Fairy Godmother: Episode 3

Adaline was stunned silent. Was she just dreaming or was there a real life magical fairy godmother standing right in front of her?

“Close your mouth dear,” The fairy godmother reached out and pushed Adaline’s chin up, closing her mouth.

Adaline took a step back. “How is this even possible,” she asked.

“You made a wish and I came.” She spun in a circle then laughed gleefully.

Adaline looked at her with confusion, “but I wished for my dad.”

"I know, dear child."

"You brought my dad home? Is he in the house?" Adaline turned her attention toward the house and started to run.

The fairy godmother quickly appeared in front of her, halting Adaline abruptly.

“I want to go see my father.” Adaline noticed the look on the fairy’s face. “You did bring him home; right?”

“Not exactly. There are a few things that need to be handled before he can come home.”

“Handled? What do you mean?”

“Well, I know that you don’t want to be around your Stepmother or her vile daughters. I know that you secretly wish for them to go away, so you and your father can be happy again. Isn’t all this true?”

“Well.” Adaline was surprised the fairy knew all this. “Yes, but my father loves Helena.”

“I know this to be untrue. He married her in hopes that he could bring you a mother to show you, love. But that isn’t at all what she has done, now is it?”

“She is a bit mean at times.” Adaline was trying to think of a time that her stepmother was nice to her. There was none she could recall.

“Let us take care of them, so you and your father can be happy again.”

“What do you mean, take care of them? Hurt them?”

The fairy godmother looked at her in shock. “Dear child no.” She started to fly in a circle around Adaline. “We will just give them a little bad luck.”

Adaline couldn’t help but smile to that thought. “A little bad luck never hurt anyone.”

“You should go back to your party. Dance a little and enjoy your birthday. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for you.” She leaned in and kissed Adaline on the check and slowly floated away.

Adaline stood there for a moment. Trying to figure out if this was all real. She always believed in magic and had heard stories of fairies that make your wishes come true, but she never thought she would ever meet one.

Adaline ran quickly back to the house, in much better spirits, knowing that soon she and her father were going to be together again; just the two of them. Before she could reach the terrace, she heard the voice that makes her skin stand on end.

“Adaline?”

She turned towards the voice.

Ugh, my wicked stepmother, she thought to herself.

“ADALINE?” Helena yelled, but still trying to sound proper in case any of the guests were to hear her shouting.

“I am right here.” Adaline stepped in front of her.

Helena searched the area to make sure no one was watching. “You wretched unthankful little brat. I plan this elegant party for you, I had a dress made specifically for this night for you to wear, and you just scurry off without so much as a thank you. You come to my party wearing your dead mothers’ gown. Was that just to spite me?”

Adaline wanted to yell at her, to tell her how much she hated her, how much she hated the dress she had made for her and the stupid party that she didn’t even want. Adaline wanted to slap her for talking that way about her mother, but she didn’t. She swallowed her anger and responded, “thank you for MY party.” And before Helena could say another word, Adaline rushed into the house.

She didn’t want Helena or her brats to ruin the moment for her. She rushed to her room and shut the door, and jumped on her bed; laughing and rolling around. Just the thought of her and her father being together again, away from those horrid stepsisters and their evil mother, made her smile.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Adaline jolted awake, trying to focus her eyes and sit up in bed. “Come in,” she said with a yawn.

Helena was standing in her doorway. "What are you still doing in bed. Get yourself dressed and come downstairs."

Before Adaline could ask why, her stepmother slammed the door.

As soon as she was dressed, she made her way down to the dining area. At the head of the table, sat her stepmother; and at her sides, the girls were placed.

Adaline pasted a smile on her face and went to take a seat.

“Excuse me, what do you think you are doing?” Her stepmother asked.

"I am sitting down for breakfast," Adaline replied.

“You will do no such thing. You may have your breakfast in the kitchen, with the help. From now on, you will be learning how to cook and clean.” Helena said with a stern look.

