prominent, was flared out in anger, the skin above his nose furrowed into a clear expression. His goateed jaw set in a grimace. Staring ahead, his eyes cold but piercing with fury, he gives off imitation to Jaques, who is clearly distressed with the idea of staying any longer.

Jaques composes himself long enough to say, “Fine. Sit on it, I don’t care. You won’t live forever.”

With that, he awkwardly turns around and storms out of the room.

Belle starts laughing hysterically, with the man with horns still glaring at the spot in which Jaques was standing.

“Where were you?!” he roars.

Belle can’t stop laughing. No forced feeling in it, she is genuinely tickled by what just transpired. He continues to stare at the spot until his eyes move on to me. With the ongoing high pitched wailing of Belle’s laughter in the background, we just stare at one another. His eyes have less fury in them, but he is staring at me like an ugly lamp someone dragged in from the street. His shoulders are big, and even in such ridiculous attire as the white ruffled man blouse he is clearly wearing, he is definitely structured as a force to be reckoned with. Honestly, though, the man blouse, 19^th century attire is distracting. He seems just as distracted by my outfit as well.

“What did they put you in?” Belle asks him, finally stifling some of the laughter.

“All avoidable if you had heard me call for you earlier.” He’s still staring at me.

I wish he would stop.

“I was caught up in looking over our new guest.” Belle snaps, “Please, Jax, you’re making her nervous.”

“Nervous? How? She’s the one who wasn’t invited!” Please break eye contact, please break eye contact.

Belle sighs, “Look, she’s special. They found her unconscious behind the marketplace and a lot of the folks were scared she might bring some bad attention.”

“So, your first thought was to bring her here?”

“Yeah.” Belle answers matter-of-factly.

“What’s so special about her?”

As always, Belle smiles, now looking at me as well, “She’s a witch.”

Finally, he breaks eye contact to look at her, looking at me, “That’s impossible.”

“That’s what I thought at first too.”

“Where’s her mark then?” He asks.

“That’s what I wanted to find out. Faith, do you have any idea of what we’re talking about.”

I’m flustered by the attention, both of their eyes burning into mine. I have no answer for them and muster a, “….Uh?”

The one named Jax leans over me, getting close enough to hear what must clearly be the screams of my heart, “What’s wrong? Don’t you talk?”

I’m both overwhelmed and anxious at this point, so much so, it’s making me frustrated. I look up, “Of course I talk. Maybe you can take a cue and talk in an indoor voice.”

He looks at me startled while Belle gets into another fit of laughter.

“I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about for mark, but if you’re calling me a witch over some few parlor tricks I can perform, you’re wasting your time.”

I’m about ready to walk out of the place too, when Belle grabs my hand.

“Jax, this is Faith. Faith, that’s Jax. Your powers are no parlor trick, dear, as I have seen some potential of yours.” She looks at me once again with her sincerity, “Jax, as long as I have to clean up your mess after this last failed meeting with Jaques, Faith will be staying here and YOU will help her get adjusted to this town and her own abilities.”

He scoffs, huffs up a little, anger turning into resentment and then into apathy, “Fine. She is our guest. What are we supposed to do if THEY come looking for her?”

“You’ll have to ask Ursula when you take her over tomorrow.” Belle walks up to him and adjusts his ruffled collar.

He looks her in the eye with a pleading look, “No, no, no, anything but that….that damn sea witch….”

She gently grabs his face and looks back at him, “A safer option than most others.”

She kisses him on the cheek and begins to ascend up the stairs, “Tomorrow morning. I will take care of your meetings. You can take her where she needs to go and give her an idea of how this place runs. It’s the least you can do for how much help she will be in the future.”

She then disappears upstairs, Jax and I just dumbfounded in silence.

He woke up only with the persistence of Belle’s stubborn force. I wasn’t really interested in going with him and had hoped I would wake up back in my own home. It had not happened, and together we walked down the path in front of what was his mansion and out into the town.

“You uh…You have a nice place.” I try to break the ice.

“Don’t get used to it.” Nonchalantly he has a finger in one of his goat-like ears, pretending what is inside is a lot more interesting than conversing with the vagrant in his company.

I decide to ignore this gesture and just stick to following his stupid slouchy walk.

“I bet you’re not even a witch. You look more like a brothel harlot.”

I stop, blood rushing to my face, fists clenching, “Excuse me?!”

“A lady of the night…a strumpet….a hooker…look, I’m calling you by what I see and in case you missed it…” He looks me straight in the eyes now, “What I mean is you’re dressed like a w***e.”

Without blinking, the fire I feel in my face rushes to my fist and before I know it, force has made Jax fly through two houses, causing them to topple over. I stare at my fist, out in front of me, a greenish flame glowing around it, smoke now emanating among the wreckage as I hear rustling beneath the debris. However, I cannot stop staring at the glow. THAT’S new. It’s a comforting glow, no heat, no burning sensation. I am hypnotized by the idea that it was something I created. I barely hear Jax screaming at me or when he pulls me by the back of the neck and drags me away.

That light, I recognize it.

“ARE YOU F*****G STUPID?!” I finally snap out of it to Jax still dragging me, his fingers clenching unto my throat.

“Gluch!” I manage to choke out.

We finally stop behind a large old building and he lets go of me. The building looks derelict but has an architectural build similar to a Japanese Bathhouse. I used to love reading on the history of these bathhouses and 17^th century Japan. Looking at the building in front of me brings memories of those books to me and I smile. Candles, incense, a pillow…all the items of solitary comfort. God, I miss being alone.

“That kind of s**t brings attention, dumbass!” Jax is still barking at me.

“Oh, you’re still talking.” I’m now looking at my hand, wondering if I can make that happen again.

“Don’t you even think about it!” He read my mind.

“What was that?” I mumble, I just can’t leave it be.

“What do you mean ‘what was that?’ It came out of you. You did that. Shouldn’t YOU know what it is?”

“Is that one of my ‘powers’?”

“I think it’s safe to assume that.” He sighs, “Look, there are rules here. Especially for witches, if you are indeed one, that kind of stuff will bring attention to you from certain groups.  One of these groups is called ONE. They look for out of control witches and essentially exterminate those they deem too dangerous. I don’t know much else about them, but I know that you DO NOT want to run into them.”

“No glow-y a*s kicking fist, got it.” I respond.

He walks up to the bathhouse door and opens it. For the first time, I see him smile, “Thatta girl. Now you’ll get to meet the second person you wouldn’t want to be greeted by in a dark alley.”

He gestures me inside and we both enter.

The hallways are ominous. Dust lines every corner and cobwebs hang low, illuminated by floating flames lined at least a foot apart along the muddy red walls. There are no candles of which the flames would normally belong. They are simply floating on their own. Once again, I am struck in awe. Each step we take, echoes, and I begin to think we’re alone in a haunted house.

“Ursula is….well….tricky, to say the least.” Jax starts to educate me as we continue to walk through what seems like a never ending hallway, “She is one of the strongest witches in all of Fearie, and definitely one of the oldest. Don’t let that fool you though; she is barely wise, more so cunning and cruel. Belle thinks it would be best you learn from her.”

We stop in front of a door. It is a small wooden door, no label, no window, just a long curtain-like drawstring attached to the wall next to it. Jax pulls it, but nothing happens.

I’m staring, confused, at the door, waiting for something to happen, as Jax continues rambling on, “Even though you look the part, it is best not to let her talk you into one of her jobs. She can also be very enticing both the way she talks and moves. She is of the sea, after all, so be careful not to be seduced by her. Oh, and one more thing…”

I feel his hand touch my back as he whispers in my ear, “…Don’t make any deals with her.”

And suddenly he pushes me. I put my hands out in front of me, expecting to hit the door, only to feel myself still falling. At this point, my eyes are closed and I am screaming. What is going on? Why am I still falling? I should have hit the door or at least the floor. A curl of my hair tickles my cheek as wind rushes against my body. I need to open my eyes but I am scared, still screaming.

“Are you done?” A cold raspy voice interrupts.

