Horror.

Kylia's brow was knit together, her mouth agape in horror. With an indignant cry, she brought a hand up to swat Viri from her knee, sending the fae flying across the room with a cry of its own. Glowing motes trailed in the air behind it as its light flickered in the darkness.

Xalendra gasped, staring at where the fairy landed to see its glow diminished. Kylia looked both disturbed and frightened, moving to stand and clutch the white fabric of her nightgown's skirt tightly, her knees held together.

The princess stood up to take a step toward Viri, yet her handmaiden halted her from where she stood with her back against the door.

“My lady, no!” Kylia said. “That thing is dangerous!”

Xalendra grimaced, concerned for the creature yet wary of its erratic nature. “But it's a fairy!” she whispered.

“And a terror as well! It will only cause more trouble!” Kylia eyed the faint light on the ground with a frown. “I say we toss it out the window, before it can fly back into our skirts!”

“Kylia!” Xalendra said tersely. “I am your princess, and I will not have you-”

She fell silent as the fae's light began to glow brighter, floating slowly up from the floor. “First your hand,” came the less-than-musical voice of Viri, “then your words. What else will you hurt Viri with?”

The two girls stared as the fairy's light turned reddish, floating by the ceiling. “No, Viri-” Xalendra began, yet was interrupted.

“Fine. Viri will leave you,” it said. “But Viri will leave you with a cure for your harsh prudery.”

Suddenly, Viri's light flashed ten times brighter, lighting up the room and causing Xalendra to shut her eyes and turn away. When she opened them again, the fairy was gone, and tiny motes of light drifted in the air before fading away. In the following moment Xalendra realized just what Viri's parting gift was.