“Let me out!” The pixie complained through the glass looking up at Bryson in anger. Bryson ignored her as he along with the others moved through the forest.

“You can’t be doing this! I’m a powerful fairy!” She shouted.

“Shout anymore and everyone in this forest will hear you.” Bryson muttered.

“The noise is an issue.” Florence said.

“Maybe if I shake the bottle, she’ll shut up.” Bryson threatened, staring at the pixie.

“Eep!” The pixie shrank back.

“Hey.” Lottie said tapping at the glass to get the attention of the pixie.

“Bryson’s dad is hunting for you. Would you rather his dad take you instead?” Lottie asked sweetly.

The pixie’s eyes widened, and she rapidly shook her head. Lottie looked over to Bryson and gave him a wink. Bryson simply gave an unimpressed grunt, and they now moved with far less noise.

***

Viola waited outside Sable’s door. Tapping her fingers on the wall impatiently as she waited for the doctor to exit out. Finally after what felt like an eternity the doctor emerged from Sable’s room.

Viola looked at the doctor expectantly, awaiting an answer.

“Lady Sable is stable. She’s still unconscious, but her breathing is now steady. All we can do is wait and let her sleep.” The doctor said, “Where are Duke and Duchess Coldwater?”

“They’re… preoccupied. Trying to help her. Father will be back by sundown to reassess the situation.” Viola said, “Can I see her?”

“Of course, I’ll be back later to check up on her. We’ve already informed Duke and Duchess Coldwater, but be warned, the way the spell is, if she remains like this for longer than a day or two. It will start to damage her body. To what extent, we do not know, all we can do right now is wait for her to be cured.” The doctor said solemnly leaving.

Viola watched the doctor leave before she entered Sable’s room. Closing the door behind her she looked around the room. Looking around she realized that she’d never been inside Sable’s room before.

It was so much simpler compared to Viola’s room, smaller too. Though it was still bigger than some people’s homes. It also lacked the furniture and decorations that her siblings had.

To be fair, Bryson’s room was filled with various action figures, books, games and collectables, while Gilles’s was littered with combat gear and weapons. So their rooms tended to look busier than normal. Still, it was weird to see so few things in her room.

Approaching the sleeping Sable, she looked to be in much better condition than she was before. Viola could see the slow rise and fall of Sable’s calm breathing as she looked almost peaceful in her state.

Viola flicked a finger and a nearby chair slid next to the bed. Sitting down on it Viola looked over to Sable.

“You probably can’t hear me. But I’m still going talk to you.” She said softly.

Taking a deep breath Viola said, “I’m sorry for not listening to you more often. I’m sorry for how you always get forgotten.”

“I’m sorry for not being able to do anything to help you.” Viola said gripping her knees, “Please stay strong Sable, Bryson’s coming.” Viola said with a small laugh, “I know you don’t like him. I’ll be honest our little brother is pretty annoying.”

Sable continued to be unresponsive as Viola kept talking, “But his hearts in the right place. And he tries his best. So, wait and believe in him. He’s not that bad of a brother.”

***

“Stop.” Lottie whispered, scouting ahead of the other two.

Bryson and Florence stopped. Bryson clutched the bottle in his hands extra hard.

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“What’s going on? I can’t see.” The pixie whispered.

“Shut up.” Bryson hissed back before turning back to Lottie, “What’s going on? I can’t see.”

“Uh… your dad.” Lottie said.

“What?” Bryson asked eyes widening.

“What?” The pixie asked shrinking back in the bottle.

“Okay seriously, why are you so scared of my father?” Bryson asked.

“Because he’s Alexander Coldwater.”

“You know who he is? How? You’re from another plane.” Bryson said.

The pixie in response shut her mouth and avoided eye contact. Bryson gave an annoyed grumble before asking Lottie, “What’s happening?”

“Your dad set up a camp, people are all around ahead and is giving orders.” Lottie said.

“We’ll have to move around. It’ll be difficult to not get noticed.” Florence said.

“Then be careful.” Bryson said.

Suddenly from the trees emerged a royal guard. The three of them were too preoccupied with discussing amongst themselves to notice the guard approaching. It was only when he spotted the three when Lottie noticed.

“Uh oh.” Lottie said.

Immediately Florence and Bryson spun around. Bryson’s eyes widened in shock, then his brows furrowed as he recognized who it was.

“Reese?”

“Lord Bryson? What are you doing here? Is that the pixie?” Nico asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Hey Nico! What’s going on?” A voice behind them called out.

Bryson pressed his finger to his lip. Pleading at Nico with his eyes to keep quiet.

