MELUSINE WAS seated in the circular room of the High Council. All eyes were on her in scrutiny. Despite the tense atmosphere, the room was homely with the scent of nature drifting in the air and the flourishing greenery covering every inch of the gray marble wall. The room had no roof with only the iridescent midnight sky as the ceiling, and every Star was present to witness their meeting.

Empty benches rose on either side of her, but ahead, in the highest benches of all, were many shadowy figures. They talked in low voices, but the moment they heard the clicking of the heels against the tiled floor, an ominous silence fell. Everyone watched with bated breath as the woman sashayed to the throne.

Melusine looked down at the obsidian chair with chains binding her wrists and ankles. The chains clinked threateningly when she gave it a light tug.

As the woman's footsteps halted, Melusine raised her head to find Taneisha, the Fairy Mother, now seated on the highest throne. She seemed lax as she leaned against the high back of her chair, her red-painted nails drumming the armrest. It was hard to guess what the Fairy Mother was thinking with her hooded bright-yellow eyes and impassive face, but Melusine knew better. They spent time together long enough to memorize every meaning behind the queen's smallest gestures and words. After all, it was Queen Taneisha who raised and trained Melusine since she was a child.

The other council members were seated one level lower than the high throne. Among those seats was a vacant one—the seat that Melusine was supposed to occupy if only she were not in trial.

She knew why this meeting had been called and it had something to do with the Great Rule.

The Fairy Mother spoke, her cold voice echoing from everywhere. "I have called you all today, so that we may discuss the consequences of the forest fairy's rash action that may bring harm to everyone in Theolia."

Again, all fairies, spirits, and other creatures of their realm turned to her and she felt her aura nervously pulsate under their heavy gazes.

"Not only did you meddle with Fate's business, but you have shown your true form as a fairy in front of a human," Taneisha continued and her words earned all manner of reactions. Melusine could feel their glares pierce her skin and her ears never missed the curses thrown her way.

Taneisha leaned forward and everyone in the room fell into silence. "Melusine, I have known since long ago how much you love wandering around the Earth, and it very much explains why you've been assigned by the Stars to care for the forest as its Chosen Fairy." She put up a finger when the crowd began to stir. "However, what I can't understand is the root of your compassion for humans. Why is that, Melusine? I am the one who raised you, but it is that part of you I can't seem to understand."

Melusine drew in a shaky breath. Everyone waited for her answer. She had made a big mistake. Might as well own up to it. But she wouldn't let them punish her without hearing her first. "You've put them in a bad light. Not every human is what you think they are."

There was a pin-drop silence. Neither one of them spoke nor blinked as if a bomb exploded right in front of their faces, muddling their brains.

But it only took one to laugh for others to follow. The jeers and mockeries bounced on the walls. It drowned her pleas to the Fairy Mother to be heard.

"You said it yourself, Fairy Mother," she called out over the waves of laughter, feeling distressed by the situation. "I've been spending most of my days watching them. If you could only put yourselves in my shoes, you can see what I see."

"What I see is a bunch of murderers," one fairy shouted, "greedy and selfish murderers."

"Have you forgotten, Melusine?" another fairy called out to her. She looked to her right and spotted the river fairy Ilayda, standing from her seat, her wings trembling with rage. "Have you forgotten how many of our brothers and sisters died in their hands?"

Murder. Death. These words reminded her of the scene when the five bandits in red cornered the man in an alleyway to kill him. But Melusine believed there was always good in the bad and every living being was morally gray. That was something her brethren couldn't understand.

At the bottom level of chairs, a squat bearded man with a pointy hat and red swollen nose climbed the banister. "They catch garden gnomes and make us their slaves." He raised his small fisted hand in the air and the other gnomes joined him in protest. "They know that by stealing things that belong to us, we'll be bound by duty to them."

"That's right," a blue-skinned mermaid chimed in. Only half of her head was peeking out of the small gurgling pool. "How can you trust those vicious humans, forest fairy? Humans hunt us to slice off our fins. Mermaids without fins are better off dead."

Immediately the mermaids hissed. Some dived down into the water. They made esses of their bodies like snakes, keeping their heads above the surface. All fixed her with their large, unblinking wet eyes.