“Who are you to tell me,” but before she could finish, Helena rose out of her seat and was at Adaline’s side faster than then she could blink.

“You will watch your tone with me, or I will have your tongue removed.”

Adaline had had enough. “You have no right to tell me what to do in my house.”

Helena gasped, surprised by Adaline’s tone. With one swift move, she slapped Adaline across the face.

The stepsisters snickered to themselves.

Adaline was shocked. She had never been struck before. Tears instantly filled her eyes.

"This is my house now and if you want to continue living here, you will do as I say." She turned and walked back to her seat. "Now, stop making a scene and go into the kitchen with the help. I don't want to see your face again today."

Adaline turned slowly and walked to the kitchen. Mildred embraced her and placed a cold rag on her red cheek.

“How dare she.” Was all Mildred could get out before she was crying herself.

“I want them gone and out of our lives.” Adaline cried.

“May I have a break.” She asked Mildred.

“Yes, my dear. Just don’t let Miss Helena see you.”

Trust me, I won’t, she thought to herself.

Adaline ran down to the stables. She wanted to call on her fairy godmother for help, but she wasn’t sure how.

“Fairy godmother, are you here?” Adaline whispered, waiting quietly.

Again, she whispered. “Fairy godmother?”

Adaline felt a tap on her shoulder that made her jump. “Oh, you scared me.”

Her fairy godmother appeared in a twinkle of lights. “Yes dear, I am always here, and I saw what happened.” She pulled Adaline in for an embrace.

Quickly Adaline’s eyes teared up and she wept, “She is a monster.”

“I know and you must do something to stop her. She is the reason your father is gone. But we can bring him back, you just need to get rid of her first and he will come home.”

Adaline pulled back, “What do you mean she is the reason he is gone?”

“She sent him on that trip, so he would miss your party and then she had him framed for thievery and thrown in jail.”

“What? Why would she do that?”

“She is evil Adaline and she must be stopped.”

“I don’t understand. Why us, why would she want to hurt us.”

“Bad people do bad things, so they can reap the benefits.” Her fairy godmother smiled at her. “You can stop her though. You have the power to make them go away, and your father will return.”

“What do I do. I want them gone and far away from here.” Adaline wiped the tears from her eyes.

“They go out riding every evening before supper, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Who prepares the horses for them?”

“Thomas, the stable boy.”

“Not today. You will.” Smiled the fairy godmother.

“Why? What are you suggesting?” Adaline was scared of what the fairies answer might be.

“You just need to not tighten the saddles properly.” She suggested.

“I don’t know. I don’t want them hurt, I just want them gone.”

“She didn’t mind hurting you this morning.” The fairy reached up and touched Adaline’s cheek, right where Helena had hit her.

“Yes, but I am not like her.”

“Do you not want your father back.” The fairy had raised her voice which made Adaline step back.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone. It’s not right. No matter how wicked she is to me.”

“Well, I guess your father will die then,” she said turning away from Adaline.

“What? You said he was in jail.” Adaline took a step towards the fairy.

“He is and he is set to be executed for stealing.”

“No. I can’t lose him.” Adaline started to cry. “Please save him.”

"Only you have that power, my dear. You must take the life of your stepmother, or one of your stepsisters, I guess it really doesn’t matter.”

“Who are you?” Adaline had a bad feeling rising in her gut, she was realizing that her fairy godmother was here for something more.

“Oh dear, I am your fairy godmother.” A vile smile crept over her face.

Adaline stepped back and watched as the fairy’s eyes turned pitch black.

"I grant you your wish, but it will just cost you, my dear. A life for a life." She let out a wicked laugh.

“You are not a fairy godmother.” Adaline turned to run away, but before she even took a step, the fairy was in front of her.

“Do you really think you can run from me?” She laughed.

“Why are you doing this?”

“In order to keep my magic. Fae have to find someone pure of heart.” She circled around Adaline, running her hands through her hair, “and make them take a life for us to absorb. That is how us fae maintain our magic. Now my sweet dear, what will it be? Your stepmother or your father?”

