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Being a witch came with many risks.
It was dangerous, many people wanted to control witches to use their magical abilities for the potential advantages – protection spells, wealth spells, love spells, divination. Some people just didn’t trust witches, not wanting them to bring trouble to their homes and families. But it wasn’t just humans that witches had to look out for. There were also the fae, who had a reputation for kidnapping any witch they found. What happened to those witches? No one knew, but it couldn’t have been good.
But despite all that, Niki still refused to turn away from her craft. Witchcraft was an important part of who she was, and she wouldn’t deny that part herself just because it was dangerous. That didn’t mean she would be risky, she was no fool. She knew how to protect herself from fae, which was why she was setting up wards right now with the Ring of Fire Protection Spell.
She was sitting in the center of a ring of six candles, a ring of black salt circled around her as well. She had enough room to move around a little bit, and a long match to light the candles. Niki took a deep breath, lit the match, and begun the spell with the first candle in front of her.
“With this candle, I focus my intent, protect me from all that would harm,” Niki said as she lit the first candle.
Niki moved on to the next candle, “With this candle, I call peace into my life, give me tranquility and safety from the chaos of the world.”
“With this candle, I call energy to my work, may my spell be strong when I am weak and shield me when I need it most,” Niki said as she lit the third candle.
“With this candle, I add strength and stability, may my spell be unwavering in its protection,” the fourth candle was lit.
Niki continued with the fifth candle, “With This candle, I make my shields adaptable and versatile, any threat aimed at me shall fail.”
Finally, it was the last last candle, “I call upon the power of the sun, with this final candle I seal my ward! Protect me from all that would harm!”
With that, Niki returned to facing the first candle and she spent more time mediating on the spell, channeling more of her magic into building up a powerful ward. It was not the only ward she intended to have on her person, but it was still important to make sure each ward was as powerful as it could be. This spell was one based around the fire element, the element she had the strongest connection to, so she knew it would be her most powerful ward if she was careful.
Though, she hoped she wouldn’t be testing her wards. She always played things safe, keeping out of sight and avoiding any attention. But she would not get too confident, she would not fall like so many witches before her had. Just because somewhere seemed safe that didn’t mean it was. You could never trust your eyes when it came to the threat of fae.
Niki shook her head to clear her thoughts – she needed to focus on protection if she wanted this spell to work.
She would not allow fear to cloud her judgment.
The beginning of the autumn season was known as the time when plants began to die, where the leaves on trees began to change to color from green to red, orange and yellow. It was a beautiful time of the year in Niki’s opinion, a glorious sight to be cherished by all. But despite most of the plants wilting under autumn’s chill, there were still certain plants and herbs that thrived in those conditions. So Niki would have to head out if she wanted to keep her herb stocks full before winter buried everything in snow.
Sage, mint, bay laurel, thyme, rosemary and lavender were all herbs that were used in many different kinds of spells, so it was important to make sure that she had plenty on hand. So that was why Niki was prepared to head out into the forest that surrounded her home. She planned to head out during the day, autumn and winter were the seasons of the Unseelie Court, so avoiding anything dark would be in her best interest.
Niki was also dressed in a way that would help her avoid attracting unwanted attention. A dull, brown colored cloak with a nice, large hood, a warm blouse in a beige color, a long brown skirt and a tan colored apron. A simple belt around her waist with plenty of pouches and pockets for storing things. All incredible dull in color, and enough to be completely boring to the eyes of a fae. With the finishing touch of nice, brown scarf to tie around her head and cover her hair. Blonde hair would just be far too tempting for the fae to pass up, she couldn’t risk them seeing that.
Before she headed out, there was just one last thing she needed to do. A quick three-card tarot reading. It would allow her to get a sense of what might happen, if there were things she needed to be concerned about. A three card spread would be a simple way to get the energy the day would bring, it was very common for witches to do such a draw as a daily spread. So Niki shuffled the cards, before drawing three in front of her, ready to be turned over.
Past. Present. Future.
The Star. The Fool. Death.
