Seasons of Magic Volume 2: Seasons of Magic, #2

By Selina J. Eckert

The heat of summer, the colors of fall, the chill of winter, and the fresh breath of spring... This collection combines the second year of the Seasons of Magic standalone fairy tale retellings into one volume, including the previously newsletter-exclusive short story Queen of Mist and Fog.

Inside, find:

Carnival of Curses (Frog Prince)
Nell is a pro at hiding from the world... until it lands her forgotten and trapped in a dark Fae carnival. Can Nell break the curse before the carnival moves on? Or will she be stuck there forever?

The Patch (Jack and the Beanstalk)
Jack is desperate to save her family's farm. But when she trades their last hope for a box of pumpkin seeds, all she gets is a pumpkin patch full of ghosts... and a curse! Can Jack confront the spirits, break the curse, and save her friend? Or will she lose more than just the farm?

Cold Snap (Snow White)
Mermaid princess Iclyn finally inherited her ice magic. But instead of bringing her closer to her family, she finds herself exiled and on the run from the very woman meant to be her mother. Can she stop the queen's dark, illegal magic? Or will her people freeze under the spell forever?

Flotsam (The Bee and the Orange Tree)
Rue was rescued from the lake for one purpose only... to marry a monster's son. But when a piece of her past washes ashore, she begins to see what she may be missing. Can she escape to find the life she never knew? Or will she be nothing more than the next meal?

Queen of Mist and Fog (A Short Story)
One person on the run. One magical queen in pursuit. One dangerous game.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Selina J. Eckert
• Release date: Nov 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781954466197

Selina J. Eckert

Selina is a biologist-by-day, writer-by-night native of Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband, dog, and two cats and spends her time writing, reading, creating art, and dreaming about fictional worlds. Besides writing and sciencing, Selina also runs an author support business, Paper Cranes, LLC, that provides editing, consulting, and mapmaking services to authors, writers, and students. She has written two fairy-tale retelling short stories that were both finalists in Rooglewood Press short story contests and a fantasy short story, “Queen of Mist and Fog,” available through her newsletter.

Book preview

Seasons of Magic: Volume 2

Selina J. Eckert

Copyright © 2021 by Selina J. Eckert

Carnival of Curses copyright © 2020 by Selina J. Eckert

The Patch copyright © 2020 by Selina J. Eckert

Cold Snap copyright © 2021 by Selina J. Eckert

Flotsam copyright © 2021 by Selina J. Eckert

Queen of Mist and Fog © 2018 by Selina J. Eckert

www.selinajeckert.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [e-mail].

e-book ISBN: 978-1-954466-19-7

First e-book edition November 2021

Book design by dragonpenpress.com

Cover Image: Deposit Photos

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Table of Contents

Carnival of Curses

The Patch

Cold Snap

Flotsam

Queen of Mist and Fog

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Also By Selina J. Eckert

Always and forever,

For my heart and my muse.

Carnival of Curses

A Frog Prince Retelling

Chapter One

THE RUBBER FROG flew through the air, bounced off the wooden lily pad with a heavy smack, and splashed into the pond. It sank like a stone, joining piles of green rubber frogs that had met the same fate, drowned on the bottom of the frog flipper game pond.

Nell set the hammer down next to the frog paddle and turned to her friends with a shrug and a smile. Told you I was terrible at these things!

Kirsty rolled her eyes. Everyone is. That’s why they keep running them every year. No one can win, and the fair makes buckets of money.

"I bet they rigged them," Sam said under his breath, eyeing a trio of Fae striding past them.

They. The Fae. The ones who decided to join the county fair circuit last year. And this year they were back, standing apart from the humans and watching. Or performing spectacular shows full of magic and inhuman acrobatics. And hopefully not conning the humans out of too much money.

Nell turned from the booth. There was little use worrying about it, since the fair officials weren’t about to stop something bringing them so much revenue. Whatever. Let’s get some food!

Without waiting for her friends, Nell strode away from them, following her nose toward funnel cake and pierogies. She didn’t want to think about the Fae, didn’t want to get into a conversation with her friends. They would probably drag her into another talk about their amazing summer plans and college applications and honestly, she was getting enough of that from her mother. She’d only been out of school for a month, and already her mom was pushing her to go to summer school and start her college applications. There was still another full year of high school, yet college was all anyone seemed to want to talk about.

But she didn’t want any of those schools. All she wanted was to dance, to perform. Those were the times she was happy, free. Honest.

