— 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 —

THE DEMON GLARED DOWN AT THE SPRITE THAT DANCED BENEATH HIS BALCONY. He'd always viewed the creature with annoyance. Whether she realized it or not, she was a large reason behind why it had taken him so long to procure the materials for his curse. He could feel he was minutes away from holding the power within the palm of his hand to destroy everything. He took a deep breath, but his patience had dissipated the instant that he had set his sights on her.

Her grace and beauty had such an effect on the surrounding world that life radiated from within her. Her beaming smile could light up the stars themselves. It was just about impossible to find any fault at all within the creature.

He started to turn away when he was drawn back by the sound of her melodic voice. She spoke in an ancient language that only few understood, and anyone eavesdropping on the conversation between the two would have only heard the chime of bells and the crash of cymbals.

"I know what you're up to, oh mighty demon."

He raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you stay?"

The Sprite was quiet for a moment. She closed her eyes and lifted her chin toward the heavens. The demon opened his mouth to speak but the sprite lifted a finger and shushed him. "Listen... where the winds calls me I go. When the trees dance, I follow. And when the stars speak, I answer."

"I see you haven't changed."

The Sprite shook her head. "I am always changing. It is you who remains the same... there is still time. You do not have to make this decision."

"I'm the only one brave enough to make this decision," the demon snapped, quickly interrupting her. "You will not persuade me to change my mind. The time has come for the tendrils of darkness to spread across the world once more."

The Sprite sighed and lowered her eyes back to the ground. "Then I can not save you from the grave you dig for yourself."

The demon scoffed and laughed. "I'm not the one that needs saving."

"This will not end favorably for you." The Sprite shook her head. There was a sadness in her eyes almost like she pitied the demon. "I'm afraid if you continue, I can no longer intercede on your behalf."

He scoffed at her final warning, crossing her arms as he turned his back to her. She sighed as the wind called out to her, reminding her that time was running out. She lifted her arms and like blossoms in the spring, floated away in a stream of dancing petals. Once certain she was gone, the demon looked up toward the sky. The temperature instantly dropped with the Sprite's departure, as if life could not survive in her absence. The unwelcome atmosphere of peace also vanished, reminding him of the war at hand. He stormed back inside the decrepit walls of his fortress. He'd waited long enough, it was time for the darkness to rise now.

════════ • 🌑︎ • ════════

— 𝐒𝐈𝐗 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 —

MAYOR WRAITH FROWNED AS HE STARED UP AT THE ELEGANTLY CRAFTED SIGN. He could already feel his sinuses stuffing up just being near. He took one last breath of fresh air before passing the point of no return as he entered the store. The bell overhead chimed to notify the employees that a customer had entered the shop; however, no one greeted him. He grumbled under his breath and walked toward the back where the shopkeeper would certainly be found.

He exited the backdoor of the shop into the small greenhouse that was attached to the building. A few feet in front of him, one of the employees kneeled, covered in dirt, and far too enamoured in her work. She quietly hummed to herself and it took everything inside of him to keep his hostility at bay. He cleared his throat not once, but twice before he actually caught her attention.

She quickly pulled the weathered earbuds out of her ears and shoved them in her apron pocket. "Mayor Wraith! I wasn't expecting—"

"You're aware of the banquet upcoming this weekend, yes?" he interrupted her.

She meekly nodded her head. "Yes?"

"Well, the event planner informed me at the last minute that we still required a floral element of decoration," Wraith explained. "And since they're far too busy planning just about everything else, I was unfortunately left to handle this issue."

She nodded her head again. "So, you need some flowers for this weekend... Any kind in particular?"

"Do I look like a florist or a botanical expert, Miss Raine?" Wraith asked, irritated. He didn't wait for her to reply to his rhetorical question. "Just send whatever you deem appropriate for the occasion. I'll have my secretary email you the details of the evening."

"Anything else that I can do for you, sir?"

Before he could reply, he was forced to quickly turn away to conceal a sneeze. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his nose with a sniff. "If it were up to me, I'd have this infernal establishment closed. It's always behind on its payments and attracts unwanted pests."

"I suppose you think it's unfortunate that your request will help us pay off our bill by the end of the month then."

Wraith frowned. "Indeed."

"Well, if that'll be all..." The way her voice lingered implied she was both kicking him out, but also intimidated by the thought. "I assume you have several other important matters to attend to before this weekend and I certainly wouldn't want to distract you."

Wraith rolled his eyes and turned his back. Normally, he would've detested the thought of someone even possessing a smidge of enough nerve to kick him out; however, the sooner he left, the better for his sinuses. It had taken him a week to realize that the flaws of humanity included annoyances like allergies. And yet six years later, he was still struggling to adjust. He sneezed again as he stepped out into the sunlight. He could already feel his face swelling with congestion. The Sprite had been a nuisance as a nature nymph in their own world. But as a gardener in a world where nature was just one of his many weaknesses, she could have been perceived as lethal... even though she couldn't bring herself to harm even a fly.