“Why can’t you just take her life yourself?” Adaline spat.

“It doesn’t work that way. It’s not so much the life we absorb, but it’s the purity of your heart, that we take in after you take a life. That’s where the true magic is.” She beamed as she touched Adaline’s chest.

Adaline pushed her hand away. “I can’t do it. I won’t.” She was trying to stay strong, hoping her courage would change the mind of the fae.

“So be it. Your father will die, and you will be left at the mercy of your stepmother.”

Adaline couldn’t believe what was happening. She didn’t want to kill anyone, let alone hurt anyone. She hated her stepmother and sisters but never wanted them dead. She couldn't lose her father either. She was torn in what to do.

“I see you need some time to think this over, but I wouldn’t take to long; your father dies at sunrise.” And before Adaline could speak, the fae was gone.

Adaline stood there shaking. She couldn’t believe what was happening. She didn’t have much time to decide, but she knew she would have to make a choice, and that scared her to her core.

As evening approached, Adaline was helping the kitchen staff gather food for dinner preparations. She was unusually quiet, so Mildred nudged her, “Why so down? I am sure your father will be home soon and with a big surprise for you.” She smiled.

Adaline tried to force a smile. “I am just tired. I think I need to go lay down.”

“Of course. You have had a rough day. Miss Helena and the girls are preparing for their evening ride, so you can rest while they are gone. We promise we won’t tell.” She winked.

“Thank you.” Adaline made her way out of the kitchen. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do. She loved her father and knew she couldn’t lose him. She had already lost her mother. She couldn’t kill her stepmother, she just didn’t have it in her. As she made her way to her room, she stopped at her father's door. She reached out and touched the door with her hand. Tears began to stream down her face, what do I do?

She collapsed the floor and started sobbing heavily. She couldn’t believe this was happening, but she knew what she needed to do, and with the guilt she had, she felt her heart breaking. Adaline was crying so hard she felt like she couldn’t breathe, and she let out a blood-curdling scream.

Mildred and a couple of other maids came running and gathered around her, trying to see if she was hurt. Adaline couldn’t stop screaming and crying. She was shaking and yelling, but no one could understand her.

Helena came running, “What is she bellowing about?” She pushed the maids out of the way and pulled Adaline up off the ground. “Stop that now.” She screamed at her.

Adaline continued, crying out, gut-wrenching sobs.

Helena slapped her in the face, but it didn’t seem to stop her, so she slapped her again and then started to shake her, “You must stop this childish behavior right now, do you hear me?”

“I will take her to her room,” said Mildred. She couldn’t bear to see Helena hit her again.

“Yes, take her there and I want her silenced by the time we get back.” She turned and walked away.

“Miss Adaline, please stop. Tell us what is wrong. Are you hurt?” Mildred asked as she walked Adaline down the hall and up the stairs.

Adaline couldn’t stop crying, but she let Mildred take her to her room, where she was placed on her bed. Mildred sat down on a chair in the corner and waited for Adaline to stop crying.

Adaline awoke the next morning and as she opened her eyes, she saw there was a little blue bird perched on her window sill, singing to the sun. Adaline just stared, no emotion; she felt dead inside.

A knock on the door didn’t even stir her attention away from the bird.

“Miss Adaline, are you awake?” Asked Mildred.

She walked in and went to her bedside. "Miss Helena sent me to get you. She said she wants you to bring her and the girls their breakfast this morning, but I can tell her you aren’t feeling well.”

Adaline slowly turned her head, “tell them I will be there shortly.” Her voice was low, sad and broken.

“Yes, miss Adaline.” Mildred turned and left the room.

Adaline laid there for a few more moments, waiting for her fairy godmother to show up and tell her, her father had been executed, but the fae never came.

Adaline forced herself out of her bed. There was a brown skirt with a blue top and white apron laid out on a chair for her. She slipped them on, put her hair in a bun, took a deep breath, and went to serve her stepmother and sisters their breakfast.