Her past – The Star. A tarot card of hope, faith, spirituality, renewal and purpose. It represents a time in one’s life where they feel truly blessed by the universe, where everything is possible and magic is everywhere. It was a wonderful card in most readings, though it would be preferable not in the past position in a reading.
Her present – The Fool. A tarot card of new beginnings, potential and opportunity. You might not be able to see where you are going, you are being called to follow your heart and take a leap of faith. Throw caution to the wind and be ready to embrace the unknown, to let go of any insecurities and anxieties. The card encourages one to have an open and curious mind. It was all about personal growth, new experiences, adventure and development.
Her future – Death. A tarot card that represented change, transformations, transitions, and endings. The Death card symbolized getting rid of that which no longer served you, clearing away limiting factors to door to a more satisfying experience of life. It was also a card of change, transformation and transition, which meant that it could represent life changing. Whether that change was a good change or a bad one was unclear.
That reading didn’t seem too concerning, at least at a glance. Though there was only a weak indication that the change in her future would be a good one, that was better than an indication that the change would be a bad one. It was a weak positive association though, so Niki decided not to try and push it. With the reading out of the way there was nothing keeping her from heading out.
So, Niki grabbed a large basket. It wasn’t anything serious, just a wicker basket, but it would be enough to handle everything she managed to forage and gather while she was out in the forest. But just before she left, she decided to check her home wards. There weren’t that many to concern themselves with, there was a line of black salt at every entry point – every door and window. There were also bundles of primroses, rowan wood twigs, and a St. John’s wort hanging at every window and door as well. Those weren’t the only wards, of course, but the other ones were far stronger and she wasn’t too worried about them.
With everything finally sorted, Niki headed out into the forest.
The forest around her cottage was an old one. The trees towered over her like they were reaching for the sunlight, swaying in the wind like they were dancing. The occasional pop of color from plants and mushrooms served to incite panic as they could easily be mistaken for a fae hidden when seen out of the corner of your eye. The falling leaves of scarlet, gold and amber didn’t help, though the caught the light like a stained glass window. Moss draped over the trees like a blanket in preparation for the incoming chill.
There was a path in the forest. It was a strict one, a dirt path outline with rocks that was regularly salted, very few people wandered from it. It didn’t take too long for Niki to find some herbs to forage, even while sticking along the path. Plenty of herbs grew along the path, and the witch avoided over-harvesting so there would be more in the future.
With her herb stocks restored, Niki even took the chance to forage some edible berries and mushrooms found in small clusters. Honey mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, chanterelle mushrooms, black trumpet mushrooms and so many more mushrooms grew in this area, though she was very careful to take her time identifying them. There were plenty of wild berries that Niki could pick from, and she would take any opportunity to avoid having to spend any more coin in the village than she had to. Being able to feed herself was a skill she took pride in.
When she saw another bright patch of mushrooms, she only got more excited. It wasn’t that far off the path, just slightly down the hill, she could get to it rather quick and be back before more than five minutes had passed. So she made her way over to the cluster of mushrooms. Except, as she approached the cluster, she started to realize it was in an odd shape.
It was a perfect circle of mushrooms and flowers. A perfect ring of little pink mushrooms and cute little red roses. It looked so innocent, so pretty and cute. But the sight of it turned Niki’s blood to ice and had her breath caught in her throat. She knew that what this innocent little ring was. Something she knew by reputation all too well.
A faerie ring.
There was no time for her to even think, she just had to get away as soon as possible. Niki backed away, keeping an eye on the dangerous formation just in case the owner decided to appear. Unfortunately, walking backwards up a hill in a forest turned out to be a terrible idea. Niki tripped on something and found herself falling forward, with nothing to brace herself against. She went down.
It took a moment for Niki to regain her bearings with a shake of her head. Her basket was in front of her, all the things she foraged were scattered all around. Inside the faerie ring. The faerie ring she was currently sprawled inside of.
Heart racing, Niki groaned as she slowly was able to force herself to her hands and knees. Her body was protesting, aching in pain. The air was different inside of the faerie ring, it smelled of cinnamon and wood smoke. And then, just as she was bracing herself to try and stand, a hand presented itself in front of her, an offering to help her up.
