Magical Detour

Part One: To The Emerald Cay

A slender man in his early thirties entered a spacious manor. Shimmering beams from a giant crystal chandelier caught his attention. Only briefly, as he followed a butler to the living quarters. A couple, both wearing gaudy clothes, sat on a lover’s couch. He flinched an eye. Rich people were disgusting to him, but he needed this specific family for an important project.

He sat on a reclining chair, feet propped on a golden stool. The forty-six-year-old man cleared his throat, it echoed across the vacant quarters.

“Welcome, Mr. Lancaster.”

“Thank you for inviting me to your lovely manor, Mr. Pearson.” “Let’s get down to business.”

Mr. Pearson opened his mouth, but no words came out. A loud crash, followed by a young woman’s grunts sounded outside the living quarters. Mr. Lancaster turned his head over a shoulder, eyes watching a petite woman with narrowed shoulders, thin body frame, and fair skin. Bangs obscured parts of her eyes. The woman who grunted earlier marched near the quarter’s doorway, cheeks redden.

“What’s the matter, Zaria?”

“Daddy! Foster Brat messed up my favorite stilettos!”

There was a tiny spot of wet dirt on Zaria’s high heels. Mr. Lancaster hid a grimace, while Mr. Pearson walked to Zaria, his daughter. What came next stunned Mr. Lancaster. Mr. Pearson slapped the ragged woman across the face. A red handprint throbbed her small cheek. She fell on her side, cupped the bruised cheek, and sniffed. A dribble of blood ran from her left nostril.

“You stupid bitch! Apologize!”

The woman silenced. Mr. Pearson slapped her across the face several times. Both her cheeks throbbed in redness. More blood dribbled from her nostrils. Blood dripped on the marbled floor, as she kneeled. She hung her head, sniffling and sobbing. Mr. Pearson growled, his hand shaking from the many slaps. Zaria snickered behind her lovely daddy. Mrs. Pearson brushed her smooth blonde hair, fluttered her thick eyelashes, and giggled.

“Sorry for our maid’s interruption, Mr. Lancaster. She’s quiet and unresponsive. All she can do is bow down. It’s her way of apologizing.”

He winced. This young woman doesn’t deserve pain. What Mr. Pearson and his family were doing was horrible. Sickening to his stomach, Mr. Lancaster stood up and approached Mr. Pearson. “Excuse me?”

“Have you decided?”

“Yes. About the assistant, I’ll be taking this woman.”

In swift motion, Mr. Lancaster kneeled before the beaten woman and extended a hand. She stared at it, tears streaking past her eyes. The expression shook her. The upper part of her back shivered. Mr. Pearson gasped from Mr. Lancaster’s decision.

“Why her? She’s useless! All she’s good at is staying quiet and cleaning after our messes!”

“It is my decision. Unless you want your name not to be recognized by my project.”

Mr. Pearson moaned. He wanted Mr. Lancaster’s project to go well. For the success of Pearson Enterprises. His fists vibrated, fingernails about to pierce through his palms. “Is this your final decision?”

“Yes.”

Three Days Later

Ruport Harbor

Mr. Lancaster, in a tan leather vest and loose dark chocolate jeans, stood near the Arrogante. He whistled a tune he loved, flicked dirt out of his fingernails, and let the wind brush his short black hair. Footsteps approached him. The young ragged woman walked beside Grayson. She kept her head low, eyes glued to the sturdy floorboards. Ocean waves clashed against the piers, its crashing noises soothed Mr. Lancaster’s mind.

Grayson pushed the woman with a hefty force. She stumbled, her hands almost losing its grip on an enormous suitcase. Mr. Lancaster helped her stand up and secure her suitcase. Once she stood behind Mr. Lancaster, Grayson cleared his throat. “As promised, Pearson Enterprises will donate fifty-million dollars to DNA Inc.’s latest project. In return, the project’s success will double our agreement.”

“Yes, a hundred-million dollars, if the project is successful.” Mr. Lancaster stuffed his fingers in his vest pockets.

“I still don’t know why you choose this useless woman over our staff. They’re more capable to assist you than her.”

Grayson’s scowl landed on the woman. She shivered without looking at those soulless blue eyes. Mr. Lancaster grunted and clenched his jaw. He really hated rich people. Greed and pride merged into one terrible stereotype. He was doing the woman a favor, freeing her from the Pearsons’ abuse.

“Then again, she hasn’t been the most helpful staff member. You can do whatever with her.”

Grayson’s wrist flicking drove an irritated screw through Mr. Lancaster’s skull. He wished to punch his lights out, but reframed. Putting a fake smile, Mr. Lancaster thanked Grayson. “You’ll see me in a few months, Mr. Pearson.”

With a gentle wave, Mr. Lancaster motioned the young woman onto the Arrogante. On the raft was a forty-eight-year-old man. A sailor with a kind heart, Lee Edwards agreed to settle their trip in minutes. While they waited for Lee to prepare, Mr. Lancaster sat close to an oval-shaped coffee table. A parcel blocked the eighty-five degree morning heat. He sighed, finally releasing his frustrations towards Grayson’s arrogance.

‘That man and his family are atrocious. Why my boss considered them is a mystery.’

The young woman sat next to him, still lowering her head. She avoided eye contact, which confused Mr. Lancaster. “A-Are you okay, miss?”

She shuttered from the reply. Her body shook like a dried leaf in winter.

“I’m sorry. That man is gone now. You can speak.”

She whimpered. Tears began leaking from her eyes. They dripped on the coffee table’s surface, drumming it in a slow pace. Mr. Lancaster knew trauma. He had a first-class seat to it. A long time ago, he lost someone important. He wanted to search for them, but his research and keeping his family’s legacy was distracting.

Mr. Lancaster stood up, walked into the control panel, and found a notepad. He returned and slid the notepad to the woman. She sobbed, watery eyes focused on the notepad. A ballpoint pen Mr. Lancaster had plopped on its cover.

“How about writing your responses?”

His smile eased the woman’s anxiety. Only for a bit. She opened the notepad, picked up the pen, and wrote.

‘My name is Faith Pearson’

The surname paused Mr. Lancaster. Shivers spread throughout his body. His spine quaked. Blood warmed. His vision became blurry for a few seconds. He couldn’t believe Faith had connections to the Pearsons. Let alone be Grayson’s second daughter. The difference he couldn’t wrap around was Faith’s appearance.

Short, silver hair. Bangs that covered parts of her eyes. Slender frame with narrow shoulders and waist. Legs and arms showing bone structure. It looked like Grayson or his wife hadn’t been feeding Faith. Add her not showing blue eyes, Mr. Lancaster concluded. He wrote his response on the notepad under Faith’s.

‘Are you adopted?’

Faith wrote, ‘Yes, Mr. Pearson adopted me ten years ago.’

‘I knew it. How he treated you was wrong. I thought you were a hired maid.’

Faith sobbed a little before writing.

‘No, Grayson and his wife added house chores on me. Zaria, my older sister, piled more work.’

‘That’s pretty bad. I’m sorry for pressuring you to share.’

‘Why?’

Faith’s gray eyes landed on Mr. Lancaster’s face. Tears developed from her eyelids. He sighed, dropped his pen, and folded his hands over his lap. “I chose you, because I wanted to save you. Honestly, I’m not self-centered, like most rich people are. Sure, my family has millions and millions of dollars from their countless research projects, but we don’t belittle mid-class people.”

The response froze Faith. She opened her mouth, only to close it.

“I thought hiring you as my assistant would free you from the Pearsons.”

Faith wrote her response on the notepad. She pointed it for Mr. Lancaster to look.

‘I don’t know what to say. Uh, thank you?’

“Of course, Faith. You’re welcome.”