She danced into the line, dodging screaming children and harried parents, bobbing her head to the bright carnival music pumping out of the games and rides around her. Her stomach rumbled approvingly, and she smiled, drinking in the warm, humid summer air and flashing lights around her. She could already taste the browned butter and onions drenching the pierogies, and her mouth watered.

Someone rammed into her shoulder, knocking her off balance and jostling her potato-y dreams from her head.

Hey! she said, stumbling.

Sorry, sorry! came the response. A boy her age, but a good head shorter than her, kept running.

But he wasn’t any ordinary boy as far as she could tell. His skin had a green cast to it, not like he was a sick cartoon character but more like the skin of a reptile or amphibian. His eyes were an unnatural green, and his ears seemed too small to be human.

And he was being chased by the same trio of Fae they had seen only moments before across from the frog flipper game. Each one of them knocked into her, one after the other, and she fell to the dirt.

Hey! she yelled again after their retreating backs. She pulled herself up and brushed the dirt off her jean shorts and bare legs. Rude.

Kirsty joined her. What was that all about?

Nell shrugged. Got me. But who just runs through a fair like that? So inconsiderate.

Definitely.

Where’s Sam?

Kirsty twitched a thumb toward the funnel cake stand next to them. Where do you think? Knee deep in sugar.

Both girls giggled their way to the front of the line, waiting patiently for their turn and then rejoining Sam with hands full of fatty, buttery goodness. Nell would have to run an extra mile tomorrow morning to make up for it, but it was worth it.

A short girl from her homeroom hurried by in front of them, stumbling through the straw-covered mud. She was in Nell’s dance class, but she had to be the clumsiest dancer she’d ever met. And yet, the girl was determined. She showed up every class and had even shared some brochures for a fine arts program at a Philly school. Nell took one, but she kept it tucked in her desk drawer where neither her mom nor her friends would see. If they knew she talked to Karina, she’d never hear the end of it. In fact, no one at school talked to her at all, unless it was to pick on her for being a teacher’s pet.

Nell glanced at Kirsty, and the two girls snorted behind their classmate’s back. Nell hoped Karina hadn’t heard them, but she had bigger concerns than the other girl’s feelings. Like her best friends’ opinions.

The three friends made their way to one of the nearby tables, setting their red-and-white paper trays down amidst spilled salt and soda.

So, what do you guys want to do next? Nell said, taking a bite of pierogi.

Sam dug in his pocket, still chewing on funnel cake. Powdered sugar coated his lips like lipstick, and Nell had to suppress another laugh. Sam was one of those hyper-masculine jock types, and if he figured out she was laughing about that, he’d get cranky and probably ditch them.

He held up a stack of tickets. I’ve got about twenty of these left. We could probably get into the fun house. Or the Ferris wheel.

Kirsty moaned. Her tray was already empty. Ugh, I can’t do a Ferris wheel after that. Too much fat. Too many carbs. I’ll be sick.

Nell giggled again. The fun house might have the same problem.

"Yeah, but if I feel sick I can close my eyes and nothing is moving. That’s the difference, my dear."

Nell rolled her eyes good-naturedly and wiped butter off her lips. They threw their trash in the can, then mooched off Sam’s plate as they made their way down midway. Nell rubbed the end of her piece of funnel cake in the mounds of powdered sugar on the plate, enjoying the energy around them.

Tinny music blasted from the games, along with bells and whistles as people won or lost... and the accompanying cheers and groans. The sun was inching lower in the sky, so the colorful flashing lights around the games, booths, and food stands were growing brighter. The summer breeze was turning cool with the end of the day, drying the sweat from the hot afternoon sun.

Nell wanted to sample a bit of everything she could smell wafting on the breeze, but she already felt bloated from all the sugar and salt they’d just eaten. And that was a treat... one she’d have to work off in the morning. Or maybe before bed. She’d eaten so many calories it would make Ms. Popov sick. She tried to shrug it off and took a sip of Kirsty’s diet soda. It’d be fine. She would burn off the calories, and her dance instructor need never know.

They reached the fun house just as Sam finished the last bite of funnel cake and dumped the plate in a trash can. He handed them both five tickets, the cost of admission to the fun house, and they passed them to the ticket-taker before stepping into line. But the line moved fast, and before they knew it, they were at the door.

The air was oppressive, heavy, and damp. Didn’t they have an air conditioner running? Nell fanned herself as she followed behind Sam and Kirsty. A gust of warm air hit her as they passed through the first door. Maybe their A/C was broken.

