Fae Found: Book One of the War of the Wings Trilogy

By Chi Obasi

She remembers nothing.

She's about to change everything.

Ava knows she's in danger the minute she wakes up as a guest of the Fae Court. Unsure of who she is or how she got there, she dis

• Language: English
• Publisher: CHIBUZO OBASI
• Release date: Oct 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735710471

Book preview

Chapter One

Shape Description automatically generated with low confidence

Her eyes flew open.

The hairs on her body raised, her skin pimply, but she couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong. Nothing around her looked familiar. She was lying on her side in an unfamiliar bed. Beyond the edge of the mattress, the only things she could see were an ornate set of dark wooden drawers and a large hanging gold mirror against the soft pastel blue wall. 

She sat up, rolling her neck. She had an odd desire to stretch her muscles, although no part of her body tensed. Energy thrummed through her as if she’d gotten a remarkably good night’s sleep. She shifted her gaze around the room and discovered she was not as alone as she’d believed.

At first, she was shocked to see another person standing at the foot of the bed; but by the time the muscles in her body froze as one, it wasn’t because she hadn’t known the woman was there. It was the wings. 

The stranger had white feathered wings arching over her shoulders, slowly stretching to their full wingspan behind her. They matched her stark white clothing and stood in sharp contrast to the deep ebony of her skin. She relaxed them back to their folded position as she stared, an amused smile on her face. 

Are you an angel? She asked the winged stranger. She wondered if somewhere between death and whatever comes next, the woman had come for her. 

I’m not an angel. Her voice was low, smooth, and soothing. "I’m a fairy."

Her heart started racing as the woman smiled serenely. Something about that pricked her mind, sending a shot of fear down her spine. Not wanting to show it, she forced a bland smile to her face. Her brain frantically worked to guess what had happened. Had she been taken? Had she fallen into a fairy ring?

She glanced around the room again. There was one single door—and the stranger stood between it and herself. Opposite the dresser, on the other side of the bed, a large window revealed white peeling tree trunks and no sign of the ground. She fought not to show the panic in her eyes as she realized she was trapped. 

Calmly, slowly, she slid back in the bed until she felt the headboard press firmly against her back through the thin fabric of her shirt. She didn’t have wings. She bit her tongue to conceal a sigh of relief. 

Ava, are you alright?

Her brain stopped, stuttered. Ava. She knew the woman was addressing her because she was the only person in the room, but it took a moment to register. That was her name—Ava. She had forgotten.

Then came a sudden rush of thoughts. She had forgotten her name. Completely. There was supposed to be more of it too, she knew, but she couldn’t remember the rest. Worse—she couldn’t remember how she had gotten it. She couldn’t remember the parents who must have given it to her—no memories of a family of any kind. She closed her eyes and tried to remember anything at all, one single thing that had happened before she woke up in the bed, but all she got was a strong sense of wrongness. If she had ever been out of the room, if she had existed before she opened her eyes, it was all gone. Her eyes snapped open and focused on the fairy in front of her.

What did you do to me? she blurted, then winced. The fairy had the upper hand in the situation. The last thing she needed to do was give her even more ammunition by admitting how vulnerable she was. Part of her, some kind of instinct, screamed that she was in danger; but she had no idea—could not remember—why. She needed to buy herself as much time as possible to gather information and figure out what to do next.

What do you mean? The fairy tilted her head and softened her eyes, the picture of confusion and sympathy. Convincing, but Ava’s instincts said it was an act. 

Why were you here when I woke up? Ava’s voice was rough, as if she hadn’t spoken in days. She cleared her throat, considering that thought. For all she knew, she had been. 

I’ve been waiting for you, Ava. Is everything alright? The fairy asked.

Mm. I hope you weren’t waiting too long for me to wake up, then. Ava forced herself to smile as she answered, non-committal, wondering if the fairy might give something away. She snuck a deep breath, hoping to calm her nerves, but her tension didn’t ease. The fairy’s gentle tone sent pangs of irritation down her spine. She was missing something crucial, some context that had slipped away with her memories.

