Chapter Seven: After the Funeral
(edited version)

High Chancellor Robert finally finished his disgusting speech. Tania hated his monotonous voice and lifeless words. Sure, they sounded remorseful and sorry, but he never knew Sir James or Lady Evelyn. He was merely doing his job.

The two wooden caskets with the intricate carvings on them started to lower to the ground. Not a sob or a noise came out of Tania's mouth, but hot, silent tears poured down her cheeks.

She was a mess. Her brown hair was dishevelled, as if she did not bother to brush her hair when she woke up. Which was true, actually. Tania could barely remember what happened as she prepared herself for the funeral. She was in a complete daze most of the time.

Suddenly, she felt someone wrap their around her. She turned and realized that it was Kylee, who was also crying silently. Lady Evelyn and Sir James had always been extremely kind to her. They weren't one of those arrogant nobles, even though they were rich.

After giving Kylee a small, thankful smile, Tania glanced at Weston. She refrained from glaring or screaming at him. He didn't look sad at all. In fact, he looked rather bored, with his blank, uninterested eyes and can't-wait-for-this-to-end manner.

She hated him. He was only here for her parents' money, that vile monster.

She turned back to the lowering caskets, and against her will, her thoughts strayed towards Noewyn…

Happiness…can Noewyn bring me happiness?

That question had been in her mind for a long time. But she couldn't just leave this world like that, right? Right?

She gazed at the blue sky and lazy white clouds. But why not?

Tania landed on an empty street near the marketplace. It was nighttime, and almost everyone was either in his or her small, cosy homes or getting drunk in some crowded tavern. She could hear the roars of drunken laughter and drunken singing from afar.

There were very few lighted streetlamps on the street, and if someone saw Tania, she would have been nothing but a shadowy figure. Bright stars winked from up above, yet they didn't help the conquering dark. It was oddly creepy in a way, and had she not possessed powers, Tania would have been terrified. But since that was not the case, the dark was nothing but a mere distraction.

She sighed. Once again, she was thinking about that mysterious place. She looked up at the night sky, half-expecting to see the land of the fairies just waiting for her…

"You're not thinking about going up there this early, are you?" said a voice.

Tania started. For some strange reason, she felt fear erupt inside her, which was silly since she was part of an extremely powerful race. She could handle almost anything. Did that sound conceited? Well, to be honest, it was merely stating the truth.

A dark figure emerged from a narrow alley. As the flame of one of the streetlamps glowed itself upon the figure, Tania saw that it was an elderly woman with wrinkly skin and relatively short grey curls. She was short and hunched, with a visible mole next to her nose. She wore nothing but a plain dress, in contrast to Tania's black but fancy summer dress.

"Who are you?" Tania asked cautiously.

"A fairy," the woman replied with a smile. "Just like you."

"How did you know?"

The woman chuckled. "One reason is because I saw you flying."

"And the other reason?"

The woman suddenly became serious. Her elderly face visibly darkened. Tania wondered why, but said nothing. "The other reason is because you are bathed with your magic's scent," the woman said. "I'm surprised you have not gotten rid of it, like most magical beings do."

Tania was caught off guard. She had a scent? Of course her first question had to be: "Does it smell bad?"

"No," the woman replied, "but it is strong…which is dangerous."

"How?" Tania asked, frowning.

The woman sighed heavily. Tania could be wrong, but she thought she sensed a hint of impatience as well. "You have much to learn. Not all magical beings are good, the same way not all humans are good. Like the ogres, child. They use their magic for evil."

"What does that have to do with me?" Tania asked confusedly.

"Magical beings, like ogres, fairies, and the like, can sense magic scent in those who have it," the fairy explained. "And your magic scent is so strong that you are practically asking them to come to you."

Tania started as she suddenly realized something. That's why the ogres came, she thought. They sensed me.

"You can take away your scent using your magic," the elderly fairy said. "Every magical being does it. It's the simplest trick."

"H-how?" Tania asked embarrassedly. She felt stupid not knowing how to do this "simple trick." She could shoot out lightning and fly, yet she didn't know how to remove her scent.

"It's easy," the fairy said with a smile. "Just close your eyes and say, in your mind, that you want your scent removed. Once your magic senses that command, it will obey. After all, you control it. It doesn't control you. Remember that."

Tania eyed the fairy cautiously. "How can I trust you?" she asked bluntly. "What if I do that and my powers disappear?"

