Fae Flower Read online

  Fae Flower

  By

  Michelle R Reid

  Fae Flower

  By Michelle R Reid

  Published by Heart Dreams Press

  Copyright © 2019 Michelle R Reid

  Cover Designer: by German Creative

  All rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any format of in any medium without written permission. [email protected]

  The views expressed within this work are the sole responsibility of the author and do not represent Heart Dreams Press or any of its affiliates.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are product of the author’s imagination. Any similarities to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments or events are purely coincidental.

  ISBN: 1-942000-36-7

  ISBN: 978-1-942000-36-5

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Five Years Later

  A Note to You

  Chapter 1

  The number one rule in my family had always been: Don’t go in the forest. It’s not safe.

  At least not for Mama and me.

  Most humans didn’t go near the woods anyway. That was Fae territory — no human was truly safe in the woods.

  Although there were some friendly Fae in these woods, there were more that weren’t. Which is why, when the family drove the cattle back from the summer market, Mama, Marabell, and I took a separate wagon, on this boring lane with nothing but tall grass around us, and the lovely trees so near but so far.

  Even so, there was something about the forest that seemed to draw me. I knew it wasn’t safe, but I could spend the whole ride back home staring and wondering what it would be like to run through the trees. To feel the leaves against my fingers and smell the cow-free air, without a worry in the world.

  “This is a good spot,” Mama said as she guided our wagon over to the side of the road. She glanced at the sky. “We’ll need to hurry. We left the market so late, we might not make it home before the sun goes down.” She flicked a glance at the tree shadows the late evening sun cast over the stretch of long grass between us and the forest, getting closer and closer to the road.

  The wagon rocked as one side went from worn dirt road to uneven ground under the tall summer grass and weeds that lined the road. From the open back of the wagon came the sound of glass bottles rattling against each other, joined by a soft squeak.

  I glanced over my shoulder to the three Fae in the wagon bed. They shifted, faces grim as they looked longingly at the Fae forest on the other side of the field of tall grass. It was just a stretch of woods, really, an offshoot of the main forest. On maps, it didn’t look that wide across, but it was still wide enough that I couldn’t see or hear my family as they drove the cattle home from the summer market on the other side of those trees.

  How long had it been since these Fae were stolen from the forest? Did they even remember what being free felt like? I clutched their Pearls tighter on my lap. The blue Pearl of the handsome male Kelpie was cool against my skin, while the brown Pearl of the mud-covered Peat Fae was the heaviest than I’d ever held. The Heather Pixie was barely ten inches tall, and her Pearl was like a small glass bead.

  The Peat Fae turned its head and looked at me. It was so covered in mud that its features were nearly unreadable, but it was easy to see the anxiety in its flat eyes.

  So different from the free little Bell Fae sitting on Mama’s shoulder, watching the world with sparkling eyes and an ever-present smile on her tiny face.

  I shouldn’t feel guilty, but the emotion still panged at my heart. None of these Fae wanted to be in the uncomfortable back of my wagon, bouncing along some uneven human road. I forced them in there with their Pearls. But if I had my way, I’d have more Fae back there. Until the horse could barely move the wagon.

  Mama pulled at the reins, and the wagon lurched to a stop.

  The glass bottles of the tonics we hadn’t sold at market rattled again. Were they okay back there? I glanced worriedly over my shoulder at the gray blanket covering the boxes just behind me. Some of the recipes had taken Mama months to make. Each drop a secret recipe that she never shared with anyone but me. They were special, something no one else could make.

  Marabell jumped off Mama’s shoulder and fluttered in the air, her luminescent Fae wings beating quickly. Smaller than a robin, she flew over to the blanket that covered the cargo as her yellow skirt swayed in the air like a bell. She grabbed a corner with her tiny hands and lifted it up, looking inside. With a relieved sigh, she dropped the blanket and looked back at me.

  “All safe!” her tiny voice piped as she smiled big enough to close her bright green, almond-shaped eyes. Content, she flew back to Mama’s shoulder and settled down, pushing her short, curly hair back into place.

  Mama smiled at her. “Thank you, Marabell.”

  The tiny Bell Fae beamed under Mama’s praise and fluffed the layers of her dress.

  I looked up and down the dirt lane. “I think this is the perfect place, Mama.” The road was vacant, not another soul in sight. The grass wasn’t too wide, it would be an easy trip for the Fae until they could make it to the woods.

  The Fae shifted behind me. The Heather Pixie’s dragonfly-like wings fluttered quickly in fear, the Kelpie frowned, and the Peat Fae just stared at me.

  “Do you want to do the honors this time, Kyna?” Mama’s calming voice sounded behind me. I loved the giddy note in her voice. This was why I loved our rides together. They were the only time Mama seemed to relax and be herself outside of the walls of our home. She didn’t have to act like the head of the family — a stiff, strong-willed woman, just to make the ranch hands and the rest of the family take her seriously. Alone, we didn’t have to feel guarded or act reserved for the sake of others.

  “Yes.” I smiled at Mama, loving the way the sun gleamed on her dark red hair.

