(This is an updated version of an older story. Background info: The young pupils of St. Agatha’s Girls’ School are on a Halloween tour to the Higher World Contact Archives, where Raymond Ashford, also known as the Wizard of England, dwells. Among the students is someone known as ‘the girl who doesn’t speak.’ The other girls have learned to communicate with her by reading the expressions on her face and occasionally, by closing their eyes in silence and sensing what she is saying in their hearts. When they try to insist that she speak, she remains quiet but sometimes hugs them as if to say that what they really want is to bond with her. But words are unnecessary. She is very generous and dear to them, but she is also a highly skilled thief on the quiet).

“Look!” said Emma suddenly, having finally cheered up a little, “We’re nearly there, Carletta! Are you looking forward to seeing the wizard and the secret fairy archives?! Are you?!”

Carletta smiled enthusiastically and responded with a vigorous nod. She then hugged Emma again. Anna began to feel jealous that Emma was getting closer to Carletta. The pair of them were clearly becoming good friends. Oh, why didn’t she just give Emma that measly bonbon?!

“Okay, attention everyone!” said Miss Casey, “Girls? I want you to exit in single file and assemble outside the bus when it stops. Okay?”

“Yes Miss!” came several excited voices. 

The massive building of Guildhall library could now be seen from the bus window as it slowly came to a halt and stopped. The girls began cheering and moving in chaos towards the exit.

“Single file! I said single file! One at a time please!” said Miss Casey.

“Where is the wizard, Miss?!” said one. “Is he not waiting to meet us?”

Another girl answered, “No, he’s inside, silly! Underground, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. Can’t wait! Is it scary down there though? Any spiders?”

“No! It’s supposed to be exciting! That’s the whole point!”

Miss Casey made sure each of the children got off the bus safely and assembled outside the library.  Many of them were jumping up and down with excitement at the thought of soon entering inside and venturing through the trapdoor, all the way down to where the wizard lived. To think that they were about to speak with one who was in direct contact with real fairies was incredibly thrilling. Imagine if he showed them one! What would a true fairy from the higher world look like in all her magnificent glory? Would she speak to them? Or maybe the wizard could call an elf down to see them if a fairy ended up being too shy to appear before them? They did seem to keep to themselves an awful lot these days.

“All here?” said Miss Casey. “Good. Now I want you to move in pairs behind me and we’ll go inside.”

Many hearts jumped with excitement, and also with wonder and a sense of the unknown as they began to follow the headmistress through the great doors of the library building. Some of them also felt a slight tingling of fear at the thought of going underground. This was it. They were going to see the tall, majestic wizard from far below very soon – the powerful master of ethereal knowledge, the expert Archivist and Fairyologist. The one with all the great secrets.

Entry Requirements

The tickets had been pre-booked. But Raymond had some rules in place for anyone who wished to enter into the Higher World Contact Archives. The rules were called the H.W.C.A. Entry Requirements. Each girl had to wear a band around her wrist with her assigned number on it. Then, whoever’s number was picked out of the Number Basket would be the one assigned to give the code which would summon the wizard to open up the trapdoor. They also had to abide by a Whisper Only rule when inside the archives out of respect for the fairies who had an aversion to noise and whose presence could sometimes be felt in the archives. Miss Casey had to be covered from head to foot in a dark hooded gown because when asked by one of the staff members for an honest answer regarding her belief in fairies, she confessed that she didn’t believe in fairies, even though she might pretend to believe for the sake of the girls. She and all visitors also had to sign a statement, vowing not to laugh, joke, or say anything negative against the hidden world of the higher ones while inside the archives. Each girl who believed in fairies and was resolved to be well behaved was presented with her own white candle with a blue ribbon around it and placed inside a silver-coated lantern. She was to carry this with her for the duration of her visit to the H.W.C.A.

It was further stated that they should all be in a state of peace, friendship and harmony among themselves before gaining entry into the archives. Anyone who did not believe in fairies would have to share the light from someone else’s lantern or receive a dull grey candle that would be placed into a black candleholder.

The girls started giggling at Miss Casey as she was presented with her dark hooded gown and black lantern by an enforcer of Raymond’s rules. “Uh… Busted! Honestly!” she said, “This feels like entering into some kind of super whacky Aztec temple! But don’t worry girls. I’m sure you’ll convert me yet!”

At that the girls started laughing even louder. “Booo!!! You should just believe, Miss Casey!”

“Shhh. Okay girls. I do really believe. Honestly. That’s just the rules for adults.”