Nico thought for a second before opening his mouth, “Nothing, coming back!” Nico before turning back mouthed to Bryson ‘Good luck’.

As Nico disappeared once more the group breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m surprised Sir Reese let us go.” Florence said.

“Credit to Reese. He knows when to keep his mouth shut.” Bryson said.

“I think it’s because he likes you.” Lottie said.

“Hmm.” Bryson grunted unconvinced, “Let’s get going before someone notices we’re missing.”

As group made their way halfway past the camp, his father began to move. Wordlessly Duke Coldwater moved in their direction. The trio immediately froze in place, as they stared intently through the snowy bushes they watched as he neared.

As he stopped mere footsteps away, Bryson low on the ground stared at his father’s black snow boots and waited. His father simply stood there for a few agonizing seconds.

Moving next to Duke Coldwater was Phillip who seemed to whisper something to him.

“We’re moving. The pixie is not far.” Duke Coldwater’s voice boomed out. Immediately people began to pack up the camp and he turned around and left bushes.

As Bryson watched the two leave, Bryson swore that he and Phillip made eye contact and wink at him. Yep, time to leave. He decided.

***

“If you’re not going to give me up to your dad then what are you planning?” The pixie asked as the group kept moving forward. Now well past the search party they now were able to talk freely as they moved. The manor was near, and they had no more obstacles to deal with.

“You really have no idea what’s going on do you?” Bryson asked the pixie.

“No, I don’t. Why are you all after me? What do you want!” The pixie demanded.

“Father wants your wings.”

“I’ve gathered that. I would rather not give them, it’ll kill me.” The pixie said unamused, “Wait you don’t want my wings?”

“Not sure honestly.” Bryson admitted. He wasn’t actually sure what he was going to do with her. He wasn’t sure if there was even another option in order to save Sable.

“What do you know about curses?” Florence asked peering into the bottle.

“Uh, not much why?”

“Hmm.” Florence said with a troubled look on her face.

“ ‘Hmm?’ What do you mean ‘hmm’? What’s going on?” The pixie asked getting more agitated inside the bottle. She had a horrible knot in her stomach.

“It’s Bryson’s sister, Sable. She’s been cursed.” Florence answered.

“What?” The pixie breathed.

“Yeah, and you’re the cure. Divine pixie dust.” Bryson said.

The pixie’s eyes went wide as she looked downwards and seemed to be talking to herself, “So that’s what they’re planning. I’m a sacrifice. Oh, no no no no…”

“Hey!” Lottie said trying to get her attention, tapping at the bottle, “Calm down, nothing is going to happen. We just need your help.” She said gently, trying to calm the agitated fairy.

“Do you have any idea of some curse where the only cure is your wing?”

“No, I said I don’t know anything about curses!”

“Don’t you use magic and you’re a divine being? You’re saying you know absolutely nothing. Never even heard of it? How?” Bryson said angrily, tilting the bottle violently.

“Bryson.” Florence warned as the pixie fell backwards in a yelp.

Bryson ignored her as he continued to berate the pixie, “You realize that you’ve been placed here as a sacrifice, right? You’re pawn in whoever’s game!”

“I know!” The pixie shouted back, “I know exactly what’s going on and I’m just a minor nuisance about to get cleaned up!” As she shouted her wings gave an angry flap before she spoke in a calmer voice, “I heard of curses before. Not one that needs divine pixie dust.”

“So you have no idea what this curse could be?” Florence asked.

“Not from just this.” The pixie said, “What even happened to your sister?”

“She just collapsed, now she’s in a coma.” Bryson said.

The pixie thought for a moment, “Effects sound pretty normal, but from what’s going on up there. This sounds like a custom-made spell.”

“What do you mean up there?” Florence asked.

“I would rather not say.” The pixie said, “Uh, Bryson could you please take me to Miss Primrose?”

“Where do you think we’re headed? Also how do you know about her?”

“It’s complicated.” The pixie said, “It would be easier to explain if you have both of us explain. ”

Bryson simply glared at the pixie in silence. His eyes drifted to Florence who gave him a blank look back. He then looked over to Lottie.

“We can wait a bit longer, right?” Lottie said with a shrug.

“Hmph. Fine.” Bryson agreed begrudgingly.

“Okay look, I have an idea of who the culprit is, but I’m unlikely to fix the issue. So while I do appreciate the effort, why not just take my wings?”

“Because I’m hoping for a miracle.” Bryson said simply looking towards his home.

“Huh.” Was all the pixie replied as she silently watched as Bryson carried her forward.