As a halfling, she wasn’t an acceptable member of polite valley society. Even her grandpa had taken several hundred years to accept her mom and dad’s lifeBond. Full bloods didn’t accept mixed lifeMate couples or their halfling children. It was totally taboo.
“Finished unpacking? Hungry?” The sugary sweet tone in Mitch’s voice was pure payback.
Katie had teased him unmercifully the previous summer. For some reason, Mitch went through puberty a full year before her, while she suffered through an additional year of being a skinny pre-pub. They were twins. They were supposed to do things together. She guessed her body didn’t know that.
“Dumb question, I’m always hungry,” she complained.
Puberty meant she’d be eating everything in site, at least for the next few days. Sídhí puberty was very different from mundane puberty. Sídhí puberty lasted three weeks. Period. A Sídhí juvenile went from stick-thin to adult curves in a short twenty-one days.
A little over two weeks ago, she finally started puberty. Her strength and senses had slowly improved. Soon, she would be tremendously stronger than any human could ever dream of being. Her fangs showed up the first week. As did her ability to port, and just last week she extended her claws for the first time. It was so freaky to have normal fingernails one minute, and two-inch crystal claws the next. She thought they looked like weird grizzly bear claws, only a hundred times stronger and semi-white.
“You’re going to harass me for my final week of puberty, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Of course, you’d think I didn’t love you otherwise,” Mitch answered. His serious tone of voice didn’t surprise her.
Why did she even bother asking?
Katie grumbled for a minute, but she really was hungry. Then she grinned to herself, at least she wouldn’t look like a cartoon stick figure for much longer. Guys never showed interest in someone with a boyish thin figure. No one ever asked her out on a date. Sometimes being Sídhí really sucked.
She couldn’t even delude herself as to why they didn’t ask her. Being Sídhí meant she heard all the human thoughts around. She knew what guys, and girls, thought about her. She didn’t even try to kid herself. She had major self-esteem issues.
Her growling stomach pulled her back to his question. “There’s a ton of food in the kitchen. I’ll cook, if you’ll clean up.”
“Yeah, sure, that’s fine,” he agreed quickly.
“What sounds good?”
His deep chuckle echoed behind her as he entered the girl’s dorm room. “Anything, as long as I don’t have to cook, I’ll eat whatever. That is, if there is anything left to eat after you get finished. You ate that entire pack of Oreo cookies and didn’t even give me one.”
At a few inches over six feet, Mitch had the muscled body of a pro-football player. They both had their mom’s light coloring and elfin features. She reluctantly admitted, even though he was her brother, he was good looking. Though, she’d never tell him. It’d go to his blond head, and there would be no living with him.
“And I saw you snitching that last slice of coconut cream pie mom made. You should be ashamed of yourself for not sharing with your beloved twin brother.”
She grinned as he walked toward her. He was so busy teasing her he didn’t notice the slowly rotating ceiling fan. He had a bad case of tunnel vision, or maybe she should say, once he got something stuck in his thick head, he chewed it to death, it rattled around in his hard head and would not go away.
For all his teasing, she should let him walk into the fan, but his head would break her ceiling fan.
“Mitch,” she said, pointing up at the fan in warning.
He ignored her, chattering on about how much she was eating during puberty. He was almost there.
“Mitch!” She waved her hand to stop him, waiting for the inevitable ker-chunk.
“Aargh!” He bellowed and his eyes bugged out. Ducking at the last minute, he neatly avoided the thin wooden blade of the fan. Looking up, he glared at the fan.
Katie’s laughter filled the room. Talk about priceless. Though, she was glad his cement-hard head hadn’t broken her ceiling fan.
“Very funny, Katie. Ha ha,” he grumbled, turning his good-humored glare on her. His lips twitched trying not to laugh with her.
“I tried to stop you.”
“Just wait until you start your growth spurt. Next week you’ll be whining and complaining that nothing fits anymore.”
He dropped onto one of the six beds lining the room. The poor thing groaned under his weight, there was nothing tiny about him. He was solid muscle.