“No, you don’t Miss! You don’t believe!”

“Shhh! Quiet now. Next, we are going to pick a number out of the Number Basket to see who will give the code for the wizard.”

Miss Casey then dipped her hand into the basket. “Whose number will it be?” she said as they all watched her intently.

She then took out one of the pieces of paper, “It says number nine! Who is number nine?!”

They all looked at their numbers again. “Oh, that’s me! I’m number nine!” said Anna.

“Very good! Okay Anna, you will give the code that will alert the wizard and he will then come up and open up the trapdoor for us from inside. The code is six sharp taps with your foot on the trapdoor, and with a pause between every two taps. You will then introduce yourself and the rest of the class, okay?”

“Okay! But…”

“Yes?”

“Well, is it okay if I let Emma do it instead of me?”

Everyone then looked at Anna in surprise.

“But why is that?” said Miss Casey. “Emma tends to be a little shy. Emma? What do you think?”

Emma glanced at Carletta who gave her a very encouraging smile. Emma then said, “Okay, I’ll do it. Thanks Anna.”

“You’re welcome, Emma. And I’m really sorry I didn’t give you that second last bonbon.”

Anna then immediately looked over at Carletta who gave her a look of approval and smiled lovingly back at her.

“Ah, that’s kind of you, Anna,” said Miss Casey. “What a good girl. Now you are all in a state of peace and friendly harmony with one another as required by the entry rules. I’m sure the fairies will be very pleased with you. Okay! Are we all ready to make our way to the trapdoor? Just be very careful with your lanterns, girls. Don’t drop them.”

“Yes!! Yes, we’re ready! We’re ready Miss!! Let’s go!!” they squealed with euphoric excitement.

“Okay! In pairs everyone! Emma! Lead the procession behind the staff member! Remember to keep the noise down. And be very respectful when you see the wizard. Do not misbehave in front of him, whatever you do.”

They moved in pairs led by a staff member to a large area behind one of the towering bookshelves of the library. A little shaky with nervousness, Emma, after being prompted to do so, stepped over the designated place on the floor that had been pointed out to her. She then began to initiate the code by tapping loudly with her foot. Two taps. Pause. Two more taps. Pause. And again, two more taps. Were they really about to enter into the Higher World Contact Archives? Incredible. The staff member then quietly departed and left them to it.

Silence followed. Everyone waited, standing dead still in tense anticipation.

Miss Casey whispered, “Just be patient now girls. Give the wizard some time to respond to the code.”

After another tense silence, Emma whispered, “Shall I give the signal again?”

“No. Not yet. I think there is a muffled sound now. From underneath. Can you hear it?”

Many of them gasped and exchanged wide-eyed glances with one another as a faint thudding sound could finally be heard. Emma looked slightly on edge and even a little afraid. The wizard was coming. He was walking up the stairs towards them. She would have to greet him first. Should she not just have let Anna do this? She noticed that her lantern was shaking a little because her hand was twitching with nervous apprehension.

“Okay! This is it!” said Miss Casey, still looking very odd in her hooded gown and holding her black lantern. “He’s on his way! Stand back and keep your voices down!”

The footsteps became more and more clear and pronounced as the wizard climbed higher and higher up the stairs to where the trapdoor was.

Many girls gasped as a sudden creaking sound was heard and a piece of the floor abruptly began to move from underneath. Hearts began pounding again with excitement as that same square piece of the floor was slowly and gently lifted up, releasing a musty, old bookish smell into the air. There was also a slight smell of tea leaves and tobacco. Next came the tip of a very old and worn dark blue wizard’s hat. Any moment now, they would see him, and their eagerly anticipated venture into the ancient fairy archives would commence. They clutched their lanterns hard and many of them held their breath for a moment, wondering what it would be like to finally set eyes on that towering wizard and aged custodian of fairy history for the first time. But Emma was battling the urge to run away, now going up and down on tip-toe and biting her nails with nervousness.

Archive Secrets & Revelations

Emma glanced at Carletta as if to say, ‘I’m afraid to greet the wizard. Are you sure you can’t talk? Are you sure you can’t greet him instead of me?’

But Carletta looked back at her with such powerful encouragement and love that Emma felt confused for a moment. After blinking a few times in bewilderment, she then realised that her shyness had subsided and was even beginning to turn into a sense of excitement and joy. Carletta was amazing.

More and more of the wizard’s long hat became visible as he continued to slowly emerge from below, until his face finally came into view. He quietly looked all around with his calm, meditative eyes and the children in their fairy costumes all stared back at him. His slightly bushy eyebrows and greyish-white beard spoke of his old age. But there was also a kind of wise and majestic presence about him.

