hehe FAIRY ANUBIS AU
I peer out the window, the curtains cold and blocking out the light from the outside as I sigh heavily. Just next to our house was the forest, usually where the lumberjacks worked, but they stopped after they reached too close to the fae circle. They wanted to hide it from the children to avoid them running around in the forest and getting lost with the fae; children are often too naive to understand, and too curious to defend themselves from the fae's tricks. I've never seen a faerie myself, but for some unexplainable reason, I can't seem to fear them. I know it's definitely not because of the fae's tricks, because I've never met one.
A sharp pain resonates on the back of my head; it was my father.
"Get away from the window, you parasite. Get back to cleaning."
I furrow my brow at him, gesturing to the rest of the room. Our house wasn't very big, but the fact that we have a functioning house is a luxury enough. Either way, I held my tongue often to avoid provoking my family, a group of people who have never known love.
"I've already finished cleaning, sir."
He shakes his head and points to the kitchen. The room I avoided most, especially today because of the yelling and sounds of dishes smashing in there. They had finished a few minutes before I finished my cleaning, but neither of them left the kitchen until just now.
"There's a disgusting mess in the kitchen, and some broken dishes next to her. Go clean them up."
I nod and rush to the kitchen, desperate to leave the room that had my father in it. As I walked in, I noticed Crystal, my sister, in there too. She was kneeling next to our mother, who lay on the floor; both of them were crying. I pick up the dishes, careful not to cut my hands but still getting blood on my hands as I finish and return to my mother and sister with a warm wet rag. My mother was sitting up now, but just barely holding herself up. I gently place the towel on her bruised face, causing her to wince as I retaliate.
"Is Kristopher going to be home soon?" Crystal inquires, her voice cracking and barely audible.
I nod my head silently, knowing Kristopher should arrive before dinner because he has the ingredients for tonight. As if on queue, sounds of our father yelling at Kris resonated from the main room. Neither Crystal nor I dared to enter through the door, so we waited for Kristopher to enter the kitchen. After a few moments, he finally walked in. Without a word, he placed the ingredients onto the table and looked at Crystal, who was to cook tonight. Mother finally spoke.
"Jean, could you take the rubbish out and set the table?"
I nod and gather up the trash, including the remaining dish pieces that I must have missed from the floor. Making my way outside, I trudge through the mud to the back of the house to dump the trash onto the pile of garbage that was soon to be collected and burned. As I pour the trash onto the pile, I turn to the woods that eerily resided next to our house. My family was waiting for me to return, I should go back inside. But something was pulling me toward the trees, like a gravitational pull. Was it curiosity? No, I have a responsibility, that usually dominates my curiosity. Was it the voice that I was pretending like I didn't hear? It was faint, but I know I heard someone say, "C'mere."
I'll only be a few minutes.
Without my permission, my legs start moving on their own towards the trees. The trees that pretend to be silent. I passed the first layer of trees, their bark was cold; a contrast to the season we were in; somewhere between spring and summer. I turned back to look at my house. I could still see it; I should return now, I've checked the woods. I start to make my way back to the house, when I thought I saw something in the corner of my eye. I turn to my left, facing the pile of garbage and noticing a few still clean and untouched cookies, safe from the dirt as it sat on a broken plate shard. An idea pops into my head. I grab the cookies and rush back into the woods. I pass the first layer of trees, then the second, then the third, until my speed surpasses my ability to concentrate on counting how many layers I've passed. It got warmer the deeper into the words I ran. Though, it didn't take long until I reached an opening, which is where the faerie ring lay.
The ring was empty. Should I enter it? I have to place the cookies somewhere, where should I put them?
"I hope that's paint on your hands."
I whip my head around to where the voice came from, locking eyes with a smirking boy. He sat with his legs crossed and his hands resting on his knees, but the odd thing was that he was floating, about three feet in the air, as to be eye level with me. It was at that moment that I noticed his wings; they glowed a gentle red color, his attire that of an auburn tint. In a panic, I reach out and hand him the cookies, causing him to eye it with a grin. He didn't take it from my hands, though. I set down the cookies on to a tree stump as he watches me curiously.
