The Snarled Circle Chronicles

19. The Little Fairy Felice
Chibifata Part One

The late Gigi's son comes to Edelweiss in hopes of learning music. He is met with a bed too hard, a meal too bland, and a tutor too harsh.

It was stifling summer when the little fairy came to Edelweiss.

He climbed down from the coach clutching a sore stomach and whimpering. Human coaches did not have compartments to fold wings down into, so he was forced to sit sideways in his seat and balance for miles and miles up and down the rocky, hilly terrain. He was barely able to wrench his luggage out from the back before the coach speeded away. It was like a rolling giant. The horses were behemoths compared to Allegrian ponies, and the driver had been wider than any man he'd ever seen.

The mansion now before him had that same quality — enormous. He supposed it couldn't have been bigger than the villa at home, but it was so new to him, and it loomed above his little head like a gloomy castle despite the sunshine.

He dragged his luggage along until he reached the front door. There he stood with wiggling, twiggy arms and a quivering frown on his face that tightened into a line when the door was opened. A portly human maid invited him over the threshold. He nodded to her and heaved his luggage into the house. It bunched up the rug and scraped the hardwood before she took it from him.

The inside of the mansion smelled terribly odd. It had a stale, musty odor clouded over with various smokes and sickly sweet perfumes. The little fairy wrinkled his button nose and shimmied his wings. This was such a quiet place! Back at home, he always heard voices from the various family members and vineyard workers. Granted, there was much less singing now that his grandfather was gone, but this place was silent.

It was so silent that he jumped at the sound of a heavy door opening and beheld the sight of two figures striding forth from the hallway hidden behind the staircase. The first was a severe-looking ostrich of a man with a beak for a nose and fingers too long for his palms. His eyes were dark beneath his spectacles, and his puckered brows betrayed obvious annoyance. The smaller figure was a human boy around the fairy's age, looking quite nervous and disheveled, but certainly with an air of hidden strength given away by his posture and his judging blue gaze.

Both figures grimaced, then shifted equally far to the disgusted and the smug, respectively. The little fairy tried to straighten his back, but he was holding onto the heavy luggage in nervousness again, and only his glittering tannish-gold wings popped up to flitter behind him.

"My name is Feliciano Vargas Roma, but please call me Felice," he spoke slowly in his squeaky voice. "I'm supposed to find someone here who can teach me music. Someone who knew my papà? Gianfranco Roma?"

He had to stop speaking under the towering human's glare. The mouth under the beak opened like a hinge, and he spoke with a honking whine of a voice.

"I am Roderich Edelstein, master of this household, and this is my cousin, the Duke of Liutberht."

"It's Otto," said the other boy with something of a smirk. "Charmed."

"Eh, you're very fancy," said Feliciano. "Where can I put my things? Will I have my own room? I don't know anything about humans, I'm sorry. Everything is so big here. I'm nervous."

"There is nothing you need to know about humans except what you observe," said Edelstein. "If you're to live under my roof, you'll be as a human. I will not give you special treatment because you are different. You're already special for uniqueness' sake. Nervousness will not be tolerated. Understood?"

Most of the wordage flew over his head, but he nodded.

"Good. You want to learn music? We begin in an hour. My piano is in the front receiving room. Otto, show him his room."

The master departed. The little fairy's wings were quivering freely. He folded them down and reached for his luggage again, but Otto grabbed it for him and said nothing as he headed toward the stairs.

"He wasn't nice to me. Are all humans like that, Otto?"

"Don't ask questions," the boy replied as he pushed open the door to a second-floor bedroom. It was smaller than Feliciano's room at home, but the bed was so tall, he didn't know how to climb upon it except to flutter his wings and kick himself on top. He unbuckled the suitcase and the lute case, one holding a paltry amount of clothes and soap and homey sentiment, and the other containing his instrument, lovingly dinged on the edges, but perfectly in tune.

