Volume One Chapter Nine Free From The Fay

 The Enactment Of The Plan

“Sooo! What’s the plan?” Purred the man, simply known as The Watcher, or Jack Queen, if he was asked for a proper name.

He wore a purple hoodie with pink diamonds all along the back and arms. Along with a pair of black trousers with red and green hearts going along the side of his legs. He black leather cowboy boots with silver buckles. His face was always hidden under that hood so only those who knew him knew what he looked like. Yet the only thing that was visible were a pair of glowing amber eyes peering at her.

“I thought that you had the plan! You’re the one that has dealt with these types of artefacts more then I ever have! Haven’t you!?” Snapped the Tooth Fairy.

He let out a sound between a sight and a hum.

“Who, little old me?” He sang absentmindedly.

“Don’t you dare pretend that you haven’t!”

He let out a moan. 

“You’re no fun!”

“Just get on with the plan Watcher!”

“Alright!” He sang. “Tell me, how good are you at stalking?”

She frowned out of confusion.

“Don’t know, never done it.”

He let out a lyrical chuckle.

“Don’t worry, it’s just like trying to get a tooth! Although, admittedly more difficult, provided the fairy that we’re talking about.”

The Tooth Fairy let out a huff. She was starting to lose her patience with this man. Which was why she never wanted to work with him in the first place. Yet she knew better than to be a chooser.

“Just get on with it will you!” 

Honestly, the sooner we can get this over with the better. Then I can get that girl home.

He just chuckled.

“Alrighty. You can stalk Salynara and Lasta and Otb. While I go on an adventure to retrieve an artefact simply known as the Cuff Breaker. Although it will not destroy the cuffs it will just break them off the wrists.”

“And why do I have to do the stalking?” She asked as her patience started to run low.

“Because the retrieval of this device is more my forté and being as silently as a horror movie villain is yours.”

“‘Horror movie villain’?” She remarked unimpressed.

“What? Would you rather ‘a thief’ instead?”

“Fine! I’ll go!”

“You better! And do take care of yourself.”

“I will!”

She flew away and it took a day to reach her. She saw her chain her to a room where she messed with her mind, day in and day out. Everytime she would beat her until she cried and she drank her tears. During the day she would cook for them and she would get only a grey soup. She would also clean the whole castle. Shebwould clean up the blood of Salynara’s torture victims and, to her utter horror, she saw how she twitsted her mind and controled her and she too would join in. Which would be followed by her crying. Then Salynara would gaslight her into thinking that she was crying over nothing but lies. There she followed him for four to three weeks forcing herself to watch each and everything that she did. By which point it took everything in her body to stop herself from diving in there to save her.

✴️

Meanwhile, the Watcher approached a temple in the middle of the woods. He walked up to the front door.

Right, now how to go in. He thought as he looked at it from top to bottom. He could not find anything of interest. He placed a hand on the wood and closed his eyes. Then he heard a voice in her head. 

“My doors open if the one that enters users has no intention of using them for ill purposes.”

Well that’s interesting. I like this set up. So all I need to do is think of the girl that I want to set free.

So he did and he pushed the doors open. He walked right through them.

Inside was a table in the centre and a staircase behind it. On the table was an envelope. He walked up to it.

On this one door one you shall always find,

The desire that wants access to the enemy’s mind.

On floor two you will find a plate, 

That which is your true fate,

On floor three there is a key,

That will lead one to be free!

That’s it! He thought, not even bothering to read the rest.

So he walked to the stairs and walked up to the first floor. Then he passed the second until he arrived at the third floor. He soon walked onto it. He came to a door and looked down. He went to push the doorknob but his hand went right through.

So. Not that way then. 

He looked at the door and placed his hand upon it and pushed. Nothing happened. So he looked back down and saw a keyhole that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Then he heard a set of stone slabs rubbed against each other. He looked back to see that there were boxes behind him. He walked up to the first box.

So this is how you are to open the door.

He looked at the markings on each box.

Hold on if there’s three of them that must mean that two contain fake keys.

How very delightful!

He looked at the markings and pushed at it. Then one slid down. Then he heard a very rusty creaking. Then one stuck out. He then pulled it out, revealing the key like structure then the box opened revealing a silver key. He picked it up and walked back to the door. He pushed it into the keyhole and turned. Nothing happened.

