“Hey there, what can I do for you?” He asked brightly.
She matched his pace but could not walk beside him with the trail narrowing and twisting around the large, rough boulders. She kept an eye on the shifting dirt underneath. “I wanted to know if you could tell me something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.”
“Sure, go for it.” He pulled himself up a steep part of the trail and turned to help Shade over the hump.
“Thanks. I was wondering, when Darren attacked me, he let his glamour fall away and touched me. Why didn’t I burn or get electrocuted like you said I would?
Jack stopped cold and turned to her. Horror flashed across his face, as his eyes grew dark. “What? Are you sure he let his shields slide? No, it would have killed you. There is no way you would have survived.” He narrowed his eyes at her, studying her face for something. “Are you sure you’re remembering right? You don’t think that when you hit your head, you might have thought he let his shields down?”
She shook her head; there was no way she was remembering wrong. “No, I know what I saw, I felt his glamour melt away and I watched him as he held onto me while he was on fire. He burned with bright blue flames that lit the entire room and flowed over his skin, like sparking electricity. I remember as clear as I see you now.”
“I’m know what you’re saying Shade, I’m not doubting you but it’s just that it’s not possible. I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve never heard of anyone, especially a part human mortal fey, surviving a full-blown Teleen touch. That’s exactly why our race is dying. We…we cannot breed outside our own race, it would be fatal to get close enough.” He pressed his lips into a thin hard line as he started walking again, his face spooked and still.
“But Jack, that can’t be all true, look at Soap, isn’t he just part Teleen and something else? You’re saying it’s not possible but is he not evidence against that?” Shade hurried to keep up with Jack, as his step had quickened with his deep concentration.
Soap, was walking ahead of them, and he had paused, watching them now with great interest.
“Soap is part changeling. Changelings can ‘change’ into a Teleen if they want to. I think that is the only way that a pairing outside our race could be possible. Changelings are all but extinct. We don’t even know who his parents were. To find a changeling to mate with would be like hitting the lottery for a Teleen born; it just doesn’t happen. It’s almost impossible. Unless…” He stopped again and was really staring at her now. Shade stopped then too, suddenly feeling the weight of his stare, like she was under a microscope. “You’re not a changeling though, Shade, are you?”
“No, well, not that I know of, I can’t change into anything. I would think I’d know if I could.” Her voice stumbled and she felt suddenly unsure about anything. She was part fey but she totally didn’t know what kind of fey. Me, a changeling that’s doubtful, Shade thought to herself, it was unnerving to think she could be anything.
Jack shook his head and when he looked at her again, the friendly smile was lighting up his face. “Nah, I don’t think you’re a changeling, Shade–all this just sounds really weird. I wish I could help you, but I never have come across something like this before. If I ever find out anything about it, you will be the first to know, okay?”
She nodded, as he patted her back and turned to walk down another narrow and rocky hill. She sighed, not sure if she knew anything more than she had before.
Chapter Ten
Shade sat on a large smooth rock near her tent. She smiled; satisfied that she had erected it by herself. The cool breeze rippled the nylon but it held. She had staked it down good, just like her father had shown her. She had had lots of practice staking down tents for herself and her sister. Every time they went camping, she was in charge of tent set up. She remembered how much she loathed it but now she thanked her lucky stars that her father had pounded the basics of camping and surviving in the wild, just in case. She guessed this was ‘the case’ he had prepared her for.
Dinner was cooking on top of a blazing fire. There was a fox roasting over it that Than had skinned, gutted and staked to a spit. It now was being turned round and round in the flames, giving off a pleasant but smoky aroma. It looked like he had done this many times. The fox had been a good size, nice and plump, and would feed them all. She wished she could take a shower but that was not going to happen out here. Once again she was covered in dirt and her salty sweat was a film on her skin, and she didn’t think it would ever come off.
The air was cooling rapidly as the sun sank over the mountains. She shivered and rubbed her arms up and down to warm them, she had her jacket on instead of the hoodie she had sported earlier, but wished she had brought a thicker one. She felt a bit unprepared for the cold night, but had decided to layer her clothes and wore a thicker sweater. Unfortunately the extra clothes weren’t working to well in guarding her from the cold.
Dylan plopped down next to her, disturbing her thoughts, and draped a large thick part fur blanket over her shoulders. She jumped up and the blanket spilled off her. Dylan grabbed it just before it hit the ground.
“What are you doing?” Shade glared at him, her face flushed with anger. She didn’t like him impeding on her space.
He held his free hand up, smirking a little at the same time. He looked up at her, and sighed. “The polite thing to say is thank you. I’m not sure what humans are accustomed to, but when someone gives you a blanket to keep warm in the cold, our kind is grateful. But who am I to say so? I might be wrong to think that way,” he added sarcastically.
“You’re a prick, Dylan. You know that? I can see that it’s in your blood. Just stay away from me, you and your brother can just go to hell!” Shade stood there staring at him, her breath steaming in the cool air as her words came out in a huff. The night pushed hard against the remnants of the day, making her feel suddenly over exposed. Dylan remained calm while he looked at her. He lifted the blanket up to her again. He wasn’t mad and his smirk had smoothed out and the former captain’s face fell flat and unreadable. His eyes did give away some feeling, there seemed to be a spark in them that showed he was amused by her reaction.
