A Fairy-ly Important Discovery
I find Blue waiting for me outside the castle like an eager puppy. I’m not sure if magic carpets can be put under spells or if Blue is just his usual lively self, but he whisks me off past the vegetable gardens and the pumpkin patch, past a group of mermaids singing siren’s songs in the lake, and over a game of leap frog in the garden.
I don’t think I’ve seen people this happy since…ever!
When I arrive at Professor Sebastian and Beauty’s castle, I’m not surprised to find more of the same attitude. I find AG spinning around the room in a pink party dress, arms stretched wide. Her brown curls twirl around her face, making her look almost like her half-beastly self.
“Gilly!” AG cries. “Come spin with me!”
“No, thanks,” I start to say, but AG grabs me, and we go round and round. She giggles repeatedly as we stare at one another, going faster and faster.
Obviously, AG has been affected by the wish too.
My head is spinning after just two twirls.
“What the devil is going on?” barks Professor Sebastian. We stop, and I watch him descend the steps, passing portraits of himself, Beauty, and AG that decorate the staircase. Several of the staff hear him coming and take off.
“Father! Hi!” AG says. “Look at us, we’re spinning!”
AG gives a hard yank, and the two of us go flying across the room, landing on a velvet couch. AG is doubled over laughing, but I’m staring at Professor Sebastian. He’s dressed in a red velvet jacket with gold buttons and black dress pants. I look down at my muddy uniform and wonder what he’s going to say about my appearance. I didn’t have time to change. I had to get out of school.
He growls at us, and I’ve never been more happy because this means he hasn’t been affected by the curse!
He looks at his daughter. Then he looks at me. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Well,” I start to say. “A wish was made with a genie in a magic lamp, and I think AG—and the entire school—has been affected.”
Professor Sebastian slaps his head. “Who did this?”
I hesitate to call out Maxine. “I don’t know,” I lie.
He narrows his eyes at me. “You seem the same.”
“I overheard the wish being granted, so maybe it doesn’t affect me the same way it does the others.” His nostrils flare. “I think? Where is Beauty?”
“She’s in the village buying books,” he says. “I suspect she’s been spared like you, but Allison Grace…”
AG shoots up off the couch and begins to bounce. “You know what would be fun? A stroll through the forest! It’s such a beautiful day, and I really would like a chance to stretch my legs a bit and get in some exercise.” She closes her eyes, starts to breath quickly, and hair rapidly begins growing all over her body. She’s transforming before our eyes!
“Allison Grace, what on earth are you doing?” Professor Sebastian asks.
“Embracing my beastly side! I told you I wasn’t embarrassed anymore! Now I can run free and—hoowwll!” She drops to all fours, her party dress starting to tear, and takes off out the open front doors.
I smile as she retreats. I really hope this development isn’t wish related. I love her newfound confidence. Think of all she can do in the Hollow Woods without worrying about her beastly side! She could be a real asset out there in beast form. “Good for her!”
I realize I said that part out loud. I look over at Professor Sebastian.
He doesn’t look as happy as I am about this development.
“You’re late,” he says, walking away. I suspect I’m meant to follow.
“Yes, well, as you can imagine, with the wish, people are acting a little strange. It was hard getting down the hallways with all the confetti, pixie dust, and balloons. There are even fireworks planned for tonight.”
He turns and looks at me. “Fireworks?”
“Yes.” I nod. “Professor Harlow’s idea.”
He runs a hand through his long hair, which is pulled back in a low ponytail. “Fairy be, what a mess. Well, at least you’ve kept your wits about you.” He pulls open a doorway at the end of the hall, and I see a beautiful library full of bookshelves that reach all the way to the ceiling. A large stained glass window lets in a kaleidoscope of colored light, which filters over a stack of books sitting on a large desk. He motions for me to take a seat.
“I thought it was time we had that talk I promised.”
I sink into a large armchair with satin cushions and try to contain all the questions I’m dying to ask. I know better than to blurt them out. He’ll just get annoyed. I lean forward expectantly.
He sits across from me, puts on a pair of spectacles, and opens books to various marked pages. I watch and wait. Professor Sebastian opens his mouth wide and prepares to speak.
“How would you like your tea?” he asks.
Tea? I don’t want tea—I want to talk! I bite my lip. I know what he’ll say. Tea is needed for a proper, civilized conversation. I exhale slightly. “With a lump of sugar, please.”
He nods, pleased. “Now, Gillian, I know you have many questions about Rumpelstiltskin, and how the two of us crossed paths, but I am not going to tell you that story today. Truthfully, it’s not as important as everything else we have to contend with.”
Oh fiddlesticks! “I thought you were going to tell me everything!”
“What happened to me is in the past,” he insists. “What’s going on with you is the present—and our future. Right now, it’s more important that you and I concentrate on this fairy book about Stiltskin’s history.” His blue eyes are thoughtful. “Sadly, I don’t know much about its content. I cannot touch the book…unlike you.”
“How do you know that?” I ask.
“Information like that can’t be ignored,” he says. “Professor Harlow told me straightaway. As you know, the only person who can open that book is the fairy who wrote it or someone with fairy blood. Yet, you’re human.” He cocks his head. “Or are you?”
“I am human,” I say. “Both my parents are human, and my grandparents are human…”
“So they tell you,” he says, scratching his chin. “Where are your grandparents from?”
“Mother’s parents live on a farm outside the kingdom,” I tell him. “Father’s father is no longer around, and we don’t see my grandmother Pearl.”
He raises an eyebrow and sort of grunts. “What do you know about Pearl?”