I stop screaming and open my eyes. I’m standing up. Standing on ground! Sweet ground! Wait, was that all just an illusion? I look around at the setting around me. What a beautiful room! There are curtains, linens, and pillows everywhere; all of which made of satin and silk with embellishments of jewels and sequins. A lovely fainting couch lies in front of me and lying on top of it, smoking a kiseru, is a young woman of Asian descent. Six moles under her eyes, three under each, her stare from such icy blue eyes is bewitching. Her black silk hair is adorned with gold hair ornaments. She is wearing what looks like a red and gold shortened Oriental styled dress. My breath stops as I marvel at her beauty. Although, the smell of tobacco is thick, so I can imagine that is actually why my breath stops.

“You gawk at me any longer and I will have to charge you.” She blows smoke out from between her darkly painted lips.

“I’m looking for Ursula.” I break the spell.

“Mhmmm.” She takes another puff and breathes in with it, exhaling soon after, “And who, might I ask, sent you?”

“Ummm….her name is Belle. I just met her….so I don’t know her last name.” I look down, feeling abashed by this whole situation.

“So, you just followed the whim of some random stranger to come into my place unannounced?” She continues her icy stare, “Are you looking for a job? Your clothes highly suggest that.”

I can’t help it, “My god! What is wrong with my clothes? Has no one around here heard of a cropped sweater and a skirt before?! I’m not a w***e!”

“SILENCE!”

“Be careful of saying that word in such a tone around here.” Ursula responds sternly, “Now, if you’re not here for a job, what are you here for? I haven’t seen Belle in years, so I have no idea as to why she would send someone my way if not for work.”

“I…” I can’t remember why I am here, my mind feels fuzzy and my eyelids feel heavy all of a sudden.

Feeling like I am weightless and floating, I close my eyes for a second and when I open them, Ursula is nose to nose with me, staring into my eyes, “What is going on?”

“You’re drunk from the rush of magic all around you. Think of it like having drunk way too much. Now, tell me.” She pinches my chin between her fingers, pulling me increasingly closer, “What made you trust a total stranger and made you think you could enter the household of a powerful witch?”

“I…I...magic…” All I can feel is the desire to touch her and to sleep, the heat is rising to my face more so than when I’m angry.

Suddenly, I feel something emitting from my mouth, a familiar green glow and within that moment, all goes black as I fall.

“You know, if you make a deal, it’ll be easier.” A voice whispers as I feel a cold cloth rag placed against my forehead.

I open my eyes to find myself upon a plain bed and sitting beside me, another young woman.

“It’s just better to make a deal with her. She’s a lot less terrible than they say.”

She’s frail looking, sitting in blue pin-striped bra and panties. Her eyes have dark circles underneath, making her look older, but she has beautiful bright gold locks that reach to her thighs when she sits down. She, too, has a hair ornament, a matching blue headband with pearls along it. I glance up to the ceiling, trying to recall how I got here.

“Where’s Ursula?” I ask.

“She has an important meeting with a client right now. However, even if she didn’t, she wishes not to speak to you yet.” The girl fiddles with her hair, twirling it between her fingers, “There’s something you have to do first.”

Suddenly, I hear a knock.

“My name is Alice, by the way.” She smiles and walks to the door.

I suddenly notice I am naked and panic sets in. The girl named Alice opens the door, and instead of Ursula’s voice, I hear a gruff low male voice, “I’m here, my little piggies.”

I hold my blanket to my chest as a large beast barges in, his head of a boar " snout, tusks, and teeth, his body a husky giant man’s. The door closes behind him and suddenly, it’s Alice, this beast, and I in this room. He begins to pull his belt from his greasy looking pants. He’s panting heavily as he looks at me, Alice is massaging his shoulders.

“Just me and these two little piggy b*****s?” He grunts, struggling with his belt, but still walking towards the bed, “Let me in, let me in.”

Alice licks behind his pig ear and moans, “Oh, you biiiiig baaaaad wolf….”

“Alice….what the hell is going on?” I ask.

The boar snorts, “Is the little piggy scared?”

“Are you going to blow her house down?” Alice giggles along as she grinds up against him.

“Oh, I’m going to huff and…”

F**k. This. S**t. He drops his belt on the bed, and without hesitation I grab it, clenching hard upon the feel of leather. With swift movement, I whip the belt across his eyes. He immediately drops to the floor, howling and covering his eyes.

“I always hated The Three Little Pigs.” I wrap the belt around his big fat neck and pull, “And I REALLY hate innuendo.”

I can feel the heat all over my body, I feel pissed. Not again. This will never happen to me again. I don’t even care that I am naked. I hold my foot down on his shoulder as I continue to strangle him, my vision that glowing green. Strength I never knew before surges through me and I can feel his neck snapping, his voice choking pleas and sobs. The same pleas and sobs I once cried. Horrors flood in my brain and numbness washes over me. Don’t stop, I think.

“Enough.” Ursula commands.

I obey and drop the belt, and suddenly everything is quiet as I step away from the body.

A gasp emits as the boar catches his breath, coughing and spitting up.

“What the f**k was that?!” He roars as he gets up on his feet.

“You said you wanted the best rough night ever.” Ursula coolly responds as she continues staring at me, smiling coyly.

“THAT wasn’t what I wanted! That b***h tried to kill me and I still ain’t gotten my dick wet.”

“I’m sorry, but this room is closed for the night, perhaps one of my oth…”

“NO!” He screams, “No other women! No playing around! I want that piggy b***h’s head on a skewer!”

“Oh. My. God. Would you get better dirty talk than god damn puns and innuendo, you disgusting foul beast?!!!” I scream back.

He begins to lunge at me when he is suddenly stopped mid-action, frozen in place.

                Ursula stands there, hand in front of her, pointed at the beast, “Closing time. You’ve hammed it up for long enough.”

                Screams expel from his body as he is twisted and sucked into a vacuum that isn’t there. Alice giggles as blood sprays everywhere, sprinting under it like the water of a sprinkler. There is nothing more in the room than Ursula, Alice, and me as things get silent. The blood disappears. With that, I realize that I just saw some of Ursula’s own abilities and I am in awe once again. She continues to look me straight in the eyes.

                “Are you ready to make a deal?” She asks.

                I just continue to stare at her. This is the witch who will teach me, I decide.

                “What should I take from you in exchange for my wisdom?”

                “You’re not wise.” I respond.

                “Says the woman with no clothes on.” She grins.

                My mind is made up and I’m only focused on one thought, “You WILL teach me.”

                “Teach you what?”

                “What I am. What I can do. How to control it.”

                “You seem to have very little concern for where you even are, taking advice from strangers, and allowing yourself to be baited for fun, why would you care about your powers?”

                “Because that will teach me everything else.”

“Then make a deal.”

“No.”

“Everything has a price. You cannot simply demand I give a service for free.”

“I think you want to do this. You wouldn’t have kept me here if you didn’t, obviously. That is MY service.”

She smiles, “You are cunning, I’ll have you know, but EVERYTHING has a price.” She turns around and heads towards the door, “Even your mouth.”

“So, you will teach me?” I ask, a little too much excitement in my voice.

“Yes. However, you will do your fair share of chores in that time while staying here.  Alice will show you to your room. She is in charge of you and will monitor you. There is certain behaviors you must uphold while here and I will not tolerate any further abuse of my clients. Luckily for you, I hated that pig b*****d but I cannot show the same mercy for future incidents, so best not to cause any. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“Your lessons start tomorrow. It only gets harder from here.”

Ursula leaves the room.

                Alice opens a hidden door in the room and pulls out some clothes, “I will be showing you to your room….Miss…”

                I take the clothes from her, “My name is Faith.”

                “Faith,” She smiles, “I’m sorry for what happened there. Now, if you would follow me.”

                She begins to walk away.

                “Alice, that was a test right? I wasn’t really in any danger, right?” I follow her, expecting an answer.

                She keeps walking.

                “Alice! Tell me that was a test!!”

                My 16^th week in and I am feeling the brunt. However, I have learned a lot on how to use my magic. Ursula tells me I am indeed a witch. My parlor tricks, she tells me, are normal spells. They are beginning spells to birthing my own special abilities. Other than spells, witches have talents that differ among each one, known as Gifts. These gifts can come in any quantity and variety. Some don’t learn of their Gifts until they hit 60, some have so many Gifts that they never learn them all before they die. The ones we have learned that I have access to so far is super strength, I can lift heavy objects such as cars and trees and punch through them too, and what I call Ra, the green flame I control. The flame has no heat properties, but it seems to be capable of increasing my Gift of strength and regular spells. While we feel it has more significance, we haven’t been able to discover more about Ra.

