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 than 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.

Chapter Eleven

The murmur of voices seemed amplified in the growing light of the morning. Shade moaned and wished she had thought of bringing earplugs. She rolled over, stuffing her pillow onto her head, hoping to muffle the noise. It can’t be morning already! She felt like she had just laid her head against her pillow and closed her eyes. Hiking was definitely not on her cool list right now as her muscles ached and burned.

“Shade, get up, we have to pack and get going. I brought you breakfast, you’re gonna need it.” Shade felt her pillow fly off her face. Dylan stood crouched at the entrance of her tent, his lips tight with disapproval. He looked wide-awake; she wondered how long he had been up. Or was it possible he didn’t need to sleep? He motioned to a plate of food and drink he had laid by her; then in an instant, he was gone.

Shade blinked and rubbed her eyes. She grabbed her pillow and stuffed it under her neck, sighing. She wanted to sleep more, sleeping in seemed like a pleasure of the past now. She glanced at the food he had brought her; bacon and fresh scrambled eggs with a bread roll, were still steaming. It looked amazing and smelled even better. This coaxed her out of her warm bed, and she pulled the food and drink towards her. Inhaling the food, she was amazed by how starved she now felt. She allowed herself to scarf down the sweet and warm tea that Dylan had provided; instantly it made her feel alert. She wondered what was in that drink that seemed to revitalize her so fast, she’d have to ask someone. She was also curious how they managed to have bacon and eggs so fresh out here in the wild. She crunched on the rich thick slices of bacon and enjoyed every bit. Well, this is a bright spot for out here in this hellhole. She sighed, frowning at her empty plate. Good things just don’t last around here. She stretched and fumbled through her bag, pulling her brush, washcloth and towel out of her bag, hoping there was somewhere to wash up. She pulled her shoes on and wrapped the blanket like a cape around her. Stepping out into the cold morning air was like being electrocuted. The cold stung her cheeks and sent a thrill down her body. Winter… She wondered how it seemed to be a different season every place they went here in the faery lands. She couldn’t believe that back home it was spring.

Walking up towards the main fire, she took a look around. She wanted to ask Braelynn or Sary where she could get some water to wash up, but it was Soap who popped up in front of her instead. He smiled at her, as always, showing his pearly white teeth. “Where do you think you’re sneaking off to young lady?”

Shade froze in her tracks. Slowly, she tilted her head and gazed upon his, still smiling, but suspicious face.

“I’m not sneaking off anywhere; I just want to wash up. Do you know where I could, um, go to uh, freshen up?” Her face flushed up scarlet under the cold air. Soap wasn’t the one she had wanted to ask.

“It’s down that side of the hill a bit. It’s a large tent, girls on the right, boys to the left.” He winked and turned back to the camp. Shade stared back at him as he walked away, more like skipped away cheerfully. She shook her head. He was so strange. They hadn’t spoken much since they had arrived to the Teleen caverns. She wondered if he was just being cautious with her since a Teleen had attacked her. She sighed, it was something she would have to talk to him about later.

For now, she turned back toward the way he had pointed her, gripping her towel, washcloth and the extra set of clothes, she moved on. Approaching the bathroom tent, she paused and stared. It didn’t look like anything special. She wondered how it was even big enough to hold two dressing rooms. She shrugged, too tired to contemplate it for too long. She willed herself to get moving. When she got inside, she was shocked at how warm and humid it was. It smelled like flowers blooming in the springtime; and the tent was bigger than it appeared on the outside. It could be described as a foyer, and in front of her was a table; and to the right of the wooden table hung one red and one blue curtain. She supposed the colors were to separate the women and men.

