Rose suddenly shot upright in bed. Her electric-blue eyes were wide with alarm as the cries of birds echoed in the distance, desperate and haunting.
She pushed a strand of platinum hair from her face, her heart pounding.
“What now?” she whispered, glancing nervously out the window of her bedroom. The dense forest was still.
But the cries lingered, filling her chest with a strange dread.
Feeling nervous that she might be screaming for her life next, like the birds, was Rose Grey. She looked no more than 12, but she was really —205. Yes—205 years old. Rose was a nymph, and as everyone should know, nymphs were immortal, which should explain her extraordinary age.
As she lay there tossing and turning all morning, she couldn't stop thinking about the screeching birds. One would think that the daughter of a powerful deity—yes, super powerful—could fly through the air and save the precious creatures. But unfortunately for the birds and Rose, she could not. Suddenly, a tiny door popped open from a box hanging on the wall. A small bird sprang out, coo-cooing several times in a row like an alarm. Rose slipped out of bed and started pacing the bedroom. Her bare feet brushed the wooden floor.
“It’s the pirates again,” she grumbled bitterly.
A squirrel gathering nuts outside the window looked like it was listening to her. “The scallywags have been terrorizing Everwood for weeks now!” She whined towards the squirrel, who looked like it was listening to her, but it was not. Contemplating what to wear now, Rose finally decided on her navy blue dress. Although it was her only outfit, she liked the idea of having options. That morning, like every morning, the magnificent nymph sat before her mirror, combing her long platinum hair while overanalyzing her face in the mirror.
“I swear I have a monstrous nose, strange marks on my forehead, and my eyes are like a fish—no wonder fairies think I’m a beast!” She mumbled to herself. Distracted by the sounds outside, she stopped combing her hair momentarily and looked out the window of her treehouse at several grey geese in a pond below. They were honking at nothing and swimming in circles.
“That’s so like me, acting busy and important—but going nowhere,” the nymph whispered to a squirrel, who was observing her from a branch.
The squirrel tilted its head as if pondering her words while the nymph let out a sigh.
Just below Rose’s treehouse were her three nymph sisters. They were already up and sitting at a lavishly decorated table near an oak tree. Trays of pastries, a warm pot of tea, and a vase of flowers were in the center. As the rays of the morning sun illuminated the table, the sisters drank their tea and read about the latest gossip in their papers.
Rose and her sisters were daughters of Poseidon and Amphitrite, the God and Goddess of the Sea. For hundreds of years, the sister nymphs lived secretly in a meadow called the Shallows. It was breathtakingly beautiful, with flowering bushes and trees surrounding its edges. But what was most important was that it was unknown to anyone. The sisters could live there unbothered by humans as they traveled the world performing their nymph duties of protecting ponds worldwide until otherwise notified.
Zoe, the eldest of Rose’s three sisters, was the leader of the sister family since she had the most experience with failure. With long raven hair and chilling lavender eyes, everything about this extraordinary nymph seemed perfect because Zoe was a master at— what not to do. The sisters found this large amount of experience in failure valuable, so naturally, she always had the last word about anything they did.
Rose’s second-oldest sister was Reeva. The long, chestnut-haired beauty had a passion for reading. Books, newspapers, signs, or labels, it didn’t matter what it was. Reeva wanted to absorb the knowledge. However, when it comes to actually experiencing life, she would rather read about it, of course.
Chloe was Rose’s third-oldest sister. An amber-haired beauty with a cheeky smile loved to joke about everything. She especially enjoyed poking fun at all the sisters, but particularly at Rose, until Rose cried. Although she was annoying, Rose would still say Chloe was her best friend— in a weird way.
The three sisters were radiantly powerful beauties, as nymphs were known to be. But unfortunately for Rose, she was born without such powers.
Unsure how their sister Rose could have caught such an evil curse, the sisters decided to create something to protect her—an invisibility cloak. They feared that any pirate who saw Rose’s unusual snow-white hair and metallic gold symbols, the marks of a God, would assume she was a magical creature, which she was. But without magical powers, poor Rose could be captured quite easily.
However, as careful as Rose was, during her various expeditions on the isle, there were moments when the magical cloak would slip off, revealing her identity. Because of this, the local paper, The Fairy Tale Time, started rumors about her. The fairies, the only reporters for the paper, seemed overly anxious for attention, so they fabricated a little in their stories.
Pepper Thistleton of Thorn wrote, “I saw a figure with long platinum hair near the water's edge. Suddenly, it disappeared, and then an enormous serpent with green scales leaped out of the water.”
