"I'm not going."
Kallima folded her arms disapprovingly over her chest as she spoke. She hid her quivering lip by pouting and kicked her suitcase. Havard sighed, picked it up, and hefted a duffle bag over his shoulder.
"You've been expelled from two public schools. I'm running out of options, Kali," he said. "This is a very good academy, and your mother did a lot to get you in."
Kali scoffed and sat on her bed. "And then she left."
Havard stared at the ground. "Yes," he said, "and I know how much that hurt you. It hurt me, too. But she wants what's best for you, even when it doesn't seem that way."
"Then she should have stayed."
Havard opened his mouth, closed it again, and left the room silently. Kali looked around her somewhat bare room and snarled. Pushing herself up, she examined her face in the vanity mirror, searching for herself under her mother's features.
But it was no use. Her cropped hair still brought to mind the ember-like glow of her mother's brilliant ginger locks. The heavy orange eyeshadow detracted little from the dark grey eyes they shared. Even her ears, despite getting both pierced multiple times, retained the slight point that could only be attributed to her mother's genes. Only her close eyebrows and a slight height difference separated them.
Growling, she unlocked the door, stormed down the hall, climbed the stairs to the roof, and sat in the worn lawn chair in the corner. London spread out before her, glowing orange against the night sky. The sheer number of houses laid out on the Thames stirred a sense of insignificance in her chest, so she lifted her gaze skyward. It somehow made her feel more solid, more important. More real.
A few minutes later, Havard stepped onto the roof. With a sigh, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. "You don't want to go. I know. But, Kali, this school will open so many doors for you," he said. "Trust me, please. I'm not doing this to upset you."
Kali ignored him and focused instead on her crimson nails.
"This is hard for me, too, Princess," he continued. "I want you to stay, really, but this- You're ready for it."
"For boarding school?" Kali laughed dryly. "That doesn't scream 'I give up' at all."
Havard stared at her with hurt eyes. "I will never give up on you. You know that, don't you?"
Kali shrugged, begging, "Then why? Why are you shipping me off like I'm baggage?"
"Oh, Kali, no, you're not," he said, stepping towards her to rest a hand on her shoulder. "Not at all. You are my daughter, always were, always will be. And… it would mean a lot to me if you promise me that I'll always be your dad, too."
She glanced up at him and rose. "Of course you'll always be my dad, you old nutter. But I make no promises about mum. In fact…"
She picked up the wooden chair and flung it off the side of the building. Havard flinched as it shattered on the pavement with a loud bang. Kallima crossed her arms triumphantly.
"She can keep her stupid chair."
The father covered his face and groaned. "Kali… no. Go clean it up."
"But-!"
"Kallima Aislin Satudotter. Now," he said. "Then get right to bed. We need to be up before dawn tomorrow, and you need sleep."
Kali shrugged and huffed. "Even when she's gone, I'm cleaning up after her."
Once she loaded the chair into the trash and returned to her room, she was too exhausted to even pull up her covers or fluff her pillows. Instead, she collapsed onto the bed and fell straight into dark, dreamless sleep.
At five in the morning, Havard knocked on Kallima's door. She groaned, wormed into her day clothes, and shuffled to the car, where she instantly fell back to sleep. An hour later, the grinding crunch of gravel woke her as the car slowed down. Havard cleared his throat and parked as she rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Ready?" he asked.
Peering out the car window, she laughed and said, "There's nothing out there, Dad."
Havard hurriedly exited the car and opened her door. She stared out over the soft, flowery meadow below, glanced up at him, then back to the grass in confusion. Where was the school? Only gentle hills and trees marked the landscape.
"What kind of school is this, Dad?"
"Just get your bags, Kali," he said. "And hurry. It's nearly dawn."
Havard unloaded her luggage from the trunk. Kali slung her satchel over one shoulder and kicked the door shut. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her suitcase.
"Now what?" she asked.
Havard tipped his head, her duffle in hand. "This way."
They cut through the meadow and into some thin woods. Kali panted as Havard sprinted to wherever it was they headed. Suddenly, he stopped, and she crashed into him.
"Here, stand right here," he said, either not noticing or not caring about the collision.
He set the bag down inside a ring of fat, tan toadstools.
Kali scoffed at him, saying, "Are you kidding me, Dad? We came all this way for a bloody faerie circle?"
"Kali, please, just stand in it," Havard said. "If nothing happens, we'll go home, and you can go back to public."
She rolled her eyes but humored her father, stepping lightly into the ring. Havard peeked over his shoulder at the dim, reddening horizon. Kali set her suitcase down and put her hand on her hip.
"How long is this going to take?" she asked.
"Right... now!"
Kali's stomach lurched as the mushrooms began to glow an array of neon hues, shimmering like an aurora as the first sunlight illuminated them.
"Dad?" she whimpered, looking up.
But he was gone. Everything was gone. Only the narrow circle of earth inside the mushrooms existed as the space around her whirled in a muddied tangle of color. Her bags trembled at her feet as the ground shook. Then everything stopped with a jolt. Kallima hit her knees and palms and vomited.
"First time?" someone asked, her voice light and refreshing like a soft brook on a hot day, but with a somewhat American accent.