"What do you expect from her?" a voice boomed from one of the council thrones. Tidal, the sea fairy, gave her a smirk. He propped his chin on his fisted hand as he looked at her from under his nose. "Melusine, the forest fairy and descendant of the Dark Faes. I hope everyone knows by now she cannot be trusted."

Murmurs of agreement buzzed around the room and Tidal's grin widened in triumph. He leaned back on his chair, pleased with himself.

A few of the fairy councils shifted uncomfortably in their seats as the audience watched in tense silence. Melusine turned a slightly deeper shade of puce. Taneisha, however, merely gazed at her, her face quite expressionless.

Melusine's teeth gritted. "My heritage has nothing to do with this."

Tidal blinked a few times then placed his hand on his chest. "Well, I can't be entirely wrong, can I?"

She clenched her fist tight, her nails digging into her flesh. Tidal made it his duty to antagonize Melusine for hundreds of years. At first, she thought it was her being a descendant of the Dark Faes. But each time the Fairy Mother would praise Melusine in their training, Tidal's eyes would be filled with contempt. The other fairies treated her just fine. It was only then Melusine realized that Tidal was jealous of her... of the power, she had due to her Dark Fae blood.

"Tidal," Naida, a fairy whose wrists, neck, and hair were adorned with beautiful clams and shells, joined in. "We've been with Melusine for a thousand years now, and it doesn't sit well with me if you judge her by the blood that runs in her veins."

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes when Naida gave her a brief smile.

Tidal scoffed. "Melusine is under trial. Everyone knows she's your friend but objectiveness runs this court, Naida."

Some Theolians murmured in agreement. A clear rift was slowly forming. Some stood by her side, empathizing with her, while the rest grew angry at her perceived recklessness.

Naida matched Tidal's glare before looking over her shoulder. "Fairy Mother? Melusine didn't intend to do wrong. Her intentions are clean."

Taneisha rested her back on her seat. During Tidal and Naida's exchange, the Fairy Mother never pulled her eyes away from Melusine. "You still haven't answered my question." Her cold voice coated the walls of the room, and Melusine could feel it bite her skin.

"F-Fairy Mother?"

"What makes you see humans that way?" Taneisha's eyes glowed and they disappeared just as quickly.

Melusine's lips trembled. She wanted to look down but found herself unable to. And as if her lips had a mind of their own, she spoke, "I was saved by a human once."

There was a series of gasps and murmurs before a troll rose from his seat to charge at her. "Nonsense! Lies! That can't be possible."

Two Elven guards pointed the tips of their spears at the troll's neck, stopping him on his track.

Melusine cast him a glare. "It's true. You just don't want to believe."

"Ha! So now it has been your mission to save every dying human? How noble," said Tidal as he wiped fake tears from his eyes.

"Enough!" the Fairy Mother bellowed. Thunder crackled in the starlit sky as she stomped her foot. Melusine would've laughed at Tidal who yelped and jumped on his seat if things weren't serious. "One more word, Tidal, and I'll make sure to reduce you to the size of a fly."

A small smile broke free from Naida's face and Melusine couldn't stop herself from snorting. She couldn't believe she'd live to this day to see him get a taste of his own medicine.

Taneisha stood from her throne. The hem of her white silk dress swished as she descended the steep stairs towards Melusine. "Your recent action in the Human Realm posed a great threat to our kind. Never have I forbidden you to wander on Earth, but this time you have gone too far. You interfered with the balance of life, preventing death from ever happening. And you showed your true form to six humans which means their eyes are now capable of finding the entrance to our realm. Those humans can come to us while all of us are unaware. It could even lead to a return of the Dark Reign."

Everyone sat in silence, shocked into stillness. The Dark Reign was an unspoken subject, a dark smear on the light history of Theolia. It was a time so dark, so terrifying, so disastrous that one would hope to never hear those words ever again. Some of the ancient Theolians witnessed the end of the Dark Reign, most being created much later, but the negative side effects were still seen to this day. And its visible reminder was that of the Fairy Mother's missing wings.

