Avalon: Princess

AVALON

Princess

By S.R. Ahuja

Copyright 2018, 2016 S.R. Ahuja

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please visit your favorite ebook retailer to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:

srahuja.author@gmail.com

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my first audience, Mom and Dad. Without your love and support, I never would have had the courage to do something as crazy as write a book.

Preface

The wind pushed Fay toward the street. One stiletto slipped off the curb, and pain shot through her leg as she stumbled into the street. The horn blared as a sedan sped around her.

Fay let out a frustrated grunt as she hobbled back to the sidewalk. Sitting on the curb, she yanked off the offending heels and threw them to the side. Angrily, she pulled out her phone and tapped it furiously.

Where are you??? glared back at her in blue. Just below it was the message Read 11:16.

Anna had read her message over an hour ago and had chosen not to reply.

The wind howled again and pushed her hair into her face. She shoved the curls out of her eyes and thrust the phone back into her purse. She heard the clinking sound of her keys hitting the pavement beside her, but she didn’t pick them up yet. She shivered and wrapped her arms tightly around her torso. It had been stupid of her to wear Anna’s dress. Longingly she thought of her favorite cardigan, sitting on the back of her desk chair at home.

Excuse me.

Fay looked up to see a man standing over her. The anger fled as fear chased through her veins. She thought of the pepper spray buried in her bookbag. Why hadn’t she thought to transfer it to her purse tonight?

She grabbed her keys, holding them in her right hand and surreptitiously slipped her house key in between her third and fourth finger, balling her hand into a fist.

Are you all right? the man asked. He was obviously dressed as some kind of super hero because she could see the shadow of his cape waving in the wind. He was standing with his back to the street lamp, so she couldn’t see his face, but Fay thought he seemed older than her, too old to still be in college, which made her anxious.

I’m fine, was all she said.

The man extended a hand toward her. Do you need help?

What Fay really wanted was for the man to just go away, but he was not taking the hint.

I can do it on my own, thanks, she said coolly.

The hand retreated as the man took a step back. Can I walk you home? It’s late for you to be out all alone.

Fay rose, more steady on her bare feet than she’d been in the stilettos. She pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder and held her shoes tightly in her free hand. Her right still clutched the keys.

I’m fine. My sister is actually meeting me here any minute, she lied, not wanting this stranger to know that no one was waiting for her, no one would notice her absence for hours, possibly days if Anna had found another place to sleep that night.

Is she? he asked.

Fay’s eyes shot straight to the man’s hand as he reached into a pouch he carried at his side. Her only thought was of him pulling out a gun, but instead, when he pulled his hand out of the pouch, he was merely holding what looked like a pinch of dirt.

Without warning, the man tossed the dirt into her face. Fay closed her eyes and gasped, stumbling backward again in shock. She was utterly prepared to scold the man, or possibly slap him across the face, but when she opened her eyes, everything had changed.

The dirt was now glitter falling in spirals to the ground. Although it was still night, everything was brighter. She could see the man more clearly now. He stood at least six inches taller than her with sand colored hair that he had pulled back behind his head. He was not dressed as a superhero but as a knight. The chainmail that he wore glinted softly in the dim light, and a sword shined at his side.

His eyes were what caught and held her. They were warm and dark brown, full of worry and compassion; full of love.

Her arms fell to her sides and her purse slipped from her shoulder, hitting the ground along with her keys and her shoes.

Oh, was all she could say, staring in amazement at the sight before her.

Fay, would you like to come with me to see my home? he asked her.

He extended his hand to her once more, beckoning her forward. She reached out to touch him, but something made her pause. There was a part of her that was buried deep inside, that had been buried since she opened her eyes to this new world. She knew better than this. How many times had she schooled Anna on the dangers of going anywhere alone with a man you had just met? And yet, a bigger part of her, the part that was connected to the warm feeling in this man’s eyes, was telling her that he meant her no harm, that he loved her.

She placed her hand in his. The second their skin touched, the wind stopped blowing, the sounds of the parties raging in the distance ceased, and heat flooded the air around her. Leaving all of her belongings on the sidewalk, she stepped forward and allowed this man to lead her into the night.

On the ground, Fay’s phone buzzed and fell out of the purse. It hit the cement but did not shatter. The streetlight overhead flickered into blackness, but the screen of the phone glowed brightly.

Sorry! Just got home. You will never believe this perv I met. Where are you?

Chapter I

Halloween

Jade kept glancing up at the clock anxiously. She wasn’t allowed to leave the stifling office until the bell rang, but she dreaded going home.

