She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7pJAG2j6D
“Angela?”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHvjFkQl3a
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7tVEpekL7
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvOx445H5L
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GgzInw386
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFWFwg16vn
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgp3rQl6S5
“Will you sign my copy?” She holds out a copy of my book, ‘The Dragon’s Heart’. The cover is a dark purple and blue sunset splayed out behind the silhouettes of three people. And if you look below the title, the faint outline of a dragon silhouette can be seen in the sky.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VRt9dKd1x
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR43KDQvAJT
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2U6Fa3kql
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVf9eZNIeo
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzuDx5a2BJ
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAKU8WCYOD
“I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t end it there!” She clutches the book to her chest. “Wait’ll my friends hear about this!”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqkjOtKr5y
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX6Z8kt1Qc
I reach for my hot chocolate and take a sip. I return the cup to the table, my mind to the story, and my fingers to the keys.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuev5UEeyI
“I will not let you-192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfH1b5ozAX
“You’re Angela Carter?”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFbSkTON0S
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaySe5vhP0
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03U1JYrsxR
“Funny.” I sip my hot chocolate. “I wasn’t aware my hair, eye color, and face shape had all changed since I published my novel.” I set down my drink and smile sunnily at him. “I’m sure I just look different in person.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsTHOVyM3c
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmHpqyXTST
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59INRZC1UQ
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqwGwb4Fmc
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJurBH55r7
I sigh. For some reason it's always easier to deal with the haters. I finish my cup of hot chocolate and set it back on the table, turning once more to my laptop.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfIEKASS1k
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hTLPpKjA8
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjV4jQYIKz
I sigh, shutting my laptop. “That would be me. Who’s asking?” I turn in my seat, to find a young woman in a cloak.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9FsnpBwOR
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwEWXmmguz
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ269rIu5cLn
“What do you mean?”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqfSmrvt9w
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsmhtiKh8R
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MeCUzGxUC
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbpRbO6c7J
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCwyShdswY
I blink. Then blink again. “Um….” I say elegantly. I glance around the coffee shop but everyone is going about their business, no one giving a second thought to the shocked author I happen to be. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYro9x5JrJZ
After a moment the shock fades away and I laugh at myself. I guess I am more tired than I thought I was. Either that or the sugar is getting to me. People don't disappear.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEgTB18CJa
I collect my laptop under my arm, quietly leaving the small coffee shop in my city, ducking my head in hopes of being ignored by the passerby.
~ ✨ 🌹 🌺 ~
I open my laptop in my room, reluctantly closing my document, and opening my browser. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD0ab7dAsN
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM5Q5qfZPV
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuFDLtkdHg
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoHW3EZAQa
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmywZYvoPq
"Angela Carter?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvb4u0DDNP
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z2JZEDRo0
The same woman -the one I hallucinated- stands a few steps away. She still wears her gray cloak, but the hood isn't thrown over her head any longer. "Angela Carter?" She repeats softly, swaying slightly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbeeIqXwgf
"Uh..." My wide eyes take in her features. Her hair is pure white, like freshly fallen snow. Her eyes are a deep magenta, spots of bright color on her freckle-less face.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5eAFuRw5I
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedP9LZOQKa
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmETzo5fQA
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS0ddkMZjq
I blink hard, reaching up to scrub at my eyes. This isn't happening. It can't be happening. "Yes.." I finally say. "I'm Angela Carter... But you can't be Ellena of Spokeshore."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwf4933ZpL
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuWlOl0ZR3
I stare at her. "But you can't be. You can't be. You're not real. You're a character. A fictional character in my book." 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaRNe7PyYP
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS96ZWQ51Tq
"What?" I try to remember what happened in my book. I know she isn't one of the ones who died. But, I don't think she is a die-hard fan. I have no idea if bleach can get your hair that white.. or if there's even a way to make eyes that color. I must be hallucinating. Again.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PxRDYHqFl
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTdNIo3dqR
I blink again. "What..?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMst6PuTam9
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1AwcWEw0j
I step forward, wincing slightly when my bruised knee straightens. Not a dream then... "What on earth do you think I can do? Even if you're real, which you're not, you're in another land."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbFp057YB3
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOxKtl1a45
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU6szqAUvd
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcrbLcyp3e
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQFAy0w9tr
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLyrLlU1fX
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