Niki’s head snapped up instantly at the fae who owned the circle.
It was obvious that this fae was not of the Unseelie Court the second it entered the area. Niki felt warmth settle over her clothes, her thick winter cloak suffocating in the warmth of spring and summer radiating off of the fae. The grass around them was lush and green, flowers of all different colors bloomed out of season, the leaves on the trees glittered like emeralds in the unnaturally warm sunlight. It was the perfect patch of summer and spring in the middle of an autumnal forest.
At a simple glance, Niki could have mistaken the fae that towered over her for a princess or goddess. The pink gown she wore was too simple to belong to any noble, but too fine to belong to anyone below such class. Vines with red roses curled around one of her exposed legs, one of her arms, and around her head like a crown. Her eyes glistened a deep shade of forest green Niki felt she could get lost in, her hair was a deep rich brunette that reminded Niki of the earth, and a halo of iridescent light that shifted like a rainbow rested behind her head. A swarm of butterflies fluttered around her, some landing on her in various places before continuing to flutter around, others acting like living accessories.
But her build was that of a warrior, not a princess, and the occasional scar from combat peeked out beneath her gown. The hand that was held out to Niki was tipped with claws, there were ears parted hair in long and sharp points, and a smile that revealed fangs. On her back were two large, insect wings colored black, red and white – almost identical to the crimson rose butterfly, if Niki wasn’t mistaken. It was obvious with those features that this was a fae. The butterflies that swarmed her weren’t natural either – they were all either purely pink or red, and were featureless like they were made from glass. Yet they were too delicate and bright, like they were made from light, but different from the kind that haloed the fae.
“Are you lost, little human?” the fae asked, voice as sweet as honey, “It’s cold out, you know? And you seem to have taken a great fall.”
Niki swallowed thickly, “I meant no disrespect to you, Good Neighbor. I tripped while walking through the forest and accidentally crossed the boundary. Please, excuse me.”
With that, the witch pulled herself to her feet while politely ignoring the hand offered to her, even as a butterfly landed on it as if in invitation. Niki was no fool, she would not risk any chance for the fae to pull her into any debt. It was a small annoyance to discover that even she stood tall, the fae was still noticeably taller than her. But Niki kept that to herself as well, she wasn’t going to get into a fight with a fae over being average height.
“A polite little human as well. That’s not very common these days, far too many try to stab me at a first meeting,” the fae’s smile twisted into something darker for a moment.
“That’s rude, they should know better,” Niki commented.
The fae laughed at that, her laughter as enchanting as the rest of her, “My, my, what an interesting little human you are. Tell me, what are you in your village that has you wandering through a forest like this?”
Niki did not consider herself a fool, she knew just how dangerous this situation was for her. A young blonde witch, sitting in a faerie circle? If either one of those little quirks of hers were discovered, the fae would never let her leave. She had to get out of there by any means necessary if she wanted to survive. So, she had to play this safe, and keep the fae placated with some information, all without exposing anything about herself that would get her whisked away to the realm of the fae.
“I am an apprentice healer in my village,” Niki said, a slight twist of the truth, “My mentor isn’t feeling too well, so I have taken over her duties. I only came here to forage for natural cures and food for my village before the cold season sets in. Of course, if I overstepped, I will leave and never return.”
Niki had once been one of the healers’ apprentices in her old coven and she never truly graduated from that training.
It was not the whole truth, but it was enough that the fae should not be able to call her out on.
“Very polite,” the fae started to circle Niki now, the swarm of butterflies flowing her slowly, “If you truly desire it, I wouldn’t be against helping you gather the herbs you would need. I can use my magic to grow any plant that grows within the seasons of spring and summer, you would have enough resources to last you until next spring.”
That was a dangerously tempting offer for so many reasons. Complete freedom to practice her craft without any risk of running out during the cold seasons? That would allow Niki to grow so much over what was usually a stagnant time of the year for herself. But Niki knew that it came with far too many strings attached, a price Niki would never be willing to pay if she knew what it was upfront.
