The Choice

by Cindy Cipriano

  “Do you know which is your clan?” asked Finley.

  Sun laughed. “Yes, and so do you. That part of the story’s right. I belong to the Hobayeth.”

  “No you don’t,” said Finley. “No more than I belonged to Devil’s Peak. What was your real clan? Before you were taken away?”

  “No idea. No one ever told me,” said Sun. “At least you have that. I was just a baby, but you were old enough to remember which clan you belonged to when you were added. I don’t think anyone knows mine.”

  “The Apprentice does,” said Finley.

  “True, but I’ll never know,” said Sun. “If I had to be added, I wish it would have been to a clan other than the Hobayeth. I hate that the only clan I’ve ever known is a dark one. Nothing good ever came from that clan, that’s for sure.”

  “They’re not all bad,” said Finley. His words rang false in the air as he struggled to think of a good Hobayeth to prove his point, but the only Hobayeth that came to his mind was Torin. And then he remembered Donnelly.

  “My uncle,” said Finley. “He’s a good guy.”

  It was now Finley’s turn to play storyteller. He told Sun all about Donnelly and the rest of Hagen’s family. He ended by saying, “And you don’t seem too bad for a Hobayeth.” This last part earned a smile from Sun, and gave Finley an idea.

  “Come on,” said Finley. “For once you follow me.”

  Finley led Sun to pile of tokens in the cave. “My clan is known for being one of the good guys, and yet one of our tokens is here.” He picked up the Tusatha token from earlier and slipped it over his head. He held out one of the thousands of Hobayeth tokens for Sun.

  “You can’t be serious,” said Sun.

  “Just because we’re far from home, doesn’t mean we have to be homeless. If you knew Donnelly, you’d be proud to wear the Hobayeth token. He left the clan when he realized how evil they were, and they turned him out. But he really never stopped being a Hobayeth. There are exceptions in every clan, and you’re one of them.”

  Sun considered Finley’s words then put the token around his neck. “Thanks.”

  The wind howled, announcing another year was about to pass. Finley and Sun spent their days that way—or years, as was the more appropriate term. Every time another Sidhe tumbled into the orange lake, they marked off another year on the cave wall. Thankfully, Finley didn’t shrink any more, but then he hadn’t attempted another escape. Sun, on the other hand, grew taller and older. He stopped growing when he reached Finley’s height and, selfishly, Finley began to worry Sun would soon leave him alone in this bizarre world.

  It was weird how time passed slowly, and yet so quickly in the Void. At first Finley was shocked and embarrassed by how easily he performed the duties of the Fetch. He worried that he was becoming heartless, but the worry changed to indifference with each moving day. Finley suspected this was a natural side effect of living in the Void. He became accustomed to the routine, the blue sand, green sky, orange lake, and the flow of Sidhe passing through on their moving day. There was never any variation to this routine. That’s why the disembodied hand floating fifteen feet above them looked so very out of place.

  “Yeah,” said Sun. “I see it.” He stared at the hand in silent amazement.

  “A depereo?” asked Finley.

  “I don’t think so. They always come over the water and all at one time. They don’t come in part by part.”

  “If not a depereo, then what?” asked Finley. He stood and walked around the hand, studying it from all angles. He saw a ring on one of the fingers, but he couldn’t get a good look at it. Finley scooped some orange water and flung it at the hand. The hand twisted around, as if trying to slap something. It disappeared then reappeared seconds later. Not knowing what else to do, Finley threw a handful of sand at the hand, hoping to somehow keep it in the Void. The hand remained another few seconds before it slipped away, being pulled out of the realm. Finley watched until it disappeared, then searched the green sky for an opening.

  If there’s a way in, there’s a way out.

  Part Three

  Calum

  “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

  – Eleanor Roosevelt

  Chapter Twelve

  Stowaway

  Calum felt a sharp tug on his arm just as he crossed the threshold to Kischef Mound.

  “Looks like you picked up a hitchhiker,” said Hagen, howling with laughter.

  Calum looked to his right to find Laurel holding onto the sleeve of his jacket. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked her. “Your father’s going to lose it.”

