The Faerie Key

Chapter Four

Selcouth's stomach growled her awake right before her alarm rang. She kept forgetting to change the time now that she was no longer employed. With a sigh, she rolled off the couch and turned it off. She had no plans for her morning, all her interviews were scheduled for the afternoon. Her stomach kept making high pitched noises. She only had bread and almond butter and an artisanal jam that one of her clients had given to her.

She had been avoiding checking her bank account, but she needed groceries. When she saw the amount, she had in her account, she regretted being a beer connoisseur. Her money had to last her until she got a new job. She would have to cut back on her drinking. Lately, she had a stronger desire to drink. It helped her dull her worries and made her feel happy.

"I'm turning into an alchi , like grandmother Virginia," Selcouth confessed to Amethyst as she grabbed her backpack.

She took out the box. The return address was from Scotland. She didn't know anyone in Scotland. With a knife, she opened the seal. Inside was another box with Selcouth's name and her parent's address written in Risa flowery handwriting. There was no return address.

Selcouth thought back to the last time she saw Risa. They had fought over Julian. Risa warned Selcouth, "a star shouldn't be eclipsed by a common rock."

That was the first and last time they had argued. Risa left without saying goodbye. The only thing she had left behind was a lavender plant. Selcouth knew that Risa had left it for her to take care of. Selcouth had always expected Risa to come back but she never did. It had been a year since she heard that Risa passed away. Her parents didn't know what happened just that she had died. Part of Selcouth still didn't believe it, someone so alive couldn't have died.

Carefully she opened the small box.

"Are you playing some sort of trick?" she said when she saw a wooden box. A perfume scent came from inside the box.

The memory of Risa spraying herself flashed in her mind. Inside she found a key, she noticed a picture of a flower unlike any she had seen. The flower had the shape of a flame of fire. She traced the flower with her fingertips. Her finger went numb and her room began to spin.

Selcouth dreamt of a young Risa surrounded by light. She pranced around in a field of flowers chasing small lights. The lights laughed when Risa caught them.

"Caught you my little one," she pressed the light to her lips and kissed it.

The light changed colors and grew brighter. When Risa let it go the light danced.

"You're welcome my little friend," she danced with the light and then bowed, "until we meet again."

Selcouth didn't understand what was happening but she had never seen Risa look as happy as she did now. Risa looked at Selcouth, "don't be sad my joy," she reached out to Selcouth, "why have your colors faded?"

"I've missed you," Selcouth's tears were dark.

"I'm with you always," Risa wiped her tears.

"You're really dead." Even surrounded by such beauty and light Selcouth felt coldness and ache of her heart. She wanted Risa to be alive.

"Is this heaven?" Selcouth asked.

Risa laughed, "it is the light so maybe."

"Did I die?" she wouldn't mind death if it was here and with Risa.

"You're just visiting today."

"When I die will I come here and be with you?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"No time today," her face turned serious, "you got the key, you need to protect it and find the door."

"What door? I don't understand?"

"The light and dark have merged and are bleeding into..." Risa turned there was a red cloud in the distance, "I have to go."

"Wait, what do I do?"

"Open the door," Risa kissed her like she did the tiny light. "Sorry, it was my fault last time we fought. I wanted to save you the pain but I was wrong. You are stronger now."

Before Selcouth could respond the world went black. She opened her eyes and felt a tingling sensation in her body. She had passed out for half the day.

If she was going to make it to her interviews she would need to leave now.

"Screw it, I wouldn't get it. Plus, I don't want to be someone's personal assistant," she muttered.

She was more interested in finding out about the dream. She searched for the flower, but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

She drew a sketch of the flower and put it up a picture of it on Quora.

After spending her whole day searching and waiting for an answer on Quora, hunger made her go out to buy some food. She went to her favorite spot Ayurveda Café. Indian food always hit the spot, especially accompanied by a King Fisher beer. She ate her thali savoring all the spices.

As she was waiting for her dessert when her phone informed her that someone had replied.

Selcouth read the message, "It's the logo for a new age shop in Edinburgh. I can't remember the name or the exact location, but it was near a castle. When I asked the owner, a small older lady, she said it was the flower of hope in Faerie mythology. Hope that helps."

She typed, "Awesome, thank you."

Her carrot halva finally arrived in a small metal bowl. She finished her beer before diving into the dessert.

Selcouth sighed both from feeling stuffed and from hitting a dead end.

She decided that as soon as she got home she would take a better look at the boxes. Her mom texted her.

"Did you see a rose quartz heart pendant? I have a customer interested in it and can't find it."

Crap. Her mom didn't like it when Selcouth gave discounts.

"Nope only saw the porn books that you claim are spiritual," Selcouth scoffed as she typed.

"Well if you remember anything let me know and they are spiritual, you're just a prude."

Julian also used to call her that. Selcouth stopped by a bodega to get some more beer and a cheese sandwich for the next day. Even with the walk, the food stupor made her fall asleep on the couch again.

Selcouth dreamt of being in the middle of a forest. The air smelled damp and fresh. A music like sound drew her attention. She floated towards it. There were lights. In a distance, she saw small creatures dancing around an iridescent flower. It was the same flower from the book.

She stepped towards it, but fog began to swarm around her. It was choking her as it lifted her in the air. She gasped for air.  A large castle surrounded by water was the last thing she saw before her world went black.

Author's note: Thank you for taking the time to read my work in progress. Please feel free to write comments, it's my first draft so any feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated. Also, if you are enjoying the story so far, it would mean a great deal to me if you considered giving it a star. Thanks again and have an amazing day! =)