Ugh, I’d kill to be this skinny, Kirsty said, posing in front of one of the mirrors.

Nell walked up next to her. The mirror stretched her out even taller and thinner than a twig. But it also erased the pretty hourglass she normally had. She was by no means skinny, her limbs strong and thick from years of training, but the caricature was a bit much for her.

Eh, maybe not quite this skinny, Nell said. I think my legs would snap if I tried to dance like that.

Kirsty stared at her reflection with a pout for several more seconds before they moved on. The hall of mirrors was only the first room, and there were people waiting to come in behind them.

The next room was filled with foam-covered pillars reaching up from the floor and swinging from the ceiling. Kirsty elbowed Nell, waggled her eyebrows, then sent one of the swinging pillars toward Sam.

It hit him with a thunk and an oof from him, and the girls laughed, the sound filling the room and echoing around the sounds of other parties laughing, yelling, and chatting.

Sam turned around, also laughing, but a mischievous spark lit his eyes. Oh, now you’ve done it!

The three descended into all-out war with the foam, screaming and laughing as they dodged and attacked.

And then pounding footsteps on the ground shook the mat beneath their feet. The same green boy from earlier ran into the room, followed closely by the three Fae. Now that they were closer to her, Nell could see the boy was attired in the normal street clothes of a high schooler, but the Fae were all wearing elaborate costumes, as if they were in the middle of a performance.

Why were they after him?

The boy weaved between the posts, swinging bags at the Fae, and Nell and her friends shrank back out of the way. Maybe if they didn’t make a sound, if they didn’t move, the Fae wouldn’t notice them.

One of the swinging beams smacked a short, bearded Fae in the gut, and he stumbled back, right into a tall female Fae dressed all in white. She was covered head to toe in white-silver sequins that matched her long, plaited hair, and a crystal hung around her neck.

That’s enough! she yelled. The crystal pulsed with violet light, and she raised her hands from her sides.

A blast wave that felt like an explosion rippled through the room. Nell squeezed her eyes shut against the pressure, raising her arm to protect herself from the wave of magic. After it passed, she opened her eyes but found she couldn’t lower her arm or straighten from her sheltered position.

She rolled her eyes around, trying to see the Fae. None of them were affected, and all three were picking their way through the room around the humans and toward the green boy, who appeared to be as frozen as Nell and her friends.

Nell’s heart sped up, and her chest began to constrict, like a python had wrapped itself around her and was slowly squeezing the air from her lungs. Why couldn’t she move? What were the Fae doing?

One of the Fae passed so close to her that she could smell the woman’s magic scent of peonies and honeysuckle, mixed with a metallic tang she couldn’t identify. Nell’s chest began to ease when she showed no interest in Nell. Instead, they all circled the boy, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him out of the room.

As the Fae disappeared, the pressure in the room dissipated, and Nell collapsed to the floor next to Kirsty.

Chapter Two

NELL SHUDDERED AS the trio of friends exited the fun house. That was awful.

She’d never felt so out of control, even on the days she fought with her mother over her college prep (or lack thereof). Despite the humid heat of summer surrounding them like a heavy blanket, she still felt cold, as if she’d spent the last few hours out in a snowstorm. She scanned the area immediately around them, but everything seemed as it had been when they left: the same bright, tinny music, the same flashing lights that were growing brighter with every fraction the sun descended in the sky, and the same pressing crowds. There was no sign of the Fae or their unfortunate prey.

Maybe we should call it a night, Kirsty said. We can always come back tomorrow. That’s when my competition is, anyway.

Nell nodded absently and glanced at the animal tent down toward the end of the row where they now walked. Do you need to do anything today? Is Sweet Tea good to go?

Yeah, my parents are taking care of the last-minute stuff. I just have to be ready tomorrow for judging.

Kirsty was part of the 4-H group, showing her goat. Some of their other classmates were competing with her, but Kirsty had been showing the animals from her parents’ farm for so many years that she was a shoo-in to at least place.

Are you still nervous? Sam asked, strangely subdued.

Kirsty shrugged. I mean, I’ve had pretty good luck with the goats. But I never even placed with the pigs the last few years.

Maybe this is your year, Sam responded.

The friends headed toward the exit, even though they hadn’t actually agreed to leave. But the closer they grew to the bridge over the swamp to the parking lot, the less Nell heard. The sounds faded along with the color saturating the fair.

All except one booth, just ahead to the right. It was small, only as large as a picnic table, and had a green banner draped across the top with bright red lips painted on one side of it. A kissing booth?

