by Peter Glenn
I wasn’t shocked. It was a bit early for a bookstore to be open. But it might be fun to go through on our way back, if we had the time. I adored old books, and that place looked like it was chock full of leathery tomes just waiting to be explored.
“So where to, Sir Damian?” LaLuna asked.
There she was, being all formal again. I must have really blown it. I sighed and shrugged. “I’m not altogether certain, really. Mei didn’t give me the best directions. Just said it was somewhere on this island.”
“Perhaps we could ask someone for directions?”
“Heh. ‘Where is the nearest fae portal’ isn’t exactly a question that you ask the nearest shop owner,” I told her. “A lot of people in the human world still deny that magic and magical creatures even exist.”
A look of abject horror appeared on LaLuna’s face. “Really?”
“Yep. I know, it’s shocking to me, too. With all the crazy things that happen out there, how can you really deny magic’s existence?” I laid my hands bare. “But there you have it.”
We kept walking forward, following the throng of ferry passengers on their way into the town proper, as LaLuna pondered that answer.
“You mean to tell me there’s an entire group of people out there that don’t even believe I exist?” She sounded hurt more than anything, which I supposed I could understand.
It was one thing to not believe a person’s words, but to not even believe they were a person to begin with? I’m not sure how I’d handle that.
“Well I’m not one of them,” I assured her.
“For which I am most grateful, Sir Damian.” She patted my arm gently.
I tried to think of something to say, something that would make her feel better, but my mouth suddenly felt dry and cottony, and nothing came to mind. Fortunately, salvation was just around the corner.
“Let’s grab a drink and a bite to eat,” I told her, pointing to a nearby coffee shop. It had a picture of a witch sipping from an overly large cup painted on faded, weathered wood nailed to the roof, and a sign over the door that read Magical Brews. My stomach growled a little at the thought of food and maybe tea. “I don’t think I remembered to eat breakfast.”
“Good idea,” LaLuna offered. “I don’t think I ate, either.”
With a big smile on my face, I pushed through the throngs of people and made my way over to the door of the shop, LaLuna in tow. I flung the door wide open and strode in, the familiar sound of bells tingling behind me signaling our entrance to the shop.
The inside was even more charming than the outside had been. A half dozen tables, each with four chairs, were strewn about the main area, with another three or four stools sitting right next to the wide counter. The counter had a small display case set into it, through which I could see an assortment of baked goods, including some kind of scone and what I was reasonably certain was a cinnamon roll.
A large coffee-grinding machine and an espresso maker took up most of the space behind the counter, and a small door leading to a back room of sorts stood next to it, with a bright red Staff Only sign pasted to it. The faded, peeling tape along the corners of the sign completed the scene.
Standing at the counter was a small, brown-haired girl with large brown eyes, her nose pointed downward and her attention drawn to a book she was reading, not even bothering to look up at our entrance. I had the impression she didn’t get a lot of out of town customers.
“Excuse me, do you know where we can find the fae portal on this island?” LaLuna asked, completely ignoring all of my previous advice.
I wanted to smack myself in the forehead, but much to my surprise, the girl behind the counter didn’t seem fazed by the question. If anything, she looked a little bit amused.
She looked up at us and giggled ever so slightly. “Well you’re nice and direct, aren’t you?” Her voice was cheery and bubbly at the same time. She made her way around the counter and walked toward us, one hand outstretched. “The name’s Kelsey, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Mistress Kelsey,” LaLuna said, shaking her hand. “I’m LaLuna, and this is my human guide, Sir Damian.”
Kelsey leaned in close as she grasped my own hand in turn and whispered into my ear. “Is she always formal like this?”
“Pretty much,” I mouthed. Her grip was surprisingly strong for such a slight figure.
“Well met, LaLuna and Damian,” she said a moment later. “It’s not often I get fae visitors here, but it does happen. Can I offer you a spot of tea or coffee? Perhaps a cranberry scone?”