She smiled. It was the first time she smiled. Mr. Lancaster smirked. His chest felt lighter, knowing he made the right decision. “My name is Kristian Lancaster.”

Faith nodded. Once Lee warmed up the raft’s engines, they sailed away. Waters splashed the raft’s side. The floorboards got wet from each gigantic wave. Faith watched the ocean waves, its foams interested her curiosity. For years, she became a shut-in, a maid, and a punching bag for her adopted family. All their abuse muted her voice. She couldn’t defend herself verbally. Their torture was too atrocious that not speaking was the best option.

In came Kristian Lancaster, her unexpected savior. He pulled her out of a terrible family life. She had absolute gratitude towards him. Hours passed by and the ocean’s naturalistic noises soothed Faith into a pleasant nap. Kristian sat in a separate room below the floorboards. He studied his notes on a species. DNA Inc. had been studying these species for months.

‘Nisants, a humanistic species with ant-like qualities.’

He highlighted certain details about the nisants, such as their survival instincts, way of living, and possessing supernatural abilities. Fantasy hadn’t been a topic Kristian knew about. Reading fantasy stories when he was young, Kristian enjoyed those fictional plots. When he joined DNA Inc., his superiors mentioned the nisants and other potential insect hybrids.

He agreed over two reasons. One was to learn about the nisants. Two was to find a missing relative. Two years ago, Kristian’s sibling got lost at sea. News of this spread across Ruport and Kristian’s family was devastated. He, too, felt depressed in the news, but he never gave up.

The raft rocked gently, increasing Kristian’s melatonin levels. He fluttered his eyelids and hunched his back over the table. ‘I should get some shut-eye.’

He folded his notes and placed them in a dresser. Kristian walked upstairs, only to see Faith sleeping on the coffee table. He smiled from her peaceful position. Head on folded forearms.

‘When this is over, I can persuade Faith into leaving her family and—’

Suddenly, the raft rocked harder. Waves clashed each side. Seawater foam splashed onto the floorboards and Kristian. The rocking sensation woke up Faith, her gray eyes darting everywhere.

“Mr. Edwards! What’s going on!?”

“A whirlpool!”

Kristian leaned over a railing to see a giant whirlpool ahead. It’s angelic green center bedazzled his sights. Rushing water filled his ears, then clashing thunder. Dark clouds covered the skies, which spread more lightning. Lee tried maneuvering the raft away, but the whirlpool’s gravitational pull was too strong.

Faith gasped, her hands hovering over her pounding chest. She hyperventilated, sweat coated her forehead and trickled down her neck. Kristian marched to her and hooked an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, Faith! Stay with me!”

The raft rocked even harder because of the whirlpool. Mr. Edwards shouted something to Kristian, but the crashing waters made it hard to hear. Then, a giant wave engulfed Kristian and Faith.

There was a scream. Kristian poked his head out the water, gasping for fresh air. The briny saltwater air made breathing hard. He swam a little, trying to search for Faith. Miles away from Kristian, he saw Faith’s head. She was close to the whirlpool. Metal bending caught Kristian’s ears. He turned over his shoulder to witness the raft tilting to its side. It drowned in overwhelming waves. Kristian hadn’t heard Mr. Edwards. The storm must’ve swallowed him whole.

‘Oh, Faith! I better go get her!’

He swam faster to Faith. The closer he got, the stronger the whirlpool’s pull was. He extended a hand to Faith, but the whirlpool caught her. She screamed higher. The hard-blowing wind muted her screams, leaving Kristian disoriented. “Faith! FAITH!”

It was too late for Kristian. The whirlpool, after catching Faith, grabbed Kristian. He rode around its light-speed motion. The experience made his eyes dizzy. Scenes before him were blurry. The thunderous lightning clashes dimmed. Noises were reduced to half of their original frequencies.

‘Damn, I feel light. In the head, lungs, and limbs. Ah, this must be death grasping me. I’m sure it already has Faith. Guess I won’t meet her again. I’m sorry, Morgan.’

On the sandy beaches of an unknown island, Kristian rocked his head. From side to side, he groaned. He sat up, rubbed the back of his head, and stretched his neck. Pops echoed across the vast beachside. Kristian opened his eyes, fluttering bits of sand off. He then brushed his soaked collar shirt and pants. His leather vest was gone, probably lost at sea.

“W-Where am I? This isn’t heaven. Whew, that’s good.”

He stood up, but his knees wobbled. The imbalance made Kristian stumble a little. He regained balance and heard a groan. It sounded familiar. “Faith?”

His eyes scanned for the noise’s source. They landed on Faith, who laid on the sand. She rocked her head, silver strands of hair seeping into the grainy sand. Kristian called out her name again, and she listened.

She sat up, brushed off sand, and groaned louder. “Are you hurt?”

Faith remained silent, even after the storm. Speaking of the storm, Kristian watched the open waters. No whirlpool or raft in sight. This worried Kristian. He helped Faith get up and brushed more sand off of her. “You don’t look hurt. That’s good, but unfortunately, I don’t have my notepad.”

Faith frowned from the realization. How was she going to communicate without a notepad? Screeches interrupted their brief reunion. Kristian felt the ground quake. It continued until a lizard, the size of a dump truck, crawled out of tall grass blades. It noticed them and screeched once more.

“Crap! Faith, run!”

He grabbed Faith’s hand, and they ran right. The lizard stuck out its thin tongue twice before chasing the two. A chase sequence of Kristian and Faith dodging the lizard’s giant crawls and slimy tongue ensued.

“We have to lose its track!”

While dragging Faith’s arm, Kristian jogged to the grass. They passed through a field of them. The lizard followed them, his wide frame plowing down each grass blade. Faith looked behind her, seeing the lizard speeding up. She whimpered, then poked Kristian’s shoulder blade.

“I know, Faith! Just keep running!”

They ran and ran. Kristian’s legs tired from the excessive running. Same went for Faith. They slowed down over not feeling the lizard’s stomps. “Is that lizard chasing us?”

Kristian told Faith to stay while he checked. A few feet later, Kristian found the lizard. A tiny spear stabbed through its eye, a trickle of blood ran down its cheek. It twitched, but never got up. Not to wake it, Kristian stepped three paces backward. “What killed it?”

The bushes on Kristian’s right shifted. He watched it, eyes squinted and upper body leaned forward. The shaking stopped and a slender young man rose. He walked to Kristian, his hand holding a spear. “Stay back!”

Kristian held his fists up. He wouldn’t let a stranger hurt him or Faith. But when the stranger left the shadows, Kristian’s mouth dropped. This stranger had tan skin, round blue eyes, and lean muscles. Wearing a loincloth, the stranger titled his head. His thin red hair brushed his sleek forehead.

“Uh…”

“Who are you?”

Kristian backed up. His eyes widened from the stranger’s knowledge of English.

“I said, who are you?”

“K-Kristian Lancaster.”

“Never heard of a ‘Kristian Lancaster’ around Emerald Cay.”

Emerald Cay rang a certain bell in Kristian’s mind. It was the island’s name, where the nisants lived. Just to be sure, a question spilled from Kristian’s lips.

“Are you a nisant?”

“Of course! My name is Noah, I’m the nisant village’s prince.”

Excitement expanded in Kristian’s chest. He skipped in a circle, hollering and mumbling nonsense. Noah tilted his head again, but with a furrowed eyebrow. “We found the island. We’re not dead!”

Kristian stopped his cheering once he realized Faith’s whereabouts. He apologized to Noah and jogged back to Faith. A couple minutes in and Faith introduced herself to Noah. “Does she speak?”

“No, she has mutism.”

“Understood.”

“Uh, did you kill that lizard?”

“Yes. I’d watched it chasing you two and threw a spear into its eye. My throws are getting stronger by the day.”

Noah twirled his spear with a cocky smirk.