When he finally stood tall on the floor of the library, the girls all cheered.

When they stopped cheering, Emma stepped forward and whispered, “Hello! I’m Emma. And these are my friends. We are from St. Agatha’s Girls’ School.”

The wizard raised his hat in greeting to her and then bowed to them all. “And what do you seek, young ladies?” he said in a low voice.

“We’re here to see the archives and learn about fairies! And maybe even see one?!”

“Ah. Yes, yes. Very good. Well, you probably won’t see any fairies, I’m afraid, but I can show you the archives. Do not browse through anything in the forbidden sections. And make sure to observe the entry requirement rules.”

He then noticed Carletta staring at him with intrigue.

“And who are you, dear?” he said.

But Carletta just kept staring at him.

Miss Casey then said, “Oh, that’s Carletta. I’m afraid she can’t really speak. She has an impediment.”

“I see. Well, you know, I’m half wondering whether you might be a fairy. Does the name Stephanie ring a bell for you, Carletta?”

Miss Casey felt like laughing and saying, ‘Fancy that. A speechless fairy!’ But she was prudent enough to refrain. Carletta slowly shook her head in response to the wizard’s question and then pointed downwards, indicating that they should now get moving and enter into the archives.

“Yes, yes. Very well. Come along then, everyone. We are now about to make our descent into the Higher World Contact Archives. Hold your lanterns steady and observe the rules, please.

But many of the girls couldn’t help squealing again with excitement as they began to follow him down under the trapdoor, towards the dimly lit area below that was stacked with thousands of tatty old books and large dense documents. The area was far more massive than could be seen at this point. The shelving seemed to go on and on for miles.

They were halfway down the bare wooden staircase when one girl yelled, “Wow!! This is huge!!”

“Shhh! Remember to keep your voice down, Daisy, there’s a good girl,” said Miss Casey.

Daisy whispered back, “Oh yeah. Sorry.”

“Perhaps I should let you speak,” said Raymond. “So long as you do not shout. I understand that children are quite excitable. And there are a lot of you here today. But do try not to speak any louder than you need to.”

“Thank you, Mr. Wizard,” said Miss Casey.

They were now on the floor of the underground archives and there was a calm, silent and almost timeless and enchanting feel about the place. It was like having a bit of a taste of the other world.

“I feel so light I could fly!” said Emma. “This is amazing Mr. Wizard!”

“Indeed. Now, over here is a section that provides you with some introductory information on the world that the fairies inhabit. Go and educate yourselves. Find things to read and if you have brought any writing materials with you, then take notes. Otherwise, notepaper and ink can be provided.

“Oh! Yes please!” said Anna, “I want to take notes with a feathered pen and ink, Mr Wizard! Can I have some now, please?”

Miss Casey sighed with frustration and said, “Oh, do you not have anything more modern to give them, like normal pens and pencils? I think they might make a mess if we let them use ink from an ink pot. Oh, we should have brought stationary from the school!”

At that point, Carletta sneaked off to another section of the archives, feeling the need to be alone for a while. The commotion about the notepaper and ink provided a good distraction. And of course, she went straight to a section that was marked ‘Forbidden.’ It was high up and she would have to climb to reach it. Forbidden sections contained writings that were thought to contain potential errors. They also provided information on extremely dangerous powers that were occasionally used by special practitioners of the higher world.

Carletta first went to the ‘S’ files and pulled a file out at random. It was about a fairy named Seraphana Mountainflame. And at the time when the document was written, this particular fairy was only five years old.

‘Subject’s Name: Seraphana Bluemaracynthia Mountainflame

Age: 5 (As of 1997. Precise date of birth is unknown)

Category: Enkindler (Untrained).

Rank: Standard

Place of Birth: The Bellshine Valley of Flutterton. Province: Crymson Butterflyvale.

Current Location: It seems that Seraphana is still living in the valley of her birth.

Parents: Jordan and Kim Mountainflame.

Siblings: 1 Brother: Garth. Age 9.

Contact with Humans: So far, Seraphana has had no contact with humans.’

“Wait. Where’s Carletta gone?” said Miss Casey. “Carletta? Where are you?! Anna, will you go and find her please.”

“Okay Miss.”

Carletta then searched for another name in the ‘S’ files and finally found the one she was looking for:

‘Subject’s Name: Stephanie Goldmaracynthia Bell.