  “I didn’t plan to come,” Laurel said timidly. “But I saw your ring and I just…”

  “Seized the day,” said Hagen. “Good for you, duine daonna.”

  Calum shook his head in disbelief. “I thought you had to get back home.”

  “No. Daniel texted back saying Mom, Dad, and Mary were going shopping in Charlotte. I’ve got plenty of time.” She looked around, taking in her surroundings. “Where are we anyway?”

  “You really should ask where we’re headed before you hitch a ride,” said Hagen. “If we’d been going to Tusatha you’d already be busted, since my grandparents are alerted as soon as I cross the threshold.”

  “Lucky for you, we’re in Kischef,” said Calum.

  “Rebeccah’s clan?” Laurel asked. “I can’t wait to meet her.” She started walking toward the heart of the mound. “Come on.”

  She’s really not afraid of anything, thought Calum. He and Hagen quickly caught up to her on the well-worn path into the mound. Calum felt certain they wouldn’t run into any of their families in Kischef. He decided to relax and enjoy this unexpected time with Laurel.

  Laurel ooohed and aaahed over every small detail of Kischef Mound. She dragged Calum and Hagen from one food vendor to the next, insisting they try one of everything. By the time they’d each eaten a few grasshopper pops, called that because of their green color, Laurel began to slow down.

  “This isn’t like Devil’s Peak,” she said. “I didn’t want to say anything, but after being in that mound, I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to go to another. I mean it smelled so bad.”

  “Every mound’s different,” said Hagen. “All the clans have their own specialties. From what Calum told me about Devil’s Peak, I’d say they work with iron. Just like the Hobayeth.”

  “What’s Tusatha’s specialty?” asked Laurel.

  “Sorry, that’s a need to know thing,” said Hagen. Laurel looked at him doubtfully.

  “He’s kidding. Kind of,” said Calum. “You have to go to the mound first before you can know its specialty. But I can tell you about Kischef’s since we’re here. This clan works with crystals.”

  “They’re also experts in invisibility,” said Hagen. “That’s what makes it so hard to track a Kischef Sidhe.” He took the lead as they wandered through the mound to The Four Corners, where Laurel was immediately distracted by the hundreds of tiny vials on display in the large storefront window.

  “Are those…” Her voice trailed off.

  Calum grinned. “Yeah. They’re vials of faerie dust.”

  “It really does exist,” said Laurel. “So cool.” She pushed the door open then walked inside.

  Calum took her gently by the arm. “Let’s not just spring this on Rebeccah.” He looked around cautiously for the black-haired fae. “Rebeccah, are you here?”

  “Oh, it is mein freid, Calum,” returned a voice from the back of the shop. “We were just talking about you.” Rebeccah walked quickly toward him, then, seeing Laurel, halted a few feet short.

  “It’s Laurel,” Calum said hesitantly. “Remember, I told you about her?”

  “Yes, of course,” said Rebeccah. “It’s good to meet you.” She glanced nervously behind her.

  A girl with curly brown hair emerged from the back room. She wore a gauzy black skirt and a turquoise shirt. Her green eyes widened as she caught sight of Calum. She sprinte
d to him then flung herself into his arms. The sleeves of her shirt hung down his back like long silk scarves, the ends flowing over each other as if to wrap Calum like a gift.

  “Kira?” asked Calum, breathing her in. She always smelled like patchouli. “What are you…how are you here?”

  Laurel looked at the two of them, a puzzled look on her face. She glanced at Hagen who shrugged in response.

  It truly is a day for surprise visitors,” said Rebeccah. She ushered the four to a nearby table. “Let me get the kettle.”

  They sat down and waited in stiff silence as Laurel and Kira exchanged curious looks.

  “Hi. I’m Hagen. President of the Awkward Club.”

  Calum burst out laughing and breathed a little easier. “Kira, this is Laurel, and you just met my idiot cousin Hagen. Kira and I spent the summer together when I was visiting my grandparents.” Calum felt his face flush. “I mean, I was visiting my grandparents. Kira was visiting…”

  “I was visiting South Carolina,” said Kira.

  “I didn’t know you’re Sidhe. What’s your clan?” asked Calum.