“Ooh, tea sounds delightful,” I said. “Do you have any Chinese varieties?” It had been a long time since I’d had a chance to sip a tea from my home country. Most people just drank the stuff you got at the grocery store, myself included. Import fees were steep.
“I think so,” Kelsey said. “Let me go check.” She started heading for the Staff Only door. “This isn’t actually my shop,” she said over her shoulder. “It’s Cassie’s, I just watch it for her when she’s out of town for a conference or something.”
She disappeared behind the door for a few moments and came back, grinning wide and holding a few leaves of a plant in her hand. “Will you take a Yunnan black?”
“Oh, that sounds amazing. Yes, please.”
“Great. And for the lady?”
“I’ll take the same,” LaLuna said.
Kelsey furrowed her brow. “You sure? Yunnan black is a bit of an acquired taste.” LaLuna said nothing, so Kelsey shrugged and started making the tea.
“And we’ll take two of those cranberry scones you mentioned,” I added.
Kelsey shot me a warm smile. “You got it. Take a seat, it’ll be ready soon.”
We did as we were bade. Kelsey fussed with the leaves and an old teapot for a moment and muttered something under her breath. She smacked something under the counter hard and cursed, but I couldn’t quite make out what she’d said.
A few minutes later, she produced a pair of cups and a silver tray and brought the whole thing over to our table.
“Cream or sugar?” she asked me.
“Straight for me,” I said. “Might want to add a little sugar to LaLuna’s, though.”
“Do you not think I can handle your tea, Damian?” LaLuna asked, her eyes tinged with a hint of fire and anger.
I fingered my shirt collar. “Of course you can!” I said quickly. “It’s just, like Kelsey said, it’s a bit of an acquired taste.” I gave her a wide grin. “I myself used to drink it with loads of sugar.”
LaLuna smiled at that. “Very well, then. I will take some of this ‘sugar’ in my tea.”
Kelsey poured the tea and added sugar to LaLuna’s, then produced the scones we’d asked for. “Enjoy,” she said with a slight bow. Then she went back over toward the counter, though she never quite took her eyes off us.
I took a sip of my tea. It was like heaven. The flavor of an authentic Chinese tea couldn’t be matched, in my opinion. I set it down and nibbled on one of the cranberry scones. It was pretty good, too. Crumbly and soft, with just the right amount of tang. Far better than the stuff I got from one of those coffee megastores in Seattle.
“What do you think, LaLuna?”
“Hmm?” She looked up absently from the teacup, seemingly lost in thought.
“About the tea.” I pointed to the cup in her hands.
“Oh.” She blushed. “My apologies, Sir Damian. It is wonderful.”
She reached forward to grab a scone, but her hand grazed mine instead, and she gave it a light squeeze. Fire shot up my arm at her sudden touch.
“I have never tasted anything quite like it.”
Our eyes met again and sitting there, staring into her eyes, her hand holding mine, I felt very unsettled, but in a good way, and my heart started racing in my chest.
“Well, I’m very glad you like it,” I said, almost choking on my own words, as all I could think about was how good it felt to have LaLuna’s hand wrapped around mine.
> “Very much so.” In that moment, I couldn’t tell if she meant the tea or my hand. I really hoped it was the latter.
“Ahem!” Kelsey said, rousing both of us from the heat of the moment. “Can I get you two crazy kids anything else?”
I blinked a couple times and looked up at where Kelsey was standing. My heart rate faded, along with the heat in my face, and my feelings returned to normal. “Uh... nope, I think we’re good.”
Kelsey giggled again. “Nothing?” she said, her voice full of mirth. “Not even directions to the fae portal?”
I shook my head and retracted my hand from LaLuna. “O-of course! Well yes, that. But we’re good on food.”
Kelsey smiled at us. “Sure thing. But first, tell me, how long have you two been a couple?”
“A what now?” I almost coughed on the words as I reared backward in my seat. I shot LaLuna a glance, but her eyes were blank.
