Secret Pearl

“Happy birthday, sunshine” said Jude.

“Daddy!” replied April a pretty faced girl of fifteen.

“Close your eyes”

“Hmm, so you want to surprise me, uh?”

“Turn over, close your eyes”

April could feel a light weight settling on her slender neck. She thought quickly it would be a necklace but she never thought that he would present her with the precious amethyst necklace which belonged to her late mother.

“You look like your mother and no doubt it suites you too” said Jude.

“Thank you dad, but its-”

“It belongs to you” said Jude and went away. It was clear April saw tear in her father’s eye as always whenever they talked anything related to her mother.

April was short for fifteen years. She had a pale skin with slanting eyebrows and with proper full lips. Her eyes were as though the whole ocean was depicted. A glamorous looking young girl lived in a small city in the north of America.

“April lets go out” called out Katie.

Her only whole and soul best friend ever from her childhood. Who was a charming and talkative young girl. They departed to the down street for their usual walk toward the Oak house where they usually spent their time during holidays.

“Dearie, April. Hope you live long many more years ahead. Here’s something for you” said their neighbor Mrs. Kinsley handling her small case which was covered with the wrapper pretty shabbily.

“Oh, thank you aunt.”

“She does not like you and she gave you a present?”

“Forget the present Katie. She smiled at me” giggled April.

“Yeah, has it got to do with something?” asked Katie.

“Hope not, it is my big day” replied April.

That night after a little party she retired to her room and started unpacking the presents. All the gifts seemed to be more useful for household work things. Katie gave her a pendent and a card which she loved it and decided to wear it in the coming prom.

The last present she opened was of Mrs. Kinsley.

“May be some crap” thought April.

The present was quite catchy. It was a chain with a single pearl.

“It is a beauty” thought April.

April retired to bed but kept thinking about the sudden change in Mrs. Kinsley’s nature.

It was around 2.00 am. She was awake suddenly. Her heart was beating faster. Her eyes were wide enough as to search a figure in the dark. Her ears were tinkling and the room smelt sweet rose.

She could hear a slight rustling sound around her bedside lamp. Perplexed she switched on the light and she saw something fly off behind her wardrobe and the pearl broken.

Shocked enough to blink.

“How did it happen?” thought April.

She picked up the pearl and examined. It was cut symmetrically into halves. It was hollow inside and she sensed something fluttering around her.

She felt cold air around her and rose smell grew deeper. She looked at her own reflection in the mirror; her hair undone was glittering gold. Her ears were throbbing hard as if someone had punched her. She saw it. The flying thing settled on her ear and her ear was in immense pain.

“Fairy!” gasped April.

Smiled the little creature that had the same feature of hers and the same one pearled chain around her neck.

“You look like me” said April.

“Yes, I took your form. Fairies can change shape and looks” said the fairy and settled on the top of her head.

The fairy could see the building questions in April’s mind.

“I was sure fairies are real. Mrs. Kinsley always said stories about fairies and-”

“She is dead” said the fairy.

“W-what?”

“She was said to keep the secret of my existence but she told everyone about my presence in her stories. Smart lady, she was. So, it is declared for she should die”

“Why do you want to keep it as a secret?”

“We are afraid of you humans. So insensitive creatures that you humans tries to intrude in our lives”

“How are you here?”

“Hmm seems it is time for you to know about the past” Shifting her robe in proper order the fairy sat erect on April’s head and spoke in clear melodious voice.

“Long long ago, your ancestors were quite friendly with our species and we used to be their well wishers. Later on the lust and greed took turns and made us lead separate lives but still where ever we find good humans we tend to unit with them. My mother was your grandfather Mr. Theodor’s pet and it is a rule to serve and fulfill wishes of our masters. Fairies did so only on one promise that no other person should know about our presence and to be kept as a secret. It-”

“Wait” exclaimed April.

“Oh, sorry. Please continue. I thought father had come around” said April.

“He is in deep slumber. I had checked on him” said the fairy and continued in her story telling voice.

“It was then being your grandfather he made a hiding place in this pearl and gave it to your grandmother for he knew ladies would be at most careful about the jewels and it remained with her. After Mr. Theodor past away your grandmother could not keep this secret so she gave it away to Mrs. Charles, Mrs. Kinsley’s mother. Then onwards my mother served them but not for too long as they could not keep up the secret and it was passed onto Mrs. Kinsley. She met her faith for the third generation of hers too could not cope up with our request”

“What happened to your mother?” asked April.

“She died with the curse of black magic. I shall say about it some time later. Now it is your turn to keep the secret” said the fairy.

“When would you say about the magic thing?” inquired April.

“When I shall be convinced enough that you can keep up the secret” replied the fairy.

For one thing April was quite gay that now her never ending wishes would be fulfilled only on the promise that she could never speak about the secret pearl and the tenant inside it.