The Fairy and the Artist ( kinda) (The Book Spooktacular)

I need to preface this. This post is not what I originally had in mind. This was supposed to be a short story involving well a fairy and an artist. But the idea morphed and now has turned into a novel, so instead of a cute flash fiction piece you are getting what is more like an introduction or first chapter of a story. So sorry about that, I almost gave up on this post too. The last few weeks have been a bit tough mentally, and then I got sick.

Cue this getting written last minute in a blind flurry. Whilst stopping to catch up on Buzzfeed Unsolved and read A Darker Shade of Magic. Both preferable options to writing.

Again this is not my best. I wanted to do better I swear!!!

The Invitation 

The icy air had kept most people inside which I preferred, less distractions. I only had a short time between classes and liked to spend it outdoors if I could. The leaves were all turning rust colored offset by the burnt umber bark of the skeleton trees, a stunning contrast my fingers were itching to trace. I wanted to capture autumn, trap its essence in a bottle. Press its dying leaves between the pages of a book. It didn’t want to be caught of course.

It always left too quickly, but part of its beauty seems to be held in the fact that it fades fast.

I nibbled at my poor excuse for a sandwich, ignoring the crumbs falling on my frantic lines. The sketch wasn’t turning out very good anyway. A hollow sound echoed like a dropped coin, drawing my attention off the page. The park trail I had sequestered on was noticeably empty. I couldn’t place the sound. 

A brisk movement startled me, a flash of white fur. An arctic fox loped passed me.

I sucked a gasp in and followed it with my eyes to the edge of the treeline where I lost sight of it. 

I tapped my pencil on the edge of the crumb filled page. I sketched it out with messy lines; the pencil skimmed across the page, the scratching sound it made was comforting to me. I tried to do it justice, but I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen a fox. It was a pale and inaccurate imitation.

Not that I had many opportunities to see them, school had been eating most of my time.

“Cass!” the thin, almost weedy voice was unmistakable.

I shut my sketchbook, feeling a bit insecure about my aimless drawings.

“Yeah,” I called back.

 His voice had arrived ahead of him. He rounded the corner, a compilation of wild curls and spindly limbs wielding two steaming cups. I could only hope they held tea.

“I should’ve known you’d be here.” He slumped onto the worn bench next to me and waved the cup in front of me.

I took it with mumbled thanks. The cup warmed my stilted fingers instantly, making them tingle.

“Christ, it's cold.”

I nudged him, “It’s nice.”

“Only you would think so. All of the other students are enjoying the nice bonfire.” He eyed me with a heavy dose of skepticism. “Part of your charm I suppose, you being a hermit.”

I shoved him, but didn’t bother defending myself. I could be a hermit. The idea didn’t even bother me it probably should have.“You could be with there with them.”

His teeth glinted at me, teeth that were somehow too straight for an odd angle boy. “Then who would save you from freezing to death so?”  

“I’m not even close to freezing.” I stated with confidence, I had layered up my sweaters and even brought gloves. I had forgotten about them, but that was hardly the point. I took a sip of the steaming drink. Not tea, hot chocolate which was acceptable, especially the twinge of peppermint that wafted through it. I nodded my appreciation. He waved me off like it was nothing, which was his default it drove me nuts.

“Liam...” I ground out. “You didn’t have to come find me, you know.”

He squinted at me, his eyes devilish. “O, grand! Guess I’ll head back then.”

He made a grab for my cup, but I held it away from him. “Noo... it’s good!”

I held the still warm cup under my chin and simpered at him.

His grin split his face in two. He had the type of face I liked to draw. Angular and interesting, “It’s not an obligation, Cass. Somebody might actually want to spend time with you... unlikely, but it’s a strong possibility.”

“A strong possibility,” I tossed his words back at him, “Is this that, Irish charm I heard so much about.”

He raked his fingers across his head, disrupting his already wild hair, “As if I’d waste such a thing on a wain like you.”

 “Course not.” I stuck my tongue out.

He sipped at his drink, and adjusted himself across the bench. He never did like sitting still, “Amazing view you have here!”

I ignored his dry observation, as I stood and started picking up all my tools and notebooks. The time had gotten away from me. I needed to get ready for my next class.

Liam picked up my sketchbook and a dropped eraser, “Are you writing letters now?”

“What?”

“There’s a letter under your book, or at least an envelope.” He held it out. The blaring white paper was new to me.

I snatched it from him, hoping it wasn’t a folded up piece of artwork I had forgotten about.

It was an envelope, a sealed one with a small pat of red wax that had some kind of leaf emblem inlaid in it. I flipped it around. My name was on it. My first name at least. Liam leaned over, his interest piqued by my own.

I stared at it, and glanced up at him to see if there was any sign of a tell. He was the only one who could have put it there, and there was no reason for him to give me a card. I lifted the seal gently with my fingernail, cracking it seemed like a waste. I pulled out a thin leaf-like paper. I was almost scared to touch it. I coaxed it out and unfolded it.

Dearest Cassie,

You have been granted the honor of attending to the Autumn Court

An emissary will be sent to collect you

There was a signature of sorts scrawled and unreadable underneath the brief message.

I laughed and waved the page at Liam. “What is this?”

He shrugged, hands hidden in pockets. “It’s not mine if it were it would be much more clever.”

“Sure.” I read it over, ignoring a sudden chill that crept through me. “It’s probably a Halloween party. Jess’s I think. She likes to do themes.”

Liam nodded in agreement, looking rather blasé about it.

 “I’m not sure what theme this would be.” The lack of a time and date was also a bit weird.

“Ren Faire,” He suggested looking over the font. “Autumn court, that’s to do with the fee ain't it.”

“Fee?” I squinted at him.

“Faeries, old wives tales, my Gran used to tell me stories.” He rubbed his arms and looked around the woods with a strangled smile. “She told me they would take me away.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, “Take you where?”

His face crinkled emphasizing his now pink nose. “She never said...somewhere quite bad I’m sure.”

I folded up the letter, that didn’t sound too bad. In fact, getting taken by a fairy sounded like a dream.

*From a beneath a blanket* Hope you guys like it! There is going to eventually be a shapeshifting fox fae in this story, and I'm so sorry he didn't show up in this like he was supposed to. 

Make sure you go read the third part of Ashley's story Ghost and Persie on the 28th. It's soo good, if you like Greek Mythology, coffee, graveyards, and ghostly girls this is for you.