Kelsey waved her hands at me. “It’s no big deal to me. I’ve seen plenty of human/fae couples in my time. I’m not prejudiced against it or anything.”
“I think you misunderstand,” LaLuna said, clearing her throat. “We are just traveling together. Sir Damian is showing me the world, since I am new to it. That is all.”
My heart sank into my stomach, and I felt deflated at the words, even though they were factually correct. I was crazy. I’d only met LaLuna yesterday, and here I was fawning over her. What was with me?
“Y-yeah!” I chimed in finally. The sting of her response was still heavy on my mind, so I stumbled over the word. “What she said.”
It wasn’t much, but I felt like I regained a little of my dignity with that.
Kelsey grinned at us again. “Okay, lovebirds. Whatever you say.”
“For sure,” LaLuna said, using my turn of phrase.
I tried to look at her, but she was averting her gaze and staring down at the scone instead. I thought her cheeks looked a little flushed, but couldn’t really tell.
“See?” I said, returning my attention to Kelsey. “It’s just like she said. We’re nothing but travelers going in the same direction. Maybe I’m helping her a little, but that’s it. Nothing two grown adults wouldn’t do.”
Kelsey shook her head, but said nothing more of it. “Look,” she said at last, “I’ve never been to the fae realm myself, but I’ve heard the stories of those that have. It’s a very dangerous place. Especially for humans. Are you two sure you need to go there?”
“Completely,” I said. We needed answers about Grace. The fae realm would have them. Though I didn’t say that. I wasn’t sure how much I could trust this shopkeeper, as warm and friendly as she was.
“Okay,” Kelsey said, drawing a long breath, “if you insist.” She rummaged around on the counter for a moment. “I shouldn’t be doing this. Bridget would kill me if she found out about it, as would my own mother. But I’ve taken a bit of a liking to the two of you.”
She walked forward and pressed a small card into my hand. “My cell number is on here. If you two run into any danger that you can’t handle, or need help finding something, you give me a call. I know a lot more than just how to make tea, and I might be able to help you out. And don’t worry about the bill. It’s nothing.”
I couldn’t tell quite why, maybe it was the directness of her tone or her overall demeanor, but I believed her whole-heartedly. She genuinely wanted to help us. Was the fae realm really that dangerous? I’d seen a glimpse myself, but surely it wasn’t all like that.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
“You are too kind, Mistress Kelsey,” LaLuna added, “but I must insist we pay for some of the repast before we leave.”
“Fine,” she muttered, sighing. “It’ll be two bucks each for the scones, but the tea is still on me. Let me give you something.”
“Thanks again,” I said. I pulled out my debit card and handed it to her. Four bucks for breakfast wasn’t bad. I would still be okay budget-wise.
“Don’t mention it,” she said. She swiped the card and handed it back. Then, in a far more serious voice, she added, “The fae portal is at the center of the island. Head down the main street until it forks, then go left. About a hundred meters down the road, you should see a nature trail called ‘Forest Walkway’. Follow it to the end, and you’ll reach the portal. Though actually crossing into the fae realm is up to you. Be warned that they don’t always accept visitors.”
We were about done with the food and tea by that point, so I stood and tucked her card into my pocket and pulled out my wallet again.
“Thanks again, Kelsey. Are you sure I can’t reimburse you for the tea? It really was heavenly.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said with a dismissive wave. “It’s on the house.”
“No, you’ve already done enough. Please, let me pay you,” I insisted. Even though I was a tiny bit grateful for not having to deplete my funds any further. They were already angling a bit on the low side.
She held up one hand like a stop sign. “No, I insist. It’s far better to be owed one by the fae than to owe them, in my experience.” She grinned slightly at LaLuna, who seemed oblivious to the whole thing.
I shrugged. “Well, if you insist.”
“It’s okay. Really it is. Cassie won’t mind, either.”
“Very well, then,” I said. “It was nice meeting you.” I stuck out my hand again, but she didn’t shake it this time. “Thanks for everything,” I added. Then we turned and left.
