An elf is as quick as a human is strong--
Who can learn magic the whole day long
And not cast a spell from curious hands,
While the small, the elfin soul swells and grows to
Go beyond the Goddess' commands.
--verse from Tadashi's "possible" Book of Shadows
Pearl woke up early. Usually she would have yawned and rolled over, but today she heard loud footsteps thundering down the hall. She sat up and frowned. Hajime? The ritual's happening already?
She sat up and slid into a corner to change her clothes— this time sporting a sleeveless black dress with an orange scarf. She frowned at her reflection. Such an outfit felt too cheerful— almost Halloweenish. But she had packed it with the hopes of attending some fancy event: the Imperial wedding, perhaps. Oof! She cringed at the thought of it. Poor Princess Achara. Poor Prince Hinata. Wait, why am I feeling sorry for…?
"Me."
Pearl jumped and squealed at the deep voice. It curved into a soft, rippling laugh; she whirled around and saw a tall, strong figure wearing all black, and a dark-gray veil over its face. Heavy breathing made the fabric dance around its lips.
"Thanks to you and Tadashi," he snarled, "I've been cut off from this world's riches. That's fine by me— who needs a throne anyway?" He stepped closer to Pearl. "All a man needs is a good woman to hold him close."
"I am not your woman!"
"You're closer than you think."
Before Pearl could react, he jabbed a long silver needle into her arm. She winced at the sudden pain, before recoiling.
"That contains a special antidote," he snapped, "Especially formulated by me. You see, I am not so ignorant in the world of witchcraft! I couldn't bear to give you the same fate as your father…." She heard a smile. "Now, could I?"
Pearl's stomach dropped.
"My father…what are you…?"
"Your grandma, your dad…you won't care in a few minutes! Once the antidote activates, you will fall madly in love with me— and only me!"
Pearl held her breath. Time was her biggest enemy now. But what could she do in such a short span of time?! There was no way she could melt the iron of his veins, freeze the fire of his skin, crush the steel of his heart...but she had to try.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it-- tempted to text Tadashi. He said, if I needed something..... She shook her head. Later-- if I live until then.
"I really love you," cried the Prince, yanking the veil off of his head, "I'm willing to change my face and wander this earth alone-- all for you!"
Pearl froze. This couldn't be the same man. No. His face was no longer rugged and handsome, but narrow, with bulging brown eyes and an upturned crescent of a nose-- divided by two long, oval nostrils. His lips were plumped into a soft pout as pale greasy skin was stretched like rubber over hard, jagged cheekbones. She tried not to cringe.
"I did this so no one would recognize me," he snapped, "They can't exactly see their Prince wandering the streets."
"Of course not," Pearl replied, "You killed Princess Achara."
"Thanks to the Flesh-Fleeing ointment, I left no fingerprints!"
"But you said...!"
"I am a wizard. I didn't want to intimidate you, see?"
Pearl felt her muscles soften as she faced him. Part of her felt sorry for him; all his life, he'd been seen as a prop, an actor in his parents' Imperial play. Of course he didn't want to marry Achara; he was forced to, for photographs that would be trapped behind the cold castle walls. Of course he was angry at his parents, they saw him as the sharp hook that could pierce the biggest fish. They wanted to lose themselves among the breathless flailing of money. But did he?
"Your antidote's setting in," he soothed, brushing a hand over her cheek, "You look tired-- so relaxed. You should lie down."
Pearl yawned. Her eyes stung, as she felt the sudden urge to close them. She staggered; the only destination that sounded good was a soft, warm bed.
"I-I...guess I am."
He wrapped a hand around hers.
"Here, let me take you...."
Yes! Warmth seeped into her heart. Her chest heaved forth slow, shivering breaths. Ah, he's so handsome, ah, he's so kind…!
Pearl tumbled into him, wrapping her arms around his warm, cloaked body. He chuckled coolly as she tipped her head back, allowing her soft brown waves to cascade under her like mountain streams.
"Ah, you're so handsome," she purred, "Kiss me! Kiss me! Kiss me!"
He bent forward and pecked her three times— twice on the throat, and once on the mouth.
"Now kiss me, darling," he soothed.
She bent forward and kissed his lips. They were dry and crinkled , tasting like a peach that had been left in the sun. She gasped as nausea soured her stomach.
Ah, the antidote…!
"I-I don't know what came over me," she yawned, "I'm so tired."
She reached for a nearby red candle and small clay bowl. The Prince frowned.
"You're not planning anything, are you?"
"No. I just...I find looking at candles…relax…before I…sleep."
"Now?" he demanded, "We're warmer and more relaxed hugging each other."
Pearl yawned again, trying not to laugh..
"I told you, I'm tiiiiired."
"Then come on! There ought to be a spare bed around here."
She staggered toward the candle. As the flame flickered, she dug her fingers deep into the hard crimson wax, until she formed a small ball in her hand. She held it to the candlelight, then brought it to her face. Her heart raced. What am I doing...he's so kind, he's so kind...!