Nell’s steps slowed. The green boy was slumped behind the counter, looking defeated. He looked up and met her eyes with his own pitiful, vibrant green stare, and her stomach flipped at the look of desperation.

Help, she thought she could hear him say.

Kirsty tugged on Nell’s arm, and the sound and color flooded back into the world around her. Come on.

And then the Fae, the one in the white bodysuit, was there. She stared straight into Nell’s soul.

Step right up, the woman said. Even though the words were spoken normally, somehow she could still hear them over the noise of the crowds.

Nell tried to hurry by, but froze as a wave of magic swept toward her, cementing her in place.

You know you want to.

And then the Fae woman was gone.

But she was right. Nell did want to. After all, what could it hurt? They were here for fun, weren’t they? And what harm could there possibly be in kissing a green Fae boy? No one would ever know, and she’d never see him again.

One more game, Nell threw over her shoulder at Kirsty.

But Nell— Kirsty began.

Nell was already in front of the counter, dropping two tickets into the jar for her kiss. The boy sat mournfully behind the counter, pleading with his eyes.

For a kiss?

Nell leaned forward, and the boy dutifully, though lifelessly, pressed his lips against hers. She turned to leave, but his hand struck out and grabbed her arm.

Please, you have to help me, he whispered.

No, she didn’t. It was a game, this was all nothing but a game.

They’re holding me here, I need to get out, he started again, frustration blossoming on his face. My family, they’re—

A ghostly image of the Fae woman appeared next to him, and his too-wide mouth snapped shut. The image faded.

He leaned forward, lowering his voice even more. Please.

What was wrong with him? There was desperation in his eyes, a desperation that warned her away, told her she was in danger.

She had to get out of there.

Sure, she said, backing away and peeling his fingers off her arm. But I have to go now.

His face fell, and he released her. You can’t go, he said. Not now. You kissed me. You listened. You have to tell the truth!

She turned and ran, grabbing Kirsty and Sam on her way toward the gate. They spluttered in surprise, but followed her past the lady handing out programs and across the bridge, not pausing to look at the swampy ground the bridge spanned, even though there were almost always turtles and frogs to be seen.

They were in the car and speeding off before Nell really knew what was happening, but then her blind panic began to fade, along with the strange numb feeling that had prompted her to kiss the boy.

***

It took over an hour for Nell to fall asleep after Sam dropped her off. Her room felt heavy, the summer air close around her despite the breeze coming through her bedroom windows. The boy’s eyes invaded her consciousness, the pain in them, the fear. The longer it had been since the kissing booth, the more she remembered.

What had he meant, that she had to tell the truth? Why was he so desperate for her to stay?

She’d never known Fae to have that effect. Did the fair organizers know Fae were manipulating humans to spend money? Would they manipulate them during their shows, too? Make them leave tips or good reviews?

She shuddered at the thought, a cold sweat drenching her body.

Nell threw off the covers. She’d never sleep at this rate. She stood up on her bed, pulling the cord to turn on her ceiling fan before throwing herself back down on the mattress.

She must have fallen asleep at some point, because the next thing she knew, the sun was streaming through the windows, and the damp, cool night was replaced with sun-warmed air that promised a hot day.

Last night’s food sat like a rock in her stomach, and she forced her gritty eyes open. Kirsty’s competition was starting after lunch, and she had to run off all the extra calories before it got too hot. She pushed herself up and threw on her workout clothes and sneakers, making her way downstairs to the kitchen.

Her mom sat at the table, a steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of her, next to her day planner. Don’t forget your summer program is starting next week. Have you started reading the materials yet?

Good morning to you, too, Nell mumbled.

Her mom had signed her up for a summer program for accelerated learning, hoping to boost Nell’s less-than-perfect grades. She’d gotten mostly Cs last semester, not even close to good enough for her perfectionist mother, but school wasn’t her thing. She could still get into the community college, she was sure. If it came to it, she could just work at the dance studio or even the grocery store.

But what she really wanted was that fine arts program Karina had shared with her. The one at the liberal arts school in Philly. One possible path to making her the professional dancer of her dreams.

None of these things were acceptable career paths to her family, though, and so she’d never told her mom. Never told anyone, other than Karina. How could she?

But she was running out of time. If she didn’t speak up soon, she’d be stuck living someone else’s life.

What if I said I didn’t want to go? Nell said, loud enough that her mom would hear her. It was the closest she had ever come to the truth: a hypothetical question.