"Do you play any music?" The fairy asked again, twitching his wings and testing the bounce of the bed. It was as hard and stiff as it was big, and he doubted he'd be able to get comfortable sleeping in it.

"I don't, no," said Otto. "My cousin rarely plays these days, either. He's all wrapped up in his work, and when he's not working, he's conspiring with aunt Ilse or off with Eliza. All he wants to do is smooch her, but I know she'll never let that happen."

"The aunt, or the Eliza girl?"

"Either one. But that's just my speculation. Now he's got someone new to tug at the cobwebs in his brain. You'll make this house more entertaining, for sure. He's so pissed about you being here."

Something about that statement made the fairy feel all cold inside. "I don't want to upset him. Why am I upsetting him? Please tell me. I just got here. I'm really confused."

Otto didn't answer. He only broadened his smirk and closed the door behind him, leaving Feliciano shut up by himself in the quiet, musty room.

"You are familiar with the baroque style, yes?"

"Em… I don't think I've heard that word before—"

"Well, I don't have time to teach you what you should already know. Straighten your back and lift your chin. I'll play you in, and you begin with a robust, open tone."

"But sir—"

"Herr Edelstein."

"Herr Edelstein, I don't know how to play the violin."

Indeed, he didn't. He was holding the instrument backwards, and the bow was all loose and uncoordinated in his tiny hands. He tightened his brow and looked with wide amber-gold eyes up at his tutor, who was growing ruddy with impatience even two minutes into the lesson.

"I can play the lute, and I can sing. Do you want me to sing? I'm good at singing!"

"Can you even read music?"

"Yeah, my grandpa taught me some reading, but my music really comes from the heart. I like to make up songs. Could I make up a song for you, please? If you're upset, I'm sure I could help you feel better."

Every muscle in the master's body seemed to clench at once, and Feliciano fancied he looked somewhat like a scarecrow hovering above a field. Why, he'd never seen anyone so stiff! Concerned, he darted forward and reached out to tug at Edelstein's sleeve. He was frightened by the human's face. So many angles, and so very thin. The curved ears were an odd enough sight without the starless eyes or the short, chunky neck.

"Do I upset you, Herr Edelstein? Otto said I upset you. Why? Did I do something wrong? I don't know how to play the violin. I could play my lute for you or sing, and if you want to teach me the violin, I could learn it, but I can't just play it right away. I've never played it before."

The beaky nose slid down between two shaky, clammy hands.

"Don't ask so many questions. Sing if you must. I suppose I should know what you're already capable of if I'm to tutor you."

Feliciano nodded. Then he scampered back to his place near the piano and let himself loosen up. His wings fluttered, and his shoulders shimmied, and his little hands jumped up in an artistic flourish of gesture. Delicate fingers hovered over the strings of his lute before he began to strum.

Then he sang, and his voice was like sugary clouds and sweet summer skies just under the kiss of rain.

It was a small song he had made up with his grandfather — one of true love in the summertime. Through honest emotion, he painted a picture of a young maiden and the knight sent to rescue her from the vicious ogres of the fen. Hooves clattered over stones. Breath was hitched in the stink of muddy waters. Clubs came crashing down into the squelchy muck, nearly dismounting the brave, brave knight before he worked a magic spell to disarm the ugly brutes. Up rose the maiden from the waters, glowing blue and shimmering like the brightest daydream. Her wings were all translucent and shining with dew.

Edelstein was immediately enchanted. Dark eyes widened enough for Feliciano to tell they were purple — a color odd even among fairies. Those spidery fingers tapped and clawed at the pant legs, then crawled upward until they were fiddling with the buttons of the waistcoat over the heart. Something misted up behind the spectacles — a glitter of tears slowly trailing down cool cheeks.

The fairy sang on. A rainstorm swept the maiden away, away from the man who was to be her true love. Every new note hung off the singer's tongue like a silvery drop of water before plip-plopping down to the world of the story. Down into the river flowed the fair maiden, down before she turned into a fish and splish-splished her way upstream to the man who loved her.

