by anattaecrivaine winner of Heresy - The Ennead Contest

It was as if coal weaved itself into strands that made her hair stand out. It cascaded down to Fiore's waist, flowing gently like a stream complimenting her warm brown skin tone. She laughed and ran towards a never- ending field of virescent hues.

"Don't stray far or the engkanto would get you!" called out a calm voice.

That was always her mother's warning. An engkanto is a mischievous fairy who would abduct people they're fascinated with, her mother would say. Fiore's mother, Ravis, stood by the table of their backyard, beaming at her. She waved at her child to signalling to come to her.

"Eat, my darling," said Ravis as she gently tucked Fiore's hair on her ear, "A beauty like yours is one of a kind, and you need to be strong to protect yourself."

Fiore broke of a piece of bread, tiny pieces crumbling down her silky dress. She nodded eagerly. She has no father figure to look up to, so Ravis has to make up to that. It was taboo to talk about her father in the household, so Fiore never asked.

The girl stuffed herself with the soft, fluffy black bread she loved and said, "I also need to eat a lot so that I won't go hungry if ever an engkanto would abduct me!"

That was a quality that makes people love Fiore, and it was troublesome. She was too pure and obedient. Her beauty matched her personality. Thousands of marriage proposals were submitted for Fiore's hand at such a young age. That is a reason why they wouldn't accept visitors anymore. Another one is their side comments.

Ravis has a fair complexion and hair as golden as the sunlight's beam. The mother and daughter were far from being similar. They were quite the opposite, actually. Visitors would even joke that she abducted her child from an engkanto. Those who do got kicked out of the house earlier than expected. It made her blood boil.

"...ma! Mama!" screamed Fiore, calling out her mother's attention who is seated across her in their marble table.

Her gaze turned to Fiore's worried eyes, "Yes, darling?"

"I'm going to play again," squealed Fiore as she jumped excitedly.

Ravis smiled. How could she say no to her precious daughter?

"Just remember—"

"Don't stray far or the engkanto would get me," finished Fiore as she dashed towards the fields.

She ran towards the end of the field stopped by trees so high her mind thought it reached the heavens. It wasn't the first time she went there, but it was the first time she noticed a branched arc. It was joint branches of the tallest of the trees, bent in an arc shape. Her eyes eyed it. It was twisted in a complex yet magnificent position beautified by the vines suspended in the air with white flowers attached to it. The beautiful arc was as if welcoming her.

"Unusual," she murmured, "Maybe it's a lair to the engkantos. Mama wouldn't like that."

Her body repelled her words as her feet dragged her to the leafy trail behind the arc. The feeling was... different. It was warm and welcoming and air she breadth was intoxicating. Fiore finally reached the end of the trail. She hid her small body behind a tree and took a quick peak of her destination.

Houses made of stones stood beside each other as people with different complexions passed by different locations.

"Unusual," she spoke softly.

"Are you lost little one?"

The voice made her jolt in fear as she squeezed her eyes shut. She should've listened to her mother. She flinched when she felt a hand stroked her hair. It was different unlike her mother's for it was... warmer?

Hazelnut eyes stared at her olive ones.

"If I blink, I'll lose," thought Fiore out loud.

'Since when did it become a staring contest?' thought the lady.

Fiore's eyes darted to the lady's hair. It was as beautiful as hers; dark and straight flowing down to their waist.

"I'm Vera," the lady introduced.

"F- fiore," she stuttered shyly.

There was something about that woman that made Fiore trust her. Engkanto magic, she presumes. Fiore decided not to ask whether they were engkanto or not, fearing that she will get abducted by them.

Vera stiffened at her name but reached out her hand, "Come with me."

Fiore's eyes lit up. A little detour wouldn't hurt, right? Her small hands touched the soft palm of the lady as they walked side by side. Their similarity was eerie, as if Vera was with created a younger version of her.

Hand in hand, the two walked throughout the town. The buildings made of stone were as beautiful closely as it was from afar. They never laughed nor enjoyed a stranger's company like this before.

"Aren't your parents searching for you, Fiore?" asked Vera as they sat inside a restaurant made of wooden cabin filled with hungry and loud customers. Laughter echoed throughout the walls of the room.

Fiore shook her head, "Mama has my permission to play."

"What about your Papa?"

"He left when I was still in Mama's tummy, but Mama takes very good care of me. I love her sooo much," she casually chattered, as if it was the most natural thing for a child to say.

Vera's hazelnut eyes dropped and a sad smile bear her lips, "That must be nice."

The child touched Vera's hand and softly spoke, "Why are you sad?"

"I lost my child once. And it's nice to know you love your mother," replied Vera.

Just then, a bulky man appeared before them.

"Who's this child, Vera?" he asked.

"Her name's Fiore. I found her on the wandering alone on the forest."

The bulky man kneeled down to Fiore's height, "She has the same name as your child. Don't go wandering around that part, kiddo."

He left after bidding a goodbye.

Chuckling, Vera stated, "His beard is for intimidation purposes only, you know. That guy couldn't even hurt a fly."

Fiore found herself giggling and dancing with the villagers. Time passed by her quickly that she didn't realize it was already dark outside.

"Orders up!" announced a waiter as baskets of brown muffins were placed by the table.

"Don't eat brown muffins, darling. That'll make you stay with the engkantos forever."

Ravis' words filled the little girl's head. The engkanto's magic must've worked on her that she stayed that late on their village. But their attitude was completely different to what her mother exclaims it to be.

"Fiore? Where are you going?!" shouted Vera as the girl dashed out of the cabin.

The little girl ran back to the forest and into her house in an adrenaline rush. Ravis noticed Fiore and immediately pulled her into an embrace.

"Unusual," Fiore whispered. 'The feeling was warmer with Vera.'

"Where have you been? Are you hurt? I told you not to stray far!" scolded Ravis, checking the girl for signs of injury. But Fiore was only smiling ear to ear.

"You would not believe it, Mama! I went to the village of the engkantos and they were different from your stories. We danced and laughed and they had those brown muff—"

Ravis' eyes darkened, "What?"

It was a little frightening, but it couldn't replace Fiore's joy so she continued, "But of course I didn't eat any 'cause you said I shouldn't. And—"

Ravis looked onto Fiore's eyes, "Engkantos do not exist, Fiore. It's all made up by adults to make children obey."

Her voice sent chills down the little girl's bones.

"N-no but its real," Fiore's voice shakily stutters as she tugs her mother towards the trees. "It's over there, see. Closer, Mama. Y- you'll see a beautiful arc joint by the tallest trees and- and—"

The branches tangled into a beautiful arc is nowhere in sight. The leafy pathway leading to the village was gone.

Ravis tied Fiore's beautiful coal hair into a messy ponytail at the base of her head. The child was in disbelief. It was right there, she swore. The village, the people... Vera. It was as if her soul flew out of her body. Tears fell down her cheeks slowly. It was the first time she felt unusual.

"Maybe it was your dream," whispered Ravis, "Let's go home, darling."

Fiore craved for Vera's presence. She wished it was her whom she was holding hands with. But maybe, her mother's right. It was just a dream, nothing to be sad about. In an instant, she was a beaming sunshine again.

Why was she sad, again? How unusual.

The night was young and the once virescent field is now a sea of flames, its waves rapidly growing with every flick of the wind. Ravis looked outside the window and back to her daughter's sleeping form.

The black bread and a dash of magic was all she needed to abduct a fascinating beauty. Besides, it's her fault for visiting the humans.