The Last Fairy Tale by E. S. Lowell Page A

forest of tall, bright trees.

Interlude
     
     “I wondered when you’d show up,” said a man’s voice. The words echoed through the large hall. Orbs of dim light drifted slowly around the room, making the dark shadows move eerily. A white crow was flying down the hall toward the man, its tail and wings leaving a trail of white fog behind it. When it neared the throne on which the man was sitting, it slowed its flight and disappeared into a cloud of white fog. The man waited in silence. Suddenly the creature reappeared, this time taking the form of a white wolf. It stood on its hind legs, crossing its front paws across its chest as it stared at the man. Its tail consisted of the same white fog into which it had previously transformed.
     “They told me you had something I’d be interested in,” said the wolf in a raspy voice. It sounded as if it was speaking through ancient and dusty pipes rather than vocal cords. “So, here I am.”
     “Not really into decorum, are you?” The man stated it rather than asked. “Supposedly celestial, yet surprisingly dimwitted. Awesome.” The man abruptly laughed. He leaned over, placed his elbow on the arm of his throne, and rested his bearded chin on his fist. The man was wearing a hooded pullover, so the wolf couldn’t make out the man’s expression.
     “There is no need to be formal with you. My curiosity is what drives me,” the creature said. “I am here to explore. To learn. To take notes about this world.”
    “Yeah,” said the hooded man, “I know.” He leaned back in his throne, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. “Anyway, here’s the deal. You travel someplace far away for me, take notes  on what you find, and report back. Simple as that.”
     “Where?” asked the creature. “Can you not go yourself?”
     “I could…” replied the man. “But then I’d get to keep all the secrets to myself.” He smiled under his black hood, his white teeth gleaming in the darkness.
     “Very well, tell me where,” said the creature. Its curiosity was growing with every moment that went by.
     “It’s in the Earth realm,” the man said. The wolf’s ears pricked up at the words. The man noticed this, and his smile grew wider.

Chapter Five

     
    Locke
     
     In a vast and endless void, a single tiny light appeared. There was no sound, no smell, no feeling—only the emptiness and the tiny light. After a few moments, the light began to dance and sway left and right before it smeared across the void and left more light in its wake. Soon the light filled the void, becoming almost too bright to bear. Then sound flooded the emptiness and things began to have meaning once again. Olivia was suddenly jerked back into consciousness.
     She heard music. At least, that’s what she thought, because she had never actually heard music before; she had only read about it. She had no words to describe it. It was the most beautiful sound that Olivia had ever heard in her entire life. From her brief study on the subject of music, she presumed that the notes came from a stringed instrument, each one blending into the next with such beauty that she felt as though interrupting the song would shatter all sound for good. She lay there for hours, maybe days, months, or years, and listened to it.
    Thoughts slowly found their way into Olivia’s mind. I must be dead … I’m cold … She continued to listen to the beautiful song that was sad, yet peaceful. If I’m dead, then I’m glad that it’s this way …
     Suddenly Olivia could feel her forehead—a small pain was shooting through it until the pain grew so rapidly that her head was pounding. She reached up to touch it, and the memories of what had happened to her came flooding back. She remembered the tree and the door and falling through it and hitting the ground. Mustering her strength, she opened her eyes.
    Olivia was looking at the ground, which was covered in yellow and green leaves. She reached out to grab one and