Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart (9 page)

“Please don't thank me. I really didn't do anything special.”

“It's a beautiful night,” Bella murmured close to his ear as she looked at the stars sparkling brightly from their perches.

Kale giggled.

“Don't breathe in my ear, Fairy, it tickles.”

“Now you remind me of your brothers,” Bella said with a smile.

Kale did not answer, as he had drawn near to the Nuffins' camp fire. Bella's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. In the blackened shadows of the night, in one corner of the Immortal Market's borders, was a gathering of the strangest group of immortals that Bella had ever seen.

Sitting around a blazing fire were witches, goblins, satyrs, centaurs, pixies, trolls, and many more, all talking with great animation. Nuffins lazed around in between the other immortals. Bella looked at the Nuffins scattered in between the other immortals.

“They're so cute,” she whispered to Kale.

He rolled his eyes at her but didn't say anything.

The Nuffins wore blue shirts with rolled necks and dusty red pants. They had brown elfin shoes, which ended in a point at the end, but no socks. On their heads they wore half-acorn shells as hats, their hair tumbling messily around their shoulders. Their long ears flopped down, twining with their hair. On its back, each had two feather-light wings facing up, and two smaller replicas facing down. The Nuffins had small hands with long graceful fingers; wide, expressive eyes, and a broad mouth made for smiling.

But the most intriguing thing about them was their noses, she thought, as she studied the Nuffin nearest to her. Its nose looked like a small button sewn onto its face; it curled around and around in a perfect spiral.
Their mischievous air and playful manner could easily be misunderstood,
Bella thought.
I can understand why they have a reputation for being naughty.

She studied the campsite near her for a sign of the pot, while the immortals talked about the different realms and their activities, some reminiscing about the
old times.
Moving her gaze past the blazing fire that spread its warmth among them, Bella saw it. Hidden away, almost completely covered by a rough woollen sack, but a portion of it catching and reflecting the golden radiance from the fire's embrace.

Bella whispered to Kale: “The pot is just beyond the fire.”

Kale nodded his head and moved closer. The group around the fire saw him, and called out greetings and invitations to join them. Bella held her breath as he answered their greetings, and lowered himself down beside them, leaning his body weight back on one arm. He moved his other hand up to his shoulder, making as if to scratch an itch. Bella grabbed hold of his outstretched finger, and held on with all her strength as Kale lowered it to the floor.

Bella looked carefully around her; once more she wondered how the land fairies made their way around, from here on the floor it would be far too easy to be stepped on.

Quickly she began to weave her way between the immortals, ensuring that she didn't get too close. Making her way over to the fire, she carefully withdrew the parchment that Nurch had given her, unrolled it and looked at the words written on it. Memorising them, she put the parchment away and headed for the pot, only to discover as she skirted the fire that a Nuffin was taking a nap on the other side.

Giving a mental groan, she carefully inched forward, thankful for the laughter and chatter that would disguise any noises she might make. Bella put her hand on the pot and slowly began to wriggle it towards her.

The Nuffin snuffled in his sleep. Bella froze. When he made no movement, she gave another firm tug. The pot inched forward again. The Nuffin stirred and one eye popped open.

Bella held her breath, forgetting for the moment that he couldn't see her.

The Nuffin groaned and rolled over, away from the sack. Bella decided not to push her luck by tugging the pot completely free, instead she chose to recite the words she'd memorised.

Leprechauns luck,

Become unstuck,

Return to whence you came.

The Nuffin groaned as if she was disturbing him with her whispers.

Bella froze again. The Nuffin quietened his move–ments and lay still. In the quietest of whispers, she uttered the last words:

Back to the Hollow, there you shall stay,

Let nothing detain or stand in your way.

As she uttered the last words, two things happened at once. The pot shimmered brightly for a moment and promptly disappeared, and the Nuffin abruptly sat up, his eyes wide open and staring at the exact spot where Bella crouched down, as if he could really see her. When she felt the stir from the immortals behind her and heard their whispers, she realised that Kale's invisibility dust had worn off.

The Nuffin she had disturbed stood up, pointed at her and yelled at the top of his voice: “THE FAIRY STOLE OUR PRETTY POT.”

Bella shook her head in denial she tried to explain above the rising voices that she was not a thief. Nobody heard her. She shivered as the immortals and Nuffin's gathered closer, pressing her in, surrounding her.