                The bathhouse Ursula runs is a business. She does not like to call it what it is, but it is a brothel. The girls who work here, all girls who made deals for the wishes they so heavily desired. None of them seem truly bothered or ready to leave. Ursula, herself, seems calm and collected, even when faced with difficult situations between a client and worker. She always finds a way to make both satisfied. Her training of magic reflects how she is as a boss, tough but fair. If only she made deals that were fair. Some girls don’t meet the criteria of their deal and when that happens, they disappear. It is suspected that rumors are true and she turns them into sea foam, but we’re not sure.

                Alice has become my closest friend and confidant. She’s intellectual and curious, with many stories to tell. She is not a witch, just a human, but she says that she has no memories outside of Fearie. I honestly sit and listen to her stories in my downtime. Her room is covered in cute teddy bears and plush rabbits. They say she is under Ursula’s spell and that she made the worst deal of all. When I ask her more on how she got to be in the brothel, she gets quiet and often spaces out.

                We go out sometimes, on our down time, and explore places around the bathhouse. There’s markets, then the square, then some woods. The woods are where we are right now as we walk through the brushes and wild flowers.

                “You can’t tell Ursula about this.” She giggles and hushes me as we get closer to giant shrubbery.

                “Why would I? I don’t tell her about anything we do.” I respond.

                “Why not?” She asks.

                “…Because she’s not my mom,” I try to change topic, “What are we doing here? Where are we?”

                “You still don’t trust her?”

                “Alice….”

                “Why?”

                “You just told me not to tell her something and now you want to know why I don’t trust her?” I turn and face her.

                “She’s given us so much. Deal or no deal. She should have earned your trust by now because you have earned hers.”

                I look at her dumbfounded and then sigh, “Look, I just feel like she is still hiding a lot of things, okay? I don’t even know anything about her or where she came from? Do you?”

                “Yes, and if you asked her, I bet she would tell you, but you never ask anything.”

“Well, that’s because you’re her pet.” I snap, “Why should I have to ask her. I don’t want to know anyways.”

                She looks like she is about to cry, which is rare in her dull tired eyes.

                “Whatever.” I say.

                “Yeah, whatever” She responds.

                “Now, will you show me what you were going to?” I ask.

                She grins, “Oh yeah!”

                She pulls the shrubbery like curtain to reveal a large field, and upon that field, a large glass, floating. Framed in gold, and as Alice and I near it, I can see the glass is reflective; a mirror.

                “What is this?” I ask, touching the glass surface.

                “I don’t know.” She responds, “But it was calling my name.”

                “You think it has something to do with before you came to Ursula’s place?”

                “Yes.” She reaches an arm out to touch it.

                “If it was calling you by name, I really don’t think you should touch it.” I whisper.

                “That’s why I brought you here.” She grabs my hand, “It didn’t move or react to you, but…”

                Holding unto my hand, she reaches to the mirror and when she touches it, it ripples, like water.

                “…it wants me.”

                Before I can respond, we are both swept into the mirror.

                I fall on my a*s into a field and once I realize I am no longer in pain, I look around. There are beautiful white tables everywhere. Chairs wrapped in red and white ribbons and bows. Beautiful wine glasses and cutlery set out in such formal manner. I stand up and look down at the tables. Reserve signs sit neatly written and placed on every center. Setting tables a little further away from me, were beings dressed in black suits, but I can’t see their faces. I only notice they are wearing red gloves, as the place more reservation place holders.

                “Um, excuse me…” I try and beckon one of them to glance my way, “Excuse me!”

                One turns to me.

                “Hello! Might I ask what is going on here?” I try to put on my most polite face.

                “The Queen has returned, so we are finally celebrating her coronation.” He speaks under a red mask that resembles a beak.

                “That’s great!” I respond and then look around, “Hey, by any chance have you seen another person come through here? Possibly as confused as me?”

                “No ma’am. No, excuse me, but I must get back to setting up.”

                “Thank you.” I nod and begin to walk away.

                Once I get past the tables and an open space I believe is designated for dancing, I notice a stage just a few feet away. It’s a typical stage, with lighting above it and some curtains. For being outside and a world different from my own, it’s a very nice setup.

                “You’re not going to find anything there.” A voice stops me from peeking through a curtain.

                I turn around to a very tall woman with long flowy white hair and deep red eyes dressed in a black suit, “Ooookay. Well, I’m looking for a friend who should have come through this way.”

                “Are you sure? I have seen not a single other peculiar person trying to peep through this curtain.” Her formal voice speaks with certainty.

                “Are YOU sure? We both should have arrived here at the same time.” I actually was confused how we separated, as I held onto her hand as much as I could through our fall, only letting go before our fall was broken.

                “Well, maybe she caught word of our beautiful Queen’s return and was assisted to a seat. Perhaps you would like to sit and wait? The celebration begins soon.”

I’m by no means dressed for the situation. All throughout training and living under Ursula’s roof, I have been assigned one outfit. This dingy pair of beige plain t-shirt and plain too-short pants with some medical slippers is definitely not an ideal outfit for a celebration. Can’t deny, I have grown quite comfortable to my attire though. Doesn’t help my hair is in a mess. It’s naturally curly and is a beautiful shade of red, but it definitely is matted in the back. Ursula’s baths are a luxury and she only allows us to use them under certain requirements.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not really dressed for the occasion,” I gesture up and down at my body, “It’s probably best I just find my friend and go.”

“Nonsense,” She says, “Look again.”

I sigh and look down and my breathing stops. Suddenly I am in a long, strapless, white dress. I wiggle my foot out of bottom and see some matching glittery heels. Not exactly feeling the dress, but still confused as to how Alice has not turned up yet, I decide to take her up on her offer.

She offers an elbow, “Shall we?”

“Sure.”

We walk down an aisle and take a seat at a table only a few feet from where I had awoken. I scan the area in hopes that maybe I missed Alice’s unconscious body somewhere. No luck. I look around. Everybody is dressed in formal attire, each a mask on. Actually, I notice I may be the only one without a mask besides the woman next to me, my hostess. I have no time to ponder the significance, when suddenly some bizarre music begins to play.

Two large interesting characters, one in a mask resembling a laughing face; the other in a sad face enter the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, might we be deserving of your attention?” They announce in unison, “As we have promised, our dear Queen has returned.”

The audience around me hollers and claps in delight.

“Now, now, now, we’re thrilled that all of you are as excited as we are to finally get to celebrate our beloved Queen, but first, we have rules as you might recall. First of all, the Queen must be given her space before and during dinner. Second, NO ONE eats until AFTER the Queen.”

Boos murmur from the crowd.

“Yes, yes, I know. We have waited long enough to eat, however, just a little longer, loves. Patience never hurt anyone. Lastly, when we do eat, please be sure to follow your manners. Utensils must be used.” Suddenly the curtains begin to part, “Now, the moment we have ALL been waiting for….presenting, your majesty, the Queen.”

The crowd burst into cheers and the excitement increases as the curtains move entirely aside to reveal a woman, dressed in a large red ball gown and crown much bigger than a usual crown, adorned with blood red jewels, all of it is makes her long blonde hair and bright blue eyes seem brighter. It takes me a mere second before I realize it is Alice. She looks confused and scared. I can’t help it; I get out of my seat and run towards the stage.

“ALICE!” I scream as two men in white suits embellished in card symbols attempt to restrain me.

“Faith?! Oh, thank god!!” A glimmer of relief and shock in her eyes.

I fight off the guards and try to continue, “Get off me!”

“It appears we have a stranger amongst our crowd.” One of the Tweedle Dumbs announces, “Guards, please take her away.”

“No!” Alice shouts.

Everyone looks at her, stunned.

“No.” Alice walks up towards the end of the stage, “She is MY guest. I invited her. She belongs here as much as anyone and I ask that she be allowed to be by my side.”

She walks off the stage and over to me, and offers me her hand.

The announcers stand surprised but get back their composure, “Well, you heard our Queen. We must treat her guest as one of our own.”

I take Alice’s hand and we walk together to terrible screeching music in the background.

Alice whispers, “I was worried sick about you.”

“You’re telling me. I was the same about you. How did all of this happen? I was so sure I was holding your hand well until the end of the fall.” I whisper back.