Oh well! It’s times like this that make me miss my old lock picking kit.

He turned to the next one and picked it up. He spotted that there was a doorknob. So he twisted it and a pole moved to the right. He did the same with the last one. The pole fell out and the chest opened. He picked up the key inside. Which was the wrong one. 

He let out a passive huff.

The cheats started to glow. Then shot together and became one body. Soon it was a body of light. Then the light faded into a large suit of armour the size of the room!

Now this is more like it! He thought diving at it with a blast of fire. This did nothing. So he shot ice at it. This did nothing. He broke a piece of stone and threw it at it. Again nothing. Then he used a strong wind which he turned inwards. He made the wind travel faster and faster. Soon there was a powerful tornado. The Watcher did all that he could to stay on the ground. Then the armour took a step out completely unharmed! He pulled the tornado forward and set it alight causing a firenado to arise. He made it hotter and hotter. Then the suit of armour started to melt. Yet he did not relent until the metal became like water.

He sent a ball of rock at it. He did it again and again and again causing the form to become unstable. Then the thing dropped. Then he looked down to see that there were broken pieces on the floor. They were broken pieces of a key.

Hold on, could it be?

He picked them up and used magic to combine them. Soon he was looking at a key. He walked to the door and it opened. It revealed a key with a small yin and yang on the key handle. And the teeth of the key formed an X. He soon took it and met up with the Tooth Fairy. He showed it to her, by waving it in the air.

The Broken Bonds

Lasta woke up from a nightmare. She did not scream out as she did not want to disturb Salynara and Otb. No, they would think that she was telling stories again, like the one that she told about the weather angel, which was her recent story. This, Salynara quickly put to rest with a rigorous beating and drove it out of her mind. Which was why she had not eaten for three whole days until she had begged her for her forgiveness. Then she drank her tears before putting her to rigorous work. For three to four weeks she did this.

Yet it had been no sooner than she had woken up when Salynara and Otb walked in. She gave Lasta a cruel and wicked smile. She walked up to her and took off her chains. She then led her to the main hall. There was a long table with several chairs at either side. All made of black wood and black velvet She guided her to her nearest one.

“Sit.” She said simply.

“Thank you Mistress Salynara.” She said out of gratitude.

“You are very welcome, my pet. You have worked hard and did all that I have asked which has put me in a good mood. So I am ready to forgive you. Now, as I am ready to forgive you, you can eat a good and proper meal.”

She looked down to see a full English breakfast! Her eyes lit up.

“Mistress!”

“Go on. Tuck in.”

“Thank you!”

She soon dug in. Salynara’s eyes narrowed as her smile widened. She did not know what the girl was seeing, but she seemed to like it. After all she had worked the enchantment so she would see the food that she wanted the most. However, what she was actually eating was a combination of; maggots, worms and flies. She ate one fork full after the other. Greedily lapping it up like a dog.

Salynara sat down next to her.

“Now, girl. We are all going out and we will be going to a very special place. So I want you, after you are done, to pack all that we need.”

“Yes Mistress.”

Then she felt something brush across her throat and she started coughing. Salynara gave her a drink and she gulped it down.

“Thank you Mistress.”

She finished and she packed. They were soon on the road. Lasta carried all of their belongings as she followed them in silence. She could feel her becoming weak, but she plodded on. Then she started to feel ill and as she walked on, she broke out in a sweat. She continued as her nausea was building and building in the back of her throat. Yet she forced herself to go on. She felt herself becoming weaker and weaker. Soon her mind started to spin. It took all her willpower to stay focused upon Salynara and Otb. She became dizzier and dizzier until she could not focus at all. She felt her eyelids start to drop. The luggage became heavier and heavier.

Then she collapsed and her head hit a rock. Soon Salynara was on her. 

“Are you alright?” She cooed.

“Yes Mistress. You don’t need to worry about me.” She lied, getting to her feet.

She could feel her body shaking as she felt water coming into her back. Salynara noticed this and looked in her bags. Then she struck her.

“That was our water you foolish girl!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” She cried as Salynara hit her again and again.

That was when she felt it. Pain in every part of her body. She screamed and screamed. Then she felt a slap.

“Stop it! You are not entitled to scream in protest. After all, this is your fault.”

