Swear Not By The Wings

I wake up with a start.

"I'm alive?" I question while hugging myself.

"You can thank me for that," I hear a voice call. I scream in fright and launch a pillow at Elio's head. The fairy easily dodges the attack.

"What are you doing in my room?" I squeal. At this, Elio quirks an eyebrow. I feel embarrassed when I take a look at my surroundings. This is definitely not my room!

"I brought you here after saving you from being killed by the Ijiraq," the winter fae deadpans. I smile nervously at the otherworldly boy. I can tell he's suppressing himself from screaming at me.

"Thank you for saving me! I should get going now!" I try to stand up. An immense amount of pain hits me from my side. I immediately sit back down on Elio's bed. The fairy snickers at me.

"You're greatly injured. The Ijiraq got you pretty bad," he says.

"I've noticed," I grumble.

"Why must you always disobey me?" Elio asks.

"I'm sorry. I thought it would be fun."

"Fun? You almost got killed. I almost lost you."

"You make it sound like you care about me."

"Will you get over yourself? I only saved you because I hate the Ijiraq." I ignore the pang in my chest and continue the conversation.

"How did you find me anyway?" I notice Elio stiffen at my question.

"You yelled for me," he rapidly tells. My eyebrows raise. Why does he sound so nervous?

"There's no way you could've heard me all the way from your cottage," I state. The fairy swiftly strides across the room and stops once he's in front of my face.

"So what are you saying?" He whispers. My eyes close when his cold breath fans against my burning cheeks. I lean away from him slightly and proceed,

"You said you didn't want to protect me."

"I don't want to protect you."

"Yet, you saved me." I finish, breathless.

Elio pushes me back against the bed. I gasp when my body touches the mattress. The fairy is now looming over me, looking at me with his icy gray eyes. I quiver below the gaze.

"Don't mistake my pity for you with anything more," Elio snaps. I stare at him with wide eyes, but speak again,

"I wasn't implying that it meant anything more." Before the fairy can react to my statement, the door bursts open.

"Hey Elio, Freya and I were going to-" Arden halts in the middle of his sentence when he notices the position his friend and I are in. The winter fairy has me caged between his arms while I lay helplessly underneath him.

"It's not what it looks like!" Elio and I shout at the same time. Freya pokes her head into the doorway, smirking.

"Woah! What is going on here?" The animal fairy chuckles. My cheeks redden due to

embarrassment. Elio harshly shoves away from me and storms out of the cottage, yanking both of his friends along. I sit up from the bed, a little too quickly. I wince at the amount of trauma I feel. I manage to get up with wobbly legs.

I stagger out of the door and numerous fairies stop to look at my disheveled figure. Oh? This must look bad, right? I understand how the circumstance appears and I can't help but groan internally. If I could, I'd sink into the ground and stay there forever. Whispers and smirks are delivered my way as I walk through the fairy working grounds.

I don't pay attention to where my feet take me and eventually lose sight of everyone. Elio would not like this! I mentally scold myself for the lack of sense of direction I have. Trying to find the fairies, I only end up traveling in circles.

Panic rises within me when I realize that it'll be dark soon. The monsters love to play at night! I try to retrace my steps but only end up further from my starting point. The only sound that can be heard are distant growls and bird whistles. Arrietty, what have you done?

I pause when I see a familiar castle in the distance. I circle around to realize that I am truly lost. I look to the alluring palace and proceed towards it. Maybe whoever occupies the kingdom can help me find my way back? I clutch at my heart pendant and decide that I will see for myself.

My feet move mindlessly. I feel as if I'm being entranced by the fortress. The sensation I get when I move closer is powerful. At the woodland, there is an obvious aura of magic. But this place carries a stronger and more mystic atmosphere!

Whoever lives there must be a dominant fairy. Or maybe they aren't a fairy, but something intenser? My stomach twists at the thought. Guilt begins to creep up on me.

Elio told me to never speak of this place and I'm sure he wouldn't be too fond of me actually venturing out to the kingdom either! But what choice do I have? I'm already misplaced. I'd rather take my opportunities going to the castle rather than wait for a hungry woodland creature to devour me!

I'm sorry, Elio.

I look around in awe at the new world I've just walked into. This place is much darker than the woodland and carries an eerie setting. Minding my business, I casually saunter the brick road.

The foreign land resembles an old town, an old town with no people. Where is everyone? Do fairies not exist here? I jump in fright when I hear an animalistic screech from behind me.

I turn around to face a sick looking creature. It appears to be a woman. She has broken wings on her back and limbs so skinny I can see her bones peeking through. What frightens me the most is the color of her eyes, blood red. The vampire-looking fairy limps to me. I back away from her slowly.

"You look so delicious! Let me have a bite!" The unhealthy figure croaks. Does she want to eat me? Suddenly, the once vacant area begins to fill with more creatures like the woman. What is wrong with these fairies? I don't allow myself to get surrounded and start running.

All pain that I felt before is suddenly nonexistent. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I run towards the black kingdom. I feel as though I'm the only human in an apocalyptic world!

Much to my horror, a bony hand wraps around my ankle and I fall to the ground. A fairy resembling a skeleton pounces on top of me. I try to shake the being off but to no avail. I let out a cry when the creature bears its mouth open, revealing sharp and decaying teeth.

No wonder Elio opposes this place! I flinch waiting to be bitten, but an angel saves me. Literally, a fae with wings of an angel comes to my rescue!

"Come on!" Says the fairy, a fair boy with black hair. I grab his outstretched hand and he yanks me onto the back of a white stallion. I grasp tightly onto the waist of my savior. The horse gallops all the way to the castle.

I turn around to see hundreds of bloodthirsty faeries chasing after us. What is this place?