The Thirteenth Chapter

Christmas passed, as did winter, and when the snow melted, Mikkel was back to work again with his insects and his lectures. He was enthralled in his work to the point where he often forgot to check on the fairy in the box.

Once, after he had forgotten him for five days, he checked on his body and was surprised to see that it looked different. While he had not shown signs of decomposing save looking far more pale and thin, now, he had specks of green forming on his skin. Mikkel lifted him from the dish, but not with ease, as it seemed that his flesh was melting onto the base, and when he had to remove him, a soft, green substance stuck to the bottom. Something damp and cool, like moss.

The man tossed the fairy onto his stomach and held him in his palm. The skin underneath was green. The back of his legs, the back of his arms, the base of his neck, and so forth. Mikkel shuddered and lightly tapped the substance. It felt tender, just like a flower petal from a blossom that hadn't received enough sunlight.

Without a second thought, Mikkel took him to the windowsill and set him in the sunlight. This did little good. The man, despite feeling as though he was no longer strongly effected by Lukas' death, felt as though he might choke. It seemed that the fairy was finally meeting his point of decomposition. The man felt silly for being so upset, as it was bound to happen eventually. If not beginning at the moment of his death, then soon. Perhaps he was lucky to have been able to keep Lukas as well as he did for so long.

Most scientists would have thought it best to save the fairy for experiments, but the thought crossed Mikkel's mind completely. He could not imagine himself doing something so disrespectful to the fairy. No, he would have to be buried.

The thought of burying Lukas made his heart ache. He realized this wasn't healthy, and that he should have buried him immediately. If he would have, he wouldn't be facing the pain he was facing today. It was no good to dwell on it, either. He went downstairs, looked for a shovel, and came back up. He decided that he would take the fairy to the nearest forest and bury him on the outskirts where nobody could dig him up or find him again.

"I suppose this is good-bye. Again," he said as he cradled the fairy in his hand once more. Mikkel pet his cheek, then patted his head. There were tears in his eyes. This had to come to an end, though, as did every good thing.

Mikkel, overwhelmed with grief, lifted the fairy up to his lips and without a second thought, he planted a soft kiss on his back, one of the only places his lips could fit on the others tiny body. He then walked downstairs, wrapped the fairy up, and walked outside. The sun was still bright and vibrant. A perfect day for Lukas if he could see it.

As the man began to make his way down the walk in front of his house with the fairy in tow, he heard something small. Almost a whine. He looked around, whispered, "I beg your pardon?" and when there was no reply, he continued.

The noise rang out again, but louder. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked down at Lukas, squinting. For a moment, there was silence. "Hello?" He questioned. There was a low keen, then a very quiet, "Hello?"

Mikkel turned on his heel and walked back into the house with a hop in his step. He slammed the door shut, locked it, and unraveled the cloth. "Hello, hello?"

"Hello, hello, Mikkel," the fairy chimed. He picked some of the cloth off, stretched, and yawned. He was relaxed, as if he hadn't a clue what had happened. When he noticed the green colour on the back of his legs and arms, he said, "I need a bath."

The man didn't know what to think, and he began to laugh and cry out of joy and relief. Once again, he kissed the fairy right on the back with a resounding smack, and Lukas watched on curiously. "What are you doing?"

"I am giving you a kiss! I have missed you so, so much. I thought you were…" He paused, then said, "I thought you were gone forever. You were asleep for so long."

Lukas looked around, becoming aware that he was no longer in Fejø, but in a new house that was dazzling and glaring with beautiful things he'd never seen before like shining porcelain teacups and silver figurines. There were glittering lamps that seemed to shine with no fire. "Mikkel, what is that?"

"What? The lamp? It is electricity. It is hard to explain. But it is similar to magic, I think," he answered, taking the fairy over to the lamp so he could examine it. He lightly tapped the glass shades, stroking it slowly. It was slightly warm, but nothing like a fire. "I like the lamp."

"That is just a lamp! There is so many more things here."

"Where is here?"

The man chuckled and carried Lukas into the kitchen. He set him down on the counter, took out a loaf of bread, and started rolling a slice flat. "We are in the city. More specifically, at my house. You were asleep for a very long time. Winter has already passed. It is spring now. I'm sure you are very happy to hear that!"

The fairy nodded and looked around. There was a silver teapot to his right in which he could see his reflection. When he noticed he wasn't wearing the green wrappings anymore, he felt out of place and tried to wrap himself up in a little towel. "Where did they go? I can see too much skin."

Miikkel covered the bread in butter, then sprinkled it with sugar and put it on a sheet. "You lost them. They peeled away. I can have clothes made for you, though! I have a nightshirt around here somewhere. I will get it soon." He put the bread in the oven, then picked Lukas up and patted his head lovingly.

They were silent for a moment. Lukas was reclined and humming, and Mikkel was too focused on his own happiness to think about anything else.

"Mikkel, sometimes you bother me very much," the fairy admitted. The man raised his eyebrows, scoffed, and began to laugh quietly.

"I beg your pardon?"

Lukas took a drink from a thimble full of milk that the man had given him, then said, "But I feel love for you."

The man smiled softly and said, "I also feel love for you. You are very important to me." He took out the slice of bread, cut it into small pieces, and set some of them in front of Lukas. He began to eat quickly and sloppily, scarfing down the food like he had when Mikkel first met him.

"I am so hungry," he muttered, almost choking on a crumb because he was eating so fast. Mikkel nodded and said, "I can see!" He poured Lukas more milk, then handed it to him and started walking into the main room. "Follow me."

The fairy clutched the little cup and flew after him, his eyes finding something new to look at in the house everywhere he turned. He sat upon Mikkel's shoulder, sipped his milk, and leaned against his neck. "What are we going to do now, Mikkel?" He asked. The man smiled, glanced at him as best as he could, and said, "I think we will go see a film."

After they saw a film, ate plenty of good candy, and listened to hours of music, they went to bed, and Lukas fell asleep on Mikkel's chest like he had before.