Then strike! Salynara was blasted away from her. Lasta dropped. Her body went limp.

“Now, now, now. That wasn’t very nice!” Purred a man in a purple hoodie with pink diamonds and black trousers and boots with silver buckles that walked up to the side of her head. 

Salynara got to her feet. Her hair was out of place.

“Neither was what you did.”

He let out a lyrical chuckle.

“Who are you anyway?” She snapped.

He let out another lyrical chuckle as he placed a finger to his chin. 

“Who, little old me?”

“Who else?!”

“I am no one!”

“Liar!”

He let out a fake sigh.

“Not fooling you, I see? Oh well! Fine. I will tell you later if I feel like it!” He sighed as he shrugged.

“And what’s wrong with telling me now?”

He let out another chuckle.

“I don’t think you’ll like it.” He said as he outstretched his hand and a ball of pink fire shot out of it and shot at her. “You might start running.”

She dived out of the way before it hit. He sent more and more and more at her. Causing her to move further and further and further away from them. He then looked at the trees and used his magic to fall their heads up on her. She dodged and dodged, one after the other.

She let out a blast of ice across the entire lot and followed it with a blast of fire. Turning them instantly into small puddles. She looked at the strange man and flung a blast of fire at him. He dived out of the way. She fired blast after blast at him as she ran on the ash. She then sent shards of ice at him. Hitting him. He spun in the air and she hit him with a lightning strike as he fell, shooting back in the air. He started to drop again and she did it again. Thin his shoulder hit the bark of a tree. Before he could get up, she sent the heads of trees at him. He rolled and rolled away from them. He dodged again and again and again.

“See? Not so cocky now, are you!” Salynara laughed.

Then she was hit from behind. She looked back to see none other than the Tooth Fairy! She looked at her with a fierce determination that told her that she was prepared to kill.

“Oh? Look likes that I missed one! Do not worry, by the end of this day you-”

She fired a blast of white and purple magic at her. She swept it aside. She fired another and another and another and Salynara swept each and every one of them aside like she was swatting a fly. Yet as the Tooth Fairy came closer and closer and closer, the blasts became stronger and stronger. 

Then she was blasted from behind. Then pain erupted throughout her hack. She looked back to see that her wings were on fire! Terrified, she bashed her back against the grass again and again and again. Then once she had put them out she was rendered unconscious.

While she was doing this, the Watcher pulled out a key and placed the yin yang on the cuff. Then pulled off her bags. He looked up at Otb and smiled.

“Here, free yourself!” He sang, flicking the key to him. “Put the matching symbol on the one that is on your cuff.”

Then he picked her up as the Tooth Fairy came to the two.

“What? Will you not be taking me with you?”

“Two maximum, sorry. But I am sure that you’ll be fine!” He purred as the Tooth Fairy flew off with Lasta in the stranger’s arms. 

The Stranger 

“Let go of me!” Lasta shouted as she hit and hit him again and again. 

That was when he kissed her on the forehead, almost like a parent would, which stopped her. 

“No. We need to get you as far away from Salynara as we can.” He sang, patting her nose.

“Why? What do you want from me? Her secrets!”

He let out a lyrical laugh.

“No. We want nothing of her’s.”

“Then why-”

That was when she threw her head to the side as she threw up all the contents of her stomach. The Watcher looked down as she threw up wave after wave of vomit.

“Oh my, are those maggots and worms and flies?”

“What?”

The Tooth Fairy placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her. 

“Lasta, tell me, what has she been feeding you?”

She looked down.

“This morning was a full English breakfast.”

“Is that what you longed to eat the most?”

“Yes. Although it didn’t taste the way…”

Lasta looked down, trying to think of the right words to say.

“That I thought that it would.”

“And why is that?” Purred The Watcher.

Her eyes narrowed.

“It was squishy and-”

The body drooped and flopped in the Tooth Fairy’s arms. Her eyes closed. She noticed that she was cold and she was coated in sweat.

“Did she just faint?”

“I believe that she did. Although, that may be a good thing. It will help out as much distance between her and us.” She admitted. 

“I agree. I think so too. Although she looks adorable sleeping like that.”

“No. Jack Queen!”

“Oh? Why not!”

“Because I will never let you anywhere near that girl alone!”