Luna Berry of Lark reported a different experience, “I saw it. One minute, it’s a nymph with long platinum hair, beady snake eyes, and a long forked tongue. She stuck it out at me. I swear. The nymph may look like a harmless young girl, but she’s really— a scary monster!”
Shea Snapdragon wrote, “There is a nymph in Everwood— a ten-foot-tall beast with strange hairy nostrils and rotten breath.”
Since poor Rose could not help her sisters monitor ponds worldwide, she kept herself busy making art or artistically inclined messes, as Chloe would describe them. Her art and found treasures filled her treehouse. A black boot, colorful feathers, and a broken twig wrapped in a pink scarf hung on a wall in her bedroom. Lemon-yellow paint was drizzled on top of it like a fancy cake. A label was next to it that read: Boot-iful. Next to it was another unusual piece. Two broken window shutters, a wooden bowl, and furniture molding were carefully hammered together and then covered with scarlet red paint. The word ‘hello’ was painted on it near a tiny hole that looked like a peephole on one of the shutters. The label next to it read, "Hello from outer space."
One can only guess what was going through Rose’s mind when she was creating these works of art.
As Rose combed her hair that morning, she fixated on a particular piece. Crushed yellow flower petals, charcoal, and green grass stains were combined on paper to resemble someone, possibly a girl. A label next to it read “Creepy Sibling in Banana.” It was a recent attempt by Rose to draw her sister’s portrait. “Half monster and half innocent princess,” She whispered like she was happy about the insulting image, adding, “—so Chloe! Ha!”
A voice from below Rose’s treehouse window called out, “Wake up, Oh-Great-and-Powerful One!”
Rose got up and leaned out the window, acknowledging her taunting sister. Chloe was making a pitiful face and patting the seat beside her. “Please join me, Rosey. Our sisters are a complete bore!”
Rose laughed with a suspicious look. “You mean so that you can humiliate me for entertainment like usual?”
“Yes, of course. What else are sisters for?”
Ignoring Chloe’s jibe, Rose resumed untangling her hair, which was more like torture. Regardless, after a few minutes, she started analyzing her life. Her sister’s teasing seemed to have gotten under her skin. Tears began to well in her eyes as her frustration started brewing inside. Suddenly, just as another tooth in the comb broke and fell to the floor, Rose slammed the comb down in frustration. “I’ve had it with this stupid comb…and…and last night's spell-breaking flop and —my ridiculously lonely life!!”
Last night, the sisters had hired another well-known sorcerer, Noel Spellgem of Holly Oak, to fix Rose’s curse. The three nymph sisters were unaware of how to cure dark magic. Thus, they were forever hiring sorcerers for help.
Rose pulled her emotions together, picked up her invisibility cloak, and descended a spiraling staircase within her treehouse before exiting a doorway at the trunk. She joined her sisters and placed her special cloak on a chair beside Chloe. “Could you pass the tea, please?” Rose mumbled.
“Sorry about last night, Rosey dear,” her sister Chloe said, making a pouty face and pouring Rose some tea into a tiny, delicate cup. I guess Noel is unlucky sorcerer number six.”
Sitting across the table from Rose and Chloe was Zoe, who was giggling and slapping her leg as she read a story in the newspaper. The raven-haired beauty suddenly finished reading, folded the paper, and placed it on the table.
“Sorry about Noel not breaking the curse, Rosy dear,” Zoe apologized sympathetically.
Rose nodded, acknowledging her comment, then sat quietly, trying not to cry. Rose’s chestnut-haired sister, Reeva, was sitting across the table, too, half-listening as she read her book, ‘Remedies for the Cursed’ by Cleodore Finch.
“Sorry, I can’t talk yet,” Reeva said, making a disagreeable face. “I’m a brute until I’ve had a full cup. But I’m looking for a cure!” After taking another sip, she nodded before refocusing on her book. “I’ll let you know when I find it.”
Rose was thankful for Reeva’s efforts. However, now that the sisters were together, Zoe cleared her throat loudly like she had a big announcement. The sisters knew it was a big one and shifted nervously in their seats.
“Rosy dear,” Zoe said softly, “I have to tell you something important.” Zoe could hardly look at her sister because of what she was about to say.
Rose smiled sweetly, sipping tea and eating a pastry. “What is it?”
Clearing her throat again nervously, Zoe announced, “Your sisters and I were talking earlier this morning, and we all agreed that … ah, we aren’t going to hire more sorcerers to try to break your curse. Because…. ah, we don’t believe you have one.”
