The Sea of Change

by Tina Engel

  Everyone agreed and they all said their goodbyes to their friends and families. Queen Anahita informed us that she would travel underground, through her water ways, and Kimberlite was going to travel underground also, in the lava tunnels. I gave Kimberlite a big hug and held him tight, not wanting to let him go.

  “Don’t worry Princess, I am always close. The lava pebbles in your necklace will keep me informed.” Kimberlite said, as he looked at Brett with a bit of annoyance on his face.

  Queen Anahita came to me and bowed her head, as she assured me that she was close by also and would appear where we set up camp. She didn’t touch me though, and couldn’t look me in the eyes.

  We headed down the Appalachian Trail, Brett leading, with Rose behind, then myself and Jordan in the back. Lily meandered up front at times, and then meandered behind us all, and at times she would jump into the trees and disappear, only to suddenly walk beside me.

  Brett never looked back and his shoulders were tense, as if he were straining to hear something, me maybe?

  As we walked, I was mesmerized by the world I was in. Everything was alive; communicating. Even the lowest forms of fey could communicate with each other. I could hear them all. I wondered if Brett and Jordan could communicate with the ants in their hills and the squirrels up in the trees. Could the tree fey talk with the animals that lived in their tree? So many questions I had, but who to ask?

  Just then, Jordan came to my side. “It’s beautiful isn’t it, Princess.” He said.

  As Jordan looked around, he continued, “I had forgotten just how beautiful home was. I never thought I would see it again.”

  I saw the sadness in his face again. I had to know, so I asked, “Why are you so sad. You should be happy to be back in your land and to be fey again. You have your wings, and I assume your fey abilities.”

  Jordan smiled a weak smile and told me that he didn’t really believe he belonged here anymore. He was banned to live eternity in the human realm because he killed an elder, the one he loved. It was probably easier to live in the human’s dimension, than to see this world, knowing that she wasn’t in it any longer because of him.

  I took his hand in mine and we walked in silence, I had my answer and it made me sad. I could only imagine his pain. The pain I felt due to Brett’s rejection was so minor compared to Jordan’s suffering. I would be able to fix things with Brett, I was sure, but Jordan would never see Lena again.

  I realized as we walked and as I looked around, that I wasn’t just seeing the fey’s world. There was the human dimension here too. It was like there was a sheer covering that separated the two dimensions, and I could see through to the other world if I wanted to. It was there, all around, we shared the same space.

  Suddenly, up in front of us, there were two humans. Their appearance was hazy but they were there, on the path, we were on. They were walking straight for Brett. I stopped and gasped at the sight, as they passed right through him; none of them even flinched.

  Jordan chuckled when he realized what I had seen. “Princess, we don’t even pay attention to the humans who pass through us. We all share the same space, but just in a different realm. In time, you will be able to separate the two if you chose.

  The humans came towards us and he squeezed my hand and told me it was alright. I kept walking and they did too. We passed right through each other. I felt a slight tingle, and a quick thought that entered my mind. The girl who came last, felt me. She had a stronger sense of nature than the other. Interesting, I thought.

  Looking ahead, I saw that Brett had stopped walking and was watching what I was experiencing. He had a look of longing, wishing, I was sure, that he was the one sharing this new experience with me. Then his look turned to sorrow again as he turned and continued on.

  I felt such pain in my hearts from that look. How could I get through to him that I didn’t want this separation, either?

  After a while, Jordan released my hand and kissed me sweetly on the cheek. He thanked me for my kindness and reminded me again that he was glad to be here helping me, and would do anything I needed. He dropped back behind and followed us, keeping a wary eye on our beautiful surroundings, knowing that there was danger out there somewhere.

  I could hear everything talking at once and they were mostly talking about us, me to be exact. I tried to communicate with them as best I could, but it was tiring. Most were just curious about this new fey who was supposed to be someone special, but some were not happy that I was here at all. By now, all in the fey world knew about me and it was a mixture of feelings, from all.