How do you feel, Ava?

Ava noticed the tightness in the corners of her eyes despite her steady smile and soothing tone. As the strange fairy stepped closer to the bed, Ava fought the urge to scoot farther away. Showing fear would gain her nothing. If the fairy was going to hurt her, Ava knew she could have done it—could still do it—at any time. There was something keeping her from doing so, keeping the danger Ava sensed at bay. If only she could figure out what that was.

I feel… Ava let her eyes wander around the sparsely furnished room, becoming once again aware of her body. She couldn’t name what was different, but something was changed. Her muscles were relaxed from head to toe, but her skin was still pebbled, her mind still scattered, her fear still present. She tried to dig through her thoughts to find a single clue for her fear but there was nothing—just a strong sense of danger and mistrust. 

I’m a lot more relaxed, she answered. Short and vague. Until she had some answers, Ava planned to say as little as possible. The fairy nodded.

Well, would you like a bath? She asked.

Ava looked herself over. She didn’t feel dirty or seem dirty, nor did she smell. She wondered if the fairy was smelling something she couldn’t pick up or if it was a trick of some sort.

A bath? She asked. The fairy frowned. 

If you don’t want to bathe, that’s fine. I’ll step out to get you some clothes, and then you can change. 

Before Ava could respond, the fairy turned on her heel and walked out of the room. She scrambled to the edge of her bed, but before she could stand, she heard the click of the door. Frowning, Ava glanced around the room, her eyes landing on the dresser. 

She caught her own gaze in the mirror and stepped closer, coming face to face with her reflection. Her skin was smooth, even-toned, a warm, rich sepia brown that was entirely unblemished. She was lean. Her hair was pulled back into two French braids with tiny, black curls escaping at her hairline. Ava could not remember what she was supposed to look like, but something felt off. She made eye contact with her own deep brown eyes once again and quickly turned away towards the door.

It was locked, which was disappointing even though it was exactly what Ava expected. She made her way to the window next, glancing out at the forest. Dense, white trees stretched as far as Ava’s eye could see. The ground looked far enough away that a jump would definitely maim her, if not kill her outright. 

At the sound of footsteps, Ava jumped back onto the bed. The fairy walked in, carrying a bundle of white clothing, which she placed on the dresser before walking out of the room. The lock clicked again.

The clothes turned out to be a dress and some undergarments. No shoes or socks. When she put on the dress it was nearly backless, cut low and wide. She shifted awkwardly at the air brushing her bare back as she stared at herself in the mirror. 

The dress was modest from the front, but she twisted to see nearly the entire length of her spine. She knew these were fairy clothes, she felt exposed—and even more vulnerable.

The fairy knocked this time before she re-entered. Her gaze swept over Ava from the top of her head to her bare toes, but the fairy’s expression did not change, so neither did Ava’s. 

Follow me. The fairy turned, holding the door open behind her. It took a moment for Ava to respond. She fought not to look too eager as she made her way to the door. She stepped out behind the fairy, but before she could run, the fairy was behind her. She laid a gentle hand on Ava’s exposed shoulder blade, steering her forward. 

The corridor was beige and plain. To her right were three nondescript wooden doors. To the left, a hallway. That’s where they went, the fairy’s hand dropping away as Ava walked forward. In the silence, Ava took in the sparsity. The hallway was wide but empty except for the long stretch of beige walls, broken up only by various corridors. 

As we walk, I want to make sure you are prepared. You need to be careful what you say when we separate. You need to make a good impression. The fairy broke the silence, startling Ava as she spoke. At her words, Ava’s intuition ramped up a notch. Here—at last—was the danger she’d been bracing for.

In a few minutes, you are going to be taken in to speak to the Court. The only advice I can give you is to make a good—are you alright? The fairy’s tone shifted from courteous to concerned as Ava stumbled and nearly fell over in the hall.

