The corridor was dark and cold and the click of Mist’s heels echoed throughout it. There were no windows and it was made of black stone. Mist looked around at the portraits on the walls; portraits of famous pixies and their stories. She stopped to look at Patterson, the creator of the weed, Patterson’s Curse. Beneath his name, his story read:
Judged for being the first homosexual faerie, Patterson grew angry at the Faerie Court when they told him he was no longer allowed to use his powers, for his sexual preference was unusual. He cursed them with an evil purple flower that they would never be rid of until they apologised. Patterson died in 1804, never getting his apology. The flower remains and has spread to the Free World.
Mist shuddered at the thought of him and quickly moved on from his portrait. There were other faeries too, good and bad. She glanced at them all as she passed them. Finally, after a long walk, Mist reached the end wall. She knocked on the great oak door.
“Enter,” a female voice answered. The door opened and Mist stepped into a small, low-ceilinged room with a fire, a small bookcase and a desk that had a woman sitting at it. The woman was slender with very prominent cheekbones and brown hair that had been messily tied into a bun. She had small glasses that sat at the tip of her nose for a superior look.
“Sit,” she ordered. Mist did as she was told, sitting on a tattered arm chair. “Immisteria Franzie?” Mist nodded. The woman opened a folder and began looking through it. “Hmmm… Right. Well I must say we are very impressed with you, Immisteria,” she said.
“Thank you, Mistress Ebony,” Mist answered. Ebony nodded as she looked through the folder some more.
“You are very lucky,” she said, “as we have just been informed of a mission to the Free World. There have been sightings of one of the Stones of Eline down there. We have already sent several pixies there, but so far… nothing.” She closed the folder and put it on a pile of other folders. “The thing is, we feel that because it’s the stone of your family, you might have more luck.” Mist nodded in agreement but said nothing. She was nervous, unsure of what she could say. Ebony looked her up and down. “You are the daughter of Sychristis and Darrientus Franzie, correct?” Mist nodded again. “You certainly have qualities of your mother. As for your father, you look nothing like him.” Mist had nothing to say, so she again nodded. She didn’t like the way Ebony was surveying her.
She looked at her feet, which were dressed in black, pointed high-heels. Ebony gave a weary sigh. “We are impressed,” Ebony repeated, “but we still must ask you some questions, just so we know you are truly knowledgeable.” Mist nodded yet again to show she understood. “You are aware of the difference between a faerie and a fairy?” Ebony asked. Mist bit her lip, unsure of whether she was correct with her answer.
“Is it not just that it is different ways of spelling the same word?”
“That is incorrect. Humans think the same, but they are foolish and know nothing of our world. Faerie is the collective term of pixies, sprites, angels and fairies. Fairies, on the other hand are part of the collective term. The difference in pronunciation cannot be heard to the human ear.” Mist gulped, feeling idiotic. “Next question; are you aware of the importance of angels?” Relieved that she knew the answer, Mist let go of the breath she had been holding.
“Angels are the rulers of all faeries,” Mist replied, using the term she had just learnt. “They come down from heaven on a golden staircase every four years to check on the other faeries. They are said to be employed by God and if any other faerie is doing wrong they are damned to hell or sent to the Underworld. They are the most important creatures of our existence.” Ebony nodded to show Mist was correct.
“Well, Mist, I can’t really describe how much we need someone like you. Excellent posture, highly trained in the art of karate, extremely good marks in all subjects at Magic and Flying schools. I must say you would be perfect for the job.” Mist smiled and stood to leave. “Ah, before you go, Immisteria, I’ll need you to sign a few forms.”
“Of course. Anything you need.” She quickly scrawled her name on several pieces of paper. “Thank you for the job, ma’am. When can I begin work?”
“Well, we’re starting the mission in two days. I’ll need you to pack clothes that are similar to what the average human would wear. Can you do that?” Mist looked down at the clothes she was wearing. A green silk blouse and a long white skirt.
“I can only try. But I am highly trained in magic, remember? It shouldn’t be too hard,” Mist smiled and turned away, feeling very pleased with herself. She was finally doing something she wanted.
Maybe have her give the RIGHT definition? Recite a lesson she learned when she was little? *shrugs*
I like Miss Ebony. More than Misty. The other thing that gave me pause in that sentence was the karate thing.