Chapter 3: The Exchange
"What-the-"Hex gasped out. Storm and Trix, curious, went over to look.
Dear Hex,
I don't think I'll ever return home. The ships were lost at sea, so I couldn't get anything. Then, as I walked through the forest, I lost my way and stumbled upon this house. It looked abandoned, so I went to the garden and plucked a blue lily from there. But the house was not as vacant as I thought. A beast stormed out of the house and grabbed me, demanding that I stay in his house until I die as punishment for stealing a flower from his garden, unless my youngest daughter replaced me. I couldn't bear to do that to you, so I had no choice but to agree. I'm sorry.
Dad
"What?" Trix shrieked. "No rubies or sapphires?" Storm complained. The two girls stormed to their bedrooms and slammed the door shut.
Only Hex remained outside, staring at the letter. Her father wasn't coming home, probably never. And it was because he had plucked a blue lily from the beast's garden. For her. She had wanted the lily. Hex folded the letter, put it away, and pulled out another piece of paper from the drawer. She knew what she had to do.
The next day, the beast found himself staring at another letter, Hex's father peered over his shoulder, shocked and distressed.
Dad,
You can't pay the price for something I asked for. I asked for the lily, so this is my fault. I'm coming right now to replace you for good measure.
Hex
"No, she can't." Hex's father gasped. One wrong move and the beast would tear his daughter to shreds. But then again, Hex was much more capable than her father. She had really done well with her phantom orbs and skulls. "Huh." The beast rumbled, staring, eyes narrowing at Hex's letter. "She's braver than I thought." "She's the bravest I've ever seen." Hex's father said, tears filling his eyes.
Later
The beast stood outside the house, with Hex's father standing beside him. The two of them looked anxiously down the dark path ahead, covered with trees. Actually, every space here, except the house and the garden, was covered with trees. They were surrounded by nothing but forest. Hex's father was still trembling slightly from the shock of Hex's reply in the letter, but the beast tried not to notice, and just stared ahead expectantly. Which was why Hex's father didn't see the black furry creature quickly reaching up to wipe a tear from his eye. What a brave and caring daughter this guy has, He thought, glancing at Hex's father. I wonder how she looks like… Until now, it hadn't occurred to the beast that since this guy was an elf, his daughter must be an elf as well. Hmmm…..
Just then, a soft but audible rustling noise came from the edge of the clearing. The beast blinked and looked up. A figure was walking down the path toward them. "There she is." Hex's father gasped out, scrambling to his feet. Hex emerged from the dark path and began walking through the garden directly towards the two. Her father looked pretty sorrowful that he would have to let his youngest daughter go, but they both knew, there was no other choice. Her gaze then flitted over to the beast. He looked rather big sized, but only a few inches taller than she was. Not as scary as I expected. Hex thought, walking past the flower hedges. The beast stared at the girl. He was surprised to see no trace of unease or fear in her eyes, but what surprised him even more was her pale blue skin. No elf had pale blue skin, unless he or she had… The beast pushed the thought out of his mind. Not now, he thought resolutely. Not now.
"Okay, I'm here to replace my father." Hex said firmly, stopping in front of the beast. "Now let him go and I'll do as you say." "Alright then." The beast grunted. Hex found it strange: he had a deep and gruff, but underneath, there was a trace of an unmistakable British accent, like the accent she had. Hex's father faced her, worried. "You sure you know what you're doing?" He asked her. "Yes." Hex answered. "I'll be fine, father. You'll see." Hex's father hugged her. "I'll miss you." He said sadly. Storm and Trix won't. Hex thought, but she didn't say it out loud. "I'll miss you too." She said, patting her dad's back. The beast watched the pair in silence. Then, Hex's father turned and walked away. Hex watched in tears, Then, just as he reached the end of the clearing, he turned, cast one last, sad glance at his youngest daughter, and then disappeared into the forest.