Riley's Fairytale: Envoy Book 1

By Casey Bunch

When Riley first moved to this new home, she discovered a fantastic surprise--the previous owner had left a neglected fairy village in the back corner of the garden.

Using mending the village as a sort of therapy to adjust to her new life, Riley throws herself into rejuvenating it.

Riley begins to make friends and even shows her village to some of them. She begins to feel like her life is coming together: a great school life, loving and supportive parents, and a perfect village.

That all changes when real pixies move in and claim the village as their new home.

Now, Riley finds herself balancing the secret that fairies are real while trying to keep them safe from something that is stalking them in the night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781387345182

Book preview

Chapter 1

Riley gently set the last box on the floor and stretched.

Moving was hard.

She had been carrying boxes from downstairs up to her room all morning and could finally say that she was completely finished. Luckily, her mom and dad had carried the heavy boxes earlier.

Her mom stopped by her door with yet another small box clasped in her arms, If that’s the last one, you can go ahead and unpack whatever you want for today. We have all week to finish getting these boxes out of the house. Let me know if you’re missing anything, I’m putting the unmarked boxes in the spare room for now.

Sure, Mom, Riley unenthusiastically replied.

So far, Riley had a bed—but no linens, a desk—with no art supplies, and a rug—but it was rolled up in the corner instead of spread neatly across the floor near her bed like she liked. It was like the room was hers and a stranger’s room at the same time.

It would take a while before this place actually felt like home.

She crossed to the window and pulled the curtains wide apart to let more natural light into the room. From here, she could see straight down to the roof of the screened-in porch and past it to the garden that spanned the width of the yard. The garden was filled with a riot of colors, but she could tell even from here that it needed some work.

The coolest part of the garden was a hedge that was taller than she was which wrapped all the way around the garden, containing all the bright flowers in a border of dark green. A small wooden gate stood exactly in the middle of the garden.

I’m going to unpack faster than ever, Riley called to her mom, knowing she was still down the hall, I really want to go to explore the garden.

That sounds like an excellent plan, Laura, her mom, replied, I’ll walk out there with you after I finish sorting these boxes into the correct rooms. You should be almost done by then.

Riley threw herself into motion, tearing open the tape on the boxes and dumping the contents on the floor in the middle of the room.

She carefully sorted the contents into their appropriate places around the room.

Two hours later, she sat in the middle of the mess from the last box.

Hey, baby, her mom said, Almost done?

I’m tired of looking at my stuff and thinking about places to put things. Can we go now if I finish this tonight after dinner?

Laura glanced at the pile, There’s really not that much left, so I’ll allow it. Want to go look at the garden now?

Riley’s face split into a grin, I’d love to! She bounced to her feet and bounded down the stairs to get her shoes from near the front door.

A few minutes later and they were both walking down the path to the little gate which led to the garden.

Have you looked at the garden from up high yet? Riley asked.

Not since we were here looking at the house last time, but that’s been a while. Have you?

Riley nodded, I can see perfectly into it from my room. There are flowers blooming everywhere right now. I could see a lot of brown that shouldn’t be there, though.

Well, her mom replied, I know that the couple who lived here before us were older. The wife loved to garden, but her husband got sick, and she had to spend her gardening time caring for him. I think we can fix up anything that needs it, right?

We definitely can, Riley said, We can make it beautiful for the rest of the summer and even better before next year.

I like the way you think, her mom said as they reached the gate and opened it. Riley stepped through and onto a path lined with paving stones. Each stone had some kind of plant growing in-between, something that smelled herby as it was crushed beneath their shoes.

As they walked the meandering path, Laura pointed out flowers to Riley and Riley showed her all of the squirrels and birds she saw.

Near one of the back corners, Riley spotted something among all of the green. Whatever it was, was a faded red color sticking out above some overgrown grass.

Mom, she asked, Can I go see what that is?

It’s off the path, so be careful, we don’t know what snakes or other animals you could run into while you’re out here.

I’ll be careful, Riley replied, exaggeratedly lifting her feet as she stepped off the path and into the overgrown grass.

She approached the red thing cautiously. Reaching out a tentative hand, she gently grasped the object by a lip around the top and pulled it free of the grass and dirt.

Dirt clung to the bottom of the object, obscuring most of it, but Riley could see that it was shaped like a mushroom. Turning it over in her hands, it took a few moments for recognition to sink in.

Mom, she called, It’s a fairy house!

Like the ones at the craft store?

Yes! It’s just like that, except it’s older and dirty. I think the side is cracked a bit, too. Think we can fix it and put it back out here?

Is that the only thing over there? her mom asked, Don’t they usually come in little groups or villages?

Riley poked around in the tall grass, There’s so much more here! With her excitement increasing, Riley eagerly searched through the entire area to find everything the previous owner had left.

Riley carefully cleaned and sorted each item she had pulled from the neglected corner of the garden. When she was done, she counted nine fairy houses, a gazebo, three tiny ceramic plants, one broken bridge, and fifteen small gemstone-like steppingstones.

Her mom brought her an old toothbrush and a bowl of warm soapy water so she could immediately set to work cleaning them. Over the next few days, her mom helped her repair each piece and then Riley gave everything a new coat of paint.

