Chapter 14
Ector
This is not what I wanted. I didn’t desire a love story, but that’s exactly what this is starting to feel like. And even though it makes me feel excited, I know that it’s something I can’t have. I do like Genevieve, and I’ve had an eye on her for a long time but that doesn’t change anything.
It doesn’t change how I’ve felt for my entire life. Like a failure. I didn't save my mother, so I couldn’t trust myself to be in someone else’s presence. What if something happened to them and I failed to protect them as well?
How am I supposed to protect Genevieve when she chooses to have me by her side? Getting too close to me will put her in danger, almost like someone placed a curse on me the moment I was born. Always making sure that something goes wrong.
But I admire her.
When she wants to have those deep conversations, it forces me to confront everything that I’ve been trying to push down for years. She makes every single memory bubble up to the surface and it deeply terrifies me.
I want her to know everything about me, but what if it ends up scaring her away. What if she doesn’t feel safe with me once I tell her?
This is all the time I have with her and I don’t want to waste it.
I look at the map, trying to find a place where Genevieve can rest before she asks.
I’m aware that fairies don’t use their legs as much as I do, so I can’t let myself get annoyed by her legs hurting.
She’s trying her best not to use her wings and that means more to me than I can ever express.
It eases the feeling of being alone. Because I don’t have a choice, I have to walk even though I hate it.
”There is a waterfall we can rest at later if your body needs it.”
“How long will it take to get there?”
“I’m not sure, it depends on how fast we walk.”
“Okay.”
We have a long journey ahead of us, longer than both of us imagined. I truly enjoy her company and I don’t want this to come to an end.
What will happen to us when we’re done with this? Will we go back to being strangers? Will we be friends? Are we going to pretend we never did this together, like we never met? What if she never speaks to me ever again?
The thoughts make me worried, so instead of simply asking her,
I press it down just as I’ve always done.
“Thank you for buying me the crystal and the book, I’m really excited to read it.” Her voice speaks loud and clear.
“It was nothing, don’t worry about it, sweetheart.”
“But it is, it’s so sweet that you picked out a book for me and I truly look forward to reading it.” She repeats with rosy cheeks.
A big smile appears on my lips. Looking away from her, I try to focus on something else. Why is she making me this soft?
Since my mother died and I lost my wings, I’ve always been the grumpy loner. So why is she slowly making me rediscover the happy little boy in me? How is it so easy for her to make that boy feel so safe to come out of his shell?
I used to cope with my mother’s death by flying and exploring mysterious and magical places.
But all that ended when he took my wings.
My life hasn’t been the same since then.
But now, as I spend my time with Genevieve, something inside of me is starting to light up again and it’s growing with every minute that ticks by. Almost like new flames are being lit.
—
Lake City was bigger than we thought, it took a while before we were even close to the exit, almost like running through a maze, but we made it. And now we’re on our way to the waterfall that will let us rest. I need a good swim when we arrive.
“Can I ask you something, Genevieve?”
“Yes.. Should I be concerned?”
“No. Of course not.” My fingers run through my messy hair before continuing. “Did you have a good childhood?”
The thought of her opening up makes it easier for me to do the same with her. I can’t quite place why but I think it would make me feel more comfortable, safer.
“I did. Or, I think I did. My mother always took care of me and Esme in the best possible way she could as a single mother, since my, I mean our, father left us when we were young. It was a hard time for us. It can still be hard for me to think about. I’ve always wondered if something was wrong with me, if it was my fault that he wasn’t interested in being a part of our family.
” She tries to explain without her voice breaking.
“It wasn’t your fault. The decisions that adults make are never the children’s responsibility.”
I know how it feels after all. The way my father treated me, the way he destroyed me, I always used to think that I deserved it or that it was my own fault.
That I had done something wrong and that’s why he did what he did.
But now I know that’s not the case. It was always his own decision to treat me like that, and he was a complete psychopath for doing so.
“I know, it’s just so tragic that adults, parents, do things like that. How can you just leave your child and decide to never show up nor have an interest in their life ever again? How can you not want to be a part of their journey?”
Her words held sadness. This is tough for her to speak about even though she’s trying her utmost not to show it.
“I guess we’ll never understand what goes through their head.” I say, wishing I had a better answer.
I will never understand nor get an answer to why my father treated me the way he did.
And I will never forgive him for killing my mother.
“Can I ask you, even though I’m sure it’s brutally hard to talk about, how did Esme die?” She lets out a deep sigh and I don’t expect her to answer, but she does.