════════ • 🌑︎ • ════════

EDEN RAINE GENTLY MESSED WITH A FEW PETALS IN THE PALM OF HER HAND. It was a habit of hers to collect what had fallen from the plants and prevent them from going to waste. However, rather than return to work, she sat. seething quietly to herself. A pair of work boots stopped in front of her. She took a few shaky breaths and looked up at the elderly man who had offered her a hand. She quickly dried the tears that had begun to well up in her eyes and accepted his gesture.

Once on her feet, she dusted herself off. "Thanks, Sid."

"Always a pleasure," he replied, but still remained concerned. "What's on your mind?"

"The mayor stopped by..."

"So I saw." He nodded as if her explanation was enough. "He does so enjoy striking your nerves."

She nodded her head. "I don't mean to let it show... I just really care about this place, you know?"

"Of course, I understand," he agreed. "This place seems to be all that remains of the natural world here in town."

"I just don't want to lose it," she explained. "And when he mentioned that we were behind—"

"Enough money talk," another voice spoke up from behind. "Fantasia Gardens is here to stay, and if the mayor has a problem with that he can talk to my—"

"Mr. Van Mousen!" Sid shot the younger man a look and he quieted. "We do not confront our problems this way. If we did, it would make us no better than our enemies."

"So you admit that he is our enemy?"

Sid opened his mouth to speak and then closed it. After a second of thought, he continued the conversation. "It was not my intention to make such an implication, but if it helps you to sleep better at night to think of him as such, Theodore."

"Seriously though," Eden returned to her original point. "If we don't get more business around here, we aren't going to last much longer."

Theo nodded his head. "Alright, let's brainstorm some business ideas then."

Sid shook his head. "Perhaps after we complete the few orders of the customers that we actually have at the moment." He then ushered his two employees back into the main shop to prepare filling orders.

════════ • 🌑︎ • ════════

IT HAD BEEN SIX YEARS AND HE STILL HAD YET TO MAKE HIS WAY THROUGH HALF OF THE FILES THAT HAD APPEARED IN HIS OFFICE. Wraith tossed the manilla folder from his hand onto the piles of others that had gathered on his desk. Running a hand through his hair, he released a frustrated sigh. Perhaps the mirror had been wrong. Perhaps the prophecy had just been a tactic to frighten him out of his decision. He slowly nodded his head and laughed at his conclusion. It had been six years and he was still in charge of the small town. There had been no real threats to his leadership.

However, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that formed in the pit of his stomach whenever he looked the parchment over that contained the inscribed the words which plagued his dreams. Suddenly, a knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. He looked up from his desk, annoyed. However, before he could grant permission to enter, the door swung open.

"Hey there, buddy!" Wraith silently glared at Hector Vitalis. The former god only paused for a second before entering the room like he owned the place. "You don't look too happy to see me—"

"What do you want, Hades?" Six years had passed, yet they still referred to one another by the names they were familiar with... names that once invoked power and fear. Now, no one paid those names any notice.

"Did you think my offer over?"

Wraith rubbed his temples. "I already told you, the idea of a vice-mayor was a stupid idea."

"Geez, Chern..." Hector shook his head as if concerned. "What happened to the mayor from last night? He was much more inviting—and fun for that matter. Could I speak with him?"

"Hades, my head is pounding," Wraith sniffed and pulled out his handkerchief. "Last night was a mistake that will not surely happen again."

Hector released a quiet chuckle. "You do look awful."

"Allergies," Wraith explained with a snap. "Now is there anything else that you needed?"

Hector nonchalantly nodded his head. "I just thought that you'd be interested in something I saw down by the mechanics shop."

"What were you doing downtown?" Wraith raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I thought you usually sent your lackeys to pick up your laundry."

"You know how I said I was gonna take a cab home last night..." Hector rhetorically asked. "Well, I didn't. Car's totaled. Came with a nasty fine too."

"How is your license not suspended?" Wraith asked and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is exactly why I never accept your invitations for a night out at the pub."

"No, you never accept because you're uptight and you've got a stick up your ass," Hector rolled his eyes. "Now do you want to hear the real reason I stopped by your office or not?" Wraith offered Hector a blank but incredulous stare before he shook his head and gestured for him to continue. "See, I wasn't the only one having car troubles. When I arrived, the mechanic was already talking with a customer."

"And why should I be interested in this?" Wraith's patience wore thin.

"The guy wasn't from town," Hector finally reached his point.

Wraith raised an eyebrow then shook his head. "That's not possible... No one should be able to enter or leave town."

"That's what I thought." Hector nodded in agreement. "But then I got to thinkin' and remembered that fancy piece of paper that you treat like the plague."

Wraith's eyes slowly widened, and he quickly stood up from his desk. He started to walk toward the door but stopped and faced Hector once more. "Who all knows about this?"

"No one yet," Hector replied.

"Keep it that way."

"You know it won't stay quiet forever... right?" Hector asked, but as he received no response, he followed Wraith out of the room. "Where are you going?"

"Downtown." As Wraith passed by the front desk, he left some instruction to his secretary. "Miss Mills, clear my schedule and take a note that I'll be out of the office for the rest of the day."

"Everything alright, sir?"

"It will be soon enough." The threat lingered on his tongue as he stomped down the steps, slipping inside a sleek black suv which would take him downtown.