Rose's jaw hung open in shock. Fighting her emotions back, she wanted to punish her sisters somehow, like turning them into warty frogs or, worse, making them unattractive. But Rose would need magic to do such a thing. As her hands shook and her eyes rolled up into her head, Rose kicked a stone in anger. After it flew into the woods, she moaned and grabbed her foot, hurting her toe instead.
“Sorry, Rosey. At least you have your magic cloak! Let’s look at the positives. Let's see. Umm, can I make you a brush? Didn't you lose your brush? I can make one for you. Wouldn't that be delightful?” Zoe snapped her fingers, and a brush appeared in her hand. She tried handing it to Rose. But as if fate had other plans, the brush slipped from her grasp, clipped the edge of a nearby cup, tumbled into the jelly, and landed in the dirt below. Zoe felt embarrassed about the calamity. “How about some crazy 8’s? What do you say, Rosey? Do you want to play a game?” Zoe was trying her best to move on from the subject, so she snapped her fingers, and a deck of cards appeared in her palm.
Looking frustrated by endless lousy luck, Rose grumbled, “You want to give me a brush after months of torture. And then play cards with me when my future is at stake? You don’t CARE if I must live with this curse —forever!”
“No, we do care,” Zoe said, adjusting her dress like she was fussing with it nervously, adding, “but there is simply nothing we can do about it anymore. Clearly, I’ve made enough mistakes in my lifetime to know that six sorcerer failures are enough.”
Rose’s face was on fire. So full of emotion, she thought about how much she hated her sisters for this decision and wished they weren’t her sisters at all! How could they do this to me? I thought they loved me. Rose thought.
Zoe started playing a card game with Chloe while Reeva hid behind a new book, hoping Rose wouldn’t confront them about the subject. The three sisters had moved on from the curse drama and hoped Rose would, too.
“Fine,” Rose barked, forcing a smile that looked like she accepted the decision.
Startled by Rose’s answer but happy to be off the hook, Zoe blurted out, “My brave sister!”
Chloe added, “I can’t believe it! She's finally maturing after 205 years.”
Reeva put her book down and chimed in. “Isn’t she just top-notch!”
Keeping her phony smile up briefly, Rose grabbed her magic cloak and stormed off towards the woods.
“They think my problem is a joke,” she said to a nearby squirrel who was following her, intrigued by her beauty. “They don’t know what it’s like being invisible all the time, never making friends, worried today could be my last or that I could be kidnapped and sold on the dark market like most enchanted creatures are.” She was thinking about the screaming birds that morning and feeling like she might be next if she didn't figure out a solution to her problem.
Plucking an apple off a tree, Rose was about to take a bite when she locked eyes with a squirrel on a branch. Being the kind-hearted nymph she was, she handed the apple to the squirrel and watched it scurry off in a hurry.
Chloe chased after Rose. “Are you okay, Rosey? What are you up to?”
As she pulled her invisibility cloak from her basket, Rose answered, “I have a plan.”
“Really?” Chloe looked curious as to what it was.
Beaming confidently, Rose announced, “I’m going to look for lost treasures, collect a small fortune, and trade it for a sorcerer’s magic.”
Chloe giggled.
Rose sneered. “I’m on a mission to break my curse! I refuse to be lonely forever…and...and...no one else cares, so I'm taking charge of myself.”
Feeling guilty, Chloe said, “You hold onto whatever dream is tugging at your heart, but don’t tell Reeva and Zoe I told you that. I have my mean sister's reputation to keep up.”
Unsure that she could prove her sisters wrong but willing to try, Rose gave Chloe a fake smile before whipping her invisibility cloak around her body and disappearing, at least from sight. Heading up a narrow path into Everwood, Rose thought of a particular spot to start her treasure hunt. As she pushed through the brush, she veered onto an overgrown path but noticed some flowers, electric orange, scarlet red, and oddly shaped. Petals that looked less like flowers and more like a species from outer space. They were blooming in the shadows of a tree as if they didn’t need light to grow. After all, in a mystical forest, anything was possible. Rose thought. Extraordinary. This could be something. Flowers have importance in specific antidotes. I’m sure a sorcerer will love these fantastic beauties.
The nymph was convinced the vibrantly unique flowers were special and wanted to do the unthinkable—pick some. Reaching under the limbs, she pulled several flowers up from the earth. As dirt trickled down, a sudden burst of light scattered from the tops of the petals. Rose jumped back, surprised. Still, under her invisibility cloak, she backed away slowly as the light scattered into several tinier lights. They spiraled around in circles before taking off into the dark forest, all except one. The little light flitted and floated about. Suddenly, it transformed into a being as tiny as a child. It had luminous wings and sparkling skin and was holding a small book with a feather quill sticking out of it.
