“Please be open, please be open,” she whispered to herself as she approached the library door.
Cordelia twisted the door knob with one hand and pushed with the other. To her relief the door opened. She scanned the shelves looking for something a little more informative than a beginner’s guide. She needed to know everything.
“You won’t find it,” said Wade, emerging from the back room in a rather flamboyant dressing gown.
“How do you know what I’m looking for?”
Wade winked and tapped the side of his nose with his finger. “I’m the keeper of books,” said Wade. “It’s my job to know which books our students require.”
“You said the books weren’t off limits anymore.”
“They’re not.”
“So why can’t I have it?”
“The book you seek does not exist.”
“It has to,” said Cordelia.
“We cannot live our lives based on what it says in books, Cordelia. You are the first of your kind. You are leading the way. You are here to write history, not read it.”
“But I don’t know where I belong.”
“You’re worried about fitting in. Don’t be. You were born to stand out.” Wade slowly pulled the towel from Cordelia’s head. “Alright, it needs a good brush but the colour is grand!”
“I can’t let people see it,” said Cordelia, panicked. “They’ll want to know why it’s changed colour and I don’t know what to tell them.”
“Hold your head high and smile. You don’t need to tell them anything.” Wade pulled a comb from the pocket of his dressing gown and ran it through Cordelia’s hair. “You look like an angel,” he said, stepping back to admire his handiwork.
Cordelia forced a half smile.
“Wait there,” said Wade and he disappeared into the back room. Moments later he returned with a brass hand mirror decorated with blue detailing. “See for yourself.”
“It’s beautiful,” said Cordelia, holding the fish tail handle.
“French antique enamel,” said Wade. “It belonged to my great grandmother.”
Cordelia smiled and held the mirror to her face. In an instant her smile faded and a look of anguish took its place.
“Heavens, it’s not that bad,” said Wade.
“Is this a trick?” asked Cordelia.
“I don’t follow,” said Wade, confused.
“My reflection isn’t there.”
Wade took the mirror from Cordelia and held it to his own face. “I think it’s you who’s playing tricks on me,” he said, now titivating his own hair.
Cordelia took the mirror back and grey smoke swirled inside the glass. “It’s back,” she said.
Standing beside Cordelia, Wade peered into the mirror. Two golden eyes emerged from the smoke and as the creature drew nearer, its equine features became clearer. Wade snatched the mirror from Cordelia and placed it face down in the drawer of his desk.
“Have you seen it before?” asked Wade, locking the drawer with a key.
“Earlier this morning, at the rock pools.”
“You should know better than to be out gallivanting on your own at such an early hour,” said Wade, running his finger along the bookshelf.
“What is it?” asked Cordelia.
“A vindictive fairy,” said Wade, his expression serious. “They call it Pooka.”
“Is it bad?”
“It can be,” said Wade, pulling a book off the shelf and handing it to Cordelia. “I suppose the more accurate term is goblin.”
Cordelia took the book with both hands and mouthed the title, “Fairies, Goblins and Other Creatures.”
“Read it,” said Wade. Then he removed a brass pocket watch from his robe. “Gracious, is that the time?” He swept up his robe and sashayed into the back room, closing the door behind him.
Cordelia looked at her own watch. It was quarter past seven. She wrapped the towel around her hair and left the library.
Cordelia took the book into her chamber and bolted the door. She hadn’t seen hide nor hair from anyone walking along the tunnels but that wasn’t unusual for this hour on a Sunday and it’s the way she wanted it.
“Let’s have a look then,” said Nixie.
Cordelia jumped. “I wish you would stop doing that,” she said, still facing the door.
“I thought you’d be used to it by now.”
“I shouldn’t have to get used to ghosts creeping up on me,” replied Cordelia, turning to face Nixie.
“I’m not creeping up on you, if I was I’d be over there with you.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes and walked over to her bed where she perched with the book on her lap.
“What do you have there?” asked Nixie.
Cordelia felt like telling Nixie to mind her own business but thought better of it. She turned the cover of the book towards Nixie.
“Ooooh. Do you believe in all that?” asked Nixie. “Fairies and goblins?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” asked Cordelia. “We’re real, though there’s plenty who think we’re just part of a silly folklore story. I thought you of all people would know of their existence since you claim to know everything.”
“You’ve had enough to take on board. You didn’t need this on your shoulders as well.”
“Don’t you think I should have been forewarned?”
“You’ve survived sixteen years without knowing about fairies and goblins. I hardly think another two months would have made much difference to you.”
“I saw Pooka this morning. Twice.”
Nixie’s translucent complexion turned