She went through the red drapery, assuming it was for women, and followed as the hallway turned to the left. At the end it turned again to the right and opened to a fairly large room; it had mirrors to the left wall and chairs. On the right were stalls with toilets and two showers next to the stalls with sliding doors. This reminds me of camp. She was impressed but not curious enough to wonder too long how the heck this was possible; she was just grateful it was all here. She laid her stuff on one of the chairs and pulled it near one of the shower stalls. She relieved herself first and was definitely surprised and amazed by the actual flushing toilets! Really I can’t believe the fey have all this. She just shook her head in disbelief and undressed, stepping into the shower stalls. There was soap, shampoo and conditioner provided, and she was thankful the water was hot. The steaming water sprayed on her skin and eased her aches. All too soon she had to step out of the stall and get ready. She dried her body and hair and pulled her fresh clothes on. She then ran her brush through her tangled hair and pulled it back into a tight ponytail.

Shade stared at her reflection in the mirror for the first time since the attack. She sucked her breath in; her face had small healing pink lines, like spider webs, on her right cheek. She looked down at her arms where she saw more of the same thin scars. They’re all over me…. She traced them with her fingers; they were smooth and a soft pink, nearly invisible to anyone who wasn’t really looking. She stared into the mirror for a bit longer, making sure it didn’t ripple or look magical. She did her best not to be reminded of Darren. When she was satisfied it was just a normal mirror, she turned away from it and finished dressing, topping off with the blanket Dylan had given to her the night before. She wrapped it around herself and definitely realized she was in need of a coat. The weather here is so annoying. She didn’t want to think about the scars, at least not yet, so in a way the blanket served like amour, in covering them up, and for that she was grateful. She bundled her old clothes in the towel and turned to leave, running right into Sylphi. Shade gasped and stumbled back, her eyes wide as she regained her balance.

“I’m so sorry Shade, did I frighten you?” She was smiling slightly as she studied her. Sylphi’s jet black hair was down and a bit tousled, like she had just rolled out of bed but it still managed to have some shine. It fell down and spilled to the small of her back. She held a bundle of clothes and towel in her arms too and it pressed to her chest.

Shade gave a small laugh. “Oh, um, hello Sylphi. No, well, maybe just a little. How long were you standing there?” She tried to swallow her anxiety and stood a bit straighter. Nothing about Sylphi made her feel warm and fuzzy. The girl radiated cold like an open window in the late fall.

“Not for too long really, I was just going to freshen up.” She smiled her sickly, sweet smile. She continued to stare at Shade with her intensely black eyes and didn’t make a move to get ready. Her eyes were so dark it was like staring into a pair of black holes.

A chill ran through Shade but she pursed her lips tight and smiled at the faery. The sight of her was unnerving to say the least. “Well, ok, I was just leaving. See you later.” She had to side step a bit to get around Sylphi, who was not budging from her spot that was blocking her path.

“Why don’t you just go home, Shade? No one really wants you here.”

Shade hung in mid step as she listened to Sylphi’s icy voice. The woman was still not moving but slyly smiling back at her. “You are too weak for such a quest. Why don’t you give up before you fail miserably? No one wants to be out here, in this forsaken wilderness with you anyway. Do us a favor and quit already, half-breed.”

Shade stared at her in disgust. Shaking her head she grinned back. “I’m not a quitter, Sylphi. I believe that I need to do this and nothing you say will change my mind. I don’t believe you have to be here, though. You came by choice remember? So did I…maybe you should go home.” She dodged around Sylphi and stepped hurriedly through the doorway, and ignored Sylphi’s snide laughter. I wonder what the hell her problem is.

The cold air slapped her hard and her hair felt instantly frozen, once she left the facilities tent. She didn’t stop though; she hurried as fast as she could until she reached her own tent, or what should have been her tent. All she found was Dylan sitting on the ground patiently waiting next to her pack.

“What the, where’s my stuff? What’d you do with my things?” She felt her anger tipping the scales and tried to grab a handle on it, before hollering at him. She breathed in slowly and deeply as she glared down at him. It wasn’t his fault that Sylphi had such a strange effect on her. Her breath steamed like clouds floating out her nose and mouth.