[Hugo Prosperio]

Chapter Five: The Party

Caitlin walked home swiftly. She hadn?t been this excited in ages. She couldn?t wait to get back to the apartment to wrangle her two roommates into a night of fun with Jadaris. Unbeknown to her, as she walked, she was being watched. From a nearby tree, a pink haired pixie named Siri Oubotoni observed her ever move. As Caitlin bounded up the steps into her apartment building, Siri pulled from her billowy clothing a small crystal ball, and tapped it three times. The face of an older woman, the High Magistrate appeared.

?You bring news, Siri?? The Magistrate asked.

?Yes, Mabia, M?lady.? She said, bowing her head slowly. ?It appears as if this human is attempting to introduce Jadaris to more of her kind. Should I take action??

?Not yet. I have a plan?Return to the Throne Room at once, and we shall discuss it.?

-----

As she closed the door behind her, Caitlin looked around, and saw no sing of her roommates, and she hadn?t expected to. Both girls worked the morning shift, so they wouldn?t be home for a little bit. She sighed in relief, as she was hoping to have some time to herself. During her hour-long stint being pixie sized to Jadaris, she had done many things to explore being so tiny?one of which was not her idea. Jadaris, lost in the fun of it all, had dropped the tiny Caitlin into her own glass of Pink Lemonade. It was funny at the time, but now Caitlin was covered in dry sticky lemonade?and was glad of the opportunity to shower.

She stripped out of her clothes, thinking back to when she had shrunk right out of them, a horrifying experience at the time, but one she now missed, but she smiled knowing that the sleepover would bring many more adventures. She then climbed into the shower, to cleanse herself of the sticky mess she was covered in. Never in her whole life had she imagined she?d swim in a glass of lemonade, and now she was kind of regretting it?if only for the mess?

?Jesus, this stuff is a bitch to get off.? She whined as she did her best to get it all off.

?Caitlin?! You home?? shouted a voice from the hall as Caitlin was drying off.

?Yeah, Beth!? she shouted to one of her two roommates. ?Just finishing my shower. I?ll be right out.?

A few moments later, she stepped out, wrapped in her towel. She then turned her attention to Beth, a tall blonde girl, her glasses firmly affixed to her nose. She smiled at Caitlin.

?So how did your boy hunting go last night?? Beth asked with a smirk.

?Huh?? Caitlin asked.

?Well, you were gone all night, I can only assume that you went out on the town looking for men to claim.? She laughed.

?Uh, not really?Look, when Jenna gets in, I?ll explain it to you guys okay?

Beth looked oddly at her roommate, but just shrugged and nodded.

Caitlin turned and entered her room. It was typical, not of a college girl, but more like a high school girl. In the short span she had been living in this new apartment, she had decorated the walls with posters of her favorite Male movie stars and musicians. She walked over to her dresser, and chose an outfit?in the back of her mind wondering what it would look like in a pile on the floor, her standing right in the middle. It aroused her quite a bit, but she reminded herself to wait?the sleepover?that was the goal, she told herself.

?Hiya, Cait!? said the chipper voice of her other roommate, who now stood in the doorway. Caitlin looked over to see the short girl, playing with her ginger hair, scrunching her freckled nose.

?So?where did you go last night. Me and Beth assumed??

?Yeah, I know what you assumed, thanks for making me out to be the town whore? Caitlin replied sarcastically. ?Look?you two, last night, I went down the street??

?Yeah?? said Beth entering the room, pushing Jenna out of the way.

?Hey!? Jenna shouted

?Sorry, shorty, you got in my way?anyway, you went down the street? Beth continued.

Caitlin looked over to Jenna with eyes of apology for Beth actions. In her mind, she was already plotting how things would go this evening?

?Yeah, and I walked by that old mansion?you know.?

?Did you break in?? Jenna asked.

?Well, technically, I did?yeah, but?look?it?s not abandoned like everyone thinks?? she said, referring to the legend on campus that the house was empty, yet haunted.

?I was curious??

?Like always? Beth sighed.

