Clarissa Gosling - Fae Secrets

WAS IT BETTER to break a bargain with a ruthless fae queen, or refuse your determined English teacher? Zoe wasnt certain. The Queen of Dawnlight wasnt there. Perhaps shed never find out.

Zoes English teacher, however, stood at the front of the stifling classroom.

I want to give you the best possible opportunity to thrive in your exams. So, please pair up and choose a scene from A Midsummer Nights Dream . Then, take it in turns to perform your parts in front of the class, explaining the symbolism and hidden meanings behind Shakespeares story. We are almost at the end of our time together, so lets make the most of this to really embed the story into your subconscious.

Of course, he would want them to perform it. Zoes stomach cramped. She wasnt worried about getting up in front of her peers, but breaking the terms of her bargain with the Dawnlight Queen. Only two weeks before shed freed Evan with a performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream, on the condition that she wouldnt perform that story elsewhere. Zoe had no intention of breaking her vow, but she wasnt sure how she could get out of this lesson. Did reciting a scene count as performing it?

With only an hour before lunch, Zoe longed to escape early. Shed found a lunch spot at the back of the school grounds where she could sit alone among some trees. It was the perfect place to practise her glamour while she ate her sandwiches. She wanted to be out there in the shade of the May sun, rather than in the hot, sticky classroom.

Desks and chairs scraped across the floors as the rest of the class quickly formed pairs. This was the sort of class most of them preferred. A din rose. This wasnt the drama classroom, but theatre was Mr Coopers true passion. He included dramatic voices and acting into the literature they studied as often as possible.

Mr Cooper wove through the desks, checking in with each pairing. Scruffy and slouched, he encouraged all his students to express themselves. He was determined to eke out every nuance from Shakespeares play before their classes ended and they went on study leave for their GCSE exams.

Zoe sat to one side of the classroom, next to the windows, a few rows from the back. In the middle area that most teachers ignored, which was just how she liked it. But today Mr Cooper wasnt like most teachers.

Who are you pairing with, Zoe? He looked down at her, his thin greying hair stuck down on either side of his head.

She tried to look pathetic. I dont really feel well today. Can I sit this one out? Beneath her desk, she crossed her fingers.

He sighed. Whats the problem?

Despite her comfort with performing, she was unable to lie. Every other girl in the class could claim it was their time of the month and be excused, but not her.

Do you need to visit the school nurse?

She stared at her hands and shook her head.

He crouched down to catch her gaze. Then whats the problem?

She sighed. I... I cant explain it. She entreated him. But I cant do this. Please, just set me a written assignment and Ill do extra. But I cant recite this play, not today.

He frowned. Thats not like you, Zoe. Normally youre the first to volunteer to act parts out. Whats happened? You can tell me.

Normally she would, but explaining shed made a bargain with a faery queen wasnt something hed likely accept. Even if she told him she was risking servitude for her and a friend. Instead, she stared out the window.

Outside, the other wing of the school stood in the sun. The large windows full of children sitting in lines paying attention to their teachers. She frowned at the line of herons along the ridge of the roof. It was uncommon to see one, let alone seven of them at once. But with their snake-like necks, they were undeniably herons. And all their heads looked in her direction.

Mr Cooper stood, his eyes glazed. Look, I dont know what youre playing at. Come on. He gestured to the front. Lets hear you as Puck. Youve memorised the final speech, so lets hear it.

Zoe groaned. Please, any part of the play but that. I beg of you. Of course, he would pick the only part of the play shed included verbatim in her performance in the faery court.

He clapped, and the rest of the class quieted.

Zoe is going to recite Pucks final speech for us. Then the rest of you can tell me the key points about it. He turned to Zoe. At the front, please. No more messing about.

With everyones eyes on her, Zoe trudged towards the front of the class. Shed find out soon enough if this was enough to break the bargain. She just hoped it wouldnt hurt too much.

And so she recited Shakespeares words, trying to pronounce them as flatly as she could. She wanted as much room to argue this wasnt a performance as possible.

Mr Cooper held up his hand.

No, no, no. You can do better than that. Put some feeling into it. Youre a mischievous fae, right-hand man of the Fairy King Oberon, regaling the audience with your cleverness. Start again.

He didnt know how close to the truth he was. Zoes hand drifted towards the point of her ear, proving the truth of some of his words. Hidden by glamour, they werent visible, but she knew her fae ears were there. With a deep breath, she started again.

This time she spoke the words with a small part of what she felt as a fae. The connection she still sensed to the gate in Sprites Wood behind her house. And the frustration with all the people round her.

Mr Cooper grinned.

As she reached the middle stanza, her stomach spasmed. She clutched her stomach. Cramps spread till they reached her throat and her calves.

Zoe bent over in half, unable to continue. Her ears rang and her legs shook. Warm sunlight shimmered across the floor. She followed the grains in the laminate, trying to breathe through the pain.

The rest of the class laughed. Girls twirled their hair and one popped bubble gum. Two boys kicked their feet up on their desks, enjoying the show. No one stepped forward to help her.

She willed the floor to open up and swallow her. Even the claustrophobia of being encased in earth would be better than this humiliation and pain.

Her teacher approached. Zoe, whats the matter? Are you okay?

I cant... She groaned.

He sighed. I know I asked you to make it more dramatic, but this wasnt what I had in mind. Finish the last few lines.

Sweat beaded on her forehead. Zoe wanted to stop and sit back down until the cramps stopped. She hugged herself tighter, wishing she could become invisible, like the pixies. Then she wouldnt have to deal with her classmates anymore, but Archie hadnt explained how to vanish. She wasnt sure if fae even could. Glamour had limits, after all.

She struggled back upright to face to teacher. I cant do this.

He frowned. Why not?

It hurts. My stomach. Pain pulsated through her, and she spoke through gritted teeth.

Finish the speech, and you may go to the nurse.

Zoe sighed. There was no way out. She rushed the next few lines of Pucks speech. As she got to the end, her legs gave way, and she collapsed.

Gasps and whispers surrounded her as grey dulled her vision.