“Shade, just take the blanket, okay? It’s cold out,” he gritted. “I’m not really affected by the cold, but being that you’re mortal…” He looked like he was working hard to suppress a smile. “Well, I packed for two. I knew you’d need more help out here.” His smiled grew. “Really it’s a warm blanket, think of it as a peace offering.” Dylan stood up when she did not go to him. He moved closer until he was in her face, almost touching. He swung the blanket around, draping it over her shoulders.
Shade let him and held onto it this time, unsure what to do.
He nodded, satisfied and turned to walk away.
“Dylan, wait.” Shade choked out, her voice was tight within her throat. She turned to look at him as he stopped in his track. He didn’t turn around but paused, waiting. “I…I’m sorry, Dylan, I just feel like you don’t like me and you don’t even know me: and maybe that reminds me of Darren a bit, and that freaks me out. You guys are pretty similar but I know you are not like him. I know that… I can feel it. I…” She sighed, frustrated with her stumbling tongue. “Thanks for the blanket, I do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Shade,” he answered, with a little more warmth than he had ever shown her.
She glanced around and noticed the others working around their own tents. Jack had one, so did Ewan. Sary and Braelynn looked like they were sharing though, and so were Stephen and Than. Shade thought maybe some of the group were pairing up because they didn’t have enough tents. Soap had his own tent though, and unless they were sharing, it was unclear where Dylan was going to sleep.
“Don’t you have a tent, Dylan?” She asked.
“I do, but I find it really confining. Besides, I have to stay by you, and there is not enough room for your tent and mine here. The ground is my bed tonight.” He added and turned slightly, so that most of hi
s profile faced her, one eye watched her intently.
“Why do you have to camp by me; do you really have to?”
“No,” he stated simply.
“Then why are you hovering? I feel like you are suffocating me.”
“No, I wouldn’t, I would never hurt you!” He had whirled around, his face now serious and his eyes wide. He had taken her word at face value.
“Whoa, I don’t mean literally! It’s like an expression.” She sighed as he relaxed. “Look, you don’t have to be stuck to me like glue. I’m not an invalid and you are not my bodyguard. Get this straight, I do like my space.” She had lost her patience with him. She headed off with the blanket still wrapped around her towards the smoking carcass that was dinner.
*****
Dinner had been satisfying. The fox had tasted amazing, or maybe it was just because Shade had been starving. It had been such a long hike that day, her muscles ached and burned intensely. She had never felt so hungry before, and now, so tired. She was sitting on a fallen log that was by the main fire in the center of camp. She watched the flames licking the twigs and branches of the trees that burned and smoldered with soot. Ashes littered the ground around it, as Shade watched the fire flicker and crackle. The heat felt comforting on her face with the chill of the evening shifting in the breeze.
Shade felt cozy in the blanket Dylan had provided, and felt just a tad bit guilty for snapping at him. Especially his gift turned out to be so useful. Okay, and try to be nicer to Dylan, this isn’t his fault. She didn’t mean to snap at Dylan but all this was really overwhelming. She had been attacked twice in less than a week. It was hard enough for her to keep up with everyone in the group physically; she just didn’t like outdoor activities. She took a deep breath because she knew these things were the least of her problems. Dad… isn’t my real dad, she thought sadly, and it was hard to cope with. She wasn’t glad he was dead, but she was glad he didn’t have to know this. How was she supposed to deal with all this? And, to make matters worse she was bound with Dylan and now shared the same blood; and in some way she was connected to Darren too. Dylan’s blood is Darren’s blood…. She cringed at the thought.
She sighed. Her life was not turning out quite like she had planned. She was supposed to be in high school, cramming for finals and graduating in three weeks. This was not supposed to happen; and she missed Brisa so much. Who else could tell so many jokes, especially around a warm campfire on a freezing night? She wished Brisa had somehow been pulled into this mess so at least she would not be alone right now. Even with her new friends surrounding her and their happy chatter floating about the fire, she felt alone.
Sary walked over and sat next to her on the short fallen log. She smiled at Shade and then stared into the fire too. The silence between them was thick; Shade could sense she was aching to ask her something. She wondered what it could possibly be. Sary was pretty quiet for the most part. The only one she seemed to quietly chatter and giggle with was Stephen. Shade had seen how she stared into his eyes whenever they were talking. His face was a mirror of hers, their devotion radiated around them like some protective blissful bubble. She couldn’t help but feel a little envious.
Shade shook the thoughts away; she was not the type to get jealous. She was actually quite happy being the responsible older sister, in a single parent home, of four kids. It gave her tons of freedom to do whatever she wanted to, and she felt like she was the other adult in the house. Now she couldn’t help but think of her mother. She had shoulder length hair with a nice shade of light brown, with caramel and blond highlights streaked throughout. It was wavy and never wanted to stay where she would like it too, but she was happy just running her hands through and did not fuss with it. Her big brown eyes were interesting too. They had a glint of grey and honey running through both of her irises. The hazel coloring in her eyes definitely stood out, with just a touch of makeup on her olive skin. She was glad she took after her mother; she had always seen her mother as a beautiful woman.
