by Julia Crane
“Now drop your arms and let it diminish.”
I dropped my arms to my side and the small twister fell apart, gone just as quickly as it had started. “That was awesome.”
A smile spread across her face. “It’s a powerful talent. It is stronger when you are with me.”
“I’d like to do that again sometime,” I said breathlessly as we started walking again.
“As long as you remember it’s not a toy. A powerful wind can cause a twister to get out of control.”
“I understand.”
My house was visible up ahead, just through the tree line. Azura squeezed my hand. “Be safe.”
I nodded and turned to go, surprised to find that I was sad to leave Azura behind.
Later that night, I lay in bed unable to sleep.There was some strange part of me that longed for the faery world. I felt safe there, and I wasn’t sure what that meant. It wasn’t like I didn’t feel a part of the human world, but lately, my heart felt like it was being torn in half. I was changing, and that terrified me.
I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing to either Adam or Kallan. It wasn’t right. Kallan had the advantage because he knew everything. Adam didn’t have a clue what was going on, and frankly, I was lucky he’d put up with my crap the last few weeks.
It was no longer a matter of figuring out what I needed to do. I still had no intention of being forced to marry anyone. I had to find the loophole.
I got out of bed and went to the window. It was dark outside. No sparkling lights or soft glow from the trees. Part of me wished I had grown up with Azura. If I had been born a normal faery instead of an Aurorian faery, none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t be torn right now. Maybe I’d be matched up with one of the light faeries I’d recently met.
Of course, then I wouldn’t know Sierra, Adam, and my parents. That didn’t seem like the perfect world either.
There had to be a way to keep us all together. Except not all of us could be. Either Kallan or Adam had to go.
I spent the rest of the weekend getting ready for school to start back while I obeyed my grounding by only talking to Adam and Sierra on the phone. By the time Monday morning rolled around, I hurried to school faster than I’d ever done before, excited to see Adam.
He stood on the front steps like he always did. Steady and dependable. I threw my arms around him and gave him a long, passionate kiss.
“Hi,” he said with a laugh as we pulled apart.
“Hi. It’s so good to be in your arms.”
“They’re here for you anytime.”
Guilt washed over me. “I’m sorry I’ve been distant. Lots of family things going on.”
“Your family is the most normal one I’ve ever known,” Adam said.
It was once, I thought sadly. “All families have secrets.”
“I wish you’d tell me what’s going on.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s complicated.”
The bustling hallway, complete with squeaky sneakers and yelling students, was a welcoming sound. Being back at school made me feel almost normal. Spending the day with Adam, regardless of the fact we were in class, centered me.
I was allowed to go to choir rehearsals, but not Adam’s practices. I spent each afternoon doing schoolwork, and as much of the day with Adam that I could. I was able to push Kallan from my mind and forget the way we had bonded while we were away.
It would have continued to work if he hadn’t shown up for school on Wednesday.
I avoided him as much as I could, which was the hardest thing ever. Every time I saw him, my wings would remind me how attracted to him I was. It was as if there were some invisible force pulling us together. It got harder and harder to resist as the days passed.
“You’re not being fair,” Sierra said as she caught me staring at Kallan in the lunchroom. Adam had gone to get us fresh sodas because the two we’d grabbed weren’t cold.
I let my head fall into my arms on the tabletop. “I know.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” It was as simple as that.
“Do you have feelings for Kallan?” Sierra’s face told me she already knew the answer.
I nodded.
“But you still love Adam.”
“Yeah.”
Sierra whistled. “You’re in a bad way.”
“Tell me about it.”
It was finally the end of my grounding and I’d have a whole weekend to catch up on my social life. I sat on the front porch swing with The Great Gatsby and a glass of lemonade. It was a warm afternoon after school, and all I had to do was read a chapter, then homework was done for the day.
With an end in sight, I was completely focused on reading. I never heard him approach until his voice broke through my concentration.
“Oleander.”
Startled, I dropped my book to my lap and jerked my head up.
Oren.
He looked different than the last time I saw him. His face was softer and his eyes kinder. There was a wariness to his stance. He was guarded.
“What are you doing here?” I asked softly, my heart stopping. Was he going to kidnap me and take me to Varwik?
Oren held up his hands. “I just need to explain. I hope you’ll hear me out.”
I crossed my arms and waited. Inside, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst through my chest. I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to show up at my house, of all places. Thankfully, my real dad wasn’t home. He would totally flip out.
“I was a selfish, arrogant man. I had been put down and made fun of all of my life. People teased me for having a stupid talent—making fragrances. I guess it began to wear on me...”
“Excuses,” I interrupted, my irritation growing to anger.
“Yes, they are excuses,” he agreed. “But it’s also the true and honest reason why I did what I did. I’m not trying to say I wasn’t wrong.”
“Good, then you aren’t a complete jerk.”
