The Elf Girl by Markelle Grabo Page A

though it had been neglected for a long time. It seemed empty even with the furniture inside. I knew right away whose room this was…or used to be.
    “My parents’ room,” I guessed, hugging myself to prevent any further chills.
    Addison nodded. “It hasn’t been used since they left. The fireplace hasn’t been lit. Their clothes are still in the wardrobe, and your mother’s jewelry is in the vanity drawer. Zora wouldn’t get rid of anything. She wouldn’t move even one thing in this room. She never set foot in it after your parents left.”
    “It must have been hard for her.”
    “Indeed it was. That is why she moved in with us.”
    I nodded, feeling pity for my sister, who was left behind.
    “I would like to see the other room now,” I said quietly. I didn’t like being in this room. I didn’t feel like I belonged.
    “Yes, follow me.” This time Addison didn’t take my hand, so I just followed her. I could tell being in this room had saddened her, too.
    As we passed through the main room, I could see Stellan sitting by the fireplace adding more wood. The glow of the firelight made him appear even more handsome. I blushed, glad that he wasn’t looking, and continued to follow Addison to the next room.
    I was somewhat surprised to find myself standing in a bathroom. I hadn’t expected flush toilets in a world that shunned technology. The bathroom was simple and pretty, with a sink decorated with floral designs and a circular mirror above. In the corner was a small shower.
    “Flush toilets and showers?” I asked.
    “We are somewhat modern here, although our bathroom facilities are not as advanced as you would find in the Human Realm. We are still very basic, but we aren’t cave people.”
    “I’m glad.”
    Addison laughed and took my hand again. “Our Realm has become more modern in the last hundred years. Some secrets from the Human Realm just couldn’t be kept secret from us. Even though elves left the Human Realm because they didn’t like the humans, we never disliked all of their culture.”
    “Well, I’m glad the secret to personal hygiene was leaked into the Elf Realm, but I am noticing quite a lot of iron in here,” I remarked.
    Actually, every piece of bathroom equipment was fashioned out of iron. I was used to porcelain sinks and toilets. The scene struck me as sort of odd.
    “Yes, well, iron keeps the fairies at bay. Or at least we wish it would…,” Addison said, trailing off.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Have you ever read in your fantasy books about a fairy’s greatest weakness?” she wondered.
    “Yes, iron. But I thought it was just a myth,” I admitted.
    Addison shook her head. “Iron burns or poisons fairies, depending on the amount they come in contact with and the strength of the fairy. In the Elf Realm, we furnish as many structures as we can out of iron.”
    “Then I’m guessing not too many fairies stop by to use the bathroom facilities,” I said, hoping she would appreciate the joke.
    Addison laughed, and led me to another room.
    “This was yours and Zora’s room,” she told me as we walked in the last room.
    This room was a bit more cheery, with two twin-sized beds, each with a floral comforter. Much larger than the first bedroom, it held two wardrobes and two vanities, and had a wide, oval green rug covering the floor. A large wooden trunk with an old-fashioned padlock rested between the two beds, separating them from each other. The trunk seemed old and important, like some kind of rare antique. I peered at Addison with a questioning glance.
    “We tried to open the trunk…because we wanted to know if anything important was inside, maybe a clue to where your sister is or where your parents went when they disappeared,” she explained with a sympathetic glance. “Only…we couldn’t.”
    “Have you tried using a hammer or something? Or tried to find a key?”
    Addison nodded. “Unfortunately, the lock is protected by a spell. Only a Spell Master can