I woke up to the faint sound of birdsong, though it wasn’t the familiar chirping I was used to. This was… different. The tones were melodic, almost like a symphony played on some unseen instrument. Slowly, I opened my eyes, squinting against the soft glow that filled the room.
The first thing I noticed was the sky outside the window. It was a mesmerizing shade of periwinkle, shimmering and sparkling as if dusted with stardust. There was no sun, no identifiable source of light, just an endless expanse of twilight. I blinked, half-expecting the illusion to fade, but it remained, serene and steady.
I sat up, the bed beneath me creaking slightly. The room was eerily familiar, reminiscent of my old college dorm. The same modest size, the same basic layout. But there was something off about it—something whimsical. The walls seemed to shift between hues of soft lavender and blue, the wood of the furniture gleamed with an unnatural luster, and the air smelled faintly of lavender and something sweetly metallic.
Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I realized I wasn’t wearing my usual pajamas. Instead, I was dressed in an elaborate gown straight out of a Renaissance faire. Layers of soft, flowing fabric draped over me, adorned with delicate embroidery and tiny beads that caught the light. The sleeves billowed slightly, and a snug corset hugged my waist.
I ran my hands over the fabric, the texture rich and smooth. What the hell is this? I frowned, trying to piece together how I ended up here, dressed like this. The last thing I remembered was going to bed in my apartment in New York. I had been tired, emotionally drained from the past few weeks. But this? This was something else entirely.
Pushing myself to my feet, I wandered over to the window, peering out. The structures outside were unlike anything I’d ever seen. They looked as though they were carved from crystals and gemstones, towering spires that glittered in the twilight. The pathways between them shimmered, lined with stones that seemed to glow faintly from within.
I pressed my hand against the cool glass, my mind reeling. Is this a dream? It felt too vivid to be a dream, but the sheer otherworldliness of it all made me question my sanity. Did I finally snap from all the stress?
A soft knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. “Alexandria? You up?” came a familiar voice—Pipsqueak.
I hesitated, my heart racing. “Y-yeah, I’m up,” I called out, my voice trembling slightly. “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and Pipsqueak stepped inside. They looked the same as always—short, wiry, with a mop of unruly hair and that ever-present mischievous grin. But something about their demeanor was off, like they were trying too hard to act normal.
“Morning,” they said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “You look… different.”
I glanced down at my outfit, then back at them. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“You feeling okay? Still sick from that fever last week?”
I frowned. “Fever?”
“Yeah, you’ve been out of it for a while now. Thought you might’ve finally shaken it off.”
I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. “I… I’m not sure. This place—it’s not right. It’s like… I’m dreaming or something.”
Pipsqueak gave me a concerned look. “You’ve been here for a while, Alex. You don’t remember?”
I stared at them, my heart sinking. “No. I don’t remember any of this.”
They sighed, pushing off the doorframe. “Come on. Let’s get you something to eat. Maybe it’ll help jog your memory.”
Reluctantly, I followed them out of the room, down a corridor that seemed to pulse with a faint, golden light. The air was cool, filled with the scent of flowers and something else—something metallic, like the tang of magic.
As we entered what looked like a café or bistro, my eyes widened. The room was filled with beings that defied logic. Tall, majestic elves with porcelain-like skin, their features impossibly sharp and symmetrical, moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural. Their skin tones ranged from the palest white to the darkest black, and even a peculiar shade of gray.
At the counter, one such elf caught my attention. They were tall, with flowing silver hair and icy blue eyes that seemed to pierce right through you. They leaned against the counter, a smirk playing on their lips as they spoke to the barista.
Unable to help myself, I stared a little too long. The elf noticed and turned their gaze on me, their smirk widening. “See something you like, darling?” they purred, their voice smooth as silk.
I flushed, quickly looking away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“No need to apologize,” they interrupted, stepping closer. “It’s not every day someone gets to appreciate such… beauty.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but words failed me. The elf chuckled, clearly amused by my discomfort. “Enjoy your stay,” they said, before turning back to the barista.
I exhaled shakily, my heart pounding in my chest. What the hell is this place?
“Don’t mind them,” Pipsqueak said, nudging me toward a table. “They love showing off.”
As I sat down, my eyes were drawn to another figure—a short, stout elf with a gruff demeanor. Their ruddy skin and perpetually scowling face contrasted sharply with the elegance of the taller elf. They caught me staring and barked, “What the hell are you looking at? Make it quick with your order.”
I averted my eyes, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “Sorry,” I muttered, focusing on the menu in front of me, though the words seemed to swim before my eyes.
Pipsqueak chuckled. “You’re gonna have to get used to it, Alex. This place is full of characters.”
I nodded slowly, still struggling to process everything. As I scanned the room, I noticed small orbs of light flitting about, transforming into fully-sized beings with shimmering, translucent wings. Fairies. Their hair was a riot of colors—yellow, pink, purple, turquoise—none of them natural, but all vibrantly beautiful. Their wings sparkled in the soft light, catching my eye despite my best efforts not to stare.
This can’t be real, I thought, my mind spinning. Fairies, elves, magic—none of this should exist.
“Alex,” Pipsqueak’s voice pulled me back. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been spacing out.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, though I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince—Pipsqueak or myself.
They gave me a skeptical look but didn’t press the issue. “Alright. Let’s just get you something to eat. Maybe it’ll help you feel more grounded.”
I nodded, though the idea of food seemed almost absurd in the face of everything I was seeing. Still, I knew I needed to keep moving, keep doing something—anything—to stay sane.
As we waited for our order, I tried to focus on the present, on the here and now. But no matter how hard I tried, the questions lingered in the back of my mind. What is this place? How did I get here? And most importantly—how do I get back?
YOU ARE READING
Rewritten Fates: Alexandria's Tale
Fantasy(Read to find out) Ever wondered what could happen sometimes after happily ever after? Or maybe when your time has come a little too soon. where do you go? These are questions that Alexandria never had yet ends up finding out.