"I am Anubis." He begins, holding a hand out towards me with two raised eyebrows, "And your name, please?"
I hesitate, trying to remember the precautions when it came to the fae.
Never give them your name, right?
"Call me Daniel, is Anubis your real name?"
I respond, not shaking his hand, but returning the smile. He blinks and lands on the ground, standing. He was actually shorter than me. His blonde hair seemed to glimmer in the moonlight, showing his blue eyes and freckles. He possessed such a pure looking face, how could he be harmful?
"Anubis is what people call me. Is Daniel your real name?"
I shake my head. It's okay to tell him that, right? I panicked, I didn't want to lie to him.
"So, Danny, is that your blood on your hands?"
I look down at my hands. Damn, I forgot to wash my hands. What do I tell him? I don't even know if it's my mom's or my sister's.
"It's not mine, no."
Anubis grins at me, walking to the tree stump to pick up the cookies. He takes one for himself and hands me one.
"Take this, for your way back home."
I hold up a hand and force a smile, shaking my head gently. I must be careful, but I hardly remembered any of the warnings given to me about faeries. How do I word this? I had to word it carefully.
"I appreciate the offer, but my family is waiting for my return so they can eat dinner. I wouldn't want to ruin my appetite."
Anubis turns slightly away from me, keeping eye contact as he squints his eyes. His smile hasn't left his face, but it's changed depending on each specific expression he has.
"Do you actually wish to return home?"
I shake my head again. Why did I do that? Was that the truth? Why did I respond so quickly?
"Do you wish to stay here?"
I pause, wanting to answer right away. Why? Did he entrap me somehow? Is he trying to entrap me right now? But he's harmless, isn't he? He's giggling, can he read my thoughts?
"I'll translate your hesitation as a yes. Am I correct?"
I didn't want to answer. Yes I did, but I didn't want him to know. He offers me a hand, allowing himself to carelessly float a bit into the air.
"You've already made your way into the circle."
Eyes wide, I turn around to notice that I had somehow wandered into the faerie ring. When did that happen? What does that mean? I scramble to run back out, but his hand locks with mine and he stops me. I turn to look at him as he held his other hand up to wave a finger at me.
"I wouldn't try that. It's bad luck to rush out of faerie ring immediately after entering."
I gaze at his eyes, who seemed to go on forever. How deep were his eyes? No, I need to focus.
"I'm willing to take that risk."
I loosen my wrist out of his grip as I fall forward on the outside of the ring. It was too late; I looked up to notice the sun shining through the leaves in the trees. I turn back to look at him, but I couldn't see him anymore. Did I offend him? Could I see him again soon? How much time had passed? I turn in all directions, trying to find him.
*I should return home. No I shouldn't, I can't return back to that hell. Plus, who knew how much time had passed, the sun is shining now. How could I explain how long I had been gone when I didn't even know how long it was in the first place? I told myself I'd only be a few minutes. *
"Wait, you're right, I don't want to return home." I call out, hoping for a response.
After there was no response, I lower my head, sighing heavily. Why did I want to see him again so much? Curiosity? Boredom? Lust for adventure? The silence is deafening, but I'm not about to give up. I lift my head and call out again.
"I'll give you my real name!"
I really wished they told me more about fae as I grew up; then I would know what I was about to get myself into. But anything could be better than home, right? I wait a few seconds in silence before his voice protrudes from behind me.
"Quite a sacrifice, are you sure you'd hand me something so valuable that holds such power?"
My eyes lock with him; he was sitting on the tree stump, legs crossed. I nod my head at him, stepping towards him a little dizzily after spinning around earlier.
"I would rather be anywhere but home."
I mutter with hopeless confidence. He shrugs and nods his head, looking upwards before turning back to look at me and hold his hand out.
"Then, we shall try this again. Could you give me your name?"
I take his hand and shake it, feeling my heart jump as I respond, my voice confident, but more a matter of me taking a leap of faith. Whatever power I was giving this fae, I'm sure he'd treat it with more care than my father ever could. Hopefully.
"Jean White."
