A Spoonful of Magic

You don't spell it

The entire ride through town I kept staring out of the window to the houses, shops and people we rode past. Where I lived I could be from one side of the city centre to the other in about seven minutes by foot, over here we needed a car to reach the bed and breakfast at the edge of the woods.

"I have to admit that it took some time to convince the guys that this was a good idea." Emerald had her hands firmly on the steering wheel and she kept her eyes on the road. She seemed prepared to brake whenever it was necessary.

One could never know when a frightened shifter would cross the roads, after all.

"However, they can't keep pretending it's a bed and breakfast if no one ever is allowed to stay over. And I like the company." She smiled and I smiled back at her. "At least you won't be bothered by the other guests and the basement is far away from the rooms, so you won't hear those sounds either."

In a way I was still debating if I wanted to see all of it for myself. Somehow I was totally fine with meeting shifters and vampires and angels and demons, but the existence of aliens, no matter how much sense it made, was different.

Aliens weren't fantasy. They weren't awesome creatures we made up and longed to meet. In most cases aliens were dangerous creatures, way more intelligent and advanced than we would ever be.

And I knew I most likely had nothing to be afraid of and yet I couldn't help hesitating a little.

"Thanks." I remembered to reply. "I'm very sensitive to sounds and I totally forgot to throw in some earplugs in my backpack, so silence is very welcome." I leaned back. I knew that it was only nearly lunchtime and yet it felt like I already had an entire day behind me.

Maybe in a way that was the case.

I had discovered this morning that somehow a fairy godmother had granted me a wish and that now all my bookish fantasies were coming true. I had stuffed all my things in a magical backpack. I had flown on the back of a dragon to Silver Springs and I had already met quite a few favorite characters of mine while being here.

"We're there." Emerald parked the car in front of a house that didn't even look that impressive. It was the kind of bed and breakfast that didn't stand out. Which was most likely exactly the plan.

I threw open the car door and stepped out. My feet felt a little unsteady on the uneven ground and a shiver rolled down my spine when I scanned the edge of the woods.

It was midday and far from dark yet and still I had the feeling as if something, or someone, was watching me.

"It is safe here, right?" My voice trembled a little.

"Of course it is. Nothing will happen to you under our watch. Everyone in town knows that you're here and that you deserve a good time. You're gonna have it." Emerald's voice soothed my nerves a little, but I couldn't shake the feeling entirely. "Come, let's get inside so you can unpack and rest a little." Emerald headed towards the door, while I stared at the forest once more.

My heart skipped a beat when I was fairly certain I saw a faint pink glow surrounding a tall shadow.