“I appreciate the offer, I truly do. But it would be rude of me to burden you for assistance I do not need – I am quite fine on my own,” Niki gave a smile she hoped didn’t look as scared as she felt.
The fae’s steps faltered for a moment at that. Niki felt her heart beat faster as the forest went completely silent. She could feel the temperature rapidly rising with the full heat of a harsh summer taking home in the faerie ring. Then, just as soon as it settled, it faded away back to the more gentle warmth of spring that had filled the air before, and the fae continued walking around her.
“It would be no trouble for someone like me, I assure you. I could even grow you spring and summer crops – juicy berries and the most delicious fruits you’d surely miss after six months of bland seasons?” The fae continued.
Niki felt her panic rise, “Of course I don’t doubt your skills, I’m certain you are capable of all that and more. I just am a firm believer that the things you make are of better quality when created entirely from your own hard work.”
“I guess I can’t argue with that reasoning. You’re quite the stubborn little healer, aren’t you? May I have your name so I know who I am speaking with?” the fae’s tone was far too innocent for the question.
Niki tried not to shake, “You may call me Thistle, if that pleases you.”
“Worth an attempt,” the fae shrugged before standing in front her once more, “It doesn’t really matter though. You have stepped in my ring, intentional or not, so now you are bound by my rules. And I do not wish to allow you to leave just yet.”
That was really not good.
“If I may ask… why not?” Niki questioned.
“I don’t want you to leave just yet, not when things are getting interesting. Now, usually, I’d kill most humans who dared to disrespect me in such a manner. It’s quite a rude thing, you know, just stepping into a faerie ring. But since you weren’t rude, I’m not feeling as murderous as usual,” the fae explained.
Niki nodded, “Oh… I see…”
This situation was only looking worse and worse for her.
If she made it out of this situation alive, she was going to put her tarot cards in time out for this.
“In a situation like this, I think the only fair way to settle this is with a deal,” the fae continued.
That wasn’t what Niki wanted to hear, but she wasn’t really surprised. Fae were well known for their deals and contracts. It was equally as well known that you should never accept a deal or contract with a fae under any circumstances, the price would always be too high. Yet here she was, in a situation where her freedom was entirely at stake. There was no way she could refuse a deal, and it was all because she tripped and fell into a faerie ring.
“May I have a moment to consider?” Niki asked.
The fae paused and tilted her head at the witch, “You… want a moment… to consider?”
“I would appreciate that, yes,” Niki replied.
The fae stared at her for a long moment, his expression entirely bemused. Niki tried not to react, even though it was kinda amusing to see the fae act like her reasonable request was somehow mind boggling. Even the butterflies that surrounded the fae started to move in patterns that conveyed a sense of confusion among them, before it smoothed out like a ripple in a lake. But after a moment, the fae nodded with a laugh.
“I can’t say I expected that,” the fae shook her head, “But sure, take as much time as you want, you’re not going anywhere.”
Niki took the brief moment of peace to reach into on of the pouches attached to her belt. She pulled out a simple cloth-wrapped loaf of lavender tea bread. It was sweet, rich with butter, and a heavier loaf which meant it could be a filling meal on its own. It smelled amazing when Niki uncovered it, and it helped a little with the pit of anxiety forming in her stomach. After a moment, she looked up at the fae and raised the loaf between them.
“Would you like some?” Niki offered.
“What?”
Niki smiled with confidence she didn’t posses, “It’s lavender tea bread. It’s very good, in my opinion. Would you like to share my loaf with me?”
“You’re in a faerie ring. My faerie ring. A place I could keep you trapped inside of for centuries if I so desired. And you not only asked for time to think over a deal, but now you are offering to share your food?” the fae questioned with a hint of a laugh on the edge of her tone.
“Well, you are hosting me right now. It’s only polite to offer my host a gift for their hospitality, is it not?” Niki commented.
The fae stared at her for a long moment once again, that curiously amused smile on her face, and Niki just tilted her head as if curious in return. She just hoped that if she could at least mess with the fae as much as the fae messed with humans then maybe she would be tired of messing with Niki and would want to leave her alone. The Seelie fae might not take back the offer of a deal, but she might be so thrown off that Niki could get a deal that wouldn’t entirely mess up her life. That would be nice, even though it’s unlikely.
