Not a Real Faerie

Description

The faerie queen studies the wounded girl’s thigh.

Arcadia pauses then gives a deep sigh.

‘The poison is deadly. Her chances are poor.

To counter the venom I’d have to have more.’

Delphi has spent years teasing Birdy about her tiny wings and her inability to fly. Now, Delphi is dying. The faerie may be a tease but she doesn’t deserve to die. Birdy has a plan that could save her tormentor’s life, but it involves asking for help from a known monster. If her plan has any hope of succeeding she’ll need to persuade Bod to join her. And Bod’s not keen.

A story from childhood has scuttled to mind

of a many-eyed monster, not pleasant or kind.

Her friend knows the story and most of it’s bad.

She tells Bod her plan. He replies, ‘Are you mad?

Octavia’s huge. I’ve heard, when she meets them,

she ties faeries up, then slowly she eats them!’

Bod’s worried. He adds, ‘Let’s not be too hasty.’

‘We’ll take her a gift,’ Birdy says. ‘Something tasty.’