“This is amazing. My project is almost complete. Wait… This is impossible. How are we at the nisants’ height?”

A realization hit Kristian; the whirlpool. There were theories of a whirlpool capable of magical properties. Kristian rubbed his chin and tucked it. ‘Emerald Cay is like any other island, but the nisants are insect-sized individuals.’

“Excuse me, Kristian Lancaster and Faith Pearson. We can’t stay here any longer. More giant creatures will attack us. Follow me to the village.”

Noah’s response broke Kristian’s concentration. He was right; more lizards would feast them alive. They followed Noah to the village. Faith trailed behind Kristian, avoiding eye contact. Realization excited Kristian. His project was near its completion.

Part Two: The Emerald Cay Curse

Noah led Kristian and Faith to the nisant village. The island’s musky atmosphere made walking a chore. Sweat caked Kristian’s forehead, drips trickled to his jawline. The moist fog damped his collar shirt. His sculpted chest and abs became visible underneath the wet shirt. Faith noticed while walking beside Kristian. She blushed and looked away, flustered by Kristian’s physique.

Miles later, Noah introduced them to the village. A vast village with tiny wooden huts shone under a giant beam of morning light. “Whoa, this is fantastic.”

“Of course, the nisants have kept their traditions for years.”

“The rumors are true. Nisants, devoid of evolution, kept their basic traditions. Their physical attributes, intelligence, and survival instincts increased. Emerald Cay grew more hostile, yet the nisants defended themselves precisely.”

Faith raised an eyebrow. Kristian caught her look, raising an equally furrowed eyebrow. She understood her casual IQ not understanding his dialogue.

Hours flew by as Noah discussed certain aspects of the nisant village. A watering hole, gardening sections, and breeding grounds were parts Kristian grew interested. Once the tour was over, Noah introduced his father to Faith and Kristian. An elderly man with graying hair, wrinkles, and hunched back. He used a twig as a cane to straighten himself.

“Why, what do we have here?”

“Father,” Noah said while bowing down. “We have visitors. Kristian Lancaster and Faith Pearson.”

“Those names sound foreign to me.” Noah’s father rubbed his saggy chin.

“They’re from the… Uh, they’re humans.”

The announcement of humans shocked Noah’s father. He stumbled back, but Noah helped him stabilize. Not wanting to stand stupidly, Kristian cleared his throat and approached the two nisants. “Your son is right, sir. I’m here to study your kind.”

“Study? As in copy our culture and spread it amongst your kind?” He faced a serious expression at Kristian.

The researcher froze from the reaction. Anger seeped under Noah’s father’s face. His fingers gripped the cane. Noah stepped up and gestured Kristian to enter. Faith followed the three men.

They rested in a spacious area and sat on hay cushions. “Sorry about my reaction. My name is Noel, by the way.”

“Uh, is there a reason?”

“There is. A hundred and fifty years ago, a mage and his wife discovered Emerald Cay. The mage wanted to discover rare mythical creatures.”

“Oh, so you had a history of humans studying your kind?”

Noal nodded. His legs wobbled as he walked to a rocking chair. The chair was made of old palm tree wood. Noel sat down, leaned the twig on a boulder, and coughed.

“They arrived on the island, searched for days, and found us. At first, they were baffled to see tiny humans with ant-like qualities. Then, the mage grew more interested in us. He studied us for months, taking notes and writing memoirs of his adventure. His wife, however, had intentions different from the mage’s.”

Kristian’s chest tightened. His stomach churned somewhat. He didn’t want to hear the rest, but he remained still. Noel continued his story.

“The wife wanted to exploit our kind. Her husband witnessed her behavioral change. They argued over our existence, which led to a terrible curse.”

“A curse?”

Faith leaned forward. Her eyes glistened. Kristian leaned forward, too. “Does this curse have connections to the whirlpool?”

Noel shuttered. “Yes, you’re on the dot. The wife possessed ancient spells that were illegal. She enacted a ritual, creating the whirlpool you witnessed earlier. Whoever came close to the Emerald Cay will have their bodies compressed to nisant size. Only those who performed the exact ritual or are blood-related to the mage’s wife will escape. She left her husband on the island until he learned the ritual. It took him ten years to perfect the ritual. When he enacted it, he promised not to exploit our species. The tales you heard as a child was his doing.”

Kristian felt his nerves were on fire. His research wasn’t worth it, but he needed to find his sister. Faith’s expression shifted once Noel’s story concluded. She squealed, but then noticed Kristian staring at her. She quickly returned to her silent demeanor, hands folded over her lap and head lowered. Noah noticed Faith’s reaction and tilted his head.

“So, there’s nothing we can escape the island?”

“There is, but only a person with magical experience or relation to the mage’s wife will perform the ritual. Judging by your appeal, it seems you lack magic.”

Kristian fell silent. He was a scientist, researcher, and average man, not a mage. Magic was fiction to him, yet he spoke to mythical creatures. The whirlpool he and Faith went into shrunk them. Add the curse enacted by a spiteful mage’s wife and Kristian now believed in magic. He slumped. “Great, now we’re stuck on an island filled with reptiles larger than construction vehicles.”

“Never fret, Kristian Lancaster. My family studied the ritual for centuries. I can teach you and Faith Pearson.”

Noah puffed his chest and pointed a thumb at it. A proud smirk spread on his face. “My grandfather taught me the ritual in case a miracle happened. I guessed you and Faith Pearson arriving is that miracle.”

Faith’s eyes lit up again. She stood up like an excited five-year-old. A squeal muffled behind her sealed lips. Again, Kristian and Noah noticed and Faith returned to her silent manner. “Is this the right decision, Noah?”

Noel struggled to stand up. He marched to his son and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“You’re a brave young nisant, Noah. As king, I’ll agree with your decision. Promise me nothing horrible will happen to Kristian Lancaster and Faith Pearson.”

“Of course, father.” Noah bowed before Noel.

Afterward, Noah allowed Faith to sleep at his hut. Kristian had his own, but it was near to Noah’s, so he’ll visit Faith any time. She shivered, clasped her hands over her chest, and scanned Noah’s hut. The interiors looked dim, but Noah caught a firefly and drained its luminant essence. He used it to create a lantern. With the DIY lantern, the interiors looked cozy. Despite the furniture made from palm tree wood and dried leaves, Faith felt wholesome.

She took deep breaths and sat on a hay cushion. Unlike the cushion from Noel’s hut, it felt soft. Her bottom sunk into it, grasping her weight in grace. “Lancaster said you’re mute, right?”

Faith nodded.

“Hold on.”

Noah jogged to a separate bedroom. No door blocked his actions. He drew a beige dry leaf and a splinter. To Faith, they looked like parchment paper and ink pen. Speaking of ink, Noah dragged a giant bottle of black ink. “It drifted to the beach, and I found it. This should be enough.”

He placed the ink bottle next to a table. The table was a disk with wooden grooves and swirls. Noah slid the leaf and splinter towards Faith. She saw them and realized what Noah thought.

Her hands went to work.

She wrote a message and slid the leaf to Noah, who sat on a boulder. He grabbed the leaf and read Faith’s message.

“Yes, I’ve been silent for ten years.”

Noah’s mind pondered. He wrote his response under Faith’s. He passed the leaf to her, and she read it. “How did this happen?”

“Upon getting adopted by Grayson Pearson and his wife, they treated me horribly. They never viewed me as a family member. Even their daughter, my adopted sister, treated me harshly. Her actions were more violent than our parents.”

Noah nodded while reading the message. He wrote again and showed it to Faith.

“Their abuse lowered your confidence, and you stayed silent. For their sake?”

Faith took the leaf, turned it over, and wrote her response. One pass to Noah and he read what she wrote.

“I had to. Compared to me, the Pearsons were beautiful and important. I lacked beauty and prominence. All I did was clean the manor. I was their sponge, absorbing their verbal abuse and violence.”