“I thought so too, but before I knew it, I opened my eyes and I was in this dress, surrounded by people getting me ready.”

“Weird. You said the mirror wanted you, is any of this bringing memory back of before Ursula?”

“Not necessarily. I just feel a heavily familiar dread and regret.”

“Hmm, I wonder why. I mean, if you’re their Queen, it would be more natural for you to be excited about it.”

“True. However, Faith, I’m not going to lie…I’m scared.”

“Have they done anything to you before they opened the curtain?”

“Oh, no. They’ve been truly very kind. Although, it feels like a…” She thinks, “Like a façade.”

“Like masks?”

We look at the guests as we pass them. Each one is staring directly at us behind their mask. No blinking and barely any movement, it almost seems like we’re being surveyed. I look around to find the white haired woman and notice she has disappeared. The staring gets only more eerie as we walk to what must be the designated dining table and take our seats. It is a gigantic table and as soon as we sit, the guests, all in unison, quietly begin to move to a seat at the table. The Tweedle Dumbs make it last to the table, where they sit across from each other. I’m sitting at the right side of Alice and all other seats are filled except the one all the way across from her, where I would suppose the host would sit.

“Faith, there’s something I have to tell you.” Alice whispers over to me.

“Yes?”

“It’s about why I don’t remember this place. I noticed it when they were getting me ready. I haven’t had the blue pills that Ursula normally gives me daily.”

                “Okay, what does that have to do with this place?”

                “I noticed that I feel a lot less hazy without them, and I keep having visions.”

                “Visions? Like what kind?”

                “Of myself talking to Ursula.”

                “About what?”

                “The deal I made with her. Faith, I-“

                A bell rings and our attention is suddenly brought to the white haired woman bringing a large covered silver platter over her shoulders. Alice gasps as the woman smiles and looks directly at her. Everyone picks up their utensils, expressions of hunger and lust upon their faces. Alice’s panic only seems to grow worse, as she tightly grabs my arm.

                “Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we have all been waiting for.” The woman places the platter down in the center of the table.

                “Faith, we need to leave.” Alice whispers slightly loud and in a frantic raspy voice.

                Nobody hears it, as they are all staring at the platter, still being held closed by the white haired woman. I swear some of them are drooling in desperation. Alice’s grip gets tighter, as the woman gets up on the table and stands in front of the platter.

                “Now, if I could have a moment of your time, I would like to give a speech in honor of my beloved Alice.” She smiles and looks directly at Alice, “My darling, curious, mighty Alice. I am so relieved that you have returned to us and back to me. For a while, I was scared that perhaps it was something I said. I thought…maybe I had scared you with our last…interaction.”

This makes Alice dig her fingernails into my arm.

              “Then, when you came back, I realized that not only must you truly love your people, but you have learned to forgive me. Alice, your battle was brilliantly fought, and your perfection will serve to teach future generations. OUR future generations. To you my love, I wish only for the future you deserve, the future WE deserve and will strive to ma-“

              The speech is interrupted as everyone’s stares avert to the young child attempting to lightly lift the cover of the platter. He suddenly notices all eyes are on him and looks up at the white haired woman. He gulps as she smiles.

                “Oh, beautiful child…..beautiful…..beautiful child.”

                She smiles just a little longer before her five inch heel comes crashing upon the child’s head, impacting the table. She continues to stomp on his head, while Alice screams, over and over repeatedly until his head is a smashed up pool of red, matching Alice’s dress.

The woman clears her throat and continues, Alice manages to silence her screams and is looking back up at her with eyes as big as dinner plates washed in fear, “Oh, Alice, sweet innocent Alice. Do not cry for the greedy….for the selfish pricks in this world that would get in between our greatness, for their own greedy need to satiate themselves. I love you, Alice, and to prove it, I have brought you the best present that no greed can buy…”

She grabs down at the handle of the cover.

“Now, feast your eyes upon the symbol of my love for you!”

The cover is lifted and my ear goes deaf as the cheers get louder and louder. It is not deafening enough to stifle Alice’s sobs when the cover is completely removed from the platter. Upon the platter is the dismembered body of a woman wearing the same crown Alice is sporting. The eyes are gouged out, but her expression is that of endless pain. The white haired woman looks proud of herself as Alice can’t hold back from vomiting on the ground to the left of her. The guests can no longer contain their excitement and soon enough, everyone is on the table, on hands and knees, tearing into the body with their utensils but then using their hands to eat. My eyes are focused on the host, as she pulls out a white rabbit face shaped mask and puts it on. She then walks along the table like a runway towards us and stops when she is a mere foot away.

“What the f**k is all this?!” I demand.

The white rabbit ignores me, and her voice changes to a rather masculine pitch as she addresses Alice, “My darling, I saved you the best part.”

From behind her back, she pulls out a carefully wrapped package that is drenched in blood and drops it in Alice’s lap. Alice jumps.

“Please, my beloved, open it.”

Alice whimpers as she begins to pull a part of the wrapping but then stops, covering her eyes, “I can’t! I can’t do this! I can’t!”

The rabbit c***s her head to the side, confused, “I’m sorry, is this not good enough for my queen?”

When she says that, the package begins to thump, like a heart, and Alice throws it off her lap, “I remember! I remember everything! Hands stained in red! The white and red queens! I can’t!”

With an even deeper voice, much harsher and angrier, the rabbit aggressively asks, “Did it all mean NOTHING to you?”

The sounds of tearing and loud chewing emit from the ravenous horde of guests, picking off what remains of their banquet.

The white rabbit leans in and I block her from reaching Alice.

“Move out of my way, stranger. You have no place here.” She glares at me as I stand in front of Alice.

“F**k off.” I respond.

Louder than any boat horn, she leans back and laughs. Regaining composure, she looks me dead in the eyes, “No, you f**k off.”

With that I am kicked into the air, across the table, and slide into the remnants of the previous queen. With a ringing in my ears, I get up to see the White Rabbit with Alice in her grasp, choking the life out of her.

“You said forever!!!” She screams, thrashing Alice’s kicking body in the air, “You said forever together! You said you loved me, before you mutilated me! You said you were making me more loveable! We were going to slay Wonderland together and get out of this hell! Then you left!! You left me here, waiting!!”

Alice continues to choke and kick, her kicks getting weaker and weaker. I look around for a weapon of choice, only finding the stares of still hungry monsters and the bare bones of the previous Queen. I have no time for these buffoons as I rip off the sharpest rib bone I can see and run to the end of the table at full speed. Like a knife, I plunge the bone into the White Rabbit’s neck, cause her to drop Alice to the ground, while she falls on her knees, gurgling a little, and struggling to figure out what just hit her.

I grab Alice by the arm and try to help her up. As we attempt to walk away together, we hear whispering murmurs, as the still hungry crowd starts walking our way.

“Please, Alice, please don’t leave me again.” The White Rabbit chokes out a cry, “My heart can’t take this anymore. You have changed.”

She crawls towards us, making Alice step back. The murmurs get louder as a trail of blood becomes noticeable behind the woman. She doesn’t seem to notice the horde approaching her with longing stares and saliva glistening upon their tongues in thirst.

“You said it would be us.” She pleads, using all her strength to crawl over to us.

With that, one of the monstrous guests catches her and pulls her head back by the hair and she screams.

“Faith! Do something!” Alice begs, “Please!”

Everything is rushing at that moment as the others surround the howling white rabbit and Alice continues to scream and sob. I clutch my head, and a new feeling bubbles up as my vision starts to go dark. This is a horrible place, with horrible monsters! No one deserves to live! Why is it always like this?! Every smile in the world is a façade to mask pain, hatred, lust, and starvation. We mask ourselves in reassurance that our darkness will not be seen.

“So be it.”

And once again, all goes black.

The sickeningly sweet and familiar smell of tobacco permeates my senses.

“Are you finally waking up?” Ursula’s voice comes out from the darkness as my consciousness comes to.

I open my eyes and stare up at the smoke stained ceiling.

“Is this real?” I ask.

“Isn’t that a question we all find ourselves asking?” Ursula puffs on her pipe.

I suddenly remember and bolt up, “ALICE!”

A stabbing pain shoots up to my head and I lie back down.

“She is fine. Sleeping, but fine.”

“How did we get back?” I ask, rubbing at the temple of my head.