She hated sitting in the chair in the office. Every time someone new came in, they gave her a look that said they knew exactly what she had done even though they really didn’t.

Tommy’s mom had picked him up two hours ago, but Aunt Anna had never come for her. She knew why. Aunt Anna was at work. She worked at the big school down the road, and she couldn’t just leave whenever Jade did something stupid. It used to be that Grandma Molly would have been the one to get the call. She used to wait for Jade at home, but not anymore. She and Grandpa Charlie were in the Home now. They weren’t allowed to come pick up Jade anymore. Now Jade and Aunt Anna had to go to the Home to see them.

The minute hand ticked one minute closer to Jade’s release. She wanted to cry, but she knew that if she did, someone would see and it would surely get back to Tommy, and she could have none of that. So she held back her tears, and watched her life tick by much too quickly.

Mr. Knucke had already called Aunt Anna at work; Mrs. Johnson had told Jade that when she came to give Jade her homework. He’d called Tommy’s mom too. That’s why she’d come to pick him up. Aunt Anna would be furious. Jade was usually a good kid. She got her homework turned in, she helped out Mrs. Johnson after school sometimes, and she even helped her aunt around the house, but she had an awful temper especially when it came to stupid people.

It seemed like only seconds ago that she and Tommy had been on the playground with all the other kids at recess. She refused to give up the swing. It was hers. She had waited in line, and she wasn’t going to give it up just because Tommy wanted it. So, he started talking. The more he said, the angrier she got until finally, she dug her heels into the dirt, got off the swing, and walked right up to him. He was grinning happily because he thought he’d won. That was when Jade’s fist had met his face.

The bell rang right over her head. Jade leapt from her chair, grabbed her jacket and book bag, and high tailed it out of the office before Mr. Knucke could call her back into his office. The short walk from the school to the house went quickly. A little golden light followed right behind her, singing nonsense words in the prettiest little bell voice.

Jade couldn’t remember the first time she had seen Lali. She had just always been there. Aunt Anna called her Jade’s imaginary friend. Jade didn’t blame Aunt Anna for thinking Lali was imaginary because Lali was very shy. She only ever came around when Jade was alone and needed someone to play with.

She was a nice little fairy, but she was always getting Jade into trouble. On her way home, Lali kept going on and on about all the things she would have done to Tommy if she’d been there. Jade ignored her mostly. Nothing Lali could say was going to make her feel better because she knew exactly what Aunt Anna was going to say when she got home.

She dumped the contents of her book bag out on the floor of the living room as soon as she entered the house and went to the kitchen. She filled her backpack with snacks, and then grabbed her journal off the counter where she had left it that morning. She didn’t say a word or even acknowledge Lali as she walked out to the woods. She followed the trail that she herself had worn through the trees to the small clearing with a circle of mushrooms and sat down with her back leaning against her favorite tree.

She took out a pencil and opened her journal, but she did not start drawing. She just sat there and waited as the sun crept closer and closer toward the ground.

Jade Elizabeth Green! Aunt Anna called all too soon. You get in this house this instant!

Jade stood up, dropping her journal in the dirt where she had sat. She did not pick it up. Leaving her book bag there too, she started trudging back toward the house. She walked as slowly as she could, but soon enough she had broken through the line of trees and could see Aunt Anna standing at the kitchen door, arms crossed, still dressed in her work clothes with her ID badge hanging around her neck. Lali left her side the moment Aunt Anna called her name, so Jade approached her aunt alone.

Aunt Anna stepped back to allow Jade to walk into the house first. Jade went in and sat at the kitchen table. Her feet dangled several inches above the ground. She examined her feet closely, picking out every speck of dirt, trying to pretend like Aunt Anna wasn’t glaring a hole through the top of her head. She heard the other chair squeal against the linoleum as it was pulled back.

Well, Aunt Anna began, do you want to tell me your side of the story?

Jade squirmed in her seat. It wasn’t my fault…

Stop right there. She held up her hand to silence Jade. "I’ve already spoken with Ms. Johnson and Mr. Knucke. I’m giving you the chance to tell me what happened not whose fault it is."

Jade glanced up at her aunt’s face. She wasn’t smiling. Her eyebrows were drawn together, but she didn’t look angry; she looked sad. Jade couldn’t stand it much long than a few seconds. She had to look away.

I punched Tommy Tinkus during recess, Jade admitted to her sneakers.

I’ve gathered as much. Do you want to tell me why?