“Shade?” a voice said gently and breaking into her thoughts.
“Yes, Sary?”
Sary paused for a moment, studying Shade’s face before she spoke. “When this is over, will you return to the faerie world at all? Or will you want to forget this all happened? I wonder because you see…I can feel your reluctance still, in completing this task. I know it is a hard thing to ask of you, being that our world is so alien to you.” She sighed nervously before continued. “We need you more than you could possibly perceive or understand. I can’t even imagine what you think of this, especially after all that’s happened.”
Shade felt anxious and slightly guilty because she was so caught up in herself and didn’t think about the rest of the group. She hoped she hadn’t seemed too antisocial tonight; maybe it had an adverse effect on them. She smiled and stared back at the fire, thinking hard on how to answer Sary. It was so hard to predict the future and she never thought this would be happening to her; she searched for the right thing to say.
“Oh Sary, I hope you don’t feel like I could just say goodbye and be done with you all. You have helped me so much, already. I have to admit that this new world is confusing to me. It scares me to death and I don’t feel like I belong here. I don’t have the strength or the right training for this. You all have said, I have magic in me but I don’t know how to use it. How can I even survive in your world? I just feel vulnerable. I would sure love to visit you guys when this is all done, but I don’t think I can live out here.
Sary was staring at Shade, an amused look danced on her face. She started laughing so hard she almost fell off the log.
“What’s so funny?” Shade asked annoyed. She definitely was confused with Sary’s reaction. What the hell could be so funny about what she had said?
Sary stopped, and shook her head as she cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry, Shade. I don’t mean to insult you. I just never thought of our world as that different. It’s nice to get an outsider’s view. You’re right, how inconsiderate of me. Of course you don’t feel safe. Ilarial did tell us that it was our job to show you how to use your magic. You have more in you than you think you do. I am still baffled on how you managed to trap Darren in the mirror shards, he was bloody mad about it. I can’t say he didn’t deserve it though. He deserved that glass prison and more for what he did to you.” She paused looking a bit more serious. “Shade, how would you like your first official magic lesson?” She smiled and her eyes were twinkling in the firelight.
“Oh, I don’t know Sary. I’m kinda tired. I’m going to bed. Maybe tomorrow?”
“No, no, right now. I promise it will be a short one.” She watched Shade squirm uncomfortably. How ‘bout it?” She pushed.
She pressed her lips tight in frustration. There is no sense in fighting it, “Alright.”
Sary jumped up and clapped her hands; and her vibrant enthusiasm cheered Shade up.
“Okay then, you can pick up any stone–really it can be any one that you find. Come on Shade, just pick the first one that catches your eye,” Sary told her firmly when Shade hesitated.
Shade groaned but bent down from the log to study the ground. She searched and looked at each possible stone but none seemed to stand out. She sighed and sat up. She was shaking her head slightly when she caught the glint of a rock, in the corner of her eye it was nearly buried in the sand. She reached out towards the edge of the log and retrieved it. The grey and white stone looked slightly out place among the other white ones that were imbedded in the sand. She plucked it up, dusted it on her jeans and held it up in the middle of her palm.
“Ok, perfect! Now, take your stone and place your other hand over it. You have enough power within you, I can feel it radiating off you like a heater.” Sary waved her hand at her to make her go faster.
Shade groaned but did what she was told. Her hands felt cold in the night air and the stone was cool in the center of her warm palms. She was about to give up when she felt it; the stone started to feel warmer t
han it did before. She opened her hands and her eyes widened with amazement. The rock was glowing with a dim yellow hue. The heat was radiating to her fingers and though it should have burned her it did not. Shocked, she dropped it and cradled her hands on her chest. She watched it puff up the sand like a meteorite, losing its glow until it sat still, dusty and a cool grey once more. She looked up at Sary.
“Wow, Shade, that was faster than I thought it would be. You just made your first light stone. You can make your own light like that and keep your hands warm too. It won’t burn you if that’s what you are thinking. This comes in handy on a cold winter’s night,” she said with smile. She then bent down and plucked the rock out of the gravel, holding it out to Shade.
“It’s ok, Shade, take it; it will only glow when you want it to. Remember, to activate it again, by laying it between your hands. It belongs to you and only you now, so keep it near. She smiled again as Shade took it and stuffed it her jeans. It was small enough to not bulge out too much. “Good job! I’ll let you get to your sweet dreams now, Shade.” Sary jumped up then and ran over to Stephen who was calling her to him. They walked away from the fire and over to their tents chatting and hugging quietly.
Shade let out a nervous breath. She had been taken by surprise with the light stone. She liked the idea but hadn’t expected it. She fished through her pocket and brought the stone out again. It was brighter this time as it glowed in her palms and warmed her chilly fingers. She stared at it for a while before stuffing it back in its place, as she rose and walked back to her tent. Maybe, just maybe… I can do this after all.