Fairy Magic: The Forest Wars of the Fairy Princess and the Goblin Witch

Chapter 5

Gabby shivered, then cracked her eyes open.

Darkness surrounded her.

Water spattered on the ground.

Drip.

Drop.

Drip.

Drop.

Gabby crinkled her nose.

Ugh. What is that smell? Did Theo poop in the house again?

Wait a minute...

Gabby scanned her surroundings. Something like a candle flickered in the distance.

This definitely isn't home.

What happened? Where was she?

Gabby jolted up, but something constrained her body. She couldn't move her arms or her legs.

Was that a rope? Where had Ali and Daddy gone?

"Daddy?"

No response.

Just the drip dropping of the water.

Tears welled in her eyes.

"Daddy, are you there?"

Something rustled behind her.

Gabby froze.

What was that?

A wheezing noise came from behind her. Almost like the sound, Theo made when he snored.

"Theo?" Gabby whispered.

Nothing.

"S-Sissy? Is that-"

"Silence," a voice hissed.

Gabby flinched.

Who said that?

That didn't sound like a person. More like a snake. But that's impossible.

Gabby craned her neck to see where the voice came from.

A creature stood before her gripping a spear. Rags covered its body. At a glance, it looked like a rat to Gabby. A rat with a hunchback and claws for hands.

Gabby shrieked.

What the heck is that? A rat? No. Rats don't stand on two feet. Do they? Where is Daddy? Maybe it's a monster. No. Monsters don't exist. Right? I want Daddy.

Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to break free.

The monster chuckled. Or at least it sounded like a chuckle to Gabby. The creature created a gargling noise in its throat. It coughed and hacked, then spit onto the ground.

Gabby doubled her efforts to wriggle free. But the ropes didn't budge. Instead of wiggling loose, she only managed to roll over onto her side. Mud caked her face and dirt got in her mouth. Gabby's arms ached and her side burned.

The creature stalked toward her, then cocked its head. An eye-patch covered one side of its face. At first, the monster just stared at her with its good eye. Then it blinked.

"It wants free?" the creature asked.

It?

Did that monster just talk to me? What do I say? Should I talk back? Mommy said never talk to strangers.

I wish she was here now.

Gabby tried to catch her breath. But couldn't speak.

Instead, she nodded.

The monster's lip curled into what Gabby could only imagine was a grin, flashing its fangs.

Gabby's neck hairs sprang up.

"Good. Night Queen likes em fresh-scared."

Behind him, a cowled figure approached.

He spun around and stood at attention.

The figure eclipsed the monster as it passed by.

He knelt and bowed his head. "Master."

Beneath the robed figure's hood, Gabby noticed yellow glowing eyes. They reminded her of Aunt Lynn's cat, Lucifer. Lucifer the demon cat. With demon eyes.

Gabby squeezed her eyelids shut and turned her head away.

This can't be real. It's just a bad dream. A nightmare. There's no such things as monsters. Right? Isn't that what Mommy used to tell her when she had a bad dream? There are no such things as monsters. But maybe there are. What if Mommy was wrong?

The dark figure cackled.

Gabby shuttered

It's just a dream. A nightmare. There are no monsters. Like Mom said.

"Oh, how delicious," the voice purred.

There are no such things as monsters. There are no such things as monsters.

A scaly finger stroked Gabby's cheek. "It will all be over soon child."

Her lip quivered.

"It's just a dream," Gabby whispered.

"A dream?" The creature cackled again. "I assure you this is quite real."

Gabby clenched her jaw.

No.

This isn't real.

Mommy said so.

"There are no such things as monsters."

"No? Are you certain?"

Gabby faced the creature but did not dare open her eyes.

"Mommy said there's no such things as monsters."

"I guess your Mother was a liar, then."

Fire burned in Gabby's chest and her fists closed tight. How dare she. Mommy never lied.

Gabby opened her eyes.

"My mom-"

The glowing feline eyes stared back at her.

Gabby wanted to yell at the witch. She wanted to scream for her dad. Or for Ali. But she couldn't. The witch's eyes were so... enchanting. Like two moons in the night sky. She could watch them forever. They seemed to slowly rotate, like the second hand of a clock.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.
Tock.

Gabby yawned.

Her eyelids felt heavy. Her head felt fuzzy. And her body exhausted. The ground around her was so cozy. Like her bedroom blanket. Maybe if she just went to sleep for a moment. The nightmare would end.

The world spun.
Yes. Sleep. I'm just tired. That will make this bad dream go away.

Just.

Need.

To.

Get.

Some.

Slee-