Noah shook his head with a frown. Disgust filled his lungs. Acid churned in his stomach. Rage clouded his common sense. He kept it together and wrote a message on the leaf.

“Those people. They’re not human beings! More like monsters in disguise.”

Faith nodded, her eyes filling up in tears. She, too, held it together and wrote her next message.

“Kristian Lancaster saved me from their torture. I have complete gratitude for him.”

With a smile, Noah wrote his response.

“That’s good to know, Faith Pearson.”

Faith also smiled. She wrote, “thank you, Noah.”

They fell asleep, while Kristian realized he forgot his notes at the Arrogante. Lee Edwards was probably dead from the incident. He felt bad to drag that kind sailor onto his journey. After respecting Mr. Edwards’ kindness, Kristian faced the open window. Noah’s hut blew out its lights for sleep.

‘If magic is real, it wouldn’t hurt to wish for Morgan to return to me.’

A Month Later

As promised, Noah began teaching Faith and Kristian the ritual. It involved them finding their courage, magical aura, and concentration on the water. Lots of imagery training was added to improve their concentration. Every day, they visited the beach, practicing mental imagery and finding their auras. Kristian, being the studious man, learned to catch up. He found his aura, but Noah sensed its lack of magical awareness. To help with that, Noah showed Kristian his magical aura, a bright red coat surrounding his body.

It didn’t take long for Kristian to copy Noah’s movements. A sky blue aura covered his body on the twentieth day. Faith, meanwhile, struggled to learn. Because of her mutism, Faith’s communication was limited. Noah and Kristian used dried leaves and ink to write responses to Faith. Although they were useful, when they trained, Faith couldn’t speak.

She was the only one who hasn’t found her magical aura.

It worried Noah. He understood why Faith can’t find her aura. Her family trauma had been holding her back. Courage was inside of her and Noah promised to help her unleash it. Outside of their ritual training, various reptiles attacked the three. Noah defended Faith and Kristian, though he taught them to defend themselves. Kristian was an athletic student during high school, so throwing rocks at the reptile’s eyes wasn’t hard.

Faith just hid in bushes until the reptiles and crabs disappeared. Noah cooked their meat as lunch and dinner. Over a month, Faith thought her training wasn’t working. Memories of her past surfaced. In Noah’s hut after training, Faith sat in the living quarters, head lowered and furrowed eyebrows facing the ground.

Those memories flashed through her mind. Zaria announcing how useless Faith was pierced her heart. Painful regret spread under Faith’s skin. Her parents, Eliza and Grayson scowled her for hours. More chores piled on her. Aches escalated the longer she worked. Her fingers, knees, and feet tensed from the excessive amount of chores.

She couldn’t forget how it all began…

*Ten Years Ago

Faith was only ten years old when she enjoyed her time at the orphanage. She never knew who her mother or father were, but the orphanage accepted her as their family. Occasionally, Faith helped around the building, tended to the children, and so on. One day, a couple in flashy clothes visited. An eight-year-old girl in a glittery princess gown walked beside them. The owner, a thirty-year-old man with receding brown hair, welcomed them.

A few minutes passed until the man—the husband—decided on adopting Faith. It came as a surprise. She was finally going to live a wholesome familial life. Three days after the couple’s visit, the owner wished Faith luck and a glorious future. His words became empty once Faith left the orphanage for good.

Faith stood before a giant manor, a three-story house with golden trims, marble columns, and squeaky clean tiled porches. Her heart swelled with confidence, kindness, and expectation. Then, it deflated when Grayson, her adopted father, said these words.

‘From here on, you brat, you’re going to be our servant. Don’t utter a word of defense or there’ll be consequences. Your room is the closet near the kitchen. Be graceful we’re accepting your useless ass into our prestigious family.’

She was speechless. Grayson wasn’t kidding about her living quarters. It was a clustered closet with cleaning products, wooden brooms, and dust on the floor. Faith wasn’t happy about her ‘bedroom’ but she refused to argue.

After settling her belongings as best as she could, Faith noticed a few traits about her new family. Grayson was a pompous man with a highly successful company. Pearson Enterprises was the highest grossing business in Ruport, Florida. His family had years of experience, sharing ideas with partnering companies, and donating millions of dollars. It sounded helpful through Faith’s eyes, but reality was scarier than she thought.

She, on one unexpected day, eavesdropped near Grayson’s office door. He mumbled about donating fifty-five thousand dollars to a local children’s hospital. In his perspective, Grayson hated donating money to worthless charities. However, he needed positive attention to keep his fortune.

Faith left before Grayson caught her, but that showed her how selfish he was. Next came her mother, Eliza. Her blonde hair, hourglass figure, and pale skin were gorgeous to Faith. She questioned how Eliza kept her beauty and the answer came out of nowhere.

‘It’s because of high-quality salons I visit, brat. You’ll never know what it feels like, because you’re our servant. Now leave! I have a manicure appointment in fifteen minutes.’

Eliza used her husband’s fame to get beauty products, the best kind. Hair salons, manicures, pedicures, and hot springs were her go-to places. While Grayson distracted himself in maintaining his business, Eliza wasted his earned money on her needs.

The last person Faith analyzed was her younger sister, Zaria. For an eight-year-old she looked cute. Pigtails with two pink hairbands. A princess gown straight from a Disney movie. Not to mention her pair of glittery pink slippers. With Grayson and Eliza busy, Zaria minded her own business by playing princess. Watching Zaria play pretend with her stuffed animals satisfied Faith. She wished to play with her sister, but Grayson had other plans.

‘Scrub the kitchen floor!’

‘Dust every speck of dirt in the living quarter!’

‘Make Zaria’s bed while she’s at school!’

‘If I see a smudge on any picture frame, you’re done!’

Grayson piled housework on Faith, who had little cleaning experience. At the orphanage, Faith helped wash dishes and vacuum the carpets. The chores Grayson piled onto her felt complex. Her arms throbbed by the constant broom sweeping and brush scrubbing. Sweat moistened her face. Back ached the longer she mopped every floor of the manor.

The work was tiresome, but Faith pushed on, hoping her parents would acknowledge her. But it was in vain. Grayson, despite seeing the manor stainless, mocked Faith. Same applied to Eliza and Zaria. They mocked Faith for being too plain and having the strangest features.

The staff was considerate of Faith. The maids taught her how to use each cleaning product. Butlers taught Faith how to use etiquette around visitors. If they didn’t step in, Faith would’ve had a difficult time pleasing her family.

Weeks turned into months. Months turned into years. Three years later, Faith was thirteen. She begged her father if she can enroll at middle school, but he declined the offer. Why?

‘We don’t want a silver-haired nobody ruining our reputation.’

Silver-haired nobody? The phrase lingered in Faith’s head. She didn’t nag, just fell silent from Grayson’s reply. Zaria was eleven, about to graduate from elementary school. Faith thought going to school will improve her future. It seemed Grayson or his wife don’t want Faith to get a higher education. One day, Zaria came home from school. She skipped to her bedroom, on the second floor, and noticed Faith making her bed. This upset her, as she liked to have her bed made before she returned home.

Agitated beyond any emotion, Zaria attacked Faith. The age gap didn’t matter to Zaria. Appearances and bloodline were her dominant priorities. Once a butler separated the two girls, Zaria whispered into Faith’s ear.

‘You’re nothing but trash, brat. Be a good brat and stay quiet. If anything spills from your mouth, I’ll tell Daddy to throw your pathetic butt out of our house. Hear me?’

A shove to her shoulder was the last straw. Faith fell on her back while the butler escorted Zaria to the bathroom. He healed her injuries, but when he asked Faith if she was alright…

‘...’

Utter silence was her answer. From that point on, Faith lost her speech.