  “I’m not Sidhe,” said Kira, a curious smile played at her lips.

  “Then how are you here?” asked Calum. A worried thought struck him. She’s not an Addition?

  “Don’t be silly, Calum,” said Rebeccah. She joined them with a kettle of peppermint tea and a plate of shortbread cookies. Hagen quickly scooped up a few then seemed to remember his manners. He offered the plate to Kira.

  “No thanks.” She laughed. “I just ate about a dozen of those in the back.”

  “Kira and her family are gypsies,” said Rebeccah in a matter-of-fact tone.

  “Awesome,” blurted Hagen.

  Kira raised an eyebrow.

  “I mean, I’ve never met a gypsy before,” said Hagen.

  “Relax, we’re not all that interesting,” said Kira.

  Her words sounded false to Calum.

  They are that interesting, thought Hagen.

  “Just like you and Calum,” Rebeccah interrupted, “I’ve known Kira all her life. I’ve known her mama for just as long.” She cast a glance between Calum and Kira. “But I had no idea you two knew each other.”

  “Me either,” said Hagen, grinning at Kira.

  Laurel rolled her eyes. “So what brings you to Kischef?” she asked.

  “Visiting an old family friend.” Kira patted Rebeccah on her arm then turned to Laurel. “What brings you here?”

  Laurel sat straighter and looked Kira directly in her eyes. She opened her mouth to reply when Hagen began to choke on his tea.

  “Ow, that’s hot!”

  “No kidding,” said Laurel.

  “Well, I am glad you all came. Especially you, Laurel. I’ve been wanting to meet you.” Rebeccah smiled at her.

  Calum reached for the plate. He hoped a mouthful of cookies would excuse him from this almost painful conversation.

  “What’s that on your hand?” asked Kira. She took his hand in hers.

  Calum felt his face warm at her touch. He had forgotten about the debris from his last high five between the worlds. It appeared to be blue sand. He wondered where Hagen had gotten it.

  Kira took one of the white napkins and gently wiped Calum’s hand, brushing the sand onto another napkin. She rolled the napkin into a cone shape and pulled a tiny vial from a pouch inside her sleeve. She carefully tapped the sand into the glass then passed the vial to Calum. “Where did you get this?”

  “Funny thing,” said Calum. “Hagen and I were…”

  “We were all doing an experiment at home before we came here. Something we learned in science class,” said Laurel.

  Calum looked at her, trying to figure out why she was lying.

  “I’m sure,” Kira said smugly. “How much do you want for it?”

  “You can have it,” said Calum.

  Kira sniffed indignantly.

  She’s a gypsy, thought Hagen. You have to trade her something.

  “I mean, you can have it if you have something just as good to swap.”

  Kira smiled at him. “I’ll trade your ‘leftover science experiment’ for this.” She plucked a similar vial from a pouch on her braided belt. The vial dangled from a leather cord. It appeared empty and yet somehow full at the same time. Kira kissed the vial before passing it to Calum.

  Rebeccah raised an eyebrow at this gesture but didn’t say a word.

  “What’s in it?” Calum turned the vial over in his palm. There was no matter, only a silvery light that was tinged with bright blue. The same blue shade as the sand. “No way,” he said in disbelief. “Is this a Brown Mountain light?”

  Hagen stopped eating and stared in amazement at the vial in Calum’s hand. “Cool,” he said enviously.

  “What’s a Brown Mountain light?” asked Laurel, clearly miffed she was the only one who didn’t seem to understand the significance of the tiny ball of light.

  “It’s kind of self-explanatory,” said Kira, looking at Laurel as if she were beyond help. “Brown Mountain is famous for balls of light that hover close to the ground. They’re pretty easy to spot. You can see them up on the mountain on clear nights.”

  “Easy to see, but not easy to catch,” said Rebeccah.

  “One has to be in the right place, at the right time.”

  “What? Outside and at night?” Laurel muttered sarcastically.

  “No,” said Hagen. “They disappear when you get close to them. How did you do it?” he asked Kira.

  “Gypsy secret,” she replied.

