"Ughh! I can't believe he just burst in like that!" Zane groaned. The three fairies stood on a balcony that overlooked the main hall. Originally their plans called for them to stay for just the day, however, they saw it fit to stick around through the night and into the next morning just in case.

Vylad swung his wand back and forth and created three elegant floating teacups. He reached for a cup and offered it to Zane, who accepted reluctantly. "Don't stress too much about it. I'm sure things will work out... somehow," he assured. "Besides, you did good out there!"

Zane slid his mask down and sipped the especially sweet tea. "You're too optimistic, brother. The kid was just born and a demon already tried to murder him. You can't actually believe burning a bunch of wood will make any difference."

Garroth joined them, plucking a teacup from the air. "Of course not! But hmm, what will?" He paced back and forth, sipping the tea every few steps. "I can't think of anything," he glanced at the ground. "I just want everyone to be okay," he sulked, guilt causing his broad shoulders to droop. He peered over the railing and frowned at the sound of the Queen's sobbing.

Vylad replied, "I do too." They remained without words for a few moments, diverting their attention away from each other. Vylad struck with an idea, then shrugged and nervously glanced over his shoulder at nothing specific, "Well, maybe we could reason with him."

Garroth spat out his tea like a fountain. "Reason?" He quickly tapped his wand to evaporate the puddle he created.

Zane added, "With Michael?" He laughed incredulously, "Who are you? Garroth?"

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"

"That you're dumb."

Vylad ignored his brothers' banter. "He can't be completely evil. He's half human after all."

"Half warlock," Zane corrected, "He's the Demon Warlock, not the Demon Human."

"Exactly! He can't be trusted!" Garroth argued. He stomped around mindlessly. Vylad watched as a large, embroidered rug shifted underneath Garroth's large feet. The blue and green center bunched up more by the second. The heart shapes were unrecognizable, and the golden trim became a scribble, which probably represented Garroth's brain at that moment, Zane decided.

Zane drank the last of his tea and twiddled with his wand between his fingers. He stared off, daydreaming of all the ways he could get payback. It was as though fire burned in his eyes. "I'd like to turn him into a moldy cupcake and crush him between my fist before throwing him into smoldering flames and watching his ashes burn until nothing remains of his screams of agony."

Garroth and Vylad, both admittedly disturbed, stared. Garroth was somewhere in between nervously smiling and cringing. Vylad hid his anxious nerves by joking, "Someone's a little extra edgy today. Haha."

Garroth jumped in, stuttering, "B-besides Baby Brother, you can't! We promised Mummy to only use our magic for joy and good! We make people happy!"

Zane sighed, "My plan would make me happy."

Vylad bit the underside of his lip. "You two are right though. There has to be some way we can stop him. Other than brutal murder." He peered around the room, choosing to disregard Zane's eye roll, and searching for a spark of inspiration, when it hit him.

"Wait! I know!" He exclaimed.

"Hm?" Garroth asked, intrigued. He poofed his teacup out of existence. "What is it Vylad?"

"We—" Vylad stopped. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the hall. "Someone could be listening. Here, follow me." He waved his wand in a circle and in a whirl of twinkling glitter, he was the size of a butterfly. Garroth did the same, followed by Zane. They flew outside an open window and hid in the small room of an empty birdhouse stationed in the garden.

After they had closed all of the tiny wooden doors and windows to ensure that no spies were eavesdropping, Vylad sat down and began to explain. "There's a small village in the forest that hardly anyone knows about anymore," he started

"Phoenix Drop?" Garroth interrupted.

"Yes," Vylad nodded. "We'd have to plan it carefully, and I doubt King and Queen will be on board right away, but as long as we thoroughly explain it to them..."

"Explain what?" Zane questioned, puzzled.

Vylad smiled roguishly, "About the three young men who decided to take in and raise an orphan child they found out in the snow."

"That's so sad!" Garroth began to get emotional.

"Calm down you big baby. Who are they exactly, Vylad?" Zane asked.

Vylad flicked his wand at Garroth and Zane, and then himself. Garroth's blue robes spun and glittered until they were replaced with a blue tunic and a pair of worn trousers. His fuzzy slippers became broken-in boots. Zane had similar pants, but a collared black shirt that matched his dark cloak instead. His mask became a cheaper fabric, much to Zane's dismay. Vylad wore a green scarf that covered most of his face and draped down over a basic brown jacket. Each of their wings had vanished.

Zane appeared quite impressed, "Ohh I get it. You want us to raise the kid."

Garroth gasped excitedly. "I've always wanted to raise a baby!"

Vylad bowed, "I'm glad you two approve," he grinned.

Zane protested, "Hold on, I didn't approve anything. It's a good idea, yes, but we have no idea how to take care of an infant. We'd actually have to remember to feed it and—"

"Hug it and snuggle it and give it baths and read it bedtime stories and EEE!" Garroth fanboyed as he pranced around the birdhouse.

"If humans can do it," Vylad looked at Zane, "so can we. Besides, it can't be that hard," he gave Zane a hopeful grin.

"Hm, at least we have our magic to help us I suppose," Zane murmured.