He let out a whimsical sigh. Soon they flew until the Tooth Fairy became tired after putting miles and miles between them and Salynara. Yet she only flew until she knew that she could no longer fly. She landed. The sun was high in the sky. Then The Watcher carried Lasta in his arms. He then nodded backwards.

“Get on.”

“As long as you don’t make it weird.”

“Oh, c’mon it’s me!”

She let out a groan.

“Do you want me to-”

“You do want to put as much distance between us and her, don’t you?”

“Fine!”

The Tooth Fairy climbed on his back covered in sweat. 

“Now, get a nice strong grip!”

In her spite she felt her hands automatically gripped harder. Soon he ran and ran and ran as fast as he could. He started slow but then picked up the speed and ran faster and faster and faster. He saw a group of roots that were getting higher and higher and higher like a flight of stairs. He soon marched up the terrain. His eyes glanced at a long cave tunnel. He turned to it and ran through it. He saw a few branches and jumped. He pulled his right arm as he gripped the girl with his left and pulled himself up. Then slid it back under her legs. Then his body passed the branch and he jumped off it to gain more and more speed. He did this again and again and again, hopping from branch to branch. This put more and more distance between them and where she landed faster and faster. He landed and he was able to run faster and faster now. He ran and ran for hours and hours. The sun was on the other side of the sky when he became tired and covered in sweat. Then he stopped.

“Need a break!”

She looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

“What? I’m tired!”

“Then, time for me to get to work!”

“I wouldn’t recommend it. We’re both too hungry.”

That was when Lasta woke up. She looked up at them with shock and horror in her eyes. She punched The Watcher and he let go. She ran to the Tooth Fairy and threw a kick at her. She blocked, and the girl threw a punch at her. She caught it.

Then she felt a punch in her stomach causing her to throw up again. The Watcher wrapped an arm around her and gripped her head.

“Listen, I don’t know what Salynara’s been filling your head with but whatever it was, it’s not true. You’re Lasta Coop. You helped the Easter Bunny when you were five.”

“She did, did she?” The Watcher purred. 

“Yes. He told me. She was able to survive Orb when he had her on the ancient space station they call the Black Knight when she was six. Twice you helped me and the Seelie Court. Which was when Salynara cursed you, for which, I am sorry.”

“But those are just stories I told myself! As you said I was five! How could I do those things?”

The Tooth Fairy looked at her shocked.

“No they are not! Believe me, when you were a toddler you seemed to possess intelligence far beyond your years and your brother Latso too. And I will tell you this, I am the Tooth Fairy and I was there when you lost your first tooth to Salynara. And, may I remind you, is a witch and an evil fairy of the Unseelie Court. So why would you believe all that she has told you?”

She looked aside.

“Why would you believe?”

She looked down and the sun was dropping. Lasta felt her stomach rumble. She looked away. Soon The Watcher let go of her. Then he passed her to the Tooth Fairy. Soon he was crouching. Once he was done he gave her a bowl. She looked down to see beans and small sausages with carrots and peas. Her mouth watered as he gave her a fork-spoon.

“Go on. Dig in!” He sang as he passed the Tooth Fairy her portion and got his from a metal pot.

He let out a chuckle as he ate. Then he looked at the Tooth Fairy. She nodded and she took a spoonful then did Lasta ate. She tasted the beans and carrots. Her eyes lit up as she could not remember the last time she had tasted something so good. She tasted the small sausages and they tasted better than her mind could recall. She ate and ate. Soon she felt better and stronger than she had ever been in the past year!

Then they all went to sleep. Yet Lasta pretended to sleep. Once she was sure that they were asleep, she got up. She went to slip away as she did not want to get hurt by Salynara again. She tried to walk as silently as she could. She then stopped as she remembered the food that The Watcher gave her. She remembered the taste of it and just how much she loved it.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at The Watcher who was looking at her.

“Where are yoooou beauuuuty going?” He purred.

“Where do you think? I need to get back to Mistress Salynara. She’s the only one who-”

He covered her mouth.

“Shh! Come back to camp and we will bring you to some witnesses.”

“‘Witnesses’?”

“People who saw you. They will tell you of what they saw little young you do. Maybe you will find some evidence?”

“‘Evidence’?”

“Proof.”