 It was that word. The Court. Her body froze in fear and fury as soon as she heard it, sending her tumbling until she snapped out of it and righted herself. Ava took a second, begging her mind for anything, one scrap of information to explain what she was feeling, but there was nothing. She bit back her frustration, closed her eyes, and forced all her emotions to the back of her mind.

I’m fine. Sorry, what were you saying? She didn’t turn back to look at the fairy, choosing instead to resume her walk forward. 

My advice is to make a good impression. Be agreeable and polite. You need the Court to like and trust you, the fairy continued. This time, Ava’s reaction was less visceral, more easily swallowed.

What if they dislike me? She asked, trying to keep interest out of her voice. 

That is a question I hope you never get the answer to. I’ll—

Isolde! Another stranger, another fairy, stepped around a corner and walked towards them. He was taller than the woman fairy and much paler, with gray eyes and short, auburn curls. He was also dressed in all white. His stark wings extended much farther down his torso than the female fairy’s—his feathers more distinguishable than her sleek appearance. He stared past Ava, focusing entirely on the first fairy, Isolde.

The Court isn’t quite ready for her yet, and with everything you have going on, they’ve asked me to step in and help out. He smirked as he spoke. Ava fought the urge to step out from between the two of them or glance over her shoulder at Isolde’s expression. 

Very well then. Ava, this is where we part. Isolde’s voice was flat, emotionless. 

Ava did glance over her shoulder then, but Isolde had already turned, briskly walking away. She turned back to the male fairy, who stared down at her expectantly. Between the two fairies, she had no idea if things had just gotten better, or worse.

Follow me. The male fairy turned on his heel and started down the hallway. With nowhere else to go, Ava followed.

Chapter Two

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The fairy led her to a small sitting room. The pale blue walls matched the walls of the bedroom. It held two coffee-brown couches and two tan armchairs arranged in the center of the room on top of a white cable-knit rug. In the center was a low table, a marble tray placed in the center.

Ava quickly glanced away from the bland furniture to the windows at the far back of the room. They took up the majority of the wall, revealing nothing but more white, peeling tree trunks and green, oval leaves. 

Take a seat. I’ll be back for you when the Court is ready, the male fairy said from behind Ava. He was already retreating, and moments later Ava once again heard the click of a lock.

Alone, her discomfort subsided, enough for her to grow curious. Bypassing the furniture, she stepped to the window and glanced outside. 

White bark peeled back to reveal black knots and grooves—trees stretching in every direction, as far as she could see. Leaves grew on tiny branch offshoots, mostly higher up. The trees were sparse enough that sunlight crept in through the leaves, but they still formed a thick canopy above, giving the light an almost green tint. 

Ava was staring out the window when the male fairy returned. She turned to look at him and found him standing by the door, staring expectantly towards her.

Are you ready to meet the Court? He asked, wearing the same smirk as before. 

Ava wasn’t sure how she was meant to respond. Just seeing him, the tension returned to her body, a jittery urge to run. She stared, silent. When she didn’t respond, the smirk slid off his face.

We don’t have time to waste. Let’s go. He narrowed his eyes at her, then turned abruptly and walked out the door. Ava fought the urge to sprint away as she crossed the room to follow him. 

Unlike Isolde, he sped down the hall, forcing Ava to almost jog to keep up. He wasn’t concerned what she was doing behind him, completely confident that she would follow dutifully—that was unsettling. She wondered if it was because of the Court, because he knew something bad would happen if she didn’t show up. She had no intention of finding out. 

As they passed another series of empty, beige hallways, Ava wondered if the building was intentionally designed to be confusing. She had no idea if she’d be able to trace her steps back to any of the rooms she’d been to thus far, let alone find her way out. 

Ava caught herself inches away from smacking face first into white feathers as the fairy stopped in front of a grand, wooden, double door. It was thick and intricately carved with a pattern of curling vines and delicate leaves. She only had a moment to take it in before the fairy pushed both doors open, an unexpected hand to her bare back jolting her forward.

