Alchemy of Love

The Unicorn

I studied the trees that the early morning light illuminated. Nicon had led me into a completely different area of the forest than I had expected. “You’re not trying to trick me, are you?” I whispered.

She looked over her shoulder at me her eyes like ice. “Have more faith, I do not lie, I’ve done nothing and will continue to do nothing but be transparent with you. Now, quiet.”

She turned away from me as she stared hard deeper into the trees. She had pushed us into a bush of all things and the branches that snagged my skin annoyed me. “Do we have to be inside a bush?” I demanded.

“You do,” she replied with a nod. “Now, stay here.”

She left me then. Me, someone capable of doing miracles, stuck inside a scratchy irritating bush. She didn’t bother to shrink down. Instead, she wandered into the forest and as the light high-lighted her I was reminded that she was far from human. Her ethereal beauty wouldn’t work on me. Not the way the sun shimmered on her skin, not the way her feet moved through the grass with unnatural grace. She got to the middle of the trees and let her fingers trail over one trunk and then another. What was she doing?

She glanced over at me as if she sensed my eyes. With one finger she pressed it to her lips as she continued her odd dance. By the time she had touched every tree, she wandered into the center of them in a small clearing. With her eyes closed and swaying to music I couldn’t hear, she started to sing. Her voice was far richer than I had imagined it to be.

From far in the distance, I heard it. The shifting and shuffling of a creature coming closer. My body tensed in preparation but I couldn’t tear my eyes of Nicon. The witchcraft she was weaving was far too strong for me to break away from. No matter her movements, my eyes were locked to her. When the beast appeared out of the trees I barely noted it.

The unicorn’s hide was a blinding white an almost silver glimmer in the light. I had to blink so I could focus on it. It walked over to my fairy and rubbed the side of its head against her chest. The golden spiraled horn on its head got close enough to graze her cheek and I glared.

“Thank you,” Nicon whispered as she stroked its nose. “May I ask you for a favor, dear friend?”

The unicorn inclined its head in a nod. “Of course.”

The male voice made my eyes widen. I hadn’t expected that. He continued to cuddle with Nicon and I winced each time that horn of his nicked her skin. Tiny red dots started to form on her cheek as she took absolutely no regard for her safety. What was with this woman? I scoffed as I glared at the two of them.

“I need dust from your horn,” Nicon explained as she patted its nose. “That is all I need.”

“Dust from my horn?” the unicorn took a step away and tossed his head sending his silver hair flying. “That is not a request one of your kind makes. The fact that you are this size also worries me. Tell me, Fairy, why are you in this form, and why would you request something that humans would wish for?” He tossed his head again and made a tight circle in the area. His head lowering and his horn pointed at me.

“Peace,” Nicon interrupted as she hugged his neck. “You have no need to fear.”

“Fear?” The unicorn shook its head again. “I am not afraid, Fairy. I am outraged. Why is a human in this sacred area?”

“He’s not human,” Nicon interrupted as she continued to hug it. “Calm yourself. I am trying to help a friend, that’s all there is to it.”

He snorted as he shook his head again. “I will only give you dust from my horn on one condition.” He turned towards her now his clear blue eyes focused on only her. He had turned completely away from me. “And if you refuse this, then I will be forced to destroy that evil you have hiding in that bush.”

“What is it you wish?” Nicon questioned.

The unicorn glowed so brightly that I had to turn away and hide my eyes for fear of being blind. When I could look again and the light had died down I watched as the young man beside Nicon kneeled at her side and took her hand in his own. “I will stay with you while my dust is used. I am not convinced that you are safe, my lady and I will not rest until you are.”

Her eyes fluttered to my hiding spot. I rolled mine as I got to my feet. There was no point in me staying hidden if this guy knew who I was. As I stepped into the clearing he took a stance in front of Nicon and stared me down. His sea-blue eyes were focused on me and as I moved he kept himself in-between us.

“I could have handled this, Simon,” Nicon grumbled behind his back.

I ignored her as I held a hand out. “My name is Simon, and Nicon is a friend of mine. She seeks to help me create an alchemical spell that will bring back my beloved. I mean you no harm, I only wish for but a few fragments of your dust.”

“An alchemist?” The unicorn’s golden brow shot up. “You want me to give my dust to an alchemist?” He demanded of Nicon as his brows furrowed. “They are so dangerous. Why would you friend something that is so hazardous to our kind?”

“I’m standing right here you know,” I grumbled as I withdrew my ignored hand. He hadn’t so much as glanced at it. I was that far below his notice. “I’m not really open to letting some guy I don’t know into my house.”

“Your house?” the way he asked the question made my hair stand on end. He turned to Nicon then ignoring me once more. “You are staying in an alchemist’s house?” his eyes roamed down to the bright red heart that was cradled against the hollow of her throat. “That means I really will insist on going with you. In fact, I will not take no for an answer.”

Nicon put a hand on his shoulder. “Please, you don’t have to worry about me. I am fine.”

“You are fine now, but I do not trust this one around you. His soul is rotten and you will suffer if you stay near him.”

Nicon sighed. “Simon, it appears we have no choice. If you wish for his help, he must stay with us for at least awhile. Until he realizes that you mean me no harm.”

The unicorn went so far to smirk as he turned toward me. “And if you refuse, I will pierce you through your heart where you stand, alchemist. This fairy is under my protection now, and if you so much as think about hurting her I’ll make your corrupted soul suffer.”

“I’m really tired of you calling me fairy. My name is Nicon,” she nodded towards me. “And that is my friend Simon. Since you are going home with us, I’d love to know what to call you.”

“Argent,” he replied with an incline of his head. I couldn’t help noticing that when he spoke his eyes were only for her. This unicorn wouldn’t stay with us forever. He’d give us the dust, see that Nicon was perfectly fine under my care, and leave us alone. But how was I going to throw him off the trail when I had been keeping the fairy in a cage? I bit my lip as I tried to think of how I could trick this mythical being.