The fire still smouldered when Hex arrived to collect Pickles. But the pixie was nowhere to be seen. He should never have allowed Pickles to leave Rune House.

"Stay here, pet." Hex pointed to a tree stump. "I won't be long."

Rose hesitated. Would her fairy godfather leave her alone?

"Where are you going?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

Hex frowned at the Gem Maker. He wasn't used to explaining himself.

"My servant, Pickles, has disobeyed me and wandered off. He's no doubt got himself into trouble. I told him, no fires." Hex kicked loose soil over the ashes to extinguish any lingering embers.

"I'm going with you."

"You are not." Hex turned to leave.

"What if Giggleton finds me? He'll lock me up again."

"He won't even know you're gone." Hex clenched his fists. "Do as I say."

"No. I won't. If you leave me here, I'll run away."

A small spark of transformation magic flickered between Hex's fingertips. If she didn't shush, he'd transform her into a snail.

"I wish to go with you."

"Wish if you like. But you'll remain here regardless," he replied and walked away.

"Are you or are you not a fairy godfather?" Rose followed him.

Hex froze. If he told her the truth, she wouldn't go with him to Rune House. For now, he needed her to trust him.

"Fine," he muttered. "As you wish."

*

After several minutes of searching...

There was no sign of Pickles. And losing patience, Hex stopped searching to ponder scenarios. Pickles wouldn't dare run away. That left one possibility... Hex imagined a gigantic smelly troll roasting his servant over a roaring fire. Convinced that must've been what happened, Hex abandoned the search.

"It's no use," Hex said with a shrug. "He's dead."

Rose gasped. "How do you know that? Did you find something?"

"No, I've found nothing."

"So, how do you know he's dead?"

"Because he's an idiot," Hex stated with a frown. "I told him, no fires. This forest is full of predators. Keen to feast on the flesh of disobedient pixies."

Rose surveyed the forest with a shiver. "What type of predators?"

"Big, nasty ones. We should leave." Hex held out his hand.

Eager not to end up like Pickles, Rose took her fairy godfather's hand.

*

Back at Rune House...

Hex's house was a splendid manor, on the edge of The Whispering Woods. It was a lot to maintain with a dozen bedrooms, a library, a study, his alchemy room, several receptions, and a large, filthy kitchen. And now Pickles was deceased, Hex needed a new servant. His gaze rested on the Gem Maker and he rubbed his chin. He was sure she'd make a much better servant than Pickles. Hex grinned as his dastardly plan came together.

"Your home is beautiful," Rose said, admiring the antique furniture and his ancestors' portraits in his plush parlour.

Hex crossed his arms, contemplating how to tell Rose she would spend all day, every day polishing the family silver and buffing the brass, mopping floors, and emptying chamber pots.

"Yes, it is," he replied. "My family has owned this house for thousands of years."

"Thousands? Don't you mean hundreds?" She walked to the window and stared out across his perfect lawn.

"No, I mean thousands." He caught sight of his reflection in his grandmother's gilded mirror and winked. "How old do you think I am?"

Rose turned to face him. She studied his face, looking for wrinkles or age spots. She wouldn't find any. Fairies live forever. She would live forever. And once a fairy reached adulthood, the ageing stopped. Perfectly preserved, for eternity... or until murdered, poisoned, or killed in an unfortunate incident. Like poor Pickles.

"Maybe... a hundred and fifty years old." Rose blushed as she guessed.

"I am one thousand and three hundred years old. Give or take." Her flattery made what he said next even more vile. "And I must tell you, I am not a fairy godfather."

The bloom of pink in Rose's cheeks drained.

"You're not?"

"No, pet. I am a sorcerer. Some say the most powerful sorcerer."

"If you're a sorcerer, why did you save me?"

Hex sighed and shook his head. "I didn't save you... I stole you."

Rose swayed and clutched the back of a chair to stop herself from dropping to the floor.

"You stole me... So you're just like Giggleton." Her blue eyes glistened with tears.

"I assure you, I am nothing like that goblin." Hex stepped towards Rose and whispered, "I will never allow you to leave here. You belong to me."

Tears streamed down Rose's cheeks as she looked up at him. "I hate you."

"Well, that makes no difference. While you're here, you'll earn your keep. You'll wake at dawn, as I do. You'll work hard, as I do. I cannot abide by slovenly behaviour, poor time keeping or bad manners. I like boiled eggs and soldiers for breakfast with strong coffee. And you'll answer when I call you. Do you understand?"

Rose nodded.

"Good, I'll show you to your room. You start work tomorrow."

Feeling very satisfied with himself, Hex led Rose to Pickles' old bedroom. And when he left, he pulled his magic gold skeleton key from his cloak pocket and locked the door behind him.

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