?So I went inside, and it turns out, someone does live there, a really nice girl?she?um?around our age? she guessed?in fact, she had no idea how old Jadaris was?hell, she could have been hundreds of years old? ?and she?s new to the neighborhood, just like us. She invited me over for dinner? she mentions, recalling the sandwich/makeshift bed ?and when we realized how late it was getting, well, she offered me her guest room??

?oooh? said Beth, ?Sexual Encounters in the creepy old house. How lovely?

?That?s not what it was at all?Look, the girl, she invited us all over tonight for a sleep over. I figure since tomorrow is Saturday, we don?t have work, it?s perfect. We?ll go make this new girl feel welcome.?

?I dunno, Cait? Jenna said. ?I had a long day at work. I ??

?That?s perfect then, a nice fun night to unwind?it?s exactly what you need.?

?Well, maybe you are right. What do you think, Beth??

?Could be fun?but?I don?t know about this stranger thing?what if she?s lying?what if there is just a creepy old man who wants to take our pictures while we get nakie.? Beth mused.

?The most likely of situations, Beth? Jenna sighed before turning back to Caitlin ?I?m in.?

?Beth?? Caitlin asked.

The blonde took her time, but eventually caved. The sleepover was on. Caitlin smiled. She was gonna give these two the surprise of their lives.

-----

?This is so exciting!? Jadaris beamed as she tidied up the tiny apartment hidden under the bed. ?I hope they like me? she said, her nerves showing through. She flitted out from under the bed, and called for her human sized butler.

?Yes, Madame?? He smiles as he enters.

?Did you get the drinks and stuff???

?Yes, everything Ms. Miller listed. It should be quite the shin-dig, if you ask me.? He said, his British accent sounding quite humorous saying the word shin-dig.

?Oh, I do hope so?? she said, unaware that through the window she was being spied on?

-----

?Patience, my young one? Said the voice of Mabia, the High Magistrate of the Fairy Colony. She smiled at the pixie holding the orb that contained her face. ?You will know the moment of truth. You will know when to strike?all you have to do is bring me what I asked for, and you will be heralded amongst all our colony?understood??

?Yes, your Majesty.? She said. She looked out form the branch she sat on, peering into the window, seeing the tiny figure of Jadaris hover.

?Just wait, I?ll show you, Jadaris?you?ll rue the day you were ever more talented than Siri Oubotoni!?

-----

The three humans had each packed a bag, and were prepping to go to the sleepover.

?So, what about food and drink?? Jenna asked.

?Especially drink!? Beth retorted.

?Not to Worry. She is taking care of all that. We just have to show up, and the fun will begin.?

She smiled. Her roommates grabbed their bags, and they were off, out of the door, and heading down the street.

?This had better be the best damned sleepover I?ve ever been too, you know? Beth said, her mood obvious.

?You could have said no, you know? Jenna said.

?Oh, be quiet, Midget.? Beth sighed.

?Hey! None of that. Tonight is a night of fun. Not being a bitch? Caitlin shot over to Beth, who merely shot back a glance.

The walk wasn?t very long, and soon they were there, and they ascended the stairs to the front of the strange out of place mansion in the middle of student apartments. Caitlin raised her hand and knocked, causing Beth to snort a bit.

?Oh, Breaking and Entering career over now, huh?? she said

Caitlin ignored it, while Jenna rolled her eyes.

The door opened, causing Jenna to jump a bit, as the kindly face of Alfred.

?Ah, Ms. Miller, welcome back. These must be your friends?? he asked as he ushered them into the main foyer of the house.

?Yes. This is Beth? she said pointing to the tall blonde, who merely nodded her head. ??and this is Jenna.? She said pointing to the shorter girl to her side.

?Hi!? Jenna said, smiling.

?Girls, this is Alfred, the house butler.? Caitlin said.

Again, Beth snorted and looked the butler over.

?Well, Mistress Jadaris is awaiting you in her room, Ms. Miller. You know they way, I trust.?

Caitlin nodded as he left the room.