Age: 10 (as of July 7^th, 2002. This could differ from a birthday assigned to her by humans).

Place of Birth: Brightstone Harmony Palace. Province: Alpheabrook, H.W. Capital.

Category: Princess – Supreme Ruler To Come

Rank: Royal. Firstborn

Subject’s Parents: Queen Aerilyn Trin and Lord Clarence Goldhorn Bell.

Sibling(s): Unknown.

Subject’s Knowledge/Experience of Higher Ones/Fairies: Unknown.

Subject’s Knowledge/Experience of Humans: Unknown. Presumed to be Proficient.

Subject’s Ordinary H.W. Powers: Unknown.

Subject’s Special Powers: Unknown.

Subject’s Proficiency in Royal Bloodline Inherited Gifts: Unknown (Likely Untrained).

Subject’s Current Location: Unknown.

Status: Missing

Subject is Believed by Every Member of the R.S.U. (Royal Spokespersons Unit) to have been Summoned to the Rough Coordinates of S.A., Y.K., Senya Angloyana, Yaronie Koobla (South England, Lower World) by a currently undefined method of malevolent witchcraft.

Subject’s Summoning Practitioner: Unknown. (Destroyed unlawfully by Clarissa Ironhand of Alpheabrook, Elite Warrior, Wielder of Formation Flames and Corrosive Air).

Subject’s Threat Level to Humanity: Unknown but Potentially High if Subject is Corrupt and Not Reclaimed by Her People.

Danger to Higher World if Subject is Not Returned: Potentially Moderate to Severe Due to a Rupture in High Family Bloodline and a Detrimental Weakness Brought on by Grief in the Current Reigning Monarch.

Subject’s Last Known Contact: Clarissa Ironhand of Alpheabrook, Defector, Combat Specialist and Former Second in Command of the Elite. Clarissa is a Killer and her Location is Unknown.

Peace and Harmony in the Higher World Depend to a Significant Degree on the Continuance of its Supreme Monarchs. Locating P. Stephanie G. Bell is of the Highest Priority and the Importance of Reclaiming Her is of Extreme Magnitude and Gravity.’

Carletta felt spellbound. A strange feeling concerning the question of her true identity began to creep up on her, playing on her mind and stirring up her emotions. Was there the remotest possibility that she could in fact be this mysterious Princess Stephanie from the higher world? Surely not!

“Oh, there you are Carletta!” said Anna. “Finally! The teacher says we all have to stick together. Okay? So… Let’s go.”

Carletta kept still for a moment. She then signalled for Anna to be quiet.

“No, we need to go, Carletta. Come on. What are you looking at?”

But Carletta signalled again for Anna to be quiet.

“Uh… Okay. Will I tell Miss Casey you’ll be with us soon then?

Carletta nodded. Anna then sighed with annoyance and made her way back to the others.

“Okay, Daisy,” said Miss Casey, “You can’t just look at pictures and drawings. Find something to read to the rest of the class.”

“Oh… Um… But these old paintings of fairies are really amazing Miss! Look!!”

Anna then returned and said, “Um, excuse me, Miss.”

“Yes, what is it? Did you find Carletta?”

“Yeah, but…”

“Where is she? You were supposed to bring her back with you.”

“I know! But she didn’t come!”

“Okay, don’t shout. Show me where she is.”

“Um, well she’s way back down that way, but she nodded when I asked if she’d be here soon, so…”

Two girls then tugged at Miss Casey’s gown, “Miss! Look! You have to see this! Please Miss!”

“Sorry Anna, I’m a bit held up here. Just find her again please, and make sure she comes back this time.”

“Uh! Really?”

“Yes. Quickly. Off you go.”

Anna sighed and went back to find Carletta again. She was worried that the elusive quiet girl wouldn’t be in the same place as last time. And she wasn’t allowed to shout out her name.

Meanwhile, Carletta took her opportunity to visit a forbidden section of the archives. She simply had to learn more about Stephanie and the higher world. A strange tingling feeling went through her as she entertained that incredible thought once again. What if she was from another world? What if Stephanie was actually her? But if that could possibly be true, then why didn’t she remember anything from her very early past? She was a knowledgeable girl and had learned of the term ‘Childhood Amnesia.’ It meant that nearly every human has no memory of being a very young infant. Who really remembers being a newborn baby? But did fairies have that too? Or did only humans experience that? Her earliest memories were of being in the loving arms of Olivia, her mother. But could anyone possibly have two mothers? Surely not. Then could it be that Olivia wasn’t really her mother? Oh dear. That was a horrible thought to contemplate. She also had many fond memories of her affectionate and entertaining father, Julian. And yet, confusion had now taken root inside her mind and was troubling her heart. She couldn’t just carry on as normal anymore. She needed to know the truth and eventually have a serious talk with the wizard. And with her parents as well, of course.

