Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

I love it here! It's so peaceful. But what were Red and the ogre talking about? It didn't look good. That much was obvious. That's always how it starts, right? Sure was with all my foster families. They were all excited to have a new kid or whatever. Maybe it distracted them from their marriage or family problems for a while. But eventually, the novelty wore off, and they told me, "It just isn't working out."

God, I hope that's not what's happening here.

Alex… get a grip. Nothing happened.

I push that old story out of my mind. But it would be just my luck that I fall in love with someone, and in such a magical place, and it is ripped away from me somehow.

No. This can be different. I will love this troll and live in this village. Everything is fine. I double down on my best happy act, and grabbing his hand, I ask him the questions that burn in my mind.

"Red," I begin.

He squeezes my hand in response as he waits for me to continue.

"This place is so magical, but I didn't see any humans at all. Why is that?"

His eyes flash with a warmth that sends waves of happy tingles down my body. "The magical world and the human world once lived in something approaching harmony, but that was long, long ago. Now my kind must hide amongst you. For that reason, this place is protected by powerful and ancient magic. Only magical beings or those of certain blood can walk freely through the barrier that surrounds us. Of course that includes what humans would call ‘mythical creatures' such as myself. He actually makes air quotes as he says it, which for some reason strikes me as adorable.

"Okay, fine. But I am human, so how did I get in?"

Fair question, I think.

With this, Red pauses, and I can tell he is thinking about something. I love how he furrows his brow.

"Maybe it's possible to be sort of invited." The last word trails off, and he gazes off into the distance.

"Come with me," Red says, an idea apparently coming to him. He leads me towards the forest again, but this time, it is hard to keep up with him, and I stumble until he picks me up off the ground and carries me.

"What is the hurry?" My heart beats fast, and it's hard to breathe for a moment.

"I need you to meet someone. And I might just have an idea."

"But can you tell me one thing?" I ask him as he makes his way with me past the lake and into a darker forest area. "You're sure your friend Troth didn't tell you anything I should know?"

He stops then and sets me gently down on my feet.

"There are just a few details I need to work out. So you can stay with me… longer. As I was explaining, the town is not used to having humans around, Alexandra,"

"Call me Alex, please."

"Alex. The elders of the town are actually maybe a little afraid of you."

"Afraid of me?" I almost laugh. "What?"

"Not of you -you, but of humans in general. Our kind need to remain hidden amongst you, and that goes tenfold now, with the invention of smartphones, video cameras, and social media. Humans are truly terrifying creatures who tend to destroy whatever they can't understand. So that's sort of the situation. I just need to smooth out a few things, and it will be fine." He smiles his big troll smile. I feel a little relief, but I am not totally buying it. Still, I trust he has my well-being at heart.

"Okay. But they know I would never tell anyone about your village, right? Do you think they will let me go home?"Of course I don't really want to go home, but I don't want to be trapped here if they don't want me.

"I want this to be your home, my love." Red bends down and kisses me so passionately that my knees give way. His hand catches me, and he presses me to him, lifting me once again off the ground. I feel so light and dainty. I could get used to this feeling. He sets me down lightly, my head spinning. "I will take you to the witch Tabitha. I think I have an idea, and she might know what to do."

"Witch," I repeat. "Is she a human? I thought there were no humans here?"

"She's not human." He shakes his head. "She is a fae, but without wings. It's a long story, but her people cast her out, so she came here. She is our healer, as well as a seer. And she is also a member of the Common Council as well."

"So she can help us?"

"I hope so. I think she might have something to do with your getting through." Briefly, I think about the little prayer or spell or whatever I did that day before I left, but I don't say anything. As we walk, I can see a small cottage ahead, obscured by a few large trees. It looks like a fairytale cottage. I love it but also feel unsure. What if Red's idea doesn't work? What if all this gets taken away?

Strangely, I flash back to that one family that had promised me a trip to Disneyland, only to cancel it at the last minute. Will I be let down again, cast out of this beautiful place? Or will I get to stay? And why do I still get the feeling he is holding something back from me? The questions repeat over and over with every step, and my heart beats faster in my chest.

Red steps on the mat to knock on the door, but it swings open before his knuckles hit the wood.

