Violette’s search for the last ingredient was completely unsuccessful, no matter how long she scrutinized the shelves it didn't magically appear there. She looked around for something she could stand on to take a look on the highest shelves where her eyes couldn't reach. Luckily, there was a small soft poufnearby; it wasn't really tall, but it allowed her to look at least three shelves higher. To reach the last two though, she had to raise on her tiptoes.
Dante pored over her. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to find the last ingredient – dust of forest fairies,” she puffed, trying to reach another shelf with her eyes.
Suddenly she felt Dante's hand around her hips and then he lifted her into the air, settling her onto his left shoulder.
The blood rushed to her cheeks instantly, the butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
“Is that better?” Dante asked before the silence settled.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she swiftly redirected her focus back to the shelves to conceal how much his seemingly effortless gesture had unsettled her. Just one touch was all it took.
She rearranged a couple of bottles, reading the labels, but sadly didn't find the required ingredient. Her eyes again ran over the vials and bowls on the two last shelves, but they also didn't yield any results.
“You can put me down.” Her eyes fell down and she swiveled in his arms to face him as he was lowering her.
Their eyes met, shivers went down Violette’s back. For a few moments they stayed so close to each other that she could feel the warmth of his chest, his breath. His hands stayed on her waist, her blood waspumping. The silence occupied the room as they froze just like the time around them. Some unsaid words started flying in the air but were never meant to be voiced out loud as Violette finally took a half step back and let her mouth speak.
“I didn't find the dust but the good news is we can find it in the wild,” she murmured, removing the hair strand away from her face.
“Good,” he nodded, not taking his eyes off as she tried to avoid eye contact, not ready to face his gaze yet. The goosebumps down her spine still were tingling her skin.
Violette shook this strange feeling off and handed him a couple of bottles.
“Here, keep your hands busy.”
“I'd rather keep my hands busy with you,” he purred.
Violette's lashes fluttered, face flushed and then changed with the grimace as she pushed another bottle right into his chest with force.
The little bells above the door chimed as they were leaving. It was already dark outside, the streets covered with white powder, sparkling under the street lights.
Violette raised her eyes to the moon which took its place in the night sky among the stars. Dante made a step from the stairs.
“Wait,” she hurried her way, her violet cape streamed behind her, cloaking her pale shoulders, tied into a loose bow on her chest; a blooming violet rose swirled around her neck with dark strings above. Today she wore her favorite dark purple strapless dress seep with warm hue and divided in a two-layered skirt, trimmed with frills deeper in color along the neckline and the edges of a tight corset, tied with lilac ribbons, and embellished with purple flowers on the both sides of her hips.
“And where will we find the last ingredient?” Dante asked as she aligned with him.
“Forest fairies usually leave the dust on the flowers in the morning by the river. I've read that theyare quite common here. I'll go to the river tomorrow.”
Dante stealthily glanced at her. He might have doubted that her plan was good and there was no guarantee she'd really find it but even if so, he didn't decide to voice his thoughts out loud.
“Will the potion be ready on time?” he asked her as they crossed a street lined with colorful little shops.
“Yes, it's not hard to brew,” her voice came out confident. She knew her work and she meant it saying he can't doubt her potion skills. Violette's mother was a great potion maker and, maybe, her daughter wasn't that great yet, but she was indeed talented and diligent. She didn't inherit only her stubbornness but her determination as well.
The next few minutes they spent in silence as Violette was scrutinizing shop windows on their way.
One of the shops had a beautiful setting with diminutive gold figures dancing on the snow in the little town, another was decorated with snowflakes landing on the exquisite fairy village. The warm light coming from the windows of the little cottages with roofs covered in moss reminded Violette of one of the fairytales her father once read to her. Her eyes took a glimpse of the night forest with an unicorn who galloped along the field of blue flowers in the other window. Right next to it – the shop of ‘Ribbons, Textiles and Barrettes’ had the most amazing showcase, delighting Violette's heart. The metal scissors werecutting floating pink and golden ribbons in the air. In the center – a marble delicate figure of a woman with a needle in her hand measuring a silver thread, glimmering under the soft light, twinkling with stars. Breathtaking sight.
These displays shimmered with magic, more enchanting and closer to Violette's imagination of the Valley of Enchanted Stories than anything she had seen in the past week. It reminded her of the streets of her lovely hometown that her heart was already missing. She'd never thought she would crave strolling by so familiar streets of the Sorcevellis. She's been passing them everyday, and hadn't seen much special in them but now…she wanted to step on the Street Of Spells and Potions and see her little shop, go down to her favorite cafe, and glimpse at the window of a little hat shop across the road. Then she'd turn to the Cursed Street through the Enchanted Alley to buy her favorite chocolate mousse with stardust and laughing berries on top, and then finish her little walk by the Midnight Square to watch how lanterns light up the park.
The sights of the red and green ribbons settled the particular feelings in her soul. Warm star lights and a tall tree with kids dancing around in a window case sent her a flash of realization – it was the holiday season.That's why every other window was decorated so beautifully, they were preparing for the most magical time of the year.
The streets of Sorcevellis were even more magical during winter holidays. Every shop had seen it as their duty to compete for the mostbeautiful festival showcase. It felt like wandering through an alley of a thousand different magic stories as every window was telling one of them. The city had transformed into a splendid snowball you could only find in the most whimsical and beautiful shop. She missed it. Her heart started aching for familiarity.
Violette liked to walk these streets with her parents, later only with father, in the beginning of December, studying new displays in the stores’ windows; watching people decorating streets, preparing their houses, cafes changing their signs and menus, and adding new hot drinks to the season. Everything was transforming into a winter fascination, little holiday fairytales collected in one book. The streets wore the scent of peppermint and hot chocolate. The warmth of the festive buns warm the hands after the frosty weather outside, while snowflakes gently cover the roofs of the houses, roads and people's heads. Colorful holiday ribbons and packages flashing across the open streets. A joyful singing scatters through the alleys, the sound of the bells flying off the walls of buildings and cheering merry greetings echoing from every corner. She remembered it too well to not be veiled by nostalgia. The holiday season was already at the door, while she was too far away from home. And yet, if it means that next holiday she'll be able to spend it with her father again, like in the good old times, she was ready to make this sacrifice. Just to have more time with him later.
