FairyWood

Chapter 8 The Woods

I was awoken to a green shimmer being blown across my face. The little spheres of green light sank into my face closing up the gory scene from the back of my head. Thistle sat me up properly with a glass of water as Lumina dashed into check on me. He greeted me with many kisses.

"Wheres Lacey?" I asked looking around for her.

"She sent herself home." Thistle said awkwardly. Lina and Algie glanced towards each other.

"And I think she won't be talking to us anytime soon," Lina pointed to the shattered phone on the floor, "she left all the supplies here though? So don't be to unsure?"

I tried rushing up but I had a piercing strike of agony shoot down the back of my skull. I fingered it slightly but as soon as my finger gave contact to the wound shots of blood dropped right back out.

"Stay still Perry." Anna squeezed my shoulder, "this is going to really hurt so I do apologise but this is a special elfian brew that heals any wound. It is a witch spell but it can only be used on severe wounds due to how hard it is to get." Anna explained to me as she flicked off the cork from the glass bottle. She turned me slightly over back onto the floor putting a cushion under my head to make sure nothing came in contact with my wound during the healing process. Lina covered her eyes as Thistle rushed to grab me another glass of water. Algie grabbed tight onto my hand to support me. But Lacey wasn't here, she betrayed me, she betrayed us! She did this to me. She never believed me. Did she think my parents weren't worth it?

"AHHHHHH!" Algie was still holding tightly to my hand. The pain was excruciating but it was only for a few seconds. I had felt more pain when my parents died. And when I left school but that's another story. Transparent green stitches quickly marched up the back of my head ripping the back off my head together back into one piece. I bit my lip and held on as tight as I ever had onto Algie's hand.
"All done!" Anna sighed with relief packing up her medical kit. She told Lina she didn't need to shield herself anymore as all the yucky stuff was over. Lina sighed with relief slumping into the wall and nibbling on a block of cheese.
"Come on Perry!" Thistle shouted calling me into another room.
"I don't know if this your taste of clothing but I think I may have a dress that screams Perry!"
Thistle unveiled a silky layered ball gown dress with silver sparkling fishnet puffed up sleeves and attached to it was a long gem studded tool.
I felt the burgundy silk and instantly fell in love with it.
"Don't tell me! Not enough black?" Lina chuckled.
"No it's perfect maybe not enough black? You know me well Lina- but that's far from the point it's perfect! Thank you Thistle."
"Anytime!"
I went and sat at one of the vanity's and flicked the switch on and started cleaning my face before applying some makeup.
Algie came and pulled up a stool next to me.
"Are you okay? I know we have only been friends for so long but I could see a strong bond between you and Lacey?"
"To be honest I'm not okay. The friendship was strong but I think it was too much. She hid a lot from me and didn't support my parents. My parents were my hole world up until ten years ago."
Algie comforted me as he passed me over some makeup from his case.
"Is this your house?"
"Kind off? Me and Thistle run a boutique. Or we did. After those fire demons I can't bare to think on what's happened down there!" Algie told me as he straightened his shirt out.
"This is a great place!" Lina squealed as she came out of the dressing room in a yellow party dress.
"Stay still!" Thistle tutted trying to attach a flower belt around Linas waste. He had a hot glue gun under his shoulder, the lead was very overstretched. He was like a jumble sale, glitter bottle in mouth, glue gun under shoulder, suits and dresses over the arm and needle and thread tucked behind his ears.
"Oh sorry Thistle I'm just so happy!" Lina chuckled.
Lumina trotted in eyeing Thistle.
"What's that stare for?" I laughed as he came and sat on my lap.
"Because he's seen my little doggy tuxedo for him!" Lumina barked in response.
"I think that'll be a no?" I laughed letting him fly off my lap. He flew up to the windowsill and layed down on one of Thistle's dresses.
"Algie? Do you have that sketch you drew I just need to add a little something to my suit!"
"Yeah here." Algie replied.
"So I'm assuming Algie does the sketches and Thistle designs?"
"Yes and I manage all the finance and sales!" Algie added!
After we all got ready we all set off for the annual dinner. Even though people were sad about the devastating attack from above all the citizens were dressed in their fanciest attire and all going down the same road. Along the somehow still working leaf train and down the cliffy pathways. When we arrived we were in a big spacious pits. Everybody was greeted by the royal family who Thistle told me were one of the biggest shifter family's. We were all seated on a grand table which all went straight down the pit. It felt like some kind of Harry Potter book where they would attend a grand feast which we were going to have!
The food magically appeared infront of us applying to all of our personal tastes and dietary requirements. Anna had 3 small slices of Texan brisket, Algie some vegetable sushi, Lina had mozzarella dippers with a tomato dressing, Thistle tucked into some tofu noodles and I had some grapefruit mochi.
At the end of the table was a big circular pedestal with water and red carpet trailing around it. A lady dressed in red and gold came up to the top of the pedestal and tapped the microphone to check if it was working. Behind her was a huge family who had many tiaras and crowns with gold embellishments.
"Thank you all for attending the Annual Animal Shifters Dinner! And condolences to the families affected by the Fire Demons brutal attack! As your princess I was out fighting alongside you all fighting for our community. Tonight will be the last Annual Dinner for some time."
Gasps engulfed the crowd as many people whispered and wondered what the reason was for.
"We have been threatened as we speak! The black coven is coming for us! As shifters and shifter allies we must eveacuate immediately. We will be heading towards the woods. All magic keepers please come to the front right now!"
Tall men with spikes purple hats untucked their chairs and walked to the front. The jumped in the air and turned into lions. They summoned their staffs and tapped the ground 7 times. They boomed out a heavy spell,
"! Adiuva nos in periculo! In specie veneficii mors venit. Salva nos shifters et shifter socios et da nobis viam spei et locum celandi et abscondendi! "

A gold forceful surrounded us and settled like a dome around the camp. Everyone roared, cheered and clapped as hope now came in the form of a spell ceiling us away from the Black Coven.  The Woods seemed a weird place to feel safe? Safety was normally found in the things you knew or in friends and family. My safety had gone in the form of Lacey. I wish I had never argued with her. Because tonight was the night Lacey died.