She nodded.

“Or do you want more food in the morning? I’m sure that this little adventure will make it uncertain that you will, with her!”

She looked down at the pale ring around her wrist. He grabbed her wrist and led her to the camp and she did not resist. 

“Good girl.”

“Who are you?”

“You’re not ready to know yet. So for now, call me The Watcher.”

“Any real name?”

“I might tell you!”

The Christmas Reunion 

Even though Lasta wanted to know where they were going, she knew better than to ask questions. In fact she did not say anything as she tailed them. She would have been carrying the bags, but they told her that she did not have to. On top of that, they told her that some of the things that they were carrying were too heavy for a child. So she just tailed them in silence. She felt herself shivering as she did, yet she did not dare to raise a word of complaint. She knew better than to do that too.

Yet despite this, The Watcher looked back and saw her shivering. He smiled to himself and took off his hoodie and threw it to her as he pulled out an identical one from one of his bags before putting it back on. She then caught the one he threw at her.

“Put that on! It will keep you warm.” He called.

She nodded and put it on. She soon felt the warmth flood her. She felt her shivering start to ciese as they walked on.

“Say, is there a hotel nearby?”

“Yes, why?”

“I think that you ought to get her all cleaned up.”

“Why? It will-”

He came close to her.

“Would you rather me do it?”

She flared up in anger.

“No!” 

Then she looked at her.

“But you can work on some warm clothes.”

“Nah! You’re better at girl’s clothes than me.”

“Good point. However, my hands are better at handling teeth. Not needles and thread.”

“Alright. Then I’ll do the clothes and you do the cleaning. Although, I do recommend that you teach her how to clean herself.”

They soon came to the inn. She soon was looking at the room with two blue beds and an orange carpet. The next moment the Tooth Fairy has her clean and while she was wrapped in a towel, The Watcher gave her a purple dress with green lace layered frills. Along with a pair of brown skin trousers. She put it on and cleaned her teeth. Then they went to bed.

The following day she felt better than she had ever felt in a long time. The Watcher gave her a long crimson trench coat with silver buckles and a white fluffy lining. She noticed the Tooth Fairy had one too. After breakfast they put it on and left the inn. They walked on and on for hours and hours before they came to a well. The Tooth Fairy set foot into it first. Then The Watcher picked her up and then they jumped in. She felt the splash but not the water. It was like she was passing through something like water. The next moment they appeared in a dark and cold winter wonderland.

“Where are we?” She plucked the courage to ask.

“The North Pole.” Purred The Watcher from behind.

“We’re here to see an old friend of yours.”

She frowned. She could not recall having any friends. No, if her memories were to be trusted, then she did not have any friends. Not one. Not at home, not at home either! Nowhere, none at all!

Well if that is the case, then maybe he’s being coy.

Yet she walked on and on. She came to a small stone building, almost like a mediaeval shed. That was coated in snow.

They all looked at it and walked up to it. The Tooth Fairy knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” Called a strong voice.

“Tooth Fairy.”

“Is it New Year already?”

“No.”

“Then go away. Christmas is nearly upon us-”

“We have Lasta Coop.”

“What?”

“We have Lasta Coop. She is the reason that I showed up here.”

“Oh! Well come in, come in!”

The door opened. They all walked in. Then the floor became lower and lower. Soon it dropped to its lowest level. She followed them to a room. The Tooth Fairy knocked on the door and it opened.

“Ho, ho, ho! Well if it isn’t the Tooth Fairy! How are you my dear friend!”

“Alright, although I have to show you something.”

“What is it? Has Krampus done something again?”

She shook her head. Then took Lasta by the hand and she looked upon the overly large man in a red coat and trousers. He had jet black boots with a gold buckle. He had a long beard and hair with a bald spot on the top.

“Do you recognise her?”

He knelt and looked at her very closely. His eyes widened with anger. They darted to the Tooth Fairy.

“Did Salynara do this to her?” He asked in a dangerous tone.

“Yes and she has done worse. Which is why we’re here.”

He gave her a cheery smile.

“Tell me. Do you want some hot chocolate?”

“Yes please, sir!”

“Then I will get some.”

He led her to a homely room with a fireplace in the centre with a green suite around it. With dark wooden tables at either end. With a fluffy red carpet on the floor in front of the guard. 