A cough broke the tension. Elros, the fire fairy, raised his hand and said, "Fairy Mother, her actions may not be reversible, but I believe there's still a way to make up for it."

Melusine nodded gratefully at him. It was such a simple solution, one that she easily forgot. The Fairy Mother's forewarning had a clear message. She must alter the memories of those who saw her to prevent the rise of darkness.

Taneisha stopped right in front of her and tilted Melusine's chin up. "She can and she must. I sense great turmoil and trouble ahead. Melusine, my child, the Stars have spoken to me. You must go to the Earthly realm and undo your mistake. However, you will be given a mortal body as your punishment. Some of your powers would be taken from you as well. May you learn from your errors and be guided by the Stars' light."

"Yes, Fairy Mother. I sincerely repent," she said, bowing her head. Her brown locks covered her face and the simmering anger she felt inside for herself. Melusine could have saved the human without exposing herself. She had a choice to wear a disguise, yet she'd been reckless. But no matter what they said, she would never regret saving the man's life.

"You'll be tasked to erase that man's memory of you. Only then the doors to Theolia will open to you."

Melusine's head snapped up to look at the Fairy Mother. "Not only one man had seen me that night, Fairy Mother."

"Ah, you didn't know. The other five had perished that night, but worry not dear child," Taneisha added quickly when Melusine gasped and a river of tears gushed from her eyes.

The Fairy Mother stroked her hair and the forest fairy relaxed at her touch. "It wasn't you who killed them. I would have known if one of my children used their power to kill. Something must've happened to those five moments after you left."

Relief flooded her chest as the tight vice gripping her heart loosened itself.

Taneisha caressed her right cheek, and it was the first time that day she smiled at Melusine. "Melusine, you will be sent down before the sun rises. Prepare anything you deem necessary for this journey."

"Yes, Fairy Mother," she replied quietly.

"You are dismissed." A bright golden light surrounded the Fairy Mother's body and her powerful presence disappeared from the room. It dimmed slightly without the Fairy Mother's radiant aura.

The council began to rise from their seats to disband. The chains binding Melusine unlocked themselves. As she was massaging her wrists, she noticed Elros heading towards her alongside Naida. Elros' long hair, a deep-burnt orange that glowered much like real flames, flew gracefully behind him. His fox-like eyes were fixed on her as he approached. His heavy pelted robe and wings spread out behind him elegantly, a sea of twisting flames and smoldering embers.

"Melusine." Elros sighed in frustration. "You have a kind heart and I do not want to fault you. I just hope this will be the last time you'll make the same mistake."

"I know," Melusine said rather harshly.

"Mel," Naida reached out for her hand and held her. "Unlike most of our brethren, Elros and I trust you. But please, understand that it will take time for us to trust humans the same way." Naida patted her shoulder. "We wish you guidance on your trip and await your triumphant return."

Melusine thanked them and watched sadly as they faded from her sight. Elros and Naida were one of the first fairies she allied with. They helped her as she helped them and their connections ran deep, forged by their history.

She sighed as she stood, her glimmering thin robe falling behind her. It was hard being the Chosen Fairy of the forest. All eyes watched her constantly, never-ending surveillance.

She began for the door, her robe billowing behind her, and headed for her dwelling. Her home was an open forest with a few items scattered around, loosely packed with trees, mirroring the habitat of forest animals.

On a small tree stump was a clear bottle and she immediately understood that the Fairy Mother must have left it there for her to drink to gain a mortal body. Fairies like her could not stay in the mortal realm for long so the potion would let her stay there longer.

Holding the thin crystalline bottle, she looked around her. She needed to take nothing with her but there was a deep sadness that she wasn't able to go back to her beautiful home for an unknown period.

Melusine opened the bottle and drank, the silvery liquid biting her throat. As soon as she capped the bottle and placed it on the side, an unbearable pain tore through her body. She felt her limbs become heavy as every nerve ending burned. She opened her mouth in a wordless scream as her fairy form melted. And as the darkness stole her vision, she noticed a hazy figure standing above her, furiously chanting something she couldn't hear.

Then she closed her eyes, succumbing to mortal slumber.