Page 2 of Pocket Full Of Posies

We don’t have any other siblings. It’s just the two of us and we’ve always been close. The thought of him not being here sours my stomach.

“You need to get out more, Daiz. Talk to people. You could start by attending the equinox celebration. There’ll be plenty of others there your age. Nymphs, fairies and mix breeds. You don’t have to worry about not fitting in. Just…” Sage sighs and reaches across the table to grip my hand in his. The green color of his skin against my tan, an ever-present reminder of our biological differences. “I just want you to be happy. To find someone who makes you happy. Whether that be a male or a female, a friend or a lover. Just someone else to make a connection with that isn’t me or Tobias.”

He has a valid point, but just thinking aboutsocializingmakes my skin crawl. I know he means well, and I don’t completely disagree with him.

“I have a friend. Calliope from the bakery. She’s my friend.”

“She’s also a human who has no idea what you really are,” he argues. “Not that I don’t love Calliope, she’s a great girl and I’m happy she’s your friend, but you need more than a local human who thinks your markings are tattoos.”

The green swirling vines on my arms curl in tighter on themselves in response. When they started appearing, growing and moving, I had to start wearing long sleeves to school since I couldn’t conceal them with a glamour. The schools in town are mixed with humans and non-humans and when we’re toddlers we don’t have to glamour our natural nature since toddlers can’t talk and don’t know the difference. But as we get older all non-humans are supposed to glamour when in mixed company. I couldn’t, so long sleeves and pants it was. At least until I was old enough to pass them off as tattoos. Since I never got close to anyone enough for them to know any different, no one questioned them when I started wearing shorts and tank tops.

I exhale a heavy breath through my nose and consider Sage’s words. Gripping his hand back, I give him a weak smile.

“I’ll think about it. No promises though. And you can’t try to use Tobias and his magic coffee making skills to persuade me.”

“No promises,” Sage chuckles, releasing my hand and leaning back in the dining chair. “Tobias loves you just as much as I do and what he does with his magic coffee making skills is up to him.”

“No fair. You know I can’t resist him or his coffee.”

He lifts his hands in defense, his smile growing as the heaviness from our conversation lifts to good natured sibling squabble.

“Not my problem. You’ll have to take it up with him.”

“I thought big brothers were supposed to protect their little sisters? Not sacrifice them to save their own skin.”

We finish our breakfasts, and I head out to speak to the flowers.

Chapter 2: Daisy

My morning inspection of the gardens is short and uneventful. The gardens are quiet, the flowers not having much to say today. The butterflies in the greenhouse are awake and active, fluttering about and enjoying the last of the warm days. Inside the greenhouse is always kept warm but butterflies like the sunshine, just like me, and soon that’ll be little to nonexistent.

Once I ensure the plants and butterflies are doing well, I use my menial magic to help a few stubborn flowers finish blooming. I head in the direction of the tree line to the forest that doubles as the property line to our land.

The land to the east belongs to the town, the north to the Evans’s family who bought up much of the land before the town even existed, and to the west a few acres belong to the Kingsley’s, one of the nymph families that keeps land here for holidays and seasonal celebrations. They don’t live here full time, only visiting and using their mansion and property as a vacation home.

The Kingsley’s are one of those families that have a lot of money and properties, traveling the world with homes in numerous states and countries. I’ve seen them from a distance, know who they are, just like anyone else in town. They’re powerful and high ranking among the nymph and non-human community. Whereas I am considered to be the bottom of that totem pole, insignificant and unworthy of their time and association.

Entering the woods I stay to the north, making my way to where Delphi’s nest lies deeper into the Evans’s land. The land may belong to Hunter and his family but it’s open to all non-humans to allow us a space to be ourselves and not worry about the outside world. I made Delphi’s nest for her using what little magic I possess, twisting branches and leaves to form a hanging egg shaped nest house. With every change of the season, I check on its structure and solidity ensuring it is structurally sound and ready to withstand the weather to come.

Uncurling my tail from around my waist I let it fall and hang down the leg of my overall shorts. Here in the woods there’s no one to see it or mock its short length and thin frame. As tails go, it’s pretty pathetic, looking more like a mouse tail. It was surprising I had one at all, considering earth nymphs typically don’t have animal characteristics. I think it’s because humans have tail bones that somewhere in their evolution was a tail. Thus, mixing magic with recessive human genetics you get me and my strange little tail.

Mine just had to be the lamest of all the tails ever known, but it’s mine all the same. Despite its slender shape, lack of fur and color matching my skin tone, I still love it. Even my green vine markings swirl around the end tipping it in green.

I’ve only been walking for a few minutes when a blue and white furry blur leaps from a branch overhead and aims straight for my head.

Delphi, the energetic, loving, and playful sprite, lands right on top of my head, her fluffy body practically smothering me. With tiny, clawed hands reminiscent of a racoon’s, she reaches out and grips at my hair and flowers, chittering a sound that’s a mix of a fox’s high pitch yips, a squirrel’s clicking twitters, and a cat’s purr. The sound is uniquely hers. I have no idea what she’s saying but I’ve known her long enough to guess.

“Well hello to you too. Did you miss me?”

More chitters, this time louder and more animated.

“I missed you too. Where have you been running off to lately? Storing treasures and food for the winter?”

Delphi tends to have a bit of a thieving problem. Snagging small objects from unattended purses, backpacks, and strollers, storing them in the hollow of the tree her nest hangs from.

She chitters more quietly, sounding guilty. I can tell that much with my nymph hearing. Her blue and white striped body finally releases my head, and she plops into my arms.

When I first found her, I was ten years old, and Delphi was about the size of a kitten. She was lost in the forest and I had no idea what she was until I brought her home and Tobias explained she was an adolescent sprite. Sprites are creatures of pure magic, usually small and animalistic, living in the wild away from modern civilization. Peaceful and mischievous by nature but also extremely loyal and protective. If threatened they can defend themselves, viciously if needed. One should never cross a sprite. Their magic is more powerful than even a fairy’s, which is unfortunately why elves like to use them for immoral purposes.

---