The
concert went well with no mishaps.
Of course, Gene and Paul kept a look out for Sabrina. Both of them hoping she would not show
up but just a little sad when she did not. They had grown to care for the faerie
princess in the short time they had known her. Each was anxious to get back to the
castle to see her.
On
the trip back to Castle McGregor they passed through a small town, which appeared
to be having some sort of fair. The
sign over the library building said ‘Princess Sabrina
Exhibit’.
“Daddy,”
Sophie exclaimed. “Can we
stop? I want to see what they say
about Sabrina.”
It
was unanimous, they all wanted to see the exhibit dedicated to Sabrina. Gene was wondering how anyone knew about
her since Michael tried so hard to keep her hidden from humans.
They
entered the library and were greeted by a statue that was titled
‘Princess Sabrina’.
“That
is not Sabrina.” Evan stated loudly.
“Evan,
you are in a library. You need to
talk quietly.” Admonished his father.
“He
is right Paul. That doesn’t
look like Sabrina.” Nick
addressed all the adults. He
continued, “Sabrina has long hair and her wings are flowing not little
like those.”
A
librarian came over to the group.
“Can I help you?”
“We
are just interested in your exhibit on Sabrina.”
“Yes,
it is a good exhibit if I do say so myself.” The librarian smiled as she looked up at
the statue.
“But
it is all wrong.” Sophie interrupted. “Look at this picture. Sabrina has long brown hair not short
blond hair. And she does not wear
green, she wears lavender.”
“Americans.”
The librarian said in disgust as she walked away to speak to her co-worker.
“I
think we better leave before they throw us out.” Paul told the
group. The adults all agreed and
pulled the children out as all three continued to tell the adults that the
exhibit was wrong.
“Maybe
we should hurry back to the castle.” Gene seemed a bit worried. He could not shake the feeling that
something was wrong. Why was there
an exhibit to Sabrina? How did
these people know about her? He had
to get back to talk to Michael and Lady Kathryn.
The
limousine finally pulled into the drive for Castle McGregor, but something was
definitely wrong. The drive had
potholes and was in disrepair.
‘There were no potholes when we left.’ Gene was getting more worried.
The
limousine stopped in front of the castle and when the occupants climbed out
they just stared. Long green ivy
covered the walls of the castle.
The windows were broken and dirty.
The garden was overgrown with weeds. It looked like it had not been
occupied for years. For hundreds of
years.
“Sabrina!”
Sophie screamed as she scrambled for the faded wooded front door. “It will not open. Daddy, the door will not open, open it
for me I have to find Sabrina.”
Sophia was crying.
Gene
went to the door and looked at the rusted door handle. ‘What happened here?’ Gene tried the door and after shoving he
finally got it open. They entered
the foyer to find it filled with cobwebs and dirt. The adults all looked at each other with
confusion.
“What
happened? Where is Sabrina?”
Sophie was crying still.
“I
don’t know what happened.” Gene said running his had through his
hair.
“The
wishes.” All three adults
simultaneously remembered the unused wishes that King Greagoir
had given them.
“I
wish Lady Kathryn and Michael were here.”
“You
returned.” It was Lady
Kathryn. “She always believed
you would.”
“Lady
Kathryn, what happened here? Where
is Sabrina?”
“Sabrina
is in the library.” Was all Lady Kathryn would say.
Michael
led the way and opened the door to the library. Just like the foyer, the library was
filled with cobwebs and dust. In
her favorite spot on the windowsill lay a statue.
Evan
walked over to the statue, “It’s Sabrina!” He exclaimed.
“It
can’t be Sabrina. Maybe a
statue that looks like her, like the ones at the library.” Paul tried to
explain.
“No,
it is Sabrina. Look.” Evan pointed to the form lying on the
windowsill.
As they
each got closer they saw the faerie princess lying on her stomach with her hand
lying on the windowsill next to her face and clutched in her hand was a
yellowed, worn picture. A picture
of Gene, Paul, Shannon, Nick, Sophie, and Evan. It was the picture Evan had given her
for her birthday.
“She
always believed you would return.” Lady Kathryn told the assembled group
again. “She waited.”
“I
don’t understand…what happened?” Paul was studying the face
of Sabrina, of the statue, which was Sabrina.