The piano began to glow a fair shade of yellow. Then all gravity was released, and it floated upward, shimmering a bit in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. Edelstein paid the spell no mind. He was openly tearful now. Shoulders shivered, and fingers twitched.

And every summer stifling, the rainstorm would sweep her away again, and the clouds melted into fish, prophesying her return. For love is victorious, and love is magical, and love is—

CLUNK.

Edelstein roared in furious pain as the piano, which had moments before been floating feet above the ground, carried along by its glistening yellow halo, suddenly dropped back to earth and landed squarely upon his toes.

Feliciano gasped. The master's face, once peaceful, was all screwed up, and his purple eyes burned like two tiny torches behind his smokey spectacles.

"I'm so sorry!" Feliciano squealed. "My voice is the source of my magic power. It's a gift I was born with. I always have a hard time controlling it. Whenever I make music, things happen. I'm sorry about your foot. I can try a healing song if it hurts. I'm good at those."

When Edelstein spoke again, his voice was like a thin reed pushing itself up out of his throat.

"There will be no magic in my house."

Feliciano cocked his head to the side. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"No magic. Can't you sing without doing magic?"

"W-well, what is the point if I can't do magic? My grandpa said that's how I show what's in my heart."

"We aren't abstract in this house. We just… I shouldn't see magic again! Now, listen as I play."

Feliciano watched and listened, with his legs all quivery and his wings twitching in fear. If this was human music, he wanted to cry. Edelstein played so stiffly, so forcefully and curtly. There was no emotion in the piece, and if there were, it was all diligently controlled by the way the master's spidery fingers arched over the keys, trapping them and snapping their tones off like roots.

"See? There is no need to be artful. Now sing this melody in whatever key I press. We'll test your range."

The fairy nodded, trembling. He copied the melody in each key, moving slowly upwards in his range, then slowly downwards. Watching stiff fingers jab the piano keys hurt to watch, but he pressed on. His mamma said this was good for him. Learning from someone who wouldn't judge him first for his talent…

Now he was more confused.

A vase of flowers floated through the air, surrounded by the same yellow aura. It dumped its water out on Edelstein's head. Then a floating book swam through the air just to punch Edelstein in the back of the neck. The piano gave a creak as it started rising up again. Edelstein stomped on the damper pedal, but it slid out from under his foot, and the piano keys knocked him square under the jaw.

"Eh! That must hurt! I'm sorry! Please let me try to heal you! I know a good spell-song for pain!"

"No magic!" Edelstein barked. "Keep it down, can't you? When you feel magic, press it down! Keep it inside!"

"Inside… I'll try…"

So they began anew, with Edelstein playing simple melodies and Feliciano copying. But like before, the fairy felt that special place in his throat tingle and spark. The warmth of magical energy spread through his cells and nourished his body. It poured down his arms to prickle his fingers. It swirled down his legs to pool in his toes. It spun 'round in his chest, then shot up to burn his ears a bit.

His throat was heating up. He lowered his voice. Perhaps softening would slow the power he wrought? But he didn't know how to stop it completely. His music and magic were biologically linked — a gift his people had not known for centuries until his grandfather was born with it again. Feliciano bit his tongue and hummed, clenching every muscle, but then he caught the sinister smirk of Otto in the doorway and gasped before coughing. The piano dragged itself away from Edelstein and scooted off into the corner. The man fell right off the bench, flat on his face.

The little fairy scurried to his fallen tutor. He grabbed his shoulders and tried to pull him up, but human bodies were so dense and heavy, and his little arms were straining before Edelstein smacked them away.

"I can't keep it in. I really tried. I understand if my magic scares you, but it's part of me. I can't control it. And, eh! Ow! Please don't! That hurts!"

Edelstein clamped one hand upon a wing and yanked it as hard as he could. A sharp screech broke out of Feliciano's throat — a screech of pain that sent a chilling wave of sorrow rushing through all who heard it. The master released his grip immediately, and his pupil tumbled to the floor, where he sniffled a bit.