"Come in, Red." The voice is young and light, just like the breeze on a sunny spring day. "I'm surprised it took you so long." A slight, beautiful red-headed woman appears behind a curtain. She is dressed in an emerald green that matches her eyes. Her flaming red hair is curled all around her small heart-shaped face. I tower over her like an amazon, but her energy fills the room. "Tea?" She indicates a table already set with three chairs, cups, spoons, and a large plate piled high with sandwiches. "I'd hate for it to go to waste."

The pastries from earlier are long gone, and I feel my stomach growl embarrassingly loud as I nod and take a seat. The little woman smiles at me, a look of approval in her eyes.

As we all sit, she reaches over and pours us each a full cup of deliciously fragrant green tea. I instantly grow calmer, and then I notice her staring at me.

"So here you are in the flesh. The first. You are beautiful, Alex," she says, as if she's known me my whole life. I am a little confused at her words but decide I don't need to add to my list of questions. "You will do nicely for Red—he's been waiting for a suitable mate for some time. I'm so glad you chose to join us here in our village."

I choke on the tea at her words, and some of it painfully pushes up my nose. Red is suddenly there, his large hand patting and rubbing my back. When I recover, my eyes still watering, I look at her knowing smile. "What do you mean, I chose to come here?"

"At some level, we choose it all," she says. Yeah, this is definitely a witch, spooky cryptic language and all.

"You know, I did say a stupid spell the other morning. But never in a million years did I think—"

"Ah," she interrupts me. "No wonder. ‘Cause you showed right up. Quick as lightning. No, I get it. We were working from both ends, see? Your little wish or incantation, and then what we did here."

"What?" I demand.

But she keeps going. "Of course, ultimately, it's all fate. We do our little dances, and say our little words, but it's all up to fate."

"I guess so," I say without really knowing what I am agreeing to.

"So, I get you are wondering how you got here, and how you got through the spell wall. I sort of wondered it myself, to be honest… but then it dawned on me."

"It did?" I'm still having trouble following exactly what she means.

But it is Red who speaks now, not Tabitha. "You were invited."

"Yes!" Tabitha practically jumps with excitement.

"So, I can still get home the same way, right?" The question jumps out of my mouth before I can stop myself. I see the little woman's mouth draw into a thin line, and Red's brow furrows again. Of course I don't want to leave, but I want to at least know where I stand. And I definitely don't want to be a prisoner.

"Tabitha." Red's voice is calm, but I can feel the tension in the air.

He's unhappy with me, I fear. I should be able to ask questions, though. Is it crazy to want to understand how these magical rules work? Or will he decide to leave me now because I asked? He's going to cast me out now that he's had his way with me. That's exactly what's going to happen.

Alex . I stop myself. You're catastrophizing again.

"Can we talk about this outside, Tabitha? I must ask you a few questions."Red looks anxious, but then he turns to me. "I'm sorry, my love, it's sort of important, I just need to talk to her for a second."

She nods, and they go out to the little porch on the side of the house. I sit there like a dummy for a moment. Every time one of my foster families was about to dump me back into the system for some minor infraction, they would always make me sit at the table while they discussed me in another room. The verdict was always the same: "Send her back." I'm so stupid for asking to go home. This place is like one of my books, beautiful and perfect, but everything comes to an end for me. My forever is by myself.

I stand up and walk towards the door. Their words are muffled through the wall and glass of the little window. But I can just make snippets out.Probably from years of practice listening at doors in my foster families.

"But there must be another way…"

"The council is firm."

"But what about what we said?"

"They won't care."

"The laws are the laws."

Then they rattle around for a moment, and I cannot make the words out… until I can…

"…this should have never happened. You should have killed her before. As far as they are concerned, she cannot live…"

Shock runs through my blood.

"You must do your duty for the village."

My heart beats to the rhythm of my panic. I have been through the discarding phase with men, but apparently, it is much more serious with trolls. With humans, it generally means ghosting. But here in this mini- magic-kingdom, it means death.

I can't stay here. They are just out back, so I dash to the front door. God, but how can I leave him?

Are you kidding? This isn't a game anymore! And you knew deep down it would never last. It never does. Time to put on your big girl panties and get the hell out of here. I will just head in one direction and keep going. That should get me out. It better.

But there is one think I must do. I owe him that. Still, the adrenaline is pumping in my veins. Frantically, I search the room until I find what I want. The paper is old, and the pen is made of quill and ink. But I quickly scratch out the words I must say and place them on the little table under my empty tea cup.I slip myself out the front door, closing it noiselessly behind me. Dying for love is not on the agenda today.