I found the tent’s opening. As I stood there, with the mist dissipating and my heart pounding, I listened, but heard no sounds inside the tent.
Should I go in?
There’d been so many strange happenings today, I wasn’t sure I could trust this. On the other hand, perhaps whatever was inside would give me answers to my questions.
Inhaling deeply, I mustered my courage, pushed the flap aside, and entered the tent.
Chapter 3
As I entered the tent, the same fog I’d seen earlier formed inside, although now it was denser. A myriad of pastel colors sparkled within the cloud. Pinks and blues mingled and danced on invisible air currents. I felt the magic around me, filling me with energy, strengthening me.
This was a powerful magic, a spell that no ordinary practitioner could accomplish. Sounds of flitting wings came from within the mist, but I couldn’t find the source until a portal opened in front of me and two fairies appeared inside it. As they came closer, I watched the fairies—a boy and girl—grow in height until they stood as tall as an average adult when they reached this side of the portal.
Their wings disappeared as they crossed into this world, although their clothing didn’t change.
I stood, my mouth agape as I stared at them. They didn’t speak. The girl looked young—in her teens, maybe. She had dark blonde hair that was slightly curly with flyaways that lent to her wild appearance. Her feet were bare, and her skirt was made of large white flower petals. She wore a pink-and-green top, also made of flowers.
The boy was older than the girl—mid-twenties, maybe—and his clothing was more refined. He wore black boots and a black tunic, with silver jewels that lined his collar and cuffs. His hair was platinum blond, almost white, and it fell to his shoulders.
Both of them had pale faces and stood on shaky feet, which I attributed to the crossing.
“Are you Olive?” the girl asked in a tiny voice.
“Yes,” I answered, confused.
The boy spoke up. “I am Prince Terminus,” he said and dipped into a deep bow. As he straightened, he motioned toward the girl. “This is my sister, Esmelda. We are prince and princess of the Periwinkle Court.”
“Fairies?”
“Yes,” Esmelda answered. “We have traveled from Faythander to… to seek your help.” She took a deep breath. “I am sorry. I am unwell.”
Prince Terminus took his sister’s arm and helped her sit on the ground.
“The dizziness is caused by the crossing,” I said. “It should pass soon.” I looked up at the brother. “You said you need my help. Why?”
“We have lost the Arrubicus—a starstone gem that is vital to our existence. We do not know who took it, but after seeking the counsel of the sky king, he advised us to find you here. We seek your aid in discovering what has been stolen.”
I tried to wrap my mind around the situation. “My stepfather sent you here?”
The princess showed me a ring she wore. It had a gold band that supported a red gemstone in the shape of a rose. “This is all that is left of our gemstone. The larger stone has been stolen, and without it, the fairies in Faythander are suffering. The Arrubicus has been taken to this world. You know this planet better than any other, which is why your stepfather sent us to you.”
Prince Terminus spoke up. “Will you aid us in finding our lost stone?”
“Well, I can’t just…” I paused, took a deep breath. This was all happening way too fast. Within the last year, I’d already saved the world twice, which meant I’d earned enough good karma to last me another decade at least. Maybe two.
As I looked at the fairies, I realized they had sacrificed a great deal to seek my help. They had come to Earth, a strange and unfamiliar place, and had been forced to grow tall and—worst of all—lose their wings, which fairies hated. So for these two fairies to cross into my world meant the situation must have been worse than they’d told me.
“Let me try to understand this a little better,” I said. “Your gemstone has gone missing and has been transported here to this planet. You do not know who took the stone, but since I have spent considerable time in this world—and because my stepfather recommended it—you’ve come to me for help. Is that all?”
“That is basically it,” the princess answered. “But what my brother has forgotten to mention is the consequence of what will happen if we do not find the stone.”
“Why? What will happen?”
“We will die—and if that happens—all plants and creatures will eventually die with us.”
“You’re sure about that?” I asked.
“Yes. Fairies are Faythander’s caretakers. Our magic is unique. It works in harmony with nature—but it is also a symbiotic relationship. The Arrubicus absorbs negative energy, which in turn fuels the gemstone and makes it impossible for us to use dark magic. If the stone is destroyed, dark magic will be released exponentially—making it impossible for fairy magic to exist. Faythander will become a place of darkness. All creatures, plants—every living thing—will die.”
“I see,” I said. Refusing to help them now was getting exponentially harder to do. “Why is the gemstone here on Earth? Can you tell me anything about who took it or what they plan to do with it?”
“Please,” the princess said. “We do not have all the answers, but our protectors will arrive soon, and they can explain more. We have created this place to shelter us during our time here on Earth. With your help, we will soon find the gemstone, and then we will request no more of you.”
She spoke with a hint of panic in her voice, and her eyes took on a pain-filled expression as she turned to her brother. “I must rest,” she told him. “The crossing—I am still unwell.”
Terminus