“I cannot tell if you are insane, brave, or both,” the fae finally said with a giggle, “You are the most confusing human I have ever met.”
“I like to think of myself as quirky,” Niki shrugged.
“Quirky? How haven’t you gotten into trouble with that wit of yours?” the fae pondered in a teasing tone.
“I like to think of myself as polite company,” Niki stated simply, “I would hope that would be enough to keep me out of trouble. So, would you like to share this loaf with me?”
The fae hesitated for a moment, looking at the loaf Niki held. Then, she held out his own hand once more. Niki tore the lavender tea loaf roughly in half and handed the fae the larger piece. The fae stared at it for a moment, before she knelt down on the ground in front of Niki. It was a quiet shared meal, Niki never would have predicted that she could have gotten herself into a situation like this. The absurdity of it alone was enough to make her own head spin.
Niki could feel it when the faintest ripple of magic made itself known, but she chose not to react to it – best not to give away just how aware of magic she was. The array of pink and red butterflies danced around them as they ate, casting soft red and pink light onto the two of them when the sunlight caught their wings just right – like the stained glass of a church. The two of them ate in silence, the lavender tea loaf a sweet dessert between them. Once the two of them had finished, there was a moment of awkward silence as Niki had no idea what to say. Then the fae giggled in a way that sent chills down Niki’s spine and rose to her feet, tilting her head down at the witch.
“I think I’ll accept that as payment. You may leave if you wish.”
“What?” Niki blinked up at him.
“The bread. It was… good,” the fae replied, “I have decided that you no longer need to repay me for trespassing into my ring. Of course, if you’d like to stay, I am more than happy to allow you as a guest.”
“Oh, no, no need for that,” Niki shakily rose to her feet, “I, um, I have to get going anyway. Things to do and all that.”
The fae’s smile twisted into something equal parts wicked and lovely, “I’d imagine so. A busy little witch, aren’t you, Thistle?”
Niki’s stomach sank, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh? You don’t?” the fae sounded more and more amused, “You don’t practice kitchen witchcraft either?”
A small pink butterfly landed one what remained of the lavender tea bread.
Niki wanted to slap herself for making such a huge mistake. Of course she regularly practiced kitchen witchcraft – she took pride in her skills as a baker and as a witch, and there hadn’t been any reason to keep those two parts of her life separated. She hadn’t even kept close track of what food she made she had prepped with witchcraft half the time. And now she had turned that sweet dessert into a weapon against herself like an idiot.
“I um, I need to leave. Now. I have urgent business in my village,” Niki interrupted.
The fae’s eyes seemed to almost darken as she stared at her, “Of course.”
“Right. Goodbye,” Niki said, stepping back out of the ring.
The fae gave the slightest smile, “See you around, Thistle.”
Fuck.
Niki forced herself not to run away, despite the threatening words. Fae could not lie, so if the fae said she’d see her around it meant that she was intentionally going to seek her out. All she could do though was avoid attracting the fae’s attention more, readjusting her cloak as she turned and walked away. Running away and showing fear would only encourage the fae, she needed to approach this situation calmly. She was a witch, she could ward her home, she needed to be calm.
So, with that, Niki quietly left the forest and returned to her home.
There was a lot to prepare if she was going to protect herself against the fae.
It took a few weeks of no fae sightings for Niki to feel more comfortable and safe. She walked the line of her property, driving thirteen iron nails – each anointed with protection powders – into the ground around her home. It was an incredibly powerful protection spell, so Niki felt secure that she would be safe. Though she likely would have to leave her property before the end of the season, she was certain she could do it carefully if she played her cards right.
There was something Niki wanted to do, while it was still early autumn, before the cold truly set in. A ritual bath, specifically a Sacred Healing Well Bath of Rest and Regeneration. It was one of the more complicated bath rituals, but Niki wanted to do it to promote healing and regeneration during the winter season. With limited resources, she would have to rely more on her own magic than correspondences for spell work, and a ritual like this would allow her greater abilities to do so.