They all sat down in front of the fire. The Watcher outstretched his hands to the fire, revealing a pair of thin and long well toned hands. They were as pale as death and had nails that were like claws rather than nails.

“Oooh, that’s nice!”

Father Christmas folded his arms.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my most notorious naughty list member!”

He let out a bone chilling and lyrical laugh as he shrugged.

“What can I say? I do my be-est!”

Soon the hot chocolate came in as Mrs Claus brought them in. She placed them all down on the tables beside the settees. Then she sat in the chair opposite her husband. The Tooth Fairy sat next to The Watcher yet she shifted to the far right.

“Come on, Lasta. Sit down.”

Lasta took a seat next to him. She looked at the hot chocolate but looked on.

“Aren’t you going to take your mug?”

“Oh, Urm, sorry.”

She did and she took a sip. Her eyes widened as she realised that it tasted exactly as she remembered it did. She felt the warmth of the hot chocolate spread throughout her body. She felt herself tear up as she felt the warmth of the mug. She took another dip as she kept the liquid in her mouth to savour the sweet taste as long as she could. Until she had to swallow. She then took another and slowly drank it. Even after she finished, she kept her hands on the mug for its warmth.

“So let’s get back to what we came here for.”

“Yes, let’s. Tell me, Lasta, how have you been?”

“I dunno.”

“Tell me, what did she do to you? I mean you look different!”

“Potion.”

“What did she do for you?”

“Well, she rescued my grandson from the Buggy Man.”

Lasta frowned.

“How old was I?”

“Ten or eleven.”

She nodded. Then suddenly she felt a painful headache like pins and nails were being hammered into her brain. She could no longer hear their words. Soon she could hear only two.

“Kill them! Kill them! They believed your lies. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them!Kill them! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!” She heard Salynara speaks in her mind. 

Then her mug dropped. She dived at Father Christmas and threw her hands out. She aimed them at his throat. She then felt a fist in her gut. She curled over. Saint Nick hugged her as she flung her head up and headbutted his chin. She threw her forehead into his chin again. She went to punch him but The Watcher pulled her back. She spun and went to kick him but he caught her ankle. She went to punch him but he caught her fist. She then went to throw her free ankle at him but Saint Nick ankle. Then The Watcher hit her in the head so hard that she was knocked out cold.

When she woke, the first person she saw was Jack Frost.

“Are you alright?”

She then noticed that he was very handsome.

“Y-yeah.”

“Good.” He laughed as he helped her to her feet. “Here, you forgot this last time.”

Her eyes dropped to a locket. She picked it up and opened it to see her and her twin brother, looking at her. At this she just could not help but cry as she pressed it to her chest as she curled up and soon started weeping as she hugged the locket tightly.

They are real, they are actually real! Latso exists! He actually exists! Which means that mum and dad are real too! They are real too! 

“Th-thank you!” She wept.

“Can we leave you here?” The Watcher asked.

“No. I think she needs to see the Easter Bunny.”

“Oh!” He moaned childishly.  “Alright. Lasta come on!”

She then followed them. 

The Bunny Help

After spending a night in another inn they came to another well. She gripped her locket the entire time. She looked down at her face. She knew that it was her face. She knew that the boy next to her was her twin. Which told her that the story that she had told them carried some truth to it. Along with the story of her and her twin being born from an old lady and was adopted by her descendants too.

“Lasta! Come on!”

She nodded as she climbed in and the next moment she was stepping out into a forest. She looked around to see that it was light all around. She looked around to see that the leaves and grass were a healthy shade of green. She could even hear the singing of birds.

If I’m gonna get any answers, I need to get back to Mistress Salynara. Which means that I need to find out how. 

So, as they waited by the well, The Tooth Fairy and The Watcher set up camp. She walked up to them and went to help. So this is what she did for the day.

“Urm… Mistress Tooth Fairy, is it true that Mistress Salynara put a curse on me using the first tooth that I lost?”

“Yes, and she let herself die to do it.”

She frowned. 

“Then how did she come back?”

“She used Queen Elrica to resurrect herself.”

She nodded.

So there is truth to that story too.

“Why are we staying here?”

“Well, we’re waiting for the first person that you helped.”

Her eyes widened and then she frowned.