Kale reached his hand down and picked her up, holding her within his palm as before, except this time his fingers were securely wrapped around her. In a deep voice he scolded them, “Could a tiny fairy like this pick up a big pot and drag it away without any of us seeing it?”

The crowd hushed and he could see they were starting to listen to him.

“If she had taken it, would she come back here? I don't think so.”

He shook his head at them.

Some of the others began to nod their heads in agreement, but the now very much awake Nuffin jumped up and down.

“I saw her, I saw her,” he shouted.

Another Nuffin came forward.

“Simmer down Sammy, tell me what you saw,” he demanded.

Sammy lowered his head.

“Well, I didn't exactly see her, BUT … I did hear her saying something under her breath,” he finished off.

The Nuffin looked at Sammy for a long time and then he turned his gaze to Bella.

“It doesn't look like this fairy could drag a twig, never mind a pot,” he said staring at her. “If you would be so kind, Fairy, please tell us what you were doing. Why does Sammy think you stole our pot?”

All of the immortals were now staring at Bella. Still held within Kale's big hand, she said, “I didn't steal the pot, Mr Nuffin, but I did chant a returning spell that took it back to its rightful owners.”

“So you did take it from us,” he demanded.

“Oh no, Mr Nuffin, the pot was stolen from the leprechauns, and I was just returning it to them.”

“We needed that pot, Fairy,” he said sternly, shaking his finger at her.

The Nuffins gathered together in a circle, whispering loudly to each other.

Bella looked at Kale, who whispered, “Sorry the dust wore off, Bella.”

She smiled, “That's alright, Kale. If you don't mind putting me down, I think I'll slip away while they're busy arguing. I'm not sure what they're planning but it doesn't sound pleasant, and I don't have a lot of time now.”

Kale grinned, lowered her to the ground again, and reached into his pocket for the pouch. He pulled out some more invisibility dust. Looking around to ensure that the others were busy, he sprinkled it on her head.

“Go on, get out of here,” he whispered.

Bella giggled and several of the Nuffins and other immortals turned towards Kale.

“Where's the fairy?” Sammy asked.

Bella stopped just long enough to hear Kale saying calmly, “Now there will be none of that now. These Nuffins were naughty; they pinched something that didn't belong to them. The fairy was just doing the right thing. So you leave well enough alone now.”

Bella headed back to the entrance to the markets. Although she was still invisible, it appeared that the werewolves could sense her, sniffing the air, then nodding their heads in acknowledgement as she stepped through the invisible doorway. She inched her way away from them, hurrying to where she had left Teague.

It wasn't until she was well past them that she breathed easily again. She walked softly towards where Teague was waiting and stopped before him. She put her arm around him, and he all but shot out of his skin. Of course, she'd forgotten she was invisible!

“Sorry,” she giggled at his reaction. “It's alright Teague. It's me, Bella.”

DON'T DO THAT, BELLA,
he shouted into her mind.
Where are you? I can't see you at all.

Bella laughed out loud as she climbed on to his back. “Let's get back to Nirb and I'll fill you in on the way.”

The sky was lightening as they left the Immortal Markets, and soon it would be day.

When they reached the Hollow, Nirb was waiting for them, pacing up and down, tearing up the soft grass in his wake. Teague glided down and the now–visible Bella slipped off his back.

Nirb sighed in relief, pulling her into his arms for a hug.

“Are ye alright?” he asked, searching her face.

Bella smiled.

“I just realised that I'm made of stronger stuff than I'd thought.”

Nirb laughed, “I've always known so.”

“So, did the pot return home?”

“Oh yes, Bella. Nurch is very happy with ye.”

“So, are you going to go get my sliver then?”

Nirb nodded his head as he brought his stick to the ground, “Be right back, love.”

Bella and Teague sat beneath a mushroom to wait for Nirb, and exhausted by their latest adventure, fell asleep. They woke just as he was arriving.

“Do you have the rainbow sliver for me?” Bella asked.

“Indeed I do,” said Nirb. Putting his hand into his pocket, he withdrew a parcel tied up with brown leather cord.

“Remember, a rainbow sliver will want to return to its kin, so do not open it until you give it to Nemesis,” he warned.

Bella thanked him, and hugged him goodbye. Before he could say anything else, Teague was lifting her skyward, carrying her towards BlackMist Mountain, and an encounter with Nemesis.

