Free Escaping Neverland by Lynn Wahl

might offer you is unwanted and unhelpful.” The fae’s voice softened a
little. “I can see that you didn’t understand this before you spoke. I suggest
you take back what you’ve said and accept Queen Lavender’s offer. If you do
not, you will have an enemy instead of a friend.”
    I stared at the two creatures and then with a
sigh, bowed my head and turned to the purple fairy. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I
didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I would be happy for your help.” I held out
my hand to catch the returning fairy and turned my face back to the butterfly
woman.
    “You may call me Cashraina. I will take you now to
our Queen, who has heard Queen Lavender’s miraculous tale and wishes to meet
you for herself.”
    I nodded, overwhelmed, and followed after
Cashraina. I marveled at the architecture of the palace as we walked.
Everything was created as if from the forest itself. Benches and columns were
formed from living trees, and the bridges over gurgling streams looked like the
ivy and the vines had just agreed to grow over and over themselves until they
formed a sturdy walkway. The scent of flowers was strong enough to make me
sneeze as we pushed through a curtain of living green into a smaller courtyard
where a fountain burbled up from the inside of a hollow tree trunk.
    A woman, flanked by more butterfly skinned guards,
sat at one end of the courtyard. Her throne was formed from precious jewels,
all fused together into a chair that didn’t look comfortable to sit in at all,
but would probably have been worth a couple million dollars back on Earth. The
guards stepped forward in unison when I moved closer, and I stopped. While the
women all seemed to have a smile ready and waiting, the men wore dark, hard
expressions and looked ready to kill in a second.
    Next to me Cashraina bowed at the waist, and I
felt Lavender do the same from my shoulder. Too late, I followed suit and sent
Lavender spinning into the air in a graceful tumble. I felt the blush at my
awkwardness travel from my cheeks all the way down to my belly button.
    “You may rise, human.”
    The voice was soft, but edged with ice. I darted a
glimpse at the Queen. My quick glimpse turned into a long stare, until one of
the guards leaped forward and jabbed at me with his spear.
    I stumbled back and the Queen laughed.
    “Foolish human,” he snarled. “You dare to stare!”
    I shook my head, eyes fastened on the ground. The
Queen’s face was beautiful, at least on one side. The other side looked like
someone had thrown battery acid at her. The features were melted and ruined,
shiny with scar tissue.
    “You shy away from my deformity, girl, as if you
have the right to show such disgust when it is I that must look in the water
every day and see my ruined face staring back at me. Your discomfort is a
selfish emotion and unfit for a healer.” The Queen might have been throwing knives,
her voice was so sharp. I felt a rush of shame and raised my head.
    “You’ve asked me here to heal your face,” I said.
I didn’t make it a question.
    Cashraina stepped back as if I was about to be
struck by lightning and didn’t want to get caught in the blast. The Queen
glided forward, her ethereal movements surreal against the dark, earthy reality
of the palace.
    “Do not speak until asked, human. What is your
name?”
    “Paige,” I said.
    The Queen’s lips quirked at my short response and
she gestured towards a bench. “Please sit. You are impertinent and rude and you
don’t belong here in our world. Still, you have saved Queen Lavender’s life
with your special ability. It is unsuitable for one such as I to ask for your
help, but I am willing to offer you aid in return for your agreement to heal my
face.”
    I wondered if all rulers were so blunt and
abrasive, and then concluded that they probably were. When no one could argue
with you without getting their head chopped off, it was probably pretty hard to
censor yourself.
    “What can you do to