Who’s that? She thought for a moment. Hold on!

She looked around to see that the sun had started to drop. She felt hungry but did not say anything. She looked up to the sky. However she soon started to feel bored and wondered where this ‘friend’ of hers was.

I need to get away from here. I need to get away from my enemies. Maybe they know this too. Maybe they are both keeping me here so that I don’t get back to her?

She looked around to see that the two were asleep. She, as quietly as she could, got to her feet and ran. She ran to the well. She was about to climb into it. Then she felt herself flying. She landed in the trees.

Not this again. How does he keep doing that!?

She got up and went to punch him.

“Lasta?”

She looked back to see a bunny.

“Who are you?”

“The Easter Bunny.”

Then she felt the headache. She felt it become worse and worse. The pain became blinding. She could no longer hear anyone. The only thing that she could hear was Salynara.

“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! He will tell you nothing but lies. So before he can confuse you further, do it! Do it! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!”

She was so much in pain that she could not even hear her scream out in pain. The only thing that was evidence of her screams was the developing soreness of the throat. Then her eyes closed.

In the next moment she dived at the Easter Bunny. He hopped out of the way. She threw her hand out and grabbed him by the head. He struggled as her hand became tighter and tighter and tighter. She could hear his screams yet her hand squeezed. His eyes started to bulge. She heard cracking in her hand.

That a hand hit the back of her head. The Easter Bunny fell.

“Heal him, I’ll deal with her!" 

“Say please!”

“Ugh! Please then!”

“Right.”

She punched her in the gut, yet Lasta threw her hands out to the Tooth Fairy’s throat. She whacked her wrists away. Then drove her palm into her head. She staggered back before kicking her in the temple. The Tooth Fairy was soon on the ground. Lasta was soon on top of her. She gripped the fairy by her throat then started to squeeze and squeeze and squeeze. The Tooth Fairy punched her in the head again and again and again, yet this did nothing. She still squeezed and squeezed. She then hit her by the throat and finally she let go. She coughed and coughed and coughed. Then she slapped her and the Tooth Fairy hit the ground.

Lasta looked back and got back into her feet. She went to punch her but she whipped her wrists away again and again and again. Then she sent out a kick. The Tooth Fairy ducked and grabbed her ankle. Then straightened her legs. She threw a fist into her stomach but the back of her hand was hit. She heard a crack and she suddenly felt pain as she punched her leg up. She fell and hit her head.

Yet she got up and The Watcher ran to her. He flung out his arm and caught her.

“You need healing, my dear?”

The Tooth Fairy nodded. She was soon healed.

✴️

When Lasta woke up, The Watcher held her tightly. She remembered all that she had done in absolute horror. She looked up at the Easter Bunny as he looked at her suspiciously.

“Are you sure that this is the same Lasta that helped me when she was six?”

“Yes. Although she has been a prisoner of Salynara’s. We don’t know what she did to her, but we needed to confirm what she had done was real.”

“Right, what do you reme- recall?”

She told him.

“Yes. All of that is true. You even asked for a reward, so here."

He gave her a chocolate egg. The Tooth Fairy took it and gave it to her.

“Thank you and I’m sorry. I dunno what happened.” She admitted as she took a few chips out and ate them. In fact when she ate the egg, she was crying the entire time. 

The Remaining Doubt

Then they left the Easter Bunny all well and healed. Lasta held The Watcher’s hand tightly, afraid that she would randomly attack the Tooth Fairy again. They returned to the well and the next moment she was in the middle of a landmass of rubble and ruin. She looked around to see that it must be a mediaeval town, no it was a kingdom that once carried great beauty. Much greater beauty than Lasta had ever seen before. As she looked around, she  noticed that it would have been a colourful beauty too.

The Tooth Fairy looked around and her mouth covered in shock. Her eyes were wide, she was too horrified to speak. She struggled to repress a scream as she had heard about the destruction of this place but seeing it was something else. Her eyes twitched as her emotions flicked between horror, anger and sorrow. She started to cry as she looked at the rubble.

That was when Lasta flipped over a rock to look down to see a decomposed body of her eyes that were bulging and worms, maggots and flies eating away at the green and yellow flesh and dried blood. She let out a scream.

I know this place!

“We’re in Fairyland, ain’t we?”

