Chapter 30
Genevieve
“It’s not you that I want to harm. The archer who gets his head will receive a big pile of golden coins.” I repeat Costello’s harsh words in my head over and over again.
Did Ector’s father put a price on his dear life without Ector not having a single clue? Or did he know?
Why in the world would his father do such a thing? He didn’t manage to kill his own son, so he had to have someone else do it if they got the chance? Wasn’t Ector’s mother’s life enough to take? Was he so desperate to take the life of his own son as well?
What could lead a person to have that type of hatred towards someone?
Or was it pure hatred towards himself? Sometimes when people can’t change and don’t see the strength that they possess, they either run, become better, or destroy the light somewhere else.
They destroy the light in people out of jealousy, jealousy that was shaped out of insecurity.
Those people know that they’ll never be able to own that light and pureness themselves.
I will never understand those people. They see the brightness in others, the brightness that they want for themselves. They see the potential in others too. Why do they keep seeking it out in others but refuse to see it in themselves? They refuse to see it in themselves, yet so many others do.
It’s easy for others to see their light, only for them to rip that vision into a thousand pieces out of self-hatred. A hatred either created by others or themselves.
It’s so somber, seeing some who believe in themselves try to reach their beloved dreams that they’ve been longing for since childhood, and others tearing those people apart.
The truth drains me. The thought of Ector’s father probably being a person like that, who felt so miserable about himself that he felt the need to tear apart his family, abuse them both mentally and physically. And eventually kill them.
The only positive thing that came out of all this is that he died as well, before he could continue hurting others. But he also killed the man I slowly started to love, the man who needed love.
My eyes tear up again, but I refuse to break down. Instead, the heavy feelings quickly become fuel. Fuel to continue, not only for myself but for everyone that I so deeply love and care for. Fuel for a promise that I once made. To be a warrior, no matter what life puts me through.
—
Landing on the ground again as the sun starts to set, I feel powerful. Feeling like I’m in control for once, not my feelings, not someone else, only me.
Grabbing the bloody dagger, I make a hole in my dress and tear half of it off, the lengths ending at my knees. Ripping off a part from the leftover fabric, I tie it into a loop.
Taking a hold around my hair, the memory of Castello grabbing it from behind and so foolishly throwing me to the ground, I doubt the choice I’m about to make. Hair holds memories. And with that, the sharp silver blade cuts through each of my curly strands, leaving my hair at shoulder length.
As the hair falls to the ground, I remind myself that it will have grown back to the same length in a few days.
Grabbing the circle of pink fabric, I put my blond and blushy blood-stained hair into a ponytail, feeling the cool breeze brushing past my neck. It makes the hair on my body stand up as a shiver runs through my body.
I rip apart some more fabric and tie it around my upper thigh, making it easier for me if I need the dagger quickly.
Placing the blade close to my skin, I let myself pretend that I’m in danger to see if my brilliant plan would work.
Quickly, my hand reaches for the blade that clings to my leg, grabs it, and then points it out in the air.
This will work fine.
You can do anything that you put your mind to. My mother used to tell me when I was a child. Remembering the moment, I make sure to take her words to heart.
“We can do this together.”
The deer looks at me in awe.
“Daffodil.” I say as she looks at me in confusion. “I thought it was about time you got a name.”
I swore she smiled at me. “You like that? Daffodil?” And she nodded in agreement, her sweet and gentle eyes still looking at me.
Buildings started to appear around us, buildings like I had never seen them before. Huge pillars in a palette of pale stone surrounded us. Old statues in stone, capturing wonderful looking women.
Vines were working their way up the pillars, circling them as a paint stroke. Everything looked perfect, old, yet so captivating. And it didn’t take long before I could spot grapes, grapes that were sitting along the vines.
I let my hand reach for the dark red fruit that could also be seen as a berry. Biting into the sweet flesh, the juice sweeps around my tongue, and the relief of finally finding some food washes over me.
“You want one, Daffodil?” I ask, plucking one for her either way since she can’t talk.
I’ve always wondered why some of our animals can talk and some can’t. Is it a curse? Or was it something else that caused it?
“Hi, excuse me.” A female voice spoke near me.
I turned around, mouth full with grapes. “Hmm?”
“Oh, are you hungry?” Her face held a soft and caring expression. Not even a glimpse of judgement showing through. “And are you okay?” She asked, looking me up and down, seeing the blood all over me.
“Sorry, yes.” I answer, rubbing my hands over my hips.
The girl had violet eyes, shining with life and sunlight. Her apple cheeks were rosy, and her long auburn hair was put into a beautiful hairstyle. Her dress was white, encased in a shimmer of light green and purple. It had room for her full chest to breathe freely and lingered down her hips.
“I’m Illysia.” Her smile becomes brighter and her hand reaches forward.
“Genevieve.” I smile back at her.
“Would you like me to get the blood out of your hair?” She put her hair behind her ears.
“I.. I don’t have any coins, I’m sorry.”
“No, I don’t want money. I saw you from afar and you looked like you could enjoy being taken a little care of.” Her sweet voice spoke.
“Oh.” I felt exhausted.
“It won’t take too long, I promise.” She said, taking my hand in her own.
I listen to my body, who only tells me that it’s okay to follow her, to trust her.
Her skin is pale and freckles follow from her face down her arms. Her white dress captured her beauty in a way that made her shine like a strong ray of sun.
“Why would you help me?” I can’t help but to ask.
“I don’t have a lot of friends around here.” She pauses. “And when I saw you, I felt oddly drawn to speak to you.”
“You did?”
“Yes!” She says, and even if I can’t see her face, I can feel the generosity shining all over her.
“But, you don’t need to wash me to be my friend.” I tell her, not wanting her to go out of her way only to get a friend.
