Love For The One I Hate (on hold)

Chapter 2

I have often longed to explore outside the village but even though my mother took me out quite often, I have never been able to go where I want to. I have heard stories of a beautiful cove with tall arches carved by the sea in golden stone. Mermaids are supposed to gather in the clear water and there are many legends of men trying to get the mermaids to fall for them. I have always longed to see a mermaid but even the nearest ocean is far from the village. I have never been. It is too far to go in a time that my absence wouldn't be noticed. Now, that isn't a problem. I don't need the Priests and Priestesses to trust me anymore. I don't even need the trust of the villagers. I am on my own.

Below me there was a soft rustle. I listen closely and I can just make out the soft pat of many irregular footsteps. I clasped my locket in my hand and held my breath. The rowan berries may be able to protect me from spells but there is no telling what they will do to me if they find me on their land.

I leaned over carefully to find a group of faeries slowly dancing. Their delicate dresses billowing as they twirled. I watched mesmerized as their long curls bounced around their frail figures. It took a lot of effort to pull myself back from the edge of my hammock. I wanted to keep watching them but I was in danger of them seeing me. I felt so glad that I was wearing my locket. Anyone that was unprotected would have been drawn to their dancing and taken away forever. 

Finally the faeries stopped their dance and moved away. I let myself breathe normally again. The rush of the cool air into my lungs finally made me relax enough to fall asleep.

~

I woke up with a start, my body damp with a cold sweat. My hammock swayed from my violent movement as I gasped to regain my breath. Jasper's face still lodged in my mind. I unclamped my hands from the skirt of my dress and ran my fingers through my hair. They shouldn't be able to control me this way. It is wrong that they forced me to love the one person that I truly despise.

I slipped out of the hammock and slipped the green fabric back in my bag. I tried to control my irregular breathing as I climbed down. My feet made contact with the soft grass and the cool dew made me relax. I took a couple of steps before something grabbed my arm.

I looked down to find a pixie. She looked up me as if she was in shock. Her large eyes perfectly round as they gazed into mine. I could feel her small fingers shivering around my wrist. Her lips parted as if she was about to speak but nothing came out and she froze again. 

'You have nothing to fear.' I told her trying to make her trust me. It didn't seem to work as she didn't make an attempt to move from her stone-like state. 'I swear that I will not hurt you.' I tried again. A familiar shiver passed through my body and I watched as the pixie looked even more shocked but she quickly relaxed and look her hand off my wrist.

'You didn't have to do that for me.' She whispered, her voice surprisingly rough. 'Although I do appreciate it...' Her eyes dropped from my face to the ground. and her cheeks became tinged with pink.

'Is there something you need to ask me?' I asked trying to rush her because I didn't want to stay here much longer in case they were tracking me.

The pixie looked up, her eyes much more confident than before. 'No. But you have to follow me. The witch would like to help you.'

'The witch?' I asked worried that if I went with her I would be either walking into a trap or walking into danger.

'The witch.' She replied. 'Now follow me.' She turned and as she did, I noticed that her skin lightly sparkled. I don't know why but I felt like following her was the right thing to do. 

It wasn't long before we reached a large purple tent. Golden stars spilled all around the edges of the tent and twirled up to the point at the top where there was a large cluster. The pixie walked confidently forward and swept back the doorway for me to enter. Once inside I was overwhelmed by the smell of mint. The scent rushed up my nose and swirled inside my skull.