Niki was dressed in a thick white robe as she walked out to the small pond she had staked as part of her property. She lined the spring with various different flower petals and herbs – lavender, rosemary, basil, rose, peony, carnations, and even some berries. Niki then tossed some flower petals into the spring, it made a pretty sight. She placed four pillars of clear quartz around the small spring, which would amplify the effects of the ritual bath. With all the preparations in place, Niki picked up a white candle, already lit, and stepped into the spring.
The water was cold around her, but Niki didn’t plan on staying in the water for too long, so she pushed forward without hesitation. She kept the candle held above water, it provided very little warmth in the cold autumn air, and Niki lifted her other hand to try and shield the small flame from a potential breeze. The candle was slight scented, vanilla, a gentle scent that paired nicely with the scent of the flowers around her. Niki then closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink further into the water around her, as deep as she could with the candle in her hands.
Earth was an element of protection, healing, strength and grounding. Water was an element of self-healing, intuition, emotions, and divination. This ritual bath allowed a witch to channel the power of both these elements, which was why Niki picked it over other ritual baths. Others could actually be done in a bathtub. Niki allowed the energy of the elements of earth and water to rush over her – even if they weren’t elements she was most aligned with, the power and magic they offered would be useful. It would allow her protections she desperately needed after he previous encounter with the fae.
Something shifted in the magic flowing through her. It felt different, the energy of her magic pulled back like a faint echo, while a new kind of energy she didn’t recognize replaced it. It was warm and comforting, it carried a heavy scent of roses. Niki felt herself sink deeper into the water as pain and tension left her body under the magic.
“I didn’t know you were blonde as well.”
Niki let out a startled shriek and plunged her body further into the water so that only her head was sticking out, “What are you doing here?! How did you get in here?!”
The fae from before was perched in a tree branch about the small spring. Lounging on it really, with one leg hanging down and the other bent for her arms to rest on. She was dressed differently this time, clothes far more practical for someone who planned on moving about and exploring the forest. Those rose vines still coiled around her body, just now over the top of her clothes when they didn’t have easy access to skin. She still looked beautiful, ethereally so, and she wore that annoying smile on her face.
The swarm of pink and red butterflies had returned as well, fluttering around Niki’s garden as if it were a paradise in spring.
“You know you’re wearing a robe, right?” the fae asked amused, “I can’t see anything. And it’s not like you possess anything I’d be surprised with regardless.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How did you get past my wards, fae? I have warded this land with the elements, with a guardian ward and with thirteen iron nails – you shouldn’t be able to enter this place,” Niki felt herself growing hot with annoyance and anger – she knew her wards were perfect.
The fae chuckled a little, “All wards really need is an invitation to render them void. If a fae is clever enough, well it can be possible to convince a ward you already have one. Some of the oldest fae are rumored to have even figured out how to handle barriers of salt. Really, pure cold iron is the only method that is truly guaranteed to keep us out.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time,” Niki retorted in a low voice.
“Oh, you don’t mean that. I thought we had a lovely chat last time, I just wanted to further our friendship. What’s with the attitude, you were so much nicer last time?”
Niki felt her glare harden, “You trespassed on my property to spy on me in a ritual bath!”
“I didn’t come to spy, I was worried I had scared you off. You’ve been practicing nothing but protection magic since our meeting,” the fae said with an exaggerated pout, “It doesn’t come naturally to you. You’re not earth aligned, right? What element calls to you, little witch?”
That was a dangerous question.
Each of the four elements has a seasonal correspondence. Earth was Winter, Water was Autumn. They were associated heavily with the Unseelie Court because of that. Air was Spring, Fire was Summer. They were associated heavily with the Seelie Court because of that. Niki knew damn well answering that question would just give the fae additional reason to torment her. But refusing to answer the question? That was an answer itself, and just as dangerous of one.
Niki must have taken too long to answer because the fae grinned, “So fire or air, then. How perfect you are – a blonde witch aligned with Seelie elements. And your eyes are beautiful as well, one as blue as sapphires and the other a deep rich brown of the earth. How gorgeous.”
