Harmonia knew that it was dangerous, but she couldn't stop loving Isabelle even if she wanted to. The pair had much in common, not to mention she loved the way the light glistened on her blue eyes, which made them look like a shimmering creek, or the way the sun fell upon Isabelle's golden hair. She liked the way Isabelle laughed, the way she smiled, and the way she felt comfortable around the young woman in a way she didn't feel comfortable around most other people.
Harmonia knew she had to be careful. Faeries and vampires were supposed to be ancient enemies. This love affair had been clandestine from the start.
She wished she could scream her love for Isabelle to the mountain tops and beyond, yet she knew that would endanger them both. A friend had told Harmonia, however, of a country where faeries and vampires could go and be together. Of course, it meant that Harmonia and Isabelle would have to leave their families and their previous lives behind.
But Isabelle had agreed to go with her, without hesitation.
This country was accepting of outsiders, her friend had told her, and welcoming towards interspecies couples. Many forbidden relationships could be found there. Werewolves and vampires, vampires and elves, faeries and werewolves, and every other pairing imaginable. Even merfolk who had traded their fins for legs when they decided to pursue love.
It seemed like a lovely place, Harmonia thought. She couldn't wait to start her new life with Isabelle there.
When her mother was alive, things were harmonious and good. After she died, Harmonia's father became reclusive and shut her and her siblings out. When her mother died, all the pieces of him capable of feeling went with him.
He died a year ago.
Harmonia would miss her brothers, but she knew that if she remained here that her heart would fall into a numb ruin. She couldn't let that happen.
Isabelle understood her struggle. Isabelle's own mother died when she was young, killed by a human slayer instead of an ailment like Harmonia's mother. Her father reacted similarly to Harmonia's.
They had to leave, cloaked by the darkness of night, upon a boat that would lead them to their future. One where they didn't have to hide their relationship, where they didn't have to hide who they truly were. Harmonia had to admit that this would be nice.
Whilst Isabelle's family always accepted that she loved women, Harmiona's father tried to beat her into liking men. Needless to say, it failed. Harmonia winced at the thought. Yes, leaving this place behind would be good for her. However, Harmonia knew something was wrong when Isabelle was not in the designated spot that evening. She felt her heart sink into her chest.
"Harmonia!"
Harmonia turned to see two of her brothers threatening Isabelle with sun soaked blades, blades invented with the express purpose of killing vampires. One of them had cut off her long beautiful locks. Her hair was now short, choppy, and uneven.
"Is this the wench you're looking for?!" Harp asked.
"How dare you? Release her!" Harmonia insisted.
"Why do you like women anyway? That's disgusting,” Crescendo interrupted.
"The only thing that's disgusting is your mindset," Harmonia snapped, eyes flashing. "Father beat me, but that didn't make me love men. My heart and my destiny are my own. Now release her!"
"Do you know how many vampires have killed our kind? What kind of mental, are you, sister?" Crescendo asked.
"Should've heard the sound she made when we cut off her pretty little hair. The sun soaked blades didn't even touch her face, and she made such a sound,” Harp insisted.
"Because it hurt," Isabelle growled with tears in her eyes.
“Great retort,” Crescendo scoffed.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize all banter had to be witty. Forgive me for not entertaining you Harp and Crescendo,” Isabelle retorted.
"If you want her to live then you will leave this place with us and forget her,” Harp insisted, narrowing his eyes at his sister.
Harmonia scowled at her brothers. How could they be so evil? Forget Isabelle? Never. But she also didn't want to be the reason for Isabelle's death. She wrestled with her emotions. "I love you, Isabelle, and I'll never forget you," she gulped. "But I can't...seeing you dead would destroy me. Please, forgive me."
Harmonia went to turn her back when suddenly a blast of magic took out both of her brothers.
"Come on, hurry!" came a familiar voice.
"Caryn?" Harmiona blinked, surprised that her friend was there.
"Come on, I'll explain on the way! Your brothers will recover quickly."
Harmonia nodded, jumping over her unconscious brothers and grasped Isabelle's hand.
"Don't ever think you'll leave me," Isabelle said. "That would break my heart."
"Mine, too," Harmonia remarked. "But I didn't...I didn't want to see you dead."
"I know. Let's go."
Harmonia nodded. "I'm sorry about your beautiful hair."
