Phantasia

“Look, I’m jus’ trying to help,” said Ceres, breaking her contact with the human totem, “Lots of crazy things are goin’ on and we’ve gotta do what we can to protect our friends, ain’t that right, Princess?”

Phantasia froze, but Faye’s voice encouraged her not to take the bait and reply. Ceres began to frown, sat back in the chair and sighed.

“I give up,” she said, “You girls ain’t gonna talk no matter what I say, are ya?”

“This is not the time nor place for such discussion,” said Faye.

“Hey, I jus’ wanted to help you girls out,” said Ceres, “Ain’t gotta be no debate on this. You just gotta stop freaking people out, Faye, ’cause its making things harder for others,”

“As I said, this is a neither the time nor place for such discussion,” repeated Faye.

“Alright, alright, I get ya,” said Ceres, throwing up her hands in defeat, “Let’s pretend this never happened, ‘kay? It ain’t the first impression I wanted to make. It’s just… serious business, ya know?”

She picked herself up, grabbed her fruit and tried to hide her embarrassed grimace behind a false smile, but her muscles rebelled under the scrutiny of the two faeries. With a quick, awkward goodbye she slinked off, leaving Phantasia and Faye alone in the common room.

Now we wait, said Faye, alluding to some cunning scheme of hers Phantasia could almost see playing out in her lapis lazuli eyes.

***

Phantasia spent the afternoon prodding her handmaiden for details on her plan, but all Faye did was tell her to be patient. Through Mythology and History the blue-haired Water elemental kept her composure and refrained from causing any more personal crises for her fellow students, which she attributed to ‘having nothing to gain from such a strategy’. What she therefore had to gain from her behaviour earlier in the day was a mystery – after living among Water faeries for fifteen years, Phantasia still didn’t understand them, and it wasn’t until the two of them were back in the church that Faye’s manoeuvring came to light.

The seahorse melted through the great stain-glass window, its form swimming down to meet them with all the grace of a faerie’s totem. Phantasia knew immediately that this was the outcome Faye had been planning – though how much of her behaviour that day had been designed to encourage it she didn’t know.

Act natural, said Faye, before turning her attention to the projection, “Might I enquire as to you identity and purpose here?”

“Who I am isn’t important,” replied the distant, female voice, “I came to speak with you about your behaviour. Ms Delphinus, I was led to believe you were sent here to watch over your Princess and prevent her from acting brashly,”

“This is correct,” replied Faye. No telepathic commentary to Phantasia. She was focused.

“Yet your own behaviour has started raising questions, suspicions among the students as to your identity. Don’t you think you should watch your own actions as much as your Princess’s?”

“I have not acted in a way that cannot be explained through non-magical means,” said Faye, “I would remind you that I am of the Royal Court of the Water Queendom. I do not make irrational mistakes.”

“Maybe not, but perhaps you’re unaware just how precarious the situation is. The illusion protecting the students is suffering with every step you take over the line. Please, just keep a low profile. There’s no need for you to get involved with our work. Queen Thetis did not send you here to destroy everything we’ve been working for,”

“It is not wise for a human such as yourself to assume knowledge of the Water Queen’s true intentions,” said Faye, “You may be a member of SEELIE and staff at Rembrandt Payne’s academy, but that does not give you wisdom enough to comprehend the will of Queen Thetis,”

“Y-you know who I am?”

Chapter 44
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