Mercatus

The fairy gripped her forearm tightly and a burst of blue light left Sam staggering back, rubbing her eyes furiously against the spots in her vision.

“Luck! What the heck was…” Lowering her hands, Sam spun on the spot. They were in her living room.

“How are we back home?! What did you do?!”

“I brought you home, obviously.” Floating back up into the air, he folded his arms over his chest, matching her glare with one of his own.

“How? You didn’t use the gate!”

“Only humans need the gate,” Luck sneered down his nose at her. “We have our own means.”

“Okay, then, why?!”

“Because. It. Is. Not. Safe. Are you not listening?”

“Then why do you care? All you’ve done is hurt me and mess with me. So why not just ditch me to go find my mom on my own?”

Luck groaned, dragging his hands down his face in frustration once more.

“Because, if you get hurt doing something stupid, then I can’t go home, you irritating little whelp!!” He landed with an audible thud, baring his unnaturally sharp teeth in Sam’s face.

That made Sam pause, her own scowl slipping from her face.

“...what does that mean…?”

“Ugh, sweet Titania, you ask so many questions…” Luck groused, rubbing his temples.

“Maybe if you answered them once in a while, I wouldn’t have to ask so many,” Sam pointed out. 

“Well, if you hadn’t fallen down a blasted hill, then neither of us would be in this mess,” he fired back. Before Sam could ask, he actually elaborates without prompting.

“You were supposed to get lost for an hour or two, tops. You weren’t supposed to actually get hurt. Now, I’m stuck minding you until the Court thinks I’ve ‘learned my lesson’. Absolutely ridiculous, how do you miss a hill like that, anyway?!”

“It was foggy, you fuzzy-eared - wait… ‘mind me’?! What does that mean?!”

“How was the night being foggy an excuse for not watching where you’re going!”

“It was thick, Luck, and humans can’t see through thick fog.” Sam explained to the fairy and he actually appeared to be somewhat bemused by this revelation. His blue eyes grew wide before he winced, sheepishly.

“...you can’t?”

“No!” Tugging off her hat, Sam sunk into the green armchair her mom typically sat in to read. Running a hand through her hair, a sudden thought occurred to her.

“Wait...you didn’t mean to hurt me, then?” She watched the fox-like fairy perch himself on the window seat, purposefully avoiding her gaze.

“....no. We’re not supposed to hurt children.” Sam leaned forward, head cocking to the side curiously.

“But don’t fairies sometimes steal babies and replace them with Changelings?”

“Rumors,” he dismissed with a scoff and a wave of his hand. “The point is… it was an accident. I didn’t even know you’d gotten hurt until I got home and the Court summoned me.”

“Okay… I guess I can accept you didn’t mean to do it but… why couldn’t my mom find me right away? She said the spell kept sending her in circles.” Luck had the decency to look a little ashamed.

“Well, you are a witch. Getting you lost wouldn’t have been any fun if you just magic-ed your way out of it. I… suppose I may have overdid it.”

“That explains it all, I guess…” Sam stared at the fairy expectantly until he finally grew irritated, his tail flicking in annoyance.

“What? What are you staring at?” 

“I’m waiting for an apology! You only explained what happened, but you haven’t said you’re sorry for it.” Luck let out a derisive laugh.

“I’m not apologizing!”

“Ugh, you’re such an asshole!” Sam jumped up, stomping her foot furiously. She didn’t normally use such language, but her mom wasn’t exactly here to scold her for it. At least it had Bad Luck looking properly offended, again.

“How dare you?! You are so - wait, what are you doing?” Sam ignored him, heading into the hallway to dig in the closet under the stairs.

“I need something bigger - my satchel won’t hold nearly enough food and mom hasn’t taught me any expansion spells, yet.” Not that Sam could do one anyway, right now. She grabbed a backpack.

“...you’re not actually going back, are you? You’re a child!” Luck followed her into the kitchen, his normally passive face or empty smile giving way to clear worry.

“Yup. Guess you’ll have to come with me to make sure nothing happens, then, huh? And it seems like you don’t have a choice in the matter, since you have to ‘mind me’ and all.” Sam grabbed a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter and shoved them into the pack.

