The Girls from Downstairs

Twenty-Two: Finding Mother Klara

The next morning came fast. Adrian and Jinx were up first, from the moment the sun hit their eyes. Being the two most anno- er, rambunctious - of the group, we were all woken up minutes later, about as alert as they were at the beginning. Felix draped his arm around me, smiling his beautiful way, and kissed my forehead. I leaned against his chest for another minute while Adrian and Harlow argued over what to make for breakfast.

“How’d you sleep, love?” Felix asked.

I yawned. “Well enough. Vesta visited me. She told me what to do.”

“What did she say?”

“She apologized because she couldn’t help, but said I shouldn’t give up. If we keep going in the direction we’re headed - whatever direction that is - we’ll come across the mountain that Mother Klara resides. She’ll be able to help us for sure. Or so Vesta said.”

“Is that all she spoke to you about?” Harlow asked.

A blush filled my cheeks. “No, but I’d like to keep that to myself. It’s kind of personal.”

“She visited this one,” Adrian said, draping an arm around her shoulders. “I could feel her kicking me and I woke up. She was muttering something about me being ridiculously nice and attractive.”

Harlow raised one eyebrow and took a step forward, sending Adrian crashing to the ground. “That’s what you get for lying, for one, and for two depending too much on another person to keep you up.”

“That’s deep,” I said, nodding my head and staring at nothing in general. Felix laughed and kissed my forehead again.

“You are strange, and that is one reason why I love you.”

I froze. “You love me?”

“But of course!” he grinned. One hand extended out to help me up. I smiled and gratefully took it, happy to be off the ground.

“What are we gonna eat?!” Jinx groaned, reminding us the little fairy was still here.

“Berries, I suppose,” I shrugged.

“Didn’t we bring anything?” Adrian frowned.

“I couldn’t exactly get to the kitchen, now could I?” Harlow snapped. She opened her sack and pulled out two vials filled with water. “We have enough to last us for another day, I’m hoping. Don’t get greedy with it, and we should be fine.”

We walked for hours on end eating berries and other fruit along the way. None of us were sure where exactly we were going or what we were doing, but it felt right to me. In the pit of my stomach, I knew we were going the right way.

“A fork in the way. Do we go left, or do we go right?”

“Yes, left or right - which is the way to go?” We jumped back when the satyr appeared in front of us. He baa’d and bit into his pear. “What are you staring at? It was a simple enough question and now I would like an answer.”

We exchanged looks; obviously, none of us had met one of these in person. Felix bowed before addressing the man-goat-thing.

“Excuse me kind sir, but are you familiar with this forest?”

“Apparently so, otherwise I might be eating one of the poisoned fruit rather than this less-scrumptious looking but oh-so-satisfying one, wouldn’t I?” he answered.

“I’m afraid I don’t know, but if it is true then I believe you.” He cleared his throat. “My friends and I are searching for an end to this forest - or the beginning of a mountain.”