"I'm so confused," the fairy whimpered. "I'm new to all this. Please. Don't hurt me. I didn't want to come here. My mamma said it was dangerous for me back at home because I'm the only music caster in Allegria, and she didn't want big scary fairies t-taking… taking advantage of me? Is that it? She said you were a family friend and a talented musician. Was it short notice? She said she sent you a letter about it."

Edelstein peered down at the pitiful lump of twiggy limbs and trembling wings. His breathing quickened, but his mind was totally blank. He thought without reason, without compassion, for that was too abstract for a crisis.

"Move the piano back where it was, and dust this whole room. You'll find supplies in the entryway closet. Come to supper when you're finished. It should be ready by then."

Feliciano lifted his head at the mention of food. He was famished.

"Em, by any chance, do you serve pasta here—"

"No we don't."

When the little fairy was sore enough to grunt his way through each new swipe of the dusting rag, he heard footsteps approaching the receiving room. Fearful, he scrubbed harder and harder on the window until he lost his footing on the stool and had to flutter to avoid crashing down on his face. He sighed at his hands. One was gray with dust, and the other held the nasty black rag. He wiped sweat off his forehead and smeared a big glob of greasy dust across his face.

"Hm? Is Roderich in here?"

Feliciano lifted his eyes to see a woman leaning in the doorway. Ah, a woman in trousers! Finally something familiar! In Allegria, all the ladies wore some variant of trousers so no one could peer up their skirts when they flew.

"I don't know where he is," the fairy admitted. "He made me dust this room and told me to come to supper when I was done."

"Really? Well, I can smell supper. Why don't you finish for now?"

The rag was out of his hands as soon as she spoke, and he bounded over to her. "I'm so hungry!"

"Me too. Oh, you're a cute little bug! I didn't see the wings! When did you get here? You must be the young fairy mentioned in that letter Roddy got. I'm Eliza."

Feliciano nodded. "Call me Felice. Otto said you were Herr Edelstein's girlfriend."

Her lips curled inward. "Otto is a strange boy. I wouldn't listen to the rumors he entertains himself with."

"He scares me, anyway. Both of them scare me. I only got here today, and both of them don't like me."

Eliza scrunched her brows. "Is that so? Well, they're both a bit dumb on the social side of things. It's in their blood. I bet they can't bear how cute you are. Come here, little bug. Let's get some food."

She scooped him up in her arms, and both smiled when he squeezed around her shoulders. She playfully pinched his pointed ears and petted him all the way into the dining hall. There, a long table was set, with Edelstein and Otto already in their places.

"Eliza!" Edelstein gasped. "Showing up unannounced again?"

"You invited her yesterday," Otto said.

"Shut up and eat, Otto. Eliza, I see you've met our guest."

"Yes I did," said Eliza settling Feliciano in a seat next to her. The serving maid came around with some slabs of pork and a scoop of lumpy mashed potatoes. To the fairy's palate, both were dry, bland, and absolutely tasteless. The meat was tough enough to chew through, but when he swallowed, it sat in his gut until all his hunger was replaced with a dull stomachache.

"So, is he as good a musician as the letter mentioned?" Eliza asked, cutting into her own tough pork with an easy ferocity.

Edelstein cringed at the question. "His range and tone are excellent. He has an ear for pitch. He never sings flat."

"He sings? You sing, Felice?"

The fairy shifted in his seat. Edelstein's expression was totally blank. The thick eyebrows only remained in their usual upward slant, and the wrinkles about the nose were set. How a nice lady like Eliza could find him handsome remained to be seen.

"Yes, I sing," the fairy said. "But I can't sing without doing magic, so I can't sing for you."

Eliza shared a look with the young master, indecipherable to young minds. He turned back to his tasteless food, then to the sharp eyes of Otto, which were already fully trained on it.

"Em, why are you staring, Otto?"

"You're not going to eat that, are you."

"No, I wasn't planning on it — Wait!"

