The Faerie Slayer
Chapter 34

I knew that we must be nearing because the trees eventually turned to cobblestone houses and shops. Strutting the streets were all sorts of faerie creatures. Small ones, big ones, creatures with a hunched back so intense that their heads were parallel to their knees, I noticed a group of spirits fluttering around an ogre who seemed to be piqued. He swatted at them but they dodged and stole pink berries from his brown paper bag. I could not stop staring in awe at the sight before me. I hadn’t realized that we’d stopped and that the doors were slowly becoming undone again. Edmund was already up and out of the vehicle. I did the same and as I began to make my way down the steps, he extended a hand out to me which I took. I stumbled on the last step, although I had worn flats, the bow was caught into the metal and I thought I’d fall flat on my face. I shut my eyes in hopes of withering some of the pain of the impact but I felt nothing but strong arms around me. I looked up to catch Edmunds glowing eyes. As if the sun had somehow favoured him, he truly looked to be breathtaking.

“Thank you,” I was careful not to stumble my words.

“My pleasure,” he said, yielding me back to a stand up position with one swift movement. All around us, faeries had been gawking. Some pointed and stared, others whispered amongst themselves.

“The half human girl....she’s the next princess......how long has she got, three decades?”

I winced at the last part.

Haven’t even clocked in and they’re already anticipating my last day, I thought sarcastically.

“Don’t listen to them,” it was as if he’d read my mind,” come with me.”

Edmund took my hand and I left him because I had no choice. I halted at the sight of a horrific creature and melted into Edmunds grip.

“What’s that?” I muttered. The slouched creature shot me a wink and I could not help but think that it somehow knew me.

“That’s a trow,” Edmund said,” they’re quite harmless, cowardly little creatures but absolutely revolting, my mother had one.”

Caleb, I thought with a mental shudder.

We continued down the pathway that was also made of the same cobblestone that made the homes and the stores. Shop owners chit chatted amongst one another. I approached an outdoor shop where behind the counter, the salesperson looked like Fay.

“That’s a hob,” I mumbled to myself but Edmund heard.

“Yes.”

On display, the hob offered what seemed to be multiple versions of a mermaids tail.

“I just got these from Asrai Falls down in Chip Woods,” He said in a squeaky, cartoon like voice,” still fresh, would you like one?”

“What would you do with a mermaid tail?” I asked Edmund.

“Asrai’s have powers that the rest of the folk don’t. You can make a potion using their blood that grants you their powers temporarily, their scales to make furniture with, or you can burn their insides and fuel your car.”

He seemed to be observing the tails. His eyes were torn between a green and a red one. When one the tails began to move, the fob swatted it with a plastic racket like device. It shot currents of something that resembled lightning. The tail went still. I tugged at Edmunds hand, alerting him that I’d like to leave.

We strolled past dozens of stores. Ones that sold messenger birds that resembled the Sirin that Kade had told me about, they even had messenger snakes, rabbits and rats. Of course, none of them resembled the ones back home. These ones had fluorescent eyes, human faces on heads, long curvy snouts and I could have sworn that one snake had hands and feet. We passed by stores where the magic potions could be smelled from a mile away. Where ever we went, I was fascinated by the physical appearance of the creatures of the folk.

We stopped at a store where on display were dresses, much like the ones Fay had shown me .

Inside, a lady had her back facing us. Her hair rested like a curtain of dark olive velvet and stopped where her ankles were. Her feet were bare, but her heels were mouldered to resemble the heel of a stiletto. It almost looked as if it hurt to stand. She wore a dress similar to mine but hers was emerald. I liked hers a lot better then mine but perhaps it wasn’t the dress more so her perfect figure. Her waist was tiny, I could have used both my hands to wrap around the entirety of it, whereas her hips extended in the most graceful way. The back of her bare arms were covered in colourful tattoos of strange birds and florals. She turned around to welcome us with a grand smile, I almost gasped.

At first, I was struck with her breathtaking beauty, but it seemed as if the longer I stared, the more there was to discover. Her eyes were bright red, and it seemed as if the centre held the home for a flaming fire. The front of her hair was braided arounddozens of little waddling baby birds. The center of her neck was hollow, it was almost as if someone had carved it out. A line of an empty hole that ran from the top of her under jaw and disappeared below her perky cleavage. She was white, not pale, but the colour of milk. She was almost fluorescent.

“Look who it is,” she greeted and I could see small fangs inside of her mouth. Her tongue was also forked,” the prince himself.”

Edmund seemed just as hypnotized as I was. He reached for her manicured hands and brought them to his lips,“Izibba, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

She never took her eyes off of his,” are you back for more already?”

He cleared his throat and stole a glance at a shrinking me. She towered over the both of us, entertained by the sudden tension.

“I came because I need you to design my future wife some dresses, in the same fabric and colour as this one,” he could not peel his eyes away from hers as he gestured towards my dress.

She seemed to devour me with her eyes. Up and down she studied me for what was only a couple seconds but felt like minutes. I felt naked in the presence of someone so perfect. I don’t think I had ever quite seen someone so beautiful and intimidating.

“She’s pretty,” she concluded and I felt a wave of validation,” I could think of a few designs that you will like on her.”

“I knew I came to the right place,” Edmund muttered.

“That’s because I know what you like, prince,” she grazed his jaw with the nail of her index finger. I had never seen Edmund so entrapped.

“Alright then,” he said,” I’ll send down one of my hobs later this week then? She will also need a wedding gown, by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Izibba and I bellowed simultaneously.

“We’re getting married in three days,” he was now looking at a moving mannequin dressed in a gown that looked as if it were made out of feathers,” she’ll need to try on the dress before the wedding of course and have the modifications done.”

“I can do two days, I’m far too busy,” her tone had changed. She was no longer in the cheery mood she once had been in.

“Not even for the queen of the folk and your future princess.”

“Not even for you. Next door, Zelbra could help you out.”

“Izibba-”

“I did not stutter Edmund.”

“Alright,” he concluded, having looked defeated,” two days is fine.”

Izibba’s eyes landed on mine. She seemed hurt by the sudden news. I concluded mentally that her and Edmund must have had a thing. I wondered if she could see my own heartbreak just by looking at me.

“She will never challenge you like I would have,” she said to Edmund whilst studiously staring at me,” but I suppose you needed a weakened women, someone who will always need you, to truly make you feel like a man.”

“Izibba, stop-”

“So much so, you decided to go for a half mortal one.”

I widened my eyes at the sudden intrusion. I could not understand what I could have done to bother her so much, but then again, if I were to see Kade and some other girl, I would want to pour salt on all her open wounds.

Edmund grabbed me by the waist and pushed me towards the exit.

“I’ll see you soon, for the dresses,” he said as we stumbled out.

“I thought you said you would be sending a hob,” she replied but we were already out of the door. He strutted ahead of me back towards the Sidewinder. I hurriedly followed. Up in the darkening sky, behind the shadow of a blossom tree, I finally caught the sight of the face of the bird that had been following me. It resembled a lady, with long black hair and a snout like nose. Red feathers waved thickly into the sky. It’s beaded eyes we’re looking right into mind. As if it had gotten what it needed, it fluttered its wings, shifting the air into a gust of wind at my face and disappeared.

Kade had mentioned that the sirin belonged to Isabelle Ulwin.

She was still watching me, but for what?

Edmund was already inside of the Sidewinder. The door had already been unwinded with stairs waiting my arrival.

Inside, Edmund wouldn’t say a word. The drive back to the castle was silent.

***

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