  When I was younger, I always hoped that my hair would darken to her lovely color, it never got that shade. Fiery red, that’s what Mama called my hair. A curly mess is what I thought of it. I just hoped that I at least aged like her. Even with two grown children, most people mistook her for being only thirty years old.

  I climbed off the wagon to the dirt road and walked around to the back. I faced the slave Fae and motioned beside me with a hand. “Get down, off the wagon.” If I was talking to anyone but these three, I would have added a ‘please,’ but then my order could be interpreted as a request instead of what it was.

  They looked at me in confusion, peeked at the woods in longing, then back.

  Marabell fluttered over and hovered beside my face. “It’s okay, you can trust Kyna.”

  They looked at her like she was insane. Still, since I was holding their Pearls, they didn’t have an option. The Peat Fae plopped to the ground with a squish, the Heather Fae fluttered next to it and hovered off the ground. The Kelpie leapt down and took a couple steps away, wrinkling his nose at the mud on his leg from the Peat Fae.

  Mama’s smile widened from a moment, before she smoothed out her features.

  I smiled. “Thank you.” I looked back at the Fae. “I guess I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Kyna and this is my Mama, Maira.” I motioned to her.

  They didn�
��t look impressed. They looked downright confused.

  I motioned to the slowly darkening woods behind me. “These woods are ruled by the Sun Fae. It goes without saying, tread lightly until you get to where you want to go. And if you want to stay in the area, you’ll have to ask the Sun Fae for permission.” I turned back to the baffled Fae in front of me. But that was the only emotion that showed in their expressions. Like most slaves, it seemed they’d learned not to ask questions. It squished the happy bubbles in my heart.

  It might have been a little mean to keep them in the dark like this, but there were several instances in the past when other Fae were hurt by another overly excited Fae. A Dryad even accidently turned our whole wagon into a tree, roots and all, because she couldn’t hold it in. It was a long walk home and took just as long to dig the wagon-tree’s roots out of the middle of the road. Best to let them adjust while I could still hold them under control with their Pearls.

  I looked at the forest, with its tall trees and warm green leaves. “And I would try to stay away from any human settlements. If you travel north, the forest connects to the adjacent kingdom. However, south, there is a sizable gap between the end of the Sun Fae woods and the next forest. Please be careful. Any questions?”

  “Why … are you telling us this?” the Kelpie asked, his voice as smooth as water sliding over stone. He glanced up at Mama on the wagon.

  “Hold out a hand,” I said.

  Slowly, the three Fae lifted a hand.

  I placed each Pearl into the respective hand. Instantly, the Pearls absorbed into their skin, vanishing in a glow of light. The Fae gasped and shivered as their will, their true power, merged back together with their bodies. Light seemed to gleam from behind their eyes, a magic that humans could only dream of having.

  “Because you’re free,” I smiled.

  The Peat Fae immediately sank into the ground, forming a mud pile. It slithered across the ground like a burrowing mole towards the woods. The Heather Fae shrieked in joy and flew into the sky, flipping and twisting until she disappeared into the tree line.

  The Kelpie was the only one that paused. He frowned at me, head tilted to the side. “I heard once … a rumor that was too good to be true. Of a human who frees Fae. It seems it was true after all. Why?”

  “Because you should be free.” I grinned and waved a hand. “Be free and happy, please.”

  The Kelpie slowly turned. With a burst of speed, he ran across the grass into the woods and vanished from sight.

  “Very well done,” Mama congratulated me.

  I turned and beamed at her. “Well, I was taught by the best.” Because Mama was the best. Why couldn’t the family and ranch hands see that too? Why couldn’t they see past the odd, Fae-crazy image that they branded Mama and me with?

  Marabell sighed happily. “I love seeing that. It reminds me of the first time we met.” Humming happily, she sat on my shoulder, smiling lazily at the forest.

  “Me too,” I murmured, remembering the first time I’d freed a Fae ten years ago. And the special joy I felt when she asked to stay as my friend.

  I reached out, grabbed a handle on the side of the bench and hoisted myself up next to Mama. “Did you see Miss Berneen’s new baby when she stopped to get a tonic for her mother’s back? He was such a butterball.” I laughed.

  Mama smiled, her bright green eyes softening. “Yes, I did. So much black hair. He’ll be a heartbreaker when he’s older.” She clicked her tongue and sent the horse into motion.

  The gelding snorted air out of its nose and pulled, making the wagon groan as it shook its way out of the tall grass.

  Mama suddenly sat up straight and looked around. “What was that?” she breathed.

  The alarm in her wide eyes sent a chill down my spine. “What?” I turned my head. Where had the breeze gone?

  A whisper rolled across the grass, something low and chattery, something arcane. Evil.

  The horse let out a shrill scream and threw his head around, jerking at the reins in Mama’s hands. He tried to rear, but couldn’t because of the harness around his chest, hooking him to the wagon.

  She yelled, almost pulled off the seat of the wagon. Marabell screamed and slid off her shoulder. Before she hit the floor of the wagon, her wings fluttered and stopped her fall.

  “Mama!” I gasped and grabbed her waist to steady her. My other arm reached over and pulled back on the reins, forcing the horse to stop. The gelding reared and thrashed at the air, jerking the wagon again.

