Page 62

The Oaken King snapped his attention to her. “We grant no such passage,” he said in a low voice.

Alice approached him and held out the sprig of holly. “This is a gift from Santa Claus, the Winter King. An offering of peace.”

The Oaken King took the sprig and examined it, rotating it in his fingers over and over. He handed it off to his consigliere standing next to his throne. The consigliere pocketed the sprig into a pocket of his silk clothing.

“You think a sprig offering of his plant is enough for me to grant you passage? There have been others before you—one in particular. She sought my passage. She sought to control me. So, I banished her to the very place she wished to go, never to return,” he said.

Thunder crashed outside. The sky turned a shade of gray as rolling clouds moved in. Rain fell. The droplets bounced off theawning leading outside. The smell of petrichor rose from the ground, tantalizing Alice’s senses.

“Come,” the Oaken King said as he stood. “Join us in the rain. Nourish yourself in the life-giving waters. Celebrate life’s renewal.”

One by one, the fairies and sprites spilled outside. Their silk clothing shimmered in the drenching rain. They danced around and cheered, raising their hands into the sky as they allowed the rain to pour down on them.

“Please,” Alice said as she approached the carved columns leading outside.

A carved vine encircled the pearly white marble columns. Expertly designed, no detail was too insignificant to be left out. The tiniest leaf veins were visible, almost as if the leaves and vines were dipped in liquid marble and fixated to the column. The work of master artists.

Alice pleaded, “We’re seeking your help.”

The Oaken King danced in circles, holding hands with the other fairies. “First, we dance and give thanks for the nourishment of life,” he yelled back.

“The grapes and drinks are excellent,” Oliver said.

Alice turned around to find the Raskins eating and drinking the offerings.

“Don’t even think about asking him to sell this in the store,” Carol said.

“No way,” Oliver said in a hushed tone. He glanced over his shoulder and then leaned closer to Carol. “I think this oak tree is a few acorns short, if you know what I mean.”

Max whined and pleaded for a piece of fruit. Her brown puppy dog eyes stared up at Oliver. He attempted to sneak her a piece of watermelon, but Alice’s eyes caught him in the act. Max gulped it, and with her tail wagging, begged for more.

Alice turned back to the Oaken King’s frivolity outside. “I seek passage to the land of the dead to rescue the man you saw in my mind,” Alice yelled.

The Oaken King let go of the hands in the dancing circle and turned toward Alice. He rubbed his hand through his curled hair, now drenched, slicking it back on his head. Beads of water dripped down his muscular chest. He smiled, licking his lips. A smirk on his face.

“Why should I help you for this man? Are there not other men in the world to satiate your needs? Other women?” He raised his hands to the sky. “You could have your choice of them. You could have your choice of any of these.”

The fairies stopped dancing around. They hung on each other, arms draped over shoulders. They smiled and smirked. They chatted amongst themselves. They sounded like high-pitched whispers in the wind.

Alice stood tall with her shoulders back and chest out. “I’ve had many boyfriends and girlfriends in my life, but I’ve only had one Hugo Dodds. He means more to me than anything you could offer. He’s my supporter. My white knight. My fiancé. And most importantly, the love of my life.”

She raised the black engagement ring for all to see its glistening purple stone.

The Oaken King stood there. Silent. The smile faded from his face. His eyes narrowed, and he scanned Alice from head to toe.

“You are not the first witch to stand before me, and you are not the last. What can you offer me? If I were to open the passage to the land of the dead, what do you have to offer me?”

“Love,” Alice answered.

“You are offering to sleep with me? I thought you loved him,” the Oaken King said.

The fairies laughed and giggled. They pointed at her, whispering into each other’s ears.

Alice held her gaze on him as her hand dove into her black satchel.

“Alice . . . What are you doing?” Ez asked.

Alice ignored her. She pulled out a wooden box from her satchel.