“Absolutely not!” He screeched. “Just...ugh, just wait, okay? For one night. It’s two in the morning. She probably just got caught up and is staying at one of the inns.”

“Look, the little map light thing takes you to your destination, right? That means, if it can find my mom, it’ll go until I find her, even if she moves around. So we’ll find her fast and make it home before you know it.”

“Alternatively, the guide might be able to find your mother, even if she moves around, so wait until morning because she’ll probably be back anyway!” Sam pulled her head out of the pantry where she was grabbing some easy open cans of ravioli and cookies.

“I’m going, tonight, whether you come with me or not. Look, if she’s there, then the map will show it, right?”

“In theory…”

“And if she left to go back home, then it won’t show her?” The fairy pursed his lips, thoughtfully.

“....I suppose so.”

“Then we can at least go back to see if she’s coming back towards the door or if she’s gone. If that’s the case, then we can come back here. Does that sound fair?” Bad Luck frowned, tail flicking in agitation, so Sam decided to try another route.

“Aren’t you bored just watching me here at home? And wouldn’t it be like, super impressive to the fairy court if you did your duty to watch me and some good actually came out of it? Maybe they’d end your punishment early and we can both do our own thing.” He actually looked thoughtful at that, rubbing his chin.

“...I suppose…. But what if they don’t end my punishment early? What do I get out of it, then?”

“...what do you want?” Sam asked suspiciously, zipping up her bag.

“Daily trips to the forest….and pizza once a week.” 

“...pizza? Seriously?”

“You asked what I wanted,” he snapped, his cheeks a bit dark. Sam supposed pizza wasn’t typically fairy fare. Maybe it was a sort of…what did mom call it? Right, a ‘guilty pleasure’.

“I think I can manage that….” Bad Luck grinned and stuck out his hand.

“It’s a deal, then?” Oh, that…sounded a lot like something she definitely shouldn’t do. Making deals with fairies was a good way to get your life twisted upside down. But her mom was missing somewhere in the Witch Market…and if she didn’t come back, who knew what would happen? Straightening her back, she thrust her hand into his and gave it a firm shake.

“A deal. Guess we’re stuck together for a while, after all….” That sucked, but she was worried enough about her mom that she was willing to put up with it, for now. “Can you pop us back into the Mercatus?” 

“I can, if you’re ready.” Sam frowned thoughtfully.

“Not yet, let me grab a few more things.” She couldn’t fit much more into the backpack, but she tucked in a sweater and a change of shirt, as well as a flashlight and a thin blanket that she rolled up tightly to shove into a corner of the bag. She then grabbed her satchel with her wand and journals, and returned to the fairy waiting in the kitchen. 

“Alright, I’m ready!”

“Took you long enough,” Luck huffed and grabbed her arm once more. With another bright flash of light that left spots in her vision, they found themselves back at the gate of the Mercatus.

“Jeez, why is that so bright?” Sam groaned, scrubbing at her eyes in an attempt to clear her vision.

“We are literally traveling between realms, Sam. That light is the folding of space and time. Deal with it.” The fairy tutted as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Whatever, let’s just get back to the map.” The market was even quieter now, many of the stalls closed up tight. At least the crystal lights that lined the path every few feet still glowed softly. Sam took out her flashlight, regardless, and clicked it on. If she happened to see any particularly dark shadows flee from its light…well, she absolutely didn’t see a thing and it was nothing to worry about! 

“This place is a lot creepier in the dark…”

“Kenopsia,” Luck responded dryly, walking beside her. It was weird to see him actually walking.

“What?”

“It’s that eerie atmosphere of a place that’s usually full of people but is now abandoned and quiet.” Sam blinked at him for a moment before snorting.

“No way that’s a real word, you made it up!”

“All words are made up, Sam. Regardless, it is one. Look it up sometime.” He looked irritated that Sam had accused him of lying, but Sam hardly noticed as the map came back into view. 

Withdrawing her wand from its holster, she tapped the map once more.

“I want to find my mom, please.” Sam asked it again, this time keeping her voice clear and firm. But the map didn’t move.