Wiping her mouth, Kali looked up for the first time at her new surroundings.
A thin woman with sharp features and white hair grinned and scribbled something on her clipboard. What looked like a deformed child quickly gathered Kali's bags.
"Kallima Satudotter?" she asked.
"Y-yes. Er, Kali is fine, though."
The woman smiled and said, "I'm Miss Thurmun, head of student affairs, but feel free to call me Miara. Come with me, and I'll show you to your dorm room."
She helped Kali to her feet. Kali shrieked when she saw the pig-like face of the creature carrying her bags. Miara hushed her and ushered her along a cobblestone path, explaining quickly that the imp, as the creature was called, was completely harmless and happy to help. The ginger gaped at an enormous marble castle perched comfortably atop a peninsula. They walked quickly into a large courtyard, and the imp trailed them with the luggage.
"Would you like some breakfast?" Miara asked. "My cousin, Paelan, and I arrived early to greet you. He's an amazing chef. Head of the kitchen here."
Kali shook her head and examined the yard. An elegant and spindly gazebo glimmered in the dawn's light, supporting a bell far too heavy for it. Miara gestured as Kali tried to take in her surroundings.
"The dining hall is to the left here," she said. "The medical ward and gymnasium, too. Classrooms to the right on the first and second floors. Teachers offices are all on the fifth floor, if you need them. The tower is Headmaster Locke's."
"Bleeding Christ..." Kallima breathed.
Confused, Miara stared at her and opened one of the huge oak doors. "I'm sorry?"
Kali asked, "Am I dreaming? Or have I finally lost all grasp on reality?"
"Neither, dear. You're at Iolanthe School of Fae. In the Faerie Realm."
"There must be some mistake, then. I- I'm not a fairy," Kali said.
"Oh, of course not," Miara said. She urged Kallima inside and up a flight of stairs. "Fairies are much smaller than you. But you are certainly fae."
"No, I'm not. I need to go home," Kallima said. "I'm human."
"Now, Miss Satudotter," Miara said, pushing Kallima up another staircase, "if you were human, you would have gotten stuck in the circle. Humans can't use them."
"But-!"
"Besides, Satu was a remarkable sorcerer. No doubt you'll be just like her."
As Miara forced Kallima up a third staircase, she bit her lip, clenched her fists, and, at the top step, whirled around to the woman.
"Look here, now. My mother was human! Bent as nine, yes, but human. My dad, too. I don't know how I got here, but you need to send me home!" she said.
She crossed her arms and pressed her lips into the thinnest of lines as she stared Kallima down.
"Miss Satudotter," she hissed, "I promise you that your mother was neither human nor a fool. She was a sorcerer, and one of the best. Here. Your keys. Freshman girls' dorms are right behind you. Room 407 and mailbox 407-B. You'll manage."
Tossing her a pair of keys, Miara stormed back down the steps. Kali bounced them in her hand, unsure of what to do next. She groaned, realizing she did not know how to get home now that she was trapped in this 'Faerie Realm.' Huffing in annoyance, she opened the door.
A comfortable room greeted her with blue walls. Plush white armchairs and couches tempted her to sit down, rest, and relax. A few small tables and chairs huddled along the one stone wall. She made her way to the door across the lobby, running her fingers along the top of one couch as she did. She promised herself she'd sit in it once before she left.
The door opened to a long, narrow hallway lined with thin doors, all stamped with white numbers. The one across from her read 402. With a groan, she started down the hall. Her door waited right next to the bathrooms. Kali quickly unlocked it and stepped inside.
The entire room was white. The bunk beds, the desks, the carpet, even the doors created a sense of sterility. Only the suitcase and duffle bag in the middle of the room broke the white monopoly.
She opened a walk-in closet. Inside, she found her school uniform: a grey jacket with an emblem on it, white blouses, and blue plaid skirts too short for her taste. She sighed. Reminding herself that she had no choice, she dragged her suitcase into the closet and unzipped it. As she pulled the last of her pajamas from the bag, a large envelope fell to the floor. She leaned over and scooped it up. She saw no marks on it, so she ripped the paper open and slipped one hand inside. Her fingertips brushed something cold. She plucked it out and gasped, pressing the paper to her mouth.
A delicate gold chain wrapped around her fingers. A thin, scale-like slice of gold dangled from it. Kallima gaped wide-eyed at the amulet. Eight pearl white stones and illegible engravings surrounded a large blue gem in the center. She brushed her thumb against it in awe, watching as it sparked with electricity at her touch. She quickly draped it around her neck, grinning madly at its elegance. Returning her attention to the envelope, she searched for a note and quickly found one.
My Princess,
If you have this, you're in the Faerie Realm. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but how could I? You would have thought I'd been drinking.
I've left you the information for your bank account and an Amulet of Binding. It will keep your power in check until you can control it. Don't let anyone see it.
Stay out of Orphanage, and don't draw the Nobles' eyes.
All my love,
Mom
Kallima touched the signature gently. "Mum..."
She spent several minutes pacing the room, debating whether she should shred it or keep it. Eventually, she wadded it up, threw it into the closet, and set to work unpacking the rest of her things.