After the incident, Zaria’s behavior grew sour and rotten. She copied Grayson’s and Eliza’s traits, becoming a beautiful monster. She abused Faith the most, considering her adopted sister lost her voice. When Grayson or Eliza weren’t around, Zaria messed with Faith’s cleaning, spat rude words that decreased her confidence, and hit her in sensitive places.

It continued for seven years. Seven painful years. Zaria’s negative comments. Grayson’s dominance. Eliza’s neglect. Faith lost all hope. Even though Kristian and Noah saw potential in her, Faith wouldn’t. She couldn’t. Her eyes won’t open to her life being better.

‘They are right. I’m useless. Worthless. Plain. A nobody. I can’t do anything right. I’m a failure. Life doesn’t deserve my presence.’

Noah felt a unsettling surge in his chest. He sat up, eyes wide and darting across his room. His first thought was ‘Where’s Faith?’ Footsteps receded outside. The nisant prince stuck his head out the circular window. Nighttime was a horrible time for nisants to hunt. Crabs and poisonous lizards lurked through the island. Noel made a rule that no nisant shall leave the village without a trained warrior.

‘My senses tell me Faith left the hut. That means… Oh no.’

Adrenaline coursed through Noah’s blood as he sprinted out the room, grabbed his spear, and exited the hut. He knew Faith struggled to perform the magical aura, but add her ten-year trauma, inflicted by the Pearsons, and her last decision worried Noah. He left the village, muttering how stupid he was to let Faith sleep in the living space.

“I should have made another bed! I could’ve comforted Faith! Dammit!”

Ten minutes of jogging across the island and Noah found Faith. She sat on the beachside, arms around her knees. The breeze brushed her silver hair strands. Noah scanned the beachside while approaching Faith. He pointed his spear, in case any giant crabs popped out the sand. Once the coast was clear, Noah sat next to Faith.

“Why did you leave?”

Faith sobbed. Globs of tears streaked her cheeks. Those rosy cheeks glistened under the moonlight.

“Is it because of the training? You not perfecting your magical aura?”

Faith nodded.

“Oh, you shouldn’t feel bad. Honestly, it was hard for me to find my aura. Father said your magical aura comes from your self-esteem. Your courage, your confidence, your purpose. My purpose is protecting my people. I trained every day to make my purpose into reality.”

Faith doesn’t look at Noah. Her eyes watched the ocean waves, the tips formed fluffy white sea foam.

“Kristian’s purpose is… Well, whatever. He wasn’t specific, but I feel like a special someone is his purpose.”

Special someone? Faith twisted her head, her gray eyes landing on Noah’s blue eyes. A connection sparked between them.

“Tell me, Faith. What is your purpose?”

Forty-five seconds of silence. It took forty-five seconds for Faith to muster her voice. The same voice she lost seven years ago.

“My… Purpose… Is… F-Finding my family.”

It shocked Noah. Her voice was groggy, lacking thirst.

“You want to see your family?”

“Y-Yes. M-My… T-True family.”

Then something emerged inside Noah’s head. He shouldn’t share this with Faith, but if it’d made her accept her flaws, he had to. A deep inhale, then a lengthy exhale, and Noah cleared his throat.

“There’s something I must share.”

Faith leaned against Noah’s shoulder. Warmth spread from his shoulder to hers.

“O-Okay.”

“Good. Remember what my father said about the mage and his wife discovering our people?”

Faith nodded.

“Well, before leaving, Father’s ancestor found out the mage’s wife’s secret. She forgot to tell her husband about their soon-to-be child. When she left the island, after enacting the Emerald Cay curse, she gave birth to her son. Because he looked more like her ‘ex’ husband, the wife abandoned him to a family, one who would give him love and consideration.”

Faith’s eyes widened. Goosebumps rattled her skin and muscle. Toes sunk into the grainy sand, a wave of seawater splashed over her feet. Her ankles felt a chilly vibration go up her calves.

“It’s hard to believe, but my ancestor used magic to foresee into the mage’s wife’s future. I apologize for keeping this from you. You look like the mage, so I thought you carried his potent magic.”

Noah lowered his head, buried in his knees. Faith frowned, then patted Noah’s back. A smile stretched. “I-It’s okay.”

“Really?”

“F-For most of… M-My life, I thought I was alone. T-The Pearsons… treated me like a nobody. A-A person with no purpose. B-But then… Mr. Lancaster saved me. H-He saved me from their abuse. I-I have… gratitude for him.”

That smile eased Noah’s nerves.

“I left… Y-Your hut, because my memories reminded me. T-They reminded me of how… U-Useless I was. M-My adopted family never treated me like a daughter or sister. I-It… B-Bothered… M-Me. H-Hurt my feelings.”

Faith’s eyes watered in more tears. The moonlight made them silvery gold as they streaked her cheeks.

“N-Now… I-I have a purpose.”

“And what is your purpose?”

“I-I want to have… A-A family.”

Silver aura glowed over Faith’s chest. She closed her eyes, letting more droplets of tears trickle. Rosy cheeks grew redder. Noah stood up as he watched Faith’s body glow in silvery light. “You did it. Faith, you did it!”

“H-Huh?”

Faith stood up, too, but confusion etched her face.

“You unlocked your magical aura! This is amazing!”

Before Noah could hug Faith, a gigantic screech echoed afar. Emerging from the ocean was an orange-shelled crab. Its white underbelly slammed against the wet sand. Foam spat from its mouth. Faith hid behind Noah, who picked up his spear and positioned it.

“Faith, run! I’ll take care of this!”

Without hesitation, Faith jogged away. Noah grunted, the giant crab screeched, and blood gushed. She wept, not wishing to imagine what horror Noah faced. Twenty minutes passed and Faith waited outside the village for Noah. She heard footsteps stomping in her direction.

Drenched in crab guts, Noah trudged to Faith. Her eyes watered, tears burning her cheeks. She let her tears burn those cheeks. Those tears soaked the dry soil. Emotions swelled in her chest as she hugged Noah. She doesn’t care about the rotting crab smell. Noah survived and helped her accept herself.

Kristian, who grew worried about Noah’s and Faith’s disappearance, noticed them. He wanted to follow them, but he didn’t need to. He smiled, feeling like Noah’s presence made Faith open up. The moon was full and caught Kristian’s attention. He stared at its brilliance, a gentle smirk on his face.

‘Just wait for me, Morgan.’

Two Months Later

After two months of vigorous training, Kristian and Faith found their rhythm. Thanks to Noah’s speech and support, Faith learned to speak again. It was slow, but Noah and Kristian understood Faith. Her magical aura was spectacular to Noah. It reminded him of the mage, her ancestor. Happiness motivated the nisant prince to train these humans into bringing them home.

He notified them of when they’ll perform the ritual. This divided Faith and Kristian. While Faith was glad to find her voice, she felt uncomfortable in returning home. She thought Kristian could let her live with him. But then Kristian might find another assistant. Science wasn’t Faith’s passion. Her passion was fantasy. Hearing stories of fantastical adventures excited Faith. Ever since she lost her voice and defense, Faith hid her fantasy obsession.

Until Noah and the nisants came. She resurfaced her obsession after hearing about her ancestor’s research project. If she returned to Ruport, her family will discourage her again. The dread of living as their slave chilled her blood. After training, she sat in the living area, bending over her knees.

‘What should I do? Go back to Ruport and live my miserable life with Pearsons? Or…’

Noah entered the hut with a praying mantis over his shoulder. He dragged the behemoth; a trail of transparent green goo drew on the ground. Faith gagged from the grotesque scene. Noah returned and smiled at Faith. “I’ll start a bonfire for our dinner. Huh? What’s up?”

“I-I’ve been thinking. M-Maybe I should… Stay here.”

“Stay with us?” Noah raised an eyebrow and sat next to Faith, hands over his knees. “Why?”

