Fairy Tales of Cliffside Vol 2: The Man from the Woods

By Corey Daggett

As Malcolm adjusts to his new life among the fairies, they are targeted by an insane sorcerer who lives in the woods. He has the ability to manipulate ravens to fight for him. The story is a blend of happy dreams and chilling nightmares. It's the second part in a multi-part series.
~30,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Corey Daggett
• Release date: Apr 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311006752

Corey Daggett

I enjoy writing fun, quirky stories with a blend of action, comedy, and suspense.

Book preview

Fairy Tales of Cliffside

Volume 2: The Man from the Woods

Corey Daggett

Copyright 2016 Corey Daggett

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied, and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete, original form. If you enjoyed this book, please visit CoreyDaggett.com or your favorite ebook retailer to discover more stories by Corey Daggett. Thank you for your support.

This is the second volume in an ongoing series. If you haven't read the first one, it’ll be hard to understand this story. Visit CoreyDaggett.com to find it.

Cover design by E. A. Jones, SabertoothLizzie.com

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

~

Malcolm awoke. The bright sun shone down on him. He rolled over onto his back and shielded his bleary eyes from the light. Above him, resting her arms on the back of the bench, Slipha stared down at him. Malcolm jolted when he saw her, both surprised and stricken with fear. He also immediately noticed that her hair was no longer tied up. The sleek, mahogany strands hung from her head, swaying above him. It suited her better than the strict look she’d worn before.

Good morning, sleepy head. Enjoy sleeping under the stars? she cooed, seeming much too happy for Slipha.

Um... no, not really. His eyes were gradually adjusting to the bright sunlight.

So why did you spend the night in our yard?

Does it matter?

Were you worried over me?

No. he answered without taking time to think. I mean... Then he stopped. What are you fishing for?

Slipha laughed with her hand over her mouth. Sorry, sorry. You're just too much fun to play with. She left the bench and walked over to the fire pit. Your girlfriend kicked you out, didn't she?

Malcolm sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and fooling with his hair. I'd rather not answer that question.

Slipha began cooking breakfast over the fire pit. She sat on one of the five chairs which circled it and stirred the fire with a stick. Human relationships are so interesting.

Irritating more like it. Malcolm stood from the bench and stretched. So... He looked around the yard. Where can I use the bathroom?

Slipha shot him a confused look. What's a bathroom?

Malcolm's shoulders slumped. Oh.

What do you need?

Where can I... you know... do business?

Slipha stared with a blank look.

Don't you fairies ever pee? Urinate? Relieve yourself?

Oh that? Just go out in the woods. There's plenty of cover.

Malcolm was not happy at that idea, but knew he had no other choice. He left the safety of the bubble and walked far enough away so that he felt she couldn't see him. Once finished, he went back into the bubble and sat on the bench. He began rummaging through his duffle bag until he found his bottle of hand sanitizer. Ha ha! He looked back at Slipha, who was still studying him like a specimen. He held up the bottle. Never leave home without it.

She didn't seem impressed. Come over here. Breakfast is ready.

After a thorough sanitizing, Malcolm came over to the fire pit and sat down beside her. She served him several eggs on a wooden plate. There you go. Enjoy. She placed some on a plate for herself.

Malcolm eyed the eggs. He used the wooden fork to inspect them. Then he looked to Slipha as she ate. I thought you were vegetarians?

Well... my sisters have some kind of moral thing about taking eggs from mothers, but I see no problem. I rather enjoy them. Don't tell anyone. She winked and smiled.

I'd say I'm surprised, but then again, I'm not. He inspected the tiny fried eggs some more. These aren't chicken eggs, are they?

No, no. There aren't chickens out here. Just birds.

Then this will be a first for me. He took a bite of them and nodded his approvement. Very good. Very, very good. He smiled at Slipha. Thank you. They're great.

She smiled back at him as she chewed and swallowed, then replied, Glad you like them.

He still felt uneasy around her, considering the way she'd acted in the past toward him. But he felt a glimmer of hope that she might be warming up to him. He would try hard not to ruin their fragile relationship.

So. What are you going to do now? she asked.

Malcolm was chewing a new bite. He shrugged, looking down at his plate and tapping it with the fork. After he'd cleared his mouth, he said, Don't know. What should I do?

You're going to stay here, aren't you?

I doubt you want that.

Oh come on. Don't take things I say too seriously. She pointed at him with her fork. Things have gotten a lot more interesting since you came around. And I was bored to hell before. I much prefer when things are interesting. So as far as I'm concerned, you can stick around. Keep some entertainment going in this boringly perfect place.

It sounds like you're deriving pleasure from everyone else's misfortune.

Her grin returned to its usual fiendishness. Maybe I do.

Malcolm chuckled. In that case... I will consider staying. After all, I'd have to get a real job if I wanted my own place. And if its one thing writers hate, it's real jobs.

Speaking of which, I've given some thought to what you said the other day.

On what?

My writing.

And?

I've started working on translating the book into English. When I'm done, I'll let you read it. Maybe we can eventually publish it.

That's great. I'll look forward to it.

Just... please don't make fun of it. I'd have to turn you into a rat if you did.

Malcolm raised his hand. I promise you won't get any unfair criticism from me. Just... promise not to get mad over the constructive kind.

Agreed. So does this mean I have to review your stories?

Well... Malcolm thought it over. Not sure. Truth is I've been publishing them online myself without showing anyone.

Not even your girlfriend?

No. I used to. But she wasn't really interested in what I wrote. Didn't have anything good to say about them. Actually, I think she just liked finding things to complain about.

Hmph. That sucks. Slipha pulled her feet up onto the chair and folded her arms atop her knees. I kinda know what you mean. I haven't actually let anyone read my stuff, but I'm convinced none of my sisters will like it.

Why's that?

Because... Slipha pondered. Because. I like dark stories. They're all too... happy. I guess. Maybe that's not the right word. Cheery? Yeah, they're too cheery. My stories aren't cheery. I'm afraid I'm just too different from them.

Don't worry about that. You might be surprised. Lots of people like dark stories. Horror and suspense are huge sellers in the book world. Even cheery people buy them.

Really? Hard to believe.

Sure. As a writer, I tend to stay away from horror. I feel more led to adventures. Escaping to a different world. But I love reading horrors. I think people with duality make the best writers.

What do you mean by that?

Well... Malcolm thought it over. It was the first time he'd spoken his thoughts out loud, a strange experience. ... I suppose what I mean is that people with two polar opposite sides to themselves make for better writers. We can put ourselves in the shoes of many different characters. If that makes any sense.

She nodded. I think I know what you mean. Then I should be a good writer.

I think so, too. He patted her arm. Don't sell yourself short before anyone has a chance to read your work.

Slipha turned her head and looked at his hand on her arm. Then she looked up at him. Thanks, Malcolm. she said, smiling. I think you actually made me feel better.

That's good. he said as he stood up. He picked his dirty plate off the chair beside him. Thank you for breakfast. It was enjoyable.

Perhaps we can make a habit of it? I'm usually the first up.

That would be nice. Malcolm genuinely hoped that things might continue pleasantly between them.

The rest of the fairies emerged from their tiny homes well rested. After growing to normal size, they greeted Malcolm and started about their daily routines. Autumn and Kara went out into the forest to gather wild berries. Slipha was in the corner of the yard sitting cross-legged and writing in her book. Malcolm felt a bit of pride knowing that he might have helped spur her onward. April had gone straight to her garden and began tending it. Malcolm still felt curious about everything that went on at the fairy home, so he walked over to the garden to talk to her.

Hi. he said, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets.

Hello. she said,