Although there wasn’t much light in the archives, it was possible to see a very large book that was sitting all by itself on the top of one the tallest shelves. It had a dark red cover with a title in faded golden ink and thick brass seals.

Slipping her shoes off and holding her lantern in her teeth, she quickly and quietly ascended all the way to the top of the dusty, twelve-foot-tall bookshelf. But on her way up, she noticed many other titles that stuck in her memory and which she felt determined to take a look at one day. Titles included, ‘Dark Secrets of the Higher World,’ by Austin Black, ‘Get Me Out of Here!’ by Zetta Hide, a former witch who turned her life around after many harrowing experiences with magic. There was also another title by the same author called, ‘When Magic Goes Wrong.’ Other titles included, ‘The Arcane Fairy Species,’ by J. F. Kolber, ‘Fairies, Elves & The Cosmos,’ by Mary Dunston, and ‘The Incredible Fairy Mind,’ by Nicholas Osborne.

It was a well-known fact by all who knew her that Carletta was top of her class in every subject, especially the complicated and difficult subject of Mathematics. Her mind loved and pleasured itself on maths. She also knew about numbers so large that if you wanted to write them down, then the amount of digits required to do so would be so numerous that not even the entire observable universe would have enough space to contain them, even if each digit were far smaller than an atom.

Having now reached the top of the shelf, she looked around to check whether anyone could see her. But she was well out of sight. And everyone seemed to be more distracted than ever. One of the girls had fallen over while trying to pull a heavy book out of a shelf. She had dropped her lantern with a clatter that echoed throughout the archives and its light had gone out. She had then burned her hand and screamed because she touched the top part of the lantern in an attempt to open it and relight the candle. She was now sobbing loudly and everyone was trying to help and comfort her. Anna was nowhere to be seen. She was probably either lost or distracted. But soon, her faint voice could just about be heard, saying, “Carletta! Where are you? Where are you, Carletta? Come on! Enough hide and seek!”

There was no time to lose. She stretched herself out on the shelf and took hold of the hefty old book and pulled open the seals. It felt very special and intriguing because of its age. After having a read through it, she realised that it was a diary from a member of the Order of Custodians, written hundreds of years ago. He was simply sharing things about his life and what he had learned. He also spoke about his communication with a mysterious fairy from the higher world named Halworatheen. Still curious about what else the author had written, she then skipped to near the end of the book and found a section of prophecies that he had written down. Some of them concerned wars that might have taken place on Earth were it not for the influence of various members of the higher ones. But there was one very disturbing prophecy that stood out among them all and made her blood run cold.

The Dark Prophecy

Carletta was indeed a secret thief. The yellow bonbons she often gave to the other girls were stolen by her, as were the fine dresses that she freely gave to some of them. And she had also stolen a pendent called ‘The Bull of Flames.’

The prophecy was titled, ‘When The Black Angel Shall Strike,’ and read: I clearly foresee that at the dawn of the Twenty-First Century, there will come a terrible fairy from the higher world. She shall be all the more formidable due to her royal bloodline. Known by her peers in early education as ‘she who does not speak,’ or ‘the quiet girl,’ she shall grow up stealing and deceiving, and shall reject the fairy race together with her place as its ruler, leading to its demise, and shall raise an empire of brutality, crime, manipulation and bloodshed on Earth. This will come to pass because the people of that time shall be shallow and materialistic, having forgotten the benevolence of the Higher Ones and fallen out of contact with them. She, the Scourge of that time, shall dress herself in black attire, embracing and pursuing crime, and the symbol of Fire and of the Bull shall hang from her neck. If therefore, you discover this fairy, my brethren and sisters who are of good heart, depart far from before her face, lest perhaps you fall under her spell and perish. She shall look hauntingly humanlike and you must therefore be most discerning and watchful. My heart goes out to all those blameless victims who shall live on this earth at the time when she shall strike. This knowledge is troubling me deeply. I live with a heavy heart. She shall break many hearts, both human and higher ones alike.’

