Page 18 of Chased By the Fairy

“Who is he?” a different guard asked.

“The king and queen wanted me to settle down and marry. Well, he’s the person I’ve picked.” A silence fell upon them as they soaked this information in. “Hewillbe the future prince of the fairy court, and his safety is paramount.”

I have to protect him.

“Yes, your highness. We understand.”

Good.Cypress lowered his expression in a dark glare, his eyes sharply scanning the background as he gave them Sorrel’s description. He clenched his right hand tightly into a fist.I will find you.

And Cypress would be furious if he’d discovered Sorrel had run away and put himself in danger without letting him explain.

However, if he was taken...

Struggling, Sorrel jerked his shoulders back and forth as he attempted to escape the multiple hands that grabbed him. Unable to free himself, he was dragged backwards.

“Leh mi gow!”he yelled against the cloth shoved deep between his teeth. The material was coarse, and it dried his mouth of saliva, making his throat feel clogged.

The musky smelling, sack-like mesh bag over his head made it impossible to see. As if he and his abductors were invisible, the people of the town continued to merrily chat as Sorrel was dragged past them. Were they ignoring this or were his struggles being hidden from their view?

“Sumwon elp mmuh!”

No one came to his rescue.

When he realised it was utterly useless, he stopped struggling and limply allowed himself to be led. There was no point in fighting, and it only wore him down.

Cypress…What would he think happened to Sorrel? He didn’t like that he was in need of saving, but what if Cypress thought Sorrel just ran off and never came looking for him?He’s a prince. Why would he bother searching for me?

He was still reeling from learning that, and now he was being kidnapped. The best night of his life had turned into his absoluteworst.I should never have left home.

He stumbled when the ground no longer felt solid, causing his captors to lose their footing briefly. They practically dragged him along after that, and a short while later, they stopped pulling him and the bag was ripped from his head. His eyes took a while to adjust to the bright light.

With his arms pinned behind his back, Sorrel took in the ballroom of a large plastic cruise ship. At the very back, on a lower level, there was a main stage that had been part of the toy’s design. Smaller platforms had been set up in other places along the walls of the upper level he stood on, and they gave a small sense of privacy.

Ugly navy carpet had been worn down over time to where white scraped through, while the cream walls were scratched to reveal the plastic grey beneath them. Off to his right was a brown bar, as if it was made of wood, with a furry sprite behind it serving drinks.

Carved wooden tables and chairs were littered all throughout, facing each of the stages. Sprites were already sitting at them, as well as in the many permanent booths.

Battery operated fairy lights strung around the centre stage also ran down the middle of the room. They went behind him to the dark outside world, where he could see the balcony of a boat. The corners and walls were covered in partial shadows, which shifted as the building gently swayed like it was on water.

As he was taking in the red draping cloth over the centre stage, attached by thumbtacks, he was shoved into a booth.

In front of him sat a sprite who looked like a toad, his skin a rocky brown while his eyes were yellow and far apart. Wearing black pin-striped suit pants and a matching jacket, he’d paired them with a dark-grey shirt that added contrast. He also wore a matching fedora.

A round table separated them, and the way the sprite’s wide mouth grinned at the sight of Sorrel had him shrinking in his seat. Even seated, the toad-like being was much bigger than him.

He peeked to the side at two other toad sprites who had been dragging him, both of them lime green. They turned their backs to him, blocking Sorrel’s exit from the booth.

“Why am I here?” Sorrel asked, snapping his glare to the unsavoury creature sitting across from him.

“I had my men bring you here.” He gestured towards the guards. “My name is Cane, but you may call me Mr Toad. I am the one who runs this town, you see.”

Sorrel’s brows furrowed lightly as he tilted his head. “Like a mayor or governor or something?”

Mr Toad gave a croaking laugh, his hand reaching forward for a cup on the table. He took a sip from it.

“If only it was that easy. No. There’s no mayor for our little Pond Town, since the flower fairies think they’re in charge.” He swirled his cup as his yellow eyes stared into it. “I’m the one who brings the type of fun the winged fairies look down upon, and who makes people go missing if they displease me. I’m also the one who offers the finest pleasures to all, even the grossest of us sprites.”

A chill crept over Sorrel’s mind and trailed down his back like a ghastly finger. “You’re making it sound like you’re a gangster or something,” he stated with an awkward laugh.

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