The reflection showed gold. Much more than Seren expected. But it still made them the victor.

  “No. It can’t be.” The Queen said in disbelief. Seren grinned and leaned back.

  “So it goes. I’ll see myself out.” Seren said. The Queen only shook her head.

  “No. No. You can’t. I won’t let you!” The Queen turned.

  “Are you allowed to do that?” Seren paused. “I thought when fae made a deal they had to abide by it?” The Queen looked at Seren but then the guards watching her in interest had her taking a step back.

  “You cheated.” The Queen pointed “You had to have cheated! There’s no way you could have won!” The Queen turned with a scream of rage. “You will never leave! You will perish here and-” The Queen hit a bubble like wall. Seren stepped back and realized quickly what happened. They turned and ran through the palace.

  “Don’t let them get away! Catch them!” The Queen’s screams echoed around them as Seren ran. “You’ll never escape! I’ll find you! I’ll make you pay!”

  Seren slid on the floors of the palace as they tried to turn. Falling onto their knees and sliding. Grabbing a hold of a hallway frame to catch them and stop their slide. It rammed their knee into the corner painfully. They scrambled up onto their feet and slipped and slid back up. The drawbridge rumbled and started rising. Seren got to their feet with their sneakers screeching on the floor. They ran as hard as they could but the bridge went up and Seren tried to climb but slid right back down.

  They wanted to curse but before they could the bridge shuddered and made a loud creaking sound before falling back down. On the other side was a little sprite waving them across.

  “Hurry! We don’t have much time!” Mint yelled. A yell from behind them drove Seren on. They heard the noise of pursuit as they crossed the bridge. Once Seren was on the other side, Mint’s spell broke and the bridge flung back up. Throwing Seren’s pursuers back into the palace. Seren ran off the road and instead toward the stables. The stablehands watched them run in. Trying to grab them but Seren jumped the stall and mounted one of the unicorns.

  They gave a yell and the steed kicked the stall door. Breaking it off its hinges and letting him free. With a gentle kick the unicorn leapt forward. Kicking and bucking at the hands trying to stop them. Seren open handed scooped Mint out of the air and into their hood. After giving both stable hands a good kick to the ground Seren gave a yell and took off with the magical steed.

  “You didn’t need to steal a horse!” Mint hissed in their ear.

  “It’s a unicorn and yes I most certainly did!” Seren squealed in glee. “This is the best thing I’ve ever done in all of my life!” Seren rode the unicorn hard. They could hear the yelling as their pursuers gave chase. As terrifying as it was, Seren could help but enjoy the adrenaline rushing through them. They ran down the path and gave their enchanted steed a careful pet.

  “Don’t screw me over now.” The said breathlessly to the unicorn. It snorted in response. With a kick, Seren directed the horse to jump and jump he did. Seren felt time slow as their breath was taken clean away from them. They took a breath suddenly as time jumped forward and they plunged into icy waters. Realizing all at once they had no idea if the doorway was even open. The unicorn knew what to do and it swam for the surface breaking through to the forest of the mundane world. He climbed onto the surface and Seren jumped off. Missing their landing and falling to the ground instead.

  “Salt it!” They choked. A giant wave of salt flew into the water. Seren sat up as more salt flew in turns. It wasn’t Mint, it was Kyi and Wilbur. Taking turns picking up handfuls of salt to throw into the waters.

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  “What are you two doing!?” Seren snapped as they regained their breath. “You should be back in the city by now!”

  “We weren’t going to leave you.” Wilbur scoffed. Chucking another handful of salt.

  “If we did, we’d have missed that epic entrance!” Kyi said. “Please tell me that was a unicorn I saw. Lie to me if you have to.” Seren rolled their eyes and got up and helped throw the rest of the salt into the pool.

  “I think that’ll do it.” Seren said. Heart still pounding. “But to be really sure we should hurry back to the city.”

  “Agreed.” Wilbur said. He grabbed Seren and hugged them. “You are the best. You know that? The best.”

  “The best.” Kyi said, punching them on the shoulder.

  “I’m pretty sure I got you both kidnapped.” Seren mentioned. “So I really don’t think-”

  “Then don’t.” Kyi chirped. “C’mon, let’s go home and eat. I’m starving.”

  “Oh that sounds so good.” Wilbur said, breaking the hug.

  “Is there anyone else out there!?” Yelled a voice in the distance. All three shouted in response and made their way to the search parties that were looking for the missing children. Seren was barely conscious as they jumped in the wagon with Wilbur and Kyi. Both spoke excitedly about how Seren had come rescued them and then salted the waters to stop the fae from coming back through. All the while Seren curled up, drifting farther and farther away until they fell asleep altogether.

  The doorbell woke them, not all the way but enough to bring them out of the deep sleep. Half-dream, half-memory dancing through their mind. They forced their aching body to sit up. Seren was in their pajamas and in their bed. Their stomach was roaring and empty. Daylight streamed in through their windows and Seren laid back down and stared at their ceiling. Wondering if it had all been a dream.

  The doorbell rang again and Seren rolled out of bed. Everything hurt. They had to limp to the stairs where they heard Mrs. Houper’s voice as they went down. On the first floor were piles of miscellaneous items. Toys and clothes and food and everything topped with a ribboned bow.

  “What’s all this?” Seren asked as they rounded the stairs. Mrs. Houper appeared from the doorway with a basket of hand dyed yarn with another ribbon. Her mouth wide open.

  “Serenity!” She yelled and Seren stepped back. Instantly looking down to see if they were wearing shoes in the house.

  They were surprised when instead they were grabbed and pulled into a hug by Mrs. Houper. Crushing them in her arms.

  “You’re hurting me.” Seren said, trying to tap out. But Mrs. Houper just held them tighter.

  “You had me so worried. You had ALL OF US so worried!” She said, crushing them tighter. She then released them and held them. Tears in her eyes as she looked at them. “You are just too much. Oh, but listen to me. You must be hungry.”

  “Starving.” Seren said gratefully. Letting Mrs. Houper lead them into the kitchen.

  “Well, let’s have a full hero’s breakfast made!” Mrs. Houper said.

  “One hero’s breakfast coming up.” Kalyani said, tying on her apron. Seren’s jaw dropped and they ran and hugged her.

  “Kalyani! You’re back!” They said.

  “I am. Thanks to you.” She said. Hugging them back tightly.

  “I am so sorry, I didn’t mean-” Seren tried to explain.

  “Don’t worry about it. Everything's okay now.” Kalyani said. “So. How hungry are you? What should I make?”

  “I'm starving, I want everything. Eggs Benedict with hash browns and bacon and-” Seren just started listing things.

  “Wow, it’s like you didn’t even eat the food I brought you.” Kalyani laughed as she got to work.

  “What food?” Seren asked.

  “You've been asleep for almost two days.” Mrs. Houper explained. “Kalyani brought you food and left it on your desk and it was always clean when we retrieved it. Like it’d been licked clean.” Seren nodded slowly.

  “I did use a lot of energy. Learned a lot about fae powers and how to use them.” Seren said. “It was exhausting.”

  “I believe it. I’m going to let Eric know you’re up and about.” Mrs. Houper said. “He's barely left your bedside since you returned.”

  “Oof.” Seren winced. “I’m gonna get a talking to aren’t I?”

  “Well, maybe.” Mrs. Houper said. “But it’s from a place of love?” Seren kept their comment to themself and turned back to Kalyani who was making their breakfast

  Amazon.com: Shaynen: A Table Top Tale eBook : Crilly, E.A.: Kindle Store