I didn’t ask what you wanted, she responded, turning a page in the planner and marking something down. Why can’t you be more like Kirsty? She’s doing 4-H and an Ag class this summer. That will look great on her application.

Yeah, but she wants to be a dairy farmer. I don’t.

This class isn’t for farmers. But it will help you get into college. Isn’t Sam doing a prep course of his own, some kind of extracurricular to put on his applications?

He’s doing a first responder course with the ambulance company.

See? Both of them are doing productive things with their summers. Why shouldn’t you at least try to improve something about yourself?

Mom, I have dance three times a week. That will look good on my applications, too.

Really, Nell? Her mom frowned at her. Dance is great, but how does that show how you’ll be a good citizen? What you’ll give back to society? We want your applications to glow so much that any college would be stupid not to take you. You need more.

Nell sighed. It was a futile fight. Nothing she did was enough. It wouldn’t do any good to remind her that Sam was trying to get into med school, something much more demanding than her own plans, even if she only made it to community college. Or at least that’s what her mom kept saying every time she reminded Nell how she almost failed junior year.

She missed the days before her mom went all college-brain on her. Even their evening cleaning time together, which used to be nothing but laughter and real talk about her life while they cleaned up after dinner together, was growing tense.

Her mom sighed. You could at least try instead of fighting me at every turn. Don’t you get tired of it? I miss my happy, pleasant daughter. Will this teenage phase be over soon?

Nell tightened her ponytail, blinking back tears. So now her personality was the problem, too. She wasn’t trying to be unpleasant. But her mom never listened to what she wanted.

I didn’t do anything, Mom, she said softly. If her mom wanted angsty, bitter teen, she’d give it to her. Maybe you should stop trying to force me to live up to your expectations. Just because you didn’t do everything you wanted with your life doesn’t mean I have to do it for you.

Her mom winced, and she almost regretted her words.

I’m going for a run, Nell said, turning on her heel. Since apparently her grades and her personality wouldn’t live up to any expectations, she had to at least keep up her cardio for Ms. Popov.

Rolling her eyes, she shoved her ear buds in on her way out the door.

It was a good thing she’d made it out when she did. It was already almost eighty degrees, and it would only grow hotter as the sun rose. Her blood boiled in the aftermath of the fight, yet she almost felt cold. Maybe she shouldn’t have said those things.

She jogged up the driveway and toward the road off her house, a wooded back road that had plenty of shade and quiet. Even with the shade, it only took a few jogging steps for her to be covered in sweat, but the repetitive motion of the run numbed her disquiet over the events of the previous night and the issues with her mom.

Something darted across the road ahead of her, drawing her attention back to the road, but it moved too fast for her to make out. Hopefully not a bear; they had been seen around the area recently. Maybe she should turn around.

She spun, maintaining her pace as she checked for traffic and crossed the road to jog back to the house, but drew up short as a figure appeared in front of her. She skidded to a halt, nearly falling on the slippery gravel.

You, she huffed.

The green boy hobbled over to her, his wide feet slapping the pavement. Have you figured out how to help me? You promised.

Her stomach flipped. Oh, yeah. She had promised that. But she had hoped it would just be enough to get away, to avoid seeing him again. She hadn’t expected him to chase her down, and certainly not so soon.

He had to be desperate. But why? And would it put her in danger?

Um... she started.

The boy stared at her, first with hope, but then anger as comprehension dawned on him. You never intended to help me.

She could feel her face flush hot with embarrassment under the sweat. I’m sorry. But you don’t understand! The Fae are dangerous to us humans. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to help a Fae against one of their own.

You think I’m Fae? The boy looked down at himself, seeming surprised. Oh, right.

Nell tilted her head at him. What did he mean by that?

He looked back up at her, anger still in his eyes, and took a step closer. She cringed back, her eyes on the sheen of his green skin, amphibian-like. Was he slimy?

Her motion seemed to anger him more. "You’ll understand soon enough. I warned you. I warned you not to lie. She is always looking for excuses."

And then he turned back toward the woods, dropping into a crouched position and hopping away.

Chapter Three

NELL CLAPPED AND cheered from her place in the bleachers as a line of high school students leading goats paraded through the arena. Kirsty was near the middle, holding a shining silver collar around the neck of a Nubian goat. It was black with white spots, and its long ears flopped with every step.

The line of students stretched from one end of the arena to the other, coming to a stop as they spread out evenly, and each handler raised their goat to a table for the judges to observe. The three judges, ribbons that identified them pinned to their chests, began