"It's okay. It's just hair. It will grow back."
“Will it?” Harmonia asked.
“Vampire hair remains the same throughout the years. I tried cutting it once, it just grew back. It took a month or two, but it stubbornly refuses to change,” Isabelle laughed, shaking her head. She ran her hands through her short blonde locks.
Harmonia could sense that she was disappointed, however, despite her words. She nodded. “I just wish they hadn’t done it. I’ve always loved your hair. To take it without your permission just feels like a violation of your dignity.” She felt her hands clench of their own accord. "If we had more time, I'd cut their hair off to punish them. Seeing as I know how vain they are, and how much my brothers love their hair."
Isabelle laughed gently, kissing Harmonia's cheek. "Temper, temper, my faerie."
"Caryn, you said you'd explain?" Harmonia asked, glancing over at the other faerie.
The faerie smiled brushing a wave of curls away from her obsidian eyes. "I'm coming to this place I told you about, as well. My family is dead and gone, but there are plenty of people here that do not approve of my relationship with Ariel." She sighed. "She’s a werewolf. Her family has dark origins, but she is not like her family. She is her own person."
Harmonia nodded. "It's hard when people are so judgmental. They would rather crucify you in case you were a devil rather than get the chance to know that you're not."
"Preventive action," Caryn snorted, rolling her eyes. "But if they could only see, they'd realize they were the very demons they think we are."
"Exactly," Isabelle nodded.
Harmonia looked up when she saw a tall woman with almond shaped brown eyes and thick straight black hair that fell to her buttocks.
"Let us go, Caryn, we don't have much time,” Ariel insisted.
"I know, Ariel. These are the women I was telling you about that will come with us. This is Harmonia and Isabelle.
"I am Ariel," Ariel smiled. "But come, less conversation, more movement. We must leave this place."
Harmonia nodded. She wasn't sure how long the walk would be. She tried to walk quickly as possible through the dense, thick brush in the middle of the forest.
After walking several miles, Harmonia noticed a boat in the distance. "Is that the vessel that will be taking us?"
"Aye," Ariel answered. "Here are your tickets." She placed one gingerly in everyone's hands.
Harmonia felt happiness wash over in her waves. She looked to Isabelle with a smile.
"We're almost there," Isabelle grinned.
Harmonia was glad when they crossed the short distance from what remained of the wood to the large boat that was in the creek. It was a beautiful and ornate design, and she couldn't help but admire the architecture even if know wasn't the place or time for such conduct.
Caryn let out a scream, and Harmonia gasped. An arrow had landed a few inches from where she was standing. What was going on? How had her brothers caught up with them? It was confusing and sudden. Harmonia seized up, not knowing what to do.
Her brothers leering at her from within the wood, however, made her feel both anger and repulsed. Harmonia didn’t understand why they needed to do this.
Ariel, however, had already launched herself at the person. Her fangs shattered the bow, and she smashed the remaining arrows. "I will catch up with you lot, just go!" she insisted.
Harmonia looked, scowling. It was her brothers. They had followed them here, they had seen the ship. This meant that the secret of the ship was over. She knew full well that her brothers would tell everyone just to ruin this opportunity not only for herself but for anyone else who needed this boat to escape.
"Harmonia, let's go," Caryn insisted, pulling at her sleeve.
"They're my brothers, I feel somehow responsible for this."
“How could you be? You’re not your brothers. Not anymore,” Caryn disagreed. "And don't worry, Ariel will take care of them."
Harmonia boarded the ship, feeling guilty. She would much rather be with Ariel, helping out with her vile brothers. She wished that they would've just remained unconscious.
"How did we not hear them?" Harmonia asked Isabelle.
"They clearly wore cloaking spells. Otherwise I would've smelled them or heard their heartbeats or something," Isabelle answered. "But it's okay, we're here now."
"I would feel better if Ariel was here," Harmonia remarked. "I feel guilty. It's my fault my brothers were even here."
"Don't feel bad," Caryn insisted, with a small smile. "Ariel can hold her own."
Harmonia jumped as she heard footsteps, whirling around in horror only to find that it was Ariel. It appeared that she had taken care of the situation regarding her brothers rather quickly. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
"I certainly can," Ariel winked, resting her head on Caryn's shoulder. "It's sweet of you to worry about me, but honestly there's no need. When your brothers wake up they’ll remember nothing of this night or how they even ended up in this wood. This boat only comes at night so they won't be a threat to anyone else who needs to come aboard."