  I finally decided to try and tune all the noise out, and then I was left with nothing but the strange vibration and now a humming that came from it. What it was and from where or what, I just didn’t know or maybe didn’t want to know.

  Chapter 18

  Childhood memories,

  So simple and sweet.

  We felt safe and comforted

  By those older.

  Now we are older

  And have only memories

  Of simpler times.

  After walking a short while longer, I started to see movement out in the forest. Shapes of some kind of creatures, moving quickly from tree to tree, hiding and then peering out from behind, only to disappear and dart to another tree. They followed us for a while, and then suddenly we came out of the forest and into an opening that had a strange village.

  All around were these peculiar creatures; green and hunched over, with pointy ears, small horns that protruded out of their foreheads and strange red eyes. If I had seen them as a human, I would have been afraid but after what I’ve experienced in the past months, they weren’t scary at all.

  Jordan came to my side, alarmed, taking hold of me around my waist and pulling me to his side, and said, “Goblins!”

  Brett turned to face us with an expression of wariness on his face, but not panic, when Jordan said this. Kimberlite appeared out of the boulder that was sitting next to a small hut made out of human’s……. clothing?

  Rose fell back to where Jordan and I stood, Lily was nowhere to be seen and Kimberlite went to stand next to Brett, as a Goblin approached them both; I assumed it was the leader.

  My diamond necklace was vibrating slightly, taking hold of it, I could feel the lava pebbles as they communicated with each other and me. “Filthy little beast…why are we talking with them...Can’t trust them, they steal and lie!”

  I was shocked by the viciousness and contempt that these small lava babies were feeling, and then I realized that it was Kimberlite’s feeling, that he was communicating to them. I forgot that they had a constant connection with each other. Now more so, with us being in the fey’s realm. I think my shock of this attitude was conveyed to Kimberlite, because he turned his head and had a look of embarrassment on his face. His tone changed some, not quite so vicious, but I still understood that he didn’t think much of these creatures.

  Rose stood closer to me and slid her hand in mine as a Goblin approached us in a cautious manner. Jordan tightened his grip around my waist, pulling me even closer to his side. Just then, Lily descended from a tree above and stood between us and the curious Goblin. She was crouched in an attack position, ready to pounce on this predator if need be.

  This was probably a serious situation, but I started to giggle when I saw Lily; just like a cat ready to pounce on a poor helpless mouse or squirrel, or even a rabbit. She looked back at me with annoyance and that made me giggle even more.

  It was Brett who calmed the tension just a bit, “It’s alright everyone, just calm down.” He said.

  Brett had a funny look on his face, a mixture of wariness still, but relief also; maybe my giggling helped, and he said, “This Goblin clan has offered their services in helping us. We can stay here for the night under their protection.”

  Well, Jordan didn’t like what he was hearing and as he tightened his grip a bit more around my waist, I had to ask him to please loosen his grip because he was squeezing me too t
ightly. I said this in a slightly comical way to lighten the mood that was surrounding me, and his tension eased just a bit for a moment, as he removed his hand from around my waist.

  Lily stood erect now, but still there between me and the Goblin. As I looked at Lily and watched her, she was somewhat different in appearance. It almost looked as though the Lily I knew was just a façade, a covering of some kind. As I tried to look deeper, this strange appearance that I was sure I saw, disappeared, and the Lily that I had grown so fond of, turned to look at me with a strange look, slightly surprised but also pleased at the same time. There is more to this cat than meets the eye but she isn’t quite ready to let me in. Interesting, I thought.

  Brett interrupted my realization that things still were not what they seemed, when he said, “Princess Emilee this is Ragnar, clan leader to this Goblin clan.

  I approached this strange looking creature as he held out his hand towards me. I looked at Brett and he actually had a smile of reassurance on his face. I reached out my hand and Ragnar took it gently.