“You idiots don’t think I keep tabs on you, but I have a tracking spell on my beloved Alice. Even a looking glass isn’t powerful enough to block my spells.”

“What happened to them?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Did you do it?”

“No.” I don’t need any further detail, because I have a feeling I don’t want to know.

There’s a long silence as I recall the screams in my head and the White rabbit’s pleads for love in my head.

“Did you know about Alice’s world? About the White Rabbit?” I ask.

“Yes.” She puts down her Kiseru and turns to face me from her chair, “That rabbit’s name is Harry…or Harriet later on after certain incidences.”

“Then they did have a history together.”

“Harry was young Alice’s beloved pet. Alice was a very troubled child. Born to a crazed mental patient, she had problems empathizing to other humans and creatures. Harry was a present from her new foster parents after her mother died in a horrible fire. Alice and Harry did everything together and Harry loved her from the get-go, but Alice slipped heavily into madness and soon into Wonderland. Harry was her rope to sanity. Even after being castrated, Harry…Harriet held unto her love and devotion to Alice and eventually succumbed to the madness as well. Together, they would orchestrate games that would end in genocide across Wonderland. The last game they played was Chess with a young White and Red Queen. They were welcoming of Alice and offered her a home. She doesn’t know how, but upon winning the game, Alice felt her heart change. However, Harriet, still thirsty for more bloodshed, killed the white and red queens. Fearing for her own safety upon coronation from Harriet’s ever increasing bloodlust and determination, Alice ran. She ran and ran until she found the other side of the looking glass where she came to enter this world.”

“I found her while investigating the woods for an item and immediately took her in. When she awoke, she was overwhelmed by every feeling she had suppressed in all that time and the neglect she had caused on her own beloved rabbit. She tried to take her own life but I stopped her. I didn’t want the blood of a former sociopath haunting my bathhouse. Goodness knows we have enough of those ghosts here. I offered her something that she had never before and she took it. However, she was having troubles keeping focus, so I gave her a home remedy that would make her forget.”

“The blue pill.” I interrupt.

“Yes. The pill of denial. She did not have to remember her sins as long as she took them constantly.”

Silence. I don’t know what to say.

“Faith, you have to go.” Ursula is looking me directly in the eye.

I look down at my hands, clenching the blanket, “Where to? I have nowhere to go. I can’t go back to Belle’s place.”

“Why not? Surely Belle would love to have company. She is always happy to be around others.”

“Jax doesn’t want me there.”

Ursula laughs a deep laugh, “Yeah, he’s like that.”

“Does everybody just know everybody around here?” I ask, a little more irritated than I meant to sound.

Ursula’s eyes widen with a thought, “I know someone who will take you in!”

“Damn that witch, threatening me!” Jax throws his arms up as we near a small cottage.

“What did she threaten you with so bad that you actually came?” I ask, seriously puzzled.

I woke up the next morning to Ursula standing above me, smiling. She told me that Jax would take me to the home of the man that would most likely let me stay with him. It being someone Ursula knows and trusts, I was scared, but then when Jax walked into the room, I definitely didn’t want to go. It took a lot of convincing before I was willing.

“Why do you care?” Jax snarls at me.

I look at the cottage. It looks very quaint and kind of historic, with its brick sidewalks and cute white shutters. The wood was very well preserved and it looked very clean on the outside. Before we had walked the path to the cottage, a cute little sign hung on a post that read, “Holmes Medical Practice” and I felt relieved.

“He’s a doctor?” I ask.

“He’s a quack.” Jax quips, “He would much rather be a detective, but because he has a degree and some history with medicine, he became the town’s only doctor.”

“Why would he take me in? Wouldn’t that be strange for a doctor?”

“He has a fondness for witches.”

“Am I going to be safe around him?” I begin to think there is a reason to worry.

He laughs, “HOLMES?! Oh my god, seriously? The guy may be THE SAFEST guy around all of Fearie.”

I’m not laughing because he walks me towards a wall and corners me, his arms blocking me from dodging him, as he gets closer to my face. I can feel my heart pounding as his breath hits my cheek and he gets within kissing distance. He places his hand on my cheek and caresses it.

“I overheard the girls at the bathhouse calling you a hero. They say Ursula herself was impressed. Even more so, you actually listened to and took my advice. I’m pretty impressed myself.”

He grabs my chin, but it is me who leans in and he reciprocates my kiss. I stop and open my eyes; he is still leaned it, but opens his eyes. Before I can say anything, a man with circular glasses and a septum piercing interrupts us.

“Is there a reason you are currently on my property?” He asks.

I quickly stand up and move away from Jax, “I’m….I’m sorry!”

He looks at me, confused, “I wasn’t talking to you. Hold on a second and I will get to you.”

I gulp.

Jax pretends to be nonchalant, “I don’t have a choice. You think I want to see your face?”

“Well then, go away, you did your job.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He stretches and starts to walk away.

“Jax?” I call out.

“What?” He responds, annoyed.

“Ummmm…..Belle…” I stammer.

“Look, you need to really work on your communication skills, but don’t worry, Belle says she will visit you.”

“What about you?”

“Didn’t you hear the guy? Trust me, you’re safe as hell with him, but I am not welcome here.” He looks at me, “Why did you think that you weren’t welcome at my place?”

“Huh?” I’m confused.

“You said I didn’t want you at mine and Belle’s place.”

I find myself blushing as my gaze changes to the ground, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Just come visit me if you get bored or something, okay? You’re not that bad, Miss Hero Witch.” And with that, he walks away.

I continue to watch him until he disappears from the horizon when I am brought back from la la land by Holme’s voice.

“You really shouldn’t get involved with him.”

“Hm?” I am still thinking of the kiss.

“Why don’t you come inside? I’ll make some tea and we can talk.” He beckons me into the cottage.

“Okay.” I smile and follow suit.

We’re sitting across the small wooden table as I sip the tea he has made me. I don’t think I have ever tasted the tea before, but it tastes sort of bitter and like a root. He has put some honey into it to make it sweeter after my reaction to the first sip. Holmes is a very soft spoken and kind guy the more I talk to him. He tells me that I won’t be staying in the cottage we are currently in, but the one adjacent to it. A whole cottage to myself!

“But surely I can do something in return as thanks?” I ask him, amazed by his kind gesture.

“I don’t want or expect anything in return, but if you’d like, I’d be willing to offer you a job in which you would be assisting me with my business. It would pay, and that way you can afford your own groceries and way of life.” He sips his tea.

“What?! Really?” I freak out, “Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t even know me.”

“I’m sure someone has told you by now, but I am fond of witches. Intrigued by them. I think witches are integral to this universe and its history. Any chance I get to watch or learn from them I take, so because I take from the witches their knowledge and history, I give back to them when I can.”

“Wow,” I sip my tea, “That’s really cool.”

“Yes.” He smiles at me, “I hope you won’t mind me asking, but I would like to examine you under my work hours and make sure you’re at full health and that being in a different world hasn’t had some kind of health effect on you.”

“No, I don’t mind at all! Actually, I would appreciate that.”

Holmes stands up, “I would love to continue to chat, but it’s been a long day and I should be heading to sleep. Allow me to show you to your home.’

He shows me to my cottage, explains to me his routine, and goes back to his own. I lay down on my bed, thinking how it’s the first time I have ever had a real bed of my own and immediately drift off.

“I think it is wonderful how things have been going for you,” Belle says as she packs some of her clothes into a suitcase, “You truly belong here in Fearie.”

I smile and blush, “I really do hope. “

Holmes hasn’t had time to really teach me about my new job, and having only been there a week, I feel useless. I decided to visit Belle and when I got to the mansion, I felt my mind wander on the kiss between Jax and me, but decided to shake it off. He and Belle are obviously together and Belle is the first person I encountered in Fearie.

“What are you packing for?” I ask.

“A trip. I’m going on sort of a vacation.” She tells me, smiling.

“Oh, with Jax? That’s lovely. For how long?”

“Huh? No, I’m not going with Jax. This is purely a trip for me. Plus, he hates travelling.” She packs a little faster all of a sudden, “To be honest, I could use a loooong break from him.”

“I see.” I bite my lip, “Won’t he be lonely with you gone?”

She laughs, “He’s always got the servants. I imagine Jaques will be just thrilled to keep him company.”

She stops packing and smiles.

“Or, you can come over and keep him company. He can seem a little scary and mean but he’s really just a little boy with horns. I think you’d grow on him.”

