Chapter 14: Trouble In Paradise
The moment I stepped outside, a blinding light swallowed me whole. I squinted against its intensity, my heart pounding, trying to make sense of what was unfolding. Before I could fully grasp the situation, the house—Lumera’s house—had vanished. There were no walls, no furniture, no traces of the warmth of the fire or the lingering scent of soup. It was as if the house, and Lumera herself, had been erased from existence.
A chill crawled down my spine.
Was this how they kept paradise spotless? By erasing anything messy? The thought made my skin crawl, unsettling me more than I cared to admit.
Scarlette was out there somewhere, and if they could do this to Lumera, what was stopping them from doing the same to her? What if she had already vanished? If anyone stood out, it was her—too wild, too untamed to blend in. And I hadn’t been there to help her.
"Rogue Love Fairy, where are you?" I whispered, gripping the emerald tightly. The smooth stone dug into my palm, a sharp reminder of everything at stake. I couldn’t lose her, not when it was clear this place was capable of hiding far more than I could imagine.
With renewed urgency, I turned down the road. The path ahead was unclear, shrouded in uncertainty, but there was no turning back. I had to find Scarlette—and uncover who was truly pulling the strings behind it all.
The town around me seemed untouched, serene even. People walked past, their faces lit with smiles, humming cheerfully as if nothing could possibly disrupt their peace. It was eerie—too peaceful, too perfect.
"Good day, sir!" A group of Light Fairy children chirped as they passed, their voices sweet and innocent, as if the very air around them glowed with purity.
They were so... innocent, so well-behaved. Too innocent, too well-behaved.
Then I saw them: the Love Fairies. Scarlette wouldn’t be caught dead with them—she hated her own kind for some reason. Still, I couldn’t help but watch as one of them—a woman with delicate wings fluttering behind her—approached a group of Light Fairies.
Her voice was sickly sweet as she offered, "Hey, want some Love Fairy Herbs? They’re great for healing."
It seemed harmless enough. A trade, perhaps?