Cinderella Soldier by Allie Burton

Author:Allie Burton [Allie Burton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alice Fairbanks-Burton
Published: 2022-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter seventeen

My wings were beautiful.

Standing, I tried to get the full picture. They fluttered behind me in varying shades of blue and green. Purple edged the outline and flowed through the iridescent veins. I wished I had a mirror.

I ran a finger along the soft gossamer edge. Tingles spread across the sensitive wings at my touch. My shoulders pulled back and I couldn’t stop the grin spreading on my face. Elation charged through my bloodstream. “I feel like a real fairy now.”

“You trusted and believed in yourself as a fairy princess.” Watu’s sage expression filled me with pride. “It’s what drew out your wings.”

My step was lighter, and I didn’t know if it was my happiness or the wings lifting me. “How do they work?”

“Clearly, I’m not a fairy.” Her croaking laughter demonstrated as much. “It must be instinctual.”

“Instinctual?” My wings drooped and folded behind me. “Most fairies have parents or siblings or friends to demonstrate.”

“Mother Earth wouldn’t allow her children to not be able to use their gifts.” Watu’s confident voice encouraged me. “Hop around a bit.”

She helped me to believe in myself. I didn’t realize how much I’d counted on her to have the answers, even if she gave the answers in pieces that I had to put together myself. Her process frustrated me, yet I learned more because of her methods.

Spreading my wings out fully, I took a small hop. The air brushed against the silkiness of the wings. Silliness and pride made my smile grow bigger and happiness danced from the tips of my toes to the edge of my wings—something I’d never said before.

I took another hop. My wings fluttered and pushed the air beneath me.

Sparks lit my insides. “I think I’m doing it.”

I jumped higher. The air caught beneath the wings. My body floated for a few seconds. I hurried to the pallet and stepped on its platform. Spinning around, I leapt off. My wings fluttered and kept me up. “Aiea! Aiea!”

I knew it was an elf yell, Keltie’s yell, but it suited the mood. Success, acceptance, strength.

Running out the cave entrance, I leapt higher and my wings lifted my feet off the ground. Watu followed me out and waved, wearing a big grin.

Taking a leap of faith, I vaulted off the ledge leading to the valley far below. My wings folded up and I fell. Panic seized my lungs and I couldn’t breathe. I fell and fell and fell.

Think!

You’re a fairy. You can fly.

My wings unfolded and flapped. Air brushed the sensitive surface and lifted me higher. I breathed again. My wings carried me up and up and up.

Watu’s concerned face peered over the ledge.

She worried about me, which made everything go soft inside. She was more than a troll helping me out. She’d become a mentor and a friend, and my link to Mother Earth.

I waved to her. “I’m alright. I’m going to take a spin around the valley.”

“Be careful and have fun!” She waved back.

Not since my father died had anyone told me to have fun.

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