From the corner of her vision, Penelope could see Princess Ivy’s friends retreating, visibly distancing themselves from her. Penelope ignored it, allowing Steph to guide her to a quiet corner of the room, eyes following their every step. “Quite the entrance,” Penelope murmured, at a loss for what to say, feeling flustered by the intensity of Steph’s gaze. He released her arm, brushing his hand down her wrist as he lifted her hand between them, her gloved fingers still clasping the honeybelle. “I could say…Continue Reading “Ch 20 – The Dark Moon Ball – Part 3”
Princess Ivy’s smile was all sharp edges as Penelope turned to face her. The sparkle in Ivy’s bright blue eyes was malicious, her smile widening as she looked Penelope up and down. Penelope glanced briefly at Ivy’s gown in kind, taking in the richly beaded bodice and layered skirt of purple silks before fixing her gaze on Ivy’s face. Had Princess Ivy’s intent ever been genuine, ever been kind, Penelope would have found her enchanting. Her pale skin was smooth and dewy. Constellations of shining…Continue Reading “Ch 20 – The Dark Moon Ball – Part 2”
Penelope’s breath misted in the air as she stepped out onto a crescent court of black marble tiles, making room for the Sisters to follow behind her. She turned as the carriage door was closed and the attendants returned to their stations by the rear wheels. All six riders at the head of the entourage dismounted, moving to surround Penelope and the Sisters. Without delay, waiting stablehands climbed up into the empty saddles. Moments later the entourage was moving again, circling away around the drive. …Continue Reading “Ch 20 – The Dark Moon Ball – Part 1”
Prince Ethan is personally one of my favourite characters. I love his ruthlessness and complexity. His story is introduced in the short Ghosts of Grimwood tale, Fae & Fire.
The next hour was a flurry of chaotic motion as Penelope and the Sisters darted about the house, fluttering around each other and the Grimwood entourage, making final preparations. Penelope found her giggles renewing whenever she passed by Callum, who had a new story for her each time. “Did you know, Steph saved my life when we were kids? I fell into the deep end of a pond—” “It was a shallow pond—” Marni cut in. “I nearly drowned—“ “You did not—” “Anyway, another time Steph…Continue Reading “Ch 19 – A Carriage Awaits – Part 3”
The entourage came to a halt in the clearing just beyond the front gate of the cottage, a wide circle of ferns and snowy earth at the end of the white crystal road. Penelope opened the gate with trembling hands and ducked a short curtsy. The flowers of her dress flared livid red. The banner-bearing guard leading the company appraised Penelope with wary shock before his features settled into a neutral expression. “Greetings,” he began. “As representatives of Royal House Grimwood, we have come to…Continue Reading “Ch 19 – A Carriage Awaits – Part 2”
With the gowns ready and cosmetics all laid out in preparation for the next day, Penelope spent the rest of the day sleeping in stops and starts. Barely able to keep her eyes open through breakfast, Penelope crept upstairs to collapse on her bed. Unable to sleep for more than a few hours at a time with nerves jangling in her stomach, Penelope found herself dozing and waking at strange hours. The afternoon passed in a haze, drifting from dream to nightmare to frenzied thoughts…Continue Reading “Ch 19 – A Carriage Awaits – Part 1”
The Sisters found her later that morning hunched over her work bench surrounded by flowers and using one of Sister Rosin’s small wooden hand drills to bore a hole through a gleaming azure stone. “Aha!” Penelope exclaimed, looking up in triumph as the Sisters stepped into the lounge. Rinsing the stone in a floral teacup filled with water, Penelope held it up to the sunlight. “I’m making beads for my dress,” she explained with a wild grin before selecting another stone. In the play of…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 5”
When Penelope’s breathing had settled, Marmalade drew them both to their feet and draped her cloak around Penelope’s bare shoulders. “Come with me,” the witch commanded. Her voice was calm, yet brooked no argument. With sluggish movements, Penelope brushed the last of the moss to the forest floor, kicked the thorns from her boots, and tugged the cloak tight around her. Together they turned from the shadowy paths of the Darkwood, emerging into the dawn rising through the Faewood’s boughs. Here, the deep well of…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 4”
Penelope sat quietly in bed in that hour before dawn listening to the hushed rustle of wind through the Faewood’s canopies. She had long spent her tears and was contemplating the day ahead, the same anxieties circling her mind over and again. As she listened to the crickets chirping in the darkness beyond her window, her frayed attention drifted towards the forest. Even here, she could feel the distant hum of the Darkwood’s anguish, as though it were reaching out for her, beseeching her. Yet…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 3”
