The mattress below Cordelia was comfortable, the duvet above her soft. She hadn’t slept in a bed so comfortable – well, a bed, in fact – in ages. She stared at the colourful wallpaper and hanging branches for a moment. It took her a while to recollect where she was. Dandelion’s cottage. She’d slept over... Continue Reading →

For the first time Cordelia could remember, things were good. Settled. She was able to buy the tools basic woodworking tools with her first paycheck. It was good to be working with her hands again – her obscure hobbies as a lonely teen had finally come in handy. She could create a home for herself.... Continue Reading →

Once again, as soon as Cordelia stepped into the magic realm, the sprites were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they were as apprehensive about portal travel as she was. Perhaps if she hid in the realm for ever, she’d be rid of them… Except this was no place she could stay for good – even... Continue Reading →

To Cordelia’s relief, the sprites had taken their leave overnight, and she found herself alone again in the morning. She reported in for her first day of work at the Hex Shop in much better spirits. The place hadn’t opened yet, so she figured the woman in the bright yellow dress had to be her... Continue Reading →

Cordelia woke up in a terrible mood. But when she finally left her tent, she was greeted by a huge frog with shiny turquoise and lime green stripes. The frog was in a terrarium, not lose, so it didn’t quite get there on its own. She could only think of one person that would bring... Continue Reading →

“Right. So those things are motes.” Cordelia studied the purple pulsing orb in front of her, trying her hardest not to get distracted by a woman petting a giant plant with a cow’s head they’d passed while exiting the mansion. “Yup. There’s loads of them all over the realm. They’re pretty yummy,” Dandelion said happily.... Continue Reading →

Cordelia flapped her arms around wildly in an attempt to fight off the sprites. “Get away, you pesky creatures!” She yelled. “Morning!” Dandelion greeted her. “Are these your sprite friends?” Cordelia stared at him, temporarily distracted from the sprite’s calls for attention. “They are NOT my friends.” She gritted through her teeth. “It’s just, you... Continue Reading →

It was a beautiful morning in Sylvan Glade. At least, Cordelia assumed it was the morning. She’d lost all concept of time in the magical meadow. Her body was still ticking, though. Her stomach was rumbling loudly. She realised she hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday. She got far too distracted by her discovery of the... Continue Reading →

As far as being secluded goes, this place sure does the job, Cordelia thought. She’d been on the road for days. And there was something peaceful about these woods. She’d passed a house, but avoided going anywhere near it. She was here to hide away, not to seek people out. The sprites did not seem... Continue Reading →

It was that dream again. Cordelia wasn’t sure how much of it was real. She was so little back then, and the way her child mind interpreted it all seemed far too surreal to be true. But she knew one thing for sure; that unassuming evening in the quiet village of Gibbs Hill was when... Continue Reading →