“I’m not a babysitter.” I smile back, “I’m just surprised he’s not coming with you. Seems he can’t do anything without you.”

“Yeah, well, time to learn. Besides, the place I am going, they don’t exactly have beast men of his caliber walking around and he refuses to be in his full human form.”

“What?!” I exclaim.

“Oh yeah! I didn’t tell you. Jax is a hunk when he is full human. In fact, it was the reason I fell in love with him….and is the only reason I even continue to try with him.”

“Wait, you don’t like his appearance?”

“As a beast? God no. When I first started coming to this mansion to fight him about his family’s business methods, a witch had told me about his human form and his money. It was what drove me to continue the relationship he so desperately wanted with me. That and I can’t resist the library. When he was human, I wanted to be with him everywhere, but with him the way he is now, I just want to puke.”

My eyes must have portrayed just how stunned I was by this revelation because she begins to act distracted by a tag on her suitcase.

“It’s not a big deal, he knows how I feel. He doesn’t try to force anything from me and mostly keeps me around because of his biased love for what he wants me to be. He ignores the true facts.”

“That you’re shallow?!” I blurt out.

“You’re right. Sometimes I get mad at myself for not being able to see any value to him just because of his natural deformity.”

“It’s not a deformity!” I get up, flustered and upset, “He’s honestly one of the most beautiful beings I have ever seen! How can you be so cruel about someone who loves you unconditionally and behind his back, nonetheless?!”

I stomp to the door.

“Hmmm….I see. That’s how it is.” She mumbles.

I open the door to the hallway and turn back, “I hope you have a safe trip.”

Then I slam the door and feel like an idiot.

“Ugh, how stupid and cruel! Why are people so dumb?!” I rant to myself, making my way over to the end of the hallway, downstairs.

“You know, people in glass houses…”

I look over to my left and see Jax leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He’s wearing a tanktop and some very muddy khakis. I look at him, confused, and he just smiles.

“Why are you covered in soil?” I ask him, completely forgetting I was just angry.

“Grave robbing so I can find the ancient relic that will change me back to a human.”

“Really?”

“No, dummy.” He laughs and turns around, beckoning me to follow.

We walk right back towards the upstairs. I’m wondering if he caught wind of the earlier conversation, but we walk past Belle’s room to another hall down from it. At the end of this hall is a white door. He grabs the door handle but then he stops.

Looking at me with intense eyes, he asks, “Would you like to see?”

“See what?”

“The reason I am such a hot mess.” And he once again smiles as he opens the door.

My face becomes euphoric at the site in front of me as I walk through the door. We’re not in a room, or, at least that is what seems. For miles ahead of me are fields and fields of flowers, vivid in every shade, stretching as far as I can see.  I look up and instead of ceilings; I see blue skies with beautiful white clouds.

“The sky is artificial,” He explains, “I can sum it up to magic.”

I look at him as he continues.

“My family once housed an extremely powerful warlock. He was mother’s most trusted confidant, of sorts. He was far more powerful than any witch and his magic often left a sort of ‘footprint’. This is one of those. Of course, there weren’t any flowers when I first discovered this room. That…that was my doing. Hydrangeas, roses, irises, bluebells, orchids, and so much more, I guess you could call it a hobby.”

“What made you want to get into gardening?” Wanting to know so much more, I inquire.

“Plants are good listeners.” He gazes off, “They’re not like people. It’s easier to talk to millions of flowers every day than to talk to diplomats. My life feels more fruitful taking care of fragile plant life than a whole country that hates my existence.”

We begin to walk. The field is really extensive, and it’s a good few miles we walk before I see it, a white metal table with a glass bell jar upon it. Inside the jar, I see a standalone rose. He gestures for me to sit, and I oblige. The rose is standing up, looking like a piece of untouched history and a familiar tale as old as time.

“I’ve read this story before. “ I state, “The rose is your heart, right?”

He looks at me with a bizarre look and laughs, “What?! What does that mean?!”

I c**k my head to the side, “Well, isn’t the rose a curse on your heart for the form you’re in?”

He laughs even harder, almost falling out of his chair, “Where the hell did you hear that bullshit?!”

“I told you, I read that before.”

“About me?”

“Well no, not entirely. …..but this whole world, it seems familiar to the books I have read throughout my life.” Looking down at my lap, ashamed I said something so foolish.

He continues to chuckle to himself, “That is the strangest thing I have ever heard.”

“This whole place is stranger than that.” I mumble, frustrated with him mocking me.

“I’m sorry,” He stops laughing, well, as much as he can, “Just don’t make such weird assumptions and comments if you don’t want to be teased.”

“Well then, what is it and why is it so special that you have it in that jar?”

“That warlock left it behind, I think. As far as I know, it’s just a rose. It hasn’t changed into anything else, but it has never withered or died in the 20 some years I have kept it. It does seem special, so that’s why I keep it in the jar. However, maybe it’s just another footprint left from him. I guess I just really cherish it as a memory of a time when things were a bit simpler.”

“Then how does that make my assumption so weird? For all you know, I could be right.”

“Because if it was my heart, it would be withered and falling apart.”

We both sit in the silence. It’s an overwhelming feeling of awkwardness and sadness that washes over the moment. There’s so much I don’t know about him, but after my conversation with Belle, I feel hurt knowing that he is right to a degree. Maybe he isn’t as much an arrogant apathetic fool as I first got to know him as.

Breaking the moment, he laughs, “You’re so weird. ‘The rose is your heart, right?’”

I laugh too, “Okay, okay, okay, maybe I am. Then again, I don’t come from a world of creatures and witches like this.”

After we’re done laughing, he gets silent again, “I heard what you said, well more like screamed, to Belle.”

I put my hands over my face, “Oh god, I’m so sorry. Your relationship is your business and it was stupid of me to get worked up over that. I shouldn’t have screamed at her.”

He stares at the rose, “I certainly have never been described as beautiful before. Actually, I have never really had anything nice like that said about me before, except when I take on human form.”

“You’re better the way you are.” I say.

“How do you even know? You haven’t seen human me.”

“Because that human form would just be a lie. I wouldn’t want you to lie to me. You’re not human, so what? Your horns don’t make you any less human where it matters.”

“In the dick?” He jokes.

I just look at him with a stern expression, “Really?”

He stands up and stretches his arms in the air, “This conversation is getting a little too serious. Had to break the ice.”

I stand up too, looking at the ground, “I get it. The need to guard your heart.”

“You mean my rose?”

I grab him by his shirt and pull him to me, I’m no longer in the mood to joke, “What I said was true. You are one of the most beautiful beings I have ever encountered…”

“We barely even know each other.”

“That doesn’t matter to me. I can see it in you. You don’t like being the clown as much as I don’t like watching you be a clown. You’re not here just to be entertainment. You act like an a*****e and pretend that you are uninterested or don’t feel, but I have seen your eyes when you say Belle’s name. You don’t hate people. If anything, you just want them to accept you more than anything. You should know better than anyone though that people will project their own insecurities out on you. You shouldn’t strive to change that.” Nose to nose, I notice I’ve been directly looking him in the eyes this whole time and avert my eyes to the ground, releasing my grip from his shirt, “Ugh, I sound like a self-help book.”

Heat flushes to my face as I feel his hands grab both sides of my face. With a smile, he pulls me in closer and our lips meet. My heart races and my mind gets numb as we kiss. He pulls me closer into his embrace, his hands caressing my face and moving down to my hips. My lips open to his and our tongues tease and meet. He pulls me in closer, as if I might melt into him if he could just get me close enough. I place my arms around and against his back, pulling him closer to myself, hoping maybe that I could just melt into him. It feels bitter short when we stop and he places his forehead against mine and smiles.

“You’re more than welcome to come here, even while Belle is gone. I could use the company.”

“Would that really be okay?”

He brushes my hair behind my ear, “Why wouldn’t it? Come over and listen to me talk about the differences between care for vegetation from flower, or tell me stories about your day, I don’t care. I just think it would be nice. Without Belle, I’m going to be pretty lonely.”

“Maybe.”  I say.

“Better than no.” He turns around, “We should probably get you home. I’ll walk with you, if you’d like.”

I look down to the ground, “No, it’s okay. I will walk by myself.”

“Hm? Are you sure?” He asks.