Otto swiped the plate over and quickly devoured everything on it. He ate like a starved rodent before Edelstein swept his gaze over the children again.

"Stealing food again, Otto?"

"He gave it to me."

"Did you?"

"No, I didn't… I only said I wasn't hungry."

Edelstein was no longer listening. "Otto, this has gone on long enough! You may ask for more food, but you may not steal from guests!"

Of course, the rest of the pork and potatoes had already been eaten, most likely by the ravenous Otto.

"I'm a growing boy, and a growing duke." .

"Always been a growing boy," Edelstein muttered under his breath. "I'm assuming you still have room for cake."

"Yes, cousin."

Purple eyes narrowed. "You get one slice."

"That seems reasonable," Eliza agreed.

The meal may have been bland, but Feliciano forgot his stomachache when he saw the mouthwatering chocolate cake set before him. Even one slice was absolute heaven. It was thicker and richer than the Allegrian desserts he was used to, but so warm and sweet and tasty! His wings fluttered behind him when he finished. Otto, meanwhile, had frosting smeared clear across his face as he licked his plate clean. Edelstein scolded him for such tactless shoveling, but Eliza only laughed at how much the younger cousin liked his older cousin's baking!

"Don't complain to me about a stomachache," the master grumbled. "You've had them all week."

"Not because I ate too much."

"Then why? Toughen up, now. You are the master of your own health."

"Roderich, don't," Eliza said.

"He's been sick far too often. It's the middle of the summer."

"Roderich, don't. Otto, go show Felice the garden."

"The garden!?" Edelstein yelped. "No, no, not the garden. Show him the toilet and tell him about the off-limits room upstairs. Then both of you can get ready for bed."

Eliza huffed. "Roddy, eh, just excuse yourselves, kids. Don't take him personally. He's all stressed again."

Feliciano was very confused, but Otto begrudgingly left his seat and beckoned for him to follow. The fairy was led out of the dinner room, then up the staircase to the second floor.

"The room with the black door is off-limits. It's locked, anyway, but he doesn't want anyone near it."

"Why? What's inside?"

Otto's smirk returned, and it stretched so long and devious as to look unnatural on his youthful face.

"The Black Study is full of evil," he said. "He tells you he hates magic, but my cousin is really a dark wizard. He put aunt Ilse in her bed over there in the corner. Cursed her within an inch of her life. She hasn't walked in months. I've only seen glimpses of what's behind that door, but it's all nastiness. He's got demons in there. Demon eggs and baby demons all crawling around. And little mushroom trolls that will crawl in your ears and nestle in your brain and control you. Make you eat mud and chew rot. And he's got a Külbex. You know what that is, right? An enchanted chest that transforms anything placed inside of it into a horrible monster. He once put a pumpkin seed inside, and it became a huge sentient pumpkin that wrapped its vines around him and threatened to tear him limb from limb… what's wrong?"

The little fairy had stopped in his tracks. He wiped fresh tears away with his sleeve, then hid his face completely from view. His wings faded to brown along the edges.

"Felice?"

"Why are you so mean?" Feliciano sobbed. "Why are you both so mean? I know what you're saying isn't true, but you're still saying it to scare me, and I don't like it. I'm so confused. Am I not wanted here? Because I don't want to be here either. I didn't want to leave home. I miss my family. My grandpa just died, and it still hurts."

Otto dropped the smirk. The fairy's enchanted cries lowered his spirits until he felt all heavy and downtrodden inside.

Feliciano brushed past him on the way to his room. He fluttered to jump up onto the bed, then snuggled under the covers and groaned at how hard the mattress was. Tears blurred his vision. His little body was wracked with muffled sobs. The glares. The insults. The wing-pulling. This was no learning experience. This was a prison! His mamma had been right when he eavesdropped on her! Humans were a cruel and jealous race!

"Hey… hey! Hey! Hey, Felice! Hey, wake up! Hey!"