“I think it might be sooner than next week. I’d guess a couple of days max.” Her clothes were loose, but they irritated her skin. Every time she moved, she felt the brush of her shorts and soft cotton halter-top slide against her sensitive skin. Her skin had started tingling yesterday afternoon. She sighed in resignation, being tender was normal a few days before she started the final growth spurt.
“Honestly,” Katie said. “I can’t wait. I’m so sick of wearing boys slim cut jeans. To think, I’ll actually have…”
“Laa! Laa! Laa! Laa!” He loudly bellowed with a sick look on his face and fingers stuck in his ears.
“I was just going to say hips,” she said, planting her hands on her hips. She grinned at his pained expression.
He gave a long-suffering sigh and removed his fingers.
She couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. “Oh, and I’ll finally have boobs.”
Her giggles turned to laughter as his mortified expression turned beet red. He tried to say something, but only a gurgle came out, while the tips of his pointed ears turned rosy red.
The words barely left her mouth, when she felt someone watching her. She turned and found herself looking into a set of piercing blue eyes. She skimmed his face and then took in the whole deal: deep blue eyes, silky black hair, tall, muscled, and gorgeous. Definitely, the most gorgeous guy she’d ever seen. She honestly didn’t have the words to describe what he looked like.
How could Katie think of words, when he made all her brain functions cease to exist? For just a second, she forgot where she was and even how to breathe. Her body went from laughter to a hot flush, even the tips of her fingers and toes tingled with sparks of awareness.
Wow, talk about making a great first impression.
He casually leaned against the door frame, watching her as she gave him the once over. He was nearly as tall as Mitch. And she thought her brother looked like a pro athlete. This guy put her twin to shame. He looked a bit stunned as he stared back at her. She briefly wondered if she wasn’t the only one having trouble breathing.
Then it registered. Her heart stuttered to a complete stop; her eyes widened and she stared at him in mounting alarm.
He was a vampire. A full blooded vampire!
Hint, hint... The full blood vampire is Jared!
Glossary of Sídhí Terms
Blood Thirst - The uncontrollable urge of a vampire to drink human blood from a specific person.
Bristle Flowers – A flowering vine with quarter sized flowers. Each flower has five yellow petals with a brilliant red center. The name bristle is derived from the hundreds of teeny-tiny thorns sprouting around the outer-edge of each petal. Bristle flowers prefer shaded growing conditions.
Chameleon – Chameleon are race of people from Sídhí. Three to four feet tall, slender, and covered from head to toe with short, thick black fur like that of an otter. They have solid black eyes and sharp white teeth. If injected with raw synth crystal they Change into an umbra.
Chi’Kehra – Chi’Kehra is the title for the true elf monarch. In known history, there have only been two. Every elf baby is tested at birth; the baby’s hand is sliced open and dipped into pure synth crystal. Any child that has a scar after this process is declared as the ultimate elf leader, Chi’Kehra. The Chi’Kehra is the only person that can completely manipulate synth crystal in its pure form.
Cyclops – Cyclop
s are a rare race of people preferring to live in caves with a large source of water. The very solitary race primarily eats meat. They are not picky where the meat comes from. They have very unique abilities.
Dragon – 1.) Dragon shifters are a race of people originally from Sídhí. They have the ability to change their shape to that of a specific animal/dragon. Each sub-race (Clan) has various strengths provided by the synth crystal in their blood. A person’s first shift into dragon can take place before or after puberty. A shifter in human form smells human. They consider the term shapeshifter a slur as they are dragon. 2.) Dragons are a very intelligent, and highly dangerous, Sídhí animal.
Dhark elves – A dhark elf is an elf that lives in one of the Dhark Valleys. There is no physical difference between elves and dhark elves. Dhark elves simply have a different life style than elves.
Dyrst’Lye Clan – A nearly extinct clan of dragon shifters whose gift can destroy a blooming LifeBud before a bond is created between lifeMates.