“I deserve that.” Oren rubbed his brow and went on. “I tried to change my talent. I visited all the elders, anyone I thought might be able to help me. I dabbled in dark magick, what I could access, to see if I could get a different power. I found nothing to help me. I was depressed and mad at the world. Your mother was the only good in my life, and I treated her like crap because I couldn’t accept who I was.”
He paused, but I remained silent.
“When Azura told me she was pregnant, I was overjoyed. I decided to stop searching for a better talent and learn how to be a good husband and father. I hoped for a little girl who would sit on my knee while I told stories and taught her everything I know.” He smiled at me. “I couldn’t wait to teach you our ways, the way my father taught me.”
Tears filled my eyes. I tried to blink them away, angry that he was having this effect on me after he did what he did.
“And then you were born. For a few minutes, everything was right with the world. You were so little and so beautiful. I had never been prouder. You fit in the crook of my arm.” His face lit up as he spoke. “Then I saw the mark. It triggered a memory of a conversation I had in my quest to find a more powerful talent. Varwik had said he would do anything for the power an Aurorian faery would bring. And there you were, an Aurorian. All I had to do was hand you over...” He choked on his words and made no attempt to wipe away the tears that were running down his face. “I don’t know what happened. I just snapped. I could taste the dark magick on my tongue. I argued with myself that we could have more children, and I’d be even better because I’d be more powerful. So I left to make the deal.”
I swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear all this, but it was like a horror movie. Too captivating to look away.
“The deal was easy to make. But when I returned home there was a sadness that wasn’t there when I left. I was told you died. I knew immediately it was punishment for making the deal with Varwik. I also knew I couldn’t stay. I didn’t pack a
thing, didn’t say goodbye, I just left. I’ve spent the years since living with what I had done.”
“Then why were you so mean when we met?”
He didn’t even pause before answering. “Guilt. I didn’t know how to handle seeing you face-to-face. I wasn’t sure I believed you really were alive at first, but then I saw you. I saw how beautiful you are. All the anger I felt at Azura over what she did melted away.”
“She saved my life.”
Oren nodded. “I know. I thought if I turned you away and remained hidden, that Varwik would leave you alone. But then I realized how our meeting must have seemed to you, which is why I’m here today.”
“Varwik is forcing me to marry his son.”
Oren flinched. “I heard. Oleander, I know I can’t change the past, but I will fix the future for you. I will make it right.”
“How?” I snapped irritably. I’d been agonizing over how to break the promise for months.
“I’m not sure yet.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Look, I wanted you to know how sorry I am. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. I’m sorry for treating you rotten when we met. And I will make it up to you.” There was true sadness in Oren’s voice. Plus, a faery couldn’t lie. Not even one who’d lived in the human world for sixteen years.
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I chose, “Okay.”
Oren clasped his hands behind his back, his wings flapping once. “Are you…happy, Oleander?”
“For what it’s worth, yes. My human life has been wonderful.” I pursed my lips. “It wasn’t until this past year that things began falling apart. My life isn’t my own anymore.”
“You should be allowed to choose your own life, and I will make sure that happens. I promise that.”
“You shouldn’t make promises,” I said wryly. “Then you’re expected to keep them.”
Oren chuckled. He took my hand in his and kissed it, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Not even a full minute passed before Kallan appeared from the trees, his long legs hurrying across the vivid green grass. He stomped up the stairs, his turquoise eyes surveying the yard. “I heard you had a visitor.”
I sighed. “Are there no secrets in the faery world?”
Kallan ignored me. His face was thunderous, and his hands were clenched into fists. “Did he hurt you? I’ll kill him if he did anything to cause you more pain.”
I knew he meant what he said. Kallan would do anything to protect me.
“No. I’m fine. Oren came to apologize.”
Kallan’s eyes widened in surprise, and he sank to the wooden swing beside me. “Wow. You okay?”
His leg brushed mine, and I shivered.
“Yeah. Sorry I don’t need rescuing this time.”
Kallan put his hand on mine. “If you need me for anything, call me and I’ll be there. Even if it’s just to talk.”
“Thanks. You’ve been so good to me.”
“I just want you to be happy. You’ve been through enough to last a lifetime.”
“I’m okay. Really. But I do have a question.”
“Of course.”
“What’s dark magick like?” It had been weighing on my mind, just on the edge of my consciousness, ever since my life had been turned upside down because of it. I regretted asking the second I saw his face.
Kallan’s face darkened. “You stay far away from that.”
“Why? What’s the big fuss about?”
“Nothing worth a fuss at all.” His fingers slid into my hair as he tucked it behind my ear. “You are pure, Rylie. Stay that way.”
Before I could answer, Kallan kissed my cheek and left.
I was on sensory overload. First Oren, then Kallan. I had so many faery men, all expecting so much from me.
I stared up at the moon just rising in the early evening sky. Dark magick. What was it all about? Could it really have helped Oren find a new power?
