Chapter 20

"In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful." - Alice Walker

Dorian, Seraphina, and her friends had made their way to the village sometime after breakfast. The villagers celebrated the appearance of Seraphina, congratulating her on her safe return from the forest, and danced around with cheers and praises.

"Everyone seems to have been worried," Samuel smiled. Seraphina giggled nodding.

"The forest is forbidden for a reason. It's to keep the peace and darkness at a balance." Dorian led everyone along the dirty town roads, showing everyone the shops and homes the villagers lived in. More celebrations and congrats were thrown at Dorian and Seraphina. Dorian having a fated mate show up and take on a challenge had made its way all around, surprising many had wondered if she was really human even with the help she got during that three-day time.

"So, can you do more in detail about the forest?" Nova was curious from the moment Dorian said balance.

"I thought fairies were good."

"You're thinking of the American tales, Nova," Samuel stepped in. He shook his head, "Remember where we are-were?-yeah. In Europe, their folk tales are much different."

Seraphina nodded, Samuel wasn't wrong about it.

"Fairies here are known to be cruel, tricksters, and thieves. They are dark and evil. And you should never make a deal with them." Seraphina giggled, seeing Dorian give a minor flinch at the jabs she made about the fairies. He gave out a defeated sigh with a smile.

"Yes, that is, true. Some of us have better intentions though as you can see. But we are still as we are at our very roots. Dark creatures with cruel intentions no matter what. The balance between the good of us and evil in that forest is what helps us maintain it. If the balance gets undone, it would be the worse casualties our world would ever have."

"Have there ever been times the balance gets undone?"

It fell silent between all of them. Dorian continued to walk on, leading them out of the village and back toward the castle. No one wanted to speak while Dorian wasn't. He looked almost troubled at the question like he wouldn't know what to do if something like that happened.

"Only once, but that was so long ago. Long before even I was born. My father and mother do their very best to keep the forest and our home safe and separate from one another. It's bad enough Seraphina went inside because of how bad it can get, but thankfully she had help."

"I could've handled myself!" Seraphina pouted at Dorian, only to gain a look from him and her friends. She pouted more looking away.

"It's all good girl! We get it! Tough to the core!" Nova laughed patting her back. Charlotte gave a sympathetic pat on the back too. Samuel and Dorian laughed as Seraphina rolled her eyes at her friends' half-assed sweetness.

The group traveled along the paths. More questions flew out all over from everyone asking about how fairies used to be and how they are different now.

"What's the worst thing fairies can or have done before?" Seraphina wanted to know this one the most.

"From lore, I heard they would steal babies and leave like dead ones or half-alive creatures known as changelings. And the human babies would be slaves to the fairy realm."

Dorian smiled, pale a bit from it surprised that stuff like that is still all around being talked about.

"Yes, that is true. Things like that used to happen. But once my father came up into power with my mother, he changed many many things. He was one of the rare ones that wanted the good to be on top instead of living in a cruel world. How things are now for us, it's been like this for many many centuries. We're happier and willing to do our part in this world."

"Damn! He's so old yet looks so good!" Charlotte and Nova gasped in awe at the news. Seraphina gave a what-the-fuck look and laughed.

"Are there different types of fairies?"

"They are. We are divided into three groups. Good, mischievous, or evil. The mischievous ones are all bad, they are more of the tricksters and prankers who will play games on you for their own laughs. Don't follow them either, they will make you lost if you ever run into one."

The group snickered. Hearing all these facts and stories was like listening to a more adult version of all their favorite children's tales.

As the friends all traveled out of the village, people were muttering to themselves about villagers going missing recently. It was getting worrisome about how many were going missing. Already five fairies were gone and no one could even find a clue of where they went or what happened to them.

What's going on?