“Nothing! I’ve never met her,” I say. “Father and Grandmother Pearl don’t get along, but his father was a shoemaker like he is. My family has been making shoes in Enchantasia for over sixty years between Father, and my grandfather, and his father. Everyone loves our glass slippers. Or they did before Princess Ella’s fairy godmother started conjuring them.” I roll my eyes. “But now Princess Ella lets Father make them again, and it takes almost a week to make a pair so it’s a real pain, but they’re popular and… I don’t remember your question.”
Professor Sebastian smiles. “Where do you think your family got the idea for such a creation? Glass slippers are fairy shoe originals, passed down from one fairy to another. If the Cobblers know how to make them, then they were likely given that knowledge by a fairy. Possibly a fairy in their own bloodline. Maybe your great-grandparents. Have you ever thought to ask?”
“No,” I scoff. “Because I don’t have wings.” If we had fairy blood, wouldn’t Mother and Father brag about being magical? I can’t recall magic ever being used in our house or at Grandma’s in the woods. I think hard. Has anyone ever mentioned fairies other than in talking about my former roommate, Kayla? “I think you’re wrong about this.”
He smiles, enjoying himself. “I think I’m right. And to prove it, I’m going to give you an assignment. I want you to write to your parents about this.”
Not more homework!
“It’s okay. I don’t need to know either way,” I start to say.
“Yes, you do!” Professor Sebastian insists. “There is a reason you were able to pick up that fairy book and a reason you were able to make the harp come to life in Cloud City. I’m sure of it! And if I can figure it out, then you can be sure Alva and Stiltskin are going to figure it out soon too and come looking for you.”
“Why would they look for me when they have Anna?” I ask quietly. “If I have fairy blood, then she does too.”
“True,” he agrees. “She did make the harp work with you, which would lead me to guess that two fairies in the same bloodline are better than one for the magic they’re looking for. And if that’s true, and they realize it, they’ll want you on their side more than ever before.”
“So I’m doomed?” I ask worriedly.
“Not at all! Your true love for your sister made that harp come alive,” he explains. “While she had ulterior motives, your heart was pure. And in times of war, that can make all the difference. Good always wins in the end, but it can use some help getting there. If you can hold that book, you can help Angelina protect it until she’s done writing it. Think of it as being a police chief for the most important book in the kingdom.” He winks.
I don’t share his enthusiasm. “What good is holding that book going to do? Even if we know how Stiltskin’s story ends, we are no closer to figuring out how to stop him. And now with everyone being so distracted with this wish, he could easily catch us off guard! What if he’s casting his curse as we speak?”
“He’s not,” Professor Sebastian says knowingly. “He doesn’t have what he needs to cast the curse yet, and he’s no closer to finding the ingredients to cast it.”
“How do you know that?” I snap, growing grumpy. Poof! Patty-cakes appear on the desk between us.
Professor Sebastian raises his right eyebrow but doesn’t question their appearance. “I’ve always wanted to try a patty-cake. May I?”
“Be my guest,” I say with a sigh. “The sight of them is starting to make me ill.”
“Hmm, quite sweet. I can see how they’d be appealing.” He takes a few bites, then blots his mouth and puts the rest down. “Want to know why I believe Stiltskin is stalled? And scared?” He looks like a kid lording information.
“How?” I ask.
Professor Sebastian pulls out a wand, and poof! A new book appears. I jump out of my chair in surprise. It’s Angelina’s fairy book about Rumpelstiltskin!
“How? Why? When?” I start to question.
“I am letting him borrow it with my help to read it,” says Angelina, appearing out of the shadows of a bookcase. Kayla’s mom looks well rested and not at all crazed like she did when we last met in the forest that night. She’s wearing a flowy, blue gown that sparkles against her bright yellow hair. “Don’t be frightened of it,” she tells me as her wings flutter softly. “I brought it here so you could both read it. There are few I trust to explore its contents, but I agree with Professor Sebastian. You have a connection to this story too now, Gillian. You tricked him once. You made him believe you had the golden egg. You came close to saving your sister…”
“And failed,” I finish.
“You were tricked yourself,” Angelina argues. “I came here today so we could share some knowledge. I don’t know much yet, I admit. I have only just written the battle you fought in Cloud City, but I do know if Alva is awake, she isn’t at full strength. Not even close. And Rumpelstiltskin has no clue what ingredients he needs to cast a curse as ambitious as yours.” She smiles. “What I’m saying is, time is on our side. We don’t have to act rash out of fear. We can figure things out.”
“That’s good,” I agree. “Because people aren’t themselves right now.”
Angelina laughs. “Oh, I heard about the wish. Even Kayla is affected. But I was here, so I guess I, too, am immune.” She pushes the book toward me. “Why don’t you take a little time reading what I’ve written so far?”
I stare at the book in front of me. Read about what happened in Cloud City again? What Anna did to me? I close my eyes tight. I’m not sure I could bear it. Maybe it will help, or maybe it will hurt more. “No, I don’t think I want to…yet.”
Angelina and Professor Sebastian look at each other. “Okay,” she says. “We won’t force you. For now, why don’t you concentrate on finding out your family history. It would be better for you to know now, before your sister figures it out herself. We can always meet again soon. Maybe then you’ll be ready.”
“Maybe,” I say. “Thank you for trusting me,” I add. I know Professor Sebastian always expects us to be polite.
Angelina wands the book toward her, and she disappears into thin air.
Professor Sebastian looks at me with interest. “You’re free to go, but you still have to do your homework.”
I groan. I’m about to complain when the doors to his chamber burst open. AG is back in human form, and she has Maxine with her.
“Guess what?” Maxine cries, her face flush. “It was just announced! Fairy Tale Reform School is putting on a musical!”