Oh, Ava breathed out, quiet as a whisper. Every other room in the building had been neutral—this one was bursting with color. There were still cream walls, a dark wooden meeting table with deep high-back chairs surrounding it, and the knit rug was still muted. No, the brightness came from the fairies. 

Until entering the room, Ava had not wondered about the color of the fairies’ wings. She was glad it hadn’t come up, that she hadn’t said anything about the white, because the group before her displayed an array of color.

Nine men and women of varying ages, skin tones, and wings sat around the table, all staring at her expectantly. Another nudge propelled Ava towards the large center table. With one last nudge she slid into the one free chair—the chair closest to the door. Each of the nine fairies stared her down, some smiling, some frowning, all intensely focused. She pressed her tongue to her teeth to hold in her fear.

You’re dismissed, Shaun. The pink fairy spoke first, glancing away from Ava to the male fairy. He bowed low, bringing his face level with Ava’s for a moment. At the sight of his smile, she frowned. His pride was nearly suffocating. All he’d done was bring her from room to room. She turned to stare straight forward, continuing to drink in the sight of the fairies surrounding her. 

Hello, Ava. Welcome to Court. The pink fairy addressed her with a thin smile. As she spoke, her voice was soft and cheerful. The hairs on Ava’s body rose, and her spine stiffened. The fairy was blonde and middle-aged with brilliant pink wings: thin, delicate, and forming gentle slopes like a butterfly's wing.

Hello. Ava feigned a pleasant smile. Forcing her shoulders down she glanced across the table as another fairy continued.

We’re eager to finally meet you. This woman had black, pin straight hair in an asymmetric bob; her brown half-moon eyes stared straight into Ava’s soul. Everything about her felt young, alive, and full of energy, though she also looked middle-aged. It stood in sharp contrast to the soft green gradient of her wings, delicate and feathered. In the brief moment their eyes met, the prickling along Ava’s spine flared up exponentially. She quickly broke the fairy’s gaze.

Do ye have any questions for us? The third to speak was bland on the outside—pale skin and eyes, pale red hair, pale yellow butterfly wings—but her voice was like a spark of lightning, full of energy and excitement. Out of every fairy she’d heard so far, this was the only one with a discernible accent.

I wouldn’t know where to begin, Ava answered, staring straight at the center of the table. Isolde had all but told her that one wrong word could doom her. Ava planned to take her cues from the Court and not say anything until she knew what they wanted from her.

We’ve scared her, the pink-winged fairy cooed, her voice ringing with false sympathy. Ava chanced a glance up, taking in the apologetic frown but eyes glimmering with glee.

I don’t want to be impolite. Ava held her forced smile as she answered, determined to seem pleasant.

Impolite? It’s only a question. You must have something you want to ask us. The orange fairy, seated directly across from Ava, was the first male fairy to speak. He was the darkest skinned in the room, though still not as deeply hued as Isolde. His hair was buzzed short, tight gray curls revealing his age, and his wings were a bright, festive orange. 

What are your names? Ava blurted the only question she could think to ask without knowing why she was there.

Oh, of course! The pink fairy spoke with that same fake smile. I’m Colette. This is Gustav, Oria, Layla, Rajeev, Xiuying, Eldad, Fiona, and Malcolm. As she spoke, she gestured to her colleagues.

Ava glanced around the circle, lining up each name to its counterpart. Colette and her pink wings. Green-winged Xiuying of the asymmetric haircut and probing gaze. Fiona of the drab, yellow wings. Malcolm, with his deep voice and orange wings. Everyone who’d spoken, she noted. The rest blurred together. Gustav had black bat wings. Oria’s wings looked like solid gold feathers, sleek and indistinguishable. Layla with hair as white as her wings, seated directly to Ava’s left. Rajeev with fire-engine red wings, to Ava’s right. Eldad, with large navy blue wings.

By the time they got around the table most of their names already felt elusive. She hoped she would remember if it ever came up again. 

Thank you, Ava responded.

