Oscar and I have fallen hard for each other, fast. We have spent every moment of the last four weeks together. We are inseparable.

After our beyond perfect dance, I haven't wanted to waste a single moment being apart from him. I have already gone my entire life without him up to this point. I don't want to have to feel that way ever again.

Oscar is my soulmate in every definition of the word. I just know it.

The trees are ridiculously green this time of year. There are varying shades of green: some are still budding, emerging a fresh, limey color into the summer, whilst the grown, flatly panned leaves are a deep emerald color.

I hear the gentle gurgling of a small creek and the forest hides all the animals that drink from that creek. Sunlight makes polka-dots on the ground, lighting up dead tree trunks where shelf fungus grows.

The forest is thick, humid, and dense. It is alive and full of wildlife. Branches reach down and scratch at my face and clothes. I brush them away gently.

Oscar and I are here to meet Pearl and his other friend Maeve.

I look up at Oscar. His eyes dart back and forth, canvassing the forest floor as if to be looking for danger.

Oscar stops. His hand tugs on mine as I continue on the path. "We need to turn back." Oscar says simply, grabbing on to me to get me to turn back around.

"The house is right there Oscar. I can literally see it." I point. "Let's just go."

"No, something is wrong. Your Pixie-self might not be able to sense it, but I sure as hell do." His whole demeanor changes. "Someone else is here."

"Yeah, Pearl and whoever else I am meeting." I sigh. "Listen, just because I'm small doesn't mean you can call me a pixie. I really don't like you saying that as if it's an insult." Oscar quiets me, holding his hand over my mouth. I smack his hand away from my lips. "What the Hell!"

Pearl emerges from the house we were told to meet her at. "Quiet." She urges me to listen to Oscar.

"Okay," I hold my hands up in front of me. I guess she is in on this too?" "What the hell is going on?!" I ask, backing away from Oscar and Pearl as she approaches with Maeve. "Are you guys going to kill me? Is that why you brought me out here?" I ask, hoping they will tell me I am crazy.

"Lyric?"

"God, I am so dumb! I should have known to never come into the woods alone. You guys are practically strangers and-" I bump into a tree. I look over my shoulder and see a person. "Oh I'm so sorry." I turn back. "And I should have-"

Wait.

The man grabs a hold of me, wrapping his slimy fingers around my arm, keeping me pinned to him. "Why, hello there. I don't believe we've met." He smiles at me.

"Don't touch her!" Oscar protests. Pearl grabs the back of his shirt, pulling him back.

"Oh calm down lover boy. Kester and I are just curious about her." The woman laughs, dancing around me.

"Don't panic everyone. I am just here to talk." The man, I now know as Kester, smiles. I try to inch myself away from him. "I wouldn't do that, dear." He points his fingers to my feet. My shoes now have roots growing around them, locking my current position on the forest floor. The roots slowly wind up my ankles, squeezing my body as they grow.

"Its like a game. The more you fight, the larger they grow." His side kick smirks.

"We were just leaving, Kester." Oscar clenches his fists at his sides. "Let her go."

"That doesn't appear to be the truth, Oscar." Kester motions to the house. "It appears you were only just arriving."

"Release her and we will leave." Oscar tries
to compromise.

"We didn't realize we were on your turf." Pearl adds.

"Oh I'm sure that is not the case my dear, Pearl. You have never been one to be dumb. Don't start pretending now." Kester turns towards me. "Silly girl thinks she can trick me."

The woman laughs along with Kester.

"Let her go, Kester!" Oscar fights for my release.

"You seem to be very important to these younglings." The terrifying man leans in my face, smiling as he sees the roots climbing up to my stomach. He stands up straight. "I'll release her after we finish our talk." Kester walks around me, admiring his work. "Although, she would make a lovely bride for me."

"I thought I was going to be your bride!" The woman pouts, puling at my hair.

What the hell is happening?! I must be dreaming. There is no way this is really real right now!

"Kester!"

"You know what, Kester," Pearl sighs. "I really didn't want to get your blood on my brand new shoes today. But here we are. And now I am going to have to take your girlfriend down too."

Pearl raises her hands, revealing the fire emerging from her palms.

What. The. Fuck.

Oscar jumps into the air, wings folding out from his back, ripping though his shirt.

Maeve morphs into a freakin' wolf.

Again, What. The. Fuck?

"Come on Lyric! Transform. Break free from his spell!" Pearl urges me to join them.

"Uh, how?" I call out to them, scared as the roots wrap around my chest, effectively incapacitating me.

"Now is not the time for jokes, Lyric. He could kill you."

"I'm very aware of that, Oscar!" I scream, frustrated. It is getting hard to breathe. "I'm not joking!"

"He's pretty stupid, sweetie. Just ignore him." The woman kisses my cheek.

"You always say you are going to unleash your Pixie powers on me! Well, now is the time to unleash them. On him!" Oscar tries to encourage me.

I lift my chin to keep my mouth away from the growing roots.

"That was a joke!" I cry. "I was joking!"

"So you don't have Pixie powers?"

"I don't have any powers because Pixies don't exist! At least, I didn't think they did. Now I am rethinking that!" The roots close around my throat. "I thought- it was just- a cute- pet name."

"If you aren't a Pixie, what are you then?"

"Scared."

"Oh, this is rich!" Kester laughs. "Now I am beginning to rethink things. "I think I'll get to know our human friend better. I need to know how she managed to fool this mind reader, Angel, and werewolf pack."

The mysterious woman laughs. "Ta ta!"

"No!"