The Fairy Gift Read Free Page A

leather coat to further hide my new physique. I had also practiced walking back and forth in my bedroom without taking my eyes from the floor. Aside from that, there was nothing I could do besides shuffle slowly down the stairs and hope that no one looked at me.
    Everyone did, of course. The news that I had indeed been visited by a fairy had spread throughout the castle, and everyone was eager to hear my story. I continued to expand my lie from before, explaining that the fairy had neglected to introduce himself or inform me of the nature of the powers with which he had gifted me. My parents were naturally disappointed, but took the news with good humour, deciding that my gifts would most certainly reveal themselves when the time was right, and that the best course of action would be to continue with the plans already made to send me to the king.
    I couldn't decide whether to be happy with this decision or not. For one thing, the Wizard Dante had not seen me before and would not notice my sudden change in appearance, but on the other, I didn't fancy going to the king and informing him that, while I definitely possessed magical powers, I had no idea what they were, and was therefore useless. The thought of actually demonstrating or using my powers in any way made me sick to my stomach.
    I was alternating thinking about this and attempting to quell the sick feelings in my gut when I was distracted by a serving maid, who was complaining about the soup.
    "I swear it wasn't here before!" she exclaimed. "Something blue, like tiny sapphires in the soup!"
    "Let me see," my father ordered, and as the maid came toward him with the heavy pot, I made the mistake of looking up.
    Our eyes met, and I saw hers widen, and heard the small, soundless gasp that escaped her lips when I involuntarily unleashed the full power of my eyes onto her. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw right into her soul, and felt the flutter of her heart and racing of her blood as her body froze in surprise. Then she shrieked, the heavy iron pot falling from her hands and landing with a thud on the tile floor.
    There was a flurry of activity as the other serving maids swooped in to right the pot, but the damage was done:  about half of the soup had spilled and was spreading across the floor. Fixing my eyes firmly downward, I could see from my peripheral vision that there did indeed seem to be traces of a deep blue substance glittering amongst the vegetables and broth. Whilst the maids busied themselves with cleaning up the spill, I let my eyes follow the rapidly dissipating line of deep blue powder along the floor, to where it was lightly falling in a trail from the roof. I looked up, and suppressed a gasp when I saw a dark, winged figure sitting among the rafters of the hall. I blinked, trying to see clearer, but the figure disappeared.
    The maid whom I had involuntarily influenced seemed to be in shock. I didn't look at her again, but I felt quite certain that she was staring at me, and I could almost feel the pleasurable excitement with which her body had betrayed her still pulsing through her against her will. She apologized profusely to my father, and was allowed to leave on account of feeling faint.
    I felt faint myself, and as soon I was able, stood up from the table, announcing that I was not hungry and excusing myself from breakfast.
    "Don't go too far, Marcus," my mother ordered me distractedly as I fled the meal hall. "The Wizard Dante will be arriving sometime this afternoon."
    I hardly bothered to listen or care.
     
    I had always felt safe in the forest. With the sun filtering softly through the green leaves of the birch trees, and the carpet of mosses and dried leaves muffling all sounds on the uneven ground, it felt immensely peaceful. It was the only place I had ever been where I felt truly alone.
    And I needed badly to be alone now. My mind was awhirl with emotions and frantic thoughts. Since the day before, my life had changed so much, and not