Kingdom Keepers: Next Generation

Chapter 9: Fairlies and Flames

Sofia Whitman

The green fairy was exactly how I'd envisioned she would be. Her icy voice matched her truly evil aesthetic perfectly. She was wearing long, billowing purple and black robes, complete with scepter and horns. But the skin is what made her recognizable as Maleficent.

Next to her, stood The Evil Queen. The woman was in her human form, with pale skin, apple red lips, and a golden crown atop her head, covered by the black fabric and white starch collar.

Surrounding them were several dozen pirates. I realized quickly that they were considerably like the picture I'd seen of the audio-animatronic versions from the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride in Adventureland.

We all stayed rooted to the spot, and I glanced back the way we came. It was clear, but I had a feeling if we tried to make a run for it, we would only be met with reinforcements.

Emma took a step behind Eli, next to Alex on my left, while Lucas and I exchanged glances on my right. We were officially in deep trouble.

What made matters worse, after a few seconds I could hear our parents calling our names back the way we came. Maleficent seemed to hear them too, and she smiled a very twisted smile.

"Does mommy and daddy not know you're here?" She asked in a very mocking tone.

They obviously did now. But the baby-talk only made me more on edge, like Maleficent knew the exact situation we had put ourselves in, and was about to take it as far as she could.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

She cackled at me in a high-pitched tone. "You must be Sofia."

I froze. She knows my name? It stood to reason she would, considering we had worked out that the Overtakers knew who our parents were. But hearing her say it sent a whole new set of shivers up my spine.

"Finn's daughter," Maleficent said to the Evil Queen, but I knew it was more for my benefit than hers. She wanted us to know that she knew vital information about us. It was an intimidation strategy that was obviously quite effective.

She turned her attention back to me, her eyes and smirk showing just how much she was enjoying this. "You have his guts. As for what I want... I want the fairlie."

My expression changed to confusion before I could stop it. I knew everyone else's must have too, because Maleficent's face actually lightened upon seeing it.

"Ah," She said, still showing off the twisted smirk, "I see your mother hasn't made you aware. That's alright. Your parents' never were ones to know what's good for them."

I ignored the slight on our parents for a moment and focused on the new information presented. Fairlie? And what did this have to do with Mom?

Lucas spoke up, "Um... it's kind of hard to give you something when we don't know what it is."

I knew we weren't going to do whatever she wanted, but the way he mentioned giving something up made me queasy. I had a feeling I knew exactly what a fairlie was, and there was no way the fairy would be given us.

"Fair point, dear. A fairlie is a child who has some extra gifts, as you say. They possess certain abilities beyond what a mere mortal human is capable of."

I had been expecting it. Lady Tremaine had asked about magic earlier, and now Maleficent wanted Lucas and I.

Wait, no. She didn't want Lucas and I, she wanted Lucas or I. She thinks there's only one.

"You all are excellent actors," She sighed, holding up her palm, in which a ball of fire erupted.

I inhaled deeply and quickly. It looked like a trick Lucas knew, but never dared perform unless we were far away from others. Maleficent tossed it from hand to hand, drinking in our reactions.