The fairy laughed at that. It was a merry laugh, and it, for some reason, comforted Tania. "Magic and magic scent are two different things. Magic can do you good, but magic scent will do nothing but expose your identity. I can't make you trust me, child. If you don't want to listen, that's fine. After all, you make your own decisions."

Those words were enough for Tania. She nodded. "All right. I…I'll try."

The fairy smiled. "I'm glad."

Tania closed her eyes, concentrating on her power. Remove my scent. Remove my scent. Remove my scent…

She felt really stupid at the moment, but who was there to see her except for the old fairy woman? Besides, if what the woman was saying was true, then she better do something about her "problem" if she wanted to stay safe.

Remove my scent…

Suddenly, she felt a vicious, biting gust of wind. Startled, Tania opened her eyes. She looked down at herself—and saw that her entire body was glowing intensely. Her bright, golden aura lightened the dark atmosphere like twenty streetlamps.

There was another strong gust of wind, and the aura disappeared, as if it soared away with the wind.

Then everything went back to normal, including the darkness.

Silence. Tania frowned, not feeling any different. "Can you…uh…still sense me?" she asked the fairy. She figured that that aura, the one that flew with the wind, was her scent.

The fairy grinned. "No," she said. "And if you want, try your magic. It should still be there."

Tania smiled. She jumped off the ground and floated in the air. Satisfied, she touched back down. "Thank you," she said to the fairy. "I'm glad I met you. I'm Tania. It's nice to finally meet another fairy. Do you live here?"

"No, I'm just visiting Geldrin. I'm usually in Kyrria. Have you been there?"

Tania shook her head.

"Well, you should go there someday. It's a wonderful place."

"I will visit it someday," Tania promised. "I don't think I can stand the people here any longer. Ever since they found out that I'm a fairy, things have been different."

"You should have kept a low profile, child. Fairies do not like revealing themselves. I used to do it all the time when I used to do big magic." She gave Tania a hard look. "Don't do big magic, child," she said sternly. "Don't. Bad things will happen if you do. Trust me. I should know. Stick to small magic."

"What's small magic?"

The fairy laughed. "The smallest you can think of. Whatever you do to yourself—like flying and changing your appearance—is fine, but don't do magic that may somehow connect with non-magical beings."

Tania nodded. "I'll try to remember that."

"Good. Now, I must be off. If you ever need me, just say these words: 'Lucinda, come to my aid.' All right?"

Tania nodded. The woman smiled softly. She was about to leave, but all of a sudden, she halted and looked at Tania sharply.

Tania frowned. "What?" she asked, feeling uncomfortable under the observance of those piercing eyes.

"You know," Lucinda said thoughtfully, "humans don't know that fairies have eye colours that go beyond blue, green, grey, hazel, and brown. Purple, amber, and orange eyes are common among fairies, but those who have such colours conceal them. If you wish to hide what you are, I suggest you change your eye colour. But that is just a suggestion." She kissed Tania's forehead. "Farewell, and take care."

After one final smile, she vanished, leaving Tania behind.

Almost dreamily, the young fairy gazed at the stars. No…not tonight, she thought. Nor tomorrow.

The next day, when Tania passed by Weston in the hallway, she was startled to see his lips fixed into a devious smile. His eyes gleamed with laughter and he actually looked as if he was going to tap dance at any given minute.

Tania glowered. "What are you so happy about?"

"Oh, nothing," Weston replied breezily. He chuckled. "It's just that, I've officially become your guardian, which means I have complete control over this estate." He let out a booming laugh. "Wanna see?" he said like an immature four-year-old.

"I don't believe you."

He sniggered. Then he took something out from his doublet's pocket and waved it in front of Tania's angered face.

It was a roll of parchment. Tania snatched it and began to read the dreaded words it contained.

It turned out that Weston wasn't lying. She was officially her guardian, based on the signatures at the bottom.

"How can this be?" she whispered in horror.

"I pulled some strings," Weston replied nonchalantly. "I can be pretty sly sometimes."

Her eyes widened. "You…SCOUNDREL!" she screamed.

His hand made hard contact with her face. A ringing silence followed.

Tania was shocked. Slowly, very slowly, she reached up and touched her cheek.