“M-My family might ruin my courage. T-They’ll… N-Never change once I return.”

A frown etched Noah’s face. He forgot about how Faith’s adopted family treated her. If she returned, the Pearsons will bring a worse hell upon Faith. He patted Faith’s shoulder, flipped his frown into a smile, and chuckled. “I think staying with us is the best course of action, Faith. Besides, my father likes you around.”

Faith caught Noah’s reddening cheeks. He faced the opposite, a sweatdrop trickled his right temple. “Y-You don’t mind me living in… Y-Your home?”

“Of course, Faith. I don’t want you to revert to your quiet self.”

“…”

“Don’t say more.” Noah leaned close to Faith’s shoulder.

His blue eyes bothered Faith, but not annoyingly. A rush of lust and affection heated her skin. She opened her mouth and more warmth spread under her skin. From her face, to her neck, and ending at the toes, warmth eased her nerves. Once the tingling kiss ended, Noah leaned away.

“I-I…”

“Faith, you’re the first woman—the first human—I’ve met. It would be an honor for you to stay on the Emerald Cay.”

Noah got on one knee. His forearm over his kneeling leg. This position shocked Faith, because she knew what came next. “Faith Pearson, will you marry me?”

The proposal sounded too early. She needed time to consider. Three months on the Emerald Cay taught Faith a lesson. A little courage was her savior. Noah and Kristian helped Faith understand her true character. Marriage was early, and she wasn’t ready to start a relationship. But away from Emerald Cay was a ruthless relationship Faith hated to return.

She stood up, developing tears stung her eyes. She sniffled a bit before clearing her throat. “Y-Yes!”

The two hugged, embracing in each other’s lovely warmth. Outside Noah’s hut, Kristian visited Noel’s hut. He needed to know about Morgan’s whereabouts. If the theories were right, he can save her. Noel welcomed Kristian in and provided a droplet of tea.

“A box of tea-bags landed on the beachside. Noah found it and thought I needed a pleasant drink. He was right; this blend helps my scratchy throat.”

“Good for you, Noel, but I’m here to ask.”

“Hm?”

“Do you know Morgan?”

Noel furrowed his eyebrows, a crinkle of loose skin folded between them. “Morgan?”

“Yes,” Kristian said as he lowered his head. “Morgan’s my little sister. A naïve woman with a gullible mindset. Our parents warned her several times not to listen to strangers and her stubborn thoughts led to a devastating incident. She fell in love with a young man. I don’t remember his name, but he made Morgan happy. Or so I thought.”

His frown showed a sickening sense. Noel frowned, also sensing the negativity from Kristian’s description.

“Morgan’s boyfriend was a manipulative bachelor who used her naïve personality to command her. He was a lustful tyrant. What’s worse were his affairs.”

“Affairs?”

“Yes,” Kristian nodded.

“Oh.”

“Morgan and her boyfriend got on a cruise ship. She said her goodbyes to us. I didn’t tell her the truth.”

“And what happened?”

Kristian choked on his tears and regret.

“News spread of a cruise liner sinking. Morgan and her backstabbing boyfriend were on that ship.”

A memory of a news reporter discussing the tragic incident flashed in Kristian’s head. His family was in the living quarters when the television showed the news channel. The news reporter wasn’t lying. The cruise ship Morgan and her lover were on sunk. Records of what happened or what caused the sinking were a mystery.

Kristian’s heart pounded. It felt like it wanted none of his escalated nerves. His hormones were through the roof. “The incident changed me. Morgan was my precious sister. I should have told her the truth about her boyfriend. Before they left. How idiotic I was.”

He couldn’t stop the sadness from leaking out. Tears stung his eyes. He hunched forward, covered his face with his forearms, and let those tears drip. Noel moaned, now understanding Kristian’s question. He felt a similar incident. Noah and a distant relative were hunting for dinner. A giant lizard ambushed them. They ran back to the village, but Noah’s cousin went missing. Noel, while in his prime, sprinted out of the village for his nephew.

When he found the giant lizard, pieces of loincloth littered the moist soil. He knew the creature ate him. He wished to gut that lizard’s stomach open, cover himself in blood. But at what cost? It wouldn’t bring his relative back.

“Mr. Lancaster? Your sister is safe. Wherever she is, I’m sure she’s safe. You don’t need to search for her.”

“How would you know?”

Kristian’s red-rimmed eyes glanced at Noel.

“I’d lost a relative years ago. Noah was a little boy, learning to hunt his prey. He had a close relative. He treated him like a little brother. I treated him like a second son. Then a lizard gobbled him up. We lost a special boy, but I’d learned to remember his spirit lived up there.”

Noel pointed to the hut’s dome-shaped ceiling.

“He’s…”

“Whenever I think about my relative, I know he’s safe. Perhaps your little sister is safe, too.”

The researcher noticed Noel’s smile. It looked like a fatherly gesture. He wasn’t sad about losing a special someone. Death was inevitable, but holding onto grief and trying to fix what can’t be fixed would corrupt him. Kristian sighed. “Thanks for the discussion, Noel.”

“You’re very welcome, Mr. Lancaster.”

The Next Day

Noah, Noel, Kristian, and Faith arrived on the beachside. Today was the preparation for the ritual. Months of training led them up to this moment. Kristian approached the shore, feet sinking into the drenched sand. The grains stuck into his toes, but Kristian paid no attention. He allowed the grains of sand to touch his soles. He took deep breaths, each breath filled his lungs. Sweeping his arms overhead, he clapped.

“By the power of the nisants, let my magical aura open a gateway!”

He pointed his clasped hands to the sea. A swirl emerged from its surface. It grew bigger, a translucent green glow flashed in the middle. Faith watched with awe-inspired eyes. It glimmered when she saw a whirlpool, the same one that trapped her and Kristian on Emerald Cay, appeared.

“You’re doing it!”

“Excellent. The whirlpool is open for five minutes. You must jump in. But be warned, Mr. Lancaster. Since you’re a non-magical user, the ritual might disfigure your body.”

“Disfigure?”

Kristian faced a questionable expression to Noel. The nisant king scratched the back of his graying hair. “I forgot to mention the aftermath that changed the mage’s life. Upon performing the ritual and jumping into the whirlpool, the mage lost his humanity. The ritual transformed him into a mindless monster, a creature beyond reality or fiction.”

Fear eclipsed Kristian’s thoughts. If jumping into the whirlpool meant becoming a monster, so be it. He nodded, which caught Noel and Noah off guard. “You’re seriously going to jump?”

“Yes. I’d learned to forget the past. Move on with my life. Make the future a better tomorrow.”

He faced the ocean, his eyes focused on the whirlpool. There were three minutes left. Faith approached Kristian. “K-Kristian?”

“Yes, Faith?”

“C-Can you make a promise?”

“Huh?”

“I-I want my adopted family to suffer.”

The favor came unexpectedly. Faith’s face didn’t hold the timid version Kristian knew. In its place was a wrathful gesture of revenge. Earlier, Faith decided to stay on the Emerald Cay. It made sense, as she didn’t want to return to that despicable family.

“Of course, Faith. Whether I survive the ritual, I’ll keep that promise.”

Faith smiled, then hugged Kristian.

“G-Good luck, Kristian.”

“Same to you, Faith.”

Running out of time, Kristian thanked Noah and Noel and sprinted to the whirlpool. He jumped head first. The whirlpool’s speed made him dizzy. His ears lost all hearing. Water moistened his rotting clothes, his dried hair, and parched skin. Months on a fantastical island must have opened Kristian’s eyes.

He doesn’t need research to feel successful. His purpose is to better the future. Improve lives for everyone in Ruport. Maybe even the world. He truly wished Morgan was safe. Her petite figure, burnt orange hair, and apricot skin popped into his mind.