  A scurrying sound, like many tiny feet slapping against the ground, rose around us. The tall grass on either side of the road shifted and vibrated. Getting closer to us. As sudden as it started, the noise and movements stopped.

  “What is that?” I whispered, gooseflesh pricked my skin. I couldn’t see anything, just the shadowed long green blades of grass tall as my knees. An eerie hush blanketed the air, smothering the buzzing of the afternoon bugs.

  Marabell flew up and dove behind the hair at the base of Mama’s neck.

  Mama’s breath caught. “Red Caps,” she whispered with an emotion I’d never heard from her. Terror. Her leaf green eyes were wide, accentuating the way they tilted up in the corners like a Fae’s.

  “I thought they couldn’t come out in the sun? There’s still almost an hour till sun down.” The words were barely out of my mouth when the wagon lurched again, but this time it wasn’t the horse.

  Vines sprang from the ground around the wagon, thick and spiked. They wrapped around the spindles of the wheels and climbed higher, lifting the wagon off the ground. The horse screamed and thrashed as he was lifted along with the wagon. With a snap, the harness broke. The horse pulled the reins out of Mama’s hands, almost pulling her off the wagon, and bolted down the dirt road, kicking and tossing his head.

  “Mama! What’s happening?” I held on tight to Mama’s waist as the wagon gave another violent jerk.

  The vines grew, pressing between the boards of the wagon and lifting it higher into the air. One thick vine thrust up between Mama and me, forcing us to let go. Boards gave out and the wagon collapsed into pieces. I screamed as we fell and landed hard on the dirt while splinters of wood rained down around us. Moaning with pain, I curled in a ball and covered my head. The boxes with our precious tonics landed on the ground with a crack. The ground pooled with moisture and the scent of herbs and flowers filled the dusty air.

  Head spinning, I peered around.

  The Red Caps’ high-pitched chatter echoed from the tall swaying weeds just past Mama. I stared in that direction, but I couldn’t see them.

  From the middle of the broken wagon pile, Mama’s usually calm, sweet face was tight with fear. Under the dirt smudges on her cheeks, she paled. “Run, Kyna! Run!” She tried to sit up, but her skirt was stuck under the wreckage.

  “Mama!” I yelled and pushed up to my feet. “Where’s Marabell?”

  “Go get Heath!” She waved her hands wildly.

  I glanced at the forest on the other side of the tall grass. Only a kilometer wide, it stood silent, the thin trees swaying in the late evening sun. It looked like peace and safety—nothing threatening about it. But it was Fae territory. On the other side of those trees would be my family driving the cattle.

  “Run!” That single word held all the emotion of an arrow to the chest.

  I turned and ran through the tall grass.

  The yellow summer grass slapped at my knees and whispered around my skirt as I hitched it higher to run as fast as I could. The root-filled ground shifted and sank with each step I took, but I powered on anyway. The tall trees grew closer, thin and darker with every tree in. The green canopy spread wide, blocking out most of the sun with random sunbeams that broke through. The long grass thinned between the trees until the grass stopped altogether, as if the very trees rejected anything from the human world.

  Behind me came the sound of dozens of feet on the ground as grass shifted and shook out of the way for the Red Caps to burrow through. Their sens
eless high-pitched giggling and shrieks filled my ears, drowning out the shushing whisper of the grass.

  As I got closer to the trees, everything that I was taught about never going into the woods echoed in my mind. It didn’t matter that I’d helped Mama free slave Fae all my life, any Fae inside here would kill me. But, from the sound of the screeching in the tall grass not far behind me, so would these Red Caps. At least they were running after me—maybe that meant they would leave Mama alone.

  Desperate, I pushed my legs faster on the uneven ground and gained some distance between us. The hot summer sun smell vanished, replaced with a cool, earthy scent. The ground changed from the soft soil to a packed hard dirt as the grass gave way to the dim forest floor. I staggered once, adjusting to the sudden change before running on. I half expected something terrible to happen, like the trees falling on me or something of the sort, but nothing did.

  Except for the ecstatic little voices prattling behind me.

  My legs were longer than theirs and I took advantage of that, hiking up my red skirt and dirty white apron, and running for all I was worth. I dodged between the trees like a deer, anything I could do to lose them. The only problem was, I was in the forest now. Fae territory.

  I paused, looking around and listening. The forest was wider than I thought or maybe it was an illusion, blocking out any hint of the human world. I didn’t even know where the road was or how deep it went into the forest. I had hoped I’d hear my kin—they aren’t exactly the quietest people—but I all I heard was leaves rustling in the breeze, bugs chirping and birds singing, and saw only green trees and flowering bushes. Which was a sort of blessing. I couldn’t hear the Red Caps either.

  Out of the corner of my eye, something shifted.

  I jumped and turned as a Red Cap emerged, seemingly from thin air. It was ugly, only a little higher than my knees, and shaped like a melon on tiny twig legs. Its skin was as brown and textured as bark, making it hard to see in the forest. Its mouth stretched in a pointy grin, too wide across its large round head.