?Yes, but which way is the Batcave?? Beth asked.

Ignoring her yet again, she let the girls up the stairs, and down the hall. The memories of her first visit were so vivid. It was only a day ago, but it felt like longer?she remembered the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach when she found the room, how startled she was when Alfred had introduced himself, and she couldn?t ever forget the feeling of rushing towards the floor because of the magic dust. The door was open, like last time, so Caitlin let her friends in, and followed behind.

?Jadaris? We?re Here!? Caitlin called out, and to the girls, it looked as if she might be crazy...until a soft sound, like the coo of a dove came from under the bed.

?Be right with you!? it said.

Beth and Jenna turned their attention to the bed.

?Did the?bed?just talk?? Beth asked.

?No, of course not.? Caitlin said as a small figure emerged from underneath the bed. Beth and Jenna?s eyes went wide as they could as they watched the small action figure sized woman walk over, and then spread two beautiful wings and lift herself up in the air.

?Girls, THIS is my new friend, Jadaris.?

?What the hell is this?? Beth said, turning to her friend.

?A?a?pixie!? Jenna said, her eyes bigger than a child?s on Christmas morning.

?A what??

?A Fairy, silly!? Jadaris stated to the blonde girl. ?You must be?let?s see?Beth, right??

?Uh?yeah? Beth said, her mind obviously racing.

?That makes you Jenna!? she said floating over to the redhead.

?Yes.? Jenna said, a smiling creeping across her face. She had always loved Fairies, and had always hoped they were real.

?How are you doing this?? Beth asked, for the first time Caitlin had ever seen her, she was virtually speechless.

?Doing what?? Caitlin playfully asked.

?This. This illusion you are throwing in my face? She said, jabbing a finger towards Jadaris, causing her to back away.

?Jeeze, you sure are touchy? Jadaris shouted.

?What, is it like a projection of some sort, movie magic?? Beth asked.

?No, Beth, it?s real magic!? Caitlin added.

?Cool.? Jenna mouthed.

?No way. Real Magic does not exist.? Beth said, crossing her arms.

This was what Caitlin had been waiting for, and she smiled wider than she had since she was standing in Jadaris? palm.

?Oh, you don?t believe in magic?? Caitlin asked.

Beth shook her head, and Caitlin turned to the tiny pixie and said ?Alright, Jadaris?can you prove you are real.? She said, trying to emphasize what she meant by the question. Jadaris being quite smart picked up right away. She had been prepared. She flew over to the face of Beth, and smiled. She then took her hand, and blew on it, causing a fine powder to fly into Beth?s face. She coughed for a second, and sat there, stunned.

?What in the?oh?oh, I feel strange? Beth said, walking over to the bed and sitting down.

?Something the matter, fearless Bethany?? Caitlin asked, causing Jenna to laugh.

Then Jenna and Caitlin say an amazing sight. Beth?s body gave a shudder and then began to shrink! At first she didn?t notice, but soon, her clothing was expanding outward, and she was shrinking into it?

?Hey! What the hell! No! Stop it!? she said, descending quickly, her shoes and socks falling off, leaving her feet dangling inside her pant legs.

Soon she stopped shrinking, leaving her a little less than half her original height.

?aww, does Big Bad Beth believe in Magic now??

Beth didn?t respond, just sat on the edge of the bed in her now huge shirt, on the verge of tears. She did mutter something that sounded like ?This can?t be happening, but Caitlin just smiled.

Jenna walked over and looked the now three foot tall girl up and down. ?Oh my god, you really did shrink!?

?NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!? Beth yelled, her temper still large as ever, even in the newly shrunk body.

?Cool! How did you do it?? She asks

?Pixie Dust, Jenna?? Jadaris said. ?Would you like to try it out??

?Boy, would I ever!?

-----

Outside, In the tallest tree in Jadaris? garden, Siri watched the window attentively. She had seen one of the humans get sprinkled with Pixie Dust, and she smiled. She had been waiting all night, and she could feel it in the air?

?It?s almost time??