I wished I knew more about magick in general. It was still a foreign concept to me, even though I had witnessed magick over and over in the faery world. All I knew was that along with dark magick came power. Obviously, Oren thought the power was worth enough to give me away. His own daughter.
With my power being the ability to use the powers of other faeries, I could access dark magick if I really wanted. It couldn’t hurt to learn what dark magick could do. I shook my head. What was I thinking? Dark magick was what separated my birth parents and got me into this mess; why would I want to know anything about it?
On the table next to me, my phone vibrated. The sound was so alien in my thoughts that I shrieked and jumped. I glanced at the screen—Azura.
“Oleander, your cousins are on their way to your house with a gift. Are you home?”
I glanced towards the forest, expecting Nessa and Violet to emerge from the shadowy forest. “Yeah, I’m outside actually. Azura, something happened.”
“Oh, good. Your cousins should be there shortly. What happened?”
“Oren showed up.”
“Oh dear. Oh, Oleander. Are you all right?”
“He apologized to me. For everything.”
Azura’s voice was hard when she spoke again. “I suppose he thought that made everything right again.”
“I don’t think so. He was really sincere.”
Her sigh echoed in my ear. “Well, I suppose it’s a start.”
“Now if only we could find a way out of my promise to Varwik.” I caught sight of Nessa and Violet. “Azura, I have to go, they’re here.”
“Okay, dear. Call me later.”
I met my cousins at the top of the stairs, and Nessa handed over a basket.
“What’s this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Fruit for your friend. Have her eat it, and she’ll be blessed with faery sight. You’ll be able to bring her to our world.”
“Really? All she has to do is eat this?” I looked down at the innocuous orange fruit inside. One round piece on a bed of satiny cloth. I felt like the queen in Snow White with her apple. At least this fruit wasn’t poisoned. I hoped.
Violet nodded. “The fruit is spelled. There are a couple things to know. One, she has to eat it within the next twenty-four hours. Two, she has to eat it all.”
“Got it.” I placed the basket on the porch and smiled gratefully. “Thank you both very much.”
I was already dialing Sierra’s number as my cousins walked away.
“Okay, I’ve been dying from the suspense,” Sierra said as she pounded up the steps to my porch twenty minutes later. “What on earth was so incredible that you couldn’t tell me by phone?”
I let the silence drag, using one foot to slowly swing in the breeze.
She glared at me. “Ry. You’re killing me.”
Laughing, I said, “Do you still want to go to the faery realm?”
Sierra’s mouth dropped open. “Duh!”
“Are you sure? You can still back out.”
“I really want to go.”
“You can’t tell anyone. You can’t talk about it. These faeries are trusting you with their lives.” I paused. “They’re trusting me.”
“I would never do anything to hurt you, Ry. Or them.”
“I know.” I took the fruit out of the basket and held it out. “You have to eat all of it.”
“We’re going now?” Sierra squeaked, a sudden thread of worry in her voice.
I nodded. I’d already called and told my parents. “Get to it.”
She glanced at the fruit still in my hand. “Nothing weird will happen to me, will it?”
“I honestly have no idea. I think it just gives you the ability to see faeries and their world.” I also wasn’t sure how long it would last, whether the twenty-four hours was faery time or human time.
Carefully, Sierra took the fruit and bit into it. “It’s delicious.”
“Most faery food is.”
“You must love that.”
I laughed. “Yeah. It’s a pl
us.”
She polished it off and wiped the juice on her jeans. “Now what?”
“I don’t know.” I poured myself a glass of water.
“You told me before that you used something to hide your faery features from everybody?”
“Yes. Glamour.”
“You’re using it now?”
“Yes. Why?”
She giggled, her eyes focused over my shoulder. “I can see your wings.”
“Then it must be working.” I tucked my cell phone in my pocket and left The Great Gatsby on the swing. “Ready to take a trip?”
“Nothing looks different,” Sierra said as we crossed the tree line and into the forest.
The woods ensconced us completely. The sun was well on its way down, casting everything around us in purple shadows. I was following my instincts towards the faery world, pretty proud of myself because I was certain we were going in the right direction. If it weren’t for the warm, breeze-like sensation of the alternate world ahead, I might have been scared of the growing dark.
“I mean, come on, I thought trees, like, glowed with faery dust or something.”
I laughed. “We haven’t crossed over yet. Be patient.”
She looked at me, her eyes squinting through the dim light. “I barely recognize you.”
I blushed. There was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t hide from her now. “Does it bother you?”
“No! It’s cool. Wait, wait.” She halted and held out her hands, her gaze flitting to my wings. “Can I touch them?”
I knew why she wanted to. What human wouldn’t? But the thought of someone touching my wings felt so intimate. Like I could say no to my best friend. “Sure.”
Sierra reached around me and gently grasped the tips of my wings, then ran her hands all the way down.
My body tingled, and I shivered.
“Can you feel it?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Yeah. It feels good.”
“So soft,” she said, awe in her voice. “Can you fly?”