Where does one even buy a fairy? God, this feels so wrong, so immoral… Purchasing a fairy isn't just as easy as going to the supermarket and picking one off the shelf. Because of their rarity, you kind of have to know the system to get one. Luckily- or perhaps unluckily- for me, Mr. Grinds knew to set me up.
He had his driver take me the swankiest part of downtown. This place was the ritz; I felt so uncomfortable and out-of-place there. I stuck out like a sore thumb, literally; my clothes gave me away in an instant. I had no idea what I was doing and found myself at the mercy of the driver's instructions.
The fairy market, once I FINALLY found it, was NOT a fun experience. It was like walking into a pet shop. Lots of little fairies kept in these admittedly really fancy, golden cages with silk and satin strewn about. It centre of the store felt like one of those bridal shops where you can go in and try on dresses- not that I ever had. Everything in here screamed wealth and elite status. The clerk, who initially was reluctant to serve me until I showed him my bank slip- something I guess you had to do to prove you could afford a fairy-, brought me to this really elegant sitting room, or parlour as I suppose it was, and sat me down on this super comfy and soft chair. He offered me champagne, and when I politely refused, he brought me one of those blooming tea blossoms that sit in your cup instead. It was insanely awkward; he was awkward and I was awkward. No one was having fun right now.
While I was sitting there, drinking my blossom tea, he asked me about what kind of fairy I was after in detail. The salesclerk was surprised when I told him I was here for a warrior fairy. Those kinds of fairies, apparently, had gone out of fashion. Most people owned companion fairies, who acted as a sort of live-in friend who also served you hand-and-foot. Yeah, no thanks. Warrior fairies, by contrast, were in short supply and not in demand; since there were no wars going on, people didn't see a need for those kinds of fairies. Modern technology made home security possible without a fairy or human guard, so they weren't needed to protect property either. In essence, I told this man the truth: that my father wanted me to have a fairy to guard me so nothing bad ever happened to me again, physically anyway. Reluctant at first, he eventually admitted that he knew of a place that had one warrior fairy in stock; if I didn't like that one, I'd have to go to another city to find a different one. They were THAT rare.
Not really seeing as if I had a choice, I went to the other shop; it was still posh but less bougie than the first place I visited. This shopkeeper was particularly unfriendly, treating me like an annoyance he wanted to be rid of as soon as possible. Only he was mildly more amused than the first salesclerk when I told him I wanted to see his warrior fairy. Chuckling sinisterly, he brought me down to a dark room with no windows… I couldn't imagine keeping anything alive in these sorts of conditions. Opening the door and flicking on a dim light, I stood under the threshold to behold my very first ever warrior fairy.
He was gorgeous! Utterly beautiful! He was tall; human-sized, which I'd never seen before. I didn't even know fairies could grow that big anymore. His wing was also long and very dazzling; it was unlike anything I'd ever imagined. He was slender but slightly muscular, had very pale skin, long silky dark hair down to his shoulders, and clear, endless, ocean eyes. Beautiful wasn't a strong enough word to describe him….. Nothing in the English language could do him justice. I had no clue fairies could look like him…. And suddenly all those romance books about humans falling in love with fairies made sense. He was prettier than any human I'd ever seen….. which made me nervous of how I must have looked to him. I wasn't ugly by any means, but I wouldn't call myself beautiful either. I was just your average, everyday girl- heh, very average, when compared to the likes of him.
As I feared, he did NOT looked impressed to see me. My heart leapt to see his one leg shackled to the floor; the shopkeeper had obviously not been treating him well. The fairy and I made eye-contact while the shopkeeper nearly shoved me closer inside. Another bitter chuckle left his lips as he flashed the fairy a disgusting leer.
"Hey, boy. Looks like today's your lucky day. This broad's come here to purchase you." "Broad!?" I demanded at him insulted and the fairy just scoffed, also with bitterness and resentment. "You mean to tell me that I'm going to be owned by this…. this scarecrow?" The moment I heard him speak, my heart skipped a beat- several beats, in fact. His voice… His silky, silvery voice. I loved it; I adored it. It sounded like the promise of sin mixed with pleasure. Pure hatred and vitriol towards me…. But so seductive at the same time. No human man could sound like him; I already knew that from the moment I heard those words drop from his lips. Now I really, REALLY understood those romance novels.
But I tried- and likely failed- to act offended by the fairy's comment, attempting to straighten my posture. "What did you just call me?" I demanded, though not as loudly as I would have liked, and he sneered, giving me an intense glare. "Be grateful I didn't call you something worse, scarecrow." "Heh, so, you really think this is the fairy your dad had in mind when he made that clause in his will?" The shopkeeper smirked my way, sticking his thumb out at the fairy. I cringed so hard inside, shutting my eyes for a second to calm myself down. God, I wish I hadn't told him that; why didn't I just lie and say that I needed a bodyguard or something? Now the fairy knows why I'm here….. Well, I mean I guess it's not a secret, but I wished he'd learned it from me.