Kelsey’s directions were good, and we found the trailhead without any further trouble. The entrance was pretty wide, and the sign nice and visible, which I found odd, but Kelsey had hinted that the fae portal may not be as obvious as I would have thought, so maybe it made sense that the trail was well marked.
Or maybe it was well marked so people would know to avoid it. Again, I wasn’t at all certain which.
We passed by several trees and even a small waterfall as the path sloped gently upward along the side of a gentle hill that took up the center of the island. Before long, we were standing next to a small circle of moss-covered stones that stood in the middle of a large clearing.
“This is it,” LaLuna said with a hint of solemnity to her tone. “We’re here.”
“What, this old thing?” I pointed to the rocks and scoffed. “Really?” I’m not sure what exactly I’d expected, but I’d thought it would be grander than an old moss-covered firepit.
“Yes, I’m certain. I can feel the magic calling to me.”
I shrugged. That must be nice to be able to sense magic like that. It’s a talent that would come in handy.
“So, what do we do, then? How do we call the magic forth?”
LaLuna frowned. “I’m not sure.”
“You don’t know?” I balked.
She shook her head. “I’ve never used one. Especially not from the human side. But I’m sure it’ll come to me.”
LaLuna started milling about the portal, making weird motions with her hands and singing something in a soft, quiet voice that I couldn’t quite catch. It sounded catchy, though.
“Well I hope you figure it out soon, because–”
My words caught in my throat as a bright blue glow emanated from LaLuna’s bracers. Giant tendrils of blue light wrapped around my arms and legs, and finally my throat, cutting off anything I might have said.
Slowly, my vision started to fade as the tendrils wrapped around the rest of my body. I strained against the bonds of the fae magic with all my might, but I was caught like a fly on fly paper. I screamed something raw and guttural, but no sound came out.
My last coherent thought was of LaLuna and Grace as my consciousness faded and all at once everything went black.
Chapter Seven
WHEN I CAME TO, I TRIED to scream and water rushed into my open mouth. I spat it out before swallowing most of it, almost coughing out the last of my precious air in the process. It was still dark all around me. I tried to calm my body so I could float toward the surface and esca
pe, but something seemed to be holding me down.
My lungs and skin burned as I held on to the last bit of breath I had in me and struggled against the unknown force keeping me under the water.
Where had the water even come from? The last I’d known, I’d been on top of a small hill in a wooded area, about to enter the fae portal. Could this be it? Could some twisted part of the fae portal involve swimming through a dark ocean? It seemed odd, but not impossible.
Still, I would have thought LaLuna would have warned me about that.
LaLuna. My thoughts turned to her. Was she out there in the water somewhere, trapped as well? I strained my arms and legs, pushing out in every direction as far as I could, but I didn’t bump into anything. If she was out there, she wasn’t nearby.
My lungs finally gave out. I couldn’t hold on any longer. I let go of the last bit of air, letting a tiny bit of water rush into my lungs before I could seal my mouth again. I wanted to cough it out so badly my chest felt like it would burst, but I held fast, thrashing against the water, trying to push my body upward and out of the cold, bitter darkness before I succumbed to it.
For a moment, I thought I was successful, then I felt my body get pushed downward once again by that unknown force that loomed over me.
It was hopeless. I was stuck. This would be my grand finale, I just knew it. And it wasn’t even a cool way to die, which was the worst part. So much for that dream of dying in combat after taking out a hundred foes on my own.
But we never do get to pick our deaths, do we? Slowly, I let my body slack and stopped the fighting. If this was to be the end, then so be it. I’d meet it proudly. I felt my hold on life start to slip through my fingers and welcomed the oncoming darkness.
Just then, I felt strong hands grasp my shoulders, the person’s nails biting into my skin through my shirt. Those hands pulled upward, yanking my body with them and sending my body skyrocketing through the invisible force and into the air.