“What? No, come on!” Sam begged, tapping her wand against it once more. “My mom, please. Luck, why isn’t it working this time?” She rounded on the fairy at her side, eyes wide and brimming with the beginnings of panicked tears. “Why does this keep happening?! What are you doing to my magic?!” The fairy bared his sharp fangs.

“Why do you keep accusing me of having done something?! Maybe you’re just an idiot!” He snarled back at her. Sam scowled right back at him.

“I am not an idiot! You’re an ass!” She spun back around to jab her wand furiously at the map once more. “Tell me where my mom is, you stupid chunk of paper!” Bad Luck groaned and pushed her aside. 

“She’s probably gone, Sam. Back at home and wondering where you are. But if it’ll stop this childish little meltdown you’re having, I’ll prove it.” He put his finger on the map. “Abigail Perch!” He seemed certain that map wouldn’t move, indicating she was likely not at the Mercatus, so his ears fell some when it immediately sprung to life, once again spanning over a large expanse of the map before coming to rest somewhere deep in the Mercatus, a glow yellow blip to indicate the location of who they were searching for.

“....damn it.” He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. He ignored Sam’s smug look as he pulled the light from the map and let it hover between them.

“...fine, she’s here. But that just proves you’re terrible at magic.” Sam’s grin switched into a frustrated scowl.

“I wasn’t before you came along. Now come on, let’s go find her.” She turned on her heel to follow the little orb of light and, with an incredibly put upon sigh, Luck floated up to follow her.

For a while, they were both silent, following the orb through the quiet market passing few people as they went. All of whom ignored them, which Sam was grateful for; she was pretty sure one of them had been a troll.

“...Hey Luck-”

“Not my name.” The fairy interjected.

“Then what is it?” She huffed at the interruption.

“I told you, that’s for me to know-”

“And for me to find out. Well unto I do, you’re just gonna have to deal with whatever else I come up with. So, Bad Luck, King of the Annoying Fairies, how ‘stuck’ with me are you?” Luck growled low in his throat but responded.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, you could have gone to the woods on your own for a bit, if you wanted to so badly. I wasn’t exactly running into traffic or anything.”

Luck heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping.

“I can’t be more than 100 feet from you. Imagine we’re in a room and if I tried going 101 feet away…I’d just run smack into a wall.” Sam snickered at the mental image.

“I’d pay to see that.”

“You’re a brat.”

“You’re a butthead.” Sam fired back, with a laugh, but it faded quickly and they both fell back into silence.

It was another ten minutes of silence before Luck spoke up again.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“For the fall, in the woods,” he clarified, looking straight ahead. Sam blinked in surprise, slowing to a stop to stare at him for a moment. He actually sounded genuine

“...thank you…”

“Whatever, just keep moving, brat.” Rolling her eyes, Sam adjusted her straps over her shoulders and trotted to catch up to him.

They continued on for a time, at least a couple more hours, before Sam yawned widely. 

“Tired?” The fairy asked. “Or is that hungry? Which is the thing humans do for hungry?” Sam blinked at him, face twisting in disbelief.

“...are you talking about…growling? Like, when your stomach growls?”

“...is there an animal in your stomach?” He asked, sounding equally confused.

“No, Luck…just…no. Whatever, you were right the first time. It’s tired. I’m so tired.” She yawned again and rubbed at one of her eyes with her fist, sighing. “I guess we should find a place to sleep.” She stopped and looked around, frowning. “I don’t suppose our little glowing ball can find us a hotel?”

“No, we’d actually need another map.”

“But wouldn’t the spell just get confused with the one for mom? Wouldn’t the lights just go in different directions?”

“If you don’t know how to handle them, then yes, that’s exactly what would happen. But there are spells to, essentially, put one in stasis and prioritize the other.” Sam frowned thoughtfully.

“...what if one thing is really out of the way and it’d be more convenient to get the first?” Luck sighed.

“For Titania’s sake, you’re looking at a map. You can see where the things are and order your spells from there. Now come on, let’s find another map.” He started moving and Sam jogged after him.

“There are other maps?”

“Do you know how big this place is? Of course there are others. There’s other portal’s too. All over the world and all throughout the market.” Sam ‘ooh’ed at that. 

“So we could gooooo to France?”

“If you can find the right portal. Do you have to ask so many questions?”

“Hey, my mom said it was good to ask questions.”