‘When I’m sad, upset, or lonely, I’ll think of you. My precious sister.’

Part Three: Peace To The Future

Five Years Later

Ruport, Florida

DNA Inc., CEO’s Office

“You can bring them in, please.”

A secretary guided a gray-haired man, a skimpy woman, and an overweight woman to the CEO’s office. Grayson sat on the biggest chair he found. He grunted, facing a reclining wheelie chair behind a maple-wood desk. His wife, Eliza, struggled to sit her skinny behind on the second largest chair. Their daughter, Zaria, also struggled to fit her wide butt in the chair.

The arm handles broke once she sat down. Followed by the arm handles, the legs broke from Zaria’s weight. A thud vibrated the office.

The sunlight reflected its beams onto Zaria’s greasy black hair. Grayson mumbled under his breath about how his daughter became a fast-foot addict. It deformed her appealingly beautiful body. The secretary said to the CEO about his lawyer arriving soon. “Wait, lawyer!?”

Eliza coughed, her hand catching foamy saliva. Five years of taking diet tips had corrupted her body. Her pale skin stretched to ridiculous lengths. Even her face looks monstrous. Zaria stood up, but had some difficulty, considering her two-hundred and twenty-five pound weight. A couple minutes of silence later, a chocolate-skinned woman wearing a light gray tailor suit marched into the office.

She held a clipboard in her firm hands. The lady stood next to the wheelie chair, then faced the Pearsons. “Are you the goddamn lawyer?”

“Yes, I’m Ms. Moore, personal lawyer of DNA Inc. It’s best to keep your profanities at average, sir.”

“Aw fuck you!” Grayson leaned forward, his face gradually turning red. “I don’t give a fuck about what I say! All I care about is the cancellation of the project Mr. Lancaster made! Five years ago, he erased the project after surviving a storm. That fucking storm made him change his mind and I won’t accept it! Because of the change, I lost fifty-million dollars!”

The reason behind the meeting was for Grayson to bitch about Kristian’s last-minute decision. Since the project’s discontinuation, Grayson worked his employees harder. He became too busy to realize what his wife and daughter were doing. Eliza bought illegal Botox from Guatemala. Her ambitions were to make herself prettier, prettier than her own daughter.

To make sure her goals were complete, Eliza manipulated Zaria into eating fast food. It happened after Zaria applied for college.

Ms. Moore cleared her throat. It was loud enough for Grayson to stop complaining. She leaned over, eyes shifted to the man sitting in the wheelie chair. “Sir, it seems they don’t understand the true meaning of this discussion.”

“You’re right, Ms. Moore.”

The chair spun around. Grayson, Eliza, and Zaria stiffened. The CEO was Kristian. He had a stubble on his square jawline. His hair was longer, parted diagonally. A fancier tailor suit made him rich. Grayson grunted, completely jealous of Kristian’s presence. “Y-You’re the president of DNA Inc.?”

“Yes, Mr. Pearson. Four years ago, I replaced the original president. A lot of thinking occurred to me and I changed DNA Inc. to support mythical islands. Now, the company has teamed up with Ruport’s most successful businesses. Except for Pearson Enterprises.”

Grayson leaned far away from the chair’s base. A frown stared at Kristian. “Why aren’t you contracting us?”

“That’s easy. Me, Ms. Moore, and a talented detective agency found interesting details about your family.”

“Details?”

“For instance, you’ve committed embezzlement, employee harassment, and child abuse. Remember Faith Pearson?”

Zaria snorted upon hearing her adopted sister’s name. She crossed her fatty arms and smirked at Kristian. “Is my useless sister alive?”

“Yes, Faith is living a happy life with the nisants. She’s married to Noah, who just became the ruler of his people. Let his father rest in—”

“Wait, wait, wait! Aren’t the nisants a part of your project?”

Kristian chuckled, then folded his forearms on the desk’s glossy surface. “Yes, they were, but my discovery and their humanistic common sense changed my perspective. I wanted to research them, get close to finding my sister, Morgan. But Noel, the deceased nisant king, taught me to forget my goals and focus on what mattered. My purpose is perfecting the future for both mythical creatures and humans.”

Grayson scoffed. He stood up, marched a couple of paces, and slammed his hands on the desk. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about your psychological crap! We came here for the money!”

“Wait, I’m not done with my discovery, Mr. Pearson. While your crimes are atrocious, your wife’s is slightly worse.”

Grayson pointed his agitated gaze at Eliza. Her stretched out face turned pale and thick coats of sweat glistened it.

“Eliza had been buying illegal Botox from Guatemala behind your back. Each prescription bottle costs $10,000. She’s been buying them for six months. For each monthly payment, Eliza has a gigantic debt of $60,000.”

Grayson’s eyes widened. Eliza shivered in her seat, mouth agape and teeth chattering.

“You did all that to become prettier. And you were jealous of your daughter’s natural beauty. How Zaria became a blob is because you’ve fed her fast food for dinner. What’s worse is how Zaria behaves at college.”

Kristian’s serious expression faced Zaria. The confidence she expressed earlier was gone. Zaria quivered in one spot, her thighs chaffing.

“The detective found her grades failing. Not only that, but Zaria’s been abusing her classmates, just to feel superior. Outside of campus, Zaria overspends her parents’ money on Burger King Jr.’s and McRonald’s food.”

Both Grayson and Eliza gasped. Zaria shrunk after Kristian revealed her secret. Her confidence shrunk, too, never to surface. Kristian cleared his throat and leaned into his chair.

“What do our actions mean, Mr. Lancaster?”

Worry plastered Grayson’s rigid face. Eliza’s face sunk. The Botox she implied wore off. Her skin became saggy. She looked like a sad pug. Zaria’s chubby face shifted to a sickly blue color. What came out of Kristian’s mouth began their demise.

“I’m saying Pearson Enterprises won’t be our child company. I’ll buy it. A hundred million dollars exactly.”

He clasped his fingers over his lap. Grayson stuttered, his breath wheezing and face becoming paler. “B-Buy my company!?”

“On top of that. Ms. Moore?”

Ms. Moore stepped to Grayson, who hunched over and sulked. “For employee harassment, embezzlement of over four child companies, child neglect, child abuse, and spousal neglect, the charges are $1.5 million dollars and three years in jail.”

“T-Three years in jail!?”

“Affirmative, and you’ll also do communal service while attending jail-time. The best occupation for your punishment is grunt-work at a rundown department.”

The once prideful Grayson fell silent. Dominance, financial success, and power disappeared in one swoop. The man collapsed in his seat, slouching off. Ms. Moore pointed her terrifying gaze at Eliza. When she twisted her turkey neck, skin clapped against each fold.

“Mrs. Pearson? For smuggling illegal Botox into Florida State perimeters, child abuse, child neglect, and staff harassment, your charges are $90,000 and five years in prison. You’ll also enact communal service as a maid. I must warn you, miss,” Ms. Moore said as she leaned over Eliza’s saggy face. A menacing smirk sketched her oval-shaped face. “The maid service is ruthless in their demands and performances. It’s best to abandon your luxurious life and housewife duties. Not like your housewife skills will come in handy. All you’ve been doing is spending on beauty products and belittling butlers and maids alike. These punishments fit you.”

Eliza cried. The eye shadow and eyeliner liquified and trickled down her thin cheeks. Ms. Moore landed on her last target, Zaria. The overweight woman shivered harder, skin turned blue, and sweat soaked her attire. “Mrs. Zaria Pearson? I’ll announce this before I list your crimes and charges. Grayson Pearson is not your father. Eliza had an affair with a man. They hit it and Eliza conceived you. To hide the secret, Eliza pretended you were Grayson’s daughter.”

The discovery of not being related to Grayson shocked Zaria. Her heavy knees hammered the floor, shaking the room slightly.