Jade glanced up and back down again. He said that magic wasn’t real, and he said that I was stupid for believing it was.

Aunt Anna sighed heavily. Jade, we’ve been over this before, and this is not the first time a kid has said that to you. Why did you punch Tommy? You know physical violence is just unacceptable.

Because… Jade said defiantly and then trailed off.

Aunt Anna didn’t say anything. She just waited for Jade to continue.

Jade sighed and finally all of her pent up words came rushing out of her in one long breath. Because when he said magic wasn’t real and I was stupid for believing in it I told him that it was real and that grownups like you knew it was real and he was the stupid one and then he said that if you thought magic was real then you were even stupider than me and I would have been better off living with my druggie mom who didn’t even want me. As she said the last words, tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Mr. Knucke didn’t mention that part, Aunt Anna said quietly.

I didn’t tell Mr. Knucke that part.

Jade, come here, Aunt Anna said, opening her arms to her.

Jade jumped off her chair and rushed into her aunt’s open embrace.

No longer angry, she said, That was an awful thing for Tommy to say, but you know it’s not true. You and I have talked about your mom. You know that she would have kept you if she could and that she loved you very much.

Jade buried her face in Aunt Anna’s chest and nodded silently.

But there is no excuse for using your fists, Jade. You know better. Aunt Anna was quiet for a long time while she slowly rocked Jade back and forth. You know this means no trick-or-treating this year.

Please! Aunt Anna! Jade begged, looking up at her. Halloween is my favorite! Please don’t make me miss it!

I’m sorry, Jade, but this behavior is not acceptable and you are not leaving this house again tonight.

Jade climbed off her aunt’s lap and backed away from her until her back was against the kitchen wall. She slid down to sit on the floor, staring at Aunt Anna, letting the betrayal spread from her heart through every part of her.

In fact, Jade, I think it’s time that you and I have a talk about our fairytales. She stopped to take a breath before she kept going. This world is a wondrous place, and I see little bits of magic all the time. Do you remember when we saw that baby bunny? That was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen, but the magic in the stories… the fairies, the sorceresses, the magical worlds… Jade… do you know the difference between real and imaginary?

Yes, Jade said quickly. Real means that it is something I can see or something that really happened and imaginary is just pretend.

Aunt Anna nodded. The story you told me just now about you and Tommy, was that real or pretend?

Real, Jade said definitively.

And the story that your principal told me, that you punched Tommy on the playground, was that real or pretend?

Jade had to think this time. Real, but he didn’t know everything that happened.

Aunt Anna nodded again. And, the story of Princess Lunette and her magical kingdom, is that real or pretend?

Jade was quiet for a long while before she finally said, That story is true.

Aunt Anna didn’t nod this time. Jade, that story isn’t something that really happened. The dragons, the unicorns, the monsters, they are all just pretend.

No, Jade shook her head. It’s true. You told me it was true.

"It’s fun to pretend that stories like that are true, but at the end of the day, Jade, you need to understand that it is just pretend. Fairies and dragons and goblins, they’re not real, Jade. You are fighting with your classmates over something so small as a bedtime story."

Aunt Anna reached out to her, but Jade didn’t move. She stared at Aunt Anna, not fully understanding. Fairies were real. Jade had proof. Out in the forest, not a mile away, there was a very real fairy waiting for her. She knew that. She knew it.

Fairies are real, Jade said, slowly rising with her back still pressed against the wall.

No, Jade. Aunt Anna did not smile. She stared at Jade, and her dark green eyes, the eyes that Jade shared, turned hard and cold. They’re not.

You’re lying. Jade shook her head. Why are you lying?

I’m not lying… Aunt Anna began.

No! Jade closed her eyes and shook her head. "Fairies are real. I know they’re real! Why are you lying to me?!"

Jade…

Jade felt Aunt Anna’s hands brush her arms. She threw her hands against the sides of her head, covering her ears to block out anything else she might say.

No! Jade screamed. Her eyes flew open. Aunt Anna was crouching right in front of her, stroking her face with her hands.

No! she cried again. Pushing her aunt to the floor, she took off running out of the kitchen door and ran straight for the forest. It was dark now, but Jade knew the path well. She could hear Aunt Anna calling her name hysterically from behind; she could hear her heavy footfalls too, but they were fading as Jade gained distance on her, and she just kept running. Soon enough, Lali appeared alongside her.

She ran for only a minute before she reached her favorite tree. With one hand, she grabbed her backpack and with the other she grabbed