Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) Read Free

molten gold pierced through any window and doorway it could reach. Birds sang in the distance, their voices echoing down the long, lonely corridors in songs of light and promise. The castle stood tall against its country backdrop, towering above the smaller domiciles of the village residing in its shadow. A true glimmering testament to the wealth and power of the town of Meridelle’s ruling family.
    Anna found the whole structure arrogant, preferring to sit at her window and stare out at the chalet type buildings beyond the castle grounds. In the distance, she could see the docks and the many ships moored in the calm lapping lips of the Ocean. Meridelle was truly a village straight out of Fairy tale, but Anna didn’t feel any softness for the vision. Her heart was heavy with the sorrow of loss. She grew accustomed to depression in the two weeks since the vortex claimed her and dumped her in the woods beyond the village.
    Anna spent her first week bouncing between confusion and tears, refusing to accept she was anywhere other than trapped in a nightmare. After all, it wasn’t easy for a woman from small town Pennsylvania to believe in living Fairy tales. Of course, watching a Fairy flit about the castle made belief a bit easier. When Anna woke in the large bedroom she now called her own, Mara was the first creature she’d seen. The golden Fairy was a shock to Anna, but the creature’s sweetness quickly won her over. It was Mara who explained to Anna what happened the fateful night two weeks before when she was ripped from her home and all she loved.
    The portal was formed by the magic of a well-meaning, if a bit rash and misinformed Fairy. The link between their worlds opened, sucking Anna through from her realm of logical reason and into the fantastical world in which she was currently trapped. Mara seemed as confused as Anna on why it was her who passed through the portal. Anna didn’t tell the Fairy about the dreams she’d experienced since childhood, still unsure of her place in this new realm.
    A small knock on her door led to the arrival of Mara, followed closely by Prince Charmond, ruler of Meridelle. Anna hadn’t been introduced to the Prince right away as he remained a silent and shadowed presence for days after her arrival. Mara said it was to allow her time to process her situation before exposure to any others from the Mystical Realm. Since their meeting on her fourth day in the castle, Anna had enjoyed Char’s company. His amazingly good looks and muscular physique would have caught Anna’s attention had her situation been different, but it was his intelligence which won her over.
    They held long conversations deep into the night, each sharing stories of their worlds and experiences. Anna told Char of her work with children as a teacher and he shared stories of his people and the creatures inhabiting the realm. She tossed him a slight smile as he entered behind Mara and closed the door behind him. Anna knew the turn of her lips didn’t match the emptiness in her eyes, but Char returned the acknowledgement with a smile of his own and a nod.
    “I assume you have news,” Anna urged them to speak as they both fidgeted nervously around the room. She had waited to hear of Mara’s latest quest to reopen the portal and send her home. The Fairy had tried all she knew and explored every source, but thus far she’d failed to produce results. Anna tried to hold hope for good news, but their continued silence was disturbing.
    “Anna,” Mara started, wringing her hands nervously in front of her, “I’m so sorry.”
    “Don’t apologize, Mara, I know you’re trying.” Anna offered the platitude routinely, having said something along the same lines so many times over the past weeks.
    “No, child,” Mara’s tone was sad, eliciting an anxious ache in Anna’s gut. “I found the spell which can open the portal.”
    “You can open the portal?” Anna asked excitedly.
    “I believe so,” Mara’s eyes welled