Nissa: A Contemporary Fairy Tale

By Bethany Lopez

At 900 years old, Nissa is finally ready to follow her mother's path and become the best Fairy Godmother she can. She’s not thrilled when her first assignment turns out to be a teenage human girl with self-esteem issues, but she knows she has to start somewhere. Her assignment has dealt with bullies since her freshman year and they haven’t let up. If Nissa can’t help her regain her self-confidence her future is bleak.

To complicate matters Nissa experiences all the signs that she's met the being fated for her. This impossibility distracts her from her purpose. After all, fairies and humans aren't meant for each other. How can her heart believe otherwise? Can Nissa successfully complete her first assignment as a Fairy Godmother? Will the fates allow Nissa and Levi to be together? And even if they do, will Levi believe Nissa once she reveals the truth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Feb 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781478283102

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

dream!

Chapter One

I’m only 900 years old, which is relatively young for a fairy godmother, equivalent to an eighteen year old human.

My clan is considered small amongst the fairies of our woods as I only have six brothers and four sisters. Normally, woodland fairies cannot be godmothers or godfathers, but our mother was a fairy godmother before she partnered with my father, so it’s in our bloodline.

My mother is a descendant of the Huldafolk. They’re known for their kindness and generous spirit, which makes them ideal Godparents for humans.

My father is a Feeorin, a capricious lot, with a love of singing and dancing. We get our red hair from our father and pale skin from our mother, although I often wished for the green complexion of my father’s family.

Despite the differences in their clans, my parents knew immediately that they were meant for each other. My mother had returned from a mission and my father was singing at the Midsummer’s Eve feast. It was love at first sight.

My parents were lucky to find each other when they reached their mature forms and were old enough to be bound.

Once they met, fell in love, and The Fates determined they could be partnered, my mother chose to forgo her fairy godmother status and stay permanently in the woods with my father. She could, however, pass her status on to one of her children.

Our parents love to tell us the story of how they met and fell in love and how The Fates help all of us find love.

When fairies find the person they’re fated for, we love each other for all eternity. Our bodies give us signs to help us realize that we have found the one.

When you come in to contact with a fae with whom you experience a strong connection, your heart pounds like a drum, your right hand begins to tingle to the point of itching, and your eyes will momentarily turn pink to match your yearning heart.

When all of these things occur, you may appeal to The Fates for a blessing of your union. If The Fates do not agree that the union is everlasting, you will not be allowed to see each other again in this lifetime. If they agree that you are meant to be, the joining of your lives would begin in that moment and will not end until the passing of both beings.

What happens if you never feel the signs, Mama? my younger sister, Ella often asked our mother.

Don’t worry, sweet girl, Mother always assured her. It’s in our nature to enjoy lives full of love.

We all love to hear the stories and can’t wait to feel the stirrings of fate. I always dreamed of finding my fate, but I also wished to follow my mother’s path and be a Godparent. The thought of helping humans reach their potential or overcome a hardship really called to me. I wanted to make a difference, and be a part of something grander than the woods of my youth.

My brothers and sisters have no interest whatsoever in being a Godparent. They’re content to rule the woods and live a happy and carefree life.

We all look alike, with our fair skin and bright red hair. Our wings are the feature that separates us. Each pair is unique, a reflection of our personalities.

When it comes to personality, I’m the odd one of the bunch. Similar to my brothers and sisters, I love to frolic and dance, and I’m always ready to join them on a merry chase, but they often joke that if I can’t be found, listen for signs of the injured or brokenhearted. I’ll be there trying to fix the situation.

The day I finally gathered the courage to talk to my parents about my desire to follow my mother’s path, I came upon them sitting outside our dwelling, enjoying the glow of a lightning bug.

My mother looked up at me, her pleasure at my approach evident, but I noticed the concern on her face as if she had been awaiting my arrival and knew the outcome of our conversation.

What is it, sweet girl? We know something has been bothering you, my mother began as I walked closer, my wings fluttering gently in the breeze of the cool morning. She held my father’s hand in hers, as if it were an extension of her own.

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but I haven’t known how to tell you until now, I said softly, staring down at the ground. I want to help people, as you did, Mama. I want to train to become a godmother.

They looked at each other, smiled, then looked back at me.

Of course you do, honey, my father said with a quiet voice.

You already knew? I looked out over the pond outside our home, relieved that they weren’t upset.

Nissa, of all of our children, you are the most like your mother; kind hearted, giving, and sensitive. Your siblings are content with life here and will be happy as they are, but we knew that you would be the one to choose this path.