“Hello? Is anybody there?” The fairy squeaked. The shimmering markings on her body matched her pink crystal hair. As her eyes darted back and forth, she looked for whoever had just plucked the unusual flowers. The curious Faye chewed on the end of her white feather quill, then scribbled something important into her book. Rose knew the fairy was looking for her.
“Whoever you are, these flowers are precious! Please stop!” The tiny fairy squeaked.
Still, Rose stayed silent. She’s a deviant reporter, and I see mischief in her almond-shaped eyes.
The nymph was forever hurt by the crazy stories fairies would write about her in the newspaper. Rose thought. She’s probably the very fairy who wrote I’m a monster with warts on my cheeks and foul breath. Now, if I had powers like my sisters, why would I make myself look and smell like that? I mean, really! Fairies are ridiculous!
The sparkling Faye scribbled more in her book, then covered the remaining precious flowers with dried leaves like she feared Rose might pluck some more. Once satisfied that the flowers were safe, the fairy transformed into a sparkling pinpoint of light and flew off into Everwood like a shooting star.
You are valuable. Rose thought as she inspected the flowers before placing them in her basket.
The nymph was already feeling successful when she eventually reached a large clearing near Blackwood Road. It was the spot she’d been thinking about exploring for treasures. Several deer were grazing in the center, unaware of Rose’s presence. Patches of snowdrops, violets, and daffodils were blooming, a sign that spring had arrived. While the nymph was investigating in the brush, one deer lifted its head. As voices in the distance became louder, the group of deer scattered.
Two figures with tricorn hats, longbows, and a cage between them were walking through the meadow.
Pirates! Rose thought, pulling her invisibility cloak tighter while keeping her distance.
“I bet we’ll get a fortune for this birdie!” Two-fingered Tex belted out.
“Why don’t ya tell the whole world we caught a golden birdie, ya numskull!” Baxter whispered angrily.
Once the two babbling pirates were closer, Rose could see a golden starling inside their cage.
How dreadful. I'd better get out of here before I'm next. Rose thought. But a sense of relief washed over her as the pirates hurried away. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “That was too close for comfort,” she whispered. The golden starling in the cage had sparked her curiosity. Carefully, she moved through the clearing, her steps light and silent. As the wind was beginning to pick up, carrying with it the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers, Rose’s thoughts flickered back to the golden bird. As she moved deeper into the clearing, she noticed animals whispering amongst themselves, sharing gossip about the two scallywags' sudden appearance.
Rose paused, looking toward the hill where the pirates had descended, considering her next move. She had initially come here to explore for treasures, but now something else was on her mind. What if there were more pirates? Rose followed the scallywags at a distance, keeping to the shadows and ensuring they didn’t hear her. She adjusted her cloak and set off silently, moving deeper into the forest, her mind already working out the best way to approach.
As she followed curiously, the two pirates descended a hill at the edge of the clearing. Bracing herself against a tree, she spied through the branches, following their every move, when there was a loud crack.
Tex and Baxter were joking about how much the golden starling was worth when they heard something. An unidentifiable object, tumbling towards them down an embankment, finally stopped and unfolded on the path before them.
“What the…?” Baxter was tongue-tied by the sight.
“Is that what I think I see?” Two-fingered Tex gasped, then looked at Baxter, who was still standing with his jaw hanging open.
For only a few seconds, the platinum-haired nymph beauty was sprawled out on the ground in front of them with her invisibility cloak by her side. Known to eat her enemies alive, as reported in The Fairy Tale Times, the two pirates stood like statues, staring at the beauty as she hurried to her feet.
“Excuse me!” Rose bumbled. At lightning speed, she wrapped her invisibility cloak around her body and disappeared, at least from sight. Some squirrels were so stunned by the appearance of the nymph that they dropped their acorns. Birds were chirping wildly like they were gossiping about the sudden discovery of the phantom nymph. A herd of fairies hiding in the brush burst into the air like firecrackers had gone off. Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, Tex stammered, “I can’t believe it. Did we just see the nymph…or…or were we dreamn’ ?”
Baxter shook his head, slapping Tex on the back. “We saw the white-haired demon! We did! We did! I can’t believe it!”
“We didn’t get swallowed up whole by her either!” Tex bragged stupidly.
“That was close,” the one-eyed pirate shook his head in disbelief. “We need to get back to the ship before the Captain finds out we’re missin’. Hurry up! Get our horses!”