The Tooth Fairy flicked her eyes to the girl.

“Y-yeah! W-when I heard… w-when I heard… heard… heard… th-the Seelie C-Court wh-was destroyed…”

“It’s different seeing it. Isn't it?”

“Y-yeah.”

She then let her tears fall. She started to hiccup as she struggled to breathe. She felt tear after tear fall like rain. Her legs gave way and she fell to her knees. She was shaking as her spine curved and convulsed with each hiccup. She could do nothing but kneel there weeping.

Lasta looked at the dead. She took off her coat, got up and found a shovel. She started digging a hole. She dug and dug. Once the hole was deep enough, she put down the shovel. She picked up the corpse. She ignored the smell and bugs as they fell upon her. She tried to drop the body gently, but it was too heavy for her, so it rolled out of her and the neck split from the body.

“Wh-what are you-”

“We need to bury ’em. They’re gonna need to be buried. It’s the right thing to do. You can tell me everything that I did after we bury ’em.”

“R-right!”

So they stayed there, day after day burying body after body. Cleaning themselves after each day using the water of the well. They hardly took breaks and once they were all buried they held a moment of silence. Once she had properly grieved, then the Tooth Fairy told her all that she could. 

Did I really do all that? At that age? No, there must be more. She thought as they all had thoroughly cleaned themselves. Yet then she felt a great and powerful headache. She resisted as much as she could as she put on her clothes. Her eyes slid to the Tooth Fairy as she heard the voice of Salynara in her head. She started to feel tears in her eyes as she realised something.

“Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! She has told you nothing but lies. So before she can confuse you further, do it! Do it! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“Mistress Tooth Fairy! We have a problem!” She shouted over Salynara’s voice.

“What is it? And why are you shouting?”

“KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“Mistress Salynara… I can hear her in my head and she wants me to kill you!” She screeched over the voice. 

“KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“Why?”

“When I went to kill Master Father Christmas and Master Easter Bunny I got this really bad headache!”

“KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“And I could hear nothing but Mistress Salynara’s voice in my head! It told me to kill them and-and-and-” 

The headache became so painful that she started to cry. It was like there was a powerful amount of pressure on her brain. It was almost like her head was about to explode at any moment.

“It told me they were all lying and I SHOULD KILL YOU!”

The Tooth Fairy looked at her shocked as the girl started weeping clutching her head that felt like it was being hit by invisible hammers.

“What?!”

“Yeah!”

“KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“I’M-I’M FEELING IT RIGHT NOW AND SHE HAS ALREADY MADE ME KILL!”

“She has?”

“KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“SHE MESSED WITH MY HEAD. SHE MADE ME NOT TRUST MY MEMORIES! SHE CONTROLLED ME AND I KILLED PEOPLE!”

“What?”

“Now what’s going on here?”

“KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!”

“I CAN’T STAY HERE WITH YOU OR SHE’S GONNA MAKE ME KILL YOU!”

“Oh my!” He purred as he chopped the back of her neck, knocking her out. 

“Then I will take her!” Purred The Watcher. 

“No. I know you! And I would never trust you with any child!”

“Yes. Except I am a father. Which is why I am the pest option. Plus I would love to see her finally take Salynara down!”

He let out a giggle.

“That moment would be epic!”

She let out a huff.

“Fine, here!” She said as she passed him a pendent. “Until I find someone safer than you, keep this. It will tell you if I have and you better come!”

He let out a sigh.

“Don’t worry. I will!”

“Alright, I’m off to do my job. See you when I see you next.” 

She knelt in front of Lasta and rested a hand upon her head. She woke up.

“Lasta I will be leaving you with Ce-”

“Shush! It's The Watcher, for now.”

“The Watcher. So, I have to say; see you when I see you.”

She carried a pained look as she saw her look of being in agony. She flew off to stop the agony. Then it subsided in her head. She was able to get up as she stayed there and wept.

“Now what?”

The Watcher pulled her in and wiped away her tears.

“How about we go on many fun adventures?”

“But I wanna go home!”

“Alright, but in order to get home don’t you have to break that dastardly curse and finish off that evil Salynara? So in order to do that you’ve got to get strong. So, going on some fun adventures would do that. Also, we must make sure that it would be safe to return home.”

“Alright.”