The blanket above his head was slapped repeatedly. Feliciano groaned, exasperated, then pulled it off and rubbed his puffy red eyes.

"I want to be alone, Otto. Please go somewhere else."

"No, I… As the Duke of Liutberht, allow me to apologize. I cannot speak for my cousin. He's wicked for a number of reasons, and in a number of ways, but you are an honored guest. My behavior toward you has been unacceptable."

He gave a mock salute, which looked utterly stupid.

"Why were you mean to me, though?"

"I wasn't trying to be mean. That's just how I play. I'm sorry. I didn't know your grandpa died."

Reminded of this, another round of tears started up, and the wings grew even duller and browner. "I miss him so much. He taught me everything I know about music. He taught me magic comes from the heart, so that's where I should sing from. But… my mamma said he died because his heart broke. His son… my papà… died before I was born, and it made him so sad that eventually, his heart stopped making the magic for him. Now I'm here for safety, and I'm not allowed to use magic, or I'll get my wings pulled."

Otto shook his head. "You're a fairy. Of course you can use magic. You just can't use it around my cousin. He gets all weird about it. Magic has done some bad things to him."

Feliciano pouted his lips. "But I can't sing without magic happening."

"Hmm…" Otto paced around the bed, cold blue eyes narrowed at the floor. "Hey, can you keep a secret?"

"Is it a fun secret?"

"Not really, but it might help you. Come on, I have to show you something in my room."

Feliciano nodded. He jumped out of bed and followed Otto out of the room and to the middle of the second floor. There lay Otto's room, which was much bigger and filled with a multitude of cushy pillows and plush quilts and books and toys. The four-poster bed was so much softer than the guest bed. Its goosefeathers reminded the little fairy of home, and his heart sank once more.

"Under the bed. Here. Fold your wings down."

Curious, Feliciano hunched down and crawled under the bed after the other boy. Otto scooted to where the headboard above was flush with the wall. He pressed down on a plank of the floor until the other end popped up. Then he wrenched it off entirely, revealing a secret space beneath the floor. A cloud of dust made the fairy sputter and cough. Otto hid his nose behind his shirt collar before reaching down into the compartment and pulling out a wooden toolbox.

No tools graced the holders — only vials and vials of potions. Most were of a deep amber hue that glowed in the dark, while some were more colorful and lively in their containers. Otto took one amber vial and placed it in Feliciano's wandering hand. His eyes were sharp when he spoke.

"Sip a tiny bit."

"Now?"

"Now."

"What does it do?"

"Just sip some and see what happens."

Feliciano complied. He uncorked the vial and sniffed. The stuff reeked like eggs, but he sipped a tiny bit before replacing the cork.

The potion burned as it slid down his throat. It swelled and prickled and grew cold as ice. The fairy broke into a coughing fit. He felt as if freezing tendrils were reaching all throughout his body, jarring his muscles and slowing his blood. He tried to whine, but his voice was choked, and when a note did escape his throat, it was all quavery and weak.

"I feel sick. I don't like this."

"Is it diluting your magic?"

Feliciano nodded. He could no longer feel the warm tingling of magic flowing through his body, and his strength was halved.

"It won't kill you as long as you only take a few drops at a time. You can have that vial. Use it before the music lessons. He loves music, deep down. It's magic that stresses him."

Feliciano hacked. His stomach was bubbling from the potion's wickedness. Otto stuffed the potions back down under the floor and scooted out so he could quickly show his guest to the toilet. A little while later, and Feliciano was whimpering in bed again, the vial stuffed in his pillowcase.

"Where did you get those potions?"

"I found them in a dusty cupboard," was Otto's cryptic answer. "But they're a secret, remember."

"How did you know it would suppress my power?"

Otto fidgeted with his collar, then crossed his arms and paced even faster. He stopped when he caught the fairy looking straight at him with a suspicious glare.

"Okay, em, another secret. A secret more secret than the last one." He leaned in and whispered in one pointed ear.

"You… how does that work?"