“What do you want from me, fae?” Niki questioned.
“Your companionship. Friendship. I wish to get to know you better,” the fae answered simply.
Niki huffed, “That wasn’t what I meant and you know it.”
The fae laughed a little at that, “Witches are considered treasures to the fae. We cherish them, you know? We take care of them, we give them gifts freely, grant them their every desire.”
“You mean you trick them until you can steal them away,” Niki retorted.
“That’s how humans phrase it. But they are the ones whose tongues can lie, ours are bound to the truth only,” the fae replied simply.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t deceive.”
“And that doesn’t mean we only speak for deceit.”
They were at a stalemate. Niki refused to take the fae’s words at face value, and the fae was determined to convince Niki of her side. There was a long moment of silence between them, before a cool breeze distracted Niki, drawing her attention to the few butterflies that rested on the surface of the water she was submerged in. It was that moment that Niki realized the water was still unnaturally warm, as if it weren’t autumn for her spring specifically. The witch just let out a long sigh at that realization.
“You don’t need to warm up the water, its supposed to be cold for this ritual,” Niki said.
The fae hummed curiously, “Oh? Would you care to share what this ritual is?”
“It’s not one you need to concern yourself with,” Niki dismissed shifting further in the water, “When do you intend to leave?”
The fae giggled at that, before she burst into a swarm of pink and red butterflies. For a moment, Niki thought she had been offered a mercy and the fae actually intended to leave. That hope was crushed the moment the swarm moved closer to her, and the fae reformed in her spring – clothes adjusted to be similar to what Niki was wearing, just brightly colored in pinks and reds.
A hand gently stroked Niki’s cheek, “You’re adorable, you know that? I like talking to you, you have such fun reactions. Fire aligned, right? You can’t seem to keep that temper in check.”
“Okay, fuck you,” Niki brushed the hand away, “We’re done here.”
“I know what humans say about us, about our intentions with witches. But we truly do cherish them, you know? I could get you all you could want, all you could need, grant you every last wish if you just let me. The Seelie Court is an endless paradise, if you desire it,” the fae leaned in closer.
Niki felt her back hit the edge of the spring, “Sounds too good to be true.”
“Doesn’t have to be. Not if you agree to be mine,” The fae wrapped an arm around Niki’s waist and pulled her closer, “If you become all mine, I’d treat you better than any treasure. You’d be a Seelie Queen, just like me.”
Oh.
Oh, Niki was so fucked.
It was one thing to get the attention of a court fae. Seelie or Unseelie, neither option was appealing as they had resources and abilities wild fae weren’t privileged to receive. But to gain the attention of a Monarch? It didn’t matter what court the fae was from, a Monarch was nothing to take lightly. They were powerful, far beyond anything a witch could handle. Niki felt the anger in her system burn out in face of the fear at the prospect. This was something that could absolutely destroy her on a whim, it was no wonder her wards did nothing to deter this fae.
Compared to the Queen of the Seelie Court, her magic was nothing more than child’s play.
“I don’t want to be a queen,” Niki weakly protested.
The fae leaned in, so close their lips could almost brush against each other, “You don’t have to be, if you don’t want to. You could be a siren, if you wished. You play music, don’t you?”
“How…?” Niki let the question trail off.
“You have some very specific calluses on your hand. An instrument with strings, right?” the fae sighed, “You’re a perfect little treasure you know – a witch, blonde haired with bright eyes, and a musician? How haven’t you been stolen away by one of us already?”
The hand returned to Niki’s cheek and Niki felt a flood of warmth radiate through her blood, “You may deny my offer for now. But eventually, you’ll cave. You’ll give in and beg me to steal you away. You’re a clever girl, you won’t be able to resist me.”
The fae leaned down, almost as if to press a kiss to Niki’s lips. Almost as if she was compelled to do so, Niki leaned forward into the kiss. But the most their lips met, the fae burst into a swarm of butterflies with a laugh that echoed around the witch. Then she disappeared, as if to taunt Niki with what she clearly desired.
Niki wasn’t sure what to do with herself after that.