Harmonia laughed. "Well, you've certainly thought of everything, haven't you?"
Caryn grinned. "Ah, my girl's a brilliant one." She then proceeded to kiss Ariel.
Isabelle smirked, tugging on Harmonia's sleeve. "Ahem, pay less attention to them, and more to me," she insisted, placing a firm kiss on Harmonia.
Harmonia kissed her back, wrapping her arms around the taller woman's shoulders to secure her footing. Isabelle soon released her from the spell of her kiss, looking deep into her eyes. "My sweet faerie."
"Yes, my cheeky vampire?"
Isabelle grinned. "I love you."
"I love you more."
"Impossible as I love you most," Isabelle insisted. She turned as an attendant on the boat offered them champagne. Isabelle politely declined insisting she had a thirst for something other than alcohol.
"Oh, yes, of course, you're one of our vampire guests. For you, we have this," the attendant said, pouring some sort of red alcohol into a champagne flute.
"Smells sweet," Isabelle noted.
Ariel nodded. "Indeed it does," she agreed.
Harmonia took a glass of champagne from the attendant, thanking him for all the trouble he had gone through to procure it for them. Smoothing the folds of her mauve dress she looked to the others, clearing her throat. "May I propose a toast?"
"Of course," Caryn nodded.
"To new futures," Harmonia remarked clinking her glass with her beloved and those of her friends.
"To new futures," they all chorused.
Harmonia didn't know what the future held, but as long as Isabelle was by her side, she didn't rightly care. Her eyes glanced at those all around her. It seemed that on this ship all were welcome, and she couldn't help but smile. This was the way the entire world should be, she thought.
It would be nice.
If this were a taste of what this new country would be like, Harmonia knew she would adore it. She couldn't help but wonder why her brothers and her father had been so hateful toward her because of who she was. Harmonia frowned.
"What is it?" Isabelle asked.
"I just don't understand how people can behave like my brothers.”
"It's probably best not to worry about that. It is troubling, I know, but clearly they don't understand you nor are they committed to. They only see the world from their limited lens and they don't care to accept the bigger, fuller picture with all of the vibrant hues and complexities of the universe. They are to be pitied, for sure, but sometimes all you can do is pity someone. They're the ones that have to want to change."
Harmonia nodded. "I doubt they'll ever want to," she remarked, wistfully.
"Then it's their loss, not yours," Isabelle shrugged.
"I concur," Caryn nodded. "Now stop being so mopey. This is about our new, wonderful future. Leave those brothers and father of yours in the past where they belong."
"Aye, don't spend another second worrying about them," Ariel added.
Harmonia nodded. "All right, dear ladies, you have made your point. I understand." She looked at Isabelle. "I will only think of our sweet future."
"That's the spirit," Isabelle grinned, leaning in for another kiss.
Harmonia kissed her back. Yes, this new country full of promise was just the very thing she needed. Being here with Isabelle had lifted her spirits considerably. She looked at her lover. "I love you more than there are stars in the sky."
"And I love you more than the infinite galaxies that exist. Even those we don't know yet."
"Well, when I said stars that meant the stars in those infinite galaxies, as well. So I win," Harmonia winked.
Isabelle made some sort of derisive snort in reply.
Harmonia laughed, gazing out at the trees they passed on their journey. To new futures, indeed. She had a feeling of peace wash over her. With Isabelle and her friends at her side, she knew that nothing could go so wrong that it couldn't be made right. She smiled, all her worries slipping away like autumn leaves.
Linda M. Crate's (she/her) poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has six published chapbooks A Mermaid Crashing Into Dawn (Fowlpox Press - June 2013), Less Than A Man (The Camel Saloon - January 2014), If Tomorrow Never Comes (Scars Publications, August 2016), My Wings Were Made to Fly (Flutter Press, September 2017), splintered with terror (Scars Publications, January 2018), more than bone music (Clare Songbirds Publishing, March 2019), and one micro-chapbook Heaven Instead (Origami Poems Project, May 2018). She is also the author of the novel Phoenix Tears (Czykmate Books, June 2019).
Twitter: @thysilverdoe