Vylad's eyes widened. He spoke sternly, "No. Michael can sense auras from miles away. You two are right, he's dangerous," he snatched Zane's wand and chased after Garroth who froze as soon as Vylad took his. "No magic. Michael won't be able to track us."

Zane whined, "We can't live like mortals for sixteen years! We don't know how! Who will cook? Or keep the house from looking like a trash can?"

Vylad smiled, "We can distribute the work."

"I can't do dishes!" Zane shouted, "there's no such thing as a dish-washing fairy!"

"There is now!" Garroth chuckled. "Now come on, we have to tell the King and Queen!"

"You're just going to agree with him? You can barely take care of yourself!"

"Of course! I want what's best for the baby prince, as should you, Baby Brother!" Garroth went to open the door but the flimsy wood fell right off of the hinges at his touch.

"Uh, I'll lead," Vylad offered. He lifted the door with his wand and stuck it back in place. Then, he fluttered it once more to revert himself and his brothers back to human size once out of the birdhouse and out of sight.

They found Terrance inside his room in the castle, hands behind his back, and gazing solemnly out a window.

"Your Majesty!" Garroth exclaimed.

Terrance spun around in alarm. "Garroth," he sighed in relief, "hi."

The sound of trampling footsteps pounded in the staircase. Zane and Vylad appeared, trying to catch their breath behind Garroth. Zane struggled to pull up his loose pants before Vylad gave in and created him a belt. And just for fun, he stuck a cowboy hat on Zane's head as well.

Terrance smiled. He had dark circles under his weary eyes. Even so, he spoke as friendly as ever, "Can I help you three with anything?"

Vylad, finally breathing normally again, spoke up, "Thank you, but actually, we've come to tell you our solution."

"Solution?" Terrance raised a brow. He eyed the notice on his desk from the guards. It laid out a plan to protect his son, though he didn't trust it. That or denial was still clouding his judgment. Was it truly necessary to deprive him of being by his son's side during his childhood? Perhaps, he thought, this new proposal would be kinder on his emotions.

Garroth nodded. "Yes! Our plan! Err, maybe we should shut the doors." He went to flick his wand but realized it wasn't in his pocket. He jammed both of his hands into his fraying pockets instead, pretending nothing happened.

Vylad swiftly yet gently clicked all of the doors shut with his wand. "Allow me to clear the confusion. Your Majesty, we believe we have a way to protect Prince Travis."

Terrance's lips pressed into a straight line. His expression fell to serious. "Come," he said, gesturing a seating area towards the center of the spacious room. There were several small couch-like chairs, all somewhat misaligned. "My apologies. I'm not the neatest when it comes to decorations," he apologized, embarrassed.

Zane, Garroth, and Vylad glanced at each other. "We don't mind, Sir. Thank you," Zane replied formally.

Once seated, Vylad began to expand on their proposition. With the aid of funds from the King, the three would repair and settle in an abandoned cabin deep in the woods of Phoenix Drop. They'd pose as farmers, collectively raising Travis as his uncles without any form of magic. They agreed to avoid topics of his royal blood or the kingdom as best as they could unless the discussion was dire or impossible to misdirect. And when Travis' sixteen birthday arrived and his curse was ineffective, the fairies would return him to his father.

Terrance was not fond of lying to his son, let alone putting Travis under the impression he and Ariana were dead at such a young age, but his disapproval was well masked. In fact, he did not provide a single sign of agreement or disagreement. He simply remained silent, listening intently and deeply considering. He thanked the fairies, who bowed and exited.

However, Garroth, who couldn't help himself, slipped his wand out of Vylad's pocket and shrunk himself at the top of the steps. He pressed himself up against the wall and strained to listen, trying to make his breath as silent as possible.

Ariana appeared through the doors shortly after with Travis cradled in her arms. "I can't even tell you how sweet that Isabelle girl is," she laughed, pained. The air grew heavy with tension.

Terrance's stance and sad eyes spoke the words his voice failed to. Ariana gazed down on Travis, who was soundly asleep. "How long do we have with him?" she asked, her heartbreak sincere.

"Until midnight," he replied. "The Ro'meaves will take him."

Ariana rocked Travis back and forth with the slightest movement. She captured the moment, inhaling its cool morning air and the graceful flickering of golden candles. She sealed it within the most treasured part of her memory and silently rested Travis in her husband's arms. She unhooked her opal amulet from around her neck and wrapped the golden chain loosely around Travis' wrist, then ensured that it would stay. A good omen, at least.

"Until midnight," she repeated almost inaudibly.

Garroth silently tapped his back and made his wings reappear. Still no bigger than an insect, he flew down the staircase and chased after his brothers out of the castle. He made himself normal once more and spilled the news.

Nightfall darkened the sky too soon and the shadows of the trees overcast the castle grounds. The King and his Queen watched helplessly as the love of their lives, their only son, disappeared into the darkness and unknown of the night. Sixteen years of waiting. The thought crossed and spiraled in their minds. "Our boy will be a young man by then," Terrance whispered. His eyes were lifeless.

Ariana wrapped her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder, "They'll take good care of him. And when he comes home, we'll spend every moment with him."

Terrance nodded, blinking back tears. He caught the three cloaked figures as they disappeared past the twisting gates and into the silhouettes of trees. "You're right."