“I know. I just... I have always loved helping out.” She says, sounding just like me.
I have always loved taking care of the ones surrounding me, trying my best to make them feel good and to see their lips form a gentle smile, hearing their laugh.
It feels odd, having this girl come out of nowhere, wanting to wash my hair, yet she feels like a mirror. Almost like I was talking to myself.
I don’t have a lot of friends in Fairy Village. I’ve always been too shy to get to know them, and they were too outgoing to want to be friends with someone like me. I always felt out of place, so complicated compared to them. They were so easygoing, and I was just so... shy.
They could talk to people in a way I couldn’t. While they were laughing with strangers, making new friends, I wanted to hide in a corner. And I never understood why I was like that, and it’s a mystery I still haven’t solved.
How was I still this shy considering my age? Was it really that hard to just speak? I felt the aggression building towards myself. Or was it frustration?
Maybe they weren’t the people I was meant to be around.
It makes me think of Ector, how easily I spoke with him, how easily he made me feel comfortable and made me laugh like it was the easiest thing in the world to do.
Don’t cry.
I force the thought of him out of my mind, even though he’s the one I want to think about, to honor the memories that we made in so little time.
“Let’s sit down here.” Her hand shows me where to place myself. “Are you from here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around.” She speaks again, really snapping me back to reality.
“No, I’m not. I’m from Fairy Village.” I told her.
“I have never been there.”
“It’s a very whimsical place.”
“What does it look like?” She says, sounding excited to know more.
“It looks magical, really. There’s a lot of flowers, and animals. The sun rays always display in the water and light green grass. Oh, and our library is up in a huge tree!”
“In a tree?”
“Yes! Isn’t it insane?”
“But how do the ones without wings get up there?” She asks, dragging her fingers through my hair.
“There is this big metal staircase in a wonderful tone of turquoise leading up to the wooden door itself.”
“Wow, it sounds like a tale.”
“I’ve never been here. All this looks like a tale for me as well.” I smile, distracted by my surroundings.
“Oh, it’s nothing special, really.”
“You see, us people always seem to enjoy what we don’t have. I’ve never been to a place like this, I’ve never really been outside of Fairy Village before.”
“Is it far from here?”
“Yes, unfortunately. Maybe you can visit sometime.”
“Oh, that would be amazing. I’ve only ever been to Mermaid City and Seashell Town.”
Hearing her speaking the names makes me realize how close I actually am to getting my sister back.
“I think I’ve gotten all the blood out of your hair now, Genevieve.” Her voice echoes, sounding almost like an angel. “Your hair is beautiful, I’ve never seen a hair like yours, with pink stripes.”
“You haven’t? It’s very common in Fairy Village, almost all of us have highlights in one color or another.” I let her know.
“Wow, that’s amazing!” Her fingers go through my now much shorter hair a few more times before I hear her voice again. “All done.”
“Thank you, Illysia.”
“Oh, that was nothing.”
“It was a lot to me. I truly believe that kindness is everything, and it’s rare meeting people like you.”
“You’re too sweet. Can I ask you where you’re headed?”
“I’m on my way to Mermaid City and then Seashell Town.”
“Oh, I see! Mermaid Lake has a lot to offer. We’re only at the start of our little city, I would love to show you around.” She says, her eyes sparkling.
“That would be amazing! Thank you again.”
Illysia takes the lead and me and Daffodil follow right behind. I can’t shake the feeling of this girl making me feel so at home, so welcomed.
Walking by each other’s side, I can’t help but question why this girl doesn’t have a lot of friends. She seems so sweet and gentle. Just like me.
“Why don’t you have any friends?” I ask her without hesitation, feeling so drawn to know her answer.
Her body freezes for just a second before she starts speaking.
“Well, I think it might be because I have strong boundaries. I’ve met so many people who like joking in a mean way, if you understand what I mean.
They find out about your insecurities and use it against you.
And that’s something I just can’t tolerate.
I don’t want friends who push me to the bottom and blame me for reacting once I stand up for myself. ”
“You’re so strong for that, choosing to be alone rather than spending time with people who don’t make you feel good about yourself.”
“That’s very pleasant to hear. Someone who understands my point of view.” She hesitates, “What about you?”
“I would say that I’m too shy. It’s not often that I find myself feeling safe with someone.”
“Do you know why? The reason behind it?”
“I... I don’t think so. I guess I’ve always been that way. But then there’s always been the animals. I attracted them to me much more easily than people.”
“Like this one?” She asks, pointing towards the deer walking beside us.
”Yes, just like her.” I answer, petting her head.
“What’s her name?”
“Daffodil.”
“Hi, Daffodil.” She greets her, slowly letting her hand forward for her to smell it.
The sun has almost set and my fear of the dark is creeping in again, slowly taking over me and making me feel paranoid. Always terrified that someone will find me, kill me. Or seeing uninvited shadows moving in the corner of my eye.
“Do you know somewhere I can spend the night?” I ask, my hands hugging my arms, trying to feel safe as the darkness falls over us.
“You can stay at my place!” She lets out in excitement. “If you want to, of course.”
“Should we do that, Daffodil?” I smile, and she nods. “We would love to!”
Her face lit up, her body radiating joy that would soon enter me as well. She grabs my hand, and together we start running, almost like we’re in a hurry to attend a magical ball.
We ran, dancing forward through the woods like two sisters, not bonded by blood but by choice, who had waited for an eternity to find each other. Laughing and giggling together in a way only a girl could understand.
It was the instant bond that was so rare to find. Something that was often experienced in childhood for many. But for me, that bond had found me now, and it felt ethereal. It was something that felt so out of this world. But finally, it happened to me.