I’m curious, how did you feel waking up this morning? Xiuying asked, with a slight flutter of her green wings. 

Ava’s skin pebbled under Xiuying’s gaze, and she refused to return it, keeping her attention on the table.

I felt… good. Really well rested. Relaxed, Ava answered, her mind whirring.

She wondered if it was possible the Court didn’t know she’d lost her memories—if that was a good thing or a bad thing, or worse—if the question was a trap.

Nothing unusual? White-winged Layla spoke for the first time. Everything about her from her wrinkled amber skin to her long white hair screamed her age. Even her voice sounded old.

The other fairies on the Court continued to stare at her. Ava fought the urge to wilt as tension built in the room. She kept her expression calm, unbothered, while inside she scrambled to figure out what to say. She rolled her feet under her chair, pressing her feet forward. 

How did you all come to be on the Court? Ava deflected. It felt like a safe question—a personal question.

Why do you ask?

It’s a democratic process. The white-winged and yellow-winged fairies, Layla and Fiona, spoke at the same time. With a single eyebrow raise from Layla, Fiona lowered her eyes and shut her mouth.

We are the closest thing you will find to kings and queens in this world, Ava. To get onto the Court, you have to be an exceptional fairy. After all, every fairy around the world reports to the Court; but as Fiona mentioned, we do not necessarily remain on the Court forever. There is some democracy involved. You’ll learn more about this in due time. Layla’s shuttered expression did not change as she spoke. 

There was a moment of silence, and then Colette cleared her throat.

Ava, surely you have more questions for us? Colette asked again. Her smile was sickly sweet, but there was a dark glint in her eye.

Where do I go from here? Ava asked, glancing around at the Court. Ava had been several steps behind since she’d opened her eyes. If she couldn’t get the Court to tell her something interesting, the next best thing would be to retreat. 

A long moment of stillness hung over the room. Ava was unsure if it was good or bad. Then green-winged Xiuying leaned forward in her seat, and despite herself, Ava felt every muscle in her body tense.

You don’t need to worry about that. That’s for us to decide. I’m surprised you don’t have more questions for us about the Change.

The Change? It was instinct. The question slipped out before Ava had time to think. Everything in her mind ground to a halt. Every eye widened. Every fairy leaned forward. A few glanced between Ava and Xiuying as Xiuying’s eyes met Ava’s in triumph from a challenge Ava had no idea what she’d done to provoke. 

Ava, you don’t remember going through the Change? Colette’s voice was full of thinly veiled mockery. Ava’s pulse quickened. She wondered if she could continue her charade, if it was worth it. She knew what the Change most likely meant—had to mean if she was sitting in a room full of fairies—but if she was wrong… what was the alternative?

No, Ava admitted. Something uncoiled deep within her; she had no idea if it was relief or fear. 

You recently underwent a very big change, and now you’re one of us. Xiuying smiled, a slight upturn at the corner of her mouth. 

Oh. Ava didn’t feel any different than she had before knowing. The idea felt almost familiar, and it was only the beginning of her worries. If anything, she was more worried about the why and the how. 

You have my sympathy. This must all feel so new to you. What is the last thing you remember? Malcolm asked. 

Despite herself, the rich baritone of Malcolm’s voice soothed her. Ava considered lying for a moment. She had been fully outmaneuvered, and it dawned on her she was always going to be. There was almost a relief in that.

Nothing. I can’t remember a single thing that happened before I woke up this morning. As Ava spoke her pulse picked up again, like her body was trying to warn her off speaking, but she had to learn the truth. Flexing her feet one at a time, she glanced around the table, waiting for the reaction.

That is not unexpected. It is not unheard of to lose your memories after the Change. How disorienting. Layla smiled as she spoke, white teeth gleaming.

And now what would you like to know? Colette asked.

Where are we, who am I, and why did you Change me? Ava glanced between them all once more. She wanted answers, but she still felt unsettled and on edge. Isolde’s warning still rang in her mind. She pulled her face into another pleasant smile.