  He didn’t do the traditional greeting that the others had always done. Instead, he kissed the palm of my hand. Or maybe it was more a kiss with a sloppy lick at the end. I wanted to pull my hand away, but didn’t dare, out of fear I would offend him, but I got chills down my back never the less.

  Ragnar looked up at me and I saw that his eyes were not red, but a dark brown. I could have sworn they were red when I approached him. He looked at me as if he knew me, and then his eyes turned back to the red that I had seen just moments before.

  I removed my hand from his, slowly, and said as calmly and respectful as possible, “It’s very nice to meet you. Thank you for assisting us.”

  Of course I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, stupid, stupid, stupid, and I said then, “Your eyes were brown just a second ago?”

  Ragnar stood up as straight as I believe a Goblin could stand, and turned away from me towards Brett with a look of insult on his face.

  “I apologize Ragnar; she’s still new to this land and still growing within her fey body.” Brett said, as he gave me a stern look and then turned his head back to Ragnar.

  Ragnar looked back at me with acceptance then, and welcomed us into his home. He offered us a hut to sleep in, but Brett in a very diplomatic way, informed him that we would make camp at the end of their village. We would sleep under the stars, and if it was acceptable to him, might Kimberlite heat up a rock for our warmth.

  Ragnar’s first expression was that of insult, but changed quickly to acceptance when another Goblin approached him and whispered something in his ear.

  I could hear what she said, yes a female. How I could tell, I don’t know. Call it woman’s intuition maybe. Anyway, I could hear what she said and it was to let us be and rest wherever we wanted. She didn’t want us to leave, so he had to appease us in any way possible.

  This female Goblin looked at me then and her eyes were definitely brown, and stayed that way. She looked at me as if she knew me also. I felt a strange connection to her, as if I knew her too, but didn’t know how.

  Brett took my arm gently, and we all walked through the village to the other side where we would make camp. His touch was kind and he never let go. I couldn’t feel the wonderful electrical current though that used to flow between us. I felt an emptiness without our connection. He didn’t let go though, so I had hope that we would be okay soon.

  As we walked through the village I was amazed at what I saw. All the huts were made of human things; clothing, house hold items, yard furniture and pots. There was an old artificial Christmas tree in front of one with the lights on and it was actually lit.

  When we had first entered the village, I thought it looked like a junk yard, but now I could see that there was organization and it was quite beautiful the way their homes were put together.

  The Goblins themselves, at first, all looked alike but as I walked through the village looking at them, as they all stood there staring at me, I realized that they all looked different in very slight ways. Their mannerisms were different and I could definitely see the difference between the females and males. The females were slighter in build but their hips where a bit larger and they stood up straighter than the males. Most had the red eyes, but some had brown, green and even blue. Strange, I thought.

  I said nothing, but Brett somehow knew what I was thinking; it must have just been the fact that he knew me so well.

  “I’ll answer your questions when we get settled.” Brett said, as he slipped his hand from my arm, down to my hand where he held it momentarily, and then released me as we stopped at the place where we would make camp.

  I looked back at the village and saw all the Goblins were busy doing their own thing then, as if we hadn’t even been there, all but the one female, who was still watching me. I could still feel her presence in my mind. Not like with Brett; I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. How did I hear her speaking to Ragnar then, I wondered.

  We set up camp, Kimberlite placing a large rock in the middle of an open area, and within minutes it started to glow. The trees around us seemed to close, creating a fortress for our protection, and out from the trees came the fey that belong to them. Rose took my backpack from me and proceeded to take out my blanket and made my bed alongside hers.

  Brett, Kimberlite and Jordan were having a heated discussion, and I was sure it was about the Goblins and the fact that Kimberlite and Jordan disapproved of them. As their discussion got louder and I was wondering if a fight was going to break out, down from the sky, came Eagle.