“Maybe of her, but you’re just annoying me,” he fired back, coming to a stop at an intersection looking around with a frown. He then reached out to snap his fingers at the light leading their way. It dimmed a bit, but didn’t fade. 

“Stay here, I’m going to go higher and see if I can spot a map.” He ordered before leaping up into the air, raising several feet over the tops of the tents and stalls to look around. 

Sam huffed and folded her arms over her chest, tapping her foot impatiently.

“Lost, dear?” A low, husky voice behind her has her whipping around with a squeak of surprise. Standing just a few feet away from her was a tall figure, shrouded in a dark cloak. The hood hung over their face, hiding most of their features from view.

“Oh, uh…no. I… I’m just waiting for my friend.” 

“I see…and where is your friend?”

“He’s -” looking up, Sam’s eyes widened. Luck was gone. “...Luck?”

“What was that?” The figure asked, stepping forward. Sam took a defensive step back, hand tightening around her flashlight.

“...nothing. He’s around. I’m fine, thanks.”

“Are you certain? I’m happy to help you find your way…” Sam’s shoulders stiffened and she shook her head.

“I’m sure. Please…leave me alone.” Something about the figure made Sam distinctly uncomfortable. A chill clung to her bones, much like it had during the night she’d gotten lost in the woods. Where had Luck gone? Didn’t he say he couldn’t go far? Maybe he was just invisible. But if he was, why? The figure continued to approach, reaching out a hand.

“I’m simply trying to help, my dear. Why not come with me? I can he-” 

Sam pulled her hand out of his reach and turned sharply on her heel.

“I said leave me alone!” She yelled, bolting down the cobblestone path, away from the stranger. She didn’t know where Luck had gone, but at least she knew he was within 100 feet.

Is he though? What if he lied?

What if he did? Did he abandon her?! That jerk! Now wasn’t the time to worry about it, though, she was still running, sprinting really, down the path, taking random turns and ducking between stalls to be certain that she wasn’t being followed by that stranger. 

“Sam!” A voice called, but she kept running, her blood pounding in her ears.

She probably wouldn’t have stopped any time soon if she hadn’t turned tried to turn a corner, only to pitch forward with a startled yelp. Throwing her hands out to try and catch herself, she hit the ground hard. Her flashlight went flying from her hand to skitter and roll across the pavement with the crack of breaking plastic. The light flickered and went out, leaving it lost to near darkness. 

“...ow…”

“Sam! Dammit, what are you doing?!” Luck…that was Luck’s voice. Gingerly pushing herself up, Sam whimpered in pain.

“...Luck? Did you… trip me?”

The fair landed in front of her, his face twisted in fury and sharp fangs bared.

“Are you actually accusing me? Idiot girl, you tripped over your own stupid shoe laces!” He jabbed his finger in the direction of her feet, showing Sam her untied laces. She flushed in embarrassment and slowly got to her feet with a hiss.

“...sorry.”

“You’d better be! I thought I saw a map a couple aisles over and the next thing I know, I’m being dragged away from it! What the hell happened to staying right there?!”

Sam didn’t answer just yet, looking behind Luck and all around to make sure she hadn’t been followed. She then focused on her scraped up palms to carefully pick pebbles out of her skin.

“...some…guy showed up. Asked me if I was lost. Wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer. And he just…really gave me the creeps.” Luck sighed and gently took her wrists in his hands, examining her palms.

“I suppose that makes sense…are you okay? That was a nasty fall.” He squinted his bright blue eyes at her and she frowned.

“Yeah…sore, I guess, but I think I’m okay. What are you staring at?”

“Your chin is bleeding.” He stepped back and looked her up and down, his hands on his hips and tail flicking in irritation. “And so are your knees; your pants ripped…. Stupid human, have you not gotten me in enough trouble?” He snapped at Sam as she carefully touched her chin with a sharp hiss.

“Ow…crap…sorry. Did you find the map?” She turned, looking at the ground for her flashlight.

“I did…didn’t actually get to use it, though.” Sam looked back at him with a bit of a smirk.

“Did you actually just…get dragged in my general direction?”

“Yes! Weren’t you listening earlier? You and I? We’re stuck together.”