“For physical, emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse, your charges are $30,000.”

“T-Thirty-thousand!?”

“One of your classmates is the daughter of a publishing company’s CEO. This is her, right?”

Ms. Moore showed a picture of a brown-haired girl with circular glasses, freckles on her cheeks, and an angular-shaped head. Zaria, while tears streaked her rounded cheeks, nodded. “You harassed her so much that she dropped out of college last month. She reported the incidents to her father. He’s suing you for emotional damage. Plus, the additional $27,000 is for your constant abuse of your adopted sister, Faith Pearson. You won’t be going to jail, like your mother and ‘father,’ but the college will kick you out.”

Sobs escaped Zaria’s greasy lips. She covered her wobbly face, her rotund back bouncing from each sob. Eliza also cried, her wails sounded like an injured banshee. Grayson joined in on the wailing and cried his emotions out.

After a while, the secretary escorted the defeated Pearsons out of Kristian’s office. He chuckled with a satisfied grin. “Thank you, Ms. Moore.”

“Pleasure to assist you, Mr. Lancaster. Being a succubus has been rough, but since Ruport has accepted our kind, I feel better.”

“By the way, you weren’t kidding about Zaria not being Grayson’s daughter.”

“No, I wasn’t. Eliza slept with a millionaire in Georgia. Nine months later, according to Eliza, she gave birth to Zaria and kept her DNA a secret from Grayson. She could’ve gone with her estranged lover, but Grayson’s wealth was better.”

“Well, the Pearsons won’t bother anyone.”

Ms. Moore left the office. Kristian stared at the ceiling, content with achieving his purpose. He made Ruport an open community for mythical creatures. Ms. Moore, a succubus, thanked him for accepting her family. They lived fruitful lives because of him.

A thought of Faith passed through him. He should visit the Emerald Cay. Check on how she and Noah were. With a determined smile, Kristian prepared for his departure.

Five Hours Later

Kristian’s study of magic had allowed him to visit the Emerald Cay. The curse was still active, but through the ritual, any human can visit the island without worrying about mutating into a monster. Once he landed on the island, the raft driver parked along the shoreline. He climbed down, feet sinking inches into the sand.

The briny breeze soothed his skin, nerves, and hair. He walked across the beach until a familiar voice chimed. “Kristian!”

Faith, now wearing a beige loincloth around her waist and tight leaf bra, sprinted towards Kristian. The two hugged in one’s embrace. “Faith!”

“It’s so nice to see you again!”

Her vocabulary and speech had improved over five years. The trauma she experienced with the Pearsons had vanished. Noah helped her channel her magical aura, grew stronger physically, and hunt larger animals. Their relationship grew a bond that Noah enjoyed. They got married two years ago, then Noel passed away three months later.

They had a memorable funeral, remembering a great man with wise thoughts. Speaking of Noah, he walked to Faith. His muscular frame had that stone-hard look.

“Noah!” Kristian and Noah shook hands, biceps bulging and veins popping.

“I see your magical aura’s been improving, Kristian.”

“I’ve been practicing since I began a new project.”

“Yes, your project. It allowed my race to explore the human world without feeling threatened. Thank you, Mr. Lancaster.”

Noah bowed down before Kristian. The gesture was too embarrassing for Kristian to accept. “Alright, alright, enough chivalry. So, about your child.”

Those eyebrows pressured Faith to speak up. She inhaled, exhaled, and squealed. “We just have our baby boy.”

“Oh, a son?”

“I’d named him after my late cousin, Natt.”

The three had a joyous time together until Kristian returned to the Arrogante Plus. He promised to return to check on Natt. “Let the better future guide us, Kristian!”

“Of course, Faith! Let the better future guide us all!”

Epilogue

Three Years Later

Grayson Pearson…

Three years flew by and Grayson left Ruport Prison. Despite doing communal service during his jail-time, Grayson had half a million dollars in his debt. Ms. Moore suggested he live in a shabby apartment called Shady Tree Apartments, so he can save money on living expenses. He had no choice, because his debt prevented him from starting a new business.

Lately, Grayson still worked at the rundown department, cleaning corridors as a custodian. The employees were aware of Grayson’s previous actions and mocked him for it. It was a taste of karma for him.

Eliza Pearson…

Eliza was still in prison, but her communal service was horrible. She hadn’t worked in her life. Her family wasn’t too well-off, but Eliza used her parents’ money to live luxuriously. Her previous relationship with the Georgia millionaire years ago returned to haunt her.

It turned out his wife found out about their affair and sued Eliza. The total compensation was $30,000. Add that to the $90,000 she had for smuggling illegal Botox, child abuse, and child neglect, and her debt was in the hundred-thousands. Until she’s released from jail, she continued to work as a maid on the weekends. The maid service Ms. Moore suggested was ruthless.

The employees, like with Grayson’s workplace, were bullies. Every time Eliza complained about her back aching or how cleaning was boring, the employees belittled her. One employee, who revealed herself to be a family member of the drug organization, warned Eliza never to complain. That organization took responsibility in selling illegal Botox to Eliza.

With nowhere to go or hide, Eliza accepted her poor fate. Nowadays, the twenty-four-seven cleaning occupation had worn out Eliza’s beauty. She looked like a pale skeleton whenever clients saw her.

Zaria Pearson…

The college Zaria enrolled saw her misdeeds, plus her abuse of the publishing company’s CEO’s daughter. In conclusion, the dean expelled Zaria and apologized to the publishing company on her behalf. Even though she didn’t go to jail, Zaria still had a hefty debt of $30,000. She forced herself to rent a condo at Shady Tree Apartments, the same building her ‘father’ was. Similar to her mother, Zaria hadn’t worked in her life, only using her parents’s money to laze without punishment.

Without them, Zaria struggled to find a job. She found one, but the workplace was more toxic than the businesses Grayson’s or Eliza’s were. The CEO was a scummy man with a distaste for overweight women. He bullied Zaria for being too clumsy and fat. The constant bullying caused Zaria to go mute.

Out of the Pearsons’ fates, Zaria was the most symbolic. She became mute, just like how she forced Faith to lose her voice.

Kristian Lancaster…

After becoming DNA Inc.’s president, Kristian kept his purposeful goal of transforming Ruport into an open community for fantastical species. He used his intellect to publish a book called ‘Magical Aura: How to Find Your Purpose.’ It became a best-seller within months. People loved Kristian’s book, that they improved self-esteem and practiced magic from trained wizards and witches.

Pearson Enterprises, after being sold by Kristian, became a safer workplace without Grayson’s tyrannical traits souring its employees. Kristian’s next project is creating a protective barrier in case natural disasters spread, destroying parts of Ruport. Occasionally, Kristian visited the Emerald Cay and talked with Faith and Noah. He became a friendly uncle to Natt, their son.

Faith and Noah…

Faith officially became the nisant queen after conceiving a child with Noah. She changed the village to evolve, such as introducing the children to educational systems. Faith also opened an orphanage for any lost children from nearby islands.

Noah, meanwhile, became a loyal ruler amongst his people. He signed treaties to nearby islands, forming bonds with discovered species. He also developed his friendship with Kristian, whether he visited the Emerald Cay.

His fatherly duties to Natt had softened his warrior’s heart, but he didn’t care. As long as Faith and his son were alright, Noah felt content.

Meadow Islands

“Ah. Good morning, Carlton.”

“Good mornin’, Morgan. How are you feelin’ today?”

“Fine, as always. Getting ready for work?”

“Yeah, a caterpillar needs to preserve our food supply and teach the next generation.”

“Hmhmhm, go ahead, sweetie.”

“Okay, Morgan. Be sure to stay safe.”

“Got it!”

Squeak-Slam!

‘Kristian? Just that you know, I’m doing alright.’

The End.