Seeing my disgusted reaction, the shopkeeper laughed, planting his hands on his hips. "See? I told you you wouldn't want him. He's a nightmare; the worst merchandise that I've ever had by far." My hands coiled into unconscious fists as he said this. I shot him a glare, trying to keep the volume of my voice under control. "Don't call him that." "What? It's true. Don't tell me you're one of those hippies who believes all fairies should be free? Yeah right! What's next? We can't own dogs or cats either?" He laughed and my arms began to tremble in rage. The fairy didn't say anything but watched the interaction with detached bemusement. "He's a fairy; not an animal." "Oh, don't give me that horse crap. He ain't human, but if you treat him like one, then he'll kill you and steal his wing back for sure," the shopkeeper was half-teasing, half-serious and the fairy merely shut his eyes. Then the man walked into the room so to kick the fairy in the lower leg, making me wince in shock at the assault. The old man looked back at me, unimpressed by my physical reaction.
"So, you do want him or not? I gotta warn ya; he's killed three fairy hunters just last years alone. He's not above getting human blood on his hands. Once you take him out those doors, he's your problem. Your family can't sue for any heh, damages he might inflict." "How long as he been here?" My lips suddenly quivered in fear and the shopkeeper's eyes shut. "Too long. But I can't "dispose" of him; it's illegal for owners to kill their fairy merchandise without approval from the authorities. Since his kind are so rare, it's hard to get approval for anything. But I've had enough of him; he isn't worth what I paid. if you buy him, you can't return him; no refunds," the man glared at me and I frowned. It utterly sickened me how he was speaking about the poor fairy. I'd rather he go free than come back here….. But I was too timid to say this out loud.
The shopkeeper yanked on the fairy's chains a bit, as if trying to get a reaction from me. "So what'll it be, girl? If you don't want him, then stop wasting my time. I got work to attend to." My mouth was about to open when the fairy spoke first, smirking candidly to himself, folding his arms and glaring in my direction. "Stop dithering and buy me already, you scrawny scarecrow." "Wha-…..?!" What did he just say? He wants to be purchased by me? But then, can you blame him? Look at the conditions he's living in now…. No wonder he wants to escape from here, and I might be the first person's who's come around looking to buy a warrior fairy. Who knows when another patron will come here.
To my even greater shock, the shopkeeper actually laughed at this, like what the fairy said was amusing- or ironic. "Well now. That's the first time I've heard you asking to be bought. What makes this one so special? You've fallen in love with her already? Heh, or is it that you think she'll be meek and easy to control? Yeah, I can see why you'd think that," he took a jab at me and I recoiled angrily. "Hey!" "It's true. Be honest, babe; you can't control him. Why I bet you'd never even squeeze his wing if he got out of line." "Of course not! That's cruel and barbaric!" "No, it's not. Is it cruel to spank a crying child?" "….. YES! Absolutely! No, you're right! I will NOT control my fairy through force!" "Then you have no chance keeping the likes of him around. He'll steal his wing back and leave you faster than you can say "eye"," he sneered viciously, and in victory.
I hesitated here, seriously considering what he'd just told me. True, I'd never use force on a fairy's wing to discipline them or keep them shackled to me… But I never also considered the fact that they might steal their wing and escape. Ugh, why am I even doing this? I don't even want a fairy! If I could free this fairy and give him his freedom back, I would. But the will….. If I technically purchased a warrior fairy and didn't give him his wing back BUT he somehow snuck it from me anyway…. then it's really not my fault if he escapes. I did my part; I got a fairy. Why should I treat him like a prisoner, especially when I didn't ask for any of this? I could buy him, and if he escapes, that'll be that. End of story. But I'm not really afraid of him killing me to get his wing back…. He looks so strong, he could just take it from me if he wanted….. Nugh, what to do? What to do?
Well, first thing's first; if we can't be equals in-law, then I want him to feel that I at least value his opinion. I looked at the fairy, clasping my hands tight together in front of me. Welp! Here goes nothing. I can always find a different warrior fairy in another city if he says no…. It won't be the end of the world. I just want him to feel like he has a choice….. Even if it's between a rock and a hard place. Enslavement is enslavement, after all; it doesn't matter how nice your masters are…. And that includes me. My lips pursed together, trying not to tremble too much.
"Do you…. want me to buy you? Do you want to come live with me?" The fairy looked at me a moment then scoffed, lowering his chin. "Come live with a hapless little girl? Course I don't…. But given the choice between you and that bastard, I'd go with you any day." Sucking in a deep breath, I turned to face the now pissed-off shopkeeper who was about to squeeze the fairy's wing, which was kept in this small silk baggie. He stopped when I flashed him a sharp glare, holding out my hand for the bag. "Don't hurt my fairy. Give his wing to me." "What? You mean you'll actually buy him?" The man blinked to me incredulously and, with one last glance at the stoic warrior, I firmly nodded. "Yes….. Yes, I will.
How much?"
