The Little Fairy
Chapter 8

"What exactly were you dreaming about?" Sarah slid the scalding mug of cider in front of me before taking the seat next to me.

"That's just it, I don't think it was a dream. I think one of the Elders actually hacked my mind." I watched the bubbles form in my mug, focusing my hearing on the gentle pops they made.

"What did they say?" She blew on her drink before setting it down without taking a sip.

My mind was still reeling from the incident. "I honestly don't remember, all I remember as him pretending to be my brother." I didn't lift my gaze.

"You have a brother?"

"Yeah, Tyber." I finally got the courage to take a drink, not realizing how thirsty I actually was, and chugged the whole thing. "He saved my ass on more than one occasion." I slid the mug away from me, resting my head in my hands, remembering the last conversation that I had with him.

"What are you thinking about?" Sarah placed a gentle hand on my back.

"He told me to run before The Ceremony of Wings. He told me that this was going to happen. and now I have no one. No family, no magic, no wings." I stood quickly out of my chair, pacing around the room.

"That's not true, you have us!" She tried to make light of the situation, but I knew better.

"I took a very risky chance with Don. He could have easily turned me into whatever authoritative service you have or submitted me to a hospital."

"Wait, Fairies actually have magic?" She stood quickly, a manic expression on her face.

"Well.. yeah."

"And have you tried to see if you still have magic?"

"No, I don't have my wings. Why would I have magic?"

"Does your magic come from your wings?"

"Well..." I stopped pacing, suddenly aware of what she was trying to say. "No. They don't."

"So what's stopping you from trying your magic?"

"I don't know what kind I have. The Elders of Magic would read your prophecy at your Ceremony... I never got mine."

"But that's just that; a prophecy declaring the power you already possess!" Sarah was trying to keep her voice hushed, but her excitement was getting the better of her.

"How would I even know which one it is."

"Try them all!" She had her hands clamped up near her face now, all flush with eagerness. I would be lying if I didn't replace it a bit endearing.

I sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Okay, well. I would like to go back to sleep for now. What time is it?" I tried looking around for the clock in the dimly lit living room.

She flicked her wrist and the watch on her arm lit up, accenting her face in an ethereal glow. "3:30 am."

Shit, I thought. I had slept the entire day away and I don't even know if I could go back to sleep. "What are you doing up?"

"I'm a light sleeper." She tucked the long bangs that hung by the side of her face behind her ear.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." I looked at her apologetically.

She shrugged, "I needed a cigarette anyway." She turned and headed to the front door, barely turning her head when she spoke to me, "Care to join?"

My feet moved me before I could even respond, joining her side on the porch, settling on the steps, and staring out at the field.

"So how do you plan on saving the world, exactly?" She took a quick puff off her cigarette, inhaling deeply before she spoke and exhaling after she finished her question.

"I'm not sure." I pursed my lips. "I hadn't quite gotten that far yet." I picked at the chipping paint beside me.

"You could use magic." She repeated her routine, looking out at the field.

"But I don't even know where to start." I looked at her, her side profile illuminated by the sun that had started to rise above the trees.

"That's something we could figure out later." She smiled weakly, stifling a yawn. She put out her cigarette and stood up, scrunching her face as her legs protested. "You going to go back to bed?" She had her hand on the door handle, waiting for me to follow her.

"I don't know if I can." I stared at the trees being shadowed by the sun that was rising behind them.

"I have a King size bed. You don't need to sleep, but it might bring some comfort to not be alone." She held the door open for me, her eyes growing redder by the second.

My face grew hot and followed her to her bedroom. It was just next door to mine, but quite a bit larger with a massive bed fitted with a pink faux fur comforter and an array of pillows littered throughout it. It looked as though Don left it untouched from when she moved out so that she could come back at any time.

She slipped in between the warm blankets and the pillow top mattress, falling asleep what seemed almost instantly as her head hit the pillow. I quietly closed her door and decided to look through her books. Humanities, multiple regions of folklore and fiction mixed with world history books. I picked a book at random, an immortal love story. Seemed good enough to help me try and relax.

I slipped under the covers and opened the book, ready to be transported into a new world.