He’s Belle’s significant other, even if she is shallow and doesn’t seem to like him. His feelings for her won’t go away just by kind words or by a stupid kiss. I feel incredibly dumb and foolish. I don’t want to see his face or even think about what just happened, but I know my walk home will be nothing but those persistent thoughts. With a sigh, I begin walking back.

“Yeah. See you around,” A tinge of sweet sorrow in my voice.

“Hey! I was about to start looking for you!” Holmes smiles and waves as I round the corner to the path to my house.

“Hey Holmes,” I try to put on a smile, “What’s going on?”

“We finally have a job!” He cheers.

“Okay” I say, “What is it?”

“The biggest mission I have ever received. Come inside my place. Let’s have some tea and I will go over the details with you.”

We walk into his place and I sit down at the table while he makes tea. There’s a sort of spring to each step as he moves around the kitchen trying to remember where things are. He is obviously very excited and distracted. He manages to finish the tea and sits down across from me, sliding my cup over. I blow at the hot steam rising from the surface and prepare for the news.

“It’s a rescue mission with some espionage.” He says in the giddiest of voice.

“A woman had contacted me and asked to meet up. I thought it was going to be some sort of bodyguard job she was going to offer. When we met up, that certainly seemed like the case but then she tells me her lover had been taken forcefully into custody by ONE.”

“The group that hunts witches?” I am now intrigued.

“Yes, but they often imprison people with no evidence.”

“They imprison people?!”

“Yes, and the person they imprisoned that we’re rescuing is not a witch. His name is Mal and we’re going to sneak in and get him out of there. The woman I spoke to is offering a heavy reward. She seemed desperate to get him back.”

“And how do you propose we get in there? Waltz in with 80’s buddy cop disguises?”

He looks at me confused, “What?”

“Oh yeah, you guys don’t have movies here. It’s something from my world.”

“Okay, well you got a point…I don’t really have an idea yet on how to get in there. I kind of thought maybe you have a power or two that could help. Maybe unlock-“

An idea strikes in my mind, thanks to Holmes’ idea and my love for movie clichés, “Hey! I have an idea!”

“You do?”

I smirk, “Yeah, but it’s going to put us in a pretty risky position.”

“I’m all ears.”

Like a slightly heavy dictionary, I pick up a car and lunge it at Holmes.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” He loudly screams as he dodges it.

There are a few onlookers from the sidewalks of the downtown area we are in gawking at the situation.

“This place pisses me off! You should all be afraid of us witches and our powers! Instead you live among us, feeling you are equals.” I laugh maniacally, “You should all be on your knees worshipping us like gods!”

I let the fury surge through my arms and release the green flames, throwing them at the street lights and surrounding posts. One of the lights shatter, some debris falling on a bike that was parked on the street. People are getting more scared and the crowd gets louder with murmurs and pleas for what is going on. A few of them seem to run away from the crowd. I continue to throw Ra at buildings and objects, and start tipping and throwing things over until someone in a black robe walks out from behind a building.

“What do you think you are doing?” He demands.

“Showing this place what fear should look like.” I state, throwing a fireball his way.

He raises his hand and moves it circular and stops Ra, mid-air. It disappears.

“Cease all activity right now!” He says.

“F**k you!” I shout.

Suddenly more robes come out from behind the buildings and surround me.

“Who the hell are you f***s?” They get closer, organized in their movement.

“We go by ONE, and you are now under our jurisdiction.” A female voice replies from my right.

“Like hell I am!” I try to make a flame and it fizzles immediately. I begin flapping my arms furiously to no avail.

“She’s just a weakling.” Another one says, “Your magic doesn’t works when we choose it to under our barrier.”

“You’re coming with us, now.” The female robe tells me, “How you go is up to you, we could tie you up.”

I raise my hands and smile, “Oh no, no, no, I’ve seen the light. I’ll come in peace.”

I’m a genius.

I am harshly thrown into a cell by the man who had stopped Ra. Just the cement floor alone is gross enough for me to regret this. I play it cool though and get up.

“Hey, I said I wanted a grand suite! This doesn’t even have a tv! How will I watch my favorite HBO classics?” I shout out at him.

“I advise you shut that mouth of yours now, because I don’t quite have the patience of my superiors and you had been jabbering my ear off nonstop the whole way here. If I hear another peep from you, I will make your mouth disappear.”

He gets up close up to the bars, “You got that?”

“Saaaaaay, these are some really nice iron bars here.” I ignore him and look at the bars, “It would be a terrible waste if I just were to bend them.”

I try to pull at them, expecting my strength to twist them open like butter, but find myself getting exhausted and nothing happening. I try rocking them out of the foundation, but to no avail.

“Magic doesn’t work in here, obviously.” He snarls, “We’re not as stupid as you.”

“Yeah, well so is your face!” I call out as he walks away and through a door.

When I look back at my cell, it is but a cement slab and silver metal toilet with no lid. There’s a single flimsy sheet folded up on the slab, signifying it as a bed. There is no window, and when I look out through the bars, all I can see is the gray wall opposite of me. I try to poke my head out as far as I can and notice bars on the left side of my cell.

“Great. This is beautiful.” I’m thinking I’m alone as I slide against the wall and sit.

“What’s HBO?” I hear a low voice ask.

I smile, “Hours and hours of entertainment where I am from.”

“Sounds dirty.” The voice comes from the cell next to mine.

“Only late at night.”

“So, what did you do that got you hear? Sounds like you really angered them.”

“Oh, him? I just blew down a few street lights and posts. He’s just angry because I talked about all my favorite variety of linens and conspiracy theories on our way here.”

They chuckle and cough, “You’re quite strange.”

“I am.”

“You only knocked down street lights and stuff? That doesn’t seem like a legit reason to imprison you.”

“I may have also threatened a bunch of civilians and spoke pro-witch rhetoric.”

“Ooooooooh, yeah, that will do it.” Another cough.

“How about you? Why are you here?”  I ask.

“To protect a friend.” They answer.

Suddenly, we hear a door open and footsteps. A robe walks up to my cage and stands there. I don’t bother to move; I just lay my head against the wall and close my eyes. Thoughts of the kiss with Jax pop in my head and I try to shake them out. Failing to, I instead decide to distract myself.

“Can I help you?” I ask the robed figure.

“There are no records of you to be found. It’s almost as if you don’t actually exist.” She responds in a flat voice.

“I’m new to this neck of the woods.” I begin rubbing the temple to my head; I’m starting to get a headache.

I open my eyes and look at her. For once, I can see a face. She has round silver eyes that flatter her round face. Her skin is far paler than mine, like snow, and she has her violet tinted silver hair in two long braids reaching down her waist, over her black robe. She pulls down her hood and looks back at me.

“Then shouldn’t you have some paperwork on you proving your identity?”

“Left it in my other pocket.”

“The more you resist us, the less likely you are to get out of here anytime soon.”

“Oh? So you guys really are the good guys in this situation? Arresting me for knocking down some poles?”

“You were causing a scene and making a panic.”

“What happens to the less cooperative witches?” I get up and walk up to the bars.

“It depends on the severity of their actions.” She states coldly, “We deal with them accordingly.”

“What about those falsely imprisoned that AREN’T witches?” I sneer.

“Maybe you should ask your new friend.” She looks at me seriously.

“Okay.” I smile and shout out, “Hey neighbor, tell me more about that cough of yours?”

“Interrogation even when you’re not a witch is a hell of a thing here.” They call out, “When you’re being sucker punched in the gut as a method to try and get out the ‘truth’, breathing becomes fun.”

“Oh, I bet, and does that seem according to how you should be treated?”

“I wouldn’t recommend it on the tour.”

Suddenly, the robed woman grabs me by my shirt and pulls me against the bars and whispers, “I’m trying to do you a favor. I recommend you not burn ALL your bridges.”

She lets me go and walks away.

She hasn’t shown up in days. When she left, she seemed down and weighted by some thoughts but I had still thought she’d come by the next day, wagging her invisible tail. That kiss, I thought, it’s not like she wasn’t into it, and she wouldn’t have kissed me back if that was the case. I began to wonder if maybe she changed her mind about me. Then again, why would I care? She’s just a naïve and clueless witch with no a*s and too big a heart for her own good.

