I can't leave Sarah to her fate, and I believe deep down that she doesn't want me to. But how do I really enter the realm of the Fae? I have always been interested in the paranormal, kind of hard not to be when something paranormal has been happening to me all my life. I mean what would you do, if you knew that someone from some place else needed help? Would you just throw up your hands and say, "I can't do it, it's too hard?" Me either.
The first place I can think to go is the library on campus. I don't have internet in my tiny apartment, I can't afford it, and though I could get online on my phone, I don't have one of those fancy smart phones, mine is purely bare bones basic. It's a pre-paid cell phone and I'm only allowed 250 MB of data each month on my plan, and you can imagine how quickly you can eat that up. Struggling college student, remember?
Honestly, I'm not even sure where to start, but maybe I can research fairy tales and portals to begin with. Then maybe curses and how to reverse them. God, I sound like someone from one of those paranormal shows like Grimm or Once Upon a Time where a human finds out the fairy tale world is real.
I find a single computer off in the corner, thank god, all I need is one of my classmates seeing this research. I sit down and go to google and begin the research. As soon as I type in the question, "What is a portal?" I get all kinds of information on computer portals, or websites that have links to other websites. Not what I'm looking for. But then I find a definition that says a portal is a gate, or doorway. But I'm not thinking about just any old portal, I need to find out how to access a portal to the Fae world. Fat chance it would be this easy.
I find another website that references going to a fairy mound and saying something along the lines of,
"Let me in, let me in." or "Open the door, open the door." But I'm in America, where am I going to find a fairy mound? I mean maybe they're here, but I wouldn't know how to find one. Another site talks about creating a garden that's inviting to the fairy folk, but I live in an apartment building so that's out.
Hours later I am still unclear as to how to get myself over to the Fae realm from my own very ordinary human world.
"Och, dearie, are ya trying ta go to the fae realm?"
I think I jump about a foot before I turn and see a wizened old lady behind me adjusting her glasses. The lenses make her eyes look very big. She is wearing a dress with a flowered pattern and has wiry white hair.
"Um, no I'm just doing research for a paper." I lie. Something about the old woman makes me nervous though I cannot put my finger on it.
"Ya must be verra careful if ya go ta the land of the Fae." She admonishes. "Tis not a safe place for humans."
Then she leans toward me. "But if yer set on goin', a mirror is the best way." She nods sagely. "Tis also the safest, and will make returning easier."
I cannot help myself. "A mirror?" I whisper. Enthralled despite myself.
"Aye, just be sure ya know where ya come out on the other side, otherwise ya could be trapped and never get back home. Unless tis what you want?" She shrugged again. "Some humans choose ta go ta the Fae realm and stay, but I dinna recommend it, no I dinna."
"Why?"
The old woman seemed to realize she may have said too much and looked around nervously. "Because dearie, time passes much differently in the Fae realm. What ya think are days, could be years, and all ya love could be gone or aged decades while ya remain young and beautiful. The realm of the Fae be nothin' to mess with, be verra verra sure this what ya want and know where ya came in so ya can get back out."
"How do you know all this?" I ask, for I have the feeling she speaks from experience.
Her eyes cloud with memories. Then she said, "How old do ya think I be?"
Is this a trick question? "I don't know, eighty, maybe?" I guess.
She straightens her shoulders. "I be three hundred and fifty-five tomorra."
I gasp. "But...that's not possible!" I declare, sure now the old woman is messing with me.
She shakes her head sadly. "It be true, dearie. A side effect of living in the realm of the Fae for years and eating their food, taking their medicines. An evil sorcerer killed my Fae lover, and cursed me to live forever. When he returned me ta the human realm, the weight of the years I'd been gone aged me me, but still I cannot die." A tear slipped down her cheek. "Do not make the same mistake I did." She whispers, before shuffling away, a cane in one hand I had not seen before.
Before I could process what she said, she disappeared into the crowd. I look for her, but it is as though she was never here..
(c) Copyright 2017 by Regina Paul. All Rights Reserved.
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