  He looked at me and chuckled, shaking his head and said, “Don’t worry Princess, I will calm them down. Looks like I’m needed here.”

  He walked over to the others and soon the excited voices quieted to a whisper. They would look over at me occasionally, and then back to their deep discussions.

  I realized that Lily was nowhere to be seen again. Was I surprised? Of course not. But I was still curious about what I had seen earlier. The cloak or covering that Lily wore; was she even a cat at all?

  I realized then how tired I was, drained actually. I sat down on my bed and pulling my legs up to my chest, I lay my head down on my knees, shut my eyes and tried to shut the world out. The noise that was around me stopped then. It was all quiet.

  It wasn’t long before I started to feel that strange vibration and humming. It was just there, under my consciousness. I focused on this strange thing that had been tormenting me. I let myself drift farther and farther away from where I was, with the others. They were gone now. I was alone in this place, nothingness, closer to the humming, the vibration, and the negative energy. It was stronger now, the closer I got. I could almost touch it. I could almost see it. Just a little bit closer. “Don’t be afraid Emilee,” I told myself. “Just a little bit closer.”

  A hand touched my shoulder softly and I was startled out of that place. The nothingness disappeared, and as I looked up, there was Brett looking at me, so close that I could feel his breath in my face.

  “Emilee! Princess!” He said, as I looked up at him.

  Brett backed away slowly as if he didn’t want to. His look of concern though, stayed on his face. It was good to see that he wasn’t so angry.

  “Are you alright Princess? You were far away, we couldn’t wake you.” Brett said.

  He reached behind my head, putting his hand on my barrette. He then removed his hand and stood up with a look mixed with fear and loathing. I was confused by this, but before I could speak, Brett’s look changed to anger again. His eyes turned a dark stormy blue, as if he were ready to fight but fight what?

  He knelt down again in front of me and reached out to take my hands, but stopped just inches away. He pulled his hands back to his sides and said in a tone that was so pained, “I will get you there safely. I will win.” And he stood and walked away with his shoulders hunched, as if he had lost a battle.

  I was so confused, now. What was this strange thing that I felt deep down inside?
Why could I not let Brett in without severe pain? What was he talking about, HE WILL WIN?

  It was Lily who stopped the questions running through my mind. She was beside me then, smoothing my hair out as she ran her fingers through my tangles. She removed my barrette and this startled me. No one could remove it without it hurting them.

  I started to panic but there was no need. She held the barrette gently in her hand and then placed it in my pack. She removed the brush out of my pack, the one that Douglas had given me, and proceeded to brush my hair.

  I looked at Brett and he was staring at us in disbelief. He was shocked also, that Lily could touch the barrette but there was something more that he was stunned by. I wondered what?

  I was so tired, but didn’t want to shut my eyes again out of fear I would go back to that place filled with nothingness. Lily continued to brush my hair and Rose lifted her wrist to my mouth, insisting I eat.

  I took her wrist in my mouth and very gently bit down. As my teeth penetrated her skin I could taste the sweet irony blood. I shut my eyes as I sucked, and as her blood entered my body I could feel the strength coming back. I felt calm and relaxed. I was sleepier now though. This is so strange. I thought, just as I fell into a deep sleep.

  I was sitting in the forest behind my house. I was sitting next to the small creek, with my feet dangling in the water. The sun was high in the sky and it was very warm, mid-summer there in Pineville. I was still me, Princess Emilee, an 18 year old fey princess but I was sitting there in my back yard in the human’s world. I was dressed in my favorite old pair of cutoff jeans and t-shirt that I so loved to wear, when gardening in the summer.

  As I looked around, all was familiar, the trees, bushes, flowers and the babbling brook, that I so loved. The birds were singing and frogs croaking. The squirrels up in the trees were chattering to each other and I could hear the breeze blowing through the tree tops up above. I shut my eyes and could hear it all, but then it changed. I heard it differently, as everything around me talked to each other, communicating, and I could understand.