Well here's my entry, hope you like it, it was all I had time to do...
When he heard John sigh, Marcus knew from experience, things were never good.
It hadn't taken long for the apprentice to learn that.
Together they ran an 'alignment' service, because sometimes the things in life fell out of place, and someone had to put things in order again, realign them.
But out of all the things he's seen in his career, including the talking scarecrows and dancing books, Marcus was truly surprised at this.
He stood up from the tangled undergrowth and ran a hand through his copper hair.
John stood only a few feet from him, in the middle of a clearing, starlight peeping through the heavy canopy of trees. But it was what he was staring at that was strange.
Smack-dab in the middle of the clearing,
There was a chandelier.
A huge, old, Gothic, chandelier.
I single thick branch held it, wood stretching downwards and flowing into metal. It twisted down and curled back up with eight separate branches each holding crystal cut flowers at the ends. He could only assume there must have been some kind of light bulb hidden behind the shiny opaque petals for each on gave of a soft glowing light.
John sighed and checked his watch.
They had less than an hour till dawn.
The little girl was still missing, except after tonight, even they might not be able to find the trail. Faeries were sneaky like that.
Marcus looked around the vegetation at his feet again, but the small silvery footprints that had led the pair here were gone. He scanned the edges of the wood, nothing. So much for having the 'touch' he thought. “John, there's nothing here,”
John turned and removed his glasses, and rubbed off imaginary dust, Marcus knew he always kept those glasses spotless. “Well, apart from the chandelier, right?”,
Of course, it wouldn't be John if didn't take the time to be mysterious, Marcus thought. He pulled up his collar against the cold breeze, and scuffed the ground looking for more faerie marks.
John looked towards the chandelier, the metal was shining silver, and the soft glow of the petals seemed to have brightened. He had the strangest urge to touch them, but something much stronger, something deeply rooted inside him, another sense, the 'touch' told him to stay away from the impossible thing. The longer he looked the more menacing it rigid coils became, the more sinister that hidden light seemed. He knew from experience that ignoring the touch was a bad idea, but then again curiosity had never led them anywhere too bad...
John could hear Marcus muttering about Mrs Mausdley, and missing children, but his mind was occupied as he to a step towards the chandelier. What had once seemed like an empty clearing, started to have dots off light, fireflies? He thought. They hovered around the chandeliers petals and John almost didn't notice he was still walking. The glow of the petals became stronger, and stronger with very step, he could almost feel it pulling, dragging him in. Somewhere, someone shouted “John!” but to him it sounded like a whisper, Marcus...? he thought, but it quickly slipped from his mind as the chandelier absorbed his sight. Without prompt his arm lifted, fingers splayed, hand drifting unconsciously towards the closest crystal flower. The flower was now shining, he almost had to squint, but his hand never faltered in it path. His fingers brushed the cold textured petal,
Light exploded across his senses.
The retreated as fast as it came.
He turned, fingertips still glued to the light and realised he was no longer alone with Marcus, in the clearing.
On the edge, just beside the tree stood a figure of small girl, her dress was torn and covered in leaves. Even in her faded form, he could see her transparent eyes were dull. Faerie glamour, he realised the girl probably had no idea where she was going. He wondered wther it was the touch, or the chandelier that allowed him to see these things. Suddenly he felt the chandelier move. The was a soft cracking sound, he turned and watched as the petals slowly started to unfurl. He gasped sharply, when out of the open flower flew a tiny dot of light. Like a firefly, it slowly stretched out until an almost human for was visible. A moment later the faerie, fluttered over to the little girl. There were already a cluster around her, keeping her head in a glowing mist. John could also see Marcus, looking just as faded and unreal as the girl. But why couldn't they see the girl, when they were in the clearing? He thought. More faeries, left their petals, and drifted towards Marcus. He stumbled, starting to spin in circles, following the clusters of lights. Damn it, get it together Marcus! He thought. John tried to pull away from the chandelier but realised his fingers wouldn't let go.
More faeries from the chandelier started to fill the clearing, some coming towards him...
Well, isn't this just wonderful, he thought...
