Hear ye, hear ye, Invisible Subjects!  Your Queen Bitty is speaking.

First of all, did you read the new Twirl?

What about the our new creative woman, Saucy?

Who will go to the ball with me?

And finally, did you sign your stuffed animals, puppies, kitties, lizards, giraffes, hippos and other delightful creatures up for the puppy ball?  If not, what are you waiting for!  E-mail the Blond Duck by May 28 through the contact form on this site with your creature’s name, favorite food, species, age and short description.  At the ball on June 2, a Puppy Prince and Princess will be crowned!

Now, read the new Gift.

Or else.

For those who don’t know, the Gift is the story of Samantha, a grad student who discovered a strange gift while staying with her friends at her parent’s vacation cabin over winter break.  After traveling to her old friend’s bar to try to determine the origin of the strange necklace she received, she suddenly found herself in the enchanted forests of Ireland being pursued by a secret admirer.  Can her friends and loser boyfriend Jeremy save her before she gets trapped in a real-life fairy tale?  Read on…

To read previous issues of The Gift, look under the Never Ending Stories Tab…

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Ashley narrowed her eyes at Brogan.  “What condition?”

Brogan smiled, tearing his eyes from the gems glittering around her wrist.  His eyes flickered from grey to blue as he raised his eyebrow.  “I will send one of you to the castle under a spell of protection.  The rest must come as my prisoners.”

“What?” Jeremy squawked.  “What did I ever do?”

“Plenty,” Clio muttered.

“I don’t like those terms,” Ashley argued, shaking her wrist so the bracelet burst into a million sparkles.  Brogan’s eyes widened.  “All I’m asking for is one person,” she continued.  “The others can stay here.”

“And do what, take up knitting?” Brogan replied.  “You forget, girl, that I am first hand to the Prince.  If I return to him after releasing some girl who wants to steal his future bride away and leave a bunch of renegades in the forest, I won’t live long enough to enjoy your jewels.”

Ashley started to argue, but Aine flicked her neck.  “Excuse yourself and go to that clearing of trees,” the tree fairy muttered, hiding behind Ashley’s thick hair.  Ashley nodded.  Meeting Brogan’s eyes, she replied, “I’m going to go think about it.”

“I’ll go with you,” Cleo volunteered, starting toward her.  Ashley shook her head.

“Do me a favor and watch him,” she said, pointing to Jeremy.  “I don’t trust him alone with Brogan.”

“What?” Jeremy squawked again, sounding very much like a surly parrot.  “What is this, pick on Jeremy day?  What did I ever do to you?”

“Plenty,” Ashley muttered.  Whipping her head around, she turned and hurried into the clearing.  Edging behind a thick tree with thick branches that dipped down like comforting arms, she pulled Aine out of her hair and set her on the mossy bark.   “What’s up?”

“You and I can move much faster through the castle than the three of us,” Aine informed her.  “I know the layout and I’m familiar with several of the fairies who work there.  Plus, I can help protect you.”

“What about Cleo?” Ashley argued.  “I can’t leave her alone with Jeremy.  That’s cruel and unusual punishment.”

“Aye,” Aine agreed, wrinkling her nose.  “Unfortunately, I don’t think it can be avoided.  We’ll have to force Brogan to swear the safety of their lives if we agree to this.  Otherwise, the Prince is notoriously cruel…”  Her voice trailed off.  Ashley gulped.

“Do you think we can do this?” she asked, raising a trembling hand to her mouth.  “I mean, do you really think we can save her?  We have like three hours to sunset.”

Aine’s green eyes met hers steadily.  “We have to try.”

Ashley nodded, her brow creased.  “Why do you want to help us?” she asked, giving Aine a curious look.  “I mean, you’ve gone to a lot of trouble for people you don’t even know.”

Aine gave her a sad smile.  “A promise is a promise,” she replied.  “Now, I’m going to disappear for awhile.  I’ll still be with you, but you won’t be able to see or hear me until we get to the castle.  If the others ask, tell them I went back home.  And when you get to the castle, remember that you must not drink anything, eat anything or wear anything.  Do not speak to anyone or look them in the eye.  Just lower your head and scurry along.”

“But won’t they notice I’m different?” Ashley argued.  “Shouldn’t I knock out a maid and wear her clothes as a disguise, like the movies?”

Aine shook her head.  “I don’t know what your movies are, but they sound inept.  The less you touch at the castle, the better.  In fact the less time we’re in the castle, the better.”  Ashley opened her mouth to argue, but Aine shook her head.  “We are out of time.  We must go.  Make the deal.”  Extending her arms, she twirled on the tree bark until she disappeared into a fine green glitter.  Blinking and trying not to sneeze, Ashley returned to the clearing.  Cleo gave her a worried look.