After everything was complete, Riley cleaned the area where she had found the small village. Her dad helped her cut the grass and move some stones to form a new border. She used a small shovel to dig out a fairy sized pond and a stream that gently wound around the village.

The days quickly turned to weeks as Riley continued to work on her small village. Every weekend, she and her mom would go to the craft store to pick up some new item or accessory.

Soon, Riley had the perfect spot to play. Her fairy village had everything she could think of—large houses with tiny ones clustered around, a gazebo in the middle of the village with real and ceramic flowers lining the walkways, and paths that connected each house. Bridges spanned tiny streams which her dad had connected to solar powered pumps so the water always flowed. The jewel bright steppingstones gleamed in the sunlight and reflected tiny rainbows onto the walls of the little mushroom and tree trunk shaped homes. Lights twinkled at night from a tiny string of lights that draped over little wooden poles, creating a perfect, shining beacon in the dark.

Her favorite thing to do in the afternoons was to sit on the little stone bench her dad had erected next to the little village. Her mom had even allowed her to make a path to the area with real paver stones. It almost made up for her having to move to a different state.

Chapter 2

School started at the beginning of August, and Riley forced a smile onto her face each day she had to see all the new faces.

Her old school had been one of the ones which you were enrolled in from kindergarten all the way through twelfth. This school district was much larger and there were different schools for elementary, middle, and high school. Riley was starting eighth grade this year. At thirteen, she was attending the first new school since kindergarten, and it was stressful. Plus, she would have to do it all over again next year when she began high school.

She found it hard to navigate the new social circles and tried to quietly fit in with the flow.

The only class she immediately enjoyed was Math. She found it easier than the other classes and there was always a right answer.

On her third day, she sat down with a sigh and lowered the heavy backpack to the ground. She immediately started to pull out the book and folder.

Hey, New Girl.

Riley looked up at the girl seated across the aisle. She was smiling at Riley in a friendly way.

Hello, aisle neighbor, Riley said.

Kiah, the girl replied.

Riley, she responded.

The boys in our gym class were wondering if you moved here from another state or just from another city, Kiah said.

Riley bit her lip, not liking the idea of people talking about her when she couldn’t hear them.

I’m from Pennsylvania originally, so Georgia isn’t that different, but it definitely is another state, Riley said.

I knew it! Kiah said, her whisper-yell catching the attention of the boy in front of her.

Keep it down, he hissed, You know Mr. Miller hates chatting. Talk during free period.

Riley blushed and faced front again.

Kiah poked the boy with her pencil eraser, Braydon here just doesn’t want to be included if we get in trouble.

Shh, he hissed.

Riley grinned watching the interaction, but obediently faced the front as the teacher walked to the board to begin class.

After Math, Riley had lunch. The first few days, she had sat alone at a table near the tray return so she didn’t have to ask anyone if she could sit with them. Today, she happened to look up and see Kiah waving at her from a table that was more central in the large room.

Hey, Kiah, she said, setting her tray beside the girl and letting her backpack slide to the floor next to the chair.

Everyone, Kiah said, gesturing at the people around her, This is New Girl, Riley. Riley, this is everyone. You already know Braydon here, she playfully elbowed the boy next to her, The others are Lisa, Taylor, and Jackson.

Braydon frowned at Kiah but adjusted his glasses and nodded at Riley as she sat down. Two blonde girls and a boy with messy black hair smiled at her and Riley waved awkwardly at them. Sitting with five people around her felt much different than sitting alone.

We already established that she is from out of state, Kiah said around a bite of food, So, we’re going to have to show her around Savannah.

Show me around? Riley asked, I’ve only been to the school, the grocery store, and a few craft stores. I’m not sure I’m up for more yet.

Lisa and Taylor laughed together. We go to the movies together at least twice a month. The mall here isn’t very special, but there are some outlet stores that are interesting, Lisa said, We also go to the island to the beach, so it’s not too crazy.

I came from a small town in Pennsylvania, Riley said, There was basically nothing to do except get fast food and hike. Lots of hiking trails.

Taylor made a face, Yeah, this city might not be much, but there’s definitely more to it than trails.

We could go to the movies this weekend, Kiah said, Saturday has a matinee show that’s cheaper. We can use the extra money for all the snacks.

You and your snacks, Braydon smirked, I swear you should be the size of a linebacker with how much you eat. Witchcraft, I tell you.

Jackson just shook his head, letting his smooth black hair swing down onto his forehead, Shopping and eating, he told Riley, Welcome to our lives.

Sounds fun to me, Riley said.

They spent the rest of the lunch period planning for the weekend, and Kiah surprised Riley by asking her to spend the night Saturday so they could spend the whole day together and not have to worry about getting her home by curfew.

I’ll ask my mom, Riley said, smiling as she dumped her tray and turned towards the hall that led to her English class, I know she’ll let me.

Since most of these guys have band now, I’ll walk with you to English, Jackson said.

Oh, Riley frowned, I didn’t know you were in my class.

Yep, Jackson said, pushing his hair out of his eyes, I sit in the back, so you probably just didn’t see me.

Riley shook her head, I’m not very observant sometimes. I try to be invisible when I’m uncomfortable in a situation.

You’re new, Jackson shrugged, "I get it. I was too, last year.