I still decided to stop over at Holmes’ and her houses. They weren’t there and I was frustrated. Where the hell could they have gone? I know that Holmes offered her work as his assistant, but without Belle to be my gossiper, I hadn’t gotten word of where they were. Out of ideas and with reluctance, I head to Ursula’s place.

“A mission?” I ask.

“Yes, it appears they are on some rescue mission. Rescuing some poor hap from ONE’s grasp.” Ursula continues to fondle my arms and chest.

I sigh and look up at the ceiling. This is why I absolutely hate coming here. I knew I didn’t want to, why did I bother? All for some silly witch who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Now I’m being groped and touched by a sea witch who loves to eat souls.

I grab her arms and push her away from me, “Do you know HOW they planned to go about this?”

She sits back in a chair, pulls out her Kiseru, and takes a puff, “Going into the belly of the beast. She was planning to get captured.”

“What?!”

I can’t breathe. After all, I don’t want to inhale water into my lungs. The force of the water against my nose makes me want to let go of my breath. Luckily for me, I’m really good at holding it in, apparently. My head is forced back out of the water, and I swear it feels like my hair is going to rip out of my skull. I gasp for air, getting ready to be plunged in another time. It’s funny how great ONE’s hospitality works. They didn’t find anything about me and resort to torturing me for information.

“Who are you?! Where did you come from?!” The man strong holding every strand of hair on my scalp barks at me.

“I already told you! I’m a snowman brought to life by a magical top hat!” I reply.

I gasp a large breath of air, expecting to take another swan dive into the basin, but he only continues to give me the world’s worst headache by gripping harder on my hair.

“You guys really have some anger issues.” I quip.

Soon enough after that, my head is being lunged towards the water when the woman from earlier comes in.

“Stop.” She orders, “Take her back to her cell. We have something big to deal with.”

With that, he finally lets me go. I take the time to check my scalp to make sure my hair is still there. My head is throbbing everywhere and I just can’t wait to be back in my cell.

“What is it? Another witch?” The a*****e asks.

“No. That big shot, Jaxyn, has come to offer us a deal to release that girl.”

“Beast? What the hell does he want with her?”

“Don’t know, but I have a funny feeling about this. However, the boss is feeling ready for a negotiation.”

“Kissing a*s of the big wig.”

“Just take her to the cell, and we’ll go deal with him.” She turns around and walks away.

“Just when I was having fun.” He pulls me by my arm and starts dragging me back towards the cells.

Once we get to the cell, I can see someone against the bars next to mine.  They are quite tall and slim, with dark green-black spiked cropped hair and reddish brown eyes. They look at me with pity. They’re gorgeous and I can’t help but gawk as I am being shoved into my cage. Turns out, my neighbor is a stunner. I get back up to my feet as they lock me in and leave.

“Say, you’re not even human, are you?” I ask my neighbor.

“No,” They respond, “How did you know?”

“Your eyes told me.”

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know how to control who I am and even though I don’t want to be here, I thought it would be better than accidently going out of control and risking my girlfriend being caught.”

“She’s a witch?”

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t ONE only hunt witches who go out of control?”

“They hunt ANYONE with witch powers, whether they abuse them or not as long as that witch has some use to them.”

“Your girlfriend had use to them?”

“Yeah, her gifts are pretty unique and because of it, they already put a target on her back. ONE aren’t law enforcers or government. They are a group that uses dirty ideology and techniques to steal witches abilities for their own gain. They are just disguised as an anti-witch enforcement group.”

“S**t, so they steal witches gifts?”

“Yes. As to what they do with the witches afterwards, I don’t know. I have heard a lot of rumors, though.”

“S**t, so they’re not blocking my powers…”

“They’re absorbing them.”

I bang my head against the bars in defeat. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this. I still don’t even know how I am going to find this Mal. I have not heard another voice other than my neighbor since I got here.

“I’m going to die here, unless Jaxyn manages to worm his way to getting me…..but he won’t want to negotiate.”

“Hey, what’s your name?” My neighbor asks.

“It’s Faith.” I whimper, as I start to realize the severity of the situation I put myself in.

“Well Faith, I AM pretty bored here and I think helping you out might be more pertinent than sitting here hoping that it somehow keeps my girlfriend safe.”

“Hm? How are you going to do that?” I ask, a little doubtful.

“With a big boom. You MIGHT want to back away from the wall.” I do as they say, “By the way, my name is Mal. Nice to meet you Faith.”

The big boss is grating on my nerves with his talk about the diplomats he is familiar with and his stories of his buddies from the wars of past. Even the food presented on the table loses its appeal the more he gabs my ear off. I’m about ready to start making random dinosaur sounds just to startle him when suddenly we hear a knock and two robed figures are allowed in. I grab a chip and kick my boots on the table.

“I don’t see my witch with any of you.” I take a bit of the chip, “I was pretty clear that I wanted to see her safe before we proceeded with any further discussions.”

“Well, you see, we didn’t want to bring her in here and ha-“ The big boss begins to explain when he is interrupted.

“You could be involved in a plot of hers and trying to help this criminal. We couldn’t take that risk.” A woman with purple hair barks.

I laugh, “Who the hell asked you? Are YOU in charge of this place?”

She looks at me sternly, “No.”

“Then who the hell do you think you are? Do you have any idea who you are talking to?” I finish my chip and glare back at her.

“Oh, I know who you are.” She walks right towards me, “Jaxyn Beau Vorhaus, arrogant and lazy son of the late John Vorhaus. Although, it’s funny, there are rumors of him not being your real father circling around.”

She gets over my lap, straddling me, and leans as uncomfortably close as possible. I stare back at her with just as much intensity.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but they say that twenty six years ago, a warlock took up residency in your home, before it was your home, mighty convenient how it was only months before your birth. Then six years later, he disappeared, without a word. They say your father kicked him out in a fit of rage. That’s not even the kicker, though, because when I looked up articles about him, in the one picture I could find, was a man with large horns protruding from his head and ears quite similar to yours.”

I look at her with shock. How the hell did she manage to get all that information?! Why? Nobody knows any of that. There is no way she got it by word.

She laughs, “Oh, what was his name again?”

She leans to whisper in my ear when all of a sudden, a loud explosion resounds from and shakes the whole building.

“What the hell was that?!”  the big boss yells.

“Sounded like it came from the cells, boss.” The other man in the room responds.

I throw the purple haired b***h off my lap and run out the door, down the steps, and out towards the front of the building…well, what remained of the building. A loud roar emerges from the rubble, as a gigantic dragon looking creature climbs its way out of some large rocks and debris. Several guards circle around the dragon who manages to knock out a great deal of them with its tail, the others are washed in a sea of green flame as a second figure emerges from the back of the dragon. It’s Faith! The dragon also begins dispelling green flames and the scene becomes engulfed.

I run as fast as I can towards their direction as Faith jumps on the dragon’s back and they lift off.

“HEEEEY!” I scream, as they fly in my direction, flailing my arms in the air.

With a woosh, they fly low and Faith grabs my arm to pull me up.

“Need a lift?” She smiles as she pulls me up unto the dragon’s back.

We fly for quite a while before finally we land in a large field only miles away from town. Faith and I get off the dragon and suddenly it changes form. A person with dark green-black spikey hair and muddy red eyes looks back at me.

Faith runs in circles and stretches out her arm, “Ahhhhh! I can’t wait to eat real food and get out of this hellish gray prison outfit. Those a******s have no sense of style.”

“IF we get into town without being taken into custody again” I look at the dragon person, “No offense, sir, but it would be best if you didn’t take to your form again.”

“Yes.” A faint deep feminine voice emerges from the dragon.

Faith laughs and the two of them start heading towards the town by foot, “Yeah, MAN. Don’t be that GUY.”

As I watch them, the sun going down in the sky, silhouetting the scene perfectly, I look at Faith as they talk in the distance. The hero witch. She’s kept my life quite interesting and there is never a dull moment with her. She’s a witch with no a*s but quite a heart to make up for it - woman who makes friends with other witches, murderers, and now dragons. As I am thinking this, she turns around and smiles at me. This witch who has managed to capture the hearts of everyone she encounters, reviving the hopes of many….

 

……I’m falling in love with her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

I appreciate all feedback that I can, but please just don't tell me how to write my characters. Thank you. :) Also, for anyone reading this who doesn't know, this is only meant to act as skeletal work for my graphic novel I am working on.