This is an entry for the Dark Fairy Queen Midsummer Night’s Dream flash fiction writing contest. Because I like a challenge, it comes in at precisely 400 words. This is my first ever flash fiction! I hope you enjoy it.
I could keep you, January
thought, suddenly, fiercely. The mortal woman's innocence beat the
air between them, vulnerable as a sparrow. I could take you, and you
would create such beauty for me, and you would never dream of
leaving.
The door before them drank
golden light from the eternal evening of Sunset.
January had little knack for
glamour, so when Joanna had chosen her as companion she'd been
surprised; but she'd seen herself through Joanna's eyes, later. The
artist's pencil had captured her honest desire, more seductive in its
way--and more dangerous--than the most finely-honed enchantment. Art
resisted artifice; but the artist was caught by truth.
January collected herself.
They'd been speaking of names, dangerously intimate conversation the
mortal woman entered into lightly. "My grandfather had the
naming of me," January said, smiling as though nothing unspoken
tangled her tongue. "He was from your world, though he forgot it
in the end. Does it have some meaning there?"
Joanna smiled easily, her
face gentler than a fairy's, without the familiar hidden threat of
sharp teeth in the night. Even tinged with sorrow, she radiated
delight. January felt herself drawn closer. Their hands touched, soft
as a kiss, inevitable as sunlight.
"It's a month,"
Joanna said. "In winter."
"I've never been to
Winter." We are echoes of her, January thought. She is solid
where we are air and light. Hot blood ran just beneath Joanna's
skin, singing of life and longing.
They spoke of debt and
obligation, and temptation won. One kiss, she thought; one simple
kiss, to take through the doorway and home. To repay a debt.
Joanna's lips were soft, her
breath quick and too easily stolen. Her heart hammered music between
them. One kiss became two, and the second was like drowning. They
tasted each other's tears when breath came slowly back.
I could keep you, January
thought again.
"I would stay,"
Joanna said.
But January knew that story:
her grandfather, who forgot his mortality and lost her grandmother's
love. Fairy would steal the art from the artist, rob her of her
passion; she would die without death.
She gave up the dream of a
thousand kisses, let it slip from her eyes with her tears. They
breathed the same air a few moments more, and the door drank Joanna
into its darkness.
Her scent lingered on the
wind for a heartbeat and was gone.
You want more information on the contest? Lucky for you, I have it! Read on for the original contest text, and links to the other entries. I highly recommend you read them. And please do feel free to leave me a comment about this little snippet, if you'd like.
Contest details:
I have included an inspiration board on Pinterest: Faerytaleish. You are not required to use an image there, but I do encourage you to do so. If one does inspire you, please include it in your entry.
Your stories may be up to 400 words, but don't let that fool you. BREVITY is the soul of wit. Only include those words that allow you to tell a powerful story.
The contest opens at midnight CST on July 15 and continues till midnight July 31. That's barely over two weeks, better get started.
Post your story on your blog and link up through the tool below. Be sure to include the appropriate code so people can read through the other entries from your blog. Read the other entries and comment - writers love the feedback.
Only a few other rules.
No fan fiction - original worlds only. No erotica - seduction and sex is fine, but graphic descriptions should not be the focus of the story.
Excellent! Very well done. Understated, immensely powerful. AND short.
ReplyDeleteThank you! You get part of the credit for anything I get right when it comes to brevity. :P
DeleteBeautifully drawn and enchanting!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful story!
ReplyDelete