They weren’t sad about my decision, sad that it meant I would have to leave the woods. Knowing that this would make me happy and fulfill my destiny made it easier for them to accept.

In between helping humans, I was free to come home and visit my family for a while before I accepted a new mission.

After finally finishing three years of training, which consisted of classroom education, use of magic, and finally, hands on experience, I was about to embark on my first project without my trainer, Fairy Godfather Titus, who had been with me since my first day at Headquarters.

When I volunteered and was accepted to be a Fairy Godmother, I received the initial welcome packet. Once I had completed all of the entrance documents, I reported to Headquarters to meet my trainer and begin my three years of training. I was given a room, and was instructed to wait there for my trainer.

You must be Nissa.

I was so nervous and unsure of my surroundings that I hadn’t noticed the tall, grey-haired fairy enter my room until the boom of his voice startled me.

I’m Titus, he said by way of introduction. Follow me so we can begin your training.

The frown never left his face, and before I had a chance to reply, I was rushing after him down the hall.

That was how my training began, and pretty much set the tone for the next three years.

The magic portion of the training was my favorite part. I loved the feeling of calmness that passed through me when I knew the magic was working. I enjoyed manipulating objects and feelings, and the pride that came with success.

The classroom was a necessary evil, but I dreaded the days I had to stay inside. It was interesting to learn about the history of Fairy Godparents, and to read about past projects, but I longed to be outside practicing magic.

Once the magic and classroom training was complete and Titus deemed me ready, we began the practical training.

For the first project, Titus took the lead. The second one we completed together. For the third project, I was the lead, but Titus was there as back up.

Now that I had completed all facets of my training, I was finally a Fairy Godmother.

I knew Titus was happy that my training was complete. Not that I was a bad pupil or anything, he got very frustrated with my approach. He wanted me to be stern and detached with the projects, but I preferred to treat humans as I would my own friends and family. Being a Godparent would be very lonely, in my opinion, if I didn’t make friends along the way.

Titus started in this business five thousand years ago and had been a trainer for two thousand years. He only had one more fairy to train and then he could retire. Since fairies generally live anywhere from twelve to fourteen thousand years, he would have more than a few years left to enjoy his retirement.

After dealing with young fairy pupils and the projects we took on, he was more than ready to find a sweet little fae to settle down with and enjoy a quiet life.

As a thank you for the last few years, I decided to surprise Titus with a little gift.

Tomorrow he started training his new pupil and I began my new project. Once that happened, I wouldn’t see him again unless I was having problems and he needed to come in and save me.

I really hoped that it wouldn’t come to that, so I needed to say goodbye today.

I was in the cafeteria of the training building, putting the finishing touches on the dew drop sweetcake I made for Titus. I made it with boysenberry, his favorite, and decorated it with his initials. It looked delicious and I hoped he liked it.

Titus walked in to get his morning cup of hot nectar. If he didn’t get his nectar, you could forget about him acknowledging you. He was usually quite grumpy in the morning. I watched as he added a dash of bitter to take some of the sweetness away and took the first sip. He sat at his favorite table in the corner and opened the paper to read. Once he was settled in and sipping on his drink, I picked up the sweetcake and went over to join him.

The bells in my hair jingled as I walked, alerting him of my approach.

You are no longer my pupil, Nissa, so our morning meetings are no longer necessary. Titus’s voice came out in a big boom, but I knew he was really a sweetheart underneath all of his bluster. His hair was naturally grey and stuck out in wild tufts framing his face. I always wanted to reach out and tame it, but I feared he would be embarrassed, so I left it alone.

I smiled broadly at him and replied, Good morning, Titus. I made you this sweetcake, your favorite, to say thank you and goodbye. I hope your next pupil is a quick study and you get to retire as soon as possible.

I set the sweetcake in front of him and saw him struggle to hide the delight that spread across his face. Without invitation, I sat across from him and grabbed one of his hands in mine.

I mean it, Titus. I’ll miss you.

He looked into my eyes and said, Nissa, you have the makings of a great godmother. You need to focus on the task you are given, not on the emotions of the project, and you will be fine.

I felt myself grow warm and the blush run through my body. Once it reached my wings they slowly lit up and shimmered with delight.

Sometimes being a fairy is so embarrassing.

Thank you, Titus. That means a lot to me. I’ll let you enjoy your morning ritual before the work day begins. Good luck with your new pupil. I hope you enjoy the sweetcake.

With that, I stood to leave.

As I walked past him, I stopped briefly to kiss his cheek.