"Pearl-Sama, I'm waiiiiting," he called in a singsong voice.
Oh, God, I can't look...! She eyed the skull- shaped wax in her hand, took a deep breath, and recalled Grandma Bathilde's words:
"Remember, the skull shaped by a witch's hand, is strong enough to burn the land!"
Pearl threw it at the Prince's neck, before stumbling until she fell on her back. He screamed. Her stomach churned at the hideous sound-- it was so hoarse, so hard and drawn-out she knew he was dying.
"Pearl," called Hajime, "Pearl, we need...!"
He rushed into the room, jaw dropping. As she wobbled to her feet, she heard a loud, sharp clatter. So sharp she jumped.
"Oh," Hajime choked, "Oh, Pearl, what...?"
Pearl stumbled toward the doorway. She looked down at the sleeve of the Prince's long, black cloak. Her heart skipped a beat; there was no muscular arm, but a long, white-gold limb of bone.
"P-Pearl," Hajime quavered, adjusting his glasses, "What did you do?"
She didn't answer; she couldn't. She searched for the Prince's face, as if to confirm this. Bone! All the jagged peaks and valleys of icy white bone! A warm tear slid down her cheek. Gone was the man who gave her snacks and a show. Gone was the man who said her name was lovely and called her interesting. Gone was the idea of a Prince Charming.
Oh, I wanted a story, she thought, I never wanted him— only the glittering mask that shrouded the rotting darkness within.
Zzzt! The radio shrieked on. Past bubbling static, a clear, high-pitched voice emerged, singing:
"Les oiseaux dans la charmiiiille
Dans les cieux l'astre du jour...."
The Doll Song from Tales of Hoffmann! Pearl thought, vaguely recognizing it, Is that Princess Achara's voice? When I listened to her music, it sounded just like...!
"Pearl," Hajime cried, his mouth wobbling into a soft-lipped grin, "I-I'm proud of you."
Pearl gazed closer at the skeleton. When she bent forward, there were no eyes but the endless blue-black hollows of a young man's skull.
XXX
The rose yawned slowly. Her pale-pink petals unfurl into the light-gold morning glow, so the wispy red nest of veins was visible. Silver dewdrops shimmered from each plump lip, tumbling into the soft brown earth where they shattered into a million oceans.
--from the journal of Pearl Solstice
Amma dabbed more tears from her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. This plump, Japanese half-elf man tapped a finger against her dead Professor, until deep-green beams glimmered from his fingers and deep into the crevices of the Professor's pasty, shriveled skin.
Soon enough, Professor Solstice swelled back into his kindly, corpulent self.
"Ah?" he asked, slowly standing up, "What happened? Where was I?"
As Amma squealed and enveloped him in her arms, Zell shrugged and gestured toward the young man.
"You'd better ask Tadashi."
A stocky woman darted over. Her square face was tired, but when she saw Tadashi, her eyes bulged.
"Oh...." gasped Hoshiko, clutching her heart, "Oh, my son...!"
Tadashi blinked.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
"I...I didn't think you could. Hardly anyone can...revive the dead!"
"But he wasn't dead."
"What are you talking about? He looked dead to me."
"To the mortal eye, he looked dead," Tadashi explained, "But the Prince used the Half-Death magic that deceives someone into thinking he was dead."
"For what?" Zell asked, "To torture Amma?"
Tadashi nodded. His mother smiled gently and set a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Tadashi," she breathed, "I...I know I don't say it enough, but I really am proud of you."
"Not as proud if I could buy you a steak."
"That doesn't matter. Not anymore. To raise the dead is better than eating a dead hunk of flesh!"
Tadashi chuckled, and his mother chuckled back.
"D-Domo arigato," Amma said, bowing low. Really, she couldn't thank them enough, but now she was kicking herself for not learning more Japanese.
Tadashi and his mother nodded towards her.
"She would say more, if she could speak better Japanese," Zell explained.
"I see," Hoshiko replied.
Tadashi turned toward the inn.
"See? We're already up the hill. Pearl's in there, right?"
"I-I would think so," Professor Solstice quavered.
"The Prince must be in there, too," Tadashi added, "But I think Pearl's okay…I can feel it."
As Zell translated to Amma, the Professor gripped the younger man by the shoulders.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his chin twitching, "I…I know that evil thing cursed me, and you think, since she's in there…!"
"She's safe."
"Huh? Don't be fresh with…!"
He whirled toward the inn. One room on the second floor caught his eye with its open blinds and bright-gold lamp. In bed lay a familiar fat old witch, and across from her stood a tall female figure with glossy brown hair.
"Pearl!" he cried, his mouth falling open, "But how did she...why did she...?"
"By Marlon, it's a miracle," remarked Zell, wiping his own eye.
"A strong young lady," Hoshiko commented, folding thick arms.
Amma smiled, revealing cheek dimples and teeth gleaming between her shiny red lips.
"I knew she could do it."
Tadashi spun towards her.
"Do what?"
Amma giggled into her hand as tears ran down her cheeks.
"Be who we never thought she could be."