"My father's side. A spirit or two. Some joking around. It's a small percentage, but it gives me some… abilities… that I have to hide from my cousin. But it's a total secret, and you mustn't tell even the nicest person. Not Eliza. Not Ilse. Not the neighbor's dog. Okay? Swear it, Felice. It's very important that you tell no one. I'm completely human, okay?"

Otto was pale, very pale, and Feliciano wondered whether this was a secret he shouldn't have learned.

"Okay, I swear. Can we be friends, now?"

The smirky boy nodded, then shared a genuine smile. "My cousin's gonna give you so much shit. You might as well have a friend."

"Eh, that's a naughty word, Otto!"

"What? Friend? I know."

Roderich had exploded and quit the table.

Eliza could picture the inside of his brain. All screwy and full of scurrying snow. She thrust herself up from her seat, but waited a bit. Perhaps he needed to cool down some before he could think like a rational human being.

She went upstairs to find the children gently playing together. This was a pleasant development. At least one member of this tightass family was open to change. Poor unruly Otto needed a friend, anyway.

"Time for bed now, both of you. Felice, I'll help you with a bath."

"I know how to take a bath, Miss Eliza. I can scrub my wings, too!"

She wanted to squeal at such cuteness. "All right, bug. Just let me run it for you so you don't make a mess."

Eliza did just this, and when Felice was all squeaky clean, (and glittery,) she gave him a quick kiss that put a smile on his face and tucked him into bed. The same she did for Otto.

"Don't squeeze me, dear."

"I love you, though!"

"Otto, Otto, let go."

But he didn't, and his nails were digging hard into her back, so she wrenched his monkey arms off of her and tucked them under the blanket.

"Goodnight now, Otto."

"Goodnight, mama," he purred.

"You stinker," she said, giving him her own smirk. She shut the door behind her and pulled her hair back behind her ears. "Is that who I am now? A 'mama?' I should hope not… but I suppose Roderich is just as much a child as Otto, and I can't seem to get away from him no matter what I do."

Deciding on a slice of cake, she descended the stairs, only to be swept up in beautiful song.

The piece began slowly, steadily, hard tones like waves crashing on a stormy sea, and the moon eclipsed by a bright red spot of anger. Ugliness and spite. Stinging and burning. But as it continued, it grew more refined. Relaxed. Languid, even. Like water flowing over rocks, split by the sharp points, but softened into trickling rivulets that ran together into a cool and peaceful stream. The moon opened wide, growing from a crescent to a disk, and spinning into a glowing orb of pure emotion, fully open to the night and all its dramatic procession, wicked and white.

Eliza popped her head into the receiving room and took in the sight of him. Raving on his piano. His eyes were closed, and he spoke with his too-long fingers. His shoulders threw themselves back, and he swayed on the bench as if possessed by something wild. Then he slumped forward, folding into a simpler, sadder passage. Something glistened on his cheeks — a stream of tears, rarely seen.

The moonlight hit his face just right, and suddenly, the beak was softer, the hair smoother, the angles all curved and perfect. Ostrich feathers molted and withered and fell away from pale skin, and the most elegant man emerged. One long tone represented his rest. His body stilled, even and steady.

"Did you like it?"

Roderich asked despite his closed eyes, which fluttered open. Eliza found herself going forth to sit next to him on the bench. He didn't smile, but he squeezed her shoulder and shuffled through piles of sheet music she'd never seen before.

"You do play," Eliza said. "You've never played for me before. You're so good. You sound professional."

"Well, a fairy taught me."

"His father."

He paused before nodding. "He has the same voice. It's childish, but it's there. That magical voice. It used to make me feel safe. Now it makes me feel lost."

It was her turn to squeeze him. "I know it hurts. You miss him. Gigi. He must have been so good to you."

"Gigi was the kindest person I ever knew… before I met you. You're similar. Neither of you want to give up on me. I'm a wicked man. I snapped at children today."