“Time
does not stand still for faeries.”
Michael told them.
“Too many people do not believe and the faeries have moved
on.”
“You
mean she’s dead?” Evan’s lips quivered.
“Oh
no. She is not dead.” Lady
Kathryn knelt in front of the boy.
“She has just moved on to another place.”
“Is
she happy?” Nick asked.
“Yes,
she is happy.” Lady Kathryn smiled.
Evan
went over to the statue and caressed Sabrina’s wing the way Lady Kathryn
had shown him the night they first met Sabrina.
There
was a sigh that came from the statue startling everyone.
“She
is very happy, Evan.” Lady
Kathryn stood next to the boy.
“She is with her family now and she will not be parted from them
again.”
“Is
she still big?” Sophie asked holding back her tears.
“No,
she is the size she should have always been.” Michael joined his wife.
“We
should go.” Gene told them.
“We cannot stay here now.
Lady Kathryn, I know you didn’t want people to see Sabrina, but
there was an exhibit to her in town.”
“I
can explain,” Michael jumped into the conversation. “Sabrina is a local legend. Actually, many people know the story of
the faerie princess who grew to human size. We just did not want anyone to see her
and then cause problems for the faeries.”
“That
makes sense, but the exhibit is wrong.” Paul said shaking his head.
“But
how can you prove that?” Michael smiled.
“Point
taken. I guess it really is time to
go.” Gene said looking from
Michael to Sabrina.
Paul
walked over to Sabrina and using his wish, he kissed the statue on top of her
head, “I wish you much happiness, Princess.”
Gene
looked over at the statue lying there on the windowsill. He walked over and rubbing the spot on
her back between her wings, “I wish there to be no evil demons in your
life.” He wiped away tears before anyone could see.
“Would
you like to see her one last time?” Lady Kathryn inquired.
“Can
we?” Evan asked.
“Come
outside.” Lady Kathryn led
them to the window in the front of the castle. She waved her hand and the ivy parted
revealing the inside of the library.
Each
one crowded in front of the window to see Sabrina flying around the room
playing chase with Thaddeus. There
was Breanna and their children trying to catch their
father. King Greagoir
and Queen Leanna were watching the spectacle. King Seamus and
Queen Fiona were laughing at the antics of their grandchildren. In mid flight Sabrina stopped and flew
to the window. She saw the
children. She waved and
smiled. Thaddeus was at her side
waving too. Evan, Sophie, and Nick
smiled and waved to Thaddeus and the Princess.
When
Sabrina saw Paul she flew closer to the window and motioned for him to come
closer. He came up to the window
and Sabrina kissed the window in the same place his lips were.
A
look of surprise came over Paul, “I felt that.”
“Magic.”
The word was like a whisper.
Sabrina
waved one last time to her friends and went back to playing chase with Thaddeus
and his family. The ivy covered the
window again.
“She
will be all right now. She is with
her family and we will always be here to watch over her.” Michael told them.
“I
still do not understand, Lady Kathryn.
How did this happen?”
“The
spell Aghamore put on Sabrina had a catch to it. It said that she would grow to the size
of a human and because she would have to live with humans that she would
actually become human.” Lady
Kathryn continued, “But because she was kept away from humans that did
not happen.”
“How
did she become faerie size again?”
“All
of you did that.” Lady Kathryn told them.
Multiple
voices echoed, “How?”
“You
lived in her house, she was exposed to humans. The good and evil.” Michael explained.
Everyone
looked at Gene when he mentioned evil.
“I
am not evil.” Gene pouted.
“She
had an adventure and got into trouble just like a human. She did not like the consequences of her
adventure and wanted to be a real faerie.
That broke the spell and you have seen the result.” Lady Kathryn finished the story.
“Lady
Kathryn,” Nick began.
“It is you and Michael who have taken care of Sabrina all these
years isn’t it? I mean it was
not your ancestors, it really was you, right?”
Lady
Kathryn took her husband’s hand; they smiled at the boy, waved to all,
and then disappeared before their eyes.
A
shocked Gene looked at Paul and Shannon.
At first they could not speak, finally Gene uttered, “I think we
should leave now.”
As
they were climbing back into the limo they heard Lady Kathryn say, “Do
not forget Sabrina. Do not forget
The Last Faerie Princess.”
*********