The year was 2015 and in the dark of the night in the small village of Osceola. On Cascade street laid a little antique shop called The Looking Glass. The front entrance of the shop was just 20 feet away from the wooden stairs that turned to stone stairs leading to the waterfalls. The Looking Glass was run by a sweet old man. All his hairs were grey and his body tall and lanky. He always walks with a hunch in his back. The night was young but the old man was tired. The children and young adults had no desire to go into a dusty antique shop he thought. The old man sighed as he flipped the open sign to close and locked the door. He let out a large yawn as he grabbed the newly donated items.
“So many donated but so little sold” the old man said as he hung his head in defeat. “Another day wasted with barely anything bought… ” he trailed off as something caught his eye. A worn little black leather book with golden letters read ‘FAIRES’. The old man slowly picked it up inspecting it. Even though it was worn it was in fair condition. He was about to put it on one of the bookshelves until he remembered his father. The stories were told that of the fey folk all the way to the giants. He smiled at the thought of him walking beyond the paths with his dad as he told the stories.
The old man opened the book for old times sake. The first page was cream colored and had black lettering ‘FAIRIES’. He flipped through the pages reading the warnings, who certain fairies are like Oberon, rituals on how to summon, and to get rid of the fey folk. He quickly flips back to the summonings.
“I think I have some of those…” He rushes to his back room opening a fridge. “Milk and honey” He mumbles to himself. The old man goes over to the right corner of the store by hardware, picking up age metal.
“Garden, I need the garden section” he whispers to himself, spinning around. “Ah, there it is!” The old man picks up a tiny house shaped like a red mushroom with white polka dots. It had a tiny wooden door that moved. The inside of the mushroom had a little bed as if it was made for a tiny person.
The old man shoves the items in a tattered navy blue bag. He throws on a short light brown jacket, placing a black ivy cap on top on his head. With a tiny smile on his face he goes outside, going to the waterfall. His heart filled with a little excitement with each step down. He almost falls with the last step but catches himself “calm down Fionn, it’s just a book of tall tails”. The old man goes onto the path to get behind the waterfall. He places the red mushroom house down with the door open. He takes out the milk and honey and places them in two separate tiny containers in front of the tiny house. The age nails and screws in front of the honey and milk. Fionn pulls out the small black leather book from his back pocket, flipping to the page with and incantation. He let’s out a slow breath clearing his mind of doubt and worries in order to not to anger the fairies. A sincere smile rested on his face as he read the incantation “thig sìthiche aonaranach thugam leis na dh ’fheumas mi agus gheibh thu rudeigin milis”. After about 30 seconds Fionn rises to his feet grabbing his navy blue bag.
“I will come to visit tomorrow with more gifts” He said and turned around to leave but he felt a warm energy behind him. “You are here now?” He whispered as he slowly turned back around with his eyes closed. Knowing full well this was the best way to see then. A being with a violet and azure glow surrendered their body.
“What is it that you want, giant?” the being says with such a soft and soothing voice.
“To help my business from failing” Fionn said quietly in order to keep the fey calm.
“To do so you will give up your first. You will appease our needs” it said.
“Yes, yes, I'll give you whatever you want” He said excitedly, accidentally opening his eyes. A ball of light quickly flew into the tiny house with the milk and honey containers. The old man grabs his bag and leaves walking up the stairs back to his antique show.
*****
The shop had new people coming in who were ‘passing through’ Osceola but the old man knew why he was getting the customers. For three days the old man would go behind the waterfall to give the Fey more milk and honey.
The fourth day came with a call from his daughter in law who was distraught. Speaking of how Fionn's son had vanished in the middle of the night. How he has been missing for four days. The old man's heart sank to the floor as he knew why. Why his son wasn’t home. Why his daughter in law no longer had a husband. Why he no longer had a son. When the Fey had said first they meant his first born son. The old man shook his head “No no no no no! They only take newborns to do the fairy king's bidding!”
Fionn’s head span in circles while he tried to grasp hold of the situation. He quickly ran to his pantry, shoving all the five bottles of honey in his bag. Next was the two gallons of milk he shoved in. He ran out and down the stairs. At the end heart was about to beat out of his chest, his breathing abnormal. He walked up the path slower in order to catch his breath. Finally getting behind the waterfall, he rushed the tiny red mushroom house.
The old man pulled out all five bottles of honey and two gallons of milk placing it in front of the house. He closed his eyes, taking a jagged breath. The small being came up to him “Why do you come to me distress? Did I not fulfill your wish?”.
“You took my son!” he said anxiously.
“Yes, your first” it was still the same warm voice.
“I didn’t know you meant my first born” he said quietly. The old man pauses and sits up “what do I have to do to bring him back?!”
“Nothing, the deal is done” the beings voice never changing.
“Please, there has to be something for you to bring him back!? I need him” the old man cried out.
“Are you able to send me back?” the old man quickly nods.
“Okay, i'll bring him here if you send me back to my realm”
With that the fairy disappears.
20 minutes later
The old man's son is placed on the stairs away from the waterfall.
“Now send me back so i am no longer chained here”
Fionn opens his eyes and pulls the little black leather book from his back pocket and flips through the pages trying to find the incantation to send the being back. He traces his finger down the page finally finding it. He lets out a deep breath clearing his mind of any thoughts.
“Okay, sìthiche singilte a thug na tha a dhìth orm tha mi a-nis gad shaoradh”.
With a tiny flash of light the being was gone. The old man got up relieved and went to his son who couldn’t remember what had happened to him. He brought is son into the back of the shop into his living quarters.
“It’s best if you just sleep son” he said as he sat in a rocking chair which was by his bed. His son layed down and fell asleep.