"I'm sure you were just caught off guard. You'll be kinder tomorrow. But please, stop making Otto feel bad about his weaknesses. There's something personal there, right?"

Roderich nodded. "Yes. I see my younger self in him, and I want to hate it. But I know I'm not any better now. My heart is still weak."

"You're wiser," Eliza said. "You're much more rational now than earlier. Does playing clear your mind?"

"More than anything. I feel so refreshed. If humans had magic, I…" He scowled at the thought.

"It's the truest reflection of yourself. Play another, please? Play for me."

"Well, actually, I did write a song especially for you. But it was penned several years ago. I might not be able to read it now."

She snatched his spectacles away. "You can read fine. Come on, Roddy. I want to know the real you."

A little bubble of laughter escaped his throat. "Okay then. One more piece."

He played the love song he'd written — the one that described her as the sun, with the sparkling golden corona surrounding her wild chestnut hair like the crown of heaven. She lay her head on his shoulder as he trailed his fingers over each twinkle. He imagined himself plucking every little diamond out of the sky and weaving her a gown out of music and stars. That old desire boiled beneath his skin and sent shivers through his nerves, but it was not time yet. He would wait for her question. That was the polite thing to do.

When he finished, their eyes met, and for once, he could tell Eliza felt safe, with no grievances to lay upon his wicked shoulders. She gave him a few playful pats on the chest and stomach before traipsing out of the room in a dreamy trance.

"I'll see you soon."

"Be careful. Don't fly too high on the way home."

"I'll fly as high as I want, Roddy."

"It's Roderich."

They shared a look before bursting into giggles.

Roderich showed her out, and then he trundled up the stairs, yawning. What a dream of a day. A little fairy that sounded like Gigi. None of this was real, or was it? The extraordinary parts of his life, unfortunately, were always real.

"Roderich."

Including that one.

He found his way to the old bat's room and stood in the doorway. Poor Ilse. She had flown and fallen, growing more wicked the more she aged. She had once been a pleasant woman, Roderich remembered, but something about Edelweiss had soured her, and he didn't blame her for succumbing to the rot of the place.

"What is it, auntie?"

"Come closer, boy."

"I'm not a boy anymore. I'm nineteen. Be respectful to the master of this household."

"You be respectful to your elders, boy. Now come here."

He came in and knelt next to the bed. "Do you need another slice of cake? The leftovers always go to you or to Otto. I wish your appetite were bigger. He's going to get himself deadly sick again one of these days."

"It's about Otto," Ilse rasped. "I overheard him talking with that fairy boy."

"Yes?"

"He's keeping secrets from you. Magic secrets. I want you to watch him even more carefully."

"Oh, put that to rest, woman. Otto is not a—"

"I have my suspicions. You see what happens when you don't let him eat as much as he wants. He grows surly. He's a violent child."

"He isn't violent. He's just disrespectful. He's from a discriminating bloodline. If my father were here, he could attest to that."

Roderich turned to leave, but Ilse grabbed his wrist.

"Watch him."

"Yes, fine. I will."

"You're sensitive to dark magic. Your tainted blood gives you the power to sniff it out."

Roderich clenched his teeth and slammed the door on her.

~N~

I hit the 100k word mark (because of course I did. You fools keep reading my telescopic melodrama.) There you have it. Chibitalia if I was allowed to write it. Because the kids should… have personalities. Of course, Feli's naturally confused the whole time here, so he hasn't come out of his shell yet. XD

Only some demons lay eggs — salamanders and harpies. "Demon" is a collective term for humanoid beings with elemental powers who can create and destroy energy at will. Dangerous folk! But ignorance of their kind has led to prejudice and stereotyping. Not as much as the changelings, though, since demons keep to their kingdoms in the east.

Next episode: Ludwig gets his most brilliant idea yet! But Gilbert doesn't approve…

Published by Syntax-N on FanFiction . Net June 16th, 2020. Drink water. Do your incline. Put money in savings. Reposters get the cane. Reviewers, we got cronchy moon dust leftover from the other fic.