not-so-far land

“Ms. Terry Blossom, what do we do now?"

"I don't know" she answered impassively.

"What do you mean ‘you don't know‘?! You're a fairy, you should know what to do in this situation"

"Well, you're a human, you're the one with control"

Maeve surrendered and sat down in the cage "How do we get his blood?"

"Every time someone falls in true love, the devil's tooth falls out which causes him to bleed"

"But people fall in love all the time, he should've no teeth by now!"

"Not your kind of love!" Ms. Terry Blossom snapped "Eternal, infinite, committed love, where you put your partner's desire above yours, where you sacrifice everything that's yours to fulfil their wishes"

Maeve paused before she spoke "We have to wait until that happens?" she asked desperately at last.

"Yes"

It seemed to Maeve that she could only now await for what fate would bring her. Which she did not think was anything pleasant. Especially after the encounter with Mr Devil himself.

They had made it inside his den without much difficulty. Had been cautious at each step, but their instincts betrayed them when they were least expecting it. They could not sense the forthcoming attack of the devil and were now suffering the consequences.

"We can't just sit here" Maeve protested.

"Why not?"

They heard a banging noise coming from an external source. Maeve was confident that the devil approaching to complete the task he had left unfinished. She dreaded even witnessing his appearance again as no horror show could have prepared her for that image.

He had the body of an alligator wrapped in flames, the fierce heat of which seemed to disturb everyone else but him. His legs resembled that of an eagle which moved fast even as his toenails dug out chunks of the earth as he walked. Maeve wondered if he was going to thump her to death with his enormous paws. She could hear his thunderous voice but it was not threat that she heard but the pleading scream of a helpless creature. When he came into view he did not look very devious now, but vulnerable, toppling from side to side, then finally collapsing.

"Cupid. He came to our rescue" Ms Terry Blossom stated indifferently.

Just then, the metal cage dissolved into oblivion. And they were exposed to the blistering environment. The surrounding fire being the only source of light.

Ms Terry Blossom knelt beside the devil’s mouth and drew in a few drops of blood to store in a tiny container.

"You have to leave before he recovers" came a distant yet soothing voice "Quick, get out of that door"

Both Maeve and the fairy followed his instructions diligently and shortly afterwards found themselves at a place that echoed of nothing they had left behind. The sun shone on the smooth, wet rocks and a magnificent boat stood afloat on the calm waters.

"It may look nice, but we're still not safe" came the voice again.

"Why are you invisible?" Maeve asked Cupid.

"I'm not, you just can't see me and neither could the devil"

They heard heavy, angry footsteps, the clamour of which grew louder by the second.

"Please get us out of here!" said Maeve on the verge of panic "That ship..." she began to run towards it.

"The ship of broken dreams" hissed Ms Terry Blossom.

It was a ship that was one of it’s kind as it thrived on the misery of other people to stay young and beautiful. She never did stay the same. The more people used it, the bigger, more glamorous she became and adapted itself to the colour of whoever’s wishes it swallowed.

"Have you got a ticket?" Cupid asked.

"You're not serious?! I've to buy a ticket for that ship!"

The growl of the devil began to echo in her ears.

"What does it cost?" Maeve began to fish in her jeans pocket.

"It would cost you your most precious dream"

Maeve could feel the heat at the back of her neck, leaving behind burning droplets of sweat. She wondered how much more time did she have, before she would get eternally engulfed in that fire. At that point, there was only one way to go, which was forward. Her eyes were fixed on the shore as she ran, unaware and even oblivious to whether Ms Terry Blossom was following.

“Now” said the fairy calmly “Give her your most precious dream”

Then almost without thinking, Maeve jumped onto the ship, successfully dodging the devil. Not many people can do that!

"We did it! We got the red colour for the rainbow, I can't wait to go and tell everyone, and Johnny will be so..."

Maeve stopped as she had forgotten to realise that sometimes the journey is not worth the destination because you lose more on the way than you had hoped to gain.

Because the dream she gave up was one of spending her life with Johnny, because of whose true love she was saved today.