Elves - Race of people originally from Sídhí. The have a rigidly strict code of honor. They give an oath of fealty to whomever they choose. First, they always give a blood oath of fealty to the unknown Chi’Kehra, second oath goes to their house, and third oath may go to their valley or their liege lord. Due to synth crystal they have increased sense of smell, sight, strength and mental capabilities. They have pointed ears, approximately a half inch to one inch taller than a mundane human’s ear. The pupil (black center) and the iris (colored portion of their eye) are larger than a mundane human’s eye.
Fairy - Race of people originally from Sídhí. Each fairy has various strengths provided by the synth crystal in their blood. Very secretive race. Most live in Atlantis Valley, which covers large swaths of land and all of the North and South Atlantic Oceans. Five castes: Royal, warrior, merchant, common, and servant. The five castes contain hundreds of sub-races, such as siren, pixie, nymphs, changelings, dwarves, leprechaun, brownie, banshee, harpy, phoenix, enchanter, mermaid, mystic… Physical and paranormal attributes vary widely between sub-races.
For’Syth Clan – A clan of dragons whose has the gift of fore sight.
Furble Tree – A native Sídhí tree that has blue bark & needles. In the wild, it is found primarily in mountainous regions. There are several varieties from dwarf to trees over 100 feet tall. The trees are popular for building as once they are cut, the grains of the wood turn a darker blue creating a unique pattern. Note: Burning furble wood has blue flames. It smells like a cross between hickory and pine with a touch of vanilla.
Gateway - A gateway is a permanent ‘doorway’ that allows people or inanimate objects to travel instantly between Earth and valley (see valley) or between valleys. A mundane human cannot see a gateway, but they can go through a gateway if touching a Sídhí or holding a piece of synth crystal.
Glow moss – A prolific form of moss that glows. The most common form is cave moss. The moss glows in a variety of colors when disturbed. Another form of glow moss is found above ground.
Gnome – Gnomes are native race of Sídhí. They are no stronger than a mundane human. They are short, growing no taller than three feet and have wrinkly skin like a Sharp Pei. They have pale skin and yellow eyes. They prefer a diet of insects, sugar, and fruit. They are very vindictive and love practical jokes.
Halfling – A halfling is an individual who is half one race and half another.
Hibbet – A hibbet is a nocturnal animal the size of a baseball. It is rarely seen in the daytime. Its wings and feathered body are brown. The four black legs are scaled and frog-shaped for hopping. It hoots like a small owl, but also has a chirping sound used with its young. Omnivore, but prefers small insects.
Khatt – A khatt is a large Sídhí animal. Very family orientated. They live in large herds. Babies are called kit - litters of three to five. Omnivore, though they prefer meat. They will adopt a human upon occasion. Long lived - several centuries.
Khr'Vurr – The Khr'Vurr is a fanatical group of dragons, also known as Freedom Fighters.
LifeMate – When a person is drawn toward another person by the synth crystal in their blood. Two people who are perfect soul mates. Two people who fall in love and bond. LifeMates are miserable when apart from each other.
LifeBond - The lifeBond is a permanent mental bond between two lifeMates. The bond allows them to feel each other’s emotions. The bond cannot be broken once formed.
LifeBud - The LifeBud is a physical organ in a Sídhí brain that allows a lifeBond to be created between two lifeMates. The bud can be destroyed before a bond is created, but not afterward.
Markles - A red plant with tall bamboo like stalks. The tip of each stalk ends in a ball of pink finger-like protrusions. They catch and eat insects with the finger-like protrusions. If approached or hit/broken they spew a red, sticky substance.
Mia Cara - Literal translation: my beloved.
Morag - A nocturnal insect with a blackish oval body with grooved wings and several dozen legs. It makes an irritating buzzing/belching sound, but is not very loud.
Mundane (human) – A mundane is a normal human with no synth crystal in their blood, normally born on Earth. Some valleys have a few mundane settlements. The Dhark Valleys keep mundane humans as servants/slaves and a source of blood for their large vampire population.
Olitiau – An olitiau is a Sídhí animal that looks like a giant bat. Adults are approximately the size of a large dog. The prefer fresh meat.