The days after passed quickly. There was so much to prepare for the upcoming ball that, during the daylight hours, Penelope found little time to dwell on misery or mortification. She lost herself in the tactility of dressmaking for long hours each day. Early mornings found her pinning patterns by the wan blue light streaming through the windows of her workspace. Afternoons found her threading sleeves to carefully crafted bodices, or trimming yards of silk for flowing skirts. Familiar calluses formed on her fingers as…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 2”
Penelope rolled over as the silver light of morning pierced the window, groaning loudly into her pillow. “I think our princess has awoken.” Sister Rosin’s chuckle carried from across the landing and through the wood of Penelope’s door. Penelope kicked her feet against her mattress in childish pique, feeling absolutely mortified by the revelation of last night’s conversation. All the pieces had been there, in hindsight… How could she have missed that Steph was a prince? Rolling out of bed with a grumble, Penelope stuffed…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 1”
Sister Heely emerged from her workshop as Penelope stepped back inside. She felt a little haunted by Steph’s last glance back at her, before the cart had rounded the bend. Yearning, regret, something of shame. Penelope had felt a wild urge to chase after the cart and hold Steph tight until he smiled. Heaving a sigh, Penelope peeled off her coat and hung it by the door. The house felt too quiet, too still, with just herself and Sister Heely there. Penelope already missed the…Continue Reading “Ch 17 – Returning Home – Part 3”
Cosy-dark fantasy is my own blend of cosy fantasy and dark fantasy, bringing the two genres together in tales that are as unsettling as they are enchanting.
Penelope spent the afternoon sharing her gown designs with the Sisters. Sister Rosin bounded about, making a show of her usual humour, teasing Steph about his pumpkin dress when he joined them sometime later. Everyone laughed, giving good-natured input while Penelope sketched in their suggestions. Yet, the atmosphere felt strained. The laughter was a little forced, smiles a little too wide. Penelope noticed as the Sisters held hands a little more tightly than usual. By nightfall, Penelope had finished the sketches for the Sisters’ gowns,…Continue Reading “Ch 17 – Returning Home – Part 2”
The next morning, Marmalade departed with Marmot in tow. Penelope had been sad to see her go, though the witch had offered reassurance before leaving. “I have no doubt we will cross paths again, and soon, Penelope of Starwood. But for now I must go and tend to matters of urgency.” Marmalade had pressed her lips to Penelope’s cheek, lifted Marmot to do the same, and then had glided away into the snowy woods. Penelope sighed and rubbed at the wet smear left by Marmot’s…Continue Reading “Ch 17 – Returning Home – Part 1”
“I’m not sure I want to go to the Ball,” Penelope announced as they sat down for tea by the fire. The Sisters exchanged cautious glances while Marmalade tipped her head in thought, continuing to stroke Marmot’s fur with a shoe brush. Steph looked away into the fire as he eased himself into an armchair. Sister Heely set her cup and saucer on the table with a clink. “We’ll support you, gem, whatever you decide. But…” Sister Heely drew in a breath and glanced at…Continue Reading “Ch 16 – An Unexpected Letter”
A day later, Penelope overheard an argument between the Sisters. Marmalade had taken Marmot on a venture to the Faewood. Steph was dozing by the fire, and Penelope had crept up the stairs to fetch a sketchbook from her room, intending to draw designs for their ball gowns. Keeping her footsteps light so as to avoid disturbing Steph with the creaking of wood, she paused on the landing when she heard sharp voices carry through from the Sisters’ bedroom. “—don’t like it, Heels. The whole…Continue Reading “Ch 15 – Recovery – Part 2”
The way home was short and direct. The path opened easily, unspooling like ribbon. The trees thinned and the canopy lightened. They passed the threshold of twisted, blackened trees into the more familiar thickets of Faewood far sooner than expected. As they left the shadows of the Darkwood behind, Penelope felt the sharp, aching grasp of the forest’s grief falling away. Penelope felt the barest sense of squeezing, pulling, folding in the forest around them, and then they were tipping out of the woods towards…Continue Reading “Ch 15 – Recovery – Part 1”
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