Carletta’s mouth dropped open in horror. She moved on to the next paragraph which said, ‘I even see a Victim List that a secretive and mysterious man (whose name escapes me) will write in the future, documenting human casualties (many of whom shall be innocent and undeserving of death) of one Stephanie Bell, the aforementioned ‘Black Angel,’ and another female striker whom she shall rigorously train up to kill for her. This other striker will be proficient in the use of the deadliest long-range firearm of that time, (the Military Graded, U.S. and U.K. Issued MK 13 Sniper Rifle) with which she will claim many lives. Other killers loyal to Stephanie are also involved. But I can only see the first ten names on this list. It is in fact the terrible List Number 7 of 82. For there are 82 Lists in total, each one of which is significantly larger than the last. The details of the rest are hidden from me. But here is just a little part of list number 7 that I can clearly see in my mind and that I know someone will write down in its entirety one day. It is a long list:

(Victims who Die or are Critically Injured as a Direct or Indirect Result of Stephanie’s Criminal Empire are all Counted on this List).’

Victim List Number 7 of Black Angel (Stephanie Bell) and Assassin Keltolkia (Agnes Bennett) and Others Who Serve Under Stephanie Bell (Nine Hundred and Twenty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine Victims on This List: 7 of 82. All Victims Either Died or Were Critically Injured in Under a Single Year):

Luke Parker – Deceased. Killed by Keltolkia. Method: MK 13 Rifle Round.

Damion Price – Deceased. Killed by Keltolkia. Method: MK 13 Rifle Round.

Abel Thomson – Deceased. Killed by Sabastian. Method: Strangling.

Denis Jones – Deceased. Killed by Keltolkia. Method: MK 13 Rifle Round.

John Butler – Deceased. Killed by Stephanie. Method: Flames of Unknown Origin.

Killian Black – Paralysed for Life by Sabastian. Method: Unknown Drug.

David Halif – Deceased. Killed by Keltolkia. Method: MK 13 Rifle Round.

Judy Halif, Wife of David Halif – Deceased. Killed by Keltolkia. Method: MK 13 Rifle Round.

Julian White – Deceased. Killed by Stephanie. Method: Zastava M57 Semi-Automatic Pistol Round.

Jamey Billings – Deceased. Killed by Stephanie. Method: KA-BAR 1121 Throwing Knife.

16 Undocumented (Likely South American) Individuals: 15 Deceased. One in Critical Condition. Attacked by Stephanie and Keltolkia. Methods: Toxic Nerve Gass, High Calibre Browning Machinegun Fire and Stabbing.’

“Carletta!!” shouted Miss Casey, “Show yourself! Where are you?!”

“Look Miss,” said Anna. “I found her shoes.”

“Oh. How strange. What on earth is she doing?! Trying to fly? Mmm?”

“I don’t know, Miss.”

Everyone had now moved to a different part of the archives.

In exasperation, Miss Casey turned to the wizard. “Mr. Ashford? Do you have any idea where she could be?”

“Ah, let me think,” he said, gently pulling at his beard while tilting his head up. “Well, leaving her shoes behind means that she is probably on top of one of the bookshelves, or squeezed inside one of them. She would have removed the shoes in order to climb more efficiently. And I would further suspect that she is probably looking at something forbidden. She came across as an exceptionally curious girl to me.”

Miss Casey began looking up and at last saw the outline of two crumpled little wings. They were part of a dark fairy costume. Yes, that was Carletta alright.

“Ah! Found you at last, Carletta! How dare you!! Did you climb all the way up there by yourself?!”

Anna looked up and said, “We need a ladder. I think she’s probably stuck up there doesn’t know how to get back down.”

Miss Casey sighed, “Yes. I’m sorry Mr. Ashford, but could you quickly go and get a ladder for us please?”

“Of course. Just wait there a moment.” He then made his way down another passageway.

After a long and precarious process, they managed to bring Carletta safely down from the large, towering shelf. She looked deeply troubled and even slightly tearful.

“That’s what happens when you don’t do as you’re told, Carletta,” said Miss Casey sternly. “How many times have I told you not to go wandering off like that?”

But Carletta’s mind was a million miles away. She was starting to see everything in a new light. Wander off? Before anyone knew it, she might have wandered all the way off to another world. It was all but certain by now that she was a fairy. And not only that. She was a royal one. A subline Firstborn Princess of great power. One standing next in line for the Supreme Throne of the Higher World.

She looked at Raymond who instantly read her thoughts. They were both thinking the exact same thing. A thought so great and incredible that it was beyond words. Only silence could even begin to express it eloquently enough. She was Princess Stephanie Goldmaracynthia Bell. He had just found the one whom he had so long been looking for – the missing fairy from the higher world.