11

BlackMist Mountain

B
ella knew that she and Teague must soon part ways. He could not continue this adventure beside her. The thought of facing the mountain without him was daunting.

Bella's thoughts became gloomier the closer she and Teague came to BlackMist Mountain. She knew of no other immortal to have crossed the forbidden realm, and so had no idea what Nemesis would do with him, but she realised that her mortal prince had seen more of the immortal realms than he was allowed to. Bella wondered what he thought about all that he'd seen so far.

Teague landed at the foot of the mountain, and Bella climbed off his back. She kept her hand on his neck, “Teague, thank you for everything that you've done for me,” she whispered to her friend.

Teague moved closer to Bella, who reached out her hand and stroked it down his back.

Am I going to see you again?
he telepathed.

“I don't know,” she sighed. “Thank you for being such a dear friend to me, and remember that I'll always love you. Now I don't want you to be sad. I want you to go back to the fairy haven and present yourself to the fairy queen. Tell her all that has happened and I know that she'll take care of you.”

A tear slipped down her face. Swiping it away with her hand, she gave him a watery smile. “I'm sure that I will see you again.”

Teague nuzzled her hand one last time, and then fluttered his wings.

Be safe Bella,
he whispered into her mind before surging towards the sky. Bella watched until he was no more than a speck between the clouds. The she turned to face the bleak mountain before her.

The Valley Mystic, home of Nemesis the Dragon, was encircled by a ring of sheer mountains. Only one path led into the valley; it wound its way across BlackMist Mountain, a peak both treacherous and mystifying. Bella stood at the base of the accessible side of the mountain and looked up towards the summit. Thick black clouds of smoke were suspended over it, a giant black tablecloth hiding things unseen. The air reeked of burning sulphur, and wisps of steam lifted from the rocky surface.

Bella felt rumbling beneath her feet as the mountain gave a shuddering groan. She wished desperately that she had her wings still. She could feel her heart beating faster and fear tried to lodge itself inside her.

I'm not afraid. I can do this,
she told herself, her face set in determination. Then to the mountain, she said aloud: “My prince needs me. I'm brave, I'm courageous, and I can do this.”

It was night by the time she had begun to climb, and she could barely see her own hand in front of her eyes—the moon was not sharing its light tonight, and the stars were also in hiding.

Bella reached into the bag around her neck, pulled out her light crystal and held it up, allowing its luminescence to drive some of the darkness away. Specks of ash rained down from the peak; the ground was covered in them and they turned her hair to grey as they landed in it. There were huge boulders and rocks along the rough path, and the uneven ground caused her to stumble every now and then. She was tired and dirty, but she couldn't sleep until she reached the other side.

When she was a little more than halfway up the mountain, she sat to rest for a short while, but the ground gave a heaving groan of protest and started to crack open. Great bursts of steam billowed out from crevices small and large, and a huge mushroom-shaped cloud filled with heavy smoke appeared at the top of the mountain. It bulged, burst and began to seep down towards her.

Shocked, Bella stood paralysed with horror as it began to creep towards her. The stench of sulphur was suffocating and the heavy smoke was making her eyes water.

Move, Bella!
came the urgent thought, and her graceful feet obeyed without any interference from her mind. She scrambled upwards around the ooze, into the cloud and smoke and stench, and kept moving until she almost stumbled into a giant hole. Posed on the brink, she stared down into it in terror. Boiling hot lava bubbled and boiled and hissed at her, and the ground beneath her groaned in agony again. Billows of steam heaved and swelled around her, making the air even thicker and more unbreathable.

Bella scrambled back from the edge and then slowly shuffled her way around the narrow mouth of the hole. Ahead she saw a rickety old wooden bridge suspended from two ropes.

I have to cross the volcano on this ridiculous little wooden bridge? Now that is a bit daunting,
she thought.

She grabbed hold of one rope, put her left foot on the first wooden slat and gently eased her weight onto it to test its worth. It groaned and creaked, but held. Bella sucked in her breath, held the rope tightly, and put her right foot in front of the left. The hot lava below her hissed and spat upwards. Slowly, cautiously moving one foot at a time, testing each slat, Bella crossed to the other side, glad to be away from that hell mouth of burning, spitting anger. The tension of the crossing draining away, she breathed deeply, but the air was still fermented with sulphur, and it burnt her throat.

Without the glow from the lava, she was again in darkness, so raising her crystal a little higher, she wearily started walking down the other side of the mountain.