When she saw the smirk on Weston's face, her eyes blazed. She spoke quietly, but her voice contained a sense of mortal danger. "How dare you—"

"I wouldn't speak any more of your delightful words if I were you," Weston snarled. "I am your guardian now."

Tania glared at him. "You disgust me," she spat.

"Likewise," Weston replied icily. "Now get out of my sight."

"Gladly," she replied through clenched teeth. "I wouldn't want to be standing near a pig like you anyway."

Before Weston could strike her a second time, Tania sidestepped quickly and walked past him. She was tempted to use her powers right then and there, but Lucinda's warning from the night before stopped her.

"That bloody scumbag!" Kylee cried out as she angrily banged her fist on the kitchen table.

"No need for the colourful language, Kylee," Georgia said sharply. "But you're right…he is one."

"I can't believe he did that, Tania!" Kylee said, her voice shaking with fury. "He's a bigger scoundrel than I thought."

"Now, he has complete control over this estate," Tania grumbled.

"I will never serve scallywags like him," Kylee replied immediately.

When Georgia spoke, her voice was bitter. "I don't think you have a choice."

"I don't care!" Kylee shouted. "He's a bastard."

"Language," Georgia reminded again. She glanced nervously at Tania.

Tania noticed it. She rolled her eyes. "Georgia," she said wearily, "fairies don't have sensitive ears. I'm not going to die of shock from Kylee's swearing."

There was a dramatic pause. Then there were bursts of laughter, all coming from Tania.

"Hahaha…" Laughter. "That was funny…" More laughter. "Die of shock…" Howls of laughter. "From Kylee's swearing…" Uncontrollable laughter. "That is funny…" Laughter. "I can't die from that…" Peals of laughter. "I'm a damn fairy."

Georgia and Kylee exchanged glances. They failed to see the humour.

So did Tania, after she sobered.

She blinked. "That wasn't funny."

"Uh…yes…" Kylee agreed.

Tania shrugged. "Anyway, I—"

Suddenly, there was a thunderous roar. All three literally jumped.

"A lion…?"

"No, no, a bear…"

"Bears don't roar…"

"They don't?"

"Nope."

"Both of you, it doesn't matter because it isn't an animal!"

"It was an animal."

Another roar.

"See? I told you."

"It's not!"

"Then what is it?"

That question was answered right after. Weston came marching in, his eyes flashing dangerously. His face was beet red, as if he was about to explode into a million pieces. His fists were clenched so tightly that they were now ghastly white.

"YOU!" he yelled as he pointed at Tania. "Your parents weren't as rich as I thought!

Tania figured out that he must have just received the numbers. She grinned. "Disappointed, are you?" she said amusedly. "That's just too bad."

Weston shot her a fierce look. "I needed the damn money to pay off my bloody debts!"

"Debts?" Tania echoed. "What debts?"

"Never mind!" Weston growled. "How am I supposed to pay them back now! I thought your parents' fortune could handle it!"

"I guess you were mistaken," Tania said calmly. "Good luck on handling it."

Weston looked as if he was ready to strangle her. There was a deadly silence in the kitchen. Georgia and Kylee were in the background, their mouths open in horror, Weston was glaring fiercely at Tania, and Tania, meanwhile, was standing calmly, ready to use her powers if the need todo soarose.

Weston was still glaring. Glaring…glaring…glaring…

Suddenly, something spread across his face…

…and he smiled. Pleasantly. Tania did not bother to hide the suspicion in her gaze.

"Yes, of course," he said placidly. His smile turned into an eerie grin. "I will just have to find another way."

Tania wasn't buying his serene manner. "You're up to something," she said distrustfully.

"What? Of course not, my dear." The grin remained fixed on his previously ruddy face. "I must be off now. I'm terribly sorry to disturb all of you."

He skipped away from the kitchen.

There was silence once more. Tania, Kylee, and Georgia were too shocked at Weston's sudden change of behaviour. For once, he was…civil. Did he even know what that meant?

It was Kylee who first snapped out of it. She cleared her throat. "That was…"

"Strange," Tania finished.

"Very."

Tania shuddered. "He's up to something."

"That bit is obvious," Georgia spoke up. "No one in this world can change all of sudden like that…unless his mind is wheeling towards something."

"Let's hope he'll vanish in the process," Kylee joked.

Tania scoffed. "I don't think so. That's wishful thinking." She burst out laughing. "Though it would be funny if it actually happened."