  “I don’t care how you caught it,” said Calum. “It’s a deal.” He slipped the cord over his head and tucked the light safely under his T-shirt.

  “Wait a second,” said Laurel. “What’s he supposed to do with that?”

  “Who cares?” said Hagen. “It’s a Brown Mountain light.”

  “It’s a fair trade,” Rebeccah said decidedly. Her shop bell clanged, reminding them all of their location. “Excuse me, I’ve got a customer.” She walked away from the table toward the front of her shop. “Play nice,” she called over her shoulder.

  “I’ve got to go too,” said Kira. She looked at Laurel before bending to kiss Calum on his cheek. “Good to see you again.”

  Calum’s face warmed. “You too,” he stammered. “Will you be in South Carolina this summer?”

  “Maybe,” said Kira. “Or, maybe I’ll see you before then. Bye Hagen, Laurel.”

  Calum watched her walk away and noticed she was barefoot. She stopped at the front door of the shop and pulled on long black boots.

  “The next time you go to South Carolina, you’re bringing me with you,” said Hagen.

  Calum laughed.

  Laurel cleared her throat loudly. Twice.

  Hagen turned to her. “Sorry, Laurel, did you say something?”

  “No,” said Laurel. “But if you two are finished, how about showing me around?”

  “Sure,” said Calum. “We’re actually here to pick up something for your mom. You can help.” He explained his errand then led her to the boxes of agate pendants while Hagen finished off the last of the cookies. Laurel chose a spherical blue lace agate. A thin silver wire crisscrossed the front of the milky blue sphere, serving as its setting.

  Laurel watched in amazement as Calum and Rebeccah’s Barts settled on a price, while Rebeccah wrapped the pendant in rough brown paper.

  “We need to head back,” said Calum, looking through the front window. The sky was completely dark. “Or Kenzie will begin to wonder. It must be after five, and she’ll be ready to go home soon.”

  Rebeccah hugged Laurel tightly and Calum was touched by the gesture. “Please come back again when you have more time to visit.”

  “I will,” said Laurel, hugging her back.

  “And you two,” said Rebeccah, hugging Hagen and then Calum. “Come see me when you come back for winter session at Tusatha. Yes?”

  “We will,” Calum promised.

  It was snow
ing thick and fast as they made their way out of Kischef Mound. Calum smiled to himself, pleased that the day had turned out better than he’d expected.

  “Where did you get that blue sand anyway?” asked Hagen.

  “I was going to ask you the same question,” said Calum. “It was on my hand after our last high five. I thought you threw it at me.”

  “I knocked the snowball out of your hand, but I didn’t throw sand on you, especially not blue sand.”

  “It must be residue from you two playing around between the worlds,” said Laurel. “I told you it didn’t seem right.”

  “This wisdom brought to you by a duine daonna,” said Hagen.

  “Maybe she’s got a point,” said Calum. “Maybe we shouldn’t go between the worlds like that.”

  “Thanks for ruining all the fun, Laurel,” said Hagen. “And by the way, why did you lie to Kira?”

  “There was something weird about her,” said Laurel.

  “I agree. It’s pretty weird that she likes Calum so much,” said Hagen. He seemed to be teasing, but there was an edge in his voice that caught Calum’s attention.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Laurel snapped. “I’ve just got this feeling she’s holding something back, something about the Brown Mountain light and I don’t mean how she came to have one.”

  “She’s a gypsy,” said Hagen. “Secrets are kinda their thing.”

  “Still, I don’t trust her,” said Laurel.

  They slowed as they reached the polder. “Well, I think she’s cool,” said Hagen.

  “I’m sure you do,” Laurel said curtly.

  “On that note, I think I’ll be going.” Hagen quickly stepped through the threshold.

  “How about this time I bring you through instead of dragging you?” asked Calum. He took her hand in his.

  “Hang on,” said Laurel, pulling back.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know if I want to go. I mean, what if there is something between the Otherworld and Emerald Lake? That blue sand came from somewhere.”

  “Well, you can’t stay here.” Seeing the concern in her face, Calum added, “You know I won’t ever let anything happen to you.” He squeezed her hand. “I promise.”