Chapter 3
Six Years Later
Saxon watched his older brother pace in front of him, the usual calm demeanor of the elf gone, replaced with the unmistakable tension of someone struggling against something far beyond their control.
“What’s wrong this time?” Saxon asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Despite his youthful curiosity, there was an underlying worry—something that wasn’t lost on him.
Erin stopped abruptly, his frustration evident. “Why is it taking her this long?” he muttered under his breath. His hands clenched into fists, and his eyes seemed to burn with a quiet anger.
Saxon raised an eyebrow. “Who did you fight with this time?” His tone was playful, but he knew better than anyone that his older brother had a tendency to push people when it came to her—Lisa.
Erin scowled at his younger brother, fully prepared to smack him over the head, but the mischievousness in Saxon’s face made him pause. He sighed deeply, then slumped onto the couch beside him, rubbing his temples.
“You are dense, aren’t you?” Erin muttered, his voice laden with frustration. “Don’t you have something else to do?”
Saxon chuckled, flopping back on the couch beside Erin. “Not really. What’s wrong? Haven’t seen you like this since we were kids, bro.”
Erin’s gaze darkened, his eyes filled with a distant pain. “I saw Lisa.”
Saxon’s brows shot up in surprise. “That’s not surprising. If Kai hadn’t caught you all those years ago, I’m sure you would’ve kept stalking her.”
“I told her to come home,” Erin replied, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.
Saxon froze. His face reflected a mix of surprise and awe. “You spoke to Lisa? And she spoke back?”
Erin nodded, a soft smile breaking through the tension. It was a rare moment for the usually composed elf. The idea that Lisa had spoken to him after so long—after everything—was more than anyone had hoped for. For the elf brothers, it was a breakthrough of sorts, a tiny spark of hope.
“When was this?” Saxon pressed, leaning forward with sudden urgency.
“Six years ago,” Erin said, his eyes flickering with the memory. “You saw the news article—they broke up. She should have come straight home.”
Saxon’s expression faltered. “She doesn’t even remember who we are. What made you think she would remember the way home?”
Erin frowned, the frustration building again. “Lisa’s been through hell. But somehow—no matter how hard she tries to bury it—she always sees me for who I am. Maybe it’s a fairy thing. Maybe it’s just fate.”
Before Saxon could respond, Erin’s phone beeped, interrupting their conversation. He stood, his demeanor shifting instantly. “It’s time to put my plan into play,” he muttered, excusing himself from the room.
Saxon watched his brother go, a mixture of concern and admiration in his eyes. It was clear that Erin would stop at nothing to bring Lisa back, even if it meant facing the very dark forces that had torn them apart.
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Lisa
I breathed in a deep breath of fresh air, savoring the sensation as the cool breeze hit my face. Stretching my stiff body, I gave James an evil eye. He grinned sheepishly, hopping off the plane.
“You’ve really got a knack for making everything a pain, huh?” I muttered, shaking my head. Flying business class with my full team had been a mistake.
James chuckled nervously. “What’s your problem? You’ve got to admit, it’s better than flying economy.”
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I gave him a pointed look. “For you maybe. But not for me. This will be the last time I trade in my first-class ticket.”
James laughed, but I could see the glint of nervousness in his eyes. They never understood why I did what I did, but I was used to it. The price of fame, or in my case, infamy.
“So, you joining us for drinks later?” James asked, a playful tone in his voice. “Or are you going to keep being the buzzkill?”
Rolling my eyes, I picked up my suitcase and checked my phone. No urgent messages, as usual. Despite being so well-known, it seemed like no one ever really reached out.
“After the flight I just had, James, my drinks better be on you,” I quipped.
He chuckled. “You got it! I’ll even throw in a round of shots. We’ll have some fun, yeah?”
“Sure,” I sighed. “I’ll come for the social interaction. But after one drink, I’m out. I can’t handle more than that anymore.”
“Fine, fine. But you're coming out, right?” He was persistent.
I waved my team off and headed back to my office. As I booted up my laptop, I checked my inbox, hoping—praying—that there might be something there for me. But as expected, nothing. I was used to it by now.
Sighing, I left the office and made my way to the Fable. It was the only place I could find some semblance of peace amidst the chaos of my life.
When I arrived, I spotted my team already deep into their third round. They seemed surprised when I tapped their table with my business card.
“Next round’s on me,” I said, with a smirk. It earned me a loud cheer, and I went to the bar to grab their drinks. Sitting back down with my team, I watched them laugh, carefree and oblivious to the weight of the world that seemed to always be hanging over me.
Humans. So simple, so unburdened.
I observed them—James, Jess, Nick, Rico, and Juan. Each one so different, yet so alike in their ability to ignore the harshness of reality. They lived without fear, without hesitation. Sometimes I envied them for it.
But not tonight. Tonight, I just wanted to go home.
As I prepared to leave, I flagged down the bartender for a glass of water. I was almost done for the night when a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.
“I know you. You’re Lisa Paul, right?”
I turned, and my heart skipped a beat. The man standing next to me had a grin that reminded me too much of someone I once knew. My mind raced, trying to place him, but I couldn't.
“I don’t think I’ve caught your name,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I only have you saved as Sandy’s assistant.”
His grin widened. “That’s fair. This might sound creepy, but Sandy’s expecting you.”
My stomach twisted. Sandy. The name hit me like a cold rush of wind, but I couldn’t place why it made me feel so unsettled. “What?”
“We’ve been here all week, waiting for you. The information said you’d be back.” He paused for a moment. “You should come see him.”
I felt an odd mixture of apprehension and curiosity, but something about the way he spoke—something in his tone—told me I had no choice. He wasn’t asking. He was giving an order.
I followed him through a hidden passage in the bar to a quiet back room, one I didn’t even know existed. The dim lighting made everything feel like a secret. As I stepped through the door, there was a faint hum in the air, almost like the vibrations of magic, the kind that lingered just beneath the surface.
When Sandy saw me, he greeted me with a sad smile, and I sat across from him, the tension between us palpable. The faint scent of rain hung in the air, mingling with something deeper—something ancient.
“Donald, get us a drink,” Sandy instructed.
“Nothing alcoholic,” I replied quickly. “I can’t drink anymore.”
“Of course,” he said, before turning to his assistant.
As the assistant left, our eyes met, and for a moment, I thought I saw something sparkle in his gaze. I shook it off, but the feeling lingered.
“Your assistant said you’ve been waiting for me all week. Why?” I asked, trying to stay calm.
“I have some information to pass on,” Sandy said. “I’ve been trying to contact you all week. But I thought since your team was regular here, I might have a better shot tonight.”
I frowned, puzzled. “Whoever gave you that info didn’t know I was in France for the past three months.”
Sandy sighed, shaking his head. “That explains it.” He reached into his folder and pulled out a small, thin brochure. My fingers trembled as I traced the face on the cover.
“When is this happening?” I asked, my voice betraying my shock.
“In two weeks. By the look of the interview lineups, everyone will be home for this.” Sandy’s voice softened. “The trees have missed you, your majesty. Your father doesn’t have much time left.”
A chill ran down my spine as I gripped the flyer tightly in my hand. My father. The trees. It was all coming back—the memories, the pull, the magic.
I felt a tingle at the base of my spine, the air in the room thickening with unspoken words. The magic had always been a part of me, but it had faded into the background for so long. Now, it was rising again, pushing to the surface as the ties of the past pulled me closer to my true home.