“I wish I wasn’t here,” Serafina whispered to herself. Grabbing the folds of her frilly dress, she closed her eyes. “I wish I was there.”

Serafina could hear her nursemaid scurrying down the long, candlelit hallway, her black dress swished behind her noisily as she rushed toward her hiding space. Reaching behind a very large fern, the nursemaid grabbed her shoulder sharply and dragged her across the hardwood floor.

“I don’t want to hear any more out of you tonight, Serafina,” the woman sharply reprimanded as they approached an ornate door. “You have managed to make quite the spectacle of yourself this evening.”

“But I wanted to see the griffin,” Serafina whined as she tried to pull away from the stern woman. “What’s wrong with that?”

Turning her nose up in the air, the woman made a harumph noise. “By pulling his tail?”

“But I put on this dress and everything!” Serafina objected, pointing to her pink, frilly petticoats.

“Tsk, tsk.” Wagging her finger, the woman scolded her. “Now go into your room and clean it up, before I decide to give you a more severe punishment.”

Obediently, Serafina stood up and brushed the dust off of her dress. Her tiny hands worked at the door latch until she could push it open. Apparently, it wasn’t fast enough. Throwing the child into her bedroom, the woman barked instructions for her to clean up her toys and get to bed. Serafina stepped carefully between the piles of dolls, toys and play clothes strewn carelessly about. Clearing a space to reveal a gleaming, hardwood floor, Serafina assessed the damage and scolded herself playfully, mocking her nursemaid. “How will the maid clean your rugs, child?” she squealed in a high-pitched voice. “You won’t grow up to be a reputable lady now will you?”

“Serafina…” the nursemaid threatened, folding her arms across her chest.

“You’re just like all the others, you meanie,” Serafina taunted her. “Maybe I’ll just wish you away.”

Raising an eyebrow, the nursemaid fingered a golden pendant hanging around her neck. “Clean up your mess now, child. Otherwise we’ll have to send you out among the humans. What would they do with you, I wonder? Hrrumph!”

Letting out a high-pitch squeal, the little girl scampered about, quickly stacking blocks into smart piles onto a wooden trailer. Opening her oversized closet, she neatly hung her dress-up clothes and her fancy hats. After carefully placing her rosy-cheeked collection of dolls neatly on a shelf, Serafina chose a particular doll to bring to bed with her.

“Are you sure you want to do that, Serafina?” the woman asked, her voice softening. “You know what they say about dolls, child.”

Serafina minded her manners and curtsied to the older woman. “Yes, M’aam. I was just thinking that maybe Theodosia will protect me from the fairies.”

“Come now, child. That’s enough frivolous talk for one evening.” The nursemaid clapped her hands. “It is time to get ready for bed.”

The little girl hopped to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas. Changing quickly, she rushed over to a small basin and brushed her teeth.

“Only your bedtime prayers will protect you from the wrath of the fairies, Serafina, and don’t you forget it.”

Serafina wiped her face on her sleeve and jumped into her large bed. Helping her get settled, the nursemaid primly tucked the bedsheets under the mattress. “Be a good girl then, Serafina. You know what to say,” the woman encouraged, as she double-checked a small bowl of milk set out by the windowsill.

The little girl hesitated. “M’aam? Will Mother and Father take me to the zoo tomorrow like they promised?”

“Hmmm…let me think,” she responded, tapping the side of her head. “Well, if you mind your manners and study very, very hard tomorrow then they might take you to the Sanctuary.” The woman emphasized the word “sanctuary” as if it was the polite way to remind Serafina of the proper name for “zoo.” “Now, enough talk for today. Say your prayers, Serafina.”

Pulling the starchy-white covers tightly around her neck, the little girl closed her eyes and spoke in a loud, clear voice.

“Now I lay me down to sleep
May my dreams grow wild and deep
where Fairies found are not to keep.
and if I die before I wake
The Reaper will my soul She’ll take.”

“Very good, Serafina,” the woman’s voice declared. “I think you’ve earned yourself an hour of free time from your lessons tomorrow.”

Serafina softly giggled with delight; it was a proper cheer for a proper, little girl. “Thank you, M’aam,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

A Note from the Author

This particular piece is a memory that Serafina had about her childhood. Here, Serafina believes that she has the ability to use “wish” magic. Does she? Serafina’s abilities are certainly one of the bigger questions in the first book, and her family lineage does allude to who she is and what she can do.

Also included in this memory, is a subtle warning about the faeries that live in this Realm. They are definitely not like the cutesy, magical pixies that you might expect them to be. In fact, you could almost say that they’re more dangerous than the Alchemists could ever hope to be.

About Flavor Fiction Friday

For a limited time, Monica Valentinelli will share flavor fiction set within the Violet War urban fantasy setting. Flavor fiction may include short scenes, quotes, prayers, textbook passages, etc. that are designed to give the reader a “taste” of this unique world.

This will be the last installment of this first series for Flavor Fiction Friday.