“I accept your terms on one condition,” Ashley announced, refusing to look at Cleo or Jeremy.  She hid her shaking hands behind her back and lifted her chin into the air.

Brogan smiled.  His eyes flickered from blue to grey.  “Go on.”

“You do not harm them and they stay alive,” Ashley commanded.  “No one will hurt them in any way.  I want them safe and untouched.  And I want them released after the wedding.   I want them to be released to this exact spot after the wedding.”

“Ashley!” Cleo shrieked, running toward her.  “Are you crazy?”

Ashley swallowed, feeling like boulders were tumbling down her throat.  “It’s the only way, Cleo.  I’ll make sure you’re safe.  I promise.”

“But what about Aine?” Cleo wailed.  “Couldn’t she help us?”

Ashley looked down, her stomach twisting in knots as the lie slipped from her lips.  “She’s gone,” she whispered.  “She went home.”

“Excuse me!” Jeremy bellowed, waving his arms.  “Don’t I get a say in this?”

“No,” Brogan replied.  “It is decided.”  Striding forward, he slipped the bracelet from Ashley’s wrist.  He held out a hand, his eyes glittering.

“Do you agree?”  Ashley asked.  “They stay safe?  And they’ll be returned here by the end of the wedding?”

“I agree,” Brogan replied.  “We have a deal.”  He wriggled his fingers.  Without a word, Ashley slid the jewels from her ear and placed them on his palm.  His fingers closed around her hand.

Everything went black.

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“Rouge!” Samantha gasped into his shoulder, burying her face into his collerbone.  “Oh Rouge, you have no idea how happy I am to see you!”

Rouge rocked back on his heels, wrapping his fingers in tendrils of her dark hair.  Tears of joy threatened to leak from his eyes.  His heart felt like someone had blown it up and set it on fire, smouldering in this chest.  “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Drawing back, Samantha gazed at him with her wide dark eyes.  “Rouge, I’m scared,” she whispered.  “I keep having these dreams.  It’s like I’m trapped inside myself.  I can see and hear people talking to me, but I can’t get to them.  I just had that dream with you…”  She turned and glanced at the bracelet on the table.  “This stupid thing,” she muttered, seizing it between her fingers like a vile insect.  “I hate this thing.”

Turning to Rouge, she shook her head slowly.  “I’m such a fool, Rouge.  I’m such a fool for ever taking that first gift.  And now, he wants to marry me.  Tonight.”

The words were sandpaper in his throat.  “I know.”

“How do we get out of here?” she whispered.  “We’ve got to get home.  He’s got two more clues and I don’t think I’ll survive it.  With every piece of jewelry I wear, it’s like I’m sinking deeper and deeper into a spell.  We’ve got to get out of here.”

“We will,” Rouge assured her, taking her hands and his.  “But Samantha, I have to tell you something really important.  It’s about the jewelry.  My aunt”–

An aggravated shout rang down the hall.  “How dare he say that!”

“The Prince!” Samantha gasped, her face going pale.  She shoved Rouge back, her dark eyes darting around in a panic.  “You’ve got to hide!  Hurry!  Hurry!”  The footsteps grew louder and shorter as the angry voice switched to a smooth one.

“But you’ve got to know”– Rouge whispered.

“Rouge, you’ve got to hide!  I won’t let you be killed!”  Samantha shoved him away with all the force she could muster.  He glanced up at her wild eyes and nodded.  Leaping to his feet, he rushed behind the dining room wall he originally hid behind as the footsteps slowed at the doorway.  From his spot, he watched as Samantha positioned her wrist so the bracelet looked clasped.   She smoothed her hair and slumped in her seat, letting her face take on it’s dazed expression.  Rouge felt like shouting with pride.

The Prince strode into the room with a brilliant smile.  “My darling, how are you this evening?”

“Mph,” Samantha muttered, her head lolling about on her neck.

“Fabulous,” the Prince purred.  Pulling a velvet box from his jacket, he popped it open.  A diamond larger than a man’s knuckle glittered on a thick gold band.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to interrupt our game, darling, and leave the rest of the clues for later,” the Prince said jovially.  “So how about it, love?  Will you marry me?”

To be continued…

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Tomorrow we have a new Coconut Queen and Wednesday, the tale of how the Blond Duck knew marrying Ben was the best thing she ever did!  Then Thursday we have a fabulous new recipe and Friday, a new Twirl!  Stay tuned!