“It was almost a year ago. I remember the day so well, the sun was shining bright on the cloudless sky. It was a perfect day to go outside. The feelings I had were nothing but positive and I was convinced that it was going to be a wonderful day. What I didn’t expect was how that day was going to end.
” Stopping mid sentence, she takes a few deep breaths before she continues.
“I was on my way to the lake near Fairy Village. I remember that I had brought a book with me, I wanted to sit there and read under the big willow tree.”
I know exactly what tree she’s talking about, I’ve been reading underneath it many times myself, and I’ve seen her do it too.
“Esme had told me and our mother that she was going to see a friend, so she wasn’t going to be at home during the day.
Just when I was about to go through the big bushes that lead to the lake, I saw her, and my first instinct was to run towards her with open arms. But that quickly changed. ” She breathes.
“She was lying on the bright green grass with the sun casting rays over her bloody body, which had an arrow sticking right through the chest. There was blood everywhere, all over her siren purple dress. I screamed, I screamed so loud. I dropped all my things to the ground and flew right back to the village, screaming for help with a lump in my throat that was begging to be let out. But when we got back to her, she was gone. All that remained was her blood on the grass. I collapsed on the grassy ground and started to cry, I cried in a way I had never heard myself cry before. I laid there and cried for hours and hours while the other fairies wondered and investigated what had happened to her. Some believed that I did it. Some believed that it was our father that got to her. And some believed that someone might be after our family and wanted us all dead.”
By the time Genevieve finished explaining, my jaw had dropped. How could I possibly have missed this? How is it that those terrible news never made its way to me?
Because you choose to stay away from it all.
“Thank you for telling me. I think you’re such a sweet and caring person even though you’ve been through all this.
With your father, your sister.” I tell her.
She needs to know how incredibly strong she is.
It takes a huge amount of strength from within to keep being wholesome after such experiences.
“I’ve always loved to see people smile and feel delightful, it’s truly important to me. That’s why I’m always kind and try my best to greet everyone with a big smile. Because something so small and easy, can make someone’s day.”
“That’s so... I don’t know how to describe it. Mesmerizing, in a way.”
As her head tilts up, she looks at me with her beautiful eyes. Her hand grabs my bicep, her gentle touch making me stop walking. Slowly, she moves closer to me, standing on her tiptoes.
Looking into my eyes, then at my lips, she moves even closer. I lower my head towards hers, ready to press my lips to hers.
Just as we’re about to kiss I hear that annoying voice, interrupting our moment.
“Genevieve?? I’m hungry again, do you have food? Where are you? I heard your voice! GENEVIEVE??!!!”
Fucking Ollie.
My body goes still and so does Genevieve’s.
Fuck. It was so close, so fucking close. How does this damn squirrel even know where we are? Is he following us? You're being paranoid, Ector.
“Don’t you dare say a word.” I whisper in her ear as I put my hand over her mouth, pulling her with me to hide behind a tree.
“GENEVIEVEEEE!!” He pauses. “GENEVIEVE I HEARD YOUR VOICE!! I’M HURTING, OUCH OUCH. BLOOD, BLOOD EVERYWHERE!” He won’t stop screaming.
My back is pressed against the tree and Genevieve’s is pressed against me, her body so close to mine. So close.
I can’t believe how close I was to taste her just a few seconds ago.
Only for a minute, everything goes quiet, and just as I’m about to let go of Genevieve, a strong ruby-red light appears, shining through the forest with the following sound, whoosh.
Then, another voice appears, trying to lure Genevieve in.
“Genevieve, my fairy darling, dance with me again. Please.”
Castello?
Genevieve looks up at me, panic and confusion showing in her eyes. I wish I could calm her down, tell her that everything is okay, but I am just as confused as she is.
Knowing something felt wrong when we met Ollie for the first time, I thank myself for trusting my gut.
Something doesn’t sit right with this. Ollie, Castello, and the witch. Her wine-red dress looked exactly like the light that just appeared through the forest. It must be her, that’s why she was acting so oddly in the shop. She and Castello must have something to do with this.
Is she following us? Does she know about the well?
My thoughts are working fast, too fast. Suddenly, the dots were connecting. She probably doesn’t want us to find the magic well.
I need to talk to Genevieve about this, we need to keep an eye on new people or animals that we meet randomly on our journey. Because they might not be who or what we think they are.
”Genevieve, I know you’re here darling. Come and dance with me again. Everything will be easier that way.”
Neither of us utters a word, not moving an inch.
“I don’t want to do this darling!” Castello shouts.
Turning my head, I peek behind the tree.
Shit.