Page 18 of Troll Charming

“Afraid of me?” I almost laugh. “What?”

“Not ofyou-you, but of humans in general. Our kind need to remain hidden amongst you, and that goes tenfold now, with the invention of smartphones, video cameras, and social media. Humans are truly terrifying creatures who tend to destroy whatever they can’t understand. So that’s sort of the situation. I just need to smooth out a few things, and it will be fine.” He smiles his big troll smile. I feel a little relief, but I am not totally buying it. Still, I trust he has my well-being at heart.

“Okay. But they know I would never tell anyone about your village, right? Do you think they will let me go home?”Of course I don’t really want to go home, but I don’t want to be trapped here if they don’t want me.

“I want this to be your home, my love.” Red bends down and kisses me so passionately that my knees give way. His hand catches me, and he presses me to him, lifting me once again off the ground. I feel so light and dainty. I could get used to this feeling. He sets me down lightly, my head spinning. “I will take you to the witch Tabitha. I think I have an idea, and she might know what to do.”

“Witch,” I repeat. “Is she a human? I thought there were no humans here?”

“She’s not human.” He shakes his head. “She is a fae, but without wings. It’s a long story, but her people cast her out, so she came here. She is our healer, as well as a seer. And she is also a member of the Common Council as well.”

“So she can help us?”

“I hope so. I think she might have something to do with your getting through.” Briefly, I think about the little prayer or spell or whatever I did that day before I left, but I don’t say anything. As we walk, I can see a small cottage ahead, obscured by a few large trees. It looks like a fairytale cottage. I love it but also feelunsure. What if Red’s idea doesn’t work? What if all this gets taken away?

Strangely, I flash back to that one family that had promised me a trip to Disneyland, only to cancel it at the last minute. Will I be let down again, cast out of this beautiful place? Or will I get to stay? And why do I still get the feeling he is holding something back from me? The questions repeat over and over with every step, and my heart beats faster in my chest.

Red steps on the mat to knock on the door, but it swings open before his knuckles hit the wood.

“Come in, Red.” The voice is young and light, just like the breeze on a sunny spring day. “I’m surprised it took you so long.” A slight, beautiful red-headed woman appears behind a curtain. She is dressed in an emerald green that matches her eyes. Her flaming red hair is curled all around her small heart-shaped face. I tower over her like an amazon, but her energy fills the room. “Tea?” She indicates a table already set with three chairs, cups, spoons, and a large plate piled high with sandwiches. “I’d hate for it to go to waste.”

The pastries from earlier are long gone, and I feel my stomach growl embarrassingly loud as I nod and take a seat. The little woman smiles at me, a look of approval in her eyes.

As we all sit, she reaches over and pours us each a full cup of deliciously fragrant green tea. I instantly grow calmer, and then I notice her staring at me.

“So here you are in the flesh. The first. You are beautiful, Alex,” she says, as if she’s known me my whole life. I am a little confused at her words but decide I don’t need to add to my list of questions. “You will do nicely for Red—he’s been waiting for a suitable mate for some time. I’m so glad you chose to join us here in our village.”

I choke on the tea at her words, and some of it painfully pushes up my nose. Red is suddenly there, his large hand pattingand rubbing my back. When I recover, my eyes still watering, I look at her knowing smile. “What do you mean, I chose to come here?”

“At some level, we choose it all,” she says. Yeah, this is definitely a witch, spooky cryptic language and all.

“You know, I did say a stupid spell the other morning. But never in a million years did I think—”

“Ah,” she interrupts me. “No wonder. ‘Cause you showed right up. Quick as lightning. No, I get it. We were working from both ends, see? Your little wish or incantation, and then what we did here.”

“What?” I demand.

But she keeps going. “Of course, ultimately, it’s all fate. We do our little dances, and say our little words, but it’s all up to fate.”

“I guess so,” I say without really knowing what I am agreeing to.

“So, I get you are wondering how you got here, and how you got through the spell wall. I sort of wondered it myself, to be honest… but then it dawned on me.”

“It did?” I’m still having trouble following exactly what she means.

But it is Red who speaks now, not Tabitha. “You were invited.”

“Yes!” Tabitha practically jumps with excitement.

“So, I can still get home the same way, right?” The question jumps out of my mouth before I can stop myself. I see the little woman’s mouth draw into a thin line, and Red’s brow furrows again. Of course I don’t want to leave, but I want to at least know where I stand. And I definitely don’t want to be a prisoner.

“Tabitha.” Red’s voice is calm, but I can feel the tension in the air.

He’s unhappy with me, I fear. I should be able to ask questions, though. Is it crazy to want to understand how these magical rules work? Or will he decide to leave me now because I asked? He’s going to cast me out now that he’s had his way with me. That’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Alex. I stop myself.You’re catastrophizing again.

“Can we talk about this outside, Tabitha? I must ask you a few questions.”Red looks anxious, but then he turns to me. “I’m sorry, my love, it’s sort of important, I just need to talk to her for a second.”

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