Phoenix – 1.) A race of winged people originally from Sídhí; they have not been seen or heard from in four thousand years. They are the strongest of fairy within the warrior caste. The wings of a phoenix cover a spectrum of colors, but are primarily mixtures of red, black and/or white. The eyes of a phoenix turn silver when emotional, a reaction that can turn deadly to others.
2.) A bird that drips fire off brilliant red wings. Unlike the Earth myth, they are not reborn.
Pixie - Race of people originally from Sídhí who are smaller in stature, slender with sharper features. They are a sub-race of fairy.
Port – See teleport.
Pre-pub - A Sídhí young person before or during puberty.
Puberty - The developmental period every teenage Sídhí goes through. In a twenty-one day period, a Sídhí youth will start out stick-thin and develop into their adult body and abilities. The youth is always hungry during this time.
Shapeshifter (aka shifter) - Race of people originally from Sídhí. They have the ability to change their shape to that of a specific animal. Each sub-race has various strengths provided by the synth crystal in their blood. A person’s first shift can take place before or after puberty. A shifter in human form smells human. Known shifters include: wolf, khatt, and dragon.
Sídhí (aka Immortal or home world) - 1. A Sídhí is a person that originally lived (or descended from people who lived) on the home world of Sídhí. 2. A formally mundane human who has been injected with pure synth crystal or received a venomous bite from a vampire. 3. Sídhí is the original home world of non-mundane humans.
Sídhí is pronounced: Sid He
Snake Vine – Snake vine is a naturally growing vine that has the feel and weight of a snake. It is found in most Sídhí forests, curling around the upper branches of large trees.
Sprite – A tiny Sídhí animal with a (somewhat) humanoid shape. Sprites average two inches tall with four arms and four propeller shaped wings that are iridescent, sparkling in the sunshine and glowing at night. They have a silvery chirping sound. Diet includes: grass, nuts, and honey. Sprites are very colorful, ranging from hot pink to steel blue to dark green. A few varieties include: mountain sprites, meadow sprites, river sprites, hay sprites, and swamp sprites.
Synth Crystal - 1. The purest form of energy, it was created by the highly advanced Ancient Ones on the home world of Sídhí tens of thousands of years ago. Synth crystal makes normal (mundane) people immortal and increases all of their natural abilities. It also gives them other extra-ordina
ry abilities. 2. It is the strongest known substance on Earth or Sídhí 3. Each source (or spring) of crystal has a slightly different set of characteristics in it.
Synth Crystal Spring - A spring of Synth Crystal can be grown. Crystal in liquid form is poured into an underground chasm or cavern. The crystal grows until it fills the underground abyss. Each spring is subtly different as the crystal leeches microscopic material from the surrounding nature. Pools of Synth Crystal can be seen above ground, but growth (expansion) can only take place underground.
Teleportation (aka port) – Teleportation is the ability of a vampire or dragon shifter to move from one location to another in the blink of an eye.
TèVarrn Prison – A massive prison in the Dhark Empire that is underground. It is a warren of dead end tunnels and traps.
Trolls – A troll is a smart Sídhí animal. There are different subspecies including swamp, cave, and forest trolls. Subspecies are distinguished by color. Swamp troll are shades of green. Forest trolls are splotched green and brown. Cave trolls are red to deep burgundy. They live in large packs dominated by the largest male. If a troll is seen, you better run. Its pack mates will be near.
Umbra - Race of people originally from Sídhí, believed extinct. They had a very slight odor, a very mild aroma of sea salt; most immortals could not smell them. Very short black fur covered their entire body. Like an otter, the fur was water repellent. The fur also acted as insulation that entirely muffled their heartbeat. They had poisonous teeth and claws. They had the ability to disappear like a chameleon.
Valley - A second dimensional valley covers the same geographical terrain as Earth does. Most Sídhí live within the protection of a valley. A valley can only be entered by a gateway or by porting. Valleys were created thousands of years ago. The most respected theory of how valleys came into existence is The Second Dimensional Balloon Theory.
Stolen Love (YA Paranormal Novella) Page 8