You’re twenty-two. Colette started, then paused for a moment. We have a process for finding people who can become fairies. Shaun found you, saw what made you unique, and brought you back to us.

Colette. Layla’s voice was low. It was a warning. The tension in the room crescendoed, then settled abruptly back into calm.

Who knows where she would be if he hadn’t? It was darling, Colette responded, holding a tight smile.

Forgive Colette, she can’t help herself, Xiuying cut in, forcing Ava to glance back to her.

What makes me unique? Ava asked.

Every eye turned to Malcolm. That, we haven’t discovered yet, Ava, which is why you’re here. We’re still trying to find the best way to validate our hypothesis. Malcolm’s voice was calming. His words were not.

What does that mean?

Not everyone loses their memory during the Change. Most will not. ‘Tis rare. Luckily, you were brought here, where we can help you. Why not just tell us about your memories? Or Isolde? Yellow-winged Fiona asked, peering at Ava with a tilted head.

Ava shrugged, unsure how to answer the question. To her, it was obvious. She woke up in a strange place, with no memories, surrounded by mythical creatures. She was protecting herself.

Where am I from? Ava asked, ushering the conversation forward. She needed to know so much more about herself, and she wasn’t sure how much time she would have with the Court.

Unfortunately, we do not know. Other than your age, Ava, there is very little we know about you. Nothing worth dwelling on. The blue-winged fairy finally spoke up, joining the conversation. He was Eldad, Ava remembered. Young and pale, with brown curls. Ava hadn’t been sure if any of the other fairies were going to speak.

Please, even if it’s not that relevant, anything you can tell me—

Ava, let’s move on. Malcolm cut Ava off with a stern frown. She blinked in shock, scrambling to think of questions that weren’t about her origins.

How did the Change happen? Who Changed me? She asked.

We did, Xiuying answered, grinning. Ava directed her next question to Colette.

How? Why?

Oh, it’s our responsibility. You don’t need to know the details, but we find those who are capable of being fairies and bring them through the Change. Colette’s smile was frozen in place. Ava couldn’t help grinding her teeth just a bit, though she fought to keep her own pleasant smile on her face.

Will my memories come back? She’d been holding on to this question, hesitant to ask. Around the table faces shuttered, smiles dropping, eyes sliding away from her. Ava turned to Xiuying, the one person she knew would still be staring straight at her.

No. She answered, swift and curt.

The no reverberated through her whirring mind. It was what she expected, but it still hurt to hear. A loss, sinking deep in her stomach, reverberating through her body even if Ava had no memory of what she was missing.

What happens next? What are my options? Ava asked. She clenched her jaw hard to maintain her smile, dug her toes into the ground to keep her shoulders from wilting.

Options? Oh, no Ava. We’ll take care of everything. Now that we’ve had a chance to speak with you, we can deliberate and decide what to do. In the meantime, you will stay here with us as our guest. Anything else? Colette replied.

No, Ava answered. The Court hadn’t answered most of her questions, and that wasn’t an accident. 

Well then, we can conclude. Shaun. Malcolm looked up. 

Ava’s eyebrows dipped low at Malcolm’s disjointed mention of Shaun. The doors opened behind her, and she heard confident footsteps approaching.

Where should I take her? Shaun’s smug tone rang out from over her shoulder.

Back to her room. Colette’s eyes sparkled as she spoke to Shaun. 

Ava straightened, standing slowly to be sure she wasn’t missing anything. None of the fairies made a move to stop her. Instead, the Court intently surveyed her. 

It was… nice to meet you all, she offered.

She hesitated, wondering if they were really done, or if she should try to come up with one last question. Several of them nodded back to her but made no move to say anything more. She turned to Shaun, who stood with an expectant stare she was beginning to think he wore constantly. Without another word, Ava followed Shaun from the room, the doors closing behind them with a resounding thud.

☼

They walked back in a silence so pronounced Ava could hear the soft thuds of their footsteps and the swish when her arms brushed against her dress. When they arrived back at the